Mellow! What is this magic? An update in the middle of the week? No your eyes don't deceive you. I couldn't leave you guys in suspense forever, so a quicker update. Should still have something to post on Sunday too. Love the concern you all showed last chapter, perhaps this one will really perk your interest. Interestingly enough, this is one of the first scenes I wrote for this story.

Thanks for the reviews:

Lothiriel(don't worry as long as you leave a name), hpfan4evernow, PhoenixGrifyndor, Vividlove, Carlislecullen2420, karisaren, and JWOHPfan

Chapter 12: Quills and Rulers

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Severus's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Have a seat, Mr. Potter, your assignment for today is to write for the duration of your detention is to write an essay. If you behave there will be no need for extra punishment today." Harry inwardly groaned. Just when the potion was wearing off and the pain was coming back. The last think he wanted to do was sit on a hard chair and write.

"Wipe that look off of your face," Severus scolded. "You will write an essay on why roaming the halls unnecessary. Is that clear?"

"But I don't have my quill." Harry mumbled. He didn't tell me I was going to be writing lines.

Severus sighed, "Remember them for tomorrow night, you'll be needing them then as well." The man still levitated a quill and parchment over to him.

"Thanks sir," Harry mumbled.

The next hour was spent with just the sounds of quills scratching and shuffling of papers. Harry kept squirming in his seat though, after having a day of no pain it was hard to get use to the pain in his rear again. How much longer?

"How are your lines going?" Severus asked, once again surprising Harry by coming up behind him.

"F-fine sir," Harry muttered, and his lines were indeed getting done. He doesn't have to do that.

"Very well. I have to go deliver some potions, I'll be back in just a few minutes." Severus gave Harry a stern look. "Do not leave, keep writing and I might just let you off when I return. If you do leave, expect punishment."

"Yes, sir." Harry muttered, feeling a bit of relief that the teacher wouldn't be in the room for a few minutes. I don't go looking for trouble anyways.

If Harry was being perfectly honest with himself, he would admit that what would keep him there was the reminder of what would happen if he wasn't still writing when the teacher returned. And it wasn't just Snape's warning, he was pretty sure that Professor McGonagall still stood as well.

Without another word the man left Harry alone. After only a few more seconds of writing did Harry realize that he could now let his hand rest. Now that Severus wasn't there to remind him that he should be writing. I wonder if I could find that potion from this morning?

Harry knew that if Snape caught him, he would've sentenced himself to his death, but the pain in his backside was terrible and he knew that just one potion would fix that problem. He won't notice if just one is missing right?

The boy snuck into the backroom were supplies were kept for class. Maybe he has one back here. In the very back there was many vials, and thankfully most of them were labeled.

It wasn't hard to find exactly which one that he needed. Turning to head back to the class and finish his detention Harry ran into something. Or rather someone.

Harry's jaw dropped in surprise as his most hated Potions Master was standing right behind him. "Looking for something, Mr. Potter?" Severus hissed.

"I…um." Harry fumbled being caught in the act. He couldn't even think, he never anticipated that this would happen. The vial even slipped from his hand, crashing onto the floor.

Severus didn't even look at his now ruined potion. "Perhaps if you tell me the reason that you have attempted to steal one of my healing potions, I won't chop you up and use you for ingredients." Harry was beginning to fear that Severus's silky voice was going to be the last thing he heard. "I don't believe it is for your bottom, I sent you a potion for that this morning."

"I…It…" Again words seemed to fail Harry. His mind didn't even seem to process that it had been Snape of all people that had given him that potion earlier. The terror of what his teacher was about to do was the only thought he could produce. Why couldn't I just listen?

Severus's eyes glowed, "Fine, then." He dragged the child out of the back room and pulled Harry over his lap after sitting on the nearest chair. Harry was frozen in shock that he had been caught, there was no telling how bad this would be for him.

Snape accioded a ruler, "I warned you, Mr. Potter." He whipped the ruler down onto the overturned bottom.

Harry gasped, he hadn't expected it to hurt so badly. The pain was surprising after his first day without the constant ache in the last two weeks. If only Uncle Vernon didn't spank me before school had started.

"Owww," Harry cried as the ruler smacked his bottom again. I just hope I can hold out, maybe I'll get a healing potion after this is over.

It only took three more spanks to have Harry full out sobbing. The bruises and welts that covered his whole bottom were beginning to hurt ten times as bad as they did when he had first gotten them. Maybe that's why he's spanking me, so that it will hurt me. Just like my relatives.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Severus's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Snape noticed the break in the child immediately. He was sure that the ruler would hurt much more than the few swats with his hand from the other night, but this kind of reaction was unthinkable to the potions master. This was concerning to the teacher.

Harry's shirt rode up a little as Snape landed some lighter smacks to Harry's sitting spots. Dark purple bruises peeked out instead of healthy cream colored skin. Snape stopped at once, worried about where Harry had gotten the bruises. Could they just be from an early practices of Quidditch?

With Harry still sobbing over his lap, he lifted the boy's shirt a bit more. The various colored bruises climbed up the child's back, covering every inch so that there wasn't any normal colored skin to be found. There was no denying that the bruise wasn't there by accident. Great Merlin!

Severus was horrified at the sight. What did Potter do this time? Pulling Harry's shirt back down, Snape quickly set the crying child to his feet. Now I have to tell Albus. He grumbled to himself about informing the headmaster about what has occurred, surely the headmaster would want to know. Abuse is something I can't ignore though.

"Mr. Potter, go to," Severus paused for a second. I can't having sitting because judging by his reaction the bruises go at least down to his bottom. "To the corner, right now." Severus was satisfied with this idea, as the child would still be mildly punished and he would hopefully stay in one place.

Harry pulled off his glasses and tried to wipe the tears away, "Please sir, even Uncle Vernon doesn't make me to something that babyish. He usually leaves me alone after a spanking." Harry didn't mean to whine, but it did seem totally unfair to him. Only after the words left his mouth did Harry stop to think about what his uncle would do to him if he had requested something after a punishment.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, "To the corner now, Mr. Potter." Although, one question echoed in his mind. What kind of guardian is the boy's uncle?

Harry picking up on the stern tone and shuffled over to the nearest corner. His head drooping as he sniffed.

"I will be going to Professor Dom door's office. Do not, move from that spot." Severus had doubts that the boy would disobey now, but if he did he would be thoroughly punished. That is after the boy's bruises and such was taken care of. He refused to harm the boy farther.

A small shrug was all that Snape got in reply. Irritating Brat.