Snape's Little Pet Snake (on hold)

Chapter 13

Monday evening's detention found Harry lying on the sofa in Snape's quarters after an hour of writing lines feeling very apprehensive and a little embarrassed. It was very strange lying wide-awake on his Professor's sofa.

"Right Harry, we're going to try a relaxation technique to help relieve stress. I want you to tense all the muscles in your right foot for ten seconds and then relax them, then do the same with your left foot, then tense your right calf, then your left. Alright?" Snape asked in his silky voice.

"Okay." Harry replied doubtfully.

"Alright then, tense your right foot now." Snape said, then began counting to ten.

"And relax. Make sure you breathe normally Harry. Now your left foot."

Harry did as he was told whilst Snape counted to ten. They continued with the exercise all the way up his body, tensing each muscle in turn until finally, every muscle had been tensed and relaxed in turn. Harry had to admit that although it seemed really weird, he did feel a bit more relaxed by the end of it.

"How do you feel Harry?" Snape asked once they had finished.

"Better thanks, more relaxed." Harry said, nodding his head as if to reassert his statement.

"Excellent. Now, I want you to do this exercise when you get in bed every night."

"Yes Sir." Harry replied, sitting up.

"Have you been on your new broom yet?" Snape asked, passing a mug of hot chocolate to Harry.

"Yes Sir it's awesome! It's much faster and I can do turns quicker and there was this Gryffindor kid who wanted to race me and I won! And then Captain Flint came and he kept throwing a ball for me to chase and I caught it every time!" Harry babbled enthusiastically.

"Very good, although I do hope you weren't performing any reckless stunts out there." Snape admonished, looking at Harry pointedly.

"Well, no, not really Sir." Harry replied, not sure as to what constituted as 'reckless'.

"Not really?"

"Well, I dunno Sir. What would be deemed as reckless?" Harry replied, feeling himself blush a little.

"Well let's see... barrel rolls, vertical dives, loops?"

Harry gave a sheepish smile as he felt his face burn – oops, he had done all of those!

"Harry," Snape admonished.

"Sorry Sir! I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do them!" Harry said quickly.

"Did you not see the danger in performing those stunts?"

"I...I didn't think Sir. I'm sorry." Harry said, ducking his head.

"Harry, look at me please." Snape waited until Harry looked up and met the man's obsidian eyes before he continued.

"What are the Slytherin house traits?" Snape asked, catching Harry completely off-guard – he had been expecting a lecture about safety not a question. He gathered himself quickly and replied.

"Cunning and ambition Sir."

"Correct. Reckless behavior is a trait that belongs to Gryffindors, Slytherins think before they act."

"So... I'm in the wrong house?" Harry panicked – what if they sent him to Gryffindor? What about his friends?

"No Harry, that's not what I meant." Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

"All children behave with a certain disregard to their safety sometimes, but I want you to think before you act, think about your safety. Your parents died to protect you Harry and I'm sure they wouldn't be pleased with you putting yourself at risk unnecessarily."