Chapter 2 - Appleby Arrows
Lily and Severus settled in a small town in the north of England called Keisley. It was a quaint town with a relatively small, mostly Muggle population. However, it was close to the more densely wizard populated Appleby, home of the Appleby Arrows. Their house in Keisley, was just outside of the small town, further into the small forest that resided there. The house somehow blended into the environment, partly due to how it was built; nestled into a small glade, tree's growing all around the house. And partly because of the charms around it, you could barely see it. Harry loved it, mainly because it was so secluded he could practice on his broom whenever he wanted.
Severus still worked at the ministry but was now the head of the Department of Potions Development. Lily, ran a small apothecary in Appleby, disguised from Muggle residence, she provided witches and wizards with the highest quality ingredients and potions. It was a small business, but that is all she needed; her primary focus had been at home, teaching Harry. Up until this year, of course, this was the year that Harry would be going to Hogwarts. Harry was a small child; rather scrawny much like his father, he had shorter hair, but it was the same glossy black, he also had his fathers slightly pointy features. His skin was pale alabaster like his mothers and of course he had her bright green eyes. Fun loving and Quidditch mad - Harry grew into a happier child than Severus had ever been.
On a bright first of August morning, Harry got up and traipsed downstairs. His family were where they always were, the kitchen table, breakfast laid waiting for Harry.
"Happy Birthday!" his mum smiled dishing out a very full breakfast, "You have a big day ahead of you."
"What are we doing?" the eager child asked, his shiny dark hair falling into his face, his bright green eyes gleaming.
"That would be a surprise, you have your first birthday present, then tonight we have a family meal, everyone is coming." Severus smiled.
"Everyone?" Harry asked cautiously.
"If you want Dudley to be there, his parents have to come too."
"But they are always really rude," Harry whined.
"But your grandparents will be there too, both sides, everyone will be on their best behaviour, I promise!" Severus assured him.
"But Uncle Vernon-" Harry began.
"If he starts anything I'll just take my wand out, that always shuts him up!" Severus smiled evilly.
"You realise that doesn't help, Sev," Lily stated, "you antagonise the poor man, and he's petrified of you."
"I'll behave if he does." He shrugged, she shook her head, smiling but with an air of disapproval.
"He is pretty petrified of you!" Harry laughed.
"So he should be." He smiled, "Now get on with breakfast, we don't have much time." His smile was more eager than Harry's now.
Harry didn't argue, he wolfed down his breakfast, almost inhaling it. Lily left only to reappear as Harry finished; she had a huge smile and a small collection of presents. One of the gifts was shaped suspiciously like a birds cage, and there was a loud squawk.
"I wonder what that could be?" Harry laughed. He pulled off the fabric covering, and low and behold there was a beautiful barn owl. He was was tawny coloured with a brilliant white face and Harry thought he had gentle eyes. "I shall call him Archibald!"
"Archibald?" Severus asked with a questioning expression
"I got a chocolate frog card the other day, a wizard called Archibald Alderton; he blew up a small town when he tried to mix a birthday cake, I thought it was funny." He laughed
"Obviously, Why would I even bother asking?" he raised an eyebrow quizzically, "Now, the purpose of Archibald is frequent correspondence, I want a letter from Hogwarts at least once a week."
"Of course, I wouldn't want you two pinning for me while I am away."
"I'm pinning already!" Lily jokingly sulked.
"You're going to need me to write every day aren't you?"
"You don't have to write every day."
"She's not unreasonable Harry, every other day would be just fine, or better still, write two days and then skip one day." Severus mocked.
"Leave me alone, my baby is leaving me!"
"Next present!" Severus said as he handed a soft parcel over and gently squeezed Lily's hand.
Harry ripped open the parcel to find lots of blue and silver fabric. Harry's eyes grew wider, and there was a massive smile as he pulled the material. They were brand new Quidditch Robes, complete with a Silver Arrow on the front.
"Appleby Arrows Robes! Awesome!"
"You're going to need them!" Severus smiled as he handed Harry his last present, an envelope.
Harry reached over tentatively, his hands trembling he pulled out tickets, three tickets to be precise.
"ARROWS TICKETS!" he shouted, both his parents' smile's broadened.
"I can take them back if they aren't to your liking?" Severus offered in his easy drawl.
"NO WAY!" he launched himself out of the chair an arm wrapping around both of their necks, "I love you both so much!"
"Me, you and Mum can go, but if you want to take Ron, either your mum or myself don't mind skipping it, it's up to you."
"RON CAN COME!" he practically yelled.
He looked like he might explode at this point. "We need to go, we need to go now! We need to get the best seats, we can't miss a moment!" he rattled on, grabbing the robes he legged it out of the kitchen.
"I'm not entirely sure he liked his present." Severus mused with a smile.
"I know, he didn't seem very enthusiastic did he?" Lily responded nonchalantly.
"Maybe we'll see some enthusiasm when he realises they are season tickets." He smiled.
"I think you need to tell him in a controlled environment… He might spontaneously combust."
"It would be a shame if our son exploded before we get to find out if he's a Gryffindor or a Slytherin." His tone remained casual.
"Please, he's my little lion, you don't stand a chance!" She wangled her eyebrows.
"If you're not careful I will engineer a friendship with Draco Malfoy…" He smirked
"No, I cannot stand Narcissa!" Severus just laughed at her horrified expression.
"I manage to get along with all your friends… you should make more of an effort with mine."
"I like Regulus and Lucius, but Narcissa, she's so bloody ...narcissistic!"
"Meow!" he joked
"Anyway, you better get ready, you can take them to the Quidditch, I'll get things ready for tonight. Are your parents going to come?"
"I think dad is in rehab again." He rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to let him come you know."
"Harry loves his Grandmother, and she has made it very clear that they are a package deal. She's an idiot, but he doesn't hurt Harry so…"
"Fists aren't the only way to hurt a child you know," she spoke earnestly.
"If I catch even a whiff that Harry is hurt or upset by anything he does, he won't come again." He promised.
"I think it's more what he's like with you."
"He isn't that bad."
"Oh yes, in comparison to beating you black and blue." She pointed out.
"He makes the odd comment, and I can take it if it means Harry gets to see Eileen."
"And if she doesn't come?" Lily questioned
"I'll apparate over there and forcibly bring her, and she will smile about it."
"You can't force her to be happy."
"This vial of 'Elixir to Induce Euphoria' say's otherwise!" He smiled as he waved it, "If she's in a foul mood, just slip some into her first drink, I added the peppermint."
"You know your incorrigible right?"
"I will go to any lengths to make sure Harry's birthday is perfect."
"Including spiking your mothers drink?" she pointed out with a smile.
"Of course, just make sure you don't become a pain the arse when Harry has children, you may find your drink being spiked!" he smiled.
"Anyway, you go, I'll get everything ready."
Before he left to hurry Harry along, he pulled her close for a tender kiss, "I'll miss you."
Harry was ready in record time, and soon they were floo-ing to the burrow. Ron was waiting anxiously, hoping that Harry hadn't chosen to take both his parents instead of him. But Ron and Harry were inseparable, they had been since they were very young. Ron was a Cannons fan and was not waiting patiently, but instead was pacing in his luminous orange Cannons Quidditch Robes. On the front was stitched the Cannons logo, a hand with its fingers crossed, and the motto underneath; 'let's just keep our fingers crossed.'
"Ron!" Harry shouted before he had even gotten himself out of the floo
"Harry!" Ron called
"You knew!" Harry exclaimed seeing Ron already ready in his own robes.
"I have known for two weeks! Your dad told me when he got the tickets, keeping this quiet has been so hard!" Ron exclaimed, "Can I please come for the Cannons game too!" he begged.
"What do you mean, the Cannons game too?"
"You do know they're season tickets right? Every Arrows game this summer?" Ron asked perplexed.
Harry was in fact dumbfounded and as Severus stepped out of the floo;
"They're season tickets?" he questioned, eyes wide, "Season tickets?"
"Yea, didn't you know?" Severus responded coolly.
"You are the single best dad in the universe."
"Yea, I know." Severus smiled, "Anyway, we have to get moving." He laughed lightly at Harry who was becoming more and more overexcited by the second, finding out it was a season ticket seemed to have tipped him over the edge.
They had opted to drive to the stadium, and as the Weasleys lived near Devon which was much closer to Dorset than where Harry lived, they decided to take the Ford Angelina; Mr Weasleys secretly magic car. Today was the Wimbourne Wasps game, a team that had a long-running feud with the Appleby Arrows. It was said that the Wasps Nest logo stems from an incident when a Wasps Beater hit a wasps nest at an Appleby's Seeker, thus cementing a centuries-long rivalry, a rivalry that Harry took very seriously.
Soon they were in the stands, the crowds were already chanting, and the teams hadn't even come on the pitch yet. Harry joined in with a resounding "Cotton, Cotton." The relatively new Arrows Seeker.
"Cotton is new, but he seems to be pretty brilliant, he was only a reserve last year. Cotton caught the snitch on one of the longer games, I think he's gonna help us win the league!" Harry rabbited.
"I take it that's why you got Mrs Weasley to charm the name Cotton on the back of your robes?" Severus asked.
"I am a seeker." Harry smiled.
As the stadium began to fill, others joined the box that they were sat in. Severus had gotten exquisite tickets, in a box for every match, there were even beds for the spectators if the game went on too long. Harry assured his dad with the Arrows that was always a possibility. They held the record for the longest match in the league. Not the whole world, Harry had informed his father sadly, but it showed that they had the endurance that other teams lacked. Harry was rabbiting on about this, and numerous other Appleby facts, including the ins and outs of Cotton's Seeker career when another group entered the box;
There were two tall men and another boy around Harry's age. One of the men was tall and thin with unruly jet black hair, the back stuck up at ridiculous angles, and he wore round wire-rimmed glasses and had hazel eyes. He seemed reasonably athletic, despite being so thin, and he was somewhat muscular. His huge smile was infectious, and the boy beside him was almost identical just much smaller. The child's hair was also much tamer. The other man was taller than the first, he had fair skin and long dark hair; he would be considered to be incredibly handsome, particularly with his striking grey eyes and boyish grin.
"Snape?" the first man gave him a curt nod which Severus returned, the atmosphere was chilly.
"Potter, Black." He responded he smiled at the young boy, "I'm guessing mini Potter?" he glanced up at James, an attempt at civility, but his tone was very controlled.
"This is Fleamont," James replied.
"Dad, don't call me that, its just Monty!" Fleamont responded.
"You have two?" he nodded over to the boys.
"Harry," He pointed out smiling, "is mine and Lily's, Ron here is Harry's friend, Ron Weasley." the boys waved happily.
"You're supporting the Arrows?" Fleamont exclaimed, "Well I guess someones got to."
"I'd be careful, Monty is it?" Severus responded, "He is an Arrows Evangelist. He will talk your ear off if you give him half the chance, try to convert you." Monty opened his mouth to respond when the other man, Black, steered him away.
"Come on Monty, we'll sit over here." He steered him away. Potter, the elder, followed Black and his son. "We can't have you being friends with a Snape kid, what you thinking?" the man chuckled.
"Sirius, he's just a kid, leave him be," James responded half-heartedly.
"Got nothing against the kid, but do you really want to end up spending loads of time with 'The Snape's'? Monty can do better." He smiled.
"Mary will kill me for letting you encourage that!" Potter laughed, "They have to go to school together, I can't be receiving owls every week cause there's another Snape and Potter rivalry!"
Harry heard the whole thing. "Why don't they want me to be friends with that kid?" he asked his father.
"We all went to Hogwarts together and we really, really, didn't get along. They used to be friends with Remus, just ignore them, they aren't worth it."
"What happened?" Ron asked.
"I'm not going to tell you. You will be at Hogwarts with Monty, and I don't want to encourage animosity; Lily would skin me alive if I did."
"Yea, best not, you'd look weird without skin!" Ron joked.
It was then that the teams flew onto the pitch. The Arrows wore the same blue and silver that Harry was wearing, and the crowd erupted in cheers as Silver Arrows rained down over the Quidditch field fading away before they even hit the floor. It seemed that the Arrows fans had come out in droves. Next, the Wasps appeared along with a flurry of magical wasps, the players were clad in black and yellow, and the crowd went completely wild, along with the other family in the box. Arrows fans were clearly outnumbered with this being an away game.
It wasn't long before the referee was on the pitch warning the players, Arrows/Wasps matches could be particularly violent. With that, the teams were in position, and the Quaffle was released. Harry watched as the Wasps chaser managed to grab it first, and dodged an in air tackle from one of the Arrows, moments after this the Bludgers were released, and the Wasps had notoriously good beaters. It didn't take long before the Wasps were in the lead, their beaters were ruthless and targeted the chasers mercilessly, making it almost impossible for them to get any goals, but they managed, just. Harry cheered at each and every goal and shouted at each lousy call.
"That is ridiculous, that was definitely a foul, I think that guy is a Wasps fan, it's ridiculous!" he yelled out to the pitch.
Ron dutifully cheered at every goal scored by the Arrows. He was also outraged with Harry after a particularly violent foul against the Arrows Keeper. It left their hoops unguarded, Harry and Ron felt that this was scandalous. The points were 120 - 240. It was respectable, but they needed to catch the Snitch soon. Harry had managed to point it out five times already but refused to shout out in case the Wasps Seeker heard. It was then that Cotton, the Arrows Seeker, the one that Harry held in such high regard dived full pelt into the centre of the pitch. Harry stared in the direction that Cotton was heading, and gasped.
"IT'S THERE, HES GOT IT, HES GOT IT!" He shouted, "COME ON COTTON!" He bellowed excitedly, now half hanging out of the box to get a better view.
Then with a resounding cheer from the Arrows Fans, Cotton pulled up with the Snitch in his hand; the Wasps seeker heading straight for him along with a Bludger sent a little too late. The Bludger hit Cotton in the side of the head, knocking him clean off his broom, he went flying. The Snitch, however, stayed grasped tightly in his hands, the little wings fluttering. Harry's worry for the famed seeker was not so severe that he did not continue his exuberant celebrations jumping up and down, cheering, grabbing Ron and even jumping on his father and wrapping his arms around the man's neck and kissing his cheeks.
"Look at that, the final scores, 270 - 240." Severus pointed out the flashing scores in the centre of the pitch.
"WHOOOO!" Harry began screaming all over again, Severus was quite happy smiling at his son shouting and screaming. After all, this was the childhood he had wanted for Harry, the exact opposite of his own.
"How's your birthday so far?" He asked.
"I don't think it can get any better!" Harry smiled, "Ron, we need to plan for every match… are you coming to them all?"
With that Ron grinned, "If I can!" He smiled, "I will support the Arrows as long as the Cannons don't stand a chance, and the Cannons game, obviously."
"With an attitude like that Ron, you may as well become an Arrows fan!" Harry laughed. "Are we going now?" Harry asked.
"Not quite yet." Severus smiled, "You may think your birthday can't get any better, but I'm giving it a good go."
They were sat waiting for a little while when to Harry's great delight and surprise, the entire of the Arrows Quidditch Team arrived in the box. Harry sat transfixed next to his father. Cotton walked up with a thick bandage and a dazed expression on his face.
"Am I to believe that it's Mr Harry Snape's birthday?" he asked.
Harry turned and looked at his dad, "You didn't?" Harry asked his eyes wide and his mouth open in complete shock and awe, Severus smiled and nodded. "Yea" He responded to Cotton shyly, "I'm Harry."
"We were told" The Chaser and captain, Wright, spoke up, "That you are the Arrows biggest fan?" Harry simply stared wide eyes nodding, "Well, we decided that we couldn't let our biggest fan, on their birthday, go away empty handed!" Harry's eyes widened.
"No way, no way." He said to himself over and over as they presented him with the Quaffle,
"We had all the Arrows sign it, reserves and all!" One of the Beaters, Whitehorn stated.
Harry held the Quaffle like it was a holy relic, staring at it like it was the single most precious item in the entire world.
"Did I mention you are the greatest dad in the universe!" Harry whispered, still looking at the Quaffle in awe.
"Do you play?" The captain asked.
"I play with friends, but I want to get on a Hogwarts team as soon as I can!" He smiled and spoke more confidently.
"What position do you play?"
"Seeker, Ron here, he's a keeper, he supports Cannons, but we like him anyway!" He laughed.
"If you're a seeker, I think it's only right we give you one last gift!" Cotton slurred and handed over the struggling Snitch.
"NOWAY!" Harry and Ron both exclaimed. They didn't notice the other family leave, they didn't see the moody scowl on Monty's face. They were altogether absorbed in what they felt was the single most excellent birthday present an eleven-year-old can get.
When Harry and Severus arrived home, the house was already abuzz for his 'family meal'. As they floo'ed in, you could hear all the chatter coming from the back of the house. Harry ran out immediately, and sure enough, everyone was there, Nan and Grandpa Snape, Nan and Grandpa Evans, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and Dudley. Harry was surprised to see that his Great Grandparents were even there, the Princes rarely showed up, but when they did, Harry was sure to be spoilt.
Harry immediately greeted everyone, some people got hugs, others, the Dursleys, gave a firm handshake. He and Dudley got along really well, but his parents were another matter. Harry thought they were rude at times, a little afraid of magic, but he had no idea how they honestly felt, something that his parents had painstakingly safeguarded him against. The surprise of seeing his only wholly wizarding great-grandparents, who were so rarely there, had Harry extremely excited.
"You came!" Harry exclaimed.
"Of course," his Great-gramps smiled.
"You will never guess where I have been!"
"I am sure that you will tell me."
"I got Arrows tickets! I thought they were just for today's game, but they weren't, I got season tickets! And the team came and met me in the top box, I got a signed Quaffle and the Snitch that Cotton caught today!" his voice was more and more excited as he went on, many of his other relatives didn't get the Quidditch thing, and his Nana Eileen, though a witch, held no interest in Quidditch at all.
The garden was beautifully decorated, the vast roundtable on the back patio had lights twinkling above it. There was a huge birthday banner, and streamers hung from the trees that grew close to the house. The table was set and waiting, and Harry continued to give his Great grandparents a blow by blow of the entire game; his mum came out, followed by various dishes which slowly floated over to the table landing gently.
"Everyone, sit down." She smiled.
The table was filled with glorious food, it was a feast of all Harry's favourites. It, therefore, was not the most elegant meal, there were pizzas, chips, fish fingers, chicken drumsticks, bowls of baked beans and corn on the cob, burgers. It was, in fact, some of the most randomly brought together foods imaginable, but there was something for everyone.
Everyone tucked in, and the chatter began; it was a typical family meal really, everyone talking over one another. Harry sat between his parents, across from Dudley as the tried in vain to describe the Arrows game, the problem being that Dudley hadn't the faintest understanding of Quidditch.
"Dudley, they throw the Quaffle, not kick it, everyone is on broomsticks, in the air," Harry explained.
"But how does a keeper protect the posts if he's on a broom? I mean he has to hold on to it?"
"That's why I'm glad Harry doesn't play keeper!" Lily exclaimed.
"Mum, the seeker, is the most fouled player in the game!" Harry interjected.
"What's so special about the seeker?" Dudley asked.
"They catch the golden snitch, its worth 150 points. It used to be the Golden Snidget, but the bird became endangered, so they changed it to a snitch."
"You have to catch a bird?" Dudley was getting more and more confused.
"No, that was hundreds of years ago, its a small golden ball with wings now." Harry tried to explain, "It's straightforward if you forget about the brooms; Chasers score with a Quaffle, using their hands, not feet, Beaters… well, they use a bat the direct the Bludger's at the opposing team, and the Seeker catches the Snitch."
"Ok, but what if you both catch the Snitch?"
"Can't, the games over once someone catches the snitch," Harry replied.
"But what if no one catches the snitch?"
"That's why there was a game that lasted sixteen days once! It was an Appleby Arrows game!" Harry was delighted to add.
"I imagine it's a 'you've got to see it believe it' kind of thing, like that potion you showed me!" Dudley responded.
The adults, who had for the most part been focused more on food than teaching Dudley about Quidditch, looked up. Severus glanced at Harry with a raised eyebrow.
"What potion did you show Dudley."
"Erm… it was ages and ages ago really… I can't remember." Harry squirmed and picked up an ear of corn on the cob, looking sideways at his father.
"Sounds pretty memorable, 'got to see it believe it' memorable?"
"Well, you know, Dudley doesn't see much magic, so I make something float he cheers! Muggles eh!" He turned back to his meal, glanced up at Dudley and grimaced. Dudley quietly mouthed the word 'sorry'. His great-grandparents sniggered a little at the muggle comment.
"Harry?" It was his mother now, her voice was stern.
"Can we talk about it tomorrow, when it's not my birthday, I mean you would feel awful if you had to yell at me on my birthday, right?" he looked up at his father's somewhat stern face, and smiled awkwardly, "right, daddy?"
"What did you do?" his voice growing sterner by the minute.
"See, me and Dudley were talking about Hogwarts and what lessons you have, and so I told him about potions and all the cool stuff that potions can do." Harry paused and braced himself, "I told him some potions could make people speak nonsense, potions that can confuse people, and that there are even potions that can … well, erm, they can make you look like someone else, and Dudley didn't believe me, so I showed him one of them."
"Which one did you, demonstrate?" his words coming out with perfect diction.
"Well, it was last week, when we were both at Nan and Grandad Evans," he delayed, his voice starting to shake.
"Harry, you're doing nothing for my patience."
"I took it from mum's office, she had a whole cauldron full, and she made it, so I knew it was done right…" He gulped, "we spent the afternoon pretending to be each other, using…"
"Polyjuice Potion?" he asked sternly.
Harry nodded glumly.
"Harry that is a restricted Potion! How foolish could you possibly be?"
"I'm sorry" he mumbled.
"And what would you have done it you accidentally added animal hair to the mix? Or maybe dropped more than one person's hair in? What if it didn't react well with Dudley? Because Dudley is a muggle! Did you think about any of those things?"
"I was careful."
"Careful would be not doing something so foolish! Now, what would you have done if something had gone wrong?"
"Told Grandad, asked him to get you, you could fix it," Harry looked up, "you can fix anything."
"Not necessarily Harry, sometimes the damage we do, cannot be reversed. That is why certain potions are restricted. That is why you need to be more sensible, if you feel you have to sneak to do something, then. Don't. Do. It."
"I won't, I promise." Harry sat head bowed his face red.
"Dudley, did you know, or did you have even the slightest inkling that what Harry was doing was wrong?" Severus eyed the other boy at the table now, his dark steely eyes boring into his.
Dudley nodded his head minutely, petrified.
"Next time, you will say no! More than that, you will tell me do you understand?"
He nodded again, frozen somewhat.
"Harry, I am so disappointed. You know better."
"I'm really sorry," tears pricked in his eyes now.
"I know, but you will still need to learn your lesson, what do you think is appropriate?" his tone lost a little of its edge now, but he was by no means pleased, and you could still hear it.
"You're gonna take the Arrows Tickets?" he asked sullenly.
"Is that what you think you deserve?"
"Dudley or I could have been really hurt."
"Do you know how I would feel if something had happened to you or Dudley?"
Harry simply shrugged.
"I would be devastated, I would be sick with worry until I knew you were both alright! Being careless with yourselves is not something I take lightly." He paused and regained his composure after his anger had built up all over again. "That being said, I am not in the habit of taking away your birthday presents." Harry looked up hopefully, "The potions lesson I promised, before Hogwarts, cancelled. It's a shame, I was really looking forward to it."
"Okay," he mumbled.
"I think we should get back to your birthday now?" he spoke gently now, Harry just sat there looking at his plate, "Are you ok?"
The rest of the table watched awkwardly, Vernon and Petunia had stony faces, furious with the whole situation. They were just dying to say something, but not brave enough in the current company.
"You said you were disappointed," his small voice finally spoke out, followed by a choked cry.
"Because you are a smart boy, a brilliant boy that knows better! More often than not I am extremely proud of you, but you made a horrible mistake like all children do at some point or another." He pulled Harry from his seat into an embrace, "I love you, Harry."
Harry just mumbled something back that was full of sniffles and more choked sobs. What was worse is that everyone was watching it, there was no end to the situation. Both Harry's aunt and uncle looked like they were going to explode, Uncle Vernon's face had gone that horrible shade of purple. Lily, his mum, seemed genuinely disappointed, his Grandad Snape kind of looked like he wasn't that bothered. The rest of the adults, all grandparents, had that look, they know he needs to be told off, but they feel so sorry for the poor thing, and they can't bear to watch. It was his Grandad Frank, his mum's dad, that tried to make everything better.
"You know I am really stuffed, I don't think I could do dessert yet," he winked at Harry. "Maybe while we have a rest Harry, you could show us what you got for your birthday? I know we have some presents for you too!" He smiled at Harry who hurriedly wiped a stray tear and put on a smile.
"Okay, I'll be one minute." He jumped up and ran inside, soon he was out of sight.
It was Vernon who was the first to speak.
"I think-"
"I know what you want to say, Vernon," Severus cut him off, "Harry is a terrible child, he put precious ickle diddy kins in danger," his tone imitating Vernon's. "Save it for tomorrow, It's Harry's birthday."
"Are you not going to punish the child?" Vernon burst out, "I don't agree with this namby-pamby nonsense about not smacking children that deserve it."
"Severus, I agree, I would have -" Tobias attempted to interject
"I know what you would have done Tobias," Severus sneered "Lily, I defer to you," he spoke with care and control.
"We do not smack our child Vernon, and if I find you ever do anything like that when we aren't around, that goes for you too Tobias, I will ask my husband to do his worst." Her lips thinned, and she spoke with carefully contained anger.
"Just to clarify, my worst is very, very bad." Severus took out his wand and placed it gently on the table, "This discussion is being left for another day."
"I won't have our Dudders spending time with Harry anymore, he is … dangerous!" Petunia declared
"Petunia!" Grandad Frank exclaimed, "Leave it, it's Harry's birthday."
Severus levelled a glare at Petunia, ignoring Franks attempts to calm the matter. "Children do stupid things, Dudley is no different than Harry, now Tuney, the discussion is closed."
Soon they heard Harry running back, he had in one arm his cage, complete with Archibald, draped over the other arm was his Quidditch Robes, he had in one hand the Snitch and balanced on top of his robes was the Quaffle. His expression was still worried and insecure.
"Someone got plenty of interesting loot!" Grandad Frank said, "Talk me through all this Harry."
"Okay, I feel like I should introduce Archibald first, he's my new owl." He presented the owl, "I named him after a chocolate frog wizard, and they got me him because they are devastated I'm going to Hogwarts and need me to write all the time!" he smiled quickly, the weight from before lifted.
"And so you should, with an owl like that I expect letters too!" Grandad Frank replied.
"We would love letters from Hogwarts Harry," his Great Grandma Prince added, setting Harry even more at ease.
"Ok, so after Archibald, I opened my new Quidditch Robes, they are brilliant" He put down the Quaffle and cage and still clutching the Snitch, he struggled into the robes and got a little messed up.
"Harry, come here," Severus shook his head in amusement as Harry got more and more tangled, "Pass me the Snitch." Harry did, "Right, where's your other arm?" and with that he pulled Harry's robes into place, arms now coming out of the right holes.
"See, they are brilliant" Harry turned around, showing them off, "I even got Molly, my friends mum, to put Cotton's name on the back." He pointed to the silver name on his shoulders proudly. "Then mum and dad gave me the best present ever, my Arrows tickets, I thought it was just for this game, but it's not, it's every game and me and Ron have planned out everything for every single game we are going to go to!" he smiled proudly.
"Every single Arrows game!" his Grandad whistled, "Very nice!"
"I shall get tickets for the Ballycastle Bats game, so I can join you if you like Harry?" his Great Grandad added with a smile.
"That would be awesome!" He smiled, "But you missed the best game, Arrows and Wasps, to make it even better, Dad somehow, he really is the best in the world, got the Arrows to come and say hello in the box we watched from, and!" he paused, "They gave me the Quaffle from the game! And. It was signed by the entire team, and even better than that! Cotton gave me this!" he lifted the Golden Snitch high, and its wings fluttered crazily trying to escape. "It's the Snitch from the game!" he smiled smugly.
"You have to catch that!" Dudley blurted
"Yea"
"But that things tiny!"
"And that Dudley, is why its worth one hundred and fifty points!" Harry declared.
"And can you catch one Harry?" His Grandad Tobias asked for a change, rarely entering the conversation.
"I have never had the chance to try a real one, but Ron's mum charms a Remembrall to act as a Snitch when we play, and I can catch that."
"Very impressive," Nana Eileen stated, though Harry knew it meant very little, she didn't really like Quidditch at all - Harry thought the last time she watched a game was probably when she was at Hogwarts.
"You'll have to get on the Hogwarts team Harry, that way we can come and watch you in action!" It was Great Grandad Prince again, otherwise known as Grandpa Falco. "Anyway, I think we can add to your pile." He smiled, "Who wants to go first?"
"We'll go first," Grandpa Frank said, "Our presents aren't likely to be as exciting, we tried to go through The Leaky Cauldron like your Dad mentioned, but couldn't find it for love nor money! So its a few Muggle toys we got for you, nothing electric, so you can take them with you and confuse your friends!" Frank smiled.
"I've got them here," his much quieter Grandma Rose said, pulling out a bag and handing it over to Frank.
"Right, now this is a doozy, it's called a rubrics cube, no magic allowed, you have to make all the sides the same colour!" with that he tossed Harry the cube which he looked at puzzled.
"How do I change the colours?" He asked staring at it and prodding the different squares
"Turn the sides, but wait, there is more, here are some 'travel sized games' perfect for a long train ride, I should think!" he winked at Harry, "Travel Monopoly, should do you the whole journey that one, travel scrabble, that will help with the homework! And finally Travel Cluedo, your dad told me wizards often don't think logically, so maybe you can beat them all at that one!" he smiled. "Last but not least, reading material! This is the first four books in this new series, the man in the bookshop said they were popular! 'The Bailey School Kids' thought it was apt as they chase vampires and other creatures we thought were myths until Hogwarts happened!" he laughed.
"Wow, they really cool, thanks Nan, thanks Grandad." He smiled and hugged them, "I can't wait to play them with all the new friends I'm going to make… and Ron of course!"
"We got you something to take to Hogwarts too," his Nana Eileen spoke up, Grandad Tobias was now starting to look a little worse for wear.
She handed over an old and battered looking box, the wood was rough and beaten but had an elegant pattern engraved, there was a beautiful silver clasp and once opened it revealed a beautiful looking Gobstones set. "It was mine when I was head of the Gobstones Club at Hogwarts." She smiled, "We got you this as well", and she handed over another box, this one was new and was made from a dark, dense wood, and he could already see it opened up into a chess board.
"Thank you, Nan, Grandad," he smiled, hugging them before taking the second box.
"Last, but hopefully not least," Grandma Joscelind pulled out a large box, it made of cardboard, but the writing on the cover had Harry trembling with anticipation, and his bottom lip wobbled, in curvaceous gold lettering, over a beautiful vibrant purple label read 'The Nimbus Racing Broom Company.'
"You can't get me that." He shook, tears filling his eyes, "I shouldn't be allowed it!"
"And why not?" His Grandfather asked worriedly.
"I nearly hurt Dudley, it's not right." He burst into tears and was about to run for it when his mother pulled him back.
"Hey, chicken, come to me." Her sweet, soothing voice beckoned him, "It was a silly thing to do, but it doesn't mean you don't deserve nice things!"
"But what if Dudley died?" Harry cried, "No wonder Aunt Petunia doesn't want me to see Dudley anymore!"
"Harry," Severus spoke sternly, "Look at me!"
Harry turned tentatively, his frightened green eyes looking up at his intimidating father.
"You are to ignore your Aunt Petunia, you are not 'dangerous', children everywhere do stupid things, can you think of something similar that Dudley may have done?"
Harry shook his head, though his tears had stopped, even in the wake of his father's apparent temper, not that it was aimed at him.
"Do you remember when Dudley convinced you that his father's tablets where a new kind of Muggle sweet and you chewed on the entire pack?"
Harry didn't say anything, he remembered quite clearly, they had gotten a good talking to after that stunt as well.
"That Harry, could have killed you, very slowly mind, it would, if your grandfather hadn't found out quickly enough, have destroyed your kidneys and after months, killed you." He looked at Harry sternly, "Shall we cancel Christmas for Dudley?"
"He didn't know!" Harry begged, almost as if his Dad actually had the power to declare no Christmas for his cousin. "He just thought it was funny to make me eat something that tasted disgusting after I showed him Bertie Botts Beans!"
"And that is why your mother and I didn't start going on about Dudley being dangerous - because we know he didn't want to hurt you. We know, and your Aunt knows, that you didn't want to hurt Dudley, you just wanted to have a bit of fun. But guess what, it was a bit stupid, so you lost a potions lesson. You weren't malicious, so you deserve to drop it. You deserve a good birthday, and you deserve your presents; even the fantastic broom that your grandparents got you, even though it feels like they kicked my ass in present buying!" his voice ending on a much gentler note, he smiled at Harry.
"But I won't get to see Dudley anyway, will I?" Harry asked.
"I think your aunt is stupid, but it's hers and your uncles choice, not mine. I hope they change their mind because we love having Dudley here and we will miss him if they follow through; but I often make stupid decisions when I am angry or upset, and I am talked around once I have calmed down a bit, maybe this will happen." He smiled at Harry sadly.
"I think we should put this nonsense behind us, and maybe you can try out that fancy broom of yours!" It was the ever cheerful, ever loving and helpful, Grandad Frank. "Is that ok out here Severus?"
"It is, it's perfectly fine."
He watched with sad eyes as Harry took the broom and wandered past the first few trees where there was more space to take off. He heard him take off and watched him soar over the trees, noting he did none of the crazy twists and turns he had spent so much time learning - he didn't even try to find the top speed, he just soared in the sky. Harry didn't come back down, he could be seen flying over the house, but he never ventured back to the group.
"I think that might be the evening done." Lily ventured, "I'll cut the cake, and whoever wants some, I can put some in a box for you." She began piling plates and banishing leftover food. Her lousy mood was evident in her body language. She had the collected all of the dishes, and they floated behind her as she stormed into the kitchen.
"Don't go, Harry's birthday isn't ending like this." He followed Lily into the kitchen and found her abusing the crockery by muggle washing her frustrations away.
"Stop, your going to destroy the plates." He joked.
Lily turned around her face was furious, and her body was tense.
"Harry's birthday is not ending like this." Severus his face was just as fierce as hers.
"I do not want that woman in my house" Lily spat.
"Neither do I, I am more than happy to sling them out, but no one else, when Harry comes down we will have his birthday cake, and we will spend the evening showering him with affection and love. We will make the memory of that awful woman, and her beastly walrus of a husband non-existent."
"Walrus?" she asked.
"Size and moustache." His eyes gleamed evilly, "Do you feel better?"
"I'm angry, they are ruining my baby's birthday," her voice shaking, only too similar to how Harrys shook not too long ago.
"I will fix it," he whispered, gently brushing the hair from her face, he leaned in whispering into her ear, "I promise, I'll fix it."
"Like Harry said, you can fix anything," she smiled a small smile. Severus capitalised on the moment of joy and gently placed his lips to hers, the lightest kiss imaginable bringing a more settled sigh.
"Not everything, but I can fix this," kissing her again; they both managed to relax - to let go of some of the anger, and therefore tackle the situation afresh. "You can deal with the dishes and I will tackle the walrus." He turned to leave, but she grasped at his hand.
"Don't hurt the Walrus, I think they might be endangered."
"This one is," his eyes narrowed, but a playful smirk told her the man was mostly safe, mostly.
Severus walked back out to the garden to find everyone abuzz with the whole situation. The Princes eyeing the muggles, the entire incident not precisely curing them of any anti-muggles sentiments that they may or may not harbour. His father's hands were trembling and seemed to have a sheen of sweat, he could only think that the man needed to get back to rehab. Eileen hovered nearby as they talked with very irate Dursleys, Dudley sat with his grandparents, who were the only ones who seemed in good spirits. Harry was nowhere to be seen, not even soaring overhead.
"Petunia, Vernon, you're not welcome, it's really that simple." His anger had dissipated for the most part, and he was able to speak with some semblance of calm. "We would love for Dudley to stay, it would make Harry's birthday, Frank, would you and Rose be able to take Dudley back afterwards?"
"Of course, Severus," He smiled.
"Brilliant, you can leave anytime, the sooner, the better!" he turned away from the couple and looked to his mother and Father.
"Tobias, you are looking a little clammy, a bit shaky, I think it's time you head back to rehab. Mother, you are welcome to stay, but we want to end on a high note, so if you're going to sulk about your long lost abusive love, then leave too!" he took a deep breath and turned to his Grand Parents,
"You're very welcome to stay, but I heard the anti-Muggle sentiments. You're not to talk like that around Harry. There's nothing wrong with Muggles; Frank and Rose are a testament to that, the Dursleys and my father are special cases, are we clear?"
"Have you seen Harry Severus? He hasn't been up there for a while," Falco's response seemingly ignoring the comments on his petty prejudices.
"I am going to look for him, ensure those that aren't welcome leave," he turned on his heel ready to fix the final piece of the puzzle. He ventured into the house and up the stairs to the very top, to Harry's bedroom.
Harry's room was bright and inviting, he had bunk beds that were embedded into the walls, one with blue and silver bedding, the predominant theme of the bedroom being his Quidditch Team, and another which was, unfortunately, a rather garish Chudley Cannons orange, mainly because Ron was the primary occupant of the spare bed. There were cubby holes in the walls that held his books, toys and even the occasional light. There was a large wooden wardrobe near the door and a desk against another wall. Opposite the entrance was another wall, but this one had a large window high up with steps taking you to the broad window sill that was littered with cushions. It was somewhere to relax and look out at the beautiful forest, through the window you could see the small boy and his broom, attempting to stay out of the view of the window, head in his hands.
Severus didn't hesitate in climbing the ladders and struggling through the open window to Harry, who sat moodily on the roof. Harry shuffled where he sat on hearing his dad clamber through the window.
"Harry?" he questioned.
"I don't want to come down," He replied hiding his face.
"It's ok, I won't make you." He sat down beside Harry and looked out at the view, there was a vast expanse of trees clouding their view, and as the sunlight shone through there was a green hue to the light, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Harry relaxed in the silence somewhat. "I have sent your Aunt and Uncle home, Dudley is still here though." Severus then fell silent, waiting on Harry. He did take a while to respond, but eventually, he lay his head in his hands to the side, looking at his father.
"They let him stay?" he asked unsurely, Severus noticed the slight redness in his son's eyes.
"I didn't really give them a choice," Severus smiled, "Your Nan and Grandad Evans are taking him back when they leave."
"You fixed it?" he asked incredulously.
"Oh you of little faith, what happened to; 'you can fix anything daddy!'" he mocked lightly.
"We are talking about the Dursleys, not something simple like Lycanthropy." He smiled,
"See, I'm better than you thought." He reached around and pulled his son closer to him.
Harry was very different from himself, Severus would never have been hurt by these things, and when he was hurt he would fight his way through any problem. He often found himself verbally cursing his oppressors and hexing them for good measure, particularly at Hogwarts. Harry was so much gentler than Severus ever was because he had been cared for and sheltered. Harry had not had to learn to fight back yet, and Severus found himself feeling that he'd done Harry a disservice. Harry was sweet and gentle, and Severus loved that his son was like that; he did, however, want his son to stand up for himself. Harry found it all too easy to stand up for someone else, but not himself.
"You can't let people treat you like that Harry, you are worth so much more, you are allowed to fight for yourself," He added sadness in his eyes. "I will always be there to fight with you." He smiled.
"Thank you." He snuggled himself closer to Severus.
"How about you come down? Dudley is stuck down there chatting to a bunch of old fogies." He held out a hand and Harry all to willingly took it. Both Severus and Harry went to the rest of the family downstairs, no more was said about potions, the rest of the evening was spent playing and laughing, precisely what a good birthday should be.