The Starting Feast
It was a while before Lucius and Severus could discuss what Augusta had said to them. It was just their luck that Hadrian had taken ill and they had to quarantine Severus and Hadrian in one part of the house so that Draco didn’t get sick and Lucius was needed to look after him. He had really wanted to be there for his youngest but Severus was the potion master and Draco, despite his claims that he was old enough, could not look after himself. They would have asked Andromeda but they didn’t want to risk someone else catching whatever Hadrian had got.
It was a long week but eventually Hadrian was no longer contagious. He was still ill, a little sniffly, but now it was only a common cold. But with his weak immune system it still hit him harder than it usually would. So now they were on the train to Hogwarts, one child embarrassed at his send off, his parents were on the train with him so it could go no worse than a hug and a kiss on the head, and the other child was clingy, whiney and tired.
Luckily for Severus, he had clung to Lucius which helped him greatly because he had lesson plans to write up. Lucius had been owled his position and had no work that needed doing as he was the Herbology and Defence Assistant (he secretly loved anything to do with plants) and it worked out that he would have the most free time with these positions so he was able to look after Hadrian when Severus couldn’t so he would always have a parent with him.
Severus also had had a bed placed in his office for when Hadrian needed to go down for his naps so the Governors had done a good job. Needless to say, Dumbledore wasn’t aware of the changes made to the staff and Severus’ office. They had used a Parkinson house elf that worked at the school to make the changes to Severus’ office and also they had made Severus’ quarters a bit more family friendly.
The Great Hall was safe to say the greatest experience of their day. Hadrian had napped greatly on the train and was just feeling a little stuffed up in his nose but his head wasn’t in Lucius’ shoulder like they had expected. His head was out, wide eyes and it never stopped moving, swivelling in all directions, taking in the whole hall, the students and the roof. In fact it brought a smile to both his parents to see him so inquisitive. Lucius walked to the front table with Severus, where he introduced both his husband and their child to the rest of the staff, bar Dumbledore who hadn’t arrived in the hall yet.
After ten minutes the pair took their seats at the far end of the table, strategically placed between Minerva and Quirrell whom Lucius took an immediate disliking too and handed Hadrian over to Severus almost instantly not wanting his son near the man. This movement captured the attention of the students who were immediately shocked all of them, as they had always believed that their potions professor hated all children but here he was, sitting quite contentedly with a child on his lap and even engaging in a conversation with said child. Not to mention a child who he was clearly quite familiar with.
Albus Dumbledore’s reaction was probably the best. He stopped at the main doors and stared at the head table, his face dropping at the sight of Lucius before his fake smile appeared back on his face and strode towards the main table as though nothing had shocked him.
“Ah Severus! My boy! You didn’t tell me your husband was coming to the starting feast.” He somehow hadn’t noticed that Severus had a child on his lap.
“Aren’t all members of staff required at the starting feast Headmaster?” Severus replied silkily. “Why would Lucius be any different?”
“I wasn’t aware that he was a member of staff?” Dumbledore replied confused. Severus and Lucius laughed on the inside, glad they had caught him off guard.
“You didn’t receive the note? I am the new Herbology and Defense assistant professor as appointed by the Board of Governors.” Lucius replied. “I hope you don’t mind, I don’t start till next week but I thought I would witness my first child being sorted.”
“No I did not receive that information but please feel free to stay.” Dumbledore tried to reply politely but his jaw was tense with visible anger. “Excuse me, the sorting should begin shortly.”
Both men smiled. Albus still hadn’t noticed Hadrian.
It was about thirty minutes later that Draco was sorted. Both men crossed their fingers and said their prayers but there was no need for that, the hat was barely on the sons head before it yelled “SLYTHERIN!”
Draco glanced back at his family before continuing onto the Slytherin table knowing that they would be proud of him.
“Dray got Slytherin!” followed by childish clapping echoed around the hall before all the students burst out laughing and joined in with the clapping started by Hadrian. Nobody knew who the little boy was on their feared potion masters lap was except for a few, but seeing their teacher hide a smile in his sons hair was so cute that they didn’t care. Hadrian did however care, not about who he was, but the hundreds of heads who were now trying and failing to discreetly look at him. It did not help him nor his Daddy’s reputation when he buried his head in the man’s robes.
Dumbledore glared angrily at the pair before motioning Minerva to continue, which she did. It seemed that Harry Potters name was never read out. Albus did not notice, and Minerva was glad for that. She had purposely skipped over his name luckily for the Malfoy-Prince family as it means the Headmaster wouldn’t find out, at least not tonight. Lucius did notice that the students were looking around for Harry Potter though.
Albus stood up.
“Welcome students, new and old to the first term of Hogwarts! A few things before the feast begins. First I would like to welcome our new Herbology and Defense Assistant Professor Lucius Malfoy.”
He was about to continue talking but Lucius quickly stood up to speak.
“Thank you Headmaster. As some of you may know I am actually Lucius Malfoy - Prince, married to your Potions Master here at the school.” He reached down and pulled Hadrian out of Severus’ arms and sat him on his hip. “I just want to let you know that this is our youngest son Hadrian Malfoy, you shall be seeing him quite often in the castle with either me of your Professor Snape or even his older brother Draco.” Draco smacked a palm to his head in embarrassment as people turned to look at him. “I expect all of you to treat him with respect but also watch out for him. If you see him and he isn’t near a family member please try and find one, or at least a teacher who can look after him till we get there. Thank you, I shall look forward to meeting you all in class and seeing what you are all capable of!”
He sat down, keeping Hadrian in his lap, not seeing a chair for him to go on and then silently thanked the elves when one appeared between him and Severus, slipping Hadrian into it despite his protests.
“No Hadrian.” Lucius said sternly. “You do not eat in our laps. No please be quiet, let the Headmaster finish his speech and then you can start eating. No arguing please.”
Hadrian slammed his back into the seat, arms folded across his chest, sulking. Severus laughed under his breath before sensing Lucius’ glare and covered it with a cough.
“Yes quite so Lucius. Now Hogsmeade trips for third years and above will start on the first Sunday of November. Please can I ask you all to check the list outside Filch’s office to see the list of banned items, we do not need to make his job any harder than it needs to be. Also let it be known that the third floor corridor is off limits to every single student in this school. Those who approach might be faced with something that could cause you a horrific death. It will be forbidden to go there for the whole year, your head of houses will happily inform you of routes to use to get to any places where the third floor corridor would have been used. I urge you not to go there. Now since all the announcements are done I just have a few more words before the feast! Nit! Flick! Bubble and Squeak! Enjoy!”
Albus waved his hands and the food appeared on all of the tables. The room filled with the sounds of students chatting, catching up with each other and eating. Severus sighed, he loved home but he had missed the liveliness of Hogwarts. He watched as Hadrian grabbed stuff of the serving plates and put it on his own, not noticing when both Severus and Lucius exchanged it to something his stomach could handle whilst adding on vegetables. Either way he ate it all. Before comedically falling asleep with his face in his plate, mash splattering into his hair and onto the table. Lucius laughed uncontrollably but silently at his son whilst Severus resisted the urge to also face plant into his palm at his son.