Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: A little angst for father and son but it doesn't last long =)
Harry and Ron waited until the common room was empty before getting under Harry's invisibility cloak and sneaking out, making their way to Hagrid's hut.
"I can't believe Hagrid got expelled." Ron said as they stopped in front of Hagrid's door and knocked.
"I know he would have never meant to hurt anyone." Harry said loyally. He pulled the cloak off of them and folded it as Hagrid opened the door.
"Who is it?" Hagrid looked nervous though he relaxed a bit when he saw Harry and Ron. "Oh. What are yer two doing here? It's after curfew!"
"We know but we needed to talk to you." Harry said. "We wanted to know about when you were expelled before. Did it have anything to do with the chamber of secrets?"
"Get in here!" Hagrid ushered them in as he glanced around nervously. He shut the door. "Yer two shouldn't be out after curfew, it's dangerous."
"Why? What do you know?" Harry asked. "We know you would have never meant to hurt anyone Hagrid."
Hagrid looked sad. "I didn't." He insisted. "I-"Another knock on the door stopped him and his eyes widened. "Git under yer cloak boys!" He whispered.
Harry and Ron backed away and covered themselves with the invisibility cloak. Once they disappeared from sight, Hagrid opened the door. "Evening Headmaster, Minister. How can I help yer this evening?"
"That's my Dad's boss Cornelius Fudge!" Ron whispered to Harry.
Cornelius Fudge sighed. "Horrible business Hagrid. Simply horrible. I suppose you have heard about the second student that was petrified tonight?"
Harry and Ron had to stifle a gasp.
"Yes." Hagrid's voice sounded shaky.
"I'm afraid the ministry needs to take action Hagrid. Once word gets out, parents and students will be scared out of their minds." Fudge said with his tone regretful. "You will need to come with me."
"I didn't do anything." Hagrid protested.
"I would like it made known that I stand behind Hagrid one hundred percent." Dumbledore said firmly.
"I know Albus, but this simply must be done. I'm sorry Hagrid." Fudge said.
"Are yer taking me to Azkaban?" Hagrid asked fearfully.
"It is only as a precaution. If we find out someone else is responsible, you will be released immediately." Fudge tried to assure him.
"Ahh, here you all are." A sneering voice said. Lucius Malfoy entered the hut, looking around in distaste.
"Get outta my house!" Hagrid said furiously.
"Please do not think I take any joy being in your…house you call it?" Lucius smirked. He turned his silver eyes to Dumbledore. "I've been looking for you Headmaster."
"Oh?" Dumbledore's voice was guarded.
"It would appear you are not doing your job. First a cat, a ghost and now two students have been attacked." Lucius voice was smug. "It has been decided to suspend you until further notice. I have the paperwork here."
"I do not think that is necessary Lucius." Fudge protested.
"You can't get rid of the Headmaster! Without him the students won't have a chance!" Hagrid argued.
"I can and I have." Lucius smiled nastily. "Effective immediately."
"Without Professor Dumbledore students will start being killed!" Hagrid continued to protest even as Fudge began to usher him out.
"Really? That would be awful wouldn't it?" Lucius continued to look smug.
Hagrid took a deep breath. "If anyone was looking for anything important, all they would have to do is follow the spiders. Yup. That's all I have to say." He left the hut followed by Fudge, Dumbledore and Lucius.
Harry threw off the cloak as soon as the door closed. "I can't believe it!"
"Poor Hagrid." Ron said his eyes wide. "And now they have gotten rid of Dumbledore!"
"I wonder who else was petrified." Harry said shakily. Things had just gotten worse. Suddenly what Hagrid said registered. He looked around frantically and noticed a trail of spiders going out the window. "There! Let's go!"
"We're really going to follow the spiders?" Ron squeaked out, his face pale.
"Yeah, Hagrid said to. Come on!" Harry hissed, grabbing Ron's arm to get him walking. They got outside right behind the trail of spiders and threw the cloak back over them.
"Why can't it be butterflies or fireflies? Or kittens? Anything but spiders!" Ron complained. "Maybe we should wait for Hermione."
"We will lose their trail if we wait!" Harry was so busy trying to usher Ron along under the invisibility cloak that he didn't see the wall until he knocked into it. "Oof!"
Harry and Ron both fell and the cloak slipped off of them. Harry looked up and gulped. The wall turned out to be his father and he looked angry.
"Exactly where do you think you two are going? Especially as it is after curfew?" Severus demanded, trying to control the anger he felt at his disobedient child. He had heard from Minerva what was happening to Hagrid and Albus and had started to patrol when he heard portraits talking about the front door opening and closing on its own. Knowing exactly what that could be about he had headed outside to see Harry and Ron come out of Hagrid hut.
"We-we came to talk to Hagrid." Harry started to explain. "They took him away! And they suspended Dumbledore and another student was petrified!"
Severus's face softened a bit. "I know, I heard."
"We were going to follow the spiders!" Ron blurted out, pointing to where they lead into the forbidden forest. He would rather get detention for life than follow those spiders!
"You were going to do what?" Severus glowered. He gave his son a glare. "You were going into the forbidden forest young man?"
Harry threw Ron a nasty look before looking at his dad. "Well, Hagrid said before they took him away that if we needed answers to follow the spiders so…"
"So once again you were going to break the rules and get involved in something that does not concern you." Severus finished, crossing his arms over his chest and looming over both boys.
"It does concern me, Hagrid is my friend!" Harry protested. "All these strange things are happening and I just want to find out what is going on!" He crossed his arms in a fair imitation of his father. Ron stayed silent as he watched the showdown.
"Lower your voice." Severus scolded in a low voice. "You will watch how you talk to me Harry; you both are in enough trouble as it is. This problem is not for you to handle, the adults are investigating everything that has been going on."
"I'm the one who can hear the voice that may be a part of this." Harry said stubbornly. "And I'm the one Dobby has been trying to warn."
Severus gritted his teeth. "Yes, and I have told you that if you hear it you come tell me as well if you see that elf. You do not investigate and you certainly do not go into the forest! I am very disappointed in you!"
Harry's own temper faded and instead he felt horrible. He had disappointed his father again. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.
Severus nodded, glad that Harry was acting less defiant. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for both of you being out after curfew. You will also have detention with me for attempting to go into the forbidden forest." He took a deep breath. "I will also be confiscating your cloak Harry."
"What? No!" Harry held his cloak to him closely. It was his; his dad couldn't take it away! What if he needed it?
"Yes." Severus said firmly. He held out his hand and kept his face in a stern look. "Now."
Harry hesitated. He didn't want to lose his cloak! It wasn't fair!
"You have three seconds and if I do not have your cloak in my hands you will be grounded for two weeks, including no Quidditch." Severus was close to losing his patience. The child had inherited his stubborn nature and temper.
Harry handed it over with a huff, glaring at his father. Severus glared right back and Harry wilted a bit. He was no match for his dad's glares.
"You will get it back when I believe you can be trusted with it." Severus said as he folded the cloak. He was still angry that Albus had given Harry the blasted thing. "I will keep it safe for you."
Harry shrugged and looked away. All of the sudden he felt tired. "Can we go to our dorm now?"
"Yes. Tomorrow after dinner both of you report to my classroom for your detention." Severus said. He wondered if he should have Harry come home to talk things over but figured it would be better to wait until both of their tempers had cooled down. He led them to their dormitory. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Professor. And I-um-I'm sorry." Ron quickly disappeared into the common room.
"Night Dad." Harry said softly turning to enter the dorm.
"Harry. We will talk more tomorrow." Severus said, hating at being at odds with his son. But honestly, he had thought Harry had learned how to think before acting after the car escapade. "I'm upset because I love you, you know." He added quietly. "I'm doing my best to keep you safe."
Harry stilled and ignored the huff of impatience from the Fat Lady who was waiting and turned back to his dad. "I know. I'm sorry. I love you too." He hugged Severus and was relieved when his dad hugged him back. "Dad? Who else was petrified?"
"Colin Creevey. We'll talk more about it tomorrow. Make sure you go straight to bed." Severus said. He watched Harry enter his dorm and after the painting closed, he nodded to the Fat Lady and turned to go to his own quarters. A good night's rest was needed after tonight. And maybe a stiff drink as well.
HPHPHPHP
The next day in potions class Harry was quiet, fiddling with his potions tools as his Dad lectured the class. He felt partly angry that his dad had taken his cloak and wouldn't let him be a part of the investigation and partly remorseful for upsetting the man. He tapped his stirrer against his cauldron, not realizing the clanking sound it was making.
"Mr. Snape if you would mind." Severus said in a toneless voice, gesturing to his stirrer.
"Sorry." Harry muttered, dropping it and crossing his arms.
Severus narrowed his eyes at his son. Apparently Harry's temper was still going strong. He gave him a warning look and continued with his lecture.
"Geez Harry, how angry do you want him with you? We still have detention tonight!" Ron said once they were told to start on their Deflating Draughts. Hermione had flushed when he said that was what they would be brewing.
"I know that!" Harry snapped as he turned on the heat to his cauldron. "I'm angry too! He took my cloak! And he doesn't want to tell me anything!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "I forget, you are still getting used to having a parent. That is what they do Harry. They try to protect you and keep you safe. He's just being a dad!"
"Parents also get angry and punish you when you disobey." Hermione added as she put in the wood sorrel into her cauldron. "That's him being a dad too. And you two were out after curfew and about to go into the forbidden forest. What did you expect him to do when he found you?"
Harry was quiet as he stirred his ingredients. He sighed. Ron and Hermione were right of course. He was lucky they hadn't lost more points for Gryffindor or that he hadn't been taken off the Quidditch team. He was holding on to his anger because otherwise all he felt was guilt and a sense of failure. He had messed up again.
After dinner Harry and Ron reluctantly made their way to the classroom for their detention. "Gentlemen. Mr. Weasley there are vials that need to be cleaned and Mr. Snape you will be scrubbing cauldrons. Begin now." Severus said in a strict tone from his desk where he was marking papers. He watched the boys go to their tasks without saying a word. He noticed that instead of looking defiant, Harry looked remorseful. He could see the dejected hunch of his shoulders as he began scrubbing. Severus sighed and turned back to his papers. He wished he could get Harry to learn control over his impulse problem. His son needed to learn to control his emotions and recklessness now as a child otherwise the problem would be worse as he got older.
After two hours had passed Severus dismissed Ron but told Harry to stay behind. He had arranged to have a prefect walk Ron back to the tower.
"Take a seat Harry." Severus said quietly.
"Yes sir." Harry obeyed, sitting at the front table. He looked at his dad nervously.
"Colin Creevey was found petrified in the hallway but will make a full recovery once the mandrakes are ready, which should be soon. Professor McGonagall is taking over temporarily for the Headmaster and she is thinking of closing Hogwarts until we figure out what is going on." Severus told him slowly.
Harry's eyes widened. Close Hogwarts?
Severus nodded at Harry's expression. "Yes, the situation is quite more serious than we had thought. Which is why being out after curfew is extremely foolish and dangerous! You must obey the rules Harry. Even if you do not agree with them, you are the child and I am the parent."
Harry bit his lip. "I'm sorry." He offered.
"Sorry is all well and good but what is better is not doing the wrong thing in the first place." Severus said firmly. "I want to see you make better decisions Harry. I've told you before that you need to think before you act. I have also told you that you are to come to me if you believe something is wrong or if a situation concerns you."
"I know, you're right." Harry said feeling embarrassed and very young as he was scolded. "I just want all this cleared up. I'm sick of everyone thinking I'm the heir of Slytherin Dad! People keep acting like I'm evil or something. There is even a petition to get me resorted!"
Severus looked at him in surprise. "What? What petition?"
Harry shook his head. He had not meant to mention that but the stress of everything was getting to him and once more he had disappointed his father. "Never mind."
"No, you will tell me now." Severus ordered, standing up and going to stand in front of Harry.
Harry fidgeted in his seat. "A petition has been started to get me out of Gryffindor. Because I'm not a Potter and I speak Parseltongue." He gave a casual shrug trying to act like it didn't bother him.
Severus struggled to control his own temper. He had had no idea that things were still so bad for Harry. "Why did you not tell me? Do you not trust me to help you?"
Harry looked shocked. "Of course I trust you! I just didn't want to upset you."
Severus sighed in frustration. "Harry you need to learn to come to me if you have a problem. That includes even if you think it will upset me. Do you not understand? I love you and want to help you. That is what I'm here for!"
Harry felt tears fill his eyes and he looked away. "I'm sorry." Was all he could manage to say. He felt himself being pulled out of his chair and his dad's arms wrapped around him.
"I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to truly trust me." Severus said gruffly. Didn't the child understand how much he loved him? There was nothing that he would not do for his son.
"I do. Honest." Harry said into his father's robes.
"Let's test that shall we? Who started this petition?" Severus pushed Harry away from him so he could look into those emerald green eyes.
"Percy." Harry admitted, wincing at the fury on his dads face.
"That is it for Percy Weasley. He has been warned about his attitude by me, his parents, the headmaster and Professor McGonagall. His prefect badge will be taken from him if I have anything to say about it." Severus seethed. A month of detention as well. He would talk to Minerva tomorrow morning about it.
"You cannot be forced out of your house Harry, even with a petition." Severus wanted to assure his son.
Harry relaxed. "Yeah, I figured. It's just…annoying ya know?"
"I will take care of it." Severus said. "It is almost time for curfew; I will walk you back to your dorm."
"Okay. And I really am sorry Dad." Harry said again, all his previous anger gone.
"I forgive you Harry. Always." Severus assured his son, knowing that was important for Harry to know. "We will get to the bottom of everything soon Harry. It will all be alright."
Harry nodded. He hoped so because he didn't want anyone else hurt and he really didn't want Hogwarts to close. All he could do was hope things got worked out soon.
TBC: Please review if you get a chance!