Author's Note: WOW thanks for the reviews! Can't tell you how much I love you guys XD Okay this chapter is finally showing something being done and not just Harry's thoughts and space-out moments. Get ready for some action, and don't forget to review ^^
Acceptance
Chapter 23
Wits End
I turned the doorknob and stepped into my room, where I saw Draco on Ron's bed. I guess they had been having a conversation while I was gone. "Hey, welcome back, mate. Now take this little poof back to your bed, he said he wouldn't go to sleep if you didn't return," Ron said, ruffling the little Slytherin's blond hair. Draco giggled at this comment and waved his hands at me; it was his way of telling me to carry him. I shook my head, laughing, picking him up gently and hugged him.
"Draco missed Harry! Did scary bushy beardie do anything bad to Harry?" Draco asked, eyes wide with worry. This made both Ron and I laugh. After so long, the poor little guy was still afraid of the headmaster's harmless beard. I still couldn't understand that despite all the time I spent with him. After reassuring him that the beard did not harm me, Draco beamed with happiness and finally agreed to turn in.
"Sweet dreams, baby," I said, kissing his cheek. Draco blushed a little as he closed his eyes. Oh hell, I still couldn't resist his cuteness… Before I could allow myself to space out in dreamy thoughts, I quickly changed into my pajamas and climbed onto bed. "Goodnight, Ron," I called out to my best friend. That's when I remembered…
"Oh yeah, Ron, I need to tell you something. It's about Draco."
"What about him?"
"Snape said the potion's almost ready."
"What po- Oh…right…THE potion. Damn, so soon?"
"I know…Dumbledore advised me to tell Draco the truth before letting him drink the potion. But…oh god, you have no idea what I'm going through now. No one understands…"
Ron slammed his fist into the table, startling me. I was amazed Draco didn't wake up. But why the hell did Ron get so…
"You see, this is your problem, mate. You barely tell us anything these days. You keep everything to yourself, get super freaking stressed and then say 'nobody understands me'. Well, you know why nobody understands you? Cuz you don't tell us anything, you bloody git! Hermione told me you'd open up eventually, but I don't know how long that's gonna take, mate. If you still regard me as your best friend, you bloody well tell me what's going through that thick skull of yours right now," Ron snorted in a huff. I gulped. Okay…guess he's right…
"So…um…I know we've been anticipating the arrival of the potion for quite a while but now that it's actually almost ready, I kinda don't wanna…use it…"
"Are you serious?"
"Hell yeah. Haven't you noticed? Almost everyone prefers little Draco running about, being all friendly and lovable. Everyone likes him better like this. Everyone thinks he's cute. Everyone loves him in this state!"
"Why are you speaking for 'everyone'? Just admit it, YOU like him better like this, YOU think he's cute, YOU LOVE him in this state. And you're confused cuz you don't wanna let go of this newfound treasure, but you know it's unfair for him to be stuck having to grow up from 3 years old all over again, am I right?"
"Absolutely, hit the nail right on the head, mate."
"See? Don't you feel better now that you know I actually UNDERSTAND what you're going through? Just want you to know that Hermione and I…we're always going to be there for you. If you're having trouble making decisions, we might offer our suggestions, but you still get to make the choice in the end. It's just that having friends around makes life a hell lot easier, don't you think?"
"Yeah…Thanks, Ron. Sorry I didn't tell you earlier. So what do you think I should do?"
Ron seemed lost for a moment, but soon he suggested that we find Hermione tomorrow and the three of us could discuss. Ron and Hermione were right. I did need them. I seriously couldn't ask for better friends…
~~~THE NEXT DAY~~~
I walked out of potions class, heaving a sigh of relief. I had managed to convince Snape to babysit Draco for today, while my friends and I would be talking about my sticky situation any time we had the opportunity to. Eventually, we resorted to note passing in class. I thanked my lucky stars that most Hogwarts teachers were old coots who wouldn't notice little notes getting passed around:
Potty: Guys, quick, help me think of wad to do…
Wee: I think Ranger has something to say about dat
Ranger: Potty u r a dumbass, u noe dat?
Potty: thx Ranger
Ranger: I can't believe u were even thinkin abt not letting MALuminiumFOY return to his normal age. It's rly not fair for him. U want him to grow up without ever knowin d truth? Dumbledore Dumbodoor's right. I think u btr tell him the truth but only when he gives his consent, den we can giv him d potion
Wee: That's fucking stupid she has a point, mate
Potty: I don't rly wana let go, u guys. MALuminiumFOY has become a rly important part of my life of late, I'm sure u guys noe dat
Wee: duh, d whole bloody skool noes
Ranger: Wtv it is, tell MALuminiumFOY the truth. He deserves to noe, okay? Dun worry, nothing bad is gona happen
Potty: Oh crap I think Flitwick saw the note, one of you keep it, we'll talk later
I saw Ron attempt to shove the magical note into his pocket, but failed miserably. I slapped my forehead when the note flew out of his grasp and under Neville's shoe. "Accio magic note," I whispered, eyeing the professor in case he caught me. Success! I kept the note in my rugged bag and stole a glance at my friends who chuckled, then we all acted as if nothing happened.
After class, Hermione and Ron took lots of time to knock some sense into me and eventually we decided how we were going to do things from here on. Honestly, I had no clue what the outcome would be, but it was worth a shot. And if we failed, things could get ugly…
"So how have you been, young Malfoy?"
"Draco happy, professor!"
"Potter doesn't bully you at all?"
"Of course not, Harry love Draco…But Draco loves Harry more hehe…Draco wins!"
Snape held back a laugh, teenage Draco never liked to lose. Wow, apparently little Draco didn't like losing in weird situations like this too. Snape never thought of his favorite student as one who took joy in loving others. At least, he never projected himself to be that way. The potions master let out a sigh; as much as he wanted his favorite Slytherin back, he knew he sure as hell would miss the little one sitting in front of him.
Draco had been hanging around Snape's office the whole day, and I had yet to pick him up. Every step I took brought me closer to the room, and also closer to an outcome that I myself was unsure of. I had been having a vision in my mind that Draco would misunderstand and do something foolish. He better not…or I would never forgive myself. Well, whatever happens, I'm here now. I pushed through the door and saw something that made my hair stand on ends.
"Hello, Potter, here to take Draco back?" Snape greeted me. I brushed his greeting aside, I was more focused on Draco. What the hell was he…
"Dray…What are you drinking?"
"Mmm...Professor said I'd like it, and it tastes really good! Wanna try, Harry?"
I froze. I think I actually stopped breathing. Snape wouldn't have given him the potion without my consent, would he? He knew how serious of a situation this was to me! What the fuck was going on? Why did no one tell me the potion was ready? How the hell could he…?
"WHAT THE HELL, SNAPE! HOW COULD YOU?"
"I don't know why you're getting so worked up over me giving young Malfoy a little-"
"You shut the crap up and listen. Ron, Hermione and I had been planning ALL day on how to break news to Draco, you have no right to just give him the potion like that! I know Dumbledore probably told you I didn't intend to tell him, but I changed my mind okay? We were gonna reveal everything to him before giving the potion! You freaking asshole! You ruined the plan!"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, POTTER? THIS IS JUST APPLE JUICE!"
"YOU GO TO HELL YOU- wait…what?"
"Yes, Potter…What Draco is drinking now…is apple juice…"
My shaky finger was still pointing accusingly at the fuming potions master, but I dropped it down gradually, feeling the awkward tension building up. So…Draco wasn't drinking the potion…I heaved a sigh of relief.
"Harry…?"
The shy little voice spoke up, breaking the silence. "Is there something Draco dun know that Harry was gonna tell Draco?"
Snape and I exchanged nervous glances. If I did plan on hiding the truth from the young Slytherin, my shouting at Snape would have given me away. But I wasn't planning to hide, I was going to tell him today. But now, even if I yearned to back out at the last minute, I couldn't possibly… Draco knew something was up…and I had to tell him…now.