A New Family For Harry

Author\'s Notes: Lots of people to respond to this time -- please bear with me! applesauce_N_soysauce, aww, I\'m so glad you\'re enjoying this that much! Latoya snape & lilmaxie, I\'m adding you to the updates list right now. :) CandyCakes, it\'s great to hear you like the fine line I\'ve been playing with, between Harry as innocent and as seductive vixen. And Nikte, I\'m grinning right now -- hot, sweet, and twisted is totally what I\'m going for.



tyree, you don\'t have to go into withdrawal, because here\'s a new installment of the story (as long as it tides you over for a while *g*). Rokkis and Aisling, I\'m so glad you were happy to see an update! It will definitely be interesting when Harry reaches Hogwarts age. sisterae, I love your description of Lucius as a "master manipulator". He certainly wants to control his access to, as manx65 called Harry, this powerful little wizard. Lilith -- yay, you liked the spanking! I agree that when there\'s counting involved it\'s much more charged erotically. Epona, I\'m thrilled that you like this story since you\'re already a Lucius/Harry fan -- hope you enjoy what comes next.



Jilliane, I feel like you\'ve really hit something there with your response about how Lucius simultaneously wants to protect Harry and keep him to himself while at the same time he wants to make use of Harry\'s power and *cough* many charms. The two of them have a very complicated relationship already. Wolven Spirits, Shinji, Leentje, Tina109, and Vampirezdarkgurl -- thanks so much to those of you who have left encouraging comments! Reviews really help me write. It\'s such inspiration to know that people are liking this story and tuning in for more.



On that note -- I\'ve added everyone who has left an email to the update list for this fic. If you want to be included and know when the story has a new part, please leave your email in a comment/review. Thanks! Now, on to the fic!









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"I trust you slept well, Severus," Lucius remarked as Snape took halting steps into the dining room.



"Yes, I --" Snape cast a glance about the room, seemingly checking to see who would overhear what he said next, but Lucius was the only one at the table, so Severus bowed his head in a gesture of apology. "I fear I may have indulged overmuch in your excellent brandy."



Lucius quirked an eyebrow in inquiry.



Snape cleared his throat. "I cannot seem to remember your offer to host me for the night, nor how I got to the room in which I stayed."



"Ah, well. Yesterday was a day of celebration. It is only right that you should have...indulged, on such a day." Lucius turned the edges of his lips up in a slight smile as he focused on Severus\'s expression. Nothing except confusion flitted over his friend\'s face -- the Obliviate spell seemed to have done its work.



"I do hope that I did not..." Severus paused.



"If you had done anything of reproach, do you not think I would have remarked upon it by now?"



Snape hesitated. "Indeed."



"Good morning." Narcissa glided into the room. Lucius hid his smile as Severus pressed his lips together for a moment, and then hurried to help Narcissa with her chair.



Draco and Harry arrived together. Harry hesitated as he saw Snape at the table, but when there was no reaction from the man to his entrance, he stole a glance at Lucius and took a halting step forward.



"Take your seats," Lucius told the boys smoothly. Draco flung himself into his, apparently still in a fit of pique over his scolding from the day before.



As Harry slid onto his chair, he winced almost imperceptibly. When Lucius allowed his gaze to settle on him, Harry ducked his head, but then looked up with an impish grin.



"You seem in good spirits after your party yesterday," Lucius observed.



"I liked everything I got for my birthday," Harry replied. His eyes flicked to Lucius\'s mouth.



Had it not been sure to draw curious attention from the others, Lucius might have laughed at the sheer mischief in Harry\'s reaction. Had they been quite alone, he might have gestured for Harry to come sit on his knee. Last night he had indulged himself, caressing Harry\'s hot and tender backside while Harry clung to him and pressed sleepy kisses to his neck. Finally, he had carried Harry to his bed, where the boy had stroked his cheek even as his eyelids drooped. What might it have been like, Lucius wondered, to slip into bed with Harry, pull that small hot body against his own, and hold him through the night?



Instead of pursuing such thoughts, he turned to Draco.



"I trust you have thought of your missteps in the way you treated young Ronald yesterday."



Draco prodded his eggs with his fork, then looked up. "Wrote \'pology," he muttered.



Snape and Narcissa, who had been speaking in undertones, turned together at this.



"You have composed an apology?" Lucius asked to clarify.



Draco set a roll of parchment on the table. "Harry likes Ron. And he\'s all right to play with, I suppose." The boy\'s face was sullen, but with a hint of uncertainty.



"Well, well," Severus said under his breath.



Lucius stopped to examine his son. It was not something he would have done at Draco\'s age; he had not doubt that such a behavior would not have been attributed to any young Malfoy in the past. The Weasleys would have been roundly despised in previous generations, not treated as potential allies in this newer and more uncertain order of the world. And yet their influence and appeal was undeniable -- Lucius would have Draco and Harry both cultivate a variety of alignments that would result in more cache for the Malfoy name.



Fascinating, truly, to see how far Harry\'s influence extended in their family.





*~*



Lucius accompanied Draco to the Manor Owlery to send his missive; after sending the child off with a firm order to apply himself to his studies, he paused on the veranda.



"He doesn\'t remember, does he?" Harry\'s small hand slipped into his.



Lucius knew at once the topic Harry was broaching, but he pretended indifference. "Whatever do you mean?"



With a squeeze of his small fingers, Harry stepped closer. "Severus. He...what happened last night..."



"It has been taken care of."



Harry looked up at him, his green eyes wide and bright. "You take care of everything."



Lucius curled a finger under Harry\'s chin. "You understand you are not to attempt something like that again, don\'t you?"



"Not with..." Harry\'s expression took on a shade of shrewdness. "Not with anyone besides --."



"Let us walk together to the rose gardens," Lucius interrupted him. At least further from the house, there was less likelihood of them being overheard.



When they had passed the entry gate and trellises, Lucius said, "You are very young still, Harry."



Harry stopped in his tracks. "But yesterday -- do you mean we won\'t get to --" His face was a sudden thundercloud compared to the coyness of moments earlier.



"What privileges you have gained with me, you may keep, so long as I agree that they are advisable," Lucius assured him. "I am speaking more of your decision to entice Severus." He held up a hand. "You have already been punished for that, and I do not wish to draw out your discomfort. But I must insist that you avoid the...pleasures of older men while you are so young."



As Lucius strolled forward, Harry fell into step beside him. "Except you," the boy said in a cheeky voice.



"Our relationship is unique, Harry; you understand, I am sure, that others would best not know anything of it," Lucius drawled. He halted, and ran his fingers through Harry\'s unkempt hair. Harry turned into the touch like a feline.



"You don\'t like the idea of anyone else having me," Harry breathed. His eyes shone.



"I rather think that your youthful status requires that you have certain freedoms, while at the same time you must learn to comprehend limits."



Harry shifted back and forth on his feet. "You mean..." He licked his lips, as though he was figuring something out. "You\'re saying I can..." His cheeks colored prettily. "Do things with other boys?"



"Or girls at or near your age, should you find your inclinations run that way," Lucius added.



Harry\'s nose wrinkled, and Lucius had to fight the urge to laugh aloud.



"What if I don\'t want anyone else?" Harry blurted out.



"Youth is a time of exploration," Lucius intoned. "And I would not have you resent limits that you cannot honor at your age."



"But you said something about limits only a moment ago," Harry protested.



"Ah. Yes. If you wish to retain what we have between the two of us --"



"You know I do." Harry\'s voice was petulant.



"Then you will agree to limit your explorations with partners your age to what would be appropriate."



Harry blinked. "How will I know?"



"I imagine you can distinguish the boundaries you have not yet trespassed. I speak not of what happened with Snape -- that went further than was safe. But what you have done so far --"



"You...when you asked, if I saw you watching me before..."



Lucius waited to see how Harry would react to this realization.



"You saw me, with Draco and Ron sometimes," Harry remarked. He seemed to find this amusing, for he turned his smile on Lucius with full brightness.



"I think such partners are, for the time being, acceptable," Lucius remarked.



Harry laughed. "I like that."



"What is it that fills you with such delight?" Lucius inquired.



"That you\'re watching over me." Harry was all innocence as he gazed at Lucius.



Lucius stroked Harry\'s hair once more, and let his hand slip down to caress Harry\'s shoulders. "Do you agree, then, to keep yourself to these limits, at least for the time being?"



"How will I know if I can do anything more?" Harry asked archly.



Lucius smiled. "I will show you."



Harry shivered and leaned into him. "If only you would -- I would have you be the only one to have me."



"For now, that cannot be the case." Lucius thought of the boyish whore he had visited in Knockturn Alley. In his mind, his concessions to the opportunities he imagined Harry would make use of were in part a nod to his own needs that he would meet elsewhere as he allowed Harry to grow into readiness for greater intimacy.



with a sigh, Harry pressed his cheek against Lucius\'s side. "I wish you could just be mine, and I yours."



"Well. Should you reach adulthood, and decide that I am what you wish for most of all..."



"I will," Harry said resolutely.



"We shall see then," Lucius said in conclusion.



Harry was silent as they returned to the Manor. "Maybe soon you\'ll watch over me again." From the glitter in his eyes, Lucius suspected his meaning, and yet was Harry still enough of an innocent that he would not actually invite Lucius to witness his trysts with boys his age?



It was difficult to say for sure.



"If it pleases you." Harry tilted his face up. "It would please me," he added in a whisper.



"Perhaps," Lucius allowed in a noncommittal voice. Internally, his memories of Harry with Draco and with Ron, and his imaginings of other boyish explorations involving his young ward played before his eyes.









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