Chapter 6

Harry anxiously awaited Snape's return the next day. He just knew he was going to be punished for being dramatic and telling on Lockhart. He was Snape's colleague. His friend.

Pomfrey refused to let him leave, insisting he wasn't well enough rested yet. Harry wanted to cry and protest but he figured that would just make his punishment worse. He hadn't been able to eat anything all day, much to Madame Pomfrey's dismay, his stomach in knots as he waited for his punishment. He wished Snape would just get it over with. All this waiting around and thinking was driving him mad.

Just after Madame Pomfrey took away his untouched dinner plate, the large doors of the infirmary opened, and in walked Professor Snape. And oh did he look livid.

Harry gulped, his heart felt like it was in his throat.

Snape approached him and spat, "I have something to tell you, Potter. Something I think you'll like to hear."

Harry jumped out of the bed quickly and stood next to it in preparation and shut his eyes tightly, nodding quickly, "Yes sir. I understand. I'm very very sorry for being bad. Just make it quick. Please."

He grimaced as he whispered the last word. His uncle hated it when he pleaded. It usually made the beating worse.

He kept his eyes shut, his entire body tense. It felt like almost a minute had passed and yet he hadn't been hit yet. He opened one eye cautiously. Snape was just standing there, a look almost like shock on his face. Harry was utterly confused.

He opened his other eye and looked up into his face slowly, "Sir? Why aren't you hitting me?"

Snape's mouth fell open slightly but he seemed unable to say anything. Was Harry supposed to be doing something to start his punishment? He didn't know if there were different rules here he was unaware of. He spoke again, "Do-do you need a belt?"

Sometimes his uncle liked to whip him with his own belt when he was really bad. Maybe that's what Snape was waiting for. Harry's hand flew down to his pants and he started pulling it off.

A pale hand quickly wrapped around his thin wrist, halting the action gently.

Harry looked up into Snape's eyes as Snape spoke, "I'm not going to whip you, Harry. Get back in bed please."

Harry moved to get into the bed but paused looking at him again, "I don't understand sir. What is my punishment? Sir…I don't mean to talk back or to be disrespectful…but can you please just get my punishment over with? The not knowing is making me so anxious."

Snape motioned for Harry to get into the bed and he did as he was told this time. Snape then pulled a chair up and looked at him oddly before speaking, "Harry, I do not wish to punish you. But I would like to know what it is you think you did that you deserve to be punished?"

Harry looked at him curiously. Was this some kind of weird punishment tactic? He didn't understand. "I…I told on your friend. And…I was here in the infirmary being dramatic. And I bothered you in the hallway. And I missed your detention…"

"Harry…first of all. Lockhart is not my friend. In fact, I quite despise him. And even if he were my friend, I would never punish a student for telling me something like what happened to you. You understand what he did was very wrong and sinful don't you Harry?"

Harry nodded slowly, "...Yes sir?"

Snape sighed, maybe realizing Harry was just telling him what he wanted to hear. Snape continued, "Listen Harry. I understand that maybe your relatives didn't treat you very well. And they may have ingrained some very awful things into your head about how you should be treated. I need you to understand that an adult should never lay a hand on a child in a malicious manner. Under any circumstance. Never Harry. Never. I apologize, Harry, if I seemed angry at you yesterday when I left. I was not angry at you, but at Lockhart, for violating you in such a manner. The way you reacted was not dramatic and I feel no remorse in helping you."

Harry's eyes filled with tears and he shook his head, "I don't understand."

Snape nodded, "I know. It's alright. I'll help you, you will someday. I promise Harry. Don't ever be scared to tell on grown-ups who hurt you, alright? You can always tell me. I know you don't believe me right now, and that's okay. But I hope that you will someday trust me when I tell you that you did not deserve to ever have a hand laid upon you."

A/N: I'm not sure if I'll continue this story, I'm not sure where I'd want it to go from here, so if you want more please comment idea