The moon was rising when Severus slipped into his master's quarters. Pulling Lucius back from the brink of death had exhausted him, but with the power Harry had provided, he had managed. Narcissa hadn't been able to face him. She had offered but a weak "Thank you'. This would drive a wedge between him and her family. In the end, it had been inevitable. Severus had been in love with Lucius. The Malfoy heir had been the first man to shown interest in a half-blood and treat it kindly. To realise that he had only been a means to an end had broken his heart. He had thought that love was a foolish idea from that day forth, neither honest nor true and had hardened his heart against it, until... Harry.