Author's note: I apologize to anyone who is offended by slash that my story didn't have the warning originally. It was not planned; my stories tend to write themselves. It will not become the new focus of the story; this isn't going into turn into some slash centrific story. The focus will still be on the growing parental role of Severus for Harry and that relationship.

Chapter 14

"Harry" Viktor said warmly.

Before Harry could find any words another voice broke in. "Harry what do you think you're doing?"

Harry pulled away from Viktor and turned to look at Severus. "Severus, I..."

Viktor turned to look at the man. "Professor Snape I swear I was kissing Harry not the other way."

Severus shook his head. "I was not talking Mr Krum about kissing. Harry is aware of why I am angry, aren't you?"

Harry nodded his head. "Yes sir."

Severus glared at him. "I will leave you for a moment to say goodbye to Viktor and then we'll be going to our apartments for a talk."

Viktor watched as he left. "Harry I'm sorry."

Harry turned back to him. "Are you apologizing for kissing me or because you think he's mad about it?"

Viktor was a bit confused and worried. "Both. I don't even know if you like, I mean if you're interested in guys. And then to get you in trouble."

Harry stopped him. "You surprised me that's all. And with Professor Snape, he's angry with me not you. I broke a promise I made to him this morning."

Viktor seemed to relax a bit. "Are you going to be okay? I don't want to get you into too much trouble."

Harry shook his head. "He's worried for my safety with all of the new students around. I promised if I came flying with you I'd stay in a public area for my safety."

Viktor was starting to understand. "Tell him that it was my fault. I pulled you in here to talk and you didn't want to hurt my feelings."

Harry knew it wouldn't work. "No. I was in here before you came. I won't throw you to the wolves even if I thought it might work. I will own up to my mistake."

Viktor still felt bad. "Harry, I know you have to go but I really want you to know I didn't mean to upset you with the kiss. I've just been attracted to you."

Harry felt a slight blush. "I don't know how I feel about it but we need to talk. If Snape doesn't ground me for life, I promise we will talk soon."

Viktor nodded and walked him to the door. When they saw Professor Snape he tried once again to help Harry. "I'm sorry sir. I just want you know I'd never risk him."

Severus sighed. "Mr Krum I am sure my ward never told you he was breaking the rules. Being alone with anyone is a risk to him though and Harry knew better."

Viktor didn't leave. "I'd like to talk to Harry again when you're done having your discussion, if that would be okay with you?"

Severus looked between them. "I think you two probably have a lot to discus. You seem like your trust worthy enough. I'd permit it when he's done being grounded and under certain terms like you're not alone with him where he is at risk."

Viktor smiled and nodded. "I would agree to that sir. I meant what I said, I had no intention of putting him at risk. I'll see you later Harry."

Harry nodded his head. "Yeah, Viktor, I will."

Harry watched as Viktor left and then turned to look at Severus but his guardian said nothing and instead motioned for Harry to follow him. As much as he hated lectures from Severus, he knew when the man was too angry to yell at him, he was really in for it. He'd have been upset but he knew he deserved it.

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Severus watched as Harry went into their sitting room. He was so angry with the boy he wanted to ring his neck. He had allowed Harry to go out flying on the one condition that the boy was not alone with Krum, against his better judgement. To find Harry alone in the dressing rooms with Viktor was too much. He hadn't even really registered what he had walked in on; those questions could be left until later. He wanted to ensure Harry understood this lecture and punishment was about his disobedience and dangerous actions, and nothing to do with the kiss.

"Harry, I let you go on one condition. How hard was it to stay in a public place with Viktor?" Severus snapped.

Harry looked up from his feet. "I'm sorry sir. I hadn't gone with him to the dressing rooms. He followed me in to get away from all of his fans."

Severus shook his head. "So I am to understand there was someone else in the dressing room besides you and Mr Krum when I came in, who I did not see?"

Harry paled. "No sir. Viktor and I were alone in the dressing room before you came in and caught us."

Severus nodded. "So while you were not alone with Viktor, you did worse, you were completely alone in the dressing room. I'm supposed to be happy about that?"

Harry gulped. "No sir. I mean I had to change and I knew that the Gryffindor changing room was safe enough. I'm in there all of the time."

Severus was livid. "With your team, not by yourself. Anyone could have walked in there. You were lucky that it was only me and Mr Krum who found you."

Harry looked back at his feet. "I know Severus and I'm sorry. I had my wand and I knew there were students out just on the field. I didn't think there was much risk."

Severus turned Harry's face to look at him. "You think anyone would have heard you if you were hexed from behind? You could have been there for hours alone."

Harry was struggling to keep calm but was fighting back the tears that were now burning his eyes. "I know. I'm sorry. I was confused about this morning."

Severus smirked. "Confused about this morning? There was something about my instructions about how you were to act if I let you go?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I meant about flying and about Viktor sir. Everyone was talking and I wasn't sure about his, about what he wanted and I was mixed up."

Severus sighed. "Harry you know you can talk to me about this but it will wait until later. For now we will deal with your breaking the rules. If you want to talk after, then we can."

Harry looked up at the man. "Really?"

Severus nodded. "I want you to understand I am angry and punishing you because you broke the rules. It has nothing to do with finding you kissing Viktor."

Harry felt a slight blush even in his fear. "I didn't mean to be, I mean I don't even know if I liked it."

Severus stopped him. "Like I said we can talk about this if you like, later. For now I want to make sure you understand you're being punished not for it."

Harry nodded. "I understand sir."

Severus motioned for him to sit. "You are grounded for the next two weeks. Meals and classes, nothing else. No friends, not even for studying."

Harry sat down as he had started to speak. "Okay sir."

Severus hated saying the next part as it had been a long time since he'd had to do it. "You will also present yourself to me before bed tonight."

Harry had known that was coming. "Can we do it now sir?"

Severus wasn't surprised; Harry had done the same last time. "If you prefer to get it over with right away, you can accompany me to my room now."

Harry didn't speak but simply stood up and walked with Severus into his bedroom where Severus sat on the edge of his bed and motioned for Harry. Harry didn't need to be told to pull down his trousers and his underwear. He did so and found himself pulled over Severus' lap and held tightly into place.

Severus shocked him by accioing a brush. Harry tried to pull away but Severus held tight. "Unfortunately it seems the hand has not been enough to keep you in line."

Harry started to feel panic rising in the thought of the wood brush on his back side, he knew the pain would be worse. "Please no, please I'm sorry."

Severus cut off his please. "No Harry. You know that pleas do not get you out of spankings that you deserve. I hate doing this but I can't have you doing this again."

Harry was quaking before the first blow. "No. Please just with the hand. I promise I'll do better. Please don't use the brush on me."

Severus sighed. "Harry I will be using the brush. This is the second time you've put yourself in serious risk. I need you to understand how dangerous that is."

Harry didn't respond as he had already started to loose the battle with his tears and by the time the brush came down on his backside he was full out crying and had to answer the questions between sobs.

"Why am I doing this Harry?" Severus asked after a minute.

Harry gulped. "Because...I...broke...your...rule...and was alone." Harry's words punctuated by sobs.

Severus felt his resolve slipping but he had to continue. "And why do we have these rules Harry?"

Harry was getting desperate. "Because...I...could get...hurt...and you want...to keep...me safe."

Severus slowed down a bit. "Yes, Harry, I do. I care about you and I don't want to lose you. So what are you going to do?"

Harry had totally lost it by now. "Never...go...out...alone..."

Severus stopped the spanking and as he lay the brush aside he gathered the crying boy into his arms and held him against his chest as Harry sobbed. Harry had never been so upset after any spanking and he knew the brush had added to the fear as well as the pain. He held Harry a moment longer after he stopped crying, before he helped Harry up and dress.

"Please do listen Harry. I meant what I said. I care about you and don't want to see you hurt or worse."

Harry looked up at him with tears still in his eyes. "I know."

As he watched the boy flee from the room he knew finally that Harry was starting to believe it finally. He could see Harry starting to slowly trust him and know that his spankings was out of concern. It was slow but he and Harry were getting there finally.

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Harry didn't go to lunch as he lay crying on his bed. He wasn't sure if it was the spanking that had him so upset or his confusion over the kiss. He had never thought of boys like that before but he had to admit he liked the kiss. It had left him blushing even now when he thought of it.

"You're even more a freak then you're Uncle said you were." Harry muttered to himself a few hours later. "You're a queer and a freak."

He hadn't heard Severus come into the room but Sev spoke up. "No you're not. You are neither of those Harry. And don't let me hear you say that again."

Harry looked up at him. "You don't think I'm sick because I was kissing another boy?"

Severus sunk down onto the bed. "No. Harry I know in the muggle world this is uncommon but for wizards it's not. Men can even get pregnant."

Harry looked up surprised. "Really?"

Severus nodded. "It doesn't matter to me if you're interested in men or women Harry. I only care that you're happy. You're taste in guys I'm not sure about."

Harry felt a bit embarrassed. "I never, I mean I don't even know if I'm interested. I never looked at a guy like that before. Viktor kissed me and now I'm just..."

"Confused?" Severus finished for him. "That's understandable. And Viktor seems a decent guy. I think maybe you should talk to him about the kiss."

Harry nodded. "I promised him I would when I was done being grounded. I think he's really worried he upset me over it."

Severus lay a hand on his arm. "I should have spoken to you earlier but I didn't want you too think you were being spanked because of the kiss."

Harry understood. "I know Severus and you were right, I probably would have. I'm just so confused. I mean it was my first kiss, ever. Not just with a guy."

Severus was a bit uncomfortable but not because of the guy part. He wasn't used to these kinds of talks. "And have you ever thought of kissing any girl?"

Harry blushed a bit. "I was kind of attracted to Cho Chang, the seeker for Ravenclaw you know. I don't know though, I mean she's pretty but I'm not sure."

Severus lay a hand on his arm. "You know it's normal to be confused at this age Harry. I think maybe you should just have it out with Krum and see how you feel."

Harry sighed. "He has so many fans, he'll probably have forgotten the kiss in two weeks and I won't even have to ask him."

Severus shook his head. "This will bother you until you speak to him I'll give you a chance to speak to him tonight after dinner."

Harry was taken aback by that. "Really? I mean I'm grounded sir and I shouldn't be allowed out of that."

Severus knew Harry needed this. "Normally I would agree but it seems necessity needs to win out this time. You can have an hour to speak to him, but here."

Harry was grateful for that. "Thank you for that sir. I guess I need to speak to him sooner or it will bother me."

Severus stood up. "I will be in my lab when he comes. If you wish for someone to speak too when you're finished with him, my door is open."

Harry knew he meant it. "Thank you for that Severus."

Harry watched him leave and sat thinking about the talk he would have that night. He had no idea how to feel. He didn't know if he was interested in Viktor. If he was he wasn't sure where it might go. He wasn't sure how his friends, especially Ron, would react. The only thing he was certain of was he was more confused then he had ever been in his life.