Tantrum

A/N: There will be a lot of swearing in this chapter; if that offends you, skip this chapter, though I warn you, you will be missing out on a lot of Harry/Severus interaction. Please R&R! It helps fuel my writing

"So let me get this straight," Harry started, eyes flashing in anger, "you want me to just happily go along with this like some naïve little child, when you've hated my bloody guts for two fucking years?!" He stood, pacing around the room and gesticulating wildly. Before his professor could respond, however, he went on. "Not likely, you wanker! Think you can come and try and rescue me from those fuckers of a family, pretend to be nice for a while and then I'll just lay down and do whatever it is you want? For all I know, if this goes ahead - which it won't if I have any say in it – then you'll turn me in to that old snake-faced prick. No. I won't do it!"

By the end of his tirade, Harry was glaring at Snape, stock still apart from his shaking and fists clenched at his sides. He was beyond furious. How dare the evil bat try and take advantage of his situation, under a guise of 'caring'? 'My ass,' thought Harry as he stared into calm – only by years of practice – black eyes.

"If you are done, Harry?" Severus asked, low voice laced with a warning.

Of course, Harry and his Gryffindor stubbornness, wasn't done. "Quit calling me that! Or can I call you 'Sev'? Huh? Its too fucking personal. You have no tossing right, you slimy bastard!"

Severus had had enough. The boy was being downright belligerent and rude – enough was enough. "Draco, please go to the dining room. Harry and I need to have a little talk."

Draco, knowing just want his godfather meant by the tilt of his voice, agreed that it would be better if I weren't around to see what was about to unfold. He'd been punished this way before, and so on his way out, sent a commiserating look towards his soon-to-be-sorry friend.

Once Draco was out of the way, Snape took a few calming breaths before sitting down in the middle of the free sofa. "Come here, Harry."

"I thought I told you not to call me that!" Harry retorted, unsure of what was going on. He knew this wasn't going to be just a talk, from the look Draco had shot him, but he also trusted his teacher enough to know he wouldn't abuse him. He may not necessarily like the snarky git, but he knew a truth from a lie, not that you'd know it from his recent tantrum.

Thinking back on it, maybe Snape was telling the truth. He hadn't lied to him so far, after all… Harry gulped, suddenly feeling guilty. "Sir…"

"I'll ask again, child. Please come here." Severus saw the change of emotion, but the boy still needed to know he was in the wrong and that any misdeeds wouldn't go unchecked or unpunished. He didn't want to have to do this, especially to a victim of physical abuse, but he knew he had to; he knew it would get through to him.

Harry started shaking for a new reason now. He was scared. Maybe he was wrong, and Snape was going to hit him? 'Oh Merlin, what do I do?'

"Please Sir. I'm sorry…"

"I am not going to abuse you, Harry. I need you to come here though. Can you do that or do I need to come and carry you over?" A sardonic eyebrow raised, Severus made to stand up.

Mortified, Harry relented. "No! No, I'll come to you, thank you." And so he did, walking over to where his professor sat, stopping just a couple of feet away, so as to be out of arms reach.

Snape understood Harry's uncertainty, but really, he must know he wasn't going to be beaten. "Closer, Harry."

Harry shuffled a tiny bit closer.

His dark, lank haired teacher reached out a hand towards him and he flinched, on edge.

"Harry, I am not going to beat you, my child. You are simply to be taken across my knee. Have you never been spanked?" The professor knew the answer: of course he hadn't. The boy was thrown around and starved, but never received corporal punishment. A few smacks on a child's bottom, clothed or bared, was the standard within the wizarding world. Nearly all pureblood families punished their children in this way.

As predicted, Harry shook his head. He'd seen other children get smacked on their bottoms, but never received such treatment. It seemed so embarrassing anyway! He didn't want a spanking!

"Will you lay over my knee Harry? Or do I need to take you over? It's up to you; whichever you are most comfortable with." Severus said, hoping that giving the child the choice would ease his fears a little.

"I… I don't know how to, sir." Harry flushed. This was so embarrassing.

"Then I shall help you. Give me your arm." Snape reached for Harry's wrist again, this time moving slowly so as not to startle the boy.

Harry, noting that Snape was being surprisingly docile, did as he was told.

Before he knew it, he was laid over the man's lap, a sharp swat landing upon his trouser clad rear end. "Ow." Harry was pleasantly shocked to find that he wasn't scared, just slightly uncomfortable.

Fourteen more swats later, he was significantly more uncomfortable, and was openly crying over his teacher's knee.

"Tell me, child. Why are you being punished?" Severus asked, this being a part of the lesson the child was to learn.

"B-because I yelled at you, sir," Harry cried.

"And what else?"

"I called you names?" A whimper now as another smack landed. "What was that for?"

"Was that an answer or a question?" Severus reprimanded, letting the boy know he wanted a sure answer with another swat.

"A-an answer! Please, sir, I'm sorry. I'll be good." Harry sniffled and wiggled around on his professor's lap, trying and failing to avoid the oncoming smacks. It hurt. He still didn't feel afraid though – just ashamed and truly sorry for his actions.

Finally, Snape let up, rolling the boy over so he was sat in his lap, where he stroked his damp hair and whispered soft assurances that he was still a good boy, and that Snape didn't hate him. "You're naughty, not bad. I hope to teach you better behaviour, and that may take time and more of this, but you will learn, and you will appreciate it in the long run. Hush now, child. It's all okay. You look exhausted though' do you need to lay down?"

"Y-yes sir," Harry sniffled, enjoying being held. He was tired, emotionally exhausted and with a sore bottom, and found the idea of a nap very inviting.

Severus stood, the quieting boy still held in his arms, and walked over to the bed. There, he lay the child down, tucking him in and brushing his fringe from his eyes, gazing into the bright, sleepy orbs and smiling softly. This, he would get used to. He truly did care for the boy, and knew that it would take time, but he hoped he trusted him enough to let him do the right thing, even if Harry didn't believe it at the time.

"Sleep well, child. I shall talk to Professor Dumbledore which you rest. I should be back by the time you awaken. But if not, Draco definitely will be."

"Good night, sir," Harry murmured softly, eyes drifting closed.

He dreamt of warm cuddles and someone called 'dad', sore bottoms and reassuring words. For once in he didn't know how long, Harry slept well.