Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 34

Explanations and Excitement

While Ron and Harry are away for the evening, Draco is spending time with Neville and Blaise in the dorm.

"Blaise, I didn't know you were so much fun to be with." He says as the boys play exploding snap. "I am learning each day how nice it is not to be stuck in Slytherin with those snobs. I enjoy being different."

"Well Draco, you are certainly different than when I was here last year. How did you change so much? You were just like the Slytherins last year. Rich, stuck up, mean spirited and refused to speak nicely to anyone other than your own house. What happened to you? How'd you get into Gryffindor anyway?"

"I am sorry I acted hatefully to you last year, Blaise. My father, Lucius was making me act that way. He'd beat me with a cane if I didn't put on the pureblood behavior and treat others the way I did. I had to be snobbish and better than everyone. If I didn't and he heard, he'd beat me. Professor Snape is my Godfather and he found out how I was being treated. He had the Ministry strip Lucius of his parental rights and then he blood adopted me. He's my Dad now and he won't allow me to act superior at all. He punishes me a different way when I act up, he doesn't cane me or cast spells on me either. He's trying to teach me to behave better. I want to please him so I try to behave better."

"Professor Snape as a Dad. That's hard to get my thoughts together on that. Is all that strictness in class an act? Besides that, how did you get into Gryffindor?"

"No, the strictness is not an act. He will treat you the same in class as he always has. When it comes to being a Potion's professor, he's different than being my Dad. I asked to be resorted. I didn't want to be in Slytherin and felt different after the adoption. The Headmaster allowed a resorting and the sorting hat put me in Gryffindor. Harry and I are cousins and friends now. Sometimes we even pretend we're brothers. We aren't enemies any longer and I hope you won't be my enemy either. I've changed, haven't I Neville?'

"He has, Blaise. Draco is much nicer and much more fun to be with than he was as a Malfoy. I like him much better now."

"How are you possibly a cousin of Harry's? I know history and Malfoys and Potters were never related."

"It's this way, Blaise. My mother was a cousin of Sirius Black. He is my cousin but I call him Uncle. Harry is now his son by blood so that makes us cousins. Do you understand now?" Draco asks patiently.

"Yes, but this is all a bit much to take in. Wait, you said you changed your name too? Did you change it to Black?"

"No, not Black, but Snape. Instead of taking my new Dad's name for my middle name, I just took his Dad's name. I never knew a Grandparent but I wanted to honor my Dad in some way. I'm now Draconis Tobias Snape instead of Draconis Lucien Malfoy. My mother disappeared after Lucius was put in prison. I haven't heard from her in over a year. I prefer it that way, too. She wouldn't stand up for me during the beatings from Lucius and then abandoned me completely."

"Well! That is news. Now, you said you want to please your new Dad. Does that mean you don't like to do exciting but forbidden things? I have a plan in mind for when Harry comes back to the dorm. If you don't want to risk being in trouble, I won't include you in it."

"I don't mind risking it. I'm still Slytherin enough to like sneaking around for adventure. What's the plan?"

"Harry still has that Invisibility Cape, right?" Blaise asks.

"Somewhere, yes. I think his Dad has it put away, though." Draco answers.

"Well, we get it back and use it to sneak out with. I won't say where yet. It's somewhere great, though."

Four nights later, Dorm room:

"Now that we are all back together in the room, I have a plan for some fun." Blaise announces.

"What kind of plan?" Harry asks, looking up from the essay he's trying to write for his Transfiguration class.

"This upcoming weekend, the upper level students are going to Hogsmeade, right?" Blaise asks.

"Well, yes, if the weather is good, they are. Why do you ask?"

"Because, if we plan now, we can all go along!"

"Blaise! There is no way the professors will allow Junior Level students to go too. My Dad would never let me go to Hogsmeade that way or any of you either!"

"That's why we don't ask! Do you still own the Invisibility Cape you had last year?"

"Yes. Even with the cloak, we couldn't do it. It's a cloak not a cape. We can't hide five people with one cloak, Blaise." Ron speaks up.

"Afraid to get your bum walloped again by your Dad, Weasley? I heard you tell Harry that night you came back how he paddled you!" Blaise sneers.

"Not at all Zabini. But your plan is full of holes just like the raggedy scrap of baby blanket you sleep with!" Ron replies.

"You bloody boggart! I don't sleep with a baby blanket! You aren't a true Gryffindor! You are a cowardly sniveling Hufflepuff! No bravery, no brains either! I saw that Potions essay you got back today with the D for Dreadful."

"Shut it, Zabini!" Ron replies balling his hands into fists.

"Ron! Calm down! Blaise, stop this! You two are going to cause trouble!" Harry tries but the two ignore him.

"Hufflepuff Weasley, yeah that sounds alright. Let's get you resorted! Cream puff!"

"I'll show you cream puff, Zabini!" Ron answers charging the older boy.

With Blaise's sidestep, Ron runs headfirst into the chiffarobe. Both boys grab and punch at each other as they roll across the floor knocking over chairs as they do so.

"Ron! Blaise! STOP FIGHTING!" Harry yells at the two who finally stand up glaring at each other, as they gasp for breath.

The door to their dorm room suddenly opens revealing Professor Black.

"What is going on in this room? The prefect alerted me to trouble with two fourth years trying to hex each other so I came into the common room. I heard something that sounded as if you have a Hippogriff up here! What has been going on? Out with it! Mr. Weasley, why is your head bleeding?"

"I'll tell you Sir. Weasley insulted me. He's using my race against me. Calling me a bloody Black assed bear. I defended myself with words but he charged me. I sidestepped and he ran into the chiffarobe sir." Blaise responds as Ron's mouth drops open at the insult he hears.

Noticing Neville hiding behind a book but Harry and Draco both looking on, wide eyed, Sirius asks "Draco, Harry, did you hear or see what started this drama?"

"Yes sir." Draco answers.

"Yes sir, they argued and then, well they were punching each other." Harry answers staring at Blaise in astonishment.

"Very well, come with me Mr. Weasley and Mr. Zabini."

Realizing his best friend was about to be punished for something he didn't say, Harry asks "Dad? May I talk to you alone for a second?"

"Yes, step over here and we'll talk in a privacy bubble." Waiting for Harry to join him he casts a privacy shield where no one can hear or see them through the cloudy shield.

"What do you know, son?"

"They did argue, Dad. Blaise is lying though. He was taunting Ron, calling him a Hufflepuff and cream puff. Ron charged him and had fists up but he never insulted Blaise's race or anything else about him."

"Thank you, son. Both will be punished equally. I can't punish Blaise differently unless I have proof." Sirius says as Harry protests "He lied, Dad!"

"I believe you, Harry. Calm yourself, I feel your magic sparking. You don't want to hurt someone." Sirius answers placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. As Harry takes deep breaths, he feels the rage inside calming. Nodding to his dad that he's in control, he watches the bubble disappear.

"Come with me, Mr. Zabini and Mr. Weasley. The two of you have a two hour detention for causing a disturbance during study hours. Professor Snape is over seeing detention for Slytherin and Griffyndor tonight and has several cauldrons needing to be scrubbed."

"Uncle Sirius! I didn't even do that much! He started it all! I don't want detention with Professor Snape. He's too strict!" Ron complains.

"I believe I'll tell him to let you both work with flobberworms also. Mr. Weasley, you have detention for fighting, no discussion. Let's go."

"But flobberworms are disgusting!" Ron whines before slapping his hand over his mouth at a glare from Sirius.

"True, that is why they make a good detention. Detention is punishment not a party. Let's move, boys. The rest of you, get back to your homework. As I told the students downstairs, I'd better not have to come back up here because of a disturbance tonight. Because of the disturbances tonight,all of Gryffindor will report back to the common room for a house meeting tomorrow evening straight after the evening meal. We have some discussing on rules that needs to be done." Sirius replies sternly.

A few minutes after the door closed, Neville whispers anxiously "Your Dad is scary when he's mad, Harry. He looked ready to put Ron over his knee when he complained the second time! Do you suppose he'll spank them? I know our Head of House can do that."

"Relax Neville, he isn't going to spank you! If it had been me in a fight, he would have. This is the second time he has known of them fighting. If I were them I would not do it again! I doubt he'd spank them but the punishment would be worse next time."

"Harry, are you almost finished with your Transfiguration essay? I have the steps listed but I can't think of why it is useful to turn a mug into a rat." Neville asks some time later.

Laughing at that statement, Draco says "You have it backwards! You don't turn the mug into the rat, you turn the rat into a mug! Ron has a rat over there in the cage. Want to practice on him?"

"Draco! You cast a spell on Ron's rat and you'll stand up for breakfast tomorrow! My Dad will paddle your bum or turn you over to yours and he'll do the same! You know we can't do magic without an adult!"

"Someone needs to do a spell on Scabbers, Harry. He's an ugly old thing even for a rat!" Draco answers back earning laughter from Neville.

"Enough playing around, I have to get homework finished. I, for one, don't want to be in trouble tomorrow. I'm trying really hard not to get punished by my Dad. I've set a record of four and a half weeks so far. I've never gone that long without being in trouble! Dad's very pleased and I'm going to keep it that way. Now, hush so I can get this Transfiguration essay done."

"My stars, Harry! You sound like a parent! Stop scolding me, will ya? I'm up in the dorms for the first time in a long while and I aim to enjoy myself!" Draco answers.

"C'mon Neville, let's play exploding snap or gobstones while ole fussybritches does homework."

"Umm, okay! But we can't play long, I need to get my essay finished also. I know what to write now. I can write on why it's useful to turn a rat into a mug. One thing is you can always find rats so you'll always have a mug for cocoa."

"You are a sharp fella, Neville." Draco replies, winking at Harry.

At breakfast the next morning, Sirius notices Harry writing frantically instead of eating. Curious, he walks over to the Gryffindor table as most of the students leave for their first class.

Engrossed in his writing, Harry doesn't see or hear his Dad approach and jumps when someone touches his shoulder. Looking up and seeing his Dad, he blushes.

"What's up, Pup? Why are you completing homework at the last minute?" Sirius asks quietly.

"I'm not doing homework, Dad. I have all my homework finished, I promise."

"If you aren't finishing homework, then what is it you are so busily writing that you have neglected breakfast?"

"I ate some but I just had to write down my idea before I forgot it. I have to go, Dad or I'll be late for Transfiguration. You don't want me to be in trouble in class, do you?"

"I'll see you after classes. Come home this afternoon as I have something to talk to you about. No, you aren't in trouble, so don't ask. Have a wonderful day and do well, son."

"Thanks Dad, I will. Be sure to go easy on the students today. They don't need long homework essays."

"Go scamp! You said you didn't want to be late and I just saw Professor McGonagall leaving."

Ten minutes later, Harry is sliding, panting, into his seat under the stern scowl of Professor McGonagall.

"Before I dock points, Mr. Potter-Black, would you like to offer an explanation for your tardiness?"

"Yes, Ma'am. My Dad held me up by wanting to talk to me just as I was leaving the Great Hall. I was running, err, I mean to say, hurrying down the corridor and Mr. Jackson stopped me. He scolded me and held me up too, that's why I'm late, Ma'am."

"Mr. Jackson, Professor Jackson, you meant. The new Art professor?"

"Yes ma'am. Professor Jackson. I meant to say."

"Very well. I will not dock points but you walk in the corridors, young man!"

"Yes Ma'am. Thank you, Ma'am." Harry answers, wilting under his adoptive Grandma's fierce scowl.

"Take out your essays from last class. We will continue practicing the Transfiguration from that class. You have rats in cages by your feet to use for the practicum today. They are under a stunning spell so they won't be escaping. You may begin, class."

Walking down the path to the outside class of Care of Magical Creatures, Draco teases "You looked ready to crawl in the cage with your rat back there. Does she scare you that much, Harry?"

"Shut it, Draco. I'm not in the mood to listen to you flap your gums today."

"Oh Ho! Touched a nerve, did I? Probably because you get embarrassed being called down in front of everyone by your Grandma. What did you think she'd do? Spank you? Not only that but you actually had points docked from Gryffindor. You weren't paying attention to the lecture after the practicum and got caught! I never thought YOU would lose points in her class."

"Drake! I mean it! I don't want to hear about this! Besides she's your Grandma now too."

"Yes, and apparently she likes me best. I received an Outstanding for my transformation essay today. You only got Acceptable on yours. I'm shocked at that. Weren't you the one lecturing last night on focusing on homework? Seems to me I did better than you and you spent all that time you could have been having fun, on homework which you only got Acceptable for!"

"DRACO, I'm warning you, I'm not in the mood for this!" Harry retorts glaring at his cousin.

"C'mon Draco, leave him alone. It's embarrassing to be scolded in front of the class. Let's go see what Hagrid has to show us today."

"You aren't much fun, Hermione. Boys tease at each other." Ron tells her, having enjoyed the bantering between the cousins.

"Maybe so, but friends and cousins are supposed to be good listeners and know when to leave someone alone when asked."

"Hello Kids! Welcome back to Care of Magical Creatures. I have a good one for you today. Everyone gather round the cage. Who knows what these are?" Hagrid asks taking the cover off the cage as the four kids walk up to join the group.

"Ah, yes. Hermione, what do you know?"

"Wrong question, right Harry? We'll be here all week for her to tell what she knows!" Draco whispers in Harry's ear, causing him to have to hide his smile.

"Professor, those are pixies. They come from the English counties of Devon and Cornwall. Pixies are used to help with housework and are not to be trusted much."

"And why is that? Why are they not to be trusted? Do you have a reason for that statement?" Hagrid asks with a smile for the girl.

"They are well known as being mischievous, sir." Hermione answers. Remembering the train incident earlier in the year she casts a sideways look at Harry who avoids her look.

"Hermione is correct. Ten points to Gryffindor. Who wishes to hold one?" Hagrid asks the children.

"I will!" Harry eagerly announces stepping forward. Not wishing to get into a scolding from Hermione for the pixie incident.

"Ach! Harry, my boy. You are a brave lad. Now mind, they are quite sneaky, so be on the lookout."

"Yes sir. I've been around them before, I'll be watchful. This one is nice. She's just sitting on my shoulder and OW!"

"Nice pixies don't pull hair!" Harry scolds the pixie as his classmates giggle.

"Who's next? Gather round kids and hold one. They don't bite but they might pull hair!" Hagrid booms out, laughing with the children.

Taking two pixies, Ron quickly puts them into the pockets of the coat he's wearing over his school robe. Buttoning the pockets closed he eases back up to stand beside Draco and Harry.

"Pixies can be useful in a magical household. The chores can be assigned to them and they do good work. Some families prefer pixies over having a house elf or have both." Hagrid continues with his lecture.

"Professor? Why do people need house elves or pixies if they have magic? Why can't they just magic the chores done if they are too lazy to do it themselves?" Hermione asks.

"Now, Now, Hermione. Mustn't stir up trouble. Many wizarding families prefer having magical beings to help with chores as to not exhaust their magic." Hagrid answers somewhat vaguely in Hermione's opinion.

"Professor Hagrid? How do you get pixies to do as you ask? They don't seem bonded the way house elves are." Draco asks.

"That is true, Draco. Pixies are free spirited. It is best to ask them rather than order them to tasks. They can be quite cooperative in the right settings. Now that question leads into our research for the next class. I want you all to research house elves and pixies. Write two feet to tell which you prefer in a household and why. Let's just assume we are going to use one or the other." Hagrid finishes, with a glance at Hermione's frowning face.

As the four friends walk back up to the castle, Ron says "I'm happy Blaise isn't taking Care of Magical Creatures with us. We have to see him again at lunch though. Double Potions is next. I'm not looking forward to another two hour class. Double Transfiguration and Double Potions on the same day!"

"Well at least we have lunch now so we have an hour before class time. Besides, I know you love my Dad's class so much you don't really mind spending two hours with him." Draco answers with a wink for Harry.

"Like Potions? Are you mental, Draco? I can't abide that bloody g.. Oooff, Hermione! Why'd you elbow me in the side?"

"Ron, you are speaking of Draco's Dad and were about to say something insulting!"

"So you are into legilimancy now? You read my mind?"

"No, I don't have to know legilimancy to know what you are about to say. I've been around you a year and a half so I can predict. Now admit it, you were about to put your mouth in danger of being socked."

"Hmmpfh! Draco can't punch me or he'd catch hell from his Dad for fighting! I'm ready for him anytime though." Ron answers smugly.

"I'd hit you anyway! You insult my Dad and I'll punch you in the mouth! I'd take the punishment I'd get for doing it just to get even with you, Weasley. I'd remember that too, the next time you start to insult my Dad or my Uncle either! No one insults my family and gets by with it!" Draco replies, fists ready to use if necessary.

"Boys! Stop quarreling with each other. Why is everyone so testy lately? Draco, you need to ignore Ron. He's mental sometimes and doesn't think before he speaks. Ron, you have to stop being so ready to fight all the time. You're going to wind up in detention again or have an owl or a floo call home. I don't believe you want that, do you?" Hermione asks.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Harry?'

"You make a good Mum." Harry tells her. As she blushes, the three boys double over laughing.

"Hush all of you! We're at the castle and we can't go in making a scene! I don't want everyone looking at us!" Hermione replies watching the boys slap each other on the back still giggling.

"Boys! Straighten yourselves! You are not behaving as Gryffindors! Show manners young men!" They hear behind them.

"Yes Professor McGonagall!" The boys chorus standing straight under her fierce gaze.

"Good, now walk in and conduct yourselves as proper young gentlemen not hooligans or I'll have something to say about it! Now march!"

Sitting at the Gryffindor table, Harry helps himself to the delicious looking trays and steaming bowls of soup. Piling his plate full of meat, bread and potatoes, he begins to eat. Feeling something poking him in the arm he looks down to find a folded piece of paper jabbing him insistently as it hovers by his arm. Taking the note, he unfolds it and reads:

Harry,

Eat some vegetables. I will place a restricting spell on the puddings to keep them away from you, if you don't choose some vegetables to eat!

You know you are to eat nutritious meals! No vegetables then -No sweets! Don't test me. I am watching.

Love, Dad

Muttering to himself about aggravating, spying parents, Harry makes a big show of reaching for the bowl of mixed vegetables and spooning three heaping spoonfuls onto his plate. Turning around to look at the teacher's table, he sees Sirius nod approvingly. Feeling a poke in the side, he looks down expecting another note. Instead it's Draco poking him.

"What?" Harry asks.

"What's with the pile of vegetables, mate? You never eat that much."

"My Dad. Here, read for yourself." Harry answers, handing Draco the note.

"Ahh, I see. Parental interference again. Merlin, it's annoying. Now you have to eat most of that or he'll be miffed."

"Umm hmm. I don't see vegetables on your plate."

"Yes, well I'm not under my Dad's monitoring of my eating as you are." Draco replies smiling until a note suddenly appears in front of his face.

Draconis!

This is your Father. I see no vegetables on your lunch plate. Choose some and eat them or come to me afterwards for a nutrition potion.

If you choose the potion you will also be restricted to quarters tonight.

S. Snape

Reading over Draco's arm, Harry smirks as he adds three large spoonfuls of the mixed vegetables to Draco's plate. "As you said, parental interference again. Merlin, it's annoying. Now you have to eat most of that or he'll be miffed."

"Shut it, Black! Just Shut IT!" Draco answers glaring at his grinning cousin.