"Thank you, Severus," Harry murmured as he lay beside Snape that night.
"Whatever for?" Snape asked, his voice gruff and he lay on his side, studying the man beside him. Potter looked frail and weak, and it broke Snape's heart to see him that way.
"For everything, really. For letting me stay here and putting up with me, for the potions, for my friends…"
"Silly child," Snape replied, knowing full well that it had been a long time since Potter was a child.
"I really appreciate all you've done for me."
"Stop talking like that, Potter," Snape said.
Potter smiled sadly. "Has the 'dream team' come up with anything new?"
Snape snorted. Harry had started calling the daily collective meetings of himself, Lovegood, Granger, Longbottom, and both Weasleys the 'dream team.' "I dare say they are sufficiently engaged and eager," he reported.
"It's alright, you know," Harry replied. "Albus always said death was the next great adventure. And I'll get to see my parents again."
"Potter…" Snape said through gritted teeth. He hated when Harry spoke like this.
"My only regret will be leaving you, us, this…" Harry said with a feeble wave, "unfinished."
"Stop talking this way. I haven't given up hope yet."
"Funny," Harry responded. "It used to be the other way around. Me the optimist and you the pessimist."
"I don't find it funny at all," Snape replied.
"You know what I mean," Harry said, wincing in pain.
Snape wanted to scream and tear his hair out at Potter's suffering. He wanted to crush the man to his chest and never let go. He wanted to kiss him until their lips ached, and make love to him until they both fell into a sound sleep together, wrapped in each other's arms. But all he could do was lie beside the man he loved and watch as death got closer to claiming him each and every day, tearing Snape's heart to pieces along the way.
"How is he today?" Granger inquired.
"The same," Snape said, not wanting to admit to himself, much less the others, that Harry was a little bit worse than the day before.
"I had a thought," Longbottom said. "It's not a great thought, but, well, something occurred to me last night. You said that Harry's magical core was dying, right professor?"
Snape nodded.
"Well, does he really need his magical core?" When everyone looked at him like he was a complete idiot, Longbottom said, "I mean, Muggles don't have a magical core and there still alive. Could, maybe, Harry live without his magic? Like a Muggle?"
Snape considered this.
"Would it be possible to separate him from his magical core?" Ginevra asked, sans baby today.
"I don't know…" Granger began.
"I think it's unlikely," Snape said. "Magic is imbued in our very DNA. I am not sure that it could be separated out. Although, Longbottom, it is an interesting idea. I will have to give it some thought."
"I had an idea too," Granger said, speaking in a quiet tone that made Snape all the more curious.
Granger glanced at Ron and frowned.
"I am not sure how appropriate it is, though," she murmured.
"Spit it out," Ginevra said, taking the words from Snape's mouth.
"Well, sir," Granger said, looking at Snape. "It's a bit, um…. unconventional," she said at last. She glanced again at Weasley. Taking a deep breath, she said, "I was reading about ancient binding rituals, you know, to try and find some way to bind Harry's magic or soul to this earth."
"Go on," Snape encouraged, fully aware that only Luna knew the full extent of the relationship between Potter and himself.
"Well," Granger said, biting her lip, "there is a ritual where a witch or wizard can bind their partner to them. And it sort of becomes like the prophesy, except it would be like: Neither can die, while the other survives."
A trickle of hope spread through Snape. "Let me see it," he demanded.
Granger grimaced. "It's a bit more complicated than that, I'm afraid to say. It involves… um…" Granger seemed to gather her courage. "It involves sex magic, sir."
"What's that?" Weasley boomed.
"It means that, in order for the binding to hold, the couple must be, um," Granger said, blushing furiously, "intimate, on a fairly regular basis."
"They have to have SEX?" Weasley asked, aghast.
"Yes, Ronald, they have to have sex," Ginevra shot back. "Just like you and Hermione do, considering you have three children."
Weasley goggled. Longbottom shifted uncomfortably in his chair. But Luna, damn her, smiled.
"Well," Luna said, "I don't think that will be a problem at all."
Snape buried his head in his hands. He was a private person at the best of times. To be exposed like this to Potter's friends was more than he could stand.
"Snape and Harry?" Weasley fairly shouted. "No way."
"Professor…" Granger said, her voice tentative. "Are you and Harry…"
Snape groaned.
Ginevra spoke up. "And Harry's on board, so to speak?"
"You'd have to ask him," Snape uttered.
"Yes, I'm on board."
Everyone at the table jumped at the sound of Potter's voice.
"Harry!" Hermione cried.
But it was Snape who was first on his feet and by Potter's side. "What are you doing up?" Snape asked, wrapping a steadying arm around the man's waist.
"Wanted a glass of water," Harry said, nodding to everyone.
Luna waved her wand and conjured an over-stuff reclining arm chair with foot rest between herself and Snape's chair at the table. "Come sit with us, Harry," she said.
Snape helped Harry over to the chair and eased the man into it.
"I'll get the water," Luna stated.
Snape sat beside Harry and Harry reached out and took Snape's hand. In front of all of his friends. Snape felt something catch in his chest.
"Ron, close your mouth," Harry chided with a smile and his best mate snapped his mouth shut, his cheeks going red as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Hermione was beaming. Ginevra was studying them as if they were a newly released racing broom. Longbottom just looked dumbstruck. Luna, when she returned with a glass of water for Harry, as well as a pitcher of lemonade, looked as if nothing new or interesting had occurred.
"Tell me more about the binding," Harry said.
"Well," Hermione said, pulling the book from her bag, opening it to the correct spot, and passing it to Snape, "it looks fairly simple. I mean, the ritual is a bit complicated, and there is a potion to be brewed, but overall, it mostly just requires two willing participants."
Weasley made a choking sound and Ginevra punched him in the arm.
"It was used in ancient times to ensure a partner's safety, especially in times of battle when the man was off fighting and the woman was home alone with the children," Granger added.
"So it is a lifelong bond?" Snape inquired.
"Yes," Granger said. "It doesn't say anything about disbanding it."
Harry made a sound of distress.
Severus glanced sharply at him. A quick look, a bit of silent communication, and Snape was on his feet, hurriedly leaving the room. He returned moments later with three potions, which Harry drank with gratitude.
"Harry," Ron said, "Are you sure you are okay with this? Bonding to Snape, I mean?" Ron said, glancing at Snape contempt and distaste.
"You'd rather I die?" Harry asked.
"No, of course not, mate, I…"
"It doesn't matter anyway," Harry said, laying his head back and closing his eyes. "I love him."
"You love Professor Snape?" Longbottom asked.
"Yes," Harry said, sounding tired. "For a long time now."
"Since when?" Weasley demanded.
"Since after the war," Harry admitted. Catching Severus's gaze, Harry added, "I told him that, and then he sent me away."
Silence hung in the room.
"Harry…" Snape said. He adored Potter, but this was not the place to discuss their relationship.
Harry smiled weakly. "All that matters is that I love him, and he loves me. So, if he's willing to be stuck with me…"
"If I'm willing to be stuck with you…" Snape said with a snort, knowing full well it would be Harry stuck with him, not the other way around.
"That's what I said," Harry repeated, "then I'm game."
"And you're willing to be stuck with him?" Weasley asked in disbelief, although it was what Snape was thinking as well.
Everyone ignored Weasley.
Snape cleared his throat before speaking. "If he'll have me, it would be my honor."
Luna started humming the tune of 'here comes the bride,' much to Snape's chagrin. "Well that settles it then," Luna announced.
"Will Harry still have his magic?" Longbottom asked.
"I'm not sure..." Granger said. "If they are bonded, he can't die. But I don't know how the bond will affect Harry's magic. If it causes their magic to mingle, then Harry's might become stronger and Professor Snape's weaker."
"That is possible," Snape said.
"Or," Hermione added, "Harry may continue to lose his magic and will, in essence, be a squib or a Muggle."
"I can live with that," Harry said. Then he glanced significantly at Snape.
"There is still one problem," Snape stated. "Harry can't go on if the pain continues."
"Do you know what is causing the pain?" Ginevra asked.
"We assume it's the breakdown of his magical core," Snape responded. "But there's no way to be sure."
Snape glanced at Harry, but his eyes were closed, his face relaxed in repose. Snape summoned a blanket and reclined the chair with his wand. Harry moaned softly as he rolled to his side, his features creasing in pain before relaxing again as he slept facing Snape. Snape's heart crumbled a little more at the sight. Binding or magic or no, he couldn't let Harry suffer indefinitely.
"Has he seen a Muggle doctor?" Granger asked tentatively.
"Yes," Snape replied. "They have no explanation either."
"I didn't think they would, but you never know," Granger said.
Ginevra spoke up. "You are managing his pain right now with potions, right?"
"Yes," Snape said, "but there are side effects, and he continues to need a stronger dose as time goes on."
"Do you think the pain will stop once his magical core is depleted?" Longbottom asked.
"No one knows," Snape said.
Granger rested her chin on her hands. "It would be good to know how the binding words, what it does. Perhaps your magic and good health will strengthen Harry." Frowning, she added, "but it could also go the other way."
"Professor," Ginevra said, "can you tell how the potion works from the ingredients?"
Snape glanced at Harry to make sure he was resting peacefully before pulling the book toward him and studying the potion's ingredients. "I have some idea, but I will need to spend some time studying it." Glancing up, Snape pinned Longbottom, who looked uncomfortable at the attention.
"Longbottom, I could use your help gathering some of the plant ingredients."
"I'd be happy to help," Longbottom replied.
"Professor," Hermione said, "do you think you might be able to modify the binding potion or incantation so that it could help Harry's pain?"
"That is what I was thinking as well, Ms. Granger," Snape said. "I will need to think further on it." Pulling out his wand, Snape duplicated the pages in the book so that everyone could have their own copy. "I think we should all ponder this overnight and discuss our ideas tomorrow."
Harry cried out in his sleep, and Snape instantly turned his attention to the man. Snape touched Potter's forehead, checking for fever, and then ran his hand gently through Harry's messy dark hair.
"How much time does he have left?" Ginevra asked boldly.
Snape cringed at the question. "Not long, I don't think," Snape responded. "He hides it well, but his body is already shutting down. I'd be surprised if he could last more than a week or two more."
There was a collective gasp around the room.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ginevra demanded angrily.
"I just did," Snape retorted.
