Disclaimers: JKR still owns it all. I write AU/OOC...if you want canon you picked the wrong story.
THE SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON...maybe that's why you're such a strange and special one... (Sheena Easton song)
Disclaimers: Delusions don't count…she still owns it all.
Chapter 3: Information is at a premium...
Severus groaned as he walked back to Hogwarts after flooing into the Three Broomsticks. Sometimes he really resented the fact that he couldn't just floo into his own rooms, portkey somewhere besides the Infirmary, or just apparate into the wretched premises. But no, he had to live at Hogwarts, and Hogwarts had to have high security standards…which never actually seemed to keep the bad guys out- it did, however, slow down the good ones.
He stopped along the way and picked several morning glories and a few other early morning flowers that he would need to brew some potions for the Infirmary. Gathering the ingredients would also provide him with an alibi for going out early in order to distract certain people from thinking correctly that he had been away from the castle all night.
Regardless of where he had spent the time, it had been a long night, and he still needed to find Harry and speak to him. As he walked up the steps, he jammed his wand hand back into his pocket, and realized that he had forgotten to open the package that the Gringotts Goblin had made him sign for. He patted it with his long, stained fingers, and left it in the pocket so that the people eating breakfast in the Great Hall wouldn't be so curious. People were just going to have to get over their insatiable curiosity because he wasn't about to spill any of his secrets to anyone except his new-found son.
Severus stopped midstride and thought about that- he was inordinately proud that Harry was his child. He liked Bill, Charlie, and the twins, but he really was proud to be Harry Potter's real father. Percy and Ronald would never rate on his parental meter. He supposed he could slip a few galleons in Ron's Christmas stocking, but that was about all he would do for the boy. Thank Merlin that the other five boys were already gone so that he did not have to stress about them being there at school.
The hall was full- as if he expected anything else on a day when he didn't want to deal with people. So, being his mean, snarky self, he approached Potter and hissed, "If you are finished stuffing your gullet until you look like Crabbe and Goyle standing side by side, maybe you can find the time to take these plants to my laboratory and put fresh stasis charms on them. When that is done, I expect you to start cleaning the cauldrons."
Harry looked up at him with a chipper grin on. "YO, Daddy! Whasup, Big Greasy?"
Snape actually smirked at the cocksure little brat. "Your life span if you don't do exactly what I just told you to." His smile widened as he leaned closer, "and, I guarantee I can make Vernon Dursley's discipline sessions look like playschool."
His son actually had the audacity to laugh at him before jumping to his feet and saluting smartly while at the position of attention. "Thur, Yeth Thur."
After giving malevolent glares to the rest of the Gryffindors, he meandered his way to the Staff table and sat down at his seat. He counted in his head to ten while giving Minerva time to lose her temper and round on him for harassing one of her little darlings (even if the little darling had jumped ship on the rest of the Gryffindor rats…).
Just as she was about to go off on him, he raised his finger to his lips and shushed her. "Before you start, you need to understand that Mr. Potter and I are trying to work out some of our differences while still appearing to be rather steadfast in our dislike for the other. There is a bit of necessity in our subterfuge and he isn't actually cleaning cauldrons. He should be making his way to the kitchens as we speak to collect a small chocolate birthday cake that he had Dobby make for young Mr. Malfoy since today is actually Mr. Malfoy's birthday."
Minerva glared at him. "When dinner is finished, I expect you to escort me to the party. I am particularly fond of Double Deviled Devil Food cake; especially when Winky makes it."
Severus stared at her aghast. "You honestly think that I would give my little snakes Devil's Food cake that has been soaking in double malt whiskey for a month?"
The old cat didn't even blink. "Well, since it is Malfoy, and it is his 18th- yes. The whole of the snake pit will be drunk off their ever-loving ugly butts in about an hour and a half of the party starting. I'm willing to have a bite of his cake and wish him a good life. After all, he is secretly seeing my favorite boy."
Severus shook his head. "There is only one way you could know all the stuff you do. You have been sneaking around in cat form again and spying on the children, haven't you?"
"Yes. It is a very rewarding occupation. You should shift into your bat form more often and fly around other places besides the Astronomy tower."
Severus huffed haughtily and let the comment slide. After all, there really isn't anything wrong with being a flying fox bat. "I think I look quite attractive. I'm also quite rare since the usual flying fox bat lives in Latin America."
McGonagall just shook her head and mumbled something. When asked what it was she had said she repeated, "Just get on with you. I will be ready to attend if you would be kind enough to escort me into your common room."
Severus watched her walk away and thought about what she had said. He had not been aware that Draco and Harry were 'seeing each other', or whatever bit of idiocy they used these days to describe an excuse to snog in dark corners.
He finished eating his grits and chitlins and after grabbing a few greengage plums, he headed down to the dungeons.
The party turned out to be quite a bit of fun. It was Malfoy's luck of course to have his birthday fall after all the NEWTs had been taken. Everyone was ready to let off some steam and the variety of foods and drinks were a real tribute to the Malfoy party expertise. He had even, with his mother's help, arranged for the First through Fourth years to sing, dance, and party safely. Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh years all managed to keep the party discreet until the younger ones had gone to bed.
Somewhere in the melee, Severus found the time to talk to Harry about arranging some time later that night to talk about the message he had carried to Lord Voldemort. Severus was quite surprised to note that Harry had seemed comfortable with the whole ordeal and said he would make time for Severus whenever he could leave without being rude to Draco.
It was the early morning hours when Harry finally managed to knock on Snape's door. When the older man opened it he narrowed his eyes to see that Draco was with Harry. "When I asked to speak to you I wasn't aware of the fact that I had invited Mr. Malfoy along. This was to be a private conversation regarding family matters."
Draco just grinned his usual smarmy Slytherin grin. "Can it with the insults, Godfather. There is a reason I am here with Harry."
"By all means then. Please come in before anyone else sees you."
Harry smirked. "No one bothers to follow us. They reckon when we disappear together all we do is shag."
The older man's eyebrow rose in challenge, "And you don't?"
Draco and Harry both glared at him. "PLEASE! We do have more to do than that. Since we are soul mates and have accepted the bond we have all the time in the world. We are going to wait until after we speak our vows to do the physical bond. We intend to do that after we get the crazy mother under control."
Snape shook his head at the two. "OK with me. He really isn't my cup of tea anyway. He's your mother, you can do what you feel you have to regarding the situation." Then he grinned evilly and added, "Besides, if you kill him then I don't have…"
Draco squawked, "NO! Don't go there!"
As Severus stood there snickering Harry decided to change the subject by pretending that last statement had never been made. "I pretty much knew before I sent him the birth certificates that he was going to be difficult about everything. However, I had to let him know that I knew. Having him share the information with you has been an added bonus since you seem to have accepted the situation." He cocked his head in a bemused fashion, "You have accepted the fact that I am your seventh son haven't you?"
Snape nodded his head affirmatively. "I think I have known for a long time that you are a Snape by blood. I wasn't aware that you were a seventh son until Tom told me yesterday."
Draco was at a loss this time. "You have seven sons?" He looked at Snape in confusion. "You have often bemoaned the fact that you have no legal heirs. What about you casting the "Family by Desire" spell on me? Did you cast it on other boys? How did you get six other sons?"
Severus wandered back over to his favorite chair and sank down in it. That is a really long story, Draco, and I don't want to get into it tonight. The short version is that the six Weasley boys are also my sons thanks to Voldemort. I don't know what his deal is with Arthur Weasley and something tells me I may not want to know. I suppose that eventually we will have to sit down and get all this straight. It is going to be awkward because the oldest 'Weasley' boys are barely a dozen years younger than I am."
Draco sat down on the couch beside Harry and the three of them gazed into the fire for quite awhile before Severus became restless and accidentally tapped his fingers against the package hidden in his robes. Both boys heard his breath catch as he began working it out of his pocket.
They sat up straighter but didn't rush him as he looked at the address on the front of the package: Potions Master- must fit two additional criteria…
Must be a first generation Seventh Son
Must have the knowledge that he has produced seven sons
He read it softly to them before checking the package for curses. The only thing he found was the time delay spell that was so old as to be almost unfunctional.
"Open it up, Dad. I want to see what you have been sent. I'm sure it relates to the situation we are in now. Maybe it will help us get rid of Mumsy Dearest."
Draco snickered at Harry's sorry attempt at humor and shook his head. "How you ever manage to call that man your mother is beyond me."
Harry smiled sweetly at his other half. "It's because we brewed the Familial Potion and we both know that it never lies. I did have the devil's own time trying to find the birth certificates to prove it, but you know the whole story since you have been with me the entire time I was searching."
They returned their attention to Severus. He had finally managed to get the package unwrapped and was holding a small wooden jewelry box in his hands. The box was of a wood so old that it had faded to the color of alabaster even without the aid of sunlight. It was also inlaid with mother of pearl in the Japanese tradition to form what was recognizable to all three of them as the Malfoy Family crest. Inside the unlocked box was a Gringotts key to vault 001.
Tradition stated that Vault 001 at Gringotts was in fact theCrystalCavewhere Merlin was said to be entombed. A trip to Gringotts was in order it would appear…
