Disclaimer: Not mine, talk to J.K. about that!

A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter- you guys are fantastic! A special thanks to Her Royal Majesty Queen Abigail I of Duct Tape and Boredacea for the wonderful review. To everyone out there, I apologise for taking so long to get this posted. First I had to contend with exams (I'm a junior in college), and then I went on a two week cruise over Christmas and New Year's with my family. Lastly, but probably the most pressing reason, is writers block. Those who read my stories know I don't use this excuse unless I really mean it. So I've been busy, and stumped :-( sorry! Now without further ado, the next chapter!

The Little Child to Lead Him

Chapter Eleven

"So come on Harry, why were you hanging out with the shrimps?" Seamus pressed as they started eating desert.

"We're not shrimps!" Allyn glared at him yet again, walking down the aisle towards them. "Why do you keep calling us that?"

"Cause you are…shrimp."

"You're like a dog with a bone about that name," she grumbled, then turned to Harry. "We're all done and ready to go when you are."

"I'm ready now," he wiped his mouth and stood up.

"Where you going Harry?" Ron asked, though it was hard to understanding him as his mouth was stuffed with treacle tart.

"Teaching them what I know of wizard's chess," he grinned. "If there're any prodigies in the bunch, I'll send 'em to you for further teaching."

"We're just going to be surrounded by shrimps, aren't we?" Seamus groaned.

"No, you're going to be surrounded by first years, though please feel free to avoid us," Allyn sighed, rolling her eyes at his stubbornness. "I give up. I'm just going to ignore you; you're just a pain."

"And I'm going to ignore that since I'm sure you forgot that I'm a seventh year who can easily beat you up," Seamus raised his head to look at her with amusement.

"I'd like to see you try, especially with my dorm-mates and Harry helping me," she stared right back at him. He burst out laughing.

"You've got guts shrimp, I like that," he grinned, and when she gave an annoyed growl, grinned even wider. "You know Harry, I think I can understand why you hang out with the shrimps, they're a lot of fun to annoy…I mean, talk to."

"Leave her be Seamus," Harry snapped at him, a bit ticked off that Allyn was looking so frustrated by Seamus' constant teasing. "Let's go Lyn."

"Okay Harry," Allyn gave him a grateful smile, and he followed her back up the aisle, not noticing the odd looks his friends were giving him.

"What was up with that?" Seamus looked at them all after Harry was out of the great hall. "I mean, I was teasing her yeah, but nothing mean. Just being annoying more than anything."

"I don't know," Hermione looked just as confused as everyone else. "If it were a student in our year or Ginny's year, or maybe even a fifth year, then I'd hazard a guess that he was jealous of you talking to her; possibly because he likes her."

"But she's just a first year!" Dean exclaimed. "I can't believe that Harry would do that."

"Well I don't think he'd actually do anything, but think about it," Hermione started to explain. "Right now, the six-year difference between them seems quite large. In seven years however, we'll be around twenty five, and the first years will be eighteen, which is perfectly respectable, and doesn't seem to matter nearly as much."

"But she's only eleven right now," Lavender pointed out.

"Well it's perfectly reasonable for Harry to start getting to know her now, and wait till she's fifteen or sixteen to let her know how he feels about her. That way she'll have a year or two to decide how she feels about him, and if she wants to pursue a relationship with him once out of school. I agree that she's only eleven, but it's true that as you get older, age is nothing but a number," Hermione argued. "And as wizards and witches, we'll live twice as long as muggles do, making it even less important."

"And you know," Ron added. "We don't even know that we're right in thinking he likes her. He could just be protective of the first year girls cause he's got Rose. She has brought out his whole paternal instinct. And of course, he's got his whole saving-people thing."

"I agree with Ron," Parvati nodded, resting her chin in her hand as she spoke. "There's no sense in worrying about something we don't even really know about. So let's just not jump to conclusions, and go on as normal till we have something concrete…if we ever have something concrete."

"Check…and…mate," Jennifer sat back with a satisfied smirk.

"Well that's how you lose," Harry sighed as he slouched on the couch, running a hand through his short-again hair. "I guess I don't have anything to teach you."

"I've competed in some juvenile chess tournaments back home," she grinned, "and won them all. Muggle chess isn't really any different from wizard's chess, except the pieces move themselves."

"So basically you were just setting me up for a good dose of humiliation?"

"Mmm…basically," she smirked before bursting into giggles, as did the others.

"I stand by what I thought before- you should all be in Slytherin."

"How goes the chess?" Ron came up behind them suddenly, causing the girls to jump as they had been in fits of giggles.

"I think Jen could beat you," Harry let his head fall back on the couch so he could look at his friend.

"Not to boast, but I'm one of the best chess players in the school," Ron told her.

"Well I'm one of the best in County Clare, Ireland, juvenile division," she shot back, and Ron grinned, pushing at Harry to move over so he could sit properly across from Jen.

"Hey watch it," Harry playfully shoved him back, but moved to a nearby loveseat all the same.

Harry settled back to watch what was sure to be a good game. His year mates found seats around them and the first year girls, as did a few others in Gryffindor tower. Ron's masterful ability at chess was known throughout the school, and no one had beaten him in a good year. Part of that, of course, was due to the fact that no one had challenged him in that amount of time, having their pride and not wanting to lose…again, in some cases. So a new challenger to face him, and a first year at that, was pretty big deal.

As the game progressed further, and the hour grew later, the first years settled themselves around Harry on the couch. Allyn was on one side, Marie on the other, both tucked under an arm, leaning against him sleepily. Shonda and Ariella were both on the floor, Shonda resting with her back against his legs, and Ariella using Shonda's thigh as a pillow. Rose had been in Harry's lap earlier in the evening, but he'd called Winky to put her in her crib when she'd fallen asleep earlier.

"So who's winning?" Harry asked aloud some time later, to no-one in particular. Both Ron and Jennifer had lost pieces, and similar ones at that, so he didn't really know who was in the lead.

"Ron has the advantage right now," Jennifer answered him, yawning widely, as she waited for Ron to make his move.

"Oh," Harry nodded, and tried to turn around to glance at the clock, but couldn't due to the girls, who were all asleep; or nearly there at any rate. "What time is it?"

"Merlin, it's nearly midnight!" Hermione gasped after looking at the clock; time had flown by, they were all so intrigued with the chess game.

"We'll continue this tomorrow?" Ron asked Jen.

"Definitely," she gave him a smirk, though it was ruined when she yawned again, fighting to keep her eyes open. "I have to beat you after all."

"We'll start after breakfast, my move," Ron cast a shield around the chess board so it wouldn't be disturbed, and leaned back on the couch. "Now that I know what time it is, I find I'm really sleepy."

"It's been a busy day for everyone," Harry pointed out, also stifling a yawn as he glanced at Allyn. "Come on you five, up to bed."

"Not sleepy," Marie mumbled, barely conscious, when he shook her arm a bit.

"Well I am, and I want to go to sleep in my bed, and not on the couch here," he slowly drew his arms away from around their shoulders, and stood up, careful not to disturb Shonda and Ariella.

"Too tired to move," Shonda swatted at his hand as he shook her shoulder.

"All right then," he chuckled and carefully leaned Shonda against the couch before kneeling down to picked up Ariella. She didn't even move as he stood up with her, so deeply asleep was she.

"Want some help Harry?" Ron offered, stretching his arms above his head as the common room started to empty out.

"Is that all right with you Lady?" He asked Hogwarts, and receiving an affirmative, nodded to Ron, Dean, and Seamus. "Sure, that'd be great, thanks."

"I'll get this one then," Ron scooped up Jennifer, while Dean got Marie, Neville got Shonda, and Seamus got Allyn.

"I wonder what the shrimp would think if she knew I was the one putting her to bed," Seamus grinned as he followed behind Harry. He paused at the bottom of the stairs though, looking at them apprehensively. "Uh, Harry, mate…what do you want us to do about the stairs?"

"You're fine for this one time," he told them, and continued up them.

Harry almost laughed as seeing the pleased looks on Ron, Dean, and Seamus' faces as they walked up the 'forbidden staircase'. He had no doubt they wouldn't remember the 'one time' part, and try to climb up the next day. At the girls' dorm, Harry managed to get the door open, and held it for them as they filed in. They stood just inside the door as Harry took a moment to remember whose bed was whose, then pointed them out. Setting the girls down, the other four started to leave, but then noticed Harry wasn't with them.

"You coming mate?" Ron asked him, slightly confused as to why he wasn't leaving.

"As soon as I get their shoes off, and them under the covers," he replied softly, pulling off Ariella's shoes. That finished, he lifted her up again while Ron came over and pulled back the covers so he could put her down. The other boys came back in and helped do the same, so that five minutes later, all five girls were tucked in.

"They all asleep?" Hermione asked quietly as the boys sat back down around the dying fire.

"Yeah, we got their shoes off and them tucked in under the covers as well," Ron gave her a kiss before pulling her onto his lap.

"How thoughtful," Lavender smiled as she relaxed against Dean. "It's bad enough having to go to sleep in your clothes, but with shoes on is worse."

"And waking up shivering in the middle of the night isn't fun either," Parvati agreed

"It was Harry's idea," Seamus pointed a finger at Harry. "We were just going to leave 'em on their beds, but Da there went ahead and started pulling off shoes, and getting 'em under the covers and all."

"Well it's very sweet of you to do that," Parvati insisted, talking to all of them.

"Yeah, you're so nice to the first years," Neville grinned at him. "I can't remember anyone being so nice when we were their age."

"Yeah, Fred and George were more likely to prank us then help," Ron grimaced.

"Last year I would've said that you two were just as likely to prank them as well," Hermione laughed lightly.

"Why are you being so nice to them?" Dean asked Harry curiously. "Especially Allyn. I mean, you're nice to all of them, but her especially."

Again, Harry knew this was a perfect opportunity to tell them, but he still couldn't bring himself to do it. He didn't know why he felt the hesitancy, other than he didn't want it to become common knowledge around the school by the time breakfast was over, and in turn, the entirety of the wizarding world. Lavender and Parvati were nice girls, but they just couldn't help but gossip like most people couldn't help but breathe. He didn't want Allyn exposed to that type of publicity for as long as he could prevent it. She was still so frail and in need of protection in so many ways.

"Just a paternal instinct I suppose," he shrugged. "Having Rose, I guess I can relate to their parents in a way, and I know that when I send her to Hogwarts, I'll hope she's being taken care of like I'm taking care of them all."

They all digested what Harry had said, no one really having anything to say back to him. Their silence was broken only by the fire popping and crackling as it slowly died out. Only when the grandfather clock in the corner chimed once, letting them know it was twelve thirty, did they make any move to get up. Ron and Dean kissed their respective girlfriends goodnight, then they all made their way to their rooms. Harry bid his friends goodnight before continuing to his room, where he peeked in on Rose before going to bed himself.

"I'm so excited!" A bright-eyed Hermione sat down in front of Harry. She seemed to be the only one of them who was really awake after their late night.

"And why, my dear Hermione, is that so?" Ron rolled his head around to look at her.

"The electives start tonight, that's why! The acting one right after dinner, and then the chorus one after that, so that means you've got class tonight Harry."

"Yeah, and a nap right after dinner," he nodded tiredly.

Not long after he'd gone to bed, he'd been awakened by Rose fussing and crying. He'd picked her up to rock her, and thought she felt warm. Worried that she was running a fever, he'd taken her to Madam Pomphrey, who said she just had a mild ear infection, which was quite common for babies. She'd given him a small vial of potion to put in her morning bottle, as well as a topical cream to rub on the skin around the ear that would sink in to help dull the pain, allowing Rose, and Harry, to get some sleep finally.

"What's that?"

"Just a potion for Rose's ear infection," Harry answered Lavender as he emptied the purple potion into Rose's milk.

"Ear infection?"

"Yeah, she was fussing a lot last night, and I thought she was running a fever, so I took her to Madam Pomphrey, who diagnosed her with a mild ear infection. Nothing to worry about."

"Oh, well that's good," Lavender smiled, and leaned over to kiss Rose on the top of her head. "We wouldn't want the princess getting sick."

"Definitely not, though I think I was more bothered by it than she was," Harry chuckled, though it was stopped short by a yawn. "I was up the rest of the night just holding her, making sure she didn't get any worse, even though I knew Madam Pomphrey had cured her."

"Oh suck it up," Ron grinned, "you got yourself into that situation."

"Yeah," Seamus chimed in, "what happened, you never got the 'little wizards' talk from someone?"

"I probably got it more than any of you," Harry groaned, "From Remus, from Mr. Weasley, from Bill, and Fred and George, and finally from my friend Lacey."

"Lacey?" Hermione looked confused. "Oh! The lady who helped you with Rose while you stayed at the hotel, right?"

"Yeah."

"Why'd she give you a little wizards talk?" Dean questioned. "That's usually a guy thing."

"She was a prostitute, so she had a good deal of practical experience," Harry laughed as Hermione blanched.

"Harry!"

"I didn't do anything Mione," he laughed, standing up. "Don't worry about me. Worry more about your boyfriend who hasn't done his transfiguration homework."

"Ron!" Hermione immediately turned to Ron and began lecturing him, much to his displeasure. Harry simply laughed and headed to class.

"Wait up Potter," Malfoy's voice called behind him, and Harry stopped, more from surprise than anything.

"Back to surnames already?"

"Only when Allyn and Daphne aren't around," he smirked, and fell in beside Harry as he started walking again.

"So what do you need?"

"Nothing actually, but one of the fourth years was trying to feel me up under the table," Draco sneered in disgust. "So I gave the excuse of needing to ask you something."

"You just wanted to use me?" Harry put on a mock-distressed face. "You wound me Malfoy."

"Lovely," he drawled. "Hey, what electives are you taking?"

"Chorus and business definitely, and possibly the healing and flying ones. How about you?"

"Business, politics, and chorus."

"You sing then?"

"I've had formal lessons for years. Most purebloods have. Dancing too," Draco shrugged. "Why do you want the business class? I figured you to do the dueling."

"Everyone does, since they all expect I'm going into the ministry to become an auror," Harry groaned in frustration. "I plan on opening an orphanage, hence the business course."

"Well if you ever want or need a sponsor, let me know, and I'll be happy to give some money. Not to mention I'll be able to get you a lot of other donations as well. Purebloods are always donating money to charity, and a charity run by you would look even better on their account records."

"Thanks," Harry gave him a smile as they entered the classroom. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

"Over here Harry!"

"Hello Daphne, Draco," Harry greeted the two of them as he sat down by them, Draco taking Rose with a slight smile. Harry suspected that he was really quite fond of her, even if he wouldn't ever admit it.

"What do you sing Harry?" Daphne asked him as more students continued filing in.

"Tenor, you?"

"Soprano, and Draco sings tenor as well. You two could work out a duet to sing sometime."

"Let's wait and see if Potter's even got any talent singing solo before thinking about a duet," Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, but if he does, then I'm gonna hold you to it," Daphne smirked.

"Whatever Greengrass," Draco huffed, and quieted down as a petite blond woman entered the room.

"Good evening everyone!"

"Good evening," a number of students responded back.

"My name is Nadine Melody, funny, I know," she shared a laugh with them at her name; how apt for a music teacher. "And welcome to the first chorus class."

There was a light smattering of applause at her words, and all the students began giving her their full attention. Even Rose was fairly quiet as she played happily; she was intrigued by Draco's blond hair, and kept grabbing at it.

"First things first, I want to put you into groups, so everybody up!" She waited for them to do so. "Now, to my far left, I was all sopranos please, then altos next to them, tenors next to them, and finally basses on my far right. Before you sit down, think about your range; that is, how high and low you can sing. With in each section, there are ones and twos. An alto one, for example, means you can sing more comfortably the higher notes within your range than the lower ones. So within each section, I want the ones to the right…my right…and the twos on the left. For those who aren't sure where they should go, just pick a section. Now you may take your seats for a minute while I get some information from everyone; please fill out the forms I'm passing out to you."

"I wonder how badly she was teased at the conservatory for her name," Draco snorted.

"Well at least her parents had the good sense not to name her Harmony or some other musical term," Daphne pointed out as she stood up. "See you boys at the end of class."

"Right," Draco nodded, and Harry gave a little wave as she went and sat in the soprano section; soprano one, to be exact. Draco and Harry were already where they needed to be, in the tenor one section.

"All right, thank you for being patient and filling out the information slips," Professor Melody thanked them, smiling. "Now, for the rest of the class, we're going to have each of you sing. Pick a song that you like, and start singing. I'll stop you after about ten, fifteen seconds, as I just want to get an idea of the tone and quality of your voice. We'll do some exercises next class to help me determine your range, and make sure you're where you should be. For those who just picked a section, I'll make some changes and switches as I hear you all. Now, ladies, who'd like to go first?"

"I'll start this thing, show you how it's done," Daphne smirked, raising one elegantly manicured hand.

"All right Miss…?"

"Greengrass."

"All right Miss Greengrass, go ahead, though perhaps with a little less condescension," Professor Melody scolded lightly.

"Confident isn't she?" Harry whispered to Draco as he took back Rose from him; it was time for her bottle.

"She has a right to be, she's a bloody talented soprano," Draco whispered back. "We were all given lessons, but Daphne's one of those who could sing professionally as a career."

Draco spoke quickly, as Daphne stood to sing. From the moment she began, Harry was amazed. Her voice rang clear as she sang some song in Italian, or maybe it was Latin? He was disappointed when Professor Melody stopped her, nodding and smiling as she jotted some notes down on a piece of parchment.

"I see what you mean," Harry turned back to Draco as Professor Melody moved on to the next girl.

"Yeah, she's a shoo-in for any solos we may have in here. Or duets with me as well," Draco looked thoughtful. Harry opened his mouth to say something, but got cut off. "And no, I'm not being a snob when I say that. I'm just as talented in my own right. Daphne and I used to sing duets all the time at various get-togethers."

"All right, all right, I believe you," Harry chuckled, keeping his voice low. Professor Melody was making her way through the sopranos, some singing for short bits of time, others for longer. Harry was surprised that no one was really terrible. Some had some problems singing in tune, and a few of them he thought would make better altos, but overall they were decent singers. All together, there were probably about seventy or eighty kids there, a good number of them Slytherins, Harry noted to himself.

"Well of course you do," Draco smirked.

"Hey," Harry said suddenly, their bantering making him think of something. "Does it seem weird to you that we've been getting along so well?"

"Well we did say we'd try to get along and be friends, if only for Daphne and Allyn's sake," Draco lazily rolled his head around to look at Harry. "And besides, we probably would've been friends from the beginning if I hadn't been such a perfect miniature of my father."

"Yeah, good point."

"Of course it was. I am a Malfoy."

"Well that just ruined your whole I'm not like my father spiel," Harry laughed, and Draco joined in.

"Something funny gentlemen?" Professor Melody stood in front of them.

"Never Professor," Draco stood smoothly, took her hand, and bowed over it. "Draco Malfoy, tenor one."

"Charmed Mr. Malfoy," she raised an eyebrow at his propriety. "Now, if you would be so kind as to sing please."

"Anything for you Professor," he gave her a charming smile, and cleared his throat before launching into a song that was, if Harry wasn't mistaken, French.

"I should learn French," he thought to himself as he listened to Draco sing; he was really good as well, he hadn't been bragging.

"Mr. Potter?"

"Huh? Sorry," he broke out of his thoughts at the teacher's voice. Draco had finished and sat back down.

"That's all right, now if you'd sing something for me please," she nodded at him.

"Sure," he stood up after passing Rose to Draco, his hands in his pockets, and sang a bit of a song he'd heard on the wizarding wireless and liked a lot. The professor listened intently for a few moments, then waved her hand for him to stop, and moved on to the next boy as he sat back down.

"Not too bad Potter," Draco said approvingly. "Some practice with Daphne and me, and we might actually get you up to our caliber."

"Thanks," he rolled his eyes dryly as he took his daughter back. "But who says I want to practice with you and Daphne at all?"

"I do, and I get what I want, so there," Draco smirked, then started laughing, as did Harry.