Life From the Start

Chapter 3: What’s a Rubber Duck?

“So you’re basically saying that I have to baby-sit Potter for Merlin knows how long?” Draco asked; he was holding down Harry’s hands for the baby was trying to rip out Draco’s ears.

“That’s what I’ve said,” Dumbledore replied. Draco growled but when he noticed two round, green eyes staring at him, his face softened.

“… But wouldn’t the potion leave Potter’s system? I mean, the original potion only works for six hours… maybe Potter will be normal by tomorrow or something.” Draco suggested hopefully.

Snape shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way Draco. The instructions, the amount of ingredient used were only intended to make someone younger by five years.” Snape paused and stared at the de-aged teen; Harry waved his arms at the professor and gurgled. Severus rolled his eyes. “Potter here is now perhaps a fifteen month old child. Take or give a few months. Either way, that’s a deficit of sixteen years. From one to seventeen… that’s a huge gap. His body won’t be able to tolerate the changes.”

Draco was taken aback; he looked at the small child who was now reaching—and failing—for the bowl of lemon drops on the Headmaster’s table. Draco absently pulled Harry back to his chest before the toddler fell out of his lap.

“His… Potter’s memories… Are they affected?” Draco murmured; he had one arm wrapped across Harry’s tummy while the other hand was playing with his tiny feet. It was all to keep Potter occupied, and it’s working quite nicely.

“I can’t say for sure,” Snape answered slowly, hesitantly, “There’s a good chance they’re not affected; he may or may not remember the things that happened during his baby state. If he doesn’t remember when he’s back to normal… then there is simply a blank space between the time he drank the potion and the time he turns back to his seventeen year old self. I will analyze the potion tonight and hopefully I can start making the antidote, or I guess the ‘aging potion’, in one or two days.”

Draco nodded dazedly; it was a lot to take in. He moved the baby around until Harry was sitting securely on his lap. Harry began smacking Draco’s thighs with his small palms while looking down at his romper suit. Harry poked at one of the hopping bunnies and giggled; a glob of drool dripped onto the suit.

Draco winced and was glad he wasn’t holding Potter to his chest.

“You’re drooling enough to take a bath with,” Draco muttered.

The blond reached into his robe and took out a white handkerchief and wiped the drool off Harry’s chin diligently. Harry protested and tried to push Draco’s hand and the offending white cloth away but Malfoy was determined. Using force wasn’t going to get anything done so Draco used the other thing: gentleness.

“No, Harry… Be a nice little boy…” Draco murmured as he wiped the drool of Harry’s face. Harry pouted but he had also stopped twisting his head away. Draco beamed at the baby boy, “See? That wasn’t so bad was it?”

Harry answered by sticking his thumb in his mouth. Draco shook his head and stuffed his now wet handkerchief inside his pocket. He then looked up at Snape, then Dumbledore.

“Professors… Can I leave now?” Draco asked wearily; it was a trying day.

“You may leave…” Dumbledore started; Draco sat up straighter, “… After Madam Pomfrey comes and gives Harry a checkup.” Draco groaned.

Madam Pomfrey came by Floo a few minutes later. She had heard what had happened to Harry from the Headmaster himself so when she saw the baby in Draco’s arms, she wasn’t too surprised. Pomfrey smiled warmly at the toddler and Harry answered by blowing raspberries; Professor Snape stood up from his chair and without having the medi-witch asking him to do so, he transfigured his chair into a small examining table.

“Mr. Malfoy, can you bring Harry here please?” Pomfrey asked; Draco rose from his seat and gently laid Potter onto the small table.

Harry mewled once he was away from Draco’s body but the blond stood nearby, offering his forefinger when Harry reached for it. The green eyed baby held it tightly and shook Draco’s finger like a rattle.

“Thank you Mr. Malfoy for keeping Harry calm… Now I’ll just have to undress him.”

Madam Pomfrey then waved her wand over the small body. The tip of her wand turned light blue; Harry released Draco’s finger and instead, tried reaching for the glowing wand. Madam Pomfrey cooed at the baby and tickled Harry’s tummy as she continued her checkup. Harry flashed a small, toothy smile and brought his short, chubby legs up and kicked the air. She smiled and tucked her wand back in after she finished checking.

“Mr. Potter is in perfect health… It seems the potion turned him into a thirteen month old baby. He should be able to say simple, one syllable words… although he hadn’t said much.” The medi-witch chuckled and tickled Harry under the chin; the baby giggled merrily. “I see nothing wrong with him. Mr. Malfoy, you have yourself a very healthy baby boy!”

“Yeah…” Draco rolled his eyes, “Aren’t I the lucky one?”

HPDMHPDM

“Well, here we are,” Snape stopped in front of a very large portrait; it was of a lady sitting on a bench, holding a white, lacy umbrella. “The password is ‘Rubber Duck’.” Snape shuddered; the lady in the portrait giggled.

Draco scoffed and shifted his shoulder to prevent his book bag from slipping off.

“What the hell is a rubber duck?!” Draco asked, moving his face away from baby Harry’s head.

“It’s a Muggle play thing.” Snape answered.

Harry had fallen asleep once more after Madam Pomfrey’s checkup. But as Draco and Severus began walking to Draco’s private rooms, it jostled Harry and he woke up. Harry had his arms wrapped loosely around the blonde’s neck and was looking at his surroundings as they passed by statues and paintings. Everything looked so big. When they stopped, Harry fussed. The big boy holding him had stopped moving. And so, to get Draco’s attention, Harry started crying.

“Hush, Potter.” Draco whispered and gave the small child in his arms comforting pats. “Stop crying… Don’t you get tired from crying?”

Harry rubbed his eyes with his chubby hand and pouted. “Da…”

Snape arched an eyebrow, “Is Potter calling you his father?”

“I don’t think so… Guess he can only say so much.” Draco shrugged and pressed the baby closer to his chest.

Harry sniffed and buried his face into the crook of Draco’s neck. He fisted Draco’s blond hair and tugged. Seeing that they didn’t come off like he wanted them to, Harry tugged again and this time he moved his mouth closer to the gold strands.

Draco had felt the first pull of his hair but didn’t mind it so much. But when Harry pulled on his hair the second time and felt chewing, he moved his head away from the baby—which removed his hair from Harry’s hand—and frowned.

‘Damnit! My hair is covered with baby spit!’

Draco breathed through his nostrils and let it out slowly. He was not going to yell at a teen-turned-infant Potter. So instead he tapped the tip of Harry’s tiny nose with his finger. Harry made a grab for the digit but Draco pulled away just in time.

“Hair is not food Po-Harry,” Draco chided the young child, “Are you hungry?”

Harry blinked a few times and tilted his head as if he understood what Draco just asked. Maybe he did understand, but nobody knew. Harry opened his mouth and for a second Draco was worried Potter was going to cry again, but instead, Harry let out a giggle and pulled himself closer to the blond. The green eyed baby leaned in and gave Draco a wet baby kiss on the cheek.

“’wry!” Harry chirped happily and clapped Draco’s face with both of his hands.

Draco was still shocked from the kiss Harry gave him. He thought he would flip when Potter pressed his wet mouth on his face. But… it wasn’t that bad. Draco shook his head and glared half-heartedly at the wriggling baby in his arms.

‘He’s a baby Draco, he’s just being… cute.’

“Well, it seems Mr. Potter can speak, although not clearly.” Snape said uncaringly, “Draco, you should head inside. If you need anything, you can always call a house-elf. Ask them to bring you and Potter lunch; I think it’s unwise to go out publicly right now.”

“Yeah… sure.” Draco mumbled; he smiled when Harry was burrowing into his robes again, “I should let Potter rest. He’s been… uh… overly excited.”

“Of course,” Snape’s lips curled into a sneer; he turned and faced the lady in the painting, “Rubber Duck.”

The portrait swung inward and revealed an elegantly decorated living quarter. Both Draco and Severus stepped inside; once again, Harry was immediately alert to his new surroundings. He stuck his small thumb in his mouth and sucked, his green eyes taking in the picture of his new living space. Draco walked by the living room, decorated with two medium sized couches, a solid cherry wood coffee table, a couple of small bookcases, and what seemed to be a playpen for baby Harry.

“I’ll let you get acquainted with your living quarters,” Snape said suddenly, “I have another class in ten minutes and must go back to tidy up the classroom.”

“We’ll be fine… After I get Har—Potter to eat and sleep, I’ll have lunch.” Draco nodded at Snape to tell his professor that he can leave.

“Very well. If you need anything, you know you can contact me or the Headmaster.” And then, Snape turned and left, the portrait closing behind him.

Draco sighed tiredly and held Harry higher so that their eyes were leveled.

“It’s just you and me now, Potter.” Draco said in a soft tone.

Harry cooed and tried to reach for Draco’s nose. The blond chuckled and moved his head back, away from the searching fingers.

“Alright, let’s see what they gave you to play with…” Draco murmured and walked over to where the playpen sat.

He was by the side and peered in; Harry twisted his head and looked down at the small pen. There were some plushy blocks, a couple of stuffed animals, and a soft, fluffy baby blanket. Harry squealed and clapped his small hands together then pointed down at one of the stuffed animals.

“Dacky?”

Draco frowned and followed the path of the pointing finger; it wasn’t a duck—if that’s what Harry said—at all, not even a bird. The Slytherin snorted; it was a stuffed dragon.

“Only you would call it a duck,” Draco told the squirming child; Harry paid no heed to what Draco said and continued to point at the dragon.

“Dacky…” Harry murmured and lips began to tremble slightly.

At the first moment Draco heard the tremble in Harry’s voice, he was alert. He slowly bent down and picked up the stuffed green dragon. The toy opened its jaws and a small puff of smoke came out. Draco held the dragon in front of Harry and waited for the baby to take hold of it. Once the dragon was in Harry’s line of sight, the brunet smiled widely and smacked a wet one on the dragon’s head. Draco shook his head in bemusement; it seemed like Potter liked to kiss everything and anything. Draco shook the stuffed dragon a few times and finally, Harry grabbed it and squeezed; the dragon let out an angry snort.

“Don’t squeeze the dra—Dacky too hard,” Draco warned; he rolled his eyes when all Harry did was wave the dragon above his small head. “I knew you wouldn’t understand… Great… I’m calling a bloody dragon Dacky.”

Draco sighed in defeat when baby Harry started chewing on the dragon’s tail; the poor toy was snorting angrily.

“Right… You’re hungry. I should get you a bottle…” Draco muttered and padded away from the playpen—with Harry happily chewing on the dragon’s tail—and sat down in one of the couches.

‘Where the hell am I going to find a fuckin’ bottle?’ Draco thought frustratingly, ‘Ah, yes. House-elves.’

Draco snapped his fingers and almost immediately a house-elf appeared in front of Draco. Its tennis ball sized eyes peered up at the towering blond.

“What can I helps you with?” the elf squeaked; Draco leaned slightly forward, with Harry still biting the dragon’s tail, and smiled thinly at the elf.

“Can you bring a warm bottle for the baby and a plate of sandwiches for me please?” Draco asked while trying to avoid being whacked by the stuffed toy. “Oh, and I would also like a glass of pumpkin juice.”

“Right away sirs! Me will bring what you need!” the elf bowed and disappeared with a ‘pop’. The elf appeared two minutes later with the bottle and food. It set the tray on the coffee table and was gone after Draco thanked it.

Draco sighed and lifted baby Harry and placed the giggling child next to him on the couch. Harry ‘ohhed’ and started to hit the couch with the dragon. Draco chuckled and laid one hand on Harry’s leg, just in case the baby got too excited and rolled off the couch. Sensing Draco’s hand on him, Harry stopped pounding the couch with the stuff dragon and just let his small body slid sideways until his head hit Draco’s hips. Not wanting to bother in trying to figure out what baby Harry was doing, Draco just sat there, very still, and watched.

Harry rolled, with some difficulty, onto his stomach. He tilted his head up and found the big blond boy looking down at him. Harry scrunched up his face in determination and dragged himself over Draco’s lap.

“Up! Up, Da…” Harry babbled; he giggled shrilly when two big hands were under each of his armpits to lift him up.

Draco smiled lightly when Harry told him to pick him up. He obliged and lifted the toddler up and plopped him down on his lap again, with Harry facing him. Harry clapped his hand on Draco’s chest and let himself fall forward, his cheeks pressed onto the front of Draco’s robes.

Draco sighed and carded his hand lightly through Harry’s soft locks. He reached forward and took the warm baby bottle; Draco shifted Harry until the baby was half lying in his arms. He pressed the rubber nipple to Harry’s lips and the brunet promptly started suckling. Draco watched in half amazement.

‘I’m actually feeding a baby! A baby Potter no less…’

Harry continued to suckle the baby formula through the rubber nipple with fervor; he was hungry. Tiny fingers wrapped around Draco’s wrist and Harry pulled away, the nipple came off with a small ‘pop’. Potter yawned and licked his lips. Draco left the bottle on the couch—it was empty—and rocked Harry slowly.

“Da…” Harry sighed and nuzzled Draco’s arm.

“You really should stop calling me your father…” Draco murmured, watching as Harry’s eyes began to close, “I wonder if you’ll remember any of this when you’re normal again…”

Harry screwed up his face and let out another long, tired yawn.

Draco snickered, “Let’s get you to bed shall we?”

The blond stood up slowly and walked to the back. He opened one of the doors and revealed the bedroom. In the middle was a four poster bed, covered with a dark green bed sheet; along the headboard were four pillows. A small cot was placed close to the bed and Draco walked up to it. He pulled back the soft blanket and gently laid Harry down. The baby didn’t make a sound and continued sleeping soundly. Draco then pulled the blanket back up and covered Harry, tucking in the sides so the toddler wouldn’t throw the blanket off. Draco smirked as he watched the rise and fall of Harry’s chest; his breathing was a slow, even rhythm.

“I hope you'll remember… I really hope so.”