Chapter Text
How did it end up like this? One moment he was fulfilling the prophecy, the next, he was returning to Malfoy Manor with a child. A child that was supposed to be dead.
“My Lord, would you permit me to speak freely?” Severus asked.
It was a curious sight, the most feared person in the world holding a sleeping infant in his arms while doing paperwork. Even weirder when you were Severus Snape and the child was the son of your ex-best friend and arch-nemesis. And even worse, the child was meant to be the most feared person in the world’s worst enemy.
Finally, even more bizarre, the Dark Lord had changed his appearance, to look younger and more human than he had in recent years. Severus had heard that the Dark Lord was rather charming in his younger years, but he didn’t expect this much.
“As you were, Severus,” Voldemort said, not looking up from his work.
“Is there a reason for your change in…visuals?”
“The child would not stop crying until I changed.”
Severus would have laughed, had his job and life not been on the line.
“If I may be so bold as to ask, do you have any prior experience raising a child?” Severus asked.
“No, I do not. Why do you ask?”
“In the hours that you have been back, I have yet to see you procure a single thing for the child. I assume you would want it to make it to adulthood, yes?”
The Dark Lord sighed and put down his quill.
“Lucius is a father now, yes?”
“That is correct, my Lord.”
“Fetch me his wife.”
“Right away, my Lord.”
***
“You asked for me, my Lord?” Narcissa said, bowing upon entering the Dark Lord’s study.
“Yes. You have been a most gracious host, Narcissa. However, I have one more thing to ask of you.”
The Dark Lord walked over to the crib and gestured vaguely to it.
“This is Harry. There have been some changes in my plan. His parents have met a bitter end, however, he did not die. I’ve decided to keep him as my own.”
Before he could continue, crying could be heard from a cradle behind them. Voldemort winced and dragged a hand over his face.
“How do I get the…child, to stop wailing?”
Narcissa’s eyes softened when she saw the baby.
“Oh, babies cry when they need something. Food, water, a change of diaper, or even just when they want to be held,” Narcissa explained.
“I see. Well, I cannot be with it at all hours of the day. So, I will make you a deal. You take care of the child alongside your own during the day, and I will give Lucius 2 years of paid leave. I will retrieve the child every night when I am available.”
Narcissa was greatly pleased with the idea of her husband being at home again.
“We will gladly take your gracious offer, my Lord.”
“Wonderful, now please take the thing away from here. The crying is greatly distracting.”
Voldemort dismissed Narcissa with a flick of his wrist.
***
“Draco, this is Harry. He will be your new playmate,” Narcissa cooed.
The two boys were immediately interested at the prospect of someone else to play with.
Both of them were, from what Narcissa understood, very secluded children. Harry, because his family had been in hiding, and Draco, because the Dark Lord was using their home as his base of operations.
Draco immediately reached for Harry’s hand. Harry was very shy at first, only taking what Draco would give him, but he eventually warmed up and started laughing with the other baby.
Narcissa watched with a cup of tea and a few biscuits.
It was around an hour in when Lucius ran into the playroom.
“Narcissa! What did you do? The Dark Lord just dismissed me from all my work!” Lucius cried.
Harry immediately started crying, startled at the new person and noise. Draco, on the other hand, clap his hands and laughed at the sight of his frantic father.
“Oh, Harry, darling, no need to cry,” Narcissa said, putting him into her lap and patting his back.
“Look at what you’ve done, Lucius. The poor boy was just getting comfortable,” Narcissa said.
Lucius finally looked down to see Harry.
“Is that not the child that the Dark Lord was meant to get rid of?” Lucius asked.
“Not in front of the children! To answer your question, there have been some complications, and we are now in charge of raising the boy while the Dark Lord attends to more important matters,” Narcissa explained.
Harry had calmed down at this point, and Narcissa was able to set him back down with Draco.
“That does not explain why I have been forced to take leave.”
“You are taking leave, because I cannot take care of two children on my own. Bella will not be baby-sitting anytime soon, so you have to be here.”
Lucius sighed and sank down into the couch.
“You realize that the boy’s godfather is your cousin.”
Narcissa had not seen Sirius since she graduated from Hogwarts, and Sirius cut all ties with the family. Regulus had also disappeared, shortly after he graduated, just two years ago. He was presumed dead by most, but Narcissa hoped that he would return one day.
“No one would ever suspect we have the Harry Potter. They are celebrating the down-fall of the Dark Lord. No one will know,” Narcissa said softly.
“And if he comes looking?”
“Then we deal with it.” Narcissa took Lucius’ hand into hers.
“We deal with it,” Lucius echoed.
***
Meanwhile, in the Dark Lord’s chambers…
“Severus! What is all this?” Voldemort asked, gesturing to the pile of boxes and fabrics in the corner of his private living space.
“Baby supplies, my Lord. I was instructed by Narcissa to retrieve it all and leave it here.”
“Was all of it truly necessary?”
“As far as I am aware, yes, my Lord.”
Voldemort rubbed the bridge of his nose and waved his wand to start organizing the mountains of baby things.