The Little One with Green Eyes

10: Guilty Marigolds Part I

"Not today, my boy." he said. Harry slumped against Sirius, and sniffled. Sirius's chest clenched at the sad whimpers escaping his godson.

"Miss Papa." he whined.

"I'm sorry, child." Dumbledore said remorsefully. Sirius knew that he was serious in his apology, but he also knew that he wasn't apologizing because Harry couldn't see the Dark Lord. Harry squirmed even more in Sirius's lap.

"See Papa soon?" he asked. Sirius wished that he could be happy. This was the most that Harry had spoken to anyone, and yet all Sirius felt was rage. And an underlying ocean of sadness and grief.

"I'm sure you will." Dumbledore said, his blue eyes missing their usual twinkle.

But he could see in everyone's eyes, that unspoken terror that passed through them. Harry was a lot closer to the Dark Lord than everyone realized. They had assumed they were saving an innocent child from an evil dark lord, when in fact... they'd (loathe as Sirius was to admit it) kidnapped a child from their father.

Even if Sirius were to reveal Harry's true parentage, Harry was just a child. A toddler. He wouldn't be able to grasp the gravity of the situation. All he'd see was a bunch of kidnappers trying to change how he saw his father.

Sirius felt sick.

And as Harry continued to amuse himself with Sirius's hair, albeit sadly now, Sirius resigned himself to the knowledge that no matter how hard he tried, no matter how close he got, Voldemort got him first.

And there was nothing he could do to change that.

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Hogwarts Castle
Seven hours earlier

Draco looked up from the letter in shock, his proud Malfoy Mask slipping entirely in front of his friends, house-mates and teachers in the middle of the Great Hall. Luckily for him, no one was really paying attention. Save for, of course, his best friends.

Pansy, Theo and Blaise looked at him in concern, and Pansy eyed the letter with confusion. "Draco?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "What's the matter?"

Draco leaned in, his hands trembling as he folded the letter. "He's gone."

"What's that?" Blaise asked. "Who's gone?"

"Little One."

It was silent amongst the four---Draco sitting in sullen shock while the trio looked at him with disbelief. Finally Theo snorted. "You're joking, right?" he asked. Draco swallowed dryly and shook his head.

"You can't be serious!" Blaise cried, making sure to mind his volume.

"Yeah! I mean, come on! Who in their right mind would take him?" Pansy asked. "Do they have a death wish?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know..." he said. "All I know is the Dark Lord is on a rampage. Mother says that he's acting like he did before."

His friends shifted uncomfortably at that. It was no secret that Little One had changed their Lord for the better. Made him more human. Before Little One, any kind of mistake would lead to hours of torture---if you're lucky---or death---if you're unlucky. If Little One was truly gone... Draco shuddered at the thought of the mere destruction the Dark Lord would cause.

"Do you think he's scared?" Pansy asked softly, and instantly Draco knew they weren't talking about the Dark Lord anymore.

Draco's jaw clenched at the thought of Little One being afraid. They weren't stupid. They'd heard the rumors circulating through the lower ranks about how Little One died (was killed, Draco thought with a twist of his stomach) and the thought of the innocent child going through any more fear filled Draco with such righteous anger.

"They're going to pay." Draco said firmly. And he knew he was right. After all, there was a reason why everyone feared the Dark Lord. Perhaps a decade of peace had caused people to grow confident, to doubt him.

They wouldn't be doubting the Dark Lord much longer.

They continued to eat their breakfast in depressed silence, all thoughts being occupied by Little One and the horrid situation they found themselves in. Suddenly, Pansy let out a choked cry. Draco snapped his head up, intent on asking her what the problem was, when he let out a sharp gasp.

Dumbledore had arrived.

And he had Marigolds in his beard.

"It appears we're going to have a new Headmaster soon," Draco said, his eyebrows pinched together. "It appears I am looking at a dead man standing."

Those flowers came from Little One.