Quote of the Chapter:
"Watch you thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."
-- Frank Outlaw
Family for the Dragon: Chapter 3
"Severus! Severus!" called Remus frantically. "Lord, Severus, if you have fainted on me with this baby, I will so kill you. Here that, Mr. Potions Master? I will kill you! Get the hell up!" yelled Remus as he shook Severus.
"What! I was thinking, god damn you man! I was thinking!" yelled Severus. Suddenly a piercing yell was heard. Baby Draco had decided the he didn't like it when they yelled and showed his displeasure by yelling his head off.
"God turn him off," yelled Severus.
"He is not a machine, he won't turn off on command, God, and you call yourself a teacher. Lord, man get a life!" said Remus picking the Draco up. Remus wrapped Draco in his muggle sweatshirt and started cradling him.
"Sh....Its okay Remus is here...don't worry...nothing is going to happen..."
"We have to get to Albus! He is going to kill me, I was supposed to take of care of Draco not turn him into a baby," said Severus pacing frantically.
"Calm yourself man, we need to get back," said Remus.
"Let me get the root and we can go," said Severus calming down a teeny weenie bit.
"I need to get the rest of Draco's clothes. Hold him," said Remus putting Draco into Severus's unwilling arms.
"But...I can't..." said Severus stuttering looking down at the cute baby in his arms. Draco cooed and said "Sevi," softly looking up at the man above him.
Severus stared at him, and said in wonderment, "He said my name. I can't believe it."
He moved Draco until Severus and Draco were more comfortable.
"Are you coming?" yelled Remus across the clearing. A second later Draco started crying, Severus stared at him until he understood that Draco didn't like it when people yelled.
"Don't yell, the kid doesn't like it," said Severus patting Draco on the back.
"Oh, sorry" said Remus walking over to Severus and pulling him towards the flowers.
"Are you sure it works with kids?" said Severus nervously looking down at the baby.
"Yeah, it always worked. Don't worry parents bring their babies here" said Remus reassuringly, but he couldn't help teasing a little bit as well. "Aw, is the mean, bad potions master going soft. Worried about the baby are you?"
"I'm not! He was entrusted..." started Severus.
Remus soon cut him off, "It's okay. Babies do that to people. I know the meanest guy in the world, but when he was around babies, it was a different story. He would hold them, play with them, never let them cry, feed them, he wouldn't let anybody disturb them." said Remus walking into the flowers.
"Wait for me..." said Severus.
"Hello Severus, Remus was telling me that we have a problem," said Albus. Severus held out Draco as an explanation.
"Aw, look at the cute baby. Were did you find him?"
"Where is Draco?" said the ladies coming over and cooing at the baby.
"Don't coo over him. He doesn't like it. That is Draco," said Severus shocking all those who hadn't heard the news.
"That baby is Draco? What happened?" asked Albus with a cheerful twinkle in his eyes.
"Draco ate what I think was a magical age reducing strawberry. Stupid boy," said Severus looking down at the baby who had somehow been returned to him with a small hidden smile.
Unfortunately, Albus saw that smile and a plan formed in the esteemed headmaster's head, "Is it reversible?"
"No, unfortunately, the boy will have to stay like this until the strawberries magical properties wear off. Luckily its summer break."
"Now ladies do not protest at what I am going to say next," said Albus.
"What are you going to say?" asked Minerva shrewdly, but when she looked at Albus then saw him nod at Severus, she quickly understood.
"Well, what?" asked Marthie.
"If you are thinking what I am thinking then I am thinking that is a very good idea," said Edward with a smile.
"Well, lets see. Severus," said Albus.
"Yes?"
"I think it is best if you continue to care for Draco even in his current state," said Albus and waited for the yell that came quickly.
"What!!!!! Are you out of your mind old man?" said Severus trying hard not to yell and failing.
"I think that you are perfect, Severus. Look you aren't even yelling loudly cause it upsets Draco. I never knew that you had a soft spot for babies, Severus. I wonder what the students would say if they knew that you had a soft spot for babies," said Remus.
"Oh Remus, I never said that Severus was doing it alone. I think that it would be an educational experience if you help him," said Albus trying not to laugh at the DADA's professor's face.
"What...no…I have never...taken care...off a kid...I will...mess up...how ...you...that...is evil...don't...you feel...sorry for the kid..." mumbled Remus.
"Now Remus, Severus, be a good sport. It isn't that hard, I am sure Poppy will show you the essentials," said Minerva given up trying not laugh and laughing while she talked.
"Perhaps our picnic can be delayed until our companion is back to his proper form. I think that all of us want to go back," said Edward jumping up and down to get noticed.
"Yes, I agree. Minerva?" said Albus holding out his arm again.
"Marthie?" said Edward also disappearing into the flowers.
"Can you get his clothes? I will carry him since he had taken to fall asleep in my arms," said Remus.
"Okay," and with that they walked off into the flowers then back into Hogwarts.
~*___*~
At Hogwarts, in the Hospital Wing:
"Aw, what an adorable little boy you are," said Poppy Pomfrey as she put on diapers on Draco.
"Hurry up, Poppy!" said Severus impatiently.
"Slow down, Severus. I have to tell you and Remus a couple of things about taking care of babies."
"What? Hurry up"
"The first is this is how you put on the diaper. Whenever he starts crying, check the diaper. This is a baby bottle; whenever he is crying and haven't soiled his diaper, try this. You make the formula by mixing a tablespoon of this with a cup of water. Not hard, have the water warm. Test it on your wrist so that it is not to hot or cold. This is a miniature high chair. You have to enlarge it and it will hold Draco when you are feeding him or you can hold him yourself." said Poppy as she held things up and put them in a big blue bag. "This is the diaper changing pad. Put him on the pad then change his diaper. When changing the diaper always make sure to wipe him with the baby wipes. I have three sets of clothes here, you will need more, but you will have to go out and buy them. Don't rough handle the poor fellow or leave him alone. When he is not sleeping put him in this play crib, just enlarge it when you are using it. When he is sleeping, a bed or this sleeping crib is good, but sometimes babies won't sleep in it. If you have any questions just ask. Nothing? Good. If that is all I have a lot of work to do, I will see you later," and before they could realize anything, she had packed the bag and kicked them out of her office.
"Well, that was educational," said Remus uncertainly as if he wasn't sure it had actually happened.
"Just get the kid and lets go," said Severus.
"Yeesh, try making small talk and the man bites your head off," mumbled Remus.
"Hurry up, I want to get to lunch."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Wah!!!" screamed Draco when they started ignoring him and started arguing.
"Oh no, what's wrong now?" said Remus worriedly handing Draco to Severus and digging through the bag.
"Stop crying, nothing is wrong, come on lets go to the rooms," said Severus talking rationally to Draco.
Remus scoffed at the idea that Draco would listen to reason, but weirdly Draco stopped crying and started smiling at Severus.
"Severus! Remus! SEVERUS!!! REMUS!! I need to tell you something," said Albus hurrying down the hall, he stopped then asked worriedly, "Is there something wrong with Draco?"
"No, unless you consider the fact that he actually listens to reason," said Remus sarcastically.
"Does he really? That is definitely something to consider when researching those berries," said Albus.
"Never mind that, I have asked one of the prefects of this year to come and help you. I would have asked someone who knew Draco better, but I thought it was better if I asked someone who wouldn't be involved some Dark Arts. (Crabbe and Goyle???) None of the prefects except one was still in the country and knew something about babies. So Severus, I don't want you picking fights with her. I must go; she will arrive at 9:10 tomorrow morning. I think you will like who will come, Remus. Good day, I will see you in ten minutes at lunch? Perhaps not, Draco might want to take a nap after today's excitement. I must go."
"Who?" asked Remus and Severus, but they got no answer for Albus had already waltzed away with a suspicious smile.
"It can't be anyone bad if Albus thinks I like them," said Remus cheerfully.
"Yes, it could be Bloody Potter or Weasely," said Severus grumpily.
"No, Harry is going to Ron's house and I know that he wouldn't give that up for anything. He also doesn't have experience taking care of a baby, the Dursley's had only one kid." said Remus sadly.
"What about..." said Severus, but was cut off by Minerva who ran over to them.
"Give him to me. What a cute baby, you are." Said Minerva first in her demanding professor voice then in a soft mother-y voice.
"Minerva, I think that Severus and I would like to get to his rooms to put down all this stuff," said Remus losing patience as Minerva ignored him. Though Severus would kill himself before admitting this, Severus helped Remus by pulling his wand out and floating the baby to himself.
"Severus! Watch out, what if you drop him?" screeched Minerva.
"Chill Minerva, Severus has him," said Remus.
"We must go," said Severus forcefully.
"Good bye," said Remus and all of them walked down the corridor and disappeared.
"Rude men, what was Albus thinking entrusting such a darling to those idiots," said Minerva in a fond way.
"Finally, away from Monster Mama," muttered Severus more to Draco then to Remus.
"Moser Mama," said Draco not being able to say the t or n sounds.
"What?" asked Remus.
"He just said Monster Mama", exclaimed Severus.
"Now who would have thought that he knew the word monster? Severus, don't go around teaching him bad words, Minerva will kill us. She had two others with her, we only have us two; Damn Albus and Edward are neutral." replied Remus.
"Well, It wasn't a swear word or anything," said Severus. "Do you have a guest room in your rooms for this prefect."
"No, do you have another or maybe since Draco sleeps in a crib, they can share a room."
"Well, here we are, I will take Draco for the next two hours, then you get him from then to after dinner then I will take him," said Severus calmly as if he took care of babies everyday.
"Whatever, see ya," said Remus putting down the baby bag and taking off to his own rooms for some much needed rest. (It's almost full moon)
Severus said the password and walked into his rooms.
"So Draco what am I going to do with you" said Severus setting Draco down and getting out the crib. He magically set up the crib. Severus turned around to find Draco gone. Frantically he searched and searched for Draco calling his name and running around. Rushing through the open door of his room, he saw Draco asleep on Severus's bed. Tiptoeing over, he picked Draco up and set him down in the crib. As he was walking away he heard Draco cry, so he turned around to hear Draco mumble "blankie, blankie". Severus reached into the baby bag and looked for a blanket. After not finding one and Draco's cries becoming louder, Severus pointed his wand at a quill on his desk and transfigured the quill into a soft, comfy, green and silver blanket. Tucking the blanket around Draco, Severus retired to his room deciding that a nap seemed like a good idea. One and a half hours past when suddenly Severus woke up. Somebody was crying. He rushed out of the room to the Living Room and saw Draco crying in his crib. When he went over, he found Draco still asleep yet crying. He could make out a couple of words,
"Volemor...no, no, no....stop...don't hurt...somebody...help..."
Severus realized that even though Draco was in baby form he still had memories of his previous life. He was having a nightmare about the Dark Gathering. Severus knew those nightmares too well, Draco would be reliving people being tortured, raped, and mutilated by second. Severus remembered Albus once tell him that a teddy bear always drives away nightmares and giving him a teddy bear after Severus told him about the nightmares once.
"Accio Teddy Bear," said Severus pulling out his wand. A warm fuzzy teddy bear flew to him. He caught it and tucked it in to the crib. Draco instantly curled around it holding it tight. His whimpers stopped and he fell back into deep sleep once again. Severus sighed and retreated into his office to plan some more lessons. He left the door ajar so that if Draco woke up, Severus would hear him. A half an hour went by and Draco went on sleeping like the baby that he is.
"Severus!!" called Remus from outside his rooms. Severus opened the door/portrait and ushered him in.
"Sh....Draco is sleeping. I wouldn't wake him up" said Severus showing Remus the crib.
"Okay I guess that I could probably just levitate the crib to my rooms or I could watch him here," asked Remus.
"Well..." Severus didn't really want Remus in here, but he didn't want to wake Draco. Deciding that he could always go to his office and close the door Severus agreed.
"Yes, you may stay in here, but only as long as Draco sleeps. After that I want you gone," said Severus in his normal brisk, sarcastic way.
"Fine, whatever" said Remus pulling out some papers. An hour passed in comfortable silence. Severus worked on his lesson plans, Draco slept, and Remus continued his search for a cure to lycanthropy.
"Severus??" called Remus softly knocking on his office door.
"What?" snapped Severus.
"I am going to my rooms to get a book," said Remus ignoring Severus's grumpy mood.
"What book?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because if I have it you can use it so then Draco won't be disturbed. Lord man, use some common sense!"
"Potion ingredients and their hidden uses."
"Why do you want that?"
Remus stuttered, but then finally said, "I am looking for a cure to lycanthropy or something that is better then whatever is out there."
Severus headed to bookcase and pulled out the thick book.
"Thanks."
Severus headed back into his office and sat there tempted to back into his living room and tell Remus that he would help Remus and his work. (The next part is what Severus is thinking)
"What am I thinking? Going out there to help the idiotic fool? Severus you are going soft, toughen up. If I help that idiotic fool, he might get the impression that I like him or he is my friend. That cannot happen!! But I know partial cure...I can't!! Yes, I can! Damn everything!!"
Severus headed out into the living room and stood there nervously.
"Severus! Do you need something?" asked Remus nicely.
"Actually, I have figured out a partial cure to lycanthropy," said Severus reminding himself to put his childhood prejudices behind him. Remus had been nothing, but kind to him since Remus had come to Hogwarts to teach.
"You do?" asked Remus interested.
"Yes, I have figured out that the inner beast is not only brought out by the moon, but also controlled by the moon. That means…"
"That the a potion and/or incantation during the right phase of the moon can silence the inner beast forever."
"Yes."
"That is exactly perfect for what I have found out so far."
"What have you found out?"
"I have found out a potion with ingredients that control the beast such as silver can give power to the human which will allow the human to control the beast forever."
"Yes, that would work..." The next hour was filled with complicated discussions and theories of such potions. Severus found out that Remus wasn't the poor idiot that he had thought. Remus too found out that Severus was only antisocial because he was interested in intelligent conversation that was never discussed in the staff room.
"So you think that an incantation with a potion would be stronger?" questioned Severus.
"Yes, the incantation would strengthen the potion."
"But they could interact and cancel each other out."
"Not if they are using alike magic similar to earth magic and moon magic."
"That is a possiblilty." Too interested in picking each other's brains, Remus and Severus forgot all about Draco. They didn't notice when Draco got out of the crib and started walking toward the door. Luckily Remus sat near the door and noticed Draco walking towards it.
"Draco! Come here!" said Remus cutting Severus off. He held his hands out to Draco who obediently waddled over to him.
"Mus?" said Draco looking at Remus. Remus laughed and said, "Yes, yes. I am Remus."
"Daddy! Daddy!" said Draco holding his hands out toward Severus. Remus laughed and laughed while Draco watching decided to laugh too.
"Remus Lupin stop laughing! Draco, I am not daddy. Do not call me that, do you understand?" said Severus glowering at Draco who completely ignored him.
"Daddy! Daddy! Up! Up!" said Draco again demanding this time.
"Severus, it seems Draco wants to be picked up," said Remus chuckling.
Severus picked up Draco and glared at Remus who just chuckled at the sight of Severus Snape holding a baby boy.
"Isn't this your turn to take care of Draco?" asked Severus.
"No, look at the time. I have been here for three hours. I really must go," said Remus standing up.
"But..." Remus had already gotten his things and was leaving.
"Bye Severus, Draco" with that Remus was gone leaving Severus with a hyper Draco.
"Daddy! Fly! Fly!" cooed Draco.
"What?"
"Fly! Fly!" repeated Draco.
"You want to fly in your current form?" questioned Severus, but Draco had already moved his attention to something else.
"Hungry! Tum, tum," said Draco pointing to his tummy.
"Oh, shall we?" said Severus striding to the door. He looked around, where was Draco? Turning around he saw Draco trying to catch up to him.
"Come here" said Severus picking Draco up.
"Up! Up! Fly!" said Draco. Obediently, Severus put Draco on his shoulders, thanking God that he had a personal portal to the kitchens. He couldn't bear to think of the embarrassment that he would experience if anyone saw him.
"Yeah!! Wee" yelled Draco happy to be sitting on Severus's shoulders. Severus walked into the kitchens only to be swarmed by house elves. "Professor Snape wants something to eat? Baby wants something to eat?" asked Sunny, a house elf.
"Yes, Sunny. If you could bring me whatever we had for dinner today, that would be good. Draco would like something to eat too. I think some warm milk and some salad would be good," said Severus accioing the baby bag.
"Draco? Sunny will get food for Prof. Snape and Mister Malfoy. Maybe some juice for Mister Malfoy?" asked Sunny.
"I think that would be fine," said Severus putting Draco down.
"Yes, Prof. Snape." Severus looked down at where he had put Draco. Draco had somehow disappeared again.
"Draco!! Draco!!" called Severus feeling somewhat frantic.
"Is Prof. Snape looking for Baby?" asked a house elf holding wiggling, squirming Draco.
"Yes, thank you," said Severus taking Draco. "You are definitely more trouble then you look."
"Fly! Fly!" replied Draco.
"Sunny?" called Severus.
"Yes?" asked Sunny appearing at Severus's side.
"Could you please hold Draco for a second?" asked Severus.
"Sure, Prof. Snape. Sunny is very happy to hold nice baby. Won't nice baby come to Sunny?" said Sunny holding her hands out. Severus gladly gave Draco away.
"Engorgio," said Severus taking out the high chair and enlarging it. Severus took Draco back and strapped him into the chair.
"No! NO!" yelled Draco from his position on the chair.
"Too bad," said Severus. Draco stuck his tongue out at him and continued yelling.
"Your food," said Sunny coming with a tray.
"Do you have a table?" asked Severus.
"So sorry, Prof. Snape. Sunny had to move it, but here it is for Prof. Snape, sir," said Sunny apologizing.
"Thank you" said Severus sitting down at the table and floating Draco over to the table too.
"Fly! Fly!" screamed Draco with joy. Half an hour later Severus and Draco had finished their respective meals with as little as possible trouble. Draco had just flung his salad across the room. So the house elves had brought him some potatoes that he thought looked good on Severus's face and proceeded to see how it looked. The house elves had then helped Severus clean up and brought the juice and milk for Draco. Not trusting Draco to drink without throwing it everywhere, Severus had put the drinks into separate bottles. Draco finding that he couldn't throw the drinks drank it unhappily. Just as Severus got up to leave, Albus walked in.
"Severus! Thought you would be here! How is the little tyke?" said Albus cheerfully.
"He likes throwing things," said Severus.
"Does he? How do you know?" asked Albus chuckling.
"He demonstrated it all through dinner" said Severus pointing to the splashes of vegetables and potatoes on the wall that the house elves hadn't cleaned yet.
"Energetic is he? I came to tell you that the prefect would be arriving at 8:10 not 9:10; I made a blunder when reading the time. Now Severus, remember you must put your differences aside. I would have let you take care of Draco all alone or with Remus, but I knew that you and Remus both have projects that you want to work on. She is not a nanny or servant, she is a guest. I want you to promise to be nice," said Albus chuckling even more.
"Whatever!" said Severus.
"Severus, I didn't know that you had picked up the new lingo too. Sometimes I wonder if they are even speaking English," said Albus.
"Excuse me Headmaster, but I need to take Draco back to my rooms. I do not want a cranky baby tomorrow," said Severus picking up now yawning Draco.
"Of course, be my guest. I would just like to tell you to be sure that you are in the Front Hall tomorrow at 8:10. Do not forget," said Albus, his face slowly turning red from suppressed laughter.
"Good night, Headmaster" said Severus very cold to his friend.
"Good night, Severus. Good night, Draco!" said Albus.
Before Severus and Draco left the kitchen, they heard Albus mumble, "Comedy is tragedy plus time*." Severus knew that Albus was off his rocker so did not make anything out of it. They walked back to his rooms. As soon as they got to the rooms Draco fell asleep still tired from the transformation. Severus found some books about the strawberries and learned many things about them. He found out for the next three days, Draco would be tired. The process to get back to normal would be gradual so Draco would grow faster then a normal baby. Draco was probably 1-½ years old right now. Draco would not remember much of his childhood just dramatic life changing experiences. Draco would also only remember wisps of the whole experience when he got back to normal. Soon Severus too was exhausted and got into bed, not before taking a vile of Dreamless Sleep Potion. He knew that he would need it tomorrow since Albus only turned red when either he planned to embarrass you for your own good or knew something that you didn't that was awful for you or what he thought was good for you.
~*___*~
A/N: This is the end of the chapter!! Read and Review please! *Said by Carol Burnett*