Snape stood and looked at the door through which Potter had just left. He felt ... confused.

You are really going to enjoy this, Potter had said to him before the punishment. And Snape had agreed. But had he really? Snape was not a man who spent a lot of time analysing his own feelings, but on the few occasions that he did, he tried to be honest with himself. Yes, he did enjoy having the authority to physically discipline the boy—the pupil he disliked most intensively. And it had given him deep satisfaction to see James Potter's son bent over a desk bracing himself for his punishment, barely succeeding in hiding his nervousness.

However, hitting the sobbing Potter towards the end of the caning had been less satisfactory than anticipated. And although Snape was still surprised that he had even felt pity for the boy, he was glad that he had refrained from badgering him on top of causing him physical pain.

He picked up the cane and looked at it thoughtfully. He could not deny that using it on Potter had been like an outlet for some of the anger he felt for the boy. Snape still did not like Potter, but his intensive antipathy had receded somewhat.

If I only could have done this once to James Potter... He sighed and put the cane away in the classroom cupboard. Then he picked up his wand and adjusted the desk Potter had bent over to its previous height. Hoping that Potter had not lingered in the corridor, Snape finally decided to go to dinner.

On his way to the Great Hall, he made a small detour by the hospital wing. As Snape had intended, he met Draco Malfoy, also heading for dinner. The man was surprised, though pleased, that Madam Pomfrey had actually released Draco, as she tended to keep pupils in the hospital wing rather longer than necessary. It was a good sign that the boy's condition had improved considerably. However, Severus frowned when he noticed that Draco was walking with his head bowed and his shoulders hunched.

'Draco, I want a quick word!' he told the boy, who still looked rather pale. He took his student's elbow and led him into an empty corner of the aisle.

'Are you feeling all right?'

When Draco merely nodded Snape continued. 'As promised, I dealt with Potter, and I did so thoroughly. However, I want you to refrain from cornering him and seeking revenge. Even though you do not wish to tell me anything about your mission, I do know that it puts you under quite a strain, and consequently, you should not take any additional risks, namely a private vendetta with Potter.'

Draco gave him a dark look. 'What do you mean by 'dealt thoroughly'? I don't care how many points you took or detentions you gave him. I want him to suffer for what he did!'

Snape answered slowly: 'And suffer he did. For your information, I persuaded the Headmaster to let go of his scruples concerning corporal punishment and to allow me to administer what I deemed an appropriate consequence. I assure you that Potter is presently in much more discomfort than you are.'

Draco's eyes went wide. 'Corporal punishment? But how, I mean, did you hex him or…what did you do?'

Snape raised his eyebrows. 'No, I did not. I applied the Muggle school treatment.'

'What's the Muggle school treatment?' Draco asked curiously.

'A caning,' Snape said dryly. 'A simple but very effective punishment that is still used in Muggle boarding schools but has been abolished at Hogwarts since Professor Dumbledore became Headmaster here. You must have heard about it?´

'Yeah, sure,' Draco answered, indiscreetly delighted now. 'My grandfather Abraxas often spoke about it when he used to complain that there is no true discipline anymore... So Dumbledore really gave you permission to thrash Potter?'

Snape inclined his head. 'He felt, like me, that the seriousness of what Potter had done called for a serious punishment.' He could see the deep satisfaction in Draco's eyes and could understand it, thinking bitterly how much grief it would have saved him had he been given the opportunity to feel the same in his youth.

'So, did he cry? Did he howl?' Draco asked gleefully but looked a little disappointed when Snape shook his head.

'No, Draco. I am still both your and Potter's teacher, and there are some things that are confidential. Just as I am not permitted to tell you about his exam marks, the same goes for his behaviour while taking a punishment. Now off to dinner with you, or you'll be late.'

Draco nodded a little reluctantly but went off, his head held high. Snape nearly smiled as he watched the boy swagger into the Great Hall. Draco's expression, his whole demeanour, was completely transformed from how it had been a mere ten minutes ago.

He also entered into the Great Hall and couldn't help noticing that many eyes were on him while he crossed the room. He sat down at the teachers' table between Dumbledore and McGonagall. He noted a little irritably, that although they had been in a deep discussion before he arrived, they had done so over the empty seat, obviously saving the seat between them for him.

Dinner had already begun and so, after a short greeting, Snape immediately helped himself to some stew. He glanced quickly over to the Gryffindor table and was not in the least surprised that Potter was missing, as well as his two best friends, Granger and Weasley. Potter's other Gryffindor friends were there, some of them glaring at him, especially the Weasley girl. He glared back and was satisfied to see that she hastily dropped her gaze down to her plate.

'Severus,' McGonagall began the inevitable conversation, 'Albus told me about what Mr. Potter did to Mr. Malfoy and also about the punishment my student received. Seeing as Mr. Malfoy is here having dinner but Mr Potter is not, I gather that you already caned the boy?'

Her lips were thin, but her tone was neutral. Snape wasn't certain of her opinion just yet. He gave a short nod and looked straight into her face. 'Obviously, Minerva.'

She also nodded and replied, 'I take it he cooperated?'

'He knew better than to try not to,' was Snape's dry reply.

'How many did you give him?' she asked.

'Ten,' Snape said with an impassive expression on his face as he poured himself some pumpkin juice. A short silence followed, after which Dumbledore spoke:

'You knew even before you began that ten strokes is an exceptionally harsh punishment if the cane is applied forcefully, didn't you, Severus?' The old man's blue eyes pierced deeply into Snape's black eyes.

The younger man did not avert his eyes. 'And exceptional is how I would describe the severity of Potter's actions.' Upon seeing the look on Dumbledore's face he added 'Be assured, Albus, that I didn't give him more than was appropriate under these circumstances.'

Dumbledore didn't answer but looked back onto his own plate. He didn't look very pleased. It was Minerva who spoke next, and her words took Snape by surprise.

'I agree with you, Severus.'

Her lips were still thin, and it was only now that Snape realized it was not him she was angry with.

'How did Harry take it?' Dumbledore asked.

'How do you think he took it? Quietly at first, though he became more ... upset towards the end.' Snape felt a little irritated with the constant concern that the headmaster displayed toward his Golden Boy. Though of course, he told himself, he should have expected it.

Minerva had finished her meal and laid down her cutlery. She gave Snape an inquisitive look and asked, 'I assume that you told Potter what would happen should he try to heal himself?'

'No. I just explicitly forbade him to do so and he said he understood,' her colleague answered her, not bothering to suppress a smirk.

'Oh Severus. Don't you think that was rather unfair?' the witch sighed.

Snape's expression hardened. 'No, not in the least. He tried to convince Albus and me that he was very sorry for what he had done, and that he understood why he was going to be punished. So I will see whether it was just all talk, and if it was...well, there will be a very sorry Potter this evening. Oh, I haven't told you, he will serve his first detention with me straight after dinner. The others will take place on Saturday mornings.'

Now it was McGonagall's expression that hardened. 'Oh yes, Severus, and let me guess, it is pure coincidence that this will prevent Mr Potter from participating in the last Quidditch match?'

Snape's face was unreadable. 'Think whatever you wish, Minerva.'

Meanwhile the food had disappeared, and the noise of all the students standing up and leaving the Hall interrupted their conversation. Snape stood up, too.

'I had better head for my office to make sure I'm there when Potter arrives,' he said.

'Do you already know what you are going to do with Harry during his detentions?' Dumbledore inquired.

Snape inclined his head. 'Yes I do, and don't worry—it will be most instructive...'

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Again, thanks to everybody who reviewed! Your reviews have been so encouraging for me!

And a big THANK-YOU goes to my beta Jade!