Title: Cruel Summer

Summary: see chapter one

Disclaimer: see chapter one

A/N: Any reviews are welcome, flames will be amusing

Now to my reviewers!!

Kaorethein: LOL I've never been either, they say it is fun.

Grand-Illusion: Thanks, I hope you enjoy this chapter, thanks for your words of encouragement

tigersmeleth: Just wait till you read this chapter snicker

Yulara: Yes the circus hehehehehe

Child-of-Darkness1988: Oh you will see ahem

aquitaineq: np, np hope you enjoy this chapter

opal: The circus shall be amusing to say the least

ShadowedHand: Ohhhhhhhhhh yes

Read300300: oh yes wait till you see the clowns, snicker

HecateDeMort: thanks again!

barbarataku : I do hope you enjoy the chapter!!

Pure Black: An evil claown of course

athenakitty: Harry will recover in time, the circus will leave them all with a memory

rosiegirl: thanks! and this one IS longer wheee

Thanks to all my reviewers! You all are wonderful! I hope you enjoy this one! I know I cracked up writing it.

Chapter 18

Severus woke up the next day alone in the bed. He wondered where in the world Harry had gotten off to and had to mentally kick himself for not being more observant. His worries were soon sated as Harry came into the room already dressed.

"Get up Dad, we are going to be late."

Severus looked outside and saw the sun just coming up. "What time is it?"

"Just a little past seven. Now are you going to sleep all day or are we going?" Harry said impatience in his voice.

"Why is it you can not get up on time for class, but you can to go do something fun?" Severus said smirking as he rolled out of the bed.

"Dad it is just that I have never done anything fun exactly. I am excited. Haven't you ever been excited about anything?"

"Yes I do recall once I was very excited and the only time anyone has ever seen me look worried." Severus said enjoying the look of confusion on Harry's face. "That was the day you were born."

Harry hugged his father for he knew they had missed out on a lot of things together. He sat and waited while Severus went to the bathroom and got dressed, and then he stopped Severus as they were about to depart out the door. "Promise me that you and Sirius will not try to hex each other into oblivion"

"Harry a lifetime of animosity is hard to overcome in a couple of days but I shall try not to hex the mutt today."

Harry rolled his eyes and they both walked into the Great Hall where not only were Remus, and Sirius waiting but also Dumbledore. Harry wondered if the headmaster was also coming, and almost hoped he was to keep the peace.

"Professor Dumbledore will you be coming with us?" he finally asked not being able to hold back any longer.

"No Harry. I have simply brought you a portkey so you will not have to apparate." With this Dumbledore pulled from his robes a single yellow sock. All looked at it with distaste as it looked worn and quite dirty. "Ummm thanks Albus" came the reply from Remus as he looked at the offending object.

"I wish you all a good day, and do enjoy the clowns, they are some of my favorite things." Dumbledore said with a twinkle. Severus saw the rare smirk across his face, and was about to ask him what he meant when he felt the familiar tug at his navel, as Harry grabbed his hand and they were whisked away.

All four landed with a thud outside a huge tent. Remus and Harry got up and began to rub the dirt from their robes when Harry let out a groan. "We can't go inside looking like wizards. Please everyone could you put on muggle clothes?" Harry pleaded

"I do not wish to wear those hideous clothes again. Last time was an exception," Severus glared. He was not budging on the matter until he saw Harry's pleading green eyes staring up at him. "Fine," he relented and changed them all into tee shirts and jeans. No one was comfortable except for Harry who was used to wearing muggle clothes. Harry did get in a chuckle as he saw the other three pulling and tugging on their jeans.

They all saw Harry take off toward the big tent and ran after him checking to make sure they had there wands. "Wait up Harry!" came Remus' reply "Some of us aren't so young anymore."

Once inside Harry found them all seats, and he let out a gasp as the lights began to dim and a man dressed in an odd suit came out.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome! We are proud to present the first act The Fabulous Tumbling Trio!" As he said these words three people ran into the circle all dressed in lime green outfits. They all began to flip and twist into all kinds of shapes and the crowd Ooo and Ahhhed at their feats. Harry was jumping up and down in his seat as they finished. The next thing they heard was the announcer saying the clowns would be out in three minutes.

Severus turned to Harry "Are you thirsty, hungry?"

Harry was used to not eating or drinking for long periods of time and he had brought no money so he just looked at his father. "Umm, not really and besides we did not stop at Gringott's before we came. They do not take galleons here only pounds."

"I have acquired these pounds from the headmaster. He seemed to think ahead, and I shall give it to you as I have no idea as to the monetary value of it.

Harry took the money Sevrus had given him and his eyes gaped open. "Fifty pounds!" he exclaimed. "I do not need this much."

"Take it and bring us all back something then."

Harry left and was soon back with hotdogs for everyone and four colas as well. He handed the remainder of the money back to Severus and sat down not wanting to miss the clowns.

Remus and Sirius looked at the strange thing supposed to be food with brown stuff on it. "Is this eatable?"

"It is a hotdog, and yes you can eat it, and that is cola so drink up!" Harry said amazed at being able to have a hotdog before meal time.

In mere seconds the lights came on and around twenty people came out all dressed in white faces and bright odd clothes running into the arena. Many were falling down and tripping the others. Some squirted water from flowers on their lapels, and some were doing handstands. Harry despite himself was laughing so hard he almost choked on his food,. His eyes became round as saucers though, when one of the clowns came into the bleachers where they were sitting. The clown walked right up to Remus and Severus and seemed to be trying to decide who to approach. Severus reached for his wand getting ready to hex this thing into next year. The clown however turned away from the pair and Harry let out a sigh of relief.

"You weren't really going to hex them were you Dad?"

"I most certainly would have! I will not be dragged into this foolishness"

"Dad it is all in good fun. You really need to lighten up some."

"Yes Sev lighten up" Sirius snickered.

Severus turned and glared daggers at Sirius. "No one asked for your comments mutt." he spat. He then softened as he turned and looked at the grimace on Harry's face. How could he not at least try. He however could not bring himself to take back the comment.

The clowns were leaving and he breathed a sigh of relief as the next act was coming in. They were called a trapeze act and Severus wondered along with the others what that meant. They soon all found out as two of the three flew through the air from bar to bar. It seemed almost as if they had wings and even the wizards were amazed. Once again someone was coming into the crowd and this time they stopped in front of Severus. Harry gulped as the girl tried to pull Severus up by his arm and drag him into the circle below.

"Go one Sevie, go with the nice little lady. You aren't scared are you?" Sirius said holding his side as he laughed.

Severus turned to glare at Sirius, but he saw Harry looking at him expectingly. It was a new look on his son's face and he thought it was a look of pride. He would not let the mutt get to him. He would prove that he was no coward, and that he could do anything some muggle could do. He let himself be led up the ladder of rope and onto the small platform at the top. When he looked down he saw a net and sighed with relief.

Harry sat on the edge of his seat. He was worried and yet he was beaming that his father was atop the platform. Behind him Remus was holding his breath and even Sirius was wondering if the git would fall to his death. They all applauded as Severus was caught on the first pass over, but their attention became submerged as elephants were lead into the arena as well. Harry was glad when the elephants were halted until the performance on the trapeze was over.

Severus was smirking, he was sure that Sirius was praying he would have fallen, but he hadn't. He was about to do something the one girl had described as a double. He was supposed to swing over and then the girl at the other end was supposed to catch him. What Severus was not expecting was for the girl to catch him by his feet and he freaked out to say the least. He began to panic, and before he knew what was happening he was falling.

Harry was in shock his father was falling and he could do nothing to stop it. If he performed magic he would be expelled, so he looked to Remus. "Remus do something!" he yelled but it was too late. Remus had pulled his wand about the same time as Severus fell atop one of the elephants. This in turn scared the elephant who began to charge out of the arena. It was heading straight for the bleachers, and before Remus could hex it they all had to dive out of the way.

Severus' eyes were round as saucers. He for the first time in a long time was actually frightened. He had frozen when he saw the elephant charge directly to where his son was sitting. He had wanted to go for his wand but everytime he let go to get to it he almost fell. The elephant charged forward, and Severus sighed with relief as Harry and the others dived out of the way just in time.

Remus helped Harry up and Sirius got to his feet and followed the crowd of people who were rushing after the run away elephant. They did not have to run far to catch up as the elephant had gone back to his holding area and was rearing up because they were scaring her. Remus pulled his wand to stun the elephant and the elephant froze midway into the air. They only drawback was that Severus had rolled off the elephant's back and fallen into a very large pile of elephant droppings. Remus and Harry stared for just a second and then they followed Sirius as he fell to the ground laughing. The fearful potion's master covered in poo! It was too much, and they had tears rolling down their faces as he got up, spitting the foul taste from his lips.

Severus was not laughing however and turned his wand on Sirius. "You little mangy, lowlife" and before Sirius knew what hit him he was transformed into a chicken.

"Severus! You know Sirius has no wand, transform him back this instant!" Remus shouted. Harry on the other hand was frozen. They had just performed magic in front of at least fourty muggles, but thank goodness they thought it was part of the show. They had all clapped loudly as Sirius was returned back to his normal state, but Sirius was not so happy. He lunged for Severus and then both of them were rolling around on the ground. Fists flew and punches were heard. Harry wished for them to stop, he never wanted his father and godfather to fight, and tears were forming in his eyes. The crowd suddenly gasped and then the sounds of ewwwwww filled the air. As Harry and Remus stared the two fighting men rolled into the biggest pile of shit they had ever seen. Not wasting another moment Remus ran up to them grabbed the sock from Severus and they all portkeyed out of there fast.

The landing left something to be desired as the floor inside the hall was hard. All four landed in a pile with Harry and Remus slowly crawling away from the other two. Severus was about to jump Sirius again when Dumbledore came walking out of the Great Hall followed by Minerva.

"Did you enjoy your day out? he asked not yet reaching them. Minerva however put her hand to her nose.

"You...... you stink! You smell like something that crawled into a hole, rotted, and then died. Go bathe at once!" she said shooing them away from her and the entrance to the Great Hall.

They all got up and began walking off in seperate directions. Severus muttered to himself. This was not over, not by a long shot. The dog would get his. What he did not hear was the most regal headmaster giggling like a girl. Albus had fallen into a fit of laughter choking and gasping between snorts of, poo...Severus covered in poo... that was funny... his hair sticking up on his head as the turd fell off of it!" Minerva had not been much help either as she was also laughing while she tried to help the headmaster off the floor.

"Thank you," Dumbledore choked out between the giggles, he then snorted again. "Tomorrow is another day, and Harry has chosen to go to the mall. He then fell again into gasps of turds and poo and Severus and Sirius and had to be lead to his room. No one in Hogwarts would ever forget the sight.