Whelp

this game, old man, he thought uncharitably.

With a sigh, the Headmaster acquiesced. 'Very well. Term begins in three weeks. Surely before then?'

Severus inclined his head. Feeling generous -- and not stupid, despite his current aggravation -- he offered, 'Tomorrow, we shall be gone to tea,' he said quietly. 'At Lucius Malfoy's invitation. I believe his connections at the Ministry have given him some information he wants confirmed.'

'What do you plan to tell him?'

'The truth. Some of it. Harry is my son through adoption. Nothing else need be said.' And though he wouldn't say anything more, Lucius would have ample opportunity to draw his own conclusions.

'Be careful, Severus . . .' Albus' blue eyes twinkled, just a little. 'Though I hardly need say that, do I?'

'No,' Severus murmured. 'You never do.'

That night, Harry suffered some of the worst nightmares he'd had since Severus had first rescued him, and could not be soothed for over an hour. It was his uncle, this time, and that horrid leash the bastard had tied him to, and Severus nearly cried himself, listening to Harry's whimpering and pleas for his uncle to let him go. He rocked the boy in his arms, swearing vows to anyone who might hear that he would see Harry to the other side of this, that he would never give his son any reason to fear him, nor ever allow anything like that to happen to him again.

He almost canceled the visit to the Malfoys, but decided not to, after much contemplation the next day. Lucius would not take kindly to being rebuffed, and Severus' own standing was not so secure that he wanted to insult the older, more influential man. Besides, perhaps Harry could use a playmate, and though Draco was a bit of a spoilt brat, he was at least well mannered. Mostly.

So it was that at half-three, he took Harry on another Floo trip, this one to Malfoy Manor.

---

Though he stumbled a bit coming out of the Floo, Father caught him before he fell, and Harry looked around at the huge room he'd landed in with wide eyes. Father cleaned them both off of soot with a wave of his wand, even as a tall woman with pale blond hair tied back in a single braid stepped towards them and offered her hand to Father.

'Severus. So good to see you again.' Though her words were nice, her face was cold, and her mouth barely moved.

Father took her hand and bent his head, touching his lips to it. 'Narcissa. A pleasure as always.' Then his hand sought Harry's shoulder, and Harry moved forward, into the woman's regard. 'This is my son, Harry. Harry, this is Madam Malfoy.'

'Pleased to meet you, ma'am,' Harry said, just as he'd been instructed.

The woman's face was very still, but a spark of something gleamed in her eyes. 'So polite,' she murmured. 'You may call me Aunt Sissy, Harry.'

He looked up at Father, who inclined his head. 'Thank you, ma'am . . . er, Aunt Sissy.'

She turned and beckoned to someone by the door. 'Draco, come and meet your uncle's son.'

A boy about Harry's age came into view. He had the same pale hair as his mother, a pointed face and clear, gray eyes. He looked Harry up and down, almost like Aunt Petunia did sometimes, and he felt really uncomfortable, like he was wanting in some way. But he was wearing new clothes, too, ones Father had picked out, even though Harry complained he wouldn't be able to play in such nice things, not in a garden, surely! Father had explained that they were due for tea, and, at least this time, it was unlikely there would be any playing with Draco.

But Harry made himself return the boy's stare, instead of looking at his shoes like he wanted, and finally Draco seemed to decide something, 'cause he held out his hand. 'I'm Draco,' he said.

Harry smiled and shook his hand. 'Pleased to meet you, Draco. I'm Harry.'

Draco gave him a brief smile. 'Mother, I'm going to show Harry my room.'

'Very well, darling. Tea will be in half an hour.'

Draco heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes a little. Harry stared at him, astonished. 'Yes, Mother.' He grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him towards the door. 'Come on! You've got to see my new broom!'

Harry laughed, delighted, as the two of them ran towards a huge set of stairs that would have done Hogwarts proud. 'You like flying?'

'Of course!' Draco scoffed, taking the stairs two at a time. 'Who doesn't?'

'My father.' Harry wrinkled his nose a bit, trotting up behind his new friend. 'He says if we were meant to fly, we'd have wings. I like flying, though,' he added quickly, in case there was any doubt. 'I got my own broom just this week!' He didn't mention that he'd never even seen a flying broomstick before he's gotten his own. Draco didn't need to know that, surely.

'Is it one of the baby brooms?' Draco led him along a wide hallway to a tall door of some kind of dark wood, and pushed it open.

Harry frowned. 'No . . .'

'Is it a real one, then?' Draco turned and gave him another appraising look. 'Can you go as high as you want?'

With a sigh, Harry admitted, 'No. But I'm not a baby. I'm seven!'

'Don't look seven,' Draco countered. 'Here. This is my room.' He gestured to the huge space, with dormer windows hung with sheer curtains in silver and green. A tall, massive four poster was in the middle of one wall, and had drapes around it that were pulled back with heavy silken cords. One of three wardrobes gaped open, showing it to be full of clothes. Shelves lined the room, filled with books, toys and trinkets, and Harry stared at it all.