BFS ENTRY: His Sanctuary (NC-17; Lucius/Severus)

[sev_shorts_mod]

Title: His Sanctuary
Category: Three (21- to 30-years-old)
Pairing: Severus/Lucius
Author: dreamy_dragon73
Beta Reader: bluestocking79
Rating: NC-17
(Highlight to View) Warning(s): None.
Word Count: 2463
Author's Note: A huge thank you to bluestocking79 for the beta.
Summary: Severus has never cared much about his birthday. Fortunately someone else does.



Lech juice and ratt spleens are used in the Shrinnking Solution. It doen't matter if the qont number isnt right because they don't af eeffchange the ress outcome off the potin.

Severus Snape didn't even bother to shake his head. He simply marked the essay with a bright-red "T" before he pulled the next one from the stack on his desk. As usual, the first days of term had brought loads of over-excited students, up to all kinds of mischief now that they were back at school. With them came tons of essays supposedly written during the holidays, though in many cases these looked as if they had been done last night in the common room-or this morning in bed. Severus glanced at the stacks of parchment piling up on his desk. Not to mention that he had patrol duty tonight as well.

Today he was thirty years old. It didn't mean anything to him. Other people celebrated their birthdays. He didn’t. Not since-not in a long while. Birthdays were just another way to mark the passing of time. Time which for him, until recently, had merely served as a reminder of the things he had lost, things for which he was supposed to pay until the end of days. Or the end of his days. Whichever came first. Albus made very sure that he didn't forget. Every time the old sod called him "my boy", something constricted in Severus's chest.

Suddenly Severus had the urgent impulse to hex something or preferably someone. Or to take house points, many house points, from Gryffindors. Slightly cheered by that thought, he rose to begin his nightly rounds through the draughty castle.

Three hours, four awarded detentions, and five times fifty deducted points from Gryffindor later, a tired but slightly happier Potions master returned to his quarters in the dungeons to find a haughty looking eagle owl waiting for him. Odd. Usually the owl with the invitation for the weekly Saturday dinner with the Malfoys didn't arrive before Wednesday. As so often lately, his thoughts strayed to Lucius.

'Ouch.' The sudden sharp pain on his hand reminded him that the owl was still there.

'Bloody pigeon. Don't think you'll get a treat from me.' In response, the owl stuck out its leg.

As soon as he had untied the scroll, the bird took off through the open window. Severus frowned. Wasn't he supposed to reply to the invitation? Unless it wasn't an invitation, but a polite excuse for why the dinner on Saturday was cancelled. He quickly unfolded the parchment.

Happy Birthday, my friend!
I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Lucius

Severus stared at the words, not noticing that the hand holding the parchment wasn't quite steady whilst he tried to suppress the odd feeling that tried to spread through his body. It didn't work until a glass of firewhisky chased it away. Still, when he climbed into his bed shortly afterwards, he felt comfortably warm.

*****
Severus didn't really know why he decided to have a bath on Sunday afternoon. He stretched out in the tub, whilst spirals of steam wafted gently upwards, smelling of herbs and spices as the hot water relaxed his aching muscles. He waved his wand several times over the water to reheat it before he washed his hair and his body with meticulous care.

Later, in front of his wardrobe, he picked out his best set of robes. Unsurprisingly, they were black, but the wool was finer. He even dug out his black travelling cloak.

Fully clothed, he made sure he had his wand before he left, muttering, 'Idiot.'

*****
Upon his arrival at Malfoy Manor, the usual house-elf took his cloak and showed him to Lucius's study. Severus expected Lucius to be lounging on the sofa in the corner, his customary pre-dinner glass of red wine in hand.

Instead, the other man rose to greet him and Severus's breath caught in his throat. Lucius was dressed in dark grey robes, which set off the colour of his eyes and his hair to perfection. The cut hinted at the body underneath, subtle but unmistakeable. His blond hair fell loosely down his back in a way that would be almost casual if it hadn't been so meticulously groomed. Lucius simply looked beautiful in every way.

'Severus.'

'Lucius.'

They briefly embraced each other. Severus could smell a faint trace of Lucius's after-shave; as a blond lock brushed his cheek, he fought again to keep his breathing even. Lucius didn't seem to notice anything.

'Come, I want to show you something.' Without further explanation, Lucius strode off through the open door, down the corridor.

This was weird, even for Lucius, Severus thought as he followed the other man past the door to the dining room and around a corner into a dark passageway.

'Where's Narcissa?'

'Still in France. She says the climate there agrees better with Draco,' Lucius answered without stopping before he disappeared down a narrow staircase.

Frowning, Severus went after him. Lucius was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, looking almost apologetic, or what counted for apologetic with him. 'Not the most charming part of the house,' he said.

'It has improved considerably,' Severus ventured.

Grey eyes fixed on him for a few seconds before Lucius nodded. 'Come,' he said again.

Severus followed him through a long corridor that wound its way through the dungeons, past a door that, as he had found out on previous visits, led to a well-tended and exquisitely stocked wine cellar. As they proceeded, they passed several old holding cells that reeked of despair and pain. The air seemed to become more stale the further they went, a sign that nobody had been down here in a long time.

Finally, Lucius stopped in front of a blank stretch of wall. Severus heard him mutter a long incantation and saw his wand arm move, but apart from that, Lucius's back blocked a clearer view on what he was doing. Nothing happened for a few seconds; then a small door appeared in the wall. It opened after another whispered incantation from Lucius.

Severus watched him disappear through the doorway and, for a moment, had the impulse to turn to go back upstairs. Shrugging it off, he followed Lucius once more.

They found themselves in yet another corridor; it was well-lit and the air was fresh. They walked on in silence. Several times, Severus felt a tingling on his skin; it appeared they were passing through a number of magical barriers along their way.

After rounding another corner, Lucius stopped so suddenly that Severus nearly walked into him. In front of them was an arch, filled with a bright light.

'Give me your hand.'

'Sorry?'

'I said, give me your hand.' Lucius's tone brooked no argument.

Severus glowered but linked his fingers with Lucius's and felt his hand enfolded in a warm, firm grip. Before he had time to process the sensations that were making themselves known in his body, Lucius took a step forward, raised his wand and moved it in a quick, complicated pattern. The light from the archway seemed to move outward, enveloping them in a swirl of colours so bright, Severus had to close his eyes.

When he opened them again, warm air and soft sunlight welcomed him. A quick look around showed that they were standing in a large, beautiful garden. A fresh, green lawn stretched before his eyes, lush flowers in various colours were everywhere, filling the air with their scent, and a short distance away, he could see a small lake glittering in the sun.

'Where are we? What is this place?'

'Isn't it enough that we're here?' Lucius began walking into the direction of the lake, still holding Severus's hand.

Severus, however, refused to take another step. He let go of Lucius's hand. 'No. I want to know where we are.' He scowled at the other man.

Lucius sighed. 'Very well. If you must know, we're below the Manor.'

This was all underground? Severus looked around him again. 'And?'

'Severus, can't you just enjoy yourself for once?'

'No,' Severus answered, his feet planted firmly onto the ground, though his frown softened somewhat in the warm sunlight. 'Is this one of your playgrounds? What are we doing here?'

Now Lucius was scowling, too. Above them, the sky began to darken. 'I'm happy to have a discussion about the magical properties of Malfoy Manor, of course, but I had thought that we could celebrate your birthday.'

Oh.

Again Lucius gestured towards the lake. 'Walk with me.'

This time, Severus nodded. As they made their way across the lawn, the sky overhead cleared up again. Along their way, Severus noticed several species of flowers that usually weren't found in Britain, all of them in full bloom. The whole garden seemed like a carefully orchestrated symphony of colour, light and scent. Not that he would have ever been caught uttering a thought like that aloud.

At the edge of the lake, a white blanket was spread out; next to it stood a picnic hamper and two glasses already filled with a pale, yellow drink. Champagne, Severus guessed, before his eyes fell on what sat on the blanket.

He stood very still, looking at the birthday cake. It was square, with dark-green icing, decorated with swirling silver lines. A single silver candle was burning in the middle of it. It was beautiful, but Severus wouldn't have cared if had been plain and crooked. It was a birthday cake-for him. A lump formed in his throat, and he was glad that Lucius took his hand again and tugged him onto the blanket.

When they were both sitting, the two glasses floated over to them. Lucius picked one out of the air and raised it. 'Happy Birthday, Severus.'

Severus still wasn't sure he'd be able to say anything coherent, so he just nodded and took a sip from his glass. The bubbly liquid running down his throat helped to restore his vocal abilities.

Lucius pointed at the cake. 'Make a wish.'

Severus closed his eyes, blew vaguely into the direction of the candle and realised that he did indeed wish for something.

When he looked up again, his eyes met Lucius's. His heart began to beat faster at the intensity in the silver gaze. Lucius bent slightly forward and suddenly his lips were only millimetres away from Severus's. 'It's traditional for the birthday boy to cut the cake,' he whispered.

Severus nodded but didn't make any attempt to do as Lucius had suggested. Instead, he touched his lips to Lucius's hesitantly, assessing the other's reaction. Lucius didn't respond, but he didn't pull back either. Severus did it again; becoming a bit more adventurous, he trailed his tongue over Lucius's bottom lip, still looking into his eyes. Lucius opened his mouth to him. Their tongues met, and Severus's world narrowed down to Lucius's mouth, Lucius's hands, and the things they were doing to him. Severus's own hand went around the nape of Lucius's neck, drawing the other man closer to him. The little sound Lucius made as their kiss deepened went right down to Severus's groin.

Somehow they managed to manoeuvre around the cake as their bodies moved towards one another, until Severus could feel Lucius pressed against him. Nimble fingers were opening the buttons on his robes. He didn't want the kiss to end, but when he felt hands roaming over his bare skin, he went very, very still. The hands stopped.

'All right?' Lucius asked.

Severus shook his head. 'Yes.'

A pale eyebrow wandered upward. 'What is it, yes or no?'

'I am all right. More than all right. It's just I've never…'

Lucius was silent for a moment. Then he began very slowly to unbutton his own robes, divesting himself until he was completely naked. Severus let his eyes wander over Lucius's pale, flawless skin, his chest, his flat stomach, his hips and further downward, convinced that he had never seen anything so beautiful.

'Come here,' Lucius whispered and drew him back into his arms as their mouths came together again.

Very slowly, Lucius continued to peel him out of his clothes. Severus could feel the blond's hands exploring his body, stroking his skin, leaving a trail of fiery goosepimples in their wake. Shivers of heat were spreading through him and then he was completely naked, lying next to Lucius.

'Perfect,' Lucius murmured, trailing kisses down his neck and collarbone until his mouth found one of Severus's nipples.

Severus couldn't keep from moaning when he felt Lucius's tongue on his nipple. His own hands began to explore Lucius's body, stroking along his arms, his neck, across his chest, until he found a nipple, too. Judging by the whimpering sounds Lucius was making, he was doing something right. And then, he felt Lucius's hand wander downward, over his hips and closing around his cock. He moaned, 'Lucius,' surprising himself by how rough and needy his voice sounded.

Lucius's head came up, kissing him again. Their kiss deepened as Lucius pulled him close; hands went roaming over skin, and he could feel Lucius thrust against him.

'Severus,' he moaned and Snape felt a gush of hot liquid on his lower belly. Hearing Lucius say his name as he came, sent him over the edge, too.

*****
Later, they lay sprawled across the blanket. Severus almost purred when he felt Lucius's fingers stroking his back.

'Do you come here often?'

'No.' The fingers stopped briefly before they resumed their pattern. 'I haven't been here since I was a boy.'

'Hm?'

'The first Malfoy built it together with the house. Originally he only wanted a Floo connection to his French estate nobody would know about, but his wife was very delicate and didn't take well to the English climate, so he created this garden for her-as a sanctuary. Only the master of Malfoy Manor and his loved ones can enter this place. It keys itself to his magic. '

'But I could enter,' Severus pointed out.

'Fancy some cake? I for one am rather hungry after our earlier activities.'

Severus was about to call Lucius on his unsubtle diversion tactics, when a feeling in his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten all day. 'Yes, cake would be nice.'

As the sumptuous chocolate sponge cake melted on his tongue, infusing his taste buds with the most pleasurable sensations, Severus's mind was still busy processing the information about this garden. How did it work? Why had he been able to enter it? He gazed at Lucius, whose expression showed how much he was enjoying the cake. Their eyes met.

Warmth of a kind Severus had never known before spread through him.