Lord Lucius Abraxas Malfoy was normally a very well-put-together man, due to his pureblood heir training from a young age.
Unfortunately, all of that training went out the window when it came to anything to do with one Severus Snape, now known as Severus Prince. Lucius had been in love with Severus since his 5th year in Hogwarts. Sadly by that point, Lucius had already been engaged to Narcissa, who was his friend but never his lover. Thank Merlin for spells otherwise they would have never had an heir.
Lucius would do anything for Severus and has tried to subtly show Severus for years now that he was the best choice for a partner that Severus could ever want or need. Lucius made sure that Dumbledore was unable to manipulate Severus into working for him indefinitely, even briefly had Dumbledore up on charges for blackmail. Lucius made sure after he found out about Rian to help Severus all the time with taking care of both himself and his new son. Draco was all too willing to help when Lucius enlisted his help so they could see the Prince's more often than not.
Lucius was now at a loss as to how else he could show Severus that he could be the right one without shouting it in his face, which Severus would definitely not appreciate. Tom may have insisted that Lucius should woo Severus, however, Tom did not provide any adequate instructions on how Lucius could convince the snarly man to accept being wooed without getting his balls hexed off.
With a heavy sigh, Lucius looked at the bouquet of flowers that Rian had helped him pick out for his Daddy. Rian was of the mind that flowers were a good place to start, even Draco had suggested taking Severus out to dinner at least. Was he really going to take advice from two 9-year-old boys?
Yes, he was.
Silent Compassion
Hadrian and Draco were snooping.
They knew they were supposed to be out in the Malfoy family gardens playing, but then they saw Draco's father follow Severus back into the house. They had taken to eavesdropping anytime the two ended up alone, hoping that Lucius would grow a backbone are finally ask Severus out on a date. Tom had caught them snooping one too many times, so he had agreed to help them push their Dads together. Not that it seemed to have helped at all.
Hiding in one of the many hidden servant rooms in the manor, the two boys listened carefully as Lucius and Severus talked casually about nothing while sitting in front of the family room's fireplace. Just as the two boys were beginning to grow bored of listening to the adults' talk, they heard Lucius clear his throat nervously.
"Um Severus, I have a question for you," Lucius said quietly, steeling his nerves.
"Yes, Lucius?" Severus said curiously.
"Would you go on a proper date with me tomorrow night?" Lucius spoke in a rush as he presented the stasis-held flowers that Rian and he had selected a month prior.
"What are you playing at Lucius?" Severus asked in a dangerous tone, standing up from his chair.
"I am not playing Severus. I would never play with you, I swear it. Please… come out on a date with me, let me prove my intentions to you, Severus. I have enjoyed our casual play over the last decade, but I want more. I want you. I have wanted you since we were in Hogwarts. Please let me prove the sincerity of my love for you my Sev." Lucius looking at Severus with begging eyes, knowing he didn't have much high ground to stand on to prove much to Severus right now, but trying anyway.
Severus felt lost. He never expected this kind of declaration from Lucius. When he saw the flowers and then heard Lucius's initial question, his automatic response was Lucius was teasing him. Pranking him and playing with his feelings by treating him like some woman. But there was a passion and desperation to Lucius that spoke of more and that scared Severus. He didn't want to trust his heart to anyone else after what had happened with Lily. How could he turn Lucius down though? He knew deep down that he too had wanted Lucius for years and had settled for their casual relationship as all he would ever get from the pretentious Malfoy lord.
"…Okay, I will go on one date with you Lucius. You have one date to prove your intentions, if you can't then we end it all Lucius. If we cross that line, there will be no backtracking to what we have now." Severus said firmly.
Even as the panic threatened to choke him, Lucius swallowed it down and nodded. He understood where Severus was coming from. He just had to make sure to be at his very best to prove to Severus that this was the right step to take with him.
Before Severus or Lucius could say anything else, they heard the sound of 9-year-olds giggling nearby. Severus sighed and looked to the ceiling, praying for patience to deal with eavesdropping little boys.
"Draco. Hadrian. Come out from hiding since you haven't managed to stay quiet enough to remain hidden. You both need to work on your sneakiness and your cunning." Severus chastised evenly.
Both boys slunk out of their hiding place, looking both guilty and dejected at being caught. Lucius had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Severus sighed heavily, expressing his disappointment.
"I suggest you two make your way out to the gardens where you were supposed to be if you want to have any dessert tonight," Severus said sternly. Both boys nodded quickly and scampered off out of the room. As soon as the door was shut Lucius was chuckling.
"Well, I think we can count them both out of the running for being in Slytherin at all."
"How did we raise them to lack any Slytherin characteristics, Lucius? They are literally surrounded by only Slytherins."
"Well there is Nick, he was a Hufflepuff. We could blame him." Lucius suggested with a smirk.
"Works for me," Severus muttered, shaking his head. Lucius stood and walked over to Severus, leaning down and placing a light kiss on his lips, surprising the dark-haired man.
"I love you, Severus. I will go keep an eye on the boys, so you can rest for a little while." Lucius murmured softly, not giving Severus any time to respond before he swept out of the room. Severus sat there for a moment slightly stunned at Lucius' actions. Wondering for a moment what romantic sap was polyjuicing themselves as Lucius, before shaking the thought off.
"Bloody Malfoys," Severus grumbled.
Silent Compassion
"You're going to become my second Daddy now right Uncle Lucy?" Hadrian said innocently, his own son not standing far behind Hadrian, also looking eager for an answer.
"It isn't that easy Hadrian…" Lucius began before Hadrian cut him off.
"Do you not want to be my Daddy?"
"Well of course I do Hadrian, but-"
"Well then you are going to be my other Daddy and then you will give Draco and me new smaller siblings, right?" Hadrian asked eagerly.
"Woah slow down Hadrian…" Lucius tried to stop him, but then of course Draco had to add in his limited two cents.
"We are going to be brothers for real Rian! But first, your Daddy and my Daddy have to get married, I am sure Mum will have some ideas for their wedding."
"Yeah! Let's go ask her!" Hadrian responded with enthusiasm. Draco grabbing Rian's hand and dragging him into the house once more to look for his Mom, leaving Lucius behind and bewildered.
"Well, that went well." Lucius sighed to himself. A dark chuckle from behind him startling Lucius into turning around to see Tom with a mischievous smirk on his face.
"You know Lucius when I said to woo Severus I didn't think you would jump straight to marriage. Nor do I think that Severus will be amused at hearing his son and godson plotting his upcoming nuptials with your wife." Tom drawled in an impression of said potions master making Lucius pale before quickly making his way after the boys to try to stop them from ruining his plans with Severus so soon.
Silent Compassion
Dumbledore sat in his office, sucking slowly on a lemon drop, lost in his thoughts about this newest problem brought forth by the Potters. Harrison Potter had disappeared off the book of admissions, allowing the headmaster to refund Harrison's tuition to the Potters. He did suggest the money be allowed to go to the Dursleys as they were straddled with the useless boy, it would also allow the headmaster the chance to lay some spells while 'delivering' the money to Little Whinging. Both Potter's were reluctant to give money to their squib son, but it would show good faith on their part if for some reason Harrison's existence ever came to light.
Dumbledore visited Dursley's house but did not find what he was expecting. When he had knocked on the door of number 4 Privet Drive, instead of the expected answer of Petunia or Vernon, an older woman by the name of Beatrice answered and had told him that she had been living in the house for almost three years now. The previous owner had to sell after her husband had been taken to prison for a scandalous affair of child trafficking, child abuse, and even the murder of two children. It left a real stain on Dursley's name and forced Petunia to take her son and leave the area in shame. Rumors even said that Petunia took up her maiden name to put even more distance between them and Vernon's crimes.
No one knew anything about the Dursleys having a nephew, never mind any other child that was living with them. Hearing about Vernon's crimes left a bad taste in Dumbledore's mouth that no lemon drop could fix, a sinking feeling filling him about what probably happened to the squib heir of the Potter line.
Sitting back in his office he waited for the Potter's to show up for the meeting he called to discuss what he had found. While Harrison's disappearance didn't automatically mean anything wrong, if anyone found out the boy's true name whether he was found dead or alive, it would mean unnecessary problems for them all.
The floo flared up brightly pulling Albus from his thoughts as James came through the floo alone.
"Where are Lily and Donovan?" Albus asked with a concerned frown, knowing he had requested all of them to attend.
"Donovan has come down with the flu after playing in the muggle park this last weekend. Lily is making more potions and keeping an eye on Donny's fever." James said with a grimace. He didn't approve of his heir playing in such a muggle area but it made Lily happy so he had allowed it, for now anyway.
"Ah, I hope he has a quick recovery then. I am afraid this isn't a social call and I have quite serious news though James."
"What has happened Albus? More escaped death eaters? Has anyone been hurt?" James asked with growing concern before Albus held up his hand to stop him.
"No, nothing of the sort my boy. I went to deliver the money to the Dursley's and what I found was grave indeed." Albus sighed before telling James everything he had learned about the Dursleys and Harrison.
"Well good, the boy is probably dead Albus. That solves more issues than it creates." James said callously.
"A body hasn't been found for the boy. If it is found or if Harrison is found alive and they link him to the Potter family. What backlash do you expect to find? They will do an investigation into Harrison's supposed death back in 1981, do you want all of our hard-worked plans to fall apart on us?" Albus spoke through clenched teeth, frustrated with James' lack of understanding or care for the problem at hand.
"What would you have me do Albus?"
"Find the boy before the authorities do! Put that auror training to some use and find Harrison and make sure he disappears for good this time. No more saving the child's life for Lillian's sensibilities."
"Yes, Headmaster." James sighed, knowing Albus was right. They wouldn't be in this situation right now if Lily hadn't been too squeamish to kill Harrison good and proper when they had found him to be a squib originally.
James knew he had much work to do in order to find his lost squib son, he also knew if he failed in finding him that Albus Dumbledore would do much worse to James and James' family in retribution for almost ruining his plans.
If only they knew just what justice was waiting for them by the end of this.