HP ficlet: Love Abides [Harry/Lucius, Harry/Draco, general]
Title: Love Abides Author: celandineb Fandom: HP Pairing: Harry/Lucius, Harry/Draco Rating: general Length: 543 words Summary: Lucius waits to learn his fate. Note: For quill_it, 100.3, prompt 14, "inside". For felaine who wanted Lucius. This is (probably) the wrap-up of the little Draco/Harry/Lucius series I was working on within these 100 ficlets.
At my age, and with my past, you would think that I should have learned to be patient by now, but tonight patience seems as unreachable as the moon.
The wind roars. Birch branches lash at the windows. Were they not strengthened by spells, they might break, spilling the wildness of the night inside to where I pace on the green velvet of the carpet in my library.
Harry told me that he was writing to Draco, explaining matters. I wonder if my son will understand, will believe, will accept what has happened. Even to me the situation is unlikely. When I offered Harry anything he wanted, as recompense for having saved Draco's life, I never expected him to demand that I teach him how to have sex with another man. Still less did I imagine that I would—let me be honest—learn to love him.
And if that were not enough, to find that his purpose was to seduce my own son!
But evidently Lady Fortune smiles not only on Harry, but on those around him as well, since he has confessed that he returns my emotions, though he loves Draco too. Hence the letter. Hence my disquiet until I learn what the outcome will be.
A house-elf brings me a glass of whisky, and I have to restrain myself from gulping the contents and requesting more. If Harry should come here tonight I want all my wits about me, in case my son refuses Harry's request to continue both relationships. I would, were I Draco. He has forgiven me much already, but this… this might be more than he can take.
I pick up my battered copy of Hélas, Je me suis Transfiguré mes Pieds and leaf through it, but for once the antics of Grenouille and Crapaud cannot hold my attention. My treacherous mind keeps returning to Harry, presenting me with image after image of him: sprawling unselfconsciously on rumpled sheets; sitting with a cheeky grin, sideways in my best armchair; opening his mouth in ecstasy as he comes inside my body. Merlin. I take another swallow of whisky and adjust my robes.
"Sir?"
"What?" I snap at the elf.
"There is a visitor. Harry Potter, sir."
"Well, show him in at once!"
I breathe in deeply, willing myself to calm. I have to expect the worst, that Draco will not accept Harry's ongoing liaison with me, that when forced to make a choice, Harry will choose Draco. I move towards the windows and stand facing the night, the wild wind. The darkness outside makes the glass into a mirror that reflects the room behind me.
The door opens and Harry enters. His expression is somber. I sigh inwardly as he crosses to stand behind me, puts his arms about me.
"Lucius…" he murmurs.
I turn in his embrace and tilt my head down to kiss him one last time, using every subtle technique I have to convey the emotions I will never be able to express again.
When the kiss ends, his green eyes hold my gaze fast. The door opens again and Draco steps in. My son has the nerve to smirk at me.
"All is well, Lucius," Harry says, breaking into a smile. "All is well."