Title: When Times Change
Author: I_nv_u50
Pairings: Eventual DracoXHarry. But only in the last 10 or so chapters (rough idea..)
Disclaimer: I'll give them back to their rightful owners when I'm done with them, all cleaned up and untainted. :D
Chapter Rating: PG13 for something in there… O.o;
Author's Notes: Hmm. It's finally out O.o;
Harry: It's about time.
Draco: At last woman!
Strange how they think they can blame me, isn't it :D Anyway, I'm really sorry for the delay, and I hope I'm forgiven. I also hope that this chapter is good enough to be worth the wait, seeing as half of it was rushed. I'm not too happy with it, but I'll rewrite it later, when I have the time… As such, this isn't the best, but hopefully its enough for now
Draco: See how she's trying to ease her guilt?
Harry: It's fairly obvious, isn't it.
Grr. Anyway, that's about it. Hope you had a happy valentine's day, I know they did . So, on with the chapter. Enjoy, and please review! ^^
~If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for.~
The next morning, Draco woke up normally. Normally in that he didn't have a five-year-old child trying to tickle him to death. He almost suspected something was wrong when he groggily got out of bed, but a quick look towards Harry's bed proved the kid still asleep.
Draco breathed a sigh of relief, and starting setting out his new clothes for him to wear that day. He had no plans about what they were intending to do today, but he suspected that Harry would have plenty of ideas. He made a secret plan to do as little of them as he could.
Draco did not appreciate the warping of his character by a mere child. A deatheater was supposed to be ruthless, and Draco felt anything but merciless when Harry persuaded him to do things he normally wouldn't be caught dead doing.
He sighed at the loss of his normal self and turned the light on in the bathroom, wanting to be out of the shower by the time Harry woke up. Although, he supposed, it was probably best to bathe Harry first, but Harry was still sleeping probably, and Draco had already stripped off. It was too late anyway.
He had just started lathering his hair when the door opened quietly. "Draco?"
Draco sighed impatiently. "What is it Harry?"
"Can I go to the shops again today?"
Draco blinked, then scowled. "Not today Harry, we can try and go again tomorrow." He could almost feel Harry's pout.
"Fine," Harry replied sullenly, and the door closed behind the child.
Draco blinked again and continued washing his hair, still fuming silently at the situation he was in. Voldemort had better be grateful.
When he finally got out of the shower, after rinsing his hair multiple times because it always calmed him down slightly to have water running through his hair, he wrapped a towel carefully around himself and stepped into the main room.
Harry was nowhere to be seen.
Draco didn't feel worried until he had gotten dressed, and brushed his teeth and hair. Harry was still nowhere to be seen, and Draco supposed he could allow himself to start feeling worried. The first thing he did was to send Elfric to search the hotel for the five-year-old. Elfric, although he did it somewhat grudgingly, did go because he seemed to be almost worried about the child.
Draco shook his head at the change in his falcon and himself and set off in the opposite direction of the falcon, heading for the receptionist desk in hopes that they had seen Harry.
Draco could only hope that Harry hadn't neglected to put on some clothes before he ran away.
When he asked the receptionist though, she just gave him a bland look and stifled a yawn. "Yes sir, some people have called down and asked about a naked child running around the hallways. Is he yours? If he is, we'll have to ask you to keep a better hold on him next time."
Draco gritted his teeth and reminded himself that killing wasn't the only answer. It was merely the best one, but since he couldn't do that here, he would just have to put up with the silent disapproval of a dumb muggle. After all, her disapproval was nowhere near as bad as his father's could get. Thankfully though, his father was proud of him for getting chosen for this important trip, if a little bitter about being passed over.
"All right," Draco spoke slowly, so as not to trigger his continuously rising anger. "I'll keep a better eye on him in future, now could you please tell me where he is?"
The girl cast a disinterested glance at the computer, fiddled a bit, then looked back up at him. "He's currently staying with someone in room 342. Go knock on their door politely, and they'll let you in."
Draco inclined his head in false thankfulness, and headed for the elevator. He had to find Harry before the stupid git could talk about anything. He hoped Elfric was staying as out of sight as he could.
The room was a little difficult to find, hidden somewhere out of the way, right at the end of a back corridor, and Draco wondered at the location. He wondered if he could switch rooms. A room out of the way would be far less noticeable for a deatheater if he just happened to curse his ward.
He knocked on the door casually, still looking around with interest. There was a back staircase here as well, for people who didn't want to take the elevator, or for servants of the hotel, probably. It was dark, and smelled musty in a pleasant sort of way, not at all like the dungeons of Malfoy Manor.
The door opened under his hand as he prepared to knock again, and then he was staring, utterly stunned, into the face of Severus Snape.
"Severus!" he said, still totally surprised to see the old deatheater in a filthy muggle place like this hotel. "What are you doing here?"
Severus gave him a distasteful look, confusion lurking somewhere in his expression. "Who are you?"
Draco suddenly remembered that he was too far back in the past to have Severus remember him yet, seeing as the only Draco Severus knew was about five years old as well. He pondered telling the older wizard a lie, but Severus had been a trusted friend, and still was, even though he was now a ghost in Draco's time, and Draco suddenly smiled, happy that he could have a good talk with Severus like he hadn't been able to for quite some time.
"It's me, Draco Malfoy."
A quick look of surprise was hurriedly covered up, and Severus eyed him cautiously before standing back silently to allow Draco in.
Draco waited politely.
Severus sneered, and turned around and walked into his room, talking over his shoulder. "I assume you're here for the Potter brat?"
Draco followed quietly, shutting the door behind him, and tried not to feel angry because Severus called Harry a brat. That was, undoubtedly, exactly what Harry was, so why should he be so angry?
"Yeah," Draco replied, shoving his rising away. "Where is he?"
"Currently playing with what I believe is your falcon, now that I have seen you."
Draco blinked at Severus' back. "So Elfric did find him?"
"Yes."
Harry's high pitched giggling suddenly erupted from a back room, and Draco followed the sound instinctively, letting Severus hang back because Severus plainly did not want to see the child of his Lord's downfall, as it was in these years.
Harry was sitting on the floor, brushing his hand over the ground furiously, and half toppling over when he sent his hand back too far. There was a small hunting shriek from Elfric, who was sitting on a chair, then the falcon would dive for the hand and proceed to pretend to rip it into pieces, while Harry laughed louder. Thankfully, he was wearing what appeared to be some of Severus' old robes, which were far too big.
Elfric looked up suddenly from Harry's slightly scratched hand and called a welcome. Harry looked up quickly, his face reddening with sorrow and held back tears.
Draco assumed he wasn't yet forgiven.
He was correct, as it turned out, because Harry turned away determinedly, trying to get Elfric to turn with him, but the falcon flew to the chair, landing heavily on the back, ignoring Harry in favour of Draco, who went and lightly scratched the back of the falcon's head.
Severus cleared his throat. "I am about to order some food, would you like to join me?"
Draco shook his head regretfully. "No thanks, we have a lot to do today, and we must get going in a minute."
Draco ignored Severus as the other deatheater walked quietly away, still staring at Harry and wondering how to go about this.
He never wanted kids.
"Harry?"
"Go 'way."
"Harry, we need to go."
"Don' wanna."
"Harry," Draco imitated his father's voice, one he had never dared to disobey for fear of the punishments hinted. "We are leaving, now get up."
Harry, to his obvious surprise, suddenly found himself on his feet, and his wrist held firmly by Draco, who whistled something to Elfric, who screeched agreement and hopped onto Draco's shoulder, his dangerous talons holding on lightly so as not to draw blood.
"Thanks, Severus. Maybe we'll see you again soon!"
Severus grunted in reply, already reading a thick volume of who knew what.
Draco dragged Harry out, doing his best to ignore the silent tears running down the child's face and the valiant efforts to keep his sobs silent.
About halfway to the elevator, Draco gave up and knelt down in front of Harry, who doggedly avoided his eyes.
"Harry, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit nervous showering with anyone."
Harry forgot that he was supposed to be upset with Draco and turned back towards the blonde, curious. "Why?"
Shadows of memories filtered through Draco's brain, memories of memories he didn't want to remember, and he shook his head to chase them away. "That's something I don't want to remember," he said softly, looking down at the floor blindly.
A soft touch brought him back to the present he was in, and he looked up, startled, to find Harry staring at him. Harry's hand was resting softly against his cheek, comforting, and the green eyes were large and wise with something no child should have to know.
"Like I don't want to remember uncle Vernon?" Harry's voice was quite, understanding, and Draco had the sudden urge to hug the boy. He ignored it, of course, but he couldn't quite push away his relief that somebody actually understood. It had taken too many years to find somebody who had, and Draco had almost given up, pushing away his unwanted past like a deatheater kills off his enemies.
Then, all too suddenly, Draco remembered whom it was he was staring at, who had his hand on Draco's cheek, and Draco flinched back, standing up so suddenly that he felt dizzy. He couldn't allow himself to sympathize with Potter, it just wouldn't do.
Harry looked slightly confused, but that understanding sympathy was lurking behind the confusion in his eyes, and Draco hardened his face, wanting to make Harry upset again because that sympathy made Draco feel too vulnerable. And that understanding made him simply feel too lonely.
"Come on then," he said harshly, and stalked off to the elevator, leaving Harry to follow on his own.
"Elfric," Draco spoke to the falcon while they waited for the elevator to arrive, "I'm going to send you to Blaise. We need to know how he is doing. I want to get out of this time, and soon."
Elfric nudged his head into Draco's neck, and Draco obligingly lifted a hand to scratch the falcon's head a little.
Harry came up to stand next to him, and tugged on his sleeve.
Draco looked down coolly. "Yes?"
Harry remained oblivious. "Can we go to a park?"
Draco looked straight ahead again, sighing. "All right. Let's just go to our room so you can wash and change, all right?"
"Okay," Harry chirped happily, and Draco shook his head wonderingly, holding the doors of the lift open as Harry sorted out the trailing robes so he wouldn't trip.
They made it to their room safely; Draco helped Harry wash, and penned a note to Blaise while Harry changed into the preset out clothes.
And then they went looking for a park for Harry. It took a few hours, both of walking and of Draco carrying Harry, simply because none of the parks that they found were what Harry wanted, and because, surprisingly, muggles actually had some good stuff to sell. Draco had to admit that they had made their lives a lot easier, even without magic. It was almost… admirable.
Draco scowled at nothing and hastily took the word back, but some part of him agreed, because they stopped every five minutes to examine some other muggle contraption that Draco had never seen, let alone heard of. Muggles weren't clever, as such, but they were definitely bright.
Well, most of them, anyway, Draco amended, as a muggle raced out of a store in front of them with the shopkeeper in hot pursuit.
They eventually found a playground that Harry liked, and Draco put Harry down in favor of going to sit on a swing while the child played.
It was, Draco concluded, almost relaxing. Maybe having a kid wasn't so bad.
After an hour or two, Harry tired of playing around, and Draco grew weary of pushing the swing for the kid, and so they started back again, Harry chattering happily and quite randomly about anything that came into his mind, and Draco would make replies, sometimes long and sometimes short.
Elfric found them when they were about halfway, with a reply from Blaise.
Draco,
Have you noticed anything strange about your dark mark lately? Anyway, got some of the ingredients, need a few more. Should be ready for you to make the potion in about four or so days. Having fun with the Potter kid? Don't worry; it's almost over.
Blaise
The note was almost cheerful, despite the warning about the dark mark. Draco made a mental note to check it when Harry was asleep and in bed. He didn't want to do or say anything to ruin the lively mood Harry was in, not for any concern of the child, but because he didn't want to have to deal with a temper tantrum again.
They got take out on their way back, eating while they walked, feeding Elfric bits and pieces, and talking more animatedly than before. Harry was beginning to tire though, and by the time the food was finished and they were almost back, Harry was dozing, his head on Draco's shoulder as Draco carried him, having put a weightless charm on the kid first.
Draco nodded to the receptionist as they passed, a new lady with bundled up red hair, and waited for the elevator to arrive with quiet impatience. His arms were starting to get worn-out, even with the weightless charm, ad it was with grateful glee that Draco put Harry down on his bed and tucked him in, foregoing the bath for tonight.
He wasn't all that sure that Harry would go back to sleep if Draco woke him up now, and he wasn't willing to take that chance. Especially if Harry made a fuss and insisted on sleeping with Draco.
Draco shuddered at the idea, and crawled into bed. His feet were aching, and he blamed those inferior muggle shoes. Just as he felt his eyes start to close, he remembered Blaise's warning, and rolled up his sleeve to check the dark mark.
It was blood red, looking like an open wound. Draco wasn't alarmed at that, it usually happened when Voldemort was angry. What alarmed him was the fact that it didn't hurt. It wasn't hurting, which was horrendously foreboding, an ominous sign that something wasn't quite right with his own, real world.
A second later, he dismissed the theory. It probably wasn't anything serious, merely that neither he nor Blaise could feel it because of their position in time.
He yawned, and fell back against his pillow, closing his eyes appreciatively, and fell asleep.
He dreamed of swings that night. Swings and a curious child with black hair and brown eyes, telling him to be careful…