Currently puppy-sitting a Yorkie and he's all over my keyboard. Apologies in advance for any typing mistakes. Just to make it clear, I'm NOT abandoning any of my stories! I'm just trying to figure out where exactly I'm going with them. And of course this little plot bunny wouldn't leave me alone. So here goes!
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On the cold doorstep of 4 Privet Drive, a small raven-haired babe lay in a small basket. Covered only with a small blue blanket and a few heating charms, the chill of midnight in early November finally broke through. Large emerald green curiously stared at a small fox sniffing him, clearly hunting for some prey. Deciding the child would be unappetizing, the animal crept away, silently stalking in the night.
As the chill turned pale skin rosy, small cries bubbled up from his mouth. He began whimpering and whining in the night, though no one would come for hours.
Silently, a shadow covered the boy. An adult man stood above him. He whimpered softly at the gentleman, who smiled in turn.
"Oh, my child. What fools they are. What fools." The man lifted the boy, basket and all, and disappeared with a pop.
~~~xxx~~~
"Oh Lucius, my love, what have you done?" Narcissa murmured softly, staring at her husband holding a small basket. She could see dark black hair peeking out between the bamboo of the basket.
"My darling, you'll remember. The Potters are a respectable Pureblood family. At least, until that swine Henry had to poison the minds of his descendants. At least Charlus had some decorum and pride. But we can shape this boy. We can lead him down the path to greatness. I have all the faith in the world our Lord will return one day. And this boy here holds the key. We can raise him to respect the Dark Lord, rather than fight him." All the while Lucius was, rather loquaciously trying to convince his wife to keep the poor child, curious Avada Kedavra eyes stared seemingly into her soul.
"Alright, my dearest. We will keep him and raise him as our own. We will blood adopt him and make him our own child. Call Severus and have him prepare the potion necessary. We'll go to Gringotts first thing tomorrow morning. Besides...I'm sure Draco would love a brother." Narcissa smiled wryly.
~~~xxx~~~
The next morning, Severus appeared in the Floo carrying a small vial of a blue potion. He looked wearily at his friend. He'd implored the Dark Lord to spare Lily, but she was a stubborn witch. Now the only one he would ever love was dead. Even though they rarely spoke, they'd kept up their communication quietly when they could. Until the Potters went into hiding, of course. She'd accepted his apology easily enough and, though their friendship was slightly strained, it was worth it. Now, her beautiful lips would never move to berate him again. Dainty hands would never hold a quill to write him again. Thin arms would never hug him. Deep red hair would never shine in the sunlight. But most of all, those gorgeous green eyes would never smile at him again.
His clothes crumpled and wrinkled, he walked into the sitting room of Malfoy Manor. Lucius gave him an odd look.
"Grieving, dear friend?" he asked, though he really didn't need to. He knew. Severus gave him a short nod.
"My one true love is gone." He answered shortly. Silently, Narcissa walked in with a sleeping Harry in her arms.
"Would you like to hold the part of her that lives on?" Narcissa asked him gently. Severus started to refuse her, until familiar green eyes turned on him.
"Lily's eyes…" he trailed off, accepting the infant into his own arms. Sure, the child looked much like James. But the porcelain skin and eyes were all Lily. So was the quiet nature. Severus sat down in a chair and cradled him.
"Severus, we are about to leave for Gringotts to blood adopt the poor child. Would you like to join us, to ensure the potion is administered correctly?" Lucius asked kindly, knowing that untangling Severus from their soon-to-be son would be easier said than done. He saw Lily in the infant. And he would hold on now for all he was worth. Again, Severus only answered with a nod. Narcissa walked away to collect young Draco.
~~~xxx~~~
The Malfoys and Severus walked briskly into Gringotts bank. A goblin quickly approached them.
"My name is Nagruk. How may I assist the Malfoy family today?" a small goblin asked, in a slightly irritated voice. The Malfoy patriarch explained the situation.
"Only godparents are to adopt a Wizarding child. Should the godparents be...unavailable, we at Gringotts check the will the parents left behind. Allow me to go retrieve it." with a sneer, the goblin disappeared to the archive.
"This could go badly." Lucius muttered. Severus tightened his grip on young Harry. Now that Lily's child was in his grasp, he would not let go. The goblin returned fairly quickly.
"The will states Sirius Orion Black as the singular godparent. No godmother was named. However, Lord Black in incapacitated in Azkaban at the moment for the murder of several Muggles. The will then states that, should Lord Black be unavailable, any relation to the Potters may claim the child as their own." the goblin stated, staring up at the three adults in front of him. Narcissa quickly spoke up.
"The Blacks are related to the Potters. My great-aunt Dorea Black married Charlus Potter." she stated with a small smile, shifting the weight of Draco in her arms. Lucius spoke up second.
"The Malfoys are also distantly related to the Potters. William Jacoby Potter was my father's second cousin once removed."
"A blood test will be required to ensure these are truths. If the blood tests are passed, the blood adoption can proceed as planned." Nagruk grunted, leading them into a small room designated for blood testing. With a snap of his fingers, the goblin summoned a small dagger and parchment. Muttering a spell, he pricked Lucius's finger first. Clearly on Lucius's family tree, W. Jacoby Potter appeared. Narcissa went next, and Dorea Black-Potter was near the bottom. Lucius smirked triumphantly.
Silently, the goblin banished the the parchment and dagger, they were led to another room, specialized for blood adoption. Harry was placed in a small bassinet for babies, while Lucius and Narcissa sat the table. Severus stood, holding the potion and his godson. Standing over Harry, Nagruk murmured several words in Gobbledygook.
"I require the blood of those who will claim the child. Please drop it into the potion." A small cutting hex slicing the tip of their ring fingers was enough to fill the vial. The goblin waved his hand over the vial and took the potion from Severus. He spelled it directly into the young babe's blood.
Immediately, the child began shrieking his pain. They'd been aware that this would happen, but it was no less painful to hear his cries. It took everything the three adults had to remain still as his body changed from the inside out. Touching him at this moment would only do more harm than good.
Slowly, the cries died out. When they looked at the baby they had once known, Narcissa cried out slightly. Gone was the wild black hair, replaced with silky blonde hair the Malfoy family was well known for. His features, such as his nose and cheekbones, sharpened slightly into more aristocratic features. When he opened his eyes, all three occupants of the room were thrilled to see his emerald green eyes remained unchanged, except for a few gray flecks swimming the a sea of viridian.
Lucius lifted the boy into the air and studied him for a moment. With a small smirk, he proclaimed,
"Lady and gentlemen, I present my second son, Master Deimos Altair Malfoy. May Lady Magick bless you, my child." Lucius murmured, looking up at the boy, who met his gaze with curiousity in his eyes, even at such a young age. Smiling shortly, he turned gracefully to the goblin and handed his new son to his wife.
"May your gold overflow, Nagruk."
A reply of "And may the blood of your enemies run freely, Lord Malfoy." was exchanged before the three swept away, Narcissa holding the newly dubbed Deimos.
~~~xxx~~~
When they returned to Malfoy Manor, the immediate task was to properly introduce young Draco to his slightly younger brother. Narcissa sat Draco on the thick carpet of the drawing room and allowed him to crawl as he wished. Severus did the same to Deimos.
The newly claimed Malfoy quickly became curious with this other boy and crawled in a rather amusing fashion to him. It was a half-crawl, half-attempt at walking that thoroughly amused the adults in the room. After making his way to Draco, he sat down next to him with a small thump. The elder of the Malfoy brothers frowned slightly at the newest arrival, and proceeded to babble at him.
Of course, Deimos babbled back. Their conversation carried on in baby talk, before Deimos leaned on his elder brother, exhausted from the events of the day. Draco seemingly allowed it and laid down on the carpet with his new brother, allowing him to get comfortable.
Oh yes, they'd make wonderful brothers.
~~~xxx~~~
So what do you guys think?