A Potter Secret

A Brother's Second Year

          "Isabella, will you please sit down!" Severus scolds, watching as she jumps about the room. "Your brother will be here in a few hours. Why don't you just study or play outside until the start of term feast. You know once term starts you won't have quite as much space to roam about in."

"I know, Papa," Isabella replies. "But I'm just so excited to see Harry again. It's been forever!"

"If by forever you mean three months," Severus grumbles. Isabella starts jumping in a circle around him. "Sit down-!"

Before Severus finishes his shout, Isabella freezes, eyes glazing over slightly. "Harry?" Isabella thinks. She looks around, seeing through his eyes as he gets into a car with wand in hand. The car lifts off. Severus gently picks her up and sets her on the couch.

"Isabella, can you hear me?"

She jolts, sitting up on the couch. "They- they didn't make it. The barrier wouldn't let them through!"

"Isabella, what's going on?" Severus asks.

"Harry didn't make it to the train on time, something kept him from getting to it. They're gonna try and drive a flying car! You- There has to be something we can do to stop them." Isabella tries to get up but stumbles, swaying as her eyes roll dizzily.

"Woah," Severus says, catching her and setting her back on the couch. "You just rest, Isabella. I'll do what I can."

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In the clouds, passing through, finds Scotland's stunning green. The Anglia's engine putters softly, when, pop! The car reappears. Ron jabs at the silver button. "Uh oh. The Invisibility Booster must be faulty," Ron realizes. The car reappears from above the ridge of a cliff, gliding away. "Any sign of the train?" Ron asks.

"There! Up ahead! Look-" Harry replies.

Along a steep bridge, a single line of train tracks appear. "Brilliant," Ron says. Ron shifts, glides down, until the Anglia is only a few feet above the tracks. The boys peer ahead, looking for the train. "It must be around here someplace."

Behind them, through the Anglia's rear window, the Hogwarts Express appears, closing fast. Harry and Ron perk up. Smile. "Do you hear that?" Harry asks.

Then, at precisely the same moment, Harry and Ron register the direction of the sound. They glance at each other, turn as one and see the train growing huge in the rear window. "Aaaahhhhh!" the boys scream.

Ron spins the wheel, puts his foot to the gas and, at the last possible second, whips the Anglia out of the train's path. The car waffles, topples upside down briefly, before tilting onto its side. As it jets under the bridge, harry goes sliding down across his seat, into the door, and, out. Dangling upside-down from the open door, he watches the Hogwarts express zip past and, in one window, glimpses Neville and Seamus, mouths open in astonishment. "Take my hand!" Ron calls. Harry's grips Ron's hand, eyes the train steaming far below. It's quite a drop. Harry's fingers begin to lose their grip. "Hold on!"

"I'm trying! Your hand's all sweaty!" Harry says. Straining, Ron yanks him inside, levels off the car. As Harry falls heavily into his seat, he buckles his safety belt. "I think we found the train."

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Isabella sits up suddenly, making Severus look up from his papers. "Isabella?"

"Harry- he- h-he," Isabella tries.

Severus picks her up, rocking her slightly. "Shh," Severus hushes her. "It'll be alright."

Isabella shakes her head. "The- the tree. They- they hit- It's hitting back!" Isabella cries, trying to get out of Severus's arms. She wiggles out of his arms but he locks the door. "Papa, please!"

"Isabella, stay here. I sent Mr. Filch out there to check the grounds," Severus assures. He summons a sleeping drought and hands it to Isabella. "I want you to drink this. You need to calm down. Harry will be fine." Isabella shakes her head, trying to pull away again. "Isabella, please," Severus asks gently. "Everything is going to be alright."

Isabella sighs and takes the vial. Severus nods and she drinks it. It only takes a moment before Isabella starts feeling dizzy and tired. Severus sets her on his lap and rocks her as she relaxes. A knock sounds on the door a moment later. Mr. Filch stands there. "I've found Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley."

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The Evening Prophet slams onto the desk. The headline reads: flying ford Anglia mystifies muggles. Below the fold a photo shows Harry and Lockhart at Flourish and Blotts. Professor Severus Snape stands at his desk, newspaper in hand as Harry and Ron stare with dread. Filch lurks in the doorway, eying them with pleasure. "You were seen! By no less than seven Muggles. Do you have any idea how serious this is? You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that has been on these grounds for hundreds of years," Snape demands.

"Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us," Ron admits.

Snape snaps. "Silence! I assure you, were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight. As it is-"

"They are not," Dumbledore interrupts.

Harry and Ron turn. Albus Dumbledore stands in the doorway. Alongside him is a distinctly annoyed Professor McGonagall. "Professor Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall-" Harry starts.

"Headmaster, these boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such-" Snape explains.

"I'm well aware of our bylaws, Severus, having written more than a few myself. However, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action," Dumbledore reminds.

"We'll go and get our stuff," Ron says, rising gloomily.

"What are you talking about, Mr.Weasley?" McGonagall inquires.

"Well, you're going to expel us, aren't you?" Ron asks.

"Not today, Mr. Weasley. But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be sending owls to both of your families tonight. And you will each get a detention," McGonagall replies. Snape casts a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron.

"Splendid. Now, I suggest we return to the feast. There's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample," Dumbledore smiles.

Rising, Harry spies an envelope on the floor. Taking it, he reads the back: "Kwikspell. a correspondence course in beginner's magic." It's addressed to "Mr. Argus Filch." "Mr. Filch. You dropped this-" Harry notes. Filch turns, eyes the envelope with embarrassment, then snatches it from Harry's hand and stuffs it into his pocket.

"Mr. Potter," Professor Snape calls, before they leave. "Perhaps you should stay a moment?"

"Whatever for, Severus," McGonagall asks, annoyed.

"She knows," Severus states. "They're somehow linked. She's been terrified about you."

Harry's eyes widen. "I- I didn't know she'd seen any of that," Harry mumbles. "Where is she? I want to see her!" Severus rolls his eyes and steps into his rooms before reappearing with Isabella in his arms. He sets her on the couch and Harry sits beside her. "What's wrong with her? Why's she like this?"

"I gave her a sleeping drought that she's been fighting off," Severus explains, anger hiding in his voice. "She was terrified that you had gone and gotten yourself killed by the whomping willow! I wasn't just going to let her continue to work herself up."

Isabella crawls into Harry's lap slowly, setting her head on his shoulder and her feet on the other side of him. Harry hugs her gently as she finally gives into the potion. "Will- will she be alright?"

Severus nods. "After a good night's sleep and some time to relax," Severus assures. "You need to stop scaring her like this. First with the stone, now the tree. She has enough on her plate."

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