Keep Your Enemies Closer

Chapter 4, Summer Fool

The day was sticky and hot. Noone inside the castle with a mind forself preservation had any more clothes on than they absolutely had too. Besides, there weren't that many people at the castle anyway. Harry was staying at the school because he had no where else to go. The Dursleys had kicked him out, but it hadn't mattered to him. He didn't want to stay with them any more than he wanted to have all his teeth yanked out without morphine.

Harry's room was tolerable, but had been dusty and abandoned for a few years. He sat in contemplation and marveled at himself and his status. As well as being the new Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Harry was now the Head of Gryffindor. He chose not to take over McGonagall's rooms. It seemed too morbid to him. Wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a very light weight black shirt the tall boy stood in the middle of the room he had spent so much time decorating. A week ago Ron, Hermione, and the rest of his class had graduated and all of them had gone their separate ways. The castle felt empty and merciless from the loneliness, even in the sweltering heat of summer.

Last year, the only thing Harry had wanted was to get through the year and stay alive. Now, not only was his still alive, but he and his friends were professors. Most shockingly, though, he had graduated with good grades! Shifting so that he could pull his sticky, sweat drenched shirt off of his body. Harry threw it behind himself without looking where the article of clothing landed.

"Argh my eyes! My eyes!! Have mercy on an old man, Harry!"

Turning at the sound of his godfathers voice behind him, Harry grinned brightly at Sirius and then laughed softly when he saw Remus reach up and twist his lover's ear slightly in reproach at his remark.

"Behave, Padfoot."

"It's nothing you haven't seen before, old man, and it's wonde to to see you again, Remus!"

The blonde werewolf smiled at Harry and nodded, still standing next to his mate. He looked around the room in interest. Remus hadn't seen Harry since the war when the boy had been passed out in Lucius's arms dying because of a complication with the spell he used to kill Voldemort. Now, to see the boy healthy and moving around again, Remus was happy and content. Letting his amber eyes take in the room that Harry had moved into, he was surprised at the decorations. There was a comfortable couch in front of the fireplace as well as a coffee table piled with books and some muggle magazines.

"I thought you two were going on a trip to the Bahamas, Sirius, what changed your minds?"

Looking up from his study of Harry's room, Remus snorted and rolled his eyes at his lover before moving to fold his lanky body into one of the couches near the unlit fireplace.

"Erm, well you see Harry. I uh‰Ûº"

"What your godfather means to tell you, Harry, is that he got roped into teaching at Hogwarts. He wants to get a head start."

Laughing at the sheepish look Sirius shot towards Remus, Harry sat in the large chair across from the sofa that his godfather and Remus were sitting before relaxing into the upholstery. He looked over the two elder men for a moment with something that could be compared to relief. The last time Harry had seen his godfather he was hunched over a seriously injured and close to dying Remus. After that, Harry had his own problems with saving his own hide. He'd been just a tad too busy to hear what had happened between the older men.

"Tell me, Harry, have you heard about some of the new teachers? I heard that git Malfoy was going to be teaching." Both Harry and Remus sighed at Sirius's comment and shifted in their seats, waiting for a rant that they both new would spew out of Sirius's mouth once he found out about Lucius working at Hogwarts.

"Yes. Lucius is working here and before you start yelling I want you to at least remember that he saved my life."

With a disgruntled snort, Sirius folded his arms over his chest and sank back into the plush sofa. Dark brows pulled over his eyes in a frown and stormy, he looked like he was going to yell just for tell ell of it. Remus started to say something but Sirius leaned forward and grabbed Harry's arm before the golden werewolf could open his mouth.

"That still doesn't mean you should trust him, Harry. I know you think he's a better man now, but I don't want you to romanticize him okay?"

Snorting at his godfather's ironic choice of words, and a little surprised at how calm he was being, Harry shook off Sirius's hand and stood up. Pacing the carpet in front of his fireplace with a frown, Harry remembered when he had hated the elder Malfoy so much that he was always rude and horrid to the man. Now, after the war and the time he had spent with Lucius, Harry saw what he knew many people did not‰ÛÒa very attractive man.

"I know you don't like him, Sirius, but you might have to get used to the fact that I do."

"Harry, no one is trying to tell you what to do. Sirius and I are just making sure you do the right thing."

Remus spoke with a calming air and both Harry and Sirius relaxed at his words. None of them wanted to fight, and by silent agreement, the subject of their conversation shifted.

"What are you teaching, Sirius? Surely they can't trust you with young, impressionable minds!"

Sirius snorted and swatted Harry on the hand as he sat down across from them once again.

"I'll have you know I'm a good teacher," he replied haughtily! "And," he said more calmly, "I'm teaching Charms."

"Ah! The world has ended!"

"Get over here, you git."

With a loud thump, Sirius tackled Harry to the floor and wrestled him around, rolling into stray furniture and even Remus's legs once in awhile. Averting his amber eyes, Remus stood up and moved into Harry's office to get out of the way of the tussling men. The office was done in the Gryffindor colors with a large oak desk dominating one end of the space near the window. Lined with bookshelves, the walls were done in a muted crimson and the shelves were overflowing with books and om kom knickknacks that Harry had collected over the years.

"Get off of me, you great lummox!"

"Ouch! That was a table, Harry!"

Chuckling at the random thumps and good-natured yelling he could hear from the sitting room, Remus turned to survey the shelves neae doe doorway of Harry's office. On the top shelf sat the book of pictures Harry had received from Hagrid, a framed picture of Ron and Hermione in second year, Hagrid standing in front of his hut on the grounds, Sirius and Remus when Sirius had gotten his pardon, and a few others of Harry's friends and family.

"Remus!"

Sighing at being brought into the conflict smilsmiling at the desperation in Sirius's words, he walked into the sitting room. Stopping in the doorway, Remus had to slap a hand over his mouth to stop the loud laugh that wanted to escape at the sight of Sirius pinned against a table with Harry only holding him down with one hand.

"It looks like you have worn out your welcome, Padfoot."

"Moony!!"

Chuckling at lovelover's whining, Remus sent Harry a stern look, his eyes glittering with mirth. Letting go of his godfather and stepping back from him with a grin, he helped the elder man to stand. Sirius pouted and moved to stand behind Remus, his long arms going around the shorter man's waist and tugging him into his chest. Harry watched them with a little jealousy.

"We have to go now anyway, Harry; Sirius wants to get moved in tonight."

"I'm sure we will be seeing a lot of you anyway, Harry."

Nodding absentmindedly and returning the hugs he received from his godfather and Remus, Harry saw the two men out of his rooms quietly. Harry sighed shutting the wooden door and leaning against its smoothness. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back with a thump. Seeing them so happy and in love that they almost finished each others thoughts made Harry yearn for someone of his own.

A knock at the door made Harry jump and turn, thinking that Remus or Sirius had forgotten to tell him something. He was very surprised at whom he found when he opened the door. Blinking in shock as Lucius swept into his room without a word, Harry looked down at his bare chest for a moment in embarrassment before closing the door and turning to greet his unexpected guest..

Standing in the middle of his sitting room Lucius looked very out of place in the warm d̩cor and the slightly ratty furniture. His long blonde hair was elegantly quaffed, not a strand out of place, clothes perfect and expensive, his mouth set in a cold line as always. Lucius looked vert oft of his element in the middle of Harry's rooms.

"How may I help you Mr. Malfoy."

"You have not called me that since I saved your life, Potter. Please don't start with that tripe now."

Eyes wide with confusion, all Harry could do was nod and watch Lucius move around his room silently. Like a wild cat stalking is prey, Lucius circled Harry silently, his eyes wandering all the golden flesh that was revealed when Harry had removed his shirt earlier. Stepping directly in front of the now shivering Harry, Lucius grinned wickedly and watched the fine tremors that were going though the boys broad shoulders.

"I thought we were‰Ûºcloser then this, Harry."

Drawing the tip of his staff down the middle of Harry's chest and down his abdomen Lucius backed off and swept himself into one of the seats by the fireplace. A quiet whimper escaped from between Harry's lips while he sprawled into his chair hurriedly as thoughts of what Lucius could do to him with that staff running rampant in his head.

"I'm sorry, must be habit‰ÛºLucius."

"Good boy, Potter. I see you aren't a total waste of space after all."

Watching Harry with lidded eyes, Lucius could tell he was confusing the boy and the evil part of his brain was practically salivating at the things he could do to this boys mind, not to mention his toned   body.

"This isn't just a social call. I wanted to tell you that my chambers are right across the hall from your's and that I do not want to be wakened at all hours of the night by you trampling about."

Thinking of having Lucius across the hall from himself, so close to his bed, being able to see him every morning, Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I promise you wont be disturbed, Lucius."

mal> 

"Disturbed, Potter? Here I was hoping you would do just that."

Choking and looking at the blond man seated on his chair like a Greek god, Harry stared at Lucius incredulously. Here was the man that had told him to get the hell away from him with his dirty and disgusting ideas and so called affections, actually looking at him with lust in his eyes.

"Really?" Harry blushed when his voice came out almost a squeak and drooled when Lucius unbuttoned the top of his shirt. "I thought you said it was disgusting."

"I thought you were playing a joke on me."

"I wasn't." Harry groaned when Lucius had unbuttoned his shirt all the way and licked his lips, watching Harry intently.

"Why don't you prove it, Potter."

Grinning wickedly his eyes holding cold amusement and lust, Lucius opened his shirt to reveal toned pale chest to Harry's hungry view. "Or are you afraid?"