Updated 29/6/21 - Thank you to my lovely and loyal readers who have patiently waited six months for this chapter. I have officially completed my story, which was the reason for the delay, and hope to post on a regular schedule.

Many thanks to my new beta, the amazing Tametiger who has been so good at reading through my work and offering advice, and correcting me when I need to be corrected.

I hope you all enjoy this new chapter.

Chapter 14 – Severus Tries Again

Severus sat still in Dumbledore's chair, watching the Pensieve with great concentration. He'd gone to Dumbledore for further advice, and he'd gone to Lucius and Narcissa for their advice too. He hadn't worked this hard to get Lily's apology, he'd given up too soon. But he couldn't make the same mistake with Harry. He couldn't. He needed his forgiveness. He needed it.

After talking to Lucius a little about their previous lives, he'd realised that the memories had seen the previous year had been provided by the magic of Hogwarts to re-awaken the Champions. Harry had also seen memories of Severus and Lily and possibly some with the Marauders. Severus didn't know exactly which memories Harry had seen, but he could make an educated guess that Harry had seen the promise that Dumbledore had extracted from him to protect Lily's boy.

Severus knew that Harry came to Dumbledore for private sessions, trying to learn about the methods of immortality the Dark Lord used. It had taken some planning, but Severus was sure that Harry would forgive him after this; after he'd explained more about his relationship with Lily. The reasons he'd done what he'd done, why he acted how he'd acted. How much he'd regretted everything.

Dumbledore had added some memories for Harry to begin with, after that Severus' memories would play. Severus had added memories of how he had first met Lily, told her about being a witch. How they had spent time together, he'd added the memory of how he had found out about the prophecy, realising the Dark Lord would be targeting Lily and begging for her to be spared, as well as going to Dumbledore when he defected.

It was not easy to let those memories go after guarding them so fiercely for so long, but he had to make Harry understand.

Dumbledore allowed Severus to take over the lesson and Lucius had agreed to keep the Headmaster's office locked. This was because Champions chosen by the Founders had the ability to control the wards superseded those of the Headmaster. And Severus needed as much time with Harry as possible.

Severus had been sitting behind Dumbledore's desk for the better part of an hour. He'd prepared to remain calm and explain everything to Harry honestly and thoroughly. Dumbledore anticipated some anger which was why he'd pre-emptively hidden away some of his more valuable – and breakable- trinkets. Even the portraits were whispering warily, and the occupants crammed into few frames as possible.

Harry was coming out of the Pensieve. He was unsure of whether he should stay seated or get up and stand in front of the desk. He was in motion, half rising, when Harry straightened up from the Pensieve. He didn't see Severus straight away. Severus could tell from the set of the wizard's shoulders that he was angry.

Severus swallowed.

Harry took a deep breath, most likely to calm himself down. Severus straightened up slowly. Harry met his gaze and Severus was taken aback at the rage in those green eyes. This was worse than any look Lily had given him. Severus had expected anger, but he had not expected this fury.

He tensed, prepared for a barrage of … something but instead he saw Harry turn his focus inwards. Severus recognised this as an Occlumency technique. Harry was trying to keep himself calm.

Harry walked towards the door and tried to leave, only to find it locked.

"Lucius," Harry growled to himself.

"I really need to talk to you, Harry," Severus began, stepping away from the desk.

"I have nothing to say to you and I don't want to listen to anything you have to say," Harry said without turning away from the door, then yelled, "Lucius, let me out."

"I just want to explain everything to you. Please, just give me a chance," Severus begged, swallowing convulsively.

"You don't deserve a chance," Harry ground out, only half turning.

Severus moved forward a little.

"Your mother and I were good friends before she came to Hogwarts. I was the one who told her about being a witch," Severus started.

He found himself flinching when Harry violently shook the door and aimed a vicious kick towards it. Had the door not been magically enforced, Severus had no doubt that Harry's foot would have gone straight through. He'd seen his hands twitching as if wanting to reach for his wand. Given his previous lives, Severus was well aware that the younger wizard knew a lot more spells than Severus did.

"LUCIUS!"

"Ten minutes, Harry. That's all I'm asking for," Severus pleaded.

Harry tapped his leather bracelet which flashed with various colours before he turned around.

With an intense frown, he said, "You have five."

"I know I've treated you terribly. I just wanted to you to understand why I did everything I did. And I understand how petty I've acted."

Harry shook his head with a derisive expression.

"You need to make your time count," Severus was told blankly.

"Tell me how I can make amends," Severus asked, stepping closer.

"Answer me this: Why does it matter to you so much?"

Severus struggled to answer.

"I know I've done wrong. I deserve your anger, all of it."

Completely ignoring Severus' last words, "Is it because of Lily? You lost the chance to get her forgiveness so now you're trying to get mine? Before it's too late?"

"No – that's not-"

"Who will it be too late for? Me or you?"

Severus was feeling agitated. This was not going as he'd planned at all, and he'd thought of various different scenarios.

"I know I treated you badly," Severus said, knowing he was getting repetitive.

"I already had her eyes. If I had red hair and was a girl would you have treated me better?"

Severus shook his head numbly. He couldn't deny that he'd seen a clone of James Potter when the young wizard had entered at the age of 11. Would he have acted differently if Harry had been a replica of Lily instead?

"I – I – I – Even as I said every vicious word to you, I compared you to your father because it was easier than trying to get to know you. The Dark Lord promised me that he would spare Lily if she chose to give you up, and I blamed you because she chose to save you instead of herself."

It was the most honest statement Severus had ever made, hidden words that he was too ashamed to admit out loud.

"If Voldemort never heard the prophecy, or if the prophecy didn't lead to Lily, would you have ever turned away from him?"

Severus' breath caught in his chest. From the moment Severus had heard that Lily was a target, she'd been all he could think of. He'd never forgotten her. He had only turned away from Voldemort because he had picked her.

"I lived because of your selfishness," the statement came flatly, as if Harry had picked the thoughts from his mind.

Severus stared at Harry blankly.

"You had a bad childhood, as if that's a good reason to do bad things because you think the world owes you something. Riddle was the same. He thought he needed to be cruel because that was how he was treated. Like it was all right to take things from people because it was owed to him."
Severus flinched at being compared to that monster.

"Petunia treated me like crap because she was a bitter person. I don't know what she was like before she met you, but you were so selfish at wanting Lily all to yourself that you drove a wedge between 2 sisters, destroyed what might have been a good relationship. If Petunia had a better relationship with Lily and magic maybe she might have treated me better. That's on you."

Severus took a shuddering breath and took a step back. The words were said so quietly but were no less powerful with the impact they had on Severus. He wished for the Harry Potter of old, the one who would scream and shout and throw things, but eventually who would calm down and forgive him. But he'd left things too late, done too much damage.

"You told Lily that blood didn't matter and then alienated her by using her own heritage as an insult because all she tried to do was defend her friend. You alienated the only person who truly cared about you, who would have helped you with the path you wanted only if you trusted her. You lied to her!"

The last words were said harshly.

"You sold your soul to a monster and didn't care that you would endanger a child, until one of the children ended up being born to the only person you could never forget. You could have defected from Voldemort at any point. At any given time, you could have walked away but nothing else mattered to you until Lily was in danger."

Severus took another step back from the ruthlessness of Harry's words.

"You didn't understand relationships at all if you truly thought that Lily would willingly give up her baby to that monster. When a Dementor comes near me, do you know what I hear? I hear my mother pleading for my life. I hear Voldemort telling her to step aside and my mother begging him to spare me."

Harry moved away from the door to the centre of the room. Severus backed away further until he was against the wall. He had no more steps to take.

"Dumbledore thinks it was my mother's love that rebounded Voldemort's Killing curse. He wasn't completely wrong. It wasn't just my mother's love that protected me that night, it was your love for Lily. You loved Lily so much that you begged Voldemort to spare her, extracting a promise. A promise is a kind of magic, Professor. By killing Lily, Voldemort broke his promise to you, because his word is as empty as his soul."

Severus closed his eyes to the onslaught of words and slid to the floor taking shuddering, gasping breaths.

"Stop, Harry. Stop! Please!"

Harry stepped closer until he directly in front of Severus.

"Voldemort was as deluded as you were if either of you thought that a mother would give her baby away. Your selfishness saved me that day, but you had the audacity to blame everyone else? Like you're just a victim?"

He felt Harry crouch in front of him but kept his eyes closed. He felt something wet against his face and realised it was his own tears. He made no move to dash them away.

Harry's voice dropped to barely above a whisper.

"You accused Dumbledore of letting me get away with everything, but it was you who got away with a lot more. Every day you unleashed your venom on everyone who didn't agree with your way, your methods. Do you know how much damage you've done to the school, to the students, to reputation of Slytherin students and the school wards because of it? How many students you've berated and trampled under your ego? How much damage you've inflicted on innocent people who didn't deserve your malice, your spite?

"You blamed the Marauders for taking Lily away from you. Look how they ended up. James Potter dead, Sirius Black in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit and Remus Lupin unable to hold down a job despite having enough qualifications that surpassed anyone's expectations because of an affliction that was forced on him. Like he wanted to be a werewolf. Like he asked for it. You weren't content that you had a better life than any of them, though, were you? You had a job which Lupin didn't have, you had freedom that Sirius didn't have and you had a life when my dad didn't have his anymore. You didn't want to listen to anyone because you still didn't have your revenge. You wanted Sirius Kissed by the Dementors and you wanted Lupin gone from Hogwarts. You weren't content that you had a better life than any of them, instead you continued to act as if you were still in that time. You weren't willing to move on. Ask yourself this, Severus Snape: if you had succeeded in my third year to capture Sirius and deliver him to the Dementors along with Lupin, would you have moved on? How long would that have made you happy? Would you have truly let go?"

Severus felt like he couldn't breathe. There was a great pressure on his chest.

"You think you deserve my forgiveness, Professor?" the words were mocking. "You spent a lot of time trying to make me feel unworthy. The root of all my pain – from my childhood to my school years – it all begins with you. You don't understand true regret."

Severus held back a sob and pressed his head against the wall, digging his fingers into the carpeted floor.

"You want my forgiveness? You've done nothing earn it. And you will not attempt anything like this again. Do you understand?"

Severus was too slow to nod and flinched when Harry said in a louder voice just as he felt vibration on the wards.

"I said do – you – understand?"

Severus' eyes flew open and he found himself looking into green eyes and flinched again.

"I – I – I understand."

Over Harry's head he saw Longbottom and Lovegood come flying through the door, following closely by Lucius and the Headmaster.

Harry straightened up and turned around to face the others. Severus didn't see the cold expression in Harry's face, but could easily imagine it from the young wizard's voice.

"You shouldn't have done this."

"They know, Harry," Lovegood assured him softly.

"We told them." Longbottom added.

Severus was startled to see an incensed look from Longbottom as he led Harry away from the office. Only Lucius and Albus stayed but Severus had already retreated into himself, unaware of the looks the other wizards exchanged.

Their voices drifted over his head.

"I'll use the floo to take Severus to my quarters and keep an eye on him there," came Lucius' voice.

"Do you need Poppy's assistance?"

"No, thank you, Headmaster."

Severus felt himself being lifted by both arms and then Lucius draped one arm over his own shoulder and lead to the floo which Dumbledore activated. Severus was only partially aware of what was happening around him.

He felt the heat of the fire, Lucius stepping in with him and coming out the other end to see Narcissa's alarmed face.

She tried to assist Lucius who waved her away and lead Severus to a spare room and laid him on the bed. He spelled Severus' outer robes and shoes away and tucked him in. Dimming the lights, Lucius stood hesitantly at the door before closing it firmly behind him.

Severus curled up protectively and let out a shuddering breath and finally unleashed the torrent of emotions in loud, harsh sobs.

"Forgive me, Lily," his voice cracked.

Lucius sighed as he closed Severus' door. He'd made a huge mistake. He'd tried to help his friend and the boy he loved like a son into reconciling, and worse he did it without knowing all the facts. He knew Severus was trying to seek forgiveness from Harry, but what he didn't take into account was Harry's feelings and other people who were affected. He forgot that Harry didn't measure forgiveness in terms of wrongs against him, but those around him as well; his friends and family.

Narcissa straightened from her seat by the fire and waited patiently as Lucius sank into his own. Lucius pressed his fingers against temple in a futile effort to stave off a headache.

"I don't know what happened in the room," Lucius said eventually, knowing Narcissa let him gather himself and tell her what happened at his own pace. "I locked them both in the Headmaster's office as agreed. Harry must have viewed all the memories and I could hear him cursing my name before he used the bracelet to call for Luna and Neville."

Lucius took a breath before continuing.

"They were furious. Neville especially. He said I should have asked them if this was a good idea before attempting it and …"

"What?" Narcissa prompted when the silence dragged on.

"Neville's asked me to visit the Headmaster's Pensieve tomorrow so that they can show me memories of their own."

Narcissa seemed to hold her breath.

"I'm ashamed," Lucius said finally. "Severus was in pain for so long and I was too self-centred to see it. He took out his pain on others and he hurt Harry, Neville and countless other people so badly. And I didn't see it."

Lucius fell silent again as he stared into the fire.

"Neville was so angry," Lucius continued after several minutes. "He showed me his memories. He showed me his hurt. There was a lot of hurt. Not just about Severus, about Draco too. I underestimated how much damage words could do. I don't know to how help them, Narcissa. I don't know how to help my family."

Lucius dropped his head in his hands.

Narcissa stood up from her seat and shuffled a couple of steps until she was in front of Lucius and lifted his head from his hands before sitting in his laps. She pressed a kiss against his brow before settling her head on his shoulders. His arms came around and held her protectively against him.

"They'll come together," Narcissa whispered. "Harry and Neville are angry now, but they're good boys. They have good hearts. They will forgive Severus and Draco. Give them time and they will see. We can't force them."

Lucius stroked her belly lovingly.

"You are right."

"I'm a witch. Witches are always right."

Lucius smiled, but couldn't stop his mind from playing Neville's memories. No memory with Severus was happy. No doubt any encounter Severus and Harry would be the same. And Neville was quite determined when he stated that any student who wasn't a Slytherin did not have any good memories of one Severus Snape.

Albus sat behind his desk, weary head resting on steepled fingers as the portraits finished recounting the conversation, verbatim, between Severus and Harry. Feeling drained, he let out a sigh and sat back as he gazed at Pensieve. He was disappointed.

Disappointed at Harry for not forgiving Severus, disappointed at Severus for letting his grudge get this far, disappointed at himself for thinking that he could fix this.

How hubristic of him to think that just because he, Albus Dumbledore, had wanted two young wizards he cared deeply for to get on together, that it would happen. He had spent so many years trying to convince Severus to let his bitterness go and see young Harry as his own person, and now that that veil had fallen from his eyes; it was too late. Too much time had passed, too many harsh words exchanged, too much damage had been done.

He had wanted Severus to get on with Harry so badly but if he was truly honest, he had not done anything to actually mend the rift. He let Severus take his vitriol out on Harry and several others, in a misguided act of guilt for not being the kind of Headmaster that the school required.

Albus thought himself as brave, cunning, clever and loyal, the very values that were touted by the Founders. Yet, for the first time he truly understood that he didn't live them as the Founders had imagined the students would, long after they passed.

Severus wasn't the only one who had done damage to the school wards. Albus could also take the blame for that. He allowed the house rivalries go beyond the normal school children banter and in doing so perpetuated the rationale that some houses were better than others. They were not. All houses had been created equal. The rivalry between them should have been friendly, binding them together instead of driving them further apart.

He missed so many opportunities to change the thinking of the wizarding world towards ancestry, blood, knowledge and what it means to be Hogwarts. The school was supposed to be a haven. Instead, as demonstrated by Severus and the Marauders, it became a playground of bitterness and cruelty.

He, Albus, had done nothing to mitigate that. He allowed it to continue. He had disappointed the Founders. He was ashamed. He had no children of his own. But he thought of the students as he would his own, but he had not treated each with the respect they deserved. He used them, if he thought about them at all.

Harry may have forgiven him, but he was sure there still a lot more forgiveness to earn. He was the Headmaster. He had a responsibility to the school, to his children. He couldn't neglect that again.

A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. Albus called for his visitor to enter.

Neville walked in. Albus took a moment to muse over the changes in the boy. He'd been aware of the changes building in the boy's fifth year. How he had grown into himself, grown more confident following the training Harry had provided within their secret club. Here was another boy he had let down. Augusta Longbottom had always been formidable witch, and there was no doubt that she loved her grandson. She had simultaneously had great expectations of young Neville and at the same time very little confidence in his abilities. He had flourished in Herbology, more than any other subject but there was no doubt that the boy had a good mind and great magical ability. Albus could have done more for him. Given the boy more guidance. The boy was raised in the shadow of his father. Augusta had let the boy down by not allowing him to become his own man. By piling on expectation upon expectation and only then sitting back in disappointment when the boy did not meet them, eroding the confidence of a young wizard who knew only stories of his parents and their exploits. Never experiencing them for himself. Not knowing their love and guidance.

His teachers too had let him down. It was an unfortunate side effect of teaching generation after generation. Frank and Alice had brilliant minds individually and had made their Houses and their families proud. Upon becoming Aurors, they had impressed their colleagues and superiors and struck fear in their enemies. Like the Potters, the Longbottoms had also defied Voldemort three times. Battled the Monster and had managed to escape. Comparing the shy, forgetful boy to the outgoing and confident Frank and Alice, Neville's teachers had let him down. They had not seen his potential. Yes, they had all let him down.

Albus blinked himself out of his thoughts.

"Headmaster," Neville began politely, coming to stand in front Albus' desk. He stood like a soldier, tall and proud. Confident within his abilities. His hands clasped behind his back.

"Neville," Albus smiled tiredly. "What brings you back here?"

Neville reached into his robe pockets and pulled out a flask full of a silvery substance. Albus recognised it immediately as memories.

Albus looked back up at Neville questioningly.

"Harry's not happy with the ambush, sir. None of us are really. Luna and Hermione are trying to calm him down. It was Ron's idea to retaliate with memories of his own. So, Harry chose some memories with Snape in them for Snape to watch, along with a few other memories Harry chose. Of course, given that most of the memories have Snape in there, they won't be new to him. But considering this little begging for forgiveness shtick he's currently on, maybe he'll view them in a new light at least."

Forgiveness shtick, Albus repeated to himself distastefully. Again he was struck by the changes in Neville. There was no respect for Severus in his voice. Not even a token effort to call him Professor.

"Severus is trying very hard to earn forgiveness," Albus said in an admonishing tone. "Would it be asking too much that you not laugh at his efforts?"

"Snape has made his apologies, sir. And Harry has refused to accept it. Repeating the words over and over will only yield him the same results. That's a little insane, isn't it?"

"Please, take a seat, Neville," Albus said in weary tones.

Neville complied slowly.

"Severus has much to atone for, he knows this. Why do you not think he deserves to build bridges with Harry?"

Neville studied Albus silently, weighing his words. Finally, he spoke.

"There's very few things Harry hasn't shared with us. About the horcruxes, the prophecy, the Dursleys, his expectations from his godfather and his plans for the future. There's only one thing Harry hasn't fully told us, but it's not hard to guess that it has something to do with Snape and Harry's mum. All that Harry has told us is that they were friends for a long time and that they fell out. He's not told us why. There's a lot more that Harry hasn't told us and it all has to do with Snape and Lily Potter."

Albus felt a little relieved that Harry had kept the details how Voldemort came to know the prophecy to himself. And too, the details of Lily and Severus' rocky relationship.

"This is personal to him. I visited my parents a lot before I started at Hogwarts. I've lived with my Gran who told me stories about all the time. I've had to live up to that. Harry lived with his muggle relatives who never told him magic existed until he got his Hogwarts letter. Who forbade him to ask questions about his own mum. Harry said he never knew what they even looked like, until he saw the Mirror of Erised. On the day his parents died, the whole magic world celebrates and to be honest I can't begrudge them that. To know the terror had ended and they could stop living in fear. But he's forced to celebrate with everyone. When he came to Hogwarts, he tried so hard to be what people wanted him to be. Just like my Gran tried to make me like my dad. But if I did something wrong, Gran wouldn't hesitate to tell me off. And I don't mind, because I know it's from a place of caring. But Harry had no one. He had no one to tell him off. No one to take care.

"Harry's not said what's happened between Snape and Lily but we, his friends, know that it's important. That this knowledge has impacted him. All Harry wanted was someone to care for him. Snape could have been that person. And that man is selfish. He's a bully and he's arrogant and he only wants forgiveness because he wants it. Harry's not ready to forgive. Maybe he never will be. But isn't it his right to refuse?"

Albus opened his mouth to defend Severus once more but Neville, anticipating this, headed him off with an impatient snort.

"Headmaster," Neville said in a firm voice. "Let me ask you this: Think about what your boggart would show you. You don't have to tell me. Just think about. If you faced a boggart right now, what would you see?"

Albus thought about his fears. Thought about his doubts and what he would dread the most. He knew what it would be instantly.

"When I was in third year Professor Lupin's very first lesson was on boggarts and I was the first one to fight it. Do you know what my fear was?"

Albus remembered quite vividly Severus' rant against Remus and his attempt to humiliate Severus by having Neville's Snape boggart dressed as his grandmother.

"I was thirteen years old and my worst fear was Snape. My teacher. It is a very personal thing, a person's fear. A boggart pulls on the very depths of your soul to find that fear. The others had fears like giant spiders, banshees, mummies. There's a reason we all fear what we fear, whether it's real or not, whether we've encountered it or not. Whether we've crossed paths with it or not. But I can tell you, Headmaster, when my boggarts came out as Snape, I was ashamed of myself. By that point I had already faced Hagrid's three headed dog which is by far the scariest creature I'd come across of in this life. But I saw Snape as my one true fear. And having lived in Hogwarts for so long, over all the lives I've lived, there's one thing I've always understood. The only thing you should be afraid of with teachers is to disappoint them. But you should never be afraid of them, not like that.

"Harry's always been brave. He's never been afraid of Snape like I have. But I want you to think about that. Harry wants Snape to watch these memories. On Harry's behalf, I say this: I want you to watch Harry's memories and think about them as well. You can watch them together or you watch them separately. Just watch them. You should really think about them from a teenager's point of view. And you tell me whether Harry should forgive Snape, because that's what Snape wants."

Neville stood up and left without being dismissed, leaving a brooding Albus behind him. Albus circled back to his earlier thoughts, as he studied the flask of memories. He really had let his students down.

Harry was sitting at the edge of the Lake, alone, as he gazed out towards the Castle. He knew he should be inside getting changed for the school dance but just needed more time to himself given how tense the last few weeks had been.

Snape had been absent from his classes for 2 weeks and only recently returned. Following his return, Harry and Snape had ignored each other. Dumbledore returned Harry's memories to him with a look of sorrow, but neither Snape nor Dumbledore had spoken of what they'd seen. However, Dumbledore had apologised for his part in what Harry had dubbed an ambush and promised not to interfere again.

Everyone picked up on the tense atmosphere and Harry knew there were rumours going around that Snape and Harry had a duel, which Snape lost, hence his absence. Harry found it privately amusing how exaggerated each "retelling" of "eyewitness" accounts were. It was also nice to know that people were on his side for once. There had been no witnesses in the vicinity when Harry had stormed out of Dumbledore's office, but there had been some Ravenclaws who had heard Neville asking for Luna near the Dorms. How they had guessed about Snape could only be due to his absence and Harry's involvement due to their well-known clashes.

Harry was debating whether he should stay outside for a little longer or go back inside and start getting ready when he saw an approaching blond head.

He sighed. He was hoping there wouldn't be another confrontation.

Lucius sat down next to Harry without saying a word. Neither spoke straight away.

Eventually, still staring ahead, Lucius spoke, "I owe a lifetime of apologies, Harry. I have had to do some truly reprehensible things in this life that I'll regret to my grave. More people than I care to count, that I need to apologise to, are no longer alive. People whose paths I could have changed where they didn't end up bowing to Voldemort or dying by his wand. Severus the former of those people. I hadn't regained my memories at that point, but during my final years I was already determined not to follow the path my family had set out for me."

"You found Maya?" Harry asked, though he already knew the answer. Maya was to Malachy what Juno was to Caspian. It was sad that Lucius had found his Maya only to have her taken away. Lucius loved Narcissa, but if he had found Maya, then he would never have married Narcissa. He would not have willingly walked away from his soulmate for any reason.

"I did."

There was silence and Harry let Lucius gather himself together. It might have been years, but losing your soulmate was something they would never truly get over.

"I took Severus under my wing straight away. The Princes had disowned his mother, but he was still an heir if no one else survived. Severus was ambitious and hungry from the moment he stepped foot into the Slytherin Common room. From the state of his clothes it was easy to guess what his home life had been like; and watching the rest of us, it was easy for him to see what his life could have been like if his mother had married a Pureblood. Severus was brave enough to be friends with Lily openly, my relationship with Maya had been secret. There hadn't been many people I trusted to know about her connection with me. Once I finished my schooling, there was only so much I could do to protect him but I'm also ashamed to say protecting him wasn't my priority. I wanted my own life, away from Voldemort, my family. I wanted to be with Maya."

Lucius' voice almost cracked at her name, but he fell silent again.

"I was selfish, spoilt. As much as I cared about Severus as a friend, I still left him behind, unprotected, to be exploited by others who would use his intelligence and his ambitions for the wrong reasons. I knew Dumbledore was too cowardly to really use his powers, his influence; it was obvious even then. Dumbledore turned a blind eye to a lot, because it was easier than to really take control and make changes. I helped Severus because he desperately wanted to be forgiven for the way he treated you and by helping him I wanted to make up for my transgressions against him. I blinded myself to the reasons you may not have wanted to forgive him."

"You saw those memories too?"

"Yes, I did. Neville was a lot more forthcoming about the way Severus had been treating you, him, various other students. Luna told me a few things as well, and I also questioned Draco a little further."

Harry began to detect the first stirrings of anger in Lucius' voice.

"Harry, about Draco –" Lucius began.

"Never apologise for anyone else, Lucius," Harry said gently.

Lucius quieted down and nodded.

"Ron asked me after we all went down to the Chambers how I could forgive you so easily after everything that had happened. It wasn't easy though. We didn't get our memories until after we were healed from Bellatrix's spell. But you helped Luna and that was what I focused on. I thought if you wanted you could have just taken Draco and left, it would have been less risky for you. But you stayed and made sure we all got out. Snape was there as well. He'd revealed himself and managed to get me out of the room and told me there was an escape plan but only for me. I couldn't leave anyone behind. Draco has bullied us from the beginning, but we never took it laying down either. Neville took it the hardest, from Snape and Draco. Draco has to learn to apologise for himself, Lucius. You can't apologise for him. Whatever lessons he has to learn, no one else can force him. As for Snape, I can't bring myself to forgive him. Snape also has some hard lessons to learn. Everything he's done, he'd brought on himself through his own choices. I lived with the Dursleys my whole life, they were bullies too. From seeing Snape's memories, it's easy to draw parallels with our lives. But the difference is I learned not to hurt other people to give myself a better life."

Lucius nodded and stood up. Turning, he held out his hand to Harry. Harry reached with his own and allowed Lucius to help him up. Lucius stopped him from walking off straight away.

"Dumbledore hid you well with the Dursleys. I had tried to watch over you as I had with Luna and Neville. In this life, we were scatted so far apart it was difficult to really look out for any of you. I had tried to plan to keep you all close. Draco was supposed to befriend you, give you an opportunity to know us. Merlin, the agony of waiting for you all to get your memories back. I didn't know when that would happen. All the while I had to fend off the other Pureblood families, juggle the politics with that buffoon Fudge, battle Dumbledore. I had to work in the shadows for the Light, and still seem as if I was pushing Voldemort's agenda."

Harry snorted and placed his hand on the elder wizard's shoulders.

"Lucius, calm down. Draco burned his bridges before we even met on the train. With me, at least. Unless he pulled his head out of his arse, he was never going to be my friend. I understand it was difficult for you to be able to do everything you did and not be able to share it with anyone. Our lives aren't gelled together right now, but I'm sure in time I won't think Draco's an arrogant toe rag and you never know, we might even all act like family. Sometime in the very, very, very distant future. You know, when Luna and I are ready to be grandparents, and you better hope you're getting another son because no one in their right mind will marry Prince Draco because another son is your only chance of carrying the Malfoy line further."

Lucius chuckled as they began their walk towards the castle.

"You're no less than a son to me, Harry," Lucius said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Any sibling to Draco will also be a sibling to you."

Harry was touched at his words. He'd grown up feeling unwanted and unloved by the Dursleys, thinking that he had no one else to look out for him. Since finding out he was a wizard he found family in Hagrid and the Weasleys, he'd found his soulmate and saviour in Luna and a friend and brother in Neville. A year ago, he would never have dreamed calling Lucius Malfoy his family, but Malachy and Lucius were one and the same, they could never not be family. Caspian would always think of Malachy as father and brother, but to Harry to find family still felt unreal. It was simple, yet complicated. Their souls were bound together inextricably since they had committed themselves to the Founders to protect the school.

That bond could never be broken.

They stopped at the steps to the Entrance Hall.

"Do you forgive me, Harry?" Lucius asked earnestly.

Harry began walking up the steps slowly, keeping his back to the Hall so as not to expose it to Lucius.

Harry was halfway up as he replied to Lucius who was still standing at the bottom, just as it started to rain a little, "I forgive you, Lucius. I'm fornicating with your sister after all."

Then before Lucius could process the words, Harry turned around sprinted up the stairs and away and didn't stop until he reached his dorms, startling many students and ghosts on the way. He was lucky he wasn't caught by any teachers and told off for running in the hallways but at least Lucius wasn't on his tail. He knew there would be hell to pay for that comment later though.

"Stay behind, Mr Potter," the Professor's jolly voice called out.

Harry exchanged a puzzled look with Hermione but replied to Slughorn with a complacent, "Yes, sir."

He and Hermione continued to pack their bags. He told Hermione to go ahead to the Great Hall for lunch.

Everyone else bustled out, ready to start their lunch. Hermione was the last to leave, closing the door quietly behind her. Harry shouldered his bag and moved forward where Slughorn was adjusting homework on his desk.

Slughorn had been their Potions teacher since last year, but Harry hadn't really studied under him until the beginning of the Seventh Year. Harry found that under that seemingly selfish and self-serving exterior was a good, kind wizard. He hadn't lied to Ron and Hermione when he'd told them that Slughorn was a perfect example of a good Slytherin.

Yes, he looked after his own comfort above all, but not at the detriment of anyone else. Slughorn would never stab you in the back to get what he wanted. He'd built up his career and comforts by helping other achieve their goals. His network was vast and those he helped to greatness were often reminded exactly who paved the way. He very rarely had to pay for a thing; not when his currency was favours.

Harry had had to have a frank conversation with Slughorn as to why he wasn't interested in the Slug club. Slughorn had spent several weeks trying to persuade Harry to change his mind, but finally had to concede defeat.

Harry hoped that Slughorn was not going to start that again.

"I'd like offer my belated congratulations on your engagement, young Harry," Slughorn said, looking up with a beaming smile.

Harry was a little taken aback. Despite the huge gathering in Lucius' quarters, they had decided to keep the engagement quiet. Harry knew Luna kept a Disillusionment Charm on her ring to stop people from noticing it. Outside of the group, no one actually knew Harry had proposed to Luna.

"You're confused as to how I know?" Slughorn said with an amused quiver of his lips.

"Yes sir," Harry said, wondering who else knew.

"I overheard Minerva speaking to Xenophilius Lovegood," Slughorn informed him. "I've known since the day you've proposed all those weeks ago. I suppose I simply couldn't keep myself from mentioning it to you any longer. But don't worry, Harry, I haven't told anyone else; nor do I intend you. After all, if you had intended for other people to know, then you would have announced it already."

"Yes sir," Harry acknowledged.

"Sit down, Harry, please," Slughorn sighed.

Harry slowly took a chair in the front whilst Slughorn dragged another chair to sit across from Harry. He eyed the Potions Professor cautiously.

"Your mother was my favourite," Slughorn started abruptly.

Harry was a little startled at the topic and the way it was phrased. In the past when Slughorn had spoken about Lily it was always about her prowess with Potions; about how beautiful she was and how clever she was. It was always superficial things that any other teacher had spoken about her. This seemed more personal somehow. On the other hand, he wondered if it was a new angle to get Harry to join the Slug club.

He listened silently.

"Lily had a way with Potions about her. I saw it straight away. She was inquisitive and wasn't afraid to test the boundaries. Wasn't afraid to challenge when she thought there might be a better way to get the best out of an ingredient. She and Severus," Slughorn said the name cautiously, knowing the animosity between Harry and Snape, "were thick as thieves for the longest of times. Her books were always littered with notes of improvements and experiments. She could have been great."

Harry listened politely but also with interest. Sirius and Remus often spoke about James Potter more than they did about Lily. Harry didn't begrudge them that. They didn't know Lily properly then so Harry couldn't blame them for it.

It would be like Harry trying to tell stories about Lavender and Parvati twenty years later, when he simply had more stories about Ron and Hermione.

"I don't just mean because she died so young, Harry," Slughorn carried on sombrely. "I mean because, despite her natural gift at Potions, she was even better at Charms. Charms was her first love. I have no doubt had she lived, she would have gone on to get her Charms Mastery; she would have become a Champion dueller like Filius Flitwick. And the Charms world have been richer for having Lily Evans in it."

"Sir?"

"I'm telling you this because I see the same potential in you, Harry," Slughorn said with solemn sigh.

"I'm not sure I agree, sir," Harry protested.

"You're good at Potions, Harry," Slughorn spoke over him. "Had you had a better beginning you might have been better than you are right now. But I didn't mean with Potions, though you could still be great at Potions as well if you truly put your mind to it. Potions isn't your passion, Harry, I know that. I've seen and heard plenty of you to know that your passion seems to be Defence Against the Dark Arts, yet it almost seems like you don't want that to be your passion."

Harry was stunned at the insight. It wasn't what he expected from the seemingly shallow Potions Master. Slughorn went up a little more in Harry's esteem.

"Lily and I still kept in touch even after she graduated Hogwarts, Harry. Then there was a final letter after you were born. She was so worried about you. You were precious to her. Her pride. Her death hit me hard. I spent a lot of time blaming myself."

"How do you mean, sir?" Harry asked confusedly.

"Tom Riddle was in my House, Harry. As his Head I should have paid more attention to what he was becoming. I was younger then. More concerned for my creature comforts. I saw the dark path he was treading. Yet, he was charming and clever. He knew how to inspire loyalty in others. Knew how to keep them afraid. I let him down. I know he wanted to become a teacher, like me. But he wanted to do it for all the wrong reasons."

Harry nodded absently, staring at Slughorn in wonder. He'd definitely underestimated the Potions Master. He clearly had more depth than Harry gave him credit for. It made Harry feel ashamed of himself.

"Find your passion, Harry. Don't do what Lily did. She put aside her passion for the war. She put her aside her passion for Charms to fight and she didn't find her passion again until she had you in her life. I see you and see so much of Lily in you. You both have a huge heart and an enormous capacity to love. I know the Daily Prophet calls you the Chosen One. I know you have a huge burden on your shoulders. I also know, I can't let Lily's boy live life like it's a chore. Apart from the lovely Miss Lovegood, you need to find something else you want to live for."

Harry found an unexpected lump in throat. In Fifth year, he had a careers meeting with McGonagall where he'd expressed his desire to be an Auror. It was not a long lived ambition. Since finding he'd been a Champion for the Founders, his greatest skill was his ability to fight. He was a soldier. A warrior. He was made for fighting. No one, not Sirius, not Lucius, not Dumbledore not even McGonagall in his disastrous careers meeting had spoken to him like this. About this. No one had made him feel like he could choose. Neville had his passion for Herbology and was looking into completing an Apprenticeship in that field. Luna had her father's magazine that she'd wanted to work for. She loved working with creatures, magical and otherwise and wanted to continue down that path. Hermione was so clever, she had so many options ahead of her and Harry knew she already had a clear path of what she wanted to do. Harry knew even Ron had his ambitions but he was too insecure to voice them. Too afraid to fail, afraid of being compared to his brothers and found wanting. But Ron's passion was for Quidditch, which was leagues ahead of Harry's love for the sport. He missed Quidditch last year but he loved being on a broom more.

What was his passion? Did he even have one?

He looked up at Slughorn's understanding eyes.

"You'll find your calling, Harry. I know you will. Just don't lose yourself in the war," Slughorn said gently.

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said in the most sincere voice he'd ever used with the Potions Professor.

"Go on, lad. You get yourself to lunch," Slughorn said gruffly, getting to his feet.

Harry left, feeling different somehow. Having a horcrux in his head had made Harry feel his life had an expiration date, even more than having a prophecy did. Over the last couple of years since learning of the prophecy he'd only given priority to what he needed to survive and what he needed for others to survive. Slughorn had forced him to look to a future beyond, or maybe in spite of Voldemort. Harry usually shied away from that sort of thinking. The only future he truly imagined after Voldemort was just one with Luna by his side. Slughorn was right. He needed to find another passion besides Luna. He needed to find something for himself. He walked off to the Great Hall with the little time for lunch with a hopeful smile on his face.

Draco walked into his parents' rooms without knocking as he usually did. His mother was sitting at the table with a copy of the Quibbler as she usually did, with a smirk on her face. His parents had been reading the magazine for years, Draco could never understand why. The whole thing was nonsense. Draco had been angry ever since he found out his father was alive. Not that he wasn't happy to have his father back. He hadn't felt ready to be the head of the family. He'd felt useless when he and his mother had been attacked. He remembered how he'd been unable to do anything but cower in pain and terror when Aunt Bellatrix had tortured his mother. It was Potter and their demented ex house-elf that had saved them.

Since his father had come back, everything had been about Perfect Potter and Loony Lovegood and that bumbling buffoon, Neville Longbottom. Draco felt pathetic, unneeded, forgotten. Even his mother seemed to be focusing on everyone but Draco.

"Morning, Draco darling," Narcissa greeted, folding her magazine and placing it aside.

"Mum," he said, knowing his voice was curt.

He had a free period, which his mother knew. Usually he would spend it in the library or with his friends. But something compelled him to see his mother.

"Sit down, Draco," his mother beckoned with a gentleness he felt he didn't deserve.

Draco scraped the chair loudly as he pulled it out for himself. His mother did not react and he placed his book bag next to him on the floor.

"Did you have breakfast this morning?" she asked him.

"Yes," he said abruptly.

Narcissa gave him a strict look before she summoned a house-elf for tea and biscuits. Draco sat there, trying not to look sullen as the tea tray appeared with a selection of biscuits and scones. He watched his mother as she poured his tea and added 2 sugars and lots of milk, just the way he liked it. He helped himself to biscuits whilst his mother made her own tea.

"Say what's on your mind, Draco?"

Draco stayed silent for all of 10 seconds before bursting out with a stream of feelings he'd been hiding since his father had come back.

"Are they more important than me? Dad told you all about being a Founders' Champion but why didn't he trust me? I can keep secrets. Since Dad came back it's Perfect Potter this, or Loony Lovegood that. Even Lard-Arse is more important than me. They're his family. Not me. Even Uncle Severus is chasing after Saint Potter, begging his forgiveness. For what? For a few harsh words over his Potions? Potter's crap at Potions so he deserved everything Uncle Severus said."

Draco continued with a barrage of complaints until he realised, he was crying and Narcissa heaved herself from her chair and came to him. It felt good to have his mother's arms around him.

"Am I not important?"

"You are, darling. Of course, you are," her voice came above his head. Draco's head laid against his mother's belly.

Draco gathered himself and Narcissa continued to hold him until he did. Embarrassed Draco tried to pretend he hadn't been crying.

Narcissa held him for a while longer. Draco wondered whether she did it for herself or for him.

"Your father loves you, Draco. I'm sorry you don't see how much. It is hard for someone like me and you to understand because we don't have their connection. Your father regained his previous life's memories before we married. It took him sometime to finally tell me after we married and even in the Wizarding world, it was difficult to believe. He offered me some proof, which was still difficult to accept. But I went along with it and continued to stand by him. Your father often did things that were out of character. He had to balance his life with us, protect us, pretend to follow You Know Who, watch over what I called his other family. Draco, I was afraid once Harry, Neville and Luna remembered him that he would choose his other family over us.

"He asked me to leave with him, to take us all away from the war. He said the others would understand. But I said no because I knew that he would always worry. He'd always be thinking about them."
"Because they're more important than us." Draco burst again, standing up, forcing his mother to back up as his chair fell to the floor with a clatter.

"He knew you'd say no. You should have said yes. You should have made him give them up and go with us. Far away from here. Away from Saint Potter and Loony who mean more than we do!"

He couldn't take it anymore. He felt abandoned by his mother. She wasn't making him feel better. She was supposed to take his side. He was her son.

"Draco," his mother said imploringly.

With a disgusted look at his mother, Draco stormed out of the room leaving his school bag behind. The door banged shut behind him and he angrily strode off in a random direction, distantly hearing the door open again and his mother call for him.

He was already at the bottom of the staircase and waiting for the next when his mother called again.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, stop right there!" Narcissa's voice rang out.

Instinctively, he stopped at the use of his full name and turned around. Narcissa was stuck on a different staircase and he realised it was the one with the trick step. He opened his mouth to yell out a warning, but it was too late. Narcissa's foot was caught and Draco froze in horror as she pulled too hard and overbalanced falling belly first.

"MUM!"

She tried to twist as she attempted to protect her baby bump. Draco heard her shriek of pain and he expected to hear a sickening crack but then she was floating. He looked above to see Ron Weasley standing there looking pale. Weasley gently lowered his mother to the ground. Narcissa, still shocked, didn't dare move. Weasley raced downstairs, skipping the trick step without thought and knelt by his mother. Draco had to wait for another staircase before he could race back to his mother.

"Mum!" his voice croaked.

Narcissa groaned, her eyes closed as she took deep breaths.

"Mrs Malfoy," Weasley prompted. "Can you stand?"

Eyes still closed, Narcissa shook her head.

"My water broke," she said in shock.

Weasley's eyes widened in horror. Draco's mind went blank.

"What?" Weasley squeaked.

"My baby's coming," she panted and then groaned.

"What?" Weasley squeaked again.

His mother let out another pained groan and mumbled something about needing help, which snapped Weasley out of it, but Draco was still spaced out.

Weasley looked around wildly.

"Malfoy. Malfoy!" Weasley snapped to him.

Draco turned his blank gaze to Weasley.

"Where's your dad?"

"What?" Draco couldn't think.

"He's got a class on the Quidditch pitch," Narcissa answered for him.

"Okay," Weasley nodded. He looked over the banister and saw other students and who were coming back up the stairs.

"Colin! Ginny!" Weasley yelled in relief.

Creevey's face came into view but Draco could only stare at his mother's pained face. This was his fault. Vaguely, he heard Weasley instruct Creevey to find his father and tell him to come to the Hospital Wing. He told his sister to find Harry and the others. They both raced off with their duties.

"Malfoy!" Weasley said impatiently.

"What?" Draco asked faintly.

Weasley's face softened at whatever look he saw in Draco's.

"Your mum needs you. I'll help you take her to the Hospital Wing," he said gently.

Draco took a deep breath and nodded. His mother needed him.

"Let's go," he said grimly.

Draco felt too shaky to use his wand and Weasley didn't use his either. Narcissa gave another pained moan, even though they lifted her as gently as possible. Together they carried her off towards the direction of the Hospital Wing. Draco hoped his father would get there fast.

Lucius was only 15 minutes away from finishing his class when he was interrupted by a red faced Sixth Year Gryffindor, who looked ready to keel over below him.

"Professor Malfoy!" the boy panted, as he doubled over to catch his breath.

Lucius directed his broom towards the boy, annoyed at having his class interrupted. The students, a mixed class of 3rd year Ravenclaws and Slytherins stopped what they were doing in mid-air to watch.

"What is it?" he snapped impatiently as he tried remember the boy's name.

The boy was still trying to catch his breath and Lucius tempered his irritation and told him to breathe. Creevey, that was his name, took a deep breath and spoke,

"You (pant) need to (huff) go (pant) to Hospital (wheeze) Wing!"

Lucius was immediately alarmed.

"Mrs Malfoy (huff) hurt. Ron (wheeze) sent me." The boy collapsed to his knees.

Lucius immediately turned to the students and barked "Class dismissed!"

Turning his broom towards the castle and flew off without a backward glance.

Lucius knew from his first experience at Draco's birth that mentioning how much his hand hurt would not garner him any sympathy. Lucius didn't know the full story but was told that she had slipped on a staircase and the trauma had been enough to induce a labour. Narcissa was only a week away from her due date, and Madam Pomfrey had healed her without any issues and set to make her as comfortable as possible.

The pain in his hand was soon forgotten as he was handed his daughter, squirming and swaddled in a blanket with unicorn print. Her initial indignant cry had set his heart racing and she continued to scream her pique at being ejected from her comfy home of her mother's uterus as Andromeda took her away to be cleaned.

Narcissa fell back on her bed in exhaustion. Molly Weasley and Madam Pomfrey helped clean her up and changed the sheets underneath her.

Lucius took his daughter from Andromeda tenderly and held her close, protectively against his chest. Andromeda helped Narcissa sit up so that Lucius could hand her over and sat next to her so that he would remain close to them both. They would both have continued to stare at their baby had Molly not intruded on their moment by clearing her throat.

"Narcissa, Lucius, there are people waiting outside for the big announcement," she said with a gentle smile and a fond look at the baby.

Narcissa had been taken to a private part of the Hospital Wing, so Lucius could imagine that any well-wishers would be camped out in the main rooms, or if Madam Pomfrey was being strict then they were probably out in the corridor.

"I'll go out to tell them," Lucius said, and with a last warm look at his wife and daughter.

He was expecting Draco, Severus, Harry, Neville and Luna, with maybe Hermione and Ron and Sirius. As he walked out of Narcissa's private room he saw they were all there, but he was also extremely surprised to see the majority of the Weasleys, Ted and his daughter Dora. Lupin was also in attendance.

Draco and Severus were standing aside from everyone else, but they were all waiting impatiently, not to mention very loudly.

The hubbub slowly died down once they realised that Lucius was in the room, and they all stared expectantly.

"I am the proud father of a baby girl," he announced with further ado.

All at once there was a cacophony of noise coming towards him. He nodded to Draco to go inside and was immediately overwhelmed by hugs from Harry, Neville and Luna. Sirius slapped him on the back, Arthur gave him a genuine smile, Ted shook his hand and Dora gave him a brief embrace. All other Weasleys stayed back. Severus also gave him a nod but didn't move any closer, flicking a wary glance towards Harry.

Eventually the racket died down and Harry said on behalf of everyone, "Would it be okay if we came to see you in the morning?"

"Why the morning?" Lucius asked puzzled, with his arm still around Luna.

"We didn't want to intrude on your family time," Harry replied.

"You are family, Harry," Lucius said softly.

"Look at us, Lucius," Harry said, "there's so many of us and we'd only be in the way."

"As long as you keep the noise to a minimum, don't overtire the patient and of course have permission, you won't be in the way," Madam Pomfrey said succinctly as she walked out of Narcissa's room. She stalked off in the direction of her office without a backward glance. Lucius knew there was a silencing ward on the room so, should there be other patients, there would be no disturbance. Lucius allowed Severus and Ted to head in first, but Ted popped his head out a minute later and said that Narcissa instructed everyone to come in.

Walking back into the room with everyone else in tow he saw that Draco was handing back his sister to Narcissa and then stood back, pale faced. Lucius made a mental note to speak to him later. He guessed that Narcissa's fall had something to do with Draco but wouldn't draw attention it to right now. Draco was already feeling overshadowed by everything else. He'd not taken Lucius' previous life very well. Lucius wasn't sure how to fix it with Draco, other than to give him time and make him realise that he was still a significant part of his life.

"So, what have you decided to name her?" Andromeda asked, leaning over Narcissa.

Narcissa looked at Lucius.

"I chose Draco, you choose our baby girl."

Draco stood up straighter.

"Adelaide," Narcissa announced simply, staring down at the youngest Malfoy who had fallen into an angelic sleep.

"All right give her over here," Black announced. He moved past everyone to gently extract the baby, Adelaide, from Narcissa.

Black cooed over Adelaide with a sappy grin.

Ted cleared his throat as he reached into his robes and came out with a bottle of Earl's Scotch.

"Care to wet the baby's head?"

"Good man," Black barked, disturbing Adelaide for a brief moment, but she settled back down quickly. Still, Andromeda reached over to take the baby away with an admonishing look.

"Looks like we had the same idea," Arthur beamed, bringing out a bottle of whiskey from his robes.

"We may as well open our own bar," one of the twins smirked as he brought out a bottle of Oblonsky's Vodka.

"Indeed," Severus sighed, as he too brought out a bottle of Hoggard's Scotch.

Harry conjured a table as Neville reached into his robes for a bottle of Captain Jackal's Rum.

Molly shook her head and said, "You better hope Professor McGonagall doesn't come down here and see all that."

Black snorted.

"I wouldn't worry about Minerva. She'd join in and drink us all under the table." He exchanged a look with Lupin who only looked resigned.

"That's very true," Lupin agreed as he conjured enough glasses for everyone.

Lucius gestured for Draco to come forward.

"Dare I ask where you got the Rum?" Molly asked, looking at Neville disapprovingly.

Neville looked towards Harry and Ron and then back at Molly. Sheepishly, he raised a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture and gave a shrug.

Molly shook her head with a smile and then looked to Andromeda to take Adelaide from her.

Andromeda gave her up with a smile and went to sit on the bed with Narcissa. Narcissa looked radiant, if a little tired, as she looked to her sister. Lucius caught her look and held it before flitting his glance over the people in the room. When Draco was born, there had been no family to come over. Everyone who had come to congratulate them had been part of the Death Eater network. Narcissa had felt the keen absence of her sister. At Adelaide's birth, it felt bizarre to have so many people present. Lucius knew how she missed her family, true family.

They all turned a blind eye to the underage drinkers, namely Luna and Ginny, though they were strictly monitored by an eagle eyed Molly. In between drinks, almost everyone took turns holding Adelaide. Lucius noticed Dora looked sad, and Black gave her look of regret and Harry looked protective. There was clearly a story behind the behaviour that Lucius was missing. But then, he knew that there were a lot of stories that Lucius was not aware of. Draco seemed to have relaxed and stuck by Severus for the most part. When Severus held the baby stiffly, Lucius took the opportunity to raise his glass and get the attention of everyone there.

"Severus," Lucius said once everyone turned to look. "What do you say to another godchild?"

He had already spoken to Narcissa about this. They would ask Severus and Andromeda to be their child's godparents. Narcissa had already asked Andromeda who had been delighted and accepted the honour.

"Really?" Severus asked, looking flummoxed.

"You were good enough for Draco. Why not Adelaide?" Narcissa told him.

"Absolutely. After all, you only dropped Draco on his head once," Lucius added.

Draco, who had been looking pleased as he sipped on his rum, looked peeved at Lucius' last statement.

"That explains a lot," Ron snorted.

"Twice," Narcissa amended with a delicate cough.

"Four," Severus corrected, looking at Draco uncomfortably.

"What?!" Draco yelped, rubbing his head self-consciously.

Harry and Neville disguised their laughter with hacking coughs no one believed.

"Well?" Lucius prompted.

Looking overwhelmed, Severus nodded and relaxed his arms a little more. Severus had never been comfortable around babies. He had been afraid to hold Draco until he was old enough to walk unaided.

"I'd be honoured."

Taking pity on his friend and also itching to have his daughter back in his arms, Lucius reached over to take Adelaide. His daughter didn't even twitch and Lucius broke into a smile as he settled back into her arms.

He was unaware that he was rocking.

"You know," Harry began thoughtfully, "I've never seen you holding a baby."

Lucius looked up, aware that everyone was paying attention.

"Why would you be seeing Malfoy with a baby?" Ron asked.

"I meant, in any of our lives," Harry explained.

Neville looked thoughtful as he tried to remember.

"Harry is right," Luna said in a faraway voice, concentrating on her memories.

"Malachy never got to have children," Harry said soberly.

"I died before that could happen," Lucius added dryly, looking down at Adelaide.

"You never got to have children in any of your lives," Luna stated sadly.

"So you're saying that in all your incarnations, this is the first time you've had children?" Black asked incredulously.

Lucius, Harry, Neville and Luna looked at each other contemplatively before saying together, "Yes."

"Actually, none of us lived long enough to have a family," Luna told them.

There was a sombre silence.

"Way to bring the mood down," one of the twins said wryly and took a swig of rum.

"Well," Narcissa coughed, "tonight is the celebration of our second miracle."

Lucius looked sharply at Narcissa before glancing at Draco who was looking pleased again.

"You mean because in this life Lucius accomplished what he couldn't in previous lives," Andromeda summarised sardonically.

Narcissa looked flushed before avoiding eye contact. Lucius looked towards Severus who was avoiding looking at anyone and crossed his arms defensively.

Picking up at the unsaid words, Andromeda prodded, "Come, sister. Tell us."

Looking cautiously at Lucius it was Narcissa who answered, "Let's just say Draco was completely unexpected."

"Unexpected? As in you didn't use protection?" Black hooted. "How irresponsible!"

"Actually, we did use protection. I insisted on it," Lucius told him.

"Draco was conceived despite you using protection?" Neville asked.

"That's why he's our miracle child," Narcissa said fondly.

"He surpassed a lot of odds to make it into this world," Lucius said softly. "Unless Narcissa stopped taking her potions-"

"Which I didn't," Narcissa insisted.

"Or the Potions were defective-" Lucius continued.

"Which they were not!" Severus added defensively.

"Draco defied a lot of odds to come into this world," Lucius finished. "As did this little darling."

Lucius looked at his daughter with joy, missing the look of pain and anger from Draco.

The twins laughed.

"At least you were planned, Ron, even after 5 children," Neville chuckled.

"Except Mum and Dad were planning for a girl," the twins chortled.

"Get lost," Ron grumbled amidst the laughter, even as Ginny turned red.

"Don't worry, Harry," Black boomed from across the room. "Your parents planned for you and wanted you."

"You too, Neville. You were meant to be," Lupin added kindly. "Frank was graphic about his attempts."

Neville looked disgusted. "I didn't need to know that."

There was another gale of laughter.

"You didn't want me?" a voice cracked once the merriment had died down.

There was an awkward silence as Draco stepped forward.

Narcissa spoke up, "Draco, darling that wasn't-"

"I wasn't supposed to happen?" Draco croaked.

"Draco-" Lucius tried to defend.

"We should go," Harry said quietly.

"NO! No. Saint Potter can stay. You're the chosen one. You were meant to be. After all, Dad wanted you. He waited for you. He looked out for you. I was just a burden."

"Draco-" Narcissa tried again, sitting up and reaching out.

Draco ignored her and stalked out. Lucius moved to follow but realised he was still holding Adelaide. He quickly but carefully handed her off to the closest person who happened to be Nymphadora. The young Auror protested but Lucius was too focused on getting to Draco.

He quickly ran out of the door and saw Draco was already out of the main wing and out in the corridor. He about to call out again when he decided to bring out his wand instead.

"Expecto Patronum!" he enunciated carefully as he focused on the memory of the day his son was born.

A huge silver dragon flew from the tip of his wand and flapped its wings, flying overhead until it reached Draco. Draco stopped at the sight of the dragon and whirled around in disbelief.

Lucius slowly walked forward.

Draco turned around to see the dragon as it snorted at Draco.

"You were never a burden," Lucius said quietly. "It's true that I didn't plan to have children. We were in a time of war. A child was the last thing I wanted when I didn't know if I would live to protect it. I never had children of my own in any of my lives, Draco. So I didn't know what I was missing. But the moment I held you, I knew. I knew I would do whatever it took to protect you. I may not have expected your birth, but believe me son, you were meant to be."

Lucius stopped when he was standing in front of Draco.

Draco threw his arms around Lucius. Draco's shoulders heaved as Lucius held him. Lucius felt his son's tears.