Warning: This chapter contains spanking. If such content offends you, I suggest you skip it. Or perhaps stop reading the fic altogether, as there will be more cp in upcoming chapters.

#-&-HP-&-#

Harry couldn't sit still. He was walking nervously around the office. It's been over an hour since Snape left and Harry's headache worsened, just as Snape predicted. Harry didn't know what to do with himself. He was alone in Snape's office surrounded by man's personal belongings, but he didn't really feel like snooping around after the pensieve incident last year. Not only he had no wish to invade man's privacy like that again, he simply couldn't concentrate on pretty much anything but his headache and his worry. He felt torn between wishing the headache would just stop and horror that it actually might, because that would mean Snape is dead.

Just when Harry was about ready to yell in frustration, Snape entered the office. He did not acknowledge the teenager and went straight to the med-cabinet for a potion he always took after lengthy exposure to the Cruciatus Curse.

"You are back!" Harry stated with an exhale. He noticed that Snape did not look well, but he was undeniably relieved that Snape was alive and in one piece.

"Yes, Potter. Sorry to ruin your hopes for my prompt demise," Snape said sarcastically as he emptied two vials quickly with a practiced ease.

"That's not, what I was hoping for, Master," Harry said defensively and immediately cringed at the title. Snape finally looked at him noticing the boy's look of relief change into the one of embarrassment.

"You will need to control, how you address me, Potter. As long as you show proper respect, the bond will not punish you. Try to remember to address me as Sir. You must realize that this predicament is to be kept secret, as it can endanger both of our lives," Snape said gravely and Harry gulped.

"Yes, Sir," he answered solemnly.

"How…erm… did it go, Sir?" Harry asked unsure how to bring up Snape's encounter with Voldemort.

"Well, the Dark Lord was not pleased," Snape cringed at the memory of Voldemort's punishment, which consisted of several rounds of Cruciatus, "But he bought the official version of you being the one who killed Bellatrix and me being too slow "and lazy" to react in time." Snape knew, that if he showed the memory of Potter casting the spell and let his Master see the anger he was actually feeling towards the boy, Voldemort will misinterpret it as Snape being angry with Potter for killing Bellatrix. It did not make him evade the punishment, of course, but it kept him in Dark Lord's good graces. He knew that Voldemort valued his position as a spy close to Dumbledore and will not get rid of him for such minor infraction, despite his fondness of Lestrange. He also made sure to complain, that their actions would undeniably result in strengthening of the protective wards around Hogwarts, redirecting Voldemort's anger to the two Death Eaters, that accompanied the witch.

"Not many people know, what exactly happened, Potter, and you need to make sure it stays this way. As of now only you, me, Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick know that Bellatrix is dead. If it becomes common knowledge and you are questioned, you will say you killed her in self-defense. But for now, to everyone else, you were in Occlumency lesson with me for the whole time and learned about the incident just now." Snape leveled Harry with a serious look that conveyed the gravity of the situation.

"Sir, can I at least…"

Snape didn't let him finish, "Yes, Potter, I would not dream of you being able to hide anything from Weasley and Granger. You may tell them, but you will make sure they understand how important their silence is!" Snape said sternly. He knew it would be counter-productive to have the boy lie to his friends, provided he was even good enough to keep something like that a secret, it would undeniably result in stupid Gryffindors jumping to conclusions and taking action that could endanger them all.

Harry was relieved, that he could at least tell his friends. "Yes, Sir. I will," he nodded vigorously, the movement brought additional pain and he palmed his throbbing head.

"Oh right, your headache worsened I assume?" Snape asked noticing the pain written on Harry's face as the boy clenched his head.

"Yes Sir, it did. It's quite bad now," Harry answered honestly.

"It's the bond punishing you for disobedience. This will happen whenever you lie, disobey, or do just about anything that I might disapprove off. The bond will make you confess whatever wrongdoings and I suggest you do so sooner rather than later because believe me, Potter, you will not outlast it. As a matter of fact, one of the cruelest punishments the Dark Lord did, was not punishing the Death Eater who displeased him. The man went mad in about 72 hours, the killing curse was mercy at that point." Snape made a pause for effect, letting his words sink in.

Harry rubbed his hands nervously avoiding Snape's intense gaze. Oh, he understood all too well, just how screwed he was. The only thing giving him hope was that it will not last forever, right?

"Is there a counterspell for the curse?" he asked anxiously.

"As a matter of fact, there is. But it won't work, because I was not the one to cast the spell." Snape pointed out.

"Could you still try?" Harry pleaded.

"Potter, it was the first thing I did, when you addressed me in such fashion!" Snape huffed irritably, then seeing Harry's pleading look, he took out the wand and cast, "Finem Servitutis!"

Harry closed his eyes willing the headache to go away but nothing happened. He looked at the man miserably and Snape gave him the "I told you so" look.

"How long will this last?" Harry asked defeated.

"I don't know, Potter. A couple of days, a week, a month… a lifetime. It depends on the strength of the spell," Snape answered honestly then watching Harry's features twist in a painful grimace, he felt the need to add, "Bellatrix was a strong witch, but she was not powerful enough to cast a spell that would bind you permanently. If you remember, her goal was to bring you to the Dark Lord and perhaps have some fun. The usual length that I have witnessed being used was one or two weeks."

Harry nodded miserably. "So what are you gonna do to me? You know, for punishment," he asked his voice trembling ever so slightly.

"Well, the usual punishment involves intense pain and humiliation. Public nudity, chains, whipping, sawing off limbs, nasty dark curses…" his voice trailed off when he saw the horror plastered on Harry's face, "But we will settle for something more age appropriate." He stood up, grabbed Harry by the wrist and dragged the boy to his private chambers. He was surprised that the boy didn't resist his grip and followed him with a dejected look on his face.

Harry realized that he was in for some nasty punishment if Snape brought him to his private chambers for it. They were spacious, neat and tidy, in gray and light green colors with dark wooden furniture. There was a fireplace warming the room and bringing an uncharacteristic pleasant coziness to the dungeon. Under normal circumstances, Harry would probably glance around with curiosity, but right now he was too anxious about his punishment to pay much attention to his surroundings.

Watching the boy bite his lips nervously, Snape decided not to prolong his suffering and move straight to the punishment. He cast a silencing spell, which did not escape the boy's attention, put the chair in the middle of the room and motioned for Harry to come.

"What are you going to do?" Harry asked warily his courage leaving him as he watched Snape sit on the chair, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"You are getting a spanking, Potter," Snape replied, his tone masked of any emotion.

"A sp.. WHAT?! You said age appropriate! I'm sixteen!" Harry exclaimed indignantly blood rushing to his face. This can't be happening!

"Yes, Potter, humiliation is part of the punishment. Besides this is long overdue, don't you think?" Snape remarked with a sneer. He watched the red-faced teenager with a sense of comeuppance. The brat had it coming for a long time and finally, Snape was in a position to deliver the much-needed discipline. Not only it should satisfy the bond, but it might also do Potter some good.

"You… You can't do that!" Harry stuttered in response. He was red with anger and humiliation. Leave it to the old bastard to come up with a truly horrifying punishment. Suddenly the dark curses didn't sound all that bad!

"Well, let's try and see. Come here!" Snape ordered. But Harry was so appalled at the prospect of spanking, he did not move.

"No!" he refused angrily and instantly sunk to the ground with a loud yelp as the mind-numbing pain pierced through his head.

Snape immediately jumped from his seat, grabbed the teenager from the floor and flung him over his knees wasting no time to deliver the first stinging smack. He hoped that the sooner he started punishing the stupid child, the sooner the bond will stop its own punishment.

"Idiot! You should never openly defy me like this!" he scolded the boy and smacked him again.

"Ow, I didn't think this would happen," Harry replied his face hot with embarrassment. He noticed that the piercing pain was gone and he could think clearly again. Unfortunately, it also made him all too aware of his current predicament. Snape noticed the boy's body relax as the spasmic pain left his body.

"Well, that's the problem, you just never think, Potter!" Snape lectured and continued to rain down the smacks on the boy's backside. Harry gritted his teeth trying not to give Snape the satisfaction of hearing him whimper. The spanking, in fact, did hurt. It was nothing he couldn't take, of course, he had endured worse pain before on countless occasions, a session with skele-growth being among the most painful ones, but being bent over Snape's knees for such childish punishment made the whole experience just unbearable.

"Since your very first week, you showed nothing but blatant disregard for the rules, running around as you please with no consequences whatsoever!" Snape berated Harry angrily punishing the Gryffindor with methodical smacks.

"That's not true! You just hated me from the start and I didn't even do anything!" Harry protested.

"So you didn't disobey Madam Hooch on your very first flying lesson, almost smashing yourself against the castle wall for a stupid remembrall?" Snape asked pausing the assault momentarily.

"How did you… oh," Harry realized that Snape had seen it in one of his Occlumency lessons, "Well Malfoy was a prat and.. OW" he winced as Snape began spanking him again.

"Yes, and you were easy to goad into disobeying your teacher on your very first lesson, almost killing yourself just to show off! Oh, and of course you were very severely punished by getting a spot on Gryffindor Quidditch team!" Snape lectured with sarcasm.

Harry had nothing to say to that. Snape did have a point that back then he did actually get away without any real consequences. He remembered thinking that Wood was a cane McGonagall is going to use on him and was in fact surprised to find out, that it was a Gryffindor Quidditch captain.

"Ok, but I didn't get away with anything else! You just assumed I'm arrogant and spoiled and none of it was true!" Harry shot back venting his frustration with Snape.

"Oh, don't get me started! Taking on a troll - rewarded points! Going after stone - rewarded points! Flying that ridiculous car to school..."

Harry cut him off, "I did get detention for that!" he said defensively.

"You should have been expelled for that!" Snape thundered, laying a particularly stinging smack making Harry wince. "And you took it upon yourself to venture into the Chamber of Secrets only supported by an incompetent Weasley and that idiot Lockhart!"

"I saved Ginny!" Harry countered hotly.

"You almost got yourself and both Weasleys killed because you didn't approach a capable adult! Your parents died, so that you can live, how dare you constantly denigrate their sacrifice!" Snape snarled angrily upping the intensity of his punishment. He will get through to the brat if it was the last thing he did! Harry blinked back the tears, the mention of his parents was a low blow, coupled with a throbbing pain on his backside, he couldn't take the spanking stoically any longer.

"Then you went after an escaped murderer, stunned your teacher, ran after the werewolf, fought gazillion of Dementors, participated in the blasted tournament..." Harry knew where Snape was going with it and he just lost it.

"Brought Voldemort back! Got Cedric killed! Got Sirius killed! Almost got you killed! I get it! I get it!" he yelled as his voice broke with heavy sobs. "It's all my fault!" Harry cried miserably not noticing, that Snape stopped spanking him.

Snape watched the sobbing teenager over his lap with mixed feelings. He expected to feel gratification, finally the boy got what was coming to him, but he felt none of that. Instead, he had an uncharacteristic feeling of compassion. He knew it was not the spanking that brought this flood of emotions. He had no doubt he administered a thorough punishment due to the slight throbbing of his own hand, but he has also seen the boy endure way stronger pain without as much as a whimper. Snape knew from his own experience, that the headache Harry must have had while waiting to be punished was undeniably worse than the smacking, and yet the brat didn't complain even once. The boy was clearly carrying a lot of guilt on his shoulders and Snape could relate to that.

Without even realizing what he was doing, Snape started rubbing the boys back comfortingly. "Why did I spank you, Potter?"

"Because I fucked up everything," came the dejected reply as his shoulders kept shaking with sobs. Snape didn't have the heart to lecture the boy for his poor choice of words.

"Try again, Harry." The Professor's gentle voice and the use of his first name caught Harry's attention, he got his sobs under control and replied meekly.

"Because I disobeyed you."

"And?"

"And went after Bellatrix compromising your position as a spy," Harry hiccuped, wiping the tears with the back of his hand.

"And?"

"I don't know," he admitted miserably.

"You used an Unforgivable curse, you stupid child! That in itself wouldn't even be so bad if you actually knew, how to use it. In a battle you should NEVER use spells, you have not mastered! Your life depends on it!" Snape scolded, though his tone was much gentler than before. Harry thought about objecting to being called a stupid child, but he figured coming from Snape it was almost a term of endearment, certainly an improvement from imbecile or idiot.

"Yes Sir, I'm sorry," Harry apologized sincerely. Snape then helped him up and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder for stability. He handed him the handkerchief, which boy gratefully accepted to wipe away his tears.

"Are you still in pain?" Snape asked and seeing the look of confusion on Harry's face, clarified, "Your headache."

Harry shook his head. "No, Ma.. I mean Sir, my head doesn't hurt anymore."

"Good, you can use the bathroom to wash your face, it's there down the hall, and then we need to talk," Snape said watching Harry make his way to the bathroom.

TBC

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