Chapter 2

Over the next few days, Harry thought about his plan. He already knew he was going to try this, he just had to figure out how to convince Snape. The man didn't exactly have an easy personality, and since he needed his cooperation he had to find a way to broach the subject. He couldn't just walk up to him and announce that they were going to be Soul Bonded. The man would kill him where he stood! Harry contemplated sneaking away from Privet Drive and meeting him somewhere, but he didn't think that Snape would appreciate it. He had after all spent quite some time making sure that Harry was safe, and it wouldn't do to annoy the man when he needed his help. Eventually, Harry just owl ordered a pair of communication mirrors, like the one Sirius gave him, and sent one to Snape with a simple message.

Professor Snape,

I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I have an idea that could benefit both of us immensely. When you are alone, hold the mirror and say my name. I don't think you will regret it.

Harry Potter

Harry was rather proud of the letter. It was short, but deciding to write enough to pique his professor's curiosity, but not so much that anyone intercepting his mail would know his plan... Well, it wasn't easy. His overflowing dustbin was proof of that.

Later that day, Harry was writing down another useful spell: a combination of a stasis spell and a shield, which could be placed over a wounded person. The two spells worked together, feeding magic from one to the other, so the only way the shield would break was by casting a specific counter spell. All of a sudden, he heard Snape calling his name. He nervously picked up the mirror, seeing Snape's face staring back at him. He looked as if he had trouble deciding to be intrigued or angry. Harry hoped he could shift the man's mood more towards intrigued, since he didn't want to deal with an angry professor during the holidays.

"Hello professor."

"Potter. I though I was rid of you for a couple of months, but even during the holidays you must disturb me. Tell your idea and it better be a good one or I will have you in detention before you leave the Express."

Harry gathered his courage, sent a small prayer to his parents and took a deep breath.

"We both have a link to the Voldemort, which means we can't get out of this war until he is dead. I have found a ritual that will remove both links, leaving us free to do whatever we want. I personally would like to get out of Britain, and I can't imagine you enjoy being Voldemort's and Dumbledore's message guy."

"Why are you telling me this? If you found a ritual that can accomplish all that, why didn't you just perform it and leave?" Snape asked with seeming indifference, but there was a gleam in his eyes that looked a lot like hope.

"Well, the ritual requires two people, and bonds them together. If we were to do this, we would be legally married, and gain some extra abilities."

"Potter, did you seriously just ask me to marry you? You do know what is required for a marriage bond to be completed, do you not? Propositioning a teacher, how the mighty have fallen. Not enough fangirls trailing behind you?"

"Just think about it professor, you could leave Britain, travel or maybe start a potions company or whatever you want to do. You would gain my Quidditch skills and my parseltongue ability. Just imagine how easy it would be to gather runespoor eggs or other snake ingredients when you can talk to them. And the Ministry wouldn't be able to arrest you for being a Death Eater, since you won't be one anymore."

"Tell me the name of this bond. I will research it and give you my decision afterwards."

"The Soul Bond, professor."

When Harry saw the effect of those words, he quickly muttered his goodbyes and ended the mirror call. That went better than expected. At least there were no death threats. He really hoped Snape would agree to his plan, he still had nightmares about being bonded to Creevey. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.

Harry looked around his room. He felt restless. After his conversation with Snape, he didn't want to study anymore. He could go downstairs and annoy the Dursleys, but decided against it. They hadn't exactly been pleasant, but after Moody's threat at the train station they had given him food and left him alone, which was definitely an improvement over the last few summers.

Looking out of the window, he saw smoke ringlets rising from behind the bushes. Dung was on guard duty then. He could sneak out and... And what? Harry sighed. He didn't have a reason to go to Diagon Alley except being bored, and with random Death Eater attacks that just wasn't good enough. He felt the need to do something stupid, like getting a tattoo or some other rebellious thing, but shook it off. If he decided to get a tattoo he would do it later, after the Voldemort situation was worked out. If he left now, he might come back with something he regretted later. Better to think about this some more. Harry went downstairs to get a snack, and then went back to work. After all, when he finished all his books he would have a good reason to go out again. From time to time, he glanced over to the mirror, curious as to what Snape was thinking about the plan.

"The Soul Bond, professor."

Severus glared. Was that idiot boy serious? A Soul Bond was one of the most invasive bonds that existed. It wasn't just a ritual to get out of the war, it was a lifetime commitment! Obviously Potter didn't know what he was talking about. Except... Except that he did, his mentioning of abilities meant he must have done his research. Still, why would Potter ask him to be his bonded? He didn't hate the boy, but he had his part to play and they certainly didn't like one another.

He wandered to his bookcase and took a book on marriage bonds. After reading the information about the Soul Bond, he had to admit that Potter wasn't as stupid as he had thought. If they could learn to work together, this was indeed the answer to al his problems. No more being crucio'd by the Dark Lord, no more Dumbledore reading his mind to make sure he didn't betray him, no more teaching snotty brats who didn't know what side of a cauldron was up, … Frankly, it sounded like heaven, except he wouldn't have to die to get there. And he would gain the ability of parseltongue. Since becoming Head of Slytherin House, Severus had often thought about having the skill. The day he got the job he bought a magical coral snake, Sasha. It would be amazing to be able to talk to her, and actually getting answers.

Oh, who was he kidding, once he made sure Potter was in this for the long haul, he wouldn't hesitate to perform this ritual. Frankly, at this point he was willing to be bonded to the whiny Malfoy brat to get out of his situation. Snape shuddered. Luckily that wouldn't be necessary. At least Potter was rather attractive and not a total idiot.

His mark began to burn. Duty calls, Severus thought. He started to empty his mind of all the recent revelations, locking his Occlumency shields into place so his mind was harder to break into than a Gringotts vault. He picked up his mask and went to follow his master's call.