Chapter 21.
Stepping out of the grate the first thing that Severus noticed was that the trunks had been unceremoniously dumped in that room, which was the living room, the next thought was duck. Not a real duck of course, that would be stupid, it was the pillow flying across the room that had thrown him off.
"Oops, sorry Sev." Severus turned just in time to see his godson be hit with a pillow, which the young teen instantly returned. While Severus was watching Hermione and Draco throw things at each other he hadn't noticed that Harry had quietly pulled the trunks over to one corner off the room, made himself a fort, and joined in with the pillow throwing. As one of the pillows Harry had thrown hit him on the shoulder he turned to look at the teen, before picking the cushion up and returning fire, his own trunk now abandoned on the ground. Severus quickly enlarged the cushion he was holding.
"Hey, that's cheating Sev."
"Yeah, we said no wands." Draco agreed with Harry. Harry smiled happily, and summoned the cushion towards him.
"Harry." Said Hermione exasperatedly.
"Hey." Harry defended himself. "I didn't use my wand."
"Well, no magic. Then it's all fair."
"Yeah Harry" Draco agreed, "You can do amazing stuff without a wand, so no wand for us, is like no magic for you. Fair"
"Fine, fine." Harry gave in, before throwing the enlarged cushion at Hermione who hadn't been paying close enough attention.
A few hours later when Zella had come in to announce that dinner was ready the two Slytherins and two Gryffindors were immersed in their free for all pillow fight. Several cushions lay broken on the ground, feathers everywhere, but other then that the room was mainly just rearranged. A snap of her fingers and the cushions were mended, furniture back in it's original place and the occupants of the room frozen.
"Youse must all get organised. Dinner is almost ready to be served, the guest will arrive soon, and none of you is even changed. Zella knows that Master Snape likes to always look his best, well he better hurry."
"Yes Zella, thank you. I just hadn't realised what the time was. You three go clean up."
"We're having a guest?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Of a fashion." Snape replied. "Now I believe I told you to go and clean up."
"Yes sir." Harry replied, saluting happily, before walking out the door after Draco.
When the teens walked into the dining room they were not completely unsurprised to see their Transfiguration professor sitting there chatting amicably with Severus. Zella once again joyfully presented the food. Hermione was even starting to get used to not campaigning for SPEW for house elves such as Zella and Dobby who were obviously ecstatic. Her main focus had now turned to trying to encourage wizards to treat them with respect and trying to find a way that she could successfully take a house elf away from a family were it was abused. Harry simply let her go, she was happy enough and when she went down to talk to some of the school elves it meant free food for Harry. After dinner had been finished the five moved into one of the large sitting rooms. Hermione quickly ran up to her room and came back with several books, and to Harry's surprise, a box of chocolates. While Harry and Draco talked Quidditch, and Hermione read through one of her books the three of them ate the chocolates. A few hours later found Harry, Hermione and Draco hanging of each other for support and in search of their professors. What Hermione had forgotten about the chocolates was that they had come from Fred and George. The three students finally found their professors in the library pouring through one of the older volumes.
"Minny," Harry cried, "How are you?" Both professors turned round.
"And Sevvy." Draco added.
"Yep" Hermione agreed chirpily.
"Hey Hermy,"
"Yeah Arry"
"What should we call him?" Harry asked pointing at Draco.
"Drakey?" Hermione suggested.
"Or Malfy." Severus couldn't help but contain a snort at the indignant look on Draco's face.
"Scot (It's got) merit." Hermione slurred.
"Definitely. Merit." Harry replied slowly.
"Are you three all right?" Minerva asked curiously.
"Never better" Draco replied smiling brightly at her. He went to take a step away from Harry and Hermione, but almost collapsed in the process and quickly made his way back to the fold. As one, the swaying group slowly made their way over to the carpet were the proceeded to fall down in a big heap, laughing hysterically. Severus made his way over to the group and swatted down, he gently felt the forehead of the first of his boys he could get to, which was Draco.
"Well there's no temperature." Severus informed Minerva. "Maybe they drank something."
"Are you sure that it's not just kids being kids?"
"They look drunk, Minny, that doesn't happen every day."
"I suppose not, but it's not like either of us really ever raised a kid, maybe we should ask Molly."
"Hmm." Severus responded and turned back to Draco.
"Did you drink anything, different, lately?"
"Nope." Draco replied.
"You see Severus." Snape simply stared in irritation at McGonagall.
"Well, has there been anything else you've had?"
"Nope." Draco replied.
"We had chocolates Drakey." Hermione's voice came out muffled.
"Oh yeah." Draco face lit up, "The chocolates."
"Chocolates?" Severus asked.
"Yep." Harry's voice came through happily.
"As I said Severus, go ask Molly." Minerva persisted.
"Why?" Snape snapped back stubbornly. "What does she know that don't?"
"Not what Severus, who." After suffering enough of Severus' death glare Minerva decided to clue him in. "Fred and George Weasley maybe." Without saying another word Severus stormed to the fireplace and called out his destination.
Ron was happily sitting at a table, eating through some biscuits as he read a Quidditch book. He had had a perfectly horrible day, and at last he was gaining some well-deserved peace and quiet, he didn't even look up when the fire turned green. Of course the spite that filled the voice of the one who called his name, Weasley, caught his attention. He turned just in time to see McGonagall get out behind Snape.
"Really Severus, he wouldn't be in on it."
"Yeah right." Snape mumbled under his breath. McGonagall promptly slapped him across the face before turning to Ron who was trying hard not to snort.
"Where are Fred and George?" McGonagall queried.
"Out in the garden." Ron replied. "Why?" But he got no response as both of his professors left at that moment. Following discretely, Ron was able to watch as Snape drew his wand only to have it summoned from him to McGonagall. The twins looked positively fearful. The four then made their way to the twins room, which the exited moments later, before heading over to Snape manor. Hermione met the four wizards.
"Sevvy. You're back." Hermione went up to hug Severus, which almost caused the twins to break down in hysterics.
"Drink this Miss Granger." Snape told her holding out one of the vials that the twins had sworn was the cure.
"Hermy." Hermione corrected.
"Fine" Snape snapped. "Just drink it." As Hermione was drowning the contents Snape posed his next question.
"Now, where is Harry and Draco?"
"Arry and Drakey?" Hermione whispered, more to herself then anyone else, before "Damn. Um, Harry said something about having to redecorate a room, bad memories or something." Turning on his heel Snape strode from the room. He knew exactly where they would be, how they had found the room was beside the point. Stopping in front of the door that used to be his bedroom, Snape pushed the door open. Inside was a dark bedroom, or, had been a dark bedroom. It was now covered in pretty colours such as bright pink, orange, blue and green. The rough job the two teens had made on the room didn't manage to completely cover the burn marks on the ceiling that Severus remembered with such fondness.
"Draco" Snape called, rather harshly. "Drink." Draco took the offered vial and drank the potion in one gulp. The Gryffindor, Gryffindor professor and two ex-Gryffindors had just made it to the room.
"Come here Harry." Snape called. "Now sip, slowly." Severus instructed. Harry took a small sip before spitting it out. Severus quickly took the vial off him and handed it to Draco, his hands free just in time to catch Harry as he fell.
(Authors note: sorry it's so short, and that it took a while to be updated. I have exams and feel that I should make a concerted effort towards studying, or at least less mucking round not doing anything, but you never know.)