November - Harry, age 10

Harry rested his cheek on his left palm as he reached for a different crayon within the box. Snape was in his office, the door ajar incase either needed each other. The man was busy grading exams and had requested silence so he allowed the child to go into the classroom, sit at one of the desks, and color.

The child raised his head, glancing around the classroom as a bored sigh passed his lips. He loved being at Hogwarts, but he loved it even more when he could explore with other students. Or at least when he was doing something more than just coloring quietly.

Harry pushed himself up from his seat with a hum, moving over to look at the shelves full of potions and ingredients that lined the closest wall. His fingers hovered over the door of the storage cabinet. Just a peek. That wouldn't hurt anyone. The ten year old bit his lip as he opened the door, peering at all the ingredients that were lining the shelves within it.

He held his breath, reaching a hand out to carefully turn a bottle around to examine it better before picking it up. The motion though caused several of the vials next to it to sway.

A lot.

The child jumped back just in time, dropping the vial from his hand as it and several other crashed to the floor and started to mix together.

Harry felt the adrenaline rush through his veins, his body running cold as he dashed back to his desk. He sat down, picking up a crayon and looking over towards the cabinet before towards Snape's office. He was sure his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

Snape was deep in concentration as he read over a seventh year's essay when he heard the loud crash coming from his classroom. The man was on his feet in seconds, racing across his office and through the door.

His eyes fell on the mess of potions. Dozens of small vials shattered on the ground. Potions mixing together in a small pool on the floor. His eyes moved from the mess to his child, who was sitting at the desk where he had left him, a crayon still in his hand.

"What happened?" Snape pulled his wand out as he walked over to his potion cabinet. Waving his wand, he caused the mess to vanish. "Were you over here touching things?"

"Nu uh!" Harry shook his head, holding up his coloring book to show the page he had been working on. "I've been coloring! It just happened." Harry felt his heartbeat increase at his own words.

"It just happened?" Snape raised an eyebrow as he walked towards the desk Harry was sitting at. "Those bottles just randomly fell all on their own?"

"Well I didn't do it. I swear Snape!" Harry gave the man a pleading look. "I've been tryin' to be good!"

Snape held the child's gaze for several long moments before he nodded. He hardly wanted to accuse the boy of anything, especially if he was innocent. His words were not wrong either, he had been trying to be good. It had been some time since he had been in trouble for anything. "I believe you." He nodded once more. "Finish your coloring. I am nearly done my grading and then perhaps I can take you up to visit the Owlery for a bit."

Harry's shoulders remained tensed as he forced a grin up at the man. "Okay." He forced himself to calm down, to relax. Snape believed him. He gave a small hum, releasing a sigh as he looked back down towards his coloring page. "Thanks, Snape."

Snape nodded once more before turning on his heel and heading back into his office to finish his grading.

Nearly thirty minutes later he re-entered his classroom to find Harry still sitting in his seat coloring obediently. "Would you like to go up to the Owlery before we go home? Or would you rather get home to your toys?"

Harry hadn't colored much more of the page when Snape re-entered, closing the book altogether. He lowered his hands to his lap, forcing a slight shrug. "I actually don't feel too great," he admitted softly. "Can we go home?" His stomach felt tangled, making him feel ill. He was sure he had never felt more guilty in all of his life.

Snape walked over to the child, pressing his hand gently to his forehead. "You don't feel warm. What isn't feeling well?" The man hoped the child wasn't getting sick. That was the last thing he wanted.

"My stomach," Harry spoke softly, leaning slightly into the touch as he shifted in his seat.

A frown took over Snape's lips. "Let's get you home. When did it start hurting?" He picked up the coloring book and crayons.

"Not long ago," Harry whispered, standing as he moved over to Snape's side. He leaned against the man, wrapping his arms around himself.

Snape's hand moved to gently rub the boy's back. "Do you think you can floo home or would you rather we stay here tonight?"

"Can we stay here?" He chewed on his bottom lip, remaining against Snape's side as he stared down towards the floor.

"Of course." Snape nodded as he began moving towards the door, bringing Harry with him. "Why don't we get you in some sleep clothes and you can rest for a bit."

Harry kept his gaze towards the floor. Why did he feel so terrible? Snape believed him! He wasn't in any trouble. Yet still, he felt ill and partially hid himself into the man's cloak as they walked.

A moment later the pair walked into their parlor as Snape shut the door behind them. He guided the boy down the hall to his bedroom. Moving over to the wardrobe, Snape pulled out a clean pair of pajamas before moving over to the bed. "Let's get you changed and then if you like you can lie out on the couch." He reached out and gently pulled the boy's sweatshirt off. "I have some work to do in my laboratory while you rest."

Only when he was guided towards his bed did Harry finally look up at Snape, raising his arms so his sweatshirt could be removed. He nodded at the words, allowing the night shirt to be slipped over his head.

Removing his jeans, the child took the pants from Snape and put them on himself. He stepped forward after a moment, wrapping his arms around Snape's neck tightly. There was no way he could keep this from him.

Snape hugged the child tightly for a moment. He had no doubt that the boy was getting sick and he was dreading it. "Go on," he said softly after a moment. "Get your owl and your pillow." Snape stood, pulling the blanket from the bed. "Hopefully lying down and resting will help you feel better."

Picking up the items, Harry frowned as he held his owl tightly to himself with a small nod. He followed Snape out of his room, placing his pillow at the end of the couch. He gave a soft sound as he laid down, pressing his back against the back of the couch as he closed his eyes while holding his owl tightly to his chest.

Snape reached out pressing a gentle hand to the boy's forehead once more, pleased to find that he was still cool. "You don't feel as if you are going to be sick do you?"

"No." Harry shook his head slightly, giving a soft sound as he leaned into Snape's touch. "I just don't feel good."

Snape nodded. "Just lie here and relax for a bit. Unfortunately I need to go work on a few potions to replace the ones that fell. However, I will leave the door to my laboratory open and if you need me just call for me alright?"

"Okay," Harry whispered, holding his owl tighter to his chest at the words. He swallowed heavily as he slowly nodded. He watched as Snape disappeared into his lab, slowly pushing himself up on his elbow after a few moments. Snape had to replace everything that had fallen and it was all his fault. The child felt his shoulders slouch at the thought.

He was in for it.

There was no keeping it from Snape, the guilt alone was making Harry want to sick up. He pushed himself to a sitting position, wrapping his blanket tighter around himself as he stared to the floor in thought. He had to tell Snape.

Snape walked into his laboratory and directly to his supply closet, pulling several ingredients out. The man moved over to his workbench, turning the heat on one of his cauldrons on before he began working.

Luckily the potions he needed to replace were easily made as his mind was on Harry rather than his work. He was sure that at any moment he was going to hear the child calling for him before running to the lavatory. The man sighed softly as he lowered the heat on his cauldron slightly. He instantly made the decision that he would check on the boy in a quarter of an hour and if he wasn't feeling any better he would get a potion in him to try and settle his stomach.

Harry wasn't sure what he was thinking. He was sure he was mental. He had found himself standing, going quietly into the kitchen and opening up the drawer that hid the dreaded wooden spoon. If he was going to tell Snape, he might as well prepare. If he didn't get the spoon now, he was sure his guardian would be sending him for it soon.

Slowly the child made his way towards the laboratory, peering into the room before stepping in completely with a soft sound from his throat. "Snape?" His voice was soft, just above a whisper.

Snape's eyes darted from his work to his child and back to his work for a split second to turn the heat to a simmer. "What are you doing up? Are you going to be sick?" His eyes moved to Harry once more as he quickly made his way over to the ten year old.

Harry had the spoon behind his back and he turned slightly to keep it out of view. "I gotta tell you somethin'," he whispered, looking down to the floor as he continued to gather his thoughts. Tears stung at his eyes, his chin starting to quiver as he looked back up at the man. "I... I lied." Several tears escaped as he blinked, his hands falling to his side, the spoon now in view. "I-I ma-made the stuff f-fall." His free hand rose to his face, rubbing at the tears.

Snape found himself taking a deep breath as he waved a hand causing a chair from across the room to slide across the floor, stopping behind him. He slowly sat down before raising a hand and crooking a finger to the boy.

Harry continued to rub at his face, his shoulders hitching as he slowly took the two steps over to the man. He simply held the wooden spoon out, knowing full well what was to come. "I-I'm sorry!"

Snape took the spoon from the boy, placing it on his knee before he hooked his hands under Harry's arms. He lifted the child up and sat him on his free knee. "Why did you lie?"

"I was s-scared," he admitted softly, resting his head on Snape's shoulder as he was lifted up.

Snape hummed softly at the words. "Scared of what exactly? Being punished?"

"Yeah," Harry whispered softly, staring down towards his lap. It was true. He had originally been terrified of getting in trouble after going for some time being so good.

Snape's brow furrowed as he felt a feeling of dread pool in his stomach. "You were scared of the idea of being in trouble and being punished or of the punishment and me being angry?"

"Of being in trouble. I've been tryin' so hard to be good! I really have!" A hint of a whine entered the child's tone as his shoulders slouched. "I'm sorry. I hate lying to you."

Snape breathed a soft sigh of relief before his hand reached out and gently tapped the boy's chin. "You have been very good for quite some time." He paused for a moment before tapping the small chin once more. "How did my potions fall and break?"

Harry continued to stare down at his lap, despite the taps on his chin. He sniffed, pressing himself closer to Snape's chest. "I was lookin'. And I moved a bottle... an-and they all started to fall."

Snape was silent for a long moment. His hand fell to his lap, his fingertips gently tapping the small knee. "Are you supposed to touch them at all?"

Harry shook his head slowly, his blurred vision moving to Snape's fingers tapping his knee. He sniffed, raising his right hand to rub at his face. "No."

"If you know that then why did you do so?" Snape raised an eyebrow as he waited for the answer.

Harry gave a small shrug, rubbing at his face once more. "I just wanted to see."

Snape shook his head firmly, tapping the small knee a bit more seriously. "We have been here before Harry James. I believe that you know better do you not?"

"Yes sir," the child whispered, his breath hitching as he closed his eyes tightly. "I'm sorry! I like lookin' at all the potions."

"I know that you do. However I believe that every time you do so without permission we end up here don't we?" Snape asked in a knowing tone.

Harry's shoulders slumped down at the words, his chin quivering as he slowly nodded. He looked up at the man, his eyes still blurred with tears with the promise of more falling.

"You know that lying is completely unacceptable little boy. Not only did you lie about breaking the potions, you then went on to lie about feeling sick." Snape's fingertips drummed gently on the small knee.

"No. That wasn't a lie." Harry shook his head at the words once more. "I really did feel sick! I still do," he muttered softly.

Snape hummed knowingly at the argument. "Why do you feel sick Harry? Are you truly sick or is it because you broke a rule, lied, and now you are going to have your backside spanked? Did you catch some sort of illness or is it from guilt?"

The child shifted slightly at the man's words, his gaze flickering towards the spoon before settling on his knee. "Guilt," he whispered.

A soft knowing sound passed Snape's lips before he cleared his throat. "Lying is wrong. You know that. Just as it is wrong to break the rules. I make rules to keep you safe. You could have been hurt quite badly had those potions fell on you today."

"I know," Harry whispered, rubbing at his face. "I hate lying." Harry glanced up at his guardian.

"You obviously know what lying results in." Snape's fingers tapped the knee once more. "Is that backside of yours overdue for some time with the spoon?"

Harry's shoulders hunched over slightly at the words, his head moving to settle his gaze on the spoon. He shook his head no, pressing himself against Snape's front as he wrapped his arms around him. "I won't ever lie to you agaaaain."

"Now I am certain I have heard that promise a time or two before." Snape's hand moved to gently rub the small back. "However if those words had been kept we would not be having this conversation right now."

The child sniffed loudly, rubbing at his cheeks with the back of each hand as he kept his gaze down. "'M sorry."

"I want you to know that I am quite proud of you for coming to me and confessing to your lie." Snape's hand rested on the small of the boy's back. "That was very brave of you."

Harry forced a small smile at the words, tucking his head closer to Snape's neck. "Felt like I was gonna throw up if I didn't tell you."

"That conscience of yours is quite good." Snape rested his chin on top of the boy's head. "You just need to remember that and be truthful."

Harry gave a soft hum as Snape rested his chin down, his arms tightening around the man. "I'm really sorry," he repeated softly.

"I know that you are sorry. However, sorry does not change the fact that you broke a rule and then lied about it." Snape's hand moved to rub the small back once more. Truth be told, the man would have liked to let the child off with just the small scolding that he had given him. He knew it would not do though. Harry knew what to expect for telling an outright lie. So much so that the boy had even retrieved the wooden spoon before confessing. Allowing lying to become acceptable simply because he confessed later would send the wrong message entirely.

"It should help," Harry muttered, loosening his hold around Snape with a soft sigh.

"It does help." Snape nodded as he moved his chin from Harry's head. "Perhaps we should get your spanking over with now."

Harry tensed slightly, swallowing heavily as he stared down to his knees. He knew it was going to happen, he was the one who brought the blasted spoon to him! Still, he gave just a soft whine of complaint before he slowly nodded. "Okay"

"On your feet please," Snape's hand gently patted the boy's back before his free hand moved to pick up the wooden spoon.

Harry slowly stood from his spot, his chin quivering as he rubbed at his face once more. He didn't look up at the man as he picked up the spoon, simply keeping his eyes towards the floor as he stood in front of Snape.

"I want you to know that had you not come to me and confessed. Had I somehow found out about what really happened on my own you would have certainly been introduced to the slipper." Snape reached out and gently tapped the small chin.

Harry's cheeks flushed slightly at the words, slowly nodding. "And... if I had told you first thing?" He slowly looked up, refusing to look towards the spoon as he met his guardian's gaze.

"This spoon could have stayed in the drawer." Snape gave the child a serious look. "Some time in the corner certainly could have been more than enough of a consequence."

Harry sighed heavily at the words, bowing his head back down. "I'm sorry," he whispered once more, a soft whine passing his lips.

Snape took a gentle yet firm hold on the small hand, moving the child to his side. "I know that you are sorry. Thank you for your apology. However, you need to learn that lying will always result in this." The man let go of the child's hand before reaching down and lowering his pajama pants. "Always Harry."

The child gave a gentle whine as he was pulled to the man's side, giving his guardian a dejected stare. "I won't lie again," he promised, shaking his head.

"That would make me very happy," Snape nodded before guiding the child over his lap. He hooked his fingers into the small underpants bringing them down as far as they needed to go before wrapping his left arm tightly around the small body.

Harry gripped at Snape's pant leg as he was tipped over, blinking as several tears fell down to the floor. His breath hitched loudly before he closed his eyes tightly.

Snape sighed softly at the sound of the child's tears before he forced his heart to harden. He raised his right hand and brought it down on the unprotected target. Before the child had a second to react he brought his hand down twice more before falling into a rhythm and landing several smacks in a row.

The child yelped at the first smack, his grip tightening on the man's pant leg as the several more followed. He sobbed loudly, hiding his head into his other arm.

Snape allowed his hand to fall twice more before he picked up the wooden spoon. "When do you intend to lie again?" He raised the spoon bringing it down twice in quick succession.

Harry kicked his legs up as the spoon soon struck its target, another pained yelp escaping. He sobbed hard, his shoulders shaking as he slowly shook his head. "Never! I p-promise!"

Snape allowed the spoon to fall twice more before he cleared his throat. "Do you think that you can manage to behave now?"

"Y-Yess!" Harry sobbed, raising his free hand to rub harshly at his tears. "I promise!" He coughed slightly, his grip on Snape's pant leg loosening slightly.

Snape sighed softly as he looked down at the sleep pants on the floor beside him. He reached back, setting the spoon on his work table before taking hold of Harry's underpants and carefully pulling them back up to their rightful spot. "Deep breaths." His hand moved to softly rub the child's back. "You are okay."

"'M-'m sorrry!" The child coughed a sob as he released Snape's pant leg all together. He raised both hands to rub at his face, though the tears didn't stop.

Snape gently lifted the child, placing him on the ground in front of him. He picked up the sleep pants and put them over his shoulder before standing and lifting Harry into his arms. "Deep breaths. I forgive you." The man moved out of his laboratory and towards the parlor. "You are okay."

Harry's arms wrapped tightly around the man's neck as he sobbed heavily into Snape's cloak. He pressed his face into the cloth, taking in a breath just as instructed before slowly releasing it. He continued the action several times, his breathing continuing to hitch. His cheek rested on Snape's shoulder, closing his eyes.

Snape sat down in his armchair with the child on his lap. Waving a hand he caused a fire to begin burning in the fireplace. "Just calm down a bit and we will talk some more." His hand moved to gently rub Harry's back.

Harry curled up against the man's front, continuing to take several deep breaths. Slowly his shoulders relaxed and he rubbed at the tear stains along his cheeks once more. He spared a glance up at the man, sniffing.

Snape looked down at the child before leaning down and placing a kiss on his forehead. "How is your stomach feeling?"

"S-still hurts a-a little," Harry whispered, taking in another breath as he cleared away the last bit of his tears.

Snape hummed softly. "Do you still feel guilty?" He gave the child a questioning look.

The child fell silent for several moments before slowly nodding. "A little."

"Why is that?" Snape pulled the sleep pants from his shoulder before tapping Harry's knee lightly. "Let's get these on you before you get too cold." The man cleared his throat softly. "Certainly you don't feel as though you were not punished thoroughly enough."

Harry carefully stood from Snape's lap, taking the sleep pants from the man to slip them on with a wince as they went over his bum. "Just... just wish I told you." His shoulders slumped down slightly as he looked down towards the ground.

Snape lifted the child and placed him on his lap once more. "A lesson for the future perhaps?" His hand moved to gently rub the boy's back.

The child rested his head down once one the man's shoulder. "Mhmmm," he agreed softly, shifting one arm to curl around Snape.

Snape moved his head, resting his chin on top of Harry's head. "Is it naptime?"

Harry smiled at the motion, shrugging a shoulder slightly as he leaned up slightly. "Can I stay in here?"

Snape waved a hand causing a large blanket to appear. "I think a nap would do us both some good." He plucked the blanket from the air and draped it over the pair of them before waving his hand once more, causing the child's stuffed owl to move from the couch to his hand.

Smiling widely at the action, Harry took the stuffed animal from the man and nestled himself into Snape's side. He sighed softly, blinking before closing his eyes once more. "Thanks."

Snape leaned back in the chair, bringing Harry with him. "I love you very much. You know that correct?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded, shifting his head as he was pulled back slightly. He raised his hand, rubbing at his eyes once more. "Love you too."

"Sleep." Snape leaned down placing a kiss on the boy's forehead.