Authors Note: Yay, my first multi chapter fic! This story didn't start as a multi chapter fic, so the chapters are a little bit small, and this story actually started with Achoo! the second drabble in Every Flavour Beans, my collection of drabbles and oneshots. So if anyone wants to know how Lucius got ill swing by there and read chapter two (and any others that take your fancy :-D)

Harry isn't actually in this chapter, but this is a Snarry story, I promise

Special huge thanks to Yengirl, my marvellous Beta, for all the continuing help and encouragement, this story really wouldn't exist without her, as she was the one who gave me this idea in the first place. Thanks a million :-)

I should be back with chapter two in about two weeks (lots to do, I'm not being lazy, honest :-P).

Unrequited Love

Lucius Malfoy hated being ill. It was undignified. It made him feel weak and powerless. He hated being ill.

He was laid up in bed, covered in a disgusting combination of sweat and snot, and unable to do anything about it. The Flobberworm flu left his head pounding. He had a high fever and all his muscles ached. His nose and chest were so congested it was a miracle he was able to breathe at all.

In short, I am dying, he thought miserably to himself.

To make matters worse, Narcissa refused to go anywhere near him. At first, she had brought him drinks and potions and reassured him that it wasn't all that bad. Now, she simply ignored his calls.

Hovering in and out of consciousness, Lucius silently cursed the utter plebeian that had sneezed on him, thus spreading his foul disease.

-o-

It was nearing 8 o'clock in the evening when a lone figure strode through the gates of Malfoy manor, black robes billowing behind him. He didn't have to wait long on the door step. Within moments of his sharp knocks, the door swung open, revealing Narcissa Malfoy who - curiously enough - was wearing her cloak.

She stepped back, opening the door wide in an obvious invitation for Snape to enter. But instead of closing the door behind him, she turned to face him, keeping one hand on the polished wood to hold it open.

"Ah Severus. How good of you to come. Lucius is upstairs."

With that brief statement, she turned and walked out, closing the door with a snap and leaving Severus standing there, looking bemused.

"It's nice to see you too, Narcissa," he murmured to himself before turning around and making his way upstairs. "Well, at least she actually waited for me to arrive instead of just leaving a note stuck to the door and a key under the mat," he grumbled as he searched for Lucius.

He'd been in this house many times before, but usually remained in the drawing room or dining room. He'd never needed to know which was Lucius' bedroom before.

Severus found his friend in the third room he checked, though at first sight he thought his eyes were deceiving him. Lucius Malfoy, a man who was always immaculate, composed and dignified, looked a right mess. His skin shone with sweat, his long hair stuck to his damp face and splayed out in a tangled mess across his pillow. His usually pale features were flushed with fever and his nose was running unchecked.

He was clearly too weak to even find a tissue.

-o-

Lucius was incredibly warm, but in his dream he didn't mind because he was wrapped snugly in Severus' arms. He felt terrible, but it was OK because the dour potions professor was muttering sweet nothings to him in a soft and tender version of his darkly tempting and sexy voice, and wiping his face tenderly.

Lucius wasn't in the least bit surprised that he was dreaming about Severus Snape in this way. He dreamt about his friend most nights, in a whole manner of ways, though this time his mind had Severus giving him the comfort that he currently craved.

He had always been drawn to Severus, even back in Hogwarts. One thing that was obvious to anyone who knew Lucius was that he appreciated power in others, and Severus' was in the form of formidable intelligence.

Lucius had realised this during Severus' first year at Hogwarts, and had used his own position as a prefect to take the other boy under his wing and introduce him to the Dark Arts, and the power they could bring. Lucius was delighted when Severus joined the Death Eaters years later, and was pleased to note that he had matured well.

Severus wasn't what one would call pretty or traditionally handsome, but Lucius thought that distinctive nose made him look distinguished, and his bottomless dark eyes were so intense that Lucius could get lost in them. It was while pondering those eyes that Lucius realised that he was more than drawn to Severus because of his power. He was in love with him.

He cared for Narcissa, she'd given him a male heir to continue his name, but it was Severus who held his heart, and had absolutely no idea that he did.

Lucius had tried to drop subtle hints in the past, though he'd never be as improper as to say it to him directly. But Severus had never shown the slightest interest, ignoring all of his hints as though unaware of their existence.

It was different in his dreams though.

In his dreams, Severus knew how he felt and showed Lucius how he felt in return. In his dreams, Severus would say the things Lucius longed to hear, kiss him and touch him and do all sorts of things that Lucius would never admit to anyone, even under the threat of the Cruciatus curse.

Lucius sighed as his dream Severus tightened his arms around him and pressed his lips to his temple, that low and velvety voice still murmuring sweet soothing nothings.

-o-

The sigh turned into a cough, which continued into a coughing fit. Lucius could feel consciousness creeping up on him and tried to fight it, not wanting to face his misery alert and awake.

I'm not waking up, he told himself stubbornly. I'm asleep.

Then he blinked his eyes open. I must still be asleep because I can see Severus. Yes that's right, he's wiping my face. I'm still dreaming, any minute now he's going to speak softly to me again.

But Severus didn't speak softly or otherwise to Lucius. He just started down at him with a frown on his face, while continuing to wipe the gunk from his face with a damp cloth.

Narcissa really is hopeless, Severus thought to himself. If I had known that she'd leave like that I would have ignored her owl. Would it really have been that hard for her to come in here to make her husband more comfortable and give him a potion or two?

Now, the task had fallen to Severus. When it should be her doing this, she's his wife!

Lucius stirred once more. Severus decided that since he was here, he might as well give him the potion. Judging by the state that Lucius had left himself in, the Potions Master doubted he even had the energy to lift a potion vial to his mouth.

Severus uncorked the vial in his hand and tipped the contents into Lucius' mouth, huffing in annoyance as most of it dribbled down his chin instead. Such a waste of good potion!

Hmm, this is an odd dream, Lucius thought as he felt liquid dribbling down his chin and neck. The hand that cleaned him up was gentle, though.

Well, this would've been embarrassing in real life. Thank Merlin it's only my dream Severus who's here to see that.

Only his dream Severus was acting odd now. Instead of being all soft and loving, he was acting more like the regular Severus would.

I must be getting close to death, even my own mind has turned against me.

Lucius' attention was brought back out of his own head by movement at his side. Severus had reached into his robes and pulled out a second vial of potion. That was very much like the regular Severus as well, to always be well prepared.

This time Severus uncorked the vial and lifted it to his own lips, emptying the contents into his mouth. Then he leaned forward, gripped Lucius' chin firmly and carefully sealed his lips over the other man's.

Oh, this is more like it! Lucius thought, happily parting his lips. His mouth filled with potion and he swallowed the sickly sweet concoction.

Severus pulled back, pleased that the potion hadn't ended up all over the other wizard's face this time.

Oh, definitely my favourite way to take a potion, Lucius decided as drowsiness swamped him and sleep rose to claim him once more. But I'm already asleep, he thought distractedly. He quickly forgot that thought and drifted into a restful sleep thinking about how warm and firm Severus' lips were, and wondering what they'd taste like without a potion.

-o-

When Lucius woke hours later, he marvelled at how much better he felt. His headache had cleared, his fever was down, and best of all he could breathe again. He contemplated getting up for a shower, but decided he wasn't feeling that good. Instead, he lay comfortably and thought about his dream and how nice Severus' lips had felt against his own.

A casual glance at his bedside table made all those pleasant thoughts vanish, instantly replaced with horror. Sitting there were two innocent looking and empty potion vials. But they were far from innocent, and Lucius flushed with mortification as he remembered how the first potion had ended up dripping down his face. And he thought with a fresh wave of horror that Severus had actually been there and seen him looking absolutely, completely terrible.

But he didn't turn away and leave, Lucius consoled himself. He stayed and helped me. He cleaned my face and even gave me a potion using his mouth.

Lucius shivered, remembering again the feel of Severus' lips against his. A thrill ran through him as he realised that it had actually happened, that Severus had actually kissed him. It was admittedly unintentional, but it had still happened, and Lucius could hold onto the memory forever.

His mind drifted to the plebeian, err... wizard, that had sneezed in his face before. May Salazar bless you, kind soul, Lucius thought, his eyes drifting shut again.

It was as close to an apology as the man was going to get.