Author's Note: Wassaaaaaaaaap? Hope you guys have been enjoying the story~ I've been receiving more email notifications than expected regarding 'favorite story', 'favorite author', and whatnot, but barely any reviews! What's thiiiissssssssss? Come on, you guys, you can do better than that, I know you guys are reading, and I'd really like more reviews. Authors need inspiration to write their stories~ And where does the inspiration come from? Well a big part of it comes from you guys. If you don't wanna see this story abandoned just like the many others you've stumbled upon with the author going "Oh, I've lost the inspiration and I'm not gonna continue this story anymore", then pleeeease read and review ^^ It's been two hectic days of school despite it being the first two days of junior year, but hey, I survived TO WRITE THE STORY, so bring on those reviews 'kay? Behold. Chapter 7.
Acceptance
Chapter 7
Negotiations
I snatched the map away from Draco who looked shocked at my rough actions. "Sorry, Dray, let me just find something real quick…" Then I froze. According to the map, right outside my door, stood a pair of footprints, marked above them was the name 'Albus Dumbledore'.
Shit…What the hell is he doing outside my room?
KNOCK KNOCK.
Draco cocked his head and peered over my shoulder curiously.
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Who the fu-" "SHHH!" Ron had woken up to the knocking.
KNOCK KNOCK.
"Dumbledore's at the door, pretend to be asleep!"
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"Joke?" Draco tilted his head.
KNOCK KNOCK.
"WHO'S THERE?" Draco flashed a broad grin in the direction of the door.
"Draco this isn't a knock knock joke!"
"WHOOOOOO'S THEERREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?"
"Alohomora."
The door creaked open, and a tall figure appeared at the entrance. The moment Draco caught sight of a white chunk of hair below the man's chin, he did the most logical thing any three year old would do; cry.
Dumbledore literally jumped when he heard the loud wailing. Even Ron covered his ears.
"Hush, Dray…It's just a beard. It's nomal."
"HAIR! TOO MUCH HAIR! IT'S LIKE A BUSH! DWAYCO NO LIKE BUSH!"
"Harry, may I ask, what is the little Malfoy bawling about?"
"He's frightened of your beard, Dumbledore, sir."
Awkward moment…
I found that I had lost the ability to explain the situation here, but Dumbledore seemed to have already known what happened. He sat down on the bed beside me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and was about to say something when Draco began screaming about a bush in his face and Dumbledore backed away once more.
"Harry, could I see you in my office for a moment?" He began.
I nodded and told Ron to take care of Draco while I was gone. Draco clung onto my pants, squeezing his eyes shut. I bent down to pat him on the head, "be good, Dray. I'll be back really soon, Ron will take care of you for a while, okay?"
"THE BUSH will eat you up!"
"No, he won't, baby…I'll come back as fast as I can."
He slowly loosened his grip and finally released me, I followed Dumbledore out of my room. When I turned around, Draco was still standing in the same spot, head hanging low. I felt so bad for leaving him there while I was going off with the scary bush-beard man that he was afraid of.
With that, I shut the door and followed Dumbledore's slow but steady pace to his office, eventually entering the familiar room which I seemed to visit every year, just because I'm Harry Potter, and weird things always happen to me. In fact, I believe I'm the only student who has visited the office this many times.
"Sit, Harry," Dumbledore invited me to take a seat and I was nervous already. Maybe I should just recite the same speech I did to Snape…
"No, Harry I do not need to hear your long speech about protecting Draco."
"Did you just read my mind, sir? Because I can sue you for that."
"As much as I wish to say yes, I did not. In fact, I overheard your conversation with Severus this afternoon, a particularly loud conversation I must add. I would just like to know one thing, are you sure you can handle him on your own?"
Deep down inside my heart, I knew that I really wanted to take care of Draco. For these few years, although I seemed to have hated him on the outside, my heart was beating for him, and him alone. Seriously, how would anyone react to the famous goodie two shoes Potter having a crush on Slytherin ice prince? In order to keep my feelings under wraps, I had to resort to treating him like an enemy for so long. I had always longed to have Draco Malfoy by my side every day and night, if possible, I'd claim him as my own, but it was impossible. Now that I DO have the little Malfoy with me, I would definitely do the best I can to take care of him and be with him while it lasts. Who knows when Snape's antidote potion would be ready? Heck, Draco might revert back to his teenage self tomorrow for all I know. I want to take care of the boy. But CAN I?
"Professor, I don't think you understand how I'm feeling right now."
"Yes, Harry, maybe I don't. However, there are some things you have to bear in mind; Draco has been de-aged, your main mission now is supposed to be to find out how this happened and why. Let Severus work on the aging potion. You need to know that you are only a temporary guardian-"
"What are you getting at, professor…"
"Nothing…Nothing…I'm just saying," He took a breath. "Don't get too attached, young Potter. Keep your feelings at bay. When he goes back to normal, which he will, I promise, there's a strong likelihood that he will forget everything that happened, and become the snob you knew last year."
Oh God, I have a bad feeling that he knows…
"Forgive me for my straightforwardness, sir, but it seemed for a moment that you're saying I have feelings for Draco."
"Well, Harry, I hate to point it out but you have even started calling him by his first name."
"I do not have any feelings whatsoever for that useless prick! I'm forced to call him that because he's now an innocent kid, and it just sounds odd to call him by his last name."
"Draco isn't here to hear whatever you say now, is he?"
"…It just became a habit…" I gritted my teeth. "…sir…"
Dumbledore seemed to have sensed my state of panic and decided to dismiss the topic. I turned to leave, but before I could, Dumbledore entrusted me to go on the mission he mentioned earlier: find out how he got de-aged, and why. I personally entrusted myself to embark on another mission; I wanted to find out who the crap would punish the poor boy like that and I swear I would torture him till his internal organs spill out.
As I strolled along the corridor back to the Gryffindor common room, I recalled how Draco reacted to me asking questions about being deserted at King's Cross, and figured that if it posed as a problem then, I wouldn't get a different response now.
"How am I supposed to do this? I don't want to see him cry and throw a tantrum again…" I muttered under my breath. Finally I reached the door, and opened it. Ron was asleep, affirmed from the disturbingly loud snoring. But there, sitting in front of me, facing the door where I departed moments ago, was little Draco. His sleepy eyes were already half closed, but they lit for a few seconds when he saw me.
"Harry! You din't die! Dwayco happy!" he exclaimed with whatever energy he had left.
"Haha, I told you the bush man wouldn't do anything to me."
Draco's lips formed a small, adorable smile as his eyes began closing again. I stepped forward to pick him up, "Draco…baby…you shouldn't have stayed up just to wait for me…" I grinned as he nuzzled into my chest, why was he so irresistibly cute? Even at this age!
Seeing no further response from the young Malfoy, I slipped under the covers and laid him next to me. I hesitated for a moment, then decided to wrap my arms around Draco. He felt so soft and cuddly. My palms rested on his still swollen tummy, wow, the cupcakes were taking LONG to digest. I hope he doesn't feel any more pain... Yeah, I guess I was going to hug him to sleep. My little Draco… He's such a darling baby now, how did he become such a snobbish bastard before? Oh well, he's my snobbish little bastard then.
Draco began mumbling some inaudible words in his sleep, I only managed to catch the word 'love'. This led me to question myself if I really did love the little guy. I could just admit it, or I could just live in denial. Even if I did love him, no one needed to know that. I sighed, remembering I still had a task to accomplish.
"Oh, Draco…what am I going to do with you…"