Strength of a Child's Mind

Summary: Disaster and Harry Potter does not bode well… at all. And this particular disaster is determined to change both Harry's and the greasy potions master's lives!

Pairing/s: None.

Warnings: Severus!Father, Child!Harry. Spoilers up to the fifth book? Sirius not dead. Maybe something else but you'll see that.

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.

-o-

Last chapter!

-o-

UPDATED: 6 January 2011

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Chapter Nine

Albus was still in a bit of a shock, but so was everyone else except for Lucius. The blonde man now sat in a chair, leg crossed over the other and stroking Nagini over the head. Tom was seated in one next to the man and was currently listening to something Harry was whispering to him.

Severus' nerves had to be outside his skin; otherwise he would not have been shaking as much. He felt vulnerable and overwhelmingly tired. But the sight of seeing Harry alive and well, and with a new friend in the former Dark Lord gave him strength to continue sitting and listening to the others talk.

Even Sirius took all this rather well. He had not fainted, screamed or run away so far. He had not approached Tom though, and no one could blame him. The man had in his insanity killed two of Sirius' best friends.

Remus accepted it easier, sitting quite close to Tom and Harry and speaking to them now and then. Maybe his werewolf's senses picked up something humans missed.

Harry did not seem to mind though, chatting with Tom, waving his arms around and the man catching him every time he seemed to loose his balance.

"Moony."

Tom and Harry was busy with talking so they did not notice as Remus slipped away to speak to Sirius. Severus listened in on the two men.

"What is it?" the werewolf said as he sat down next to his friend.

"What can you feel with that man that we others don't?"

Remus looked over at Tom and then said simply:

"I can't smell magic in him. It doesn't exist. I can't even say he's a Squib."

Sirius stared at the werewolf.

"He's… empty?" Sirius asked.

"I guess that's one way to put it," Remus said. "Plus there are no ill intentions against us coming from him. He doesn't want to hurt us."

The Black looked over at Tom who was now a pole for Harry to climb around on. The man looked mildly annoyed but did not try to take Harry down from his shoulders. One of his hands hovered nearby in case the small boy would loose his hold on the man's hair.

-o-

A while later Tom walked around as the others spoke, an asleep Harry in his arms, the quietness of Hogwarts all around him. He had been walking around the corridors for some time now, but found it comforting. He felt magic, the faintest twinge of it, and was glad for that. While he could never use magic again, he could at least feel it and take comfort from it.

Not as much as he took comfort from the boy sleeping in his arms though. Harry was the source he needed to keep on going. If they were to separate him and the child, he would ask Lucius to kill him.

No Harry, no Tom Riddle. Simple as that.

He looked down on the child in his arms, hugged Harry closer and cradled the head in his hand. Such a small thing had made him turn away from his madness so easily. Just seeing Harry smile was enough, it gave him happiness. Not magic, not power or wealth… the boy's smile.

What an odd turn of events, but he was not going to start complaining.

-o-

Lucius held an arm around Draco, the teen had just arrived along with the others and for the first time they all witnessed the closeness of the Malfoys.

Draco, despite not being small, sat in his father's lap, head on the man's shoulder, one hand gripping the robe Lucius was wearing and eyes closed. Lucius' arm was around Draco's middle, keeping him in place and the other hand gently stroke his son's cheek, the blonde man's own cheek resting against Draco's silvery blonde hair.

The Weasley children and Hermione could barely believe what they were seeing. Also the Order was a bit overwhelmed as they had always seen Lucius as an asshole. Well, maybe everyone except for Severus. He felt a small twinge of hope that maybe, just maybe, the two would be friends again.

"What do we tell Cornelius?" Albus suddenly asked. "He is going to come later today, and he wants to know some answers."

"Voldemort is dead," Moody said. "That's all we need to say, right? He got his Death Eaters arrested, we burnt Voldemort's body and that's it."

"Good suggestion, Alastor. Have you changed your opinions perhaps?"

"Well, seeing Potter use Riddle like a climbing pole had some affect on me," Moody admitted grudgingly. "It will take a while before I feel comfortable with the man though."

"I understand completely," the headmaster said, "and I'm sure Tom is aware of that when it comes to all of you."

"But Harry doesn't hate him," Ron said. "He should."

"Harry doesn't remember Tom murdered his parents," Albus said. "And he knows Tom is no saint. After all, Bellatrix was killed in front of him."

"But we can't call him Tom Riddle," Moody said. "Even that minister knows it's something funny with that name, and will soon discover why."

"We will decide of a new last name once Tom gets back then," the old man said. "Lucius, how are you feeling?"

"Quite fine," the blonde man replied.

"You don't fear you will be in trouble?" Albus asked.

"When have I ever been in trouble?" Lucius asked with a half-smirk. "I shall be fine, Albus, do not worry for my sake. Can't take care of my family very well if I'm in prison, right? That is enough motivation for me to stay outside the bars."

"The Death Eaters will point you out as one as well," Severus said. "There is no way around that, and they will check your arm."

"Oh, they can check how much they want," Lucius said. "They will find nothing anyway."

That got their attention.

"What?" Albus said.

Lucius nudged Draco and the teen climbed out from his lap, seated himself on the chair next to Lucius as the man removed his robe. He rolled up the shirt sleeve and showed them his left arm.

There was no mark. Only pale skin. They all stared.

"I have only one more dose," Lucius said and got out a bottle from his robes. "As an old friend, I would like to offer it to you, Severus. That tattoo never fitted you anyway."

He held out the bottle.

"A potion to remove the Dark Mark?" the potions master asked breathlessly.

"Only Tom knew it. He gave the recipient to me and told me to make it," Lucius said, shaking the bottle a bit. "It will hurt. But not as much as… when you get it the first time." A dark shadow passed his face, and then it was gone.

Severus rose up and accepted the bottle.

"Drink all of it," Lucius instructed, "preferably when you're comfortable. Not now, because I'm afraid the floor is quite hard to land on. The effect will begin within two minutes, and it will be over in fifteen."

He rolled his sleeve down again but did not take on the robe again.

"Why did you make two?" Severus asked. "You're not very good in potions."

Lucius smiled a bit, and replied:

"I knew the first one was to me, because I have hated the mark ever since I got it. I've hated myself ever since I got it. I knew it was the same with you and thought… why not a gift to a dear friend?"

Severus knew in that moment he would never push Lucius away again.

-o-

Tom returned to the Great Hall with an energetic Harry with him. The boy held his hand, swung it back and forth and sometimes ran, sometimes jogged and sometimes walked around the halls. Now when the came to the hall, the boy was walking.

They met minister Fudge, and the boy felt Tom's hand tighten.

"Who are you?" the minister asked rudely. He had a toad-like woman with him on one side and Percy Weasley on the other.

"That would be a dear friend of mine, minister Fudge," Lucius silken voice replied, an underlying tone of darkness. The perfect 'I will kill you if you insult him'-voice.

"Mr Malfoy!" Fudge cried. "I'm so sorry; I must not have met this gentleman and child before!" He really knew how to change attitude quickly, Tom had to admit that. Never fight a losing battle. Or rather, never fight a Malfoy ever.

"The child is a relative to Severus," Lucius said. "Did you have a nice walk with Tom, Coran?"

"Yeah!" Harry said happily. He knew Coran was his name as well as Harry. When he was called Coran, he should just ride along.

"Tom?" Fudge said.

"Yes, Tom Grindwel, he arrived to England just a little while ago and I'm afraid very exhausted after his trip." Lucius had his way with words. "Why don't you go and talk a bit to Severus, Tom? You look ready to pass out."

Tom quirked an eyebrow, but obeyed. He was actually ready to pass out. His body had not yet regained the strength it needed, and his mind was weary after a long day. It was with some relief he sat down next to Severus, and Harry climbed up on the potions master's lap. Sirius, now in dog-form, wagged his tail from his spot next to Severus and Harry patted his head. The potions master held Harry with one arm, still fingering on the bottle with the unoccupied hand.

"What's that bottle?" the boy asked the potions master quietly.

"It's a gift from Lucius," Severus said carefully, quietly too. "You know this ugly tattoo I have?"

"Yeah," Harry said and wrinkled his nose. "Is it to get rid of it, just like Lucius did?"

"Yes."

"Good, I don't like it."

"I don't like it either."

"Actually I think it was rather ugly as well but I made it during one of my more or less crazy years," Tom said. "Merlin am I glad those years are over."

"You're not even sad to have lost all your magic?" Moody asked.

"I thought I would be," the man said and looked at Mad-Eye. "But I've gotten used to it already. Although I get nauseous side-Apparating with someone now. Haven't tested Floo powder yet, might work better."

"Or flying on a broom!"

"Yes, flying on a broom will probably be the best," Tom said and looked at Harry. "You like flying?"

"Yeah! Drake flies real' good!"

"Aah, you must be speaking of young Draco Malfoy."

Draco came over to them and Harry shone up. The teen's mouth twitched into a smile.

"Dray!"

"Haven't I told you no nicknames?" Draco said and pinched the boy's nose.

"Dragon!"

"Hey, that's Pansy's you little thief!"

"Dragon Dray Drake?"

"I give up," Draco moaned.

Harry giggled. The Weasleys stared and Tom snorted.

"And where is Harry Potter?" Fudge said to Albus. "He killed Voldemort, right? That means he is somewhere around here."

Here came a bit of trouble. Harry was still in child-form. They could not just say that and they had introduced Harry as Coran. So… quick lie.

"Potter wanted some time alone," Moody said to everyone's surprise. "You can't blame him for that but he's perfectly fine."

"I will believe that when I see it myself," Fudge sniffed. "I want to meet him now."

"You can't because he doesn't want to meet anyone right now," Hermione said suddenly, stepping up to Moody. "I'm sorry minister, but we respect Harry's wish."

"You don't know what you're talking about, girl. The boy has just killed You-Know-Who—"

Lucius shook his head sadly and said in his most manipulating voice he could muster up while exhausted:

"I believe you are not deaf, Cornelius nor stupid. The boy has destroyed an enemy, correct, but put yourself in his situation. You have just killed someone. Would you like to meet the world with that on your conscious?"

Fudge glanced around the room, a bit nervous, returning to Lucius who had a mysterious smile playing on his lips. The others could only watch Lucius' try to wrap the minister around his finger. So far he was doing a rather good job.

"You're right of course," he said and the woman Umbridge got a bit of a red face. She wanted to speak.

"Minister," she said sweetly and Lucius nearly gagged. Even her voice was disgusting. He avoided the woman as much as he could at the Ministry, and knew she bore no great love for him. "You shouldn't listen to them. If you want to meet Harry Potter, the boy should be honoured to meet you. Perhaps Rita Skeeter from the Daily Prophet would like an interview with you both."

Fame was one way to get Fudge do stupid mistakes and the Malfoy had to change his plans, make the minister back off. He thought for a little while, could see the greed in the man's eyes. Oh no, he was not going to have any fame today or any other day on the expense of a child. Lucius smiled a smile that frightened the three from the Ministry and said silkily:

"You do as you want of course, Cornelius, I cannot make any decisions that are not mine to decide. But be aware I stand on Mr Potter's side, and I mean the whole me." In short, the whole Malfoy name and fame was with Harry Potter. The Order managed not to gape but Fudge's mouth fell open. "And if he says one tiny little word he doesn't want to see you, Cornelius… who am I to refuse a poor child's wish?"

He smiled again, a mischievous smile that made Severus chuckle, turned and walked over to Tom, Severus, Harry, Draco and Snuffles.

"That was a good show, Malfoy," Moody said shortly after the minister and his two puppies had left, tails between their legs.

"Thank you very much. I enjoyed every bit of it," Lucius said and smiled. "Who will vote for someone else than Fudge? I know I will."

"But you are on his good side," Albus said.

"Who cares? He's too stupid. The Wizarding World needs someone who has brains, not stupidity," the blonde said. "Needs someone who wants to make a different, not just for fame. Wonder how he became a minister in the beginning?"

"Lucius, I am beginning to think you have lost your mind," Severus said. "Am I correct?"

"Lost my mind? Me?" Lucius said, turning to the potions master. "No, I think I have just gained it back."

"You say I've had a crazy follower all these years?" Tom asked.

"My dear Tom… all of your followers, or almost all, were crazy."

"… You're right."

"Even you were crazy."

"True," Tom said with a wince. "I knew all those rituals were not good for me."

"Rituals?" Harry asked, looking at the man.

"Very bad ones, and they hurt a lot," Tom said and looked at the boy, shaking his finger to emphasize his point. "Never try any of them."

"… 'Kay."

"Good boy."

-o-

Poppy's glare made them all back off and she said:

"Do not come in without my permission!"

"But Madam Pomfrey," Hermione said. "You're just going to check if you can turn back Harry with the potion you have worked forward. Why can't we be in the Infirmary? You will be in a private room."

"I am going to give him the potion, and it's best to be cautious," Poppy said. "So please, everyone leave. You can wait outside."

She shooed them out and Harry looked after them from the door-opening. Tom turned around and waved a bit. Harry did the same, his hand faltering afterwards. He seemed scared. He was not used to be left alone like this, and although Poppy was nice he had gotten used to Tom and did not want the man to leave. But the healer's orders were law within the Infirmary.

Tom was nervous. What if it worked, and Harry was back to normal? He would refuse to come close to the man, and Tom was not sure he could take that. Lucius glanced nervously at him; Tom knew the man would refuse if he asked to be killed. Had to find someone who wanted to kill him then.

Would not be too hard. Just say he was Lord Voldemort, wave a little with his arms and people would come running to kill him. That option checked, good.

The potion Poppy was going to give Harry was supposed to turn him back to normal. It was not even certain he would have his child-memories intact. Maybe that was why Severus looked like he was in hell. Tom was not sure he looked much better.

"Tom, stop pacing."

The man stopped and turned his head like an owl. Lucius tugged on his arm harder and sat him down in a chair.

"Sit there, relax," the blonde ordered.

Tom found himself obeying.

-o-

Poppy came out fifteen minutes later, and everyone looked up, Hermione holding Ron's hand tightly. He could not bring himself to pull away.

Draco had his jaws clenched, and both Tom and Severus gripped the arms of their chairs. Albus stepped up and said:

"Well, Poppy?"

"I have some news," she said. "First of all, you have to find a plausible lie why Harry Potter will never again appear in public."

They all stared at her, the Weasleys, the Order, the two Malfoys and the former Dark Lord.

"What?" Remus finally said.

"Sev'rus!"

Harry ran past the woman and up to the potions master.

"Harry?" the man asked as he lifted the child up. He looked up at the healer. "What's going on, Poppy?"

"I gave him the potion," she said and gestured to the boy. "Nothing happened. I suspect he's been in that form for too long. Or that the moment he turned into a child it would be impossible to turn him back."

Harry pulled at Severus' hair, smiling. The potions master looked suspiciously at the child; that grin was far too alike the Harry Potter he used to know…

-o-

Once alone in Severus' quarters, Severus, Tom, Lucius and Draco was uncertain what to do. The potions master was going to make something clear though.

However, Harry beat him to it.

He found the child staring at him. The other Slytherins stood gathered where Severus had put Harry on the table.

"Harry?" he asked slowly. "Or rather… Mr Potter?"

"Yes, professor?" Harry asked.

Severus was quite certain he would faint.

"Wait a minute…?" Draco said.

"No need," the boy said. "Yes, I'm still in a child's body but I got my memories back."

"So you know everything…?"

"Yeah," Harry said and shrugged. "Everything from my life, and everything from my life as a child here at Hogwarts. Sev'rus."

"Then why did you pretend?" Tom asked as he sank down in an armchair.

"Otherwise they would try making me grow," Harry said. "The Order wouldn't want me close to any of you. Child-Harry though is safest with you guys."

"But your friends… your godfather," Severus said. "Surely you miss them?"

"I still got them," Harry said. "Just in a new way. If I had told them I had my memories, I would have them the old way… and I wouldn't have you at all."

"I killed your parents," Tom said slowly. "One thing that you didn't remember it, but now you know. You know who I am—"

"Was," the child corrected. "You aren't him anymore. You're Tom Grindwel aren't you?"

The man blinked once, twice.

"Well…" Lucius said. "When you look at it that way… it's true."

"See, even Lucius buys it," Harry said. "Stick to that or I'll throw a book at you. Without magic to protect yourself, it hurts a lot more."

"What did you mean even Lucius?" the blonde man asked.

"Blondie," Harry said and stuck his tongue out.

"Just because you are still a child you don't have to call us those horrid names anymore!" said 'Blondie' shrieked.

"But I have to, otherwise they will know I'm lying," Harry said innocently. "Drake."

"What?" said 'Drake' shrieked.

"It really shows they're father and son," Harry pointed out to both Severus and Tom.

-o-

"I said I was sorry!"

Albus frowned as he heard the former Dark Lord shriek that, but when a bang followed he got worried and opened the door to the potions' classroom.

Tom dodged another swing from the book and threw a chair between himself and Severus. The potions master spelled it away and Tom shrieked as the man began to chase him again. Harry sat next to a cauldron, a finger against his lower lip as he watched the two men run around.

"What happened here?" Albus asked the child gently.

"Sev'rus was makin' a potion an' all, and then Tom gave him the wrong bottle, and then the potion was ruined and now Sev'rus is angry."

"… Really now."

"And since Tom can't protect himself, he has to run aroun' an' all."

"I see."

Tom dodged another book and Severus got up one of the spoons he had used for the potion before taking up the chase again.

"Really now, those two are so childish."

Harry tilted his head up to see Lucius leaning over him. He tugged on the blonde hair. Lucius shook it away irritably and looked down at the boy.

"Don't start," he growled.

Harry tried his most innocent face. Neither Lucius nor Albus fell for it.

-o-

Tom watched Harry sleep and barely noticed Severus until the man was standing right next to him.

"How long will this last?" the man asked the potions master.

"If Harry decides… as long as he wants it to last," Severus replied with a shrug. "He has his fun as a child, hence one of the reasons he wants to keep the secret even more."

"Albus is not a fool."

"No, he is not but he knows when to act and when not to act."

Tom looked at the raven-haired man who sipped his tea and looked at the sleeping boy. He was old in his mind, but his body was young and needed to rest.

"True," Tom agreed.

"So we will continue functioning as some kind of dysfunctional family," Severus said with a shrug. "Minus ruining my potions every day, mind you."

"That wasn't my fault!"

"You handed me the ingredients!"

"You should have checked them; you know I'm a lousy potion maker!"

Harry cracked an eye open at hearing the two men arguing, and grinned. Maybe he should start call them 'mama' and 'papa', just to see their faces. They were too easy to tease, and he had way too much time on his hands as a child.

The grin widened. Life, this time around, would be very fun.

End

And here the story ends. -Sob- I hate to see it going but this is it!

It's an open ending. So you can imagine whatever you want to have happened -smile-

Until another time,

Ja,

Tiro