A/N:- I updated much faster this time because I got interested in writing after a long time :) This chapter is angsty! Enjoy and review. Don't flame me if this ain't your cup of tea cause I barely read such reviews. Oh, and thank you for all the support.

Warning for the Chapter: A fierce spanking. A slap.

DISCLAIMER:- Don't own, don't sue.


The Light In The Darkness

Eleven

Snape's hands were shaking slightly as he put his book down. He couldn't concentrate enough to read anyway. He was very angry and had been fantasising of finding Potter and beating him up...

He kept losing track of which Potter he was taking revenge on. Yes, it was the Potter brat, not the adult, but Severus couldn't help but find them the same sometimes. They looked the same and did the same reckless, infuriating things.

He wondered who was at the door. Dumbledore perhaps, back for more scolding? Or maybe Dementors, ready to take him to Azkaban? Severus found he didn't care. Whoever it was had probably come to chastise him and he was in no mood. Severus felt his blood pounding in his veins. He felt he might do something he would regret later if anyone struck a nerve this time.

As he walked angrily to the door, putting his things down, Snape thought he heard sniffling.

Huh?

He opened the door slowly, irritable.

He didn't expect to see what he just saw.

...

Harry heard the door open, heart beating so fast he thought the organ might as well burst out.

When Snape opened the door fully and stared at him, he saw the emotions flicker across the man's face one by one. First confusion, then pure shock...and finally fury.

Harry expected a slap across the face, a torrent of stinging, loud words, maybe even a hand at his collar, pulling him inside and throwing him over a sofa so that Snape could smack him.

Whatever it was, Harry wanted it to happen quick before he made another run for it.

But Snape did none of those things. He just stared at Harry, trembling slightly with rage. A few moments passed-and suddenly he slammed the door on Harry's fsce.

Harry stared, breath hitching.

Snape had rejected him, not a word spoken.

And Harry felt his heart break, his blood start to pound in his ears.

"Snape!" He shrieked. He slammed his fist on the door. "Snape! At least hear me out! Snape, please!"

The house was impossible silent.

Harry kept banging the door, feeling too panicked to do anything else. He felt like he was in a dream for some reason, the moment was so intense. He knocked and knocked, feeling tears trickle down his face, shrieking the man's last name until his throat was hoarse. His knuckles began to bleed and bruise and finally Harry fell down in a heap, exhausted.

Harry felt so ashamed to cry but he couldn't help it. He began to sob. He had been rejected by everyone-the Dursleys, Snape...No one would take him, no one.

He didn't know how long he sat there on the doorstep, cradling his bruised fist, sobbing a torrent of tears, feeling so alone he could barely stand it, when the door suddenly opened and Snape looked alarmed at the sight of him.

"What do you think you are doing?" Snape demanded, staring down at him in shock.

Harry tried to speak, embarrassed, but Snape had already grabbed him and yanked him upwards.

"Do you think what I did was unfair? You disappear for days and then you think if you come back I'll just let you in?" Snape demanded.

"N-no," Harry mumbled. "I knew you'd be angry-"

"Oh really? You thought?"

"But I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. And if you let me exp-plain..."

"What has happened to your hand?" Snape snapped, looking angry.

Harry flushed. His hand was still bleeding a little and he suddenly realised he really had done a number on it.

"I have no choice but to bring you inside. But then you're leaving, do you get me?"

Harry stared at him, eyes widened in shock and hurt. "Yes,"

Snape jerked him inside and Harry stumbled a little. Snape led him to the sofa and dumped him down on it.

"Sit still," he ordered. He moved away, towards the shelf. Harry used this time to look around him, at the famailiar house. He felt a deep ache in his chest.

Snape soon returned with a cloth, some acid green liquid in a vial, and a potion. First he made Harry swallow down the potion. Harry shuddered. Suddenly he felt himself calm down impossibly, his sobs and hitched breaths evening out.

"The urge to throw a tantrum gone? That was a Calming Draught. I knew I'd need this when I heard you would have to stay," Snape sneered. He then applied some of the acid green liquid on Harry's bruised hand using the cloth.

It stung, and Harry squirmed, but the wounds were definitely knitting and the blood was clearing up.

"Thank you," Harry said, feeling compelled to say that as the cloth withdrew and he saw his much better hand.

Snape didn't reply. He hesitated and then said, "Well? What are you waiting for? Leave."

"What?" Harry was startled.

"Like I mentioned before, you are not staying here Potter. Leave immediately,"

"But-but I'm sorry!"

"Oh, sorry fixes just about everything, doesn't it?" Harry didn't know why, but a flash of pain went through Snape's eyes when he said that.

"I know I was an idiot for running away, but I feel bad for it now! I won't do it again, I promise. I'll clean the entire house, and-and make your potions..."

"What's gotten into you?" Snape demanded. "You sound like you want to stay,"

Harry considered, freezing. It was true. He really did. "I do want to stay," Harry said. "If you don't mind,"

"I do mind," But now Snape looked curious. "Why would you want to stay here?"

"I don't know. I've got nowhere else to go, alright?"

"You should have thought of that before running away. If you dislike it here, fine by me. You have every right to leave," And Snape grabbed hold of Harry's arm, intending to throw him out the door.

"No!" Harry tried to yank his hand away. His eyes pricked with tears. "But I'm sorry!"

"'Sorry' won't fix matters, or revert them." Snape said, hardening himself. "Potter, do you know how worried I have been? I've been given orders to protect you and there you go- running away for almost three days and turning up suddenly!"

"I was upset..." Harry muttered.

Snape gritted his teeth and sat down on the sofa, beside Harry. "Upset? Upset? Does being upset allow you to run away?"

"Well," Harry said, angrily. "You were a git. But that's usual for me,"

Snape suddenly felt a rush of anger. He lifted his hand and slapped Harry across the face. He didn't know how he could have done it, but he was just so furious.

Harry look gobsmacked. He stared at Snape, looking shocked. A hand went to his red cheek.

"Serves you right," Snape snarled, but he felt sick. "Stop blubbering this instant," He added, seeing Harry blinking back tears.

"You know what, I hate you!" Harry declared.

"That's it," Snape snarled, grabbing Harry and tipping him over his knee. "I've heard enough,"

The man raised his hand and brought it down hard. The boy deserved this for running away.

Harry struggled furiously, but then desisted when he realised that he had had this coming.

He didn't how many smacks he got. All he did know was that each and every one hurt a lot, and were varied. His backside was beginning to ache and he wanted to tell Snape to stop. He was already crying and issuing muffled yells, begging wouldn't hurt, would it?

The smacking was fierce, almost violent. Much worse than his first one. Harry couldn't bear it any more. He was sorry, but he didn't deserve such a long punishment!

"S-stop!" Harry cried. But in vain. He went limp, sobbing.

Almost immediately he felt himself being picked up and held to be steadied.

Harry's glasses had fallen off, and he couldn't see through his tears. He could only hear a rumble of words.

Snape held him tighter, pulling him close. "...That's it, stop crying. You'll be fine, it's over. Calm down, and let's have a talk. Calm down Potter,"

Harry tried his best. He looked up with red eyes, trying his best not to shake. Being pulled up to sit was excruciatingly painful, especially in his current state but Snape pretended not to know.

"Good, calm down," Snape soothed. He looked slightly guilty, if Harry's eyes were not deceiving him.

"Everyone was worried about you," he said slowly, and Harry was surprised that the tone was so gentle. "What kind of shock do you think you must have given, Potter, running away? Have you no sense or are you just stubbornly arrogant?"

"I'm sorry," Harry muttered, eyes on the floor.

There was a long pause. "I forgive you," Snape said. "And you can stay, not because I want you here, but because Dumbledore has asked me to keep you."

Harry's heart leapt, but then deflated. Snape didn't really want him here.

He never did in the first place, he realised.

"Go upstairs and make yourself respectable. Then we will discuss some stringent rules that you will follow. Go," Snape ordered.

Harry was frightened and hesitant but he could do nothing but listen for now. He got up, still tearful, and hurried away.


Ending Notes:- Not my best chapter, but I hope you like it! Review :)