Child of Mine
Chapter 15
Babysitting and Potions
"Potter if you burn yourself and Professor Snape blames me, I'll curse you into next week once you're back to normal." Draco drawled as the young boy tried batting at the flames.
Harry leaned back, obeying Draco's words without so much as a second thought. Daddy had said to listen to him after all. And when Harry did what others wanted, they usually were more happy with him then when he tried to disobey.
"So we can't even jinx the little bugger?" Pansy asked, a bit of a whining lilt to her voice.
"And leave me to face the wrath of Snape and Dumbledore? Not to even bring into mention the entire teachers staff? I think not." Draco's mind was quick to supply him with just how Snape might use Draco in a potion. Whatever bits were left after the staff was done with him, that is. No, he'd just make sure to get Potter later.
"So why are you watching this brat? Shouldn't he be with someone else? I mean, everyone knows you two would rather hang each other off the astronomy tower- - how could they trust you with his safety?" she laughed at their idiocy.
"Well... Professor Snape..." Draco trailed off. The words 'seemed desperate' could describe him. Draco had only been given what he was sure had bee half an explanation. All Snape had said was that he had to work on a potion and Potter was too much of a liability. Potter for some unknown reason had taken to Draco (was this a subtle explanation of why Potter didn't have a girlfriend? Draco shivered.) and that if Draco valued his life he would take care of Potter when Snape needed him to and would return Potter unharmed and unchanged unless he wanted to experience disciplinary actions for what he'd done to Potters potion.
Draco at the time had been flabbergasted. Since when had Snape sided with Dumbledore? Or Potter for that matter?
Snape, having seen Draco's look had sighed and explained that if he'd had any say in the matter he would have left Potter to his fate and sent him back home. He then had scowled. But it seemed Dumbledore would not give Snape a free moment away from Potter until the potion to reverse his fate could be found.
Personally Draco thought Potter should have gone straight to St. Mungo's... but that would have 1) Cost a fortune for the school and 2) would have taken longer. Simply put, potions masters like Snape were rare and they would have had to request one anyway... and seeing as Snape had been there for the potion and a whole many other technical reasons... it just made more sense that Snape would have a better handle on the situation. Too bad it had been Potter though. Taking care of him seemed to be giving Snape gray hair. It was giving Draco grey hair too come to think of it. The temptation of tormenting the runt dangling right before him and none of the ability to pull it off without regretting his life.
Well at least he'd have something more to tell his father. Now that he was (slightly) entrusted with Potter's care he was sure he'd be able to help his father. Perhaps it would give him a boost up the social ladder (so to speak) within the ring of the death eaters... He would be joining in a few years. (Voldemort was rather against marking anyone younger then nineteen. Though why, Draco couldn't imagine. It's not like they would be children once they graduated.)
He wondered how he would be rewarded for this information.
"...He seemed busy." he decided that he'd keep the other information to himself and his father.
"Humph." she glared at the baby that had toddled over to Draco and was demanding silently to be picked up. Draco gave a grimace and a sneer. "Well if you have to watch the brat instead of spend time with me then I'll just be off."
Maybe watching Potter was a blessing in disguise.
"Draco, pick me up!"
"Demanding prat." after another moment of hesitance he picked the child up. "Why of all the people in the school did you have to pick me?"
----------------- --------------
"I see Harry has been returned to you alive and relatively unharmed." Remus mused picking up the child who had been playing on the floor.
"Yes... Because he's taken to Malfoy it's given me the needed time for finishing the potion for you." Snape frowned. "I don't know what's possessed Harry but I'm sure he will die of a heart attack when he is told of what he has done these past-" his voice died and he cleared his throat. "Well, if it hadn't been for Malfoy babysitting him these past few days this would never have gotten done." Snape gestured to the goblet in a glass case about a foot high and six inches wide. Remus had a suspicion that it had been spelled shut. "As odd as this sounds the potion is going to solidify to a gel like substance. You will have to eat it. And I will not risk the potion by magically cooling it. You will have to wait until after dinner."
Remus nearly groaned. So bloody close! "Wait... SOLIDIFY?" her face twisted into a grimace. "You cannot be serious- - I will have to EAT it?"
"Well you certainly can't DRINK a gel." Snape smirked as Remus shivered. "And I suggest you eat lightly."
Sirius who'd been watching the display frowned, "How can you be sure this will work?"
Snape didn't say a word, but if gazes were actions... Sirius would have been a pile of ash.
------------------------ -------------------------
Hermione and Ron had the joy of taking care of their six year old friend that dinner. Ron of course was still a bit awkward about how to even act in the situation, let alone how to SPEAK to Harry (he certainly couldn't discuss Quidditch with him at the moment!). Hermione seemed to have the easiest time of it. She was practically pouring all of her information that she'd learned in the day... into Harry. Sometimes Harry would listen and ask questions... but most the time his young mind would wander and he'd end up looking off into space or the ceiling. The twins, to keep Harry on the alert, slipped him a canary cream when Hermione wasn't looking and...
POOF!
Ron's mouth dropped. Harry looked at his arms and body in absolute horror. Hermione was fairly sure he was about to have hysterics. "I'M A CHICKEN!" he whined, Hermione had to stop him from plucking the feathers out of his own arm. Harry did not seems quite as amused by the prank as the twins had hoped he'd be.
"Don't worry Harry, you'll be normal in a bit... see the feathers are already wilting-" Hermione delayed his tears and he looked at her in fear. "Trust me." she said quietly.
"Why is he so upset? He slipped Remus a cookie and changed HIM." Ron pointed out. Hermione gave him a glare and Harry, who'd been afraid, looked struck.
Hermione gave him a worried glance, "Ronald..." she gave him a look but Harry pulled away from her.
He looked as if he were contemplating something very seriously within himself. The feathers were wilting off around him and slowly disintegrating into dust and then nothing.
Without a word he slid off his seat and left the table, going directly to the professors table.
And straight to one female Remus J. Lupin.
"P-Pr'fesser?" Harry stumbled over the word and stopped. Why had he called mummy that? She was staring at him oddly. As if she were afraid. Or confused. Maybe she didn't think he was speaking to her. "Mummy?"
"Yes, Harry?" Remus had not expected Harry to call her that. Oh dear lord- - did Harry remember-?
"I'm sorry." he said softly.
"Harry?"
"I was given food- magic. And it changed me. I didn't like it. I gave you food. And you didn't like it. I'm sorry." he hung his head in shame and Remus felt his brow furrow in understanding.
Yet- - Harry was speaking so clearly- well, the clearest he'd ever spoken before since he'd been changed, and he seemed to be mentally developing quicker now. Perhaps Harry was near the end of this potion himself? No... Harry was still trapped in that small body. But could his mind return without the body?
"Harry, I forgave you long ago. I am not angry." She put a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed gently. Harry shook his head.
"I'll be better." he promised. More to himself then to her.
And for just a breath Remus saw in Harry's eyes, the old soul within.
-------------- --------------
"I can't."
"Yes you can. I've spent countless hours on this and if you dare to say you are not going to use it I will have a supply of fresh werewolf parts come morning." Severus threatened with a glare.
Remus looked down at the green jell-O before her. In it he saw small chunks of potion parts that stayed in the mixture. And the smell- -
Maybe Severus would give him a quick death. Which was more than she'd get from what was before her. Remus almost wished Harry was in the room with them. She could have tricked the child into knocking the thing over...
Remus cursed beneath her breath and groaned in horror before she spat out between gritted teeth (with closed eyes). "Give me the bloody spoon before I change my mind." she held out her hand for the utensil.
The process of eating the concoction before her... was a testament to her willpower. She'd felt her gag reflex nearly go off twice. But still (after moments pause between each spoonful) she managed to get down half of it before the burning sensation over took all of her body. Her fingers went numb and her grip on the spoon went lax- -
Severus watched as the female before him gasped in obvious pain. The large arm chair held her protectively as her body arched against the back of it- - then she bent over, her head touching her knees- - It looked a bit painful. The process was over in several heartbeats... and Remus went suddenly limp.
Severus slowly stepped towards his fellow Professor and put a hand on Remus' shoulder. "Lupin?"
"Ungh..." Slowly, Remus sat up- - and Severus saw the changes immediately. The face was the most drastic change. From the small feminine like face it was now more square and he could see stubble on Remus' face. The body had widened, the chest gone, and his hands bigger, the hair darker on his arms... "D-" Remus took a deep breath, "Did it work?" and his voice was the soothing deeper voice Snape had always known.
Snape shook his head at the stupid question and Remus pulled himself from his knees and leaned into the back of the chair heavily. "That was worse than discovering my menstra-" he all but choked himself to stop the word. "Eh- - I--"
Snape chose not to say anything about that subject. "If you wish revenge, perhaps when Harry is back to normal you could give him a cookie... Seeing as I now have the reversal potion for those cookies. Once the twins perfect them they will be giving me a report thicker then their files in Filch's office detailing that particular goody and the reversal potion..." Snape would enjoy tasking them it. And perhaps they'd figure out where they had slipped up in making those cookies. Of course, they would still have to perfect the cookies but that would happen once they'd gone through it in greater detail.
"I'll have Sirius sneak me to my room... I'm too tired to stay awake much longer." Remus slowly, achingly, tiredly stood and balanced himself using the chair. "I thank you, Severus."
Snape gave a noncomittal grunt and shrugged his shoulders. "Just take the mutt and leave me to sleep for a week." he said in what Remus knew was a fake growl of grumpyness.
Snape led him out of his office and down towards his rooms where Sirius was busy watching Harry. Each step for Remus took a great deal of effort but the only thing that would cure his wearyness would be sleep. At Severus' door Snape cast several spells on his door before pulling out a key and unlocking the door for them. Inside Sirius was giving Harry a ride on his back romping about on all floors while Harry laughed delightfully.
"MUMMY!" Harry jumped off of Sirius' back, ran several steps- - and stopped dead.
"Hello, Harry. I am going to go to bed now, will you give me a hug good night?" Remus squatted down to Harry's level and saw the child's expression was sad.
Harry reluctantly went over to him and then hugged him. His small face buried in Remus' long hair he whispered brokenly, "Who will be my mummy now? Are you still mine?"
Remus wasn't sure why, but he oddly felt like crying when he heard the words leave Harry's mouth.
---------------- ------------------
"Dear Father..." Draco murmured his written words and hesitated. How to write what he now had for his father. It was undoubtedly the best news he'd ever be able to give his father (to date, anyways), why was he faltering in what to write? Malfoy's always knew what they wanted to say, and never faltered.
'Play with me, Draco!'
Little brat. He would not fall for Potter's charms like the rest of the staff had. He'd made it clear what he thought of Draco when he'd refused his hand.
With that old... yet stinging thought in mind, he set his quill back to the parchment.
'There have been several new developments in Hogwarts that I believe you should be aware of and would find most useful to you...'
T.B.C.
Author Notes: I know! I know! I'm a horrible updater. It turns out that the last author notes was incorrect. Simply cause I had to temporarily withdraw from going to basic training... and then joined back in and went in Jan 31 of 05. I got back June 11th. I am not a cook. I'm in Aviation. I am a fifteen papa. Meaning I work in Aviation Operations. Don't ask.
Anyway, I have NOT given this up, but you wouldn't believe how hard it has been trying to find the creativity boot camp sucked outta me. This was really hard. And you just might be able to tell. Considering a lot of it was written in one night. This chapter has NOT been beta'd. It's not even seen a spell check, which I apologize for now. I thought that since I've been practically getting a lot of reviews (and with them, complaints about a lack of updating) I decided to post a chapter before the lynch mob found my address. grin
Things will be picking up. But I won't tell why or I'd ruin the surprises up ahead.
As to my reviewers... I understand some people just really disagree in many ways at some or a lot of what I've written.
Keep in mind, this has become a total Alternate Universe story!
I'm making it differently. Personally I feel J.K. is leaving out the more human emotions in her characters. That's her flaw. My flaw is I make my readers question the characters sexuality (and well, I'm sorry if I offended peoples sensibilities out there...), I throw them in odd situations. But I am trying my best. This chapter isn't my best. I'm the FIRST to admit this. But I wanted to post SOMETHING so that the forming Lynch Mob might pause long enough for me to gather my wits and notes and write a truly better chapter. One including Voldemort. Harry getting older. Disention in the Mys'Alk ranks. Kidnaping's... I mean! Er...Whoops.
I mean... No one is kidnaped... really. Ignore that last line. Smiles innocently.
My story is not MEANT to be perfect.
Understand this, PLEASE.
Take the imperfections with a grain of salt.
If you can't stand anything even REMOTE to Slash, just skim through anything that makes you hesitate and go... 'Ew' cause I really won't be writing those moments anymore. If you can't stand the way Harry's acting... you've probably never raised a child. And if you have and still object to his prior behavior... your child was either an ANGEL or you're in a dream world. Snape... I agree, is a hard arse. His heart has a wall fifteen feet thick, twice as high, and I won't even go into what's lurking in the moat built AROUND that wall. But he is human... and I just am toying with more of his human side right now, instead of his hard side. Sorry for you people who love to see Snape at his surliest.
What else have I seen amongst the reviews...
Well, I'm sure you'll all come up with new things for me. Good and bad alike. But keep in mind this story isn't to be taken seriously. And that means my characters won't always be perfect. I have a different perception of them then J.K. and you. That's what's so wonderful about writing and having my OWN mind. I can create whatever I want. Okay, I decided to play with her characters, but I'm not stealing. I'm borrowing.
Be honest in your review, but don't be crude and criticize me without a suggestion as to what you believe could be done. Doesn't mean I'll do it but I do consider properly written critiques very much. And I place respect in each persons opinion. Thank you.