Indago:3

Chapter Ten

Two years ago…

“Maia, I am done discussing this.”

“But, Father!” Blonde hair was tossed over a rounded shoulder haughtily. “I don’t see how this is an unreasonable request!”

“I have answered. No.” Draco walked out of the dining room and into the hall. He rolled his eyes when he heard the soft steps coming right after him. He moved into his study where Harry sat with Azeas and Bran. Harry looked up with a smile and then grimaced when Maia came in immediately behind Draco.

“The battle still on then?” he asked.

“Dad, please. I don’t want to look like a freak because I don’t have one.”

Draco chuckled and sat down at his desk. Harry pursed his lips and tipped his head at their daughter. “Maia, if you are going to play that card, I wouldn’t be so blatant about it.”

“Yeah, or so tedious about it either,” Azeas stated from behind one of his books. Draco cocked an enquiring eyebrow at his husband. Harry merely shook his head with an eye roll. Azeas always had a way with words and his head in books.

“Yeah, you’re already a freak,” his brother chimed in with a laugh.

“Bran, stop it,” Harry admonished. Maia threw a nasty look at her brothers and went back to pleading her case.

“Daddy,” she began again, using the childish term in a desperate bid to get her Father’s agreement. “I really will be a freak if I can’t get one! I’ll be completely unfashionable and will be laughed out of school!”

“All that, eh?” Draco pulled out his work papers and stacked them on his desk. “Maia, far be it for me to deny you anything, but this is going to be a no. You can’t have everything you want.”

“Why? Why can’t I?”

Draco opened his mouth and shut it again before turning to his husband. “You’ll have to field this, love. I never can answer this one.”

Harry shot him a disgusted look and stood up to face his daughter. “Maia, if everything was handed to us, we would never appreciate anything. Sometimes it’s the effort that we put into achieving our goals that make them worth something.”

“But I thought we gave our all to the ones we love?” she asked with a pathetic look. “Don’t you love me?”

“Nice try.” Harry walked past her to the bookshelves. Maia clenched her fist and her blonde hair flipped to the other shoulder.

“I will be the only one without one!”

“No one has them. They won’t even be on the market until Monday next,” Draco pointed out in frustration. “And regardless of whether or not you want one, I still had to go through court hearings on the safety of the damn thing. The first three prototypes exploded!”

“Well, now they have it fixed.” When that simple sentence didn’t seem to do the trick, Maia switched tactics. She came round the desk and leaned in close to her father. “Father, don’t you think I could completely smash the Gryffindors into the ground with it? I could win the Quidditch Cup!”

“You did this, you know.” Harry sauntered by with a knowing look. “I told you several times that you and your father were still spoiling her.”

Draco made a face at Harry, making Bran giggle, then he turned back to Maia. “My darling poppet, I will make a deal with you. You score top marks by Christmas Holiday and perhaps you will find that broom under the tree.”

“But we passed Christmas Holiday! It’s Easter Holiday now!”

“Yes, well, you have plenty of time to study for your fifth year then.”

“That is not fair!”

“What is all the screeching about?”

All the occupants of the room looked toward the doorway to find Lucius Malfoy standing there dusting nonexistent soot from his cloak. Maia, casting her sights on a new target, straightened and became class itself.

“Grandfather. I’m so happy to see you.” Gracefully walking to him, she leaned up and gave him a dutiful peck on his cheek. Her brothers also said their respectful greetings. “Grandfather, I was discussing with my parents the benefits of my acquiring the newest broom. It will be quite fashionable, even though it will be terribly expensive. But, really, only the ones who can afford style should have it.”

“Maia,” Harry growled under his breath. She was risking quite the lecture with this ploy, but if anyone could circumvent her parents, it was her grandfather.

“Truer words were never spoken,” Lucius agreed. “But how does squalling at one’s parents translate to ‘discussing the benefits’?” Lucius cupped Maia’s cheek. “I suggest, Granddaughter, that you know when the fight is over and to try again another day. Perhaps when you bring home an O.”

Maia reddened and pulled away. “I swear I’ll bring home Trolls for my O.W.Ls!” she declared before stomping upstairs. Why couldn’t they see that she needed to have that broom! As she came to the top of the stairs, she made a beeline for her Sev’s room. Not ever bothering to knock, she stalked into the room and fell onto the bed next to Severus, who was propped up reading a book.

“I must deal with you during school. Now I cannot even read on holiday without you bothering me?”

“They won’t let me have the broom!” she huffed, ignoring Severus’ surly tone. “Even Grandfather said no!”

“If he had said yes, you would have had the thing taken away from you the moment it was out of its box.”

“No, I would have had it sent to school!”

“Ah, good plan,” he replied, sounding as if it was the dumbest thing he’d heard. Maia huffed again and crawled closer before putting her head on his stomach, nonchalantly pushing his book aside. “Do get comfortable,” he remarked sarcastically.

“Sev, why are they so mean?”

“Mean? Gods, you are quite pathetic. Your parents provide you everything you could possibly ever want, you are from an elevated family, and you are quite the talk about town. How typical that it just wouldn’t be enough for your teenage heart.”

Maia frowned at the censure in her Sev’s voice. She hated it when he sounded disappointed in her. “I just wanted the broom,” she said in a small voice.

“Yes, and I want peace and quiet. It appears we will both be left unfulfilled.”

“If you really wanted peace and quiet, you’d spend the holidays at school,” she pointed out smugly.

“Five points for that snotty remark.”

“You can’t take points away from me at home. The Headmaster already told you that.” Maia moved a bit closer and was gratified that the implied request was filled and his hand began to comb through her hair. She always wore it loose at home just for this.

“Regardless, I am sure I will find something to take them away for,” her Sev grumbled.

“No, you won’t. Not from your own house.” She turned her head to look at him from under the book he held aloft in his other hand. “Do you have the ingredients for the Itching Powder? I want to practice it.”

“Do you believe I was born yesterday? If you want your brothers in agony then you shouldn’t have created them.”

“I think you just made that up! I think you botched the potion Dad was taking,” she accused. “How can you blame a five-year old for serving her dad juice at her tea party?”

“Because that five year old did not serve just juice, but a mixture of juices which contained the only thing that would null the effects of the potion. Why your parents thought it was perfectly safe to have anything with grape in the house knowing what it could do during that time I’m sure I don’t know.” The fingers left her hair momentarily as he turned the page.

“But still,” she said petulantly. “It wasn’t as if it was my fault. So, if I want to torture them, I will.”

Severus didn’t deign to respond and continued looking at his book. Maia watched him silently for a few moments and then nibbled on her lip, which was something her Grandfather told her was completely unbecoming in a young lady of breeding. She was careful only to do it in private. Besides, her Sev would just snort and say that her Grandfather was a prig and walk away, so he wouldn’t tell on her for the habit. Finally, taking a deep breath, she screwed up her courage and blurted out the question she had been dying to ask for some time.

“Is Azeas yours?”

For a moment nothing happened. But the fingers stilled and retreated from her dark blonde locks. Eyes that were identical to hers looked down and it felt like they pierced right through her soul. She hated when he did that because it always made her feel as if she were being called on the carpet and he could see through everything she did.

“Why do you ask?”

The voice had been calm, but Maia knew that this was probably going to be the most adult conversation she had ever had in her life. With another deep breath she answered, “Because I know you were visiting us at Lustrum that year. And I know that you were the one to name him, and he looks a lot like you. He has Father’s chin and Dad’s eyes, but the rest is you.”

“You have my eyes. It was merely my influence—“

“But everything else of me looks like Father,” she dared cut in and sat up. “But Azaes looks like you with just a few different things. He also acts sort of like you, too. I think he’s yours.”

“Then wouldn’t that make Bran mine as well?” he asked coolly.

“No, because he doesn’t act like you. He acts more like Dad and maybe a bit more like Father, but he definitely looks like Father with just your eyes. And since both Dad and you have black hair, that could have come from either one of you. And I know that we are different from regular people and maybe the way the twins were conceived was different, too.” She ended in a rush, just a bit embarrassed to be talking essentially about sex with her Sev.

For a moment he looked at her with that direct look again and she just barely succeeded in refraining from fidgeting. Then with a nod, Severus said simply, “Yes, you are correct. You ferreted out that information well and you appeared to put the facts together correctly.”

Maia smiled at the praise. “I actually started to figure it out last year.” Severus merely nodded and looked back at his book. Maia frowned. “Why doesn’t he have your last name? Why doesn’t he live with you or call you Father?”

“And there goes my hope for you,” her Sev sighed. “I had thought you were bright for a brief moment.”

Scowling, Maia nibbled on her lip again as she puzzled things out as her Sev often made her do. She didn’t mind; she was pleased when he was pleased. Maia mulled the information over in her mind for a few moments in the silent room. Her eyes widened as the truth occurred to her.

“Was it because of Grandfather? Because he would have gotten mad about you and Dad… um… well. That Azeas was yours and not Father’s?” she asked with a blush that she was fighting to keep away.

“Partly,” the older man answered without lifting his eyes from the text. Maia thought again and her eyes flashed as she made a connection.

“Because Dad and Father are together and even though you might… um… become close, it’s still their marriage. And I guess that you don’t want to be a parent and so left it to them to handle.”

“My faith in your abilities is restored,” Severus remarked dryly. “I do hope I don’t have to explain to you why you are not to tell anyone about this?”

“Because we keep truth in the family and facades to the press,” she recited. Those words had been drilled into her before she could remember. “And because Grandfather would get mad and say that Azeas was not a Malfoy.”

“Excellent. And we will not be telling Azeas until it is deemed necessary.” His tone made that decision final before Maia could even bring up the issue. With a sigh, she laid back down, resting her head on her Sev’s stomach. Although she would have liked to talk about it further, she supposed it was just one of those things that she wasn’t allowed to know until she was older. But still, she thought with a grin, her Sev had spoken to her about adult matters. For that, she’d let the rest work itself out.



“Why you allow her to speak to you like that is beyond my comprehension,” Lucius drawled as soon as Maia had run out of the room.

“She always apologizes, so we make allowances.” Draco sat back down after rising in respect when his father had walked in. “Her emotions get the better of her occasionally.”

“And we don’t want a mindless drone,” Harry added with a sharp look in his eyes. Lucius glanced at him and then back at Draco.

“Her emotions get the better of her? How distressing to hear. Perhaps she should spend the rest of the holiday at the Manor. I will instruct her in controlling her emotions.” Lucius said the last word with utter disdain.

“Boys, go play outside,” Harry ordered tightly. The twins looked at their Dad, then their Grandfather, and then each other. Azeas nodded, shut his book, and stood up. Bran was a bit slower but followed his brother out. The adults heard their exchange as soon as they got out of the doorway.

“What are they all grumpy about?” Bran asked.

“Dad is going to get into it with Grandfather about Maia, dolt,” Azeas answered in tone that clearly stated what he thought of his brother’s intelligence.

“Don’t get cheeky, Az! I’ll whomp you good!” Their voices faded away.

“Lucius. Maia is perfectly able to contain and control herself in public situations. At home, we allow her and the boys the freedom to express themselves. I am sure that you would agree that would be fair since they are perfect puppets in public,” Harry stated with a slight hiss in his voice.

“We believe if they are given an outlet, they won’t embarrass us outside,” Draco put in, trying to moderate the situation. Harry could get downright vicious when it came to the children.

“Still, a child should speak with more respect to its parents,” Lucius drawled and gracefully lowered himself into the seat across from Draco. “But I suppose with each new generation things change.” Draco breathed a quiet sigh of relief that this wasn’t going to turn ugly. He watched as Harry narrowed his eyes and sat back down in his chair at the table nearby.

“But I must ask about the marriage contracts you have received. Have you decided on any yet?” Lucius asked as he turned his cane back and forth in the sunlight, the emerald eyes of the silver snake glinting with malice.

“She just turned fifteen!” Harry sputtered.

“And very soon she will be sixteen, an excellent time to make a match. It gives us a year to plan the wedding.”

“That is too young! I’m not going to have my daughter become a child bride!”

“Harry, we were eighteen when we were married,” Draco reminded him, then inwardly winced as his husband’s angry gaze fell on him.

“Yes, well, we didn’t have much choice, did we? I was forced into it!”

Draco frowned and stood up to meet his husband eye to eye. “What the hell? You weren’t forced!”

“Wasn’t I? Did I have any other options?”

“No, because you loved me!”

“Fine,” Harry agreed, letting some of his angry petulance go. “But it wasn’t exactly a soft and gentle romance.” Harry turned to face a calm Lucius. “And besides, Maia isn’t in love. She has no special someone.”

“Which means this is a superb time in which to plan. She won’t have these emotions to get in the way of a sound and beneficial match.”

“No. Lucius I will not allow you to run her life. Maia already has it difficult in finding a love of her own, though she may not know it yet. But I will not let you take that chance away from her. She has the right to fall in love.”

Lucius stood up but Harry, as per usual, did not back down or bat an eyelash. The cane flashed as Lucius brought it down to his side. With a smile, he nodded. “Very well. She is, of course, your daughter. But she is also my son’s heir. You do understand my concern in this matter. Perhaps it would be better to bring it before her and see what she thinks?”

“No, I know your tricks, Lucius. Maia would do anything for you or for the Malfoy name. You did a good job with that. I won’t let you confuse her. You try to push this issue and I will make sure that you don’t see her again.”

“Harry! Your dander is up and you aren’t making sense! Father is not here to take Maia away from you! Calm down!” Draco made it around the desk and grabbed his husband’s arm. “Calm down, yeah? No one’s here to hurt the children or to take them away from you,” he added quietly in Harry’s ear and felt him relax a bit.

“I… yeah. All right.” Harry straightened again and faced his father-in-law. “I don’t want this brought up to Maia. At all. After she leaves school, then you can broach the subject with her. But while she is still my- our responsibility, then we will let her live as normal a life as she can.”

Lucius’s face was calm as he nodded. “Of course. Your terms are acceptable. But you must understand that these offers will not last forever. The applicants may lose interest or find other wives.”

“Then they weren’t suited for Maia. Anyone who would pass up a Malfoy, and a powerful one at that, obviously has no taste or stamina.”

Lucius grinned at Harry’s arrogant words. “Well said, Harry. I do believe we have finally made a proper wizard out of you.” With a nod of his head, Lucius left.