Forever Silver

Forever Silver

The Silver Cycle part 3

By Elf Flame

The club was loud and crowded. Draco loathed noise and he hated crowds. He much preferred his own study and a glass of brandy or scotch. If he hadn't promised Blaise he would at least show this year for his birthday, he would have begged off. At least it was a mixed crowd. Everyone dancing with whoever they wished, rather than pretending that everyone was straight. But then what could he expect from Blaise's birthday. The boy did like to play the field, after all. Draco watched as Blaise wrested Daphne from Theo's arms. She was giggling, but she immediately molded her form to his, and Theo, left without a partner, joined Draco at their table.

"What's the matter, Dray, gone celibate on us?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Look, Theo, just because I let Blaise get away with calling me that doesn't mean you can."

"Ah, so that's only allowed for blokes you've slept with?" Theo responded with a leer.

"No, it's not allowed to anyone. I've just given up trying to convince Blaise of that fact."

He looked away from Theo, scanning the writhing mass of bodies on the dance floor, and was startled when one of the dancers caught his eye and approached him. He was tall, and even dark haired, though it was brown, not black as he might have preferred. His silver shirt clung to a spare form, and black slacks hung low on his hips. He smiled and settled next to Draco. "Care to dance?"

Draco smiled. He wasn't a bad-looking bloke, but he'd learned after Blaise that sleeping with a type wouldn't help when you had a specific face in mind. "Not particularly."

The man's golden-brown eyes sparkled in the lights from the dance floor. "I'm sure one wouldn't hurt. Come on, I don't bite..."

Draco's lips twisted wryly. "Fine, one dance. Then I think it's about time for me to leave." He handed his glass to Theo, who finished the dregs with one gulp. "Have fun, Draco..." he called as the dancer pulled him out onto the floor.

It was worse on the dance floor. Not only was it wall-to wall people, but the body-heat made Draco feel drenched the second he started to dance. His partner was attractive enough, but really, Draco just wasn't as interested as getting as close to the man as he seemed to want to.

After several minutes of awkward negotiation of body space, the man leaned towards Draco's ear. "You here with him?"

Draco laughed. "Nott? God, no. Wouldn't touch him if he were covered with my favorite dessert."

"Not the one you were sitting with. The other one."

Draco looked at the man for a moment. "You mean Blaise?" he nodded to where Blaise now danced, encircled by Tracy, Pansy and Daphne.

"No, the one who's been watching you all night." He nodded at the booths behind Draco and Draco twisted his head to look and see who he was referring to. And completely froze when he saw black eyes staring back at him.

He remembered his dance partner long enough to say, "Excuse me," then moved through the crowd to where Severus had been standing. But in the mix of bodies pressed to his, he lost sight of the man, and by the time he made it to where he had been standing, Severus was nowhere to be seen.

Had Blaise invited him? But why would he do that? And why on Earth would Severus consent to come? And if he hadn't, why was he here?

A hand grasped Draco's shoulder, and he turned to see Severus there, looking wary, but otherwise unchanged. "S...Professor."

"Mister Malfoy." Severus smiled, and Draco realized he'd forgotten just how that smile looked. "How are you?"

"Well. And yourself?"

"Passably well. Here with your friends? I thought I saw Mister Zabini here earlier."

"Blaise's birthday. Kind of a tradition for us, really. Always took place the first week of school. But I ah...didn't show last year. He was a bit insistent that I did this year."

Severus's face sobered at the mention of the previous year. "I suppose neither of us were much in the mood for a party at this time last year."

"Severus..."

"I'm sorry I interrupted your party, Mister Malfoy. I should probably leave."

Draco grabbed his arm before he could fully turn away. "Please don't."

"I had no intention of bothering you with your friends. I simply wanted to see if you were doing well." He looked sadly at Draco, and it was all Draco could do to prevent himself from kissing the sorrow from his face.

"How did you know I was here?"

A sour smile spread across Severus's face. "Your mother. She suggested, should I have any feelings for you at all, that I might do well to come here tonight."

Draco held his breath. "And do you?"

"Does it matter after the way I've hurt you?"

"I wouldn't ask if it didn't." Severus looked at him for a long moment, obviously trying to find the right words to say, but Draco cut him off before he could speak. "Come to my flat with me so we can talk? It's quieter there..."

"What about your friends?"

"I was about to leave anyway. I've made my appearance. Blaise can stuff it if he wants more."

Severus raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Very well. Your flat."

Draco smiled, his hand snaking around Severus's neck, and kissed him soundly. "I'll see you there," he said, silver eyes meeting black. Then he apparated away.

He appeared in his front hall, and, at the sound of a knock, quickly opened the door to see Severus standing there. "Sorry. I forgot that the wards wouldn't let you apparate in."

Amusement passed across Severus's face as he stepped inside. "Good thing I did not, then," he replied.

Draco chuckled and led him to the study. "Would you like something, Severus? I have a well-stocked cupboard..."

Severus made a face. "No. I no longer drink. It leads me to do things..." He turned away from Draco, but not before Draco had noticed the self-loathing there.

"Severus." The man looked up from the chair he was perched upon, his usual distant mask back on his face. "I told you. You didn't do anything to me that I didn't want you to. Either of those nights." Severus scoffed. "The only thing that upset me on both occasions was the fact that you hadn't wanted me either time."

Severus snorted. "Nonsense." He took a deep breath. "I hadn't wanted anyone else since we'd been together. If anything was motivating me that night, it was guilt. Guilt that I wanted you--had you--and not him. I blamed myself. But I still shouldn't have done it."

Draco huffed and sat next to the man. "You wanted me?" A sharp nod answered him. "And I wanted you. I understand your guilt, but I cannot regret being with you either time. And if you still wanted me," Draco paused and took a deep breath, "you could have me. Do you?"

Severus sat there for a long moment, and Draco could see him trying to find a reply, but decided his mother was right after all. If he wanted this man, he'd have to show him. He stood up and slid onto his lap, leaning down and catching the other man's mouth with his. At the startled huff of breath, Draco slid his tongue between the parted lips. Severus tasted of orange, much as he had that second night, but this time he knew it was not his father's Ambermeade he was tasting. He pulled away, and met a startled gaze. "Do you want me, Severus?"

Severus's breathing was heavy, but this time he managed an answer. "Yes," he hissed. He pulled Draco down once more, and their lips crushed together. A year was far too long to wait, and Draco pushed Severus back into the upholstery of the chair, tearing at his clothing. He made his way down Severus's neck, sucking and licking at the newly uncovered skin.

Severus, in the meantime, had made short work of Draco's shirt, and tossed it to the floor. He was now trying to convince him to move so that he could remove his slacks as well, but Draco was too intent on Severus's upper body to want to move any time soon. Snape growled, and hefted himself from the chair, Draco still clinging to him, and stumbled the two paces to the couch next to the chair he had been on. Divesting Draco of his pants, and removing his own, he settled against Draco's sleek skin and moaned at the contact.

"Severus, please," Draco moaned as he arched into Severus's touch. "I haven't...It's been too long. I just need..."

Severus dropped to the floor and took Draco into his mouth, which caused Draco's mind to lose all cohesive thought. His eyes slid closed and his back arched, pushing his hips towards that contact. Then Severus shifted, and Draco was falling, a high keening noise falling from his lips and filling his ears.

Severus licked his lips as he crawled up the now limp body in front of him. "Did that help take the edge off?" he asked, amused.

Draco would have glowered at him, but he was far too comfortable for that. "Mmm. Very nice."

"Good." Snape's mouth lowered to his neck, and Draco sighed with renewed interest as the lips brushed his pulse-point. Then the mouth was at his ear. "Ready for more?" that smoky voice asked.

Draco pulled away from him, and silver eyes met black. "Always," he said, his lips curved in a sated smile. It was more than a simple answer, and it was all the response Severus needed. His return smile told Draco that.