As Snape walked back to the castle, he noticed a black-haired figure high above the quidditch pitch. As he came closer, he could clearly make out Harry's features. Rage boiled inside him. That arrogant brat, he thought angrily. I can't believe that he would deliberately disobey me. He stormed over to the quidditch pitch. "Harry James Potter!" he bellowed. "Get down here now." Harry landed his broom and dragged his feet over to where Snape was standing. Snape grabbed Harry's arm and leaned over to eye level. "I thought I told you no flying today, boy," Snape hissed, his face red with anger. Harry blanched, pulled away, and took off running at breakneck speed. Momentarily stunned by the boy's reaction, Snape chased after him, calling, "Harry!"

Snape watched as Harry barreled into Hagrid. He caught up with them just as Hagrid mentioned something to Harry about staying indoors while he was in his meeting.

"I tried to, Hagrid," Snape said, slightly breathless. "But Harry seemed to have other plans. Come along, Harry." He gently tried to pull Harry away by his arm, but Harry just clung more tightly to Hagrid.

Hagrid glanced between Harry and Snape. "Professor," Hagrid said, "Why don't yeh leave Harry with me for a bit and I'll bring him back up to the castle later?"

Snape saw the desperation on Harry's face. "Very well." Hagrid assured him that he would have Harry back in his quarters in time for dinner. Snape nodded and turned to go back to the castle as Hagrid led Harry away.

oOo

"Uncle Sev!" Hermione exclaimed, adjusting her position so she was sitting properly in the chair when he came in.

"Where's Harry?" he asked her bluntly.

She blushed. "He's…um...well you see..."

"There'd best not be a lie at the end of that stuttering, young lady," he said sternly. Hermione fell silent, and stared at the ground. "Relax, I've already seen him."

"Then why 'd you ask?" she replied indignantly.

"I wanted to see how you'd react. Please tell me you at least tried to stop him." He wasn't sure he could handle both of them in trouble at the same time.

"I did. He didn't listen. Where is he now?"

Snape let out a sigh of relief. "With Hagrid. He'll be back in time for dinner."

"Why?"

"That is between Harry and myself." He looked at Hermione. "I have to brew some Pepper Up Potion for the Hospital Wing."

"May I help?" Hermione looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

Snape regarded her closely for a moment. You'll be there to supervise, he reminded himself. "All right," he agreed. "But you will need to do everything exactly as I tell you to."

"Yes, sir!"

They went into the lab. Snape took the mandrake root and the bicorn horn out of the supply cabinet. "Do you know what the first step is?"

"You have to bring the bicorn horn to a slow boil."

"That's correct. Do you know why?" Hermione shook her head. "It releases the scovilla which helps to drain the sinuses."

"Oh."

He glanced up at the clock. It was already six o'clock. "Wait here, Hermione. I'm going to get the take-away menu for the Leaky Cauldron. We'll get dinner from there tonight." A few minutes later, he spread the menu out in front of her. "What do you want?"

She perused the menu for a moment. "Fish and chips?"

"All right. What do you think Harry would like?"

"Probably the steak and kidney pie. It's his favorite."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Hermione nodded. "All right. I'll go place the order. Keep an eye on the cauldron."

He returned a few minutes later. The bicorn horn was boiling gently. "What now?" he prodded.

"You add the mandrake root and let it boil until it turns purple."

"Correct. Why?"

"Because the mandrake root has healing properties."

"Right. So does that work on the symptoms or the virus itself?"

Hermione thought for a moment as Snape dropped in the mandrake root. "The virus itself?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Because the healing properties should work on the actual problem which is the virus?"

"Correct." He pulled the potion off the heat, He handed her some vials and a ladle. They began filling up the vials until Snape saw Harry leaning on the door frame.

oOo

"Um, I'll be in my room if you need me," Hermione said after dinner. She hurried out of the kitchen leaving Harry and Snape alone.

Snape banished the take-away containers and took their glasses to the sink. He sat down at the table where Harry was sitting. "Would you like to explain what happened this afternoon?" His tone was firm.

"Not really."

Snape gave Harry a withering look. "Then I'll rephrase. Why did you go flying after I expressly told you 'no flying' today?" Harry shrugged, staring at the table. "That was not a request, young man," he snapped. "Answer me!" Snape slammed his hand down on the table.

"I was bored!" Harry shouted, his cheeks reddening as his temper flared. "I had nothing to do so I went flying!"

"Do not shout at me!" Snape hissed. "You deliberately disobeyed me. And you did so because you were bored?" His tone mocked Harry. "There was nothing else to do? Maybe your homework like I told you to do? Or is the famous Harry Potter too good to do his homework?"

"Sod off," Harry snarled. He ran from the table to his room.

Snape slammed his fist down on the table in anger. The brat infuriates me! he thought. But then a voice in the back of his mind that sounded suspiciously like Professor McGonagall reminded him that he and Harry were stuck together for at least the next five years. He ran a hand through his hair. He sighed, trying to figure out what to do next.

"Uncle Sev?" Hermione's voice came from behind him. "What is it, Hermione?" he asked, exasperation touching his voice.

"You should know...Harry hates that he's famous." She disappeared from the doorway. Snape sighed again and steeled himself for what had to come next.

oOo

Taking a deep breath, Snape knocked on Harry's bedroom door. "Harry, may I come in?" He took the boy's silence as assent. He stepped into the room. Harry was laying on the bed, arms crossed, staring up at the ceiling. Snape sat down in his desk chair. "Hermione told me how you feel about being famous." Harry didn't answer. "I'm sorry."

Harry eyed him suspiciously. "I really do hate it," he said. "I'm famous because my parents died."

"I assure you that I couldn't care less that you're famous."

"I got that."

"I'll try from here on out that I will not use your...celebrity," his lip curled at the word, "from here on out."

"Thanks."

"Sit up please." Harry sat up. "My lapse in judgment doesn't excuse your behavior. Was I unclear when I told you 'no flying' this morning?"

"No, sir."

"Then why did you do it?"

"Because I was bored. I finished my History of Magic essay and I had nothing to do. And it was a perfect day for flying."

"So you wanted to go flying and you went? Is that correct?" Harry nodded, staring at the floor. "A verbal answer."

` "Yes, sir." Harry's voice was soft.

"That was absolutely unacceptable. When I tell you to do something, you do it. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," he replied grudgingly.

"What is it?" Harry shrugged. "Tell me."

"It's just...I'm a good flyer. I can handle it."

"I see. The reason I did not want you flying was that I could not be here if you happened to get hurt." Harry opened his mouth to speak. "I know that you are a good flyer. But even good flyers make mistakes. If something had happened, Aunt Min wouldn't have been able to get a message to me. Not to mention, Madame Pomfrey isn't here right now. If you had been hurt, there would've been no one here to heal you. Do you understand now why I told you no flying?"

Harry gave a terse nod and swallowed. "Yes, sir." He paused. "Hermione told me that Madame Pomfrey came to Hogwarts to heal her."

"True. However, Madame Pomfrey is currently out of the country. She was at home when Hermione took the potion."

"Oh."

"I have reasons for what I do, Harry. I don't ask you to do things without reason."

Harry swallowed, biting back his true thoughts on the matter. "I understand."

Snape nodded. "Your shouting was unacceptable as well."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"If you ever tell me to sod off again..." He trailed off, leaving the threat looming.

"I got it."

"Well then. I require your broom."

"What?"

"Your broom. Bring it to me."

Harry left the room and got his broom from the broom closet. He tentatively held it out to Snape.

Snape took the broom from him. "You will get this back in a week. You are also grounded for the next week. Don't worry; I'll keep you from getting bored."

"Yes, sir," Harry mumbled.

Snape looked hard at Harry. "Why did you run?" Harry shrugged. "No, I want an answer."

"Because you hate me."

"Did you think I was going to hurt you?''

"No, sir."

"Then why run?" Harry shrugged again. He leaned down to Harry's level. "I know that you know why you ran. And you have been in trouble with me enough not to run. I'll let it go for now, but I will find out why." Harry glared back sullenly. Snape straightened up. "Go get ready for bed. You will go to bed at nine while you're grounded. I'll be in in a few minutes to say good night."

"Yes, sir."