Chapter Fifteen: Punishment

Harry sighed and wished Brian would ahead and do the worksheet so he wouldn't have the unfortunate task of punishing the usually cooperative child again.

All the students in his class had been invited to play in the Great Hall on some obstacle course that had been created, but Brian, along with all the other students, had been given a very simple worksheet to do to see how they were progressing with color recognition. Everyone, except Brian, had finished the sheet in class since Ms. Warner had to see the completed worksheet before they could enter and play.

Harry had said he wasn't allowed to leave the common room to do anything since he knew the child would do something as equally tiring as an obstacle course and wouldn't have any energy to do anything but take a bath and go to bed. When Harry had told him this, the child had promptly declared that he wasn't going to do it, and Harry couldn't make him.

One part of Harry was relieved. This statement proved that Brian was over most of his insecurities, but it also frustrated him. Why couldn't he just cooperate? Harry had a lot of homework to do. He could, and would, make the child do the work sheet, but how could he accomplish this without sounding mean to the child? Brian didn't do well this punishments as Harry had found out.

He had been given a one hour time out a few days earlier after straying away from Harry while they were walking around the grounds so he go look at bug that Harry had told him to stay away from because it was dangerous. Harry had caught him to time before the bug could sting him and leave him in the hospital wing until the end of school.

Harry had talked to him, explained his punishment, why he was being punished, reassured the child he still loved him and wanted him before leaving him alone in Gryffindor Tower on the bed that had been set up beside Harry's for the child. Leaving him alone had turned out to be a big mistake.

One of the boys had come back down and told Harry that he heard Brian sobbing. Brian had thrown himself at Harry, sobbing, and apologizing. Harry reassured him that everything was fine between and that he wasn't going to send him away, but it had taken a while for the three year old to stop crying.

Earlier that night, Brian had gone over to some of the first year girls and asked them for "help" on his worksheet. They had ended up doing the sheet for him. He had then proceeded to sneak out of Gryffindor Tower, after Harry had specifically told him he wasn't allowed to leave until he had finished the worksheet, and was almost at the Great Hall when Harry got up to him, exasperated.

Harry had swiftly picked him up and carried him back to Gryffindor Tower lecturing him all the way. He got the story out of him on the way. Harry made him sit in the common room, set off from everyone else, completely silent, for half and hour with his worksheet on his lap with instruction to do it, but never touched it. Harry had made a duplicate copy except that this one wasn't finished.

The child had seemed madder than anything else, which Harry was glad for. He wasn't in the mood to tell with an upset three year old. Harry didn't know why he was being rebellious. He had asked him how he'd been sleeping, though he knew the answer, thinking that might be the problem. He had asked him if he felt bad, but the child had said no. Why ever he was being so rebellious, Harry hoped it stopped soon. His wish wasn't coming true.

Harry finished his essay, pushed his books away, and pulled Brian, who was sitting beside him, onto his lap, placed his worksheet and colored pencils in front of him, and then turned to Brian. "Now, do the worksheet. I'm not letting you move until you do it," Harry said sternly thankful for the way his voice had come out. The three year old crossed his arms and scowled darkly. Harry raised his eyebrows and sighed. "If you don't do it now, you'll go to bed an hour early for a week."

Brian sullenly picked up a colored pencil and began to color in the right area. Harry could his tears were of anger, not insecurities, but it didn't ease the feeling in his chest at seeing the child cry. As guilt took over, he loosened his hold to rub the child's back though he still knew what he had to do no matter how mad it made the young child.

"You're going straight to bed after you finished this." It was only seven. Brian turned and looked at him, his small face mad.

"That's not fair!"

"Yes, it is. You talked students into doing your worksheet for you, snuck out of here, scared me, and then you still didn't do it when I asked you to. You're going to bed early. No arguments."

Harry made sure his voice was stern, but not overly harsh. Brian glared at him for a second before turning back to his worksheet seeing he wasn't going to convince his surrogate father otherwise, with tears running down his cheeks at the injustice of it all.

Harry rubbed his back, face pained, and kissed his forehead. "I love you," he said in the child's ear. "You know that, don't you?"

Brian nodded. "Yes, but I don't want to go to bed early."

Harry smiled. At least he didn't think Harry didn't love him anymore. He was simply crying because he didn't want to be punished.

Harry tucked Brian into bed ten minutes later and dimmed the lights. The child had thankfully stopped crying quickly, and his anger had faded turning into unwanted acceptance.

"Is tonight the only night I have to go to bed early?"

Harry nodded. "Only tonight." Harry smiled as the child sighed heavily.

"Okay." Harry let his doubts about the punishing the child wash away as Brian held up his arms for a hug and kiss. Harry complied with the silent command, tucked him again, and then left to go back and finish some of his homework.

Author's Note: I don't think my computer is counting the words right. It says it's only 1,067 but I wrote long paragraphs and it's five pages long.... Oh well. Okay, there's the all important punishment chapter. Next chapter I am going to use my awesome power to speed up time so I can write some more fluffy stuff, and then after that, the action will start again, but we need the chapters to show Harry and Brian's relationship growing, though I don't fully understand why that spell that Voldie did was powerful, but whatever.

I have plans for the story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be proud of me!!!! Lol. This like never happens, but I supposed I shouldn't get to excited until I actually write it... anyway!

Thank you so much for all the reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have 70!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep them coming!!!

Oh yea, sorry for the wait, but some family things came up, went to sleepover, my friends are having problems and me help them, and I needed a break for a little while.