part two
Draco Malfoy was skipping.
They were walking down the corridor toward the Great Hall, and Draco was skipping. Harry glanced over and stiffled another giggle threatening to erupt again. Really, this was ridiculous, he thought. But the blond was really cute, in a weird sort of way of course, as he swirled around and lost his balance. Harry had to reach out and steady him, so he wouldn't stumble and fall to the floor. Draco smiled at him, that huge beaming smile -- and Harry had discovered that it was impossible to not smile back. That was quite infuriating in a way really, but Harry had also discovered, that he didn't mind.
"Draco, don't you remember Hogwarts?" the blond giggled, "No. How can I remember something if I've never been there in the first place?"
"Oh, that's true. Erm- when will you-? I mean- How old are you, Draco?"
"I'm eight! But I'll be nine soon!" Harry nodded, but then he frowned. He'd be nine soon? Harry was positive Dracos' birthday was just a couple of weeks ago, "When will you be nine then?" he asked cautiously.
"October nine" Draco replied immediatly, and Harry grinned to himself, doing the math and discouvering that, yes, it was thirteen months until the blond boys' birthday. Draco kept talking, barely pausing to breathe, "I had a great party last time, when I turned eight. My daddy promised I'd have an even bigger one next year, and you can come if you want to. It'll be great!"
"Okay" Harry smiled, and shrugged the suspicious thoughts away. Draco was a child again, he thought. And he smiled. And then he cursed himself for doing it, but a quick glance at the once again skipping boy, he smiled again.
Everyones' eyes were on them as they entered the Great Hall. Harry felt very self-conscious, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. He hurried over to Gryffindor table, and sat down. When Draco sat down next to him, still talking animately about something Harry hadn't bothered to remember what it was -- he realized the surreality of the situation. Draco didn't appear to notice, but then again, he had no idea he was in fact sitting at the Gryffindor table and that he should be sitting with his fellow Slytherins. Harry cursed himself yet again, and absently reached for the milk and handed it to Draco.
All eyes were still on the two of them, several minutes later, and Harry tried to avoid them, all of them, and stuffed himself with food rather desperately, and urged Draco to hurry up aswell.
"I don't like potatoes" Draco stated and scrunched his nose at sight of them.
"What's wrong with potatoes?"
"They're ugly"
"Huh" Harry eyed the blond for a minute, then shrugged, "Don't eat them then. You can eat your vegetables"
"Eww"
"What?"
"It's carrots"
"What's wrong with carrots?"
"They're-"
"Ugly?"
"No. They're orange"
"Uh-huh. Well, eat the peas and the other stuff then" Harry laid down his fork and sighed, when Dracos' eyes became the size of soucers, "What?"
"Peas?" Draco squeaked.
"What's wrong with peas?" Harry exclaimed exasperated, "They're not ugly and they're not orange"
"No but they're-"
"Look at them, they're really cute!" Harry continued persistantly, "And they taste fine. Go on-"
"They're peas!" Draco protested.
"Peas are fine! Eat!"
"No!" Draco crossed his arms over his chest defiantly and shook his head for good measures, causing his blond hair to dance about his head and glimmer in the candlelight. Harry swallowed hard. "No no no no no" Draco kept repeating. Harry sighed and closed his eyes, "Fine! Fine fine- Schyss, quiet will you? Fine. Don't eat anything. Just be quiet, and let me finish my milk, and we'll go-"
"But I'm hungry"
"For christ sake, Draco! If you're hungry, then eat, goddammit!" Draco gasped, and clapped a hand infront of his mouth. His eyes twinkling madly, "You just said a dirty word!"
"That I did. Now eat up or I'll strangle you. Alright?"
"Nah-ah. You won't." the blond grinned.
"Yes I will!" Harry insisted, and tried his best not to let that damn smile trick him into mirror it again, "I'll strangle you very much, if you don't eat your peas" he insisted.
"Nah-ah. You won't, because if you do, my Daddy will kill you"
"I'm sure he will"
"You don't believe me?"
"I do. Now eat"
"Aren't you scared of my father then?"
"No"
"Why not?" Draco looked perplexed, and the pout was luring in the corners of his mouth again, "Because, I've defeated Voldemort three times already. Nothing scares me, least of all your Father."
"I can tell you're lying you know" the boy pointed out and the pout was replaced by a very familiar smirk. Harry almost grinned fondly, as he spotted it, and he shook his head, "Really?"
"Uh-huh. But it's okay. You really don't have to be scared, you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I wouldn't let him hurt you, Harry!" Draco said and smiled triumphantly. And Harry mirrored it before he realized he had, but he hid it quickly, and looked away. Oh. My. God. Harry was painfully aware of the wide eyes of the entire Hall staring at them. He quickly got to his feet and tugged Draco with him and fled the Hall. Draco stumbled after him, and as they closed the doors behind them, Harry could hear the chaotic noise from within erupting. He cursed himself, yet again. But smiled of course. Dammit.
Harry knocked on the door to Severus Snapes' office. The cool voice from within bid them to come in, and Harry opened the door. Draco trailed after him, looking around as they entered. Harry sat down in the indicated chair opposite the desk and slumped gratefully into it. Snape was hiding an amused smirk, Harry could tell, and he scowled at him. "Have you found anything?"
"I have. I'm not sure it'll work, because it has never been done before, but we'll just have to try, won't we. There's only one slight problem though. The potion takes two weeks to make- Draco!"
The blond swirled around and faced the Potion Master curiously, "Yes, Severus?"
"Don't touch anything!"
"Sorry" the blond mumbled sheepishly, and hung his head low, his fingers still fidgeting, probably itching to play with all the vials filled with coloured liquied, standing in neat rows on the shelves.
"Two weeks?" Harry Potter exclaimed, a whiney tone to his voice. He was tired, dead tired. Snape glanced at him, by refrained from making any snide remarks, and only nodded. He too looked tired.
"I'm afraid so" Snape said and sighed, "but we'll just have to try and make the best out of the situation. I take it you don't mind looking after Mr. Malfoy?"
Harry shook his head, "Of course not"
"Of course" Snape muttered, "Well, thank you. That's very Gryffindor of you" Harry glared at him but he just shrugged and waved them both away dismissively again, "Try to keep him in check"
"Yeah" Harry muttered, "Come on Drac"
"Where are we going?" the blond exclaimed entusiastically, almost bouncing, while he took Harrys' hand, "Bye Severus!" he called over his shoulder and waved madly before the door closed behind them. The Potion Master grinned weakly, then caught himself and scowled instead, muttering something to himself.
"So, where are we going?" Draco asked again, still holding Harry's hand and skipping again. "Are you hungry?" Harry asked him, Draco nodded and pouted. Harry smiled wearily, "We'll go eat then, alright?"
"Al-riiight!" Draco cried, and giggled again. Harry chuckled too, and had to repress the urge to bounce along with the bouncy boy at his side. He shook his head, it was going to be a long two weeks.
TBC
