Chapter 10: Overheard

Harry ran a hand through his hair as he read the letters.

There was one for each letter he had sent and he was touched by his cousin that he would but the trust he had in him.

Dear Hades,

Your letters give me a sense of warmth that I lost a long time ago. I'm glad that you are progressing as you are. You remind me so much of my deceased best friend, your Uncle, he and I had many adventures not unlike the ones you and your brother have.

The coldness of the dementors is a truly terrifying feeling, the feeling of never being warm again or being happy again haunts my every thought but your letters and news keeps me believing in life.

I believe one day I'll be free of this place and its because of you that I allow myself to think this.

You referred to me as your diary in a previous letter and I like to think of you as my own too.

Your mother tries to visit regularly but she and I have never had the best of relationships, only through your father and Aunt were we close and having someone to talk to about things and have them understand helps me stop wallowing on the darkness.

Azkaban is a truly terrifying place and being surrounded by the Dark Lord's loyalist followers isn't fun.

I must implore to you never to be mixed up in anything that could land you here.

I don't like being such a grouch but you must promise me never to be mixed up in the hype of Voldemort, he isn't as great as many of the people you are surrounded by think.

No one is ever as safe as they think.

My thoughts are with you

Cousin Padfoot

Harry didn't understand what the letter was about, to him it was all over the place and the usual humour that laced the letters was absent in this one.

He scrunched his nose up at the last paragraph, he'd never even thought about Voldemort.

He knew his parents were once loyal to him and that many of the adults around him were once his followers but if he was truthful he hadn't spared it much thought.

Voldemort didn't scare him, he never had, not even with the stories he was told when he was younger.

Draco thought it was idiotic and Gryffindor of him but Harry really didn't see the point in being scared of a man that really never had proved his power.

"Hades are you coming?"

Harry looked up to see Draco stood there looking impatient.

"Of course," Harry smirked his thoughts flying from the letter and on to the two on two match he was about to take part in with his brothers.

After a two day delay, Lucius returned home to his wife and children.

Blaise was a pile of nerves, he'd heard terrifying stories about the man and what he had done in the past.

The boys walked into the dining hall the evening of Lucius' return and it was obvious that the two guests were slightly wary.

"Ah boys I was wondering when you would come to welcome me home," Lucius said from where he was sat at the table.

"A good trip father?" Draco asked sitting across from his mother as Harry took the seat across from their father.

"Indeed," Lucius said inclining his head.

"Father this is Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom," Harry introduced. "Guys this is our father Lucius Malfoy,"

Lucius looked over his sons' friends and he saw strong characters despite there being obvious wariness in them.

"Ah, you boys have strong characters, your families should be proud, are they?"

"Gran is threatening to disown me," Neville shrugged.

"Augusta Longbottom is a very old fashioned woman, she was very fond of your father and I'm certain in time she will realise that you are to be yourself and not a shadow of your father as she sees you," Lucius said strongly. "Until then you are welcome here any time you need,"

Blaise was surprised at the surprising show of kindness.

"What about you Blaise? Is your mother proud of you?" Lucius asked raising his eyebrow.

Blaise felt a huge amount of respect towards this man.

"Yes sir, my mother is immensely proud of me, she and her newly acquired other half have promised me a new broom for second year for my achievements,"

"The same stands for you, Blaise, I know of your mother's aloofness when she becomes newly attached to someone and if you ever need somewhere to let off steam you are welcome here,"

Both boys felt truly part of a family for the first time in their lives.

Later that night they were all sat in Draco's room.

"I told you so," Harry sang chuckling. "Father isn't as frightful as he seems,"

"I'm rather touched that he felt he could open his home up to us," Blaise said looking surprised.

"He must have liked you otherwise you wouldn't have gotten him to speak half as many words as he did," Draco snickered.

"He's nothing like the papers and the other adults portray," Neville said looking up at the roof.

Harry and Draco looked at each other before they turned to their friends.

"You have to understand," Draco started.

"That our father is a very respected and feared member of society," Harry continued.

"He has many faces,"

"And each are just as influential as the next,"

"But if you get on the wrong side of him then you'll never forget it,"

"And the adults know this,"

"Which is why they install fear of him in their children," The twins said taking it in turn.

Blaise and Neville nodded understanding and that was the last that was said of it.

Christmas came and went and all the boys were surprised at the haul they got.

Lucius and Narcissa loved having the manor come alive again with the boys' presence and both of them equally took likings to their sons' friends.

"We need to get some information," Harry declared. "We haven't gotten any all break and we go back in two days,"

"Father nearly caught us the other day, we're not allowed in that section of the library remember," Draco said rolling his eyes.

They had tried and failed to get the information they needed and they were running out of time.

"Sly will come with you then, Watcher, you know what you're looking for. I'll stalk out father's office and watch for him, if he leaves then I'll shoot a paintball at Hulk and he'll warn you," Harry planned.

Draco thought it over and decided that was the only way they'd be getting the information they needed and nodded.

They instantly went to their positions.

Harry sat on the balcony above his father's office where he had a clear view of his father's door.

It was open slightly and he could see and hear his father pacing in the room.

"You acted rashly, Cissa," a voice Harry recognised as Snape's said.

"What did you rather I do? He is Hadrian's godfather, just as you are Draco's, and he has every right to know what could effect his godson," Narcissa snapped.

"Black is known for his rash actions, he's been writing to the boy has he not?" Snape said coolly.

"Enough, Severus, Sirius wouldn't have told Hadrian anything of the sorts. He may not be in the picture but I am still as sure of him as I am of myself and I know he wouldn't panic Hadrian unnecessarily," Lucius said sharply.

"Black knows the Dark Lord is in Hogwarts, Lucius, if he fears for the boy enough he will no doubt end up warning him. Dumbledore and Flamel are fools for keeping such a thing in the school, they were just asking for this to happen and that bloody mutt isn't going to keep him at bay for long,"

"Sirius doesn't know the full story, Severus, I didn't tell him everything," Narcissa said.

"Even still," Lucius started. "Sirius is right. The boys are in risk of coming into contact with the Dark Lord especially on the road of ruckus they are on at present time. They must be brought under control and soon because we can not increase the risk of him taking a liking to them. Severus, I am certain I can trust you to help me with this?"

Harry was shocked and he knew it was in their best interest to keep quiet about what he had overheard until they returned to Hogwarts.

A green paintball splattered on the floor at the side of him and he stood.

That was the sign that meant they had succeeded in the mission.

Harry didn't return to Draco's room though, he wandered around his mind spinning ten to the dozen. So Sirius was his godfather and Voldemort was at Hogwarts?

Shaking his head he went to conduct a letter.

Dear Padfoot,

I can no longer call you cousin Padfoot as I overheard a rather serious conversation earlier and discovered that you were my godfather and Professor Snape was Draco's.

In overhearing this I also overheard that Voldemort is at Hogwarts he's after something that Dumbledore and someone called Flamel has hidden in the school.

Questions are flying through my mind and I can't help but wonder why everyone is so worried about Draco and I running into Voldemort?

I'm not scared of him, he has never proved his power all he does is control people by fear that isn't a good enough reason to be scared of him to me.

Don't worry I won't seek him out but I've always loved a good mystery and I will find out what Dumbledore is hiding in the school.

Mother and father don't know I overheard so I would be grateful if you didn't mention it to mother next time you see her.

I'm glad you're my godfather even if you're not here.

I couldn't have asked for someone better, I feel like I can tell you anything and to me that's what a relationship between godfather and godson should be like.

Hades.

The rest of the Deviants were slightly bewildered at Harry's sudden distraction but they knew he'd tell them when he wanted to so they left him to it.

Draco was completely shocked when their father pulled them to the side before they flooed to Snape's office.

"I am warning you boys, no more messing about. I have been tolerant lately but no more. I want no letters home or there will be severe consequences and I will not let you off lightly as I did last time. It is time the pair of you started to grow up and accept that some people just can not have the childhood some others can," Lucius said his eyes cold as he surveyed his sons.

Draco had no idea what had caused the sudden change in their father but he nodded mutely.

He could tell his father was serious.

Looking at Hadrian, Draco was shocked there was no defiance on his brother's face. In fact there wasn't anything, it was just emotionless and what was worse was the fact their father seemed pleased with it.

Was this what they were destined to become?

Emotionless bodies to follow nothing but their father's words.

Draco shivered.

He didn't want that.