Harry Potter winced as he studied the welts on his back in his mirror. His wife was becoming increasingly volatile, each time he returned from Snape with no results whatsoever. Apparently when she gave Filch permission for whipping when Fred and George fled, she wasn't kidding.
Seeing she wasn't in, Harry managed to sneak out of their rooms, which he had done one or two times before, and escaped his trainers. He wandered the empty corridors, wondering at what level they actually were.
"Where are you going, Harry?"
Kingsley Shacklebolts deep voice nearly made him jump.
"Looking to do some research," Harry quickly lied, "I need to expand my repertoire of spells."
Kingsley nodded. "Well, the Unspeakables at the Department of Mystery have a very extensive library. I happen to have a friend there – would you like to see if there's anything there that can help you?"
Harry suddenly smiled. An afternoon away from his tormentors? A chance to study on his own and perhaps, even find a nice creative way to take revenge? Hell YEAH!
"That would be great, thank you," he nodded.
Together they walked the long hallways to where the Unspeakables resided.
"So, how is your erm…health?" Kingsley asked, "Dolores has been keeping the Order informed of your…problems."
Inside Harry was fuming. How dare she!
On the outside, however, he dropped his gaze to his shoes and blushed. "I erm…"
Realizing how embarrassing the question must have been to Harry, the Auror quickly apologised.
"It must be hard for you," he added, "but don't give up hoping."
Harry nodded and didn't speak again until they reached the library.
sssssssss
"No one? No one can bring me the Potter boy?"
Voldemort liberally applied Cruciatus curses to his followers. Unfortunately that did not make Harry Potter appear in front of him.
Just as Wormtail lay screaming on the floor, another black clad figure hurried in.
"My…my Lord…"
"Sseverus, my little snake," Voldemort hissed, "you are late."
Snape approached and dropped to his knees in front of the Dark Lord.
"Master, I am exceedingly sorry. I was on my way when Headmaster Dumbledore stopped me. He…he had a request, and I answered as best I could without having been able to consult you for your guidance…"
Voldemort smiled his twisted smile. "See? At least one of my servants knows his place and is mindful of his betters. Come, Severus. Come near me."
Shivering, Snape did what was expected of him. He crawled to Voldemort and rested his forehead on the man's knee. The hand that came to lay on his hair could now just as easily stroke him as cut off his head.
"What did the old fool want, my pet?" had the abomination not so many snakelike qualities, one would have said he was purring.
"Master, he wants…he wants me to tutor the Potter brat, at Hogwarts in my own quarters. I – I protested as much as was safe, seeing how he expects that of me…"
"But you gave in, and agreed in the end, so we may use it as an opportunity to get to the boy," Voldemort sounded content. "This is good news indeed, Severus. You have done well."
His chin was lifted and while one hand forced him to look up, the other stroked his face and hair.
"Yes, you have done well. You continue to please me. I think a reward is in order. Is there anything I can give you? That Lord Voldemort can show his appreciation with?"
"My Lord," Snape lowered his head to the creature's lap again, "to serve you is reward enough. But if I could name…could name one thing…"
The hand moved to his neck and into the collar of his robes to stroke his bare shoulders. "What, little snake," Voldemort hissed gently, "what is it?"
"When you…when you destroy Dumbledore…perhaps Potter if he doesn't…Master, I would so much want to…"
"Ah," Voldemort chuckled, a sound that made even the most hardened Death Eater cringe, "you want to see, if not be part of, their destruction? After all you suffered from that old man, I can understand that. But if the boy turns to me, I cannot give you that pleasure."
Severus crawled closer, trying not to puke. "Master, I beg you…I beg you…when the boy turns to you, may I have time to adjust? My revulsion is not easily switched off…"
"You are asking me not to force you to teach him," Voldemort understood. He laughed inside. So Severus was sure the boy would turn. He was also willing to accept the brat if only for him, Voldemort. Oh, if only all his followers were as intelligent and submissive as this one!
"If it is your wish that I do, I will, Master," he heard the younger man whisper.
"That would make me no better than Dumbledore, would it," Voldemort chuckled again, "When this works out, and Potter turns to us, you have earned your rest and reward, Severus. I will make sure to keep you and him apart for a while, unless necessity dictates otherwise."
Severus kissed the hem of the robes, hoping to keep his breakfast inside.
ssssssssssssss
Dumbledore hummed as he walked down the stairs to the Great Hall. Voldemort was quiet, Severus hadn't been tortured in some time – though it didn't truly concern him if he was. In his view, it just made it less likely that the Potions Master divulged any information.
It never occurred to him that his young teacher didn't care about pain. That he could have bound Severus to him forever had he simply given him the recognition that he needed. But he didn't know that, and life was good.
It was unfortunate for poor Dolores that the potion they had given Harry had made the teen impotent, but perhaps it was for the best. Hormones could only distract Harry from his goal of defeating Voldemort. Severus assured him that time and a stress free environment would probably resolve the problem. After the war, if Harry survived, he could have that. If he didn't survive, well, then it wouldn't be a problem at all.
He frowned a bit as he met the cold stares of Mr Weasley, Mr Longbottom and the distant gaze of Miss Lovegood.
"It's not too late, Headmaster," the girl said in her dreamy voice, "you can still turn back. There may not be forgiveness, but perhaps there will still be mercy."
"Miss Lovegood, you only just finished your detention yesterday," the Mugwump reminded her.
"You can only control free press for so long," Luna responded, "you will not like the consequences, Headmaster."
"Twenty points from Ravenclaw, Miss Lovegood," the Headmaster walked on.
ssssssssssssssssssss
Harry had been digging through the library for a long time. Hermione would've had a ball in here, he thought. Then he remembered what she had done, and he sighed.
His hand landed on a small booklet, bound in tarnished brown leather. "What's this?" he wondered.
"Who the hell is the Black Prince? Related to Snape somehow?"
Curious, he opened the book. It was a good thing Hermione had nagged him into reading so much old literature.
"Dear sweet Merlin," he gasped. He quickly stowed the book into his shirt when he heard someone coming.
"Harry," Dolores simpered, "here you are. You shouldn't leave our rooms, really."
He faked submissiveness, as he had done so often the past months. "I needed to research. You Know Who will try to get us eventually."
He had placated her with the 'us', he saw. Unfortunately he had also turned her on. He was nearly dragged back to their rooms.
"You may not be…up to much yet," she giggled – had she been drinking? – "but there are other ways you may…satisfy me."
Harry breathed heavily, his throat constricted. For so long he had evaded her…
She mistook his panic for lust, began to undress. Pushing him down on the bed, the toad like woman forced her lips onto his, demanding entrance.
"No…no!" Harry struggled.
"Yessss," she hissed, "stay still. You wouldn't want me to complain to the Headmaster about you, would you?"
Harry panicked. Her hand slid down to take his and lead it up her own skirt. She forced her bosom into his face.
"I – I – I think I need some of that potion," Harry panted, "Maybe…maybe…"
She looked delighted. "You go do that," she whispered huskily, "I'll be here…"
Harry fled to the living room, where he grabbed his wand, some cash, and the book. Then he took the potion. Snape had made the bottle into a portkey and filled it with some harmless liquid. He wouldn't have long after he left here. Either Voldemort or Dumbledore would find him. He had days at most to prepare once he fled, but it was worth it.
"Spinner's End," Harry managed to choke out. The world became blurry and he felt the pull of the portkey, taking him away from his captors. The end was approaching.