Snape picked up his empty teacup, sipped at it uselessly, and then put it back down. 

"Potter, you may be excused. I have work to do today, I expect you can entertain yourself?" Snape raised an eyebrow but kept his tone cool and unemotional. 

"Yeah, sure," Harry mumbled without giving eye-contact or looking up from the Quiddich page he was staring at. He wasn't really reading, but he was purposely avoiding his Professor. 

"Your manners are atrocious, Potter," Snape drawled, clearly annoyed. "While I'm sure the latest Quiddich results are enthralling, it is proper etiquette to make eye contact when someone speaks to you." He did his best to make his voice sound authoritative and stern, but not quite threatening. 

"Sorry," said Harry. He put the paper down and looked up at his Professor, keeping his head bent low but still giving him a brief moment of eye-contact.

"You will address me as Sir or Professor," said Snape, "Just because we are no longer at Hogwarts, does not mean that you will treat me as one of your minions or peers. You will do well to treat me with the proper respect, at ALL times, and I will not remind you again."

Snape knew he was laying it on a little thick, but he was annoyed and he wanted to set the standards early. He enjoyed having a reputation for being a strict teacher and an authoritarian presence at Hogwarts, and he knew the importance of setting boundaries early so that most of the time he didn't have to follow through on his threats.

"Sorry, Sir," said Harry, trying his best to maintain an uncomfortable eye-contact with Snape. 

"Right, well, we will reconvene for lunch at 12:30pm. I will be working in my lab, but you will be taking this time to reflect on your actions further and begin writing an essay on the importance of controlling one's emotions. Do take time to reference the many ways in which you've made mistakes in the past, and consider the possible consequences going forward."

"Yes, Sir," said Harry, flatly. He really had no energy to argue. 

"Very well. You will find parchment and a quill on the desk in your room. I will call you when it is time for lunch." 

Snape wasn't sure what else he wanted to say. The air was heavy with everything that had happened over the last day, and he just wanted to escape into his potion's lab to focus on some work and NOT have to deal with the Potter brat. He prayed the idiot could follow basic directions, and looking at him now, in a most pathetic state, he was pretty sure Potter would keep to himself. He had been quick to give him that spanking--maybe a little too quick-- but he had to admit that the brat had it coming and it had done wonders to change the dynamic. He hoped the effects would last. Snape was DEFINITELY not in the mood to spend the entire summer as a glorified kiddie minder. He knew he needed to lay down the rules early and hope something stuck. 

"You're excused, Potter," Snape said, longing desperately for a few hours alone to think about how the hell he was going to manage it all. 

Harry walked upstairs without another word, and returned to his bedroom where, sure enough, there was a desk with blank parchment and a quill and ink waiting for him. He was somewhat relived to be alone. He still couldn't process everything that had happened and while he was well-rested, he felt emotionally drained. 

Hours passed quietly while Harry dutifully reflected on his behavior and slowly wrote about his loss of emotions and how he could do better. It was dull and boring, but at least he didn't have to interact with anyone. 

At 12:30pm, Severus knocked on his bedroom door. "It's time for lunch," he said plainly. "Wash your hands and come downstairs." He turned quickly away quickly and made his way to the kitchen.

Harry put down the quill. He hadn't written more than a foot, but it was good enough. He went into the adjacent bathroom and washed his hands. He looked in the mirror...he looked gaunt. He had bags under his eyes. He sighed to himself while he washed with soap and water, scrubbing the ink off of the heel of his hand. "Get your shit together, Harry," he said to himself, "you've survived worse things."

He slinked down the stairs and walked quietly to the kitchen table. He pulled out a chair and sat quietly, purposely avoiding eye contact with Snape. 

The table had already been set, with plates full of fish, rice, and vegetables already on the table. Snape began to help himself before passing the dishes along to Harry. Harry stayed silent and didn't make eye-contact with Snape but said "Thank you" each time the plates were passed to him.  

"I hope things are coming along?" Snape said, eyeing Harry.  Harry moved his fork around on his plate without looking up. 

"Yes, sir." he said softly, the brought a fork of rice and fish to his mouth. 

"Excellent," said Snape, trying to give a tiny bit of encouragement without letting too much praise come through. "Once you finish your essay, you may have some free time to read, or even go outside. If you do choose to go outside, you may explore the grounds freely but I ask that you do not-- under any circumstances-- breach the wards and leave the grounds. We have several acres for you to roam around and explore, but it is MOST important that you stay within the property."

Harry nodded his head and continued eating. He supposed that walking around outside was better than sitting at his desk writing stupid nonsense about how he will "control his emotions" in future, but he was still alone, at Snape's house, and he didn't feel overly enthusiastic. 

Lunch continued in relative silence. After Harry had finished everything on his plate, he put his knife and fork down and sat quietly. 

"You may be excused, Potter," said Snape. The awkwardness of the entire meal hung in the air. "Finish your essay and then you may go outside."

Harry got up quietly from the table without saying a word and walked upstairs. He opened his bedroom door and returned to his desk. He was determined to stop overthinking this and write another foot that he knew would please his professor. Yes, he was sorry, but he also knew that this was an exercise in humility, and all he had to do was lay out a few past misdeeds and write about how he was going to do SO much better in the future. 

It was bullshit, and Harry knew it. Yes, he felt bad, but also, he felt like his life had been pretty damn unfair and he wasn't any worse behaved than anyone else. At the same time, he knew that in situations like this it was easier just to put down whatever his professors wanted to hear. He was going to do his best "contrite boy" impression on paper. 

For the next hour, Harry really got into character. He decided to take it as a challenge to sound as contrite as possible and really make it seem like he knew the error of his ways and would NEVER, EVER act so impossibly again. He allowed himself to indulge in his own indignancy at the assignment and then he really let the creative juices flow. 

Harry smiled to himself while he wrote his closing paragraph: "I have learned, after losing control of my temper and giving into my emotions, that nothing positive ever comes out of these moments. Upon deep reflection, I have realized that I only serve to harm myself--and in some cases, other people-- by not taking a moment to control my emotions and take more logical decisions. I am TRULY sorry for all of the damage I have caused- I have come to see that no good comes from these feelings, and will do everything in my power to stop, recognize my feelings, take a moment to calm my senses, and act in a more respectful and thoughtful way."

Harry smiled to himself as he finished the last few inches of this essay. What total and complete BULLSHIT. He knew it was what Snape wanted to read, and he thought he had done a pretty damn good job of making it sound beleivable. It was crap--obviously--but he reveled in the fact that he could put one over on his professor while seeming like he really cared. Method acting, that's what they call it right? Harry smirked as he reread the last few lines. Oh yeah, Snape would eat this up. The dummy. 

After checking for any blatant errors, Harry was pleased with himself and decided to take the essay downstairs so he could maybe spend a little time exploring outdoors. 

He knocked on the Professor's lab door. "Enter," he heard Snape say, dramatically. 

"I've finished the essay, Professor," said Harry, trying to sound as apologetic as possible. "I'm really sorry for my emotional outbursts, I'll do my best to try to control myself in future."

Harry kept his eyes wide with an innocent look up at his professor, while smiling wryly to himself for putting on the act of someone who really felt bad. God, Snape was sooooo gullible.

"Very well," said Snape, who was hunched over a cauldron. He waited a moment while he watched his potion turn just the right color before he lifted his eyes up to meet Harry's.

"Put your essay on my table," Snape said, with an upward flick of his head and without a hint of emotion. "I will review it shortly. If you are done for today, you may go outside and explore the property. You may not leave the grounds. If you get near the edge of the property, you will feel a buzzing sensation from the wards as you get near, and if you cross them, you will feel a shock. Clearly--if you feel any of these sensations--then you should immediately return to the property."

Harry nodded his head. "Yes, Sir," he said respectfully.

Snape walked a few steps closer to Harry and looked him directly in the eye. "I'm giving you this privilege, Potter, but I expect you to follow my instructions. You have two hours to walk around and enjoy the outdoors, but I do not want to have to chase you down or go looking for you when your time is up."

"No, Sir," said Harry. "I'll stay on the property and be back inside in a few hours."

"See that you do, Potter. I can promise you that if I have to track you down or retrieve you from outside of this property, you will be very sorry indeed," Snape replied, glaring at Harry with his best 'I mean it' stare. 

"Very well- you may go," said Snape. And with that, Harry took his leave immediately, not wanting to give Snape anymore opportunities to lecture or threaten him. 

Harry walked out of the back doors and the sun hit his face. "Oh my god, it feels so nice to be outside" Harry thought to himself. It was the first time in a while that the sun hit his face and he could breathe fresh air and just enjoy the beautiful June day. 

There were gardens all around him where Snape was no doubt growing many of his supplies. There was a small water garden that Harry walked over to and smiled as he saw the goldfish swimming around in happily. At the edge of the property were some trees and what looked to be a forest. 

Oh yes, there was plenty of property to explore, and Harry was honestly just SO glad to have a place to walk, breathe fresh air, and feel the sunshine on his skin. 

As he walked and marveled at the flowers, plants, water garden, and small animals, Harry allowed his mind to wander. He thought of his friends Ron and Herminone, he wondered what they were up to right now. He thought of Dudley and his relatives and took a moment to be grateful he wasn't dealing with them right now. He imagined what his ideal summer would be like--you know, if he hadn't have lost his parents. He imagined how life must be like for Hermione and Ron and Seamus and Dean and how it must feel to go home over the summer and just relax and have fun. 

He sat for a while in the grass on the edge of the forest. He imagined he had his mom and his dad and they were going to spend a few weeks at the beach. Or visiting grandparents. He smiled as the fantasies danced in his head. He closed his eyes and just imagined himself as a normal boy, with a normal family. 

Minutes passed, and Harry allowed himself to lay back on the lawn. He let his heart and his mind run free and he purposely indulged himself in every happy thought and fantasy he had for what his life could be like. As he closed his eyes with the sunlight coming down on his face and a cool, light breeze flowing over him, he dreamed...and he smiled...and he let himself go. 

Harry wasn't paying attention to the time. He had drifted off in a beautiful moment of warmth and happy thoughts. The grass beneath him was soft and earthy, the sun was warm and soothing, and the fresh breeze kept him from overheating as the minutes ticked by. 

When he woke, the sun was passing over him, and the warmth he'd felt earlier wasn't quite as direct. He opened his eyes and the world around him was still, but vivid. And then he saw it- there was a movement on the edge of the yard, closer to the trees. 

Harry sat up in the grass and looked more closely. He adjusted his glasses and blinked a few times to focus his vision. It looked like a pair of eyes, staring at him. He stared back at them, but he didn't see a reaction or any movement. He knew he should be frightened, but he didn't feel frightened at all- he felt intrigued. 

He moved slowly. He blinked again and took his glasses off, rubbing their lenses on his shirt to make them cleaner. He still couldn't see that well. He began to stand up and brush the dirt and grass off of himself as he took a few steps forward toward the tree line.

As he walked closer, he expected to see more movement, or to hear something. He moved slowly because he didn't know what to expect, but he felt deeply intrigued. He took a few more bold steps toward the trees. 

He didn't see it, but he could hear it. He heard the sound of leaves rustling and his face moved to focus int he direction of the sound. Still, his eyes couldn't make sense out of anything. He felt frustrated and annoyed. Something was there, but what? He walked a few steps closer. 

As he neared the border of the trees, just where the forest began, he felt like there was the presence of someone else. It was drawing him in. He couldn't see it clearly or explain the feeling, but he wanted to keep taking steps. So he did. Harry walked past the first few trees and the sunlight began to vanish. The temperature dropped several degrees as the grass disappeared and the shade of the trees covered him. It felt much darker and colder.

He kept walking, carefully and slowly, but he was moving forward into the forest. And then he saw a pair of eyes flicker at him. He felt a presence. It beckoned him...and he couldn't resist.