First Place - Action/Adventure

As Harry and Draco came closer to the Entrance Hall, there were more and more students making their way to the same destination. The whispers surrounding them became more plentiful as people noticed the small boy clutching Harry's hand.

Draco walked closer and closer to Harry, and Harry easily recognized his fearful attitude. He'd been there before. At the top of the final staircase down into the Entrance Hall, Harry shifted their bags on his shoulder and reached down to pick up the small boy who was becoming even more scared with the overwhelming number of students that were swarming around them to the Great Hall for dinner.

It wasn't as if anyone was actually coming near them, though. All of the students were giving them a wide berth and Harry strode easily through the crowd. Harry walked confidently through the main doors and made his way over to the Gryffindor table where Ron and Hermione were already sitting.

Harry didn't see that he had any other choice but to go into this with confidence. Well, he did have a choice, but things would only deteriorate rapidly if Harry let them. Whether he liked the distinctions or not, he was the Gryffindor Golden Boy suddenly taking care of the Slytherin Ice Prince and that brought about the possibility of any number of situations developing.

What was almost surprising to Harry was that his confidence really wasn't much of an act. He was a little nervous, but not overly so. Once again, he recognized that the situation was very different than he'd expected, but he'd done his best to prepare himself for dealing with the reactions of his friends and the school for befriending Draco before he'd ever come back to Hogwarts this year.

He had to believe that the fact that Draco was now a cute four-year-old would only help bridge the gaps between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. It certainly had to be easier than when Draco was still the sarcastic bastard that he generally was. At least Harry had the cooperation of this smaller Draco.

Harry calmly sat Draco down on the bench next to Hermione before sitting down on the other side of him. Ron was sitting on the opposite side of the table and Harry knew Draco would be much safer next to Hermione, rather than sitting next to Ron. Harry had no sooner thought that, when Ron spoke up.

"What's he doing here?" Ron yelled.

"Ron! He's just a little boy and he will be staying with me for the time being. Leave him alone," Harry snapped. He'd known Ron wasn't going to like this. He'd had very little time to think about it, but it didn't require major thinking to realize this was Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy, with a history of their own.

"But he's Malfoy," Ron said with obvious disgust.

"Harry, are you sure he should be staying with you?" Hermione asked in a worried tone, glancing at Draco and then Ron.

"I'm absolutely positive, Hermione," Harry declared with confidence.

"But, Harry," Ron whinged. "He doesn't belong here."

Harry realized Draco was trembling with fear again.

"Damn it, Ron!" Harry exclaimed loudly. "Couldn't you shut up just once?"

So much for being prepared, Harry thought to himself with a mental roll of his eyes. He did feel bad for lashing out at his friend, especially considering the shocked expression Ron, and everyone else, was directing at him. But even without the current circumstances, Harry was still tired of Ron always going to the extremes in any given situation.

Harry was also highly sick and tired of everyone else trying to decide what was best for him. He didn't care anymore if no one understood exactly why he was doing this, electing to take care of Draco. He was getting angry because no one ever seemed to trust his judgment.

Harry knew very well that his friends meant well, but repeating that mantra over the months wasn't making him feel much better. Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, and any number of other people of lesser degree, all meant well with their concern for him. However, Harry was ready to at least make some decisions on his own.

This decision regarding helping out with Draco was one that was very important to him for a number of reasons, and he wasn't about to let anyone stand in his way, even his well-meaning friends.

Harry stood up again and gathered the trembling little boy back up in his arms. Most everyone had gathered in the Great Hall by that time, and all eyes and ears were on Harry and his young charge.

Harry glared at Ron with a hard glint in his eye. He glanced around to the others at the Gryffindor table and the rest of the silent students gathered for dinner. "If anyone has a problem with him, then you will be answering to me," Harry declared, in a voice of steel. Not a soul doubted that Harry meant what he said.

Leaving his friends staring after him in shock, Harry spun on his heel and swept across the Great Hall towards the Slytherin table. He knew he was taking a huge risk. Harry had never even remotely been on good terms with the Slytherins, but this was one way to jump right in, hope that he could change things and maybe even make friends with them.

Harry gave himself a mental shake as he made his way across the length of the Great Hall. He was always accused of jumping into situations without thought. He had honestly thought things through this time and had made plans. All of that was flying out the window now, though. He had to wonder if his uncanny ability to fly by the seat of his pants would carry him through this. He always had been able to do better in going by his instincts, rather than by logic or knowledge.

Draco was a leader in Slytherin house and despite their laughter earlier, Harry could only hope that they'd be made welcome there. Last chance or he was taking Draco out of the Hall altogether. Harry breathed a sigh of relief when the Slytherins shifted as they neared, and two seats were made available between Crabbe and Goyle. It seemed that Harry was right in the fact that the Slytherins were loyal to their own, even if it included bringing Harry Potter into the mix.

Harry dropped their bags and didn't even bother trying to set Draco down in his own seat this time. He just sat down and adjusted Draco to be comfortable on his lap. The little boy was crying again and Harry was making soft shushing noises trying to calm him once again.

"Shhh, it's all right now, Draco. There's nothing to be scared of," Harry soothed.

Harry was startled slightly when a handkerchief was waved in front of him. Harry looked up to see Pansy holding it out for him with a worried expression. Harry took it gratefully and nodded his thanks.

"Come on, Draco. Look at me and we'll get you cleaned up so you can eat dinner," Harry said calmly.

Draco slowly lifted his head and Harry gently wiped the tears and snot from Draco's face. At least, the ones that hadn't already been wiped on Harry's robes.

"Better now?" Harry asked softly.

Draco nodded and hesitantly looked around him. "They're all staring at me, Harry," Draco whispered.

Harry smiled at the boy ruefully. "Yeah, well, you're not alone, angel. They're staring at me, too, because I don't normally sit at this table."

raco looked up at Harry fearfully. "Will we be in trouble for being here?" he asked shakily.

Harry warily glanced at the surrounding Slytherins. They remained silent, watching the interaction between Harry and Draco. Not a one was sneering or in any way indicating that they were unwelcome.

Harry looked back down at Draco. "No, Draco. You belong here. These people here are your friends."

Draco looked surprised and looked up through his fringe at the surrounding Slytherins. "Really?" he asked. "You mean when I'm a sixteen-year-old?"

"Yes. Um, I don't know if you knew any of them when you were four," Harry admitted. Harry pointed across the table to Pansy. "That's Pansy Parkinson, and next to her is Blaise Zabini, on her other side is Millicent Bulstrode, and sitting on either side of us is Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle."

Draco's eyes grew wide as saucers. "And I thought Sev'rus changed," he breathed. The aforementioned Slytherins all chuckled. "Is it really them?" Draco asked Harry.

Harry nodded. "Do you know them?" he asked curiously. Harry hadn't had any friends when he was four. In fact, he hadn't had any friends until he'd met Ron on the train. He glanced briefly across the hall and sighed before turning back to Draco. He'd deal with the Gryffindors later.

Draco was quietly studying each of his friends. "I know them," he finally admitted. "Sometimes they come over to the Manor when there's a party or something and I'm allowed to play with them for a little while, as long as I don't get dirty."

Harry frowned and filed that information away to think more about later. Draco's friends were nodding.

"We were only allowed to play with you when your parents were hosting a social event," Pansy agreed.

"Draco? Are you ready to sit down and eat now, and you can talk to your friends while we eat?" Harry asked.

Draco clutched Harry's robes a little tighter for a moment, but then he slowly nodded. Harry helped him slide over into his own seat and began dishing up Draco's plate for him, asking Draco what his favorites were and what he wanted. Pansy poured him a glass of pumpkin juice and Draco finally tucked in.

Harry filled his own plate and began eating, while he listened quietly to the conversation between Draco and his friends. Draco still seemed unsure of the situation and remained fairly quiet himself, while his friends talked about what they could remember from events when Draco was little.

Draco still sat close to Harry and Harry just kept his left arm around Draco's small shoulders while they ate, trying to provide him with a little extra security. As they were finishing up their meal, Blaise finally asked the question all of them wanted the answer to.

"Draco, why are you letting Potter take care of you?" Blaise asked. Harry had to give the Slytherin credit, because there was only a slight sneer when he'd said Harry's name.

Unfortunately, Draco still heard it, and he pressed up against Harry's side. "He didn't laugh at me and he holds me and he calls me angel and he lets me cry and he doesn't hurt me and he makes me feel safe," Draco said defensively all in a rush. "I trust him," he added defiantly.

The group of Slytherins was taken aback by the ferocity of Draco's response. That was the most the boy had said at one time and the intensity of his answer reminded them all of the sixteen-year-old Draco.

Blaise swallowed. "We're sorry that we laughed at you in class today, Draco. We didn't mean to hurt you."

The others nodded in agreement, but Draco didn't exactly look convinced of their sincerity.

"It's okay to accept their apology, Draco. Remember, they're your friends," Harry said quietly, realizing that he could probably stand to take his own advice. There was a lot going on between him and his own friends at the moment, and it was far easier to tell Draco something like that, than to do it himself. Besides that, Harry could ill afford to be having Draco upset the Slytherins any further. They were accepting this situation better than Harry would have expected, and he didn't want to backtrack and make things worse.

The Slytherins looked surprised by Harry encouraging Draco to forgive them, but Draco took Harry's word at face value. He gave a heavy sigh. "I forgive you," he said to the Slytherins. "Is that okay?" he whinged, looking at Harry.

Harry couldn't answer and only nodded. He had to cover his mouth, trying to smother his grin at the way Draco forced out his apology. Harry noticed the others were also trying to suppress their own grins. Pansy smiled at her little friend. "Thank you, Draco," she said formally.

"Are you about finished eating?" Harry asked Draco. "We still need to make sure your godfather and Professor Dumbledore got those new clothes for you that they promised." He tapped Draco on the nose. "You, mister, need to go to bed early tonight. It's been a very long day for a four-year-old."

Draco nodded and picked up his glass of juice to finish it off.

"Is he staying in the Gryffindor dorms with you?" Pansy asked, sounding horrified at the very idea.

Harry sighed when Draco's glass was hurriedly set back on the table and the boy was crawling into his lap. Harry just wrapped his arms around Draco and rubbed his hand up and down Draco's back soothingly while he answered Pansy.

"Yes," Harry said calmly, yet with a glare at Pansy for upsetting Draco again. "It's been arranged by Professor Dumbledore and his godfather."

With those words, the Slytherins and Harry all glanced up at the Head Table. Severus had been watching them closely throughout the entire meal. Harry simply nodded to his professor and the man nodded in return, his face remaining expressionless.

Draco's friends turned back to Harry.

"Draco feels safe with me, and I've promised to do everything I can to protect him," Harry said, hugging the boy to him a little tighter. "His godfather needs to concentrate on finding out what went wrong in class today, and then figure out how to fix things. I volunteered to watch Draco," Harry explained.

"Well, why can't we watch him?" Blaise asked. "We're his friends."

"I want Harry," Draco mumbled into the front of Harry's robes. Despite the mumbling, they all heard Draco's answer.

Harry shrugged slightly. "Draco wants to be with me," Harry explained. "Aside from that, I kind of understand what he's feeling and I'll be damned if I'm going to let him get hurt from all of this," Harry said, that hard glint in his eye returning along with his determined voice.

"But what is it you understand that we don't?" Pansy asked, sounding confused.

Harry looked down at Draco before returning his gaze to Pansy. "Later," he said shortly.

She, too, moved her gaze to Draco and nodded in reluctant acceptance.

"Come on, angel. It's time to head up to the dorm. Ready?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded and slowly slid from Harry's lap and down to the floor. He gazed warily at his friends. Harry gave him a soft smile as he picked up their bags and held a hand out to Draco, which he quickly latched onto.

"Say goodbye to your friends. You'll see them again tomorrow," Harry said.

"Bye," Draco said with a shy smile.

"Bye, Draco," came the chorus from his friends. "See you tomorrow," Blaise said, and Draco nodded.

Harry was surprised when Crabbe and Goyle rose from their seats and fell into step slightly behind Harry and Draco. Neither of Draco's henchmen had said much throughout dinner and they were still silent. Harry eyed both of them warily but they just nodded at Harry as they continued to walk with them.

After the third flight of stairs, Draco was obviously getting tired. Harry stooped to pick Draco up and was surprised when Crabbe slipped Harry's and Draco's bags off Harry's shoulder and slung them onto his own. Harry raised an eyebrow at the large Slytherin, but decided not to question the extra help.

When they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Crabbe handed the bags back to Harry, they quietly wished Draco good night and then they slipped away, back in the direction they'd just come from.

Harry shook his head from the surrealness of what had just occurred and said the password so he could enter the Gryffindor common room, with Draco Malfoy in his arms.

There were quite a few people in the common room already back from dinner, and every one of those people froze in their activities when Harry stepped into the room. Harry just nodded at them all and strode quickly to the stairs leading to the boys' dormitories. As he entered the sixth year dorm, he could hear the noise start up again in the common room. Harry just shut the door to drown out the noise and breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully there was no one else up there at the moment. Harry saw the bed that had been placed close to his by the window and walked over and sat on Draco's new bed.

"Draco," he said softly. "It's okay to open your eyes now." Draco had kept his face buried in Harry's robes from the time Harry had picked him up.

"This is the room you'll be sharing with me and some of my friends," Harry explained. "And this here is your new bed," Harry said with a grin, bouncing a little.

Draco giggled a little at the bouncing sensation. "Really?" he asked curiously looking around the room. "Which one is your bed?" he asked.

"That one right there next to yours," Harry said, pointing out his bed.

Draco allowed Harry to set him on his bed and Harry got up to check out the trunk that was at the foot of the bed. "Let's see what they put into here for you," Harry said cheerfully.

Draco eagerly crawled to the end of the bed and peered over the footboard to stare into the trunk. They spent the next twenty minutes exploring the contents of the trunk. There were enough clothes to last Draco a few days, toiletries for a four-year-old including some sweet strawberry smelling shampoo, some wizard and Muggle kid's books, some Muggle coloring books, drawing pads and crayons which Harry felt sure were there with Dumbledore's influence, and a few wizard toys Harry had never seen before but Draco seemed to recognize.

Harry resisted the temptation to go through Draco's sixteen-year-old things from his book bag, but they did empty it out into the trunk Instead, they put in books and quiet activities that Draco would be able to do while Harry was in classes. Harry watched patiently as Draco made careful decisions about what would go in the bag and what wouldn't.

As Harry watched Draco go through the books, he wondered if Draco would like to have Harry read him a couple before he went to sleep. Aunt Petunia used to do that with Dudley when he was little. Harry was a little worried about doing anything like Aunt Petunia with the way Dudley turned out, but it wasn't like he had much more experience to draw from for parenting skills.

Of course, there were those telly sitcoms he got to watch on the rare occasion. Those families would read to their kids at bedtime, and those kids always turned out all right.

Harry snorted softly to himself in wry amusement. Aunt Petunia and telly sitcoms - he was probably better off going with his instincts and trying to take care of Draco the way he wished he'd been taken care of.

Once their bags were packed for the next day, they set about gathering up pajamas and toiletries and headed off for the showers. Harry stripped down to his boxers and stepped into the shower with Draco to scrub the little boy down.

"Cleaning charms are all right in a pinch, and Merlin knows you needed them this afternoon, but now it's time to truly get clean," Harry said. "Maybe tomorrow I can get the password to the prefect's bathroom and I can give you a bath rather than a shower."

By the time they were both done, Harry had a towel wrapped around his waist and a very sweet smelling Draco bundled in a large fluffy towel. Harry helped Draco get dressed in a pair of soft and warm flannel pajamas. They were Slytherin green with little golden snitches on them.

Even though Harry felt a little silly, since it was still early for him and he planned on going back down to the common room, he pulled on his own pajamas. Once they were all ready for bed, Harry had Draco pick out a couple of books to read before bedtime.

"Angel, let's say we take your books and go snuggle up by the fire in the common room to read," Harry suggested. "We can even take this nice fluffy blanket we found in your trunk." They'd found a wonderfully soft throw, obviously meant for a little boy into Quidditch. It was a sky blue with white puffy clouds all over it and it was decorated with broomsticks and Quidditch balls.

"Will there be a lot of people down there?" Draco asked nervously.

Harry understood the feeling. He didn't particularly want to go down into the crowded common room either, but he needed to get them used to the idea that Draco was going to be around whether they liked it or not. Despite what happened with Ron at dinner, Harry was sure that his fellow Gryffindors would adjust to the child being in their territory. He hoped.

Really he just hoped that for once no one would make a scene, scaring Draco in the process. Once Draco was tucked in bed, then Harry would come back down to talk to them, Ron in particular. If nothing else, Harry was thankful that everyone had left them alone in the dorm for this long.

"Probably," Harry admitted. "But it'll be all right. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

Harry waited patiently while Draco seemed to wage an internal war. Finally he slid off his bed where he'd been sitting, and held his hand out bravely.

Harry took his hand and smiled. Harry tossed the blanket over his arm and snatched up the books Draco had selected and they made their way down the stairs to the common room.

Harry paused a couple of steps up from the bottom of the stairs. From this vantage point, he knew that everyone in the common room would be able to see them. There was a ripple effect as people noticed them and nudged their neighbors until everyone was quiet.

Harry acted like the shouting and warnings at the Gryffindor table at dinner had never happened and he acted like not everyone already knew the blond little boy standing next to him.

"Everyone, this is Draco Malfoy. He'll be staying with me indefinitely," Harry introduced in a proud tone, making it clear to Draco, and everyone else, that he was happy that Draco was there. "I hope that everyone makes him feel welcome," Harry added with a hint of warning.

Harry was surprised, but pleased, when Seamus came loping up and held out his hand to Draco. "Hey, little man. My name is Seamus and I sleep up in the same dorm where you'll be sleeping," he said in his friendly Irish accent.

Draco swallowed and looked up to Harry to see if this boy was okay. Harry nodded gently at Draco and gave him a smile of encouragement. Draco slowly reached out with his free hand and shook Seamus' hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said formally.

Seamus chuckled at the formality and winked at Draco. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too, little man."

Dean and Neville had come up behind Seamus. "Hello, Draco. My name is Dean and I'm in the same dorm, too," Dean said, offering his hand to Draco. Draco shook his hand, going through the same formalities.

Harry noticed that everyone in the room was still quiet, watching these proceedings with interest. Harry was beginning to think that there'd been a lot of talking down in the common room while he'd been upstairs with Draco. He'd also be willing to bet that Hermione had something to do with it, since she was sitting over by the fireplace quietly beaming.

Dean and Seamus stepped back, allowing room for Neville to come forward. Unfortunately, Neville was looking slightly green and extremely nervous. He just stood there staring at Draco until Draco looked up at Harry.

"Harry, why is he looking as scared as me?" Draco whispered. "Did I have arg'ments with him, too?"

Despite the whisper, the room was so quiet that his voice carried to everyone. Neville flushed, but Harry ignored him for the time being. He passed the blanket and books over to Dean, then crouched down on the stairs next to Draco so he could be at eye level.

"I'm afraid so, Draco. You've had plenty of arguments with Neville, too, but it's all right. Neville is just nervous because he doesn't really like fighting. But you're not going to fight with him, are you?" Harry asked.

"Of course not!" Draco said indignantly.

Harry grinned. "Good boy! So why don't you introduce yourself and maybe it'll make Neville a little less nervous if you go first," he suggested.

Draco gulped as he stared at Harry, but then he squared his shoulders, standing up as tall as he could, turned to Neville and thrust his hand out. "Hello, I'm Draco Malfoy," he declared properly.

Neville, of course, had witnessed the interactions and he gave Draco a small smile, shook his hand and they finished the introduction.

"I've got just a couple more people I'd like to introduce you to and then we'll read your books," Harry promised, picking Draco up to carry him through the maze of people in the common room. Harry stopped in front of the couch where Hermione and Ron were sitting.

Hermione was smiling but Ron was still looking a little surly. Harry glared at him in warning. Too late. Draco recognized them from dinner and promptly buried his face in Harry's chest and began trembling in fear.

Harry grimaced with frustration with his best friend and dropped down into the empty armchair that had been left available for him in front of the fireplace. Harry cuddled the small boy and kissed the top of his head. "Draco, look at me," Harry quietly commanded.

Draco slowly lifted his head to look at Harry and Harry smiled at him reassuringly. "Do you remember what I told you?" he asked.

Draco nodded. "That you'd protect me," he whispered.

"That's right," Harry said. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. I can understand that you're scared because of the argument at dinner time, but you don't have to be anymore. They're my best friends, and we may argue, but we always work things out eventually. I'll be talking to them later to work things out. But no matter what, I'm not going to let them hurt you. Do you understand?"

Draco furrowed his little brows up in thought. "Did they think I was still sixteen 'stead of four?" he asked.

"Kind of," Harry admitted. "You've had lots of arguments with them, too. Almost as many as you've had with me," Harry said with a grin.

Draco frowned in confusion. "But you don't hate me," he said in a small voice.

"Oh, angel," Harry breathed. "No, I could never hate you," Harry said, placing a kiss on Draco's forehead.

"But your friends hate me," Draco whispered. "When he looked at me, he made a bad face like he'd sucked on a lemon 'stead of putting it in his tea."

Harry chuckled. It was a fairly accurate description and snickers could be heard throughout the room. Everyone was still listening in on their conversation. Harry chanced a glance at Ron, who was looking indignant with that description.

Harry sobered up again as he tried to explain to Draco. "Hate is an awfully strong word, Draco. They're my best friends and, really, they were just trying to protect me in their own way. Just like I've yelled at a few people today trying to protect you, Ron yelled trying to protect me," Harry explained.

"You yelled at everyone, even Sev'rus and Dumbledore," Draco nodded wisely, causing more snickers to erupt throughout the room, along with shocked looks that Harry would yell at Dumbledore, let alone the Potions professor.

Harry didn't look apologetic at all. "Yes, I did. It probably wasn't the best way to go about things, but I'd do it again if I had to. I told you I'll do my best to make sure no one hurts you," Harry said.

Draco's brow was furrowed in thought again. "Why did they need to protect you from me?" he asked in confusion.

"Well, that's where they kind of forgot that you were only four instead of sixteen," Harry explained.

Draco's eyes grew wide as he thought about that. "So you need to be protected from me when I'm sixteen?" he asked fearfully. "Am I that bad?"

Harry smiled, but he answered seriously. "Not really. You do have quite a reputation, but I don't think most of us really know you that well at sixteen. Honestly, I think you've been somewhat forced into a role that gets you into a lot of arguments with people."

Draco hung his head. "Because of my father," he said quietly. It was a statement of fact, rather than a question. Even at only four years old, Draco obviously understood that his father forced him to behave in certain ways towards other people. His next words confirmed it. "I guess he keeps making me be mean to people when I don't want to be," he whispered.

Harry tilted his chin up again to see tears swimming in the child's eyes. "Draco, your father isn't here and you don't have to be mean to anyone. You can just be you, little angel."

Harry kissed the tip of Draco's nose, causing the little boy to scrunch up his nose like he had after the serious conversation in the hospital wing earlier in the day. Draco smiled tentatively. "All right, Harry."

"Good," Harry smiled in return. "Now let me introduce you to my best friends real quick, then we can finally read those books of yours. It's getting late and you need to be getting into bed."

Draco frowned, but he turned towards the two sitting on the couch. Hermione had been waiting patiently for a chance, and she came over, kneeling on the floor in front of their chair. She held out her hand and smiled. "Hello Draco, my name is Hermione Granger."

Draco shook her hand. "Pleasure to meet you," he said, in his little formal voice.

She grinned at him. "It's a pleasure for me, as well, to meet such a little gentleman," she said.

Draco finally gave her a shy smile at her words.

At a glare from Harry, Ron heaved himself off the couch and crouched down in front of Draco. He thrust out his hand. "I'm Ron Weasley and I sleep up in the dorms, too," he said.

Draco glanced at Harry for reassurance and when he received a nod, Draco tentatively shook Ron's hand. "I'm Draco Malfoy." Then he surprised everyone with his next words, deviating widely from the formal introductions with the others.

"I'm sorry if I hurt Harry before. I won't do it again. I'm sorry if I hurt you or ..." he scrunched up his nose at Hermione, obviously trying to figure out how to say her name.

"Just call her Mione. She won't mind," Harry whispered.

Draco nodded and began again. "I'm sorry for getting into arg'ments with you and Mione," Draco said, finishing his apology.

Ron looked too shocked for speech upon receiving an actual apology from Draco Malfoy, even if he was only a four-year-old at the moment. Hermione answered for them both instead.

She smiled gently at Draco. "Apology accepted," she said softly. "And we're sorry, too, for what we said earlier at dinner." Ron nodded dumbly in agreement.

"It's all right," Draco said with his shy smile. He glanced up at Harry and then back to Harry's friends. "I understand now. You were just tying to protect him and that's a good thing."

"Yes, it is," Hermione nodded in agreement. "But I'm still sorry, because we should've taken the time to figure things out first."

Draco just shrugged his little shoulders.

"How about those stories now?" Harry asked, and Draco nodded.

Dean walked over, giving Harry back the blanket and books. Harry wrapped Draco up snuggly in the Quidditch themed blanket and started reading. Halfway through the second book, Harry glanced down at his precious bundle and realized that Draco was sound asleep. Setting the books aside, Harry carefully lifted Draco, carried him up to the dorm and tucked him into bed.

Malfoy's Child - Chapter 3

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