What the Prophet Foretold
By
Emilea Wendelin Clark
Chapter 1
Harry Potter ran a hand through his thick raven hair as he sat nervously in the lavish study of Malfoy Manor. Dumbledore had written him, saying being there was safe and that he should trust Snape, who would deliver him to the Malfoy's.
Now, he was awaiting Lucius Malfoy, along with Draco, who was sneering at him. Harry looked around. It was much more like a library. Books lined the walls to the arched ceiling. The black desk against the far back wall, was magnificently carved. Harry was sitting on a black, leather couch, while Draco was in a high back, black chair. He felt like a beggar compared to his nemesis. Harry rolled his eyes at the blonde Slytherin, when Lucius Malfoy and Snape entered the room, their robes sweeping dangerously around their booted feet.
'Great,' he thought as his fear rose, and his stomach twisted. 'The only person missing is Voldemort. Then, it would be a great Torture Harry Potter party.'
"Mister Potter," Snape began. His silky voice caused Harry to squirm from discomfort. If only the potions master knew what it did to him in Potions class. "We're here to inform you of your family." He stood standing next to Draco's chair, while the older Malfoy stood in the doorway.
"I wouldn't call the Dursleys my family, sir," The Boy-Who-Lived was slightly confused. The only problem with the Dursleys was that they were terrified of the fully trained wizard, snarling at them to let Potter out.
Snape scowled at the naive boy. "Not those pathetic infidels." His voice softened, as he looked into the glaring emerald green orbs. "Something a bit closer to home."
Harry was confused. His sweaty palms were wiped against the baggy hand-me-down pants of Dudley, nervously. "What do you mean? I don't have any other family, unless you count Snuffles." He noticed Draco snicker at the name, and realized how it could be mistaken for a pet name of a lover.
"Listen, and you might understand the concept that your mutt has an idea of, for once in his life." He ignored the glare coming from the raven haired boy, but winced inwardly at the flash in his best friend's sharp, silver eyes. He showed no emotion, however and continued. "Your mother was not Lily Evans." The older wizard gave a pause for dramatic effect. He enjoyed watching Potter's eyes widen and his jaw drop. "In fact, you don't have a mother."
Harry sank against the cushioning of the soft sofa. "What do you mean, no mother?" He mumbled after the feeling of dread hit him, when he knew he was going to regret the answer.
"You see," the potions professor took a deep breath and glared at the younger Malfoy for snorting indignantly. "You have two fathers." He gauged Potter's reaction. If the insolent boy was to get to upset, the headmaster had warned him that the magic the child carried would cause extreme damage to the mansion.
The younger Malfoy couldn't hide the laughter in his eyes. No wonder the two's relationship didn't work out. It didn't take long to figure out why Harry was at Malfoy Manor, when Snape told him that the mudblood wasn't his mother. Obviously, he now had a half-brother.
Harry, obviously, took longer to grasp the meaning of the man's words. His apparent shock rose, as he noticed Draco's father glide towards him. Realisation hit him like a ton of bricks, and his chest closed in. Frantically, he stood up and wobbled from dizziness and lack of oxygen in his chest. He had to get out of there, and Lucius sensed it. He moved back cautiously, and let the boy pass without a word.
The boy's worn trainers squeaked against the highly polished black marble floor of the foyer. He never noticed the uniquely sculpted banisters of the spiralled staircase or the how fine and smooth the grain of wood on the door was, as he shoved them open.
Freedom. It was his first thought as the gentle breeze struck the moisture on his face. His feet carried him to a large walnut tree, which hadn't been affected by the offending heat of the summer yet. Slowly, he sank to the shaded ground, and pulled his knees to his chest, while burying his head into his hands.
***
Meanwhile, Draco was watching his father. It had occurred to him that Harry might yell and scream or feint away, but running away was the complete opposite of the Gryffindor traits the Boy-Who-Lived was known for. He looked to the dark haired man standing behind him, and noticed that he was biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing at the irony of the situation.
Lucius also noticed this and glared. "Severus, would you mind talking some sense into him, though I see how that could be hard for you, seeing that you have none yourself." He knew by the death glare sent at him, the potions master couldn't come up with retaliation. The older blonde knew he was the only one who could insult better than Severus could.
He watched the man turn and stalk out of the door. Then, he turned to his son. "I assume you are confused." He stated as he watched his son's facial expressions.
Draco just shrugged nonchalantly. "It just surprised me that you were gay. I mean you and mum," He didn't finish the sentence.
"We were best friends before she met Voldemort. She turned into his sex toy and I was used only to produce an heir." He skilfully avoided the topic of his wife's death. "You are my son. I love you. Harry is also of the same blood. Accept him for that, please." He begged the smaller wizard, who stared at him with shock.
His father never begged for anything until now. It must have been important to him. "I will," was all he said and his father's face lit up with a light that only shown when he was born and he was only told that by his godfather, Snape.
Both men were excited and anxious to know what this new family would be like.
***
Harry dried his eyes on a grey sleeve of his over sized shirt. He knew the shedding of tears wouldn't help, but it made him feel better. He never heard the approach of footsteps, as his eyes were closed and he was lost in thought. A hand gently touched his shoulder and he jumped, scared. His professor watched gleefully, loving the way he scared the boy.
"He's only telling the truth, you know." Snape sighed and sat down next to him. He didn't have to pretend to hate Potter, since they weren't in school, and no junior death eaters were running around, but old habits were hard to break.
Harry stared at a ladybug crawling its way up a blade of grass. "I know, I just...I mean," He blurted out the only thing that came to mind. "How can a man have a baby?" His face went red. He sounded ridiculous, and knew it, but that's the only, somewhat intelligible, thought that came to mind.
The Boy-Who-Lived stared at his professor with curious eyes. "Ask Draco. He knows about everything." The obsidian eyes rolled along with the sarcastic remark.
"Will they accept me? Or like me?" Harry hunched his shoulders and massaged the back of his neck lightly with weathered hands.
Snape ran a hand through his own raven black hair. Would Lucius and Draco accept him? For Potter's sake, he hoped so. "Yes," was the only answer he could give the other.
The emerald eyed boy looked up at him, his entrancing eyes sparkling with hope. "Really? I hope so." He took a deep breath and stood up, while wiping off the black baggy pants and offering a hand to Snape, who, surprisingly, took it.
Leisurely, they walked back up to the mansion. Maybe they didn't hate each other as much as they thought.
***
As they walked back into the front doors, Harry couldn't feel his chest expand for air.
"Breathe, Potter," Snape told him, before entering the dark study once more.
Once Harry took his advice, he instantly calmed, though nervousness still flayed itself upon him, shown by the intertwining fingers. They cautiously walked into the room containing the two Malfoys.
"I'm sorry for running. I just freaked." He let himself be led to the leather couch by Snape. Harry noticed that Draco was no longer laughing or making fun of him, but was smiling genuinely.
Lucius nodded, and went ahead and asked, "I've spoken with Draco, and we would like you to reside with us for the summer and if it works permanently move in."
Even Snape was shocked by his proclamation, none the less, Harry. "Well," He looked at the three of them. "Only if I won't be a burden," answered Harry. He was more intrigued as to what his new family would be like than scared. Draco appeared to say nothing offensive to the idea.
This was either going to be a great summer or a really bad one.
End of Chapter 1