A Suitable Punishment
1 Author: Goneagall
Email: goneagall@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Summary+Disclaimer in the first chapter
**-**-**-**-**-**
Chapter 2: A Beautiful Day
The morning was beautiful. The birds were making a racket in the trees, the sun was shining brightly and the student-body of Hogwarts was standing on the green grass of Hogwarts, saying goodbye to their punished teachers and the two students, who looked like they had rather been anywhere else. Hermione hugged Harry, Ron enveloped him in a half-hug and they both wished him luck. They also told him to take it easy, which made the two professors going along raise their eyebrows.
Everyone was bidding their goodbyes for a while, and finally Dumbledore announced that it was time for the punished to leave. The students had actually looked chastised when they'd been told that their teachers and two classmates would be punished. At least the constant fighting had ceased, much to the relief of Madam Pomfrey, who hadn't had a peaceful day since the school had begun. And so, with the whole school cheering at them, they entered the Forest.
They were all attired in muggle-style clothing. Harry had his old jeans with ripped knees, Dudley's old, dark green T-shirt and off-white sweater on top of it. his ratty sneakers completed the look. He swung his back onto his back and waved to Ron and Hermione. His clothing looked old and used compared to Malfoy's brand new clothes, but at least he was comfortable. Malfoy looked like he had never worn muggle clothes before.The teachers, however, didn't look very comfortable. They hadn't quite grasped the idea of muggle clothing, and to any muggle the teachers' attire would have looked weird. Professor Snape was dressed in black – what a surprise, Harry thought – and Professor McGonagall had very odd, wide pants and a hat that might have looked like a fishing net with a bit of imagination.
**-**-**-**-**-**-**
After six hours of walking through the gradually densing forest, Harry was ready to collapse. It was six in the evening and there was still several hours of light. His back was killing him and he was sweating. He'd shed the sweater, tying it around his waist. Malfoy was pink from the exercise and had also shed his outer shirt. The teachers were puffing and sniping at each other, as were Harry and Malfoy. They were insulting each other mercilessly while trying to avoid tripping over tree roots.
The teachers stopped to look around the clearing they had reached.
"We should propably eat something now, before we enter that darker part", Professor Snape said, rummaging in his back for food.
"We need to cater some wood", Professor McGonagall said. "We don't have anything that could be eaten without preparing, so Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter, go get some wood for the fire."
Harry and Malfoy separated and went to collect the wood. Harry bent and picked some dry logs and twigs in his arms and went back to the clearing only to find out that Malfoy had already arrived, with an armfull of wet logs.
"You can't light a fire with those, Malfoy", Harry said dropping his pile on the ground.
"And what do you know about lighting fires, Potter", Malfoy sniped. "Oh yes", he continued with a sneer. "The famous Potter has to live with muggles. They propably take you camping, Potter, and teach you those camp tricks to keep as muggle-like as possible."
Harry glared at Malfoy, although somewhat amused at the same time. The Dursleys would never bring him with them to go camping. The Dursleys never went camping. "Shut up, ferret. I only used some logic. We can't use magic, as Dumbledore has our wands, and there's no way you can light wet wood, Malfoy." The look on Malfoy's face was angry. Professor Snape looked like he had eaten a lemon, but McGonagall was hiding a smile. //One-zero to Gryffindor//, Harry thought.
"Don't fight, boys. We still have several hours of walking in front of us", McGonagall said. "Now, lets start the fire."
**-**-**-**-**-**
Several hours later no one was fighting. They were all too tired, drunkenly walking forward in a haze. Harry needed to down a painkiller, for Hermione hadn't been able to heal him but had cast a Glamour instead. That way no one else could see the wounds. That didn't stop them from hurting, and every step he took was a little bit harder.
Finally they reached a small, secluded clearing with a stream flowing nearby. They all sat down on the ground, panting and groaning. Harry took his bag off and lay down on his back, kicking his shoes and socks away. Everyone looked like they could use a wash. Professor McGonagall's pants were strewn with mud, and Snape look a little less intimidating, all flushed and red.
"We should wash ourselves. The tent is magical, so it doesn't need any manual labour", McGonagall said. Harry forced himself to sitting position. "Do we need to make another fire, Professor?" He hoped they wouldn't have to, he was too tired to move.
"No, we've got the left-overs from the last stop. Severus, if you'll put the tent up, I'll get the food and the boys can go for a wash."
"Why do I have to do everything?", the Potions Master grumbled, standing up, but moving to the lump of cloth anyway.
Harry grinned tiredly, picked up his backbag and walking to the stream. He could feel Malfoy shuffling after him, complaining about the conditions, food, Harry… Harry paused at the stream and took his clothes off, not reacting to the comments. He stood only in his boxers, picked a towel, shampoo and soap from his bag and walked knee-deep into the water.
"Nice view, Potter. You really give new meaning to the word 'gangly', you know that?"
"Sod off, Malfoy, or wash yourself. We'll have to sleep in the same tent tonight." Harry was trying to forget that the water was freezing, making his teeth chatter. He took out the soap and washed himself, absently hearing Malfoy sloshing to the water to stand beside him.
"This is freezing! What are you, a snowman?", Malfoy screeched. Harry dug his head under the water and came out gasping. He applied shampoo in his hair. Malfoy was muttering and shivering next to him.
"Make room, you two", a dark voice said behind them. Harry whipped around, the shampoo and soap clouding his already demented eyesight. "Sure, Professor", Malfoy answered. They both moved to make room for the Professor.
It was odd, Harry reflected, to notice that even teachers had bodies. Snape didn't actually look that bad half naked, talking to Malfoy rather friendly and ignoring Harry. Well, you couldn't expect that a teacher who had always hated him would stop just because of a camp. Harry was very well aware that his own ribs could be counted, the result of Dudley's diet. It seemed to Harry that the only person who lost weight during the diets was he himself, while Dudley kept getting bigger and bigger. Harry took a deep breath and dove under the water, swirled his head around, rinsing the soap off.
After finishing drying off he changed into Dudley's old white-and-blue striped pajamas, three sizes too big for him. He liked them, however, because they were soft and warm, and especially now, when he was tired, hungry and cold, they were like a homecoming. Harry didn't bother combing his hair, because it wouldn't make any difference, deciding to ruffle it with the towel instead.
**-**-**-**-**-**-**
The clearing looked somewhat better, the tent and the bags in front of it creating a nice, homey atmosphere. Professor McGonagall was finishing her eating when Harry arrived in the clearing.
"Hello, Harry", she sid, smiling over her bowl.
"Hi, Professor. Can I have something to eat, too?"
"Sure." She handed him a bowl. " Severus and I decided that we should decide the sleeping arrangements by drawing a name. The tent is quite an ordinary muggle tent inside, and there's not very much room", she explained.
"Sure, Professor." Harry shoveled the potato mush inside his mouth.
"I'm going to go for a wash a little further down the river, Harry. You stay here, all right?"
"Yes, Professor."
As soon as she had disappeared from his eyes, Harry dug out the bottle of Aspirin and downed two of them, hiding the bottle as soon as he had gotten the pills out. Now he only had to sit and wait for the two Slytherins to appear. //They're propably scheming something evil//
TBC…..Next Chapter: The shrinking tent
R&R, please. Constructive criticism appreciated, flames sent just for the sake of flaming will be prepared for dinner and eaten.
1 Author: Goneagall
Email: goneagall@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Summary+Disclaimer in the first chapter
**-**-**-**-**-**
Chapter 2: A Beautiful Day
The morning was beautiful. The birds were making a racket in the trees, the sun was shining brightly and the student-body of Hogwarts was standing on the green grass of Hogwarts, saying goodbye to their punished teachers and the two students, who looked like they had rather been anywhere else. Hermione hugged Harry, Ron enveloped him in a half-hug and they both wished him luck. They also told him to take it easy, which made the two professors going along raise their eyebrows.
Everyone was bidding their goodbyes for a while, and finally Dumbledore announced that it was time for the punished to leave. The students had actually looked chastised when they'd been told that their teachers and two classmates would be punished. At least the constant fighting had ceased, much to the relief of Madam Pomfrey, who hadn't had a peaceful day since the school had begun. And so, with the whole school cheering at them, they entered the Forest.
They were all attired in muggle-style clothing. Harry had his old jeans with ripped knees, Dudley's old, dark green T-shirt and off-white sweater on top of it. his ratty sneakers completed the look. He swung his back onto his back and waved to Ron and Hermione. His clothing looked old and used compared to Malfoy's brand new clothes, but at least he was comfortable. Malfoy looked like he had never worn muggle clothes before.The teachers, however, didn't look very comfortable. They hadn't quite grasped the idea of muggle clothing, and to any muggle the teachers' attire would have looked weird. Professor Snape was dressed in black – what a surprise, Harry thought – and Professor McGonagall had very odd, wide pants and a hat that might have looked like a fishing net with a bit of imagination.
**-**-**-**-**-**-**
After six hours of walking through the gradually densing forest, Harry was ready to collapse. It was six in the evening and there was still several hours of light. His back was killing him and he was sweating. He'd shed the sweater, tying it around his waist. Malfoy was pink from the exercise and had also shed his outer shirt. The teachers were puffing and sniping at each other, as were Harry and Malfoy. They were insulting each other mercilessly while trying to avoid tripping over tree roots.
The teachers stopped to look around the clearing they had reached.
"We should propably eat something now, before we enter that darker part", Professor Snape said, rummaging in his back for food.
"We need to cater some wood", Professor McGonagall said. "We don't have anything that could be eaten without preparing, so Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter, go get some wood for the fire."
Harry and Malfoy separated and went to collect the wood. Harry bent and picked some dry logs and twigs in his arms and went back to the clearing only to find out that Malfoy had already arrived, with an armfull of wet logs.
"You can't light a fire with those, Malfoy", Harry said dropping his pile on the ground.
"And what do you know about lighting fires, Potter", Malfoy sniped. "Oh yes", he continued with a sneer. "The famous Potter has to live with muggles. They propably take you camping, Potter, and teach you those camp tricks to keep as muggle-like as possible."
Harry glared at Malfoy, although somewhat amused at the same time. The Dursleys would never bring him with them to go camping. The Dursleys never went camping. "Shut up, ferret. I only used some logic. We can't use magic, as Dumbledore has our wands, and there's no way you can light wet wood, Malfoy." The look on Malfoy's face was angry. Professor Snape looked like he had eaten a lemon, but McGonagall was hiding a smile. //One-zero to Gryffindor//, Harry thought.
"Don't fight, boys. We still have several hours of walking in front of us", McGonagall said. "Now, lets start the fire."
**-**-**-**-**-**
Several hours later no one was fighting. They were all too tired, drunkenly walking forward in a haze. Harry needed to down a painkiller, for Hermione hadn't been able to heal him but had cast a Glamour instead. That way no one else could see the wounds. That didn't stop them from hurting, and every step he took was a little bit harder.
Finally they reached a small, secluded clearing with a stream flowing nearby. They all sat down on the ground, panting and groaning. Harry took his bag off and lay down on his back, kicking his shoes and socks away. Everyone looked like they could use a wash. Professor McGonagall's pants were strewn with mud, and Snape look a little less intimidating, all flushed and red.
"We should wash ourselves. The tent is magical, so it doesn't need any manual labour", McGonagall said. Harry forced himself to sitting position. "Do we need to make another fire, Professor?" He hoped they wouldn't have to, he was too tired to move.
"No, we've got the left-overs from the last stop. Severus, if you'll put the tent up, I'll get the food and the boys can go for a wash."
"Why do I have to do everything?", the Potions Master grumbled, standing up, but moving to the lump of cloth anyway.
Harry grinned tiredly, picked up his backbag and walking to the stream. He could feel Malfoy shuffling after him, complaining about the conditions, food, Harry… Harry paused at the stream and took his clothes off, not reacting to the comments. He stood only in his boxers, picked a towel, shampoo and soap from his bag and walked knee-deep into the water.
"Nice view, Potter. You really give new meaning to the word 'gangly', you know that?"
"Sod off, Malfoy, or wash yourself. We'll have to sleep in the same tent tonight." Harry was trying to forget that the water was freezing, making his teeth chatter. He took out the soap and washed himself, absently hearing Malfoy sloshing to the water to stand beside him.
"This is freezing! What are you, a snowman?", Malfoy screeched. Harry dug his head under the water and came out gasping. He applied shampoo in his hair. Malfoy was muttering and shivering next to him.
"Make room, you two", a dark voice said behind them. Harry whipped around, the shampoo and soap clouding his already demented eyesight. "Sure, Professor", Malfoy answered. They both moved to make room for the Professor.
It was odd, Harry reflected, to notice that even teachers had bodies. Snape didn't actually look that bad half naked, talking to Malfoy rather friendly and ignoring Harry. Well, you couldn't expect that a teacher who had always hated him would stop just because of a camp. Harry was very well aware that his own ribs could be counted, the result of Dudley's diet. It seemed to Harry that the only person who lost weight during the diets was he himself, while Dudley kept getting bigger and bigger. Harry took a deep breath and dove under the water, swirled his head around, rinsing the soap off.
After finishing drying off he changed into Dudley's old white-and-blue striped pajamas, three sizes too big for him. He liked them, however, because they were soft and warm, and especially now, when he was tired, hungry and cold, they were like a homecoming. Harry didn't bother combing his hair, because it wouldn't make any difference, deciding to ruffle it with the towel instead.
**-**-**-**-**-**-**
The clearing looked somewhat better, the tent and the bags in front of it creating a nice, homey atmosphere. Professor McGonagall was finishing her eating when Harry arrived in the clearing.
"Hello, Harry", she sid, smiling over her bowl.
"Hi, Professor. Can I have something to eat, too?"
"Sure." She handed him a bowl. " Severus and I decided that we should decide the sleeping arrangements by drawing a name. The tent is quite an ordinary muggle tent inside, and there's not very much room", she explained.
"Sure, Professor." Harry shoveled the potato mush inside his mouth.
"I'm going to go for a wash a little further down the river, Harry. You stay here, all right?"
"Yes, Professor."
As soon as she had disappeared from his eyes, Harry dug out the bottle of Aspirin and downed two of them, hiding the bottle as soon as he had gotten the pills out. Now he only had to sit and wait for the two Slytherins to appear. //They're propably scheming something evil//
TBC…..Next Chapter: The shrinking tent
R&R, please. Constructive criticism appreciated, flames sent just for the sake of flaming will be prepared for dinner and eaten.