Chapter 3

He spat out the last of his toothpaste and glanced at Hermione in the tub. She was just sitting there playing with the bubbles. He looked at her and picked up the decorative teapot. He filled it up with the water from her bath.

"You might as well tilt your head back." Using his hand he leaned her head back. He poured the water on her head.

He poured a puddle of the vanilla shampoo in the palm of his hand. He dumped it in her hair and lathered it around. Big bubbles formed on her head, when he was sure he had gotten everywhere on her scalp he rinsed her head with the teapot and repeated the process with the conditioner.

He grabbed a loofa (A/N you know those poof balls you use in the shower? I have one! ) and squirted some bath gel onto it. He washed her, keeping as far from certain areas as possible.

Once that was finished he pulled her out of the tub and covered her with a towel. He emptied the tub and turned back to Hermione. He eventually reminded himself that he has seen more naked women in his life and that this was nothing new.

She was shivering and he couldn't help but give a little sympathy.

He ignored the fact that this was Hermione Granger, his enemy's best friend and got her out of her wet underwear (she had bathed in hers remember?). He couldn't help but make a comment.

"Who would have thought it'd be me getting you out of your clothes." He made her step into his boxers and he pulled them to her waist. He took away her towel, ignoring her chest area and pulled his shirt over her head. He sat her on the toilet and watched her struggle getting her hair out of her face. He walked from the room and into his own, grabbing the brush sitting on his dresser.

He walked back and accidentally remembered to shut the bathroom door behind him. Hermione hadn't moved where she was sitting and she looked at him smiled.

He began brushing her hair when his mother stopped in the doorway and watched her son. He was very gentle and got through all of the previous tangles. Every so often he would catch a snag and she would grab behind her for the brush.

"Don't fuss." He worked through the tangle and moved on. His mother walked in and handed him two hair ties.

"You know how to braid don't you?" She asked. He nodded. "Give her two and you won't have such a problem brushing her hair tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? So she is staying here? Did you find out what was wrong?" He said as he parted her hair down the middle.

"Yes, after a few tests I found out she had concocted an aging potion and here is the result. She will be gradually getting older mentally until she reaches her original age. She has no memories of her past; she'll only receive her memories when she gets to her own age. So it isn't safe for her to leave, so yes she will be saying here."

"I see."

"You wouldn't mind watching her for me? Do you?"

"Not really, I don't mind her if she isn't being a prat." He finished braiding her hair and he pulled her fingers out of her mouth.

"She really shouldn't do that." He stated. "That's probably how her teeth got all funky to begin with."

"Draco, be nice. I was watching you and you seem to have fatherly instincts."

"What do you mean?"

"You're patient, far more patient than I would have thought."

"Thanks, I suppose. I'd say she was all set." With that Hermione gave a huge yawn.

"Just one second." His mother pulled out her wand and muttered something and replaced it in her waistband.

"What was that for?"

"Oral hygiene."

"I see." She stood up and yawned again, rubbing her eyes.

"It's so odd seeing her like this. She is actually the smartest person in school, and here she is… a baby practically." His mother smiled patted his shoulder and left him to take her to bed.

He took her hand and led her to the bedroom across the hall, she climbed in and he pulled the blanket to her neck.

"You not half bad this way, Granger." He stood up and walked to the door. He opened it to leave but she sat up and whimpered.

"No, lie down Granger. Go to sleep." She lay down and closed her eyes. He shut the door, returned to his own room and fell asleep as well.

Draco had been sleeping for a few hours when he felt something prodding him. He swatted it away but felt it again. He slowly opened his eyes and nearly jumped out of his skin. Hermione was staring at him from the edge of the bed.

"Granger?"

She had big eyes and looked anxious. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her room and walked him to the closet. He opened it and looked behind him at Hermione, she had her eyes halfway covered and was peeking between her fingers. The cat jumped out from in the closet.

"KITTY!" she yelled.

"Shhhh! People are trying to sleep."

She covered her mouth and giggled quietly. She made her lie back down and he suddenly had an idea. He went to the closet and in the box, where he had gotten the bath toys he retrieved a half flattened teddy bear. He handed it to her and she took it with big eyes. She hugged it close and smiled to him.

"Now Granger, this is..." he paused embarrassed "Mr. Snuffles, be nice ok?" She placed it on the bed beside her and hugged him around his neck; he awkwardly patted her head and coaxed her to lay down with his childhood buddy. She soon fell asleep.

He walked to the front room, giving up on sleep. His mother was reading a book in front of the fire.

"Mother?"

"What are you doing up at this time?"

"Granger woke me up."

"Why do you refer to her with her last name?"

"Habit"

"Start over"

"Hermione woke me up." He said and rolled his eyes.

The next few hours until the sun came up the house were quiet. Draco couldn't imagine that he has to take care of someone, let alone it is Hermione Granger. He ran a hand through his hair and stared into the fire.

He was must have been immersed in the fire because when his mother tapped his shoulder he jumped. He looked at her and saw Hermione holding onto his mother's hand and the other clutching the bear he gave her last night.

"Draco, I'm making breakfast. Would you like some?" He nodded and followed them into the kitchen.

He sat at the table next to Hermione but opposite his mother. They had been eating for a few minutes when Hermione turned to Draco and smiled.

"Hi Draco Malfoy." He looked back at her shocked. Looking back at his mother she shrugged.

"She's growing up rather fast I'd say she's already 4 or 5."

"Draco Malfoy?" He looked at Hermione.

"What?" She didn't say anything but smiled.

"Mother I thought she wouldn't remember anything. Like my name."

"Well she heard me call you Draco and I suppose some things will be present in her mind."

"Draco Malfoy's mummy?"

"Must she call me by my first and last name?"

"It's just a phase, you did it too." She turned to Hermione.

"Yes dear?"

"Is Draco Malfoy grumpy?"

"Yes, he is"

"No I am not!" He protested. His mother gave him a look that quieted him down.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"He just woke up in the wrong side of the bed."

Hermione giggled and put down her fork. She went to leave but Narsissa stopped her. She wiped syrup from her chin and let her go on her way.

"It was very sweet of you to let her have Mr. Snuggles, Draco."

"Mr. Snuffles and she wouldn't sleep. It was better than it sitting in my closet." They finished their own breakfast when Hermione came bounding back into the kitchen.

Draco looked at her and choked on his juice.

Hermione was standing there wearing pink boa, mix matching high-heeled shoes, and above that was one of Draco's quidditch robes and to top it off was his mother's bra wrapped around her waist as a belt.

What astonished him most was her makeup.

She had bright pink cheek blush, green eyes shadow, and red lipstick smeared everywhere. Narsissa looked at her and smiled.

"Look Draco Malfoy, I'm pretty!"

"Yes, I see that Gr-Hermione." He turned back to his juice.

She held up a tube of lipstick, opened it and pressed it to Draco's pale skin. He froze.

"What are you doing?" He turned and saw the lipstick next to his face. He jumped up rubbing his cheek.

"Now Draco Malfoy is pretty!" She giggled and ran away.

"Mother!" She didn't answer but looked like she was holding back form laughing.

"She is a demon! Spawn of Satan!"

"Draco she's only four right now, just wait until she is six."

"AURGH" he walked away to the bathroom and washed the lipstick off his face muttering to his reflection.

"This is insane. I hope this won't stain my skin." He rubbed frantically at his cheek until the lip color was completely gone.

He turned back to the door to leave and saw Hermione standing there with her head down.

"I'm sorry Draco Malfoy." She said smiling. He nodded and pulled her into the room and wiped her face down as well. She gave him a hug around his middle and ran off as he shook his head.

Hermione walked to Narcissa who looked up at her from her chair.

"Oh did Draco take away your stuff." Hermione nodded so Narcissa took her by the hand and brought her to a hall closet. She walked her in and Hermione's eyes got huge. One the walls were every kind of clothes imaginable.

Narcissa pulled down two dresses and showed them to Hermione.

The first one was black and green with thin straps; it was rather plain except for the diamond brooch. The next one was the one that caught her eyes.

It was silver, and floor length. The straps were thin and fastened behind the neck. Hermione ran her fingers across it and Narcissa smiled.

"Do you like this one Hermione?"

"Yes, Draco Malfoy's mummy."

Draco was walking around the halls and heard giggling. He walked into his mother room and looked at his mother sitting on her bed.

"Draco, you're here just in time. Hermione you can and come out." She didn't and Narcissa turned to her son.

"We've been playing dress up."

"You're encouraging this?"

"I don't see why not?"

Narcissa heard the phone ring downstairs and hurried off, offering her apologies. At that moment Hermione walked out. Draco's jaw dropped when he looked at her.

"Hi Draco Malfoy. Now am I pretty?"

She was wearing the silver dress and her hair and make-up were done perfectly. Her nails were painted in a manicure. Draco ogled at her, he had to admit it she looked gorgeous.

"Draco Malfoy?" He blinked.

"Yes?"

"Am I looking pretty?" Draco just nodded.

"Yes, much better." She blushed and giggled more. His mother walked in and (in embarrassment) he cleared his throat and took a few steps back.

"Doesn't she look splendid?"

"Actually she looks rather nice."

"I thought she would, I never wear these dresses and figured while she likes to play dress up I might as well put them to use." He nodded.

"If you're going to insist that she does this, fine as long as she stays away from my face with the blasted stuff, I'm fine." Draco walked away to his room and plopped on his bed. He couldn't understand why he was being so nice to Granger. Perhaps just because he had a soft spot for children, he assured himself that when they returned to school everything would go back to how it had been.