AN: Thanks to everyone who is still reading this story , and especially to those of you who reviewed. It was great to see you're still there!

As several people have pointed out to me in their reviews that it is so unfair that only Harry gets punished harshly while Draco gets away without punishment I think I should drop in a few words concerning this issue.

I agree it seems unfair that Draco isn't punished for trying to use an Unfogivable. However, I wanted to follow Canon. There, Draco was never punished for almost killing two fellow students (using the cursed necklace, smuggling in poisoned wine), because Dumbledore wanted to protect him. And he wasn't punished for the attempted Crucio, either, because I am pretty sure that Harry did tell McGonagall about it to justify himself when he was "called out of the common room for fifteen highly unpleasant minutes in the company of professor McGonagall", as it says in the book. Dumbledore said to Draco that he feared Voldemort would have killed him if he had found out that Dumbledore suspected him. He would probably also have killed him if he had found out that Draco was stupid enough to endanger his plans by using an Unforgivable (and getting caught). Well, that's what I think, at least.

That was my longest author's note ever, time for the next chapter!

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'And then Potter left,' Snape concluded his report to the headmaster. He had given Albus a detailed overview about what had happened during Potter's detention that morning – though detention was maybe not the right word, as the boy had left after less than ten minutes.

Albus was sitting at his usual seat, opposite to Snape. He nodded silently and watched Severus intently.

'So you really intended to cane him, Severus?' he asked after a while.

'Of course I did! He deserved it!' Snape replied heatedly. 'What makes you even ask?'

'You were angry, Severus,' was Albus' quiet answer.

'Of course I was angry!' On seeing the headmaster's stern expression, he added, reproachfully, 'But Albus, you really should know me well enough not to imply that I would have been out of control!' Snape was more than a little irritated with the headmaster. Didn't the man trust him by now?

Albus gave him a reassuring smile. 'I know, Severus, that your self-control is remarkable. However, as I have told you repeatedly, it never ceases to surprise me that regardless how well you control yourself usually, this aptitude miraculously seems to leave you as soon as Harry is involved.'

Snape didn't dignify this with an answer.

It was Dumbledore, who broke the tense silence.

'Don't get me wrong Severus, it was not my intention to imply that you would have beaten Harry brutally in blind rage. However, you have to allow me the question, when you intended to cane Harry, for whose benefit this punishment was intended to be, for Harry's or for your own?'

Snape blinked. Albus was looking seriously at him and there was a certain chill emanating from him as he continued. 'You managed to persuade me to give you the authority to punish Harry physically for the time being, Severus, and I did so because, in spite of knowing about your mutual dislike, I trusted you not to abuse your power in that respect.'

The words "at least", though unspoken, hung clearly in the air. Snape sighed inwardly. This conversation was not going the way he had intended, although, he told himself a little bitterly, he should have expected this. Potter had behaved abysmally, but the headmaster was berating him at the moment, not the Boy Who Lived. He drew a deep breath.

'Just for your information, Albus, I did not want to cane the boy just to let off some steam, as you seem to think – although I do admit that indeed it would have made me feel better afterwards. But even with all the affection you possess for the boy, you have to admit that he crossed several lines with his disrespect, and I did give him plenty of warnings. And he even drew his wand on me, his teacher! I think I don't have to remind you that students have been expelled for trying to attack their teachers in the past! So he definitely deserved everything I wanted to deal out, if not more! Don't you agree, Albus?'

Albus raised his hand. 'Allow me to postpone the discussion about what punishment Harry deserves and let's assume for the moment you're right and he did deserve it. Correct me if I am wrong, but from what you told me it seems that Harry felt that he was right with what he was saying? So I wonder how you can think that Harry would have learnt anything from your punishment instead of just feeling unjustly hurt by you? You should have made sure that Harry felt repentence before trying to punish him! To tell you the truth, I am glad that Harry refused to accept any strokes from you under these circumstances.'

Severus swallowed. He couldn't help admitting that indeed Albus had a point. In fact, he had been surprised how well Potter, who never failed to glare at him when being assigned a detention or losing hosepoints, had taken his canings. But the headmaster was right: on both occasions, especially the first, the boy had known what he had done wrong and had voiced regret for his actions.

'I understand what you mean,' he admitted reluctantly, but continued dryly, 'however, I doubt that I'll live to see the day where Potter will feel honest regret for his disrespect. But you have evaded me so far Albus as to the question of what punishment Potter deserves.'

Dumbledore inclined his head. 'Ah, yes. Let's see. If I understood you correctly it started with Harry sticking up for his friend when he felt you ridiculed her?'

Snape's mouth was a thin line. 'Yes,' he said. 'However, he definitely overreacted. Not everybody has to compliment Granger's every idea – however clever it may be - with an enthusiastic outburst of how intelligent she is. And honestly Albus, can you imagine a meditating Potter?'

The headmaster's eyes were twinkling. 'You have to admit Severus, that it is not easy to appreciate your sense of humour, I would even go so far and say that less than one per cent of the students that leave Hogwarts after their NEWTs have become able to understand it.'

'When will you finally stop making up excuses for the boy? The way he shouted at me was intolerable. In all the years I have been teaching here, never before has a student yelled at me like that!' Severus's voice was sharp.

'I do not deny that Harry sometimes has an attitude' –Snape snorted at the word "sometimes" – 'although I find it has become considerably better compared to last year. But Harry is a teenager, whereas you are an adult. You cannot deny, Severus, that it was all based on a misunderstanding. I know you would never refer to a student as a Mudblood; Harry does not.'

Dumbledore's calm, quiet voice was in sharp contrast to Severus', whose face contorted in fury as he hissed, 'No, he does not, he just assumes I do. Your precious Golden Boy sneaked into my memory last year, never ever even tried to apologize for it, by the way, and now he uses it against me! You keep saying Potter is not arrogant, well, what is it if not arrogance, that he thinks he knows everything and claims for himself the right to judge me? You can say what you want about it, but I do not have to stand here quietly and take this!'

He stopped his speech as he feared his voice might break. It was not only fury he felt now, but deep grief as well. Oh Lily, why did it have to turn out like this? How would you judge me now? The thought that he had tried to ban from his mind all this time, that Potter would surely judge him even worse if he knew everything he had done, could be no longer held back. But what did Potter, always surrounded by adoring friends, know about how far rejection, loneliness and the hunger for acceptance could drive a young man?

There was sadness in Dumbledore's eyes as he watched his younger colleague. Slowly he stretched out his uninjured hand and touched Severus' arm lightly, who flinched. Sighing Albus put his hand back on the table.

'I am sorry, Severus. No, of course you don't have to take this and you certainly have a right to be angry. Please bear in mind, though, Severus, that Harry is only sixteen. It is the privilege of young people to possess a certain arrogance that allows them to be so sure they are absolutely right.'

He smiled indulgently before adding, 'Another privilege of youth is to sort everything into black and white, ignoring the various shades of grey inbetween.'

Snape sighed. Had he ever been like that? He wasn't sure. And the headmaster's constant understanding of Potter was getting unbearable.

As if he had read his mind, Albus repeated, 'As I have said you don't have to take this and Harry will need to understand that his behaviour – both his disrespect and his drawing his wand on you - is unacceptable. Dobby?'

Snape blinked as with a loud pop, the house elf appeared.

'Professor Dumbledore is wanting Dobby, Sir?' the elf asked eagerly.

'Yes, Dobby,' Albus replied amiably. 'Could you please find Harry and tell him to report to my office immediately?'

After the elf had disappeared with another loud pop, Snape asked, 'Do you want me to leave?'

'Oh, no. Stay and we'll both see what Harry has to say. I think enough time has passed for him to calm down and come to his senses.' Dumbledore's bright blue eyes twinkled. 'I am sure he is already sitting nervously in his common room, waiting to be called and, I assume, already regretting his outburst.'

Snape raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything. He doubted that Potter was feeling regret.

With another pop Dobby appeared again. 'I is sorry, but Harry Potter is not in the school, I is told he is in Hogsmeade.'

The headmaster's face was sombre. 'I see', he said quietly, picked up a quill and wrote down some words on a piece of parchment. After sealing it, he gave it to the elf.

'Dobby, please go to the owlery, find Harry's owl and have her deliver this to Harry.'

After watching the elf leave, Snape felt a certain triumph as he remarked sarcastically, 'Sitting nervously in his commmon room, already regretting his outburst? Doesn't look like it, Albus. Well, if you don't mind, I will go. The boy seems obdurate as ever and I have no desire to witness any more of this right now.'

And I have no desire to see how you will be soft on him again, he added quietly to himself, as he got up from his chair.

'Wait a moment, Severus.' Dumbledore gestured for him to sit down again. Raising his eyebrows, Snape complied.

'As I said, Harry will need to understand that his behaviour is unacceptable. However, lamentable as it is that he saw your memory, it is nevertheless in his head, and there is nothing we can do about it unless you want to obliviate him, which I am sure you agree is not an option.'

Snape didn't say anything, he just waited impatiently for Dumbledore to get to the point. The old man sighed and massaged his temples. Finally he continued.

'So as the memory is there and you have seen what it has caused Harry to assume I wonder if it would help both of you if you told him a bit more about it, and explained some things? Or at least allow me to do so? It would make it so much easier for Harry to understand how unacceptable his behaviour has been, and whatever you say, Severus, he really is a kind person, and he would understand, and he probably would respect you more easily as well.'

Snape glared at the headmaster. Had the old man gone barmy? This was utterly absurd.

'I will not ever talk about Lily Evans with Potter, and neither will you,' he said, putting emphasis on every single word. 'Do not mention this idea to me ever again.'

Dumbledore nodded sadly. 'If this is what you wish, Severus, though I believe you are making a mistake. – That's all for now, then.'

Snape nodded, relieved that Albus had let drop the subject so fast and got on his feet again. He slowly went to the door and heard Dumbledore say, 'Severus?'

He turned around once more.

'Harry will regret his behaviour towards you,' Albus stated simply.

Snape gave a stiff nod and left, feeling highly doubtful about it. The headmaster had displayed his usual naivete where Potter was concerned.

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