It'd been nearly two months since Hadrian's disappearance. Hermes had practically torn the UK apart, and he'd still found no trace of his son. It was only Athena and Aphrodite that'd kept him from tearing into every wizard he'd found and demanding answers. Thus far, the closest they got was figuring out that he was, indeed, alive.

At the moment, Hermes was taking a break—as Athena had all but threatened him. The only reason he'd agreed to it was because Aphrodite had sworn to keep looking. So he was doing some deliveries and messaging his other children in the vain hopes of distracting himself from Hadrian's absence.

It wasn't working.

He was about ready to throw in the towel and head home to continue searching, when the breeze shifted. There was something familiar under the stench of bleach and cheap perfume. He eyed the mortal woman who seemed to have far too much neck. Obviously, Aphrodite had never blessed that family.

Something about her intrigued him. There was... something there. Something familiar. With a sigh, he cloaked himself and his presence and followed her. She led him down the street to a row of houses that looked painfully alike. Hermes scrunched up his nose. James would hate it. Hermes hated it.

She glanced over her shoulder for a moment before heading over to Number Four. Hermes stiffened when he sensed the wards. This was a mortal neighborhood, right? A... what did the wizards call it? Muggle? It was a non-magical area. So why would there be such a powerful...

He gently ghosted his hand over it. The barrier strengthened, but did not repel him. It felt... It felt like Lily. His heart stuttered as he glanced towards the ugly woman in the doorway.

"Didn't Lilly mention a sister once?" He whispered. Of course, if Lily had been a daughter of Athena, it would stand to reason that the resemblance would be little-to-none. Why had he never thought of checking familial relations?!

He quickly passed through the barrier, sneaking his way into the house. It seemed there was a child that lived here. He was fat and loud and Hermes disliked him instantly.

It was then that he saw the woman go over to the cupboard, yanking the door open with a scowl. She reached inside and pulled something out.

The tiny cry of pain made the god freeze. There, hanging awkwardly in the woman's tight grasp, was his son. He dropped his invisibility.

Hadrian noticed him first, hand reaching out towards him. "Daddy!" He cried out, tears running down his face.

Hermes was there before the woman could blink. He wrapped his arms around his son, feeling something settle within him for the first time in months. "Shh... it's okay, Hadrian. Daddy's here. Daddy's right here, Bambi."

"Wh-who are you?!" The ugly woman screeched, and Hermes didn't miss the way his son flinched away from her.

He cradled his son against his chest, glaring at the woman. "You hurt my son." His voice was colder than the Norse gods' Asgard.

"The freak's parents are dead." The woman sniffed. "You're one of them aren't you? A freak. Just like him. Take him, then. We don't want something like that in this household."

Hermes' blood was boiling. It was only the tiny fists that were balled into his shirt that kept him from killing the mortal that dared hurt his son. For a moment, he contemplated telling her exactly who it was she was talking to. Of letting her know just what kind of power she'd royally pissed off.

But he stayed his tongue. His son was safe, and that was what mattered. Besides, it seemed she wanted nothing to do with Harry. "Fine." He nodded, pulling out some mortal paperwork. "Then sign this, and you will never see Hadrian again."

The woman shot him a perplexed look that made her look constipated. She ultimately decided to be done with it, and signed the forms without even glancing them over.

Hermes grinned. Loki wasn't one of his best friends for nothing. "Thank you kindly..." he glanced at the name, "Petunia." Of course, the woman would assume they were custody transfer papers. It would be one of her greatest mistakes—right after hurting his son.

With that, Hermes left the house. He would have his revenge in time. He would make sure of it. "Daddy?" Harry looked up at him, and it was only now that he saw the bruise that covered the left side of his son's jaw. His vision went red. "Daddy? Can go home? Want mamma."

He quelled his anger as best he could, concentrating on the child in his arms. "Momma's gone, Bambi. It's just you and me for now." He held him close. Where was Sirius? Wasn't he the godfather or something? Shouldn't mortals have to follow their own laws? He knew Sirius would never abandon Harry willingly, but he'd been too distraught about Hadrian's disappearance to really think about the other man's absence.

"Daddy... hurt." A few tears rolled down Harry's face. "Hungry."

Hermes cradled Harry against him. "Let's go get you some food, okay? Your Uncle Apollo can make sure you're okay." He'd swear the other god to secrecy, but Apollo was the god of healing—he didn't want to take any chances with his son. His son was covered in bruises, and with the way the woman had held his son by his arm, he wanted to make sure nothing was broken.

"Uncle 'pollo?" Harry tilted his head, and Hermes felt his heart warm.

"That's right. You're gonna meet your Auntie Aphrodite and Auntie Athena, too."

Harry made a humming sound as his head lulled against Hermes' chest. It was too dangerous to bring his son to Olympus just yet—Zeus would surely feel the presence of a new god, and grow curious. He didn't want that cat out of the bag just yet. He tightened his grip on Harry and flew back to Godric's Hollow—gathering up Harry's things and quickly fixing him something to eat.

With food in his belly, the child fell asleep remarkably fast. Hermes couldn't help but think that Petunia had done more than starve and hit his son. He forced himself to take a deep breath. He could plot revenge on the woman and her family later. Right now, Harry needed him.

He flitted off to one of his mortal safe houses—something he kept in case he pissed off the wrong god. Thankfully, after Harry had been born, he'd modified all his safe houses with a nursery and a few guest rooms—for Lily and James, should the house in Godric's Hollow ever fall.

He never thought he'd be unable to save them. Their deaths hurt him far more than he'd expected them to. Perhaps because he'd thought he would have a few more years.

He gently laid Hadrian—now cleaned and in fresh clothes—down in the crib, setting up his stuffed animals just like he liked them. His heart ached when he saw him hug the stuffed stag. "Just this once, old friend... I'll say he likes the stag better."

He'd had every intention of leaving the house to find Athena and Aphrodite—and especially Apollo—but he found himself rooted to the spot. Seeing his son sleeping so peacefully was like a soothing balm to his soul. Every ache and pain and sleepless night was being washed away with each breath the tiny person before him took.

Gods, he was a mess.

He pulled out his phone. Athena had adamantly refused it, but Aphrodite had been intrigued by the technology. Hermes sent off a text.

I've found him. Come to Safe House 13.

He knew the signal would only catch when she was on Earth. He was sure she was doing something on Olympus, so he was rather surprised when he heard a knock at the door. He cautiously approached, relaxing when he saw the golden-haired goddess standing before him with Athena at her side.

"You found him?" Athena raised an eyebrow.

"He's alive." Hermes nodded, letting them in. He led them back to the nursery.

"And unhurt?" Aphrodite pressed.

"Not unhurt." Hermes couldn't help the growl that escaped him. "Those mortals hurt him. Starved him... hit him." A hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his momentary rage.

Aphrodite had a bit of shock in her eyes, and he supposed he must've looked a little more angry than he'd thought. "And the bodies?"

Hermes gave a dry laugh. "Even I'm not foolish enough to kill those mortals outright. Hades would be far too merciful for them."

"You let them live?" Athena was somewhat surprised.

"For now." Hermes nodded. "Harry is more important."

A cry came from the crib and Hermes practically teleported to his son's side. A moment later, he was in his arms. "Daddy!" He gripped Hermes' shirt tightly. "Scared. Don't leave!"

"Shh. Daddy's right here, Bambi. Daddy's right here. I'm not going anywhere." He gently rocked him in his arms, holding his son close to his chest. Nothing would tear his son from him, not even Zeus himself.

~~~

Aphrodite had known Hermes for a very long time. Never, in all these countless centuries, had she ever seen him so gentle. There was a sort of world-shaking devotion in his eyes as he gazed upon the admittedly adorable child. She'd never seen a god look like that before.

It frightened her. That unshakable devotion was something that could upend all of Olympus. She felt she could never understand the depth of the love Hermes felt for his son, but she understood well enough to know that anyone who dared hurt him would disappear.

Athena seemed to have come to that same realization.

Aphrodite was the goddess of love. While it was true that it tended to be of the more sensual nature, she was also able to feel familial love in her domain. And never had she felt a love quite so strong or pure as what she was feeling right now. Hermes would kill all of Olympus for his son, she had no doubts about that. Hadrian was the most important person to him now.

She was very glad she was on his good side. The kid was, admittedly, rather cute. He had bright green eyes and messy black hair that looked windswept like Hermes'. He had the god's nose, and Athena's own eye-shape. Aphrodite could also make out a few bits of facial structure that greatly reminded her of Ares. Was the boy's mortal father a demigod as well?

"Athena. Aphrodite. I'd like you to meet Hadrian Ermis Potter—my beloved son." He held the child up proudly, careful of the supposed injuries the boy had. She could see a rather dark bruise on the child's face, which had her own lips twitching into a frown. His onesie was a light purple color with deer and dogs, and his hair was somewhat damp, like Hermes had recently given him a bath—perhaps he had.

"Hadrian, this is your Auntie Aphrodite, and your Auntie Athena."

"Teena! Teena!" Hadrian laughed, reaching out for the stern goddess.

Athena reeled back a bit, obviously surprised at the child's eagerness. Hermes carefully transferred the boy to the goddess, who cradled the child awkwardly.

"Mamma?" He looked up at Athena. "Look like..."

"I'm... your mamma's mamma." Aphrodite almost laughed at the hesitance in the other goddess' voice. Hermes chuckled. "I see you've inherited my brains, at least." She shifted her hold, and the boy whimpered. Hermes lurched, like he wanted to rip him away from her, but held himself back.

"I'm sorry." Athena apologized.

"N-no, it's fine. He's got a lot of bruises, and I think his arm might have a small fracture. I've done what I can, but... I think Apollo would be a better choice." Hermes sighed.

Athena frowned but nodded. "I... will see what I can do." She handed the child back to Hermes. The kid clung to him like a lifeline, and it made Aphrodite smile a bit. Looking at the two of them like this... it was obvious that Hermes had devoted much of his time to this child. They were very attached.

"Well, since I doubt you've eaten, I'm going to grab you something." Aphrodite shrugged as Athena left to grab Apollo. "Do you need me to grab anything while I'm out?"

"No. I've got all of Harry's things here." Hermes explained as he set his son down to play with some rubber knives. Aphrodite sent him a judgmental look. "He's a great-grandson of Ares, what do you expect?"

She shook her head with a small laugh. "Descendant of Ares, grandson of Athena, and son of Hermes. He'll be one hell of a god."

"He will be." Hermes grinned. "Hadrian will be one of the best."