Severus rubbed his eyes, wishing he could rub his backside but even if Albus was extra-kind after a punishment, that is one thing he wouldn't allow. And if him showing such an outward display of pain helped garner some sympathy for him, all the better. It was a shame that Albus had figured out the trick of revealing information and problems to distract and garner mercy but Severus still had some tricks up his sleeve. Seeing Sev, Albus smirked mentally. He knew that his son was certainly not in enough pain to cry and that even if there were some tears he would never do something so normal as to rub them away. He clearly saw this as another one of Sev's schemes to garner sympathy but he happily played along as this was clearly good for the kid. He reached out and held Sev as he said, "Now, now my boy, it's over, you're forgiven. Clean slate eh?"

Severus played it up, breathed in hard and said, "It hurt."

Albus almost chuckled at that but managed to say, "I know, son."

Severus allowed Albus to hold him for almost a minute, wondering why his dad wasn't acting normal. Finally he said, "I'm in a lot of pain, dad. Couldn't you do something to help a little bit?"

Albus replied, "Oh Sevvy, I know we have a sort of ritual of hot chocolate after punishment and I hate not being able to give it to you right now but I need to know what is wrong with you first. Chocolate can aggravate certain illnesses. So if you're ready, let's head on to the infirmary?"

Severus wriggled to get out of Albus's hold. Albus found all these tricks amusing but he also realised that Severus hadn't behaved like this with him for many years now. Clearly the man, his boy was suffering and was not finding comfort in old habits and tricks.

"I just want to go to my room and rest, please?"

There was very little that Albus wouldn't do on hearing a please from the feared potions master but budging on matters of health was one thing that he simply couldn't.

"No can do, child. The sooner we get there, the sooner it's over."

"But I really want the comfort of my bed right now. And I can treat everything, I already have all the potions. I only brew the potions for Madam Pomfrey, you know?"

"Of course I know, child. And I know all too well how potions masters also learn to be healers during their studies. But even healers don't trust themselves when they are sick and go to other healers. So can we please just get this done?"

"But then she'll want me to stay in the hospital wing!"

So Severus was sick enough to need to stay in the infirmary. Albus knew that he should insist that it was what was best for Severus' health but the dejected looks and please from the professor had pulled on his heartstrings and he found himself saying, "What if I promised to talk Madam Pomfrey into releasing you into my care? You can stay in your old room for a few days and I can keep an eye on you. How does that sound?"

"How about you talk her into letting me stay in my own quarters?"

"No."

Even if the difference between his old room and his new adult quarter was barely a door, it still felt unfair to Severus.

"You can't hit me and then be mean too. That's not fair. You always give me what I want after you punish me."

Albus raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?" Clearly Severus' illness had removed many of his filters. This worried Albus and he wanted to get his child in the capable hands of the mediwitch immediately.

"Alright Sev, I understand that you are tired and don't want to walk all the way to the infirmary. Just this once, let's go into my quarters, you can lie down and I'll request Madam Pomfrey to come over and examine you. But Severus, it will be just this once, I don't want you to make a habit of imposing on the kind witch and in exchange you will give her no trouble at all while she examines you. Deal?"

"No Deal." Albus smirked at the reference to the muggle show that he enjoyed and Severus claimed to watch with him just to humour him but was clearly involved as well. "I am going to my own quarters. Good day, headmaster."

As Severus pulled his hand sharply away from the headmaster and took a step towards the door, his head spun and he almost fell down but luckily Albus grabbed him. "The discussion is over, kid. Come on, let's go" And Albus held him as he directed him to their quarters.

When they neared the bed, Severus went to lie on his stomach but Albus stopped him, "Your head clearly spun because of the sudden movement, it might not be a good idea to invert your head right now. Please sleep with you head up."

"But Dad! My butt…"

"I know Severus, but I'm sure you see that avoiding a concussion or worse is more important than avoiding putting some pressure on a deservedly sore backside."

"I hate this. I hate you. I might as well go live in the infirmary for the week."

"But I love you Sev, and well after Poppy comes here, you can ask her to move you to the infirmary if you wish. I can sleep in the chair there, I don't mind. Although I would have thought that you'd be more comfortable here. Now sit on this soft pillow if you don't want to lie down yet and I'll go get Poppy." Not getting a reaction out of Albus was strangely irritating the professor.

So he decided to not do the smart thing and got up. Unfortunately, as he moved, his head whirled again and he lost balance just as Albus and Poppy entered the room.

Poppy was quick to draw her wand and support him and then in a no-nonsense tone, "Sit down, Professor Snape, from what the Headmaster tells me you are in no condition to be walking around."

"No, I will now. I can stand."

Poppy could see that Albus was at his last straw of patience because of his concern for Severus' wellbeing and that chain of events wouldn't do anyone any good.

So she kindly said, "Why not, Severus?"

Very surprisingly, Severus said, "Because my backside hurts and I can't take any pressure on it."

Poppy looked to Albus and when he nodded said, "Alright, I have spelled a cushioning charm, sit down, you won't feel a thing." Severus looked up at Albus in surprise, he had never allowed this before. "I'm worried and want to know what is wrong. BUt now you better co-operate or I can cancel the spell and add to that fire quite easily."

"Yes sir."

Poppy decided that they could work through the emotions of the situation later on, right now the health diagnosis took priority.

She waved her wand to run a diagnostic spell and was relieved but a little annoyed at what she found.

"Severus, what was the last discussion we had about food and nutrition?"

"I don't remember, my head hurts." Severus said easily. "And my backside too."

Poppy almost smiled but maintained her stern demeanour as she said, "Well if just words are going to be forgotten so easily perhaps this time I should accompany my words with some swats?"

"No ma'am that won't be necessary. You had said that I was lacking many essential nutrients and that you will instruct the house elves to fill my plates at all meals and I had to eat all of it and take a nutrient potion."

"And what did I warn you would happen if you didn't do that?"

"That the acidic reflux will get worse and the gases will get into my head and make me nauseous and imbalanced." Severus looked down.

"And what has happened?"

"That."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't do what you said."
"And?"

"I threatened the house elves not to tell you."

Albus intervened, "How did you threaten them Severus? And look at me."

Severus looked into Albus' eyes and then looked down and mumbled, "throwing off the astronomy tower."

Albus just said, "I should go talk to them and make sure nothing untoward happens. Given the amount of trouble you are now in, can I trust you to do as Poppy says?"

"Yes sir."

"I wish I could believe that but please behave, Sev."

Poppy took over and said, "And after you have recovered, we will have a long overdue talk too."

Severus had a bad feeling that this time it won't be just a talk.

Suddenly there was a vial being held in front of him and he didn't hesitate to drink it. And the next one. But at the third one he asked, "Do I really need a calming drought?"

"Do you really want to stay up till the spell wears off and you have to feel your backside again?"

"No ma'am," and he drank the vial.

As he fell asleep, he thought he felt Poppy move a hand over his head as she said, "He's a good boy, Albus, a little naughty but good. Don't be too hard on him. And no swatting whatsoever till he recovers, okay? He mentally grinned at that.