[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. I promise Harry gets more validation and encouragement from Snape in the next chapter. Hold tight if you're here for those softer moments between the pair.

Chapter 25: The Switch

The weeping willow's drawn-out branches rustled in soft waves as the afternoon breeze filled the otherwise quiet area beneath the canopy of the drooping tree. Glimmers of honey sunlight filtered in through the dense thicket of the arched sage foliage, small beams of golden warmth warred with the pockets of dark shadows encompassing the twisted base of the age-old tree. The air whirling around the approaching trio carried the scent of nearby honeysuckles in full bloom as the spring days neared their end and the summer approached with a lengthy saunter. A gentle warmth lingered in the breeze, foreshadowing the sun-drenched days to come.

Snape's firm steps into the fresh grass below his boots came to a soft halt, his dark gaze wandering up the twists of the willow's sprawled branches. Harry and Draco were still a ways behind, lingering in their slowed steps, delaying their inevitable fate beneath the sinuous limbs.

Without looking back to the condemned pair, Snape tucked the small knives into the depth of his charcoal trouser pocket.

A quiet breeze swept his dark hair up in small flicks as he moved with sharp precision to pull off his ebony jacket. He lazily folded the suede garment over his left arm, then meticulously rolled up the right sleeve of his long gray shirt, revealing the sturdy expanse of his forearm. As he did so, he turned with a commanding presence, fixing the insolent pair of boys with a stern glare.

His scrutinizing gaze flickered between Harry and Draco as they drew closer.

"Come along, enough stalling." Snape said, his voice low and icy, though both caught every word.

Harry sucked in a sharp breath; his guilty green eyes met Snape's dark glare briefly. He tightened his crossed arms against his chest and moved quicker, attempting to keep his composure beneath the mounting storm of dread. He wasn't entirely certain, but he had an idea of where this was headed. George Weasley had told him about the time his mum sent him and Fred out to fetch switches. He'd laughed through it but remarked every time he passed a tree, he'd hear her scolding in the whispering leaves.

Draco swallowed hard, still trailing a bit slower behind Harry's renewed pace. He couldn't bring himself to look up as he clenched his teeth, anticipation like an icy storm swirled in the center of his stomach. Though it was ages ago, he vividly recalled the time his Gran had taken a hickory switch to him in the backyard of the manor. He was little then but the pain was still nasty and vivid. He certainly never dared call her a 'pompous old tyrant' again after that.

Draco's icy eyes darted up to the towering branches of the willow tree as he came to a slow halt just behind Harry. His heart thumped loudly in his ears, pumping a warm flush from his chest to his rosy cheeks. Harry's shoulders grew tight, and his stomach clenched as Snape bore down on them with a silent stream of disappointment.

"In light of your mutual decision to deliberately defy explicit instructions, I've chosen to switch to your backsides before taking you over my knee," Snape declared sharply, making both Harry and Draco flush crimson. "Pay careful attention to my demonstration, as I possess little patience for incompetence."

Snape then withdrew his wand and tapped the base of the twisted tree. Harry felt his stomach roll, watching anxiously as a thick trunk-like arm of the willow tree creaked loudly and dropped down into a low beam. Draco darted his cold glare from the newly lowered branch to the clearing of the field, wondering if it would be worth it to run.

"Come here," Snape told the boys without looking back.

Begrudgingly they followed.

Snape draped his soft jacket over the newly dropped branch that extended out in a bench-like beam, suitable for each of them to bend over.

Withdrawing his own small knife Snape walked to the outskirts of the willow tree, beckoning the boys to follow with a flick of the gleaming blade.

Snape's dark gaze trailed up the dangling branches, scanning for a sturdy yet flexible limb.

"You will each select two," Snape directed, sliding his potion-stained fingers up to a lengthy branch above his head. "In the event the first fails us, I won't have to pause for you to fetch another."

Draco felt his heart thump harder at the sentence, he shot a quick glance at Harry who was staring up at Snape, his expression giving way to the discomfort he felt.

"One such as this would suffice." Snape instructed.

The willow tree rustled quietly as he pulled his blade up to the branch, slicing it off in a precise motion and pulling it down from the sap oozing notch.

Harry and Draco watched anxiously as Snape rotated the leaf covered branch in his calloused fingertips.

"Feel the diameter and weight of it so you know what I expect you to retrieve." Snape said firmly, offering the branch first to Draco.

"Uh hm, Snape." Draco said slowly, eyeing the branch like a venomous snake.

"I'm more than certain you are not about to argue with me, Draco." Snape replied in that low toned warning Harry was all too familiar with.

Draco swallowed hard, forcing himself to extend his battered palm and feel the width of the limb. His pale fingertips met the cool bark in a small fumble; he snapped his hand back fast and gave a reluctant nod.

Snape lifted a brow at the fidgeting blonde, letting this sharp gaze linger on him for a moment. He then extended the branch to Harry who, unlike Draco, took it from him.

Despite his dry mouth and sweat laced palms, Harry forced himself to feel the branch up from top to bottom. He noted the weight and length, then nodded and handed it back to Snape.

"Very well," Snape said slowly, flicking his punishing gaze between the pair before refocusing on the limb in hand. "You will cut them down then strip the branches of their leaves. Use your knives to ensure the surface is smooth, free of knots or other debris."

Harry and Draco watched as Snape made quick work of the branch in his palm, using his knife to strip in clean. In little time it transformed from the soothing curtain of droopy green into a smooth whip like tool, ready to wield the discipline they deserved.

Unbeknownst to Harry and Draco, Snape had vast experience selecting and cleaning switches as it was a preferred method of discipline by many of his professors growing up. Minerva McGonagall could certainly deliver a memorable switching to disobedient girls and boys back when he attended Hogwarts. He almost smirked to himself as he stripped the branch, remembering a time in his third year when a peer had labeled her 'barbaric' for insisting they bring two switches instead of one, as a precaution in case the first one failed her. Both he and his Slytherin counterpart had certainly thought twice about misbehaving anywhere near her after that.

Snape ran his potion-stained fingertips in a final pass over the length of the switch then whipped the branch through the air a few times, testing it. Both Draco and Harry felt their stomachs sink low at the sound of the bare limb slicing through the soft afternoon breeze. Snape made them both feel the surface of his switch, so they knew how to properly strip it.

Tossing the switch to the ground, Snape then slid his palm into the depths of his trouser pocket.

"Questions?" He asked, gliding his dark gaze between the condemned young men.

"No, sir." Harry said quietly, meeting Snape's scrutiny with pent up guilt in his green eyes.

Snape gave him a slow nod then raised his brow at Draco.

"You know my sentiments on audible responses, Draco. Perhaps you need to collect three switches rather than the required two?"

"Wait, no!" Draco said, his voice coming out in a high pitch. His face grew crimson as he cleared his throat and dropped his tone. "I mean, no, sir. I don't have any further questions."

Keeping his scrutinizing gaze on Draco for a moment longer, Snape then turned and addressed the pair.

"If you fail to bring me suitable switches, not only will you be required to begin the process again, but I shall add the additional amount of time it takes you to find a replacement to your punishment. Choose carefully, if you are unsure about what you have selected, ask and I will come inspect."

Snape then placed their newly transfigured knives in the palms of their hands. Draco kept his icy gaze away as he accepted the knife, but Harry flicked his green eyes up at Snape as he took his.

He expected to see the cold fury from earlier as Snape had hauled them up from the ground, but this time Harry caught sight of that slightly softened expression again, laced with disappointment as he handed over the knife.

Harry swallowed and felt his chest tighten with regret.

"Neither of you will speak unless spoken to, understood?" Snape interlaced his fingers behind his back and leveled them with a stern expression.

His words were followed by two subdued, 'Yes, sirs.' He offered a slow nod then dismissed the boys to begin their task.

Snape walked alone to the clearing of the tree; his dark eyes flickered about the expansive property as he considered his approach to the impending discipline.

Harry rotated his small knife in the palm of his fidgeting hand, his eyes trailing away from Snape's retreating figure and up to the dangling branches above.

His stomach felt a bit sick, his thoughts swirled through him at a mile a minute. He could hardly believe he would soon be whipped with a tree branch, with Malfoy nearby, listening to every gasp and groan as he tried to endure however awful it was sure to be. He cursed himself for exploding and letting anger take hold of him in that short moment.

Why didn't he control himself? A week. He only made it one bloody week before getting right back into this humiliating situation. Only now, it was far worse than simply being punished alone. He had Draco to contend with, his nemesis, someone who not but twenty minutes ago had applauded at the idea of him being smacked. It made it all so much worse.

Draco let out a huff, interrupting Harry's second of contemplation. He strode off to the back of the willow without so much as a glance up. He felt trapped— suffocated by his own deflating ego as apprehension wrapped around his chest with a growing tension. Any other time he'd beg a little, plead with Snape to consider something else, force him to give him reassurance that he could take it even if it came veiled in threats. He couldn't do that today, not in front of Potter. It intensified his dread to an intolerant level.

When Draco arrived at the farthest outskirts of the back side of the willow, far from Harry and even farther away from Snape, he let out a sharp breath, clenching his fist tightly around the small knife. He was bloody screwed; how could he stay quiet through something as horrid as a switching? Fury ebbed up in him as he shoved his battered hand up into the swaying limbs of the willow and snatched a bundle of branches down. He pulled them close, his icy eyes trailing the length of each. His stomach coiled and his pride shouted out desperately for him to do something. Humiliated in front of his mother last week and now, here he stood, waiting to take another licking but with Harry Potter right bloody there.

Fuck, Draco swore to himself as he violently slashed down two of the best-looking branches.

Harry glanced over tentatively at the sound of the willow leaves being aggressively stripped from Draco's selected switches. His blond head was tilted down, his right fist curled around a bundle of soft green leaves as he ripped off a massive handful. Soon another followed and another after that as Draco seemingly poured every ounce of pent-up emotion out on the thinning branch.

Harry glanced away and up at the rustling tree. Extending his hand high into the foliage, he let his fingertips wander through the soft blowing swirls of sage green leaves, feeling branch after branch. Some were far too frail while others seemed too thick, after a moment more of searching he located the first similar limb to Snape's example.

Letting out a dejected sigh, he pulled the little knife up and carved away at the base of the branch. It snapped off in a sharp echo— sap oozed out over his fingertips. The cracking sound of the break seemed to stand out against the ripping of leaves from Draco behind him.

He transferred the branch from his right to his left hand then reached back up to locate the second limb. He found it quicker, pulling his knife back up. The branch snapped, sap oozed, the echo followed.

Harry let one limb drop by his shoes then carefully stripped off the delicate leaves of the other. Bundles of sage green billows fell to the ground in quiet submission, surrendering to the blade of his knife.

Despite Draco's initial vigor, he finished clearing his switches in near tandem with Harry. They shot each other a tight glare from differing sides of the tree, then turned to head back to the willow's trunk together— freshly bared switches in hand.

Snape eyed the boys with his typical scrutiny as they approached him, neither confident enough to hold his disciplinary glare.

"Show me," Snape commanded, motioning for the boys to hand up their switches.

Taking Harry's two first, Snape eyed them from bottom to top. He then stepped back and swished each one through the tense air. The cutting thwick sound made Harry's heart thump. Snape ran his potion-stained fingertips up each branch, feeling for abrasions to the bark that may inflict unnecessary damage to the skin.

He nodded, satisfied with their smoothness, then handed them back. Next, he took Draco's lengthy limbs and performed the same inspection commencing with the ghastly preemptive thwicks.

Draco's gut twisted at the sight of Snape, his sleeve casually pushed up, brandishing that ominous branch through the delicate spring air. Merlin, punching Potter – what a daft move, he thought, a wave of regret coloring his thoughts. He had no doubt Snape would come down harder on him for the fight, making his anxiety far worse.

To his relief, Snape gave him the same curt nod, handed the switches back and didn't make him fetch another.

Glancing between the pair Snape drew in a small, undetectable breath. He wondered briefly if he could have prevented this by coming down instantly on the boys for the Dittany. He had foolishly believed both Draco and Harry would have the sense to heed his warnings but, clearly, they didn't deem his consequences severe enough to control their tempers.

That would change today.

"Now," Snape sharply addressed the two boys with evident displeasure. "I find it difficult to believe that neither of you contemplated the consequences of your utterly foolish displays of temper this afternoon before commencing with such a childish performance."

Harry swallowed and fidgeted the hem of his hoodie, keeping his eyes on Snape. Draco crossed his arms tightly against his chest and swept his icy glare down across the grass.

"Either you simply didn't possess the ability to comprehend anything outside of the moment of frustration you found yourselves in, or, you don't perceive my discipline as memorable enough to warrant adherence."

Draco looked up then, sucking in a sharp breath. He nearly said something in protest but wisely held his tongue, catching the dangerous glint in Snape's eyes that dared him to interrupt. Harry felt his stomach constrict tighter, also wishing to interject but knowing full well he was not allowed.

"Whether it be the former, or the latter, perhaps a combination of both, I will ensure the two of you recall this moment the next time you're tempted to disregard my authority. When I give you both explicit instructions not to argue in my home, this memory will serve as a proper deterrent for such misbehavior. Am I understood?"

Harry and Draco gave slow nods, each followed by a, "Yes, sir."

"Listen closely to me," Snape then said, drawing a step forward and tilting his head down to meet their gaze. "This will not be pleasant nor easy. You've each been under my hand before and know what I expect of you during such disciplinary measures. However, I am well aware that the two of you have never been corrected together, thus I sense it may be challenging for you to submit emotionally to this punishment. Regardless, no false bravado or masks of indifference will be tolerated. If you resist the intended remorse for your actions, it will be viewed as defiance, and further consequences will follow. Understand?"

Swallowing the flutter of nerves taking over his chest, Harry forced a nod and a quiet, "Yes, sir."

Draco's response was a bit delayed as he sucked in a shaky breath, but he too gave a subdued nod and appropriate, "Yes, sir."

"Very well," Snape said, his tone low and impeccably stern. "Draco, leave your switches with me. Walk to the base of the willow, turn around and do not look back or speak until spoken to."

A sharp breath filled the space between them as Draco handed over the switches. He stole a quick glance at Harry, who briefly met his gaze with a combination of regret and irritation, silently scolding him for their shared predicament.

Though Draco desperately wanted to talk to Snape, to offer some defense, he knew how foolish that would be. Obediently, he turned around and headed for the base of the tree. He wasn't sure how to feel about going last, but he was somewhat relieved to delay the inevitable for now. At least he could gauge how awful the switch was from Potter's reactions.

Draco reached the base of the towering tree quickly, he crossed his arms tight to his chest in a protective gesture and waited for it to begin. He wasn't far from the pair, every notable sound and word would be heard, making his mouth grow dry. He hoped Snape's threat about emotional resistance would keep Harry from enduring it better than he could, but he doubted it.

With Draco now turned and waiting, Snape regarded Harry with a mixture of disappointment and stern authority.

"I'm sorry." Harry said quietly, dropping his gaze from Snape. "This was all rubbish."

Snape hummed low, his warm hand encompassing Harry's arm as he guided him to stand in front of the bench of a branch.

"Rubbish, indeed." Snape replied, tapping the wood with his wand.

The bark cracked loudly in a groaning protest as its thick beam came down lower. Harry noticed how it was situated at his hips, rather than the center of his stomach now, making for an easier bend over. His heart soon skipped a beat as Snape collected the switches from his sweating palm.

"Before we begin," Snape said, turning Harry slightly to face him with a firm hand to his shoulder. "Is there anything else I should be aware of? Perhaps you have something to add in defense of your actions. If you happen to believe that this punishment is an unbearable injustice, now would be the perfect moment for you to give me a reason why."

Harry peered up at Snape through the blinds of his shaggy dark hair, a bit taken back by the question.

"No, sir, not really." Harry said quietly, glancing down at the switches in Snape's hand and swallowing.

"No?" Snape said, strategically. "I believe many would claim after such an assault, you had the right to defend yourself."

Harry considered this, keeping his eyes on Snape's dark gaze.

A tense pause hung in the air for a minute, the wind rustling the branches of the towering willow above them.

Harry sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets, considering his conversation with Snape in the pantry. Snape rarely gave second chances, he'd not only let the Dittany incident slide but he also offered to help him work things out with Draco and he had bloody well refused it. Given that he was warned explicitly that a fight would end him right here, regardless of who started it, he truly had no defense of his actions. Yes, Draco had punched him. But, it would have been easy to stand up and walk away instead of throwing him to the ground and unleashing every bit of pent up frustration onto the prat. At the end of the day, Snape said not to fight, and fight he did.

"I didn't swing on him out of self defense, just pent up frustration." Harry said, telling the truth. "I wish I would have taken you up on the offer to just work this out together, sir."

Draco gave the biggest eye roll at the response from his place facing the tree. Bloody Gryffindors and their ridiculous 'courage', he thought to himself.

He certainly wouldn't have taken the high road if he were in Harry's shoes on this one. A resounding, 'Yes, this punishment is unfair. Downright treacherous if you want my opinion', would have sufficed quite nicely. Snape might have even heard him out!

Stupid, Potter.

Snape gave Harry a slow nod, a flicker of pride welled up within him at the young wizard's acknowledgment of the situation. Despite giving in to his temper after multiple warnings, his maturity in recognizing the event for what it was, was commendable. Snape resolved to speak to him later about it.

"Indeed, well, your accountability today is impressive, all things considered." Snape's tone carried a wave of acknowledgement. "Frustration is a common adversary, but recognizing its influence on your actions is a step towards maturity. Let's see if you can carry that insight into the consequences you're about to face for direct disobedience."

Harry gave a small nod, his heartbeat thudded in his ears and his breaths came in at a quicker pace as Snape turned him again to face the beam-like branch.

He soon felt Snape's warm hand come to rest on the back of his neck as he extended his other potion stained palm in front of Harry and said:

"Hand me your glasses."

Sucking in a shallow breath Harry pulled his glasses off his face, folded them over and placed them gingerly in Snape's palm. He felt a bit of comfort laced in the swell of anticipation as Snape gave his neck a seemingly reassuring squeeze.

"Very well. You know the rules," Snape observed as Harry gave a slow nod. "Ensure you adhere to them. Remove your trousers and pants, and bend forward."

Harry's stomach slunk down low to his feet.

He despised this part, truly despised it. He burned with humiliation, moving to comply with a sick dread. He shot a fast glance at Draco, grateful to see him still facing the tree.

As he shoved his trousers down with his sweat laced palms, he paused, tucking his fidgeting fingertips into the waistband of his pants.

"Er, sir," Harry said, glancing back over his shoulder.

Snape, switch in hand, gave him a sharp look—wordlessly warning him not to argue.

"Do you want me to move your jacket?" Harry asked, motioning down to the suede material below his hips, trying to keep the trembling nerves from his tone.

"No. It is there intentionally, as a barrier between your skin and the bark," Snape replied, he stepped a pace forward, to the left of him.

Harry was about to add in another comment, a thank you maybe, something, anything to delay this a second longer, but Snape was one step ahead of him.

"Bend forward as I instructed, Harry." Snape lightly pushed his calloused hand at the base of Harry's hoodie, guiding him down into position.

Sucking in a deep breath, Harry pinched his eyes shut as his boxer clad hips met the fabric of Snape's jacket. The large beam of a branch was hard and uncomfortable beneath him, though the soft material offered a semblance of padding.

Head down, back bent, he came face to face with the soft blurry grass beneath him. A few weeks ago, he believed that bending over an object would preserve his dignity, but now, it proved far more challenging than anticipated—more formal and severe, less supportive. With nothing to grab hold of, Harry crossed his arms tightly, close to his chest, unsure of what to do with his hands.

Oh, wait.

As soon as he realized his pants were still up, he felt Snape's warm fingertips brush over his skin, tucking them into either side of the top band of his boxers. Harry let out a dejected groan as Snape slid his pants down and out of the way, effectively baring him for the switch.

He pinched his eyes shut tighter as the cool wind of the spring afternoon wrapped itself around every corner of his undisciplined skin. He flushed deeply, cringing with embarrassment as Snape's warm hand hiked up the base of his hoodie and came to rest firmly on his exposed lower back.

A second later the cold line of the smooth switch tapped a few gentle times on his naked bum, making him flinch.

"Keep still for me." Snape directed, making Harry's stomach clench.

Instantly the switch disappeared.

A thwick whistled through the air—hot searing pain followed as it whipped into his skin.

Harry gasped, pivoting his hips down at the new horrid sensation.

Oh, bloody hell, bloody hell.

Sucking in a few sharp breaths, Harry continued to shift against the swarm of fresh stinging heat.

Snape waited a moment, keeping his hard-pressed hand in place. The effect on Harry's bum was instant with a sharp line of crimson color appearing at the top of his skin.

Harry felt the cold sensation of the thin switch come to rest again just below the first stinging red mark.

A few light taps, then it slid back.

Thwick.

Another line of fire, just under the first, licked him with hot precision.

His lungs filled with a tight, fast breath. He tried to keep himself quiet but the next three whips were nearly unbearable, urging him to cry out.

"Uhh!" Harry groaned, kicking his foot up then down into the soft grass. "Oh– blimeyyy."

This hurts, it hurts so bad.

"Keep your feet on the ground, Harry." Snape said firmly, moving the switch to rest just below the fifth blooming red line.

He paused for a moment, tapping, ensuring his aim was correct.

Another sharp thwick filled the tense air once more as the sixth stroke landed, whipping dead center into Harry's red striped skin.

"Ah!" Harry gasped, shooting up to stand at the slicing hot sensation. "Snape! B-bloody hell, owww ahh."

His legs stiffened, his back grew ridged as he pushed against Snape's hold.

"Enough. Bend back over— this instant." Snape snapped, preventing him from standing with his hard pressed hand. "We are not nearly through."

Harry sucked in a few sharp breaths, gasping through the vivid swell of hot pain. It felt as though he'd been stung by hornets or burned by fire drenched lines.

Snape tapped the back of his leg with the switch.

"Blatant disobedience carries its sting, doesn't it? I forewarned you both of the consequences for fighting, and yet, here we are. I watched you throw him down and swing Harry, you might not have started it but you absolutely played your part."

As Snape firmly guided him back down into position, Harry felt the first warm tears prick at the back of his eyes.

"M'sorry, sir." He mumbled out, his voice cracking.

He refused to let the tears fall, holding his breath as the next three searing strikes came down, one under the other, lower on his bum— painfully slow.

Thwick.

Thwick.

Thwick.

An explosion of hot, sharp pain overwhelmed him.

"Ah! T-this—oww!" Harry stammered out, unable to form a coherent sentence through the skinny lines of hot agony imprinted on his bum.

This pain was different from the others, so very different and so ghastly bad.

Snape brought the next few licks down fast, overlapping his sit-spots in controlled slashes.

Harry's knees buckled, crumbling as the searing sensation took his breath away. The branch pressed deep into his hips as he fell forward, kicking his toes into the grass, the ground a blurry mess of green. Guilt and shame mingled with the slow tears now rolling down his face. The fire-like pain was bad, licking into his skin with a vicious heat, but the tears didn't emerge from the pain— no, he was crying because he'd messed up again. Again. Years ago, Harry wouldn't have given a damn if Snape was disappointed in him. Now though? For some reason it felt horrible. He groaned, gritting his teeth hard, resisting the urge to beg for it to be over, as the switch flicked down sharply.

Draco instinctively screwed his eyes shut, listening to Harry's painlaced cries fill the air. He felt sick to his stomach, his heart thudded in his chest. Potter was crying? Harry Potter? That switch must be horrid. Naturally, he believed Harry would take every stroke with stone cold silence. Half of his anxiety had swelled up in gusts at the possibility of Harry keeping his composure far better than he could. He was more than stunned at the reaction.

Draco had reluctantly observed Harry confront various challenges at school with unwavering resilience. However, now, hearing the audible flood of tears drowning out his words as he endured the pain of the switch, Draco felt not only terrified for himself but also burdened with guilt. For the first time, genuine remorse overcame him for harassing Potter. This entire situation was undeniably his fault.

"I'm s-sorry, m' sorry." Harry cried, hanging his body limply over the branch.

Snape released a weary sigh.

"You would do well to remember that lying to me is unacceptable, Harry. I understand that you were coerced into it, but nevertheless, you are well aware of my stance against dishonesty. Rather than the eight I had planned, you're receiving three due to the should serve as a reminder the next time you're tempted to deceive me."

He tapped the switch gently on the tops of Harry's undisciplined thighs.

Harry didn't get a chance to protest as the next three lines of fire licked his tender skin with a hot bite.

"Oww!" He cried, kicking his feet up hard as Snape held him tightly in place.

After a moment of holding Harry still, Snape tossed the switch down into the grass, thankful the first limb held up so well. He rubbed soothing circles over his lower back for a moment, mentally stealing himself for the next part.

After Harry had settled himself down some, sucking in a few steadier breaths, Snape moved his hand to his chest and pulled him up.

"S—"

"No, you are not to speak yet, we are not finished." Snape said, keeping his gaze away from the tear laced emerald eyes.

He couldn't let Harry plead with him, not if he wanted to finish this with the severity his behavior had warranted.

Harry groaned as Snape shifted his jacket over on the branch and took a seat. He tilted his body to an angle, then gently pulled Harry in close to him, between his knees.

"Listen carefully to me," Snape said, his voice quiet and low, forcing himself to meet Harry's pained gaze with unwavering firmness. "You must learn to follow instructions even when they become difficult. Part of that is accepting when you can no longer handle a situation on your own. We would not be in this position had you simply come to me, at any point today, and asked for assistance or accepted my offer to help you address this."

A thicker round of warm tears began to fall, overtaking Harry's flushed face. He wished he'd listened, not solely to save his skin from the cutting sting, but to prevent such disappointment from Snape. He trusted Snape, he did. But it was a challenge not to rely solely on his own instincts.

"I understand, s-sir." Harry responded quietly, in tears. "'M s-sorry. I'll do b-better."

"I'm certain you will," Snape said through a small sigh, pulling Harry easily to bend forward over his titled knee.

Harry didn't think to fight it, he needed to feel supported even if it came through discipline. He hated bending over that bloody branch and felt grateful for the familiar contact of Snape's lap.

Harry took a few deep breaths, trying not to focus on the itching, fiery heat stretching from the top of his bum to the center of his thighs.

While he was technically over one knee, he felt more so bent over Snape's hip. His side rested up against Snape's cotton clad torso, his legs just barely touching the ground now.

Despite the pain, and more to come, he felt steadied when Snape wrapped an arm around his waist to secure him.

Snape paused for a moment after getting Harry situated, eyeing the crimson lines raised up on his tender skin. He'd only overlapped a few strokes on the sit spots of Harry's bum where the undercurve met the top of his punished thighs. He made a mental note not to smack the area with his palm.

Reluctant dismay coiled in Snape's chest as he did a fast, clinical-like inspection of Harry's welted bottom with his cool fingertips. The switch had not cut him, nor had it caused any real abrasions to the skin. The raised lines would last for some time but they'd dissipate in the coming day, as all redness from well earned spankings did.

Moving his warm hand to briefly rest on the top of Harry's switched bum, Snape pushed away the growing inclination to pity the boy.

"It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this position, yet again. I certainly hope this is instilling some sense into you, Harry Potter."

A second later Snape pulled his hand back and smacked down at half his normal strength, beginning the first round of firm and slow spanks.

Harry couldn't notice the difference in intensity as the stern swats peppered his already throbbing skin.

"Ahhh," Harry cried quietly, squirming against the onslaught of renewed pain. "Owww, uhh."

In under a minute, Snape's firm hand brought Harry to a torrent of heavy tears. He mumbled out a string of apologies, surrendering to not only the pain, but the discipline as well.

"You're doing well," Snape said, his tone measured and calm as he continued to spank. "Almost through."

Harry sucked in a few shaky breaths as ten more smacks landed down– five to each side of his sore bum. He continued to tremble with tears, unable to form a response.

It hurt bad, so bad. Yet at the same time, it provided him a sense of deep relief. Positioned over Snape's knee was the one place he felt completely safe to cry. His tears weren't merely encouraged during these moments, but expected, making it much easier to release the pent up burdens he held so close.

Soon the smacks stopped, leaving his bum a throbbing mess despite how short the hand-spanking was.

"Take a breath," Snape soothed, rubbing comforting strokes up and down Harry's back. "Your discipline has concluded, you're forgiven."

Harry sniffed, huffing out short little stops of breath as he wiped his face with his hoodie sleeve. The gray cotton material instantly splotched with dark patches where the tears permeated the fabric.

It was a tough spanking. The switch was an isolated lick of heat that certainly left its mark. Though, as Harry dried his tears, he breathed a sigh of relief, wagering the strap bare would have felt much worse and considering he disobeyed, he was relieved to have been given an alternative.

Merlin, he had forgotten Draco.

A hot wave of shame hit him like a tight punch to the gut as Harry sought to quickly regain his composure.

He was going to hear about this for the rest of his life. Or at least for the rest of his time knowing the arrogant prat.

Sensing Harry's hurry to shield off his emotions, Snape slid up the boy's boxer pants and ushered him off his knee. Harry hissed as the soft fabric drug across his tender skin, even if it was only for a split second.

Rather than moving him to stand, as expected, Harry felt a swell of warmth when Snape pulled him swiftly into a tight embrace. It was natural this time, as if he always included such a gesture.

Breathing a few shaky huffs out, Harry let himself collapse into the comfort he so desperately craved. Snape's strong arms tightened around him, offering warmth and security. The steady movement of his calloused hand tracing up and down his back brought reassurance, a calm in the whirlwind of discomfort. Pressed closely to his chest, Harry felt the weight of discipline. It hurt, no doubt, but it also seamlessly intertwined with a profound sense of guidance, a sanctuary of solace after a lifetime without such a presence in his life. Though he never anticipated a summer quite like this, he was grateful for it. Grateful for Snape.

Snape gently rubbed Harry's back beneath the trembling willow tree, absorbing the small moment of comfort. The previous sounds of Harry's sobs, paired with the distress in his emerald eyes, had moved him as it always had, making this punishment a challenge of his own resolve. Yet, as he allowed his walls to crumble, embracing emotions he once buried, holding Harry close offered a peculiar sense of peace. Harry was an extension of Lily and though he'd spent most of the boy's childhood forcing that recognition away, he could no longer hide the responsibility he felt for his well-being. Discipline was hardly easy on either of them, but if it helped Harry recenter after the war, refining the honorable qualities he already possessed, Snape was more than willing to extend a guiding hand.

After letting the moment of comfort stretch as long as he could, Snape said quietly, "I must deal now with Draco, but we will discuss this further after he's left this evening, understood?"

Harry gave a slow nod yet Snape felt him stiffen. He rolled his dark gaze up to the sunlight streaming in through the shifting willow branches in the breeze.

"A discussion with words, not another spanking." Snape clarified in the same low whisper.

Harry relaxed again in the embrace, nodding against Snape's shoulder. "Right, I'd like that."

They pulled away from one another at the same time.

Harry scrubbed his red rimmed eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie. Shame tightened around his chest as he broke eye contact with Snape and shot a dejected glance at Draco's back.

Snape summoned Harry's glasses and he took them gingerly, sliding them onto his face. The tranquil world beneath the willow came into welcome clarity, and, despite the angry throb across his bum, Harry felt soothed. Embarrassed to his core, but soothed nonetheless.

"Draco," Snape said, low and stern, standing to reposition his jacket over the correct place of the beam. "Come to me."

Snape gave the center of Harry's back a little push forward, wordlessly directing him to switch places. Harry glanced back and wondered if he should grab his trousers, but decided against such torture for now. The light touch of his pants already was uncomfortable enough.

As Harry moved to pass Draco, their eyes met briefly. Though he had expected to see pride or gloat, he was taken back by the brief flicker of regret in Draco's icy eyes. He looked even whiter than he usually did as he slowly made his way to Snape.

Harry was stunned again as he caught the unmistakable small, "Sorry for this, Potter," slipping from Draco's lips as he passed him.

Harry turned back instantly, his brows in a pensive line as Draco approached Snape. Their Professor's stern glare was back, admonishing the condemned blonde.

"Face the tree, Harry, unless you'd like a second lesson in obedience." Snape said, shooting his characteristic brow up at him.

"Sorry, sir." Harry replied, turning to face the intricately woven tree trunk.

Did he really just apologize to me? An honest 'sorry' from Malfoy?

Suddenly Harry's shame was replaced by guilt for allowing himself to succumb to such harsh tears. That had to be horrible to hear, especially waiting to go next.

Harry let his thoughts wander, listening intently to the unfolding scene behind him; forcing himself not to reach back and rub his throbbing arse. Merlin, it burned bad—bloody well itched too.

Snape paused for a moment, surveying the blonde carefully. He was pleased to have caught the soft apology Draco had offered in his passing to Harry. Despite the obvious regression into the throws of jealousy, a deeper side of him glimmered through his false bravado; one that Snape was familiar with.

"Well," Snape began, his tone hardly reflective of the approval he felt. "You've certainly behaved in a manner unbefitting of your age this afternoon. Care to enlighten me on your motive for this appalling display?"

"No," Draco said, feeling a deep sweep of shame flood from his chest to his face. "I have no excuse."

"I didn't ask for an excuse, Draco; I requested the motive for this antagonistic behavior," Snape said sharply, maintaining his rigid demeanor. "What prompted your little show of utter foolishness?"

A small huff filled the space as Draco crossed his arms around his chest, rubbing his thumb across the side of his soft black sweater.

"I don't know." Draco said quietly, internally pleading for Snape not to make him say the truth.

Snape narrowed his dark gaze in return, making Draco's icy eyes fall to his feet.

Ah bloody hell, Snape was going to make him say it.

"I… I suppose, 'I don't know how to express how I feel,' is a more appropriate response, sir." Draco said quietly.

Snape gave a slow nod, it was a better answer.

Harry fidgeted by the base of the tree, listening closely. He'd never witnessed this semi-contrite side of Malfoy before. Frankly, he didn't know it existed.

"Allow me to assist then." Snape said slowly, making Draco flush cherry red.

"Do you recall your second week in Slytherin?"

Draco frowned, sucking in a small breath. A specific memory came slinking back, making him cringe.

"Yes… sir."

Snape nodded, reflecting back on the audacious week he had experienced with a young, overly jealous Draco. The boy had grown temperamental quickly, his first offense occurring when a fellow Slytherin received something faintly akin to a compliment for successfully brewing a beginner's potion on his first attempt. In the next class, Draco 'secretly' sabotaged the boy's ingredients, well, as secretly as a first year could, leading to a mini explosion and utter chaos.

Snape deduced the situation instantly, summoning Draco to his office after class for his first introduction to Slytherin discipline. It proved to be a challenging experience for Draco, even though he had received a few spankings from Snape prior to the start of the term. Those had been at the request of Lucius, who had other matters with fellow Death Eaters to contend with at the time, leaving little room for his son's behavior.

"Do you recall what I told you after your first punishment in my office?" Snape prodded, though his tone remained scolding, his expression slightly eased.

Draco cursed himself at the sudden swell of tears coming to his eyes.

Certainly, he recalled it, after all, he'd held onto it for years. Snape had reiterated the same words after each display of misplaced jealousy until Draco truly believed them.

Though, hoping to save himself from tears, Draco tried to deflect.

"Well, I recall you telling me that Slytherins channel envy into ambition, not sabotage."

"I told you that before, what did I tell you after?" Snape snapped, stepping in a bit closer.

Draco flushed, sucking in a sharp breath to force the emotion away.

"Uh mh, t-that I need to remember my place with you." Draco said softer.

"Correct. And that place with me is what?"

A soft pause hung in the air as Draco swallowed.

"Not a place meant for entitlement, but one of significance." He finally said, feeling terribly ashamed having Potter hear this as it made him feel all of ten years old again.

Snape nodded slowly, and in that moment, as he cast a stern gaze down at Draco, he recognized the same young boy — a mixture of sadness and shame evident after pushing too hard for acknowledgment. He needed reassurance, without it he would stoop lower to find it, which never turned out well.

"Significance indeed. You always have and always will mean a great deal to me, Draco Malfoy. Yet, you've so foolishly chosen a familiar path of disobedience and poor decisions by allowing yourself to forget a truth I so clearly instilled in you years ago."

Draco quickly swept away a few tears leaking from the sides of his icy eyes thinking back to Snape the night on the tower. He'd always been there before. How could he have thought that would change?

"I'm sorry, sir."

Away from them, Harry narrowed his red rimmed eyes at the tree, Draco had been jealous? Jealous that he was living with Snape? What? Perhaps Hermione would have caught on to this one, but he certainly had not. His thoughts darted through Draco's ruthless taunts as he replayed their conversations from the day, trying to make sense of the newfound information. It nearly distracted him from the itchy burn in his well spanked bum.

Nearly.

Snape offered no response; instead, he reached out, clasped his warm hand around Draco's bicep, and drew him in closer.

"Perhaps a thorough switching will bring you back to your senses on the matter." Snape pronounced, making Draco whine under his breath. "Your value to me is too significant to tolerate such destructive behavior, causing harm to both yourself and so clearly to others."

Harry felt a swell of satisfaction at the tailend of Snape's words. He never thought the day would come where Snape held Draco accountable for antagonizing him.

Snape then leaned in, speaking low and slow so only Draco could hear his next words:

"Are you capable of holding still on your own?" He tapped the bench-like beam with his wand, prompting Draco to look down at it. "Or, shall I place you over my lap? Choose wisely. For if you roll off, thrash about, or impede this process you will receive the due penalty for such resistance."

Draco groaned quietly and tilted his head back, trying to keep the small trickle of tears trailing down his face from sounding like anything.

"Over your lap." He finally whispered back after a drawn out moment of dread.

Snape gave a short nod, he stepped aside and picked up both of Draco's switches, making the boy's stomach contort into a coiled ball.

He placed them on top of the branch-like beam, withdrew his sharp knife from the depths of his trouser pocket, and snapped the blade down— cutting the length of each switch in half.

After discarding the remnants, Snape took up a seat on the branch. He snatched Draco by the side of his elbow and guided him to stand in between his knees.

Draco swallowed hard, pinching the healing skin on the back of his knuckles.

"Enough." Snape said sharply, lightly smacking his hand away. "Those should be healed by now."

"Sorry." Draco replied, pulling his hands to his sides.

"Why do I need to discipline you, Draco?" Snape asked, leveling him with an unwavering sternness.

Draco's stomach swirled in apprehension but he forced himself to speak evenly.

"Because I disobeyed you. I didn't reconcile like you instructed."

Snape raised his brow up, silently prompting a more thorough explanation.

Taking in a deep breath Draco glanced over at the short switch in Snape's hand, feeling nerves begin to take hold of him.

"I um, also used a serious situation as an advantage to start a fight." Draco added, wiping away the remnants of the first tears he shed.

"Indeed and I shall certainly ensure you never think to do so again." Snape replied firmly, causing Draco's breath to hitch.

"Go on," Snape prodded, ignoring the red flush warming Draco's pale skin.

"I acted out of jealousy." Draco said in a small whisper, desperate for Harry not to hear it.

Snape nodded.

"Out of not only jealousy, but ignorance. You forgot your place with me, and subsequently, how much I care for you, Draco." Snape corrected, bringing fresh tears to the young man's eyes.

"Now, allow me to rectify this by giving you the attention you so richly deserve," Snape followed up, bringing the scold back to his tone.

Draco hated those words, he'd heard them time and time again throughout school, nearly every trip over Snape's knee.

"Pull your trousers and pants down, and bend over." Snape said, guiding Draco close to his waiting lap.

Even knowing he deserved it, Draco couldn't bring himself to simply comply. He didn't accept spankings well, he never had. He possessed far too much pride even in moments of genuine reflection.

"Draco Malfoy," Snape said sharply, when he didn't move. "Do so now."

"Snape, why a switch?" Draco said, his pitch rising as he tried to take a step back. "You practically killed him with it. Can't you use something else?"

He'd been dying to plead and finally, after Harry had dissolved into a puddle of tears first, he decided to try.

"No, enough. I will certainly not debate this with you." Snape snapped, leaning in to snatch Draco by the waistband of his trousers.

"Snape, Snape!" Draco whined as Snape popped the top button on his trousers. "I can't—"

"Silence, you can and you will." Snape shot back, smoothly undoing his trousers and tugging Draco's garments down. "You have more than earned this."

The moment the cold air swept across his bare skin, Draco felt a wave of sheer trepidation.

No, no, no. I can't. I can't do this. Not with Potter right fucking there.

Draco sucked in a sharp breath, turning beet red with embarrassment. He shoved his heels into the ground, resisting the pull as Snape moved to bend him over.

Snape tightened his warm grip on Draco's arm, his voice adopting a stern bite.

"Very well. If you are incapable of following instructions, even when being punished for such atrocious behavior, I shall escort you home after we've finished and paddle you soundly this evening, before you retire to bed. I believe that would help cement some compliance in you, would it not?"

That stopped Draco's resistance instantly; he nearly flew down over Snape's propped thigh. Potter be damned he was not getting paddled on top of this.

"No, don't!" Draco said fast, forcing his hips in position over Snape's soft trousers. "I'm sorry, I certainly don't need that. Honest, I'm compliant, see? Plenty of cementing can happen now. Right now, there is no need for this evening."

Snape rolled his eyes up to the willow tree and shook his head. He took a moment to position Draco at a stable angle over his knee, then said, "Wise choice, Mr. Malfoy. Give me your hands."

He could feel the movement of Draco's breath rising and falling in fast huffs across his thigh. A small whimper slipped past his lips as he reluctantly slid his hands to his lower back.

Snape clasped them down, pinning them in place with his left hand. He held Draco firmly, with more pressure than he did Harry.

"Do not thrash about unnecessarily, Draco. You're required to steady yourself and accept this, understood?"

Draco gave a weak nod and let out a sharp breath. "Yes, sir."

Snape tapped the cold switch down on Draco's pale bottom, bracing him tightly.

A moment later the cool, hard sensation vanished, and Draco screwed his eyes shut.

A sharp thwick whistled through the air and a line of vicious heat whipped his skin a second later.

"AH!" Draco shouted when the pain hit, writhing instantly in Snape's tight hold. "Fuck!"

Harry cringed at the deafening yell followed by the curse. Sure, he had thought it plenty of times this month while enduring the pain of a smacking, but he never had the nerve to say such a thing in front of Snape.

Maybe he gives him a bit of a break with language, Harry wondered as he tightened his arms against his chest.

"Draco Malfoy." Snape hissed, holding him steady in an iron grip. "Should that vile word slip off your tongue again, I'll switch you clear down to the back of your knees. Understood?"

Guess not, Harry concluded, taking mental note for himself.

Draco could hardly focus on the threat; hot tears were already in his eyes as he squirmed and gasped.

It fucking hurt and he had no intention of hiding the fact. No intention whatsoever, really. Potter had already cried out, tears streamed down the Boy-Who-Lived's face in a river, giving Draco's pride the permission to hide away for a bit. And perhaps it was the Slytherin in him, but he always believed deep down he could get Snape to feel guilty for spanking him, as he damn well should, in Draco's mind.

The switch thwicked down three more agonizing times when Draco failed to respond to the language warning.

"AH! Sn—ah! Ow!" Draco screamed, squirming harder at the vivid cuts of the switch burning his naked skin. "S-sorry! 'M sorry! I-it hurts! I-won't say it a-gain!"

"Indeed. You will respond when spoken to as well." Snape commanded, bringing the short switch up and down in a fast slew of calculated whips moving down Draco's red lined bum with sharp precision.

Draco's cries pierced loudly through the soft afternoon as he bucked his hips and squirmed against Snape's soft trousers. His body pleaded, begging him to get the hell away from the swarm of hornet stings whipping his flinching bum.

"Owww! Uh!" Draco cried out through messy tears. He shifted vigorously though Snape's hold kept him pinned.

"Lie still." Snape directed, pausing to secure Draco's legs tighter with his own.

Draco let out a strangled cry as he felt Snape tighten his grip on him, keeping him constricted and hardly able to move. It was for the best Snape had him over his lap, for he would have certainly fallen off the branch if not.

The switch whipped down with fiery precision, line after crimson line bloomed up, covering Draco's bum. Snape went from the top of his bum to the bottom then began again at the top, overlapping each strike, making Draco yell with a ridiculous volume.

"OW!" Draco cried out, sputtering through tears. "Y-you, ow! Snape! Th-this is unbear-ah!"

Snape let out a tense sigh. He would've preferred to let the message sink in, go stroke for stroke as he did with Harry. However, Draco's pain tolerance was a fair bit lower and he needed things to move fast if he wanted to keep his eardrums intact.

"Yes, it stings, it is intended to. These next strikes are for not only blatantly lying to my face but blackmailing Harry to do the same. I'm truly appalled by such behavior, Draco Malfoy. Completely unacceptable."

"Sna-pe!" Draco wailed through the slew of fresh, hot tears rolling down the front of his contorted face. His tone begged for the leniency he knew not to expect.

He dragged in a ragged gulp of air and jerked his trapped thighs at the sensation of the cold branch preemptively tapping his sensitive skin.

The next ten strikes were utter hell for Draco, thwicking down in furiously fast whistles with no room for a sound in between. He couldn't even yell for a moment as the rush of firefly lines stole his breath.

"AH!" Draco finally bellowed through clenched teeth; he barely recognized the sensation of Snape shifting as he dropped the switch.

Weeping bitterly, as he always did when he hit the peak of his pain tolerance, Draco opened his balled-up fits at the base of his spine and let his body uncoil. Pent frustration released its hold in his rigid shoulders as he succumbed quickly to the guilt of it all. Growing up, Draco wasn't one for self-reflection. Yet following the close of the war, he'd slowly begun to take more responsibility for his mistakes. Each searing lick, though horribly painful, carried a weight of deserved consequence that he couldn't ignore. In that moment, he grappled not just with the physical pain but with the remorse that accompanied it— a bitter pill to swallow considering Harry Potter was the one involved this time.

"Sorry, 'so sorry." Draco choked out through the pain, focusing his attention on Snape's soothing hand going up and down his back.

"Very well, Draco," Snape said quietly, patting his back a few more times. "I'm going to spank you a bit more then we'll be through. I expect you to remember this moment and carry it with you when you're tempted to defy my instructions again and allow immature feelings to take hold of your senses."

Harry bit his lip and looked up to the swaying branches of the willow tree, prepared to hear Draco start with the tear-laced please again, but they shockingly never came.

Draco's small, broken, "yes sir," was so quiet Harry barely caught it.

After a quick pass over Draco's red lined skin, tracing his cool fingertips across the most pronounced lines, Snape decided to make the ending lesson slow and measured.

Just as with Harry, he pulled his hand up and brought it down firmly, at half his usual strength, beginning his first round of precise swats. Draco pushed his hips forward and groaned loudly as the heat from his backside melded into a symphony of pain but kept himself uncharacteristically compliant.

Snape nodded in approval at the acceptance, continuing with a measured pace.

"I don't want to hear a word about the length of your punishment versus Harry's when we finish," Snape added, smacking his hand down firmly. "You certainly started this. From the moment you approached my doorstep you chose to behave like an unruly first year, beginning this day off with inexcusable behavior."

Draco felt humiliation roll back up in his chest amid the horribly painful smacks. Though he merely hung his head and nodded, offering no argument.

He couldn't even get out a 'yes, sir' through the slew of tears but Snape didn't scold him for it, merely continuing with the slow spanks to his tender red bum.

"I heard your little quip in the pantry as well, Draco. You were fortunate I didn't drag you across my knee then and there."

Snape punctuated his words with six harder smacks, three to each of Draco's upper thighs.

"Owww, mmm," Draco shook his blonde head, hot tears dripping down his face. "I'm s-s-orry!"

He was in pain, but he'd truly given up the fight against it now. Snape intensified the last few minutes of smacks, prompting Draco to cry out the rest of his feelings, consumed by dejected sobs.

When Snape was through spanking, he rested his stinging hand against Draco's throbbing bum and gave it a quick rub. The hot heat radiated against his calloused palm making him internally sigh. It was hardly typical for him to do such a thing, but Draco had once asked for it, telling him in an exceptionally vulnerable moment it made him feel better after the smacks were through. Half the time he'd scurry up off Snape's knee and commence with the rubbing himself before any of the post-spanking conversation had started.

Snape moved his hand up Draco's back next and rubbed firm circles, soothing him with the sound of his low voice.

"You're forgiven, Draco, take a breath. You're quite alright."

Draco took in more than one, trying to steady the warbling effect of his previous sobs.

Snape whispered down a few lingering words of encouragement, continuing with the slow rubbing and support.

Feeling embarrassment take over again as he regained his emotions, a dejected groan slipped past Draco's lips. Bloody hell, he had to deal with Potter after this humiliating mess. Snape took the cue to help him righten his boxers and pull him up from his knee.

Just as he'd done with Harry, Snape drew Draco in tightly to his chest. Wrapping his strong arms around the troublesome blonde.

Draco sniffed, his breath slowing from the last fast jolts of adrenaline. He slunk into Snape's cotton clad chest, feeling safe and secure— just as he always had after being spanked. He hadn't a clue why Snape had taken up hugging again after administering spankings, but he wouldn't deny how soothed the gesture made him feel.

"You will not forget this lesson, Draco, nor my care for you. Is that clear?" Snape uttered quietly, his hand rubbing Draco's back.

His words were met with a tighter embrace from Draco, "As long as you don't replace me." He said in the faintest whisper.

Snape scoffed, "What a foolish concern."

Draco smiled at that, thankful to have gotten the reassurance he came for, even though it wasn't under the circumstances he'd expected.

They pulled away from each other a moment later and Draco drew in one more shaky breath. His pride returned with a vengeance, his mind working quickly on a way to downplay his reaction. His bum burned horribly, and he took the opportunity to give it a soothing rub before Potter could turn around.

Snape let out a weary sigh and rose. Though his sternness had returned feverishly fast when he'd witnessed the boys beating each other into the ground, disciplining them was nevertheless a challenge. As he moved to retrieve his jackets from the branch and unroll his sleeve, he resolved to speak with Minerva about the matter soon, perhaps she could provide some clarity.

"Come here, Harry." Snape instructed with an even tone.

Harry turned from his position slowly and made his way over to them. Neither he nor Draco dared a glance at each other, both of them radiating with the discomfort they now felt.

"Now," Snape said when Harry took up a spot next to Draco. "You two are going to address each other civilly, as you should have hours ago, and come to an understanding that will set aside your differences in my goes for the next term as well, I won't stand for the two of you regressing to such immature behavior in front of troves of students who admire the resilience you've both demonstrated over the last few years of the war."

Despite the shame of having just been spanked in front of each other, both Harry and Draco felt a flicker of appreciation at Snape's words.

"Come along," Snape motioned, lending a firm hand to each boy's shoulder and turning them to face one another.

Draco sniffed, rubbing his nose across the back of his hand, attempting to hide away the remnants of tears. Harry let out a tense breath, running his hand through his shaggy dark hair.

There was a small pause that hung in the air as the pair of disciplined boys finally met each other's red rimmed eyes.

"I—"

"Well—"

Harry and Draco paused, both awkwardly waiting for the other to finish their sentences. Snape interlaced his fingers behind his back, attempting to remain patient.

"Oh, go on, Potter. Since you always have to be first at everything. I'm sure you're dying to take the high road before I can." Draco finally quipped, a trace of his customary smirk emerging at the edge of his tear-stained face.

Snape parted his lips to deliver a fresh scold, but Harry jumped in first, hands pulled up to his thin hips, a hint of challenge back in his emerald eyes.

"Come off it, Malfoy, don't act like you didn't already beat me to it when you slid out a 'sorry' before I was even allowed to say anything back."

Draco scoffed, "Do you have any idea how torturous it was to listen to you beg for mercy while I waited to go next? Not even I could stop myself from feeling sorry about it."

Harry dropped his mouth open, "Begged? You think I'm the one that begged? It sounded like you were being gutted behind me."

"Enough." Snape cut in, he sighed at their bickering but had to hold back a smirk of his own at the quips. "Civilly, gentlemen, and we're certainly not here to commence with such a ridiculous debate."

Hoping to salvage just a bit of pride, Draco cleared his throat after a moment of tense silence and extended his hand out to Harry.

"I know you'll be eternally grateful that I didn't give you and your little fan club up to the Death Eaters and, I suppose, up until about ten minutes ago, I was marginally thankful you didn't let me die. Truce for now, yeah?"

Snape scoffed and rolled his dark eyes up to the flurries of willow branches but to his relief Harry took the arrogant show of amends in his own cheeky stride.

"Yeah, loads of eternal appreciation to you, Malfoy. Right then, truce it is."

Harry rolled his eyes, grabbed Draco's hand and gave it a firm shake.

"There now," Snape said, shifting his dark gaze between the pair. "Imagine, had you both acted with a modicum of sense earlier and followed my instructions to have this brief conversation, my willow tree would be undisturbed, and your backsides wouldn't be lamenting every stride back to the house."

Harry and Draco looked away from each other, releasing hands. A familiar red flush crept up their necks yet again.

"Both of you put your trousers back on," Snape instructed, motioning for the boxer-clad boys to locate their garments. "Then we'll take a little walk."


Author's notes: Happy Sunday (or Monday to you, Hamlet)! This was a wild chapter to write but I was pretty content with how it turned out. If you read these sorts of stories for the spankings/corporal punishment, I hope I did this scene justice. DMLucas, I was more than delighted to see your review come in! I'm so glad to know the story has held your attention. Your compliments, thoughtful notes on the plot and attention to the little details of this story touched me deeply. Your reflections on Harry and Draco individually and together made me smile as well. Draco certainly takes on the more 'victim' mentality whereas Harry is far more responsible for his actions. Thank you so much for taking the time to review! I love the long-winded comments. Truly they're a treat get. To your inquiry on my use of lavender in Snape's home, you are more than spot on. I've read many stories where Snape relies on alcohol during the war or after, but for this one, he copes with lavender tea. Thank you once more, I'm so glad to have you following along and supporting! Hamlet, as always, friend, I loved your thoughts on this chapter! To your comment on my writing keeping attentive readers on "their toes"- thank you for saying so! I was so excited to see your connection there with another comment (on the other platform I have this posted) who said the very same thing (they were on 'their toes') ha, I loved it. Also, slapstick humor is my jam. I was delighted to see you found glimpses of it in this work! When writing these types of stories, I tend to try and balance all the 'heaviness' with little bits of humor, I'm touched that you find it funny and appreciate it. I love playing with power dynamics and the 'seesaw' metaphor fits too well for Harry and Draco in the last chapter (loved that point-out)! MusicMelis, I know Snape was a bit tough on Harry in this one, but I assure you the next chapter is more of the comfort Harry needs and deserves (I imagine you'll enjoy that one!). I agree, Harry needs a parent figure. It's so heartbreaking how long he had to manage without one. Thank you for your consistent comments and love for this story! I so appreciate you.

Have a wonderful week folks! I'll be back next Sunday. Much love to you and yours!