Secrets

Chapter 3: Being Free

Harry wasn't oblivious but he certainly wasn't ready to accept that he could feel more for Draco beyond the comfort and understanding they found in one another. Plus, there was the aspect that he was simply enjoying getting to know Draco better. As for their physical closeness... well, he let himself believe that it was what they both needed in that time and moment because it was true, to a degree. Both young men had had upbringings that had deprived them of physical touch and Harry was discovering that this closeness was okay... that it was good... and sometimes, it was needed.

Things changed for Harry just before Christmas after Professor Slughorn announced they would be brewing and testing a De-Aging Potion in collaboration with St Mungo's and the Ministry. It was all to be done under carefully controlled conditions and thoroughly monitored and was, of course, entirely voluntary but the potion making and testing and subsequent reflective observations would form extra credits for their N.E.W.T. practical. Because of the unique situation, Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry was going to close over the Christmas holidays to all but the eighth-year students and a select group from the staff faculty. Partly for safeguarding and protection of the students involved. Partly because the potion bordered on being illegal.

The actual testing of their potions would last forty-eight hours.

The morning after all the other students had left to catch the Hogwarts Express home for the holidays, the year eights were summoned to the Great Hall with the request that they wear their school robes over their school uniform as, first, this was still official school business, and second, it was uncertain what would 'de-age' and shrink with the person taking the potion. Several members of staff and various Healers lined the walls, watching closely. The Minister for Magic stood next to the Headmistress, both looked stony-faced with the seriousness of the experiment that was about to be undertaken.

'There are certain rules in place,' announced Professor McGonagall sternly, 'which I expect you all to abide by. First, you will not leave the Great Hall until Madame Pomfrey or one of the Healers has checked you and made sure your potion has worked properly. We have antidotes on standby, just in case. Second, I expect you to attend all your meals in the Great Hall and come to regular update meetings with Professor Slughorn so we can monitor the effects of the potions. There will be additional tests by the Healers throughout the forty-eight hours, mostly to monitor the effects on your magical abilities. You must all return here at 11am in two days' time so that we can monitor the transition back to your adult selves. Finally, you will not leave the school grounds as we don't need to be explaining the oddities of the experiment beyond the school but you have free reign within the school boundaries itself. The Forbidden Forest is, of course, out of bounds.'

Harry and Draco were partnered together because they'd brewed their potion together in class. It was, with a certain amount of trepidation, that they drank exactly seven pipette drops of the De-Aging Potion from the carefully labelled vials that Slughorn had tested and then distributed back to the students. A drop for each year. Harry gulped. Eleven wasn't a good age for him, despite the wonder of finding Hogwarts and magic and his friendships with Ron and Mione.

He shared a concerned look with Draco and then his insides felt like they were rearranging themselves. Seconds later, he was staring at an eleven-year-old Draco Malfoy with his pointy features and white-blond hair. He looked down at his own immature body, swamped by his school robes that were far too big for him, and then back up at Draco. They smiled nervously at one another.

The first thing that Harry noticed was that Draco hair wasn't gelled back as he'd worn it in the first year. The second thing that Harry noticed was that Draco was surprisingly pretty with his soft blond hair falling forward and without that haughty sneer that had so often adorned his eleven-year-old face. Like... really pretty. It made Harry's heart leap in a surprising way.