Otherwise Known As Interesting Family Interactions
When the Hogwart's letters came, the children quickly asked if they could go to Diagon Alley for school supplies. While Mrs. Weasley didn't want to do a lot of shopping, Harry realized that with the healing from earlier and getting a good amount of food and exercise, he could grow again, based on those around him. He had to get new clothes. That meant, at some point, the party had to split up. He got his key from Molly.
Severus Snape asked to come along for the outing. To everyone's surprise, Harry looked up and shrugged. As the looks and questions started flying, he said, "Professor, if you want to buy something, you're not bothering me."
"I see."
"But Harry..."
"No, it's fine Ginny."
"Hmmph."
"Besides, you're like my sister. Sorry if that bugs you."
"So there's no way we'll get married?"
"No, little sis."
"Anyway, that's so off tangent, I don't know how we didn't form an obtuse. Yes, Professor Snape has a right to go shopping just like most of us here, sorry Siri."
"It's alright, Hermione." Sirius grunted.
"Okay! We'll be heading out first thing in the morning and make sure you pack light."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Weasley."
A chorus of good nights followed that as the children headed up the stairs.
"Are you sure you want to come with us?"
"I promised Harry I would be able to help him with something at Gringotts."
"Are you sure he needs to head there?"
"I have been made aware of the situation and I agree with him for once."
"Is this something we need to be aware of?"
"As you all know, I know more about his mother growing up than most here. I will help when I can."
"Ah. Good luck, Severus."
"Be safe."
Severus Snape allowed a smirk to show on his face looking out of his window. Two truths that didn't necessarily go together and another picture was formed. He'd need to be careful when telling people what though, so their picture frame didn't smash. He knew how to do that, as he was a spy for years, after all. A letter was sent off to Malfoy Manor before he readied for bed. The letter from the bank accepting the meeting was already folded neatly and put in a pocket.
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The next morning, Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, the twins, Percy, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Harry, and Professor Snape were all ready bright and early. Mrs. Weasley had prepared the ingredients the night before so creating breakfast was easy and the pans were put to soak while the dishes were stacked. Almost immediately the boys separated from the girls, preferring to get their wardrobes without the girls around while the girls went to look at books. Then the girls and guys switched, the guys getting their school books and the girls getting their clothing. Immediately after that, Professor Snape took Harry off to the goblins while the rest stopped at Fortescues for ice cream and went for stationery.
Once Harry and Professor Snape walked close to the counter, they were ushered into a side office by a goblin. There awaiting them were the Malfoys, all three, and a figure with a hood up. The door closed.
"Hello, Lord Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, and Draco. Hello, sir," spoke up Harry.
"Hello, Severus, and Harry Potter," greeted Lord Malfoy.
"Hello Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco."
The figure with his hood up dropped it over his shoulders. Immediately the three adults in the room knelt, and Draco bowed.
"Rise, for we are not exactly in a private setting, though it is as close as in Diagon."
The three adults rose and Draco stood straight, watching the other two warily.
"Hello, Son."
"Hello, Father."
Harry walked forward, extending his hand and took hold of the taller man's hand.
"Do we agree to not fight today? I have no wish to."
"Yes," Voldemort swallowed. "This feels very strange."
Harry laughed awkwardly. "Tell me about it. After struggling to fight off each other, we are finally meeting in a civil manner."
A pause seemed to echo through the room.
"Oh, I forgot to tell anyone, but this summer I realized that Professor Snape could be the closest thing I have to a wizard uncle. He and my mother unofficially adopted each other as children."
"Really, Snape."
"Yes, my lord."
"Well, be glad for your sake that I am not planning on taking your nephew from you as I would like to get this sorted without Dumbledore interfering."
"Yes, my lord."
Harry laughed. "Excuse me, but my son is here, and I want to hug him. Don't threaten your great uncle, son. Don't hit me either."
The look of shock on the tall man's face as he was hugged made for wary followers. As for Harry, he didn't see it, but he quickly hugged the man and then stepped away while rubbing the man's arm.
"What?"
"It is not good for a young child to be devoid of parental touch. The child's brain will relax and start trusting with gentle touch from a young age. You are my child, and I will help you as much as I can. As far as my research so far goes, your brain is no longer afflicted because of your mother's love potion."
Silence.
"What?"
"A child conceived under a love potion is essentially poisoned by it. Your brain could not form those signals as they were essentially burnt away. Your bond with Nagini magically forced them to form with her. However, with your new body, you used the bone of your father, on whom the love potion had worn off many years before his death; the hand of Pettigrew, who was scared and not under a love potion; and my blood, which was definitely not afflicted by a love potion. Your new brain, therefore, is then capable of forming those signals and loving one's family, despite the long habit of not. You may have friends now. You are my son. You can live now."
"Why am I your son when Pettigrew and my original father was used as well?"
"You are their son as well as mine. However, I don't see either of them caring for you."
"So what now?"
"Do I have your permission to adopt you legally?"
"Aren't you a minor, Mr. Potter?"
"I am an emancipated minor, as of finishing the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Mr. Malfoy."
"Can I give you my answer later, Father?"
"Absolutely. Can you give me a name you would like me to call you?"
"If you see me as yours, would you name me?"
A warning was called.
"I am sorry, but the room wasn't booked for long."
"I will call you Galahaut Charles Ignotus Potter. Good bye, son, for now," he stated as he threw his arms around the wizard who was once again pulling up his hood.
A shocked voice was heard saying "Good bye, Father" as professor and student headed back to Diagon. Everyone was full of emotion: Harry, for touching someone who he hadn't previously been able to without causing or being caused pain; Professor Snape for being a witness of all that, and realizing he was now related to the Dark Lord and seeing he may now have a price on his head; Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, for similar reasons to Severus; and Draco Malfoy, who was just in awe of somebody talking the Dark Lord into a stand still. The fact that a troupe of mostly red headed folk shortly after left the stationery store and went to the apothecary went mostly unheeded except for the two oldest wizards in the second group from the meeting.
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"Of course. How could I forget that? I am a mother myself."
"Narcissa?"
"A newborn must be held quite often, same with all young children. I can't believe the boy-who-lived had to remind me, of all people."
"Narcissa."
"Excuse me, my lord, but you will be required to come see me four times a day for a hug, and to spend time with a person besides Nagini doing something most people would call relaxing."
"Narcissa?"
"Your father wants you to get parental touch. As the only parent trying to look out for you, my lord, I will take his words into advisement. I also recommend you accept his proposed adoption. Since the house elves answer him now, I am sure I can get him to enforce this, despite your feelings on the matter."
The Dark Lord followed the Malfoy family, embarrassed of an enforced regime of touch. He knew his father could order the house elves from a distance... He didn't want to end up going without coffee again.
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"So, did you get what you needed at the bank?"
"Mostly. I'll have to go back to finish off required paperwork."
"Oh."
"Yes."
"So are you going to give me the key for safe keeping?"
"Actually, I would love to keep it on me. Just like a muggle doesn't share his debit card."
Hermione giggled in the background.
The old Headmaster looked on the scene of Molly Weasley and Harry Potter. Snape watched over his shoulder.
"Harry," said the Headmaster, "are you sure that this is what you want to do?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do they take privacy that strictly in the Muggle world?"
"Yes, sir."
"We are not in the Muggle world."
"No we are not, but are you going to tell Molly what is in your vault?"
Snape's voice cut over the manipulation. "5 points to Slytherin, Potter."
The Headmaster nodded his head. "I am sure you won't lose it then. Molly, leave him be."
All of a sudden, many voices started to argue with what the professor said while Harry nodded to Professor Snape as he turned and headed up the stairs.
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A letter awaited him in his room when he went to bed that night.
Dear Father,
I am still undecided on whether or not I am willing to be known as your son legally.
One, I am still unsure as to whether or not you are allowed to, biological father or not.
Two, I am still in shock over all you have spilled on our meeting, and Narcissa Malfoy has taken advantage of the fact to ensure I get hugged on a regular basis. I have Nagini watching that she does not take advantage of the fact I do not have eyes on the back of my head. Quirrel was a one time deal. I may be immortal, but I do not want to remake a body again.
However, thank you for naming me after the uncrowned king and one of the three famous Peverel brothers. I am no longer attached by name to recent family except for your grandfather and your last name. That would definitely be a point in the favour of getting legally adopted, if I have to be.
There is a second point for adoption; that is, once adopted, I will have you fighting to keep me safe. One does not send lots of letters without a sense of loyalty.
I will certainly think on this. I am not holding my breath on my ability to recover my ability to love.
Sincerely,
Your Son,
Voldemort (Galahaut Charlus Ignotus Potter)
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Lucius Malfoy spent a good portion of the next two weeks researching all that could be used to knock away Potter's ability to adopt his lord and finding ways around them. As such, he was unaware of the future consequences of a certain witch being appointed to the DADA position for that year.
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Professor Severus Snape was once again walking a tight rope with doom on either side. He had a well meaning manipulative Headmaster who knew less than he thought on one side and the crashing and burning of two individuals to whom he had sworn loyalty on the other side. He also had to keep a prophesied boy from falling off the same tight rope, who had in actuality just climbed on. Occlumency was going to be a must for the boy-who-lived, but legilimency may be as well. The problem was trust. The amount of trust between both individuals before the lessons happened was required for the lessons to actually work was staggering if the individuals had to develop it in a few short weeks. He realized that with the apology and working out the meeting in the bank there had to be trust there, but whether or not it was enough was in doubt.
It would have to be enough. School was starting and the secrets this boy kept must stay secret, even before the Headmaster. If the boy didn't have enough shields up, the war might just keep on going with both the Boy-who-lived and the Dark Lord on the same side against Dumbledore. It would kill the British Wizarding World. There were not enough children born after the last war to be up to the number there had been before the war with Grindelwald, and there had been two wars since then. No, the boy's secrets must be kept secret. He would do what it took to keep things on an even keel, not just for the good of the wizarding world, but for the nephew he hadn't realized and the godson he had loved as his own since he was born. It wasn't just ideological, but personal as well. He would keep his boys alive.