A Family for the Dragon
Chapter 12: New becomes Old and Old becomes New
♥ Madame Moony
A couple of days went by quite normal, nothing much happening except for the fact that Draco was ten now and lots of trouble!
"Draco, could you please pass the mash potatoes?" asked Hermione as the staff gathered at the Great Hall for lunch.
"Here you go, Mione," said Draco passing the potatoes.
He had grown up to quite a nice boy, well mannered and caring but had a wild side to him.
"Excuse me!" said Albus tapping his glass with his fork. Standing up he twinkled happily at the rest of the people in the room.
"I am here to announce that there will be a ball in a week from today. It is at five o'clock in the evening including dinner. It will be at the ballroom of Chaplone de Louren. The host and hostess of the ball are Duke Countur and Lady Countur. Hogwarts has been invited to show off its teachers and students. Since it is summer, I thought that Hermione would be our student delegate while we all attend representing our subjects. There will be many people there including, but not limited to famous potions masters, much sought after transfiguration masters, charms masters from all over the world, and many more. I decided that it would be charming to show the world our wonderful masters and have entered Severus, Katrina, Minerva, Edward, Marthie, and I as invitees. In addition, Hermione has been invited to come as our top student. This is necessary show so those of you who I have submitted must come or it will reflect very badly on Hogwarts. Anyone else who would like to come is welcome to come."
"What!"
"Oh how lovely! I wonder if..."
"This is perfect..."
"Me? Top student?"
"Uncle Albus? Uncle Albus? Uncle Albus?" exclaimed Draco.
"Yes, my dear boy?"
"What am I supposed to do when you are all at the ball?"
"Why you are to come with us, my dear boy!!"
"Oh! Okay!"
After more talking and babbling, Albus managed to convince everyone that it would be a good idea. Waving good-bye, Hermione, Severus, Remus, and Draco started walking to their rooms. Suddenly Hermione, Severus, and Remus heard a load thud. Turning around they found Draco on the floor almost crying from pain. His arms and legs flayed as they grew longer and longer as he bit his lip to stay silent. Rushing to his side, they frantically tried every spell they knew to make the pain stop, but unfortunately to no avail.
"Daddy! Mus! Mione! Professor Snape? Daddy? Granger? Professor Lupin? Mione?" cried out Draco as the memories of his actual life flooded back to him mixing also with his memories of his new childhood. Curling up into a tiny ball, he shielded himself from blows that never came. Tears ran down Hermione's face as Remus and Severus restrained her from going to Draco. They knew that he needed time to adjust to the present and accept them before they could try to talk to him. Slowly, Draco uncurled and looked around in a daze. Needing something to anchor himself, Draco ran to Severus and buried himself in his robes.
"Its okay, Draco. Everything is going to be okay," whispered Severus holding Draco tightly.
"Who are you? Are you Daddy? Or are you Professor Snape?" whispered Draco. Hermione and Remus hugged Draco lightly from the back, confirming that their Draco hadn't gone anywhere.
"Do you remember coming to Hogwarts? Remember you were turned into a baby. Something happened and now you aren't a ten year old anymore. You used to call me Daddy when you were a baby," said Severus briskly.
"Yes...yes. Oh I am so tired," whispered Draco leaning away from Sev and into the wall.
"Draco? Remember me?" asked Hermione stepping forward.
"Mione? Granger?" asked Draco as two opposite emotions swamped him, one of love and one of hate.
"You can call me Mione."
"Where's Mus?" asked Draco quietly his eyes almost closed.
"Right here, Draco. We are going to take you to your room now" said Remus walking over to Draco's side. After a couple of spells, Draco floated down through the hallways and into his room. They put him on the bed covering him up with a thick warm blanket. Hermione sat down looking at the face that she had come to love.
'Would he be as sweet as her Draco or would he be like the old Draco?' wondered Hermione.
Outside the room, Remus and Severus discussed the situation.
"Severus, do you know why he changed so fast?" asked Remus puzzled at the painful change.
"No. His body seemed to push out the magic of the strawberry abnormally fast," said Severus.
"We must tell Albus. It will take him a day or two to become orientated with the past and present. I will go talk to Albus, call me immediately if something happens" said Remus getting up and walking to the Headmaster's office. For the next hour, Hermione and Severus were deep in thought as Draco danced happily in Dreamland dreaming of a loving father, a caring uncle, and of a beautiful brown haired girl dancing joyfully with him.
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"Severus? I heard what happened" remarked Albus putting a gentle hand on Severus's shoulder.
"Yes, I know."
"How do you feel about this? Why are you so tense?" asked Albus faking ignorance. The younger man sighed and turned to his mentor, his idol, and most of all, his best friend.
"I liked it when he called me Daddy, I liked it! It was as if I was needed...now there is no reason for me to live. Voldemort obviously doesn't trust me since he hasn't called me once since school ended, so I can't even spy for the Order of Phoenix. I am definitely not a "good" teacher, hell even my favorite students hate me! They would have a much better time if you fired me and hired someone else. We have finished the cure of lycanthropy or at least the potions part. They don't even need me for the remaining part. Even if we somehow destroy Voldemort, why should I live? I will forever be branded as a Death Eater, as someone to hate! I can never make up for my sins, why should I live this accursed life?" whispered Severus angrily turning away to stare at the fire. Albus stood shocked for a second, he knew that Severus would probably take the change badly, but he never thought that Severus thought of that he (Severus) was worthless!
"Oh child, I have truly failed you yet another time.
To let you think that you were never needed beyond your abilities. You are needed by so many, how can you not see? Every Slytherin that passes through these doors looks up to you and worships the ground you step on. You have turned away so many from the evil clutches of the dark and saved so many others in your missions. Hogwarts is known for its best Potions students! Not every student of any school has the privilege of learning from a Potions Master. Would Hermione and Remus have found the cure if not for you? You have helped so much and done so much for so many. Draco will never stop needing you, never! Who saved him from Lucius? Who brought him to the safety of Hogwarts? Who protected him and cared for him while he was a baby? You that's who! He will never stop needing you. Child, I will never stop needing you" replied Albus hugging Severus tightly. Severus let himself be comforted by the soothing nature and presence of his best friend. Standing in the shadows of her door, Hermione listened to every word spoken. Vowing to never betray them and always defend them, Hermione crept back into Draco's and her room. Another eavesdropper heard this loving exchange. Katrina was let in the room by Remus who then hurried off to do some other business. She wasn't noticed by the men, so she heard most of what was said. In her heart and mind, she knew that she would have no rest until Severus believed truly and completely that he had someone to live for and someone loved him more then the world itself.
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The next morning, Draco woke up to the sound of deep breathing. Sitting up slowly he looked around the room. He saw Hermione sleeping in a chair covered with a warm comfortable blanket, next to her was Severus in another chair also sleeping. Both the chairs were positioned so that they would be watching him. Feeling slightly more "warm," Draco got out of bed and crept into the bathroom. Making himself a bubble bath, he mulled over the events of the summer.
"First Daddy...no Severus brings me here. Then I am turned into a baby. When I was a baby, everyone was so nice! Why did Severus pick me up and comfort me when I was crying? No one has ever done that before. Mione...no Hermione...no Granger...Mione sung me a lullaby! That was definitely a first. Every time I remember either of them or of even Mus....no Remus, I keep getting this "warm" feeling. Am I getting soft? Why do I feel this way? I remember a woman who was so comforting. I called her "Mommy," but who was she? I remember playing on a broomstick then falling off, but she caught me and comforted me. Why? What do any of them want?" thought Draco frantically. For a half an hour, he mulled over these thoughts finally logically thinking out each question of his.
"Draco? Draco? Draco!" called a frantic voice from the room.
"I am in here taking a bath" called out Draco getting up from his bath and putting on his clothes. Walking out, he found Hermione frantically walking back and forth across the room. She rushed over and hugged him pulling him close. Draco stood unmoving until she let go of him, flying out of the room saying something about lessons, DADA, or something like that. A bit confused and puzzled, Draco turned only to have Severus looking at him intensely.
"What do you remember?" asked Severus.
"Everything, I think. I remember a lot about the time when I was a baby," said Draco before brushing past Severus to get out of the door. Severus stood there staring after Draco, his face slowly turning into a small half smile.
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Wow another short chapter! I am so sorry, but I really don't have any ideas! Yes, I have a writer's block! Don't worry though; the next chapter is going to hopefully be a little longer. We find out more about Draco and his emotions as well as a lot of mushy Draco and Hermione connecting!! I am going to see if I can push in a little Severus/Katrina too so be warned!! Thanks for reading, please oh please review so I can know what ya think!
~Madame Moony