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: story is slash and NC-17
Feedback: oh yes, highly appreciated
Disclaimer: see where the money is NOT? J.K. Rowling still owns them.
Warnings: a tiny, tiny bit of smut - not worth mentioning, really
Category: all over the place
Summary: to be vulnerable in front of Lucius is asking for trouble. Forcing Severus to
show his vulnerability can be dangerous…
A/N: beta was underlucius.
This chapter is for Sunny. She will know why. Oh, and Narcissa is rather OOC here but
I couldn't resist. May I be forgiven.

20/?


The potions master recovered remarkably quickly. But the whole affair had changed him. That became all to clear on the last day of his stay at the Manor. Deciding he was well enough, Severus had told his lover the evening before he would leave for the school the following morning.

Having their last breakfast in the guestroom together, Snape now was repeatedly looking at the scars on his arms and 'hmpfed'. Again.

"What?" Lucius looked up, sipping on his orange juice. "It will be all right."

"No, it will not," the potions master returned coldly.

"Of course it will," Lucius sighed irritated. Now what?

"The outside will, yes," Severus looked at him defiantly.

"Oh, get off it, Sev. We all have our demons." Boredom was starting to rise. Ah, THAT song again…

"You don't," the potions master countered challengingly.

"Ah well, there are always a few exceptions. It's all in the mind, you know."

"Obviously."

It could be an insult… Lucius wasn't sure and eyed his lover with a searching look.

"What's your point, Sev? If there even is one?"

"So much for intelligence. I really have to spell this out for you, don't I?" Snape snarled.

"Please do," his lover drawled imperturbably.

"All THIS…" the potions master shoved his scarred arms under the man's face, "…for just a mere HALF-blood." Pulling his arms back again, Snape started chewing on a croissant, giving the impression of a relaxed man enjoying his breakfast. But he was very vigilant, not at all sure how Lucius would react to this revelation. He could almost see him process the words and put the pieces together. When the last piece of the puzzle fell on its place, Lucius sat motionless and forgot to breathe for quite some time - all that time staring at him as if he suddenly had turned into a ghost.

"I see you finally get the picture. You certainly took your time…" Severus smirked.

"Don't!" Lucius hissed, even paler than usual.

"Don't what?" the potions master pushed some more.

"I know what you are trying to do," Lucius spat out the words, nevertheless controlling his rising anger admirably. "DON'T start a fight with me, Sev, because I will not grant you one."

"Now why would I want to start a fight?" Feigned innocence.

"Because somewhere in your twisted mind you decided that I would tell The Dark Lord of your betrayal and you could then hate me and not feeo huo hurt when He has you killed? Or maybe you have convinced yourself that I would leave you now?" His educated guesses both seemed to be right, Lucius noticed.

"Wouldn't yWoulWould you still want to be with me if I no longer supp - "

Loud screaming prevented the potions master from having his question answered as a completely hysterical Narcissa suddenly Apparated into the room and started to incinerate everything in sight with a flame-thrower), yelling things like "FILTHY TRAITOR!" and "DESPICABLE QUEER!"

Luckily Effy managed to Stupefy her before she could do other damage than burn the curtains and a painting.

"You stupid house-elf! You were sup - " Lucius jumped up, wand already in his hand and stormed at the now terrified Effy, whose long ears seemed to try to cover up his own large eyes.

"STOP IT!" Severus demonstrated his recovery by swiftly taking out his own wand and impressively quickly disarmed the other man. "Calm down, you idiot. It is all my fault anyway - I told Effy this morning that the protective wards were no longer required." He picked up Lucius' wand and still held on to it. Just to be sure. "I better go now before your wife manages to throw off the spell. I know from past experiences that this particular spell is not one of Effy's best… thank you for taking care of meciuscius."

With those words Severus Apparated out of the Manor. Effy did too. The only difference was their destination. Effturnturned to Snape Manor and his Master to Hogwarts. Lucius stayed standing in the room, trying desperately to take it all in.

Snape went straight for Dumbledore, knowing that otherwise the old man would soon invade his privacy in the dungeons. Once opposite the pleasantly surprised Headmaster he simply informed him that he was now well again and would take up teaching the next morning. After that simple announcement he swirled around on hiels els and left the office, leaving behind a momentarily dumbfounded Dumbledore staring at a closed door. Something not many people had ever managed to pull off.

The next morning the potions master joined his colleagues for breakfast in the Great Hall as if nothing had happened. He had no idea what Dumbledore had told them about his absence but they all greeted him with warm smiles without asking any questions. Only the werewolf looked at him with some concern hidden behind his smile.

"Glad to have you back, sir," Draco quickly stepped up to the head table and greeted his Head of House. "I hope you are feeling well again?
"Y
"Yes, thank you, Draco." Snape nodded curt and gestured him to get back to his seat. Draco, even though he was Lucius' son, had not been informed about what had truly happened. The boy only knew that his Head of House had fallen ill and his father had been looking after him but that was it. As a true Malfoy he was also wise enough to not ask questions. And why should he? He already knew for several years that his father and the potions master were lovers. Neither of them had ever tried to hide that from him. His father had even explained to him years ago that his marriage was an arranged one and that it was considered to be perfectly normal to have a lover on the side. As long as it was done with discretion. And that his father turned out to favour men over women - since he had the same preference, who was he to judge?

The potions master ignored his surroundings and concentrated on his food. The only distraction came when an unknown owl landed in front of the DADA teacher with a letter. The werewolf got post? Judging by his reaction, Lupin was equally stunned. He hesitantly removed the letter from the owl, gave it some of his bacon and flipped the envelope over. Because of that action Snape could see the wax seal and recognized it - the Malfoy family crest. What? Lucius? Lucius was sending the werewolf a letter? What on earth for? He curio wat watched the DADA teacher open the letter and read it, becoming paler and paler by the second. At the end he was swallowing convulsively, crumbled the letter into his hand, stood up and left the Hall. Intriguing… Severus stared after him thoughtfully, not sure what to think of it.

A few days later he got a pretty good idea what the letter must have been about because the werewolf was avoiding him ever since as if he was carrying the plague. No doubt Lucius had warned him to stay away from Snape. And knowing Lucius, and seeing how Lupin made very sure to stay well out of his way, his lover probahad had seen fit to use some kind of magic which would alert him as soon as the DADA teacher came close to Severus. It was almost tempting to show up behind the werewolf's back just to see what would happen, but no - the man had saved his life by finding him in time. Not that he was sure if he was glad to still be alive… it was all so confusing. As everything seemed to be these days…

As time passed by it became clear that Lucius had not betrayed him to the Dark Lord. So far. But he wasn't contacting him either. Was their relationship over? Probably not - why would Lucius otherwise even bother to send Lupin a warning? Then why this silence? It had been almost two months since he'd left the Manor and the silence was getting on his nerves. Highly unusual and extremely unwelcome. That was SO not him! Why would he give the man that much control over how he felt? He decided to fight that the only way he knew how to deal with anything disturbing - by locking himself up even more and studying more fiercely than ever on the new and enhanced Wolfsbane Potion.

Another fortnight passed and suddenly Lucius appeared at his door. Severus had a hard time hiding the relief he felt (such a disturbing feeling!) and invited him in with a nod of his head.

"You look nervous," Lucius stated matter-of-factly, disposing os his gloves but not his cane. Odd, the potions master mused. Even more odd that he should notice that little detail…

"It's not exactly soothing to know that one's faith is depending on another man's decision," he mumbled, heading for the chairs by the fireplace.

"Don't you think I would have told him by now if I had the intention to do so?"

"It can be a powerful on ton to control someone." As if that thought hadn't crossed Lucius' mind already. He would be very surprised if it hadn't. Hell, he wouldn't even believe otherwise!

"I don't need stupid threats to control you," Lucius said disdainfully, holding out his cane against the other man's chest. "Did I give you permission to sit?"

The potions master froze halfway between standing and sitting down. A cold knot inside his stomach seemed to become restless and twisted violently. He stood up again, breathing out slowly while his mouth suddenly became very dry. And why, for Merlin's sake, was he even obeying?

"And I did not give you permission to look at me either." The cane unyieldingly landed on his left cheeck-bone. Snape immediately averted his eyes, trying to suppress the shaking of his legs while countless thoughts started racing through his head.

Lucius calmly sat down in one of the chairs and sighed. "Resisting, aren't you? Mmm, can't have that… undress yourself, Severus."

Severus? Oh Circe - Lucius calling him by his full name never was a good sign and always meant trouble. Compose yourself and walk away! Just walk away and let him play his sick games with someone else this time! Go! Don't be such a weak fool! Just go!

"NOW!" A sharp blow on his right kneecap almost made the potions master buckle and fall but he managed to stay on his feet. His trembling fingers started to open the many buttons on his shirt, while he cursed himself for his loathing weakness and obedience. Giving Lucius that much power was SO wrong, such a stupid thing to do. So why didn't he stop?

"Perfect," Lucius stared appreciatively at his now naked lover in front of him. Severus stood motionless, keeping his eyes on the other man's black boots. Thinking soon became impossible when the head of the cane gently touched his left shoulder. His brain seemed to shut down completely the moment his skin came in contact with the cold metal. His senses took over and focused on the head of that cursed cane, teasingly slowly creeping over his chest, nipples, stomach, hips and legs. But never over his genitals. It was disturbing. He groaned disappointed and tried moving his hips ever so slightly, trying to coax the cane into touching this particular area. The movement was immediately trounced with a short, sharp blow on his rising cock. The potions master growled in pain and did not move again. The sick bastard!

"You really thought I would betray you or even leave you, didn't you?" Lucius rose from his chair and walked to the back of his lover. He tsk-ed. And let his cane come down hard on the left buttocks of the man in front of him. The reaction was panting breath but no movement. Good.

"I couldn't do that and do you know why not?" His hand gently caressed the red welt that was starting to appear on the assaulted buttock. "Because you need me. Don't you, Severus? Mmm?" He bent forward and whispered in his lover's ear, "You need me to take care of you, to protect you, to harbour you, to possess you…" a seducing little nip on the man's shoulder, ".. to break you…" He had hardly finished his last word or Lucius smashed his cane on the other buttocks and was rewarded with a visible shiver and a soft moan. Oh yes, his dark angel was such a fine plang…
ng…

"Because once in a while, just occasionally, you need to be broken, don't you?" his lips now touched the other ear before his h nih nibbled their way down to that shoulder and bit down. Hard. The potions master wasn't able to control himself and a yelp escaped his lips.

"That was not a wise thing to do, my pet," Lucius chuckled viciously, stepped back, aimed and hit his lover with his cane right at the back of his knees. Snape lost control over his body; his legs collapsed from under him and with a howl of pain his kneecaps hit the stone floor and absorbed the weight they suddenly had to hold. Lucius walked around, enjoying the sight of the now severely shivering body, while scraping his fingers over the vertebral column that was so beautifully exposed. He slowly sat down on the chair again and tsk-ed once more.

"Still resisting, still not willing to give over…" In an almost dreamingly fashion one of his hand cupped the potion masters chin and forced him to look up to him. "Am I asking too much, Severus? Mmm? Am I? Just let me rule you… that's all I am asking. Is that too much for you?"

Snape looked at his lover as if hypnotised and closed his eyes for a moment. Yes, Lucius was right. This was what he wanted. Needed. To be broken. Completely. Every cell in his body and mind yearned for it SO desperately… THAT was what had caused all his restless ess lately; the need to be owned, to be taken over relentlessly. To be able to let go. To finall abl able to let go. Of everything. Just so he could escape into becoming nothing for a while. Not having to think, decide or take responsibility…nothing. Just be. Just breathe and feel. Be. And Lucius was the only one who could give that to him. Was willing to give him that and even enjoy it himself.

"Please… break me…" he whispered, not even attempting to conceal the desperate begging tone in his own voice.

"I haven't decided yet… in the meantime, I suggest you make yourself useful." Without breaking eye contact, Lucius zipped open his own trousers and got his already semi-hard cock out. "Suck. No hands and stay on all fours."

Snape needed no more encouragement. His mouth eagerly engulfed the head of his lover's cock, then his tongue started to slowly swirl to the base of the cock where he carefully nibbled on the balls one by one, before taking them in his mouth and gently biting down on them. He was rewarded by a gasp and a hiss. After biting down a second time his teeth grazed all the way back up to the head of the cock again. Slowly he let his mouth close over that delicious cock and took him in as far as he could. Then he swallowed. "Yesssss," Lucius bucked his hips and seemed to try and push his cock even further in. Which was absolutely not possible since he was already engulfed to the root. Severus took pride in his reputation as a exceptionally skilled deep throater
and repeated the process, even managing to involve his tongue, determined to let Lucius come. His lover made some hitched guttural noises but then pushed him away, taking over control again.

"No, you don't, Severus…behave," Lucius smiled, recognizing the intention all too well. "I have other plans - come and sit on my lap like a nice obedient lapdog, will you?"

The word 'lapdog' almost broke the enchantment for the potions master as a pic of of the deeply hated Sirius Black flashed before his eyes. It certainly had a direct result on his own erection which was now quickly fading.

"Ah, I see I struck a nerve here… " Lucius swiftly distracted the thoughts of his lover by pulling him up and kissing him fiercely. It worked. "Ride me."

He broke the kiss, grabbed the potions master by his hips and without giving the man time to prepare properly, thrusted up hard. Snape bit down on his bottom lip to prevent himself from protesting and did as was requested of him. His own cock started to harden again. A fact that Lucius choose to absolutely ignore, much to his growing frustration. An attempt to take care of it himself immediately got punished by sharp nails digging in his balls. Damn that man!

By keeping hold of the other man's hips and thrusting up mercilessly, Lucius controlled every little detail and it wasn't long before he came, thrusting wildly and screaming loud. The potions master watched as his lover threw his head back, his eyes closed, mouth half open and cheecks flushed, coming violently. He was so beautiful to watch, looking that debauched…

"Get off!" The moment Lucius had regained his composure, he roughly shoved a stunned Severus off his lap and onto the floor.

"What the…?"

"Already forgotten your place, Severus?" Straightening his clothes again, Lucius stood up and smiled down maliciously. "I did not give you permission to speak, remember? For that, you must be punished so I will not break you. Goodnight, Severus."

Lucius left.

The potions master got up, staring at the closing door in utter disbelief. He left! The bastard had just left! He had the nerve to ju… AH! Reality seemed to kick in all of the sudden. Damn! The evil bastard never had had the intention to break him tonight! It had been part of his twisted game to let himNK hNK he would get what he so desperately yearned for but Lucius would not have given it to him tonight, no matter what. Such a twisted mind, such a twisted, sick, beautiful mind!

Snape could almost laugh about it. Almost. The increased yearning, now fastly becoming a real burden, and his painful hard-on prevented him from doing so. That last condition was something he could deal with himself and at once. Stepping into the shower, that was exactly what he did. Gods, that man was SO evil… he almost had to admire him for this one. Lucius really had him completely fooled. The only problem was that he now indeed desperately wanted to be broken. Talk about torture!

But if Lucius could play with his deepest desires and needs and use his vulnerability… the least he could do was return the 'favour'. Get the man at his weak spot and break him in turn. Really break him. Fortunately he just happened to know what that weak spot was. Or better: who it was.