They didn't mean to do it.

How was Harry and Ron suppose to know that the car would become exhausted from the flight? How would they know that it would end up crashing into the Whomping Willow or to more important matters, why is an attacking tree in a school?!?!

Now though, they should have realized to at least take in, as a possiblity that they would crash.

Then they probably wouldn't have to be in Professor Snape's office, shivering.

As far as Harry was able to tell, Professor Snape was not someone to displease.

Professor Snape was the potions teacher for fifth through seventh year potions and alchemy, if you qualified for it. He was a thin man with sallow skin, a hooked nose and greasy, shoulder-length black hair. It was obvious to anyone that Professor Snape held distain towards Harry for some reason of other that Harry was not sure why, although if you asked around, every student would say that Professor Snape had a grudge on them. Well, at least everyone who wasn't a Slytherin.

The shadowy walls were lined with shelves of large glass jars, in which floated all manner of revolting things Harry didn't really want to know the name of at the moment. The fireplace was dark and empty. Professor Snape closed the door and turned to look at them.

"So," he said softly, "the train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter an his faithful sidekick Weasley. Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we, boys?"

"No, sir, it was the barrier at King's Cross, it--"

"Silence!" said Professor Snape coldly. "What have you done with the car?" Ron gulped. If Harry were to guess, he would have thought that Professor Snape was able to read minds. But a moment later, he understood, as Professor Snape unrolled today's issue of the 'Evening Prophet'.

"You were seen," he hissed, showing them the headline: FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES. he began to read aloud.

""Two Muggles in London, convinced they saw an old car flying over the Post Office tower ... at noon in Norfolk, Mrs. Hetty Bayliss, while hanging out her washing ... Mr. Angus Fleet, of Peebles, reported to police" ... six or seven Muggles in all. I believe your father works in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office?" Professor Snape said, looking up at Ron and smiling still more nastily, "Dear, dear ... his own son..."

Harry felt as through he'd just been walloped in the stomach by one of the mad tree's larger branches. If anyone found out Mr. Weasley had bewitched the car ... he hadn't thought of that...

"I noticed, in my search of the park, that considerable damage seems to have been done to a very valuable Whomping WIllow," Professor Snape went on.

"In are defense, the tree did more damage to us than we--" Ron blurted out.

"Silence! If you two were in Slytherin and your fates rested with me, both of you would be on the train back home, tonight!"

"Severus, what's taking so long, Gramps and Minnie are getting worri—" Professor Black said coming into the office right before stopping and taking notice of Ron and Harry, "What have they done this time?"

Surprisingly to Harry, Professor Snape then proceeded to walk up to Professor Black before throwing the newspaper at his chest.

"Watch them while I get someone with the power to expel them," Professor Snape said making Harry and Ron stare at each other, white-faced. If Professor Snape had gone to fetch Professor McGonagall, Harry's and Ron's Head of House, they were hardly any better off. She might be fair, but she was still extremely strict.

Professor Black then opened the newspaper and became to read it before looking at them for a moment of what looked like contemplation before finally speaking out in a calm voice, "So you two children had the commitment to drive a flying car to school yet neither one of you decided it would have been a good idea to wait for adults or send an owl ahead to explain the situation?"

"I didn't think of that," Harry mumbled, trying to look anywhere to make sure he didn't make eye contact with his teacher.

"We're sorry," Ron mumbles out.

"Sorry isn't going to cut it, both of you could have been killed and not only that but the problems you created today can and will effect others, don't think for a moment your mother wouldn't find out about this Mister Weasley because I'll be sure to message her myself about this matter." Professor Black said before turning to look at Harry who flinched at his teacher's gaze, "I expected better from you Mister Potter."

"You know very well the danger this incident could have caused and to recklessly endanger your lives like this after everything you've boys have been through is a horrible way to live. It doesn't matter if you have a title or all the money in the world, not even defeating a dark lord and don't even get me started on 'because you are a Gryffindor' nonsense either. Think very well on the fact that had either of you died, how that would have been for your family? For the people that care for you?"

Sure enough, Professor Snape returned accompanied by Professor McGonagall clearly hearing Professor Black's words from the hall.

Harry had seen Professor McGonagall angry on several occasions, but either he had forgotten just how thin her mouth could go, or he had never seen her this angry before. She raised her wand the moment she entered. Harry and Ron flinched , but she merely pointed it at the empty fireplace, where flames suddenly erupted.

"Sit," she said, and they both backed into chairs by the fire.

"Explain," she said, her glasses glinting ominously.

Ron launched into the story, starting with the barrier at the station refusing to let them through, "... so we had no choice, Professor, we couldn't get on the train."

"And you mean to tell me that Mr. Potter didn't have an owl to inform the school of the situation," Professor McGonagall said coldly to Harry.

"I--I didn't think --"

"That," said Professor McGonagall, "is obvious."

There was a knock on the office door and Snape, now looking happier than ever, opened it. There stood the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.

Harry's whole body went numb. Professor Dumbledore was looking unusually grave. He stared down his very crooked nose at them and Harry suddenly found himself wishing he and Ron were still being beaten up by the Whomping Willow.

There was a long silence. Then Professor Dumbledore said, "Please explain why you did this."

Harry told Professor Dumbledore everything except that Mr. Weasley owned the bewitched car, making it sound as though he and Ron had happened to find a flying car parked outside the station. He knew Professor Dumbledore asked no questions about the car. When Harry had finished, he merely continued to peer at them through his spectacles.

"We'll go and get our stuff," said Ron in a hopeless sort of voice.

"What are you taking about, Mr. Weasley" barked Professor McGonagall.

Harry looked quickly at Professor Dumbledore

"What are your thoughts on this Regulus?" Professor Dumbledore asked, looking at Professor Black who then looked back at Professor Dumbledore.

Professor Black looked at the boys; then to Professor McGonagall; then Professor Snape before looking back at the boys.

"Expelling would be to easy for them," Professor Black said as the boys flinched, "Dentention, served with Professor Snape, everyday until Professor Sprout restores the Womping Willow to its finer health. Should they do anything to garner the schools attention again in such matter, then there will be no other choice but expulsion. I will be taking a personal hand in writing to there guardians of this matter."

"That sounds reasonable Regulus," Professor McGonagall said with a nod.

Professor Snape looked like he just got a dearly wanted birthday gift with eyes that seemed to glint the horrific punishments that he couldn't wait to use on Ron and Harry.

"I must go back to the feast, Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, Regulus, there's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample."

"You'd better get along to the hospital wing, Weasley, you're bleeding," Professor McGonagall said, who was still eyeing them like a wrathful eagle.

"Not much," Ron said, hastily wiping the cut over his eye with his sleeve, "Professor, I wanted to watch my sister being Sorted--"

"The Sorting Ceremony is over," said Professor McGonagall, "Your sister is also in Gryffindor."

"Oh, good," said Ron.

"And speaking of Gryffindor--"Professor McGonagall said sharply, but Harry cut in: "Professor, when we took the car, term hadn't started, so - so Gryffindor shouldn't really have points taken from it, should it?" he finished, watching her anxiously.

Professor McGonagall gave him a piercing look, but he was sure she had almost smiled. Her mouth looked less thin, anyway.

"I will not take any points from Gryffindor," she said, and Harry's heart lightened considerably, "But you most certainly be doing detentions with Professor Snape until Professor Sprout says otherwise."

It was better than Harry had expected. As for Professor Black writing to the Dursleys, that was nothing. Harry knew perfectly well they'd be disappointed that the Whomping Willow hadn't squashed him flat.

Professor McGonagall raised her wand again and pointed it at Snape's desk. A large plate of sandwiches, two silver goblets and a jug of iced pumpkin juice appeared with a pop.

"You will eat in here and then go straight up to your dormitory," she said, "I must also return to the feast."

When the door had closed behind her,  Ron let out a long, low whistle.

"I thought we'd had it," he said, grabbing a sandwich.

"So did I," said Harry, taking one too.

"Can you believe our luck, though?" said Ron thickly through a mouthful of chicken and ham, "Fred and George must've flown that car five or six times and no Muggle ever saw them." He swallowed and took another huge bite. "Why couldn't we get through the barrier?"

Harry shrugged, "We'll have to watch our step from now on, though," he said, taking a grateful swig of pumpkin juice, "Wish we could've gone up to the feast..."

"She didn't want us showing off," said Ron sagely, "Doesn't want people to think it's clever, arriving by flying car."

——
"Headmaster Dumbledore, letting the students get away with this is not going to help demonstrate discipline." Severus Snape said trying to talk to the Headmaster.

"Sev don't bother, Gramps is in a want for lemon tart, his not going to let anything distract him," Regulus said as the duo walked behind the headmaster, "think of the bright side, you now have the chance to talk to the kid, maybe even know him a bit. That's good, right?"

"Maybe I could have them trying out the poisons and antidotes of the fifth year class. I'm sure it would be a wonderful learning experience for them. That is, if they do not drop dead." Severus mumbled more to himself then to others as they walked up the dungeon stairs to the entrance hall.

"Oh please, you don't mean that, if Harry Potter dies, you'll have to go to his funeral and admit that you love him, not to mention the paperwork is horrendous." Regulus said jokingly before being sent a stinging hex to his side, arriving to see Peeves the Poltergeist fighting a group of penguins. 

——
When they had eaten as many sandwiches as they could as they appeared, they rose and left the office, treading the familiar path to Gryffindor Tower. The castle was quiet: it seemed that the feast was over.

"Oh no! I left the chocolate frog card in the glove compartment!" Ron said in shock, remembering in distain as he felt around in his pockets.

Harry also remembered in a momentary shock to. During the time of being thrown out the car, there was something he forgot to grab to.

"My mum's letter! It's still in the car," Harry exclaimed. There were many things in the letter, probably the words he would come close to for his mum. Their g's were the same as his.

They trudged past muttering portraits and creaking suits of armor, and climbed narrow flights of stone stairs, until at last they reached the passage where the secret entrance to Gryffindor tower was hidden, behind an oil painting of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

"Password?" she said, as they approached.

"Er-" said Harry, they didn't know the new year's password, not having met a Gryffindor Prefect yet, but help came almost immediately; they heard hurrying feet behind them and turned to see Hermione dashing towards them.

"There you are! Where have you been? The most ridiculous rumors — someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car."

"Well, we haven't been expelled," Harry assured her.

"You're not telling me you did fly here?" Hermione said, sounding almost as severe as Professor McGonagall.

"Skip the lecture," said Ron impatiently, "and tell us the new password."

"It's 'wattlebird'," said Hermione impatiently, "but that's not the point—"

Her words were cut short, however, as the portrait of the fat lady swung open and there was a sudden storm of clapping. It looked as though the whole of Gryffindor house was still awake, packed into the circular common room, standing on the circular common room, standing on the lopsided tables and squashy armchairs, waiting for them to arrive. Arms reached through the portrait hole to pull Harry and Ron inside, leaving Hermione to scramble in after them.

"Brilliant!" yelled Lee Jordan, "Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people'll be taking about that one for years!"

"Good on you," said a fifth-year Harry had never spoken to; someone was patting him on the back as though he'd just won a marathon. Fred and George pushed their way to the front of the crowd and said together, "Why couldn't you've called us back, eh?" Ron was scarlet in the face, grinning embarrassedly, but Harry could see one person who didn't look happy at all. Percy was visible over the heads of some excited first-years, and he seemed to be trying to get near enough to start telling them off. Harry nudged Ron in the fibs and nodded in Percy's direction. Ron got the point at once.

"Got to get upstairs — bit tired," he said, and the two of them started pushing their way towards the door on the other side of the room, which led to a spiral staircase and the dormitories.

"Night," Harry called back to Hermione,  who was wearing a scowl just like Percy's.

They managed to get to the other side of the common room, still having their backs slapped, and gained the peace of the staircase. They hurried up it, right to the top, and at least reached the door of their old dormitory, which now had a sign on it saying 'second-years.'  They entered the familiar, circular room, with its five four posters hung with red velvet and its high, narrow windows. Their trunks had been brought up for them and placed at the ends of their beds.

Ron grinned guiltily at Harry.

"I know I shouldn't've enjoyed that or anything, but--"

The dormitory door flew open and in came the second year Gryffindor boys, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom.

"Unbelievable!" beamed Seamus.

"Cool," said Dean.

"Amazing," said Neville, awestruck.

Harry couldn't help it. He grinned, too.

Bonus

•If you think for a moment that Regulus words to the boys were hard, don't. They need that, they all did, because to hell if you think Regulus was going to let Gryffindor's or not purposefully get into trouble. He cares for his students and do everything he can to help them grow.

•In canon, Harry and Ron only had one day of detention and it doesn't matter how much favoritism they have, they should have had a bigger punishment.

•If you have questions, for Regulus's recent showing of the beginning feast, Regulus summoned penguins to bring food and give a show of river dancing. (And yes, they were wearing colorful bow ties) Peeves got angry so he snuck in the great hall and started pulling out there tail feathers to which the penguins decided to try whacking him with there flippers.