Chapter Text
“Just a moment, Severus, my boy.” The voice of the Headmaster spoke up. Severus turned towards the elderly man who was making his way towards him. “If you would follow me to my office, my boy.”
“And what need could you possibly have for them, Albus?” Minerva asked, her Scottish brogue showing how little patience she has for the headmaster.
“I’m afraid young Harry will need to be suitably punished for his actions and I cannot be sure that Severus will let the boy go without consequence.” Albus said, attempting to portray a wizened headmaster.
“Well, unfortunately for you, you have no say. According to the school charter, parents employed in the school have the only say pertaining to their child. Including any detention given is to be overseen by their parents, as well you know. This rule was put in place so there is no conflict of authority.”
“Just as well, Minerva. However there is nothing against me giving advice or suggestions. I just want to ensure Harry will understand his actions have consequences.”
“And he will, old man. Your nose is not needed in our family matters.” Severus butted in. With nothing left to say, he turned and walked away, leading Harry back to his quarters.
When they walked in, Sirius was sitting on the sofa in the small sitting area reading what looked like one of Severus’ more obscure transfiguration texts. Hearing the portrait door open, he looked up with a confused look.
“I thought you guys just left for dinner. It can’t be over already.” Sirius stated more like a question.
“It seems our son has more of my temper at this age.” Sirius winced, remembering how volatile Severus had been at that age. He should know. He was at the receiving end of it more times than he could count. “He assaulted a couple students when they insulted Miss Granger. In the middle of the great hall.”
Hadrian stood by the closed door refusing to lower his head or show any kind of remorse which was easy since he didn’t really feel any.
“Well then,” Sirius said, rising from his seated position. “I’ll leave you to it.” He kissed Severus on the cheek and walked over to Hadrian to give him a brief hug before heading to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Severus sat in his armchair by the fire and motioned for his son to take a seat. Severus was Head Dominant of his family and knew that punishments would be left to him, however, after losing his family he was unsure of himself. He knew how to address the situation, but he didn’t know how it would be received by his new-found son. He didn’t want Hadrian to hate him. He also knew that Hadrian had to learn how to handle punishments himself as he had seen the bond between Miss Lovegood and Draco. If things were going to progress how Severus thought, Hadrian was going to be blood adopting the two. Hopefully not any time soon. He was too young to be a grandfather.
“Hadrian, I want you to understand. You are not being punished for standing up for your friend or your beliefs. It is because you acted in front of others. The headmaster, no less. You are already in a dangerous position, having his constant attention. He can use your actions against you. For your punishment, I want you to write me a list of all the possible consequences that could occur from the Headmaster using this scene against you. I will not tell you how many to write or how long to write. The goal is for you to understand how dangerous he is while you think.”
“Yes, Father.” Hadrian knew he screwed up. He knows he need to learn how to control his anger, otherwise he might do something he may one day regret. Especially when it came to Albus Too-Many-Titles Dumbledore. The man had a powerful hold in the world. He used it scarcely and very carefully, but the man did use it. As Harry wrote the list his father had assigned him, the possible repercussions began to take hold in his mind. What if The old man used this scene to accuse his father of being a bad influence and have guardianship taken away? Or has Harry declared dangerous or a threat to the other students? No. Harry couldn’t go back to the way things were. Back to the Dursley’s and under the headmaster's thumb.
“Hadrian, breathe! Come on, son, that's it. In. Out. You’re okay. I’ve got you.” The calm tenor of his fathers voice broke through the panic attack Harry had worked himself into. The slim hand of his mother rubbing circles into his back. He looked into his mothers eyes and saw them filled with concern.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.” Harry whispered. Sirius pulled Harry into his arms, not caring how big his fourteen year old child was. It was still his baby.
“I’m glad you see what could happen should you do something so reckless again, but I will put your mind at ease. You never have to worry about losing us again. Now that we know the danger the old coot poses, your father and I have already taken measures to ensure you never end up back with those monsters.” Sirius said soothingly.
“Your mother is right. That…family…has already gone…missing. I do not take too kindly to people mistreating what is mine. Dumbledore may have power, but so do I. Magically, I may even match the old man. That is why he never touched me directly as he did the two of you. He has a heavy political sway, but it is lessening as the years pass. Especially with Fudge in the office. The Minister believes Dumbledore is out for his position so he is very much not a fan of the old man.” Severus got up from his seat and knelt down in front of his son. “Look at me, Hadrian. If that man tries to take my family from me again, there is no place he can hide where I won’t find him. There is no place on this earth or the next that won’t feel my wrath until you are safe in my arms. If I have to, I will set the man aflame in front of the entire Ministry of Magic.”
His fathers words settled a fear that had burrowed itself in the back of Hadrian's subconscious as he took in the sincerity in his fathers eyes. He knew the man in front of his would turn the world red for him and his mother. The teen smiled and sighed.
“Thank you, Father.” Hadrian suddenly felt drained. As if he had run 12 marathons and then studied for Professor Binns class for three hours after.
“Go ahead and go to sleep, love. Your father and I will see you in the morning.”
“Yes, Mum. Goodnight.”
The two adults settled on the love seat and watched their son clumsily make his way to his room. They sat cuddled in comfortable silence for what felt like forever before Sirius got up to head to their room.
“When they take you away for burning Albus to ashes, know that I will tear Azkaban apart brick by wet brick as the dementors run in fear of fury.”
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As Hadrian walked into the great hall for breakfast, silence fell. He expected it after last night's show. He knows there will be new whispers of his becoming the next Dark Lord, but he was used to it. Their love for his changed with the wind so he didn’t even bother to look ashamed. It wasn’t if he was sorry he did it so he kept his head up and confidently strolled to the Slytherin table before pausing and making a detour. The whole Hall watched as he made his way to the Gryffindor table in silence. He didn’t bother with words as he grabbed the exiled bushy-haired fourth year by the arm and dragged to the Slytherin side. The fourth years slide apart to make room for him and Hermione. Not one of them even daring to glance in the girl’s direction. Good. So they got the message.
“Hello, Papa.” Luna said as she slid into Harry’s other side.
“Good Morning, little moon. How did you sleep?” Harry asked as noise slowly returned around him. He watched as the young ravenclaw began to fidget. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to sleep there anymore, Papa.” Luna whispered. “The Nargles hid my mattress. I had to sleep on the floor.”
Fury ran through him like the Hogwarts Express. He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled through his nose. Pushing his anger to the back of his mind.
“Okay. Papa will take care of it. You will not have to sleep there anymore.” Luna’s smile released some of the tension in his shoulders. Now he just has to figure out how to fix it to keep that smile there.
“Um… Harry?” Hermione whispered from his other side. Seeing that she had his attention even as he loaded his plate and Luna’s, she continued. “Are you sure you want me to sit here? I don’t want to cause anymore problems.”
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have brought you over here. You are still my friend. No matter what anyone thinks or says.”
Hermione nodded and filled her own plate. Happy she still had at least one friend. Gryffindor house has not been too kind to her last night after what happened and she highly doubt it would change as she was again “sitting with the enemy”, but Harry was her first friend and she could care less how they felt about it.