Chapter Six – The Son of the Dark Lord
Knowing that they couldn't allow for the muggles to remain in their current state in case Dumbledore and the Order or someone from the Ministry came to check up on Harry during the summer; Severus and Lucius advance on the family, stunning them as they slowly begin to heal their injuries. Closing wounds and healing bones, they work meticulously, making sure that the three would still feel some pain for the next couple of days. They cast a few more interesting, yet undetectable spells on the family, one of which would inflict the pain of whatever injuries they had caused their cousin/nephew without the physical wound. They would feel the starvation, the loneliness, and all the emotional turmoil Harry had felt living with them.
In the end, they decided to also obliviate the Dursleys, replacing their memories with new ones, memories of how they had beaten Harry so severely that he had run away, escaped from his room, and disappeared. However, they would believe that with the injuries Harry had endured, he was most likely dead in a ditch somewhere.
Making sure that everything is left how they found it, television repairs, and blood stains removed from the carpet, Lord Voldemort orders Severus to find Harry's school trunk and supplies which he had noticed were missing from Harry's 'room'. Wrapping the small child back up in his cloak, Marvolo carefully picks him up, cradling him protectively in his arms. Placing another soft kiss on Harry's forehead, he guides Lucius and Severus back to Riddle Manor.
Upon arriving back at his ancestral home, Marvolo heads straight for the Heir's bedroom, startling Narcissa out of her worried thoughts when he slams the door open. His frantic appearance snapping her into action as she jumps out of her chair, unloading an array of potions from her healing kit; she calls Severus over to help her.
Lord Voldemort ignores the commotion happening around him, making a beeline for the large bed he unwraps his cloak from around Harry. Stroking a hand through Harry's hair, Marvolo blocks out the sound of Narcissa gasping when she takes in the full extent of Harry's injuries. Her eyes fill with tears; she could scarcely believe that this was the damage after Severus had employed his own healing capabilities. Pulling out her wand, Narcissa casts spell after spell, banishing Harry's oversized rags leaving Harry in just his underwear.
Coughing to clear the lump forming in the back of her throat, Narcissa calls for a House Elf to bring her a bowl of warm soapy water, a clean cloth, and some of Harry's Pyjamas.
"I need someone to wash the blood and dirt from his body while I perform an in-depth diagnostics spell."
Marvolo grabs the bowl before anyone else can move, grasping the cloth he proceeds to gently wipe down his son, cleaning the dried blood, grim, and dirt from Harry's body. The Malfoys exchange a glance with Severus, their attention shifting back to their master who had done nothing but torture anyone who got in the way of his goals before his rebirth. A man whose name struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it is sitting calmly at the side of Harry Potter's bed, wiping the child clean.
"You didn't expect me to just sit here twiddling my thumbs while my son lies here gravely injured, did you?"
With a soft smile, Narcissa points her wand at her patient, waving it over his head eyes never once lifting from his unconscious for as a piece of parchment and quill appear at her side. The parchment grows longer with each passing second as it records all the boy's injuries from his birth to the present.
Usually, for a wizarding child of eleven, the parchment would be expected to be around two feet long, depending on how mischievous and adventurous the child was; it would include every single injury they had received throughout their life; from bruises to broken bones, scraps to serious lacerations. However, Harry's continued to grow until it just fell short of six feet in length. Worried about the boy's health Narcissa grabs hold of the parchment, eyes widening as she skims through the list of ailments. She begins at the bottom of the parchment, where Harry was born, and finds what she is expecting, small rashes and colds, nothing out of the ordinary for a babe.
It isn't until she reaches the night of the Potters' murders does her heart sink. Face paling, eyes widening Narcissa fights back tears. Since the age of two, Harry had received numerous broken bones, severe illnesses which had never been properly treated at a hospital, and several cuts and bruises, too many for even a naturally clumsy child. The thing which horrified her the most was the recent addition of whip slashes and deep lacerations covering the expanse of Harry's back and chest. It was heartbreaking to read.
Looking down at the small child on the bed, she can clearly see the signs of malnourishment and starvation without having to read it along with the obvious concussion Harry is sure to be suffering from. His ribs are predominant as are his hip bones and collarbones, he is much too small for a child of eleven, soon to be twelve. Luckily, however, all of that should be mitigated with some strong nutrient potions. Heaving a sigh, Narcissa passes the parchment to Marvolo, covering up her surprise when he gestures for Severus to come and read with him.
Finishing the long list of injuries inflicted on his child, Voldemort's eyes flash red. Passing the parchment to Lucius, Marvolo subconsciously leans back against Severus who places a hand on the man's weary shoulder offering up as much support and comfort as he could. Grateful for the actions, Marvolo takes hold of Severus's hand on his shoulder, his other gripping his Son's hand.
The room lapses into heavy silence as Narcissa quickly returns to her work. She moves her hand mechanically in complicated gestures; healing cuts first, followed by broken bones and damaged organs. Reluctant to do so, Narcissa gently orders Severus away from their Lord, so he can begin spelling potions into Harry's stomach; it would be much too dangerous to attempt to make Harry drink them in his current state, they could risk drowning the child. While Severus complies, Narcissa goes back to rebreaking and resetting bones which had not healed correctly.
Looking at the multitude of bruises and scars littering Harry's body, her gaze flickers to the Dark Lord who sits unmoving in the chair at Harry's bedside, occasionally running his hand through the raven locks. She breathes a deep sigh. Routing through her healer's kit, she pulls out two small containers, handing them over to the Dark Lord who takes them without a word.
"A bruise Salve, My Lord. And something to remove his scaring."
Nodding his head, Marvolo begins to rub, first the bruise salve then the scar cream into Harry's skin, a frown marring his features at the sheer number of bruises covering Harry's body. It was taking all his self-control not to storm back to the muggle house and torture the rotten creatures some more.
Many tense minutes crawl by before Narcissa is dragging a hand over her brow, eyes drooping with the amount of magic she had used. She takes a step back, smiling tiredly when Lucius supports her exhausted form, allowing her to rest against his chest.
"I have done all I can for him, My Lord. By the time he awakens in the morning all of his physical injuries should be completely healed. However, he still may feel sore and shouldn't move around too much. He will need to be put on some strong nutrition potions for the next couple of weeks before he gains enough weight to be considered healthy. I will give you a list of other potions I believe he may need to take to increase his health to an adequate level for his age range."
"Thank you, Narcissa," Marvolo mutters, waving his hand to dismiss the Malfoys. He watches silently as Narcissa and Lucius bow to him before vacating his son's bedroom. Turning his attention to Severus who hesitates for a moment before heading towards the door with a short bow.
"I will head to my laboratory so I can begin brewing Harry's potions, My Lord. I will be back as quickly as possible if you permit it?"
"Of course, Severus. Thank you, my friend." With those departing words, Severus slips out of the room, hands pressing to his cheeks as he feels heat rising in his face. His heart hammers in his chest as he hurries through the corridors intent on completing his task as quickly as possible so he may sit with Marvolo and Harry as the young boy recovers from his injuries.
Marvolo stares at the door as it closes behind Severus, his heart stuttering in his chest as he resists the urge to shout at the man to stay; to ask him to be his silent pillar of support as he watches over his son. Forcing his gaze away from the door, Marvolo pushes himself from his chair, eyes fixating on the peaceful expression smoothing out Harry's features. The spells and potions finally working on healing every injury, diminishing Harry's pain as he sleeps undisturbed for maybe the first time since the holidays began. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb his son, Marvolo smooths the quilt over Harry, making sure he is completely tucked in. Marvolo strokes the soft locks off the boy's forehead, a small smile forming, his fear and worry diminishing when Harry leans into his touch with a sigh.
Settling into a rhythmic pace, Voldemort falls back into his thoughts. His brows furrow, eyes narrowing and lips thinning as his mind flicks back to the events of the evening and what they could have possibly meant for his young charge. He recalls how Lucius had mentioned no wandless nor non-verbal magic being detectable behind the wards; so how were the Ministry and Hogwarts able to sense any of Harry's accidental magic in order to send him his admissions letter seen as accidental magic is, non=specifically, a form of wandless and sometimes non-verbal magic.
How could Albus Dumbledore have known just how powerful Harry was, even if it were hidden deep within himself? Besides the obvious that both Harry's biological parents had been quite powerful in their own rights, but that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. The Longbottom's were extremely powerful as well, but their son was severely lacking in magical prowess. Harry wasn't necessarily going to be a powerful wizard, especially if one discounted the words of the prophecy. Not to mention the possibility of Harry Potter turning into an Obscurial due to the abuse he suffered through because of his accidental magic.
Well, one thing is for sure, Harry is indeed going to be a very powerful wizard one day, rivaling my own power eventually. Especially with the right training, love, and support. He is definitely going to outshine Dumbledore and his little Light Army before he is out of school.
The house his son had been abandoned outside of, as well as being dreary, was no place for a young wizard, especially the heir to some of the most predominant families in wizarding society. It was unheard of to leave a young wizard to grow up in a place miles away from the closest wizarding families. Which leads to the fact that his son, the sole Heir to the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter would have no prior knowledge of the Wizarding World, nor of his duties before his eleventh birthday, much like himself. If the old codger was still the same as he was back then, he would have sent one of his closest followers, if not himself, to retrieve the boy.
Besides all of the suspicious actions of the esteemed headmaster of Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort was exceptionally pleased with how both Lucius and Severus handled the situation. Yes, they had been informed beforehand, Severus had even spent time with the boy on his orders during the last few weeks at the end of term. Lucius had been informed only of who they would be collecting, why they were saving Harry Potter from his home, and for what purpose. Neither of them had asked any unnecessary questions. Severus had managed to retrieve Harry's relatives' address quickly whilst Lucius had enjoyed the sounds of the muggles' tortured screams.
The Dark Lord had been proud, and in awe, with how quickly Severus had worked on his son, especially in the environment they had been in. He had spelled potion after potion into Harry's system to prevent any further damage to his already bleeding and broken frame or older injuries from being reopened, making it safe for them to apparate with Harry.
His musings are broken by a quiet moan coming from his side. Looking down at Harry, a frown mars his features knowing that Harry shouldn't be waking up yet, nor should he be able to have any nightmares with the dreamless sleep Severus had given him. Searching the child's face, Marvolo notices a crease forming on Harry's forehead, a light sheen of sweat glistening as he begins to fidget in his sleep. Marvolo shifts towards Harry, dropping a kiss on the boy's forehead.
"Shhh. It is alright, Harry. No one is going to hurt you here; you are safe, Little One." Whispered words come to him as he continues to brush a hand through raven locks. "You are safe, Snakelet. You are home now, it is alright."
Lord Voldemort whispers nonsense words repeatedly, soothing the frightened child. He jolts backward, barely avoiding a head-on collision when Harry's eyes snap open and he sits upright. Harry's frame shakes in the pale light of the bedroom, his eyes are squeezed shut, tears rapidly gathering in the corners as his breathing comes in short, frantic gasps. Cautiously, Marvolo places a hand on the trembling shoulders, not wishing the startle Harry more. He draws him into a tight hug, rubbing a hand up and down Harry's back to calm him down.
"It is alright, Snakelet. You are safe. You are home now. No one is going to hurt you again my precious Snakelet. It was only a bad dream."
A few moments go by and Marvolo continues to spew words of comfort, calming gestures, and rocking them both from side to side. He waits until Harry calms down enough to pull back, wiping his eyes on the back of his hand before turning to look up at his father. He blinks repeatedly before his eyes widen in surprise. Offering a smile to the blurry image holding him in a secure embrace, Harry's smile widens.
"Hello, Father." The soft voice pulls a smile from the Dark Lord who cards his hand through Harry's hair in response, tugging him back against his chest. He wraps his arms around the young boy. A thrill shoots through him as hearing the word 'father', something he had disallowed himself to hope for many years ago.
"Hello, my son. How are you feeling?" Harry happily cuddles into Marvolo's embrace, sighing when a hand continues to brush through his hair, while another draws meaningless patterns on his back. He was just happy someone was willing to touch him without causing him physical pain.
"I am okay, Father. My muscles still ache a bit and my ribs, wrist, and ankles are throbbing as well. My head really hurts though, and I am tired."
Looking up from where he had buried himself in his father's robes, Harry's smile drops into a small frown, eyebrow raising in question. Voldemort sighs, he knows just what his son is asking and contemplates not telling him the full truth for a moment before he writes off the idea. Harry had grown up being lied to by every adult he knew; if his father did the same thing, then he may never trust him again. Dropping another kiss to Harry's forehead, Marvolo places a hand gently on the back of his neck, pulling the unresisting body tighter against his chest.
"I arrived at the muggle's house to collect you as I had promised, Snakelet. I bought Severus and Lucius with me, and we came to bring you home. What we saw when we got there was abysmal. I am truly sorry that I couldn't get to you sooner, my son. You had to suffer through such hardships because I didn't have the means of collecting you earlier. I hope you can forgive me, Snakelet."
"S'not your fault, father. You didn't place me there in the first place and you didn't send me back there. You didn't make them beat me and starve me. You kept your promise and came to save me. You have offered me a place in your home and the chance of a family like you said you would. There is nothing to forgive you for."
Voldemort glances down at the head of unruly hair resting against his shoulder, his throat constricting with a build-up of emotions he is feeling at finally having his son safe and in his arms. Dropping a kiss on Harry's head, he continues.
"I found you upstairs. There was so much blood. You had so many injuries. I was terrified that I would lose you before I had even gotten a chance to truly have you. Severus administered some emergency potions once I had taken you downstairs, enough to ensure that you would survive the trip back to the manor. While Lucius taught those filthy muggles never to mess with my son again!" Marvolo's voice raises in volume. He tightens his arms around Harry as if afraid he would disappear any second. He was sure that he was going to leave some new faint bruises if he did not relinquish his hold and yet, Harry clung to him just as tight.
"Did you make them pay?"
Blinking his eyes once, Marvolo glances down at the raven locks. A familiar glint shines behind Harry's emerald eyes when he looks at his father. Smirking down at Harry, Marvolo gives a disbelieving snort, tilting his nose into the air in typical pureblood fashion drawing a breathy giggle from Harry.
"Of course, we did. Though not as much as they deserved, unfortunately. It wouldn't do to gain unnecessary suspicion from Dumbledore just yet." Marvolo releases a self-suffering sigh, a look of disappointment passing across his features before he smiles at the peals of quiet laughter he hears from his son. He watches, amusement in his gaze as Harry pulls himself upright, back perfectly straight as he crosses his arms in front of his chest, his nose sticking in the air in an imitation of his father. Nodding his head firmly once, wincing when his head throbs, Harry snorts.
"Good. We can always get them back at a later date."
"That we will, Son."
They sit in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts and by the plotting gleam in Harry's eyes, Marvolo knows that his son is thinking up a plan against the muggles. However, his proud smile soon drops into a worried frown when a groan pulls from Harry's lips; his eyes slip closed and a trembling hand presses against his forehead. Marvolo immediately soothes his son by brushing a hand through his hair, he couldn't give Harry another pain relief potion just yet.
Feeling the gentle hand smoothing through his hair, Harry turns his head, bright emerald eyes staring up at his father as warmth fills his chest. Leaning forward a fraction, Harry tries to seat himself in a more stable position, the ache in his muscles and head becoming more pronounced the more he moves forcing a whimper to escape his throat. He is a little surprised to find a pair of hands wrapping around him, helping him to sit up by encouraging him to lean his body against their own.
"Careful son, you are not yet fully healed."
Snuggling further into the security of his father's side, Harry lets a smile tug the corners of his lips.
"Thank you for saving me, Father."
Voldemort smiles down at his child, his fingers returning to their ministrations through Harry's hair as his other hand wraps around his waist, pulling Harry further into his chest.
"There is no need to thank me, Snakelet. I must apologise again that I couldn't retrieve you sooner. I am sorry you had to go through that again, Harry."
A shudder travels through his body at the memories of his uncle's punishments. The sound of the belt hitting his skin echoing in his mind; thoughts of how his bones had snapped, concaved under the intensity of kicks raining down on him. Harry shakes his head, eyes scrunching shut when an explosion of pain surges through his skull, thoughts swimming out of focus. He buries his face in his father's arm, hands clutching his father's robes.
"It is alright, Snakelet. You will never have to suffer through any of that again. I will make sure you are safe and happy. I promise you that you will always be protected, by myself, Severus, Lucius, Draco, and Narcissa. You will never be alone again."
Marvolo glances down at his son, a sad smile forming on his lips, he gently massages Harry's temples, sending small trickles of magic through his fingertips in hopes of relieving some of the pain from the concussion. Seeing Harry sighing, his facial expression relaxing, he drops a kiss on the boy's forehead. A shiver racking Harry's form drew Marvolo's attention to his son's state of dress and he summons a deep emerald bathrobe draping it over Harry's shoulder before wrapping his arms back around the small body at his side.
"Thank you, Father." Harry sighs, leaning further into the comforting warmth, resting his head against Marvolo's chest. He listens to the steady beat of his father's heart before a memory flashes through his mind and he sits up.
"He ripped up my photo album. I never had pictures of Lily and James before; I hadn't even known what they looked like until I saw these pictures and he ripped them all up."
Harry's bloodshot eyes fill with more tears, the ducts becoming sore and swollen due to his previous bouts of crying, but he couldn't help himself. He was finally safe; he was finally free to allow himself to fall prey to his emotions. It hit him harder now that he didn't even have a simple picture to remember his biological parents; he didn't even have any memories of his parents besides the large flash of green light and a female screaming.
Marvolo, seeing his son bravely trying to push back his tears, lifts his hand and, using the pad of his thumb, brushes his tears away. He leans over, steadying Harry against his side, pulling two pieces of paper from the bedside table. Handing them to his son, Marvolo smiles when all Harry does is stare down at the items in his hands. Slowly reaching forward, eyes widening when his fingers slide over the filmed surfaces, Harry takes the pictures from his father's hand.
"But how? I hid them under my pillow." The unabashed loving smile Harry shoots Marvolo has the Dark Lord's chest constricting, something he had long since given up feeling after he had begun splitting his soul. Marvolo smiles back.
"When I came to retrieve you, I used a spell to summon all of your belongings. These flew past me, but before they could insert themselves within the rest of your things, I slipped them into my pocket. I knew you would wish to keep them somewhere safe once you woke."
"Can we put them in a frame?"
"Of course, we may, Snakelet. That way they will not become damaged, and you will be able to display them in your room." Marvolo agrees, stroking a hand through Harry's locks. His smile drops a fraction, eyes widening when Harry, ignoring his injuries, throws his arms around his father's neck. Quiet sobs break Marvolo out of his surprise and he wastes no time wrapping his arms around Harry in return.
"Thank you. Thank you."
"You are most welcome, Snakelet. Lily and James were your parents as well and you have the right to display as many photos of them as you wish. I regret that I was unable to salvage any pictures of James Potter, however."
"That is alright, Father. After hearing a few stories about James Potter, I am not too sure that I want to display many pictures of the man who bullied Severus. It wouldn't feel right."
The pair remains in a tight embrace for several moments, soaking up the unconditional affection they have both been lacking for the majority of their lives. Pulling back once they have both gotten their emotions under control, Harry settles himself back against his father's side, his aching muscles pulsing past the pain relief potions at his continuous movements. Just as a comfortable silence fills the air, a hesitant knock sounds from the hallway.
"Enter."
Harry peers around his father, eyeing the person entering the room before a wide smile stretches across his lips. His gaze racks over his professor, watching his timid stature as he slowly makes his way across the room, his cheeks reddening minutely. A clinking noise draws Harry's attention to a wooden crate Severus is carrying and concludes that these must be some potions he is going to need to aid in his recovery. Severus's eyes widen when he catches sight of Harry wide awake and sitting up, his green eyes sparkling as his smile widens.
Once Severus is close enough, he places the box of potions down on the bedside table, eyes scanning Harry's pale face, the sweat forming across his brow from overexertion, and the dark circles under his eyes. The young boy still needed ample rest if he wished to heal his injuries.
"Harry, I see you are awake. How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling a little better, Severus. Thank you for helping my father rescue me and for administering the potions." Harry murmurs, pink dusting his cheeks when Severus drags a hand through his hair, the appendage coming to rest on his shoulder.
"And how are those injuries fairing, Snakelet?"
"They are very sore, and I hurt when I move. My head feels fuzzy, and it keeps pulsing. My eyes sting and I feel tired still."
Severus listens to Harry, leaning over to rummage through the box of potions for a mild numbing and pain relief potion for him to take. He passes the vial over to Harry, watching as the child drinks the medicine without question. Settling himself on the edge of the mattress, facing Marvolo and Harry, Severus watches the tension bleeding from his small frame as the potion kicks in.
"Thank you."
"You have nothing to thank me for, Snakelet. I am just relieved we seemed to have gotten to you in time. I apologise for our late arrival, Harry."
Harry cocks his head to the side, eyebrows furrowing as a frown pulls at his lips. "Why are you apologising, Sev? You don't have anything to be sorry for. It wasn't like you told them to hurt me."
"You truly are a forgiving, kind-hearted young wizard, Harry. I am glad that I have been allowed to rid myself of my blindness and get to know who you truly are, Little Snakelet." Severus smirks down at Harry, bowing his head to draw a delighted giggle from Harry.
"It should be me saying that to you and father, Severus. Without the two of you in my life, I would probably be near death right about now. I am happy that you decided to give me a place to stay away from the rabble at school." Harry smiles up at Severus, reaching over to slip his hand into his professor's, smile widening when potion-stained fingers wrap around his own.
"Harry is correct, Severus. I may never be able to repay your kindness when it comes to my son's rescue. Though you will always have a place in our home and our lives should you so desire it. You are a valuable asset to the dark sect and a treasured friend."
"Thank you, My Lord. I am grateful for your kindness."
"We will have none of that, Severus. You have assisted me in rescuing my son and cared for him when I could not. You have stuck by my side even when my insanity overran my rationality and for that, you have my deepest respect and regards, my dear potions master." Marvolo smiles, brown eyes shining as he glances down at Severus.
"It was nothing, My Lord. I live to serve you and your cause. I am but your humble servant." Severus bows his head, hand tightening around Harry's.
"You must know by now that you are much more than that, Severus. You are my most loyal, my most faithful. My closest friend. The Dark sect would be lost without you, Severus." Marvolo's voice is barely above a whisper, sincerity coating his tone. He smirks when a light flush coats Severus's ears; watching as Harry stretches his legs out, his feet resting in Severus's lap. He watches as a hand rests on top of the child's legs, fingers absently stroking the appendages.
Harry, unaware of the sentimental conversation going on above his head, slumps back against his father, eyes drooping as a yawn breaks free. Marvolo glances down at his son, expression completely open with adoration, watching Harry try to ward off sleep. He runs a hand through Harry's hair.
"I believe it is about time for someone to get some more sleep, hmmm?" Harry shakes his head, forcing his eyes open he turns to pout up at his father, worrying his bottom lip.
"But-"
"Do not worry so, Snakelet. We will still be here when you wake in the morning."
"Both of you? Will you both stay with me?" Harry's gaze shifts from his father to Severus and back again, his eyes wide, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Severus stills, hand gripping Harry's leg in a firm grip. He hadn't been expecting Harry to request his presence as well, though he shouldn't have been too surprised, he had been the one who had looked after the boy the last two weeks or so at the end of his first year. Glancing up at Marvolo, wondering what he would have to say about Harry's request, his cheeks heat up, a flush dusting them when he spies amusement dancing in his eyes.
"If you would like for me to stay as well, Harry then who am I to argue? I would be happy to oblige."
Standing from the bed, Severus waits for Marvolo to gather Harry up in his arms before he pulls the covers back enough for Harry to slip underneath. Collecting the empty vials from the bedside table, Severus turns to see Marvolo tucking Harry in, a light smile on his lips, a hand stroking through his hair.
"Good night, my little snakelet."
"Sweet dreams, Little Snake." Severus drops a quick kiss on Harry's forehead, a habit he had picked up during their Hogwarts experience.
"Good night, Father. Good night, Sev." Voice barely above a whisper, Harry's eyes slide closed, breathing evening out as he falls back into a deep sleep.
"Thank you, Severus." The Dark Lord's voice breaks the silence.
"Whatever for, My Lord?"
The Dark Lord sighs dragging a hand through his hair as his gaze stays on Harry and for the first time, Severus takes note of the pale grey rings clinging to Marvolo's eyes, the tightly drawn skin on his face, and the exhaustion emitting from his Lord; his friend. For a moment, Severus finds himself worrying. Wondering if his Lord had pushed himself too far and if he is suffering from some unknown aftereffect from the rebirthing ritual. If he had strained himself with the planning and execution of their plans to rescue Harry.
"I was afraid that we wouldn't make it to Harry on time, Severus. I thought we were too late when I entered that prison. There were multiple padlocks on his door, Severus, and a cat flap built into the bottom to slip food through so they wouldn't have to let him out. The room was filthy; covered in old blood as well as fresh blood from earlier that day. His bed was a pile of ratty blankets on the floor; he owned nothing personal. Except for his photo album which that disgusting muggle had torn up in front of him."
The deep sorrow in Marvolo's voice chokes him up as well. His gaze turns towards Harry who is slumbering peacefully before he turns back to Marvolo. He watches him sigh deeply, hand mussing his own hair up more. He couldn't help himself, not when his friend, his Lord was looking so troubled. Lifting a hand up, Severus rests it against Marvolo's arm only freezing minutely when a larger hand comes to cover his.
"I know how much you despised James Potter for taking Lily away from you and for tormenting you in the one place you ever considered home, and I know how difficult it must have been for you to put aside that dislike and prejudice aside when I asked you to look after Harry. I thank you, Severus, for taking care of him and looking out for him the way you did. I was afraid that those muggles would have damaged him beyond the capability of trusting adults, but he certainly is fond of you,"
Severus's eyes begin to sting at Marvolo's words. It hadn't been all that hard to treat Harry with the love and care he deserved, mainly because he viewed the small child as his Lord's rightful son and heir. This was no longer the child of James Potter and Lily Evans. He tightens his grip on Marvolo's arm.
"It was not hard to treat this child how I should have treated him all along; he is not James Potter, and he never was. It shouldn't have taken me finding out he was abused for me to see that, but I am glad I did. He is such a sweet child, witty, cunning, and sneaky. The perfect Slytherin. He is the heir to the Dark Sect, and he will be cherished and loved by all. He is very lucky to have you, Marvolo."
"No, I am the one who is lucky, Severus. Harry has made me feel whole again, has filled this void inside myself that I never knew was there. He is going to be a force to be reckoned with when he grows up, both power-wise and mentally. He is such a gifted child, but his worth has been stamped out and it may take a while for us to convince him that he doesn't need to curb his grades or that none of us are going to abandon him if he makes a mistake."
"And we will make sure that he knows all this, My Lord. Harry is a very lucky child and will do you proud."
"I know he will, Severus."
Severus smiles at Marvolo, as he places another feather-like kiss on Harry's forehead. Standing up from his seat on the mattress edge, Marvolo motions for Severus to follow him to the fireplace. Conjuring up a set of camp beds for the two of them, Severus doesn't point out the 'us' Marvolo slipped into his words, he was probably overthinking as per usual again. He doesn't mention the warmth he feels in his chest when Marvolo settles down on the bed, smiling softly at him. Nor does he mention the tingling in his fingers when he settles down facing Marvolo, his eyes slipping closed when whispered words reach his ears.
"Good night, Severus. Thank you."