Chapter 11

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR, of course. Just puttering about in her world.

It felt rather surreal to Harry to be sitting at a table on the verandah at Malfoy Manor, watching Allie hold both of Richard's hands so the baby could toddle along with her around the garden. Both children were delighted with the obviously magical place, which had flowers running riot despite the approach of English winter outside the garden's confines. He supposed the charms to shelter the place were a bit like having an invisible greenhouse or sunroom.

What made it even stranger was that he was sitting companionably with Lucius Malfoy. Draco and Narcissa had headed indoors, because the Malfoy matriarch was enthusiastic about the suite of rooms she had set up for her son and his partner in the family wing. Glad he'd escaped questions of redecorating the rooms, Harry took a sip of his drink and looked askance when he realized Lucius was studying him and the children.

"It's rather like you and my son were meant to come together," the older man said at last.

"What do you mean?"

"Look at the children. They each have coloring or features that seem to be from each of you. Allie's dark hair and slightly darker coloring and young Richard's green eyes match yours. She's got the Malfoy eyes, of course, but then his hair is nearly as light as mine."

Harry had to agree with the man's observations, at least on the surface. "When I took Allie into London, there were a few people who thought she was my daughter," he admitted. "But I don't think Richard's hair will stay that shade."

"Was his birth mother blonde?"

"She was, although her hair was a bit darker than her brother's. More of a honey blonde, whereas his was about the same color as Narcissa's actually. A bit less platinum, a wee bit more gold."

Lucius surprised Harry by chuckling. "I suspect that the exact shade common to Malfoys is a partly magical issue. I'm told it doesn't usually exist in adults among Muggles without some sort of potion to lighten hair. Narcissa will be glad to hear of the comparison, I think."

"She seems very happy about Draco and me."

Finding the man's intent gaze on himself a bit unnerving, Harry wondered for a moment if the tolerant Lucius he'd heard of for the past decade and seen in past months was about to morph into his earlier self. The man's next words absolved that worry. "We both are. There are many things I would change about the past if I could, but an important one of them would be convincing Draco to marry when I was well aware he had little interest in women."

"How did you know that when he didn't seem to?"

"I may be many things, Harry, but unobservant isn't one of them. In an earlier time, he'd have married, produced an heir, and sought a lover on the side once he realized where his true feelings lay. If I'd had any idea about Muggle technology that could produce a child such as you used, I would never have sought a marriage contract for him at all."

Surprised, Harry studied Lucius for a moment. "Is that why you aren't upset about us?"

"Partially. You have to understand that I want above all things for my son to be happy. After my choices nearly led to his death and only your interference kept him out of Azkaban, I knew I had to change. The issue of an heir pressured me into a further misstep with him, but if I understand anything about you, I doubt you'll object to Draco having another child or two."

"I'm surprised you're willing to delve that far into Muggle technology."

"Since Severus detailed how your son came to be, I've been researching it. It seems the only real obstacle is money, when one wishes a child, and that's something I have plenty of. When the time is right, and you two are ready for another child, I'll have all the appropriate information waiting for you." Lucius sipped his drink, glancing out to watch the children as they played with the animated tendrils of one of the magical plants. "I've even got information that Muggles have the possibility to combine the genetic material from two males."

"That's not done for humans yet." Harry remembered reading about the process of androgenetic embryos, but only in mice, if he recalled correctly. "I don't know that I'd want to risk the possible problems of that level of experimentation, providing you could find someone even willing to do so."

"Perhaps proper funding for research for a lab with a witch or wizard on staff. Magic might be able to ensure safety of the process."

Harry shook his head. "Maybe. But I'm still not sure I'd risk it. Magic was able to offset several issues Richard had from being a micro-preemie, but even magic couldn't repair his hearing. I'd be afraid of similar with any experimental genetics, not to mention technically Draco and I are cousins."

Lucius sighed. "There is that, and I did search far and wide to avoid inbreeding for Draco, even if it ended up a bad choice. It wouldn't bother you to have multiple children you were raising who had only Draco's bloodline?"

"I could care less, to be honest. I know there's a lot tied to having a magical male heir of Malfoy blood, but aside from that, I'd be perfectly happy adopting children neither of us were biologically related to."

After a moment of watching the children intently, Lucius turned back to Harry. "Draco tells me you had some questions about the House of Black and your own options for an heir."

"I don't want to keep the two Houses tied to one heir, if possible, but with no guarantee I'll have another child, I wondered what options I have for setting another Black male as my heir. My first thought was Draco, but he said there might be something in your marriage contract that barred him from inheriting."

"He is correct. Normally, marriage contracts between any of the twelve Ancient and Most Noble Houses require voiding maternal lines of inheritance to avoid the Houses being combined. You're in the situation you're in, Head of two Houses, simply because someone got sloppy when Dorea Black married Charlus Potter. Sirius took advantage of the oversight in designating you as his Heir."

"Draco suggested I reinstate Andromeda to the Black family so my godson could be designated Heir."

"A good solution except for one small problem. There's a Black male closer to you in the normal lines of succession than either your godson or my own son, if Andromeda is restored to her rightful place."

Harry was puzzled for a moment and then laughed at himself for missing the obvious. "Adrian?"

It seemed Lucius was equally amused. "I am not certain that your godfather would appreciate the irony of that situation, you know."

"I am not certain that Severus will appreciate it either." Harry grinned. "But I'll arrange a dinner with Andromeda and Severus soon and talk to them about it. Thank you."

"I'm just glad that my incessant digging into British wizarding family trees is of service. Severus' family name is Muggle, and his mother was disinherited from the Prince line. Foolishly so, on her father's behalf, because his son died without issue and an excised family line can't be returned without a head of family to do it. Rather than allow his half-blood nephew to inherit, Xavier Prince let everything go to a remote male pureblood cousin whose last connection to the Prince name is four generations back. I've met the man, and calling him wizard is a generous appellation since he's barely capable of using a wand."

"I'd like to look at your research sometime. I've heard you've got the best library in Britain concerning the wizarding family lines here. Some of it might be interesting to introduce to my Wizarding Studies class."

"Perhaps at the Christmas holidays we could start looking over my research. I think..."

What else Lucius had been about to say was cut off at an ear-splitting shriek from Richard. As the two men leapt from their chairs to rush to the children on the far side of the garden, the baby's cries changed from fearful to hiccupping sobs.

When they reached the children, Allie had Richard swept high in her arms, eyes closed and sobbing herself while Richard clung to her, tapping her shoulder in his signal for attention. Lucius dropped to his knees next to Allie, rapidly examining both children for signs of harm.

Harry attempted to take Richard from Allie, but his effort caused Richard to hold tighter to the little girl, his sobs becoming angry screeches with each gentle tug. Deciding to leave the boy be for the moment, Harry searched the area while Lucius continued his scans.

The worried grandfather reached out to lift both children into his arms. "I can't find anything medically wrong with either of them, Harry, but she won't answer me at all." He began walking swiftly toward the Manor. "I'll summon the family Healer from St. Mungo's. The garden's well warded so I don't know what could have frightened them so."

Harry wasn't sure what was worse: the crying of the children or the tinge of terror in Lucius Malfoy's voice.

Two hours later, the only change in Allie's state was that she had stopped crying, mostly due to the calming potion the Healer had spelled into her. He'd done similar for Richard, but even the potion's effect hadn't gotten Richard to let go of the girl. Every time they'd tried, the baby had screamed in outrage, and Allie's own agitation increased. They'd decided it was best for the time being that the children be left to cling to each other.

Harry was roused from his worried state by the sound of a familiar stride as Severus' boot heels clicked along the polished manor floors. The black-haired wizard swept into the room, going directly to the children. He sat on the bed and caressed Allie's cheek before turning to Draco. "Narcissa Floo-called me. She thought I might be able to Legilimency since Allie refuses or can't speak."

Draco assented, his hand squeezing Harry's. They both shot Narcissa a grateful look, glad she'd thought of an alternative even under her obvious worry for the children.

Severus aimed his wand and spoke the spell softly, and Harry watched as Allie's eyes glazed over slightly. But the Headmaster pulled away far too quickly, turning to explain. "I have no idea how, but she's got shields up, well-constructed ones. I could break them down, but the process would be painful and could make things worse."

"Don't." Harry nearly choked on the word, remembering his own Occlumency lessons fifth year. They'd made their peace with each other, but that particular set of bad memories persisted for Harry. "Try Richard before you try anything that might hurt her."

With an understanding look, Severus stroked Richard's hair, gaining the baby's attention. As green eyes met black, both were quiet for several minutes, and then Severus went utterly still. After a moment, he leaned in and placed a kiss on Richard's forehead, signing "thank you" to the boy.

"Severus? Did you find anything?" Draco's voice cracked, and Harry dropped his hand to slip an arm around his waist.

The Headmaster seemed to be mulling something over before he answered. "Alcyone is not a Squib."

Narcissa was the first to respond to that revelation. "Is this some sort of accidental magic?"

Severus shook his head. "Not precisely." He met Draco's gaze evenly across the bed. "Your daughter cannot be a Squib because she's a Parselmouth."

When none of the Malfoys responded, Harry spoke up. "Are you certain, Severus?"

"The children were watching some insects among the flowers when a snake appeared at their feet. She snatched the baby up, causing him to scream in fright. She ordered the snake to leave them alone, but then looked terrified and started sobbing. There's nothing wrong with Richard other than he is very attached to Allie and knows something's wrong with her right now."

"She shows symptoms of shock," the Healer broke in. "I wasn't sure why, since neither had any sort of injury. But it's possible the snake frightened her badly enough to induce shock, especially if the baby started screaming and she thought he was injured."

Draco's voice was soft. "Are you sure it was Parseltongue, Severus? He's just a baby, so how would Richard know? He can't hear well, after all."

Severus' expression was grim. "I don't know if it was proximity to Allie or what, but I know Parseltongue when I hear it."

Harry had heard enough of Voldemort's time at Malfoy Manor to understand the collective shudder of the three adult Malfoys at the reminder of why Severus was familiar with the talent. He tried to disperse the darker thoughts. "Then I suppose Allie and I have more in common than messy black hair," he announced, reaching out to take the girl's free hand.

Stroking her wrist with his thumb, Harry spoke softly to the girl. "Allie, sweetheart, I'm sorry the snake scared you so much, but you did a wonderful thing in telling it to go away in its own language. It's the same kind of magic I have, talking to snakes."

It seemed to get through to the girl at last and her eyes fluttered open, wide and fearful. "You can do it too?"

Nodding, Harry gave her a reassuring smile. "The first time I ever talked to a snake was a boa at the zoo. Is this the first time you've ever spoken to one?"

Allie gave a hiccupping little cry of distress and shook her head.

"It's nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart. It makes you a very special little girl, actually." He felt Draco's hand join his own in comforting Allie, glancing sideways to see the blond nodding in agreement.

"But my mother said it was a horrible, wicked thing to know and told me if I ever did it again, I'd be sent far away because it would make me evil."

Not for the first time, Harry felt an intense desire that Tilda Malfoy was still alive to face his wrath. By the gasps from the others in the room, he suspected he wasn't the only one.

"Just because a bad person or two was a Parselmouth doesn't make the talent a bad thing, Allie." Draco's tone was loving. "It just means you're a unique little witch."

Trembling lips moved into a hesitant smile. "It means I'm a witch?"

"Oh yes, my darling. You're our very own special witch." Draco reached out and dragged both children into his lap, cuddling them close. "And a very good big sister for protecting Richard even when you were frightened yourself."

As the little girl drifted into a sleep influenced by the calming potion and the gentle rocking of her father, Harry met the eyes of the other adults in the room. By the look of Lucius and Severus both, there would be an investigation into Tilda's behavior around her daughter. But overlying the anger all of them felt was a bright sense of relief.

There was no longer any doubt that Alcyone Malfoy was a witch, and that was a blessing indeed.