Author's Note: oooo it's been a while since I wrote a long chapter. Well, it's about time! Here's one :D Finally, the long awaited return of Draco's parents! Or...parent at least... Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Please read and review! I love looking at you guys' reviews, honestly~ more of those would be nice ^^

Acceptance
Chapter 24
Enter, Lucius Malfoy

"Is there something Draco dun know that Harry was gonna tell Draco?"

The silence became almost deafening as no one spoke. I was still in a shock as to how I landed myself into this situation. According to how my friends and I planned, we were supposed to take things a step at a time; drop hints and finally tell him once he pretty much got the idea. But wow, this was just an unexpected blow in my face. I saw Draco starting to look nervous, and then…the familiar Malfoy scowl.

"HARRY TELL DRACO! WHAT HARRY HIDING?" He glared at me. I suddenly saw him as the intelligent teenage Malfoy and not the innocent little Draco. I knew he was already getting suspicious and his level of trust in me had dropped drastically. I bet he managed to piece bits of information, events and things we said that were weird, and found some sort of link by now. Sure, he was a little kid, but his mind…god, he was already freaking smart in his teens, for all we know, he was born smart. My theory was proved right when he spoke once more.

"Harry, Draco thinks he understands what been going on…"
"Well…what do you think?"
"Draco…not supposed to be three this year, right?"
"Correct…"
"Potion…Professor make potion so Draco can go back to correct age?"
"Right…"
"Then Draco just has one question. Harry tell truth okay?"

I bit my lip, having no clue what he was going to ask. "Why," Draco paused.
"If Harry knew about this all along, and if Ron and Hermione know too-"
"-Well actually everyone knows."
"…Wow…So if everyone knows…How come nobody tell Draco?"

Shit, I should have seen this question coming. Snape, who hadn't spoken a word at all since he mentioned the orange juice, decided to come to my rescue this time. "Listen, Draco. Harry's been having a hard time for the past few months. He just-"

"Let me handle it, professor," I decided against letting him speak up for me. Even if he was trying to help, I have known him long enough to know that he had the irrational tendency of turning praise into insult. And this only applies to me…Unfortunately. So before he could ruin my image any further, I decided to speak up for myself.

"Because, Draco. I was afraid you wouldn't understand, I was afraid that…once you found out what happened, you'd be so confused as to why you had to be de-aged and abandoned and stuff like that. I don't have ALL the answers, okay? All I know is the day I saw you at King's Cross, I simply had to take you in, care for you, protect you until the potion was ready…I never regretted that decision at all. I hope you don't regret placing your trust in me too…I know this is hard to understand but the reason I took so long to tell you the truth was because…well…maybe I just didn't want to let you go. I was so attached to you, I didn't want all the memories to go away. I was selfish…I wanted you to be mine forever. Screw it all, what I'm trying to say is… I love you… I'm sorry, don't hate me for hiding the truth from you, please…"

The look of disgust was written all over Snape's face, but it was mixed with understanding as well. Draco, on the other hand, looked at me, nodding as if he understood how I felt. But how could that be possible, I struggled with my feelings for months. It's impossible that a three year old could understand it all. Then again, this was Draco…my Draco…

"Harry…"Draco's voice dropped to a shaky whisper. "Draco will…never hate you. Draco understand." I lifted my head and looked into his honest, silvery eyes. He did understand. After all, he wasn't genuinely a three year old… But he really forgave me?

"But Dray, don't you despise me for not telling you what you should have known from the very beginning?"
"Harry was just worried for Draco, yes?"
"Of course, baby…"
"Then Draco have no reason to hate Harry. Never had reason. Draco love Harry! Forever and ever!"

I beamed between tears as I saw Draco jumping up from his seat and running towards me, hands open wide. I held my arms out, inviting the hug I knew was going to come. Soon, I found myself embracing the little Slytherin once more. I was definitely relieved and happy that he didn't hate me. Ron and Hermione were right; things would turn out fine in the end. But this wouldn't have been possible if Draco didn't react the way he did. Up till now, I was still stumped as to why he didn't despise me or bear any hatred towards me after all those mistakes I made that hurt him. Especially the Zabini incident…I could have sworn at that point that Draco would hate me for life, but he didn't. Things just didn't turn out to be as bad as I expected. Hmm…maybe I was just too negative a person…or maybe it was because Draco loved me as much as I loved him, and couldn't bring himself to hate me? Nah, how the hell could I see myself as someone that lovable… Even if Draco does love me, he'll never know how much MORE I am in love with him.

"Don't worry anymore, okay, Harry? Draco will be safe as long as Harry is here! Draco will drink potion if Harry wants, but if Harry don't want Draco to drink, then Draco won't drink!" Draco exclaimed, burying his face into my shirt. He was kinda crushing me, but I didn't mind. How could I mind having this adorable, little boy with me? (even if he was squishing the living soul out of me) I kissed him and wrapped my arms tighter around him. God knows how relieved I was to have him not hate me and still be so affectionate and loving towards me. ME; the boy who hid the truth from him. Hell, why was he so forgiving…?

"AHEM…" Snape coughed in the corner. Oh right, his existence had been completely ignored for the past few minutes. "If you don't mind, Potter, snogging in my office is strictly prohibited," the potions master shot us his usual glare. "We're not snogging, professor, he's freaking three." "Just get out of my office, Potter. I'll let you know when the potion is ready."

With that, he pushed me, with Draco in my arms, out the door and slammed it shut. I couldn't blame him. The scene between Draco and I was not something the average wizard would see every day. I smirked slightly as Draco attempted to knock on Snape's door to say goodbye, then carried him with me to the next class. There was still about ten minutes left to the end of lunch time, maybe we should just head back to the great hall to see if Ron and Hermione were still there.

"Harry, Draco wondering…"
"Yes, Dray?"
"Draco hasn't seen daddy or mommy for long time…does Harry know where they are?"

I gazed into his watery eyes, sensing tears about to fall. He was right, it HAS been a while since he last saw his parents. For me, I haven't seen my parents in years and I still haven't exactly gotten over their deaths entirely, and it's all fucking Voldemort's fault. Speaking of Voldemort…

"No, baby. I don't know where your parents are but I'm sure you'll see them soon…And…maybe I'll be able to confront your Daddy's professor and have a nice little chat with him about what he did to you," I said through gritted teeth. Hopefully I didn't frighten Draco, but I couldn't help the heat of anger brewing within me. I wanted to kill Voldemort. If not for him, Draco wouldn't have to feel so confused. But…if not for him, Draco would never have gotten de-aged and I wouldn't have been able to take care of him.

Draco gave a small frown and clung to me, eyes squeezed shut. I could feel my clothes getting slightly wet; my poor baby was crying. I stroked his back and whispered words of comfort to him as I made my way to the great hall. Somehow, whenever Draco cried, I felt as if I was responsible for it. Draco would look so sad, pitiful, and it made me want to apologize even though I wasn't the cause of his misery. Honestly, a lovable little child like him shouldn't have to experience sadness and tears so often. He should be running around, playing happily with his family and friends…

"Daddy," I heard Draco mutter. I ignored it, assuming he was simply sleeptalking or something like that. But then he repeated again, this time, louder, "Daddy."

"Draco, I'm not your Daddy."
"Nono, not Harry. Draco mean DADDY!"

I noticed Draco was suddenly sitting up in my arms and pointing to the back in awe. I spun around, careful not to drop the excited-looking Slytherin. My mouth dropped open when I saw a man approaching us. He resembled Draco quite a lot, except much taller, older, and err…longer hair, which somehow wasn't as 'scary' as Dumbledore's beard.

"Potter…" Lucius Malfoy started, looking from Draco to me. "What are you doing…holding my son like that?"
"Um…Well I- you see, Mr. Malfoy…I actually- I was-"

Crap, I was stuttering like mad. This was seriously a moment of mixed emotions. Draco was just asking about his parents a moment ago and voila, speak of the devil, the man was here. I guess Draco would be happy to see him, but what did he want? Was he here to take Draco back? Did he not like how Draco and I appeared so close? Shit, he didn't even know I was his caretaker…

I yelped as the stern-looking man stepped forward, arm stretched out towards us. I was about to back away in protest, but it turned out I didn't need to.

"Draco Malfoy, you know you're not supposed to sit like that when someone carries you. Where has your manners and etiquette gone?" came the astonishing remark. Draco held back an embarrassed giggle as his father prattled on and on.
"And look at that hair! Good god, what a disgraceful mess. You should know better than to – holy crap is that a tear stain? What has Daddy been teaching you, Draco? Malfoys DO NOT cry!"
"Um…sir?" I blinked my eyes in confusion, expecting to have been hit or have Draco snatched away from me or something. The older Malfoy then sighed and bent over, "look, Potter. Dumbledore told me what you've done. I've gotta hand it to you, I'm really amazed at the fact that my son is still in one piece. I'm pleased to see he's looking rather well."
I raised my eyebrows, still in quite a state of confusion. Didn't he just mock how terrible of a state his son was in…? Now he says he's looking well. God, Malfoys are so unpredictable…

"He's such a bloody handful… I was afraid no one would take him in, and I was starting to fear that leaving him at King's Cross was a bad idea. But then I got wind from Dumbledore that a certain famous wizard was willing to bear the responsibility of caring for my son."

So…Dumbledore already knew of my decision to take Draco with me to Hogwarts from the very start. Figures, nothing ever escaped the old man. But I was still quite lost. Why was Lucius Malfoy here, how the hell did he get here, and what did he want…?

"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Malfoy but um…you're not here to take Draco back, are you? Because…the ageing potion isn't exactly ready yet."
"Ageing potion? Goodness, you're really planning to age him back, are you? All the effort my wife and I had put in to this protection plan would go to waste if you did!"
"But this isn't fair to him!"
"It's fair as long as he's protected from the Dark Lord!"

"Daddy, Harry, don't fight!" Draco exclaimed, squeezing my hand. This made me remember my promise at the infirmary not to be aggressive or fierce in Draco's presence, and I stopped arguing. We'd have to take this 'discussion' somewhere else…

Lucius seemed to realize he had frightened his son and toned down a little. He was slightly hurt by the fact that Draco was still clinging to Harry and not excitedly running to him after not seeing him for such a long period of time.

"Well, then why are you here, Mr. Malfoy?" I asked, trying to maintain respect for the man. Draco looked at his father with curiosity glinting in his eyes, waiting for an answer as well. I nearly jumped when Lucius Malfoy suddenly went, "SHIT!" I could have sworn Draco lifted his hands to his ears upon hearing the loud, megaphoned version of the swear word.

"I need to see Dumbledore immediately, this is an emergency, Potter, I don't need any excuses like 'oh I'm going to be late for class' because screw classes. We've got more important things to worry about. The Dark Lord is planning something, I don't know what, but he's furious that Narcissa and I have hidden Draco. I sense trouble brewing and my son's life is in potential danger, so is yours, but screw your life, MY SON's life is going to be on the line should the Dark Lord successfully infiltrate Hogwarts. So, take me to the old coot now."

I wasn't sure if I was offended by the statement about my life not mattering or if I was in extreme shock by the sudden fact that Voldemort could be coming to Hogwarts. Draco's life was in danger? Shit, no! I couldn't let that happen! Even if Draco's father was being a rude bastard to me, he was still Draco's nice, loving father…somewhere deep down inside that he probably wouldn't show me, I guess…and I was going to help him. Help us, rather. Or more importantly, help Draco. I knew we shouldn't lead strangers to Dumbledore's office, let alone freaking death eaters. But this was an emergency…right?

"Daddy, what happening? Why Daddy talk so fast?" Draco waved his short little arms frantically. When he got no response and noticed his father staring at me with a hysterical look on his face, he glanced up at me. "Harry, what's going on?"

"Well, Draco…" I said hesitantly, then turned my attention to Lucius Malfoy. "Looks like we're going to pay a little visit to Dumbledore."

Draco gulped and buried his head in my chest once more. Yup, we were going to see the scary bush beardie soon. I nodded at the older Malfoy and led the way as we sprinted up a flight of stairs. God knows what's going to happen next…