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Snape was relieved when they flooed back home to his quarters. He was rather proud of himself for being in the same room with Black and not hexing him into oblivion. They had stayed longer than he had planned to, although Molly had been nice enough to cook them all dinner. Now all he had to do was get Potter ready for bed.
Harry immediately ran to his toddler broom. "Fwy outside?" He asked hopefully.
"No, it's time for bed," Snape said. "It is too dark to fly outside anyway."
Harry frowned. "No! Not tired," he whined. He actually was tired but he wanted to fly again!
"Do not tell me no," Snape told him with a stern look. "It is your bedtime. Put down the broom."
"No!" Harry held his broom tightly.
"Do as you are told," Snape said, his eyes narrowing. So now the Potter defiance starts, he'd known it would eventually. When Potter didn't let go of the broom, he sighed impatiently. "Accio broom!" He held his hand out.
"No!" Harry cried as the broom flew to Snape's hands. "No, no, no!" He stamped his foot. He'd seen Dudley do that on more than one occasion and it always worked for him.
"You are throwing a tantrum, Potter. You are being very naughty," Snape said sternly as he approached the little boy. Harry kept yelling no over and over and stomping his foot so Snape took his arm, turned him, and gave him a mild swat to the backside, hoping to startle the little boy out of his tantrum.
Harry did indeed stop, giving Snape a wide-eyed look.
"Enough yelling," Snape said firmly. "No more being naughty."
"Not notty," Harry said, finally realizing acting like Dudley wasn't getting him anywhere.
"Yes. You are disobeying me, yelling and stamping your foot," Snape shook his head. "You are in trouble, little boy."
"No," Harry whined. He didn't want to be in trouble! He didn't want his Nape mad at him!
Snape picked him up and walked to his bedroom. He helped Harry get into his pajamas and then summoned a kiddie chair and put it in the corner. "Two minutes," He said as he sat Harry down in it.
"No Nape!" Harry tried to get up but was gently pushed back down.
"Two minutes," Snape repeated.
Harry pouted but stayed seated as he stared at the corner. This was boring! He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He didn't want to sit here and he didn't want Nape mad at him. He definitely didn't want any more smacks or have to stare at the corner again. He sighed sadly as he realized he had been naughty.
"Okay, Harry. You can get up," Snape said softly.
Harry ran to Snape and hugged his leg. "Sworry, Nape!" He cried.
Snape picked him up and gave him a hug. "Shh. It's okay, I forgive you." He said soothingly. He then had Harry go potty and brush his teeth before tucking him into bed.
"Tory?"
"One story," Snape agreed. He picked up The Tales of Beedle the Bard and flipped through the pages. "How about this one? Babbitty Rabbitty." He read the title.
Harry giggled at the name.
"Yes, it's hilarious," Snape said dryly before he began to read. He hadn't finished the story when Potter fell asleep. He set the book down, darkened the room except for the nightlight, and paused at the door to look at Potter. He was snuggled into the covers, clutching a plush owl. "Little menace," he shook his head, a small smile on his face as he left to go grade essays.
HP
A few days later, Snape once again found himself visiting Grimmauld Place with Harry. He had resigned himself to these visits, as Harry enjoyed playing with Ron and Black. Well, Black in mutt form. It wasn't too bad, Molly gave him advice on taking care of Potter and Lupin drew him into a conversation about what potions could help with the deaging.
"So you experienced Harry's first tantrum?" Molly chuckled after Snape told her about the broom incident and Harry's yelling and stomping.
"Well, his first as a three-year-old," Snape smirked. "A light swat snapped him out of it and then -"
"You hit my godson?" Sirius shouted as he approached the table. He glared at Snape, his hands clenched into fists.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Snape rubbed his temples. He should have brought a headache potion. "I gave him one light swat so he would stop his tantrum. I then made him sit in the corner for two minutes. He calmed down and said he was sorry. I then got him ready for bed and read him a story."
Molly nodded approvingly. "Sounds like you handled it just fine." She gave Sirius a disapproving look. "And what would you have done to stop Harry's tantrum?"
"Offered him candy to stop?" Sirius suggested. He scowled and quickly moved when Molly sent a stinging hex his way.
"That would have been a very bad idea, Padfoot," Remus said, shaking his head with a rueful chuckle.
"I just can't imagine being stern with him," Sirius shrugged. "At three years old or fifteen."
"Children need boundaries, Sirius. When they are a toddler and when they are a teenager. They need discipline as well as patience, understanding, and a lot of love." Molly said softly.
"Still," Sirius grumbled, narrowing his eyes at Snape.
"What do you know about raising a child?" Snape asked snarkily. "You haven't matured beyond being a first-year student, as far as I am concerned."
"At least I never joined -" Sirius began.
"Stop, both of you!" Remus spoke up. "Two toddlers are watching you argue."
Snape turned his head to see Potter and Weasley were indeed watching them. He gave Potter a reassuring smile before turning back to scowl at Black. "How about you and I not talk to each other?" He suggested.
"Fine with me," Sirius said stiffly. "I'm going to go play with the boys."
"Good idea. They enjoy having another toddler as a playmate." Snape couldn't resist saying.
Sirius glared at him and then stomped away.
"Was that really necessary, Severus?" Remus asked in exasperation.
"No but it was enjoyable," Snape said honestly.
HP
Draco found the book he was looking for in the library and was about to join a table where several Slytherins were studying when he noticed Granger sitting by herself. Her table was filled with books and she was scribbling frantically. He ambled over and looked over her shoulder. "Let me guess. You're studying for N.E.W.T.s already?"
Hermione glanced up and made a face. "Oh, you're hilarious Malfoy." She leaned back and stretched out her arms, flexing her fingers. "If you must know, I've been taking extra notes in classes for Harry and Ron and I'm making them each a study guide."
"Why bother? I doubt they have any idea what they want to do after school anyway so they probably won't care about their O.W.L.'s," Draco said as he dropped into the seat next to her. He looked at one of the study guides.
"You don't know them," Hermione said, shaking her head. "They want to be Aurors so they have to do well on their O.W.L.s."
"Aurors? Really?" Draco blinked. "That's pretty ambitious. It's a three-year apprenticeship, you know."
"Yes, I know and so do they."
"Even I've considered that -" Draco stopped and narrowed his eyes at her. "Why are you laughing?"
"Sorry," Hermione wiped her eyes and tried to stifle her giggles. "It's just...you an Auror. A Malfoy as law enforcement." She snickered.
"I would be a great Auror," Draco said defensively.
"But won't you be busy being a death -" Hermione stopped and looked away, flushing slightly.
Draco stiffened. "You don't know anything about me, Granger." He hissed at her.
"Oh?" Hermione stared at him evenly. "You, who call me a mudblood all the time? You, who said you wanted to help the heir of Slytherin? You, who admires your father who is a death eater? Excuse me for thinking what I do!"
Feeling angry, Draco quickly cast the Muffliato Charm spell so that no one could overhear them. "You don't know anything! I didn't want to help the heir of Slytherin, I just pretended I did! I act the way I do mainly because it is how my father expects me to act! I'm supposed to admire him, I'm supposed to believe the way he does because if I don't, he'll probably kill me!" He shot back.
Hermione stared at him. "He – he wouldn't do that," she said uncertainly.
Draco gave a humorless laugh. "You're right. He wouldn't do that right away. He'd hit me with his cane and if that didn't get me in line, he would Crucio me."
"He wouldn't!" Hermione gasped.
"He has before," Draco said quietly.
"Your mother, does she try to stop him?"
"She did when I was little but now she doesn't," Draco sighed. "She thinks I should do what he wants and if I don't, then I deserve what he does to me."
"Draco, I'm sorry," Hermione whispered.
"I don't need your pity," Draco said stiffly.
"It's not pity," Hermione told him. "No child should be treated like that by his parents." She shook her head. "Or anyone who is supposed to care for them." She said sadly.
"Like Potter's guardians?" Draco asked tentatively.
"They treat him badly. They hate him because he has magic," Hermione said. "I think it's worse than he lets Ron and I know." She said quietly.
"Oh," Draco frowned, thinking of the toddler he had taught to fly. He might have issues with teenage Potter but he felt protective of the toddler version.
"So," Hermione said hesitantly. "You don't believe as your father does?" She asked.
Draco glanced at her. "No. I don't want to be a death eater, I don't want to follow you-know-who," he said after a moment. "I don't want to kill people. Not even muggles."
"Or mudbloods?" Hermione couldn't help but ask. She stared at him evenly, part of her thinking he was probably lying but the other part of her felt sure he was telling the truth.
Draco sighed. "Or mudbloods," he mumbled. "I know I shouldn't use that word, I know it's wrong. It's just – I grew up hearing that word and as I said, I'm supposed to act a certain way." He looked at her. "I'm sorry."
Hermione stared at him in shock. He was actually apologizing to her?
Draco scowled at her. "What?"
"I never would have imagined you apologizing to me," Hermione shrugged, a small smile on her face.
Draco also shrugged, his face flushing slightly. Suddenly he had a thought. "Hey, how did you know I said I wanted to help the heir of Slytherin?" He asked suspiciously.
Hermione froze. "Um…"
Draco thought back to their second year. He remembered telling that to Crabbe and Goyle, knowing they would report to their fathers if he had acted any other way. And their fathers would have informed his father. He focused back on Granger. "Well?"
Hermione gave a shaky shrug. "I just assumed, I guess." She said lamely.
"You're lying."
Hermione sighed. "Fine. Do you really want to know? Because you thought you were talking to Crabbe and Goyle when you said it."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean I thought I was talking to them? I was speaking with them, we were in the Slytherin common room."
Hermione cleared her throat. "Do you know anything about Polyjuice Potion?"
"Yeah, I've read about it. We don't learn it until the seventh year -" Draco paused, his silver eyes widening. "No way! It was you?"
"Well, it was Ron and Harry," Hermione said, biting back a smile at the shocked look on Draco's face.
Draco's mouth dropped. "There is no way they could have made Polyjuice Potion!" Understanding filled his eyes. "You did? You were a second year!"
"I know," Hermione nodded. "I was fascinated by it, but it is a very complex potion."
"And dangerous if made wrong," Draco eyed her admiringly. "I knew you were smart, but wow."
Hermione flushed and looked down at her books.
"So why did they pretend to be Crabbe and Goyle?"
"Oh, we wanted to know if you knew who the heir of Slytherin was," Hermione explained. "Harry was sick of being blamed, you see. Even some of his own housemates treated him suspiciously."
"I should be mad but I'm too impressed you made Polyjuice Potion," Draco remarked.
"You won't tell Professor Snape will you?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Ah, you must have stolen his ingredients," Draco laughed. "Merlin, if he had caught you -"
"I know. We would have been expelled," Hermione cut in. "So you won't tell?"
"No. And you won't tell what I told you? About my father?"
"Of course not," Hermione assured him. "Not even to Harry and Ron, once they're back to their normal age."
Draco inclined his head, relieved. "Thank you." He said. "I, uh, guess I'll let you get back to your study guides."
Hermione nodded. "I'll see you later then. To babysit." She added.
Draco nodded and walked away to join his housemates' table. He could hardly believe it, but he would rather have stayed with Granger and kept talking. Merlin, what was happening to him?
HP
That evening, Harry was playing with his train set when he saw the wand that Dwaco had set down. He bit his lip. He wasn't allowed to touch wands, Nape had said so. But magic came out of it! Harry desperately wanted to try, it looked like fun. He glanced at Dwaco and Mione, they were reading big books that looked very boring to Harry. He inched his hand closer to the wand. Closer...closer… Suddenly his hand was grabbed.
"No, Harry!" Draco scolded. His heart had almost stopped when he saw Harry try to grab the wand. A child waving a wand around was dangerous, he should know. He practically destroyed his father's office when he was five and picked up Lucius's wand. His Father had not been pleased. "That is dangerous, and not for little kids!" He added sternly.
"Want to touch!" Harry whined. Drat, he had gotten caught!
"Harry, you're not allowed to pick up a wand," Hermione said softly. "Didn't Professor Snape tell you that?"
Harry nodded reluctantly.
Draco let go of Harry's hand. "You could get hurt, you're too little for a wand." He said in a gentler voice.
"Sworry Dwaco," Harry's lower lip trembled and he leaned forward to hug Draco.
Draco froze for a moment. He wasn't used to being hugged. He tentatively put his arms around the toddler. "It's okay."
Hermione watched with a smile on her face. First, she'd seen Snape being a big softie towards Harry, and now Draco! Who would have thought?
"What are you smiling at?" Draco grumbled as he patted Harry's back.
"Me? Oh, nothing," Hermione said airily as she focused back on her homework.
"What's going on?" Snape asked as he entered the room. He had been in his lab working on reversing the deaging. He wasn't there yet but he felt he was close.
Harry's eyes widened in alarm.
"We were just getting some homework done while Harry played," Draco said smoothly.
"Oh? Then why does Potter look guilty?" Snape asked suspiciously.
"He, um…"
"He just…"
"I was bad," Harry admitted.
"You were? What did you do?" Snape asked, looking at the little boy sternly.
Harry looked down shamefully. "Twied to pick up Dwaco's wand." He mumbled.
"I sort of scolded him," Draco said nervously. "I wasn't mean about it!" He added quickly.
"That's true, Professor. And Draco gave him a hug afterward," Hermione said. She ignored the scowl Draco gave her.
Snape was silent a moment. "I see." He looked at the toddler. "Come here, Potter."
Harry slowly shuffled forward and then looked up and into stern dark eyes.
Snape bent down to his level. "I told you to never touch a wand, correct?"
Harry nodded.
"Do you know why I said it?"
"I could get hurt," Harry said softly. "I'm too wittle and hafta wait till I'm older."
Snape nodded. "That's right. I'm very upset you were going to disobey me." He said, giving Potter a disappointed look.
Harry's eyes filled with tears again. "I'm sworry!" He wailed. "Nape, Hwarry sorry!"
Snape sighed and picked the little boy up. "All right, calm down. I know you're sorry." He saw Hermione and Draco watching him and he narrowed his eyes at them. "In addition to the scolding Draco gave you, you will also have no dessert tonight." He announced.
"Aww, Nape…" Harry whined.
"No dessert," Snape repeated firmly. He noticed Granger and Draco were giving Potter sympathetic looks. There. See? He was still the strict and mean bat of the dungeons.
TBC: