Before he could say Quidditch, Harry found himself face down on the floor, and rolling, trying to avoid getting trampled by Krum as he slammed Draco against the wall.  Bloody obnoxious git! Mop up the floor with him, Dragon! He felt a hand grip his shoulder and he half-spun, his fist cocked, but to his relief it was only Ron, offering him a hand up.

"Thanks, mate," Harry said, accepting the redhead's hand and climbing to his feet.

"No problem," Ron said, glaring angrily at Krum and then he looked up and gulped, for Krum's friends, big hulking beasts in fur robes, had come to join the party. "Uh, Harry . . .looks like we've got company."

Harry shook his head.  Despite his dislike of fighting, he sensed that they were going to have to defend themselves, because the hulking cretins didn't look like they were in the mood to talk things over.  "Ron, get my back," he ordered. "No wands, we'll get nailed if we use magic. Just use your fists."

"Right." Ron squared up, his hands snapping into fists. He shot a game smile at the girls, who were looking alarmed, at least the Beauxbatons ones were. Hermione looked as if she wanted to go a few rounds with Krum and so did Zara. 

Harry looked about for Katie and then recalled she was in the loo, and so well out of this coming confrontation, thank Merlin.  When he turned back around, he found a Durmstrang wizard snarling something right in his face.  Harry didn't need a translator to tell that it was both insulting and a prelude to a fight.

The other student was older, bigger, and stronger than his Hogwarts counterpart, but Harry had fought Severus, who had all those advantages, and he was not taken aback. The bigger boy swung at him, Harry ducked, having seen it coming from a mile away, then he planted his shoulder in the other boy's midriff, grabbed the boy's arm and spun about in a half-circle, tossing the startled kid over his shoulder.

He flew through the air, arms windmilling, to land with a thud and crash on a table across the room. The table promptly collapsed, splintering in half, dumping the kid on the floor amid the broken pieces.

Oops! Looks like I threw him a bit too hard, Harry thought ruefully.

"Bloody hell, Harry!" Ron exclaimed.  "How did you do that?"

"I learned it from my father," Harry answered, ducking another punch and returning one of his own.

Beside him, Ron landed a good one in a Durmstrang student's eye, making the blond boy howl. 

Draco was systematically beating the spit out of Krum, who could not match the younger boy's speed or agility or his knowledge of hand to hand combat.  The Slytherin was not using kin-sa-dor, mindful of what had happened last time he had done that to Harry, but he was using boxing techniques that hurt just as much. 

He licked his lower lip, it was swelling from a lucky punch, but other than that, Krum had not been able to land one on him.  Recalling all of his lessons from Severus, Draco danced around the older lad, lunging in and out like a ghost, hitting Krum hard in the ribs or eye and then darting away.

Krum kept circling and spinning, swinging wildly at Draco, not understanding how the Slytherin kept avoiding his fists.  He was hurting badly, but he was too stupid to quit and kept shouting how he was going to stomp Draco into the dirt.

Crabbe and Goyle had also risen when the Durmstrang students showed up, and they too were happily whaling away at them. 

Within minutes, the entire barroom had erupted into a brawl, as the other patrons got caught up in the fight.

Harry never knew who called the Aurors, he was too busy fighting to worry about the law, so furious he could hardly see straight.  Until there came a loud whistle and a stern voice yelled, "All right, people! Break it up! You're under arrest for disturbing the peace!"

Several uniformed Aurors entered the pub, wands out, and shot several Stunning Hexes at the brawling mass of wizards.

Within five minutes, they had restored order to the pub, as patrons scattered and fled, or were collared by an Auror and put in cuffs or Stunned. 

"Harry, the Aurors are here!" Ron called, panicked. "Stop and let's go! He's had enough. Come on, mate!"

But Harry did not hear him, his Snape temper was up, and all he saw was another opponent.  Ron tugged on his sleeve hopelessly. Harry yanked a friend of Krum's around and was drawing his fist back to deliver a sharp lesson to the other's face when he found his arm caught in a firm grip.

"Now that's enough, laddie." A beefy Auror with a distinct Irish brogue said.  "Ye're coming with me, to cool yer temper in jail for a wee bit."

"Huh?" Harry blinked. "W-what do you mean?"

"What I said, lad." He quickly cuffed the shocked Gryffindor before Harry knew what he was about.  "Come along now, boy."

"But . . .but . . .sir . . .they started it, we were just defending ourselves!" Harry protested.  "I'm a Hogwarts student, you can't do this!"

"Yeah, mate!" cried Ron, who was undergoing similar treatment from another Auror. "Don't you know who he is? You can't lock up Harry Snape!"

The Auror holding Harry did a doubletake.  "So you're the one, eh? The fourth champion and all?"

"Yes, sir.  Could you please let us go? My father-"

"-will not be any too pleased with you, boyo," laughed the Auror.  "But it coulda been worse. You coulda been drunk as well."

Harry saw to his dismay that Draco had also been caught and restrained, as had Krum and several others from Durmstrang.

The girls were left alone, for it was clear they had not been involved in the fight.

In fact, the last thing Harry saw before he was Apparated away was Katie's face-pale and scared, watching as the Aurors hauled him away along with half the barroom patrons to the local jail.

* * * * * *

The Auror in charge of Harry, whose name, he said, was Finn O'Connor, put the Hogwarts contingent into a large cell and the Durmstrang students in another cell next door, reasoning they wouldn't be tempted to start the brouhaha all over again if they were separated.  Clearly there was dislike between the two schools, if the amount of blood and bruises were anything to go by.

Besides Harry, Draco, and Ron, there were a few seventh and sixth years also in the cell, they had been drinking in a corner when the bralw had begun and had immediately rushed to the aid of their fellow classmates.  They were a bit drunk and seemed unconcerned about the whole business, treating it like a lark.

Harry looked around at the cold steel bars and the wooden chair in the corner and the steel bench bolted to the floor, which was the only furniture in the cell, and the adrenaline that had surged through him died and was replaced by a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.  I can't believe this just happened. I mean, we were just minding our own business when Krum comes over and starts with Draco and next thing you know, I'm arrested and in jail.  Merlin help us all, but we are so dead!

He made his way over to the bench and sat down, putting his head in his hands. 

Draco dropped down to sit beside him, he had a hole in his robe and his face was bloody and bruised, but he was otherwise all right.  "Merlin, Harry, we are so screwed!" He groaned.  "Anybody got a shovel?"

"A shovel? What for?" laughed one of the older students. "Plan on trying to dig your way out, kid?"

"No," Draco replied, his eyes wide and scared. "I'm going to use it to dig my own grave and save my father the trouble.  He's going to kill us, Harry."

"But Draco, we didn't start it! Krum did!"

"You think he's gonna care who started it?" Draco cried. "We're in jail, for Godsake! We've been arrested!"

"Hey, calm down, Malfoy," Ron said.  "It's all a mix-up, they'll send someone to get us out soon.  I hope."

"Easy for you to say, Weasley! You're not the one who's going to die later on tonight."

Ron paled. "Do you think they know already? Will they tell our parents?"

"Probably," Draco sighed.  "Unless Dumbledore hushes it up. Not that it matters to us. We're dead meat however you look at it."

Harry groaned. "Draco, how mad do you think he'll be? Once we explain what happened . . ." But then he recalled how he had totally lost it, and allowed his temper to rule him and he wondered guiltily if he'd caused serious injury to anyone.

"Harry, we're not going to make it to seventeen, trust me." Draco predicted woefully.  "I wish I'd just let Krum beat the snot out of me."

"No you don't.  Because then you'd be a wuss," Ron pointed out.

"You're right." Draco conceded. "I'm not sorry I gave him a licking.  Only sorry I ended up here. I wonder if they give a last meal to the condemned?"

Harry wondered how long it would take the news to reach the castle and once it did, how long it would be before Severus came to fetch them home.  He had a sinking feeling he would wish it were later rather than sooner, despite the fact that he hated being confined.  He had tried to maintain a positive front to keep Draco from falling apart, but inside he too was quivering, for the wrath of Severus Snape was not something a wise son provoked.

* * * * * *

 Headmaster's office,

Hogwarts School:

Severus set his third cup of tea down on the tray, ready to call it a night and go down to his quarters to read a bit before bedtime. He was feeling very weary and tired, banishing the lamia had taken more out of him than he would have wished. Listening to Dumbledore natter on about the tournament hopefully promoting better relationships between the three schools had almost caused him to fall asleep, and he had to fight to keep his eyes open. 

Phil had gone to hunt tonight, and he thought Smidgen was keeping an eye on Moody and Karkaroff, trying to see if either one had any taint of a dark summoning on them.  She had already tested both Crouch and Bagman, they were clean.  Therefore they were not the ones who had summoned the lamia, and if he had to guess, he would bet Karkaroff to have done such before, given what he had been, or at least had the connections to pay another wizard to do it.

"Albus, it's nearly nine thirty, time for me to be going," he began, rising to his feet.

Just then there came a knock on the door.  "Come in," Albus called, thinking it was Minerva or one of the other Heads. 

The door swung open to reveal an Auror in official robes with a scroll in his hand, followed by a flustered Karkaroff.  "Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore, so sorry to disturb you, sir.  I am Auror MacKenzie and I'm afraid there has been an incedent at Hogsmeade in the Three Broomsticks involving several of your students."

Severus could feel alarm bells pealing madly in his brain at that statement.

"An incident, you say?" Dumbledore was as calm as ever. He might have been discussing the weather.  "Was anyone hurt?"

"Well, not severely, a few cuts and bruises and whatnot. The usual after a barroom brawl," reported the Auror.  "We rounded them up and put them in the local holding pen, and here's the list of the students involved. Apparently one of them was your young champion, Harry Snape, and his brother too."

He handed Dumbledore the list of names.

Severus felt as if he had just been punched in the gut with a Bludger. "Excuse me, officer? Could you repeat your last statement? Because for a minute there I thought I heard you say that my two sons were involved in a barroom brawl."

"No, you heard right, Professor Snape," said the Auror, looking faintly guilty. "We're sorry to have caused you any inconvenience, sir, but they were in it up to their necks and well, champion or no, the law is the law, so you see . . ." He looked over at the tall Potions Master.

Snape was white, the only color in his face were two red spots high on his cheekbones. Auror MacKenzie flinched and took a step backwards upon seeing Snape's eyes.  They were blazing so brightly the other wizard was surprised the carpet hadn't caught fire. He looked away, and felt a strong desire to run out of the room and keep running. His second thought was to thank Merlin and God that he wasn't Snape's son. Those poor boys! I think they ought to start making funeral preparations. If the professor's anything like my da, they'll be needin' one.

"No, Auror MacKenzie, I quite understand," Severus said in a deceptively soft tone.  "No one, least of all my sons, are above the law."

"Ahem! Yes, well . . .we took statements, several of the Hogwarts students claimed a boy from Durmstrang, Viktor Krum, started the fight by hitting one of them, I think it was over a girl-"

"That is a lie!" Karkaroff cried.  "My students would never behave so. I am sure, officer, that Viktor was provoked."

MacKenzie rolled his eyes. "Sure, that's what they all say. Listen, Mr. Karkaroff, I have seven witnesses who testified that your boy started the whole thing, including one pretty lass with brown hair who says she's the boy who was hit-Draco Malfoy-I think was his name-she says she was his girlfriend and your boy Krum has been pestering her something awful."

"I believe that would be Miss Granger," said Dumbledore.  "Last I had heard, she was walking out with young Draco."

Severus raised an eyebrow. Trust the old coot to know who was dating whom.  Dumbledore was an inveterate gossip.

"Then she is a lying hussy too!" Karkaroff accused.

Severus swung on the other man.  "Igor, if I were you I would watch who you accuse of lying.  Miss Granger is an upstanding student of impeccable character and if she chose, she could press charges on Krum for harassment.  And you wouldn't want that, now would you?" The threat in his tone was unmistakable.

Karkaroff scowled and promptly shut up about Hermione.    

 "What must be done to release the students, MacKenzie?" asked Albus.

"Oh, there's a small matter of a fine-thirty Sickles per student-that you'll need to pay, Headmaster."

"Very well, I shall see to it," Albus agreed, moving over to his desk to sign the scroll releasing the Hogwarts students and to write out a bank draft from the school funds.

"A moment, Albus," Severu said suddenly.  "Auror MacKenzie, this holding cell you have the students in-there are no dementors guarding it, are there?"

"No, Professor.  We're not the sort to need those things about, we don't get the hard cases, just the idiots who get drunk and rough people up or have a bit of a duel once in awhile.  My partner is down at the station with your boys."

"Good." Severus said silkily, an idea beginning to take shape in his head.  "Then perhaps you would be willing to do me a favor? I will pay the fine for my two sons, but I want you to keep them there overnight."

"Overnight, Severus?" Albus repeated.

"Are you mad, Snape?" Karkaroff sneered. "Why would you wish them to remain in jail?"

"To teach them a lesson, aye?" MacKenzie answered, catching on.

"Precisely, officer.  I wish to teach them that breaking the law has consequences, even for ones as young as they are. My sons have a tendency to break rules and perhaps this will impress upon them the folly of doing so.  I shall pick them up first thing in the morning.  Where are you located in Hogsmeade?"

"The end of the street, just in back of Zonkos," replied the Auror.

Dumbledore handed him the signed scroll and a bank draft.  Severus immediately summoned his purse and paid Dumbledore, ignoring the old wizard's protests.

Karkaroff handed the Auror another bank draft, scowling and muttering something about highway robbery. 

"All righty then, gents. I'll be off and send your kids back to you.  And don't worry, Professor, we'll take good care of your two.  Make sure they have a proper welcome and all." He winked at Severus before striding through the door and down the stairs.

Karkaroff soon followed and Albus gave Severus an apologetic glance and said, "I should be going with him, Severus. Are you sure you don't wish to change your mind? They are only fourteen . . ."

"Albus, I told you at the beginning of the year that if my sons got in trouble, I would punish them as I saw fit, and you were not to interfere.  That still holds true, Headmaster.  Perhaps next time they will learn to walk away before getting involved in a barroom brawl."

The Headmaster sighed. "You are strict, Severus. I do not know if I could be so . . ."

"Which is why I am in charge of their discipline and not you, Albus. My boys need a firm hand or else they will run wild."

Albus departed, sensing that nothing he said would change Snape's mind once it was made up.

Alone in the office, Severus swore several blistering oaths before sitting down and putting his head in his hands.  Damn it to hell, why me? When will those two ever learn to behave?

* * * * * *

Hogsmeade jail:

"All righty then, when I call your name, come to the front and step through the door," MacKenzie bawled, unlocking the cell to the Durmstrang contingent first. "No pushing, no shoving, and mind yer mouths, or else you'll go right back where you came from." He began to read off the list of names.

One by one, all the Durmstrang students were released.  "You ought to thank your Headmaster, boys, for being so nice as to release all of you after how you behaved. Especially you, boyo." He gave Viktor Krum a sharp look.

"I have done nuffing," Krum protested.

MacKenzie snorted.  "That's not what some people say, laddie. Go on then, get!"

The Durmstrang students walked away down the hall, where Karkaroff waited to pick them up and escort them back to their ship.  Dumbledore had suggested, rather strongly, that his students be made to stay there until he was sure they knew how to behave themselves and not get into brawls in public with their host school. Igor was seething, but he dared not have it said that his students were rabble rousers, and so he agreed.

MacKenzie then turned to the group of Hogwarts students and told them the same thing. He began to read off the list of names.

Harry wasn't sure if he ought to be relieved or apprehensive. On the one hand, he really wanted to go home, but on the other hand he wasn't sure if going home was tantamount to suicide, given the mood his father was sure to be in.

Finally, all the Hogwarts students except Draco and Harry had been released. Dumbledore was waiting at the end of the corridor to escort them back to the castle.

Draco looked up at the tall ginger-haired Auror.  "What about us?"

It was then Harry realized that their names hadn't been called. "Sir, didn't our father . . .didn't he pay for us to be released?"

MacKenzie sighed, he felt a bit sorry for the two boys, they reminded him a bit of himself and his brother at that age.  "Well, boys, y'see . . ."

"He forgot, didn't he?" Draco interrupted. "Do you want us to owl him?" Much as he didn't want to, he knew it was better to just take his licks and get it over with.

"How could he forget, Draco?" Harry cried.  "He remembers everything! Unless he's so mad that he'll never forgive us so he . . .left us here." He swallowed hard and looked down at the ground.

Mac took pity on them then. "Nah, lads, it's not like that.  Your da still loves you, even if he does want to wallop you to kingdom come right about now. He knows you're here an' he's after teaching you a bit of lesson now. Y'see, you're going to be our guests, mine an' Finn's for the night."

"We're going to have to stay here overnight?" Harry cried. "But we didn't start anything! Krum attacked Draco first!"

"You can take that up with your da tomorrow morning, boyo. He'll be here to get you then." MacKenzie said, familiar with they way most wrongdoers protested their innocence upon learning they were going to prison.  "For now, come with me.  You'll be spending the night in a different cell."

"A different cell?" Draco repeated. "What's wrong with this one?"

"This is a temporary holding cell. Now come on.  You're to have the complete treatment."

He led the boys from the cell and into another room, which was empty save for a small table. "Go over to the table and put your hands on it. I'm going to run my wand over you, make sure you have nothing hidden, like weapons on you." He had already taken their wands.

The two obeyed, while Mac walked around and ran his wand over them, chanting softly. 

Harry wondered if this were a bad dream and he would wake up soon.

"Okay, you're clean. Turn around."

They faced the bluff Auror uncertainly.  MacKenzie remained stiff and formal, despite wanting to reassure the two children. "Here's your new outfits."

A flick of his wand and their uniforms and robes were changed into a pair of linen black and white striped pajamas, complete with a number across their front. Harry's was 435 and Draco's 453.  Even their trainers were changed into black slippers without hard soles. 

Draco made a face.  "This is what we're wearing?"

"Aye, and be glad of it.  This is a prison, not a high-falutin' hotel, kid." Mac said gruffly. "Now then, march out that door there," he indicated a door at the far end of the room.  "And turn right. Stop at the second cell."

The two boys followed his directions. "I can't believe he's doing this to us," Harry muttered angrily.  "It's so unfair!"

"Hush!" Draco ordered.  "Quit whining.  You didn't think he was going to let us off with nothing, did you?"

"No, but . . .he could have given us a chance to explain instead of just leaving us here to rot."

"Think of it this way, Harry. If we're here, it gives him more time to cool down. So that we won't end up decorating the dungeon.  So don't go hurrying us along to our own funeral, all right."

"You don't understand. I hate being locked up."

Draco squeezed his shoulder. "Me too, but it's just for the night.  We'll get through it, little brother. It's tomorrow we'll need to worry about."

Mac came and unlocked the cell door with a wave of his wand and held open the door.  "Home sweet home, boys. At least for tonight."

They went inside. The cell was smaller than their original one, it had two metal bunks fastened to the wall, each with a thin pillow and a gray blanket folded on it. There was a small porcelain sink and two cups.  A toilet was in the corner, with a curtain off to the side of it. 

"I'll take off the cuffs, seeing as you're not Death Eaters," Mac joked, and the cuffs unlocked and floated over to him.  He shut the cell door with a sharp clang, locking it with a Locking Charm.  "Good night, lads.  Finn will be down the hall if you need anything, like a handkerchief."

Then the Auror turned to leave, dimming the lights as he did so. 

Draco glanced about.  They were the only occupants in this block, but they could hear mutterings from other prisoners nearby.  He went to run the water and wash his face, it came out lukewarm, and he wished he had a mirror to see how he looked.  But mirrors weren't something prisoners were allowed.

Harry went and sat down on the bunk, the cold dullness of the cell reminding him oddly of his cupboard.  He sighed.  The pajamas were thin, he shivered a bit. He would have taken Snape in a temper over this confinement. Yeah, right, a part of him thought mockingly.  If he were here right now, you'd be looking for a hole to hide in.  Despite the Auror's reassurance, he was still worried that his father wouldn't forgive him for this latest mess.  It was one thing to get into a fight at school, but another thing to get arrested and thrown in jail for getting into a fight in public.

Imagining how disappointed and angry Severus was made his stomach hurt. He winced as it cramped and suddenly he needed to use the toilet.  But there was no door and no privacy, he thought in horror. Just a flimsy curtain, one that didn't even close all the way.

Flushing hotly, he called over to Draco, who was holding a cloth to his eye, "Draco? Don't turn around.  I'm using the loo."

"Oh. Okay." Draco answered back, and kept staring across the bars at the cell next door. 

His ears burning, Harry tugged the curtain as far as it would go, and used the facilities.  One thing he did know for sure, and that was he would never again get involved in a barroom brawl, no matter what.  His stomach agreed with him fervently.

* * * * *

Afterwards, Harry lay on the top bunk, trying not to squirm at the scratchy blanket covering his bare feet.  He had forgotten what it was like to have old ratty things to sleep with since moving to Prince Manor. The mattress was thin and lumpy, he tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable.

Below him, he heard Draco doing the same.

He wrapped his hand around his medallion, feeling it warm beneath his hand, and thought of how much he longed to be home at Prince Manor. He missed the manor and the orchard with a fierce longing that made him ache.  "Draco? You awake?"

There came a rustle, then a quiet, "Yeah. What's the matter? Can't sleep either?"

"No.  What do you think he'll do to us?"

Draco let his breath out in a sigh. "I've been trying not to think about that. Probably take a spoon to our backsides, if I had to guess. At least once. And then we're going to be grounded."

"Yeah, that's what I figured too." Harry steepled his fingers across his chest.  "Think it'll matter if we tell him we didn't start it?"

"Maybe.  Depends on how mad he is. You know how he hates it when we get into fights in public. Both of us know better. And he's going to nail my arse because he's already punished me for that twice before," Draco said gloomily.  "You, he might go a bit easier on, since this is your first time getting in trouble at school for something like this."

"Stupid Krum! I sure wish it were him going to get walloped by Dad."

Draco chuckled. "I think I took care of that already, Phoenix."

"You sure about that?"

"Positive. I might look banged up, but you should see Krum.  He looks like he's been through the First Wizard War." Draco said proudly. 

:Indeed, young one. He looked pummeled and battered passing fair, as the Bard would say,: came a familiar voice in their heads.

An instant later, a tiny black purple-winged cat appeared in their cell with a soft pop!  Her violet eyes, the mark of a dreamweaver, glowed with lambent light as she surveyed the two miscreants.

"Smidgen!" they cried.

:Ai, children, what HAVE you gotten yourselves into this time?:

"The usual mayhem," Harry quipped. Just seeing the little fae cat made him feel ten times better.  "How did you find us? I thought you were keeping an eye on Igor the Sneaky."

:I was, but he wasn't doing much sneaking after the authorities told him about his students getting arrested. When I heard that, I wondered if you two were involved, and of course, you were.:

"Why is it that whenever there's trouble, everyone automatically assumes we're involved?" Draco groused.

The shimmerling gave a soft half-mew of amusement.  :Because, little dragon, nine times out of ten, you ARE involved.  Like tonight.:

Draco couldn't really deny the shimmerling's line of reasoning.  "Okay, so we're trouble magnets. But still . . .we're not in trouble all the time, Smidgen."

"Only nine and three quarters of the time," Harry put in.

"Aw, stuff it, Harry. Who asked for your two Knuts?"

"Nobody. You get them free of charge," replied his brother. Smidgen fluttered over and landed next to him on the bed.  "Does Dad know you're here?"

:No.  I am not answerable to Severus for everything I do,: answered Smidgen, licking her paw.  :I cannot interfere with his discipline of you, but I can watch over you at night, as I have promised.  And though there is little here that can harm you, I think you will feel better with me guarding your dreams, yes?:

"Yeah. Thanks, Smidgen," Harry said gratefully. He reached out to stroke the tiny cat and she purred and rubbed her head against his hand.

Her purring filled his ears and he found himself drifting off to sleep while he listened to the soothing sound. 

The shimmerling watched while her charge's eyes shut and he drifted off into dreamland.  :Sleep well, little phoenix.  You have naught to fear, not even your father.  He is no longer as angry as you think, and he loves you very much, Harry-kit.:

Then she flew down to Draco's bunk and settled upon the Slytherin's chest. Draco looked at her and smiled.  "I'm glad you're here, Smidgen.  This way I can get a good night's sleep before I die tomorrow."

:Hsst, little dragon! You know perfectly well your father would never kill you. Give you a cuff or two perhaps, but such is a sire's prerogative. He will always forgive you, Draco.  Not like Lucius.  But I think you already know that, don't you?:

"Yeah, I guess so. Only . . .it helps to hear you say it. I really hate disappointing him like this. And lately, that's all I seem to be doing."

Smidgen began to purr.  :Ah, Draco. You are young, and all younglings make mistakes.  Your father knows this.  It is part of growing up. Now sleep, hatchling, sleep. Tomorrow is not as bad as it seems.:

As with Harry, the shimmerling's purr soon sent Draco to sleep as well, and with the fae cat guarding their dreams, they slept till the dawn, only waking when Mac came and rattled the bars of the cell.

"Rise and shine, boyos! Your da himself is here to fetch you home."

The two boys rubbed their eyes and sat up, feeling at once relieved and apprehensive. 

As soon as their feet touched the floor, MacKenzie changed their prison garb back into their school robes and uniforms.  Then he unlocked the cell door and handed them back their wands. "Sorry you can't stay for breakfast, lads, but your da wants to get you home right quick. I think he's missed you."

"Missed beating the stuffing out of us, sure," Draco mumbled. "Uh . . .on second thought, can we stay an extra day?"

MacKenzie bit back a chuckle, the boy looked the way he imagined he had as a boy when faced with his father's wrath for a similar situation. "Now, lad, I can't keep you here once your fine's been paid, since you haven't committed a crime."

"What if we . . .stole your wand and locked you up?" Harry suggested. "Would that be enough to get arrested again?"

The Auror burst out laughing.  "'Fraid not, boyo.  You're just gonna have to go home and take your punishment like a man.  I'm sure it ain't half as bad as you're thinking."

"Then you sure don't know our father," Harry said, grimacing.

Now Mac began to be alarmed.  He knew it was normal for children to fret over being in trouble, but if they were truly frightened of their father . . . "Does he beat you then, child? Is that why you're afraid to go home?" he inquired softly.

Harry was horrified.  "Beat us? No! Not like that . . .not ever . . .no! It's just . . .we hate it when he's disappointed in us.  And this time we really let him down, so . . ."

"So we really don't want to be lectured and grounded till Christmas," Draco added.

"Then he doesn't knock you around?"

Draco looked him straight in the eye and said firmly, "No, sir.  The most he's ever done is a few swats and it was deserved. Nothing like what you're thinking.  It's like Harry said, sir.  We respect him and we want him to be proud of us, and so . . .we feel guilty when we disappoint him this way."

MacKenzie nodded. "Ah. I understand.  That was the way of it with me and my father too." He led them from the cell.

Severus was waiting at the end of the corridor for them, looking forbidding as death in his black robes. 

But as soon as they saw him, the two boys found themselves running over to him, and the strict bat of the dungeons opened his arms and hugged them to him. 

"I trust you have learned your lesson," he growled softly.

"Yes, Dad," they chorused, still hugging him.

"Good. You know you are in serious trouble, and we will have a very long talk about this once we are home."

"Yes, sir," Harry said automatically.

"Before or after you beat us senseless?" inquired Draco impudently.

"Depends on the mood I'm in," returned his father crisply. "Now let's go back to the castle, you've taken up too much of Auror MacKenzie's time already with your foolishness and I'm sure he can't wait to get rid of you."

"What? We were model prisoners, Dad!" Harry protested, then halted.  Holy Merlin, I can't believe I just said that! "Err . . .uh . . ermm . . ."

"Wonderful," drawled Severus sarcastically. "It's every father's dream, to hear those words come out of his son's mouth."

Draco just rolled his eyes at his brother and mouthed, "Idiot!" before taking harry by the arm and dragging him out of the station. 

Severus gave the Aurors a nod before gathering his cloak about his lean frame and striding after his two boys, his robes billowing majestically behind him.

"I pity the poor man," MacKenzie said to Finn after he had stopped laughing.  "Those two could drive Merlin himself to drink, I'd wager!"

* * * * * *

  Fifteen minutes later, one penitent Snape and one equally penitent Malfoy made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast, their father's scolding still ringing in their ears.  Both were extremely glad to have their punishment and lecture over and done with, though as predicted, Severus had torn strips out of them.  Draco had gotten the worst of it, since this was the third time he had gotten in trouble for fighting, no matter who had started it.

 "How many times must we go through this, Draco Michael Malfoy, before you get it through your thick head that your fists are not going to solve your problems for you?"

"But, Dad, Krum started it!" interrupted Harry, trying to take some of the heat off of his brother.

"Quiet, Harry! I'll deal with you later.  This is between me and your brother," Severus had said curtly. "I cannot tell you how disappointed I am in your behavior, young man . . ."

Draco winced in remembrance of the stinging reprimand that had followed, which had hurt worse than the smack his father had given him afterwards. He would rather have taken a thrashing with Lucius's cane than had Severus lecture him, the man's disapproval hurt so much.  More even than the fact that he was now grounded until Christmas break and forbidden to participate in any extra-curricular activities.

The two brothers slid into their usual spot at the very end of the Gryffindor table, ever since they had started dating they had taken to eating lunch together, along with their girlfriends and Ron.  Ron looked up as they walked over and sat down and said cheerily, "Well, you're alive.  I was waiting for the morning paper and was going to look in the obituary column for your names."

"Haha. You're so funny, Weasley," Draco said, scowling.

Ron cocked his head at the blond boy. "Aw, come on, Malfoy, lighten up! Least you're still breathing and can sit down.  Thank God Dumbledore refused to release our names to the press.  I mean, except yours and Krum's. He couldn't keep that a secret.  Because if my mum had ever found out I was arrested and put in the clink . . . .I'd have been walloped six ways to Sunday."

"Ron, you're exaggerating," Hermione protested. "You're fourteen, that's too old to spank."

"Ha! Tell my mum that.  She's old school, ‘Mione. Meaning that till I'm of age, as long as I live under her roof, she can punish me how she sees fit, up to and including turning me over her knee," the red-head explained. "Just ask the twins or Ginny if you don't believe me."

Hermione sputtered.  "I still can't believe . . .well, maybe I can . . .but just because your mother does that is no reason to assume Professor Snape would ever . . ." She halted and looked over at Draco. "Right, Draco?"

Draco lowered his gaze to his plate and did not answer.

She looked at Harry.  "Harry, tell me he didn't . . ."

But Harry too would not look at her, and remained silent, the tips of his ears red.

Hermione put a hand to her mouth and Ron burst out laughing.

Katie gave them both a sympathetic look and Hermione glared angrily at Ron, who was laughing so hard he nearly choked.

"It's not funny, Ronald! You ought to know how embarrassing it is being treated like a . . .child at our age, honestly!"

Ron straightened, wiping tears from his eyes. "'Course I do. And that's why our parents do it, so we learn to quit acting like little kids and getting in trouble for everything. Makes us think twice about misbehaving again for a long while. Right, Harry?"

"Something like that," his friend answered. "And it's not like you're thinking either. He didn't spank us. He only gave us one good one with his spoon and it stung for about a minute. Like Ron said, it's more embarrassing than anything.  No big deal.  Being grounded hurt worse than that. And I got off easier than Draco did, he only grounded me for two weeks, since we didn't start the fight, but we could have walked away instead of continuing it once the Aurors showed up, but I was so mad I just kept going. Last time I ever lose my head like that."

Draco nodded in agreement.  "I'd have taken a walloping over the lecture he gave out.  And not being able to play Quidditch."

"He banned you from Quidditch?" Katie gasped. "That really sucks."

"Tell me something I don't know, Bell," Draco sighed.  "But that's what I get for getting in trouble three times for fighting.  Three times the punishment."

"Merlin help you if there's a fourth time, Draco," Ron said.

"Please, Weasley. Even I'm not that dumb.  I promised him I'd stay out of trouble for the rest of the year, as much as I could."

"Me too," Harry said.  Then he added with a devilish smirk, "So if Krum starts anything with us, Ron, it's up to you to kick his arse."

Ron made a face at him.  "Why me? So I can get my bum tanned next?"

"If Krum dares to start anything with you, Harry, I'll tan his bum all right." Katie stated. "Right, Hermione?  Because nobody messes with our boyfriends."

"Right, Katie. Now he's someone who needs a good spanking," she agreed, then she put her arm about Draco and hugged him.  "And I'd be happy to give him one."

"You can borrow Dad's wooden spoon," Draco said slyly.

At that, everyone cracked up, for the image that statement conjured was too funny for words. 

Then Hermione asked, very softly, "But wasn't leaving you in jail the whole night punishment enough?"

Draco shrugged. "It sure wasn't any picnic, but like I said before, he wants to make sure we've learned our lesson this time. Me especially."

"And have you?"

"Merlin help us all, yes!" he answered and Harry echoed him.

"Hey, does that mean you can't run the Dueling Club?" Ron asked unhappily.

"Yeah, he said I can't for a week," Harry told him. "So maybe you and Mione could take over for a bit?"

Ron looked thunderstruck. "Me? Run a club?"

"Heavens, Weasley, it's one night, not the rest of your life," Draco remarked. "You'll manage."

"I don't know."

"Oh, Ron, it's easy." Hermione piped up. "You just stand there and agree with everything I say, all right?"

"Same as usual," Harry teased and Ron shot him a black look. "Only kidding. You'll do fine, Ron."

"If you say so." Ron still looked doubtful.  "What will you be doing in the meantime, Harry?"

"Trying to brush up on ancient Greek and translate that scroll."

All four of them groaned in sympathy. 

"Poor Harry!" said Katie. "Stuck in the library while the rest of us have fun."

Harry shrugged ruefully. "That's what I get for being a Hogwart's champion."

Hedwig dropped a Quibbler into his lap and he was pleased to see that his father had made the front page, with a very cool photo of Severus banishing the lamia and the caption-Heroism Runs in the Family-Professor Severus Snape Saves the Lives of Students at Triwizard Tournament!  The article that followed was very well done, stating the facts simply and honestly without any dramatic falsehoods.

Dad ought to be happy with this piece.  Harry carefully folded it to save for his scrapbook and then continued eating his toast with butter and jam.  When he glanced up at the staff table a moment later, his eyes met those of his father, and Severus gave him a small smile.  Harry smiled back, knowing that all was forgiven, though he would never forget the lesson he learned and neither would Draco.