Entry tags:

fic, lucius/narcissa, percy/lucius, slash

Happy Springsmut, violet_quill!
Author: lee_west
Recipient: violet_quill
Title: The Plea Bargain
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Percy/Lucius, Lucius/Narcissa
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Percy is put in charge of Lucius's plea bargain. But he gets much more than he bargained for.
Warnings: Adultery, in a sense.
Word Count: ~6,100
Author's Notes: A million thanks to my anonymous betas.




Percy pulled off his glasses and pressed his thumbs on the bridge of his nose, elbows unceremoniously – and uncharacteristically, for him – crushing the several rolls of parchment strewn across his desk. With a deep sigh, he pushed his chair back and stood up, walking to the large window and looking outside. Down on the fourth floor, the windows showed a Spring garden, complete with occasional bursts of April showers.

He watched the movement of birds and bees fluttering on the flowers, wondering how in the world he'd got assigned to this special mission. It was definitely not part of his job description; he was the assistant to Minister Shacklebolt, and his duties were to keep the Minister's appointment book, take dictation and do any other clerical tasks he might ask.

And this wasn't certainly a clerical task, but Kingsley had asked – no, had ordered – him to do it. Percy wondered if it had been done with a bit of spite. He was well aware that Kingsley wasn't very fond of him, and that he had got the position because Arthur had made a special request. Granted, Kingsley treated him fairly and was actually quite polite with him, but Percy was painfully aware that most people in the new Ministry still saw him as a sycophant who'd fawned over his previous bosses.

Maybe Kingsley only retained a modicum of politeness with him because of his father, Percy decided, turning away from the window and returning to his desk. He sat down, adjusted his glass and unrolled the nearest parchment. Whether his boss liked him or not, he had given Percy an assignment and Percy had to complete it.

To: Percy Weasley
From: Kingsley Shacklebolt
Re.: Lucius Malfoy's Plea Bargain


Effective immediately, you will be in charge of the plea bargain requested by Lucius Malfoy. You are therefore released from your duties as assistant to the Minister for Magic.

You will report to Gawain Robards, Head of the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic and follow his directions as to how accomplish your mission.

That was it. A terse memo and he was about to embark on something completely foreign to him. But there was nothing he could do about it, so he straightened out his office: he rolled the parchments, filed them all away neatly and, with Kingsley's memo in his hands, went to see Robards.

***

Gawain Robards seemed strangely pleased to see Percy. He offered him a seat and a cup of tea, which Percy accepted uneasily. It was not often that people treated him so affably in the Ministry. He sat down and sipped the tea primly while he waited.

Robards pushed a sheaf of parchments toward Percy. "Here's the background for your assignment. Just as a briefing, Lucius Malfoy claims he can give us the locations of safe houses where some of the missing Death Eaters may be hiding. But he made it very clear that he will only provide the information in exchange for the prompt release of his family and himself from Azkaban."

Percy nodded, thinking sarcastically that was usually what 'plea bargain' meant – information in exchange of something. He opened his mouth to ask the only question that was eating at him, "Why me?", but was interrupted by Robards. "The Malfoys are in Azkaban, as you know. Lucius has insisted that he won't provide any information unless he's in his own home, with his family. The Ministry, however, thinks that this may just be a ruse. Maybe he doesn't have anything new to share and just wants to get them out of Azkaban. They would still be under house arrest, but obviously much more comfortable.

"Your first step is to go to Azkaban and see if you can strike a deal with Malfoy. We would accept his release, but not his wife and son's."

Percy thought that this was tantamount to an impossible mission. Lucius was a creep, but everyone knew that he was a family man. His devotion to Narcissa was evident. Contrary to what often happened with rich pure-bloods, there was no doubt that theirs had been a marriage for love. Many times, back in the Fudge days when Percy had almost daily contact with Malfoy, he had wondered what it would be like if Lucius weren't so attached to Narcissa – and maybe just a little interested in his own gender. Because, despite the fact that Lucius was a Death Eater, he was also undoubtedly very attractive.

Without another word, Robards pointed his wand at the fireplace, and his secretary announced his nine o'clock had already arrived. He told her he could usher his visitor in, making it clear that he had said all he needed to Percy and their brief meeting was over. Percy rose, but he decided he would not leave without the answer to his one question. "Mr Robards, why me? I don't have experience with such things. Wouldn't this be a job better performed by an Auror? Or another member of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?"

He was taken aback by the look of pure derision in Robards' face. "Why you, Weasley? Well, we all thought you and Malfoy were best buddies, from way back when. Who else than a best buddy to get him to cooperate? Besides," he said with a malevolent smirk, "You'll be able to reminisce about the good old days." With that, he turned his gaze to the door and to his visitor, who was walking in.

Percy nodded, not letting it show that the barb had stung a lot. It seemed that he would never be forgiven for having taken Fudge's side against Dumbledore. "I'll do my best, Mr Robards," he answered, recalling bitterly that Robards himself didn't seem to have been against Fudge when he was Minister for Magic either. According to what Percy heard after the war, only Tonks and Shacklebolt had been both Ministry employees and Order members. It was easy for Robards to be so judgmental from his high perch.

But Percy would show him.

***

Even without the presence of the Dementors, Azkaban was a frightening place. Percy fastened the cloak tighter around his throat as the boat approached the fortress, which loomed dark and foreboding.

The new wizarding guards ran Secret Sensors over him, unsmiling, and asked him to release his wand, which would be kept in a safe in the guardhouse. Then one of them ushered him inside the fortress and accompanied him without a word to the top floor. On their way they passed by several cells, occupied by wizards and witches who seemed just barely human – they were disheveled, some crying for mercy and others muttering nonsensical words, as though they were mad. It seemed that the effects of the Dementors' presence still lingered in the place.

The guard ignored the pleas and mutters alike and strode to a cell at the end of the corridor. He touched his wand to the lock and said to Percy, "Here you are." Percy thanked him and stepped inside. The guard locked the door again, never bothering to acknowledge Percy's thanks, adding brusquely, "When you're ready to go, just call. If he tries something funny, the sensors will pick it up and we'll come to your rescue." He pointed at a place at the far end of the cell. Percy looked in that direction and saw Lucius Malfoy, haughtily looking at him, head cocked to one side.

Amidst the madness of Azkaban, Lucius seemed as sane as ever. "You?" he asked simply. "I expected someone ... more experienced, maybe."

Percy seethed, tempted to tell Lucius the real reason he'd been assigned the mission. Instead, he replied, "The Ministry has its reasons to send me. Obviously you know why I'm here."

"My plea bargain."

"Right. I understand you have useful information to share?"

"I do. There are still some Death Eaters on the loose. Even without the Dark Lord's command, they can still create havoc, choose a new ruthless ruler ..."

"Who are they?"

Lucius laughed. "You don't really expect me to give this information up freely, do you, Percy?" He looked at Percy up and down. "Your cronies at the Ministry have to do much better than to send a pretty boy as bait."

Percy was taken aback by the brazen look and the words 'pretty boy.' Could it be that Malfoy wasn't as straight as he thought? Because the combination of the gesture and the words were as much as an invitation as Percy had ever heard. He observed the man in front of him. Malfoy had lost some weight, but instead of looking gaunt, he was carrying the thinness with the same arrogance he had sported before. His Azkaban-regulation robes were threadbare, but it was obvious that Lucius, unlike the other prisoners, took care of his garb. He probably slept in the nude – the thought made Percy shiver involuntarily – so as not to crease his robes. They looked worn, but as clean and tidy as they could be.

He had tied his long blond hair with a small leather thong, a perfect bow holding it together. In the squalor of Azkaban, Lucius looked like a ruined aristocrat – which was the case, in a sense. He probably still had a handsome amount of gold in his Gringotts vault, albeit without means to access it. Not from Azkaban, at least. If he managed to secure house arrest, he would definitely be able to withdraw the contents of his vault; the Goblins would gladly act on an owl from him.

The new train of thought was fortunate, because Percy's mind was tethering way too close on the fact that, penury aside, Malfoy was as attractive as ever. He cleared his throat. "I understand you have some conditions before you will pass on the information?"

Lucius nodded, but didn't offer any further explanation. Percy counted to ten and continued, "Can you elaborate on your conditions, please?"

"Certainly, although I'm sure your superiors would have told you what some of them are. But it's good to break the ice, no?" He pointed at the opposite corner, where a narrow bed stood. It was neatly made with a thick blanket, definitely not Azkaban-regulation, and it reinforced in Percy's brain the notion that Malfoy slept naked under the lush blanket.

Lucius followed Percy's gaze and, with a face of mock suffering, said, "The blankets here are awfully thin. I was afraid I would catch a terrible cold, and the Ministry was kind enough to send three blankets from Malfoy Manor, one for each of us." His voice laden with sarcasm, he continued, "I'm grateful that the Ministry is so concerned about my health. One has to keep the witness alive and well, don't you agree?" He sat on the bed and pointed to a rickety chair. "Have a seat."

Percy did as told, crossing his hands primly over his lap. He had no idea why in the world he was feeling horny at that point, but the hands did their job in covering the evidence, and he looked at Lucius questioningly.

"Right. My conditions." Lucius started enumerating them with his fingers. "First of all, I demand that my family and I be released from Azkaban and sent back to our home. All of us. This is absolutely non-negotiable: we all must be released at the same time and sent to our house. We will agree to stay under house arrest until such time as the Ministry has effectively captured all the Death Eaters I direct them towards. Second, I want free access to the Malfoys' vault at Gringotts. Third, because my sister-in-law Bellatrix Lestrange fell during the battle, my wife requests that the contents of the Lestrange vault be transferred to her, as the next of kin."

Percy frowned. "What about her husband and his brother? Isn't the vault theirs, too?"

Lucius smirked. "Certainly. But where are they?"

The Lestrange brothers had never been found. They had disappeared during the battle of Hogwarts. "I don't know," Percy confessed. The Aurors were conducting a massive manhunt for the brothers, but the Ministry had been unsuccessful. It was as though the Lestranges had disappeared in thin air.

"So if nobody knows where they are, how can they remove any gold from the vault?" Lucius asked.

It was true, but it also hit a legal wall. The contents of a person's vault were theirs, regardless of whether they were able to access it or not. The only way to transfer the contents to someone else was in the event of the owner's death. In the absence of a will determining the contrary, the vault would automatically be transferred to the next of kin.

"I'm not sure we can legally do that," Percy retorted. "The vault belongs to them until their death."

"Correct," Lucius agreed.

"You think they're dead?" Percy asked.

Lucius laughed. "No. They're alive and well. Living a good life, unlike me and my family."

"How do you know that?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Percy gasped. "You know where they are!"

With a dramatic sigh, Lucius said, "See? I've just given you an important piece of information. Free of charge, Percy. It must be your natural charm."

Percy blushed and pressed his hands further up his lap. "So you'll give away their location in exchange for being under house arrest and having access to your vault?"

"And theirs."

"But you can't have access to their vault while they're alive!"

Lucius just stared at Percy. The truth slowly dawning on him, Percy muttered, "You ... you don't mean ..."

"Yes, I do. And there's more. I'll give you the Lestranges and a few more names – the whole package in return for my family's freedom, my vault, and their vault after your people dispose of them."

Percy was trying to hide his horror at the suggestion of 'disposing of' the Lestranges; it was something he couldn't even fathom. He was also quite confident that Robards would not accept this specific condition, and, to take the idea off his mind, he concentrated on something Lucius had said. He had mentioned 'freedom,' which meant only one thing for Percy and it was another condition the Ministry might not be too keen on accepting. He decided to clarify the issue. "You mean house arrest?"

"No. We'll accept house arrest while I give you the information, but, once you catch all the people I'll lead you to, then my family and I are free to do as we want."

"Where will you go?"

Lucius shrugged. "We'll be leaving Britain, but we're not sure where we'll be going yet. Somewhere on the Continent. A place where my son can lead a normal life." He looked at Percy. "We were also victims, you know?"

Percy didn't comment. As far as he was concerned, it had been a matter of choice, and the Malfoys had made theirs. He himself had made a bad choice once and was still paying for it. And for the time being, his job was done. He had nothing else to say to Malfoy. His terms were clear, so all that Percy had to do now was to report back to the Ministry and let Robards know what Lucius demanded. It was up to the Aurors anyway to decide whether they would accept Malfoy's terms. He stood up. "I'll let the Ministry know what you've told me."

Lucius stood up, too. "There's one more stipulation, but it's a simple one."

"What's it?" Percy asked, already tired of being in the man's presence. Especially now that Malfoy was standing very close to him.

"I'll only disclose my information to you."

"Me? Why me?" Percy asked, shocked. He was really hoping his job was finished and he could return to doing Kingsley's correspondence and appointments.

"Oh, for old times' sake," Lucius answered flippantly, holding Percy's limp hand in his and squeezing it, in the form of a handshake.

It left Percy's own hand sensitive to the touch, even after he'd reached the Ministry.

***

Lucius, Narcissa and Draco arrived back at Malfoy Manor on a sunny day, accompanied by a cadre of special Aurors, none of whom seemed happy about their task. They had already made sure that the house contained no magical artifacts that could be used for escape. The Malfoys had no wands, but as part of the bargain that they would be living 'comfortably' in their own house, they were given an elf for the house work.

Percy arrived a few hours later, finding the three Malfoys rearranging their library. Lucius grinned when he saw Percy, extending his hand to him and shaking it heartily. Then he turned to his family. "Narcissa, Draco, this is Percy Weasley. He's the one responsible for us being home."

Narcissa and Draco were far less welcoming than Lucius, both of them shaking Percy's hand a little too quickly. Lucius didn't seem to notice it; he turned to Narcissa and, with a bright smile, asked her if she could order the house elf to bring refreshments to the library. "And, after we eat, darling, you and Draco should go upstairs. Percy and I have to work."

***

It was a tense tea. Lucius alone was chatty. Narcissa and Draco seemed to be barely tolerating the fact that they were actually partaking in a meal with a Weasley, and Percy's mind was somewhere else – more specifically, how he would be able to get Malfoy to cooperate after he heard the counteroffer from the Ministry.

Not a moment too soon for Percy, Lucius shooed Narcissa and Draco upstairs, telling them to stay there until he called them. He then closed the library door and, holding Percy by the arm, led him to a leather sofa. It looked like it was made of the finest dragon hide, and a quick touch as he was sitting down confirmed this fact to Percy.

There were two chairs facing the sofa, but Lucius sat next to Percy instead. "So, what did the Minister have to say about my proposal?"

Lucius was maybe a little too close for comfort; if he had looked sexy in Azkaban, now, in his own home and wearing nice silk robes, he was having a much stronger effect on Percy. He again crossed his hands on his lap, a gesture that was becoming more and more common whenever he was in Lucius's presence. "They obviously accepted your first demand: you and your family are home."

"Obviously. And I thank you for that, Percy," Lucius said, gently placing his hand on Percy's arm. "And what about the others?"

"You'll also be able to have full access to your vault, since you're not technically a prisoner any more. You can send the order for withdrawals by owl."

"All right. What else?"

"The Ministry also agreed to let you free, if – and only if – your information leads to the capture of the Death Eaters whose location you claim to know." Percy decided it wasn't a good idea to mention that Robards had voiced his hope that any uncaught Death Eater would find the Malfoys wherever they went and do away with them.

"That's good. And?"

Percy looked straight ahead. "They don't agree with the taking over of the Lestrange vault."

Lucius looked surprised. "Why not?"

"They ... they claimed they'll send the Lestranges to Azkaban and, therefore, the vault will remain theirs."

Lucius squeezed Percy's arm. "Why do they have to be sent to Azkaban?"

Percy sighed and, reluctantly, moved Lucius's hand off his arm. "The Ministry will not kill prisoners, Mr Malfoy."

"Oh, but I'm not talking about killing prisoners!"

Blood rushing to his face, Percy stuttered, "Oh, sorry, I ... I misunderstood you." It was a bad blunder. Robards had scolded Percy for even bringing the subject up, telling him he should have told Malfoy right there that killing the Lestranges was not an option the Ministry would consider. "I ... sorry again ..." Percy tried to laugh, but it came out like a little nervous bark.

Coldly, Lucius held Percy's arm again. "You didn't misunderstand the fact that I want them done away with. They are two cowards and half-wits at best. It'll be a favor to wizardkind if they're culled."

"But I don't understand ..."

"They should be killed before they become prisoners. I'll tell you where they are, the Ministry sends a few highly trained people to do the work and nobody not directly involved in the action will know about it. It's simple."

"Who would they send? The Aurors won't," Percy asked, shocked by the plan.

"There are some assassins who would do it, for a price."

"I don't believe the Ministry would deal with assassins."

Lucius's fingers brushed Percy's arms lightly. He sighed. "Probably not. They lack the spine for that. You do understand though, Percy, that the Lestranges were nothing more than common murderers."

And so were you, Percy thought, but decided against entertaining Lucius's question, changing the subject briskly. "So there's no way we can agree to this part of the bargain."

"Not if we go with the Ministry, no," Lucius replied, still absently caressing Percy's arms. Percy knew he had to move his arm, but he just couldn't.

"Well, you can only make a plea bargain with the Ministry," Percy replied. He wanted to stay away from the topic of murder and get back to information about the location of the Death Eaters. In fact, he wanted to get away from Malfoy as soon as possible, before he made a fool of himself and jumped the man.

Lucius turned to Percy. "I need the contents of that vault, Percy. Most of it belongs to my wife; it's part of the Black fortune. The Lestranges are a pureblood family, but they weren't wealthy. It's wrong that they keep Bellatrix's share of the Black inheritance. They have access to it by owl, now, as we speak. This is shameful, two common criminals, who created so much havoc in our world, having access to a fortune that's not theirs. All we need is a few good mercenaries, and the rightful owner of the fortune will be Narcissa."

"The mercenaries are out," Percy explained patiently. "And you have to tell me where the Lestranges are, or you'll be back in Azkaban."

"The mercenaries are not out!" Lucius exclaimed, digging his nails in Percy's arm. "I know where to find them."

Percy flinched. "So you do it!" He knew it was a bad advice, to instigate murder, but he justified his outburst by agreeing that Lucius was right: the Lestranges were bad people.

"How can I? Stuck in this house? With all my owls being monitored? How do you think the Ministry would react if they saw an owl to Gringotts for payment to a mercenary?"

With a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach, Percy realized where this was heading. He waited, with bated breath, and Lucius didn't disappoint him. "You, though, can do it easily, Percy. Think about it. We do away with the Lestranges and then I let the Ministry know where they are. Only there will be an explosion when the Aurors approach – don't worry, they won't be harmed. It'll look like the Lestranges committed suicide when they realized they were caught. The world is free of scum and Narcissa gets what's due her."

"It'll never work."

"Of course it will! It's a master plan. Nobody will ever know there were professional assassins involved. And you will be forever known as the man who brought them to justice – in a way. Think about the glory you'll have."

It was tempting. It would also show Robards that he had succeeded. But, at the same time, it was wrong, very wrong. Percy stood up. "I ... I have to think about it."

Lucius stood up, too. "Of course you do." Then, unexpectedly, he cupped Percy's face with his hand and kissed him briefly on the mouth.

Percy gasped. "Why ... why did you do that?"

"Because I know you want me. Oh, don't look so surprised. I've known it forever. I noticed the way you looked at me when I went to talk to Fudge, asked a few discreet questions and found out you liked men. It's why I told Robards I would only discuss my plea bargain with you."

"You asked for me? But ..." Percy remembered Lucius's comment when they'd first met in Azkaban, and then, blushing, realized he'd been fooled, by Lucius and Robards alike. In an effort to hide his embarrassment, he continued. "You asked for me because I ... like men?" Percy couldn't deny that he had, in fact, checked Lucius out many times.

"Well, yes and no. It was because you seemed interested in me. I preferred to work with someone I could have some rapport with and ..." Lucius smiled coyly, "I've always been curious about homosexual relations, you know?"

"What do you mean, homosexual relations?" Percy asked in a small voice.

Lucius traced the contour of Percy's lips with a well-manicured nail. "I mean you ... and me. Here. In this library. You show me what to do and satisfy my ... curiosity."

"But your wife ..."

"She won't come down unless I call her. And what she doesn't know won't hurt her."

Percy couldn't do anything else but stare at Lucius, who pulled him closer and kissed him again, this time more intensely. With a loud moan, Percy returned it eagerly, pressing his body against Lucius's. He felt himself getting hard and was ashamed of it. His brain was screaming that this was wrong, but his body wasn't listening. Finally, Lucius pushed him back gently and, looking straight into Percy's eyes, opened Percy's robes and pulled his pants down. When Percy, still in a daze, didn't do anything, Lucius sighed and removed his own clothes. Deftly, and rather odd for someone who claimed he was curious about gay sex, he placed his hand on Percy's arse, pressing Percy's groin against his crotch and proceeded to rub their cocks together. And then Percy lost it. He, too, grabbed Lucius's arse and increased the rhythm of their rubbing, while they kissed hungrily.

They came with muffled moans, against each other's mouth. Panting, Percy lowered his eyes, trying not to face Lucius right then. But Malfoy pulled his chin up and said, "That was good, but I understand this is only the beginning, right?"

Percy nodded. Lucius pushed him back and, unabashedly, looked at Percy's naked body. "You're very attractive, Percy." He trailed his finger over Percy's messy abdomen and then looked critically at his own. "You need to clean us, since I can't use a wand."

With a quick Scourgify, Percy did so and then dressed himself quickly, avoiding Lucius's stare. Malfoy, on the other hand, just put his robes on and left them open in the front, making it awfully hard for Percy to concentrate on the fastening of his own robes. He finally managed to and looked straight at Lucius's face, making an extreme effort not to look at the man's crotch. "I'll be going now."

"Wait. You need something to take back to the Ministry. We don't want them to think you didn't do your job properly today." Lucius walked to a desk and took out a piece of parchment.

"Are you giving me the Lestranges' location?" Percy asked hopefully. Maybe Malfoy had realized that killing the brothers would be a bad idea.

"No. I'm giving you Avery. I was the Secret Keeper for most of the safe houses we had. Here. Hope the Aurors have fun with him and ... leave us alone for a while. In the meantime, you can make your decision and we," Lucius raked his finger down Percy's chest, "can have more fun. Tomorrow, same time?" He handed Percy the parchment, but dropped it purposefully, making Percy bend down to pick it up, and, in the process, being on eye level with Lucius's naked cock. On a whim, Percy licked it and, standing up, kissed Lucius brazenly on the lips.

"Tomorrow, same time ... Lucius," he said before leaving the library.

***

Avery was apprehended early the following morning and Percy received a congratulatory parchment from Robards. The Head Auror was even more pleased when he learnt that Malfoy had a few more names to give up.

"What about the Lestranges? Has he been told that we don't accept his terms?"

"Yes, he knows that."

"And when will he reveal their location?"

"I'm working on it. He was not happy when I told him it was non-negotiable, and he clammed up about them."

Robards shrugged. "Well, I don't mind if he keeps them for last. The Lestranges aren't really very clever or important. We'll get to them later. Good job, Weasley. Are you going there again today?"

Percy hoped his blush wasn't noticed. "Yes. At the same time."

"Good luck, then." As Percy was leaving, Robards added, "And Weasley? Your success in this mission will be well rewarded."

***

Lucius was alone in the library when Percy arrived. He stood up and kissed Percy, who responded eagerly, before being led to the sofa. Lucius sat down next to Percy, his hand on his thigh, caressing it. "So, how was it?"

"Avery was caught."

"Good. And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Have you thought about my proposal?"

Percy had, and the more he thought about it, the more he was sure that he wouldn't do it. He couldn't be an accomplice to murder. And, besides, hadn't Robards dismissed the Lestranges as inconsequential? "I don't think it's a good idea, Lucius."

Lucius stopped caressing Percy's thigh. "Of course it is, Percy. I told you it's important to me," he added, as if talking to a child.

"I can't be an accessory to murder."

"You won't be! Your only participation will be sending the owl with payment and instructions to the mercenaries. That certainly cannot be considered accessory to murder!"

"I think it is, and I'm not comfortable with it."

"Well, maybe you can think about it a little further." When Percy didn't answer, Lucius licked his jaw. "All right? You can ponder about it again?"

Percy nodded, turning his face to kiss Lucius on the mouth. When Lucius asked, against his mouth, "Will you teach me something new today?" Percy forgot all about his dilemma.

But later on, with Lucius deep inside him, Percy dimly remembered that he had been much more certain about not helping Lucius before he saw him.

***

Lucius had a veritable treasure trove of information for the Ministry, and he passed the names and locations on to Percy in the next few weeks. Every day he asked Percy if he had made a decision, and the answer was always no at first, with Percy agreeing to consider it further after Lucius started making love to him.

Percy sensed that his resolve was eroding, and it reached a most precarious point one day, when Lucius accused Percy of trying to fool him.

"You only say you'll think about it because you want me to keep fucking you!" he snarled angrily one day as soon as Percy denied him again.

"It's not true, Lucius! This is a very difficult decision for me. I do want to help you, but I find the idea of murder disgusting. It's not something I can do easily."

Lucius crossed his arms. He seemed to be in deep thought and stood up, walking to the fireplace when Percy tried to touch him. Finally, he said, "I thought you cared more about me. But I suppose I was only a nice fuck for you, right? Just a nice cock up your arse? Or in your mouth? You're just playing with me."

"NO!" Percy shouted. "It's not that. I ... I do care a lot about you, Lucius. A lot." He realized, a little too late, that he had expressed what his heart was feeling. Percy had, in fact, fallen in love with Lucius. He lived for those afternoon trysts, feeling Lucius inside him, hearing him saying how wonderfully tight and sexy Percy was. He wanted it to continue forever, but he knew he wouldn't be able to justify his presence at Malfoy Manor after Lucius had filled his part of the bargain.

Lucius looked at him strangely, then walked purposefully to the sofa and knelt in front of Percy. "Do you, really?" Percy nodded. "I'm glad you do. Because I'm going to tell you something I'd never thought I would say to any man. I want you, Percy. I started this because I was curious, but you have made me understand a lot about myself. I ..." he paused for a few seconds, "... I haven't touched Narcissa at all, not after our first time. I only want you. You're far sexier and a far more exciting lover than she is." He held Percy's hands in his. "I want to divorce her. I want this whole thing to be over, give her the contents of the Lestrange vault so she can go on her own, with Draco, if he wants. Because I want to be with you. I want to move somewhere on the Continent with you. Do you want it, Percy? Be mine forever?"

Percy was so surprised by Lucius's admission that his only answer was to pull Lucius up and over him on the sofa, giving him a loving kiss and telling him that, yes, he would belong to Lucius forever.

Lucius's smile of relief was one of the most beautiful things Percy had seen. They undressed in a frenzy. Percy laced his legs over Lucius's waist and shivered when he heard his lover mutter the Lubrication spell, preparing himself to be taken, once more, by the man he loved.

It was the best of their times together, Percy abandoning himself totally to the lovemaking and, when he came, he couldn't avoid declaring it out loud. "I love you, Lucius," he cried out.

Panting in the wake of his own orgasm, Lucius murmured, "So do I, Percy. So do I."

***

Percy left with the name of the mercenaries in his hand. He now knew this had to be done. It was the only way he could be happy with Lucius forever. He went straight to Gringotts, Lucius's key in his pocket.

***

Lucius had a bright smile when he entered the bedroom he shared with Narcissa. She was leafing through a book and ordered, as soon as she saw him, "Clean yourself first."

"I'm clean, darling. Percy knows how to cast an excellent Scourgify."

She snorted and put the book down, moving over, so he could lie next to her. "How much longer are you going to play homosexual, Lucius?"

"Mrs Malfoy, I'm pleased to let you know that it's coming to an end. He finally agreed to contact the mercenaries!"

She brightened up. "Really? What did you do to make him accept?"

"Well, I sensed that the fool was falling for me, so I concocted this story about needing the Lestrange vault to divorce you, so he and I can live together on the Continent."

"He believed it?" She asked incredulously.

"Of course. You know I'm a good actor. As soon as we have the access to the Lestrange's vault we can move away from this damned country."

"Yes, please. I can't stand it here any more. I can't stand knowing that you're down in the library engaging in unnatural sex with that ... Weasley."

"It was needed, my dear. We all have to make sacrifices once in a while."

"As long as you don't get used to it ..." she swatted him playfully.

Lucius kissed her and cupped her breast. "I could only do it thinking about you. You're the only one for me, Narcissa."

She pulled him onto her.

***

Percy was standing in front of Gringotts, thinking about what his family's reaction would be when they learnt he had eloped with Lucius Malfoy. But it was his life, and he had to live it the way he was happy. He closed his eyes, reliving the amazing conversation he'd had with Lucius. He was happy romantically and satisfied sexually for the first time in his life. He loved Lucius. And Lucius loved him. Hadn't he said it? "So do I, Percy. So do I."

He furrowed his brow when he recalled Lucius's exact words. Why hadn't Lucius said, "I love you too, Percy?"

He fingered the key in his pocket and made his final decision. A decision he hoped he would never regret.