April - Harry, age 7

Snape walked down the hallway, stopping at Harry's bedroom door and pushing it all the way open. He moved across the room, sitting on the edge of the boy's bed. His hand reached out and shook the boy gently. "Harry, it is time to get up." He paused for a moment and when the child did not move he tried once more. "Come now Harry. You have school, it is time to get up." The child was not a morning person, especially not when it came to school mornings and Snape silently hoped that today would not be that bad.

Harry whined as be rolled over at Snape's touch, his left hand raising to rub at his eyes. He sniffed loudly - though he certainly didn't sound stuffed up. "I'm siiiiick Snaaaape."The child peered open one eye, looking at his guardian before he whined once more and turned his back towards Snape.

Concern took over Snape's features at the words. "You are sick? What is bothering you?" He sincerely hoped it wasn't anything serious. Perhaps just a little cold and he could give the boy a potion for it and send him on his way.

Harry rolled his head back slightly, pulling his covers tighter around himself. "My stomaaach. Feel my head!" Harry held his breath slightly. He really, really just wanted to spend the day with Snape. Not go to school. He liked his friends at school and he liked to learn but if it was his decision he would rather go to Hogwarts and learn stuff there.

The boy had woken up nearly ten minutes before his guardian had walked into his room. He had rushed out of bed and tried to warm his face next to the light. However, he had heard Snape coming and didn't know if he had done it right!

The child's lower lip pouted out as he looked up at his guardian.

Snape frowned as he reached out and felt the boy's forehead. Concern taking over his face once more as he realized that it did in fact feel a bit warm. "You said that your stomach is bothering you? Do you feel as though you are going to be sick?"

Something wasn't right. Snape knew it. He had learned to read the child like a book. Harry did not appear to look sick. If anything, he looked guilty.

Harry hid his chin under the blanket, almost shrugging before he nodded. "Yeaaah," he whispered, his gaze lowering away from Snape. "Can you stay home with, with meee?" He shifted to turn more towards the man again, rubbing his cheek. "O-or can I come with yooou?"

Snape held the child's gaze for a long moment. He certainly did not sound sick. "If you are ill you cannot come with me." Snape shook his head. He was more convinced than ever that the child was lying. He wouldn't even look him in the eye. "I will be right back," Snape promised. "Let me get you something for your stomach."

The man stood and walked out of Harry's room and to his supply closet. He retrieved a simple potion for a common cold. He knew it wouldn't hurt Harry to take it, even if he wasn't ill. He was curious though at how quickly the child would agree that his stomach felt better after taking it.

A moment later Snape walked back into Harry's room with the small vial in his hand. He sat back down on the edge of the child's bed. "Sit up so you can take this please. It should make your stomach feel better."

Harry released a breath he had been holding when Snape left, placing his own hand on his forehead. He didn't think Snape would believe him. He dropped his hand back under his blanket when Snape came back into his room. At the mere sight of the vial, Harry whined, the words only making it worse. "Noooo! I don't want a pooootion!"

Snape shook his head at the whine. "If you are sick you absolutely need to take this potion. It will help your stomach immensely. Now do as I have asked and sit up and take it please." He gave the boy a serious look. If this child wanted to lie about being ill than Snape had no intention of making it easy on him.

"Snape nooo!" Harry's stomach churned at the thought, pushing himself up slowly and pressing his back against the headboard. He held his owl tightly to his chest as he rose to his knees. Still, Harry couldn't meet the man's gaze.

Snape nodded as he stood, "Okay."

He moved over to Harry's wardrobe removing a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans before he pulled clean underwear and a pair of socks from a drawer.

Snape walked back across the room, stopping next to Harry's bed. He easily picked the boy up and set him on the floor before sitting back down on the edge of the bed. "Let's get you dressed. Sleep pants off please."

"Whhhy?" Harry hadn't protested the move much, not that he could have prevented it. But he eyed all the clothes. He couldn't help but feel that Snape's sudden dismissal of the potion couldn't mean anything good. "No, 'm stayin' home." He backed away two small steps. "I'm siiiick! I'm not goin' to school."

Snape raised an eyebrow at the antics. "I do not recall saying that you were going to school. Now sleep pants off please before I do so for you." He paused as he picked up the small pair of jeans from the bed next to him. "You are far too old for me to dress you."

Harry took another step back, rubbing his eyes. "But.. but then where are we goin'?" He didn't like this. This wasn't how the day was supposed to go!

Snape reached out and took hold of the child's arm pulling him back to stand right in front of him.

A moment later he took hold of his pajama pants and pulled them down. "Step out of these please," he requested trying his hardest to appear nonchalant in his actions. "If you are sick and refuse to take a potion then we need to take you to see the doctor." He reached out and placed his hand on the child's forehead once more. "Strangely you do not feel nearly as warm as you did a moment ago. I will have to remember to mention that to the doctor."

Harry's lower lips quivered at the actions, shaking his head. He made no movement to step away from his pajama pants. His eyes lowered to settle on Snape's knee, tears welling up and blurring his vision. "I don't needa go to the doctor."

Snape sighed softly at the words. "I know that you do not enjoy the doctor but if you are sick then you absolutely must see him. I will stay with you the entire time. Now please do as I have asked and step out of your sleep pants so we can go and get back. I want you back in bed."

Several tears fell as Harry slowly stepped out of the pants, his hands raising to rub at his eyes. His breath hitched slightly. "Nooo, I'm not goin' to the doctor!" He took a step backwards.

"Harry," Snape said sternly as he held out the jeans for the child to step into. "You are sick and when you are sick you see a doctor." Snape once more reached out and took hold on the boy, pulling him towards him. In one quick motion, he sat him on his knee and attempted to pull the jeans onto the boys legs.

"No!" Tears fell freely as he tried to shift away from the man, whining as he pressed his head into Snape's shoulder. He moved his legs quickly effectively making it impossible for the man to get the pants on him. "I DON'T need to go!"

"Harry, I am not going to continue to argue with you." Snape's words were stern as he reached out a finger and firmly tapped the boy's knee. "You are sick and you need to see a doctor. That is the end of it. Now please cooperate with me so we can get your pants on."

Harry sniffed, moving his head away slightly to rub at his face. "Snaape." He lowered his head slightly, a guilty look crossing his face as he whined softly.

"Unless of course you are not sick at all?" Snape questioned knowingly as he leaned forward in an attempt to see the child's face.

Harry kept his gaze down, refusing to look up at the man. Nor did he reply, only giving a small shrug of his shoulders.

"If you cannot answer my question then I will assume that you are in fact quite ill and we can go to the doctors regardless of whether you cooperate and put your pants on or not," Snape's voice was stern as he firmly tapped the boy's knee once more. "I have little issue with carrying you there just as you are, in your sleep top and underpants." He certainly didn't attend on doing anything of the sort but then, he knew Harry well enough to know that he would not have to.

"'m not," Harry admitted softly, keeping his head lowered as spoke. Snape could always find the truth. Or maybe he was just bad at lying to the man. But he wasn't going to go to the doctors! Harry raised both his hands, rubbing at his eyes rough as tears continued to cling at his lashes.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. "You lied about being ill? Why would you do such a thing?" He was sure the child was close to tears if not crying already.

The child sniffed loudly, a few tears falling and running down his cheeks. "I-I just... just di- didn't wanna go. I wa- wanna stay wi- with yooou todaaay," Harry whined softly, slowly looking up at the man.

Snape shook his head at the words. "Lying is not okay young man. Not only are you going to school today, you are going to go there with a sore backside. You cannot lie about being sick Harry."

Harry pushed himself off Snape's leg, backing away a few steps as he sobbed softly. "No! I ju- just wanted to sp- spend the day at Hog- Hogwarts!"

Snape placed the boys jeans next to him on the bed before he reached out and gently grabbed the child, once more bringing him back to him. The moment that Harry was close enough his free hand reached around and landed a stinging smack to the small underwear clad backside. "I do not care what you wanted to do. You do not lie to me."

The child yelped at the smack, leaning into Snape's front as he went up on his toes whining a loud, "Dooont" into his front.

Snape shook his head firmly before landing a second scorching smack to the child's rear end. "When you lie your backside pays the price and you know it!"

Harry yelped once more as tears streamed down his face. He tried to move away from the man again. "Stop! I'm sorry!" His right hand reached around, covering as much of his bum as he could. "Do-don't sp-spaaaank me!"

Snape's left hand grabbed hold of Harry's right and moved it out of the way, keeping a firm hold on it. "Do not tell me to stop!" He scolded him as he landed a third hard stinging smack to the small rear end. "When you lie you will be punished Harry. I suspect that now you are wishing you would have cooperated and put your pants on."

"Please st- stooop!" Harry sobbed, attempting to shift his body away from the smacks. He went up on his toes once more, anticipating another smack as he pushed his face into his guardians cloak. "I'm sorry Snape... 'm soorry." The man was certainly right though, he should have listened and put his jeans on.

Snape landed one more swat to the squirming child's rear end before pulling the child off of his chest. He reached out and taking off Harry's sleep shirt. "Let's get you dressed for school. You still need to eat breakfast and you are now running late."

This time, Harry stopped struggling, though he voiced his protests. "Can't I just stay home? Please? Just today!" His lower lip quivered as he shifted in front of the man. "Please?" He repeated once more.

"Absolutely not," Snape shook his head. "Not after you lied." He picked up the sweatshirt and pulled it over the child's head, helping the boy get his arms through the holes. "Lying will never get what you want Harry. You are going to school today."

"Pleeease Snape?" Harry stomped a foot as he gave the man a pleading look. "I'm really sorry!" He rubbed the sleeve of his shirt under his eyes.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the foot stomp. "My answer is no Harry and that is not going to change. Now control that temper of yours. I do not care that I have already smacked your backside. If you start up with a tantrum I promise you that you will go over my knee." He paused as he gave the child a stern look. "Now let's finish getting dressed please."

Harry's fight died at those words, lowering his gaze to the floor. He sniffed heavily, rubbing his cheeks. "'M sorry," he muttered softly as his tears started to die down.

"What are we apologizing for?" Snape questioned as he reached out and placed a finger under the child's chin, gently pushing his head up until Harry's gaze met his. "Lying about being sick? Refusing to cooperate and get ready? That foot stomp I just witnessed?"

Harry's cheeks flushed slightly at the words, his gaze being forced up to meet Snape's. "I guess all of it," he muttered softly wiping the remaining tears from his cheeks.

Snape hummed softly at the words. At least the child knew enough to feel guilty for his actions. "Okay." Snape's finger remained under the child's chin, his eyes locking with Harry's. "Now finish getting ready so you can go eat breakfast please." His finger tapped the boy's chin lightly before allowing his finger to move.

Harry moved his head after his chin was released, sniffing as he did he was told. The last thing he wanted was to test the man. He wouldn't put it past Snape sending him to school with a bum more sore than it already was.

"Thank you," Snape nodded once the child was properly dressed. "Shoes and glasses on and then come to the kitchen for breakfast."

Snape stood and walked out of the room and down the hall. He sat at the kitchen table going over the events of the morning. He felt horrible about sending the child to school in such a state but he was hardly about to allow him to stay home after such misbehavior either.


Harry watched Snape leave, his chin shaking just slightly. Now the day was even worse. Not only was his lie found out. Snape upset at him and he was being sent to school upset as well. After putting on his shoes and glasses, Harry slowly made his way to the kitchen. "I'm not hungry."

Snape raised a hand, crooking a finger to the child. "Come here." He pushed himself away from the table, turning his body in the chair to face Harry.

Harry sighed softly at the words, moving over to the man. He stood a step away, giving a pitiful look.

Snape reached out and gently took hold on the boy's arm pulling him the last step of the way to him. "I know you are upset however, you cannot go to school with an empty stomach."

Harry sniffed as he was pulled closer, his gaze lowering at the words. "But I don't want anything. I wanna stay with you. I wanna go to Hogwarts."

Snape frowned at the words as he once more put a gentle finger under Harry's chin, forcing his head and gaze up. "One day you will stay at Hogwarts all day and be a student there but until then you have to go to elementary school."

A dejected look crossed the child's face, his lip pouting out. "But that's forever away!" He stomped his foot, though it was clearly because he was frustrated.

Snape glanced down at the foot that had stomped before slowly looking back up to Harry with disapproval. "I am sorry but I do not make the rules. Children need to go to school."

"It's dumb," he muttered softly, rubbing his cheek as he looked up to Snape. "Can't I just spend today there? Pleaaase?"

"You already know the answer to that." Snape lowered his finger that was holding up the boy's chin.

Harry whined softly, moving forward to wrap his arms around the man's middle. "It's not faaair."

"Unfortunately life is not always fair," Snape replied as he wrapped his arms around the child for a moment before lifting him up onto his lap. "However I would not be doing a proper job as your guardian if I allowed you to stay home today."

Harry's readjusted his arms to only one was wrapped around the side of Snape as he was placed on his lap. His head rested on the man's shoulder as he sniffed. "Yeah-huh."

Snape shook his head. "School is important and you cannot miss it when there is absolutely nothing wrong with you."

"Can-can I come to hogwarts soon though?" He kept his cheek on Snape's shoulder, his eyes raising up to him.

"You know that you must be eleven to be a student." Snape's hand gently rubbed the boy's knee. "Am I misunderstanding the question?"

"I want to come visit again," Harry clarified, rubbing his eyes once more. "When you are teaching. Please."

"You want to spend time in my classroom? In the castle?" Snape questioned.

Harry sat up at that, nodding eagerly. "Yeah!"

Snape nodded in understanding. "I can certainly understand the eagerness to spend time at Hogwarts however, lying about being sick is not the correct way to go about it." He paused giving the boy a serious look. "That had better never happen again Harry."

A guilty look crossed the boys face, lowering his gaze back down. "It won't," he promised softly. "'M sorry."

For the third time that morning, Snape placed a gentle finger under the boy's chin, slowly lifting his head back up. "Do we need to discuss what will happen should you lie about something so serious again?"

Harry closed his eyes as he shook his head against Snape's hold. "No. I promise."

"Good." Snape's finger moved from under the boy's chin. "Now I need you to eat your breakfast so that we may get you to school please."

Harry frowned as he slid off Snape's lap, moving to the chair next to the man. "Can I still come visit another day?"

Snape was silent for a moment as he tapped the table lightly causing Harry's breakfast to appear. "I will make a deal with you. If I see excellent behavior for the next few days then next Friday, when you have the day off from school, I will allow you to come to Hogwarts for the day and sit in on my classes."

The child's face brightened instantly at the words, sitting up straighter. "Really? I promise Snape!" He quickly assured the man, his grin never fading for a second.

Snape nodded. "That means going to school without argument and behaving while you are there. It means no tantrums until then as well."

"I promise!" Harry repeated once more, starting to eat his breakfast with his grin still on his face.

"Good," Snape nodded as he watched the child eat his breakfast.

It only took a few minutes before the child ate most of his meal, pushing his plate away. "M'kay." His smile still hadn't faded as he stood, going over to get his book bag. "I swear Snape! I'm going to be perfect!"

"Just see to it that you keep yourself out of trouble." Snape eyed the boy carefully as he stood. "Go get your jacket."

Harry placed his bag down before he went to go get his jacket. The child struggled to put it on, stepping over to Snape with a soft whine for help.

Snape took the jacket from the boy holding it up so that he could easily get it on. "Use your words when you need help," he reminded him gently. "Are you sure you have everything?"

"Thanks." Harry moved back to his bag. "Yep," he nodded as he walked back over to Snape, rubbing his eyes under his glasses with a yawn.

"Be sure to listen to your teacher today," Snape reminded the boy as he walked towards the front door. "Pay attention and learn something."

"I wiiiiiill," Harry whined the word slightly, falling a few steps behind the man.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the whine but refrained from commenting on it as he held open the door waiting for the child to walk out.

Harry walked out, waiting for the man to be at his side once again before he started to walk again. "I can't wait 'till I'm eleven."

"It will likely be here before you know it." Snape walked next to the child. "You shouldn't wish your childhood away."

"I wanna grow up though!" The child grinned, leaning into Snape's side as they walked.

"And one day when you are all grown you will likely wish that you were a child again." Snape leaned down slightly to grab the child's hand as they approached a street that they needed to cross.

Harry gripped the man's hand tightly as he was led across the street after a moment of pausing. "Do you?"

Snape pondered the question for a moment as they stepped onto the sidewalk once more. "I suppose at times. Being an adult can be stressful."

"But you can do whatever you want!" Harry grinned at the thought. "That's gotta be fun!"

"It's a thrill every moment," Snape replied sarcastically as they approached the school. "You are going to have a good day today. Correct?"

"Yeah," Harry sighed, looking up to the school. It certainly didn't compare to Hogwarts. "I will."

Snape nodded. "I will meet you here at the end of the day," he promised as he placed a gentle hand on the child's shoulder.

Harry nodded, wrapping his arms around the man's middle in a tight hug before he went ahead. "Bye!" He called behind him, rushing up to the school building. The faster the week could go by, the faster he could go visit Hogwarts!

Snape returned the hug, patting the child's back lightly. "Have a good day!" He called as Harry ran off.