The floo went off at six a.m. the next morning, it hadn't quite been expected by the dour man when it happened, although he'd deny the fact he'd been startled to his dying day.
Severus had only been asleep for a couple of hours when his floo activated, allowing four cantankerous looking goblins into his home. When he had sent the letter to the goblins alerting them that the boy was awake, he definitely hadn't expected them so early in the morning, hadn't expected them to arrive without notice either.
"Good morning Grownok, I am sorry for not welcoming you into my home. I wasn't expecting you so early," Severus sneered, it was difficult letting strangers into his home like this.
The goblins always seem to enjoy Severus' bad attitude and today was no different since they looked at him amused, or as amused as a goblin could be to humans.
"That was the point Potion Master Snape, can't let you be prepared or you might try to trick us," Grownok gruffly explained.
"Are you implying that I have tricked you before Grownok? High compliments coming from you Master Lineage Goblin, supposedly the most undeceived in all the goblin nation," Severus challenged with a smirk, making Grownok growl at him.
"Let us just get this over with. Where is the boy?" another goblin that Severus did not know the name of stated firmly.
"He is in the bedroom, if you would wait quietly in the doorway I will wake him and prepare him for your questions and procedures," Severus requested, thinking about how he didn't want to scare the boy with the sudden visit of the goblins, not to mention they suspected him to be a muggleborn.
The goblins looked at each other seeming to silently communicate before nodding in agreement, with that Severus led the way to his bedroom in the back of the house.
The boy was surprisingly awake when he entered the bedroom with his head tilted and a look of concentration on his face, probably trying to figure out the world around him with no eyes.
"There are people with you sir?" Harry asked hesitantly, almost unsure if he could trust his own hearing to tell him the truth.
"Yes. They are going to help me figure out who you are and what your name is," Severus tried for reassurance, to show he wasn't just bringing strangers in to come to see him for no reason.
"Okay," Harry was facing the sound of Severus' calming voice, trusting Severus to keep him safe from whoever came in with him.
"Little one, they are going to prick your finger once to draw some blood to the surface and then test that blood to tell us all about you okay?" Severus asked him, keeping his tone low and comforting. The goblins were actually rather shocked to see this new side to the dour man, for as long as they'd done business together they had never seen him act like this.
"Okay," Harry nodded giving permission, the goblins quickly got to work being mindful of what they spoke about in front of the child, having been told in the letter that the child may not know of magic, they were to keep their interactions to a bare minimum. Normally such a request would be insulting and may have been taken as the client being against creatures, fortunately, they knew Severus pretty well in the bank as well as his no-nonsense personality that did not care for your race as long as you did your job quickly and correctly.
Severus aided the goblins in getting the boy to hold out one of his hands where it was required, he did not flinch when the blood was taken from his finger and placed onto old ritual parchment.
Severus put a plaster over the cut instead of healing the child and making him suspicious or scared "how about I get us some breakfast while we wait for the results? Are you hungry little one?" Severus asked, slightly eager to see the results the goblins were currently angrily muttering over but more concerned with taking care of the boy first.
"Maybe something small?" Harry stated softly, feeling a little too nauseous with nerves to eat much.
"Okay, I will get you some oatmeal and maybe some fresh fruit. Are you okay with me leaving you alone here with our guests?" Severus asked to make sure the child wasn't scared of being left alone with the goblins.
"…Yes, I'll be okay," Harry took a deep breath deciding to be brave, he knew deep down that Severus wouldn't let anything bad happen.
"Good. I will be right back little one." Severus made sure he was quick in getting them a small tray of food together that they could share, he was really pleased and proud of the trust the boy was giving to him. He wanted to make sure he didn't do anything to betray that trust in any way, wanted to show the child he'd always be there for him.
When he got back to the bedroom he saw the child fidgeting nervously and facing the direction of where the goblins were talking to each other quite seriously, although he thankfully wasn't scared.
After setting the food down on the nightstand he grabbed the brown sugar oatmeal he'd whipped together with some fresh berries and encouraged the boy to let him help him eat until he could learn to do it without any help. The child finally conceded to the help but was quite grumpy about having to depend on someone, by the time the child decided he was too full to eat the other half of his oatmeal the goblins were ready to present their findings.
"Grownok, what did you learn?" Severus asked calmly, putting the food to the side for now.
"Many disturbing things that you aren't going to like. To begin with, do you have any suspicions for who the boy's family might be?" Grownok asked knowingly, Severus sighed already knowing where this was going to lead.
"I had suspected one family but I hope that I am wrong."
"The report states that here is one Harrison Charles Potter, age 5, eldest twin to Donovan James Potter, son of James and Lily Potter. What is interesting is the fact that he is listed as your godson and the heir to more than just the house of Potter," Grownok stated in a monotone, observing the confusion and anger on Severus' face and the worry on the child's face.
"How can he be my godson when I was never asked? I never attended any familial blessings like I did when I was asked to be Draco Malfoy's godfather? Why isn't he with the Potters?" Severus asked through clenched teeth, angry at the Potters for what he's beginning to suspect they've done.
"Unfortunately Lord Potter does not follow the old ways like his parents did. There would have not been a blessing at all, but Lady Magic must have deemed you a suitable guardian to the child Harrison anyway. She does not make mistakes. Also, we have on file that on the night of October 31st, 1981 the Potters reported that their son Harrison was killed in the attack on the house by Lord Voldemort. We have no other knowledge as to how Harrison got to be with his distant relatives or why they would claim him to be dead. I suggest hiring a private investigator or confronting the Potters directly. Finally is his health report which is most of what you already told us about except for a scar on his head that leads past his hairline, it's actually a curse scar that will need to be mended." Grownok tried to keep it vague enough so the child wouldn't automatically think of magic but also get his point across to Severus.
Severus looked to Harrison to see a small and confused child and Severus felt the unending need to hug and comfort the boy "Well child, what do you think of your proper name?" Severus decided to start small and work his way up to the harder questions, he had to refrain from chuckling at the wrinkled-up face the child made at his name.
"Does that have to be my name?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Well if you don't like it then I suppose not, we could always change it to something better," Severus reasoned slowly, wondering where the boy was going with this.
"I don't want a name from the people who are dumb and purposefully gave me away to the Dursleys," Harry petulantly explained, with a slight pout, which just made Severus smirk in amusement.
The child hesitated for a moment before seeming to gather the courage to speak his thoughts aloud, "Would you name me…maybe, sir? I'm sorry if that's too much! I can be fine with Harrison too…"
Severus stopped his babbling by placing a hand on his shoulder gently. "Are you sure you would want me to pick your name child? I may be your godfather but that doesn't mean my input has to mean anything to you," Harry took a minute to consider it before nodding.
"I trust you to name me something good."
Grownok cleared his throat, startling the boy quite badly in the process. "Sorry to interrupt but we must leave, I will forward you the paperwork to change his name if you wish. As you are his godfather you have legal custody until the Potters have been contacted and alerting to their eldest survival," was explained.
Severus looked at Grownok and in a very serious tone asked, "How much would it cost me for you to not alert the Potters at all?"
A feral grin showed on Grownok's face "I will send you my price," was all he said and before Severus could say anything more the Goblins took their leave through his floo in the living room once more, no evidence of their visit left behind.
Severus turned back to the child that he had decided to take full responsibility for, he would make sure this precious child would be appreciated and loved instead of thrown out or living in the shadow of his famous twin. Severus sneered at that thought, he never expected Lily to turn out that way after all. The Potters didn't deserve such an amazing child and he was amazing, even Severus could see that.
"If I name you then I want to do this properly by adopting you as well," Severus explained firmly, dedicating himself fully to this endeavor even if he'd never seen himself in this position before.
"You really want me?" Harry asked, tears coming to his eyes and making the bandages spot with tears. Sniffling and trying hard not to cry Harry waited for his savior's answer with slight fear and trepidation.
"Oh child, of course, I want you. As long as you are happy with me being your family? You've just learned you have a real family out there. A mother, father, and brother as well as an old family name that you would be heir to," Severus explained gently.
"But they threw me away … I thought they were dead for as long as I can remember. I didn't even know I had a brother. You're the only one to have been nice to me, I want you … Dad?" Harry softly added at the end, unsure if such a title would be welcome but Severus just smiled and carefully hugged the child, making sure not to scare him in the process.
"Then I will adopt you, you will be Hadrian Kieran Prince, heir to the Prince Estate and my son."
"Hadrian Kieran Prince," Harry, now Hadrian, repeated to himself with joy. Smiling to himself as he enjoyed the elegant name he'd been given, "Thank you, Dad."
Severus let go of the boy, his boy, and stepped back, "You should take a nap whilst I will get the supplies I need to officially adopt you. We have much to talk about still but I do not want to delay in claiming you my son," Hadrian smiled and nodded, already feeling tired from so much happening so early in the morning.
Severus tucked Harry in and got to work filling out paperwork, first, he accepted the Prince estate that he declined to accept in his youth due to his own wounded pride and the knowledge of his mother being thrown out of the Prince family. After a moment's thought he decided to start brewing the blood adoption potion as well, he would take no risks in allowing anyone to take his new child away from him. Hadrian would be loved and cared for and he would show him that he didn't need to see the world in order to experience it to its fullest.
Three days later after some nasty 'medicine' for Hadrian, another visit from the goblins, one healed curse scar, and even more paperwork (that Severus felt sure he was being buried under), Hadrian Kieran was officially the son of Severus Tobias Prince.
When Severus finally got around to reading what other estates his son was the heir of he was shocked to see the Peverell and Hufflepuff estate from Lily's side of the family, alongside James' Potter and Gryffindor Estate. It made him laugh because the Prince's had control of the Ravenclaw Estate, 'he would only need to marry a Slytherin and he could take over Hogwarts' Severus thought in weary amusement.
If only Severus knew how accurate that statement would be nearly a decade and a half later.
~SC~
Severus knew that the make-shift supplies he had transfigured for Hadrian weren't good enough for long-term use but the thought of actually going out in public to buy children's clothes, toys, and other odds and ends was an uncomfortable one. Over the past few days he had owl ordered the basics but some of the clothes turned out to be of lower quality than he had thought they would be, he had the full intention of only getting the best for Hadrian but that meant taking Hadrian out into one of the magical districts so Hadrian could get fitted.
While Severus wasn't lacking for money with his specialty owl order potions business, he also wasn't rich like the Malfoys and able to just throw his money around which meant having a tailor come to the house would just cost too much.
Severus sighed, it seemed it couldn't be helped.
Severus was also worried about Hadrian's reaction to magic as well, maybe he would just stick to muggle shopping, for now, to not give the boy a shock.
Two days later that is exactly what Severus did after Hadrian had asked if he could have a belt to keep his transfigured pants up.
Severus wouldn't let his little boy look like he was walking around with hand me downs as he had done as a child, so that sunny afternoon Severus and Hadrian went out into the muggle shopping district of Cokeworth, not willing to risk going out to a bigger city for the essentials. Severus had spent the night before adapting a muggle wheelchair to fit Hadrian's needs better while still blending into the Muggle world, Hadrian was still weak and couldn't do much on his own, Severus wouldn't risk his son's health even for this.
"Hadrian are you ready to go?" Severus asked as he entered his bedroom where Hadrian was still sleeping for the time being.
"Yes Daddy," Hadrian called back with a small smile.
It had only taken a day of Hadrian calling Severus Dad for him to get more comfortable with their newfound relationship and changed his title to Daddy, Severus was ecstatic when Hadrian first called him that.
Severus gently lifted Hadrian off of the bed and settled him into his wheelchair, making sure he was comfortable and wouldn't get hurt as they walked. Severus hadn't been able to come up with an alternative to apparating into the town proper so he was going to be putting a feather-light on the wheelchair and walking into town.
Hadrian was excited to be going outside and getting some fresh air even if he wasn't able to do much walking yet, he did think it was a waste of money for his new Daddy to be buying him new clothes but his Daddy insisted that it was what Dads were supposed to do anyway.
Severus had a plan, they would be out long enough for Hadrian to enjoy it but quick enough to not attract too much attention. Bringing his disabled son out in public so soon just did not sit right in Severus' gut, but needs must. His plan was going rather smoothly, Hadrian would on occasion ask a question about a sound or smell but otherwise was just enjoying the fresh air. Severus was grateful that Hadrian couldn't see some of the looks he was receiving from the strangers around the town.
"Okay we are going to get your new clothes and then we can have lunch out as a treat, I even got permission from Nick for you to eat whatever you want while we are out," Severus informed Hadrian, happy when he saw the delighted look on his son's face.
"Really? Anything?" Hadrian asked hopefully.
"Yes, anything," Severus promised.
"Can … can we have pizza? I've never had it before …" Hadrian timidly trailed off, it made Severus upset to hear such a simple request filled with such longing as if he still wasn't sure he was allowed things.
If he ever got his hands on those Dursleys, it would be a slow and painful end for them.
"Yes, we can have pizza. But clothes first and then pizza," Severus compromised
"Okay, Daddy." Hadrian agreed with a wide grin, the biggest smile he had seen on the boy to date, and somehow it made the trip seem all the more worth it in the end.