Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 35

Secrets

A/N: Thank you to all who stop in to read but don't have time to review. Thank you to everyone who does take time to review, including guests. I appreciate the encouraging words.

After his school day is over, Harry goes with his friends to change out of school robes. Pulling on jeans, his favorite Quidditch T-shirt and trainers he tells the boys "I have to go meet with my Dad. I'll see you later."

Walking into his quarters, he calls "Dad? I'm here."

"I'm in the kitchen, Pup. Come in here and have a snack with me." Sirius calls back setting out plates of grapes, melon, cheese and crackers."

"Hi, Pup. How was your day, today? Did you enjoy class with Hagrid?"

"Yes, we learned about pixies today. He had some in the cage and I held one before everyone else. Dad? Instead of milk, can I have pumpkin juice? I drank milk for breakfast and again for lunch today. Please, Dad?"

"Pour yourself some. Put the milk back in the refrigerator in the glass. I'll use it later. Pixies, hmm? I hope you put that pixie back in the cage, young sir. We've had enough trouble out of you and pixies! Did you get Monday's Transfiguration homework essay back today? How did you do?"

"Dad! Of course I put it back, I don't want any more trouble with them! Grandma only gave me an Acceptable on it! I know it was better than that! She gave Draco, Outstanding and he only dashed off some things at the last minute! He didn't take time to really explain in the essay the way I did. He never does study and prepare anymore. He just waits until the last minute to scribble down something on homework. He spends study time playing!"

"Well son, everyone is different in how they work. It could be Draco doesn't need to read and research to write his essay. He's been around magic more than you so he may be able to write essays easier. What are you frowning so about?"

"Grandma likes him more than me! She took points from me today and not him! She's being Cruella De Vil to me! I don't think I like her anymore, she's evil!"

"Harry! I don't want to hear you call someone evil, just because you are angry! Now, what is it you did to lose points? It had to be something serious or she wouldn't have docked points."

"It wasn't serious, Dad. She said I wasn't listening."

"Were you paying attention?"

"Uh well, you see, I kind of was but then I kind of wasn't but then I was."

"Harry James! You know better than to answer me that way. WERE you listening in class today? Straight answer, yes or no!"

"I told you already! I kinda was and then I kinda wasn't! That's my final answer!" Harry answers cheekily.

"Harrison James! You are being disrespectful. You know better than to speak to me in that tone. You just earned ten minutes of Thinking Time in the Quiet Corner."

"Dad! I'm not a little kid anymore! I'm ten and a half not eight! I don't do stupid Thinking Time in the Quiet Corner anymore!"

"One! ... Two!" Sirius begins.

"Count all you want! I'm not doing Quiet Corner like a little kid!" Harry answers, watching his Dad warily, as he raises fingers.

"Three!" Sirius says holding up his third finger.

"Fo..." Before he can finish the word, Harry is up and moving to the living room corner. He's well aware of the count of five meaning Sirius' five fingers being applied to his backside for not obeying.

Ten minutes later Sirius calls "You may come apologize and finish your snack."

"I'm sorry for being cheeky, Dad. I'm sorry for not listening during the lecture in class also. I'll do better."

"Thank you, son. I realize you are irritated by Minerva's scolding and by the score you received but that isn't an excuse to be rude."

"Yes, sir." Harry answers sitting down at the table.

"What I asked you to come here for, besides the fact I miss seeing you every day, is I want to talk about this weekend. The upper level students are having a Hogsmeade trip on Saturday. I've been asked to supervise. How would you like to spend the day with Draco and Severus? You and I can spend tomorrow evening, Saturday evening and all day Sunday together."

"I guess that would be alright. I'd rather stay in the tower with Ron and Neville though. Dad! I know something even better! I could come along with the older kids and help you keep track of them."'

"No, son. I appreciate your offer to help me supervise but you know you aren't allowed on the upper level trips. I'll bring you back something from Honeydukes. As to the dorm, I don't want you there when I'm off the grounds. You can spend the free afternoon on Friday with your friends, while I'm teaching the upper level students. Then tomorrow night you and I can have a special activity together. You can be thinking about what you want to do: flying, magic time or game night.

"I choose flying together. I have homework to finish, Dad. I need to go. Uncle Sev assigned a four foot essay on the use of dandelions in Potions. It's going to take me forever to find enough information for that essay! Four feet is too much for one essay and homework on weekends is unfair. For tomorrow all I have left is to write something on two charms for Professor Flitwick. I have much more writing this term than before. Why do they assign more now? I think I should have stayed with your class. You didn't make us do long essays."

"You children are moving into more advanced studies so your assignments become more advanced also. You would find Astronomy to be more advanced as well. How is your Muggle Studies class? Do you have homework for it also?"

"Not often, Dad. I enjoy that class as I already know much of what the professor is discussing. He lectured on films and T.V. the other day. Some of the kids have never seen a T.V or a movie either. Ron and Blaise have never been to a theater. I'm not sure if Neville has or not. I'll have to ask him. Maybe we can all go sometime."

"That would be a good adventure. You go on and complete your assignments. I'll see you at supper later."

"Hi, Harry. Did you get in trouble with your Dad? Is that why you had to go see him?" Neville asks as Harry enters the common room.

"No Nev. He just wanted to tell me about the weekend. Where's Blaise and Ron?"

"They're in the room with Draco. I came here to get away. They're talking plans again. I don't want to be in on that."

"I'll go talk to them. I'll see you later, Nev. and don't worry you don't have to be involved if you don't want to be. It isn't going through now anyway." Harry replies walking up the stairs to their dorm room.

"Hi mates, what's going on? Neville said you were planning up here."

"Harry, did you get your cloak?" Blaise asks.

"No, but it doesn't matter. There is no way I'm going this weekend. My Dad is supervising the Hogsmeade student trip! If he caught me there, I'd be in serious trouble. You three can go if you want to. I'm not going and Neville isn't either."

"We can't do it without that cloak. We need to be invisible to sneak out and in Hogsmeade. A true friend would get that cloak for us and go along! I guess you aren't a true friend." Blaise answers.

"Leave Harry alone, Blaise! He can't help if his Dad is on the chaperone this time! Besides if we go with the older kids we'll stand out. We need to go alone and just be a few younger students visiting on a weekend. We can pretend to be with a parent if someone asks." Draco tells him.

"You two are not true Gryffindors and Draco, you've lost all your Slytherin cunning! Real Gryffindors have courage to do things that are risky! I'm going this weekend with or without anyone else! Ron, how about you? Are you a true Gryffindor or a coward like these two "brothers"! Blaise asks sneering the word brothers.

"I'm with you, Blaise! I need some prank products and sweets too. Harry and Draco are not cowards though. They can't help it if their Dads are professors and can catch them. Watch! They'll proof it to you by going out next weekend. Right mates?"

"That's right, Ron! Blaise, we will show you who is cowardly! Right Harry?" Draco asks, fists ready if Blaise insults him again.

"We'll talk, Draco. Right now, I have homework to get done." Harry answers, gathering his satchel and walking out.

Settling in at the library to get homework finished for the next day, Harry is engrossed in his Charms essay when he feels someone sit next to him. Looking up from his writing he finds Draco staring at him.

"What? Is something wrong?"

"Well, I was wondering where my fun loving adventurous cousin went. I don't know you anymore. All you want to do is homework and that's not the Harry I know. We had more fun when we stayed in the quarters with our Dads!"

"Not more than an hour ago you were standing up to Blaise telling him not to bother me about going out to you know where and now you're moaning at me about the same thing. Whose side are you on Drake? Mine or his?"

"I'm on the side of FUN! Schoolwork all the time is so dull! I need some adventure! Come with me to the forest tomorrow after classes let out. I have something to show you."

"Draco! The forest of Hogwarts is off limits. We can't go in it, remember? Besides that, it's cold out there!"

"We can if you aren't a coward like Blaise thinks. C'mon, do it for me. It's going to be something exciting! You won't believe what I have to show you! Will you come? Merlin, Harry! You are turning into Hermione with all the following rules and studying! You are the son of TWO Marauders and need to act like it! Adventurers take risks! Now are you with me?"

"If you wait until Saturday, I'm staying with you while Dad's in Hogsmeade. Do you need to finish your Charms essay? I have one more foot and I'm done. This assignment was interesting. I think the fixing charm and the placement charms are almost alike. I can't wait to try them tomorrow."

"Oh, I've been finished. I didn't need to come do research for that. I'll see you later."

The next morning after Professor Flitwick lectured on the incantations of the Placement Charm and the Fixing Charm he asked for volunteers to demonstrate one or the other.

"The incantation for the Fixing Charm is Reparo. Adhaero is the incantation for placement. The English word "adhere" which means as some might say 'to stick to', is useful in remembering Adhaero. Repair is to fix something so Reparo means to fix. These two are easy to remember and very useful. Now, Mr. Finnegan will demonstrate the Adhaero with this portrait I brought. It's a portrait of one of the school's founders. Who can name this person?"

"Mr. Snape?"

"That would be a portrait of the great and oh so brave Lord Voldemort. He was a true believer in magic. We should all bow down to him." Draco answers cheekily, jumping out of his seat to bow before the portrait of the woman.

"Oh great and powerful Lord Voldemort, we beseech your presence here today!" Draco intones as the students gasp in horror at the use of the forbidden name. Several look fearfully around the room.

"Mr. Snape, that display just earned you detention, a point loss of twenty points and an exit of this class. Return to your dormitory at once. You may report to Mr. Filch for detention after lunch today. You may take your leave."

Watching and listening, Harry thinks "Professor Flitwick may only be about three feet tall but right now he seems a giant. I wouldn't want to be Draco when Uncle Sev hears about this."

Raising his hand, he waits for the Professor's attention. "Yes, Mr. Black?"

"This is a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff, sir. The house of Hufflepuff is named for her."

"That is correct. Five points to Gryffindor! Now Mr. Finnegan, let us see you demonstrate the charm."

"Yes, sir. May I have Mr. Williams assistance to hold the portrait?"

As the two boys lift the portrait against the wall, Patrick points his wand at it and commands "Adhaero!" Stepping away from the wall the two boys wait to see if the portrait will remain on the wall. After several minutes without incident, they turn to their professor.

"Very well done, Mr. Finnegan, five points to Ravenclaw. Thank you, Mr. Williams for your assistance. You may return to your seats. Now, who will volunteer to demonstrate the Reparo charm? Yes, Ms. Granger, come and show everyone. On this table you see a glass goblet. I want you to smash it by throwing it at the front wall and then use the charm to fix it. Before you do, I will cast a repelling charm on you so no glass will harm you. The students are behind a shield they won't be harmed."

"Sir, this goblet is exquisite and obviously expensive. What if the charm fails?" Hermione asks after lifting the goblet.

"All will be fine. Please demonstrate for your classmates."

Throwing the goblet against the wall, Hermione is surprised when the stem breaks off from the goblet but nothing else happens.

"Sir? It didn't shatter."

"So, I see. Bring the two pieces to the front table and repair them with the charm. Point your wand at the object and use the charm."

"Very well done and five points to Gryffindor. Class, I will pass the goblet around and you will see it is as if it were never damaged. Reparo is an excellent charm to use. However, it may not always work as well as this did. For example, if the goblet had shattered, pieces might have been too small to be used. It is always better to try rather than not. Today we will spend the rest of class practicing these two charms. I have a box of broken items for you to use and some assorted items to be used for the Adhaero charm. Pair with your partner and begin."

Sneaking down into his Dad's office, Draco finds what he suspected, a note from Professor Flitwick. Treating the owl delivering the note and releasing it, quickly stuffing the unopened envelope into his school robe, Draco hurries back to his dorm to wait for Herbology.

Later that afternoon he meets Harry leaving the dorm as he is coming in.

"Hi Draco, I'm going to stay with Dad and I'll see you in the morning. Did you get in trouble with your Dad?"

"I haven't heard from him. I've got to get a shower as I've had to scrub toilets all afternoon! He made me do two boy's Lavs! The floors too!" Draco answers with a disgusted face.

"Well, you didn't get sent to your Dad so that was lucky. My Dad would go mental if I pulled a prank like that! Bye. See you tomorrow."

The following morning Harry is dropped off at Severus' quarters by Sirius.

"Thank you for allowing him to come today. I'll be back by four this afternoon." Sirius informs Severus.

"Harry, Severus is in charge today, you do as he tells you."

"Yes Dad, don't forget to get my order from Honeydukes." Harry answers.

"Uncle Sirius, will you buy some sweets for me too? I like the toot sweets and chocolate frogs and the whizzing whizzbees and..." Draco says before being cut off by his Dad.

"Young man, you are not to have any sweets! We just discussed this at breakfast. Boys who serve detentions don't get rewards. You are quite lucky you didn't wind up over my lap for having to serve detention! There will be no sweets from Hogsmeade or anywhere else for a week!"

"Yes sir. Come Harry, let's go to my room to play."

"Have a good day, boys and Severus." Sirius calls as he leaves.

"I can't believe you didn't get a walloping for that prank in Charms! Professor Flitwick sent an owl, I saw him. I just knew Uncle Sev would burn your bum!" Harry says as they set out the dragon and dragon fighter figures.

"SHHH! He doesn't know what I did, only that I had detention. He thinks it was something Filch assigned. I snuck down and swiped the note before he saw it. I couldn't risk letting him read the note so I took it and hid it."

"Draco, that was not smart. What if Professor Flitwick tells your Dad he sent a note and why?"

"Ahh, he won't. He's the easy one. He gets all huffy and puffy in class but then once he punishes you it's done. Now, are we going to go on with our adventure? We have to wait until Dad goes to his lab. He'll do that soon."

"I guess I'm going. I want to see what you have to show me. We have to be quick as I don't want to get caught. Unlike you, I don't want to put my bum in the line of fire! My Dad would light me up if he found out! Yours too, you know that right?"

"Yes. Harry, it's worth the risk, I promise."

Later that afternoon, after Severus tells the boys he has to work in his lab and they are free to explore outside as long as they stay near the castle, Draco leads Harry towards Hagrid's cabin.

"If anyone is watching it will look like we are visiting Hagrid. Just keep walking past his cabin and I'll show you the secret."

Following Draco into the woods, Harry looks around nervously. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Is it very far to whatever you want me to see?"

"Come on, it's a little further and when I hold up my arm don't talk, just look, Okay?"

"Yes, but let's hurry. I'm getting cold and I feel strange, like something is watching us! If someone sees us and reports on us being in the Forbidden Forest, we will be in serious trouble!"

"Stop being such a worrier and come on Harry." Draco answers.

Following his cousin further into the forest, Harry stops as he sees Draco's arm raise and hand pointing.

Looking to the spot where Draco is pointing, Harry sees a beautiful white horse. Looking closer he sees the sparkling horn on it's forehead showing it is a unicorn.

"My stars! That's a real unicorn! Merlin, Draco!" Harry whispers in awe.

"Yes, she's beautiful isn't she. If we move slowly, we can get just a little closer. I almost got close enough to reach out with my arm but she ran away when I came the last time."

"Easy Lady, we won't hurt you. We just want to admire your beauty. Such a beautiful thing you are." Draco croons softly as he and Harry move closer.

Hearing and smelling the boys, the animal lifts it's head to look at them.

Harry gasps in amazement at the beautiful green eyes looking at him.

"Gorgeous. You are just gorgeous." He whispers softly.

Ducking it's head, almost as if it's bowing, the animal turns and trots away.

"Oh Draco, she's lovely! Thank you for sharing that with me. Let's go back." Harry whispers.

Walking out of the forest, Harry has to wait a few minutes as his eyes need to adjust to the bright sunlight on the snow. When they adjust enough to see, he finds Severus standing there glaring at them.

"Draconis! Harrison! Both of you follow me immediately!" Severus announces dangerously as he swirls his robes and stalks off towards the castle.

Following, both boys swap a worried look as they stamp through the snow.

"Inside! Front Room! NOW!" Severus commands as they reach his quarters.

Harry shudders a little at the terse commands. When his Uncle is down to one to two word commands instead of a long blistering tirade, things are really bad.

"What were the two of you doing in the forest?" Severus asks furiously.

"I wanted to show Harry something. It was my idea. There's a unicorn there, Dad. We saw it!" Draco answers.

"The forest is off limits, is it not? It's called the Forbidden Forest for a reason! There are dangerous creatures living there, young man! You both know better than to wander into the forest! Hagrid informed me you had entered and then followed you. At least you had someone nearby in case of danger. Draco, I am extremely disappointed in your decisions lately! Harry, you also! Harry, you go to Draco's room and stay there until I tell you differently. As for you, my son, you are coming with me!" Severus says taking the boy by the hand and pulling him to his bedroom.

"Uncle Sev? Are you going to punish me too? I followed Draco willingly. I knew it was dangerous but I went anyway." Harry calls to the man walking away.

"I will be talking to you soon, obey me, go to Draco's room."

Not willing to obey just yet, Harry waits until the bedroom door closes before he tiptoes to listen at the door. He hears Severus reprimanding Draco thoroughly.

"You could have been killed, Draco! You put yourself and Harry in danger by your actions! There are dangers in the woods that you don't even know about and that is why it is called a Forbidden Forest! That rule to stay out of the forest has been known to you for the last four years! You were told the rule when you were six and visited me here. You have earned a spanking just for that. I also had a visit from Professor Flitwick earlier today. I heard all about why you were assigned detention. He came because the note he sent me was never returned. Draco, that prank was not funny. Invoking the name of Voldemort is frightening to most people. I also know you took the note from my office. Theft is never a good idea, my boy." He answers at Draco's shocked look.

"I'm sorry. I only meant to get a laugh."

"What you are about to get is not a laugh, young man!" Severus exclaims sitting on the bed."

"Please Daddy! NOT bare!" Harry hears Draco beg.

Not hearing an answer only the sound of sobbing, Harry retreats to Draco's room.

"I'd rather get punished now than wait for him to tell Dad. Maybe if he punishes me first, that would be enough and I won't get punished twice. I knew following Draco to see the secret was a bad idea!" Harry thinks as he waits for Severus.