Enjoy! Snape is Snaping hard in this chapter :)
Remus Lupin always wanted to believe the best of people, especially those that he loved and cared for. He did not want to believe that Harry had lied to him but as he searched the guest room for the third time, he was beginning to think that perhaps the child had.
He knew that Harry lying was not completely unheard of. Still, it hurt to think that the boy would lie to him.
The man let out a low sigh as he opened his wardrobe once more, hopeful that perhaps he had simply tucked the map away somewhere and had somehow missed it in his search.
Despite his optimistic nature, his mind did wander to how to handle the situation if Harry had lied and did have the map. He knew of course that he could confide in the boy's guardian but he also knew how that would end for the teenager. Although Remus did not agree with stealing or lying, he also didn't want to tell on the child or for the child to be walloped for his behavior. Remus was sure it was all just a misunderstanding of sorts.
Aside from that, the child was having a hard enough time without this adding to it when Remus was not certain that he hadn't simply misplaced the map.
He closed his wardrobe as he heard the parlor door open and then close in the distance. A quick glance at the clock told him that it was Snape that had entered the quarters as Harry was in Herbology for another three quarters of an hour.
The man adjusted his sweater as he moved out of the guest room and towards the parlor, content to keep his search for his map to himself.
"How are the third years today?" Remus asked as he stepped into the parlor. He missed teaching. He missed seeing the students on a weekly if not daily basis. Of course, he occasionally walked through the castle or on the grounds and saw some of them but it wasn't the same.
"One nearly blew up a cauldron," Snape replied in an unamused tone. "I don't believe half of them bring their brains to class with them."
"The castle is tense, Severus, surely the students are feeling the effects of that." Remus moved across the parlor as he spoke, sitting down on the couch a moment later.
"I'm sure they are," Snape agreed as he hovered at his desk, arranging his work for his afternoon class. "However, despite that I cannot excuse careless mistakes that could injure students."
"Fair enough." Remus glanced at the front page of the Daily Prophet that was lying on the coffee table. "I wanted to discuss something with you. I think it would be far better for you to discuss it with Harry than for me to do so."
"Hm?" The man turned his head before standing up straight and turning his body as well to face the man.
"I was in the forest this morning for a quick walk and spoke with some of the centaurs." The man cleared his throat before continuing. "Greyback has been spotted in the forest recently, likely doing some recruiting. I wasn't sure if you were already aware but we both know that Harry has tended to find himself in the forest a time or two."
Snape frowned at the words as he felt his blood run cold. Greyback would relish in getting his hands on his child. "I will speak with Harry. Today is possible."
"I don't like to think that he would go into the forest after being reprimanded for it in the past, but he is a curious cub, Severus."
Snape nearly rolled his eyes at the words. "He is a cheeky brat," Snape replied. "Who at times thinks he is above following the rules." The man let out a low sigh. "As I said, I will speak with him. Thank you for making me aware, Remus."
"Of course." Remus leaned back on the couch.
Harry stepped down onto the bottom floor of the castle. His nerves were on edge as his mind raced with what the outcome would be of what he was about to do. He knew he was doing the right thing. His guardian had told him on several occasions that if he just came to him and was honest, he wouldn't be in nearly as much trouble. He only hoped that Snape would remember that tonight.
Dumbledore's Army was doing well. It was established now. It was too late for Snape to stop it and Harry was sure that even if the man demanded that he do so he wasn't going to. He couldn't. It was too important.
Still, he didn't want his guardian to be cross with him. He didn't want the man to be disappointed either. Harry was sure that there was no worse feeling in the world.
Harry paused outside of the door that led to Snape's quarters, his hand resting on the doorknob. He was sure that Snape was back from supper by now and he found himself hoping that the man hadn't noticed just how little he had actually eaten. His appetite had been nonexistent with his nerves. He nearly laughed at the very thought that he was worried about his guardian scolding him over how much he ate when he was about to confess so much.
Taking in a deep breath, Harry turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, stepping into the parlor and closing the door tightly behind him.
Remus wasn't there. Harry knew that for a fact. The man had gone to visit with Sirius before the full moon came the night after the next. It made for the perfect night to confess and it wasn't a moment too soon either, the guilt was eating Harry alive. He knew that if he just told his guardian the truth, he would feel loads better, even if the man did go completely mental. Once he was done going mental it would all be okay.
Snape looked up from the pile of papers on his lap as the parlor door opened. It was unusual that the teenager spent his Friday nights in their quarters. Typically, Friday nights were reserved for his friends and Harry found his way down to the dungeon's midday on Saturday.
The man cleared his throat as he marked an answer incorrect on the fourth-year exam at the top of his pile. "I sincerely hope that you came down here with the intent to eat more than I just witnessed you eating at dinner."
The teenager forced a small grin at the words before allowing it to fall away completely. He knew the man would notice and it made him feel good that he had. He moved across the room and sat down on the couch. "No. I mean…not yet, I guess," he clarified before Snape had a chance to say otherwise. He swallowed hard before looking down at his knees. "I have to talk to you about something."
The man's eyes drifted from his work to his child. He instantly noted how nervous the boy looked and he felt himself hoping it was not anything too serious. He moved the pile of exams to the table beside him, setting his quill on top of them. He cleared his throat causing his child to look up at him. With a wave of his hand, he called Harry over to him. "You certainly have my attention." The same hand waved once more causing a fire to roar to life.
Harry's eyes flickered to the fire before he let out a small sigh and stood. He was sure his bum was safer on the couch but he was also sure that it didn't make a difference. If Snape wanted to smack his backside the man would think little of pulling him right up off the couch to do so.
He slowly took several steps, standing in front of his guardian a moment later. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it. Now that he was standing in front of Snape, he had no idea how exactly to tell his guardian what was going on. He also had no idea how the man would react.
Snape reached a hand out, gently tapping the teenager's hip. "You have to talk to me about something?" He inquired.
Harry gave a small nod as he looked at the man's face. "Yeah," he breathed. "And I'm really hoping you don't go mental."
Snape let out a sigh at the words. He could hardly help that his thoughts went immediately to Umbridge and he hoped that his child wasn't in trouble with her once more. "A comforting way to start a conversation," the man mused, fighting to keep his tone from becoming stern. His fingertips tapped against the boy's hip once more. "Go on then."
"I…I've kinda started something," Harry finally settled on. "Something to help others learn defensive magic since we haven't learned anything since Umbridge took over."
"You have started something?" Snape repeated the words. "What is this something?" The man gave his child a questioning look. The number of times that he had expressed to the child to keep himself out of trouble, to keep unwanted attention off of himself, flashed through his mind. He hoped that Harry hadn't completely disregarded those warnings.
"We call it Dumbledore's Army…D.A." Harry replied before he could talk himself out of it. "A few of us meet up a few nights a week and I teach them defensive spells and we practice them." He watched his guardian's face carefully, waiting for the man's features to become stern.
A soft sigh escaped the man as his eyes closed, his right hand raising to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Harry…"
"We can't go the whole year without learning anything, Severus, you know that we can't." Harry frowned at his own words. "We learned more our first year. Our textbook was more advanced our first year!"
"I asked you to keep yourself out of trouble and to keep unwanted attention off of yourself." Snape's eyes remained closed and Harry noted that the man didn't sound cross. "This sounds as if you are not doing either of those things."
"We won't be caught." He cleared his throat slightly, his arms wrapping around his middle. "We've been using the Room of Requirement."
"Harry James…" The sternness suddenly entered his tone at full force. His hand fell as his eyes shot open. The man did not believe for one second that there was a chance that the teenager and his friends wouldn't eventually be caught. He very nearly turned the child to the side and landed a well-deserved swat to his backside.
Harry almost stopped confessing there but he could still feel the guilt swirling within his stomach. He knew if he wanted it gone completely; he needed to confess to everything.
His teeth chewed on the inside of his cheek for a brief moment before he cleared his throat. "There's more," he said softly.
The man raised an eyebrow at the teenager as he tried to decipher what else the boy could possibly be up to. "More?"
Harry took in a shuddering breath as he reached into his back pocket and took hold of the map. It was now or never he supposed. He pulled the map from his pocket and reached over, laying it on top of the man's pile of work.
A frown formed on Snape's face at the realization of what Harry had just put on the table. "How did you acquire that again?"
"I…retrieved it,' Harry tried as his eyes slowly moved from the map back to his guardian.
Snape gave a firm shake of his head as his hand reached out, his fingertips tapping the underside of the boy's chin firmly. "Try again."
Harry bit his lip for a brief moment before he opened his mouth once more, "I…borrowed it."
The man's hand moved quickly, snaking around the boy. "You stole it!" He landed a firm tap to the child's backside with each word.
A large lump formed in Harry's throat and he swallowed hard in an attempt to force it away. "Only to make sure we avoid Filch and all of them. I swear I haven't used it for anything else."
"How did you steal it?" Snape asked in a stern tone.
Harry gave the man a questioning look. Surely that wasn't a question that he was expected to answer. "I took it from Remus," he replied, unable to hide the confusion in his tone.
"When?" The man's hand tapped firmly once more. "How?"
Harry felt dread pool in his stomach at the question. "The…the day I said I was sick and you let me miss class," he confessed. "I wasn't sick. I'm sorry. I had to get the map though. We would have gotten caught instantly without it."
Snape shook his head firmly as he refrained from tapping the boy's backside once more and instead landed a firm swat to it. "I do not care why you stole it. Stealing is wrong and you know that, Harry. Furthermore, you lied to me and I know that you know better than to do that as well."
Harry took in a breath as the sting erupted on his backside. "Don't," he pleaded softly, instantly hating himself for sounding so childish. "I am going to tell Remus and apologize to him."
"You absolutely are!" Snape's hand landed just as hard in the exact same spot. "Your behavior has been appalling!"
"Snaaape," Harry whined before he could stop himself. "Don't!"
The man shook his head firmly before he took a grip on the boy's arm and quickly turned him to the side. In one quick motion he had Harry over his right knee, his hand crashing down once more on the trouser clad rear end. "Absolutely not! I am quite tired of the lying you have been doing recently." His hand landed twice more, harder yet. "Furthermore, you lied in order to steal!"
The fire that erupted on Harry's backside caused the tears to spill out of his eyes. "I was honest and told you," Harry forced the words out through the tears as he involuntarily attempted to squirm away from the man.
"And that is the only reason you aren't fetching the paddle as we speak," Snape replied angrily as he continued to allow his hand to reign down on the child's bottom. "You stole from Remus and lied to me. I do not care what your reasoning for that is, it was wrong and you know it, young man."
His hand fell a total of fifteen times before he stopped, helping Harry to his feet, and standing the child in front of him once more. Typically, he would have allowed the boy to stay put as he rubbed his back and comforted him but there was no time for that tonight.
"Owww," Harry complained before he could stop himself. His right hand involuntarily moved around his body and attempted to rub some of the sting out of his bum. "I-I was honest with you…you did-didn't have to w-wallop me."
Snape nearly rolled his eyes at the words. He was sure there had never been a more dramatic child. The man would hardly classify what he had just done as a proper spanking. "You were," he nodded. "Which saved you from the paddle this evening. That does not mean that your actions go without consequence. What you did was wrong. You are lucky you aren't still over my knee at this moment."
"And I'm sorry," Harry replied as he pulled his glasses from his face so that he could rub at his eyes properly. "I…I didn't want you to stop us before we could even get started. We have to do this. We don't have a choice."
Snape was silent for a long moment as he thought over everything his child had told him. The stealing and lying was inexcusable, there was no denying that. Still, the man couldn't deny that what his child was doing was nothing short of brilliant. Nor could he deny that he felt quite proud of the boy.
"The Ministry believes that we don't even need to use spells but we know that's not true. We know He is back. We can't just ignore that. We can't," Harry continued when his guardian did not speak. He was certain that there was a chance that his bum was about to be assaulted more and he couldn't help but try to get his point across the best he could before it was.
"I am well aware of what she and the Ministry believe." Although Snape's tone remained stern, Harry couldn't help but notice that it wasn't quite as stern as it had been a moment ago.
Silence fell over the parlor as Harry watched his guardian carefully. He didn't have much more to say on the matter. He didn't know what else he could say.
Several long moments passed before Snape spoke sternly once more. "Stealing is wrong, Harry regardless of why you felt the need to do so. The fact that you stole from Remus is disheartening at best. He is our guest and you invaded his privacy and took something of his. I am well past disappointed in those actions."
"I'm sorry," Harry breathed sincerely as he felt his heart ache at the words. He hated the very thought that his guardian was disappointed in him. It was enough to make him want to sick up right there on the parlor floor.
"Furthermore, lying is wrong. We have discussed that several times. Do you need your backside warmed properly in order to remember such a thing?"
"No," Harry shook his head. "I don't. Really."
"Do you need your mouth cleaned out with a bar of soap to prevent you from lying in the future?"
Harry made a face at the words as he quickly shook his head, his hand moving to brush the remaining tears from his face. "No," he replied in a soft tone. "I swear I don't."
"If I ever hear of you stealing again, I am going to turn you over my knee and spank that backside of yours until stealing never crosses your mind again. Are we clear on that?"
Harry nodded at the words, instantly feeling his insides squirm at the threat alone. "Yes Sir."
Snape was silent one more as he thought over how to move forward with the information he had been given.
"I'm sorry," Harry voiced softly. "Really."
"What are you sorry for?" Snape questioned.
"For stealing…for lying." Harry bit his bottom lip before continuing. "I'm not sorry for the reasoning though. I'm not sorry for the meetings."
A soft hum passed the man's lips at the clarification. "I daresay I agree with you. You should not be sorry for the reasoning."
The shock that overtook Harry's face was swift. He had been positive that his guardian was about to tell him that he forbade him from holding the meetings. "Really?" He breathed.
"We do, however, need to discuss these meetings of yours." Snape gave the child a serious glare. "They cannot continue as they have been. It is far too risky."
Harry frowned. There it was. He would have bet everything in his safe at Gringotts that this was coming. His shoulders slouched down a considerable amount. "But it's working. I can't just stop the meetings. I won't."
"You can not under any circumstances be sneaking around this castle and into the Room of Requirement to teach defensive spells to your classmates." Snape narrowed his eyes on the boy. "Is that understood?"
Harry nearly stomped his foot in frustration at the man's words. "The Room of Requirement is the safest place for us! They can't get to us there!"
"If she finds out that you are all in there, she can certainly get to you." Snape shook his head firmly. "It is not safe and I will not allow it." The man paused for a moment as his hand once more reached around the child and landed a firm tap to his rear end. "And if it continues your backside will pay a very high price. Am I understood?"
Harry felt the defiance rise in him. "I'm not stopping them." He narrowed his eyes slightly. He didn't care if Snape bloody belted him, he wasn't going to give in. "Everyone is doing so well. I'm not throwing all that away now."
Snape raised an eyebrow at the insolence. He nearly commented on it but somehow refrained from doing so. "I did not say that you needed to stop them. I believe what I said is that you will not be sneaking around and going into the Room of Requirement. We will find a more suitable arrangement."
Harry gave the man a disbelieving look. He could not imagine any other arrangement that would work. He let out a small sigh as he sat back, his bum resting on the edge of the coffee table despite the small amount of discomfort it gave him.
"Is there some reason that you could not have your meetings here?" Snape questioned as he looked around the parlor. He couldn't picture a group of his students in his parlor but it would certainly be safer for them.
Harry gazed at his guardian, sure that the man had lost his mind. "Wh-what?"
"Perhaps it could be a study group of sorts…for Potions."
"Wait, you're serious?" A small grin formed on the teenager's lips.
"If any of you are questioned, or rather if any of your classmates are questioned, you are coming here for extra help with Potions." The man looked around the room for a brief moment. "The furniture will have to be moved to the side of course but I believe it could work."
"You're really serious?" Harry asked once more, hardly believing what he was hearing. "We can train here?" The small grin on his face formed into a full smile.
"You can train here." Snape gave a curt nod. "However, when you do there will be an adult present, either Remus or myself. If you do not want our help that is fine but we will be in these quarters."
"Okay," Harry quickly agreed.
"And if I ever hear of you stealing again – "
"You won't," Harry cut the man off before he could verbalize the threat. "I swear you won't."
The man's hand reached out, tapping the boy's chin firmly. "You will also be telling Remus what you did and apologizing."
Harry gave a small nod, his smile fading. "I said I would." He couldn't help the dread that he felt at the task. He couldn't recall a time he had ever done something so horrible to Remus and he had no idea how the man would react.
Snape gave a soft hum as he leaned back slightly in his chair. "Aside from your poor choices to steal and lie, I am quite proud of you. Quite proud indeed, Harry."
The teenager smiled properly as he felt his body relax. "I was expecting you to really go mental," he admitted softly, shrugging a shoulder.
"I believe I have told you multiple times that if you come to me and are honest, things will likely work out in your favor." The man gave his child a knowing look. "I also believe you are doing the right thing in helping your classmates. You simply need a safer way to do so. I am pleased that I can be of assistance with that."
"It was really all Hermione's idea," Harry confessed. "I didn't think anyone would actually want to join."
"She really is quite bright." A small hum escaped the man.
Harry let out a low sigh as his brain wandered slightly. "What time do you think Remus will be home?"
"I cannot be certain but I do not imagine he will be too late." Snape's eyes drifted to the clock on the mantel before he looked back to his son. "Perhaps now would be an appropriate time to discuss the rest of your punishment?"
Harry's mouth fell open at the words as he gave his guardian a pitiful look. "You just walloped me," he replied in a sad tone.
"That was not a proper punishment and you know it. However, if you would like me to properly turn you over my knee for your lying and stealing you may fetch the paddle and go to your room and wait for me to join you there."
Harry shook his head, a frown forming on his lips. "No…but you did! It hurt!"
"Good, I meant it to hurt. You made several serious mistakes and as I said I do not care why you did so, what you did was wrong and you will be on restriction for several nights as a result of it."
"You said you were proud of me!"
"And I am," Snape clarified. "I am quite proud of you for taking the initiative to help your classmates and prepare them for what may come in the future. I am not proud of the fact that you lied and stole to accomplish that. Not in the slightest."
Harry's shoulder slumped a considerable amount at the words. "But the meetings…"
"I will allow the meetings to continue, however, you will not be in your dormitory or wandering around this castle or the grounds spending time with your friends. For the next week you will go to class and spend the rest of your time here. Is that understood?"
Harry's frown remained as he gave a small nod. "Yes Sir." It wasn't the worst punishment he supposed but he still hated to be trapped in their quarters when he knew his friends were likely off having the most fun of their lives somewhere.
Snape glanced at the clock once more, noting that it was quite early. "Are you ready to eat a proper supper now?"
Harry shook his head at the words. Although he felt loads better having talked to his guardian, he still had to talk to Remus and the nervousness over how that conversation would go had caused his appetite to vanish completely.
Snape gave a knowing nod at the words as his hand moved, his fingertips tapping against his child's left knee. "Go take a shower and then I think it would be appropriate for you to spend the remainder of the evening in your room. I will send Remus in to speak with you when he arrives home and I will have Minka deliver you a plate of supper after you have had your conversation."
Harry felt his face fall at the words. He hated that he was being punished. "I can't stay out here with you?"
"I have work to finish and I believe that some time in your room is hardly uncalled for after the evening we just had."
"You walloped me and I'm on restriction!" Harry complained half-heartedly.
Snape raised an eyebrow at the child. "And you are quite fortunate that I did not paddle your unruly backside and wash your mouth out with a bar of soap."
Once more Harry felt himself making a disgusted face at the threat.
"Shower and then go to your room." Snape's fingertips tapped once more. "I will be in much later to say goodnight."
The teenager sighed softly as he forced himself to stand. There was no use continuing to argue, he would just aggravate his guardian causing the man to likely punish him more.
"Are you going to tell Remus what happened before he comes to talk to me?"
Snape shook his head at the words. "I am not. You stole from him. You are going to explain that to him and then you are going to give him a sincere apology. Should I find out that you have not, I am going to be quite disappointed and you are going to be a very sorry boy."
Harry felt his cheeks warm at the threat as he moved past his guardian's armchair and towards the hallway. "I am going to apologize…sincerely too, because I am really sorry."
"I am pleased to hear that."
Harry laid on his bed, his stomach flipping over itself every few moments. He had heard the floo roar to life nearly ten minutes prior alerting him that Remus was home. He was absolutely dreading the conversation that he had to have with the man.
Disappointing Snape was one thing. He hated it, of course, so much so that he would rather the man wallop him until he couldn't sit than to say he was disappointed by his actions. This was Remus though; it was so rare that the man even became stern or upset. Harry wasn't sure how he would react and the idea of that alone was unnerving.
Harry rolled from his stomach to his side and then forced himself to sit up properly as he heard the knock on his door. "Come in." He scooted up his bed to lean back onto his headboard.
"I heard you wanted to speak with me." Remus entered the room with a grin on his face.
As far as Harry could tell, the man's expression was genuine which meant that Snape had stood by his word and really hadn't told Remus anything yet. The realization only made Harry dread the conversation more. He hated that in just minutes, all Remus' happiness was sure to vanish and it would be his doing.
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "If you have time, I mean." He wasn't sure why he had said those words. Snape would murder him if he avoided telling Remus.
"For you? Always." Remus moved across the room, taking a seat on the end of the child's bed. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I…I really just need to tell you something," Harry clarified. "And you're going to be cross. Probably really cross."
Remus frowned slightly at the words. "What is this about?"
Harry swallowed hard as he absentmindedly bit his bottom lip. "Your map. I…I took- stole it from you."
The man stared at the teenager as he took in the information. He was sure that Snape had already made his displeasure in regards to the stealing more than known. Remus could not imagine a scenario in which he hadn't. "Why would you do such a thing?"
Remus didn't sound angry, he sounded sad and Harry hated himself for causing it. He could feel the lump forming in his throat and he swallowed hard before replying. "Well…my friends and I we started a group; we call it Dumbledore's Army or the DA really and we were meeting in the Room of Requirement and I was teaching them defensive spells and we needed the map so that we could do it all without getting caught." He paused for a moment before quickly adding, "And Severus already knows, I told him earlier."
Remus' eyes widened as the boy rushed out an explanation. It hadn't been what he had been expecting at all. He was silent for a long moment before he cleared his throat softly. "You didn't feel as though you could ask me for the map instead of stealing it?"
Harry shrugged before quickly thinking better of it. "No…at least not at the time. I was too afraid you would tell Severus and that he would try to stop it or that you would try to stop me."
Remus frowned at the explanation. "You did not think that if one of us thought you should stop it that perhaps you should listen?"
Harry shook his head as he bent his knees, resting his arms around his legs. "No," he answered honestly. "It's too important, Remus."
Remus hummed softly at the response. "What did Severus say about all of this?"
"He…he was pretty cross about the stealing part and the lying." Harry felt his ears burn slightly. "I'm on restriction for a week. But he understood. I thought he was going to try and make me stop them but he isn't, he said they have to move down here though." He wasn't about to confide in Remus that the man had walloped him. He didn't care how close he had gotten to the man; it was far too mortifying.
Remus didn't miss the embarrassment on the boy's face. He was fairly certain that his friend had done more than just put the boy on restriction. "I can certainly understand the meetings. You should be continuing to learn and helping your classmates to do so too. You are far too talented not to do so, Harry." The man leaned forward slightly, resting a hand down on top of the teenager's right foot. "I am, however, hurt that you would steal from me. Aside from that, you lied directly to my face when I asked you if you knew where my map was."
Harry's eyes settled on Remus' hand, his lips forming a deep frown. He hated how he had treated the man. "I'm sorry," he breathed.
"Thank you for apologizing, I appreciate it." Remus gave a slight nod as his hand gently squeezed the boy's foot.
The tension in the room was thick and Harry despised it. "I really am sorry, Remus." He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes and he blinked rapidly to clear them away. He wasn't going to cry. He just wouldn't.
Remus was silent for a moment before he sighed softly. "As I said, I appreciate your apology and I appreciate you being honest with me. It just upsets me that you took the map from me and that you thought so little of lying to me about it."
"I didn't think so little of it," Harry breathed. "Honestly, I felt horrible. The guilt was killing me." His hand moved as he took off his glasses and quickly wiped at his eyes before any tears could fall. "I hated lying to you and stealing from you. I just…I didn't know what else to do."
"I understand your reasoning behind it. I truly do, Harry. And I accept your apology." The man patted the boy's foot affectionately. "I just do not like that it happened."
"I know," Harry whispered, looking down to his knees with a frown. Remus may have accepted his apology, but it certainly didn't make him feel any better.
"As I said, I appreciate your apology. I appreciate you telling me about it rather than continuing to lie." The man sighed softly as he looked at the teenager. "I am not cross with you for what you did. I am hurt by it and disappointed."
"That's worse," Harry muttered softly. Somehow, it really was worse than any punishment.
Remus hummed softly at the words. "It is getting late. I am sure that Severus will want to come in and say goodnight soon and I am quite tired myself."
Harry gave a small nod at the words before he quickly pushed himself up onto his knees and wrapped his arms around the man. "I love you."
"I love you too," Remus wrapped his arms around the teenager. "Very much."
"And I am sorry," Harry stated once more. "I really am."
"I know. And I forgive you." Remus' hand gently tapped against the boy's shoulder blade.
"Thanks…for forgiving me, I mean," Harry whispered.
A soft hum escaped the man as his hand tapped a bit more firmly. "Keep yourself out of trouble," the man instructed softly.
"I really am trying to, I promise I am."
Remus gave a small nod as he squeezed the child a bit tighter before releasing him. "Goodnight, Harry."
"Night."
Snape knocked once on the teenager's door before he stepped into the room, leaving the door open behind him. "Everything went well with Remus I presume?"
Harry rolled onto his side, turning his head slightly to see his guardian from where he was laying. "I guess…he is really disappointed…and sad."
"Did you expect him not to be?" The man sat down on the edge of the bed, eyeing the child's supper plate on the bedside table. It looked as though it had hardly been touched.
"I mean…no. I hate it though," Harry said softly.
Snape hummed softly as his hand moved to tap the boy's rear end firmly. "Do not steal from him and it would not be an issue."
Harry gave a small nod. "I know. I won't ever again." He had hardly felt the tap but he certainly felt the message behind it.
"I am sure his disappointment will not last long. Remus loves you very much."
"I know. I still hate it though. He was just so sad about it." Harry sighed at his own words.
"You will need to show him that he can trust you once more," Snape's tone was soft. "I am sure that this will not permanently alter your relationship, it will just take some time for things to feel more normal."
"Yeah," Harry agreed glumly. He was hopeful that maybe over the next week he could somehow make it all up to the man. He wasn't sure how though.
"It will all be okay. It may take some time but it will."
Harry gave a slight nod at the words. He was sure they were true but they didn't make him feel any better at the moment.
"There is something else that I want to discuss with you, and it is quite serious."
"Hm?" Harry propped himself up on his elbow. He couldn't help the anxiety that raced through his body. There had been so many changes in the past few weeks and he couldn't help but worry that another Professor had been sacked or worse that Snape had been.
"I know that we have had this conversation numerous times in the past, however, it is imperative that you keep yourself out of the forest."
Harry gave a nod at the words. It was a conversation that they had had plenty of times in the past. He knew he was supposed to stay out of the forest and for the most part he did and when he didn't he was careful about it.
"Greyback has been spotted within the forest," Snape continued. "Likely trying to do recruitment."
Harry could hear the seriousness in the man's tone. He could sense the fear radiating off of him. "Okay," he breathed, hoping his own voice matched the tone of his guardian's.
Snape gave a nod at the words. "I do not enjoy stating ultimatums, nor do I enjoy punishing you, however, should you step a toe into that forest, my belt will be expressing to your backside the severity of your choices. Understood?" The man truly despised making the threat, however, if it worked it would be well worth it in his opinion.
Harry's cheeks instantly prickled with warmth. He hated the threat. He hated to think for even a moment that his guardian would ever do that again. The very idea of it made him want to stay as far away from the forest as possible.
"Understood?" Snape repeated when his child did not answer him in a timely manner.
"Yeah…yes," Harry breathed shakily. "Understood."
"I do not think that either of us want to experience that again so I am asking you to please heed my warning and obey this particular rule." The man's hand tapped against the teenager's hip.
"Okay," Harry gave a small nod. He hated to think that Snape would follow through with his threat but he knew him well enough to know that he would. The last thing Harry wanted was to ever feel the man's belt again. He let his head fall back down to his pillow, moving his hand out of the way. "I hate that."
"I am not fond of it either," Snape confided in his child. "However, I am even less fond of finding out that you made a careless decision and bumped into Greyback."
"I won't though," Harry promised, "even without you saying all that about your belt." He felt the warmth grow on his face.
"Then it does not matter what I have said, if you stay out of the forest it will not be an issue, will it?"
"No…guess not," Harry sighed as he looked up at the man. "Are you still cross from earlier?"
"I am not," Snape answered honestly.
"Can I ask you something without you getting cross?"
"Hm?"
"Have you thought at all about Remus staying here instead of going to the shack?" Harry questioned in a hopeful voice.
A small sigh escaped the man. "I have. I am not sure it is a good idea."
"Why?" Harry frowned, careful to keep any cheek from his tone. "He isn't dangerous as long as he takes the potion."
"That is correct, but accidents could still happen. What if he accidently scratched you? Remus would be horrified if such a thing happened."
Harry nearly laughed at the words. Remus wouldn't accidentally scratch him. He knew that he wouldn't. "That wouldn't happen. You know he would be so careful, it's Remus."
Snape knew the words were true. Remus would die before he hurt the child. Still, he was apprehensive about Remus being in their quarters when he was in such a state. "Harry…"
"He's practically family, Severus! And you know he would never hurt us."
Snape swallowed as he thought over the words. "We will try it and see how it goes."
"Really?" Harry quickly sat up.
"Yes, but if it does not work out, Remus will be going back to the shack as he always has." The man couldn't help but be pleased at how much joy his words had brought his child. "We do not even know if he will want to stay here."
"Talk to him! Of course he will want to!"
"I will speak with him about it tomorrow, he has already gone to bed." The man's hand moved to tap the boy's leg gently. "And it is time for you to go to bed as well, it is past eleven."
Harry gave a nod as he laid back down. He wanted to tell the man that had he been up in his dormitory he likely would be awake for another hour or even two, but he knew Snape wouldn't approve at all. "Night…thanks…for everything tonight."
"Goodnight." Snape stood and then leaned down, placing a kiss on the teenager's forehead. "Sleep well, Harry."
TBC...