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To Have Not	By : MontanaDan Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 22763 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
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To Have Not

Chapter 7 - The Engagement

The days leading up to the engagement party were filled with activity. The Malfoys hadn't entertained for some time, so the Manor had to be thoroughly prepared. Which meant that several of the landmarks Harry used to navigate the house were moved, causing Harry to create a crude map so he wouldn't embarrass himself.

It also meant that there were constant visitors to the Manor. Decorators and menu planners, florists and renovators seemed to be there all the time. Harry's opinion was requested so often that he couldn't recall what changes he'd approved and what he'd rejected.

While Harry had initially thought having so many people around would be bothersome, he actually enjoyed the bustle of activity. It kept his mind away from other things and gave him something constructive to do.

Presently, he was trying to find Lucius. The decorator wanted to change the crystal shapes on the chandelier in the Grand Ballroom (which certainly lived up to its name) and there was no way Harry was going to approve that without consulting Lucius.

Finally, Harry stopped in the middle of a hallway and called Frozzy. The little elf popped to life in front of him.

"What can Frozzy do for Master Harry?"

"Can you tell me where Lucius is?"

Frozzy closed his eyes for a moment and visibly shuddered. He looked at Harry with anxiety. "Master is in the Hissing Room," he said.

"Can you get him for me, please?" Harry asked warily. When the elf looked terrified by the request, Harry changed his mind. "Can you take me there?"

Frozzy led the way down several halls until he stopped and pointed towards an open door a distance away. "There, Master Harry," he whispered, pointing. "May Frozzy go please?"

Surprised by the elf's fear, Harry dismissed him and moved towards the door. He peered into the room and saw nothing within that could cause such fright. The normal furnishings of a guestroom filled the space with numerous portraits adorning the walls.

"Ah, Harry, were you looking for me?" Lucius said from inside.

"Um yes," Harry said. "The decorator has a question that I'm not comfortable answering." He looked around the room from the doorway. The portraits were rather large, he noted, and they all seem to have snakes portrayed, either by themselves or with various people.

"This is the Serpent Suite, Harry," Lucius explained. "I'm trying to decide if anyone on the guest list merits its use."

Merits its use? That certainly peaked Harry's interest. "Frozzy called it the hissing room," he said.

Lucius grinned. "Yes. The elves do not like this room. In fact, most people find it - er disturbing. Come in and you will see why."

As soon as Harry stepped over the threshold he could hear the chatter.

~Well he is the master.~

~Who's this now?~

~He's young.~

~Oh don't scare him off, he's pretty.~

~You think everyone is pretty.~

~Oh, go eat your tail.~

Harry snorted, turning a full circle to view the rest of the portraits.

"Can I assume that you're hearing more than just hissing?"

Harry nodded, listening to the rambling banter of the snake portraits.

~I hope we get a visitor soon.~

~We haven't frightened anyone in so long.~

~This new one doesn't look frightened.~

~Few who come in with the master are afraid.~

~The young master still becomes uncomfortable in here.~

Harry looked over at Lucius, who was staring at Harry with an odd expression on his face. "Draco doesn't like this room?" he asked.

Golden brows shot up. "Where did you hear that?"

Harry waved toward a portrait. "They said he's uncomfortable in here."

Lucius chuckled. "Interesting. What else do they have to say?"

"Not much. It's mostly rambling. They seem to enjoy scaring people." Harry looked back at Lucius. "Is that why you're debating whether or not to use this room?"

Lucius nodded with a smile. "Yes, when someone irritates me, I put them in here. Only if they are particularly contrite, do I tell them how to quiet them."

Harry couldn't help it, he laughed. "That's funny." He glanced around at the diverse snakes colorfully portrayed around the room, all of them speculating on what the master and his friend were doing in the room. "I mean, provided there's a way to make them be quiet."

Lucius approached Harry, and laid a hand on his shoulder. "If they are still uncomfortable, I move them to a different room." Lucius looked fondly around the room. "It is amusing, however, to see how long they last."

Harry smiled, looking up at him. "That's just mean, you know."

Lucius cupped his face with a grin. "Now, Harry. You already know I'm not a nice man."

~Is he going to kiss him?~

~Looks that way.~

~Well, the master does always gets excited in here.~

Harry turned his head abruptly towards a portrait. Did he just hear that?

~It makes you wonder why he likes to visit us.~

~It is obvious to me why he visits us.~

~Why?~

~He likes to listen to us.~

"Harry?"

Harry turned to look back at Lucius.

"What is it?"

Harry shrugged, embarrassed to actually say it what he'd heard. Did Parseltongue get Lucius off? Is that why he had given Harry a snake for his birthday?

His eyes drifted over Lucius' shoulder to a portrait.

~Does it really excite the master to listen to your chatter?~ Harry asked.

There was instant silence in the room. Harry looked back at Lucius in time to see a fire light his eyes. It was quickly replaced by surprise as he peered around at the silent portraits. "What did you say?"

~Did the young one just speak to us?~

~No. He couldn't have.~

~I do not believe it.~

~Believe it. I did,~ said Harry.

Silence again.

~He did!~

~I've never�~

~Unbelievable.~

~Do you understand us, young one?~

~Yes, I do,~ Harry said.

~How extraordinary.~

Harry answered a couple of their questions, becoming acutely aware of Lucius heated expression.

~Your talk is enticing the master, young one,~ one of the snakes said.

~I am aware of that,~ Harry told them.

~You like that?~

Harry didn't get a chance to answer as he was suddenly shoved against a wall and voraciously kissed.

~Do you think they will couple for us?~

~Oh, it's been a while since we've seen that.~

Lucius moved his impassioned kisses down Harry's throat, his hands everywhere.

"Keep talking, Harry," Lucius rasped.

~Oh, yes,~ he told the snakes. ~He's certainly enticed.~

Lucius yanked Harry away from the wall and swung him up into his arms. Moments later, he was tossed onto the bed.

~What do they call you, young one?~

~H-harry.~

Lucius tore open Harry's robe.

~I hope the master doesn't hurt you, Harry.~

Harry clothes were pulled off just as savagely as his robes and before Harry knew it, Lucius was buried balls deep inside him. Harry had not felt any pain, so Lucius must have used some kind of spell to prepare him.

He continued speaking softly in Parseltongue and Lucius' response was intense as he pounded into Harry with urgent need.

The joining was quick and rough. While Harry did enjoy seeing Lucius in such an out of control state, Harry's own pleasure was somewhat subdued by the distracting chatter from the snakes in the room. By the time Lucius was crying out his climax, Harry was still trying to tune out the voices echoing around him.

Lucius looked down at him, panting, his skin glistening with sweat, and only then noticed Harry's half hard cock. His softening prick slid out of Harry and Lucius kissed him softly.

"You can obviously see what Parseltongue does to me," Lucius murmured. He trailed a hand down Harry's chest to circle around his center of growing desire. "But this will not do."

Harry felt his face heat up. "Um, sorry," he mumbled. "It's hard to get into it with the commentary coming from the walls."

Lucius glanced around at the portraits then back down at Harry. Without losing eye contact with Harry, he muttered a spell. Drapes swung over the portraits, causing the snakes to complain until they finally quieted.

Once they were silent, Lucius smiled in a way that made Harry shiver. "Now, shall we take care of you?" he suggested.

Lucius began an assault on Harry's body, urging Harry to touch Lucius all he wanted. Harry enjoyed stroking the silky, long blond hair as the well-manicured fingers moved over his body, touching and caressing with expert care.

Winding his mouth around Harry's jaw, Lucius reached out and pulled a length of satin from a drawer by the bed. Harry opened his mouth to protest, but a quick kiss forestalled him. The silk tie was wrapped around Harry's head, blindfolding him.

Before Harry could object further, Lucius touched his fingers to his lips. "Shh, Harry," he whispered. "Just feel."

Another onslaught of touches and caresses from Lucius' lips and tongue and fingertips fanned the fire on Harry's arousal. Harry moaned and arched into the exquisite contact. Lips and teeth teased his nipples, hands teased the sensitive skin between his legs. Flesh brushed against flesh with firm resolve. There didn't seem to be an inch of Harry's body, Lucius didn't explore.

Harry's body shook with need. "Lucius, please," he begged.

He vaguely heard a muttered spell then he felt his cock being stroked with a slickened palm.

~So good,~ Harry said, not realizing he was using Parseltongue.

There was a groan from above him, and then something hot and tight surrounded him, sucking him in. So incredibly tight that Harry thrust up for more. Soon he was totally encased in that gripping heat and his body shuddered with anticipation, begging for release. He thrust up again and the blindfold was pulled off.

He was buried deep in Lucius body, Lucius astride him, his knees gripping Harry's hips as he rode Harry's cock.

Harry sucked in a breath, disbelieving what he was seeing, but the sensations screaming from his body were real. Lucius leaned over him, long hair trailing over Harry's chest, and kissed him, ravaging his mouth with teeth and tongue.

"Move, Harry. Fill me."

Harry arched at the words, bucking up into the welcoming heat. Lucius tossed his head back with a groan and Harry moved his hand to circle Lucius re-engorged flesh. They rode the tide to completion, Harry spilling himself inside Lucius for the first time moments before Lucius came again, this time on Harry's stomach and chest.

Lucius leaned heavily on his hands on either side of Harry's head, panting for several moments until the shudders that wracked them both calmed, and then looked down at Harry with a sated smile.

He lifted a golden brow. "Something different," he said softly. "Did you enjoy it?"

Harry nodded emphatically. "Are you- I mean - I didn't hurt- I mean-"

Lucius laid his fingertips to Harry's lips. "Shh, I'm fine. I used a spell."

Harry nodded again as Lucius lifted himself off Harry and settled down beside him. Leaning in, he kissed Harry again.

"I've always loved this room."

"So I've guessed." Harry glanced around. "Admit it," he teased. "You don't want to marry me because I'm the Boy Who Lived, you want to marry me because I can satisfy your strange Parseltongue fetish."

Lucius sighed, running his fingers lightly over Harry's chest. "You know why I want to bind with you, Harry. Everything else is a perk."

Harry fought to keep the grin on his face. What a way to kill a perfectly good joke.

Severus would have laughed.

Sitting up, Harry stretched out the kinks in his neck. "We really should get downstairs. I hope the decorator hasn't transfigured the crystals into anything strange yet."

Lucius sighed but agreed.

Once dressed, Lucius left to find the decorator. Harry went towards the library, hoping it was deserted. And hoping that matchbox had another dose of Dark magic in it.

He had another mother of a headache.

***********

Severus dumped the latest batch of potion orders on his desk and shuffled through them. His mind was not quite on his task, his thoughts continually circling back to what he would say and do the next night. It became imperative that he convey to Harry that he cared. At the very least, he had to re-gain Harry's trust.

The love part would take longer, of that he was sure. But in order to help Harry, he needed the brat to trust him again. Talk to him.

He sorted the requests into piles: ordinary potions, salves, lotions, and other. One of which caught his eye. Male fertility potion? He blinked at the parchment. He hadn't made one of those in a while. There was no name on the request, only instructions that the buyer would pick it up in two weeks time. It came complete with a Gringotts' bank check, which was as good as cash but didn't give any clues as to who the draft was made for.

With a shrug, Severus made a mental note to check his stock. It wasn't a difficult potion to make, but some of the ingredients were somewhat rare. The potion itself took ten days to create and two more before it would become viable. After that, it had a shelf life of one week.

Poor sod.

Severus smirked. Potion induced pregnancies were uncommon for males because it indicated that the pairing wasn't a 'love' match or that the carrier just wasn't suited to carry a child.

Isn't it amazing that the term 'love match' isn't as hard for you to believe as it used to be?

While it had been very hard for Severus to understand the reasoning behind the few male pregnancies he�d been aware of, he had also been secretly jealous. To have something that special - strong enough - to create a new life, had been confounding and awe inspiring.

Not so unbelievable now though, is it?

Severus sighed and filed away his orders. Again, his mind drifted back to Harry. What the devil was Severus going to say to him?

***********

The engagement party was in full swing before Severus got a chance to talk to either of the grooms. The party itself was impressive; the number of guests staggering; the food outstanding; the hosts a perfect couple. It was enough to put Severus in a foul mood.

So it wasn't surprising that his first words to Lucius were a taunt.

"You�ve managed to salvage your name and your family fortune. At the expense of your independence, your privacy and your solitude."

"Don�t be ridiculous, Severus," Lucius replied, ignoring Severus' tone. "I have sacrificed nothing. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Potter and we have come to most agreeable terms. Alas, my poor Harry was hurt very badly, it seems."

My Harry. My Harry you sanctimonious bastard.

Harry and I saved the twat from Azkaban and he repays us by-

By what? Offering Harry everything he needs? Everything you wouldn�t give him. Everything you should be giving him?

"I feel I have my work cut out for me," Lucius went on.

"Oh?"

"Jilted, you see, quite painfully as I understand, which is why he allows no one to touch him � except for me now, of course," Lucius said with a satisfied smirk. "But it may take a little time and effort to acquire his affections."

"You think you can?"

"Oh, I can, and I will." Lucius sent a predatory leer towards Harry across the room where he was conversing with Granger and several Weasleys. "And it will be worth it."

Severus watched Lucius stroll off to greet someone else. "Not if I can help it," he snarled.

*********

"So do you know anything about it?" Harry asked Bill.

Ron's brother rolled his eyes. "Of course," he said. "It's the corner stone of curse breaking - identifying a dark curse on an object and dispelling it."

"How do you identify it?" Hermione asked.

"There are spells we use to discern if an object is dark, and a bunch of others to identify the curse," Bill told them. He eyed Harry speculatively. "Of course, it is a

rare gift to be able to 'feel' the dark magic."

Harry looked down into his glass. He had debated for a while just how much he would tell Bill once Harry had known that he would be available to talk to tonight. After discussing it with Ron and Hermione, Harry decided to tell him just the basic facts. He didn't mention that it was a residual effect from his final struggle with Voldemort and that he doesn't actually break the curse, but absorbs it to feed his scar.

"Do you know anyone good who is available to train me in curse breaking?" Harry asked. "Someone qualified and all?"

Bill grinned. "Actually, I've been assigned here for the next few months," he admitted. "I'd be glad to show you the ropes."

"Are you qualified to do that?" Hermione wanted to know. "I mean it's one thing to be proficient in-"

"Gringotts gave some senior curse breakers a six month course in training and teaching," Bill assured her. "Believe me, I'm qualified. Gringotts is always looking for talent in that area."

"Wicked," said Ron.

"So when will you be available?" Harry asked. "And how much would you charge?"

"Didn't Lucius say he would pay for anything you wanted to do?" Ron interjected.

"Well, yes," Harry said. "But I still need some information before I approach him about it."

"I'd have to look into it a bit, Harry," Bill said. "Check my schedule and the course charts."

Harry nodded.

"I'll send you an owl as soon as I know for sure."

"OK, that works for me," Harry said. He wanted to begin as soon as he could but he wasn't in a big hurry to tell Lucius about the curse lingering on him. Lucius might find it reason to nullify the contract and Harry certainly didn't want to go through the bother of moving again. The lease on his flat was paid to the end of the year, just in case, but he really was perfectly happy where he was.

Bill moved off to greet some people and Ron and Hermione turned back to Harry.

"That would be an interesting profession for you, Harry," Hermione said.

"Yeah, mate. Gringotts is a great place to work for. They send employees to all sorts of places."

Harry was going to agree when another person joined their group.

"So I see Lucius has a new plaything."

**********

Oh, that's a good way to initiate your 'win Harry back' plan.

"I beg your pardon?" Harry said.

"You allow him dress you up and take you out?"

Did I mention sarcasm and disdain might NOT be the way to do this?

Harry shrugged. "So."

Severus appraised him critically. He looked rather attractive tonight.

We must work on your descriptive adjectives.

"What else has he changed?"

"What do you mean by that?" Weasley jumped in.

"Nothing at all, Mr. Weasley," Severus said but turned to Harry. "I was merely inquired what other aspects of himself Mr. Potter has changed to appease Mr. Malfoy's rarified tastes."

Harry's chin inched up. "It�s a small price to pay for all he�s giving me."

"And what does he give you?"

Harry turned to look out across the floor where Lucius was enrapt in conversation with some nameless faces. "A nice home, protection from the media, peace of mind."

"Peace of mind, or a piece of his mind?"

Harry didn�t rise at the slur. "Trust."

"Love?" Severus suggested with a sneer, taking hold of Harry's arm to get his attention.

Harry met his gaze. "Lust."

I think he's getting better at this.

"So he doesn�t shower you with undying devotion. Affection so deep-"

"Look, Professor," Harry interrupted. "Lucius gives me what I need."

"What�s that?" Severus dared.

"A guarantee." Harry pulled his arm away and moved across the room. He took Lucius arm. Lucius looked down at him and smiled. Then he lowered his mouth and tenderly pressed his lips to Harry�s. Harry�s eyes drifted closed and even from the distance, Severus could see the kiss intensify.

Using that vast vocabulary of yours, let's see how many ways we can think of to say the word stupid.

At least Severus knew that there were no messy feelings involved. They apparently had some sort of agreement. Lucius had mentioned 'agreeable terms.'

A contract, maybe.

The sound of a throat clearing turned Severus' attention back to the Granger and Weasley who were staring at him curiously.

"So, Miss Granger," said Severus. "Any luck with the research?"

Oh, very smooth.

Granger sighed. "Not really," she admitted. "The only thing that sounded even remotely associated would be the loss of protection."

Severus frowned. "Do expound," he bade.

"Well, it mentioned that if someone - Harry in this case - had been protected from a Dark curse and suddenly that protection was removed, then the curse, if not broken, would continue to effect the victim."

"Interesting," Severus murmured.

"But again, as we don't know what the curse was�" Granger trailed off.

"Indeed." Severus nodded to the pair and wandered over towards a table. Helping himself to some caviar, his mind continued to turn.

Didn't Harry say that you were the one to save him again?

Was it possible that Severus had been Harry's protection?

Not you, you idiot. Your love.

Severus almost dropped his plate. What had he done?

*******

Draco moved closer to the group, hoping to join them. He frowned with disappointment as Severus left them. Watching the expression of realization dawn on Granger's face, he moved closer.

"Don't you get it Ron? He loves him."

Weasley blinked. "Who? Snape?"

"Honestly, Ron," Granger said with frustration. "Of course, Professor Snape."

"That doesn't make sense."

"Look at the facts," she said and Draco edged closer, hugging the wall to hear. "Snape helps Harry prepare to face Voldemort. In the meantime, they form a relationship. You heard Harry, he said his feelings were real even if Snape said he was only doing his duty."

Draco couldn't help feeling smug about the fact that he had figured out the truth about the relationship before anyone else.

Weasley had a dim-witted look on his face. "Right, Snape was lying."

"But what if he wasn't?"

"Hermione-"

"No, really. What if he wasn't lying and he had fallen for Harry?"

"Then he wouldn't have dumped him now, would he?"

"That's the clincher."

"You're barmy."

"Think about it." Granger was obviously convinced. "There's an expression 'if you love something set it free, if it comes back - it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was.'"

Ron snorted. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"But it's true."

"OK, let's see if it is. One," Weasley enumerated. "Harry and Snape fall in love. Two Snape 'sets Harry free' (breaking his heart in the process in case you didn't recall that part), and three, Harry runs off and hooks up with Malfoy."

Granger flinched. "Harry's a special case."

"'Course he is."

"Harry was simply taking the easy path," Granger insisted. "You saw him afterward. He was just so bloody tired of working so hard for everything. This thing with Malfoy is convenient and simple. He doesn't want any more emotional rollercoasters."

"Well, that part's easy to see. But you don't see him running back to Snape. And Snape certainly isn't giving him any reason to."

Granger sighed. "Snape's personality aside, you can see how concerned Snape is about Harry. About the headaches, about him throwing his life away."

"Maybe he doesn't think Malfoy is good enough for Harry."

"Exactly," Granger said with triumph.

Weasley scratched him head. Draco wasn't sure he followed that either, but Granger always did have an impressive intellect.

"Maybe he didn't think he was good enough for Harry either."

"Oh I see what you're getting at. Snape's shoves him away then gets angry when Harry doesn't go off trying to find someone suitable."

Granger smiled proudly at him. "Yes. Everyone expects Harry to meet someone perfect, settle down and have a horde of little Potters."

"Well, that's what I expected," Weasley said.

"Right, that's normal. But when has Harry's life ever been normal? You can't help who you love, Ron. And Harry, whether we, or anyone else - including Harry - likes it, loves Snape."

Weasley sighed and swallowed. "He was so happy, Hermione."

"I know."

"So what do we do?

"We get them back together," Granger announced and Draco almost snorted. Typical Gryffindor mentality.

"I hate to say it, but that's not going to be easy." Points to Weasley for stating the obvious. "You saw Snape. He's acting the right bastard to Harry again."

"He's always done that in public, though," Granger pointed out. "It's like this role he has to play that he slips back into. He's going to have to do some of this on his own."

"And who says he even wants too. I mean-"

"Just look at him, Ron. He comes to all of these events, which no one would expect, and while he's at them, he always spends the whole time watching Harry."

"And what about Harry? I mean, Harry's not stupid. He said it himself. He's not going to set himself up to get hurt like that again. Harry's moving on."

"On to what, Ron? He may end up perfectly content with Malfoy, but it's not going to be anything special."

"How do you know?"

"Because he won't open his heart."

"And what makes you think he'll open his heart back up for Snape?" Weasley challenged.

"Because Harry still loves him," Granger said as if she were talking to a two year old. "Honestly." She looked around. "Come on. There's Sirius. Let's go talk to him."

"We can't tell Sirius," Weasley said, appalled.

Granger took his arm. "We're not going to tell him anything," she said. "Just come on."

"Women," Weasley sighed, shaking his head as he let her lead him across the room.

Draco watched them move away, amazed. Bloody hell. This was a travesty. Several things kept echoing in mind. His father's determination to keep Potter, and Granger's words, 'He may be perfectly content, but it won't be anything special' and 'You can't help who you love.'

It was all true. How Draco knew it. His own parents had not loved one another, and it had ended horribly. If people suspected the �special circumstances� surrounding his father and Potter�s bonding, the damage to their reputations could be catastrophic.

However, Potter had already risked much with regards to his so-called reputation, first a relationship with Severus, and now Lucius. Draco was sure Harry had heard plenty of negative reactions from enough people about both, but he had been brave and plowed on, following his heart and his instincts.

But if Potter was still in love with Severus, and this whole arrangement with his father was Potter's way of giving up, it meant that the Gryffindor had lost the very thing that made him who he was. Draco found this thought oddly disturbing. It didn't speak well about the chances of succeeding with his own true love, because if Harry Potter couldn�t do it, how could Draco ever accomplish it?

His father deserved that kind of love too. And his father was going to try to trap Harry into this farce of a marriage now?

Draco's intervention may be the only thing to keep both men from destroying their lives as well as give Draco a chance at love. Draco bit his lip.

Was he brave enough to do that? He certainly had the courage to interfere. But was he brave enough to confront his own desires in the face of adversity? Even if others found his feelings inappropriate and scorned his choice?

Bravery be damned. He was Slytherin enough to do it.

With a grin, he took off towards the refreshment table. He needed to think this through, and for that he needed sustenance. He also needed a chance to speak to Severus, who could always be found picking at the caviar when he was bored or anxious.

*********

But Severus was trying to get Harry alone to talk to about his headaches. He finally found him alone in the main foyer after bidding goodnight to one of the elder Weasleys.

"I wonder if I could have a moment of your time, Mr. Potter," Severus said before Harry could wander back into the ballroom.

Harry turned to him with a sigh. "Are you trying to rub it in my face that you don't want me anymore?"

Severus blinked, taken aback.

Now's your chance. Tell him!

"Harry, I just want to help," Severus said.

"Help with what?" Harry asked, looking puzzling.

"Ms Granger told me about your problem."

Harry stared at him a moment, then turned his face away. "Oh, that."

Severus wanted to turn his face back, hold that cheek in his palm again.

"It might help me if I knew precisely what happened-"

"Why do you want to help me?" Harry asked, staring at the floor.

"Harry-"

"Harry," a voice interrupted them. "There you are." Lucius joined them. "Severus. Monopolizing my groom, my friend?"

Hex him. Just hex him.

"Not at all," Severus replied smoothly. "I-"

"I don't blame you," Lucius said. "I have to keep my eye on him or some witch or wizard might try to snatch him away from me." He draped an arm around Harry's shoulders.

"I was just-"

Harry's reaction cut him off. It was a combination headshake, pleading look that Severus recognized as a request to stop talking.

Lucius doesn't know about his headaches!

Severus was half elated, half outraged that something that important was withheld from someone who was supposed to take care of Harry. Severus wouldn't break the confidence though, although he would have to talk to Harry about it.

Severus' inner voice was doing the equivalent of an infantile 'nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah,' but he ignored it. He might want to break them up, but not at the expense of Harry's well-being.

"Severus, my friend, you will stand up with me, won't you?"

Harry's expression turned dumbfounded. Severus blinked, turning his attention back to Lucius. "I would have thought Draco would have that particular honor."

"Of course, he is," Lucius said smoothly. "But Harry and I have opted for a traditional ceremony which, as you know, requires two attendants each."

A traditional ceremony? The sap.

Looking at Harry, Severus could tell that the younger man had no idea what the difference was. More than likely, Lucius had suggested it and Harry, unknowingly, agreed to the formal ceremony, which would take twice as long as a normal one and probably embarrass Harry with its triteness.

"I'd be honored, Lucius," Severus replied, his mask of neutrality in place.

Lucius beamed with pleasure.

We'll see how pleased he is in a month.

"Come, Harry," said Lucius, holding out his arm. "I believe your godfather is looking for you."

Harry looked up at Lucius with a grimace.

Lucius winked. "Don't worry," he said softly. "If he wishes to stay the night, I believe I have just the room for him."

Harry snorted and took Lucius arm.

What was that about? Some private joke?

Severus scowled as he watched them return to the ballroom. He had to do something soon. If Harry was being taken in by Lucius' superficial charm, then immediate action may be required.

Isn't Draco leaving for his apprenticeship soon?

Ah, yes. That would be the perfect excuse for a visit. Tomorrow. There would be no distractions and he could get the brat to talk.

I'd start with kissing, then get to the talking.

Severus ignored his inner voice. As much as he would love to shove Potter against the wall and reacquaint his tongue with that delicious mouth, he knew he must move carefully now.

Your own bloody fault, you know.

Severus sighed and moved to find his own godson. He'd have to arrange a time with Draco after all.

*********

Harry sighed as his intended pulled him towards his godfather. Unfortunately, Sirius was deep in animated conversation with Grant Montgomery. Harry could just see Sirius practically pushing the other wizard at Harry. Montgomery was young, attractive and not a Malfoy or a Snape. The fact that he was Nott's cousin wouldn't bother Sirius in the least.

As if these confrontations with Severus weren't enough, now Harry would have to put up with his godfather's not-so-subtle matchmaking. He took a surreptitious sip from the flask containing his headache potion and prayed Lucius wouldn't hex Sirius.

He was also relieved that Severus didn't tell Lucius about his condition. Harry didn't know if it was because he didn't want to endanger his contract with Malfoy, or if, in some small way, he was secretly glad that Severus was concerned about him.

Of course you're glad, you ungrateful brat.

In any case, Harry wanted to keep that information private - for now. It also gave him a small sliver of hope knowing that Severus was helping Hermione. If there was a cure for his curse, between the two of them, they'd find it.

Feeling bolstered for reasons having nothing to do with this party, he turned his biggest smile towards Sirius and Grant, knowing that Sirius and Remus were going to be enjoying the hissing room tonight.

The thought only made him smile wider.
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