Ch 11 Food Fight Scowls

The week passed by uneventful for Severus and Harry. Severus wasn't scowling his incompetent children as much as usual. It seemed to unnerve the older students who had seen nothing else but his formidable side. They all divvied up to the young toddler who had taken most of the Potions Masters attention. Harry was indeed a handful now that he was coming out of his shell and becoming more Gryffindor in all the pranks but Slytherin in the slyness in which he escaped punishment. Indeed he had found good use for unsuspecting students who ended up with the blame. It also didn't approve much when Draco was there to make it if possible worse. Severus couldn't tell who showed more emotion on the matter the students who soon began to despise the mischievous little boys or the amused staff. On more then one occasion he heard a student call Harry a spoiled little brat who got away with anything and that they could already predict which house the ramped little boy would be in. Severus found it amusing until a particular prank was pulled in which he had to reprimand the boy.

They were eating dinner in the great hall on a Friday evening. Severus was glad for the coming break and apparently so were the students. Harry was seated today beside Severus and the new Professor. He was entertaining himself with a spinning top that sort of screeched softly. Severus didn't think anything of his lack of enthusiasm, he thought it would be due to Draco not being able to come over this weekend, so he was drawn into conversation with the Defense Professor not really acknowledging the child. Severus turned slightly when he heard a commotion coming from the Slytherin table.

Severus and the other teacher glanced at the table that had a few angry students staring angrily toward the Gryffindor table where many of its occupants were laughing. Severus could pin point exactly when it began. A large handful of gravy covered mashed potatoes went soaring through the air and hit a seventh year Gryffindor who was notorious for his temper straight in the face. The whole hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Severus heard a slight giggle before all mayhem broke loose.

Food went flying in every direction someone was even bold enough to began an assault on the teachers table. Severus glanced at Harry and he ducked under the table pulling the ecstatic toddler with him.

"Hey" Harry said in protest.

"Did you start this Harry?" Severus asked his tone stern. The little boy shrugged

"Harry answer me. Did you hit the Slytherins with that food?"

"I thinked they would be the best targets since they have the baddest angriest tempers. I know they would think it was the Gwiffindors" Harry said. Severus gave a frustrated sigh. They heard Dumbledore shout suddenly.

"I'll deal with you later" Severus said before rising from under the table.

"CHILDREN! CONTROL YOURSELVES! PREFECTS" then he was smacked straight in the face with a meat pie. Severus was frozen waiting for the explosion. It didn't come however instead he sat wiped off his face and created a sort of barrier around the staff table. The food fight intensified as Dumbledore sat patiently disappointment on his face.

Many students had left the hall before getting to involved but most stayed for the fun. It wasn't until the dinnerware began to fly did Dumbledore draw the line. Several loud explosions got the attention of the food covered students.

"Return to your designated tables." he said calmly but his voice held none of the usual amusement.

"I am very disappointed in your actions tonight students. I would have expected more class and dignity from you young people especially you older children who must know better. One hundred points will be removed from each house" outrage broke at this point, and when Dumbledore didn't say anything but cross his arms over his chest they wisely shut up. "Now as an additional punishment since I can not give you all detention you will be cleaning up this hall without magic." he finished and with a wave of his wand brooms mops towels and cleaning supplies appeared around the hall as everyone groaned but didn't say anything. Dumbledore left the hall then leaving only the teachers. They decided who would stay to monitor and it was decided that the head of houses should stay. Severus turned to his little boy.

"I feel bad for making you do this Harry but you must learn that you can't always wiggle your way out of things. You will help the students since it was you who began this" Severus said and conjured a smaller mop for Harry to get started. He felt bad especially when tears came to the child's eyes. He obeyed however and set about to his task quietly unlike the other students. Some came up to the teachers claiming they had nothing to do with this and demanding release. They got more points removed and a severe scowl. It took the Gryffindors and the Slytherins one hundred more points before they realized their heads were not about to let up.

It took nearly three hours to finally get the hall back to a decent look. The students were tired and angry for having to clean like slaves and they wouldn't hear any of the teachers reprimands about how they deserved the punishment after their childish and inappropriate behavior. Most threatened to write to their parents. The staff just smiled and told them to do so and respond directly to their appropriate head of house and the staff would happily divulge the actions that caused such a punishment.

Severus returned with Harry to their chambers around ten pm. He took the silent toddler a bath and took him to his bed. After he went and headed to the shower himself he willed his troubles fade down the drain with the water. He felt terrible punishing Harry like that but the child had to have some boundaries or he would become a wild child. More then he already was actually. Perhaps Severus was letting him get a way with to much.

He emerged from the bathroom to see Harry laying on his bed starting to doze. Severus walked over to return the child to his own bed. When he reached out the boy cringed away from him. Severus frowned and sat on the bed.

"What is it Harry?" he asked. Tears began to leak from the child's eyes.

"I sowee unco sevis I didn mean to makes you angwee" Harry said crying now. Sobs shaking his little body. Severus felt a tug at his own heart.

"Harry you aren't in trouble anymore. I just had to punish you for what you started you even made uncle Albus upset. It wasn't a wise thing to do, but its over now. A thing in the past. Don't cry, please?" Severus said pulling the child into his lap and cradling him to his chest.

"Come on lets get you to bed"

"No! could I sweep with you unco sevis?" Harry asked his thumb stuck firmly in his mouth. Severus never noticed before that the boy sucked his thumb. Wasn't he a bit old for that?

"Yes you can sleep here tonight Harry" Severus said he laid the child on the bed and climbed under the covers beside him. He waved off the lights with a wave of his hand. The toddler cuddled up right next to Severus hugging him slightly.

"I lub you unco sevis" the child said it caught Severus by surprise.

"I love you to Harry" He said and he realized that he did indeed love this little child more then he had loved anything else in his life.

/Hurray for me! I got my job back! I start on Thursday so I have to finish this story by this weekend. Also for those of you who care my mom has still not had her baby! she is starting to depress me with her Pychotic Hormones! BUT I GOT MY JOB BACK! You can't even begin to picture how happy I am right now. I am so Happy that i have decided to make this a Happy chapter and Harry of course tells Severus that he loves him AWWW... but anywho review and tell me if you like. The sadness will begin soon perhaps next chap TTFN

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