Enjoy!
"Well?" Harry pounced the moment that the front door opened and revealed his guardian. He had been sitting in the parlor reading his newest Quidditch magazine and had nearly knocked over a vase in his rush to jump up and greet Snape.
He was nearly positive that he would be scolded for his greeting but he didn't care. There was the slight chance that Snape wouldn't chide him and instead just confide in him. But, even if he was lectured a bit before hearing the news, it would be worth it.
"I beg your pardon?" Snape replied with an annoyed look on his face.
"What did Sirius want?" Harry asked ignoring his guardian's demeanor altogether.
Snape resisted the urge to land a smack to the child's cheeky backside and instead walked past him and into the parlor.
"Snape," Harry said the name with a bit of a whine. "You promised!"
"I did nothing of the sort," Snape snapped as he turned around to face his charge. "I believe what I said was that if the conversation was suitable for your ears I would share the details of it with you. As it stands it was not. That being said if you continue to speak to me in this manner you will find yourself in your room with a smarting backside." Snape felt his insides coil as the last of the words left his mouth. It had been quite some time since he had threatened Harry so harshly over something minor. He could easily see the hurt on the child's face, the shock in his eyes. Snape wasn't sure why he didn't just tell Harry about the Quidditch World Cup. He had said that the boy could go after all. Telling him about it was inevitable. Still, he didn't want to hear the excited chatter for the next two days; the sooner to the event that he could tell Harry, the better as far as he was concerned.
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered as he involuntarily took a step backwards. He nearly put a hand back to cover his bum before his guardian made good on his threat.
Snape sighed softly as he eyed his child. He was tempted to apologize but forced himself to ignore the urge. Harry had been out of line and although perhaps such a harsh response was not warranted, apologizing would only send the child the wrong message.
"I really am," Harry offered in a sincere tone. "I didn't mean to be rude."
"Several days ago I gave you my word that I would teach you a new spell," Snape replied. "I think that this afternoon would be an excellent time to make good on that promise."
"Really?" Harry asked in a hopeful voice. He knew what this was. Not often, but occasionally over the past few months Snape would feel bad for his actions which would result in the man doing something to make it up to him. Harry could feel a blanket of warmth rushing over him at the idea of spending the afternoon with his guardian doing something as exciting as learning a spell.
Snape nodded. "Fetch a light jacket and meet me in the yard. However, leave Bane inside."
Harry's face lit up as he took off in the direction of his room.
Snape turned on his heel and strode towards the kitchen. If he was going to allow his child to be in the care of Sirius Black, at least he could be sure that Harry was properly prepared.
"The incantation is Incendio," Snape instructed as he stood next to his son. "I'm sure I do not need to remind you of the most important rule."
"To enunciate," Harry quickly supplied.
"Very good," Snape replied as Harry beamed at the words. "If carried out correctly, this spell will cause the object which you are concentrating on to be set on fire. That being said, it is exceedingly important that you concentrate on an object rather than the person if you are dueling." Snape paused for a moment before he spoke once more, his voice now stern. "I also want to be perfectly clear that if I ever see or hear of you using this spell without good reason- "
"You'll chop me up and use me for potion ingredients?" Harry cut the man off with a small grin.
"It's highly likely," Snape replied in a dry voice. He cleared his throat. "Wand up and pointed at the large tree in the far corner. Concentrate solely on that tree mind you."
Harry raised his wand and looked at the large willow tree. He concentrated hard on it, clearing his mind of any other thoughts.
"Try the incantation," Snape instructed.
Harry took a deep breath before saying the spell loudly, "incendio!" A second later the tree burst into flames.
"You continue to impress me," Snape noted as he waved a hand causing the flames to vanish and the tree to go back to its original state. "This spell is normally taught to students nearly a year older than you."
Harry smiled widely up at his guardian. "Thanks."
"Cast it successfully twice more and then I will teach you the counter spell to make fire vanish."
Harry grinned at this promise before he raised his wand once more. In a perfect world he would spend every day with Snape impressing the man with his ability to pick up on defensive spells so quickly.
"Eat your squash," Snape instructed as he watched Harry push the fruit around his plate with his fork.
Harry made a disapproving face but picked up a forkful of the food and put it in his mouth. He did not dislike squash but he wasn't overly fond of it either.
Snape nodded his approval before eating a bite of his own meal.
The following morning he needed to deliver Harry to the Burrow and he still had not shared the information with the child. There was a part of Snape that would have liked very much to send a letter to Black telling the man that he had changed his mind and that if he did not like it he could sod off. Doing so, however, was hardly an option.
"Maybe when Ron and Hermione visit we could do something fun. Maybe go to Diagon Alley?"
Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. He could not imagine towing the three delinquents around London as though he was a blasted nanny.
"Or maybe we could play Quidditch," Harry suggested when he saw his guardian's face. "Hermione doesn't really like to fly but sometimes we can talk her into it."
"Smart girl," Snape mused.
Harry playfully rolled his eyes before eating another forkful of his food. Although Snape enjoyed watching Quidditch, Harry knew that the man, much like Hermione, did not care for flying.
Snape cleared his throat as he watched Harry finish another forkful of food. "I need to speak to you about something quite serious."
Harry swallowed hard and then slowly looked up at the man. "Is this about your plant? I fixed it. It hardly even looks touched."
A stern look swept over Snape's face. "Plant? What plant exactly?"
"Earlier," Harry replied in a shameful voice realizing that he had judged the conversation poorly altogether. "When I was playing with Bane I tripped over your plant and it sort of came out of the ground. I fixed it though!" The words came out of his mouth in a rushed fashion.
"Why was I not informed?" Snape asked in a cross tone.
"Well because I fixed it," Harry tried to explain. "I didn't want you to get mad for no reason."
"In the future you will tell me immediately.
"Okay," Harry quickly agreed.
"You should be thankful that you are not about to be punished for lying," Snape remarked.
Harry digested the words that he knew to be true. From the moment that he had tripped over the plant, his foot pulling half of it out of the soft earth in the process, he had known that not telling Snape was as good as lying. He wished that he could kick his own arse for being stupid enough to confess the moment that Snape said something. There were likely thousands of things that his guardian could want to discuss.
"You will show me this plant after supper and may Merlin help you if it is destroyed."
"I told you that it's not," Harry replied. "I fixed it." He paused for a moment giving his guardian a sheepish glance. "What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked hoping to change the subject.
Snape fixed the child with one last stern look before his face returned to its normal demeanor. "Your godfather expressed interest in taking you to an event," Snape explained. "Remus is unable to attend however, Mr. Weasley, his children, and Ms. Granger will be accompanying you as well so I granted my permission."
"An event?" Harry asked excitedly as he sat up in his chair a bit straighter. His fork now discarded on the side of his plate.
"The Quidditch World Cup," Snape supplied. "If you wish to go I will deliver you to the Burrow tomorrow before sunrise."
"Brilliant!" Harry practically shrieked. "I want to go. Of course I want to go!"
"After supper you will bathe and pack as you will be camping out there for one night. You will also get yourself to bed early as we will need to-"
"Ron and Hermione are going?" Harry cut the man off happily. "And I bet Ginny and the twins too! I wonder what they have there? Maybe we can see if anyone else we know is going too! Maybe Ron, Hermione, and I can go off on our own and-"
"Excited or not you will follow the same rules that are followed in my presence," Snape said in an authoritative tone. "I have informed Mr. Weasley of these rules. Failure to follow them will not lead to pleasant consequences for you, I promise you Harry. Am I clear?"
Harry quickly nodded. "Yes Sir." Snape's words hit him hard. He knew that his guardian allowing him to go was a huge deal. A year ago the man would have likely laughed at the mere idea. "I swear I'll be so good," Harry quickly promised. "I'll be perfect."
Snape made a soft humming noise at this declaration.
"I will," Harry insisted. "I'm not that thick. You'll bloody belt me if I don't."
"It's highly likely," Snape agreed in a solemn voice. "Just as it is highly likely that if you use that word again you will forfeit your dessert."
"It won't be necessary,' Harry attempted to assure the man. "I will follow all of the rules."
"I certainly hope that it is not."
Silence enveloped the room before Harry interrupted with a soft reply. "Thank you."
Snape hummed softly one more before thinking better of it. "You are welcome."
"Be sure to pack a jacket."
"It's supposed to be warm," Harry replied. Snape had woken him up while it was still pitch black outside and then the man had made him eat a bowl of fruit. Before his guardian could hide behind the Daily Prophet though, Harry had confiscated the paper and checked to be sure that the weather would be nice and rain would not ruin their plans.
"Take one regardless," Snape instructed. "It will be chilly this evening. Be sure that you have your wand as well."
"I do," Harry quickly replied.
If there was one thing that was guaranteed to earn him a smarting backside it was carelessly forgetting his wand. It was one lesson that Harry had learned and remembered.
"I can't believe that I am saying this but take your cloak as well."
Harry poked his head out of his wardrobe and gave his guardian a shocked look.
Several times over the course of the past year the cloak had managed to get him into trouble. Snape had never taken it from him, never even so much as threatened to do so. After the incident in the Shrieking Shack though the pair had a discussion about the hand me down. Snape had told Harry in no uncertain terms that the cloak was only to be used when permission was given or the situation was dire.
Snape's lips were pressed together tightly before he continued. "One can never be too careful Harry. I am sure that the Ministry is not cutting any corners where security is concerned however, I will feel better knowing that you have it with you."
Harry grinned widely as he reached back into his wardrobe and pulled the cloak down from its spot on the top shelf.
"That being said you will use it in an emergency situation only," Snape reminded him. "If I find out otherwise your social life will be in an emergency situation for the first half of the school term."
"I know," Harry replied ignoring the stern glare his guardian was giving him as he walked to his bed and shoved the cloak in his satchel.
"If you have everything that you need we should really be going."
Harry gave an excited nod as he swung his satchel over his right shoulder. He refrained from pointing out that he had already had everything that he needed packed. It was Snape that kept deciding that he needed more.
Harry quickly headed out of the room and down the staircase with his guardian only a step behind him.
"Be sure to mind Mr. Weasley," Snape reminded his child once more as he stepped off of the staircase and onto the main floor. "He is aware that if you fail to do so he may send word to me and I will come and collect you."
Harry made at face at the thought of Ron's dad being mad enough to tell Snape. That idea alone was almost worse than picturing Snape showing up to bring him home – almost.
"I will," Harry promised as he walked out the front door. He stopped at the edge of the property as he waited for his guardian to put an arm out and apparate the pair of them to the Burrow.
Silence reigned for several long moments.
"Listen to me very carefully," Snape finally said in a solemn voice.
Harry looked up at his guardian. Despite the fact that the man was often serious, Harry couldn't help but think that there was something different about this time. Snape wasn't just solemn, he looked nervous too.
"Allowing you to go on this trip was not a decision that I took lightly. I am trusting you not only to behave but to make wise decisions if needed"
"Yes Sir," Harry breathed.
"That being said I also want you to enjoy yourself."
Harry watched as Snape reached into his cloak and withdrew a small coin bag. "There is plenty here for anything you may want to purchase."
"Thanks," Harry grinned as he took the money from Snape and put it in his pocket.
"Alright then, take hold of my arm," Snape instructed.
"I'll miss you," Harry said softly.
"And I you."
Harry took a deep breath preparing himself for the horrible feeling associated with apparating before he reached out his hand and firmly gripped his guardian's arm.
"Lee Jordan is here somewhere," Fred explained.
"We're going to go find him," George added.
Harry watched as the identical red heads headed off into the large crowd.
"Harry look at that!" Ron exclaimed as he pointed to the large Quidditch pitch in the distance.
"Wicked," Harry agreed. It was loads larger than the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts. He felt a hand gently squeeze his shoulder. Harry looked up and grinned at his godfather.
"If you and your friends want to explore a bit on your own you can," Sirius offered. "We'll be here making lunch."
"Dad can we?" Ron asked.
Harry felt his stomach flip. He knew that Snape would have likely told him no but he was supposed to listen to Mr. Weasley and if he said yes, Harry didn't see the harm in obeying the man.
"You will all stay together?" Arthur questioned as Harry quickly nodded with the others in reply.
Arthur's eyes settled in on Harry for a moment before he slowly nodded in agreement. "You three have one hour," he decided. "And you will take Ginny along with you."
"But dad we…" Ron trailed off as Harry elbowed him in the side. Ron glanced at Harry who gave him a pointed look. "Okay," the red head agreed, "She can come with us."
Ginny offered Harry a small smile as she walked over and stood next to Hermione.
"One hour," Arthur said once more. "Do not be late."
"So you really got to go with him to hunt down Peter Pettigrew?" Ron asked in awe.
Harry nodded. "Yeah," he answered. He could hear the slight shock in his own voice. It did not surprise him. He was still amazed that Snape had been cool enough to let him come along.
"Wicked," Ron breathed.
"It's a relief that he's been captured," Hermione said as the four of them made their way through the crowd and towards a sea of colorful stands selling various items. "For your safety Harry alone Harry but for everyone else as well, besides it also made Sirius a free man."
"Have you gotten to spend a lot of time with him?" Ginny asked.
"I'm starting to," Harry answered honestly. "I guess I'm going to be visiting him weekly now, Snape and Sirius had a meeting with Fudge."
"Is he still talking about your moving in with him?" Hermione asked in a gentle tone.
Harry had filled his friends in on Sirius' wishes months ago. Hermione had understood how he felt instantly whereas Ron thought that he was an absolute dolt for passing up the opportunity to have a parent that wouldn't care what he did or ever punish him for anything.
"Yeah a bit," Harry admitted. "I sort of told him I didn't want to the other day."
"I'd guess that that didn't go over too well," Hermione retorted.
"Not exactly," Harry admitted. "He seemed a bit hurt by it."
"Well of course he was," Hermione replied. "He's spent years locked up in Azkaban and now he's finally out and he is in a position where he can have the life he has wanted all these years but it's too late."
"Gee thanks," Harry replied glumly. "You make it sound so horrible."
"Oh I'm sorry Harry! And it's really not or rather it won't be; Sirius just has to see that he can have a wonderful life with things just the way they are."
"I still say you are completely mental for not taking him up on his offer," Ron declared. "Just think about it Harry, you could do whatever you want!"
"Honestly Ron maybe Harry is smart enough to know that doing whatever you want isn't the proper way to –"
"Hey what are those?" Harry asked hoping to stop the discussion altogether. He didn't want to think about the things he had said to Sirius or the look that the man had had in his eyes when Harry had completely turned him down.
Harry picked up what appeared to be a weird pair of binoculars.
"Omnioculars," Ron supplied. "Wicked!"
"What are they?" Harry asked once more.
"They look like binoculars," Hermione noted as she picked up a pair.
"Like what?" Ginny asked in a curious voice.
"A muggle thing," Harry explained. "You look through them to see something closer that is far away."
"Oh these would be great to have for the game," Ron decided. His smile faded as he placed the pair he had been holding back on the table. "Maybe we can ask dad later."
"What do they do?" Harry asked hoping to finally get an explanation.
"They are a bit like the muggle version," Ginny explained. "But with these you can replay things, or slow them down, or speed them up. You can even zoom in if you want to."
"Brilliant!" Harry declared in awe as he inspected the omniculars a bit closer.
"Running a special we is," the old witch from behind the booth informed them. "Only five galleons each, you won't find a better deal here."
Harry's right hand fell down to his pocket. He knew that he likely had plenty to buy them each a pair. He also knew that if Ron and Ginny had any money it probably wasn't enough and he didn't mind buying Hermione a pair as well.
"I'll take four pairs," Harry said as he pulled the small sack of money from his pocket.
"No don't bother," Ron quickly replied, his face blushing slightly. He was always a bit sensitive when it came to money.
"I want to," Harry replied as put down the omniculars and quickly counted out the money. "You're my best friends." He handed the money over to the witch.
"Take a pair each," she instructed. "And enjoy the game."
"Thanks Harry," Ginny and Hermione said in in unison as the two of them selected their omniculars.
"Yeah thanks," Ron smiled softly.
"Look they have programs as well," Hermione said as picked four of them up. "I'll get us some of these. They'll be good to have won't they?"
Harry nodded. "And then maybe we should get back, we've been gone awhile."
"Not an hour," Ron replied as he played with his omnioculars. "Maybe half of that at the most mate."
"Harry is right," Ginny said. "Lunch is probably almost ready by now anyway."
Harry gave Ginny a small smile before the four of them turned and started walking back towards where the tent was. Harry knew that it hadn't been a full hour but Mr. Weasley had been brilliant to let them go off on their own and the last thing Harry wanted was to return late.
Ginny had been right. When they returned to the tent they found Sirius and an unfamiliar man making lunch over an open fire.
"Kingsley Shacklebolt," Sirius smiled widely as he introduced the man. "And this is my godson Harry as well as his friends, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron. Kingsley works at the Ministry. He is an Auror."
"It is certainly my pleasure to meet you all," Kingsley replied. "I have heard nothing but wonderful things about you, I promise you that."
"Nice to meet you too," Harry smiled.
"Come see the tent Harry," George called from through the small opening.
"We only have one tent?" Harry questioned as he gave his godfather a concerned look.
"I take it you've never been wizard camping then?" Sirius chuckled. "Go have a look around."
Harry turned and ducked through the small opening. What he was met with on the other side nearly took his breath away. There was a large parlor, a kitchen off behind that and several open doors that appeared to lead to bedrooms and bathrooms.
"Come on then Harry, let's go find out room," Ron said as he walked past his best friend.
"I love magic," Harry said, smiling softly to himself.
TBC...
