Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Chapter 40

Birmingham: Bulls and Barons

As Harry is finishing in the bathroom preparing for bed, Draco goes to visit his Father in the adjoining room.

"Dad? Can, err, May I talk to you privately?"

"I'll just go help Harry get settled for the night. You take as long as you need Draco." Sirius remarks as he stands and leaves the room.

"What's on your mind, son? Did you want to discuss breakfast choices already?" Severus asks, eyes twinkling.

"No, Dad. I wanted to tell you I'm really sorry for being disrespectful today. I know better and should have been punished for being so bad. I did enjoy the restaurant and the dinner too. Will you please forgive me for acting the whinging baby instead of a big kid of eleven? I shouldn't have let my thoughts get to me that way."

"Thank you for the apology, Draco. This shows maturity to apologize in this way. Of course I forgive you. You might make me irritable but I'll never hold it against you. Now, I have a question. What thoughts were your having to cause such behavior?"

"This is my first birthday without my Mum. I enjoyed my party so much and then you brought me here. We're going to see something I've always wanted to see, a real Quidditch team. I was thinking of all the times Mum wanted to do special things for my birthday but Lucius said no. He'd say pureblood children only associated with other purebloods and if we went out it had to be with people he approved of. I didn't ever get to do anything I wanted to do, just what he decided was appropriate. I missed so much, Dad. Our trips to America and the London Eye and the little daily things we do, I never got to do with Mum. When I wasn't being tutored, I had to stay with the Nanny Elf in the children's wing. I saw Mum only about two times a day many days. I wish she was here too."

"Draco, I would do anything to have your early years be good ones. I wish I had been able to let you stay with me more back then. I can't bring back your Mum, son. I would if it was possible. The best we can do is live our lives happily and know that is what our loved ones would wish for us to do. Draco, your Mum wouldn't want to hear of you being depressed because she isn't near, would she?"

"No, she wanted me to be happy."

"Then that's what you should do to honor her. Be happy. Enjoy everything you do and picture her doing it right along with you. Does that make sense?"

"Yes. Do you think it would be silly to write to her in a journal? I could write everything I do and tell her about it. Maybe she can see it. Harry thinks his Mum comes to him sometimes at night. I don't think mine does though."

"Writing would be a great way to share with her. Come, let's get you in bed. We'll buy a journal for you in the morning." Severus answers, leading the boy to the connecting door.

The following morning after a breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs with English muffins the boys are content to go to the Bull Ring Market. Walking up to the entrance of the outdoor area, the boys see a large metal sculpture of a charging bull.

"Look Harry! Oh wouldn't that be fun if it came alive? Can't you imagine the chaos that would cause?"

"Draconis Tobias Snape, Harrison James Potter-Black, if that bull comes alive, you won't want to sit for the rest of the trip, do you comprehend?" Severus asks after casting a silent bubble charm over himself and the two boys as he squats down to look them in the eye.

"Yes sir" the boys answer in unison.

"Uncle Sev, I didn't mean to cast engorgio this morning. I didn't even try to, I just thought how I would like a larger glass and my glass of juice enlarged. Dad says my accidental magic is coming out more these days but he's not sure why." Harry whispers giving his uncle a nervous glance before looking at his shoes.

"Accidental magic is like that, Harry. It just appears, that's why we refer to it as accidental. No one is punished for accidental magic. Deliberately casting a charm or spell is quite different. It would take a powerful one to make the statue come alive but neither of you is to try it. All planned magic is forbidden until we are back at the castle!"

Seeing Sirius walk up from purchasing train tickets for the game, Severus ends the bubble and straightens himself to greet him.

"Were you able to find the right train and get the tickets?"

"Yes, we are all set for the game. Do we have a problem?" Sirius asks, nodding at the two boys walking ahead of them.

"Draco made a comment about setting the bull on the crowd after making it come alive! I nipped that idea quickly. They are under a no magic rule until we get to the castle! After the trouble they've been into on several other trips, I'm not taking any chances with our two young miscreants!"

"Did you check Draco and his suitcase for his wand? You do remember how he smuggled it with him before? I made sure Harry handed over his wand and placed it in a locked drawer sealed with a password, before we left. I, too am not taking chances with these two!"

"His wand is locked inside the potion supplies cabinet. I had him turn it over yesterday after their last class. I also checked his suitcase before we left to see if there was any contraband material being smuggled on the trip. No prank items or anything else forbidden was found. He seemed to find it annoying that I checked his luggage."

"It's best to be on our toes with these rascals. I'm finding that out the hard way. It's nearly impossible to stay ahead of them." Sirius agrees.

I'm going to shop for some fresh vegetables for our dinner tonight. I thought of making a stir fry with tomatoes, peppers, plus other vegetables and meat. I haven't decided what meats to use. The boys will be wanting to go inside to shop, I assume. They aren't interested in an outdoor food market."

"I'll take them on inside and we'll meet you at the center ice skating rink in an hour. Will that be enough time for you to gather what you need?"

"Yes, I'll meet you there. Draco will enjoy getting away from the vegetables! Where did those two wander off to, now? I don't even see them."

"I'll find them, don't worry. I'll see you in an hour." Sirius replies, walking off towards the section where he last saw the boys. Spotting them near a meat booth, he walks closer just in time to hear "Drake! Look at that bloody hogs head! Do ya see it?"

"Yep! Hogs head, Hogsmeade. We oughta buy one to take to Hogsmeade to display!"

"Hello boys. Harry, I believe you just earned 200 lines for the use of "bloody". You know the rule."

"But Dad, I wasn't swearing! At Sirius' reprimanding look, Harry protests "I wasn't! I was describing the head, just look at them hanging over there and you'll see I was telling about it not swearing."

"Hmm, so you were. Disgusting sight, in my opinion. I apologize, Harry. Let's go inside, fellas. There's a store that sells Quidditch team gear and I know you two want to buy some for the game today. We won't buy but two things each. I'm not buying out the store guys so don't start begging. No, means no, understand?"

"Yessir. Can we go now? Please?" Draco asks.

Inside the shopping center, the boys walk slightly in front of Sirius. Just far enough to talk without being overheard.

"What was all that about lines?"

"Dad made a new rule. He says I was using the word bl... umm you know the b. word too often for someone my age. He set a limit of three times a month and if I go over it I'm in trouble. The second time I use it in a month, I get a reminder. After that I get punished. The first time he hears of me saying it over my limit, I have 200 lines, next time I lose my broom, more than that I'll earn a spanking. Last month I forgot and said it enough to get grounded from my broom for a week."

"Ron Weasley would earn a spanking in one day with that rule! He says the forbidden word twenty times a day! That's probably what causes you to say it too. You hang around him so often. I don't know why as he's a right nutter!"

"He's a friend, Draco. I like him. Here's the sign telling where the stores are so let's find the Quidditch store."

"If the people are muggles, why do they have a Quidditch store, Uncle Sirius?" Draco asks when Sirius catches up to them.

"Non magicals see only football related items, Draco. The Birmingham Barons have a football team as well as a Quidditch team. Now, that's enough talk about Quidditch and magic for now. We are muggles from here on out until we get to the game. Let's go shopping boys. We'll buy Sev a shirt or jumper and make him wear it to the game, how about it?"

"Oh, yes let's! Dad will complain but you can make him cooperate, can't you Uncle Sirius? He has to look the part of the fan just as we do, right?"

"That's right. I'll tell him to do it for you. If that doesn't work, I'll threaten to sting him on his backside with my powerful weapon! How's that idea?"

"I hope I get to see that! He's been using a stinging hex on me lately!" Draco answers as Harry nods in agreement. It was just in class last week where Uncle Sev sent a stinging hex to both of their bums for whispering during the lecture. Harry wasn't about to tell his Dad about that though.

"Here we are boys. We have to meet Severus in forty five minutes so you have time to look."

"Dad? When we finish here, there's a skating rink nearby. Could we go watch people skate on the ice?" Harry asks.

"Yes, that's where we will meet Severus. Go find what you want to buy, you two. Remember, only two items each, though."

"Draco, come over here! Look at these pennants! We could each get one to wave at the game and take back home! They say Blue Barons! See?"

"Yes, I see. I can read too, you know. You don't have to tell me what they say, Harry. Those are alright but not what I want yet. Let's look more. You need a shirt or jumper but I already have one. Let's go look on that side of the store." Draco replies pointing to the clothing.

"Do you know your Dad's size? We can pick out something for him too." Harry asks, looking through the jumpers.

"Not really, but it won't matter will it? Uncle Sirius can size it to fit. What did you find?"

"Here's one in white with the Blue Baron team logo on it. What do you think?"

"Yes, that's a good choice. Dad could wear it other than the game once it's altered some. I'd like to see him in something other than dark colors. Everything is black or navy. Uncle Sirius wears wine, cream, gold, sometimes black but not all the time. He even wear denims! Dad doesn't own a pair of denim pants."

"Uncle Sev in jeans? I don't think I would recognize him!" Harry giggles.

"What's so funny, my young sprog?" Sirius asks from behind the boy.

"I was trying to picture Uncle Sev wearing jeans the way you do, Dad."

"Maybe someday boys. We'll keep working on him. Now what have you here?"

"We decided on this jumper for Dad but we don't know the size to buy."

"This looks about right, Draco. I'll be able to adjust it so no worries. What have you found for yourself?"

"I found this jumper for me. It's also white so I could wear it with other clothes." Harry replies with a wistful glance at the royal blue jumper in his other hand.

"Which one do you like the most, Harry?"

"The blue one but it doesn't fit with any other clothes."

"You can wear it with your jeans on weekends son. If that's the one you like the best then get it. I have four pennants for us to take to the game. Did you boys see the books on the history of the team? They are up by the checkout desk."

"Uncle Sirius? Could I get a blue jumper too? The one I have is white."

"Of course, Draco. Pick out your size."

The boys decide not to buy a book as the pictures don't move and the book is about football instead of Quidditch. Instead, they each find a small stuffed toy mascot of the Birmingham Barons wearing a jumper for the team.

"This is good shopping boys. I'm very proud of you for not asking to buy more than we set the limit on. As a reward, you each can buy a hot cocoa when we get to the game." Sirius tells them as they walk towards the center of the shopping mall.

"This is a pretty building isn't it Dad? All the glass window all the way up for walls and even a glass ceiling! It's really different than all stone all the time."

"So, you are tired of the castle, are you?" Sirius teases with a wink.

"Sometimes I do get tired of being inside all the time in the winter. I want to see and feel the grass and smell the air every now and then, Dad. I miss flying outside too. The amusement area just isn't the same even if we do have a special ceiling that looks like the sky."

"Harry. We walk to and from class in the courtyard and also go outside to get to some classes. What are you going on about, you nutter?"

"Be nice, Draco. Harry misses the springtime. Isn't that what you meant son?"

"I did. Springtime is the best season of all except Summer. Warm sun, no dreary cold days, you can see flowers and smell the grass, everything comes to life in the spring and summer."

"Hummpff, Harry. You're beginning to sound like a bloody girl. Hermione or Patsy would be going on about flowers and trees. You're a boy not a freakin girl!" Draco mutters before leaping slightly with a howl of "Ouch!".

"Watch your mouth, young man!" Severus calls sternly.

"Hello Severus. Did you find everything you wanted at the open air market?" Sirius asks, directing attention away from the pouting boy still rubbing the seat of his pants.

"Come Harry, let's go watch them skate." Draco says, leading Harry away from his Dad.

"Yes, I finished. Was he acting out for you the whole time? I can add to that stinging hex if necessary." Severus replies, sliding his wand from under his hand back into his sleeve.

"They were getting along just fine and Draco was a well behaved child until just as we walked up to the rink. He apparently doesn't agree with discussing the weather and feelings!" Sirius says, smiling.

"Draco, I heard what you said to Harry which is the reason your bum was stinging. You know better than to call names and swear. Apologize, please." Severus commands quietly after calling the two boys back from the railing of the ice rink.

"I'm sorry I was rude, Harry. I'm sorry for what I said, Uncle Sirius. Dad, may I go skating? Please?"

"We have the time so yes you may. Harry, would you like to go also?"

"No thank you, Uncle Sev I don't know how to ice skate. I'll just stay up here, be warm and watch him fall on his bum!"

"Harry." Sirius scolds lightly, trying not to smile at his son's subtle way of getting back at his cousin.

"I'm good at skating, Harry. I don't fall and I could teach you if you like."

"No, Draco. You go have fun without me. I'll watch you from here."

"Let's go find some skates for you, son. You'll have to come off the ice when I signal because it will be time to go to the hotel. You do want time to change into your jumper for the game so we'll need to leave. You have about thirty minutes to skate after you get on the ice."

"Yes sir. I'll come when you signal. What's the signal, Dad?"

"When I raise my arm and you'll know it's time to stop."

On the train ride to the football stadium, Harry asks "Where did you learn to ice skate? You were doing some wicked tricks today. I don't think I could do that spin in one spot without sicking up!"

"I learned from my Mum when I was eight. She took me to the home of a friend who had a pond that stayed frozen all year round and I learned to do the skills there. I used to be able to leap and twirl in the air but I'm too heavy for that now. You have to be really light weight. Mum's friend was an Olympic champion when he was young. He went to the Olympics three times in a row and won two medals, a bronze and a silver." Draco answers quietly.

Changing the subject, Draco whispers in Harry's ear. "Doesn't my Dad look different in the Barons jumper? I didn't think he would wear it."

"He looks good in it. The white yarn makes him look even darker in the eyes. He wore it because you asked him too. You should know he will do 'most anything for you as you're his son now. We're lucky, Drake. We both have good Dads. I had a good Daddy before too but you didn't so I'm happy you do now. What do you plan to buy to eat at the game? I didn't eat much of that pork stir fry and you didn't either."

"I don't like stir fry. The sauce is just too spicy and I just don't like it. I'm surprised the Dads didn't make us eat it. I want a fish and chippie with ketchup sandwich and also something hot. It's cold outside. What about you?"

"I want fish and chips but not in a sandwich and Dad said we could get hot chocolate, remember? Are you excited to see a real Q. match? I wonder who they're playing today?" Harry whispers back. The boys are following instructions not to speak of magic and to speak quietly on the train as to not disturb anyone.

Sooner than the boys realized they arrive at the stop for the stadium.

"The next stop is ours boys. Each of you hold onto our hands until we get off the platform." Severus instructs as the train slows, taking Harry by the hand.

"Stay with Uncle Sev, Harry and do as he tells you. We might be separated in the crowd but we'll meet at the entrance to the stadium." Sirius tells his son.

"You do the same, Draco. No trouble, understand me? We came to have fun and we can do that if everyone stays safe by following directions."

"I'll be good, Dad. When we get inside, I need to get something to eat. I'm hungry."

"Hmm, you should have eaten your lunch and you wouldn't be hungry now, would you? We'll get something before we find our seats.

As Sirius and Draco move in the crowd, Draco loses sight of his Dad. Still holding his Uncle's hand he walks on not being able to stop in the mass of people all moving in one direction. As the crowd thins out, Draco tugs on Sirius's sleeve to get him to bend down so he can hear.

"What's the trouble, son?" Sirius asks seeing the look in Draco's eyes.

"I can't see Dad or Harry and I'm getting crushed down here."

Laughing at that last part, Sirius lifts the boy into his arms. "There now you won't be crushed and I see your Dad a few rows of people ahead of us. Let's catch up."

"Severus! Harry! Wait for us." Sirius calls using an amplification spell.

"Wow, Dad! Where'd you learn how to talk that loud?" Harry asks in awe.

"It's an amplification spell, son. With magic all things are possible if you learn them. Now, let's go in the stadium as we're finally here." Sirius answers pointing to the sign saying "Welcome to the Blues Grounds. Home of the Birmingham Barons."

"Yes! Finally we can go get something to eat. I'm starving!" Draco exclaims.

"Me too! Lunch wasn't enough to eat today." Harry answers grinning at Severus's quick glare.

"You two just don't appreciate my cooking. Fine, load up on junk and we'll see who appreciates me when you need a stomach soother tonight." Sev pretends to huff causing the boys to snicker.

"Let's go in everyone. Harry, before we buy something to eat, I want you to go by the loo."

"I'm fine, Dad. I don't need it."

"We're going anyway so accept the fact."

"Merlin, Drake! They treat us like little kids. "Stay together, don't wander away, go to the loo, do this, don't do that, it gets tiresome doesn't it?" Harry whispers as they follow the Dads inside the stadium.

"Yes it does but I do need the loo so let's go. Besides it's better to just do as they say so we don't get hexed! That stinging hex burns almost as much as if he spanked me! I don't want to feel it again.

"Well, hello boys. All ready to support the Barons today, I see. Good to see young men ready to cheer on our team. I'm Anthony Higgins-Burke and the captain of the team. Do either of you play Quidditch?"

Staring open mouthed for a second, Harry manages to answer "Only for fun. We're too young for the school team. You have to be second year before you can join the Hogwarts team."

"Howarts? Fine school. I have a cousin attending. Marcus Flint is his name, so if you see him, say hello for me. You look young to be first years."

"We're in the junior level but Draco just turned eleven. I don't get to be eleven until July." Harry answers with a glance at Draco to see why he's not speaking.

"I'm Draco. You were with the Chuddley Cannons! I have a book about them. What happened to make you go down to the lower leagues?"

"Draconis! That's an impertinent question." Severus scolds, walking up to the boys.

"It's a fair question, sir. I was injured and am rehabilitating in this league. Hello, I'm Anthony Higgins-Burke and you must be the boy's father."

"I'm Draco's father, yes. Harry belongs to Sirius." Severus answers, pointing over at Sirius in the line for food.

"Sirius as in Sirius Black? So you are Harry Potter? I read he adopted you." Anthony asks.

"Harry Potter-Black, actually. How do you know my name?"

"You're a legend. You killed You- Know -Who!"

"I didn't kill anyone! I'm not a killer! I'm just a kid!" Harry replies forcefully and near tears.

Excusing themselves, Severus steers Draco while holding Harry's hand towards the table where he saw Sirius put down the box of lunches.

"Dad! That man said I was a killer! I didn't! I never killed anyone! Honestly, I didn't!"

"Shhh, it's alright Pup. I'm here. Everything is okay" Sirius soothes, rubbing Harry's hair as the boy buries his face in his Dad's jumper.

"A player made the mistake of saying he knew Harry was a legend because he 'killed You Know Who'. Harry didn't take that well. The boys were introducing themselves. He thought I was their Dad and I made the mistake of naming and pointing you out as Harry's Dad. He put the names together and realized who Harry is."

Nodding, Sirius bends down to talk to his weeping son. "Harry? Listen to me. You are a child and you are not a killer. The man was wrong but he didn't mean to hurt you. Do you remember our talk about that night? No?" Sirius asks as the boy shakes his head.

"Well, we'll talk about all this later. For now, just know you are NOT a killer and let's enjoy the day. Come boys let's go find our seats." Sirius says after casting a quick cleaning charm on Harry's face and his own slightly damp jumper.

Reading the gameday scorecard, Draco says "Harry! Look at the opposing team's name, Hungarian Dragons! I have a team named after me! They're taking the field now and oh! LOOK! the colors are Gryffindor colors! We could have worn our scarves and hats today as they match the colors."

"Yes, but we had tickets to see the Barons so we support them. I like how the stadium has painted the bleacher sections of blue and then white and blue again. We oughta talk Grandpa into doing that at Hogwarts. Gryffindor colors for game day and the other houses for their game day."

"But Harry, how would we work it when you know two houses play on the same day."

"The other half of the seats could be in those colors. We could have the professors of the houses charm the seats for us on those days." Harry answers, beaming at his excellent plans.

"Hold up there Pup. That sounds very nice but as the Head of Junior Gryffindor, I take offense at you putting more work on me. I have enough work supervising YOU plus teaching, Head of House duties, and more. You can just walk that little idea of yours right back inside your mind, my boy. I am not going to be out turning bleachers different colors every time there's a match with Gryffindor."

"AWWW, but Dad it was a wicked idea."

"Here's another wicked idea for you. Watch the game! They are throwing the balls up now. There goes the whistle and the players are kicking off the ground!" Sirius exclaims in excitement.

"Harry! Mr. Higgins-Burke is number 7 so watch him. He's the seeker!"

"OOH, look out the bludger just missed that guy's head!" Harry answers.

"I see the snitch! It's under number 10's broom. Ahhh, look out! Number 16 of the other team is headed right for him! He's going to crash!" Draco exclaims after they have been watching the game for some time.

"He can't crash into him, that's against the rules! It's called blagging!" Harry replies.

"Unh Uh, Harry. Blagging is when they grab hold of your broom. Bletching is deliberately flying into someone! Oh No, the whistle. That means the player is to sit out the game for illegal activity." Draco tells his cousin.

"How did you know that?" Harry asks.

"Quidditch Through The Ages tells all about the rules and plays in Quidditch. You should read it."

"I will. Did you see that? The quaffle went under two brooms at once and through the middle hoop!"

Sirius catches Severus eye as they listen to the two excited boys. "I think your gift is a big hit, Severus. Draco seems to be enjoying every second!"

"As are you and Harry. I am actually enjoying it also. It is an interesting competition as long as no students are involved."

"Dad?" Harry asks, suddenly.

"You are being rude, interrupting when we are talking son. What is it?" Sirius asks seeing the expression on Harry's face.

"I need the loo. Right away. I know where it is, may I go without you? Please? Draco can come with me and we'll be right back."

"Go ahead but if you aren't back in ten minutes I'm coming to check on you! Stay together and come straight back here."

"Exactly ten minutes later, Draco appears next to Severus. Looking behind him for Harry and not seeing him, Sirius asks "Where is Harry, son?"

"Oh, he's alright. He'll be back in a little while."

"That is not what I asked you Draco." Sirius answers sternly while giving the boy his best Dad Look. "WHERE. is. Harry?"

"Out there." Draco replies, pointing to the field as a small person on a broom zooms past waving at the crowd.

"Harrison James! Get back here!" Sirius roars as the tiny figure zooms away.

"It's okay, Uncle Sirius. The manager told him to do it."

"Sirius, look at him! He's flying upside down! That boy is going to break his neck!" Severus calls, pointing at the field.

"No Dad. Harry's the best at flying. He can do all kinds of tricks. He'll be fine."

"He's not going to be fine when I get him off that field!" Sirius says standing and walking towards the railing separating the field from the stands.

Please review. As this is the last chapter before Christmas and New Year's. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! Happy Holidays to all who celebrate other holidays as well! Watch for a Christmas story to be posted also. Something a little different than this. :-)