Something resembling a family
Chapter Three
Oliver stared at his potion professor with wide, unbelieving eyes, as the man summed up his little tale, "so you see, someone will have to look after him, and since you owe me a detention, I can think of no-one better. So there."
Oliver blinked, "Come again?"
Snape glared at him, "Just look after him and make sure nothing happens to him, I'll talk to professor Dumbledore in the morning and we'll sort this whole mess out. It's just for one afternoon, and one night. You'll be fine"
"Whoa, hang on. You want me to look after Draco Malfoy, at the age of six?"
"Yes"
"But Sir, I'm lousy with kids, honestly I don't think I'd be much help-"
"You'll be great. See it as an opportunity to practise your parental skills..."
"But I'll never have-"
"Belive me, you'll need it. When you've become a father yourself, you'll be grateful for this..."
"kids"
"Sorry, what?"
Oliver nibbled his lower lip briefly, "I'll never be father" he repeated slowly, and with greater conviction. Snape blinked once, his face completely and flatly emotionless, "Er. How do you that?" he asked reluctantly after a while, breaking his own promise to himself, never to engage in his students, or show any interest in their lives whatsoever. Yet, his curiousity got the better of him, when Oliver Wood, Hogwarts number one sought after-bachelor claims he'll never have a family.
"I'm gay"
"Oh." Well, that explain a lot, Snape thought, "But still..." he trailed off, then as if he'd just remembered something, he scowled and exclaimed in exasperation, "This is a detention you realize, that means you do what I tell you to do, without a say in the matter! Just take him and bring the both of you out of my sight! I have a headache!"
"But-"
"No buts!"
"He's still sleeping!" Oliver cried, starting to feel a throbbing in his own head aswell, which was not uncommon when you were anywhere near the potions master, especially when said potions master had a headache himself.
"Well carry him then!" Snape roared and spun on his heal, and stalked gruffly out of the classroom. Oliver stared at his quickly retreating back, and then at the door once it had been slammed shut, for several minutes before he managed to shake himself out of the state of semi-shock and back into something resembling his wits again.
He turned his gaze to the still sleeping form of Draco Malfoy on professor Snape's desk completely for the first time, and kept studying him for another while, before he carefully stepped up close and cautiously touched the Slytherin's shoulder.
"Erm. Malfoy?" he mumbled, feeling really silly, and started shaking the boy's shoulder gently instead. After a moment the boy started to stir, and soon his eyes fluttered open, to peer at Oliver sleepily.
They stared at each other for a minute. Draco seemingly memorizing Oliver's features, while the older boy didn't know what to say, and thought it better to wait for the blond Slytherin to say something first. He didn't however, and Oliver was soon squirming uncomfortably on the spot, and averted his eyes.
"You tired?" he muttered, but didn't get a reply, so he looked up and noticed the younger boy was nodding his head quite violently, causing his already messed up blonde hair to whip back and forth on his head. Oliver allowed a small wry smile to show on his face and nodded back once, "Well, lets get you a bed then, shall we?" he said, much softer this time, and he silently delighted in seeing the sight of a beaming Draco Malfoy.
TBC
