Chapter 2

Some notes about the story are at the end of this chapter

Day 47 – Severus and Tom, bonding time

Severus : 8 Lucius : 9 Tom : 13

As it was a Wednesday afternoon (which was not a work day) and Lucius had grown again that Monday, Harry was cutting his hair in the bathroom. It would surely take hours because Lucy was never happy with Harry's 'talent' at cutting hair and would ask him to start again every time (and Harry did).

Tom was not studying and he had finished all his homework a while ago. He was laying in his bed, looking through his upside-down window, trying to turn the image upright in his mind as an exercise of concentration.

Tom was very bored. He didn't want to read, he didn't want to play Wizarding chess, nor gobstones. He sighed. The boy actually had no idea what he wanted to do. His mind was whirlwind most days but sometimes, everything stopped and he couldn't form a straight thought, didn't have the motivation to do anything and was bored out of his mind. He sighed quite a lot on those days.

Severus was bored too. He had finished his book on belladonna this morning and Harry was busy taking care of Lucius and couldn't help him find another book.

He heard Tom sighing, in the room across his. He knew what that meant : Tom was bored and didn't have anything to do either.

After much goading, Tom finally agreed to follow the other boy to the garden. Sev seemed to be excited and Tom wondered why until the younger one pulled him to the hedge.

A small grass snake was slithering its way from one end of the garden to the other. Its brown scales were shining when it passed in the sun. One curve in the shadows under the hedge, the next in the light.

"Where do they come from ?" asked Sev. "All those animals I mean. We're inside the castle."

"Let's ask this one" answered Tom, pointing at the snake. "I'm sure it will tell us."

Severus looked impatient. Tom switched from English to Parseltongue. Unlike Harry, who still had problems with it, Tom knew when he was speaking Parseltongue and tried to teach Harry the difference.

"Hello, beautiful one."

"Salutations, Speaker. My name is Sassa"

"Nice to meet you Sassa. My brother here would like to know where you come from, would you mind telling us ?"

Tom didn't know how to qualify Severus -and Lucius- as, other than a brother. He definitely considered him family, as in he would protect and help him if he ever needed Tom, but brother wasn't really covering all that their relationship was. He had the same problem with Harry. Harry was not their father, nor their brother, nor any word Tom knew that defined a family member.

As Tom was pondering the fact that he couldn't possibly find a name that fit, Severus was getting more impatient.

"So ? What did it say ?" he asked.

"It is a she, and is named Sassa" reported Tom. "And she says she's from the Forbidden Forest."

That seemed to surprise Sev.

"How did she end up here then ?"

Tom relayed the question to the snake.

"I was magically transported here by the Room. All the animals you see in this garden are taken from the Hogwarts Grounds. We just have to cross the garden once or twice to be transported back."

Once the boys got all the information they wanted from the snake, they let her go back to her way and went to search for Harry.

Severus was the one who thought about it : if animals could be taken from and to the Hogwarts Grounds, and people were still trying to break in their home, there was a possible loophole in their Defence.

They found Harry in the bathroom, sweeping away Lucius' loose hair with a slash of his wand, Lucius himself trying to look into the mirror to see if Harry had done it right finally. Tom and Severus were not as picky with their haircuts. Tom had slightly longer hair than Harry, and just as messy, because he kept passing his fingers through it when he was thinking, and Severus kept his hair tied back with a black ribbon at all times so he didn't really care if the cut was perfectly even or not. (Harry had learnt to cut hair while on the run with Hermione and Ron. Ron wanted to keep his short because it was more practical and Harry volunteered because the only time Ron tried to do it himself he nearly cut his own throat.)

As soon as Harry was told about the problem, he ran to the nearest bookcase and asked the Room for a book about wards. It took him a little while to find a ward against Animagi and when he did he applied it straight away.

Tom told Harry it was Sev who thought about it all, and a blushy, shy Sev told Harry it was thanks to Tom anyway, because he was the one to interrogate Sassa.

After the scare he had, Harry congratulated the two of them over their discovery and kissed them on the cheek.

Tom found he was too old to be kissed like a child like that but he never said no to a hug, and as Harry knew that, he brought him into his arms and fluffed his hair, messing it up a little bit more.

Severus got carried by Harry to the living room for tea and kissed again for good measure.

When Tom saw that Sev was a bit sullen over being carried like a log, he attacked him mercilessly with tickles, joined by Lucius in torturing the youngest.

Over their time together, Harry had taught his boys that the best way to cheer up someone was to mess with them. That lead to countless tickles and prank wars between the three young ones, and even with Harry from time to time.

Day 58 – The Talk

Severus : 9 Lucius : 10 Tom : 15

Harry was very embarrassed. He knew he had to have that conversation with the boys at one point. He had postponed it long enough already. Tom was 15 ! He needed that lecture.

Harry had learnt a few things here and there during his childhood with the Dursleys but only had had the complete lecture together with Ron, when he was 14, at the Burrow. To this day he still blushed every time he thought back on it. Arthur had been as red as a tomato too, though why he still was, after giving the lecture to all his children, Harry didn't know.

It was time for The Talk. Harry had managed to warn the boys the day before, after stammering and blushing heavily for a while. The three kids were in the study, waiting for him. Harry took a deep breath and entered the room.

Harry went to sit at his desk, feeling protected behind the mass of mahogany. Tom was sitting at his desk and Severus and Lucius were lounging on the couch near the library.

"Okay, began Harry, so today we're gonna have a serious discussion for once."

"We know already Harry." cut Tom, looking far more relaxed than Harry felt.

"What do you mean 'you know already' ?"

"What he means to say," intervened Lucius,"is that we remember having had The Talk already with our guardians."

Harry noted the use of 'guardians' and not 'parents'. He knew that Lucius wanted to include Tom but thought the feelings behind the idea were more of their parents not actually deserving the title. He thought about the kind of Talk their guardians would have given them, in an orphanage, with abusive parents and in a Pureblood family. Maybe not the best they could have.

"You'll have to tell me exactly what you know, all of you. I need to know if you were told enough or just the basics."

Ensued the most embarrassing talk with the boys. They knew the subject was hard on Harry and made a point to be as crude and straightforward as possible.

Apparently, Tom and Severus had a basic knowledge of how sex worked between a man and a woman and a good idea of the spells to use for contraception and birth control. They knew about masturbation and their respective guardians had told them to keep it to themselves and be ashamed of it. Lucius knew a little bit more about STDs and other sexualities, merely because his parents had told him that if he ever felt desire towards men he would have to be very discreet about his lovers in fear of tarnishing the Malfoy name.

Harry had learnt more by himself than with Mr. Weasley because he was too shy to ask about gay sex to him. He decided to teach all he knew to the three, to complete their knowledge.

He began by telling them more about STDs and how to protect themselves, so that they all knew about it . Then he began the frankly overwhelming task of explaining what he knew about all the sexual and romantic orientations he knew of.

The boys had some questions along the speech but understood easily once explained. Harry felt relieved to see that. He didn't know in detail but it was never really discussed in the war, whether the two sides were all that accepting about sexuality. He knew that Dumbledore had been gay but he didn't really knew any other leading member of any side to be anything but heterosexual.

"What about you Harry ?" asked Lucius.

Finally the dreaded question. Everything was fun and games in theory but put that in practice and a lot of people were suddenly less tolerant. He took a deep breath.

"I am gay"

It felt strange, saying it aloud. He had known very young about it but knew not to tell anyone. He saw that most of the boys in his school were chasing the girls because they liked them, and decided not to pursue his first crush as he thought it was one more thing tagging him as 'the freak'. He had learnt to accept himself after Dean and Seamus came out to the Gryffindor boys in third year. When he got sixteen he went to a club for the first time with the Weasley twins, when he grieved for Sirius. He had met a lot of people and got his first boyfriend, a Muggle named Christopher. It was safe to say that in his two years being sexually active he had quite the experience. He had managed to keep it silent for now by binding his lovers to keep quiet. They didn't have a problem with that usually as Harry only went out with correct people. He never outright told anyone before.

He was quite apprehensive as to their reactions but Tom only nodded, like it was something he expected, while Lucius went gasping like a fish out of water and Severus merely said "Okay".

After reassuring the three of them that they didn't have to tell him anything if they didn't want to and that he would love them no matter what, Harry left them to go prepare the lunch.

He would not rush them into labeling themselves, they had to think about it. And anyway, Luc and Sev had only come into the beginning of the questioning age. If they already knew, he would accept it and if they were unsure he would leave them space to think about it.

Day 63 – Lucius' wand and beginning of magical studies

Severus : 9 Lucius : 11 Tom : 16

Lucius was very excited to finally be able to use magic on his own, even if he tried to mask it. He had his memories from his first year but he wanted to use this opportunity to better himself. He had always been proficient in charms and potions but he had difficulties with transfiguration and herbology.

He knew he could get better especially with Harry explaining things his way. He had overheard him giving tips to Tom, and Harry had had a completely different approach from the one used in the books. At least that was what Tom had told him.

He knew Severus would be a great help in herbology when he would get his memories from first year. He already taught him things about the plants in the garden.

Lucius got his wand back and felt the familiar trickle of warmth up his arm.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry !" said Harry in a singsong voice.

"We live in Hogwarts, Harry." objected Tom even if a corner of his mouth was threatening to curl into a smirk.

"You know what I meant Tom." he pouted "Now he really is a part of it !"

From this point on, Lucius could access the book shelves on his own to ask the Room whichever book took his fancy.

He knew that Harry was a genius in DADA and better than average in transfiguration (and now potions thanks to Sev) and that Tom was generally perfect in everything once he made an effort. He was sure he would be the best at charms, even better than Tom.

It would not do to be jealous but a little bit of competition never hurt anyone. Besides, he wanted Harry to congratulate him like he did Tom, when Tom did something spectacular or perfected a spell in one attempt.

Severus was impatient. So impatient that Harry had to keep him occupied while his 'brothers' were working. He had read about most first year to fourth year potions and knew almost all the ingredients used in Hogwarts. When he became too agitated, Harry led him to the kitchen and let him cook under his supervision. He was happy to train in shredding, cutting, dicing and all other manners of delicately separate two layers of any ingredient. He was nearly better a cook than Harry, and that was saying something.

Day 68 – Tom is an adult (make out session with Harry)

Severus : 10 Lucius : 11 Tom : 17

Tom was ready. He had waited to be sure of himself and so that Harry would not shoot him down because of his age. After the Talk, he had reviewed his memories in the Pensieve in the study. He had tried to see if he was attracted to someone during his first teenage period.

What he had found was interesting. He had seemed not to understand his peers when it came to sex and their subsequent desire to have it as fast and as much as possible. There were many Contracts in his time, witches and wizards promised to each other, but that did not stop them from sleeping around more or less discreetly.

He had had thought about it and had concluded that sex was not interesting to him and was actually relieved because he could concentrate on his more pressant aims. According to that, he thought he could possibly be asexual.

There was one thing, though, that broke this hypothesis : his current attraction to Harry. He wanted him, like he had never wanted another before. He was confused as he had been surrounded by aesthetically pleasing men before and hadn't had an ounce of desire for them. The only difference was that he cared about Harry and that Harry cared for him. He could maybe call it love in the privacy of his mind. He remembered his 'previous life' and knew that he hadn't had been that close to anyone emotionally before.

After he concluded that he was demisexual, he decided to do something about his crush. He was determined to confess his interest to Harry. Thad had been 10 days ago. He thought he had waited enough. (He wouldn't admit to himself that he was nervous and wanted to be rid of his insecurities as soon as possible)

He had waited for his 'brothers' to have gone to sleep and crept up to the living room, where Harry was reading a Muggle novel in front of the fireplace. The magical fire was casting flecks of light on his skin and gave an ethereal glint to his green eyes. Tom cleared his throat to catch his attention.

"Tom ! What are you doing up so late ?"

Harry had a worried look on his face. He closed his book after putting a pressed flower in between the pages, and got up. Tom loved that since his latest growth spurt he was taller than Harry by a few centimetres. Harry had to lift his eyes a little to reach his.

"Did you have a nightmare ?" questioned Harry, still concerned.

The boys had had a lot of nightmares after the first few sets of memories came back to them. Now, every time the got a new flow of memories they talked with each other to settle them down. It had prevented a lot of nightmares but Sev and Luc still had some more often that not. Tom was able to hide his distress when he got a -rare- one, and hadn't suffered a really disturbing one in weeks.

"I am well, Harry, I just wanted to discuss something with you" replied Tom, calming the other man down " without the two pests listening to the doors."

He approached Harry slowly and took his hand. Harry was very attached to physical contact to communicate, reassure and ground and had passed that on to the boys. They all hugged and cuddled each other, even if some (Sev and Harry) were more cuddly than others (Tom and Lucy).

He rubbed his thumb over Harry's knuckles in a soothing motion and took a fortifying breath.

"I wanted to speak about what I discovered for myself after 'The Talk' that you gave us the other day." Harry gave him a smile to get him to continue. "I want to talk with Harry, the person and not Harry, my guardian, if that is possible ?"

Harry looked puzzled but nodded is assent.

"I have feelings for you. I have had feelings for you since I turned 13 and I realised I wanted to hold you in my arms and never let go." He paused, closing Harry's mouth with a finger, for it had opened in a gasp of surprise. "I also want you. This a more recent development but it is true." Tom slid his fingers along Harry's cheek in a slow caress. "I consider myself to be demisexual." He paused again, the rest was very revealing. "You are the first person I feel that way about."

He continued caressing Harry's face and rub his thumb across his knuckles while waiting for a reaction. He didn't want to rush him but was getting more nervous by the second.

Harry was shocked. He loved the boys but had noticed a while back that his feelings were changing along with their growth. He had guiltily dispersed thoughts about Tom when they turned to a more romantic (first) or carnal (more recently) approach to their relationship. He knew he had more than admiration for their adult selves but hadn't predicted falling for any of them while they were still so young.

He was actually relieved that his feelings were returned and that Tom was brave enough to tell him outright as Harry himself -a Gryffindor !- hadn't had the courage to do so. He wanted to say so but couldn't find the words. Tom was still waiting, continuing his calming gestures. Hope was written clearly in his blue eyes. It was the most vulnerable he had seen him since the night of the Battle. As his words were failing him, he decided to make his message clear in another way.

Tom had grown taller than him but not enough that he had to stand on his toes to face him completely. He brought the hand not clasped in Tom's to come to rest on the other's cheek, in a perfect mirror pose. He saw the relief and hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Tom looked deep in his eyes to try and gauge his reaction and, when Harry answered with a smile, he brought their faces closer. Harry could feel his breath on his face, his heartbeat peaking in the skin of his wrist and the love in his eyes. His own breath stopped for a moment when Tom's focus alternated between his eyes and his lips.

A log cracked in the magical fire, breaking the intense focus. All of a sudden the calm flew the room and Harry felt rushed to taste Tom's lips, an immediate need...

Tom beat him to it, catching his lips in a tender kiss. Harry's eyes fluttered shut and Tom couldn't keep his open anymore. He surrendered to the kiss and focused on the feeling of Harry's lips on his own. It was not how he had imagined it but it was more real. Harry's lips were chapped and he had a bit of stubble that made for a very interesting sensation on his fingers and mouth. The kiss in itself was the perfect combination of new, exalting and sweet.

They separated after a while, gasping, trying to calm down their hearts. But they couldn't stay apart for long and soon they got back to it, never lasting more than a few seconds between each kiss. After a while they relocated to the sofa, getting more comfortable. They sat side by side, twisted so that their hands could stay joined, legs tangled together. Tom, with a hand in Harry's hair and Harry's hand gripping the back of his shirt.

The night saw many more kisses and cuddles, and after they got their breath back, they settled laying on the couch and fell asleep.

Day 74 – Severus' wand and beginning of magical studies

Severus : 11 Lucius : 12 Tom : 18

Severus was ecstatic. This morning he finally got to have his wand back . He had waited (some would say he didn't but let's not take their opinion into account) and now he could really begin his life as a wizard. He would pass all his time in the potion's lab, surely. He already itched to go there and brew. He had perfected his knowledge of the most common potions ingredients, had practiced his cutting techniques while cooking with Harry and with his memories of his first year, he felt confident he could brew even Fifth Year potions adequately.

He was also very excited to learn more about his second favorite subject : Defense. Harry had told him that he was a master at duelling and had the memories in the Pensieve to match it but it hadn't really grasped his interest until he got his memories from his First Year lessons. He wanted to perfect all his different skills and was very enthusiastic at the prospect of learning even more.

Harry had asked for his help in potions as he never really got it from his time at Hogwarts and he was really proud that he could help him.

He thought he could be less than stellar at astronomy and transfiguration, but with Lucius' help he would surely get by.

As for his memories, he prefered not to think about his first year at Hogwarts as very little of it was pleasant. He remembered vaguely a muggleborn with clear green eyes who had perhaps been friends with him, but couldn't protect him from the disdain from his housemates and the pure hate from a couple of Gryffindors.

Tom had finished his seven years of normal education and was in the process of choosing a specialisation after Harry pushed him to. For now he was just reading several books at once about vampires, trying to get the trustworthy information from the lies spun to scare people. He seemed interested in their immortal status and tried to get the more details possible.

Day 80 – Lucius and Tom, bonding time

Severus : 11 Lucius : 12 Tom : 19

Slytherins were all about revenge. But they were also all about cunning and so Tom's and Lucius' revenge would be the most intricate and devastating plan to ever see the light.

Severus had done something unforgivable, something so vile and revolting that Lucius wondered how such a -sweetheart- could even think of it. You see, that horrible and terrifying deed was that he got sick. But that was not the problem in itself, no ! It was even worse : He had taken Harry all for himself for entire -days- !

Severus got sick, wouldn't stop sneezing and coughing, even with all the remedies Harry found. He was exempted from studying and confined to bed. Harry devoted all his time to find a cure and care for him, leaving Tom and Lucius to fend for themselves, deprived of the usual affection and love they were showered with. Severus had even begun smirking at them when they passed before his door, completely unrepentant.

Such cruelty could not stay unpunished !

The plan was simple and discreet, perfect. Harry would never see anything different from usual but Sev would take it as the revenge it was. It was simply a masterpiece.

The first phase of the plan had Luc and Tom scouring healing texts and potions indexes, searching for a cure to the resistant brand of cold Sev caught. They did not tell Harry they were searching as he would discourage them, ask them to find something better to do with their time, not to worry, because 'he had everything covered'.

They found a medical journal under a stack of books Harry had discarded as he had already read them. Harry got so worried that he had missed that thin book. It was about the Nasty Cold (it was a very old treaty and such designations were taken seriously at the time), a rare case of common cold turned durable for causes unknown. It was mainly extinct now because wizards and witches had invented long-term warming charms and the Pepper-Up potion. It would be cured by a simple Warmth Philter, a much stronger cousin of the Pepper-Up.

The fact that Sev had caught it even with Harry's meticulous care was proof enough that he had done it on purpose. The only way he could have caught was that he had been wandering in the garden at night, all night, probably reading books by the light of a Lumos, only dressed in a light shirt and some shorts. The garden got really cold at night, even if it was presently summer, staying there all night was bound to get someone sick even if they were properly clothed.

Lucius brewed the potion under Tom's supervision, to improve his brewing skills. Tom had taught Lucius and Severus to take advantage of every occasion to get better. (It was a Fourth Year potion but Severus could already brew it and Lucius was actually just learning the properties of different kind of Pepper-Up and could use the training.)

When the potion was done, two hours later, they went and gave it to Harry, all angelic faces and innocent smiles.

Full of relief after their explanation, Harry administered the potion to a frowning Severus. The effect was instantaneous but left the patient tired and slightly warmer than average for hours.

Harry was the one who looked exhausted, though, and went to fix himself a cup of tea to calm down.

Phase two could commence.

It consisted in taking the utmost care of Harry now that he could leave Sev's side and give Severus a taste of his own medicine as Harry would be in Tom's and Lucius' clutches.

They began by giving him the softest spot on the couch, surrounded by cushions, and bringing him his cup of tea (lemon tea with a dash of honey).

Lucius sat on his left side and began to sing. His singing voice was like a mermaid's, enchanting and innately magical.

Harry was the one who had taught him. He used to sing to them when they got nightmares or were being difficult. Lucius knew that it was relaxing to him.

Harry was surprised but soon joined him as it was a song he knew.

Tom sat on his right side and brought his hand to Harry's nape, playing with the short hair.

When Harry finished his cup, he took it from him and levitated it to the kitchen. He then resumed his movement.

Lucius cuddled to his left side and Tom began using his two hands to lightly massage at Harry's skull.

Harry all but melted under his care and Tom smirked at Lucius. Victory.

When Harry got really relaxed, he could spend hours cuddling on the sofa and was generally much more affectionate the following days.

The plan was a success, Harry would be stuck to them all day today and would shower them with hugs and kisses for the rest of the week.

Severus, stuck in his bed to recuperate (because Harry was a mother hen) probably for the rest of the week also, would be fuming.

Tom would remind himself tomorrow to kiss Harry in front of him to make him pay.

Clarification : This story is an Au - Canon Divergence, most of the events are the same but some details change (Severus is not a spy for the Light, he is on the Dark side, Harry helped the Dark side but is on the Light side himself because he would be killed otherwise...). Most of it will be explained in later chapters.

The story is cross-posted on AO3 at /works/3856162

I am sooo very sorry for the wait. I have no reasonable explanation. Just... Sorry.3