Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 27

Monsters and Mishaps

The morning following Draco's grounding, Harry asks "Dads, could we go have breakfast at the little cafe by the first ski lift?" Watching Severus as he takes out the instant hot cereal and loaf of bread, he adds "I don't want dry toast and watered down instant cereal for breakfast."

"Have you boys been to the ski lift?" Severus asks giving Harry a chastising look for complaining.

"No sir, we haven't. Henri told us there was a good cafe there and you could watch the ski lift. Please may we go?"

"What do you say Sev? We need more nourishment for the cold day than 'watered down cereal'. Don't you agree?" Sirius replies, with a quick wink for Harry.

"Now, I see where Harry gets the complaining from. He should be happy with what he is given not want more. I was planning to fry some eggs with this and we have fruit. That's a good breakfast."

"Severus. We are on a vacation, remember? Vacation is the time to enjoy yourself. Eating watered down porridge isn't my idea of enjoying myself when I know I can have a real breakfast somewhere else. You were planning to take Draco over to the lodge sometime today, so why wait? We could do that on the way to the cafe."

"Fine. You win, we'll go out for breakfast. Harry, what is Draco doing? Is he awake yet?"

"He was waking up when I left the room. He's probably getting dressed. Do you want me to get him for you?"

"Yes, get your coat and boots while you are there. We have to walk in the snow and freezing cold to get you and your mongrel Dad here, a "real" breakfast."

"Yes sir. " Harry answers grinning at his "mongrel Dad". The plan they made the night before, to go out for breakfast, worked!

Walking into their shared room, Harry doesn't see Draco. Checking the bathroom, he finds he isn't there either.

He's just about to walk back to the kitchen area, when Draco comes sneaking out of Severus's room.

"What are you doing?" Harry whispers causing Draco to jump guiltily.

"SHHHHH! Come with me." Draco whispers back leading Harry into their bedroom and closing the door.

"What are you doing in there? Are you trying to get in more trouble?" Harry asks still whispering.

"My wand was in there. He found it last night and took it. I took it back. It is mine, you know."

"Sometimes I wonder if you are in your right mind, Draco. Your Dad will go mental if he catches you with it!"

"Did you have some reason for finding me or was it just to annoy me?" Draco asks, opening the bedroom door before one of the Dads came to check on why it was closed.

"For your information, Uncle Sev sent me to get you. We're going out for breakfast. We're to get coats and boots. So excuse me, your highness while I get my things." Harry answers glaring at his cousin.

"By all means, Potter. Get your things! Don't let me stop you!"

"What is with you today? Why are you acting this way? I didn't do anything to you!" Harry asks grabbing his boots and coat.

"Let's go get breakfast." Draco answers leaving the door open for Harry.

As the group walks to breakfast Severus notices how Draco is ignoring Harry except for sending him hateful looks.

"Sirius, Harry, you go on and we'll meet you there. I have someone I need to speak with." Severus announces nodding towards Draco when Sirius looks startled.

"Right, we'll find a good table and wait there for you. Come along, Pup." Sirius replies, taking Harry's hand.

Severus turning to Draco, says "Walk with me."

The firmness in his Dad's voice leaves him no choice but to obey so Draco follows until Severus stops. Looking around, Draco sees they are in a small enclosure similar to a bus stop.

"Sit down, Draco." Severus instructs motioning to the seats. "Listen to me, son. This attitude with Harry is now over. He did not cause you to be punished. You are the one who made the decision to be rude not Harry. You have been giving him the cold shoulder this morning and it ends here. Understood?"

"Dad, my shoulders are cold too, so how could I give Harry a cold shoulder?" Draco asks curiously. "I didn't put snow on him or anything."

"To give someone a cold shoulder means you ignore them. That's what you've been doing isn't it? Ignoring Harry? You were also rude to him earlier, I heard you when you asked him if he had a reason for finding you. Correct?"

"Yes." Draco answers, avoiding looking at his Dad.

"Draco, you can't ignore and snap at people just because you are angry. We're going to the cafe and you, will treat your cousin politely or there will be consequences. You will forfeit your ski lesson and spend the rest of the day in your room." As Draco huffs and starts to complain, Severus adds "If you plan to argue and complain Draconis, you will be spending the rest of today in your room with a sore bum as well! Straighten it up! I have reached my limit, you hear me? FINIT"

"DAD! You just did magic! You said we weren't going to use magic here!" Draco whispers as he and Severus walk out of the three sided enclosure.

"I needed a wall of silence. You didn't want someone to hear our conversation did you?" At Draco's head shake, Severus says "Then I was guarding our privacy. Come, Sirius and Harry are waiting on us to eat. Before we get to them, we are stopping at the lodge restaurant. You, young man are going to apologize for your behavior yesterday. I want a sincere well mannered apology, understand?"

"Yes sir. I'll give them my best behavior." Draco answers, shamefaced.

At the cafe, Severus and Sirius help the boys decide what to order for breakfast. After much discussion, they are ready and Sirius signals the waitress.

"Bonjour. Que désirez-vous? ( Good morning. What would you like?) She asks causing the boys to exchange looks of bafflement.

"Bonjour, Madame. Do you speak English?" Severus asks.

"Yes, what would you like to order? We have some English breakfast items and the traditional French breakfast."

"The boys would like an order of french toast each with a side of fruit and hot chocolate to drink. For myself, I would like a basket of croissants with jam, a bowl of fruit, two eggs soft boiled and ham. Sirius?"

"Bonjour, Madame. I would like to try three crepes, ham and scrambled eggs, the fruit bowl, and the tortine. We'll both have coffee to drink."

"Very good choices. Would you like cream with the coffee or Cafe au lait?"

"Black coffee, cream to be added later, please." Sirius answers seeing Severus' uncertainty.

"Dad? What's Tortine and Cafe .. whatever you said?" Harry asks after the waitress has left.

"Tortine is a french bread and the other is a very light coffee with much cream." Sirius tells him.

"Draco and I want to learn to snowboard today. After our ski lessons, could we walk to the snowboarding ramp?" Harry asks as they begin to eat.

"Snowboarding?" Severus asks looking at Sirius.

"It's a short wide board to stand on as you glide down the snow. What do you think? Should we let them try?"

"Please Dad? It can't be much harder or dangerous than skis. It's probably not even as dangerous, right Uncle Sirius? It's wider and there's only one so your legs won't be split in two the way they are when skis slide away from you." Draco contributes to the conversation.

With his barking laugh, Sirius causes a few people at other tables to smile as they turn to see what is funny.

"Draco, you do have a way with painting pictures with words." Sirius answers smiling at the child. "I agree, snowboarding is probably safer than skis. Well Sev?"

"Alright, I'll agree. You may go but, no risk taking young man! There are to be no tricks, hear me?"

"Yes sir. We hear you." Harry answers for them both.

"Dad? Can I try some of that tortillini bread?" Harry asks after finishing his french toast.

"It's Tortine, son and yes you may have a piece. Draco, would you like some?"

"No thank you, Uncle Sirius. I'd rather have the croissants. I've always liked them better."

"When did you ever have either one, Draco? I bet you haven't." Harry says snidely.

"Harry." Sirius reprimands, causing his son to squirm in his seat.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude. Really though, Draco, where'd you have them before?"

"Mum used to order croissants to be delivered in for Sunday brunch and once she ordered Tortine also. I didn't like it much."

"You ought to try it again, Drake. It's good. Try some with the marmalade and butter on it. I like it."

"Yes, that's pretty good. Now you try the croissants with the same and see what you think."

"Ohhhh mmmmm, they're even better. I LOVE them! Dad, let's buy a bunch and take them home with us. We could snack on them tonight." Harry exclaims, excited by finding the new treat.

"We'll buy some to take with us since you two love them so. You need to be finishing up. We have to walk back to the cabin to get you outfitted for your lesson and get your skis. I'll pay for the meal this time Sev and you get these two sorted out." Sirius replies before leaving the table.

"Alright boys, enjoy your lesson and do what the instructors tell you. We'll be at the main lodge when you finish." Severus instructs the boys as they come out wearing the snow gear.

"We will Uncle Sev." Harry replies following Draco outside.

"What are you in such a hurry for? You barely even let Uncle Sev finish talking before you rushed out."

"I have my special stick and I was afraid he'd find it on me. I didn't want that to happen. Come, let's go meet Henri and Jacques and get this stupid lesson over. Then we'll have fun snowboarding!"

"Bonjour Harry. Bonjour Draco. Are you ready for your first time on a real slope? Today we're going to try the Snowbunny Slope. It's a little more advanced than the one we were going to use. You boys are advancing so quickly we think you can have a try at it. Let's walk. It's a little past the main lodge." Henri tells the boys as they walk up.

"Alright Draco, you go first. Remember to swivel the skis sideways to stop. Use the poles for balance. Just go down to the first set of flags and stop there." Jacques instructs after they all reach the top of the new slope.

"I can go farther than just the flags. I can go all the way to the bottom." Draco complains.

"For now, it's just the flags. Then Harry, Henri and myself will catch up to you. The two of you will then go to the next stopping point. You may push off when ready." Jacques replies firmly.

Watching Draco ski down the slope, Harry notices how well he is doing. "Henri? I don't know if I can do that well. He didn't have any problems and I still have trouble keeping my skis together at times."

"Most beginners can't even stay up on skis or guide them as well as you, Harry. Don't worry about comparing yourself to your cousin, just concentrate on doing your best. Now, it's your turn. Show us that Black style." Henri answers, smiling.

"I did it, Draco! I came all the way without losing my balance or ski point!" Harry exclaims as he reaches his cousin.

"Great job, kid. Now watch me and eat my snow!" Draco says pushing off before the older boys get to them.

"Draco!" Jacques calls out. "You are to wait for my permission!"

"Good job, Harry! You really are getting the techniques now. Come, let's go get your misbehaving cousin." Henri praises as the two instructors reach him.

"Draco! You are to stay where we tell you until we say it is safe to go. You could have run into someone or caused someone to run into you! Do as we tell you or sit out while Harry finishes his lesson." Jacques scolds the boy as he reaches him.

"I CAN ski! I don't need you to tell me when I can ski and watch every move I make! I'm not some beginner baby like Harry, here!" Draco answers rudely.

"That's enough, Mr. Snape. You may have a seat over there by the tree. Your lesson is now over. I will also be discussing your attitude with your Pa'pa." Henri tells him pointing to the tree closest to where they are standing.

"I'm not some sodding baby who needs time out! You aren't my Father and can't tell me what to do!" Draco responds pushing off on his skis and poles making himself go even faster away from the men.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with him. He usually doesn't act like this or talk back either. My Uncle will punish him for acting up like this. Please forgive him." Harry says looking at his two instructors.

"He isn't the first difficult student we've had, Harry. Don't fret over it. Let's practice skiing and stopping. Push off and go until I call stop and then show me how you stop. On three... One...Two ...Three."

When the instructors and Harry catch up with Draco, he's at the bottom of the slope, sitting by a tree. As the trio approaches him, he stands up.

"I did my time out, Jacques. I'm sorry for being rude to you and defying what you tell me. I won't act like that anymore. I just get frustrated because I want to learn something new and you keep telling me things I already know. Are you still going to tell my Dad about my rude behavior?"

"I will let it go, this once, Draco. You have apologized nicely and obeyed with your discipline. I will teach you something new while Harry and Henri practice together. Come with me and we'll go to the top of the slope."

"Alright Draco, let's learn to ski with a back and forth motion. Watch me as I show you what I mean." Jacques says as he demonstrates skiing with both skis pointed one direction and then changing to the opposite direction.

"Professional skiers use this technique in competitions. Have you ever watched any Olympics on television?"

"No sir. We aren't allowed to watch television at my school and we don't have one at home. Dad's old fashioned that way."

"Well, just try what I showed you and let's see how you do. It will take a lot of practice to be able to do this smoothly. Don't get discouraged if you can't do it right away."

"I won't and thanks Jacques for teaching me something special. I truly am sorry for being a prat and not listening to you."

"Off with you. Show me what you can do." The older boy answers, smiling.

After the ski lesson is finished, Draco and Harry go over to the section where children are snowboarding. Placing their skis on the ground by the wooden equipment rental lodge, the boys each rent a snowboard.

"Let's go Harry. You put your foot in this part and push off with the other. Once you get going put both feet on the board. Watch me." Draco says as he shows how to use the board.

"That doesn't look hard. I'm sure I can do that. Let's go slide!" Harry declares as the boys reach the top of the hill.

"It's snowboard not slide you dumb cluck!" another boy calls after walking by the two boys.

"Leave my cousin alone!" Draco calls back glaring.

"Come on, ignore him and let's have some fun." Harry whispers.

After several attempts to slide down the hill, Harry and Draco climb back up pulling the boards behind them.

"You two don't know how to snowboard! You keep falling off!" The same boy taunts as Harry and Draco struggle to stay on the boards.

"Harry just hasn't ever done this before! Leave us be and let us try! You keep sliding in front of us and that's not fair!" Harry answers.

"Aww, listen to the babies whine." The boy calls back as he and his friends start chanting "Babies! Babies! Little Wet Pants Babies!"

Draco reaches inside his snow jacket for his wand but before he can pull it out a huge black shape runs past them straight at the four children calling names.

"AHHHHHH! It's a monster dog! RUN!" yells the bully who started the taunting.

Harry and Draco collapse in the snow giggling as the "monster dog" lopes after the children who run screaming towards the lodge. Turning back, the dog lopes up to the boys.

"Hi there, Padfoot. Thanks for coming to our rescue." Harry says through giggles.

"You sure did scare those kids, Padfoot! They were being really hateful too!" Draco tells the dog as he pats his head.

"BARRRROOOOOFFF" Padfoot answers wagging his tail and headbutting the boys.

Going behind a thick tree, Padfoot turns back into Sirius who walks out to the still giggling boys.

"So, you enjoyed that, did you? You little monsters. Come on, show me this snowboarding you were talking about. I just may try it myself. Up you go Draco. Show us how to snowboard." Sirius says helping Draco get to his feet.

"You push off with one foot and then stand on the board like this. Then you just ride it down the slope. It's easy as long as no one gets in your way." Draco demonstrates before pushing off and gliding down the slope.

"Not to bad there, young cousin!" Sirius calls down to the boy.

"Alright Harry, your turn. Do what Draco did and let's see you ride this thing! You ride your broom well so I am positive you can ride this!" Sirius tells his son.

"Okay Dad. Watch me now." Harry says pushing off with one foot and sliding down the hill. With only one slight balance check he makes it all the way to Draco.

"Yay! You did it, Harry! That was good. Let's climb up and do it together!" Draco tells him when Harry stops beside him.

"Yes, let's try it together. Then let's get Dad. We'll catch him not ready and pile snow on him!" Harry whispers.

"Why are you whispering? He's way up there!" Draco asks quietly.

"He has extraordinary hearing sometimes so I'm being very careful." Harry whispers back.

Climbing back up the slope, Harry tells Sirius "We're going to try going down together, now. Watch us Dad. I'm not as good as Drake but I think I can keep up."

"I'll try not to go too fast. Just don't stop if I get ahead of you. Meet you at the bottom, Harry. Let's go on three, okay? Uncle Siri, count it out for us." Draco answers.

"Alright boys, mount the boards. Ready? One, Two... THREE!" Sirius calls as the two boys push off and glide down the slope. Watching, he sees Harry wave his arms for balance once but doesn't fall. Draco looks as if he's been snowboarding often instead of only having done it one time before. Making a mental note to tell Severus how good Draco is, Sirius watches the boys slide to a stop.

"Okay, let's get Uncle Siri. Let's get him down here and you distract him while I use my wand to put a heaping pile on him. Don't let him see the wand." Draco whispers in Harry's ear.

"How do I do that?"

"Pretend you're hurt or you need help. That will get him down here!"

"Umm, Okay." Turning to look up at where his Dad is standing he calls "Dad? I neeed youuuu. I neeed some help down here."

Sirius immediately runs down the slope stopping right in front of his son.

"What is it? Are you hurt? Where does it hurt? Tell me!" He all but barks out the commands.

"Umm, well umm you see, Dad...I think..." Harry stammers as Draco quickly waves his wand to gather a pile of snow and then drops it on top of Sirius.

"UFF" Sirius mutters, wiping the snow off his face. "Why you little monster! Throwing snow on me that way! Come here!" Sirius growls at Draco.

"Uncle Sirius! I was just having a little fun. Come on, be nice." Draco says backing away from the now advancing, angry looking man.

Seeing his chance, Harry gathers as much snow as his pulled up jacket front will hold and creeps up behind his Dad. Carefully, he picks up a handful and lobs it straight at the back of Sirius' head. Enjoying the nice 'SPLAT' that makes, he does it again.

"Hey now! That's cold! Another monster attacking me!" Sirius exclaims whirling around to chase Harry.

"Noooooo! Don't get me! You wanted to get Draco, remember? You need to spank him, remember?" Harry calls out laughing as he tries to run in the snow.

"I have two hands. I can do two at once! So come here you mongrel pup!" Sirius answers trying to grab the boy as he gets closer.

"Uncle Siri! Harry! Watch out for the ..." Draco yells just before Sirius runs into the snowtrap. The older boys have rigged up a rope to trip someone. When the rope was touched, it comes undone from a stake in the ground unleashing a chain reaction. The rope loosens two other ropes holding up a tarp full of snow. This tarp has now dumped snow on Sirius and Harry. Draco spotted it on one of his snowboarding runs and avoided going back until now.

"Uncle Siri! Harry! Where are you?" Draco calls frantically digging in the snow with his hands. "Commmme OUUUT!" The snow shouldn't have been deep enough to bury them that far under and yet he can't find them. Continuing to dig with both hands at once, Draco suddenly finds himself covered in snow. Wiping the snow off his face he sees his uncle standing behind him with a big grin. "Got you back, you young whelp!"

Harry, standing behind his Dad, motions for Draco to tackle him. As Draco attacks from the front, Harry pushes from behind and soon Sirius is down on the ground with two boys straddling his chest.

"Well, I guess you win. You two are much smarter than... " Sirius starts before he bucks his back causing both boys to topple off. Before they can move, he grabs both by a leg and hoists them in the air so they are dangling one on each side of him.

"Now, who is the smart one? I caught myself two wood nymphs! What do you do with wood nymphs you ask? You always have to shake them!" Sirius exclaims as he does just that.

"Dadddddd! Stop! You're going to make me lose my breakfast!" Harry calls giggling. Glancing down, he sees Draco's wand has fallen out of his jacket.

Sirius notices it at the same time as Harry. Placing both boys on the ground, he picks up the wand. Recognizing it immediately he turns to Draco.

"Draconis Tobias Snape! What is this doing here? Have you been using this? This is a muggle area!" Sirius says giving Draco a stern glare.

"I ... well, I only used it once. Just to get the snow a little while ago when ... Uncle Sirius, NOOOO! Dooooonnnn'tttt!" Draco whines as he finds himself flipped over his Uncle's knee.

Applying his large hand to the seat of his nephew's snowpants, Sirius scolds "You know you aren't to have this with you! You also know not to be conducting anything with it in a muggle area!" He's being careful not to use the words 'wand' or 'magic' just in case someone can hear.

"Yes sir. I'm sorry, sir. I won't do it anymore. OWWW. Uncle Siri! That hurts and people can see!" Draco calls out as an especially hard smack lands on his bum.

Standing the boy up, Sirius continues to lecture "Using this away from school and home is forbidden and you know it! Let me hear or see of you doing it again and the hairbrush will be used on something besides hair! Do you both understand me?"

"Yes sir, Uncle Sirius." Draco answers wiping the tears from his eyes before they can run down his face.

"Yes, Dad. I didn't do it though. I haven't touched it at all." Harry makes sure to say which earns him a scornful look from Draco.

"Umm, Uncle Siri? Are you going to tell Dad about this? Please don't. You already punished me." Draco asks with his best pleading look.

"Put away the look, Draco. It doesn't work on me. I ought to turn you over to your Dad and let him have a turn too, but I won't this time. You let me hear of this behavior again and you'll deal with BOTH of us! I mean it, young man! Let's go inside boys. We need to warm up."

Once inside the cabin, Sirius sends the boys to change out of their snow clothes. "You two take off the snow gear while I fix us all some hot chocolate. Hang those clothes in the bathroom to drip dry."

"You know something, Harry? These snowpants aren't as thick as I thought they were. I felt every one of those five smacks your Dad landed on my poor bum! I thought the pants would cushion me some!"

"I think you got lucky myself. If it had been me he caught with a wand, I'd be getting my bum tanned with that hairbrush about now. You're very lucky he isn't going to tell your Dad or you would be getting the brush! I told you this morning you would be in trouble with taking that wand. You should've listened to me."

"Yeah, I know. Perfect Harry. You are getting to be a pain on this trip. I'm the one who is in trouble all the time and you get all the Dads attention. I'm tired of it too, just so you know." Draco answers stomping out of the room.

"Here we go again. I sure wish you'd stop being such a sourpuss all the time. You aren't much fun to be around like this." Harry says as he enters the bedroom right after Draco.