kbinnz - Harry's New Home

Harry rolled his eyes but stuffed the last few florets into his mouth and then, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk, hurried into the bathroom.

Snape rose to his feet and glared down at the redheaded menace. "Go into the living room and wait for me, Mr Weasley."

Ron gulped but obeyed. A moment later, Snape reappeared. "Drop your pyjama bottoms and bend over the couch."

Ron's eyes widened to the size of soup plates. "But, Professor," he wailed in dismay, "I thought you didn't whack on the bare!"

Snape stopped and scowled at the brat. "I'm not about to 'whack' you, you ridiculous child. I'm going to put some salve on your cut so that I can heal it."

Ron's mouth formed a perfect "O" of surprise. "R-really?"

Snape's glare intensified. "I suppose I shouldn't, so that you can carry a reminder of how foolish it is to place your wand in your back pocket like that, but your wife might someday accost me and demand to know why I allowed your youthful stupidity to leave a permanent scar on your behind, and since I have no desire to get into an argument with the future Mrs Weasley, yes, I am going to heal your backside. Now bend over!"

Ron was over the arm of the couch before the last echo of Snape's shout had finished vibrating around the room. He felt the professor's cool fingers carefully smear some salve over his cut, then heard Snape quietly chant a healing spell. A moment later, and the pain was gone.

Snape spun away, taking the jar of salve back to his supply closet and leaving Ron in privacy to hike up his pyjama bottoms. Ron rubbed his bum, delighted to find it completely back to normal.

"Now, Mr Weasley," Snape said sternly, reentering the room. "I understand that today's foolishness resulted in the utter destruction of your wand. Is that correct?"

Ron nodded, shamefaced.

"And this situation will either place a financial strain on your parents or require you to use a relative's wand with which you have little affinity?"

Ron nodded again.

"Obviously neither of these is a satisfactory solution, Mr Weasley. Nor does either one force you to take responsibility for your actions."

Ron frowned. "Sir? I don't understand."

"Expecting your parents to fix everything is fine for a younger child, Mr Weasley, but you are rapidly approaching the age where you should at least attempt to rectify your own mistakes." Ron blinked uncomprehendingly. Snape sighed and translated, "Fix what you broke."

"But sir, the wand is too badly damaged to be fixed."

Snape sighed again. Why did I get stuck with Gryffindors? "I am speaking metaphorically, Mr Weasley. You must come up with a solution to obtain a new wand."

"ErmтАж well, I have a couple of galleons in my bank account," Ron offered uncertainly.

Snape nodded. "That is a start. I am certain your parents will give you an advance on your Christmas or perhaps birthday gifts, since I assume you would rather have a proper wand than anything else?"

Ron looked wistful. "I was kinda hoping for a new broom," he admitted, but at the scowl on Snape's face, he hastily added, "I probably wouldn't have gotten one anyway. They're awfully expensive and my old one still works. Besides, without a wand, I can't do anything."

"Precisely. And I trust you have been at Hogwarts long enough to see how important it is to learn to use your magic in an efficient way тАУ particularly if you are going to be in close proximity to Mr Potter." Snape sighed. "He seems to attract trouble."

Ron grinned. "It's really not his fault, you know."

Snape gave him an old fashioned look. "It never is, is it? But as I was saying, Mr Weasley, it is necessary for you to obtain an adequate wand as quickly as possible. Towards that end, I will take you to Ollivander's tomorrow and we will obtain a suitable wand." He ignored Ron's dawning look of incredulous joy. "You will of course pay me back in full, Mr Weasley, and I will expect you to spend one night each week in my laboratory, preparing potion ingredients, until the debt is repaid. Furthermore, for the first two months, your partners in crime will make their own amends by joining you in my laboratory and helping to pay off your debt."

"You mean it, Professor?" Ron said, his voice shaking. "I can have a new wand? From Ollivanders? Honest?"

"No, Mr Weasley, I am in the habit of making extravagant promises to random students then neglecting to honor them. Are you trying to be offensive?"

Then once again a student had him in a stranglehold. Snape was quite pleased with himself for not going for his wand this time. Instead, he merely patted the sobbing boy on the back a few times. "Yes, yes. All right, Weasley. Honestly, such a fuss over a little wand. Enough of that now. Enough, I say."

Ron sniffled and dragged his sleeve across his eyes. Snape grabbed his arm before he could repeat the process with his nose. "There are handkerchiefs in Potter's top drawer, you ill-bred child. Go make use of one, and I suggest you keep it handy, as we have not yet come to your punishment for this evening's activities."

Ron gulped and nodded, scurrying off to Harry's bedroom.

Hmf, irritating children тАУ always leaking something disgusting all over my robes, Snape scowled. And I still don't know how I'm going to discipline the little wretches!

Ron hurried into Harry's bedroom and found the handkerchiefs. He honked his nose in one and stuffed it by his pillow, then stashed another one on Harry's bed. He wasn't sure how hard Snape smacked, but he figured the rough edge of the man's tongue alone would be enough to start them both bawling. He'd seen the Potion Master in action enough times in class to know that, when he wanted to, Professor Snape could make you long for a Bludger to the head rather than have to endure another minute of him haranguing you. And of course, the legends his older brothers had brought home from their Potions classes (not to mention their detentions) were enough to make him sick with apprehension about the next few minutes.

Harry came out of the shower and gave him a sharp look. "What's the matter? You been crying?"

Ron blushed. "Sorta."

Harry looked alarmed. "What did he do?"

"Well, first he healed my bum, and that was pretty embarrassing," Ron admitted, "but then he said that he's going to get me a new wand. One that's all my own тАУ from Ollivander's even! I'll pay him back but he'll let me get it tomorrow even though I won't be able to give him back all the money for months and months and months! Oh," Ron abruptly looked guilty. "And, erm, well, I have to help to pay off my debt by going down once a week to help him prepare potion ingredients and, um, you and Hermione have to help for the first two months on account of you were involved in my getting it broken." He looked apologetic. "It wasn't my idea, honest."

Harry grinned and punched him in the shoulder. "Of course Hermione and I will help. I think it's great that he's letting you get a new wand."

Ron bounced on the spare bed. "Me too! Just wait til you see what I'll be able to do once I've got a wand that's chosen me."

"What's this?" Harry picked up the hankie from his pillow.

"Oh, erm, your dad тАУ uh, professor тАУ said we'd better have them handy when he comes in to punish us."

"Oh," Harry said in a small voice.

"Erm, he's not going to use a hairbrush or anything, is he?" Ron asked nervously. "Not that we don't deserve it, and he's still brilliant for bringing me to get a wand tomorrow an' all, but, erm, I was just wondering."

Harry shook his head reassuringly. "Just his hand. And you keep your clothes on. Well, for this anyway," he grinned.

"Ha, ha," Ron sniped back.

Then they heard the professor's footstep at the door, and suddenly nothing seemed very funny. Both boys huddled on their respective beds and waited for the storm to break over them.