Chapter 17: Christmas Eve
Despite their best efforts, little Harry had not significantly recovered from his illness. He was eating without complaining but couldn't quite hold down anything solid. They'd taken to giving him a new favorite, tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. The latter was smaller, as they didn't want him eating anything too greasy.
Narcissa had managed to finally bid the two doting fathers to take care of themselves, kicking them out of the room. Like a true Slytherin, she had pointed out to the dark lord that his husband was going to fall ill if they kept going at the rate in which they had started. She had rocked the whimpering child until he fell asleep, keeping him from freaking out that his fathers had left the room.
It took less than a few hours before the little boy had grown attached to the witch, listening in fasciation when she took the time to read from a book. Hermione providing the stories from the library. Sirius and Remus had taken to entertaining Harry with stories from their youth, after being given permission from Severus of course.
On the night of Christmas Eve, they decided that Harry was good enough to do a cozy family dinner. Narcissa had carried him into the family room on her hip, the lights from the tree twinkling in their mirth. Everyone had settled on a couch, a variety of soups displayed on a table that had been transfigured to fit the room.
Severus immediately stood and lifted the child into his arms, not surprised when Harry curled up against him. However, his green eyes wandered the length of the room, taking in the family that was slowly growing. Lucius and Narcissa had taken a love seat, Hermione had curled up on a pillow on the ground, leaning against an armchair where Draco sat. His hand running casually through her hair as he smiled at Harry. Remus and Lupin were sprawled out on the ground, playing a game of Wizard's Chess as they waited his arrival.
Tom leaned down to kiss Harry's forehead before he grabbed a bowl of food, intent on feeding the little boy.
"Happy Christmas Eve," he murmured softly.
Harry smiled, happy to not be in the confinement of his room. He ate without a fuss, only refusing to eat when he felt like his stomach was full. Everyone had started on their own bowls of soup, making it so the child wouldn't feel like he was the only one who had to eat the meal.
Draco instantly volunteering to take Harry into his own lap as the fathers started on their meals. The little boy was extremely cute, and when he looked so fragile it just made his protective instincts burst.
"Dwaco," Harry spoke, his voice quiet from disuse. "I wanna pway." He was pouting.
"What would you like to play, Harry?" A blond brow lifted, "we can't do anything that requires too much physical activity."
The child gave a pout, obviously not having thought too far in advance about what activity he'd like to do. Draco simply shrugged, before he rose from the seat and sat on the ground with Hermione. Had anyone seen the Malfoy on the floor, they likely would have frozen solid in terror that they had begun to hallucinate. Malfoy's did not sit on floors!
With a flick of his wand Draco summoned some coloring books that they'd gotten several days back, carefully opening to a page that displayed several quidditch players flying briskly on their brooms. For a moment a snitch flew across the page, right behind the seeker, before everything froze. "This is an enchanted coloring book," Draco explained. "The pictures will move again when you're done coloring them."
Harry, who was still in awe of magic, had watched with large eyes as the pictures went back to their original frame. His green eyes flickering only once to Draco before he grabbed the nearest crayon (which just happened to be green) and asked to be put down so he could lay on the ground to color. With concentration Harry got to work, little tongue peaking on the side of his mouth as he forgot his sickness in favor of doing something exciting.
"Make sure the green team wins, child." Lucius piped in, watching the scene in amusement as Draco consistently ran a hand through the child's unruly hair.
"Okay, Uncle Luc!" Harry agreed, eyes focused on his masterpiece.
Sirius rolled his eyes but didn't bother fighting the words when Harry began to color the other team a yellow color. At least they were not winning against Gryffindor.
"So, you'll spend the night, won't you?" Tom turned to Lucius, knowing that the couple had taken a quick liking to the little boy Harry had become.
"The house elves have already agreed that the presents be delivered here," was the reply. The man still had tried to remain his cool, even though he'd allowed the little boy to call him by a name that he would have not deemed worthy of his title years prior.
"Don't act like you're not pleased," chided Severus, eyes never leaving his child. He kept a lookout for any signs of exhaustion, knowing that Harry had not lost his streak of stubbornness despite the de-aging.
Lucius merely smirked, arm wrapping on the back of the couch as he too, observed the children. Well, Draco would always be a child to him, no matter his age.
"What do you think?" Draco had taken a coloring book for himself, lifting it up to show Harry. He'd colored a photo of a Cornish pixie, the big smile yellowing around the edges. Instead of answering, the little boy furrowed his brows and stared quietly.
He seemed to be lost, falling silent as he continued to stare at the blue creature with almost a lack of reaction.
Severus noticed immediately, sitting up in concern. When after a full minute Harry had not moved, the rest of the room became quiet. Standing, the former professor quickly made his way to his son, almost jumping when Harry blinked and shook his head.
"That's silly! He needs to bwush his teeth!" He grinned to show his own teeth, and then looked down at his drawing. Pulling it up, he showed off the picture to both Draco and Severus. "Look! The green team wins!"
And indeed, although a bit out of line, the players winning the game had been the green team. Scooping Harry from the floor (in which the child emitted a quiet shriek of surprise before giggling), Severus hugged the child to his chest. Something had happened with the pixie's that had triggered a strange reaction from Harry. Although it hadn't lasted long, it concerned him. It was obvious the child didn't remember the situation.
"Daddy!" Harry hugged the man, seemingly okay with stopping his activity for some cuddle time. He didn't complain when he was set between Severus and Tom, merely leaning back on the couch with a smile on his cherub face.
"Is there anything you want for Christmas that you haven't asked for yet?" Tom inquired gently, looking at the little boy with interest.
"I want a dog! Like Uncle!" Harry exclaimed cheerfully, a snort leaving Remus which was quickly interrupted by a hand smacking the back of his head. Sirius, though smiling, threw a mock glare at the male beside him before turning to Harry.
"A dog is a hard thing to take care of Harry, are you sure you're ready for the responsibility?" Severus seemed shocked that such a responsible question had left the man's mouth. Instead of commenting, he allowed his son to answer.
"I think…" Harry paused. "I think a dog take care of family."
Everyone froze.
"Take care of the family how, little one?" Urged Lucius quietly.
"Protect from bad man." Harry frowned. "Bad man wants to take me away… he wants to hurt daddy and papa. A dog protects me, so daddies don't have to!"
After this declaration Harry looked almost triumphant, though the fear that had obviously affected him further than they had thought was still lingering. Both fathers immediately scooted so that Harry was sharing their laps, arms wrapped the boy tightly to them.
"Harry, you don't need a dog to protect you. I will always make sure you're safe. Your father wouldn't ever let anything happen to you. Do you understand?" Tom spoke just softly enough that the words were both firm and gentle.
"I will not let him hurt you." He reinstated.
"But, what about the family?" Harry looked genuinely concerned, glancing at all the people in the room.
Draco grinned, "we'll protect each other! The bad man will never get near any of us!"
Hermione nodded along, adding on, "we will protect you too Harry. That's what family does, okay?"
The little boy nodded after a moment, though he didn't look completely at ease with the situation. Glancing up at his parents, the black-haired boy seemed to try to sink into their bodies to disappear.
"How about a cat?" Remus filled the silence. Receiving multiple glares from the parent's who did not need another animal to take care of. "What, I mean, it's not a terrible idea!"
Sirius smacked the back of Remus' head once more, the tense atmosphere receding as Harry began to giggle.
I haven't forgotten this story! Work is just crazy! :)