Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

Harry and his friends walked alongside Sirius quietly as he led them inside the castle. Harry glanced up at his godfather's face and winced slightly. It was stern, which was not a usual look for him. "Sirius -" He started to say.

"Is that your dad's invisibility cloak?" Sirius asked in a hard voice.

Harry hugged the cloak tighter to himself, wishing he could disappear underneath it. "Yes." He whispered.

"Unbelievable, Harry," Sirius said as he took the cloak from him, shaking his head as they turned the corner and saw James and Lily anxiously waiting outside their quarters. "You really messed up, pup." He said with a sigh.

"Where was he?" James asked as soon as they approached them. Lily immediately pulled Harry in for a hug.

"At Hagrid's, with Ron, Hermione, and Draco." Sirius glanced at Harry and then back at James. "They watched a dragon's egg hatch."

"What?" Lily asked in alarm.

"Hagrid got one from a friend," Harry said softly. "He'd said he would let us watch when it was time to hatch."

"All of your professors and prefects are on alert that you are not to be without an escort," Lily said. "How did you get out without anyone seeing you?" She asked her son.

Harry stayed quiet.

Sirius cleared his throat. "Um, I think this is your answer." He held out the invisibility cloak.

James's face darkened. "This was in you're mother's and mine room," He said in a low voice as he took the cloak. "You took it?"

Harry gulped and nodded.

"Is this the first time you've used it?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

Harry looked down and shook his head.

James exhaled angrily and then gave Ron, Hermione, and Draco a disapproving look. "You were out after curfew, so fifty points will be taken from each of you. Including you, Harry."

"That's a hundred and fifty points from Gryffindor!" Ron burst out.

"Fifty points?" Draco's mouth dropped open.

"Draco, was anyone even aware that you weren't in your dorm?" Lily asked. She looked at Sirius. "Do Remus and Severus know?"

"I sent a message to Remus letting him know what happened, he's waiting for me to bring him Draco," Sirius said. "I'm sure Severus will hear about it first thing in the morning."

"I can't believe this," James said angrily as he glared at the pre-teens. "You know someone is out to hurt Harry. I doubt whoever it is would mind hurting you three either," James scolded. "You need to follow the rules for your safety. How could any of you possibly have believed this was a good idea?"

Hermione, Ron, and Draco looked ashamed.

"I'll walk them to the Tower and take Draco to Remus," Sirius said softly. The angry look he had had on his face disappeared and he now looked at Harry sympathetically.

James nodded stiffly. "Thank you, Sirius." He glared at his son. "You go sit on the sofa." He said in a low voice.

Harry bit his lip as he walked to the living room. He was so in for it.

After closing the door, he went and stood in front of his son. Lily stood next to him, a disappointed look on her face as she gazed at Harry.

"What were you thinking?" James asked, his hazel eyes hard. "No wait, you obviously weren't thinking at all!" He threw his hands up in frustration.

"You know we're trying to find whoever is trying to hurt you, sneaking out late at night is dangerous, especially when we don't know who is after you," Lily said, her voice calmer than her husband's.

"You also stole my cloak," James said through gritted teeth.

"I borrowed it," Harry said, wincing at how stupid that sounded.

"If you take it without asking, it is stealing," James said sharply. "You know better than that, Harry." He scolded.

"And watching a dragon hatch may seem exciting, but is very dangerous," Lily added. "It wouldn't take much for a baby dragon to set anything near it on fire. Especially in a hut made of wood."

"Apparently Hagrid wasn't thinking either," James muttered with a shake of his head. "I'm very disappointed in you, Harry. You don't want to be treated like a child yet you steal my cloak and sneak out, disregarding every rule put in place for your safety." He stared at Harry. "Well, I hope it was worth it. You can just stay down here instead of your dorm from now on, and you can count on plenty of detentions for you and your friends. And you will write either a punishment essay or do lines, I'll have to decide which one. Also, no more Quidditch for you."

Harry's eyes widened in shock. "But Dad -"

"Maybe when you are a second year, you can be on the team," James added. "We'll have to see."

"James," Lily spoke up.

"And you know what happens when you put safety at risk," James continued. "So go to your room and wait for me."

Tears filled Harry's eyes. "This isn't fair! I'm sorry I snuck out but you can't make me leave the dorms and take away Quidditch!"

"Don't tell me what I may or may not do," James snapped.

"You already took fifty points from me and my friends, are making me leave the Tower, write an essay, do lines, taking away Quidditch, giving me detentions, and giving me a spanking? It's not fair!" Harry shouted, the tears falling down his cheeks. He felt tired, guilty, and angry all at once and couldn't control his emotions.

"It's not fair that you disobeyed us!" James exploded.

"All right, that's enough!" Lily said firmly. "James, you and I need to discuss Harry's consequences. Together." She gave James a pointed look. "Harry, go to your room while we talk and get ready for bed. And think about what you did and why we are so upset. I would like your attitude to change as well," She added quietly.

Tears falling, Harry ran to his room and slammed his door shut.

"He is really asking for it," James muttered as he paced the room.

Lily crossed her arms. "Is there a reason you decided his punishment without me?"

"You disagree with me?" James asked in surprise.

"Yes. It's too much." Lily said.

"Too much? He snuck out of the castle! Someone is trying to kill him!" James exclaimed.

"I know that, James. But losing points, detentions, being banned from Quidditch, writing or doing lines, having to leave his dorm, and spanking him? I'm sorry, but it's too much. You can't decide on punishment when you are this angry. And you can't decide it on your own, we're a team." Lily said, her hands on her hips as she gave her husband a mild glare.

James shut his eyes for a moment and slowly nodded. "You're right." He sank into a chair and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm scared, Lily. Someone is trying to hurt our boy and I just want to protect him."

"So do I," Lily said softly. "He did wrong, he knows that. He needs to have consequences, I do agree with that. Your Gryffindors will notice the huge loss of points, and he and his friends will have to deal with their house-mates being upset about it." Even though it was deserved, she felt bad for Harry and his friends. But having to face their housemates is part of the consequence of losing points.

"Perhaps the points are enough for a school punishment," James admitted. "They don't need detentions on top of it."

"I do think writing an essay is a good idea," Lily said. "On dragons and the dangers of interacting with them. Perhaps we can contact Charlie and have him send Harry some information on it."

James nodded. "That's a good idea. And you're right, banning Harry from Quidditch for the rest of the year is too much. Although I'm afraid of him being targeted again." He admitted.

"We can take steps to prevent that," Lily assured him. "And Sirius and Remus will be watching for anything strange going on."

"I do want him to stay in our quarters," James said. "I don't trust that he won't sneak out again."

Lily nodded. "He stays here until he earns our trust back." She agreed.

"I am spanking him," James sighed. "He knows what happens when he puts himself in danger, plus he stole my cloak."

"Yes, I'm disappointed in his actions tonight," Lily said sadly. "And if it happens again, then I do agree with taking away Quidditch. But I'd like to give him one more chance."

James nodded. "I agree." He took a deep breath. "I better go deal with him. Good thing there are no classes tomorrow, he's going to be very tired."

Lily cast a Tempus, it was well after midnight. "We'll let him sleep in," She said softly. She gave James a hug. "I'll make us a nice breakfast and we'll eat here."

"Let me guess. Harry's favorite chocolate chip pancakes." James chuckled.

Lily shrugged. "Maybe." She answered with a smile. She couldn't help but do something to spoil Harry a little, despite everything he had done. She and James always hated to punish either of their children.

James went to Harry's room, his heart clenching when he saw his son huddled on his bed crying, already in his pajamas. "Harry, I'd like to speak with you." He said, closing the door and casting a silencing charm. When Harry didn't up look at him, he sat next to him, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Hey," He said softly. "Look at me, please."

Harry looked up, his eyes shiny and red from crying. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

James pulled him close to his side, hugging him. "I know." He said quietly. "I know you're sorry. But you know better, Harry. You know it was wrong to sneak out and steal my cloak."

Harry nodded, feeling ashamed.

"I know the new restrictions may seem overprotective but someone tried to seriously hurt you, or worse. They may try again. So why would you think it a good idea to sneak out of the castle at night?"

"I wanted to see the dragon hatch," Harry said softly.

"And that was more important than obeying your mother and me?" James asked in frustration. "More important than your safety?"

"No," Harry said unhappily. "I just wasn't thinking."

"Well, you better start thinking," James said sternly. "You need to make better decisions, Harry. As it is, until we think we can trust you not to sneak out, you will not return to the dorms. You will remain here, in our quarters."

"But -"

"Your friends can visit and study with you here," James continued. "I will allow you to play Quidditch but Merlin, Harry. If something like this happens again, I will remove you from the team. Am I understood?"

"Yes," Harry said softly.

"I won't assign detention to you and your friends," James said. "The loss of points still stands, however. And you will write an essay on dragons and the dangers of handling one."

Harry nodded, more tears filling his eyes. His housemates were going to be furious with them for losing so many points! He felt awful for letting his House down.

James reached out and gently took Harry's chin in his hand, making eye contact. "You do not take things that do not belong to you. Not without asking permission. I've let you and your sister play with that cloak at home, but what was the rule?"

"You and mum had to say it was okay and we had to be supervised," Harry said, his lower lip trembling a bit. He felt awful, he had really messed up. "I won't do it again." He whispered.

James smiled softly. "I know you won't." He let go of Harry's chin. "You broke the rules, put yourself in danger, and stole from me. I believe you know what the consequence for that will be."

"Do you have to?" Harry couldn't help but whine.

"Yes, I do," James said. He knew his son wouldn't believe him if he said it, but he hated punishing Harry as much as his son hated being punished. But he had to follow through on the consequences he set, for both his children. It would do them no favors if he did not follow through. "Come here, Harry. Let's get this over with." James held out his hand and after a moment, Harry took it and let his father arrange him over his lap.

HP

Harry sniffled and buried his face in his pillow. He was laying on his bed on his stomach, while his dad sat next to him, soothingly rubbing his back. His backside still throbbed and he couldn't stop crying. It had hurt, especially when his dad had summoned the ruler after baring his backside. It had the worst spanking he had ever received, thanks to that horrible ruler. But he wasn't only crying because of the punishment, he was crying because he felt guilty. His parents were disappointed in him, they didn't trust him, and now the Gryffindors were going to hate him and his friends for losing so many points. How could he have been so stupid to sneak out? Just to see a dragon.

"Harry," James said softly.

"M' sorry," Harry whispered.

"I know. Calm down, everything is going to be okay." James said soothingly.

"No, it's not. The Gryffindors are going to hate me, you and mum hate me and -"

"Your mother and I do not hate you, do not say that again!" James said sharply. "We're disappointed in your actions, yes, but we love you."

"You don't trust me now," Harry said sadly.

"We don't trust that you will be able to resist your impulsive nature and sneak out," James said carefully. "You can earn that trust back by obeying the rules. Harry, I would have snuck out to see a dragon hatching when I was in school. I can understand you doing it and if things were different, I wouldn't be as upset about it. But someone is after you, to hurt you. That means you have to be extra careful and even though it seems unfair, you can't have the same freedom as the other students."

Harry sat up and hugged his dad. "I'll earn back your trust." He promised. He would be extra good and make his parents proud of him again.

James put his arms around him, kissing the top of his head. "I know you will."

HP

Remus had been relieved when he received the message Harry had been found safe but then shocked to find out Draco had been out of the castle as well. He waited outside his quarters for Sirius to bring Draco to him. What in Merlin's name had the children been doing out of the castle after midnight? He felt relief when he saw his friend walking towards him with Draco trailing behind him.

"Here's the delinquent," Sirius joked, pushing Draco forward.

Draco looked up at Remus's angry face and then looked away, feeling ashamed. Remus was pretty easygoing and didn't get angry easily. But he could tell his stepfather was really upset by the look in his eyes.

Remus took a deep breath. "Draco, go wait for me in your room." He said. After receiving his own quarters, he had made one of the rooms into one for Draco. "I can't believe these kids." He said to Sirius once Draco had gone inside.

"I know, I'm upset too," Sirius admitted. "I mean, it's not like we didn't do stuff like this in school but with someone after Harry..."

"We're lucky they weren't harmed," Remus said with a shake of his head. "Thanks for bringing Draco to me."

"No problem. I've been delivering all the naughty kids," Sirius said ruefully. "Hermione and Ron were immediately lectured by Percy and Harry, well. I've never seen James and Lily so upset."

"I don't blame them, I'm pretty upset myself," Remus said. "I didn't even realize Draco wasn't in the dungeons!"

"Yeah, I don't know how they -" Sirius paused and his face darkened. "Harry borrowed my two-way mirrors the other day. That must be how they contacted Draco about Norbert."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Norbert." He sighed. "Only Hagrid, I suppose. I better go deal with my son."

"Don't be too hard on him," Sirius said. "The lure of sneaking out is hard to pass up."

"It always was for you," Remus laughed.

HP

After Sirius left, Remus went directly to Draco's room and regarded his son sternly. "Why did you break curfew and sneak out?"

"I overheard Harry and the others talking about going to see the dragon egg hatch. I wanted to see it too." Draco said.

Remus shook his head. "Your head of house will deal with the school side of things. I'm sure Severus will have plenty to say about it and I wouldn't be at all surprised if you lose points and get detention. You snuck out of the castle, at midnight no less! I told you that you need to be careful. Someone is after Harry and they could use any of his friends to get to him. You put yourself in danger!"

"I didn't think about that," Draco said unhappily.

"Obviously," Remus regarded him sternly.

"Am I getting a smacking?" Draco asked quietly. Remus had only ever done it once, last year when he had picked up Remus's wand, and waved it around. He had accidentally caused a blast, creating a hole in one of the walls. Both Remus and his mother had been furious as they had told him he was not to touch their wands, and that he could have seriously hurt himself.

Remus sighed. "Yes, you've earned one. And I think I will have you help me out in the library a few evenings a week."

"Like a detention?" Draco asked.

Remus smiled ruefully. "I suppose so, in a way." Really, he just wanted to spend more time with Draco and if he was with him, he didn't have to worry about any mischief he could be getting into. "I won't ever tolerate you putting yourself at risk, you're too important to me and your mother. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Dad," Draco said. He bit his lip. "Is it okay if I call you that?" He asked.

Remus felt his heart swell at hearing Draco call him dad. "Of course, it is," He said warmly. "I'm honored that you want to. You know I completely think of you as my son. Right?"

Draco nodded, though a little hesitantly.

"You are my son," Remus said firmly, putting his hand on his shoulder. "Which is why you doing something that could put you in danger makes me upset. If something happened to you, your mother and I wouldn't survive it." He said seriously. "I don't like punishing you but I will if it will make you think about the consequences of your actions."

Draco nodded, somehow even knowing he was about to be punished, he felt safe and loved. "I love you, Dad." He said softly.

Remus's face softened and he pulled Draco in for a hug. "I love you too, Draco. Very much. Why don't we get this unpleasantness over with and tomorrow we'll play some chess, all right?"

"All right."

Later, after Remus had administered a firm spanking, he sat on the bed with Draco leaning into him as he sniffled and wiped away the tears on his face. "I'm really sorry," Draco whispered.

"I know you are," Remus said, running his hand up and down Draco's back soothingly. "You're a good boy, Draco. I'm proud of you and so is your mother."

"Even when I mess up?"

"Even then." Remus stood up and pulled Draco up with him. He waved his wand and changed Draco's clothes into pajamas. "Into bed with you. After you talk to Severus in the morning, you can come back here and we'll play a game of chess."

"Sure, I bet I'll beat you this time," Draco said cheekily as he got into bed, making sure to lay on his stomach.

"Well see." Remus teased as he tucked him in.

TBC: