Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and anything from the books belong solely to JK Rowlings. The changes I made are just products of my imagination.
WARNING: Spanking of a teen in this chapter. Please don't read if that offends you.
Chapter 8 Harry Plays His First Prank
When Harry woke up it took him a minute to remember why he felt so excited. When it hit him an almost demonic gleam was in his eyes. He was going to play his first prank today. He was going to be following in his Dads' footsteps. The teen wondered if this euphoric feeling was how they had felt before pulling a prank. Did the Weasley twins feel this way as well? Would his Dad be proud that he was following in his footsteps?
Harry really couldn't hide his excitement as he joined his Dad so they could head to breakfast. He noticed that both his grandfathers seemed to be in a particularly good mood this morning as well. He wondered why but was forced to stop contemplating what it meant when they ran into Uncle Reggie and Draco. Draco had a pensive look on his face, and Harry couldn't help wondering again how he was handling the idea of becoming Uncle Reggie's son. The one thing Harry knew for sure was that he thought Draco was getting a better deal than the Father he was born with.
"Hey Draco, how are you?"
Draco looked at the boy who he had such animosity for until the last couple of days, and he couldn't help thinking about how real soon he would be his cousin. Well he was already a cousin, but now he would be a first cousin. That was so hard to believe. Then he thought about how they were planning to prank the redheaded weasel together, and he realized this could be fun.
"I'm cool of course. That should be obvious to even you." He said in his snootiest voice.
To his and the Black brothers' surprise Harry busted up laughing. "I'm so glad to see that you aren't going to change too much just because you are getting a new Dad. I don't think I could handle the loss of your winning personality."
"Stop being so sarcastic scarhead." Draco snorted.
"I'm being perfectly sincere dearest cousin." He told him as he threw his arm around the taller boy's shoulder.
The two men were gawping like fish at what they were seeing. They were so shocked that they didn't even notice when Harry whispered something to Draco.
"Were you able to get your specimens?"
"Of course," Draco huffed quietly before adding louder. "Get your arm off of me you idiot."
He shoved the annoying git's arm off his shoulder, but he was smiling to the amusement of the two men watching the exchange. The men could not believe how the boys were getting along, but it gave them hope that this meant good things for their family.
They all went to their respective tables for a delicious breakfast. Harry was seen with his head close to Neville, while they seemed to be conversing about something that made them happy. Hermione Granger had a disapproving look on her face and kept sniffing in annoyance at the boys, but this did not seem to upset the boys at all. They just kept grinning cheekily at her.
The four Founders watched all of this with varying reactions. The men were smiling and looking excited about something to the students' amusement or amazement as none had thought Salazar Slytherin could ever have such a look on his face. Most of them thought he was the embodiment of all evil after all. Rowena had a disapproving or a disappointed look which had the students wondering what was up. Helga wore a smile of indulgence, as if she knew that something was going to happen that she wouldn't like, but she would just have to accept it.
When breakfast was over Regulus, Draco and Remus were all visiting with Sirius and Harry in their quarters. Harry took Draco off to his room because now was the only time they had for Draco to teach him the new spell he would need for their prank. He only hoped that with the bindings removed he would be able to pick it up easier than he had mastered spells the last two years. He did have good feelings about it, because his Dad had helped him go back over his last two years of Charms and Transfiguration spells over the summer, and they seemed to come easier to him.
Harry wanted to start right away on the spell, but felt he should make sure Draco really was fine with the adoption. He couldn't imagine having had parents your whole life and then be told you were getting a new one.
"Draco, are you really okay with Uncle Reggie adopting you?" The concern was clearly evident in his voice.
Draco was surprised that the other boy seemed to care so much. Yes they had teased around on the way to breakfast and had definitely had fun planning to prank Weasley, but Potter-Black no Harry actually seemed to care about his feelings. This made Draco feel good and wonder what it would have been like to have the other boy as his friend for the last two years.
"I'm fine Pot...Harry. It will take some getting used too I agree. But Regulus Black seems like a nice guy." Draco reassured him. "We spent last night talking about a lot of different things to be honest. I'm shocked with how much our childhoods had in common. The only difference was he had an older brother who loved him and protected him until your Dad went off to school first year."
"Why only until then?" Harry's brow was furrowed in confusion.
"From what Regulus said his parents convinced him that his brother no longer cared about him when he became a Gryffindor."
"My Dad wouldn't do that?" Harry defended angrily.
"Yeah that is what Regulus figured out, but he said it was too late before that happened. His brother had run away, and then he joined the Dark Lord." Draco explained calmly hoping to get the other boy to calm down as well. "He says he regrets how he treated his big brother even more than joining the Death Eaters, because he was the only one to ever really love him."
Harry sat down and thought about how it must have hurt his Dad to have his little brother turn against him. That must have been why he had never talked about him over the summer. He hurt for his Dad. He couldn't imagine having a brother who wanted nothing to do with you. He decided to shake off these thoughts and get on with learning the spell. They had less than three hours before lunch and then going to the Library.
"Are you still going to teach me the Engorgio charm for the prank?"
"Sure," Draco pulled his wand and aimed it at a quill on Harry's desk. "Watch the wand movement." He waved his wand in an intricate pattern and said, "Engorgio."
The quill became three sizes bigger. Draco then used Reducio and the quill was back to its normal size.
"Can you show me the wand movement once again without the spell?" Harry watched intently before turning his own wand on the quill. "Engorgio," He yelled, and to his amazement the quill grew a little bigger.
He didn't know that Remus was passing his room at the time on the way to the loo. Or that this would later come back to bite him on the rear. The man just thought the boys were trying to study ahead so ignored it.
Draco made the quill smaller again. "You need to move your wand with a little more of a jerk he told him to make it get the size I did." Draco instructed. "I can't believe you got it to work the first time though."
"Magic seems to come easier to me since the blocks were removed." Harry admitted before trying again.
Draco couldn't believe that he got it perfect the second time. "That's probably because you had to work so much harder to get the magic to work for you with the blocks that now without them your magic will still add that extra umph to your spells."
"I guess that makes sense." Harry retried the spell again after Draco had reduced the quill. It worked for him again.
"Do you want me to teach you Reducio as well?" Draco volunteered.
Harry gawked at him. "You don't mind?"
"I wouldn't have volunteered if I did." Draco told him in his usual snobbish attitude, but Harry was beginning to see that this was a defense mechanism for the other boy.
"Thanks I would like that." He smiled gratefully.
By the time lunch time was upon them Draco had taught Harry not only those two spells, but the Serpensortia he had used during the dueling club the year before. Harry really liked making the snake appear and being able to talk to it. Draco said it was a little weird to hear him hiss, but that he was a little jealous that Harry could do it and he couldn't.
Harry and Draco were sitting at a table as far from the portrait of the lady founders in the Library when Neville and Hermione joined them. He already had the jar with Draco's specimens in his pocket.
"Hi guys. What took you so long?" Harry greeted them. They had been with him at lunch, but he and Draco had been waiting ten minutes for the other two here.
"Ron and Ginny stopped us as we were headed up here." Neville admitted. "I wanted to just ignore them, but Hermione thought that was rude."
Harry gave Hermione a disappointed look. He knew the girl was going to have to make a decision who she wanted to be friends with soon. He didn't want to make her choose, but he would be damned if he would allow Ron anywhere near him anymore. Truthfully if today's experiment in pranking worked he would probably become Harry's pranking victim a lot.
"Neville were you able to get your contribution to the cause?" Harry asked eagerly.
"I sure did Harry. I got a dozen." Neville smiled at his friend. "What about you Malfoy did you get yours?"
"Yeah, but I only got eight." Draco frowned.
Harry snickered. "Twenty is plenty, don't worry about it. This is going to be great."
"Harry I don't believe you are going through with this. This is something the twins would do not you." Hermione scolded.
"Hey I am the son of two Marauders and the Godson of a third." Harry boasted proudly. "It is in my blood."
"What are Marauders?" Draco looked confused.
"They were a group of four students that played pranks here when they were in school. My Dads and Remus Lupin were three of them. The fourth one was that rat Ron kept as a pet." Harry told them. "They make the Weasley twins look like amateur pranksters."
"Wow!" Neville gaped in awe. "They must have been amazing." He couldn't imagine anyone causing more pranks then the twins.
"Yeah I will tell you about some of the things they did later." Harry promised. "Right now we need to do a little bit of work if we are going to get this prank pulled off without a hitch. I still have to fool my Grandmothers." He had a frown on his face thinking about that part of the process.
They worked for about a half an hour when Harry stood up and walked over to the portrait. Grandma, Grandmother I need to find a book from the shelves."
"That is fine sweetheart." Helga cooed.
"But Dad said I had to stay in your sight at all the time." Harry fretted.
"It's okay Harry we will explain to your Dad if he complains that we gave you permission to go look for a book." Rowena assured him with a fond smile.
"Thanks Grandmother. Thanks Grandma. You two are the greatest." Harry walked to one of the farthest aisles and pulled out his invisibility cloak. He walked over to touch Neville on the back.
Neville stood up saying. "I need to go to the dorm I forgot my notes on this essay."
He pulled the door open to the Library, but turned back to the other two mouthing. "I'll be back." Harry was able to slip out with Neville following a few seconds later.
The two boys hurried to the Gryffindor tower. Neville said the password "Courage in the face of danger."
He let Harry go through first and followed him when they got to the third year boys' dorm Neville slipped his jar of spiders to Harry under the cloak. He made sure the dorm was empty before standing guard on the outside of the door.
Harry walked over to Ron's trunk. He opened it and took the jar Neville gave him. He dumped eight of the spiders into it. He used Engorgio on five of them, because three burrowed down faster than he thought they could. He picked up Ron's backpack and dumped the other four in it. He decided they didn't need to be bigger. He then walked over to Ron's bed and pulled back the covers exposing the bottom sheet.
He pulled out the jar Draco gave him. He noticed the spiders didn't look exactly like the ones Neville had caught. These were brown while the others were black. He opened the jar and dumped one at a time out enlarging each one before pouring out the next one. He Stupefied them as well. He knew that spell would wear off in a few hours at the most. He pulled the blankets back in place leaving the bed looking as if it had never been touched.
He slipped on the cloak again and opened the door. Neville walked in and grabbed some parchment off his night table before leaving the room. The taller boy felt Harry beside him as he opened the portrait hole, and he let him go first. They quickly made their way back to the Library. As they rounded the corner they saw Sirius and Regulus Black come from the other end of the Hall. Neville heard Harry gulp beside him. He opened the door to let Harry through, but he stood there like he was holding it open for the Black brothers.
"Lord Black, Professor Black, are you guys coming in here?" The shy boy asked politely.
"Yes Neville, thank you." Sirius smiled at his son's friend.
He was surprised not to see Harry at the table with Hermione and Draco. He walked over and asked where Harry was.
"He is looking for a book over there." Draco waved his arm in the direction where Harry had disappeared in earlier. He knew with Longbottom back the other boy had to be too.
Sirius headed in the direction Draco had pointed looking for his son. He found him down a far aisle. The boy had three books in his hand with his back to him.
"Hey Pup what are you doing?"
"Oh I was trying to find a book for some information to help on my essay, but I knocked down a whole row of books. I've been putting them back, but it has taken a long time since I was trying to put them back in the right order, so Madam Pince wouldn't get upset." Harry explained with his back towards his Dad. He didn't want to take a chance that his Dad would see he was untruthful. He was also trying to get his breath back. He had barely gotten the invisibility cloak in his pocket and grabbed three random books before the man showed up at the end of the aisle.
"That was nice of you Kiddo. I'm proud you didn't want to leave a mess for Madam Pince." Sirius praised.
Feeling guilty at the undeserved praise Harry asked. "What are you doing here Dad? You are early."
"Oh your Uncle Reggie and I are taking Draco to Hogsmeade to get the potion for his adoption, and I was thinking you might like a chance to get out of the castle for a while and join us." Sirius smiled at his son's obvious excitement at the prospect.
"I can really go?" Harry asked excitedly. "I thought I was still grounded," all the thoughts of his guilt flying out of his head at getting to see the village.
"You are but I said you were grounded to the tower unless you were with me. I'm going to so there will be no problem with you going." He smirked at his kid.
"When are we going?" Harry grinned happily while thinking he had the coolest Dad ever. He put the last of the books back on the shelf.
"As soon as you get your stuff packed up, and we call Dobby to take it back to your room." The man answered as they walked back towards the table where the others were waiting.
"Sweetheart didn't you find a book." Helga called softly.
Harry stopped and approached the portrait. "No Grandma I spilt some books and spent too much time putting them back. I was just finishing up when Dad showed up. I can get the book tomorrow, since he said I can go to Hogsmeade with him."
"You are such a good boy Harry." She smiled proudly.
The woman had no way of knowing that she was making Harry squirm inside from the guilt. He had just realized that not only had he lied to his Dad but his Grandmothers twice. If his Dad ever found out his bum was toast.
"Thanks Grandma." He hoped his guilt didn't show through.
When he joined the others at the table it was to find Hermione complaining. "But Harry and Draco can't go to Hogsmeade. It isn't a Hogsmeade weekend." She was informing the Black brothers bossily.
Sirius raised an eyebrow in disbelief at the way the girl was talking to him and Reg. "I do believe I know the rules Miss Granger. A parent or guardian is allowed to take their child out of the school whenever they want. It is a school and not a prison after all. They only have to let the Headmistress, Deputy Head or Head of House know beforehand, and in case you have forgotten I am the Deputy Headmaster."
Hermione blushed at the rebuke." I'm sorry Sir. I just didn't want them to get into trouble."
"Well thanks for watching out for my son and nephew then, but I promise I will not get them into trouble." He teased.
The two boys were excited to be going to Hogsmeade before the other third years got a chance to. They were walking at a fast pace ahead of Sirius and Regulus. They were far enough ahead that they could have a private conversation without being overheard by the two men.
"Did you get it done?" Draco asked quietly glancing back to make sure they weren't being overheard.
"Yep," Harry said popping his p. "I put the ones that Neville got in his trunk and backpack, but the ones you got went in his bed. I enlarged all the ones you gave me and only about five of the ones in the trunk. He is really going to have a screaming fit when he finds them. I can't wait until Neville tells us his reactions." Harry snickered at the image in his head. He was just sorry he wouldn't be able to see it himself.
"I wish I could see it." Draco grumbled. "It would be amazing. Thanks for letting me help." He added grudgingly.
"Hey you don't have to thank me." Harry waved off the gratitude. "I couldn't have done it without you."
The boys were walking at a faster pace now. They didn't realize how far ahead of the men they were until Sirius's voice rang out.
"You two need to slow down some."
"Aww... come on Dad you guys are being slowpokes." Harry called back.
"Harry James, I said slow down." This time the man spoke in a stern voice. "Unless you want me to hold your hand to make sure you do."
Harry blushed a bright red. "Dad." He whined but he did slow down.
"What?"
"Don't say things like that." He pouted as he glared at the laughing blond beside him.
"Don't worry about Draco, Harry." Regulus stated while staring at the blond. "I'll be holding his hand if he doesn't slow down too."
"What?" Draco gulped in astonishment. His face had a pink tint to it.
"You didn't think Sirius only meant for Harry to slow down. Did you?" Reg asked with a smirk. "He did say you two not just Harry."
Both boys stood there in silence as the men got closer. They were so embarrassed at the thought of walking into the village having their hands held like toddlers they were afraid to move. The men passed them smiling at their reactions.
"Come on you two. We want to get there sometime today." Sirius taunted.
"Dad, why couldn't we go ahead of you?" Harry complained aggravated now.
"I didn't say you couldn't go ahead of us. I just didn't want you too far ahead."Sirius explained. "I'm not for sure who is in the village, and I want to make sure your Uncle Reggie and I are close by if somebody tries something."
"So we don't have to walk right beside you." Draco inquired from the other side of Regulus.
"No of course you don't." Sirius shook his head in exasperation. "We just want you a little closer than Hagrid throwing distance."
"Cool." Harry said speeding up a little.
It wasn't long before the boys were a couple of yards ahead of the men again. Harry couldn't help look around taking in the sights of the all magical village. They kept walking until they came to the Quidditch store. Draco and Harry were both standing there looking at a training snitch that was flying around in the window. Both boys were drooling when the men stopped beside them.
"So we don't want to go in this store right?" Sirius said looking at Reg with a wink.
"Oh come on Dad we have to go in here." Harry begged with puppy dog eyes.
Sirius laughed as he opened the door. "I guess if we are going to get Quidditch posters this would be the place to go."
When they left the store an hour later Harry and Draco had three posters and a training snitch each. They all then headed to the potion shop where they bought the potion for the blood adoption. Then they headed to a store that Harry's jaw dropping in surprise.
Honeydukes candy store was a kid's dream place. All Harry could think was Ron and Dudley both would give their eye teeth to be where he was at the moment. He took in the displays of fizzing whizzes, chocolate bonbons as big as your fist, chocolate frogs, barrels of Bertie Botts every flavor beans and the selection just went on and on. He couldn't help himself he picked out a large selection of candy to buy when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't you think that is more candy than you need?" Sirius asked amused that his son would think he would let him get that much candy in one shopping trip.
The kid must have more than three galleons worth of candy in his basket. The thing was almost overflowing. It couldn't help the laugh, because it reminded him so much of James when they shopped here. His husband had a sweet tooth that would put Remus's to shame.
"Oh come on Dad it's not all for me. I will share with Hermione and Neville." Harry wheedled.
"Pup I very clearly remember you telling me that Hermione doesn't eat many sweets since her parents are dentist." Sirius smiled fondly at the boy. "There is enough candy in that basket to last you and Neville until after Christmas and that is if you eat some every day. I know for a fact that there is two Hogsmeade's visits between now and then for those allowed to visit the village, so I suggest you put some of that back."
Grumbling about mean Dads that didn't remember what it meant to be young Harry started putting some candy back. When he noticed that his Dad was no longer paying attention to him Harry went and paid for his purchases. He was surprised to find his total was two galleons, five sickles and four knuts. He had just accepted the bag from the owner when he felt a hand on his shoulder again. He looked up sheepishly at his Dad.
"Couldn't resist huh?" Sirius had one eyebrow quirked when he looked at him.
"Sorry." Harry muttered under his breath. "I didn't realize I had that much. He admitted.
Seeing his son was did feel bad he said. "Well maybe you can share with some other friends too. I'm sure the twins and your Quidditch team would enjoy some treats."
"Thanks Dad." Harry nodded appreciatively. He couldn't believe the man was being so good about him more or less sneaking and buying that much candy. "I'll be sure to share it with them."
The four of them spent the next couple of hours exploring the town for the boys' benefit. Harry had gotten a few books to read, so he could start filling his almost empty bookshelves. Harry had also gotten a stand for Hedwig and some treats. Sirius and Regulus had shrunk their packages and put them in their pockets. By the time they left the village and made it back to the castle dinner had already started. They joined their respective tables for a hurried dinner.
"Well Harry what was it like?" Hermione demanded. She wanted to hear everything about the place.
Harry spent the time between eating telling her, Neville and a few others about the village. He couldn't help noticing that Ron was looking at him jealously. Harry knew it was petty, but the redhead had hurt him more than anyone but his Dad could possibly realize, so he stated a little louder than he normally would have.
"Oh I bought enough candy Dad says that should last until Christmas, but I told him I would share it with my friends and teammates." Harry boasted sounding more like Draco than anybody would have ever thought except maybe Snape.
"How much candy did you buy mate?" Seamus asked thinking there was never too much candy.
"Uhh..." Harry blushed not wanting to admit how much he had actually spent on candy. "over two galleons worth."
Jaws dropped at the thought of so much money being spent on sweets. "Harry, that is ridiculous." Hermione scolded.
"Well it is better than I was going to buy." He stammered at receiving those looks.
"What do you mean Harry?" Neville laughed at his friend's sheepish look.
"Dad had me put some back. I decided to pay when he wasn't looking, so I got more than he wanted me too, but if he hadn't made me put some back I probably had over three galleons worth." Harry wished they would stop looking at him like that. "What? It was an amazing place and I couldn't resist."
"It's okay you candy addict we understand." Fred and George chuckled.
"We always buy too much at Honeydukes, too." Fred told him.
"Yeah we think it has to do with how good the place smells." George added.
"Normal humans just can't resist." Fred continued.
"So a scrawny little git like you had no chance." George finished.
"Hey." Harry exclaimed. "I'm not scrawny or little."
"Yes you are." George teased.
"But you didn't deny being a git I noticed." Fred rubbed in.
Harry stuck his tongue out at the two. "Just for that I may not give you two any of my stash."
"Now Harrikins," George tutted, "is that anyway to be?"
"Yeah mate." Fred admonished. "You know you love us."
"And sharing with those you love is important." They said together.
"Oh hush or I really won't share with you." Harry stated shaking his head at their antics.
The twins looked at each other before saying as one. "Just when do we get some of this candy my friend?"
"Oh later," Harry said ruefully. "I forgot Dad has all the packages we bought in the village in his pocket for now."
"How mean." Fred faux pouted.
"I know my twin. He got our hopes all up for candy and now says we have to wait." George fake cried.
Many looked over towards the Gryffindor table at the sudden outburst of laughter. Sirius couldn't keep the smile off of his face seeing his son in the center of it all. The teen's uncles and aunt were also grinning at seeing him look so happy.
At the Slytherin table Draco was for the first time since he walked through the front doors as a first year was wishing he was at the table of the lions. Most of the Slytherins were still giving him a wide berth or being rude to him. The only ones that seemed to be nice to him from his own house were Blaise Zabini, Daphne and Astoria Greengrass and Tracey Davis. They were the only ones to speak to him without a sneer or snarl.
"They seemed to be having a good time." Blaise stated the obvious.
Draco looked at him in surprise feeling like the other boy had read his mind. "Yeah but that doesn't surprise me at all. Harry can make things fun even when he is down."
"Harry? You're calling Potter-Black, Harry now?" Tracey asked in surprise.
"Well it is his name." Draco shrugged defensively.
"It's always been his name, but you never called him that before." Daphne pointed out.
"Well things have changed. He's not so bad." Draco sighed at the looks most of those at the table were giving him. Talking quieter he added for the four nearest to him. "He is going to be a bigger part of my life from now on."
"What do you mean Draco?" Tracey asked worriedly. "Things aren't getting bad for you are they?"
"Oh it's nothing bad or rather I guess to some people it would seem bad." He amended. "But I think I'm kind of looking forward to it." He had a pensive look on his face, as if he was really thinking hard about something.
"Are you going to tell us what you are talking about?" Blaise questioned when Draco had been silent for a couple of minutes.
"I'm going to be a bigger part of his family." He admitted in a near whisper so only the ones real close could hear.
"Lord Black's making changes concerning you?" Daphne leaned close to whisper.
Draco shook his head. "Yeah he is. He has already started making drastic changes. I really don't want to say anymore right now, but I promise to tell you more soon."
The four Slytherins that Draco hoped were beginning to see him as a friend looked worried but let it slide.
"Are you okay with the changes?" Daphne was showing real concern her ice queen facade slipping for a moment.
Draco glanced up at the staff table. He found Regulus Black looking at him worriedly. It was almost as if the man knew what they were talking about and wanted to know the answer himself.
Still looking at his future father Draco nodded." Yes. I think it is going to be weird at first, but it could be worse."
Regulus gave a small smile to the boy he was going to be adopting in less than an hour. He couldn't hear the conversation going on, but he just knew it was something about the adoption. When Draco nodded while looking at him the man felt something inside him relax. He knew they were going to be okay, and that he was doing the right thing by adopting the teen.
An hour later the Black brothers, Harry and Draco were in the the sitting room of Slytherin's personal quarters. Harry was taking in the sight before him. The room was painted a light green with forest green draperies over two large windows. The trim and doors of the room were a shiny silver color. The furniture was forest green with light green speckles in it. The huge fireplace had a portrait of the four founders above it. They were all sitting beside the Black lake on a blanket with a picnic lunch spread out before them. This portrait showed the four were true friends more than any of the others Harry had seen. You could just see the love and affection they had for each other in that portrait. Harry loved this portrait more than the one in their quarters. It showed just how close the four people he saw as his grandparents were.
"Okay Draco we need seven drops of your blood for the potion." Sirius told the boy handing him a sharp dagger. "Then we'll need seven drops from Reg."
After both had added their blood Sirius stirred the potion seven times clockwise and another seven times counterclockwise. He then separated it into two cups.
He handed one to each of them before saying. "Drink it all at once. No stopping into it is all gone."
Draco looked at Regulus with uncertain eyes. The man smiled reassuringly at the teen before putting the cup to his lips. Draco followed his example and at the same time they tipped the cups up and drank until the cups were empty. Draco didn't think anything had happened at first except he had drunk a really vile potion. He then felt a weird churning sensation in his stomach. A minute later he started to fall forward but Sirius caught him before he could hit the floor. He laid him on the sofa.
Draco lay there for about five minutes feeling funny sensations running through his body. It didn't hurt, but it was as if somebody was stirring his insides like he would stir a potion. He kept his eyes closed having no idea what was going on around him. When the feelings stopped he still didn't open his eyes until he heard Harry gasp. He opened his eyes and looked at the other boy to see him staring at him in shock.
"What is the matter?" He demanded. He noticed his voice sounded a little different. It wasn't a lot but enough that he could hear a difference.
"Your looks have changed Draco." Regulus told him quietly as he stared at his new son. There was no doubt in his mind that the boy was now and truly his son when he took in his new looks.
"But you don't look any different." Draco protested afraid to look at himself in a mirror.
"That's because the only thing the potion did for Reg is give him a connection to you." Sirius explained patiently. "It is more a feeling that parents get when they have children." He added seeing the confused looks on both the teens' faces. "It is a parental feeling of love and the need to protect that child more than anything in the world. It is everything that makes a parent really a parent, the feelings, love, concern, devotion and all that gives a parent that special something to be what their child needs."
"But I changed looks why?" Draco asked not really understanding what the man had meant about the parental feelings. If those were part of being a parent why didn't his real parents have those feelings?
"Well your DNA changed. You are now the true son of Regulus Black, and since I used magic to end your birth parents' marriage and took you for the family Black, well when Reg blood adopted you and he was a Black everything that had came from Lucius Malfoy was taken out of you. You are now truly a Black through and through." Sirius said showing him a new Birth Certificate that was filling itself out. It read.
Draco Regulus Black
Born: 5 June 1980
Father: Regulus Arcturus Black
Mother: Narcissa Elizabeth Black
Draco couldn't take in all he was hearing and reading. He knew he was getting a new father, but he didn't expect it to be quite like this. When he looked at Harry's face again he knew that he had to see the changes to his face and body for himself, but he was afraid. The changes had to be quite noticeable for his new cousin to still be gaping at him like he was.
"Can I see a mirror please?" He sat up and looked imploringly at his new father.
Regulus conjured a large hand mirror and handed it to his son. He could see the boy was in shock when he saw the image the mirror was portraying to him. Draco was no longer a platinum blond with blue eyes and a pointed chin. He did still have the aristocratic features that he had inherited from the Blacks, but now he had black hair, silver-grey eyes and Regulus's own chin. Draco Regulus Black was a complete carbon copy of his new father when he was a boy. The only differences were Draco's hair style was still the same as it had been before and his eyes they were his mother's. But this made him look more like Sirius as boy really than Reg.
"This can't be me. I don't look anything like me?" Draco complained when he could finally force words out of his mouth.
"You don't look like Draco Malfoy anymore." Harry agreed. "But you definitely look like Draco Black. It is just like I no longer look like Harry Potter, but I do look like Harry Potter-Black. It will take you a little while to get used to, but before long you won't even notice the oddness of it anymore." Harry assured him having gone through the same thing when the glamour was dropped.
Draco glanced at him with a doubtful look on his face. This just didn't seem real to him, but his old enemy was looking at him with compassion and understanding. "You're sure about that?"
"I'm positive Draco. I went through the same thing when the glamour was dropped. The first few days every time I looked in the mirror I was shocked to see a stranger looking back, but in no time at all you will realize that is still you and it will be okay then." Harry smiled at his new cousin. "Hey now we even look something alike. This will be so cool."
"If you say so," Draco snapped looking at his new features again.
"Don't worry Draco everyone is going to think you're adorable, since you look like me." Sirius teased.
"Hey he looks like me." Reg complained with a fake pout.
"Yeah but you look like me just not quite as handsome." Sirius taunted. "Besides he has my eyes."
"Why you," Regulus glared before turning his brother's hair silver, so he looked like he had aged forty years or so. "He has his mother's eyes not yours."
"Wow Dad you look good for an old man." Harry laughed.
"What do you mean old man?" He grabbed the mirror out of Draco's hand and looked at his reflection. "Regulus Arcturus Black, you change me back now." He ordered advancing on his laughing brother.
"But Siri, you look like Grandfather now. I never realized just how much you looked like him before." He was belly laughing at the indignant look on his older brother's face at his words.
"Those are fighting words Little Brother so unless you want me to make you look like Mother you will change me back now." He ordered aiming his wand at the younger man.
"Okay, okay." He held his hands up in surrender while trying to catch his breath enough to use the counterspell. Thankfully Sirius gave him time to do the spell before carrying out his horrible threat.
The two boys were rolling on the floor laughing at the two men's antics. They would never have believed it if they hadn't seen it for themselves. But both boys were wondering just how bad the Grandmother they now shared was, if both men thought it was a dreadful punishment to look like her. They were both thinking they were lucky not to know the woman.
Sirius and Harry stayed until it was time for Harry's early bedtime. He was really sick of being grounded. As he lay in his bed that night he remembered that Ron would be facing the prank they had played on him anytime now. He couldn't wait until breakfast the next morning to hear Neville tell him what happened.
When Harry was falling asleep finally, things were getting interesting in the third year boys' dorm Ron Weasley was getting his pajamas out of his trunk. Neville was watching out of the corner of his eye. He saw Ron freeze as his face lost all color. He knew the redhead must have seen at least one spider. The boy already had the pajamas in his hand when he finally slammed the lid on his trunk taking gulping breaths of air. He headed off to the bathroom to change.
There must have been a spider or two in the pajamas because Neville heard a scream from the bathroom. He and his dorm mates ran into the room to see Ron's pajamas on one side of the room, while he stood on the other side in just his underpants. Neville wished he had a camera at this moment.
"What's up Ron?" Dean asked in concern.
Ron looked at the three boys that were staring at him. "Uh...umm...I think there is something in my pajamas." He muttered blushing red all over. This was quite noticeable as he was still in his shorts.
"What could be in your pajamas?" Dean questioned picking them up to shake them and out dropped a tiny harmless spider. It was one of the ones that had not been enlarged. Nobody but Neville saw the one crawling under a stall door. It was three times bigger than the one just shaken out of the boy's pajamas..
"That is what had you screaming?" Seamus laughed.
"It was bigger than that?" Ron protested feebly, but the only one who believed him pretended he didn't.
The three went back to their room laughing loudly at the embarrassed boy. They all got in bed and turned the lights out. The boys were just drifting off to sleep when they were rudely pulled back awake by Ron yelling. "Oww."
"Ron, go to sleep." Seamus muttered. He was tired and didn't want to wake up fully.
"What's wrong Ron?" Dean asked trying to be nicer than his friend.
"Something just bit me." He complained. "Oww!"
"Ron you're probably just imagining it." Neville assured him biting his lip to keep from laughing. "Are you dreaming about that spider in the bathroom?"
The other boys were laughing now. Ron's ears were red, a sure sign he was getting angry.
"No I haven't been asleep something has been crawling on me since I have been in bed." He complained. "Oww." He jerked upright only to cry out again. "Oww... Bloody Hell something is wrong oww."
He finally threw back his covers as Dean spelled the lights on. When he saw the spiders on his body he gave a blood curdling scream, a scream that had boys from the other dorms running into their room. They all saw the redhead boy sitting on his bed with a few spiders on him, and the bed sheet was turning yellow from the piss spreading across it. The boy was screaming continuously.
Remus Lupin walked into the dorm of his third year lions to see that the twins had pulled Ron out of his bed. He could smell the urine as soon as he walked into the room. He thought the twin pranksters had done something to their little brother whose eyes were popping in fear.
"What did you boys do?" He demanded authoritatively.
"We didn't do anything Professor." George denied involvement.
"We heard Ron screaming and ran in to find him sitting in his bed with spiders crawling on him." Fred explained.
"He is afraid of spiders, so we got him out of his bed." George added.
"And we got the spiders off of him." Fred finished.
"Mr. Weasley, are you okay?" Remus inquired of the now silent boy.
When he got no answer Dean informed him. "He said something was biting him before he pulled back the covers."
"Boys can I get you to help your brother to the hospital wing, while I see that everyone else gets to bed?" Remus asked the twins.
"Yes Sir." They said before helping their brother from the room.
Remus ordered everybody back to bed. The other three boys in the room climbed in their own beds, but Neville noticed Remus Lupin scoop something up off of Ron's bed before leaving the room.
The next morning Harry was excited to get to breakfast. He tried hurrying his Dad along. "Come on Dad. You are taking too long."
"What is your rush this morning?" Sirius frowned in annoyance. The kid had tried to get him to leave the tower before he even put his boots on.
"I want to see people's reaction to Draco's new looks and that he is now Uncle Reggie's son." Harry explained as if this should be obvious. Inwardly he was thinking I also want to see how my prank went.
"Fine let's go you nutter." He scowled playfully trying to ruffle the kid's hair.
Harry had expected this and ducked out of the way in time to his Dad's amusement. He rushed ahead of him a little before turning back and taunting. "Not fast enough old man."
"I'll make you think old man." He growled threateningly, but this only had the effect of making the kid laugh more.
They met up with Regulus and Draco on the stairs. "Hey Drake," Harry called out.
"Drake?" Draco raised a questioning eye which reminding Harry of his Dad.
"Yeah I figure with the new looks you should have a different name as well, a friendlier name." Harry grinned.
"You decided that all on your own did you?" Draco demanded not sure he liked the idea of having a new name.
"Yeah sure as your cousin I get to call you a more familiar name like Dad calls Uncle Reggie, Reg and your Dad calls him Siri. It's just fair."
"And what am I supposed to call you?" Draco snapped.
"Well Harry would be nice since you gave me way too many nicknames when we were enemies. So now that we're family you can call me by my real name. It would be a nice change of pace." When he noticed the other boy still scowling he wheedled. "Aww... come on you can at least let me call you that? I think Drake sounds like a cool name. Drake Black, my new cousin."
"Fine but only you can call me that." Draco stated firmly. He wouldn't admit it but he felt kind of glad that the other boy seemed to like the idea of being his cousin.
"Thanks Drake." Harry grinned. "Let's hurry up and get to breakfast. That old man back there is slowing me down." He said pointing over his shoulder while speaking loud enough for his Dad to hear.
"Keep it up Harry James and I'll make you think old man." Sirius retorted while Reg laughed beside him. "Think that's funny Regulus? You do remember that you are only nineteen months younger than me, right? If I'm old you are old to the kid, too."
"That's not true is it Harry?" Reg called out to the kid's back.
Harry turned and gave him a look that said well duh. "Umm... Uncle Reggie, Dad won't let me tell lies. You don't want me to get in trouble do you?"
Sirius couldn't contain his bark like laugh at the dumbfounded look on his brother's face. "I guess you see that you are old also."
Both men watched Draco high five Harry as they laughed together. Regulus was pouting when they stepped in the Great Hall a couple of minutes after the boys had. They were shocked to see Draco standing beside Harry at the Gryffindor table talking to Neville. They could hear all three boys laughing uproariously at something Neville said. Sirius had a bad feeling when he saw the look of disapproval on Hermione Granger's face. How many times had he seen that same look on Remus's face when he was at school?
And thinking about Remus, where was the man? When Sirius glanced at the head table as he made his way there he noticed his friend wasn't there. He hoped everything was okay with him. He had just sat down when he heard somebody clear their throat.
"Sirius, who is that young man with Harry?" Andi was looking at Draco in shock.
Sirius saw that all the professors were now staring at him accusingly. He had a funny feeling these people were thinking something way off. "Well who do you think it is?"
"Sirius he looks like he may be Harry's older brother. He is the spitting image of you except for his hairstyle when you were that age." Andi said accusingly.
Sirius snickered as he glanced knowingly at his brother. "I told you he looked more like me than you."
The professors were shocked to hear booming guffaws from the portraits of the male founders while both the ladies were giggling. "He's got you there lad." Salazar pointed out through his laughter.
Regulus huffed in annoyance. "That is my son not Sirius's kid. He already has one."
"You have a son? One that is even older than Harry?" Andi looked like a feather would knock her over easily.
"Well he is only about six weeks older than Harry." Reg defended, but before he could go on Andi was demanding to know where the boy had been this whole time.
"He has been here at Hogwarts the last two years." Sirius chuckled not helping at all.
"No he has not. I know every student in this school except for some of the first years still." Minerva corrected him.
"I assure you, Minerva he has been your student for the last two years." Sirius teased.
"Sirius stop you aren't helping the situation." Regulus muttered angrily since Andi was now standing over him with a death glare.
The students were all looking at the commotion the professors were making. This only made the founders laugh more. Harry and Draco were staring at their Dads with a knowing look.
"How much do you want to bet they are talking about me?" Draco turned to Harry with a smirk.
"I'm not taking a sucker bet." Harry snorted while watching Uncle Reggie try to calm his Andromeda Tonks down.
"Why would they be talking about you, kid?" Oliver asked wondering who the kid was.
"Trying to figure out who I am," he told him before walking towards the other side of the room and joining the Slytherin table. He sat down between Blaise and Tracey.
"You can't sit there. We are saving it for somebody." Blaise told him.
"'Oh really? Who are you saving it for?" Draco huffed. He had been sitting with these two for the last four days after all.
"Draco Malfoy." Tracy told him smugly.
"Oh that is okay then." Draco smirked starting to fill his plate.
"No it is not okay. You need to move." Daphne hissed from across the table from him.
"Sure it is." Draco was having a little fun now. "Draco Malfoy no longer goes to school here."
"Did he get expelled too?" One of the fourth year Slytherins asked excitedly.
"Nope," Draco took a bite of his bacon.
"Then why doesn't he go to school here?" Tracey had a frown on her face.
"Because Draco Malfoy no longer exists," he told them as if it was no big deal.
"What?" Screamed the ice queen of Slytherin and her little sister looked on in shock. "Draco is dead? Why weren't we told?"
Everybody was now looking at the Slytherin table. The Professors were looking aghast. And they weren't the only ones. People may not have liked the boy, but they didn't want to think of a child that young being dead either. Sirius and Regulus were looking at the boy with matching raised eyebrows. He could almost hear in his head 'what the hell are you doing'?
Speaking louder than before he told the,. "I never said Draco was dead. I just said Draco Malfoy no longer exists." He corrected them.
He couldn't help it he was having fun with this. He also noticed that Harry was laughing at the Gryffindor table. Then to make his day better he saw Granger slap his new cousin upside the head causing the boy to cry out in pain. Now the know-it-all was getting glares from Sirius, his new Dad and the two Tonks's. This made his day. He still didn't like her. She kept telling them off for trying to make the weasel pay. Hey maybe they would give her detention for attacking the Founder's Heir, or maybe his new uncle would break her wrist like he did that other idiot weasel. If the man did that Draco may actually start calling the man Uncle Sirius.
"What do you mean he doesn't exist then?" Tracey fumed at the boy for not giving them answers.
"I told you he no longer exists. What more do you want to know?" Draco took a bite of his hotcakes as if everything was perfectly normal.
The ice queen jumped up and grabbed the kid by his shirt. She glared menacingly into his face as she demanded. "How somebody cannot exist anymore. I think that would be obvious unless you are a dunderhead like Snape always called the students."
"Hey I'm not a dunderhead." He turned and looked at the head table asking his new Dad silently if it was okay for him to explain. When he saw him nod he smiled. "Draco Malfoy no longer exists, because he was blood adopted by Regulus Black and is now Draco Regulus Black. Now do you think you can let go of my shirt Greengrass so I can finish my breakfast?"
"Are you saying you are Draco?" Blaise gaped at him, as Daphne retook her seat.
"Yep, now please let me eat." He took another bite of his breakfast as talking filled the Great Hall.
At the head table Andi also retook her seat. She smiled sheepishly at her younger cousin for getting in his face like she had. Sirius couldn't help his laughter even as he still looked at Hermione Granger angrily. He couldn't believe the girl had hit his son, and not just hit him but hard enough to make him cry out in pain. He also noticed she wasn't even looking remorseful, but that might be because she hadn't even noticed his glare.
"I think you upset Lord Black, Hermione." Neville finally pointed out to the oblivious girl.
"What? Why?" Hermione asked looking towards the head table to see the man glaring at her. "Why is he mad at me?"
"I don't know." Angelina Johnson said from her place next to Fred. "Do you think it could have something to do with the fact you hit his son?"
"That can't be why. I always hit Harry when he does or says something stupid." Hermione waved the thought off, as unimportant. She didn't notice that Neville and the Gryffindor team were now also glaring at her. She also didn't realize that Harry had scooted as far away from her on the bench as he could get and wouldn't raise his head from his plate.
But at the head table Sirius Black did notice this. He had a feeling he was going to have to talk to Miss Granger about how she treated his son. The man was going to get up and go talk to her when a couple of barn owls dropped a total of four boxes in front of him. The boxes had been shrunk to a two by two inch size. When he noticed they were from Flourish and Blotts he stood up.
"I have an announcement to make." This had everybody in the Hall looking at him. "I have just received the books for the Muggle and Magical Studies classes. Does anybody know if there are any students not in here at the moment?"
Hermione stood up catching the man's attention with her raised hand. "Miss Granger?" His voice had a chill to it.
"Ron Weasley is not here, Sir." She said glaring at Harry and Neville as she sat down.
Cedric Diggory stood up at the Hufflepuff table and said when the man pointed at him. "Isabelle Taylor and her friends Livvie Bilbrey and Arthur McCowan have already left Lord Black."
"Are any other students missing?" Sirius inquired.
"Loony Lovegood isn't in here this morning." Cho Chang called out, but when she saw the glare she was receiving from the Lord of Hogwarts she corrected herself. "I meant Luna Lovegood never showed up for breakfast."
"So all but five students are in here then? I will ask somebody to make sure those students go to see either the Professor T. Tonks or Professor Burbage after you leave here so they can get their new book." Turning towards the two Professors he added. "Can I get you two to stand on each side of the doors and pass out the new books to your future students?"
Both Professor stood up and took two boxes each. They walked to a side of the Great Hall's double doors before enlarging and opening their crates.
"Now I want each of you students to take one or the other of those books. I know I said that NEWT students would not be mandatory but for the next two years they will be as I don't want any of you students going out into the world uninformed about those you know nothing about." Sirius explained. "I also want you to know that you are to take the correct book, as your Head of House will make sure that you are taking the right class."
Some of the students started to stand up and head towards the doors to get their books when he spoke again. "Sorry I have one more thing to say. it is for those that are taking Care of Magical Creatures class. How many of you have been unable to open your books?"
Many hands rose in the air at this question. Sirius looked like he expected this answer. "Does anyone have the Monster book of Monsters with them right now?"
A few hands went up including Hermione's but Sirius pointed to a young man at the Ravenclaw table. "What is your name young man?"
"It's Anthony Goldstein, Sir."
"Would you please let Hagrid see your book Mr. Goldstein, so he can show everybody how to open their books? We wouldn't want anybody unable to not be able to finish their reading and essay before class on Monday now would we?"
Sirius walked over to his son and friends when Hagrid was done with his demonstration. When Harry saw him coming he stood up. He had only stayed in the Great Hall after Hermione hit him, because he was grounded. He could not believe how his friend treated him. He hadn't realized how bad it was until he heard her admit she hit him whenever he did something she didn't like. He wondered if that was because he was so use to the Dursleys hitting him upside the head all of the time. He was surprised when his Dad spoke to Hermione instead of him.
"Miss Granger, would you care to tell me why you hit my son?" The sternness in his voice even had the Weasley twins squirming.
"Because he was being unbearably rude laughing about Malfoy being dead." She defended herself like she was in the right.
"Oh really Miss Granger," the glare he was giving had a few people leaving the table to get away from the man. "I doubt that is true because my son knew Draco wasn't dead and knew the boy was playing a prank by acting the way he was. It is not your place to punish my son for any reason and especially not for laughing at a joke that you don't get."
Harry seeing how upset his Dad was touched his arm saying, "Its okay Dad I'm fine."
The man smiled at his son. "That maybe true Harry, but I can't let this go just because she is your friend." He turned back to Hermione. "Miss Granger, you have lost ten points for Gryffindor and have a detention with your Head of House. Professor Lupin will let you know when and where. I meant what I said students will not be allowed to hit other students. Let's go Pup."
Hermione sat there with her mouth hanging open. She hadn't had a detention since the Norbert incident. This was so unfair. Friends always did things like that and now Harry's Dad was acting like she did something wrong. She was even more shocked when she heard Colin Creevey speak.
"I'm glad he punished you for that. I can't believe you hit Harry whenever you want. Harry is the nicest person ever and to know his best friend hits on him all the time is just wrong."
"We hear you brother." The Weasley twins exclaimed fervently.
"What it isn't like that." Hermione cried offended that they were acting like she was mean to Harry.
"Isn't it?" Alicia Johnson asked. "Tell me Hermione how would you feel if Harry hit you all of the time just because he didn't like what you said or did?"
"That is different. Boys shouldn't hit girls." She exclaimed outraged.
"So in your book it is okay for girls to hit boys but not the other way around?" Dean shook his head at her attitude. "How sexist is that?"
"Well it was just because I'm his friend, and boys are rude and need reminded to have manners." Hermione muttered not liking how everybody seemed to be against her.
"Harry is the most well-mannered boy I have ever seen." Lavender pointed out. This had anybody close enough to hear nodding in agreement.
Hermione was almost in tears as she looked at Neville. "Aren't you going to defend me?"
"Hermione I will defend you when you are right, but this time you are in the wrong. You not only hit Harry, but you hit him hard enough for him to cry out. Harry didn't even do that when he got his arm broke last year." Neville's look said he was disappointed in the way she treated Harry and also how she wouldn't even admit she was in the wrong. He got up and walked away to get his book leaving her sitting there in confusion.
Harry was in his room working on one if his essays when Sirius heard a knock on the door. When he opened it he found a tired looking Remus there.
"Hey Remus, what's wrong? Why weren't you at breakfast?"
"One of my lions spent the night in the hospital wing. I have been checking out his dorm and trunk." Remus had a serious look on his face.
"Who, what happened?" Sirius had the dreaded feeling in his stomach again.
"Ron Weasley." Remus stated. "He was bitten by spiders last night. It seems somebody put them in his trunk, school bag and bed. The thing is Mr. Weasley is terrified of spiders."
"Is he going to be okay?" Sirius turned his back to the man and looked down the hall towards his son's room. "Do you think somebody meant for him to get hurt or was it just a prank gone wrong?"
"I might have considered it just a prank except for one thing." Remus seemed to know what Sirius was thinking.
Sirius took a deep breath not wanting to ask the next question. "What is that?"
"Well the spiders in the trunk and bag were harmless spiders though some had been enlarged. The ones in the bed were called a brown recluse and they make a person sick and cause aches and pains. They can also leave scars. Normally these wouldn't be too much of a problem for a medi-witch, but they had been enlarged and about seven or eight were in the boy's bed. He had a half a dozen bites so Madam Pomfrey has had to attempt to take the poison out three times before she got it all. It wouldn't have taken that much if they had been a normal size."
"Do you know who did it?" Sirius was scowling now. He knew in his heart his Pup had something to do with this, but he would never have believed the boy would actually try to make the kid sick.
"The school has no idea." Remus tone made Sirius know that Remus did have an idea.
"And you?" He glanced back at his friend with a knowing look.
"Yesterday when we were visiting with Regulus, Harry and Draco were in his room when I headed to the loo. I heard Draco teaching Harry the Engorgio Charm. I didn't think anything about it. I just figured Harry was trying to learn ahead, but after seeing the spiders." He left the rest hanging.
"What are you going to do about this Remus?"
"There is nothing I can do. The school has no clue who would do such a thing. I was just talking to my friend about a mystery." Remus gave him an understanding look before walking towards the door.
"Thanks Remus." The sincerity in Sirius voice rang loud and clear. "Oh before you go I wanted to let you know that Hermione Granger has lost ten points and received a detention with you for hitting another student."
"Okay Sirius. I'm going to the kitchens to get some breakfast. I'll see you later." He left closing the door quietly behind him.
Sirius stood there with his back to the portrait of the Founders. He began to do some thinking and things started clicking in place. Still without turning around he spoke in a quiet voice. "Ladies yesterday when Harry was in the Library how long was he in the shelves looking for a book?"
A minute of silence before Rowena answered, "about twenty or twenty-five minutes."
With a nod of the dark head, "was Neville Longbottom in the room when Harry went to look for his book?"
"Yes." Helga answered not liking what Sirius was thinking. "He left about a minute or so after Harry left the table. Sirius?"
"You realize that he lied to you two as well as me, right?" They could hear the pain in his voice.
"You can't really think he would do something that would hurt the boy." Godric said in exasperation. "That is not Harry."
"There is only one way to find out Granddad." Sirius walked down the hall. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Come in." Harry called over his shoulder before writing some more on his essay. "Hey Dad, do you need something?"
"I was wondering where your Da's invisibility cloak was?"
Harry's head came up in surprise before he turned in his chair to look at the man. "It's in my closet. Why?"
"Okay that is good. Where was it yesterday?" As Harry opened his mouth he cut him off by saying. "And you would do well not to lie to me Harry James."
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. He nervously looked at his father taking in the look in the man's eyes. There was disappointment, sadness and anger staring back at him. "Dad?"
"I think you telling at least three lies yesterday was enough. Don't you?" Sirius's face took on his stern expression. "Add that on top of breaking your grounding and making a fellow student so sick they spend the night in the hospital wing. Well I think one more lie might be more trouble than you could handle at the moment. So I'm going to ask again. Where was you Da's cloak yesterday when I found you in the Library?"
Harry hung his head in shame as he answered, "in my pocket."
Sirius walked forward and grasped his son's chin. He raised the teen's face until they were looking each other in the eye. "WHY? I know you are angry with Ron Weasley but to cause him to be bitten by poisonous spiders. I would never have believed it of you."
Harry's heart sank. His Dad's disappointment was tearing through him like a chainsaw. "They were supposed to be harmless spiders."
Sirius stared into his child's eyes for a long moment before realizing something didn't add up. "Where did you get the spiders?"
Harry didn't answer. He didn't want to get the other two boys in trouble too. His Dad must have realized this because he gave him a knowing look.
Sirius started talking as if he was talking to himself. "There were two kinds of spiders. You had no way of getting any as I know Dobby keeps this place too clean. The Great Hall and the Library, are also spider free as the house elves would have a fit if they left any in there. So that just leaves your two helpers. There was two different kinds of spiders harmless ones and dangerous ones. Now which boy would furnish the dangerous ones I wonder? Draco or Neville?"
Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't want either boy to get in trouble, but he knew for a fact that Neville promised to only get harmless ones. Plus his Dad said the poisonous spiders were called brown recluse so that means the ones Draco got were bad as they were brown. Then Harry remembered he had never told Draco not to get harmless spiders. Hermione had never started to complain until Draco had left the Library, and that was when Neville made his promise. It was Harry's fault that Draco didn't know that he was supposed to collect harmless spiders.
"Dad it's my fault and nobody else's. I forgot to tell one of them to get harmless spiders. I take full blame for what happened."
"You shouldn't have had to tell them that. I need to know which one gave you the bad spiders. If they didn't know they were poisonous then they won't be punished, but if they gave you ones they knew were dangerous on purpose then they can't get away with it."
"Dad, you can't you will just make him hate me again." Harry pleaded.
"Just as I thought Draco gave you them." Sirius nodded with another sad look.
"So what kind of trouble are we getting into with the school?" Harry asked.
"None the school has no ideas who did this. You will be getting punished by me, and I will be talking to Reg about Draco. Did Neville have anything to do with the spiders Draco gave you?"
"No Sir, all Nev did was collect the black spiders and help me get in and out of the Library." Harry admitted.
"And Draco got you the bad spiders and taught you how to make them larger." Sirius told him.
"Yes Sir."
"And you my son lied, disobeyed me by breaking your grounding and enlarged and put poisonous spiders in a boy's bed." Sirius sighed sadly.
"Yes Sir."
"Get me your Da's cloak." The man ordered.
Harry walked into the closet and grabbed it off the shelf. When he handed it to his Dad he felt like he was handed over a piece of his heart.
"For breaking your grounding you are grounded to the tower for the weekend, only allowed to leave these quarters for meals. You also will get this back when I feel you have earned it." He added holding up the cloak. "The lying and hurting somebody, even if you didn't actually mean that outcome was your fault anyway. Well I guess you know that earned you a spanking."
Harry felt his stomach clench. He had really hoped that he wouldn't have to face another one so soon. "Yes Dad I know."
"But lying to me again so soon as well as your Grandmothers well it looks like we need a little more of an incentive to get you to stop doing that."
"Dad?" He gave a questioning look.
"I'm going to wash your mouth out Harry James. Look at me please." He pointed his wand at his son and said. "Scourgify."
Harry felt his mouth fill will soap bubbles. He wanted to spit them out but the look his Dad was giving him told him not to. His Dad was watching his watch and after what felt like forever to Harry but was probably only two minutes the man cancelled the spell.
"Go rinse your mouth Son and then come back in here, so we can take care of the rest of your punishment." Sirius hated seeing the few tears the mouth washing had brought to his son's eyes.
Harry used three glasses of water to rinse his mouth and still couldn't get rid of the soap taste. He finally gave up and headed back into his bedroom. His Dad had turned his desk chair around until it was facing the middle of the room. He was sitting on it with a determined look on his face as Harry walked over to him.
"I'm sorry Dad for letting you down again." Harry hated knowing he was making his Dad do this again. He really hoped his Dad wouldn't cry this time. Being spanked was bad enough but knowing it was hurting his Dad too made it feel worse.
"I know Pup. Let's get this over with so we can put it behind us." Sirius rubbed his temples.
Harry pulled his trousers and pants down. He was blushing as he bent over his Dad's lap. He realized that knowing what to expect didn't make this any easier, but feeling his Dad wrap one arm around his waist to hold him closer did help some. The first swat brought a whimper no matter how much he had tried to hold it in.
"Remember you are allowed to cry and make nose Pup." Sirius said as he brought his hand down again. "You are never to lie to me again." Each word was punctuated with another swat. "If you prank somebody make sure they don't get hurt."
"I'm sorry Daddy," cried Harry.
Sirius landed one final swat on the now red backside. He immediately started rubbing soothing circles on his son's back. When the crying child had calmed down a little he helped him up and assisted him with his pants before pulling the child on his lap. "I love you, Harry James but you have to follow the rules."
"I'm sorry Daddy. I promise to try to be better." Harry sobbed into his Dad's shirt.
"You are forgiven Baby." Sirius soothed the crying child. He did notice that Harry seemed to revert to calling him Daddy when he was being spanked. As much as he loved hearing his son call him that again if the only way he would ever hear it was when he spanked his child he hoped he would never hear it again. He sat and held him until Harry had completely stopped crying.
Another chapter done. Fair warning Draco's punishment will be in the next chapter. Demonichope do not hate me he deserves to be punished for his part in the prank.