7:30 a.m., Thursday,
The Entrance Hall,
Harry ran out of the Great Hall with a piece of toast still in his mouth and followed by a reluctant Severus. Harry had insisted that they arrive a few minutes early so that they could discuss the matter in more detail with the Gryffindor co-captains, Fred and George Weasley. Severus was disgusted with himself for actually going along with Harry's plan like he was.
Once they arrived at the pitch, they found Professor McGonagall, Fred, and George waiting for them in the center. The twins waved them over and began to discuss the new situation while Professor McGonagall took a seat in the stands along with Colin and Dennis Creevey. The two Creevey brothers looked quite excited about watching Harry fly again. At that same moment both Harry and Severus wished they had had something better to do than gawk.
"Okay, Potter, Snape, Professor McGonagall said it should be okay for us to trust you, so we'll be fitting you both with weights and then we'll try a short flying session once Madam Hooch arrives." George Began.
"Madam Hooch insisted that she watch over you when you first kick off and take the first flight." Fred continued.
"As a safety precaution or course." George finished.
They quickly added some special magical weights to Harry and Severus' waists. Just as they had finished taking Severus' and Harry's measurements for their new quidditch robes that Fred and George insisted on ordering (this particular thought filled Severus with dread), Madam Hooch hurried onto the field towards them. She smiled at the two boys obviously pleased.
"Today you'll just start off with kicking off, directing the broom, and flying. Hopefully you will both retain your skills with a broomstick." She smirked at this and the two boys had a really bad suspicion as to why. "If everything goes well as planned, then later tonight we will allow the bludgers to be introduced into the practice session. We don't have much time, so do your best, boys, and do try to be careful."
Harry looked at the broomstick (that was now taller than he was) he clutched in his hand, then returned his gaze to Madam Hooch. "Uhm...how are we gonna get on the broom?" Both boys turned bright red as that question was greeted with laughter.
"Oh, really, you'd think an old cow like you would be a bit more serious." Severus spat.
Madam Hooch finally straightened up and did her best to look dignified. She seemed to be having a hard time dealing with Severus' scathing remark. "Harry, you will mount the broom as you have always done before, but this time, you will wait while Severus gets on as well. It should easily accommodate you both. The only problem you may have is directing the broom. This has never really been attempted on a racing broom before, so I honestly don't know the outcome." She mounted her own broom and kicked off, waiting for the two boys to do as they were instructed.
Harry got on his broom and hovered while Severus climbed on behind him. "You on okay?" He asked his passenger.
"Yes, I'm fine." Severus said with forced calm as he reluctantly held on to Harry's weighted down robes.
Harry kicked off of the ground and the broom rose easily enough. Madam Hooch nodded to them and told them they were doing well so far. She looked very pleased.
"Eh...which way do we go?" Harry wondered out loud.
"Left." Was the curt answer.
"Right!" Harry automatically turned right, ignoring Severus' annoyed comments as to his decision. They sped across the pitch and made several sharp turns causing Severus to nearly fall off.
"This isn't working." Severus muttered. "Each time you make a turn I come very close to falling. You need to give some sort of warning next time you do that."
"Warning?! But that's impossible!" Harry protested.
"Hmmm...maybe not, Potter, but we'll have to solve that once we get back down." Severus looked thoughtful.
After a fairly successful practice Harry and Severus were accosted by Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, Colin, Dennis, and Professor McGonagall.
"Well, Potter, Severus." Professor McGonagall nodded to each of them in turn. "You did fairly well. As discussed, the bludgers will be released next time." She nodded and let the others flow forward.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione wrapped her arms around her friend while Ron watched, grinning. "You were absolutely wonderful up there." She bit her lower lip. "But...what do you plan to do about the bludgers? I don't want to think of what would have happened if one hit you!"
"Yes, Harry, and what about those turns? You can't afford to throw Professor Snape off the broom each time you turn around." Everyone winced at Fred's words.
"I know," Harry glanced over at the other boy. "We're working on that."
"That's good," George replied. "I do hope everything goes okay. I'd hate to have our star seeker sit out on any of the games."
"Yeah, Harry, they were thinking of getting me or Ginny to be seeker, but we both didn't want to." Colin smiled to Harry. "We'd look terrible compared to you."
Harry smiled with forced politeness. "I'm sure you wouldn't be too bad, Colin."
"Wow, did you hear that Dennis?" Colin turned to his brother and they started chatting excitedly about Harry.
Harry suppressed a groan. "Don't worry, Harry." Ron smiled to his best friend. "You're the best seeker Gryffindor's had. I don't doubt that you'll be amazing in the match!"
"Thanks." Harry smiled as Hermione finally let him go.
"Oh, Harry, did we ever tell you the good news?" Ron continued.
"No, what is it?" Harry was very curious now.
"Well...actually, I was asked to be Keeper and I agreed." He beamed proudly to Harry. "It doesn't concern moving too much too far, so my old broom should handle it just fine until I can get a new one." He stopped and looked nervously to Hermione. "And...well, er...me an' Hermy are together now. I asked her out yesterday and she said yes." He looked as if he desperately wanted Harry's approval.
Harry laughed. "I'm glad for you two." He smiled and Ron and Hermione sighed with relief, but inside Harry felt a little hurt. He had missed his friends this past week and suddenly things changed so much while he was gone. He knew that it wasn't their fault, but it still didn't make him feel any better.
12:00 p.m., Thursday,
Severus' Chambers,
Severus stood over a mini-cauldron of a bubbling golden fluid, stirring it carefully. He looked up to see Harry moping in a corner with a cow-spotted bunny one of his many fan-girls had given him. He was clutching the bunny close to him and looking dejected as he leaned heavily against the wall. Severus' glare turned into a frown. 'I hope he doesn't plan to go into a bout of self-pity and try and complain to me.' It took him a little longer to notice that Harry was actually crying.
"Oh for heavens' sake, what is it, Potter?!" He threw up his hands in resignation and stalked over to the other boy.
Harry looked up at him through watery eyes. "It's nothing - go away."
"I will not, Potter. Stop this stupidity at once!" Severus insisted and made to grab the bunny.
"Hey!" Harry yelped as his bunny was snatched away. "Gimme back Fuu-Fuu!"
Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Fuu-Fuu? You name your stuffed toys."
"So? There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Harry retorted.
Severus shrugged. "I'll give Fuu-Fuu back if you stop crying."
Harry nodded and wiped his face off on his robes. Severus grumbled and handed Fuu-Fuu back and returned to his cauldron.
"What's that?" Harry peeked into the cauldron.
"This is the answer to the problem with the turns." He answered. "He slowly poured the contents into two vials and set them on a nearby rack."It creates temporary telepathic abilities between two parties and acts as a sort of mind link. It wears off after an hour, unfortunately, and so it's rather urgent that the game be over before it begins to wear off."
"This isn't illegal?" Harry blinked into the vials.
"Of course not, at least in this case. I think it's quite necessary, actually. Whether anyone ever intends to make it illegal...well, we'll just see." Severus sealed both vials with two corks. "It's about time for lunch, isn't it?"
Harry nodded and placed Fuu-Fuu on the bed. Severus made a note of the bunny and wondered whether he was actually cruel enough to tease Harry about it once they were back to normal. He decided he'd better not risk Harry telling everyone about his own bad habits. Especially when Harry woke him up last night and told him he was talking in his sleep. That was very embarrassing, especially since Harry claimed that he was saying odd things involving dried scarab beetles. It was probably a good idea though. Although the chances of him actually sleeping anywhere within earshot of another human being was extremely remote.
The two boys made their way through the dungeons and into the Great Hall. Their usual seats were reserved by the entire Hufflepuff house. All of the girls in Hufflepuff absolutely adored them even when Severus did his best to offend them (it never worked). Hannah Abbot, a small Hufflepuff of Harry's age sat across from them.
"How did you like your bunny, Harry?" The pig-tailed girl grinned.
'So that's where he got it from.' Severus mused as Harry replied with a smile. 'I wonder what he was crying about.' The food had appeared and several of the girls had started serving the two boys much to Severus' chagrin. He grumbled about pushy little girls as he ate and only got laughed at. If only he weren't a child, then he could gleefully take a hundred points from Hufflepuff. Luckily, Harry got the brunt of the attention because he was simply cuter.
"Do you think you'll be allowed to play as Seeker this game?" Ernie Macmillan asked from next to Hannah. It was obvious why he asked, he wanted Hufflepuff to win.
"It looks like they will." Harry replied, careful not to give out any information.
"Oh." Macmillan looked appropriately disappointed.
"Oooh...you'll be playing as you are, Harry?" Hannah giggled.
Harry merely smiled and nodded.
Almost all of the girls at the Hufflepuff table started up a frenzy of chatting and giggling. They were definitely gonna be watching Harry at the game. Some might even cheer him on a little too, it seemed. Severus wondered how Harry could put up with this. Obnoxiously loud fan girls were quite annoying to Severus, but that was nothing new. After a few minutes, both Severus and Harry had finished their meal and left for the only class of the day, Charms.
(TBC - Next chapter will include the Charms class and the second Quidditch practice session for Harry and Severus. I had originally intended naming the bunny Foo-Foo, but images of Mister T saying foo' popped into my head. That's why I chose to change it to Fuu-Fuu. ^.^;; )
The Entrance Hall,
Harry ran out of the Great Hall with a piece of toast still in his mouth and followed by a reluctant Severus. Harry had insisted that they arrive a few minutes early so that they could discuss the matter in more detail with the Gryffindor co-captains, Fred and George Weasley. Severus was disgusted with himself for actually going along with Harry's plan like he was.
Once they arrived at the pitch, they found Professor McGonagall, Fred, and George waiting for them in the center. The twins waved them over and began to discuss the new situation while Professor McGonagall took a seat in the stands along with Colin and Dennis Creevey. The two Creevey brothers looked quite excited about watching Harry fly again. At that same moment both Harry and Severus wished they had had something better to do than gawk.
"Okay, Potter, Snape, Professor McGonagall said it should be okay for us to trust you, so we'll be fitting you both with weights and then we'll try a short flying session once Madam Hooch arrives." George Began.
"Madam Hooch insisted that she watch over you when you first kick off and take the first flight." Fred continued.
"As a safety precaution or course." George finished.
They quickly added some special magical weights to Harry and Severus' waists. Just as they had finished taking Severus' and Harry's measurements for their new quidditch robes that Fred and George insisted on ordering (this particular thought filled Severus with dread), Madam Hooch hurried onto the field towards them. She smiled at the two boys obviously pleased.
"Today you'll just start off with kicking off, directing the broom, and flying. Hopefully you will both retain your skills with a broomstick." She smirked at this and the two boys had a really bad suspicion as to why. "If everything goes well as planned, then later tonight we will allow the bludgers to be introduced into the practice session. We don't have much time, so do your best, boys, and do try to be careful."
Harry looked at the broomstick (that was now taller than he was) he clutched in his hand, then returned his gaze to Madam Hooch. "Uhm...how are we gonna get on the broom?" Both boys turned bright red as that question was greeted with laughter.
"Oh, really, you'd think an old cow like you would be a bit more serious." Severus spat.
Madam Hooch finally straightened up and did her best to look dignified. She seemed to be having a hard time dealing with Severus' scathing remark. "Harry, you will mount the broom as you have always done before, but this time, you will wait while Severus gets on as well. It should easily accommodate you both. The only problem you may have is directing the broom. This has never really been attempted on a racing broom before, so I honestly don't know the outcome." She mounted her own broom and kicked off, waiting for the two boys to do as they were instructed.
Harry got on his broom and hovered while Severus climbed on behind him. "You on okay?" He asked his passenger.
"Yes, I'm fine." Severus said with forced calm as he reluctantly held on to Harry's weighted down robes.
Harry kicked off of the ground and the broom rose easily enough. Madam Hooch nodded to them and told them they were doing well so far. She looked very pleased.
"Eh...which way do we go?" Harry wondered out loud.
"Left." Was the curt answer.
"Right!" Harry automatically turned right, ignoring Severus' annoyed comments as to his decision. They sped across the pitch and made several sharp turns causing Severus to nearly fall off.
"This isn't working." Severus muttered. "Each time you make a turn I come very close to falling. You need to give some sort of warning next time you do that."
"Warning?! But that's impossible!" Harry protested.
"Hmmm...maybe not, Potter, but we'll have to solve that once we get back down." Severus looked thoughtful.
After a fairly successful practice Harry and Severus were accosted by Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, Colin, Dennis, and Professor McGonagall.
"Well, Potter, Severus." Professor McGonagall nodded to each of them in turn. "You did fairly well. As discussed, the bludgers will be released next time." She nodded and let the others flow forward.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione wrapped her arms around her friend while Ron watched, grinning. "You were absolutely wonderful up there." She bit her lower lip. "But...what do you plan to do about the bludgers? I don't want to think of what would have happened if one hit you!"
"Yes, Harry, and what about those turns? You can't afford to throw Professor Snape off the broom each time you turn around." Everyone winced at Fred's words.
"I know," Harry glanced over at the other boy. "We're working on that."
"That's good," George replied. "I do hope everything goes okay. I'd hate to have our star seeker sit out on any of the games."
"Yeah, Harry, they were thinking of getting me or Ginny to be seeker, but we both didn't want to." Colin smiled to Harry. "We'd look terrible compared to you."
Harry smiled with forced politeness. "I'm sure you wouldn't be too bad, Colin."
"Wow, did you hear that Dennis?" Colin turned to his brother and they started chatting excitedly about Harry.
Harry suppressed a groan. "Don't worry, Harry." Ron smiled to his best friend. "You're the best seeker Gryffindor's had. I don't doubt that you'll be amazing in the match!"
"Thanks." Harry smiled as Hermione finally let him go.
"Oh, Harry, did we ever tell you the good news?" Ron continued.
"No, what is it?" Harry was very curious now.
"Well...actually, I was asked to be Keeper and I agreed." He beamed proudly to Harry. "It doesn't concern moving too much too far, so my old broom should handle it just fine until I can get a new one." He stopped and looked nervously to Hermione. "And...well, er...me an' Hermy are together now. I asked her out yesterday and she said yes." He looked as if he desperately wanted Harry's approval.
Harry laughed. "I'm glad for you two." He smiled and Ron and Hermione sighed with relief, but inside Harry felt a little hurt. He had missed his friends this past week and suddenly things changed so much while he was gone. He knew that it wasn't their fault, but it still didn't make him feel any better.
12:00 p.m., Thursday,
Severus' Chambers,
Severus stood over a mini-cauldron of a bubbling golden fluid, stirring it carefully. He looked up to see Harry moping in a corner with a cow-spotted bunny one of his many fan-girls had given him. He was clutching the bunny close to him and looking dejected as he leaned heavily against the wall. Severus' glare turned into a frown. 'I hope he doesn't plan to go into a bout of self-pity and try and complain to me.' It took him a little longer to notice that Harry was actually crying.
"Oh for heavens' sake, what is it, Potter?!" He threw up his hands in resignation and stalked over to the other boy.
Harry looked up at him through watery eyes. "It's nothing - go away."
"I will not, Potter. Stop this stupidity at once!" Severus insisted and made to grab the bunny.
"Hey!" Harry yelped as his bunny was snatched away. "Gimme back Fuu-Fuu!"
Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Fuu-Fuu? You name your stuffed toys."
"So? There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Harry retorted.
Severus shrugged. "I'll give Fuu-Fuu back if you stop crying."
Harry nodded and wiped his face off on his robes. Severus grumbled and handed Fuu-Fuu back and returned to his cauldron.
"What's that?" Harry peeked into the cauldron.
"This is the answer to the problem with the turns." He answered. "He slowly poured the contents into two vials and set them on a nearby rack."It creates temporary telepathic abilities between two parties and acts as a sort of mind link. It wears off after an hour, unfortunately, and so it's rather urgent that the game be over before it begins to wear off."
"This isn't illegal?" Harry blinked into the vials.
"Of course not, at least in this case. I think it's quite necessary, actually. Whether anyone ever intends to make it illegal...well, we'll just see." Severus sealed both vials with two corks. "It's about time for lunch, isn't it?"
Harry nodded and placed Fuu-Fuu on the bed. Severus made a note of the bunny and wondered whether he was actually cruel enough to tease Harry about it once they were back to normal. He decided he'd better not risk Harry telling everyone about his own bad habits. Especially when Harry woke him up last night and told him he was talking in his sleep. That was very embarrassing, especially since Harry claimed that he was saying odd things involving dried scarab beetles. It was probably a good idea though. Although the chances of him actually sleeping anywhere within earshot of another human being was extremely remote.
The two boys made their way through the dungeons and into the Great Hall. Their usual seats were reserved by the entire Hufflepuff house. All of the girls in Hufflepuff absolutely adored them even when Severus did his best to offend them (it never worked). Hannah Abbot, a small Hufflepuff of Harry's age sat across from them.
"How did you like your bunny, Harry?" The pig-tailed girl grinned.
'So that's where he got it from.' Severus mused as Harry replied with a smile. 'I wonder what he was crying about.' The food had appeared and several of the girls had started serving the two boys much to Severus' chagrin. He grumbled about pushy little girls as he ate and only got laughed at. If only he weren't a child, then he could gleefully take a hundred points from Hufflepuff. Luckily, Harry got the brunt of the attention because he was simply cuter.
"Do you think you'll be allowed to play as Seeker this game?" Ernie Macmillan asked from next to Hannah. It was obvious why he asked, he wanted Hufflepuff to win.
"It looks like they will." Harry replied, careful not to give out any information.
"Oh." Macmillan looked appropriately disappointed.
"Oooh...you'll be playing as you are, Harry?" Hannah giggled.
Harry merely smiled and nodded.
Almost all of the girls at the Hufflepuff table started up a frenzy of chatting and giggling. They were definitely gonna be watching Harry at the game. Some might even cheer him on a little too, it seemed. Severus wondered how Harry could put up with this. Obnoxiously loud fan girls were quite annoying to Severus, but that was nothing new. After a few minutes, both Severus and Harry had finished their meal and left for the only class of the day, Charms.
(TBC - Next chapter will include the Charms class and the second Quidditch practice session for Harry and Severus. I had originally intended naming the bunny Foo-Foo, but images of Mister T saying foo' popped into my head. That's why I chose to change it to Fuu-Fuu. ^.^;; )