Chapter Text
Harry was blindfolded—and fairly disgruntled about it, clearly—when Tom brought Neville into the house, appearing in the hallway a few feet away from a scowling and sightless Harry.
“I hate this thing.” Was the first thing he said once he heard them arrive, and Neville laughed.
Tom smiled. “Well, you were good while I got everything checked over, and Neville is here now, you can take it off.”
Harry slipped the black cloth off his eyes, blinking as his eyes adjusted.
Tom smiled and opened a door, waving them in.
There was a big, wooden X in the centre of the room, big enough for a person to be strapped to, and indeed, there were spots to attach cuffs at each of the end points, so Neville was quite sure that’s exactly what it was for.
Harry’s eyes lit up and he took a few steps toward it, breathing a happy, “Oooh!”
Tom chuckled. “Yes, love, today we will be teaching Neville about flogging. I trust you will enjoy this lesson very much.” He turned to Neville. “Harry is quite fond of this activity, so...” His eye twitched as he heard rustling behind him. “Harry, you’d better not be getting ahead of us here.”
Harry hurriedly began putting his shirt back on. “No, I’m waiting!” He denied.
Tom sighed. “I don’t believe that at all. Anyway,” He shook his head. “You will be given a brief introduction, but the flogger you will be using is one with wide straps, you will not be able to break the skin unless you swing very hard, and while Harry would no doubt enjoy even that, I would not, and you are to bear in mind that if you displease me, you will be getting punished, and you can ask Harry if that is something you want to risk.”
“You don’t.” Harry told him without being asked.
“Thank you, love.” Tom replied dryly. “Any questions before we begin?”
Neville cleared his throat. “Can I keep my pants on for this?”
Tom shook his head. “Nope, everything off, just like last time.”
Neville sighed in resignation.
“Come, now, Harry was starting to strip before I even explained today’s plan, it can’t be that bad if he’s so eager, right?” Tom asked lightly.
“Oh, no, it must be great and wonderful if the painslut likes it.” Neville shot back.
Tom coughed. “I get your meaning.” He said. “This is not as intense as the paddle, I will promise you that.”
Neville nodded and began undressing.
Tom smiled and, without turning, said, “Yes, love, you may get undressed too now.”
Harry’s shirt and trousers quickly flew past his head and Neville get smacked in the face with flying wool.
Tom laughed and then asked, “Could you avoid hitting our guest with flying clothing? I don’t think he appreciates your enthusiasm as much as I do.”
Neville shot a glare at Harry, who grinned back over Tom’s shoulder. “Sorry!” He said happily, sounding anything but.
Tom went over to the door leading to the guest bedroom and opened it, then stuck his hand in and wordlessly summoned the flogger. He drew it out and Neville paled.
“It’s not that bad.” Harry assured him earnestly. “It’s less painful then the spanking, honest. It just looks intimidating.”
Tom held out his other hand and a set of cuffs—leather and lined on the insides with fur—flew into his hand.
Neville took a deep breath.
Tom turned back and saw his fear. “Your words?” He checked again.
“Aconite and mandrake, and honestly, I may need them tonight.” Neville said in a tight voice.
Tom smiled. “You won’t. This is much milder than a whip, trust me. I’m not out to hurt you, either. I am a sadist, yes, but in this, I am not looking to indulge that side of me. If I wanted to cause pain, I’d be using this on Harry, who likes that. Not you.”
Neville nodded and took a deep breath. “Alright.”
Tom came up to him and ran the flogger over his arm. “It’s soft leather, no need to worry.”
“Yeah, well, I’m more worried about Harry’s limit with that thing.”
Tom smiled. “Ah. Well, yes, he likes it hard, but you will be fine. If you get any marks, I will heal them before you go home. Pain is only temporary here.” He led Neville over to the wooden X. “This is called a St. Andrew’s Cross, and we will most likely use it more than once.” He explained. “I’m going to cuff you to it, so your hands and feet don’t move, because Harry will also be cuffed.”
Neville grimaced as his hands and feet were spread and cuffed to the corners, leaving him unable to get away from the flogger. “I hate this already.” He decided, flushing.
Harry shrugged. “I like it.”
“Yes, well, you’re a bit of a—” He cut himself off, remembering Harry’s reaction from first year when Ron had jokingly called him a freak and Harry had shut down for the whole day, and changed his words to, “Painslut.”
Tom leaned against him, outwardly checking his cuffs, and whispered, “Good save. Don’t let it happen again.”
Neville nodded vigorously.
“Don’t bind too tightly, the sub needs to have proper circulation, at all times.” Tom continued at a normal volume. “These cuffs are perfect for Harry, but a bit tight for you. I’ll buy a size up and the one after, one of them will fit perfect.”
Neville nodded as Tom knelt and began cuffing his feet.
“Now, I am going to warm you up, and then we’ll do a few different strengths, and I’ll show you what Harry likes best. Remember to pay attention.”
Neville nodded, and the first strike fell over his back. “Oh!” He said in surprise.
“Yes, it’s not bad.” Tom agreed, speeding up to his usual pace and letting the strikes fall gently, but with a little bit of a slap as they hit Neville’s skin. “This is a good warm-up for Harry, so this is where you will start.” He said, the strikes falling harder and Neville tugging at the cuffs.
“This is very nerve-wracking.”
Tom let the next strike fall harder, and Neville yelped.
“Pay attention, I’m not doing this for my health!” Tom snapped, and added, “This is what Harry likes best, so this is the strength you’ll go for, and I will call it off when it looks like you’re tiring, so just keep going and let Harry enjoy himself today. We have a full three hours, we don’t need to use all of it, but if we do, it’s not the end of the world.”
Harry grinned widely and Neville hissed in through his teeth.
“This last one is where Harry’s limit lies.” Tom brought down the flogger hard, and Neville jumped as much as he could in the restraints and shouted. “You shouldn’t hit him that hard,” Tom added, “but you can get up to it. He can take a lot, so don’t stop unless you hear yellow or red. You probably won’t find a limit today, but just in case, remember them.”
Neville nodded, wincing as Tom uncuffed him and rubbed his wrists a bit.
“Get your blood going properly while I get Harry settled, and then you’ll get the nice flogger and get to wield it.” He instructed.
Neville rubbed his wrists while Tom got Harry situated and then was handed the flogger.
“Warm him up first, but then you can go to town. Harry will definitely slip under from this, and you’ll get to read his responses while under the thrall of sub-space. Don’t worry if he seems a little out-of-it, he’s supposed to if you do this right.”
Neville nodded and went up to Harry. He glanced at Tom and mimed kissing the flogger, and Tom nodded with a smile.
Neville walked over to stand beside Harry’s head and raised the handle of the flogger up.
Harry smiled widely and kissed it, eyes holding Neville’s in silent challenge.
Neville grinned back; it was a challenge he was going to eagerly accept.
He went back behind Harry and raised the flogger. “Colour to start?” He checked.
“Mm, green, Sir.” Harry’s voice was eager, but the tone was a clear warning that he wasn’t going to make this easy.
Tom smiled. If Harry was planning on fighting sub-space, it would at least give Neville a good crash course in dealing with a headstrong sub, and he’d need that experience, too. Tom hadn’t planned on that lesson coming this early, but since it was here, he supposed now was as good a time as any.
Neville raised the flogger and brought it down, and Harry let out a sharp breath, then moaned under his breath.
Neville set a steady pace, letting the flogger fall against Harry’s back in a soothing cadence. He gradually built up his swing to where Tom had told him Harry liked it best and got into a good rhythm.
Harry was breathing heavily, but his eyes were still open, even if they were a little dazed.
“Colour?” He checked, not pausing.
“Mmh, green, green, if you stop now I’ll kill you!” Harry shouted.
Neville snorted. “Aren’t we confident? I’m barely getting started.” He said conversationally.
“Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is.” Harry managed, but his words were just starting to slur together.
Neville turned to Tom with a question in his eyes and Tom smirked, then gave him one, slow nod of permission.
Neville’s eyes lit up and he started bringing the flogger down just a little harder.
Harry cried out and his hands curled into fists, scrabbling at the cross.
Tom held back his laugh. Harry never could resist that tempo and force after a good warm-up, and Neville was really finding his sweet spot, as well. He wasn’t tiring yet, and seemed to be having just as much fun as Harry was.
Harry groaned, Tom recognizing the sound as his admission of defeat and his eyes fluttered closed as his head fell forward, hitting the cross with a soft ‘thunk.’
Tom walked up and whispered to Neville, “Colours.”
Neville smiled. “Colour now?” He teased.
“Green.” Harry slurred, voice gone breathy and distant, and Neville’s eyebrows rose.
Tom smiled and said softly, “Sub-space,” in explanation. He stepped back and let Neville resume.
Neville seemed to falter a bit, and Harry made an aggravated little half-growl until Neville rallied and continued at the speed and strength he’d just been using, and Harry let out a little contented sigh and relaxed into his bonds, letting the cross take most of his weight.
Tom watched them, Neville really getting into it and Harry going absolutely boneless under his effort and smiled. This was a good thing. If nothing else, he was doing a good deed for a Gryffindor, and one of his mate’s good friends, besides.
“Colour for harder?” Neville asked.
“Mm?” Harry shifted a bit, and Tom raised his hand, but Neville had already stopped at the non-answer.
“Harry?” Neville checked again. “Colour for harder?”
Harry nodded, slowly as though he was dizzy, and slurred, “G’een, Sir.”
Tom came over to whisper, “A few more. Count out twenty, then start a cool-down to bring him out slowly.”
Neville nodded. “But harder is okay?”
Tom smirked viciously. “Was he lucid enough to call you Sir?” He shot back in answer, and Neville shrugged, and turned back, hitting him harder, counting them out to himself, and then easing off.
Harry slowly came back to himself and opened his eyes to find Neville slowly running the flogger over his back, and scowled. “That w’s not fair.” He muttered, shifting in his bonds.
Neville shrugged and set the flogger aside. “It was your Sir’s suggestion. Well, most of it, at least.”
Harry turned his glare on Tom as Tom motioned for Neville to uncuff him.
“You liked it.” Tom said lightly.
“Rude.” Harry muttered.
Neville got Harry uncuffed and led him over to Tom.
Tom sat and called an elf for some water, then told Neville, “Shower, we’ll take care of any marks before I take you home. First I have to make sure Harry comes out completely.”
Neville nodded and went into the bathroom.
Tom sat on the couch with Harry in his lap. He chuckled softly. “That was something to see.” He said.
Harry rested his cheek on Tom’s collarbone. “Was me being so bratty okay?”
“That was not you being bratty, that was a challenge, plain and simple, and I loved it. Feel free to push Neville into showing what he’s really capable of as often as you want, it drew him out really well.”
“Oh, good.” Harry yawned.
Tom snorted. “Let’s pop upstairs and get you into bed, I’ll get Neville home as soon as he gets out and join you in bed for a nap, then we can get up and have dinner.”
Harry nodded. “Nap.” He agreed.
Tom took the half-empty water bottle and capped it. “Up we get.” He Apparated to the bedroom to put his mate to bed. “I’ll be right back, I promise.”