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A Befitting Punishment can be Sweet	By : thebloodyknifeartist Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3814 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
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- 6
The Subtle Science and Exact Art of Potion-Making

Tuesday morning was like a dream come true. She woke up, feeling a tightening in her stomach, as though Virsidium was coiled around her gut. But there was a giddy emotion running through her veins as she thought about working with Professor Snape for the morning class of potions. Touching the name of the man she lusted for, she climbed out of bed and grabbing her uniform, skipped off to her private bathroom.

Severus lay in his bed staring at the ceiling of his chambers. He felt an odd twisting in his stomach, like something was coiled around his gut and squeezing the life out of him. This was the first morning Harriet would be in the classroom with him before breakfast and he felt some what nervous. He climbed out of the large, empty bed he called his own and dressed in his chosen robes. He then went to his classroom, where he sat in his desk�s chair until Harriet arrived. He had crumpled up the letter of appology he written the night before; he feared that it revealed too much of the feelings he harbored within him.
He drummed his fingers quietly on the desk and stared out into the depthes of his classroom. Something within his stomach quaked and he had the oddest premonition something was going to happen to him that day.

Harriet reached the potion master�s classroom and knocked politely on the door.

�Enter,� a booming voice commanded from behind the heavy door.

Grasping the large, brass handle, she pulled the door open and entered the room. There, at the height of the classroom, sat the Professor like royalty. She felt her insides melting away with undeniable lust, wishing she was sitting atop the desk and he was focusing on her, not a pile of stupid papers.

�How lovely of you to knock,� she heard his comment as he threw an annoyed look at her.

�Yes, well, my collection of burn marks was considerably high even previous to yesterday, so I decided manners would be best,� she said, rubbing the tender, marred flesh on her chest.

She was surprised to see his smirk hold more of a friendly edge than one of disgust. He then turned to face her, causing her stomach to wrench in shock. What was that odd look in his eyes?

�This morning, you shall be making me a cauldron full of enchanted photo developing fluid. The recipe can be found on page 183 of �Everyday Uses: Do YOU Know where your Magic Items Come From?�The potion requires all your attention, so try not to let it stray,� he said pointing to a bookshelf near his desk.

�Yes sir,� she answered softly and walked over to the shelf, where she snatched the book off the shelf and flipped it open to page he specified.

�Any ingredients you require shall be in the store room. The potion shall be heat up quick, so you might do well to remove your cardigan,� he added and she nodded her head with a dutiful,

�Yes sir.�

She heard him smirk and continue writing as she read the ingredients in a barely audible voice to herself,

�One ounce dragon�s blood, twenty-two liters heated water, five drops boric acid, five stalks rose weed mashed, and a thimbleful of fire brandy.�

She gathered the ingredients from the store room and after carefully measuring and preparing each one, moved it into the cauldron that Professor Snape had set out for her.

�Stir at high heat until the fluid becomes periwinkle and a fine sparkling mist sets on the surface...�

Severus sat at his desk, marking a star chart that would be needed for gathering warted pinecones in the Forbidden Forest. He looked up from his giant piece of parchment to see how far his assistant had come along on the potion. There she stood, slightly leaning over the large cauldron that was steaming. The evaporating water enveloped her, so that her form was surrounded by the silver mist. He noticed that she had removed her cardigan as he had suggested; he had honestly suggested it for reasons other than seeing her body better. She stood their stirring and he watched her intently. For some reason, he thought of a choir singing. He looked to an old phonograph sitting in the back of the room and with his wand, guided a record of Russian Orthodox chants to the music playing piece of machinery. The needle fell down and the music began to slowly fill every corner of the room, the way tea seeped into a teapot.

He watched her further and she tossed a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes. As she continued stirring she looked up, a startled look on her face and then her eyes met his.

�The music bothers you?� he asked as she looked around the room in confusion.

�No, quite the opposite. I was just curious where it was coming from,� she said, still stirring at a laboriously slow pace.

�Behind you,� he pointed with a long, pale finger.

She nodded and continued stirring, looking back down at her potion. He felt a smile creep across his lips and he focused on the star chart once more.

**********************************

Breakfast came and passed, and Severus found himself in his classroom with Harriet alone, watching her finish bottling the last of the enchanted photo developing fluid. Merlin, she was attractive and he couldn�t help but slip further into his feelings of lust for her; after all what was more attractive than having his pureblood slave over a cauldron?

�Professor, what shall we be doing today?� she asked as she wiped her hands on her apron.

"Today we will be out gathering fresh mung worms for a potion we'll make later today," he said and realized none of the supplies were ready for the students.

Her eyes lit up. "Are we making a paralysis potion?"

"How did you know?" he asked, rather surprised.

"Well, in order to make a paralysis potion one of the key ingredients is fresh mung worm," she said simply.

"You're very smart," Severus commented.

"Thank you, professor," she replied.

He felt his heart skip a beat. Was she blushing? Itching for another reason to watch her cheeks turn redder, he fished around for another way to compliment her.

He crossed his arms across his chest and ordered, "Tell me where exactly we'll be search for them."

"I suppose the best place would be at the lake, down under the bridge where the stones are imbedded in the marshy sod."

He raised an eyebrow and further inquired, "And on what side of the lake?"

"The opposite side!" she said happily and he nodded his head, entirely pleased.

"You are definitely going to make a wonderful potions expert."

Her blush deepened. "Thank you, Professor."

He turned around, letting his long robes swirl around him. He held out a rolled parchment paper and let his hand trail behind him for her to take it. The first bell rang for students to go to class and he said in a lower tone than usual, "Now I need you to get this list of items while I talk with the class about today's lesson plan and scare the students."

Behind him he heard his assistant giggle and because she couldn�t see his face, he allowed himself to smile.

Seventh years began filing into the classroom, and Severus turned from his assistant, glowering at the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors that cowered at his harsh glare.

�Fools,� he thought. �Every year I�m given these incompetent idiots to teach and yet, at the end of the year they have learned nothing.�

His eyes caught a trio students by the colour of their red,black, and brown hair. A sneer caught onto his lips and he muttered to himself,

�Last year, Potter. This is your last year.�

The brown haired girl of the trio approached him and with a blunt, �Professor Snape,� waited for him to address her as well.

�Granger,� he said, trying his hardest to keep the malice out of voice, though he gave her two male friends a glare that normally sent students running.

Obviously Granger was still keen on asking him questions constantly and she began in her irritating voice, �Professor, this year I was wondering if we�d-�

Fortunately Harriet appeared, sweeping in front of the three Gryffindors as though they weren�t there. The Slytherin�s voice wrapped around him like a wisp of smoke, haunting him gently with her words. �Professor Snape, I need three more crystal phials for the class set. Two were cracked and one was showing signs of a weak bottom.�

He opened his mouth to speak but he noticed the look in Potter�s eye. It sent a flare of anger, burning away all the awe he felt at Harriet�s presence. How DARE that idiot boy glare at his Head Girl like that! He almost removed points from Gryffindor on the spot, but he could see that Harriet was growing curious to why he hadn�t responded yet. He caged his anger and said in quite a calm voice,

�They�re in the student store.�

�Thank you sir,� she said pleasantly and went back to her work, leaving him alone with the trio of Potter, Weasley, and Granger.

�As I was saying Professor-� the girl started again, but he held up his hand and said nastily,

�Go sit down Granger. I�m not interested in your current question.�

Granger made a huffing sound of annoyance and the two boys simply glared muttering under their breath.

He jabbed his right index finger towards the desks and the three Gryffindors made their way to the back of the classroom.

Class was starting and Harriet listened to the opening statement made by her potions master, letting his words seek refuge into her mind. Draco had told her that Professor Snape said it every year, word for word, but she knew she she could never grow tired of something so wonderful sounding.

�You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death --- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.�

His words flowed thickly and their velvet caresses filled her ears, filling her with the urge to beg for his words again. Professor Snape began roll call and she listened absent mindedly, as she began to count the objects specified on the list the professor had handed her. She flicked her wand over the items, arranging them into groups of ten, checking the items off on the roll of parchment that the professor had given her.

"Alright. Fifty-two collecting baskets. Check. Fifty-two safety spectacles. Check,� she recited as she began reading from the list.

�Hannah Abbot?� her potions master called out from his desk.
�Fifty-two stirring spoons. Check.�

�Sean Finnagen.�

�Fifty-two digging spades. Check.�

"Harry Potter?" the professor drawled, his voice dripping with malice.

She stopped arranging the spades and whipped around. THE Harry Potter? He was in this class?

"Here Professor," came a snide tone and her eyes darted to the back of the class room. There sat a tall, lanky seventh year with untidy black hair, but because there was a cluster of students in front of her, she couldn�t see his face.

�Ye gods!� she whispered.

Her eyes flashed back over to the Professor.

"Do I hear a snide tone in your voice, Potter?" he said, dragging out the syllables with a deadly annoyed voice.

The boy replied, "Do I hear one in yours?"

Snape flashed a smile and announced. "Five points from Gryffindor."

She turned back around, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. �Harry Potter is here?� she thought is awe. �Our family owes him our lives! If only he knew...�

She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard the professor speaking again in his deep voice,

"And this is my assistant, Miss Harriet Noxcycneus. She'll be helping me out this year and I expect you to pay respect to her or consider all your house points gone."

"Sir?" a voice called out. Harriet looked at who had spoken and recognized her as the mudblood girl she had spoken with at the Head Girl and Boy welcoming feast.

"Yes, Granger," the professor said and his voice was annoyed.

"How should we address her?"

"As Miss Noxcycneus."

Some of the students grumbled that they would have to address a fellow student as a superior, but she watched the Professor glare them down in her defense.

�Today, we shall be gathering fresh mung worms for a paralysis potion that we shall start today and finish on Thursday. We shall be collecting these larvae at the lake, down under the bridge in the sod.�

Professor Snape walked down from the dais his desk was perched on, walking to the items she had arranged for him. She quickly moved aside as he swept up to the table she had place the items on and he said to the class,

�Each one of you shall grab a collecting basket and a digging spade, and line up at the door.�

He moved away and she followed him as students left their desks to gather that supplies he had instructed them to obtain.

Together they stood at the door and Harriet looked down at her shoes. She didn�t quite fancy getting them muddy, but she knew she should have thought about that when she dressed for the day. She took out her wand and pointed it to her shoes, whispering �Impervius�, proceeding to do the same to her robes. Suddenly, inspiration hit.

Harriet moved closer to her professor, feeling his robes brushing against her. She cleared her throat and he looked down at her, his right eyebrow raised.

�Is there something you wish to say, Miss Noxcycneus?� he asked and his words resonated through her chest.

She spoke timidly, unsure if she should say it to such a powerful man. "You should give the students a water repelling charm so their robes and shoes don't get wet and track mud into the classroom."

"Of course," he drawled silkily, looking down at her.

Her potions master turned to face the students and said loudly, �All of you shall use the Impervius charm on your clothes and shoes so you don�t track mud and lake water into the castle. If any of you fail to do this, I�ll make sure that Filch has help tonight scrubbing the floor of the Great Hall tonight.�

As students began to charm their clothes, Harriet followed the professor out of the dungeon class room and up to the Lake.

When they reached the specified destination, her potions master ordered every student to begin digging to the sod for the hideous worms. She was given directions to walk among the students and monitor what they were digging up. As she wandered amid the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, she saw a lanky, black haired boy attempting to tug a fat, grub-like mung worm out of the squishy ground. She pointed her wand at the worm and said, �Out.�

With a popping noise, the worm shot out into the collecting basket next to the boy. He looked up at her.

"Hello, Miss Noxcycneus. I don't believe I've met you before,� the boy said, smiling at her and stabbing the spongy ground with his spade.

For some reason, she instantly liked him. She offered her hand and said, "Harriet. Call me Harriet."

The boy took her hand and while he shook it vigorously, said, "Then you may call me Harry."

Harriet felt her jaw drop. With a swift glance to his forehead she saw the telltale scar and said, "You're Harry! Harry Potter! It�s an honour to meet you!"
He let out a pleased laugh and said, "Thank you! This is quite possibly the friendliest greeting I've had in a while."

"Sorry!" she said bashfully. Merlin, he was friendly for such a famous person!

Harry Potter shook his head and said happily,"Don't apologize!"

"You're a Gryffindor," Harriet said and immediately felt stupid for pointing out the obvious.

The boy frown and said forlornly, "And you're Slytherin."

A whirlwind of black surrounded the space next to her and she looked up to see Professor Snape�s narrowed eyes viewing her with concern.

"Miss Noxcycneus! Is Potter bothering you?"

"No! I was just talking to him," she protested.

The professor�s eyes narrowed further and he said, "Well, he's not supposed to be socializing during class."

"I was just asking her for help," the Gryffindor snapped. He then turned to her and said kindly, "You will help m,e won't you?"

"Well yes-" she said, unsure if what she was saying was a wise choice or not.

The professor glared at her this time and said, "I'm going to need your help in about three minutes. Make it quick, Potter."

He then swept off and Harriet felt guilty.

"Merlin, he's such a bloody git!" Harry muttered and Harriet turned to defend her secret love.

"Oh, don't say that, Harry! He's just stressed out because it's the first day of classes. You should go easy on him."

"Well, I don't know..." the Boy-Who-Lived muttered.

She almost started helping him when the professor�s shouted angrily, "Miss Noxcycneus! Come here, NOW!"

She nodded her head and said, �Yes, sir!�

Harry grabbed her wrist and she looked at him startled. "See you around, Harriet?" he asked.

She smiled. "I would like that."

Harry let go of her wrist and she darted over to her professor.

"Yes Professor?" she asked, ready to obey his every whim.

Severus held out a piece of parchment and a quill.

"I would you like you to take down these notes. Ready?"

His assistant snatched the parchment and quill out of his hands and she poised the writing instrument ready to scribe. "Any time you are, Professor," she said, her sweet voice ringing in his ear.

He began to pace as he spoke, the pureblood following closely.

"Mung worms appear undersized for this time of year. Analyze sampling of soil and lake water for indication of change in environment. Discuss findings with Agnus this evening after dinner." He waited for her to finish, and feeling the need to punish her for speaking with Potter, he continued. "And add on, that Potter lost Gryffindor fifteen house points for bothering you-"

"Oh, Professor, don't do that!� she begged and he felt happy. He wanted her to beg for forgiveness. She continued, feeding his ego along the way. �I didn't realize that you didn't want me talking to the students."

"I don't care about the others, just not Potter," he said eyes narrowing, but inside he felt pleased she had fallen into his game.

"Why don't we, I mean, you like Harry?" she asked curiously.

"Because Harry Potter is a stuck up, big headed-"

Her hand was suddenly on his arm and he stopped speaking. "Professor,� she said softly, �if you're going to talk about someone like that, let's do it alone so that no one hears."

He nodded his head and then to recover his dignity said, �I believe we have enough mung worms for the potion."

She nodded her head and he turned to the digging students under his command. He clapped his hands sharply and the seventh years turned to look up at him in surprise.

�We shall be leaving for the classroom now, and if you have spent your time wisely, then you shall have enough for your potion. However, if you have wasted your time as I suspect for most of you, then you shall have to find some way of getting the right amount to complete the potion, as I have none in the store room.�

The students began to frantically dig in the ground, desperate to find mung worms but to no avail. He felt satisfied that soon he would be punishing students and he turned, leaving the lake side along the path back up to the bridge. Soon fifty-two students were following him and his gorgeous assistant was at his side. The students were following behind him about ten meters away, so he felt comfortable trying to start a conversation with the pureblood next to him.

�I feel that the Slytherin house has a good chance at winning the Quidditch trophy this year,� he said casually.

�Yes, sir. I think the team will do fine, especially because Harry Potter�s been out of shape for the past few month.�

�Aye,� he agreed feeling quite pleased.

He hadn�t been paying much attention to where his feet fell on the stone bridge and he had been doing his best to avoid the slippery stones that glistened with water, but he obviously had spent more of concentration on the way the Slytherin Head Girl�s eyes sparkled in the early morning sun light.

He felt his foot slip out from under him and he fell face first into the stone bridge. He lay there, stunned and both the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff seventh years erupted with laughter. Harriet offered her hand while the harsh and hysterical laughter of the students bit into his ears and filled his mind.

"Professor..." she whispered and flicked her wrist to emphasize her slender hand with its long nails painted emerald and silver.

"Professor!" she whispered again more urgently and knelt down beside him. "Are you alright, Professor?"

"I'm fine," he said coldly and began picking up his parchments that had scattered on the ground along with his books.

"But you fell-"

"I'm not helpless, Miss Noxcycneus!"

"I know. But you slipped and this is a stone bridge. I'm just making sure you're not hurt."

"I'm fine!" he snapped.

She proceeded in brushing him off, her hand accidentally brushing the front of his trousers. He felt his body heat up as though on fire, every sense heightened with her touch.

"Are you sure you're fine, Professor?" she asked once more, and instead of feeling annoyed, he nodded his head.

"I'm fine,� he repeated.

Then quite suddenly, the Head Girl whipped around and faced the group of still laughing Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs.

"Ten points from every student who laughed!" she shouted and the laughter quickly turned to yells of protest.

"That'll put us behind over two hundred points!!!" Weasley shouted.

"Then I suggest you all find a way to make it up," she snarled, lip curling in disgust.

Severus felt incredibly impressed she was taking charge so quickly, and though he didn�t want to relinquish power to anyone, he was glad that he was getting his revenge against the students without punishing them himself.

The Gryffindor Head Boy stepped forward and they stared each other in the eye, hostile body language in both of their poises.

"Noxcycneus, you can't do that!" the redheaded pureblood shouted.

She jabbed her finger into his chest and said, "Don't get fresh with me, Weasley! You know that any form of disrespect towards a teacher results in loss of house points!"

When it was apparent that the Gryffindor couldn�t argue his side, his assistant gave a triumphant smile and Severus felt his insides melting for her.

"See?" she snickered. "There's nothing you can do."

Merlin! How gorgeous she was when she spoke in that tone! Her eyes were burning and her upper lip was curled into a beautifully hideous sneer.

�You look like bloody Snape when you talk like the Noxcycneus,� the Gryffindor Head Boy said and Severus felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight; how was she going to retort to that one?

�And you look like bloody Filch when you dress like that,Weasley,� she hissed, her eyes traveling across his robes.

The redhead�s jaw dropped and without another word, his assistant returned to his side.

�Shall we return to class, Professor?� Harriet asked, giving him a pleasent smile and together, they walked back the castle.

When they reached the classroom, he instructed the class to begin the potion (which could be found on page 112) and his pureblood seventh year pointed to the stack of chairs near his desk. He was limping now, and feeling like a complete idiot for being in pain.

�Sit down professor,� she said and he eased himself into a wooden chair.

�Are you going to tend to my wounds?� he said snidely and he watched as she rolled her eyes.

�Would you rather go up to the Hospital ward and tell Madame Pomfrey what happened?� she said rather pointedly.

He glared at her and waved her on. �Carry on then.�

She nodded her head and before he knew what was happening, she had unbuttoned the left ankle of his pants and was rolling up the leg of his pants. He felt a wave of horror and he hissed, �Do you have to do that?"

She frowned and glared at him, then replied in a low, scathing tone, �No. If you'd prefer to take off your pants, I'm sure I can accomplish the examination just as well."

He felt a faint tinge of a blush go to his cheeks and he narrowed his eyes at her.

�Continue, Miss Noxcycneus.�

Her attention refocused on his leg and she looked at the purpling flesh of his knee. She gently prodded it with her index finger and asked, �Does it hurt when I do this?�

He felt himself gasp involuntarily. Her head snapped up to look at him, worried look on her face and he quickly masked his own emotions with a wince as though he was in pain. The colour of the blush deepened as he realized that he was hardening under such a delicate touch.

�Slightly,� he said, which wasn�t entirely a lie; the bruise was annoyingly achy.

She nodded her head and then rubbed it a slight bit lower. �And how about when I do this?�

He raised an eyebrow and asked sarcastically, �Are you an expert on injuries?�

She returned his tone with a glare and said,�I'm a qualified Medi-witch in Bulgaria.�

He raised an eyebrow in intrigue. �Interesting. You'll have to tell me more when we have tea next.�

She nodded her head and smiled, then said in a surprisingly happy tone,
�Well, you'll have slight bruising on your knee but the pain should be gone by tomorrow evening.�

�Thank you,� he said but made no move to roll his pant leg down.

His assistant�s eyes fell to his leg and with the tips of her fingers, traced along his calf muscles. He began to fell odd; what was she doing?

"Do you hurt anywhere else?" she asked, her voice low.

�Well yes,' he thought, 'the erection in my trousers is absolutely killing me.�

Obviously he couldn�t say that out loud to her so he replied with a quick, "No. I'm fine."

"How about you head?" she asked and he nearly stopped breathing.

"What?" he asked, completely shocked.

Harriet looked at his face intently, wishing she was able to be in physical contact with him for different reasons.

"Well you hit it hard and I'm sure you must have some form of a headache."

She clasped her hand under his chin, swiveling his head back and forth, her eyes checking for any sign of imperfection.

He seemed uncomfortable with her touch, but she rather liked the look on his face when he said, "Oh...no. I'm fine. I'm sure a bit of Hangover tonic should clear it right up."

"That's a good idea. If you would like me to get you Bunsworth's Bruise Salve-" she started, but he held up a hand to stop her.

�That won�t be necessary Miss Noxcycneus,� he said simply and stood up.
�Well if you need anything else-�she started but he was looking past her in a mix of horror and anger.

�LONGBOTTOM!� he roared.

He brushed past her roughly and stalked down to the desks with the cauldrons perched atop of them.

�Did you stop to think what an ingredient like this would DO to the potion!?� he shouted as he approach the table of a Gryffindor who was holding a handful of golden claws in his hand. �Where did it say in the instructions for you to add the talons of an red eagle?!"

By now the class had come to a complete halt; no one moved or dared to breath as they watched the humiliating events unravel.

�But sir,� the boy stuttered as the potions master bore down on him, �it says golden eagle talons and I thought-�

�DID YOU READ THE LABEL ON THE JAR CONTAINING THE TALONS?!�

�No, sir. But these are gold talons-� the Gryffindor protested, but the professor interrupted.

�If you had read the label, Longbottom, you would have seen that it says red eagle talons. I�m sure Granger can tell us about the red eagle,� Professor Snape said and turned to a girl naught an arms length away.

The bushy haired Gryffindor was red in face and though she spoke quietly, the entire class heard her every word. �The red eagle has brilliant red feathers and often they have ruby eyes, along with gilded beaks and talons.�

The professor faced the cowering boy once more and Harriet watched with interest. She was particularly fond of her professor�s angry expression.

�So as you heard, the red eagle has golden talons, but if you read in the book, you would see they specified golden eagle claws. They are speaking of the raptor, not the claws, you idiot boy!� Profess Snape looked as though he might hex the Gryffindor, but quickly pushed him away instead with one slender hand. �Get away from the cauldron! Do you realize what will have happened if you let the claws completely immerse in that potion? They would have created fumes that would have killed us all!�

The professor came storming over to where she stood and began to look at the sea of bottles and vials.

�Where is the castor oil?� he grumbled and she handed him both of the deep green bottles containing the liquid he had specified.

�Here,sir,� she said.

He looked at the bottles, and then at her and ordered, �Put new labels on these bottles.�

�Yes sir,� she said dutifully.

She watched as the Professor swept back to the Gryffindor�s cauldron and emptied the contents of the bottles into the cauldron to neutralize the potion completely. Then he marched back to the Gryffindor and after a longer bout of insults, handed him both of the bottles and ordered him to hold the bottles out at his sides at arms length and not to let his arms lower the slightest.

�Professor, why are you punishing him?� an Indian girl she recognized as Parvati Patil asked, hands on her hips.

�Because, he should realize the expense the school has to pay every year for his mistakes. Those two bottles are a fraction of hundreds that I�ve had to use on his potions, otherwise they could have caused great harm. I want him to feel the weight of his mistakes- LONGBOTTOM DID I ORDER YOU LOWER YOUR ARMS?! I THINK NOT!!!�

Harriet felt a thickness in her throat and her eyes narrowed as she watched Longbottom stand in the front of the class, whimpering fear as Professor Snape continued yelling the scalding remarks at his face.

She wanted the Gryffindor's place that moment, she wanted to be the center of the potion master's attention. She grasped the neck of the oil bottle tightly, considering for a brief second that she drop it, distracting the man's rage towards herself, but she dismissed the thought.

She put the bottle up on the shelf and moved to the next label, trying to concentrate on anything but the Professor. But his voice was overwhelming her senses, ringing in her ears and flooding her mind.

Finally the class was winding down and in one of the few charitable acts of his day, he let Longbottom lower his arms; Severus had sensed that if the boy had held the bottles a moment longer, he would have dropped them and Severus certainly didn�t want the idiot boy to a further danger to himself with glass.

Severus stood up and the class hushed, waiting for him to speak. However, this was one of the few times he didn�t want to be forewarning the students of an up coming lesson; he preferred to keep them on edge.

�On Thursday we will be discussing the male engorgement potion, which as one might guess, engorges a male. I doubt any of you thick headed idiots will take this maturely, but it is a learning exercise that is required for NEWTs for some odd reason. Be prepared to listen to a lecture on its functions and on the properties it possesses. No Miss Brown, I�m not talking about the male organ, I will be discussing the potion,� he said to a blushing Gryffindor who had obviously taken his statement the wrong way.

He turned around to write on the chalkboard the book page the students would need to read before his lecture, but he heard Ronald Weasley�s unmistakable voice whisper,"Wouldn't you need to know how to have sex to make potion like that?"

Severus spun around and advanced on the boy, watching with satisfaction as all the colour drained out of Gryffindor�s face, leaving sprinklings of freckles on a stark white skin. He reached the Gryffindor�s desk and baring down on him, placed his hands firmly on the hard, cold wood.

"I can assure you,� he sneered down at him, �I have the necessary knowledge required to perform that particular activity and perform it well. �

His eyes darted over to Harriet for a quick second; he prayed that she would understand that it was directed to her, that she would understand his desire for her. He watched her eyes widen slightly and felt his day become complete. He left the desk and went back to the front, with an enchanted piece of chalk, said,

�Everyone shall have read pages 92-113 by Thursday or you shall receive detention...�

*******************

Harriet hated leaving Professor Snape, but when she reached the DADA classroom, found a seat next to Meridith Patricks, a fellow Seventh year, and, though stupid at times, a good friend.

�Isn�t the professor so handsome?� Meridith whispered as they pulled their textbooks out of their side bags.

Harriet shrugged and Meridith continued staring at Professor K with admiration. Of course Harriet thought Professor K was handsome, but she wasn�t attracted to him the way she was to her potions master. Professor Snape was shrouded in mystery, darkness, and power. Professor K was simply good looking and though he seemed smart, it wasn�t the same type of intellect that Professor Snape had.

Class started and talking ceased when Professor K stood at the front of the room, beaming as though he had defeated You-Know-Who himself. Everyone�s attention had focused completely on the new professor and he cleared his throat.

�Hello everybody!� he started pleasently. �As most of you know by now, I�m Professor Killington, but you can call me Professor K. I�m hoping that we�ll have a great year together and I want you all to know that I�m here for you, so if you need anything, you can come to me.�

The class murmured in approval and the handsome young professor beamed a bright smile.

�Now if everyone will turn to page 1, I think we can start today�s lesson with a few notes and a discussion on Bewitched Snaring Trees...�

Advanced Herbology was boring. Harriet had always hated herbology but she was good at it, so she didn�t worry about failing. Draco was tearing a humbug plant to pieces because it had spit hard sugar candies at him and her Ravenclaw partner was trying to graft a branch of the fluffy humbug plant onto a sugared biscut plant with no avail. Fortunately, by the end of class, she had successfully combined the two plants and Draco had placed the blame on Crabbe and Goyle for the destruction of his plant.

Care of Magical Creatures frustrated her entirely because she had to enchant her robes, shoes, and hair so the dung-flinging Lip Lickers that the giant grounds� keeper had them polish didn�t muss up her clothes. She was disgusted by not only the scaly, anteater like creature, but by the half-breed professor that persisted that she hold the Lip Licker, claiming that they were �as friendly as a �Ufflepuff.� She highly doubted that the Lip Licker was friendly, and besides, they reeked of manure and wet canine.

Dinner time was a release from the classes for the day and permitted her to view her potions master dining on steamed vegetables dripping with a cheese sauce of some sorts. She was also able to talk with Draco about their classes and smack a fifth year upside the head for taunting a group of first years. But by the the end of the night, after the first stack of homework and textbook reading, she wished she was back in the depths of the potion master�s lair, letting him lecture her on the mistakes she could make. Anything, anything to hear his voice surrounding her.

*****************

Severus sat on the edge of his bed, flipping a coin. It was a Muggle coin, a shilling, something he had kept from his summers in Muggle London. He had found it at the bottom of his sock drawer and wasn�t sure where to place it. He had drifted into thought, flipping the disk absentmindedly. He wanted to be comforted at the moment and was reminiscing about the days as a young child when his mother would let him rest his head in her lap, brushing his hair for hours as she told him stories of her childhood in Poland. The hairbrush she had used was the one sitting on his bathroom sink at the moment and was one of the few items he had kept after she had died.

He lay back down onto the mattress and let the coin in his hand fall onto the heavy wool blanket on his bed. How he missed his mother. She had been the light of his life when he was growing up and he still longed to avenge her death, though it was useless fantasy. He decided to move his mind onto more pleasing thoughts, so he let himself imagine the pureblood of his recent dreams and let sleep overcome him, not changing out of his robes or slipping under the covers of his bed.

****************************************

When he woke up, Severus felt a slight nausea in his stomach and hurried to his bathroom before he vomited into his toilet. He slumped to the ground, resting his elbow onto toilet�s seat as he wiped the acidic bile off his lips, moaning at the soreness in his knees and palms from the fall he had taken on the bridge the morning previous. He felt an odd warm feeling in his stomach as he remembered Harriet�s fingers tracing over his calves. He shook himself free of the memory and prepared himself for the day.

When Harriet Noxcycneus finally arrived in his classroom, he had already opened the vents and checked the entire classroom for any sign of imperfection. Today she was wearing a pair of slacks along with her robes instead of the short pleated uniform skirt. He wasn�t sure if that upset him or not, and the feeling of not understanding his own feelings annoyed him greatly.

�Good morning Professor!� she said cheerfully and he handed her a stack of papers third year Ravenclaws had written for the properties of wolfbane.

�Good morning,� he replied flatly.

He watched in surprise as she sat down next to him at his large angled desk and began to read through the papers. He had to admit that it was pleasent to be in such close proximity to her and so he conjured a tea pot full of Earl Grey for them to drink. Her quill scratched across the parchment quietly, red ink making marks across hurried younger students� writing. He smiled slightly through the hour they spent together and he had a feeling that their relationship could become more.

Breakfast for Harriet was good enough, but her Wednesday classes were horrible. Professor McGonagall seemed to be in a foul mood that her students were with their rival house and she apparently hadn't forgave Harriet for the magic carpet comments she had made the week previous. The older woman called her to the front of he class to be used as an example of human to animal transfiguration. Harriet had never felt so humiliated in her life as she stood red faced in front of the Gryffindors, trying to avoid the amused eyes of the redhead boy sitting next to Harry Potter, who looked slightly sympathetic to her plight. After about fifteen minutes of having her anatomy pointed out, she was changed into a small white rabbit and then back to human again. As she was allowed to return to her seat, her fellow Slytherins gave the professor looks to kill and the Gryffindors were cheering as McGonagall taunted her with remarks of "finally making a serpent docile."

But her next class was salvation as she entered the dungeons, smelling the cool air, thick with aromas of boiled dragon lung and smashed daisy root. As she started to measure out the ingredients, letting her anger fade away, Professor Snape leaned between her and her partner Draco.

"Try to cut the fish eggs a bit thinner, Draco. Excellent method for crushing the daisy roots, Miss Noxcycneus."

"Thank you sir," Harriet said, pleased.

As Professor Snape turned around Draco, stopped him in a simpering voice,

"Professor, are teachers allowed to humiliate students in front of their peers? McGonagall made a fool of our house this morning in her class.�

Harriet could see annoyance in her potion master�s face when he asked, "What did she do, Malfoy?"

Draco�s tone held a bit of a whine. "It was Harriet, sir. She forced Harriet to stand in the front of the class and used her as a human example.�

"Harriet? Is this true?" Snape asked, a ghost of a frown upon his face.

"It wasn't that bad," she said flatly.

"What did she do?" he asked, moving closer to her, eyes narrowing.

She averted her eyes from his and took a step back as she mumbled, "I was forced to stand in front of the class and she changed me into a rabbit."

"A rabbit?" he said and she watched his eyes widen in confusion.

"She wanted to make a serpent docile," she explained.

"Her exact words sir," Draco added, nodding his head in exaggerated somberness.

"And did she do anything else?" the professor asked.

"She pointed out every aspect of her anatomy, sir," Draco added and Harriet felt humiliated.

Severus felt his rage flare. McGonagall humiliated HIS Harriet? How dare she look at this young woman's body! She was HIS and nobody else's! If only there was some way to protect her, like build a golden cage and lock Harriet within so only he could view her, so only he could take her out and play with her like a doll.

He went back to his desk and brooded there. Actually his idea of possessing her wasn't so bad. He could make her a golden cage, embedded with beautiful jewels and carpet it with velvet pillows filled with down and robes of the finest silk for her to wear, a living doll to do as he pleased with. He would give her the finest treasures of ancient scripts and gems the size of her fist. He almost smiled as he pictured walking into his chambers each night to be greeted by the sight of his own pureblood to keep him company from behind golden bars.

"Professor."

He snapped out of his thoughts and saw his apprentice standing before him, her head lowered. "Yes, Miss Noxcycneus?" he asked, trying to use a gentle tone.

"I would prefer that you didn't speak with Professor McGonagall about today," she said quietly.

He raised his eyebrow and stated, "Your pride won't permit it?"

"That and the fact that she'll only make my life harder because you called her on it."

He was silent for a moment and then nodded his head. "As you wish, however if this type of incident happens again, I shall be seeking punishment for it."

"Yes sir," she said and turned around.

�Soon, my dearest one. Soon you shall be happy,� he thought and began to conjure dreams of them together.

***************

The rest of Harriet�s classes weren�t so bad; Hexes and charms class simply entertained her. When the class tried to perform a simple charm to enchant paintbrushes, somehow Pansy ended up pointing her wand at Draco and he fell to the floor, clutching his crotch. Professor Flitwick seemed rather excited and while both Gryffindor and Slytherin students laughed uproariously, the miniature teacher told them that Draco would suffer the side effects of sore eyes, multihued palms and erectile disfunction. The last side effect only fueled the laughter further and Draco let out a tortured moan.

Medicinal Potions was, of course taught by Professor Snape once again, but instead of having her fellow seventh years along with her, she was only with students who had qualified so she chose to sit next the mudblood Gryffindor girl, Granger. Hermione Granger was an interesting Muggle, but despite her disgusting linage, was smart and together they worked on a blister-wart cure. Though Harriet didn�t want to truly admit it, she rather liked the Gryffindor. Naturally she wouldn�t let the Professor know that she liked a Gryffindor, so she harbored the infant feeling within her.

********************

The rest of the week seemed to blaze past for Severus and he was somewhat frightened and somewhat relieved that he was falling back into his usual pattern of waking up, teaching, and then returning to his bed at the end of the day.

He was also slightly surprised that the only serious accident that had occurred in the classroom was the idiot Longbottom causing his cauldren erupt, covering everyone in a brown jelly-like substance. He would have normally only assigned a week and half of detention but when he had seen his beloved Harriet covered from head to toe and shrieking at the top of her lungs about her clothes and hair, he punished the Gryffindor with detention until the second to the last day of September.

Before he had realized it, over a fortnight had past since the fall on the stone bridge and he was surprised that he had kept his desires for his assistant under the control of cold showers and self-gratification. More impressively, now that he was onto the topic of reproductive organs, every seventh year student of his had produced satisfactory engorgement potions. He always hated teaching the topic because it meant he had speak of sexual things while teaching and nothing made him more uncomfortable than speaking of that. He always felt inataqite, which normally prevented him from acting on his desires. He had felt anxious to add castor oil to every student�s potion after they had made it, neutralizing the draught�s effects while removing any temptation for them to use it to their own accord. He had, however kept the sample he had made to judge the rest of the classes� against, having Harriet place it in a special cabinet for faculty members. He knew it was safe in there and he had felt satisfied to see the distraught faces of student�s faces as it was placed in the wooden cabinet and sealed with spells they couldn�t possibly dream of opening. He had almost laughed aloud when he watched Draco Malfoy practically burst into tears as it was put into its safe location.

Under hex and spell, the potion was safe. And he could see that Harriet had turned down any advances Hooch had made towards her. Severus had to admit that the month was going well and he was curious to see what the rest of September�s days would bring.
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A Befitting Punishment can be Sweet