Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Thank you for your reviews! I love reading them! =)

"He took away the firebolt?" Ron asked in horror.

Harry nodded glumly. It was dinnertime, not that Harry was particularly hungry. He hadn't talked much to his friends in the afternoon classes and during potions he had hardly even looked at his Dad. Unfortunately for the rest of his peers, the tension in that room could be noticed by everyone. His Dad had had them work in silence and by themselves, only giving a quick lecture and assigning a new essay.

"You have to get it back!" Ron said determinedly. "Have McGonagall talk to him. She will want you to have the best broom in the world right?"

"I think she will side with Professor Snape and be more concerned about Harry's safety." Hermione put in. She sighed when the boys glared at her. "What if Sirius Black did send it to you Harry? What if he jinxed it?"

"Ridiculous." Ron scoffed.

"Maybe, but isn't it better to be sure?" Hermione pressed. She looked at Harry. "Professor Snape just wants to protect you."

"You mean overprotect me." Harry mumbled, not ready to let go of his anger.

Ron nodded in agreement while Hermione shook her head. "I think it is a smart idea to have the Firebolt checked out. We don't know who sent it and -" Hermione began.

"Geez Hermione! I've already heard all of that!" Harry snapped. He immediately felt a wave of guilt rush through him when he saw the hurt look on his friend's face. "Hermione…"

"I'll see you later." Hermione said quietly as she rose from the table and left.

Ron snorted. "Good riddance. Honestly, it's like she thinks she's a Professor herself with all the lecturing she does. She can be so bossy too. First with her bloody cat and now the Firebolt."

"Yeah." Harry said uneasily. He knew he shouldn't have blown up at his friend like that; she was just trying to help. He glanced to the Head Table and saw his Father in conversation with McGonagall. There goes my chance of getting her on my side, he thought sourly as he saw McGonagall nod to whatever his Dad was saying. He didn't realize he was glaring at them until his Dad caught his eye and gave him a warning look.

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Severus let out a frustrated breath as Harry turned his face away in anger. He did not like being at odds with his son yet he was not going to give in about this issue. Harry's safety was too important.

"I see he is still upset." Minerva said with a slight smile.

"I assume he will be for awhile, maybe even until he gets the Firebolt back." Severus sighed.

"Hang in there Severus. You're doing the right thing. I would have confiscated the broom myself if you hadn't already done so. It is too suspicious that Harry got a Firebolt out of the blue like that. I can't even think of who could have sent it to him." Minerva said in a slightly worried tone.

"Neither can I. I already asked everyone on staff but…do you think someone here sent it and just wishes to stay anonymous?" Severus hoped that would end up being the case.

Minerva shook her head. "No, I'm sure all of our colleagues would have admitted to it when you directly asked them."

Severus nodded. Minerva was most likely correct. The broom would have to be carefully checked and that would take time. Harry would simply have to accept it.

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Harry spent the evening in the Gryffindor common room working on his homework as well as his lines. It was taking forever and Harry's temper flared when he began the lines his Father had set. He still didn't think it was fair. He had a right to be upset and he was being punished for it! The fact that he had been completely rude and had almost called his Dad a bad name conveniently escaped his mind for the moment.

"Hey mate, want to play some chess?" Ron asked, plopping down next to Harry with the game board under his arm.

"I still have to start my potion's essay and do the lines my Dad assigned me." Harry grumbled.

Ron shrugged. "The essay is not due for two days. Do it tomorrow, that's what I am doing."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Harry said with a nod. Thinking about potions made him think about the fight with his Dad so ignoring the essay for now sounded like a good plan to him. "Let's play. I'll do the lines a little later."

Hermione, who was sitting across from them doing her own homework, cleared her throat disapprovingly. She didn't say anything though, and both boy's ignored her.

The boys got so engrossed in their game that before they knew it, Percy was telling them to go to bed.

"It's late." Percy informed them.

Harry looked around and was shocked to see that the common room was basically empty except for a few students who were gathering up their books. "My lines! I've barely even started them!" He said after Percy had walked away.

"Oops. Um, I could help you write them." Ron offered as he cleaned up the chess board.

"Thanks but my Dad knows my handwriting." Harry sighed. He got out several sheets of parchment. "I'll just stay down here and do them."

Ron looked guilty. "Sorry. I shouldn't have suggested playing chess."

Harry shrugged. "It was fun. Besides, these lines are unfair. I shouldn't even have to do them." He began to feel angry all over again. Everyone had been asking about his broom and agreed that it wasn't right that it had been taken away. Oliver Wood had practically had a crazed look in his eyes and had stated that he would talk with both McGonagall and Harry's Dad about the Firebolt.

Harry sighed as he was left alone in the common room. He suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to read a chapter in Transfiguration as well. Ignoring the feeling of unease and guilt, he grudgingly began his lines. Deep down he knew he was being a brat and that his Dad just wanted to be sure he was safe but teenage rebellion was rearing its ugly head and it was easier to ignore the feeling of knowing he was wrong and instead focus on his anger. He had only managed to get to fifty-five lines when he fell asleep.

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Harry woke up when he felt someone shaking him. "Harry, it's time for breakfast." Ron said. "Merlin, did you sleep down here all night?"

Harry looked down at his parchment. "I didn't finish! I'm not even close!" He groaned. "I'm supposed to hand these in right now."

Ron bit his lip. He knew the feeling of being in trouble with your parent and then getting into even more trouble with them. He had learned that with the flying car incident last year.

Hermione walked by them and her eyes fell on the parchment and Harry's distressed face. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it and walked away. Harry watched her go feeling even guiltier that he hadn't apologized to her yet.

"I'm going to stay up here and finish the lines." Harry decided finally. "I'll just tell my Dad that I forgot I was supposed to hand them in before breakfast."

Ron nodded. "I'll sneak some food to our first class for you."

Harry smiled gratefully. "Thanks mate. Hopefully my Dad doesn't realize I'm not at breakfast."

"I'll try to cover for you if he does." Ron promised as he turned to leave.

"Thanks Ron." Harry began writing, trying to do it as fast as possible. He had almost reached a hundred lines when the portrait opened and his irate looking Father walked in.

"Why are you not at breakfast?" Severus demanded. Knowing that his son had spent years skipping meals at the Dursley's, he never wanted Harry to go hungry again. His dark eyes fell on what his son was working on. "Ah, I see." He pursed his lips in disapproval.

Harry flushed and tried to cover up the pitiful progress he had made on his lines. "I don't have to eat breakfast if I'm not hungry do I?" Of course, his stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly. Even his stomach was against him.

Severus raised an eyebrow. He had been worried when he hadn't seen Harry at the Gryffindor table. His worry had only increased when Weasley had fumbled over his explanation of where Harry was. "How many lines have you done?"

"Ninety-seven." Harry answered quietly.

"How many did you do yesterday?" Severus asked and frustration was clearly in his voice.

"Fifty-five." Harry didn't meet his Father's eyes. "I had homework last night you know."

"Attitude Harry." Severus said curtly. "What homework did you have last night?" If Harry had had a lot of homework then he would be more lenient about the lines. He already felt horrible for arguing with his son and he hated to be at odds with him.

"Um, reviewing for Arithmancy, summarize a chapter for Defense…" Harry trailed off.

"That's it?" Severus asked in exasperation. That was hardly anything.

"Well, I also have to read a chapter for Transfiguration and start your essay." Harry admitted as he fiddled with the quill in his hand.

"So you didn't do your Transfiguration homework and didn't start your potions essay which is due tomorrow. And you did not even come close to finishing your lines." Severus shook his head. "You hardly had any homework last night and had the whole evening to do your lines. What exactly did you do last night?"

Harry now fiddled with the edge of his parchment paper, rolling the edge a little. He didn't answer. The truth certainly wasn't an answer his Dad would approve of.

"Do not play games with me Harry." Severus warned. "Start talking."

"I may have played a few games of chess with Ron." Harry muttered.

Severus closed his eyes. He had grounded Harry to his dormitory and assigned him lines to give his son time to reflect on the attitude he had shown him yesterday. "You had plenty of time to do all of your work. There is no excuse for not finishing your homework or lines. I'm disappointed in you Harry." He said finally.

More guilt twisted in Harry's stomach but he did not want to acknowledge that he was in the wrong. "The lines weren't fair anyway." He said before he could stop himself.

"We went through this already; your attitude is what is not fair." Severus said sternly. "You knew you were to spend your evening doing your homework and lines, you knew you were being punished and you decided to play around instead."

"I just want my broom back!" Harry burst out.

"At this rate, you will never be getting your broom back." Severus told him sternly. "This stops now. I mean it. After your classes, you will come to our quarters to finish all of your homework as well as your lines. Except for dinner I want you in your bedroom until all your work is finished."

Harry's mouth dropped open. He was grounded again?

"Don't look at me like that. You brought this on with your defiance." Severus waved his wand and a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and a glass of pumpkin juice appeared in front of Harry. "Breakfast is almost over. Eat now and do not be late for your first class. We will talk more about this later."

"It's not right that I keep getting punished for wanting my Firebolt back, which was given to me as a present." Harry argued. He wished he could make himself shut up but he couldn't manage to keep his mouth zipped.

"Who gave it to you Harry? Who do we know would be able to give such an expensive gift and then not even let you know who they were?" Severus asked seriously. He really did want his son to understand why he was being so firm about the broomstick.

Harry looked away and shrugged. He didn't have an answer for that. He hadn't even really thought about it.

"And if someone who wished you harm has jinxed this broom to throw you off when you are in the air? Or hexed it to take you far away once you were on it?" Severus stared at his son. "Your life is more important than even the most wonderful broom in the world. It is worth waiting to use it to make sure the broom is safe to ride."

"All my friends think I shouldn't have to wait for it. They agree with me." Harry hated that he was whining but he couldn't stop himself. "You just don't want me to win at…" He shut his mouth quickly, staring wide eyed at his Dad. He hadn't meant to say that. He didn't even believe that.

"You think I took the Firebolt because I don't want you to win at Quidditch? Is that what you were going to say?" Severus asked incredulously.

No, I didn't mean that! Harry wanted to shout. Instead he just shrugged again.

Severus felt his anger rising and knew he needed to walk away before this became a shouting match. "Eat your food and go to class. Do not forget your restrictions for today. In addition, you will also be missing the next Hogsmeade trip." He announced grimly.

"But-" Harry started to protest.

"Enough Harry." Severus turned to leave the red and gold common room. He paused after the portrait opened. "I'm doing everything I can to keep you safe as well as give you as normal of a childhood as possible. I may not be doing everything right but I am trying. However, I can't do it alone. I need you to work with me." With that, he left.

Harry stared at the breakfast his Dad had made sure to give him and felt tears of remorse fill his eyes.

TBC: Please review if you get a chance!