Alrighty then...as promised I posted the chapter today (Thursday) and if you missed that memo I posted it on my profile earlier this week. This chapter is the main shift in the story that changes Harry Potter to almost an OC however his character is complex and I can't tell you much yet without giving you too much. Just to warn you in case you didn't get the memo with the first chapter- this will be bloody and full of torture. Not this chapter in particular but future chapters will be descriptive and may make you all want to shiver in disgust though I tried to keep the disgust part out as much as possible. I want you now because I finished a rather bloody torture scene earlier this week aaaand I just wanted to warn you now rather than leave you to find out the hard way. Now...hmmm anything else...Ah yes, I ended up putting the vampires in but they have a rather brief entrance and the story wouldn't allow them much time so if you were looking forward to them I apologize but while briefly importance, their importance was exactly that- brief. I can see the ending of the story now, or at least the road that leads to it and I must say I'm proud of how this one turned out. I will continue to keep everyone posted and stop rambling on like I have now in order to let you enjoy the chapter!
NOT FOR THE EYES OF CHILDREN
MALE/MALE RELATIONSHIPS
TORTURE
NOT MY CHARACTERS
Mistress Slytherin
-LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
-3-
His hands shook as he set the book down and opened the small chest whispering the name of the potion he needed numbly unsurprised when it floated up to him in a large bubbling jar. He chose carefully- for the potion to work he would need to pick four of the vials of blood. Black, Le Strange, Malfoy and Prince, these were names he knew were linked somehow; he'd seen them intertwined on various family trees. They were powerful pureblood names, but he could only pick two, one for paternal and one for maternal lines, for these he would pour the entire vial of blood while the others only needed about a quarter each. It was a very dark potion, something that only Moody could have known about. It was the blackest of magic and Harry had no doubt that his soul would be marred after this if he didn't go mad from the pain as the book suggested that most did. But he had to survive; he realized that he could no longer be Lily and James Potter's son. They were dead and he was alive, he had to let go of whatever ties he might have clung to. His hands stilled their trembling as he poured two of the vials into the potion at the same time chanting the lines that the book offered. The sludgy steaming mixture simmered as he put the now empty vials onto the sink and picked up the other two changing his chant for the next part as he added a quarter of each vial. He watched the potion which had been a rusty color to start with change to a blue color as it simmered. Without a second thought he lifted it to his lips and drank deeply until the potion was gone and he was left with the taste of magic and copper in his mouth.
He felt ill. He stumbled setting the jar down with a heavy clinking sound and quickly replaced the vials to their compartments and everything else back into the bag. His bones began to ache, unpleasantly at first but ferociously in an instant leaving him to cry out. The agony lasted for ten minuets a pain that rivaled the cruciatus curse only that the pain was deeper and on a molecular level. He shivered as he felt hot and cold at the same time and dizzily rinsed out the jar the potion had been in. He didn't bother emptying the bath but grabbed his wand his two never ending bags and his invisibility cloak before stumbling into the main room barely managing to turn off the light in the bathroom before another wave of agony swept through him starting at his toes and moving upwards still following his bones. He gasped his mouth opened in a silent scream as he very nearly crawled to the bed. His arms shook as the pain started on his ankles but sheer will power kept him from passing out on the floor. Stubbornly he managed to climb onto the bed. Stars began to dance behind his eyes. It felt as if he were being dissected while alive, as if someone were taking a blow torch and slowly tracing his bones with it. He grabbed a hand full of sheets and stuffed them into his mouth as another scream threatened to escape and then, blissfully he fell unconscious.
Severus Snape sat heavily in the old chair his body aching in numerous places and bleeding in others. Kingsley didn't sit neither did McGonagall, he supposed they were to lost right now to sit, their minds active or more likely reeling with shock. The floo flared to life once again and yet another survivor fell through breathing heavily as he landed sprawled across the threadbare carpet. Remus Lupin simply lay there for a moment and if it weren't for the steady rise and fall of his chest Severus probably would have assumed that the broken glassy look in the man's eyes meant he was dead. At last he opened his mouth seeming to struggle for a moment with the words they all knew but had yet to acknowledge. "Albus is dead." He said finally his entire body seeming to relax in exhaustion. Severus couldn't even think up a barb for the old werewolf- it just seemed petty at this point. He knew what he had to say and do now, but it hurt just the same. Slowly he stood his body protesting with every move.
"This morning." He said pausing as the few eyes that were in the room landed on him. "or rather yesterday morning, the headmaster called me to his office." He sighed heavily and the others leaned back blank looks on their faces. "He told me that he had kept yet another secret from us in regards to Harry Potter." Remus' flashed in anger, it was rather lucky for the old man to have passed on at this point, he was sure that the werewolf would have taken care of him sooner rather than later otherwise.
"Severus what is it." McGonagall said tensely, she could read him unlike the others, not very well, but well enough to know when something was wrong. He steeled himself for his next announcement.
"Harry Potter is gone." He said softly. Kinsley glared at him.
"Well of course he's gone you daft fool we've been looking for him for a month-" The man cut himself off then his snappish retort broken by understanding. Lupin shook and whimpered pathetically where he lay.
"The headmaster used every method he could think of to find Potter, and I do mean every method, but he disclosed to me that it was mainly for wishful thinking. He had devises keeping track of mister Potter's vitals since the boy was a baby, all of which ceased to work the night they took muggle Surrey." The others looked sick.
"But why tell us now?" McGonagall asked shaking her head. "It doesn't make sense." Severus nodded his head.
"Because he knew he would die tonight." He said calmly. The others tensed and looked up at him in disbelief. "He told me that should he die the Order would be disbanded." Kingsley balled his hands into fists so tight that the skin around his knuckle bones turned white. Slowly Severus moved to the fireplace but paused before throwing in a handful of floo powder. "It has truly been and honor to work with you." He said solemnly. The others didn't move, they looked…defeated. He took a deep breath before stepping into the floo. "The Leaky Cauldron." He said with a note of finality in his voice.
Harry cursed himself once more as he slowly climbed out of the small bed his body still aching terribly. Newspapers were sprawled about the room where he had struggled to piece together what exactly had happened since he'd left school. The picture they painted was not a pretty one. It seemed as if Voldemort had decided on a different approach. At first he simply signed a treaty with the ministry, something small and insignificant about him not attacking ministry officials while they attempted to make peace with each other. It all went down hill from there. The ministry had been corrupt and filled with rot from the start, it wasn't hard for the dark lord to poke at their piles of filth and stoke their fires of righteous indignation when the order responded. The people followed shortly there after ever the willing sheep. In a way it disgusted him to see how weak they were and he found himself wondering why exactly it was that he had tried to lead these people. He cursed himself again for his Gryffindor stupidity as he moved through the hotel room. Why had he been so stupid as to take a potion like that without actually studying all the effects? Of course it didn't help that the potion had been lost through time and incredibly dark to start with but really he'd been in a state of constant pain since he'd taken the bloody thing and that had to have been weeks ago. He sighed as he snatched up a pair of trousers and cursed when they wouldn't slip on properly. Many things had changed since he'd taken that potion, for one he'd grown testy and his temper had shortened considerably.
He sighed and looked into the bathroom mirror and sighed. His hair was no longer messy and brown but jet black falling in elegant waves around his face. His glasses were gone- as were his green eyes, his mother's green eyes. Now instead he had the Malfoy's icy blue eyes a stark contrast to his dark hair. His skin was lighter now too, softer, and unblemished, his cursed scar gone or at least hidden from plain sight. His face which had begun to grow more masculine had changed, shifting to a softer jaw line and finer bone structure. His body had changed as well though mainly in stature, he'd grown at least two heads taller and while a bit on the thin side still he had wiry muscle beneath his skin. He sighed and gave up trying to fit into the too small trousers and grabbed up his bags and invisibility cloak intent on finding clothing in another room. That had been another change, he supposed it was survival instinct but he'd easily sunk to a very low place as far as morals went. The people were dead, all of them and somehow in his mind that made what they'd left behind fair game.
The first few days after he'd arrived in London had been the hardest. After waking he'd been forced to lie still mainly because of the sheer amount of agony that was still coursing through his body, which meant that he was trapped with his thoughts and memories. But the odd thing was that unlike before when Sirius had fallen through the veil he felt numb and detached instead of terrified and riddled with guilt and sorrow. It was almost as if something inside him had changed though at first he'd put it down to simple shock. He wasn't sure exactly how many days he'd stayed in bed but it was enough to leave him restless. The moment he was able to move he'd begun his search of London; the entire massive city was empty. The fires had long since been put out but the smell of death clung to him. He had used one of the abandoned cars to make his way through the city unsurprised when he found wards up around it to keep people out. After his first trip he'd taken a break, eaten and then moved into the first small house. He felt no guilt in taking whatever there was of worth, silverware, china dishes, watches, cash; he took it all and then moved to the next house and did the same thing. He ignored the smiling ash covered photos of the people that had lived and breathed and died and took what was left. A part of him felt justified knowing that at least this way it wouldn't be the people that killed them that were profiting from them though it was a hollow argument even in his own ears. He had to survive. That was his only prerogative and he could only imagine that in order to survive in a world where Voldemort reined he would need every bit of monetary support he could find.
He sighed as he crossed the street. The only thing that he found he simply couldn't do was sleep in these people's houses. Instead he hopped from hotel to hotel after scavenging, the night before was no different. The store across the street apparently catered to wealthy clientele which in a way was a good thing because he imagined a Malfoy wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything with lesser quality. As he tried on a pair of trousers he realized that he would have to leave London soon, he'd already cleaned out nearly the entire city and was beginning to approach the other side. It seemed sad to him now, to see the ashes clearing up. This place had once been beautiful and filled with life and culture, but now it was an empty city its libraries, museums and treasures sitting in a small never ending bag. He shook his head and flicked the spare wand at his suit transfiguring it until it mimicked a rather fashionable set of robes. He had a total of two hundred and six wands that he'd recovered from the city which he had no doubt would fetch a hefty price once he returned to the wizarding world. He shook his head at himself for a moment before beginning a new day starting with the jewelry store next door.
Two months later…
Lucius glared down at the sheet in front of him then at the goblin. "It shows that this boy was born sixteen years ago, how is it that I am just now learning of his existence?" He demanded his tone sharp. The goblin grinned and shrugged.
"I assume that he was hidden away for some reason or another." Lucius frowned, but why would they hide him away? True the Malfoy name had been undergoing some serious controversy around the time the boy was born but to go this far to hide the child's existence…he supposed it was plausible after a long strenuous war where everything is uncertain for the mother to feel the need to hide her child, though that was another mystery. Eileen Prince had been dead for more than a year before the child was born yet she was listed clearly as the mother and magic did not lie. Something didn't add up, and he was curious to find out just what it was but until then there was a Malfoy out there in the midst of a war.
"Find him; I'd like to talk with him. Inform him that as a Malfoy he is given full access to all family vaults. I want to meet…my son."
Harry walked through Diagon Ally with an air of power about him, it helped that he'd grown until he towered over most people; to them he was no longer Harry James Potter but rather the mysterious Ares Darcy Malfoy. They treated him with respect no matter where he went mainly because he now oozed power, having come into his majority shortly after leaving London. Today he would be meeting his 'father' who undoubtedly had many questions for him, questions that he didn't have the answers for. The moment he understood what his position in the wizarding world would be he'd attacked Moody's book finding every bit of information on the Malfoy family (over three thousand years worth of legends and history) and learned everything he could which was surprisingly quite a bit. His new bloodline had altered him in ways he hadn't anticipated, not only was his psyche changed but his mind seemed different and his attention span greater. "Mr. Malfoy!" Harry looked up at the excitable cry and sneered down at the girl manning the front of the posh looking restaurant. An older looking gentleman swooped in then glaring angrily at the girl who blushed violently at her outburst. The restaurant which had previously been filled with the sounds of murmuring, pleasant conversation and the tinkling of plates and glasses was silent all eyes on him.
"Please forgive me sir, she is new to the staff, I'll take you to your seat." The man glared at the girl who looked close to tears and Harry rolled his eyes at the drama. Emotions unsettled him these days and his temper was shorter than usual due to the strenuous circumstances.
"Yes well I had hoped for a quiet lunch, I sincerely hope that not all your staff goes about announcing people like trumpets or I'll get a headache before dessert, now if you don't mind…" He drawled giving the man a pointed look. It should have disturbed him how much like Snape he sounded, it really should have- instead it left him feeling smug and perhaps a bit amused.
"Yes of course sir." The man said bowing deeply before gesturing his arm to the right. Harry easily caught sight of white blonde hair and headed towards the man refusing to look at the others in the large room as they watched him. He was simply annoyed now. He'd always hated attention yet it seemed even as a different person he was to be burdened with it. He paused for the briefest of moments upon catching Lucius' amused and smug gaze. He could only imagine what the man was thinking. He slipped into the small partially enclosed booth with both ease and grace, something he'd coveted as Harry Potter and returned Lucius' intense gaze with one of his own. The man was beautiful, even as a child with impaired vision he'd thought so yet here as he sat before Harry he could see it more clearly more sharply. The man was older than his parents yet he didn't look a day over twenty his skin still smooth and unwrinkled his hair still glossy and silken.
"Would it annoy you to admit that I thought that you would be blonde?" The man asked suddenly tilting his head to the side in childlike curiosity. Harry felt his lips twitch and a few nervous titters filled the room where people were still watching them.
"No it seems to be a common misconception." He said relaxing a bit though he shot rather annoyed looks at a few woman who had the audacity to flutter their eyelashes at him causing him to sneer. Lucius chortled softly before waving over a server.
"My private room if you please." He said the request rolling off his tongue easily though it booked no argument. Harry found that he liked this man; this Lucius was far different from the unstable man he'd met at Hogwarts. Lucius didn't wait for a response but moved easily through the tables dismissing the curious gazes leaving a rather amused Harry to follow. Lucius slipped into his seat with ease and Harry realized that the man must have been merely waiting for him in the other room though why was still a puzzle to him. The man seemed completely at ease lounging in his chair and Harry wondered just what it was that had changed the man since he'd last met him.
"I admit I was rather surprised by your request to meet with me." Harry said cautiously. Lucius smirked.
"I admit that I was rather surprised to learn that I had another son." He returned. Harry smiled wryly.
"Touché." He admitted. The man laughed softly the sound both masculine and beautiful at the same time.
"So Ares, I must admit myself impressed by you." Harry frowned immediately guarded. The man smirked. "Did you think that I wouldn't be watching you?" Harry smiled grimly.
"I had a feeling that you would though I had no idea why. I may be your son but my existence having been created out of wedlock makes it rather unorthodox for you to have any interest in me at all." Lucius leaned back.
"Hmmmmm…" He said bemusedly before holding out a glass which was immediately filled. "Yes, I wasn't going to broach that particular topic right away but it seems you have inherited the Prince families' habit of getting strait to the point." Harry's eyebrow twitched. Yes that…he hadn't realized that Eileen Prince was Severus Snapes' mother which made them…half brothers. It was a bitter pill to swallow yet Harry smiled anyway.
"You must be burning with curiosity." He drawled. The man nearly pouted at that something that Harry found both offsetting and endearing at the same time.
"Considering the fact that I never slept with Severus' mother and that she died a year before your conception, why yes I find myself a bit curious." Harry snorted.
"And you call me blunt; perhaps it's a hereditary trait in both lines?" He offered amused.
"Ah, now he keeps me waiting, your diversion tactics are stunning." Harry snorted and rolled his eyes at the man's teasing.
"Apparently not since you saw strait through them." He said toying with his glass absently. He was actually enjoying the man's company which stunned him.
"Tell me?" The man requested lazily seeming a bit reluctant to end their verbal sparing. Harry sighed deeply.
"I do not have all the answers please understand, only what I have come to learn." The man frowned and leaned back nodding his head all playfulness gone now though the lazy grace seemed to cling to the man. Harry looked away almost reluctant to lie to the man though the call to survive demanded it. "I was part of a project, myself and two other children were created using the DNA of various pure blooded families. The idea was to increase the pure blood population which had been dwindling throughout the years. In my case you are my father and Eileen Prince was my mother." Lucius nodded his gaze intense.
"The other children?" Harry frowned.
"Dead, they were proven to be magically and mentally unstable." The lies rolled off his tongue easily and the story he'd concocted was believable.
"How is it that I am just now hearing of your existence? Where were you this entire time?" Harry was surprised by the slightest hint of emotion in the man's voice, it threw him off guard.
"The wards wouldn't let me out until I reached majority, I was thrown from the wards the moment it happened and the entire place was set ablaze. There had been no one for a long time just me, whoever created me died shortly after the first war. As to why you didn't hear of me before then, I assume steps must have been taken to ensure our identities were hidden from the world." Lucius nodded slowly his eyes deep wells of thought. Harry flinched when the server approached not expecting him as the plate was set down. Apparently Lucius had ordered for them though he wasn't about to argue.
"I hope you like Italian." The man said his gaze still thoughtful as he gazed at him. Harry smiled graciously.
"I'm not particularly picky." He said watching as the man unfolded his napkin with ease and grace as his own plate was set before him. Lucius waited until the servers had gone before speaking again.
"I'm sorry." He said suddenly his expression intense. Harry jerked back at the expression his eyes betraying his confusion. Lucius' jaw tightened. "I am not blind you know, the moment you entered the room I knew that your upbringing was…less than satisfactory. As a father…" The man pursed his lips shaking his head and Harry was stunned to realize that something was truly bothering the man.
"I-I'm afraid I don't understand." He stuttered holding his fork tightly in his hand. Lucius sighed heavily.
"Am I correct in assuming that you raised yourself?" Harry stiffened his expression closed off.
"Yes." He said his voice raspy. Lucius leaned forward resting his elbows on the table and holding his fist in his hand settling his chin against it as he gazed at Harry an unknown emotion visible in his eyes. "For the most part." The man frowned.
"Please explain." Harry frowned and looked away.
"I had…caretakers if you could call them that." Lucius frowned deeply.
"But you said you raised yourself." He said thoughtfully. Harry nodded reluctantly wondering why the hell he was giving the man so much ammo, he never trusted anyone with this. Not after having told Dumbledore.
"They were muggles." He admitted a bit of spite in his voice. He couldn't believe he was telling the man this. "They…they thought I was an abnormality." Lucius' face became pale his eyes fiery. Harry wondered at the strong emotions he could see so plainly written in the man's expression. Did he think Harry was a freak too? He flinched at the notion suddenly very uncomfortable. He clenched his jaw tightly and set his fork down. "I-" He struggled for a moment. "Forgive me I'll not take up anymore of your time I don't mean to intrude upon your life…" He wet his lips nervously his hands trembling a bit. "I'll go…somewhere, I- I apologize for the inconvenience-" He choked on his words his eyes wide and terrified as he gazed at the pale fingers wrapped around his wrist. He couldn't move, he was weak, weak against this man, weak against the world, weak against everything in it. He felt that thing inside of his stomach swell and just like before his emotions scattered into numbness leaving him void and empty.
"You are mistaken Ares." Lucius said his voice surprisingly gentle. Harry forced himself to look at the man. Was- was that sorrow? Rage? Impossible. He turned away sneering this time.
"I don't need your pity." He said coldly. The man hissed lowly.
"Good because it's not pity I feel!" Harry flinched at the snarled words more confused than ever.
"Then what?" He asked tiredly. "Is it disgust? For the freak from hell? The boy who could do nothing to stop a couple of muggles when they-" His voice cut off abruptly and his eyes became blank. He looked away ashamed. Weak, always so damned weak!
"I feel sorrow Ares, for a child who did nothing wrong. For the boy- my son who I couldn't help in his time of need. I feel fury, a terrible overwhelming fury towards the ones that would dare harm my son!" The man's hand was still firm as it held him but not painful and he could feel the tremors the man's suppressed anger was causing. Cautiously he looked up into the turbulent eyes and bit back a gasp at the beauty he found there. He sank into his chair in disbelief.
"How is it that you can have that look in your eyes?" He said softly. "No matter what I did, no matter the accomplishment, that look has always been reserved for someone else. How is it that I could have done nothing and yet receive that look?" He grasped his chest which hurt physically from the emotion that welled up inside of him pushing past the numbness. Lucius looked pained and it occurred to Harry that he had never really known this man.
"Because you are my son." He said softly. Harry jumped out of his seat as if it had burned him.
"No, no you can't! I'm not! I'm just potions and spells-" He shook his head. Lucius stood his expression stern.
"You are my son as long as you have my name Ares, I don't care how it came about but as long as you bear the name Malfoy you are my son and I will do everything in my power to protect you!" Harry gazed at the man. Where was the cold politician? Was it all false? The sneering aristocrat? Voldemort's right hand man?
"The muggles are dead." He said stonily. He couldn't accept that proclamation just yet though his heart was torn in accepting it. He wanted it…what Lucius had offered. A father…a family, something that he'd only ever dreamed about, only ever watched from afar. Unobtainable for someone like him.
"Good. I'd kill them myself otherwise." Lucius spat sitting down. Harry eyed the man as he cut into his meal his motions ever graceful and easy despite his obvious anger.
"They died painfully." Harry offered catching the man's eyes. "And I'm not sorry for it." It was the truth. As horrifying as their death had been to him their crimes against him had embittered him to the point of apathy. It was ugly and messy, but his heart was cold towards them and their fate.
"Good." Lucius repeated his eyes softening. "Very good." He said again his voice softer now as something shined in his eyes. Harry relaxed slightly and sat down hesitating before taking a bite of his food. Perhaps it was having to live so long without proper food, but Harry had developed a sort of reverence for food, every bite was enjoyed to its fullest. "Have you had any schooling?" Lucius asked after a moment. Harry was more than willing to move away from their previous topic.
"I was self-taught for the most part though I learned a bit from the witches and wizards I've met recently." Lucius nodded his head slowly.
"I'll hire tutors for you, you're a bit too old to go to Hogwarts though I'm certain the other schools would take you…but for now I'd like to get you caught up." Harry blinked at the authoritative sound of the man's voice. Normally he would balk at any one who tried to take power from him, but Lucius- he was different.
"I heard that Hogwarts is going through major changes." Harry said lightly. It wasn't public knowledge just yet but he had made contact with people in high places recently. He glanced up and found Lucius smirking, his eyes sparkling.
"My, you have been busy." Harry found himself returning the smirk. What do you know?" Lucius said taking another bite. Harry took a sip of water.
"Entrance exams are now mandatory as well as testing magical strength and aptitude; preliminary classes for those coming from muggle homes, proficiency tests held frequently I never expected such changes." It was the truth he had expected Voldemort to ban all muggle born students from attending. Lucius nodded as if thinking the same thing.
"It was decided that muggles would be allowed to enter if they passed the exam and took the preliminary courses." He agreed. In other words, they had to prove to the wizarding world that they were worthy. Harry wasn't blind, thousands of muggles were dead and the death toll rose by the day, those living in the wizarding world have no authority on what happened outside of it and within the last month all portals between the wizarding world and the muggle world had been cut off.
"The influx of students this year will be short." Harry said absently. "Though I suppose that is better, professors will have more time to focus on individual needs and goals." He wondered if Hermione would be there this year, he'd heard that her hometown had been attacked recently but then she wasn't a survivor. He could only wait with bated breath to see if she managed to make it out alive.
"The dark lord intends to start adding to the castle, he wants to add a university to Hogwarts. Perhaps if we can catch you up you will be able to go?" Harry blinked up at the man and noted the smirk. He smiled slowly.
"Yes sir." He said almost timidly. Lucius nodded.
"I heard that you've moved into the country home." Harry looked up. Is that what they called that thing? It was huge.
"Is that a problem? I could move out if you'd prefer I- I shouldn't have taken that liberty." Lucius was holding up his hand the smile he'd worn a moment ago gone.
"Anything that belongs to the Malfoy family belongs to you Ares." He said softly though Harry could feel the edge in his voice. "I was only wondering if you wouldn't like to come live with us in the manor." Harry's eyes widened and he almost choked.
"I couldn't do that." He said softly. "You have a family, a life, for me to just walk into that, it would make not only me uncomfortable but your family too. I've grown used to my solitude, I also need to catch up in my studies, I'm afraid that I'll have to decline." He said shaking his head. He couldn't do that, not to Draco and not to himself. He couldn't stand to be on the outside looking in again, couldn't stand watching and knowing that it would never be his family.
"My family is falling apart Ares." Lucius said suddenly. Harry looked up and caught cold dark eyes. "My wife is going mad and my son…Draco can't handle the pressure of being my son." Harry looked at the man carefully; he could see the torment in the man's eyes, hidden behind a thousand icy masks.
"Do you want me to be the one to break it completely?" He asked softly. "To enter your home and tear your family apart simply because of my questionable birth?" Lucius shook his head.
"No, I want- I want to be close to my son, I want to give you what I should have given you since the day you were conceived. Draco and Narcissa…I think you could actually be good for them." And there it was, the reason the man had come here. He was alone and sad in a cold cruel world just like Harry was. But Harry knew better than to jump into a situation blindly. He couldn't move in with them yet, emotional reasons aside he still had half of London in has never ending bag and while his vault in Gringotts was already reaching impressive levels turning all that stuff into money was taking time. But he couldn't ignore the longing inside of him the one he'd hidden from since he was a child and it was made very clear that he was unwanted. Family.
"How about we start out slow." Harry said softly wondering just what kind of heartache he was setting himself up for. Lucius seemed to understand.
"I assume you have something in mind?" Harry nodded slowly.
"I was invited to the ministry ball this weekend." Lucius nodded his head.
"Yes that, I could formally introduce you on neutral grounds to both the public and my family." Harry winced and nodded.
"Can you ensure that a certain Rita Skeeter is not present for the event?" He asked hating the pleading sound in his voice. Lucius laughed loudly.
"I assume you've met her?" Harry shook his head.
"I've seen her in action, I can handle her but I'd rather not." Lucius chuckled.
"Any one else that you don't like?" Lucius asked with a raised eyebrow. Harry sneered at the teasing tone.
"People in general, but I don't suppose you could rid me of them now could you?" He snarked causing Lucius to laugh long and hard something Harry could tell the man hadn't done for a long while. He smiled slightly at the man's obvious amusement. Lucius caught the expression and sobered slightly.
"Thank you for that, even Severus has been in a somber mood as of late." Severus? As in Snape? What could he possibly be sulking about now? He shook his head slightly.
"Glad to be of service." He said covering his confusion over Lucius' statement. Lucius caught it but let it go as he pushed his plate aside, Harry quickly finished his last bite and did the same.
"You are far too thin Ares." Lucius said absently. Harry winced.
"I'm working on that." He said wryly. Lucius' face fell.
"Tell me they at least fed you." Harry looked away and desperately searched for a way to change the topic. Slytherins were far too perceptive.
"Should I wear the Malfoy crest to the ball?" He asked. Lucius' face was unreadable but he nodded anyway.
"I will let the topic slide if you allow me to have a doctor give you a physical." Harry pursed his lips. The Dursleys had never taken him to get a physical, the closest thing he'd ever had was the school nurse. He supposed it would be best for him to get one, and Lucius seemed to almost need to do this. The potion he'd taken had already flushed out of his system so there really was no reason why he shouldn't get one- but, damn it he hated having people poke and prod at him! He sighed heavily.
"Fine." He said slightly petulantly. Lucius smiled thinly.
"You would not be required to wear it however, since I will be publicly claiming you as my son it wouldn't be a bad idea." Harry nodded glad the topic was over.
"The same for family colors I assume?" Lucius nodded.
"Our family is head of the Malfoy family so we tend to be at the peak of fashion no matter the occasion, there are times when our family colors are simply, not in season." Harry nodded. "If you don't mind I'd like to send over a tailor later today, he's the family tailor and the only one the Malfoys' will use." Harry smirked. He was dressed in the latest style but even then the Malfoys' were snobbish.
"Very well, I suppose that's good to know." Lucius smiled thinly well aware of Harry's thoughts.
"I'll send over the hair stylist too if you don't get that look off your face." He warned causing Harry to chortle.
"Oh heavens no!" Lucius grinned.
"And the cobbler." Harry rose his eyebrows in surprise.
"We have a cobbler?" He asked baffled by the idea.
"A make-up artist, skin therapist and masseuse as well." Lucius looked almost contemplative now causing a flash of real horror to flit through Harry.
"Oh Merlin no…" Lucius grinned.
"Manicurist too." He said lightly.
"Did I mention I hate people?" Lucius grinned.
"Nothing to worry about then, the manicurist is a fairy." Harry groaned.
"You are truly evil." Lucius grinned.
"Why thank you." Harry heaved a heavy sigh.
"Lucius what's this I hear about-" Harry blinked his wand at Severus' throat his body tense and ready. "-a prodigal son…" Harry huffed and put his wand away before returning to his seat. A few men rushed in grabbing up the plates as Severus gazed at Harry uncomprehendingly.
"First time meeting and you're already pulling wands on each other, bah! Siblings!" Harry and Severus gave the man identical unimpressed looks. "Merlin you are related." Harry crossed his arms at the same time that Severus did.
"Would you like to introduce me then sir, since you seem to be having a grand time at our expense?" Lucius chuckled.
"You are most entertaining Ares." He said before turning to Severus and motioning to one of the men as they brought in plates of chocolate cake and ice cream. Severus obligingly took a seat.
"I must apologize for my reaction dark times and all that." Harry said almost dismissively causing Lucius to chortle and Severus to raise an eyebrow.
"You certainly don't sound apologetic." Harry sneered.
"Yes, well it's the thought that counts and all that rot." Lucius snorted and Severus took his turn sneering.
"Lucius who is this darling creature." Harry rose both eyebrows.
"Darling? Oh you are a fine one with words." Severus smirked.
"Ah yes, well it's the thought that counts." Lucius burst into peals of laughter and Harry snorted.
"Dear Merlin, I suppose we'll have to introduce ourselves since Mr. Malfoy looks as if he's fit to have a conniption at any moment." Lucius tried unsuccessfully to withhold his laughter and it was Severus' turn to chuckle the sound foreign to Harry's ears. He'd never heard the man laugh before; the rich melodious sound caught him off guard in its beauty.
"Yes I suppose we'll have to won't we? My name is Severus Snape I'm Potions professor at Hogwarts." Harry tilted his head in greeting while Lucius gained control of himself.
"Ares Darcy Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's estranged son and your half-brother." Harry said with a strait face. The look of shock on Severus' face was one of those things that Harry would cherish for years to come.
"You- what!" Lucius who had finally gained control of his laughter found himself subject to a new bout of laughter which he tried desperately to hide behind his hands. Harry glanced at him in mock concern.
"Are you alright mister Malfoy? Did they put a cheering potion into your wine perhaps?" Lucius gave in and laughed long and hard seeming to let go of some terrible weight he'd been carrying and Harry felt his face soften at the pure joy he could feel from the man. Lucius grinned almost painfully and shook his head in amusement.
"Severus, close your mouth before you catch a fly." Lucius admonished. Harry grinned.
"I believe they have spelled the building so that fly's aren't able to fly in sir." Harry said cheekily. Lucius caught on with a grin and shrugged his shoulders.
"Ah well, it's the thought that counts you see." Harry chuckled until he noted The look on Severus' face as the man turned to Lucius a dangerous expression on his face.
"You'd better explain Lucius." He said coldly. Harry grinned at the completely unruffled look on Lucius' face and began eating his dessert while Lucius showed Severus the file from Gringotts as well as the blood tests they'd run on Harry the moment they'd gotten a hold of him. Lucius explained shortly what Harry had told him previously and Severus was left to stare ahead blankly for a moment while Lucius began on his slice of cake.
"Where was I…" Lucius said thoughtfully after a moment. Harry gave him a confused look. "Ah yes the manicurist." Harry groaned.