Chapter Three

Harry rubbed his nose, the newest piece of tape holding the bridge of his glasses together curling and rubbing against his skin and his patience, his sticking charm wearing off. He really needed to get Hermione to teach him the spell she used. He'd often tried it but with little success.

He tuned out the grumble of Snape's newest complaints to the Headmaster. His bicep still throbbed dully from the Potion Master's tight grip. The Slytherin had dragged Harry bodily along corridors and up stairs to the HeadMaster's office, cursing everything from Gryffindors to idiotic teenagers and the Headmaster himself. His obsidian eyes had burned with a dangerous darkness as he had fumed and sped along the corridors, aided by long legs and probably getting some dark satisfaction from dragging the Gryffindor behind. Harry had only just managed to control his temper, mostly restrained by sympathy for the little one he carried. The kid had hidden his face the whole way, and his fear of Snape was evident. He had remained shy and subdued, clinging to Harry's robes as though he could trust no-one else. Harry hadn't yet had time to process how he felt about that.

They had been sitting in the Headmaster's office for hours, arguing, debating, and trying to make sense of what had gone on. Harry had adamantly refused to hand the child over to Snape, and the blonde had displayed an obvious refutal of any and all suggestions to leave his chosen safety in Harry's grasp.

His own Head of House had been in and out of the room over the hours, and was making enquiries with his year mates in their Common Room, having them to skip their morning classes, and now the Slytherin were missing their own afternoon ones, Harry supposed. She had recounted the almost unanimous account of the occurrence, filling Dumbledore in on what had happened.

She had even been to the classroom to investigate and collected Draco's robes and wand, along with both their bags and various other belongings, bringing them with her. The woman was in an almost frighteningly focused state which betrayed just how deeply serious a matter they were dealing with. There were so many implications and issues being raised that had not yet fully sunk in to Harry's still shocked state of mind. He was operating on the same version of autopilot which took over during his encounters with dark wizards; his mind focusing on working out what had happened and making sure Snape didn't get his slimy hands on the little boy who was at the centre of the whole mess, without his brain allowing him to get bogged down in fears and worries.

Harry tuned back in as Dumbledore spoke up, his tone conveyed that he had a theory.

"It looks like two almost identical-looking Potions must have been placed in the same robe pocket of whoever is responsible, and the wrong one ended up as an extra ingredient in Mr Potter's cauldron. The other potion, the one intended it seems for Harry, must have been ingested by Mr Malfoy at some point, perhaps during the course of his own potion's construction. Presuming of course, that you are still in the practice of insisting your students test their own potions."

The old man's eyes twinkled as he spoke to the fuming Snape, and Harry felt the odd urge to grin, despite the circumstances. In the tense seconds of silence, while Harry watched Snape fighting to say something but not, and while Dumbledore himself, seemingly oblivious, opened a desk drawer in what looked like an attempt to find that bag of pear-drops he had mentioned earlier, Harry felt the cause of the whole situation shift in his arms. The wide grey eyes looked up at Harry and spoke in a bewildered tone.

"But if you put extra ingredients in your potions it makes them go wrong."

The entire group stared at him as he looked at them, and then back at Harry.

"Did you put extra things in your Potion, Harry? Is that why you're in trouble?"

Harry looked down at the little person in surprise, and felt his eyebrows furrow.

"Well, no, not exactly."

"Draco, my clever boy, Harry's not in trouble. We're simply trying to sort out a problem together, that's all."

Malfoy looked like he didn't believe the old man speaking to him so softly, and pointed meekly to Snape.

"But Uncle Severus shouted at him, really really loud. And he had his wand pointed right at us too! Harry must be in trouble with him!"

The child's voice rose in emotion, and even before he'd finished he was shrinking back against Harry and eying Snape warily. His small hands were again fisted in the trim of Harry's robes as he stood on Harry's thigh and shuffled as far back as possible. Harry rubbed his back awkwardly to try and soothe him.

Dumbledore looked thoughtfully at the pair before raising an eyebrow at the obsidian Professor. Snape spluttered indignantly, his mouth opening and closing again, seemingly at a loss, or choked by his fury. Harry, yet again, would have found the image amusing under different circumstances.

"It's alright, Mal-err, Draco." he told the boy, who was trembling again, "Professor Snape was just trying to fix things, that's all."

The grey eyes were wide as the small mouth twisted.

"Was he going to fix me? I didn't mean to do anything wrong."

The small hands clenched tightly. Harry felt like he would drown in sympathy for the child.

"We know, Draco, we know, it's alright. You haven't done anything wrong." The boy looked only partially relieved, still staring timidly between them all. Harry drew him close.

"And nobody needs to fix you, you're fine just as you are."

He was trying to reassure the little boy who looked so close to tears, but of course, his efforts were thwarted when Snape spoke again.

"Do you usually deem people to be fine as they are when they're three years old again?"

Harry glared at the Professor and Malfoy buried his face again.

"Severus, my dear boy, i think Harry was merely meaning to console the child."

Harry nodded. The blue eyes twinkled, as the Headmaster looked towards the pair of students.

"Now, Draco, you told me that Professor Snape shouted loudly at Harry. Is that the first thing you remember about today?"

Malfoy peeked around the material of Harry's robes, and nodded slowly. Dumbledore raised a hand at Snape's stuttering.

"I just woke up, and it was really loud." whispered the trembling voice as Dumbledore nodded for him to speak. Dumbledore smiled slightly. Malfoy peeked a little farther, seemingly bolder.

"Really really, loud like… Like a Lion!"

Harry couldn't bite down on all of the grin that jumped to his lips at the child's use of the word. Snape looked a little green just at the mention of being compared, even just in volume, to the animal representing his most hated rival House. Dumbledore simply smiled a little more, and gave another nod.

"Like a Lion, you say. Interesting description, wouldn't you agree, my boys?"

Harry swallowed his grin and nodded solemnly, as Snape fumed silently.

"Everybody else was like Lions too." added Malfoy, seemingly eager to please the old man again after he had smiled so much at him. "Weren't they Harry? Like real live Lions roaring."

Harry grinned fully this time, looking down at the helpful grey eyes and nodding firmly.

"Some of them are, technically." he said. Draco's eyes grew rounder.

"Really? Real live Lions?"

Harry laughed, and was sure Dumbledore chuckled.

"Sort of." he answered.

Draco looked thoughtful, ready to ask another question as there came a knock at the door and McGonagall stepped back into the room. She cast a suspicious glance at the Headmaster, who simply continued to smile pleasantly, and nodded to Snape before settling her eagle gaze upon Harry, who smiled weakly in response.

"It seems none of Mr Malfoy's Housemates heard or saw anything regarding vials in their classroom today." she reported, and Harry was sure he heard the disapproval and perhaps slight disgust in her tone. Snape simply snorted, throwing her a glare.

"Whatever did you expect, Minerva? Members of my House do not make a habit of poisoning one another on a regular basis. Now, perhaps if you could properly question the other members of today's class, you'd find your culprit." he snapped, triumph glinting in his eyes as she bristled.

Harry couldn't help but think these two represented every member of their respective Houses, and the way they interacted around members of the other House. He glanced down at Draco, who looked up at him worriedly, shifting closer in a bid to hide better. Harry sighed.

"You're frightening him, Professors." he murmured quietly, interrupting as respectfully as he could, considering he was addressing his Head of House. With all eyes on him, he sighed again, looking helplessly down at Draco. Draco peeked out again and looked at Dumbledore, who looked thoughtful.

"Can we please just work out what we're going to do with him?" Harry asked the Headmaster, ignoring everyone else. "We're missing dinner." he added, cringing at how childish he sounded when something so huge had happened. But he hadn't had lunch, either, and tea and biscuits only went so far. He bet Draco was starving too.
Dumbledore beamed strangely.

"Of course, my boy!"

"Nothing need be worked out, Draco will return to Slytherin with myself for the time being, until a solution is found."

Snape's cold voice was dismissive, and irritated Harry like few others could. Harry was already opening his mouth to argue when Dumbledore held up a hand. He reluctantly snapped his mouth shut.

"I was aware that you would say that, Severus."

"Surely you don't think that's wise, Albus!" gasped McGonagall, striding forwards. Snape shot her a glare before rising to his feet to meet her.

"Mr Malfoy is a Slytherin, therefore belongs in Slytherin dormitories with everyone else." he spat. McGonagall rolled her eyes.

"He is not safe there in his current condition. Surely you must be aware there are students who would take advantage of his more vulnerable state?"

Snape sneered at her words, his glare landing on Harry as he spoke.

"I'm sure those students are not restricted to Slytherin House." he snapped coldly, causing Harry to growl out a reply.

"And I'm sure there are plenty more in Slytherin than anywhere else! Gryffindors wouldn't attack a child." he bit out, satisfied when the flicker of recognition glowed in Snape's eyes before being quenched.

"Wonderful idea, Harry!"

Harry halted, glancing at the Headmaster in a bewildered manner. Dumbledore merely smiled, and nodded contentedly, as though a decision had been made.

"Sir?"

"Gryffindor is a wonderful idea."

Harry realised what was being decided when Snape ground out a "No!"

Dumbledore simply gestured Snape to sit down, and waited till he had before turning back to Harry, or, more accurately, Draco.

"Draco?"

The small face turned in the Headmaster's direction but did not fully appear from Harry's robes.

"Until we can figure all of this mess out, we need to decide where you'll stay."

Draco looked from Dumbledore to McGonagall, to Snape to Harry and nodded slowly.

"Okay." he whispered meekly.

The blue eyes practically glittered as the Headmaster smiled softly at him.

"You'll have to be kept in the school, i'm afraid, so we have to decide whether to put you in the Gryffindor Dorms or in the Slytherin ones." Draco nodded, eyes flickering between Harry and Snape.

"Now, dear boy, do we put you with the Lions or the Snakes?" he smiled.

Snape got to his feet again.

"Headmaster! That is unfairly-"

"Quiet now, Severus. Draco, where would you prefer you go?"

Draco drew back against Harry and looked at all the eyes watching him. He trembled, and swallowed audibly before looking up at Harry.

"Are you a Lion, Harry?" his small voice whispered.

Harry smiled down at him a little, and laughed.

"Yeah, i'm a Lion, Draco."

Draco tilted his head a little, piercing gaze completely focused on him.

"But not a really loud wild one?"

Harry laughed again, a grin splitting his face.

"Not always."

He ignored Snape's sharp snort. Everybody waited as Draco turned towards the Headmaster, glancing timidly in Snape's direction. Taking a breath and drawing himself up, the mini-Malfoy addressed Dumbledore.

"I'd like to stay with my Harry Lion." he stated confidently.

Then his cheeks went pink.

"Please."

Harry could feel the triumphant grin winding onto his lips, but contained it as he looked at Dumbledore, whose smile was amused, and, Harry secretly thought, also triumphant.

"Very well, Harry, you'll agree to taking up Draco's care for the time being? He'll sleep in your dorm and you shall have him supervised well, yes?"

Harry felt his wide-eyed stare even as he hastily nodded and agreed, wondering how he had managed not to realise he'd have to babysit the mini Malfoy. Snape hissed as he strode towards the desk, leaning both hands on it as he glared at Dumbledore.

"The boy can't live in Gryffindor! He's a Slytherin!"

A sudden thought occurred to Harry in the mir that was his tangled thoughts, and he felt his jaw tighten. His eyes snapped to the Headmaster's.

"Something occur to you, Harry?" asked the wise Headmaster, and Harry heard it for what it was; a prompt, and encouragement. Harry smiled softly, holding his gaze as he answered.

"Draco's only three just now. You don't get sorted by the Sorting Hat till you're eleven."

The room went deadly quiet as Snape pushed off the desk and strode right up to Harry, who rose to his feet to meet his glare, Draco held close on one hip, the furthest side from Snape.

"Draco Malfoy is a Slytherin, Potter. He's a Malfoy."

Snape's tone was derisive, mocking. Harry bristled and merely stared back, emotion suddenly burning in his eyes as he drew his shoulders level.

"My Godfather was a Black. And a Gryffindor." he snapped.

Snape looked like he'd like to slap him. Or hex him, more likely.

"Potter-" his warning tone was cut off, however, with Dumbledore standing.

"Come now, my boys, we may still catch our dinners yet! Minerva?"

And with that, he dropped a paper bag in Harry's direction, Seeker instincts catching it and hurriedly shoving it in his robe pocket, as the three Professors turned to leave for the Great Hall. Harry shifted Draco on his hip and followed, suddenly nervous about all the eyes that would be upon him as they entered.

More so than usual, inevitably.