Chapter 126: A Father's Return

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

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Outskirts Of The Prince Estate, Unknown Location, Unknown World...

Making his way further into the crypt, Severus Snape could sense himself getting closer to his objective. The large door at the end of the twisted corridor screamed of Eileen's less than savory personality and lack of imagination. As Snape approached the door, he was stopped by the arrival of Hermione and Lucius whom had apparently followed after him. The handsome blond wizard could hardly believe what he had witnessed as far as this crypt had been concerned and the thought of his father long thought to have been killed by Dragon Pox trapped behind the large door only made the moment even more surreal. Hermione had more than a few things to say to her husband for taking off in the middle of the night and venturing through a crypt alone but she refrained unsure of what they would find on the other side of the door. Snape met her gaze, knowing she'd have more than a few words for him as he turned his attention back to the door. It was a strange thing of a complex design and could not readily be opened. It required a sacrifice of something just to get the gears that lined it's intricate finish moving. Lucius seemed puzzled by the strange door as well, nothing remotely normal about it and unable to be forced open via magic. Hermione began to realize why a certain person was required to open it. She'd been against it but noted the look of determination on the face of her ailing lover. Freeing his father was of utmost importance to him even if Eileen had been a bitter disappointment, he needed this...this final attempt at closure when it came to the truth about his past. Up until that point they'd only conversed via a portrait and now...now came the moment of truth.

"It requires blood." explained Severus not taking his eyes off the door. "The blood of a Prince."

Lucius and Hermione both looked on in shock as Snape approached the door and placed his hand inside a steel ring that enveloped most of his arm. He growled as whatever had been inside proceeded to impale his hand drawing the much needed blood to began the process of opening the door before them. As the various mechanisms clicked and clanked in a bid to release the hold on the surprisingly heavy door, Snape seemed determined to face whomever had been on the other side head on.

Hermione had not been so sure about what to expect from whomever it was that had been behind the door.

Meeting the portrait of Abraxas Malfoy was one thing but to see the man in person, a man whom had been hidden away from the world for a number of years due to everyone believing that he'd died of Dragon Pox, a no doubt angry man at that was another matter altogether.

Lucius had been uneasy about the reunion with his father as well not sure what to expect or how to accept the new reality of his father even being alive after all those years of believing him dead.

It seemed everyone in attendance was holding their collective breath as the door opened striking the wall violently and smashing a bit of the stone into crumbs on the floor. The darkness of the room had not deterred Snape by any means as he moved to enter first. His curiosity as to what became of the real Abraxas Malfoy and his reaction to seeing his sons in person was too much to pass up. In life Abraxas was little more than a snobbish pureblood arse even referring to a young Severus Snape as his son Lucius Malfoy's pet.

"It appears that I am free at last." said the booming voice of one Abraxas Malfoy.

Lucius had been at a loss for words for the first time since Snape and Hermione had known him. Snape narrowed his eyes at the darkened doorway as Abraxas made his way out of the room. He resembled Lucius in terms of his complexion although the years of being locked in darkness made him more like Snape in that regard. His now white locks curtained around his face and his piercing gray eyes seemed to adjust to the new found light he'd ventured into.

"Lucius, you haven't changed a bit." he said in something of a jovial tone.

Lucius had attempted to speak feeling his emotions get the better of him.

"It's really you...father." he said unsure of how to proceed with this new development. "After all this time?"

"Indeed it is, Lucius." replied Abraxas before he turned his attention to Severus Snape and Hermione Granger.

"Severus." he said looking upon the pitiful sight that had been his second born son, newly discovered thanks to Eileen's treachery. "My son."

Snape knew not how to proceed either, he had half expected Abraxas to reject him as Eileen had or worse. His nervousness had not been lost on Hermione as she moved closer toward him and took his hand in hers.

"And whom might you be?" asked Abraxas turning his attention to Hermione in that moment.

"Hermione Jean Granger-Snape." replied Hermione still watching for any sign that Abraxas might be trouble. "Wife of your second son and mother to your apparent grandchildren."

Abraxas looked over at Snape in shock. Her youth had not gotten by him in any fashion.

"Severus." he said looking over his second born son once again. "How I long awaited the day I'd bring you home."

"You didn't." replied Snape still not of the mind to trust his father. "Lucius did."

Abraxas nodded in acknowledgement of this.

"Indeed he did." replied the elder wizard with a sigh. "Though there was not a lack of effort on my part, I searched for you for years...and when I had finally gotten close to the truth..."

"She locked you away." Snape completed his father's line of thought.

Abraxas nodded.

There was something of a sorrowful look upon the aged wizard's face.

"I've missed my family." he admitted. "Tell me...how are Draco and Narcissa?"

"They are fine...barely over the shock of Severus being apart of the family via blood." replied Lucius. "The harpy you married is still circling about attempting to do harm to Severus and possibly his young wife."

Abraxas sighed once more, the years had seemed to have taken a heavy toll upon him and the need for vengeance had not seemed to appeal to him.

"I have no quarrel with Eileen, lest she bring either of you or your families to harm." he replied more interested in leaving this place than engaging in another fight with his ex wife.

"I shall like to take you home Father." said Lucius sensing the older wizard's exhaustion.

Abraxas nodded in agreement then turned his attention back to Snape.

"My son is home...back where he belongs." he said before pulling a rather tense Snape into his embrace. "A Malfoy as it should be."

Hermione had not expected Abraxas Malfoy to be the supportive parent out of the two. It was strange to think that Eileen had wanted nothing to do with her son, but Abraxas seemed to have wanted him from the very beginning. Finally having gotten whom they had come for, Snape, Hermione, Lucius and Abraxas made the trip to Malfoy Manor.