The Iridescent Conclusion

The dawn, when it arrived on the morning of Christmas Eve, was tinted a rich salmon pink that turned the walls of Malfoy Manor the colour of red gold and cast long shadows across the frosted ground.

Alicia Malfoy, however, had no time to stand around admiring such things as colours, sunrises or walls. Hurrying up the long, sweeping driveway, she paused momentarily before the impressive front door and then pulled hard on the bell chain that hung within the porch.

“Alicia!” Narcissa exclaimed upon opening the door, “Gods, you look frozen! Come in, I’ll fetch you some coffee.”

Even as she led the other woman through into the drawing room, moving with a sedate, lady-like pace, Narcissa bombarded her with questions, “Did you find the boys? Is Draco all right?”

Alicia stopped her progress though, placing one hand on her shoulder. “Narcissa, listen to me. I’ll tell you all that I have to tell, but not now. Now, we have to get you out of here.”

“Leave?” Narcissa’s eyes widened in alarm, “But why?”

The other woman shook her head in stunned disbelief, “Why? Because Lucius will be back soon and he’ll put two and two together and will kill you if he thinks you had anything to do with Severus Snape’s escape. That’s why.”

“So Draco did it?” Narcissa stared at her, still not moving.

Realising then that she wasn’t going to do as instructed, Alicia took it upon herself to summon a house-elf. The little creature arrived with a soft crack and looked nervously from one lady to the other.

“Please pack a bag for Mrs Malfoy,” Alicia ordered. “Pack warm clothes, stout boots, no jewellery and some sturdy outdoor wear: coats, scarves, gloves.” She paused, thinking, “And anything else you think the lady might need in the country – and hurry!”

“The country?” Narcissa demanded as the house-elf bowed and vanished, “What’s with the warm clothes, stout boots and no jewellery? Where are we going for goodness sake?”

“You’re coming home with me,” Alicia informed her, “and there’s no point bringing any jewellery or make-up because there’ll be no one there but you, me, a handful of horses and a lot of sheep.”

“But, Alicia,” Narcissa shook her head, “I can’t leave! What will Lucius do? It’s Christmas Day tomorrow – who’ll organise the party on Boxing Day? I mean, the invitations have all gone out and the house elves are doing the catering, but he’ll need me to play the hostess -”

“Let him play host on his own for a change,” Alicia remarked with a dismissive wave of her hand. Secretly, she thought that Lucius would probably bring one of his mistresses in to do the job in Narcissa’s place but of course she wasn’t about to say that.

“And how long am I to be gone for?” Narcissa demanded, wringing the front of her periwinkle blue robes between her hands. Looking at her, Alicia came to the conclusion that she wasn’t the only one who’d been up all last night.

Unlike herself though, on the right side of forty, Narcissa could carry the faint blue shadows beneath her eyes.

“I don’t know, my darling,” she gave a sad smile, “but I don’t think you’ll be back any time soon.”

The younger woman’s eyes widened in shock at this and she stared for a moment before striding swiftly away.

“I won’t be long,” she called back. “There’s just a few things I must fetch – couldn’t possibly leave them behind…”

*~*~*

“Siri,” Remus whispered softly, touching his lover’s shoulder with a light touch.

At once, the dark haired man’s eyes snapped open and he almost sat up in a rush, except Remus hushed him and held him in place.

“Don’t wake him,” he whispered, glancing at Oscar.

The little boy was sleeping very soundly; curled into a tight little ball with his hands placed beneath one smooth cheek.

Moving very carefully, Sirius got up and adjusted the duvet over the little boy’s shoulders.

“Come on,” Remus breathed, taking his hand then, “I missed you.”

Sirius smiled and allowed his lover to lead him back to their room. Then closing and locking the door, he cast a silencing spell and pulled Remus against him.

“Missed me?” he repeated, “How much?”

His lover growled and pressed the evidence of his arousal against Sirius’s hip, “This much,” he whispered. He let Sirius hold his face between his hands and then melted as the other man kissed him with a slow burn.

*~*~*

Lucius Malfoy was exhausted and, if he was honest, quite relieved to be out from under his master’s furious gaze. Since their flight from Reeth the previous night, the Dark Lord had stormed back and forth, fuming and raging about the loss of not only Severus Snape, but Harry Potter as well.

“Or perhaps your heart was never in it, Lucius,” Voldemort had growled. “Were you simply reluctant to risk harming your son?”

Lucius, wisely, refrained from pointing out that he had already harmed his son – as per the Dark Lord’s wishes. Instead, he remained silent – wherever he could – or made just the right noises of affirmation or negative response. Anything, he thought, just so long as he got through this night in one piece.

It didn’t help, he thought with a sigh, that the low ranking imbeciles sent after Thomas Litworth had only succeeded in killing the werewolf and allowing Remus Lupin and Sirius Black to escape with the man’s infant son. Such failure therefore only served to aggravate his master; making him even more dissatisfied and impossible to appease.

So, with a sigh of relief, he Apparated into his dressing room at Malfoy Manor and called for Narcissa, even as he began removing his filthy clothes from the night before. Finally, making his destroyed robes vanish with a muttered “Evanesco!” he realised that his wife still hadn’t responded to his call.

“Narcissa!” he shouted, striding back into the bedroom and across towards the en suite bathroom. He came to a halt before the door and paused, listening. There were no sounds of hurrying feet, no breathless apologies. With a snarl, he summoned a house-elf.

“Mistress has gone, sir,” the house-elf bowed low, its tiny nose almost touching the carpet.

“Gone?” Lucius stared coldly at it for a moment, “Gone where?”

“Mistress didn’t say, sir.” The creature squeaked in terror, “Erind just packed the luggage for Mistress, sir, and then Mistress left. Should Erind pack luggage for Master, too?” he lifted wide, enquiring eyes.

Lucius scowled, thinking furiously. He opened his mouth to tell the house-elf no, but then changed his mind on the spur of the moment and nodded sharply. “Pack me an overnight bag,” he ordered. “I’ll be leaving in two hours. And, Erind?” he added as the house-elf was about to bow and leave, “If my wife shows her face in this house again, pass on a message for me: tell her that I will find her and tell her that her crimes will never go unpunished.”

The house-elf gazed fearfully into the man’s cruel, cold eyes and nodded slowly to indicate that he understood. Then, fearing that his Master might see fit to exercise his displeasure by lashing out, Erind vanished with a careful snap.

*~*~*

By eleven o’ clock, Lucius was clean, refreshed and had eaten a filling – if late - breakfast. He was in a considerably better mood than before and had even managed to put aside his fears concerning any lasting effects of Potter’s little games with his heart.

True, it had been excruciatingly painful and bloody terrifying to feel his heart skip and falter but it did indeed seem that the organ was unharmed.

“Erind!” he barked, tapping his boot with his ebony cane.

The house-elf appeared instantly and bowed, trying not to quiver too much.

“I’m going,” Lucius drawled. “Please remember the message should my wife make an appearance.”

“Yes, Master,” Erind bobbed. “If anyone calls for you, sir…?”

“You don’t know where I’ve gone or when I’ll be back,” Lucius gave a thin-lipped smile. He tapped his pocket, containing the shrunken overnight bag and Disapparated smartly.

*~*~*

Sitting behind his desk, feeling that he’d need to sleep for a week before he felt fully revived from the night before, Dumbledore listened to his Deputy Headmistress’ carefully prepared speech.

“And so,” she finished, her hands clasping together, “I am more than prepared to tender my resignation, Headmaster.”

Dumbledore sighed. He’d known, from the moment that Professor McGonagall had tapped politely on his door that this was what she was leading up to.

“Minerva,” he began gently, “no one is infallible; not you and definitely not I. Yes, you made a mistake; yes,” he nodded, agreeing with her earlier points, “it could have been disastrous. However,” he reached for the ever present, ever ready teapot, “it wasn’t disastrous. Severus is safe, Harry came to no harm and, if I’m not gravely mistaken, the rift between himself and Draco has been repaired.”

He poured two cups of tea and added a slice of lemon to Professor McGonagall’s.

“So, no,” he smiled, drawing to a conclusion as he handed her the cup and saucer, “I won’t be asking for your resignation.”

She smiled at him; her eyes a little watery and her hand trembling as it took the tea.

“Now,” Dumbledore gave her a brighter smile, “let’s have no more talk of what disasters might or might not have happened. In the course of things, our stern-faced Potions master looks likely to spend possibly the happiest Christmas of his life.”

“Because he’s sharing it with Potter and Malfoy?” Professor McGonagall gave him a disbelieving look. “You really think being in the company of two teenage boys makes Severus happy?”

There was a slight edge to her voice that Dumbledore entirely missed. He nodded and smiled, “In Draco, he suddenly has family – something he’s never really had before. And in Harry -”

“Yes?” The Deputy Headmistress looked enquiringly at him.

“In Harry, he has found friendship. Young though our Mr Potter may be, but owing to all that he’s seen and done, Minerva, he is old beyond his years.”

She took that in; turning it around and ruminating for a few minutes. “You don’t think,” she suggested carefully, “that their relationship might be more…than just platonic?”

This, thought Dumbledore, was the second time in twelve hours that someone had questioned Severus’ code of ethics.

“No,” he replied, a little more coldly than he might otherwise have responded. “Simply because Severus is head of the Slytherin house, I really don’t see that we can expect the worst of him at every turn. Not once,” he continued forcefully, “has that man ever given me cause to be concerned. Not for his sense of code, in any case.” He added as an afterthought.

“You’ve been concerned about him for other reasons?” Professor McGonagall asked, hoping to get the Headmaster passed her faux pas and the indignation it had triggered.

Dumbledore sighed a weary sigh and shook his head, “Severus has been without family or friends for so long, Minerva. He spends most of his time in that dungeon of his; when he goes home, it’s only for short periods – it’s a wonder his house-elf remembers the man’s name! Severus never takes part in any of the staff field trips or social events – in fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever known him to go out for a reason other than work or Order business.
“But now,” he continued, “this man has an interest – two interests, to be precise. By a series of events, both Harry and Draco have wormed their way into his life and, unless I’m much mistaken, into his heart too.”

“But they’re so young,” Professor McGonagall shook her head. “Granted that they’ve experienced a lot in their short lives, but the boys are only sixteen. Surely Severus could find friendship in people nearer his age?”

“Perhaps.” Dumbledore shrugged, “But Severus isn’t the sort to go out, seeking friendship and so he must take it when it finds him. And besides,” he shook his head, “you’re forgetting that Draco is family. Severus is practically the young man’s godfather.”

“And I suppose they won’t be sixteen forever,” she conceded, nodding. She looked down at her empty teacup and then placed it back in its saucer. “I’ll leave you in peace, Albus.” She said, standing up, “I’ll see you for dinner, this evening. In the meantime, have a quiet day.”

“I will,” Dumbledore nodded with a smile.

*~*~*

Daniel Litworth cast one last cleaning spell in the living room of his ground floor flat and then moved through into his kitchen. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, his sister and ex-wife had gone home.

Alison he could cope with – even though she tended to try and mother him. But Jenna…

He heaved a sigh, rubbed at the tension in the back of his neck and then tapped the kettle with his wand.

Quite how he and Jenna had ever thought they might be happy together, he didn’t know. The fact was they were simply incompatible. She brought out the worst in him; made him scrappy and spiteful when at all other times, he was a self-confessed pussycat. And all she’d done in the past couple of days was moan about his kid-brother!

All right, so Thomas wasn’t a kid anymore but ever since the werewolf attack, Daniel couldn’t help being over-protective. And Jenna’s constant whining and moaning, putting him down and criticizing his parenting skills…well, in the end, Alison had had no choice but to take her home because Daniel didn’t think he could last much longer without doing something drastic to the woman!

As Daniel poured boiling water into the cafetiere, he fervently hoped that Thomas – and Oscar – were okay. Their lives had turned into a nightmare overnight: the Death Eater attack, Liselle being killed. For a while he’d wondered if Lucius might be involved…

But Lucius had promised, hadn’t he? That was all in his past, when the Dark Lord had been new and his ideas had been bright and exciting. Now, even though the Dark Lord was back, he had no new plans and next to no followers – according to Lucius.

As if responding to his thoughts, Lucius Apparated in; the sudden crack startling Daniel a little when he turned to find Lucius leaning against the doorframe. He gave the younger man a look up and down before offering a smirking, knowing grin.

“Coffee?” Daniel offered in return, managing to remain calm and cool beneath that gaze.

The man exuded raw sex appeal and it was very hard for Daniel to think straight – even when Lucius was six feet away and just looking at him.

“Hmm…” Lucius shrugged dismissively, flexing his shoulders beneath green-black robes.

“Something else?” Daniel stuttered, pressing sweating palms against his sides.

“Sounds better,” the other man replied. His tone was soft, purring and his silver-grey eyes were lit with the sort of hunger that food or drink would never satisfy.

Daniel pushed down the plunger of the cafetiere and then leaned back against the sink, wondering if Lucius would come to him or –

With a slow, predatory step, Lucius came closer; answering Daniel’s unspoken question. He removed his grey silk gloves and dropped them carelessly on the draining board before reaching out to stroke Daniel’s cheek with his fingertips.

“What’s on offer, baby boy?” he breathed and then caught Daniel’s lips in an ardent kiss.

*~*~*

The midday sun stole in through the windows of the ancient house that was nestled in the Yorkshire dales. With a cool, wintry touch, it lighted upon furniture – chairs, bureaus, desks – and brought sparkle to ornaments and glassware. However, when it reached the master bedroom, no matter how bright or how warm it tried to shine, nothing could rouse the three weary bodies currently lying together in bed.

The bed was easily large enough for the three men to sleep in their own, favoured positions. Draco lay curled upon his side with the pillow pulled down at a right angle to support his fair head. Severus lay sprawled on his stomach, dark hair a tumble over the other pillow. And between them, sleeping the sleep of one who knows he is loved and protected, Harry was half curled with one leg over Severus’ and one hand almost – but not quite – touching Draco’s shoulder.

It was almost two o’ clock in the afternoon before Draco slowly opened his eyes and rolled over. In doing so, he nudged Harry’s hand and felt the other man’s awareness in his head as Harry woke up but kept his eyes closed against the wintry sunlight.

‘Are you all right?’ Draco asked, keeping his telepathic voice quiet to avoid disturbing Severus.

“Hmm…fine,’ Harry responded in kind. ‘Had nice dream.’

Draco smiled at him, enjoying the way that Harry spoke when he was sleepy; almost as if he was too tired to fill in such little words as ‘I’ or ‘a’.

‘What time’s it?’ Harry asked then, slowly rolling over onto his back, away from Severus, and blinking his eyes open.

‘Sometime in the afternoon,’ Draco replied. ‘Are you hungry? Shall we go and get something to eat – we could bring something back for Sev?’

‘Okay. In minute,’ Harry yawned and rolled over a bit more so that he was now lying on his side and looking straight at Draco. With a gentle hand, he reached out and stroked Draco’s shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked, waking up enough to string a sentence together. ‘My attack on your father…well, I really wasn’t very sensitive last night – the magic kind of took control and I wasn’t…um…thinking straight.’

Draco blinked at him and then nodded, eyes never leaving Harry’s. ‘I’m okay.’ He replied honestly, ‘I don’t really know how I feel about my father but I wasn’t ready to consider the ultimate revenge…’ for a moment Harry’s hand moved up to stroke his face and then he continued, ‘But thank you for the offer.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Harry responded with a wry smile. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you and…” he glanced away for a moment, ‘I’m sorry, you know, for the row – for dumping you.’

Draco lay very still and very quiet, his thoughts buried from Harry’s view. Then, with a little shrug, he announced, ‘I’m starved – let’s go and get some breakfast.’

Harry regarded him with appraising eyes before giving a short nod. So the two of them got up very carefully to avoid disturbing Severus and slipped out onto the landing in borrowed robes.

As the door closed very softly, Severus opened his eyes and lifted his head to check that they’d gone. Then, with a soft sigh, he settled once more and thought about the over-heard conversation.

*~*~*

Making love again, Daniel pressed his head back into the pillow and stared up at the pair of glittering grey eyes above him.

Lucius’ hair had escaped its black ribbon and was cascading down to form a sort of curtain between them and the rest of the world. Here, in this little world of panted breaths, searing kisses and long, drawn out groans, there was only pleasure. Out there, beyond the curtain of white-blond hair, beyond Daniel’s flat, the world was full of opinionated ex-wives, sisters, brothers in trouble and people-who-should-mind-their-own-business - not to mention Lucius’ wife and family.

He knew Lucius was as hooked as he was – he could see it in the man’s eyes. They sparked and darkened with desire and pleasure as he reacted to each of Daniel’s touches or caresses.

He brought his knees up now, wrapping his legs around Lucius’ waist and just squeezing enough to make his lover gasp a little.

“So strong…” Lucius growled, kissing his lips with brutal force and then teasing the bruised lower lip with his teeth before caressing with his tongue. “Are you ready to go again, baby boy?”

Daniel loved his pet name – even though he’d never accept it from anyone but Lucius. But there was something in Lucius’ attitude and approach that made him feel precious, treasured and adored. He nodded and lifted his hips; pushing down as Lucius thrust up into him.

He was ready, slick from before and the man entered him in an easy glide that nonetheless stole his breath away. For a second, hopelessly intoxicated by sensation, they clung together and then, with an age-old rhythm, Lucius started to rock forward and back; rolling his hips to press just there and cause sparks to go off in Daniel’s head.

The first time, neither of them ever lasted very long. Too turned on, too desperate for each other, they always came within moments. But that was okay: it was rarely any time before they were ready to go again. And after that initial session, they were able to make it last longer, savouring one another and memorising it all because who knew when they’d be able to get together again?

“I love this,” Lucius gasped, caught up in the motion, “love doing this to you. Love the noises you make – so responsive! Can I make you scream, baby boy? Will you cry out for me?”

Daniel groaned, unable to form coherent words for a reply. Wanting, needing more, he took his cock in his hand and gave it two quick pulls before Lucius pushed his hand away and took over.

“Scream for me, Daniel,” he growled, pumping and pushing at the same unstoppable rhythm.

Wishing that this time could have lasted longer but wanting only to please his lover, Daniel gave in and centred on the hand on his cock and the repeated strokes over his prostate. With a hoarse yell, he arched his back and came in a rush.

It then took him a few seconds to realise that he was suddenly alone. Lucius had pulled out, just as Daniel was coming, and was now slithering down his body to lick at his spent cock and messy, sticky stomach.

“Oh…fuck,” Daniel groaned and was rewarded by a wicked chuckle. He gazed down at that blond head and gasped when bright silver eyes lifted to gaze back at him with a look of…

…It was rather like a question; as if Lucius was asking for his permission, his approval…perhaps even for praise.

“You…” Daniel panted, “The things you do to me. I love it all, Lucius. I love you.”

The eyes had glittered at his words but then, when Daniel professed his love, they closed briefly, making him panic very slightly that he’d spoken out of turn.

But then Lucius was inside him again and the sensation was almost too much. Super-sensitised, he cried out, fingers biting cruelly into Lucius’ back and shoulders as he felt intense pleasure wash over him once more. With a stifled grunt, his lover then pushed in deep and made the short, rocking not-quite thrusts that told Daniel he was very close.

“Don’t hold it in,” he whispered, bringing his hands up to touch the other man’s face. “Go with it, ride it out – there’s no one to hear you but me…”

And then suddenly, with an explosive yell, Lucius was coming; pushing and panting; his eyes squeezed shut until Daniel caressed his face again and then the eyes opened and blazed with unmitigated heat and desire. Then there were just kisses – hot, open-mouthed kisses – and Lucius wiped his lips back and forth on Daniel’s, spreading their saliva from cheek to cheek.

“Did you mean…what you said?” Lucius asked several minutes later when they lay side by side in a tangled knot of arms and legs.

Daniel nodded, lifting his head from his lover’s chest to look up into his face. “And before you say it,” he added, “I know it’s pointless and you don’t have to say it back. You have a wife – hell, you even have a son! But that doesn’t matter to me – I know how I feel and that’s all that matters.”

Lucius was silent for several minutes and then he shifted so that he could look straight at Daniel. “Narcissa’s gone,” he said in a low voice. “I don’t know where – don’t care, to be honest. And Draco…” he shook his head.

“Teenagers are tricky,” Daniel offered, hoping to give his lover an element of support. He looked away then, afraid to ask and yet knowing that if he didn’t ask…

“Lucius, please,” he began and then faltered, smiling in a self-deprecating, self-mocking way. He shook his head to indicate that he’d changed his mind.

“What?” Lucius asked, his voice deeper and softer than usual. Sex did that to him, Daniel knew; it took away all the man’s sharp edges and made him tender and gentle.

Daniel sighed, placing his head back against his lover’s chest so that he couldn’t see the man’s expression. “Would you stay the night?” he asked timidly, “With it being Christmas, I thought it would be…special…if you and I…if we…” He broke off with another sigh and then waited, trying not to hope.

“You want me to stay here…with you?” Lucius repeated, sounding incredulous.

Daniel shook his head, “I know – you’re so busy! You’ve probably got people coming – family, business associates…” It occurred to him then that he knew nothing of what Lucius did for a living.

“Actually, I do have people coming on Boxing Day,” Lucius replied slowly and a ghost of a smile crossed his lips when the younger man’s shoulder’s slumped a little. “So why don’t you come and stay with me? You can help me entertain all these boring long-past associates of mine. I don’t work with any of them now but it’s traditional for them to come to us – me, rather – at Christmas.”

“You’re not – you don’t -?” Daniel shook his head, unable to form a coherent sentence. “I mean will I fit in? Won’t I be in the way?”

Lucius stroked the palm of his hand down Daniel’s cheek and shook his head, “I’m sure they’ll be as enchanted with you as I am.” He smiled and then gave a little frown of concern. “Won’t your family want you with them, though?”

Daniel blew his cheeks out and then exhaled, shaking his head. “Alison brought Jenna here for the weekend,” he explained. “There was some story…they got it into their heads that Death Eaters were after them,” he paused, trying not to look expectantly at Lucius and, at the same time, hating himself. After all, Lucius had assured him that he wasn’t into that anymore!

“So you had your ex-wife stay?” Lucius nudged, looking mildly jealous.

“Yeah,” Daniel quirked a sneering little smile, “and she only served to remind me why I’m so much better off without her!”

“And did they have your nephew with them?” Lucius asked, pretending that he didn’t already know the answer.

“No,” Daniel murmured, pressing his face into the gentle caress of his lover’s fingertips. “No, Thomas came back. Gods, I’m sorry – you’re behind on the whole story…”

“Well,” Lucius smirked, “we didn’t really make time for small talk, earlier.”

“No, we didn’t.” The brown eyes warmed as he gazed up into the face he loved. “Well, you remember I said that Thomas was with friends in Cumbria? Another werewolf and the really sexy guy with black hair?” he smiled at the recollection of Thomas’ description. “Anyway, Thomas came back, told Alison the full story – you remember I told you what happened to his fiancée? Well, he told Alison and then he just packed a bag for Oscar and took off again.”

“Back to Cumbria?” Lucius asked casually. He knew of Thomas’ death of course, knew that Black and Lupin were now gone, but how much did Daniel know? Certainly, the younger man had been free enough with his information, during these sessions of pillow talk, to convince Lucius that he wasn’t trying to trick him. And prior to Thomas’ attempt to take his son to Cumbria, assorted Death Eaters under Lucius’ control had been searching the whole of the Lake District (quite a feat in itself.)

“Um…yeah, I guess so. I read they’ve had snow up there – must be really nice for Oscar! I mean, this is the first Christmas that he’ll be properly aware of things like presents and Christmas trees, you know?”

“Can you send him something?” Lucius asked, looking concerned, “It doesn’t sound as if Thomas has got much money. I’d like to help in some way – could we send up some presents for Oscar?”

A genuinely grateful smile curved Daniel’s lips then. “That’s so nice of you! But…no,” he shook his head, “I’ve never had Thomas’ address up there.” He paused then, thinking, “But hang on, Alison said that Thomas took the red rucksack – the one Jenna and I bought on holiday once.”

“If it was yours,” Lucius began, looking hopeful, “we can send Oscar’s presents straight to the rucksack. Fill it up for him as a surprise on Christmas morning.”

“Yeah!” Daniel beamed, “But are you sure? You don’t have to spend your money – you’ve never even met him before.”

“You care about him,” Lucius pressed a kiss on his lover’s mouth, “therefore I care about him too. Come on, you can choose what to buy on the way back to my house.”