This chapter is apart of the Cripple Me Universe, and is told from Harry's point of view. The events are the first half of his third year.

Swinging his feet while sitting on an infirmary bed, Harry huffed again while Pomfrey waved her wand over him, making sure there were no lasting effects from the dementor attack on the train. Severus tapped his foot while watching, his arms crossed and a frown on his face. Finally, Pomfrey nodded her head and lowered her wand, writing down her assessment on a parchment that appeared before her. Harry huffed again.

"Stop that," Severus scolded. "Not another insufferable sigh out of you or you'll be sleeping here all night as well."

He really knows what gets to me, Harry thought as he sat up a bit straighter on the bed, stopping his legs from swinging. Hopefully, if he could appease Madam Pomfrey and Severus, he'd be released from this torture. Why was it always him? He just had to faint in front of his friends on the train when the dementor came by. No one else was affected. And who on earth screamed? Hermione and Ron were sure that no one screamed, but Harry knew he heard someone.

"Well," Pomfrey said, "your vitals are normal, and you seem bright and alert. Try eating some chocolate tonight at dinner. It should really help calm your nerves and bring good endorphins to your brain to counter the dementor's effects."

"I already had chocolate," Harry said.

"You'll eat some more, then," Severus said. "As per Madam Pomfrey's orders."

"Professor Lupin gave me plenty of chocolate on the train," Harry argued. "I feel fine, and I don't need more chocolate."

Severus's frown slowly deepened, and Harry bit his inner cheek as he looked down to avoid his father's gaze. I should have just agreed, he thought, me and my big, stupid mouth.

"Are you really going to argue over something as insignificant as eating a bar of chocolate?" Severus asked.

"No," Harry said softly. Not if it means staying in this room a minute longer.

"No, indeed. You will report to dinner, and you will make sure to include chocolate in your meal."

"Yes, sir."

"You're dismissed, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey said, and she moved on to another student that was sitting in the infirmary, a first year who experienced motion sickness on the train ride.

Harry hopped off the bed, then bit back a groan when Severus motioned for him to follow, and he walked after his father obediently, hoping this would be a quick conversation.

"You're sure you are feeling, okay?" Severus asked softly.

"Yes, I'm fine. I've felt fine for a while now."

"Do not get snippy with me," Severus said, turning a stern eye on his son. "It is not often that anyone experiences such severe symptoms during a dementor encounter. This could be serious, a sign of an underlying problem even, and if you are hiding anything at all . . ."

"I'm not, I promise," Harry insisted. "Professor Lupin was there, and he knew what to do and chased the dementor off and gave me chocolate."

"Humph," Severus scoffed. "A simpleton would have known what to do."

"I didn't," Harry shot back. Sure sounds like Dad doesn't like the new professor, but who does Dad like anyway?

"That's because you are a child and you have not been taught the subject of dementors yet. Besides, they should never have been on the train to begin with. Be honest with me, Harry, are you sure you are feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Harry said, making sure to keep the attitude out of his voice. They neared the Great Hall and paused just outside the door. "I was a little shaky at first but the chocolate made me feel better pretty quickly. I'm okay, now."

At Severus's unsure and concerned look, Harry decided to try a different approach.

"If I don't feel well at any time, I'll come tell you."

Severus sighed, running a hand down his face.

"Very well. Go join your friends for dinner and remember to eat some chocolate."

"I will," Harry said, smiling at his father. "It's not every day you tell me to spoil my dinner with candy."

"I never said spoil your dinner," Severus said. "Please, feel free to add at least three helpings of vegetables to your plate to make up for the sweet treat."

"Err . . . I think I'll pass on that."

Severus snorted, then gave Harry a light shove toward the Great Hall doors.

"Cheeky brat," he muttered.

"You're not coming to dinner?" Harry asked when he realized his father was starting to walk away.

"Not tonight," Severus said. "I have many things to attend to before classes begin. You enjoy your last day of freedom from classes and homework."

Harry nodded at that with a smile before running into the Great Hall to catch up with his friends. He hoped that the dementor incident at the start of the year would have been the worst of it all, but alas, nothing could ever go easy where the Boy-Who-Lived was concerned. While learning that the new professor had once been friends with his father had been welcome news, Sirius Black had managed to break into Hogwarts and slashed at the Gryffindor Tower Portrait, terrifying the Fat Lady, and worse, it seemed to terrify Severus enough that he forced Harry to move down into their quarters until further notice.

As much as he loved spending time with his father, the sudden loss of freedom in school was a bit more than Harry appreciated. He could understand his father's fears, but Sirius Black had fled the school when his plan did not work, and he quickly vanished from the front-page news for a while. Harry should be able to go back to Gryffindor tower at this point, but no, here they were a month later and he still couldn't go back to his dorm and hang out with all his friends until the wee hours of the morning. This was ridiculous. His father was being overly protective and paranoid. No one else had to hide away in their daddy's room because some scary man appeared. It was simply unfair.

So, while listening to another lecture in Severus's class, Harry turned a page in his parchment notebook and began doodling random sketches of cauldrons, broomsticks, snitches, and of his owl. This was something he often did in other classes when he was getting sleepy from listening to the teachers talk and talk in a dull voice. While he understood the importance of paying attention, all the teachers tended to assign homework related to their lectures anyway, so he wasn't sure why they bothered talking about the same material over and over.

Problem was, he never doodled in Severus's class. While Binns stayed at the front of the class, and McGonagall tended to pace in the front, Severus tended to walk between the rows of students while he lectured. However, after everything that had happened so far this year, and having heard similar information from Severus in their quarters when he asked questions related to homework, Harry was willing to risk his father's wrath to ease the boredom he was starting to feel. He made sure to watch out for his father, shuffling the notebook back to his notes page where he would scribble random words down to appear as if he was listening.

It worked twice so far, but as Harry became more focused on the finer details of Hedwig's feathers, he felt Ron elbow him a few times, reminding him to look up and turn the page back. However, he was too slow in doing so, and Severus snatched his notebook away while continuing to walk down the row and lecture the class.

"After the mixture is dried in a well-lit environment, it is powdered into a fine dust with a pestle and mortar, creating a strong herbal blend that we know as Standard Ingredient," Severus said as he studied Harry's notebook. He paused in his lecture for a second to say in a low tone, "Potter, stay after class."

Harry sighed as he rested his head in his arms on his desk. Ron gave him a sympathetic look while Hermione gave him a scolding one. Oh well, at least he didn't have to take notes now since his notebook had been confiscated. His father didn't think that through, now did he? He listened as Severus wrapped up the class by assigning a three-foot paper on the components of Standard Ingredient and why they are necessary. Severus dismissed the class, and everyone scrambled to gather their things and head out the door, leaving Harry and Severus alone in the classroom.

Harry did not move from his seat, keeping his head down in his arms and watching as Severus cleared the board with his wand. Then Severus walked up to his desk and opened his notebook to the page of his doodling before holding it in front of Harry.

"Explain this," Severus growled between his teeth.

"Well," Harry started, not even bothering to lift his head, "there's a bubbling cauldron in the upper left corner, probably a Pepper-up or something, and there's some Nimbus Two Thousands' racing around after some snitches, and that's obviously Hedwig—ow!"

Harry yelped after Severus had smacked his notebook down on his head, and he sat up and rubbed the back of his head. Severus set the notebook down on the desk and crossed his arms, glaring down at his son.

"That is enough of your cheek. I'm sure I do not need to tell you that drawing in class is unacceptable. You should be paying attention to the lesson."

"I was listening still," Harry said, still rubbing the back of his head, though it had hardly hurt, the smack had been more startling than painful.

"Oh?" Severus quirked a brow. "Then tell me, who invented the blend of herbs that makes up Standard Ingredient, which is now used as a base in several different potions?"

"Err . . ." Harry racked his brain for the name of some potioneer, but he could not come up with any that sounded appropriate to the situation. At Severus's pointed glare, Harry said, "I mean, I was mostly listening."

"Can you name one of the herbs in this blend?"

Harry hesitated, then guessed, "Parsley?"

Severus snorted.

"I suppose you had a shot at guessing with that question. You will be reviewing this chapter tonight as part of your homework in addition to the essay, and I will be quizzing you on it."

"Oh, come on," Harry complained loudly, "I have other classes' homework too, you know."

"Excuse me?" Severus's eyes darkened considerably. "Do not speak to me in that tone of voice."

Harry found the detailed grain of his wooden desk to be very fascinating, and he avoided looking up at his father, his face heating up at the scolding.

"Furthermore, if you had paid attention in my class, you would have been able to answer those questions and thus, avoid further homework tonight."

"I'm sorry," Harry muttered.

"I certainly hope this isn't something you do in your other classes," Severus said.

Harry shook his head, not wanting to incriminate himself further. Severus lifted a disbelieving eyebrow.

"I better not hear of you ignoring your other professors' lessons in the future, do we understand each other?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said miserably.

Severus closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

"You'll be late for your next class," Severus said. "You may leave."

"I'd only be late because of you," Harry grumbled as he shoved his notebook in his bag and grabbed his bag and threw it over his shoulder as he stood up.

He was suddenly grabbed by his upper arm and swatted on his rear, and he yelped at the sting. Severus pulled him close and hissed in his ear, "That is enough, Harry James."

"Okay," Harry said, resisting the urge to rub the sting out of his backside. He glanced at the wide open door to the lab, glad to see no passerby, though he felt his cheeks heat up anyway. "I'm sorry."

Severus was silent for a moment before saying, "I will see you tonight in our quarters for dinner. You better come with an attitude adjustment, or I will give you one."

"Yes, sir," Harry said, hoping he sounded appeasing enough to be released once more. As soon as Severus released his arm, Harry left the potions classroom and headed for his next class. He did end up being two minutes late for DADA, but Remus waved it off and continued his lesson while Harry found a seat next to Ron. Remus's class was far more interesting than the potions lesson he had just come from, so Harry found no need to doodle and was able to focus on the lesson of defending against grindylows. After the lesson, Harry waited for everyone to leave before walking up to Remus's desk.

"I noticed you were late today," Remus said. "Care to explain what kept you from class?"

"Oh, Professor Snape wanted a word with me," Harry said.

"You weren't in trouble with him, I hope," Remus said playfully, smirking at Harry.

"No," Harry said. "I just wasn't paying attention through the whole lesson. Now I have more homework."

"I see." Remus sat down at his desk, summoning a chair that slid up to his desk on the other side for Harry to sit. Then, he tapped a finger on his desk, and tea appeared. "You're father was notorious for not paying attention in class."

"Really?" Harry asked as he helped himself to a cup of tea. He had a nice break period now, and he could usually get time in with Remus during this hour. He relaxed in his seat as he sipped his tea, enjoying the creamy, sweet taste.

"Yes, but somehow he still managed to score high marks." Remus shook his head fondly. "He was a natural in many subjects. Much like yourself."

"No, I'm not a natural. Especially transfiguration, that one is hard."

"But you have excellent grades in all of your classes despite it. If not a natural, you are a very smart and remarkable child."

"Thanks. So my dad was pretty good in all of his classes?"

"He was very intelligent. And while many subjects came easy for him, James did have to work hard and study sometimes, as you do. There were times he even went above and beyond in his studies, teaching himself things that aren't even taught at Hogwarts."

"Like what?"

"Many things. Helping to invent new joke products, creating some nifty magical items, and even becoming an animagus."

"Really?"

"Yes, though I will warn you, he did not go about the animagus thing appropriately. Don't you get any ideas about becoming a animagus until you are of age and make sure you have a supervisor. It can be very dangerous when you attempt such complex magic alone."

"I understand. I won't try anything like that. What was his animagus?"

"A deer. A big stag, to be exact."

"That is so cool. What about mum?"

"What about her?"

"What was she like in school?"

"Lily was just as brilliant as your father. She excelled in charms, it was her favorite, I believe."

"Someone told me she was good in potions, too."

She was. So good, in fact, that she was in the Slug Club, a club only the teacher can invite you into. Professor Slughorn certainly favored Lily when we were in school."

"Who's that?" Harry frowned, not recognizing the name.

"Oh, he was the original potions professor before Professor Snape. He also had a strong tendency to favor students, his club was full of the most talented students at Hogwarts, and they would have parties and dinners. I believe Severus was a member along with Lily, actually."

"Huh, Dad never mentioned that," Harry said softly, looking down in his teacup.

"Dad?" Remus asked, his eyebrows raising curiously.

Harry's eyes widened as he realized his mistake and he took a long sip of his drink.

"I thought you were living with your relatives?" Remus pushed.

"I am, err, well, I was, but then . . ."

"Someone adopted you? That is great news, Harry, there's no need to be ashamed of it."

"I'm not ashamed. I just wasn't supposed to tell anyone. For, err, my own safety and . . . well, the safety of my father, too. No one can know."

"You have my word that I will not tell another soul," Remus said. "You know, your parents would be very happy for you. From what you've told me, your relatives weren't he nicest, and it sounds like your close to your new family."

"It's just Dad and me," Harry said. "You really think my parents would be happy for me?"

"I do. As long as you were happy, they were happy."

"Even if it was Professor Snape?" Harry asked softly. "I know him and my dad didn't get along."

"Severus adopted you?" Remus asked, his eyebrows shooting up again. When he saw Harry's concerned look, he relaxed and offered a smile instead. "Yes. I think both of your parents would be happy for you and Severus. Even James, but especially Lily. She always saw the good in him, even when they ended their friendship. She always hoped he would get back on the right track. I see he has. When did he adopt you?"

"A couple years ago, back in my first year. He was a bit . . . rough at first, but he always cared."

"And he treats you well?" Remus asked. "I know you've been staying in his quarters due to Sirius Black's near break in, but you two act as if you do not get along."

"We have to. For when He returns. Dad will have to go back to him. There's no amount of magic that can remove the Dark Mark."

"I see."

"But he's very good to me. Maybe a little overprotective, though. I'm stuck in his quarters because he insisted and overruled the headmaster, not just because of Black. He's being completely ridiculous over this."

Harry expected agreement over Severus's overprotectiveness and was surprised when all Remus did was chuckle. He frowned at Remus and waited for an explanation.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Remus said, calming down. "But I have to agree with Severus on this one. He's just trying to keep you safe."

"You weren't supposed to take his side," Harry pouted.

The rest of the conversation went well, and Harry joined his friends in their common room to hang out. He was shocked when Severus walked directly into Gryffindor Tower to collect him before his usual allotted time to spend in the tower was up. Severus's irate face had Harry quickly obeying though, and he followed Severus to their quarters, quickly realizing that Remus had told Severus that he knew about their relationship. After a brief argument on why secrecy was important, they had dinner and another argument about the Hogsmeade trips, and when Severus told Harry he was free to return to his tower that night, he left in a huff.

Harry sobbed into his father's shoulder, his bottom throbbing, and he was regretting everything that had happened that day. He should have just stayed in the stupid castle. He had been so angry at his father's refusal to let him go to Hogwarts that he stole the invisibility cloak out of his father's room and snuck out through a secret passage he discovered on the new map the twins had shared with him. Everything had been going so well until Malfoy showed up and saw him. Then he had to rush back only to be cornered by his father. He was such a horrible son to betray Severus like that. All Severus wanted was to keep him safe from Black. And Harry couldn't even appreciate that.

He was such an ungrateful child. If not for the Black situation, Severus would have gladly signed his Hogsmeade form for him. Harry had dreamed of parents who made tough decisions about him because of how much they loved him, and now that he had it, he was fighting every rule set in place for him. How could Severus stand being in the same room as a disrespectful, dishonest ward?

"I don't deserve this," Harry muttered softly.

"Don't deserve what?" Severus asked softly.

"I don't deserve a hug after," Harry explained. As much as he loved his father's strong embrace, he didn't deserve to be treated like this after what he did. Severus was being way too kind. He needed to remind him of what a horrible child he was. "I hurt you and broke your trust and lied . . ."

He was cut off when Severus pushed his face into his shoulder, muffling his voice, so Harry stopped talking as he tried to hold back a sob.

"Yes," Severus said, "you did some pretty awful things. But you've been punished for them, and I'm reminding you that I still love you. Nothing you do will change that. Ever."

That did not make Harry feel any better. In fact, he felt even worse, but he hugged his father tighter.

"I'm really sorry," he said.

"I know. Try to calm down. I would like you to rest in your room for a few hours when you've calmed down. You are grounded to your room for the rest of today, then to our quarters until I say otherwise."

Great, stuck in his father's quarters again. But Harry wasn't too upset at the idea in that moment. He was glad to be in his father's hold a bit longer, and as childish as it made him feel, he didn't want Severus to leave him alone yet.

"Don't leave me yet," Harry whispered.

"I won't," Severus promised. "Not until you're ready. Take your time, son."

Harry tried to force himself to calm down, enjoying the back rub his father was giving him. His bottom was still throbbing but not nearly as awful as it had been mere minutes ago. It was crazy how quickly he seemed to heal from a spanking—it hurt so damn much to fade away completely in a couple hours. How was that even possible? After another minute, Harry managed to sneak a hand down to rub a smarting sting away before he slid off his father's lap to sit next to Severus, hissing slightly. He rubbed his eyes with his hands while leaning against Severus, who carded a hand through his hair, stroking his scalp gently. It had a calming effect, and Harry closed his eyes.

"Why don't you take a nap?" Severus suggested.

"I'm too old for naps," Harry said, though a nap sounded like an amazing thing right now.

"You've had a busy afternoon," Severus said. That's one way to put it, Harry thought. Severus continued, "I think a nap is very much in order. I will wake you for dinner, and then we will talk some more about the stipulations of your restriction."

Harry had no more fight left in him, so he nodded his head and laid down when Severus stood up. Severus waved his wand over him, and his clothes turned into pajamas. He snuggled into his pillow while his father draped a lightweight blanket over him. He closed his eyes, falling asleep quickly.

When he woke up an hour later, he found his father in his usual armchair reading a journal. He yawned as he shuffled out into the living space, pausing just behind his father's chair, unsure how to announce his presence.

"Haven't I told you," Severus began speaking without so much as turning his head, "to wear socks when you walk around these quarters?"

Harry looked down at his bare feet, rubbing them against each other. How on earth did Severus know he was barefoot?

"It gets far too cold down here to not have socks on," Severus said, and he waved his hand and socks came flying out of Harry's bedroom and landed on his head. "Put those on and come here."

Harry snorted as he grabbed the socks off his head and slipped them on his feet, then he walked the rest of the way to his father, standing in front of the armchair.

"Are you well rested?" Severus asked as he set his journal aside.

Harry shrugged, then nodded.

"Have you suddenly lost the ability to speak in the hour that you've slept?"

"No, sir," Harry said, "sorry. I'm well rested."

"Good. Sit down. We're going to have a talk."

"Yes, sir."

Harry sat on the couch, and waited for his father to start talking, expecting more of a scolding. What he did not expect was his father's question.

"Do you have any idea how much you worried me this afternoon?"

Harry looked down at his sock clad feet, tears starting to well in his eyes, which he blamed on having just woken from a nap.

"I'm sorry."

"That does not answer my question."

"No. I don't know. But I guess a lot."

"You guess."

"No, I know I worried you."

"Yes, you did. I had no idea if you were on your way back from Hogsmeade or if you were still hiding under your cloak just waiting for Black to snatch you. I was completely prepared to head to Hogsmeade and tear the town apart in search of you under that goddamn cloak!"

Harry felt a tear escape an eye, but he was sure Severus did not want to hear another apology, so he kept his mouth shut.

"If you ever steal your cloak out of my bedroom again, you will not see it again until you are of age."

Harry nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak.

"I understand how frustrated you must feel. I recall being denied the Hogsmeade visits myself when I was thirteen. My father refused to sign it just to spite me, and dear Mother put it off until halfway through the school year. It was just one more thing for students to tease me about."

"That's not right," Harry said, wiping his eyes. "Why would someone tease you about that?"

"Children can be cruel," said Severus, "I take it you were not subjected to any teasing?"

"Only from Malfoy," Harry said. "I'm sorry I disobeyed you. I was really frustrated that only I couldn't go and everyone else was having so much fun on the trips. It didn't feel fair, and I thought if I stayed under the cloak, I'd be safe."

"Now you see how quickly that plan could go awry."

"I see that now."

"I wish there was a way to keep you safe on the trips that did not involve you being tethered to my side. However, that would not make a fun trip for you and your friends, nor can I think of another compromise. Not that that matters now as you are banned from the trips for the remainder of the year, come any opportunity or even Black's capture."

"But what if—"

"No, Harry. That decision is final. You brought that on yourself."

Severus was right, so Harry didn't push it. It would not be a battle he could would just have to show Severus that he learned his lesson and be the best son he could be. He was rather subdued for a few weeks following the Hogsmeade incident. He tried to remain on his best behavior to regain his father's trust, and they spent many nights playing chess or other card games, and Harry felt it was his father's way of keeping him sane since he could not spend time with his friends outside of class. This lasted for another couple of weeks before Severus began allowing him to spend an hour or two in his Tower with his friends.

Christmas was upon them before he knew it, and he managed to convince his friends to pick up something from Hogsmeade for him, and he was elated to give it to Severus Christmas morning.

"Harry, stop shoveling your breakfast," Severus scolded from behind the Daily Prophet at the dining table in their quarters.

"I want to get to present," Harry said. "It's your stupid rule that we have to eat breakfast first."

"And that stupid rule will extend to lunch time if you do not eat like a civilized human being. Your gifts will be there when we are finished with our meal, and they can also wait all day, too."

Harry huffed and ate slower. It wasn't his own gifts he was excited about but the one he had for Severus. He had worked hard on it, and he was anxious to hear what his father thought about it. He was starting to feel a bit nervous about it, so he really wanted to get to it before he completely decided not to give it to his father.

"Can we open presents, now?" Harry asked once he finished breakfast.

"No," Severus said from behind the paper. "I am still eating."

"You only have tea in front of you," Harry said in exasperation.

"And fruit," Severus said, lowering the paper to reveal a bowl of fruit. He set aside the paper and picked up his fork, spearing a fruit and eating it.

"Oh, come on," Harry complained.

"I would like to eat my breakfast in peace, young man," Severus said, slowly eating another fruit. "Patience is a virtue, you know."

Harry groaned and sat back in his chair while he watched his father take all the time in the world to slowly eat his fruit, glaring at his father the entire time. Just as slow, Severus cleared the table with a wave of his wand and refilled his tea, making it to his liking and taking a sip. Harry was on the verge of exploding at this rate.

"Dad!" Harry finally cried, "Can we please open presents, now? You're killing me!"

"I am most certainly not," Severus said, though he had a smug look about him. He huffed and nodded his head. "Very well. Dive in, child."

Harry whooped and ran over to the small tree in the living space, searching through the gifts while Severus walked out into the living room and sat in his armchair. Harry divided the gifts before picking up a square parcel and holding it out to his father.

"Open mine first, Dad," Harry said, smiling at his father.

Severus sighed indulgently as he accepted the gift from Harry, carefully opening the package. Harry sat on the arm of the chair to watch his father, biting his lower lip nervously.

Severus opened the present and revealed a framed sketch of Severus and Harry walking through Hogsmeade, and Severus admired the detail Harry put into it, between the shop names and the small displays in the windows, along with his own intricate outlining. He wore his typical black robe and had a small smile on his face while Harry was grinning up at him wearing his Hogwarts uniform, a scarf around his neck. Severus smiled at the drawing.

"Do you like it? I went off my memory as best I could, and I thought about adding color but . . ."

"It's perfect, Harry," Severus said, his voice sounding suspiciously choked. Severus cleared his throat and said, "You did a very nice job."

"Thanks. I had Hermione pick up a larger sketch book for me and Ron grabbed the drawing quills."

"You are very talented," Severus said, tilting the frame gently. "You didn't happen to work on this during any of your classes, now did you?"

"Don't ruin a good thing, Dad," Harry said. "And no, I didn't. I do learn, you know."

"Could have fooled me," Severus said, reaching up to roughly ruffle Harry's hair, then he pulled his son down and planted a kiss on his temple. "Thank you, son."

"You're welcome," Harry said, hugging his father.

Severus pushed his son toward the gifts on the floor.

"Now open your own gifts," Severus said. "You're making me sentimental."

Harry laughed as he dropped to the floor and grabbed the closest present, ripping into it. He glanced up at his father to see him studying the sketch once more, and he smiled to himself. Perhaps the year would turn around for the better, and this Christmas was a good start.