May - Harry, age 8

Harry held his right hand tightly to his chest as a gentle hand against his shoulders guided him up the steps to the house. He stared down to his feet with tears blurring his vision.

Snape was going to kill him. Or be rid of him. Or something! He just knew he was!

He and his friend hadn't meant for what happened to happen. But it did.

A spare firework from the new year was found in his friend's garage and of course the suggestion was to set it off! How hard could it have been? It had all happened so fast for Harry. Lighting it had caused sparks to hit his hand near instantly. The small fire the sparks created in the back-yard ruining a nearby rose bush.

The child attempted to stifle a sniff as his friend's mother knocked on the door.


Snape looked up from his work at the knock on the door as he tried to figure out who it might be. He was not expecting any company.

The man had been grateful for the quiet Saturday morning. With just a month of the school year left he had a pile of work to do. When Harry had asked to go play with his friend that lived on the corner, the man had instantly said yes.

He stood from his desk, moving across the parlor and into the front hall. Opening the door, his eyes instantly went from his neighbor down to his child who appeared to be hurt.

"Harry? What happened?" The man leaned down to get a better look at the boy's hand.

The child only tightened his hold around his injured hand, lip quivering as he clearly struggled to maintain his emotions over the whole matter.

The woman gently rested her hand on Harry's shoulder, clearing her throat softly. "Harry and Matt had quite an accident. Matt had found a firework from the start of the year in our garage. Both boys are fine, but Harry did get a little burned. Not severe. Just a few small blisters."

She cleared her throat once more, looking down at the child as she continued. "The yard took most of the damage."

Harry felt his shoulders slump a considerable amount.

"A firework?" Snape could hardly help the sternness that had taken over his voice. His eyes remained on his child. "Harry certainly knows better than to play with fire."

Snape's eyes slowly moved from his child to his neighbor. "I apologize for any damage that he caused. I would be more than happy to pay for repairs."

The woman smiled, shaking her head. "It's a small area, it will be fine. However, I'm afraid it may be a few weeks before the boys are able to see each other."

"I'm sorry," the child finally whispered as he was gently nudged forward towards his guardian.

"I understand completely." Snape nodded. The man held a hand out for his child, raising an eyebrow as he heard the boy apologize. "Apologize properly please Harry and thank Mrs. Owens for walking you home."

Harry moved up to Snape, simply resting against the man's side instead of grabbing his hand. He turned back to Mrs. Owens, looking up to her with a glum expression. "I'm sorry and thanks for bringin' me home." As the final words passed, he looked back down, blinking several times as he gently rubbed the cold cloth over his hand.

The woman's gentle smile remained as she watched the child, nodding. "You're welcome, and you are forgiven Harry." Looking up to Snape, she gave a nod once more. "Have a good night."

With those words, she stepped off the porch and down the pathway leading home.

Harry closed his eyes tightly, leaning away from Snape slightly as his shoulders finally hitched.

"Thank you and you have my sincere apology for his behavior once more," Snape called after the woman before closing the front door.

The man looked down at the child as he sighed softly. "Let me see that hand of yours."

Slowly, Harry moved his hand from against his chest and held it out to Snape with the towel still around it. "'M s-sorry," he repeated softly, a sob catching in his throat as his other hand rubbed at his face.

Snape ignored the apology as he carefully took the towel off of the boy's hand. He frowned at the sight of the small hand.

A moment later he hooked his hands under the boy's armpits and lifted him into his arms. "We need to fix that hand and have a bit of a discussion about what has happened today." The man started towards the kitchen.

The child's left arm wrapped around Snape's neck, burrowing his face into the man's shoulder. His back shook with silent cries from both his hand and what was sure to come. Snape was surely going to be furious at him over this!

Snape stepped into the kitchen and over to the cabinet that held some potions and salves. The man pulled out a small jar of salve before he closed the cabinet and carefully set Harry down on the counter.

Snape opened the jar of salve before he cleared his throat softly. "Let me see that hand of yours."

Holding his right hand close to his chest, Harry spared a glance up to his guardian before looking back down to his hand. His palm was slightly pink, small blisters having risen around his finger and thumb.

Chin quivering, he held his hand out to Snape and looked down to his knees with a sniff.

Snape dipped his fingers into the salve, setting the jar beside the boy before carefully applying it to the boy's thumb. "What happened at your friend's house, Harry? Is it true that you two found a muggle firework?"

His hand attempted to retract as the salve first touched his skin, a whine of pain passing his lips. "Ye-yeah," Harry uttered softly, several large tears trailing down his cheeks as he nodded.

Snape continued to work on the boy's thumb, forcing his tone to refrain from growing stern. "Where did the two of you get matches to light the firework?"

"Matt's dad smokes," Harry started softly, rubbing at his face with a soft whine. "He got a lighter."

Snape hummed softly as he dipped his fingers into the salve once more. The man began to work on the child's finger. "Then you lit the firework and what happened exactly?"

"D-didn't really work." Harry attempted to pull his hand back slightly. "Oooow!"

"I am nearly done and then your hand will be healed." Snape kept a firm grip on the small hand as he continued to carefully apply the salve to the small blisters on Harry's finger. "Just take a deep breath."

Breathing hitching, a sob escaped the child as he bowed his head against his chest. "I'm s-sorrry Snape."

"I know," Snape breathed as he continued working carefully on the small hand. "We will discuss it when we are done healing your hand." The man paused as he dipped his fingers in the salve once more. "What was the damage done to the yard?"

"Th-the spot got burned and a bush…a l-little." Harry looked over to his hand as Snape started to work in more of the salve.

Snape's fingers moved to the boy's palms as the small blisters began to vanish. "Are you allowed to play with matches or fire?"

Harry shook his head rather quickly, shoulders shaking as his left arm wrapped around himself. "N-noo."

"Why is that?" Snape forced his tone to remain calm as he continued rubbing the salve into the small palm.

"'Cause it can hurt," Harry whispered, fingers curling up just slightly as he sniffed. "'M really s-sorry."

Snape applied the last of the salve to the child's small hand before he reached for the jar and lid, securing it back on. "Did you forget that you were not allowed to play with fire or matches?"

Harry only shook his head, eyes closing as they burned with more tears. He pulled his hand back, holding it to his chest carefully as he took in a shuddering breath. "I-I just thought it-it'd be fun."

Snape moved slightly placing a hand on either side of the boy. He leaned down, putting his own face at the same level as Harry's. "Playing with matches and fire is extremely dangerous. You are lucky that all you hurt was your hand. Furthermore, you know better." The man spoke in a low, serious tone.

Harry's shoulders rose up slightly as Snape leaned down to his level. He sniffed once more, both arms wrapping around his middle. After a moment of silence, the child raised his gaze to look up at his guardian.

"Do you need to stay in our own yard rather than being trusted to go to your friend's houses in order to ensure that you will behave?" Snape raised a stern eyebrow at the child. "Do you need a wooden spoon taken to that backside of yours so that I can be sure that you understand not to play with fire?"

"No!" Harry shook his head rapidly, blinking as several large tears trailed their way down to his chin. "I p-promise!" The child looked back to his hand, rubbing his thumb over it slowly.

A small sigh escaped the man as his hand moved to tap under Harry's chin firmly. "How is your hand feeling?"

"Hurts a l-little," Harry muttered, keeping his head down as he held his hand close to his chest.

Snape's hand reached out and firmly tapped the boy's small chin. "What are we going to do about all this misbehavior that has occurred?"

The child shrugged up a shoulder, looking up to Snape once more with a frown. Tears had left small trails down his face and he raised his left hand to rub at the itchy skin. "I dunno."

Snape cleared his throat loudly as he forced his heart to harden. His hand reached out, tapping the boy's chin once more as he forced himself to ignore the tears. "I think some time in the corner and a trip over my knee is more than a suitable punishment for this."

"Snape nooo!" Harry reached out, both arms wrapping tightly around Snape's neck the best he could from his position. He shook his head several times into the man's shoulder. "Noo."

"Playing with fire is very serious, little boy." Snape easily lifted the boy from the counter. He quickly adjusted him in his arms before heading towards the parlor. "When your misbehavior is serious, a serious consequence will follow."

"Well I g-got burned!" He argued against Snape's neck, his hold only remaining tight as he was taken into the parlor.

"Which was your own fault." Snape moved across the parlor towards the corner the boy typically stood in. "Do not for a moment act as though you did not expect to be punished for this behavior."

"Snaaaape," he whined into the man's shoulder, pressing his face into his guardian's shirt as fresh tears dampened the clothing. "No." Harry shook his head.

Snape looked down at the child in his arms with a raised eyebrow. "No? You did not expect to be punished? I am not sure I believe that for a moment, little boy."

"I m-mean…yeah. But I don't gotta be…really!" Harry shifted his head slightly to look up to the man with a deep frown.

Snape gave the boy a small shake of his head before he placed him on the ground, facing the corner. "Ten minutes and then we will discuss this some more."

"Snaaape!" Harry stomped a foot as he was placed down, folding his arms over himself as he coughed out a soft sob. "I'm sorry!"

"I am aware that you are sorry. You are going to be sorrier yet if you stomp that foot again." Snape looked down at the child. "Ten minutes in silence."

The eight-year-old looked down to his feet, keeping his arms around his middle. Ten minutes! That was way too long! His breathing hitched, shifting from foot to foot as he fell quiet.

Snape remained standing behind the boy for a long moment before he moved across the room and sat down in his armchair.

The man eyed the clock noting the time as he sighed softly. He found himself once more, forcing himself to remember how serious Harry's action had been. He was sure he could not let this off without some sort of consequence.

The child rocked back and forth on his feet, arms still remaining around himself besides the off time of him rubbing away a few tears. It had been silly, but all it was him and his friend being curious! How were they to know it wouldn't work?

Snape cleared his throat as the last minute ticked by. He absolutely hated this aspect of being the child's guardian. "Come here please, Harry."

Turning around, Harry's shoulders slumped down as he stepped over to his guardian. Both arms dropped to his side, stopping just in front of the man.

Snape leaned forward, once more putting his face level with the child's. "I do not ever want to hear of you playing with muggle fireworks or a lighter or fire again. Is that understood?"

"I won't ever!" Harry quickly replied, chin starting to quiver once more. "I promise."

"We are going to make sure that you remember to keep that promise." Snape took a gentle grip on the boy's arm, pulling him carefully around to his side.

"Snape no. Noooo!" The child pulled back on his arm, attempting to keep his position away. "You doooon't!"

Snape could hardly help when his face softened a considerable amount. The man reached out, hooking his hand under Harry's arm and lifting him. He sat the boy on his lap as he cleared his throat softly. "Calm down. I have seen quite a bit of tears over a little punishment."

"You always think it's littttle, but it's not!" Harry shook his head, resting his cheek on Snape's shoulder. Both hands rubbed up at his face before wrapping around Snape's neck.

Snape hummed softly at the words. "And you do not think that you deserve to be in trouble for your behavior?"

"Can't I—I be on restriction? Or somethin'?" Harry asked, curling his legs up.

"You would rather spend the next month of spring indoors?" Snape turned his head slightly in order to see the boy's face better.

"A month!" Harry nearly squeaked, fresh tears blurring his vision. "Not a month! That's too long."

"Four full weekends indoors." Snape nodded seriously. "If that is what you prefer then I will consider that as your punishment."

"That's too looong." The child shifted himself up slightly, tightening his hold around Snape's neck.

Snape's hand moved to firmly pat the small portion of the boy's rear end that he had access to. "Then we will put this behind us in just a minute or so." The man's hand tapped once more. "On your feet please."

"No," Harry shook his head, standing despite his words. Still, he folded his arms over his middle and stared down to his feet.

"Fireworks are not toys." Snape took the boy's hand once more, this time easily leading him to his side. "Neither is fire."

Fresh tears burned at the child's eyes as he was easily pulled to Snape's side. His free hand rose and rubbed at his face, shaking his head slowly. "'M soorrry," he whined, looking back up to Snape.

"I know that you are sorry." Snape released his grip on the child, his hands moving to undo his trousers. "I never want this to hear of something like this happening again Harry."

The child hid his face within his hands, shoulders hitching as he took in a shuddering breath. "It w-woon't."

Snape swallowed hard, forcing his heart to harden as he took a gentle hold on the child once more and quickly helped him over his knee.

The man hooked his fingers into the boy's trousers pulling both them and his underpants down as far as needed. "You know better, little boy." Snape's left arm wrapped around the child's middle. "You could have been seriously injured or worse."

Harry's right hand tenderly gripped at Snape's pant leg before it tightened as normal. His hand ached, but not near as bad. Shifting his head, he pressed his face against the chair slightly as his back shook.

Snape found himself forcing his heart to harden once more as he raised his hand and brought it down in a stinging smack. "I am absolutely appalled at your behavior." The man raised his hand allowing it to fall several more times. "You should be ashamed of your behavior."

His legs kicked up once the smacks started to rain down, his sobs now much more audible. Shoulders and back shook as he coughed. The punishment was bad enough—the scolding was far worse!

"I am disappointed in your behavior." Snape continued to let his hand fall on his small target. "I should be able to trust you to go out to play without worrying that you are breaking rules and putting yourself in danger."

"I-I'm ssorry!" He yelped loudly, rubbing his face into his arm as he coughed. The tears continued to rise and burn at his eyes, yet Harry only bowed his head back down.

Snape's hand moved down, concentrating on the boy's sit spots as he landed several more swats before stopping. He looked down at the child's now red backside, cringing slightly. He carefully pulled the small underpants back up before his grip on Harry loosened, his hand now gently rubbing the boy's back. "Okay. You are okay. Just breathe Harry."

Harry continued to sob loudly over his guardian's lap, finally releasing Snape's pant leg and rubbing at his face. After a few long minutes, his breathing started to slow while taking in a deep breath.

Snape, once more, hooked his hands under the boy's arms, lifting and righting him before placing him on his knee. "You are okay," he said softly.

The child wrapped his arms around Snape's neck as he was moved, tucking his head close to the man's neck. "'M s-sorry.." he hiccupped, taking in another breath.

Snape's arms wrapped around the small boy as he hugged him tightly. "I forgive you," he breathed softly. "I am not cross with you."

Harry sniffed, rubbing his face against Snape's shoulder before he rested his chin up. He breathed slowly, eyes fluttering closed. Still, he felt so terrible, and now his head hurt!

"I want you to understand that when you do something wrong that puts your safety in jeopardy, I cannot allow that to go without a serious consequence." The man leaned down as he spoke, pulling the child's trainers off of his feet.

He whined softly in response, nuzzling his head closer against Snape's neck. "I'm really s-sorry." Harry breathed, arms relaxing down.

"I know," Snape hummed softly as he pulled the boy's trousers off of his legs, placing them on the arm of his chair. "Perhaps we should get you upstairs for a bit of a nap?"

Harry shrugged before nodding slowly. "Y-yeah," he whispered, lowering his head to rest on his guardian's chest.

Snape stood, with the child still in his arms. "When you wake up, you are going to write a letter apologizing to your friend's parents." The man started towards the staircase.

"Okay." He shifted his head around to rest back on Snape's shoulder. "Mn," Harry's arms tightened around the man's neck before they slumped down completely. He felt so exhausted. Especially after his previous panic and on top of his punishment, it had been a terrible afternoon.

Snape adjusted the child in his arms as he started up the staircase. "Do you need the lavatory before you lie down?"

"No." Harry shook his head, his left hand idly rubbing against Snape's shoulder and the soft fabric.

Snape stepped onto the second floor and moved in the direction of Harry's bedroom. "Perhaps after you write your letter you can help me in my laboratory before dinner."

He nodded against Snape, humming once more with a sniff. "Please," the child whispered softly, his shoulders relaxing.

Snape moved into the boy's bedroom looking down at him once more. "Sleep pants or are you staying as you are?"

"How I am." Harry pulled his head up, raising his hand up to rub at his face.

Snape hummed softly as he walked over to Harry's bed. Leaning down, the man pulled the blanket and sheet down before carefully placing the child on his bed. "Where is your owl?"

He laid back, rolling onto his side and curling his legs up to his chest. "I think over there," Harry motioned an arm behind him and towards the floor on the other side of the bed.

Snape moved around the bed, leaning down to pick up the owl. The man leaned over the child, placing the owl beside him before he pulled the blankets up over his shoulder. "Do you want me to rub your back?" Snape walked back around to the other side of the bed.

Harry's arm wrapped around the stuffed animal tightly, rolling more onto his stomach. He gave a nod with a soft, "uh-huh," eyes remaining closed.

Snape sat down on the edge of the bed as his hand moved to gently rub the small back. "Sleep well, little boy."