Bohemian Rhapsody

moment nineteen: being for the benefit of (July 6, 1976).

Lucius opened the door, coughing slightly at the dust the movement produced, attempting wave it away with his hand before resorting to his wand. A quick spell and a refreshing breeze blew past the pair, collecting dust into a ball and depositing it at the end of the hall. James removed his arm from around Lucius' waist and gingerly stepped inside, looking around him in wonder.

"The entire wing was sealed off, you said?"

The thinner man nodded. "It has been...for more than ten years."

"Merlin Lucius, when you said you wanted to show me your house, you weren't kidding were you?" James chuckled softly, and reached out to slide one of the rich tapestries between his fingers, marvelling at the quality of the fabric. "Why did this place get sealed up, anyway?"

Lucius lightly held onto James' hand, leading him onward until they came to a small staircase, beginning to climb the wrought iron frame, James a comfortable presence behind him. "This was my mother's wing," he said absently. "It had all her possessions in it, all the things she collected, all the gifts my father gave as part of the brideprice. Father ordered it to be shut up when she died. Didn't want to be reminded she ever lived, really." He felt a reassuring squeeze, and returned it, stepping out onto another level.

"I'm sorry."

Lucius shook his head and tugged slightly on James' hand, bringing the other man close to him, nestling him in his embrace. "It's alright," he said softly. "Ancient history and all that."

James paused, looking at him, reaching up to caress Lucius' cheek, the other man turning into the touch. "Why did you want to show me this, Luce?"

"This." Lucius pushed open a doorway and they both peered inside. The room was quite small for the Manor, but anywhere else it would have bordered on large. There was a four-posted bed up against one wall, and furniture scattered about, covered in white sheets. "It's yours."

"What?!" James fixed him with a quizzical look, and Lucius took the opportunity to slide his hands down to James' hips, kissing James gently on the nose.

"It's yours, whenever you stay here. I don't want you to feel you don't have to be in my room all the time. You can come here to study, or just to be alone, or whatever. There's an entire wing you can lose yourself in, and you can use it whenever you need to - if you want to get away from school, or your family or even me. You can spend the entire holidays here, if you'd like."

"Wow." James repeated himself, a little louder. "Wow! That's...incredible, Luce. I kind of feel overwhelmed." He paused, and grinned wickedly, looking askance at the other man. "I still get to sleep in your bedroom, right?"

Lucius chuckled darkly. "We never get to sleep much in there," he observed.

"I know," James replied, snorting gently. "I love you, you know?"

"I love you too," said Lucius in turn, gently stroking James' chin with his forefinger. "Even if not brooding is bad for the family reputation."

James chuckled, and wrapped his arms around Lucius, drawing him in closer, resting his head on Lucius' shoulder and softly kissing his earlobe, nibbling slightly.

Lucius felt himself shiver. "I have one request," he said, not without some difficulty.

James pulled back to look at him, hands grasping Lucius' shoulders. "What's that?"

"I want to paint you. I want to paint your portrait. I used to paint at school...and I want to paint you."

James smiled, somewhat goofily. "Just as long as you don't make my head too big or anything."

"I'll do my best," Lucius replied, leading him back down the passageway to the staircase. "I just have to find my old painting supplies...I packed them up halfway through school and never really looked at them again...Father never thought painting was that respectable of a tradition..."

"I'm sure you're a brilliant painter. It'll be a masterwork."

Lucius laughed. "Come see me in twenty years, and we'll see how you reflect upon your portrait."