The Box, B is for bric-a-brac, HP fic
Title: The Box
Author: Ayla Pascal
Fandom: Harry Potter
Medium: book
Words: 1071
Genre: slash (Snape/Lucius)
Rating: PG
Character: Severus Snape
Theme: B is for bric-a-brac
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co. do not belong to me. They belong to JKR. I'm just playing in the universe.
Author Notes: Written for alphabetasoup. Post-HBP.
The Box
"My name is Lucius Malfoy."
Severus stares up at the older boy with the prefect badge pinned to his immaculate robes. "Severus," he says quietly. "Severus Snape."
Lucius raises an eyebrow. "Snape. Not a pureblooded name. What are you doing in Slytherin then?" There is an accusation in his voice. A nasty insinuation.
"The hat put me here." Severus draws his knobbly knees up to his chest and puts his arm around them. He stares up at Lucius whose short blond hair is haloed by the firelight. The older boy looks like an angel from his books. His Muggle books. Severus wonders whether he should think of them any more. Maybe they're banned topics here. Muggle-books-are-banned. Muggles-are-banned. Just like speaking-out-to-dad was banned for his mum. Just like telling-other-children-about-what-dad-does is banned.
After a pause, Lucius reaches out an arm and he automatically flinches and sinks back into the carved chair. Lucius gives him a look of surprise. "I wasn't going to hurt you. You're one of us now." He ruffles Snape's hair and makes a face. "You should wash that hair."
Severus nods awkwardly. He knows he won't wash it. It's heavier this way and hides him. He's not so little as to believe that if he can't see them they can't see him. But he still feels safer.
As Lucius walks off, Severus notices a white-blond strand of hair on his tattered robes and picks it up. It glistens and he puts it in his pocket almost automatically.
--
The box isn't beautiful. It's old and worn and one of the hinges is hanging off.
--
It's Lucius's last year at Hogwarts and young Severus watches as he sweeps along the corridors like a king. His hair is long now. There were whispers of Darius Malfoy being killed earlier that year. Lucius notices him watching and there is always a faint smile on his face.
On Christmas day, Severus opens his presents and finds a small ring resting on a piece of parchment.
Friends? is written on the parchment and Severus knows it comes from Lucius. Briefly he wonders why the older, charismatic boy wants a friend in third year. Even if he is already one of the best potions students in school. Even if he has managed to memorise seventh year curses already.
The ring is silver with a subtle snake design and it fits snugly on Snape's little finger.
--
There were once roses carved onto the top of the box but they are now lost beneath years of neglect.
--
Severus expects that Lucius would forget about him once he had left Hogwarts and so is surprised when he receives weekly letters.
Lucius is working at the Ministry developing new curses.
Lucius is displeased with the bureaucracy of the Ministry.
Lucius has met a man, a strong man, a man who could change their world.
Severus feels an unexpected twinge of jealousy.
Severus, you need to meet Tom. He's got ideas for our world. He's going to get rid of the disgusting Muggle-loving sycophantic idiots in the Ministry and replace them with efficient hard workers. You'll love his ideas, Severus. He's got such presence as he speaks. He looks almost like magic is flowing through him.
With shaking hands, Severus folds the letter up tightly.
--
The box is made out of cedar. Or was it mahogany. Nobody can tell any more.
--
"Lucius!" Severus can't keep the sound of happiness out of his voice as he runs over to greet his friend. But instead of a hug, Lucius simply gives him a perfunctory handshake. Severus can't understand it. What has he done wrong?
Lucius looks better than ever. His fur-lined cloak is richly embroidered and flows behind him as he walks. His robes are tailored to the latest fashions. "Severus," he says, shaking his head. "Let me lend you some money."
Severus colours. "I don't need your charity," he says tightly. He is aware that his second hand robes are old and frayed but they're his.
"It isn't charity." Lucius's laugh is sharp. "I said lend, not give. If you will not accept that, will you accept a present?" He produces a package from behind his back and thrusts it in Severus's hands.
The package is heavy and marked with the seal of Madam Malkin's. Severus knows better than to refuse it. "Thank you, Lucius," he says and stares up at the man. Lucius's hand comes up and cups the side of his face. Automatically, Severus leans into it.
"Severus," Lucius says, his voice rough. "Look. I know..." He stops. "We can't..."
To stop him, Severus stands up on his toes and kisses him. It's a brief kiss. They don't want the other people in Hogsmeade to see but he can see the flush in Lucius's cheeks.
"Goodbye Severus," he says abruptly. "I'll write."
--
The box barely closes. There are so many things inside.
--
Severus watches all of his classmates around him as they receive their NEWTs. Smiling, happy, worried, hopeful faces. There is an insistent itch on his left arm and he resists the urge to scratch it.
Lucius is there as well and Severus gives him a small smile. Their friendship has never been the same again after that day but Severus hopes that now it'll be different. After all, he's now no longer a student. He's got a position as a Potions Brewer for England's premier Potions Factory. They're colleagues too. Both Marked.
But Severus knows that Lucius has obligations.
"Severus," Lucius says warmly. "I'd like you to meet my fiancé Narcissa Black. We haven't announced it yet but it will be in The Daily Prophet tomorrow. I wanted you to be the first to know." His eyes say sorry but Severus ignores them.
--
The box is small. But precious.
--
We can never be. Narcissa's pregnant already. I need this heir. The Malfoy line cannot die out. I'm sorry, Severus. I'm sure you will find somebody.
Severus stares at the letter and faintly wonders what the Malfoy scion will be called. Somehow he feels that his life will be connected with the yet-unborn child. There is something about the Malfoys that draws him.
--
Severus keeps his life in the box.
--
He pours out the contents and out tumble newspaper articles, letters, presents, notes, a ring and last of all a single strand of hair.
"Goodbye Lucius," he says.
Author: Ayla Pascal
Fandom: Harry Potter
Medium: book
Words: 1071
Genre: slash (Snape/Lucius)
Rating: PG
Character: Severus Snape
Theme: B is for bric-a-brac
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co. do not belong to me. They belong to JKR. I'm just playing in the universe.
Author Notes: Written for alphabetasoup. Post-HBP.
The Box
"My name is Lucius Malfoy."
Severus stares up at the older boy with the prefect badge pinned to his immaculate robes. "Severus," he says quietly. "Severus Snape."
Lucius raises an eyebrow. "Snape. Not a pureblooded name. What are you doing in Slytherin then?" There is an accusation in his voice. A nasty insinuation.
"The hat put me here." Severus draws his knobbly knees up to his chest and puts his arm around them. He stares up at Lucius whose short blond hair is haloed by the firelight. The older boy looks like an angel from his books. His Muggle books. Severus wonders whether he should think of them any more. Maybe they're banned topics here. Muggle-books-are-banned. Muggles-are-banned. Just like speaking-out-to-dad was banned for his mum. Just like telling-other-children-about-what-dad-does is banned.
After a pause, Lucius reaches out an arm and he automatically flinches and sinks back into the carved chair. Lucius gives him a look of surprise. "I wasn't going to hurt you. You're one of us now." He ruffles Snape's hair and makes a face. "You should wash that hair."
Severus nods awkwardly. He knows he won't wash it. It's heavier this way and hides him. He's not so little as to believe that if he can't see them they can't see him. But he still feels safer.
As Lucius walks off, Severus notices a white-blond strand of hair on his tattered robes and picks it up. It glistens and he puts it in his pocket almost automatically.
--
The box isn't beautiful. It's old and worn and one of the hinges is hanging off.
--
It's Lucius's last year at Hogwarts and young Severus watches as he sweeps along the corridors like a king. His hair is long now. There were whispers of Darius Malfoy being killed earlier that year. Lucius notices him watching and there is always a faint smile on his face.
On Christmas day, Severus opens his presents and finds a small ring resting on a piece of parchment.
Friends? is written on the parchment and Severus knows it comes from Lucius. Briefly he wonders why the older, charismatic boy wants a friend in third year. Even if he is already one of the best potions students in school. Even if he has managed to memorise seventh year curses already.
The ring is silver with a subtle snake design and it fits snugly on Snape's little finger.
--
There were once roses carved onto the top of the box but they are now lost beneath years of neglect.
--
Severus expects that Lucius would forget about him once he had left Hogwarts and so is surprised when he receives weekly letters.
Lucius is working at the Ministry developing new curses.
Lucius is displeased with the bureaucracy of the Ministry.
Lucius has met a man, a strong man, a man who could change their world.
Severus feels an unexpected twinge of jealousy.
Severus, you need to meet Tom. He's got ideas for our world. He's going to get rid of the disgusting Muggle-loving sycophantic idiots in the Ministry and replace them with efficient hard workers. You'll love his ideas, Severus. He's got such presence as he speaks. He looks almost like magic is flowing through him.
With shaking hands, Severus folds the letter up tightly.
--
The box is made out of cedar. Or was it mahogany. Nobody can tell any more.
--
"Lucius!" Severus can't keep the sound of happiness out of his voice as he runs over to greet his friend. But instead of a hug, Lucius simply gives him a perfunctory handshake. Severus can't understand it. What has he done wrong?
Lucius looks better than ever. His fur-lined cloak is richly embroidered and flows behind him as he walks. His robes are tailored to the latest fashions. "Severus," he says, shaking his head. "Let me lend you some money."
Severus colours. "I don't need your charity," he says tightly. He is aware that his second hand robes are old and frayed but they're his.
"It isn't charity." Lucius's laugh is sharp. "I said lend, not give. If you will not accept that, will you accept a present?" He produces a package from behind his back and thrusts it in Severus's hands.
The package is heavy and marked with the seal of Madam Malkin's. Severus knows better than to refuse it. "Thank you, Lucius," he says and stares up at the man. Lucius's hand comes up and cups the side of his face. Automatically, Severus leans into it.
"Severus," Lucius says, his voice rough. "Look. I know..." He stops. "We can't..."
To stop him, Severus stands up on his toes and kisses him. It's a brief kiss. They don't want the other people in Hogsmeade to see but he can see the flush in Lucius's cheeks.
"Goodbye Severus," he says abruptly. "I'll write."
--
The box barely closes. There are so many things inside.
--
Severus watches all of his classmates around him as they receive their NEWTs. Smiling, happy, worried, hopeful faces. There is an insistent itch on his left arm and he resists the urge to scratch it.
Lucius is there as well and Severus gives him a small smile. Their friendship has never been the same again after that day but Severus hopes that now it'll be different. After all, he's now no longer a student. He's got a position as a Potions Brewer for England's premier Potions Factory. They're colleagues too. Both Marked.
But Severus knows that Lucius has obligations.
"Severus," Lucius says warmly. "I'd like you to meet my fiancé Narcissa Black. We haven't announced it yet but it will be in The Daily Prophet tomorrow. I wanted you to be the first to know." His eyes say sorry but Severus ignores them.
--
The box is small. But precious.
--
We can never be. Narcissa's pregnant already. I need this heir. The Malfoy line cannot die out. I'm sorry, Severus. I'm sure you will find somebody.
Severus stares at the letter and faintly wonders what the Malfoy scion will be called. Somehow he feels that his life will be connected with the yet-unborn child. There is something about the Malfoys that draws him.
--
Severus keeps his life in the box.
--
He pours out the contents and out tumble newspaper articles, letters, presents, notes, a ring and last of all a single strand of hair.
"Goodbye Lucius," he says.