For I am Weak

Notes: I apologize for the delay and to anyone who was expecting some kind of really 'harsh' punishment. I've done a little research (My English teacher would be proud…) and punishment's should always fit the crime and never be overused because that could ruin a relationship before it even really starts. It's not so much about how often you punish a person, but how effectively. Snape is a harsh Master, but not an unfair one.

Besides psychical punishment isn't always effective, should the Sub get off on pain to begin with…

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Chapter Five

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Harry, unaware of the situation his best friend had gotten himself into, walked through the winding pathways of the dungeons. While most of the teachers had quarters in the same area of the castle, House Masters has them nearby the Student dorms. (Well, and Remus had his sectioned off from the rest of the castle, but that was more of a safety precaution that anything else.)

Snape had been right; it hadn't taken a huge effort to find out where Snape's quarters were located. Simple process of elimination actually. He knew were the Potions room was, where Snape's office was, where the storehouse was, and where the dorms were. After that it was just a matter of visiting where those places weren't.

Eventually he found himself, at 8:25, outside of a portrait. It was at the end of a long hall that was, save the painting, totally bare, so it made sense that this is where the teacher's quarters were.

Now came the problem of getting inside…unless of course he was supposed to wait or something…

He honestly had no idea.

Maybe he should just leave. He was 30 minutes late, or at least damn close to it. Snape had probably already written him off as chickening out and had moved on, content to forget about what had happened the night before.

That caused a strange pang in Harry's chest. He knew he shouldn't have been doing this at all, let alone been getting upset because he may has lost his chance, but he found that he couldn't just…leave. He wanted this and…well that was it.

He swallowed and took a step forward, preparing to address the portrait guardian. It was a tall man with jet-black hair and cool gray eyes, dressed in shades of green and silver. He was standing straight; hands clasped behind his back, and seemed to exude a sort of cool power.

"Name?" The man's voice was silky but cold and to say it sent chills up Harry's spine would have been a gross understatement. Still he squared his shoulders and looked up at the man. He'd come this far, he'd be damned if he let a painting scare him off.

"Harry Potter."

Gray eyes regarded him for a moment then nodded. "Master Snape is expecting you. You are very late, by the way."

Harry nodded, a little embarrassed that even the painting knew he was late. The painting swung out, granting his admittance to a dimly light hallway. He stepped through and walked down the hall which, he saw when he looked up, were lined with pictures of dour looking men and women, all dressed in the same shades of green and silver as the first man. Dozens of eyes followed him as he walked down the hallway, seeming to regard him with something like disdain, before snapping their gazes forward once again.

It occurred to Harry that he was, perhaps, seeing the former heads of Slytherin. The thought made his skin crawl just a little bit. He couldn't say he was exactly comfortable with being in Slytherin territory like this, no matter the circumstances.

The hallway led into a square room, lit by a roaring fire and a few candles that were floating along the walls, casting strange shadows all around as they hovered. It had a…warmer quality to it than Harry would have expected for Professor Snape, but at the same time it was all very…business like.

The chairs were all straight backed and didn't seem to offer much comfort, though they were arranged in a semi-circle close to the glow of the fire, and all of the books and vials lining the book shelves of the three sides of the room without the fireplace, seemed to be pristine and kept in a certain order. There were three doors, one in the middle of each bookshelf, only one shut. Harry was standing in one of the doorways and he was pretty sure he didn't want to venture through the locked one but…

Snape was nowhere to be seen.

Swallowing down his worry he walked over to the open door and peered inside. Professor Snape was sitting at a desk and reading a book. His eyes were half-lidded and thoughtful and, for that moment, he looked strangely…unguarded and almost approachable.

Then his eyes flicked up, bottomless inky pools, and Harry felt a chill run up his back. Snape closed his book with deliberate slowness then stood up, casting an almost sinister shadow over Harry. Harry noticed almost distractedly that Snape wasn't wearing his usual teaching robes but a simple pair of black slacks and a black button down shirt. It…suited him very well.

"You're late Mister Potter." Snape's voice held a very dangerous edge that Harry knew he would cut himself on if he so much as said the wrong thing. So he settled for looking down at the darkly carpeted floor and nodding. "Didn't I tell you not to be late?"

Harry nodded again. "I'm sorry Professor but I-"

"I don't tolerate excuses Potter." Snape's voice was sharper than before and Harry knew he'd miss-stepped by trying to explain. He nodded again, worrying his bottom lip. Snape was probably going to send him away and he didn't want that; he'd do anything to keep that from happening.

Snape was silent for a moment then a warm and calloused hand cupped his chin and tilted his head up. Snape's eyes seemed to burn right through him, like an X-ray or something like that, and he felt like the man could see to his very core. The man's thumb moved over his jaw line then touched his bottom lip and pushed slightly. Harry stopped biting his lip as his breath caught in his throat.

"Still I didn't think you'd actually come at all. It seems I was wrong for doubting your seriousness; you'd think I'd have learned by now that underestimating you is unwise."

He blushed while looking away. Snape dropped his hand, leaving Harry feeling strangely cool where Snape's hand had just been. The man sat back in his chair and regarded him coolly.

"Do you understand what you are getting yourself into? If you agree to this you will be mine, mind and body, and you will find me a harsh master." Snape voice became almost…casual as he spoke, as if Harry wasn't about to do something he'd only had dreams about thus far.

Though, after last night, he was beginning to realize his dreams paled in comparison to the real experience. He swore he could still taste the other man in the back of his throat and feel the shape of his cock in his mouth. He wanted to do it again.

"I do no tolerate failure or disobedience and you will maintain a certain…image. I own nothing inferior and I won't allow you to be an exception to that. That's your first rule; as long as people can, in theory, look at you as a reflection onto what I keep, I except you to keep yourself in the best possible condition. You will spend next Hogsmead weekend with me, cleaning yourself up. The second rule is about how you will address me; when we are alone you will call be Sir and in public Professor. You will not speak unless spoken to when in my presence and you will always display the utmost respect to your elders. I know your manners need work but you will learn and until then you can just pretend."

Harry tilted his head to the side. Something about the way the older man was speaking gave the impression that he intended for someone to actually see them…together. Which couldn't possibly be the case; there were laws against Teacher-Student relations, even though Harry was an adult in a legal sense. Still he didn't want to ask since he'd just been told not to speak unless he was addressed.

"Three is obedience. You will obey me and my orders no matter what. If I tell you to run around the Great Hall starkers I except you to do it without question. You will obey only me. Other people will give you casual commands of course, such as homework or Quidditch practice, but if you ever doubt I would approve don't do it. Four is complete honesty. I know that…being in the position you will be in will often make you keep things to yourself and that will not be productive in the least. I have found that hiding things only makes the problems worse. If something disturbs you or you want to stop and back away you only need to say it. Are we clear?"

Harry hesitated for a moment, thrown a little off balance by the last 'Rule'. It had seemed almost…kind, not something he'd usually associate with Snape. Still he nodded and Snape leaned back.

"Next is the subject of punishments. I will treat you how you act. If you want to be treated as an adult I suggest you act like one and if you act like a whiney disobedient child I will treat you as such. Breaking schools rules to sneak around and put yourself and your friends in danger, while accepted by Dumbledore, will not be tolerated by me. Disobeying me includes lying, breaking my rules, breaking school rules, or being disrespectful to your professors. I will employ different punishments, depending on what you've done. For something mild I may make you stand in a corner all night and for something severe I may spank you."

Harry wondered if his shock reflected on his face. He couldn't help it really; he was sixteen and entirely too old for anyone to be spanking. That was a punishment for a little kid, not for someone like him. Still, he didn't want to argue about it so he just nodded. As long as he stayed on Snape's good side he wouldn't have to worry about it and, in all likelihood, it was probably a threat to keep him in line. Surely Snape couldn't think he'd seriously let him spank him.

It was ridiculous, to put it mildly.

"Other rules may be implemented as time goes on but you will never face punishment for something you weren't warned about before hand and all punishment will be swift and fair. You won't have any mistakes held against you or used against you; I don't believe in drawing things out or making them worse then they have to be. Manipulation has never been something I approved of." Snape's lips quirked slightly. "Which is why I will also let you off for ignoring your curfew the night before. From now on you will only be out after hours at my wish."

Harry nodded again. He was grateful Snape didn't really mean to punish him for being out after curfew the night before. The thought of what the man might do to him had been…worrying him for some time. He was also glad that his lateness seemed to be overlooked. For the time being anyway.

"I'm glad you understand. Now, to the issue of your punishment for being late."

Or not…

"What do you think would be a fitting punishment?"

Harry blinked. And then blinked again, not able to mask his surprise. "I…what do I think?"

"I believe that was my question, yes." Snape had a look on his face that was beyond intense and sent chills straight to Harry's toes. He couldn't possible be serious but he looked totally stoic.

He really wanted to know what Harry thought? …He had to be bluffing, to see what Harry would say, trying to gauge his commitment to the situation at hand. He was obviously waiting for him to give some kind of idiotic response and then dismiss him for not being serious enough. …Unless he was actually asking what Harry wanted and intended to take his thoughts to heart.

Ahhh…bugger.

Finally he shrugged slightly. "I don't know." Snape arched an eyebrow here, as if trying to communicate something to Harry. He paused for a moment, thinking, before adding hesitantly. "Sir."

Snape nodded then stood up and, even without his robe he seemed to tower over Harry and…it was both intimidating and exciting. Really though, he should have been focusing on this punishment thing that Snape was talking about.

"I suppose, Mister Potter, that since this is your first offense nothing harsh is in order. I did have something you would have enjoyed planned but that will have to wait for another time." The way Snape emphasized the word made Harry's knees weak.

Damn. He should have been on time.

Snape brushed past him and, not sure what else he could do, Harry followed. They walked into the main room and Snape made a vague gesture to the shut door.

"That is my bedroom. I doubt you'll be seeing the inside of it until you learn the value of being punctual."

He really should have been on time.

The older man sat in one of the chairs then motioned to a spot beside it. "Kneel by my chair, hands behind your back. Don't move and don't speak unless I say otherwise."

Harry stared at him, wondering if he was serious. Snape's expression didn't change any so, at a loss, Harry did as he was told. This really didn't seem like such a bad punishment to be brutally honest. A little tedious, yes, but unless he was supposed to learn through boredom (like in history of magic for example) he didn't see the point.

Harry was fine for the first ten minutes or so. At that point it began to get a little uncomfortable and his first instinct was to shift his position. He almost did just that until he recalled he wasn't supposed to move. Another five minutes past, according to the clock above the fireplace, and a dull ache was starting to form in his knees and creep its way up to his thighs. His arms were beginning to cramp up from behind held behind his back for so long.

Another fifteen minutes and he'd passed through slightly annoying pain to flat out pain. His thighs burned from keeping him upright for so long whereas the pinpricking sort of pain that indicated they had fallen asleep had overtaken his lower legs.

Plus he had an itch on the side of his nose.

Snape on the other hand seemed fine. He'd picked up a book to read and was more or less ignoring Harry's presence. As another itch began to work its way up between his shoulder blades he couldn't help but think that he really should have been on time. It wasn't like Ron would have cared if he had left a little bit early and it wouldn't have killed him to find out where Snape's quarters were ahead of time instead of wandering the halls aimless for thirty minutes.

It wasn't like he'd done much else today except go to class and sit around.

He blinked, eyes starting to water somewhat. He stopped looking at the clock and instead tried to focus on staying upright and keeping his eyes, which kept sliding shut, open. He hadn't been tired before but now, just kneeling like this, was starting to take a toll on him. It was really…well; tedious seemed like a good word. Tedious and unexpectedly painful.

The fact he never really slept 'regularly' probably wasn't helping much.

He wasn't sure how much longer Snape intended to keep him like this but he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to just keep in this position. He really should have been on time. His fingers were starting to tingle like his legs and it took a serious effort to not flex his fingers to try and return some feeling to them.

He'd already messed up enough for one night.

"You look tired. Did you sleep last night?" Snape's voice took him by surprise and he nearly fell over at the shock of hearing something shatter the silence. He couldn't look at the older man without moving so, after swallowing in an attempt to wet his suddenly dry throat, he replied.

"Not really."

"Why not?" That gave Harry a moment's pause. He'd never told anyone about his nightmares, the main reason he couldn't seep most nights. Still, he had the feeling if he didn't tell the truth and Snape found out he'd be looking at something worse than staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time. "Well? I'd appreciate an answer today."

"I…have nightmares and I can't sleep because of them."

"I see." He heard the sound of Snape's book closing and glanced at the man from the corner of his eyes. Snape stood, taking a moment to stretch, and then headed towards the room they'd come out of before. Harry returned his gaze back to the fire, though he wanted to scream.

It was bad enough he had to stay like this, now Snape was leaving him? His shoulders were starting to ache and he half wanted to just get up and leave. But, at the same time, he was too stubborn. If this was a mild punishment and he was giving up then that meant he couldn't handle it. He'd come to Snape for discipline and control and had said he knew what he was getting into, how could he back out on the first night.

"You can get up now."

Harry let out a sigh of relief and carefully moved off of his knees. He stood up and stretched some before bending down and trying to rub some feeling back into his calves and hands at the same time. He looked sideways at the light chuckle he heard.

"If you're this uncomfortable after less than an hour you'll be easy to punish." Harry wasn't sure but he felt his face heating up in embarrassment. Something about the mildly condescending tone to Snape's voice was really…humiliating. "Come here."

He walked over at still stiff legs until he was standing right in front of Snape. The man put a hand under his chin and tilted his head up until he was looking directly into black eyes that seemed almost…amused. He swallowed, suddenly uneasy.

"You did very well." Harry was pretty sure Snape had never complimented before and was possessed by the strange desire to commemorate this moment to memory. "Don't look so surprised. If you do well I'll let you know."

Harry's heart skipped a few beats as Snape leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his lips. He was almost too surprised to respond, but did manage to kiss back somewhat. The kiss ended as quickly as it started and a cool glass bottle was pressed into his hand.

"It's a sleep draught. Take it before you go to bed and it should ward off any bad dreams."

Harry opened his mouth to thank the man then hesitated. Snape hadn't asked him a question and he was pretty sure he hadn't been told he was allowed to talk. He couldn't exactly explain it, but he didn't want to break another rule after he'd been…rewarded for doing well. It had caused a kind of fluttery feeling in his stomach and, silly as it seemed in his head, he liked it.

So he just closed his hand around the vial and waited for Snape to speak again.

"Go back to your dorm. I have a free period before your potions class tomorrow, be there. Don't be late this time. If anyone stops you tell them to come talk to me."

He nodded and, after putting the bottle safely away in his pocket, left without a word.

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Antipyro: Well I am a plot happy type of guy. I like smut and such as much as the next person, but I also like to have a plot. I've never be one for just pointless sex. I'm glad you liked the introduction to Remus and Ron, as we shall be getting back to them soon. Harry's got some rules, but not too many. Too many rules would just be setting him up for failure.

Swan: I'm only evil on days that even with Y, I'll have you know.

Read: It's true, some guys are normal and can have emotions without being girly. It's a well kept secret of the male gender, but I'm letting it out! Bwahahaha.

Ellie: Well I like to spoil my readers. If you take the time to read, its only fair I make it worthwhile for you, right?

JJ: Lupin's body needs a mate. It's important we can separate his body from his mind. Mentally he just wants a long vacation… How interested Remus is in Ron (or anyone else) still remains to be seen I suppose. I don't think even he is really sure of what's going on just yet.

Anon: Yes, a submissive Ron. Not something you see really often, but fun nonetheless.

Purple: You can't believe it? Remus couldn't believe it…

Harco: I wasn't 'defending' I was just…explaining, I guess. Doesn't really matter, so don't worry about it. I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I wasn't so sure how everyone was going to take the sudden shift from Snape and Harry to Remus and Ron, but it seems to have gone over very well.

Zephyr: I assume the men in the white coats got you first, since I certainly took my sweet time with this chapter…oh well. Yes, it was Ron's turn. I think he's traumatized.

Val: Too true, too true.

Eideard: Well the relationships aren't exactly sex based, not that sex doesn't play a huge role and certainly not to say they're based on emotional attachment or anything like that. Not at the moment anyway. At the moment Snape and Harry's relationship is based on Harry's need and Snape's…willingness to give Harry what he wants/needs. But I swear Snape will never be…mushy. That's just wrong…

Thanks to Dark, Aya, Kurama, E, Anon, and Wolfie.