October - Harry, age 8
Snape sat in his office surrounded by work. He was thankful that he had found time to complete some grading. Harry had a long weekend off from school and the child was spending his time off at the castle with him.
The boy had been going through a phase of wanting independence, claiming that he did not need help with anything. Several times already over the weekend he had been scolded or sent to the corner for ignoring small rules and it was only Saturday. The child was quick to insist that he could do things despite knowing that they were not allowed. He was also constantly complaining, sometimes quite loudly, that he did not need help with anything.
Earlier that morning two sixth year students had asked to take the child outside to play and Harry had practically begged to go. Although doing so still made Snape slightly nervous, he had granted his permission reminding Harry quite sternly to behave.
The man made several marks on the exam that he was working on before his eyes moved to the clock. He was pleased to see that he still had another hour before his child would be returning. Plenty of time to complete his task.
Harry stared out at the lake, the two student leaning against a tree nearby as they played a game of Exploding Snap. They had, of course, invited the child to play but he quickly declined so he could go towards the water.
One had warned him to stay just at the shore line, with a playful threat that if he went to far in, the merpeople would grab him. It was a joke, clearly, but Harry couldn't help but question if the merpeople were real.
"Of course," the other student answered, grinning. "They say you can hear them sing sometimes. We haven't heard that though. But some have!"
That had only sparked the child's curiosity.
Harry looked back at the two who sat in the shade, clearly focused on their game. He glanced back to the gentle waves before kicking off his shoes and taking a few steps into the water.
He would hear them- no, he would see them!
He was nearly up to his chest in water before a hand grabbed him and lifted him up quickly out of the water with a loud, "Harry!"
"Hey!" Harry shouted, struggling in the grip of the teenager before he was placed on the ground. "I wanna see the merpeople!"
"Well I don't think Professor Snape would like that!" He stated as he looked to his friend, the female student sighing heavily as Harry was brought to shore.
"I think we should take you back in... you're soaked, Harry." She reached down, taking hold of Harry's hand before the child yanked it away.
"No! I don't want to go in! I'm fine!" His arms folded over himself, staring down to the grass.
She sighed, picked up Harry's shoes before placing them in front of the child. "C'mon put on your shoes."
Harry simply shook his head, remaining still.
She grimaced, looking at her classmate who only shrugged his shoulders. "We could get Professor Snape so he can come get him..."
"No!" Came the loud protest from Harry who looked up at the pair. "I can go myself!"
The two nodded, the girl resting her hand on the back of Harry's shoulders as she once more motioned to the shoes. "Put them on so your feet don't get all dirty."
Harry's lower lip stuck out as he slipped them on, slowly walking back to the castle with the two trailing a step behind him.
As they entered the castle, Harry shivered, his arms tightening around himself as he was guided down the stairs towards the dungeons.
Snape's concentration was focused completely on his work. The man was absolutely determined to finish grading the second year's exams in the next thirty minutes before Harry returned.
He was pleased that the child had been outside for as long as he had, both because it meant he was clearly behaving having not been brought back and because it would likely wear him out causing a nap to be inevitable.
In the recent weeks the eight year old had begun arguing against taking naps claiming that he no longer needed them. Snape had allowed Harry to go without them on occasion but there were still days where exhaustion was clear on his face and Snape insisted that the child lie down and rest. The man had to admit that eight was likely a bit old for napping however he also knew that not every child was the same.
His eyes remained on his work as he heard footsteps in the hall. He was sure it was a group of Slytherins likely headed outside to enjoy the fall weather.
The three approached Snape's office, the girl taking in a breath as she knocked on the man's door. She looked down to Harry, whose arms were folded over his chest as he stared down to the cobbled floor of the dungeons.
A sigh escaped Snape's lips at the knock, frustrated by the distraction. He sincerely hoped it was a student with a simple question and no one that would take up too much time.
With a wave of his hand he caused his office door to swing open, immediately standing as he saw his child and the two students step into the room. "What is this? He is soaking wet." The man could hardly help the sternness of his tone.
The female cringed just slightly at the tone, her gaze settling on Harry who still had his arms crossed. "Well... you see, Sir. He-ah, he tried to go find the merpeople... within the lake. We-we got him before he went too far in!" She added, looking up to her Professor.
Snape's eyes narrowed in on the child for a long moment. Harry knew far better than to go anywhere near the lake let alone into it.
His eyes moved back up to his students. "How was he able to go into the lake in the first place? Were you not paying attention to him?" Once again, the man's voice was stern.
"I..." Her voice faded and she glanced to her friend, who only gave a forced smile before glancing away. "We told him to stay away from the water."
Harry, for his part, only tightened his hold around himself as he gave a shiver.
Snape's lips set in a tight line. "If you cannot handle watching him, in the future do not ask me to spend time with him," Snape's voice was firm. "The only reason I am not taking House points from each of you is due to the fact that you saved him from the lake before anything tragic happened."
The pair visibly relaxed as Harry only released a small huff of a breath. "Thanks, Sir."
Harry raised a hand, rubbing at his face before folding his arms back together.
"The two of you may excuse yourselves and find something productive to do with your time." As the last word left Snape's mouth he looked down at his child once more, his eyes glaring at the boy.
The pair quickly dipped out of the office, the door closing firmly behind them.
Harry refused to look up despite his shivering. His small knuckles were white from the grip he had on himself, shifting slightly as he felt Snape's gaze on him.
Snape reached out taking a firm grip on the boys arm as he opened the door once more. "We are going to get you into a nice warm bath and then I think that you and I need to have quite the discussion about your misbehavior little boy." The man stepped into the hall, bringing the child with him as he shut his office door firmly behind them.
"Noo!" Harry instantly tried to pull away from Snape's grip, keeping his arms folded the best he could. He glared up to the man defiantly as he released a whine. "I just wanted to see the merpeople! I didn't do nothing wrong!"
Snape ignored the words altogether as he waved his free hand causing the door to their quarters to open. The moment that they crossed the threshold into their own parlor, Snape closed the door behind them and then landed a hard swat to the soaking wet backside with his free hand. "You are not allowed anywhere near that lake and you know it young man!"
"Ow!" Harry yelped as he moved in an attempt to get his bottom out of target range. "It's just some water!" He continued to glare up to the man, shivering as he did so.
Snape led the boy down the hall resisting every urge to land half a dozen more smacks to his disobedient rear end. "We have discussed this Harry James. The lake is dangerous! Suppose something would have pulled you under? You could have drowned out there!"
Harry stepped into the bathroom, by now shivering constantly as he stared down to the floor. "I was f-fine," he muttered, once more trying to move his arm out of Snape's hold.
Snape waved his free hand causing the bathtub to begin filling before he finally released his grip on the child. "Get undressed and into the bath."
Harry's chin quivered, eyes filling with unshed tears as he looked towards the tub. He could tell it was warm, and it even sounded perfect. With a small sniff, he started to undress from the soaked clothes and tossed them all into a pile together. Carefully, he dipped into the warm water and submerged himself up to his shoulders.
"Wash your hair," Snape instructed. "I am going to go fetch you clean pajamas." The man gave the child a stern look before walking out of the bathroom and down the hall to Harry's room.
The child sniffed once more, looking down to the water as he shivered within the warm water. Slowly, he laid back within the water to wet his hair fully before sitting back up.
"I didn't do nothin' wrong," Harry whispered, looking towards the shampoo before picking it up. "It's not fair."
Snape reappeared a moment later placing the clean clothing on the counter. "I want you to wash your hair and then get yourself dried off and dressed. When you are done you may come speak to me in the parlor."
Harry looked up as Smape entered, a soft, "Fine," passing his lips as he turned his attention back to the bottle of shampoo.
His eyes shifted to the door slightly as it closed before he focused on washing his hair. He would just take his time! Snape didn't say he had to get down there immediately.
Snape walked down the hall to the parlor feeling his frustration and disappointment in the child build up. Harry had been coming to Hogwarts with him for over two years now. He undoubtedly knew exactly where he was allowed to be and what was off limits to him. Snape had told the boy countless times to stay away from the lake. The number of creatures in there that could hurt him were vast.
The man sighed loudly as he sat down in his armchair. He had hoped that some time with the older children would improve Harry's behavior but that did not seem to be the case at all.
It was near half an hour later before the child slowly stepped down into the parlor, his arms refolding over his chest as he stared down to the floor. He moved further into the room, his shoulder hunching up as he did so.
"I was fine," Harry muttered, pausing a few steps away from the man.
Snape set the book down that he had been reading on the table beside him before crooking a finger to the child. "Refresh my memory little boy, are you allowed near the lake?"
Harry shifted in his spot for a moment before slowly stepping closer to the man. "No- but it was fine!"
Snape raised an eyebrow at the response as he reached out and took a gentle hold of the child pulling him to the spot between his knees. "Then certainly you are not allowed in the lake are you?"
The child kept his arms crossed, allowing himself to be pulled closer as he stared down at the ground. He only offered a shrug at the words.
"You do not know the answer to my question?" Snape's hand moved to reach around the boy and firmly tap his backside.
"Dooon't!" Harry shifted away, keeping his eyes to the floor as he tightened his hold around himself. "No... 'm not," he finally muttered.
"You will be lucky if I don't take a wooden spoon to that backside of yours." Snape tapped the small rear end firmly once more. "What were you thinking going into the lake?"
"They said there's merpeople in the lake! And I wanted to see them." He finally looked up to Snape, his lower lip pouting out once more.
"There are merpeople in that lake and had one of them gotten to you they likely would have drug you to the bottom of the lake." Snape's tone was stern as he narrowed his eyes on the boy. "Have I not explained to you multiple times that the lake is dangerous?"
"It's not that bad." Harry shifted uncomfortably as he looked back down to the floor. Still, his arms remained crossed as he tried to remain defiant on the whole situation.
Snape's hand tapped the boys backside once more, much firmer this time. "Who makes the rules young man, you or I?"
"Stooop," Harry whined loudly as he attempted to step away from the man and to move his bottom out of reach. He stomped his foot, his arms finally unfolding to rest behind his back to block his rear.
"Do not tell me to stop or stomp that foot of yours as me. You blatantly disobeyed the rules Harry James!" The man reached out and pulled the child the step back to him. "You could have died out in that lake today!"
Finally, tears welled within the child's eyes as he was pulled closer once more. He sniffed, raising a hand to rub at his face under his glasses. "N-nuh uh."
"You absolutely could have!" Snape forced himself to ignore the tears in the boys eyes. "The giant squid could have wrapped around your leg and caused you to drown. The merpeople you were so curious about could have easily pulled you under the water as well. Any number of creatures in that lake would think very little of killing a child." His hand once more reached around the child and firmly tapped his rear end.
The tears finally fell down his cheeks, Harry's breath hitching as he tried his best to keep his emotions in check. The child clearly failed as a hard sob passed his lips at the tap on his bottom.
"I-I wasn't th-that far!" He hiccuped, staring at the man with his blurred vision.
"You were soaking wet up to your waist." Snape swallowed hard willing himself to remain stern with the eight year old. "Furthermore I do not care if you were only in there up to your ankles. You were told to stay away from the lake."
Harry took in a shuddering breath, staring at Snape as several more tears continued to fall down his cheeks and to his chin. He hated the tone his guardian had, and he hated that he was unable to keep his own stubbornness up!
"I happen to think that for the past few days you have been a bit too cheeky." Snape worked hard to keep his tone firm. "I am afraid that that backside of yours is in need of a reminder to behave and follow the rules."
"No, it's nooot!" Harry, once more, moved a step away from the man as he kept his hands behind his back. "I promise! It's not, Snape!" His chin started to shake before he raised a hand up to rub at his cheeks.
Snape shook his head firmly at the words. "You knew very well that you were not allowed anywhere near that lake. It appears to me that you simply did not care about the rule and did as you pleased."
Harry kept himself the foot away from Snape, his gaze lowering to the man's knees as he took in a breath. "Just- just wanted to s-see," he muttered.
Snape raised his hand crooking a finger. "I do not care what you wanted to do. That lake is dangerous. You knew better than to go into it."
He glanced up at the man as he noticed the crooked finger, shaking his head at the motion. "Doooon't."
Snape crooked his finger once more. "Come here Harry."
"Snaaape." Harry took a step towards the man, pausing for a moment before he stepped up completely.
Snape reached out and gently removed the glasses from the child's face. He placed them on the table beside him. "You put yourself in a very dangerous situation today for no reason other than being curious and defiant."
He raised both of his hands as his glasses were removed, rubbing at his eyes. "I was fiiiine!" Harry whined loudly, taking in a breath as he lowered his hands.
Snape shook his head as he allowed his tone to go quiet stern. "You were not to be in there in the first place!" The man reached around the child landing more of a swat than a tap to the boys rear end. "You are completely missing the point."
"Snaaaape!" Harry shifted to move his bottom out of reach, his chin quivering. "I get iiiiit!"
"I sincerely hope that you do." Snape easily moved the child the rest of the way to his side. "Because if you do not you can certainly spend the better part of this afternoon in your room thinking about it until you do understand."
"Noo!" The child tried to break away from the man's grip, his free hand wrapping around Snape's wrist to try to pull himself away. "I'm sorry!"
Normally by this point, Snape would have the child on his lap attempting to calm him down however, at the moment, he had little patience for such things. His gaze moved to the hand that was wrapped around his wrist before he looked at his child. "Why are you not allowed in the lake Harry?"
Harry's grip remained, staring at Snape before he blinked and caused several more tears to fall. He was quiet for a long moment before he spoke softly. "Cause... it's dangerous."
"Very dangerous." Snape nodded seriously as he grip on the boys hand loosened slightly. "When I give you a rule I absolutely expect you to follow it."
Harry's own hold on Snape's wrist loosened just a bit as he took in a shuddering breath. "'M sorry," he muttered softly, lowering his gaze towards the floor.
"You were being flat out defiant." Snape forced his tone to remain stern. "And I said Harry, with the behavior that I have been seeing the past few days and now this? Your backside is absolutely overdue for some attention."
"Don't." Harry's voice by then had fallen to be much softer, releasing his hold on Snape's wrist to rub at his eyes.
"I am not going to deny that rear end of yours the attention it is begging for." Snape let go of his grip on the child, his hand moving to tap the boys chin. "What is this spanking for Harry?"
The child sniffed loudly, now using both hands to rub at his face as he shook his head. He didn't even want to admit that he was getting spanked for it at all!
A sigh escaped Snape's lips as he finally allowed the child's tears to affect him. "Calm down." His tone was now gentle as he reached a hand around the boy gently rubbing his back. "Take a deep breath and then answer my question please."
Harry stepped closer to the man, leaning into his chest as he sought out comfort from his guardian. He took in a breath, sniffing once more. "G-goin' in-into the lake."
Snape nodded giving a soft hum as he hooked his hands under the boys armpits, carefully lifting him onto his lap. "Why do you think that I am upset that you did so?"
Harry's arms wrapped around Snape's neck as he was lifted, resting a head on his arm. "I coulda been hurt," he offered softly.
Snape nodded once more as one arm wrapped around the child. "Did you think that I would not find out that you were in the lake?"
At the words, the child only offered a small shrug once more. "I mean I guess."
Snape hummed softly as his hand moved to tap Harry's knee gently. "I happen to think that you have been pushing the limits for several days now with your cheek as well as with breaking small rules."
Harry's shoulders hunched over slightly at the words. "I'll be good- perfect even! I promise!" He moved his head to tuck under Snape's chin.
"I do not have a doubt that you will be after your punishment. I hardly think that you will give me reason to spank you twice today." His hand gently tapped the boys knee once more.
"Snaaape." He whined softly, shifting his legs at the gentle tapping. "You don't gotta at all!"
"I beg to differ Harry James. You put yourself in a very dangerous situation today. You broke a very serious rule." Snape moved his head to look down at the child. "I happen to think a warmed backside is more than deserved."
"Nooo." Harry shook his head at the words, tightening his hold slightly around the man. "Don't, Snaaape." He looked up to his guardian as Snape looked down at him.
Snape gave the boy a serious look as he shook his head. "I am afraid that there will be no talking me out of this. I will not allow this bad behavior of yours to continue. Nor am I going to ignore that you went into the lake."
Fresh tears burned at the child's eyes as he looked down to his lap, his shoulders hunching over slightly once more. "Don't be mad."
"I am not pleased that you went into the lake." Snape moved his hand to tap the child's chin. "I am also not happy that you were so defiant about it when you were brought to me."
Harry released his hold on Snape, his hands now resting in his lap as he blinked. "Sorry," he whispered softly.
"I trust that this will not happen again?" Snape's fingertips gently tapped the boys knee.
"It won't!" He quickly assured the man, looking back up to Snape while shaking his head.
"Very good," Snape nodded looking down to the boy. He gently tapped Harry's knee once more. "On your feet now please. I think we need to get this over with."
"Snape no!" Harry curled his legs up, resting his head down onto the man's chest.
A sigh passed the man's lips as he tapped the small knee once more. "I have already told you that your punishment is inevitable. Come now, stand up please."
He whined loudly as he slowly stood up, arms folding over his front as he stared down to the floor. Blinking rapidly, several tears fell and landed on the ground before he simply closed his eyes.
"Thank you very much for cooperating." Snape took a hold on Harry's arm, carefully moving the child to his side.
Harry only replied with a sniff, keeping his eyes closed as he was guided to the side. His arms tightened around himself, a whine passing his throat. "Doon't."
Once more Snape sighed softly as he reached out and gently tapped the boys chin. It was not unlike Harry to argue that he should not be punished, however he typically gave in by now. "Would you like to lie down for a nap? You look and sound exhausted."
"No," Harry shook his head stubbornly as he still kept his arms folded over himself. "I don't!" His voice was soft, finally raising a hand up to rub the moisture away from his eyes.
"Suit yourself then." Snape took a gentle hold of the boys hand, pulling him forward a step before guiding him over his knee.
"Snape!" Harry's eyes opened, a hand gripping at the man's pant leg as he was tipped over. His chin quivered before he hid his face within arm, a small sob passing his lips.
Snape hooked his fingers into the boys sleep pants pulling both them as well as his underpants down as far as need be before his left arm wrapped tightly around the child's middle. "I do not want to hear it young man. You knew better than to go anywhere near that lake." The man raised his hand and brought it down firmly on his small target.
Harry yelped at the smack, his grip tightening slightly as his breath hitched. It only took the first smack to bring the child to tears completely, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed into the sleeve of his pajama top.
The sound of the child's tears was enough to make Snape want to end the punishment immediately however, the man hardened his heart and forced himself to continue. He raised his hand and brought it down several more times before he cleared his throat. "If I tell you that you are not allowed to go somewhere it is because it is dangerous little boy." The man allowed his hand to fall twice more. "This had better not happen again!"
Harry's sobs shook his whole body, his grip tight on his guardian's pant leg as he shook his head against his arm. "I-it wooon't!" He sobbed loudly, pulling his face away as he coughed.
Snape's hand fell twice more. "I expect you to behave yourself or you will be spending a lot of time in your room for the rest of this weekend. Are we clear?"
He kicked a leg up, attempting to shift his bottom out of aim. "Y-yeees! I promise!" Harry continued to sob, his head remaining bowed down. "Stoo-oop."
Snape landed a stinging swat to each of the child's sit spots before his grip loosened. He looked down at his now red target, sighing softly before he carefully pulled the boys underpants back up. His hand moved to gently rub the boys back. "Okay," he said softly. "You are okay."
Harry hissed softly as the clothing was returned, his hold loosening slightly before letting go completely. The same hand rose to rub at his face, his breath hitching as he tried to calm himself. "'M s-sorry," he whispered, continuing to rub at his face.
"I know." Snape's tone was soft as he hooked his hands under the boys armpits and quickly righted him so that he was sitting on his lap. "I want you to listen to me very carefully. Can you do that?" His eyes drifted from Harry to the boys pajama pants on the floor, a pang of guilt at how hard he had been on the child taking over.
Harry gave a sound of complaint as he was placed on the man's lap, his arms wrapping around Snape tightly. His head tucked securely into the man's shoulder, only nodding slightly as he rubbed his face against Snape's cloak.
"You cannot put yourself in situations where you could get injured or worse." Snape's hand moved to gently rub the boys back. "Have you any idea what it would do to me should something happen to you?"
Harry didn't respond, tightening his hold slightly around the man at the words. He blinked, several more tears falling as he stared down into the dark fabric next to his cheek.
"You are okay," Snape repeated the words once more. "I am not cross with you." He moved his head slightly to lean down and place a kiss on the side of the boys face.
The child closed his eyes at the motion, taking in a sharp breath before he moved his head closer to Snape's neck.
"I think that perhaps a nap is in order." Snape's tone was soft as his hand gently tapped the boy back.
"I don't wanna," Harry whispered softly, sniffing as he raised a hand to rub the last of his tears away. Really, he felt exhausted after the day's events; yet he still felt too old for naps now!
Snape hummed softly at the words as he adjusted the child in his lap before hooking his hands under his armpits and standing with Harry in his arms. "Unfortunately sometimes you have to do things that you do not want to do." The man looked down at the boys sleep pants lying on the floor. "Do you want your pants? Or would you prefer to sleep as you are?"
As he was lifted, Harry's arms wrapped tightly around Snape's neck as he tucked his chin against the man's cloak. "I don't care," he whispered softly, sniffing once more. He shifted his head down to rest his cheek on his guardian's shoulder, swallowing.
Snape left the sleep pants on the floor as he moved down the hall with the child in his arms. "I know you say that you do not want to nap but you seem absolutely exhausted Harry. I think you will benefit greatly from some rest." He adjusted the child in his arms once more.
Harry wanted to protest, he wanted to say he wasn't tired at all! That he wouldn't sleep... yet he only pressed his face further into Snape's neck. His shoulders slouched down slowly, his grip around Snape starting to loosen as the man continued to walk."Mmn."
Snape stepped into the child's room and moved over to his bed, leaning down to pull the blankets down. He carefully sat Harry on the bed, pointing to the small stuffed toy half under the blankets. "Get your owl and lie down please."
Harry whined as he was placed down, having been completely comfortable in the arms of his guardian. He blinked, looking over to the owl before carefully picking it up and holding it close. He laid onto his stomach, tucking his owl partly under his chest while his chin rested upon it.
Snape pulled the blankets up over the boys shoulders, tucking them under his chin. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand moving to gently rub the small back. "When you wake you are going to come spend some time in my office so that I may finish my work."
"Kay," Harry whispered back towards the man, blinking before his eyes closed. Harry sniffed softly, the hold on his owl tightening for a brief moment before he slowly drifted off.
