Chapter Text
The Malfoy brothers woke the next morning to the soft sounds of their mother humming. Narcissa sat in the rocking chair in the middle of the boy’s room and watched her son’s sleep. Draco woke first and stared up at his mother with a confused expression. What was she doing? What time was it? How long had she been there?
A quick tempus showed him that it was only 6AM. He looked across the room to see his little brother soundly asleep snuggled up to his stuffed version of Padfoot. He allowed the wistful humming from his mother to wash over him as he watched Harrison, deep in dreamland.
Narcissa turned to look at him, and she whispered a melancholy, “Good morning, darling. I hope my humming didn’t wake you. I couldn’t sleep well last night, so I decided to come and watch over my precious boys. It seems like just yesterday I had a beautiful blonde baby in my arms.”
Draco chuckled and retorted playfully, “It WAS just yesterday that you had a beautiful blonde baby in your arms, Mother. Have you forgotten about Harrison’s inclinations for cuddling?”
Narcissa shushed him, “Oh, hush now, Draco. Don’t let him hear you teasing. He thinks highly of your opinion. You know what I meant. Harrison’s attention is nice, but he’s hardly mine anymore. He’s already got a mate. Before long, Severus will be whisking him away from me. Now, you are all grown too. What happened to my babies?”
Draco watched as Harrison sat up slowly in bed and spoke while rubbing the sleep from his eyes, “Nonsense, Momma. We’ll always be around. We’ll always need you.”
Draco gestured with his head that Harrison should go to her, and he understood what his brother meant. He grabbed the blanket from his bed and Pads, and he dragged them to the rocking chair where his Mom sat. He crawled into the chair with her. She fixed the blanket around the both of them, and snuggled down with her youngest. She smiled sweetly at him, and then she continued rocking and humming.
Draco watched on as Harrison fell back to sleep to the gentle rocking and soothing sounds of their mother’s dulcet tones. Sometimes, like now, he envied his brother’s carefree acceptance of situations like this. Draco would never allow anyone to hold him like that now. He was much too proud and grown….at least to be on the receiving end. He would gladly give Harrison whatever attention he wanted without worry of his reputation, though. It was his Veela instinct after all.
Lucius walked into the boy’s room approximately 45 minutes later. The sight that he found made his heart swell. Narcissa and Harrison were sound asleep in the rocking chair that was charmed to continue rocking, and Draco was singing quietly. He never realized that his son had such a lovely voice. Maybe it was part of his new inheritance? He summoned a camera and snapped a photo before anyone caught on to his presence.
At the flash of the bulb, Draco stilled and turned to face the interloper. He blushed a little at his father. Narcissa also awoke, but Harrison was still far away in dreamland. The family laughed a little at their youngest, and they were honored that he felt so safe with them that he slept so deeply. When he had first come to them, he awoke at the slightest sound.
Lucius instructed Draco to go and get ready for breakfast, and then he gently took Harrison, blanket and all from his wife’s lap. He beckoned his wife to do as he had just instructed his son, and then he sat in the rocking chair himself and held his son close. He knew that he should wake the boy, but he looked so peaceful and Lucius wanted a little reassurance as well after yesterday’s events. He too felt that his sons were growing up too fast.
At 7AM, Lucius decided that Harrison couldn’t sleep any longer. Breakfast started in 15 minutes, and he could not be late since he was a member of staff. He squeezed his son tightly to himself and shook the boy a little while saying, “Rise and shine, Love. Today is the first official event of the tournament, the weighing of the wands. It’s already 7, and you need to get ready still.”
Harrison let out a little groan, and yawned. He looked up at who was holding him and startled. He was pretty sure that he had fallen asleep on his mother. How did they switch without waking him? No matter, Harrison didn’t mind being held by anyone. He snuggled deeper into his dad and the covers, and said, “Good morning, Daddy. Can I skip breakfast today? I’m terribly tired, and you’re so warm.”
Lucius frowned at his son. Why was he so tired? He cast a wandless diagnostic charm, but he didn’t detect any problems. He gently stood with the boy in his arms, “I’m sorry, Harrison, but you must get up. You are already entirely too small. You might blow away if you miss even one meal. Then I would be very sad, and Severus would probably poison me as revenge for losing his mate. You don’t want that do you?”
Harrison giggled and squealed, “Noooo. I’ll get up and, and I’ll eat breakfast, Daddy.” Draco was just coming into the bedroom from the bathroom, and he rolled his eyes at his father’s ridiculous response and his brother’s equally ridiculous behavior. Sometimes he thought Harrison acted a little too childish, but he would never voice that opinion. He was just glad to see his little brother so happy.
Draco liked the changes that he had seen in his father since Harrison was adopted. The man was softer around the edges because of Harrison. His father would never have allowed Draco to act like Harrison did most of the time. The man was more lenient and loving. He was still strict, and he expected obedience from his children, but he wasn’t as quick to punish anymore.
He watched on as his brother and father played. His father had just tossed Harrison onto his bed, and now he was tickling him. Harrison was laughing and panting, “Daddddyyy! Stoooopp! I’m up! I’m up!”
That was another thing that Draco was a little jealous of. Harrison called his parents by more familiar terms than he did. He didn’t want to call them something as childish as Momma and Daddy, but he would like to call them Mom and Dad. He wondered how his father would react to than title.
Draco cast another tempus and called out, “Father, it’s 7:05. We need to leave in 5 minutes if we plan to make it to breakfast on time.”
Lucius pulled Harrison to his feet and sent him in the direction of the loo with a little tap to his bottom, “Go and brush your teeth quickly then come back.” He directed.
When Harrison returned, Lucius performed a freshening spell on him, and then he had Harrison dressed and ready for the day with a swish of his wrist. The man never muttered a word or held his wand, and Harrison looked at him in awe. Draco too was reminded how powerful his father was. Narcissa called them from the other room, and then the family was off to breakfast in the great hall.
When they arrived in the great hall, it was immediately silent. Nearly every head in the hall turned to stare at the family. Lucius noted that the mail had arrived early today. Many students and staff members were already reading their copy of the daily prophet. He wondered how bad the damage was today.
Whispers and shouts started soon after. “It’s true!” “Merlin’s beard! Look at him!” “They’re both gorgeous!” “Call me Mrs. Malfoy!” “Draco’s so dreamy.” “It’s unnatural.” “Harrison is adorable” “Look at them acting like they own the place.” “I just want to pinch his cheeks” “It’s clearly dark magic. They’re deatheaters.”
Harrison ducked his head as he blushed from head to toe. Draco held his head high and guided Harrison to their table as if he didn’t hear anyone’s catcalls or hate. Lucius gave the hall a scowl that threatened retribution if this behavior didn’t cease quickly, and the majority of the students were cowed.
The twins didn’t waste any time to find their regular seats on either side of the brothers. Draco searched the Ravenclaw table for the two 7th years who threated him and his brother yesterday. They were staring at him with a little fear in their eyes. He smirked knowingly at them and then narrowed his eyes threateningly. The two Ravenclaws quickly averted their gaze, and Draco grinned in victory.
His father’s eagle owl came through the hall and dropped off his copy of the Daily Prophet. He sighed and looked at the front cover. There were two pictures. The first picture was from their Defense class. It depicted Lucius holding Harrison close while the boy cried with his face buried in his father’s neck. The second picture was of Draco holding Harrison on his hip while they walked to their quarters last night. His brother was in the process of a full-on pout. The moving image showed him trying to give Severus puppy eyes, and then Severus saying something before Harrison crosses his arms over his chest and sulks. It really was adorable, but Harrison would be embarrassed by both of these pictures.
Draco heard a gasp from beside him. He looked down at his little brother and saw hurt-filled, betrayed eyes. Draco tried to wrap an arm around him, but Harrison shoved him as hard as he could. He actually managed to make Draco fall back over the bench and land on the ground. Draco was caught off guard by the sudden violence from his brother, and he stared up at him. Harrison quickly jumped up and yelled at his brother, “See, Dray! I asked to be set down, but you refused. Now everyone thinks I’m a big baby! This is all your fault!”
In his anger Draco semi-shouted back at him, “Grow up! That’s not why they think you’re a baby, Harrison. They think you’re a baby because you’re always acting like one.”
Draco regretted it as soon as he said it. He saw the hurt look on his little brother’s face and the tears that were already falling before Harrison turned and ran from the great hall. Fred and George helped him up from the floor and stopped him from going after him. “Let him go. He needs space.”
Lucius and Severus both got up from the staff table and walked near Draco to exit the great hall after Harrison. Severus flicked Draco’s ear roughly in passing, and Lucius growled out an, “I am so disappointed in you, Draco Lucius. I expect you in my study as soon as your classes are through.”
Draco gulped out a, “Yes, father” and then looked down at his plate, no longer hungry. He risked taking a glance at his mother, and she was giving him a sad expression. Deciding he couldn’t stand the stares anymore, he got up from his table and made his way to his first class silently.
Harrison ran from the Great Hall with his head down. He was trying to hide his tears. His vision was blurry, and he didn’t have a destination in mind. He considered Dumbledore, but the man had been avoiding him and he was still in the great hall. He considered Hagrid, but he didn’t think Hagrid liked him anymore. He figured their quarters would be the first place his family would search for him. He really didn’t want to be found right now. Maybe he could go see Hedwig? Not yet. That would be too obvious.
He thought some more. He hadn’t even been in the Slytherin common room since he switched houses. They wouldn’t think to look there. The only problem was that he didn’t know the password. The portrait guardian was Salazar Slytherin. Maybe he would respond to parseltongue. The chamber! He could go to the Chamber of Secrets. No one would ever find him. The only problem was that it was really scary down there, and his only memories of the place weren’t good.
Shaking himself of that notion, he reminded himself that he wasn’t a baby. He could do this! He ran to the deserted girl’s bathroom and hid in a stall long enough to summon his invisibility cloak and broom. He didn’t know how long he wanted to stay hidden, but he knew the cloak would come in handy. He might need the broom to get back out of the chamber. When his items came, he shrank them and placed them in his pocket. Then he walked up to the sink with the engraving of the basilisk and demanded it to open in parseltongue.
The sink slid away and opened the entrance to the chamber. A gust of freezing, damp air hit him in the face. He thought briefly that the chamber didn’t smell as bad as he thought it would with the rotting corpse of the basilisk down there.
He stared down into the pit. It was really dark, and he second-guessed whether he really wanted to go down there. He told himself once more that he was not a baby. He reasoned that he had done far scarier things than go down into a dark chamber before, but he was never alone when he faced any scary obstacles. He always had his friends with him.
A deep pang of hurt hit him at the thought of him, Ron, and Hermione and how close they used to be. He put on his game face and jumped down into the chamber. During the freefall he wished that he would have used his broom in stead. He was a Slytherin now. He really needed to think things through before jumping headlong into danger.
He hit the bottom and rolled to soften the impact. He pulled out his wand and cast Lumos to light the way. He decided to explore the chamber to see what else was down there. He explored for about three hours before he started getting a little tired and hungry. He decided to try going through the mouth that the basilisk had come out of. He entered into a sitting area, and the fire place immediately came to life. He figured that it must be charmed that way. He found a study filled with books and scrolls. He brought some of the material out into the sitting area to read by the fire.
As he was looking at the strange markings on the first scroll, he watched the markings become letters that he could read. He was amazed. He checked the other scrolls and books, and he found that many of them were the same. He picked one to read, and he settled himself down on the dusty rug in front of the fire. He felt like someone was watching him, but he knew he was the only one in the chamber.
He screamed and drew his wand when he heard someone chuckle. He cursed himself for coming down here alone, and he called out, “W-who’s there?”
He jumped when someone actually responded. “Hello little Veela. It’s been quite some time since someone has been down here.”
Harrison found the voice coming from the portrait above the fireplace. It was a portrait of Salazar Slytherin! Harrison looked up at him with an awed expression. He was speaking to a founder!
“Hello, Mr. Slytherin. It’s nice to meet you, sir.” He spoke politely.
The portrait smiled back at him. “You have me at a disadvantage, little one. You know who I am, but I do not know you.”
Harrison frowned at the nickname, “I’m not so little. I’m 14!”
The portrait chuckled and smiled brighter as he spoke, “14 is very young compared to someone like me, and you are the smallest 14 year old I have ever seen. You are the very definition of little. That doesn’t mean you aren’t brave or intelligent. Size doesn’t mean anything.”
Harrison scoffed and said, “Ha! Tell that to my brother. He thinks I’m a baby.”
The portrait responded, “He must not be used to submissive Veela. I can see that your aura is pure. You’ve suffered greatly, but not anymore. Does your brother harbor ill will towards you for what you are?”
Harrison hurriedly defended his brother, “No! Draco loves me! He didn’t used to. We used to be mortal enemies. But some things happened this year, and it’s all different now.”
Harrison rambled on and on telling Salazar’s portrait about what had happened and his adoption and new family.
Salazar smiled kindly at him, “I see. So you are a Malfoy now? That’s a mighty fine family with a big name to live up to. If I remember correctly, the Veela gene is very popular in that family line, right?”
Harrison answered, “Yes, sir. My name is Harrison Sirius Malfoy. Daddy and Draco are both alpha Veela. Momma is human, though. Hmm. So I guess Veela can have non-Veela soulmates?”
“Yes, little one. Many Veela have soulmates that are not Veela.” He answered.
Harrison thought for a second, and then he asked, “Mr. Slytherin, do you know a lot about mates?” At the portraits nod, he continued, “Do alpha’s have to be with a submissive mate? Can humans be alpha’s or submissives? I just got my inheritance, and it’s all very confusing.”
Salazar explained, “Call me Salazar, little one. Alpha creatures do not have to be with a submissive mate. You cannot predict love, child. It is said that everyone has one to whom their soul belongs out there. There are pairings of every kind. Only a fool would ignore his soulmate to find someone in a certain dynamic.”
Harrison nodded “Oh, ok. Thanks. I’m a little tired and hungry. I ran out of breakfast this morning because me and Draco got into a fight. I didn’t get to eat anything. Do you think you have any food that’s still good down here?”
The portrait looked concerned, “Your brother is an alpha, right? And he physically fought with you?”
“No!” The boy shouted, “We were just arguing. There was an article in the paper today about us, and I blamed him, and he called me a baby in front of everyone.” Harrison explained the entire article and the fiasco.
Salazar kindly said, “It was just an argument. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. You will forgive each other. You shouldn’t have run off by yourself. I’m sure they are all searching for you, and you are missing your classes. I cannot condone such poor behavior. I cannot physically kick you out, but I think you should go and face the consequences of your actions. You will feel better once you do.”
Harrison pouted a little, “I know, but I’m not ready. I have to be in the great hall by 8PM tonight for the wand weighing ceremony, so I think I will just hang out down here until then.”
Salazar looked intrigued, “Why is there such a ceremony tonight?”
Harrison pouted further, “Hogwarts is hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament this year, and somehow my name was pulled from the Goblet of Fire. Now I’m forced to compete. I’m not even old enough!”
Salazar looked perplexed. This small child was a champion? He would have to keep track of the tournament. “I wish you good luck, little one. Why don’t you take a nap? Maybe you will feel better when you awake. I will watch over you.”
Harrison thanked him and gave him a little smile before he fell fast asleep.
Severus and Lucius had searched everywhere they could think. The headmaster filled in for Severus’s classes today, and Narcissa stepped in for Lucius. They had checked their quarters, Severus’s quarters, the owlery, the library, the quidditch pitch, the kitchens, the Slytherin common room, all abandoned classrooms, and the Room of Requirement. Classes were nearly over for the day, so they would have a larger search party soon. They decided to take a small break until the end of the day. There was only twenty minutes left in the last class.
Severus collapsed onto the couch with a sigh and a worried face, “I don’t know where else to look, Luc! What if something has happened? What if we never find him?!”
Lucius tried to hold it together. He rubbed his face between his hands, and replied, “He has to be around here somewhere. Let’s have some tea to clear our heads, and then we can recruit the Slytherins and the other staff members who are willing.”
“What if he isn’t even on school grounds anymore? Why else wouldn’t our location charms be working?” Severus asked.
Lucius sagged in his seat and said, “I don’t know, Sev. I don’t know. I just know that I can’t lose him. I just got him!”
Lucius sucked in a ragged breath and tried to keep his composure. They numbly sipped (mostly stared) at their tea until Narcissa and Draco came into the living room. They were both hoping to see Harrison sitting on the couch with Severus and Lucius, and they were crushed when all they found was their worried faces.
Draco cried out, “No! Where is he?! It’s all my fault. Why did I have to call him a baby? He’s my baby brother, but he’s not a baby! Why!?”
Lucius stood up to comfort his distraught son, “Dragon, you had an argument. I think he knows by now that you didn’t mean it. It was said in anger. It’s not your fault. Harrison shouldn’t have run off.”
Draco cried, “It is my fault, Dad! He ran off because of what I said. What if he isn’t back yet because he’s hurt or trapped somewhere? I’ll never be able to live with myself!”
Lucius’s worried heart lightened just a little at hearing his eldest call him by the familiar term ‘Dad’. He had longed to hear Draco call him that. He pulled Draco into a tight embrace and reassured him, “No. Harrison is responsible for his own actions. Now we will find a bigger search party, and we will regroup.”
There was still an hour until dinner, and many people were searching for Harrison. Lucius was just coming back from the Forbidden forest with a group of professors when Hermione Granger stopped him.
“Professor Malfoy, I’ve been thinking about where your son might be and why your location spells haven’t worked. I think he might be in the Chamber of Secrets. It’s technically not apart of Hogwarts proper, and only a few even know where it’s located.” Hermione said.
Lucius and Severus both gasped. Severus recovered first, “Foolish girl! You waited this long to bring forward this information!?”
Lucius calmed Severus, and then asked her, “Do you know how to get in?”
Hermione nodded and told them to follow her. She had never been down there, but she knew where the entrance was. She hoped that it was still open if Harrison was actually down there.
They entered the girl’s lavatory, and Hermione released a breath seeing that the entrance was open. She turned to the professor’s and pointed, “That is the entrance to the Chamber. It’s open so he must be down there. It only responds to parseltongue.”
They told her to find the headmaster and bring him to the entrance to wait for their return, and then they descended into the cavernous pit. Once down in the chamber, Severus could feel the presence of his mate. He released a breath, “Luc, he’s alive. I can feel him! Repeat your location spell.”
The spell led them deep within the chamber to a sitting room with a fire blazing. In front of the fire was a little messy-haired blonde child curled up into a tight ball asleep with dried tear tracks down his face. Both men let sighed in relief. Severus sent his patronus to alert the headmaster that they had found him alive and well.
They walked further into the room and took in the sight of the small child. He was filthy and covered in dust. A voice from above the fireplace startled them, “You must be Lucius and Severus. I assume you know who I am. The boy has told me quite a bit about you.” At their unsure faces he added, “Do not fear. The boy cares deeply for you both. He cried himself to sleep over guilt a few hours ago. Have mercy on him.”
Severus and Lucius were stunned. This was a living portrait of Salazar Slytherin. They talked with him about Harrison, and then they decided it was time to face the situation. The cleaned off the furniture magically and then woke the boy.
His face brightened when he woke and saw them there. He jumped up from his spot on the ground and ran to them. Then he remembered what had happened today, and how much trouble he was in. He looked at his dad, nervous. This is where Uncle Vernon would probably beat him within an inch of his life.
Lucius just dropped to his knees and spread his arms wide inviting Harrison into a hug. Harrison leapt onto him crying, “I’m sorry, Daddy! I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have run away like that. I was so scared. I know you aren’t like Uncle Vernon, but I couldn’t make myself go back. Please don’t hate me, Daddy! Please!”
The boy was whimpering and rambling out his fears of abuse and rejection. Severus couldn’t handle it anymore. He went and joined his friend in embracing his little mate. Lucius and him both worked on calming the distraught child.
Severus spoke, “It’s ok, little one. We’ve got you now. You’re alright. It’s over. We’re here.”
Lucius comforted him too, “Baby, I’ve got you. I was so worried, but I’m just happy you’re alright. Don’t ever do that to us again.”
Harrison cried himself out for the third time that day. He sagged between his dad and his alpha. He turned to his alpha, and apologized to him as well. His Veela instincts mandated him to be as formal as possible, “Alpha, please don’t be mad at me.”
Salazar gave a little gasp of surprise from the portrait, but he didn’t say anything.
Severus sighed, “No, little one. I’m not mad at you. I never was. I was scared of something happening to you, and I’m disappointed in your behavior. We can fix it, though.”
Once Harrison calmed down some, Lucius pulled back and looked him in the eye. He spoke evenly, “Harrison, I am also very disappointed in your behavior: starting a fight with your brother in the great hall, running away from us, skipping all of your classes, and staying hidden while many people were searching for you. This is not behavior befitting a Malfoy.”
Harrison looked down, ashamed. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Lucius stood up and pulled his small son with him over the couch. He sat down and pulled Harrison to stand in the V between his legs. He really didn’t think he was going to be able to do this. He looked down at his son, and he spoke evenly, “Love, you know now how this family handles discipline. Do you think you earned what you are about to receive?”
Harrison was still looking down so Lucius guided his chin up so that they were making eye contact. The little boy had silent tears pouring down his face and he gave Lucius the saddest eyes, but he answered truthfully, “Yes, Daddy.”
Lucius carded his hand through Harrison’s hair, and said, “I’m proud of you. I will give you an option. You can choose between myself or Severus to administer your spanking.”
Harrison gasped slightly and risked a quick glance over to his alpha before quickly burying his face in his Daddy’s neck to hide his blush and whispering, “You.”
Harrison had hoped that his Daddy would be a little easier on him. Professor Snape may be his alpha and soulmate now, but he could still be very scary. He didn’t want to take a chance with his mate. Plus it would be embarrassing to be spanked by his future husband.
Harrison had hoped that he would be allowed some privacy for this punishment, but it didn’t look that was going to happen. Professor Snape just sat in the couch opposite theirs before his Daddy removed his school robe.
Lucius removed his little son’s school robe with practiced ease. Any observer would think that the man was not affected at all by the child’s fearful face, but Lucius knew the truth. He had to harden his heart to punish his baby. This would be the first time that he had delivered a true spanking to Harrison. He was incredibly nervous. What if he hurt him?
He reached for his child’s belt and loosened the buckle. Next he unfastened his trousers and then pushed them down to the boy’s knees. He turned Harrison to the side and tipped him over his left leg. Steadying the boy over his knee with his left hand, he reached into the boy’s waistband of his boxers and deftly pulled them down to meet his trousers at his knees. The boys gave a shudder at the sudden chill on his backside.
Trying not to drag this out longer than it needed to be, he finally slapped his right hand down across his son’s bottom. One of his large hands covered nearly both cheeks. Harrison hadn’t responded to the first moderate slap, so he brought his hand down a little firmer. Still no response.
He tried a little firmer over both cheeks, and he got a very quiet whimper in return. Figuring that he had found the right strength he began peppering the small backside in front of him. Alternating cheeks and hitting both at the same time. After a few minutes, Harrison seemed to be holding in his cries and tears.
Lucius tried a little harder and he told his son, “Harrison, let it out. It’s ok to cry.”
Almost immediately, Harrison started to sob openly over his knee, “I’m sooorrryyy, D-dadddd-yy-y!”
Finally, thought Lucius. He gave one last firm swat and quickly pulled his son up and into his lap so that the boy had his face on his chest. He cried and he cried. Harrison cried over the disappointment he bestowed upon his family, and he cried over the care that he was receiving even after being naughty. He cried because although his spanking really hurt, it wasn’t a beating.
Harrison cried until he fell asleep. Lucius spelled his boxers and trousers back into place, and then looked across the room to his best friend’s green face. Severus looked like he wanted to be sick after watching him punish his mate.
Lucius would let Severus hold him when they arrived back at their quarters. He scooped up his son and placed him on his hip. The boy immediately put his face on Lucius’s neck and wrapped his arms and legs around the man. Lucius kissed his son’s cheek, and then they started walking towards the door.
“Wait!” They heard from the portrait. “I’ve been down here all alone for so long. Please take my portrait to your personal quarters so that I may converse with this special child.”
Severus did as the portrait asked, and removed him from the wall.