Three

"Severus, my boy, I need to speak with you and Mr. Potter at once." The Headmaster said gravely, eyeing the Potions Master.

Severus nodded. "Can this wait? We were in the middle of a discussion." He said.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, this is very important."

Harry looked wary of the Headmaster. Looking at Draco, he held out his hand. "I'm not going anywhere near you without Draco present, Headmaster." He said as Draco grabbed his hand.

The Headmaster looked between them. "If you're sure you can trust him, Harry."

Draco watched Harry's green eyes harden. "I think I know who I can trust, thanks."

The Headmaster looked to Arthur Weasley. "May we make use of your shed again, please Arthur?"

Arthur nodded, a little curt. "Of course, Albus." He said.

Dumbledore led Harry, Draco, and Severus into the small shed at the corner of the yard. Stepping inside after them, he cast a privacy charm and then looked between Harry and Severus. The Headmaster seemed to be thinking very hard about something before he finally spoke in the same grave tone from before.

"I have something to tell you. Something I should have told you years ago."

Severus nodded. "Just say it, Headmaster." He said and Harry nodded, his hands tightening in Draco's.

"Before she died, Lily confided in me something of grave importance. I admit that I went against her wishes and did something truly deplorable for which I shall not ask forgiveness because it was the right thing to do."

Harry's eyes hardened again, his face turning to a stony mask. "What did you do?"

Dumbledore looked to Severus. "Do you recall the last night you spent with Lily, Severus?"

Severus nodded, his face paling. "Of course I do. It was the best night of my life."

"I need you to tell Harry about that night."

"Why?" Severus asked, his posture rigid and his voice hard.

"Because it is important." Was all Dumbledore would say.

Severus turned to Harry. "Ten months before she went into hiding with James Potter, Lily came to my home. I had recently begun to spy for the order and so she had to come in secret but she came." He sighed, covering his face with his hands. "Lily told me that she and James were getting a divorce. They'd been fighting and they were no longer happy with each other. She and I… we talked for what must have been hours. Eventually, we made love. She left that night, promising to return. When she never did, I rightly assumed that she and James had made up."

Harry looked shocked but not angry, strangely. "What does this have to do with anything Headmaster?" He asked.

"Lily had every intention of returning to Severus. But she was pregnant and I urged her to remain with James, to throw off the Dark Lord's trail for a while. She didn't like doing it, of course. But she trusted me and James agreed to help protect her and the baby. A baby that wasn't his."

Severus and Harry both looked shell-shocked now, their mouths agape. It was Severus who recovered first.

"What do you mean, Headmaster?" He asked.

"I mean to say that Harry is – and has always been – your son. I've chosen to hide it from you these past years because I knew that you would want to raise him. He had to go to his aunt and uncle, had to be raised by muggles. But those muggles are now dead at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange and I have no other choice but to tell you the truth."

Draco expected Severus to be the one to start shouting but it wasn't. Surprisingly, it was Harry. His face red, his hand very tight around Draco's, the boy-who-lived began shouting at the top of his lungs.

"I had a father and you never told me?! You allowed me to grow up with vermin who didn't even want me when I didn't have to?! Do you know what they did to me?" He shouted.

Dumbledore stared, open mouthed, at the savior of the Wizarding World. "Harry, my boy…"

"Don't you call me that! I'm not your boy! When I was two years old, I was left hungry and filthy in the cupboard under the stairs for two days. They only gave me a bath and fed me because I wouldn't stop crying and the stink was getting to Vernon!" Harry took a breath before continuing, "At three years old, they forced me to sleep in the garage because Vernon's sister's dog needed my 'cupboard' to sleep in. At four years old, they started hitting me. With a belt and I didn't even know why I was being hit." Harry took another breath, not realizing that Severus was listening to his every word. "At five years old, they began making me cook and clean for them. I had more burn scars than any child ought to. From the ages of six to nine years old, I was locked in the cupboard more times than I ever saw the outside world. I had no light, I had no blanket or toys! And you could have stopped that. You could have given me to my real father and you didn't. You chose to let them abuse me!"

Harry broke off, unable to say any more. He curled into Draco's side, his face hidden in the blonde's shoulder. Draco cradled him close, listening to what Severus would say next. The Potions Master was calm which let Draco know that a storm was brewing. He stared at his godfather, eyes wide. He'd never seen Severus this angry before and it was slightly scary. Draco longed to call his father in, to stop whatever Severus was about to say or do. But he didn't dare move Harry.

"My son was abused and left in a situation that would have killed any muggle child. My son was kept from me against the request of his dead mother. You kept my son from me for nearly sixteen years. How dare you stand in front of us as if you're of any worth to either of us."

Dumbledore's face paled. "Severus, my boy. Don't talk like that."

Severus wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Don't tell me what to do, Albus. As of now, you can guarantee that I am no longer your employee and Harry is no longer a pupil of Hogwarts. I can almost positively guarantee you that you've lost the Weasley's, Malfoy's, and Hermione Granger. And I can also guarantee that most of my own house will be joining me. Goodbye Albus."

Gesturing to Draco to follow him, Severus swept from the shed. Though Draco was certain that something monumental had just happened, he wasn't at all certain what to make of it. What he did know is that Albus Dumbledore had just lost himself any hope of having Harry ever trust him again. Then again, he supposed the same would soon become true to a lot of people. The Weasley's, for example, had taken Harry in first. They treated him as a member of their family. When Severus and Harry told them what had happened, they would most likely do just as Severus had suggested and pull their children and support away from Hogwarts and Dumbledore.

"Severus? What's happened?" Lucius rose to his feet, eyes wide as he took in the sight of his best friend's expression.

"Sit down, Lucius. We have much to discuss." Severus said, depositing Harry in the chair closest to Draco.

"What had Professor Dumbledore done?" Ron asked, taking in the sight of his own best friend's appearance and figuring out that Dumbledore had been the culprit.

Severus explained what had just happened to them. By the end of it, Harry was once more shaking with rage and Severus' fists were clenched in suppressed anger. The Weasley's looked both horrified and angry at the story. Hermione was leaning against Asterion's side, looking close to vomiting. Draco's parents were staring, open mouthed, at Severus.

"I've made the decision to file for custody of Harry. His relatives were recently found and murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange and, seeing as how he's my son, a simple paternity potion should prove that I'm next of kin."

"What are you going to do when it comes time to send him back to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

Lucius shook his head. "He won't be going back to Hogwarts and neither will Draco. Not while Albus Dumbledore oversees that school. We'll send them both to Summerset Academy."

"But that's too expensive. You said you wouldn't send me there because you thought it was ridiculous to pay for the schooling." Draco said, sounding awed.

Narcissa shook her head. "I agree with your father. We'll go in the morning to see Headmistress Joanne Rowling. She's been a longtime friend of mine and we'll be able to pay for your remaining school years then."

Lucius looked to the Weasley's and Hermione. "If you'll accept, we will gladly pay admission fees so that the remaining Weasley children and Miss Granger may attend Summerset Academy."

Before Molly or Arthur could answer, Hermione spoke. "What exactly is Summerset Academy?

Narcissa smiled. "Summerset Academy is the only school of magic more prestigious than Hogwarts. It's located in Ireland in a castle quite a bit larger than Hogwarts. They offer more classes as well as the option of signing on for additional years of schooling. It was Draco's first choice but we wanted him close. Now, however, I believe it's wise to send everyone there."

"What about our friends at Hogwarts?" Harry asked, speaking up for the first time.

Lucius and Asterion glanced at each other. "Harry, Draco pick four people each of you. We'll pay for a group of people. That's usually cheaper at any rate."

"I already know who I'll be picking." Harry said. "Neville, Luna, Dean, and Seamus. They're the four most important people outside of Ron and Hermione."

Draco didn't have to think about that. "Daphne, Astoria, Blaise, and Theo. Of course, if we pay for Blaise, we'll have to pay for the triplets as well…"

Asterion rolled his eyes. "They're our allies, Draco. You needn't include the Zabini family or the Greengrass sisters as they'll likely pay for themselves when they hear what's happened. Pick three others."

Draco thought about that. There were only two others in Slytherin that he talked to. "The Katsaros triplets. Acheron, Killian, and Stryker. They're in our grade but they usually try to stay under the radar. Their dad is neutral and he doesn't like Dumbledore all that much. The only reason they haven't gone somewhere else is because they can't afford Summerset and Hogwarts is otherwise the best school."

Hermione smiled. "I have Ancient Runes with Acheron. He's very smart and quite nice as well. They'd do well in Summerset, I think."

"Then it's decided. We'll take Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Dean…Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, Theodore Nott, and the Katsaros triplets with us to Summerset." Narcissa said quietly.

"Are we sure we can pay for that many people?" Asterion asked, looking a bit confused.

Lucius nodded. "At Summerset, you can gather a group of different students and pay for their entrance together. It's usually only around five thousand Galleons for a group."

"For a year?" Harry asked, his jaw dropping slightly.

Lucius laughed. "No. It's five thousand Galleons for schooling period. We'll pay five thousand galleons for a group and that will cover you all until you decide to leave Summerset."

Hermione's face suddenly paled. "I won't be able to go there. Dumbledore named himself my magical guardian when I entered the Wizarding World. He'll oppose me going."

Arthur looked at Lucius, shaking his head. "That can be easily overturned. We'll get the appropriate paperwork and either Lucius or I will become your magical guardian. Dumbledore doesn't have a choice in the matter, your parents do."

Hermione nodded. "Good. I don't want Dumbledore as my magical guardian anymore. Not after what he's done to Harry and Professor Snape."

Severus smiled at Hermione. "I'm not a professor anymore, Hermione. You can call me Severus now."

Hermione nodded, smiling at him for the first time in Draco's memory. Though he knew that Severus had only been pretending to hate the Gryffindors, it was a bit weird to see him being nice to them. Catching Severus' eye, Draco grinned.

"I am going to go back to the Manor so that I can get an owl sent off to Joanne. Severus, would you like me to set up your usual room?" Narcissa asked, rising to her feet.

Severus nodded. "Yes please Cissa. And have a room set up near Draco for Harry as well, if you would."

Draco smiled at his mother. "The room right next to mine is open, mother. We'd have to share a bathroom but it wouldn't be too bad."

"Then Harry shall have the room beside yours if that's what he would like."

Harry nodded. "That's perfect Mrs. Malfoy. Thank you."

"Then it shall be done."

Giving them one last smile, Narcissa apparated away. Lucius stared after his wife, a fond smile on his face.

"Lucius, it's far too nice of you to pay for our children's schooling. We can't let you do it." Arthur said reluctantly, sharing a heartbroken look with his wife.

Lucius smiled, leaning forward. "What did we always say in school?"

Arthur paused, thinking. "That we'd do our best to take care of each other and our families." He admitted, looking at Molly.

"And I'm keeping that promise now. Summerset Academy may be expensive but think about how much fun Ron and Ginny will have there. Paying for their schooling won't break our bank, Arthur. The Malfoy fortune was sizable when my father was in charge. Under my leadership, however, it has grown ten times larger than it was when Father was in charge. I have more than enough money to pay for the children's schooling. I was thinking of offering to pay for Percy and the twins to spend some time there as well. There is a Wizarding Business Course there that I think they could all benefit from."

Percy nodded excitedly. "That sounds brilliant. I've always wanted to attend Summerset but I knew that mum and dad didn't have the money."

"If you'd like, I can add your name to the list. You'd have the option of taking only the business course as well as any other course that takes your interest. If we're going to be partners in business, I think it would be beneficial if you at least took the business course."

Percy nodded. "Of course I will. I would also love to take their Advanced Ancient Runes course and maybe Advanced Potions."

"We'll get you signed up, then. What do you say Fred? George?"

The twins were grinning from ear to ear. "If it'll help us better our business then we're all for it. We'd love to take a few courses at Summerset to help with that."

"Perfect. We'll tell Joanne that you guys are on board as well, then."

"Thank you. This means a lot to us, Lucius." Molly said quietly.

"It's the very least we can do." Lucius said, his voice almost sad.

Severus looked at Lucius. "We should probably be getting back to the manor. Narcissa will be waiting."

Lucius nodded. "Come on boys. Let's get back before your mother comes to get us."

Asterion glanced at his father. "I'm going to stay and have dinner with Hermione if it's all right, Father."

"Of course it's all right." Lucius smiled at his oldest son. "You've found your mate. Spend some time with her."

Asterion grinned. "Thanks dad."

Lucius stood. "I will meet you back at the manor."

And he was gone, with just the crack of apparation. Draco, Harry, and Severus stayed a while, talking to the Weasley's, before heading back to Malfoy Manor.