4 - Too good to be true
Draco entered the room with care not to make any sounds. "Wake up, John." He whispered as low as he could. A feral, almost maniacal grin formed on his face as no answer was given. He took some distance for better propelling and jumped on his new brother.
"Oof."
"Do not make such a sound, John. It's unbecoming of a Malfoy." Draco grinned and shifted a little to make sure he could watch his new brother's reaction well.
"Right. Because sneaking into bedrooms and physically assaulting people is." His brother said in that dry, scanting tone most similar to their Head of House that only John could possibly emulate and still seem proper and not mocking.
Draco continued to grin like a loon, not that he would admit it. "I did knock and called to wake you up."
"Oh, how silly of me. I must have been so tired and not used to such a good bed... I can't believe I ignored my new little brother. How can I ever live like this! How can I ever compensate you? I'm so ashamed of my behaviour... Will you forgive me, brother?" John used a desperate voice with teary eyes plus a little tremble in the voice combo.
"You know, sometimes your acting skills scare me. How come you can do such convincing big and teary eyes? You even blushed!" Draco narrowed his eyes at his brother's snort.
"In my defence, you still know I'm acting." That said, he reached for his wand and levitated Draco out of the bed and to a standing position. Then he went to change into something not pyjama-like.
Draco ignored the vague answer as he knew it would lead to a headache. "Come on, we should be at breakfast already."
This breakfast was as all the others since John came into their lives; some small talk here, a little getting to know the new family member there, and John still not calling their parents by any title that could be interpreted as mother or father. Draco knew that irritated his dad and saddened his mom, but what could they do?
"John. This will sound a tad direct, however, I see no other way to address this situation. You seem comfortable enough to treat us as your best friend's parents, to the point where you don't even try to put masks to prevent us from forming a bond with you. You already treat and call our Draco your little brother, also you do not reject it when we call you son. How come you seem averse to the idea of calling us mother and father?"
The silence following mother's inquiry was tense and almost deafening. Right that moment, what Draco wanted the most was to drag his brother away, so he didn't need to reveal one of the most vulnerable parts of his self – he thought it would be a futile attempt as his parents wouldn't let them leave, anyway. It was with a sinking feeling and wrenching heart that he stood still and supportive while his brother finished eating the last bit of his breakfast and put the cutlery down in order to give his undivided attention to their parents.
OoO
John was calm, he knew what was coming. She was right; he was opening up like never before. He already felt like part of the family, and that was the scariest part. "As you perfectly pointed out, I do consider myself a part of this family. At least, to some extent." He stopped to let that sink in and continued before any comment came. Not that he thought they would. The little he knew of Lucius and Narcissa was enough to know they would wait until he said all he needed. He always imagined parents that would listen to him, that would actually want to listen to what he had to say and give proper advice and not ignore his words or woes; at least the few times he let himself daydream about having a family.
"I am scared. Scared that this will end, that it won't come to pass. I know you assured me I was already legally adopted by muggle law, and it's enough to get me out of the orphanage. The thing is... it has been almost a week since I came here, months since this process was started. According to you, and the few books that I read, the process in the Ministry should have been finalised by now — usually, it lasts no more than a few days. Something is wrong and I don't want to get fully attached before I'm sure this is absolute.
"Even if everything goes awry, I know Draco won't stop being my brother. Even if you won't stop treating me as family, as a son, I can't have what all orphans dream about — what I dreamed about — ripped off my life like that. It would be too hard a blow to let myself embrace this, acknowledge you as my parents, only to be denied it later. So, I don't want– can't want it for fear of hurting myself. I know it comes out as selfish, but that's how it is."
John looked down at his plate, trying to breathe and calm himself a little. The soothing circles his brother continued to make on his back and both Lucius and Narcissa coming to hug him helped too. He felt the delicate hands of Narcissa turn his head upwards to meet her beautiful eyes. "That is not selfish, a Malfoy is not selfish. That is unbecoming behaviour."
"I'd rather say she is right. That is not selfishness, it is called self-preservation. A quality most noticed, and most appreciated, in Slytherins. I am– We are proud of you for having such outstanding qualities." Lucius added with a smile John was sure no one ever saw, unless you were Narcissa or Draco. That smile was more important to John than the beautiful words uttered by both of them. It gave him a sense of belonging, it made him feel as important to Lucius as his own wife and son. That truly made John believe this was his family. More important than the ones who abandoned him. He would admit to himself to have sometimes dreamed of his blood family showing up and taking him back, but this... This was better because they chose him, not out of obligation, not because of some blood relation, but because they genuinely cared for and wanted him. That was what he loved most about the Malfoys.
OoO
Lucius (believed to be non-existent) heart almost broke at the truth and the situation itself. He knew John would be insecure about coming into their family, what with their reputation. Especially as an orphaned muggleborn, Lucius knew it would be a hard road to tread. He, however, didn't think the dawdling of the Ministry would affect his new son so much. As he smiled down on him, he decided enough was enough and it was high time he used every tool at his disposal. They would have the adoption finished and would finally be allowed to set up a vault for John and buy the full wardrobe becoming of a person of their status (the boy insisted on only receiving it after everything was made official). Narcissa had tried to pass some new clothes off as Draco's castoffs but was busted by John, and both she and Lucius got a dressing down from the boy. It was so amusing that they let it go and didn't think of it as more than an annoyance of their precious new son trying to be proper and not be a burden to the family, a reason they expected to come up.
"Maybe it is time for us to pay a visit to the Ministry and see what we could do to help accelerate the process."
OoO
"But, sir, children's files are only accessible to their guardians. There were only two instances of it not being a guardian, and both times it was granted by the Wizengamot after months of deliberation. I truly can't..."
John could see how nervous the guy was, however, right this moment he couldn't care less (not that normally he would). All he wanted to know was who the hell was this supposed guardian so he could wring his neck! He went his entire life thinking he had no one and now they say someone exists that was supposed to take care of him, and he had a vault! That meant some money he could use to make more money, to not be so miserable. Not to say that he had nothing, he did have; he had worked hard the last three years so he could have something. Bless those kids' souls who needed his help.
"The child is here and wishes to see it. How come he can't?!" Narcissa said in a cutting voice.
"I'm sorry. Even I don't have access, it's always keyed to the guardian. It can only be changed if the guardian agrees or in such cases as the Wizengamot concedes emancipation against the guardian's wishes. And those are even rarer than just accessing them."
"Sir, with all due respect, I have never heard anything about having a guardian. Wouldn't this guardian be a known presence in my life if I knew?" John tried some simple logic, though he wasn't that much confident of it working. There was something more to that. "As an orphan, shouldn't I be a ward of the Ministry?"
"That's not how it works. No orphan can be a ward of the Ministry, to avoid power abuse. Besides, kids with vaults always have a person as a guardian to help the child care for what it has." The officer tried to explain. Now his nervousness began to change to suspicion. Why would a vaulted child not know about its guardian?
"But I don't have any vaults! At least not that I'm aware of... I attend Hogwarts on a scholarship. I receive a stipend every year to cover the basic needs of the list... About 20 Galleons, I think." Now John wasn't the only one to find all this situation suspicious.
"Look, I want to help, truly do. But first, I'll have to start an inquiry to access the file, and that will take a long time. Ultimately, you would have to know who the guardian is and get his consent, or sue for it, to get access to the file."
As Lucius was about to verbally whip the man again, Narcissa put a hand over his arm as if to tell him to halt and called an elf, which popped in right away. "Go to Severus Snape. Tell him his potions expertise is required at the Ministry." After it popped away, Narcissa turned to the ministry worker. "We will await his arrival here. You do not mind that we'll be brewing here." That he shouldn't voice complaints went unsaid. No one else tried to stop her. They did want to stay healthy.
She ushered them to a corner in the room that was meant to be used for waiting, transfigured the furniture to something better, and they all (Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, and John himself) sat down to wait. John wasn't confident he would leave here a Malfoy. The more time passed, the more a sense of dread permeated his being.
OoO
It was good that Severus had foregone the practical part of his research this summer – he would admit to no one but himself that he tended to get lost in his brewing and sometimes forgot reality – when an elf arrived in front of him with a loud pop (which in itself was a curious thing).
"Mistress Narcissa tells Potions Master Snape's expertise is required at the Ministry."
"Did she use those words?" He asked getting an exaggerated nodding and flapping ears as his answer. "What department?"
"Misty not bes knowing. Mistress and Master be there with Young Masters..."
"I see. You may go." If both children were there, then it could only be about Doe's adoption. He just wondered what kind of obstacle would involve potions.
Severus took his travel lab with him, and some other rare ingredients he had acquired recently. Whatever it was, he expected to have some complicated brew coming up.
OoO
"It's over there!" Lily said in a whisper.
Maybe she thought saying things out loud right now would disrupt their chances even more. They were so close, closer than they could ever be, and James would do everything to have his son back.
As they entered the office, they stopped paralysed from the view. Their Harry, almost the same as in the picture, surrounded by Malfoys and grimacing. A cauldron bubbling some brew and Snape reaching for Harry, James's precious boy, with a knife. With his wife's whisper of their son's name, James snapped into action.
"Get your filth hands off him, Snape!" He said so loud it could almost count as a scream. Quick with his wand as always, he summoned the knife to him and kept up waiting for the retaliation. "You filthy Slytherin scum! This is a new low for you, but who would be surprised? You were always such a jealous prick, showing off and trying to look better than anyone. You didn't even care who you hurt! I'm done with letting it go, you're not going–"
Throughout his rant, he felt his wife pulling him to stop it. However, he didn't expect the calm and collected eyes of his son to lock onto his, walk up to him only to stop in front of the cauldron, nick his finger with a knife he didn't even know where it came from and let five drops of blood into it, then pluck some strands of hair and also add to the potion.
He was still paralysed seeing his son relinquish the eye contact for a few seconds to acknowledge Snape, who went right back to the potion (it had to be a potion, not soup or tea), only to snap right back with the question he dreaded hearing all his life. "Who are you?"
Jhon's mind was reeling. As amusing as that rant was, that man looked too much like boy wonder Darren Potter. He didn't know what in Merlin's name that boy's father could want with them. There was a boulder in his stomach now, this didn't feel right and now he knew for sure he wouldn't leave here a Malfoy. Maybe if he hoped for the best, something good would happen...
"We're your paren–" James started to answer, only to stop as Snape squeezed his son's shoulder like he had any right to that. "Don't you dare touch him, Snape! You're nothing! You wouldn't even be here if I didn't save you back then! Don't forget how much you owe me, you Death Eater Slytherin scum!"
Severus, never stopping in his stirring, just levelled his gaze, still tense, and rebuked silkily. "Are you absolutely sure you wish to discuss that night in the Ministry, Potter?"
"Enough." Narcissa (sweet avenging angel that she was) commanded all attention to her with only a calmly uttered word. John couldn't wait for the day he would learn that from his mother. After a minute of silence, she continued. He better remember the move. Building tension and still dominating the room. "You say our John is your son, is that correct?"
"Yes." For the first time, John heard the woman's voice. She was quite beautiful, he thought.
"Severus has just finished brewing the Mirithad Potion, all that is left is waiting for the parchment to soak in it and we will all know for sure. Do wait a few more minutes." The man tried to speak again but was silenced by just one look from Narcissa. "Was I not clear?"
Another hour passed with this silent tension everywhere until, finally, the Professor pulled out the parchment that he had put in to soak in the potion. John was the first one near to see the results. Besides, he was curious about how there wasn't one drop left of the brew and the parchment seemed very dry. Something to ask later, he judged – priorities. The Professor's hand on his shoulder was very welcome as it did its job grounding him. According to the results, he was Harry James Potter. Indeed, the son of those two walking over to him. Brother of boy-wonder-who-lived-to-annoy-Slytherins. Ward of Hogwarts by merit of enrolment. Owner of a trust vault.
The woman pulled John into her arms while crying and saying things John didn't care to listen. This was final. He knew there was no way he would leave here with his chosen family. How dare he hope something good would happen to him that he himself did not make happen? He couldn't even contain that single tear from dropping.
"He will come with us. There's nothing you can do about that. This proves it. He is our son, our Harry. Now leave us alone!" James stood protectively in front of his wife and son. He had his son back!
Lucius merely ignored him and went straight for his son; he would never think of John as not being his (Slytherins were possessive beings). "You are always welcome at our home, John." He said and knew the boy would take it for what it was: a declaration he was still part of the family. He squeezed the boy's shoulder while Draco and Narcissa hugged him goodbye.
"Like I would ever let him anywhere near the likes of you!" James yanked his son back from those people and dared them to do anything.
John just couldn't believe it. He met all their gazes and tried to reassure them he would be all right, but even he wasn't so sure. He was comforted by the determined eyes of his Head of House. John knew he just had to wait and hold out until Professor Snape could come through to him. Like in the past three years, he knew the Professor would help him, he just had to wait.
He followed this couple to the apparition area and grimaced as they arrived at a very misshaped house, the ugliest thing he had ever seen. He would dare say the orphanage looked better, though he knew deep down it was just his revolted mind exaggerating (it was a very a close call, though). As he entered and heard the couple saying they were there to pick up Darren, he calmed down a little. At last, he started to pay attention to his surroundings (nope, nothing better in his opinion), only to be startled back to reality as he was (quite literally) sat down on an old and battered (not to mention disgusting) table with lots of food distributed throughout it. So, they were having lunch here...
"Fred, George, Ginny, Ronald, Darren! Come in for lunch! We have guests!" A plump redhead woman screamed. From the names, John could guess this was the Weasley household. He was so not prepared for this.
"Who is it, mom?" Merlin, how John hated this girl's voice, so annoying. "What is this git doing here!" John thought she might have lost the genuine tone of a question with her shrieking the whole thing.
"Ginny!" And that was the extent of the scold she would receive. Not even the couple (he really needed the names, this was getting ridiculous) was going to defend him, it seemed.
"Well, not that I am particularly pleased to be in your presence, but I use enough of my education to at the very least give a semblance of politeness. Then again, what would one expect from an uncouth girl who was never showed what proper manners are..."
"Hey, you can't talk to my sister like that!" Of course, the Weasel would come to the rescue. John merely sneered. He knew that would hackle him worse than words.
"Well, it seems we are all a bit hot-tempered today, but that is no reason to be rude. Now let's have some lunch, children." John should have held in his snort, he should. At that particular point in time, he didn't care anymore. It seemed this was the wrong move with the Weasley mother. "Look here, young man. You will not disrespect me and mine in my own house! I can't believe you're related to Darren with that bad attitude! You apologise to me and my children right now!"
John couldn't understand what was happening. It was terribly similar to how things went back in the orphanage and Benny did something to get him in trouble (or be blamed for some trouble). The good point, he didn't have to restrain himself here. Worse comes to worst, he would be kicked out of the family and could stay with the Malfoys. And there he goes, hoping again... "I will not apologise. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. It is remarkably interesting that you wish for me to apologise when your precious daughter was the one to instigate such a reaction. You are the one being fairly rude to someone you just called a guest. So, if I don't sit down and roll over to whatever offence you throw at me, I'm being rude? To hell with it, I couldn't care less for sitting on a disgusting table in a barely better than trash house with one Knut above complete pauper family. And shut up Weasel, I'm not done." He cut Ron sharply before he could start his famous tantrums. John could see they were all angry but shocked still from his words, and that gave him momentum to continue. "I will not be made to pay for the actions of people with subpar education who can't even seem to be able to use their brains and whatever little magic they have to make decidedly needed money to sustain a house. Then again, I would hardly want to do something for a place like this... All rags and trash..."
"Enough." Darren's mother could try all she wanted, but this wasn't even close to what Narcissa could do. Not even a good try... It seemed to work, though. "We're leaving. Thank you, Molly, for the hospitality, but we better deal with this first." Now John became a this, lots of love there. And if this was hospitality, he didn't want to imagine what rudeness was. "Darren, you're coming as well, you can come some other time to visit."
She took John by the hand and flooed to a place he heard her call Potter House. She even entered the floo with him, so no chance of going back to the Malfoys...
Lily was fuming inside. Never had she been so ashamed in all her life. How could he act that way?! "That was totally uncalled for! Let alone very much rude!" She started as soon as her husband and other son came out of the floo. "Whatever got into you to act like that?"
"Your mother is right! The Weasleys are great friends of ours. Thankfully, Molly understands some friction would occur... Don't you have anything to say for yourself?" James almost screamed in rage. He felt so humiliated. He couldn't believe his Harry would ever be so rude to a friend of theirs. Ginny didn't even mean what she said! Merlin, she was blushing! "If you're not going to say anything, then I will. You will think about what you just did and how better to apologise to them. You're to go to your room and stay there."
That was all John wanted. Go to his room back in Malfoy Manor. And that is exactly what he tried to do. He was stopped as soon as he got some floo powder.
"Where do you think you're going?!" The man asked.
"To my room at Malfoy Manor. Where my family and my home are." John knew damn well this was a low blow and that it would hurt like a bitch to them, but hell if he didn't mean it. He was hurting too, damn it. Just as he thought, the woman broke down crying and wonder boy went to help comfort her.
"This is your house. This is your family. And your room is upstairs on the third floor, right beside your brother's. It has a nameplate with your name on it."
The glare he got dared John to refute. John would if he wasn't so tired already. He just looked to the floo one more time and let go of the powder – he knew when to retreat and regroup. John turned, going up to this supposed room, and found one with a Harry James nameplate on it; he supposed that should be the one the man talked about. At this point, he didn't even want to be difficult about this, so tired he was. He understood the significance. He wasn't wanted here. They wanted Harry; someone he could never be. He was John, after all, a nobody.
