May - Harry, age 16
Harry sat across Snape's armchair, his legs resting over the arm as he leaned his side against the soft back. His eyes remained trained on the empty fireplace before flickering down to his knees. He hadn't been paying attention to how long ago Snape had sent him down to the quarters and at this point, it was pointless to worry about. His mind actually drifted back to Malfoy. The Slytherin had looked ghostly pale, blood and water mixing- Harry shook his head, closing his eyes tightly. He had done that. He casted that spell.
The teenager's arms wrapped around his middle, pulling his legs up slightly while he raised his hand to remove his glasses. Shifting, he reached his hand back and dropped them onto the side table carefully before draping his arm back across his stomach.
He never would have meant something like that. A stunning spell or something to that nature, sure. But whatever that was... He shook his head before blinking and sparing a glance to the clock. Snape had seemed eerily calm when he had found them and he couldn't imagine how the man would actually be once he stepped through the door. There was no doubt he would not be seeing the sunlight for some time.
Snape could still feel his heart beating against his rib cage as he made his way from the hospital wing down to the dungeons. He was sure that he had never been so cross with his child. If he had been just another moment he could have found Draco lying there dead. The man knew exactly what spell Harry had used as well. He also knew that there was no way in hell that his child knew what that spell was going to do before he had cast it.
The man waved a hand causing his parlor door to swing open loudly despite the fact that he was still several feet away from the door.
Harry jolted slightly as the door swung open, turning his head sharply to the entry of the parlor and seeing... nothing. His stomach twisted further as he heard the sounds of steps still echoing in the hall before he turned back to look to his knees. He swallowed heavily, rubbing his thumb idly against his sleeve of his other arm.
A moment later Snape stepped into his parlor, closing the door loudly behind him. "What were you thinking?" He hissed as he spotted Harry in his armchair.
The man was across the room in four large steps. He leaned down, placing a hand on either arm of the chair, effectively trapping his child. "What could you possibly have been thinking?"
Harry sat up properly in the chair mere seconds before Snape reached him, grimacing as he turned his head away slightly to focus his stare at his guardian's shoulder. He simply couldn't look at him. "I don't know," he whispered.
"You do not know?" Snape breathed out harshly. "Where did you learn that spell?" The man leaned slightly to the side, moving his head in an attempt to see the teenager's face.
As Snape moved, Harry briefly locked eyes with the man before looking down towards his lap instead. "A book," he breathed softly, biting the inside of his cheek slightly.
"What book?" Snape found himself fighting the urge to pull his child out of the chair and land half a dozen swats to his backside. He leaned in closer to Harry's face. "What book taught you such a spell?" The man knew the answer but he was curious as to whether his child would lie.
Harry's gaze flicked over to the end of the couch where his book bag rested before looking back to the man. A random book in the library briefly crossed his mind but he pushed the idea away. Snape would demand him to find it so they could turn it in if they went down that path and that would lead to a whole other issue. "It's in my bag."
Snape slowly stood up straight and took a step backwards, allowing the boy room to stand. "Get it. Now."
Slowly, the teenager stood and dodged a step over to be sure to be out of Snape's range as he moved over to his school bag. Picking it up, he rested it on the couch cushion and flipped it open before withdrawing his- or the Halfblood Prince's, potion textbook. He turned, staring down to the old book.
Snape raised an eyebrow as he saw the book in the boy's hands. Despite his anger he couldn't help but be impressed that Harry had not attempted to lie. "Give it to me." The man held out his hand.
Stepping back to Snape, Harry sighed heavily as he rested the book in the man's hand. "I'm sorry."
Snape took the book from the child as he slowly and silently counted backwards from ten. Sorry wasn't even close to enough for what his child had done. "Corner."
"Dad..." Harry swallowed once more, taking a half step back while taking in a deep breath. "I didn't.. I didn't mean to hurt him! You know I wouldn't do that," he muttered softly, shoulders slouching down.
Snape shook his head at the words. "If you do not get your backside into that corner and give me a moment to calm down..." the man trailed off as his eyes narrowed on his child.
He certainly didn't need any more threat than that as he moved across the parlor, only stopping once he was at the corner. The teenager blinked, raising a hand up to rub across his eyes before lowering it down to his side. "Is Malfoy okay at least?" Despite what he thought about the Slytherin, he truly hadn't set out to hurt him. He had just wanted to make him admit what he had done.
"He is alive," Snape spat out the words. "Despite how close to death he came." The man moved over to his armchair, sitting down. "He is in the hospital wing recovering."
Harry cringed at the tone and the words themselves, looking down to his sock clad feet. He never thought he'd find such a dark spell in a school book.
Snape let out a sigh as he glanced up at the clock. The man was half tempted to let the teenager spend the next hour staring at the wall. His eyes moved down to the book that was still in his hand. Feeling the annoyance rise in him once more as he silently sent the book to the shelf in his office. Harry knew better. He knew better to keep that book instead of turning it in. He knew better than to use a spell when he did not know what it would do.
Shifting slightly, Harry raised his head up and closed his eyes with a slow breath. He had half expected Snape to be yelling or... or something! But instead he only heard silence behind him and it made his stomach twist. Somehow it made him feel even worse- and at that point that was saying something.
Snape's eyes closed, his hand moving to pinch the bridge of his nose as he found himself silently counting backwards from ten once more. As far as he was concerned this was the worst thing his child had ever done and the man had no idea how he was going to handle such a thing.
Silence reigned for... Harry wasn't sure how long. He tapped his foot idly against the floor, curling his toes slightly. The silence was terrible and the air itself felt thick with tension. How much more could he have mucked up? He almost killed someone!
Snape found himself starting over and counting once more several times before his hand dropped and his eyes slowly opened. Glancing up at the clock he noted that Harry had been standing in the corner for just over thirty minutes.
"What caused you to do such a thing?" His tone was low and stern as he sat up a bit straighter.
"I..." The teenager took in a deep breath. Nothing would save him from this. "I just remembered it said 'for enemies' and it came out. I did know it would... do that," he muttered softly, choosing to keep facing the wall despite speaking to the man over his shoulder.
"If I had been even another moment late he would have died." Snape's nostrils flared. "You would have killed him. Do you even realize that?"
"Yes!" Harry turned then, feeling his shoulders stiffen slightly. He nearly spat out the words that it was because of Malfoy that Katie had been in St. Mungo's for months, but no... no he couldn't justify anything. Not then.
"He attacked first.. and nothing else would stop him. It was the only other thing I could think of. No, I didn't mean to hurt him!" He snapped before Snape could even think such a thing.
"Put your nose back in that corner!" Snape practically yelled as he stood. "And you had best watch your tone, young man. I do not recall stating that you meant for this to happen."
Harry turned away sharply, eyes closing as he released a breath. "I just didn't want you to think I did.. that's all."
"You also know better than to use a spell when you do not know what it will do." Snape took several steps towards his child. "Just as you know that you should have turned that book in that you were using the moment you received it."
Harry kept his gaze forward for a long moment before turning just slightly to stare towards Snape as the man approached a few steps closer. "It was helping me in potions," he admitted softly, remaining partially turned around to watch the man.
"It was supplying you with the answers," Snape corrected his child. "Do not for a moment behave as if you do not know that is wrong." The man took another step forward, pausing just inches behind his child.
"It didn't give me the answers. It was the correct way to make the potions. How could anyone make a potion right if the book is wrong to begin with?" Harry turned fully around once Snape stepped behind him, clearly protecting his backside from any sudden assault.
"I do not want to hear your excuses, little boy. It was wrong and you know it. You know damn well that had I seen that book I would have made you turn it in." The man leaned forward, putting his own face closer to his child's.
"It's not an excuse, it's the truth." Harry turned his head away slightly, releasing a breath as he closed his eyes.
Snape reached his hand out taking a firm grip on the teenager's chin, forcing Harry's gaze to meet his. "What were you thinking using a spell that you did not know? Have you ever been told that such a thing is acceptable?"
The teenager blinked as his head was turned back, tightening his jaw just slightly before forcing himself to slowly relax in the hold. "No," he muttered under a breath, shaking his head faintly in the man's hand. "And I wasn't. It was something that just came out."
"Something that just came out?" Snape repeated the words back in an exasperated tone. "You could have killed him! As it stands you seriously injured him." The man's grip on the teenager's chin tightened slightly. "There is no excuse for using a spell that you do not know the outcome of!"
Harry cringed as the grip tightened, attempting to finally pull his face away. "Stop." He raised an arm up, pressing it against Snape's own in an attempt to move the man away. "I'm sorry alright? I can't take it back!"
The man felt his annoyance rise at the lack of sincerity in his child's tone. "What is wrong with you? What happened to cause you to do such a thing?" Snape made no attempt to release his grip on the teenager's chin.
"Because I wanted to confront him about Katie! I didn't go there to start a fight, I did just want to get some answers. He started the fight and when he tried to use the Cruciatus- I ... I did that spell. It was the only thing that came to mind right then." His tone softened as he spoke, dropping his arm down to his side completely.
"When he did what?" Snape released his grip on his child's chin. "He attempted the Cruciatus Curse?"
"Yeah. Myrtle was there. You could ask her." Harry moved his head away slightly once Snape released him, taking in a shuddering breath.
"Is there some reason that I cannot trust you? Some reason that I need to go question Myrtle?" The man raised an eyebrow at his child. "I do not believe you would be foolish enough to lie to me on top of everything else."
"No.. I was just saying if you don't believe me." Harry felt his shoulders slowly slack, resting back slightly against the wall.
"While I do not find his behavior to be acceptable at all, you still know better than to use a spell that you do not know the outcome of. What if that spell would have killed him instantly?" The man took a step closer to the boy.
"And what should I have done then? Use another known unforgivable or just be hit with one?" Harry took in a breath, clearly knowing his words came out more angry than he intended but they were true!
Snape took a firm grip on the boy's arm, pulling him away from the wall and turning him to the side before landing a particularly hard swat to his trouser clad backside. "You should not have been fighting in the first place!" The man's hand fell again in the same spot. "Have you not been getting into trouble for doing so since you were eleven blasted years old?" Snape landed yet another hard smack in the same place before releasing his grip on the boy.
"I didn't start it! Harry twisted away, backing up a few steps to the side as he took in several breaths, hot tears brimming his eyes as he shook his head. "I didn't cast the first spell and I didn't go looking for a fight! The moment he saw me he started it!" His tone raised as he continued, a slight desperation entering it. "I was trying to just disarm him after he started it!"
"You told me only moments ago that you went to confront him about Ms. Bell, you sought him out." The man let out an exasperated sigh. "What he did was wrong and when he is healed it will be dealt with but that does not excuse your behavior, little boy."
"I wanted to confront him but I didn't go looking for a duel! I'm not an idiot!" Harry spat back as he remained several steps away from the man.
"No, you are a naughty, imprudent child that is unfortunately in need of a harsh reminder of the rules." Snape's hands moved to his waist, his fingers quickly undoing his belt.
"What? What should I have done?" He had defended himself! The teenager shook his head, backing up several more steps while rubbing his eyes quickly.
"You should not have been fighting in the halls in the first place!" Snape pulled his belt from the loops on his pants. "If that was unavoidable, you should have never used a spell like you did without knowing what the outcome could be."
"So what you're saying is I should have not defended myself at all! You've been impossible nearly all year." Harry knew exactly where this was all heading, and his fingertips felt numb at the mere thought of it all. So what was the worse thing that could happen now if Snape's mind was set? Harry moved from his spot, his steps quick as he moved towards the hall and towards his room.
"You should not have used a spell that you are not familiar with!" Snape followed the teenager towards the hallway. "You know better than to do that. I raised you better than to behave like that! What would you have done had you killed him? Do you want to live with that on your conscience for the rest of your life?" The man could hardly help as his tone grew louder with each word.
"No!" Harry turned sharply on his heel towards Snape, taking in several breathes. "That's why my whole point was to disarm him and it was a last resort! But you don't seem to get that."
"No, young man, you do not get it!" Snape replied in what could only be described as a yell. "There is no excuse for what you did. You used a spell without any knowledge of it on someone else."
The teenager cringed at the tone, eyes falling to the floor as he simply rested his hand on his door. It was always rare for Snape to actually yell. A tense silence fell over him, curling his fingers slightly. "I'm not... I don't know. It doesn't matter anymore does it?" His throat ached, feeling his tears swell up before he blinked and rubbed them away with his other hand. Snape's mind was already set. It was pointless to try to make him see his own view on it.
Snape was silent for a moment as he took in a breath, swallowing hard. He forced his tone to lower a considerable amount. "What does not matter?"
"What I say. Why I did it. I'm not trying to excuse it... I'm telling you why it happened and you're not even really listening." He made a slight motion towards Snape with his hand and to the belt the man held. "Your mind is set. So why bother."
"I am listening to you. I understand that you did not do it on purpose. I know that you would not set out to intentionally try and kill him or even harm him as badly as you did. He started the fight, I hear you Harry." The man moved his free hand to push the teenager's bedroom door open. "I am not quite sure that you are hearing me though."
"I hear you." Harry glanced into his room but made no other movement to step into it. "I shouldn't have used a spell I didn't know."
Snape gave a small nod at the words. "Actions have consequences, you learned that lesson when you were all of six."
His gaze fell briefly on the man's belt before falling down to the floor completely. There was no fixing this.
"Have you any idea what could have happened had someone else found the two of you?" Snape's free hand moved to tap the underside of the boy's chin firmly. "You could be explaining your actions to the Ministry right now."
Harry found himself stepping closer to his guardian, wrapping his arms around Snape's middle as he rested his forehead down against the man's shoulder.
A small sigh escaped the man as his free hand moved to gently rub his child's back. "You need to use that brilliant brain of yours. Do you hear me?"
"I try," he muttered into the man's cloak, sighing softly. "I really do."
Snape hummed softly at the words. "You did not do so this evening I'm afraid."
"I didn't know what else to do and it just came out." Harry pulled away then, resting his arms across his middle.
Snape gave a small nod at the explanation. He was not going to continue arguing with the boy about why his actions were wrong. Instead, he gaze moved to Harry's bed and then back to the teenager. "Perhaps we should get this over with then?" The man stepped past Harry and into his room.
"Dad..." The teenager watched as Snape moved into his room, shoulders slouching down as he took in a deep breath once more before slowly stepping in as well.
Snape ignored the small protest, clearing his throat instead. "Trousers and shorts down. You can lie over the edge of your bed."
It had been so long since he was seriously punished for anything and dread twisted his stomach tightly as he shook his head. "No."
Snape raised an eyebrow at the word. "That is fine too. You may stay in here until you are ready to do so. I can go out to the parlor if you like and we can handle this in an hour or so instead."
"I... I don't know." Harry remained in his place just hardly inside the room. Getting it over with seemed to be best but he didn't want to go through with it at all.
Snape raised a hand, crooking a finger to the teenager. "Come here."
Shifting for a mere moment, he finally moved from his spot and stepped over to the man.
Snape's empty hand moved, reaching around the teenager to gently rub his shoulder. "Calm down. We will get this over with quickly and then we will talk a bit more."
He doubted there would be much more to say but Harry felt himself slowly nodding regardless. "Okay."
Snape's fingertips patted against the boy's back. "Do as I have asked; trousers and shorts down and over the edge of the bed."
Harry felt himself move over to the bed, blinking as his vision blurred terribly from the tears quickly brimming. He laid over the edge of the bed before reaching and lowering his trousers and shorts just as far as they would need to be.
Taking in a breath, he folded his arms next to his head before hiding his face into the crook of his left arm.
Snape moved forward, placing his left hand firmly on the small of the boy's back. "Using spells that you do not know is so very dangerous. Do you understand that?"
Harry nudged his head further into his elbow, only nodding slowly as his back stiffened. "Yes."
"I do not want to ever hear of it happening again." The man brought his arm back, allowing his belt to fall across the presented target a second later. "Is that understood?"
A yelp escaped the teenager as he kicked a leg up slightly, cringing as he tightened his arms around his face. "Okay!"
Snape was silent as he allowed his belt to fall twice more. As he raised his hand and brought it down for the fourth time, the man cleared his throat softly. "You are not too old to be reminded of the rules, Harry. Nor are you too old to be brought down a few pegs when need be."
By the time the third strike had landed, a sob shook the teen's back and shoulders as he kept his face pressed tightly into his arm. He knew Snape didn't expect an answer, and he was in no way about to attempt one.
"We are nearly done here." Snape's tone was low as he allowed his belt to land across the lower portion on his child's backside. His hand pushed down a bit more firmly on the teenager's back.
A muffled yelp and sob was the only response the teenager gave, shifting uncomfortably. He wished the bed would just swallow him whole. He wished that none of this even happened to begin with.
Snape allowed his belt to fall twice more across the same spot before he lowered it to his side. His grip on the boy loosened before he began gently rubbing his back. "Deep breaths," he hummed out softly. "Nice deep breaths."
Harry took in only a few short breaths before he shifted and adjusted his clothing. A moment later he laid fully onto his bed, curling up onto his side facing towards his guardian as he pressed his face into his pillow.
Snape set his belt down on Harry's bedside table before sitting down beside the child, his hand moving to reach over Harry and gently rub his back. "That had better have been the last time."
He only gave a small nod, rubbing his tears away against his pillow before sparing a look up towards Snape. "Swear," Harry uttered softly, taking in a hitched breath.
The man waved his free hand causing a washcloth to appear. He quickly enchanted it to remain cool before carefully pressing it under his child's right eye. "I think it would be best if you spent the weekend down here in these quarters."
"Fine," Harry breathed, closing his eyes as the cloth was pressed against his face. He certainly felt no need to argue anymore than he had already that night.
Snape hummed softly as he tended to the skin around the teenager's eyes. "You are going to have to request a new potions book this week as well."
"But they're wrong... Hermione and I compared. I was able to make the potions right but even she couldn't while following her book." Harry rolled to lay on his back, both eyes closing despite the wince that crossed his face.
"I will speak to Professor Slughorn about that," Snape promised as he moved the washcloth away from the boy's face, lying it on the table. "Did you eat enough dinner earlier? I can have a plate sent in."
"I'm fine... not hungry anyway." He blinked as the cloth was moved away, looking over to Snape.
"If you want to be left alone, I will leave you be." Snape's hand moved to brush a stray tear from the child's left cheek.
"No." Harry shook his head, rolling back onto his side with a small wince as he tucked one arm under his pillow. "I don't want to be."
Snape hummed softly as his hand moved to gently tap the boy's hip. "What is going on in that mind of yours? Hm?"
"Nothing now, honestly." The teenager slowly relaxed, eyes closing with a sigh. "I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?" Snape hummed softly as he eyed the boy carefully.
"Everything." Harry rolled further, laying completely on his stomach while sighing. Both arms tucked under his pillow, rubbing away the remaining stray tears against it.
Snape's hand moved to gently rub between the teenager's shoulder blades. "It is important that you know that I was not cross with you for defending yourself but rather for the spell that you used to do so."
"I didn't know what else to do. It was the only thing that I could think of and I had to say something before he finished his." Harry fell silent once more, blinking as he lifted his head up and rested his chin on his pillow to stare at his headboard.
"In the future, I expect you to think about your actions a bit better." Snape's fingertips tapped gently against the boy's back. "There is responsibility in using spells."
"Then you tell me what I should have done. Faced with an unforgivable." He wanted to add that he was sure Snape had been in some sort of similar position in the past, but bit his tongue at the thought.
"As I already said, Harry. You should not have sought him out in the first place. You know that fighting is not allowed. I'm not sure what you thought would come of your doing so." The man's tone was soft as he looked down at his child.
"That's not an answer to my question because I didn't think I would be put in that type of situation. But I was, and at this rate I'm sure it'll happen again. So what do you suggest?" Harry turned his head slightly, eyes rising up to study Snape's face.
Snape was silent for a moment as he thought the question over. He knew his child well enough to know that despite things he may have said in anger, Harry could not handle killing anyone. "I would suggest any spell that does not end with the murder of someone at your hands."
Harry sighed softly, resting his cheek back down onto his pillow as he continued to stare up to his guardian. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course." The man's hand rested on the small of the boy's back.
"The writing in that book... it just." Harry paused, frowning slightly to himself. He didn't want to accuse the man of anything but he could hardly help it. "It looks a lot like yours." He had seen Snape's signature enough through his life. To know exactly how the man wrote certain letters. Sure there was a possibility it could have been another. Surely there was no harm is asking though.
Snape gave a small nod as his fingertips tapped against the boy's back. "I am not going to be dishonest with you, Harry. That was my book many years ago and that spell you used was one I created. I was quite impressed that when I asked you where you had learned it you did not lie to me."
"You made that?" Harry sat up rather quickly, a small grimace crossing his face as he did so. "Why? How?"
The man pulled his hand back as his child sat up properly. A small smirk took over the man's lips for a fleeting moment before he nodded once more. "I did. I simply perfected a charm used for cutting herbs into a curse capable of cutting through flesh. I had quite a bit of extra time on my hands when I was a student."
"And marked it for enemies." Harry pointed out, frowning slightly as he leaned forward.
"I did." Snape's hand moved to gently tap the boy's knee. "I was young and I certainly never imagined that another student would have my book years later and try such a spell on someone else."
Harry swallowed, looking down to Snape's hand. "Did you make other spells?" Surely he didn't stop at just one after all that time.
"A fair few. However, that is a different conversation for another time." The man's hand patted once more. "I have a question for you now."
"Okay." Harry gave a nod, resting his arms over his middle as he gave a small smile before letting it fade away.
"Earlier, you were quite upset and said that I have been impossible nearly all year. Elaborate on that please." The man's hand moved to tap the underside of the boy's chin softly.
Harry's shoulders slouched, resting his chin partially against Snape's hand as he stared at the man. He had hoped Snape wouldn't have focused on that. "It's just... you seem to get frustrated easier." He shrugged, leaning back slightly.
Snape hummed softly at the explanation. "I suppose I do at times."
Harry glanced down to his lap, shrugging a shoulder slightly. "It's just been another year I guess."
"You did not think to mention when you are annoyed with me prior to today?" The man's pointer finger tapped gently once more. "You know that you can do so when you are not yelling it at me."
Harry kept his gaze down, taking in a breath before slowly releasing it. "I'm sorry."
Snape was silent for a long moment before his finger gently tapped once more. "Perhaps we both need to work on communication and controlling our tempers. Hm?"
"Yeah." Harry gave a small grin up to the man, sighing softly with a nod. "I'll do better."
"If you feel frustrated with me you are allowed to speak to me about it. I hope that you know that." The man allowed his hand to drop onto his lap. "I am always available to talk."
"I know." Harry leaned back slightly, relaxing his shoulders with a smile. "Thanks, dad."
"There is no need to thank me for that." Snape sat up a bit straighter. "I just hope that you remember it."
"I will." Harry leaned over despite Snape sitting up further away, wrapping his arms around the man's middle as his head rested on his guardian's shoulder.
Snape wrapped his arms around his child, his hand gently tapping his back. "And behave yourself please. I was not being sarcastic when I said I hope that was the last time."
The teenager gave a nod against Snape's cloak, eyes closing as his own hand slowly rubbed against the man's back. He had absolutely no plans to attack anyone again.
The man hummed softly. "Are we feeling a bit better about it all at least?"
"A bit. I'm still not okay having an unforgivable almost thrown at me," Harry muttered, blinking and rolling his eyes as he stared to the far wall.
"That will be dealt with accordingly once he is healed," Snape promised. "It is certainly not acceptable behavior at all. His fate will be similar to yours."
"Good," he muttered softly, rubbing his face against Snape's shoulder as he sighed. "Then that's fine."
Snape's hand moved to gently ruffle the boy's hair. "When was the last time we trimmed your hair? It's unruly once more."
"It's been awhile. It is starting to annoy me again, actually." Harry's lips twitched to a small grin. "Was probably during summer."
"We should tend to that before you look like a troll." The man chuckled softly.
"I'll allow it this weekend. And I wouldn't look like a troll! It was longer than this a few years ago." He pulled away then, huffing out a breath.
"I'm still not sure how I allowed that." The man nearly rolled his eyes at the thought of it. "I should have shaved you bald."
"You would have woken up the same way that night if you dared to." Harry shifted back, leaning against his headboard with a grin. "No punishment would have stopped that."
"You would not dare." Snape gave his child a mock stern glare. "You would still be on restriction for such a stunt."
"Let's not find out what I would do." A wide grin spread across the teen's face. "It would be worth it."
Snape swallowed a chuckle as he leaned forward pressing a kiss to the boy's forehead. "Let's neither of us shave our heads. Hm?"
"Sounds like the best plan." Harry sighed softly, resting his head back with a hum.
"Are you going to bed or are you coming back out in the parlor?" The man questioned as he stood.
"I'll come back out and relax a bit." As Snape stood, Harry shifted and did so as well. He was beyond grateful that the sting across his bottom had faded a considerable amount and that neither of them were yelling any more. And hopefully not again anytime soon.
The man reached over, picking up his belt from the bedside table and putting it back on as quickly as he could. "Perhaps some tea and a chocolate biscuit or two?"
Harry wisely chose to not pay attention to his guardian or, more specifically, the belt, as he moved across his bed room and simply paused next to the door. "I would say two biscuits, after everything."
Snape chuckled softly as he moved towards the doorway. "I think that after everything, as you put it, two is more than acceptable." He placed a gentle hand on his child's shoulder as he led him into the hall. "Do not forget that you will be spending the weekend down here."
"Fine." Allowing himself to be guided down the hall and into the parlor. It was there that he split away from his guardian, moving to the couch and instantly curling against the corner of it. His arms rested on the arm of the couch as his legs pulled up underneath himself.
Once in the parlor, Snape tapped the coffee table twice causing two cups of tea and a small plate of biscuits to appear. "Do you have homework this evening?" The man sat down in his armchair.
"I don't." Reaching, Harry took the cup closest to him and a chocolate biscuit as well. He rested the cup on the side table next to him, taking a bite of the sweet.
"That is unusual." Snape leaned forward picking up his own teacup. "A nice break I suppose."
"One day of the week I finally don't have essays to write and it's unusual. You didn't assign homework either, you know." Harry pointed out as he took another bite. "Unusual."
"I can certainly give you a special assignment to do if you are feeling neglected. A ten foot essay would be quite an enjoyment to read." The man swallowed a smirk, forcing his face to remain normal.
"No no. I could never force you to grade something like that." Harry grinned over, quite clearly enjoying the moment. "You'll have to deal with dueling with me in class soon anyway."
"I am quite looking forward to that actually." Snape sat up a bit straighter. "You are one of the few students that will likely keep me on my toes."
"I can't wait. I mean... I mean that in a nice way. We haven't actually dueled before. But don't doubt the others either. Remember? I trained a lot of them last year." Harry hummed, finishing the biscuit and picking up the cup of tea to take a swallow.
"Trained or not there is a natural ability that cannot be taught, one that you possess." The man took a long sip of his tea.
"Then I can't wait... that's supposed to be on Monday right? What if I actually disarm you?" Harry leaned forward, placing his cup back down as he picked up the second biscuit.
"Correct, it is on Monday." Snape glanced over at the boy. "Disarming is perfectly fair in a duel."
"Perfect." The teenager leaned back once more into the couch, expression softening a considerable amount as he fell silent otherwise. Things would be perfectly fine with them now.