May - Harry, age 12

Snape sat at the head table, his eyes focused on his child. He had hardly touched his meal. Nor had he heard more than a word of what Minerva was speaking about beside him. Twice in the past five minutes he had been hit with the overwhelming urge to tell her to be quiet yet somehow, he had refrained from doing so.

He was absolutely livid with Harry. The man had been hopeful that after a good night's sleep, his anger and disappointment in the child would lessen but it hadn't in the least.

He had been in Albus' office when he had seen Harry and the Weasley boy emerge from the forest well after midnight. Snape had nearly sent for Harry that very moment. If it hadn't been so late he likely would have. The child knew better. He had known since his very first visit to the castle at the age of six that the forest was completely off limits. He had gotten into trouble for disobeying that rule in the past.

The man's eyes narrowed in on his son as he waited for the note he had written Harry prior to breakfast to appear in front of the boy.


Harry was enjoying breakfast with his friends, talking in hushed tones about what they discovered. The spiders, the attack fifty years, the one ghost they know who died fifty years ago.

Harry blinked as a letter appeared in front of him, carefully taking it out of the air. He read it over slowly, feeling his breath catch in his throat. A note like this from Snape? Even from reading it, Harry could hear an angry tone behind it. He slowly closed it, looking up to where Snape sat.

Snape glared at the child as Harry looked up at him. He was sure that he hadn't been quite so cross with the child in some time.

He knew better.

There was absolutely no excuse for him to be in the forest. There was no excuse for him to be out of his dormitory let alone out of the castle so late at night!

The man held his stern glare on his child for a long moment, refusing to be the one to look away first.

Harry swallowed heavily, breaking his gaze away from Snape after just moments. His appetite vanished as he stared down at his plate. "I uh... I have to go."

Harry turned in the seat, standing and heading to leave the great hall. Why was Snape so angry? He couldn't even look back towards the man as he left the hall and darted off to the side.

He stood in a darkened corner, looking down to the note once more. He did not want to go down to the dungeon.


Snape watched Harry leave, his eyes never moving from him. The man waited a long moment before he too stood. He moved through the Great Hall, causing students that got in his path to literally jump out of the way in fear of being run over.

He stepped out of the hall, allowing the door to shut loudly behind him and immediately made his way towards the dungeons.

Harry nearly jumped as the door opened, watching Snape stride out of the Hall. He swallowed, his breath catching for a moment before he called out softly. "Dad?" He took a step out of the shadowed corner.

Snape whipped around, his eyes landing on Harry as he glared at the boy. "What are you doing standing there? You should be halfway to our quarters by now." The man's voice was stern as he took a step towards the child.

As Snape took a step forward, he took a step back. "I..." He tightened his hold on the letter slightly, settling his gaze past the man instead of meeting the glare. "I was about to, really... I just had to think."

Snape raised an eyebrow as he stepped closer. Reaching out he cupped a firm hand around the back of Harry's neck, guiding him forward. "You may think while you walk young man."

Harry bowed his head down slightly at the grip on his neck, biting on his bottom lip as he stared down at the floor. He fell relatively silent before they started to descend the stairs.

"What did I do?" He whispered softly as he was guided down to the dungeons.

If it wasn't for the fact that they were in the halls, Snape was sure he would have landed a stinging swat to the child. Instead his grip tightened slightly, as he leaned down putting his mouth close to Harry's ear. "You know exactly what you did," he hissed as they stepped onto the bottom floor. Snape stood up straight once more as two fourth year Slytherins hurried past them.

The child felt the hair in his neck raise slightly at the tone next to his ear, releasing a breath. Snape couldn't know. He couldn't.

A moment later, Snape walked the child into their quarters only then releasing his grip on him. He gripped the child's upper arm, turning him to face him before he leaned down putting his face close to his child's. "Where were you last night?" The man's lips set in a tight line, his nostrils flaring.

Harry leaned his head away slightly, releasing a heavy breath as Snape leaned down to his level. He studied the man's angry face, swallowing heavily. "In the tower."

Snape's features, if possible, grew sterner. He turned Harry to the side landing a harder than normal smack to his trouser clad backside. The man quickly spun the child back to face him. "Do. Not. Lie. To. Me." The man narrowed his eyes on the child once more. "Where were you last night Harry James?"

He jumped slightly at the smack, blinking rapidly as he was turned back around. Tears clouded his vision as he studied Snape's face once more.

He knew.

Harry swallowed once more, his throat feeling dry. He could only stare at the man in response.

Snape let go of his grip on the child, turning him around once more, this time in the direction of the corner. "Corner," he practically barked. "Until you are ready to tell me the truth you can stay there."

Harry took a step forward towards the wall, pausing for a moment before he looked back at Snape. His shoulders slouched down before he moved over to the corner without another word.

Snape scowled at the back of the child as he moved across the room and sat in his armchair. "You let me know when you are ready to tell the truth."

Harry's shoulders shook slightly as he wrapped his arms around himself. He was sure if he spoke it'd come out as a sob. How did he know? How did Snape always know?

"Save your tears Harry James!" Snape snapped from his spot in his armchair. "You will need them when I slipper your backside for what you have done."

"You d-don't even know what happened," Harry whispered, raising a hand to brush a tear that escaped.

"I know plenty! Aside from that I know that you just lied directly to my face." Snape stood and moved towards the boy. "I also know that for every moment you continue to stand there and refuse to tell me the truth, I am adding to your punishment."

"No!" Harry quickly moved over slightly, turning to give the man a pleading look. "Please don't! I'll tell you what happened if you listeeeen first." His shoulders slouched down as he blinked, several more tears falling.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the child before crooking a finger at him. The man turned and walked back to his armchair, sitting down. "To me little boy."

Slowly Harry moved after the man, his arms falling to his sides as he stared down to the floor. He stopped as soon as he was in front of Snape, slowly looking up at his guardian.

"Shall we try this again?" Snape asked sternly as he raised an eyebrow at the child. "Where were you last night Harry?"

Harry took in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "The forest... but I can explain!"

Snape's eyes narrowed on his child. "For your sake, I certainly hope that you can."

Harry shifted in his position slightly, chewing the bottom of his lip as he gathered his thoughts for a moment. "We learned something about the monster- and... and long story short, we were told to follow the spiders to know what happened! So we did! And... and it was a huge spider, but-but it said Hagrid's innocent. That he was never the monster, that the real monster was born in the school." He took a breath, as if allowing Snape to process the first part of his story.

Snape's face grew stern at the words as he leaned down, putting his own face closer to Harry's. "We will certainly discuss everything that you have just said however, let's start with the first problem. Are you allowed in that forest?"

"No, but that wasn't even all of it though. Was pretty much punished right before we came out of the forest," Harry muttered softly, his gaze falling down to the floor.

"Explain." Snape's eyes narrowed further yet.

"Well when it told us that we were gonna leave. We were trying to leave... but apparently his children like the taste of flesh." Harry swallowed, suddenly feeling like he was talking nonsense. "It was like a thousand spiders chasing us."

"Someone told you to follow the spiders and that is why you went into the forest hours after you were supposed to be in your dormitory? Is that correct?" Snape gave the child a stern questioning glare.

Harry shuffled as he glanced up to the man, meeting the glare briefly before he slowly nodded. "Yeah."

"Then these spiders tried to attack you?" Snape reached out and tapped the boy's chin firmly. "Is that correct?"

"Well." He looked up at the tap on his chin. "Not the exact spiders we followed. We followed just normal spiders. The ones that attacked were like... bigger than a dog."

"I am aware of what they look like." Snape nodded. "This spider told you that Hagrid is innocent?"

Harry nodded in return, his body slowly relaxing as they continued to talk. "Yeah and said the real monster was born in the castle. And it's something they fear above anything else."

Snape rose an eyebrow at the words. He would certainly need to speak with Albus about this information. "That does not explain why you were out past curfew Harry James." Snape's hand moved to tap the boy's rear end firmly.

Harry jumped slightly at the tap, shifting away slightly once more. "Well. It's a good thing I did!" He cringed at his own tone, quickly going on before Snape could comment. "If we didn't go, we would have never known! Hagrid and Dumbledore were taken away." He gave the man a desperate look at that point.

Snape shook his head firmly. "Could you not have come to me and told me about this idea to follow the spiders?" His hand tapped the small backside once more.

Harry took in a breath at the next tap, lowering his gaze down to the floor to stare at the top of Snape's shoes. "Yeah," he finally agreed softly after a quiet moment.

"Perhaps that would have been a far wiser decision?" Snape tapped the boy's bottom once more.

"Please stop," Harry muttered, blinking as fresh tears started to well and blur his vision. "I get it."

"No Harry, you do not get it!" Snape refrained from tapping the small rear end once more. "If you did you would not have gone into the forest. Nor would you have been out so late. However, you will be getting it. You have my word."

"No, I do get it!" Harry took a half step back, blinking and causing several tears to fall down his cheeks. "You don't get it though."

Snape sighed at the words, reaching out and tapping the boy's chin once more. "I remember a child a few years back that got his backside spanked for going into that forest and then gave me his word that he would never do so again."

"This was different. I didn't just wander in for no reason... and I had Ron with me." Harry swallowed at the reminder, lifting his head up slightly as he stared at the man.

"Forgive me Harry, I forgot that Weasley is a Professor of this school." Snape shook his head firmly before reaching out and pulling the child the step back to him. "You had no business being in that blasted forest and you know it!"

Harry whined as he was pulled back the step, very nearly stomping his foot childishly before deciding against it. It wasn't even fair!

"Regardless of what you learned about Hagrid, none of this is any of your business nor is it your responsibility to try and figure any of it out." Snape's lips set in a tight line as he swallowed hard. "It is not an excuse for being in the forest."

"It should be," Harry whispered softly, raising his left hand to rub at his cheeks quickly.

An annoyed sound passed Snape's lips. "Why is that Harry?"

"Because I'm trying to help! No one knows anything. You're just so focused on me being in the forest and that's not fair." Harry studied the man before he removed his glasses to properly rub at his eyes.

"Forgive me Harry, did someone ask you to help that I am not aware of?" Snape raised an eyebrow at the child before taking his glasses from his hand and placing them on the table beside him.

Harry blinked at the glasses were taken away, more tears quickly blurring his vision at just the action alone. "Snape..."

Snape swallowed hard, forcing himself not to be moved by the tears. "You know you are not allowed in the forest just as you know that you are not allowed to be out of your dormitory let alone out of this castle at midnight. Aside from that, you lied directly to my face when I questioned you about it."

The child shook his head as Snape spoke, rubbing at his face with his sleeve once more. This was not how he wanted to start the day. "Not a complete lie. I was in the tower most of the night," he whispered softly.

Snape gave the child a stern look. "Do not." He shook his head firmly. "I am not going to play this game little boy. You lied to my face."

Harry's shoulders slouched at the words as he stared down to Snape's knee, a whispered, "Sorry," passing his lips.

"Eyes off the floor young man! You have known better than to do so since you were six. I refuse to allow it to happen now." Snape reached out and tapped the boy's chin firmly. "Tell me Harry, what is the consequence when you lie?"

"Sorry," Harry whispered once more as he rose his head back up. Tears brimmed his eyes and he blinked, causing one or two to fall. "The slipper." His voice continued to be soft, his arms folding around himself as he fought to keep his gaze up.

"Perhaps that is not enough to prevent you from being dishonest? Perhaps I should conjure up a paddle and take that to your backside instead?" Snape's tone was stern as he forced himself to ignore the tears.

"No." Harry took a half step back at the words, shaking his head rapidly. He sniffed, taking in a sharp breath as he brushed several more tears away.

Snape reached out and took hold of the child's hand, pulling him the half step back towards him. "Clearly something needs to change Harry. You lie more now than you did when you were younger."

Harry fell silent, studying Snape's face as the man spoke. He didn't think he lied that much. He glanced down briefly with a sniff, raising his free hand to rub at his face.

Snape reached out tapping the boy's chin once more. "I recall a child that did not lie at all and if on the rare occasion he did, he felt so guilty that he would confess long before he was caught. What happened to him Harry James?"

"I still always feel guilty," Harry whispered, shifting his head away slightly at the tap on his chin. "Just... a lot happens now and you'd be mad anyway." His voice remained soft, blinking and causing more tears to fall.

"Had you come to me and explained all this to me before you left this castle and went into the forest I certainly would not have been angry." Snape cupped the child's chin in his hand, gently yet firmly forcing Harry to look at him. "When have I ever been angry at you for coming to me prior to getting in trouble and talking to me about something?"

Harry shook his head, rested his head on Snape's palm as his guardian cupped his chin. "But I still would of gotten in trouble anyway," he muttered softly. "'Cause we went to see Hagrid and then into the forest. So..." His gaze flickered down a moment despite the hold on his chin. Harry fell silent for a moment before speaking softly. "I don't think you get why this is a big deal for me."

Snape's thumb gently tapped the side of the child's face before he released his grip on Harry's chin. "Explain it to me. Why is this a big deal to you?"

"I just... I want answers! And no one has any! So I finally got... something. I want Hermione better. I know they'll make the potion and everything but if the thing isn't found then it'll just happen again!" Harry swallowed, releasing a slow breath.

"Are you under the impression that the staff of this school does not want answers as well?" Snape raised a stern eyebrow. "You are twelve years old, it is not your job to go trying to find the answers young man. As I have already said you should have come to me, or any adult the moment that you were told to follow the blasted spiders."

Harry folded his arms, unable to help the frown that crossed his lips at the words. "Well there was a path of them there so we just started to follow those instead of losing them." He shifted slightly, blinking as a few tears slipped down his cheeks.

"Therefore going out of this castle past curfew and into the forest which landed you directly into trouble with me." The man forced himself to ignore the tears.

"Well I got an answer." Harry nearly scowled, rubbing at his tears once more. "That's all I wanted."

"Perhaps you did. However you went about it in the wrong way which leads me to believe that you clearly wanted your backside warmed as well." Snape reached a hand out, grabbing hold of Harry's hand and easily pulling him a step closer to him yet.

"No!" Harry pulled his hand back slightly, his other hand raising to rub under his eyes. "No. I-I don't. I'm just tryin' to help."

"As I have already said, it is not up to you to do so." Snape's features became stern. "Especially when doing so causes you to put yourself in a dangerous situation. We have been over this multiple times Harry James!"

Despite the earlier words, Harry lowered his head down and closed his eyes tightly. "I'm sorry." Cheek started to rise within him, he wanted to say he won't try to help again, but he couldn't.

"What is it that we are going to have to do to end this bad habit?" Snape reached out and tapped the child's chin firmly. "Do I need to take my belt to your backside in order for you to obey the rules?"

Harry's head rose instantly at the words, his breath catching in his throat as he shook his head rapidly. "No. No, you don't!"

"No?" Snape raised a stern eyebrow forcing himself not to be moved by the child's words or tears. "What I have done so far does not seem to work."

His chin quivered slightly at the words, raising his head slightly as he took in a sharp breath. "I'm sorry!"

"So you keep saying." Snape gave a nod. "However, being sorry does not change the fact that you broke two very serious rules and then lied to me on top of it. Perhaps you need a bar of soap in that mouth of yours?"

"No," Harry shook his head once more, sniff loudly. "I don't, dad."

Snape's eyes remained on the child for a long silent moment before he cleared his throat. "Go fetch the slipper Harry."

Harry remained still, his gaze meeting Snape's before he slowly shook his head. He couldn't- even though he did expect it. He expected it since he read the note. "No."

Snape raised an eyebrow at the refusal. "Now Harry." His eyes moved to the desk and then back to his child. "I do not believe for a moment that you did not expect this."

His shoulders slouched down at the words, slowly turning towards Snape's desk across the room. Harry's steps were slow, his right hand raising to rub at his eyes and then his cheeks. "You don't h-have to," he whispered, reaching the desk and opening the drawer.

Snape strained to hear the words, his eyes narrowing as he did. "Nor do you have to break the rules yet you continue to do so."

Removing the slipper, Harry closed the drawer back and allowed his arms to fall at his sides. "Just kinda happens," he muttered softly, moving back to stand in front of the man.

Snape held his hand out for the slipper. "I am not quite sure why you cannot understand that when something happens you need to come to me before handling the matter on your own. However, if it continues to happen you are going to experience my belt. Are we clear?"

It was a new threat, one Harry really didn't expect. "Y-yes sir," he whispered softly, holding the slipper out to the man. He wanted to doubt the man would actually do such a thing, but he couldn't put it past Snape either.

Snape could hardly help but feel shocked at the child's use of the title. It was such a rare occurrence. He reached a hand out, grabbing Harry by the arm and pulling him a step closer to him. "I want you to listen to me very carefully."

As he was pulled closer, Harry struggled to keep his emotions in control. The punishment hadn't even started yet! The new threat seemed enough to push the child to the edge though, and his breathing hitched slightly as he attempted to keep his tears at bay.

"This putting yourself in dangerous situations ends here. I care for you far too much. I absolutely refuse to allow behavior like this. Have you any idea what it would do to me if something happened to you?"

"I don't d-do it on purpose!" Finally a sob escaped the child's lips, both of his hands raising to hide his face. "I re-really don't!"

Snape gave a small sigh as he finally gave into his instincts. Setting the slipper on the table beside him he tucked his hands under Harry's armpits and lifted the boy, placing him on his lap. "I do not recall saying that you do so on purpose."

Harry rubbed at his face, still keeping his hands in place as his shoulders hitched. "I d-don't mean to... to get in trouble or anythin'," He hated disappointing Snape, and of course hated all the punishments he faced.

Snape's hand moved to gently rub the child's back. "You must learn to come to me or another adult. Had you come to me and told me about following the spiders you would not be in any trouble at all."

"You make it seem s-so easy," Harry whispered softly, soon moving his arms to wrap loosely around Snape's neck.

"It is easy Harry." Snape's fingertips gently tapped the child's back. "Why do you find it so difficult?"

"I hate when I disappoint you... and even if I admit something, you'd still be disappointed.." Harry rested his cheek against Snape's shoulder, closing his eyes.

Snape hummed softly at the words as he continued rubbing the boy's back. "Why would I have been disappointed about someone telling you to follow the spiders? Did something happen prior to that? Did you do something wrong?"

"I went out anyway to see Hagrid... you can't tell me you wouldn't of been still disappointed about that. 'Cause I still went out." Harry slowly relaxed as his back was rubbed, releasing a breath.

Snape looked down at the child at the words. "You went out past curfew to see Hagrid?"

Harry's shoulders hunched over slightly, slowly nodding. "Before we went into the forest. We didn't plan to go into the forest. Only to ask Hagrid something."

"Last evening you left the castle to go to Hagrid's but I assume he was not there and that was when you went into the forest?" Snape questioned. "Or are you telling me that you went to Hagrid's on a different occasion? A separate occurrence of sneaking out?"

"He was there... last night. For a little," Harry clarified softly.

Snape hummed at the admission. He would need to speak with Hagrid about allowing his child to visit him after curfew. "Was Hagrid aware that you went into the forest?"

"It's more complicated than that." Harry started, lifting his head up slightly. "He wasn't expecting us either."

Snape looked down at the child in his lap once more. "Do you care to explain it?"

"It goes back to further last night." He rested his cheek back down, staring down to his knee. "I found out Hagrid was blamed for the last attack like... fifty years ago? So I had to find out. So we went out to see him and ask."

Snape's fingertips gently tapped the small of the child's back. "Go on."

"And he really wasn't expecting us, and he seemed really nervous that we were there." Harry allowed his hand to move from Snape's shoulder and rest on his own lap. "I asked him about it but before he answered someone came and he told us to get under the cloak." Harry glanced up at Snape for a moment. "It was Fudge and Dumbledore and he was taken away. But he said for anyone who has questions to follow the spiders."

Snape was silent for several long moments before his fingers tapped Harry's back once more. "I see. Perhaps you should have come to me before you went to Hagrid? I certainly would not have been cross or disappointed if you had."

"I didn't think to. I just wa- wanted a quick answer because Hagrid would never hurt anyone." Harry's shoulders slouched slightly.

"I am inclined to agree with you." Snape's hand moved to rub the boy's back once more. "However that is the problem at hand Harry, you did not think to come to me. Instead you ran off, broke the rules, and put yourself in a dangerous situation."

"Sorry," Harry whispered softly, curling up slightly against Snape's front. "I just wanted to know."

"Your curiosity has landed you in this same position in the past." Snape's hand gently brushed over Harry's shoulder blades. "We have discussed how you need to come to me with it multiple times."

"It's just hard because I know what you'll say. That's it not my business, but it kinda is," Harry muttered softly, shifting his head under Snape's chin.

Snape rested his chin on top of the child's head. "Perhaps your business to know about. However, it is not your business to set off and try to fix." Snape's hand paused on the child's back to gently tap it once more. "You are not quite grown yet. You need to remember that. You can still easily go over my knee."

Harry slowly nodded from his spot, his arms soon wrapping around Snape's middle. "Okay," he whispered softly.

"I care for you too much Harry. I am not going to allow you to be so careless with your life." The man sighed softly, his chin still resting on Harry's head.

Harry grip tightened slightly at the words before one hand released the man to rub at his face. "I love you," he murmured softly, sniffing before he wrapped his arms back around his guardian.

Snape's head moved as he leaned down and placed a kiss on top of the boy's head. "I love you more than you know little boy." His hand moved to rub Harry's back once more. "Which is why I become cross with you when you do foolish things."

"I don't mean to do those things. It just works out like that," Harry muttered, blinking for a moment before closing his eyes.

"You need to learn how to stop and think Harry. You need to remember that I will never be cross or disappointed if you come to me and talk to me honestly." Snape adjusted the boy slightly on his knee.

Harry lifted his head slightly as Snape moved him before resting it back down after a moment. "I know. I will."

Snape was silent for a long moment before he gently nudged the boy's side. "Shall we get your spanking over with then?"

"No." Harry's body tensed once more, dread pulling back into his stomach. He had hoped, just a little, that it wouldn't happen. That their talk would of helped in some way.

Snape hummed softly at the reply. "You were out past curfew and in the forest. You also lied about it when I asked you." Snape's fingers gently tapped the boy's back. "What are we to do about all of that?"

"Can't I be on restriction? Or something else?" His grip tightened slightly before he released a slow breath. "Please? It was a bad enough night."

Snape raised an eyebrow, swallowing hard as he remained silent for several long moments, his fingers gently drumming on the boy's back.

Harry kept his eyes closed, bowing his head to rest on Snape's chest. "Please?" He asked again, softer this time.

"You are going to stay in your room today and tomorrow." Snape's fingers tapped the small back a bit more firmly. "After which you will be on restriction for quite some time."

Harry felt his shoulders relax at his sentence, nodding against Snape's chest in understanding. "Okay."

"Should something like this happen again Harry James..." Snape's words trailed off as he looked down at the child in his lap.

"It won't," Harry breathed, keeping his eyes closed as he felt Snape shift slightly.

"I am going to hold you to those words." Snape adjusted the child in his arms once more. "Something like this happening again will only lead me to believe that I was far too lenient putting you on restriction."

"I swear it won't." Harry shifted slightly on Snape's leg, his lips turning down into a small frown. "The day after tomorrow though, can I go see Hermione?"

Snape was silent for a long moment before he nodded. "You may visit her for thirty minutes. Not a minute more."

"Okay." Harry smiled softly, shifting himself down to rest between the arm of the chair and Snape's side.

Snape moved over slightly, giving his child more room. "Ten minutes and you are going to your room young man."

"Mn." The child rested one arm against Snape's chest. It was still early in the day, but his body was still exhausted from the night before.

"Absolutely not." Snape poked the child gently in the side. "Up and go now. You are not going to fall asleep out here."

"I'm not. I'm just resting," Harry uttered softly, shifting at the gentle poke in his side.

"I think that perhaps you should rest in your room." Snape poked his side once more. "Put the slipper away and go on. I will come check on you in a bit."

Harry pushed himself up with a heavy sigh, rubbing at his face for a moment. "Fine," he uttered softly, picking up the slipper from the side. He was grateful Snape actually listened to him. Well, his bum was grateful at any rate. He stepped over to the desk, placing the item back without a word on it. The child stretched his arms out, stepping down the hall and to his room to change.

Snape watched the child disappear down the hall before sighing softly. He sincerely hoped that he was doing the right thing by being lenient with the child.


Nearly thirty minutes later the man finally stood and moved down the hall. Knocking twice on Harry's bedroom door.

"C'm in," Harry called softly, having gotten under his covers and lying down to face the door. His arm was tucked under the pillow, his other hand idly rubbing the top of it.

Snape pushed the door open, raising an eyebrow as he spotted the child. "Back in bed before noon? Are you feeling ill?" The man walked across the room towards Harry, resting his hand on the boy's forehead.

"I'm just really really tired." Harry admitted softly, pulling his covers up to his chin. "My legs are still hurting."

"Why are your legs hurting?" Concern took over Snape's face as he sat on the edge of the boy's bed.

"From running through the forest, they got a little scratched up." Harry stat up slightly, shifting the covers back to expose a leg. He pulled the pant leg up slightly, exposing a mess of scratches.

Snape frowned at the sight of them. "Honestly Harry, why didn't you say anything?" The man sighed as he stood. "I will be right back. Pants off please."

The man walked out of the boy's bedroom and down the hall to his supply closet, plucking a jar of salve from the top shelf.

"Well it's not a big deal is why!" Harry called after the man as Snape left the room. "It's just some scratches," he muttered softly as he shifted the pajama bottoms off.

"Scratches that you know I could heal," Snape countered as he walked back into the room. "If left alone they could become infected. There are plenty of bushes and vines in the forest that could do just that." The man sat down on the edge of the bed once more, unscrewing the lid from the jar.

Harry sighed as he leaned against his headboard, watching Snape unscrew the lid. "I didn't think it'd be a big deal."

Snape gave a soft sound of annoyance as he dipped his fingers into the salve and set to work on Harry's right leg, gently rubbing the salve in.

Harry took in a breath, shifting his leg slightly to expose parts of his leg easier to the man. "Sorry."

Snape hummed softly as he continued to work on the boy's legs. "How late were you up last night?"

"Like three maybe," Harry muttered softly, soon moving his left leg slightly.

Snape's eyes moved from the boy's leg to his face, as his hand paused. He gave the child a disapproving glare before his eyes moved back down and he set back to work. "You are taking a nap when I am done here."

"That's what I was going to do anyway," Harry pointed out as he raised the back of his hand to cover his mouth. He yawned widely before rubbing at his eyes.

Snape finished up on the boy's left leg as he picked up the lid for the jar, screwing it back on. "I will wake you in a few hours."

Sitting up, Harry pulled the pajama bottoms back up before he laid back under the covers. He gave a soft hum in reply, stretching out slightly before he rolled onto his stomach. "Alright."

Snape stood and took a step forward before leaning down and placing a gentle hand on Harry's head. "Do not forget that aside from using the lavatory you are to stay in this room." His voice was gentle.

Harry closed his eyes at the action, pulling the covers up to his chin. "Okay," he muttered, opening his eyes briefly to look up at his guardian.

Snape gently ruffled the child's hair for a moment before pulling his hand away. "Sleep well." He waved a hand causing the room to darken a considerable amount.