Disclaimer: Ditto

Chapter 7

The weather the following day turned out to be just as nice if not better than the day before, and
Hermione and Julius sat in the Quidditch stands as they both watched Ron and Harry soaring above, practicing their technique yet again. (Hermione swore hell would freeze over the day Harry and Ron stopped eating, sleeping and breathing Quidditch.)

"Are you sure you're comfortable?" Julius inquired, gesturing to Hermione's wrapped ankle that was propped up on one of the lower benches. Ron had offered to take her for a ride on his broom the day before, promising to take it easy, aware that Hermione was nervous about flying. Unfortunately, he was distracted by a group of jeering Slytherins, and while berating them, nearly flew into the stands. He tried to correct himself, but the sharp turn caught Hermione by surprise and she fell, luckily only a few meters. "Can I get you anything?"

Hermione smiled, glad to have some company as she watched Harry make a rather difficult score through Ron's centre hoop. "I'm fine, really, Julius. I just feel bad that you're sitting here with me."

He looked at her quizzically, propping his elbow onto a bench behind them and resting his head upon his hand, "Want to get rid of me already?" he replied with a mock frown. "Gee, thanks."

She pushed him lightly in the shoulder, her brown eyes glinting as she laughed. "You know what I mean. You should be up there; you know you want to. Or do you only fly when you have a bunch of girls waving blue banners in your face, screaming your name?"

A bright shade of pink infused his cheeks as he smiled abashedly, "You saw that, huh? I wanted to die… really."

"Sure you did," Hermione returned tauntingly, not convinced in the least, watching Ron begin down the other end of the pitch, zooming towards Harry's goal with the Quaffle.

Sitting up in his seat, Julius playfully wrapped his arms about her waist, drawing her against him, smiling from behind, "So, are you going to dress up in Ravenclaw colours and come to cheer me on when we go against Hufflepuff in two weeks?"

Hermione blushed profusely, butterflies in her stomach as she answered shyly, "maybe", and then sat bolt upright, her eyes widening. "Ron, watch out!!"

Ron Weasley had apparently been watching the two students on the ground, his ears turning slightly red as Julius flirted with Hermione. For the second time in two days, he nearly crashed into a tower, but hearing Hermione's warning, pulled out just in the nick of time.

"What is up with you, Ron?" Harry called concernedly, urging his broom to glide nearer to his friend. "Your broom working alright?" knowing full well it wasn't the broom's fault.

"Uh… yeah," Ron answered, his eyes still hovering on the two friends below. Lifting his gaze back to Harry, he added, "thought I saw a stray Snitch flying about, that's all."

As the four students made their way back up the hill towards the castle for dinner, Ron and Harry hung back a couple of steps from the other two who seemed to be getting along quite well by themselves. Julius had his arm about Hermione's waist as he helped his injured friend traverse the long walk to the school. Ron passed Harry a few meaningful glances to which Harry just shrugged in return.

The Hall was already packed with students, and the accompanying noise was nearly deafening as each tried to be heard over the next. Professor Snape stood just outside with Headmaster Dumbledore, talking quietly, as the four passed before them into the Great Hall. At the sight of Julius's arm about Miss Granger, Snape raised a dark curious brow, and adjusted his position so that he could watch his son carefully aid the Gryffindor into her seat. Things are getting out of hand, he thought to himself. Really, why of all houses a goody-goody Gryffindor?

Their entrance had not gone unnoticed by Draco Malfoy either, who stood just inside the doorway, oblivious to the fact that he was in Snape's line of sight. "Hey Casa-snivella," Malfoy quipped at Julius as he moved towards the Ravenclaw table, "cry much for your mummy today? I heard you were squealing like a pig for her last night. Was your mum a big fat sow?"

Before Malfoy had even finished the words, Julius had his wand drawn, and advanced towards the boy, grabbing the front of his robe in his fist. With a jerk, he pulled Malfoy within inches of his face, his wand pointed at the suddenly alarmed Malfoy's neck, under his chin. Draco was stiff as a board in fright, feeling the wand tip jabbing his throat. Trembling with anger, Julius grated (his voice suddenly sounding very much like his father's), "If you ever…"

But he was unable to complete his threat, as at that moment, Professor Snape pulled them apart and thrust them out into the corridor, sending them both stumbling. "Expelliarmus!" Snape exclaimed, pointing his own wand towards Julius, catching the boy's now airborne ebony-wood wand in his spare hand, "What is going on here, Mr. Malfoy?" he asked furiously, having seen and heard the whole thing for himself.

Draco stared, shocked at his Head of House, surprised that he was the one Snape was rounding on. DeVere was the one who had been threatening him with a wand; he was the dangerous one. He stuttered a nonsensical reply, pointing a finger towards his opponent, "He…. He was… "

"Responding to a most disrespectful comment about his mother, I believe," finished Snape flatly. "Detention, Mr. Malfoy, my office, tomorrow night. Let us hope that maybe our time together will hammer some respect into your head for future use."

"Yes, sir," Draco whispered, in shock that he had actually received detention from Professor Snape. Quiescently, he made his way back into the hall which had grown very quiet with students craning their heads to see what was going on.

"Mr. DeVere," Snape now addressed the other party to the skirmish, his dark eyes taking in the defiant and proud figure before him. The boy was still flushed, his jaw set determinedly. "Fifty points will be deducted from Ravenclaw. No doubt, your mother would have been proud of you for standing up for her, but there are many more ways to do so than through the use of violence."

"Yes, sir, " Julius muttered tensely, and began his walk back into the hall.

"I believe this is yours? Mr. DeVere?" Snape inquired darkly, extending Julius's wand towards the boy, noting the wood curiously as it matched his own.

"Thank you, sir."

As Severus Snape sat within his study later that night, his mind could not help but reminisce upon the earlier events of the evening. For the first time, Snape had actually seen some of his own traits in the boy, the same attitude. He has my reflexes, my old charm, thinking of the way his son chivalrously escorted Miss Granger to her seat, and unfortunately, my temper, it seems. The corners of his lips turned upwards ever so slightly as he contemplated that. Perhaps there is hope for him yet.

A/N: A short chapter, but meaningful, I think. Severus is getting to know his son better and see something of himself, and Julius is getting more involved with... um... other characters. I enjoyed writing it.

Thanks again for the great reviews. Keep them coming, they really mean a lot and keep me on track. Cheers, Laurie