The Choices That We Make

TITLE: The Choices That We Make

AUTHOR: Lady Sirius

PAIRING: SS/LM

RATING: NC17

FEEDBACK: shelley_runyon@yahoo.com

Warning: Contains spoilers for HBP

DISCLAIMER: Of course all rights to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling

- I just like to play with Severus and Lucius when I can!


DEDICATION: To my glorious, talented, wondrous and everlastingly sexy
inspiration - Gary Oldman - and of course to Alan Rickman and Jason Isaacs! And to Amber, who taught me to love Severus and Lucius as a couple.

The Choices That We Make

Chapter Six - Appointment with Destiny


Lucius entered the quaint book shoppe, letting his eyes adjust to the dimmer interior, as he contemplated just what he would do once he caught up with his quarry. He'd been so intent upon catching him he'd not actually thought that part through. Beg his forgiveness? Swear his undying fealty? Promise to never leave him? All he knew was that he had to do something - and do it damn quickly, for he had the darkest foreboding that if he waited, he would lose Severus forever - and that thought he simply could not bear.

Removing his handstitched dragonhyde gloves, all the better to feel the hard cold handle of his serpent cane - a gift from Severus and one he was never without - he beckoned to the nearest employee, who approached him with a bright smile which encompassed all the warmth and friendliness that was characteristic of Stolen Hours. "How may I help you, sir?" the gentleman, who was in fact one of the two owners, inquired.

"I am looking for a friend of mine," Lucius began. Although it would have been easier to merely search through the bookstore himself, he was ever one to have others do his bidding. "He is about my height, slightly taller, long dark hair, dark eyes, and he is garbed in black robes."

"That sounds like Mr. Snape, and I do believe he is here," the gentleman nodded affably. "If you would care to look toward the back of the store, I believe it is his wont to sit near the dark arts and history sections. Very studious, Mr. Snape is. Always a pleasure to see him."

Lucius acknowledged the information stiffly, his excitement rising at the prospect of beholding his lover once more, and making things right between them. So close now, so very close. But when he would move toward the indicated location, a hand closed about his wrist, and he felt sharp fingernails digging into his flesh. Before he could even move toward his wand, his ear was met by the sound of a sybillant hiss, and he found himself face to face with Medusa herself - or the next best thing, Narcissa Black.

Narcissa wore ordinary robes, and her blonde hair was set in paper curls about her head, giving her a ragtag appearance. No makeup, as if she had left in the middle of dressing for the farce. Beneath the robes he could catch a glimpse of virginal white. Which, if he had his way about it, could stay that way as far as he was concerned. "What do you think you're doing?" he said coldly, seeking to remove himself from her taloned grasp.

"I could ask you the same thing!" the harpy shrieked, although she had the presence of mind not to raise her voice, for which he was grateful. "Everything is in readiness, your parents and mine are there, and I am told that you are gallivanting about looking for that miserable son of a bitch? You will not do this to me, Lucius Malfoy, you will not!" Due to the fact that he was unwilling to draw attention to himself by struggling harder, she maintained a hold upon his wrist, digging her nails ever deeper.

"Unhand me woman!" he demanded. "What I do is none of your business. Not now and not in the future. Do you understand me?" He succeeded in wresting himself from her grip at last, rubbing at the gouged flesh. He was still considering hexing her for good measure, his pale grey eyes the colour of a stormtossed sea.

"You don't seem to understand the power that we Blacks have. You will do as you have agreed, or the consequences will be most unpleasant."

"You don't scare me," Lucius bluffed. No, he was not afraid of her. But he was also not stupid, and he was well aware of what sort of wizards the Blacks were, and for that he had a healthy respect. "Don't you have somewhere else you should be?" he sneered. "And if I were you, I'd be grateful that no one can see you at this moment, for frankly you've looked better."

Her cheeks took on the hue of a ripe Italian tomato as the steam proceeded to escape from her ears. "You are a bastard, Lucius Malfoy, make no mistake about that. I have no wish to marry you, believe me. But this choice has been taken away from us, so I'm making the most of a very unpleasant situation. Even down to accepting the living arrangements you took such pride in informing me of. To be forced to live in the same home as that .......that.........misbegotten creature..."

Now she had gone too far. Lucius' wand was in his hand, and then it was at her throat. "Not ..one...more... word..." he said, managing to hide his actions from any interested (make that nosy) onlookers by making it appear that he was caressing her gently. "Get out of my sight before I transfigure you into something more hideous than you already are......" He glared at her for a full minute before lowering the wand, allowing her to draw breath again.

"You'll be sorry, Mr. Malfoy," she rubbed at her throat although he'd barely touched her. But the look in his eye and the step he took toward her told her that her most prudent course of action was a hasty retreat, which she proceeded to do, apparating from view.

Now to find Severus. He cleared his mind of Narcissa the second she disappeared, as he made his way to where, hopefully, his lover awaited. However, when he found the section clearly labeled Dark Arts/History, there was no sign of him. But, to his great dismay, there were two others there. Them he could easily have done without. Especially his fiance's cousin. This just wasn't his day, was it?

"Are you leaving my cousin at the altar?" Sirius asked snidely. He was sitting in a comfortable chair, with Remus standing behind him, giving him a neck massage. At Sirius' words, Remus lightly smacked him on his shoulder, but continued with his ministrations.

Disappointment at not finding Severus left Lucius mute for a moment, and he didn't bother to come up with a witty retort. Which did not fail to escape Remus Lupin's notice. "He was here, and not very long ago," he said in a kindly voice. He could see the distress the young aristocrat attempted to hide, and his warm heart would not allow his lover to be cruel toward the other boy.

"Yes, that he was, and just as miserable as he could be," Sirius continued obliviously, which earned him another light reprimand from Remus. "Remy!" he protested, turning his head and frowning at him, only to be met by a mouthed, 'Behave.'

"I'm afraid I don't know where he's gone, Lucius," Remus continued, "I'm afraid he was rather upset.." Although he didn't add that Sirius had not helped that situation any. "I'm sure you'll find him...... Things have a way of working out when you least expect them....." Echoing the words he had used with Severus.

"It's of no importance," Lucius attempted to feign indifference. "I had some business to discuss with him, that's all." But he realized even as he spoke that his time was running out and he began to panic at the thought that he would be not only cut off, penniless and bereft, but minus his lover too, apparently. What in the name of Salazar's balls was he going to do?

Remus wasn't deceived for a minute. His kindly nature made him more emphathetic of the feelings of others than most people, and he could feel the pain beneath the surface. His tender heart broke for both of them. "He loves you, Lucius," he said very softly, "I know he does. Please believe in the power of that love. It's an amazing thing."

For a moment the fragile mask fell, and he could clearly see the raw emotions which roiled inside of the young blonde. But Lucius quickly regained control, not bothering to respond, as he didn't completely trust his voice at that moment, and he fled from the shop in a total state of perturbation.


Which was when Severus spotted him, and began to follow him.

When had the pursued become the pursuer? Severus maintained a constant distance between them, allowing others to fill the gap but never losing sight of the blonde. He seemed to have no set destination, wandering aimlessly, rather. At one point, he stopped inside a spirit shoppe, reappearing moments later, his hand held protectively against one robe pocket. Severus guessed he must have put something fragile there. Small wonder what that might be.

And Severus was seriously concerned when he turned into Knockturn Alley. He was not afraid of the place, of course, despite its reputation. But what could Lucius possibly want there? That is what concerned him. But his fears were to no avail. Apparently he merely sought a place away from all others, for he turned into what Severus knew to be a blind alley and disappeared from view. Stealthily, Severus crept up upon him, casting an invisibility charm for good measure. Cautiously he encroached upon his solitude. Assuming, of course that he was alone. Which he was.

And what Severus saw floored him.

Lucius Malfoy was upon his knees, oblivious to his surroundings, to the filth beneath and around him, which stained his otherwise immaculate robes. His hands covered his face, and his shoulders were shaking silently, for not a sound could be heard. If Severus didn't know better, he'd think Lucius was crying. But Lucius never cried. Lucius was beyond crying. He was too hard for that.....too perfect.........too......

And yet that is just what he was doing. For the second time that day, although Severus had no way of knowing that. And the sight went straight to his heart as surely as any blade thrown by the sure hand of the finest Death Eater. Which is what broke Severus Snape. Instantly. Completely.

"Lucius!" he cried out in a strangled voice. The startled blonde looked up.

Their eyes locked and for a long moment neither one moved.

And then they both moved, simultaneously, Lucius rising from his knees, Severus running toward him. And they managed to meet somewhere in the middle.

And the measure of the joy in their reunion could be told in the meshing of their lips, the joining of their bodies, one unto the other. Arms enveloped. Lips spoke volumes. Hearts beating in time once more.

"Severus, I've left, I told my father I won't do it, you mean more to me......"Lucius babbled, the words flowing between them like balm upon Severus' aching soul. And he heard them, and he knew that they were true. But he also knew what had to be done.

"Lucius," he said softly, placing one long finger across his lover's lips to stem the oral tide, "you... must... marry... her..."

"What?" A startled gasp.

"I understand why you have to do it," Severus said gently, "and that it changes nothing between us. I will not leave you, Lucius. Not now. Not ever." He gently stroked the flowing blonde hair which hung upon Lucius' shoulders. "I am yours. Til death do us part. Go now, before you are late. Go and be married. I shall be waiting for you afterward. At home. Our home." And he apparated from the alley before Lucius could get a word in edgewise, leaving one startled young man in his wake.