kbinnz - Harry's New Home

"Are you gonnaтАж Erm, that is, did IтАж" Frustrated at his own incoherence, Harry just gave up. "You're gonna whack me, right?" he asked bluntly.

"I am?" Snape echoed before he could stop himself. It was the Pink Toad on whom he really wanted to vent his wrath, but as he recalled how blithely Harry had proposed to camp out in the Forbidden Forest, he could feel his blood pressure rise. Perhaps a few sharp smacks to the brat's behind would not be a bad idea. On the other hand, the Toad had already frightened Harry half to death and that was probably enough punishment for such a sensitive child.

He snarled to himself. That witch was going to payтАж

Harry shifted uneasily on his da's lap. He had disobeyed the rule about not going into the Forbidden Forest тАУ or he'd been prepared to disobey it, anyway. And running away like that, when they didn't even know where Voldemold was, would have been pretty dangerousтАж In fact his whole plan was, Harry now realized, pretty stupid, and he remembered what his da said about stupidity always being punished. He sighed. He had definitely earned himself a smacking, regardless of whatever else he got for the alleged cheating.

He glanced at his da. Yup, he looked pretty fierce. Resignedly, Harry slid off his da's lap, then draped himself over the man's knee. Not that his da had ever whacked him in that position before, generally just turning him around to give him a light slap, but Harry knew he had really earned this smacking. The troll and the rememberall and even the football at the Weasleys had sort of been accidents, but this time he'd deliberately set out to break the rules. This time, he deserved every whack, though he suspected his da wouldn't be able to be too hard on him. The man really hated to give spankings, and Harry felt bad for being dumb enough to earn one, forcing his da to have to deliver it.

Still, if they were going to face the Headmaster, it was important to show that his da didn't let him get away with any naughtiness, and maybe his having a sore bum would convince the Headmaster that Harry had been suitably punished for the cheating offense. " 'M ready," he said encouragingly. "Three whacks, yeah? For stupidity an' endangerin' myself an' for disobedience."

Snape had been paralyzed with shock when the brat had abruptly laid himself across his knee. What in Merlin's name was he supposed to do now? And three swats? Where had that come from? Hadn't he promised the boy a maximum of two?

On the other hand, Harry could hardly make his expectations more clear, and the books did say to follow the child's lead, where appropriate. Snape glared down at the waiting trouser seat. Why was it always him who had to be the awful, stern disciplinarian?

Of course, painting Albus in that light was what had gotten him into this trouble in the first place, and it was apparent from Harry's expectant look that he didn't really fear Snape's punishmentsтАж He gritted his teeth and raised his hand. Think about the boy wandering in the Forbidden Forest. Think about Harry alone on the streets of London. Think about Harry freezing to death in a snowdrift.

That did it. His fury at the child who had caused him such terror came flooding back, and he managed a very respectable whack to Harry's backside.

"Ouch!" the brat said obligingly.

A second smack, equally as hard, fell briskly on the same spot, and Harry's reaction, while not yet in the Weasleys' league, nevertheless made it clear that he had wholly abandoned the "hold still and no yelling" rule that his uncle had laid down.

Snape faltered, uncertain as to whether to deliver a third, but Harry showed no signs of rising, though he was squirming a bit. Snape waited a moment, then laid one more crisp slap on the wiggling bum.

"Ow!" Harry greeted the final spank with a yelp, his hands immediately reaching back to grab his smarting behind.

Harry grimaced as his hands gingerly tried to soothe his outraged bottom. His histrionics weren't merely for show; this time his da hadn't just tapped him. While none of the swats had been as hard as the smack he'd gotten for flying in the Great Hall, that punishment had been a single wallop. This time his da had administered three sharp swats, and though it came nowhere near an Uncle Vernon тАУ or even, he suspected, an Auntie Molly тАУ whacking, his rear still stung.

He pouted a bit as he rubbed, but then an encouraging thought occurred to him. If the Headmaster wanted proof that his da had properly punished him, he'd have it. Harry was pretty sure that three pink handprints currently adorned his bum.

Snape gave the boy a moment before hoisting him to his feet. He cast an anxious glance over Harry's face, but the boy was dry eyed. "Those were hard!" the brat informed him, but the man could detect neither reproach nor distress in the tone. If anything, the boy sounded faintly admiring and a bit relieved.

"See that you recall it the next time you contemplate such a dunderheaded stunt," Snape managed to snap, though he fingered the vial of healing potion he kept in his pocket as he watched Harry shift uncomfortably from foot to foot, wincing a bit.

"I will," Harry promised. He paused for a moment, then: "C'n we go to the Headmaster's office now?"

His father had (for a change) used a bit of force while smacking his backside, but Harry now possessed тАУ thanks to his da's close attention to his dietary habits тАУ significantly more padding on that part of his anatomy than he'd had upon his arrival to Hogwarts. As a result, the effects of the spanking were unlikely to last more than a few minutes, and Harry wanted to arrive at the Headmaster's while proof of his punishment was still evident, just in case Professor Umbridge had a better understanding of the Headmaster's character than his da did.

His da was so nice that he probably thought the best of most people, but Harry wasn't so sure. Still, if he showed up with his bum reddened (well, a little pinkened anyway), maybe the Headmaster would decide not to pursue other, harsher penalties for the cheating incident. Harry really didn't want to get his da into trouble, and he knew Snape would defy the Headmaster rather than make Harry submit to any severe punishment.

"Perhaps we should wait until later," Snape said, frowning. "I think you need a chance to rest after yourтАж chastisement." He didn't want Harry to feel overwhelmed. He'd just had an emotional outburst in reaction to the morning's terror, and immediately thereafter he had been soundly smacked. Surely the child should have a few hours to compose himself before dealing with the accusation of cheating.

"No, please, Da! I really want to get it over with," Harry pleaded, and in the end Snape acquiesced.

He led the way to the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore must have expected them, for Snape had time to do nothing but glare at the gargoyle before it jumped aside. He started up the staircase, only to realize that Harry was lagging behind, a frightened look on his face. He firmly took the boy by the shoulder. They were here to get it over with, and that's what they would do.

They entered the office to find Dumbledore and Umbridge there. "Headmaster," Snape said formally, merely nodding at Umbridge. As much as he would have liked to wring her neck right then and there, he suspected Albus would interfere.

That was all right. He would deal with The Pink Toad later. Right now he needed to focus on convincing Harry of the headmaster's kindly nature.

"Ah, Severus. And Harry! There you are, my boy. I understand there was some excitement in your class this morning."

Harry hung back. He knew his da had said not to worry, but he still felt his stomach lurch with dread. Umbridge was standing there smirking at him, as if she and the Headmaster had already agreed on his expulsion. Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind the desk, the half-smile he always wore on his lips. He looked like a kindly old grandfather, but Harry wasn't fooled. This was the man who had sent him to the Dursleys and left him there like an unwanted package for ten long years. This was the man who had watched them drag Sirius away without so much as a trial. He swallowed hard. "Y'sir," he whispered.