Chapter 9
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Sebastian continued his daily covert visits over the next several weeks, always seeming to disappear before being discovered. Harry was more than happy to keep their little secret, since it gave him a small feeling of joy to have control over something in his life again. And this tiny boy just wanted to get to know him, because he was fascinated by the stories Severus had told him about his former student. Sebastian had no idea Harry was the 'Golden Savior of the Wizarding World', and Harry liked that idea. On a few occasions, the boy had even been able to sneak in more than once in a day, bringing Harry small treats he recognized as coming from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. He found it highly amusing that Severus' son had access to creations from two other 'Gryffindor Banes of Severus Snape's Existence.'
And, for one so young, he was very pleasant company; intelligent, inquisitive, and very cheerful. Sometimes Sebastian would sit cross-legged facing Harry, telling him about his lessons and asking him questions about what Harry had learned of the same topics. Other times, he would bring a new book and ask Harry to read it to him, and reading along where he could. Harry helped him with some of the words and by the end of the third week, Sebastian was reading the simpler books to Harry.
About that same time, after Sebastian's visits began, Harry was able to get up and move around the room with the use of a cane. The stiffness in his right leg was more pronounced than in his left. It seemed that Draco had taken great relish in swinging the Beater bat, shattering that leg. They told him he might end up with a permanent limp but, with intense therapy, he should be able to fly his broom again.
Harry had been doing a lot of thinking. What should he do with his life now that he was no longer bonded; no longer husband and possession of Draco Malfoy. He was free to do what he wanted. Five years ago, with the demise of Voldemort, he'd had plans to see the world. He and Draco had even talked of doing those things, but the man had been more obsessed with having children--heirs.
"Lets have the children, then travel," Draco had said in the beginning. That single statement became a mantra over the following years, and he had suffered disappointment again and again. Then he thought he'd finally found a solution when he found the twins. A sweet baby girl and boy who'd lost their parents only weeks after their birth. All avenues of finding any family that would or could take care of them had been exhausted. They'd been eight months old when he'd visited the Wizarding orphanage, with the adoption worker. He'd been taken with them immediately.
When he approached Draco a few days later, anticipating his acceptance, especially since the babies looked so much like Draco, he was totally unprepared for how enraged the man had become. Needless to say, that night had become a violent turning point in his life. He wondered what would happen to those beautiful children; if they would find a loving home. He sighed heavily as he slowly made another circuit of his rooms, at the encouragement of Adam, his physical therapist.
"Doing well, Harry. Maybe next week, we can take a walk down to the gardens?"
Harry smiled. He loved the gardens, especially the flowers. Cissa had the gardener plant Lilies four years ago on his mother's birthday. Neville and Severus had gotten bulbs for her, from various greenhouses around the world. There was now a rainbow of lilies inter- dispersed throughout the garden beds.
"That would be nice. I've missed my walks down there." Harry responded as he got comfortable under his duvet again, just a bit weary from his therapy session.
He didn't know how long he dozed before he heard the tapping at his door. "Come in."
The door opened slowly, admitting Lucius and Cissa, dressed casually and smiling warmly. They moved to sit on the bed to either side of his legs, turning to face him. They visited him often, both together and alone, but this time, he sensed a bit of excited tension in the air.
"Adam says you are progressing well. How are you feeling today?" Lucius looked pleased.
"Quite good actually. I managed a bit of a kip after he left."
"That's wonderful, Harry. We wondered if you felt up to meeting someone--two someone's actually." Cissa watched him with wide blue eyes.
"Visitors? Really." He looked intrigued.
"Well, not visitors really..." Lucius began.
"Harry, I never bore any more children after--because I couldn't. That night-- I found those pictures on your desk..." The look on Cissa's face showed how much that memory pained her.
"Cissa and I had talked of adoption ourselves in the past, and well, the events and those pictures, prompted discussion again." Lucius fidgeted a bit with one of his rings as he spoke.
Harry's eyes grew wide as his mind raced. "You adopted a child didn't you!? That's wonderful! Is that who I am meeting?" He pulled himself up to a sitting position and Cissa stood to adjust the pillows for him. "Well, let's get on with it then." He announced, a look of anticipation on his face. It was well past time there were more children in this house.
Lucius and his bonded shared a look. "Very well then." He said as he and Cissa rose and stepped out of the room. Returning a moment later, they each held a small child. Standing side by side at the end of Harry's bed, they waited while he absorbed what he was seeing. His eyes grew to the size of saucers when he realized who the gurgling children were.
"Zoe'! Sasha!" He looked back and forth between the babies and the smiling faces of his in-laws. "Did you adopt them?! You adopted them! Oh Merlin! I've been so worried about them." He held his arms out, making a gimme motion with his hands. "May I hold them? Please?"
Lucius and Cissa sat to either side of Harry again, placing the babies in his arms, and casting Security Charms to help him hold them. Sitting back, they watched as Harry interacted with the family's newest additions. He looked as if he had just caught the snitch in the Quidditch World Cup. If they'd had any idea he would react so positively to the twins, they would have pressed his Psych-Healer to allow the introduction sooner.
Zoe' and Sasha bounced happily against Harry, reaching up to pat his face, as they gurgled and squealed. Tears of happiness prickled Harry's eyes and he sniffled before leaning down to place kisses on the blond heads.
"Harry?" Lucius asked, watching his two newest babes squeal in happiness. When bright green eyes looked at him...he was gratified to know that he and Cissa had done the right thing. "We, Narcissa and I, would be honored if you would be one of their godfathers."
If this is what true happiness is, Harry thought as tears clogged his throat, then he had finally found it here, holding these two precious little ones. Found it in the acceptance of this family--his family. "I would be honored."
"We'll hold the ceremony in a few weeks when your strength is back," Narcissa said.
"The blood adoption was finalized yesterday when the paperwork was filed at the French Ministry of Magic. The last step will be to appoint godparents, then the paperwork will also be file here at our Ministry."
"You said I was to be one of the godfathers. Who is the other?"
"We've chosen Severus Snape, Hermione Granger-Weasley and Luna Lovegood." Cissa slid a glance at Lucius as she answered.
"The twins asked to be honorary godfathers..." Cissa added, laughing. Lucius just rolled his eyes.
"Oh Merlin!" Harry replied as he gently released a large lock of his hair from Sasha's fist, as the boy was using Harry to help himself try to stand.
"Harry?" Lucius began grabbing up his daughter who was crawling towards him.
"Yes?" Harry was laughing and blowing raspberries on Sasha's tummy, making him shriek in laughter.
"We would be honored if you would allow us to blood adopt you as well. We don't want to replace your parents and their sacrifice, but we don't want to lose you as part of our family."
Harry stopped, holding Sasha still, and just stared in shock at his in-laws. They wanted to...make him a blood member of their family. His jaw worked, but words didn't come. Tears began coursing down his cheeks again. "Really?" He squeaked.
"You are already the blood heir to Sirius as his godson, so your name would be Malfoy Black Potter," Lucius explained. "Harry, we would be honored to call you son."
Harry swallowed, then he smiled. There was no thinking to this.. no contemplation. How could he not? He was gaining parents and he realized, siblings as well. Oh Merlin! He would have siblings! "Yes. I accept. I most definitely accept!"
"Splendid!" Lucius exclaimed, as Cissa leaned in to kiss Harry's cheek, her eyes glittering.
"I will contact our solicitors to file the paperwork. They have already been prepared, in the hopes that you would say 'yes'. We can perform your ceremony on the same day as the twins. It will be a grand family celebration!"
"Would I have godparents? What about Sirius?"
"Sirius will remain your godfather. Considering how close you are to Remus, we thought you would like to ask him to be your other godfather."
Harry could only smile. Remus! His official godfather--finally!
"We must have a grand party! Lots of wonderful food and drink, and music. We must have music." Cissa exclaimed.
"Cissa, nothing too big. We can make an announcement about the twins but that's it. Everything else remains secret." Lucius reminded her. "And we will invite family and close friends only." Thinking for a moment, he silently tallied names. "We should still have a substantial number of guests."
"All under an oath," Narcissa smiled. It had been so long since they had a party. A celebration. There would be chocolate of all types; desserts, and all of Harry's favorites of course. Lemon tarts for Albus. Tiramasu for Severus and Remus. Layer cake and French ice cream for the children. She had to plan the buffet; everyone's favorite dishes.
Turning to scoop up Sasha, she smiled at both men. "It's time for the twins' naps, and one for you as well, I think Harry. So much excitement--happy excitement! Come Lucius, I have to plan the menu for the buffet, and you must contact the solicitors."
She leaned down and kissed Harry on the forehead, then exited the room with Sasha, followed by Lucius and Zoe'. He watched them go, then slid back down under the duvet. He laid there for quite a while, thinking, too excited to sleep, before he finally drifted off about an hour before dinner.
Tbc…