Winter breaks were fast approaching, and Lucius Malfoy was rather in a bad mood at the prospect of his son traipsing around the manor with his impudent little peons… and Potter. He wasn't quite sure how they'd become into amiable terms, but he supposed that there was really nothing more that he could do… even if it meant that he'd have to play nice, and like he actually spent time in that dreaded manor.

He chuckled darkly to himself, slinging an arm over his closed eyes.

He, Lucius Malfoy, so pitiful he was that he allowed himself to be treated in such a negative manner within his own manor, and was such a coward that he couldn't even face up to it and learn to deal with the stress of the situation without shying away.

And now he was speaking in circles within his own mind…

He sighs, shaking his head, and running his hands through hair that was perhaps a bit too long as it was to the point of mid back at this point, before he stood from his bed in the darkened hotel room in the muggle realm, preparing himself to face up to what he'd been avoiding.

Sighing once more, he forces himself to take things one step at a time. He showers, he dresses, he eats, he brushes his teeth, he combs his hair, he places on his boots… he shakily shudders as he stands and hesitates to bring his hand to the door, to open himself up to the outside world once more.

Taking that final leap, he places his well-practiced mask back into place, and heads out and down the stairs with the confident steps of one who has always been entitled the world.

Standing at the main counter, he inclines his head stiffly in response to the greeting that he received, holding out his key, his small piece of magically enhanced luggage in hand.

"Malfoy, checking out," he says in the tone he'd perfected since times as a child, times of pretending and masks that never ceased to haunt him.

"Thank you mister Malfoy for your patronage," The buxom woman behind the counter offers a bit too friendly for his personal preferences, and he turns to head out.

Going to the safe house behind the small bank across the street, he apparates to the Malfoy manner, seeing it just as pristine as it has always looked, though, when he closed his eyes, his mind wound him through the complex hallways and hidden passages to show him all his faults.

Sighing once more, and deciding that was the first thing he'd have to work on, Lucius heads up the stairs towards his personal quarters, a house elf apparating to inform him that the preparations he requested had been made, and checking on his well-being.

He smiles at the small creature, the same one who used to nurse his wounds when he was a young child, and the only one he would offer freedom if it ever seemed necessary, or desired, and dutifully tried to put on the act that they both knew all too well was easily seen through.

He was not alright, but he'd have to learn to pretend again, now wouldn't he?

Voldemort was dead. He'd been so for about a month now, and the last battle still shook a heavy hurt for the wizarding world.

He had been fortunate that his involvement with the ministry had been something viable, and not a trap, or he'd have landed in Azkaban, though he wasn't quite sure himself if he wasn't better off there. Better off away from the place of his past.

Shaking his head once more, he laid down on the bed, spelling his clothing off with his wand, and shifting to be under the thick covers, blocking himself out from the world.

He could do this.

He had to.

He couldn't show them that he was broken and down.

He hadn't before, and he wouldn't now.

He was a Malfoy. And Malfoy's had pride…

Sighing, he closes his eyes, letting the comfort of the fire and the scent of lavender pressed sheets envelope him to a drowsy state.

His son and his guests would not be here until this evening… and he could use a few more hours of sleep…

One thing that Lucius hadn't counted upon was sleeping for three days straight.

One thing that Lucius hadn't counted upon was worrying Draco… or Potter for that matter…

One thing that Lucius most definitely had not counted upon was a rather irked potions master blasting down his bedroom doors and storming into his quarters to demand what was causing him to be such a prat and make his son worry, whilst all the 'guests' hovered in his doorway.

And, lastly, one thing that Lucius hadn't counted upon was being incredibly ill at the time that all this misfortune was combining into one catastrophic event.

"You're burning up," Severus glared at him after he'd seen Lucius shiver.

"I'm fine. I'm a Malfoy. Leave my quarters at once, fix my door, and leave me to my peace," Lucius barked already on the defensive from the shock to his senses and fright that had been stirred up with Severus' actions.

"Boys, out. Draco, fix the door, I'm going to tend to your father," Severus says, clearly leaving no room for debate, and the students readily complied, dashing off to do whatever mischief they were into the first day, now that things were "better".

"Now, Lucius, let me get a look at you. Your Nurse Elf contacted me with worry. She says you aren't eating right, and that you'd have her head if it was anyone but me that she was contacting," he replied smoothly, moving to grab the sheets and pull them down.

"I… she's right, I would have, but that doesn't mean that I'm in need of rescuing Severus. You have your life. You have your issues. I'll be fine… I…" he was cut off as Severus gasped at the sight before him.

"Lucius, you…" The surly potions master was at once for loss of words with the sight before him.

Lucius turns his head to the side, looking away in shame.

"I… what happened?" Severus questions, taking in the myriad of cuts, bruises, scars, fatigue, malnutrition, and several other things within the blonde male's once perfect skin.

"Life. Life happened, nothing more. Now, if you'd please return to me my covers, I'm freezing…" Lucius replies in an attempt to be acerbic, though he failed miserably as his weakness in the situation shone through.

Draping the covers up over his friend once more, Severus scowls. "What happened…"

"I…It's nothing Severus… it's nothing…"

"Fine," Severus sighs, though he relents, "Drink this, and sleep. You should feel better in the morning…"

"Thank you," Lucius says simply, drifting off immediately after he'd downed the offered potion.

Standing, Severus Snape exits the rooms to ponder what this could all mean…