Beta Read: Joycelyn Solo

Chapter Nine: To Spoil or Not Spoil a Child

On Dumbledore's orders, one Saturday morning Professor McGonagall went to Surrey in order to pay Sirius Black a visit. Some might wonder why Professor McGonagall bothered to go so far from Hogwarts during school term. Well, those who ask that are those who don't know Albus Dumbledore at all. If he decided that McGonagall had to go to Surrey, then she'd go there, and if she didn't ask what was the reason, neither would we.

Besides, distances don't matter that much when you can Apparate, and that's what McGonagall did, always being careful of not being spotted by any nosy Muggle. Anyway, if someone did spot her, all they'd see was an elderly woman wearing perfectly normal clothes, so not even the most distrusting neighbour would suspect anything.

She knocked on the door several times before she got an answer. When this happened, she could tell why: Sirius Black looked like he had just got out from bed, with all his hair messy and his eyes half-closed. However, as soon as he saw her he snapped his eyes wide open.

'Professor McGonagall! Is there something wrong?'

She suppressed a smile.

'No, Sirius, there's nothing wrong. I'm just paying you a visit. May I come in?'

'Oh!' he said, blinking. 'Of course. Welcome.'

As she got in, she noticed that Sirius was trying to clean up the mess the living room was. It certainly looked very different from Snape's house at Hogsmeade, which his owner kept methodically tidy. But of course, Sirius and Snape couldn't be more different from each other: they were like day and night.

'Do you fancy a cup of tea?' Sirius offered. Professor McGonagall nodded.

'Yes, please. How is Harry doing?'

'Oh, he is doing just great. He's playing with a friend upstairs. Do you want me to call him?'

McGonagall decided it wasn't necessary to interrupt the child's playing, so she and Sirius began to chat about Hogwarts and people they knew, while the children played upstairs.

The bright red ball bounced three times before Harry was able to catch it. When he did, he noticed that Nicky was grinning.

'Hey, what are you laughing at?' he asked, a little annoyed. Nicky's grin broadened.

'You.' No one could say he wasn't sincere. 'It was funny to see you jumping like that.'

Harry frowned a little. He didn't like being laughed at, so he decided that next time it'd be Nicky who wouldn't be able to catch the ball and then he'd laugh.

He aimed much higher than before, fully aware that Nicky, being even shorter than him, wouldn't be able to catch it. He tossed the ball and, exactly as he had imagined, his friend only could touch it with his fingertips. A satisfied smirk was forming in Harry's lips when the ball passed over Nicky's head and then, to Harry's horror, went through the open window.

In slow motion, Nicky turned around only to see the ball disappearing from sight.

'Ooops,' he gasped, as he and Harry ran to the window and looked down. 'Mmm, I don't see it, do you?'

Harry shook his head sadly. Sirius had given him that ball just the previous day.

'Hey, Harry!' Nicky exclaimed. 'There it is!'

Harry looked in the direction his friend was pointing at and saw the ball stuck in one of the branches of the tree that was in front of Harry's window. He stretched out an arm, but the distance was too long.

'We could ask your godfather to get it,' Nicky suggested, but Harry shook his head.

'I wasn't allowed to play with the ball inside the house, but I forgot. If I tell Sirius, he'd be mad at me.' Which was the last thing he wanted in the world, after how nice Sirius had been to him. Nicky looked deflated. If Harry's arm was too short, then he wouldn't be able to get the ball either.

They both stood still, trying to figure out what to do. Then, Harry spotted a chair next to the bed and had an idea.

'Nicky, help me to put that chair under the windowsill.' They did so and Harry, standing on the chair, instructed his friend to grab his legs. 'I'll try to get it now.'

Harry stretched out his arms as much as he could, standing on his tiptoes as Nicky tried to hold him. His fingers touched the ball but he couldn't grab it yet so he stretched out a little bit more. Now his feet were no longer touching the chair, and his only support were his knees on the windowsill and Nicky's grip.

At last he managed to catch the ball and let out a triumphant exclamation. But as he tried to move backwards, one of his knees slipped and he lost his balance. Letting out a squeak, Nicky grabbed his ankles, but the rest of Harry's body was out of the window and the smaller boy was slowly losing his grip.

Harry let out a scream, which was heard downstairs, and dropped the ball, which fell all the way down and bounced on the sidewalk. His arms moved frantically in a desperate attempt to regain his balance, but all he managed to do was to grab one of the tree's branches with both hands, praying it'd be strong enough to support him.

Sirius flew upstairs and burst into Harry's bedroom, closely followed by McGonagall. His heart seemed to stop when he realised what was going on. Oh, no, no...

He rushed to the window and the sight wasn't any prettier from there. Harry was losing his grip and so was Nicky, so his godson was slowly but inexorably slipping down, and they were on the second floor. If Harry fell from there, he could do more than just break some bones.

He grabbed his godson from his knees, pushing the terrified Nicky out of the way. Slowly, very slowly, he started to pull him inside, which wasn't an easy task as Harry was still grabbing the branch.

'Harry, if you don't help me a little, I won't be able to get you in!' he exclaimed and Harry finally let go the piece of wood he had been clutching at.

When almost half of Harry's body was inside, Sirius took him by his waist and pulled him in. As soon as his feet touched the safety of the ground, Harry threw himself into his godfather's arms. Sirius hugged the tiny boy, a sigh of relief depressing his lungs. He realised he had been holding his breath all the time and let it go as he buried is face in Harry's messy hair. Merlin, that had been so close…

After they all had calmed down a little, Sirius took both children to the kitchen, where he served them two glasses of milk and a plate of cookies. When the children had finished eating, Sirius began the questioning. Both boys exchanged dark looks before Harry explained what had happened. There was a frown on Sirius' face when he finished, and the boy gulped. This wasn't good.

'I think that I had told you not to play with the ball inside the house, Harry. Am I mistaken?'

Harry shook his head miserably, and McGonagall wondered why she was always at the wrong place at the wrong time.

'And yet you did it anyway, in spite of what I had told you.' Sirius sighed. 'Harry, when I tell you to do or not to do something, is because I have a good reason. I admit that when I forbade you to play with the ball inside the house I was afraid you might break a window or something, but now you see how dangerous it can be. And as for the window part – Harry, that was pretty stupid. You could have gotten yourself seriously hurt or worse.'

Harry looked down, feeling more miserably than ever. Sirius shot a glance sideways at McGonagall and saw pity in her eyes. Hey, I'm feeling much worse than he is, he protested mentally.

'Under normal circumstances I would have to punish you for disobeying me but, hum, I think you've had enough punishment with what has just happened, don't you?' Harry nodded and Sirius had to hide a smile. 'So I'm not going to punish you this time, but I want you to know that playing with a ball inside the house is absolutely forbidden from now on, and that I hope you won't do anything like you did today ever again. Is that clear?'

Harry nodded seriously. Sirius needed to ask no further: it was plain that Harry wouldn't misbehave in a long time.

After Harry and his friend had returned to their games, Sirius confessed to McGonagall that he wasn't sure if he was handling Harry correctly. The witch smiled openly:

'I think you are doing great, Sirius.'

One cloudy afternoon, Snape and Connor used Floo Powder to travel to Malfoy Manor. This mansion wasn't connected to the regular Floo Network but to a private one which very few people had access to, so it was considered an honor.

However, Connor would have preferred to spend the afternoon at Eddie's or maybe Miles's (he didn't like Geoffrey that much because he was always whining about one thing or another). He would have even preferred to go to Vicky's and play girlie games or stand her tantrums when she lost at chess. Well, maybe not.

And when they arrived at the mansion, things got even worse. The place was huge and magnificent, with marble floors and velvet tapestries covering the walls. The fireplace was made of pure white ivory with golden ornaments, and the furniture, as well as the gates, were made of polished ebony. The place was softly illuminated by a few silver chandeliers, which made it look a little creepy. Connor, who had spent five years of his life living in a hut and was used to simplicity, clutched Snape's hand more tightly. He wasn't liking this place at all.

The splendid gates opened as Lucius Malfoy, dressed in luxurious robes like always, entered the room. He flashed a smile at them, but Connor couldn't help thinking it looked fake, and he noticed his eyes were as cold as always. He straightened up and raised his chin, liking this place less and less by every passing second.

'Welcome to my mansion.' He spoke in a carrying voice as if there was a multitude. Connor looked at both sides but saw no one. 'My other guests have just arrived and are waiting for you.'

Mr. Malfoy led them to the next room, which was smaller and looked a little bit cozier, maybe because of the welcoming fire that was flaming in the fireplace, maybe because of the furniture, which seemed more comfortable, or maybe just because there were other people apart from them.

There were two men and a young boy who looked a little younger than him. One of the men was tall and arrogant; the other one was older and his spine was bent. The child looked a lot like the last man.

Snape seemed to know them, because immediately he shook hands with them and asked how they were. Once the adults had exchanged a few more polite phrases, Snape introduced Connor to them, always referring to him as the son of a very distant relative, which Connor knew was a lie. He didn't understand why they had to lie, but he had been taught not to contradict his elders so he did his best to keep his mouth shut.

'Connor, this is Mr. Avery', The tall man gave him a false smile 'and he is Mr. Nott.' The oldest man's smile looked more sincere. 'And I believe this is your son, isn't he?'

Mr. Nott nodded and gestured the boy to come closer. The boy took a step forward and shook Connor's hand formally.

'My name is Theodore. Theodore Nott.'

'I'm Connor Angel. How are you?'

'Fine, thank you.'

The adults looked amused by the serious exchange, and then Mr. Malfoy spoke:

'Draco, come here. I want you to meet some people.'

A white-blonde boy entered the room and walked towards them. He seemed his father's carbon copy: the same pointy, pale face, the same cold, gray eyes. Even the way he walked was similar.

'My name is Draco Malfoy,' he said petulantly, but he didn't bother to shake the other boys' hands. Connor had the distinct impression that this boy believed himself too important to do something like that. He had a feeling that he wouldn't get along with that boy.

'Draco, take your new friends to your room so you three can play.' Mr. Malfoy ordered and his son obeyed at once. He gestured to the other children and led the way upstairs, in the direction to his bedroom.

This one was very large and it was filled with expensive toys of all sorts. Connor had never seen anything like that and by the stunned look on Thedore's face, he hadn't either.

Draco looked proud and began to show them some of the games and toys he owned, many of them Connor had never seen. At last, Draco got bored of showing off and suggested a game of gobstones. Gleeful, both Theodore and Connor accepted and they began to play.

However, as it became evident that Theodore was going to win the game, Draco took all the gobstones and put them back in the bag.

'Hey!' Connor exclaimed. 'The game wasn't over!'

'Yeah, and I was winning!'

'The game is over when I say it's over,' Draco snapped, 'because this is my house and in my house people do what I say. Is that clear?' Connor and Theodore exchanged dark looks. 'Now, we're going to play a game of Exploding Snap.'

'No.'

Draco blinked and stared at Connor, without understanding.

'What did you say?'

'I said that I wouldn't take orders from you. I'm not a house elf.'

Draco looked indignant.

'You can't do that! It's my house, and you have to do what I say!'

'But I won't.'

The blonde boy was fuming. Never in his whole life he had faced someone so impertinent.

'I'll tell my father,' he cried and ran downstairs. Connor shrugged and Theodore chuckled.

'I've always heard Draco Malfoy was a spoiled brat but I never thought he was that bad,' he commented. 'I guess that happens when they let you do whatever you want.'

Connor nodded, pensive. He had heard Mrs. Frobisher saying that her niece was spoiled, but Vicky had never behaved like that. He guessed her parents weren't so liberal as Draco's.

Mr. Malfoy was too embedded in his conversation to pay his son any attention, so he merely snapped at Draco not to be such a baby and turned his back on him. Even more furious, Draco returned to his room, only to find Theodore and Connor playing with his toys.

'Leave those toys! I didn't allow you to play with them!' he shouted. Shrugging, the children left the toys on the floor.

The three of them stared at each other for minutes, without saying a word. At last, Theodore suggested playing hide-and-seek. Draco refused.

'Well, then we'll play without you', Connor said. The blonde boy stared at him in horror.

'You can't do that!'

'Oh, yes, we can. Can't we, Theo?'

The weedy-looking boy's lips curved in a smile.

'Yeah, I think we can.'

Seeing that they had the full intention to leave him alone, Draco swallowed his pride and accepted to play. They went to the garden, which was very big and it was full of tall trees and beautiful fountains.

'Ok, we'll hide first' Connor said and, before Draco could complain, he and Theo had disappeared. Feeling impotent, he covered his eyes and began to count, shooting furtive glances between his fingers every now and then.

'Why don't we go to Draco's room?' Connor suggested. Theo frowned.

'We are supposed to hide in the garden. He won't look for us there.'

Connor smirked.

'Precisely.'

Poor Draco Malfoy searched for them in the entire garden, which took a large amount of time as this one was so large. Finally, when he was convinced that the children had disappeared, he ran to where his father was.

'Father, father!' he exclaimed. Mr. Malfoy rose from his chair and glared at him. Draco gulped.

'What's your problem now, son?'

The tone was anything but fatherly. The child gulped again.

'Co-Connor and Theodore have-have disappeared.'

'What!' Nott and Snape exclaimed at the same time. Draco hurried to explain what had happened. At once, Mr. Malfoy summoned a couple of house elves and ordered them to search for the boys. Then he called some of the portraits and gave them the same order.

It didn't take long until one of the house elves found the missing children playing a game of gobstones (Theo's, not Draco's) in his bedroom.

'Connor, explain yourself,' Snape demanded. The boy, looking very calm, explained that they had been hiding from Draco but when time passed and he didn't find them, they got bored and started to play with Theo's gobstones, as Draco wouldn't lend them his. There is no need to say that Draco was furious.

'You were supposed to hide in the garden!' he shouted. Connor opened his eyes innocently.

'Really? You never said so. Did he, Theo?'

Trying his best not to laugh, Theodore shook his head. Draco was fuming.

'I don't want to play with them anymore!' He told his father. 'They refuse to do what I say.'

Raising an eyebrow, Mr. Malfoy turned to Connor:

'Is that true?'

Any other child would have felt apprehensive at Mr. Malfoy's tone. Connor, on the other hand, merely raised his chin and said calmly:

'Yes, sir.'

'Why is it so?'

Connor raised his chin a little more.

'Because I'm not a house elf and I don't see why I should take his orders. He has no authority over me.'

A heavy silence fell upon them, a silence during which Snape looked as if he wanted nothing better than to strangle his protégé. Connor remained imperturbable. Probably an earthquake wouldn't have been enough to make him lose his composure.

Mr. Malfoy eyed Connor with his steeled, ice eyes and then, to everyone's surprise, he chuckled.

'Severus, I'm telling you: be careful with this young man,' he said, putting a hand on Connor's shoulder. The boy suppressed a wince. 'He doesn't seem easy to impress.'

'And he's not,' Snape confirmed dully. However, the worst part appeared to have passed: Lucius didn't look mad at all. In fact, he looked quite amused. And it wasn't an easy task to amuse him.

'I think I like him,' he said, looking at Connor almost fondly. Then he turned to his son. 'Draco, stop pouting. You'll have to learn to play with others.'

Draco pouted a little longer and then straightened his face. His father's words had worked as an enchantment, as from that moment on he was almost civil to Connor and Theo, and they played gobstones for the rest of the afternoon without any trouble.

When they arrived home, Snape gave Connor a lecture about the appropriate behavior when one was visiting someone else's house. Connor frowned.

'But Draco was being awful to us. He has no manners.'

'Well,' Snape admitted. 'It's true he wasn't very friendly to you at first, but you have to understand that he is used to get his way in everything.'

'What you mean is that he's a spoiled brat,' Connor stated. Snape frowned.

'Maybe that's true, but yet you have no right to treat him badly. Look, it'll take him a while before he learns to get along with other children without giving them orders. He's too used to having everything he wants.'

Connor nodded.

'He has a lot of things. And a father and a mother.' Snape stared at him with curiosity. 'Theo doesn't have a mother', Connor explained. 'But at least he's got his dad.'

Snape sighed.

'I'm afraid you weren't that lucky, Connor.'

The boy looked at him, surprised.

'Why not? I've got you.'

Stunned, Snape looked at the boy and realised he was being completely honest. And then, he was even more surprised to find himself thinking of Connor as his family for the first time.

Darla stared at the starless, pitch-black sky. It looked so incommensurable, so endless, that she felt very small and insignificant under it. She had never felt that way before, except when she had been human. Maybe it was her soul which made her to feel like this. Maybe it was a sign of her recently acquired humanity. She didn't know, and she didn't care.

She felt someone sitting on the bench next to her. She needn't look to know who he was. She knew it too well.

'What are you goin' to do now?' he asked in his thick British accent. She shrugged.

'I found them, and they didn't want to tell where he was. They don't trust me yet, no matter the soul.'

'Yeah, I know what it feels like,' Spike said and she wondered if he was talking about the Slayer. It seemed it was all Spike could talk or think about these days.

Darla slapped herself mentally. That had been mean, and she was trying so hard not to be mean. But old habits die hard, and she had spent four centuries being mean...and worse.

'So, you're goin' to look for him?'

She sighed.

'I wouldn't know where to start the search. And I'm not sure if I want to find him.'

'What!' he exclaimed. 'After all you went through to get you sodding soul back and you won't go after your child? What the hell is wrong with you?'

She didn't answer. Instead, she looked at the endless sky.

'It's different now,' she whispered, so low that he could only hear her because of his sharpened hearing.

'How come it's different?' he asked, puzzled. She looked at him, just for a fleeting second, and returned her gaze to the firmament.

'Because now I know that, wherever he is, he is happy.'

Jesse: Well, in this chapter Spike and Darla show up, I hope you've liked their appearance. However, except for Darla and maybe Spike most Buffy/Angel characters won't show up very often, as the fic is focused on Connor and Snape (and Sirius and Harry, of course). If you want to read more about theirPOV of the story, you can check out the companion piece of this fic, 'Ain't so far down'. It's mostly Darla's POV, but there are other characters' as well. You can see it here http/ at my profile.