Chapter Text
Severus watched the bundled baby writhe in his blanket, startlingly familiar green eyes staring up at him. He couldn’t believe Albus would think this was the best idea. Yes, let’s leave a baby wizard with the family of muggles who despise anything related to magic. Severus frowned as he recalled the disgusted glares Petunia would give him during the summer. He couldn’t just leave Lily’s child here. But James’s… No. Severus refused to take in the child of his former tormentor. Bright green eyes blinked sleepily at the man.
Severus could still feel the cold body of Lily in his arms. For Lily, then. For her memory, and his love for her, Severus would protect the child. Harry. He scoffed as he kneeled to pick up the bundle of blankets. A Potter wouldn’t ever come under his care. No, Harry Potter died. Severus grabbed the letter Albus left on the blanket, crumbling it before stuffing it in his pocket. Harry Evans would rejoin the wizarding world soon enough. Severus was sure he could stop the child from becoming a replica of his father.
With a loud crack, Severus apparated from Privet Drive, landing in the safety of his home. And that was when the impulsiveness of his decision crashed around him. What was he thinking!? Going behind Albus’s back, kidnapping Harry Potter, and planning to raise him? Severus hadn’t the slightest idea on how to raise a child. Transfiguring a chair into a crib, Severus put Harry down as he started pacing. There was nobody he could turn to, nobody he trusted. McGonagall would surely tell Dumbledore as soon as he confided in her. The half giant oaf was as loyal as a dog, and, not that Severus had further considered it, Sirius had disappeared. How un-godfatherly like.
Godfather. Severus was a godfather. The Malfoy’s. Severus glanced at the now asleep Harry. At the lightning shaped scar. The Malfoy’s had been plotting to escape the Dark Lord’s grasp for years now. They should accept Severus and Harry with open arms. Maybe even set up playdates for Harry and Draco.
Severus set to his desk, finding a paper and quill. A quick note should make due. Nothing too… obvious, should Dumbledore already anticipated his plans. Just a swift mention of having a child and needing advice. Finding his owl, a snowy owl named Asphodel, Severus sent the message to the Malfoy’s, expecting a reply by morning. For now, a nap was mandatory. Severus carefully levitated the crib, gliding it up the stairs and towards the bedroom. He set it in the far corner, and after checking to ensure Harry wasn’t bothered, collapsed into his bed. What a stupid thing Severus had done.
Not even a full 5 hours later, a loud banging at the front door awoke both Severus and Harry. Harry was wailing and squirming, probably hungry and frightened by the noise. Carefully scooping the baby into his arms, Severus hurried downstairs, opening the door to a distraught Lucius and an amused(yet tired and worried) Narcissa, who was holding Draco.
“You’re needlessly loud,” Severus scowled, letting the Malfoy’s in. Narcissa was carrying a sleeping Draco. “You woke Harry.” Ah, the reason they visited, likely.
“Harry?” Lucius repeated, eyeing the child nervously. “A- a different Harry, right? Not.. Not Harry Po-” “Harry Potter is dead.” Severus immediately interrupted. “This is Harry Evans. And you woke him up.”
Lucius frowned. “Severus,” he started, hands twitching nervously. He had started twitching at some point during the war. Probably an after-effect of all the cruciatus curses thrown his way. “Seriously. Is..” He gasped when Severus brushed Harry’s hair from his forehead, revealing the scar. “Harry Potter is dead,” he repeated, quieter this time. “Albus- Dumbledore was leaving him to be broken and abused by Lily’s sister and her family. I couldn’t let the last memory of Lily get hurt,” he said, almost weakly.
Narcissa handed Lucius the sleeping dragon and reached over, gently taking Harry into his own hands. “He’s darling,” she cooed, soothing the softly crying baby. “Just cranky.” She walked away with Harry, intent on caring for the child. Severus watched blankly. She just took his baby. “I assume you got my message?” Severus asked, a little, tiny bit hopeful. Not that he’d admit it.
“Obviously,” Lucius grumbled, cradling Draco ever so delicately as to not wake the sleeping dragon. “‘Sissa wanted to come immediately. I barely managed to convince her you were asleep.”
Severus suddenly realized just how interesting the rug design was. He wasn’t aware they cared for him that much. Sure, they named him godfather to their kid, but…. There wasn’t a but. They trusted him enough to name him Draco’s godfather. That meant they cared about him. Severus felt a fluttering warmth in his heart.
“Much appreciated. I don’t… I’m not properly knowledgeable in taking care of a child. I would appreciate some..” Severus grit his teeth. “...some help.” How humiliating. But was it?
Lucius glanced down at Draco, a fond smile on his face. “Naturally. I was convinced you had some affair you never told me about. Thankfully it was just Harry. He doesn’t seem like a… a brat. He’ll be easier than Draco.”
Severus scoffed. “You’ve turned him into a brat. I have to undo whatever entitlement Potter put into him.” Narcissa returned, holding a giggling Harry, playing with Narcissa’s hair. Severus reached out for Harry, but Narcissa didn’t hand him over. “How do you intend to take care of him?” Narcissa questioned. “I hope you don’t mean to feed him burnt toast everyday.” So she visited the kitchen.
Lucius grimaced. “*Burnt* toast? Severus-” Narcissa shot Lucius a look, shutting the man up.
“I can lend you Lucius’s parenting books,” Narcissa suggested, leveling Severus with a scary look. “Or,” she glanced around the old house. “We can give you and Harry a room in the Manor.”
Severus gulped. “A room in the manor?” He repeated. “That’s not- you don’t have to. The books would be enough.”
“Severus there is a leak in the kitchen, and mold in the bathroom. I won’t have you raising a child in this house.”
Severus learned why Lucius never spoke back to Narcissa, as he found himself packing his belongings a few minutes later.
The next hours had Lucius showcasing rooms like some sort of glorified realtor across Malfoy Manor. Severus chose a conjoined room, one for himself and one for Harry. It would do for now, Narcissa had promised they could move rooms when Harry was older.
Severus didn’t bring much with him. Just clothes and a few keepsakes. Harry didn’t have anything though. Narcissa was kind enough to lend some of Draco’s clothes, and Severus was determined to return them before the month was up. He didn’t feel like being in debt to the Malfoy’s, no matter how kind and helpful they’ve been.
Harry was a happy baby. Or.. toddler? Severus wasn’t sure what to call him. He was a year old, Narcissa said he was in that inbetween of being a baby or a toddler. Severus settled on calling Harry a baby. Harry was sitting on the plush rug in the family room, babbling nonsense as he played with Draco, who seemed curious about the newcomer. (“Hasn’t thrown a tantrum since he saw Harry. Harry’s gonna stay here forever,” Lucius had hissed to Severus during lunch.)
Severus kept a keen eye on Harry while keeping idle conversation with Lucius and Narcissa, pointedly avoiding the elephant in the room. How was he supposed to bring up the fact that their… Lord was defeated by the giggling boy before them? Severus took advantage of the first yawn Harry took as the sunset. “Thank you for the hospitality,” Severus mumbled as he left the family room, conflicted on his next steps. Definitely get Harry some clothes. Maybe some toys too.
Severus glanced down at the emerald green eyes slowly fluttering shut. A child’s potions book should work as a first book. Better get started on stamping out Potter’s influence sooner rather than later.
Severus settled Harry into his new crib, making sure to tuck him in like how Narcissa taught him. Once Harry was set, Severus turned to his own bed, and spotted an owl outside the window. Severus’s stomach churned as he recognized the seal on the letter. Dumbledore.
Upon grabbing the letter and shooing away the bird, Severus paced the room nervously before forcing himself to read it. Severus then felt foolish for thinking Dumbledore would know about his… kidnapping of Harry. The old man just wanted to be praised for his grand idea to have Harry raised by muggles. Severus threw the letter into the glowing embers of the fireplace.
He would have to cut ties with the man, he decided. Slowly. Subtly. It wouldn’t do well to raise his son with such a demented fool around.