Author's note: check it out, i'm actually succeeding in making chapters longer than before! XD seriously though, the reviews needa keep comin, what happened to my loyal reviewers? As far as i remember, when i first started on this story i had abt 8 reviews per chapter on average D: come onnnnnn, i need a little more support please? Or I'll make Draco DIE! jkjk...i don't have the heart to do that...either way, hope u enjoy this chapter and PLEASE, for the love of god, REVIEWWWWWW!

Acceptance
Chapter 19
Deeper than that

Draco watched in fear as we fought. However, I barely paid any attention to that, my focus was on Zabini, the boy who hurt my baby Draco. I wanted him dead. NOW…

"Avada Kedavra!" was the only curse that escaped my lips for the past few seconds. I just wanted him to die. He didn't deserve to live. He was heartless to harm a child like that, even if it was out of possessiveness and some form of deep love which I failed to comprehend. But I was getting pissed off for not being able to hit him with my killing curse. With that, I abandoned my wand and lunged forward, aiming a fist at the Slytherin's face.

"GO TO HELL!" I bellowed, throwing multiple punches at the boy beneath me now. He made useless attempts to block himself from my blows. I was disgusted.

"You have the nerve to hide from rightful punishment, eh, Zabini?"
"Potter –ugh- I just wanted –ahh- to say sorry!"
"I don't want your apology! I want your LIFE!"

"Harry…stop…please…" Draco's timid voice was drowned out by my angry threats and Blaise's cries of protest. Draco was terrified at what he saw, without a doubt. "Stop…! Harry…it's scary!"

Blaise tried to point out what Draco was saying but I had my eyes fixed on him the whole time, beating the crap out of him. This guy was not going to live after I finish with him. It's high time these bastards realize not to mess with Harry Potter and those dear to him. I show no mercy to those who fail to oblige.

Just then, I heard a fairly loud thump. Sounds like someone had his head hit or something…Oh wait…Crap, it's MY head. I turned around to see Hermione furiously glaring at me, a scrunched up cardboard piece in her hand. I rubbed the back of my head and stared at her in confusion.

"Harry Potter, have you lost your marbles?"
"Um no, I don't think so? I keep them in a box down by the-"
"YOU DUMBASS! Why are you behaving like this?"
"Hermione, you don't understand! This asshole, Blaise Zabini, is the one who attacked Draco. You can't expect me to just sit here and watch him do it again."
"Oh, so you do realize that this is about Draco?"
"Duh, I always did."
"Then would I be wrong to say that you completely neglected him as he cowered in fear watching the boy he regarded as his loving caretaker behave so violently in front of him? Heck, were you even aware that he was present in this room? Or did you forget his existence? Seriously, Harry. Stop being so...idiotic"

I blinked and then it hit me. Oh god, I really did forget that Draco was in the room. He was there…the whole time… Shit, his impression of me must be ruined by now…

"Draco…" I stood up, completely ignoring Hermione and heading towards the bed. Draco looked totally scared, his little face was paling even more than before. "I'm sorry…for acting like that…Sorry for scaring you…but you know…I did that for you…"

Draco looked away for a moment before mumbling something. "What's that?" I asked. It was then that Draco said something that made me realize what an idiot I was.

"Draco heard everything…since the time Harry entered infirmary. Harry said Blaise attacked Draco for his own good. Now Harry saying…he scare Draco for his own good too…? Everything supposed to be good for Draco? Cuz…Draco dun feel dat way…"

Even though his statement wasn't making much sense, I realized, as much as I hated to admit it, that I was behaving like Blaise. Sure, we both wanted Draco to be ours. But little did we know that it would be at Draco's own expense. Our actions of possessiveness had hurt him, frightened him, maybe even disgusted him…

It seemed as if my blood had stop circulating and my heart had stopped pumping for a moment. I didn't mean to affect Draco so negatively, and of course I didn't mean to make him scared…Crap, I'm sounding like Blaise…I guess I really was behaving like a dick…

"Ah…Dray…I don't know how to tell you this. I know it's my fault okay? But really, I love you…so much…I didn't want him to hurt you anymore…"

I expected Draco to shun me off and never speak to me again, at least that's what teenage Draco Malfoy would have done, or so I thought. But once again, the innocent, little voice surprised me.

"Draco understand…Draco love you too Harry, but please dun…dun be so…rrr rrrr! Anymore okay?"
"Heh…You mean violent?"
"Yeah…"
"Of course… Anything for you, baby."

The room fell silent for a brief moment. Hermione smiled, seeing how I realized my mistake, and Draco was willing to forgive me. Blaise struggled to sit back up, blood oozing out from his mouth. His mind was filled with a sea of confusion. Malfoy liked Potter…Potter cared for Malfoy…how did this all happen…He's changed…

Draco held his arms up to me, asking for a make-up hug, which I delightfully gave him. He was my precious treasure, and I promised never to do anything rash that would cause him harm ever again. From the way he welcomed me to hold and hug him again, I knew that I was forgiven. That was indeed a blessing.

Blaise shut his eyes, face turning away from the sight that lay before him. He didn't like what he saw…well…most of it at least…With that, he slowly got up and came to a conclusion.

"Hey, Potter."
"Yeah, what?"
"I give up. You win."

"Win?" I raised an eyebrow. This was the first time I had ever seen a Slytherin back away from a challenge like that. "I thought you were desperate for him, now you're just giving up?"

"Don't act like you don't want me to give up, Gryffindork. Honestly, I loathe the fact that Malfoy has grown so attached to you. But…I love him anyway, and I always will. And I think you should know this by now; if you love someone, you want the person to be happy."

I looked from the speaker, to Draco, then to Hermione, wondering if they knew what was going to happen next.

"Malfoy was never truly happy with me. I could tell from the way he acted. This is actually…the first time…I've ever seen this different side of him. The little boy who just wanted to be loved by a special someone, and now that he's found that someone, he's a much happier person. I hate to admit it, but you, Potter, have already filled that empty spot in his heart. You changed him…but I guess it's for the better. I just want to say sorry again for what I did, I was being a jerk."

I had no clue how to respond to Blaise's speech, but I felt relieved that he had finally come to his senses. It was Draco who then broke the awkward silence.

"It's okay, Blaise!"

Blaise paused as he saw the cheerful face of the three year old Draco Malfoy smiling at him. He forgave me…? But why…?

"Malfoy…why?"

Draco tilted his head, slowly processing his thoughts. That seemed like a stupid question to him. "Why? Why wouldn't Draco forgive Blaise? Everyone deserve second chance!" Again, the adorable smile came. I could have sworn I saw Blaise blush…

"You…you really changed…You would never have forgiven me if you were your teenage self," Blaise mumbled as he inched his way toward us. I silently reminded myself that teenage Malfoy wouldn't have forgiven me either… Once again, Draco displayed a confused facial expression. He never understood when people kept saying stuff about his 'teenage self'. Hell he wasn't even HALFWAY there to becoming a teenager. I looked on, watching Blaise's every move in case he tried anything funny. Hermione simply pulled me aside so that the two Slytherins could meet without any other obstruction.

"Malfoy, you…you're the best thing that's ever happened to Hogwarts, yanoe that?"
"Nah…Draco not that important."
"Well, to me, you are."
"Thank…you?" Draco looked at me questioningly as I shrugged my shoulders, hinting to him that I had no idea where this conversation was going either.
"So, what do you think is the worst thing that's ever happened to Hogwarts?"
"Hmm…bullies…"
"Haha…that wasn't your answer last time."
"Okay…?"
"What about the best thing that's ever happened to Hogwarts?"
"That's an easy one. Harry, of course!" Draco beamed as he cheerfully clapped his hands and pointed at me. I grinned and waved back. Blaise's face fell upon hearing Draco's answer. Heh…I guess you really have changed, Malfoy…I made a wise decision giving up on you…

"Well," Blaise said clasping his hands together. "It's been a nice chat we had here, I'm glad you forgave me, Malfoy. If you guys don't mind, I'm just gonna…head back to class." I analyzed the Slytherin as he swiftly turned and left. He was disappointed, I could affirm, not to mention heartbroken. The kind side of me was attacking me with tinges of guilt for robbing him of the boy he loved, but it wasn't really my fault, right?

"Zabini looked as if he was about to cry or something," Hermione commented. She then turned to Draco and patted him on the head. The three year old was still confused and trying to piece images together in his mind to figure out what the hell just happened. I picked him up gently and cradled him in my arms as he snuggled closer, finally relaxed.

"Hey, Harry. I'm gonna go back to class. I lied that I was going to the bathroom when instead I came to check on you guys, so now I bet they all think I'm constipating on a potty or something. If I hear rumors of such, I'll have your head, Harry. Catch ya later!" With that, the bushy haired teen skipped out of the infirmary. "Doesn't Harry have class too?" Draco piped out. Actually I did, but unlike Hermione, whom I had ALWAYS ASSUMED was the goodie two shoes in our clique, I actually told the professor the truth that I wanted to visit the injured boy. Wow, that's a start…

"Nothing beats spending time with you, Dray," I beamed, running my fingers down his neck, tickling him in the process. He giggled but suddenly felt another pang of pain in his gut and groaned. I guess he was a slow healer. It's been so long since he came back with me to the Gryffindor common room, and all the other Gryffindors would ask me on a daily basis when he was getting discharged. Honestly, I had no clue. Draco certainly looked almost fully recovered on the outside, but he kept complaining about chest and stomach pains, so even I had no clue when he would be thoroughly healed. Madam Pomfrey had warned me about possible blood clots in his abdomen, but none had been discovered so far. I didn't want to scare Draco with the information I got, so I simply took it all in and stressed myself out every day worrying about his condition. In fact, I was getting really worn out with all this guilt and worry.

"Harry, Draco really meant what he said just now," Draco said softly, hands clasped over his aching tummy. I lay him back down on the bed and placed my hand over his, "about what?"

"About…Harry being the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts. Because it's true!"
"Really? Haha, what did I do to be given such a high and honorable status?"
"Harry took care of Draco. Harry love Draco. And that's enough to become the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts. To Draco at least…"

Ahh…this boy knew how to flatter a dude. No wonder he attracted so many girls in the past, as well as a handful of gays…myself included of course. Yeah, last time I was never on good terms with him but I had always paid abnormally close attention to him from afar. I should have known I was bound to fall for the badass Slytherin sooner or later. And waddya know? I really am in love with Draco Malfoy; the three year old one at least. But I guess it was that sort of parent-kid kind of love, not the boy on boy love. Nevertheless, I smiled, planting a kiss on Draco's cheek. Whatever happens, I'd love him now…with all my heart.