Disclaimer: Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, Harry Potter, and any others who show up do not belong to me. I am making no money off of this at all. Oh, song lyrics not mine either. (Thanx again, Kitten Mommy!)

Dedication: To all my friends. I love you more then anything. And to my two temporary beta readers, I cannot thank you enough. Your help and insight was greatly needed and appreciated.

Author’s note: Okay, recently I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about friendships, and what people mean to me. That’s where this story came from. This is not at all connected to any of my other fics, as in all of those Lucius is portrayed as one sick f***.

//Old friend, So you're in trouble again.//
// You asked me today //
//To try and find a little time, //
//And maybe buy a glass of wine. //

For nearly a year now, Severus Snape had been playing double agent. Reporting to both Dumbledore and Voldemort, walking the very thin line between darkness and light. And recently he had begun to wonder...whose side was he really on? It had been troubling him for some time now, and his thoughts had recently reached a fever pitch.

A letter lay on a small table beside Snape's tall chair. He had read and reread it hundreds of times now. It was from Lucius Malfoy. Lucius. Snape sighed, leaning his head against the back of the chair. Lucius was coming to Hogwarts. To `check on his son'. Oh yes, what clever cover. Lucius was one of Lord Voldemort's most trusted followers. There was another reason for the visit, Snape was certain. Lucius hadn't said.

He was arriving today. Snape knew he would be seeing his old friend. They did not see each other often; Lucius would not miss a chance to get together for a bit and share old memories and dreams. A small smile curved Snape's lips. He did miss Lucius... regardless of the fact that he was a sworn Death Eater. They had gone to the dark together, but only Snape had returned. And Lucius truly believed Snape was as loyal to the dark as he had ever been.

It pained the Potions Master to lie to Lucius. The other man had never questioned him, never turned away from him...they had been friends from the start. In truth, Lucius was Snape's only friend. They had shared everything, keeping nothing from the other. Oh, everyone spoke of the closeness of Potter and Black.... But what of Malfoy and Snape? They had been just as inseparable. But the world loved a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin.

A soft knocking at Snape's door snapped him out of his reverie. He lifted his head, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Come in." He said, his vice sounding dry and bored. He already knew who it was. Snape didn't turn. He remained sitting, staring into the empty fireplace. It had been a few months since he had last seen Lucius, and that had been when he had received orders from Lord Voldemort to keep an eye on things at Hogwarts.

"Severus."

Lucius was standing behind him… Snape could feel him.

"Lucius." How many hundreds of times had they uttered that same greeting? How many years had it been? Again, the guilt of deceiving Lucius. Of betraying him...they had gone into this together. And he had pulled out, pulled back, leaving Lucius...

//When the years are heavy,//
//And my heart is growing cold.//
// Well, I wish when evening comes //
//That there'll always be someone //
//Oh, old friend, who'll miss me too." //

"How can you stand it, old friend?" Lucius said, suddenly. "This place, these people?" The blond man made a sweeping gesture, coming into Snape's line of sight.

"I survive." Snape said simply, shrugging.

"I wouldn't be able to do it. You're a far more patient man than I." Lucius sat down, a smile playing across his thin, pale lips.

"I suppose. Have a drink." Snape indicated the bottle of brandy on the table.

"No, thank you." Lucius waved it away. "I'd rather be clear-headed."

"Oh?" Snape lifted an eyebrow, feigning mild curiosity. In truth, he was dying to know what Lucius was doing here, though he wasn't sure what he would do with the information.

"Yes. The Dark Lord has entrusted me with a very, very difficult task." Lucius seemed very proud of himself. "I'm here for the boy."

"Ah. Of course." Snape did not sound surprised, and that wasn't faked. He should have guessed. Only Lucius would be trusted with something like that.

"It would have been you..." Lucius said, earnestly, "but it would be easier for me to slip in and slip out."

Snape doubted that was the true reason, but he said nothing. He knew full well that Voldemort was suspicious of him. He was surprised that Lucius was telling him this...but then again, Lucius trusted him as a brother. Fully and completely.

"I understand." Snape understood completely. Now what was he to do? He was certain Lucius would be able to abduct the Potter boy, or whatever it was he was sent here to do to him. And Voldemort's reign would start anew. He had two choices. Go to Dumbledore, turn Lucius in, expose him as a Death Eater...or let him go through with it.

"Of course you do. I feel bad though, as if I were stealing your glory. It should be you at the Dark Lord's right hand, not me."

"You flatter me, Lucius." This talk was making Snape uncomfortable.

"It's nothing but the truth, old friend. You did far more than I ever could have. It's a shame you have to be stuck in here, not out where all the action is."

"We all serve in our own ways. I am sure my contributions are just as important as yours."

"You did plenty back when. You were something of a legend you know. Though not too many folks understand why you preferred to use your hands rather than magic..."

"Yes, well..." Snape cut off his friend. That was not something he liked thinking about. "When are you going to do it?"

"Soon." Lucius shook back his pale blond hair. "I had to stop by to see you first. I couldn't come without saying hello. What sort of friend would I be?"

Snape only nodded. What sort of friend. Time was of the essence for Lucius. He had been to see Dumbledore, been to see Draco, and now he was here. The longer he remained, the higher the risk he took. But he had gladly put himself at risk, to see his old friend Severus. Lucius had always stuck his neck out for Snape, when they were children at Hogwarts, and when they first joined Voldemort. And Snape had returned the favor, time and time again. He had to. He loved Lucius like a brother, he always had. He couldn't turn him in to Dumbledore. Would Lucius turn him in to Voldemort? He hadn't the first time, and he wouldn't a second time.

"I should probably be going now, though." Lucius rose, still smiling. "I'm glad I came by though."

"As am I." Severus said. He owed Lucius so much.... and for so many reasons. He could not let the world know what he was, not now, not after all of this. "I'll show you out."

"Ha! Always such a stickler for manners, Severus." Lucius clapped him on the back, and Snape smiled weakly. He was steeling himself to go through with his decision. It was the most difficult conclusion he had ever drawn. He had sworn an oath to Dumbledore....

"Manners are what separate us from the animals, Lucius. Manners and emotions."

"True, true." Lucius laughed, shaking his head. Snape hugged Lucius about the shoulders with one arm, his throat tightening. There was no going back; he had made up his mind. His vows to Voldemort and Dumbledore meant nothing now. Lucius Malfoy would not be captured, would not be sent to Azkaban...Snape would not let it happen.

"Well, wish me luck!" Lucius said brightly, as he stood before the door. He sounded so calm and cheerful, as though he were doing something he did every day.

"Lucius..." Snape slipped a hand into his pocket, his hand closing around something in there. Draco Malfoy would not grow up with the knowledge that his father was losing his mind in the wizarding prison. There would be no record of Malfoy the Death Eater in the ministry's books.

"Yes?" The tall, blond man was still smiling, his blue eyes light and sparkling. Snape swallowed, a moment's doubt coming to him.... He could go to Dumbledore, beg for mercy.... But no. He could not do that to Lucius, whom he loved more then brother, friend or lover.

"I'm...sorry." Snape managed to say, he throat tightening as he slipped the knife easily from his pocket and into Lucius' side.

Lucius Malfoy's eyes went wide, and he grabbed at the wound as he fell to his knees. Snape stepped back, the knife falling from his hands. Blood was staining the carpet, and the hem of Snape's robes.

"Wh...?" Lucius couldn't speak. Blood was coming out of his mouth now, and Snape felt as though he were going to be ill.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't let you do it." Snape's voice sounded cold and faraway to him. Was he really speaking so rationally? He had just killed his best friend...

To his amazement, Lucius smiled. It was a pale shadow of the gamine grin Snape so well, but it was a smile all the same. Forgiveness? Understanding? Or something else?

But Lucius' body was wracked with a sudden spasm. He coughed once, then fell still. Snape stepped back, feeling weak. Lucius Malfoy was not a Death Eater; there was no proof now. And Severus Snape had remained faithful to him to the end.

//So friend, I'm coming through.//
//Yes, for you I'll always find the time, //
//We will have a bottle of wine, old friend.//
//I'm here by your side,//
//Oh to the very end, //
//old friend I miss you too.//