Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Different Kind of Hero	By : JunjouSlashGirl Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 53264 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 10
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters. All rights belong to J. K. Rowling. I do not earn any money with this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14: Realization
HP
Harry was awoken early by a harsh knock at the window. He groaned in annoyance as the loud sound ringed in his sensitive vampire ears and turned on the side in hope of it not occurring again. When the knock came the second time, he thought that the demanding sound seemed slightly familiar.
Opening his eyes, he arched his neck in a very inhuman manner to get a look at the window. Lucius’ falcon was sitting there, glaring directly at him. The look reminded him of those he had received from his mate before their mating.
Knowing that the bird would not just fly away, he sighed and propped himself up, before going over to the window and opening it.
The evil bird flew in with a deafening screech, waking his two sleeping friends, who groaned as well.
"Is your mistress sending you more clothes?" Ron muttered, whilst Harry stretched his arm out for the bird to land on. The bird settled down, but not without a second screech, clearly displeased that he had to wait in front of the window for whole three minutes.
"I don't think so," Harry answered, as he saw the small, golden velvet pouch on the falcon’s leg.
"Is your mate sending you a letter?" Hermione asked, purposefully using a term which did not indicate a gender.
"A love letter?" Harry could hear the grin in Ron's voice.
"No, it's a small velvet pouch," Harry answered, untying the bag from the leg whilst the bird looked with interested at Harry's hand.
"Don't bite me or I will tell your owner," Harry threatened quickly and the clever bird huffed and turned its head away from him.
As soon as Harry had untied the bag, the falcon flew off again.
"Stupid bird," Ron muttered, but finally sat up, looking curiously over at him.
"Open it, Harry," Hermione said.
He opened the little pouch and put his hand inside. His hand closed around something small and egg shaped and as he had retrieved his hand and opened it, he saw that it was indeed a small, golden egg.
"It's an egg," he said dumbly and then remembered that he had told Lucius that Hedwig could not be his post owl anymore and smiled softly. His mate really remembered everything.
"Wow! That looks like a phoenix egg!" Ron exclaimed, but Hermione shook her head:
"No, it is not a real phoenix egg. Do you see the black engraving on the egg?"
Turning the egg around, Harry indeed found some engravings.
"Infans expositus Phoenicis Justitius," he read out loud. "What does that mean?"
"Foundling of the Phoenix and the last word is his name," Hermione answered.
"His? How do you know that?" Ron asked.
"Because of the way the word ends; it is the masculine ending in Latin," Harry replied, not knowing where the knowledge had come from, or more precisely, knowing that it had come from Malfoy Manor, but not that he had it.
"Are you learning Latin, Harry?" Hermione asked in wonder.
"Hm," he shrugged. "So what is a Foundling of a Phoenix?"
Hermione took a deep breath and Harry knew that a lecture was coming. Smiling gently, he sat back down on his bed; he really liked even this slightly annoying side of his brainy friend.
"Phoenixes have mates, as most other magical creatures, but they can only lay one egg in their entire life. So it sometimes happens, that they adopt other chicks that have fallen out of their own nest and would die otherwise. They envelop the foundlings in an egg and breed them for a few weeks, giving the chicks’ phoenix like powers this way. It is said that these foundlings burn to ashes and come to life like their adoptive parents and often have other remarkable powers as well. They are considered as rare as phoenixes themselves and equally valuable and like the birds, they can only hatch when they are taken in by the right wizard."
"By the right wizard?" Harry asked, not quite understanding.
"Yes, the wizard or witch’s character has to fit the character of the hatchling. For example: Your...whatever bird it will be has the name Justitius. It is the male version of Justicia, the Roman goddess of balancing justice, so he will most likely only hatch for a true Gryffindor; and who would be more fitting than you?" she smiled at him.
"Yeah, man, you pulled Godric's sword from the sorting hat," Ron added needlessly and then asked: "So your mate is not a Gryffindor?"
"No," Harry answered.
"That's not bad. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws can be nice as well," Ron grinned.
Harry said nothing and just looked down at the egg. It was a bit smaller than a chicken's egg and much lighter. He really was curious as to what kind of bird would be in there and how Lucius had gotten this egg in the first place.
"What if it doesn't hatch for me?" Harry asked, but at that moment the egg started to move in his hand and a crack appeared in its shell.
"Look, it already is. He must really like you," said Hermione and hastily came over to his bed, followed by Ron.
"What do you think it will be?" the redhead asked. "Another one of those falcons?"
"I hope not," Harry muttered, really not wanting such a stuck up bird, even though he doubted that there were any stuck up animals that would hatch for a Gryffindor.
He looked in awe as one piece after the other fell from the shell until it revealed a tiny and very black something. The bird was still folded tightly, due to its long stay in the egg, so he could not yet see what it was, but it really didn't look very bird-like at first sight, even though he could recognize a pair of large wings. Large in comparison to the tiny creature, that was.
"Does it have fur?" Hermione asked frowning.
Harry thought so as well, but didn't dare to touch the fragile looking animal just yet. After another moment it lifted its small head with its big ears and blinked at him with huge, golden eyes.
"It's a bat!" Harry gasped, grinning widely. He had to laugh; it was so fitting, that he as a vampire would get a bat as a second familiar.
"He is so cute," Hermione giggled.
"He is,” Harry agreed, stroking the small head carefully. "Welcome Justitius," Harry greeted him. The bat, no bigger than his pinkie yet, unfolded its wings (which had a golden underside instead of the usual black).
"He really looks special," Hermione said in awe.
"He does," Harry grinned, tickling Justitius under his little chin. The bat closed its big eyes in relaxation and gave a little sigh.
"So, do you need to mark me as well?" Harry asked and the bat opened his eyes again, looking at him with intelligent eyes, before crawling closer to his left hand and biting him in his pinkie. The bite really didn't hurt, not in comparison to Nagini anyway, and he watched as an intertwined pattern formed like a ring around his smallest finger. This was his third binding mark.
"Oh, that’s beautiful," Hermione hummed, eying his new mark.
"A bit girly," Ron commented.
Harry only shrugged, he liked the mark and it fit his new style perfectly. Justitius crawled up his arm and attached himself upside down on his sleeve, folding his wings around his body and closing his eyes.
"I bet he is tired after hatching. That must have been tiring," Hermione mused.
"Probably. What is the time?" Harry asked, hoping that it was early enough that he would have time to go up to Lucius and thank him personally.
"Only 8 o'clock," Ron answered grumbling. "Your mate must be an early riser."
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I think I will take advantage of the early hour and take a bath," he announced and went over to the enlarged wardrobe, taking out the dark blue outfit, before leaving the room.
"Where are you going?" Nagini asked curiously from her place on the bed, her big head just sticking out under his covers.
"I told my friends that I would go and take a bath, but I will go and visit Lucius," Harry explained.
"Would you fill me a bath then?" Nagini asked hopefully.
"Yeah, sure," Harry said and the reptile followed him quickly.
"You know, it is kind of strange that you always take Nagini with you and now also your bat," Ron commented.
"Nagini needs the water for her skin, or it will dry and split open," Harry explained.
"I guess, London’s not the right living area for a reptile," Hermione agreed.
"No, it isn't, but it is fine as long as she can moisten her scales once in a while," Harry answered and waved at his friends before closing the door behind him.
"Shall I just start the shower for you or do you want a real bath?" He asked Nagini as they entered the small room.
"A real bath would be nice," she hissed, slithering into the old tub.
"Okay, tell me if the temperature is right," Harry told her and started the water.
"That’s good," she said after a moment and he went over to the toilet lid, waiting for the tub to fill, which didn't take long with the giant snake already fully inside.
Turning the water off he said: "I will lock the door from the outside, so that no one notices that I am actually not in here and get you in about an hour. Is that okay?"
Nagini nodded lazily and closed her eyes in relaxation.
Opening the door carefully, Harry checked that no one was in the hallway, before coming out and whispering: "Colloportus!"
He quickly ran over to the staircase and then in the blink of the eye, stood in front of Lucius’ door. He knocked once and waited for his mate to let him in.
°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°
HP
"Come in," Lucius’ deep voice answered and he didn't wait a moment longer to get inside.
"Finally," his mate huffed. Lucius sat, leaning against the head board of his bed, a thick book in his lap, but he closed it and put it to the side as he saw Harry. "I already suspected that your little friends would never let you go."
"They didn't, but I am busy taking a long bath right now," Harry explained, striding over and climbing onto Lucius’ lap, leaning against his muscled chest and sighed. It felt so good to touch Lucius again. He had not noticed during the week before Grimmauld Place, how often he touched or kissed the man and it was torture to not be able to do so whenever he felt the need.
The aristocrat folded his strong arms around him, but stopped suddenly. "What have you got there?" Lucius asked, pointing to Justitius who was still hanging on his arm.
Harry smirked: "You should know the answer to that, after all, you gave him to me this morning."
Lucius’ eyes widened comically: "The egg has already hatched and it is...?" His mate didn't finish, clearly not able to recognize the small creature that hid himself away in his wings.
"He is a bat," Harry snickered.
"How fitting," Lucius snorted. "Do you like him?"
"He is great, thanks! But how did you get him?" He wanted to know.
"The egg was a present to my grandfather, even though the person who gave it to him knew that the egg would never hatch for one of our family. But a phoenix egg, or the egg of a phoenix' infans expositus is immensely valuable and as such fitting as a present for a Malfoy. It lay in a safe in my study for the last 70 years, I believe, and when you told me that you needed a new post-animal it immediately came to mind. No creature deserves to lie sleeping in an egg for eternity; besides the Foundlings of a Phoenix are highly intelligent and thus ideal for the work as a post owl," Lucius explained.
"Do you think he will ever be big and strong enough to carry a letter or a package?" Harry asked, eying the miniature bat.
"He will grow, not much I think, but he is no normal bat and will be strong enough... but I always thought that phoenixes would only take in other birds."
"Maybe a bat is close enough to a bird?" Harry asked.
"Apparently," Lucius mused, and started to comb through his black locks.
"Justitius already marked me," Harry said and lifted his left hand.
"Beautiful," Lucius said and kissed the new mark.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, just relishing in the company of each other, until Harry started to fidget. He still wanted to know how his mate felt about his true age, but didn't know if this was the right moment. On the other hand, was there ever a right moment to ask something like that?
"Harry, what did I tell you about fidgeting?" Lucius growled.
Harry stopped immediately, only then noticing the hardness he suddenly sat on. Blushing he turned a bit, so that he could lay his head on his mate’s shoulder. Harry knew that Lucius liked this position; he supposed that it gave the man the feeling of protecting Harry.
"What do you want to ask?" Lucius asked him and pressed a soft kiss on his head.
"I..." Harry stuttered and wished that he could still take a calming breath of air, but it wasn't a calming movement any longer. "You still wanted to tell me what you think about...you know...the thing with my age. Does it change anything between us?"
Lucius was silent for a moment and Harry started to get nervous, but when he wanted to lift his head and look at Lucius, the blonde nobleman pressed him back down.
"I have to admit that it was a big shock, to say the least. If I had known before our mating, I would have restrained myself for a few years, at least until you had gotten of age. But we cannot change it anymore and we never had any chance with Voldemort's curse as the trigger. This all doesn't change that you are my mate and the most important person in my life and that I already told you that you will have to set the pace with everything concerning our...physical relationship. There is nothing more that I can do to protect you from this bond."
"So, nothing will change?" Harry prodded, needing to get an explicit answer, or he would forever fear that something might change suddenly, when he least expected it.
"No, nothing will change between us. It was, is more of a mental process for me, than something we both have to deal with," Lucius mused.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked in confusion. That sounded as if everything was not fine after all.
Lucius sighed. "It was already quite disturbing to find myself very interested and aroused by a fifteen year old boy, but at that age a wizard can be legally viewed as a sexually mature person, who can rightfully participate in sexual encounters; but at twelve the legal matter is entirely different. Wizarding children have to be protected from everything sexual, because it can still scar them at that young age. I always believed that men who take advantage of little children belong in Azkaban, only to find out that I have become one of them."
Sneaking his arms around his dominant's neck, he pressed a soft kiss to Lucius’ neck wanting to reassure him. "But I don't feel scarred and you know that we can’t compare me to a normal twelve year old boy anymore. I am not human any longer and I feel entirely different than before."
"I am aware of this Harry, that is why I have mostly made my peace with the matter," Lucius replied and a warm hand sneaked around his body and under his shirt.
"Hm, still not wearing anything beneath?" The aristocrat purred in his ear, making him blush.
A shiver ran down Harry's spine and he pressed closer to his mate’s body, licking the thick vein on his dominant’s neck. It had been much too long since he had tasted his mate’s skin, he had missed this. It had been a torture knowing that the man was so near, but not being able to go to him the whole night. Lucius groaned like always and his head came down to nibble at his neck. Gasping, Harry turned his head and met the other mans lips, opening his mouth for Lucius’ talented tongue. They kissed for a long moment, Harry making happy little purring sounds.
When they parted again, he was flushed all over and very aroused, but he didn't want a quick stroke before breakfast, so he turned back around and cuddled against his mate.
"Are you coming to Diagon Alley later?" Harry asked.
Lucius hummed in affirmation, "Yes, Severus will give me a polyjuice potion, so that I can accompany you without drawing any attention to it. He also said that if you still want to get your uncle’s car for the order, we could do it afterwards."
Curious to see his father drive a muggle car, Harry exclaimed:"That would be great!"
Lucius only wrinkled his nose: "I had hoped to not see that house of yours so soon again, but at least we will have some more time away from this even worse excuse of a home." He gestured to the attic and Harry nodded. He could actually understand his spoiled mate for once, even for a normal person, who was not used to the Malfoy standard, Grimmauld Place was hard to endure.
"So, how was your talk with Severus?" Lucius asked.
"It was good, I think. We mostly talked about important things and not too much personal stuff though," he answered.
Lucius smiled softly at him: "Have some patience; you will get to know him soon. Severus deserves to have a part of the family he had always dreamed about at least. Your father is a good and kind hearted man, even though he rarely shows it and he has lost so much in his life already. And you deserve it as well."
"Ron and Mione said nearly the same," Harry grinned.
"Really? I would not have thought them so wise and understanding."
"They can be if they really need to. But Ron especially can blow up rather quickly sometimes," Harry admitted.
Lucius chuckled and for the next few minutes they fell into a comfortable silence. Harry savoured the feeling of his mate's strong chest behind him and the soft touches. Sighing contently, he snuggled deeper into the embrace and his eyelids began to droop as warmth finally spread through his body once more. But all too soon Lucius pulled him from his drowsy state.
"You should get dressed soon, or your friends will fear that you have drowned in the tub," Lucius mused, sliding the hand that was still under his shirt down to his butt, where it rested for a moment.
"Yeah, especially when they knock on the door and no one answers," Harry grinned and begrudgingly slid out of his mate’s lap.
Walking over to the wooden chair where he had dumped his blue garments, he pulled Lucius' long button down over his head. Harry didn't need to turn around, to notice the heated gaze of his mate. Relishing in the attention and suddenly in a playful mood, he bent down provocatively to pick up one of the blue stockings, which had fallen to the floor, before taking the other as well and sitting down on the chair so that he was facing the aristocrat. He then spread his legs just enough for Lucius to get a glimpse of his cute cock, and if the man was lucky, his rosy opening, before pulling one leg up and starting to pull on the first stocking. It really was amazing how quickly he had become comfortable with exposing himself so openly in front of this mate, when he had even been too scared to change into night clothes in front of him only two weeks ago; but the time of separation had made him more bold, or maybe simply more desperate for his dominant’s touch, or maybe, it was the vampire genes changing him in this manner. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. He was comfortable enough to expose himself in front of his mate and Lucius would never misuse it.
Lucius groaned, a deep, growling sound that vibrated in his mate’s chest and the scent of arousal started to heavily fill the air. Harry smirked, an expression that looked so devilish and so innocent at the same time on his young face.
"Seeing something you like?" he asked, repeating a sentence Lucius had once teased him with.
"You are getting more open and comfortable," Lucius just replied, but his voice sounded a little husky.
"I am," Harry agreed, thinking that he really liked the attention he got from his dominant; it gave him a feeling of gratification. "And why shouldn't I? I know you would never do anything to me that I would not want."
"You are right, Harry," Lucius said, his eyes not leaving his small frame for one second.
Standing up, Harry took the white button down from the pile, not Lucius', but the one that actually fit him and pulled it on, before sitting down again and doing the same with the black shorts.
"Do you want to help me with the waistcoat?" he asked and picked the garment up. The one he had chosen this morning had beautiful silver clasps at the front and had to be tied at his back, making it more difficult to fasten it himself.
One corner of Lucius’ mouth rose in a seductive smirk: "It is a pleasure to help my mate," he all but purred and came over with the stride of a wild animal, ready to pounce on its prey. Harry's eyes were fixed on the silently fluid, but strong motions of his mate, and his cock twitched in his trousers.
Lucius grin broadened and one of his fangs flashed in the morning sun, as he came closer. As he reached him, Harry was pulled to his feet and turned around, before Lucius guided his arms through the sleeveless openings of the waistcoat.
Harry jerked in arousal and a shiver went down his spine as Lucius bent forwards and whispered into his right ear: "Close the clasps," whilst one hand landed on his small backside, gliding over one trouser leg and then under the fabric; one single claw started to tease his crack.
"Lucius..." Harry moaned, pressing into the touch.
"Don't forget to dress yourself," the claw was scratching over his puckered opening now, making it twitch in need.
"How can I...like this?" Harry gasped.
"Still so innocent. So deliciously innocent. It makes me want to do all kinds of things to you and deteriorate your mind. But you will always stay this innocent...and that knowledge arouses me even more," Lucius claw glided over his opening one last time before it left again and the aristocrat stepped in front of him, closing his waistcoat. Harry currently could not have done that himself, not in his state. His legs felt like jelly, his mind was clouded with lust and he had to lean against his mate to stay upright.
"Such strong reactions. I would hate to have missed out on them, if you were any more experienced."
"What does my inexperience have to do with my reactions?" Harry asked, gasping when his cock gave a violent twitch at another touch of Lucius' claws.
"The body gets used to this kind of pleasure and the reactions grow weaker with time, but due to your age at your transformation you will always react so sweetly," Lucius purred.
Harry wasn't really sure whether he liked the sound of that. That only meant that he would always be reduced to a shivering pile of arousal whenever his mate touched him.
"I think I have gone just a bit too far, or not far enough," Lucius mused, looking down at him with a raised eyebrow.
Harry blushed, but didn't answer. His dominant was right. He was painfully aroused. It would have been better if Lucius had only laid his hand on his backside, without teasing him or if he...
His mind blanked, as the aristocrat suddenly kneeled down in front of him, opening his zipper with one quick motion.
"What are you...?" He didn't finish his sentence, because Lucius had already pulled out his cock and leaned forwards. The little bell around his penis jingled silently and Harry blushed at the sound. He groaned as he was suddenly surrounded by wet heat and Lucius began to suck. Heat gathered in his lower stomach and his hips gave an uncontrollable jerk as his dominant’s tongue licked the pulsing vein on the underside of his shaft. His legs started to shiver more violently and two strong hands took hold of his arse to steady him.
He brought his hands up and intertwined his fingers with Lucius’ soft, silver-blonde hair, whilst trying desperately not to jerk again, when Lucius teased his sensitive slit in an upwards motion.
"You do not need to restrain yourself. You can fuck my mouth if you want," Lucius purred around his pulsing flesh, sending shivers up the sensitive length and making Harry gasp again.
Hesitatingly he moved his hips forwards, changing the angle a bit, so that his penis was rubbing over Lucius tongue more firmly. But he was only hesitant for a moment. To be able to move himself drove his inexperienced mind and body into a frenzy. His hips quickly picked up the pace, desperate to find more friction, whilst the green silk band around the base of his length provided a wonderful pressure. The rhythmical ringing of the silver bell mixed with the silent thrusting noises as he pounded Lucius’ mouth harder and faster. The tingle in his belly intensified and he stumbled a bit, changing the angle of his cock inside Lucius’ mouth again, making it brush against one of his mate’s long fangs.
Harry groaned loudly, that was what he needed. His thrust grew harsher and quicker, driving his cock against the sharp fang with every motion and fucking Lucius’ mouth with uncontrolled and erratic thrusts.
He felt the familiar sensation of pain mixed with pleasure and his balls tightened quickly. By now Lucius was only holding him up, whilst he did everything else. His hands tightened in Lucius’ hair and white stars erupted in front of his eyes as he exploded. He spilled his semen down his dominants throat, who swallowed every drop of it without even blinking once. Those silver-red orbs were holding his gaze as Harry rode out his orgasm, driving his cock against the sharp tip of Lucius fang a few more times whilst he came, then he slumped boneless against his mate, feeling utterly relaxed and satisfied.
Lucius released his flaccid cock, but Harry needed a moment to come down from his high and gather himself again. As he finally looked up after a minute or so, Lucius was still staring at him, but not with lust anymore.
Harry could see that his dominants lips were red from his blood and as he looked down at his abused member he knew where the sudden hunger in Lucius’ eyes had come from. Thinking about it, Harry realized that Lucius’ last meal was quite a while ago for a dominant, the aristocrat needed more blood than he himself after all.
His cock stirred again at the opportunity of a possible second high and without hesitation, he grasped the back of Lucius’ head and pressed the face of his mate against his left leg, where his leg artery was pulsing. He saw the moment when the aristocrat’s eyes glazed over and the man’s instincts took hold, just the split second before Lucius’ long fangs pierced his skin.
Harry groaned as Lucius sucked the first gulp of blood from his vein and his cock hardened fully, pressing to the side of Lucius’ face. One of his hands left his backside, grasped the heated flesh and started to stroke it with slow, but also bruising force.
"Yes," Harry hissed, holding onto his mate's shoulders.
Lucius sucked again and tightened his grip around his member even further. Desperate for his mate's touch, Harry pressed himself against Lucius’ fangs and hand. The hand holding him in place started to trace soft patterns on his sensitive backside, deliciously caressing his sensitive arteries on its way. Since these veins had become visible, they were so much more sensitive, it was nearly maddening. "Please Lucius, mark me!" he groaned, not able to suppress a needy whine.
An appreciative hum vibrating through his mate’s chest, before Lucius’ fingertips were replaced by his claws. Harry gasped again when little pinpricks opened his skin.
"More, please!" he begged desperately. The tingle in his lower stomach had risen to a nearly unbearable level, but it still wasn't quite enough. Lucius drew in another mouth full of his blood and increased the pressure of his claws, opening deep gashes on his smooth buttocks.
He mewled softly in pleasure and closed his eyes to concentrate fully on the many sensation assaulting his body. Harry could feel that he wasn't far from his second orgasm and it only took another suck and a teasing touch to his slit, for him to come again. With a cry of bliss he spilled himself all over Lucius’ perfect hand, whilst leaning unconsciously into his mate’s hand on his backside, embedding Lucius’ claws deep inside his skin. The aristocrat took a last mouth full of blood and then withdrew his fangs and claws, licking once over the punctured wounds to close them up, before zipping up his shorts again.
Harry watched with a goofy grin when Lucius stood back up and smoothed his robe. Only then did they notice how bloody Lucius’ fingers were:
"Turn around," Lucius commanded and Harry obliged without hesitation. His mate kneeled down again and pushed his trouser legs to the side a bit before proceeding to heal the wounds on his buttocks as well.
Harry didn't react in any other way than to entwine his arms around his Lucius’ neck when he was lifted into strong arms and carried over to the bed, he felt too relaxed to do anything right now, like always after this kind of experience.
"Wait a moment," Lucius chuckled and placed him down on the mattress, before going over to the wooden chair and picking up his long, blue coat.
"I still need to fasten your waistcoat," Lucius said and Harry hummed in agreement, but didn't move otherwise, he was just too relaxed right now; all his muscles felt like pudding and he did not have the energy to move an inch.
"You need to sit up or roll over onto your stomach, or I will not be able to help you," His mate smirked down at him.
Rolling over lazily, Harry waited patiently whilst his mate grabbed the silver ribbons and started to tie the clothing. When the aristocrat was finished, he had reconnected to reality again and sat up, a goofy smile still on his lips.
Lucius raised an eyebrow: "If me drinking your blood always has such a strong effect on you, we should only do it in the evening, when no one is likely to notice your overjoyed behaviour."
Harry giggled happily and hugged Lucius around his midsection. "I think this must be what feeling drunk must feel like."
Lucius only groaned: "If you do not restrain yourself a bit more, there will be no need for hiding our relationship any longer, because everybody will know it as soon as we step into the kitchen."
"Don't worry," Harry huffed. "I will restrain myself, but we are not in the kitchen yet, not even out of your room." He pulled his coat over and stood up, glancing over at the door. "We should probably wash ourselves; I don't know how good a werewolf’s nose is..."
"That is probably a good idea. I am not keen on finding out how a werewolf reacts when he finds out that his pup has an inappropriate relationship with a much older Ex-Death Eater," Lucius mused.
"His pup?" Harry asked in irritation.
"Of course. As Sirius’ godson you belong to his pack. My nose is as good as yours, so don’t believe that I have not noticed their bond yet," Lucius explained.
Harry sighed; there really was a lot of things he still did not know. Sure Severus had covered werewolves in his third year, when the man had taught DADA after the full moon and Remus had not been able to show up himself, but they had only discussed the danger of these creatures and not much else. Maybe he should search for a book about werewolves, and if he was lucky, it would also help him with his relationship to his guardians. But for now he had to go down, clean up and get back to his friends before they became worried.
"We will see you downstairs then," Harry said, looking around. Where had he left Justitius? As if the little bat had sensed that Harry was searching for him, he came fluttering over from a corner of the attic where apparently, he had been hanging on a curtain. The little creature landed on his shoulder, screeched softly in greeting and glared at Lucius as if the man was at fault for being dumped on a wooden chair alongside Harry’s nightshirt.
Lucius lifted an eyebrow and drawled: "I see he likes Slytherins as much as most other Gryffindors do."
"He isn’t a Gryffindor, he’s a bat," Harry replied and glared back for good measure, but without real malice.
"He is a magical creature who was only willing to hatch for a Gryffindor. I think that makes him an equal with your red and gold loving kind," Lucius huffed.
"Are you trying to insult me Lucius Capricornius Malfoy?" Harry mock-glared.
"No, of course not; I would never insult my mate," Lucius said and stepped nearer to Harry, whispering: "Beside, I have become very fond of your Gryffindor character." Harry met the lips of his dominant in a soft see-you-later kiss and then finally left the attic, even though he didn't want to; only the prospect of seeing his mate at breakfast actually made his feet move.
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HP
Using his vampire speed, he rushed unseen into the bathroom, where Nagini was waiting patiently for him, still enjoying the hot water.
As soon as he had stepped in the snake sniffed the air and asked: "Have you mated again?"
He nodded, a bit embarrassed and hastily took a washcloth from one of the cabinets.
"Why do you mate if you cannot bear hatchlings anyway? Your bond is formed and your mate takes care of you, so there is no need to mate" The reptile asked.
Harry flushed darkly, as darkly as he could anyway, but tried to explain: "Because it is nice. Humans and vampires need to mate regularly to feel close to their mates."
Nagini frowned. Harry mused that the concept of mating for closeness, pleasure and even fun was not easy to grasp for an animal which only mated to create offspring.
Turning around, he shoved his pants down to quickly clean himself.
"Is the scent gone?" he asked Nagini, who nodded her heavy had and slithered out of the tub.
He quickly clothed himself again and had just finished when someone knocked at his door:
"Harry? Is everything ok? You have already been in there for over an hour and a half," Hermione asked worriedly.
Rolling his eyes he opened the door: "I am just finished. It took me longer to get dressed, because the waistcoat has its ribbons on the back." It was good that he knew his worried friends so well, or he might have been back too late and that would not have ended spectacularly.
"Oh. Why didn't you just come to our room? I would have helped you," Hermione asked, sounding a bit hurt.
Ron, who was standing behind her rolled his eyes and muttered: "Girls," but it was too silent for Hermione to hear.
"I need to learn how to dress myself. I will have my own room at Hogwarts and you can't come to me every morning to fasten these blasted things," he explained carefully.
To his relief Hermione sighed her sigh that meant that she understood: "You are right, Harry. I forgot. It's just that I always had this need to look after you and now that I know how young you really are..."
"But Harry has a father now, Mione," Ron interrupted her and Harry knew that he had said it to stop their bushy haired friend and not because he suddenly thought that Severus would be a good father.
"I know, but I still can’t imagine Professor Snape taking care of him like a father should. I can’t imagine him as anyone’s father," she argued.
They fell silent, but luckily steps sounded before Hermione could start again. The steps were purposefully heavy, like human steps would be, but Harry knew instantly that his mate was coming down.
Ron and Hermione turned around when Harry looked up and glared at the Malfoy-Lord as soon as he was in sight. Lucius sneered back but said: "Good morning, Harry," before continuing his way.
"I hate this stuck-up prick!" Ron muttered.
"Hmm," Hermione agreed and they followed the man into the kitchen.
The kitchen was already crowded when they entered. Harry saw his mate’s eyes instantly settling on him and his hips gained a seductive swing. Their little encounter a few minutes ago had shown him how much the older vampire liked it when he did things like that. It was as if he presented his body to his mate and it felt really good.
Unfortunately, not only Lucius noticed his seductive stride, but Ginny also. The girl blushed, but he ignored her and sat down next to Sirius and opposite to his mate and Severus with an enticing crossing of his legs. At that moment, not even her stares disturbed him knowing that Lucius would never let anybody else touch him.
Severus wrinkled his nose and glared at his friend, who pretended to not notice anything. Somehow, he got the feeling that merely washing with a cloth might be enough for a werewolf's nose to not be able to smell anything anymore, but not a vampire’s. His cheeks heated at the thought of what exactly his father smelt right now and quickly looked down onto the table, noticing that the plates of all three of them were still empty, but he would not do anything about it as long as Hermione or anybody else would not start nagging him about it again.
"Hey Harry, have you slept well?" Sirius, who had only noticed him just now, asked him suddenly.
"Yes, thank you. And you?" Harry asked.
"Me too. Anything planned for today or do you want to play a game of catch the snitch with your old godfather?" The animagus asked.
Glancing over to his father he said: "I am going with Severus to Diagon Alley today..."
"So it's Severus now?" Sirius glared at Severus and Remus sighed loudly next to him.
"...but," Harry continued without acknowledging the comment "...if you can persuade everybody who is currently staying at Grimmauld Place to a second game, we can play tomorrow."
Instantly, two sets of glares landed on him, one belonging to Sirius and the other to Severus.
Ron, who had listened to their conversation, snickered. "Don't do that Harry, I bet Snape will fall of his broom like a giant bat with broken wings."
Severus’ glare intensified and turned to the redhead, who realized what he had just said: "That will be fifty points from Gryffindor even before term has started, be grateful that Harry has earned his own lost points back already, or your house would be a hundred points in the negative by now. And let me tell you Mr. Weasley, only because I do not like to chase after a little ball, or get knocked from a broom by a bludger and prefer my cauldrons, does not mean that I cannot fly. In fact, I am fairly talented myself."
Ron snorted in disbelief.
"Really you are?" Harry asked, his curiosity awoken, only to have Severus’ glare fixed on him again.
"You uneducated brat, but at least I know by now who's fault that is," Severus muttered and Harry grinned. Next to him his friends lifted their eyebrows, astonished that the man had not taken points from Harry as well. Maybe, he hoped, they would soon see that Severus had the potential to be a good father.
"You know that it's unfair to take points from them before the school year has even started? How did Harry earn his points back anyway? Did you make him scrub cauldrons?" Sirius snapped.
Severus merely shrugged: "You will come to know this evening, Black."
Harry sighed inwardly, but said nothing. His mate also wore a slightly annoyed look by now, obviously quickly coming to understand what had made him so annoyed in the last few days.
"Who is that little one on your shoulder?" Remus suddenly asked and pointed at Justitius in order to steer the conversation away from the topic of house points.
"Oh, that is Justitius he is an Infans exositus Phoenicis. My mate gave him to me, because Hedwig can't carry my post anymore," he explained happily.
Justitius opened his big, golden eyes at the mention of his name and he started to bounce excitedly on Harry’s shoulder. Harry chuckled and stroked his little head carefully.
"Hush, I am just introducing you," he said and the bat puffed out his unimpressive chest. Remus eyes had widened in awe; so had Severus'. The Potions Master quickly glanced over to Lucius and then back to the bat, whilst Hermione, Ginny and Molly started to giggle.
"Women, all the same, no matter their age," Arthur laughed loudly at the three witches and then eyed Justitius curiously as well.
"He is so cute!" Ginny cooed.
"He is," Molly agreed and smiled at the bat. Justitius clearly enjoyed the attention he was getting and spread his long wings.
"Little show off," Harry chuckled fondly.
"I really would like to get to know your mate. She must really love you if she gives you such valuable present," Sirius commented, making Harry blush heavily.
"This certainly indicates that Harry's mate is a good catch," Lucius smirked and Harry threw him a quick glare.
"Yeah, I am sure I will greet her with open arms," Sirius said, for once agreeing with the aristocrat.
Harry saw the twins exchanging a look. He could understand them.
"So Harry, are you finished with breakfast? We will have to go soon if we want to get the car after we are finished at Diagon Alley," Severus asked innocently; too innocently.
Harry saw his godfather’s temper flare again.
"You are going with...Sni...with him? I thought you were going with Ron and Hermione!"
"Sirius," Harry sighed and Sirius deflated.
"Is anyone else coming with you at least?" his godfather muttered.
"Yes, there will be someone else, no need to worry about your precious godson," Severus sneered.
Ron leaned closer to Harry’s ear and muttered: "It seemed your new found relation doesn't matter; as soon as he can, he riles Sirius up."
"Yeah and I can promise you that it will get even worse. I plan on telling Sirius and Remus everything this evening and I am sure Severus will start to rub it into their faces that I am his son," Harry muttered back.
"Really, boys," Hermione sighed exasperatedly.
Turning back to the conversation, Harry heard Remus asking: "Who will accompany you two?"
"Another teacher from Hogwarts. I still don't know who Dumbledore will send. But surely he will not send Sybill Trelawney and he cannot send me anymore, so do not worry wolf," Snape drawled.
Sirius huffed, but fell silent.
"Yeah, I am finished," Harry said and rose up. "Let me just get my money and then we can go."
Severus and Lucius rose to their feet as well.
"Is the bastard accompanying you as well? I thought only you, Snape and another teacher?" Sirius asked.
"I am floo’ing over to Malfoy Manor to get some paperwork done. I cannot concentrate in this... loud environment," Lucius drawled.
"Why don't you just stay at your precious Manor if it is so much better there?" Sirius taunted, but Lucius only turned around and left the kitchen.
"I'll see you all later then," Harry said and quickly followed his mate.
Lucius had already gone into the living room, so he just went up and got his pouch.
"Hey Justitius, do you want to go shopping?" he asked, as he fastened the red velvet bag. The little bat only blinked at him with questioning eyes.
"You will like it," Harry promised. "Severus and Lucius are coming as well.
Justitius eyed him sceptically at the mention of his father’s name and started to glare at Lucius’. Chuckling Harry slipped into a pair of high boots and went down again.
"There is no need to bring any money. I wanted to tell you earlier, but the kitchen was not the right place." Severus said and Lucius nodded.
"It's ok, I still have enough money from when I visited Gringotts the last time," Harry answered.
"You will not pay as long as you are with one of us. You can pay when you go alone to Hogsmeade with your friends on the weekends," Lucius huffed and eyed the pouch. "Besides, you didn't take very much."
Harry goggled at the heavy bag; he never had taken so much money from his vault before.
Severus pressed a small vial into Lucius’ hand and explained:
"This is a potent version of the Polyjuice Potion; it will last for three to five hours, depending on how your body reacts to it."
"Up to five hours? The one we made in our second year only lasted for one hour. It would have been much easier if we had known that such a recipe existed," Harry said.
Severus narrowed his eyes: "So it was you and your little friends who stole my ingredients back then? How sneaky of you."
Harry flushed.
"What did you brew Polyjuice Potion for?" Lucius purred and Harry’s flush darkened. How could he tell his mate that he had suspected his dead son of being the Heir of Slytherin and the attacker of all those students?
"We can ask him all our questions later when we sit down in a cafe, but let us go now," Severus interrupted them.
Lucius turned back to the vial in his hand and asked: "Whose hair did you throw in there?"
"I am not sure, I collected it when I was at Hogwarts last night, but the teachers have a meeting today, so whoever it is will not be seen in two places at the same time," Severus grinned.
"How delightful, a surprise," Lucius glared.
"Can I assume that you will be able to transform your robes in something appropriate?" Severus just asked.
"Of course. At least it is not black hair," the aristocrat said, referring to Hagrid. "But I will kill you anyway if I change into McGonagall or someone equally unbearable."
"You have my permission to try it," Severus smirked and turned to Harry, who had watched the conversation between the usually stern men with interest.
"Let's go ahead, Lucius will follow as soon as he is ready," Severus said and gave him the pot with Floo Powder.
Shoving his hand inside, Harry took a handful of the powder, before tossing it into the flame and shouting. "The Leaky Cauldron!"
°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°
HP
The swirling in the Floo Network really was no better as a vampire than it had been as a human. He stumbled out of the Floo ungracefully, but was prevented from falling by a strong hand that grabbed his arm luckily.
"You definitively inherit your floo’ing skills from your mother," Severus huffed from behind before letting go of him.
"Really?" Harry asked interested, suddenly his tendency to stumble from the Floo didn't seem so bad anymore; at least he had something else that he had inherited from his mother other than his eyes.
"Hasn’t anyone told you before?" Severus asked, clearly astonished.
"No, I know close to nothing about her," he mumbled a bit sadly. To his surprise Severus laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
"If you wish, we can change that," the man said softly.
Harry smiled up at him gratefully, but then noticed the huge fireplace flaring up again and he turned around curiously.
"Did you really not know who the hair was from?" he asked the Potions Master.
"No," Severus replied.
Harry nearly choked on his laughter, as a thunderous looking Dumbledore in green and golden robes stepped out of the Floo with blazing eyes instead of sparkling ones.
"I will definitively kill you, Severus," Lucius said with the headmaster’s voice.
Harry saw that Severus had a difficult time suppressing his own grin, but the intelligent man quickly turned around and started to stride out of the crowded pub.
Harry quickly noticed that many confused looks followed them and especially him. He assumed that most witches and wizards did not recognize him with his new style and without his trademark glasses and were now asking themselves who was going shopping with the most famous and infamous teachers of Hogwarts. He could hear the whispered words exchange student, celebrity, relative of Dumbledore and even council member as he went by and he rolled his eyes.
"We will be the headline of tomorrow’s Daily Prophet," Lucius muttered behind him and Severus drawled: "Most likely."
"I think Dumbledore will find it funny. I even bet he will have no problems to guess who had posed as him," Harry grinned and quickened his space to catch up with Severus, who had come to a halt in front of the pub.
"So, where do you want to look for robes, you could..." Harry started to suggest but was cut of by Severus: "Do not finish that sentence. I will not change my entire style only because you have a bet going with your little friends or something similarly stupid. We will go to the store which sells the traditional robes for Potions Masters."
"So you aren't just wearing some strange..."
"Don't finish that sentence either," Severus huffed.
"But you could buy some more luxurious robes and you did receive your certificate as the best Potions Master of the Wizarding World last year. You should buy the proper uniform; it would be beneficial for Harry as well if more people knew about your achievement."
"Fine, I will take a look at them," Severus gave in.
"So, where is this store?" Harry asked, looking around.
"At the end of Diagon Alley, near the beginning of Knockturn Alley," Lucius answered as they started walking down the bustling street.
"Why am I not surprised?" Harry asked sarcastically, but followed without hesitation.
"Well, it is a very convenient place; most Potions Brewers have their fair share of experience with the black market due to ridiculous rights concerning rare or foreign ingredients," Severus explained.
Looking around, Harry saw many familiar faces, but no one seemed to recognize him. They passed him without looking, or sometimes a curious or irritated look, like the witches and wizards in the Leaky Cauldron had done.
The first familiar he had seen had been Lee Jordan; he had waved at him, only to receive a very irritated frown. The boy had obviously not recognized him, but instead thought that he was a foreigner, who wanted to flirt, after that he had refrained from waving at anybody.
"Lucius, Severus?" he asked quietly.
"Yes? Severus replied, whilst Lucius asked silently: "What is it, Harry?"
"Have I changed so much? I mean, shouldn't they notice me even in the new clothes?"
The two men glanced down at him; finally Severus answered carefully: "I think that if we look at it rationally, you have changed quite a lot: Your hair has darkened, your skin is now nearly translucent white, where it had been toned before and you must have lost at least 20 pounds, more likely 22. That added to your new wardrobe can fool even the closest of friends and they are only some fellow students."
Harry glanced over at a shop window, looking at the picture he made on the reflecting surface and had to admit that the man was right. His features were the same, but only now he noticed how different his new skin colour and frailness made him look. He also moved differently; more elegantly, which sadly didn't mean that he was less clumsy. Of course, it was nothing compared to Lucius’ elegance, but still. And his clothes...they really suited him and were breathtaking beautiful, but looked as if they came from a whole different era.
"You look beautiful, that is why everybody stares at you," Lucius said, but Harry could only see irritation in the headmasters face.
His disguised mate huffed in annoyance and they fell silent. Five minutes later they had reached a nondescript looking store with a door made of a dark red wood, which Harry had never seen before.
"Blood oak," Lucius explained from behind him and pushed the door open. He followed Severus inside and his first thought was that this store was anything but nondescript:
It was fairly dark inside; Harry started to think that every Potions Brewer loved dark and gloomy places. The shelves, tables, counter and chairs were all made from dark and very expensive looking wood. Mirrors were framed in gold and every door knob was made from the same material.
Whistling in astonishment, Harry went over to the next shelf. Justitius had left his shoulder and was exploring the shop himself, returning to him or Severus every so often, and fluttering excitedly around their heads. Harry found it fairly funny and was happy to see his little friend so excited, but the Potions Master was obviously annoyed with the hyperactive bat. Right now he was trying to shoo him away, but Justitius continued his circles around the man. Harry chuckled silently as he watched the spectacle, doing nothing to help his father.
"Do you have your certificate?" Lucius asked behind him and Severus answered:
"Of course I have, you need an actual license or certificate to buy anything here."
An elegant looking wizard, with brown hair and a similar robe to Severus’ came over to them asking: "Can I help you somehow, Sir?"
"Yes. I need new robes," Severus said and pulled his certificate from one of his pockets and gave it to the assistant. The man read the small document written on thick parchment and gasped.
"Of course Sir, please take a seat. Would you prefer red, silver or gold for the under cloak?"
"Silver," Severus said, whilst pulling Justitius from his long hair, where the bat had successfully gotten tangled. "Watch him," the dark man huffed and put the little animal down on Harry’s shoulder again, before going over to the sofas in front of the changing rooms, whilst the assistant disappeared into a back room.
Harry stroked Justitius, who had by now settled back on his shoulder and took a seat next to Severus.
"Why was the man so surprised?" he asked, when the little fellow had settled down again.
"The criteria for the title of best Potions Brewer in the World was set by no one other than Slytherin himself and to gain the title, you must be better than the last master who held this title, regardless of whether he or she is still alive or not. For the past four hundred years the title belonged to Grindelwald's great-great grandfather, but he never succeeded with the Wolfsbane Potion."
Harry’s eyes widened as he realized at last what a famous person his father really was. Severus Snape was probably far more known in his own circle and it was only due to his disinterested in anything potions related, that he never had read about him in any book before. It really vexed him that he didn't know very much about the man; but that was the case with his mate as well if he was honest. Harry knew which professions the aristocrat had learned, but nothing more. Mentally he promised himself to find out more about these two. Maybe Hermione would even help him with his research.
"So Grindelwald's great-great grandfather was better than Slytherin himself?" he asked. Severus snorted: "Of course not. There was never and most likely will never be any better brewer than Salazar, with the exception of Merlin, that is. But Slytherin never took the title, he wanted to encourage young brewers and not scare them away."
"Oh, I see, but that means that you are still very good;" Harry smiled.
"I think your father would someday be able to pass Slytherin, but he is not able to read most of his books, like everybody else aside from you and the Dark Lord," Lucius mused.
"So they are in Paseltongue? But I could translate them for you, if you have them that is," Harry offered.
"I have a few of them and we would certainly find some more in Lucius' library," Severus said.
"To be honest, I am not sure. There are too many books in my library to remember those I cannot read." Harry snorted and looked at his mate: "You have to give me a tour through your home sometime soon; it is after all the place where I will live in the future."
"I definitively will, the house elves are already becoming unsettled," Lucius promised.
Harry frowned; he didn't see the connection between his visit and his dominant mate’s house elves.
"In a traditional marriage it is the duty of the Lady to control the house elves. When two males are married it is the submissive partner who has to care for them, as it is assumed that he will take on the role as the house wife," Severus explained.
"Oh..." Harry said; he hadn't known that. "Does that mean I have the say in everything house hold related?" he asked.
"Yes," Lucius confirmed.
"Maybe we should go to a bookstore later and buy you some books about the topic," Severus suggested.
Harry nodded; he really had no idea how to manage a classical wizarding home and he would not want to disappoint his mate as soon as they started to live together. It was still four years until then and Harry was sure that he would manage to learn everything he needed to know about a wizarding marriage.
"Then I would suggest we go to a proper second hand book shop. The modern books about Pureblood marriages are not as thorough as they should be," Lucius commented.
The assistant came back then with a stack of robes in his arms. He laid them down on a second couch and gave one ensemble to Severus, who disappeared into one of the stalls before Harry had a chance to look at the new robes.
Harry huffed silently and looked over at Lucius, who eyed his own robe with distaste.
"You know, Dumbledore never makes that an expression and maybe you should try and make your eyes appear more twinkling," Harry grinned and received a filthy glare.
Luckily Severus came out of the changing cubicle and stepped in front of them.
Harry’s first thought was that this robes billowed even more and would surely impress and frighten the Hogwarts students more than the old ones:
The tight black trouser and the nearly knee long and high-necked, black jacket looked nearly identical to his old robes, only this jacket had elegant, silver buttons, but the cloak he wore over it all looked entirely different. It was made from a thin fabric and as he had already noticed, billowing even more than before, but that was not the part which separated the cloak from its precursor, but the fact that it had two layers. The lower layer was silver, whilst only the upper one was black like before. Furthermore, the silver layer was slightly longer so that it seemed as if the cloak had a silver hemline. When Severus turned around he saw that the black sleeves also had some silver embroidery at their hems.
And then the smell hit Harry. Severus had already told him that it was most likely due to his old robes having absorbed the scent of the potions he always brew, that Harry was not able to smell their relation, but now he could. He took a deep breath and his mind swirled with the new information this one action gave him. He really could smell it; he and Severus were more alike than he ever could have imagined, even after his mother's ritual, he and Severus smelled nearly exactly the same, like honey and sun, the only difference was that Severus’ scent had a more harsh edge to it, whilst he smelled a little softer and sweeter. It reminded him of a glass with golden, sweet honey and one with a brown, tart one.
Next to him, Lucius, who had by now stood up seemed shocked as well, so did Severus, apparently the fumes had influenced the man’s nose enough to not make him realize how alike they really were.
Harry swayed in shock and Severus quickly grabbed his arms to hold him steady. He grabbed the man’s arms as well, so that father and son were suddenly holding on to each other and whispered: "Dad."
Harry looked into his father’s dark eyes, who nodded in affirmation, returning his intense gaze.
"Harry," Severus breathed and a single tear rolled over the man’s cheek. Harry answered him with a shaky smile, before he flung himself into Severus’ arms, inhaling deeply for the second time. He really had a father. Not someone who was ready to accept him as his son, but a real father, someone he was related to, by blood and love. Tears started to spill as his heart could finally realize what his mind had known since the night in Dumbledore’s office, but only now he could feel the truth behind the words on his birth certificate.
Severus tightened his arms around his fragile body and rubbed his back soothingly, but the fatherly gesture, filled with so much love, only made him cry even harder as his mind and heart was overwhelmed by all the emotions: The happiness of finally having a family, not only a mate and a godfather, but a real parent; sadness, for they had lost his first twelve years; then happiness again, because now they could be there for each other for all eternity, followed by sadness again, for his mother could not witness their reunion, but the happiness was slowly overpowering any lingering sorrow as the rubbing continued. Not once had someone comforted him with such a simple, but loving gesture before. He had seen fathers console their children like this before, but he had never even dared to dream about experiencing it himself.
"Daddy!" He sobbed, sorrow and gratitude mixing in his voice.
"Hush, Harry, it is all good now. We have each other now," Severus whispered, but Harry couldn't stop. He pressed his face deeper into the folds of his father’s robes and clung to the man he had hated for so long.
They stood there for over ten minutes, until the last tear fell down his cheek and he looked up with swollen eyes and a smile on his lips taking in his father’s appearance once more.
"Dad. You look great! Really impressive!" He suddenly shouted, breaking the emotional moment. His father really was not as bad on the eye as he had always thought. The new robes underlined the muscled chest he had so far hidden under too many layers of thick, black fabric and his change into a vampire seemed to have corrected his hooked nose that had always looked as if someone had broken it twice. Now the nose was straight and fit perfectly with his piercing eyes and the high cheekbones, whilst his long, black hair added some additional shadows to his cheeks.
"Indeed," Lucius chuckled, for once sounding like the man he was supposed to be.
With Harry still in his arms, Severus turned around to the assistant: "I will take ten pairs of robes, please wrap them all up for me, my old ones can be thrown away, I will keep this pair on."
"Very well, Sir," the wizard said with a bow and hurried over to the counter.
His father once more looked down at him and Harry's heart skipped in joy as he saw the same happiness he felt mirrored there. For a moment they simply stood there, softly smiling at each other, before they followed at a more leisurely pace and only reached the counter when everything was packed and ready, Lucius following close behind.
Harry stood still next to Severus, one hand holding onto his father’s robes, very much feeling like a small child, but a very happy small child when his father paid.
"That makes the total of 648 Galleons and 3 Sickles," the assistant announced and his father pulled a heavy leather pouch from his pocket.
"650," Severus told the man and the brown haired wizard gave him his change.
"Shall I shrink your purchase or send it to your house, Sir?"
"I will take everything with me," his father answered and with a flick of the wizard’s wand the packages had shrunk.
"It was an honour to meet you Professor. Please visit us again," The man said when they turned around in order to leave.
"Wow, you really are famous," Harry commented as they were in front of the shop again.
"Indeed, not only Quidditch players are famous," his father huffed and glared mockingly down at him.
Flushing, Harry pulled his head between his shoulders, before looking for Lucius.
"There is a good book shop nearby," his mate announced and rounded the corner to Knockturn Alley.
"Do you think it is a good idea to go into Knockturn Alley as Dumbledore?" Harry asked, following his mate uncertainly.
"The owner of the book store will not ask any questions as long as we pay well and none of the lowly dark wizards and witches who visit this street mostly would ever dare to attack the man," Lucius answered.
"Okay, if you are sure," Harry mumbled and quickened his pace to catch up with his mate. Instinctively he stepped closer to his disguised mate, as he noticed the evil glares which followed them. Harry tried to avoid looking at the mostly shabby, evil and often slightly insane looking witches and wizards, but the scenery was no better to look at either. He saw all kinds of animal parts, magical and non-magical, hanging in front of apothecaries, jars filled with blood and even a basket that suspiciously looked as if it contained human eyes.
His father stepped next to him so that he was shielded from most of the gazes and he carefully slipped one hand into Severus' larger one. Severus squeezed it reassuringly and they silently went on for another five minutes until Lucius stopped in front of a black door with a silver door handle.
The store they entered was small, dark and had rows upon rows of bookshelves lining the walls; the only other item of furniture was a small desk with thin legs that functioned as a counter. Harry saw a small and very haggard man sitting behind the desk, who eyed them with narrowed eyes.
"Can we hurry a bit?" Harry whispered.
Lucius nodded and pulled his wand from his pocket. "Are there any other kinds of books you want to have besides those about classical wizarding marriages?"
"Are there books about werewolves?" Harry asked quietly.
Severus frowned down at him: "Don't tell me that you have already forgotten everything that I have taught you and your fellow students about werewolves."
"I want books about their social structure," Harry explained hastily.
His mate nodded and swung his wand with a wordless summoning charm. Books from nearly every shelf flew over to them and piled in three neat piles in front of them. They all grabbed one book and started to sort through the pile.
Harry really didn't know how he should know which one would be useful and which not. The tombs were mostly very old, bound in thick leather and without any description on their backside. In the end he just browsed through the pages and read the titles of the chapters he came across.
"I think I have found a good book about werewolves," his father mumbled and gave the tomb over to Harry. Harry took the book which was as big and heavy as an atlas and opened it to the foreword. The author apparently had been a werewolf himself and wanted to show the wizarding population that there was more to his kind than the blood thirsty monster. He pointed out, that werewolves, like normal wolves and dogs were very faithful, loving family creatures and that many of his kind tried their best to lock themselves up during the full moon in order to not harm anybody.
"I think you are right," Harry said and smiled up at his dad.
"I have found one as well. It is part of a series and deals with the rights and duties of a housewife within an traditional marriage," Lucius said.
"The second book is over here," Severus said and pulled a green book from one of the piles. After taking a look he explained: "You should take this one as well, it describes the rights and options a wife has if she does not desire to stay at home only."
"You mean what rights I have, if I wish to work after school?" Harry asked.
"Yes," his father answered.
"But...my mate said that I am allowed to take on a job," Harry frowned, purposefully not calling Lucius by his name.
"I have, but it is always good to know what the law says about a matter," Lucius said and took the book from Severus, before going over to the counter. Harry followed him and placed the tomb about werewolves on the desk next to the others. He was a bit irritated when the man behind the counter remained silent, but Lucius didn't seem to find it odd.
"I want to buy these three books and I would appreciate it, if you forget that you have seen us in your store," His mate said.
The wizard nodded, eyed the books and then said: "350 Galleons: 100 Galleons for each book and 50 Galleons for my silence."
Lucius nodded and pulled a chequebook out. When he had paid he shrunk the books and they left the gloomy store without another word.
Harry was glad when they were finally back in Diagon Alley. Sighing in relief he asked: "Where do we go now?"
His father lifted one eyebrow and said: "I would propose that we go to Eeylops next and buy a perch for Justitius. Really Lucius, where did you get this Gryffindorish pet from?"
"The egg was a present given to my grandfather and seeing that it would never hatch for me, I gave it to Harry," Lucius explained in a drawling voice, that didn't fit Dumbledore at all. It was really irritating to see the old wizard behaving like a stuck up Malfoy.
Justitius snuggled against Harry’s cheek as if he wanted to affirm that he would never have hatched for Lucius, before turning his little head to Severus and sniffing indignantly.
"I think the creature doesn't like Slytherins at all," Severus mused and glared at the bat, who glared back.
"Hey, he has a name!" Harry defended Justitius.
Lucius only ignored him and replied: "At least he only looks at you with scepticism, whilst he is constantly glaring at me."
"Maybe he accepts me as Harry’s father, but is jealous of you?" his father suggested.
"Possessive little..."
"Hey! If you insult Justitius I won't speak to you for an entire day and I won't kiss you either!" Harry interrupted his very jealous mate. Lucius eyed him, as if daring him to go through with his threat, but didn't finish his sentence.
They had reached the owl shop and stepped inside. The owner instantly brightened at the sight of Dumbledore.
"Good morning, Professor!" He greeted Lucius warmly, who turned and tried his best to look cheerfully and all over Gryffindorish. Harry didn't think that he succeeded very well, but luckily the shopkeeper noticed nothing off, instead asking:
"How is Fawkes doing? Shouldn't his burning day come up soon?"
"Yes, it is approaching, but I never was very good at guessing the exact day that it will finally happen," Lucius answered with a tortured look in his now bright blue eyes.
"Well, that is always hard to tell and it never gets any easier. I personally think that the birds can influence it at up to a point."
"Ah, I can definitely agree with you. But we are actually here for a specific reason," Lucius cut the happily chatting man off.
"Of course, Professor, how can I help you?" he asked.
Severus gently pushed him in front of the counter and said: "I want to buy a perch for my son's pet - It shall be made with gold and the engraving: Infans Expositus Phoenicis Justitius."
The shopkeepers eyes widened he looked up at the infamous Potions Master at the word son, before his eyes started to search for a sign of Harry’s pet.
Harry pointed at Justitius, who puffed his small chest out again and looked proudly back at the round man.
"How interesting, a bat," the man said and pulled a parchment from under the counter to write the engraving down. "The perch will be ready in about an hour. Do you wish to come back and collect it or shall I send it to your home?"
"We will come back," Severus answered and gave a curt nod, whilst Lucius tried to smile like Dumbledore always did.
"Where do we go now?" Harry asked.
"I would propose to take a short break at a cafe. I do not feel like eating anything either, but we can sit down there and talk for a while. You still have a ton to tell us from your second year and I want to ask Lucius something myself," Severus said.
"I think I can deal with a cappuccino, at least a drink does not lay so heavily in my stomach like a full meal does," Lucius agreed.
"Okay, then I will drink a coke," Harry said and they went to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
Harry had talked the two men into going there, because he liked the ambience and Florean as well.
They ordered a coke, a cappuccino and a black coffee, before Lucius and Severus eyes expectantly fixed on Harry.
Harry fidgeted nervously: "It really is not a very interesting story."
"Oh, but I am interested in all of your stories," Lucius purred and Harry made a face.
"Fine, I will tell you, but only if you stop making such sounds with Dumbledore’s voice, it is disturbing," he quickly said.
"I agree," his father said, looking fairly green; Lucius was by now looking faintly ill himself and nodded in agreement.
"Your second year was the year where Voldemort's memory sent the Basilisk after Muggleborns," Lucius started.
"So, what made you and your friends think that you had to steal potions ingredients from my private storage and brew a Polyjuice Potion?" Severus added.
Harry flushed in embarrassment and started to fidget in his chair: "You remember the message on the wall, saying: Enemies of the Heir...beware?...well we thought that it had to be Malfoy... I mean Draco...and even if it wasn't him, that he would probably know who it was,"
Lucius nearly choked on his cappuccino and snorted: "How did you come to this conclusion? I knew that you and your friends had many stupid ideas, but...this..." he didn't finish his sentence, clearly not finding the right words.
"He did always brag about being the Prince of Slytherin," Harry huffed in defence.
"I am slowly coming to see why you and my son never got along," Lucius sighed.
"It was Hermione who stole the ingredients, whilst Ron and I saw to some trouble in your class," Harry grinned sheepishly.
His father narrowed his eyes at him: "The exploding cauldron!"
"Yeah..." Harry laughed feeling a bit intimidated for once.
"Hermione brewed the potion in Moaning Myrtles bathroom and Ron and I drank it and sneaked down as Crabbe and Goyle," Harry continued, remembering their adventure.
"Why did Miss Granger not go with you?" Lucius asked with a lifted eyebrow.
"She wanted to, but she accidently threw a cat hair in her potion," at his words his father grinned evilly:
"I believe I can remember this particular incident, what a delightful day it had been."
Harry glared at the man: "You know that you are talking about the friends of your son?"
"I do," Severus replied dryly.
"No bad feelings whatsoever?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"No, I am not talking bad about you, merely about your friends, as you already noticed correctly."
Harry huffed but went on: "In the end we only found out that the chamber had been opened once before and that they kicked out a student back then."
"I could have told you that much as well," Lucius drawled.
"Yeah, but would you have done it?" Harry snorted.
"No," his mate replied.
"You see, " Harry sighed and quickly changed the topic, turning to his father: "You said earlier that you wanted to talk about something?"
"Yes, I did," Severus said and watched Lucius for a moment, before he told his friend: "I already talked with Harry about the matter, but as it will most likely effect you as also I wanted to ask you as well."
Lucius raised an eyebrow in scepticism, but said nothing for the moment; waiting for the Potions Master to continue. Harry, who had by now guessed what his father wanted to talk about, started to chew on his bottom lip, uncertain about how his mate might react to another man drinking from him as well.
"I noticed after my turning into an vampire, that I am not able to live from the blood of other wizards and witches," Severus continued.
"What do you want to tell me? I know that you cannot really die, so that cannot be it," Lucius mused.
Harry watched as his father laid his left arm on the round table between them, exposing his faded mark: "I had a soul mate once; Lily would have become my blood mate, if she was still alive."
Harry saw the moment when realization dawned on his mate: "Be glad that you are Harry's father and we all can smell that very clearly, otherwise you would have no chance that I would agree to this, but as it is, you are no threat to me and I want to keep Harry happy and you alive."
His father nodded in understanding and Lucius sighed: "Am I right in assuming that you have asked me because Harry’s need for blood will increase?"
"You are," Severus said.
"You should know that I could never take you away from Harry, not after all those years where he had to endure everything alone," Lucius said and fixed the dark man with a stern look.
Severus inclined his head slightly and then changed the topic: "Harry, Dumbledore gave me your rather formidable family tree, would you like to visit your new vault before we collect Justitius’ perch?"
"Sure," Harry smiled, suddenly curious as to what the vault of the four Hogwarts founders would look like.
"A new vault? How can it be that I was not informed?" Lucius asked.
"Because, you will have no claim to this one," Severus smirked and Harry had the suspicion that his father was secretly enjoying telling Lucius what great heritage he had currently received. Especially because the aristocrat would never have any right to the vault.
"That cannot be possible. Harry must have received an inheritance, where it was written into the testament that a spouse or mate has no claim over it and neither the Potters, nor the Evans did anything like this."
"You cannot believe how much I am going to enjoy telling you something that you could never even begin to guess," Severus chuckled and Harry had to chuckle as well.
"So, who is it from?" Lucius asked, getting irritated and impatient.
"The Founders," his father said and Lucius blinked dumbly. Harry had never seen a expression remotely like this on the blonde’s, or just now, Dumbledore's face.
"Which Founders?" his mate asked.
"The Four Founders of Hogwarts!" Harry grinned.
Severus huffed: "I wanted to tell him that."
Lucius eyes had widened comically: "You are the heir to Hogwarts? To all four Founders?"
"Yep. Dad has Ravenclaw and Slytherin ancestors and mum Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Now I own the castle, the Sorting Hat, the Elder Wand, a Hogwarts Signet Ring and the Key to the Founders Quarters," his father was right, it was fun to surprise Lucius.
Lucius huffed: "And my family has always been proud to be descendant of Slytherin."
"Well, see it like this, a powerful submissive can be an ornament as well," Severus smiled smugly.
"You really have created a special brat, you know that, Severus?" Lucius asked.
"I know," Severus replied and smiled warmly at Harry. Blushing, Harry quickly picked up his coke and downed the rest of it.
"If you collect the Potter family ring, the goblins will be able to unite your two rings into one. It is quite a common procedure when the line of a family is continued by a man who has already accepted another family inheritance," Lucius told him.
"That is a good idea; you really should do it," Severus nodded.
"Ok, if you two say so," Harry agreed.
"Shall we go then?" Lucius asked and waved to the waitress, without waiting for an answer.
"We should collect some gold from your vault as well, I think I have the potion to free Harry and Nagini from their burden ready before Hogwarts starts again," Severus announced.
"We will do that then," Lucius agreed fluidly.
°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°
HP
After they had left the Ice Cream Parlour, they went over to Gringotts, lining up behind the counter. The row was fairly long and they had to wait for almost fifteen minutes before they could step in front of a Goblin.
"What can I do for you, Sirs?" the little creature asked, eying them sceptically.
"Harry wants to visit his newly inherited vault," Lucius said.
"Yes, we got your letter just this morning," the Goblin said to Dumbledore and then asked: "Does he have the ring with him?"
Lucius and Severus looked at him expectantly, so he quickly said: "I have," and pulled the ring from his pocket.
"And if it is possible, he also would like to retrieve the Potter ring and unite his two heritage rings," Lucius added.
"Very well sir, it will only take a moment," The goblin said and disappeared with the ring.
"I am really curious as to what the ring will look like," Harry mused.
"Probably gold," his father said dryly.
"Gold?" Harry asked.
"The Potter family ring is gold as well," Lucius explained and chuckled.
"Hmm... I think that sounds fitting, gold is after all one of the Gryffindor colours," Harry grinned.
"It is," Lucius wrinkled his nose.
"Hey, gold is not such a bad colour," Harry huffed and elbowed his mate, who only raised an eyebrow and replied: "But red is."
"Stop teasing me because of my house or I will paint every room in your precious Manor red. I am sure as the Lady of the Manor I have all rights to do that," Harry threatened.
His father snickered: "Now he has you, Lucius."
Grinning, Harry asked: "So I really could do that?"
"Yes and without even asking," Severus smirked.
"I am starting to like this whole rights and duty thing," Harry said, just before the Goblin returned to their counter.
"This is your new ring," the creature said and placed the item in front of them.
Harry picked the ring up and eyed it attentively. It really was still gold and the Hogwarts symbol was still engraved into it, but it had been joined by the Potter crest on the ring’s band.
"Thank you, it looks great," he smiled and gave the ring back to the Goblin, who said:
"Then follow me."
They followed him to the far end of Gringotts where the door to the underground vaults and the Malfoy vault was located, but instead of leading them through either of the two doors the goblin said: "Would you give me the ring please?"
Harry handed him the jewellery and the goblin started to count eleven stones to the left of the silver Malfoy door and then pressed the ring to the stone. The stones blurred for a moment and then melted into a golden door with the Hogwarts crest on it.
"The door will lock and ward itself again when you leave," the creature explained and gave Harry the ring back, before leaving them alone.
"Then go ahead," Severus said softly and Harry pressed down the door handle, opening the door carefully. Torches lit up as soon as they stepped inside. The air was cold and smelled dusty, as if no one had been here for hundreds of years, which had been the case. Besides that little difference and the fact that every massive door was made of gold and not silver, this vault looked very similar to Lucius'.
"What do you think, how many doors are there?" Harry asked curiously.
"I have no idea, but we can take a look," Lucius answered and started to make his way down the corridor.
Harry meanwhile decided to take a look inside the first vault to his left. It was full of golden and silver coins he had never seen before.
"How should I pay with these?" he asked, turning to Severus, who followed him curiously at his words.
"I would propose to not by anything with them and rather keep them; they are most likely very old and valuable. Take some with you so that we can try to determine their age."
They went to the next vault and found a similar picture. They had to look into thirteen vaults, before they finally found the first Galleons, even though they looked still slightly thicker than the current ones. He had collected a sample of ever new coin so that Severus and Lucius could examine them later.
"49 vaults," Lucius answered, stepping up behind Harry. "What did you two find?"
As an answer Harry put his hand into his money pouch and pulled out a handful of the strange coins. Lucius blinked in surprise.
"Do you recognise any of them?" Harry asked.
His mate took a closer look and then said: "I believe this one is around four hundred years old, but I have forgotten the name of the currency. I must admit, I was never really interested in money from the past."
"Well, Harry has thirteen vaults full of those and I believe he could make a lot of money by selling only one of each," Severus snorted.
"Indeed, and it would bring him great standing within the wizarding society if he approaches a museum with his proposal," Lucius mused.
"49 Vaults? That’s really not as much as you own, but I already knew that," Harry, who didn't find the topic very interesting, commented.
"I believe that the founders were the richest wizards and witches of their time, but there has been no one to invest in their names for a long time, so it is only natural that another old Pureblood family has surpassed them," Lucius said.
"The value in your inheritance doesn't lie in the money it gives you, but the regard and power the title gives you," his father said and laid an arm around his shoulders, drawing him closer. Harry snuggled happily into his side and said:
"All that doesn't really matter to me. I never wanted fame and it doesn't make me any happier. What makes me happy is this," he gestured between Lucius, Severus and him.
"I know, Harry," Severus smiled.
"A true Gryffindor," Lucius muttered. "Harry was right. How you succeeded in making such a real Gryffindor child is and always will be a mystery to me."
"You already mentioned this. Are you getting old and forgetful my friend?" Severus raised an amused eyebrow. Lucius glared back at him.
"I think it makes things more interesting. Why would you need another boring Slytherin?" Harry teased and Severus poked him harshly in his side as punishment.
"Ouch," he complained.
"Don't get cocky," His father smirked.
They left Gringotts and went back to Eeylops to collect the perch. The shopkeeper was already waiting for them and stood expectantly behind his counter, a huge grin on his face.
"I did my very best for your son's perch," he said a bit breathlessly and went into the backroom to get the item.
Harry gasped in awe as he saw the beautiful perch. It looked like an elegant and slightly fragile tree, made purely from gold and with delicate golden leaves on the many and beautiful sculptured branches. It stood in a black basin, where the ashes would land when Justitius had his burning day and at the highest point of the trunk, just before it divided into its many branches was the engraving they had ordered in a beautiful script.
"That's beautiful," Harry whispered. "Hey, Justitius, do you like it?"
The small bat, who had fallen asleep on Harry’s shoulder after all the excitement of going out for the first time in his short life, opened his eyes and started to scuttle curiously back and forth on Harry’s shoulder.
Harry chuckled: "Do you want to fly over and take a closer look?"
Immediately the bat took off and fluttered excitedly around the perch, looking at every branch and leaf, before hanging himself on one of the smaller branches.
"I think he likes it," Harry smiled at his father.
"How much is it?" Severus asked the shopkeeper who answered:
"1035 Galleons and 1 Knut."
Severus raised his eyebrow at the strange sum: "Harry, do you have a Knut? I only have Galleons and Sickles with me and I know that I do not need to ask Lucius, he never takes anything other than Galleons or a new chequebook from Gringotts."
Harry rummaged in his red velvet pouch and took out a Knut.
"Thank you, Harry," Severus said and gave the man his money, muttering: "Now I already have to borrow money from my own son."
"That is why I always tell you to get a chequebook. You always get these strange amounts when you commission something unique or specific," Lucius lectured him.
Severus glared at him but said: "Harry, call Justitius back, or he will get lost on our way home."
"Wait a moment, I want to see if there is something specific like bat treats for him," Harry said and went deeper into the store, Justitius following him curiously.
"Is there anything that smells delicious to you?" He asked his little friend, who started to sniff rather loudly for such a little animal, before flying off.
Harry followed him quickly and found Justitius hovering in front of a small shelf with colourful boxes.
"Which one do you want?" He asked, looking expectantly at the small guy. Justitius started to flutter in front of a yellow and a red box and Harry picked both of them up. The yellow box was labelled Honey Drops and the red Candied Fruits. Justitius was obviously a sweet fellow.
"Choose one," Harry told the bat, who only turned to him with pleading puppy-eyes.
Sighing Harry took both of the boxes and carried them over to the counter. "I guess it is your birthday after all," he said. When he had pocketed everything, he caught Justitius with his seeker trained and vampire enhanced reflexes and put him down on the shoulder: "Stay there, we are leaving now."
Severus shrunk the perch and pocketed it as well, before asking: "Are you ready to leave?"
Nodding, he followed his father and mate out of the shop. They were just three houses away from the Leaky Cauldron, when Harry looked up at his disguised mate and noticed that the long white hair was shortening.
"Lucius, you are reverting back," he whispered and Severus turned worriedly to the man.
"Quick, Dumbledore has connected Privet Drive to the warded Floo System, but we need to get you into the Leaky Cauldron before you change back," Severus said and quickened his pace. They nearly ran the last few meters to the pub and made their way over to the huge fireplace as quickly as possible. Luckily the fireplace was empty right now and Severus nearly shoved Lucius into the hearth, whose beard was shortening as well, whist his eyes grew lighter and gained a faint red tint at the edges.
Lucius quickly threw a hand full of Floo Powder into the flames, which he had taken from one of his many robe pockets and hurried into the flames, shouting: "Privet Drive number four!"
°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°°ºooº°
HP
Harry followed him quickly and nearly collided with his mate at the other side of the network. Luckily Lucius looked like his old self again and was just transforming the bright robes into something that suited him more when the fireplace flared up again and Severus stepped into the living room.
"4 hours and 43 min..." Severus started to say, but was interrupted by a loud shout:
"Boy!"
Harry flinched as the familiar voice rang in his sensitive ears and he expected a hand to collide with his face, when he remembered that his uncle was dead. Looking up, he saw to his horror, three silvery figures hovering in the doorway to the living room.
"Please Merlin!" Severus sighed behind him, whilst Lucius only blinked and stared in a mixture of surprise, shock and disgust at Harry’s ghostly relatives.
"Why are they ghosts? I always thought that Muggles cannot come back," Harry asked silently.
"I do not know the answer to that particular question," his father whispered, only to be interrupted once more:
"How dare you to bring your freakish kind into our house?" Vernon bellowed.
"It seems that you are not aware of the circumstances," Lucius sneered "...but this is now your nephew’s house."
"We would never give that freak our house" Petunia shrieked.
"Petunia, what a pleasure, after all these years," Severus drawled coldly.
Harry watched with interest at how his aunt’s eyes settled on his father and widened in acknowledgment: "You are that disgusting boy!"
"You know her?" Harry asked with interest, although it seemed logical that his father would know his mother’s sister as well.
"Of course I do," both of them answered.
Petunia huffed and when her husband gave her a questioning look she sneered: "Lily had this disgusting boy as a friend. He always followed her like a love sick puppy and tried to hide in our house; I believe his father was an alcoholic. He wore nothing other than black and his hair was always greasy, really disgusting. He also infected her with his freakishness and two years or so after they met, they went to that place together."
"What does she mean with that place?" Lucius asked curiously.
"Hogwarts," Harry replied dryly.
"Don't say those kinds of words inside our house!" Vernon bellowed.
Harry smirked evilly: "What kind of words? Do you mean words like magic, wand, wizard or Quidditch?"
"Dad, Harry said magic," Dudley whined next to his fat father.
By now Lucius was looking as if he had landed in a very bad comedy series. "You should not talk down on magic muggle, or I will show you why wizards are the superior species," the vampire threatened. Harry sighed inwardly; hopefully his mate would soon notice that his family’s prejudices where just as deeply embedded in their character as his own dislike for anything non-magical.
"Enough! Get out of my house, before you lot infect my Dudley as well!" Vernon shouted.
"I never thought it possible, that you could be even more stupid than you look muggle," Lucius sneered. "Were my words not simple enough? This house does not belong to you and your ugly excuse of a wife any longer."
"Why would we give that freak our house?" Vernon mocked back.
"You did not give him your house, you died and he was the only heir left," Lucius explained in a strained voice.
"Whatever hocus pocus he did with us… we did not die! And you boy," Vernon turned his blubbery face to him again "...will take whatever spell you used off from us. Now!"
"I didn't curse you. Why should I? You were not worth a lifelong stay in Azkaban. Voldemort killed you; I had nothing to do with it!" Harry defended himself.
"Of course you did! Everything always has to do with you! Since you were dumped on our door step..."
"Oh enough!" Severus roared. "Don't blame my son for your pitiful lives!"
"Your son? No wonder he was even more freakish than we had expected! I should have known that Lily would have landed in a bed with you one day!" Petunia shrieked.
Harry could not even feel hurt anymore by his relatives spiteful words, he had listen to them long enough and Lucius and Severus were slowly teaching him that he was worthy after all and that he deserved being loved.
Lucius, who had finally enough of Harry’s stupid relatives drew his wand and shot some green and silver sparks right through the three ghosts, shocking them into silence.
"I will give you two options: First, you will cease this unbearable shouting and these unfounded accusations and I will let you live your dead lives in peace, or Severus and I will set up a ghost-circle and ban you three into the tiniest object I can find. What shall it be?" Lucius hissed.
The Dursley’s fell silent, turned and floated up the stairs.
Harry followed their retreating forms with amusement; he had always wished that someone would tell them off. "They do know that they could just float through the ceiling?" He asked, shaking his head in irritation.
"Probably not," Lucius replied and pocketed his wand again.
"Let's get your car and then leave this hellish place," Severus grumbled and held his hand out for the key.
"I will try and copy the parchment of the ritual as soon as I am called to Riddle Manor. Their appearance has to be related to it in some way," Lucius said whilst Harry gave his father the key to Vernon's Mercedes.
"I want to sit in the front and watch dad drive!" Harry announced and made his way to the front door. The Mercedes was parked in the garage and Lucius quickly opened the door before Harry could start to search for the right key on his key ring. When he opened the door on the passenger's side, Lucius flicked his wand again and the seat enlarged to fit two people. Harry quickly got into the car, whilst the two older men followed him at a more leisurely pace. When Lucius had settled down next to him, he snuggled into his mate’s embrace, who instantly started to comb through his hair and waited expectantly for Severus to get into the car as well. His father had some trouble to find a comfortable sitting position with his new, billowing and double layered robe.
The man really looked odd behind a wheel, Harry thought, as his father had finally managed to sit down. As soon as the car started a horrible country song started to play from the small radio. Shuddering, Harry quickly turned the device off and Severus maneuvered the vehicle out of the garage. With a third flick of Lucius’ wand the door was closed again and they made their way down Privet Drive.
His dad really was a good driver, as if he drove to work every morning, which was, of course, not the case, but Harry had the feeling that the Potions Master was one of those people who never forgot anything.
"How long does it take to get back to Grimmauld Place?" he asked curiously and looked out of the window.
"About an hour and a half, if we don't get stuck in a traffic jam," Severus answered.
Harry took Justitius from his shoulder and put the bat down in his lap, before he started to stroke the little boy.
"Maybe we could drive a little slower and miss dinner? Molly told me that she had planned a roast and as much as I loved her roast, I am sure my stomach can't handle it anymore," Harry mused.
"I will try my best," Severus replied.
"Do you still plan to talk to Harry’s guardians later?" Lucius asked.
Harry laid his head against his mate’s shoulder, before answering: "I guess."
"We will talk to them," Severus affirmed.
"How will you tell them?" Lucius asked, sounding uninterested, but Harry knew that he would like to be there as well.
"Is there any good way to break something like this?" he asked.
Lucius didn't answer.
"I will tell them that I have applied for Harry’s custody. Would it be possible for you, to forge the custody papers?" Severus asked.
"I can give you the custody over Harry and rank them highly sensitive. That way only the ministry official who drew up the document will have access to it and neither you, nor I could be arrested for forgery of official documents later on," Lucius suggested.
"But I thought that I am already of age," Harry huffed.
"You are," Lucius agreed. "But no one can know about it just yet, or you would draw too much attention to yourself from Voldemort and the ministry. We don't need either of these options."
"I know, but why the whole thing with the custody then?"
"Because, I want to show your godfather, Lupin and everybody else that matters to you, that I am serious about taking care of you. It will also be very beneficial. I already know that you are of age and will treat you as such and protect your freedom in front of everybody who thinks that he or she has a say in your life. Just imagine Miss Weasley or Sirius getting suspicious about your secret mate. They might try and keep you away from Lucius, but with me as your approved guardian something like that will not happen and later on, when you announce your relationship to Lucius, some people, maybe even the minister himself, might try to refuse you the right of independence due to your young age. They could argue, that you were too young when you were turned into a vampire, that you cannot yet understand what it means to be mated and thus, cannot honestly tell if it is fine for you to take part in an sexual relationship or not and that you therefore need to be protected from your bond to Lucius. Worst case scenario, the ministry could apply as your legal guardian, because with Sirius still on the run and your muggle relatives dead you are officially an orphan right now."
Harry gulped, if something like that would happen, he surely would not be allowed to see Lucius any longer. The Ministry would maybe even try to use him to gain power over his mate or separate them permanently.
"Ok...will I tell them or will you do it?" He asked after a moment of silence, turning his head to look at his father.
"I will. I should have been there to settle unpleasant things for you much earlier; we cannot change the past anymore, but I can help you to the best of my abilities from now on," Severus answered, his eyes fixed on the road in front of him.
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A Different Kind of Hero