Chapter Four : Getting Comfortable
Words: 2626
Author Notes: Enjoy it! It's getting fluffy :3 And please review!
As soon as they entered the Hospital Wings they were met with a flustered Madam Pomfrey bustling toward them.
"I put them in sleeping charm, Pomfrey. I didn't want to risk levitating them."
"Lay them down on a bed, any one will do. Gently now!" Madam Pomfrey instructed.
Hermione and Pansy laid the boys in a bed close to the window, side by side. First she cast a complex spell, wand flicking, swishing, and whooshing. It flashed blue. Satisfied with the result, she casted the usual spell that highlighted any injuries and so on. This too turned the satisfactory blue. Madam Pomfrey began to cast spell after spell, colourful lights danced, shaping into graphs, charts, or almost nonsensical looking words. As hard as the four bystanders tried, only she knew what all the wand waving was for and what it meant. Once she finally finished Harry's diagnosis, she started on Draco, the nurse repeated the same procedure.
After a few minutes, she finally finished. "Very well, they are both perfectly fine. Now had a broken nose. As you can see, I've already fixed it but it I doubt he broke his nose by falling, who did this to him?"
"It was Weasel, he pushed Draco to the floor." Pansy supplied.
Madam Pomfrey glared at Ron a moment before simply shaking her head. "Shame on you."
"Full report please Pomfrey?" Professor McGonagall interjected.
"Harry and Draco both are 3 years old. They won't remember anything except for the basic things, for example, their name and age. If we are lucky, they might remember their parents or their life. They are only 3 years old, we can't except much. They are still toddlers and not aware of their surroundings."
"Very well. Can you watch them while I'm arranging where they should stay? We cannot risk any outsiders knowing about this."
"Of course Minerva, I'll look after them."
"The three of you, to my office." She bellowed over her shoulder as she stalked away.
"House unity."
Pansy rolled eyes at the password to the headmistress office.
The office was not really different from when Dumbledore was alive. The portraits covered most of the wall and Snape's portrait glared at them in distaste though just opposite to him Dumbledore watched, eyes twinkling under half-moon glasses, a bemused expression painting his wizened features.
"Ms. Granger, explain." McGonagall demanded.
Almost instantaneously, Hermione spouted every single detail of the debacle in the potion class. Ron spent the time fidgeting his school robe while Pansy checked her manicured fingers, looking bored.
"I'm very disappointed of you . Not just you attempted to hex but you also pushed him. Luckily he didn't have any concussion.
"I didn't mean too." he whispered.
"Well, the damage is already done. You will be serving a month of detention with Mr. Filch and you are not allowed to use the special bathing facilities in your common rooms until I decide you have learnt your lessons."
Pansy snickered at this, looking much interested now.
"But Professor, it's not fair! I'll accept the detentions, but I want to use the tub! You don't get fancy soaps and bubbles in normal tubs!" Ron protested.
"My decisions are final ."
Ron sighed in defeat and continued "Ms. Granger. I'm afraid you will have to take care of both Mr. Potter and Mr. Potter for the time being"
"Yes professor. I will do as much as I can." Hermione beamed at the idea of being the one who take care of them.
Pansy snapped "But Draco is my friend. I can take care of him. You're not seriously considering letting a mudblood to watch over him!"
"Ms. Parkinson! I will not tolerate that sort of attitude and especially that sort of language! Do you think you can take care of a toddler without breaking your precious nails?"
Pansy scowled at this, she would never accept the fact that she knew nothing about toddler though it was not really her fault. Being a pureblood, things like raising children were left to the house elves. Still, Draco was her friend, she would do anything to be the one who took care of Draco.
"Now that everything is settled, I'll have the house elves change Mr. Potter's room to be suitable for toddlers. I'm afraid you will have to take Messieurs Potter and Malfoy to class, Ms. Granger. I hope they won't cause any trouble. Now off you go, it is dinner time."
Half-way to the doorway. Professor McGonagall added "Don't forget to pick them up after dinner."
"I'll carry Draco." Pansy, who insisted to come along with them, lifted the still sleeping blonde-haired toddler and cradled him in her arms.
Hermione and Ron glanced at each other. Confusion mixed with tenderness and concern swam in Pansy's eyes when she looked at baby Malfoy.
"Let's go get Harry before he wakes up."
Hermione gently picked up the tiny boy and settled him on to her hip. Madam Pomfrey already transfigured both Harry and Draco's robes to their sizes.
They walked to their common room with complete silence. The moment they returned, the common room exploded with a barrage of questions.
"How are they?"
"Nothing works?"
"What happened?"
As the three eighth years were bombarded with questions, the toddlers in their arms started to move. Pansy whipped out her wand and casted silencing charm around the two toddlers.
"I am tired." Pansy's voice cut through the pandemonium like an icy dagger, her face was dark. "So, I suggest you make way for me before I hex you into next week." The small crowd of people split through the middle like the Red Sea and she stalked through the opening, clutching the bundle in her arms tightly as she made her way up the stairs.
What was once Harry's room was now very much a nursery. Two cribs stood in the centre of the room, atop a moving knitted rug. The carpet was overly fluffy, even in the play pen in the corner. The play pen had a low table was piled high with colouring books and colorwands, shelves filled with children's books as well as Harry's old school books. On another side of a room sat a old, plush rocking chair by a crackling fire.
"Let's make a deal Granger. I'll help you to take care of Harry as long I can watch Draco as well."
"But Professor McGonagall said I have to look over them!" Hermione protested.
"Don't be daft, she didn't mean all by yourself and it's not like I'm not going to separate them or take them away from you. Even though you are their guardian you're going to need help. How would you take care of them when you're busy with Head Girl duty? I'm just being a good samaritan."
Ron snorted. "All you care about is Malfoy. Who knows what you'll do when we we're gone? What if you poison Harry?"
"And risk myself being thrown to Azkaban? I think not. Draco needs me as much as I need him. Now it is getting late, I'm going to bed. I'll be back in the morning." With that Pansy stalked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Hermione stared at the door. What did she mean with they needed each other? Were they in some sort of relationship? People should have known if they were together. Plus, the way Pansy looked at Draco when she held him in her arms didn't make sense. It was all too confusing. Either way, she could use the help.
"Um, Hermione? I think you have to change them."
"You are going to help?"
"Uh...I-I'm tired too." Ron sputtered before dashing out the door.
"Figures." Hermione rolled her eyes and got to work. She found toddler's clothes in the wardrobe, there were both wizarding and muggle clothes. She pulled out two white shirts and two diapers.
"Okay guys. You're gonna regret this as much as I do soon." After changing the boys into far more comfortable clothes, Hermione cast a charm that would alert her if the children woke up and went to her own room next door.
Green eyes fluttered open as morning ray's shone through the nearby window. The messy haired boy sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking around. He heard something shift beside him and turned to see Draco sleeping in another crib. The sunlight formed ring like halo around the platinum blonde's head. The memories of last night played in his mind as he edged closer to the end of the crib and upon inspection, he found there was no longer blood on the Draco's face.
"Dwayco, wake up." He whispered, he hated being alone.
Draco mumbled in his sleep and turned away from him.
"Dwaayyyco!" He called again, far louder than last time. There was no response and Harry grew impatient. Grabbing the first thing within his reach, which happened to be his pillow, Harry threw the fluffy object towards his friend. "Dwayycoo!"
The grey-eyed boy sat up immediately. Startled and more than a little shocked, Draco began to cry.
Harry panicked. He stood up, pushing his face against the bars of his crib in attempt to get closer to the crying blonde. "Dwaayco? Dwaacyo, Harry sowwy! Draawyco no cry!"
"What is going on here?" The same bushy-haired girl from yesterday bustled over to his sobbing friend and picked him. She rubbed circles his back with her thumb and soon Draco's cries subsided.
Harry curled into a small ball. " Hawwy sowwy, Hawwy jus' want Dwayco to wake up."
Hermione sighed and picked him up with her free arm, slightly surprised with how small they were. "It's okay Harry, just don't throw your pillow next time. You know, you aren't so different from your older self, I remember you threw pillow at Ron because he was snoring loudly."
Little Harry stared up at her, completely confused.
"Oh never mind. Anyways, we have to get ready! Then we can go to breakfast! Are you guys hungry?" Hermione cooed.
Harry and Draco nodded.
"Pancakes." Draco informed her, still nodding furiously.
Hermione chuckled. "Sure thing Draco."
"Wif ice cweam! Lotta of ice cweam!" Harry giggled.
"Okay, okay my two sweet little princes! But let's get you clean first"
The children were both splashing around sending water everywhere, playing with the toys that they discovered inside the toy box near the couch. A golden little snitch hovered in front of them and a couple of wizard figurines were floating inside the tub.
"Dwayco! Catch!"
Harry launched himself towards Draco, trying to catch the little snitch near his friend's ear. They both splashed into water, sending water all over the bathroom floor.
Hermione sighed and muttered something suspiciously like "Never thought dealing with two toddlers would be this hard. At least they are friends now!" Then a thought hit her. Dealing with these two mischievous rivals was hard enough, but friends? She hoped Hogwarts would be able to deal with the devious toddler duo.
"Come on, you two! We are going to be late."
Hermione looked down at her soaked robes and thought to herself "Ohh we definitely going to be late."
She spelled herself dry and dressed them with their shrunken school clothes.
"Hewmini. Why we hav' to weawr these. Dwayco hate it." Draco whined.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Not because of her mispronounced her name, but because even at three years old, he still whined over little things.
"You have to wear them because you are going to class." Pansy said from the doorway.
"Oh thank god, you are here! Can you get their backpacks? I already put things inside to keep them occupied."
"Who you?" Harry and Draco demanded simultaneously, eyeing the intruder suspiciously.
"You can call me Pansy. I'm going to help Hermione taking care of you."
"Panties?" Draco asked innocently. Hermione snickered at this.
"No Draco. It is Pansy. P.A.N.S.Y." Pansy said, picking up their backpacks.
"Okay done both of you. I'm going to fetch Ron. Come on."
"Umm, why do their backpacks have spidery humans, Granger?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's Spiderman, a muggle cartoon."
"Draco wouldn't approve all those muggle stuff."
"I think it was better for kids and anyways, I didn't choose them! Maybe Professor McGonagall found as good chance to overcome muggleborn prejudice."
Draco held Pansy's hand and Harry held Hermione's. As soon as they entered the Great Hall, every single person in the hall whirled around to stare at them. The great cacophony of noise that normally accompanied the Great Hall ceased to exist, replaced by furious whispering. Luckily Harry and Draco were too preoccupied watching the sight above them to notice the changes in their surroundings.
"Look Hewmini, the sky! Awe we outside?"
"Can't even talk properly Malfoy!? Oh you can't even walk straight." Ron snapped.
"Ron! We already discussed about this! And no Draco, the ceiling is bewitched to look like the sky outside."
Pansy, Draco and Harry were glaring daggers at Ron.
"We don't want you here!" Harry said his childish voice. He didn't like the red-head, he was the one that made Draco bleed!
Ron was utterly bewildered. It was like millions of knives stabbed his heart all at the same time. He didn't even know what it was that he was feeling, anger, betrayal, hurt, confused all at once.
"Harry..mate..." he pleaded
Harry huffed. Taking Draco's hand, he strode forward to the table Pansy was headed toward and flopped down next to her. Hermione and Ron whispered furiously for a few minutes before heading separate ways.
Smiling, Hermione walked towards them "So, what do you want?"
"No pancakes?"
Looking around, Pansy frowned "I'm afraid not, you both can eat mashed potatoes. They are easier to chew and swallow."
The boys pouted, looking a bit disappointed.
By the time they finished, Draco had peas in his hair and Harry's shrunken glasses had been drowned, now currently residing in the sea of unfinished potato. Their faces and hands smeared with mashed potatoes.
"Looks like most of their food ended up everywhere otherthan their mouths." Hermione muttered.
"Maybe it was a bad idea to make them wear school robes." Pansy said, eyeing the toddlers that were thoroughly coated in their own food. Ron was sitting at the far end of the table with Neville looking miserable.
Hermione sighed and waved her wand. The mess disappeared and Harry's glasses shot out of the mountain of starch, straight into Hermione's waiting hand. Another wand wave later, the glasses were sparkling clean too.
"Ish gone! Hermi..niny do it again!" Draco squealed, awed by the action. Harry was still inspecting himself for any stray potato.
"Come on or we are going to be late on your first class."
Hermione and Pansy helped them get up and put on their backpacks, which were charmed to be lighter. The boys skipped through the doorway, holding hands and the whole student body of Hogwarts smiled at the sight. No one had ever thought they would walk side by side without fighting.
tbc~
A/N: Any suggestions and comments are welcome! Please review! It'll make me sooo happy!