Tribond

Tribond
Chapter 3 - Explanation

They found him in the library sitting with arms wrapped tightly around his knees, staring blankly into the fire. Although Severus kept his voice low; he startled the dark headed wizard. Harry flinched and bolted as Lucius reached to steady him, strong arms caught him as Severus halted his retreat. Face pressed into the chest of his captor, Harry slowly calmed as the scent of cinnamon worked its way into his panic, “Sev?”

“Yes, pet, it’s me. Lucius and Draco won’t harm you. They would like to talk if you are up to it,” Severus soothed and explained.

Tea was delivered, they seated themselves after taking a cup, and Harry chose to sit on the floor. Severus looked on amused as the young man was turned so the elder could guard his back. Marshalling his courage, Harry looked up at the father and son who joined them. Striking in their similarities; long silver blonde hair, aristocratic good looks, the air of privilege that each wore. Fascinating as their similarities it was the differences that captured and held Harry’s attention. Draco was an innocent juxtaposed against the life time of experience that honed and shaped the elder Malfoy into the powerful wizard that he was. It was the eyes that told the story, the haunted look that spoke of untold horrors witnessed by Lucius. Awareness that at any moment the unexpected could and would happen, a weariness of soul and spirit that attracted and called to Harry on a visceral level. Draco was capable of attracting and holding ones attention, but it was Lucius you would be riveted to watch. The stunned look in the pair’s eyes told Harry that they had viewed his memories and he wondered what he could say.

Lucius studied the young man sitting at his partner’s feet. To the casual observer it was a relaxed pose, to one who spent a lifetime living by subtle body language it read very differently; the tension holding the body in place, the precise movements that steadied and bolstered courage to remain in the room with what amounted to the enemy. Harry’s deliberate placement spoke to a trust in the one seated behind and to one side of him seemingly at odds with the public perception that an entire world held of the unlikely pair. Taking the initiative Lucius broke the tension and began to speak.

“Mister Potter, I can understand you wanting to avoid the people you once called friends. What I can’t understand is why you would come to Severus. He didn’t treat you much differently than they did.”

“My name is Harry, please use it. Severus treated me the same as he did every other student at Hogwarts, despite the conclusion you may have come to, he protected me.”

Looking over a shoulder to meet the onyx eyes, Harry continued, “I have always had the deepest respect for Severus. I trust him unconditionally. Sev has protected me even as the risk to his own life increased significantly. I’m here as this is the last place save Malfoy manor any would think to look for me. The public façade of hatred has provided a haven to which I can escape. Severus allows me to simply be me. He provides safety and rules; he doesn’t expect me to be the public image or to know everything. I can depend on him to tell me what to do and when to do it, knowing the whole time he has my health and welfare in mind. He tells me if I cross boundaries that I shouldn’t and encourages me to stretch in new directions.”

Harry caught the flare of jealousy and anger in the silver eyes and hurried to allay the fears, “No, Lucius what you are thinking is wrong. I’ve made a mess of explaining, we have a symbiotic relationship that works for us even if it was forced by outside influences.”

Draco was confused and felt he was missing an important part of the conversation so he asked the obvious question.
“Potter, are you having sex, a relationship with my godfather?”

The elder wizards both choked on their tea as Harry fell over laughing. He sobered instantly as feelings of hurt lashed through his bond with Severus and he apologized, “Sev, I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you or the thought of sex with you. I’ve thought for a while you are a highly attractive man, if not for the relationship you have with Lucius I would be pursuing you.” Turning back to his classmate Harry continued, “No Draco, we are not having sex of any kind. I can’t imagine Severus would ever be interested in a skinny ugly little freak like me.”

Draco gaped like a large mouthed bass, looking to the older wizards he was pleased to note they were just as stunned by the utter lack of self confidence and total ignorance that Harry’s statement displayed. “Are you insane? Do you ever look in a mirror? I’m straight and even I … I …. ,” Draco was speechless, eyes wide in shock.

“Harry what my ever so eloquent offspring is attempting to convey is there is nothing wrong with your looks. You are attractive, powerful and any witch or wizard would be ecstatic to be in a relationship with you,” Lucius explained.

Harry’s look of disbelief prompted Severus to pull him up to meet his eyes. “Harry, have I ever lied to you?” As the dark head nodded no he continued, “Believe that you are attractive. I see a beautiful young man with luminous green eyes, toned golden skin and a body muscled by training and Quidditch. You are desirable in every way that matters. Look in the mirror there and see what I do, what we do.”

Harry reluctantly looked at himself before meeting the dark eyes in the reflection, the conviction and appreciation was more than the young man could handle. Tears filled the green eyes as he turned to bury his face against Severus’ shirt. “No one has ever, all they ever said was …ugly freak. All anyone ever does is stare or point. I’ve never…”

Severus was at a loss and simply wrapped his arms around the younger man comforting him. Moving back to the seating they were halted by Lucius and pulled down to sit on the sofa beside him. Lucius leaned in to kiss Severus trapping Harry between them. Harry could feel the press of the warm body and hear the kiss taking place over his head. Instead of feeling trapped or uncomfortable he felt the tension ease as a new sense of peace and safety settled over and in him.

Draco avidly watched from a chair and was struck by the vision the three made. He had always known of the relationship between his father and Severus and always felt there was something missing when they were together for any amount of time. Seeing the older wizards flanking Harry, he felt as though the missing piece had been found. They looked complete and whole for the first time.

“Enough with the mushy stuff,” Draco declared. “I am declaring Operation Harry officially underway.”

“What is Operation Harry,” asked Lucius curious as to the gleam in the eye of his son.

“We are going to insure that Harry becomes the wizard he should have been raised to be. First up is getting rid of those hideous glasses. Uncle Sev can make a potion to fix his eyes.”

Hope shined softly in the green eyes as they looked to Severus, “Is that possible? Can you really fix my eyes?”