Chapter 3 - A close call
"Why are you so tough on the boys?" Minerva knew that what they had done was extremely idiotic, had put the whole Wizarding world in danger and had given the already busy ministry of magic a lot of work to do, but she wasn't sure why Severus was pushing for Harry and Ron to be expelled; they aren't even in his house. She told herself. Then again everyone knew that the potions master hated Gryffindor as he was head of Slytherin, and there was a feud between the two houses for as long as anyone could remember.
"Because, they are more trouble than they are worth," He drawled "and I seem to be the only one who realises it."
Minerva rolled her eyes He seems to have forgotten that they saved the school last year. She let out a sigh as she thought about it.
"And no I haven't forgotten that they saved the school last year." He looked at Minerva through the corner of his eye while they walked and he noticed that her eyebrows raised as he mentioned last year.
Can he read minds? Minerva wondered. It wasn't the first time he'd made her think this. Severus opened his office door and Minerva followed him in. The boys were standing in the middle of the room, still in their muggle clothes, looking very worn and anxious. Minerva pointed her wand at the fireplace and flames erupted lighting up the dark room and casting dancing shadows on the wall.
"Sit," she paused waiting for them to take their seats "Explain." Ron launched into the story, starting with the barrier at the station refusing to let them through.
".So we had no choice, professor, we couldn't get on the train."
"Why didn't you send us a letter by owl? I believe you have an owl?" Minerva aimed her question at Harry who had remained quiet while Ron told them what happened.
"I-I didn't think-"
"that, is obvious" She said looking at him condescendingly. There was a knock at the door. Severus knew exactly who it was, and sure enough Dumbledore walked into his office, now looking more disappointed than angry. There was a long silence while Dumbledore looked from Harry to Ron and back again over his half-moon spectacles.
"Explain why you did this." Dumbledore said in a disappointment filled voice. Harry looked down and re-told how he and Ron had flown to the school.
"We'll go and get our stuff," Ron said before any of the professors could say anything.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Questioned Minerva.
"Well, your expelling us, aren't you?" Ron said rather pathetically.
"not today, Mr Weasley." Said Dumbledore. Severus' face fell "But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to both of your families tonight. I must also warn you that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."
"Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the decree for the restriction of underage wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree.surely acts of this nature." Severus replied extremely disappointed that he wouldn't be rid of the two troublesome boys.
"it will be for professor McGonagall to decide on these boys' punishments, Severus, They are in her house and are therefore her responsibility." Dumbledore said calmly the disappointment fading from his voice "I must go back to the feast, Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, There's a delicious- looking custard tart I wish to sample." Severus shot a look at Harry you may have gotten away lightly this time but I'll be there when you slip up again and you won't get away with it. He felt the hatred running through him as he looked at Harry, but allowed himself to be swept out of his office by Dumbledore.
"you'd better get along to the hospital wing, Weasley, your bleeding." Minerva said.
"Not much, professor, I wanted to see my sister being sorted-"
"The sorting ceremony is over, your sister is also in Gryffindor."
"oh good," Ron was visibly relieved.
"And speaking of Gryffindor-" Minerva started.
"Professor when we took the car term hadn't started , so-so Gryffindor shouldn't really have points taken from it, should it?" Harry interrupted
"I will not take any points from Gryffindor but you will both get a detention." Oh dear, they do have some cheek she thought and could feel herself laughing inside. She conjured a plate of sandwiches.
"You will eat in here and then go straight up to your dormitory, I must also return to the feast."
"Why are you so tough on the boys?" Minerva knew that what they had done was extremely idiotic, had put the whole Wizarding world in danger and had given the already busy ministry of magic a lot of work to do, but she wasn't sure why Severus was pushing for Harry and Ron to be expelled; they aren't even in his house. She told herself. Then again everyone knew that the potions master hated Gryffindor as he was head of Slytherin, and there was a feud between the two houses for as long as anyone could remember.
"Because, they are more trouble than they are worth," He drawled "and I seem to be the only one who realises it."
Minerva rolled her eyes He seems to have forgotten that they saved the school last year. She let out a sigh as she thought about it.
"And no I haven't forgotten that they saved the school last year." He looked at Minerva through the corner of his eye while they walked and he noticed that her eyebrows raised as he mentioned last year.
Can he read minds? Minerva wondered. It wasn't the first time he'd made her think this. Severus opened his office door and Minerva followed him in. The boys were standing in the middle of the room, still in their muggle clothes, looking very worn and anxious. Minerva pointed her wand at the fireplace and flames erupted lighting up the dark room and casting dancing shadows on the wall.
"Sit," she paused waiting for them to take their seats "Explain." Ron launched into the story, starting with the barrier at the station refusing to let them through.
".So we had no choice, professor, we couldn't get on the train."
"Why didn't you send us a letter by owl? I believe you have an owl?" Minerva aimed her question at Harry who had remained quiet while Ron told them what happened.
"I-I didn't think-"
"that, is obvious" She said looking at him condescendingly. There was a knock at the door. Severus knew exactly who it was, and sure enough Dumbledore walked into his office, now looking more disappointed than angry. There was a long silence while Dumbledore looked from Harry to Ron and back again over his half-moon spectacles.
"Explain why you did this." Dumbledore said in a disappointment filled voice. Harry looked down and re-told how he and Ron had flown to the school.
"We'll go and get our stuff," Ron said before any of the professors could say anything.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Questioned Minerva.
"Well, your expelling us, aren't you?" Ron said rather pathetically.
"not today, Mr Weasley." Said Dumbledore. Severus' face fell "But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to both of your families tonight. I must also warn you that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."
"Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the decree for the restriction of underage wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree.surely acts of this nature." Severus replied extremely disappointed that he wouldn't be rid of the two troublesome boys.
"it will be for professor McGonagall to decide on these boys' punishments, Severus, They are in her house and are therefore her responsibility." Dumbledore said calmly the disappointment fading from his voice "I must go back to the feast, Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, There's a delicious- looking custard tart I wish to sample." Severus shot a look at Harry you may have gotten away lightly this time but I'll be there when you slip up again and you won't get away with it. He felt the hatred running through him as he looked at Harry, but allowed himself to be swept out of his office by Dumbledore.
"you'd better get along to the hospital wing, Weasley, your bleeding." Minerva said.
"Not much, professor, I wanted to see my sister being sorted-"
"The sorting ceremony is over, your sister is also in Gryffindor."
"oh good," Ron was visibly relieved.
"And speaking of Gryffindor-" Minerva started.
"Professor when we took the car term hadn't started , so-so Gryffindor shouldn't really have points taken from it, should it?" Harry interrupted
"I will not take any points from Gryffindor but you will both get a detention." Oh dear, they do have some cheek she thought and could feel herself laughing inside. She conjured a plate of sandwiches.
"You will eat in here and then go straight up to your dormitory, I must also return to the feast."