Severus entered his sons' room and sat gently down by Harry, gently removing Harry's arms from over his head and laying a hand on his own hand on Harry's head. "Come on now," Severus soothed gently. "What's wrong? You were fine a few minutes ago." Harry just shook his head, knocking his Father's hand off his hair.
"Nothing," he said. "Just leave me alone."
"It is obviously not nothing, Harry," Severus said. "And you know I don't tolerate lying." Harry flinched. He seemed to be getting into more and more trouble, and he felt bad enough already.
"I'm sorry, ok?" Harry whispered. "But sorry doesn't seem to be good enough," he admitted.
Severus frowned and he reached down and pulled Harry up so that the lad was sitting next to him. "Why wouldn't sorry ever be good enough?" He questioned gently.
"Because it doesn't change anything and anyone can say sorry and not mean it!" Harry burst out.
"But you do mean it," Severus said gently.
"Doesn't mean I don't still feel guilty," Harry admitted, ashamed, looking down at the floor.
"Ah," Severus said lightly. "So that is what this is all about."
Harry shrugged. "I don't like feeling like I've let you down Dad; I've only just got you!"
"And you're not going to lose me," Severus said, pulling him into a hug.
"I've still let you down though," Harry said. "And then I went and lied to you, how can I be so stupid!"
"Harry, you aren't stupid," Severus said. "You're young."
"Then why do I still feel guilty? Please make it stop Dad, I really am sorry," Harry said, leaning against his Father.
"What do you want me to do, Harry?" Severus asked gently. He ruffled Harry's black hair.
"I don't know, I just don't want to feel guilty anymore, Dad!" Harry said.
Severus shook his head. "I don't know what to say then," he said softly. He fell silent.
"Please, Dad!" Harry practically begged, "You must be able to do something, anything, I don't know, punish me," he babbled.
Severus arched his eyebrows. "You want me to punish you?" he said.
"Anything to stop me feeling so guilty," Harry said quietly. "I don't like feeling that I've let you down!"
"You haven't," Severus said gently.
"But we were late when you'd told us not to be and then I went and lied to you!" Harry protested.
Severus sighed. "You know I'm a strict man Harry," he said softly. Harry gulped. "I expect the best out of you and Draco and will probably seem harsh at times."
"But it doesn't mean you don't love us," Harry said quietly. "Like you explained yesterday, there's a difference between being hit and a few swats, I think I'm beginning to see that now."
"Really?" Severus asked.
"Yeah," Harry said quietly. "Being hit kind of isn't just because you've done something wrong, kind of, even if it means you don't do something again, it wasn't designed to teach you a lesson. I'm not explaining this very well… Say, like if I'd done something wrong and the Dursleys hit me for it, they're hitting me because they're annoyed with me, where as if I did something wrong and you gave me a swat for it, it was to teach me a lesson and to let me know that you're annoyed with my behaviour, right?" Severus placed a gentle kiss on Harry's forehead.
"Exactly right," he said, "I'm glad you understand the difference."
Harry smiled at his Father, feeling suddenly shy. "Even if you are strict, you only want what's best for me and Drake," he said quietly. "And I really am sorry for being late, we didn't mean to. And I'm sorry for lying to you as well… I know you don't tolerate lying, but I wasn't thinking straight at the time."
Severus pulled his son into a hug. "I accept your apology, Harry," he said softly. "I know you weren't thinking."
Harry sighed. "I just wish I'd stop feeling so guilty, I know you forgive me, right? I just can't seem to accept that fact somehow, it just seems too easy."
"Well, how about a little bit of time to reflect on what's gone on then?" Severus suggested innocently, a little too innocently for Harry's liking.
"Dad?" he questioned quietly.
"I have a feeling you'd benefit for a little time spent studying the corner Harry," Severus told him. "You know I don't tolerate lying and I told you to be back on time today."
"Yes dad," Harry said meekly, looking at the only available corner in his and Draco's room. He was going to be left alone in here again.
"I think perhaps out in the living room would suit better? That way I can keep an eye on you," Severus suggested lightly.
"Yes dad," Harry said again and stood up, as did Severus and he lay a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Severus gave Harry a hug before they went back out to the living room. Once Harry was situated in the corner, Severus sat down next to Tom and Draco again. Draco shot a shocked look at his Father, who merely ruffled his hair. "Don't worry," he told the boy. "Just be grateful you're not stood in the other corner!"
Draco nodded slowly. He looked at the ground. "What are you going to do to me, then, Father?" he asked meekly. Surely their father wouldn't just let Draco off while punishing Harry... or maybe he would, Draco thought, remembering how things used to be before knowing he was their father.
"Come here, you," He told Draco in a gentle voice and grabbed him in a half headlock, half hug. "I was teasing you young idiot!"
"Father, I'm not an idiot," Draco mumbled, hurt. He thought his Father thought more highly of him than that.
Severus now placed a kiss on Draco's forehead. "I know," he soothed. "I meant that affectionately, we still need to get to know each other a lot better, huh?"
Draco nodded. "Yeah." He glanced over to where Harry was still standing obediently in the corner, unmoving. "Is Harry going to be ok, Dad?" Draco asked.
"He'll be fine," Severus soothed, also looking across at his other son. He could tell that Harry was deep in thought.
"Are you sure, Dad?" Draco whispered.
"Yes," Severus answered. "Trust me."
"What's he thinking about?" Draco wondered out loud.
"I'm sure he'll tell you later, if you ask," Severus said.
"How long does he have to stay there, Dad?" Draco whispered.
"Really, I didn't feel like punishing Harry," Severus said in a low voice. "He asked me to... so whenever he feels like he's had enough, he can come back."
Draco gaped at his father. "He asked you to?"
Severus nodded. "I couldn't believe it either, but he did."
"Erm… you might need to tell him he can leave the corner any time he wants to, you know," Draco suggested quietly.
Severus chuckled. "Good point." He walked over to Harry and gently whispered into his son's ear. Harry gave a brief nod of acknowledgement and Severus walked back to the couch, a worried smile on his face, which increased when he noticed Draco fidgeting nervously.
Severus sat back down on the couch without saying anything and put his arm back around Draco's shoulders, pulling his son in close. "Now what's up with you?" he asked, concerned. He hadn't realised just how much trouble raising twin 11-year-old boys could be. He still had a lot to learn.