Severus and Lucius

With Loki tucked safely into a pocket made specially for the little raven just inside his travelling cloak, he slips out of this new happy home. He is content with the knowledge that he has them both together, and they're both safe; worrying about Elsbet was stressful enough, but Malfoy at the 'mercy' of the Dark Lord was just too much. It's a cool night here, and the air is filled with the soft chirruping of crickets. Nice night for a walk. He makes his way to the Park District, his thoughts racing. He makes no effort to slow them, to bring his heart and mind back into line and under his tight...

Therion wipes his eyes as the images, thoughts and feelings flow to him. He's never experienced Legilimency in such a deep, profound way, and he doesn't know how to repay Snape for the kindness and trust he's showing him by sharing this.

'Dey mind you of love...' Loki looks back down at the pretty objects, then gently nips Snape's chin. 'Love is good,' he thinks, and Snape enfolds the little raven in his embrace, his body trembling. "Yes," he whispers, "love is good."

Once he has calmed himself, which takes some time, he places Loki back on his bed and then places the beads and the ring back...

I've been doing some re-reading and I've realized a couple of adjustments are in line. When I first mentioned the White City, I had no idea it was going to become what it has, and now that is has...er...become...you know... :p There's a deatil or two that don't make any sense now, so I've fixed them.

They be:

link

Where it read:

"The Sensei says that there is an increase in activity of Dark creatures in and around the city. So far there have been no direct attacks on anyone, though there are reports of people's pets going missing. That's not surprising, considering three werewolves were sighted...

As Snape passes through the little window into the guestroom, he begins his shiftback, and when he lands, he realizes that Therion is gone. Malfoy and Elsbet are still wrapped up together, but now they're covered securely with the blanket. It's a very touching sight, but...he's disappointed. Was it too much for Therion? Was it not what he expected? Did he feel he was somehow being disloyal to his lost lover? Group sex and open relationships aren't for everyone, Snape is well aware of that; he never imagined it would be for himself, but now that it's happened for him, he wouldn't have it any...

By the time Snape makes it to the White City, Loki is healed totally and with Malfoy, back in Therion's shop. Snape finds the back reading room full of people, some of whom he's not seen in quite some time, and some he's never met. All he cares about is his Familiar and his lovers, a hot meal and a good long fuck, but there is protocol to be observed. As a path is cleared for him, he is struck by a wave of relief; Andromeda Tonks is safe, and seated between Remus and her daughter. As soon as she sees Snape, she rises and thanks him, and tells him that she can't believe everything that's happened...

Snape's morning began with him getting Neville and Luna out to Hagrid's first thing, before the Carrows even awoke. "Make certain this takes all day. I do not wish to see these two back in the castle until the end of classes today," he told Hagrid, then looked down at the two students he's come to respect, though he'll probably never admit it to anyone. "Mr. Longbottom," Snape had said quietly, "do attempt to return in one piece." With a raised brow and slight smirk he'd left them then, and turned back toward the castle. He'd not taken but a few steps before he heard Luna say happily, "Oh,...

Just for us...

Malfoy pulls Snape to him and slides his free hand down to the Dark wizard's pants. He plays with the top button and Snape smiles wickedly, saying, "so eager, Lucius...shall I make you work for it? Or, shall I be merciful and give it to you?" Malfoy's eyes flick downwards, then back up to Snape's, and an impish grin speads across his lips. "Well, it seems to me my King, that you're just as eager as I," he says, and Snape turns his head slightly away from his lover. He tells him, "that may be, my gentle healer, but you know I can restrain myself," and Malfoy lets his fingers graze...

"Severus," Malfoy whispers, "what is going to happen to me tonight?" Snape takes his arm and leads him out of the room, where Therion is waiting for them, half-way to the door at the end of the hallway. "You're going to face once of the greatest challenges of your life." Malfoy sighs. "You can't be any more specific than that, can you?" There is a humorous tone in his voice, but the other wizards know what trepidation he's feeling. As they reach the door, Malfoy asks, "what happens if I fail?" For a moment, no one answers. "Don't think of failure, Lucius," Remus says without looking at him,...

Snape becomes a blur of motion; before Therion draws his next breath he sees the ebony-clad wizard become a raven once more and dart off in the direction of the Lake District. Not a moment later, Malfoy emerges from Irena's shop wearing a surprisingly humble grey suit, with a matching grey robe. "Where is Severus?" He sounds quite dejected, but relaxes when Therion tells him, "he's just checking on Ellie, he'll be back shortly. In fact, why don't we head over to the Temple?" He's not about to tell Malfoy about Greyback or what he's done...he can't bear to tell it again as it is.

As Therion...

Elsbet seems almost embarrassed, and Irena studies her face in the mirror for several minutes before asking, "you've never really looked at yourself, have you, Ellie?" She shakes her head. "Not really, no...I can't remember ever really caring," she says. "May I ask you something? You don't have to tell me, of course, but I am curious," Irena says, and Elsbet nods as they walk back over to the sitting room. "You can ask me anything," Elsbet tells her and Irena smiles. "Ellie," she begins as they sit down, "when Severus looks at you, how do you feel?" A light blush touches Elsbet's cheeks and...

Dawn breaks and Elsbet wakes alone.

She wonders when this will end, when will she finally be waking with Severus beside her. Ah, but what about Lucius?

How does this work?

Her life has always been complicated in one way or another, but this complication is something totally new. But does it have to be a 'complication'?

She's not sure.

She's not sure of much right now, except that she hurts. Lucius must love Severus very much, and she knows Severus loves him. They've known each other forever, and she could see their love for each other that very first night, and Severus had always spoken so well...

Malfoy's blood strikes the parchment and there is a very loud hiss, like icy water on a red-hot hotplate, and the crimson fluid seems to boil. They are alarmed, of course, but the Chronicler laughs. "Ah, I nearly forgot! You are part of the Silhouettes, Lucius, yes?" Malfoy nods, not taking his eyes away from the sight, and tells the Chronicler that The Great Mother gave him part of her heart. Everyone relaxes once the parchment sorts out the differences in Malfoy's blood, and like a flash-fire, his family tree spreads out over the parchment. He watches as the name of Brutus Malfoy appears...

He had followed Snape before, but the Potions Master had always been able to elude him. Now, though, he'd beaten him to his secret destination.

And he can't believe what he sees.

Peering through the window of the tiny house he sees her; a Muggle woman, busy cleaning he surmises in preparation for Snape's arrival. She is alone and helpless. He could kill her easily. But he can't, not yet, anyway. He has to know what exactly the Dark wizard of his long acquaint is doing with this filthy little Muggle.

Though...Malfoy muses as he rubs his chin, she is young and attractive; her long, champagne blond...

Elsbet feels her wizards' mental call, and the giggle she gives as she leaves Layne's new room tells him and Therion all they need to know. She hurries up the stairs and into the luxurious bathroom, and finds her beloved wizards waiting patiently for her. She can feel the zing of anticipation in the air and she knows they have something special planned. "Such a lovely sight," she says, gazing at their naked bodies slick with water, and she smiles at the slight blush that rises in their faces. They turn their backs to her almost boyishly, glance at each other, back at her, then at each other...

He's so relaxed that he doesn't even feel Malfoy prick his finger, and his blood has hit the parchment by the time the tiny wound is healed. That drop of blood flattens out and soaks into the parchment, then suddenly, tiny avian shapes spread up and out, and everywhere they flit appears information. The birds gather around Therion's feet to watch, and chatter excitedly to each other. "Hmmm..." he says, "so it is true." The little tribe gathers closer to him as he reaches up and taps the parchment. "It wasn't always Bonecastle. See here? Eoward Castlemount wed Egrane Bonesteel. They had no children,...

Narcissa hears Bellatrix cackling downstairs, and doesn't want to know what has brought her sister such amusement. Quickly, quietly, she packs an emergency bag, then stuffs it into a safe hiding place. She wants to delay her departure for as long as she can; she fears that if she leaves too soon, Snape will be exposed, and her son will be in even greater danger. She wonders where Lucius is right now and what he's doing, and if he thinks of her. She wonders too if they truly are lovers, Snape and Lucius, and if they are, what would she have done if she had caught them together...the idea does...

After Snape had shut the door, Malfoy seemed as if he was going to go and bring her back. Snape took his seat and Malfoy reluctantly finally sat down, and they began their breakfast.

They eat in silence, until Malfoy can't take it anymore. "She's hurting, Severus, why did you let her go?" Snape sighs and tells him as gently as he can, "because she needs healing that only the horses can give." Malfoy closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, then takes a bite of bacon. Remus smiles to himself and muses about how extraordinary it is that someone who had caused so much pain for so many now can not...

When Malfoy emerges he catches Snape's eye, but before he can communicate anything to his Dark lover, Elsbet happily wraps her arms around him and asks if they had a nice chat. He forces the best smile he can muster and tells her that they did, and he knows what he, Snape, Therion and Layne are doing. Keeping Ellie, Remus and Tonks ignorant of the Old Man's fate. In a way, they are his Secret Keepers, and it hurts. Being open-hearted hurts...he remembers how it was when he felt nothing for anyone but his wife and child. It was so much easier then...he kisses the top of Elsbet's head and hugs...