Life From the Start

Chapter 12: My Little Hero

Draco felt something bounce in his bed but chose to ignore it. He turned to his side and pulled his blanket higher; all that was visible was his mop of blond hair. Malfoy then rolled onto his belly and groaned when the thing climbed on his back and straddled him. Said thing started bouncing on his backbone.

Damn it.

"-co! Draco! Wake up! Somebody's at the painting!"

"Go 'way…" Draco whined and pressed his face into his puffy pillow, "It's early… it's after Christmas. Let m'sleep…" Draco muttered into his pillow. "And get off m'back Harry…"

Yes, Draco knew what the thing was.

"You can't go back to sleep Draco… somebody's outside and he's screaming now." Harry leaned forward and started wiggling. "He sounds mad…"

"Who cares," Draco muttered and moved his head to the side, pillow to his cheek.

Harry huffed and moved up, "If you don't wake up right now, I'm gonna give you a wet morning kiss!" Harry smiled wickedly, "I know you don't like those."

Draco sighed and cracked one eye open, only to find two green ones looking back at him, upside down.

"Why do you have to be a morning person?" Draco asked the young boy; Harry shrugged and rolled off Draco's back and sat down next to the prone body.

"Dunno. I just wake up very early." Harry smiled as Draco slowly stretched out his tired muscles and sat up. "Well… you better get dressed; the person at the door doesn't seem nice."

Draco groaned and threw his legs over the side of the bed; he reached for his robes that were draped across the desk by his bed. Harry also hopped off and stood watching as the blond tied his robes securely around his lean body.

"How long has the person been there?" Draco asked as he walked out his room; Harry skipped behind until he was next to Malfoy.

"Uh… I think five minutes? Ten? I don't remember." Harry skipped ahead of Draco and turned towards the living room.

Draco rolled his eyes; he then found Harry crouching by the portrait, as if a monster was going to barge in any moment. The brunet looked back and grinned at Draco, a finger placed in front of his lips, telling Draco to say quiet.

Draco smirked and walked up to the portrait; it shook as whoever was on the other side knocked.

"Harry, stand up and go sit on the couch." Draco told the young boy; Harry giggled and skipped his way to the couches, sitting down in one of them.

Draco smoothed his hair back before placing his palm flat on the portrait and pushed. Standing on the other side was one irritated Severus Snape. With a snarl, the Potions Master stepped over the threshold and walked briskly to the living room. Draco sighed and closed the portrait; he looked up and found Harry scooting all the way to the end of the couch when Snape sat down.

"Harry, why don't you go to your room and play with your toys for awhile? I have to talk with Professor Snape for a few minutes." Draco smiled lightly at the brunet.

Harry pulled his eyes away from the scowling man sitting next to him and hopped off the couch, running over to Draco. He tugged at Draco's robes, making the blond bent down.

"I told you he's mad," Harry whispered into Malfoy's ear, "He looks like he just ate a lemon or something really sour."

Draco bit his lips to stop himself from laughing. He ruffled Harry's hair and stood up, patting Harry on the back.

"Go to your room Harry," Draco pushed the boy in the direction of his room, "I'll be done in a few and then I'll have breakfast with you, alright?"

Harry frowned and nodded, “Alright…” he muttered grumpily, “Hurry up okay? I’m hungry.”

Draco chuckled and bent down to kiss Harry on the cheek, “I’ll try. Now go to your room.” He stood there until the sound of Harry’s bedroom door opening and closing reached his ears. Silver eyes met black; Draco almost smiled at the irritated scowl on Snape’s face. “Sorry Professor. I was still sleeping when you knocked. Harry woke me up and told me somebody was at the door.”

Snape sneered, “I know. Even from the outside, I still heard childish giggling and running footsteps.” He rolled his eyes before reaching into his robes, taking out a vial filled with green liquid. “I asked where you were and Potter told me you were ‘snoring really loud in the bedroom’.”

“I do not snore!” Draco exclaimed; he cleared his throat when Snape quirked an eyebrow at him. “So uh… you brought the potion?”

Snape gave the blond a curt nod before handing the small vial to the teen. “It will turn Potter into a twelve year old adolescent.” Draco rolled the vial between his fingers and nodded absently. “You know that there is only one more batch and Potter will be his rightful age again.”

“Yes, I know.” Draco said quietly; Snape sighed and leaned back against the couch, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“I said it before and I’m saying it now,” Snape glanced sideways at the blond, “It’s bound to happen. He will change back. Potter can either hate you or love you. He can either remember everything or it can all become…” Snape held out his right hand and put all his fingertips together then spread them out, as if he was releasing something into the air. “… Nothing. Nothing but a blank space in his mind.”

Draco gripped the vial tighter; his head was down, as to avoid all eye contact with Snape.

“… I don’t really have a choice now do I? I can’t prevent what is happening to him.” Draco asked, “Day by day, I can see that Harry’s gaining more of his real memories.” Draco looked up and finally met Severus’ eyes. “But even so, I’ll be here. I’ll be here until he’s seventeen again and everything will be back to the way it was.” Draco turned his head back and stared at the closed door of Harry’s bedroom.

“And how were things before, Draco?” Snape asked; he shook his head slightly at the downtrodden expression on the blonde’s face.

“He’ll go back to hating me and I’ll go on as if nothing had changed.” Draco murmured.

“Draco…” Snape started but Draco shook his head.

“Even if Harry doesn’t remember any of this, I will. I’ll remember and that is enough.”

HPDMHPDM

When Snape left, the first thing Draco did was going to the kitchen and opening the fridge. Taking out the pitcher filled with ice cold pumpkin juice, the blond set it on the counter. He uncorked the vial and poured the green potion into the juice, watching it fuse together. A few seconds later, there were no traces that indicated a potion was mixed within. Draco put the pitcher back into the fridge and then he slowly walked towards Harry’s room. He had roughly ten hours before dinnertime; only ten hours before he will lose a seven year old Harry and gain a twelve year old. Before he turned the doorknob to Harry’s room, Draco paused.

“… Is he going to be the same as he was when we were in our second year?” Draco muttered, “Well, I’ll find out tomorrow won’t I?” Draco laughed humorlessly; he twisted the doorknob and step inside.

Harry’s ears perked up when he heard his door opening. Turning around, he smiled when he saw Draco standing by the doorway, with his hands stuck in his robes. Harry had been reading a picture book about a little bunny getting lost on its way home. Harry had thought of riding his toy broom in his room, but then realized that his room was much too small to fly around in. Needless to say, the young child was surprised when Draco walked right over to him, knelt down, and pulled him into a tight hug.

Harry blinked a couple of times before twisting his body and wrapped his arms around Draco’s neck. The blond pulled away just a little and smiled sadly at the small boy. Harry frowned, his eyebrows knitting together.

“Draco? What happened? Did the mean man do something to you?” Harry demanded in his childish voice. Draco laughed at the serious look on Harry’s face.

“Are you going to be my little hero and chase the mean Professor out?” Draco asked, his eyebrows were arched in amusement.

Harry huffed and took his arms away from Draco’s neck; he then placed his small palms flat against Draco’s warm cheeks. Harry’s eyes darted to the closed door, hoping that he could somehow see through it.

“I will if you want me to,” Harry replied, “You’ve been there for me, always protecting me.” Harry turned his eyes back at Draco and grinned, “I can always use my toy broom to chase that mean man away.”

Draco chuckled and reached up to ruffle Harry’s mop of hair. “That’s not why I bought you the broom, Harry.”

Malfoy smiled and shifted until he was sitting instead of kneeling; his knees were starting to hurt. Harry, seeing that his guardian was now seated, moved around in Draco’s arms until he was sitting on the blonde’s lap. Laying his head on the older teen’s chest, Harry sighed and cuddled; he loved being in Draco’s arms. He always felt safe whenever the teen held him.

“So what were you doing while I was talking with the Professor?” Draco asked; neither of them had said anything and he felt it was time to break the silence.

“Oh…” Harry tugged at Draco’s robes before looking up at his guardian. “I was just reading a book. The one about a bunny getting lost.”

“You read that many times already,” Draco chuckled, “Don’t you get tired of it?”

“Nope. I like that book.” Harry shrugged halfheartedly and sighed, putting his head on Draco’s shoulder. “Can we go eat now? I’m really hungry and my tummy’s been making weirdo noises.”

Draco rolled his eyes and stood up—with Harry still in his arms. “All you care about is food.”

Harry giggled and snuggled deeper into Draco. “No, all I care about is you.”

Draco’s eyes widened at the statement. Did Harry really care about him? Sure, he cared about Draco now, but what about when Harry’s back to his right age again? Draco closed his eyes and pressed his cheek to the top of Harry’s head.

He didn’t want to think about it.

HPDMHPDM

“Do you have your broom?”

“Check!” Harry waved his toy broom in front of the blond.

“Mittens?”

“Yup!” Harry held up his left hand and wriggled his fingers.

“Alright… jacket?”

A sigh. “Draco, you put it on me.”

“Pfft. You almost ran out without putting it on. I was just making sure.”

Harry smiled and strode over to Malfoy, tugging at his black beanie. “I’m warm, I have my broom, and I have my beanie. Can we go now?”

Harry spun around on one spot, almost tripping over his own feet. Draco chuckled and caught the young boy before he fell.

“Yes, I did say we can go outside and play if you were good.” Draco grinned and picked Harry up. “Let’s go before the sun sets.” Harry nodded and together they went out.

They were halfway to the front gates when a bushy haired girl turned a corner and was walking towards Draco and Harry. Said girl looked up when she heard a giggle; Hermione waved at Harry when the boy started waving his broom at her. Draco moved his head away before it whacked his head.

“Harry, stop waving before the broom takes out my head.” Draco warned; Harry gasped and immediately stopped waving.

Hermione hid her smile behind her hand and she sobered when the blond and Harry came up to her.

“Hey Harry…” Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek and then smiled at Draco. “Draco. Are you guys heading outside?”

“Yup! Draco said I can play with my broom if I was good!” Harry chirped. “Mini, you wanna come with us?”

Hermione let out a tinkering laugh; Harry never got the chance to learn how to say her whole name. So she was still ‘Mini’ to him.

“Well… I’m not busy right now…” She looked up at Draco who was smiling lightly at her. “Draco, do you mind if I…?”

Draco shook his head and smiled a bit wider. “No, not at all. I think Harry would love it if you came with us.”

.: Outside by the Lake :.

“Remember what I said, Harry!” Draco called out; Harry climbed onto his broom and hopped, making the broom levitate off the snow grounds.

“Yeah, don’t go too fast, don’t go too high, and don’t go too far away!” Harry whooped and leaned his body forward, his broom shot straight and within seconds, Harry was making turns in the air.

Draco sighed and sat down carefully on the fresh snow, minding his coat. He looked up and found Hermione smiling, her eyes following a flying Harry.

“So Gra—Hermione, why are you here at school? I would’ve thought you went home.”

Hermione was startled by the sudden question, but then she smiled lightly and sat down next to the blond.

“My parents are off on a trip. They asked if I wanted to go with them, but I said no.” Hermione drew her knees up and rested her chin on top. “Ron went back to the Burrow and asked me to go with him, but I said no as well.”

“Ah, I see.” Draco murmured, not wanting to pry.

“Harry’s happy isn’t he?” Hermione asked; Draco stiffened before he relaxed and nodded. “Even as his friend, I’ve never seen him so… carefree. He… didn’t have a happy childhood.”

Silver eyes followed as Harry flew past them, waving at the blond and at Hermione.

“I know… he said something about his uncle and aunt calling him a freak.” Draco looked down at the snow and made a random swirl with his forefinger. “Is it true?”

Hermione let out a long, suffering sigh. “Yes. His Muggle relatives kept him locked up in a cupboard until he was eleven. You know how some Muggles are… Because Harry knew magic, they immediately labeled him as a freak. Just because it wasn’t ‘normal’ among Muggles.”

“… Is Harry still staying with them?”

Hermione shook her head in the negative. “No, this summer was his last. He turned seventeen in July and bought himself a flat somewhere in London.” Hermione glanced at the teen sitting beside her and patted Draco’s hand; she smiled when Draco didn’t pull away. “You… really care about Harry don’t you? I can tell, Draco, so don’t even think about lying to me.”

Draco was watching as Harry zoomed to his left, made an abrupt stop before turning and zoomed to his right. The blond smiled softly as Harry laughed merrily; the boy really loved flying.

“You’re right, I do.” Draco answered, “But Harry will never know.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, perplexed. “I’m sure Harry will realize--”

“Snape said he might not remember any of this,” Draco waved his hand at the young boy flying in front, “Harry could simply only remember taking the potion and when he would be seventeen again.”

“You can… tell him. Harry understands; I’m sure he’ll be thankful you took care of him for the past months.”

Draco scoffed and drew his knees up as well. “It’s alright Hermione; he doesn’t have to know. I’m not sure if Harry will accept it even if I told him.”

“Draco-”

“Mini! Look at me!” Harry yelled and giggled, stopping right in front of the sitting teens. He climbed off the broom and plopped down in front of them. “It was a perfect stop. Draco taught me that.”

Hermione glanced over at Draco before reaching out, patting Harry’s head. “Did he now? Well, you did very well.”

“Of course,” Harry said pompously, “I’m a fast learner.”

Draco chuckled, “Of course you are.” Having gathered a snow ball while Harry was talking with Hermione, Draco picked up his snow ball and flung it at Harry, hitting the child on the chest.

Harry squealed and rolled away, only to have Draco tackling him, smearing cold snow on Harry’s face.

Hermione sat watching as Draco and Harry rolled around in the soft snow, trying to hit one another with snow. They were having so much fun that she didn’t have the heart to interrupt.

“Harry will understand, Draco. He’ll understand.”

HPDMHPDM

“How come you’re not drinking the pumpkin juice tonight?” Harry asked as Draco handed the boy a glass of juice.

“Oh. I got tired of it. I drink it almost every day at breakfast.”

Harry looked down at his glass and shrugged. “Okay then. It’s really good so don’t get mad at me when I drink it all.”

“I won’t…” Draco muttered; Harry tilted his head back and down the whole glass. He licked his lips and set the glass on the table.

The effect was immediate. A few seconds later, Harry’s eyes were starting to droop; Draco pushed his chair back and got up. He caught the boy before Harry’s head met the top of the table. Carrying his light cargo, Draco made his way to the boy’s bedroom. The things inside hadn’t changed yet; all the clothing were still the size for a seven year old boy. Draco didn’t really think too much on that matter; he was sure that by tomorrow morning, everything will change.

Setting Harry on his bed, Draco pulled the blankets up to cover the whole body.

“Goodnight Harry…” Draco whispered and swooped down to plant a kiss on Harry’s forehead.

HPDMHPDM

Draco didn’t really sleep the night before. His mind was busy the whole night. So when a blur of black flew at him, he was somewhat ready for the collision. Landing on his back, grey eyes met mischievous green.

“Wow, I woke up earlier than you did.” Harry said; Draco noticed that his voice was deeper.

“You always wake up before I do,” Draco said; Harry sighed and nuzzled his face in Draco’s neck, his legs straddling Malfoy’s hips.

Draco felt awkward. There he was, lying on his bed with Harry on top. True, it wasn’t the first time Harry hopped onto his bed and smothered him. But his was a twelve year old Harry; he was a teen! Somehow, that just didn’t feel right for Draco. In the far corner of his mind, however, Draco didn’t really mind the way Harry was rubbing his face on his neck or the way he was straddling him like…

“Harry… Your hair is wet.”

“Oh!” Harry held his head up and beamed at Draco. “I took a shower. I just felt like taking a shower. Weird huh?”

‘Not weird. Guess you had the habit of taking showers in the morning.’

“Draco you should get up. It’s ten.” Harry rolled off of Draco and lay next to him. “I want to see Hermione. She must be lonely staying here at school by herself. Usually she goes with Ron to the Burrow.”

Draco sat straight up and stared down at Harry. “You… You remember?”

Harry looked at Draco skeptically and sat up as well. “What do you mean? She always goes to the Burrow with Ron. Every Christmas. But this year she didn’t… wonder what happened.”

Draco shook his head slowly and looked at Harry right in the eye. “Do-do you know what you are saying right now?! How do you know Hermione’s staying?”

He was very close to being hysterical. It was as if Harry remembered everything! This can’t be happening…

“Draco, are you alright?” Harry asked and placed a palm on Draco’s forehead. “Of course I know what I’m saying. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought you are delusional. We saw her yesterday when we were walking out to the grounds. I was flying on my broom and she was there with you.”

“I know that…” Draco murmured; he wasn’t too surprised that Harry remembered what happened yesterday. What he was shocked about was that Harry remembered Hermione going to the Burrow. “But… how did you know about Hermione going with Ron every year?”

“I-I…” Harry looked blankly at Draco. “I don’t know.” Harry shook his head, his eyes screwed shut.

“Harry?” Draco grasped Harry’s shoulder and shook him lightly. “Harry, are you alright?”

“I-I don’t know why… I just do.” Harry sobbed; his head hurt right now. “It’s like I have another set of memories inside my head! I see images! I saw...”

Draco pulled Harry to him and held the smaller teen; Harry wasn’t holding his sobs and was crying wholeheartedly. Draco closed his eyes and rocked Harry.

I’m losing you…

HPDMHPDM