10

Chapter Ten The Guardianship

"Harry, wake up."

"Five more minutes, please."

"You said that twenty minutes ago. Come on, you've only got thirty minutes for breakfast. Five more minutes and you'll be late for Potions. You don't want Severus to get angry with you again, do you?"

"Fine." Harry woke up and looked around before he growled, "Why am I in your room? Now I have to go back to my room just to get dressed."

"Next time, remember to bring your stuff here."

Harry put on his dirty clothed hurriedly. He still needed to go back to the Gryffindor dormitories. And he had to make sure that he wasn't late for Potions.

"And don't run. Remember what Madame Pomfrey told you."

"I know, but it's emergency." Harry kissed Draco cheek before he left the room.

Harry ran slowly to his first class. His thirty minutes were only enough to go back to his room, bathe, change to his uniform, grab his book and walk fast to the Potions class. And now he was hungry. Very very hungry.

He went to the Potions classroom ten minutes late. But when he stepped to the classroom, there was no harsh voice taking points off of his house. Instead he heard the class murmur in soft voices.

Harry turned around to find an empty seat. Smiling to himself, Harry walked slowly to Draco's side. It was a nice coincidence that the only unoccupied seat was next to Draco with Hermione and Ron behind him.

"Harry, finally decided to show up?" Ron greeted him with big grin.

Harry sat down and put his books on the table before turning to his friends. He could see Draco was writing something, and much to his disappointment he also saw that Draco didn't even turn to him.

"Where's Snape? I thought I was late."

"Dumbledore just left before you came. He said Snape has some important thing to do and he left us with an essay to write. It's a partner task since we have to do some research." Ron nodded to Draco, "And I guess you already had your partner."

Harry turned to Draco who still ignored him. He just shrugged his shoulder.

"You didn't come for breakfast, Harry. Aren't you hungry?" Blaise surprised him. He sat next to Draco, and he saw Draco when he spoke to Blaise.

"I slept in." He could see Draco's smirking. "And yes, I'm hungry."

Hermione was searching for something in her bag. "You could have this, Harry."

"What is it?" He found the choco chips in a familiar brown paper bag. "Thanks. It will do." He smiled at her before turning to the chips and ignoring anyone else.

Harry felt Draco's eyes watching him, "Don't you have better things to do, Malfoy?"

"Keep eating that, Potter, and you'll be fat in no time." Harry only glared at him.

"It's OK, Harry is too thin, anyway."

Hermione and Ron were watching the three of them with amusement in their eyes. 'Looks like Malfoy got tough rival," Hermione smiled to herself. She envied how Draco and Blaise looked at Harry with affection in their eyes. She turned to Ron to start their own essay.

"Mind your own business, Malfoy."

"You mean 'our'."

"What?"

"The essay, idiot." Draco could see the hurt in Harry's eyes.

"We could change partners if you want, Draco."

Draco turned to Blaise, and pretended to consider his offer. "And partner with him?" He only smirked when Neville's face went slightly pink. "I wish you good luck, my friend."

Blaise felt slightly sorry for Neville. Sure they weren't good friends, and he was so terrible in Potions. But he wasn't that bad. "He can't do any harm in an essay." 'Oops, I don't think I said the right word.'

"You never know, Blaise."

Neville sat uneasily. His eyes turned to Hermione, pleading silently at her. But she was busy talking to Ron. It was his own fault, to be truthful. He, like Harry, had slept in. And when he came to the class, just on time, he found there are only two empty seats. Normally, he wouldn't choose to sit with neither Draco Malfoy nor Blaise Zabini. But he had no choice. Blaise Zabini was much better than Draco Malfoy.

"Harry, Ron and I will start our research at the library. Are you coming with us?" Hermione gathered all her books and began to stuff them in her bag.

Harry questioned Draco with his eyes. "Sure, we might find something interesting there."

"See you at lunch, Blaise."

Blaise only nodded. He was talking to Neville about the topic they would do for the essay. Draco really did wish for the best for Blaise when he saw how desperate he is while Neville looked confused.

"Give me your bag, Harry," Draco closed the classroom door. The assignment was due for three weeks. Only a few, like Hermione, who started doing it now.

Harry gratefully handed him his bag. They followed Ron and Hermione in silence.

"Are you all right, Harry?"

"I'm fine."

"Then why are you so quiet?"

"I…" Harry looked seriously at Draco's eyes, "I don't like it when you call me an idiot."

Draco pulled Harry closer to him and hugged him with his free arm, "I'm sorry. I just have to be the old Draco Malfoy."

"Stop it, someone will caught us."

"It's class time. Everybody is in their classes."

Ron took that time to look behind his shoulder. He scowled silently, "I thought he's not to touch him in public."

"It's class time, Ron. Everybody is in their classes."

"Yeah, and now he thinks that he owns him."

"You're not jealous of him, right?"

"What?" 'Is she mad at me?'

Sigh. "Let's just find the book and do the essay."

Draco took Harry's hand and they walked hand in hand to the empty library.

"Now, sit here. I'll get the books and we will get this essay over with."

After working for two hours and just talking for the rest time, Hermione decided until that it was time for lunch. The Great Hall was noisy when they finally got there. They noticed that Severus Snape was sitting at the staff table.

"They said he wouldn't leave even when Snape threatened to hex him."

"He followed him from the Knockturn Alley."

"I can't imagine how they do that."

"And I can't imagine there is actually a creature that would getting that close to Snape by his own free will."

When he went to the Gryffindor table with Hermione and Ron, Harry noticed that there was a big black dog that sat close to Severus' foot. The dog returned his gaze.

"What's his name?"

"I don't know. Black?" Seamus shrugged his shoulder.

Without even realised what he was doing, Harry pulled out his wand. He swished it, and, "Now, it's Blue." Some students stopped eating to watch the big blue dog lay quietly.

"Nope, it's Green." Dean nodded to the big green dog.

"No way," Harry swished his wand again, "He is 'Blue'."

"I don't think so, Harry." Ron tried to hide his smile.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy," Severus Snape glared at the two of them, "You two have officially earned yourself detention until the school year ends. Since you two are so interested in this dog, you have to take care of him. Come to my room after lunch."

"But… it's Blue." Harry tried to rationalize his thought. He glanced at the staff table and couldn't stop the feeling that the professors were giving him some sort of funny looks.

And Draco just smiled. 'How dare he smile like that? He makes me look like a fool'. Harry chopped his food fiercely.

The lunch was soon over and Harry trailed nervously behind Draco. He had never been to Severus' room and didn't intend to make it a habit. The door was opened before they knocked.

"Get in," Severus was not the one to be hospitable.

Narcissa Malfoy was sitting in the small living room. Harry noticed there were two doors closed, 'Possibly bathroom and bedroom.'

"Harry," Narcissa hugged him, "I trusted Severus to bring you here. I have wanted to come here sooner. Since Draco told me you were pregnant." The eager in-law pushed him to the comfy couch, "How's your morning sickness? Did the choco chips help? I addicted to them when I had Draco. He likes them."

"Really, he didn't eat it a lot."

"I let you to be the fat one," Draco smirked at him.

Harry didn't have the chance to answer him. He felt a pair of hands hugged him from behind. "Why you turn me to a blue dog?"

Smiling, Harry turned to him. "Seamus called you Black. I don't want somebody to owl the ministry because they thought you were you, Sirius Black. I turned you to a blue dog so I can call you Blue. And someone turned you to a green one." Both of them glared at the young Slytherin.

"Don't blame me, Green is a better colour."

"I can't believe you're here, Siri. And where is Remmy. He didn't come with you?"

"Dumbledore let me stay here to protect you. And Remus… he preferred to stay with the twin Weasleys at Hogsmeade. They made him partner or something."

"You're staying here? Really? Where are you sleeping? Oh I know…"

"No." Draco cut him before he finished.

"I haven't said it."

"I know that you'll suggest him to sleep with you in your room."

"I bet Ron won't mind."

"But I do. No offence but I'm not interested in sleeping with a third person in my bed."

The other three adults watched them with glee in their face. Harry with a confused look and Draco with a sly smile in his face.

"Calm down, Malfoy. Dumbledore want me to stay here, so they won't be suspicious when you and Harry come here."

"Which Malfoy, Green? There are three here."

"It's four, darling."

"Ah, yes. That's reminds me," Sirius face turned sour. He glared at Draco, "If you hadn't married him, I'd ask you to take the responsibility. But now, I just ask you to take a good care of him or I'll kill you."

"Yes, Sir.

Sirius looked back to Harry, "I can't believe it, Harry. Why do you want to carry his child? You're just seventeen." He smiled when he looked at Harry's gloomy face, "But it's OK with me if you are happy." Harry just smiled back at him.

"You don't have to worry about him, Potter. I mean, Malfoy," Severus smirked at Harry, "He can stay here and everybody will know him as my dog. And it's either Black or Green."

"But…"

"He's 'mine' so I get to name him. But I let you to chose."

Harry thought he saw Sirius shudder slightly but he thought he only imagined it. Sigh. Damn Slytherins. "Green."

27 February 03, 11:04 pm