Mellow! Well this is part of my countdown until Christmas, 9 more days. Getting farther with this story, but it's slow going, sorry folks.

Thanks for the reviews:
Anakin-Jason-Skywalker-Kenobi, Guest (leave a name next time please! But yes he kind of is) IsaacRules25, and lilyflower101 (not sure XD leave suggestions if you have them)

Chapter 21: Rules and Consequences

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Harry's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As it turned out, it took about an hour for the professor to even become able to stand again. No one had thought that it would taken so long, but Harry wasn't sent back to class still, in fact, he was told to work on some homework while they waited for the spell to wear off.

"It seems like you two will have much to talk about," Albus said cheerfully as soon as Severus declared that he was well enough. "Severus wouldn't your chambers be better than my stuffy old office."

"I suppose headmaster," Severus grumbled, clearly not the happiest. "Come with me, Potter."

Am I walking to my doom? Harry wasn't so sure about this all know.

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

The man's hand shook a bit, however he had a job to do. "I'm sure you're unfamiliar with the spell that was just used." He said as they started down the corridor. "How familiar are you will an unbreakable vow?" He had noticed the child's confusion earlier and wondered just how much Harry understood of it all.

"Never heard of it," Harry replied he paused a moment and added quietly. "sir."

Severus ignored his slip up for the time being, and continued in his teaching. "As the name suggest, the vow simply can't be broken."

"As in it's impossible for the person to do it?" Harry interrupted with a question.

"No, the effects are much more grave than that." Severus said briskly, "If either person breaks their portion of the contract they will die."

The child's eyes bulged out with this new information and he squeaked out, "Really?"

"Yes, it's one of the most serious spells." Severus said wanting to firmly grind into that head that under no circumstances should he enter any until he is of age. "Do not even think of making one."

Harry shook his head quickly, "I wasn't!"

"Hm," Severus certainly wasn't going to believe that knowing both the nature of the boy and his father. "It was most commonly used in olds times as part of wedding vows." Harry's face twisted up in a thought with that, the teacher wasn't even going to go there. "There are variations of this however, such as the one we used today. It was created by a mother who was seeking safety for her child from an older wizard. In this vow one party member has absolutely no responsibilities and therefore bares the least amount of pain."

Harry stared at his feet, clearly think about something. Severus only hoped that he hadn't wasted his breathe explaining.

"So is that why I was fine?" The child had easily been about to pick out his roll in it.

Perhaps he does have a brain, now if he listened in potions that would be lovely. "Yes, you should've felt a mild burn at the beginning."

The child nodded in understanding, "What you? You didn't use a potion."

"They don't work," Severus replied smoothly. "The one taking the burden must carry the pain until it subsides as a reminder." In fact he would be feeling the effects for at least the next week.

"Oh," Harry said quietly.

Severus hissed the password to his chambers located in a corner of a wall where students, even Slytherins, rarely pasted by. The stones slide out of place and allowed entrance for the two.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Harry's POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Wow, his place is actually kind of nice. Harry was at the very least a little shocked at the rather cozy looking room before him. It was a delicate looking living room with a bookcase filled behind the couch and recliner. In front of the couch sat a normal looking coffee table with biscuits and tea sitting.

Severus sighed, "It appears that the headmaster had sent house elves ahead of us."

That explains the snacks and tea. Harry took a seat and peered around himself taking in more thinking of how this differed from the man's office.

"Now so I don't hear any of your excuses, we shall go over what I expect from you." Severus stared in droning teacher voice. "Your grades must remain adequate, neither of your parents were dunderheads and I suspect neither are you." Harry blushed, knowing him grades weren't what they should be. "You are to come see me every week just to check in, however if you have the desirer to come more often you may." Harry wasn't so sure about that, but at least the man wasn't snapping at him or asked anything unreasonable yet. "You are to obey all the school rules, no more night wandering or going into forbidden areas. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Harry mumbled and squirmed. He'd been told not to do that stuff, but no one really seemed to stress it that much.

"You are not going to lie to me when I ask you something either. And I will not put up with an attitude coming from you. Believe me, being head of the Slytherin house has given me more than enough to deal with." Severus added, "I don't care about foolish bravery as I am not from Gryffindor. No risking your life because you hadn't told an adult about some information that you may have received."

"But everyone just tells me to not worry!" Harry protested this quickly. He didn't like being treated like a complete child that understood nothing.

Severus sighed, "Ever think that perhaps it was because we have this taken care of and want to keep you safe."

Harry disagreed, after all he had face the most evil wizard without any help from older wizards and lived. He was the boy-who-lived and all, didn't that mean anything?

"And don't think that there won't be consequences if you disobey." Severus said finding that it would be a losing battle to fight with the child over the previous issue. "I want no interruptions or complains of it being unfair until after I am finished."

Harry nodded, he figured that nasty old Snape would have some pretty terrible for him. It can't be as bad as Uncle Vernon. The child shivered involuntarily at the memory.

"As you already know, I do believe in corporal punishment." Severus ignored the blush that rose on Harry's checks. "That does not mean that I will abuse you. That beginning said, there will be a few more rules to go over if you receive a spanking, we'll take care of that when it comes to it." Is he serious about there being more rules?

"Also, I will use my right as your guardian, even if it is temporarily, to ground you or make your broom stay firmly planted on the ground." Is he saying that he can make it so that I cant play Quidditch or fly? "I wouldn't to that unless I have to though." His voice carried a clear warning.

"As I have hopefully made clear, I do not accept lying or attitude. That can and will be taken care of with a bar of soap." A bar of soap?

"Now since I am your Potions teacher still, I may assign you detention or deduct points for school related things. But writing essays or lines I will assign for either school or as your guardian." It seemed like only then did the man take a breathe. "Is everything clear?"

"Um, sir what about…" Harry trailed off and looked at the ground.

"About what Potter?" Snape snapped.

"About missing meals." Harry quietly said. He doubted that Severus would take it to the severity of what his uncle did, but still.

"I believe you are insulting my intelligence, Mr. Potter. I can think of many more creative punishments. If you really want to though, I can make it a rule that you're not to ever skip a meal. If it so suits you, I'll even have it that you will be punished severally if you do."

Harry frowned. Is this Snape's way of saying that skipping meals won't be a punishment?