Chapter 16: You've Found Your Son
After some deliberation, it had been decided that Severus would keep the necklace until they were sure that it hadn't been enchanted. While it was fantastic that Lily's jewelry had found its way to her child, they were still cautious. It was strange that the grown cousin had found him, and while it was wonderful Tom didn't believe in coincidences.
Due to Harry being mostly ill, the child had protested for a good minute before he had floundered in his father's arms, more obsessed with the warmth and comfort than the trinket. His little eyes had turned half lidded as the adults spoke.
Avoiding most conversation about the Dursley's, they instead started to talk about the people that would want to spend the holiday with them. Specifically, the Malfoy's would want to see their son and soon to be daughter-in-law the morning of Christmas. However, the two of them also wanted to spend the day with the little boy who would sure start to question why they weren't around.
"My father will be glad to learn of his existence," Draco reassured. "You're like a brother to him."
Hermione frowned, "I think it would be good to let the Weasley's know too. Specifically, Ron. And it would be nice because then we would have some more people who could protect Harry." She ignored the frowns from the Slytherins.
"I don't know, I think Harry is okay right now. Plus, that stubborn git might upset him," he had settled his past with the redhead. However, that didn't mean that Draco wasn't jealous that Ron had kissed Hermione first.
"Git?" Harry repeated tiredly, his little hands rubbing his eyes to stay awake.
Draco immediately paled, Remus and Sirius withholding grins behind their hands as they continued to eat. Tom had frozen where he sat, as if he wasn't sure whether to laugh or throttle the blond for teaching the child the word.
"Don't repeat that word," Severus murmured gently to the child in his arms. "It's not a good word."
"Dwaco said it," the child frowned. He looked at Severus in childish confusion. Obviously, he didn't understand why the older man could say something while he wasn't allowed to repeat it.
"Yes, but Draco will apologize for saying it. And then he won't say it again," Severus explained. His dark eyes throwing daggers at his godson, who immediately agreed and apologized.
"It's a bad word, kiddo. Don't say it," he murmured.
Harry nodded, his little head resting on his father's chest. It didn't take long before Severus had moved the child to lay on the bench between him and his husband. Sandwiched safely between the two bodies, Harry quickly fell asleep with his head resting peacefully on his father's lap.
The privacy ward that they had put up had also lowered the sound level of the pub, no one daring to interrupt the dark lord and his company. It was nice because they could speak softly, about most subjects without worry.
"I will talk to your father," Severus spoke. "We'll call him and have a private conversation. I think having him aware of Harry, and of the situation in general, will be helpful." He added gently.
"But heading towards the holidays, as we are, I want to speak presents." Throwing a sideways glance at Tom, he decided to reveal some of what they had learned during their visit to the child's first home. If it could even be called such.
"This will be the first time Harry has a real Christmas. When he was younger, he was treated as a house elf. The child didn't wake up with presents until he was in Hogwarts, and I want this year to be very different. He's growing up with us, and he needs all the love we can share." Severus stroked the hair of the child in his lap.
"He won't be spoiled rotten. But he will be given gifts," the man glanced at the child.
Hermione grinned at this information, having always suspected that Harry was unused to the holidays. He had always treasured the small gifts they had gotten him, sometimes keeping the wrappers of the candy, he had already eaten. It was as if the child didn't know what a treasure was and what was something most children had.
Having spent some time alone with the child, they had started working on gifts for everyone. Harry had drawn his family and friends, while the witch had helped him learn how to enchant the infantile drawings to move. She knew that everyone would love them.
"I got him a large drawing set," Hermione admitted. "And a few classical books. He seemed to really like them when he was in the bookstore, I doubt that will change."
Draco grinned then, throwing an arm around his fiancé's shoulders with a laugh. "I got him a few things for his wardrobe. All green of course. And a child's broom set, so he can start flying."
At that news even Sirius was grinning, ignoring the frown that fell on the other three adults of the table that hadn't shared gifts. "I'd love to teach him how to fly! That's great!" Sirius turned towards the men. "I'm getting him several photos I have of Lily… considering how she really didn't play a horrible part in any of this. I also wanted to give him a few of my childhood books and toys."
Seemingly surprised by the thoughtfulness of this, Remus nodded. "I'd like to get him a toy wand, so he can learn to never be afraid of magic."
The father's nodded, although they did not share what they would be getting the little boy. Everything that had been shared sounded okay to them, although the toy broom would be closely monitored so that Harry never mounted it without being supervised.
"Daddy," Harry mumbled, interrupting the conversation with his little voice. "I don't feel good," he groaned softly. The child curled up, his hands rubbing against his face. "Daddy!" He whined, starting to gently cry and sniffle as he hugged his stomach.
"It's time to go home," Severus didn't even hesitate. He grabbed the child and inched out, their companions moving quickly out of the way. While Remus and Sirius agreed to stay behind and take care of the bill, the rest apparated quickly from the room.
Harry had gotten a lot sicker than they thought. While it had started off as a light cold, the child had quickly grown into full blown flu. The potions that Severus brewed helped, but he still didn't get better as quickly as they would have liked.
Hermione had taken a guess that the curse was part of the reason the potions didn't work as quickly as they should have. In fact, she figured that the child had likely suffered terribly when he had first lived through his younger days, and now had somewhat retained that situation.
Taking shifts, the group had watched over Harry constantly. Severus and Tom never leaving his side as the child would begin to get hysterical at losing sight of his parents. Even in his sleep the little boy seemed to sense if he was left behind or not.
Christmas was fast approaching, and they could only hope that the boy would feel better by the morning of the holiday.
"Father," Draco greeted. He had taken permanent residence in the dark lord's manor. No one questioned the situation, knowing that their leader had become a family man despite his rise to power.
Lucius Malfoy pursed his lips, glancing around the study as he stepped from the fireplace. He had been summoned by Riddle to meet him in the manor, and had not expected his absent child to be the first to greet him. "Draco," he admonished softly. "Your mother misses you." It was the blond man's way of admitted that he too, missed his son.
Smirking in the way he had learned as a child, Draco nodded. "I've missed you too father. Please, take a seat, the dark lord will arrive soon."
The man did as he was bid, not hesitating as he had been in the home several times. He and Severus were basically considered brothers, and he had been just as devastated by the news of Severus' child being taken as the man himself. Lucius couldn't even begin to imagine the lengths in which he would go if something had happened to his own son.
It was a lesson he had to learn the hard way, but he had learned it.
"Will you be joining us for breakfast on the Holiday?" Lucius asked, raising a brow as he fiddled with the tip if his snake cane.
"Actually, I was hoping you'd be joining us here," Draco admitted. "There are some things that we need to talk to you about. I'm not allowed to say anything until Uncle Sev gets here."
"Indeed," the man stood in the door. He looked as if he hadn't had much sleep, dark circles under his eyes. The greasy hair that had been infamous at Hogwarts now a complete mess. It had been years since it had reached such a state.
In Severus' arms a little body lay sleeping, curled up against his father's chest. Tom stood behind his husband, looking just as bad. It was almost as if they men had gone to war and barely come back unscathed.
Lucius wasn't one of the top Death Eaters for nothing, his eyes scanned the situation quickly. It didn't take long before he rushed to his feet. His silver blue eyes focusing on the little figure with a precision that was astounding.
"Severus," he murmured in awe. "Is that really him? Have you truly…" He didn't finish, laughing in relief when his practical brother nodded.
"Yes, Lucius." The former professor stepped forward, settling on the sofa and leaving room for Lucius to sit beside him. Tom took a seat across the room with Draco, silent but to observe the interaction. He would never admit just how tired the little boy had made him. He also wouldn't admit that it was worth every moment. He was still a dark lord.
"May I?" Lucius had set the cane on the ground, trusting the men in the room. His hands reaching forward to gently brush aside the sweaty bangs on Harry's forehead.
"He's a bit reluctant to let me go," Severus nodded towards the fists that were bunched within his robes. "But we've found him. He's being kept a secret for now, the old wizard is still attempting sorely to find him."
"So, you've found him," he murmured with a smile. "And we're to spend Christmas morning with you." He laughed, unexpectedly happy about a situation he hadn't ever thought would come true. "Severus, you've found your son!"