Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 30

Grounded Means No Fun

After the boys fiasco at the ski resort, the two families return to their homes the following morning. It only takes two days before Harry is asking to see Draco again.

"Dad, you said I'm grounded from friends for the week. Draco is my cousin though. You said since you and his Mum were cousins, that made him my cousin and cousins are family not friends. Can I go visit him? Please Dad?"

"No son. Both of you are grounded and won't be seeing each other for a few days. Maybe later in the week but not today. This is part of your punishment, Harry. We let up on the original idea of being grounded the rest of the vacation so the week stands."

"Daddd! That's unfair. You didn't tell us we'd be separated from each other too! You said "grounded from friends". I'm bored, Dad and need to play with Draco."

"No whinging, Harry. You have a room full of new gifts from Christmas and a racetrack outside. Enjoy the chance to play with those things, son. If you don't want to accept your punishment, I can always add some essays or even lines to keep you occupied." Sirius responds, smiling at the shocked look that statement receives.

"No, I don't need to do essays or lines either, Dad. I've done all my homework for the holidays already and don't need more work. Does being grounded mean I can't go anywhere with you either?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"Could we go to the new ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley? I forget the name but we went there once before."

"Are you referring to Florean Fortescue's?"

"Yes! That one! Can we go there Dad? Just you and me?"

"Harry, when you are grounded, that means you stay home. Since you've never been grounded except at Hogwarts, I see you didn't understand the concept. Grounded is being restricted from certain things, usually everything outside of the home. Children who are grounded do not get to go to restaurants or ice cream parlors. Those are special rewards given for good behavior. Your behavior at the ski lift was not what I consider good. Do you understand now?"

"Yes sir. I don't like being grounded to the Manor, Dad! This is not fun! At least at school, I still see my friends in class."

"It isn't supposed to be fun, Harry. It's punishment not a party."

"Dad! I just had a tremendously terrific idea! How about you pop over to Fortescue's and get us some ice cream? That way I can still be grounded and get ice cream too." Harry asks, smiling happily at his great plan.

"Not a chance, Pup. Very good try, though. No ice cream treats while grounded is going to be the rule. Now, go find something to do while I take care of some business. I'll take you out to the track to race with you after I finish."

Up in his room, Harry looks at all the new toys and books but doesn't feel up to using one of them. Flopping down on the bed with a disgusted sigh, he thinks about Draco.

"I wonder if Draco knows that grounded means you have no one to play with and are bored from not having any fun?" he thinks. Remembering the talking mirrors, he reaches out and pulls open the nightstand drawer. Sure enough, it's right where he remembered putting it before the ski vacation. Picking it up, he looks into it and calls "Draco! It's Harry. Talk to me." The mirrors are charmed to find the person who is being called as long as they are inside. Waiting a few minutes, Harry finally sees Draco's face show up in his mirror.

"Hi, Harry. What's going on there?" Draco asks.

"Nothing at all. Dad won't even take me to get ice cream. Grounded means no fun or even special treats, Draco." Harry complains.

"Yes, I know that already, Harry. I'm sorry you aren't having fun. Dad's letting me help with some potions so I'm having fun. I've got to go now. Bye!" Draco says before disappearing.

On the other end of the talking mirror, Draco puts his mirror down on his desk in his bedroom and returns to the potions lab.

"All set? I see you changed into some older clothes as I suggested. Why the long face, son?"

"Harry just talked to me through the mirrors. I miss him, Dad."

"We'll see them soon, Draco. Later this week, we'll have them over for lunch. Now, what were you going to tell me about your idea for the Pepper Up potion?"

"Well Dad, that potion is one kids have to take often and it tastes horrible. It smells like my socks do after wearing them on a summer day. I think kids would rather have a potion that smelled good if not tasted good. Couldn't you add something to it to make it at least smell better? Then we could drink it down quickly and wouldn't notice how it tastes."

"That's very good thinking, Draco. I've never actually tried to make it smell and taste better. Let's do some experimenting together. I have a few ideas we can try. There are a few things that can be added to a potion without causing the potion to change the desired results."

"Sir? It doesn't what?" Draco asks, head cocked to the side and frowning in concentration.

"What I mean is, what we add doesn't stop the potion from working as it should. We want the pepper up potion to still clear someone's cold symptoms. We have to be cautious not to add in something that will change those results. I think peppermint oil and leaves might do it. Go get the jar of oil and the dried leaves for me, son."

"I already have some Pepper Up ingredients sorted out so all we have to do is brew them the allotted time and add in the oil and crushed leaves. Will you try the potion, son? It was your idea to improve it so you should try it out."

"I will but what if it causes me to do something strange like break out into stripes? I don't want to be red and white striped, Dad." Draco answers seriously.

"Why not son? Don't you want girls to think you are sweet?"

"DAAAD! I don't like GIRLS!" Draco answers scrunching his face into a YUCK look.

"I don't think you need to worry about that, Draco." Severus chuckles. "We're using the leaves and oil not the actual candy."

"Grandpa would like it if we used the candy. He likes candy, especially those lemon drops. I like calling the Headmaster, Grandpa. My other grandpa, I had to call him Grandfather Malfoy and he was mean like Lucius. Once when I was six, I accidentally spilled a tea cart as the house elf was pushing it. Grandfather whipped me with his walking stick! I didn't mean to trip on a rug and knock into the cart but he didn't believe me. He yelled at me that I was clumsy, careless and not befitting the Malfoy name. Then he beat me on my legs and banned me from coming downstairs the rest of the day. Lucius was right there watching and didn't even try to stop him."

"I'm sorry he was cruel to you Draco. Most children have times where they accidentally break something. You are not to worry about that. I would have stepped in and taken you then, if I could have at the time. Your Grandfather was very powerful in the wizarding society and I was not. Try to put those memories away and think only of good times. Let's start on our improved potion, shall we?"

"What can I do to help, Dad? I don't want to just watch you. I want to help you make the potion."

"You can grind up these leaves while I begin preparing the cauldron."

After Severus and Draco have brewed a new version of the Pepper Up Potion, Severus pours some into a vial.

"All right son, in order to test this effectively, I'm going to need you to be suffering from cold symptoms. I need to cast a spell to make you feel as if you have the sniffles and slightly sore throat. Are you willing for me to do this?"

"Yes Dad. We have to see if it works and if it tastes better too. I'm ready."

Five minutes later, Draco's throat is scratchy and his head feels stuffed up.

"I'm feelig like I hab a coad. My throat ith thcratchy and my heb ith thtuffy, Dad." He tells Severus loudly.

"I can tell, son. Your nose is red and runny plus you are very loud so your ears are blocked too. Alright, here's the potion. Can you smell anything?"

"Yeth, It thmellth good now. Can I tathte it now?" Draco asks wanting to get rid of these symptoms.

"Go ahead, drink it down and let's see how it does. Even if it doesn't work, we know we improved the smell."

After swallowing the contents of the vial, Draco feels the usual effects of a Pepper Up Potion. His head feels warm and tingly and he feels steam coming from his nose and ears.

"I feel much better, now. It tastes like it usually does with a little taste of peppermint flavor. Maybe we can add a little more oil for flavoring. The smell was there but the taste isn't quite there yet." Draco tells his Dad.

"Well, let's add in another ten drops of oil and see if that does it. Do you mind being used as the test subject one more time?" Severus asks as he pours in the oil.

"No sir. Can I stir it in this time, please? I know to stir six times counter clockwise. I'll count carefully."

"Go ahead, son."

"This is a pretty color of potion now, Dad. Look, it's an Easter egg blue color. Can we come back here on Easter weekend and hide eggs? Harry and I can find them and maybe have friends come here too. I've not had any friends over before." Draco says as he lifts the stirring stick out of the cauldron.

"You've had friends visit before at Malfoy Manor, haven't you?" Severus asks. Something in the tone of Draco's voice made him question if the boy has ever had friends over at all.

"Not my friends. I never have had friends until Harry let me share Ron, Hermione and Neville. I had to be polite and entertain the children of Father's friends but they weren't MY friends not really."

"We'll talk about that some more later. For now let's test the potion again. Are you ready to feel the cold symptoms once more?" Severus asks.

"I'm ready."

Taking the potion vial with the bright teal blue potion, Draco hesitates. "Dad? You smell it first and let's see if it still smells nice before I take it."

"It smells like a jar of peppermint balls, son. Now how does it taste?"

"Yum! That tastes like a peppermint drink! Wow! It works faster this time too. My ears and nose cleared as soon as I swallowed. I didn't even feel the steam come out. Did it?"

"Yes and it happened very quickly. I believe you have improved the Pepper Up Potion! Now even the youngest children won't balk at taking it. I'm impressed at your ideas son. We'll brew more of this and bottle it to take to Madame Pomfrey. She'll want to keep a supply on hand at Hogwarts. I'll even share the recipe with some healers so they can have some brewed to keep at their offices."

"Potion brewing is fun, Dad. What else can we improve on?"

"Nothing for now. Look at the time. It's past time for our tea and meal. Let's go eat, Draco."

**** five days later****

Coming inside after racing his Dad on the racetrack, Harry teases "I won again, Dad! This makes the score Harry 8 Dad 3! You just aren't very good at steering the car, I guess. You keep running off the track! Do you need some glasses? Maybe you're just getting old and feeble minded."

"I'll show you someone old and feeble minded, young Pup! You'd better run because this dog is going to get you for that comment!" Sirius tells him transforming into Padfoot and chasing him into the kitchen.

Delighted squeals of laughter drown out the sound of the floo so Harry jumps when he hears "Sirius! We need to talk, right now! Transform back please!"

"Well Severus, what can I do for you? I'm listening." Sirius replies after becoming human.

"This is private and not for young ears."

"Harry, Severus and I are going to talk in the study. You go ahead and wash up and then ask Dobby for your lunch. I'll join you as soon as we are finished."

"Yes, Dad." Harry answers recognizing the stern tone of his Dad's voice as a time to just agree.

In the study, Severus casts a charm to prevent anyone from overhearing. "Sirius, Dumbledore sent word thirty minutes ago that Hogwarts is showing signs of the wards failing. He requests the two of us come and help him reset the wards. This is going to take more than just an hour or two. The wards for each house are also failing. Something is trying to get into the school and we need to be there to help stop it. I've asked Remus to come stay with Draco. Do you want Harry to go stay there also?"

"Harry has a trip to Ron's already set for this afternoon. As you know he's just been released from being grounded for a week. I've promised him he can go and I don't want to take that away from him. I can arrange for him to return to Snape Manor tonight if that's acceptable to you."

"That will be fine. You'll need to floo Remus and let him in on the plans. He is already at the manor and probably expecting Harry to arrive."

Walking back into the kitchen, Sirius sits to talk to his son. "Harry, something has come up at Hogwarts that Sev and I have to take care of. I'm going to be gone awhile, possibly until late tonight or even sometime tomorrow. What I want you to do is spend the night with Draco at Snape Manor. You can still go to Ron's today but at five o'clock you are going to floo to the manor. You are to go nowhere else. Dobby will pack your clothes and send them through the floo so you don't need to take anything to Ron's. Do you understand the plan, son?"

"Yes, Dad. What's going on at school?"

"Nothing that concerns the inquisitive young boy in front of me. Finish eating and get yourself ready to go to Ron's. I'll see you tonight or tomorrow. Remus is staying at Draco's so he'll be looking for you to come at five and no later. Do not disappoint me by misbehaving. You don't want to be punished again, I'm sure."

"I'll be good, Dad. I don't want to be grounded any longer! That is not fun! Bye Dad and Uncle Sev." Harry calls as the two men enter the floo.

Going up to his room to wash and change for Ron's, Harry takes out his Communication Mirror. "DRACO! Pick up!"

"Hi Harry! What are you doing calling me when you are coming over in a few minutes?" Draco asks as he appears.

"I'm not coming until five. Dad already said I could go to play at Ron's and he's letting me go. I come to your place at five. Can you come to Ron's?"

"No, I'm still grounded. I got an extra day because I went to the Potions lab and started brewing without Dad's permission or supervision. Grounding lasts forever! I'd rather get spanked and get it over with! I'll see you later, then." Draco says glumly as Harry says good bye.

Walking downstairs, Draco finds Remus reading by the fire. "Uncle Remus? Can I go outside and fly awhile?"

"What did your Dad say about doing that? I seem to remember he left a few instructions for you."

"It's not like I'm going anywhere. I'll just be outside. I'll wear a coat and gloves and hat and be careful. Please? I'm so tired of being inside."

"What did your Dad say about that, Draco?" Remus persists with a stern look for the boy.

With a long suffering sigh Draco answers "I'm to stay inside and do as you tell me. I'm to stay out of the Potions lab and work on my holiday homework. It's just two essays and I could do them anytime."

"When you finish one essay, you and I can play a few rounds of Wizard's chess if you like. If there's some other game you'd rather play, we can do that too. Homework first though. I hope you've done your homework for Defense. I'd be upset if that was the one you put off doing."

"It's done. Your assignments are easy and fun to do. This is Transfiguration and Charms. Both take a long time because you have to describe things. Why do Professors give homework even over Winter break? We should be let off for Christmas!"

"You get three weeks off so no one wants to see the students fall behind in their studies. Now, go on and do at least one of your essays. I won't make you do both."

"Yes sir." Draco replies. Slouching up the stairs to his room, he misses the small smile that crosses Remus's face at his actions.

Enjoying flying with Ron, Harry sees Mrs. Weasley come to the garden and motion for the boys to land.

"Yes Mum? What do you need?" Ron asks as the boys land their brooms.

"You have another guest, Ron. Draco Snape just arrived. Go get another broom for him so he can join you two."

"Yes Mum. Hi, Draco. I'm glad you could come." Ron says passing Draco as he goes to the broom shed.

"You three have fun but no dangerous tricks, boys." Mrs. Weasley cautions as she turns to go back inside.

"Yes, Ma'am. We'll fly safely. Hi Draco! I didn't think you could come." Harry responds as Ron comes up with a broom.

"We'll be safe, Mum. We don't want to get whacked with a wooden spoon!" Ron teases his Mum.

"You just might Ronald Weasley! Watch that cheekiness young man!" she responds smiling.

Waiting to see Mrs. Weasley inside, Draco whispers to Harry "I snuck out. Uncle Remus didn't know I left. I used the floo in Dad's bedroom. I'll floo back in an hour or so and he won't even know I'm gone. He sent me to my room to work on homework so he thinks I'm up working. I NEED to get out of that house and play with you."

"You are risking trouble, Draco. I am glad to see you though." Harry whispers back.

"So am I, both of you. Here Draco. This is a newer broom and I'll take this older model. Let's have a race. We'll see who can fly around the house and back here the fastest. We'll use a tempus charm to time ourselves. Draco, take a few laps first to try out the broom and then we'll start." Ron says.

"Draco, you are the winner!" Ron announces after all three boys have taken a turn to race. "You were the fastest by twenty seconds, Harry was second and I was last. You two are just better at turns than me. Let's do something else now. What would you like to do?"

"Harry says your Dad has some muggle things in the shed. Will you show us, Ron?" Draco asks.

"Yeah, come on. He just got a autocar two weeks ago and it's fun to sit in. He's making it where it will fly, he says." Then seeing Harry giggling behind his hand he asks "What's funny?"

"You called it an autocar. Ron, it's an automobile or car but not autocar. Let's go see it. My Dad had a car one time but he liked wizard travel best." Harry answers.

"Why do they call it Car? What kind of name is that? Is it short for Carousel or something?" Draco asks.

"It's short for carriage, I think. They used to be called horseless carriage back years ago." Harry answers as the boys walk behind the shed.

"Oh, it's kind of nice looking. Can we sit in it? I've not been in a car before." Draco asks.

"We can but don't touch anything. If something went wrong and something happened to this aut.. I mean car, my Dad would really punish me! I'll get in trouble if he knows we were in here without him, so be careful."

"How? Grounded, lines?" Draco asks curious to know how Ron is punished.

"Possibly but for something big, he uses a paddle or even his belt doubled up. The twins have gotten the belt but not me. I got the paddle once though. That time I took fireworks to Harry's and we set a shed on fire. I was forbidden to play with fireworks. That was last year and I don't want that paddle again."

"What does that stick thing do?" Draco asks reaching out to touch the gearshift after the boys have examined the dashboard.

"NO! DRACO!" Harry says, quickly knocking his cousin's hand away. "We'll all get in trouble if you cause the car to do something! My Dad would spank me if he knew I'd been around a bewitched car! Uncle Sev would spank you too and you know it!"

"I'm getting out before someone catches us in here." Ron says opening the car door. Come on mates, let's go get some pumpkin juice and cookies. Mum makes really good applesauce raisin cookies and she made a fresh batch last night.

While the boys are enjoying their snack, Remus has decided to check on Draco.

Knocking softly on the boy's bedroom door, Remus calls "Draco? I thought you might like to have a snack. I brought you some treacle tarts and butterbeer."

Not getting a response, Remus opens the door expecting the boy to be napping. Instead the room is empty.

"DRACO!" Remus calls casting a Point Me spell. His wand pointing towards the hallway and then Severus' room, Remus opens that bedroom door also. Finding the room empty, he heads downstairs to check outside. After searching the sky for the boy thinking he might have decided to fly anyway and not finding him, Remus decides to search inside. Casting Point Me again, he receives no better results. The wand is continuously pointing to Severus' bedroom. Checking the Potions Lab, Remus sees no sign of anyone having been there recently. At a loss for what to do now, Remus decides to send an owl to Hogwarts. Finding parchment and quill in the study, he writes a message.

Severus,

Draco has disappeared. He was doing homework in his room but is nowhere in the Manor or outside. I've done "Point Me" several times.

Each time it points to your bedroom. I fear he has used the floo. I do not know where he is. Advise.

Remus

Rolling the parchment and tying it to Severus' owl, he commands "Take it to your owner, Severus Snape, Hogwarts. Wait for a reply and return."

Back at the Weasley's, Harry is watching Ron and Draco begin a game of Wizard's Chess. Both are evenly matched in skill and are very good at the game. Harry, not being as good prefers to watch the two battle for a win.

"Knight to bishop" Ron orders as the boys watch the horse slide across the board in an L shape to capture Draco's bishop."

"Queen to pawn six." Draco orders smugly. "Watch yourself Weasley. I'm about to put you in Checkmate!"

"Not so fast Malfoy, I mean Snape. That's an illegal move. Your queen can't go that way. Take it back."

"My queen can so move that way. Now what are you going to do about it? The Queen has power! All bow to the Queen!" Draco yells.

"Draco! Stop yelling! Mrs. Weasley's going to come and scold us if you don't!" Harry whispers in his cousin's ear not wanting to embarrass him by speaking out in front of Ron.

"Merlin, you are a stubborn one aren't you. Well, I gave you a chance and you refused it." Ron says moving his king to capture the Queen. All three boys cover their ears when Draco's queen lets out a shrill scream as it "dies" on the chessboard. It vanishes from the board reappearing on Ron's side with the other black pieces he's captured.

Back at Snape Manor the grey owl has returned with a response.

Remus,

Thank you for notifying me and stop panicking. Go to the floo in my room, throw the floo powder in and say "Pristinus, Draco Tobias Snape!" This will take you to wherever it is he went. I'm almost positive he went to Ron Weasley's home, The Burrow. Harry was playing there today and I am guessing Draco joined them. When you find him, I give you my full permission to put him over your knee! I'm unable to leave until sometime tomorrow. You may deliver a message to my son. You tell him he is to take whatever punishment you want to give him and also that he will answer to me when I return. You are not to go easy on him, Remus. This is forbidden behavior and dangerous also. He could have wound up anywhere! I apologize for my son's behavior. He will be disciplined and he will apologize for this!

Severus Snape

Rolling the message and leaving it on the table, Remus goes upstairs to Severus' bedroom. Taking a small handful of blue floo powder, he throws it into the fireplace and steps into the resulting smoke. Saying "Pristinus, Draco Tobias Snape!" he is whisked out of sight.

At The Burrow, Molly Weasley is startled as Remus steps from the floo in their family room.

"Remus! What a surprise! It's good to see you again." She says recovering from her shock.

"Molly, it's good to see you also. I'm hoping you can help me with a small problem. I'm watching Harry and Draco for their Dads tonight and Draco has disappeared on me. Is he here by any chance? I know Harry has been here with Sirius' permission and feel Draco might have joined him."

"Why, yes Remus. Draco has been here since about one o'clock. You mean to tell me he did not have permission to come? I had no idea! The boys are up in Ron's room. I'll go get them."

"Thank you, but when you do, don't mention I'm here. Just tell them it's time for them to go home and bring them down. I don't want to run the risk of Draco finding a way to run off on me again."

"I won't say a word to them about you. Make yourself comfortable. There's tea and fresh cookies in the kitchen, why don't you wait in there while I fetch the children?"

"Good idea. I could use a drink after the panic I've been in for the last thirty minutes!"

"I'm going to step out of bounds here, Remus and offer parental advice. You need to punish Draco soundly for this. I'm sure Severus will take your side. We can't allow little boys to floo without adult permission."

"Not to worry, Molly. I have full permission to tan his bum tonight and I full well plan on doing just that as soon as I get them back to the Manor!"

Nodding, Molly leaves to fetch the boys. Going into Ron's room, she says "Harry, Draco, it's time to come downstairs. You are needed back at Snape Manor now. Ron tell your friends good bye so they can leave."

"Bye mates. It was fun having you visit. I hope you can come again sometime."

"Bye Ron. I had a great time today. Thank you Mrs. Weasley for letting me come." Harry replies politely.

"Yes, I had fun too. Thanks for letting me stay." Draco says.

"Let's go boys." Molly replies escorting the two boys downstairs. Walking them into the family room, she says "Wait just a moment boys. I have to get something from the kitchen."

Standing by the couch, Draco's eyes go wide as Remus walks into the room.

"Hello boys. It's time to get back to Snape Manor. I came to escort you home. Draco, come here by me. I'm going to hold on to you. Harry, you go first and floo to Snape Manor. Did you boys thank Mrs. Weasley for allowing you to visit?"

"Yes Sir, we both thanked her." Harry responds with a curious look at his Uncle. He senses Remus is unhappy about something.

"Thank you Molly, for your help. We'll be in touch. Harry, go on now." Remus says as Molly walks into the room.

"Yes sir." Taking a handful of powder, stepping into the fireplace, Harry announces "Snape Manor!" and is out of sight.

"Let's go Draco. Keep hold of my hand." Remus tells the boy as he also calls "Snape Manor" and they disappear.

Reappearing in Severus' bedroom floo, Remus tells Harry. "I need to have a private discussion with Draco, Harry. I want you to go downstairs and send out the order for dinner tonight. I have it written out so all you have to do is send the owl with it. When it comes, set the table and use the stasis charm I taught you to keep the food fresh and hot. Draco and I will come down soon."

"Yes sir." Harry answers with a side look at his cousin. Draco seems a little worried by this command.

As soon as Harry is out of the room, Remus raises his wand and casts Silencio to muffle any sound coming from the room. He also locks the bedroom door with his wand. Then tucking the wand back into his holder strapped to his waist, he sits on Severus' bed.

"Come Draco and sit with me. We need to talk."

As the boy obeys, he begins his lecture "You disobeyed me today young man. You also disobeyed your Father and he has been informed. He instructs me to handle your punishment tonight and to tell you he will deal with you when he returns! Using the floo without permission, sneaking out on me, worrying me when I had no idea where you were! Son, all of those things have one conclusion. You are about to find out what a spanking from me feels like! Lie over my lap, Draco. You can do it yourself or I will put you there!"

Later that evening as the boys dress for bed, Harry asks "What happened when I left the room? Did he scold you badly?"

"No, he didn't really. I got a short lecture. He made me lay over his lap and walloped my bum until it was numb! Merlin Harry! Uncle Remus has a hand of steel! My bum is just now beginning to burn. I'm in for it again tomorrow. Dad sent word that I'm in trouble with him too. I guess I'll be grounded again. I hope so anyway."

"Didn't you say earlier today, you'd rather get spanked and get it over with?" Harry asks as he gets in the spare bed.

"After feeling Uncle Remus's hand, I changed my mind! I'll not sit for days if I get another right after this one!"

"Good luck on getting out of another spanking. You'll need it." Harry thinks as he drifts off to sleep.

:-) A/N; Thanks goes out to RubyBlue100 and GoAgainstTheGrain for their excellent suggestions.