Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
"Mrs. Weasley, I'm done with my drawing," Draco said proudly as he handed her the picture he had made. It was his first day of daycare and it was a different experience for him. Mrs. Weasley was very friendly and her home was completely different from his own. It was rather interesting, although he didn't think his father would like it. Which was probably why Mother doesn't want me to tell him too much about it, he thought.
"Let me see," Molly took the picture and nodded approvingly. "A very nice dragon. Look everyone!" She showed the children his picture. "It's lovely, Draco."
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley," Draco said and couldn't help looking smugly at Harry, Ron and Neville Longbottom who were still working on their pictures. They seemed nice enough but it was important to show he was the best, his father always told him that. He looked at the one friend he did have. "Are you almost done Tracey?"
"Almost," Tracey said as she concentrated on her drawing.
Draco peered at Harry's drawing and gave a chuckle. "What is that supposed to be?"
Harry looked up. "An owl."
Draco raised a blonde eyebrow. "If you say so."
Harry rolled his eyes and continued working.
"Git," Ron muttered.
"What was that, Ronald?" Molly asked sternly.
"Nothing, Mum," Ron said hurriedly.
Draco smirked and leaned back in his seat. "Should I work on something else, Mrs. Weasley?" He asked politely.
"Since you are finished, you may go and pick out a book to read," Molly said.
Draco jumped up and went over to the bookcase and picked out a book, settling down into one of the beanbags to read.
Ginny, who had just woken up from a nap, wandered over to him. "Will you read to me?" She asked sweetly.
"Uh," Draco shrugged. "Okay." He opened up the picture book he had picked out.
Soon all the children were settled into bean bags reading while Molly prepared a snack for them.
"What work does your father do?" Draco asked Ron as he gave Ginny the book he had read to her so she could look at the pictures.
"He works with the Ministry," Ron answered.
"Oh, so does my father," Draco said with a nod.
"Mine works with Muggle arti – artif...things," Ron said.
A sneer formed on Draco's face. "Muggle? Why? Muggles are inferior to us." His dad told him so, although Draco had no idea what inferior meant.
Tracey frowned. "Draco."
Ron also frowned. "My dad likes Muggle stuff. He thinks it's interesting."
"Only a nutter would thinks so," Draco said hotly. He'd heard that from his father too.
"Draco!" Tracey thew a stuffed animal at him.
"Hey!"
"My dad is not a nutter!" Ron's face turned as red as his hair.
Molly walked over with concern on her face "What is going on here?"
"He called dad a nutter," Ron scowled.
"A nutter would think Muggles are interesting," Draco insisted. His father would agree with him!
"Oh, muggles can be quite interesting," Molly said with a chuckle. "My husband is especially fascinated by cars."
"What are cars?" Draco asked curiously.
Molly smiled and gestured to Harry. "Why don't you explain, dear?"
Harry eagerly began telling them all about cars and what they did and honking horns.
HP
Draco chatted on about what he had done at daycare and when he got to muggle inventions, Narcissa froze. She had no problem with Draco learning about muggles but her husband would and if he found out where Draco's daycare was, they would both pay the price.
"Draco, you enjoyed daycare right?"
"Yes, Mother," Draco answered. "I'm the best artist there." He bragged.
Narcissa smiled indulgently at him. "I bet you are. However, if your father asks about your day, don't mention learning about anything to do with muggles. And remember not to mention where the daycare is or Mrs. Weasley or Harry. All right?"
"Because father would be mad?"
"He would not approve," Narcissa said carefully. "So if he asks for your daycare worker's name, say it is Miss. Prewett."
"Okay." Draco said, not understanding why it mattered but trusting his mother. "Mother? Are muggles bad?"
"No Dragon, it's just your father doesn't like to hear about them," Narcissa tried to explain. "And we don't want to upset him, do we?"
Draco shook his head. He didn't like it when his father was upset, he could be scary.
"You can tell me what you learned about them, however," Narcissa smiled.
"So I can tell you about cars?" Draco asked excitedly.
Narcissa blinked. "What are cars?"
HP
"I received a progress report from your teachers," Severus said one evening over dinner. "On how you are doing in their lessons."
Harry's eyes flicked up to his guardian's. He bit his lip. "I'm doing good," He blurted out. He was, wasn't he?
"You are doing well," Severus agreed. "Especially in reading and addition. Professor Sinistra says you need to work a little harder in subtractions and not to let yourself get frustrated with the problems."
"I hate subtractions," Harry grumbled.
"You can hate it as long as you concentrate a little harder on them," Severus took a sip of tea. "And you need to not talk to the older students during your lessons." He eyed Harry sternly.
"They always peek in so I say hello to them," Harry explained.
"They shouldn't be doing that and you need to just concern yourself with paying attention to your teacher," Severus said firmly. The older students were always stopping to stare or talk to the child. And the boy was so friendly...of course he would stop during his lessons and say hello to them. He relaxed his expression. "Overall, you are doing very well and I'm very happy with your progress. And Mrs. Weasley says you are a joy to have in her daycare," His heart clenched as the child's eyes lit up. He's not used to having approval from adults, he thought. It reminded him of himself as a child. "I'm very proud of you, Harry."
A huge smile spread across Harry's face. "You called me Harry," He said in a delighted voice.
"Is that not your name?" Severus asked lightly. He realized calling him Potter would keep a distance between them and that wasn't fair to the boy. It was still hard to fathom but he found he was quite content with how everything was settling into place. This arrangement would work, he could be a legal guardian to him. It's not like the boy would ever call him dad, or anything like that.
Hogwarts, 1988
"Dad!"
Severus gave a slight start and scowled as he finished pouring the potion he had just made into the last vial. When he finished, he turned around and put his hands on his hips, facing his eight year old son.
"Oops," Harry said sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
"I am fairly certain you know better than to enter my lab, or any lab, like that," Severus scolded. "You startle someone who is dealing with potions, you could cause a very dangerous accident."
"I know, I wasn't thinking," Harry gave him his best, sad puppy dog look. "Are you angry?"
How did he learn to do that? Severus thought with some amusement. It made it hard to stay mad at him. He kept a mild glare on his face. "I should ground you for the rest of the day. You've worked with me in the lab before. You know the rules."
Harry's mouth dropped open. "But I didn't mean to startle you!"
"I wasn't startled," Severus grumbled, even though he had been.
"Well, I saw you jump a bit..." Harry trailed off. "I mean, yeah, you weren't startled at all." He said hastily.
Severus bit his lip to keep from smiling. "What is so important that you felt the need to charge in here as if a Hippogriff were chasing you?"
"I wanted to ask if I could go and visit Hagrid," Harry explained. "I asked Percy if he would walk me out to his hut." Percy Weasley was now a second year and very responsible, so Harry figured he would have a better chance to get to go since his dad was busy. He loved visiting Hagrid and playing with his dog, Fang.
"That is what you rushed in here for?"
"Well, I knew you would want me back in the castle before dark and it's already getting close to evening," Harry gave him a lopsided grin. "Please?"
"Go on," Severus gave in. "Make sure Hagrid walks you back into the castle before dinner."
"Thanks Dad!"
Severus shook his head as he began cleaning up. The boy was irrepressible but he couldn't imagine his life without the him. He loved the child, he couldn't love him more if he was his son by blood. Harry had crept into his heart without him even realizing it. Casting a Tempus, he decided he had time to do some grading in his office before dinner began.
Malfoy Manor
Narcissa was helping Draco with his homework when Lucius stomped into the room, his face full of fury, wand tightly in hand.
"Well, look at you two together," Lucius hissed. "Conspiring against me?"
"What are you talking about? I am helping Draco with his reading," Narcissa said, her eyes on his wand. Her hand went to her own, which was her sleeve.
"How sweet," Lucius glared at them. "You both must think I am pretty stupid. You've lied to me for three years!"
Oh no, Narcissa thought with dread.
"Father?" Draco spoke up hesitantly.
"Son, who is your childcare provider?"
Draco froze for a moment. "Um, Miss. Prewett." He answered softly.
Lucius slammed his hand down on the table they were working out. "Do not lie to me!" He shouted. He pointed his wand at Draco. "Perhaps a nice, long Crucio will teach you not to lie."
Narcissa stood up and pulled Draco behind her, her own wand pointed at her husband. "You will not hurt our son," She said firmly.
"Who runs his childcare?" Lucius asked in a low voice.
"Apparently you already know," Narcissa said evenly. "But all right. Mrs. Weasley and she has done a excellent job. He's made friends and -"
"Friends? They're Weasley's!" Lucius said in disgust. "They are blood-traitors. And from what I hear, they are not the only children in that childcare."
"Tracey Davis is in it as well," Narcissa said coolly.
"Do not patronize me, Narcissa." Lucius warned. "The Davis's are blood-traitors as well. Who else? Answer me, wife!"
"Neville Longbottom," Narcissa said, still shielding Draco.
"And?" Lucius gritted his teeth.
"Harry Potter." Narcissa said, realizing she would have to get word to Severus as soon as possible.
"Harry Potter," Lucius hissed. "The boy who caused the dark lord's downfall. The boy I would love to get my hands on."
"Why?" Draco asked from behind his mother. He stepped out to peer at his father. Why did it matter that he had child care with Harry?
"Did you not hear what I said, boy?" Lucius asked. "He is the reason the dark lord is gone. He needs to be destroyed!" He pointed at Draco. "You will prove yourself, Draco. You will prove you deserve to be my son by standing by my side when I kill the boy-who-lived."
Draco's eyes widened in horror.
"Lucius!"
"Harry's my friend," Draco said shakily. They competed and could get on each other's nerves but they were friends.
"No Malfoy will be friends with the likes of Potter," Lucius snapped. "Or Longbottom's or Weasley's. You're old enough to understand how things work. Pure-bloods are better than everyone else, except for pure-blood's like the Weasley's and Longbottom's and apparently the Davis's. They were not loyal to the dark lord, they are not worthy. We are better than them, Draco. We are more important." He sighed. "That Weasley woman, she's made you weak."
"I'm not weak!"
"No? Then agree to help me, son. Agree to help me lure Potter here and to watch as I kill him slowly and painfully," Lucius said, eyes narrowed on his son. ""It's happening, my son. It's time. I will be the most powerful and feared wizard in the world. I will finish the dark lord's work and purge the wizarding world of Mud-bloods and blood traitors."
Draco shook his head slowly, feeling sick. He hated to displease his father, but he couldn't do that. "No." He whispered.
"No?" Lucius eyes darkened. "Pathetic. I've always known you were. Both of you!" He spat out. "Then as the new dark lord, my first act shall be to kill the two who betrayed me!" He pointed his wand at Narcissa. "I'll kill you first, you're worthless! You gave me a weak son!"
"Draco, go to your room," Narcissa said shakily.
"He's not going anywhere," Lucius sneered. He cast the cutting curse at them.
Narcissa cast a shield but she was so focused on protecting Draco that the curse hit her. She gasped with pain and her shield faded.
"Mother!" Draco yelled in fright when he saw blood dripping down her arms.
A loud pop was heard. "Mistress?" Dobby asked in concern, pulling on his ears at the sight that greeted him.
"Go away, elf," Lucius sneered.
Dobby narrowed his eyes. "Master has hurt Mistress!"
With a growl, Lucius started towards the elf but was thrown back and into the wall by a snap of Dobby's fingers. He slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Dobby immediately began banging his head against the wall. "Bad Dobby!"
"No, stop Dobby. You helped us, thank you," Narcissa said, grabbing Draco into a hug. "We need to leave before he wakes up." She told the elf, who had stopped punishing himself.
"Where to, Mistress?"
Other house elves began popping into the room, ones who were only loyal to Lucius.
"Hogwarts!" Narcissa's whispered to Dobby. With a snap of his fingers, the three of them were gone.
HP
Severus received a message that he was needed in the infirmary and he practically ran there. Was it Harry? Had he been hurt? Hagrid better not have let his child near any dangerous animals... He burst into the infirmary, shocked to see a bleeding Narcissa and scared looking Draco.
Poppy was busy gathering vials. "The cuts won't close. They keep reopening." She said in her usual brisk tone which was laced with concern.
"Severus," Narcissa whispered as he gently looked at her cuts.
Knowing what had caused them, he waved his wand over them while quietly murmuring the proper healing spell. He did it over and over until the bleeding stopped and wounds healed.
"You're familiar with the spell that hurt her," Poppy commented as she handed Narcissa a Blood-Replenishing Potion. "Drink that now, dear and then I'll give a pain reliever. And perhaps a Calming Draught would be advisable."
"No, I'm fine," Narcissa said, shaky and pale. She reached out and pulled Draco to her side. "Dragon, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Draco said softly. But he wasn't. He was scared and confused. His father had threatened to kill them and had hurt his mother. He wanted to kill Harry, who was just a kid like Draco was. He didn't understand.
"What happened?" Severus asked.
"We need help," Narcissa admitted. "Lucius attacked us." She glanced at Draco and ran her hand through her hair soothingly. "He found out the truth about Molly's child care."
Severus tensed. "He knows that Harry attends, then?"
"Yes. He's ready to become the next dark lord." Narcissa closed her eyes. "Severus, he wants to hurt Harry as a way to prove himself."
"He wants to kill him!" Draco burst out, tears shining in his eyes. "He wanted me to watch and he said he would kill us...why? He acted like he didn't care about me at all..." The tears fell.
"Oh, Dragon," Narcissa said, hugging him. "I'm so sorry."
Severus immediately sent a Patronus to Hagrid, telling him to bring Harry back to the castle. He doubted Lucius would be stupid enough to come to Hogwarts and try to abduct a child but Severus wasn't taking the risk. "You'll need to tell Albus," He said, pacing. "We need to know what Lucius is planning and Albus has contacts that may be able to find out. You two should stay here at the castle until we can ensure your safety."
Narcissa looked concerned at that and opened her mouth to say something when Harry entered the room.
"Dad? What's going on?" Harry asked, confused as to why he couldn't stay outside. Hagrid had ignored his questions when he had insisted on bringing him back to the castle. He blinked when he saw Narcissa and Draco. "Oh, hi." His eyes widened when he saw the bloody cloths near Narcissa. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"Mrs. Malfoy was hurt, but she's fine now," Severus said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezing lightly.
"I'm glad you're okay, Mrs. Malfoy," Harry said politely. He looked curiously at Draco, who looked like he was trying not to cry. "Draco?"
Draco turned away, not wanting to be seen crying.
"Why don't you go to our quarters, Harry," Severus said.
"Why couldn't I stay outside?" Harry asked, confused.
"I'll explain later," Severus said. He looked at Pomfrey. "Poppy, would you mind walking him there?"
"Not at all," Poppy said. "I'll get the Headmaster as well."
"Dad, I know how to get to our quarters," Harry said in exasperation. What was going on? "I don't need to be walked there."
"Do not argue with me," Severus said sternly. "Do as I say and without the cheek."
Harry flushed at being scolded in front of others and without another word, walked out of the room with Poppy.
Severus sighed and ran a hand over his face. He knew Harry was confused and he hadn't meant to embarrass the boy. However, he would have to wait to talk to his son as the situation with the Malfoys needed to be addressed. He turned back to Narcissa. "You need to leave him." He said seriously.
Narcissa gave a hollow laugh. "Don't you think I've wanted to? For years, Severus. I've wanted to leave him for years. But he said he would kill me and Draco if I tried. I knew if we tried to disappear, he would find us. He has connections everywhere. But now he's trying to kill us anyway."
Draco whimpered and pressed his face into his mother's side.
"I'll help you. He won't hurt either of you," Severus said soothingly. "Albus will help us too. You and Draco will be safe."
Poppy returned with Dumbledore and Narcissa held her son close as he listened to Severus tell him what had happened. Dumbledore listened to Narcissa's story and then sent a message to Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was an Auror and had been an Order member. "Do not worry, Narcissa. You and Draco can stay here at Hogwarts until we know what Lucius is up to." He promised.
"He will just come here," Narcissa said wearily. "Your students could be endangered if he gets angry."
"I won't let him hurt anyone here," Dumbledore said seriously, his magic rippling in the air around them at his words.
Narcissa was reminded how powerful Dumbledore was and why even You-Know-Who feared him.
"Thank you, Albus," Narcissa whispered.
HP
As it turned out, Narcissa didn't need to worry about Lucius coming after her and Draco. Several hours later they got word from Shacklebolt that Lucius Malfoy and fellow death eater, Corban Yaxley, had killed each other in a bid for power.
TBC: