Fathers, Godfathers, and Godsons...Oh My
folder
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
29
Views:
3,064
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
29
Views:
3,064
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Draco jumped awake with a gasp, trying to scramble back but held in place by a firm hand, “Easy now, little one. Drink this.”
He stilled, his brow furrowed, seeing his Head of House and not Albus, as he expected. But he should have known that. He was a student now, not a son. Albus wouldn’t have been called unless he were in trouble. He sipped the tea the Professor offered him, closing his eyes as warmth flowed through his body, making him aware of his trembling. She gave him a warm smile and adjusted the covers over him, “Now, why don’t you tell me what your friends were trying to explain.”
He glanced over her shoulder to see six first years clustered around each other and listening in trying to look like they weren’t listening in. But eleven year old boys have no subtlety. Sighing softly, “I...I heard someone mention my...sire, escaped from Azkerban. It...it startled me.”
Professor Lappish nodded to herself, “I see...I believe your father wanted to speak to you in the morning, possibly about that.”
Closing his eyes with a whimper, “So it’s true.”
Smirking just a little at his easy grasp of reality, glancing at the little dragon kneading into his shoulder, “I think you should talk to him in the morning, get all the answers you need. I could tell you you’re perfectly safe here and there is no worry...but you’re too intelligent for those platitudes to soothe you.” Leaning in closer so the young ones behind her didn’t hear, “The professors are all on alert. We’re ready to protect you and I believe your Godfather muttered something about grinding his bones in a potion and damn him to the seventh level of hell.”
Giggling softly, relaxing into his bed, “That sounds like him.” It really did. He could even imagine Severus pacing around his potions lab with his hands behind his back when he said it.
Nodding, noticing his eyes were starting to droop, she moved back and hustled the others to their beds, ignoring their whimpers, “Go to bed, all of you. You’ll have plenty of opportunity for talking in the morning.”
She shooed them to their beds, dimming the lights but keeping them on just enough for a faint glow. That settled a lot of their whimpers and she gave them all a last look before allowing the door to close behind her.
***
Draco’s eyes popped open, shaking away the last of the nightmare. He shuddered, remembering parts of it. Lucius capturing him maybe, but he wasn’t sure. Trembling, he sat up, looking down to realize he’d been changed into his pajamas before being put to bed. He honestly hadn’t noticed earlier. Viola awoke with a little mewl, flapping her wings and hopping to his shoulder. She was just a baby, after all, she couldn’t fly yet.
Entire body shaking, he hunted around for his shoes and crept out of the dormitory. Nibbling on his lip, looking around carefully for Filch, he moved silently down the corridor and retraced their steps back to the moving stairs. Strange. That damn grounds keeper seemed to be everywhere at the same time last year. Why he hadn’t jumped out and attacked him was curious. But he pushed the thought away, Albus the only thing on his mind. Up several flights of steps, past the Gryffindors and down to his portrait, “Interior fânum.”
Draco walked in quickly, freezing to see Albus still up and contemplating the fire. The old man jolted just a little to have such a late night visitor, “Draco?”
Biting back a whimper, he could do nothing for his pace as he threw himself at the Headmaster and held on tightly. Albus caught the boy easily, letting him settle against him and hold onto him. It couldn’t be from an anxiety of sleeping in the dorms. Draco, even in his most needing moments, had never acted so frightened. Understanding flashed through his eyes as he held the distressed boy and let the fear drift away. It was some time later before Draco had calmed, whispering into his father’s shoulder, “It’s not true, is it?”
Rubbing his back soothingly, “I’m afraid so. But that’s why we have passwords on all the portraits, to protect students from being stolen away. And the ghosts have promised to wander the halls at night, looking for anyone out of place.”
“They didn’t see me.”
Smiling slightly to himself, “I am sure they did, Draco. But you are allowed to come to me and they know this. If you had veered off your path to stir up trouble, one of them would have escorted you back to bed.”
Looking back up, eyes bright, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Albus sighed with regret, resting a hand lightly on his cheek, “You’re so young, Draco, and already I’ve given you more to deal with than a boy your age should have to.”
Frowning, only one thought on his mind, “No you haven’t. I have to go to school and I will like my new House.”
“I was thinking of your teaching duties and all that research.”
Shaking his head, not wanting it taken back, “But I want to teach, and I like researching...you’re not taking it away, are you?”
Chuckling softly, “Of course not, son, of course not. What I meant to say is...you are still a boy, innocent in some instances. I...I suppose I’m trying to preserve what innocence hasn’t been robbed from you for as long as I can.”
Shivering and burying his face in Albus’ robes, “I don’t need surprises like that...I need the truth...you know I can handle things if I’m prepared for them...”
Albus nodded to himself that it was very true, “Then I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
Whispering, “That’s why you wanted me to be wary. To stay close to Professor Lupin.”
“Yes.”
Pulling back, “What were those things, on the train?”
Thinking carefully before answering, “Dementors.”
Draco’s eyes widened, “That’s what I was seeing...they said I was screaming and it was...when he...the dungeons...”
Shuddering, gasping for air and scrambling, Albus held him carefully to keep him from harming either of them, “Calm down and listen to me.” Draco nodded and clung to Albus, closing his eyes, “Yes, they did pull a memory from you...which means they will be drawn to you so we will take extra precautions...for the both of you. They don’t normally leave the grounds of Azkerban, but then prisoners have never escaped before. They are trying to find them and so they travel through the country looking for them.”
Whimpering, “But they’re here. That’s why Sev was waiting by the boats. They surrounded Hogwarts so they must think they’re...here-...”
“Draco, do you trust me?” Draco cut off mid rant, staring at the Headmaster for a moment before slowly nodding. Albus’ eyes glinted, “I may just be an old Headmaster but I will not allow him to take you. I promise Draco, you will be safe.” Draco believed him completely and snuggled into his arms, closing his eyes.
Draco jumped awake with a gasp, trying to scramble back but held in place by a firm hand, “Easy now, little one. Drink this.”
He stilled, his brow furrowed, seeing his Head of House and not Albus, as he expected. But he should have known that. He was a student now, not a son. Albus wouldn’t have been called unless he were in trouble. He sipped the tea the Professor offered him, closing his eyes as warmth flowed through his body, making him aware of his trembling. She gave him a warm smile and adjusted the covers over him, “Now, why don’t you tell me what your friends were trying to explain.”
He glanced over her shoulder to see six first years clustered around each other and listening in trying to look like they weren’t listening in. But eleven year old boys have no subtlety. Sighing softly, “I...I heard someone mention my...sire, escaped from Azkerban. It...it startled me.”
Professor Lappish nodded to herself, “I see...I believe your father wanted to speak to you in the morning, possibly about that.”
Closing his eyes with a whimper, “So it’s true.”
Smirking just a little at his easy grasp of reality, glancing at the little dragon kneading into his shoulder, “I think you should talk to him in the morning, get all the answers you need. I could tell you you’re perfectly safe here and there is no worry...but you’re too intelligent for those platitudes to soothe you.” Leaning in closer so the young ones behind her didn’t hear, “The professors are all on alert. We’re ready to protect you and I believe your Godfather muttered something about grinding his bones in a potion and damn him to the seventh level of hell.”
Giggling softly, relaxing into his bed, “That sounds like him.” It really did. He could even imagine Severus pacing around his potions lab with his hands behind his back when he said it.
Nodding, noticing his eyes were starting to droop, she moved back and hustled the others to their beds, ignoring their whimpers, “Go to bed, all of you. You’ll have plenty of opportunity for talking in the morning.”
She shooed them to their beds, dimming the lights but keeping them on just enough for a faint glow. That settled a lot of their whimpers and she gave them all a last look before allowing the door to close behind her.
***
Draco’s eyes popped open, shaking away the last of the nightmare. He shuddered, remembering parts of it. Lucius capturing him maybe, but he wasn’t sure. Trembling, he sat up, looking down to realize he’d been changed into his pajamas before being put to bed. He honestly hadn’t noticed earlier. Viola awoke with a little mewl, flapping her wings and hopping to his shoulder. She was just a baby, after all, she couldn’t fly yet.
Entire body shaking, he hunted around for his shoes and crept out of the dormitory. Nibbling on his lip, looking around carefully for Filch, he moved silently down the corridor and retraced their steps back to the moving stairs. Strange. That damn grounds keeper seemed to be everywhere at the same time last year. Why he hadn’t jumped out and attacked him was curious. But he pushed the thought away, Albus the only thing on his mind. Up several flights of steps, past the Gryffindors and down to his portrait, “Interior fânum.”
Draco walked in quickly, freezing to see Albus still up and contemplating the fire. The old man jolted just a little to have such a late night visitor, “Draco?”
Biting back a whimper, he could do nothing for his pace as he threw himself at the Headmaster and held on tightly. Albus caught the boy easily, letting him settle against him and hold onto him. It couldn’t be from an anxiety of sleeping in the dorms. Draco, even in his most needing moments, had never acted so frightened. Understanding flashed through his eyes as he held the distressed boy and let the fear drift away. It was some time later before Draco had calmed, whispering into his father’s shoulder, “It’s not true, is it?”
Rubbing his back soothingly, “I’m afraid so. But that’s why we have passwords on all the portraits, to protect students from being stolen away. And the ghosts have promised to wander the halls at night, looking for anyone out of place.”
“They didn’t see me.”
Smiling slightly to himself, “I am sure they did, Draco. But you are allowed to come to me and they know this. If you had veered off your path to stir up trouble, one of them would have escorted you back to bed.”
Looking back up, eyes bright, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Albus sighed with regret, resting a hand lightly on his cheek, “You’re so young, Draco, and already I’ve given you more to deal with than a boy your age should have to.”
Frowning, only one thought on his mind, “No you haven’t. I have to go to school and I will like my new House.”
“I was thinking of your teaching duties and all that research.”
Shaking his head, not wanting it taken back, “But I want to teach, and I like researching...you’re not taking it away, are you?”
Chuckling softly, “Of course not, son, of course not. What I meant to say is...you are still a boy, innocent in some instances. I...I suppose I’m trying to preserve what innocence hasn’t been robbed from you for as long as I can.”
Shivering and burying his face in Albus’ robes, “I don’t need surprises like that...I need the truth...you know I can handle things if I’m prepared for them...”
Albus nodded to himself that it was very true, “Then I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
Whispering, “That’s why you wanted me to be wary. To stay close to Professor Lupin.”
“Yes.”
Pulling back, “What were those things, on the train?”
Thinking carefully before answering, “Dementors.”
Draco’s eyes widened, “That’s what I was seeing...they said I was screaming and it was...when he...the dungeons...”
Shuddering, gasping for air and scrambling, Albus held him carefully to keep him from harming either of them, “Calm down and listen to me.” Draco nodded and clung to Albus, closing his eyes, “Yes, they did pull a memory from you...which means they will be drawn to you so we will take extra precautions...for the both of you. They don’t normally leave the grounds of Azkerban, but then prisoners have never escaped before. They are trying to find them and so they travel through the country looking for them.”
Whimpering, “But they’re here. That’s why Sev was waiting by the boats. They surrounded Hogwarts so they must think they’re...here-...”
“Draco, do you trust me?” Draco cut off mid rant, staring at the Headmaster for a moment before slowly nodding. Albus’ eyes glinted, “I may just be an old Headmaster but I will not allow him to take you. I promise Draco, you will be safe.” Draco believed him completely and snuggled into his arms, closing his eyes.