Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 39

“Do I dare ask if you’ll be joining us tomorrow evening, his lordship is hosting a small party here and is no doubt eager to see you?” The potion professor sniffed indignantly at the fruit platter sitting in front of him and instead selected a small range of soft cheeses from the other platter. It had been a strained meal the lengthy silences between the four diners making for plenty of indigestion and awkwardness. Finally though after he’d seen his Inferei fed Snape had sent Draco and Harry to bed while he and Lucius retired to the wizard’s private study for a nightcap and afters. Despite his dislike of his visitors Lucius was being a dutiful host laying on a midnight meal fit for a king. Lucius Malfoy didn’t know how to do things in half and there had been far too much food for the four of them. Still there had been no complaints, and only Harry ate less than his share his appetite for solid food beginning to wane.

“I believe I shall, I have some news which may be of use to him.” Severus smiled casually at Lucius who nodded and cautiously sipped from his brandy the gold bejeweled rings on his fingers catching the flickering of the candles and creating a colored mosaic on the wall opposite. “Tell me Lucius, why are you not among the ranks out there?” Careful to avoid sounding like he was prying Snape looked up casually from where he’d just licked his fingers free of cheese and was flicking the crumbs of the crackers off his shirt. It had been somewhat of a surprise to find Lucius still in residence at the manor having expected the elder wizard to be called up for Voldermort’s attacks.

“He believes my research into the Elith-furatu to be more important and wishes me to intensify my studies rather than fight at present.” Lucius looked over the rim of his brandy glass directly at Snape who calmly raised his left eyebrow in mild surprise. Something about this new information did not sit well with him and wondered curiously what Voldemort was up to. This was one side of his master’s plans that Snape had not been privy too.

“Really? I assumed that when he realized the Elith-furatu would not join him that he had lost interest in them?” Snape swirled the amber liquid around in his cut crystal glass again trying to keep his tone even so as not to betray the fact he was concerned by this development.

“He did for a while and my research was merely an added activity but something of late seems to have re-ignited his interest in the subject particularly in the area of your kinds magical abilities and power.” Lucius fell silent as he leaned forward and poked the fire with the stake sending a burst of warm air back into the cooling study. Snape pursed his lips together in thought silently wondering what the dark lord was up to. Perhaps Snape had underestimated the dark lords determination in ensuring complete allegiance to him or termination of those who chose not to bow before him. “He is expecting some further research tomorrow so you better have something of interest to tell me tonight, or he will be displeased tomorrow.” Lucius sat back in his chair reaching over his shoulder to grab the decanter of brandy in order to pour himself and Snape another. Snape gladly accepted the offer the fine aged liquor relaxing his tense muscles after the strenuous few months. The alcohol also helped him think, if Snape had become more interested in their kind, then Severus would have to be careful what information he was feeding him. At present they had the upper hand with little being known about their race but should Voldemort find out more the balance may be tipped too far.

“Very well, a mature and well trained Superei of our kind can channel the magical abilities of their claimed Inferei if need be, thus increasing his power in the times when he himself needs protection, i.e. When he faces another challenging Superei of equal or greater strength as himself.” Snape calmly recited a snippet of information, making it sound like at textbook reading other than something he’d collaborated together on the spot from his own knowledge. Lucius quickly put his brandy aside and grabbing a quill and a piece of parchment scratched down what Snape had said quickly. Snape gave Lucius time to write as he weighed up the possible ramifications of Voldemort knowing this information. There was little opportunity for Voldemort to make use of it, and it was rather a strength of the Elith-Furatu than a weakness, thus lending them a greater respectability. Snape had always known he’d be able to tap into his Inferei’s magic if he ever claimed one as his own, but he hadn’t quite realized what a difference it would make in his own magic until he’d used Harry back at Christmas in his fight against the other Superei.

“Anything else?” Lucius looked up from his parchment knowing not to question how Snape had found out these things about himself less the potion professor clam up.

“Yes, Inferei become territorial over their Superei during their respective seasons and tend to clash with violent outcomes. I suspect that should they be pushed or challenged they would kill one another.” Snape finished his second brandy and put the empty glass aside. Lucius went to refill it but Snape waved him away, he’d had enough for one evening. Lucius nodded and having made a few notes of his own put the parchment on his desk and returned to his seat opposite Snape’s by the fire.

“May I ask how you plan on hunting now that the main populace of wizarding folk have gone underground?” Lucius rang the bell sitting on the side table and Mixy appeared with a sharp pop. At her masters gesture to the half empty platters and dirty glasses Mixy proceeded to gather everything up in her little hands and disappeared again to clean up.

“The dark lord is still holding a plethora of captives in his dungeons and I fully intend to make use of those facilities. Further more there are small raiding parties coming to the surface from the underground each day and I believe if I choose wisely they will make easy pickings. An Auror’s blood will provide at least a weeks worth of magical sustenance for both myself and my claimed.” Lucius nodded in silent admiration of Snape’s thought out plan. In this time of chaos Snape’s indiscretions would be easily covered under the masses of deaths happening all around the country both at the hands of Voldemort and of the Aurors. For a while the two elder wizards sat quietly in each other’s company both of them lost in their own thoughts. Snape was still processing all the possibilities of why Voldemort had become interested in the Elith-furatu again, while Lucius was contemplating his own confusions.

“Tell me Severus, what’s he like?” Snape looked up from his distant stare into the glowing embers of the fire and over at Lucius who was looking at him cautiously.

“What’s who like?” Snape replied unable to discern what Lucius was alluding to in his question.

“The Potter boy.” Lucius continued evenly his gaze still cautiously scanning Snape’s expression that remained blank and unreadable. Snape let his lips twitch upward at the corner as he remembered the easy way the lithe, toned young body had bent over for him earlier that night. Potter had defiantly fitted into life as a submissive but it was the spark of defiance and flame of challenging courage that flared behind the young man’s green eyes that truly sent desire rushing through Snape’s body. Snape knew from the way the boy responded to him that Harry enjoy being taken but it wasn’t the submission Snape enjoyed so much it was the getting there, the insults, the violence and the bloodshed that excited Snape the most. Draco was exactly the opposite, he tolerated the pain Snape inflicted but he never invite it, had never asked for it like Harry did. Unfortunately Draco had seen the darkness of death at the hands of another Superei and it had broken him beyond Snape’s reach. The decision to have the blonde as well as Harry was based purely on giving Harry company to help him through the transition between his two lives. Snape only realized he hadn’t answered Lucius’ question when the wizard cleared his throat drawing Severus from his daydream. “Judging from that look he’s pretty good then.” Lucius supplied sharply as Snape nodded once in silent acknowledgement. “Is that why you chose him or because of his power?” Lucius continued watching as Snape let his expressionless mask fall back into place. Lucius was prying now, and unlike Snape was making no attempts to cover it.

“I chose my mates simply on instincts Lucius. Potter and Draco are of breeding age; they are both healthy and well built, they are of good wizarding families and show good signs of survival and presence of mind. Power has nothing to do with my decision.” Snape snapped irritably at Lucius who sneered a little when Snape mentioned his son’s good wizarding family.

“You will bed Draco this season then?” Lucius inquired pointedly causing Snape to look at the blonde wizard with amusement.

“Lucius I have been buggering your son since the end of summer but yes, come July I will mate with Draco just as I have already done with Harry.” Snape knew as soon as he’d said it that he shouldn’t have as Lucius’ eyes lit up with recognition.

“Then Harry is with child already?” Lucius’ sky blue eyes flashed dangerously and Snape clenched his fists before taking a calming breath in. Lucius had backed him into a corner and Snape had fallen for the bait, he had to be careful now to avoid further unwanted exposure.

“We are not sure, his body takes several months to show the signs…” Severus lie was cut off as Lucius butted in.

“Signs like weight gain, moodiness, lack of appetite and increased blood lust? Any of these sounding familiar Severus?” Lucius smiled calculating at Snape who narrowed his gaze at Lucius and growled low in his throat.

“You knew.” Snape growled out angrily watching as Lucius smiled superiorly at him.

“Indeed I had an idea when you increased the number of requested blood vials back in January but I just needed your confirmation.” Lucius supplied as he crossed his legs and sat back comfortably in his chair.

“And what good is this information to you?” Snape was curious to know what Lucius had gained by confirming his suspicions about Harry. Lucius already knew that a pregnant Inferei was stronger and more defensive than normal even so much as being a threat to a Superei if one should so dare to threaten him or his child.

“Very little, as you well know but I will be closely monitoring him while he is here. If I can get a few months research out of him for Voldemort all the better for me. In fact having you under my roof may just prove more profitable than I originally foresaw a few hours ago.” Snape had had enough of listening to Lucius’ ramblings and stood up abruptly to stride over to where Lucius had fallen silent in his chair, but was still smiling satisfied up at Snape. Snape leaned down so that his face was level with Lucius’ a not an inch or so apart.

“If you so much as look sideways at either Harry or Draco I will slice you up from top to bottom understood?” Snape’s gaze flashed with lavender and the smug smile that had settled on Lucius’ face fell away in fear. Dumbly the blonde nodded knowing Snape’s threat was not idly given. Snape sneered at Lucius before standing up and striding towards the door. “Goodnight Lucius.” Snape threw over his shoulder as he threw open the door and strode away, silently fuming that Lucius had pulled one over him. Snape had to be more careful in future if they were to get the benefit from being under Malfoy’s roof.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N As promised some more lovely chapters for some lovely readers....

Cheers
RIFFRAFF