Royalty ~ Ongoing

Mercury

Harry's eyes shot open at the sounds of rushing footsteps. He sat up and grabbed the sword from under his bed, creeping out of the room.

The half-prince hid in the shadows as footsteps grew louder. His heart lurched when he realized whoever it was went in the direction of the infirmary. Harry quietly followed them, moving silently. The unknown man opened the doors to the infirmary and walked in, heels of his boots clicking on the floor. He wore a mask and a dark cloak to hide his identity.

"We meet again, Prince Riddle." He stood over the prince's bed. Harry entered, thanking all gods that he left the door open and had his back to Harry. "You weren't supposed to live, Prince. How did you live? Who saved you?" The intruder drew a sword.

"I'd advice you to step away from Riddle." Harry hissed, the cool metal of Severus's sword settling on the man's unguarded neck. He spun around, silver eyes wide. Harry knocked the weapon out of his hand with a harsh hit with the flat side of his sword.

"I-I know you." The man stuttered, backing up until the back of his knees hit the bed Riddle slept on.

"You do not, over there." Harry jerked his head to a corner. The man did as told, smirking.

"I do from somewhere." He let out an eerie chuckle. "You're the bastard son of Lily! My god, it has been a while since I've seen you." Harry stiffened, eyes furious.

"Shut up."

"Damn, you have her eyes. How about I take off the mask and we reintroduce ourselves? You lower the sword and we forget any of this happened. I didn't even know I had a son!" Harry scoffed.

"Are you mad? Lucius!" There was a groan as Riddle and the elder Malfoy woke.

"What?" He murmured sleepily, sitting up.

"Go wake James." He nodded and stood.

"Who's that? Why do you have a sword to his neck?"

"We will discuss this later. Go." Riddle grunted in pain. "Do. Not. Sit. Up." Harry growled, not wanting to take his eyes off his real father.

"You order them around? How comical. I'm taking the mask off, don't get the wrong idea." He threw it on to the ground, revealing his handsome face. A scar split his eyebrow, stopping just above his eye. "You've grown into a handsome boy. I'm called Mercury, who are you?" Harry snorted at the name.

"You just shut up." The doors burst open.

"Hadrian, are you alright?" James rushed to his 'son's' side.

"Back up a bit. This man snuck into the castle and tried to kill Prince Riddle." Harry didn't lower the sword, moonlight glinted off his engagement ring. His biological father gasped.

"You're married? Who's the lucky lady?" Harry's anger rose.

"He is dead." Mercury bellowed as if it was a joke.

"A man?! You got married to a man? How did he die? Did he off himself?" Harry trembled as he took two steps closer, lowering the sword.

"You are a fool, speaking so rudely about him in front of me. I will skin you, old man." The blade now hovered centimeters away from one of Mercury's eyes. The man scowled.

"I am your father, boy." James stiffened.

"What?!"

"He claims that he's my actual father."

"I do see the resemblance." The injured prince commented. Harry turned to him.

"Oh be silent." He ducked as his father threw a punch. Harry elbowed the man in his gut. He made shallow cuts on Mercury's uncovered skin, the man hunched over.

"Damn, you're not very nice." Hadrian kicked the back of his knee, sending him sprawling on to the ground. The younger male knelt down.

"You will never be my father." He whispered vehemently, straightening. "Bring him to the dungeons, be prepared for a struggle." The guards in the room pulled the man to his feet and dragged him away. Harry allowed himself to relax slightly. "Goodnight." His voice was quite calm.

"You're just going to leave? Not even tell us anything?" Riddle cried, rolling out of bed.

"Christ, get back in that bed before I force you to!" The Prince winced.

"I demand an explanation. You said he was trying to kill me, after all."

"About what? I thought it was pretty damn straightforward. The bastard snuck in, tried to kill you, and I stopped him."

"How did you know he was in here?" Harry let out a long, impatient sigh.

"His footsteps aren't the same as everyone else's. Now, get on that bed. All you're going to do is re-open the wound. Remember how painful it was?" Riddle got back in bed, grumbling to himself. Harry turned and walked back to his room.

/:/

Harry scrubbed Mercury's blood off his hands and wiped Severus's blade clean. He put it back under his bed and crawled onto the mattress. There was a knock on his door.

"Come in." Harry sat up, irked at not being able to sleep. James came in, sitting down on the bed.

"I don't know what to say." Harry chuckled bitterly.

"I'm tired."

"Me too, Harry, me too." James didn't call his son 'Harry' much. The younger male patted a spot next to him, lying down. James lied down, closing his eyes. He laced their fingers together. "Thank you for saving Prince Riddle. King Riddle would have murdered me if his son was harmed."

"Where is King Riddle?" Harry squeezed his father's hand lovingly.

"Back at his kingdom." Hadrian scoffed.

"You should go to your own bed, the guards would all freak out if they saw that you were missing." King Potter groaned and got up.

"I will see you tomorrow, son." He smiled, waved, and left.

Harry curled up under the sheets and took Severus's ring off his hand.

"Bad things happened today. I love you." He kissed the band, it was warm from his body heat.

/:/

Harry's eyes fluttered open.

"Morning, love. How did you sleep?" Said a silky voice.

"Well, you?" He responded, instinctively clinging to the warmth of the man.

"I slept fine." Strong arms wrapped around Harry. A pair of soft lips pressed gentle kisses to the back of Hadrian's neck. "You're so beautiful." He murmured, making the smaller male flush scarlet and smile. Evans twisted to face his husband Severus. Harry was about to engage in a passionate kiss, but he noticed Severus's eyes. They were the pale color that only came with death. Harry gasped and pulled away, shutting his eyes tightly. Hands held him too tightly. Harry struggled.

"Let me go!" He cried, managing to wriggle away. Harry opened his eyes.

/:/

Hadrian Evans nearly fell out of his bed. His hands were clammy, breath erratic. Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.

Harry's eyes darted around wildly, searching for danger. He calmed down slightly after not finding anything or anyone.

"That's a first." He muttered, not ever having nightmares about his dead husband before.

Harry expected they would be reoccurring in the future.

A/N: Whoa, two updates in one day! I just felt like writing, I guess. Not many people read this, but the author hopes you like it!