Chapter 4
June 5th 1990, one year later. Dorian took his time waking up in his bed that morning. He may be ten today but he felt so much older. He had finally stopped sleeping in his Father's bed several months ago, except for the nights where nightmares woke him.
As he lay there in his bed, he knew he had to look at his arm. He knew he would see the name. His father had been teaching him all about what a soul mate is for the past year. Ever since that day in the bank. Soul mates didn't happen to everyone. Only those with strong power and old ancestral blood in them would be fated to a pair. Muggleborn's never got a soul mate and most half-bloods would never receive them either. His Father was half-blood so he had never received a mark himself. The name that he will see on his arm is the wizard he will spend his life with...the wizard would be his forever family.
That thought alone scared Dorian to the core. He had only ever had Severus as his real family and now he was supposed to accept another. Severus has tried again and again to assure him that his soul mate could never hurt him. He does not believe that. Everyone is capable of hurting another.
He sighed deeply and slowly brought his left arm in to sight. There on his forearm in beautiful horizontal cursive right above his small wrist read-
Draconis Lucius Malfoy
Heir Malfoy
-he stared at the name, tracing each letter with his green and obsidian eyes. A soft warmth slowly started spreading across his chest and a gentle pull started tugging at his heart. He knew the pull was the bond to his mate. It would grow gradually stronger as they both got older. At 17 the pull would be impossible to ignore and they would have to bond with one another for life.
He quietly dressed for the day choosing simple black robes and made his way through the house he and Severus shared. Sometimes his mood had him referring to his father by his name. Mostly when his mind was plagued with old sensations and memories from the past birthdays.
The birthdays in that horrible house were the worst days. They had always been far more cruel and creative with how they decided to torture him. One of the most common was just a jar with little slips of paper that each held a different mode of abuse. Hot pokers, hundreds of small cuts across his feet or knees, broken glass in his bed, no meals for weeks, the options went on and on.
He loved his Father more than anything but even he couldn't make Dorian forget his life before Severus found him. Couldn't make his dreams of the older wizard touching him all over again and again..he couldn't make the memories stop.
Thankfully Severus understood his Son's mood quite well, he knew it was a rough day as soon as Dorian paced into the kitchen. The Father watched his son take a seat and fix himself properly. But Dorian left it at that, he just sat there, staring at the food on the table. His mismatched eyes far away in thought. Severus reached across the table and placed a warm hand on his Son's shoulder.
Dorian slowly came back to reality, and started to put some cut fruit on his plate. He peeked up at his father after putting a piece of Apple in his mouth. "Happy Birthday, Dorian." He watched his son nod and swallow before stabbing a piece of strawberry and eating that as well.
Severus reached out calmly and held up a single freshly picked mandrake leaf. The slow action drew Dorian's attention immediately, his eyes glinting brightly in excitement. He took his eyes off the leaf to peer at his father. " You are not tricking me, Father? You are really going to let me try!?"
Severus nodded with a pleased smirk on his thin lips that reached his eyes. He is thoroughly enjoying seeing his Son's excitement. The Son plucked the leaf from his fathers fingers and opened his mouth, he placed the leaf under his tongue and moved it slightly to the left. Perfect. Dorian had been training for such a occasion. He had carried a practice leaf in his mouth for 4 months straight. Just teaching himself to eat, drink, laugh, cough, all while keeping the leaf in it's place under his tongue.
So one month with the real thing would be a breeze. But of course he has decided to exclude his father from the knowledge of his training. He couldn't help but laugh out loud with joy and triumph. He had been begging his father for the past year to become an animagus after he had found a book in their library on the ancient history of them. Now finally, he was allowed to become one.
Severus chuckled and took a sip of his warm black tea. " This won't be easy my Son. If that leaf comes out even just once, you will fail and will have to wait 6 months to try again." His son nodded in response and ate some more fruit, reaching across the table to take some bacon and a biscuit.
--
Malfoy Manor - June 5th, 1990
In very much the same way a young Draco Malfoy lay in his bed and anticipated what his arm would say. He hoped desperately that his mate would be a pureblood noble. He had to please his father, especially in this. All Malfoy men had blessed with a soulmate. That meant to carry tradition he must receive one as well, he had to. Being Heir Malfoy put him under extreme pressure to hold up the title perfectly. Malfoy's don't make mistakes or show imperfection.
Draco closed his eyes and brought his left arm up in front of his face. He slowly opened his eyes and for the first time, he looked upon the neat horizontal cursive lettering of his soulmate which read-
Dorian Cruenti Snape
Lord Potter~Lord Peverell~Lord Slytherin
Heir Snape~Heir Prince~Heir Black
-Draco shot up in his bed and stared in wide-eyed shock, rereading the names over and over again. Not only was his mate a pureblood but he was also Lord and Heir to SIX noble and ancient families. His heart beating rapidly in his chest, Draco quickly dressed and walked rather fast out of his room and through the house.
He walked into the family dining room and strode up to his father's side, holding out his left arm and pulling back his sleeve for his Father to see the name there.
Lucius's silver eyes went very wide, comically so and looking very much like his son had only minutes prior. He glanced up at his perfect son and smiled despite himself. " Congratulations Draconis, you seem to have received a gift from Merlin. Your Mother and I are very proud of you."
His mother who sat off to the right of his father nodded and smiled her agreement. Her eyes twinkling in joy, her beautiful son now had the perfect pureblood mate." Happy Birthday, My darling Boy. I trust you slept well?"
Draco smiled and took a seat to start with some breakfast. His father spoke up then. " It seems I will be contacting your Godfather, I did not even know he had a son. Let alone a son as noble as the one written on you're arm." Lucius eyed his son's arm thinking about what he would say to his old friend.
One other thing about the names on Draco's arms that stood out was the name Potter. As far as Lucius knew, there is only one Potter still in existence and that honor belongs to Harry James Potter. Not, Dorian Cruenti Snape.
--
A month later to the day, Dorian sat with his feet pulled up under him in the library reading in a comfy chair by the window. Pretending to read a book anyway as he anxiously waited for his first transformation to begin. Severus sat in another chair only a few feet away. He could not focus on his book either and kept glancing at his Son.
Just then, Dorian gasped out loud and vanished with a quiet swishing sound. Severus was out of his chair in an instant and looking down into his Son's chair. Down on the still-warm leather seat curled up in loose coils lay a pitch-black, Black Mamba snake.
Severus watched his son wearily, black mambas being notorious for killing anything they bitt. Rated the most deadly snake in existence next to the magically created Basilisk. The snake slowly raised its head and peered at him. Flicking out his tongue, smelling the air in this form for the first time. Instead of the normal beedy black eyes common to that of a Black Mamba, Dorian's snake form had a vibrant emerald green eye and a dark glinting obsidian eye. Both eyes currently trained on him.
Dorian slithered out of his coils and towards his father. He was watching Severus put a slow careful hand down and Dorian smelt the air a few times around his Father's hand. Finally, he twinned up his Father's hand and arm over his shoulder into a loose wrap around his neck. He reached up and gently nuzzled his head against his Father's chin.
Severus used two fingers to gently pet the snake just behind it's head. Dorian released a sort of hissing purring sound and Severus chuckled lightly. His son would never be a light wizard. He was born to rebel, fight for his way, and to live his life how he desired. Severus stood straighter, adjusted his robes and made his way over the fireplace. He reached up to the mantel and took a small handful of floo powder from a little cauldron that sat up there. He tossed it into the flames and they suddenly changed from red to green. He stepped in and spoke clearly- "Malfoy Manor."
Severus stepped calmly out on the other side and onto a polished white granite floor. Three sets of eyes met them a pair sharp blue eyes, a young pair of silver eyes and a narrowed pair of grey eyes. He held his stance proper and bowed slightly in greeting. "Hello Lucius, Narcissa, and young Draco."
"Welcome to our home Severus. Dispense with the pleasantries, Draco here, " Narcissa placed a gentle hand on her son's shoulder." is quite anxious to lay eyes on his soul mate." She was obviously looking around Severus to see if the young wizard was hiding behind him but saw no one. She looked up to Severus's face and saw him smirking at her.
"He is not hiding Narcissa. He is right here." Severus said as he gently lifted the long black snake from around his throat and Dorian promptly twined down his Father's outstretched hand and onto the floor. He took one last look up at the towering family before he closed his eyes and shifted. He was glad he had listened to his Father about what to wear because the Malfoy's were certainly dressed to impress. He had chosen a darker shade of mercury colored, finely trailered robes and a pristine white button down shirt underneath and pressed black pants to complete it.
The shift from snake form to human he found fairly easy and painless and suddenly where the snake had been was now Dorian in all his dark glory. Small shocked gasps echoed through the cold room. His long black hair hanging elegantly down his back with one part falling forward over his left shoulder framing his pale face. His mismatched eyes calculating the pale, blond-haired boy in front of him. They matched in high and had nearly the same build but Dorian could tell he was more fit than Draconis. He stepped back to his Father's side and gripped his hand tightly. His previous fears of this situation flooding his mind. But he kept his face impassive.
Lord Malfoy narrowed his grey eyes slightly at the sight of the boy nearly hiding behind Severus. It was his wife that spoke next to break the tension. "Come, let's have some tea in front of the fire. We have much to discuss." Narcissa ordered calmly pulling her eyes off the mysterious boy clinging to Severus to look at the man. She nodded to him and he did the same in return. Her eyes went back to the boy and noticed he was staring straight at Draco. She smiled internally and led the small group into another room in the mansion and to a small seating area surrounding a large fireplace where a roaring fire was already going. She motioned for everyone to take a seat.
Dorian followed his Father to a single chair which his Father promptly sat in. He panicked internally at this and glanced around, the only seat left was next to Draconis on a small couch. He closed his eyes and chose to stand near his father instead. His fearful thoughts cut short when a warm hand found his and was gripped tightly. He opened his eyes to see his father watching him with warm"eyes. "It's alright Dorian. They won't hurt you."
"Hurt him? Why would he think we would ever do such a thing?" Lord Malfoy questioned, his eyes narrowed, darting from the father to the son. Severus looked up at his son only to receive a curt nod a vise-like grip tightened on his hand. Dorian knew that they would have to know about his past, Severus had warned him beforehand.
Dorian turned his gaze to the other young boy and locked eyes with him. The soft pull of the bond settled instantly and a warm comfort settled over his shoulders as he looked into the silver eyes.
Draco returned the heavy look, unable to look away from the beautiful mismatched eyes. He had been excited about his soulmate but now that he had actually laid on eyes on him...he could not look away. Unknown emotions swirling within him. His soulmate was utterly perfect. Even as Severus began to speak the boys kept their eye contact.
"I'm not exactly sure where to begin except to start from the very beginning." Confused looks turned to him. "As you surely have noticed the name Lord Potter on Draco's arm I can not leave out any part." Severus sighed heavily and went on to explain how he had found a young Harry Potter in an abandoned park. He didn't go into exact detail but he didn't leave out any pieces. Even explaining what Harry had done to the muggle children. At this Dorian actually smiled, which drew the Attention of Narcissa and Lord Malfoy.
"He has killed muggles?" Lord Malfoy questioned, interest thoroughly risen.
Severus nodded curtly but it is Dorian who speaks to answer. "Four of them. I told them to leave me alone, but they didn't listen." He shrugged and looked into the fire. Severus turned back to the other adults. "I couldn't leave him there. Not when I knew Dumbledore would surely be back. He also had a hand in Harry Potter's abuse. He did truly unspeakable things to him." A hard hand on his shoulder stopped Severus and he looked up to find his Son's eyes full of pain. Dorian vanished from sight, he leaned over his chair to see his son in snake form slithering across the floor directly towards Draco. Dorian didn't pause before twining up Draco's leg and coiling up in the young boy's lap.
Draco, not fazed after Dorian had arrived in snake form just slowly petted Him across his scales. The contact had a steady warmth spreading through him and Dorian both, they settled into the other. Severus's thin lip curled up slightly in a smile and saw it fit to continue. He told them of the abuse from both the muggles and Dumbledore. Told them of him taking Harry and teaching him. Told them of Harry becoming Dorian, his son. Told them of his shock at finding out Dorian's heritage.
"You mean to tell us that Dumbledore not only placed a Wizard with muggles, severely abusive muggles but he was also taking part in the abusing!" Lord Malfoy seethed, his voice almost yelling. He tore his eyes from Severus down to his own son who was intently watching the black snake in his lap. Tears streaked his son's face causing his already raging temper to rise further. "We can not let him get away with this, Severus. I do not say this because Dorian is Draco's soulmate but because no child should ever have to experience a life like that. Dorian is our family now as well and we will avenge him." Lord Malfoy declared, his dark gaze resting on the pair on the couch. He has two sons now, two powerful pureblood sons. He could not be more proud.
Severus does not tell them of Dorian's dark place, they did not need such knowledge. Dorian would most likely tell Draco at some point because of their bond but Severus saw no need to a share it with anyone else. Dorian valued his privacy and Severus knew it, for his son was very much like him in that way. "Dorian has also excelled at all his studies, especially in his studies of the dark arts. He is a natural with them. Even more so then with light magic. I've never seen anything like it."
Lord Malfoy chose to speak up at this. "He studies the dark arts?" Severus nodded and glanced down at his son's snake form that of which was loosely coiled in Draco's lap and purring at his Soulmates touch. "I knew he would take that path. After killing muggles without a second thought and no empathy after the fact, it was obvious that Dorian is a dark Wizard. He truly is my son." he said the last part fondly, his stoney features warm for a few seconds which surprised his friends. They had never seen him look affectionately at anything let alone another wizard.
