Hadrian was already in love with the Malfoys.
They were what he had pictured as a loving family and they were so elegant and pretty. Hadrian had confessed to loving both Lucius' and Narcissa's hair after Narcissa had left for the evening which amused Severus to no end. Severus' own insecurities raised their head after putting Hadrian to sleep that night. Severus worried about Hadrian finding Severus to not be enough for his needs. The voice in the back of his head mocking that giving Hadrian a proper two-parent household would be better for him and his development.
With Severus lost in his thoughts, he hadn't heard the communication mirror on his desk chime until the third call. Cursing to himself and grabbing the mirror, already knowing who would be calling him so late at night.
"Activate" Severus intoned and in the mirror Severus' reflection faded away, and looking back at him was the sixteen-year-old face of his Lord, looking extremely unamused.
"Severus." Just that one word from his Lord's mouth said many unpleasant things.
"My Lord, I am sorry I did not hear the chiming of the mirror." Severus apologized, cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
"I don't care about that and stop it with the formalities. What is this I hear about you having an heir all of the sudden? Why was I not told?" If Severus didn't know any better he would almost say his Lord was pouting.
"It is something recent, my Lord… I mean Tom. I am guessing that Lucius opened that largemouth of his? It would be easier to explain everything to you when you got back from your trip."
"Well, I will be home tomorrow. No use spending a useless amount of time out here in the middle of nowhere when I am clearly needed back home. Lucius has already been both praised and told off for being a snitch and a gossip." Tom said with a smirk, his youthful looks making him seem less devious and softer than he had when he had been at the height of his power.
"Lucius is unfortunately an old dog that will never learn any new tricks. You do not have to come home, Tom. Cissa and Lucius are taking care of me and you can hear the whole story and meet my heir once you return. It will be a story that surprises you though. Are you not enjoying your trip with Fenrir?" As Severus asked the question, he already regretted it since his lord's face turned cold and stony at the name of the fearsome werewolf.
"Fenrir left me alone here several days ago. I could care less what or where that mutt is," Tom growled before taking a deep breath and calming so he could continue. "I could always use a surprise, life has been quite dull since I was resurrected, Severus. I will see you no later than tomorrow afternoon, I expect answers then." Tom said sternly before ending the call, not allowing Severus any say so either way. Not that he would be brave enough to deny his Lord even with his sanity intact again.
So much was happening it was hard for Severus to keep up with it all. First, he gets a son unexpectedly and now he has his friends and his lord pushing their way into his privacy and his bonding time with Hadrian. Although he really had needed that nap today, now that he had caught up on sleep Severus felt like he could focus on smaller details and be more present at the moment than the inferius feeling he had been experiencing. Severus was really struggling with feeling like an adequate Dad at the moment.
Silent Compassion
Hadrian was sitting in the living area enjoying the warmth from the fire and listening to his Daddy as he made Hadrian's medical potions down the hall in his potions lab. Hadrian had been listening to a magical children's storybook that only required him to press his hand to the page of the book for it to activate and read the content of that page to him, but he had grown bored. Hadrian much preferred the comforting tones of his Daddy grumbling and muttering as he took notes and adjusted the potions.
Just as Hadrian began to doze off in his Daddy's recliner, the floo flared waking him up. Hadrian's whole body tensed up, unsure of who had just come into their home. Hadrian curled in on himself, trying to keep quiet and hopefully not bringing much attention to himself. Severus had heard the floo and was making his way to the living room already having put the potions he was working on into stasis.
Thomas Marvolo Riddle did not like or enjoy surprises. Hearing that one of his closest confidants had a child that he had no knowledge of was a very unpleasant surprise indeed. Tom knew that he had much to make up for considering his behavior prior to his temporary vanquishing several years ago. His resurrection to his younger body and more sane mind had only been accomplished six months prior and he still had a lot of ground to make up with his abused and neglected followers, but he still did not expect to find out about Severus' son through Lucius. Or that Severus had a child at all.
Looking around Severus' house Tom almost missed the waif of a boy curled into a ball on Severus' big leather recliner. The boy seemed to almost hold his breath making less noise than Tom ever experienced from a child. The child was also much older than he expected, when Lucius had told him that Severus had an heir Tom had thought he would find a baby, not a child just barely out of his toddler years.
Severus stalked into the living room, searching out Hadrian and making sure he was okay before looking to his lord who was watching Severus with an amused face.
"Severus, it is nice to see you again. Maybe you can introduce me to your handsome young heir." Tom said in a soft tone, not wanting to scare the child. Hadrian twitched at the sound of a new voice that he didn't recognize, tensing up a little more. Severus made his way over to Hadrian, gently laying his hand on Hadrian's head and running his fingers through his hair to relax him.
"Hadrian we have a special guest, someone even more important than your irritating godparents who insist on harassing me with their presence," Severus said quietly. Hadrian smiled a little, amused with the bickering between Lucius and Severus already.
"More important than them?" Hadrian asked back in an equally hushed tone.
"Yes. This is Thomas Marvolo Riddle, an old friend, and mentor of mine. He took care of me after my parents died and made sure I didn't get into any trouble." Severus rubbed Hadrian's back gently now, getting his boy to slowly relax back into a normal sitting position.
Tom watched this with fascination. He had never seen Severus like this, this tenderness was brand new and a little baffling. Tom took in all the details he could, from Hadrian's thin frame, the lack of eyes behind those eyelids, to the messy black hair that matched Severus' color perfectly. The boy tilted his head back toward where he had heard Tom last, determined to show the manners that Lucius and Narcissa had showed him yesterday.
"Welcome, Thomas Riddle to our home. I'm Hadrian." with a small and determined smile on his face. Severus puffed up a bit like a proud bird making Tom have to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
"Thank you, Hadrian, it is an honor to be in your home and to meet such a polite young man." Tom brought out all of his charm, making Hadrian smile a little more. "Unfortunately before we can get to know each other I have much to discuss with your Father."
"You'll be nice to my Daddy right?" Hadrian asked a little unsure.
"I promise."
"Okay." Hadrian nodded.
"You need to take your next dose of potions anyway and they'll make you take a nap anyway." Severus reminded Hadrian. "Now do you want to walk back to your room or do you want me to carry you?"
"W-will you carry me?" Hadrian hesitantly asked, both Tom and Severus smiled at the nervous boy.
"I would be happy to carry you, my son." Picking Hadrian up gently, heading toward Hadrian's bedroom.
"I will meet you in your office, Severus," Tom called out, making sure Severus wouldn't forget him. Not that Severus could ever forget his Lord. As Tom made his way to Severus' office, he couldn't help but feel slightly protective over Severus' small boy.
Tom barely knew the child and already Tom knew he would kill anyone who dares hurt that little boy.