Hey All! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter. Welcome to Chapter 2 of After The Pensieve. This was supposed to be a little one shot to get me back into writing Harry Potter, but it ended up being extremely long, so I split it into three chapters. Updates will be weekly, unless something unforeseen comes up.
Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever owned Harry Potter, as much as I'd like to I sadly do not. I did not make any money from this story, and I don't intend too. All characters and recognisable things belong to JK Rowling not me – as sad as that is for me.
Summary: Story is set between end of chapter 29 and beginning of chapter 30 of Order of the Phoenix, after Harry has spoken to Sirius and Remus about what he saw but still feels the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach when thinking about his Dad. On the advice of a friend, he seeks out a solution to his guilt.
Warning: Spankings. No Slash. School based Corporal Discipline. If this is not your cup of tea don't read.
A huge thank you to my amazing Beta and American Sister Jules Ann, who not only helped me pick which direction to take this story in but is always there to give advice and help me bounce my ideas off and is always there cheering me on and helping me. Without her I'm not sure I'd have finished any of my stories!
~o~
After lunch Ron and Hermione apologised but had to go off for a Prefect meeting, Harry and Ginny waved them off as Luna approached.
Luna looked at Ginny and then Harry, "I'm going to show Harry how to make a mindscape, want to come help?" She asked Ginny.
Harry looked at Luna and Ginny in surprise, unaware Ginny had known what a mindscape was.
Ginny blushed a little, "I needed to make one after Tom," she admitted softly.
Harry felt the dawning of understanding and gave Ginny a sympathetic look.
Luna gave a hum of agreement, "Harry's not suited to traditional occlumency so we're going to give this a go. I'm sure having another perspective can only help," she explained.
Ginny shot a look at Harry, "you don't mind?" She queried softly.
Harry shook his head, "no, if Luna thinks it'll help then I'm all for it, anything to help me learn this," he insisted quickly.
The trio headed off, quickly heading to the library, to give at least the illusion of them trying to study. In soft, non-carrying, voices, Luna, with Ginny's input, instructed Harry on how to construct a mindscape and how to store your memories, locking away the ones you don't want to be plagued by, but leaving more bland memories as decoys, things like brushing your teeth or other mundane activities. Harry found this a much easier concept than trying to clear his mind.
"It takes practice but, the more you bring up your mindscape, the more familiar you become with it, the easier it becomes. Eventually you won't even need to focus to bring forth your mindscape, it'll just be part of your thought process," Luna told him softly.
They'd been working for a couple hours when a note appeared on the table in front of Harry. He was pretty sure he knew what this was, but what it was going to say was a mystery. Still not feeling completely sure he even wanted to do this but accepting it was too late to back out now, Harry unfolded the note.
My office. 8 o'clock. Don't be late.
Ginny looked at Harry and Luna confused, wondering if they were going to explain.
Harry considered for a moment as he refolded the note and slipped it into his robe before deciding he might as well tell Ginny. He launched into much the same story as he'd told Luna, adding on what Luna had convinced him to do.
Ginny chewed her lip, "I can't say I don't understand," she confessed, "after the diary I was feeling so guilty and acting completely foul due to my guilt. Finally, I pushed Dad too far and he spanked me, though he insisted it wasn't for what I'd done under Tom's control, but instead how I'd been acting and writing in the damn thing in the first place," she continued. "On the other hand, this is Snape… I'll wait for you in the common room afterwards with some bruise salve and a pain potion just in case," she decided.
Harry shot the pretty redhead a smile, 'she's Ron's sister,' his mind reminded him firmly, "thanks Ginny."
The trio did eventually work on some homework in friendly companionship, Harry asking Dobby to fetch their schoolbags for them. Harry found Luna and Ginny pleasant company and less distracting than Ron and Hermione's constant bickering, so he was able to get a good way through his homework. They headed down to dinner together, Luna once more splitting off to sit at the Ravenclaw table, Ron and Hermione heading over to them and immediately demanding to know where they'd been, or rather where Harry had been.
"We were just in the library, doing homework," Harry stated shortly. As eight o'clock drew nearer he was feeling his anxiety rising.
Ron and Hermione shared a look, apparently Harry's good mood from lunch had vanished.
"Harry got a letter from Snape whilst we were studying, he wants a check up on his occlumency," Ginny whispered. Harry had explained how he hadn't told Ron or Hermione what he'd seen, knowing Ron wouldn't be able to keep it to himself.
Harry shot Ginny a grateful look.
Ron and Hermione relaxed, getting a note from Snape was a perfectly reasonable explanation for being in a foul mood in their opinion. "We've got rounds tonight or we'd wait in the common room for you," Hermione offered sympathetically.
"Ginny's got you covered there," Harry reassured her.
Hermione studied Harry and Ginny for a moment before nodding and turning immediately to distract Ron nagging him about having to work on their homework.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all trouped back up to Gryffindor Tower after dinner, Harry and Ginny calling a goodbye to Luna as they did. As soon as they got there Harry handed over his essays to Hermione with a knowing smile, Hermione blushed lightly before accepting them to look them over, Ron grumbling only half seriously about Harry abandoning him.
As eight o'clock creeped slowly closer and closer Harry found his knee bounding in nervous anticipation. He'd taken plenty of beatings at the hands of the Dursley's, Vernon was particularly fond of taking the belt to him and he'd long been able to take that silently. If Snape decided to give him a beating he could take it, he knew he deserved a punishment, but if Snape was going to be a bastard he wouldn't break. Eventually the time came for Harry to leave, offering a stressed goodbye to Hermione, Ron and Ginny, and getting a supportive see you later from Ginny, Harry left the common room.
Harry walked down to the dungeons wondering, not for the first time, if this really would be worth it. He trusted Luna, she had a unique way of seeing the world and an uncanny ability to pierce through to the truth of things. Still, he had to wonder if Luna truly understood just how much Snape loathed him, Harry had to admit that the hate was perhaps not completely unfounded when he considered the memory he had seen. Almost too quickly Harry found himself outside the Potion Master's office, he used his wand to cast a quick tempus charm, letting out a small sigh of relief that he wasn't late. Taking a deep breath to steel his resolve, convincing himself that he could get through this, he raised his fist and knocked on the door.
Severus had been marking essays when Potter's letter had appeared on his desk. Being in his position he'd naturally been wary; he wasn't as paranoid as Moody, but a careless spy was a dead spy. Detecting no magic other than a slight touch of elf magic and the sealing charm he cracked the wax seal and opened the letter. Immediately recognising the Merlin damned chicken scratch that the individual who had written this thought classed as writing. His lip curled in disgust, and he was sorely tempted just to incinerate the letter, the only thing holding his wand was the slim possibility that the note was something Dumbledore asked the boy to pass on.
Gritting his teeth, Severus forced himself to read the letter, snorting in derision when Potter apologised, he would believe the Potter spawn actually regretted his actions when Lucius gave up his hatred of Muggles. His eyes narrowed suspiciously when Potter insisted that he wasn't trying to get him to agree to teach him occlumency; the brat had no talent for the skill and put forth no effort in even trying to master the rare art he should be honoured to even have the opportunity to learn. When he got to the line about accepting any punishment that he felt fit to give, within the school rules, his eyebrow shot up in disbelief. His eyes flitted over to the cupboard where he kept the implements that he used to correct his Slytherins, wondering if Potter truly understood just what he was offering here. Potter did say that detentions and point losses weren't enough, well it wasn't his fault if the boy was foolish enough to make such an unconditional offer like that.
Severus wondered if the boy even understood the new rules the 'Headmistress' had implemented, that now technically even Filch could whip students – with her permission of course. Though the Board of Governors would never consent to the banning of corporal punishment within Hogwarts, Dumbledore certainly did not encourage it and had in fact put many restrictions on just what teachers could and couldn't do. Heads of Houses were not as restricted, again the Board of Governors would never allow it, but they were only allowed to punish students in their own house under the looser restrictions. Severus knew Minerva did not use corporal punishment, mostly because she was too busy with her additional duties as Deputy Headmistress, but she insisted there was a personal reason that she didn't see fit to divulge to him. Filius was another who didn't use corporal punishment, though he insisted that was purely down to his size, it was very rare for even one of the new first years to be smaller than him. Pomona did use corporal punishment, though Severus thought she was rather a soft touch with it, using just her hand, sometimes a wooden spoon and rarely a wooden hairbrush. Severus kept his Slytherins in line with an iron fist, though all the other students seemed to labour under the impression he would never punish a student from his own house he always did, but not with trite punishments such as detentions or loss of points.
Like all teachers Severus had a slipper and a ruler, teachers were permitted to give students a few whacks with a slipper or a ruler, though according to the rules teachers could not use these on a student's bare bottom. As a Head of House Severus was allowed to pick his own implements to use so he had a strap, that he could still count on one hand the number of times he'd used, he didn't like using it due to his personal history with it. He had his main implement of choice, a small wooden paddle, that had once been a wooden hairbrush that he'd vanished the bristles from and made slightly larger as well as increasing the weight of; it made for a formidable little paddle that his Slytherins truly feared. His final implement was a rattan cane, the only implement the Headmaster had as well and he used it much the same way the Headmaster did, as an alternative option for when a misdeed was worthy of expulsion; the student could opt to be caned instead of expelled. It was true technically he should only be allowed to use the slipper, the ruler, or his hand on Potter; but with Dumbledore's absence and no official Headmaster or Headmistress appointed – the castle did not recognise Delores – all Heads of Houses were elevated to Deputy Head teachers. This meant Severus could deal with Potter as if he was a Slytherin, if not he'd never agree to this.
Severus didn't need to consider which implement he was going to use to teach Potter the errors of his ways, the idea of having his enemy's son bent over for the strap was too tempting to ignore. He quickly wrote a response and called for a house elf to deliver it, using house elves was the only secure way to send messages these days with Delores about, something Potter had somehow stumbled upon.
Severus continued his day, getting some marking done and setting up his class plans for the next week, a sneer on his face as he arranged an incredibly challenging pop quiz for his fifth years. He would of course post notices of the topics for his pop quizzes in the Slytherin common room, and make sure his Prefects and NEWT Potions students hosted study sessions, it wouldn't do for his Slytherins to get less than perfect scores. Any Slytherin of his getting anything lower than an A would find themselves in his office bending over for six hard swats from his paddle. If they were struggling with subjects, they were expected to seek out tutoring from their older classmates. He would have set the goal at E's but asking the spawn of Crabbe and Goyle to get E's, was asking the impossible. If they weren't sons of Death Eaters and more importantly the sons of Lucius's hench men he'd have kept them in their first year until they could get E's, but due to his position he had to favour them.
Severus took a moment to study Potter during dinner and smirked in smug satisfaction seeing the boy was clearly nervous, as well he should be. It was the reason he didn't summon Potter as soon as he'd received the letter, letting him wait in anticipation. He knew well the fear of waiting for a strapping, and though Potter didn't know that was what was coming, that in itself made it almost better.
Severus didn't have detention to supervise so he headed back to the Slytherin Common Room, making himself available for his students for studying assistance. Eventually, he had to excuse himself, giving his Seventh Years a nod of respect, pleased to see them all hosting small study sessions. He couldn't help a small mental sigh of disappointment seeing Draco and Pansy lazing around, again if it wasn't for Lucius' influence with his supposed Master Draco would never have been his pick for Prefect, and neither would Pansy. Blaise and Daphne were the two he wished he could have made Prefects and he allowed a brief flash of approval to show in his eyes as he saw them assisting in the study sessions.
Once Severus returned to his office, he grabbed the next stack of essays to mark, waiting for the Potter brat to come. The boy was far too much of an idiot Gryffindor to back out, Severus was sure of that, the idiot boy had almost no sense of self preservation, though it was hardly surprising seeing as the Headmaster saw fit to reward him for the life-threatening stunts he pulled. He was torn out of his thoughts by the knock on the door, "enter," he bid sharply. It could only be Potter, his Slytherins would knock at the portrait.
The demand to enter was expected, even if Harry had half hoped Snape wouldn't be there and had changed his mind. He took another deep breath, reminding himself firmly that he was a Gryffindor, and he could handle a bit of pain; even under Umbridge teachers weren't allowed to kill students, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Severus didn't look up when Potter entered his office, continuing to mark the utterly abysmal attempt at an essay from a Gryffindor first year. Only once he was done did he look up coldly at Potter, "so Potter, here for a couple whacks with the slipper or ruler over your underwear? Think that will be enough to fit the severity of your actions?" He asked icily.
Harry felt his stomach twist uncomfortably, but he reminded himself he had requested this, and it wasn't like he hadn't at least suspected Snape would take some perverse enjoyment from this. "No Sir, I know with the currently lack of a recognised Headmaster or Headmistress all Heads of Houses are acting deputy Heads and so can deal with any and all students as if they were students from their own House," he admitted. He looked slightly above Snape, knowing how skilled a legilimence he was Harry didn't fancy testing his mindscape against him yet.
Severus was grudgingly impressed with the boy's knowledge; he supposed the brat must have asked the know-it-all Granger. He was also marginally approving of his show of eye contact, whilst still avoiding it, perhaps the boy did have some semblance of self-preservation. "Wonders do never cease, perhaps Granger might be able to get some information into that thick skull of yours," he sneered.
"Hermione didn't tell me, Luna did," Harry corrected before he could stop himself.
Severus' eyes narrowed menacingly, "watch your cheek Potter, you have asked for the opportunity to be allowed to apologise. You are quite correct in that I do not see detentions or any number of points to be a suitable punishment for your actions. I believe you deserve nothing more or less than a good hard dose of the strap, and that is precisely what you will get. Prepare yourself and assume the position," he ordered. He fully expected to have the opportunity to further berate the boy when he failed to do either, but for now he stood with a flourish and made his way to the cupboard, throwing it open and pulling out the strap.
Harry could have sworn his heart stopped for a second when Snape declared he was going to strap him, he felt his blood run cold and his mouth became paper dry. 'Come on, it's just another belting, you've taken it before, and you can take it again. Surely, it's better the strap than the cane? You're a bloody Gryffindor, act like it,' he mentally scolded himself. He shrugged off his robe and left it over the chair in front of Snape's desk, approaching the wall and dropping his trousers and boxers, bracing himself against the wall, letting his palms lay flat against it. With a deep breath and a shudder of fear at hearing Snape pick up something he stepped back, letting his hands slide down the wall until his chest was parallel to the floor, his waist bent at a right angle. Finally, he looked up, so he was looking directly at the wall and make sure his arms and knees were locked in position.
Severus ran the leather strap through his hands, giving it a slight snap, remembering well how that sound had chilled him to the very bone as a young boy and even a teenager. To this day he refused to wear a belt, the soft snick as it was pulled from trouser loops filling him with a sense of dread. He turned around and stopped in confusion, the boy was in the correct position, never a position he had his Slytherins assume, knowing all too well how hard it was to maintain, but definitely the position he wanted Potter in. It made him feel… uncomfortable that the boy somehow knew to assume this position. He stared at Potter's presented rear and reminded himself firmly the brat deserved this, it was high time he got some much-deserved justice for all the boy and his dratted father had put him through.
Harry couldn't hear what was going on behind him, but he knew it was more than his life was worth to chance a glance behind him. His Uncle liked to drag out the anticipation, for such a large man he was able to move unnaturally quietly at times like this. He tried to control his breathing but couldn't help the fact his arms and legs were already shaking slightly. 'Fear of pain is natural, nothing to be ashamed off, of course I'm scared, it does not make me weak,' he told himself firmly. He was sure part of the reason his Uncle was able to seem to move so silently was because his heart, that had started beating at some point again, was now beating in his ears… for all he knew his Uncle could be screaming at him and he might not be able to hear it.
Severus gritted his teeth and stepped up behind the boy, it was all he had wanted his whole childhood, Potter to be in the position he so frequently was at the hands of his father! It was time for payback, he would give Potter what had been given to him so many times. He raised his arm, bringing back the strap, ready to relish the sound of it whooshing through the air before it landed with a crack, knowing the boy would not be able to hold his scream. Potter was finally about to find out how it felt to be him, and he would be the one delivering it, he was the one in power. He had yet to even strike the boy and he was already trembling in anticipation, just like he had every time his own father had ordered him to prepare himself and assume the position.
~o~
So, there you have it, Chapter 2 of After the Pensieve. Please, let me know what you thought, some of Molly Weasley's homemade treacle tart for those who do review! See you all next week for the final chapter, chapter 3!