Author: HatefulRodeo

Story: Of Unexpected Deliveries and Doorsteps

Notes: A/U, OOC, Yaoi between Severus and Lucius (for now until Harry gets older and I pair him up with Theo); they have been together since their Hogwarts days. Essentially, I'm throwing a total wrench into the Harry Potter books. Severus is loyal to himself but leaning more toward the Light since the Dark Lord is certifiably insane not because of his love for Lily Evans. He cares for her but not as a lover and warns Dumbledore about the threat to her family because he doesn't want to see her dead. He doesn't take a vow to protect Harry but he does agree to spy for the Light while spying for the Dark Lord. However, the Dark Lord finds and murders Lily and James anyway and Harry lives as per Canon; after that point it will change severely. Oh and Harry is not a Horcrux. There will be Horcruxes but only two; the diary and the locket. The locket is kept at Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement for the purposes of my story. One last thing Harry is delivered to Petunia's on November Second. HOLY SHITE THAT IS A LONG A/N! Enjoy Lovelies!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I will make no money from the posting of this story.

~*~*~*Chapter 1*~*~*~

Our story begins on the morning of November Second when a horse like, blonde, woman opens the door to fetch the morning delivery of milk...

Petunia Dursley was normal, thank you very much. She had no time, or patience, for freakishness; that was why she cut all ties with her once beloved younger sister, Lily. She just couldn't tolerate the weirdness her sister immersed herself in at that school. And then she'd met Vernon, a man who treasured his normalcy above all else. What would he think if he knew about her sister's abnormality?

He'd divorce her and take her Diddidums away. That was something she would never allow to happen. She loved her son too much to lose him and if severing ties with her last remaining blood relation was what had to be done then so be it. If Petunia only knew what a shock she would face when she opened the door to collect the morning delivery of fresh milk.

Upon opening the front door the blonde woman looked down and spotted the milk along with another unplanned, and equally unexpected, delivery; a basket wherein lied a small child no older than two. The boy, she assumed it was a boy due to his blue blanket, had a crown of soft black hair and pale skin flushed with sleep and probably cold as it was November and the baby was only covered by that thin blanket.

Petunia was curious as to why a child would be left on her doorstep? From looking at the boy she could see nothing wrong with it. Filled with a burning curiosity, something she usually squashed ruthlessly, Petunia crouched down and examined the basket closely and noticed a letter tucked into the folds of the blanket. The envelope had her name scrawled on the front in loopy script.

Her curiosity spiking higher she grasped the letter and opened it tentatively; what was written inside made her heart sink and her blood freeze all at once. Lily and James Potter were dead and she was expected to look after their son, Harry. Harry, apparently that was the name of the little boy on her doorstep.

Petunia was stunned for a moment before anger set in; how dare this Dumbledore character assume she would take him! The blonde woman knew the man was the Headmaster at that freakish school, Hogwarts, but other than that she knew not a thing about him, or how to contact him to take Harry back. Not to mention she was pretty sure Lily would never have wanted Petunia to raise her child in the event of her death; her red headed, now deceased, sister knew how the Dursleys felt about magic.

She couldn't keep him here! She couldn't! It was impossible! Vernon would find out about her sister's magic and he would leave her. Even if her husband stayed this child's life would be filled with hate and abuse! Vernon would not stand for anyone, or anything, messing with his normal, ordinary, pleasant life. And Harry would do just that; first with his mere presence in the house then with his magic when it started to manifest! No, no, the boy needed to go!

Thinking quickly she made a plan; she would leave her sister's child with the only magical person she knew of besides Lily and James; Severus Snape, that awful, poor, boy who used to live near them when her family lived on Spinner's End. A soft whimper brought her out of her racing thoughts and she looked at the waking babe.

The child had Lily's pretty eyes, bright, shining, emerald green orbs. Looking into those eyes Petunia knew she had to get this boy away from her home before anyone else found him. The neighbors would ask question; questions she had no desire to answer, ever. And Vernon would surely want to know about the child's presence as well. No, it would be better if no one ever knew the boy had been left on the doorstep of Number Four Privet Drive.

With a deep breath she picked up the basket and went back inside. Closing the door, Petunia made her way quietly, and quickly, up the stairs to her sleeping son's room. Once inside she quickly changed the boy's soiled diaper and left, thankful that Dudley was still sound asleep. After that Petunia went to the kitchen to prepare a bit of mashed banana for the hungry child. She may not like magic but this was a child, her sister's child, and Petunia would not let him go hungry.

Once the little boy was fed, and his face cleaned of the banana decorating it, she picked up the envelope and added a few lines for Snape. She hoped he was still living in Cokeworth and that her early morning drive would not be for naught. When she finished writing she left a note for her husband, explaining her absence; Petunia claimed she needed to visit the grocery store and run a few errands before the shops became busy.

Vernon wouldn't question her; the man had no reason to. Besides it was Monday and Vernon didn't go into work until nine thirty on Mondays; Petunia would be back well before then as it was only after six. The drive to Cokeworth would take about an hour and a half and she didn't anticipate hitting any traffic at this hour.

Resolved she collected a packet of diapers, wipes, clothes, formula, and anything else she could think of that a baby would need, and placed them in a brown paper grocery bag. She wouldn't leave Snape without a means to care for the child for a few days. Eventually, the man would have to visit a shop and restock but for now he would have what was needed to care for Harry.

With a sad smile she glanced down at the child in the basket; the boy had such intelligent eyes. It almost seemed like he knew what was happening and was resolved to it. But that was ridiculous wasn't it? According to the letter the boy was only fifteen months old but those eyes showed a maturity to them. But then again the boy did witness his mother's death so who knew the effect that would have on the boy's mind?

"Alright, Harry, it's time to go. I'm sorry I couldn't keep you. I may not have liked my sister but she was my sister, nonetheless. But you'll have a better life where I'm taking you. Vernon wouldn't take well to having one of your kind in his home and he would treat you badly; I can't allow that to happen."

The boy appeared to nod which made her chuckle; "Such a smart child. Now, let's go and get this over with." Reaffirming her resolve she made her way out of the house and settled Harry into Dudley's car seat in the back seat. Petunia slipped into the driver's seat and with a flick of the key they were on their way to Spinner's End and Severus Snape.

~*~*~*POV Change~*~*~*

Severus Snape was still in shock! His Lord was dead, well not dead but gone. Gone! And for now the wizarding, and muggle, world would have peace. That peace was given to them by none other than his nemesis', and former best friend's, son; Harry James Potter. It curdled his gut that Lily had to die but according to Dumbledore it was her sacrifice that allowed Harry to live on and destroy the Dark Lord's body.

The aged Headmaster had cautioned that Voldemort would be back; how the Dark Lord planned to come back the old coot wouldn't say. Severus pushed his useless thoughts away and made his way to the small kitchen in his house on Spinner's End; he, along with all the Hogwarts' staff, was given a few days off to celebrate the fall of You-Know-Who. Severus was still trying to adjust to the fact that he wouldn't have to deal with spying on a snakefaced madman anymore.

He was free, at least for a little while! There was so much he wanted to do, so many places he wanted to go, and so many potions he wanted to brew, now that he had free time. With a small smile on his face he set about making a strong cup of Darjeeling; his favored tea. The sound of the wards surrounding his property being tripped broke him out of content mindset and immediately put him on guard.

Dumbledore had spoken for him so the Ministry was forced to bugger off; they wouldn't be throwing him into Azkaban any time soon but what if the intruder wasn't an Auror or Ministry worker? What if it was a Death Eater coming to pay him a visit? He wasn't sure how that would go? Did his fellow Death Eaters know about Dumbledore's support or would they be seeking sanctuary with him?

Wand in hand he crept to the front door and cautiously looked out the window next to the door; he saw nothing but a car speeding away. That was odd; his damned curiosity peeked he opened the door slowly, ready to defend himself from any attacks should they come. However, no one was there. A small cooing noise made him look down and into bright green eyes.

Stunned, Severus just stood there looking at the baby in the basket on his doorstep. What the fuck?! Why was there a child on his stoop? Befuddled he saw the letter stuffed into the side of the carrier and opened it. His jaw was on the floor by the time he finished reading; Dumbledore had left Harry, a magical child, with Petunia Dursley! Severus couldn't think of a worse person to raise Harry! The horse faced bitch despised magic and everything else about it.

Well, apparently, not everything as she was trying to do right by her sister's son. The woman admitted in writing that the now orphaned boy would not have a good life with her family but why the hell had she chosen him?! Well that answer was obvious, and also in the letter; Severus Snape was the only magical person she knew. However, what he would do now was unclear.

A louder squealing noise brought his attention back to the brat on his doorstep; "Buggering hell! Alright, let's get you inside until I figure out what to do with you! Blasted Dumbledore! Blasted Dark Lord! Blasted James Potter! Blasted whole damn world!" The baby shrieking with laughter made him smile, grudgingly; "Indeed, child, indeed."

Snatching up the basket and the bag full of baby supplies he turned around and went inside. The snarky Potions Master made his way back into the kitchen and completed making his tea, he decided against adding a large amount of Fire Whiskey; he did have a small child to look after. Harry watched him from his place on the kitchen table the whole time. The boy was strangely quiet for one so young; Draco never shut up so this was a welcome surprise. Maybe, caring for Harry wouldn't be so bad.

Besides who else would? Petunia made it plain she didn't want the boy and Sirius Black, the child's useless dogfather, had ditched him in favor of seeking out Pettigrew to exact his revenge. Now the great twat was in Azkaban; no trial was given or asked for. That seemed odd to Severus, especially since Dumbledore knew the Black outcast was innocent of his alleged crimes.

But Severus knew there was more to Albus Dumbledore than that finely crafted grandfatherly mask; the man was devious when he had to be and twisted things to suit his needs. He wondered why he'd allowed Harry to go to Petunia's? Lily had spoken about her sister's hatred of magic often enough and his former Headmaster was well aware of it.

So why in the seven hells did he send Lily's child to the muggles? With an eye roll he pressed his circular thoughts down with his Occlumency Shields. It would do no good to ponder, and stress, about things he would not find the answers to at the moment; if Severus ever found the answers to his questions at all. Sighing, he looked at the little brat on his table; "So you're fifteen months, then? Draco is already toddling around everywhere but I'm not sure if all babies are at this age?"

Harry babbled something while clenching his little fist, pulling an unwillingly given laugh out of the serious Potions Master; "Alright, then brat let's see what you can do, hmm." A happy coo from Harry was his answer. Sweeping up his cup of tea and the basket containing his new charge Severus went into the living room to see what would happen.

He sat himself on the floor near the coffee table, placed his cup of tea out of the way, and removed Harry from the basket, sitting him down on the worn, but soft, rug. The boy sat there for a bit but then began to wiggle onto his hands and knees before pushing himself onto his little feet. The little child then began to waddle his way over to Severus, a bright happy smile on his little lips.

Severus felt uncharacteristically proud that the boy could walk so well and when the child came to stand next to him he snatched the boy into his arms to tickle his tummy. If anyone saw the stoic, sometimes cold, Potions Master at that moment they would have called St. Mungo's to schedule a psych consult for Severus.

But he couldn't help it! The boy was adorable and seemed quite smart. And as he thought before the boy had no one to care for him. Dumbledore threw him away and gave him to hateful muggles. His idiotic dogfather abandoned him for petty revenge so that left him; not the best choice for a parental figure but what could he do?

He may not be the best choice to raise Harry; his hatred for James Potter aside, but he knew he would care for the boy and give him a decent life. With a heavy sigh he looked into those shining emeralds; "What am I going to do with you, brat?"

A bubbly giggle and a little fist grasping his long raven hair was Harry's contribution to the conversation; "Hm, thank you for that riveting answer, Harry. Without you I would cease to function. What do you say brat should I keep you?" Another tug of his hair, but this time Harry began gnawing on the silken tresses, was Severus' affirmative answer.

Well it seemed like the little brat was teething; fantastic! With a wave of his wand Severus conjured a hollow ring made of plastic. Once the ring was created he silently cast Aguamenti to fill the ring with water and then he cast a Freezing charm on the gathered water. Satisfied with his quick work for the moment he handed the teething ring to Harry and watched the boy chomp on it with delight.

It seemed that trick worked on all teething demons; Merlin knew how fussy Draco was when he cut his first tooth. Severus had avoided the boy until Lucius showed up in his living room over the summer, looking frazzled and exhausted. It seemed Narcissa hadn't taken any further interest in her son, leaving Lucius to not only work but tend to his heir when he returned home. The blonde man refused to leave his son's upbringing totally to the Malfoy Manor House Elves.

Salazar, how Severus hated Narcissa Druella Malfoy, nee Black; the little bint was a gold digging wretch! She'd only married Lucius for the money and prestige while Lucius married her to produce an heir but the Malfoy Lord presumed, as had Severus, that the woman would at least care for Draco; apparently not. Narcissa believed that carrying and birthing Draco was as far as she needed to concern herself.

Well that was just fine with Lucius and Severus; they adored the little blonde enough to make up for his mother's frigid attitude and indifference. It hurt to know that if it hadn't been for the need of a pureblood heir Lucius and Severus would have married and had children but alas it didn't happen that way and here they were.

He'd been named Draco's godfather though and that meant a lot; Lucius even stipulated in his will that upon his death Draco would be given to Severus, if the little blonde was under the age of seventeen, and not Narcissa. Not that the frigid bint would care very much at all what happened to her son, as long as she got her money and status she was fine. But now he had Harry who would become like a son to him; Lord only knew how his blonde lover would take that news.

Hopefully well but who knew with the Malfoy Lord. But Severus was confident that his lover would accept Harry into their lives. It wasn't like Lucius was loyal to the Dark Lord either; he stayed because he feared what would happen if he left. The blonde man wouldn't risk his son's life for anything so that left him to continue serving an insane snake-faced megalomaniac.

He also declined to spy on the Dark Lord as Severus did. Lucius was an accomplished Occlumens but nowhere near as proficient as the onyx eyed man was at hiding his thoughts, memories, and feelings. So spying was out for his love as no one except those with extreme skill at Occlumency could fool the Dark Lord.

But now that said madman was gone things would change for Severus and his lover as well as their children. Funny, he was already thinking of Harry as his; maybe being around Draco had softened him to babies? The snarky man never liked them before. Shrugging, he glanced down at Harry, who now sitting down in his lap and still chomping, happily, on his conjured chew toy.

He'd have to owl Lucius and ask him to come and speak with him at Spinner's End and not Hogwarts; his choice to return to his childhood home was rather last minute but he knew he'd get no peace at Hogwarts with all the celebrating. No doubt the Malfoy Lord was swamped with work and trying to keep himself out of jail for suspected Death Eater activities.

However, Severus was confident his lover could slither his way out of going to prison; the blonde man was a Slytherin through and through after all. He would also need Lucius' political weight, and considerable pull, to get the papers filed with the Ministry to seize Magical Guardianship over Harry.

He doubted anyone would question Lucius about the Boy-Who-Lived being taken in by a supposed Death Eater and even if they wanted to their fear of the frigid Malfoy Lord would stop their lips from moving. Lucius was truly terrifying when he wanted to be and he had trusted associates in every Department in the Ministry that would do his bidding without question. So, it was only a matter of time before Harry James Potter was his legally.

With a huff he picked up his tea and took a sip; he did love warming charms! His tea was still pleasantly hot even though it was sitting there for a good ten minutes. He was just about to summon a quill, ink, and parchment for his missive to his lover when a horrid stench hit his sensitive nose.

Crinkling his nose he looked at a very focused, and determined looking, Harry and immediately knew what the little child was doing. With a grimace he rose, picked up the now reeking baby and made his way back to the kitchen where he left the bag full of baby things.

Merlin! The boy stunk to high heaven! Hopefully, the horse face had given him diapers! Lucius' letter could wait until the child in his arms wasn't considered a biohazard to most people. A cooing noise left Harry as Severus made his way back to the kitchen; "I'm glad you're pleased with yourself, Harry. I think you could give Stinksap a run for its money. Merlin! Child what did that foul woman feed you?!"

Well that is chapter one! I mentioned this in my A/N above but I'll mention it again; Severus and Lucius have been together since their school days. Lucius married Narcissa for a pureblood heir but men can have children in my story.

However, Lucius and Severus will not have a child, yet. Any child they had would be illegitimate and not considered to be a true Malfoy. Not Lucius' choice it is the way his family is (in my fic). Oh and Abraxas died when Draco was a newborn from Dragon Pox so he will not be around.

This is my first foray into Severitus so bear with me!

All Mistakes Are My Own!