Chapter-4

Lucius

"Hahahaha." Harriet giggles as Black tickles her everywhere her hands can reach. Green eyes sparkle with happiness and her laughter echoes all over the manor. He can't remember this place being so full of life like ever.

He takes a small sip of his tea and sighs. This was what he had feared. She is a perfect mix of Potter and Lily and she is so adorable that he can't help but be gravitated towards her. At the best of times, he has to fight the urge to smile at her antics. He doesn't know why even bothers. Well, habits die hard.

She is always upto something, always on the move. The only time she is quiet is when she is sleeping and that happens only at night.

"Hahahaha, please aunt Siri. Don't." As soon as Black stops, the girl shoots up and sticks her tongue at her godmother before running off to god knows where. He is sure he will know within a few minutes or maybe an hour.

"What happened?" Black asks and he realizes that he had been staring at the point where Harriet had just been.

"I am sorry but I can't let her do what she wanted." He mutters. She is her godmother and has a say in her life. That is why he is apologizing.

She sighs audibly before starting quietly, "I was afraid this would happen. I must warn you though. You can't stop her from doing something she has put her mind to."

He shrugs in response and Harriet's sudden arrival prevents him from saying anything. She has an art file in her hands and pencil and crayons too.

" I want to dwaw a pwictur of both of you." She mumbles and settles down on the floor.

Severus can't stop a smile from stretching on his face when she sticks her tongue out and makes faces while drawing, her eyes fixed on her parchment.

When she finishes she shows a picture of two figures to them who most certainly don't resemble them. Yet the picture seems so beautiful that Severus pins it on the bulletin board in his drawing room, feeling oddly proud of the beaming five year old. Meanwhile Black stares at her goddaughter with damp eyes. Severus understands and knows that there are no words to sooth the woman's guilt or pain.

They can't change Harriet's childhood. They can only make this second childhood of hers memorable.

"We are going out to shop today." The words have just escaped his mouth and Harriet is already jumping up and down in excitement.

Black's face loses its sadness and Severus wonders why it matters to him.

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"Draco, just listen to me for a moment ... You are being irrational and rash. Just-" He stops mid rant because someone very tiny slams on his legs. He looks and realizes that it's a little girl who immediately hides behind his legs and wraps her arms around them. He stares at her, shocked beyond belief. Children run away from him. They are supposed to be terrified of him. They are not supposed to hide behind him.

He finds himself wondering exactly whom she is hiding from. Besides him, Narcissa is staring at the girl. Her reaction quite similar to his.

Draco is entirely another story though. His mouth is open and his eyes are frozen on the child's face. She has bright green eyes and curly hair that are flowing down her back.

Once he comes out of his shock, he opens his mouth only to be interrupted by a very familiar voice.

"Harriet, stop being so stubborn. You will get - fuck."

Lucius stares at the gobsmacked face of his oldest friend. As far as Lucius knows, Severus has no child. Then -

"Severus, where is she - oh- Malfoy."

Lucius stares at Black. They are supposed to be rivals. They are not supposed to have a secret child. They have despised each other for as long as Lucius has known.

"Up Up" The tiny girl mumbles and Lucius stares at her. Never in his life has any child except Draco asked him to pick them up.

"Harriet, we need to go." Severus mutters sharply as Lucius looks at Narcissa. She gets the hint and bends towards the child who wraps her arms tightly around his legs and shakes her head.

"Harriet, we will talk about this." Black's voice is softer then Severus's and Lucius looks at Draco to find him still frozen in shock. He is still looking at the kid's face.

"No. Up up up up. Mr. Mawfoy. Up pwease." She murmurs and looks at him with eyes so adorable that he can't help but kneel down and pick her up very gently.

"Put her down Lucius." The vicious growl that escapes Severus's mouth stuns him. He stares at his friend in shock.

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Severus never had any say in his godson's upbringing and he would be damned if he let the blonde corrupt Harriet's mind.

"Severus calm down." Black mutters but he ignores her. He glares at Lucius who is just looking shocked. Harriet is in his arms. He looks so strange with a child in his arms. Narcissa is blinking her eyes quite rapidly as if trying to wrap her mind around everything that's happening.

"Severus who is she?" This voice belongs to Draco who has finally come out of his shocked stupor. Severus ignores him. Draco is beyond help. He has made his mind to get marked. He has gone mad. Severus can't comprehend as to how Draco can even imagine following that monster.

"Lucius." Severus murmurs sharply and points his wand towards the man's heart. Twin gasps escape Narcissa's and Lucius's mouth, "Put her down or I will kill you and I won't care about my cover being blown. She is not your child and you can't corrupt her by keeping her away from me."

"You are - how may times shall I apologize for it. I am trying to explain-"

"Neither do I care about your apologies, nor about your family. Draco is beyond any help. He is as thick-headed as you were in your youth. Malfoy genes I guess." Rage simmers inside Severus as he relives how Lucius kept him away from Draco.

"Unca Sevvus." Harriet's soft voice reaches him and forces him to focus on present. Draco is staring at him in shock and Lucius is finally placing the child down.

"Back off. Do I need to obliviate the three of you. I might as well send you to Janus Thickey ward. That will keep this out of the dark lord's ears." He lies. Of course, he is not going to do any of it and Lucius knows but the man mutters, "No. We will back off and leave and keep quiet. People are starting to notice. We will take our leave now but this is isn't finished. I want to talk to you."

"I don't. Keep away from us." Severus warns him. Meanwhile Harriet attaches herself to Severus's legs, her small body shaking. Severus wonders whether she is crying or whether she is just terrified. Black is knelt beside the child. But the girl refuses to go in Black's arms. Severus doesn't understand why Harriet is not afraid of him. By the look Draco is giving to him, he clearly is. All these years and he still doesn't understand Severus. The one who is at fault is of course Lucius.

"Damn you to seventh pit of hell, Lucius. I hate you so much." Severus hisses viciously and casts a stinging hex on the man's legs before bending down and picking Harriet up. Without looking at the child's face, he closes his eyes and apparates to his manor, knowing that Black will follow him.

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