WARNINGS: There is an OMC in this part, and the first portion of the story involves him. I'm sorry if this bothers people. Also there is a slight mention of MPREG (but it doesn't actually happen in the story).
Pairings: Harry/Severus, Neville/Blaise, Draco/Charlie, preslash?/Bill & Colin?
A.N.: In a review from Learning and Teacher a person asked 'what made the Gryffindors go bad?' It's actually a pretty complicated answer, but I'll try to keep it short. Basically, I needed an antagonist from within Hogwarts. The first thing that came to mind was how Voldemort was a self hating Muggle-born. So I thought the perfect thing to have as my new antagonist was a self-hating pureblood. Ron was the first one that came to me so I ran with it. As for all of Gryffindor being bad... well I'll just say maybe not all of them are.
A.N. #2: Okay I had to mess with someone's age a little bit, so Graham Pritchard is now in the year below Harry and the gang.
Again, no beta, but I'm working on it!
Now on with the story!
Arthur stared in amazement at the dead body of Lucius Malfoy.
It was a shock. He had killed Lucius, though it had been an accident. When the blond death-eater had thrown a curse at the auror, Arthus had sent a percussion spell back intending to disorient him. Instead the spell had nicked the large metal artwork off of the wall behind Lucius. The spiky almost evil looking piece of art had skewered the pure blood killing him instantly.
Leaning over, Arthur grabbed the wand and tucked it into an evidence bag before moving on.
In the basement he stopped to watch with considerable pride as his son broke the final curse on a door. Bill was on loan to the Ministry from Gringotts.
Slowly the curse-breaker pushed the door open. With Arthur right him, Bill stepped in wand at the ready.
Inside was a rather dilapidated bedroom. In a chair near a tiny fireplace, someone sat sleeping. Walking slowly to him, both of the Weasley men regarded him with suspicion. But the sleeping boy continued to doze unaware.
As they edged close Bill stepped on a loose floor board, which made enough noise to wake the sleeper.
"Father? Is that you?" the soft voice startled Bill and Arthur into stepping back a bit. Putting out a hand to the table beside the chair the boy rose turning towards the two intruders.
"Hello? Who's there? I can hear you both, so please make yourselves known." the boy demanded as he brushed long and dirty blond hair from his face.
The familiar face made Arthur gasp then paled when he realized the silver-grey eyes were now the color of ashes, obviously blind.
"Draco?" Arthur asked as he lowered his wand slightly. The sight of the malnourished Malfoy heir sickened Arthur. He was unkept, dirty, dressed in rags, and looked so pale Arthus wondered if he was already a ghost.
"Who are you?" the pale boy asked his voice light as he lowered himself back to the chair.
"I'm Arthur Weasley, I'm with the Ministry." before the elder Weasley could continue the boy interrupted.
"So you're here to arrest Father... I hope they give him the Kiss. Have you found the storage room below the main den? It's where he keeps all of his good things."
"No, we haven't... But we will now... Are you okay? Do you need a medi-witch?" Arthur asked as blank grey eyes turned towards him.
"No, I'm fine. Though I don't need a healer, a bath would be divine." he told them before turning his back to the fire.
"I think that could be arranged.. Maybe we could find some of your other robes before I take you out of here..." Arthur suggested as he moved closer, pointedly ignoring the scent coming from the boy.
"You haven't figured it out, have you?" the Malfoy smirked lightly while shaking his head. "I don't have anything outside of the contents of these four walls. Draco is the one who gets it all while I am trapped here. Perhaps I should introduce myself, Cygnus Severus Malfoy, son of Lucius and Narcissa, twin of Draco, at your service. The blond gave a half bow from his seat and laughed bitterly at nothing.
It was at that time Bill noticed something, a little later than his father. "You're blind."
"No... really? I would have never guessed. I've only been this way... my entire life." the Malfoy boy snorted as he allowed Arthus to pull him to his feet.
"Come on, Bill... I want you to take him to Hogwarts to Madam Pomphrey. We'll figure out what to do from there." Arthur gently pushed Cygnus into his son's arms and gestured them out.
"Let's go, kiddo. Want me to give you a quick clean before we go?" Bill suggested as he pulled the blind boy out of the room, away from where the others were talking about the death of Lucius and to a place where he felt comfortable to apperate from. He could only hope that the boy hadn't heard about the death of his father.
"Would you be so kind?"
Bill flipped his want from where he had stored it. A couple of waves later the scent coming from Cygnus was a hundred times better. Slipping out of his outer robes, Bill wrapped them around Cygnus' thin shoulder before apperating them to the closest point near Hogwarts.
"Come on, we need to get you inside out of the cold before you get ill." Bill pulled him as fast as he could thought the sickly boy could handle.
When they finally got to the front doors he was relieved to find that it was shortly before curfew so not many students were out in the halls.
In the way however was one person Bill was, for the first time ever, happy to see. "Professor Snape!"
At his name, the tall dark potions master turned and stared at the Weasley coming towards him pulling someone who looked like... "Draco?"
The sound of the familiar voice made the blind eyes lift and turn to the speaker. "Uncle Sev?"
Bill watched in amazement as Snape paled (more than his normal sallow tone) and murmured "Cros?"
Cygnus moved away from Bill with his arms out feeling for his godfather. "Uncle?"
Snape enfolded the boy in his arms and laid his head on Cygnus'. "They told me you had drowned."
"Father thought it would be best if I stayed in a special room... locked away like all of the other Malfoy secrets."
Bill was amazed again. "So he's telling the truth? This really isn't Draco?"
"Of course not!" Snape glared at Bill for a moment before turning his attention back to his godson. "You don't look well. Come along. I'll have Poppy look you over."
"Do you think you could make me some of that cherry-mint pudding you used to make for me and Draco when we were younger?" Cygnus asked as he allowed his beloved godfather to take him to see the medi-witch of Hogwarts.
"Of course! My lover is partial to it as well so there should be some in my quarters... Assuming the brat hasn't ate it all... In which case I will simply make more." Snape held the boy he called Cros, close until he stepped into the Hospital Wing. "Poppy?"
The hospital matron stepped out of a back room to frown gently at the potions master and a young man who looked like Mr. Malfoy. "What's happened, Severus?"
"This is one of those things that don't to be spoken of... Please just treat the boy, Poppy."
"Of course." Poppy's tone made it clear she was insulted for Severus even thinking she wouldn't care for the boy. "Up on the bed, young man... Blind? Born or trauma?"
"I was born this way, madam." Cygnus said being far more polite then Draco could ever be.
Bill moved out of the way, but stayed close just in case.
"Hmm..." Madam Pomphrey set to work healing, and sometimes re-healing things that had not healed well before.
A few minutes later Poppy turned to Severus and smiled a little. "You should take him to your quarters and let him rest for the night. He will be fine with rest and plenty of good food."
"Thank you, Poppy. Could you tell Albus I will speak with him later." Severus nodded to her and put his hand on Cros' shoulder. "Come along."
Cygnus yawned and nodded. The long outing had tired him out. This was the most walking he'd done in many years.
"Do you want me to come with you? Make certain he doesn't try anything?" Bill offered and then made himself not shiver at the glare he got for his troubles.
"That is quiet all right, Mr. Weasley. I can handle him." Severus glared then assisted his godson from the room.
Bill sighed and shook his head before hurrying to talk with the headmaster.
Harry lay on his stomach on the large fur rug in front of Severus' fireplace doing his homework while waiting for him.
His studies were interrupted by the door coming open. Looking towards it, he was shocked to see Severus leading Draco in. The young man looked exhausted and by the way Severus was holding his arm Harry knew something was up. "Draco? Severus? What's wrong?"
"Harry why don't you get some tea?" Severus asked softly making the younger wizard jump and hurriedly summon some tea.
"Is this young lover, Uncle? He sounds very young." Cros allowed himself to be helped to a couch where he huddled in the borrowed robes.
Harry, upon hearing this gapped in amazement. "You're not Draco."
"No. Cygnus Malfoy. But since you are my godfather's lover you may call me Cros." Cros held out his hand and waited to get a feel of Uncle Sev's lover.
After only hesitating for a moment before taking the hand. It was then he felt how weak the grip was and how thin the man behind it was. "It's a pleasure. My name is Harry. Harry Potter."
Cros' eyes went wide. "The boy who lived? Well as least you are worth of him."
Severus choked as he was in the small kitchenette just off of the living room. "Thank you for your high standards for me." Severus came back in with a hardy platter of hot food. "Liver by your left hand, potato spears by your right, and fried greens across from them. If you eat this all I'll get some of the cherry-mint pudding for you." The tall man said as he handed the plate to Cros.
Harry waited until Severus had seated himself in the largest chair and then sat on his lap, watching as Cros cleaned his plate. The blind boy's manners were as impeccable as his twin's. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
Severus wrapped his arms around Harry and laid his head on top his. "Draco was born second Cygnus, making little Cros the heir. But shortly after birth it was found that Cygnus had been blinded before birth from his mother being put under the crucio too many times while pregnant. Supposedly 12 years ago Cros drowned while he and Draco were playing be a small fountain at the Malfoy's summer retreat... At least that's what those few of us who knew he existed were told." Severus whispered into his ear.
Harry stared at the eldest Malfoy and felt a bone deep rage. Here was another who'd been treated like him. An outcast and a freak. And this boy hadn't had Hogwarts to help.
Feeling his lover's magic rising, Severus ran a soothing hand down Harry's neck and shoulder.
"I'm going to go have the spare room made up. Find out exactly what happened and who did this... Meanwhile I'm going to go talk to Draco." Harry brushed a kiss over Severus' lips and brushed a hand on Cygnus' shoulder before hurrying out.