A New Family For Harry

Here's a new part of "A New Family For Harry". I had some other writing due in the past few days; otherwise I would have updated sooner, especially since I've been getting *such* encouraging reviews and feeling excited about how this story is going.

ulla, thank you so much for letting me know that spoiled!Draco made you laugh. Laerwen Nieriel, it's fantastic to hear how much you like all of the characters so far. manx65, Harry definitely thinks Lucius is nice -- you'll see more about how much in this chapter! tribebohemian, many thanks for your detailed comments about how the Malfoys come across in this story. It's really helpful to know that they seem authentic to you.

And everyone else who I haven't mentioned by name, thank you, thank you -- your reviews keep me writing!

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Lucius often recalled how he tipped Harry into what was now his bed that very first night, sliding the small boy under the covers easily, and carefully removing his glasses to a nearby table.

They had sat together for a short while only, but certainly longer than Lucius ought to have allowed, the boy wriggling slightly as he pulled Lucius's head down so their mouths would meet, soft lips brushing together.

Childish gratefulness, nothing more.

But of course Lucius was not a child, and the boy's breathy sighs and happy sounds as Lucius had stroked the small of his back and caressed his hair had a less than innocent effect on him.

Of course the boy reacted that way. He was aching for attention. Lucius was less sure why he had permitted it, why he had murmured nonsense as the boy reached up with trembling fingers to card through Lucius's hair.

No matter. It was merely a strange day, and a time of change for them all.

Things would be different, more proper, going forward.

* * *

The next week passed quickly. Harry and Draco were introduced the second morning, and after staring at one another for nearly a full hour, they had taken to playing together every day, only having to be separated because of arguments or tears on rare occasions.

There was an improvement in Draco, of that Lucius had no doubt. Somehow Harry had managed to convey to him the first day when they met that he had found him "like Dudley", and after learning more of what an ill-bred boor that boy sounded, Draco contrived to "play fair," as Harry said, though he insisted it was only because it got him what he wanted.

And Harry too improved, was less hesitant, and became gradually accustomed to small displays of magic. Lucius imagined that larger incidents would no doubt still cause some shock, but there was time to acclimate the child to their household and way of life, years before he would have to attend school or make his name in the wizarding world.

Draco had only recently begun a few lessons, and now the tutors were instructed to include Harry in their teaching sessions as well. This too seemed of benefit to the youngest Malfoy; Draco obviously relished some competition, and enjoyed nothing more than telling Harry how to do this or try that.

The small unpleasantness in the week had nothing to do with his son and his ward, then, but with the meddlesome efforts of Albus Dumbledore.

* * *

"There are good reasons for Harry's placement at his aunt's home," Dumbledore said as he stood before Lucius.

To Dumbledore's right, Severus Snape hovered, though Lucius was not precisely sure why Dumbledore would have brought Snape along on this attempt to persuade and manipulate. Perhaps Dumbledore believed the Malfoy family's friendship with Snape would provide some influence in the matter.

But Severus contributed nothing to convince Lucius that he should in any way reconsider his position.

"If there are good reasons, I am obviously open to hearing them."

Dumbledore smiled, but Lucius did not bother to entertain the idea that there was anything friendly about this encounter.

"Lucius, not all reasons are rational in the way I am afraid you might be expecting."

With a sigh, Lucius tapped his finger against his chin. "You mean to tell me that you think it would have been better to leave the boy with relatives who would only assure he would be bullied, malnourished, poorly educated, kept from affection, and raised among the most uncouth and ignorant people? Surely there can be no benefit to such a situation."

"There are things which may not be spoken of openly," Dumbledore murmured.

Lucius regarded him for a long while. "Of course that is true. But in the case of a child's basic care, I cannot think what those things would be."

Dumbledore bowed his head. "I only hope you will reconsider that government intervention and this unconsidered placement of Harry in your home is not the best path to discover what will protect the child from harm and help him along his way in life."

Lucius narrowed his eyes. "You have mentioned nothing to incline me to the contrary. This meeting is over."

* * *

As the weeks passed, on occasion Lucius would receive an owl from Dumbledore or one of his faction, suggesting that surely Lucius most of all would understand the importance of blood ties, and consequently the reasoning for keeping Harry with his immediate family.

After a time, Lucius began sending a stock reply back:

Harry continues well. The Malfoy family thanks you for your concern.

And Harry obviously was blossoming under this improved care. His reading and maths skills had leapt paces ahead of where the tutors had placed him when he first begun to take lessons with Draco. He was quite a favorite in Draco's little circle of friends, though he told Lucius privately that he thought Goyle "sort of like an ape" and complained that Vince had bad breath.

But he obviously had friends, an advantageous situation for his schooling, and, once he had been equipped with the standard robes for a child of his status and age, he looked the part of a well-born wizard child.

The first time they went to Diagon Alley, people around them whispered and stared to see the Boy Who Lived, tripping alongside the Malfoy family as they shopped and walked, and being bought sundaes at Florean Fortescue's by Lucius Malfoy. But aside from Lucius's acquaintances, none dared approach them directly.

In a year or so's time, Lucius imagined that most of their kind would accept Harry's place, and recognize that the boy belonged with the Malfoys.

* * *

When Harry turned eight, they had a large party for him. They invited the standard members of their set along with their children, as well as a few of Dumbledore's faction simply so that they could see that the boy was getting along well in his current situation.

To Lucius the day was rather tiring, because he couldn't see the charm in pony rides or gifts from Zonko's, but Narcissa had insisted it be done right, and Draco had been full of advice about what he wanted to have again from *his* party, relishing the chance to use Harry's fete as an excuse to bring back various entertainments he had enjoyed.

Harry took it in with a kind of wonder, and participated in every game, every happening, but he was quiet throughout much of the goings on.

Finally, after many of the guests had left, and Draco had had to be wrested away from pummeling the Parkinson girl, Lucius beckoned to Harry, who followed him to his study gratefully.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Lucius asked him.

Harry toed at the carpet as he nodded, but when Lucius gave a slight tap to his thigh, he grinned and rushed to get on Lucius's lap.

"Just worn out from all of it," Harry said with a sigh. He rubbed his face against Lucius's chest, and Lucius considered it an allowance of the day that he did not chastise the boy for doing so with ice-cream stained lips.

"Eight years old -- a very fine age," Lucius remarked soberly.

With a giggle, Harry gave him an enthusiastic hug.

"And all your presents, did they please you?" Lucius asked as the boy stroked Lucius's cheek with a dreamy expression on his face.

"Oh, yes, they were wonderful." Then a hesitant expression flitted over Harry's face. "Do you think -- maybe -- I just wondered..."

Lucius allowed himself to pull Harry tighter and ran his hands up and down the boy's back. He had taken great care to demonstrate only fatherly affection to Harry on the whole, though sometimes, when he was weary from a day at the Ministry, or he had been separated from his boys for too long, god help him, he let himself take a few liberties. Now, after the tedium of the day that had passed, he argued to himself it surely couldn't cause any harm if he nuzzled the boy's sweet smelling hair, or traced the sharp planes of those small shoulder blades.

"Wanted to ask for something else, did you?" Lucius asked, his voice low and amused.

"I just -- since it is my birthday..." Harry pulled back, his arms still around Lucius's neck, and bit his lower lip. "Could I -- a birthday kiss?"

Lucius laughed faintly. "Of course." He moved to kiss Harry, once on each cheek, and then a quick peck on his mouth.

"No, I --" Harry's cheeks colored. "Like the first time," he whispered.

Lucius froze. "What do you mean?"

Harry cast his eyes down. "Sometimes I think I dreamed it. But the first day I came, when you gave me all those clothes and toys and things, you kissed me...not like you do to me and Draco when you say goodnight, or when you return from a trip. It was...different..."

As his mind raced, Lucius contemplated saying that yes, Harry had dreamed that kiss, or that it had been a sort of ritual to welcome the boy to their household, not anything else, or that Harry should not ask such things of adults, because not only was it not proper, it might very well be dangerous.

Instead he heard himself say thickly, "Only because it is your birthday."

And then Harry was moving against him on his lap, flinging himself forward as close as he could get. The boy had grown a little, though he was still small for his age, and so he could bring his perfect red mouth to Lucius's without having to tip his head too far back.

"Harry," Lucius murmured.

He brushed his mouth against the boy's, telling himself it would last only for a few seconds.

But the boy had his arms twined so tight around Lucius's neck, and he stroked Lucius's hair with such funny excited noises...

Soon Lucius could tell that the boy not only had the remnants of ice cream on his face, but that he had the taste of chocolate and strawberries on his lips and tongue, that the burning on his cheeks extended down his small body, warmed by the kiss as it pressed against Lucius's torso.

When Lucius felt Harry shift against him, and realized that in a moment more Harry would be feeling just what large differences there were between men and boys, he reluctantly put Harry off, and made him stand before him.

Harry's eyes were glazed, and his hand went to his swollen lip as he swayed where he stood. "Oh," he said incoherently.

Lucius stifled a groan. He couldn't let the boy rejoin the lingering guests, or even go to speak to Narcissa. He looked so positively debauched, and it was glaringly obvious that he had just been thoroughly kissed.

"Let me escort you to your rooms," Lucius said, and motioned towards a back corridor leading out of his study to the personal wings upstairs.

Harry said nothing, but stumbled a little, ending up leaning against Lucius at the doorway and blinking at him with those rich green eyes.

Lucius cursed himself inwardly, and swung the boy up into his arms to carry him the rest of the way.