Disclaimer 2: In the real world I do not condone the use of a paddle on children. A hand or time out, or grounding should be sufficient enough. But this is make believe and it works well for my story.

Punishment

Why him? Why of all people did Potter decided to tell him all his woes? Snape pondered over it as he rubbed a hand over his face. He froze with his hand half covering his eyes as it struck him! That little blighter was testing him! Snape had placed the paddle in Potter's hand providing physical proof to the child that at least one adult in his life would take action when children were in danger. Then he was off prattling on and on about how adults couldn't be trusted and never acted in the best interest of children then giving a list of the things he wanted an adult to take care of: closing the school so the students would be safe, competent teachers and a home where he would receive sufficient food, clothes, a bed, socialization and a room of his own that he could leave and enter at will. Potter was testing him to see if he would take action on these other things as well. All of them were reasonable request and things that should have been done prior to now. None were things Snape wanted to take responsibility for and none were things that he could take action on this night, or possibly ever as he did not have the authority to take the necessary actions.

There was one thing he could act on this night to show one Harry James Potter that at least one adult in his world would act in his best interest. The child needed to learn that forbidden meant Forbidden. "Out of the corner. Remove your robes. Lower your trousers. Your undergarments can remain on." Once Potter was properly de-vested Snape directed him to bend over one of the tables. Snape then pointed his wand at the table legs, shortening the legs on one side and lengthening them on the other so Potter was perched on his tiptoes and tilted at an angle. The broad part of the paddle lay grasped between Potter's left hand and the table he was clinging to. Snape positioned himself and then laid down a resounding CRACK! with his hand on the upturned bottom.

"Ow."

"What are you being punished for Mr. Potter?"

"We went…ow!"

"I Mr. Potter. You are the only one in here being punished at the moment. Use the word I." Using the pronoun I rather than we often had the wonderful effect of making the student feel more guilty as they couldn't split the blame with any other miscreants.

"Yes sir. I…ow! I went into the…ow! Forbidden Forest! OWW!" Snape had started hitting Harry's thighs, which Harry had not expected. Apparently this spanking was going to cover all areas that sat on a chair. "OWWW!" A particularly hard smack struck his left bum. Harry hadn't cried in years, and he wasn't about to start now. But he could feel the prickling need to at the corner of his eyes. He squeezed his eyes shut in hopes of preventing any drops from forming.

"What else did you do wrong this evening?" Snape continued to swat.

"Sir? Ow." Harry gasped. Talking was making it more difficult to hold in the tears.

"What time is it Potter?"

"Ahh! I'm not sure sir!"

A particularly hard smack hit. "Was it dark when you left your dormitory?"

"Oww! YES! Yes sir!" Harry whimpered as one tear escaped his grasp.

"So what else did you do wrong?"

Harry was having trouble thinking as Snape continued to rain down smacks. What had been the question? SMACK! Another hit landed on his tender thigh and he wished he could lift his feet but he was already as far up on his toes as he could be.

"Potter! Answer the question!"

Finally, an answer popped into his mind. "We went out past curfew sir!" Harry raced through the words hoping he could get them all out without any more exclamations of pain escaping his lips.

"Use the term I Potter."

"Yes sir! Owwww! I…ow… I was out after curfew!"

Snape paused and allowed the child a few moments to whimper and sniffle. The briefs covered the child's bum, but he could see a few dark red hand prints on Potter's thighs. After the child had calmed somewhat he decided to inform Potter of another part of his punishment. "Since you seem incapable of deciding for yourself when is the best time for you to be in bed I will decide for you. For the next three nights you will be fully ready for bed by 9:00PM, homework done, teeth brushed, pajamas on and under the covers by 9. You will stay in bed, attempting to sleep, not goofing around with your friends."

Harry said, "Yes sir," in a shaky voice, but thought to himself, "Stuff it Snape. You'll never know if I have done what you said in any case."

But Snape continued, "A house elf will be sent to check on you. If you have not followed my instructions I will personally come up to Gryffindor Tower and tuck you into bed myself." Harry's eyes snapped open and his mouth dropped in horror at the image that created in his mind. Despite the horrified look, Snape fully expected that at some point over the next three nights he would be entering Gryffindor Tower. The child was looking for an adult he could trust and would inevitably run a test to see if Snape would follow through. Snape actually looked forward to seeing the terrified faces of the supposedly brave Gryffins when the Bat of the Dungeon entered their territory. It could be quite amusing.

"Look at the paddle Mr. Potter." Harry moved his eyes to the paddle. He expected Snape to say more, but nothing was said. Harry just laid there, stretched out over the table, perched on his tiptoes staring at the paddle in the silence. Without the distraction of conversation Harry become more and more aware of how much his backside ached. Harry started to worry about what was to happen next. His heart rate kicked up a beat. He was used to acting when afraid, this just laying here in the silence was starting to grate on his nerves. Having been given no other instructions he continued to stare at the paddle. His breath hitched. He wasn't going to get out of this. Slowly, he reached over with his right hand and grasped the handle, then, with tears dripping down his nose, he passed the implement to Snape.

"Six of the best Mr. Potter. Then you will be going to bed."

Snape rested the paddle on Harry's bum, then pulled it back and swatted hard. "Owwwww!" The loudest screech yet erupted from Harry. Then another hit. "Ahhahhh!" Harry began to sob. He had been stung by a bee once. This felt like been stung by a swarm of bees every few seconds. A third and fourth hit landed.

"You will not sneak about after curfew!" CRACK!

"You will not enter the Forbidden Forest!" CRACK!

Snape conjured a handkerchief and placed it in Potter's hand. "You have 10 minutes to pull yourself together Mr. Potter. I will be waiting in the hall." Nine minutes and 33 seconds later Harry emerged from the room, blotchy faced, but fully clothed and no longer crying. Snape led Potter to Gryffindor Tower and ensured that he made it through the portrait hole, then turned and headed back to the dungeons contemplating how he could go about fixing all the things he was Forbidden to fix.