Draco bounced on his feet, beaming “Dad and I do this every year. Mummy doesn’t care for it, though: at my grandparent’s house, Sable Gate, the house-elves did everything. Too boring!”

Harry looked around the room smiling. In one corner stood a gigantic blue fir (a real one, not the artificial type Aunt Petunia favoured), with fragrant baskets of holly, ivy, yew, cedar and mistletoe gathered around the base. On a side-board, there were basins of cloves, ribbons and oranges, to make pomanders, and Harry simply couldn’t wait to see what was inside the decoration boxes.

Mr Malfoy opened the first box and pulled out some books “Now, first of all, each of us is to pick a wall…”

“I want the one with the big bay window, Daddy!”

“Don’t interrupt, Draco. We will each pick a wall and then decorate it with an image from one of these books, the charm is ‘Escribo.” And, yes, you may have the bay window Draco, as long as you show Harry how to make permanent-snowflakes too.”

Severus, noticing that Harry was looking uncertain, said “You are currently under the supervision of a teacher, Harry and, moreover, we are within a magical dwelling. Therefore, the rule against using magic outside of Hogwarts does not apply.”

Harry flicked through the book Mr Malfoy had given him: it was filled with paintings of beautiful winter scenes. He had an idea.

“Um, Mr Malfoy?”

“Yes, Harry” said Lucius, as he spelled a beautiful image of the moon in a clear, frosty, star-filled sky on the vaulted ceiling.

“I’ve got book of really nice paintings in my trunk upstairs" Harry said shyly "May I go and get it?”

“Of course, Harry. A new picture would be a welcome addition” Lucius smiled kindly at the nervous boy “I’m afraid that I’ve rather neglected my print library these last two years.”

Harry scampered off and came back holding a small, slightly shabby book. He opened it and showed the picture to Mr Malfoy; it was of three beautiful fir trees in a snowy landscape, with the blue shadow of a castle bleeding through the purple-grey mist.

“This is lovely Harry.” said Lucius, as Draco dragged down his father’s arm so he could see too.

“Wow! Cool Harry!” gasped Draco “Caspar David Friedrich, I’ve never even heard of him.”

Lucius looked at the front cover “The National Gallery, London…”

“Uncle Vernon took me there on my last birthday before…” Harry stopped, looking sad. He forced a smile “My uncle bought me that book in the giftshop.”

Draco’s grey eyes widened “A muggle painted that!”

“Yeah, there are loads of other winter paintings too,” said Harry, taking the book from Lucius’s unresisting hand “come and see!”

As the two children sat on a plush, chanteuse silk sofa, poring over the book, Lucius turned to Severus, who was pressing cloves into an orange, “I had no idea that muggles were so advanced!”

oOoOo

“Well!” said Madam Malfoy, as she sipped her red wine, “That rather exceeded my expectations.”

Lucius nodded “Indeed, my dear. It was a capital idea, Severus, to visit the National Gallery. I was most impressed and, I must say, that the books I purchased will be a positive addition to my collection.”

Draco turned to Harry, giggling “Not to mention the Deuren!”

Lucius smiled indulgently “I must admit, Draco, that portrait of a young astronomer did rather take my fancy. A shame that the manager was so unobliging.”

Narcissa patted her husbands arm sympathetically. “So, Severus, what is next on our agenda?”

“Pudding!” cried Draco, who had polished off the last of his fish and chips “That chocolate fondant looks jolly good!”

“I agree.” smiled Narcissa “Muggles are certainly very… creative creatures, I suppose they need to be to survive!”

Severus smiled “I thought that young Draco and Harry would enjoy the Science Museum. After pudding, of course.”

oOoOo

“My son” said Lucius later that evening, as he slowly swirled his calvados “Has become very fond of young Master Potter” the firelight filtered through the amber liquid in his glass, dancing across the sage leather of the armchairs and burning brightly against the grey silk of the study walls.

“Indeed” replied Severus, leaning back on the sofa, his face enveloped in the shadows.

“Indeed. I have been long aware that Harry is somewhat more to Draco than a mere political alliance and, yesterday evening, I gleaned that Draco thinks of Harry almost as a brother. A younger brother." Lucius paused significantly "I fear, that, should the Dark Lord ever return, Draco might reveal himself to be quite unpersuadable as to giving up Harry.”

“That is, regrettably, quite possible.” Severus replied quietly.

“I would imagine that you, of all people, would understand, old friend.” Lucius smiled “After all, you also had a childhood acquaintance whom you found impossible to relinquish.”

Severus forced his body to remain relaxed, his breathing to remain even.

“The Dark Lord began to suspect a spy in his ranks shortly after his decision to… counter the prophesy. I must admit, I did wonder at the time whether there was a link, Severus.” said Lucius quietly “I did not air my views, however, as, if my conclusions were correct, the safety of my childhood friend would be jeopardised.”

Lucius drained his glass and raised an elegant hand. Severus’s bouquet flew through the door and smacked into his palm.

“You visit her every Yule, old friend: at different times, on different days, under different disguises. Yet you always bring the same flowers: ‘Forgive me, beautiful Lily. I will forever mourn you.’” Lucius said softly.

“And now” Lucius added to his silent companion “Another green-eyed child has entered your heart. However, unlike your love for his mother, you will not be able to keep this relationship silent. Many have already noticed that you and Harry are more than just a tutor and student to each other. Many more are surmising that, soon, you will claim Harry as your son.”

“I have no plans to do so” Severus replied stiffly.

For a while, the silence was unbroken save for the chink of glass and the rich, viscous sound of liqueur glugging into glasses.

“You were the spy, Severus” murmured Lucius “and, although I thought your betrayal of our Master foolish, although it struck at the heart of what were my beliefs, I did not betray you.”

“I was the one who heard the Prophesy. I told the Dark Lord.” Severus whispered.

“V…oldemort” said Lucius slowly “became progressively more unstable and violent in his latter years. If the increasingly arbitrary punishments were not proof enough, Voldemort's reaction to the Prophesy clearly indicated that his once powerful mind was fragmenting. Every schoolboy has read the tale of Oedipus and Voldemort’s decision was similarly nonsensical and has, I think, ended with a near identical outcome: Voldemort orphaned poor young Harry, a boy who, in other circumstances, would not have been the remotest of threats to him, thus giving Harry the motive to fulfil the Prophesy. And, indeed, if Voldemort rises again, he will continue to hunt Harry until one of them kills the other.” Lucius paused significantly “Voldemort was highly jealous of his followers’ loyalty and, I fear, Draco will never be fully loyal to him if Harry’s safety is in question.”

“The Dark Lord’s mother was the scion of the house of Gaunt, which is notorious for the mental-instability and, indeed, criminal insanity prevalent in the majority of its bloodline.” ventured Severus.

“Gaunt…” said Lucius thoughtfully “Wasn’t there a scandal, many years back, concerning old Gaunt’s daughter running off with a muggle?”

“Voldemort was a half-blood. His father abandoned his mother before his birth.” Severus replied.

“Indeed.” Lucius said coldly “I think, therefore, that, should Voldemort return, it would highly inappropriate for me to continue to serve the hypocrite.”

“You wish to leave the Dark Lord’s service?” Severus confirmed carefully.

“My first loyalty is to my family, old friend. Just as your first loyalty was to Lily and is now to her son.” Lucius replied.

“Should the Dark Lord return, I will, of course, remain his servant.” Severus said tersely.

Lucius smiled “You are not the only natural legilimens among our group, Severus, nor were you the only one who had an interest in Voldemort’s downfall. There is another who might be persuaded to spy in your stead, if he could but be offered Amnesty. Indeed, it is highly debatable, given your obvious fondness for the Potter boy, that it would be possible to convince Voldemort that your loyalty is not divided. Unless, of course, you portrayed your interest in the boy in a rather different light...” Lucius swirled his drink, smiling into Severus’s furious, outraged eyes “You are a fine legilimens, Severus, and a highly believable actor but would you really be able to manufacture fantasies, on demand, for Voldemort’s pleasure when the boy concerned is the son of your heart?”

Severus swallowed and looked away, his face chalky pale. Lucius was correct that Voldemort would believe no other excuse, that the only ‘acceptable’ reason for the interest Severus had shown in Harry was… Severus shuddered: he could pretend to find entertainment in Voldemort making sport of muggles, he could fake complaisance during murders, he could even mask his feelings whilst watching people being tortured into insanity but, no, Severus would not, could not fabricate thoughts like that about Harry. Every instinct rebelled. Harry was and must remain sacrosanct. He was as good as Severus's child.

“Really, my friend,” Lucius added “you must see that your energies would be much better spent protecting the boy... from everyone who might endanger him. To achieve this, you must have legal control; I have contacts with the Adoption Agency and, by Yuel, Harry could officially be your son.”

“I would have to discuss this step with Albus and, moreover, while Harry may consider me a favourite teacher, he might not wish to have me as his father.” Severus said quietly.

Lucius laughed softly “The boy adores you, Severus but, even if this were not the case, I believe that any child who has endured Harry’s life would be grateful for an established home. Think on the benefits: Harry would be almost constantly under your protection, his status as your son would discourage Slytherins from attempting to spirit him away and, moreover, you could use your holidays to teach Harry Duelling.” Lucius pressed the flowers into Severus’ hand. “Any mother would prefer a loving father for her orphan son over vengeance for her death.”

Severus nodded, breathing in the heady scent of the hyacinths. They had been the contrary Lily’s favourite flower. “What would you gain from my adoption of Harry?”

Lucius smiled, his white teeth glinting “If you were to adopt Harry, Dumbledore himself would not be able to remove him from your care. Now, Should Voldemort return, I expect you would remove him to Uroborus, your safe haven. Draco, naturally, would wish to be wherever Harry was.”

“Uroborus, while heavily warded, is not invulnerable.” Severus replied quietly

“Young Master Potter” Lucius said slowly “Was placed with his wretched Aunt because she shares blood with her sister, Lily, who died to protect Harry. Or, at least, that was the reason Dumbledore gave me; for all I know he was using Harry’s childhood to make him more malleable." Lucius grimaced "However, it is true that powerful blood wards can be built on such a relationship. Master Dursley is no longer living with his mother, I take it?”

“No.” Severus replied.

“Install the Dursley boy in Uroborus and have Dumbledore craft the blood-wards around him. A Fidelis charm would not go amiss and, if I may venture to say so, it would be a damn good idea to have Harry as the secret keeper.”

“An unbreakable vow, Lucius." Severus said quietly "I will swear to protect you, your wife and your son and give you all shelter at Uroborus on request. In return, I ask that you and Narcissa swear to leave the Dark, no, V…Voldemort’s service and to protect Harry as you would Draco.”

“We will also promise that we will never knowingly aid the Dark Lord in harming you or Harry” said Narcissa, approaching Lucius’s chair. She reached down a small, white hand and brushed her husband’s blond hair off his shoulder, so she could look into his face. “Lucius and I are decided. Draco is the most important thing in the world to us, Severus, and, while we may never agree with Dumbledore on the importance and superiority of blood-purity, we will not jeopardize our son by remaining in Voldemort’s service.”

Severus nodded his assent and Lucius reached over and enveloped the Potions Masters’ callused hand in his own warm, smooth one. Narcissa removed her wand and gently placed it over their clasped fingers.

“Will you, Lucius Abraxus Malfoy, swear to leave the service of Tom Marvolo Riddle, otherwise known as ‘Lord Voldemort’, ‘the Dark Lord’, ‘You Know Who’ and ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’? Severus asked.

“I will so swear.” A fiery snake whispered from Narcissa’s wand, circling the men’s wrists and biting its own tail.

“Will you, Lucius Abraxus Malfoy, swear that, once you leave the service of Tom Marvolo Riddle, you will never return to the service of Tom Marvolo Riddle, otherwise known as ‘Lord Voldemort’, ‘the Dark Lord’, ‘You Know Who’ and ‘He Who Must Not Be Named?”

“I will so swear.” Another bright band joined the first, forming a helix.

“Will you, Lucius Abraxus Malfoy, swear that you will protect Harry James Potter as you would protect Draco René Antonius Malfoy, your son and heir?”

“I will so swear” the third snake of light wove through the centre of the helix, forming a lattice which glowed against their skin.

“Will you, Lucius Abraxus Malfoy, swear that you will never intentionally harm Harry or intentionally aid anyone, including Tom Marvolo Riddle, otherwise known as ‘Lord Voldemort’, ‘the Dark Lord’, ‘You Know Who’ and ‘He Who Must Not Be Named, in harming Harry?”

“I will so swear.” The final fiery snake bound the strands into a bright rope, burning white.

Lucius, realising that Severus’s requests were complete, then asked “Will you, Severus Tobias Snape, swear to protect my son, Draco René Antonius Malfoy and my wife, Narcissa Aikaterine Sable Malfoy, as you would Harry James Potter?

“I will so swear.” Replied Severus, watching a new band of fire twist around their hands.

“Will you, Severus Tobias Snape, swear to never intentionally harm my son, Draco René Antonius Malfoy or my wife, Narcissa Aikaterine Sable Malfoy, or me, Lucius Abraxus Malfoy?

“I will so swear” intoned Severus, as a second bright snake helixed with the first.

“Will you, Severus Tobias Snape, swear to allow my son, Draco René Antonius Malfoy and my wife, Narcissa Aikaterine Sable Malfoy, and myself, Lucius Abraxus Malfoy, to have sanctuary in Uroborus if any of us so requests?”

“I will so swear.” The third fiery snake bound with the first two, twining them into a rope.

Lucius pulled Severus into a tight embrace “Thank you, my friend.”