Chapter 5
Lucius wakes up to the soft snores of the heavy weight on his chest. He smiles as he watches Severus sleep peacefully, thanking whoever is up there that his love was not plagued with nightmares last night.
Lily’s forgiveness and apology must have contributed greatly to the peace Severus was currently experiencing, and Lucius could not be happier. However, there was still the matter of figuring out how to deal with the Prince family magic.
If not for Severus’ unique condition, Lucius would not have joined the Dark Lord’s cause. Of course, his parents were extremely supportive of him joining his ranks, as he had not told them the real reason why he wanted to join in the first place. He had thought that whatever the Dark Lord had planned would be able to aid Severus somewhat, but he soon realized that what he and Voldemort wanted were two different things after he joined his first raid.
To see the faces of innocent lives of halfbloods and muggleborns crumble before them felt awful. He had thought that these people at his mercy would give him the elation of power, but he did not feel power at all. He thought of Severus, and how much of a danger it would be should the Dark Lord discover him.
His fears would come to fruition after a Death Eater meeting where Walburga Black casually mentioned Severus as a disgraceful heir to the House of Prince, and Lucius had to summon all his self-restraint to stop himself from strangling her right then and there. Of course, the Dark Lord was intrigued, and he had tasked all of them to ensure his purity despite his halfblood status.
It was a miracle that Regulus and Bellatrix were more than willing to aid him in this awful endeavor, and as the three of them finalized the supposed hex, he could not help but feel sick of what he had to do to his love. His role was indirect, but it was still awful seeing Severus in a hospital bed so pale and lifeless.
Had he been paying more attention, he would have noticed that the fiery Gryffindor was eavesdropping, but he was distracted by the guilt he had felt. He was surprised that the girl had let him ramble for the better part of an hour before Madam Pomfrey hauled them both out of the hospital wing. After telling Narcissa of their encounter, she happily obliged to declare her an ally of their House.
Severus stirred in his sleep, interrupting his raging thoughts. This was his last year in Hogwarts, and he would not be allowed the happiness of watching his love sleep like this in the following years after. He cradled Severus gently, and buried his face in his hair. They had only officially got together last year, and he knew they were doomed when he left Hogwarts, but Severus had assured him that it was okay, that at least they would be happy while they were still here.
If he were only another person, he’d be with Severus for more than just the few years Hogwarts granted them. He’d take him back to Malfoy Manor, help him with his Potions Mastery while he worked at the Ministry, probably propose to him on a quiet night at Manor’s gardens which held a multitude of flowers and potential potion ingredients, and they would kiss under the pale light of the moon like two lovers who were truly destined for each other.
He could only dream.
“Lucius?” Severus’ sleep addled voice was a delight to hear in the morning, and Lucius couldn’t help but smile into his hair.
“Good morning, love.” He said, as he placed a kiss to Severus’ head.
“You’re still here?”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be, love.”
Severus hummed.
“Not that you two are absolutely adorable, but where he should be is at the Great Hall for breakfast.” The curtain hiding them from view was opened to reveal Madam Pomfrey, balancing a tray of Potions and what looked like Severus’ breakfast in her hands.
Lucius’ eyes widened. Right, he still had classes. “I’ll be back.” He said as he dashed out the Hospital Wing.
-
He entered the Great Hall with a swish of his robes, making a beeline for his spot on the Slytherin table right beside Narcissa. He thanked his lucky stars for the foresight of his betrothed, as she already had a plate of eggs and toast ready for him as he sat down.
What he and Narcissa had was complicated to say the least. They both were acting out of duty of course, as rightful purebloods should. Yet, sometimes he feels that he is being unfair to her for being in a relationship with someone other than her. Narcissa for her part, is completely accepting of what he and Severus have, but there is a lingering unease that purges his heart every time she does these small acts of kindness towards him.
Sometimes he wonders how she ended up in their House anyway. She is quite compassionate and extremely understanding, she is kind, and very unlike her slightly unhinged sister. However, Lucius knows that behind that compassion lies a true ambition and cunning to effectively manipulate. She is perhaps, the deadliest snake of them all – as she knows how to use kindness to her favor.
“How is Severus?” She asks him politely.
“Still resting.”
“And you?”
The question catches him off guard. “I could be better.” He tells her truthfully.
He found out early on into their betrothal that you cannot lie to Narcissa Black. It was a given fact, and one might even consider her gaze alone to be as effective as Veritaserum.
She hums in approval, satisfied with his answer. “Just Potions this morning for you, then?”
He looks at her dejectedly. “Yes.” He grits out. He hated Potions with a passion, and if not for the brilliant look on Severus’ face when discussing the subject, he would not have taken it in his last year.
“At least you’ll have something to let dear Sevvie babble about when you visit him later.” She smirks.
Lucius wants to bury his head in the confines of the scrambled eggs on his plate. He did not want to listen to Slughorn’s voice, or brew something complicated that he would no doubt explode because Severus was not around to counter it, or inhale the putrid fumes of multiple potions being brewed at once.
As Severus was Slughorn’s teaching assistant, he was cleared to attend and aid the 7th year class in brewing more advanced potions. He had been in Lucius’ Potions classes ever since 5th year, and he remembered the look of distrust 3rd year Severus had given him the first time Slughorn let them sit together. Which then evolved to the late-night brewing sessions and the eventual realization that he had feelings for the younger Slytherin.
Narcissa had found out after one Potions class, and she had pinned him down with her skeptical gaze as to what it meant for their betrothal, for Severus’ feelings, and to whatever else she deemed worthy of her concern. He was surprised that she cared so much about her halfblood year mate, but Severus was her Potions partner for two years before he was moved up to Lucius’ year and had grown protective of him in their short time together. She had taken it upon herself to ensure Severus’ safety in Hogwarts, after he had told her of his unfortunate muggle upbringing.
So, under that piercing gaze, Lucius had confessed his feelings for Severus – and while he was not proud of how much he stuttered while doing so, he knew that Narcissa was already planning something that would benefit the three of them.
Which is where they were currently, with her taking the role of sort-of overprotective sister and him as the lovestruck fool of a brother. He loved her in a different way than Severus, and she tells him his love is enough.
“Lucius.” She calls.
He looks up from his finished breakfast to the gaze he is already so accustomed to, but it is trailed on the far end of the table across from them. He follows her gaze to find Lily Evans in deep conversation with some of the Gryffindors in her year, the black ribbon from yesterday’s ritual holding her hair up in place.
“She is powerful for a muggleborn.” Narcissa remarks. “Quite the personality, too.”
“She and Severus are nothing alike and yet their magic is so incredibly similar.” Lucius mused. “We will have to consult your family library as to what this means.”
Narcissa nods. “I’m sure Regulus would be more than happy to indulge into more research.”
The House of Slytherin was interconnected in one system that Lucius cannot be more proud of, as almost every individual is basically related to each other. Their resources are endless, and they have more than enough at their disposal. The Blacks in particular, have an arsenal of Dark Magic texts and artifacts, while the Malfoys had an endless array of cursed items of unknown value. Old magic thrived in their House for years, and this was what the Dark Lord had built himself upon.
Old magic or new, Lucius quickly realized that magic is just magic. It grows and it evolves, and it needs something to ensure it will do so. After his servitude to the Dark Lord in the summer, and the hours of reading and research in the Black family library, he had come to the conclusion that magic is simply magic, and purging the world of its extensions – muggleborns or halfbloods, will weaken it significantly.
“You’re staring at her too long.” Narcissa lightly smacks him. “Potter looks ready to tackle you.”
Sure enough, he sees the bespectacled Gryffindor seethe in his direction. He smirks at him, and Potter’s face reddens. It was no secret that he held feelings for Severus’ best friend, but it was spectacular to see him lose it over Lucius’ stare.
Narcissa quietly laughs behind her hand. “Oh dear, if only he knew what a lovestruck idiot you are around Severus.”
He gives her a small smile. “I never stopped being a lovestruck idiot ever since he came into my life. Merlin, I’ll be a lovestruck idiot forever!” He sighs dramatically.
Narcissa rolls her eyes at him. “Well, you lovestruck idiot, it’s time you got to Potions.”