Chapter Twenty
Plans for the Future
'I have to ask how did Lucius come to be involved?' asked the tiny form of Lord Voldemort.
Harry hadn't been sure what to say to this question that could bring a load of trouble for him and his lover. How did you explain to the father that you had never known had existed that you were having an affair with a married man especially when you factored into equation the fact that Harry's father was a Dark Lord. A Dark Lord liable to kill the man who had taken Harry's virginity.
It was perhaps the worst question that could be asked considering exactly how Lucius had come to be involved. Harry hadn't directly lied to his father throughout his explanation. Harry had just avoided talking about Lucius much and not mentioning any sort of relationship the few times he had mentioned Lucius Malfoy.
Harry knew that he would have to tell the Dark Lord because otherwise it would come out on its own which would be worse than telling Voldemort because they would also be lying to the Dark Lord about the nature of their relationship even if it was lies of omission. Harry just decided it would be better to tell his father when Lucius wasn't there. At least the Dark Lord would have a chance to calm down before Lucius ended up dead.
Harry was just lucky that before he had even had time to formulate and answer to that question a huge boa constrictor slithered in to curl around the base of the Dark Lord's bed. Harry remembered seeing the snake in his vision back in the summer where the old Muggle man had been murdered. The snake flicked its tongue in Harry's direction.
'Master has a hatchling,'the snake said.
Harry didn't know how but he could somehow tell that the snake was female from the way she spoke. Harry had never delved too much into his talents as a Parselmouth mainly out of fear of recrimination but now he wondered exactly what it meant to be a Parselmouth. Anyway it wasn't like anyone outside of his father could tell him as Parselmouth was a rare almost unheard of ability.
'This is Hadrian, Nagini. Hadrian this is Nagini,'explained the Dark Lord.
'Harry,'Harry told the snake. 'I prefer Harry,' Harry added in English to his father.
Harry watched as his father's eyes flashed for a second. Harry thought he understood why considering everything that had happened between the two of them before he had known the truth but Harry had thought himself as Harry Potter for sixteen and a half years. That wasn't going to change overnight no matter what the Dark Lord wanted and he was just going to have to accept it.
'The Rat-Man is asleep downstairs,' Nagini said. 'Would you like me to give him a bite to wake him up?' asked Nagini with a smile in her voice.
Nagini sounded like she would really like to bite Wormtail. Harry didn't trust Wormtail but was unsure of what side he was truly on. After all, revealing his dad's location to his father was part of Dumbledore's plan but Wormtail didn't necessarily know that.
'That will be unnecessary,'was the calm reply from the creature in the bed.
'There are two man-wizards outside,'Nagini said. 'Do you want me to bite them?'
Nagini sounded like she really liked the idea of biting Lucius and Snape. Luckily for the two Death Eaters the Lord of Slytherin denied her that request and instead sent for the two who had accompanied Harry here. The two men appeared almost immediately.
Harry saw the pointed look Lucius gave him and knew what his lover was asking. Had Harry told the Dark Lord about their relationship? The answer was luckily for Lucius no at the present time at least. Harry shook his head at his lover to let him know that he had not revealed the nature of their relationship just yet.
'I would like to thank the both of you for protecting and teaching my son over the past few months,' the Dark Lord said. 'Your loyalty shall be rewarded. You have begun to make up for your desertion at the time I need you the most but I expect you to pay back the fourteen years that you have deserted me and my cause.
'Of course, my Lord,' Snape said inclining his head ever so slightly.
'I will strive to do better, my Lord,' Lucius promised bowing lowly with a flourish of his dark green almost black robes.
''Yes you will,' agreed the Dark Lord with a slight hiss to his words. 'Lucius, give me your arm,' the Dark Lord said.
Harry watched as Nagini flicked her tongue at Harry. Then she did the same to Lucius. Harry's heart jumped to his throat. Had Nagini somehow managed to find out through their scents that Harry and Lucius were lovers?
How?
Harry shook his head at the snake begging her not to say anything to his father. Not with Lucius there anyhow. Harry knew that it would come out anyway but not like this. Not after his father had asked him how Lucius came to be involved and Harry didn't reply.
'Nagini, my beloved familiar, what is wrong?'asked the Lord of Slytherin.
Harry begged Nagini with his eyes not to say anything about him and Lucius but it did no good. Nagini opened her mouth anyway whether it was because of the fact that she was bound to his father or she was loyal to his father Harry didn't know. Nor did he particularly care about anything but the fact that he was about to be betrayed.
Harry moved slightly closer to Lucius. Not close enough that it would be obvious to anyone ignorant of the truth of their relationship that Harry was defending Lucius Malfoy but close enough that if his father drew a wand on his lover Harry would be able to jump in defence of his lover. It wouldn't likely help things but with Harry as a body shield it might at least delay Lucius' death which was all Harry could hope for at the moment.
'Your son and his albino mate,'Nagini's eyes flickered to Lucius.
Harry could have closed his eyes but there was no missing the fury in his father especially with the pounding in his scar as Voldemort's fury reached epic proportions. Harry should have told his father earlier he knew it. At least then Lucius and he wouldn't have been in the same room for the revelation.
'are having hatchlings,'Nagini finished.
Harry gaped at the giant snake. Hatchlings? Snake speak for baby. That meant that Harry was pregnant. Harry couldn't be pregnant. They had used protection. Hadn't they? If Harry found out Lucius had been lying to him about that Lucius was so dead.
Well not really although that was only at Harry's hand. Harry felt that if it was up to the Dark Lord Lucius would not see the dawn. This was perhaps the worst way for his father to find out that he was sleeping with Lucius Malfoy.
'I can't be we used protection spells,'Harry said without thinking of the consequences.
'Are you saying that my servant and my son and heir have been having an affair?'hissed Voldemort fury lining his voice.
'Yes,'Harry hissed.
Harry had been unable to deny the truth when Harry had already all but admitted to the relationship. Harry was going through everything he could say to stop his father murdering Lucius right here. What could he say to make this better?
Then much to Harry's growing fear his father turned his undivided attention on Lucius. Harry couldn't just let his father kill his lover no matter how angry Harry was with Lucius at this current point in time so Harry jumped in between the two men. Harry could only hope that as angry as his father was with Lucius he wouldn't harm Harry especially ifit was even slightly possiblethat Harry mightbe having a baby.
'We started before I found out the truth about you and dad and the Dark and the Light and … everything! He's the reason I found out the truth in the first place. If I hadn't been meeting up with him in secret I would have been with Granger and Weasley the whole time never finding out the truth. He's been the one constant in my life since then. I don't love him but I don't want him dead. Don't kill him.'
'Stupefy,' a familiar voice said.
Harry groaned as he came to looking up at the white ceiling above him. Harry sat up quickly pulling out his wand. Harry didn't know where he was but with everything that had occurred in his life Harry wasn't about to take his chances in an unfamiliar environment.
'Calm down Potter,' snapped a familiar voice.
'Professor,' Harry said.
Harry was about to ask where he was but even as he opened his mouth to speak his memories were beginning to filter through. Harry remembered finding Crouch who lead him to his father's residence where he finally got the acceptance from family that Harry had craved all his life. There was a bit of an awkward point when Harry had asked how Lucius had come to be involved but luckily his father's familiar distracted his father enough that he didn't have to answer that question.
Harry hadn't expected Nagini to know that he and Lucius were lovers. Nor had he expected to discover he was pregnant from the mouth of a snake. If Harry was sitting bolt upright beforehand Harry was now sat as straight as a poker on the soft sheets of the bed.
Harry was pregnant.
Pregnant?
Harry couldn't be pregnant.
Harry was only sixteen bloody years old.
His life was in danger from Dumbledore. If Dumbledore found out he was pregnant it would ruin all of Dumbledore's plan. Dumbledore's final plans for Harry hinged on him marrying Ginny Weasley who would inherit all his money.
If Harry had a child (illegitimate or not) naturally his family vaults and seats would go to his child eventually even if Ginevra got regency during the child's childhood. If Dumbledore ever found out he was pregnant, he would do everything in his power to kill his child (or do the same as he had done to him). Harry realised that if he was going to have to keep his child he was going to do what his father said and quit Hogwarts.
Wait his father. Where was Lucius? Harry had been concerned enough about his father's reaction to his relationship with Lucius and that was before it had been revealed that Harry was pregnant which would hardly help his father's reaction to the fact he was in a sexual relationship with Lucius Abraxas Malfoy.
Tom was going kill Lucius!
'Where's Lucius?' demanded Harry.
Harry saw Snape's grimace to know where Lucius was and who Lucius was with. Harry could only hope that his lover was still alive by the time he got to his father and lover. Harry wasn't holding out much hope, however; things were never that easy for Harry.
Harry jumped out of the blue cotton sheeted bed intending to find Lucius. Harry was furious with Lucius. He had been lead to believe that Lucius was using contraception charms on the both of them but obviously they either hadn't worked or Lucius had lied about using them although given the circumstance the former was probably true.
However, as furious as Harry was with his lover Harry didn't want the older man dead especially not when he was pregnant with his child. Harry had grown up without knowing either of his parents for the first fourteen years old his life. Harry certainly didn't want his child to grow up like he had.
'Sit down, boy!' snapped Snape.
'Lucius,' Harry said.
'Lucius dug his own grave,' Snape sneered.
'He didn't know,' snapped Harry.
'You are a month pregnant and have just been stupefied. Rest! You stupid child!' Snape snapped. 'If anything happens to you it will be my head on the line!'
Harry ignored Snape and ran off into the hallway luckily it seemed the same hallway that his father's room had been in. Harry knew Snape was following after him but Harry didn't care. Harry charged into the Dark Lord's chambers acting every bit the Gryffindor Dumbledore had tried (and somewhat succeeded) to turn him into.
A few hours ago Tom had been a half alive widower with a Boa Constrictor the only thing the world that Tom had genuinely cared about. Now a few hours later Tom had come to accept a son that Dumbledore had taken from him – a pregnant son. Tom was still furious at Lucius Malfoy but he knew that killing the man wouldn't solve anything except making him feel better about this whole mess which Tom didn't even know what to call.
Killing the Malfoy Lord would only serve to drive a wedge between himself and Hadrian. Tom had seen the memories and heard what Hadrian had said in protection of his lover. Hadrian and Lucius may not be in love with each other but they did care about each other in their own way.
Tom didn't know what he would have preferred. Hadrian and Lucius being in love or the way things were that Hadrian had entered into a purely sexual relationship with a man old enough to be his father even if Tom was a generation older than Lucius. Tom knew that the distance in ages between Lucius and Hadrian was similar to James and himself but Tom hadn't entered into a relationship with the Potter heir until James was twenty years old whilst James had been young he was not a teenager.
Tom found the idea that his newfound heir could possibly be in love with his servant filled Tom with fury. However, Tom knew that with the way things were going it was more than possible that they would fall in love and there wasn't anything Tom could do about that. If Tom put his foot down and told them that they couldn't see each other Hadrian would put up a fight.
'Get up,' Tom snapped.
Lucius struggled up from the floor onto his feet. Tom supposed he should have felt guilty for how violent he had been with the blonde's mind but he wasn't. This was the man who had an affair and impregnated his only son who was fourteen years old.
Lucius was just lucky that he hadn't seduced Harry the first time at least. The first time it had actually been Harry who had made the move. Lucius just didn't deny him. The next two times it had been Lucius who had made the move but Hadrian had clearly wanted it as much as the Malfoy Lord had.
'You get to keep your life,' Tom said. 'I want to make sure you are clear that I am only letting you live for Hadrian's sake. There are, however, conditions I expect you to meet. The child will be your Spare.'
Tom knew that the Spare was the child that would inherit should anything happen to the first child. Most Pure Blood families had a Spare although the Malfoys were an exception to that rule. The Malfoy family on principle only had one child per generation who would inherit everything rather than a Spare who would inherit a portion of the vaults and properties although not the main Family vaults.
'You will provide Hadrian with appropriate childcare support,' Tom said.
'Of course, my Lord,' Lucius said. 'I can get in touch with my private family healer.'
Tom nodded in approval as loyal as Severus was they needed someone who had the correct experience which Severus did not. Tom did not trust Pomfrey who had somehow missed the fact that Hadrian was pumped full of potions and in some way abused despite how many times Hadrian had ended up in the hospital wing. That meant she was either under control of Dumbledore or she was aware of what Dumbledore did and did what her employer said for some reason.
At that point the door was flung open as an angry Hadrian Slytherin stormed in apparently relieved to see Lucius not dead. However, it wasn't Lucius he was looking at. It was Tom. Tom knew that Hadrian didn't trust him not to kill his lover quite rightfully considering that Tom was only not killing Lucius because Hadrian would never forgive him for doing so.
'What are you going to do with him?' asked Hadrian.
'We were just discussing that,' Tom said. 'Lucius will name your child as Spare and provide appropriate monetary and emotional childcare support. He has also agreed to get in touch with his private healer.'
Hadrian nodded in response to that before he turned to Lucius. Tom couldn't help but the intense anger and hatred he felt at seeing his son and Lucius Malfoy so close together. Tom didn't know what he was expecting but he wasn't expecting Hadrian to slap Lucius across the cheek.
'You told me you were using protection spells!' Hadrian said eyes glowing verdant.
'He did,' Tom said.
Hadrian frowned at his father at this response clearly wondering how his father had known that. Tom had tried not to pay attention or withdraw from the memories at the most intimatemoments shared between his servant and son. Unfortunately, it was impossible the avoid everything.
'I confirmed through Lucius' memories that you were in a consensual relationship,' Tom explained.
Hadrian flushed at this point his eyes for the first time looking away from Tom. Tom didn't blame him in the slightest. Tom had never wanted to see any family member in the positions Tom had seen his son.
'There is a 0.01% chance of the protection spell failing to prevent pregnancy,' explained Lucius.
'And you couldn't have told me this beforehand!' demanded Hadrian.
Lucius looked helpless stuck between the last two members of Slytherin's line. It wasn't like he was going to argue back like he would have done if Tom wasn't around. Lucius Malfoy wasn't going to risk pushing Tom's temper any further.
'You didn't even inform me that males could get pregnant before I found out I had two fathers!' continued Hadrian.
'I was unaware of the fact you did not know,' Lucius said.
Tom could understand that. To witches and wizards who had grown up in the Wizarding World male pregnancy and female Siring were completely ordinary but to a Muggle brought up child it was shocking. Tom still remembered when at the age of twelve in his second year how shocked he was when he had found out that Richmond Blishwick had two fathers.
'There is another problem,' Severus said. 'Albus found out that your Consort was pregnant from the school list.'
'He could find out,' Hadrian said.
Tom knew that his grandchildwould be in danger because Tom was his grandfather. Tom still had no idea what to think of these circumstances but he did not want his grandchild to die because of him but considering Dumbledore hadn't acted so far it lead to the conclusion that the Headmaster did not yet no. If Dumbledore didn't know they could at least make sure that Dumbledore never found out.
'It is likely Dumbledore does not yet know,' Tom said.
'Or he would have tried to kill my child by now,' Hadrian sighed.
'Unless he plans to use the child as a backup plan if you are unable to do your job,' Severus said grimly. 'I can check the Book of Admittance to see who has viewed the book recently. No one should have as it is not genuinely viewed until July when the letters are sent to all children eligible for the next year of Hogwarts. If it has not been viewed would you like me to change or remove the entry?'
'What will the entry be?' asked Hadrian.
'Gender and parents' names,' Severus replied.
'Remove it,' Tom said. 'If it hasn't been previously viewed remove it.'
'Yes, my Lord,' agreed Severus not that his spy really had a choice.
Tom could see that Hadrian was happy about the solution. Tom couldn't blame Hadrian in the slightest. If it had been Tom in this situation he would have made the same choice. Tom wished that he had found out that James was pregnant before Dumbledore had kidnapped his pregnant husband.
If they had known everything would have been so different. Hadrian would have grown up safe and loved by both his parents. James might possibly be alive. Tom would never have spent thirteen years as a wraith.
Tom hoped by this time he would have got rid of Dumbledore, taken control of the Ministry and Hogwarts. Hadrian would have grown up as a prince. Instead Hadrian was abused enough to leave serious scarring.
The three of them waited in silence for Severus to return not knowing what to say to one another after the revelations of the night but none of them were so much as fidgeting as they were all too Slytherin to show how ill at ease they currently were. Future plans could not be made until Tom was sure that no one was aware that Hadrian was with child or they would have to try and work out how to keep within the conditions of the Triwizard Tournament without Hadrian returning to Dumbledore which was probably going to be impossible. Finally Severus returned where he inclined his head in the direction of Tom.
'My Lord, the last visitor was Minerva in October far before your heir conceived,' Severus said.
'What was she doing in there?' Harry asked curiously.
'One of her students had been adopted and their last name changed so she was changing her records. The entry stated a male child whose parents were bearer Hadrian Slytherin and sire Lucius Malfoy. I removed the entry from the Book of Admittance.'
Tom called Barty who came in looking very nervous as he entered his Lord's chambers. Quite rightfully so Tom thought considering the last time he had been present he had ended up cursing Tom's son and getting tortured for it. Tom wasn't happy with Barty but he needed everyone he had at Hogwarts to protect Hadrian and he had never killed his servants for an accident.
'My Lord,' Barty bowed.
'Due to the Triwizard Tournament Hadrian has to go back to Hogwarts,' Tom said. 'I expect both you and Severus to protect the boy.'
'Of course, my Lord,' Barty bowed. 'How do you know that Snape is loyal to the Cause?' Barty said his handsome face twisting into an angry, bitter expression.
'He is the one that brewed the Purging Potion that allowed Hadrian to get out of Dumbledore's control,' Tom said impatiently, 'and has not let on to Dumbledore that Hadrian is out of Dumbledore's control.'
'Of course, my Lord,' bowed Barty.
'The previous Ritual I was intending to use is no longer applicable now that Harry is no longer my enemy and in truth never was,' agreed Tom.
The Bone, Flesh and Blood Ritual hinged on the enemy being the one to destroy the one to be resurrected as now he had been manipulated by Dumbledore to destroy himself it left Tom with no choice but to reconsider his options for his return. There were other rituals that could have been done which were far easier to procure the ingredients for but Tom had chosen the Ritual of Bone, Flesh and Blood because it was the one that would allow him to kill the Child of Prophecy in the future. A prophecy which Tom now suspected was a fake because it was too convenient that the prophecy just happened to refer to his child who Dumbledore wanted him to attack in order to destroy Tom.
There was naturally the Life for a Life Ritual which was the easiest ritual to perform. All it required was a willing host who would sacrifice their life for him of which many of his followers would willingly do which is why Tom never mentioned the ritual to those like Barty who had nothing to lose, no self-preservation and obsessive loyalty to Tom. Tom had always shied away from that although he had no problems with killing his enemies Tom valued his followers and had no wish to sacrifice one of them for his own life.
The Ritual of Blood was out because the only one who would be able to sacrifice their life was someone closely related to him. Tom was not going to even suggest Hadrian sacrificing his life for him whether Hadrian would or not which Tom hoped he wouldn't. Tom didn't know the boy he had fathered yet but he knew that he would never have the boy sacrifice himself for Tom nor anyone else.
Then it hit Tom what ritual he could do. He already had one of the three core components and he knew where to gather the other two. Tom had never thought about this ritual before needing a family member to be the Binder but now he had a son it would be only too easy.
Tom had a plan for his return to happen in under a month. Tom was going to begin to get the revenge on those who had attempted to hurt and control his son. Tom swore that Hadrian would get the justice he deserved.
The Life for Life Ritual is what the Diary planned to do with Ginny Weasley.