Chapter 2
McGonagall continued to stare at the child in front of her. He was sitting in the middle of her desk, fidgeting this way and that at her gaze, and had his eyes shut tight. She looked at his left hand, which had refused to let Harry's go, then up at the pink Slayer of the Dark Lord. She sighed and sat back in her chair, then stood. This caused Draco to jolt and open his eyes, tightening his grip on Harry's hand.
"Well, the only thing I can offer is for him to stay with Mr. Zabini until the cure is supplied," she said. "As he is a Slytherin, there's no reason he should - "
"No!" Draco interrupted fearfully. "Don wanna! Don wanna weave Hawry!"
McGonagall's jaw went slack and Harry scooped Draco up. He knew that she was mostly shocked at the outburst, but he also had learned from experience that interrupting McGonagall was a bad idea.
"Draco has become sort of...attached, to Harry, of late," Sirius told her, smirking as she composed herself. "Won't leave his side even for a moment."
"You should have seen him earlier, carryin' on and such," Ron said.
"Only time he calmed down was when Harry held him," Hermione said.
McGonagall looked down through her glasses at the toddler in Harry's arms. He whimpered and wrapped his arms around the raven's waist, hiding his face in his shoulder. She smiled softly for a moment, then shook herself and began again.
"Well I'm sorry, but the rules clearly state that students of different houses are not allowed in opposing dorm rooms," she said sternly. "It's not like I can just ignore that."
"But, Professor, if I may,"Harry said. "Draco isn't old enough anymore to be in a house, so...maybe."
He stopped himself when she narrowed her gaze at him.
"He has a point, Minerva," Sirius said smoothly.
"I know, but as Mr. Malfoy is simply deaged I don't know that I can - "
She stopped when the pass code for the entrance was said and stomping feet were heard. Everyone turned as Pansy Parkinson came racing into the room, her dark brown hair flying behind her. Blaise Zabini came next, looking less frantic, and was followed closely by Tonks and Remus.
"Where is he!" Pansy roared, glaring at Hermione and Ron before shooting daggers at Harry. "Where's Draco? What have you done?"
Draco perked up and leaned around Harry, a big smile on his face as he raised his arms in the air.
"Pansy!" he cheered, catching everyone by surprise.
Pansy gasped upon seeing him and raced over. Harry quickly swiveled so she could take Draco from him, a little confounded when the boy flung his arms around the girl's neck and let her take him. Blaise could do nothing but stare, a grin twitching across his face.
"Oh by George what have they done to you!" Pansy cried, holding him close as he nuzzled into her hair.
"I'm fine," Draco said as Blaise took a step towards them. "They didn' do anyfing! Hawry been howdin' me the whole time."
Pansy's glare fell on Harry again and he winced.
"And just why is Draco a toddler?" she snarled.
"That's what we kept trying to tell you," Tonks sighed, gaining the girl's eye. "He messed up a potion and it deaged him. Harry and his friends weren't even in the room."
"Draco can mess up potions?" Blaise snorted as he peeked around Pansy's shoulder at the boy. "Who would've guessed."
Draco saw him and turned his face away.
"Oh, what, you remember her but you don't remember me?"
"He's skittish with certain people," Hermione told him, barely realizing she'd spoken until two pairs of agast Slytherins were staring at her.
"Don't speak as if you know him," Pansy spat, pulling Draco so his head rested in the crook of her neck. "It wasn't even six months ago you three hated his guts!"
"Yes, well, now he's four," Ron snarled, not liking her tone. "And hasn't let anyone hold him but you and Harry."
Harry's jaw tensed when the two turned to him again. Draco was squirming in Pansy's grasp, obviously unnerved by all the arguing, and if she wasn't careful she was going to drop him.
"Look - "
"Don't!" Pansy interrupted. "It's bad enough you've sent his parents to Azkaban, now you're messing with his head when he can't very well defend himself?"
"What's Askibam?" Draco whimpered.
His question went unheard.
"Ms. Parkinson, if you would just settle down," McGonagall interjected. "We were just talking about where Mr. Malfoy would be staying - "
"He's bloody well staying with us!" Pansy shouted. "That shouldn't even be up for debate!"
"Where else would he be going?" Blaise asked, eyeing Harry suspiciously.
"As Mr. Potter here was the only one to calm him down, there was a thought that he might have to go with him - "
"Are you mad?! You can't put him with someone who hates him!"
"I never said I hated Malfoy!" Harry cried, upset that Pansy was causing such a scene. "Besides the fact, he's four years old! He doesn't even remember anything that you're talking about!"
Draco whimpered and covered his ears as the two continued to yell at each other, drawing in the others as well. Their screaming was frightening and he wanted it to stop, it was too painfully familiar.
I will have no son of mine filled with lies!
But you'd rather he join some monster with you?! What father wants that fate for their child?!
The Dark Lord demands I raise him to follow in my footsteps! If I refuse he could very well kill us all! Is that what you want for him?!
Better we die with our souls than without them!
"Stooooop!"
Everyone jolted at Draco's shriek. He was shaking and his eyes were shut tight, his face contorted as if he was in pain.
"No more fighting!" he begged. "No more fighting pwease!"
Pansy snapped awake and nodded, putting her head on top of his.
"No more fighting, sweetie, I promise," she cooed into his ear.
He peeked over at Harry and saw him nod as well, looking away from them sheepishly. The others followed suit.
"Well now," McGonagall said, the only one who hadn't been yelling. "If we're all done causing a ruckus, I believe I can come up with a solution rather quickly."
She held her arms out to Pansy and the girl flinched, then slowly handed the boy to the Headmaster. Draco instantly began squirming and whimpering, so she set him down.
"Alright Mr. Malfoy," she started as he looked up at her. "I want you to choose, right now, who you would like to stay with. Mr. Potter or Ms. Parkinson?"
Draco blinked as everyone stared at her.
"Professor - " Tonks started.
"Whoever Mr. Malfoy chooses will watch over him full time. This doesn't mean that the other party cannot see him, but at least then the boy will have a say in where he will stay and who will be taking care of him."
She gave Draco a smile that made him feel like her grandson for a moment.
"Take the time you need, Mr. Malfoy," she said as she turned him to face Pansy and Harry.
Pansy did her best to smile at her friend, praying that he would pick her. Harry was actually hoping he would pick Parkinson as well. It would definitely save them the trouble later on. Draco looked between the two for what seemed like hours, then smiled and flung himself at his choice's legs.
Harry jolted back, almost toppling over, then hoisted Draco into his arms and stared at him, shocked beyond words. Draco simply beamed at him, then hugged his neck tightly. Pansy looked as if she'd been slapped in the face, and turned her eyes to the ground as Blaise put a hand on her shoulder.
"That's been settled then," McGonagall said with a sigh. "I will see what I can do about rooming. For now, lunch is starting and I've kept you all long enough."
She nodded to indicate that they should leave. Blaise led Pansy to the stairs, giving a swift glare to Ron before exiting the room. Sirius shrugged at Harry and he and Tonks and Remus followed them.
"Professor, don't you think people will..." Harry started as Hermione and Ron waited for him at the door.
"Yes, they'll stare," McGonagall sighed. "Why don't I have your food brought to your room. That way you and Mr. Malfoy can get settled in."
Harry nodded, shifting Draco before heading to the door.
"Think we'll see the last of Zabini and Parkinson?" Ron asked as soon as they were in the halls and heading to the Gryffindor Dorms.
"Most likely not," Hermione sniffed. "Did you see the malice in her eyes? We'll be lucky if she doesn't try to zap us in the next thirty minutes."
Harry nodded. Draco was staring at Hermione intently as they walked, then he lifted his head.
"Your haiw is pwetty," he said.
Hermione looked over at him, looked away, then turned back, her eyes wide.
"Me?" she asked in surprise.
Draco nodded, then went back to nuzzling into Harry's shoulder. Ron and Harry snickered as Hermione's face turned red and she tugged at her locks.
"T-Thanks," she squeaked, increasing her pace so she was walking ahead of them.
"Careful, Ron," Harry laughed. "Draco might be giving you some stiff competition."
Ron laughed as well, then paused and looked down at Draco. Something inside him switched on and he raced after his girlfriend, yelling about how he thought her hair was pretty too. Harry chuckled lightly, absently rubbing Draco's back. The boy's eyes were drooping and he sighed contently. It wasn't twelve steps later that he was asleep.
