Baby Draco

Summary:

Curiosity killed the cat. But for Draco, it was fate worse than death when he was accidentally turned into an eight-month-old baby and found himself in the care of the Weasleys. Featuring: a magical smirking baby, hilarious parenting experience and an eventual D/G!

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot. The wonderful Harry Potter world is created by JK Rowling.

Baby Draco

Chapter 1: Three Men and A Baby

Malfoy Manor

Draco Malfoy was bored. Utterly bored.

It was the beginning of the summer holiday after his fifth year in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he had nothing to do in the deserted manor. He had just finished all of his holiday homework. His father, Lucius Malfoy, was away for the annual meeting of the International Confederation of Wizards in Bath, representing the Ministry, and his mother accompanied him to have her annual hot spring spa retreat - not that their presence would make any differences (His parents were always busy with their business and friends). But this time, Lucius forgot to leave him a toy to entertain himself during their absence. Normally, Lucius gave him new broom, books about Dark Arts or enchanted toys.

He sighed.

Drumming his quill on the mahogany table, his mind drifted to his schoolmates. Crabbe and Goyle were away for their tropical getaway in the Caribbean. Draco frequented the place so many times before and the idea of spending his holiday with those two dorks made him wrinkled his nose. Pansy was not an option he would like to venture anymore after the disastrous Yule Ball date in his fourth year. Thinking of the Parkinson girl only made his stomach queasy. Blaise Zabini? Ah, the girl must be busy partying all night. Draco had enough of that last year.

He decided to proceed to the library. His father had a wide collection of Dark Artefacts and Dark Arts books. Maybe he would find something interesting to do there.

Half an hour later, he was bored again. He had forgotten that his father's collection had been dwindling over the past few years. The more interesting artefacts were either destroyed or sold in the Knockturn Alley for fear of Ministry raids.

Draco stopped in his track. His gaze fell on the grand fireplace. A smirk appeared on his face as he thought of a wonderful idea.

Knockturn Alley? Yes, he remembered an interesting experience in the biggest shop there, Borgin and Burkes. He went there to accompany his father three years ago but the old man did not allow him to touch or buy anything.

Lucius was not around. Draco could do anything as he like.

"Libby!" he thundered. Two seconds later, a shabby-looking house-elf Apparated with a crack of a whip.

"Y-ye-yes, Young Master!" the house-elf stuttered nervously.

"Bring me the Floo Powder. Fast!" he ordered with a glare. The house-elf looked panic-stricken at his request. Without warning, she leapt up and started banging her head furiously on the nearest bookshelf. One corner of his lips twitched in annoyance. This was one his father's policy that he did not approve: self-punishment for house-elf disobedience. He did not care about the slaves torturing themselves but if it only served to hinder them from doing their tasks fasters, he did not see the point of self-punishment.

"Stop it, will you? Just tell me what's wrong!" he snapped impatiently. The house-elf burst to tears, still hitting herself for another minute before she finally stopped.

"I'm so-sorry, Young Master. B-but Master Malfoy said Young Master cannot go out without informing Master Malfoy. Libby is not to give Young Master Floo Powder."

Draco narrowed his eyes fractionally. What does father want locking him up in the manor like that? His initial reaction was to bully the house-elf into giving him the Floo Powder, but he thought better of it. House-elves have got powerful magic of their own and his father had given Libby his permission to stop him going out. He would not like the magic to be used upon him. It was time to make use of his Slytherin's wit.

"This is strange, Libby. He must have forgotten to tell you that he allowed me to go to the Zabini's."

The house-elf blinked and shuddered. She was going to bang her head on the bookshelf again but Draco had enough of it. He pulled her away not realizing that for the first time in his life, he had touched a slave.

"I..I'm sorry, Young Master. Libby must have forgotten! Master Malfoy never forgets!" she squeaked.

"Yes, Libby. Now will you bring the Floo Powder for me?" Draco asked patronizingly. Her teary eyes wide as headlights, she looked at him reverently.

"Young Master is very kind to forgive Libby. Libby is eternally grateful," she said and then snapped her fingers. A crystal pot filled with glittering powder appeared out of thin air.

"Thank you, Libby!" Draco said with a sly smile on his face. Stupid house-elf!

After taking a pinch of the Floo Powder, he quickly stepped into the fireplace and vanished. Only green flame lingered for a few seconds in the hearth.

Libby was too astonished that her Young Master thanked her that she was not aware of his real destination.

"Y..young Master Malfoy is too kind..."

~*~*~ *~*~~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~

"Ginny, you remember the cleaning spells that I told you? I paste a list on the corkboard. Remind your brothers if they forget," Mrs. Weasley said as she poked her wand at a clean batch of cutlery, sending them to the cutlery drawers. "Ron, don't forget to de-gnome the garden!"

No answer. Ron pretended he was busy feeding his owl, Pigwidgeon, which has just returned with a letter from Harry.

"Ron?" hissed Mrs. Weasley.

"Yes, Mum!" he replied reluctantly. A loud bang was heard from the second floor.

"Fred and George Weasley!" she bellowed. In a few seconds, the twins stormed down into the kitchen.

"Yes, Mum?" they chorused, sounding clueless and innocent.

"Did you hear the loud bang, Fred?"

"Yeah, I wonder who it was."

Mrs. Weasley stood arms akimbo, glaring at one of them. "George Weasley!"

"I'm Fred, Mum! How could you?!" Fred complained. The plump woman scowled.

"Fred and George Weasley! I do not want you to do your experiment in the house when your Father and I are away - No, I actually do not allow you to do it in the house EVER!"

"Er...yes, Mum!" answered the twins. Satisfied, she smiled and turned to her other son, missing the look exchanged between the two.

"Percy, you keep an eye on them. Make sure your brothers behave well when we are in France. If there is anything, you know how to contact us," she said lovingly, giving a peck on her son's cheek.

"Yes, Mum. I promise they won't even dare. Send my regard to Bill and Fleur," answered Percy. Ron rolled his eyes at his formal and all-important tone while Ginny covered her lips to stifle her giggle.

"Molly, it's time to go! The Delacours, Bill and Charlie are already waiting," Arthur Weasley called his wife from the entrance of the kitchen.

"Hold on for a minute, Arthur," she said mildly and with one last glare she warned them, "you'd better remember what I told you!"

"Bye, Mum!"

"Bye, Dad!"

"Send our love to Bill and Charlie!"

"Have fun in France!"

Then, the Weasley couple Disapparated to the Portkey that would send them to France. The two of them were to spend the summer with their future-in-laws. Bill had been going out with Fleur Delacour for a year and they were planning to marry next year. However, besides their parents, only Charlie could go there. Travelling to France was expensive and only the two oldest Weasley children who were already working could afford that. Of course, someone must stay back to watch the younger ones and Percy was the one trusted with that difficult task.

Just a minute after their parents left, an owl flew into the room and dropped a letter on the table in front of Percy. Percy subsequently took it and scanned the content with a studious expression. He sighed and put the letter down.

"I'm sorry, boys. I think you all have to do without me for a week. You know, ministry business," he announced importantly.

"Really, Perce?" George quipped.

"I think they are going to promote you soon," Fred commented soberly. Percy tried to hide his smugness.

"Ah, not really. It's just that no one in my department can really do the job. Well, I trust you all can manage without me?" he asked.

"Of course, Perce! Don't you worry," replied Fred rather too fast. But Percy did not notice that.

"Yeah, we're big enough to take care of ourselves," assured George. "We'd watch Ron and Ginny for you."

Horrified, the two youngest Weasleys looked at their twin brothers sceptically.

"We'll cover up your responsibilities here, Perce. We know how important ministry business is."

"Yeah, we won't tell Mum either," added George.

"Okay, then. Thanks a lot, boys. Never thought the two of you could finally grow up," he said. Giving them an approving smile, he then flicked his wand to Disapparate.

Fred and George instantly broke into hysterical laughter soon after Percy Disapparated. Puzzled, Ron and Ginny looked at each other. Ron picked up the letter that Percy left on the table.

Dear Mr. Percy Weasley,

The Department received a notification about the International Cauldron Convention which will be held next month. We need you to do a thorough research of the cauldron thickness in all Ministry departments' storerooms. It would be good if you can measure the thickness of each cauldron for statistical purpose.

The report is to be submitted in two weeks time.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Magdalena Fletcher

Secretary

The Department of International Magic Cooperation

"You did this!" Ron exclaimed. The twins were still holding the side of their stomachs as they nodded. Ginny furrowed her brows.

"But Percy would find out soon and our holiday will definitely be ruined!" said the youngest Weasley anxiously.

"No if the letter is authentic. We intercepted the owl," Fred grinned.

"Yeah, we just modified that a bit. It would be useful for his career." George winked.

"Wicked! What did the real letter say?" Ron asked excitedly. The two boys exchanged a meaningful look.

"Well," started Fred, "Percy does have to work with cauldron thickness."

"But he needed to measure the cauldrons only in his department storeroom."

"We happened to know that there are about five hundred cauldrons in each department's storeroom."

"That would occupy him for a long time."

"But knowing Percy..."

"He would finish the job in half the period of time given," Ron finished for them. Ginny smiled and shook her head good-naturedly. Her three brothers did know how to make holidays more interesting.

"Hey, Gin! Now that Percy is gone, would you join us to Diagon Alley?" offered George. She raised her eyebrows.

"And how are we going there?" she asked. The three boys sniggered.

"Floo Powder!" they answered in unison.

"But Mum would definitely find out if the pot is empty!" she blurted.

"We use our own Floo Powder," told Fred triumphantly.

"Bought some in Hogsmeade last time," George explained. Ginny's lips curved into a conspiring smile.

"Let's go, then!"

~*~*~ *~*~~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~

The spinning sensation ceased. Draco Malfoy opened his eyes and found himself standing in a stone fireplace of a dimly lit wizard's shop.

"Ah, Young Master Malfoy! How wonderful!" greeted a greasy-haired man behind the counter, "it has been quite a while since the last time I saw you."

Draco gave a curt nod, "Yes, Mr. Borgin."

"Mr. Malfoy is away, I suppose? Well, how may I be assistance? I must show you, just in today, and very reasonably prized -"

"I prefer to look around and choose the item personally," said Draco.

"Yes, yes. I understand. You have a fine taste. I believe you'll find something to your liking," commented Mr. Borgin while stroking his chin.

Draco started to browse through the large black cabinet to his left in silence. Someone called from inside the shop.

"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy. I have some business to attend. If you need me, just ring the bell on the counter."

"Yes. Take your time, Mr. Borgin!" said Draco mindlessly as he was too occupied with the items displayed in the shop.

He read the information card propped in front of a withered hand on a velvet cushion. It read: Hand of Glory. Insert a candle and it gives light only to a holder. Best friends for thieves and plunderers.

Draco smiled in reminiscence. He remembered how his father reacted when Mr. Borgin told the exact same things to him.

"I hope my son will amount to more than a thief or a plunderer, Borgin."

He paused to examine a small engraved item on the right of the Hand of Glory. The dim light in the shop was reflected wanly by its shiny surface. Draco could not make out the form of the golden statuette. Curious, he reached out to touch the item, completely disregarding his father's warning the last time they visited the shop.

The tip of his finger brushed the surface gently and as he did that, his eyes caught a glimpse of the information card.

He could only read part of it before his vision blurred and he felt his body contracted as if he was sucked from the core.

But he was sure of that part. It said: DO NOT TOUCH -

~*~*~ *~*~~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~

"I'll buy the owl tonic for Errol in Magical Menagerie. You all go ahead first. I know you want to visit Gambol and Japes. I'll meet you there in fifteen minute?" suggested Ginny. The three boys agreed and they went separate ways.

Only ten steps away, George stopped his brothers. A playful smile was plastered on his freckled face.

"What is it, George?" Ron asked warily. When George or Fred smiled like that, they usually had some crazy ideas forming inside their red heads.

"Let's go there!" he said spiritedly. Ron frowned. He did not get it but Fred seemed to understand his twin perfectly. He made a similar expression while judging Ron's clothing.

"Yes, you'll do." He pulled the hood of Ron's faded brown cloak to cover the head. Then, the twins dragged him away.

"Hey, can you tell me where we are going?" complained the youngest boy.

"Of course," Fred said.

"We've been planning this since we heard Mum's going away." Ron felt his adrenaline pumping after hearing his brothers' mischievous tone.

"We're going to Knockturn Alley, my boy!" announced George softly. Under the hood, Ron's eyes widened.

The three Weasley boys, perfectly disguised under the dark hooded cloaks, looked just like three dark adult wizards wandering in the dingy alley.

Three of them observed their surroundings eagerly under the hood.

"Look, a shop selling poisonous candle!" Fred muttered under his breath.

"Did you see the shrunken heads? Awesome!" whispered Ron.

"Ugh, Ron... don't look left. There's a display of gigantic black spiders," informed George nervously. His younger brother shuddered at the thought of spiders.

"Hey, let's go there! That's the biggest shop here, I suppose," told Fred, pointing to a shop with dusty windows.

The three of them entered the shop. It was empty so they pulled down the hoods.

"How come the owner's not here? Doesn't he know that there are thieves and criminals outside?" asked George curiously. He felt a tug at his sleeve and found Ron pointing at an object for sale.

It was a magnificent necklace of opals. A card was propped on it, Caution: Do Not Touch. Cursed - Has Claimed the Lives of Twenty Muggle Owners to Date.

"Ugh, nobody would dare to steal the things sold in this place."

Fred strode over to examine a shelf full of skulls, whistling appreciatively. George walked towards the large black cabinet with Ron trailing behind.

The shop has an eerie atmosphere. Ron felt goose bumps forming. He paused to examine a glass eye.

That was the time when his feet stumbled on some soft object on the floor. He looked down to see what was there and blinked.

A baby.

He blinked again and it did not disappear.

"Ron, what's wrong?" asked George, sensing his brother sudden tenseness. The twins approached Ron who was squatting down now.

Draco's eyes fluttered open when he felt something hard hit his side. He saw red. No, he saw three reds.

He furrowed his brows. Three reds? That's not right. His vision started to gain its focus. He saw three red heads. Shit!

It was Ron Weasley.

He thrust his hand to smack Weasel's face. How dare the filthy Muggle-lover lean so near to a Malfoy? To his dismay, Draco could not reach him and that was when Draco realized something was terribly wrong.

Since when did Weasel grow so big? Blink. Blink. He observed his own hand and narrowed his eyes. And...since when did his hand look chubby? How come his fingers were so short and button-like?!

He was going to shout at them but he only heard a strange screeching sound.

Panic surged through him. Oh, shit! Shit! SHIT!

"Ron, I think you scare the baby," said Fred hesitantly.

"Do you think it is one of the items sold here?" Ron asked stupidly.

"Don't be silly! The shop owner would not put him on the floor like that," commented George unconvincingly. Well, no one can be too sure about things in Knockturn Alley.

"Must be a magical mishap then," Fred concluded.

Draco Malfoy gulped.

"I don't see anything wrong with him," said George.

Draco could not believe what he had just heard.

"But for the fact that he's in Knockturn Alley," Ron pointed.

He did not want to believe it.

He was turned into a baby.

=============== TBC ===============