Chapter 49: Flying
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
April 4, 1987
Severus eyed the over-eager gaggle of children and wondered again just how he had let himself be convinced to do this. He huffed out an irritated breath as he glanced toward his Arden. This was all Lucius's fault because he enjoyed giving Narcissa anything she wanted. It had been Narcissa's idea that the children of the House of Black and the House of Malfoy should learn how to ride the winged horses that the Malfoy family owned. One of the Malfoy ancestors had been horse mad and now Severus was suffering for it. Well, to be fair so was his Arden. Lucius didn't look at all pleased with the idea of his boys mounting the winged horses and taking them for a ride.
Severus smirked as he watched the children listening with rapt attention to the Master Ellington, the Malfoy family's Master of the Aethonon horses. Lucius had been adamant that the children would not learn to ride an Abraxan until they were teenagers. His exact words were that they would be fifty before they could ride an Abraxan, but he and Narcissa knew that Lucius was being overprotective and didn't really mean it. He had also ruled out the Granians due to their speed. Aethonon horses were slower than the Granian horses and they could handle more weight than a Granian. The Aethonon horses that the Malfoy family owned had been trained to be gentle with children because the Master that Abraxas employed had several children of his own who helped him to tend and exercise the animals.
The worst part of this fiasco was that he agreed with Narcissa's reasoning. She wanted the children to learn to ride winged horses before they would learn to ride a broom. She wanted them to know and respect the difference between riding a sentient life-form and a powerful magical artifact. The magical artifact, in this case, a broom, wouldn't have a mind of its own. If the children could handle the sentient and living animal then they would swiftly master flying on a broom.
He glanced at the other men who were gathered around to watch the proceedings. Sirius Black stood some distance away with Remus Lupin. It had set his teeth on edge just seeing the two remaining Marauders, but thus far he had held his tongue. It had been gratifying to see Black clench his fists repeatedly when his oldest son had rushed to him calling him 'Master' and politely inquiring if Severus would be overseeing their lessons personally. Severus and Leonis had soon been joined by his other two apprentices Aleksei and Draco. He told the boys that he would be watching their lessons and assisting if the Master chose, but that they must pay proper attention to Master Ellington as he was a true expert about the Aethonons. The boys had readily agreed and had only left his side when Ellington had called the children around him for their first introduction to the horses they would begin learning to care for and ride. Black's blue eyes had burned with anger but he had not made a step toward him. He was holding himself back and Severus was impressed despite himself that Black had learned some self-control because it was something that he really had not thought Sirius would ever learn.
Lucius came to stand beside him as they watched the children settle down and begin to listen to Ellington's lesson. "I blame you for this," Lucius said without preamble.
Severus looked at him with some affront. "Me?" he questioned. "Narcissa was your wife, the last time I checked," he informed his Arden.
Lucius snorted at that. "My wife yes, but she acts like she's yours as well," Lucius said with a smirk. "She certainly enjoys trying to run your life in the same way that she likes to run mine," he murmured.
Severus nodded his agreement. Narcissa often did act like a wife to him. "Married without the benefits," Severus murmured.
Lucius grinned then. "She'll cease to act that way if you just let her pick out a wife for you," Lucius told him.
Severus fought back a groan. "Lucius, not this again," he said as his dark eyes settled upon Draco's pale blond head. "You know how I feel about 'Cissa's past attempts to find me a proper spouse," he reminded. Many years ago, just after Draco was born, Narcissa had made several attempts to find the perfect match for Severus. She had forced him to meet with several different ladies, and while most of the ladies he met were very nice, he just didn't want them. He would have made those ladies miserable in the end, he was sure of it.
"I wasn't trying to force you to find a woman to marry," Lucius reassured him. "I know how you feel about that. Severus, if you find a woman worth your heart then I will welcome her with open arms, but I would never wish for you to accept a woman into your hearth and home that you cannot love and trust," he told him and his ice-blue eyes held affection and truth in their depths.
Severus nodded and then swiftly glanced away so that Lucius would not see his weakness. It was bad enough that Lucius could now feel it. "Thank you, Luc," he said softly. It meant a great deal to him, the affection that Lucius and Narcissa felt for him. The love of their child and their wards also meant a great deal to Severus. They were his family.
"I think that even 'Cissa is content to let you alone about marriage now," Lucius admitted. "She'd still love to see you happily besotted, but she is also proprietary of anything she sees as hers, and you are included in that. She will be a Shrew to any woman that she views as not good enough for you."
Severus smirked at that. He remembered that 'Cissa had not cared a bit for Lily Evans after Lily had ended the friendship with Severus. Narcissa had been fierce in her loyalty to Severus and had decided that Lily was no longer worthy of time or mention. It had been Narcissa's opinion that if Lily had truly loved Severus as her friend, then she should have done all that she could to fix things between them. Narcissa's care of him after his friendship with Lily ended had done wonders for Severus and his self-esteem. He had still been miserable, but he knew he would have ended up so much worse off if Narcissa had not stepped in and reminded him that he did have friends who loved him and would forgive him no matter his actions. When he was younger he had thought that he and Lily were a great pair. That they had the sort of friendship that would last the ages. It had been devastating for him when he realized that he had been so wrong about what Lily felt for him. She had not been as loyal as he had been to her. She had never understood how much he had valued her and their friendship.
His gaze wandered to the child of Lily Evans and he smiled a sad little smile as he looked upon Harry James Potter. The boy was healthy and happy. He heard from Narcissa about the boy on occasion. Severus had been curious about the boy but had never wanted to seek out an audience with Petunia so that he could meet the child. He was more than content to hear about the boy from afar. Despite the ending of their friendship, Severus felt protective of Lily's child. He wanted the boy to be healthy and happy. It was a relief to him that Petunia had not turned out as bad as he had thought she would. Narcissa described his old childhood menace as a very loving mother to her son and to Harry. He was sure that Lily would have been proud of Petunia for putting aside all past bitterness so that she could raise Harry in a loving home.
"Should I ever fall in love, I will make sure that the woman is properly vetted by 'Cissa," Severus replied at last.
Lucius chuckled. "See that you do," he said.
They fell silent for a time as they watched Ellington and his older boys begin to introduce the children to the steeds that they would be riding that day. Severus watched with a critical eye as Draco was instructed on how to properly sit in the saddle. Severus felt a wave of nostalgia rush through him as he remembered the first time that Lucius had taught him how to ride an Aethonon. He preferred the Granian's due to their speed, but he had enjoyed those days of learning how to ride on the Aethonon's before he had become competent enough to learn how to ride a Granian.
"It is tempting to show them how it is done, but that would give the boys terrible ideas," Lucius admitted.
"You don't think the girls will prove reckless as well?" Severus asked and looked at the smaller gathering of females who were speaking with Master Ellington's second oldest son. He knew their names though he had rarely interacted with the girls. Hermione Granger of House Black, Eleanor Branstone of House Black, Estelle Burke of House Burke, Luna Lovegood of House Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass the Heir Greengrass, and Astoria Greengrass of House Greengrass. The two Greengrass girls had been included because of Narcissa's friendship with Lady Greengrass. He knew that Narcissa was hopeful that one of the Greengrass girls might marry one of her wards. The girls were cousins to Theodore and so the connection was too close to consider a marriage between one of them and Theodore. However, Blaise, Dane, and Draco were not close relations to the Greengrass family and so they were good prospects. He highly doubted it would be the Heir Greengrass though. He had noticed the way that young Harry Potter looked at the girl. He had seen that look before, in the hazel eyes of the boy's father when they had been eleven-year old's and James Potter had stared at Lily Evans. Soulmates.
"No," Lucius said simply. "They seem like sensible little angels," he admitted. "I am sure they will have reckless moments, but not over this."
He nodded at that and then let his eyes look toward Harry Potter. The boy was glancing at Daphne Greengrass. He smirked at that. "You should tell Ellington to put Lord Potter and Heir Greengrass in the same little learning group from now on," he suggested. "It will soothe the boy and then he won't feel the need to split his attention."
Lucius looked toward the little Lord Potter and then toward the Heir Greengrass and he chuckled. "You noticed it too then?" he asked. "There has been speculation for a few years now."
Severus nodded his head and stared at the boy. "James Potter looked at Lily Evans that same way when he was eleven. It became more possessive and sensual once he got older," he admitted to Lucius. "The same will happen with this Potter and the Heir Greengrass. He'll grow more possessive of her with time. He's already splitting his focus if the girl is not beside him. Part of him feels the pull toward her and needs to be near her."
"Does it hurt you to see it again?" Lucius asked gently.
He shook his head. "No," Severus said and he was surprised to know that he meant it. "I don't think it ever really hurt me, what Potter felt for Lily," he admitted to Lucius. "It wasn't that he wanted to love Lily. It was that he wanted to take Lily away from me," he explained at long last. He suddenly knew that this conversation was well overdue for them both. He also somewhat felt that he owed the conversation to James Potter, but the man was dead and had been a bastard to him besides, so really, he owed the man nothing. "For so long she was my only friend and my only real comfort," he explained. "Potter's campaign to make her hate me was devastating. I asked them once, what I had ever done to them to make them dislike me so. I had thought that I could fix it somehow if I just knew what I had done. I didn't think I could make them like me, but I thought if I knew and could fix it then they would just stop, stop everything. The way they treated me and the pressure they put on Lily to stop being my friend. I don't think I ever realized how much pressure they put on her, Luc," he said with a sigh. "I don't blame her for breaking under that pressure, especially when things were so strained between us. She really did fear that I was walking down a path that she couldn't follow. There were always things about me that she didn't understand and as time went on a great many things about me frightened her. I don't blame her, but I am not sure that I will ever forgive the Marauders for what they did to her and to me," he admitted.
Lucius nodded his head and moved a little closer to Severus. They stood for a time shoulder to shoulder and he knew that Lucius was attempting to shoulder some of the burdens. "I think that Potter regretted it later," Lucius said. "The way he treated you a few years after you were out of school, I think it shows that he grew up some and perhaps regretted his choices concerning you when you were young."
Severus nodded. "Perhaps, but I'll never know," he admitted. "It no longer matters. I don't feel the weight of bitterness any longer," he admitted. "I loved Lily, but not the way that Potter and his little minions thought I did. It wasn't like that. I tried holding on as hard as I could because she had been the bright sunshine in my horrible little life and I tried so hard to hold onto that."
"Did Lily know?" he was asked.
Severus shook his head in the negative. "She never understood what Tobias did to me. She never understood what my mother did either. She knew things were not good for me at home, but she didn't know the details. I never wanted to taint her and hurt her with that ugliness. She wasn't equipped to handle the ways in which I needed her, I know that now. We were both children and she came from a household where she was always adored. If I had befriended Petunia instead, I think that she would have understood me better," he chuckled sadly at that. "It hurts to say that, but it's true. Petunia was ignored by her parents in favor of Lily. Nothing Petunia would do would ever measure up to the little witch in the family because no matter how grand it could be, it would be mundane in comparison to any of the magic spells that Lily could do.
"I should have you over to talk with Petunia the next time she's at the Manor," Lucius said gently. "It might do you a little bit of good, the both of you."
Severus merely nodded. He was not eager to see Petunia, but he didn't think it would hurt him the way he knew it would have that first couple of years after Lily's death. He chuckled then when he noticed that Potter was glaring at Ellington's son who was holding Daphne Greengrass around the waist as she settled into the Aethonon's saddle. "Perhaps I should have a talk with Petunia about young Potter. He cannot be allowed to hate the people close to the Heir Greengrass. She should be allowed to have friends and not deal with Potter's jealousies."
Lucius laughed aloud then. "I want to be there for that conversation," he declared. "Perhaps Black should be there for it as well."
He stiffened at that idea. "Not a good idea Luc," he said evenly. "Just because we haven't come to blows or hexes yet doesn't mean we can get along," he pointed out. "Let's not tempt fate, shall we?"
Lucius sighed then. "'Cissa is fond of her cousin and you know she adores you. She would like for the two of you to get along," he said.
He winced at that. Severus really hated to upset Narcissa. "I'll take that under advisement."
"That is all that I can ask," Lucius said gently. "For what it is worth, I still dislike Black."
Severus smiled at that. "Thank you for the solidarity, Lucius."
His Arden smirked. "Anything for you," he said simply.
Lucius had spoken those words to him before and they never ceased to make him feel loved. He smiled at Lucius, a small curve of his lips. Then he changed the subject of their conversation to something that had been plaguing him for several weeks. "The Wizengamot is not going to pass Selwyn's proposal about protecting Magical Children in the Muggle World," he said simply.
His Arden was silent for a few moments before the man sighed and shook his head in the negative. "No," he said simply. "The Ministry will not want to spend the money it would take to build an Orphanage and to pay for staffing. If there are cases of Muggle-born children being abused by their Muggle guardians then it is not being presented to the Ministry. Dumbledore never allowed for your case to be reported by the Ministry," he murmured.
Severus shook his head. "No. I think for many years he didn't want to believe it and then by the time he did believe it, I knew secrets that he couldn't risk being revealed," he said and glanced toward Remus Lupin and Sirius Black who were even now moving closer to them.
Lucius nodded. "Selwyn meant well, and it is unfortunate that the bill will not be passed."
He thought on Lucius's words for a moment even as they were joined by Lupin and Black. "Alright, so the Ministry won't fund it and they won't sanction a government-owned one. That just means that the Orphanage needs to be privately owned," he voiced aloud as he thought.
Remus Lupin looked confused. "Orphanage?"
Lucius sighed and swiftly set about explaining Lord Selwyn's bill in the Wizengamot.
"An Orphanage for magical children would be a good idea," Lupin declared. "Are there many magical children that end up in the Muggle Orphanages?" he asked.
"There are many there now due to Voldemort's Blood War," Severus informed Lupin. "There were many children of Death Eaters that were not taken into other Wizarding homes. There are also cases of Muggle-born children who are in the Muggle Orphanages because their Muggle parents were afraid of them when they began to display magic. This does not always happen, but there are too many cases of it happening," Severus said.
Sirius Black looked at him for a few moments as if debating with himself. At last, he decided and he asked the question. "You said that the Ministry won't fund it so that an Orphanage needs to be privately owned. Are you suggesting that someone create an Orphanage themselves?"
Severus considered Black's blue eyes and found no contempt there. Curiosity burned in the man's eyes. Curiosity and a certain calculation. "Yes," he said. "This is important and if the Ministry refuses to do something about it then I think that we should," he said.
Sirius nodded his head in agreement. "I agree. Selwyn had the right idea. So, if the Ministry won't do it, we cannot let it drop. Any suggestions about setting up an Orphanage for these children?"
Severus smirked as he nodded. It felt odd standing there with Sirius Black and having a civilized conversation, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything snide to the man. He didn't want to end this strange new comradery even if he didn't completely trust Black. Lucius's reminder that Narcissa wanted them to get along burned in the back of his mind. He also reminded himself that this man was the father of his dear apprentice, Leonis. This was also the older brother of Regulus and Severus had been very fond of Reggie.
"I think we should seek an audience with the Crone's Council," Severus said. "I have a property that is large enough to use as the Orphanage. It is a Manor House in Kent. I would be happy to donate it to the cause," he said. "It will need a bit of work done to renovate it into a fun and happy environment for the children but that should not be too difficult to see done."
Lucius smirked. "Narcissa would be happy to help with design," he pointed out. "Macmillan would be the best you could ask to assist on the project."
"True," Sirius said agreeing with Lucius. "It would help make this a sort of family project that way," he added. "'Cissa arguing designs with Malcolm," he chuckled at the thought.
"I think we should speak with Macmillan about the project and see if he can take it on," Severus said. "We should probably try to have plans drawn up for the place before we meet with the Crones Council about the situation."
"Will the House of Prince run the Orphanage?" Lupin questioned. "Staffing will be important," he trailed off.
"I am willing to place the Orphanage and all who dwell in it under the protection of my House if the Council prefers," Severus admitted.
"I suggest a Triumvirate Protection," Sirius's said. "The Orphanage should have the protection of the House of Prince, the House of Malfoy, and the House of Black," he said.
Lucius frowned at that. "That could draw a lot of attention to them."
"It will be an Orphanage made for magical children after the Ministry has declined to make one," Sirius pointed out. "It will be gaining attention whether we like it or not."
Lucius scowled then.
"Black is right," Severus said and wasn't it galling to admit that. "We should make sure the children are protected since the Orphanage will gain attention," he said. "And we need it to gain some attention if we want to see any of those children adopted into good homes," he reminded his Arden.
Lucius nodded at that. "Yes, of course," he agreed. "I think that the Crone's Council should be the ones to set up an administration of the Orphanage."
Severus nodded his head in agreement. "I agree. I think that they will know more about what shall be necessary for the children and most of them are very shrewd ladies, so I think they'll be able to sort out the best qualified."
Sirius nodded his agreement. "I agree. Though it helps that several ladies on the Crone's Council are ladies of my family," he admitted. "It gives me more faith that they'll be sure that the right people get picked to care for the children."
Remus opened his mouth to reply to that when a several shouts gained their attention. Severus and the other men turned their attention toward a small crowd that was forming near one of the other children. "Something's wrong," Remus said grimly.
Severus agreed and he strode toward the group of children, gently placing his hands on smaller shoulders to move the children aside so that he could get through. Sirius Black was on his heels, but Severus didn't feel the normal prickle of unease about this because his attention was focused entirely on the child on the ground. Leonis, his young Apprentice was laying on the ground trembling and rocking slightly with his arms wrapped around himself. He had seen this before, but not with Leonis. Regulus had done this twice when Severus had still been a student of Hogwarts. The young man had been a magical sensitive and he had done this when all of his senses had spiked and he had been overwhelmed. He immediately began to remove his robe even as he heard watched Sirius Black drop to his knees beside the child.
He took one moment to take in Sirius's stricken expression. Fear and pain for his child. Severus could read it clearly. A swift touch of Legilimency told him that Sirius was afraid for his son and in that moment Severus had to wonder how he could have ever worried that Sirius wouldn't love the boy? Then he pushed thoughts of Black completely from his mind and dropped to the ground on the other side of Leonis. He gently gripped ahold of the boy and brought him into his arms and then he draped his discarded cloak over the boy, sheltering him from the rest of the world.
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked. His voice was soft and devoid of any of the anger that Severus had expected from Black. Only worry held true in that voice.
"His senses were overwhelmed, so I am sheltering him until he can regain some control," he explained to Sirius. He then looked up at Lucius and gave a swift look to Draco and Aleksei. "Please get the others back. He'll be alright in a little bit, but he needs everyone else to back off for a little bit," he said. "Black and I will take care of him," the last he added because he realized that fighting with Black on that matter would just cause more trouble than it was worth. Besides, he was the boy's father and he clearly loved the boy. He needed to learn what to do if Leonis ever spiked around him.
He vaguely heard Lucius gently ushering the others away from them and he smiled slightly even as he held still with the boy in his arms. "I know you know he's magically sensitive," Severus said softly to Black. "But I am not sure that you know what to do for him when he gets like this," he added. "I used to do this for Regulus when he spiked at Hogwarts," he admitted softly and he watched as the blue eyes flickered with some emotion at the mention of Regulus. "The first time it happened he had whimpered about needing you before he fell silent and unresponsive. We sent someone for you, but you rebuffed them," Severus told him because he thought Black should know. "The second time it happened he didn't ask for you. Evan offered to fetch you, but he said no. I shielded him just like this then as well," he waited for Black to show some anger, to make some biting comment about how Regulus was a Slytherin and not worthy of his time, but it didn't come.
Black stared into his eyes for several long moments, seemingly at war with himself, but then the gaze showed gratitude tinged with sadness. "Thank you for taking care of Reggie," he said softly. "I wasn't a good brother to him, not after I entered Hogwarts anyway," he admitted. "I was afraid of you having anything to do with Leonis," he admitted. "I thought that you would revenge yourself on me by hurting him. He adores you," Sirius admitted. "I was wrong though, I know that now. You would never hurt him, not willingly."
Severus nodded his head in agreement. "Never willingly," he admitted. He adored his Apprentices, his three boys, his legacy. "You looked like you didn't know to do this when you got to him," he said changing the subject.
"I didn't," Sirius agreed. "When this happened to Reggie when he was a child, he was taken to his room and Kreacher, his Elf, cared for him," he admitted. "I don't know if my parents knew what to do for him. I don't think that they did. Father would pace and look in on him, but never try to touch him. I was told by mother to never touch him when he was like that, that I could," his voice broke off then and he seemed to be swallowing back emotional pain. Severus was proven correct in his assessment when Sirius spoke again, voice laced with pain. "She said that if I touched him it would hurt him worse than the Cruciatus," Sirius said.
Severus had to fight hard not to react to that. The weight of the child in his arms centered him. "Come here, come closer," he told Black. 'Look what you are doing to us Leonis Regulus Black,' he thought to himself. 'Your father and I are having a heart to heart and now I am inviting him to come closer to my person. If I couldn't feel you trembling still in my arms, I would believe you planned to scare us into this.' He smirked at that. It would be a plot worthy of a young Slytherin.
He watched Sirius situate himself closer to them, settling just on the other side of him and Leonis, but the man was still hesitating to touch his son. "You mean him no malice and you love him. Convey that in touch," he told Sirius. "Gently rub his back, start simple. You love him and he is not afraid of you because he knows you love him," he told Sirius. His eyes watched as Black reached forward with his hand but hesitated to touch his son. Severus wished that Walburga Black was not years in her grave so that he could curse her with the most poisonous and painful hexes that he knew. She had damaged both of her sons, making one afraid to give comfort to the youngest while depriving the youngest of any comfort. He was sure she had done even worse to both of her sons. In this, perhaps his own childhood and Black's matched. That was a terrible thought, having things in common with Black aside from a love for the boy in his arms.
"You won't hurt him," he promised Sirius. "Your touch is known to him, it can help to anchor him," he coaxed gently. It was like coaxing a scared animal but in the end, it worked and Black placed his hand upon his child's back. The boy released a sigh then and Severus smiled, feeling the boy slowly ease. "That's good, he's easing," he promised Sirius. "Just keep rubbing his back," he ordered Black. Then he wasted no more of his time on Black and instead he focused on keeping himself still, a rock for the child to cling to in the middle of the storm. He had done this for Regulus and now he was doing it for the child that reminded him so much of his old friend.
"What's wrong with him?" Orion asked plaintively. Every instinct inside of him was pushing him to rush back to his half-brother. He was being held back from doing so by the firm grip upon his shoulder that belonged to his Papa Remus.
"He's magically sensitive," the voice of Ernest Macmillan spoke up from beside him.
Orion looked at the other boy then. He had met the boy for the first time today and while he seemed a nice boy, Orion had been afraid of getting close to him because this was the other half-brother of Leonis. Leo had always known about Ernie and the two had played together as little kids. Orion was the new kid, the new brother, even if in a better world they would have always known each other and been childhood playmates. What if Leo loved Ernie more? The thought had plagued him, making him insecure and so he had not wanted to get to know Ernie. Now he thought the idea of not befriending this boy was one of the dumbest ideas he had ever had. They were both Leo's brothers. Surely there was enough love in Leo for the both of them and Leo could love him just as much as he loved Ernie. He considered Ernie's blue-eyes that were the same shade as his own and he saw the same worry for Leonis mirrored in them. He reached out to the other boy and took his hand and squeezed it. "He'll be okay, right?"
Ernie slowly nodded, but he still looked worried.
"I've read about Magical Sensitives," the voice of the bushy-haired girl named Hermione said. He turned his attention to her because he didn't know anything about Magical Sensitives. He heard a girl with sleek dark-brown hair and gray eyes ask Hermione to tell her about Magical Sensitives. He and the other kids quieted to listen to Hermione as she explained.
"They are very sensitive to magic, that's why they call them Magical Sensitives," Hermione explained. "Too much magic can hurt them. I think that all of us crowding him was too much for him," she hypothesized.
"That's not exactly right, but close," said a boy with pale blond-hair and ice-blue eyes. Orion remembered that he was a cousin of Draco's and that the boy's name was Aleksei.
Hermione seemed to bristle at that. "Oh really?" she asked.
The boy nodded. "Yes," he said. "It's his own magic that is hurting him right now," he told her. "We didn't do anything to him. The fact is, he's still growing and as a Magical Sensitive he has a longer and wider range than the rest of us do. As he grows not all his senses remain in balance," he revealed. "He may suffer like this until he enters Flux and I suspect that he'll have a more painful time of it than the rest of us will. Also, he may not come out of Flux completely balanced. It is rare enough when a Magical Sensitive does."
Hermione looked impressed. "How did you know that?" she asked.
Aleksei shrugged. "I read it in "Magical Sensitives" by Reginald Tembray," he revealed. "I can owl you the book if you would like to read it," he offered.
She blushed prettily and nodded. "Yes please," she said.
"I think that all of us should read that book," Orion then put in. "Then we could have a get together where we all discuss it together," he said.
"Like a book club?" Hermione asked happily only for Dudley Black to groan beside her.
"Something like that," Orion said because he liked books and thought her idea had merit. "But I was thinking that since we are Leo's friends and family that we should learn as much as we can about what he is and how we can help him if this ever happens again."
"I agree," Draco said.
"Why?" Astoria Greengrass asked. "Not that I don't want to help Leo, but it seems like the adults are taking care of him."
"But, what if it happens and there are no adults who know what to do?" Harry spoke up.
"That's a good idea," Remus put in then. "I didn't know what to do for Leonis and Sirius didn't either," he said. "I'm honestly surprised that Severus knew just what to do."
Lucius scoffed then. "Severus used to calm Regulus when they were at Hogwarts," he told them. "My Arden is very knowledgeable and his feel for magic is very intuitive, not that far different from a Sensitive," he said in such a way that it could only be considered prideful boasting.
Remus looked surprised. "So, you and Severus really are Ardenvraar? I had heard the rumors of course, but I hadn't thought them true. I thought all Arden have to be born close together, within the twelve months of each other at the longest."
Lucius looked smug. "We are Arden and those old books were full of errors, but then Severus and I are a rare case," he announced and it was clear he was proud of that too.
"What is an Arden?" Orion asked.
"Arden is blood brothers," Draco answered. "They are two wizards who swear themselves in a ceremony as blood brothers. Their magic has to be compatible for it to properly work," he informed them. "Father's was compatible with Uncle Sev's in a way that it wasn't with anyone else."
"Is it just Wizards?" Eleanor asked from beside Hermione.
"Traditionally yes," the blonde-haired Daphne Greengrass answered. "But, some Witches have done it in the past," she informed them. "It is rarely done amongst Witches though because in the olden days the Witches formed Covens. In fact, the Crone's Council set up is based off the old idea of Witches Covens, even if they are not a bound coven today."
The girls slowly came to stand with Daphne Greengrass to ask questions about Coven's and what the Heir Greengrass knew about them. Orion watched it with amusement and then he glanced up at his papa and noted that he looked impressed by the children. "They are pretty smart, huh?" he asked Remus.
Remus chuckled and nodded his agreement. "They are," he agreed. "In some ways, they are ahead of where I would have placed them so many years before Hogwarts," he said.
Lucius smirked. "Many of these children will one day be the heads of their houses, Lupin. I was no different at their age," he said.
"I see," Remus said, but it was clear enough to Orion that his Papa was completely out of his depth. He smiled at Remus and then let his gaze wander once again to his father and the man who was cradling his brother. He didn't know that much about Severus Snape Lord Prince, but he had heard a great deal about him from Leonis. His brother trusted him and it seemed to Orion that the trust was not misplaced. The man was carefully still as he held his brother and Orion wondered why the man didn't rock his brother back and forth like his papa did for him when he was hurt or upset? It was frustrating not knowing more about what to do for Leonis.
'Please be alright, Leo!' Orion thought as he watched from afar.
Sirius had entertained thoughts of burying the hatchet with Snape for his son's sake. He had thought about it on more than one occasion but he had never thought it would happen this way, with his son hurting and held firmly in the arms of his old nemesis, with that same man gently explaining how to take care of Leonis. Snape was incredibly kind as he spoke to him, coaxing him to touch Leonis and reassuring him that he wouldn't hurt his son.
Memories of Regulus moaning in pain before zoning out and holding himself flittered through Sirius's mind. Snape was really being quite clever in how he had handled the situation. He had not removed Leonis from his environment but he had taken the boy into his arms and put his own cloak over the boy to create a sort of cave of safety so that things were more manageable. Sirius wished that he had not listened to his mother when he was young, wished that he had defied her as he usually did, but he hadn't dared. Not in that. Not when she said with such surety that he would only hurt Regulus, that holding his hand or holding him in his arms to ease him through whatever had a hold on him would do more damage.
He remembered the event that Snape spoke of. Evan Rosier, Narcissa's cousin, had come up to him while he was with his friends and he was flirting with Marlene McKinnon at the time. Evan had begged to speak to him alone. Sirius had of course refused. He didn't trust Slytherin's, and he was trying to impress Marlene, who particularly detested them. Seeing that he wouldn't get Sirius to agree, Evan had blurted out why he had sought Sirius out. Sirius had wanted to go with him, but he hadn't. He refused because he didn't want to see Reggie like that. He was convinced from an early age that he couldn't help Regulus when he was like that. He had told Evan to get lost and to take the kid to the infirmary if things were that bad.
He had seen Regulus the next day and the kid had looked at him with a hollow sort of look before turning away. His baby brother had never looked at him again, as far as Sirius knew. 'I wish,' Sirius thought as he continued to rub his son's back. 'I wish I had known. I wish that I had known when I was a kid. I wish I had helped Reggie. I wish that I hadn't been so caught up in rebellion and Gryffindor's versus Slytherin's. I should have been better to Reggie,' he thought to himself.
He glanced up at Snape then and he knew that Snape could read the turmoil inside of him. Snape had always been terribly unnerving. When the other boy was fifteen something about Snape had changed. It seemed as though his eyes could look right through him and gain all of his secrets. It was unnerving and he had hated Snape for it. He still hated Snape for it, but in this case, it had been helpful because Snape had seen his hesitance and had realized the problem for what it was. He had coaxed him into overcoming a lifetime of ingrained behavior for his son's sake. He was grateful to Snape for that.
"Why do you sit so still instead of rocking him?" he asked of Snape.
"His senses are in tumult, so I remain still so that he has something solid to cling to, to ground him. You rubbing his back gives him something to focus his senses on and he's been slowly sharpening his senses upon the gentle glide of your fingers over his back," Snape explained.
"Master?" Leonis's voice was soft, but Sirius felt his heart leap to his throat when he heard his son speak.
Snape smiled down at the boy in his arms and Sirius was reminded then that Snape's regard for his son was very strong. 'What a strange power you have little Lion to wrap dangerous people around your finger.' He thought because he knew in that moment that Snape would move mountains for his son. He'd stand between Leonis and danger without hesitation.
"Your senses spiked Leonis," Severus told him gently. "Do you know what started it?" he asked even as he slowly drew the cloak down so that his son's head was revealed.
Leonis shook his head for a moment, his face burrowing slightly into Snape's chest. "No, I," he stilled for a moment. "I was paying attention to Garnet, then everything just hurt."
Sirius had heard Regulus say the same thing on more than one occasion. His oldest boy already reminded him too much of Regulus, he really wished that he was not also a Sensitive. He didn't wish that kind of painful growth upon his child. He continued to stroke his son's back, hoping that he was still soothing him.
"I'm sorry, Master," Leonis said softly.
"You have nothing to apologize for," Snape assured his son. Sirius watched in wonder as Severus raised a hand and ran it through the boy's black hair in an affectionate gesture that made Leonis relax. "You are fine now. Your father and I have watched over you."
"Father?" Leonis asked.
Sirius moved closer even as he still kept his hand running gentle circles across his son's back. "I'm right here," he said with a smile on his face. He moved into his son's line of sight and smiled at his son. "It's alright Lion," he promised his son. "We've got you. You are going to be alright. Snape and I played guards while you worked yourself out," he told his boy.
"You were a guard-dog," his son teased him by referring to his Animagus form.
Sirius laughed aloud at that and felt relief swell through him. Leonis was going to be alright. He shared a glance with Snape and was relieved when he nodded. Sirius stood up then and he reached down for Leonis. "Come on Cub," he said even as he carefully lifted Leonis up into his arms. He relished the moment as he held his son close. He was already growing too much for him to be able to hold him and carry him like this. Within another year, he probably wouldn't be able to get away with this anymore even if he was strong enough to carry him. "Let's go reassure everyone that you are alright."
Leonis nodded against his neck, as his arms wrapped around his neck.
Snape rose to join them and then they were striding the distance toward the others, side by side. It was such an odd feeling, but not an unwelcome one. They were both devoted to the boy he held in his arms and Sirius really couldn't think of a better protector of his son than Snape. The man had withstood years of combat against the Marauders after all.
He caught Remus's eye and nodded in reassurance. He watched his best friend relax then. Draco broke ranks first and raced to him. Snape moved a step away letting Draco stand between them. Sirius looked at the anxious expression on Draco's face and smiled at Narcissa's son. Another devotee. He really should have known. Draco seemed to be Leo's favored cousin, though the boy had never said as much.
'They remind me of me and James,' Sirius realized. He had favored his cousin James Potter just as Leonis favored Draco, but both Leonis and Draco never spoke of it, unlike him and James. They were kinder boys than he and James had been. Leonis was very conscious of hurting other people's feelings, whereas Sirius had been careless in that area. Leonis was sensitive in more ways than one. He wondered if that came with the territory of all Magical Sensitives. He needed to sit down with Snape and pick his brain on the subject.
"I'm fine, Dragon," Sirius heard his son reassure his cousin from the comfort of Sirius's arms.
"I think that the lessons can resume after lunch," Lucius was saying then.
"That sounds like a good idea," Remus agreed.
Sirius also agreed and soon found himself carrying his son toward the back patio of the Manor House, with a gaggle of children trailing beside him and behind him, all eager to sit with his son and reassure themselves that he was going to be alright.
"I can walk," Leonis tried to protest but Sirius refused to let him down.
"Soon you'll be too old for this, let me enjoy it," Sirius told his son. The boy grumped but didn't attempt to get down again. Sirius smiled at his son and reminded himself to thank Leonis later for indulging him.
Thank you my dear readers for all of your attention and your wonderful reviews! I also wanted to take a moment to respond to a reviewer who signed in as meriem. Usually I would answer reviews in private messaging over this site, but she does not have an account and I really don't want to neglect her or any of my reviewers and I hope that no one has felt terribly neglected in the past by me.
meriem, I am so happy that you like Renewal and I am excited that you have a fondness for both Percy Weasley and Neville Longbottom. I like both characters. I can promise you that you will see nice chapters about Percy Weasley as this story progresses. I know that Ron and the twins thought of Percy as a Pompous Git, and therefore Harry did too, but I always thought that was unfair. Harry didn't know Percy well and he just kind of went along with what his closer friends thought of their older brother. Also, I thought it was rather brave of Percy to not jump on board with "Dumbledore is the Greatest and he knows best" routine that his parents, Bill, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny were parroting. It is really brave to go your own way, even if you could be wrong, and his family really did pick on him a lot and make him feel bad. Since Renewal is an Alternate Universe, I can give Percy a different life and I am doing so. I promise to post a chapter about Percy soon! I hope you will like it!
Next Chapter: Flowers In the Park, in which Alicia Abbott and Sirius Black meet again.
