"Well, it looks like Hadrian is all stable and seems to be doing good. Both of his casts are waterproof so you don't have to worry about damage. Please come right back if you have any concerns or if you feel that he isn't progressing as he should. We tell all parents that it's important to follow your instincts as you know your children best," the random healer continues to ramble to the small family as she leads them to the floo room. Healer Emerson got called away to check on another patient just after she had given them the health talk; apparently, this new girl had not been told.
Nevertheless, his parents are conversing politely with the woman as Haddy gets lost in his thoughts while being carried in his father's arms.
After a long talk, Harry, now Hadrian, can say that he's almost comfortable around his family. Draco has been the most caring and dotting big brother, getting Haddy (a nickname he's come up with) whatever he needs before he even knows he needs it.
George and Fred have been a huge help as well. More than once they've calmed the child down from an impending panic attack or have had to make Draco take a step back from smothering him.
"Thank you, Healer Jackson. We can take it from here," Lucius politely ends the conversation. It's taxing hearing the same warnings and precautions over and over again. With no offense to the people in the building, he hopes to not be back for quite some time.
"Hadrian," his mother gets his attention. "We'll be going through the Floo network so I need you to hold on tightly to your father, alright?"
"Y-yes." Secretly Hadrian is very nervous. He doesn't have a good track record when it comes to traveling by floo. Although they've told him numerous times that nothing will hurt him as long as his parents are around he can't help that he feels like something terrible is going to happen. Besides, the last time he went through the floo was alone and that was his first mistake. In his daddy's arms, there's no way he could screw this up.
Narcissa takes Draco's hand before stepping into the floo quickly followed by Lucius. Haddy isn't prepared for the suffocating, dizzy feeling that comes with traveling by floo. He can hear someone call his name but he's suddenly feeling far too sick to respond. The feeling doesn't pass as he hopes but instead intensifies as the seconds tick by.
It's only a few moments after he exits the floo that Hadrian's stomach rebels and expels its contents down the front of his shirt and onto his father's side. When the second wave hits immediately afterward, Haddy tries to angle himself away as to not get his dad dirtier than he already is.
"Sorry! I'm sorry," he cries once he gets a breath in and starts struggling in his father's arms to be put down.
"Hadrian, it's alright. Tell mummy where it hurts," Narcissa tries to get her youngest to look at her and tell her what's wrong but he only struggles and sobs harder as he's passed from his father's arms to his mother's. "It's alright, baby. Come to mummy," she continues to coo as she tries to get his flailing limbs under control.
It takes a few more minutes but soon Hadrian is cradled in his mother's arms on the settee as he slowly calms down. Looking around the room it's easy to spot who's missing. His face crumbles once again before he dissolves into a new fit of tears. Narcissa tries to ask what's wrong this time but all she gets out of her child is apologies and promises that he can be better.
"I got water," Draco's voice sounds throughout the room. Hadrian looks up to find his brother and father walking to the room which only doubles his tears. "Is Haddy going to be okay?"
"He'll be just fine, Dragon," their mother gestures for her oldest to sit beside the pair.
"Hadrian is still very sick and we knew that going through the floo would be rough. We all must remember he has not had the best upbringing. Merlin knows what those muggles did when he had been sick." Lucius finds a place on his wife's other side and starts running his fingers through his baby boy's silky hair.
To his surprise, Haddy turns and all but launches himself to the man. Lucius is used to being put on the back burner. Draco was a complete mama's boy and would allow his father to hold him only on the very few times his mother was completely unavailable.
"M' sorry I got you d-dirty, M-Mr. Malfoy," Haddy states once he's sitting in Lucius's lap, head bowed. His uncle would have surely beaten the brakes off him if he had thrown up anywhere near the man much less on him. Hadrian is sure that the only reason he hasn't been punished yet was to make him feel even worse for what he'd done after they had been so nice.
"I am still Father to you, young man," Lucius states firmly. Haddy snaps his head up confused. "A bit of throw up? This is nothing. You are still my child and I still love you. Nothing you do will make me stop loving you, Hadrian. I swear it."
"Love you and mummy too," the small boy confesses before hiding his face in his father's neck.
"Oi! What about me?" Draco huffs while dramatically folding his arms across his chest before a cheeky smile spreads across his face. The next thing Hadrian knows is that he's being ripped from his father's arms and being tickled.
Haddy can't help but squeal when the long fingers dance across his sides but let out a gasp when he gets to a sore spot on his stomach. Although the healers have healed all his cuts and bruises while leaving only a few more scars, Hadrian still feels sore at times. Draco immediately stops and tries to examine his baby brother but is met with resisting hands. He sighs, knowing that his brother has a long way to go before he's truly healthy, happy, and settled into the family.
Later, after a tour around the manor to show the newest member the most important rooms, the family sits for a lovely dinner that Haddy barely eats a fourth of what is served to him. It breaks his heart when his mother reassures him that he was still recovering and they needed to take it slow. Lucius eventually had to vanish the plate because Hadrian had refused to let any food go to waste. He had spent his entire life begging for scraps and now he could barely stomach looking at such a full plate of food. The meal is further ruined as Harry slowly chokes down another mug of warm milk with his potion mix. So enough the ordeal is done and the move on to the most important part of the tour.
"This is your bedroom," Narcissa announces while opening up a door next to Draco's room and diagonal to their parent's bedroom. The group had dispersed to change into pajamas before meeting again in the family sitting room to relax before bed.
It's beautiful, is all that comes to Hadrian's mind. The room is done up in soft blues, greens, and grays. A massive bed is pressed into the far corner across from two more doors that must lead to his closet and bathroom. Even the crib pushed against the opposite wall is a beautiful addition. Made of dark oak and filled with stuffed animals.
"I got you a few things but we will go to Diagon Alley in a couple of days to personalize your room and get more clothing," his mother explains while she gets out a few articles of clothing from the mostly barren closet.
"Ok, mummy," Hadrian doesn't think he'll ever get tired of the wide smile that appears on Narcissa's face each time he refers to her in more familiar terms.
Due to the two casts, he needs a bit of help from his mum getting into his pajamas before she transfigures her own clothing and carries Haddy down to the rest of the family. Draco is already settled next to his father on the love seat with a book but stands when the two enter.
"Haddy, you're going to love family time. We all sit in here and play games or sometimes read or talk. Father may even let us stay up late," Draco talks animatedly. He's been practically bouncing since they arrived from the hospital. It's very adorable, but the adults know that it will result in an early bedtime once the day finally catches up to him.
"How about if Daddy reads a story to you two?" Narcissa suggests.
"Yeah, Papa's the best storyteller. You're going to love it, Haddy. He does voices for the characters and... and," Draco gasps out so excited he can't think of anything else to make reading time sound fun.
"Just breathe, Dragon. Calm down. Hadrian will see for himself. Why don't you come back and sit by me?" Lucius gently coaxes his son into sitting and slowly calming down. He doesn't mention how Hadrian is burying himself in his mother's neck not liking how loud and rambunctious his brother was getting. They really needed to be careful around their newest family member and try not to scare him in any way.
Soon Draco is properly settled next to his father as he holds the storybook their father was about to start reading. He recalls many nights where he would sit on Lucius's lap and listen with rapture as tale after tale was told to him over the years. Even when Narcissa was pregnant with Hadrian, Draco made sure to have his mother sit close in order to include his unborn sibling in all of the fun.
"Would you like to come to daddy to hear the story, Hadrian?" Lucius holds his hands out in hopes that his youngest would relinquish his hold on his mother. He's not disappointed as Harry hesitantly reaches over and Narcissa doesn't waste a second placing him on Lucius's lap.
Halfway through the story, Hadrian is fast asleep with his father's robe clutched in his hands. By the end, Draco is off to dreamland as well while the parents glow with happiness at the fact that this is their first family night as a full family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several hours later, Draco wakes up in a cold sweat. He's not entirely sure what woke him, only the fact that it's dark and he's scared. A moment later thunder crashes loudly outside and the young blond is up and out of bed faster than a whip. He quickly and quietly makes his way to his parent's room before approaching the bed apprehensively.
"Papa," he calls. Lucius groans lightly before blinking his eyes open. In all honesty, he had missed Draco needing him in the middle of the night, but that didn't make the experience of waking up at 2 in the morning any more pleasant.
"What is it, Dragon?" Before he could answer a bolt of lightning lights up the room quickly followed by a crash of thunder. Draco all but scrambles over his father in order to get to the center of the bed.
"What's happened?" Narcissa questions from her side as her oldest snuggles into her chest.
"Draco's just had a little fright due to the storm."
"Do you think we should get Hadrian? He must be frightened all alone in his room." Aware that this isn't really a question, Lucius grabs his robe and heads to his youngest's room.
No words can describe the emotions that run through Lucius's mind when he opens the door and is met with an empty bed. Before he could think of his next step a quiet barely-there noise sounds from the closet.
Cautiously, Lucius approaches the door before slowly opening it. Thankfully the space is mostly empty so the aristocrat is easily able to see his son huddled in the far corner with his ears covered, presumably to block out the sound of the storm.
"Hadrian?" he startles at being directly addressed. He lets out a quiet whimper when he sees it's his father standing in front of him. He had woken up about an hour earlier by the storm but could not recall why he was in such a nice bed. In fright, the small blond decided to hide in the closet, one place he always felt safe, until he was found and everything came flooding back to him.
"D-d-daddy!" the little boy sobs out before raising his arms in the universal sign that he wants to be held. Lucius doesn't waste a moment before crouching down and gathering his son in his arms. It's only after he stands and Hadrian snuggles more securely in his arms that Lucius notices the wet patch on his pajama bottoms. Not wanting to make a fuss over nothing he walks back to his room to grab his wand.
Once his child is fresh and dry he sets him on the bed with the rest of the sleeping family.