(no subject)
Title: Chapter 1 - Der Turm
Pairing: Severus/Lucius
Rating: PG-13
Warning + A/N: More plot than smex, just to warn you. If you haven’t tried dragon’s beard candy, try to, but it’s more a Chinese candy. You eat it twirling the mass of candy on two sticks, which is really fun if you’re a kid, and even if you’re not.
Don’t be stupid.
He had to be imagining it. Once, he had had a solitary breakfast, but now, he had to pretend to ignore Malfoy.
Severus had stolen more than glances of him, long stares of the older boy, doing it so almost nobody noticed, except once. Once could be put down to accident.
It was his hands, especially his hands. His fingers were ethereally long, unperturbed by manual labor. It was that, and so many other indefinable things that he, himself, could not place.
Everyone knew he possessed beauty, and the most valuable commodity one could not buy - his name, his family line.
The trouble was, he knew it, too.
Severus could probably name a whole list of things he thought intriguing about the 7th year; things like his pale eyelashes that looked almost milky white; his hard gray marble irises; the calibre of his voice.
Severus had never heard him laugh, genuinely.
It was a growing interest; observing him was no more out of place than, say, bird watching, or squid feeding.
They’d spoken; his first night here, and he’d swept into the common room, damn near regally, flanked by two who looked to have more brawn than brains. He’d cast a disinterested eye over the first-years, until his gaze had moved past Narcissa, Guinevere of the first-years, and landed on him.
He hadn’t flinched, but he did tense, immediately wary of being watched.
Lucius had introduced himself, but it seemed he was one of the few who were not impressed by his family’s sprawling wealth. He didn’t have a haughty air, but all the same, it was as though he had made himself untouchable.
Severus had barely inclined his head politely, with no wish to be as deferential as the older students, who flattered him like courtiers. He was nearly impervious to it, though, waving them off with an insincere smile.
Severus had his pride.
Lucius was aware of the boy’s growing reputation. On numerous occasions he had requested notes from Slughorn, for books that seemed so advanced for him, but the Professor recognized his avid interest, especially in his pet subject. He’d asked for Moste Potente Potions and went through it as though it were Magical Drafts and Potions. Slughorn was more than happy to sign the notes for his apt pupil.
It was at these times when Lucius, Nott, Rodolphus and the Black sister Bellatrix had gathered, holding acidic discussions with their Head of House, that he had heard of how Severus progressed. The length of the discussions depended not on time, but on how long Slughorn’s sweets lasted, which his favourite students were more than happy to provide.
Bellatrix did not like Severus Snape, as though her position as Slughorn’s favourite had already been usurped.
“Come on, Professor. It’s been one year, and the batch from last year don’t look one bit outstanding at all.”
Lestrange paused. “Was ours?”
Nott snorted, and Bellatrix laughed in her loud, sharp way. “We have us.”
Rodolphus rolled his eyes. “You knew spells none of us did, Nott, and Bellatrix could curse anything blindfolded.”
Slughorn gave a deep belly laugh. “It was a right mess, that time, when I had to give you detention for blinding Sirius Black’s little friend, and Lestrange for locking him in the girl’s bathroom on the second floor!”
Bellatrix was unable to recall, having performed that feat repeatedly, until Rodolphus nudged her.
"The first time we got the hexes ricocheting off the tiles.”
Her memory came back to her; of dozens of hexes flashing everywhere as they scrambled out, laughing, hearing the hexes collide into everything. She gave one indignant puff. “He and that ghost could have flooded the entire school with all that crying.”
Horace Slughorn sighed. “I suppose children will be children, but they’re a bunch of mischief, Black and Potter. Not a week goes by without either myself or Albus having to pull one of them and that Severus Snape apart.”
Lucius looked up, as Slughorn paused to tuck another spun bundle of dragon’s beard candy into his mouth.
“These three, are destined to be enemies, it seems.” He licked his fingers. “Not even cats and dogs go at each other’s throats like that!”
Bellatrix’s mouth twisted into a sneer, almost a reflex. “What, that stringy-looking one?”
“The one with the greasy hair always in his face?” Nott asked.
Lucius nodded and Slughorn laughed, tutting.
“Don’t pass this one off yet! He’s a very fast learner, very fast indeed, this one. Just asked for a copy of Advanced Potion Making the other day!” He chuckled, twirling another gob of the sticky candy with his wand.
“Said it was for leisure. Leisure!” He shook his head. “Scarred young Black the other day, and Madam Pomfrey has been unable to remove it from his face, but it seems to gain him fans… the girls seem to think it’s dashing.” Slughorn’s amusement was obvious in his voice. “Outstanding, outstanding… wouldn’t be surprised if he could whip me up a Draught of Living Death easily.”
Lucius had been listening intently. Potter would, predictably want revenge. He was not worried, knowing full well Severus was more than capable of defending himself, but he could not deny his concern for him. The Gryffindors would not fight fair, ironically.
“You watch this one, more than brilliant, he is. But doesn’t flaunt it. Keeps his head down. Smart.” Slughorn waved his wand to draw more dragon’s beard candy, but frowned in disappointment as he discovered only thin slivers of it left.
“Alas! It is time for you to retire; you have lessons tomorrow. Nott, thank your father for the dragon’s beard, won’t you? Lestrange, I want your essay, it’s been overdue for too long! You really mustn’t expect special treatment like that… perhaps Miss Bella will be able to assist you there,” he winked. “Now, off you go!” He clapped his pudgy hands, chortling to himself.
Lucius had been alone that afternoon, returning to the Common Room from his Career Guidance talk with Horace Slughorn. He had smiled wanly as Slughorn chuckled as made jokes about how he didn’t need a career, on account of his family’s wealth. He spotted the familiar shadow of Severus Snape, stalking down the corridor.
“Hey, Snivellus!”
Lucius had been strolling, when he noticed James Potter with his wand raised. Severus turned. Lucius flicked his wand, deflecting the hex and smirking at the initial incredulity and succeeding fury on the Gryffindor’s face.
“No magic in the corridors, Potter. Dumbledore will hear of this,” he drawled lazily, as though this were a chore. He paused beside Severus, who had a look of displeasure on his pallid face.
“That’s Professor Dumbledore to you, Malfoy,” Black spat.
Lucius’s smirk became more pronounced as he brushed Black off. “It makes no difference to me.”
James Potter made as though to strike Lucius. “You-"
Lucius did not move, smile firmly in place. “I what?” He leaned forward slightly, malice lining his voice and dancing in his eyes, mocking James Potter. “Threatening a Prefect… very unwise of you. Now, I have much more fulfilling things I’d rather be doing than arguing with second-years, so run along now.”
Venom flooded their eyes. Lucius laughed softly, arms folded.
“Come on,” Sirius muttered, turning to leave, and James stormed after him.
Lucius looked to Severus, raising an eyebrow at the witheringly discontented look Severus was giving him.
“You don’t have to fight my battles for me.”
Ah. Understandable, but… Lucius looked him curiously. “You had your back turned.”
“I’ll keep looking over my own shoulder. Don’t do it for me.”
He met his eyes with a near-defiant look. Lucius regarded him, granite eyes trying to bore through him.
Finally he nodded. He moved past him, but paused beside the boy, lips next to his ear.
“Watch yourself, Severus Snape.”
Horace Slughorn was not the only person to collect prize students.
Now, at the Slytherin table. It was Lucius’s last year at Hogwarts and still, after so long, Severus Snape had no less walls up than he did when he first arrived.
He could charm the rest, but not him.
Lucius observed the boy during these times, not knowing he was being glanced at in turn.
Three years of watching him progress; he could see the hands that had grown deft in the past years, measuring, experimenting, crafting potions endlessly. Already he was growing tall, sometimes undernourished from choosing his books over food.
Narcissa, next to him, gazed at the sulleness on his face, curious. She knew that this look meant Lucius had not gotten his way with something or the other. She also knew enough to let him stew in this moood for some time, hoping he would let it go soon, or else someone would have to suffer his… displeasure.
Pairing: Severus/Lucius
Rating: PG-13
Warning + A/N: More plot than smex, just to warn you. If you haven’t tried dragon’s beard candy, try to, but it’s more a Chinese candy. You eat it twirling the mass of candy on two sticks, which is really fun if you’re a kid, and even if you’re not.
Don’t be stupid.
He had to be imagining it. Once, he had had a solitary breakfast, but now, he had to pretend to ignore Malfoy.
Severus had stolen more than glances of him, long stares of the older boy, doing it so almost nobody noticed, except once. Once could be put down to accident.
It was his hands, especially his hands. His fingers were ethereally long, unperturbed by manual labor. It was that, and so many other indefinable things that he, himself, could not place.
Everyone knew he possessed beauty, and the most valuable commodity one could not buy - his name, his family line.
The trouble was, he knew it, too.
Severus could probably name a whole list of things he thought intriguing about the 7th year; things like his pale eyelashes that looked almost milky white; his hard gray marble irises; the calibre of his voice.
Severus had never heard him laugh, genuinely.
It was a growing interest; observing him was no more out of place than, say, bird watching, or squid feeding.
They’d spoken; his first night here, and he’d swept into the common room, damn near regally, flanked by two who looked to have more brawn than brains. He’d cast a disinterested eye over the first-years, until his gaze had moved past Narcissa, Guinevere of the first-years, and landed on him.
He hadn’t flinched, but he did tense, immediately wary of being watched.
Lucius had introduced himself, but it seemed he was one of the few who were not impressed by his family’s sprawling wealth. He didn’t have a haughty air, but all the same, it was as though he had made himself untouchable.
Severus had barely inclined his head politely, with no wish to be as deferential as the older students, who flattered him like courtiers. He was nearly impervious to it, though, waving them off with an insincere smile.
Severus had his pride.
Lucius was aware of the boy’s growing reputation. On numerous occasions he had requested notes from Slughorn, for books that seemed so advanced for him, but the Professor recognized his avid interest, especially in his pet subject. He’d asked for Moste Potente Potions and went through it as though it were Magical Drafts and Potions. Slughorn was more than happy to sign the notes for his apt pupil.
It was at these times when Lucius, Nott, Rodolphus and the Black sister Bellatrix had gathered, holding acidic discussions with their Head of House, that he had heard of how Severus progressed. The length of the discussions depended not on time, but on how long Slughorn’s sweets lasted, which his favourite students were more than happy to provide.
Bellatrix did not like Severus Snape, as though her position as Slughorn’s favourite had already been usurped.
“Come on, Professor. It’s been one year, and the batch from last year don’t look one bit outstanding at all.”
Lestrange paused. “Was ours?”
Nott snorted, and Bellatrix laughed in her loud, sharp way. “We have us.”
Rodolphus rolled his eyes. “You knew spells none of us did, Nott, and Bellatrix could curse anything blindfolded.”
Slughorn gave a deep belly laugh. “It was a right mess, that time, when I had to give you detention for blinding Sirius Black’s little friend, and Lestrange for locking him in the girl’s bathroom on the second floor!”
Bellatrix was unable to recall, having performed that feat repeatedly, until Rodolphus nudged her.
"The first time we got the hexes ricocheting off the tiles.”
Her memory came back to her; of dozens of hexes flashing everywhere as they scrambled out, laughing, hearing the hexes collide into everything. She gave one indignant puff. “He and that ghost could have flooded the entire school with all that crying.”
Horace Slughorn sighed. “I suppose children will be children, but they’re a bunch of mischief, Black and Potter. Not a week goes by without either myself or Albus having to pull one of them and that Severus Snape apart.”
Lucius looked up, as Slughorn paused to tuck another spun bundle of dragon’s beard candy into his mouth.
“These three, are destined to be enemies, it seems.” He licked his fingers. “Not even cats and dogs go at each other’s throats like that!”
Bellatrix’s mouth twisted into a sneer, almost a reflex. “What, that stringy-looking one?”
“The one with the greasy hair always in his face?” Nott asked.
Lucius nodded and Slughorn laughed, tutting.
“Don’t pass this one off yet! He’s a very fast learner, very fast indeed, this one. Just asked for a copy of Advanced Potion Making the other day!” He chuckled, twirling another gob of the sticky candy with his wand.
“Said it was for leisure. Leisure!” He shook his head. “Scarred young Black the other day, and Madam Pomfrey has been unable to remove it from his face, but it seems to gain him fans… the girls seem to think it’s dashing.” Slughorn’s amusement was obvious in his voice. “Outstanding, outstanding… wouldn’t be surprised if he could whip me up a Draught of Living Death easily.”
Lucius had been listening intently. Potter would, predictably want revenge. He was not worried, knowing full well Severus was more than capable of defending himself, but he could not deny his concern for him. The Gryffindors would not fight fair, ironically.
“You watch this one, more than brilliant, he is. But doesn’t flaunt it. Keeps his head down. Smart.” Slughorn waved his wand to draw more dragon’s beard candy, but frowned in disappointment as he discovered only thin slivers of it left.
“Alas! It is time for you to retire; you have lessons tomorrow. Nott, thank your father for the dragon’s beard, won’t you? Lestrange, I want your essay, it’s been overdue for too long! You really mustn’t expect special treatment like that… perhaps Miss Bella will be able to assist you there,” he winked. “Now, off you go!” He clapped his pudgy hands, chortling to himself.
Lucius had been alone that afternoon, returning to the Common Room from his Career Guidance talk with Horace Slughorn. He had smiled wanly as Slughorn chuckled as made jokes about how he didn’t need a career, on account of his family’s wealth. He spotted the familiar shadow of Severus Snape, stalking down the corridor.
“Hey, Snivellus!”
Lucius had been strolling, when he noticed James Potter with his wand raised. Severus turned. Lucius flicked his wand, deflecting the hex and smirking at the initial incredulity and succeeding fury on the Gryffindor’s face.
“No magic in the corridors, Potter. Dumbledore will hear of this,” he drawled lazily, as though this were a chore. He paused beside Severus, who had a look of displeasure on his pallid face.
“That’s Professor Dumbledore to you, Malfoy,” Black spat.
Lucius’s smirk became more pronounced as he brushed Black off. “It makes no difference to me.”
James Potter made as though to strike Lucius. “You-"
Lucius did not move, smile firmly in place. “I what?” He leaned forward slightly, malice lining his voice and dancing in his eyes, mocking James Potter. “Threatening a Prefect… very unwise of you. Now, I have much more fulfilling things I’d rather be doing than arguing with second-years, so run along now.”
Venom flooded their eyes. Lucius laughed softly, arms folded.
“Come on,” Sirius muttered, turning to leave, and James stormed after him.
Lucius looked to Severus, raising an eyebrow at the witheringly discontented look Severus was giving him.
“You don’t have to fight my battles for me.”
Ah. Understandable, but… Lucius looked him curiously. “You had your back turned.”
“I’ll keep looking over my own shoulder. Don’t do it for me.”
He met his eyes with a near-defiant look. Lucius regarded him, granite eyes trying to bore through him.
Finally he nodded. He moved past him, but paused beside the boy, lips next to his ear.
“Watch yourself, Severus Snape.”
Horace Slughorn was not the only person to collect prize students.
Now, at the Slytherin table. It was Lucius’s last year at Hogwarts and still, after so long, Severus Snape had no less walls up than he did when he first arrived.
He could charm the rest, but not him.
Lucius observed the boy during these times, not knowing he was being glanced at in turn.
Three years of watching him progress; he could see the hands that had grown deft in the past years, measuring, experimenting, crafting potions endlessly. Already he was growing tall, sometimes undernourished from choosing his books over food.
Narcissa, next to him, gazed at the sulleness on his face, curious. She knew that this look meant Lucius had not gotten his way with something or the other. She also knew enough to let him stew in this moood for some time, hoping he would let it go soon, or else someone would have to suffer his… displeasure.