Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 46

Uncle Sev vs Professor Snape

Staying in his Uncle Severus' quarters for a night is not as much fun as being home with his Dad, Harry decides as he washes in the warm bath. The minute dinner was over Severus sent him off to bathe. Something about smelly young boys. He didn't think he was all that smelly. Just because he was a little muddy wasn't the reason to be so persnickety over getting a bath right away.

"I could of stayed out there and done something fun with Draco but NO, I had to come take a bath. Then he says we have to show him our homework! I haven't even had time to start my Transfiguration punishment one yet! Merlin, he seems irritable tonight! I wonder why. He scolded us so when we came in just because we were a few minutes late."

Jumping slightly at the knock on the door, Harry slides down in the water until his chin is just touching the top of it as Severus opens the door.

"All right young man, time to get out of the tub. You've stalled for thirty minutes and you are going to be a wrinkled mess if you don't leave that water. I know you have more homework waiting, Harry. I expect you dried off, in your bedclothes and out front in ten minutes."

"Yes sir." Harry answers while thinking "Bed clothes? Who calls pajamas 'bedclothes'? I've heard 'night clothes' but not 'bedclothes'. It makes me see a bed dressed in a shirt and pants!" Giggling to himself, he climbs out and begins to dry off. In his hurry to get dressed he forgets all about the gold coin in his pants pocket. Gathering his dirty clothes he takes them into Draco's room to put in his overnight bag.

As he walks into the sitting room, he sees a pot of tea and biscuits on a tray by the couch.

"Come Harry, have something warm to drink. You may have four biscuits since we didn't order a dessert tonight but only four. I don't want to be up all night administering stomach soothers for young boys who eat too many sweets. Draco, it's your turn for a bath. No more than fifteen minutes, son."

"I'll be quick, Dad. I have about half a foot left to my Transfiguration essay and I'm done with homework. Would you play chess with me afterwards?" Draco asks stopping to wait for the answer before continuing to the bath.

"One game only. I have some work to do tonight. You two stayed out after class and were late getting back inside. You shouldn't have gone all the way to the lake that late in the day. You both had a late class today plus going to the lake so that caused you to be off schedule."

"Yes sir. We just wanted to go out and be alone for a few minutes to talk. It turned out more than a few minutes, I'm sorry Dad."

"You are forgiven. Off with you, the water is calling your name." Severus replies pointing to the bathroom.

With Draco now out of the room, he glances down at the young boy looking forlornly at his parchment.

"Harry, Professor McGonagall expects you to have your punishment essay finished by tomorrow. It isn't going to be done unless you begin."

Glancing up in surprise, Harry gasps "She told you?"

"I happened to be coming to visit the Headmaster and was outside the door when you and he were talking. I overheard."

"I didn't mean to get in trouble or make Professor McGonagall upset, it just happened."

"From what I heard, you were asking a legitimate question. Was there another reason she was upset with you today?"

"I also kind of used a spell I'm not supposed to use without her permission. I didn't mean to, I just got upset and said it. She didn't like it much."

"What spell was this Harry?"

"Engorgio. We were supposed to be making matchsticks transform into wooden bowls. I think that's a dumb spell since we would have bowls to use in a home and wouldn't need to transfigure one. Anyway, I got mad when she scolded me for asking the use of the spell and I cast engorgio. The matchstick kind of blew up. I didn't mean to cause problems. Honest I didn't, it just happened."

"Did the matchstick explode? Is that what you mean? Harry, that could have hurt someone! No one was injured were they?"

"No, sir. It didn't explode. It just grew. It was as long as my tabletop and as thick as Hagrid's leg too! The kids thought it was brilliant and some even said we could use it for a bonfire!"

"There better not be any bonfires or other fires without permission young man! You go around doing that and Sirius will light you on fire! If he doesn't, I will!"

"Yessir! I won't, I promise! I suppose you have to tell Dad since you're a professor too. He's going to be disappointed because I caused trouble in a class."

"If Professor McGonagall or the Headmaster thinks he should know, I'm sure they will inform him. I had nothing to do with this, you have not misbehaved while in my care, so I have nothing to say on the matter. You start on that essay and I'll look at it when you are finished."

An hour later, Harry walks into the kitchen to give his essay to Severus. Standing, watching the chess game, Harry says "You have captured more of Uncle Sev's black pieces than he has yours, Drake. You are winning! Why aren't you playing Wizarding Chess? Can I play the winner?"

"Don't be so quick to assume the winner just because he has more pieces, Harry. I don't play Wizarding Chess as I don't like the mess the pieces make when they destroy each other. This is our one game of the night as it will be bedtime soon." Severus answers as Draco continues to study the board without answering.

"I'm winning though, right Dad? I even captured your queen this time!" Draco asks after thinking over Severus saying the winner didn't necessarily have more of the opponent's pieces.

"You did at that but you haven't won just yet Dragon. Watch and learn boys." Severus says as he moves his knight in the L shape towards Draco's king. "Checkmate Dragon! Good game son!"

"Noooo! You can't capture me yet. I had two more moves to go and I would have your King!" Draco complains, slumping in the seat.

"You played very well, son. You are making it more difficult for me to beat you each time we play! I just outmaneuvered you this time. All right, boys, it's bedtime so get your schoolbags packed, teeth brushed and in bed in ten minutes. We all have to be up and ready for class. I don't want you two talking into the night as you have my class tomorrow. You come to class half asleep and you might fall into a cauldron."

"Dad, we couldn't fall into a cauldron. They aren't big enough." Draco answers, grinning at the idea.

"Nevertheless, lights out and quiet in twenty minutes, boys. I'll be in to check then and I want to see boys nearly asleep. Goodnight Harry. Goodnight son." Severus replies giving both a pat on the back remembering just in time not to give Draco a kiss on the head as he usually does. Their nightly tucking in routine is also off limits with another child in the home, according to his son.

Lying in bed, Draco whispers "Did you get your Transfiguration homework done or just the punishment essay?"

"Just the punishment one. I can do the rest tomorrow night as we don't have her class tomorrow. I didn't know you were getting so good at chess. I see Ron beat you when you play him."

"Yes, he's very good. I've been practicing with Dad and I'm getting better. Good night Harry. I'm sleepy."

"Goodnight Drake. Thanks for not telling about the special secret. I didn't want anyone else to know."

"Umm-hmm." Draco answers from deep in the pillow.

The next morning, both boys are awakened by Severus knocking on the door and calling "Wake up boys. Time to get dressed. We'll have breakfast in the Great Hall this morning in thirty minutes." Not getting any response from the two lumps he sees under the covers he calls "Draco! Harry! Time to get up. Are you listening or do we need to have a cold wake up call this morning?"

"I'm awake, Dad! I'll be up and ready, I'm listening!" Draco answers tossing the covers off and grabbing his warm robe.

"Harry! Wake up and say something fast before you get a cold wake up call!" Draco tells his cousin.

"Ummm? I'm awake but it's already cold in here. What's a cold wake up call when it's already cold?"

"Time to get up, Harry. Your robe and slippers are by the bed and have a warming charm on them. Let's don't dawdle. We have breakfast waiting."

"Yes, Uncle Sev. I'm coming."

Leaving the two boys to get dressed, Severus closes the door and goes to wait in the kitchen.

"Drake? You never did answer me. What's a cold wake up call?" Harry asks as he ties his school shoes before pulling his school robe over his head.

"That's what happens if you don't get moving when Dad calls. You get two chances to get up without help before he acts. He conjures an icy towel and makes it wrap around your neck and head. He means GET UP when he calls so you have to move! I've only had it one time back when I didn't listen after he called me twice to get up and even came into the room to shake me awake. I don't ever want that icy cold towel on me again."

"That's not very nice. It's already cold in your quarters without a freezing towel on your head."

"It only stays until you get up so the faster you move, the quicker it's over. Come on, let's go. I'm ready for breakfast." Draco replies slipping his own school robe over his brownish blonde hair.

Sitting at his table listening to the lecture in Potion's class later that afternoon, Harry finds his mind wandering. Professor Snape is reviewing the uses of the Awakening potion which they have learned before so Harry fails to see why they need to review it again. Thinking back to his time in Ireland he puts his hand in his robe pocket expecting to feel his coin. Not finding it there, he reaches inside the robe to his trouser pockets and again comes up empty. Beginning to worry, he fails to hear Professor Snape call his name. Continuing to search his pockets he feels Draco elbow him in the side.

"WHAT!" Harry snaps, glaring at his cousin.

Seeing Draco tilt his head slightly to the space in front of their table, Harry looks up. Seeing the frowning face of his Professor staring at him he squeaks out "Sir?"

"I asked you a question and I want a reply, Mister Potter-Black." Severus answers drawing out Harry's last name.

"I'm sorry sir. I don't know the answer."

"You don't know the answer because you didn't hear the question which in turn was because you WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION! TEN points from Gryffindor! Now LISTEN!"

"Yes Sir!"

Fifteen minutes later, Severus calls for the students to gather ingredients to make the Awakening Potion. "While you are gathering and preparing, Miss. Billingsworth will gather your homework essays. Place them on your table for her to pick up."

"Homework essay?" Harry whispers to Draco.

"From the last class. We had to write about the uses of bumblebees in a potion and describe the potion."

"I completely forgot about that! I don't have anything done."

"That's not going to be good, Harry." Draco whispers, shaking his head. "Go get our ingredients and a cauldron too. I'll be setting up the burner." Draco says quietly.

"I wish we knew how to do a duplication spell so I could duplicate your essay and change a few words or sentences."

"It's too late anyway. It's being collected now and you wouldn't be able to change anything with Dad right here watching. Tough luck, Harry." Draco whispers back.

'Yeah, if only I had my coin, I wouldn't be in this mess!' Harry thinks as he goes to the supply cabinet.

Back at the workstation, Draco checks the flame for the cauldron to make sure it will show the correct burn. Remembering to turn it off once it reaches the burning point, he begins to read over the directions once more as Harry walks up.

"I got it all except the standard ingredient. Everyone else grabbed up those jars and there's none left. We'll just borrow from Hermione when we need it. What's the first step?"

"Read the board or the book, young man! Do not rely on someone else for information as they may not relay it correctly! You MUST pay attention when brewing!" Professor Snape scolds having walked past just in time to hear.

"Yes sir, sorry sir." Harry replies nodding quickly.

"Apology accepted. Now, what is the first step?"

Glancing quickly at the board, Harry answers "Umm, well it says we need crushed Billiwig stings so I would say crush the ingredients first." before holding his breath in the hope he is correct.

"Excellent Mr. Potter-Black. Five points to Gryffindor for thinking ahead. Yes, do crush the stings ahead of time so they will be ready when needed. Carry on, boys."

"Whew! I thought he was going to crush ME if I messed up the answer." Harry whispers to Draco after checking to see Professor Snape was out of hearing range.

"He takes potion brewing very seriously. When I help him, I have to be on my toes because one small error can destroy a potion. If I mess up a potion because I didn't pay attention, I get banned from the lab for three days or other punishment. You crush while I measure out the rest of the ingredients." Draco answers quietly trying not to giggle at the thought of his Dad crushing his cousin.

"Snake fangs crushed, captain." Harry announces a few minutes later.

"Roger that, co-captain." Draco answers seriously. "I have the cauldron ready so dump it in. I've put in the two sprigs of wolfsbane. We need to get that standard ingredient now."

"I'll get it."

"Hermione? Can I borrow the standard ingredient now? We need some."

"Yes, I know I should have gotten up and collected ingredients earlier. I was distracted. Please? Can I borrow the jar?" Harry asks after listening to a scolding from his friend.

"Got it Drake but I had to endure a lecture to get it. Honestly, that girl! You'd think she was seventeen, not eleven! Okay, four measures of standard ingredient and add the Billiwig Stings. " Harry says as he adds to the cauldron.

"Now we mix everything together stirring counterclockwise for three minutes and it should be a bright blue color. I'll mix while you time me. Ready? Start timer!" Draco answers as he begins stirring over the burner flame.

"Uh, Draco? Why is it turning a sickly green color? It looks like Dragon scales!" Harry whispers after two minutes.

"I don't know! Ahh, it's bubbling up! COVER IT HARRY!" Draco yells the last as he ducks under the table.

Just managing to get the cauldron lid on before the potion bubbled over the top, Harry feels rather than sees someone standing behind him.

"Come out from under the table Mr. Snape! You are responsible for this creation as well as Mr. Potter-Black. Uncover, the cauldron and let me see what is happening." The boys hear Professor Snape instruct.

"Well gentleman, you managed to completely ruin this potion. That will be a zero for today. There are fifteen minutes left in class, you are to write the steps for creating this potion TWICE to be able to recite them to me and then begin your lines. You each have 100 lines of 'I will follow the instructions as they are written in my Potion's Guide!' You may begin now!"

Reading through the steps as he copies them the second time from the textbook, Draco realizes what went wrong.

"Harry! You nimnull you! It says crushed BILLIWIG STINGS not SNAKE FANGS! You crushed the wrong thing! No wonder it nearly exploded! What is with you, today? You even told Dad the stings needed to be crushed first and then didn't do it!"

"It's just as much your fault as mine! You didn't pay attention to what you were adding! You could have caught the mistake but didn't! Stop blaming me!" Harry answers giving Draco a shove which causes him to knock the cauldron full of ruined potion off the table.

As a cloud of green fumes rises, Severus casts a containment charm on the cloud calling, "Class? Attention please! Leave your labeled vials on the table. I will clean the workstations. Homework assignment - Write one foot on the danger of misreading potion's instructions and two feet listing the instructions plus uses for the Awakening Potion. Dismissed. Mr. Potter-Black and Mr. Snape stay behind."

"Approach the desk, gentlemen." The two uneasy cousins hear.

"First question. Mr. Potter-Black, where is your homework assignment?"

"I'm sorry Professor but I forgot it."

"You may bring it to me tonight in detention. As you know when you are assigned detention, five points are docked from your house. Together you have lost another ten points from Gryffindor!"

"Detention? No, please not detention. I'll get in trouble at home if I get detention!" Harry tries knowing it will only lead to more scolding.

"Detention for both of you at six o'clock in this classroom. Since this is the last class for today, I'm leaving all of the clean up to you two boys. I expect you here at six o'clock. You are being punished for failure to follow directions and for putting your classmates and yourselves in danger."

"But Dad!" Draco starts before correcting himself at the stern look he receives. "I meant to say Professor. I didn't misread the directions or crush the wrong ingredient! It was Harry who did that! Why do I have to serve detention?" Draco asks as he blinks to keep the sudden tears away. Serving detention means he gets no free time that night. It will be detention, homework, bath and bed only.

"Are you two partners? Do you equally share in the grade you receive when the potion is completed successfully? Are you to work together to create a potion?"

"Yes sir, we are and we do."

"Then you are both equally at fault for when the potion goes wrong. Now, we've been in class for seven months, not to mention the extra brewing you and I do together, Draco. In that time I believe you have been taught HOW to create a successful potion. In none of those lessons were you to work without checking behind the other person. When you blindly add in ingredients without double checking, you create a ruined potion. Today, no one was injured but your actions could have easily caused injury! Therefore you are both punished equally."

"Yes sir. I'm sorry sir."

"I accept the apology. Now tell me the steps to create this potion. Mr. Snape. Listen well, Mr. Black as you will recite next."

After both boys have successfully listed the proper steps, Harry asks "Professor?" biting his lip in worry.

"Yes?"

"I can't hand in my homework tonight, sir. I forgot to do it at all not forgot to bring it. I'll do it and turn it in tomorrow."

"You just lost five more points for Gryffindor, young man! I will not accept this behavior! That homework assignment was given out a week ago and you have had plenty of opportunities to finish. You could have finished it last night when you were busy making paper airplanes instead of doing your punishment essay."

At Harry's surprised look, Severus says "Yes, I did see what you were doing while Draco and I were having the chess challenge. That Transfiguration punishment could have been finished in twenty minutes but you stalled around and it lasted just over an hour. I will accept the missing homework in the next class along with today's homework and the lines I assigned today."

"Yes, sir." Harry answers also fighting tears now at the harsh scolding.

"One more thing, Harry James. If I see you shove another student in this classroom, you will find yourself over my lap having my ruler applied to the seat of your pants. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? Your shoving Draco caused the potion to spill which caused the cloud of fumes. We've talked about safety in this class since September of last school year! I'm extremely disappointed in your behavior Harry!"

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again!" Harry answers as he brushes away the tears running down his face.

"To be sorry is to behave differently! Both of you are dismissed to Gryffindor tower until dinner. Harry, Sirius sent word he will be home after dinner. You will return to your quarters after detention." Severus tells the two boys.

"Yes, sir." The boys answer before gathering their bags and leaving the room.

"Merlin, Professor Snape is much different than Uncle Severus today, Draco. I thought for a few minutes there, he was going to wallop my bum! I'm actually glad my Dad isn't going to be home until later tonight. He won't have time to punish me for getting detention. He's going to be busy getting ready for his classes tomorrow!"

"You caused me to get detention, make a zero, get a scolding lecture, lose free time tonight and caused me to lose points! I hope Uncle Sirius spanks your bum for how you've acted in class yesterday and today. You and that dumb coin of yours cause problems! Now listen as I'm only going to say this one time. I'm not speaking to you until tomorrow or maybe the day after that!"

"Aww come on Drake! I didn't mean to get you in trouble. I didn't even have my coin today! I left it in my pants from yesterday so that's why I couldn't pay attention. They are back in your quarters. I'll have to get them after detention because I need my lucky coin!"

Walking ahead of Harry now, Draco ignores him.

"Draco? Didn't you hear me? I said I didn't have the coin with me. Draco? Hello? Co-captain to captain? Over." Harry says imitating a movie they both like. Not getting any answer, Harry just follows his cousin through the portrait hole to the common room. He can tell it's going to be a long night.

To all my fellow Americans, I hope you have a terrific Independence Day weekend. As we celebrate, let's remember the sacrifices of those who gave so much to establish the freedoms we enjoy today. What courage the colonists back in 1776 had to stand up and fight for their beliefs. Thank you to the military (and their families) who fight for our freedoms and often sacrifice so much for our country. Happy 240th birthday United States of America!