Chapter 7
Lucius spent the rest of the afternoon before his next class with Severus at the Hospital Wing. It was one of two places where they could freely express how they felt with each other (the other being the Slytherin dorms) and Severus had deemed it the safest place in Hogwarts after many an encounter with the Gryffindor rascals that tormented him to no end.
Madam Pomfrey leaves them alone and offers them a quiet sort of companionship. Severus, being a somewhat regular, has an assigned bed, and his curtain can only be opened by Madam Pomfrey or Lucius. She was the first to have found out of their relationship after Severus had fainted while brewing late at night and Lucius was ‘supervising’. It was not an incident he wished to relive, but looking back on it now, he remembers how panicked and crazed he was.
“Do you remember the first time I brought you here, love?” He mused aloud to Severus as they lay in each other’s company, the afternoon sun dipping the horizon enveloping the Hospital Wing in a bright, golden hue. He looks at Severus eyes, and the dark obsidian is captured by the sun’s golden rays, providing a brilliant gleam in his love’s usually expressionless eyes.
Severus seems distracted by the sunset outside, but he answers Lucius anyway. “Yes, after I ‘fell’ into the Black Lake in the afternoon.”
“A horrible excuse for how those Gryffindors thought you would fancy a dip in that disgusting lake. Honestly Sev, I saw right through your shivering.”
“That was the first time I saw how much you cared. Also, the first time I saw a lock out of place on that precious blond head of yours after running all the way up to the Hospital Wing.”
“You fainted in the middle of brewing! How was I supposed to not panic?”
“You were a prefect! I expected you to have protocols for those kinds of things. Poor Madame Pomfrey’s face after she saw me in your arms – I swear she thought you must have taken my virtue or something.”
Lucius laughed. “I find myself absolutely brainless when it comes to you, love. You know how I am.”
“Narcissa calls it being a lovestruck idiot. For once, I agree with her. You’re such a dunderhead.”
“Speaking of Narcissa, she has something planned for your dear friend Miss Evans, and I am quite unsure as to what her motivations are.”
“She’s going to seduce her to the ways of olden wixen and traditions of pureblood. That’s all she preaches about.” Severus snorts.
“Oh, more than that love, Cissa finds her intriguing.”
“Lucius Abraxas Malfoy are you perhaps, jealous?”
“No! How on earth have you come to that conclusion?”
“Lucius, Narcissa is never intrigued by anyone.”
“And?”
“She’s only intrigued by you!”
“No she is not, she is merely betrothed to me! If anything, she finds our relationship intriguing.”
There’s a terse silence before Severus speaks again. “You know, whenever you say that, it really feels like we’re something.”
“We are, love.”
“Here, we are. After? We aren’t. We shouldn’t.”
Lucius moves to grab his hand under the thin hospital blanket. “We are something, Severus. No matter where life goes, if I get married to Narcissa, or if I die serving the Dark Lord, we are still something.”
Severus breathes out a long sigh. “We are something. Even if this stupid ancient magic is dead set on killing me by the end of the year.”
“Yes.”
That one word is enough to settle them both. He eases Severus in a better position for him to card his fingers in his long black hair, stroking it absentmindedly. Severus’ eyes droop, and soon enough his eyes close and his face eases. It’s easy to forget that there is a world after Hogwarts in moments like this – where the sun is settling back down on to the earth, two children of Slytherin bound together in its warmth. Severus always thinks about the future though, of reality. Lucius knows that is because of how Severus was raised – always thinking ahead, always on his feet, ready to strike when provoked. It was what he had to do to survive a life shunned by a pureblood house and constantly abused by a muggle one.
The House of Prince was one of great standing in the early centuries, deemed worthy of Merlin himself, and yet their obsessions with their line has left them with an Heir that its magic refuses to accept. Lucius knows, that Severus deserved to grow up just as he did – provided with everything he required and then some more, just as a proper Heir of a House should.
He knew of Severus mother only from the stories his father had imparted, that she was an exceptional witch. She was the pride of Slytherin in her years, the true definition of a proper Heiress, and yet she had married a muggle. His father told him that there is a price to pay for choosing love over duty, and the price Eileen had to pay was the eradication of her line. The pureblood circles had thought it a curse and could not fathom how she could do such a thing, and her remaining relatives had fled wizarding Britain before anyone could question them.
Abraxas had spat on her name while he told Lucius of duty, of the sacredness of the bloodline, of how wizards are born powerful because of their blood, and anyone who says otherwise is a traitor to the wizarding world. A young and impressionable Lucius would have agreed, but seeing the power that Severus seems to hold, and Miss Evans be more than proficient with Charms than any pureblood witch he has ever seen – he knows his father is wrong.
Wizards may be born powerful because of their blood, but their power relies on something more than just what flows in their veins. Until he figures that out, Lucius is determined to appreciate magic in all its forms, and all who wield it.
What he has figured out and is sure of, is how fate weaves an intricate web. Lucius does not understand its ministrations, but he is sure that they are something. That they are together, and they love each other with all their hearts and souls.
“We are something.” He whispers to Severus.
-
He leaves the Hospital Wing just before it gets dark. Madame Pomfrey ensures him that Severus can go back to the dorms tomorrow, she just has to give him a few more potions and let those take effect overnight.
Evan Rosier is waiting for him outside the Hospital Wing. Lucius raises an eyebrow at him, and he finds a bit of satisfaction watching the younger Slytherin squirm.
“How is Severus?” He asks in a quiet voice.
“Recovering. Would you like to visit?”
“I, uh, I’d rather not. Your word is enough, Lucius. It always is.”
“I know. If you’re not visiting, why are you here?”
“Well, I just- I think the Gryffindors are up to something.”
Lucius’ eyes widen. “Explain.”
“Lily- Miss Evans, she said that Potter and Black are distancing themselves but spending way too much time in the library plotting something. They’ve roped in Lupin into their scheme somehow, although Lily said they haven’t been talking much lately. Regulus hasn’t been sought out by his brother yet, but it might only be a matter of time before he does so. They’re rekindling their relationship, so to speak, but I know Reg is loyal to Severus. But um, this is concerning to say the least, so what do we do?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Miss Evans told you this, yes?”
“She did.”
“I believe, we let her handle it.”
“We what?”
“You heard what I said.”
“But-“
“Consider it a test of her allyship. If she fails, then she loses that status as well. The ritual was very specific about that, and she will be banished from our house forever.”
Evan pales. “She will?”
“Yes. Although, I find your lack of faith on Miss Evans very insulting. You must know by now, she is no ordinary witch.”
“She’s-“
“If you say something of her heritage I will guarantee your stay at the Hospital Wing.”
“No! It’s not that! It’s just- she’s a Gryffindor!”
“As she is an ally of Slytherin, the first one in decades I believe.”
“We’re trusting a Gryffindor to handle more Gryffindors? Severus will have a fit!”
“Severus is probably asleep right now, so you better lower your voice if you do not want to occupy the bed next to him.”
Evan sighs. “Right. You’re right. We should trust our new ally. Who happens to be a Gryffindor.”
“Who has helped Severus back on his feet way before we came along.”
“Yes, that too.”
“We have more important matters to attend to than meddling Gryffindors anyway. Come, we must hold court at once.”