Warning: Spanking in this chapter. If you don't like it, don't read it. Reviews are always appreciated.
On Harry's first afternoon with Albus and Minerva they went in to a muggle London to go shopping. Harry not only got new clothes that fit comfortably, but he was also allowed to choose some toys, games, and books that he would enjoy. As he was 11 years old, he didn't get a whole lot of toys, but he was fascinated by jigsaw puzzles. Puzzles were something his cousin had never really bothered with. Mostly because they took thinking, and Harry was pretty sure that Dudley wasn't capable of even that much brain power.
By the end of that first outing Harry was starting to realize the functions of this new family. Albus was so addicted to sweets that they couldn't pass a sweet corner without him wanting to stop and taste everything they had to offer. Harry found this even more hilarious because Minerva's lips would go thin as she shook her head and muttered something about teeth rotting, and dying of a blasted heart attack. To which Albus would just smile.
"Do lighten up Minerva dear, I'm 110 years old. If sweets were going to take my life, I'm quite certain that they would have done it many years ago." Harry personally thought that Albus had a point.
With his constant love of sweets, Harry was offered quite a bit as well. Minerva however, put her foot down there and only let Harry have a little at a time. So Albus compromised by tasting everything himself, and only insisting that Harry try his absolute favorites. This was a compromise that still ended with Harry eating more sweets than he had ever seen in his entire life.
As Harry thought about it later that night, he absolutely loved this little family. It was far from what he had imagined with a mother, father, and child; it was even better. Albus wasn't exactly what Harry pictured in a father; he was more the fun loving grandfather. Minerva balanced him out however because she was the strict mother that made sure Harry ate balanced meals, got exercise, did his studies, and went to bed on time.
As the rest of the summer flashed by, Harry realized that he no longer cared how many days were left before he would go to Hogwarts. The fact of the matter was, even without Hogwarts, Harry's life was no longer a living piece of hell.
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It was the day before Harry was to go to Hogwarts, and he was getting more excited by the minute. He would be riding the train with the rest of the students, and although that made him nervous, he was also thrilled to be meeting other children his age. These children wouldn't be bullied into hating him by his wale of a cousin, and they wouldn't think he was a freak because he had magical powers he couldn't explain. No, Harry had a feeling that he was actually going to enjoy meeting and making new friends.
After 2 weeks of living with Albus and Minerva, Harry had made up his mind. It was an odd combination, but he decided that he wanted the adoption. Not only was it getting him away from the Dursley's, but it was much better. He actually liked Minerva and Albus. Yes they were old and didn't understand a lot of things, but they both cared for him deeply. That is what truly mattered to Harry.
Harry decided to tell them that night at dinner. It would be something nice for everyone to sleep on.
After breakfast Harry got started on his chores and study time. He didn't have a lot of chores, and they weren't hard. Today he was mostly in charge of making sure his things were packed and ready to go. He would not be able to dilly dally his time away tomorrow since both Minerva and Albus had to get to the school as soon as possible. This would be complicated this year since they also had to see Harry to the train.
Harry was finished by 11, and headed outside. He was aching to wander and just get lost in thought in this beautiful place once more before leaving for school, but lunch would be ready soon. As such, wandering would just have to wait.
After a quick lunch Harry helped clean up before scampering out the door. "I'm going to be wandering around the property." He called to Minerva who was headed to her room to work on some last minute things.
In all honesty, Harry didn't think she waited until the last minute to do anything. Minerva was one of those people that had a place for everything. In fact, Harry had started neglecting to pick up his dirty clothes around his 3rd or 4th day at the cabin. Minerva had let it go for two days seeing as it was in his room, but on the 3rd day Harry was awoken by a mountain of clothes being dropped on top of him, and Minerva telling him that he would have an extra chore that day for neglecting to pick up after himself.
"Alright Harry." Upon receiving Minerva's ok, he headed out the door.
Once outside Harry let his imagination run wild. He jumped around the outside perimeter of the house for about a half hour, and then headed down the winding forest trail. Harry decided that he was an explorer out to study the wild life. Once inside the forest Harry climbed trees, swung from branches, and chased small animals. As such, it didn't take Harry long to lose sight of the forest trail.
Harry entertained himself as he ran through the forest. At one point he had climbed a tree, and seeing branches of another tree so close, had jumped onto those. He continued his journey like this for a while, not even letting his feet touch the ground, but after 15 minutes he got over confident. He misjudged some of the branches, and they broke under his sudden weight. Harry fell to the forest floor scraping up his hands. His right knee also stung terribly. Looking down he saw that he had torn his jeans, and his knee was bleeding.
Groaning slightly in frustration, Harry picked himself up off the forest floor and dusted himself off. Just great, how was he going to explain this one? Minerva and Albus had been kind enough to buy him new jeans, and he goes and tears them not even 2 weeks later. He was such an ungrateful little brat!
Angry at himself Harry went over and kicked a tree. This gave him no aid however as it made his foot start throbbing. "Damn." He whispered before hopping on one foot to try and get the sting out of the other one. Well, I may as well head home. It's probably about that time anyways.
When Harry turned around however, he realized that he had absolutely no idea where he was. There was no sign of the forest path that he was supposed to be staying on, and he was so deep in the forest that he couldn't even see which way home was. He could however, tell that the sun was getting lower in the sky.
Not knowing what else to do, Harry began walking. The only way to get out of here was to walk, so he might as well start somewhere. As he walked he couldn't help but wish that he could tell the time of day by the sun like some people could. He knew that it was the last day of August. That meant that the days were getting shorter, but that the sun was still up pretty late. Other than that however, Harry was completely lost as to what time it was.
As Harry continued walking he started realizing how thirsty and hungry he was. It couldn't be that late could it? There was no way it was time for dinner. It was just all of the exercise he had gotten on his exploring adventure. Either way, it didn't matter. He would be home soon, and he could at least grab a snack. He had to be home soon. He just had to.
As the sun got even lower in the sky, Harry began to worry. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that in the summer the setting sun meant it was late evening. Why had he wandered so far? Why on earth had he left the trail? He knew the rules, and yet he had broken them. Now he was lost. This was just fantastic.
Minerva was going to kill him. He would not be able to go to Hogwarts because Minerva was going to kill him before he was even on the train. If she didn't kill him she would send him back to the Dursley's deciding he deserved to stay there. Once at the Dursley's they would lock him back in his cupboard under the stairs and starve him for being so much trouble that even his kind didn't want him.
As the sun sank below the horizon Harry began to wonder if he would even make it out of the forest. It was so large, and there was still no sign of the trail. How could he have been so stupid?
Harry thought he could hear voices. Great, now he was going mental!
After a few more minutes however Harry thought he could see a small light in the distance. Squinting he looked harder and the light seemed to get a bit brighter. That was strange. Was he really that out of it? Was he supposed to walk into the light? Didn't muggles believe that walking into the light meant embracing death? This really was the end.
"Harry? Is that you?" It was Minerva's voice, and Harry began running towards her. She could kill him later, but she had found him! He was saved!
Minerva hugged him tightly for a moment before taking out her wand. "Albus, I've found him. He's safe, and we'll meet you back at the house." With that Minerva gave a flip of her wand and a silver cat flew out of the tip and sprinted off.
"What was that?" Harry asked in awe as he watched it. He didn't get a chance to really enjoy it however because he about quailed under the look Minerva gave him as she grasped his wrist and dragged him to the cabin. Ok, maybe saved wasn't the right word.
"You are in serious trouble young man." Minerva scolded as she marched Harry out of the forest. "What do you think you were doing? Albus and I have been worried sick and looking for you for hours. You could have been anywhere!"
"I'm sorry ma'am." Harry muttered trying to hold back the tears. This was where Minerva tells me she hates me and will never get married just to adopt an ungrateful brat. He thought to himself.
"Oh you are not nearly as sorry as you are going to be young man!" As Minerva steered him out of the forest and the moonlight landed on him she got a better look and gasped. "What in Merlin's name happened?"
"I f-fell." Harry couldn't help it anymore. He felt the tears start to fall as he stuttered. "I'm s-sorry."
"Oh I can imagine." With that Minerva turned Harry slightly, and brought her hand down in a vicious smack to his backside that made Harry jump in shock. THAT STUNG! "You have a lot of explaining to do young man!"
"Minerva, let's get him inside. Let's not be rash." The calm voice made both Harry and Minerva turn. Albus was walking towards them, and although his anger wasn't as plain as Minerva's, Harry could feel he wasn't his usual cheerful self.
Without a word Minerva took Harry by the forearm in a vice grip and led him to a corner in the living room.
"You will stay there until I tell you to come out." She ordered sternly before walking away.
Harry couldn't help but cry quietly. He still couldn't believe he had been so stupid. He had only been here 2 weeks, and he had blown it. Nobody was going to want him now. Harry could hear clinking in the kitchen, but he was so upset that he could not sense Minerva calming down as she worked in silence.
"Alright Harry, come here." Harry flinched at Minerva's voice, but her tone was much softer. Upon turning around Harry still couldn't prove that she owned a set of lips, but she didn't look quite as murderous as before. On the contrary, she set a large bowl with steam coming off it on the table, and added a spoon and tall glass of milk. "Sit here and eat. We will discuss everything after you have some food in your stomach.
"Yes ma'am." Harry was stunned, but obeyed. Even after all he had done he was getting food? He sat at the table and began eating his bowl of steaming hot onion soup as Minerva placed some bread, cheese, and fruit in front of him.
"You had better eat all of it young man or so help me... After running around all afternoon like that..." Minerva's stern rebuke was not needed because Harry couldn't think of a time in his life he had ever been hungrier than right then.
As Harry ate Minerva started fishing around in the medicine cabinet, and came back with two vials. "Take these." She ordered placing them in front of Harry. "They will heal your scrapes, and make sure they don't get infected." Obediently Harry drank them down, and nearly gagged at the awful taste. To wash the taste out he quickly went back to his soup. Once his bowl was scraped clean Minerva filled it again as Harry ate some fruit and cheese. He opened his mouth to protest, but the stern look from Minerva made him shut his mouth again and just eat.
Once Harry had eaten 3 bowls of onion soup, and what felt like a loaf of bread, a block of cheese, and a bushel of fruit, he was allowed to clear his place at the table and Minerva led him back to living room.
"Harry, would you like to explain what happened this afternoon?" Minerva's tone was firm, but not angry, and she forced Harry's head up to look at her when she spoke to him.
"I... got distracted." Harry muttered lamely.
"What do you mean my boy?" This time Dumbledore spoke up, and his voice was kind which made Harry's stomach twist in knots.
"Well, you see, I was pretending I was an explorer. I started following animals, climbing trees, and I just got distracted I'm sorry." Harry spoke glumly and hung his head looking down at his hands folded in his lap.
"Harry, what are the rules concerning the forest?" Minerva spoke sternly again, and Harry flinched.
"I'm to stay on the forest trail and not go so far in I can't hear you call me." Harry muttered quietly.
"Correct." Minerva sighed. She wasn't used to worrying about her students on a personal level like this. In fact, she was probably one of the most lenient Head of Houses at Hogwarts since as long as her students weren't caught out of their common rooms after curfew and didn't make too much noise late at night; she didn't care what they did. Now however, she was personally taking care of Harry. She was currently, and possibly permanently, his guardian. She hadn't thought it would make much difference, but she already cared deeply for this boy, and not being able to find him had really worried her.
"Harry, you know that we only want what's best for you." Albus had walked over to Harry, and was now kneeling in front of him. "You really worried us this afternoon because anything could have happened to you, and you could have gotten hurt a lot more than a few scrapes."
"I'm sorry." Harry whispered. "Really, I am."
"We believe you Harry." Albus stood with a kind smile and looked at Minerva silently letting her take over again.
Minerva sighed heavily, and looked at the boy in front of her. He really did look sorry for what he had done, but she knew that she had to punish him. "Harry, I understand you are sorry, but you broke the rules, and now need to face the consequences."
Harry nodded, sniffed and stood up. "I understand. I'll go pack my things."
This threw Minerva completely off guard and she stared at him in open mouthed shock for a moment. "What are you talking about Harry?" She finally managed to speak, and grabbed Harry's wrist to keep him from walking away from her.
"I'll go pack my things so you can send me back to the Dursley's." Harry was barely able to whisper it as he blinked back the tears. "I'm really sorry about all of this."
Minerva sighed and Albus walked back over to him and brought the boy into a large hug. "Oh dear boy, we would never send you back to the Dursley's."
Harry looked up at Albus stunned. Nobody had ever hugged him before! And had he just said that Harry wouldn't be going back to the Dursley's? "But why? I was bad and ruined my chance with you guys." Harry choked back some tears.
"Harry, we will never send you back to your relatives unless you wish to go." Minerva was the one to speak this time, and for the first time this evening, her voice wasn't stern, but kind.
"Really?" Harry looked up at her in amazement. They weren't going to send him away!
"No." Minerva even gave Harry a small smile as she stepped forward. Albus let Harry go, and backed up beside Minerva to let him breathe. "You are in trouble for disobeying, but we aren't going to send you to your relatives. We would never do that Harry. We only want what is best for you."
"Ok." It was said so simply that Albus had to smile at such childlike acceptance.
Minerva and Albus returned to their seats, and although Harry wasn't crying anymore, he couldn't help squirming in his seat. They weren't going to send him back to the Dursley's, and they had already made him eat, so what else was there? His cheeks went slightly pink and he looked at his lap again when he remembered the smack that Minerva delivered outside the house.
"Harry, I want you to return to the corner while I converse with Albus." Minerva's tone was firm again, and Harry decided it was better not to argue so got up and returned to his corner. It didn't take him long for him to realize that this was not his favorite position seeing as his legs grew tired and all he could see were walls on either side of his face.
As Harry fidgeted in the corner he heard Minerva and Albus rise, and head outside. He wasn't stupid; he knew they were discussing him. This was a thrown together family, and they were addressing things as they came up. Seeing as Harry hadn't disobeyed yet, this was a new development.
When the door opened Harry only heard one set of footsteps, and sighed. When he heard the figure move to the couch he squirmed. He could guess which one was going to talk to him about this, and when it spoke, Harry groaned inwardly.
"Come here Harry James." The tone was strict, and Harry didn't dare disobey. When he turned around he saw Minerva sitting on the couch. She motioned for him to join her, and Harry shuffled over to her before sitting cautiously beside her.
"Albus and I have decided that I will be primarily in charge of discipline." Minerva watched the boy in front of her carefully, and when he lowered his head she tilted it up with her hand. "I gave your bottom a smack earlier, and I'm going to tell you now that I have no qualms about spanking children when they deserve it. No matter how old you are."
Harry felt a chill run down his spine and found that his mouth was dry.
"I would say you have definitely earned a spanking Harry James, so now I will explain my rules." Minerva's gaze was like steel, and Harry couldn't help but squirm. "All spankings take place over my knee, and I will always spank your clothed bottom. You will not fight me or make me come get you. You may cry out, but you may not swear or call me names, and you may not hit, kick, bite, or try to harm me in anyway. You will also answer any questions I ask you, and you will give me a verbal answer? Are there any questions?"
Harry wanted to just shake his head seeing as he throat was still dry, but her last rule stated she wanted a verbal answer. "N-no ma'am." His voice cracked, but Minerva accepted it.
"Very well. Well, over my knee you get." Minerva slid to the middle of the couch while Harry stood, and then guided the young boy over her lap. She sighed. She didn't want to do this. She was getting too old, and Harry had behaved so well the past two weeks. Well, she guessed she was delusional to think the boy would never get into trouble.
Harry was nervous. He had never been spanked at the Dursley's; they had mostly refused to touch him. If they had to touch him it was to drag him around, and then shove him into his cupboard, and it was always done with disgust. As if Harry was something despicable. Now he was about to get his first spanking ever, and to make matter's worse, he was already in tears. He had gotten into trouble at the Dursley's, and he had never seemed to care what they did or thought. Now however, he had accidentally gotten into trouble, and he felt absolutely dreadful.
Harry gasped as the first smack landed, but he didn't have time to register it in his mind before more rained down on his bottom. With Harry already feeling awful for what he had done, it didn't take long for him to be a sobbing mess, and only part of it was due to the growing fire in his backside.
Minerva lectured Harry while she spanked him, and Harry promised to do better, and not wander off the forest trail again. After 15 swats she lowered one knee so that Harry's bottom rose just slightly and she had better access to his sit spots. She landed 5 more hard swats there, and then sat the crying child up. "It's all over Harry, you're just fine." Minerva wasn't the cuddly type, but she let the sobbing boy melt into her, and slowly traced circles on his back with her finger.
After a few minutes Harry calmed down and just looked up at the woman holding him. "I'm really sorry Minerva." He spoke quietly, but looked into her face as he spoke.
"It's alright Harry, you are forgiven." Minerva gave Harry a quick hug before motioning him to stand. "Now normally speaking you would be on restriction to your room all of tomorrow, but since you won't even be here after 10 in the morning, you will stay in your room until you leave except for breakfast, and you will write me 50 lines of "I will obey and stay on the forest path and within earshot of the adults." I will collect the lines from you before we leave for the train, but you are not to do them tonight. Right now you are to take a quick shower and climb into bed. I won't hesitate to repeat this lesson if I find you awake when I come in to check on you in half an hour."
"Yes ma'am." Harry gave the stern woman one more hug, and scampered off to his room. Even after disobeying they still wanted him. What's more, even with a burning backside, Harry decided that he still wanted the adoption. He would make sure to tell them at breakfast. For now, he was perfectly happy being silent in his own little paradise.