I Knew Nothing About You

I Knew Nothing About You.

The Smallest of Us All.

Harry wasn't quite certain what was worse. Bureaucracy work, where the only place you are expected to be is the office located at the Ministry, or fieldwork, where you had to go to precisely everywhere and still have patience and not get frustated when you realize all was for nothing, that it was only a child's prank.

At this precise moment, he would like very, oh so very much, to have permission to throttle the person who created the concept that children sometimes need to go out of line and play a prank. Whoever this lad was, he musn't have thought parents would take his comment at heart. Which, unfortunately, happened to be very bad for Harry.

Here he was, along with his partner, walking out yet again from another false alarm.

That was the twelfth time in this month.

But what bugged Harry the most was that it was always the same prank; some older brother would throw simple but very dangerous spells around, most of the time near an abandoned house. The youngsters then would start to scream and cry, spreading rumours that something wasn't right with that place and that they had known it all along.

The Aurors would be called and Harry and Draco would have to go and check if it was a true attack.

After the war, the escaped Death Eaters had gone crazy and had been hiding since then. Even though Voldemort was not alive anymore, the Death Eaters did not stop attacking Muggles. And now they seemed to have turned against all wizards and witches who didn't support them. People were wary and tended to call for help whenever there was the slightest alteration in their routine.

The scars were still fresh and unhealed.

"I think I'm going to stay at the office and get some work done next time there is an alarm at a small village," grumbled a very annoyed Draco, stopping to pick at a leaf on his sleeve.

"No, you won't," countered Harry, walking ahead. "You hate bureaucracy. You'll be bored to death after half an hour in there."

Harry could visualise the blond's lip curling at his retort. "Potter, I'd rather die of boredom in the comfort of an office than have another one of my robes destroyed by mud, dirt and -" He abrutly stopped, making Harry glance back to see what was wrong this time. "Don't move. I think I see an animal crawling up your clothes."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened. "Take it off!"

Draco blinked, aghast. "I'm not putting my hand down your clothes."

Harry could actually feel something crawling up his backside and he tried to wriggle it off.

Draco sniggered.

"Malfoy!" Harry shouted. "Help me up!"

"Oh, but if I do, I will miss the show you're making right now."

Harry rolled his eyes impatiently. "You know that soon enough I'll make a fool out of myself. Can't you help me just this once?"

"Oh." Draco took a deep breath, calming down slightly. "All right Potter, don't get your knickers in a twist, I'll help you...With one condition."

Harry was in no such state for the games Malfoy had a knack for playing.

"Anything you want!" Harry pleaded. The thing, whatever it was, was reaching his nape.

The blond man smiled victoriously. "That's a good lad."

In less than two seconds Harry felt the presence of the animal gone.

"It was only a small rat," Draco shrugged nonchalantly, showing him the offending being.

Harry narrowed his eyes. "You put that animal in my clothes, didn't you?"

Draco's face was carefully devoid of any emotion. "Potter, what are you on about? I helped you."

Harry gave him a pointed stare and looked him up and down.

"I can't believe you are suspecting I had something to do with this." His eyes were wide and his mouth was thin. "You are such an ungrateful pig." With that, he pushed past Harry.

"Look," Harry started. "I didn't mean to offend you but you were just there and you sniggered."

Draco spluttered and turned around with a flourish, putting his hands on his hips and then, in less than one second, dropping them by his side. "Was I supposed to stay there and not laugh at your pathetic attempts?"

They were reaching the clearing where they could safely Disapparate and if Harry didn't straighten things now, he wouldn't have anything to eat for at least four days.

I can't possibly be expected to starve to death just because Draco is being a brat.

"Very well, then. You didn't do anything and I was stupid to assume such a thing."

"Stupid you have always been," Draco sniffed complacently, his face somehow obscured by the weak sunlight. It had been a sunny day, nevertheless, the light was being blocked by tall, thick trees. "But I suppose I can accept your apologies," he declared, smirking arrogantly.

Harry frowned. "I'm not apologizing, Malfoy."

"Sure you aren't, Potter. Now, let's go back so we can be both dismissed and head home." And with that the blond started walking again.

Harry grumbled, glaring at Draco's turned back, "I did not apologize."

*

"Tomorrow is the first Saturday of December," Harry commented airily. At least, he tried.

Draco nodded.

"So." Harry did not want to be the one to state what the first Saturdays of each month meant to the blond.

As usual, his partner wasn't being cooperative with him.

Draco glanced at him, lifting one eyebrow.

Harry looked down at his plate. The blond had cooked a wonderful dinner for them. He knew he should have been full already but somehow he couldn't seem to have enough of Draco's food.

He was always wanting more.

"You-"

"You know, you have the same subtlety as Pansy," the blond commented while sipping his glass of grape juice.

Draco wasn't much a fan of pumpkin.

Harry frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "You want to know if I am visiting her."

"Well, yes," Harry confirmed firmly, fighting down a blush. He didn't want to give the blond the pleasure of seeing him embarrassed.

The other man kept sipping from his glass and the juice never ended. He was obviously not intending on answering any time soon.

Harry huffed. "Well? Are you?"

"Am I what?" Draco blinked at him blankly.

He was starting to grate once again on Harry's nerves and he had that infuriating marble expression.

Cold, white and impassible.

"Are you going to meet Ivi tomorrow?" Harry asked through gritted-teeth.

Draco's eyes sharpened for one second and his notrils flared but he took hold of himself in mere seconds. "Oh, that," he dismissed the question in a tone that implied they weren't having this conversation now.

Harry swore then he was going to slash Draco limb by limb. Whom did the blond think he was? Napolean? Louis XIV?

Harry growled, "Malfoy."

The other man studied him suspiciously and arched one thin, pale eyebrow. "May I inquire as to your sudden interest in my common, unpopular and humble life?"

"It's nothing," Harry snapped quickly. Too quickly.

"Potter," Draco started suspiciously.

Harry was unreasonably afraid of what was going on. The things unvoiced by both did not leave space for silence and he hadn't been so sure of anything anymore. He shoudn't have brought this topic up. "I have to go to the bathroom," he informed the blond weakly.

Draco hauled him by the collar of his green robe.

His eyes were alight and silver and Harry flushed.

Both were now standing with the table in the middle and Harry wished he had been faster.

"Why did you bring her up?"

The blond was worried and Harry only knew that because of the slighest pink hue on his cheeks. However, the voice was colder than ever and his grey eyes were narrowed.

Now he was certain he shouldn't have brought this up.

"I... Er..." He wished he were more coherent and not so tongue-tied in times like these.

I like her.

Suddenly, Draco sighed and let him go. Harry took a step back just for caution.

"You want to meet her. Properly."

Harry nodded, unable to voice his answer.

"Iv-"

"Don't," Malfoy hissed, eyes flashing, hand flying up to silence him. The fingers weren't even touching his mouth but Harry shivered nonetheless. "Don't mention her name here."

"Why not?" Harry questioned, puzzled.

The blond whispered, "It's dangerous. We can't talk freely here."

"Oh," replied Harry stupidly. "Oh!" He exclaimed a minute after, finally comprehending. "I'm sorry," he muttered, ashamed.

"It's okay. I know stupidity is already part of your nature."

Harry made an indignant sound but clenched his jaw, beating back the retort at the tip of his tongue.

It was understandable and Harry would not dignify the blond's statement with one of his own.

"Oh, by the way, clean up everything, all right?" Draco ordered, leaving Harry fuming and with his hands full of work.

And he didn't tell me if he was meeting Ivi tomorrow, Harry realized, dismayed.

Oooh, you are not escaping me, Draco Malfoy. You aren't.

Not even if Harry had to stay awake all night.

*

There was a small tapping coming from behind Harry's head and it was taking him from the fuzzy place he had been at in his dream.

He blinked a few times against the light shining down upon him. The curtains hadn't been shut and the sun must have been rising for some time already.

Adjusting his sleepy eyes to the sunlit room, Harry realized that he had slept on the living room's sofa.

He had thought Draco would get out of his bedroom last night for something and maybe they could talk again. When it was obvious the blond wasn't coming out, he planned on going into his own bedroom and setting his clock so that Draco wouldn't escape him. At least not before he had the opportunity of getting some answers for himself. But he had been so tired and he could vaguely remember lying down for a quick nap.

The quick nap turned out to be a deep sleep and it gave Harry a neck strain.

There were some images passing through his fogged mind and it had all featured his dream, but Harry couldn't recognize nor understand any of it. The only thing he was certain of was that there was a person with fair hair and soft skin.

"What?" He turned irritably around and finally saw what had woken him up from his blissful sleep.

Don't people realize this is Saturday and that we, normal people, like to sleep in?

He opened the window located behind the sofa.

He asked "What is this?" while taking the parchment a grey owl had been trying to deliever for about five minutes. The letter was designated to Draco but the blond had yet to come out of his bedroom. Harry shrugged, getting up and stretching. He started on the direction of Draco's room.

The door was closed and had an inexplicably foreboding air, making Harry fidget a little. He knocked, nevertheless.

There was movement inside and Harry was greeted by a Muggle-dressed Draco. He was wearing black bermudas and a navy-blue sleeveless shirt. He was also wearing sandals.

Draco's brow was furrowed and his voice was slightly puzzled. "Potter?"

Harry caught himself staring at his partner's attire and flushed. "...you've got a letter," Harry informed him, giving him said parchment.

"Oh," was what the blond murmured while reading over the words written in the blackest ink.

Harry peered over Draco's sholder, trying to see the decoration of the room.

"Can I help you with something, Potter?"

Being caught like that was really embarrassing.

"...I... Er... Well..." Harry knew he was stupid for feeling this way. He mustered all his courage, took a deep breath and finally said, "Yes, you can. You can tell me if you are meeting her today."

Draco cocked his head and seemed to analyze him. "I'm not," he murmured, voice low, going back inside his bedroom.

Harry took his opportunity.

The room was clear and seemed to glow. Probably because of the sun and the pale yellow paint on the walls and the light coming from the balcony. Harry closed the door.

His room didn't have a balcony, but Harry wasn't going to be petty about these kind of things.

"What do you mean by 'I'm not'? She's your child," he exclaimed with fervour.

"Oh, thank you Potter. Without you I would have never figured that out," Draco sneered and narrowed his eyes. "I would think I was there. The moment she was conceived? I'm pretty sure I was very much present."

Harry bristled, feeling his cheeks warm. "That's not what I meant and you know it."

Draco narrowed his eyes, a pink flush spreading over his own fair cheeks. "I can't get to her. Blaise is busy and Pansy," he spat her name, "just told me she won't be able to come."

"Oh, please," Harry rolled his eyes. "You don't want to speak with your daughter's grandparents because they are Muggles. That's pathetic."

"Potter," Malfoy growled, "don't assume you know my reasons. For your information, Annie and Ben are very fond of me. And I never said a word against them."

"Then, why, pray tell, are you not going to meet her?" Harry tried to control his voice and himself.

Malfoy turned his back to Harry. "There is no one to get her for me."

"That's a lie if I've ever heard one, Malfoy. Tell me the truth." Harry snarled.

Malfoy clenched his fists. "I've told you already. Don't assume you know me. I would never lie about her." His voice was strained and he was talking through gritted-teeth.

"Oh." And with that statement, Harry found his anger quickly deflating.

Draco started unpacking a bag that had been on the already maid bed and Harry had not seen before.

"What are you doing?" Harry questioned in a neutral tone.

Draco gave him an annoyed glance before putting away in his dark wood wardrobe whatever he had taken from the bag and that had been on his hand. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

Harry shuffled a little. "You're unpacking your bag."

At that, Malfoy muttered, "And I thought he would say I was bathing in a cauldron."

There is no need for sarcasm, Harry thought, a little annoyed.

"Hmm... I... Er... You..." He frowned not knowing what exactly he wanted to say right at that moment but finding the silence too weird and uncomfortable.

He opened his mouth again and, realizing he had nothing coherent to say, closed it again.

Draco sighed resignedly. "What is it now, Potter?"

"I can- I mean, Icandoitforyou." Harry was afraid he wouldn't have the gut to finish his sentence, therefore everything came out in a rush. He wasn't sure Draco got his message.

"You want to get her for me?"

"No," Harry looked down at his socks. "I was thinking more like I could accompany you. Like Pansy did."

Harry peered at him through his lashes and the blond looked like nothing else could have shocked him more.

"You want to come with me?" he drawled slowly, testing his own words.

"Yeah." Harry was getting very uncomfortable with the incredulous stare Draco was assessing him with. "It's just... Well, I won't have anything to do today. Besides, you two seem to have lots of fun together and I thought-"

"Are you saying you want to go out with my daughter, Potter?" Interrupted Draco sternly, with a serious face.

"Of cour-" Draco raised his right hand, once again successfully shutting him off.

"I have told her she can only start dating boys when she's a fully grown-up woman and forty-five years old. It's unfortunate but you'll have to wait." The blond said pragmatically.

Harry's eyes widened. "Malfoy, stop being such a prat. I'm not saying that I want to go out with your daughter."

Draco's eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Are you saying you want to go out with me?"

"Argh, no!" Harry had an almost uncontrollable itching to tear his hair out. "That's not what I said! I wanted to accompany you two, that's all."

The blond stared at him for a few seconds and then said, "You can't."

Harry's notrils flared. "Why bloody not?"

Draco smirked. "Because obviously you don't have any sort of trunks and my daughter and I are going to swim today."

"Malfoy, it's freezing outside! Besides, I have swimming trunks," Harry said petulantly, "Hermione bought me some."

"The place we're going is warm and very much in summer," The blond said haughtily. "But that's ludicrous. 'She bought you some', Potter?" Draco's smirk widened. "Does she help you go to the bathroom as well?"

I can't believe what I'm doing. He's still the same old bastard. He hasn't changed. Just because he's got a daugh-

And an image of Ivi's face suddenly fleeted through his eyes.

Harry tried his best to keep his anger in check.

"Can I accompany you two or not?" he finally inquired through tighly gritted-teeth.

The blond gave him a doubtious look. "I'm warning you: you haven't met a young seven-year-old Malfoy. A female seven-year-old Malfoy."

"Well," Harry used his most careless tone of voice, "she can't be worse than you at your early age."

Draco gave him a sardonic smile. "That you'll see when you meet her."

Harry only gave him a crooked smile and went to pack everything he would need.

*

Harry and Draco soon found themselves in front of the same white house with the same red painted door.

Harry nervously blew hot air down onto his gloved hands. Both were wearing thick cloaks over their summer attire. Harry did not like the way the blond was staring at him.

"Well, in you go," Draco comanded with a gesture.

Harry shifted his feet and looked away from Draco's expectant face in the direction of the house. "Aren't you coming as well?"

A shadow passed through the blond's face and for once he looked slightly unsure. "I can't. Ben and Annie aren't supposed to see me."

Harry frowned. "Why not?" he asked softly.

"Are you getting her or not?" the blond inquired, starting to lose his cold composure.

"I am, I am," Harry exclamed annoyed, walking up to ring the house's bell. He did not like to show up uninvited at somebody else's house. Especially strangers. He always felt awkward.

"Potter," Draco called from farther than they had been while talking.

Harry gave him a puzzled look, urging the man to tell him his reason for calling out.

The blond gave him a lopsided smirk and said, "I'll be waiting for the two of you at the next corner." With that, he walked out of his parents-in-law's property.

Harry blinked at him, disbelief written all over his face and swore. Once.

Turning around and swallowing a little, he gathered all his worldly known courage. He knocked firmly three times before the door was yanked open.

The same face he had seen only one month before stared up at him. Harry for the first time was able to face Ivi and when he stared back at her eyes, he saw the most beautiful orbs his own had ever beheld. They were light silver and had honey-colored flecks. They were breath-taking.

Long lashes covered them for a second and a sweet childish voice questioned, "May I help you, sir?"

She was wearing a cotton, green dress and grey socks that went up to her knees. Her sandals were black. Slytherin to the core.

"Who is it, dear?" an old woman's voice reached them from within the house.

The girl glanced back then focused her full attention on Harry again. "Sir?"

"Oh, right," Harry got hold of his traitorious tongue. "My name is Harry Potter. I'm one of your father's-," What? Friend? "acquaintances."

Her back suddenly straightened and she sized him up. "Where's Aunt Pans? Couldn't Uncle B come? Why are you here? Who are you, anyway? Why isn't my father with you? How come you-"

"Ivi, dear," the girl's grandmother appeared behind her, smiling down at her, "let the good young man breathe, yes?"

The girl made a face and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hullo, I'm Annie Brewster. This little girl's grandmother. How can I help you, mister..." she left it hanging, waiting for Harry to fulfill her curiosity.

"Potter, Harry Potter, ma'am," Harry smiled nervously.

Annie dismissed the formalities with a wrinkled hand. "Please, call me Annie."

"Annie, then."

The old woman raised her eyebrows in question.

"Right," Harry said hurriedly and embarrassed. "I came to take Ivi to her father, Annie. Now, I know that you must be wondering why would you let a stranger take your granddaughter away but I assure you there is a reasonable explana-"

"He didn't want to come here," the woman sighed.

Ivi, for a change, had a concerned expression on her face and she touched her small hand to her grandma's. "Granny..."

Harry couldn't for his life understand what was going on at that particular moment but he knew Malfoy's declining to come over had something to do with the sad mood that had settled around them.

"It's all right," Annie wiped away a barely fallen teardrop and gave them a forced smile. "You two should go or you'll waste more unquestionably precious minutes." With that, she ushered Harry and Ivi out of her doorway.

"Let's go," Ivi ordered, reluctantly holding Harry's hand and challenging him to make any comment.

Looking down at her petulant and heated eyes, Harry couldn't help but see Draco's fierce spirit around her small and delicate form.

"Come on, then."

*

Harry hadn't been certain that Ivi knew about her wizarding background. When they apparated directly at a waterfall surrounded by the greenest vegetation, he was sure she, not only knew, but had experimented quite a big share of magic.

People said they got dizzy from apparating; Harry just felt disconected for a few seconds. It was obvious that neither reactions were felt by either Draco nor Ivi.

The blond was as cool and collected as ever and Ivi was beaming and taking off her dress and shining black shoes.

"Daddy, this place is awesome! The waterfall is huge!" she exclaimed, giggling, staring amazed at the beautiful picture the crystal water and the grey rocks, smudged with little patches of green, at the bottom made.

The sides of Draco's lips twisted upward and his face was free from his worries and thoughts.

"I thought you would like it." His face softened. "Your mother loved it here. Actually, it was her who showed me this place."

Harry saw how Ivi's back straightened at the mention of her mother. "It was?" she asked and her voice was at the same time full of feeling and emotionless.

"It was." Draco wasn't smiling but his eyes were shining and Harry thought, how beautiful. They were moving restlessly, caressing Ivi's features with a emotion deeper than Harry could ever have imagined existed.

"So..." Harry trailed off, trying to get their attention. He got it. "What is this place, anyway?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "Merlin, Potter. Do I have to always explain everything to you?" He sighed exasperatedly. "This is a fo-res-t. That's a wa-ter-fall. Those down there are ro-cks. These things on the ground are either lea-ves or-"

It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes and he snapped, "I know that already, thank you very much for your clever explanation."

"Oh." Ivi was snickering quietly and the blond asked, "then why did you ask what this was? I don't have time for your mighty words and wise questions today."

Harry stared at him pointedly. "I was asking where exactly this place is located," he clarified, while trying to keep his annoyance in check.

After all, the place was beautiful and he didn't want to leave it so soon. The air around it was calming and carried a scent Harry hadn't smelled in a long time.

The smell of leaves, summer and life.

"It's in Brazil, you ignorant soul. I did say it was Moira who showed me this place."

Harry sat on a big grey rock. "Oh, right."

The two partners were still wearing their coats over their summer attire, having ignored it in favor of not losing to the other on their verbal game and Harry was already starting to sweat.

There was a little breeze stirring his black fringe and the water was crystaline and looked very cooling.

Harry took off his gloves and shoes and asked, "Isn't anybody going in?"

The girl glanced at him in distrust while extending her arm to her father. "Daddy, come in with me? I'm afraid I may get hurt."

"Sure thing, Ivi. I'll just take off my coat and my shirt, ok?"

She seemed to want to protest against Draco taking off his shirt but the blond was faster. In less than two minutes, he was shirtless and Harry saw how pale he really was for the first time. It was quite a shock.

The blond glanced at him. "Potter, are you going to gape at my athletic body and my gorgeous daughter or are you coming in as well?"

Harry smiled against his very will and took off his own coat. "Oh, I'm coming in, all right." And when he was as shirtless as his blond partner, he started a water fight with both father and daughter.

It was very fun.

*

Now, it was getting dark and they had already lunched. It seemed to Harry that the food Draco cooked especially for Ivi was more appetizing than his usual cooking. If Harry had been someone else, he may have felt jealous for that fact. He assured himself that he wasn't.

"Is he coming next time, daddy?" The voice was light and curious. It gave Harry goosebumps.

Discretely glancing at father and daughter, Harry was unable to study Draco's expression.

"Do you want him to come?" the blond asked neutrally.

A thoughtful expression settled on Ivi's face. "He is more polite than Aunt Pans and isn't as touchy as Uncle B. He's still rude and childish," Harry huffed at this. Childish? Him? "but as long as he doesn't come near you, I'm okay with his boring presence."

Draco's face was glowing and he seemed for once content.

"What do you think, Potter?"

Harry hurriedly busied himself with packing something or another away. "About what?" Harry faked disinterest.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh come off it, Potter, I know you were listening."

"I-" He glanced down at Ivi's face and imagined how much fun he would have if met her again. When I meet her again, he corrected himself. "All right, but only if she behaves herself and promises not to play pranks against my person."

The blond coughed, trying to disguise his laughter and Ivi cocked her head to the right and analyzed him. "We have an agreement if you two promise me that next time we'll go to somewhere that doesn't involve anything where you have to be half naked."

"Believe me," Harry affirmed, "this isn't one of my favorite ways to spend time with people."

Draco was stifling his laughter as much as he could. When he finally subdued, he promised, "Next time, I'll take you to someplace uninvolved with public skin display." He laughed some more and Harry felt like smiling.

Things do look better, after all.

"Oh and Potter," the blond started, giving him a lopsided smirk. "Since Ivi isn't opposing very much, I think you can tag along next time."

Everything was packed again and there were no clues left that they had ever been there. And really, it had been a sunny day and Harry had had fun and so he didn't think smiling at his partner would be all that weird. He smiled boyishly at father and daughter and that was his answer.