A/N: Hey I hope you like my new fic. I'm still continuing my Naruto fic alongside this one. I warn you that this fic will contain slash. Thank you Sadstuckforever413 for being a wonderful beta.


Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly as he read through the books around him. He- like many nights since he had joined Hogwarts- had snuck into the library after hours. After Hagrid had left earlier, he had been left to revel in his thoughts on the man, and grew suspicious of how Hagrid took every chance to boast about Dumbledore, the man who had left him at the Dursley's. Left him with such an abusive family that he certainly knew about. He had headed back to Gringotts at the beginning of the year, to get more money to buy books about the man, the war, and the world he was entering. Once there, he had been informed of Dumbledore's guardianship and the sealing of the Potter will. Thankfully, the man hadn't been able to touch a thing of his estate, though he had tried to access his trust vault and, according to the ward information at the bank, he had attempted to intrude into Potter Manor.

From that moment, he researched just what control the headmaster had over him and how he could escape it. Especially after Harry overheard him casting spells to prevent Madam Pomphrey from speaking about the abuse signs that had showed on her scans. Thankfully, due to the past abuse done to Maria Zabini done by her guardian, Marcus Bones, in 1894, Dumbledore was unable to do much to him. He had no access to Potter funds, nor properties. He couldn't access his votes, nor do anything in his family's name. Most importantly, he was relieved that he could not make a marriage contract for him. As much as he liked the Weasleys, he did not agree with their hopes that he marry Ginny, especially with his bent sexuality. Though with Arthur's honorable behavior, he didn't believe that he would ever give permission for Ginny to enter such an agreement against his will. Fortunately, he would never have to find out, due to the constraints that Dumbledore could only permit a marriage, not force one.

Even so, the man had the power to place him with the Dursley's, who were getting more violent, and he was molding him into a martyr. For now, he was forced to dance to the man's tune, as a single misstep could have him dosed up with potions or spells to control him. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he looked at the book that had made him obsessed with marriage ever since he read it. Forgotten Laws and Acts for the Desperate Witch or Wizard, had shown the only viable way for him to get emancipated, was if he could trick Dumbledore into permitting a marriage. Then he would be considered an adult, and he could live his life as he wanted, instead of being locked up like a weapon that would just be collecting dust until it was needed.

He could travel, and train to fight in this war, instead of being treated like it was all up to him and refuse any help to survive, let alone win. Honestly, he didn't even know why everyone acted like it was his job to begin with. So he survived an attack when he was a baby. What made him any more capable than people who actually reached adulthood, twenty one, or even the legal age to do magic anywhere, seventeen? The only problem was finding someone old enough who didn't need permission themselves, but who would choose him over Dumbledore. Sadly, he didn't know who would when even his godfather was okay with Dumbledore's treatment of him, if it meant an end to the war. He held back tears at remembering Sirius finding the scars on his back and confronting Dumbledore. Sirius could have taken him to another country under asylum and gotten guardianship of him. Instead, the man had agreed with Dumbledore, that sacrifices had to be made and that it was better than Malfoy having him. Sirius had actually agreed that the Dursley's were good at toughening him up until it came time to face his father's killer.

"Well, what do I have here? A little Gryffindor out after curfew? I wonder what the Headmaster would think of his little golden boy out, after dark, in the library?" A deep, velvety voice whispered behind him, causing him to fall out of his seat, startled.

Looking up, he paled as he saw Professor Snape. The man arched a brow before glancing at the books with a gleam in his eye, "What ever could you be reading in the dead of night like this? Obviously something you don't want your little followers knowing about. A Dark Arts book, perhaps?

The man smirked down at him, "Oh, to be a portrait on the wall when Dumbledore finds out that his little savior is reading Restricted books."

Snape lifted him from the ground effortlessly as he gave a real look at the books on the table. His face twisted into a look of disgusted confusion, "Guardianship Versus Headship, Laws and their Creation, Forgotten Laws and Acts for the Desperate Witch or Wizard, Marriage Bonds and Contract Creation. These are not Restricted books. Potter, why are you reading these?"

Harry swallowed, too afraid to answer in the face of Snape's intimidating presence. "Out with it Potter, or do I have to bring the Headmaster to get it from you?"

In a blind panic, Harry pleaded, "No sir, please. Please don't tell him. Don't let him find out about this. He'll make it worse. He-"

Snape laid a finger on his lips to silence him. Once again, he looked to the actual pages he had open and glanced through them. Lips pinched and nostrils flared, the Potions Master looked at him suspiciously, "Potter are you trying to get out of Dumbledore's care? Whatever made you suddenly decide that he wasn't good enough to for you? Did he not give you enough presents this Yule?"

"I've been looking for ways out since my first year. He- He can't be trusted with my care. Honestly, if my family's wards weren't some of the greatest, and if the Maria Protection Act didn't exist, then I wouldn't be surprised if he stole it all. I just want my freedom, Sir. I'm begging you, please don't tell him. I'm scared at what he might do to make me the proper martyr he wants." Harry stuttered out.

Snape's face looked almost wistful, "Freedom? I can't say that I don't understand that, Mr. Potter. He has kept me on a leash for many years, but how do I know that what you are saying is the truth? How do I know you're not going through some spoiled tantrum at being denied information this year?"

"Use Legimency on me sir."

The surprise on Snape's face helped him relax a bit before Snape nodded. Suddenly, he was seeing flashes of his life flit across his mind. Once it was done, Harry gripped onto the chair to keep himself steady as he battled the nausea and dizziness that was overwhelming him. A potion's vial was pressed against his lips, and he opened his mouth to swallow the rancid liquid. Back to normal, he saw the disconsolate gaze of his professor, though there was no pity in it.

"I see," Snape spoke, his voice thoughtful, "I agree that, by all appearances, Dumbledore does not plan on you making it to adulthood. In one of your memories I saw that you replaced a will that you had no knowledge of, and had him inheriting everything. That, plus your relatives care, and your watchers doing nothing about the treatment, is very worrying. So, I agree that continuing under his guardianship is downright suicidal, and I even like the fact that you want to make something of your life other than being a wonder boy hero. From what I know of the law, and what you've researched, marriage does seem to be your only option. The question is, who are you going to marry, Potter? Can you live in a marriage of convenience?"

Harry looked down for a moment, unsure of his own thoughts for the moment. He admitted that he wanted love. Love had always been an abstract thing that he had never been allowed, and that made him crave it. But in the end, that didn't matter, because what was the use of love when he would never be alive to experience it? Maybe he could come to love the man he would marry, but he would never get the chance if he continued on the path Dumbledore had set. Looking up, he nodded at Snape's inquisitive visage.

"I can live with a marriage of convenience. I mean, I want them to give us a chance, but at least, in the end, I'll be alive to feel bitter over it if doesn't work out, right? As for who, well I don't really know. I know of no guy who would willing marry me that will put me before Dumbledore, and I refuse to marry a woman who I could never even have the chance at falling in love. I'm gay, and I would never be attracted to her. So, are you going to turn me in? Go on like normal? Or, are you going to help me?"

"Sit," Snape ordered as he waved his wand and caused every book to go to their spot, except Marriage Bonds and Contract Creation, which he moved closer to him and opened to a set page. Sitting, Harry watched, bewildered, as the Slytherin summoned parchment and ink, and sat across from him.

"Sir?" Harry questioned the man's stare.

"Potter, it is no secret that I loathe teaching. I'd rather be creating potions, not teaching about them. Instead, due to a mandate proposed by Dumbledore on the day of my exoneration, I'm a prisoner here, used for the sole purpose of getting information that isn't even used the majority of the time. The mandate that keeps me here, can only be canceled by someone of higher standing in the Wizengamot. Among that list is you, so getting you emancipated is in my best interest."

"So what you want to do this now?!" Harry asked incredously.

"Mr. Potter I am a Slytherin. I have been looking for a way out of this mandate for years. I've literally offered myself up as an indentured servant to most of the High Lord Families. I've had every lawyer I could find to go over it and the mandate is foolproof. Do you honestly believe that I wouldn't seize the chance offered to me on a silver platter? You need someone to marry and I need a High Lord to free me. Your seemingly okay with a marriage of convenience and since I am bisexual we can try to have a relationship like you wanted. You are good looking and I saw in your mind that you've reacted to my voice one time or another in the past. So there is attraction there no matter how deep it may be buried. Do you have someone better you can go to?"

Harry shook his head blushing a bright red as Snape mentioned the times he had gotten hard in Potion's class.

Snape smirked in amusement at his embarressmend and scribbled something on the heading of the parchment before continuing, "So I, Severus Tobias Snape-Prince, ask you, Hadrian James Potter, to join me in betrothal agreements, in the hopes that we may be wed," Snape asked with an overwhelming sense of sincerity. Magic energy wrapped around him as he formally invoked his offer.

Harry felt pure shock fill him. He had thought that Snape just wanted to go over the basics and do the formal bit later. Instead the man was invoking it to be done immediately and if Harry accepted then they would have to get married unless the both of them refused the contract. Rolling his eyes he realized that Snape was doing this for that sole reason. He was trying to keep him from thinking about the marriage and backing out. Coming to a decision, he responded in a forcibly calm tone, letting his magic escape from his control, "I, Hadrian James Potter, accept Severus Tobias Snape-Prince's offer. Let the agreements begin."