See chapter one for disclaimers and warnings.
Dumbledore read out the title in his best grandfatherly voice. He went on to state how much Harry didn't want summer to end.
"Finally a normal teenage reaction." Charlie cheered with a wide grin that caused to scowl at him playfully.
"Just shows how much he likes us." Fred boasted.
"And doesn't want to be parted from us." George finished.
"Or maybe I knew what was coming and just didn't want to back to Hogwarts." Harry teased back, missing the reactions he was causing.
The Weasley parents both winced and sent worried looks at their daughter. Kingsley and Emmeline rolled their eyes and exchanged exasperated looks. Tonks sighed loudly and reached for Remus's hand. The werewolf subtly moved out of the way. Sirius was clutching a pillow in lieu of his godson and ignoring the smirking look the potions professor was throwing his way.
"Give it up Harry. You would never not return to Hogwarts." Ron scoffed laughing at the look on his friend's face.
"Yeah Harry, it would take something really extraordinary to keep you from graduating." Hermione pointed out.
"There they go again, tempting fate." Neville muttered to Luna, who giggled. They listened as Harry thought about how jealous he was of Ron for having such a great home and wondering what the Dursley's would do to him when he went back.
The adults all made faces wondering how bad the muggles would be in the third book.
Bill was watching Ron with a knowing look; his younger brother was pale and looking at his friend in astonishment. He sighed knowing he needed to talk to the kid soon.
Harry's mouth watered at the description of Mrs. Weasley's treacle pudding and he looked hopefully at the woman. "We're eating lunch next right?" He waited for her nod. "And maybe we could have treacle pudding?"
Molly smiled at the puppy dog eyes that were sent her way. "I'm sorry dear but without magic the pudding will have to sit for several hours before its ready. But we can certainly have it for dinner." She said amused at his pouting expression.
"That is, Mr. Potter, if you stay out of trouble long enough to be able to have desert tonight." Snape taunted in a voice similar to his usual tone when speaking to the teen. He seemed not to notice the change.
Sirius frowned and vowed that however his godson misbehaved he would not be losing his desert privileges that night.
"You'd better watch it Severus Snape or you'll be the one not getting desert." Molly warned causing her sons to snicker.
The head of slytherin stared at her in shock before giving his fiercest glare to her delinquent children.
The twins as cheered at their firework display as mentioned. "That was a good last night at home. We should do it more often." Ginny said in a soft voice. "Happy memories are always good."
"Few and far between." Harry muttered. He couldn't help chuckling at the chaos of the morning of September first.
Molly shook her head. "No matter how prepared and organized I am the night before it never seems to help."
"I'm impressed." Tonks said conversationally. "You had five of your own and Harry. My mum had that problem and it was just me."
"Though to be honest you are a handful." Kingsley pointed out with a grin. She responded by sticking her tongue out at him.
Bill was frowning at the book as he realized his family were taking the car. "That's a bit unusual. Has Dad even ever drove the car in the city?"
Charlie nodded. "Mum's never even been in the car. Why would you be taking it this time? Wouldn't it be so much easier to use the floo?"
"I was a bit hesitant to use the floo after Harry's incident and thought he would be more comfortable in the car." Molly started a blush staining her cheeks. She stopped her explanation when Arthur grabbed her hand.
"To be honest we were a bit short on floo powder at that time and didn't have the money at the time." He explained quietly causing his sons to look down ashamed.
Remus fought a grin when Arthur showed Harry the magically expanded trunk. "The books aren't doing you any favors Arthur."
"Well its not like I would object to that now would I?" Molly fussed. "Expanding the luggage compartment is sensible and useful, unlike enchanting the vehicle to fly!" She huffed at her naivety at finding that the five boys were able to sit comfortably in the back. "How was I supposed to know? It's not like I'd ever been in a car besides that one."
"Don't be embarrassed Molly." Emmeline told her. "I know I and I'm sure most purebloods, would be the same way."
Hermione shook her head. "The magical world really needs to spend a weekend in the muggle world."
"Only if you wanted to kill them." Harry said with a snort.
"That was a completely unnecessary comment Mr. Potter." McGonagall scolded with a frown.
"But a mostly true one." Sirius pointed out with a short glare. He didn't see anything wrong with the comment.
Bill goggled at his mother a moment later. "You actually went back for prank products?" He asked in disbelief.
"I didn't know that's what we were returning for until afterwards." She admitted sending a frown at the twins.
"Good thing she did too." Harry reminded his friends, smirking at the considering and confused looks the adults sent him.
Charlie threw a pillow at this brother next. "How do you forget your broomstick?" He demanded.
Fred sent a glare at his twin, using the pillow to bop him in the head. "I was told someone had it." He snarled causing George to snicker.
"They prank each other?" Neville leaned over to ask Ron. His eyes were wide with surprise.
"Rarely." He answered with a shudder. "But when they do it's not pretty." He winced when they turned back to get Ginny's diary.
"Stupid bloody effing evil thing." The girl muttered angrily.
Bill shot an incredulous look at his parents who were glaring at the floor. "Umm Ginny, I don't think you should be saying things like that."
"I think she has every right." Ron said coolly as he stared down his older brother. Bill and Charlie exchanged apprehensive looks but kept silent.
Sirius barked out a laugh when Arthur wanted to fly the car. "I can't believe you even tried."
Snape snorted. "Though now I see where his sons come by it." He drawled causing Arthur to blush.
Albus read Harry's description of navigating platform nine and three quarters with a smile. "That's a delightful way of explaining it." He said, his eyes twinkling. "Perhaps in the future we can prevail on you to write a muggleborn introduction."
"I didn't write this." Harry gritted out with a sudden glare. He couldn't understand it, the man locks him up all summer, refuses to acknowledge him even when he was being tried in court, ignored him at school and allowed him to be hurt and now he acts as if he wants to be best friends?
He jumped slightly as a hand closed over his clenched fist and he looked up into the understanding eyes of his godfather. 'Just ignore him.' The man mouthed. Harry relaxed with the knowledge that he had someone who understood. A new but welcome feeling for him.
Between them Hermione looked down at the arm crossed in front of her in amusement and gratitude. She was happy for her friend and slightly regretful that she had separated the two.
Remus's eyes opened as the family went through the barrier. "Please don't tell me you left two twelve year old boys at Kings Cross by themselves." Remus asked very softly.
"Not just any twelve year olds but Harry Potter." Kingsley pointed out with a smirk.
"And she called me irresponsible." Sirius muttered angrily.
Molly flushed a bright red. "I thought they would be responsible enough to follow without me holding their hands." She said more harshly than she intended due to her own embarrassment.
"It wasn't our fault we couldn't get through." Ron muttered rebelliously.
Sirius sat straight up as Albus yelled the word. "Did you say crash?" He asked his eyes searching his godson for injuries.
"Actually I believe I yelled it." The headmaster said jovially to the irritation of several people.
"Told you it wasn't our fault." Ron threw his mother an angry look.
"The barrier was actually closed?" Remus asked in surprise. "I thought maybe you loitered and missed the train."
"A perfectly understandable assumption." Snape drawled. He shifted in his seat when the muggle guard came over to yell at the boys.
"Instead of yelling at them why don't you see if they're alright." Emmeline yelled, glaring at the book.
"Were you?" Sirius demanded his eyes wide.
"We were fine." Harry was quick to assure him.
"I thought you said you weren't injured." The dog animagus demanded at hearing his godson clutching his ribs. His eyes narrowed in concern.
"No he said fine." Hermione pointed out ignoring the frown Harry sent at her. "That's his standard answer no matter what."
"Traitor." Her best friend mumbled under his breath. Out loud he elaborated. "I got the wind knocked out of me and Ron scrapped a hand. We were fine." He emphasized the words.
Moody grunted when Ron asked why they couldn't get through. "Something I'd like to know."
McGonagall rolled her eyes. "Of course you would."
Molly shook her head disgusted with herself as the time for the train to leave passed. "I never saw you come through the barrier but I thought maybe you had slipped by and were already on the train."
"More like she was so preoccupied with Ginny that she didn't care if they got on the train or not." Charlie mumbled in a low voice to his older brother. Remus, having caught the words, couldn't help but agree.
Tonks gaped in astonishment when Harry told his friend that the Dursley's hadn't given him money in six years. "They actually gave you money at one time?" She asked,
Harry flushed and looked at the ground. "No but I didn't want to admit that. This sounded at least a little bit better."
Ron gawped at his friend. "Harry you never have to hide stuff like that from me."
"I know." He looked to up show that he did. "It just came out and I didn't want to sound like a git so I didn't correct it."
Ron bumped shoulders with his friend as Dumbledore continued reading.
Fred scoffed at his brother's worry about how long it would be before his parents came back. "What did you think? They were going to set up camp on the platform?"
George smirked at this younger brother. "Or maybe have a tea party?"
"Not but they usually spend some time talking with acquaintances." The youngest Weasley son pointed out.
"We did." Moll admitted. "We lingered about thirty minutes before we headed back to the car."
"The car!" Sirius yelled excitedly.
"No Padfoot." Remus said firmly. "They are not you and James. They are not going to fly the car to Hogwarts."
"Keep telling yourself that Moony, just keep telling yourself that." He said settling back into his seat. He remembered what his former head of house had said about the car being at Hogwarts. He grinned when Ron repeated his words a moment later.
"So it was your idea Mr. Weasley." McGonagall said severely.
"You've got to be kidding me." Bill moaned, eyeing his grinning brother.
"Please tell me you didn't." Remus asked with a sigh. "And don't even say it." He warned his best friend.
"Wasn't going to say anything." Sirius said giving Ron a high five. His eyes were dancing with excitement.
"Can I just list all the reasons why that is not a good idea?" Emmeline asked, staring at the two boys in disbelief.
"You really did it didn't you?" Bill shook his head though his eyes were beginning to light up.
"They did." Neville answered trying not to grin. McGonagall was eyeing him sternly.
"Didn't even take us." Fred pouted.
"Foolish reckless, witnesses." Moody was grumbling while giving the two boys the evil eye.
Tonks was pouting. "Charlie I think I was hanging around with the wrong Weasley. Why didn't we ever do anything like this?"
"Because you had a modicum of sense." Remus muttered causing Harry to pout.
"And between your mum and mine we'd be dead." Charlie answered.
"I haven't heard Harry agree yet." Kingsley pointed out, gesturing for Albus to continue.
"And just how Mr. Weasley, was this classified as an emergency?" McGonagall asked sternly.
"He was twelve, alone in muggle London with the boy who lived who is always a target." Hermione pointed out causing the two boys mouths to fall open.
"That's not what you said at the time." Harry reminded her.
"They had an owl." Their transfiguration professor pointed out.
"Which would have taken several hours to get to you leaving them vulnerable." The teen answered simply.
"Wish we'd had her in Snape's office." Ron whispered to his friend.
"They could have owled someone closer." Snape drawled. "Such as the ministry."
"I for one am glad they didn't." Sirius snorted. "The ministry is corrupt."
"Mrs. Granger, I must ask, are you planning on going into law?" Kingsley asked looking at the girl with interest.
She looked taken back. "I don't know." She answered honestly, looking suspiciously at a grinning Harry. She shook her head at Ron's answer that his parents would just apparate home.
"That may be but did you think of how worried we were when we found the car missing?" Molly demanded. "Your father worried all day that some muggle had stolen it and was flying around the skies." She sighed when Harry gave in.
"I am surprised Potter how long it took to convince you." Snape tried to sneer but didn't quite pull it off.
"I'm disappointed at how long it took." Sirius said grinning. "You're going to fly a car to Hogwarts. What's to think about?"
"Way to encourage him Padfoot." Remus tried to keep a stern persona but couldn't help smiling. He raised an eyebrow when they took it for granted that the street was empty after a swift glance.
"The street may be empty but what about doorways, windows, numerous other places." Moody demanded.
"Ah….." Ron flashed his eyes at Harry who shrugged. They chuckled at the dark haired teens description of the invisibility button and its effects.
"Really mate?" Neville grinned.
Harry shrugged not taking offense. "Well it's a different feeling from an invisibility cloak."
"Did you used to make up stories to entertain yourself when you were younger?" Emmeline asked.
He shrugged. "I had nothing else to do while in the cupboard." He sent a wicked grin at Ron. "I had this whole army of spider warriors." He started laughing when his friend gave a loud yelp.
"Mean that was." The red faced boy uttered with a glare. He winced when Dumbledore read about the car becoming visible again.
"Oh dear," Arthur winced. "That wasn't supposed to happen."
Hermione tilted her head when they tried to find the train. "What if it was cloaked with magic like the platform was? I don't think muggles have ever seen the Hogwarts express traveling through the countryside."
"But we're not muggles." Ron protested.
"I think it's like the Leaky Caldron." Harry pointed out before they could get into an argument. "The muggles just see a regular train but we could tell it was the express." He shuddered as he described the train as a scarlet snake in the book.
"Mate, that's a little close for comfort." Ron pointed out.
"Do you think it could have been a premonition?" Hermione whispered with a sick look on her face.
Harry gagged. "Do not compare me to Trelneway. I am no seer, fake or otherwise." He winced on the looks of the adults faces at their decision to check on their location every half hour.
"Do you realize how far the train could have gotten or turned to in that half hour?" McGonagall screeched. "You could have been half way over the Arctic sea when…." she trailed off turning white. Sirius looked curious but didn't comment.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at the redhead at the mention of airplanes. He shrugged. "I know they fly through the sky, other than that…" He shrugged again. He shared a grin with his friend as they remembered their levity at the start of the trip.
Sirius sighed happily. "Your father and I played many a prank that resulted in that feeling."
Remus snorted. "And by many he means thousands."
Sirius laughed. "Ah Harry your father would have been so proud of you." Some of his mirth slid away as he noticed his godson looking at the floor pensively.
"Lily would have promptly killed both of them." Emmeline pointed out, not noticing anything wrong.
"Harry?" Sirius asked in a quiet voice that drew everyone's attention. "Does it upset you hearing about your parents?"
The dark haired teen shook his head. "I always like hearing about them." He answered truthfully.
"Then what's wrong?" The man asked in concern.
"Nothing. I'm fine." Harry said with a shrug and an obvious fake smile.
"I don't think so buddy." Sirius was even more worried now. He sat forward, his eyes staring intently at his godson. "And I want an answer. What were you thinking about?"
"It doesn't matter, lets just continue." Harry answered irritably. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he noticed everyone watching.
"Yes it does." His godfather replied sternly causing Harry to silently curse the man for pushing the issue.
Sirius could easily read the look on the teen's face and decided enough was enough. "Outside now." He instructed with a firm look.
"Ohh, good luck mate." Ron mumbled as all the Weasley children sent him pitying looks.
"Sirius it's not that big of a deal." Harry pleaded as he edged towards the door.
"I think I'll decide that for myself." Sirius said giving the kid a light push.
"Did you really have to do that?" Harry whined as soon as the door shut behind the pair. .
"Yes I did." Sirius folded his arms over his chest. "I'm through letting you hold stuff back and I'm certainly not going to allow you to hide your feelings. Its not healthy. You could have just spit it out."
"No I couldn't." Harry burst out. He kicked at the wall. "That's the whole point."
Sirius gave him a confused look. "I"m missing something here." He sighed impatiently when the kid remained silent. "Look I'll help you out. I said 'Ah Harry your father would have been so proud of you' and then you got all quiet. What about that bothered you?"
"Because we both know that what I really wanted to hear and couldn't because of stupid has to control everything Dumbledore." The teen grumbled. "Its not fair. You're my family, you're the one that should be being proud or not but you can't even tell me without giving our secret away and possibly having Dumbledore separate us for good."
"Hey." Sirius said firmly as he took the kid by the shoulders. "One, Dumbledore is never going to separate us again. I don't care what he tries its not going to happen." He stared until the kid nodded.
"What's number two?" Harry asked calmer as he leaned against the wall. He smirked when the man looked confused. "You started off by saying one…"
"Smart ass. Two I think our secret is pretty much out and ifs its not already it will be by the time we get to the fifth book so I say we not worry about it. You are my kid and I'm not afraid to admit that." Sirius gave a knowing look. "Even if you need some help remembering that fact." He said referring to their talk that morning.
Harry shrugged. "It's hard to believe sometimes when we have Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley and even Remus constantly pulling us apart. Then you have me getting in real trouble with you for the first time and I freaked out a bit." He admitted with a blush.
Sirius barked out a laugh. "You're allowed to freak out but with a little less attitude or you will be in real trouble." He slung an arm around the teen. "You do know I'm proud of you. And the stunt with the car really impressed me. I didn't mention James as a substitute for my feelings to try to hide them. I wanted to give you something of your father and I sometimes forget you need the reassurance of my own opinion."
"Because I'm a needy prat." Harry said causally. He wasn't prepared for the hard smack administered to his backside. He jumped before reaching around to rub out the sting.
Sirius was watching him with an amused look. "I will get you to stop putting yourself down like that." He motioned for the door. "We should get back before Molly sends a rescue party after you."
Harry looked at him with a horrified look. "We can't go back in there now." He cried. "They already think I'm in trouble and they probably heard you smack me."
Sirius chucked as he wrapped an arm around the kid's shoulders. "You were in trouble but you don't have to worry. I grew up in this house. I know how thick the walls are. They wouldn't hear even if I blistered your bum."
Harry growled playfully. "You said that just to make me blush."
Sirius laughed as he opened the door and propelled his red faced godson through.
"Are the dramatics done now?" Snape asked irritably as he watched the teen shift his friend over so he could reclaim his original seat.
"That would depend Snape." Sirius provoked as he walked in with a large smile. "Are you planning on putting a performance on for us?"
Albus sighed as his potions master snarled. "Perhaps it would be best if I continued reading." He took the group through the rest of the flight as the joviality wore off and reality and the heat set in.
"It was a lot hotter up than I would have thought." Harry thought out loud. Ron nodded in agreement.
Snape sneered while Hermione tutted. "Well you were a lot closer to the sun."
Sirius shot a glance at Emmeline. "I told you he wouldn't be gorging out on candy this time." He reminded her with a chuckle.
She resisted rolling her eyes at him. "I think I would prefer the candy to this."
"Ah here we go." Kingsley spoke up when the car started to malfunction. He had known that the teens couldn't have an adventure like this without something going wrong.
"Why is it making noise? Arthur what did you do that car?" Molly asked sternly.
"I'm sure it's just tired dear. I don't think it's ever been on such a long flight. Nothing to worry about." He shot a look at his youngest son for reassurance. Ron shrugged feebly causing the older man to groan silently.
"Why didn't you just set the car down instead of tempting fate?" Emmeline demanded as the worry started burning her stomach.
"I'm pretty sure we were over the forest at that time." Harry answered with a grin. "The car seemed like the better option."
"At the time anyway." Ron added with a grin. Remus exchanged a worried look with Sirius. He let a breath when they spotted Hogwarts.
"Wow, I'm surprised you were actually able to fly there and find it." Bill said looking impressed.
"Are you saying you doubt our supremacy?" Harry asked cheekily causing Sirius to chuckle.
"No, I'm doubting your luck which has proven to be a very fickle creature." The curse breaker shot back.
"Oh she's going to show up any minute now." Ron laughed. Harry threw him a pointed look.
"Would you stop trying to make it worse?"
"Don't fall in the lake." Charlie gasped, causing the adults to tense up.
Snape sneered at them. "The lake might have been the better choice." He sucked in a breath when the car died all together.
Sirius winced, feeling for the first time the twinges of fear despite the great prank. What had Mrs. Potter once said to him and James? 'Pranks are fine until they threaten someone's mind, health or serious bodily injury. At that point they are no longer classified as pranks and you'll have me to deal with.' Hmm, seemed like he would have to give that speech to his godson. What a proud day, he thought grinning inwardly.
"Maybe you should try an actual spell instead of just yelling stop." Tonks advised in a snide voice.
"Did you hear the part of the ground flying toward us?" Ron asked sarcastically. "I was panicking."
"Does that car have airbags?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
"Decidedly not." Harry responded wincing as as they flew into the tree.
"Tree?" Kingsley asked confused. Remus had paled and even Sirius had sobered.
"Wasn't the title of the chapter the Whomping Willow?" Tonks asked.
"Merlin." Bill burst out. "Ronald Weasley you are worse than the twins for getting into scrapes."
"Isn't that the extremely dangerous tree that is rather violent?" Emmeline asked faintly.
"That would be the one." Harry answered glibly, causing Remus to glare ferociously. "It's not that bad. We didn't get hurt." He assured him with a roll of his eyes.
"No I believe there were more disastrous consequences." Snape drawled, hiding his own concern.
"That's it. You're never flying in another contraption." Sirius decided jokingly, poking the teen lounging against him.
"Do brooms count?" Harry asked with a grin, tilting his head back to look up at the man.
"Hmmm, what were the Quidditch matches like that year?"
"I think we should get back to the tree." Harry announced causing the twins to laugh. He felt the man tense as the state of the car and its occupants were described.
"How bad?" Sirius asked with a sigh. "And don't you dare say you were fine."
"But I was. I don't even remember that bump and nothing else was injured."
"And Ron?" Molly asked fearfully.
"I was moaning for a whole different reason." Ron said glumly looking confused when the twins burst out laughing.
"Oh grow up you two." Charlie admonished, unable to hide his own grin.
"What!" Molly screeched at the revelation of her son's wand. "You broke your wand at the beginning of the year? You led us to believe it didn't happen until school was done. Why didn't you say anything?" She rushed on before her son could answer.
"And you." She rounded on McGonagall who looked taken back. "Why didn't you tell us instead of letting him endanger himself and his classmates for an entire year?"
"I assumed Mr. Weasley had informed you." She answered stiffly. "And that you weren't able to get him another."
Arthur frowned. "I think you should stop assuming things." He returned just as stiffly. He turned back to the book as tree started pounding on the car.
"I believe the willow is angry at being disturbed." Remus sighed.
"If that was angry I'd hate to see it pissed." Harry snorted.
"Language Mr. Potter." McGonagall warned.
Harry looked up from rubbing his side. "Yeah, I kind of got that." He grunted, looking pointedly at his godfather's elbow.
The two oldest Weasley children were staring at the book in horror as the tree continued its assault. "How did you not get hurt?" Bill asked hoarsely.
Harry and Ron exchanged grins before looking at Arthur who just stared back at them in concern.
Neville shook his head. "Why can't the two of you do anything halfway?"
"He wouldn't be the boy who lived if he didn't." Luna responded. "More like the boy who attempted."
Sirius was watching the teen closely. "You were really okay."
Harry nodded. "At least until we got into the castle."
Sirius's brow furrowed in worry. "What happened then?" He asked anxiously.
Harry grimaced. "We got caught." He could see Snape smirking across the room.
Moody and Kingsley exchanged looks when the car restarted on its own. "What exactly did you do to that car Arthur?" The grizzled auror demanded.
"Oh I tried lots of things. It took quite a while before it would fly for me." He answered vaguely.
"It's alive?" Charlie asked with a laugh.
Hermione giggled. "Mr. Weasley created his own Frankenstein." The Weasleys looked back at her in confusion.
"Well at least it had sense enough to get away from that tree." Emmeline pointed out with a relieved sigh.
"Where exactly is the car now?" McGonagall asked.
"This happened three and half years ago and you're just now asking?" Sirius questioned with a look of astonishment.
"We had other things on our mind that night Mr. Black." She answered
Harry shrugged at his thoughts about his horrible luck and hitting a tree that hits back. . "Sounds about right."
"You and your luck mate." Neville sounded weary. "I hate to think of what it brings you next."
"Pixies." Ron reminded the round faced boy who promptly wore a look of horror.
Dumbledore continued reading, telling of the boys making their way back to the castle and catching a glimpse of the sorting.
"I didn't get to watch a sorting until fourth year." The dark haired teen pouted.
"Why, what happened third year?" Tonks asked hesitantly, not sure she really wanted to know.
Harry threw a look at his former professor. "Someone tattled."
"I was merely worried, a concept you can't seem to grasp." The werewolf shot back at him with a stern look.
The reading continued with the sorting and a few select students and teachers mentioned. One that Harry looked for but couldn't find was his potions professor.
"I'm surprised Potter. Why were you looking for me?" The potions professor asked, his expressionless mask in place.
"It's always good to know where your enemies are." Harry called back. Sirius grinned widely while the twins began laughing themselves sick.
"That's a good rule to live by Potter." Moody nodded approvingly, his magical eye fixed on the dark dressed man.
"Ronald, that's a horrible thing to wish on someone." Molly scolded when her son hoped his hated teacher was ill. Ron tried to look remorseful for his mother while returning the grins the twins were sending him. He grinned when Harry mused that he might have left because he hadn't gotten the DADA job.
"It must have been so hard losing to a git like Lockhart." Sirius mused causing Harry to choke on a laugh.
"I only apply at the dark lord's behest." Snape told them, a sour look on his face.
"I'm sure that evil git can't wait for you to begin teaching dark arts to our children." Sirius snarled.
"Which is why I don't have the job." He pointed out wearily. "If I must teach at all I much prefer potions." He smirked when he made his presence known behind the miscreants.
"Don't even say it Sirius." Remus warned. "They were in big trouble."
"And they didn't even know how much yet." McGonagall pointed out.
Sirius frowned. "What am I missing?"
Harry looked up when the book recited Snape's words naming Ron as his sidekick. "Is it possible to have a sidekick when there are three of you?" He asked noticing the downcast look on his friend face.
"And it was my idea in the first place so if there were you'd be the side kick." Ron said perking up.
"We should take turns." Harry grinned.
"I would think it was obvious that there is no need." Hermione smirked. "I'm the brains and you're both sidekicks.
Harry and Ron looked at each other. "Sounds about right."
"Oh, that's bad." Sirius had paled at hearing about his godson breaking the Statue of Secrecy.
"That makes it a ministry problem and not just a school deal." Remus frowned. "How were you not expelled?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Luckily my standing in the community was much improved at the time and I was able to stop any repercussions."
Bill rolled his eyes at the man's self importance but had to admit that he'd done both boys a service by keeping him from getting expelled.
"Again I must point out that a lot of the blame lies with Arthur which should have worked in the boy's favor." Emmeline pointed out.
"That didn't go down well at work" Arthur sighed before seeing the stricken look on the two boys' faces. "But I'm the one that enchanted the car." He reminded them. "And I certainly knew better."
Dumbledore gave him a look but continued reading as Snape continued to lecture the boys.
"Hardly," Snape snorted when Ron tried to point out that the tree did more damage than they did. "The tree should have held you still and gave you a good switching for that foolish stunt." He snarled, inwardly sighing at how, well, parental that sounded.
Sirius rolled his eyes as he patted his godson on the arm in comfort. "They were twelve and presented with with a great temptation that seemed too good to be true. I'm sure even you Snape wouldn't have been able to resist at that age."
"I wouldn't have." Charlie volunteered, his brothers nodding vigorously.
Kingsley was smiling. "At twelve I would have given anything for an adventure like that. And..." He slid a glance at the frowning headmaster. "I doubt the boys would have been expelled. The ministry isn't that heartless not to realize the temptation they faced." He paused as he considered his words. "At least not before this year."
Luna looked up with the lecture finished with the stern man promising to return with those that could punish them appropriately. "You feel helpless so you do what you can to punish them by using words." Luna observed offhandedly causing the trio to stare at her in shock.
"Why is she here?" Snape bit out furiously.
"Apparently she see's a lot more than we do." Remus answered staring at the other man thoughtfully.
Dumbledore picked up from where he'd left off, telling them about Snape returning with a very angry McGonagall.
"Ouch, she's not even taking the time to form sentences." Sirius winced. "She is mad."
"Of course I was." She snapped back. "I had a right to be." Her lips twitched as she asked about Potter's owl.
"Umm can we refer back to Hermione's argument from earlier?" Harry called causing the girl to snort in amusement.
"You could come up with your own defense." She pointed out.
"But it wouldn't be nearly as effective as yours." He responded causing her to roll her eyes.
"You're right, not nearly as effective." She said laughing. "But very truthful all the same."
"Oi." He huffed giving her a playful shove. He grimaced as his feeling about disappointing Dumbledore was revealed.
Emmeline frowned. "Part one of his plan seemed to have worked." She murmured to her seat mate in a low voice.
"What was that?" Kingsley asked though he wore a knowing look.
"Keep Harry miserable so that he looks up to the old man so much that a little disappointment causes instant heartache."
"I do believe that feeling has been transferred elsewhere. Thankfully." He settled back grim faced as the two professors guilted the boys into better behavior.
Sirius's mouth dropped open when his godson asked not to have points removed. "You didn't?" He asked in disbelief. "Didn't you learn anything from the dragon incident? Now you're going to be negative triple digits."
Fred exchanged a confused look with his twin. He didn't remember Gryffindor losing any points that night. Their eyes widen at the same time and they looked at their young friend in astonishment. "That's not possible." Fred croaked.
"What's not possible?" Bill asked, still chuckling at his pseudo brother's audacity.
"He got away with it." George answered, causing most of the room's jaws to drop.
"You didn't take away any points?" Snape snarled in disgust.
"You must have had a James flashback and momentarily lost your senses." Remus laughed.
Harry laughed at his godfather's shocked face. "I think this earns me some marauder points."
Sirius shook himself out of his proud stupor to shoot her a look at the mention of detention. "It had better not be in the forest this time."
"It wasn't." Harry reassured him. "It was much worse." He said causing the marauders to exchange horrified looks.
"Honestly Potter, don't scare them like that." McGonagall scolded. "There was nothing life threatening about it."
"Says you." He muttered. He had a feeling his godfather would agree with him when he heard about it. He turned back to the reading in time to hear Hermione running towards them.
"Of course I was running. I'd been looking all over for you." She huffed. "First the train, then the feast. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
Harry and Ron enveloped her in a hug. "We're sorry Hermione. We'll never worry you like that again."
"I highly doubt that." She rolled her eyes with a grin.
Molly listened the chapter finished with the boys being greeted as heroes by their house before motioning everyone to the other room. "I've got sandwiches started." She called leading the pack to the refreshments.