Chapter 19
Back at Riddle manor
Tom sat at his desk with his head in his hands. His head had been killing him all night and no amount of pain reliever would help. If he was being honest with himself the pain in his head had been going on for some time now. He figured he just suffered from migraines, but it never felt like that. Sometimes it was a dull ache and other times it felt like his entire skull was going to split in half. He hadn’t had issues like this since before he put his soul back together, and even then it was never him who suffered. The connection that he had with Harry, he knew, had caused the child great pain. However, since he was now of a sounder mind, he knew the boy didn’t have to worry about that. Tom could still feel the connection between Harry and himself, kind of like a thread that was weaved between their mind that either of them could access if they so pleased.
Interestingly enough there was another presence within his mind that he couldn’t exactly pinpoint. He knew where it was but it felt like there was some sort of block around it. For the past couple days he took to his libraries, reading to see how he could block it. Only issue was that he didn’t know what ‘it’ was. He planned to talk to his son about it, but then Harry came into the picture and everything was momentarily forgotten. If he was being honest with himself, he originally thought that link was somehow connected to Harry, that maybe Dumbledore had found another way of communicating with the boy and was using it as a way to torment the both of them, but if that were true then the pain he felt in his head would have only been ten times more painful for the small child. As far as he knew he was not having any type of pain, so it couldn’t possibly be him.
A tired sigh left his mouth before he took a sip of his coffee. A small pop sounded before him and he came face to face with his most trusted elf, Lennox. He put his cup down.
“Yes. Lennox, what is it?”
“Lennox just come in to tell you that master’s wolf friend be in the foyer and be wanting to see you.”
“Bring him up.”
“Yes, master.”
The little creature bowed and was gone in a second. He didn’t have to wait long because as soon as he picked up his cup to take another sip of coffee there was a knock on the door.
“Come in, Fenrir.”
The door opened slowly and Fenrir popped his head in the doorway before walking completely into the room with a smile on his face.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Tom asked.
“What a wolf can’t drop by to see his favorite dark lord?” Fenrir smirked as he plopped down in one of the chairs across from Tom, who rolled his eyes at the man’s antics.
“What are you doing here?”
A shrug. “I didn’t have anything better to do. The next moon isnt for another week and a half and all the pups have been doing well in training. Thought I would give them a day off.”
Tom hummed.
“So I heard through the grapevine that you got yourself a new puppy of your own.”
How the man knew things before he told him was absolutely beyond him.
“And where exactly did you hear that?”
Another shrug. “Werewolf secret,” the man said with a teasing grin. “So it is true?”
Tom ran a hand through his hair. “He’s not officially mine yet. He’s with Severus and is getting settled. I was supposed to go see them today, but I have other matters I need to attend to.”
“Like?”
The brunette looked into his friend’s eyes which were now turning amber instead of their normal blue. This always happened as it got closer to the full moon.
“There has been something that has been nagging at me for the longest time, and I need to figure out what it is.”
“What do you mean?”
Tom sighed. “You know how I have been getting headaches for the last couple of weeks or so?”
The wolf nodded.
“Well, I thought nothing of it before, but something about them seems different. Originally I made the assumption that it had something to do with the link I had to Harry, which was part of the reason why I wanted to retrieve him, but now that he’s here and has been in close proximity to me without pain I know it isn’t him.”
Fenrir looked at the man before him intrigued. “You think there is something else in your head?”
“Not a what. A who.”
“Could it be Dumbledore?” The man sneered.
“I thought that too, but no. I’ve had that man in my head before and trust me when I say I know what his presence feels like. I have no doubt in my mind that he has something to do with it, but as far as the link itself is concerned, it’s not him.”
“Then who else could you be linked to? Severus?”
Tom shook his head. “Merlin, no. I would never link my son to me like that. Hell, I have been even thinking about severing the link between Harry and myself.”
This received him a look of shock from his friend.
“I know it's crazy but I can’t have that tie connecting us harming him.”
“It’s not like you can’t use that connection for good, Tom.”
A sigh. “I know that, which is why I have only been contemplating it. I just know that that blasted fool would stop at nothing to get to me, and I know for a fact that he has no qualms about using Harry to do it. Especially if it meant tormenting us both.”
Tom placed his head within his hands and massaged his scalp.
“What has Severus said about it?”
“I haven’t talked to him about it yet.” Fenrir opened his mouth. “I know I need to, and I’m not trying to put this off. But more than anything I want him to have time to adjust to being a parent of two children now. Especially if Harry is going to become a part of this family permanently.”
“All the more reason to bring it up now. The last thing you would want is this being serious and it taking you away from those you care about. No one needs that type of heartbreak.” Fenrir stood up. “I need to get going, I need to rest up, but I will be back in a couple of days to check up on you. You know what type of mischief you can get into.”
“Mutt.” Tom chuckled at the obscene gesture that was thrown his way. When the door shut he ran his hands along his face. He knew his friend was right. It was always better to figure things out and realise it was nothing than to let it fester and turn into something. He would bring it up with his family later today when he went to go see them. But for right now, he could use a nap.
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After breakfast the Snape-Malfoy family sat, gathered around in the sitting room. Harry sat next to Narcissa while Draco opted to sit in between his daddy and papa. Narcissa looked down at the child cuddled up to her side.
“I know you are still feeling weary about this, but there is nothing extreme you need to worry about. Okay?”
Despite his fear, Harry nodded.
“First rule of business, we’ve talked about your tendency of self depreciation. That has to stop. We know it is going to take a lot more than us saying that, but you must break that habit.”
Harry looked down at his hands. It’s not like he meant to do it, it just sort of happened.
“Look at me, Harry.”
He looked up at the matriarch.
“You are a beautiful child who deserves just as much love as anyone else, adn to hear how you think less is heartbreaking and absolutely not true. Children are a treasure, that includes you as well.”
She finished her statement with a soft caress of his cheek. All of a sudden his eyes stung. He blinked away unshed tears when his professor cleared his throat to get his attention.
“The second thing is you taking measures to stunt your own healing.”
“I-”
“Do not disagree as we all know it is true. You hide what you are feeling mentally, emotionally, and no doubt physically, as a means of not seeming like a burden. That also needs to stop. You are not a burden to any of us and we want to help you in any way that we can. We expect you to be honest with us about your problems the same way we hold Draco to those standards. Do we understand each other?”
Harry nodded.
“A verbal answer, Harry.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Next thing,” Narcissa continued. “Since you are still very much malnourished, you are going to have to take nutrient potions to help with deficiencies. Those are to be taken every day, and are not up for discussion.”
Harry shuddered at the thought of the disgusting potions but nodded nonetheless.
“As far as living arrangements are concerned,” Lucius pointed out. “You can either stay in Draco’s room or take the room on the other side of ours.”
Harry looked at Draco, silently asking if he was okay with him staying in his room. The child shrugged.
“You can stay in my room if you want Harry. I don’t mind.”
“A-a-are you sure?” He stuttered, scared that the blond boy wouldn’t want him around taking up his space.
Draco smiled. “Sure! We can play games and I can show up all my animals and toys.”
Harry’s lips curled into a small smile. “Okay”
The adults watched them interact with pleasant smiles on their faces. Suddenly Harry had a thought pop up in his head.
“W-what if I have to go back?”
“You will go back over my dead body.’ Severus growled. Oddly enough it was reassuring to hear such conviction from his professor.
“Severus is right Harry, you will never go back to those monsters.” Narcissa replied.
“That’s actually the next thing we wanted to talk to you about, “Lucius added. “We all know that Dumbledore is most likely well aware that you are missing and will fight tooth and nail to get you back under his thumb.”
They watched as the poor boy shivered and cuddled closer to Narcissa. She smoothed his hair down.
“We will not let that happen. Not now, not ever. But in order for us to make that possible we have to formally adopt you.”
Emerald eyes widened. “Y-you want to adopt me?”
“Only if that is something you are comfortable with. If you need more time to think about it or get to know us better before you decide then we will wait. Just know that the option will always be on the table.”
“I-I would love to, but,” Harry paused.
“But what, Harry?” Severus prompted.
“I wanna know you better.” He said, his voice getting softer with his nerves increasing. He didn’t want to upset them. “I’ve had a lot of fun here, but I still don’t know you. I want to get to know you. I want to believe you, t-to trust you. I feel safe here...I’m just so scared.”
Narcissa pulled the boy into her lap and cuddled him close.
“It’s perfectly normal to be afraid. We aren’t rushing or pressuring you. You take all the time you need, just know that we will always want you.”
Harry looked up at her, and asked in a small voice, “Always?”
“Always.”
The child’s lips turned up into a smile but said nothing else.
“The last thing we need to talk about is punishment.” Severus paused to take in the child’s reaction. He could see it still made him nervous but the fact that he stayed cuddled up to his wife was a good sign. “I know it makes you nervous, but no one is ever going to treat you like your disgusting relatives. All punishments are just and fair.”
“For example,” Harry turned his attention to Lucius. “Any bad mouthing of yourself will result in lines or time in the corner. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“We rarely ever use physical contact as punishment, but one thing we will not tolerate is reckless endangerment.” Lucius raised an eye at Harry who ducked his head and blushed. “Depending on the offense you will either find yourself with a swat to the backside or a spanking. But you need to know that once it is over, it is over and all is forgiven.”
Harry had to admit it seemed rather tame compared to his uncle Vernon’s punishments but he was going to say anything that would make his punishments worse.
“Is there anything you have questions about?”
Harry thought for a moment before he shook his head. “No, sir.”
A small yawn escaped him. He rubbed at his eyes and laid his head down on Narcissa’s chest. She hugged him closer to her just basking in the closeness.
“I think now would be a good time for a short nap.” Snape offered as he looked down at Draco who was also leaning heavily against his husband. The adults nodded and stood up, the boys following suit. They made to walk out of the study room when the floo flared to life. They waited a few seconds before Tom’s face came into view.
“Severus? Are you there?”
The man in question walked to kneel in front of the floo.
“Yes, father. Was there something you needed?”
“Yes, there is something I needed to talk to you about. Something quite urgent. Are the children around?”
Severus looked behind them. “They were on their way to take a nap, but we are all still in the study room right now. You can step through if you wish.”
“Alright. I will be there in a moment.”
Severus nodded and stood up so that he could move out of the way, as Narcissa and Lucius guided the boys out of the room. Tom walked out of the floo and then dusted himself of any soot.
“Would you like some tea?” Severus asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
Severus nodded and called to Dobby to bring them tea for the four adults. The pair sat and talked about trivial things until Lucius and Narcissa returned. They didn’t have to wait too long, as the door to the study room opened a few minutes later. They served themselves tea after greeting their father in law.
“What is it that you needed to talk about, father?”
Tom sighed and placed his teacup on the table.
“There has been something that has been bugging me for a couple of weeks now.”
The trio looked at the man with rapt attention.
“There is…”he sighed. “No easy way to put this but there is something in my head.”
Severus raised an eyebrow. “Something?”
“Or someone rather.”
“Do you know who?” Lucius asked. Tom shook his head.
“There is a block around the connection, but it is definitely there. The pain in my head that has been happening over the last couple of weeks was a result of someone tampering with that connection.”
His son leaned forward. “Dumbledore?”
His father nodded. “I can feel his presence, but that connection isn’t him. The thing is that he knows about it. And whoever it is that I am connected to is being tortured, and I can constantly feel it.”
“So what does this all mean, Tom?” Narcissa asked.
“I’m not entirely sure myself, but I need to figure out who it is. The only problem is that I can’t see it myself. Whatever Albus has done has made it to where I myself can’t get past the block. Everytime I have tried it has only resulted in a splitting headache.” Tom looked up at his son. “I came by because I knew you would be able to go inside my head and look.”
“I take it you want to get this done today.” Severus inquired. When his father nodded, he stood up and moved in front of his father. He stared deep into his garnet eyes that stared back unflinchingly at him.
Legilimens
Severus entered his father’s mind, moving past all of the unnecessary memories. He stopped momentarily to get a feel for what he was looking for. There was a presence yes but he couldn’t pinpoint it. It felt like it was all around him yet so out of touch. He could see the connection between The man and Harry so he opted to move closer to that point to see if he could find the other connection his father had referred to. His intuition proved correct when he moved closer but was stopped by what felt like a stone wall.
He reach out to touch it and jerked back at the dark magic surrounding the area. His head throbbed a bit but he persisted nonetheless. Upon further inspection he could see a figure. A figure that looked to be in a cell of some kind. If Severus has to guess he would say that it was a man but he couldn’t tell. The frame was unhealthily thin and from the hands that were chained to the wall, his skin was almost grey. He moved closer and actually found that he could pass the barrier. He walked slowly to the prisoner so not to startle them. The jet black hair covered his features from where he hung his head. He stopped and slowly reached down to gently touch him into awareness.
Apparently he didn’t need to do so as the figure slowly lifted his head to look up at him. No one would ever know the true shock he felt as he looked into the face of someone he never thought he’d see again.
“Black”
The words came out in a gasp as he took in the features of someone he thought was long dead and gone. But why was he here? Sirius Black, he knew, has been appointed Harry’s godfather by Lily but it proved to be in vain since the imbecile had gone and gotten himself arrested. Severus looked at the figure that was still staring up at him through narrowed eyes. There was something different about him. This couldn’t have been the mutt. Why would he have a connection to the dark lord? Especially when the man was a light as they come and hated anything that had to do with dark magic. No, this could’ve have been.
Severus suddenly felt weak and fell to his knees in front of the man before him. Recognition filled his eyes, slowly but surely and Severus was almost sure that he knew who he was. Shaking, potions stained fingers reached out to touch the gaunt face. They went right through it. Those grey eyes stared back at him with a hint of desperation and fear. Fear that this was all a dream. Seveus felt his eyes begin to sting but he just knew this was who he thought it was. It had to be. He had to check though. He needed to be sure.
He knew he couldn’t touch him but he didn’t have to. Dark eyes turned to inspect the left arm of the prisoner. He didn’t have to roll up his sleeve for further inspect. There, on the too thin arm stood the snake and skull mark that linked those to Voldemort. Seveus was shaking horribly now and turned to stare back at the men looking at him. His lips parted and he whispered the name of someone who used to be so near and dear to him.
“Regulus”