Chapter 4
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Sirius came up behind Kingsley, followed closely by Severus, as Lucius handed the items over. "Per the bonding contract, Harry was to have provided an heir by their fifth anniversary, which sadly, did not occur. Harry has always tested healthy, but Draco has refused to be examined. I believe Harry approached Draco with the option of blood adoption--most likely these children... Draco has always been adamant that the heir be of his seed only. He has become more volatile as time passed with no sign of an heir."
Kingsley rubbed a hand over his bald head. The blood adoption would have taken care of this. The children would have inherited his characteristics. Anyone unaware of the blood adoption, would have thought the babies were his own.
"So..." Kingsley began.
"...When Harry suggested adopting, my 'dear cousin' went barmy and beat him senseless!" Sirius snapped from where he stood. Severus' own expression was dark and foreboding.
"Indeed, Draco has inherited the Black temperament... no offense, Sirius. But your grandfather, Artemius Black was a hateful and cruel old sod, that would fly into a blind rage at the slightest provocation." Severus' expression was morose.
"Don't remind me, Severus. I believe he's the reason Bella ended up the way she did." Lucius shuddered at memories of the crazy banshee they'd had to deal with, before she was finally felled by an Auror's wand.
"I had thought Draco was different."
"Some are good at hiding their true selves."
"Kingsley, perhaps you and Miss Lovegood would like to get started on collecting evidence. Cissa found Harry lying over there, outside the bath. It looks at though the... beating..." Lucius paled. "…occurred in the bath suite, and Harry crawled out and collapsed there," He pointed. "…outside the door."
"Come along, Luna. Let's get this over with, so we can leave the family to take care of Harry." Kingsley pulled his wand and moved forward, shadowed by Luna.
Lucius turned to see Sirius and Severus standing near the screens around Harry's bed. Sirius was looking around one of them, hesitancy in his stance, until Severus leaned in and growled something low in his ear as he pushed Sirius, gently but firmly, toward the bed, then followed him. Lucius looked back to make sure the Aurors no longer needed him, before he moved to the opening in the screens to peer in at his son-in-law. Molly and Cissa flanked the bed, each resting a gentle hand on Harry's wrists, tears coursing down their cheeks. Remus, Sirius, Arthur and Severus stood stonely silent around the bed, while Healer Longbottom stood next to Cissa, monitoring Harry's condition with diagnostic spells.
Looking down at Harry, he gasped as pain shot through his insides. Looking very tiny in the large bed, his son-in-law was almost unrecognizable. the covers were pulled up to his chest, the exposed parts of his upper body, arms and hands, covered in magical bandages, his broken hand and arm in a cast while the bones repaired themselves. The parts of Harry's face he could see, were covered in deep cuts and bruises, his eye, nose and lips so swollen, that if it hadn't been for the lightening bolt scar on his forehead and the bits of unruly hair peaking out from under the bandages, it would have been difficult to identify him as a wizard, let alone as Harry Potter-Malfoy.
Moving to stand behind his bonded, he steadied himself with his hands on her shoulders, as he bit back a sob. "Sweet Merlin! If I'd known..."
Cissa's hand came up to cover one of his, as a single tear tracked slowly down his cheek. The other wizards in the room all watched him from below lowered lids, allowing him some measure of privacy with his emotions. Severus moved quietly around the bed to confer in whispers with Healer Longbottom, no doubt discussing what potions would be needed for Harry's treatment and recovery.
Arthur had moved to stand by Molly, handing her his clean handkerchief in exchange for her damp one, which he pocketed. The normally gentile man was visibly shaken by the condition of his adopted son, evidenced by his pale countenance and the muscle jumping in his clenched jaw.
Remus had pulled a stool from the corner and was encouraging Sirius to sit. The man was looking peaked, as if he were going into shock. Severus happened to glance over before tapping the Healer on the shoulder and gesturing toward the two men. Neville grabbed a potion vial out of his bag and moved quickly to Sirius' side. Pulling his wand, he cast a Diagnostic Spell, before nodding to himself and encouraging Sirius to swallow the contents of the vial. Sirius expression began to calm, his breathing slowed, and color began to return to his face, but he remained seated.
"Remus, perhaps Sirius should lie down. Rooms have been prepared for all of you if you prefer to stay the night. The rooms are all on this floor, farther down this hallway." Cissa spoke softly as she watched her cousin struggle with what had happened to his godson.
"Thank you, Narcissa. Yes, we would like to stay near Harry." Remus smiled weakly at Cissa, before leaning down to encourage Sirius to come with him. "Come Siri."
"No! Don't want to leave Harry..." Sirius pulled away, never taking his eyes from the unconscious young man in the bed.
"Cousin, please. You will be just down the hall and if there is any change, someone will wake you immediately." She gave him the pleading look she'd used when they were children to convince him to share his candy. "Please. If something happens to you, Harry will be quite upset."
Sirius rolled his eyes slowly as he stood with Remus' help. "I give, Cissy. Please, wake me if anything changes." As Remus guided him past her, he leaned down to share a quick kiss with his cousin. Remus led him beyond the screens and the outer door clicked shut soon after.
"What do you plan to do concerning Draco, Lucius?" Arthur's question drew his attention to the couple watching him from across the bed.
He summoned a chair and sat as he took in the red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained face of Molly Weasley. She still hadn't recovered completely from the loss of Ginevra and Charlie during the war. This was hitting her hard. He could see the pain in her eyes.
"The Auror's will collect all the evidence, then find Draco... so he will be judged for what he has done to... your son... and... our son-in-law." Lucius' voice was strained, and he smirked at the surprised looks on the faces of the elder Weasley's. "Do you really think so little of us? Allowing our son to escape responsibility for this..." He motioned toward Harry's unconscious form. "abhorrent crime? No. We have failed him... and Harry, enough." He felt no anger, only regret, for the things he hadn't done over the years to curb Draco's behavior.
"Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Unfortunately, I must ask you to retire for the evening. Harry needs peace and quiet, and as little non-medicinal magic around him as possible. Though he is currently in a Healing Coma, he can still sense strong emotions around him." He handed each of the women a wristband. "These will glow and tingle, if there are any changes. Please. I am aware the situation makes actual sleep difficult, but do try to get some rest." He smiled warmly, folded his hands and waited while the four rose and slowly exited the room.
"Longbottom, you never cease to amaze me." Severus observed from behind Neville, shaking his head in amazement.
"Really Severus." He replied, turning to face his former professor. "Here's the list of potions Harry will need, starting tomorrow. You'd best get started."
Severus' eyebrows shot up at the calm, business-like tone of his former student, as he stood, list in hand, watching Neville cast Monitoring Spells over Harry, check his vitals, and arrange the duvet higher on his body.
Tbc…