Is resistance futile?

Harry woke the next morning with a numb feeling inside and unable to think straight. He was confused, not really sure what to think about the whole situation. He hated what happened to him. He hated that he was robbed of his known life and he hated being locked up. Still, there was this short little moment, the day before, when he finally felt understood and accepted.

He still cannot believe that Snape smacked him and he sought comfort in the man, but the most confusing thing was Snape had let him. Snape had held him and hadn't pushed him back. It had felt great. It had felt safe and right, but that could not be. Snape hated him, didn't he?

Before Harry got too lost in his confusing thoughts, the door opened and Professor Snape entered the room.

The man looked at Harry in contemplation and stated "keep your eyes closed and tell me what you sense."

For anyone else this would have been a strange command, but Harry was quite fascinated with his new ability, so he answered promptly.

"There is a fire in the fireplace. The wood is still slightly wet; it cracks differently. The armchair where you sat yesterday is now on the far end of the room. You are standing ten feet away from me. You hold a tablet with cocoa and… err… and ham and eggs?"

"Very good, Harry!" Severus said and stepped closer.

"You seem to be stressed or angry?" Harry said with his eyes still closed.

Severus froze astonished. Harry opened his eyes and looked up.

"I thought I had my breathing under control, what betrayed me?" Severus asked curiously.

"Your heart beat," Harry said with a shrug. He sat up in bed leaning against the headboard watching the Professor.

Severus' eyebrow rose in astonishment. It seems Harry was very sensitive to his surroundings. "Fascinating," he said and placed the tablet on Harry's nightstand.

Harry ignored the food choosing to stare at the opposite wall instead.

Severus sighed as he recognized the well known stubborn look he had seen on the boy's face countless of times. It was the promise of a long day. "Draco asked if he could come and visit you," Severus finally said.

"Why would he want to do that? To gloat and make fun of me?" Harry asked crossing his arms defensively and actively avoiding his professor's gaze.

"Draco will not make fun of you. Why should he?"

"He hates me!" Harry yelled, finally looking at Snape with a hard glare.

"There is no reason to yell at me. Draco doesn't hate you and he will not make fun of you. He is a vampire, too. You could talk with him about being a vampire, he is-"

"I will do NO such thing," Harry yelled again, glaring daggers at Snape.

"You need someone to talk too, Harry," Severus tried once more, but Harry turned his head away staring at the wall again.

"Eat your breakfast and then meet me in my study," Severus instructed and then left, before he lost the last bit of his self control and ended up strangling the boy.

As the door slammed shut, Harry jerked. A traitorous tear escaped his eye and ran down his cheek. Angrily, Harry wiped his face with the arm of his pajama. Why the hell did Professor Snape look that disappointed as he turned on his heels and left the room? And why the hell did Harry care?

Confused Harry looked at the breakfast still sitting on his nightstand. Unable to eat something, Harry stood up. He looked around, but he couldn't find his trunk. Hadn't Snape said that a house elf would bring his trunk? Angry again, Harry marched out of his room into Snape's study.

"Where are my things?" Harry complained.

"Your books, quills and parchments are over there!" Severus said and pointed towards a desktop, that hadn't been there the day before.

"And my clothes?"

"I didn't find something suitable for you in your trunk, so these pajamas will do."

"No. I don't want to wear these things the whole day."

"Your new clothes will need at least two days. I can ask someone in the club if they will borrow you something in the meantime," Severus offered.

"Why can't I wear my own things?" Harry asked irritated, "I don't need new clothes."

"I peg to differ. Most of your clothes are at least three sizes too big for you."

"Why does it matter to you? There are MY things and I want them back!" Harry yelled.

"I burned those rags, Harry. I want you to wear decent clothes."

"You are not my father! I can wear what I want. You… you cannot just take them without asking," Harry's voice broke and he looked down at his feet.

Severus was surprised. He hadn't thought that this would be such a problem for the boy. "I'm sorry Harry. You are right. I should have asked you before. I thought you would be glad to have new clothes."

"What gives you the right to rule my live?" Harry asked in a low voice and then turned around and left.

In a distance, Severus heard the boy's door slam shut and a second later a shattering noise against the door followed. Probably Harry's breakfast, Severus mused. He decided to wait a while until he faced the boy again.

-oxo-

"Harry, lunch is ready. Come into the kitchen." Severus said, knocked on Harry's door and waited for a response. As Harry didn't react he entered the room and with a quick wand movement he removed the mess of Harry's breakfast.

Harry sat motionless on his bed starring at the wall.

"Harry?" Severus asked.

"Go away," Harry said, nearly soundless.

"No, I will not. Now come."

"I'm not hungry," Harry mumbled.

"You will eat none the less. You missed your dinner last night and your breakfast in the morning. Missing lunch too, is no option," Severus explained.

"You cannot force me to eat," Harry said angrily and looked at Severus.

"I can and I will," Severus stated simply. "But it is your choice if you are going to sit comfortable or not. Then be assured, I have enough of your attitude and it will stop right now."

Harry swallowed nervously. Did Severus mean, what Harry thought he mean? Harry remembered the single smack the previews day very clearly and it did smart a lot for a simple smack, but surely Professor Snape won't spank him, would he?

"I said I'm not hungry!" Harry finally said stubbornly.

"Wrong answer, little boy," Severus said and strode over to Harry pulling him up by his upper arm.

Before Harry realized what was happening Severus sat on the bed and pulled Harry over his lap. "No!" Harry protested and tried to get up, but he felt terribly weak with the missing meals in his stomach and the professor overpowered him easily.

"You were warned, Harry." Severus simply stated and then started to smack the pajama glad bottom. "You were asking for it." He smacked again. "I was lenient with you and put up with your temper to give you time to adjust," and again, "but you will not throw your food on the floor," and again, "or starve yourself to death." His hand rained down on the smarting bottom. "I deserve some respect but you are acting like a spoilt brat," another crack echoed the room as his hand hit Harry's backside. "This will stop right now." Another crack. "Do you understand?" The Professor finished with a final crack against the bottom.

"Yess ssir" Harry hissed between his tears.

"Self pity will not help you out here." Severus said to the sniveling boy over his lap. "You have no reason to be such a brat. I'm here to help you and you are behaving more than underbred."

"I… I never asked… for your help," Harry replied, panting heavily.

"I never asked for you getting bitten, but I cannot change this fact and it is my job to keep you safe now and that I will do. You can start to work with me, or you will end up in this position a lot." He replied, landing another smack on Harry's bottom.

With this unexpected smack an "Ow" escaped Harry's lips. "Please… I'm sorry."

"Are you now? Or are you just saying what you think I would like to hear, in order to end your punishment?" Severus asked.

As no answer followed Severus adjusted his knees to get better access to Harry's sensitive sit spot intending to continue with his lecture.

"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have thrown the food to the flour and I'm sorry I was such a brat."

Severus sighed, pulling the boy up and standing him between his knees, but before he could say anything to the abashed boy, said boy wrapped his arms around the startled professor and hid his face in Severus chest. Deep sobs shook the small frame of the boy and Severus held Harry with one arm, while the other rubbed calming circles on the boy's back.

As the sobs finally eased, Severus stoop up and guided Harry into the small kitchen. Harry hissed as his bottom met the kitchen chair but he did not voice any complaint. They ate in silence neither wishing to make further conversation. Once Harry's plate was clear, Severus led the boy into the study where he let Harry sit by his new desk.

"While you are staying with me, you will use this desk for homework or other studies. Right now, I want you to read the first chapter of the Prince book. Afterwards, I will answer your questions."

"I don't want to read that book" Harry whispered.

"You will read it none the less. It's important for you, to know all this. You won't leave this room until you have done the reading."

Stubbornly, Harry crossed his arms and ignored the book in front of him. Severus left the boy hoping curiosity would win over stubbornness. In the last two years Harry always had his nose in things that didn't concern him.

To Severus' dismay Harry's curiosity went on vacation when it came to the topic of vampires. At dinnertime, Harry still sat stock-still at his desk. Severus let the boy to the bathroom and gave him a sandwich for dinner, but then led the boy back to his desk.

"I won't read that book," Harry stated matter of factly.

"I won't let leave this room until you do!" Severus replied definitively.

At midnight, Severus ventured back into the study to find out how far Harry had progressed. He was disappointed but not surprised to find the boy sound asleep with his face on the tabletop. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Severus pulled out his wand and floated Harry into the boy's room and settled him in to bed.

'This is not going to work,' Severus admitted to himself. Harry seemed to have an exceptional stamina. It was a practical ability, as long as it isn't used against oneself. Severus knew he needed a new tactic, as he was sure Harry won't just give in and read the damn book.

With a frustrated scowl Severus watched the sleeping boy. He shook his head. Two days had past and he hadn't made any progress. How in Merlin's name could he persuade Harry to read that damn book? The book would explain so much about vampires, and it was in Harry's best interests to read it. However the boy was stubborn. Severus knew that much and so he had to get creative in how to make the boy accept his help.