Author- Scratches
Revised Date- February 6, 2007
Original Date- February 22, 2002
Disclaimer-This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings- Fluff
Authors note- Well, it is Tuesday, I'm going to try and make updates every Tuesday until this freakin' thing is finished. (Yes, I plan on finishing it, no matter how many flames, no matter how many cute reviews, and no matter how many hits without people actually reviewing.) Writing makes me feel really good, and since I've decided what I want to do after I leave the military, I might as well pretend that I'm a good writer and write!
What do we do now?
Chapter 3
Turning his attention to the two older men, Draco questioned them, his white-blonde brows knitting together, "What has happened to Potter?" He sat straight back in his chair and with his head to the side just a little bit, he questioned a bit further, "I never read anything about Niffler bites in our text, and also earlier in.. fourth year.. I think it was when we first studied them, nothing such as this came up in my research."
Dumbledore glanced at the Slytherin teen before commenting, his eyes twinkling with that mischief that just insinuated he had something planned, "This is the results of a Niffler bite in which he did receive, but you already knew that, Draco. When the venom from the saliva mixes in the blood stream of a magical being, it causes them to be back-aged temporarily, and as for it not being documented, if my memory searves me correctly, it is documented in Venomous Creatures That You Never Thought Were, written by the esteemed Montgomery Kirkpatrick."
Draco raised a brow and asked, "The library has this?"
"It should, but at the time of your research, I believe Professor Snape had taken out the book to so some research on a potion or three." Turning his lips up at the edges, Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling a little more merrily.
Sirius had been waiting patiently for the time being, but the talk of school work, and the prospect of the conversation getting completely off track was becoming overwhelming. And, being the voice of reason, this ex-Marauder asked, "Well, Headmaster, how long until this venom wears off?"
"It really depends on how much venom has been absorbed by Harry's blood system. Since he was transformed into a three year old, I can deduce that the amount of time that he will be in this state will be about two weeks, give a day or two, it varies with every person, also."
Draco motioned to the three year old Harry and asked, "Why does he think I am his father?" He almost sneered at the small boy who was sitting now with Fawkes picking at his tangled mess of hair while Harry was laughing on the edge of Dumbledore's desk.
"That is a known side effect of these types of bites. Whom ever shows the infected person discipline first will become their father figure for the time being whilst they are infected."
"But wouldn't that be Hagrid?" Draco inquired, his lips setting into a thinner line than they had been set at.
Leaning back into his chair, the Headmaster laced his fingers under his chin and answered, "I am more than ninety-nine percent sure that it was because Hagrid asked Harry politely. He is a teacher, and he knows his subject." Dumbledore lifted a brow, almost wanting Draco to comment on Hagrid's competency. "I'm not quite sure what you had said or done when this first happened, Draco, but now you are his father figure."
"And that means?" Sirius interrupted, his eyes looking over at his cousin.
"That until the venom has worn off, Draco has to watch Harry as any father would." Albus stated it simply, bluntly.
Dracoleaned closer to the desk, his hands gripping the arms of his chair, knuckles white. His nostrils flared for a second as a pink tinge raising along his neck, "Headmaster, you cannot be serious about this. I'm still in school, I have studies to do, Quidditch practice to attend, students to look over, duties I must perform!"
"Da?" Harry looked up at the newly pronounced father figure with his green eyes and took Draco's hand and shook it. "Tired.." He opened his mouth and yawned loudly, intimidating a lion, in Draco's opinion.
Sighing, Draco leaned over and picked Harry off of the desk and placed him in his lap. Baby Harry curled up against Draco's chest, one hand gripping the vest and the thumb of the other hand stucj soundly into his mouth, and in a moments time, sleep took the toddler into dream land.
"See, you will do just fine looking after him for the approximate two weeks." Dumbledore told Draco. Sirius nodded in agreement, Draco might act like a prick, but he was extremely responsible, being the head of his school house, Quidditch captain, and second in the class academically. He smoothed Harry's hair down as Dumbledore asked Sirius, "You won't mind if Mr. Malfoy looks after your godson for the time being, do you?"
Sirius looked shocked at the question but answered, "Of course not. I mean, at least his is related to me in some sick way. However, I just ask this one thing, I would just like to spend some time with Harry. I never was able to spend time with him after he turned one. I feel as if I've missed out on it."
"I think that can be arranged Sirius." Dumbledore smiled at the ex-convict.
"What are we going to do about Harry?" Draco asked them as he gazed down upon the raven-haired child. "Because, I don't personally think that my fellow Slytherins will appreciate a young Harry Potter crawling through everything, mucking up assignments and sleeping in their dorm. A Lion in the Snakes Nest will not turn out well, even if he is under my care, and a toddler at that."
"Ah, yes, I had a feeling that you where going to be asking that, Mr. Malfoy. I shall have a room ready for you and young Mr. Potter by the end of the day. I'll inform you at dinner of its whereabouts." Dumbledore smiled and added after looking at his watch, "It seems you are going to be a bit late for your Transfiguration class. So I think I shall send you off now. Have a nice afternoon!" He smiled at the young man as Draco lifted Harry into his arms and picked up his rucksack.
Smiling back at the Headmaster, Draco slung his bag over one shoulder and walked off toward his class, hoping that the Witch wouldn't have anything nasty to say to him about trying to discipline her star student.
Note- I added about a page to this chapter.. I'll probably come back at some point and add some more. I hope that my complete Bsing of the Niffler stuff isn't as horrid as I think it is. I'm just trying to make this better, but I'm not sure how…
-Scratches
(BTW. Thank you to all that have reviewed in the past and to those that will review in the future. Also, the rest of the chapters are NOT updated yet with the new revised storyline. I will post this at the end of the most current updated Chapter for reference.)