May - Harry, age 11

Snape was fuming as he walked away from Filch and in the direction of where Minerva was currently scolding the first-year students, his child included.

The man stopped in the doorway, glaring at the back of his child's head as he listened to a detention being handed out. He watched as Harry's shoulders slumped at the words before he cleared his throat loudly. "Would it be a terrible inconvenience if Harry accompanied me down to our quarters?"

Minerva eyed the eleven-year-old in question before she shook her head. "Of course not Severus."

Harry's head swiveled around at his guardian's voice, dread pooling within his stomach as he met the man's stare. He knew that look. He glanced at his friends slowly before stepping away from them, moving over silently to Snape. He didn't feel what they did was bad really. Though it was after hours. His shoulders slouched as he moved in front of Snape, looking up to him with a frown.

Snape placed a firm hand on Harry's shoulder as he bid goodnight to Minerva before leading Harry down the hall towards the staircase that led to the dungeons.

The man walked in silence. The only sound being the noise of their shoes against the cobblestone floor and several portraits whispering amongst themselves as they passed.

The silence did nothing to ease the child's nerves as they walked, struggling slightly to keep up with Snape's long strides. He swallowed as they approached their parlor door sometime later, slowing his steps. "Snape," Harry tested carefully, looking up towards the man.

Snape pushed open the door to the parlor allowing Harry to walk in before him. The grip that Snape had on the boy's shoulder, tightened slightly as he steered the child towards his armchair.

He would have liked to put Harry in the corner and it certainly would not have been undeserved, however, it was late. He wanted the boy in bed sooner rather than later.

Snape released his grip on the boy as he stepped past him, turning and sitting down in his chair before he took hold of Harry's hand and pulled him a step forward so that the boy was standing between his knees. "What were you doing out of bed?"

Harry watched as Snape moved around him, following easily as he stayed at the man's side before he was pulled between his legs. He swallowed, staring at the man with a small frown. "It's…it's a long story," he tried, shifting from foot to foot.

"I have time to listen to it." Snape gave the child a stern look. "And if you value the fate of your rear end I would suggest you tell your story and do so quickly before I draw my own conclusions, slipper your bare backside, and send you to bed."

The child took in a breath at the threat, chewing on his bottom lip for a moment as he gathered his thoughts rather quickly. There was no beating around the truth. Not easily, and even if he did, Snape would find out. Besides, his cloak had been left up in the tower! He would have to get it tomorrow at some point. Or admit it, and Snape would no doubt fetch it for him. "Well, we were just giving Norbert to Charlie. Cause he works with dragons! I told you about Norbert when he hatched."

Snape's eyes narrowed on the child as his right hand moved to land a firm tap to his rear end. "You were involved in smuggling an illegal dragon out of this castle in the middle of the night?"

Harry cringed at the tap, shifting away slightly to attempt to hide his rear away from the man. "I-I…" He hadn't thought about it being illegal.

"You made an extremely poor decision," Snape supplied. The man let out an annoyed huff. "What were you thinking? Did you forget how to use that brain of yours altogether?" Snape's hand tapped angrily once more.

"I didn't think it was a bad thing!" Harry moved a step away from Snape, putting a half step between them.

"You did not think that sneaking out of your dormitory in the middle of the night was a bad thing? You did not think that smuggling an illegal dragon out of this castle was a bad thing? Explain yourself young man," Snape hissed as he reached out and took hold of Harry's arm, pulling him back the step.

"I did! I dunno what else to say!" Harry pulled his arm back after he was pulled closer once more. "It didn't seem like a bad idea! And we weren't going to be gone long." Harry's mind raced as he stared at Snape, taking in a deep breath.

A frustrated sigh escaped the man as he looked up at the clock on the mantel. It was nearly one in the morning. "Go to bed."

The child felt his shoulders slouch down rather quickly, blinking as he stared at Snape. Surely the man was joking. "What?"

"It is late. Go to bed." Snape gave the child a serious look. "We will continue this conversation after breakfast in the morning."

"But…" At the look, Harry slowly backed away a few steps and dropped his gaze down to the floor. He didn't think he had mucked up so bad that Snape would just send him away for the night. "Kay," he whispered, moving down the hall.

"Immediately into bed," Snape called after the boy. "I will be there in a moment."

Harry paused, glancing over his shoulder for a moment before slowly continuing on towards his room. He really hadn't thought it was that bad! Sure sneaking out had been bad, but it was for a good cause.

Stepping into his room, Harry closed his door mostly before moving across the room to his drawer. Withdrawing a pair of pajamas, he removed his trousers before slipping on the pajama bottoms. The child looked over to his door before changing shirts as well with a sigh.

Snape remained in his chair for a full ten minutes after Harry left, forcing his temper to calm.

The man had known about the baby dragon that Hagrid had acquired. He had warned Harry that Hagrid having one was illegal. Snape has never suspected that his child would be involved in smuggling it out of the castle.

An exasperated sigh escaped Snape's mouth as he stood, moving across the room and down the hall towards the eleven-year-old's room.

Harry laid on his stomach, staring towards the window and at the dark water. He pulled his legs up slightly, adjusting his covers around himself before tucking both hands under his pillow.

Snape walked into the boy's bedroom, moving over to his bed. He leaned down, pulling the blanket up tightly over the boy's shoulders before he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Would you like me to rub your back for you?"

"Sure," he whispered, closing his eyes as he took in a breath. "I'm sorry...really." Harry nestled his cheek into his pillow, arms tightening for a brief moment.

Snape's hand moved to gently rub between the boy's shoulder blades. "What did I say?" The man hummed softly. "It is very late and you need your sleep. We will talk about this more in the morning."

Harry sniffed, shoulders slowly relaxing after a moment. "Don't be so mad," he tried, leaning towards Snape slightly so he had easier access to his back and shoulders.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words, his hand moving down Harry's back. "I am to be pleased with your behavior?"

"No... but you don't have to be angry either." He shifted his head, looking over his shoulder to the man while blinking blearily.

Snape hummed softly as his fingertips tapped Harry's back, his eyes moving to look at the child. "When are we discussing this?"

"Tomorrow," Harry muttered, resting his head back down and sighing softly. "Sorry."

"It is too late to properly discuss it now." Snape's hand rubbed between the boy's shoulder blades once more. "You need to sleep."

Harry nodded slowly, giving a soft sound as he relaxed down into his bed. "Love you. Lots." He grinned slightly, eyes once more closing as he stretched out.

"I love you too." Snape gave the boy's shoulder a light squeeze. "I love you very much little boy."

The child relaxed fully, lulled to sleep by the soothing motion across his back and shoulders. He was sure he would dread tomorrow.

Snape stayed where he was, gently rubbing his child's back for several long moments after he was sure that Harry was asleep. Finally, he slowly stood, leaning down and placing a kiss on Harry's temple before exiting the room.

Morning came all too soon for the eleven-year-old, groaning softly as he turned within his bed. Harry blinked several times, eyes settling across the room and to the partly open door. There was a soft glow within the hall, the sign that his guardian was well past up.

He grimaced, pushing himself up on his elbow and reaching to place his glasses upon his face. Sitting up fully, the child yawned loudly and looked over to the window for a moment to stare within the dark waters of the lake. He could feel his stomach start to twist at the idea of what the morning would bring.

Turning, he stood and slowly made his way out of his room and down the hall.

Snape looked up from his morning paper as he heard the small footsteps approaching the kitchen.

The man had breakfast already waiting for the boy, sitting under a heating charm.

Harry paused at the entry of the kitchen, looking at his usual spot next to Snape before looking up to Snape. "Mornin'," he said softly, moving further into the room and sitting at his seat.

"Good morning." Snape folded his paper, setting it to his side. "Did you sleep well?"

The child shrugged, looking down to his meal of toast, sausage and eggs. "I guess so." He knew Snape expected him to eat, but his stomach only twisted at the thought. "I'm not really hungry."

Snape frowned at the words. "Not at all? Perhaps for something a bit lighter? Oatmeal or some fruit?"

Harry shook his head once more, shoulders slouching down. He glanced up to Snape, his lips turned down in a frown.

Snape sighed softly as he pushed his chair away from the table, waving a hand to call his child to him. "You would prefer to finish our discussion first?"

The child nodded slowly, pushing himself up from his chair and moving over to Snape. He paused a step away before moving closer and looking down to his guardian's knee.

Snape's hand moved to tap the boy's chin firmly. "Explain your behavior Harry. Why would you think that being out past curfew and acting so poorly was a wise decision?"

"I-I didn't act poorly. I helped a creature get to a good home!" Harry shook his head, wrapping his arms around his middle.

Snape considered the words before nodding. "You did. However, you went about doing so in the wrong way." The man gave his child a serious look. "We have discussed being out past curfew before. Did you leave this castle and go to Hagrid's hut to retrieve the dragon as well?"

Harry swallowed at the words, staring up to Snape silently before lowering his gaze down. That would be answer enough. "I forgot my cloak in the astronomy tower too."

"So you left this castle after curfew as well?" Snape tapped the boy's chin once more. "Yet you do not think that you behaved poorly?"

"I mean, the reasoning…" he muttered, keeping his head bowed despite the taps against his chin. "I was trying to help."

"You are eleven years old." Snape swallowed heavily. "It is not your job to help smuggle an illegal creature out of this castle."

Harry shrugged a shoulder, raising a hand to rub at his face rather quickly. "Not like it'll happen again."

Snape's lips pressed into a tight line as he reached out and tapped the small chin once more. "I believe that there is a corner in the parlor with your name on it."

"No. Snaaaape!" Harry nearly stomped, making the motion as he bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry! We didn't want it to be killed or anything!"

"You could have come to me about this, Harry. Your failure to remember to do so seems to be a reoccurring issue." The man leaned forward in an attempt to see his child's face better. "Go on."

Harry blinked several times, looking up to Snape when he saw the movement of the man leaning forward. His chin quivered slightly before he moved away, stepping out of the kitchen and to the parlor slowly.

A soft sigh escaped the man as he watched his child walk away. The last thing he wanted to do was to start the day with punishing his child. Still, Harry knew better. They had been over the child being out in the middle of the night multiple times.

Harry glanced over his shoulder, seeing Snape hadn't immediately followed after him. He couldn't tell if that was a good or bad thing. Sighing with a sniff, He moved over to a nearby corner and stood facing the wall. Arms folded over himself, staring down towards his feet.

Snape remained where he was for several long moments before he stood and walked into the parlor, sitting down in his armchair. The man glanced up at the clock before his eyes drifted to his child.

The child shifted slightly, glancing over his shoulder quickly as Snape walked into the room. His shoulders slouched down a considerable amount as the man sat down and he looked back before Snape could say a word. Sniffing, he raised his right hand and rubbed it across his face rather quickly.

"What will it take for you to learn to follow the rules?" Snape questioned in a stern tone. "Perhaps you need to stand in that corner until lunchtime?"

Harry's shoulders hitched, shaking his head slowly before resting his forehead against the wall. "No, I'm sorry."

"Perhaps you need a wooden spoon across your backside to remind you of the rules?" Snape's tone remained stern, his eyes on the back of the child's head.

"No!" Harry turned then, partly facing the man as he stared at Snape. "No, I don't. It won't happen again, I swear!"

"Put your nose back in that corner. I did not tell you that you could take it out." Snape's tone was stern. "You have five more minutes."

Taking in a breath, Harry looked back to the corner and allowed his head to drop once again. "Sorry."

Snape was silent as he leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes moving to the clock as he watched a full minute tick by. "I heard Professor McGonagall give you detention. Tell me, were any other punishments handed down? Were points taken?"

"Fifty each," Harry breathed, nudging his toe against the wall. That was quite a blow to Gryffindor, and Harry hated it.

Snape hummed softly in reply as he watched another minute tick by. "Fifty points each and one detention, is that correct?"

"Yeah," he sighed, shifting from foot to foot as he continued to stare down to his toes.

Snape's eyes moved from the clock to his child as the last minute passed. "Come here."

Harry remained still for a long moment before slowly moving away from the wall, swallowing as he stepped over to the man. His lower lip pouted out briefly as he stood in front of Snape.

Snape was silent as he reached out a hand and tapped the boy's chin. "What are we to do about this?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry though!" His shoulders slouched a considerable amount as he looked up to Snape.

Snape hummed softly at the apology. "Perhaps my hand needs to remind that backside of yours how to follow the rules?"

"No." Harry shook his head, raising a hand to brush away a stray tear before it fell far down his cheek.

Snape sighed softly as he took in his child's tears. "I understand that you were trying to do a good thing. However, sneaking out of this castle in the middle of the night to do so was a poor decision. Leaving your dormitory at all past curfew was a poor decision." Snape's hand moved around the boy to firmly tap his small rear end. "That cannot be excused."

"But…but we already have detention and we lost 150 points! Can't you give me another detention or…or something like that?" Harry shifted a step to the side, his frown remaining.

"Detention is a school punishment. I am not punishing you as my student." Snape's hand tapped the boy's backside once more. "Therefore, detention is not an option."

"Then…then restriction! Please Snape." He gave the man a desperate expression. "Please."

"You would rather be on restriction for several days than to go over my knee for all of a minute or so?" The man gave the child a curious look.

"There's no other option?" Harry whined softly, his arms dropping to his sides.

"You were out of this castle after dark under that cloak of yours in order to illegally smuggle a baby dragon off of Hogwarts grounds." Snape shook his head firmly. "You should count yourself lucky that you even have an option. I should take a wooden spoon to that backside of yours as well as put you on restriction." The man paused as his hand reached out, his pointer finger tapping Harry's chin once more. "It is either restriction for one week or a spanking."

"Would it be with the spoon or anything?" He spoke softly, raising his head up slowly with the gentle taps on his chin.

Snape considered the words for a moment before shaking his head. "As you like to tell me, my hand hurts enough. I think that would be plenty to enforce the consequences for your actions."

"And I wouldn't be on restriction too?" Harry stared at the man, chewing on the inside of his cheek. A week was a long time after all.

"You will not be on restriction." Snape sat up a bit straighter. "However, I want you to be aware that I intend to make sure you are thoroughly punished either way."

The very words made Harry grimace, sighing and looking down to his feet. That didn't help in his choice at all. "Then, I dunno…"

"If you would like me to decide for you then as I said you will receive both punishments." Snape reached out tapping the boy's chin.

"Spanking then," he whispered, blinking as tears started to blur his vision. A few minutes of pain was very different than being stuck within the dungeons for a week.

Snape gave a nod as he reached out and gently removed the boy's glasses. Folding them he placed them on the table beside him. The man had honestly been hoping that in giving the child a chance he would pick being on restriction. The last thing he wanted was for the boy to suffer for an entire week however, he also didn't want either of them to start their day off like this. The man took a gentle yet firm hold on Harry's hand and carefully moved the boy to his side.

The child pulled against the hold once the man had his hand, his chin already quivering once again. "You really don't have to punish me at all!" He moved forward after a moment, stepping to Snape's side. "Honest."

Snape was silent as he reached out and undid the string on the boy's pajama pants before pushing them down. "We have discussed you being out after curfew one too many times for my liking, little boy."

"But…" The eleven-year-old whined, rubbing at his face before lowering his hands to his sides. There was no way out of it, he could stay down there for a week. But a week! A week without seeing his friends, plus the detention!

"Absolutely not." Snape took hold of the boy's hand once more, pulling him a step closer to his side. "You need to remember to follow the rules." The man easily tipped the child over his knee, adjusting him for a moment before he hooked his fingers in his shorts and lowered them as far as needed.

It hardly registered to the child that he was tipped over before the clothing was lowered, hand instantly grasping Snape's pant leg. A soft sob broke past, hiding his face within his arm.

Snape raised his hand, landing a stinging smack to his target. "What happened to the child that told me they would never get in trouble once they were at Hogwarts?" The man's left arm wrapped around Harry's middle before he began spanking in earnest.

"I'm sorry!" Harry yelped, a leg kicking up as Snape found his steady rhythm. His grip tightened, squirming as he sobbed openly into the sleeve of his pajamas.

"The rules are set in place for good reason." Snape's hand continued to fall, not missing an inch of his target. "And you had best start following them, little boy."

The child sobbed heavily, his sleeve dampening and causing him to move his face slightly higher into his arm. He gave up rather quickly on attempting to move away, Snape's grip only tightening around his middle.

Snape was silent as his hand continued to fall. A moment later the man looked down, cringing slightly at his now red target. "Tell me Harry, when do you plan on being out of your dormitory past curfew again?" The man landed a hard smack to each side of his target.

A yelp passed him once more at the hard smacks, his shoulders hitching as he shook his head. "N-never!" Harry's grip loosened just slightly on Snape's pant leg.

Snape's hand fell twice more, falling on the boy's sit spots. "Are you going to be able to behave yourself?"

"Stooop! Yes!" His bottom stung terribly, and he reached his free hand back in an attempt to block the target. "P-please stoop," his shoulders continued to shake as he took in a ragged breath.

Snape took hold of the child's hand, easily holding it to Harry's side as his hand fell several more times concentrating on the under curve of the boy's sit spots.

When his hand was grabbed, Harry attempted to pull it back and failed miserably. His right leg kicked up slightly, a cough shaking his frame as his throat ached terribly. "'M s-sorrry."

Snape allowed his hand to fall once more on each side of his target before his grip loosened. His hand moved to gently rub the child's shaking back. "Okay. You are okay." He was sure he hadn't been quite so hard on his child in some time, if ever.

The words nor the touch immediately helped, it was as if Harry didn't even hear him to begin with. His ears rang after such a time of sobbing heavily, eyes now burning. He adjusted his face slightly into his arm, taking in a shuddering breath and only slowly relaxing once he realized the punishment had stopped.

Snape hooked his fingers into the boy's shorts, carefully pulling them back up. The man frowned as he noticed Harry's pajama pants on the floor, having been kicked off. "Take a deep breath. You are okay." Snape could hardly help the guilt he felt at doling out such a punishment, no matter how deserved it was.

Harry still didn't move, though he did release the man's pant leg and simply bowed his head. He didn't even feel like moving, despite the ache in his stomach and chest from both his position and his tears.

"'M s-Sorry." His voice was a whisper, and he doubted Snape could even hear him. Still, he didn't think he could speak any louder.

Once more, Snape's hand hooked under the boy's arms before he lifted his child and sat him on his lap. "It's okay. You are okay."

"O-Ow." Harry rested his head on Snape's shoulder as soon as he was moved, eyes closed tightly. Shifting slightly, he hid his face within Snape's neck while he focused on controlling his breathing.

Snape wrapped an arm around the child, pulling him closer to his chest. His hand moved to gently rub the boy's back as he leaned down, speaking softly into Harry's ear, "I know. Cry it out if you must."

Harry's breathing continued to hitch, swallowing before taking a deep breath. He didn't want to cry anymore, it had started to hurt terribly. Instead, the child only wrapped an arm loosely around Snape's shoulder while he continued to breathe against him.

"I love you very much." Snape turned his head, placing a kiss on Harry's temple. "However, that was very much earned, little boy."

Harry shivered, his breathing finally calming as he continued to take in deep breaths. He decided to not respond, only sniffing in response while tightening his hold.

"You let me know when you are ready to finish discussing this." Snape waved a hand causing a fire to roar to life in the fireplace across from them. The man's hand continued to rub the small back.

The child blinked, staring into the side of Snape's neck before closing them tightly once more.

It was nearly ten minutes later before he finally moved his head away, raising his hand to rub at his face.

"Are you okay?" Snape looked down at the child in his lap, his face full of concern. Punishing his child never got any easier and Snape never felt any less guilty.

"Mmhm." Harry adjusted his hold on Snape's shoulder before completely dropping his arm away and to his lap.

"You're quite sure about that?" Snape leaned forward placing a kiss on the boy's forehead.

"Yeah," Harry whispered, adjusting his legs before resting his head back down heavily.

A soft sigh escaped the man as his hand rested on the small of Harry's back. "No more being out of your dormitory past curfew. Understood?"

Harry nodded slowly, nestling his head closer to Snape's neck as he did so. "Y-Yeah" he muttered, sniffing softly.

Snape waved his free hand causing a blanket to appear. The man plucked it from the air throwing it over Harry. "We don't need you catching a cold." His fingertips brushed against the boy's back once more. "If anyone ever asks you to do something so foolish, so illegal again I expect you to come right to me."

The child's shoulders hitched as he nodded slowly, bowing his head down to rest his cheek against Snape's chest. "Oka-ay," he breathed, taking in a shuddering breath before releasing it slowly.

"I do not enjoy punishing you." Snape tightened his hold on the child, squeezing him closer to his chest. "I am not fond of it at all."

"Well n-neither am I." Harry sighed loudly, his shoulders slouching down. "I'm sorry."

"You are very forgiven." Snape adjusted the child on his lap before leaning back in his chair slightly, bringing Harry with him. "I am not cross with you in the least."

What a start to a morning. If he didn't know any better, he would think that it was night once more. Exhaustion struck hard once his tears had subsided, feeling Snape's chest rise and fall with his own even breath. It was enough to make Harry want to sleep once again, and he hardly fought off the feeling as Snape pulled him back slightly. He hummed softly, curling an arm around his guardian's middle.

"You should eat some breakfast before you nap." Snape's tone was soft as his hand moved to rub the boy's back once more.

"I don't feel hungry." Harry shook his head faintly, adjusting his legs before sighing. "At all."

"After a bit of a rest then." Snape adjusted the child on his lap once more. "I think we could both benefit from that."

"Mn," he nodded slowly, humming as he stretched out the best he could. "Love you."

"I love you too, little boy." Snape's eyes closed as he leaned back a bit further, bringing Harry with him.