Disclaimer: All characters (save Kailee, Monica, and Lunelle) belong solely to the lovely J.K. Rowling. I wish they were mine, but wishes are for fishes and I am no fish.
Author's Note Part 2: Review, review, review! I love to have my ego fed. Plus I like all criticism. But please, no flamers. I understand that some people don't like slash but you were warned earlier so don't blame me if you are still here.
Harry jolted awake at the petrified shriek. Pulling on a thick robe, he ran down the stairs. He nearly collided with Lupin as he turned the corner into the common room. Harry smiled. "Good morning Professor."
"Yes, Harry. Sounds like Halloween, eh?"
They finally discovered the source of the hollering. Hermione's daughter had been looking for her mother when she had found a copy of the old 'Monster Book of Magical Creatures'. She was on the table, screaming as the booked chewed its own pages and growled. Lupin pounced on the book and locked it while Harry grabbed the young girl. She started to cry and clung to his neck tightly. "It's alright now, Monica. Professor Lupin has put it away."
Monica's sobs were reduced to sniffles as Harry sat down with her on his lap. Lupin patted her back. "What did you learn, Mony?" He looked at her with soft discipline.
Monica rubbed her eyes with tiny fists. "Don't touch bad books?"
Harry smiled. "How about you just don't touch things that don't belong to you?"
Hermione ran in looking hassled. "Monica! What happened, Harry?"
Harry grinned as Hermione clutched Monica. "She opened Hagrid's old Magical Creatures book. She's fine though."
"That thing needs to be thrown out!" She stroked her trembling daughter's hair. "I'm going to see if her father can take care of her. See you later Harry. Professor. Say goodbye Monica."
"Bye-bye Uncle Harry. Bye Doggy Man," came the muffled reply. Harry and Lupin laughed. Hermione left, trying in vain to teach the two year old.
"Not Doggy Man. Professor Lupin!"
"Doggy Man!"
"Join me for a cup of tea Harry?"
"Sounds wonderful Professor." Lupin conjured two cups of tea and sugar. Harry watched as Lupin made a cup of tea for himself. He looked more hassled than usual. "What class do you have to teach this morning?"
Lupin smiled sadly. "Those blasted slytherin fifth-years. Connie and Michael insist on destroying my classroom every time we have class. I should ask Hagrid to stop by." He chuckled. "Maybe he can yell them into submission."
"We don't want them going to Madame Pomfrey." Harry glanced at what they were wearing. "Classes start in half an hour. I'm going to go change." Harry set his cup on the tray and stood up.
Lupin did the same. "I suppose I should change as well. Must not keep slytherin waiting." He shuddered. "Why is it I can't remember Lucius or Severus ever acting like this?"
"Maybe that's because you always turned a blind eye to our antics." Snape, already clothed in his black robes, stood just inside the doorway to the Gryffindor common room. He came in swiftly, stopping in front of Harry. "Come with me, Potter." He sneered at the bedclothes Harry wore. "Preferably in more appropriate robes."
Harry glanced at Lupin, who shrugged, and went upstairs to change quickly. He came back down, wearing his teaching robes, and ran out the door after Snape. Surprisingly, he didn't have far to run since Snape had stopped a few feet away in the hall. "Hurry up, Potter. Wasn't you who said that classes began in half an hour?"
Harry stayed quiet as he followed Snape, unsure of where they were going. Then Harry recognized the newest hall they'd gone down. It was the one that had been temporarily closed down after a pair of close friends had decided to follow in the footsteps of their heroes, the Weasly twins, and set up a surprisingly accurate bog. The only difference being that, although Professor Flitwick had gotten rid of it twice before, it kept reappearing, seeming to sink up through the floor, before disappearing again later. "Professor, you aren't saying we are going to talk in the middle of the bog. Are you?"
"Well Potter, as I haven't said anything yet, you don't know what I'm doing." He opened a door quickly and pulled out a black broom, shutting the door and jumping out of the way as the floor gave out under his feet and the bog appeared again. Without so much as an explanation, Snape strode off, heading to the empty quidditch pitch. As they got out to the field, Harry had an inkling of what they were going to do.
"Accio broom!" Harry grabbed his broom out of the air, which had raced from his chambers. He followed Snape's lead and changed his robes to his old quidditch uniform, although Snape's was a dark black and green. Without warning, Snape mounted his broom and quickly shot up into the air. He raced the length of the field, seeming to Harry, for all the world to be enjoying himself. Spotting something Harry could not see, Snape pulled out a ribbon and tied his hair back at the base of his neck, before bringing his broom down to one end of the pitch. Harry raised an eyebrow when he saw Madame Hooch, angrily shaking a finger at Snape. Snape kept smirking and shrugging his shoulders. Finally Madame Hooch sighed and put something in Snape's outstretched hand.
Turning toward Harry, Hooch waved a hand at him. "Morning, Potter," she said when he reached them. "Professor Snape has requested the use of the quidditch balls." Hooch raised an eyebrow at Snape. Harry looked at Hooch, confused. Snape took off and Harry shrugged, kicking off as well. Madame Hooch released the snitch and the game began. At first, neither Snape nor Harry moved. Suddenly, Snape stiffened and flew straight ahead.
Harry raced towards him, spotting the snitch a few feet ahead of his old teacher. Then it disappeared and they pulled back. Harry spotted the small golden ball first, going after it quickly. Snape raised an eyebrow before turning to fly in the other direction. Harry's fingers were nearly touching the snitch when Snape shot up from beneath him and snatched the snitch, much to Harry's surprise.
Glancing behind himself, Harry heard Draco, who had just ran onto the field, shout, "Potter!" Harry turned forward and ran straight into the goal post. His eyes closed as he fell, Snape racing forward to catch him.
