Malfoy Child

Meeting Old Friends

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. He 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 he 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. He had no sooner thought that, when Ron spoke up.

"What's he doing here?"

"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 thought 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 protested. "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, he was still tired of Ron always going to the extremes in any given situation.

He 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.