Hello everyone,
This certainly isn't my best work. After how long it was in production, I'm sure you all expected better. I'm hoping to correct this later. I've had a number of issues as of late, resulting poor production on my writing. I do plan on continuing this and the other through to completion.
Chapter 25: Dreadful
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Harry's POV ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What are you going to do?" Ron asked, bit worried for his friend. "Snape is going to kill you!"
Harry shrugged and stuffed the parchment into his bag, "I don't know." To be frank he was nervous enough without his friends making such a big deal out of it.
"You have to tell him," Herminie said, in a know-it-all tone. "Professor Snape will find out."
"I know," Harry said, a touch annoyed with both of them.
"But Harry," Herminie was quick to say, "you're essay was-"
"Dreadful, I know Herminie. I can read. " Harry snapped at her. "And I know Snape said I can't have any bad grades."
"My mum is like that too, but we can't all be Herminie." Ron pipped up, thinking of himself as supportive. In fact, he had been on the receiving end of many lectures concerning his grades before.
"Maybe if you just talk to him…" The girl offered softly. While not entirely supportive of Snape, she still held respect for him as a professor and as Harry's guardian.
"Or you could hide it," Ron suggested, knowing that is exactly what he would do. "I mean it's not like he goes through your bag or anything. Does he?"
"No," Harry said, actually thinking of taking the red head's advice.
"And if he asks, just say we didn't get it back." Ron added, perking up as he saw it as helping his friend. "I've done that dozens of times." Though he forgot about how often that had gotten him into even more trouble.
"No, Harry." Herminie snapped quickly. "You can't do that."
"Why not?" Harry challenged.
"Because, that's lying!" The girl insisted, looking into his green eyes with earnest concern. "Snape would rather you be honest about it, I'm sure."
"Okay, I won't." Harry said, knowing it would only result in a lecture if he didn't tell her that. With Snape as a guardian, he certainly was going to receive more than enough. Maybe.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Severus's POV ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Do you intent to stay for tea today?" Severus asked the when Harry entered. The child did once and even he had to admit that it had been completely unpleasant for him.
Although, they both seemed to keep these visits quit brief. Severus was fine with this really. It interrupted his work less, and Harry seemed to be fine with it as well. Perhaps he should be more warmth and welcoming to the child, but to be quite honest that wasn't his ways and he was not allowing a simple child to change the course of his whole life.
Once the child was seventeen and Voldemort was taken care he'd be rid of Potters. It was only another five years and endless amounts of headaches for him. Likely he'll want to be rid of me as well. It really isn't the best situation.
"Um, no." Harry mumbled out his words, setting his bag on the floor.
"Mh," Severus replied, waiting for the child to realize his mistake. After a moment of the child fishing through his bag it became clear that he was not going to. A lot of work to do with this one. "Mr. Potter, I do believe you have quit the vocal range in which to speak to me at an audible level."
"Oh, sorry." The child replied, this time a bit louder though still clearly distracted.
Severus sighed through his nose; that was the best he could hope for right at the moment. "Have you received any grades back yet?" He knew for a fact that most of Harry's professors had finished the grading process, but not if they handed them to the students yet.
"Um," Harry said, his voice dropping in volume once more. "Not yet. I think I might soon."
"Very well," Severus accepted this answer without another thought on the subject. "How are your classes going? Anything too difficult yet?" With the poor scores he had seen in his class last year, the man would honestly not be all that surprised.
"No-oo," Harry replied, tripping over his very own satchel. Papers, quills, and Merlin knows what else tumbled on out.
Again the man sighed and moved to help the lad. Reaching for a half crumbled piece of paper, the man came to the realization that it an essay. Typically he'd just lightly scold the child for letting his work become so messy, but he paused instead. It wasn't just an old assignment, it was a one with a dreadful grade.
The man straightened up at once, holding the parchment in plain view for Harry. "Mr. Potter, did you really think this was a wise choice?"
"Um-well…" The child fumbled with a slight red blossoming on his cheeks. Spilling his bag was not something he planned.
"I have already informed you that poor marks in your school work will not be tolerated." Severus stated calmly, glancing over the parchment more thoroughly. "As well as lying to me," He looked at the boy sternly.
Harry's eyes widened as the realization dawned on him, which parchment that man had. The already small twelve year old seemed to get even smaller as he shrank back from the professor.
"However, I am willing to forgive the grade," Severus continued, setting the essay aside. He knew that it would take a bit of time working with the child to improve his grades and get him to be among the top students. "You will have to redo the assignment though, and I shall grade it."
"Okay," Harry grumbled, his shoulders' slumped in acceptance of the punishment.
"However," The man followed up quickly, glaring at the impish youngster. "You shall also be spanked for openly lying to me."
"But-" The child started to protest, looking as though he was about to run for it.
"I'm glad to see you have found your voice," Severus comment dryly. "We have discussed the consequences previously." He tapped his wand against a book and muttered a transfiguration spell. "I was under the impression that you understood my expectations." He grabbed the light paddle and glanced at the lad.
"I do sir, really." Harry nervously spoke. "And I'm really sorry. I thought you'd be mad because of my essay." Suddenly, it seemed like the words were just tumbling out of his mouth.
"Be that as it may, you still lie to my face without a second thought." Severus was not allowing the child to wiggle his way out of this one.
The child didn't fight as he was pulled over Snape's lap. This was seen both a blessing and a curse in Severus's mind.
Quickly, he brought the paddle down the on the upturned rump. The boy flinched with the first resounding smack. "As your legal guardian, I expect you to never lie to me."
"But-" Harry mumbled for a moment before swallowing his words.
"There is no reason you should ever lie to me." The professor continued as though he had never interrupted. In some ways he understood the stance the child had, but that was not going to change anything. "If it is to avoid a punishment, I can guarantee you that I will be much harsher when I find out the truth."
The child was crying quite quietly now, that Snape was sure of. Severus was not going to go any easier than he would be on any other child, least Harry expect his future punishments to all be just love pats. At least, that's what he told himself. "Perhaps something is to happen in which your life is in danger, the end of last year is one such example. I will need to be informed of everything."
"Do you understand, Mr. Potter?" Severus asked with an extra hard smack. He was hoping this was the end of the matter.
"Yessss," The boy cried out, sound as though he was actually sorry.
"Very well," Severus righted the child, placing him back onto his feet. Harry looked up at him with surprised red rimmed eyes. He looked quit pitiful with his hair in an unruly mess and tears covering his red face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Harry's POV ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Was that really it?
It still had hurt his rump quite a bit, but nowhere near as bad as when he was with the Dursleys. By his guess, it was going to hurt for only a few hours. The lecture was terrible to sit through though.
"See to it that you tell me the truth from now on," The professor said quiet strictly, waving a finger. "Or else you will not like the consequences."
"Okay," Harry mumbled softly. He was still trying to process how he felt about all of this. That wasn't so bad, I guess.
The man gave him a rather pointed look. Clearly he had forgotten once again. Oops.
"Yes, sir." Harry corrected himself, blushing quite a bit.
"This Saturday at two, I expect to see you for some lessons in basic manners." The man responded standing up. "I want you to begin working on your homework, you may hold off on the essay revision for now."
"Yes, sir." Harry mumbled. Bloody hell!
"If you want," Severus said, almost as an afterthought, "I will check it over before you turn it in."
"Really?" From his understanding the professor already had enough work, especially with his new guardianship duties.
"Yes, really." The man rolled his eyes. "Not one biscuit tonight unless you complete at least one assignment. Understand?"
"Yes," Harry brightened up a bit hearing that. Maybe he isn't too mad at me then.