Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters and ideas are the whole intellectual property of Ms. J.K. Rowling and are hers alone to sell. I do not receive, nor would I accept any compensation for any of the owned intellectual property of Ms. Rowling (nor that which she has licensed to WB etc.). What follows is just a wacky little ditty I wanted to get out of my brain. It only got there because I so love that which Ms. Rowling created. No copyright infringement is intended.

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*** Ok, I haven't put any notes at the beginning of chapters before, but I thought I'd better this time. I was going to post a chapter on the end of Harry's first year – with Quirrell trying to get the Philosopher's stone – next, but two of ten reviews for the 'Consequences of Dragon Smuggling' chapter said they were confused, and one of those was concerned about the flow between 'Dragon Smuggling' and the previous chapter. Well if 20% of reviewers were disappointed, there're probably as many non-reviewers feeling the same way. 

I wrote it like that because I thought it was fun to 'catch-on' to what Harry was in trouble for, which was getting caught out of bounds after smuggling a dragon out of Hogwarts for Hagrid in the middle of the night – which happens in Chapter 15, 'The forbidden forest' in Philosopher's Stone. I thought that Minerva might have taken Harry to his father, Severus, in this situation. Reasoning that Severus would be angrier to hear about it any other way…  I'm very sorry if it wasn't fun for many readers, and instead merely confusing. I hope that this chapter makes up for it a little. The end of Harry's first year events will come soon.

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Chapter Nine: Father knows best

When Harry woke the next morning he could tell that he'd slept late – past breakfast if the bright, late-morning sun spilling through a crack in the curtains and into the room was any indication.

Forgetting for a moment that it was Sunday, he sat bolt upright, panicking and wondering why the noise of the other boys getting ready hadn't woken him… Hearing his father's low chuckles from his bedroom door, Harry fell back into his pillows with a loud groan.

''bout time you woke up.' Severus said in an amused voice. Walking in, and still chuckling, he threw the curtains the rest of the way open, eliciting another groan from Harry, who rolled over and pulled a pillow over his head.

''timezit?' A muffled half-grunt came from under the mound of pillows and blankets.

'Nearly eleven,' Severus answered casually before stepping quietly up to the edge of the bed.

'Ahhhh!!' Harry squealed as his warm blankets were unceremoniously pulled away. 'Da-ad! It's freezing in here.'

Severus merely laughed at his son's joking whine. 'I know just the spell to make it even colder if you'd like…'

'I'm up.' Harry gave in, sitting up and throwing his legs out of bed. 'Loo…' he mumbled stumbling past his father.

'I asked the elves to send you up something to eat.' Severus motioned to a small dining table that stood in their apartment when Harry emerged from his room a few minutes later, pulling a jumper over his head.

'Oh, bless you,' Harry said appreciatively as he tore into the assembled breakfast. 'Mmm, puh-fect – love 'ese 'fings…'

'Wonderful,' Severus glared at him disapprovingly. 'Would you mind keeping them to yourself?'

Harry quickly closed his mouth and finished chewing and swallowing his mouthful of breakfast before muttering a quick 'Sorry' and cocking his head to the side with a guilty grin. He kept eating, watching his father organize stacks of graded papers for the following week just as he had on many a Sunday afternoon growing up.  He wanted to ask his father if he was still angry about him sneaking out the night before, or worse, refusing to tell him what he'd been doing, or for throwing a massive snotty sulk about Auntie Minnie bringing him here when the other kids involved didn't have their parents contacted (much less find themselves delivered to their parents' front door)… He also wanted to know what he'd done about Cat  - Harry knew he would do something, but he really wanted to know how (or if) he'd managed to keep it from looking like Harry'd gone complaining to deliberately cause more trouble for Gryffindor… He wanted to ask if he knew what his detention for Auntie Minnie would be, and what extra chores he planned on assigning himself… but his Dad had seemed in such a good mood this morning so far, that he really didn't want to mess things up by reminding him of how stupid he'd been last night…

'Had a chat with Hagrid this morning…' Severus said mildly after a few minutes. Harry froze, his fork mid-way to his mouth.

'Y-you did?' His voice came out somewhere between a nervous squeak and a dry-mouth grunt. 'Er…'

'Hmmm,' Severus sat on the sofa, gesturing for Harry to join him. Most unwillingly, Harry obeyed, clearly very nervous about whatever it is his father had 'chatted' with Hagrid about.

'It seems that when he found out that several students – most especially you and Miss Granger – were caught out of bounds last night, he came running to Minerva… confessing that it was all his fault and that she shouldn't punish you…'

Harry could feel his face burning, Hagrid! You weren't supposed to confess you big ninny! Detention we can handle – but you could go to Azkaban… 'What…?' He finally managed to croak out.

'She told him that it was too late. That the point deductions, and detentions were already set – that she'd sent you to me last night…' He sighed, shifting his position on the sofa so that he was facing Harry directly. 'Naturally, he came blubbering straight to me – accosted me in the common room…'

Harry closed his eyes, shaking his head.

'Albus, Filius, Minerva, Irma and I were the only ones present and we decided at once that no one outside of Hogwarts would ever believe such a story… so we all decided to keep it to ourselves.' Harry let out a sigh of relief. 'Albus and I did have quite a lengthy discussion with your friend though.' A bit of a steely glint had re-entered Severus' voice, and Harry looked up nervously.

'Are you going to ban…?' Harry couldn't finish the question. Would his father ban him from being friends with Hagrid? Hagrid had been his first friend. Not in the way that his father was his friend, or any of the other professors, older students, or the headmaster had also been friends – Hagrid had been his first friend who was neither a regular adult (and so tended to understand his games on the same level as he did), nor, like the students, ultimately afraid of his Dad (as gameskeeper, Hagrid was often in charge of detentions for wayward students, and had been even back when Severus had been a student. Harry figured that if you'd yelled at someone when they were a kid, and made them degnome pumpkin patches and such, it was hard to be scared of them just because they grew up). But, to be banned from being able to just hang out with Hagrid at his hut, or in his pumpkin patches would, for Harry, be the absolute worst punishment he could imagine…

'No… not this time,' he said, to Harry's great relief. 'But I've spoken very seriously with him about this, and I'll speak with you as well,' he said very sternly, looking Harry in the eyes. 'He cannot allow you to break rules, or take these ridiculous risks – and he certainly cannot, and will not ever again actually encourage you to do so. Are we clear?'

'Yes, sir,' Harry replied immediately, only happy that he and Hagrid could still be friends.

'Now,' Severus said, letting the previous subject close. 'As for how much it sucks to have to have your stupid father in the castle waiting to swoop in whenever you get in trouble, for every little thing, even though the other kids' parents wouldn't even know if they'd done the same thing…' He repeated some of the phrases Harry'd used the night before when he'd been in full rebellious sulk mode. 'Well, I guess I have to agree, it does kind of suck for you.' He smiled slightly at Harry's stunned look. 'On the other hand, the other kids didn't have the advantage of already knowing all of their professors before they got here – they hadn't had the chance to sneak around watching classes years before they were old enough to attend them – they didn't already know eight ways to get everywhere in the castle, including places students aren't supposed to be – they don't have access to the teachers wing – they can't floo to their old room if their dorm mates give them a hard time… shall I go on?'

'Still sucks…' Harry sighed, though he shook his head as well.

'Yes,' Severus smiled kindly. 'There are many things about your situation that 'suck', Harry. I won't pretend otherwise. But you also have many advantages because of that same situation alright? Good,' he smiled, rising and pulling Harry to his feet as well. 'Now, Minerva would like to see you in her office in…' He glanced up at the clock on the mantle, 'five minutes. I'm coming with you.' He added, guiding a once again nervous Harry toward the door. 'It seems that 'someone' – not you – reported what Cat said to you last night…' Severus looked innocently up at the ceiling as they left the teachers common room. 'And, when she confronted several of your year mates, they reported that Cat had told them something similar about your motives in being out of bounds last night. I believe Minerva has already had a few choice 'words' with Miss Jones this morning…' His voice trailed off as they approached the office door and Severus reached out and knocked.

'Enter.' Harry tensed, nervously at the anger in her voice, but squeezing his shoulder lightly, Severus lead him into the office. Minerva sat at her desk, while Cat stood looking distinctly sulky off to one side.

'Good morning, Minerva,' Severus greeted her, his voice friendly, but businesslike.  He smiled at her welcome and guided Harry into the proffered chair in front of the desk.

'Now Harry, it has been brought to my attention the terrible, and Un-Gryffindor-like things Miss. Jones said to you last night when you arrived back in the common room.'  Harry blushed, looking down and glad now that his father was standing behind him. 'I don't need you to confirm what was said, as I have had outside confirmation from several other students. Therefore,' she motioned to Cat. 'I believe you have something to say, Miss Jones?'

'I'm sorry for what I said Harry,' Cat said through clenched teeth. 'Everyone knows that you didn't get in trouble on purpose and it was wrong of me to accuse you, or tease you like I did.'

'Thank-you,' said Harry quietly, though he could tell that she hadn't really meant it. He hoped the others in Gryffindor would believe him more than she obviously did.

'Well, thank-you Harry,' Minerva said with false cheer. 'Why don't you head on back to Gryffindor tower – I think Mr. Weasley is to be released from the hospital wing today.'

'Yes, professor,' Harry looked up to his father, who nodded. Harry was slightly cheered by this, because if he'd been planning to give Harry extra chores today, he would have told him to go back to his room instead.

'Oh, and Harry?' Minerva called as he approached the door. 'You'll still have to do your detention – along with Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom. I'm afraid that was set before any extenuating motives for your actions were brought to my attention.' Harry tilted his head guiltily again until she smiled. 'Don't worry about it for now, I'll have to let you know when I've decided what your detention will be.'

'Thank-you professor,' Harry said shyly. 'Bye Dad, Cat.'

After Harry'd gone and closed the door, Minerva turned to Severus, who was still standing menacingly behind the chair that Harry had just vacated. 'Severus, Miss Jones will be serving two detentions for conduct not becoming of a head girl.' She scowled briefly at the obviously fuming girl. 'I was wondering if it would be too much of a bother for you to supervise her detentions for me? I'd take care of it, but I still have to deal with the detentions for Harry, Neville, Hermione and Draco…'

'Not at all, Minerva,' his dark eyes glittered dangerously. 'I would be happy to help you out in any way I can. I can certainly find something to occupy a couple of detentions – in the dungeons.' He finished almost savagely.

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'Hey, Harry!' Harry flinched as soon as he entered the common room to hear Fred and George calling him over to them. 'A hundred and fifty points…' they said disapprovingly when Harry approached. 'Harry…'

'I didn't get caught on purpose!' Harry hissed angrily.

'Well, duh…' The twins snorted. 'Like you'd deliberately do something so stupid. But you should have come to us mate,' they admonished him. 'We could have helped – at least loaned you our map…'

'Thanks, guys.' Harry smiled in relief. 'Do most of them,' he motioned vaguely toward the room and dormitories. 'You know, do they think like Cat?'

'Nah, not really,' said George with a grimace. 'Some are pretty annoyed anyway, some think the three of you were just being a bunch of stupid kids… but no one really thinks it was sabotage. Seriously, Cat's just being a major cow.'

'Thanks, guys,' he repeated, then, 'uh-oh, er – hey Oliver…' He shifted nervously under the scrutiny of their Quidditch captain's glare when he stalked over angrily.

'You'd just better catch that friggin' snitch, Harry. That's all. You'd better catch it and when we're way ahead. That's it.' And with that, he stormed away again, muttering under his breath about points and high scores.

Ron came back that afternoon, and it wasn't too long before everything went back to normal, or as normal as things ever were for Harry. For their detention, they were assigned to Hagrid, which might have been great, except they had to go with him into the forest after something that was killing Unicorns! Harry having his usual luck managed to run directly into whatever monster was doing the killing. Malfoy had run off screaming, but Harry'd stood there transfixed and trying to understand why his stupid scar was hurting again, when luckily for him a large Centaur drove the creature away.

Harry almost regretted telling his father about the warning Firenze had given him because he'd gotten very serious about it and warned him again to be very careful. Harry could have sworn that the man had enlisted all of the professors and elves in the castle to follow him around to make sure he was safe at all times. It was extremely irritating, and telling himself that his father was only so protective because he cared about him did little to make him feel any better. They argued frequently about how much danger Harry might be in – Severus thinking that Harry wasn't taking his safety seriously enough, and Harry thinking that Severus was making too much out of little things. Harry argued that the school was safe, while Severus argued that dangers could sometimes still get in, and after swearing him to secrecy, Severus had let Harry in on the same suspicion he'd approached the headmaster about – Quirrell.

'Quirrell?!' Harry exclaimed. 'No way, Dad. Sure he's even odder than he was before he went away – but if anything I think he seems even less of a threat – he's afraid of his own wand!'

'So it seems,' Severus replied. 'I'm not certain it was such a coincidence that a troll got in here at Hallowe'en – they're his specialty… Nevertheless,' Severus admonished him. 'Though you will still show him the proper respect in class, I don't want you to be alone with him. If you need extra help, come to me. If he asks you to stay alone after class, make the excuse that I have asked to see you…'

Though thinking his father was crazy at the time, Harry'd promised to be careful of him, and of his safety in general. Quirrell was harmless though, he privately thought. If anything he might be a victim of  whoever or whatever was trying to get the Philosopher's Stone – On the day after Harry's birthday last summer, they'd had to come to Hogwarts for a few days, and though he was supposed to have been in the kitchens with the house elves, Harry had easily slipped away from them and managed to spy on a very interesting conversation between his father, the headmaster, Auntie Minnie, Uncle Filius and Auntie Violet concerning a certain object recently rescued from Gringotts… Of course he'd shared this information with his two new best friends, Ron and Hermione, who were intrigued by the Philosopher's Stone, and agreed with Harry that, if anything, Quirrell was more in danger, than ever likely to be a danger to anyone. And though Harry had to keep his distance in order to keep his promise to his father, Ron and Hermione were employed to watch out for the Defense against the Dark Arts professor as much as possible in the months that followed…

TBC

Will update soon with the next chapter – what will Severus say when Harry very nearly gets himself killed by 'The man with two faces'?