Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: If no one had guessed, I'm using Lord of the Rings as a template for some of the details of the story.
'blah' means thoughts
"That's right, Little Dragon. I-" Severus was cut off by the sixteen-year-old Slytherin hugging him. Severus smiled sweetly at the young Elf, wrapping his arms around him. "So you want to stay here or go back to the dormitory?"
"I want to stay here with you and Mum," Draco paused before adding, "Dad."
"All right. We'll all spend the night with Severus," Narcissa added, climbing into the bed.
Draco stepped out of Severus's hug. The Elvin Potions Master climbed into the bed next to Narcissa and motioned for Draco to climb in next to him, which he did. Before going to sleep, Draco asked, "Dad, what should I tell my friends?"
"It's your choice whether or not you want your friends to know that you're Elvin. However, I wouldn't tell anyone that you're my son. There are only four people that know about that."
"You, me, and Mum. Who's the fourth person?"
"The Headmaster." Severus wrapped one arm around Draco and the other around Narcissa, drawing both of them closer to him. The two blonde Elves snuggled even closer to Severus, making him smile, before drifting off to sleep.
THE NEXT MORNING
Narcissa was the first one of the Elvin family to wake up that Saturday. She slipped out of the bed, tucking the blanket around her lover and their son. Pausing for a moment, she marveled at how much Draco cared for Severus, even before he knew of their relationship. She continued on her way to the bathroom to take a shower.
Severus woke up a few minutes before Draco. Severus un-wrapped his arm and slid out of the bed and got ready to spend the day in Hogsmeade with his family.
Draco yawned and stretched. He pale eyes opened, taking in his surroundings. The wall to his right had a door, which led to the bathroom, and a bookcase. There were several titles Draco didn't recognize, but there were a few photo albums. On the wall across from him hung another large tapestry, which depicted a woodland scene inside a valley with gorgeous waterfalls in the background and a grand manor with towers and balconies from which the large nearby lake and the gold and red and orange leafed trees could be seen perfectly. The wall to his left had a desk pushed up against it. The door leading to the main room of the office was next to the desk.
Narcissa, her silvery-blonde hair still wet from her shower, was seated at the desk, but Severus was nowhere in sight. Draco got out of the bed and walked over to his mother, straightening his school uniform and robe as he went.
"Hello, Draco." Narcissa turned to face him. She suppressed a giggle. Draco's own silvery-blonde hair was a mess. "Accio brush."
A hairbrush flew into Narcissa's outstretched hand, and she set to work fixing her son's hair. An urgent knocking on the office's main door could be heard. Neither Draco nor Narcissa moved to answer it, knowing that Severus would, and he did.
"Professor! Draco disappeared last night! No one has seen him since bed check!" Pansy Parkinson exclaimed.
"Calm down, Ms. Parkinson. Mr. Malfoy did not disappear. He has an early morning appointment with me. Do not worry about him. You'll see him either at breakfast or in Hogsmeade or both. Now, Ms. Parkinson, leave."
"Yes, Professor, and thank you." Pansy left the office and went back to the Slytherin dorm to report what happened to Draco.
Severus entered the secondary office room and saw Draco's expression, which was one of disgust. "What's wrong, Draco?"
"Pansy's always hanging all over me. I wish she'd stop it."
"Maybe she will. Let's go, Draco." Severus led the Elvin boy toward the main office door. "We'll see you in Hogsmeade, Narcissa."
Narcissa nodded as father and son left the office, heading in the direction of the Great Hall. They reached the Great Hall, causing Draco to hesitate, not wanting to go in. Severus placed a gentle hand on his son's back. "Come one, Draco."
Severus pushed the doors open and walked in with Draco beside him. The two Slytherin Elves felt everyone's eyes on them. Severus knew why the other professors were looking at them. It was because Severus was being gentle with one of his students. Dumbledore caught his Potions Master's gaze and they both nodded.
Draco took his seat at the Slytherin table between Goyle and a fourth year.
"How long were you with Professor Snape?" asked Blaise who sat in front of Goyle.
"A few hours," replied Draco, off-handedly.
Severus slid into his seat at the end of the table. McGonagall looked in Severus's direction. "We were getting worried. You're usually one of the first ones to arrive, and today you were almost late."
Severus gave the Transfiguration Professor a look which clearly said so? It was accompanied by his customary sneer. "Why, Minerva, one might say that you cared."
The Animagus Professor blushed. "I just was worried about you as a friend!"
Dumbledore placed a gentle hand on McGonagall's shoulder. "Calm down, Minerva. Severus was joking with you."
McGonagall cast her eyes in Severus's direction, catching his smirk. "I wish he was a little more obvious about it."
"Ah, but if he was, he wouldn't be our Potions Master that all students fear."
"Not all students, Albus. My so-Slytherins don't fear me." Severus almost let it slip about his having a son.
Dumbledore looked at Severus and raised an eyebrow. The youngest professor nodded and then looked toward his Slytherins. Suddenly, Severus felt like someone was staring at him, and someone was. McGonagall leaned over slightly and stage whispered, "Severus." The Potions Master heard his name being called, but just ignored the Transfiguration Professor. "Severus." No reaction once again. "Sev."
That got the Potions Master's attention quicker than anything else. He glared at McGonagall and spat out, "What?"
Knowing she shouldn't have called him 'Sev' for he only allowed few people that 'honor,' she apologized. "I'm sorry, Severus, but I had to get your attention."
"What for?"
"Your ears," she said with a slightly curious look in her eyes.
"What about my-" Severus brought a hand up and froze when he felt his ears. He had inadvertently tucked his hair back, revealing his Elvin ears! He quickly un-tucked both sides, even thought the damage was done. Trying to regain his composure, he said dryly, "Curiosity killed your Animagus form. It could do the same to you."
"Is there something I should be curious about?"
The other professors always enjoyed the light banter between the two Heads of the rival houses, but Severus's dark glare shocked them and even scared McGonagall a little.
"Severus," Dumbledore said in a warning tone.
With a last glare at McGonagall which clearly said, Don't push it, he turned his attention to his Slytherins. Breakfast passed without any further incidents, and all of the third year and above students and some of the staff left the school and journeyed to the nearby village of Hogsmeade.
Severus immediately went to the apothecary to purchase more potion ingredients, which seemed to go missing every so often. 'No doubt due to Potter and his friends.'
As he was leaving, Severus saw Draco walk by; however, he was with several other Slytherins, including his dorm mates and Pansy (AN: Poor Draco!), so Severus wasn't going to interrupt. Instead, he just headed off to the Three Broomsticks, hoping to see Narcissa there.
She was there; however, she wasn't alone. Apparently, Lucius had returned from his 'business tip' early and found Malfoy Manor empty, save for a few house elves. At the moment, Lucius was dragging his wife out into an alley that ran behind the Three Broomsticks.
Severus ran out after them, fearing for Narcissa's health. He knew first hand how violent Lucius could get, and just as he suspected, the second he stepped into the alley, he saw Lucius slap the female Elf.
"So, you're telling me he's not even my son?" Lucius yelled.
Severus flinched when he heard what Lucius had said. 'How did he find out?'
"Yes." Narcissa received another slap. Fire blazed in her eyes as she reverted to the Elvin tongue, "Don't touch me again!"
She switched back to the basic tongue. "Draco knows almost everything, too. He knows who his true father is!"
Lucius raised his hand to slap her again, when a voice stopped him. "Lucius, don't touch her!"
Both Lucius and Narcissa turned and looked at Severus, who had stepped out of the shadows.
"Severus, what are you doing here?" Lucius lowered his hand.
Ignoring Lucius for the moment, the Elvin Potions Master walked over to Narcissa. He reverted to the Elvin tongue. "Are you alright, Narcissa?"
"Yes, it just stings a bit," she answered in Elvin.
Listening to the exchange, Lucius's eyes narrowed. "You! You're his father."
"Yes, I am," Severus answered in the basic tongue.
Lucius drew and raised his wand. "Crucio!"
Severus, Elvin reflexes kicking in, pushed Narcissa out of the way, but the Cruciatus Curse hit him. Lucius disapparated, not wanting someone to see him with his wand out, standing above a nearly unconscious Hogwarts Professor.
Narcissa knelt next to the Gothic-looking Elf. "Sev, are you all right?"
"I'll…be…fine," Severus replied, twitching all the while.
Narcissa helped Severus stand, and the two Elves walked back into the Three Broomsticks.