So, I have an enrichment project that may start to take up a lot of my free writing time. I will continue to update when I can, but they may seem spread farther out during this last semester. Just a forewarning. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! It gets hard with so many stories knowing which reviews I've already responded to. If I hadn't responded to yours, don't take it personally. Enjoy this next chapter!
It was their last evening and Molly had conjured up a sumptuous dinner that included all of Harry's favorites, ending with a mouthwatering treacle pudding. She had insisted that she was not spoiling Harry on his last night, though Ron seemed to think otherwise. Arthur had supplied the twins with Filibuster fireworks, and they filled the kitchen with red and blue stars. And after a mug of hot chocolate, everyone retired for the night. It was then that Sam flew back to Snape Manor, enjoying the rather chilly night air. Using mind magic to unlock and open a window, Sam landed in the living room, closing the window behind him.
Shaking out his fur to warm up a bit, Sam trotted out of the living room, sniffing around for Severus. He paused at the man's study and pushed the ajar door open, so he could slip through. He jumped up on the man's clear desk, watching as Severus packed papers and books into a travel bag.
: Prepared for the new year? Sam asked, tilting his head.
"As prepared as always," Severus replied, picking up an ink set and placed it in a side pocket of the bag. "I still do not understand that deranged house elf's visit, but after our trips to Hogwarts, I do not think there is any need for concern. That being said, I would still like you around Harry as often as possible."
: You know, Sam scratched at an ear absentmindedly, he's starting to see me as an annoying babysitter when I walk him from class to class. He'd rather I just be a friend that follows him into trouble.
"I'm sure, and that's where I need you to act more like the adult you are and continue to "babysit" him whenever you can."
: I've never allowed him to get in any trouble that endangered his life. I'm doing my best to play both roles as protector and friend. Despite Harry's wishes to just be a friend.
"And I appreciate everything you've done thus far. Harry needs someone to look up to at Hogwarts besides his father and older peers. He confides in you when he doesn't wish to confide in me. Which is better than him taking advice from peer pressure, I guess."
: Or following his own silly ideas? Sam gave a wide foxy smile. I kind of like the boy's creativity sometimes. Especially when all four troublemakers combine ideas. Together, they are brave, reason, resourceful, and a whole lot of heart.
Severus offered a smile in return to the fox before continuing searching his books for specific titles.
"That they are, Sam," he agreed, "and together, they are also reckless, arrogant, immature, and naive. They all have a lot of growing up to do. And someone needs to be there every step of the way."
"We are late!" Molly yelled for the hundredth time.
In moments like these, Harry realized just what being a part of a large family entailed. It was hectic in the burrow, and even after awaking at dawn, there still seemed to be so much to do. Everyone kept colliding on the stairs, tripping over each other and stray chickens in the yard as they carried trunks to the car. After piling into the enchanted car, piling back out because someone had forgotten something, piling back in for third time, they finally reached King's Cross at a quarter to eleven. But time was wasted more as everyone packed their belongings onto trolleys and rushed into the station.
"Quickly, everyone!" Molly encouraged, nervously glancing at the clock that showed they had five minutes remaining till the Hogwarts Express left.
Percy and Mr. Weasley went first through the barrier.
"Race you, Sam," Fred challenged the fox that sat at Harry's heel.
"Last one through has to load our stuff on the train!" George shouted.
Sam misted on the spot and flew at the barrier, Fred and George running at it as well, all three vanishing. From Harry's perspective, Sam had disappeared a lot sooner than the twins, but the fox would use his mind magic to help everyone load regardless.
"I'll take Ginny and you two come right after us," Molly said, taking Ginny's hand and disappearing through the barrier.
"We better hurry," Ron said, looking at the clock.
"We'll go together."
Harry and Ron both charged the barrier – CRASH!
The trolleys hit the barrier and Harry was knocked off his feet. People around the stared and a guard nearby yelled, "What in blazes d'you think you're doing?"
"Lost control of the trolley," Harry gasped, clutching his ribs as he got up. A sense of déjà vu washed over him briefly but faded just as quickly. He looked at Ron and hissed, "Why can't we get through?"
"I dunno," Ron answered. "We're being watched. We're going to miss the train. I don't understand why the gateway's sealed itself."
Harry wheeled his trolley forward cautiously until it was right against the barrier and pushed with all his might. The metal remained solid. "C'mon," Harry growled, pushing even harder desperately.
"Forget it," Ron said. "The train's gone. What if Mom and Dad can't get back through to us? What if Sam can't get through? Have you got any muggle money?"
"No."
"What do we do now?"
The two marched off through the crowd of curious muggles, out of the station and back to where the old Ford Anglia was parked. They unpacked their belongings back into the trunk, closing it and then leaning against the car, debating their next move.
"We could take the car," Ron suddenly said. "At least until we catch up to the train."
Harry frowned, that sense of déjà vu hitting him again, but fading. It didn't seem like a bad idea. They couldn't not go to Hogwarts after all. And the car did turn invisible. What could go wrong with that? But what if Molly and Arthur did get through the barrier. How would they get home? Well, they could apparate – that was always an option. And they would understand their need to take the car, right?
"Okay," Harry agreed. "But we better hurry. I'll watch and make sure no one sees us until you can get the invisibility lever going."
They two got into the front seats, Ron behind the wheel and Harry in the passenger seat. Harry scanned their surroundings while Ron fidgeted with the ignition.
"You're good," Harry said after sticking his head out the window.
Ron pressed a tiny silver button on the dashboard. The car around them and themselves vanished, though Harry could still feel the seat beneath him and himself. It was an odd feeling even when they had yet to leave the parked spot.
"Let's go," said Ron's voice from his right.
The car slowly lifted off the ground. Harry saw a flash of white before the car slammed back down to the ground. There was a popping noise and the car, Ron, and Harry reappeared. That flash of white solidified into fox-sized Sam, who stood on the hood of the car, snarling at them. A white, thin barrier wrapped itself around the hood of the car, circling around where Sam stood.
: What do you two think you are doing? Sam yapped angrily. Get out of this car! Now!
"The train left without us," Harry explained. "We have to get to Hogwarts somehow."
: And this is your brilliant solution? Sam huffed, his ears falling back. I don't think so. Get out!
"No," Harry glared defiantly. "C'mon, Ron. Push against it. The car should be strong enough to break free."
Ron nodded and pushed the invisibility button again. They turned invisible once more and Ron began to lift the car up again. The car rose an inch before it hit the white barrier, the engine roaring as it tried to back away, move side to side, and continue lifting up to break free of the strange structure holding the hood down. Harry glared at Sam who demanded that they land and get out of the car.
Then, there was a pop and they all reappeared again. Ron allowed the car to land again for fear of being seen.
"The Invisibility Booster!" Ron exclaimed, "it's faulty!"
: And a good reason to abandon this insane idea. Get out of the car! You do not want Mr. and Mrs. Weasley catching you in it.
Harry frowned as he tilted his head at the barrier. It flickered under his stare before vanishing completely. His eyes widened in realization.
"Ron – it's an illusion! I broke it – we can go now!"
"What do you mean," – Ron peered through the windshield – "it's an illusion?"
"Sam uses magic to play tricks on the mind. It's complicated, but it's broken now, so let's go. We're going to be late to Hogwarts now."
Ron frowned but hit the silver button once more to turn invisible. The car rose once more before crashing – in Harry's perspective – against nothing. Harry frowned as Ron lowered the car and everything turned visible again. Ron seemed confused.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked his friend, looking just as confused.
: In order to break my illusion, Sam's voice intruded Harry's mind, you must both see past it. Sam looked pointedly at Ron, his tails giving confident flicks.
Harry understood and looked at Ron. He was used to the fox's illusion tricks after living with Sam for so long, as was Severus. It took more convincing on Harry's behalf to not see through the illusion when he needed Sam's help. Sam had explained that the mind grows immune to kitsune illusions when there is constant exposure. But Ron wasn't around Sam as often as he was, and Sam didn't usually use illusions often around his friends. One could still break the illusion, though, if they could convince themselves that it wasn't real.
"It's fake, Ron," Harry said, motioning to the hood of the car. "It's not really there – you just think it is."
"I don't get how that works," Ron said, frowning. "If it's not really there, then how is it holding the car down?"
"Because you think it's holding the car down."
"That makes no sense! If something isn't really there, even in normal magic, then you can always get through it."
"Yes, well, this is more complicated. You can do it – just tell yourself it isn't real."
"It's not real," Ron said with mock confidence. But Harry was sure it wasn't working.
"What is going on here!?" Molly's voice shrieked.
Harry and Ron swung their heads to the left to see Molly and Arthur approaching the car – their faces a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
: It appears these two wanted to fly to Hogwarts in an aerial spectacle, Sam snarled, glaring at the boys still in the car. He removed his illusion and jumped off the hood as Arthur and Molly walked up to the car. Ron and Harry also stepped out of the car, Ron coming around to stand next to Harry.
"I thought you two were on the train without so much as a goodbye," Molly said, putting her hands on her hips. Arthur crossed his arms and glared down at the two as Molly demanded, "Just what exactly were you two doing? Were you really going to fly this car to Hogwarts?"
"Well, you see," Ron began, "the barrier sealed us out! We couldn't get in and then the train was already gone. And since the barrier wouldn't let us through, we thought maybe you guys were stuck on the other side. We just thought . . ."
"You didn't do an ounce of thinking, young man!" Arthur scolded. "You were just going to strand your mother and I here?"
"Well . . . I . . . I didn't . . ."
Patience running thin, Arthur grabbed Ron's arm and turned him, landing three hard smacks on his son's bottom. Ron bit back a groan and his eyes closed tightly, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Harry winced in sympathy, but also backed up against the car more, hoping he wouldn't meet the same fate. Arthur released Ron and turned his eyes on Harry, who gave him a guilty look.
"I'll let your father deal with you," Arthur decided after a moment. "I am so disappointed in you both!"
"I'm sorry, Dad," Ron whispered.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, too," Harry added.
Harry wished Arthur had dealt with him now – he didn't really want his father hearing of his poor decision making. He was sure he'd get a swat or two himself from his old man. Ron was trying hard not to rub his bottom as he gave Harry a sidelong glance.
"Get in the car," Arthur said. He waved his wand, conjuring up his patronus – a weasel – to which he explained the situation, including the excuse of the barrier not working. Harry was sure he was sending it to Severus and possibly the Headmaster. The weasel dashed away as Arthur climbed in the front seat and started the car. Sam jumped in the car as well, though he sat up front with Molly, who lit right into the boys as she sat in the front passenger seat.
"Trying to steal the car – what if you had succeeded!? Do you have any idea how dangerous what you were about to do was? You could have been severely hurt! And if you did arrive to school in such fashion – well, I wouldn't have been surprise if they expelled you! I mean – what if you had been seen by muggles? Do you have any idea what that would have cost on your father, Ronald Bilius Weasley? He could have lost his job! And I'm sure your father wouldn't have approved, Harry Severus Snape!"
Harry shrunk down in his seat as Molly's scolding directed to him. He hadn't even thought about his father when he and Ron planned to fly the car. Severus would definitely not approve. The two boys endured Molly's scolding all the way back to the Burrow. Arthur directed them both to Ron's room while he made a floo call to the headmaster.
"Man, I'm sorry for getting us in trouble, mate," Ron apologized as he gingerly sat on his bed, before deciding to roll over on his stomach.
"It's okay," Harry said, sitting on Ron's bed as well since the spare bed had been returned to another bedroom. "We both agreed on it, so we are both at fault."
: That is a correct statement, Sam said, sitting in the doorway. I am leaving to Hogwarts now to discuss matters with your father, including your claim of the barrier sealing you off. I will investigate that. Try to stay out of trouble while I am away.
"Yes, Sam," Harry said. "Are you mad at me?"
: No. I'm simply disappointed in the choice you made. You could have done better.
Harry's face fell at that.
The fox turned and misted away. Arthur appeared in the doorway.
"I've spoken to the headmaster. The floo system to the school has a timer in which it is connected to the universal floo network. It's only about an hour since it's to reduce students using the floo whenever they like. The hour is during the opening feast, but you should arrive in time for dinner."
"And the sorting ceremony?" Ron asked.
"I don't think you'll arrive early enough for that. Be glad the headmaster has no plans to expel you. Your head of house has decided to allow Professor Snape to handle punishment on both of your behalves. Meanwhile, stay in here. Mum will bring you lunch later."
It was a boring morning for the two as they decided to just look over Ron's collection of chocolate frog cards. They played a couple games of Wizard chess to pass some time. Lunch was delivered to them – just sandwiches and glasses of milk. Molly had reminded them of how disappointed she was in their actions, but also that they were forgiven. Ron and Harry both sighed in relief at that.
As they finished lunch, a doe patronus stepped into Ron's room. Harry immediately recognized it as his father's, informing Ron of that, who paled as he stared at the doe.
The doe opened its mouth and Severus's voice filled the room.
"You will report directly to the feast. You will most likely miss the sorting ceremony but should at least arrive when the meal does. You will also serve a detention with me at a later date for your poor judgement. I will owl you the details of your detention tomorrow. Harry?"
The doe looked directly at Harry.
"You will come to our quarters after dinner. Do not dally."
Harry nodded, even though his father couldn't see him. He sighed, very sure that he would hear more about his poor decision making from his father after dinner.
The doe gave a nod of its head before turning and leaping gracefully out of the room, disappearing in the air.
Later that night, Ron and Harry flooed to Hogwarts through the Headmaster's connection (glad that Professor Dumbledore wasn't in his office) and left their luggage to be taken care of by a house elf. They ran as fast as they could to the Great Hall where the food just arrived as they entered.
"There you two are!" Hermione exclaimed as the boys sat across from her. "Where have you been? You missed the entire Sorting ceremony!"
"We know," Ron grumbled, though he smiled when he saw Ginny sitting at their table with some other first years.
"It's a long story, Hermione," Harry said, hoping she would drop it at that.
: Attempting to fly a car to school wouldn't exactly qualify as a long story, came Sam's mischievous voice. I believe I summed it up in one sentence.
"Sam!" Harry growled as the fox jumped up to sit next to him. Sam licked his lips eagerly at the sight of prime rib.
"You flew a car to school?" Hermione's eyes widened.
"No-no," Harry felt his cheeks blushing.
"We were going to," Ron supplied. "But Sam stopped us and my parents caught us. We got here through Dumbledore's floo."
"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione corrected.
"Right."
"You two could have killed yourselves trying to do something as stupid as that! What is wrong with you? Don't you know how to use your brains?"
"We don't need the lecture, Hermione," Harry groaned as he placed prime rib, mashed potatoes with flavorful beef gravy, and roasted vegetables on a plate and shoved it in front of a demanding Sam. The fox dug in happily.
"Yes, please, skip the lecture," Ron agreed.
Hermione rolled her eyes with an annoyed huff before stating, "Well, we have a new Defense against the Dark Arts professor. See up there? Professor Lockhart."
Ron sneered at the smiling man at the staff table while Harry gave the man an odd look. The man looked like a fake.
"Hope he's better than Quirrell was," Ron muttered, and Harry could only grunt in agreement.
: Judgey, aren't we, Sam smirked at him.
"I'm not being . . . no, I was just agreeing with Ron."
: Right. See that Yorkshire pudding? Pass it this way.
"Aren't you full?" Harry asked, though reached for the food in question.
: Barely. You need to eat as well, you know.
Harry tried to eat, and he managed to force down a few bites of prime rib and some vegetables – he really focused on the vegetables in hopes of making it up to his father - but otherwise, food did not sit well in his stomach. After dinner, and receiving the Gryffindor Tower password, Harry made the dreadful walk to his and his father's quarters. He was not looking forward to this conversation. Sam trotted at his heels, still licking his lips from the peanut butter filled biscuits he had eaten for dessert. Sam had lapped up some milk, but it hardly seemed to help. Once inside their quarters, Sam plopped down on his dog bed to rest his full belly while Harry slowly searched for his father.
He found Severus in the lab, already taking stock of what he had in his storage supply closet.
"Hi, Dad," Harry greeted hesitantly, sitting on a tall stool by a table.
"Evening," Severus returned without turning around as he wrote on a parchment. "Did you eat?"
"Yeah. Well, not much, but I ate as many vegetables as I could."
"I hope you do not think that informing me of that changes how much trouble you are in."
"No," Harry's face fell as that had been exactly what he had been hoping for.
There was silence for a few moments as Severus continued to take inventory. Harry hated that tense quiet and tried a soft, "I'm sorry."
"Honestly, Harry," Severus turned around sharply, tossing the parchment on the table behind Harry. Harry shrunk back at his father's stern look. "I can't believe that you would think for a moment that flying a car to school was a brilliant idea. What in Merlin's name was running through your head in that moment?"
"Getting myself and Ron to Hogwarts," Harry answered, a bit snidely. He hadn't meant for the attitude, but he was rather tired of the lectures.
"You know what," Severus glared now, pointing a stern finger at Harry, "do not answer my questions from this point forward. Just listen to me. You may not have actually flown the car to school – but if you had, the consequences would have been more devastating than you realize! What if you had been seen by muggles? What if you had been caught? From what Mr. Weasley told me, the charmed car isn't exactly legal. If you had been caught or even seen, the ministry would have fined Mr. Weasley – do you know how that would have affected a large family such as his? Do you know how much damage a hefty fine like that could have caused? And then just the prospect of flying a car – Merlin, Harry, what if you had gotten hurt? You and your friend? The car could crash, the engine could give out, you could have plummeted from the sky. You could have bloody died on such an insane trip! I would have been devastated if anything had happened to you."
Harry had felt his lip tremble half way through his father's scolding and now his eyes were watering as well. It really had been a stupid idea – he had not considered all the what-ifs that could have happened.
"You're lucky Sam stopped you both. If you had flown that car here, and miraculously escaped harm, you most likely would have been expelled – or at the very least, suspended. I wouldn't want that for you. And be thankful that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley found an appropriate way for you to arrive to school. Honestly, you couldn't have simply waited for them to return? Or called Sam telepathically? There are hundreds of scenarios you could have done differently. Why did the first one have to be driving a car to school?"
"I'm sorry, Dad," Harry said, a tear trailing down his cheek.
Severus dragged a thumb over his son's cheek to wipe away the tear. Harry looked up at his father, glad to see the man didn't look so angry anymore.
"I know," Severus continued. "Since you didn't actually succeed in your little plan, I will allow detention to be your punishment for this. I will owl you and Mr. Weasley the details of your detention tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir."
"Can you name some different ways you could have handled this situation? Just so I know that your brain is still in fact working?"
"I guess I should have waited for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to come back to the car. Or even Sam. Now that I think about it, he always finds a way to get back to me – no matter what. He would have noticed that I wasn't on the train. I could have called to him for help as well. Or I could have tried the barrier again to see if it had opened back up and someone there could have helped me, maybe Mr. and Mrs. Weasley still would have been there, and I could have explained what happened."
"Precisely."
"I'm so stupid!" Harry scolded himself, covering his head with his hands.
"You are not," Severus smiled, pulling Harry's hands away and kissing his forehead, "your actions were not well thought out, your idea to fly a car was rather reckless. But you are not stupid. Don't ever call yourself that, or I'll have you writing lines until your hand falls off."
"Yes, sir. I really am sorry."
"I know. Consider yourself very lucky. And as far as the barrier shutting you ad Mr. Weasley out, Sam and I checked it out earlier this afternoon. I detected traces of elvish magic and Sam picked up the scent of that Dobby elf. He seems pretty insistent that you do not return. Why that is – I'm baffled. But the Headmaster said he will inform Dobby that he is to leave you alone from now on. If he interferes again, in any way with your safety and wellbeing, he will be fired. Hopefully, that keeps him off our backs, hmm?"
"Thanks," Harry smiled at his father. That was one relief.
"Are you planning on going back to your dorm or would you like to stay here for the night."
"I wouldn't mind staying here," Harry said. He wanted to share his week with his father, and now was a perfect opportunity."
"Why don't you get ready for bed and then meet me in the living room?"
Harry hopped off the stool, but as soon as his feet touched the floor, a hard smack landed on his bottom. He yelped and angled his bottom away from his father, frowning at him.
"I thought you said detention was my only punishment?"
"For flying the car, yes," Severus crossed his arms. "That was for making such a rash decision."
Harry pouted and mumbled, "I think I might change my mind about staying."
Severus snorted before giving Harry a gentle nudge out of the lab.
"Go get ready for bed, you little brat."
Harry glared up at his father before retreating to his room to change for bed. He spent the rest of the evening sharing every detail of how his week at the Weasleys went, including the little prank war. Severus brought up little Sam once more, glaring at the fox peacefully sleeping in the dog bed. Harry laughed at his father's story, which Sam intervened in several times. After a cup of hot chocolate, Harry fell asleep against his father, who carried him to bed.
The next morning, while eating breakfast with his friends in the Great Hall, Phantom, Severus's great grey owl, flew over to Harry with two rolled up parchments in his beak. Harry accepted them and handed one to Ron. They parchments said the same thing:
Your detention is tonight at six. You will meet me in the Potions classroom and be prepared to scrub, dry, and polish cauldrons for two hours. Do not be late. – Professor S.S.
Harry and Ron both groaned while Hermione simply told them that it was their own fault. They were not looking forward to this detention. Harry glanced up at the staff table to see his father reward Phantom with a piece of bacon. Their eyes met, and Severus rose a challenging eyebrow at Harry's glare. Harry lowered his gaze, his glare softening under his father's piercing stare.
It was his own fault after all. But that didn't mean he wanted to spend his night cleaning.
And his father seemed all too happy about his and Ron's punishment. Evil father.
Thanks for reading!