Author's Note: Yoyoyoyo! It's awesome to see more of you favoriting and following this crappy excuse of a story :D Please review more too! A big thank you for those of you who did once again, love you guys loads ^^ Anyway, I'm on a one week vacation in ShenZhen China now…Kinda boring…ahhh my internet sucks. Sorry I broke my routine of submitting chapters every Friday and Sunday :x There was simply too much travelling around lately… Well, hope you enjoy this chapter, remember to review! xD

Acceptance
Chapter 26
Decisions; Right or Wrong?

I had mixed emotions circling around my mind at the moment. First of all, I was pissed off at Lucius Malfoy for being such an inconsiderate jerk and for hurting Draco. Secondly, I was worried for Draco since I had no idea what I should actually do about his aching tummy this time and it looked as if he was in great pain. Thirdly, I was still facing this inner battle within myself. I knew it was wrong to keep Draco as a child, but some part of me couldn't help but agree with Lucius Malfoy that keeping him that way was a better idea… Shit, I really don't know what to do anymore…Should I give Draco the potion or not…?

"Ow…" I heard Draco groan, causing my heart to ache for him as well. I decided against going to my room, instead headed up to the infirmary to seek immediate help. Just then, I saw two familiar faces approaching.

"Hey Harry!" Ron and Hermione greeted in unison. "And hello to you, Draco!" Hermione giggled, patting his little blond head, only to receive a pained groan from the young Slytherin. "What's wrong with him, Harry? He looks rather ill," Hermione shot me a serious, yet concerned look. I told my friends what happened in Dumbledore's office while we walked briskly to the infirmary. They both had looks of disgust written all over their faces and I was glad to know my best friends agreed with me that Lucius Malfoy was bring a dickhead. Period.

Finally, we reached the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey brought us in and began checking on Draco, at the same time questioning me about what happened.

"Well, let's just say we had a little run in with his dad and…um…Mr. Malfoy happened to grab Draco roughly and secured a tight, firm grip around his stomach. Damn, he's such an asshole of a parent! Imagine, hurting his son like that…That bastard…"
"Language, Potter!"
"Sorry…It's just…I swore to keep Draco safe, but I still never seem to be able to succeed."
"I'm sure Draco's father didn't intend to hurt him. Now I need you all to go back outside for now, apparently more work needs to be done here than I expected."
"Why? I-Is there something wrong with Draco?"

The nurse didn't answer my questioned but simply pushed three of us out of the infirmary, leaving us confused and worried. Soon, I could hear Draco's loud cries for her to stop hurting him. I assumed she had begun the tummy-prodding already. Shit, he must be in a lot of pain… He's really sensitive to the prodding… Once again, the sense of guilt was beating down upon me; I should have done a better job protecting Draco from getting hurt.

"Listen, mate. Stop blaming yourself," Ron said, as if he read my thoughts. But honestly, I couldn't help it. Draco had been my responsibility for quite a while now, and every few months he ends up injured or sick. Anyone could come to an obvious conclusion that Harry Potter sucks at being a guardian and can't even take care of a three year old kid. "Oh, by the way," Hermione cut in. "When are you going to give Draco the potion? Is he okay with it?"

"About that, Hermione…Um…well yeah he's totally fine about it. He just wants whatever I want. So it's like...if I tell him to drink it, he will listen to me. If I decide not to, then I'm sure he'd be more than happy to oblige. Draco wants me to be happy and um…I've been thinking…"

Ron and Hermione exchanged quick glances before they both pinned me against the wall. Holy shit, I have to admit I didn't see that coming.

"Harry, NO WAY. You're not going to go back on your word!"
"Yeah, mate. Stop being such a muddled-up git. We agreed it's best to change him back!"
"I know, okay, I know! But don't you get it? Lucius Malfoy had a point! If we want to keep him safe from Voldemort, we should let him remain as a child so that it's convenient for us to carry him about and hide him or something, I don't know…But I just really want to protect him, I feel like it's my duty…"
"Fine, but let's say Voldemort is killed. Then what? You're gonna change Draco back? Or are you gonna be a selfish prat like Lucius Malfoy and leave him as a child?"
"I…I…"

Damn, these two really knew how to stump me. I couldn't even figure out what I wanted anymore. No…What I want is what Draco wants…I want Draco to be happy, safe, cheerful…

"I don't know guys, I've just been through a hell of confusion lately. You know everyday I'm battling with my conscience and my feelings…But anyway…The potion isn't ready yet so…there's nothing much we can do at the moment."
"Harry, you can't let this drag on much longer. Sooner or later, you're going to have to make the ultimate decision."
"There you are, Potter…"

Ron, Hermione and I gasped upon hearing the random voice that just popped into our conversation. Turning around, we came face to face with the infamous potions master who was holding something in his hand…A bottle, was it? I paused and stared at the green liquid within it.

"Hello professor. What's this? More apple juice for Draco?" I forced a feeble laugh, although I was still unable to entirely mask away my face of worry. Ron and Hermione were staring at the peculiar bottle of green liquid as well. I think we all knew…or at least suspected it was…

"No, Potter. This time, it's real. It's the ageing potion. Now where's Draco, is he ready for the intake?"

Silence. A deadly silence. Yes, it was a cold and deadly silence that engulfed the hallway outside the infirmary. Could it be…? The potion was truly ready? This was the potion that could ultimately change Draco back to normal and more than likely change my life as well?

A stern and serious look on the potions master's face told me that my instincts were right. There was no sign of a "haha just kidding, Potter!" at all. Then again, there never was; seeing as it's Snape we're talking about. Nevertheless, I could feel countless shivers tingling down my spine as I forced myself to face reality; reality in a bottle…

Author's Note: Omg I'm super freaking sorry this chapter was short _ I barely had any time! Forgive meeeeeee! I'll make the next one longer, pinky promise!