Harry sat still with his forehead on the desk for some time. He must have drifted off to sleep because he was startled when he heard his name and felt a hand gently touching his back. Harry gasped and sat up suddenly. It was Mr. Snape. "Are you ready to go home, Harry?"
"Umm, yeah, is school over already?" Harry asked. He was a in a bit of a daze since he had just awakened.
"No, it's about noon. Let's go. I have your bag." Mr. Snape turned a bit so that Harry could see it on his shoulder along with his briefcase.
Harry stood up and Severus placed his hand on the back of Harry's neck and quietly led him through the office. "Wait, what about your class?" asked Harry as they entered the parking lot.
"It's okay. Somebody is covering for me." Harry nodded as they got into the car.
The ride was short and silent, but Harry was starting to worry about what was going to happen when they got home and asked as they pulled into the driveway, "What are you going to do to me?"
Mr. Snape didn't answer right away and Harry thought he hadn't heard, but as Severus opened the door he shook his head and said, "I don't know." Snape was concerned by the fear he saw in the boy's eyes. What did Harry think was going to happen? It wasn't like he was going to drag him into the house and start walloping him. "Go wash up and then bring your lunch to the table. We'll go ahead and eat before we talk." Harry nodded and complied. Severus thought that the boy looked like a kicked puppy.
Lunch was pretty quiet. When they first sat down Harry had asked if his Dad knew about the fight. Mr. Snape had just nodded. Harry ate slowly and thought about his conversation with Vincent. When Vincent had said that gay people molested little kids, Harry had just lost it. He knew that his dad loved Mr. Snape, and although Harry wasn't exactly sure what molest meant, he did know that it was bad. Just because his Dad and Mr. Snape were gay didn't mean that they were bad.
Harry was startled out of his contemplation when Severus told him that it was time to get cleaned up and go to the living room for a talk. He swallowed hard and put away his lunchbox and milk glass. Then he wiped the table, washed his hands, and walked into the living room. Snape was sitting on the couch with his arms crossed. When Harry stepped into the living room, Snape uncrossed his arms, crossed his legs, and pointed to the easy chair where Harry usually sat for talks.
Harry sat and looked expectantly at his teacher. He was trying to hold back his tears when Severus spoke rather gently, "Harry, will you tell me what happened?"
Harry had been expecting a scolding and was rather bewildered by the question. What did Snape want to know? He had witnessed the fight, hadn't he? Did he want to know what was said and could Harry tell him?
"I'm waiting, Harry."
"Yes sir. Umm what did you want to know?"
"Start from the beginning. Tell me what you and Vincent were discussing."
Harry used his fists to wipe his eyes and was handed a tissue. "Remember yesterday when we talked about what to say when the kids asked about why you were moving into my house." He was rewarded with a nod. "Well, Vincent asked me about that." Snape nodded again. "At first I tried to just be nonchalant, you know? I said that you are Dad were friends."
Harry paused. "Continue please."
"He kept pestering me, so I told him that you were getting married." Harry paused again while Snape waited patiently. "Then he asked if you and Dad are gay and I told him you were. So then he…" Harry broke off and began sobbing.
"Harry? What happened then, you can tell me," pried Snape gently.
Harry shook his head. "I can't."
"You can."
"But you're going to be mad at me."
"Harry, I'm already rather angry with you. I don't approve of fighting."
Harry sobbed. "I know. I know. Can't we wait for Dad? I want to tell him." (This was not true, but Harry was trying to postpone reliving Vincent's words as long as possible.)
Snape got off the couch and, placing his hands on the arms of the easy chair, kneeled in front of Harry.
"Your Dad told me that things are very busy today and he won't be home until very late. You need to get this off your chest now." Harry shrugged. "Harry, it's time to spill the beans. What happened after you admitted that your father and I are gay?" Snape said gently as he took Harry's shaking hands into his.
"He said something mean."
"I had guessed that. What was it?"
"I think he was lying."
"But it made you angry, did it not?" Harry nodded. "You will feel better when you tell me." Snape got another tissue and wiped Harry's tears from his cheeks.
"He said that you'd," Harry stopped again.
"I would what?"
"He said that you and dad would." Again, Harry stopped.
Snape moved so that he was sitting on the coffee table and was eye to eye with Harry. "Go ahead. What did he say?"
Harry suddenly spoke quickly and barely audibly. "He said that you're going to molest me."
Severus wasn't sure that he'd heard Harry correctly. "He said that we are going to molest you?" he asked incredulously.
Harry nodded and added, "So I hit him."
Snape sat there idly rubbing the small hands he was holding. This was serious. No wonder Harry was upset.
"Harry, do you know what that means?"
Harry shook his head as he whispered, "Not really."
"Okay. It wasn't a nice thing." It was Harry's turn to nod. "Vincent meant that he thought that we, your Dad and I, would touch you inappropriately?"
Harry had kind of thought that, but he couldn't figure out how he could be touched inappropriately. "Do you mean like a spanking?"
"No Harry. He meant that he thought we would fondle you." Harry's face scrunched up as he tried to comprehend what he was being told. "That means to touch someone else's privates so that the molester can feel pleasure."
Harry expression changed to one of dismay, "You're not going to. Are you?"
"Of course not, Harry. That's a ridiculous notion. I don't know why Vincent would think something like that." Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Is there anything else I should know?" Harry shook his head and Severus got up and began pacing. He stopped by Harry's chair. "What Vincent said was cruel and thoughtless, but that didn't give you a right to hit him."
Harry stared at his knees. He missed the gentle pressure on his hands. "Yes sir. I know."
"Tell me some better choices you could have made."
Harry looked up at Mr. Snape for a second and then he studied his fingers. "I guess I could have just walked away."
"Yes, you could have."
"But what if he stopped me? He had his hands on my shoulders." Harry wrapped his arms around himself.
"What do you think?" Snape raised his eyebrows and gazed at Harry.
"I don't know." Harry looked up at Severus who was still staring at him intently. He quickly looked back down. Mr. Snape was obviously waiting for an answer. "I could have said, umm, excuse me, I have to go."
Severus nodded. "Good. Any other ideas?"
"I could have asked him what he meant or yelled if he wouldn't let me go." Harry was starting to feel more confident in his answers.
"Good thinking. However, you didn't do any of those things did you?" Severus really didn't want to continue scolding Harry, but he felt it was necessary. Harry would certainly going to have to learn to deal with people saying things he didn't like.
"No sir." Harry stared down at his hands and shook his head.
"You just punched him," Snape pushed.
Harry's answer was almost inaudible. "Yes sir. I'm sorry."
"I realize that you've have already been punished by the school and you've also received a very natural consequence." Harry looked up questioningly. What did that mean? "You have a black eye, kiddo. I imagine it's painful." Harry nodded. "However, there are going to be more consequences during your suspension." Severus saw Harry's neck bob as the boy gulped. He realized that he was standing above the child menacingly and should move himself to eye-level with the boy, but he didn't want to sit in a position that would make Harry think he was about to get a spanking. Looking around the room, Severus noticed the old rocking chair and dragged it closer to Harry. Then he sat.
"Harry, look at me please," Severus said softly. The boy's eyes seemed to radiate fear. "Harry this isn't something that you're going to be spanked for." Harry's posture relaxed. "Come here please." Harry stood slowly and took the one step toward Mr. Snape. Severus reached out gently and took the boy by the arms. He pulled Harry toward him so the he could lock his knees on either side of Harry's hips. At first Harry cringed, but then he relaxed against the contact. "Look at me." Harry's eyes pointed toward Snape's face, but they were staring at his chin. "Your Dad and I haven't discussed this much, but this is highly inconvenient. One of us will have to stay home with you each day."
"Sorry."
Snape placed his fingers gently under Harry's chin. "I know you are, but we can't allow you to enjoy being suspended from school. You are going to be under severe restrictions."
Harry looked down as he answered, "Yes sir."
"You will have no screen time and no phone calls. You may not leave the house without one of us. You will do extra chores around here for the next week." Harry nodded. "Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Your father may have some things he wants to add. We'll discuss that later." Again, Harry nodded. "Okay then. You may spend the rest of day in your room thinking about your behavior. I want you to write an apology to Vincent."
"Aww. I don't want to."
Snape thought it was odd that this was the first part of the punishment that Harry had protested. "Nevertheless, you will." Severus' eyes bored into Harry's. Feeling uncomfortable, Harry nodded the tiniest bit. "Okay then. Off you go."
Harry ran to his room and Severus leaned back into the rocking chair and breathed a sigh of relief. Just then the phone rang. Severus checked the number. Since it was Greg he answered immediately.
"What's going on with Harry?" Dr. House asked immediately.
"Well we just discussed it."
"How'd that go?"
"It could have been worse."
"Did you find out why he hit the other kid?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to tell me?"
Snape bit his lip. "Of course I will tell you, but I think we need to discuss it in person and privately. I can understand why Harry hit Vince. I might have done the same. When do you think you'll be home?"
"It's crazy around here so I'll probably be late. Did you assign a punishment?"
"I did, but I told him it's subject to change."
"You didn't spank him, did you?"
"No. It doesn't make sense to hit a kid for hitting another kid."
"I agree." Snape heard someone calling for Dr. House in the background. "I have to go, love you."
"I love you, too." Severus ended the call and slowly put the phone down. Then he got up to check on Harry.
