Opposite Universe

Lucius stepped out of the fireplace and looked around not seeing Severus
there, he went to his lab knowing Severus would be working. Severus was
always working when he wasn\'t teaching or reading. Lucius stalked through
his private chambers and into his office. He slammed the door behind him in
anger and saw Snape jump.


\"I\'m sorry Severus; didn\'t mean to scare you like that.\"


\"Well, what did you think it was going to do? Make me overjoyed to see you?
What\'s wrong that you have come bursting in here like that?\" He growled and
turned back to his cauldron.


\"Well, not with You-Know-Who but just as disturbing.Narcissa finally got the
guts to send me divorce papers. Do you believe that wench?\" He spat and
paced across the room, his cane making tapping sounds on the cold stone
floor.


\"Oh, spare me Lucius! You couldn\'t truly hate her if you tried. Besides, now
you don\'t have to lie to her about your double life. So, look at it as a
blessing.\" He stated not even looking up from the orange glow of the
cauldron.


\"I guess. but I did love her at one time, Severus. It just hurts a bit.\" He
muttered.


\"Well, I\'m here for you as long as you quit sounding like a sappy romance
novel. It\'s pathetic! You need something to do to keep your mind off such
idle thoughts.\" Severus stirred the cauldron and then added a vile of blue
sparkly liquid.


\"And what in your infinite wisdom do you suggest, Severus? Hexing passing
children like you do?\" He snapped.


Severus only glanced at him with a smirk and a chuckle.


\"Although that is entertaining, no, that\'s not what I meant. Actually, there
is a meeting of the Order of Phoenix tonight, you could join me there.\" He
finished stirring and poured some of the now greenish liquid in a vile.


\"Absolutely not, I\'d rather rot.\" He drawled disgustedly.


Severus scoffed.


\"You probably will at this rate. Look: you wanted to play both sides like I
am because it gives you a chance to be safe, no matter what. I respect that
idea, I really do. But if you really want people to believe you\'re doing
this right, you should appear at the OotP meeting and act enthused to some
point.\"


\"Fine. I\'ll go but I won\'t be happy about it.\" He folded his arms across his
chest and sneered.


\"Yes, I can see that but stop acting like a child. Lucius, I should also
warn you: Harry Potter will be at this meeting. I know you detest the boy
wonder as much as I do but try and keep your tongue in check and your wand
as well.\" He raised his eyebrows at Lucius who snorted.


\"Well.well he\'s still alive, stupid boy, it would figure. Though, now I am
not so sure I want to go; all I need now is that boy giving me an attitude.
Why does he have to exist?! But don\'t worry I wouldn\'t waste my time.
Speaking of time when is this meeting and where?\" He checked his pocket
watch.


\"Now come off it Lucius, I don\'t like him any more than you do but he\'s
part of the Order and if you want this job you need to start acting like it.
Come to the meeting and just try to avoid the little twit. It\'s at Grimmauld
Place at 7. I\'ll go there with you, meet me here at 6:45.\" Severus muttered
in frustration.


\"Alright I\'ll go home and see you later, Severus.\" Severus nodded


Lucius walked out and over to the fireplace. He could not believe he had to
deal with Harry Potter on top of all the things he already was angry about.
If that weren\'t enough, Dumbledore would surely make him miserable by the
end of the evening. This was not the evening of stress relief he had wanted.


He threw the Floo powder in.


\"Malfoy Manor!\" He bellowed before he was swallowed by the flames.


When he returned to the Manor it wasn\'t any better than when he left. He
poured himself a glass of brandy and picked up a book. After reading for a
moment he threw it across the room and growled. He could not keep his
concentration on anything, but the idea that he was all alone now and it
wasn\'t even that actually sentiment but the idea that had gotten this way by
another person\'s actions. If he had chosen to end the marriage instead of
Narcissa that would have been different all together but he had not.


She had done it.


He was now all alone because of her.


And the idea was ripping him apart more than anything.


\"How dare she! How dare she!\" He screamed at the empty room and listened as
his voice echoed off the hallow space.


He paced back and forth, threw more books and a glass half full of brandy.
He tried to breathe deep and not scream any more but that attempt was
failing. Finally, after twenty minutes, he threw his cloak back on and used
the fireplace to go back to Severus\' private quarters. He walked into
Severus\' bedroom and saw Severus in front of the fireplace with a book.


Severus didn\'t even look up at the doorway. He sipped his glass of vodka and
turned the page. The large book gave off a small wafting of dust and settled
again. Severus sighed.


\"I figured you\'d return soon. No one to abuse at the Manor?\" He snickered
and continued to read the page.


Lucius scowled and threw his cloak over the coat rack by the door. He walked
over and poured himself a few shots of vodka into a glass. He sat down in
the big plush gray armchair across from Severus, watching the glow of the
fire lit up his face as he turned another page.


\"Well, are you going to stare all night or say something?\" Severus asked and
reached for his glass.


\"You\'re reading so I didn\'t want to interrupt you. You never listen when you
read anyway.\" He spat and turned his glass in his hands, watching the
firelight dance through the clear liquid.


\"I am listening well enough to hear you pout and complain at every chance
you have. Now what is it that bothers you the most.that Narcissa left you or
that you were left, period?\" He said placing the book on the table next to
him.


\"That Narcissa left of course!\" He lied, taking a drink of his vodka.


\"Well, it couldn\'t be because you miss the sex because I frankly can not
remember the last time you bragged about getting any.\" Severus smirked at
Lucius\' distasteful expression.


\"No, we have shared a bed but not our bodies for many years. Narcissa knew I
would pick up the occasional mistress here and there but I didn\'t love them.
I always came home to her and she never complained. It was a comfort to know
she was always there to talk to, laugh with and fight with. I never even
considered the sex when she left. I never had when she was there. Narcissa
wasn\'t the type of woman you lusted after. She was a delicate creature with
a fiery er. er. You were supposed to care for her, protect her and help her,
not ravish her.\" Lucius stared into the fire.


\"No, I agree that Narcissa was not the desirable type. She had a classic
beauty. But she probably felt taken for granted since you never went out of
your way to love her. Women, no matter how stubborn, need love.\" Severus
watched Lucius face for some sign of his emotions.


Lucius chuckled and looked at Severus.


\"Like you and Jessica?\" He questioned in a mocking tone.


\"Yes, exactly like us. She was as stubborn as her mother was, completely
hardheaded and sometimes wildly emotional. She brought out emotions in me I
had long thought dead and made me care for her, love her and everyday even
when I want to throw off the astronomy tower, I still tell her I love her.
If I didn\'t, I wouldn\'t even want to imagine the hell fire she\'d spout.\" He
laughed.


\"Yes, she is her mother\'s daughter and she also has a lot of Riddle in her
even if she doesn\'t want to see it. I certainly do. I never thought I would
see Severus Snape a married man. You never cease to surprise me. How is
married life with the fiery princess?\" Lucius smirked.


\"Don\'t mock her Lucius, she saved your life. You\'d be dead like the rest of
Death Eaters that night. Not that it matters but she adores you like her
mother did. Life is fine. I actually have begun to like it. It\'s nice to
have a warm body around to talk to, eat with, fight with and the sex is
always good.\" He grinned on the edge of his glass.


\"Really?\" Lucius raised his eyebrows. \"Must be nice to have it often.\" He
laughed.


\"It is beyond any magic I could imagine.\" He set down his glass and looked
at the grandfather clock.


\"We had better go.\" He rose along with Lucius and walked over to the coat
rack, grabbed their cloaks and headed towards the fireplace.

Lucius followed and put on the cloak that was thrown to him. He grabbed flew
power and waited for Severus. They both threw down the powder at the same
time.


\"Grimmauld Place!\" They both shouted and were gone in a puff of light smoke.