November - Harry, age 12

Snape moved quickly down the spiral staircase that led to the dungeons. He hadn't been quite so disappointed in his child in some time.

After learning of the physical altercation with the Malfoy child, Snape had sent his twelve-year-old down to their quarters before sending an owl home to Malfoy's father.

The man stepped onto the bottom floor of the castle deciding in a moment that if Harry had not listened, he would put that child over his knee wherever he found him, regardless of who was present.

Waving his hand, Snape caused his parlor door to swing open before he stepped inside, closing it loudly behind him.

Harry sat curled up on the couch, arms folded as he glared to his knees. Unshed tears burned at his eyes as he moved a hand under his glasses to rub away at the moisture. To him, Malfoy had deserved it! He had been speaking terribly of muggleborns, purposely, when he and his friends were around.

And today he had snapped. He vaguely recalled launching at the Slytherin, though his hand slightly stung from his first hit.

The child blinked as the door slammed loudly, taking in a breath as he continued to stare intently at his knees.

Snape glared over at the child for a long moment before he walked across the parlor, standing in front of Harry. "You had best start explaining, little boy." The man's tone was stern. It was taking every ounce of self-control he had not to pull the child from the couch and send him directly into the corner.

"He deserved it!" The child snapped at the man, blinking as hot tears slipped down his cheeks. "He always makes comments about muggleborns when Hermione is around! And today he said he hopes they're next for the monster!" He took in a shaky breath, rubbing under his eyes quickly.

Snape leaned forward, placing a hand on either side of the child essentially trapping him where he sat. "That is an excuse to fist fight in the halls?"

Harry took in a breath, lowering his gaze as Snape leaned in. "Should be."

Snape forced himself to take a deep breath as he took in his child's appearance. Harry had a bloody lip and a large purple mark next to his left eye.

The man stood up straight once more. "Do not move." He started towards his supply closet.

The child spared a glance up, watching as Snape walked away. He raised a hand, brushing under his left eye before cringing. He sighed heavily, looking back down to his knees.

Snape reappeared a moment later with a large jar of salve in his hands. He sat down in his armchair, unscrewing the lid. "Bring yourself over here."

Slowly, Harry unfolded himself from his spot on the couch and stood. He lingered in his spot for a moment before stepping over to Snape and standing next to him with a soft frown.

"Glasses off." Snape dipped his fingers in the salve waiting patiently for the child to obey.

Harry removed them as instructed, lowering them down to his side as he closed his eyes with a small wince. He hadn't expected for Malfoy to hit back just as hard.

Snape's free hand took the glasses from the boy and set them on the table beside him before he began working on the bruise next to the child's eye. "I hope that you know that your behavior was completely unacceptable." Despite the harshness of his tone he was quite gentle as he rubbed in the salve.

The child released a huff through his nose as he flinched despite the careful touch. "He still deserved it," he muttered, wincing as Snape's fingers brushed over a particularly hurtful spot.

"Going to an adult with how he was acting did not cross your mind?" Snape quickly finished his work on the boy's eye and dipped his fingers in the salve once more.

After a moment, Harry blinked a few times and stared at the man. "Not then," he muttered, looking down to the salve briefly.

Snape raised an eyebrow as he set to work on the boy's lip. "Absolutely unacceptable." Snape's lips pressed into a tight line. "You know better young man!"

"Ow!" Harry yelped as he turned his head away from the man, his hand raising to cover over the cut. Harry blinked, shoulders slouching as he faced Snape once more.

"I am nearly done." Snape went back to work on the child's lip. "Though you have no one but yourself to blame for your injuries."

The child fell silent as Snape went back to work, sighing softly. He was still sure Malfoy deserved it.

Snape finished his work on the boy's lip a moment later. He picked up the jar, carefully screwing the lid back on. "Into the corner with you."

"Snape," Harry frowned, raising a hand to carefully touch at his healed lip. "No."

"Do not tell me no." The man's eyes narrowed on the child. "Go."

Frown remaining, Harry backed up a step before turning fully with a huff and moving over to the corner. His arms folded over his chest as he glared down to the floor.

Snape nearly stood and followed the boy, landing a swat with every step but the man forced himself to stay put. He closed his eyes slowly counting backwards from ten before opening them and clearing his throat. "Twenty minutes, little boy."

Harry didn't respond, blinking several times as tears burned and slipped down his cheeks. His arms tightened into each other, shoulders hunching up. He didn't care what Snape thought.

"Clearly the last time we discussed fighting did not leave enough of an impression on you," Snape huffed as he stood, moving to his supply closet to return the salve.

"It's different." Harry shifted his head as he heard Snape move across the room before straightening his head forward again.

Snape huffed at the words but otherwise remained silent as he walked back across the room and sat down in his armchair. His eyes moved to the clock on the mantel noting the time that his child still had left in the corner.

Harry sniffed, raising a hand to clear away several tears as they brimmed at his eyes. His arms refolded tightly as he glared down to his feet.

Snape remained silent until the last minute ticked by. "What was different about this, Harry?"

"Because he always says things like that around Hermione!" He turned then, glaring over to the man before his shoulders slouched. "And he deserved it for…for wanting Hermione to be hurt badly."

Snape shook his head as he crooked a finger to the child. "Regardless of what he did it is not your place to do anything."

"Well actions have consequences…and…and that was his!" He moved slowly, keeping his arms around himself. "So, I'm not sorry," Harry uttered as he stopped a foot short of the man.

Snape raised an eyebrow at the words. "Actions do have consequences, which is why you should have gone to an adult." The man paused, swallowing heavily, his voice growing stern as he spoke once more. "It is also why you can go fetch the slipper."

"No." Harry blinked several times, attempting to keep his tears at bay. He shook his head, raising a hand to rub at both eyes quickly. "He won't even get in trouble! But I—I am."

"Do not tell me no," Snape repeated for the second time. "I already sent an owl to his father. Now do as I have asked."

"His dad won't care," Harry muttered, eyes lowering to the ground as he glared away from the man. After how Mr. Malfoy sounded at the bookshop, he doubted he'd care at all. "So, it's still not fair."

"I cannot control how his father chooses to handle this situation, however, as your guardian I can absolutely control what the consequence will be for your fighting." Snape eyes narrowed on the child. "Now go to my desk and fetch the slipper. I will not ask again."

Harry raised his eyes, his glare still remaining as his chin started to quiver. Nothing about this was fair! Turning away, a soft sob broke past his lips as he moved slowly over to the man's desk.

"You have been told countless times that when you have a situation with another student you are to come to me or another adult." Snape watched the child move to his desk. "I know that you know better."

"But he practically gets away with it! That's not fair…he'll just keep doing it," he muttered, removing the dreaded item from within the drawer and slowly walking back to the man.

"What is not fair, little boy, is that I have to hear from my colleagues that my child fought another child in the hall." Snape crooked his finger sternly.

Harry's defiant look slowly fell away as he moved closer, arms dropping to his side. "I got tired of it."

"That is not an acceptable reason." Snape held a hand out for the slipper. "I thought you learned that two years ago when you had a conversation with this slipper but clearly that discussion was not long enough."

"Well, it's not like I haven't gone to an adult about him before. This is at least the third time! And before we told Hagrid." Harry kept the slipper to himself for a moment, looking down towards it.

Snape shook his head firmly. "What did you tell Hagrid? What other adult did you go to? Did you come to me?"

"Oh, so we have to tell more than one adult? Not just any?" Harry felt his chin quiver as he tightened his hold on the slipper. "And we told him what he called her."

"That is not what I said." Snape swallowed heavily. "You spoke as if you went to more than one adult and were left without help."

Harry frowned, lowering his gaze as he shook his head slowly. "No…we just told Hagrid." He tossed the slipper on the arm of the chair, wrapping his arms around himself. "It's not fair."

Snape raised an eyebrow at the child's actions, picking up the slipper and setting it on the table beside Harry's glasses. "What is not fair? Were you somehow unaware that fighting is unacceptable?"

Harry shook his head, tightening his arms around himself. He nudged his foot against the floor slowly. It was no use, it didn't seem like there would be no way to convince the man he wasn't that much in the wrong. "Just…doesn't matter," he whispered, rubbing at his face roughly.

Snape leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he put his own face closer to the child's. "Did you or did you not physically attack Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes," Harry admitted, keeping his gaze down towards Snape's shoes.

"You did so because he was rude to Ms. Granger?" Snape reached out a hand tapping the boy's chin. "Do you need to go back to the corner as a reminder to speak to me and not to the floor?"

Harry raised his head back up, lips remaining in a frown at the words. "He keeps calling her a mudblood…not just rude to her."

"I agree with you. His behavior is far from acceptable." Snape crooked a finger to his child as he sat back up straight, pointing firmly to the ground directly in front of him.

Harry's shoulders drooped fully as he moved as directed, arms dropping away from his middle. "He's done it at least three times now."

"As I said I have written his father. I also plan to make sure he is disciplined for doing so here at Hogwarts." Snape looked down at his child. "However, what he did still does not excuse your behavior."

"Can I be sorry but also not sorry?" Harry huffed softly. Malfoy certainly deserved it in his eyes.

"What are you sorry for?" Snape gave the child an expectant look.

He fell quiet, staring at Snape for a moment before shrugging. "I mean, I'm sorry you're mad."

"But not for how you behaved?" Snape raised a stern eyebrow.

Harry chewed on the inside of his cheek, lowering his gaze. "I…not really. It won't happen again, but I'm not sorry I did it."

Snape's hand moved to firmly tap under the boy's chin once more. "Fighting is wrong Harry. It is far more mature to use your words or report the behavior to an adult."

Harry closed his eyes at the tap, shoulders hitching as several tears finally escaped and trailed down his cheeks. "Sorry."

"Perhaps we should get this over with." The man gently took hold of the boy's hand, moving him to his side.

"No." Harry pulled his hand back, taking a half step away. Fresh tears burned at the back of eyes before several slipped down his face.

"I'm afraid it is not up for debate." Snape gently tugged on the boy's hand once more.

This time, Harry allowed it. His free hand rose to rub at his eyes, shoulders hitching as a soft sob broke past. He didn't want to be sorry for what he did!

"Take a deep breath," Snape instructed softly. "Just calm down." As far as the man was concerned the child was far too worked up already.

Harry blinked and moved forward, resting his head against Snape's arm as he took in a slow breath. "Can't I just b-be on restriction."

"I am afraid that this is too serious for restriction." The man's tone remained soft. "Just take a few deep breaths. You let me know when you are ready." His hand reached around the child to gently rub his back.

"I'm not gonna be ready," Harry muttered softly, rubbing his face against Snape's sleeve slowly.

"Come now, Harry, I hardly think we want to stay here all day." The man's fingertips gently tapped the child's back. "Hmm?"

Harry sighed, waiting a few more minutes before he pulled his head away from Snape's shoulder. The child looked up to the man, shaking his head slowly.

"No?" Snape raised a curious eyebrow. "No what?"

"No…don't want to stay here all day," he whispered, tucking his arms across his middle.

Snape hummed softly. "You are ready to get this over with then?"

Harry only shrugged, raising a hand to rub roughly at his face as he sniffed. Of course, he wanted it just over, but he didn't want it to even happen.

Snape was silent as he reached out, quickly unfastening the child's trousers.

The child took a shuddering breath, sniffing loudly once more as he rubbed at his face. "Y-you really don't have to."

"I don't have to take your trousers down?" Snape loosened the boy's pants, pushing them down slightly.

"Any of th-this!" Harry shook his head, closing his eyes tightly.

"You did not have to get into a fist fight either." Snape took a gentle hold on Harry's hand, carefully moving him a step closer before guiding him over his lap.

Harry's right hand instantly gripped at Snape's pant leg, tucking his face into the crook of his elbow. Harry's shoulders shook with his soft cries, as he rubbed his face into his sleeve.

Snape sighed softly as he hooked his fingers into the boy's shorts, pulling them down as far as they needed to go before reaching over to pick up the slipper.

The child's body tensed, his grip tightening for a moment as his eyes closed tightly. "M sorry," he whispered into his sleeve, continuing to rub away at the tears as the fell.

Snape wrapped his left arm tightly around the boy's middle. "I know. You have said, you are sorry I am disappointed." The man raised his right hand bringing the slipper down smartly. "It had better not happen again Harry."

Harry nearly yelped at the first smack, shifting uncomfortably as he shook his head rapidly into the crook of his arm. "It-it won't!"

"I am nearly certain that we had this conversation not all that long ago." Snape let the slipper fall several more times as the man fell into a rhythm.

It only took mere moments before the child sobbed heavily; his head bowing down towards the floor. There was no point in bothering to try to stop the tears that fell below.

Snape continued to let the slipper fall as he remained silent finally clearing his throat several moments later, pausing in his actions. "Regardless of how anyone else acts it is not your place to fight them. Are we clear on that?"

Harry only nodded slowly, his tight grip on Snape's pant leg loosening slowly. "Yes," he whispered softly, coughing as he rested his cheek back against the crook of his arm.

Snape let the slipper fall twice more. "Are you going to be able to behave yourself?"

A yelp passed his lips once more, tightening his hold. "Yes!" He sobbed heavily, attempting to rub his tears away into his arm slowly.

Snape let the slipper fall twice more, paying attention to the child's sit spots before he set it to his side. His grip loosening as he carefully pulled the boy's shorts back up. "Breathe," he said gently, his hand moving to rub the boy's back. "Nice deep breaths."

Harry didn't remain still for long, pushing himself up and straight into his guardian's chest. His arms tucked between them, shoulders shaking as Harry took in a breath and released a sob. His head moved to rest up on Snape's upper arm, eyes remaining closed as he continued to take in slow breathes.

Snape's arms moved to wrap around the child. "Okay breathe. You are okay."

Harry shifted his head in a slow nod, blinking and staring off to the side silently. His arms moved to wrap loosely around Snape's middle. "I'm sorry," he murmured, resting his forehead against his guardian's shoulder after another moment.

"You are forgiven just as you always are." Snape's head moved placing a kiss on the side of the boy's head. "I love you very much."

"Love you," he whispered, sniffing softly with a slight wince.

"You cannot behave as you did." Snape loosened his grip on the boy, gently rubbing his back. "You are better than that behavior."

Harry raised his head up and started to take a half step away from the man. His eyes lowered down to Snape's knee as he raised a hand to rub away at the remaining tear trails across his cheeks. "I know," he sighed, dropping both arms down to his sides.

"I do not enjoy punishing you. I would prefer not to at all." The man's hand reached around the boy to gently rub his back.

Harry could only nod, shifting for a moment before leaning back forward into the man's front. "He's just a git," he whispered, releasing a small huff a breath before sniffing loudly.

"I understand how you feel but stooping to his level is not okay. You are too good for that." He gave the child a serious look. "And doing so will never end well for you."

He couldn't help but feel that he had a small victory in Snape at least allowing such language, even if it was light. "I'll remember…promise."

Snaps hooked his hands under the boy's armpits, lifting him and gently placing him on his lap. "I care for you too much to allow such behavior little boy."

"Ow," Harry hissed softly as he rested his head against Snape's neck. One arm raised and wrapped loosely across the man's shoulder. "I just got angry and tired of it."

"I understand how you felt however you cannot react in such a way again." Snape turned his head to place a kiss on the boy's forehead.

Harry hummed softly at the affection, relaxing completely after a moment. He curled up the best he could, sighing into Snape's shoulder. "I won't."

"Very good," Snape hummed softly his fingertips brushing against the boy's back. "I will hold you to those words."

The twelve-year-old lowered his arm away from Snape's shoulder and draped it over his own stomach. "I'm not in any more trouble, am I?"

"While further punishment certainly wouldn't be undeserved, I am sure that you will agree that it is not necessary." Snape's hand moved to gently tap the boy's knee. "Is that correct?"

"Yeah," Harry instantly agreed as he sighed in content. He stretched his legs out slowly, resting them over the arm of the chair as his head moved down to Snape's chest.

"Is a nap in order?" Snape raised an eyebrow as he looked down at the child in his arms.

"Hm?" He looked up then, giving a soft 'oh' before shaking his head and closing his eyes. "No. I'm just comfy." Harry shrugged his right shoulder as if it was a clearly obvious thing.

Snape hummed softly as he waved a hand causing a fire to roar to life. "What homework do you have this evening?"

"Study for a few exams coming up...but those happen on Friday. So, I have a few days," Harry muttered, looking over to the fire as it cast a warm glow across the room.

Snape nodded as he adjusted the child slightly on his lap. "Perhaps you would like to help me with a potion after dinner?"

"Mmhm," Harry smiled slightly as he nodded, allowing himself to be moved. He closed his eyes, rubbing his face slowly against Snape's cloak. "Love you."

Snape wrapped an arm around the child as he leaned back slightly in his chair. "I love you too, little boy."