Time flies when you're having fun. For Harry that was certainly true. Before he knew it, Halloween was approaching.
Sevvy had regretted the loss of his broom for a month, but bore it well. There were plenty of other things to do, after all. Although his family caught him on occasion, staring longingly at the practicing players. The two of them just smirked at each other and said nothing, only carrying out their nefarious plans behind the little boy's back.
Over time, Harry came to trust Dumbledore more and more. And Dumbledore came to trust Harry. He knew Harry and Sevvy were close, and Harry had been even more than a big brother to Sevvy. Often, when Harry had come up to say goodnight to Sevvy, he stayed for tea with Dumbledore. They discussed everything; Voldemort, Death Eaters, the war. Dumbledore didn't make the mistake of keeping Harry in the dark twice, and Harry grew more mature now that he was treated like an adult and shared some of the responsibility of bringing up a very unique boy.
"Remus drives me mad," Harry sighed to Dumbledore one evening, "it's like he's jealous of the time I spent with Sevvy, but at the same time, he is a jerk to me. I just don't get it."
"He's not over Sirius's death yet," Dumbledore suggested, "he's quite confused. I told him when I gave him this job that he had to talk to the Grey Lady. I better check to see if he has."
"Be that as it may, Defense class is becoming dangerous for me. He always puts me up front to test very heavy hexes; says it'll train me for Voldemort, but I think it's more likely to get me injured. I know Sevvy is going to start Defense soon; I'd rather not have him in the same room as Remus alone."
"I agree. I'll teach him Defense myself. I don't really know what to do with Remus, Harry. I can't really say anything about it, considering my own behavior these past years."
The headmaster looked away in embarrassment.
"It'll sort itself out, I'm sure. And we're ok, Albus. Really. Now…how about that Little League…"
-Elsewhere-
"So, Lucius…back on your feet, I see. Pardon the pun."
"Yes, my Lord, thank you for your mercy, My Lord…" the Death Eater crawled on the floor to kiss the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"You sent a message regarding a letter from your son, Lucius. Tell me about it."
"My Lord, Draco has informed me that the traitor and the brat are at Hogwarts, and he asked for instructions. He is willing to assist in taking them from the Muggle loving fool and bringing them to you, Lord."
"Is that so? There is hope for your line than, after all, Lucius. How does he propose to do that?"
"M…my Lord…at Halloween…"
Voldemort rolled his eyes and faked patience. "Yes, Lucius, Halloween…"
"My Lord, Draco suggests…the students will be allowed to visit Hogsmeade…and no doubt Potter won't be able to resist his brother's pleas to take him along. They will be vulnerable there, Lord. Draco has always been able to lure Potter away from safety for a fight; he can do so again. And the boy will be left unprotected."
Voldemort stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm…interesting, Lucius. Very interesting. Your son is showing promise, no doubt thanks to your efforts to educate him. I am pleased. You will tell your son to proceed with this plan and to keep you informed."
"Yes, my Lord. Thank you, my Lord, thank you…"
Lucius escaped to home as soon as he was able to.
-Hogwarts-
"Sevvy! Come on, Sevvy, wake up!"
The child sat up and rubbed his fists in his eyes. "H'rry?" he slurred sleepily.
"Yes, Harry. Come on, get up. We have a surprise for you."
Severus opened his eyes to see Harry standing with two brooms in his hands – his own, and Sevvy's – and his father at the door, twinkling like mad.
"Is the month over, yet?" he asked hopefully, looking from his father to his brother.
"Yes, little one," Dumbledore laughed, "and we have found a solution so you won't be tempted to play with the house teams again."
Sevvy jumped out of bed and hastily put on his robes.
"Hold it, hold it!" Dumbledore said, "breakfast first. You can't fly on an empty stomach."
"I get to fly! I get to fly!" Sevvy danced through the room.
"Yes, yes, you get to fly," Dumbledore smiled warmly, forcing the boy to eat at least his toast.
"Now, come along."
They reached the Quidditch pitch, where, to Sevvy's surprise, a group of kids were waiting for them.
"Now, children," Dumbledore said, pushing Sevvy towards the group, "this is Harry, and he is the coach of Hogwarts's very first Quidditch Little League. You can all come to fly together, and fortunately there are enough of you to make two teams. I promise you will get to play three real matches on this pitch, but for practice, you will use that one," he motioned to a smaller pitch that had been created a short distance away.
It's hoops weren't quite so high, and the balls were charmed for safety. The bludgers had cushioning charms on them, and the Quaffle was smaller than the real one, so the children –aged between six and eight years old – would be able to hold it easily. The Snitch was a bit bigger and not as ridiculously fast.
Dumbledore gave Sevvy a hug and left for the castle, leaving Harry with a group of fourteen very excited children.
"You are Harry Potter," a small girl said.
"I know I am," Harry smiled, "and who are you?"
"Danielle Bones," she replied.
"Tell me, Danielle, you have flown before, of course?"
"Yes, Susie taught me. I'm very fast."
"Good," Harry said, "I think we will first have some try-outs, to see what positions you would be best suited for. Don't worry, there's fourteen of you and we will have two teams, so everyone gets a place on a team. Pick up your brooms and fly three rounds around the pitch, and between the hoops."
The children all scrambled to their brooms and mounted.
Harry took note, and saw that little Danielle –who turned out to be nearly eight, instead of the five years he'd initially thought she was – and Sevvy were the fastest and most agile. Both of them would make good Seekers.
Two redheaded children, a boy and a girl –cousins to Ron and Ginny, Harry discovered, and seven year old twins – were both great Beaters, but lacked the flawless teamwork of Fred and George. In fact, they worked much better against each other, so Harry put them on different teams.
It took him about an hour, but then all children had a position on one of the teams and were happy with it.
They played a few practice games before the first of the House Teams showed up for practice.
"Come on, kids," Harry winked at the Hufflepuff players, "they won't have me spy on their tactics. There's lemonade and cookies for you inside, and your parents will be here to pick you up soon."
They waved goodbye to the children, and then Sevvy threw his arms around Dumbledore's and Harry's neck.
"Thank you, Daddy, thank you, Harry," he said happily, "now I have a team too!"
Harry made a mental note to discuss the Little League with the other Quidditch teams; maybe they would be willing to play a fun match with the youngsters once in a while.
"Harry?"
Remus Lupin approached Harry after breakfast the week before Halloween.
"Yes, professor Lupin?" Harry replied formally.
"Harry, please, it's Remus or Moony," the older man replied pleasantly.
"You are my professor again," Harry pointed out.
"I want to be more than that, Harry," the man pleaded, "I want us to be friends."
Harry nodded. "I know you want that, but you haven't acted very friendly lately."
Remus scowled. "You were always running after Snape. We were good friends before he forced himself on you. If you'd only leave him to Dumbledore I'd be willing to be friends again."
Harry stared at him. So was half the Hall, and Harry just hoped that the Staff table was far enough away so Sevvy hadn't heard the exchange.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, professor," he said coldly, "I have responsibilities towards my brother that I do not take lightly. If you cannot accept that, we have nothing to talk about."
He started for the door, but felt a hand around his arm.
"Harry," hissed Remus, "stop this nonsense. He is not your brother. He is the man who made your life hell."
"The man who made my life hell is Voldemort. Snape is the man who saved my life several times. SEVVY is my brother. Now release me."
With an angry scowl, Remus Lupin let go and stalked off towards his classroom.
Draco Malfoy watched the display with interest.
"Professor, could I have a word?"
Remus stared at the silverhaired Slytherin. "What is it, mr Malfoy?"
Draco sat down on one of the desks. "I think you and I have a common interest."
"I do not know what you are talking about."
Draco smirked. "You are interested in getting Potter…Harry, to yourself again. I am interested in removing my Head of House…well, former Head of house…from the influence of…" he quickly swallowed 'of pathetic Gryffindors' knowing THAT would not go down too well with Remus John Lupin.
"The influence of people who are sadly misplacing their affections," he finished smoothly.
"And what do you plan to do about that?" Lupin faked not being interested while a gleam appeared in his eyes.
"I understand the Weasleys wanted to take Snape in. Next Hogsmeade weekend, I will distract Potter…Harry, so he will leave Snape in your care. Arthur and Molly Weasley are planning to be there to visit their children, are they not?"
Remus never bothered to ask where the Slytherin got his information. He nodded eagerly.
"While I distract Po… Harry, you hand Snape over to Arthur Weasley. He goes off to live with them, P..Harry will listen to reason, and everyone is satisfied."
"Deal. I'll be happy when that boy is safely over at the Burrow and out of my sight."
Draco left, smirking to himself and scribbling a note to his father suggesting he changed his appearance to that of Arthur Weasley the next week.