Okay, this is chapter 3, revised. It is longer, as promised. This story will be continued, though slowly. I apologise. However, reviews will probably make me write faster. Well, maybe a little. Enjoy.
When the four reached the doors to the Great Hall, Hermione took Harry's small hand.
"You can come and eat with us, Harry," she said sweetly, and then she shot Draco a dirty look. "Then, if you still need to, you can go back to Malfoy."
Harry looked up at her in confusion, and then tugged Draco's hand gently. "'Aco?" he asked.
The Slytherin nodded. "Go with Granger, Potter." He softly extricated his hand from Harry's tight grip, and pushed him lightly towards Hermione and Ron. Without waiting for the others, Ron pushed open the large doors to the Hall, blinking at the sudden rush of noise that greeted them. As the students noticed the four standing there, there was a halt in all conversations, followed immediately by both 'aw's and laughter. Ron scowled, then nodded at the two Gryffindor's standing by him. "C'mon,"
he led the way to join their house.
Draco rolled his eyes as all the students switched their attention from him to the mini Harry as they separated. He cast a last look at the child, then turned and took long, powerful strides to the Slytherin table. He sank down onto the bench between Pansy and Blaise.
"Oh, Draky, I'm so glad you got rid of the horrid Potter boy," Pansy shrilled, clutching at his arm. Draco shook her off irritably, and turned to Blaise. He'd just opened his mouth to address her when a loud cry of his name sounded. He twisted around in confusion and saw Harry running towards him, Hermione trailing in his wake. He ignored the laughter coming from Theodore Nott, and automatically gave Harry a hand up when the child tried to scramble up onto the bench between Draco and Blaise. Harry smiled widely, his dark hair falling into his eyes, hiding his famous scar.
Draco smirked at Hermione as she approached the table hesitantly, trepidation clear on her face. She put out a hand to Harry. "Come on, Harry. No one will hurt you at our table," she said, putting emphasis on 'our'.
Draco raised a cool brow at her and Harry frowned. "Wanna stay with 'Aco." He said firmly.
Hermione sighed in exasperation, frustration making her snap. "But he doesn't want you here!"
Harry's eyes filled with tears and Hermione bit her lip guiltily. "Now look what you've done!" Blaise scolded mockingly as Nott snickered.
Hermione ignored the Slytherins and tried to placate Harry. "I didn't mean that. Malfoy wants you here, don't you, Malfoy?" she looked pleadingly at
the blond, who considered the question thoughtfully.
"Of course he doesn't!" Pansy exclaimed in disgust.
That seemed to make up Draco's mind, and he shrugged. "You can stay," he said simply. He looked at Hermione's shocked expression. "Don't want him crying and making a scene."
Hermione smiled thoughtfully. "Thank you. Harry, I'll see you later, alright?"
Harry nodded, tears miraculously gone. Hermione shot him another smile, and then retreated back to her own table.
Harry tugged at Draco's sleeve. "Hungry,"
As the words left the child's mouth, a sippy cup and a bowl of macaRoni and cheese appeared on the table in fRont of them. Draco gave Harry a sidelong look. "Can you feed yourself?"
Harry nodded proudly and Draco smiled in relief, and pushed the food to him. As Harry started eating enthusiastically, much of the food ending up around his mouth rather than in it, Draco half-turned to Blaise. "I'm stuck with Potter. He'll a grow a year a day, and until he's his proper age, he'll be living with me. um, you will help me, won't you?"
Blaise pretended to think about it, and Draco mock-glared at her. "Yeah, course."
Draco sighed in relief and gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks." He covered Harry's ears and turned to the rest of the table, a cold mask settling over his face. He made his voice just loud enough to be heard as he spoke to his fellow Slytherin's. "Potter, idiot that he is, bungled up the potion, as you all know. He'll be a kid for almost two weeks. During that time, he will be living with me, and staying in my room. That means he will be with me at all times. I am now putting him under my protection, so if he is harmed in any way, I will found out who did it, and they will pay accordingly. And not in galleons." he paused to survey the table. "Am I clear?"
"But this is the perfect time to kill him for our Lord," Nott protested.
"You heard what he said," Crabbe said threateningly.
Draco shot him a look, then turned back to address Nott. "Firstly, I think the Dark Lord would prefer to off Potter himself, and secondly, I'm forced to look after him. If anything happens to him, it is incredibly likely that I will be blamed. So no one is to touch him. Understood?"
Suitably cowed, Nott nodded. "Good," Draco said sharply, and removed his hands from Harry's ears, grimacing in disgust at Harry's food-covered face. Blaise rolled her eyes, and produced her wand, pointing it at his face. "Scourgify." Harry giggled in delight s the food disappeared.
"Love you, 'Aco," Harry said cheerfully. The entire table erupted into laughter as Draco groaned, and dropped hid head into his arms.
&&
By the end of dinner, Harry was yawning. When Draco and Blaise left the Hall, Blaise was carrying the sleepy child.
"Hey! What are you doing? He should come back with us!" Ron said angrily, having followed them as they headed down to the dungeons.
Hermione looked at Harry. "Ron, shhhh. He's almost asleep." she looked at Draco. "we'll help set him up."
Blaise scowled at her. "I don't think so."
"What? Why?" Ron spluttered.
"You don't honestly think we'd let you into our Common Room, did you? Draco asked derisively.
"You did in second year," Ron exclaimed without thinking. Hermione smirked proudly, and Blaise smirked back.
"And how much of a fool did your father look when he attempted to crack a 'secret den' that didn't exist?" the blond said smugly.
Ron flushed furiously, and lunged at the Slytherins, Hermione only just able to restrain him. "Why, you little…"
"You should go back to your tower/" Blaise said coolly. "We have the situation under control."
Without waiting for an answer, the Slytherins and Harry turned around and headed deeper into the dungeons, leaving the Gryffindor's staring after them. Then they reached a portrait of a sleeping thestrals, a picture frame most people couldn't figure out wasn't actually empty, Draco gently woke it. The thestrals snapped to attention and cocked it's head. "Thak the ripper," he whispered to the magical horse, making sure no one was near. He shrugged at Blaise's questioning look. "No one except Granger and myself pay attention in History of Magic, and she would never think I do."
Blaise nodded, and together they entered the room. The room was dark, the only source of light the candles floating in the air around the room, bewitched to burn perpetually. The bed was clothed in silver and green sheets. Lying on the desk were two notes.
Draco picked up the larger one first, and read it aloud. "Before any problems arise, and so that Harry is completely safe and his friend's minds are at ease, I have moved you and Harry to a room situated near the Gryffindor Common Room. Enclosed are directions. The password is 'unity'. if you need any help, Miss Granger will be willing, I'm sure." Below there was a smiley face that winked ad the angry blond, and in flowing script, Albus Dumbldore.
Draco looked up, furious. "How da-"
Blaise interrupted, placing a calming hand on her friend's arm. "Read the other note first, before you blow up."
"Draco took in a deep breath and let it out, before nodding and casting a look at the sleeping infant, who Blaise had placed on the bed. "It's from Severus. It says-"
He was cut off again, this time by noisy and frantic knocking on the door that connected to the Slytherin Common Room. Herry was woken, and started crying loudly. Draco scowled.
"Door," he said curtly to Blaise.
Blaise nodded and opened the door almost violently as Draco picked Harry up, rocking him gently. The opened door revealed Pansy, wearing a short skirt and a clingy black top, both accentuating her large, masculine build. Her face was caked with make-up, and she gave Draco what was obviously meant to be a seductive smile. Blaise chocked back a laugh and Draco's eyebrows shot up disbelievingly.
"Pansy. What are you doing here?" He drawled flatly.
Pansy shot Blaise a glare, then looked back to the blond. "I thought we could study for potions together, Draky,"
"I'm afraid not. Because of Potter, Dumbledore has relocated me to a room far, far away from here."
"That horrible man!" Pansy exclaimed indignantly. "Making you move there all by yourself."
"Actually, Blaise is coming with me." He said innocently.
Both the girls' jaws dropped. "She what!" Pansy shrieked.
"I what?" Blaise echoed, somewhat less ear-piercingly.
Draco gave a lazy smirk. "Well, Severus agrees that it is completely unjust, and he has allowed a friend to coma with me. I chose Blaise. It's really quite simple."
Blaise narrowed her eyes at him, and Draco looked back at her pleadingly. "He's right, I am." she told the other girl.
"But-" Pansy began to protest.
"I'm sorry i can't study with you, Pansy, but it is simply impossible in the current situation. I'm sure you understand." He turned to Blaise. "Why don't you pack your belongings and we can leave immediately, hmm?"
Blaise nodded. "Alright. Pansy, would you mind helping? While I'm away, you can use my space."
The large girl nodded dumbly, and followed Blaise when she left and grabbed her arm.
Draco picked up Harry, correctly assuming that his belongings were already in his new room. He waited patiently for Blaise, who reappeared quickly. "Did Sev really say I could go with you?" she asked curiously.
"He did, actually," Draco replied smugly.
"Oh, you are so lucky he likes you,"
"Everybody likes me." Draco said.
Blaise rolled her eyes and hit his arm, mindful of waking the drowsy child. "C'mon,"
Together, they navigated the dark corridors and hallways of Hogwarts. When they reached their destination, Draco smiled and whispered "Unity,".
They entered and gaped at the room. It was large, easily as big as any of the professors' bedrooms. The décor was simple, similar to Draco's room. They settled in quickly, determining which beds they would sleep in by the trunks at the foot of each bed. They easily put Harry to bed, then rushed through their nightly rituals. They collapsed into their bed sleepily, even though it was far earlier than their usual bed times, because they had had a long day, and knew that the next two weeks would be very trying.