Lucius had been worried about his husband since the day he had been taken to the hospital. Lucius had not slept without seeing the fear and hearing the crying of his husband the night he tried to rape him. He had told himself before it had been his right to touch his husband when he chose and demand sex, and legally it was, but he knew it had been rape. He knew he had watched his husband crying and struggling, begging desperately for him to stop, and had known he had gone way too far. He had never had to force Narcissa to be with him, she had known her duty and had submitted to him. But then again she had been a murderous Death Eater who had made attempts on both Lucius and his son, and had cheated on him left and right including in his own bed. He realized that maybe his marriage to Narcissa was not the model and he knew that Harry was young and from a different time and up bringing. Lucius didn't want to drive his husband to suicide again and knew that while the counselling and medication his husband had been put on would help, Harry needed him to make some real changes as well. It was not enough he added another bedroom for Harry for now, for Lucius actually wanted a marriage down the line, he needed to change.
Lucius had learned Harry's dads and Draco had come to be with him the day after he had been released and his dads had returned twice since, encouraged by the counsellor to be there for some sessions for Harry had needed to deal with the pain and betrayal he had felt from what they had made him do. Lucius hated to admit it but he was a bit jealous of his own son and Harry's dads. He had sworn he would not be involved until he was asked, even though he had the right to demand it. He continued his own counselling and hoped he could see Harry soon.
He was surprised when on Sunday evening Severus invited him to come have tea with him and Harry after Harry's counselling session with Jonas. Jonas had encouraged it for Harry would be returning to school the next day and he needed to settle back into things.
He saw his husband curled up in a chair by the fire eying him warily as he came into the room. He approached Harry but didn't touch him. "I was worried."
Harry looked at him silently for a moment and then finally spoke. "Severus has told me you have been going to counselling."
Lucius sat down on the hearth of the fireplace so he could be closer to Harry but never touched him at all. He wanted to reach out and kiss his beautiful husband or at least hold his hand but every time he thought about it he was reminded of Harry lying near dead on the bathroom floor and couldn't. He would not touch his husband even to hold his hand unless Harry was okay with it. He had handled this so badly before and he needed to prove to harry he meant it, he would change his ways.
Lucius found himself telling Harry a bit of the counselling he had been going through though not much detail. He also admitted that when Harry returned home he would have his own rooms until he felt comfortable being in bed with Lucius.
Harry was surprised with that but he looked to Severus and back. "I'm not ready.....I mean even with another bedroom......"
Lucius cut him off. "You will choose when you're ready to come home Harry. You can stay here with Severus until you're ready. I know you feel safe with your dad."
It was the first time anyone had ever referred to Severus as a dad for Harry and Lucius had not consciously said the words. But he could see from the look o the faces of his husband and his brother that he had been right on the word. He had seen all too clearly the growing bond between the two since Harry had become his husband. Severus had felt a certain responsibility towards Harry. He perhaps had argued at first it was because he knew Remus wanted to be there for his son and couldn't so he was doing it for Remus and of course for Lily. But he could see Severus had definitely come to care about Harry for himself. And in the absence of his dads and struggling to make sense of all of this, Harry had come to cling to Severus as an anchor. Neither of them had used the term though.
It was Jonas though who first used the term for Harry, after he had come to talk to Harry on his second day back, after his visit with his dads. He had not meant to come that day but Severus thought Harry could use it after the emotions of the visit. Jonas had thought continued visits with his dad would be good for Harry and they had returned twice since, but he had been the one to point out that Harry had come to lean on Severus as another father. It seemed odd after years of no parents; Harry seemed to have three dads, only one he was completely willing to lean on.
Severus sat down in his chair. "Lucius is right; I have come to see you as a son. And you know I am happy to have you stay as long as you need it and feel safe here."
Harry turned to his husband. "Jonas thinks we need time together so I can feel safe with you again. He says I don't need to be alone with you though until ready."
Tea having arrived Lucius assured his husband he was more then willing to agree to that. He just wanted a chance to spend time with Harry and try and mend broken bridges. He didn't mind if they were chaperoned by either his brother or his son, for as he watched Harry taking his medication, he was reminded what he drove Harry to and never wanted to go back there. His relatives were to blame for the start of his problems and Harry needed counselling and help back then, but Lucius knew he could not put all on them and he wouldn't. Harry was his responsibility and one he took seriously.
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Monday morning Harry was grateful that he was having breakfast at home every morning with Severus for he was not sure he could handle the Great Hall just yet. Severus reminded him that he could come down here and have lunch if he needed to as well but encouraged him to try it out. Draco was his only friend who knew he had been in the hospital and not sick with the pox and had promised Harry it would stay that way. He knew Harry's friends in Slytherin at least would stand by him especially Blaise but he didn't press the matter at all.
Harry made it fine through the morning for he had potions and was of course paired with Draco, and he decided to brave the Great Hall for lunch. Draco assured him his friends had been missing him a lot and they would be relieved to see him back. His friends had forgotten since he grew up in the muggle world he may never have had dragon pox and he had still not had of course.
Blaise came to them as they left the room. "Glad to have you back Harry. Dad tells me to tell you he is looking forward to meeting you at Easter to talk work."
Harry was surprised for he had thought his husband was not allowing it. "I look forward to meeting him too. It would be cool if we worked together after next year."
Technically they had another year of school left but it was worth discussing now. Harry was relieved to hear his husband had set it up and even more relieved to have something else to think about. Harry wondered for a moment if they would still want him to work if Carlos found out about his problems but Severus had already told him that it would not be an issue, especially with Blaise's dad. He had been worried he might have to fall back on his husband for employment.
His mood went down hill though. He had been smiling and having a good time talking with Blaise and later Pansy and the others but as they were leaving the hall after lunch to head for their next class he ran into Ron and his little goons.
Ron grabbed him when he tried to move past them. "So you're finally back. Heard you weren't actually sick but your husband locked you up, threw away the key."
Draco spoke up for Harry was trying to hide his discomfort. "Watch what you say Weasel or you'll be locked away in the lab with Uncle Sev cleaning cauldrons."
Ron stormed off and Draco quietly reminded Harry that Ron knew nothing and was just trying to get under his skin. Harry knew Draco was right but by the time he retreated down to the dungeons after dinner he was relieved to get away from it all. He spent the evening in the potions lab with Severus before tea, and talked. Severus was not surprised about Blaise's dad and he reassured Harry that Draco was right; Ron was just trying to get under his skin.
Severus put a hand on his arm. "If he bothers you please come to me or your husband right away. We know he was the one who spread the rumours before."