Note: I know the classes are a bit wrong, but since I already ignore HBP I think I can take a few more liberties with that kind of stuff. This is just a fic.

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Draco was sitting at the Slytherin table, frowning down at his breakfast. His mind had been concentrating on one person since last night, Harry Potter. Harry had revealed much about himself as a five-year-old and Draco found himself re-evaluating some of his opinions of the Gryffindor Golden Boy. He had barely slept last night, thinking hard on what it all meant to him. He also examined his motives for pranking Harry in the first place. Was he jealous of the sixteen-year-old's body? No, Draco didn't have anything to be jealous of in that department, and Harry's popularity wasn't exactly new. So, why de-age him? Draco had realised it during his morning routine that maybe it was because he was frustrated over the fact that Harry had become even more gorgeous than he already thought (that had come as a shock too) and had de-aged him to the point where it wouldn't be an issue. Of course, he had de-aged a little more, though Draco hadn't figured out what he had done wrong with the potion. He was now frowning thoughtfully down at his breakfast, trying to figure out when exactly he had become attracted to Harry (and yes, it was Harry now, though he wasn't sure when that had happened either. Gradually, he supposed).

"Oh, my poor Draco," Pansy whined. Draco had explained his "punishment" to the other Slytherins and also explained he needed Potter to like him so things went smoothly. The Slytherins had all smirked at this, most likely sure Draco was up to something more.

"Just… let it go, Pansy. I'll live," Draco sighed.

"Draco!" The Slytherin's heart jolted at the call of his name. He looked up to see Harry running up to him, a bemused looking Ron standing in the doorway to the Great Hall. The usual morning noise of the Hall gradually increased. Draco turned in his seat to face Harry, who stood looking up with wide excited eyes. "Did you know there's magic everywhere here? Even the pictures move!" Harry said, jumping up and down in his enthusiasm.

"Yes, I know," Draco said, trying to keep the smile off his face for the sake of his fellow Slytherins.

"Ron told me to come and get you because we have to sit over there," Harry said, pointing over at the Gryffindor table where Ron and Hermione were sitting. "He said I sit there too. How come you sit over here?" Draco opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly thought better. He knew he didn't want to go into an explanation on the houses of Hogwarts. He decided that he probably needed to sit with Harry anyway as part of the punishment. He rose from the table, ignoring the gasp from Pansy. He gave them all a stern look that made sure nobody commented, probably in fear that Draco would lash out at them for teasing him about his punishment.

"I'll explain later. Come on," he said. Harry grinned and they walked over to the Gryffindor table. Draco could feel the stares following them, but Harry seemed as oblivious to them now as a sixteen-year-old. Perhaps it was some kind of built in trait, Draco mused as he sat down and picked Harry up, setting him down on the bench beside him. Ron and Hermione looked at the pair suspiciously.

"He couldn't stop talking about you all morning, so I decided you deserve to sit here with him," Ron said, his eyes narrowing slightly, daring Draco to protest.

"He talked about me?" Draco said, not even noticing the challenge in Ron's eyes. Ron seemed to realise what he'd said and shrugged. Draco looked down at Harry who was grinning up at him.

"Apparently you've taken over as the "first friend ever"," he said, the bitterness only just palpable. Draco resisted the urge to snort loudly. He didn't want to argue with Weasley with Harry present. He turned his attention to Harry again. Just before he spoke, however, he took out his wand and cast a silencing bubble around the four of them. Hermione frowned.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because little Harry here has a tendency to reveal things about his past I'm sure not even you know about. And considering people are practically on the edge of their seats trying to listen to us, I think it was rather prudent," he drawled. Harry giggled suddenly and they all stared at him.

"You talk funny," Harry said between giggles. Draco felt very weird suddenly. Instead of being insulted by Harry's words he found himself grinning at the cute boy covering his mouth with his hands to suppress his giggles. The other two in the bubble exchanged confused glances.

"So, Harry. What to you want for breakfast?" he asked, effectively cutting off any further questions from the "Clueless Duo" as he called them (he had twenty galleons on them never getting together). Harry's eyes went adorably wide again, but he didn't say anything. He looked around the table, seeming quite unsure of himself.

"I can pick?" he asked suddenly.

"Well of course. What do you usually have?"

"Toast," Harry said simply, causing the other three occupants of the bubble to frown.

"You can't just have toast," Draco started, but realised it was probably pointless to point out to Harry that a breakfast consisting of just toast wasn't good for you. Hermione seemed to want to comment as well, but remained silent. "Well, how about some bacon?" Draco asked, gesturing towards the plate in front of Ron.

"I can have bacon!?" Harry exclaimed. Draco really wondered what the hell was wrong with the boy. He could resign himself to the fact that he was a wizard and suddenly in the middle of a school full of magic, but he gaped at the fact that he could have a full breakfast? Then again, Draco didn't know that strange stuff happened around Harry all the time, but that strange stuff of course never included Dudley not eating absolutely all of the bacon each and every morning.

"Yes, you can have bacon? You want some?" Draco asked, keeping the frustration out of his voice. Harry nodded excitedly and Ron handed the plate over to Draco without comment. Draco helped load Harry's plate, careful to get a range of food, some actually nutritious. "Now, don't eat too quickly. Your little stomach can't handle much if your not used to it… though I'm not sure how that works with the potion," Draco added, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. Harry nodded and dug in, munching on the bacon first. Draco was still lost in thoughts on how the potion worked when Hermione piped up.

"I think he would have the same characteristics of his five-year-old self, including his stomach, so it's probably wise not to let him eat too much," she said, sounding unsure on how to address Malfoy, but not about the information she supplied. Draco eyed her for a moment. Obviously she knew her potions, but that wasn't new. Why was she being almost polite to him though? He had never given her any reason to. Perhaps it was all because of Harry. Draco could actually admire her ability to stay composed for the sake of her friend. Very diplomatic and Slytherin actually. Draco decided to return the favour.

"You're right," he said simply, without the normal malice. Hermione's eyebrows rose for a second before she nodded and gave a small smile.

"How come you're so good with kids?" Ron asked, his mouth full of bacon. Draco really wanted to throw an insult, but again reminded himself that he was on Gryffindor territory. As a Slytherin he could adapt to any situation.

"I might be an only child, but we are a big family. For some strange reason I can keep all the younger children under control at gatherings."

"Yeah, I bet. You just like making them behave like little soldiers," Ron snorted.

"Ron!" Hermione chastised.

"What?"

"We were being civil for once and you go and spoil it," she lectured. Draco felt a smirk forming, but more from amusement at seeing the pair act like they were already married.

"Are they fighting about me?" Harry asked quietly.

"No, not at all, Harry," Draco said, putting a reassuring arm on the boy's shoulder. "They're just arguing over grow-up stuff. Nothing to do with you at all. It's actually quite amusing." Harry nodded and went back to his breakfast.

"What are you looking at?" Ron snapped at Draco suddenly.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. Draco couldn't help but smirk.

"Just wondering whether Mom and Dad will ever stop arguing. I believe you're upsetting little Harry," Draco drawled. Ron and Hermione instantly blushed. Harry started to giggle at them.

"He's red again!" he laughed. Draco chuckled and ruffled Harry's already wild hair. Ron and Hermione's eyebrows rose simultaneously, but Draco didn't notice. Hermione nudged Ron in the side.

"Ow, what was that for?" Hermione glanced pointedly at Draco who raised his own eyebrows. Ron looked like he wanted to protest, but sighed instead and looked at Draco.

"Sorry," he muttered and Draco's eyebrows went higher than ever before.

"Eh, that's ok," he stuttered. This certainly was new territory. He had just had an almost completely civil conversation with Ron and Hermione (Weasel and Mudblood! Some distant part of his brain reminded him). Draco shook himself, trying to rid himself of the strange feeling. He had even teased them with the Mom and Dad thing, and yet Ron had apologies. Teasing like that wouldn't have gone un-avenged at the Slytherin table. He also noted that he had yet to insult Weasley about his family, something he surely would have done yesterday. Then again Harry was a very big distraction. Draco looked down at the raven-haired little boy and smiled at the way Harry ate. He didn't eat in a formal manner that Draco had been taught, but he certainly was careful not to spill anything or become messy. No doubt because there wasn't any mother to swipe his face for him if he happened to play with his food a little, Draco mused. He was woken from his reverie by the silence bubble breaking. McGonagall stood over them, but didn't appear to be angry that they had placed the spell.

"Mr. Malfoy. You will be taking Harry to his classes and taking notes for him. Here is his schedule." She handed him a copy of Harry's classes and Draco didn't protest. He had known he would have to make sure Harry didn't fall behind. He wasn't that worried about his own work; it was only a week after all.

"Well, I'm off to Arithmancy… you can borrow my notes after if you like Malfoy," Hermione said. Draco blinked at her. Surely he had fallen into some alternate universe? Gryffindors really weren't that noble? Perhaps normally Draco would have sneered and insulted her, but considering the circumstances his Malfoy manners were quickly overriding any other reaction.

"Sure… thanks." Now it was Hermione's turn to blink, but she quickly recovered and nodded before she left.

"Bye 'Mione," Harry called and she waved at him. A pregnant pause followed as Draco tried to eat his breakfast for the first time.

"Bloody hell," Ron exclaimed suddenly. "You take Arithmancy too? How the hell can you stand it?" Draco was startled into a chuckle. What was with him?

"It is rather hard, but I do enjoy it for some reason," he said smoothly.

"I could never do all that work," Ron said shaking his head while looking at his breakfast. Draco decided not to press his luck and reframed from commenting at all.

"It looks like you have Care of Magical Creatures first today," Draco said, checking the schedule and grimacing at the thought. Ron saw it and smirked.

"Guess you'll finally have to pay attention in that class," he said. Draco sent him a glare, but without the usual bite.

"I'll have you know I used to pay perfect attention. It's not my fault he has the teaching skills of one of his blast-ended skrewts," he drawled. He expected Ron's anger to flare at the insult to his giant friend, but Ron, to Draco's great surprise, simply nodded knowingly.

"Yeah, he doesn't really have that teacher quality, but I can't drop the class. He's our friend." Draco blinked at him. So they actually did agree on something. Things were getting weirder it seemed. Draco found himself admiring Ron's loyalty, but quickly pushed that thought away.

"I'm full," Harry said, a smug grin on his face. Draco smiled at him.

"Good, and now you get to see some magic creatures. Would you like that?" Harry nodded enthusiastically. They all got up and left the Great Hall. Draco wondered briefly why Harry had been so quiet during breakfast. Little did he know Harry was very adept at staying quiet during meals.

xxx

The classes that day passed without much incident. Harry was quiet, albeit awestruck in every class. In a particularly boring History of Magic class, however, even Harry managed to be bored. Draco handed him some parchment and quill and showed him how to draw without breaking it. Draco found himself taking notes (yes, he and Hermione were the only ones besides the Ravenclaws who did this) and making nasty comments in the margins for Harry to read once he was aged. But even though they were meant to by purely nasty they ended up being slightly funny and directed more at Draco's predicament than Harry. Lunch was eaten quietly, Draco still at the Gryffindor table, as was dinner. After dinner the foursome left the Great Hall and Draco turned to go down to the dungeons.

"Draco, can't you come?" Harry asked, tugging at Draco's robes.

"Eh, I don't think that's a good idea, Harry," Draco said, suddenly remembering he hadn't explained the whole house issue yet.

"Why not?" Draco sighed and knelt down in front of Harry. How to explain that he would most likely be hexed if he entered the Gryffindor common room without a teacher?

"Well… you know how there are four tables in the Great Hall?" Harry nodded. "That's because there are four groups of students called houses. Whenever a student arrives at Hogwarts for the first time their house is picked and that's who they stay with when they're at school. Your house is Gryffindor and mine is Slytherin. Which means we sit at different tables and have different places to sleep."

"But you sit with me now," Harry pointed out, a little annoyingly.

"Yes, that's because I want to take care of you while you're still five years old." The moment Draco said it he realised it was true, but the thought was quickly gone from his mind. He didn't think on it again until much later.

"But… we're friends," Harry said, trying to understand. Draco nodded.

"Yes, Harry… we can be friends, but still be in different houses." Draco thought he heard Ron snort ever so softly behind him. "Now, you go with Ron. He's your friend too and he'll take care of you when I can't. Ok?" Harry bit his lip in concentration, glancing at Ron who nodded encouragingly.

"Ok… but…" Harry seemed nervous suddenly. Draco understood that the boy had trouble asking for things.

"What is it Harry? You can ask me anything you want," Draco said kindly, so kindly Ron and Hermione actually gaped at them.

"Could you carry me? Up the stairs? They're so high," Harry said softly and Draco smiled (he had been doing that an awful lot lately, but he hadn't really noticed).

"Of course." He quickly picked Harry up, mentally frowning at the skinniness of the boy and Harry clung to his neck. Ron opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione nudged him and they all walked silently up towards the Tower. When they reached the portrait they stopped. "Do you think Ron can carry you the rest of the way?" Draco asked, using Ron's first name easily for the first time. Harry looked back and forth between Draco and Ron. The redhead held out his hands welcomingly and Harry finally nodded and reached for his best friend. Ron took him, looking a little unsure, but started chuckling when Harry immediately started playing with his red hair.

"Goodnight, Harry… Ron, Hermione," he said (it was only manners after all). They blinked at him, except for Harry who waved enthusiastically, before nodding and saying goodnight themselves. Draco wandered back to the dungeons, lost in thought. How the hell did Harry manage to have even more of an effect on him now than as a sixteen-year-old? Admittedly Draco had always been preoccupied with Potter. Know thy enemy and all that, but this was certainly something else entirely. And since when did he become friendly with the other two thirds of the Trio? He found himself in bed, staring up at the canopy, thinking about Ron and Hermione. They had really pulled themselves together and been civil to Draco for the sake of Harry. Draco couldn't help but admire that; he had done it himself, though he claimed it was for more selfish reasons so that things would go "smoothly". Yet, he also found himself admiring other traits in the Duo. His focus had always been on Harry, and he realised he had mostly been ignoring the other two except for including them in his insults. He had always known Hermione was a know-it-all, but he hadn't realised she was so diplomatic and in charge. Draco smirked as he remembered all the times Ron had caved to her will. The redhead really needed to get with her so he could enjoy some of the benefits of listening to her all the time. And Ron… well Ron didn't seem so clueless as Draco had thought (aside from romance of course). Merlin! What was he thinking?! This was Weasel and Mudblood, nothing more! He was getting along with them solely for the reason of making his punishment more bearable. That was it! Draco drifted off to sleep, happy that he had cut off his line of thinking before he turned completely insane.

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Hope you liked the chapter!!! Please review and I'll update sooner!