Too Young

**AN Many thanks to Keikokin for the Beta


It was a confused Harry Potter who walked back to his flat. When he walked in it was very quiet and that made him nervous. First he looked around the common room for a note thinking that they may have gone for a walk. When no note was found he looked into Olivia’s room and saw there was no one there. The bathroom was empty as well. Before he panicked he decided to check his room.

There asleep on top of his bed were both Draco and Olivia. They must have tired themselves out and lay down. It was the cutest thing he had ever seen and he went for his camera without even thinking of it. After he snapped the picture he lay down on the bed next to his daughter, just to close his eyes for a second. The next thing he knew he heard Draco next to him. “Umf!” Then the mad giggles of a two-and-a-half-year old girl. He knew that Draco was being introduced to the Daddy treatment. Then, half a second later he felt the little girl pounce on his chest as well.

“Daddy! You came to nap with us!” She told her father.

“Daddy was tired too Princess. How was your day?” He asked the tiny blond.

“Oh it was so much fun Daddy. We pwayed Hide and Seek and catch with the koffel fwom yowr kidditch set. Then Coco chased me awound and wound. It was the best day Daddy!” she told the raven-haired boy.

“How are you doing there Coco? That’s your first Livvie special wake up call isn’t it?” He asked the blond still lying in the bed.

“Well I can’t say it’s my favorite way to wake up, that’s for sure.” He smiled at Harry as he said it, thinking dirty thoughts on what could be his favorite way to wake up.

“What’s your favorite?” Harry asked cheekily.

Draco simply turned pink and sputtered. He felt as if Harry had read his mind and he was terribly embarrassed. Harry, seeing his face could guess what he had been thinking. Harry had the advantage over Draco here because he knew the blond was gay. Coco had no idea what Harry’s orientation was and if he assumed, he would have to assume straight.

Perhaps it was time for Harry to start giving the boy subtle hints? Did he want a relationship with him? It was something he had to think a lot about before he acted on it. After all, whatever he decided would affect not only himself but his daughter as well. Things were so good between the three of them right now he was afraid to risk ruining them should he get involved with Draco.

He smiled back at the blond, but didn’t force him to answer. He simply plucked Livvie up off the floor and started talking about dinner. They decided to have a quiet family style dinner in their quarters. It was the three of them and Dobby, who had been thrilled to see his little Draco, was doing well and had gotten away from that nasty Lucius. He was happy that all of his favorite people were there in the same room together.

Draco himself had been overjoyed when he had first learned that Dobby was to be the Potter elf. He was happy that the elf would be serving a family again. He had also put Harry’s mind to ease by telling him what wonderful care he had received when Dobby took care of him on occasion when he was young.

It had become such a regular event to have the house elf at dinner that no one even thought twice about it anymore. He participated in the conversation in his stilted English and offered opinions occasionally, only if they agreed with Harry’s though. To the surprise of the two teens Dobby had begun teaching Olivia to speak the house elf language. That was an honor that was reserved for someone felt to be very important in the house elf community. Dobby had offered to teach Harry in his third year, but Harry had said ‘no’ at the time. Now he was learning along with his daughter, if only so that he knew what she was saying if she started speaking the language.

Occasionally Dobby would slip in a few words in the goblin language as well since it was similar in syntax to the one the elves used. It would be convenient in the future to know the languages of these creatures. Learning their languages was a way to show respect and respect was important to both races. It takes a great person to recognize how worthy those who chose to serve are of our respect; to see how they hold up our industry, our communities and are the very foundations of our society.

***
Lazy Sunday was soon over and with Olivia tucked in, the two boys dove head first into the homework they had put off to enjoy this time with the child. Harry had to write his potions essay and Draco had to make a star chart for Divination. They had swapped notes, Harry giving the blond some of his best lies and Draco giving Harry his notes on the potion that the essay was about as well as an extra herbal that he could look things up in.

It was closing in on ten when Harry started to yawn and placed his head back on the sofa from where he was sitting on the floor in front of it. Draco, who was lying on his stomach on the couch, absentmindedly reached out to run his fingers through the downy, raven hair.

“You know I was thinking Harry.” Draco started. “I spend more time here than in my own flat. Maybe we should make a door between the two?” Harry simply hummed in response and tilted his head so that the blond would scratch more to the left.

“Hmm? Is that a yes, no, or maybe?” He asked hoping for a more concrete answer.

“I don’t know. It’s an interesting idea, but I think it’s one we need to think about and talk about it you know? Sitting here now I can’t imagine any situation where I wouldn’t want you here but I still need time, is that okay?” He told his friend.

“Yeah, I was expecting a ‘no’, so a ‘maybe’ is just fine with me.” Then he rolled over and stopped rubbing the brunet’s hair. He was falling asleep and was surprised when he felt the soft blanket being draped over him and a pillow being gently placed under his head. His shoes were removed and placed against the wall where he wouldn’t trip over them in the morning. Then thinking the blond was already asleep, he did the unthinkable and kissed his forehead much the same way he did with Olivia.

Although Draco was awake he didn’t let Harry know that. He savored the kiss, and he wondered what it meant. Did Harry look at him as another child? A close friend? A brother? Draco hoped it was none of those things, but he knew it wasn’t realistic to believe that Harry might be gay. So he just snuggled deeper into the warm blanket and let himself drift into sleep.

Harry lay awake in his bed for hours wondering what ever possessed him to lose control and kiss the blond. It had been an instinct, one he hadn’t even thought about. He had been so comfortable with the blond stroking his hair and then when he fell asleep he felt the need to make him comfortable where he was. The innocent kiss had just seemed right.

***
A few weeks had passed and with Dumbledore’s approval a door had indeed been added between the two flats. The boys were doing well and Draco was even more of a part of their lives than he had been before. Harry was still having trouble with Ron and Hermione and he now barely spoke to them. He had enough and was going to confront them. Draco was again watching Livvie, so that he could find out what was wrong with his friends.

He made his way to the Gryffindor common room and spied his friends studying in the corner. He joined them and they looked up when they sensed him sitting down.

“Hey Harry, how’s it going?” Ron asked as if there was no problem between them.

“I’m not sure. I came to find out what was wrong with the two of you.” Harry told them. Ron looked at him as if he were crazy.

“There’s nothing wrong with us. Just because you haven’t been around lately doesn’t mean there is something wrong with us.” He was getting defensive already.

“What I mean Ron is why haven’t you guys come to see me lately? Why when you do come to see me do you pretend as if my daughter doesn’t exist? Why are my two best friends not helping and supporting me through the hardest thing in my life?” Harry was on a roll now and he wanted answers.

“What are you talking about? We came to see you not too long ago and you were busy with Malfoy.” Ron spat at him.

“Ron, that was three weeks ago. You haven’t been back since. You don’t say ‘hi’ to me in the halls unless I’m alone. You pretend as if Livvie isn’t there at meals. When was the last time you said ‘hi’ to her? Don’t think she doesn’t notice because she does. She wants to know why Daddy’s friends don’t like her.” Harry ranted.

Ron looked shell shocked. Had it really been three weeks since that morning they had found Malfoy there in his pajamas?

“Hermione you’ve been quiet.” Harry said to his friend.

“Harry, I’m not sure what to say. You’re right. I’m not comfortable with the idea of you having a child. I’m certainly not comfortable with you being friends with Draco Malfoy. All of that together has kept me away. You’re only sixteen. You shouldn’t have a baby. You should have given her to someone who could care for her better than you can. It’s not fair to her to be raised in a single parent family, especially with a parent who isn’t old enough to provide proper care.” She stated in her own dignified way.

“Hermione are you listening to yourself? You think it would be best for my child if I gave her away to strangers after her mother has just died? You think a child is better off if it has two parents no matter what status they have? I had two authority figures in my life and I can tell you they sucked. I had the option of leaving her with the Dursleys and I can tell you I didn’t have to think about it for thirty seconds. Olivia is my daughter, and she will always be a part of my life. The two of you need to decide if you can accept it. I love you both and I want you to be a part of our family, however if you can’t accept my daughter then that just isn’t possible.

I’d like to ask you not to visit unless you plan to treat my daughter as a precious child instead of a piece of the furniture.” That said Harry stormed out of the common room leaving a still dumbstruck Ron and a fuming Hermione.

Hermione wasn’t used to being dismissed that way. She knew that Harry would call them on their behavior eventually. She didn’t know what Ron’s feelings on the subject were, they hadn’t talked, but she knew that she felt that Harry was being selfish. His daughter wouldn’t remember him or her mother and would be better off in a two parent home where her life would be stable. She knew her ideals were old fashioned but she had done research into the issue and found many studies to back her up. What she didn’t realize was that she hadn’t done research into love and its influence on a child. Harry was full of love and willing to lavish it all on his child, he was there to support her, educate her, discipline her, play with her and help her become the wonderful person that she had the ability to become. Her view was one-sided based on research that only showed one side of the argument.

Ron sat in silence. He had heard what Hermione had said and he couldn’t have disagreed more. Harry was his friend, and he had a daughter. It wasn’t that he was deliberately ignoring the child; he just wasn’t used to the circumstances and got carried away talking to Harry. He missed his best friend now that they weren’t living in the same dorm. He had just let Hermione sweep him away with homework and chess and then Quidditch came along and he had to spend quite a bit of time toning the team up. He felt .that Hermione was wrong, but she only meant what was best for the child. Unfortunately her way of going about things was a bit backward.

She was so caught up in her concerns that she would deliberately make the child feel unwanted. The redhead knew he had to apologize, he just didn’t know how.

***

Harry stormed back to his flat. How dare she say such things? She expected him to give up his daughter? To place her in the care of strangers after a horribly traumatic experience? Harry had spent her entire short life trying to do what was best for her and he would continue to do that until the day he died, however he would never ever give her up no matter what other people’s opinions. He had left so abruptly because he was certain that he would do bodily harm to Hermione had he not.

When he got back to the flat Draco and Livvie were not in the common room. That was unusual but he thought maybe they were taking another nap. So he checked his room only to find it empty. However, he did hear tons of splashing going on in the bathroom and that was where he headed next.

He walked in on Draco and Livvie in the middle of what looked like a bubble bath gone wild. Bubbles were flying about the room and both were in the tub splashing each other having a grand old time.

“That looks like loads of fun.” He told the two from the door.

“Daddy!” Olivia squealed and made her way to give him a wet welcome home hug.

“Hello sweetie. What are the two of you doing in here?” He asked her. She strutted around showing off her bathing suit.

“See the baving suit that Coco made me? It’s got a pwincess on it.” She proudly told her father.

Seeing the pretty little princess that certainly resembled his daughter he smiled at his blond friend. Draco had gotten up from the tub and Harry could now see that he had a pair of trunks on as well. Livvie wasted no time grabbing Draco and getting him back into the oversized bath tub.

“Daddy get in wiff us!!!” She ordered.

“Okay, just give me a minute to make some trunks. Coco, make sure that water is warm will you?” He asked his friend. This was the perfect way for him to let off steam. After he had changed he climbed into the tub. Although it was a big tub, it seemed just a bit smaller with the two men and little girl in it. Harry ended up sitting opposite Draco, their legs touching from knee to calf. Livvie was happy to play and splash in between her favorite men.

After the bath they decided to take a walk around the castle. It had started snowing outside and it was too cold to take the little girl out into the Scottish winter.

They wandered around the castle for over and hour until it was time for supper. All three of them were hungry and they stood outside the kitchen trying to decide if they should have dinner together in the flat, or if they should go to the Great Hall. Harry finally decided that he wanted to give his friends a little more time to think and suggested that they picnic on the common room floor. They stopped into the kitchen to place their order and were told that Dobby would have it set up by the time they returned from their walk.

Dinner was wonderful and since she had already had their bath the boys played a rousing game of Hide and Seek with her. It was the wizarding version, where the person who is seeking is actually temporarily blinded for sixty seconds. So they took turns hiding and seeking, the boys picking obvious places to hide when it was Livvie’s turn to seek.

After the toddler was put to bed and Harry was sure she was asleep he recounted his conversation with Remus and then with Ron and Hermione. Draco was aghast at what Granger had said. He explained that it was obvious that she hadn’t grown up in the wizarding world where family meant everything. No one would ever consider giving up their child for adoption. It just didn’t happen. If a wizarding couple could not have a child then there was a magical intervention. If everything failed they would have a family member carry the child for them. Family was very important in their world, especially to Purebloods. The idea of someone else raising Livvie made him feel ill.

Draco did his best to comfort his angry friend. Finally he thought to just put on some soft music and talk quietly over a few butter beers that Dobby kept in stock for the two of them. Dobby had been very happy to hear that Master Draco was considered part of the family and he went out of his way to make sure that he took care of his rooms as well. Draco was thrilled because he had missed the house elf. The reason that Lucius had treated the poor thing so badly was that the elf refused to listen to any instructions forbidding him to heal the young child after he had a lesson or a punishment. He also refused to deny the child food or water as he was told to do. As a result he took tortures just as bad as Draco, but he took them gladly. Now he served his Master Draco again and he was more than thrilled. Secretly he thought that His Master Harry and his Master Draco would make a great couple, however, he had no idea how to go about letting them discover that fact.

***
Snow had come to Hogwarts halfway through November. It was a soft, dry snow, the kind that is made for long walks in the warmer afternoon air. Harry and Draco walked with Livvie stretched between them swinging her forward and back as her feet made the dusty snow fly around the three. Harry had decided to let his friends have their space. He would wait until they could deal with the situation and in the meantime he really had to concentrate on his daughter and his studies.

They could hold their childish opinions for as long as they needed too, when the time came that they had a family of their own they would realize what it would have meant to give up a child, especially to someone who had never felt wanted or loved. Harry would do anything for his little girl, anything at all.

They entered from the courtyard a while later with pink cheeks and cold hands. They had asked Dobby to have hot chocolate with marshmallows waiting for them when they got back and they were sure it would be great. On the way to their rooms they ran into Ron and Hermione.

“Hi Harry,” the bushy-haired girl said.

Harry looked at her like she was crazy. She didn’t acknowledge Livvie or Draco. Ron waved at him as well and then bent down to say ‘hi’ to Livvie. The little girl shied away and hid behind her father’s leg, her other hand still holding tight to Draco’s. Ron just smiled and grimaced at Malfoy.

“Hello Ron, Hermione.” Harry replied to the two. He was angry at Hermione for still refusing to acknowledge his daughter. Ron seemed to understand that he was being a bit unreasonable. The fact that he was raised in the wizarding world worked in Harry’s favor this time. He hadn’t expected Hermione to be so unreasonable about the whole thing. She was usually not very judgmental and he couldn’t figure out why she was behaving this way.

“We were wondering what you were doing this afternoon, mate.” Ron said to his friend.

“We’ve just been for a walk in the snow, and we were going to have hot chocolate, would you like to join us?” He said directly to Ron while ignoring Hermione. The red-head assuming that his girlfriend was invited as well, nodded took her hand and followed the other two men to their flat.

After Harry had informed Dobby of the change in numbers they settled around the fireplace to warm up. Harry sat on the floor with Livvie in his lap, cuddling her and warming her hands between his own. Her button nose was pink from the cold and she was excited about the hot chocolate that was about to be served.

They talked for a while about Quidditch, but the little girl soon got bored of that conversation and started to climb all over her father and the blond. Hermione wore a frown at the way the little girl was behaving, using the two men as a jungle gym. Ron just laughed, remembering when he used to do that to Bill and Charlie. Soon though, Hermione excused herself to the library leaving Ron behind to spend the rest of the afternoon with his best friend.

Ron had decided that even though it wasn’t the best life for his friend, family was important and being responsible for his daughter was the right thing for him to have done. He was still hurt that Harry hadn’t shared this part of his life with him, but he couldn’t fault his friends desire to keep his daughter safe.

Harry just wished he knew what was wrong with Hermione. He had never known the girl to be so steadfast and stubborn on any issue other than House Elf rights. She hadn’t even questioned Dobby’s presence in the suite.

“Ron, what is wrong with Herm’? She just isn’t acting like herself. When I knew that Livvie was coming to live here I thought for sure that Herm’ would be my biggest supporter, and she has been the least supportive out of anyone.” Harry asked.

“I don’t know, but I’ll talk to her. She really is being ridiculous,” he answered. It was the best that Harry was going to get for now. After the cocoa was finished there was a quick chess game with Ron describing all of the pieces to the toddler even if he knew she wouldn’t remember that the next time that she saw them. He beat Harry as usual and was set to take on Draco when they realized it was time for supper. They all washed up and headed down to the Great Hall to eat.

As the three walked in they noted that Hermione was sitting in her usual seat with a book held firmly in her hands as she ate. Ron sat down beside her, and Harry sat with Livvie to the right of Ron. It was a quiet dinner, both boys thinking about what could possibly be wrong with Hermione.

***

The snow kept up and the little family walked in the snow often. There was another snow storm predicted for the weekend and Harry was hoping it would be wet snow. He had never really gotten to play in the snow as a child, and once he got to Hogwarts he felt he was too old to enjoy it. Now, however, he couldn’t be faulted for building a snowman with his little girl. Livvie loved the snow and she loved her afternoon walks. Sometimes it was just her and Daddy, sometimes just her and Coco, but her favorite walks were the ones that all three of them took together.

As predicted the snow fell Friday night and as hoped it was a wet snow. Harry and family bundled up and placed Impervious Charms on the clothes they were wearing to keep the wet out. It was a long day filled with snow men and snow angels and a bit of a snowball fight. Harry could only laugh the first time that Olivia put snow down his shirt. She was acting so adorably innocent that he knew she was up to something. It was Draco’s idea of course, so he had to get back at the boy. He did his best, sneaking up on him when he was helping Olivia to choose the right scarf for their above average snow man. He would have never believed that the girly shriek came from Draco Malfoy had he not seen it himself.

Draco jumped up and chased Harry around in the snow, Olivia was chasing after Draco not wanting to be left out of the fun. It was a breathless blond that finally tackled Harry face down in the snow. He flipped his victim over with every intention of making him eat snow, but he was star struck by the Gryffindor’s brilliant green eyes. He was sure he would have kissed him if Livvie had not pounced. The blond girl had finally caught up with her two guardians and jumped on top of the pile knocking the wind out of both of them.

After a giggle fest they made their way inside for afternoon tea and cocoa. It was a happy trio that was found warming up by the fire while Dobby saw to their meal. They were too content to eat in the Great Hall this evening.

***

Harry had been stuck in the library after dinner and he was frustrated with his paper for Potions. It was always difficult for him and he had to wonder if it had something to do with the teacher. He always understood it when Draco tutored him. He was about to bag it for the night when Hermione entered the library. She headed straight for Harry’s table glad to see that he was finally alone. She had wanted to talk to him for a while now but had not had the chance; he was always with someone else.

“Harry, can we talk?” She asked the brunette.

Harry hoped that he might gain some insight into why his best friend had behaved the way that she did. So he agreed and they walked to an empty classroom to talk.

“Harry, I’m sorry.” She said. She offered no explanation and Harry was puzzled.

“Sorry for what Hermione?” He asked. He had to know what it was she was apologizing for. Was she apologizing for the things she said, or the way she treated his daughter? Perhaps there was something that he didn’t know about.

Hermione was frustrated; she had hoped to get out of things without an explanation. She saw now that wasn’t going to happen.

“I’m sorry for what I said, for what I did. I’ve been writing to my Mom about it and she was surprised that I felt that way. You see, I have a sister and she is twenty-five now. I’ve never met her because my Mom and Dad gave her up for adoption. When they told me about her they told me it was the best thing they could do for her because they weren’t old enough to take care of her. Ever since then I’ve held on to that belief. When I wrote about you in an owl a few weeks ago she was shocked. She said that just because that decision was right for her and my dad didn’t mean that it was right for everyone. She said she was sure that the wizarding world had their views on the matter. So I looked it up, and it’s true. Adoption only happens in the wizarding world when someone’s entire family dies. That’s why you were left with the Dursley’s. No one in the wizarding world would have ever imagined not putting you with blood relatives even if they weren’t magical.” She barely took a breath as she spouted her information. Leave it to Hermione to change her opinion based on what she read in books.

“It’s okay Hermione; I just hope that we can put this behind us?” He asked. He hoped that she would change her behavior and start treating his daughter like a person.

“I hope so too Harry. Maybe I could come for a walk in the snow with you one day next week?” She asked.

“Sure, I’d like that, but it’s getting late and I’ve got to give Livvie her bath before she goes to bed,” he told her.