12:00 p.m., Wednesday,
The Gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office.
"Why, pray tell, are you dragging me along, Potter?" The pouting sallow- faced, dark-haired boy enquired as he was dragged past the gargoyle and down the flight of steps that led to Dumbledore's office. Harry simply ignored his question and trudged on. They came to a stop in front of two massive doors. They both stared at the doors, normally, neither would have given this much thought before knocking, but seeing as how they had shrunk in size, it proved a problem. Harry pounded one little fist against the door, but it made very little sound.
Frustrated, Harry turned to the other boy. "Well, aren't you going to help?"
"No. I think I won't." Was Severus' sarcastic reply.
Luckily, at that moment the doors opened in front of them and Dumbledore stood there looking down at them. "Is there a problem here, boys?" His eyes twinkled mischievously.
The old headmaster stepped back, allowing Harry and Severus to hurry past him and crawl into their seats. Slowly he shut the door and ambled over to his desk, where he sat and waited for one of the strange duo to start speaking. Severus waited impatiently for Harry to start talking, but Harry seemed to be having other plans. He was now trying to reach over and grab a cake from the table.
"Harry!" Severus hissed.
Harry looked up and his stomach growled. "What? I didn't get to eat that much today..."
"It's quite alright." Dumbledore interrupted, and with a wave of his wand, a plate of sandwiches appeared on Harry's lap. "If you're hungry too, Mr. Snape, I would be only too glad to do the same for you."
Severus declined the offer and settled back in the chair that was now threatening to swallow his tiny form whole. Harry began to speak in- between bites, carefully pausing whenever he had to swallow down his food. "Professor, there's this problem *munch, munch* wif quiddifsh *gulp*..."
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I understand, Harry. It looks like Gryffindor will have to find a substitute seeker for this match. Is there anyone you had in mind?" He smiled softly.
Harry put down his sandwich and sat up, looking as serious as a 3 year old can. "I would like for myself and Snape to be seekers. With weights in our pockets, we could probably be able to control my Firebolt with no problem, and Snape can look out for the bludgers while I look for the snitch."
Snape gaped at Harry. Surely Dumbledore would say no to such a ridiculous scheme! A Slytherin seeker on the Gryffindor team?! Unheard of! Not to mention how terrible he'd look wearing the Gryffindor colors, not that he REALLY cared, red definitely wasn't his color. As he pondered how he'd look in the Gryffindor quidditch robes, he waited on Dumbledore's firm no.
"Well, Harry, the idea isn't that bad, but are you both willing to do this? It could be quite dangerous if you get hit by a bludger. Your bones aren't as strong as they were before." He looked from Harry to Severus.
"Yeah, we are." Harry answered before Severus could even register the fact that Dumbledore hadn't said no.
"Very well then, Mr. Potter. I will speak to Professor McGonagall about this and see what she has to say. If she is okay with it, then you will be able to carry out your plan." He winked and all but shoved the two boys out of his office.
"You don't suppose he was in a hurry to get rid of us?" Severus muttered sarcastically. He was still slightly in shock over Dumbledore's ridiculous approval. Of all the things he'd ever agreed to, this had to have been possibly the worst. It'd be a shame on Slytherin! "And what makes you think that I'm willing to go along with this, Mr. Potter?"
Harry merely laughed. "Y'know, now that you're a little kid, you don't look intimidating at all."
Severus glowered at him, but only succeeded in looking even cuter. Harry didn't stop laughing until they'd reached the front doors. Severus had finally decided to give up his usual sneers and glares for a neutral mask if only momentarily. "I'll ask only once more, Mr. Potter, what makes you think that I'm willing to go along with this?"
The other boy merely shrugged. "You suggested it in the first place."
"I most certainly did not suggest that you drag me into this." He looked indignant.
Harry rolled his eyes and dragged Severus onto the pitch. "Well, it looks like we're the only ones here now. Maybe we should start practicing riding on a broom?" He glanced over to Severus.
"I refuse." He pouted. "We'd need weights and other items to balance things out. I refuse to try without the necessary precautions. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be a pancake for a day."
Harry furrowed his brow. "Yeah, you're right...I guess it can wait. You'll still help me, won't you?"
Severus sighed and drooped slightly. "I can't do anything about it." He muttered under his breath reluctantly.
"Thanks." Harry smiled.
6:00 p.m., Wednesday,
Professor McGonagall's office,
"I see you both have spoken to Dumbledore about the upcoming match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff." Professor McGonagall paused briefly. "Dumbledore has told me he thinks it should be okay, but it is only reluctantly that I agree."
"Why?" Harry's eyes were pleading.
"Well, first of all, regarding you." She looked meaningfully at Severus. "How do you feel about this? You're a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor. Why exactly are you doing this?" She was definitely suspicious of Severus, although she'd never admit it in front of Harry.
"I'm not quite participating by choice, I was volunteered." He gave a cute glare to Harry, who hid his smirk behind his hands. Severus turned his attention back to Professor McGonagall. "But I suppose the Slytherin spirit could take credit for my not backing out. It'd make me look bad. I already know I'd look bad anyways, but at least I can prove something to my students." His voice was very serious and Professor McGonagall worked quite hard not to laugh.
"Fine, but you both realize the risks involved? There's a possibility that if something happens, even the slightest slip up, you both might die." She frowned at the two.
"No, we won't." Harry insisted. "Fred and George can watch out for us and so can Severus, and that'll leave me to look for the snitch. I don't see a problem."
"Potter, there are many ways that we could slip up. Fred and George might be too busy to pay attention to us, we might lose control of the broomstick, a bludger could still hit us, and we might end up sitting ducks up there." Severus began ticking off problems with his tiny fingers. "Need I say more?" He paused with one finger still up.
"No." Harry looked slightly nauseated and Snape began to suspect that he had something to do with that.
"Very well..." Professor McGonagall still looked quite reluctant. "I will tell the Weasleys. They are your team's co-captains. If they have already chosen a suitable substitute, you will have to stay out of the game for this one. If not, then you'll be allowed to practice. I do want you both to know that if the practice sessions go badly, you are to come to me and we will find a suitable seeker for Gryffindor."
Both boys nodded at once and were dismissed. "Practice is usually in the mornings and afternoon after classes are over with." Harry explained. "So we'll have to be up at 7 tomorrow and out on the pitch."
Severus shuddered at the thought of the cold morning breeze burning his overly sensitive skin. "I can't wait."
7:00 a.m., Thursday,
"Wake up, wake up!" Harry shook Severus awake a bit too roughly.
"'lready?" Came Severus' muffled reply as he hid his face in his pillow. He wasn't a morning person and this was proof of it. He looked up sleepily at the other boy who, miracle of miracles, was fully dressed and looked quite cheerful. Severus groaned and hid his face back in the comforting softness of the pillow. Suddenly, he felt the warm sheets pulled away from him and tried to snatch them back from the Boy-Who-Lived, but it didn't seem as if he'd be getting them back anytime soon unless he decided to leave the bed. 'Not bloody likely.'
Harry watched Severus with an amused expression across his face. "C'mon, up and at 'em! We have to hurry up and eat breakfast, then get to the pitch and I'm not going to drag you out in your night clothes."
Severus muttered under his breath, "As if you would drag me out without my night clothes..." He snorted and slunk into the bathroom.
7:20 a.m., Thursday,
The Great Hall,
Severus looked groggily about the Hufflepuff table. He and Harry had been ordered to sit side by side, probably to prevent more food fights from occurring between the two boys. Severus was pretty sure that was McGonagall's idea. She always had hated him. He muttered as he moved his food around his plate.
"What's wrong with you?" Harry glanced over at him, taking the time to spear a sausage on Severus' plate and pop it into his mouth before he realized it.
"Would you stop stealing my food?" Severus frowned.
"Sorry, but you weren't eating. I just guessed..."
"Don't ever assume, Potter." Severus replied scathingly.
Harry shrugged and turned his attention back to his plate. Severus silently cursed his bad luck for becoming a child again. He hated the fact that he could no longer fulfill his favorite pass time of intimidating students and threatening Harry Potter. He missed the power to take points away from Gryffindor. But most of all, he hated being called "cute" by all the girls and teachers. It was disgusting, especially since Harry enjoyed the treatment. 'Of course he would, the boy loves attention. He can't get enough! I, on the other hand, would prefer to be alone in my dungeons with a nice book.' He thought sourly as he nibbled at his toast. He was very aware that most of Hogwarts was watching him eat.
(TBC. Next chapter will be the first quidditch training session and we'll see just how well Harry's odd plan works out (if it does).
Heartfire Wind ~ yep, I guess it must have been a circuit problem. I'm not the only one who uses that computer, so it does get a lot of work. Luckily, I wasn't the one who turned it on when it blew up.)
To all others ~ More to come soon!)
The Gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office.
"Why, pray tell, are you dragging me along, Potter?" The pouting sallow- faced, dark-haired boy enquired as he was dragged past the gargoyle and down the flight of steps that led to Dumbledore's office. Harry simply ignored his question and trudged on. They came to a stop in front of two massive doors. They both stared at the doors, normally, neither would have given this much thought before knocking, but seeing as how they had shrunk in size, it proved a problem. Harry pounded one little fist against the door, but it made very little sound.
Frustrated, Harry turned to the other boy. "Well, aren't you going to help?"
"No. I think I won't." Was Severus' sarcastic reply.
Luckily, at that moment the doors opened in front of them and Dumbledore stood there looking down at them. "Is there a problem here, boys?" His eyes twinkled mischievously.
The old headmaster stepped back, allowing Harry and Severus to hurry past him and crawl into their seats. Slowly he shut the door and ambled over to his desk, where he sat and waited for one of the strange duo to start speaking. Severus waited impatiently for Harry to start talking, but Harry seemed to be having other plans. He was now trying to reach over and grab a cake from the table.
"Harry!" Severus hissed.
Harry looked up and his stomach growled. "What? I didn't get to eat that much today..."
"It's quite alright." Dumbledore interrupted, and with a wave of his wand, a plate of sandwiches appeared on Harry's lap. "If you're hungry too, Mr. Snape, I would be only too glad to do the same for you."
Severus declined the offer and settled back in the chair that was now threatening to swallow his tiny form whole. Harry began to speak in- between bites, carefully pausing whenever he had to swallow down his food. "Professor, there's this problem *munch, munch* wif quiddifsh *gulp*..."
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I understand, Harry. It looks like Gryffindor will have to find a substitute seeker for this match. Is there anyone you had in mind?" He smiled softly.
Harry put down his sandwich and sat up, looking as serious as a 3 year old can. "I would like for myself and Snape to be seekers. With weights in our pockets, we could probably be able to control my Firebolt with no problem, and Snape can look out for the bludgers while I look for the snitch."
Snape gaped at Harry. Surely Dumbledore would say no to such a ridiculous scheme! A Slytherin seeker on the Gryffindor team?! Unheard of! Not to mention how terrible he'd look wearing the Gryffindor colors, not that he REALLY cared, red definitely wasn't his color. As he pondered how he'd look in the Gryffindor quidditch robes, he waited on Dumbledore's firm no.
"Well, Harry, the idea isn't that bad, but are you both willing to do this? It could be quite dangerous if you get hit by a bludger. Your bones aren't as strong as they were before." He looked from Harry to Severus.
"Yeah, we are." Harry answered before Severus could even register the fact that Dumbledore hadn't said no.
"Very well then, Mr. Potter. I will speak to Professor McGonagall about this and see what she has to say. If she is okay with it, then you will be able to carry out your plan." He winked and all but shoved the two boys out of his office.
"You don't suppose he was in a hurry to get rid of us?" Severus muttered sarcastically. He was still slightly in shock over Dumbledore's ridiculous approval. Of all the things he'd ever agreed to, this had to have been possibly the worst. It'd be a shame on Slytherin! "And what makes you think that I'm willing to go along with this, Mr. Potter?"
Harry merely laughed. "Y'know, now that you're a little kid, you don't look intimidating at all."
Severus glowered at him, but only succeeded in looking even cuter. Harry didn't stop laughing until they'd reached the front doors. Severus had finally decided to give up his usual sneers and glares for a neutral mask if only momentarily. "I'll ask only once more, Mr. Potter, what makes you think that I'm willing to go along with this?"
The other boy merely shrugged. "You suggested it in the first place."
"I most certainly did not suggest that you drag me into this." He looked indignant.
Harry rolled his eyes and dragged Severus onto the pitch. "Well, it looks like we're the only ones here now. Maybe we should start practicing riding on a broom?" He glanced over to Severus.
"I refuse." He pouted. "We'd need weights and other items to balance things out. I refuse to try without the necessary precautions. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be a pancake for a day."
Harry furrowed his brow. "Yeah, you're right...I guess it can wait. You'll still help me, won't you?"
Severus sighed and drooped slightly. "I can't do anything about it." He muttered under his breath reluctantly.
"Thanks." Harry smiled.
6:00 p.m., Wednesday,
Professor McGonagall's office,
"I see you both have spoken to Dumbledore about the upcoming match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff." Professor McGonagall paused briefly. "Dumbledore has told me he thinks it should be okay, but it is only reluctantly that I agree."
"Why?" Harry's eyes were pleading.
"Well, first of all, regarding you." She looked meaningfully at Severus. "How do you feel about this? You're a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor. Why exactly are you doing this?" She was definitely suspicious of Severus, although she'd never admit it in front of Harry.
"I'm not quite participating by choice, I was volunteered." He gave a cute glare to Harry, who hid his smirk behind his hands. Severus turned his attention back to Professor McGonagall. "But I suppose the Slytherin spirit could take credit for my not backing out. It'd make me look bad. I already know I'd look bad anyways, but at least I can prove something to my students." His voice was very serious and Professor McGonagall worked quite hard not to laugh.
"Fine, but you both realize the risks involved? There's a possibility that if something happens, even the slightest slip up, you both might die." She frowned at the two.
"No, we won't." Harry insisted. "Fred and George can watch out for us and so can Severus, and that'll leave me to look for the snitch. I don't see a problem."
"Potter, there are many ways that we could slip up. Fred and George might be too busy to pay attention to us, we might lose control of the broomstick, a bludger could still hit us, and we might end up sitting ducks up there." Severus began ticking off problems with his tiny fingers. "Need I say more?" He paused with one finger still up.
"No." Harry looked slightly nauseated and Snape began to suspect that he had something to do with that.
"Very well..." Professor McGonagall still looked quite reluctant. "I will tell the Weasleys. They are your team's co-captains. If they have already chosen a suitable substitute, you will have to stay out of the game for this one. If not, then you'll be allowed to practice. I do want you both to know that if the practice sessions go badly, you are to come to me and we will find a suitable seeker for Gryffindor."
Both boys nodded at once and were dismissed. "Practice is usually in the mornings and afternoon after classes are over with." Harry explained. "So we'll have to be up at 7 tomorrow and out on the pitch."
Severus shuddered at the thought of the cold morning breeze burning his overly sensitive skin. "I can't wait."
7:00 a.m., Thursday,
"Wake up, wake up!" Harry shook Severus awake a bit too roughly.
"'lready?" Came Severus' muffled reply as he hid his face in his pillow. He wasn't a morning person and this was proof of it. He looked up sleepily at the other boy who, miracle of miracles, was fully dressed and looked quite cheerful. Severus groaned and hid his face back in the comforting softness of the pillow. Suddenly, he felt the warm sheets pulled away from him and tried to snatch them back from the Boy-Who-Lived, but it didn't seem as if he'd be getting them back anytime soon unless he decided to leave the bed. 'Not bloody likely.'
Harry watched Severus with an amused expression across his face. "C'mon, up and at 'em! We have to hurry up and eat breakfast, then get to the pitch and I'm not going to drag you out in your night clothes."
Severus muttered under his breath, "As if you would drag me out without my night clothes..." He snorted and slunk into the bathroom.
7:20 a.m., Thursday,
The Great Hall,
Severus looked groggily about the Hufflepuff table. He and Harry had been ordered to sit side by side, probably to prevent more food fights from occurring between the two boys. Severus was pretty sure that was McGonagall's idea. She always had hated him. He muttered as he moved his food around his plate.
"What's wrong with you?" Harry glanced over at him, taking the time to spear a sausage on Severus' plate and pop it into his mouth before he realized it.
"Would you stop stealing my food?" Severus frowned.
"Sorry, but you weren't eating. I just guessed..."
"Don't ever assume, Potter." Severus replied scathingly.
Harry shrugged and turned his attention back to his plate. Severus silently cursed his bad luck for becoming a child again. He hated the fact that he could no longer fulfill his favorite pass time of intimidating students and threatening Harry Potter. He missed the power to take points away from Gryffindor. But most of all, he hated being called "cute" by all the girls and teachers. It was disgusting, especially since Harry enjoyed the treatment. 'Of course he would, the boy loves attention. He can't get enough! I, on the other hand, would prefer to be alone in my dungeons with a nice book.' He thought sourly as he nibbled at his toast. He was very aware that most of Hogwarts was watching him eat.
(TBC. Next chapter will be the first quidditch training session and we'll see just how well Harry's odd plan works out (if it does).
Heartfire Wind ~ yep, I guess it must have been a circuit problem. I'm not the only one who uses that computer, so it does get a lot of work. Luckily, I wasn't the one who turned it on when it blew up.)
To all others ~ More to come soon!)