Harry Potter Junior Level:Year Two
Ch. 45
Harry's Wrong Side Of The Bed Day
Having returned to Hogwarts two days before, Harry dresses for his first day of classes after Spring break. Struggling to tie his tie in front of the mirror in his bedroom, he sighs in frustration. "Stupid tie! Stupid uniform too!" he snarls as he watches the knot of the tie refuse to knot for him. Pulling the tie off he throws it on the floor and grabbing his school robe, stomps out to the living room.
"My, you have a lovely look on that handsome face. Whatever is the matter?" Sirius asks as he sips from his teacup.
"I hate school! I don't want to go anymore! I want to be on holiday! Classes are so boring now. I'll wait here while you go to classes." Harry answers flopping into the closest chair.
"Holidays are great, I agree. If we didn't have work then we wouldn't have a need of a holiday. I know you enjoy classes and Hogwarts son, so what is the real reason for this mood?"
"I can't get my tie fixed. Every time I try to knot it, the knot falls apart. Is there a knotting spell you can teach me? Better yet, can't I just not wear it?"
"It's part of your uniform and if you don't have the correct uniform, you could face detention. Go get your tie and I'll fix it for you. I'll even show you a secret your Daddy showed me long ago. As far as I know there is no spell for tying a tie. We may have to invent one, the two of us." Sirius replies as he walks over to place his cup in the sink.
"Here is the horrible thing. I think it's cursed Dad." Harry says as he hands the red tie to Sirius.
"All ties must be cursed then as so many are uncooperative. Now watch and I'll share the secret with you."
"That's wicked, Dad! Isn't that kind of cheating though?"
"I don't believe so, son. How do you feel it is cheating? We tied it didn't we?"
"Yes, but it's not being worn when you tied it. I think you have to have it on when you tie it."
"As far as I know there are no Tie Rules, Harry. I don't believe we will be in trouble for having tied the tie before you slip it over your head and tighten it. If there are such rules then I have been breaking them since I was twelve! That would be years worth of lines or detentions so I will have to have your oath that you won't mention this to any other professors or the Headmaster."
"I think I'll just go tell Grandpa right now! I owe you for spanking me for trying to help that Leprechaun in Ireland so this is payback, Dad! Enjoy detention!" Harry answers, giggling as he races across to grab his schoolbag and leave before Sirius can catch him.
As the door bangs closed, Sirius smiles to himself thinking One young boy now out of his bad mood, mission accomplished! Gathering his own school robe, he picks up his satchel and heads off to his first class of the day. Walking along the corridor to his Astronomy classroom, he wonders just what Dumbledore would say if Harry did tell him of their tie experience.
Entering the classroom of his first class of the day, Harry sits at the table with Hermione to wait instructions. Professor Jamison is the new professor for Muggle Studies. Harry and Hermione are two of the ten students who chose the class as the one elective for Spring term.
"Good morning, students. Today we will discuss what certain muggle appliances are used for. How many of you have heard of a toaster or toaster oven?"
Harry and Hermione both raise their hands.
"Mr. Black, which are you familiar with? Please explain to the group what the appliance is used for."
"I know of the toaster Ma'am. The toaster is used to make toast. Anyone with a brain can figure that out. That's why it's called a toaster, it toasts things."
"No need to be rude, Mr. Potter-Black. Not all of us have been around muggle objects."
"Some people use it for frozen pastries also, Ma'am. You put the frozen pastry down in these slots," Hermione says pointing to the slots on the picture being shown on the wall. "Then you set the setting down here by sliding the switch to frozen. It cooks the pastry." Hermione adds to the explanation.
"Excellent. Now does anyone have anything to add to this discussion?"
"Why would muggles need one thing just for toasting?" A student asks.
"Because it uses less electricity than say an oven. You don't need to turn on the whole oven for toasting four pieces of bread." Hermione explains.
"No, you could only turn on half the oven not the whole oven." Harry says spitefully.
"Hush, Harry. You're going to get points taken! Why are you acting this way?" Hermione whispers trying not to show he hurt her feelings.
"Mr. Black, could you enlighten the class as to what the toaster oven is used for?" Professor Jamison asks.
"The toaster oven is an oven for toasting. It's name tells you this just like a toaster tells you it is for toasting. This is obvious to anyone who can think just as I said before." Harry answers, wishing she would ask someone else.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for disrespect of classmates." The professor says before asking "Miss. Granger, would you elaborate on his answer, please?"
"Yes Ma'am. The toaster oven is a small oven used for heating smaller items. My Mum uses it to warm up previously cooked food."
"That's it? That is all you are going to say? I thought you would list twenty ways to use the oven! Please enlighten us more, Hermione."
"Mr. Potter- Black! That is uncalled for. There is no need to be rude to Hermione. I want a sincere apology to her. That's another ten points lost and you have 100 lines of "I will be respectful to my classmates at all times."Your father is to sign the paper and it is due to me first thing after breakfast in the morning.
"Yes Professor Jamison. I apologize for my behavior Hermione." Harry replies somewhat sullenly. Not listening to the lecture any longer, he thinks It's not fair I have to show my lines to my Dad. Other kids don't have to tell their parents when they have lines as punishment. Why can't the professors treat me like everyone else?
"Class, I have arranged for you to examine both of these objects. Girls may look at the toaster oven while the boys examine the toaster. They are on the tables here at the side of the room. We also have bread available for you to practice using the appliances."
While his classmates are busy examining the appliances, Harry begins to work on his lines. He has ten written before he hears "Now is not the time for writing punishment lines. Go up and demonstrate for the class what the toaster does and do it politely."
"Yes Professor." Harry answers walking over to instruct the dummies of the use of a toaster.
"Okay kids. Take a piece of bread, hold it in your hand and put it in each slot. Now set the setting to light or it will burn. Now push down on the lever and wait for it to pop back up. That's all you have to do."
"Wow!" A girl exclaims as the toast pops up.
"Now, someone else try it. You'll be a toaster user too." Harry says refraining from rolling his eyes at the excited students.
Walking up to the door of his first class with Draco, Harry sees him waiting by the door.
"Hi Drake! How was your holiday alone with your Dad? Did you get to do any special things? You didn't have to just watch him brew potions did you?"
"We had fun some of the time. I'll tell you all about it later. Right now we'd better get inside for Transfiguration. I don't want to lose points for being late the first day after holiday. You are running late today as it is past time to be here."
"Yes, I know. I have trouble getting moving today. I'm just not ready for classes to start back. I'm ready for Summer." Harry answers as Draco begins to open the door.
"Mr. Snape and Mr. Black! Are you gentlemen planning to spend the class time inside or outside the classroom? The other students have been seated five minutes now. WE are waiting to begin!" The two children hear behind them.
"Professor! I thought you were inside." Harry stammers as he spins around to face an irate Professor McGonagall.
"I was until I came to fetch you two chatterboxes. You do realize the entire class is able to hear through the door. To get to have Summer break you have to finish the term. To finish the term, you must attend class which means GET INSIDE!"
"Yes Ma'am!" The two boys answer stumbling over each other to enter the room.
"Late on the first day back! Be ashamed!" Hermione whispers across the aisle as the two boys sit down.
"Shut it, Hermione! Not everyone is as school crazy as you are." Ron Weasley tells her which earns him a scowl from his professor but a smile from Harry.
"Now, if there are no more interruptions, we will begin. Please open your texts to page eighty and read the section on transfiguring matchsticks to bowls."
"Yes, Mr. Potter-Black?" Professor McGonagall asks somewhat irritably when she sees his hand raised minutes later.
"Professor, why would we need to know this?"
"Pardon me, Mr. Potter-Black? Are you suggesting my lessons are not practical therefore not useful?" McGonagall asks, visibly bristling with indignation.
Not reading her well enough to know she's insulted, Harry continues "Most people don't carry around matchsticks so how could this be useful? Couldn't we study transfiguration by learning how to transfigure common items such as ties or hair ribbons into fun things such as gobstones, chess pieces or candy?"
"At this time we are practicing skills you will need in future lessons. I do not believe we will ever learn to transfigure objects into gobstones. It is also impossible to transfigure anything into something edible."
"I don't see why we can't go ahead and learn the fun things. Why does everything always have to be so boring? Matchstick to needle and back again. Rat to cup and back again that's so boring." Harry replies stubbornly.
Seeing Draco staring at him in shock at his flippant attitude and hearing him whisper "What is the matter with you today? You are going to be in trouble!" he just shrugs his shoulders.
"Mr. Potter-Black Do you not wish to participate in the lesson? I can arrange for you to spend class time elsewhere."
Hearing the stern tone and the warning, Harry backs down.
"No Ma'am. I was only asking a question." His voice sounding sullen even to his own ears.
"A disrespectful question, young man. Twenty five points from Gryffindor for your cheek. I don't know what has gotten into you today, young man but if you do not change your behavior immediately, you will find yourself in detention on the first day of class."
"Actually this isn't the first day of class. We've been in class since September and this is the beginning of April." Harry answers before he can stop himself.
"See me after class, young man! The directions are in the text, get started class. Make sure to enunciate the words correctly."
After seeing their professor move to the back of the room to begin supervision of groups, Draco whispers "Merlin Harry! Are you trying to get sent to the Headmaster? You just about pushed her to that point. What are you thinking? Your Dad is going to go mental if he hears of this."
"I only asked a question. She didn't have to get all whacky on me. Dad wouldn't get mad when it was only a question."
"If you say so. My Dad would definitely be on me if I acted the way you have. She's coming, grab some matchsticks and do something quickly." Draco whispers.
"Engorgio!" Harry intones waving his wand over his matchstick. Instantly the matchstick swells to ten times it's size.
"Brilliant Harry!" Ron calls across to his friend. "We could use that to start a bonfire one day."
"As the lesson is to transfigure a matchstick to a bowl, I don't believe you read the directions. Also, you have been told not to use that charm without permission. You are dismissed from class, Mr. Black. The Headmaster will be waiting in his office to greet you. You may leave."
"But Professor! I just acted without thinking. Please don't send me out. Please?" Harry whispers desperately.
"You are dismissed for today. I will see you in class on Wednesday with a better attitude and a three foot essay on why beginning lessons in Transfiguration are important for future knowledge."
Slowly making his way to the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office, Harry briefly stops to wipe the threatening tears from his eyes. Nothing has gone right since he got out of bed today. First he stepped on the gobstone set he had forgotten to put away causing his foot to be bruised, then he couldn't find his essay for Transfiguration and had to unpack his bookbag to look for it. At breakfast with his Dad, he'd spilled his pumpkin juice all over his plate causing him to lose his breakfast treat as it was the last sweet bun they had. After that he had the problem with the school tie and now the problems in the classes. It just seems his day is getting worse by the hour.
Standing in front of the entrance to the spiral staircase, Harry mumbles "Chocolate Frogs" which is his special password to enter his Grandpa's office at any time. As the door swings open, he steps on the staircase sighing as it rotates him upward.
Knocking once on the door to the Headmaster's office he hears "Enter" and opens the door.
"Why, hello there Harry. What a pleasant surprise. Come tell me about your time in Ireland while I wait for a student to arrive."
"I'm the student, Grandpa err I meant to say, Sir."
"I know you are a student, Harry. I meant a student who has been referred to me for disciplinary measures."
"Yes sir. That would be me, sir." Harry replies as a scroll pops into view over Dumbledore's desk. Unrolling it and reading what is written, his Grandpa suddenly gives him a stern look.
"This says you are the student sent to me for misbehavior in class. Professor McGonagall reports you were disrespectful and put the class in danger by being defiant. Come sit here and explain to me what went on." Dumbledore says motioning to a chair in front of his desk.
"I didn't mean to be disrespectful or defiant, sir. I only asked her a question about the lesson and she got all fuzzed up about it."
"Harry, I wouldn't be using the term 'fuzzed up' around Professor McGonagall. She would be even more upset if you spoke badly about her in her animagus form, Fuzzed up refers to a cat, remember?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't think. Today has been a bad day all day, Grandpa."
"Tell me about Transfiguration, Harry. We'll straighten this out and make it a better day."
"She scolded me and Draco for talking outside the classroom and not coming into class right away. I hadn't seen Draco in over a week and I just wanted to talk for a minute. Then when we went in she told us the lesson was going to be to transfigure matchsticks to wooden bowls and I asked her a question. She got all fuzzed umm, upset at me for my question. Then..."
"Hold on just a minute there, son. What did you ask?"
"I asked 'Most people don't carry around matchsticks so how could this be useful? Couldn't we study transfiguration by learning how to transfigure common items such as ties or hair ribbons into fun things such as gobstones, chess pieces or candy?' Harry answers repeating his exact words which causes Dumbledore to hide a smile. "She didn't like my question at all and took points from me! It was just a question. We've done all the baby transfigurations all year and I want to do something big!"
"Not all students are as far along in their abilities as you, child. You are not even eleven yet so there's plenty of time to learn 'something big' Harry. What was it that you did to put others in danger?"
"She had us in groups and was coming around monitoring. When she was about to come to me, I cast engorgio on a matchstick without thinking first. It grew to be the size of our table, Grandpa! I've never gotten one that big before."
"I see. Well son, the matchstick could have exploded and sent slivers into the other children. That is where the danger came from. It's good that your magic is strong or that is what would have happened. Can you think of a reason why Professor McGonagall didn't appreciate what you asked in Transfiguration today?"
"I might have hurt her feelings but I didn't mean it. I wanted to know why we couldn't learn more advanced lessons."
"Well Harry, I think a sincere apology and promise to do better would help her feelings. It is nearly lunchtime, let me call her up and we'll straighten this out."
"Yes sir. Are you going to tell Dad? If he hears I got sent to you for misbehavior, he'll punish me. I'm already restricted to our quarters for getting in trouble on holiday. I don't want more punishment."
"No need to worry my boy. All will be fine. Sirius has been called away for the evening. He won't be home until late tonight or tomorrow. I'm to inform you that you are to stay with Professor Snape tonight and he will see you tomorrow."
"Why did he have to leave?"
"Unexpected business came up. Now, here's Professor McGonagall so be on your best behavior." Dumbledore answers just before a knock is heard on the door.
"Come in Professor."
"Headmaster, I'm in the middle of class. Those second years aren't going to sit quietly especially with the Weasley twins in with them."
"I sent a sixth year to monitor for you. She should be there now. Harry here has something to say. Harry?"
"I am truly sorry for my actions and words this morning in class, Professor. Please forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or make you mad either. I can't seem to control what I say today and I don't know why. Will you forgive me?"
"I will but your punishment stands. I still expect that essay and the points are still subtracted from Gryffindor. You lost points in Muggle Studies today also, I've heard. Do try to control yourself the rest of the day or Gryffindor will be losing more points than we win today. Don't forget the Junior Level houses are added to the point count for the final total at year end. We want Gryffindor Houses to win the House Cup! I'm sure you want Junior Level Gryffindor to win the prize for the most points also."
"Yes Ma'am. Professor? Are you going to tell my Dad?" Harry asks, sending her a woebegone look with a slight pout.
"Put the eyes and lip away, young scamp. I'll not be informing Sirius yet. Everyone is entitled to have one bad day a term. This is yours so no more misbehavior or I will be talking to your Dad. I never expected someone to have a bad day the first day back from a holiday."
"Yes Ma'am, thank you and I'll be better, I promise."
"I'll certainly expect you to be. Headmaster? If that is all, I do need to return to class."
"That is all, have a good day."
"Grandpa? Am I in trouble with you? "
"No Harry, I believe all has been settled for now. You go have lunch and I'll see you soon. I do want to hear all about your trip."
"Yes sir." Harry answers heading towards the door after a quick visit with Fawkes.
"Mr. Potter-Black? We will be recording this into the behavior log. No more visits to the Headmaster's office for misbehavior young man. If there is a next time, I won't be so lenient. Understand?"
"Yes Headmaster, sir." Harry replies quickly. The use of his formal name letting him know this is the Headmaster, not Grandpa talking.
As soon as their afternoon classes were over, Harry and Draco leave their books in Severus' quarters and head outside to their favorite place to be alone.
"Okay Harry, what's going on? You have been acting strange all day. Did you eat some loco weed in Ireland and it's still affecting you?" Draco asks as they sit on the shore of Black Lake.
"I haven't eaten any weeds, Draco. I just had a rough day is all. Let's talk about you not me. What did you and Uncle Sev do during the break?"
"For the first few days, I just stayed home and played with my racetrack or helped Dad with his brewing. We brewed a lot of Pepper Up Potions and others for the Infirmary. Dad said after the winter colds season, Madame Pomfrey needed him to help her restock. After that, we went to Surrey and shopped. I got some new everyday clothes because my other clothes are getting too small. Dad didn't make me buy dress trousers or button down shirts, Harry. I got to pick out T shirts and jeans just like you wear. We even found a toy store and I got some new games. Dad let me buy a muggle handheld video game. We had a good time and I didn't get scolded at all. I did everything he told me to do so he wouldn't make us go home before we got to the toy store."
"What about going to London?" Harry asks smiling a little at Draco starting most sentences with "Dad".
"Yes, we did that too. Dad had to go to a special Apothecary there. I don't know what he went to get. He left me in the hotel room all by myself. I didn't have to have an elf come watch me. I stayed by myself for two hours and watched muggle shows on the telly. I like that show called Mork and Mindy and then one called Magnum P.I. was good. I really had fun over my school break. Dad is not so strict away from classes. He took me swimming, Harry! We went to the indoor pool that's heated and it even had a fake waterfall in it. It had a water slide too. Did you know there's a place called a water park? I saw an advertisement on the telly. It's in London and the whole park is water fun. They had log rides, rafting, water slides, a wave pool and I don't even know what else! I asked Dad if we could go but he said we had to wait until another trip as it wasn't open for business yet. He asked about it in the hotel so he knew."
"I would like to go to a place like that. Maybe this summer we can get The Dads to take us there. It sounds like you had a really good time with your Dad. Did you get to go to the shore too? You didn't have to stay in the manor the rest of the vacation did you?"
"Not inside I didn't. We never did get to go to Spinner's End but that's alright. I had a good time even without going to the shore house. How about you? Did you have fun in Ireland?"
"I didn't have as much fun as you seemed too. My Dad had to work on his school grading and planning and then we could do something. We did get to play on the beach some. I built a castle just like Hogwarts out of sand with my Dad's help."
"Did you get to find that treasure you were going to look for? I remember you said there was gold in Ireland. Did you find some?"
"Kind of. I met a real live Leprechaun, Drake. He got me in trouble though. He took me away from where I was supposed to stay and Dad got mad at me. The Leprechaun gave me this coin but Dad doesn't know. He would make me give it back if he knew so I didn't tell him. Even now he'd probably find some way to owl it back or something." Harry says taking the gold coin out of his pocket.
"Merlin! That's a big coin. I wonder how many gallons that would be. You're rich Harry!" Draco says as he examines the coin in his hand.
"I know. I'll let you have some of it too the next time we go somewhere to buy something. This coin must be magical as it makes me feel special when I have it in my pocket. I feel kind of different without it. I need it back now."
"Here then. I just wanted to look at it. I wasn't going to keep it, you know."
"Thanks and I know. I just need to have it in my pocket. Let's go back to your room and play with that video game you told me about."
"I don't have it here. Dad made me leave it at the manor. We can play something else after we get homework done. You know we have to do homework tonight. He will check and see if we have it done so you better do it."
"I am not ready for homework. I'm ready for fun. Come Drake, we'll find some fun things to do." Harry says before calling "Race you back!" and running off.