A/N: So, yeah...I don't know if this is terribly good, but it has at least a little finesse. I didn't get more than two ideas for the sequel, and one of them was a little out there (why would Remus trip Severus on the stairs? I don't get how that's a sequel idea), so I just winged it from what the only GOOD suggestion was. Instead of making plans to shove them together, however, they let them choose for themselves.

Severus watched Lucius walk into the foyer and smirked at the shock on his face when he saw the group that accompanied the Potions Master. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise, what are you six doing here?"

Harry grinned. "Hey, Dad, we couldn't find a common room to crash for the weekend since Professor Collins is watching Slytherin while Professor Snape is here, so we thought we'd crash the East Wing. Is that alright? Professor Snape said it would be safe for us to be here, even though it's the full moon."

Lucius nodded. "Of course, if Severus thinks it will be safe for you, I have no reason to argue. Remus is in the library, if you want his help studying tonight."

"Thank you, Father," Draco said regally.

The group moved towards the hall that led to the East Wing library, the largest in the mansion, with greetings and thanks from the group passed to Lucius as they went. Severus moved towards his friend. "Dad?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

The elder Malfoy chuckled. "What with Remus being his legal guardian, I adopted him as well. He was confused about what to call me, but at one point I had to wake him from a nightmare last Summer and he called me 'Dad' instinctively. After I convinced him the name was quite alright with me, it stuck. I like it, and even Draco is starting to call me it on occasion, putting aside Narcissa's ridiculous influence."

"I see, and what does he call Remus, then?" Severus asked curiously.

Lucius shrugged as he led the way to the study. "Usually 'Papa', but he's been known to call him 'Daddy' when he's had a nightmare. He tends to become a frightened child after one of the bad ones," He explained. When they reached the study, he poured them each two fingers of fine scotch. "What did my young Harry do to convince you to let them tag along?"

Severus smirked. "Promised me a whole box of licorice and complimented my appearance in Muggle clothing," He answered simply, sipping at his drink.

Lucius looked at him mischievously. "Before or after you agreed?"

"The licorice before, but the compliment came after. Don't start in on me again, though, Lucius, I don't care for your wish to make me look vulnerable. The man is a good friend, but I have never seen anything to suggest he's in any way romantically interested in me, or anyone for that matter. Except…" He stopped, thinking about it and letting Lucius curiosity grow. The man urged him silently to continue. "I overheard a conversation between him and his friends last month that piqued my interest. He's apparently been pining after someone for two years now. He wouldn't say who, and his friends don't know, but he compared the man to Mr. Darcy, and some other character I know nothing about. As his adoptive father, has he spoken to you about someone?"

Lucius sat there pensively. "Fitzwilliam Darcy, from the Jane Austen novel?" Severus nodded. "I can't say as he's mentioned anything to either myself or Remus, but I only know one man, like that, that he has seen consistently for two years."

Severus seemed troubled. "I can't think of anyone, and you don't know that he's seen the man consistently. It is not impossible to love someone from afar for an extended period of time. If it was his first love, the feeling would never fade. To assume he's close to the person can only limit the number of possibilities, and we'd likely guess wrong. Was there anyone, two years ago, that he was close to at the time, even if he's not now?"

Lucius shook his head. "Only the youngest Weasley's, neither of whom are anything like Darcy's character. I really think it's someone he is still close to, though. Harry does not easily fall in love, so it would be someone he's known for a while, and it would have to be someone he respected. Even if it were someone he was no longer close to at the end of his fifth year, he would not continue to feel towards them so greatly. He makes an effort to remain close to everyone he has respect for, even if he can only owl them, like with the twins, and so would have had to lose respect for that person to no longer be in contact with them."

Severus nodded in understanding and sipped his scotch, walking towards the fire as Lucius sat in a comfortable armchair. "Then who do you suspect the man is? You said you knew of only one man that he has remained close to in the last two years."

"You, of course," Lucius said matter-of-factly, making Severus choke on his drink. "Don't be so shocked, Severus, you're a fine catch and I know that many men desire you. You are simply unapproachable in public, and they find themselves refusing to get close. I myself once held an attraction towards you, as you know."

"Yes, I am aware. You are one of very few men with the courage to approach me. Obviously your eyesight needs repair, though, if you think the young man feels any attraction towards me. Harry is the Man Who Prevailed, he has a multitude of men at his feet, as well as women," Severus said off-handedly.

Lucius scoffed. "You said it was someone that was similar to Mr. Darcy, and you are the only man he knows that is anything like that. Won't you even consider the idea that he feels for you as you do him?"

Severus shook his head harshly. "It would be too ironic, and devastating when it turned out that you were, indeed, wrong. I refuse to entertain the idea, it will only lead to humiliation. I admit that I have witnessed a few stray looks from the boy, but I also know I have an aesthetically pleasing physique, and he is a teenager."

"You're too hard on yourself, and I wish you'd take a chance just once. What have you got to lose? Harry graduates in a couple of months, it would only be awkward for that time before you wouldn't have to deal with it, were he to feel as indifferent as you think he does," Lucius reasoned. "I'm not convinced, though, that he is indifferent. He respects you even more than he respects Remus."

Severus growled. "It would not only be until he graduated. In case you forgot, he is your adoptive son, and only spends a limited amount of time at Grimmauld with the mutt, less now that Black has shown Harry his true colors. And besides that, I have heard Dumbledore mention that he is considering offering Harry the Defense position after he graduates. Would you have that awkwardness between us with him to become my colleague?"

Lucius shrugged and stood, banishing his tumbler to the kitchens. "It is your choice, Severus. I thought you had learned long ago that you cannot be happy unless you take a risk once in a while. Where's the little boy that risked ridicule from the little red-haired girl down the street when he saw her perform magic? Where's that risk gone?"

Severus grunted and drained his own drink. "It died with the red-haired girl, Lucius. I may very well fall in love with the brat, and I won't have my heart broken. Lily was like my sister, and having Harry as a friend is almost better than when I was with her. I won't sacrifice that for a slim chance at being happier."

Lucius sighed. "Lily would likely smack you for being so stubborn, Severus," He said at length. "Let's go and join everyone else in the library for an hour before we all head off to bed."

Severus banished his glass and shouldered his bag before following his friend out of the room.