A/N: This time around the first option swamped the second (47 to 22), so the boys will grow a year after every seven days. I promise that I won't write every day like I am doing now and some 'years' will just be summerized, so in about thirteen chapters or less they will be sixteen again. Also they will remember what happened in the past. I had an epiphany and I promise it shouldn't be confusing. All will come clear later. Thanks for all the reviews and votes. And double thanks to everyone who said they'd love to read either way. Now on with the story:)

Chapter Seven

Severus sat on the bed watching the two little boys eat their dinner. He felt like he was walking in a haze, or that he was dreaming. Any moment he'd wake up and all this would never have happened. He'd have his rounds to make, Slytherins to watch, impossible students to teach, and a dark convoluted dance to perform where any misstep would cost his life.

He had to be hard to live. His mind had to be sharp. There was no time to relax. Or even forget, even for a moment, his responsibilities. Severus had never had a time in his life when he was really happy. He'd grown up in a strict pureblooded house, afraid of doing wrong, terrified of punishments. Then went to Hogwarts and engaged in a painful child-war there. He hadn't even left Hogwarts before he then stepped into the ranks of evil. Things only got more difficult when he turned to Dumbledore and accepted the role of spy.

So it was not surprising that fear began to unfurl in his gut. For hours he had been here playing with the two toddlers, and it had sucked him in. Made him, for just a few moments, forget the trouble outside this room, forget the danger and pain. And he'd relaxed. If someone had swarmed the room, intent to kill (which wasn't completely impossible, the-boy-who-lived was here after all), he would not have been ready. He would have died. But at the same time, Severus had never felt so at peace while playing child games with the two.

"All done, Daddy!" Draco cried triumphantly.

Severus shook himself from his thoughts and turned his dark eyes on the blonde, "Ready for bed?"

"First potty and bath." Draco nodded.

"Bath?" Severus frowned.

"Yep. No bath last night means bath now. Right, Daddy?"

It did make some sense, and the boys did need to be washed. Harry finished then and lifted his arms. Resigned, Severus lifted them both free of the highchair and set them on the ground. Draco waited for Harry to be put next to him before racing for the bathroom. Severus followed, unknowingly wearing a small smile. He entered and found the boys laughing as they tried to help each other from their clothes.

Severus turned on the water and stoppered the tub before lifting them both up onto the toilet to tinkle. Then both boys were sitting waist deep in warm water. Harry splashed with a loud laugh, but Draco quickly grabbed his hands while turning worried eyes to Severus. The man was wiping his face slowly dry.

"Big splash is bad. Water stays inside the tub, kay, Baby?"

"Sorry, Daddy." Harry said meekly and made a little splash to show he understood.

"It's alright." Severus assured him. He filled a cup and poured the water all over the boys. They giggled.

"Oh!" Draco said brightly. "Forgot toys!"

He slithered out of the tub and ran naked and dripping out into the other room. Severus tried to grab him, but hadn't expected the move and missed. He sighed and Harry giggled, covering his mouth with his hands. Severus mock glared at him and it only made Harry laugh louder.

"What so funny?" Draco demanded, coming back into the room. He had a ball in one hand, two wizard figurines in the other, and a large cube with different shaped holes hugged to his chest.

"You made water leave the tub." Severus drawled with another mock glare. Harry grinned.

"No I didn't." Draco protested, climbing into the tub with a big splash when he slipped. "Oh! Sorry, Daddy!"

"Draco." Severus growled. "You dripped all over the floor!"

"Oh." The blonde pouted. "Sorry."

"It okay. I'll help you clean, Ray."

"Thank you." Draco said politely and handed the smaller boy one of the figurines. "Le'ss play."

As the boys played, Severus carefully scrubbed them with a soft rag and scented soap. He laughed at their antics and the boys grinned back. When it was time to wash their hair, he asked them to stop playing, but neither boy seemed interested in that option. So he very carefully wetted and soaped up their hair. Then he even more carefully rinsed it out. It was a miracle that none of it got into their eyes.

"Alright. Out. Step on the rug and let me dry you off." Severus ordered.

"But, Daddy! We're playing!" Draco protested.

"Out, now, Draco." Severus said again.

Harry stood to do as he was told, but hesitated when Draco glared at him. Severus pointed his wand and made the water cold. The boys were standing on the rug shivering in record time; Draco complaining the whole while. Severus spelled their clothes clean and then got them back into their T-shirts and underwear.

"If you don't stop your whining, I'm going to put you right back in." Severus promised the blonde.

Draco fell silent, but had his arms crossed over his chest and his lower lip thrust out as they walked to the bed. He lifted the boys back into bed and tucked them in. He stood, but before he could walk away Harry's soft voice stopped him.

"Can we have a story?"

"Yeah!" Draco cried, excited and anger forgotten. "Please, Daddy?"

"Oh, very well." Severus sighed and sat down to tell them a story. The boys fell asleep within five minutes and Severus stood over them. He reached out and ran his fingers through their soft baby hair and sighed. What were they doing to him? Shaking himself, he cast the charm so that his button would vibrate when they woke and strode from the room, his damp robes swirling around him.

While Severus left the boys' room and went to go talk to Dumbledore, the students were finishing with dinner and leaving the Great Hall. Pansy, Vincent, and Gregory were among the first to leave. They hurried to the dungeons, but didn't go to the Slytherin rooms. Instead they went to an abandoned classroom.

It was dark, dank, and dusty, but absolutely perfect for what they were going to do. Vince cast a ward around the room so that no one would be able to detect the magic they were about to cast. Greg set up the large silver basin of water and drew a triangle around it. Pansy cleaned the immediate area they were going to work in. And none of them had yet spoken a word.

Multi-person, ritual magic wasn't a subject until seventh year, but most purebloods knew a few from growing up in a magical household. It was hard and the littlest thing done wrong could ruin the spell, but the one they were going to attempt was one of the simpler ones. The three Slytherins each stood on one of the triangle points and pointed their wands at the basin of water.

"I'll think of how he looks physically." Pansy said softly.

"I'll do the way his magic feels." Vince offered.

Greg nodded, "That leaves his personality for me."

"Are you guys ready?" She asked, dark eyes burning with determination.

They nodded and then she took a deep breath. As she exhaled, they began chanting in semi-Latin. Light slowly snaked out their wands. It swayed and twitched, inching ever so slowly toward the basin of water. But even as the minutes dragged out into an hour, the light still only halfway to its destination, none of the teenagers faltered.

The Gryffindors waited for everyone to settle down and sleep before sneaking out of the tower under Harry's invisibility cloak. Ron was again left behind. They made their way silently until they got to the corridor that led to the infirmary. Neville was dropped off in an abandoned classroom to one side and Ginny in a closet on the other. Each had a charmed coin. If they saw someone coming, they'd bite down and the one Hermione had would heat up, warning her to get out fast.

Alone, Hermione slowly eased open the infirmary door and slipped inside. All of the beds were empty and she let out a silent breath. No one had seen the door open on its own. Continuing on, she made her way to Pomfrey's office. The nurse was there, sleeping on a cot by her desk. Hermione had anticipated this. She pulled out a vial from her pocket with one hand, the other rising up to cover her mouth and nose. She opened it and slid it out into the room. Vapor quickly rose to fill the room and just as quickly dissipated. She had made it earlier and it would keep the witch deeply asleep for at least four hours.

Still under the cloak, she tapped the books and the door swung silently open. The room behind was dark, but not pitch-black. On the nightstand by the bed was a gently glowing nightlight. Hermione shut the door behind her and crept forward. She reached the side of the bed and placed her hand on the rail, looking down. A startled gasp escaped her lips.

Harry was a child. And so was Draco Malfoy. She let the cloak slip off and placed it over the chair by the bed. Now that she had seen Harry, she looked around and noticed everything that was different from the last time she had been there. Now there were two highchairs and a box of children's toys. Incredible. She smiled tearfully and gently brushed Harry's thick bangs from his scar. Baby Draco's face scrunched up and he tossed to his side, away from Harry, in his sleep. Silver eyes slid open and stared up at her sleepily.

"Shhh. It's okay. I was just making sure you two were okay. Go back to sleep." Hermione whispered soothingly, backing up. Draco yawned, eyeing her suspiciously. But he cuddled back up to Harry and let his heavy eyes fall closed once again. Hermione backed off a few more steps and the boy settled back to sleep. She shook her head, smiling, before lifting her wand to cast a diagnostic spell. She carefully recorded the results and grabbed the cloak, creeping silently from the room and back to her friends.

Severus was walking to his rooms. He wanted to change and get some sleep. He was surprisingly exhausted from his day and what little energy he had left had been sapped by dinner with the Headmaster. He reached his portrait just as the button began to vibrate. He sighed. Maybe they'd go back to sleep? He waited a minute and just when he was getting ready to turn back, the button fell still. He gratefully, slipped into his room.

The Slytherins collapsed. The spell was finally finished. They smiled at each other in triumph, just catching their breath. Finally, Pansy got to her feet and went over to the slightly glowing basin. The waters were swirling inside like a storm cloud. She tapped it with her wand once.

"Show me."

The water stilled and turned into a glassy surface. An image slowly came into focus. It was a room illuminated by a small nightlight. She could just make out two highchairs to one side and a box of toys on the other. But the center of the picture was a bed with rails. She stared at it and her will made the picture zoom in. It didn't take a second to recognize the children sleeping in the bed.

"Oh, sweet Merlin!" She gasped, hands coming up to her mouth in shock.

Greg and Vince crowded at her shoulders and stared into the water. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was impossible. There was no spell in existence that could turn a human (wizard or not) back into a child permanently, and the conversation she overheard had implied Draco's condition was irreversible.

Greg's hand came up to clamp painfully around her upper arm. She tried to yank her arm free, mouth opening to yell at him, when she realized what had set him off. Two large, glowing eyes stared up at her through the water. It was Potter. He blinked once, and the water began to ripple and the picture to distort. Pansy cried out as the water exploded outward, spilling from the enchanted basin.

"How did he sense us watching?" Vince asked, awed.

"Who cares." She snapped as she ran magic checks on the basin. Then she relaxed. "The spell's still in place. We just have to put new water in it."

"What now?" Greg asked.

She sighed, "Now we get some sleep. Then we do some research."

Severus growled and threw the blankets off of him. He was just about to drop into sleep when his button had vibrated again. The brats were doing it on purpose, he thought angrily. But he had just barely gotten dressed again when the button stilled. Grumbling, he stood and tried to decide if he should still check on the boys, or if he was safe to go to sleep. He sighed and began to undress.

"If they wake again, I'll check it out." He promised himself and fell back into bed.

Harry woke with a yawn. Draco rolled over and smiled sleepily up at him. Gentle light filled the room, charmed to be as bright (or dark) as it was outside. It was early, but they had slept a long time and were ready to play. Draco scurried down the rails as he did the morning before and reached up for Harry.

"Ray, I don't know." The dark haired boy frowned. "Could fall down."

"I catch you." Draco promised. "Come on. Le'ss play!"

Harry looked down at his friend. It was a long way to his little mind, but he trusted Draco and slowly crawled over the rail. Hanging by his hands, he looked down again and saw Draco reaching for him, barely touching his feet. He sighed and let one hand go to grab the vertical bar, then the other. He slipped and with a startled cry, began to fall. But just as Draco promised, he was there to catch him. Or really, he was there to break his fall.

Draco crumpled under Harry's light weight and lay flat on his stomach with Harry sitting on his back. He gasped, or tried to, eyes wide as he found himself unable to breathe. Harry quickly scrambled off his friend, rolling him over onto his back. His green eyes wide with fear.

"I sorry, Ray! You okay? Ray! Ray!"

Gasping in air, Draco patted Harry's arm. "I'm okay, Baby."

Harry sniffled in relief and hugged the blonde tight. Draco giggled and pet his hair. In minutes, the upset was forgotten and they were running to the toy box to play.

Severus was pulled from sleep as the boys again woke him. He grumbled and pulled himself from bed. A spell revealed it was just turning six o'clock in the morning. He was actually glad the boys woke up so early. He would just have time to get them breakfast and set them to playing and come back down to monitor his Slytherins before breakfast in the Great Hall. He could only hope that when Narcissa arrived, Harry would take to her. His absence much longer could be disastrous.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me what you were doing!" Ron yelled. His face was blood red with anger and shame, though the last he would never admit too.

"You were acting like a child!" Hermione responded. "We couldn't tell you."

They were sitting in the common room. The rest of Gryffindor was in the Great Hall for breakfast, but this was more important than a meal. Neville and Ginny were bent over the results of Hermione's spell. Ron and Hermione stood behind them, arguing.

"Listen to yourself!" Ginny stood with her hands on her hips. "You're ranting and raving instead of paying attention to Harry's medical report! You were too unstable to include. You would have gotten us caught!"

Ron clenched his fists. How dare they! He could have kept calm! He wouldn't have gotten them caught and he needed to know what was wrong with Harry as much as the rest of them did! With an enraged yell, he tossed a chair over and stormed from the room. Hermione sighed tiredly and Ginny hugged her.

"He'll calm down." She promised.

"I hope so." Hermione turned back to the medical report. "So what do you guys make of this?"

Pansy, Vince, and Greg sat at the Slytherin table and watched their Head of House subtly from the corner of their eyes. The man looked like he was still pretending to be sick and had they not known it was an act they would have believed he truly was recovering from the Wizarding Flu.

"The Gryffindorks are missing." Vice murmured.

Pansy's eyes left the Head table and drifted over to the Gryffindors. Vince was right. Potter's friends were missing. Pansy fought a scowl off her face. It was shameful to display one's emotions. Especially in public. But it was hard. She knew that the Gryffindors knew something. Or maybe found a way to get to the boys. And it drove her mad that they might know more than her. Just then Weasley came storming into the room and sat with his housemates. They asked what was wrong, but the redhead brushed them all off.

"Hmmm." She said thoughtfully and turned to her friends. "I think this might be just what we need."

Severus made his way toward the infirmary. The students were all in their first class and Dumbledore said the letter requesting Narcissa's presence had been sent. Now he just had to wait. Poppy was waiting for him and she smiled when he walked through her doors. He nodded his head at her.

"I got Harry's glasses back." She showed him black framed glasses. They were small and cute with a strap that went around the head to hold them in place. "Just adjust this band here to make sure they aren't on too tight."

"Thank you, Poppy."

"Anytime, Severus." She was still smiling brightly and he wondered what potion she had put in her tea. "Do you think the boys will need their vaccinations all over again? They're at about the right age for it."

"I'm not sure. Is there a test you can run?"

"Yes, but it requires that I have a sample of blood." She explained with a frown.

"When they fall asleep for their nap, I will bespell them so they can't wake. You can take it then."

She nodded and Severus went in the room. He called Harry over, but the boy looked to Draco before quitting his play and running over. Draco came over as well, still trailing the cape he was holding. He had been pretending with it earlier, though Severus had no idea what exactly the little boy had pretended he was with it on. He only knew it made Harry laugh.

"These are now yours, Harry." Severus said, crouching in front of the boy.

Harry stood before him trustingly, his black hair tousled and messy. Severus made a mental note to brush it out soon. He gently put the tiny glasses on the toddler's nose and slipped the band behind his head. His thick hair quickly hid any evidence it was there. Harry blinked now wider eyes behind the thin black frames and smiled sweetly, reaching up to hug Severus around his neck.

"Thank you, Daddy. Head no hurt now."

"Your head had been hurting?" Severus looked down at the child sternly. "You must tell me when you hurt, no matter how small. It's my job to try and fix these things."

"It is?" Harry was staring incredulously.

"It is." Severus nodded. "Now promise you'll tell me from now on. No matter what."

"No matter what." Harry repeated obediently.

"Me too." Draco added, coming up to take Harry's hand. "I'll tell too."

"Thank you, Draco. Thank you, Harry. I'm trusting you both. Now, let's sit down and play that counting game. You both were getting really good at that."

Ron left the Great Hall early. He couldn't stand sitting there while his house ate, ignorant of what was going on. And Herm and the others hadn't come down. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. He couldn't go up there and have them smirk at him, so secure in their belief that they were right in their judgment of his character. And he couldn't just do nothing for Harry. Maybe he could find things out himself without any help. No matter that Dumbledore told them to back off for a bit.

"Weasley. Can I talk to you for a second?"

He turned and his blue eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he didn't feel the wave of hate he had come to associate with all Slytherins. It must be because the dumb oaf was just not smart enough to be purely evil, even if he was a Slytherin. So Ron didn't spout off. He merely waited, ready to swing into righteous anger at any given moment.

Crabbe shuffled his meaty feet and hunched his square shoulders, making his muscular neck practically disappear. "Draco's missing. I heard Pansy saying he is with Potter hurt somewhere."

"So?" Ron's eyes narrowed some more, but his fists were still unclenched. A good sign for the Slytherin.

"I know you don't like us. Slytherins, I mean. That's okay." Crabbe said slowly, brown eyes cow-like and surprisingly gentle. "But Draco's my best friend besides Greg. I really want to help if I can."

"What's it to me?" Ron shifted closer. He was one of the tallest boys in Gryffindor, standing at 6 foot, but Crabbe topped him by two inches and Goyle would by an inch. But their height and muscles were not very scary when Ron knew he could out duel both of them together with his eyes closed.

"Need help finding things out." Crabbe muttered, shuffling his feet again. "Greg doesn't know what to do about it either, so I thought I'd ask you, seeing how Potter is in the same trouble, whatever it is."

"You want me to find things out about Malfoy and then help you help him?" Ron scowled in disbelief.

"I thought you could find things out about Potter and that would tell me about Draco." Crabbe answered; as if he was unsure whether that was what Ron just said or something different. "Then we could know how to help, and Greg and me would help Draco. And you help Potter."

"What makes you think you can be any help at all?" Ron said hurtfully. "I'd be doing all the work."

"No." Crabbe shook his head. "We can help. We're slow, but once we know what to do, we do alright. Really."

Ron looked him over. Harry had been saying just at the end of last year, after Sirius died, that he thought the House system was stupid and divided the school unnecessarily. And Crabbe was making him think Harry might be right. The teen was sincerely worried about his best friend and didn't know what to do about it. He needed direction and was smart enough to know it.

"Why don't you get another Slytherin to help?" He demanded.

"Ever since Draco's father went to prison, he's been out of favor a bit. No one wants to interfere. They think some of the failure will rub off on them or something. So they won't help me." Crabbe showed his hands, palm up in a helpless gesture.

Ron's hard blue eyes softened a bit. He knew exactly how that felt. To see your friend was hurting and not really knowing what to do about it and having your other friends stabbing you in the back. So Ron reached over and shook one of the meaty hands, "Alright. You have yourself a deal." Crabbe smiled broadly and Ron found himself smiling back. Who needed Hermione anyway?

"Ms. Malfoy, please have a seat." Dumbledore said magnanimously as he swept his arm toward the luxurious chair before his desk.

Narcissa walked forward and sat primly. Her face was blank and watchful. Her golden hair pined up in an intricate coil on top of her head. Her dress was dark blue silk and fell to the floor with out flaring out at all. She was sleek and lovely. Her long nailed fingers folded in her lap elegantly and she nodded back at the ancient man.

"Good afternoon, Headmaster. I am pleased to be invited to your illustrious school. Is all well with my son?"

"Ah, that, my dear Lady, is why I have called you here." He paused, but Narcissa merely waited for him to continue. Her gray eyes pinned on him like a hawk would stare at prey. "A spell has gone wrong, and he and his partner were affected in ways we still can not determine. I, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor Snape have worked diligently for days to find a reversal to the spell, but have yet come up with a cure. I felt it prudent to wait no longer and inform you that you may have to take up control of the Malfoy estate and all else until young Lord Malfoy is fit for family duty once again."

"What is his condition, Headmaster? And I would like to see him regardless." Narcissa made a gesture that indicated her last request was more on the lines of an order.

"Of course. That is the other reason I have called you." Dumbledore smiled. "You see, in the present condition the two students find themselves in, they need a caretaker during the day. Professor Snape has authority in their overall care until they are cured, but his other duties mean he requires help outside the night time hours."

"And you think I am the best choice for their care provider?" Narcissa asked slowly, surprised. "Should not one with a better knowledge in the medical field be better suited?"

"Come see your son for yourself before you decide." Dumbledore rose and lead the woman to the door.

The boys had woken from their nap. Pomfrey had come and gone with their blood and sent it off to have tests run on it. Now he was struggling to get the boys cleaned up after their lunch. Draco was being particularly difficult. Harry watched the blonde's struggle with Severus silently, his glasses still securely on his face.

First Draco had not liked the grilled chicken cubes because there was a hint of lemon flavor. But didn't want anything else the little elf had offered to take its place. He wanted chicken because Harry was eating the chicken. He just didn't want the lemon flavor. But Dobby explained that he'd have to cook new chicken and that would take a while.

Harry had stopped eating his chicken, saying he'd have something different like Draco, even though it was obvious he didn't mind it. Severus had put his foot down and ordered Harry to eat what was on his plate and not to interfere. The little boy had obeyed, but very hesitantly.

Draco continued to throw a fit about the chicken, saying he wouldn't eat any of it until he got what he wanted. In the end, Severus had told him that he would eat the chicken the way it was or accept the alternative. Else he would be punished by not being allowed to play and would have to sit in the corner and think on his bad behavior and what it had earned him. The blonde had complied, but was very sore about it. So he ate his lunch in between his sobs.

Now he was being difficult about being cleaned up. He was twisting every which way to avoid the washcloth and Severus was about at the end of his patience. He grabbed the little boy up under his arms and plopped him down on the counter beside the sink. Draco immediately arched his back and almost slipped off.

Severus snarled and held him there, "That's enough, Draco! You will start behaving or you will sorely regret it!"

"No!" Draco screamed, his face red as he cried, snot going everywhere.

"What is wrong with you?" Severus yelled, shaking him a bit. "Stop this nonsense!"

Suddenly, a soft voice broke into their little war and they both had to still to hear it; "Is Ray afraid?"

"I don't wanna wash up!" Draco yelled, glaring tearfully at the panting Severus.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Cause I don't!"

"You afraid?" The raven haired boy was obviously really confused.

"No! Just don't wanna!"

"Why don't you wanna play with me anymore?"

"What?" Draco sat very still and looked down at the boy staring up at him, tears beginning to gather in the emerald depths. "I do wanna play with you."

"No." Harry shook his head, stubbornly, full lips pouting out as he crossed his arms. "I know you don't."

"Yes, I do!" Draco yelled, angry again, but not in a tearful sort of way. His silver eyes blazed with heat.

"Really?" Harry looked suddenly unsure.

"Yes." Draco nodded. "Why think I don't, Baby?"

"Because you don't care if you be bad and get punished and can't play with me no more." Harry explained and a single tear slid down his cheek.

"Oh." Draco blinked and then frowned. "Oh. I sorry, Baby. I don't mean it. I'll be good."

Severus breathed out in relief and tentatively reached out with the moist cloth. Draco allowed it and didn't fuss at all. His eyes on his lap. In a few short minutes, he was done and lifted the toddler to the floor. Harry immediately wrapped the blonde boy into a hug and Draco hugged him back. Severus snorted and gestured harshly to the open door.

"Go."

Draco took Harry's hand and led him toward the door, but stopped and looked up at Severus. "I really sorry, Daddy."

"You have a bad temper, Draco." Severus answered unforgiving.

"I'm sorry." Draco whispered, tearing up again.

"Go play." Severus sighed.

Harry tugged at the blonde's hand, "Daddy will forgive you later. After you fink about it, right, Daddy?"

"Yes, Harry."

Draco nodded and the boys went solemnly to the toys. Severus settled on a chair by the bed in the corner and summoned one of his books, though his attention was still on the children. There was no more boisterous play. Draco sat still and silent, obviously still upset about his behavior and his displeasing both Severus and Harry with it.

Harry didn't get mad at the blonde's silence. He was remarkably sympathetic and understanding. He grabbed one of the children's books and opened it. He pressed on the word and if it was a noun, it lit up on the page and he'd say what it was, guessing the words in between as he read to Draco. It was quite humorous to listen too, but Draco just sat silently, head down and eyes on the floor sadly.

Chapter end