Another Place To Be Hurt...

Punishment?

He was supposed to carry on as normal. He'd go to the normal fifth year classes but as a twelve year old and the equivalent of a first year. He resented it, an all consuming conflagration of anger that burnt inside him. He was so weak and vulnerable in this state, he constantly had to have help from Snape to do simple things like lift things off of the top shelf. Harry knew he wasn't a particularly tall teenager but the difference between his height now and what he was when he twelve was almost laughable. Almost, if it wasn't for the fact that it was him being the person who was now tiny and frightened of everything, the world seeming a lot scarier from this height.

It had been decided in a meeting that he was not allowed to be apart of that he would be on a trial period in the fifth year. If it was too much then he'd be dropped into first year where his de-ageing had left him.

It sucked and he resented it more than anything. Hadn't he had it hard enough and yet they still wanted to make things harder for him?

"I'm sixteen years old!" He'd yelled at Dumbledore, angry red patches appearing at the top of his cheeks. "I'm practically an adult so don't treat me like a fucking child because I'm not!"

Snape had simply looked down at him calmly, "Potter for all intents and purposes you are in the body of a child," he'd drawled dryly, " and you are acting like a petulant brat right now."

That had immediately wound him up to the point of exploding and he'd stormed to his bedroom angrily. He hated having so much control ripped from him, it was like being with Uncle Vernon all over again but the Professor had sworn to protect him and now look where they were.

He knew it was just a matter of time before Snape hit him and he didn't think he could cope with that. The man had woke him up from a nightmare, held him during the panic attacks that plagued him from Vernon's legacy. He had protected him from the thoughts that seemed to constantly plague him and he couldn't bear the thought that he would soon have to adjust to the feeling of Professor Snape's fists against his body.

He delved further into his room, a familiar hoot pushing him forwards until he saw her. "Hedwig!" He exclaimed happily as he stroked his pet, "how did you get here?" He murmered into her soft fur, feeling the bird croon contently.

He was drawn out of his brief spell of euphoria by heavy footsteps approaching his door way. " I see you have found your owl then, Potter. Dare say the beasts been driving itself insane when you haven't been here."

He stopped his smoothing of Hedwig immediately, much to the young owls disgust. There was no way that the professor would have found his owl in the whole of Surrey for him; would he? He lifted his head nervously to half heartedly meet the Professors gaze. "Did you - I mean - Was it you that found her for me, professor?" He stuttered out, unable to comprehend by the man who had blatantly hated him for five years would scower a whole town looking for his pet.

"Don't look so suprised Potter; you're my ward now and I'm not having you moping around my quarters the whole summer because you're missing your furry beast. Damn thing bit me four times before I had to administer a sleeping potion to her." The potions professor barked but with no bite this time.

He stared at him uncomfortably, not knowing what to say.  Kindness was usually not in the nature of his professor and it astounded him to know that the man had a decent bone in his body.

"A simple thank you would have sufficed, which leads us onto the next topic - your appalling manners back there."

His stomach started to churn at the words. This was it, this was when Snape would tell him that he would beat him if he disrespected him or broke the rules. He knew it was too good to be true, Snape didn't really want to have him here. Dumbledore had probably told him he had too and have him no other choice in the matter. He wouldn't be suprised if that was the case; who would want a freak like him staying with them? That was probably why Vernon had started beating him in the first place and now Snape was going to do the same thing and-

"Harry!" He was drawn out of his panicked thoughts to the sight of the potions professor knelt in front of him looking into his eyes with a concerned expression on his usually emotionless face.

As soon as he was calm enough, Snape sat them both on the bed, allowing Harry to tuck his knees to his chin. "First things first - I will never use violence, verbal, physical or any other form against you for punishment. That is a promise," Snape murmered softly, unsure if the boy was too vulnerable at the moment for this discussion.

"We may as well discuss our rules and punishments, now," he felt the chill run down his spine at the words, wondering if there was a catch in the fact that Smape said he wouldn't hurt him.

"You are not to leave these quarters whilst you're here without informing me first; I will give you a charmed pendent shortly that will inform me if you are ever in distress. The punishment for breaking this rule is likely to be a clothed spanking. It will sting but I promise you now that I will never use anything but my hand to do it."

"Secondly, I expect you to try your hardest in every subject. That includes potions; if you are struggling with anything in a class I want you to come to me immediately and I will help you. I do not expect any of your grades to be lower than an Exceeds Expectations or Acceptable at a push." Harry nodded at the words, he had expected something along the lines of that.

"Thirdly, I expect you to talk to someone about your treatment at the Dursleys. It does not have to be if you so wish but a past that damaging cannot simply be ignored," he wanted to fight Snape on that rule but one look at the mans determined face made him realise that it would be pointless.

"Furthermore; if you have a problem with anything that needs addressing you may always come to me. I do not want ill feelings between us as that would make your stay with me most uncomfortable for both of us. Therefore, I will always have an open door policy for you. As a result of this, I ask you now to give me whatever you're harming yourself with."

He felt his body naturally curl up at those words; no no no, he couldn't give his blades to Snape could he? The man would be furious and would expect to see his cuts. He couldn't let that happen.

"I don't hurt myself," he lied blatantly through his teeth as he pulled his sleeves down over his wrists. Snape stared at him blankly before flicking his wand lazily, making Harry's sleeves fly up, exposing the rows upon rows of old and fresh cuts.

"Hand them over, Potter," he barked as he pulled Harry onto his lap, already desperate to fix the boy who lived (for Lily of course - it wasn't as if he was starting to care for the emerald eyed boy....)

An// If you're as addicted to youtubers as I am then I've wrote a story called Illuminated on my other account "Phanomenom," ☺️