Author's Note: So sorry that I haven't updated in such a long time. Life got in the way, and I've been so busy with school. Seriously, recently I've been caught up in so much homework it's insane. Well, hopefully you guys/girls love this chapter and continue to follow and favorite.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All rights go to J.K. Rowling. Who is so wonderful, since she came up with the idea of Harry Potter!
***Black Emerald***
*Chapter Four*
Harry had removed the glamour's covering his actual: face, chest, stomach, and legs. Just from the neck and up Draco and Lucius could see the markings all along Harry's skin.
The carvings of the word, "freak" and, the lashing imprints, scalding red marks that would never heal right. "Harry" Draco started, but what more could he say? That he was sorry, and if he had known he would…, would what?
Harry didn't want to have any pity directed towards him; he was the naïve one. He was naïve to trust in the light side; to trust the headmaster, Dumbledore.
"I went to the Headmaster once for help, but he nodded it off. Telling me that my relatives were good people, and that I should be lucky to live with them. What I don't get, is what; were the rest of you thinking? Didn't I have anywhere else to be put up?"
Lucius could see clearly the conflicting feelings that were showing, and changing among Harry's features. He felt for the boy, and would have done something if only the boy had come to him for help.
"Harry, there were a lot of wizarding families in the past that would have loved to adopt you." Lucius supplied.
"What?" Harry replied disbelievingly, there were families that had wanted him he looked over his marred skin; he wouldn't look like this if he had never knew of his relatives.
"Lucius, can I ask you something?" Lucius could hear anger laced through his voice, it was hauntingly familiar to the voice of his Lord's.
"What is it, Harry?" he asked warily.
"Were you one of the families that wanted to adopt me?" Whatever the platinum blonde had been expecting it certainly wasn't this question.
He had to be honest, however, back when Lilly and James Potter had met their untimely deaths; Narcissa and he had been having trouble conceiving a baby of their own. They were really considering adopting the Potter heir, but they had gotten lucky news that Narcissa had conceived. Yet, that didn't stop them.
"Harry, we did consider adopting you." Harry looked up at the honest confession spoken through the elder Malfoy's lips.
"Why didn't you?" he questioned back using enough force leaking into his voice.
"Narcissa and I were having trouble conceiving Draco, but when your parents were…killed. Narcissa was with child, but we went to the Ministry of Magic to try to push the adoption for you; however, we had arrived too late." Lucius explained.
"Too late?" Lucius sighed, before, telling Harry just who it was that ruined his life.
"We were too late, because right after the deaths of your parents, Albus Dumbledore, had made it so guardianship over you was handed directly after him after Lord Voldemort had used the curse to kill your parents. It was him Dumbledore, the fault is on him."
Lucius eyed his favorite chair after explaining the cold truth to the boy – but it wasn't his favorite chair any longer – since it had erupted into fluorescent flames.
Harry was an enigma, he was on their side though.
Lucius caught himself thinking and thanking Dumbledore for this little victory.
Dumbledore, you have just sealed your fate.
"Harry. You are welcome to stay in Malfoy Manor, as long as, you wish." Lucius announced, after placing his eyes back on the emerald-eyed boy.
Waving his hand at the small impromptu fire, and the flames were immediately put out by the simple wave of Lucius's hand.
"Sorry. Please don't punish me." Harry squirmed under the Elder Malfoy's penetrating gaze.
Lucius could see Harry visibly shaking. It did not go unnoticed either by Lucius nor Draco.
"Harry." Draco started, while Lucius cut in, "You have nothing to be sorry for. It was an accident, Harry. Don't you ever degrade yourself, you hear me?"
Lucius would have a hard time, he silently admitted it to himself. He wanted to have the boy learn to respect himself more. Yet, it was understandable. He had killed his relatives, people he had considered a distant, yet, the only family that had been close to him. Add to the fact, that all his friends he had made might be faking their friendship in means to getting money or fame in exchange for a simple friendship with the boy-who-lived.
Harry seemed surprised by the kindness the Malfoy's were showing to him.
Up until now, Harry looked at the Malfoy's with such hatred; the same could be said to them, yet, here they were. Having a serious, intimate conversation about his well-being. The Malfoy's had showed more kindness in the last five minutes then his relatives his whole thirteen years of life.
Harry nodded at Lucius's response. Lucius visibly relaxed at Harry's answer. At least, he wouldn't have to deal with a depressed Harry. It was amazing that the boy could show his feelings and trust so easily.
[Break]
Draco had showed Harry up to his room.
Conveniently, it was right across from the young Malfoy's room.
He took his first step into the bedroom – there must have been a mistake, was his first thought. Did Draco mistake this room-surely it belonged to his parents, or another guest that was currently a guest here?
"Draco, are you sure this is my room?" He asked.
Draco immediately replied back leaving no room for Harry to second guess himself, "No, Potter. This is your room." Harry's eyes widened.
The room was emerald-green in color – the main color of the Slytherin house back Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – there were two rooms adjacent from each other.
One being a walk-in closet, while the other was a bathroom. At the far side of the room, there sat a four poster bed accustomed with black silk sheets and green covers that hung over the bed. Somewhat resembling the bed that was assigned at Hogwarts, but with bed being much more comfortable.
"I will leave you to it, Harry. If you need anything don't be afraid to come to me, father, or mother. If you're hungry you can always call a house elf and they will immediately have something prepared for you." Draco started to leave, turning his back to leave.
However, Harry spoke up stopping Draco in his tracks to leave.
"Draco, why are you being so nice all of the sudden?" Harry couldn't see Draco being nice for the hell of it, there had to be something in for him?
Draco turned his back around, his face now facing Harry's again.
"Harry, you've been through so much. It made me think that if the weasels didn't meet you first that I would have been your friend. I think it just made me think of the what-ifs. You seem much more different now, without the mask of the Golden boy of the Light side."
It made Harry think also.
Draco had once offered him friendship at two years ago at the start of first year. He also wondered if he had said "yes" that night, where his life could have possibly turned out.
After that, Draco had left him with not as much as a goodbye, not like Harry was expecting it from the younger Malfoy. Harry found out shortly after Draco departing from "his" room, his closet was fully stocked with night, new school clothes, and comfy clothes that he could wear out or in.
He found some silk black night clothes, and he had rested his raven-hair gently onto the feather-down pillow.
He smiled.
This would be the first night in forever that he would find some decent sleep.
He didn't have to worry about nightmares this night, for tonight he would dream a dreamless sleep.
He awoke the next day, he felt better than he had before. In all his past encounters with sleeping, the sleep he just had was the one in a billion.
Although, his muscles were still sore, as well as, his body from the many years of torment he was accustomed to. It was different, here he was standing in the enemies' lair, the Light's side savior.
He didn't feel like the savior, or Golden boy, anymore however. The light had lost him when his relatives had beaten him within an inch of his life.
Shaking his head, as if that would shake all the bad memories he still had out of his head so he wouldn't have to watch them. His eternal nightmare, was gone with his old clothes. He wanted to be his own person, the real Harry Potter.
Which reminded him that he had to ask the Elder Malfoy about a book.
He glanced over the many selections of clothes he had in the walk-in closet and picked out some black jeans, and emerald green V-neck. This was the new him, after all. With one foot in-front of the other, Harry walked down the big staircase that was the center of Malfoy Manor.
Couldn't go anywhere without going up or down the main staircase.
He turned right and was greeted by the Malfoy family sitting there with Breakfast before them.
"Good morning, Harry. Won't you sit with us?" Narcissa happily spoke, setting her coffee glass to the side.
Harry nodded in kind, taking a seat next to Draco.
"Harry, we would like to discuss something rather important." Lucius started placing the morning's Daily Prophet on the side as well. Harry reached for food that sat in the center of the table.
Harry froze mid-action, looking at the Elder Malfoy, his brow raising up in question.
He sat back down, his back hitting the lush comforter of the chair. He was listening.
"Narcissa and I talked last night. We finally agreed on a course of action that we think would make you better, or at least feel a little better." Lucius explained.
Harry motioned his hand, a motion that said 'well, what is it.'
Lucius looked at his son, Draco didn't even know what he was just about to suggest. Although, it was for the best. He was thinking of the future. Of their future. Lucius continued.
"Harry, we want to adopt you into the family."
Harry had the biggest smile spread across his child-like face.
He couldn't believe it. The Malfoys wanted him in their family.
There had to be something wrong with this picture, he internally thought.
"This reminds me, Lucius, if I could take a look into your family's library."
Lucius thought the boy would be jumping with excitement at the revelation that they wanted to adopt him, and the bickering of his son that would deny any to do with the Boy-Who-Lived. But he was wrong in his assumption.
Harry didn't react the way he wanted him to react.
However, Lucius could understand. Harry wanted to know just what he was, and if Lucius was being honest to himself, he also wanted to find out what Harry was.
So like the Pureblood he was raised to be he led the way for the Potter heir to his family's library. While looking back at the boy.
With a small smile on the edges of his lips.
Till next time…
End Author's note: So what did you guys think? Please let me know in a review. Also if there are any grammatical errors in this chapter, it is my fault. I don't have a beta, so all mistakes are my own. Please let me know if you find any, and I will be happy to go over the chapter and fix it. Thanks, again and have a good day.
Pages – Five
Words – 2,007