A Rose by Another Name

It had been far easier than expected to slip upstairs. The doors were mostly warded but Severus had found a few that weren't. And really, if he wanted to, he'd get past the wards. He just didn't want to push his luck, as long as things were interesting. The room he ended up in was beautiful, he had to admit that. Lining the walls were large display cases of finely carved wood and with elaborate glass doors, filled with intriguing trinkets. Deep dark leather chairs stood heavily in between the cabinets, stained glass lamps on the tables....

He'd not seen anything yet that would make a Ministry employee twitch, but it was still fascinating. Especially since he wasn't supposed to be there. So fascinating, he failed to hear the small click as the door snicked closed behind Lucius.

Severus was bent over a flat display case on a table, intently reading the scribbled Latin on the visible pages of the opened book inside it, lips moving faintly with every word his brain translated. Lucius watched in rapt silence, not really sure why he wasn't asking Snape what he was doing here, so very much out of bounds. That Lucius was out of bounds too, was inconsequential. Mrs Black would think nothing of it and simply laugh in her slightly disturbing way and pat his shoulder, telling him he was welcome to look at anything in her 'humble home', should he so wish. But right now, all he wished to look at, was Snape.

The 'why' was becoming less and less important as he kept watching the dark haired boy, taking in the small movements of the lips, the way the long and surprisingly elegant fingers curled carefully around the edge of the display case, the light arch of his bent back, his nose that peeked just beyond the border of the mask and the generally sharp angles to his body... so different from the soft delicate Narcissa or the voluptuous enthralling curves of Bellatrix. And yet... alluring.

"Hello." He finally said softly, taking a few steps closer.

Severus reacted with blinding speed, an ingrown reflex from years of dodging hexes and sneak attacks from the Marauders, and whipped out his wand and aimed at Malfoy. His heart pounded in his ears and throat, the hex teetered on the edge of his tongue. He stared at Malfoy, trying to figure out if he should expect a good hexing or something else. His bet was on the hexing, even if Malfoy's wand wasn't drawn

"Hey!" Lucius exclaimed, stopped in his tracks by the sudden threat of Snape's wand. He held up his empty hands "I just said hello."

Severus narrowed his eyes and asked in his most icy and impatient tone "Fine. Are you done?" He had no wish standing around for the verbal abuse he was certain Malfoy had in store for him.

Lucius' eyebrows shot up in surprise. Nobody talked to him like that! "There's no reason to be rude. It's not like I'm wandering about where I have no business or threatening another with a wand for that matter!"

"Yeah? Well, you shouldn't go around sneaking up on people like that! Next time I might cast the hex." Severus' voice was caustic. It was always annoying to be caught red-handed and he would be damned if he'd stand down now. Least of all to somebody like a Malfoy.

This was not going as well as Lucius had intended. He was used to other reactions than this, more favourable and pleasing reactions. It wouldn't deter him though, so he pressed on, now determined to get the wand out of Snape's hand so he could get a closer look at the boy, and talk to him. "I'll watch my arse the next time then," he said with a light smile "I'm sorry" Which he wasn't at all, but that didn't matter.

Caught a little off balance by the unexpected apology, Severus lowered his wand and just looked at Malfoy in disbelief. After a moment he recomposed himself and put the wand away with an annoyed expression "You'd better be. What are you doing up here anyway?"

"I followed you."

Severus blinked, not quite understanding what Malfoy was up to, then demanded "Me? Why?"

"Because I wanted to get a closer look and talk to you." Lucius was telling the truth on purpose in this situation. His occasional honest bluntness mostly caught people off guard and made them react in interesting ways. It also helped to make him more believable in situations where he worked around thruth in a more ... creative way.

To Severus, that statement made no sense at all and he had no idea what to answer. He'd come up with something. Soon. When he was done staring.

Now that was more like it, Lucius noted with satisfaction and took off his mask to reveal himself fully, in case Snape was unaware of whom he was faced with. "I saw you downstairs and realised I've yet to be introduced to you." Which, considering Snape's family relations, was no wonder at all.

It was becoming slightly embarrassing and vexing, this staring. Especially when Malfoy removed the mask. It was unfair that somebody like Malfoy should have it all; the looks, the money, the status... especially the looks though, and Severus' ears heated at the way his thoughts took a somewhat hard turn towards how that hair might feel against his fingers, how those lips might feel as well... and how those grey eyes would look when they looked on something Malfoy wanted...

Stop! Severus clenched his teeth and tilted his chin slightly up before removing his mask. Malfoy was probably just taunting him, flaunting all the things he had which Severus would never possess. "Well, I'm Severus Snape. Consider yourself properly introduced. Are you done now?"

Lucius laughed, more and more intrigued by this Severus Snape. The fact that this was a Snape and a halfblood slipped more and more in the background at the same time. "No, I'm not done. I'm Lucius Malfoy. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Severus Snape." He reached out his hand in polite greeting, expecting the other boy to close the remaining distance and shake it.

The laughter made Severus press his lips together, making them even thinner than usual. Malfoy was just as annoying as he'd expected. He glanced down at the outstretched hand, then back up at Malfoy's face. Then he stepped closer with a shrug and shook the hand firmly a few moments before letting go again.

Snape's hand was very warm and the grip rather strong. Why he'd expected it to be cold, Lucius wasn't sure. But he was very sure suddenly, that he'd enjoyed the too brief contact. And wanted more of it. "Are you enjoying the party so far?" Lucius asked, keeping his voice soft as he looked closer at Snape's face. Why did all those sharp and almost menacing angles attract him? They shouldn't... they shouldn't make him want to reach out and touch.

"Sure, I'm having a blast. That's why I'm up here." The sarcasm was finely tuned after years of practice, and Severus was quite proud of it.

Lucius chuckled and let his lips curl into a warm smile as he tilted his head slightly, flawlessly sliding towards ... flirting? "These balls are usually dreadfully boring. You showed good sense in spending your time in a more... interesting manner and I'm glad I have the opportunity to get to know you."

That voice and that look went straight to the pit of Severus' stomach and he almost hated them for it. And Malfoy, because surely he was playing with Severus, making him think he was interested in this conversation... and in Severus himself, only to make a fool of him afterwards. "So, first I'm snooping about where I don't belong and then I'm showing good sense in actually doing that? Make up your mind, already, Malfoy."

Snape's rebuffs only made Lucius more determined to flirt with the boy. There was nothing like a good hunt, a challenge instead of the easy surrender he mostly encountered. "Good point, Severus. Once more I apologise for my conflicting statements, but your wand caught me off guard. You must be terribly good at duelling. I've heard about you, of course, and your spell work. Quite impressive." Flattery should do the trick.

Flattery however, had never worked on Severus. It more often than not had the exact opposite effect, making him doubly suspicious "What do you want? A duel? Is that it?" In a way, Severus almost hoped it was that which made Malfoy look at him like that, eyes darker somehow.

"Oh no! I'd lose in a second and I wouldn't want Mrs Black having one of her fits just because of it." When flattery didn't work, even more flattery should be applied.

"I wouldn't mind seeing one of the Black widow's fits, actually..." Severus muttered before he could stop himself. He'd heard of the woman's temper, which at times reached almost astronomical heights. It could be fun to watch, but that wasn't exactly what he'd meant to say at all.

Lucius laughed heartily at Severus' use of that delightfully funny moniker and had to steady himself against Snape's shoulder, of course. The table next to them wouldn't do. "Ohh, you wouldn't want to witness that, I promise you that. It's not as entertaining as it might seem." He chuckled and enjoyed the warm bony feel of Snape's shoulder against the palm of his hand. He liked Snape, he decided. Sod his bloodline, which to be honest rarely guided Lucius' decisions unless it was favourable to do so, he wanted to get to know Snape better. A lot better, he hoped. But he needed to figure out if the slightly younger boy was interested in that.

Severus more or less froze at the hand on his shoulder, far too enraptured by the feel of it to really appreciate Malfoy's mirth, even if his rich laughter made the corners of his mouth twitch. "I won't test it then." And still the hand was right there, on his shoulder, left there by Malfoy as if it was the most natural thing in the world, to touch Severus. To keep touching him.

"You really shouldn't. I can think of more entertaining ways of spending the evening." Lucius said in a low voice, aiming towards a purr.

A purr that reached Severus' attention quite easily along with the words, and together with the warm presence of Malfoy's hand on his shoulder, once more sent a small rush of heat through his stomach. And into his ears and cheeks, because it made him think of all sorts of things that he shouldn't be thinking off right now. Least of all about a Malfoy. He had to save face in some way and pretend it hadn't affected him at all "Like what?" he snapped, shaking the hand off his shoulder and regretting it instantly as he moved around to the opposite side of the table. Yes, that was better.

Lucius' pale eyebrows arched, both in surprise at the blunt question and annoyance that Snape had moved away. Like a skittish colt, that one. And just about as spiky as a hedgehog. Merlin, he was enjoying this! "You really want me to tell you?" Lucius asked, letting his voice drop even further.

A thrill went down Severus' spine and by the gods yes, he did want Malfoy to tell him. In great and elaborate detail preferably. He also wanted him to shut up and stop this before Severus made a fool out of himself. Malfoy was obviously aware of his own attractiveness, by the way he moved and held himself. And there was nothing Snape hated more than conceited gits who loved themselves too much. He should hate Malfoy too, kick his arse and leave. But he didn't want to. He wanted to hear more of that voice, see more of those lips moving, forming words that flowed in his ears like buttered honey... wanted to know what else Malfoy might say to him... and if he meant it. "Yes."

Snape was certainly not budging an inch, it seemed, and Lucius was suitably impressed with his perseverance "I will then..." Lucius moved along the edge of the table, slowly inching his way towards Snape as he spoke, trailing his fingers over the smooth surface. "We could talk... you could tell me about yourself... tell me about the things that interest you. In a nice private corner?" In a way, Lucius was flirting, trying to seduce Snape and win the challenge it presented. On the other hand, he did want to hear more about Snape. There was intelligence in those black eyes that went beyond what he'd expect from somebody younger than him. And the way he'd not been intimidated at all by Lucius was even more of an attraction.

He liked Snape.

Was Malfoy being serious? "I can't see why you'd be interested in that. I'm sure you've heard all from the Blacks and Lestranges." Severus slid away from the table, when he realised Malfoy was coming closer.

"Oh, they have told me about you. But they're silly prats, more caught up in themselves and girls than anything else. I'd rather hear it from you and form my own opinion." Lucius continued moving towards Snape, slowly but surely closing the distance.

Severus stopped, when he realised he was actually backing away from Malfoy's approach. He was not going to let the boy get to him, he just wasn't. "Well, what do you want to know? Ask away!" It was hard to keep the sharp edge in his voice, when his heart was fluttering like a nervous bird at the smell of Malfoy so close again and how his shoulder still yearned for that warm touch.

Get a sodding grip on yourself, Severus! You're acting like a bloody girl!

"I want to know it all," Lucius murmured, now so close he could touch. He didn't though, and stopped with a hands breadth of space between them. Once more he was struck by Snape's features and how different they were from his usual taste. There was just something ... he couldn't resist. Something, he wanted to explore further.

Severus bit his tongue not to say something blitheringly stupid like 'touch me' or 'I want to know all about you'. It didn't make sense and it was pissing him off that Malfoy had such an effect on him. When he tasted blood, he eased up and finally said something "I hardly think you do. Why don't you go back to your mates and play with them instead." It didn't come off as harshly as he'd meant it to. Actually, it didn't even sound like he meant it, which he didn't. But he didn't want Malfoy to know that.

"I want to play with you though," Lucius blurted out before he could stop himself. What in all hells?

Once more Severus was stunned into silence, both verbally and mentally.

"I mean... " Yes, what exactly did he mean? Lucius felt the situation slip slightly out of his grip and that wouldn't do at all. But every time he looked into Snape's black eyes, he just couldn't... think. What was going on? Had Snape hexed him after all, with a non-verbal spell. It was Lucius' turn to become suspicious although, he wasn't sure Snape was good enough to sneak in a hex so stealthily. And perhaps it was something else?

"I would rather talk to you." Lucius added, a little bit more serious than flirting.

Busy trying to come up with something to say, Severus wasn't paying much attention when he moved slightly further back and bumped into a small table with a vase, which tilted over and dropped to the floor, splintering into a thousand pieces. Severus jumped and gasped, horrified that somebody might know, appalled that he'd destroyed something that didn't belong to him and which very likely was very valuable, very rare and very irreplaceable.

Not to mention, irreparable. He stared at the pieces and hissed "Shit!"

Lucius was just about to tell Snape to watch out, when the vase fell and shattered. He sighed and stared at the pieces too "She's going to have a fit. You might get your wish after all." It was just a little bit amusing, even if he was sure this was a prized possession.

With a snort Severus glanced at Malfoy "Thanks to you! Why did you have to go say something like that? What exactly do you mean by you want to play with me?" Impatience warred with sincere curiosity and disbelief. He wanted to know, damn it all!

Once more there was no resisting the pitch-black stare that pierced into Lucius' mind and fished out the truth with small clever hooks, somehow "Because you interest me. I want to get to know you."

"Right." On the surface unimpressed, Severus was inwardly flailing a little. What was this all about? Why was Lucius Malfoy suddenly interested in 'getting to know' him? There had to be an ulterior motive. At least, that's what he was trying to convince himself of so he wouldn't have to deal with the other possibility. That Malfoy truly was interested...

"You don't believe me?" There was a carefully measured note of hurt feelings in Lucius' voice, learned from years of observation of his mother and the effects it had on his father.

That tone confused Severus even further "I don't know... I can't see why you would be interested in knowing me. Wouldn't that soil your spotless pureblood reputation to associate in any way with a halfblood?" The ice was back and Severus hoped it would be enough to make Malfoy realise he couldn't be so easily played with.

Are you sure you don't want to be ... played, by him? Merlin, he wasn't sure about anything right now, attracted against better judgement, intrigued beyond reason, mesmerised by haughty lips and cool eyes.

"I don't care..." Actually, Lucius didn't think anything really could soil his reputation for a longer period of time, even less so permanently. And why was Snape so determined not to be interested? Wasn't he protesting a bit too much? Lucius stepped closer again, ignoring the crunch of fine porcelain beneath his shoes.

Severus' expression didn't change, but his hands curled into fists inside the sleeves of his robes and his breathing picked up in fear or something else he couldn't quite define. Because he wanted Malfoy to move closer and he didn't. He wanted to slip past the older boy and run out of the room and he didn't. Instead he looked stubbornly into the grey gaze that held his.

"All right, if you don't believe me, let me prove it?" Either Snape would make a run for it, or he'd give in now. Lucius wasn't sure he'd give up even if Snape 'escaped' for now. The challenge was much too tempting and failure was not really an option in Lucius' world.

"How?" Severus demanded, fighting a losing battle to keep his voice from sounding exactly as breathless as he felt by clenching his fists even further, nails digging into the palms of his hands.

Lucius was now so close, he could feel Snape's body heat and smell his scent very clearly. There was something sharp about it, tangy, mouthwateringly alluring. How would he taste? For a few moments he actually contemplated taking a kiss, since that surely would convince Snape he was interested. On the other hand, it could cost him a hex or even a curse from that swift wand he was sure would be whipped out before their lips parted again. Instead Lucius raised his hand and touched Snape's cheekbone. The skin was once more softer and warmer than expected and he wondered what would happen, should he leave his fingers there for a bit longer.

"You can come and visit me at the manor? When would you have time?" It was an unashamed invitation and Lucius didn't bother hiding the underlying current of desire in his eyes and voice. Because that's what it was, desire. Not only to know this prickly elusive creature, but also to touch ... and taste. He had long forgotten that both Bellatrix and Narcissa would be here now. They were no longer interesting.

Quite against his will, Severus' lips parted and he gasped lightly at the touch that was far more intimate than any touch he'd ever felt. It didn't bear comparison to the crude gropes stolen in deserted hallways and the harsh hungry bruising kisses he'd experienced in dark alcoves. Nothing compared to it and the sensation was almost electric, stripping away his defences like they were nothing but a smoke screen. "Whenever." he muttered, when he managed to draw in a full breath.

Almost too elated with this sudden and slightly unexpected victory, Lucius smiled wide "Good! I'll owl you tonight." It shouldn't feel this good, it usually didn't. It shouldn't matter this much and Lucius wondered if he'd simply been away for too long. At Durmstrang there were no challenges, at least none he wished to pursuit. And it had been a long winter and spring with no visits home. It had to be that.
Severus had difficulty with concentrating fully on Malfoy's words when those fingers still rested against his cheek, hoping they would move, praying they would disappear before he started liking the touch too much. "All right." He finally agreed when he noticed how Malfoy was looking at him expectantly.

Moving his hand away, Lucius did caress Snape's cheek very lightly as if by accident. His fingers tingled slighty when he let his hand drop to his side. "Don't worry about the vase. I'll just tell her I was so busy admiring her collection of sneako-scopes and bumped into the vase." Mrs. Black would forgive him.

"All right," Severus repeated dumbly, unsettled by how dizzy this all made him, both worried and thankful that Malfoy was going to take the blame and suddenly realising that Malfoy was going to owl him. Tonight. Suddenly he just had to leave, had to get some fresh air and get the heck out of here, away from Malfoy's presence. Quickly Severus pushed past Malfoy and exited the room, fumbling on his mask as he rushed down the stairs. Tonight he'd get an owl.

It didn't worry Lucius that Snape didn't thank him. There would be plenty of time for that later