Title: A Different Harry
Summary: What happens when the savior of the Wizarding World never grew up with his Aunt and Uncle, but instead is reared in the Malfoy home after Severus stole him away from Godric's Hollow?
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or its characters. I do not make any money from this story.
Pairings: I don't rightly know yet, that part of the story has yet to develop. If you have any ideas, let me know. I'm thinking my main pairing is either going to be Drarry or Draco/Neville. Again, no decisions have been made.
Chapter 1: Give Me a Home
Dumbledore frowned at the report from one of the Order Members. It said that Lily and James Potter had perished. But it also said that young Harry had vanished without a trace. James and Lily dead, he had expected that. Voldemort vanished, nothing he wasn't expecting. But the baby having vanished, that was not part of his plan.
Lily's sacrifice, and Dumbledore knew that Lily wouldn't stand aside and just allow her baby to die, should have saved the child from the curse. Dumbledore thought over the report and came to the conclusion that someone had stolen the young Harry away for some reason. He would have to keep his eyes open for a child that resembled the Potters.
Severus waited for several hours before daring to approach the Malfoy Manor. He had disillusioned the bundle in his arms in case someone spotted him.
Severus had decided to approach on foot after flooing to a nearby safe house that was, luckily, empty. He passed through the gates and strode briskly towards the front door to the Manor. Lucius was already waiting for him when he reached the door.
"What's wrong, Severus?" The blond man asked worriedly. He had already felt the Dark Lord fall.
"Lucius, I have to ask you to do something… distasteful. Can we please talk inside?" Severus murmured, the bundle shifting on his arm.
Lucius ushered him into the house, closing the door behind his friend. "What is it Severus?" His worry was barely evident in his voice.
"I would rather talk about this with Narcissa present." The potions master said to his friend. A note of desperation must have slipped into his voice as Lucius immediately turned and led Severus through a maze of hallways to the Family Parlor, where he had left Narcissa.
"Hello Severus." Narcissa said politely, her eyes betraying her curiosity as to why their friend was there so late. "How are you?"
"I'm fine Narcissa." Severus said, sitting in the chair that Narcissa gestured to, adjusting his burden a little. Lucius settled in beside his wife.
"Severus, please tell me what brings you to our home so late." Lucius asked his friend, just a trace of worry evident in his words.
Severus nodded and muttered the charm to end the disillusionment. Narcissa and Lucius gasped at the fifteen-month-old in Snape's arms.
The boy opened his eyes and made a sleepy protest at the feel of the spell, wiggling in Severus' arms. Severus sat the small boy up so that the Malfoys could see the brilliant green eyes. And the lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead.
"Severus, please explain." Narcissa demanded softly.
"I can't trust Dumbledore." Severus said, his voice shaking only slightly. "He led the Dark Lord to the Potters. He let Lily…" Severus choked up, fighting back tears.
Narcissa looked into the small boy's eyes and understanding dawned on her.
"So after it happened you stole the Potter boy away to protect him. But why bring him to us?" Lady Malfoy asked softly.
"If Dumbledore finds I have taken in a child he'll know the boy's true parentage. I've come to you to beg you to take him in. Say he's a distant relative whose parents died. Say anything, Narcissa, but I'm begging you to take him in and protect him." Severus looked at her pleadingly.
"Allow us to confer privately for a moment." Lucius said, and Severus nodded his head. Lucius cast a spell that prevented anyone from overhearing his conversation, and from being able to read his and his wife's lips.
Severus watched as the two talked over what their friend had asked them to do. Finally, after what felt like ages to Severus, the charm was removed and Narcissa stood, taking the child and disappearing from the room.
"We will do this for you, Severus." Lucius said, watching as his wife took the boy from the room. Severus visibly relaxed. "Go home, Severus. Get some rest. Come back and visit us in a week. You'll see our plan in action then." Lucius said to his friend softly, getting up and leading him towards the front of the Manor. Severus murmured his thanks to his friend before taking his leave.
One Week Later
Severus flooed straight to the Malfoy Manor this time. It was shortly after lunch and Lucius was waiting for him with a small smile. The two greeted one another formally before Lucius led the way to the Family Parlor again.
Severus schooled his face into indifference. He would not allow his nervousness to show. Severus followed Lucius into the room and saw Narcissa down on the floor happily playing with two pale-haired boys. The boys looked almost identical, except one was slightly smaller than the other.
Severus looked to his friend, allowing his confusion to show on his face. Lucius sat on the couch and gestured for Severus to join him, he looked at his family with a small smile.
"It's a little complicated, Severus." Lucius began. "Outside of yourself and the Healers Narcissa wasn't seen by anyone from the time she was five months pregnant. No one knew how big she had gotten or anything. And we have yet to introduce Draco to Wizarding Society. So we concocted a simple story after you left. We will tell everyone that Narcissa had twins and we kept them at home because our youngest son, Cygnus, was sickly from birth and we wanted to know that he was well before we took them out. We managed to even get records to prove it all. Cygnus Abraxus Malfoy has a birth certificate that appears to have been filed last year along with his brothers. It will hold up under close scrutiny. As for his appearance, it is simply a glamor that is tied to mine and Narcissa's magic and will not fail him until either both of us dies, or he comes of age at seventeen. We will tell him before that day, of course." Lucius said softly. Severus was stunned at the simplistic beauty of it. The Malfoys had blood-adopted the boy, so he legally belonged to them and they had made a paper-trail that was a year old that would hold up. "We know that you are already Draco's godfather, but we put you down as Cygnus' as well. You will have to re-enact the glamor before it has a chance to fail. It has a safety net of three hours after our deaths before it will fall." Lucius said, knowing that that was the most important thing that the Potions Master needed to hear.
Severus nodded. "I understand Lucius, and thank you for doing all of this." He looked over at the boys, a small smile gracing his face.
"You're welcome Severus. Though, truthfully, Narcissa is delighted to have two sons to spoil. And maybe protecting the boy who felled the Dark Lord will somehow make up for all I did in his service." Lucius said quietly.
A/N: Alright. So I had this story up originally. Got frustrated with myself and decided to edit the name, that's the biggest change. But I'm also going through it and ensuring that there aren't any continuation errors, and that everything fits together nicely. I'm hoping this story spins out to be a wonderful story.
Anyways. Leave me a review, let me know what you think. This will absolutely NOT be Drarry.