"What is going on here?" Lucius demanded, glaring at each of them in turn, his eyes resting finally on the small boy Hermione was holding tightly.
Although the child was evidently trying to be invisible, the trademark blonde hair stuck out blatantly against the Dark of Hermione's cloak. Lucius strode over to her and pulled Draco roughly from her grasp, ignoring her protests and attempts to hold on.
"Lucius, be careful!" Snape yelled, instinctively stepping forwards. Draco leaned out of his father's arms reaching desperately for Severus, grey eyes frightened and pleading,
"What have you done?" Lucius snapped back, moving away slightly and adjusting his hold on his squirming son, "Why is he a baby?" Draco glared at him,
"Je ne suis pas un bébé (I'm not a baby!)" He said indignantly , "J'ai six ans! (I'm six!)"
"Fermez-le! (Shut it!)" Lucius hissed, "Parlez quand on vous parle. (Speak when you're spoken to.)"
"Lucius, I didn't do anything! Miss Granger found him like this!"
"So it was you, was it?" Lucius demanded, turning on Hermione, "You thought that you could turn him into an innocent child and take advantage of him, did you?" Hermione flushed angrily,
"I'd never do that! I came out to look for Draco and I tripped over him, then I went straight back to the castle to find Professor Snape. Besides," She muttered under her breath, "You can't talk me about 'Taking Advantage'."
"What was that?" Hermione smiled sweetly,
"Nothing Sir." Lucius narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but let it pass.
Draco was till now, his head lolling on Lucius' shoulder, thumb placed firmly in his mouth and eyes drooping sleepily. Severus reached forwards to take his godson from Lucius,
"Why don't we all go back up to the castle, put Draco to bed and talk this over properly?"
"Over tea and biscuits." Dumbledore added quickly, "I've got lemon lizards." Lucius looked tempted, but resisted valiantly,
"No. we can talk here. Draco, wake up." Draco moaned softly and made a brave attempt to open his eyes,
"Mais Papa, je suis si assoupi... (But Papa, I'm so sleepy…)"
"Maintenant, Draco! (Now, Draco!)" Lucius ordered, with the slightest trace of a warning, which was instantly picked up by Draco as he forced himself into a sitting position, balanced precariously on Lucius' arm, "Et prenez votre pouce de votre bouche. Il n'est pas donné de la dignité. (and take your thumb out of your mouth. It isn't dignified.)"
"Oui Papa. (Yes Papa.)" Draco murmured obediently, removing the guilty thumb from between his teeth. The other adults exchanged disapproving looks. 'How dare this man deny a child of it's thumb!' Dumbledore drew his wand and stepped up to Lucius, pointing it at Draco's throat. Instantly Draco recoiled, his eyes wide with fear.
"Don't worry, little one," Dumbledore said soothingly, "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just going to cast a little spell so that you can understand us when we speak in English. Is that okay?" Draco nodded hesitantly and shut his eyes, biting his bottom lip hard. Dumbledore muttered something incoherent and a thin jet of purple light shot out of his wand and into Draco's throat. The force of the magic knocked Draco out of Lucius' arms and he fell to the ground, coughing.
"What did you just do?" Hermione squeaked, as Draco gingerly touched his neck,
"I did what I told him I would do," Dumbledore replied, "I put a translating charm on him."
"You had absolutely no right to do that!" Lucius snarled, grabbing Draco's arm and pulling him to his feet, "You should've asked me first!"
"There ought to be no problem," Said Dumbledore, giving the blond man a 'Look', "Unless, Lucius, there is something you don't want young Draco to talk about." Draco looked up at his father nervously. What that bad man had said wasn't nice and that would make Papa cross. Draco didn't want his Papa to be cross,
"Don't be nasty!" Draco shouted, glaring at Dumbledore, "Stop being horrible to Papa!"
"Draco, hold your tongue." Lucius ordered, placing a severe hand on his son's shoulder,
"But Papa, he's being rude, an' that's bad." Draco replied evenly, putting slightly, "If he's bad he ought to be punished with your…" Instantly, Lucius' hand went over Draco's mouth, ending the sentence in an 'mmph!'
"I said 'Shut it'!" He hissed dangerously, "If I hear one more word from you, I'll do something we both regret. Do I make myself clear?" Draco nodded hurriedly,
"Yes Papa. Sorry Papa."
Severus watched this in self-controlled silence. It had been worrying the way Lucius had controlled Draco as if nothing had happened and Draco was naturally six years old.
But what disturbed him the most, was how quick Draco was at defending his father. Especially taking into account the fact that Six had been one of the most difficult ages for Draco…
Suddenly, Lucius' clipped voice broke Severus out of his memories and back into the present.
"Now, if there is nothing to discuss, I think we should be going."
"Going? Going where?"
"Home of course!" Lucius said, "Idiot." He muttered under his breath. Dumbledore frowned,
"You can't just take a student out of school. Besides, you're a teacher!"
"A six year old can hardly be classified as a student." Lucius reminded him, "Anyway," He put his arm around Draco and plastered a saintly expression on his face, "My son's needs will always come before my own."
"You are not taking him away from here!" Snape growled, "I won't let you!"
"Severus," Dumbledore came up behind him, "Lucius is Draco's father and has every right to take him. There's nothing you can do." Draco ran up to Snape and wrapped his small arms around Snape's waist,
"But I want to stay with you! Please, Uncle Sev'rus, can I?" Snape picked him up and gave him a tight hug,
"I'm sorry Dragon. Not at the moment. I'll see you very soon though, okay?" Draco nodded, his disappointment evident and slid down to the ground, going over and hugging Hermione,
"Bye Her-My-Oh-Nee. Thank you for being my friend. Will I see you soon too?" Hermione smiled,
"Of course you will, Draco." She shot a nasty look at Lucius, "I promise." Draco grinned and ran back to his father, who grabbed his hand and pulled him close. The others barely had time to return Draco's cheery wave before the incantation was muttered and both Draco and Lucius disappeared.
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Thankyou to everyone who reviewed! I don't have time to say you all, but you know who u are and i'll put you in next time! Cheesy grin Soz, but i've gotta sleep soon.
N-ee-way, Keep reviewing! I DO APPRECIATE IT! Luv and kisses Lily and Dracoxxxx