To all readers of Harry Potter's Terrible Day: Yes, I am working on the current chapter of the story...but I wrote this snippet this morning for a group called 15 minute ficlets and thought I would share it. I may add other snippets as they occur to me as its easier to focus on the current chapter when these ideas aren't vying for attention.
Young Harry Potter looked down at the vase in consternation. He had not meant to run into the table, but that mattered not now. The expensive looking vase now lay in pieces on the floor.
Since coming to Sanctuary, Harry had learned that many of the rules his aunt and uncle had subjected him to were no longer in effect. But this particular one was--no running in the house. And he had to break the rule on the day the professor was returning from Hogwarts. Maybe he could hide for awhile or better yet just leave the room, leaving no one the wiser as to how the vase was broken.
But that was not to be. As he turned to leave the looming presence of Professor Snape swam into view. Harry gulped, and looked up into the dark eyes of the man he was coming to call 'Papa' in his mind. "H-hello sir," he said softly.
He was sure the man was angry, but Snape just strode into the room and sat in a nearby armchair. He crooked his finger, beckoning Harry towards him. "What happened to the vase, Harry?" he asked grimly.
"I was running and accidentally ran into the table," admitted Harry softly. He knew better than to lie to the professor, as the last time he had made that particular mistake he had paid what to him had seemed to be a terrible price.
Harry kept his eyes glued towards his shoes. He couldn't explain why it upset him to have this man upset with him more than the others. Perhaps it was because to Harry's way of reckoning things, Snape was the first adult who really seemed to care. But like usual, Snape merely reached over and gently forced Harry's chin up so that he was forced to look into the man's eyes again.
"I do believe we have discussed the folly of running in the manor previously," he said softly.
"Yessir," said Harry.
"And what did I say would happen if you were to do so again?" Snape asked in a deceptively soft voice.
Harry gulped and said, "You said you would take down my pants and spank my bare bum."
"Indeed I did," said Snape sternly.
He removed his hand from under Harry's chin, and then grabbed Harry's small hand and pulled him until he was standing beside the potions master. Snape wasted no time, pulling Harry across his knees, then raising his robe and lowering his pants. Harry had only a moment to adjust before the first of many smacks landed across his bottom. It did not take long before Harry began to plead with the man for the spanking to stop, throwing his hand back in an effort to stop the assault. Snape merely moved the hand out of the way, securing it with a steely grip while he continued the spanking.
A mere ten minutes later, Harry was ensconced on Snape's lap, face up this time as he sniffled his sorrow into the man's robe. A gentle voice said, "So Harry, are you planning to scamper about the manor any time soon?"
"NO," said Harry emphatically, "Never ever ever again."
Snape's only response was to snort softly.