A/N: Sorry for the delay! I'm not going to write much here, just the usual legal stuff. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing .:sniff:. However I do enjoy playing with the characters that the wonderful JK Rowling has created, thank you ma'am! Any characters you do not know of, are mine, and I love them. THIS STORY IS SLASH! DONT LIKE DONT READ! AND BEFORE I GET A HOARD OF E-MAILS, I AM NOT PERVERTED OR ANYTHING ELSE, I AM A WRITER WHO LIKES TO MESS WITH THE CHARACTERS SHE STOLE!! Rated for future content. I'm not entirely satisfied with the title either, but I suppose it will be relevant.

PLOT: Snape survived the downfall of the Dark Lord, one of the only two Death Eaters to do so. But through the process by which the Mark was removed, he has been forced to face certain life truths, such as the fact that his life cannot be lived alone. He has a soul-mate and now has to face the truth and the music; he is no longer alone. But will his true love sacrifice their freedom to bond with him?

BETA: Beta's by the wonderful padfoot-is-better-than-you, she truly is a star! She deserves a lifetime supply of chocolate for this! .:Bows:. send her love!

Chapter 2 - Harry

Harry was in the changing rooms, having just survived yet another Quidditch training session. It wasn't that he minded the rain per se, he just hated the way it was nigh on impossible to find the snitch, even when it was two feet from his face. The rest of his team mates had already left and Ron was still in the showers. Harry rubbed himself dry and pulled on his trousers. He was just putting his glasses in place when Ron walked into the room, towel barely hanging on his hips. Harry suppressed a groan. Not that anyone would ever tell him, but Ron was a considered well-built by everyone's standards; well-developed pecs, muscular arms, strong jawline and a six-pack to die for. All the straight girls and the bisexual or gay guys drooled over Ron. Harry amongst them.

Harry had known he was bisexual since he was in third year. It had been fairly obvious considering the first wet dream he ever had was about a guy. He had seen Seamus in a whole new light after that. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his sexuality, but with all the media attention already focused on him, Harry preferred not to reveal anything that could turn the Ministry against him, or the public for that matter. His most pressing worry however was the scantily clad red-head across the room. Ron was one the few homophobic wizards in the world. Mainly because there were very few homophobic wizards to begin with, most witches and wizards were very open and accepting of homosexuals and bisexuals. But Ron of course had to be different; he had nearly broken up with Hermione when he found out she had kissed Parvati Patil at the Christmas party. There had been rather a lot of Firewhiskey involved though, and it was surprising that Ron remembered anything. Thankfully the little detail that Hermione had not been drinking had been erased from his memory. Harry shuddered to think of what Ron would say or do if he found out that his best friend liked guys, especially when that best friend was sleeping with his sister. Hermione knew; Harry smiled and shook his head. How she had found out he would never know.

Ron looked up as Harry snorted,

"Going somewhere mate?" Harry nodded "Where's she meeting you?"

"Down by the lake, as usual." Ron nodded. Harry made a mental note to tell Ginny that her brother was still trying to have her followed, and hang his robes on the hook. "See you later mate, have fun in the library" Harry smirked as Ron groaned. It being Thursday, Hermione was sure to have barricaded herself in the library, Ron's least favourite place in Hogwarts aside from the Dungeons. Harry left the changing room just as Ron removed his towel.

Forcing himself to keep his eyes forward, Harry walked towards the Lake. He met Ginny at the northern bank. There she was throwing what looked like lumps of coal to the giant squid. As he drew nearer Harry recognized Hagrid's rock-cakes. He smiled as he wrapped his arms around Ginny's slender waist and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Good evening Mr. Potter"

"Same to you ma'am"

"You're fifteen minutes late." Ginny remained facing away from Harry. He could not see her expression, so he couldn't be sure if she was upset or not.

"Sorry Ginny, practice ran over-time again."

Ginny stepped out of Harry's embrace and turned to face him, her eyes glinting dangerously.

"Well then Mr. Potter, you're just going to have to be punished aren't you?" Harry gulped. He knew Ginny's efficiency with the Bat-Bogey hex, and did not wish to be on the receiving end of it. His mind took an entirely different direction, however, when Ginny stepped forward and kissed him. Harry smiled as he wrapped his arms around her; he liked this punishment. Suddenly Ginny pulled away and started walking towards the castle. Harry followed her, taking hold of her hand as the walked through the doors.

Harry pulled the Marauders Map out of his pocket and unfurled it. Ginny placed the tip of her wand on the old parchment.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Harry lit his wand with lumos and looked at the map. Filch was near the hospital wing, Mrs. Norris was on the seventh floor, Snape was . . . Where was Snape? It took Harry another minute to find him; pacing Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was there as well. Not wanting to waste energy wondering what Snape was doing in Dumbledore's office, Harry took Ginny's had and led her,unseen, to the blank wall on the seventh floor. He allowed Ginny to open the room; after all, he was the one being punished. Ginny glanced at him slyly as she opened the door that had now appeared in front of them and walked in. Harry followed her obediently.

He stopped abruptly as he entered the room. There were chains, gags, ropes, handcuffs (not furry ones, Harry noticed), a black table with straps, and lots of feathers.

Feathers? Harry thought to himself, Maybe this won't be what I expected. His previous fear of punishment now came back to him. He sincerely hoped that Ginny was playing with his head. Before he could get any further with his musings there was a loud crack beside him.

"Harry Potter, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you sir! Dobby is to bring you to him right away sir." Harry looked down at Dobby and had to suppress a laugh at the expression on the elf's face. Dobby was staring at the thumbscrews on an opposite wall with a horrified expression. Harry could have sworn that, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny wink at the elf.

"Yeah, sure Dobby. Erm, do you know what he wants?"

"No sir, Dobby was just told to come and find Harry Potter sir, and to bring him to Professor Dumbledore's office as soon as Professor Snape was in the dungeons sir."

Snape? thought Harry, of course this would have something to do with that dung-head.

"I'm sorry Ginny, but I'm going to have to go see what he wants. I'll meet you in the common room as soon as I can, okay?"

Ginny nodded. "Oh yes you will." she replied with a smirk. Harry gave her a quick kiss before departing with Dobby.

On the way to Dumbledore's office Harry tried to come up with a reason why Dumbledore would want to see him so suddenly. It would have to be something important. . . Something to do with Snape? Harry mused, unlikely, it's not like Snape has done anything since the Death Eaters fell. Most likely he just wants to check up on me. You'd think I'd've proved I can look after myself by now. Walking into Dumbledore's office with that thought in mind, Harry was surprised to see Dumbledore looking grave and uncharacteristically worried and on edge.

"Good evening Harry, have a seat. Lemon drop?"

"No thank you sir." Harry replied as he took the chair indicated, the same one Snape had vacated moments previously.

"Well Harry, you may be wondering why I have pulled you away from more pleasurable activities to be here."

Harry wondered if the hint was intended. Deciding it was not, he nodded.

"Well, as you may know, six months ago both Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy underwent a process by which they had their Dark Marks removed."

Harry nodded. He was on auto-pilot; his head was once again trying to foresee where this conversation was going. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he nearly missed Dumbledore's next sentence.

"A few of the possible side-effects of the procedure have recently come to light and must be dealt with."

Harry frowned; what did this have to do with him?

"No doubt you are wondering what part you have in this."

Harry quickly checked his mental barriers. Once he was sure that Dumbledore had not found a way around them, he nodded again.

"Well for that to be apparent you must first understand the procedure that removed the Marks. What do you know about it?"

"Very little," Harry replied "I know that it must take place at a new moon and it involves blood being taken, but that's it really."

"Do you know any of the possible side-effects of the procedure?"

"No sir."

"Well then that is where we must start. You see Harry, the procedure itself does not merely remove the blemish on the skin, it also cleanses the body, removes any dark essence and restores it to perfect health. But not only the body, also the mind, and the soul. It removes all feelings of guilt associated with the Dark Mark, all the negative things that came with becoming a Death Eater. Do you understand so far?" Harry nodded; he understood what Dumbledore was saying alright, he just didn't understand how any of it had anything to do with him. "Good. But the next part is the important part. However, it would take a long time to explain fully, so I will just give you a brief overview. Any questions can be asked later, to one who knows the answers better than I. The removal of the Dark Mark has many side effects. The most serious one, or least serious depending on how you see it, is that it makes your soul more vulnerable, more open, more accessible."

Harry was lost now; he had no idea what Dumbledore was talking about.

"I'm afraid I don't understand sir. It weakens your soul?"

"Not quite." Dumbledore replied, a twinkle now coming to his eye, "It opens your soul, your heart and your soul. The side effect is that it exposes your soul to you, lets you see into your very being. It also lets you see what is missing. What you don't have." Dumbledore's twinkle faded as he said this, as if he did not want to finish explaining it, but knew he had to.

"I still don't understand sir."

"Harry, the spells used open a persons heart and soul until they can see what they are missing, the half of them they need to survive, their true other half."

Finally Harry caught on. "You mean their soul-mate?"

"Exactly, Harry."

"I'm afraid I still don't understand. What does this have to do with me?"

A/N: Sorry for the cliffie, but it took me forever to write this, and I was practically unconscious when I did so forgive me. Also I got a couple of reviews & messages saying that the chapters are very short: I don't do long chapters! I find that it is easier for me to have many shorter chapters than very long ones. If you dont like it; tough. So dont go telling me that they need to be longer because for the foreseeable future – they wont be! Now please: click on the conveniently over-sized review button!