Malfoy Child

Theories

Blaise showed his understanding of the problem when he spoke to Draco. "Hey, Draco, would you like to go for a little walk with me while Harry goes to his boring old meeting? I can show you some of the cool paintings that always have the best gossip," he said, trying to entice the small boy.

Draco looked intrigued, but leery of being away from Harry. He glanced up at Harry worriedly. "It's all right with me, as long as you don't go too far," Harry said agreeably, while still attempting to address Draco's fear.

"Ah, I won't take him far," Blaise said. "Some of the really gossipy portraits are near Dumbledore's office anyway. We can just explore a little. There are also some statues near there." Blaise whispered to Draco, "I know for a fact there's a statue of a dragon."

Draco's eyes lit up. "Just like my name," he breathed.

Blaise nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I know your sixteen-year-old self thinks it's wicked," he said, sweetening the deal.

Harry was grateful that Blaise's deal-making with Draco seemed to be working, since Draco wouldn't be a witness to the meeting, but he was beginning to regret that he couldn't go along for the exploring, too. "Sounds like you'll have a lot of fun, angel."

Draco nodded enthusiastically, but then he looked worried again. They were at the stone gargoyle and Harry crouched down next to Draco. "I'm going to be right here in Dumbledore's office. If you need me, Blaise will bring you right to me."

Draco looked up at Blaise. "Promise?"

"I promise," Blaise said solemnly.

"All right then," Draco said, brightening again.

Harry had glanced ruefully at the stone gargoyle and realized he hadn't gotten the password from McGonagall. "You can go for your walk with Blaise, but first we're going to play a little game."

"What kind of game?" Draco asked with interest.

"We're going to start naming every kind of sweet we can think of," Harry explained. "Can you do that?"

Draco nodded enthusiastically and started rattling off all kinds of wizarding sweets.

Blaise raised an eyebrow in question, but Harry just shook his head and listened to Draco. He realized that he really should take the boy into Hogsmeade. Draco would especially love Honeydukes, since Harry was sure that many new sweets had been developed since Draco was four. The list of sweets Draco knew was amazingly long, but Harry wasn't sure this would actually work since Dumbledore could have easily used one of the more recently developed sweets for his password.

Draco seemed to have finally hit on the right one, though, when 'jelly pops' caused the gargoyle to move. Draco gasped and his eyes bulged, staring at the statue.

Harry grinned. "Now you just remember 'jelly pops' if you need to come find me before I'm done. I shouldn't be too long."

Draco nodded solemnly. "I'll be good for Blaise and I won't go too far," he promised.

Harry kissed him on the forehead. "I know you'll be good, angel. Now off you go and have fun."

Blaise grinned and offered his hand to Draco. Draco accepted this time and they set off down the hall. Draco looked over his shoulder once and Harry waved before heading up the moving staircase.

Merlin, he was feeling as scared about letting Draco out of his sight as Draco was scared about being out of his sight. It wasn't even quite twenty-four hours and Harry was firmly attached to the little boy. He didn't even want to think about what would happen when Draco was changed back.