Its All A Bit Too Much
Unfortunately for Hadrian, he did not wake up the next morning, in fact he slept through the whole day, only waking up just before dinner. It was pure coincidence that he woke up when a house elf was putting away all the items that had been bought for Hadrian the day before, so he was able to ask someone to take him to where his parents were, he knew he would have got lost on his own. He had not even realised how hungry his was until he could smell the delicious smell of roast beef wafting into the hall from the dining room. He still hadn’t had the time to fully process what had happened the day before, so it was a massive shock to walk into the room to see his whole family sat down waiting for him.
Such a shock in fact that he became so overwhelmed at the happy smiles being sent his way that he didn’t even make it across the doorway before he started crying. He cried even harder when he felt his daddy’s arms wrap around him only a few seconds later, reminding him that it was most certainly not a dream and that these people really did love him. And if he had a clear mind he would have been laughing and questioning if his daddy was a vampire with how fast he had moved, as Hadrian was absolutely sure he was sat on the far side of the dining table.
“Oh baby, what’s wrong?” Severus said softly into his sons hair, pulling him in even closer when his son sobbed even harder. He didn’t even need to use leglimency to know that his son was feeling overwhelmed and had not yet come to terms with being Hadrian Severus Malfoy instead of Harry James Potter. Severus stayed kneeling on the floor with his arms wrapped around his youngest for at least five minutes before the cries became slower.
Lucius, Narcissa and Draco could do nothing but watch on, knowing that the best thing for them to do right now was to not crowd him. It was another five minutes before Hadrian’s cries tapered off into sniffles and it was at this moment that Severus decided it would be safe for him to stand up with his son enclosed in his arms and made his way back to sit at the table.
“It’s all been a bit much for you sweetheart, hasn’t it.” Lucius said, gently stroking Hadrian’s head to offer him a bit of comfort and both Severus and Lucius felt as Hadrian nodded his head slightly. “Think you can stomach some food baby?”
There wasn’t a reply, but Severus felt his youngest sons arm tighten around him and knew what Hadrian was trying to say. “That’s alright pet, you can stay here until you are ready okay?” Severus also did not eat, knowing that when Hadrian was ready to eat he would do and he did not want to let him eat all on his own when that time came around. He was satisfied to sit there with his son in his arms anyway as he sat talking to the rest of their now complete family.
Hadrian was not sure why he felt so comfortable surrounded by these strangers. He knew they were family. His family. But he did not know any of them as that. He was not used to the comfort they were offering him, but he soaked it up. Especially from his daddy, that is where he felt the safest. The man smelled of something that he had craved at the Dursleys household. Hadrian supposed that it was why he was so clingy to the man now, he smelt like what he had been looking for in the past eleven years or the five years it had actually been.
It still felt weird. He had to keep reminding himself that he was in fact only six years old, not eleven. That six years of his life were not real and just memories. He would not be returning the Dursleys, ever, but he wasn’t going to be a first year at Hogwarts either, he was just a child. He was six. He had no responsibilities. No chores. Nobody to cook for. He was a six year old boy who could now do six year old boy things.
Hadrian knew his life would now be very different from his old life. Waking up in the room, his new bedroom, had been a massive shock. He had expected to wake up in his rank cupboard under the stairs after having an amazing dream but instead he woke up on a double bed with silk sheets and a ridiculously fluffy blanket that smelt so clean and fresh unlike the old blanket he used to use a cover. He had spotted the large wardrobe in which the elves had been hanging his new clothes, he could not believe that his parents had bought him so many, he didn’t think he was worthy of them at all and do not even get him started on the toys. He had never owned a toy before at the Dursleys, he had them, but they were broken ones that he had taken out of the bin after Dudley had thrown them in there before he got his mummy to buy him multiple new ones.
Narcissa watched as her husband gently woke their youngest up after he had started to drift off on his lap and watched as he fisted his eyes to clear the sleep that had gathered there as he had drifted off. It saddened her to know that even though they had got him back it would take time for him to recover from the damage inflicted on him by the muggles and finally trust all of them, not just Severus. She didn’t quite understand why he had latched onto Severus, of all people, but she didn’t try and stop it. She assumed it had something to do with him being the birth father, but she was his mother.
Lucius’ heart melted watching his husband cuddle the child he had missed so much in the last five years. He watched as Severus held their youngest so gently like he was fragile but tight enough that nobody could take him away. He wasn’t sure what they would do when the holidays ended, after all the supposed Harry Potter was now in his care rather than the Dursleys and the same said Harry Potter would not turning up at Hogwarts on September first but right now none of it mattered. He was going to spend the rest of the holidays with his family, learning as much about his youngest son as possible and spoiling both of them. It was a big change for Draco, he only ever remembered being an only child, but they would make it work. His family was complete again.