Disclaimer: Story is all mine. But the genius belongs to JK.
25th October 2002
Draco Malfoy didn't even stumble as he jumped out of the fireplace at Potter Manor. Without even stopping to brush off the soot from his robes or hair he rushed into the hall like a madman on a mission. He collided with an elf; or rather that nefarious creature collided with him making him lose his balance. He cursed as he struggled to get to his feet.
"Here, let me help you Mr. Malfoy." The elf squeaked, offering Draco a hand. Draco waved it off and jumped up. "Where is he?" He growled at the house elf already running up the stairs. "Master Harry is not well at all. He needs rest. You cannot meet him." Draco banged his fists on the banisters as he hit an invisible barrier near the top of the stairs.
"Let me through." Draco said through clenched teeth, eyes flashing dangerously. He ignored the portraits who were admonishing him for his behaviour. "No." The elf replied calmly, "Master Harry is unwell. He needs rest. You cannot meet him. I can call mistress Ginny if you need to meet someone urgently. But you will have to please wait in the drawing room."
"No, I have to see him." Draco replied, barely keeping himself from wringing his hands.
"I am sorry Mister Malfoy. But you cannot meet master." The elf repeated calmly.
"You don't understand!" Draco shouted angrily, "Something has happened. I need to see him."
"Malfoy?"
Draco turned; it was Ginny Weasley, Potter's fiancé. Draco almost rolled his eyes to heaven in gratitude. She would understand, she would take him to Potter and Potter would have to help Draco.
"Weasley." He said, "I need to meet Potter. It's something urgent."
"Harry is unwell, Malfoy." Draco started shaking his head violently, "Can't this wait?"
Draco glared at her. "Look Weasley, I am not very happy about being here. I wouldn't be here if something really bad hadn't happened. Let me through Potter really needs to know this."
"What is it, Malfoy? Maybe I can help or someone else. I can call a couple of aurors from his office. Is your mother fine?"
"My mother is fine. Its Aunt Andromeda and Teddy- they were supposed to come home yesterday. They didn't show up, we never got any owl either. This morning I went to their place. It was empty, no signs of struggle. They are missing. I don't know what to do. Potter has to help. It's his Godson we are talking about." Draco looked at her helplessly, trying very hard to not breakdown in front of Ginny Weasley.
"Bashful, please let Mr. Malfoy through. And bring some tea to the study." She gave Draco a weird look before turning on her heel and walking down the long corridor. Draco hurried after her into the study.
"Sit." Weasley said, pointing out to the armchair in front of her. Draco dropped into the chair and thanked her for the tea. Before he could ask her to bring him to Potter, he heard a knock behind him. He turned to see a very tired Andromeda Tonks standing by the door. Draco rushed up to his aunt and before he could stop himself and act like a Malfoy should, now that he knew his aunt was fine, he had gathered her in his arms.
"Oh thank Merlin! Mother and I have been worried sick. We waited for your owl last night when that didn't turn up, I went over to check your house and it was empty. I thought- I thought… Thank Merlin, you are fine. Is Teddy with you? Is he here? Is he okay? Aunt Meda you look tired, did something happen? Is Teddy fine? Does Potter know?"
Draco would have asked a million questions all centered around Teddy had Weasley not put a silencing charm on him. He glared at her angrily, before turning to look worriedly at his aunt. She smiled tiredly at him. "Teddy is here. Don't worry. I am sorry I wasn't able to send that owl last night or this morning. Harry and Teddy are down with Dragon Pox. Teddy was burning up last night. All of us were so busy trying to get his fever down that I forgot to send you an owl. His fever broke a couple of hours ago. I was on my way to get some sleep when Doc told me that you were here."
Draco gave out a sigh of relief. It was only Dragon Pox. He had it when he was six. Not the best thing to happen to a kid, but it was a children's disease. "Can I go see him? I won't wake him up?"
"You don't have to worry about that. Teddy becomes extremely chatty during the full moon or when he is sick. He is busy driving Harry crazy. He will be glad to see you. But Draco dragon pox is a communicable disease. I can't permit you to see him if you haven't already had it."
"You don't have to worry about that. I had it when I was six. I will send mum an owl so that she doesn't worry a lot and then go see Teddy."
Draco climbed the stairs cursing old pureblood marriage customs. He couldn't believe that Malfoys were related to Potters, that at some point in history, a Malfoy was married to a Potter and they had half Malfoy, half Potter children. He took a left turn on the second floor, the door to the fourth room was open. He stood there debating about whether he should knock or not when Teddy's voice floated to him.
"I will be aunt Ginny's boyfriend when I grow up a little more. And later on when I become as big as you are; I will marry aunt Ginny." Draco smirked; Teddy really was the most interesting kid in the world.
"Teddybear, but aunt Ginny would be old by the time you grow up."
"No, you would get old. Aunt Ginny will never get old." Draco burst out laughing. He heard footsteps approaching the door. Potter was covered in boils which gave a greenish tint to his face. "Malfoy?" Potter asked surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Uncle Drake!" Potter's question was answered when a turquoise haired missile launched itself on Draco. Draco deftly picked up the boy. "Teddy! You shouldn't be running in your state. You should rest." Draco looked at Potter, as if asking for permission to enter the room. Potter stepped aside and allowed him to enter the room. Potter followed and settled himself on the armchair as Draco tucked Teddy in who promptly sat up in bed. "Uncle Drake, do you know I am a meta- metaorphagus like my mum. Look I can turn by hair blue." Teddy turned his hair blue and then green, followed by two more colours before he fell back on his bed exhausted. Draco watched Teddy as the little boy made buzzing noises before dozing off. How on earth was this kid so energetic in such sickness?
"I have been wondering that for a while too." Potter said quietly. Draco turned to look at him, but Potter was watching Teddy with such tenderness that Draco felt jealous. Obviously, Potter shared a bond with Teddy. For a wild moment Draco wanted to pick Teddy up and leave and never let anyone get in between Teddy and himself. He wished Teddy was all his.
"You know, initially I felt that resentment too." Potter added conversationally.
"What resentment are you talking about Potter?"
"You know what I am talking about. I hated it when Teddy would come back from Malfoy Manor and keep turning his hair and eyes to match yours or talk about you. It felt like you were stealing him away from me. I still hate it when he visits you, but then I see how much he cares about you. How happy he is about seeing you and I just accept it. But be warned Malfoy, if you ever hurt Teddy, you would have me to answer to."
Draco scoffed. He would never hurt Teddy; he would die for Teddy before hurting him. "As if Potter. I won't hide it. I hate how much he cares about you. But he is happy with you and even when I am not happy about it, I will live. But if you ever abandon him, even for his own protection, I would make sure that you never get to see him."
Harry's eyes flashed angrily. How dare Malfoy say anything like that! He would never abandon Teddy. "As if you can stop me from seeing him, if he wants to see me I will move heaven and earth to make that possible."
"And what if he doesn't want to see you?"
"Teddy would never do that with me. I don't know about you though." Harry spat angrily.
"What do you mean by that Potter? Why will Teddy not want to see me?" Deep down Draco knew what Potter's answer would be, he feared the same but he would be damned if he showed his fear.
"Oh! I don't know, maybe he wouldn't want to see you when he finds out that your father and you were in league with the people who killed his parents." Potter said.
Draco shot out of bed, pulling his wand in the process. Harry despite his illness was fast; he pulled out his wand at the same time. Both stood facing each other wands out ready to hex when the door opened behind Harry.
"What in the name of Merlin is going on here?" Ginny asked as she strode in and stood in front of both the men. Her eyes narrowed as she saw their outstretched hands and the wands pointing at each other. With her hands on her hips, Draco had to admit that the woman looked intimidating. "Harry?" It was more of a warning and less of a question. Draco quickly dropped his hand and stuffed his wand in pocket. He saw Potter do the same.
"Nothing happened, Ginny. We were just talking." Potter replied hesitantly.
"Harry Potter! I can't believe you were going to have a duel in here. Teddy is sick, you could have hit him and who knows what that would have done to him." Weasley didn't even raise her voice but Draco flinched. "And you." She said turning to him. He backed away from her, feeling ashamed of himself. "You come running in here like a madman because you thought that Teddy was in danger and yet, here you are with your wand out ready to hex Harry while Teddy is in the same room." Draco looked down; his guilt burning through him but Weasley did not stop there. "Really? Is your hatred for each other much more than what you feel for Teddy? Here you are fighting over the boy who loves you equally. Can't you be happy about it?"
When Ginny didn't get a reply from either of them, she knew they were not ready to let go. She pinched the bridge of her nose to calm herself. "Harry, go to your room and get some rest." Potter made a noise of protest, Weasley's eyes flashed dangerously and Draco watched amusedly as Potter nodded and turned to leave.
"Malfoy, you should go home too. He needs rest." Potter said as he turned to look at Draco, challenge evident in his eyes.
"No." Draco stated clearly and planted himself on Teddy's bed.
"What do you mean by no? Teddy needs his rest. I thought you cared about him." Potter sneered.
"I don't have to prove anything to you. But I am staying to take care of Teddy."
Potter bristled. "Are you saying that we can't take care of Teddy?"
"Seeing that you are suffering from dragon pox yourself, I would say no. Weasley is in the middle of the season and she really can't stop playing now, unless she hurts herself fatally. Aunt Meda is not exactly young and dragon pox needs constant attention."
"The house elves would gladly look after him. Not to mention the Weasleys and our other friends."
Draco bristled. "I would never have thought that you would leave a child in the hands of house elves. I was brought up by house elves. Trust me Potter; you need a person around you when you are sick. I am not leaving Teddy."
"Don't try to make it look like you care more about him-"
"That is enough." Ginny cut in firmly. "If you want to stay, you will call it truce with Harry right now." Potter smirked as Draco glared at Weasley.
"And if you know what is good for you, you will call it truce too Harry. I am not going to let the two of you destroy Teddy because you couldn't let go of your childish aggression against each other."
"Childish aggression!" Potter exclaimed flabbergasted. "Childish aggression, you say-"
"Harry Potter! You will shake hands with Draco Malfoy and call it a truce for the sake of your Godson or I would be having a word with Andromeda about banning both of you from ever meeting Teddy."
That did it for Harry and Draco, both of them moved forward and touched each other's fingers and let go really fast. Harry was reminded of Sirius and Snape, the way they had shaken hands over his hospital bed on the night Voldemort had returned. Harry had vowed to be as reckless a Godfather to Teddy as Sirius had been to him. But now he realized how much Sirius had compromised for Harry's sake. To shake hands with your nemesis for the sake of your child was one the toughest things Harry had ever done, coming second to walking to his death and losing everyone he loved to Voldemort. Harry walked out of the room. "I will get a guest room prepared for you then." Ginny said. Draco looked at her, he guessed he could be civil with her.
"That won't be necessary. I don't mind sleeping on the couch. Plus even you know he needs constant supervision for the next 4 days at least." Ginny nodded. "If you don't mind me saying it, so does Potter. I noticed he was scratching his neck."
Draco smirked as she swore. "Honestly that man! Sometimes I wonder who the child really is in this household." She muttered to herself. "I will take care of it. Thank you."
Draco nodded in acknowledgement before she left the room. "Oh! And just call Bashful or Grumpy if you need anything." She added before leaving Draco alone. Draco sighed; looking at Teddy he knew that Teddy would be asleep for a while. Giving him enough time to step out and call his elf. To his surprise Pringle didn't appear as Draco called him. That had never happened. Elf magic bound an elf to its master. Pringle should be able to break all barriers and come to him. He tried again but to no avail. Maybe Pringle could appear in a certain part of the Manor. He started walking down the steps calling Pringle's name every few steps.
"Your elf won't be able to enter the Manor." Cassiopeia Potter told Draco.
AN: Read and review people. Happy reading.
