The following morning Lucius wakes in the early hours of the morning. Far before the rest of his family and long before they will be up. He has a few papers that need to be sorted out and he would rather takes the time early in the morning than leave for his office when his sons could need him during the day.
That's how Lucius found himself with a stack of letters and documents that needed his attention before breakfast. He leaves the letters to be opened and answered at a later date. Most of it would be future marriage arrangements for Draco. Lucius is glad that not many know of the return of his youngest just so he isn't swamped with twice as many proposals. Of course, neither he nor Narcissa has even humored the thought of agreeing to one of them. They decided long ago that their children will not be forced to marry a stranger for the betterment of other people.
Thankfully, a flick of the older blond's wand has the documents sorted from most to least important. To his surprise, a dark green envelope finds its way onto the top of the stack. When he opens the letter a wide grin spreads across his face. Quickly jotting down a response and sending it off, Lucius tackles the rest of his work with newfound happiness. He doesn't believe he's been working long before there's a soft knock at the door. Confused, Lucius calls for the person to open the door while checking the time. It's still a few hours before anyone else should be awake.
"Daddy?" a small voice questions as the child half hops half shuffles into the room with one crutch tucked under his good arm.
"Hadrian? What are you doing up?" the older blond holds his hands out in hopes that the little boy will snuggle up to him just as easily as he did the previous night. To his joy, Hadrian raises his arms in the universal sign to be held and allows himself to be placed on his father's lap.
"You left," he cuddles into his dad's front while shivering slightly. It's then that Lucius realizes that he's walked all the way from the bedroom to the office with nothing on his feet.
"Hadrian you must remember to wear slippers in the house. The manor gets drafty and we do not need you sick, correct?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," he says quickly while pulling himself away. How could he be so stupid as to make his father angry with him first thing in the morning?
"It's alright, Haddy. I'm just worried. You aren't in any trouble," Lucius readjusts the child so that his ear is right over his heart, just as the twins had shown him as the best way to get Haddy calmed down. "Is my boy still tired?" he asks when Hadrian yawns before snuggling down. With a wave of his hand, he summons the blanket laid across the loveseat across the room and drapes it over his son. "You just rest and I'll wake you for breakfast in a few hours," Lucius tells his fast asleep child.
A few hours later, the newly whole Malfoy family is sitting in the informal dining room eating breakfast.
"Dragon, I have a special surprise for you later."
"A surprise?" the half-awake child questions turning to his father with a smile before looking thoughtful. "Can I share it with Haddy?" said boy looking up at the mention of his name.
"Y-you don't h-have to."
"It is something for the both of you but I do believe that you will enjoy it a little bit more than Hadrian. You both will just have to wait until lunch for the surprise."
"Okay, dad," Draco answers before going back to his plate. Hadrian bites his lip wondering what surprise would Draco be forced to share with him. He hopes that whatever it is he can just shake his head and let his older brother keep. It's still hard to wrap his head around the thought that he has an older brother. And parents. What he does know is that older siblings like to pick on their younger ones and Draco has been surprisingly nice this entire time. The last thing he wants is his new family to turn on him.
"Eat up, Hadrian," his mother holds a spoon full of eggs to him. He takes the bite and another before Lucius speaks.
"He can eat on his–" the look from his wife is menacing as his son shrinks back into his chair no longer eating. The man wisely remains silent for the rest of the meal as Narcissa coaxes more food into their youngest but allows him to hold his own utensils.
After breakfast, Hadrian finds himself in Draco's room as he relaxes on a beanbag while talking to Hadrian. He talks about the family history, short stories he was told growing up, and small adventures he had while living in the giant manor.
"I had gotten the glitter everywhere. The elves were cleaning for a week and our parents were not happy at all."
"What did they do," Haddy asks his laughter stopping on a dime. His face is all worry for his big brother.
"Nothing bad," he quickly answers. "At first I had to clean up with the elves but I was too little. I couldn't do it right so i had to sit and watch them clean before I could go play again.
"And I was never allowed to bring glitter into the house again," he laughs, relaxing as Haddy falls deeper into the mountain of blankets and pillows he placed on the floor for his brother. He's glad that he's no longer upset as makes a mental note to word his stories better.
"What do you think the surprise will be, Haddy?" he changes the subject. The younger blond only shrugs while making himself more comfortable. "I hope it's a sister." Draco plasters a wicked grin on his face. "We got you so now I need–" He's cut off by Haddy's loud and sudden sobbing.
"Y-you want a s-sister?," he asks while tearing up. Draco tries to calm him down while stuttering out an explanation. The door opens to Narcissa's elegant form coasting into the room.
"I didn't mean it. I'm really sorry mum," Draco explains while creeping away from both her and Hadrian. Narcissa is having none of it and scoops her youngest into her arms before pulling Draco close.
"It's not your fault, Dragon. I already told you Hadrian is just a bit fragile right now. I think I'll keep him close for today but you are more than welcome to join us in the library."
"Dray doesn't want me," Haddy whimpers from his place in his mother's neck.
"Draco loves you just as much as you love him. What did Draco says that made you so upset?"
"Wants a sister. Not me," Haddy sobs.
"Draco loves you just as much as the rest of us do, Hadrian. I'm sure Draco's joke hurt but it was only a joke. Do you wanna come with mummy downstairs?"
"Dray come?" the small blonde lisps, his thumb suddenly finding a home in his mouth.
"Yes, I'm coming, Haddy." The three head downstairs into the family's library with Draco taking a few blankets and pillows. His mother settles on a comfortable sofa as Draco tucks pillows and blankets around her and on top of his brother to make them as comfortable as possible.
"You know you're my special boy, Dragon. I love you and so does Hadrian. That's why he got so upset earlier."
"I know mum. I love you too," Draco shyly ducks away but Narcissa grabs his arm and forces the boy to settle next to her before opening the book next to them. She may not be as talented as their father in her storytelling, but she does enough to lull both boys into a mid-morning nap.
A few hours later, Narcissa rouses both of the children in order for them to get ready for lunch. She doesn't remind them of the surprise but excited energy radiates off of Draco while Haddy winds himself into a nervous ball.
All too soon, a house elf is informing them that lunch is ready and Lucius is already in the dining room. Draco walks next to Narcissa as she carries Hadrian. He offered to use his crutches but Narcissa took one look at her baby's wobbly form and knew there was no way he'd be going down the stairs while she was perfectly capable of carrying him.
Entering the room Harry's face pales. Sitting and chatting with his father is none other than…
"Uncle Sev!" Draco runs right up the man and gives him a big hug.
"Hello, Draco, it's good to see you. How have you been." Harry doesn't pay attention to his brother's answer, instead he's suddenly very aware that he's being carried in his mother's arms while his school bully is being hugged by his new brother.
"Right, Haddy," he startles at being suddenly addressed while struggling to get out of Narcissa's hold.
"I-I…" he stutters out while embarrassment blooms across his cheeks. To make matters worse, Narcissa hoists him closer and starts patting his back while trying to calm him down.
"It's alright. No need to be embarrassed. There's only family here."
"Come along Hadrian, you can sit next to me," Lucius gestures to the chair Severus quickly vacates. Before Hadrian can protest he's seated between is father and ex-potion professor while Draco and Narcissa sit on Lucius's other side.
Lunch is a quiet affair for the first few minutes as plates are served and Haddy does everything in his power to make sure he doesn't touch "Uncle Sev" accidentally.
"Are you staying until dinner, Uncle Sev?" Draco's voice pierces the quiet and startles Hadrian into knocking over his cup of water.
"Sorry. I'm sorry," he tries to take his napkin to clean but can't reach and almost falls. If it weren't for Severus hooking an arm around his waist and using the momentum to slide the child into his lap he'd be on the floor.
"Easy now, Hadrian," a flick of the man's wand has the table clean but before he can answer Draco's question he has a tiny fist beating on his chest and a struggling child on his lap.
"Let me go! I hate you! Don't touch me! I hate you! You're mean! Let me go," while Hadrian kicks and screams he vaguely registers voices talking around him before being lifted and taken out of the room. He immediately knows it's the professor. He eventually tires and leans into the man's chest with a sob.
"I'm sorry," the boy whimpers.
"You are just fine. I should be the one apologizing."
"You?"
"Yes, the way I treated you at school was unfair and unnecessary.
"You're not going to tell my daddy right?" Hadrian slightly panics between his cries. "You can't tell him. He's not going to want me if you tell him."
"Hadrian, calm down. I have no idea what you're talking about," Severus tries to capture the boy's eyes but he's too busy trying to stub the tears away. Carefully, he sets Hadrian on a chair next to him so that the two can talk properly. The moment he got Lucius's letter he knew something like this would happen.
"How bad I was in school. I couldn't do the work or pay attention or even answer your simple questions," without realizing it Harry latches onto the Potion master's sleeve begging him to understand. "P-please don't tell him all the detentions I served. I-I'll scrub cauldrons until my hands bleed." He continues to plead while Severus sits flabbergasted. Deciding to use his one method of calming down children he swoops the small boy back onto his lap.
"Hush child. Calm down."
"No! You're daddy's best friend. He's not going to like that I was naughty. Please don't tell." Harry is hysterical and this just happens to be the one day Sev does not have a calming draught on him.
"I won't tell." This seems to catch Harry's attention. "It can be our little secret. No one has to know."
"N-no one?" the suspicion coupled with hopefulness tugs at the usually dour man's heartstrings.
"Not a soul. I swear to you."
"Thank you. Th-thank you," Haddy continues to cry but allows Severus to cuddle him close. After a few minutes Haddy calms down to only sniffles.
" 'm sorry 'm such a freak."
"What?"
" 'm sorry. Dray not crying cause he's bad. I'm sorry," the child's lip starts quivering as if he's about to start crying again. Severus quickly starts bouncing him in order to keep the tears at bay.
"You are not a freak. Who told you that?"
"My Aunt and Uncle."
"They were awful people who didn't deserve such a sweet, caring child." Hadrian doesn't respond but doesn't start crying again so Severus counts this as a short win.
"Now," he announces after a few minutes, "how about we get back to the family. I'm sure your brother is missing you." Hadrian agrees and allows Severus to carry him to the family room where everyone had gathered once they were done eating.
"Hadrian," Draco calls once the pair walks in. He rushes to them holding his hands up to take his little brother.
"Draco I'm not sure…"
"I can hold him. He's tiny. I can hold him," he insists. Carefully, Severus places Hadrian in Draco's open arms, holding his own out in case the boys topple over. Draco is right. He confidently walks the two of them over to the loveseat where he settles both of them down; Harry in Draco's lap. He instantly starts coddling him. Telling the younger boy how much he loves him and cuddling him close. Severus shares a look at the concerned parents. They'll be having a deeper conversation once the children go to bed but for now, they know they're going in the right direction.