A Suitable Punishment
Author: Goneagall
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything connected with it, at least I don't think I do. I'm just borrowing these chatacters for my own naughty purposes.
Summary: HP,SS, DM and MMG are sent to a two-week camp as a punishment. Harry is hurt and doesn't want to show it. HP/DM pre-slash.
Note: I'm just writing this 'cause this idea of these four trapped in the forest together wouldn't leave me alone, and because I'm experiencing a writer's block in Nocturne. Well, not exactly a writer's block, but rather a lack of time to write it down. It's not very satisfying to write when there's always someone asking something..I'll bless the day I'll get my own apartment!!
Chapter 1 The Discussion
It was with some amount of trepidation Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape, both respected professors of the Hogwarts faculty ascended the stairs to Albus Dumbledore's study. Albus didn't usually ask to see them together – or before the breakfast at that – so this had to be something different. They stopped before the wooden oak door, eyed it and then looked at each other. The look on Severus's dark eyes was challenging: 'you first'. They were teachers, but they were also from different houses. Before either one of them could reach for the door, Dumbledore's voice boomed from the inside: "The door's open, just step in."
Minerva and Severus entered the office to find a smiling, benign-looking Dumbledore offering them sweets and chamomile tea. Then again, that was just what Albus always looked like, Minerva reflected. And she didn't trust that twinkling gaze at all.
"So, Albus. I don't think you have summoned us here just to enjoy a cup of tea with us", Severus asked. With Albus Severus came very close to being almost pleasant, and only to Minerva and Albus he was almost polite. Minerva knew that the sour look was an integral part of Severus. It was really rather hard to discern the difference between Severus's cover and his inner self. And sometimes the man could be a real pain in the….
"Indeed, Severus, that was not my plan, as pleasant as it is to have a cup of tea with you two." The blue eyes blinked and turned more somber. " I am sure you have noticed the unusual amount of fights, insult competitions and pranks between Gryffindor and Slytherin?"
So that was what this was about, Minerva thought. "We have, Albus. It's almost if Gryffindors are reacting to the return of You-Know-Who by blaming it all on Slytherins. I have had to separate four fights and send eight people to the hospital wing. And to think that school only started three days ago!"
" That could be it, but I would be inclined to think that your precious Gryffindors are just being their obnoxious selves and attacking everything before thinking first", Severus countered.
"Yes, but * your * students have been acting no different. They are always eager to start a fight!"
"Maybe you shouldn't judge them by what house they are in, Minerva. They are normal students and children. And your Golden Boy, Potter, started a fight with Malfoy yesterday in my class, earning him a detention!"
"I am not judging them by what house they are in, but this has got to stop. No one can get any work done from their fighting anymore."
"Well, yes", Albus broke their argument. "That is what I wanted to talk to you. It seems that the students are reacting to what happened at the end of last year" – everyone cringed at the mention of the TriWizard Tpurnament – "and doing something to ease the tension. Every house has reacted in its own way, but I have to say that this…competition between the two houses is going too far." Dumbledore's eyes had acquired their twinkle back, and Minerva braced herself, waiting for the solution, which was bound to be at least interesting, if not requiring at least some amount of bending from her part.
"I have therefore decided to implement a punishment for the two houses. As I know it's somewhat an empty threat to punish the students, I have gotten a better idea." At this point, Dumbledore paused, letting his words sink in. Minerva gasped. " NO, Albus, that is out of question. Absolutely not, I will NOT agree with this!"
Severus regarded them with a questioning look. "What is going on? What do you mean you won't punish the students?"
Albus smiled. "Ah, Severus. I will punish the Heads of the Houses instead."
"WHAT?", Severus bellowed. "You – you can't do that!"
"I can, my dear Severus. As the Heads of the Houses in question, you two and two students, one from each house, will be sent to a 'Make Peace or Die'-camp. I dubbed it myself, do you like it?"
"Albus, that is..we can't..Where will we be sent?", Minerva asked. She had somehow adapted to this idea. The students might actually complu to rules, if their teachers were punished instead.
"Don't say you've already accepted this foolishness, Minerva", Severus asked astounded.
"I will not ask you, I order you! Now, there are some rules I would like to make clear." Albus placed his hands, palms down, on the table. "You will each choose one student from your House to go with you. You will hand me your wands as you leave, as you are not permitted to use any magic. You will trek through the Forbidden Forest, spend a night in the Forest and the next day trek to the cottage I will prepare you. During this journey you will be forced to cooperate. You, as teachers, are not allowed to give or take any House points. The students will study the lessons they miss on their own. In the cottage you can contact me through the fireplace. The camp will take two weeks, and I expect lesson plans to the lessons you will miss to my desk. The student who accepts these conditions will receive fifty points to his or hers House. Bring the student you will choose to my office at lunchtime, and we will discuss the conditions with them." Albus's eyes twinkled. "Now, any questions?"
"No", Severus said stiffly. "If you'll excuse me, I have got a lesson to give." With that he swept from the room.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Albus?", Minerva asked.
"I do, Minerva, don't you worry. Now, why don't we go and have some breakfast?"
**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**
Harry was murderously angry. They had had Care of Magical Creatures, and Draco Malfoy had been his own usual self. Before the lesson had been over, they had started to fight . The fight hadn't even properly begun, when Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape had yelled them to stop immediately. After that they had been walked after the teachers through hallways and staircases, towards Dumbledore's office. Harry was angry because the fight with Malfoy had opened the barely-healed wounds in his back. He could feel blood sticking to his shirt, and knew that he'd have to take a shower.
They ascended the stairs and after Dumbledore called them in, Snape ushered them in. They sat on the chairs offered to them and shared a brief look. This couldn't be about them fighting, could it? Harry swiped his bloody lip, waiting for someone to say something.
"So, boys." Dumbledore paused and considered them quietly. "Your Heads of Houses have chosen each one of you to represent your House."
**-**-**-**-**-**-**
Half an hour later it was two very sour-looking students leaving the Headmaster's office. A survival camp? With two teachers and their worst enemy? Life just couldn't be any better. Harry cursed his stupid pride, for taking Malfoy's bait about him being a coward. He had decided to say 'no', and then Malfoy had had to make that remark. Now he needed to go pack his bag with everything they had been told to bring with them. The school would provide the rest.
And speaking of providing, Hermione would need to help him with his back. He wouldn't be able to walk with a heavy rucksack otherwise, because the wounds would just keep opening. And he'd need to change and bathe unseen, for Draco Malfoy, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall were the last people Harry wanted to know that his summer had been less than nice. It had bordered on being the most horrible yet. And when he had come back to Hogwarts, he'd had to tell his best friends what had happened during the summer, people had treated him as if he was made of glass and the lessons were harder than ever. Even Ron had had to do some work.
//My pride got me stuck, so my pride's going to get me out of this. I just hope we don't have to catch our food, 'cause I won't be any help in that.//, Harry thought.
**-**-**-**-**
TBC tomorrow, I've got the next chapter written.
Author: Goneagall
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything connected with it, at least I don't think I do. I'm just borrowing these chatacters for my own naughty purposes.
Summary: HP,SS, DM and MMG are sent to a two-week camp as a punishment. Harry is hurt and doesn't want to show it. HP/DM pre-slash.
Note: I'm just writing this 'cause this idea of these four trapped in the forest together wouldn't leave me alone, and because I'm experiencing a writer's block in Nocturne. Well, not exactly a writer's block, but rather a lack of time to write it down. It's not very satisfying to write when there's always someone asking something..I'll bless the day I'll get my own apartment!!
Chapter 1 The Discussion
It was with some amount of trepidation Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape, both respected professors of the Hogwarts faculty ascended the stairs to Albus Dumbledore's study. Albus didn't usually ask to see them together – or before the breakfast at that – so this had to be something different. They stopped before the wooden oak door, eyed it and then looked at each other. The look on Severus's dark eyes was challenging: 'you first'. They were teachers, but they were also from different houses. Before either one of them could reach for the door, Dumbledore's voice boomed from the inside: "The door's open, just step in."
Minerva and Severus entered the office to find a smiling, benign-looking Dumbledore offering them sweets and chamomile tea. Then again, that was just what Albus always looked like, Minerva reflected. And she didn't trust that twinkling gaze at all.
"So, Albus. I don't think you have summoned us here just to enjoy a cup of tea with us", Severus asked. With Albus Severus came very close to being almost pleasant, and only to Minerva and Albus he was almost polite. Minerva knew that the sour look was an integral part of Severus. It was really rather hard to discern the difference between Severus's cover and his inner self. And sometimes the man could be a real pain in the….
"Indeed, Severus, that was not my plan, as pleasant as it is to have a cup of tea with you two." The blue eyes blinked and turned more somber. " I am sure you have noticed the unusual amount of fights, insult competitions and pranks between Gryffindor and Slytherin?"
So that was what this was about, Minerva thought. "We have, Albus. It's almost if Gryffindors are reacting to the return of You-Know-Who by blaming it all on Slytherins. I have had to separate four fights and send eight people to the hospital wing. And to think that school only started three days ago!"
" That could be it, but I would be inclined to think that your precious Gryffindors are just being their obnoxious selves and attacking everything before thinking first", Severus countered.
"Yes, but * your * students have been acting no different. They are always eager to start a fight!"
"Maybe you shouldn't judge them by what house they are in, Minerva. They are normal students and children. And your Golden Boy, Potter, started a fight with Malfoy yesterday in my class, earning him a detention!"
"I am not judging them by what house they are in, but this has got to stop. No one can get any work done from their fighting anymore."
"Well, yes", Albus broke their argument. "That is what I wanted to talk to you. It seems that the students are reacting to what happened at the end of last year" – everyone cringed at the mention of the TriWizard Tpurnament – "and doing something to ease the tension. Every house has reacted in its own way, but I have to say that this…competition between the two houses is going too far." Dumbledore's eyes had acquired their twinkle back, and Minerva braced herself, waiting for the solution, which was bound to be at least interesting, if not requiring at least some amount of bending from her part.
"I have therefore decided to implement a punishment for the two houses. As I know it's somewhat an empty threat to punish the students, I have gotten a better idea." At this point, Dumbledore paused, letting his words sink in. Minerva gasped. " NO, Albus, that is out of question. Absolutely not, I will NOT agree with this!"
Severus regarded them with a questioning look. "What is going on? What do you mean you won't punish the students?"
Albus smiled. "Ah, Severus. I will punish the Heads of the Houses instead."
"WHAT?", Severus bellowed. "You – you can't do that!"
"I can, my dear Severus. As the Heads of the Houses in question, you two and two students, one from each house, will be sent to a 'Make Peace or Die'-camp. I dubbed it myself, do you like it?"
"Albus, that is..we can't..Where will we be sent?", Minerva asked. She had somehow adapted to this idea. The students might actually complu to rules, if their teachers were punished instead.
"Don't say you've already accepted this foolishness, Minerva", Severus asked astounded.
"I will not ask you, I order you! Now, there are some rules I would like to make clear." Albus placed his hands, palms down, on the table. "You will each choose one student from your House to go with you. You will hand me your wands as you leave, as you are not permitted to use any magic. You will trek through the Forbidden Forest, spend a night in the Forest and the next day trek to the cottage I will prepare you. During this journey you will be forced to cooperate. You, as teachers, are not allowed to give or take any House points. The students will study the lessons they miss on their own. In the cottage you can contact me through the fireplace. The camp will take two weeks, and I expect lesson plans to the lessons you will miss to my desk. The student who accepts these conditions will receive fifty points to his or hers House. Bring the student you will choose to my office at lunchtime, and we will discuss the conditions with them." Albus's eyes twinkled. "Now, any questions?"
"No", Severus said stiffly. "If you'll excuse me, I have got a lesson to give." With that he swept from the room.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Albus?", Minerva asked.
"I do, Minerva, don't you worry. Now, why don't we go and have some breakfast?"
**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**
Harry was murderously angry. They had had Care of Magical Creatures, and Draco Malfoy had been his own usual self. Before the lesson had been over, they had started to fight . The fight hadn't even properly begun, when Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape had yelled them to stop immediately. After that they had been walked after the teachers through hallways and staircases, towards Dumbledore's office. Harry was angry because the fight with Malfoy had opened the barely-healed wounds in his back. He could feel blood sticking to his shirt, and knew that he'd have to take a shower.
They ascended the stairs and after Dumbledore called them in, Snape ushered them in. They sat on the chairs offered to them and shared a brief look. This couldn't be about them fighting, could it? Harry swiped his bloody lip, waiting for someone to say something.
"So, boys." Dumbledore paused and considered them quietly. "Your Heads of Houses have chosen each one of you to represent your House."
**-**-**-**-**-**-**
Half an hour later it was two very sour-looking students leaving the Headmaster's office. A survival camp? With two teachers and their worst enemy? Life just couldn't be any better. Harry cursed his stupid pride, for taking Malfoy's bait about him being a coward. He had decided to say 'no', and then Malfoy had had to make that remark. Now he needed to go pack his bag with everything they had been told to bring with them. The school would provide the rest.
And speaking of providing, Hermione would need to help him with his back. He wouldn't be able to walk with a heavy rucksack otherwise, because the wounds would just keep opening. And he'd need to change and bathe unseen, for Draco Malfoy, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall were the last people Harry wanted to know that his summer had been less than nice. It had bordered on being the most horrible yet. And when he had come back to Hogwarts, he'd had to tell his best friends what had happened during the summer, people had treated him as if he was made of glass and the lessons were harder than ever. Even Ron had had to do some work.
//My pride got me stuck, so my pride's going to get me out of this. I just hope we don't have to catch our food, 'cause I won't be any help in that.//, Harry thought.
**-**-**-**-**
TBC tomorrow, I've got the next chapter written.