Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 41

Understanding

(Previous chapter: Harry decided to fly with the semi-pro Quidditch team while visiting the Birmingham Barons game. Having seen him, Sirius is not pleased and is attempting to corral the boy.)

Keeping one eye on the swerving and swooping figure on a broom, Sirius climbs over the railing onto the field. Before he can move very far from the railing, two security guards are beside him.

"Sir! Fans are not permitted on the field at this time. Please return to your seat."

"My son is out there! I need to get him."

"If your son is out there sir, he is on a semi-professional Quidditch team and would not need his Father to fetch him. Return to your seat or be removed from the stadium, sir."

"My ten-year-old child is up there on that broom! Look for yourselves! He's the one currently flying upside down near the goals! When I get hold of him he won't sit a broom for a long time, I assure you of that! Now help me get to him before he hurts himself or someone else with the ridiculous stunts he is showing!"

"My stars, Barnaby, he's right! Look out there, see that small figure? He's an amazing flier, sir."

"Here he comes! Right over the visitor stands! Look! He just threw a bag of stadium gifts all along the crowd! Muschamp usually does that, dropping the programs and fan cards over the crowd. Your son is a natural on a broom! He's headed over the home stands now!" The second guard exclaims, pointing to the far side of the stands where Harry is sailing over the crowd dropping items as he does so.

"Excuse me, Gentlemen. I have a certain young man I need to speak to." Sirius informs the security guards as he steps around them casting Accio and a leg lock spell on Harry at the same time.

When the boy and his broom land in front of him, Sirius releases the leg lock spell so the boy can get off the broom. He takes Harry in one hand, the broom in the other and commands "Apologize to these men for disrupting the game!"

Recognizing the look on his Dad's face as one not to argue with, Harry obeys. "I'm sorry sirs. Mr. Worthington told me to do this. He said he was the manager and gave permission. Is he a manager?"

"He is young fellow and no harm done at all. The audience enjoyed your flying. You are quite the acrobat on a broom. Perhaps one day you will return and be a part of the Barons organization."

"I would like that very much! I want to be a Quidditch player just like them one day! I have to wait until I graduate from school though. Dad won't let me play for any team except a school one, until I'm eighteen and that's eight more years! I think that rule is completely unfair!" Harry answers to the amusement of the people near enough to hear.

"Let's go Harrison. Severus and Draco are waiting." Sirius tells him, handing the broom to the security guard.

"Dad? You seem uh, well ... mad. Why? I had permission from an adult who works here, to fly. I didn't cause any harm to anyone or do any magic either." Harry asks a few minutes later as he has to practically trot to keep up with his Dad's long strides up the steps to their seats.

"We will discuss this later. Right now, follow me and do NOT leave my side." Sirius replies, having to fight the urge to paddle the boy's behind right there in the stadium.

Reaching their seats, Harry takes a long drink from his souvenir cup as Draco leans over to whisper "That was WICKED! You got to fly with the Barons! I wish I could do that!"

"It was wicked, Drake. Dad seems mad about this, though. I guess I'm about to lose my broom for a few days. It's worth it though!" Harry whispers back.

Examining Sirius's blazing eyes and white face, Severus asks quietly "Are you in need of a calming draught?"

"Do you happen to have one in your muggle pants pocket?" Sirius asks.

"No, I could go buy you a shot of whiskey as I believe they sell firewhiskey up at the food stand."

"I could use either one but I'll refrain. When we return to the hotel, I need to spend some time alone with my disobedient child. The same one who is now acting as if he did no wrong and had the nerve to ask me why I seemed 'mad'. I plan to explain exactly why I'm 'mad' and then see to it he gets the message not to ever pull something like this again!"

"I'll keep Draco with me in our room until you are finished with your discussion. Neither of the boys seems to realize what the problem is with what just went on. I'll have a talk with my son to explain this so he won't get the idea to do something similar in the future. I believe the game just ended. One of the players is holding his arm high in the air with his fist closed. That is the signal for having caught the snitch, if I'm not mistaken."

"It is at that. Good, let's gather our children and leave for the train platform. If we move quickly we might be able to get there before the crowd." Sirius responds, standing and pulling his coat around him.

"Boys, it's time to leave. Gather your things and come with us." Severus instructs the children.

"But Dad! We want to go get our programs autographed! They are going to sign them after the crowd is out of the stadium." Draco complains.

"We are leaving Draco so no more complaints. If you don't walk right now, I will carry you to the train as a toddler would be!"

"That goes for you also Harry so no dawdling or complaints, just come with us right now." Sirius orders the boy.

As soon as they were out of the row of seats, Sirius takes Harry by the hand.

"Stay up with me and keep walking. We have to get to the train before the crowd."

"Dad! Slow down! I can't walk that fast and you're hand is gripping too tight." Harry calls as they exit the stadium.

"Keep moving, we have that train to catch."

"But I can't walk that fast! You're not listening to me! DAD STOP!" Harry calls planting his feet and tugging on Sirius' hand as Draco is pulled past by Severus.

Leaning down to speak directly to the boy's face, Sirius answers "Harrison James, you do NOT want to go stubborn on me at this time. Now let's go!"

"NO! You're being mean and not listening! I'm not ... "

That's all Harry can say before he's lifted off his feet and flung stomach down over his Dad's shoulder. "OOF Ow! That hurt my stomach, Dad! OWWWWW! DADDY NO! STOP! OWWW! OWW!" Sirius hears in his ear as he continues walking after applying three hard smacks to the backside of the protesting child. Carrying his now silent but sniffling son, Sirius walks next to Severus until they reach the entrance to the train. Putting Harry back on his feet but keeping hold of his hand, Sirius pushes two train tickets through the machine by the turnstyle allowing them both through. Following behind with Draco, Severus does the same.

"Here's an empty set of double seats, we'll sit here." Sirius says after they've walked the car to the end.

"Sit down boys. We'll be at our hotel stop in about ten minutes." Severus instructs the two quiet children. After witnessing Harry being smacked, Draco hasn't said a word for fear of receiving the same from his irritated uncle. Obeying his Dad, he sits in the seat, sliding close to the window. As Harry sits next to him, he steals a glance at his cousin. Seeing his face wet from tears, Draco reaches out and grips Harry's hand, squeezing just a little to try to comfort him.

Fifteen minutes later, in the hotel room, Harry finds himself being ordered to "use the loo and then face the corner until I say differently!" by a very irate Sirius. Now standing facing the wall, Harry's legs begin to shake and then his body follows as he stifles the sobs rising in his throat. In the two years he's lived with his Dad, he's never seen him look the way he did on the Quidditch field nor has he ever been afraid of him as he is now.

"He's so angry at me he can barely even speak without shouting. Those three wallops he gave me sting like the dickens and I didn't even do anything wrong. I only wanted him to slow down and not pull me along like some sort of luggage. Why's he so mad? He's never been like this where he doesn't explain why I'm being punished. What did I do and what's he going to do to me when he lets me out of the corner? Is he going to beat me next? I never have thought he'd do that but tonight I think he might. He can transfigure something into one of those old school canes I read kids used to get beaten with." Harry thinks as he loses control and a sob escapes.

Sitting across the room on a chair, Sirius is having his own mental conversation. "I reacted too harshly with him. I let my temper out and didn't hold back so no wonder the child is currently shaking in the corner. I'm such a pathetic father that I terrorize my own kid! He frightened me so today, I just lost it. I couldn't have explained why I was upset without turning him over my knee right then! The gall of the boy to deliberately disobey me! He knows he isn't to wander off in public or listen to strangers! Then the flying! Not only was he on an unknown broom but doing acrobatics! Harry knows stunt flying without me beside him is forbidden! He could have crashed into the goalposts, fallen, or any number of things could have occurred because of his reckless behavior!"

Slowly becoming aware of the sound of sobbing coming from the corner, Sirius stands and moves to the bed closest to where Harry is standing. "Harry, come to me. We need to talk."

"I'm so sorry, Daddy! I won't ever do it again! Not ever! Please don't beat me or cane me, please Daddy? I'm really sorry I made you mad." Harry rushes to say as he comes closer to Sirius but stands just out of reach.

"Harry, Pup, come here. I'm not going to beat you, Pup! I never have beaten you or threatened to use a cane either. How could you think such a thing? Come, sit beside me and let's talk about what happened today." Sirius pleads quietly holding his hand out for Harry.

Cautiously, Harry sits beside him only relaxing when he feels his Dad put his arm around his shoulders and pull him into a side snuggle.

"Son, I reacted badly today and I see I have really frightened you. I am very sorry I scared you, Pup. You frightened me badly today too, son. When you didn't return from the loo with Draco, I panicked. You remember how we have always had the rule to NEVER go with strangers? I am trying to let you do more things independently but when you disappear like that, I get worried. Draco said you talked with and then went with some man he didn't know. Then you are flying on a broom you've never been on. That is also against the rules. Your safety matters and I don't ever want to see or hear of you doing such a stunt again! You not only flew on an unknown broom but were doing acrobatics! Flying upside down! You KNOW that is absolutely forbidden unless I am beside you to cast a cushioning charm if you fell! After all of that, you turn stubborn and won't walk when we are rushing for the train! That is the reason I walloped you earlier. We have yet to discuss punishment for the stunts you pulled at the Baron's stadium!"

"Dad, I didn't get stubborn, I really couldn't walk as fast as you wanted me too. You were pulling my arm off and it hurt. I stopped to try to tell you this but you just grabbed me and whacked my bum really hard! I didn't mean to cause trouble today. I just wanted to fly with the team and the manager said I could. It was fun and they said I was helping them by dropping the cards and other stuff. The guy they have doing it was sick and they needed someone to help them out of a jam. I was trying to help, Dad."

"Well son, being helpful is a noble thing to do. It's how you went about it that is wrong. Was flying without my permission acceptable behavior?"

"No, not really."

"Was putting yourself in danger by doing stunts twenty feet up in the air and without me beside you, acceptable?"

"No Dad."

"How about the fact that you went somewhere with someone you didn't know without permission? Is that acceptable?" Sirius finishes sternly.

"No sir."

"Harry, your broom is confiscated for two weeks for flying unsupervised and doing stunts. I have one more question for you and I want you to answer honestly. What did we determine the punishment would be if you deliberately put yourself in danger or went somewhere with a stranger without permission? We discussed this when you moved in with me and several times since then. What did I say would happen if you deliberately broke our safety rules?"

Tears forming and bottom lip quivering Harry whispers "You said you would spank my bare bum with a ruler or hairbrush. Please Don't Daddy, I'm sorry! I was trying to help someone, not be disobedient. Daddy? Please? You already spanked me once today and it still stings a bit when I sit down."

In answer, Sirius turns the child over his lap while using a spell to lower his clothing. Transforming the glass on the table he quickly applies several smacks with the wooden ruler to Harry's bum and then delivers more with his hand before letting him stand up.

"I love you very much, Pup and I won't allow you to put yourself in danger the way you did today. No matter what reason someone gives you for you to go with them, YOU DO NOT GO WITH STRANGERS! Is this clear, son or do I need to let the ruler do more talking? I will do whatever I must do to make this something you remember no matter how much I despise doing it."

"I'll 'member, Daddy. Don' need more." Harry sobs while rubbing his now stinging, burning bum furiously.

"For your bum's sake, see to it that you do. If you EVER go with someone you do not know without permission again, I will wallop your backside until you don't want to sit for a week, young man! You are my son and I love you but I will not allow you to put yourself in harms way by being reckless with your safety. There are people in this world who do despicable things to innocent children, son. Being kind and helpful is wonderful and I want you to stay that way but I also want you to make sure you let me know who you are with. Does this make sense to you, Harrison James Potter-Black?"

"Yess Ssirr." Harry answers, wincing at the use of his full name. When his Dad uses his full name, he is seriously upset.

"Good, because I despise spanking you this way. Come here, I need a hug." Sirius says softly, holding his arms out for the boy who falls into his tight hug still crying.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you worry. I didn't."

"Harry, Pup, I know. You are young and impulsive but you have to learn not to take such risks." Sirius reassures as he lets the boy cry out his hurt feelings. "All of this would have been unnecessary if you had just brought the manager to me and let him ask ME if you could help the team with the giveaways. Part of this is his fault. As the adult, he should have been more considerate. Now, I would still be upset with you if you had pulled any of those stunts I saw. However, I wouldn't be upset with you for going with the manager. Do you see the difference, son?"

"Yes, Dad. I should have come and asked permission first. I didn't think. I was just excited to be asked to fly."

"I know Pup. I want you to always keep yourself safe. No matter what the fun or exciting task might be, safety comes first. You mean too much to me to lose you because of some stunt."

After Harry has calmed, he tells him "Change into your pajamas and come get in bed. I'll sit here until you fall asleep. We're leaving for home in the morning."

"Am I grounded too? You said my broom is off limits but am I grounded to our quarters?" Harry asks after putting on pajamas.

"No, the broom is grounded not you. I would hope the itching you most likely still feel in your bum is enough to remind you of following the safety rules."

While Harry and Sirius are having the painful discussion in the boy's bedroom, Severus speaks to his son also.

"Draco, you seem upset tonight. Would you share with me why that is?"

"Uncle Sirius is really mad at Harry. He walloped him in public and hard too! He hardly ever wallops us in front of someone that way. What did Harry do that was so wrong? The man at the stadium TOLD him to go fly the way he did."

"Draco, what do you know of the safety rules about being with strangers? Has either your Mum or Dad ever taught you those?"

"Never ever go with someone you don't know. Don't accept gifts or treats from someone you don't know. If someone approaches you and tries to make you leave with them, you scream NOT MY FATHER or MOTHER, kick them in the knee and run fast to an Auror or police officer." Draco recites.

"Those are excellent rules and I'm proud to hear you remember them so well." Severus replies trying not to smile at the 'kick them in the knee' part.

"I would amend that last rule to No Kicking, just run away and find a Constable or adult in charge. If you hurt someone, they could become angry and hurt you. Now, think back to today. Did Harry respond to the stranger the way you just told me you should do?"

"No sir. He went with the manager although we didn't really know him. Is that why Uncle Sirius is going to whip him tonight?"

"Draco, no one is going to whip anyone." Severus scolds quietly.

"Uh huh, he's so mad, I think he's going to belt Harry! My Papa belted me once. I ran out in front of a lorry and he whipped my legs with his belt afterwards. He had to run and grab me out of the street so I guess he was mad because I made him run hard."

"When did this happen? I've not heard this."

"I was seven and I was playing with a stray dog. The dog ran into the street and I chased him to get him out of the street. I got him in my arms just as Papa grabbed me so I kept the dog safe."

"Dragon, your Papa didn't punish you for making him run. He punished you that way for putting yourself in danger. That is the same reason, Sirius is so upset with Harry. Harry did some dangerous stunts on the broom today, plus he went with a stranger. Sirius didn't know who he was with or where he was when you returned without Harry. He was very worried as I would be also. Do not ever do that to me, young man. You just recited the safety rules so you best see to it you obey them."

"If I did what Harry did, you would be mad at me?"

"I would. You would most likely receive a bare bum spanking with a hairbrush if you put yourself in danger. Sirius and I love you boys and won't abide any behavior that puts you in danger. You keep that in mind, young man."

"Yes Sir." Draco answers, smiling. "I love you too, Dad. Can I sleep in here tonight? I am really sleepy."

"Come here and I'll transfigure your shirt into a sleepshirt. Now, crawl in my Dragon. I'm proud of you for being well behaved today. You helped Sirius by telling him where Harry was and that is something to be proud of."

The following week, Harry and Draco find themselves mired down in schoolwork. It seems to the students, all Professors must have had a meeting and decided this was the week to assign multiple exams and long essays.

"I am so in need of the weekend! I don't know if I can do much more of this studying! Three days of constant studying, essay research and writing. We haven't even taken time to go to the Amusement Area once this week." Ron moans as he, Harry, Draco and Neville sit with Hermione in the library.

"Ronald. Schoolwork comes before entertainment. Don't you want good scores?" Hermione scolds.

"I just want scores good enough to keep my Mum happy. I'm not trying for Student of the Month in top marks. No use to when you or Harry would most likely win it."

"I don't think I'm going to be winning anything, Ron. My Transfiguration score the past two days was a Poor. Professor actually examined my wand to see if I was even casting with it! She thinks I'm not trying. If she tells my Dad I didn't try, I'll be in trouble. I had an awful score on the exam in Potions too. I couldn't remember all the steps for the Boils Cure Potion! We've studied and brewed it so often, I should have them where I can write it while asleep! I just don't know what's wrong with me lately. I can't seem to remember things." Harry replies glumly.

"I think you are trying too hard, Harry. Maybe we should stop and have some fun and then go back to studying." Draco answers.

"What is it with boys? All you think about is having fun. We have to keep studying as we have a Defense exam tomorrow and Herbology Friday. The Herbology will probably be easy for you, Neville. Maybe you can quiz the rest of us on the plant names and characteristics?"

"The characteristics of plants are they are all green, have leaves and roots. What else do we need to know?" Harry asks as Ron nods in agreement.

"Harry! That wasn't funny. Ron! It's NOT Funny! Will you two get up off the floor now? Madame is going to throw you out if you don't quiet down!"

"Yes, Mummy." Ron intones between hysterical giggles. Even Draco can't keep from giggling.

"Hermione's right, mates. Madame is going to pitch us out if you don't hush. We have to stay to research the essay for Potions. My Dad will be extremely unhappy if my essay is not done. My bum would be extremely unhappy also! Come on, mates."

As Harry is making his way back to the Gryffindor common room after classes on Friday, he is stopped by one of the Hogwarts elves.

"Master Harry, sir. Your Father wishes you to come to him, now. Respect Father and obey."

"I'll come, Hadley. I just need to go put up my satchel and wash up. I'm dirty from working in the Greenhouse. Tell Dad I'll be there after I wash, please."

"Very well, sir." The elf responds as he pops out of sight.