Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the main story. This is purely for my amusement and not for profit!
Unexpected Choice
He should have known the moment that the article came out, he would be dragged into it. Harry was none too happy housing a dark git in his house but the Wizengamot all but ordered the majority of the seventeen to thirty year olds to offer their services. He knew he'd be saddled with at least one. What he didn't know was that he would willingly choose to take in someone.
When he saw the potions master and ex-spy dragged to the unforgiving chair, his heart had tugged at him painfully. The man had given practically his whole life to protect the students and had done what he could to help end this war. What did he get in return? Just looking at him was a disgusting display of the thanklessness he had come to expect from the wizarding world. Snape's clothes were barely held together, torn and tattered, showing his bruised and no doubt abused body.
He had sat stiffly, sure that the ex-spy had allies on both sides and someone would stand for him and he'd have to suffer no longer. This was a man he grudgingly respected, the bravest man he knew, braver than himself and Dumbledore combined… to have done what he did. He sighed heavily and waited.
At first he thought someone had immediately spoken for the dour man but the expression on Snape's face soon told him that despite the number of sacrifices he had made for a number of people in the chamber, not one of them wanted the responsibility of looking after him. Not only that, he realized with a start that Severus Snape was getting the full ten-year sentence like those bloody cowardly death-eaters who only defected because they realized which side was winning! Before he knew it righteous anger overtook him and he was standing, several pairs of eyes staring at him in bewilderment.
"I'll do it." His voice came out clear and strong, and entirely too foreign to even himself. Apparently, he was able to have a biting tone to his voice- he almost snorted but that would have been counter-productive.
He could see Snape trying to turn towards where he no doubt noted his voice had come from but it was hard in those heavy chains. He was quite annoyed when murmurs filled the chamber- as if he didn't have enough of a headache. He decided to push ahead, and say his piece, showing his full disapproval and ire in his words… ironically or not, it was skill he tried to copy from Snape himself with a dash of Dumbledore.
"I also believe the sentence is unjust. Severus Snape has been a spy for the light since the first war. He deserves more consideration. Treating him, a hero by all rights, like one of those cowardly death-eaters is unfair and wrong. He was never there due to fear or helplessness. He could have escaped anytime… but he stayed… so that we could have a chance to win." A hush fell over the chamber as his words sunk into the rather small brains wizards and witches tended to have.
"It was a decision made previously…" One of the fools spoke; a miracle surely.
"This is a special case, if there ever was one. Snape was a spy for the light, he is one of the war heroes that should be honored." He said softly, stressing on the important words, daring anyone to disagree. He almost wanted someone to say something so he could unload all his frustrations on that being… unfortunately, it seemed the Wizengamot weren't complete fools.
"We will deliberate." The interim Chief Warlock, Amos Diggory, sighed and motioned to his peers to follow him into the antechamber. Harry folded his arms across his chest and glared at anyone who even looked like they wanted to comment. The chamber remained utterly silent until the Wizengamot returned. Hermione was beside him, biting her lip but she knew better than bother him at the moment.
"After much deliberation, we have decided that this is indeed an unusual case. As Severus Snape was not a willing Death-eater, he cannot be awarded ten years of punishment as the other older followers of the dark lord." Harry raised a brow; wasn't that fairly obvious? Idiots. "It has been decided to award the accused the five year term." Diggory continued. Harry wondered if he should bash their heads together- the man had helped them win, he deserved better! Just as he was about to speak, Diggory continued hurriedly, sweat forming over his forehead. "However, taking into account his active contributions to aid the light and protect our children, the sentence will be split." Finally, they were talking sense! Thank Merlin! "The first three years will be spent under close scrutiny with the bond in place. The bond will be dissolved thereafter and the following two years will only require distant monitoring by the minder… Is that acceptable, Mr. Potter?"
Acceptable? No, no it was not. However, given the obstinacy of the Wizengamot, this was better than he had expected. It would no doubt be unpleasant and his house might end up getting blown up or maybe they'd kill each other… but at least, he, Harry, would treat Severus Snape with the respect (within reason, of course) he deserves. He had no doubt some of those on the 'light' and 'neutral' side would torture the man further with malice matching Voldemort's. He needed to get his 'saving people thing' under control, he mused and straightened.
"So, I have to keep him locked up for three years or accompany him whenever he goes out. After that he can have a semblance of freedom with regular checks from me." He really could not help sounding annoyed and Hermione gasped a little, realizing he was willingly doing this. "Fine. Let's do this."
He approached the dais where Severus was tied up. Harry frowned when Snape was pulled up and pushed down on his knees, none too gently. Did his words fall on deaf ears? Snape wasn't even struggling! They had no reason to treat him like that, other than being royal prats. He kept his face emotionless when the normally proud man's head was forced down in submission and humiliation for the binding ceremony. How he wished to strangle whoever had this brilliant idea.
A spell later the heavy chains vanished, leaving behind only the magic-inhibiting cuffs. After only a moment, Harry put his hand on Snape's head. He suddenly wanted to collapse as the realization he was binding someone to himself as a bloody slave hit him and made him nauseous. He almost harshly gripped the grimy hair under his hand but centered himself as well as he could.
A chant was taken up and he felt magic swirling around them and something made contact with his core, binding Snape's magic and will to his new 'master'. Harry was utterly disgusted with himself at that point but there was no turning back. His hand threaded through Snape's long matted hair and he realized, belatedly, he was holding up the man by his hair… but there was no way in hell he would let Severus Snape fall any further, he would not allow this man to be humiliated anymore! He gently pushed so that Snape's forehead rested on his knees. It was a subtle move, one no one would even notice. He gave Snape, he supposed he should use his first name given their situation, a moment to collect himself and lifted him up by the shoulders. He left one of his hands there as support, pretending to study his new 'slave' until Severus regained his footing. He withdrew his hand as obsidian eyes looked up at him for the first time that day. Merlin! The man hadn't even known who he was being bound to!
"Potter…" Severus Snape whispered, horrified and Harry's stomach fell at the utter desolation in the face that he was so used to seeing be strong.
"Let's go. We're done here." His voice came out cold but right now, he was too emotionally distraught to care. He vaguely realized he had a death grip on Severus' upper arm, probably creating a bruise but his hand refused to loosen the grip, as if afraid that doing so would mean he would fall apart right there… he would not allow either of them to show weakness to those fools; with that thought, he quickly marched them to the apparition point.
The First few chapters will oscillate between the two. How was it?
Note: The Story is finished and I will be uploading every few days.
