I do not own, I borrow
The next day was much easier and quieter for Harry. Malfoy squirmed a bit as he sat in class, and that made Harry snicker a little bit. It looked like Mr. Malfoy took notes home from the teacher pretty seriously. Malfoy tacitly ignored Harry, and that made Harry consider trying to get him another note sent home if he could.
The second day of class had everyone's reports ready on where they placed in class. Harry was surprised that he placed relatively high, and would not need any supplemental work. For kids that placed lower there were extra assignments and work; Ron had to catch up a bit in math and poor Crabbe went home with extra work in every subject. Snape was unsurprised that Harry had scored well, since leaving the Dursleys he had been able to work to his full potential instead of being focused on food and safety. And Snape had made him work.
Harry and Draco were continuing to ignore each other during lunch, but Harry saw Snape come over behind Draco and place his hand on his shoulder. "I would like a private word with Mr. Malfoy," Snape told Lupin.
"Of course," Lupin agreed.
Draco followed Snape out of the main hall, his head hung. Was his Godfather going to have a stern word with him about Harry? He had faced enough consequences already. Snape remained silent until he had brought Draco to his quarters, he knew that Draco feared him punishing him and felt that he deserved a little worry. Draco began to get even more nervous, and he began formulating his defense on why he didn't deserve further punishment.
"Strap or cane?" Snape asked as he closed the door.
"I'm sorry, sir," Draco began. "But I've already been punished . . ."
"Mr. Malfoy," Snape sighed. "I'm trying to help you. Did your father use a strap or a cane on you last night? It helps me know which salve to get."
"Strap," Draco replied, shamefaced.
"Take this potion for the pain," Snape told him. "I will get the salve."
Draco, relieved, took the potion and grimaced at the taste. "Thanks," he mumbled.
"Drop your trousers and lay down on the sofa," Snape told him briskly, going into the bathroom to fetch the salve.
Draco, so relieved that Snape wanted to reduce the pain, didn't argue and obeyed. Snape, knowing that him being clinical and unemotional about his injuries would help reduce embarrassment for the boy, applied the salve to Malfoy's welted backside and mumbled some healing charms. Draco felt the icy coolness of the salve on his tender backside, and breathed a sigh of relief as the spells took effect.
"That's the best I can do," Snape told him, wiping his hands. "The welts were severe. But at least now you should sit easier to your lessons this afternoon."
"Thank you," Draco told him, buttoning his pants. He didn't look at the potions master, he was too embarrassed. Being grateful was almost as embarrassing as the man seeing his naked backside. Or the extent of the punishment his father had given him.
"You can thank me for not doing anything as foolish as that again," Snape told him. "And I want a list of ten things you can do instead of fighting with Mr. Potter when he annoys you. I expect it tomorrow by lunch."
"Yes, sir."
"I also wanted to apologize to you, Draco."
"Me, sir?"
"I am sorry that I didn't tell you about who my ward really was. It must have been difficult to find out how you did. Due to politics and other issues I cannot discuss with you, it was necessary for his safety."
"I understand, sir."
"I do not lie to you easily," Snape told him. "I regret the necessity here."
Draco nodded, not sure how to respond to an adult apologizing to him. It had certainly never happened before.
"I also wanted to say that I do not think that it is okay that your father beats you like he does. I know the position you are in and will not report anything if you don't want me to, but I think the authorities would not allow your father to continue to discipline you like this."
"I can't tell on him . . ."
"I know," Snape answered. "But if you ever do want to tell, I will help you do it."
"Thank you, sir."
"I would also take it as a great personal favor if you were to endeavor to get along with Mr. Potter," Snape told the boy. "I do not want to have to heal you again."
"I will be smarter about it," Draco promised.
"That's not what I asked," Snape told him firmly.
"Alright," Draco agreed. "I will try to get along with the prat."
"Excellent," Snape replied, turning to leave back to the main hall.
"That's why he beat me, sir."
"For fighting on your first day?" Snape asked, turning to look at his Godson.
"No, he wouldn't have cared so much about that," Draco answered. "He beat me for being too stupid to recognize that befriending Harry was the most advantageous thing to do. For the cause, you know."
"I see," Snape answered. "Well, the same action would make both of us happy, then."
"Yes, sir," Draco mumbled following him out of his quarters.
The rest of the week continued smoothly. Harry enjoyed having the daytime with his new friends, and then having the evenings with Snape in his quarters. The small group of fifteen students seemed to be breaking up into smaller groups - with Harry and Ron hanging out, with Neville and Seamus around too. Milicinet and Crabbe seemed to prefer Draco, and there was a silly group of girls who liked to giggle together. Hermione and Ginny seemed to get along, and they both sort of got along with the flighty Luna.
And then on Friday, Lupin was unexpectedly gone.
"Don't worry," Amanda Bulstrode assured them. "The professor has left me lesson plans for our morning, and then we're going to do our first weekly trip to the greenhouse straight after lunch. And then, if everyone is well-behaved, we will honor one of our students' requests. We will have our broom practice on the official Quidditch pitch."
Everyone cheered at that, and Amanda had to quiet them down.
"I hope that gives everyone good incentive to do their work this morning," she told them. "Everyone turn in their maths books to page thirty-six, and we will continue our work in fractions."
That afternoon, Snape looked out at his class of fifth years with a certain amount of animosity. Surely by now the students should be brewing better? He had been shocked when only half of them came back from their summers being able to brew a calming draft, so he was forcing them to over the potion again. He had threatened to keep the entire class in the dungeon until every single person showed their proficiency at brewing said potion. Then, suddenly, he felt jolt through his body. The small charm that hung around his neck came to life, and his whole body vibrated with purpose. Harry was in danger. Sure enough, the unearthly swirling white that resembled the patronus charm entered the dungeon, and he dropped his stirring stick to the ground in a clatter on his rush out of the dungeon.
Inside Hogwarts you were not allowed to apparate, and Snape cursed his inability to do it. So instead he took his feet off the ground and ascended into broomless flight, something he had not done since he had done it in service as a death eater. A trail of delicate black smoke trailed behind as he raced the charm in locating Harry. It took him out of the castle and onto the Quidditch Pitch, where he saw Harry hanging from a broom with one hand, trying to regain control of the broom that was pitching and rolling, trying to rid itself of its rider.
Snape took in the scene in one glance, as he had trained his brain to do as a spy. He saw Amanda Bulstrode, standing there frozen in abject fear, trying to fumble with her wand and staring at Harry as if she couldn't believe what was happening. Several students were running and screaming, and he saw the Weasley boy trying to mount a rescue, but Harry's broom was moving too violently to allow him to get close enough to save him. Snape, narrowing his eyes and focusing on Harry, knew Harry had one chance to avoid broken bones or even worse. He focused and aimed, snatching Harry mid-air and sending them both hurtling towards the ground. Snape slowed and twisted, taking the brunt of the collision with the ground and cushioning Harry against his chest. Even though the child weighed several kilos lighter than most kids his age, the impact still knocked the air out of Snape. He rolled the child off of his chest, and crouched over trying to catch his breath. Harry just lay in the grass, looking up and then looking at the professor.
"That was wicked!" Harry exclaimed. "Can we do that again?"
Snape, incredulous, could barely make a sound in response.
"You have got to teach me that," Harry exclaimed, and then looked up to see his entire class rushing towards them.
Snape closed his eyes, looked skyward, and thought, Not again.
"It's happened again," Snape told Dumbledore that evening in his office. "Someone's trying to kill Harry."
"This is starting to sound like paranoia," McGonagall protested. "Surely a lad falling off of his broom is not call for assuming he will be murdered."
"He did not fall off," Snape told her. "Someone was jinxing the broom. And that Bulstrode is completely useless! She was frozen in fear and she wasn't even casting a cushioning charm or a levitating charm!"
"It could have been a prank, Severus," Dumbledore told him.
"None of those children except Harry could have managed that jinx," Snape retorted. "And it was a school broom so it could not have been jinxed ahead of time."
"Perhaps he just lost control?" Dumbledore asked.
Snape leveled a glare at the headmaster. "Have you seen him on a broom?" Snape answered. "I've never seen such a natural."
"You are usually right about these things," Dumbledore admitted reluctantly. "And you were right last time. But who could it be on Hogwarts grounds?"
"We have to watch very carefully," Snape answered. "And if Lupin must be gone for his monthly time, then we need someone better than that twit to be babysitting if they are outside or on brooms."
"That is reasonable," McGonagall affirmed. "I can help supervise as my classes allow, and I'm sure other professors will help as able. They could also skip their broom practice on those days as well."
"You should tell Arthur that his alarm saved Harry yet again," Dumbledore told him. "That's a handly little piece of magic."
"Yes, it is," Snape answered, finally seeming to relax a little. "But it would be better if it wasn't necessary."
"Oh, and Professor Lupin?" he said. "Perhaps you are aware as to the punishment that Draco Malfoy's father gave him?"
"I saw he was a little sore this morning," Lupin admitted. "He refused to go see Madame Pomfrey as I suggested. I assume you helped him with that?"
"I did," Snape answered. "Perhaps if Draco needs a little parental enforcement of behavior, you could have him bring the note to me from now on."
"You're his Godfather, correct?" Lupin mused. "I believe that would work. I had already decided not to send any more notes home, but your solution works better."
"Shouldn't he be reported?" McGonagall protested. "He should not be able to discipline his child in that way!"
"It's more complicated than that, Minerva," Dumbledore sighed. "With the amount of power that Lucius has, I think the only fallout would be Draco enduring more suffering."
"Politics!" McGonagall objected. "If he was a Gryffindor . . ."
"But he's not!" Snape thundered in answer. "Do you think this is the first time I have disagreed with Lucius? Merlin's sake, woman, I've seen him use the cruciatus on muggles! On children! What we are trying to fight a system that allows people like him to exist, and to waste any influence or leverage we might have in this situation would be foolish in the extreme!"
"Draco is a child," McGonagall protested.
"He is," Snape answered. "And Lucius' methods, while barbaric and unconscionable to us, are certainly the methods passed on through generations of his family. Before Dumbledore's time, the cane was even used at Hogwarts on occasion."
"I hope you do not have those medieval beliefs in disciplining Harry," McGonagall shot back.
"Of course not," Snape sighed, feeling more tired than offended. "Talk to Harry if you don't believe me, I do not believe he finds my guardianship onerous."
"I do not believe anybody seriously questions your guardianship, Severus," Dumbledore soothed him, shooting a dark look at McGonagall. "But let us all be aware of these dangers and alert to people wanting to hurt Harry."
"Thank you," Severus told them, actually feeling grateful that there were more than just him protecting Harry. But still he felt that sinking fear begin in his stomach as he thought, Not again.
