Author's note: Hello awesome people out there! :D thx once again for reviewing! More please~ Haha I'm not really sure when the next update's going to be but I promise to update whenever I can. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as the ones before…I have a strange feeling that this story is getting kinda lazily done if you know what I mean :x sorry if I seem to be rushing through the chapters D: Anyway, here's chapter 11! Please read and review all the same~ (sorry its a short chapter...)

Acceptance
Chapter 11
In Dreams

It's been five months since Draco Malfoy had been left in my care, and just as Dumbledore predicted, I was getting really attached to him. Just the mere thought of him leaving me when he returned to his teenage self could send me into a deep psychological trauma for hours. Of course, the little guy never understood why I would go from a happy, cheerful caretaker into a pessimistic emo bastard so often. And the sad thing about it was that I couldn't tell him the reason behind all those random mood swings. For countless times, I was tempted to just tell him the truth about how he got de-aged. But of course, I couldn't. He wouldn't understand me anyway. Either that, or he would be frightened and maybe leave me, never trusting me again. I couldn't afford that. I didn't want to lose him so soon like that. Heck, I NEVER wanted to lose him.

"Harry, are you dreaming again?" questioned little Draco, tugging at my cloak as we made our way towards charms class. I forced a smile, "yeah, because I simply adore dreaming whenever I can." Draco looked at me with wide, curious eyes, "What does Harry dream about?"

I laughed and picked Draco up, wow he was getting heavier…

"Hmm, what do I dream about, you ask? Well, let's just say I dream about the person I love the most."
"Ooooh is that Hermione?"
"Ugh, hell no. She's Ron's girl. Absolutely no touchy."
"Then who's the lucky girl?"

I sniggered awkwardly. Girl huh…? Why would he think that? Oh right, you don't just go around assuming people are gay…

"I'd rather not say…Sorry,Draco. It's just that I'm not even sure if the erm…girl…likes me back."

That was when Draco's face twisted into an angry frown, "you know what Draco think? Draco think that ANY girl who Harry like is the LUCKIEST girl in the world! Why wouldn't she like Harry? I love Harry! Who wouldn't? Who is she, Harry? Draco will go and beat her up until she says 'I love you' to Harry!"

I stood rooted to the ground as every nerve in my body froze. Everyone else in the corridor seemed to have stopped and stared for quite a while upon hearing Draco's rant. Draco noticed how everyone was staring at us, looked nervously at me, and caught sight of my eyes looking into the distance in awkwardness. He suddenly became extremely shy and hid under my coat like he did the first time I smuggled him to Hogwarts. I shook myself awake from my trance and proceeded with a brisk walk towards charms class, ignoring the countless eyes whose gazes remained fixed on me.

"Damn, we have so much homework today! And I can't believe it's all reading!" Ron groaned as he, Hermione, Draco and I trotted down the stairs after our last class, Divination. Hermione then began arguing with him about how reading was essential for the mind and blah blah blah stuff that I honestly didn't care to hear about either.

Draco hadn't spoken a word today since that awkward moment at the corridor. He suddenly froze in his steps, so did I. Meanwhile, Hermione and Ron kept on walking as they carried on with their pointless argument. I bent down to reach Draco's eye level, and he looked at me. His lips were stuck in a frowning shape and his eyes held a tint of worriedness.

"Dray, what's wrong? Why are you so sad?"
"Draco…Draco sorry…"

What? Why was he sorry? I didn't get it.

"Is Harry mad at Draco? Draco didn't mean to make people stare! Really!" as he said those words, his eyes glistened as tears threatened to fall from them. "Hey, Draco…shh…It's really okay…It's nothing serious. People stare at others every day, honestly, it's no big deal. There's absolutely no need to get so worried," I pulled him into a hug. Draco sniffed a little as he said, "One time…Daddy brought Draco to DeathEatey meeting and Draco peeded on the floor. Everybody stared…Daddy's professor shot Draco with something that really hurt…and…and…Harry please don't shoot Draco! Draco promise to not make people stare at Harry again!"

Oh god… What on earth had this child been through… All those years of being a bully… Before that, he's probably been treated like shit by other Death Eaters and Voldemort. Maybe that's why Voldemort wanted to train Draco into an early killer to prove his worth…

"Hey, don't cry… I won't do anything to hurt you, I promise. Maybe other stupid people would, but I assure you, I won't ever do that. As long as I'm with you, I won't let anyone lay their filthy hands on you either, okay?" I stroked his cheek, wiping a tear away. Draco smiled between tears and nodded. Then, Ron and Hermione finally realized we weren't with them and came back to find us still stuck at the staircase, sharing a moment. Ron then spoke,

"We were wondering where you guys were…"
"Geez, took you long enough."
"Whatever. Why's Draco's face all wet?"

"Draco, did Harry make you cry?" Hermione butt in. I knew she was kidding but I noticed that every time something bad happens, everyone goes "did you do it, Potter" or "what the hell did you do this time Mr. Potter" or "What the hell, Harry" …and the list could go on forever. I have to admit, I do cause a lot of trouble. But I wouldn't make Draco cry. At least I'll try not to again…

Draco simply grinned at Hermione and remarked, "Don't worry, Hermione. Harry will never hurt Draco! He loves Draco! And Draco loves Harry!" I knew Hermione was 'aww-ing' again in her mind, I knew Ron was going 'not this mushy stuff again' in his, and I knew I was loving this moment. I was happy that Draco was also getting attached to me, at least now I knew it wasn't one-sided love. Then again…this was a bad thing…right? It would only make it harder for both of us to let go when the potion was ready. But for now, I would enjoy my time with him I guess.

Besides, even if I couldn't have Draco in real life when the time comes, I'd still have him in my dreams. If only Draco knew the person I both dreamt and daydreamt of was none other than him.