Life From the Start

Just a reminder: 'blah' - thoughts

Chapter 4: Day One: A Night with Harry

After making sure that Harry was sound asleep, Draco quietly walked out of the bedroom and went on to explore the rest of his new, personal room. He turned left from the bedroom and came across another door; this one was painted white with animated baby barn animals painted on. Draco didn't even bother to open the door to know it was the nursery. However, curiosity got the best of him and he went inside anyway.

"Holy shit. this room is filled with fluffy animals!" Draco exclaimed.

The walls were painted baby blue with tufts of white clouds. Every once in awhile, a small, black bird flew across the so-called sky; Draco walked to one of the shelves-it was stocked with dozens of stuffed farm animals-and picked up a mooing cow.

"Potter will have a field day when I show him this room."

Draco chuckled when he thought how happy Harry was going to be. then his mind wandered to how Potter will chew and kiss every one of them. Shaking his head, Draco placed the cow back with the pig and duck.

"Dumbledore totally went overboard on this." Draco muttered; he walked away from the shelf and was now admiring a miniature slide in the middle of the room. "Even the slide is baby-safe."

The slide was in the shape of a small elephant. a pink elephant. Its trunk was the part where baby Harry can slide down of. Surrounding the slide were multiple cushions, held in place by a permanent sticking charm. Draco knew this because he had kicked one just to see if it would move or not. So if Harry landed on his small little bum once he slid down, he would not hurt himself. The Slytherin gave the small slide a pat before walking on, inspecting the other objects in the room. Not too far away from the pink elephant was a miniature swing, made for only one person. Draco shook his head in amusement as he pushed the seat and watched it move back and forth like a pendulum.

"This isn't some nursery. It's a freakin' playroom for Harry!" Draco rolled his eyes and stilled the swinging seat. "I wouldn't be too surprised if I find a small plastic ball pool."

Draco explored a bit more before he walked out, with the thought of bringing Harry here to play later on in the day. The blond padded towards the living room and dropped unceremoniously onto the couch. Draco's book bag was left on the ground by the coffee table when Harry needed to eat. Draco flipped over the flap and took out his Charms textbook along with a few pieces of parchment, a bottle of black ink, and a quill; he set them all on the small table in front of him.

"Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday and there are no classes." Draco murmured; he unrolled the parchment and picked up the black feathered quill, biting the tip. "Not much homework today. Lucky me. I should finish up before Potter wakes up and starts screaming his lungs out."

The blond started scribbling on the parchment; there was a foot long essay due for Charms on Monday. As he was flipping through the Charms textbook, Draco's eyes widened when he realized he might have to take the baby with him to class. Neither Dumbledore nor Snape told him anything about that.

"Oh no. No, no, no! I'm going to look like a mother with a child!...Fuck."

HPDMHPDM

By the time Draco finished with the foot long essay, an hour had passed. He rolled his shoulder to relieve the kinks and glanced around the living room and found what he was looking for. A grandfather clock sat by an archway that led to what Draco assumed was the dining area. It was almost four in the afternoon, just an hour and a half before dinner. Draco dropped the quill into the ink bottle and stretched his tired muscles; he twisted his back a couple of times until he heard his joints popped.

"Mm... I should check on Potter." Draco said and yawned. He pushed himself up from the couch and made his way to the bedroom.

The door quietly opened and Draco slipped in and closed it again, careful not to make any sounds. He tiptoed across the carpeted floor and finally peered down at the sleeping baby. Draco smiled; Harry was now sleeping on his stomach, one hand curled around the corner of the soft blanket, the other hand tucked beneath his small pillow. Draco saw wet splotches on the pillow and chuckled; Harry's mouth was parted and drool was just dribbling out freely. Malfoy reached down and carded his fingers through Potter's baby-fine hair; Harry sighed in his sleep and leaned in slightly to the soft touches.

"I think a bath is in order after we eat." Draco murmured; he was just watching the baby sleep now. "I have a feeling you're going to be a messy eater, Potter."

In reply, Harry snuggled deeper into the pillow. Draco shook his head and walked over to his bed. He fell on top of it and rolled until he was in the middle.

"I'll just take a nap and." Draco yawned loudly, "... wake up in two hours."

The blond closed his eyes and drifted off into an easy slumber, his last thought on how soft Harry's hair was.

HPDMHPDM

Draco rolled over and stayed that way; he was only half awake and was lying on the bed like a starfish. He threw his left arm across his abdomen and scratched an itch through his shirt.

'Ugh... don't feel like waking up. I had too much excitement in one day.' Draco sighed and rolled over to his side, about to fall asleep again, when he heard whimpering coming from the side of his bed.

"What's that noise...?" Draco mumbled; his brain was still hazy from sleep to remember that he was taking care of a toddler.

The whimpering turned into sobs; Harry was sitting upright in his cot, his small fists knuckling his eyes. The big boy wasn't coming for him; Harry wanted the blond boy to hold him. Harry sniffed and reached out through the bars surrounding the cot. He hiccupped and scooted closer to the edge of the small bed.

"Daco." Harry burbled; he was red in the cheeks, dried tear trails marked the skin.

Draco groaned, 'Daco? Da... CRAP!'

His eyes snapped open and found a bawling baby Harry reaching out, even though they were feet apart. Draco scrambled off the bed and was by Harry's side in four steps. Teary green eyes gazed up at him. Once Harry saw the big boy towering over him, he pulled his arm back and reached up, asking in silence for Draco to pick him up.

"So you've been saying my name all along. I thought you were calling me your Dad or something." Draco murmured as he picked up the tiny being, along with the stuffed dragon that was nearby.

Harry immediately stopped sobbing once he was in Draco's arms; the blond offered the dragon and Harry grasped it in his small hand. Harry swiped the side of the stuffed doll on Draco's cheek and laid his head on the blonde's shoulder. Draco winced when he felt his shirt became wet where Harry's nose touched. He sighed and padded over to a bureau where all the baby things were held. Draco pulled out the topmost drawer and found different colors and designs of baby romper suits, small shirts and pairs of trousers, and tiny little white socks. Harry sniffed again and Draco remembered what he was supposed to be looking for. He closed the drawer and scavenged; he then found the drawer filled with baby cleaning products. Taking out a small hanky, Draco cleaned Harry's snot covered face. As Draco held the dirty hanky-wondering where he can put it-it disappeared from his hand. He looked down into the drawer and found a clean one taking the previous handkerchief's place.

'Nice... I don't have to worry about cleaning things then.' Draco turned his head a bit and found Harry whacking the dragon on his shoulder blade.

"Are you hungry?" Draco asked softly; Harry let out something that sounded like `Bah!' and kept on hitting Draco's back. "O.k. I'll take that as a no... And stop hitting me with the doll Harry, the drag-Dacky is getting annoyed."

And it was; the dragon was now growling and puffs of smoke were coming from its snout.

"No." Harry frowned and waved the green dragon around. Draco arched his eyebrows and smirked.

"I believe you are starting to say words I actually understand," Draco praised, "You want to see your playroom?"

"Pwaywoom?" Harry repeated and tilted his head to the side; his waving arm was now limp on the side.

Draco chuckled and walked out of their bedroom, "Yes, Potter, playroom. Oh you're going to love it." Harry squealed and wrapped his short, chubby arms around Draco's neck. Draco was glad the baby's face wasn't covered with tears and snot anymore.

"Wuv!"

"Now you're just repeating everything I said, Harry."

"No."

Draco sighed.

HPDMHPDM

Once Draco stepped foot inside the playroom, he placed Harry down on the green carpeted floor. Baby Harry giggled happily and toddled over to the pink slide. Draco smirked when he saw the miniature Potter tried to hug the plaything and threw Dacky the dragon down the slide, watching it tumble.

Draco snorted, 'The slide's as tall as him.' He broke away from his thoughts when he saw Harry trying to climb to the top of the slide. Draco gasped and rushed over when Potter was on the second rail.

"You don't start climbing until I'm nearby!" Draco chided the young child; Harry held on tightly to the sides and turned his head to look at Draco.

"Up!"

"Don't you `up!' me, young man! I--" Draco stopped in mid-sentence. 'Oh shit. I sound like a mother.'

Draco groaned at the realization but helped the toddler up nonetheless. He stood at the side of the pink elephant and watched Harry slide down and landing on the pile of cushions. Harry clapped his hands together and giggled; he pushed himself off his bum and wobbled to the ladder to climb up again. This time, Draco helped Harry up with the toddler asking him to do so. He pressed one hand on the small of Harry's back and supported the baby until Harry was at the top of the slide. The green eyed baby dropped onto his bum and slid down with Harry laughing all the way. Draco chuckled when Potter reached the bottom and just sat there, in the middle of the cushion pile. Harry turned his head and smiled widely at Draco.

"Daco!" Harry beamed and pointed to the swing set. Draco rolled his eyes and went over to the sitting baby and picked him up. He tapped the tip of Harry's nose.

"It's 'Draco' not 'Daco'. Can you say Draco?" The blond asked patiently. Harry scrunched up his face in concentration; Draco laughed softly, "I'm surprised you remember my name, Potter."

Harry pouted and patted Draco's cheek. "Dway?"

Draco sighed, "So now we're down to 'Dray'. It's better than Daco I guess." He smoothed Harry's soft hair back, away from the baby's face. "What would you do if you remembered everything? Are you going to hate me more because I'm the one that has to take care of you?" Draco asked the baby.

Harry cooed and gave Draco a toothy grin. "Dway!" and Harry started squirming; Draco took the cue to walk to the swing set.

He plopped the squirming baby onto the seat of the swing; it was very secure so there was no way Harry can tumble off. Draco guided Harry's small hands to the ropes connected to the seat and wrapped the short fingers around it. More than once, Harry wanted to let go but when Draco started pushing, he instinctively held tighter. When the seat swung higher, Harry giggled and started kicking his legs; Draco stopped pushing and just let momentum do its work.

"Fy!" Harry squealed; Draco cocked his head and smiled.

"Flying? Even as a baby you always think of flying." Draco murmured; he watched as the swing slowed down and Harry reached out for him.

"Dway... `o up!" Harry demanded in his baby voice, trying to sound fierce. Draco laughed and pushed the swing again.

"If you were in your rightful age, I would've hexed you for asking me to do things for you."

"No!" Harry giggled, legs kicking.

Draco just smirked, his mercury colored eyes following the swing baby, whose hair was flying around, making it messier.

'You know that deep down, you wouldn't do it.' His inner voice said, `And you know I'm right. I'm always right.'

Draco sighed in resignation for the second time in one hour.

HPDMHPDM

"Hush, Harry." Draco said warily; he was rummaging through the drawers for a clean nappy. A crying, squirming, and dirty Harry lay on a huge towel on the floor, the bottom half of his body-bare.

Ten minutes ago, Harry was happily rolling around on the soft carpeted floor, with various stuffed animals around. Draco was sitting nearby watching Harry roll, when all of a sudden, Harry stopped moving and scrunched up his face until it turned red. Draco had noticed the lack of movement and was about to pick up the baby when a nasty smell permeated the playroom. The blond was shocked beyond words until Harry's cry broke his stupor. Half of Draco's mind didn't want to pick up Harry who just soiled his nappy, while the other half wanted to comfort Harry and change him into a clean diaper. So holding his breath, Draco picked up the toddler and rushed out of the playroom, with Harry still screaming.

Now, Draco had taken off the trousers-that wasn't too hard-and he had closed his eyes when he took off the soiled nappy. Draco had hoped and prayed that the dirty diaper would vanish just like the hanky he used to clean Harry's snot covered face. He sighed in relief when the smelly object disappeared in a flash. No way in hell was he going to wrap the dirty diaper into a ball and throw it away. So with a bare-bottom Harry crying and wriggling on a clean towel, Draco went to the bureau in search of a clean nappy and some baby wipes.

"I am NOT made for this." Draco groaned, "It stinks, it's disgusting. and did I say it stinks?"

Draco slammed a drawer closed and went to the next one; he cried out in joy when the contents were of boxes of baby wipes and nicely folded clean diapers. There was also a bottle of baby powder but Draco left that alone. Taking a box of wipes and a diaper, Draco moved-on his knees-back to the crying Harry. He looked down into the puffy eyes and frowned; Harry looked right back at him but continued sobbing.

"I had hoped you wouldn't just... release the contents from your bowels." Draco muttered and dropped the things in his hand near the baby. "But I guess you can't help it."

The blond opened the box of wipes and took one sheet out. He lifted Harry's chubby legs until he could see his little bum. Turning his head to the side, Draco blindly wiped the dirty places.

"Buggering hell! Nasty, disgusting, awful smelling... crap!" Draco cursed, not even thinking that he had just cussed in front of a baby Harry. He released his hold on Harry's legs and tossed the dirty wipe away from him; it disappeared once it touched the floor. "Thank Merlin I don't have to throw it away myself." Draco took out another baby wipe and cleaned again, just to make sure Harry's bum was free of stains.

Harry had stopped crying once he felt the coolness of the soft wipes. He was now gurgling softly and Draco looked up to glare at the child.

"Yeah, you're happy because you're clean now! I'm the one that has to do all the dirty work."

Harry cooed at him, "Cwap."

Draco growled, "Don't you start cursing now." Harry giggled in reply.

Muttering under his breath, Draco snatched the clean nappy and unfolded it. He spread it out on top of the towel and lifted Harry's legs again, moving the baby until his bum was over the diaper.

"Alright. I-Oh hell, I don't know how a diaper goes!" Draco fumed. Just as he was about to wrap Harry's bottom with the diaper-in whatever way he pleased-the diaper automatically wound around Harry's hips, fitting perfectly. "Ah, the wonders of magic." Draco smirked.

Because the baby trousers were not dirtied, Draco donned it on Harry. He pulled them over Harry's legs and fastened it up.

"Alright Potter, you're all clean now." Draco looked down and tickled Harry's tummy; the brunet wiggled and laughed under Draco's touches. "You should thank me. I did pretty well for my first time." Draco went on and tickled Harry's tiny feet. "So thank me."

Harry squealed loudly and then smiled at the big boy above him. Draco returned the smile and picked Harry up. Potter snuggled in Draco's arms, his cheeks pressed against Draco's shoulder.

"Wuv Dway." Harry sighed.

"Yeah, yeah Potter, of course you love me."

HPDMHPDM

"Potter! Stop moving!" Draco said, one hand holding a small spoon filled with mashed up peas. "I have more of your food on myself than in your stomach!"

Which was true; there were splats of mashed potatoes, bits of filet, and globs of gravy on Draco's face, shirt, and hair. It was a miracle he didn't blow up on Harry and just left. Draco had wondered if he would need to wear a face mask next time he fed Harry. The kid just loved to throw whatever food was on hand.

Harry pursed his lips and blew bubbles at the blond. Draco growled and moved closer to the fretting baby, the spoon pressed on Harry's lips.

"Harry, please eat." Draco begged, "Just finish your peas and you're done."

'Thank Merlin I ate before him. Or else I wouldn't get to eat at all.'

Harry turned away from the spoon and ignored Draco. The blond sighed, then smiled. He tapped Harry's shoulder, making the baby face him again with wide eyes.

'I'm going to kill myself later for doing this. And I seriously hope he doesn't remember this part.'

"Look Harry, it's a flying broom!" Draco held the spoon between his thumb and forefinger and began making `whooshing' sounds. "Open wide and let the broom land."

Harry's green orbs followed the `flying' spoon; he giggled and clapped and when Draco moved the spoon closer, Harry opened his mouth. Draco took this opportunity to 'land' the spoon.

"See? Peas aren't that bad right?" Draco asked; Harry's cheeks were puffed out since he was still chewing and didn't answer. "Just one more and we're done!"

Draco did the flying broom again and Harry opened his mouth immediately; Draco was glad feeding was finally over. He untied Harry's bib and left it on the highchair. Plucking Harry out, they walked back to their bedroom where the bathroom was joined.

Draco walked into the bathroom and closed the door; he had placed some fresh clothes for himself and Harry before dinner came. Setting Harry onto his hip, Draco turned on the faucets and let both hot and cold water run. He turned them off once the tub was filled a bit under halfway. Carefully going on his knees, Draco tested the water and was satisfied to find the water warm.

"Time to strip, Potter."

HPDMHPDM

It had taken Draco exactly forty-five minutes to finish giving Harry his bath. The first ten minutes was of him wrestling Harry out of his clothes; the brunet simply didn't want to get naked. Fifteen minutes were used to stop Harry from splashing around in the water; that had only gotten Draco wet from the waist up. The remainder twenty minutes consisted of Draco washing Harry's nest of hair, scrubbing the small body clean with a flannel, and finally, drying the baby with a fluffy white towel. If it wasn't for his dripping hair and clothes, Draco thought it went pretty well.

After dressing Harry in a sleeping suit, Draco walked out from the bathroom, the only sound was of Harry's even breathing. The little brat-Draco had called him that when Harry splashed him in the face-was sound asleep once Draco dried him. The Slytherin carefully placed Harry down in the cot, tucked the blanket around Harry, and pulled up the bars around the small bed.

"Goodnight, Harry." Draco smiled; Harry sighed and rolled over to sleep on his stomach.

Stretching, Draco slowly walked back to the bathroom to take his bath. Even though it was only eight o' clock, he was tired. It had been a trying day after all. With one last look at the cot, Draco went in and shut the bathroom door.

HPDMHPDM

A/N: I update daily :D Or I try to at least lol. I'm glad you like this story!! ^_~