George was holding Harry in his arms. He knew why Lucius had not old them that his dads were coming. He would have told Lucius not to send for them. Harry was not ready. Harry had suffered so much growing up. It was amazing that he could trust people at all. George was not sure at all he could have. Harry was amazing. He had such a good heart. He loved people and opened his heart. He knew it hurt Harry all the more what was done to him. He would have signed the contract himself. He would have agreed to marry Lucius from the start. If it saved lives he would have been willing. But as always he had no choice. And it felt like he was slapped again He had never been given a chance at freedom. He was never given a chance at choice. He was always a pawn it seemed. And having his dads forced on him had definitely done nothing to help him heal from what happened. Once again a choice had been taken away from him.
Harry was trying. He was struggling desperately to make some sense of all of this. He was attempting to give his husband a chance. George knew the deal. He knew much of the fear was sex with anyone. But it made sense. Harry was stuck married to Lucius. He could not escape that. Not unless he took his own life. His magic was bonded to his husband. His dads were another matter. He did not have to face them. He did not have to have them in his life. Harry was struggling with the pain. Lucius had bought him. But he had not betrayed him. He had expected nothing from Lucius. Harry felt betrayed by his dads. He knew one day Harry would likely forgive them. He loved them so badly. But it would not be soon. It worried it would either take some scare or just him and his husband bridging the group together.
George hoped the day would come soon. He knew Harry needed his dads. He was begging for them. But he refused to allow themselves their comfort. He was afraid. This was Christmas. Harry should have been happy and celebrating. He should not have been in his bedroom crying,
The door opened and Lucius came into the room. "George can I have some time with my husband?"
George nodded and hugged his little brother. "I am just downstairs if you need me."
Harry was reluctant to let him go but he did not verbally protest. He had sworn he would give his husband a chance. But h was hurt. And he was angry. He was angry his husband had done this to time. Lucius had no right to summon them here. He had no right to throw them at him. Harry should have had a choice in the matter again. Every time he thought he was making progress with Lucius his husband did something like this. Lucius was a fool if he thought he would ever succeed.
Lucius sunk down next to him. He knew he was taking a risk being so close. Harry had every right to be angry at him. And he knew Harry definitely was. For a moment he wished for the days of the dampeners. He shook away the thought. His husband was not his prisoner. And was a child. He could handle him. Besides he knew deep down he deserved what ever Harry might throw at him.
Harry glared at him. "How could you? How could you invite them to come here? You had no right. No right. You knew I was not ready to see them. You knew."
Lucius took his arms. "Harry I know you love them. I know it is killing you to be apart from them. I just wanted to try and make things right for you. I swear Harry."
Harry tried to draw back from him. Yes he missed his dads. He finally had a family. He had waited all of his life for it. But they had betrayed him. They had forced him into a marriage that there was no escape. And eve if he could have forgiven them that they lied. If they had told him when they signed it he would not have been as hurt. He would have still been in pain. But he may have seen it was to save lives. It was that they kept it from him. He knew they said they wanted to give him a year. But he could still have had that year. He could still have had a year to enjoy the freedom he had left. He could have taken that year to deal with his pending fate. They instead let him walk into the office with no idea what was happening. They did not even have the nerve then to tell him. Lucius had handed him the contract.
Lucius kissed him lightly. "They love you. I was the selfish one. I was the one who put ending a war on your shoulders. I am the one you should be angry with."
Harry shook his head. "I am. But they should have told me. You should have told me. I had a right to that year. I had a right to my year of courting. I didn't deserve it."
He felt a pang for his husband. It was the reason he agreed to the six months. Severus had called him on ignoring the year of courting. Harry's dads were not only ones who had kept it from him. The six months were ending in a week. But he had made a second promise. He would keep to that promise. Harry could barely kiss him without drawing away. He knew his husband would go nearly catatonic again if he tried and forced him into bed with him on their trip.
Lucius squeezed his hand. "You are giving me a chance and you thought me a monster from day one. Is it not possible you could forgive your dads for this?"
Harry seemed surprised. "Why do you care anyways? I didn't think you had any love lost with either of my dads."
Shaking his head he reminded Harry he really had no relationship with them. Severus was the one who had an issue with Sirius in the past. His role as a spy might have made problems with Sirius and Remus. He had to pretend he had not liked werewolves. He had been the most vocal about Remus teaching. But it was not personal. He could live with them if it made his husband happy, He did actually care about his husband. And he had been worried when Harry ran off. The only reason he had not come sooner was because Severus convinced him to let Remus talk to his son and then allow George to comfort Harry for a bit. He knew his friend was right. He would likely have been hexed without warning if he had com right away. He could see Harry had looked at the gift his dads brought him.
Lucius pointed at the book. "I won't force you but I think you should read it. I would be willing to be with you or your brothers of course."
Harry put the book aside. "Maybe. I can't take it right now. Lucius please leave it. I know you meant well. But I am not ready to forgive. If I will ever be ready."
Nodding Lucius swore he would not push again. He knew Harry would forgive one day. Harry had too amazing of a heart not to. If Harry could give him a chance, he would find it to forgive his dads. But he was not helping it by trying to force them together. He and Harry had enough problems between them to work through. He did not need to add to that by trying to force Harry and his dads together. He would leave that to Severus. Severus had not so much to lose in doing so.
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The night before Harry and his husband were to leave Severus came to Harry. Harry had returned to Christmas and tried to put a smile back in. But he had known. He knew Lucius was not pushing it. And Severus would not really. He had started because of his friendship with Remus. He cared about his old friend. But he was starting to see Harry like a son. He cared about the boy. He looked at him like he did Draco.
He sat down and handed Harry a gift who looked surprised. "Forge that Christmas was to days ago?"
Severus shook his head. "No. I just decided to wait. I have that and a gift for Lucius. It was me who invited your dads and not your husband."
Harry was not surprised. But he knew that Lucius was not innocent in it either. He had a feeling Lucius let his old friend do his dirty work. Harry did not get into it. He talked enough with his husband. He was willing to push aside the anger. He had enough problems with Lucius without creating new ones.
Harry opened the package and was surprised to find a book on duelling charms. "Sev?"
Severus smiled. "I noticed you seem to have a real interest in charms. Filius mentioned it. I thought perhaps it might inspire you. I'd consider teaching you."
Harry was reminded from second year Severus was a dueller. Charms had always been his favourite class. He did well in DADA and with his club because of it. Severus ad known Harry was not sure what to do with his life. Lucius wanted Harry to come work for him. But that did not have to be as depressing as Harry thought. Malfoy industries had branches in almost every field. He thought Harry might actually find something to interest him.
Harry was surprised and had to admit a bit touched by the thought Severus had put into the gift. "Thanks Severus. It means a lot to me."