"When we get to Hogsmeade, can we go to the Quidditch place first? Then I want to go to the new joke shop, that candy store and then the ice cream shop! After that can we go to…."
Sirius reaches down to the boy beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. When Harry stops talking and looks up at him he says "Calm down Pup. You'll tire yourself out before you do any of those things if you don't. We'll do some of those things you asked about. We won't be stopping to eat ice cream today though. We have to get back to the castle early tonight in time for supper."
"But Dad! You said we could eat in Hogsmeade when we came last time and we didn't. You promised me we would the next time we went! That's this time! I want to eat at The Pewter Cauldron! I want to get ice cream and a soda!" Harry was shouting and stomping in circles by the time he finished his tirade.
"What you may be getting young man is a spanking if you don't watch your behavior! You know better than to yell and stomp. You DO NOT shout at people. You're nine years old now but your behavior is more to someone four! Now do we need to go back to the castle for a behavior lesson or can you calm yourself and behave as my nine year old knows how to do?" Sirius asks having taken Harry by the shoulders and squatted down to look him in the face.
"I can behave. I'm sorry Dad." Harry says swallowing back the lump in his throat. Blinking rapidly he gets his tears under control. He wonders why he's feeling so tired and upset today. Maybe because he couldn't sleep last night and spent the night worrying over the incident by the lake.
"Harry, I'm sorry too. I know I promised we would eat at The Pewter Cauldron but tonight I've asked Remus to eat with us. It's his birthday and I wanted to do something special for him. We will make a special trip next week to eat at The Cauldron and get ice cream. I also have permission from Ron's parents and the headmaster to let Ron come along."
"I don't know if he'll want to. He's mad at me right now. We had a fuss yesterday. We'll probably be made up by next week though." Harry adds the last part quickly before his Dad asks what their fuss was about.
"Dad! Look at this cool mini Quidditch stadium! The quidditch players really fly and bat the bludger back and forth. OH! It even has a mini snitch and a player who is a seeker! I need this Dad! Buy it for me! I have to have it now!" Harry commands.
Raising his eyebrows at the boy's commanding tone, Sirius says "Watch yourself Harry! You need to speak politely. About the toy, I think not, young man. You have more than enough toys already. We'll put it on the Christmas wish list though."
"DAD! That's months away! I want it NOW not then. You need to LISTEN to me and get it NOW!" Harry shouts stomping his feet. Several other shoppers turn and look at the child. Some just shake their heads recognizing a tantrum in full swing.
Sirius leans down, lifts Harry into his arms and walks with him out of the store. Walking briskly he heads for the Leaning Lantern Hotel. Entering the building still carrying Harry he says to the man behind the desk, "Sam, I need to use one of your rooms for a short time. I'll pay you for it for the day. Do you have one?"
"Yes Professor Black, front room or back room?"
"Back room please."
"Just a moment, Okay, here's the key for room 102. I'll put it down as for the day only. Correct?"
"That's correct, Sam. I won't be staying the night." Sirius says walking towards room 102.
"Dad, What are we doing?" Harry asks deciding now would be a good time to speak up. He'd been a little shocked to be whisked out of the store so quickly.
Unlocking the door while still holding Harry tightly, Sirius doesn't answer. He just pushes the door open and carries Harry inside. Once inside he sets the boy on his feet and closes the door. Taking out his wand he waves it once saying something Harry doesn't recognize. Grasping Harry by the arm he leads him to the bed and sits down.
"All right Harry. We need to get something straight. You are NOT to demand anything. You are not a king or a prince who will order other people about. As I already explained to you earlier today, you are a nine year old boy who knows how to behave. I also told you NOT to shout at people. Do you remember me telling you this?"
"Yes Sir." Harry, hearing the tone in his Dad's voice and knowing from experience how this talk is going to end, hangs his head while biting his lip.
Sirius reaches out and pulls the boy over his lap. After ten swats to his backside and much sobbing on Harry's part, Sirius lets Harry stand up. Hugging him and running his hand through the child's hair Sirius whispers to him,
"I love you Harry James. If I didn't I wouldn't care how you behave. You are my son and you are going to behave and show good manners. Yelling, stomping and demanding things will not be tolerated. If I have to go over this lesson again, I will not be using my hand. Do you understand, son?"
"I understand and I'll behave better I promise I will! Dad? Does everybody in the place know I got a spanking? They could hear me couldn't they?" Harry asks in shame as he wipes the tears from his face.
"No son, they don't know. I cast a silencing charm when we came in. No one knows but the two of us." He quickly reassures the boy.
"Are we going back to the castle now? I guess I ruined my chance for any more exploring in town."
"It should be that way but, I think you've already been punished enough this time. We'll go back out to the joke shop and then how about we pick up some ice cream to take back for tonight?" Sirius answers watching the smile light up Harry's face.
As Sirius turns the key in, Sam says "Thank you Professor. It's good to see you again. Did you get the young one all sorted out? I have raised four of my own so I recognized the look. Nothing like a good trip over a knee to settle a young one right down I always say!"
Glancing over to where Harry is looking at a large aquarium, he replies "I think you're right about that Sam. I'm new to parenting but that is one thing I've learned. Even if I dislike doing it! Good day to you Sir."
That night after supper, Harry feels himself getting sleepy from listening to Sirius and Remus tell stories of their days as Hogwarts students. He felt himself nodding off several times but fought back to stay awake. Luckily neither man has noticed him fighting off sleep.
"Uncle Remus? Why can't the Junior students take your class? We seem to take most everything else the older kids take." Harry asks at a break in the conversation.
"Yes Harry, that's certainly true. You younger students are studying much the same curriculum as the older students. The Defense Against the Dark Arts or DADA as some call it has some serious topics in it. The ministry feels the training is too intense for children younger than eleven or twelve. Also the subjects discussed are shall we say intense? They might upset younger students quite a bit. If I had a say in it I wouldn't let anyone under thirteen take the class."
"Well, I think the Ministry people are stupid arses, myself! How would they know what upsets children? They're never here!" Harry replies forcefully, forgetting his Dad is sitting in the room.
"HARRY JAMES! Don't you ever let me hear you use that word again! Apologize NOW!" Sirius scolds him sternly.
"I am sorry for using an unacceptable word. It just slipped out, Dad."
"Let it slip out again and you'll feel your "arse" on fire my boy!"
"Yes Sir." Harry says ashamed at being scolded in front of Remus.
Deciding to change the subject to something else. Remus says "Harry, I am quite impressed with your magical abilities! You have such talent for someone so young. I'm quite sure there are not many children your age who can levitate 300 pound squids!"
Harry's reaction to these words surprises him. Instead of looking pleased with himself, he looks worried and in a way, nervous. Seeing the boy take a quick sideways look at Sirius, Remus guesses the reason for the nervousness. "Ahh so your Dad doesn't know about that incident hmm? " he projects the thought at Harry and waits.
"No Sir, he doesn't. I'm not supposed to be doing magic unsupervised and without permission! He's going to be MAD!" Harry projected back without really realizing they were communicating in their minds.
"Well Sirius, this is quite a boy you have here! He was honoring a lady's request to see the Giant Squid. He was capable of bringing it to the surface of the lake and levitating it slightly. I witnessed all this from the window of the south tower. You should be really proud. He's quite remarkable."
"Tell me about this Harry. When did this happen? Who was with you at the time?" Sirius asks.
"Ron, Neville, Hermione and I were down at the lake yesterday after classes. Hermione said she'd read about the squid but never seen him. She asked me to bring him up so she could meet him. Hermione loves all creatures. She'd love it if she knew you could turn into a dog!"
"We're not discussing me at this time. Go on with your story." Sirius tells him.
Taking a breath and saying a little prayer for understanding, Harry says "I cast a Wingardium Leviosa on the Giant Squid and brought him up out of the lake for Hermione to see. After a few minutes we let him back down in the water. She really enjoyed petting him Dad."
Risking a glance at his father he could see Sirius didn't look furious but didn't look pleased either. Feeling uneasy Harry says "Dad? There was no one else around. We knew what we were doing and no one got hurt. Even Squiggly, that's Hermione's name for him, didn't get hurt at all."
Remus listening intently lets out a chuckle at Hermione's name for the squid. Harry smiles over at him.
"Harry?" Sirius says getting the boy's attention. "What are our rules for using magic outside of a class?"
Sighing softly, Harry answers "I can only do magic with permission and I have to have adult supervision."
"Good, now why do we have those rules?"
"Because at my age my magic is uncontrollable and it could fl oc tyou ate and cause someone to be hurt."
"Yes, and the word is 'fluctuate' which means to change quickly without warning. Why did you break these rules Harry?" Sirius asks.
"I wanted to do something nice for Hermione. She's been homesick and doesn't have any friends but me so I did it because she wanted me too."
"Did you remember the rules first?"
"Yes sir, I knew I wasn't supposed to do it but I did it anyway. I'm sorry I disobeyed you Dad. Should I go wait for you in my room now?" Harry says tearfully.
"I think that would be best son. I'll be there in a few minutes." Sirius responds with a sigh of his own.