[TW: Disciplinary spanking and non-consensual consent] This is not a slash fic per say, but it does have spanking as the main focal point. I strongly advise that you read the disclaimer in my bio prior to reading this fiction to see if this story might be a good read for you.

Author's notes: regarding the setting for this fic, please see the introductory notes at the beginning of chapter 1.Detailed spanking of Harry in this chapter– as an additional warning / note, I tend to write these scenes on the more intense side, with some heavy themes incorporated (such as mentions of abuse from the Dursleys).

Chapter 5: A New Kind of Lesson

As they descended the spiral staircase into the dungeons, Harry battled the overwhelming urge to turn around, sprint back up to McGonagall, and retract his agreement. His palms were slick with sweat, his heart thudded wildly in his chest, and each step felt shakier than the last. The cold and damp stone walls seemed to enclose around him, their ominous presence intensifying his mounting dread. Why did the greasy git have to go for spankings, of all the bloody things? Harry wondered, his stomach churning with anxiety. The air grew colder with each step down, and the flickering torches on the walls cast dancing shadows that only heightened his trepidation.

With outward determination to discipline the young wizard for his infractions, Snape pressed forward, his steps measured and resolute. Harry couldn't help but wonder what thoughts churned beneath that stoic exterior.

As they continued their descent, winding down the tile-covered staircase, the echo of Snape's footsteps reverberated off the stone walls. The crisp thuds created a haunting rhythm that only accentuated Harry's growing unease. Memories of his forced walks down to the dungeon for his exhausting Occlumency lessons replayed in his mind. But now, instead of fearing Snape's intrusion into his thoughts, he dreaded a different kind of pain at the hands of the cantankerous potions master.

Too soon for Harry's liking, they reached the base of the staircase and came face to face with the ominous wooden door leading into the dreaded classroom. Etched into the middle of the oak-stained surface read, "Severus Snape - Potions Master." It was inscribed in elegant lettering, adding an air of sophistication to the otherwise archaic door. The sight of it brought back many memories to Harry, some horrible, others tolerable, yet none of them compared to the trepidation he was experiencing now.

Snape reached into the concealed folds of his black robes, skillfully drawing forth his wand, as he quietly commanded, "Alohomora." A loud click echoed in the small space as the locks on the wooden door began to move. Harry's heart raced as the door, heavy and reluctant, scraped open on the cold dungeon floor, exposing the dark classroom.

The pair entered, Snape leading the way with Harry following reluctantly behind. "Lumos," Snape uttered as he flicked his wand again, this time directing it towards the row of metal-encased candles. They lit instantaneously, casting a soft, orange hue that ever so slightly brightened the eerily dark space.

Harry focused on controlling his breathing as he surveyed the familiar ominous classroom. Much to his surprise, it was not in ruins. In contrast, it bore no marks of war. It was left precisely as he remembered it: cold, dark, strange-smelling, and haunting. No figure it survived, Harry thought, as he bristled with the slightest bit of frustration.

Snape moved swiftly to the front of the classroom, his billowing black robes licked against the students' wooden stools lining the front row.

Harry watched him with growing reluctance. He knew he was required to follow, but he couldn't convince his feet to move from his position in the doorway.

With a swift, deliberate motion, Snape pulled one of the wooden stools from behind the table of the first row and placed it squarely in front of the blackboard.

He then turned to Harry, his black robes billowing like a tempest in the dimly lit classroom.

"Come here, Potter," he said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade as he motioned for the young wizard to join him at the front of the class.

Harry, his heart pounding in his chest, could only manage a quiet "Yes, sir," as he reluctantly approached Snape.

Snape's approval became apparent through the subtle nod he offered while taking his seat on the stool, his stern gaze fixated on the anxious young wizard standing in front of him. The scene before him was all too familiar. However, he couldn't ignore the fact that, unlike previous recipients, Harry had yet to shed any anticipatory tears.

Allowing the moment to stretch briefly, Snape maintained his punishing silence, quickly resulting in an inevitable groan that finally escaped from Harry.

"Professor Snape... perhaps we can consider this one a wash? After all, I hadn't agreed to your rules before eavesdropping," Harry tried, with a small gleam of hope.

Snape scoffed, his stern gaze narrowing. " Mr. Potter, I fail to see how, even you, would so arrogantly assume that eavesdropping on my conversation with the Headmistress would go unpunished? Not to mention your blatant habit of interruptions and lying."

Harry shifted from foot to foot, dropping his gaze. "I don't know... I guess I just thought the house rules would start... when we got to your house."

Snape let out a low hum of disapproval. "Your ignorance is truly remarkable. My rules for this agreement, as you will come to find, extend far beyond my doorstep," he replied, his voice sharp and unforgiving.

Harry sighed and continued staring at his feet, silently begging the floor to swallow him alive.

"Over here," Snape motioned to his right side, directing the young wizard to stand by it.

Harry paused, briefly contemplating the urge to heave his guts out. But Snape's impatient glare compelled him to obey, causing him to move slowly, like a man condemned to the gallows. He cast a dejected glance at Snape upon reaching the designated spot.

Snape opened his mouth slightly, preparing to give further instructions, but Harry quickly spoke first.

"Please don't make me take my pants off," he begged.

"Mr. Potter, I—"

"I know why you do it, but—"

Before Harry could finish his plea, Snape struck like a cobra. He immediately snatched the boy's bicep, effectively turning the young wizard to the side as he landed three hard smacks to his clothed bum with the center of his wand.

"Sna- ow!" Harry shouted out in shock as the intense stinging sensation of the smacks spread quickly across his backside.

"Had you heeded my numerous, and I might add gracious, warnings about interruptions, Potter, you would certainly understand how incredibly foolish that little quip of yours was."

Snape enunciated his statement by adding three more sharp smacks to the seat of Harry's trousers, causing him to gasp.

The young wizard swallowed as his face grew crimson with shame. He glanced away from Snape's penetrating gaze and, much to his embarrassment, found himself unable to stop from reaching around to rub at the radiating sting. If it hurt that bad with his trousers on, he was in serious trouble.

Noticing the sly rubbing, Snape sighed and swatted Harry's hand away, abruptly halting his attempt to soothe the sting.

"You've earned yourself an extra dose for your insolence," Snape pronounced, his expression firm and unwavering.

Harry felt tears prick at the back of his eyes as he glanced down. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, fighting back the shame rising in his chest. He resolutely decided not to give Snape the satisfaction of seeing him break down.

"Indeed," Snape replied as he took a moment to turn and set his wand on the lip of the blackboard behind him.

"If you choose to interrupt me again," Snape began, turning back to Harry, "you may anticipate another disciplinary proceeding upon our arrival home tomorrow evening," he threatened, giving Harry a warning look.

Harry shot his head up, dropping his mouth in shock at the severity of Snape's sentence.

Not willing to drag the discipline out past an acceptable hour of the night, however, Snape held up his calloused hand, silencing any further debate on the matter.

He extended his faintly potion-stained palm out to Harry. "Hand me your glasses," he said quietly.

"Why?" Harry couldn't help but ask as his nervousness hit an all-time high.

Snape swallowed his temper at the boy's defiance over the simplest of orders. "Because, Potter, holding your glasses in place should not constitute a distraction from your punishment."

Harry grimaced at his former professor but nodded in obedience as he removed them carefully, handing them over to Snape's outstretched hand.

"Very well," Snape nodded as he turned to place the glasses carefully next to his wand on the blackboard's rim.

"Kindly disrobe yourself from the waist down, Potter." Harry's stomach lurched at the command, and despite his determination to escape additional consequences, he found himself taking a step back from Snape's outstretched knees.

"Professor Snape, please," he begged, unable to stop himself, "I really—"

But before Harry could even finish his plea, Snape leaned forward and snatched him firmly by the waistband of his trousers.

"Honestly, Potter," he interjected, his voice laced with unbridled frustration as he yanked the young wizard back to him, "I have had first-years face their punishment with more tact than you."

Harry attempted to voice further protests but found himself too stunned to speak, watching in horrified disbelief as Snape deftly undid the top button of his pants. Yet uncharacteristically, he chose to leave Harry's underwear in place for the time being. A generous favor to which Harry paid it absolutely no mind.

With determination, Snape tightened his grip on Harry's bicep as he pulled the boy down to look into his stern eyes, "Bend. Over. Potter." He instructed slowly, his tone unyielding as he enunciated each word.

Absolutely mortified to be standing there, clad only in his knickers, Harry practically dove over Snape's awaiting lap. The force of the impact as he hit the professor's outstretched knees caused Snape to stifle a snort. The drama never ceases to elude you, Potter, Snape silently mused, before calmly placing a stabilizing hand down on Harry's thin back.

Snape peered down at the young wizard, who lay motionless across his knees. He took a slight deep breath of his own and paused for a long moment, letting his frustration at the boy's obstinance fade.

In truth, there were countless times where he'd longed to haul the foolish hero over his lap for some much-needed correction. Yet tonight, he found their current predicament rather disheartening. For unbeknownst to Harry, Snape had come close to letting his earlier behavior slide. Though he was gradually growing accustomed to Harry's acceptance of their living arrangement, a twinge of reluctance nagged at him for having to establish discipline so early on.

Snape sighed, then shifted his attention back to the young wizard before him. "May I presume, Potter, that this is your first experience with this form of discipline? You will need some basic guidelines as to how you are required to receive it, will you not?" Snape asked, his tone lacking any hint of the reservation he felt.

"Uh…" Harry started, rather nervous to give his honest answer, "yes and no, I guess."

Snape briefly closed his eyes, pinching them in annoyance at the boy's inability to answer the simplest of questions in a straightforward manner.

"I will no longer tolerate this vague blathering of yours, Potter," he said calmly, grabbing the waistband of Harry's underwear.

"Wait!" Harry yelled, but it was too late. With one firm tug, his underwear abruptly joined his pants, which were pooled at his ankles as Snape removed them without the slightest bit of hesitation.

Harry sucked in a deep breath; humiliation coursed through his body as he felt the cold air envelop his exposed lower half. Oh Merlin, I'm so stupid, Harry thought, immediately regretting his decision to follow through with this.

Paying the boy's humiliation no mind, Snape raised his right hand just above his shoulder before bringing it down in a hard smack.

Harry gasped sharply at the first swat as it left a fiery sting in its wake. Without the protection of his underwear, the bite caused by Snape's hand was worse than the strikes he'd received with the wand.

The first smack was swiftly followed by a relentless volley of a dozen more, each intensifying the burning heat. Harry's throat tightened as he groaned, determined to stay quiet. This is so, so bloody awful.

Snape remained unfazed by Harry's reaction, his stern countenance unyielding as he continued to deliver each firm, unrelenting spank. By the time the third round of smacks began, Harry couldn't help but fidget, releasing soft gasps after each punishing strike.

"Oww," Harry moaned audibly as a sudden, sharp smack caught him just beneath his right sit-spot, causing him to flinch hard.

"Potter," Snape's low, calm tone cut through the air, "Settle down and recognize your capacity to endure this punishment."

As he finished his admonishment and resumed the punishing smacks, Harry reflected on the uncharacteristic gentleness in Snape's tone—a rarity in their interactions. As he quietly refocused, he found his resolve to endure the spanking stoically deteriorating.

Harry's breathing picked up as he fought harder to halt the tears threatening to spill down his crimson-hued cheeks.

"Now," Snape continued as he momentarily stopped spanking, unconsciously shifting to rub the young wizard's back. "I believe I asked you a question that deserves a proper response."

Harry sucked in a deep breath as he struggled to keep the emotional tremble out of his words.

"Yes, sir," he swallowed as his mouth went dry. "Well, I've been smacked before by Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. But…" He went quiet, his mind racing to find the best way to put the next part. "Well, they never... smacked me like this."

Snape hummed low as he continued to rub the boy's back, feeling an intense anger swell up in his chest as he began to piece together what the young wizard was implying.

"How precisely did they administer this kind of discipline, Potter?" Snape halted his soothing motions, emphasizing his next statement. "I strongly advise against any vagueness."

Harry nodded, his eyes squeezed shut as he felt the painful memories resurface.

"Well," he began, "sometimes Aunt Petunia would get angry and smack me with whatever she could find. She would hit my bum, but mostly she'd go for any area she could get to first."

Snape's chest tightened with visceral anger that threatened to consume him. He grappled with every ounce of his willpower to maintain his composed facade.

"And your deplorable uncle, I assume he resorted to the same tactics?" Snape asked, frustration tainting each word.

Without meaning to, Harry shuddered, causing Snape to take a deep, steadying breath.

"Yeah, well, he'd get drunk and whip me whenever he felt like it." Not wanting to linger on those painful memories, Harry shifted his focus to the cold dungeon floor beneath his fingertips.

Snape took in another long, deep breath.

"Your honesty has been duly noted, Potter." Snape's tone held another unexpected touch of genuineness.

"Are you feeling quite alright?" He inquired further, his voice tinged with a hint of worry.

"Um..." Harry shifted uncomfortably on the firm thighs beneath his stomach. "Not to sound rude, Professor, but this is not a pleasant experience."

After a moment of silence, Harry couldn't stop himself from muttering softly, "It's bloody awful, actually."

Hearing the murmuring, Snape pressed his hand firmly down on Harry's back in a silent warning. "Indeed. It would serve you well to mind your cheek while in this position, Potter."

Greasy old git, Harry thought but wisely chose to keep the insult to himself. His attention soon drifted back to his exposed bum. Though his skin had recovered somewhat from the onslaught of disciplinary smacks, it still felt rather warm and prickly.

"As you should have deduced, I am not referring to your enjoyment of some well-earned discipline," Snape scolded.

"However," Snape started with a tinge of regret in his voice, "I should have addressed this before bending you over my knee."

Harry shifted slightly, offering a response with his own touch of warmth, "That's okay, Professor."

Snape, with his usual directness, continued, "However, you must tell me now if these disciplinary sessions are affecting your state of mind."

Never before had Harry felt such a strong temptation to lie. Here was his golden ticket out of this, just waving in the wind for him to grab.

Noticing the delay, Snape slid his hand up Harry's back to rub some more as he cleared his throat.

"Though I trust you know I am not one to yield in my methods of correction, especially when I've found them to be so effective, I would never subject you to a situation where you felt incapable of handling it," Snape explained.

Harry sighed; he was sure to kick himself later for this. "Ah, no, Professor. I'm fine. This doesn't remind me of them."

Snape nodded, and though Harry was unable to see it, the potions master actually gave a wry smile of approval at Harry's courage.

Harry shifted again, hating the feeling of being so exposed and vulnerable. "I mean I don't like this, at all," he stated vehemently. "But the way you do it is... different."

A part of him longed to tell Snape his method of spanking was strangely comforting. He pondered the idea of being so forward as to say that the back rubs made him feel safe and the position over Snape's knees made him feel supported and secure. But no way—different would have to do, at least for now.

"Very well, Mr. Potter," Snape nodded in approval. "I appreciate your candor around a rather uncomfortable subject."

Harry felt his chest swell, a hint of praise from Snape? Had the world ended?

However, his moment of reprieve was short lived as Snape soon returned to the painful discipline at hand.

"In terms of the rules for the remainder of your punishment, they are rather straightforward," Snape said, his voice calm and surprisingly soft.

"Do not attempt to avoid your strikes by flailing your torso around. Do not attempt to cover yourself with your hands, and do not ever," Snape paused for emphasis, "ever kick me. For if you do, you will find the consequences to be most unpleasant," he finished, his voice carrying an unyielding tone.

Harry swallowed hard but forced out a respectful, "Yes, sir."

"Very well. You will cry. That is perfectly acceptable as long as you don't intentionally overdo it," Snape paused. "Trust me, Potter, I can easily spot theatrics."

"I understand, sir," Harry replied again, his words tinged with nervousness as he tried to prepare himself.

With nothing else left to discuss, Snape summoned his resolve as he commanded loudly to the room, "Accio ruler."

The spell caused a chill to crawl up Harry's spine, followed by a wave of pure dread as he felt the hard, cold ruler tap a few preemptive times on his naked bum.

"Now, Potter," Snape began, his voice low and firm. "It is time to address your sleuthing, interrupting, and lying."

Harry groaned inwardly, involuntarily flinching as Snape tapped the ruler a few more times.

"Let this serve as a reminder of what will be in store for you if you decide to revisit these behaviors," Snape finished as he raised the ruler high and brought it down with a resounding crack.

The unanticipated level of the searing sharp pain caused Harry to shoot forward on Snape's legs, "Mmm owww," he whined, unable to stop himself.

Snape pressed his hand down firmly on the young wizard's back, ignoring his protests as he brought the ruler up and down in a flurry of strikes, each with the same precision and speed.

Harry squeezed his eyes shut and prayed it would end quickly, but it seemed that Merlin, apparently, was not in an answering mood.

Many of the well-earned strikes fell hard and fast over the next few moments, effectively reddening his bottom. The flurry of biting swats elicited more cries of pain from Harry as he tried, and failed miserably, to remain silent.

The ruler, crafted from dense wood, penetrated deep into the tissue of Harry's bum. Its thudding smacks caused him to tremble and gasp each time they struck.

Though he tried to stop himself, he soon felt the hitch of tears catching in his throat as he involuntarily emitted more pained whines.

A particularly forceful smack finally prompted him to cry out for mercy, "P-Professor Snape! Ow, oh– owww! P-please– stoppp," Harry begged as he dug his hips into Snape's knees and drummed his feet on the cold floor, his resolve crumbling.

"Enough, Potter. Lie still," Snape directed when he felt Harry shift harder in response to the pain.

He sighed as he steeled himself against the young wizard's pleas, which were beginning to affect him emotionally. With cold determination, Snape effectively wrapped his free hand around Harry's thin hip and pulled the boy closer to him, doing so in a silent effort to mitigate the writhing.

Snape continued with the punishing smacks, determined to leave an unforgettable impression upon the boy.

"Ohh! Ow! Ahhh, bloody h-hell tha— h-hurts!" Harry cried out loudly. His eyes stung, and his voice cracked as he writhed under the punishing blows.

In a matter of seconds, he succumbed to the torrents of tears now coursing down his cheeks, his breath catching in a series of unrestrained sobs.

"Potter…" Snape paused with the ruler still drawn back. He surveyed the crimson surface of the young wizard's skin and decided that they were almost through. "You are still owed your extra strikes for your foolish interruption earlier. Are you capable of lying still, or must I secure your legs with my own?" Harry groaned through the tears as he felt the ruler tap his aching bum.

His upper body trembled with sobs as he shook his head in response.

"Audible responses are required for audible questions, Mr. Potter," Snape enunciated his point by administering four firm smacks, two to each of his sit-spot.

The pain nearly took Harry's breath away as he brought his hand up, almost reaching around to block the smacks. Yet he forced himself to stop and instead dropped his head into the corner of his crossed arms.

"S-s-sorry! N-noo, p-p-please don't." Harry cried, his voice came out raspy and laced with tears.

"Very well, keep yourself still then," Snape instructed as he resumed the punishing strikes. The sharp, rhythmic sound of wood smacking bare skin echoed through the eerily silent classroom, punctuated by Harry's piercing sobs.

"Owww, ahh—ow, ow. I'm s-sorry." Harry choked out dejectedly as he forced his body to obediently lay still.

The movement didn't go unnoticed by Snape, as he resolutely decided the boy had nearly had enough. He administered six more scalding swats to Harry's crimson bum, three to each tender sit spot, then abruptly stopped. The loud punishing slaps ceased to echo in the cold classroom as Snape turned slightly to set the ruler down on the blackboard behind them.

Harry was a wreck, his bitter sobs echoed throughout the entire classroom as his body convulsed with tears. Undoubtedly, the majority of his wailing stemmed from the searing pain he was experiencing, yet a small part of him relished the opportunity to release some of the lingering guilt and anguish he had harbored from the war.

Snape hummed low as he returned his open palm to Harry's shaking back.

"Hush," Snape murmured, his voice unexpectedly gentle as he moved to rub small circles across Harry's back. The comforting sensation briefly diverted the young wizard's attention from the fiery, pulsating pain that radiated from his backside. "Compose yourself, Potter. Your punishment has concluded." He said, as he gently set the ruler down beside him.

Harry coughed a few times as he worked to regain control of his emotions. With his right hand, he pulled the collar of his t-shirt up, using it as a rag for his watery eyes.

Snape silently continued to rub the boy's back, grateful to have the punishment behind them.

"You may stand," Snape instructed quietly a moment later, though he made no gesture to hurry the young wizard.

"O-okay," Harry nodded, his voice came out hoarse and warbled yet he made no move to comply.

Snape said nothing, deciding to disregard the lack of formalism in the boy's response. He continued to rub Harry's back, pausing to trace his hand up to the boy's thin shoulders and give them some light rubs as well.

Though he'd administered far more painful sessions to other, less deserving students, for the first time when he glanced down at Harry's angry, red flesh, he found himself grimacing.

With an exaggerated sigh, Snape bent forward and carefully drew up Harry's underwear, eliciting an audible hiss from the boy as he felt the fabric softly settle over his scalding cheeks. Discretion now to the wind, he considered asking Snape to pull them back off. He wanted nothing touching his inflamed skin.

Snape rubbed the young wizard's back for a moment longer. "Are you well, Mr. Potter?" he asked, with a hint of apprehension that Harry easily discerned.

"Um... yeah," Harry admitted with a loud sniff, the tears no longer flowing. "But my arse bloody hurts," he stated boldly as he slowly pushed himself off of Snape's warm thighs to stand back up. He grimaced at the pain as it radiated through his backside from the movement.

Snape suppressed the urge to snort at the rather candid admission.

"Indeed it should, Potter," Snape replied as he raised a warning finger up to the boy's chest. "Next time, mind your choice of words in my presence."

Harry blushed slightly, but his lips curled into a small, nervous smile as he cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders a bit. " Um, 'Next time,' Professor Snape?" he said, his tone a mix of embarrassment and humor. "Trust me, I'd rather face Voldemort again than go another round with you and your ruler."

Harry smirked at Snape's glowering gaze as he reached down to pull his pants back up, wincing again as they scraped against his aching flesh.

Snape merely hummed low at the young wizard's audacity.

"Hilarious," he replied, his tone returning to its dry and caustic nature.

Harry offered him a smile, his red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained face serving as the only lingering traces of the emotional turmoil he had experienced just moments before.

"So, um…are you going to walk me back to Hagrid's?" Harry asked, a hint of exhaustion laced into his tone as he glanced back to the classroom door.

"No, Potter. It's grown rather late," Snape replied as he stood up and grabbed Harry's glasses from the blackboard behind him. "Here. I don't want to witness you stumbling your way out of this classroom like a befuddled first-year."

Harry smiled as he adjusted his glasses back on his face.

"You will remain in my quarters for the evening, and you may sleep there while I tend to some last-minute matters of business before our departure tomorrow," Snape ordered as he returned the wooden stool to its proper place.

Harry yawned and nodded sleepily. While he might have hesitated in the past at such an order, he now found himself surprisingly at ease with the once ominous potions professor, despite the horrid lingering ache in his backside.

Snape motioned for the young wizard to follow as he flicked his wand with a deliberate gesture, effectively snuffing out the remaining light within the cold, damp classroom. The darkness closed in around them, casting elongated shadows that danced ominously across the walls and floor as the pair made their way out of the classroom, heading for a new quadrant of the castle.

Harry found himself breathing a sigh of relief as they made their way up the spiral staircase, sensing a newfound peace that had been absent from his life for quite some time.

Author's Notes: A bit of a heavy chapter, huh folks? Hopefully I haven't lost you. I know that while some of us follow stories like these for such scenes, they can still be a bit intense. While I'm primarily centering this fic around spankings, I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter where I will include some fluffier moments.

My sincerest thanks again to all of you who have left such kind, helpful, and enthusiastic comments on this work! It's quite encouraging as this is my first time publishing a story of this nature. More to come soon. In the meantime, happy reading to you.