Thanks to all reader/reviewers! Severus finally get to learn the consequences of his indiscretion... and it ain't pretty... *chuckle*

Please enjoy the latest step in the saga...

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Chapter 4Punishment

She frowned at his words, obviously wanting to refute them.

"You think of me as just a child?" she asked instead, hurt and confusion coming through in her tone.

Knowing he was heading into very dangerous waters upon hearing the undercurrent argument, Severus again tried to end the confrontation.

"Miss Cootes… I am currently under suspension from my duties; that means I have been forbidden contact with students for the time being… and that includes you… especially you. I cannot have this argument here and now."

She frowned even deeper, tilting her head slightly in question, "Suspended? You've been sacked?"

Abandoning his notion of visiting the infirmary, and also the probability of dining in the Great Hall, Severus took a step behind himself to retreat back into the relative safety of his quarters. With a flick of his wand he opened the door again without taking his gaze from the girl.

"Not yet… though that is a very likely outcome," he indulged her brusquely, feeling that she ought to be aware of the consequences for what they - he - had done. Severus took in her shocked expression that followed, strangely feeling slightly buoyed by her aggravation at learning of the probability. "I await the Headmaster's decision," he finished.

She reacted slightly hysterically, her voice rising in pitch as she went on, "Oh… but he can't… he said he'd be fair! You didn't do anything wrong… not really-"

"Miss Cootes, please… you must go." Severus took another step inside his doorway. She unfortunately, and to his dismay, followed suit.

"No… I can't let them do this," she persisted in outrage, reaching her arm out to hold the door open, just in case he was to try to close it in her face.

Severus' gaze fixed incredulously on the girl's small hand pressed against the wooden door, bringing unbidden the memories of that same hand splayed provocatively across his own chest. He felt his face drain of blood a little, feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable with the girl's forwardness.

"Miss Cootes, leave… now!" he insisted after a shaky breath.

"But I don't think it's fair-"

Severus was furious now, he felt like shaking the stupid, naïve, little girl until her teeth rattled.

"Of course it's fair!" he growled bitterly, "What I did wasn't right… I deserve further punishment… you are my student!" he expounded, emphasising the fact that sealed his fate irrelevant of how grown up she envisioned herself.

Aries was silent and unnaturally still for a moment in which she just stared at him with a dawning look.

"Further punishment? Then your face... that was part of it wasn't it? He hit you?!" she asked with some incredulity and hesitation.

Because Dumbledore's blow was not what he was referring to in his previous explanation, Severus was taken off guard by the girl's nevertheless correct supposition. When he did not respond she was visibly aghast, her expression one of shock.

"Merlin!" she whispered, outwardly appalled.

"I-I will not discuss this with you… you have to leave-" he tried to shut the door on her, but the girl still had her hand outstretched holding it open.

"Sir… wait…"

"What do you want from me!?" he spat, almost panicked that he could not get her to leave. It took a great deal of restraint for him not to physically shove her away from the entrance. As it was he could not prevent himself from taking an intimidating step toward her in frustration, his face twisted into an angry grimace; hopeful it would be enough to cause her to back off from the door.

She flinched slightly when his full height loomed over her, though she did not back away from him as he had hoped to accomplish.

"I said GO! Leave. Me. Alone!" he flatly yelled in her face, his tone a mixture of desperation and fury.

"Severus!" someone intoned sharply behind him and the dark man abruptly felt a firm hand drop onto his shoulder, startling him.

He gasped and spun around instantly, coming face to face with Albus Dumbledore.

"Severus, I called out through the floo, but you obviously did not hear me," the Headmaster explained, his voice soft, yet firm; steering the Potions Master backwards and to the side of the doorway with the hand that rested upon the dark man's shoulder. And with a small step forward the old wizard situated himself as a human barrier between the apparently upset and angry man and the seemingly insistent female student.

"Please forgive me for coming on through without permission," he added with a significant look toward the younger Professor. His gaze lingered on Severus' features, a moment of surprise and concern flitting across his own face.

A few seconds later he turned to address the girl. "Miss Cootes, I believe it would be prudent for you and I to have another chat. Go now and wait beside the gargoyle at the entrance to my office, please. I shall be along shortly."

Aries glanced from the Headmaster to Severus - from which the dark man quickly averted his face with a short huffed breath - and back again. She also huffed out a slightly irritated sigh before nodding her agreement and disappearing from the doorway.

"Yes, Sir," Severus heard her say before Dumbledore closed the wooden door gently and gestured with a nod for him to take a seat in his armchair. He obeyed automatically. As usual Albus conjured his own chintz armchair and took a seat in front of him, his hands clasped together with index fingers steepled and leaning against his lips; merely studying his Potions Master before Severus could bare it no more.

"I did not invite her here," he stated bluntly.

"I know," Dumbledore acknowledged with a light nod.

"I couldn't get her to leave… she wouldn't listen," Severus said with a shake of his head.

"That much was also evident, Severus, you have no need to worry."

"I don't know what to do," he added anxiously, a silent plea for help infused in the admission.

The Headmaster nodded his understanding. "I suspect Miss Cootes has things she wishes to say to you, and will not be deterred until she has had an opportunity to say them. I would hazard a guess that she seeks closure of sorts," the old wizard offered. "And I think perhaps we ought to give her that chance, Severus, what do you suppose?"

Severus nodded after considering the suggestion for a few moments. He did feel he owed the girl some sort of explanation, after all. "I do want a resolution, however I don't wish to encourage her to relate to me in a familiar way," he said with some concern.

Dumbledore nodded again, "I will naturally be happy to chaperone, Severus… with firm boundaries in place for the conference, although I do feel you need to engage one another on equal terms for the duration of this meeting alone. And of course I will allow you ample privacy to say what needs to be said to one another without feeling uncomfortable. Do you feel that is acceptable?"

Severus agreed with a nod, "If you think that is what is best," he said, his mind already beginning to race regarding what he might wish to say to the girl.

Despite Severus' opinion that Aries was still a child, at least in his eyes, he had engaged in a very intimate and grown up activity with her… all without holding her in the esteem appropriate for such an act! Not only did Severus owe Aries an explanation, or even just the aloof admission of responsibility in the affair that he had already offered… no, he knew he owed his student far more than that; he owed her a heartfelt apology!

"I do," the Headmaster responded with a nod. "I will discuss the notion with her when I meet with her now."

Severus nodded his agreement again.

Dumbledore continued to study him silently until Severus again lifted his gaze to the old man's. "Why did you not go to Poppy?" he asked with a sad disappointment. "It pains and shames me that you have endured this wrongful sufferance longer than necessary. If I had realised you would not go I would have at least tried my own hand at healing the damage."

"She was busy when I got there… I did not wish to interrupt. She was with Miss Cootes," he explained, ashamed of his cowardice of the previous evening, yet wanting the Headmaster to know he did not treat his concern and wishes with contempt intentionally.

"Ah… I see, I did not realise Poppy would keep her so long."

The revelation that the Headmaster had known the girl had visited Poppy caused Severus to consider the notion further. "Why was Miss Cootes at the infirmary? You told me she was fine," he queried with some concern.

The Headmaster nodded soothingly at him, "I did… and she is. It was for reasons of contraception, Severus… I had an inkling that during the upset last night neither of you had taken it into consideration."

Severus felt his stomach swoop in shock and he blanched visibly. "N-No… I suppose not." He captured the Headmaster's blue twinkling eyes with his own and huffed out a shuddered breath, "I… appreciate your forward thought… thank you," he said meaningfully.

"Of course, my boy," Dumbledore answered dismissively. "Now, I must insist that you have that nasty welt seen to, Severus. It is to my great shame that you wear the injury to begin with… it seems I too have moments where I allow emotions to overrun my good sense. I'm sorry, Severus, I should never have hit you."

The dark man dipped his head with the renewal of his own shame. "No… I well and truly deserved it," he refuted softly.

"I hardly think so," the Headmaster responded, "Go and see Poppy now… I am worried about your eye."

Severus relented with a sigh, "I was on my way to see her when I came across Miss Cootes camped outside my door," he informed with a sarcastic edge.

Dumbledore nodded his understanding, "I will speak with her… we cannot allow this situation to get out of hand, and arguing with the young lady in the hallways is the surest way for that to occur. Enough has been risked by your lapse in judgement, Severus, this has ramifications far more reaching than I believe you have considered."

Severus cringed at the insinuation voiced by the old man; ashamed that he had acted without thought at all, let alone considered all the implications. He was normally regarded for his deliberate and calculating conduct… and this demonstration of lack of responsibility and control was even unbecoming in his own eyes, to say the least.

He dipped his head again, "I have been a fool," he stated bitterly.

Dumbledore remained silent for a few moments. "That you have been, my boy… I cannot refute that, but it is clear to me that you do feel a great deal of remorse over the incident. That is commendable and I am confident you will not make this same mistake again."

Dumbledore paused momentarily. Severus lifted his gaze to the silent man.

"I have to tell you, I feel conflicted at the moment, Severus," he continued, "for you see I must follow through with the planned consequences I have set for you."

The Potions Master's gut swooped in anxious anticipation.

"I originally came through this afternoon to inform you of my decision."

Severus resisted the urge to hold his breath.

"Will…" he swallowed, "will I be permitted to continue teaching?" he asked, unable to take the suspense.

"Yes," the Headmaster nodded gently, "though you will be relieved of your Head of House duties."

Severus huffed out a disbelieving breath, "I'm being demoted?!"

"For the time being, Severus, yes, and until you have proven that you can treat all students with the respect they are warranted, you will not be permitted to resume the position."

The dark man flushed slightly; this was more than humiliating.

"Additionally, I have decided that you will take on the responsibility of teaching a new short course for the fifth through to seventh years."

Curiosity and a leaden sense of dread caused Severus to forget his humiliation momentarily. "New course?"

"Yes, information and consideration regarding a subject I feel is decidedly lacking amongst some residents at Hogwarts."

Severus did not miss the odd wording of the Headmaster's part explanation. "What subject?" he asked, apprehensively.

"Relationships, Abstaining and Contraception."

The dark man blanched instantly. "You must be joking," he said with quiet horror, instantly and mortifyingly clear as to why the Headmaster had chosen the word 'residents' rather than 'students'.

"Not this time, Severus, I am sorry to inform you. You shall resume your Potions classes tomorrow and the new classes will commence tomorrow also. I shall send you down the curriculum and timetable as soon as I am able, but for now I believe Miss Cootes is waiting." At that the Headmaster rose from his seat and banished the piece of furniture.

"Go and see Poppy now, and I shall expect to see you at dinner when I will announce the new course to the students. Oh, and by the way, the students and other teachers will remain in ignorance of the true reason for your temporary absence as Slytherin Head of House… but I must warn you that I will not hesitate to prolong this situation if you do not treat the students and the subject with the delicacy they both deserve. Am I understood?"

Stunned at the horrifying turn of events Severus could do nothing but agree, "Yes… of course," he said with a light nod as his mind grappled with his newly appointed duty.

When the wizened wizard pulled the door shut behind him Severus found himself bent forward with his face in his hands yet again.

"Oh, Mother of Merlin," he whispered disbelievingly to the vacant room, and finally he found the dismay and humiliation of his current situation far overshadowed the disgust and abhorrence that he had felt for himself over what had occurred in his office the previous evening. The punishment Dumbledore had come up with was highly fitting, appropriate and undoubtedly effective; for he knew without a doubt that he would never allow himself to be caught in such a predicament ever, ever again… even if he had to kill himself first!

HPOCHPOCHPOCHPOCHPOCHPOCHPOCHPOCHPOC

Severus strode into the infirmary to find Madam Pomfrey bent over a distraught student. He tipped his head forward marginally to ensure his hair covered as much of the injured side of his face as possible.

"I shall wait in your office until you are able to grant me several minutes, Madam Pomfrey, if you can spare the time," he said, continuing past her without waiting for the answer. He would wait as long as he needed for the Matron to be available; he too was becoming concerned about the state of his eye.

"I'll only be a few moments longer here, Professor Snape… go ahead."

The dark man took a seat in the medi-witch's office and dimly heard the woman tell the sniveling girl to 'stop being so dramatic'. He trained his ear to their conversation even further out of pure curiosity and amusement.

"Go on, off to your common room… no, no, don't be silly, Beatrice; your ears have gone back to their regular size now. Come on, off you go; you don't want to be late for dinner!"

Severus snorted disdainfully, 'Probably just hexed in the hallway by her classmates,' he thought, unimpressed by the drama. Madam Pomfrey came bustling in moments later with a harassed expression creasing her face.

"And what can I do for you, Severus," she queried briskly.

He didn't quite know how to bring up his injury, as the way he came about it was not a topic for open discussion. "My eye, Poppy," he eventually settled for, gently shaking back the lank drop of ebony hair.

"Good heavens, Professor Snape, how on earth did you come about an injury like that?!"

Severus understood it was a rhetorical question and didn't bother to respond.

"Come here, let me see it better," the Matron continued, as he knew she would. He allowed her to move in uncomfortably close to him in order to do her job.

The witch hooked the drop of hair out of the way behind his ear and examined the entire weal. With a simple flick of her wand she had permanently closed the split on his lower lip, and had summoned a jar of thick, olive green paste; gently dabbing a thin coating along the entire reddened welt. The cool balm soothed the pulsing ache almost instantly.

"Now let me see that eye, then," she commanded, a gentle hand under his chin tilting his face to the best angle to catch enough light in order to examine closely.

Satisfied, she then gently probed the orbit of the eye socket with measuring fingers. "Is it very tender?" she questioned.

"Yes," Severus breathed, trying not to flinch at her light prods; both eyes closed.

"Okay, open your eyes up for me," she ordered again.

Igniting the tip of her wand, Poppy shone the light into first his good eye, and then his injured left one. "You didn't hit your head on anything, did you," she queried, measuring the reactions of each.

"No… I was merely struck by something," he explained simply. Madam Pomfrey nodded in comprehension.

"You should wear safety glasses when dealing with those volatile substances, Severus… I don't know how many times I have to say that to everyone."

He remained silent; let the old Matron assume what she wanted… all the easier for him.

Next she peeled open the swollen eye a little more and examined his dark irises and the whites of his eyes for physical damage, and all she could see of the inside of his eyelids.

"Look up… down… side to side," she said, and he complied with every direction.

"Roll your eye to the left… now to the right… good. Did you experience any excessive pain or difficulty with any of those movements?"

He shook his head lightly. "No."

"Good. Well, apart from a few broken blood vessels, it all looks quite intact. Just soft tissue bruising, it seems. You were lucky this time, Severus." Using her wand again, Poppy chanted softly a short Latin phrase whilst directing the instrument over the damaged eye. Severus felt a minor relenting of pressure.

"That should help with the swelling a bit for now, but it will go down on its own with time," she explained.

Madam Pomfrey then leaned over to her right and plucked a large tub of bruise salve off her cluttered desk and proceeded to apply it to his entire outer eye; rubbing the ointment into the bruised orbital cavity with small, gentle circles.

"You have your own supply, I imagine?" she asked.

Severus nodded affirmatively. "Good, re-apply every four to six hours for the next two days… the bruising and swelling should be completely gone by Friday evening. If not be sure to come and see me again," she added sternly.

She gazed at him for a few silent moments, "Just a standard pain reliever for relief if you need it in the meantime. Other than that… are you okay?" she asked, with a small tilt of her head.

Severus suddenly took a small breath in, leaned back a little in his chair and reasserted his aloof mask, wary of the woman's oddly knowing question. "Yes… I'm fine. Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."

She gave him a small smile, "Of course, Severus… I'm always here if you need me."

After a nod of thanks he stood up abruptly and strode out the door. Unbeknownst to him, Madam Pomfrey watched him strut away until he was out of sight; huffing out a worried sigh to match her concerned frown.

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