Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
At the welcoming feast, Harry had been planning to sit with Gryffindor but as he walked in with Draco, Ron gave him such a dark look that Draco had grabbed his arm and dragged him to the Slytherin table.
"You don't mind sitting with me, right?" Draco asked lightly, although inside he was furious. Weasley had some nerve.
"No, it's fine," Harry said as they took their seat. He had to admit he wanted to put off facing Ron and Hermione. It probably made him a coward, but he would have to face them soon enough in the Tower.
"Why is he sitting with us?" A fifth year Slytherin boy complained.
"Because I want him to," Draco said shortly.
"Well, I don't!" The boy snapped.
Draco stiffened and leveled the boy with dark, dangerous look. "You want to fight with me over it?"
The boy froze and frantically shook his head.
Draco knew Harry was watching curiously and he gave his brother a reassuring nod. The Slytherins knew he wasn't one to mess with. He had spent years making sure of it. First he had used his family name to gain influence and respect but that hadn't been enough, so he had worked hard to be strong not just physically but a strong student. He could duel quite well, even better now thanks to practice with Snape and Harry. The Slytherin House held duels as a way to see who the strongest spell castors were. Draco had always won and even the seventh years respected him. If any one of them wanted to give him a hard time for having Harry sit with them, he was more than happy to show them the error of their ways. He knew it was surprising, he had always acted like he didn't like Harry. But now Harry was family.
"I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable," Harry said after a moment, aware of some glares being sent his way. "I mean, I don't like to be where I'm not wanted."
"I want you here," Draco said simply.
A vial popped up next to Harry's plate and he sighed as he picked up the nourishment potion. "This stuff tastes disgusting." he muttered.
"Just drink a long swallow of pumpkin juice after," Draco said as he put some pot roast on his plate. He watched Harry down the vial and then grimace. With a chuckle, he poured him some pumpkin juice and handed it to him.
Harry gratefully swallowed it down. "How much longer am I going to have to take that stuff?" he complained.
"I'm not sure," Draco said thoughtfully. " A lot of damage was done thanks to those muggles. It will take some time to undo it."
Harry sighed and began putting food on his plate.
"So Malfoy, I heard a rumor that you have adopted Harry as your brother," Theo Nott said from across the table, sneering at Harry.
"That's right," Draco said. He had told Crabbe and Goyle to start spreading the news, it was better to just get it out there and deal with it.
"Unless you plan to deliver him to the dark lord," Theo said in a low voice. "Then you are a traitor."
"And you are an ignorant fool," Draco said in a bored voice.
Theo's face turned red with anger and looked to Harry with angry eyes. "Get away from our table. You don't belong here." he snapped.
"As Professor Snape's adopted son and my adopted brother, he is most welcome," Draco snapped back. "He's an honorary Slytherin."
"Professor Snape adopted him?" Millicent Bulstrode gasped. "So the professor is a traitor too?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Ignore them," he told Harry.
Harry ate slowly, grateful when Draco, Crabbe and Goyle began discussing Quidditch.
HP
After dinner, Harry assured Draco he would be okay and then headed to the Tower. When Harry entered the Gryffindor common room, he was immediately bombarded with questions. "So it's true what they are saying, Harry?" Seamus demanded. "You let that bat blood adopt you?"
"Don't call him that," Harry snapped. He glanced at Ron and Hermione. Ron was glaring at him but Hermione was watching him with concern in her eyes.
"But he's evil!" Dean protested. "And he's always hated you. So has Draco. Why would you do this? You even ate at the Slytherin table!"
"You wouldn't understand," Harry said quietly. He didn't want to go into how angry and broken he had been. "I got to know them over the summer. The real them, not the persona they give off. They care about me." he insisted.
"He's been brainwashed," Lavender Brown whispered loudly.
"Or he's simply found a family of his own," Neville spoke up. "Now back off. Frankly, it's none of our business."
"But he's the boy-who-lived," Dean said. "And he's let death eaters adopt him!"
"They are not death eaters!" Harry said furiously. Well, okay Snape had been. But they didn't need to know that.
"So maybe then you shouldn't be a Gryffindor," Seamus said coolly. "Maybe you should go be a Slytherin. You ate at their table already."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Actually, since I am now Snape's son I am considered a honorary Slytherin." He ignored the gasps and stomped up to his dorm. He quickly changed into pajamas and then flopped down on to his bed.
Neville walked in. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Harry said glumly.
"They just need time to get used to the idea," Neville said. He hesitated. "If they bother you, let me know. I refuse to allow you to be bullied."
Harry looked at him in surprise but then smiled. "Thanks, Neville." He sat up. "Listen, I'm so sorry about taking you to the ministry. You could have been killed and it's my fault -"
Neville raised a hand up. "Stop. I went because I wanted to. I knew it was dangerous and still, I made the decision to go."
"Was your gran mad at you?"
"Not at all," Neville grinned. "She was proud of me!"
Harry grinned back, relieved. A small weight lifted off his shoulders at hearing that. "Good. I'm glad."
"Don't feel guilty about us going, Harry." Neville said seriously. "We all had a choice that night. I'm didn't get a chance to talk to you after, but I'm really sorry about your godfather."
"Thanks," Harry whispered.
"Sirius would still be alive if Harry hadn't been so foolish."
Neville spun around and glared at Ron, who had entered the room. "If you had been sent a vision of your dad being tortured by Voldemort, what would you have done? Especially if your head of house was gone and the Headmaster was gone and you had a high inquisitor out to get you and discredit you."
Ron visibly faltered.
"Yeah, you think about that," Neville snapped. He then went to his own bed.
Harry looked at Ron for a moment and for a second, he thought he saw a flicker of regret in the redhead's eyes but then Ron purposely went to his own bed, not glancing in Harry's way again. Harry laid back and closed his eyes and waited for sleep to claim him.
HP
A week had passed and the news of the blood adoption had appeared in the prophet and was all anyone could talk about. Harry was used to being gossiped about so he was able to ignore it for the most part. It bothered him but again, he was used to it. Draco and Snape were upset on his behalf, with Draco glaring at everyone and Snape taking points even more than usual if he heard students talking about it.
Hermione hadn't spoken with him and instead would just gaze at him sadly. Ginny had been supportive, telling him to ignore her dunderhead brother. Neville had been great and most of the younger years still treated him normally. But many in his year and older acted like he had betrayed him. It was frustrating. He was still the same Harry. It wasn't fair that he couldn't have a family like everyone else without people getting mad about it.
HP
After classes one day, Draco was walking from the dungeons on the way to get Harry from the Tower for his Occlumency lesson with Snape when he heard his name being called. He turned around and his eyes widened in surprise. "Mother?"
"Dragon," Narcissa said warmly, hugging him.
"What are you doing here?" Draco asked curiously as he pulled back. "Is it safe?"
"Yes," Narcissa assured him. "I wrote to the Headmaster and asked if I could come see you. He arranged safe transportation for me . And do you really have to ask why I'm here?" Narcissa pulled out the prophet. "Why did you not write me, Draco?"
"I meant to," Draco said. "Once the news broke, I meant to tell about the blood adoption."
"It's a big thing for Severus to have done," Narcissa said. "The article mentions Potter's relatives were unsatisfactory but nothing else about them."
"That's all anyone needs to know," Draco said flatly. "They are horrid muggles."
Narcissa was quiet for a moment. "I see."
"The blood adoption included me but we didn't know it would." Draco said. "I'm not sorry about it. Harry needs me and he needs Severus. He needed a family and I won't let anyone hurt him. Not even father."
Narcissa gave Draco a sad smile. "I know." She looked at Draco fondly. "You always wanted a sibling, especially a brother."
"Yeah, I did," Draco admitted with a smile.
"Draco, your father will hurt him if he gets a chance," Narcissa said quietly. "I haven't spoken to him since he was released from prison but I know through some contacts I have that he is determined to deliver Potter to the dark lord personally."
Draco stiffened. "Over my dead body," he hissed.
"You have to be careful. Both of you." Narcissa insisted. "Some of the seventh years and sixth years would also be more than happy to kidnap Potter and hand him over."
"I know that," Draco said, fear hitting him in the gut. "And his name is Harry." he gently told his mother. "He's my blood brother."
"I know. He's part of the Malfoy family now," Narcissa nodded. "I don't know if he will want anything to do with me but I support the adoption, Dragon. I'll consider him part of my family too, if he doesn't mind. If Harry doesn't mind," she said with a small smile.
"That means a lot to me mother, thank you," Draco said. He saw Harry coming and frowned.
"You were supposed to wait for me to walk with you," Draco said with a huff. He and Snape didn't think it was safe for Harry to walk around without someone with him.
Harry shrugged sheepishly. "I forgot."
"Harry," Draco scolded.
Harry noticed Narcissa and took a hesitant step back. He looked at Draco questioningly.
"It's all right," Draco assured him. "Harry, meet my mother. Narcissa Malfoy."
"Hi Mrs. Malfoy," Harry said polity although he was confused as to why she was here.
"Hello Harry," Narcissa smiled warmly. Her eyes roved over him and she frowned. "Dear, you're so thin. You need to eat more. And why do look -" she stopped at Draco's cough. Horrid muggles, her son had said. She pursed her lips together. So. The muggles had kept the boy malnourished. No wonder he was so thin and looked younger than his sixteen years. She could see why Draco was so protective of him and thought of him as a little brother. "Well. How are classes going so far?"
"They're going fine," Draco said, relieved she didn't say anything else about Harry's appearance. "Potions is challenging, of course."
"Are you taking potions?" Narcissa asked Harry.
Harry nodded. "Yes. I didn't think I would be taking it this year but uh, the restrictions on who is allowed into sixth year potions changed so..." he trailed off and shrugged. "I'm not very good at it. Draco is one of the best in the class."
"Yes, my dragon has always enjoyed potions." Narcissa smiled.
"Dragon?" Harry raised an eyebrow, looking amused.
"Mother," Draco groaned.
Narcissa eye's widened. "Oh, sorry Draco dear." She looked apologetically at her son. She turned back to Harry. "It's a nickname." she explained. "His name means dragon and he always liked dragons, he even has this plush doll -"
"Mother!" Draco interrupted. Merlin's beard! He glowered at Harry, who was laughing.
"Oh, you just made my year Mrs. Malfoy," Harry gasped as he snickered.
Narcissa bit her lip although her light blue eyes were amused. "I'm sure you won't tease your brother too much."
"Not too much," Harry grinned. "Unless, do you have pictures of him and his dolly?"
"It was a plushy!" Draco snapped, looking around to make sure no one else overheard them.
Harry shook with laughter and even Narcissa let out a giggle.
Draco threw up his hands. "Wonderful. Both of you against me," He wasn't mad though. He had known his mother would take to Harry. She had always wanted more children, she was very maternal despite what people thought. He knew it was his father who had decided one child was enough.
"There you two are," Snape walked up to them. He paused when he saw Narcissa and gave her a polite nod.
"Severus," Narcissa said. "Congratulations on your adoption of Harry. He's a fine young man."
Harry's eyes brightened.
"Yes, we like him," Snape drawled. He looked at them curiously. "What have you been laughing about?"
"Draco and his plushy -"
"Unless you want me to hex your tongue off," Draco warned. "You won't say a word more."
Harry shut his mouth, his eyes filled with mirth. "No wonder you followed us second year when we watched Norbert hatch." he mused.
"Norbert," Snape said slowly.
"At least I wasn't foolish enough to be standing right next to a hatching dragon's egg," Draco sniffed.
Snape's face darkened. "You were there when Hagrid's little pet hatched? In his small, made of wood hut with a fire breathing dragon?"
Harry nodded guiltily.
Snape rubbed a hand over his face. Finding out about Harry's exploits over the years...Merlin, he was going to need to make more calming draught to have on hand. "A billion points from Gryffindor."
Harry gave him a lopsided grin. "Aw, come on. A billion points?" He knew Snape wouldn't take points. Well, not for that incident at least, as it had happened years ago. If Harry did something like that now...then yeah, Gryffindors points would be in the negatives.
"Oh, Severus," Narcissa lightly admonished. "It was years ago and he obviously survived the incident unscathed."
"Sheer dumb luck," Snape muttered.
"Or he's just very capable," Narcissa said with a friendly smile. "He does need to be fattened up though."
"I'm working on it," Snape promised.
"I should go," Narcissa kissed Draco's cheek and then did the same to Harry. "Make sure you both write to me about how your classes are going. Severus, it was good seeing you and look after my boys."
Snape watched her leave in amusement. "Well, it looks like she just adopted you as well, Harry."
Harry couldn't help but feel good. "She reminds me a little of Mrs. Weasley." he said thoughtfully.
"What?" Draco asked, startled.
Harry lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Caring. Mothering."
"Hmm, we'll have to share that insight with her next time we see her," Snape smirked. His smirk faded. "Now about Norbert -"
"Don't we have an Occlumency lesson?" Harry interrupted and quickly walked ahead to Snape's quarters.
HP
Lucius Malfoy walked into the Parkinson manor, relieved to be free from Azkaban. Although that relief was short lived, as he entered the sitting room to face the dark lord. "My Master," he said as he bowed.
"Lucius," Voldemort said pleasantly. Too pleasantly.
"Thank you for ensuring my freedom, Master," Lucius said.
"Of course, you are one of my loyal followers," Voldemort's eyes flashed. "Even if you have failed me."
"I am sorry for not procuring the prophecy for you, my lord," Lucius said nervously.
"Hmm. And then your wife and son hid from me, Lucius," Voldemort said. "Tell me, are they traitors?"
"Narcissa has always been weak," Lucius said with a sniff. "My son could be a strong follower."
"Really?" Voldemort held out the newspaper, announcing that Harry Potter had been adopted. "Draco is now Potter's brother. And my spy has betrayed me." His eyes darkened. It was infuriating, to know that Severus had made such a fool of him.
"Draco must be pretending," Lucius said desperately. "It's a trick, so that Potter can be delivered to you."
"And if it isn't?"
"I will kill him." Lucius said without hesitation.
Voldemort smiled slowly. "Good. Now about your failure..." he cast the Cruciatus Curse and smiled as Lucius fell to the floor, screaming in pain.
TBC: