Path of the serpent

Title: Path of the serpent
Author: ejab
Pairing: SS/LM with a little SS/RL and SS/DM on the side
Rating: will become NC-17
Feedback: highly appreciated!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling still holds on to them.
Warnings: none whatsoever. Sorry.
Category: all over the place
Summary: Lucius does what he does best…
A/N: beta was underlucius, who slaps me in the face when I need it.

19/?

"But why, Headmaster? Why did you let Malfoy take Severus with him? He should have stayed here, where we could keep an eye on him! There's no telling what Malfoy will do to him!" After two days, the DADA teacher was still not able to accept the latest development and turned to Dumbledore again.

"He would have taken him with him, no matter what, Remus," the Headmaster poured them some more tea and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I don't know how to explain this to you but Severus and I talked about his relationship with Lucius several times and when I saw Lucius react the way he did, I think it finally dawned on me - whether we like it or not; those two are inseparable. In their own weird way they do love each other sincerely… Lucius would not have accepted a refusal. And not only because he is a Malfoy."

"But you are the Headmaster! You are…"

"I am not the Almighty, as much as you would like to think I am, Remus. And besides, you can be absolutely sure that Severus will get the best treatment possible - Lucius will see to that. He also knows what caused this. We don't. And somehow that is crucial information needed for the treatment. Information Severus would not be willing to give us, I think."

"But what if You-Know…Voldemort has done that to him?"

"I honestly don't know, Remus… but I do know that you better prepare yourself for the next full moon in four days, because Severus won't be back to give you your Wolfsbane Potion in time."

"I know…" The DADA teacher sighed and rubbed his face, staring at the ridiculous pink slippers Dumbledore was wearing.

"Please forgive me for asking, but do you have a certain… interest for Severus' well-being? Lucius seemed to know something I don't"

Remus stared at the Headmaster for a moment, not sure if the man was serious or teasing him.

"Let's just say we had an 'agreement'…" he grumbled, his cheeks flushing. "I must go now, Headmaster."

And while Lupin fled from the suddenly rather hot office of Dumbledore, Lucius Apparated into the Ministery and made his way to the Addams boy. He was in a foul mood, feeling exhausted both from sleep deprivation and worry. Effy was now taking care of Severus and he finally seemed to be healing well. But the last night had been worriesome during which his health
suddenly took a turn for the worst. For several hours he had really feared for the man's life. They still didn't know what had caused the setback but that was all in the past now. His dark angel even had opened his eyes for a moment this morning. They still looked terrifyingly empty but nevertheless… and then there was Narcissa. Gods, that woman could really bring out the worst in him!

A howl of pain during Sev's first night had informed him that she just had the pleasure of discovering the protective wards he'd set up around the guest room. And they were painful wards too. He just hadn't been able to resist that temptation when setting them up. As a result she was now walking around with burn marks on her face and hands, which suited her nicely. But Narcissa, being the stupid and blindly jealous bitch she was, kept on trying to get access to the room so he checked the wards every hour or so to make sure they still worked. Finally, this morning he even had Effy put up some extra defensive spells. House-elf magic was extremely complicated and strong - there was no way Narcissa could break that particular boundary. He would not be able to do so himself, for that matter. That meant having to be somewhat 'kind' to a house-elf; an unpleasant but necessary evil. Especially considering the alternative. And only because of Effy's added spells he felt secure enough to leave the Manor, and his lover, for a while. After all, there was a certain business to attend to.

"Good morning, Mr Addams. And how are you today?" Putting on his most friendly smile, Lucius straightened his shoulders once again and walked into the appallingly small office.

"Mr Malfoy! Good morning to you too, sir!" The young Ministery junior immediately beamed with pride. Mr Malfoy was visiting him! Not the Minister, not other important officials but HIM! He hastily jumped up and almost stumbled over his own legs in his hurry to run around the desk and cleared a seat from the stack of papers. "Please, have a seat, sir. Can I get you anything? Tea?"

"No, thank you… " Lucius made sure to sit down on a file instead of the chair. "I'm afraid I don't have much time but I was simply too curious - how is the Bill going?"

"Ah… yes… I was about to contact you about that…" Clive smiled shyly while sitting down at his own desk again.

"Problems?" Lucius questioningly raised an eyebrow, while making sure his gloves were still adequately protecting his hands from any office-dirt.

"I have managed to get the full support of all other required officials, except for the Minister himself. He keeps refusing and…well, he refuses." Clive shunned eye contact nervously.

"And why is that?" Lucius bent slightly forward, giving the impression of great concern.

"He… um… he says that he will not tolerate such abnormal,unnatural and reprehensible behaviour as long as he can help it," the young boy admitted. "No matter who…"

"I see." Lucius stared thoughtfully at his expensive black dragon leather boots for a moment before standing up again. "Please allow me? I know the Minister very well, as you will undoubtedly be aware of - maybe I can make him see the matter from a different point of view?"

"Would you? Oh, that would be so fantastic! Thank you, Mr Malfoy, that is SO helpful!" The relief seemed to beam of the young man's face and he kept on thanking his saviour again and again.

"Let's just wait with this display of enthusiasm until the Minister agrees, shall we?" Lucius kept refusing to shake hands. "I will see to it at once."

"Oh please, sir! I wouldn't want you to throw your busy schedule around just for my Bill! I - I am sure it can wait some days more!" Clive suddenly felt a high sense of guilt and blushed fiercely.

"Nonsense - obstructions are to be dealt with the moment they occur." With a faint smile, Lucius nodded his goodbye and left the office. Clive stared after him, noticing, not without satisfaction, how several colleagues looked at him with a hint of jealousy. Sighing he turned around to his work again, wondering if Mr Malfoy would be able to convince the Minister. Or better; 'how' he would convince the Minister. Because he would convince the man, of that he was sure. But calling the Minister merely an 'obstruction'… somehow that said a lot about the man.

Lucius kept to his word and went straight for the office of the Minsiter, demanding to see him.

"He has just returned - I will ask if he can see you on such short notice without an appointment," the new apprentice said, standing up.

"Of course he will. Just announce my presence - that will do," Lucius snorted, giving the young girl an insulted glare before she ran off.

"Lucius, such an unexpected surprise to see you! Come in, my friend." Within thirty seconds the door of the Minister's office opened and Fudge himself invited him in. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Can I help you with something?" He gestured his guest to sit down on the leather chair and poured brandy for them both before sitting down too and nervously taking a sip. Malfoy always managed to make him nervous, just by showing up. Maybe because that always meant being asked 'favours'…

"As a matter of fact, yes, you can," Lucius disposed of his gloves and cane before slowly picking up the glass and smiled coldly at the Minister. "I have heard about this bill… something about homosexuals being able to get married? Can you perhaps enlighten me on that subject?"

"Ah, that… yes, very… unfortunate, that one….just some rather distasteful figments of the imagination of an over zealous clerk, I'm afraid," Fudge chuckled and shook his head. "Can you imagine that? The world turned upside down! Men getting pregnant and giving birth…" The Minister took another sip of his brandy and relaxed somewhat. "Children need a father AND a mother! How can you ever expect to raise balanced children if they have to miss out on a father or a mother to serve as a model? A family is the foundation of our society and growing up with two fathers or two mothers really is unhealthy, to say the least."

"Even if the two fathers or two mothers have nothing but sincere intentions and great amounts of love to give?" Lucius lazily swirled the liquid around in his glass, looking stoic.

"Intentions? Intentions never got my bills paid. No, it's unnatural and therefore wrong. Besides, can you picture two men making love? Mind you, two women…THAT I'd like to see very much!" Fudge laughed out loud and licked his lips meaningfully.

"So you will not let it pass? Froat Iat I understood, there is a lot of sympathy for this bill."

"Of course not! It is abnormal and sick behaviour!" The Minister shook his head again, but his confidence slowly started to crumble as his guest gave him a piercing look. "What? What are you… don't tell me you are in favour of this 'proposal'! Lucius! It would - "

"It has come to my attention that the Ministery has a hard time paying for all those extra Aurors now guarding Azkaban… I wonder what would become of the public image of this department when the people find out where the money is really going…" Lucius mumbled while staring at his glass. "Ah, the sleepless nights I have because of that.."

"You wouldn't!" Fudge hissed, jumping out of his chair as if bitten by a snake.

"No? And why not?" He had him and Lucius knew it. So did Fudge. But he wasn't ready to give up without a fight just yet.

"You shared in it too, Lucius! You've had your share of gifts, trips and - "

"Really now? Can you prove that? Mmm? Because I have plenty of evidence on the gifts and trips you so generously gave to yourself and other Ministers. And can you imagine what would happen if people hear about your painful incompetence as a Minister?"

"My incompe… exactly WHAT are you refering to, Lucius?" Fudge felt the sweat appear on his forehead again. The sweat of fear.

"Must I really remind you how you prevented Crouch junior from being interrogated? Some would call that obstruction of the law, you know. And while you were responsible for Azkaban, an extremely dangerous murderer called Black managed to escape. Oh, and an innocent, and very popular, man from Hogwarts was innocently sent to that same prison… you certainly have a record for misjudging people and events, Fudge. And while we're at it, shall I give you details on your - "

"Enough!" The Minister stared at Lucius with a mixture of rage and disbelief. The man would not hesitate for a moment to launce a campaign in order to bring the public opinion around. He was all too aware of that. "You wouldn't! You would - "

"Try me," Lucius finally took a sip from his brandy and threw his long hair back in the process, ignoring the presence of the other man completely.

"I… you…" Fudge was lost for words and slumped down on his chair, staring at his hands, desperately thinking about a way out. Which he couldn't find. Damn that man! Damn that arrogant, sneaky, sly man! There was no doubt in his mind - Lucius would undoubtedly have saved some sort of evidence. That Slytherin aristocrat would probably even have files on every one he did business with; ready and available for the moment it could be used in order to control others. Damn damn damn!

"Look at the bright side, Fudge - you sign and let the bill pass and I will make sure some very worthwhile business will come your way in the near future," Lucius looked at last at the pale Minister and gave him a warm smile. With eyes cold and hard as steel.

"I really don't have a choice here, now do I?" the Minister reluctantly capitulated and rubbed his face with one hand.

"There are always choices - it's those consequences that are the real annoyances," Lucius lifted his glass in a toasting gesture. "Now if you would be so kind to let one of your office-boys bring the Bill so you can sign it?"

"You're not leaving anything to chance, are you?" Fudge grunted.

"Never," the aristocrat assured him, turning his attention back to his brandy.

"Very well…" The Minister did as Lucius has requested and within minutes the bill was brought into the office. Fudge signed it under the watchful eye of his 'business associate'.

"I will see to it that it gets returned to Mr Addams. It's always a pleasure to do business with you, 'Minister'," Lucius picked up the now watertight new law, gave Fudge a faint smile and left, while putting on his gloves again.

Two minutes later he handed it over to an euphoric Clive Addams. "Oh Merlin, I can't believe it! Oh gods, oh Merlin, how did you…no, I don't want to know…I've made a…it's…GODS! How can I ever thank you?" Clive almost started to dance around in his tiny office.

"I'm sure we will be able to think of something in the future," Lucius said kindly. "When will it be announced in the Daily Prophet?"

"Oh yes, must not forget that…um…tomorrow morning should be no problem, I think." Clive still could hardly believe it and stared at the papers in his hands. HIS Bill! HIS name under it!

"Good. I advice you to prepare yourself for criticism and sevoppoopposition - there will always be people who are not willing to accept this." Lucius warned him. "If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask for my assistance. I do have to ask you, however, not to mention my name and help. It is your Bill and you did all the work. Therefore, you should receive all the credit."

"Oh… all right, I promise." Clive was very impressed by such modesty and dumbfoundedly stared after the aristocrat as he left his room again. Oh boy…

Lucius swiftly left the Ministery, for the first time this day feeling quite happy. Poor Narcissa… she would be SO disappointed…

******************************************************************

Nyos - thank you for your review! Mpreg? Mmm, it has crossed my mind but I don't know if it will be for this particular story. Let me think about that one…
Can't answer your other questions - I would give away too much!