Lucius now understands what his wife was gushing about. Of course being reunited with his lost child was a feeling like no other but holding him in his arms is an entirely new quidditch field. The outside world may think that Draco was raised by a select group of nanny house elves but it was, in fact, Narcissa and himself that got up every time their child was in need. Not once did they decide to just pawn him off.
Once Hadrian is mildly calm the weight of what's really happening suddenly crashes down and he's not sure how to feel. Unexpectedly he bursts into another fit of tears, sobbing uncontrollably while he rattles out questions.
"Was Draco born first? Did you k-keep him because h-he's o-older? Or because he looks m-more like you? I-I can d-dye my h-hair." Harry tries to voice all his concerns and questions but ends up stuttering over his words and getting choked up.
"Hadrian, listen to me," Lucius places him back onto the bed to better face him. "You were not given away. Not for a second did your mother and I not want you. You were stolen from us just hours after your birth."
"Hadrian?" This is Harry's first time hearing his biological name. "Why didn't they take Draco too? We're twins right?"
"No, actually, the two of you are not twins." Lucius isn't sure how to break the news. "You're younger."
"Younger? But me and Draco are the same age. We go to school together." Harry is only growing more and more confused.
"Whoever took you gave you a powerful glamor and aging potions. In reality, you are eight years old."
"Eight years old!? B-but I was a-adopted before 1 just before..." Harry sniffles and starts to trail off, trying to put together a puzzle that he just does not have all the pieces to.
"Adopted? Who told you, you were adopted?" Lucius asks.
"I saw p-papers in my vault b-before first year. It said you w-were my birth parents. I-I don't understand."
"I promise to get to the bottom of this for everyone's peace of mind but for now I think it's time for a little nap. Your mother should be back by the time you wake." Lucius maneuvers his child back onto his lap to lie on his chest while he makes himself comfortable.
"Not sleepy Mr..." Harry trails off looking confused but quickly scrambles up and shyly looks up at Lucius. "Do I call you daddy and Lady Malfoy mummy now?"
"I know your mother would love it if you called us that but we also understand how difficult this is going to be for you. Let's have this discussion when she gets here. Why don't we take a little nap?"
Harry finally relaxes enough to fall asleep but jerks awake the second Lucius tries to put him down.
"It's okay, Hadrian. I was just placing you on the bed. Mummy is here."
"Mummy?" he questions sleepily.
"And Draco," she answers.
"Draco," he echos, his eyes still closed but hanging onto his father.
"Rest, baby, we'll talk later." Lucius is able to lie the child down just as he drifts off into a deeper sleep.
Some time later, Harry stretches awake as he rubs his face against the soft fabric under him. He knows by now the feel of Lady Malfoy's clothes. He's a little surprised that he didn't wake when he was moved again but doesn't think too hard about it. Instead he tries to tune into the conversation going on around him.
"We managed to get the room just right, but I couldn't bear to put it in storage or have the elves get rid of it," Narcissa says.
"It looks really nice. Mum, let me pick out the theme. I think he'll really like it. Won't you Hadrian?" Draco rubs Harry's back once he notices that he's starting to wake. Harry tries to shy away from the hands but his parents catch on and he's forced to sit up.
"Did Papa take care of you while I was gone? I heard you two had a big talk and I want to let you know that we loved you from the moment I found out I was pregnant. You completed this family and I can not express how relieved I am that we finally found you."
"It'll be a big adjustment. You can take your time but just know that neither of us or Draco will leave or want to get rid of you. Not ever." Lucius is used to being called harsh and forward by many of his colleagues but he's never cared until Harry lets out the most heart wrenching sob. He tries to back track and apologize but he seems to grow even more distressed. In desperation, he looks to his wife only to see her reassuring his oldest. Lucius has no idea what to do until a knock sounds at the door. Instead of waiting for a reply, the person on the other side opens the door to reveal none other than the Weasley twins who immediately assess the situation and address the adults.
"Good afternoon Lord and Lady Malfoy," they speak together while giving a respectful bow.
"If we may."
"Harry seems to--"
"have worked himself--"
"up again." One of them --Lucius can't quite tell them apart-- approaches him and Hadrian, who hasn't stopped his sobbing and doesn't seem to be any time soon.
"If I may." He wrangles Harry until he's no longer in the crook of Lucius's neck but back to lying with his head on his father's chest. Nothing changes for about 30 seconds before Hadrian starts quieting and tugging at his eyelashes, clearly tied from his second crying fit. By the time a full minute passes Harry is all but asleep, his fist full of the older blond's robes.
"Did you tell him--"
"you'll never get rid of--"
"him no matter how bad--"
"he believes he is?"
"Something to that degree," Narcissa confesses.
"He had the same reaction--"
"When we told him."
"Does he do that with everyone?" Draco asks, confused. He hadn't a clue why his baby brother started crying out of nowhere. His mother had tried explaining that children cry when they're stressed or tired. With his exhaustion paired with his father's stern voice, Harry was overwhelmed.
"No, in fact--"
"that means--"
"he believes you."
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced," it seems that Narcissa has gotten fed up with not knowing which twin is speaking as well.
"Fred Weasley."
"George Weasley." They introduce themselves.
"It's nice to meet the two of you. I'm glad our Hadrian has wonderful protectors that have such perfect manners," she pinches the cheeks of the red-faced young men while Lucius and Draco try to hold their laughter so as to not wake Harry.
"Thank you--"
"Lady Malfoy."
"No need for the formalities. I can tell that you both will be a part of Hadrian's life for years to come; call me Aunt Cissa," she insists. The twins look shocked and embarrassed for a split second before rounding on Lucius with what he can only describe as shit-eating grins before speaking as one.
"Can we call you Uncle Luci?"
Lucius inwardly groans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that day, after the twins had their fun and adopted Draco as another one of their siblings, Healer Emerson enters carrying a tray.
"It's time for Hadrian to take his potions. Due to the severity of his injuries on top of the years of malnutrition I've put him on a strict diet with potions to speed up his healing," she continues as she conjures a table to set the tray down. For the first time, the contents are revealed and one particular item brings a small blush to Hadrian's cheeks.
"It's to my understanding that you're friends with a potion master, Severus Snape. Correct?"
"That's right. We typically get potions from him."
"So we don't confuse Hadrian's system I called the infirmary at Hogwarts to get today's potions and a list will be given to you so that if Prof. Snape decides he could brew them or you could order to stock your home supply."
"Severus will have no problem brewing for us. If you could send the list directly to him it would be greatly appreciated," Lucius states. He couldn't even remember touching a potion that didn't come from Severus, certainly before they graduated Hogwarts.
"As you wish. Now," she claps and turns fully to Harry, "let's get a light meal and these potions in you. You have to drink every last drop to get the full effect." Emerson places a steaming mug into Narcissa's waiting hands before turning back to the object Harry can't take his eyes off of.
"Does he really require a baby bottle to take his potions, Healer?" Lucius addresses the elephant in the room as Harry opens his mouth for the first spoonful of whatever his mother was handed. Thankful the savory taste of chicken broth warms him from the inside out. In fact, now that he's eating it occurs to Harry just how hungry he is.
"It's recommended for children his age to have their potions mixed with warm milk to ensure it digests well. The bottle is to ensure he drinks it steadily. These many potions can be rough on the system. As I said, every last drop is essential to his recovery."
"But is he not a bit too old surely a normal cup will have the same effect if he's monitored."
"Oh hush Lucius. There is nothing wrong with the bottle and Hadrian took it just fine earlier. His health is our number one priority and if the healer decides that this is the best course of action we will take it," Narcissa leaves no room for argument as she gives her child the last spoonful before picking him up and summoning the bottle.
Unlike last time, where Harry immediately latched on, he turns his head away. Instead, he buries his face in Narcissa's neck, mumbling something.
"What was that, sweetheart?"
"Daddy says I'm too old. Want a cup," Harry mumbles as the healer takes this as her cue to leave. The glare Narcissa shoots her husband has Draco shrinking in his seat. He doesn't see the big deal but of course, Harry wouldn't want something his newfound father just expressed distaste for. Distaste always had its way of turning into anger when it came to his previous relatives.
"See. He wants a cup. We will just monitor," Lucius does not get the hint his wife is trying to give. He instead takes the mug that his soup was in, mutters a quick cleaning spell, and pours the contents of the bottle into the cup before handing it to his son.
Hadrian has a difficult time finding a steady rhythm. The soup made him full and he finds that half way through he doesn't want the milk anymore. His mother has a sit and holds the cup over his hands to make sure he both finishes the contents and doesn't gulp it down. By the end, the whole process takes longer than necessary, Harry is uncomfortably full and Narcissa is furious at her husband.