Firesword: I have absolutely no idea what to name this particular bonus, as the bunnies had just popped in mind while I was finishing up the third bonus chapter. Hmmmm ... I wonder if 'Letting Go' is apt? Oh well. I guess it will remain untitled. And seriously, this one was not included in the initial planning of bonuses! Hehe. Blame it on the bunnies.

AN UNTITLED CHAPTER

by Firesword

Sitting on the window-seat, Draco looked around the living room with pursed lips. "Something is not right about it, but I have no idea what," he muttered. Then he sighed. "Ah ... never mind. Maybe I'll get used to the house..." His eyes flickered to check the time. "He'll be home soon." Seconds after the words left his mouth, he heard a crack, and felt that sensation. He smiled and got up to his feet.

He managed to open the door before Harry could do it himself.

"I'm home," Harry said softly before kissing him chastely on the lips.

"Heh ... welcome back," Draco mumbled, blushing slightly.

"I'll take a shower first, and then we'll go visit your father and Snape." Harry closed the door, and led him to their room by the waist. "Do you want to get them anything?"

"Hmmmm ... maybe something from the cake shop that Heinz had recommended in passing?" Draco said hesitantly. "And we'll use my money. Okay?"

"Okay, okay." Harry laughed a little. Then his gaze changed into something that made Draco feel slightly warm. "Join me?"

"Er ... but we might be late..."

Harry just grinned back at him deviously.

-oOooOo-

The situation seemed to be no different during the afternoon visit. It was quiet, tense ... and so frustrating. Draco sighed explosively and glared at his father, who immediately frowned. Half an hour had passed since Lucius and Severus had finished their treat. Draco still could not think of a way to return the ring his mother had given him to Severus. He wanted to give it without ever mentioning that he had visited his mother - it might upset Lucius and Severus, as well as the bond between them.

"If things weren't so complicated..." he muttered under his breath. He met Harry's eyes by accident. His lover seemed not too sure about what was bothering him. Then his deep green eyes cleared and they looked at him with understanding.

How do I do it? He pondered. I know Severus will feel guilty ... but ... damn it. Father could react unpredictably. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.

"You had visited your mother, did you not?" His father spoke so suddenly that he missed the question entirely. Harry repeated it as inconspicuously as he could.

"Yes," he mumbled, still wishing he had a way of avoiding the question.

"How was she?"

Draco lifted his eyes and stared into a similar pair without flinching. His father's eyes were hard and penetrating. They looked hurt.

"She was all right when we'd visited her. Lockhart seemed to be her regular chat-mate," he answered quietly as he broke eye contact.

"I see." Lucius said nothing more.

"She gave me something - told me to return it to Severus." Draco brought out the ring in his pocket. He was about to give it to Severus when Lucius grabbed his hand and the ring fell into his palm instead of the Potion master's.

"You fool!" Lucius smacked his head sharply with the other hand.

"What in the hell was that for, you old man?" Draco yelped.

"Surely you know what this ring is for! Are you stupid?" Lucius yelled angrily. "Wedding bands are charmed! Do you know what would have happened if Severus had taken it from your hand?"

Draco blanched. "Oh."

"Idiot," Lucius muttered. The wizard turned to Severus. "Give me your left hand."

It was as though Severus had just realized the significance of the ring and what Lucius was intending to do. Severus jumped out of his seat. Draco felt his jaw slackening at the rare sight.

Okay ... Severus being severely scared ... is very, very, very scary.

"Lucius, you don't know what you're doing!" Severus hissed, his black eyes gleaming fiercely.

Draco was not conscious of his hand reaching out to clutch at Harry's elbow.

"Severus, do not act like an idiot in front of the youngsters," Lucius growled. "Sit down. No. Come here and give me your hand."

"No."

"Draco," Harry leaned in and whispered into his ear, "maybe we should leave?"

Not being able to find his voice, he shook his head in response.

"I think we should leave," Harry whispered urgently, but he stayed put.

"Severus. We will be here for life. I will be with youuntil my body fails me. But not even Death will ever stop me from loving you." Lucius stood up and gracefully walked over to where Severus was. "Am I not good enough to be with you?"

"It isn't that, Lucius." Severus covered his face with one hand.

"You are afraid of losing me," Lucius stated.

For some reason, Draco blushed furiously. Harry, you were right. We shouldn't be here, he thought faintly as he watched Severus stare at his father with pain-filled eyes.

"Please."

Maybe the moon will rise from the west tonight. Draco stared at his father in disbelief. He is pleading.

"Severus." Lucius had raised the other wizard's hand but he did not slip the ring on. Only when Severus gave a tight nod did Lucius slide it on his ring finger.

It could be just his imagination, but the wedding bands on both of Lucius' and Severus' fingers seemed to shine for a second.

"Now, you are mine," Lucius said in satisfaction.

-oOooOo-

The 'wedding ceremony' seemed to have put Severus into an extremely sour mood, but Draco knew that his second father was just embarrassed. So, he ignored any scathing remarks the man had for his lover, and he made sure Harry was not paying attention to them either.

"Are you listening?" Severus grumbled.

"Of course. Not." Draco rolled his eyes. He put his head on Harry's shoulder and stared blankly at his father's face.

A memory of his childhood flashed in his mind, and he lost himself in it for a while.

-oOooOo-

He was only four, too young to be holding a wand in his hand. His parents had been very strict, never allowing him to get to close to anything magical. There were never any displays of magic from both adults, and even Dobby was not permitted to use 'visible' magic in front of him. It had him thinking that there were just too many rules for someone as young as he was, but he had never resented the control they had over him. After all, they were his parents, and he loved them very much.

There was one night when he could not sleep. Since his bedroom was an extension of the master bedroom, he could enter without having to walk from one wing of the manor to be with his parents. He was feeling lonely, and even lonelier when he realized that they were already asleep. But there was a small part of his mind that had wondered why his parents were sleeping with such a huge gap in between them.

A wooden hairbrush on the dresser had caught his attention then, and without knowing how he had achieved it, it was suddenly in his hand. Although he was puzzled, he did not think about it much. Quickly, he had climbed onto the bed with the help of a footstool. Luckily, his parents had not awakened by the slight disturbance he had created while crawling on the mattress.

Then, smiling widely to himself, he had tried to brush his mother's hair. But she had stayed still for only a short time. She had turned, making it hard for him to get at her hair. He had pouted, and then he had studied his father with a dubious expression. He was afraid that he might wake his father, and make him angry for disturbing his sleep.

Maybe ... just a little bit? Draco had thought.

He had brushed his father's shoulder-length a bit timidly at first. He did not dare start from the top - only at the middle to the ends. His father had continued to sleep. Then, with more courage, he had started to comb his father's hair more seriously.

"Draco, why are you not in bed?"

He was so startled that he had almost started bawling, but then he had remembered that his mother was asleep.

"Father, I'm sorry! I didn't ... I'm sorry!"

"Keep your voice down. Mother is sleeping."

Still, tears had trickled down his cheeks. At his sniffles, Lucius had sighed and then he had slowly sat up on the bed. "Why are you crying?"

"I woke Father up." For some reason, it had made him feel extremely bad. "Made Father angry." He was surprised when his father had smiled gently at him.

"I am not angry."

Fingers gently rubbed the tears away from his eyes and he looked up at his father in adoration. Instinctively, Draco crawled up to him to give him a hug. Being with his father made him feel so secure, and he did not feel lonely anymore. He began to feel sleepy.

"I am happy you are here, Draco," his father whispered. "Although I may regret marrying Narcissa one day, I will never regret having you."

He did not really understand what his father was saying, but he knew that his father loved him. And he mumbled that he loved his father too, before drifting off to sleep.

-oOooOo-

"Draco."

He was still staring off into space when Harry had called him.

"Draco."

A caress to his cheek broke him out of his reverie. "Sorry," he mumbled an apology. "What is it, Harry?"

"It's nearly time to leave," Harry said softly.

"Oh. Okay." He nodded. However, they remained until the guard came to open the door.

"Visiting hours are over," the wizard announced somberly. Then he disappeared from view, but he held the door open for them.

"We'll come again next week," Draco said to his father.

For some reason, Lucius exchanged a look with Severus. Draco stared at them curiously.

"Once a month will be fine," Lucius murmured.

"Hmmmm." Draco wondered what his old man was thinking. "I won't stop visiting just because I have my own life now," he said without any expression showing on his face.

Rarely had he let his impulses rule him, but he figured that he could make it an exception for that day. He walked around to where Lucius was sitting, and he embraced his father from the back. He kissed Lucius' head gently. "I love you."

Lucius was too stunned to utter anything and Severus was staring at him as though he had grown another head. Draco shrugged at their reactions and took Harry's hand in his before stepping out. When they were outside, Harry squeezed his hand gently.

"What is it?" Draco asked.

Harry was smiling. "You are quite amazing, you know."

"Huh?" Draco blinked. "What did I do?"

"For having the courage to say it to your father," Harry said with a crooked smile. "Your family doesn't struck me as the family that exchanges endearing words as part of the daily life."

"Oh. Hmmmm." Draco blushed in embarrassment. "You're right." They stopped at the ruins for a moment. "It did take me a bit of courage to say those words," he admitted. "Merlin ... did I really say them out?"

"It's nothing to be ashamed about," Harry said with a soft chuckle. "He's your father, after all."

-oOooOo-

It was the first time that Severus had seen Lucius moved to tears by a declaration of love. He retained his silence, and simply observed Lucius for the moment, watching the man taking in the words whispered by his son.

The silver-haired wizard placed a hand over his eyes for several seconds. Then he looked up.

"Do you regret having a son?" Severus asked bluntly.

"I did not think that I had deserved to have one." Lucius smiled weakly. "Was I a good father?"

"I should think so."

Lucius raked his fingers through his hair. "It felt like it was just yesterday ... but then I would not have hair as long as this..." he mumbled to himself. "I am glad that despite what had happened, he still has so much innocence in him." He smiled fondly, and Severus felt himself responding the same way. "Thank heavens there is Potter too."

"That one may have had influenced your son, Lucius." Severus unconsciously caressed the wizard's cheek. "It takes courage for a son, especially, to say that to his old man."

Lucius looked exasperated somewhat, and Severus laughed.

"Maybe Potter did, at that."

-oOooOo-

...and there's more...