Snape's mind churned with complications. He wished they'd have found the binding spell sooner. As it was, he didn't know if it would be too little, too late. He hadn't been able to find any cases like Harry's to know what the effect would be on either of them. He was willing to try it, willing to forgo his life to save Harry, but he had no idea if it would even work. He certainly didn't want to tie Harry to a life of constant pain and misery.
And how would they even complete the binding? After the incantation and potion, they would need to have sex to activate and solidify the bond. Snape couldn't even touch Harry without causing him pain, much less make love to him. He ran his hands through his hair. Maybe Harry wouldn't need to be conscious for that part. He could sedate him. He hated the idea of taking Harry while he was unconscious, but if it could save him…
He looked down at the man lying beside him. Harry's eyes sockets were shadowed with what looked like purple bruises, his skin was sunken and sallow. His fingers curled inward, as if even in sleep, he was clenching them against the pain. It hurt to see Harry this way. Snape tipped his head back, blinking back the useless tears. He had told Harry he hadn't given up, but he wasn't sure that was true. Was he wasting what little time they had left together chasing a fool's dream? Would he regret not spending what precious moments they had left together? But how could he forgive himself for not trying everything?
"Professor…"
Snape snapped his head up, meeting Luna's gaze. He cleared his throat a few times before he could speak. "Yes, Miss Lovegood?"
"I brought you some tea," she said kindly, setting it down on the bedside table. Then she sat beside him and took his hand into hers.
"It takes a very brave person to choose to risk one's life to save another's," Luna said, her too-large eyes studying him. "It takes an even braver person to choose to let nature take its course without interfering."
Snape stared at the wisp of a witch and caught his breath. He buried his head in his free hand and sobbed, while Luna stroked his other hand. "You think I should let him go?" he asked.
"I think there is no right answer," she replied. "And sometimes, the burden of choosing is too much for one to bear."
"What does that mean?" Snape lamented, desperate for any bit of wisdom or comfort he could find.
Luna met his gaze with compassion. "Perhaps we should ask Harry."
The next afternoon, when Snape and the Dream Team reconvened, the room was abuzz with ideas.
Snape sat back and listened. Harry had made his choice. If Snape deemed their plan reasonable, Harry would consent to one try. If it failed, for whatever reason, then they would forgo any further attempts, and Snape would do what he could to keep Harry comfortable.
"We have one chance," Snape said. "One chance to get this right. Once chance, and very little time."
No one stated the obvious: That the ritual was so old that no record of its effects could be found; that Harry was so unstable the ritual itself might kill him; that no one knew the effect it would have on Snape; that even if the binding succeeded, Harry might still be in constant pain.
Granger dashed the tears from her eyes. "Before we try anything, we have to know what our goals are. Otherwise," she said, her voice breaking, "we only risk hurting Harry more, and Professor Snape as well."
"Save Harry's life," Weasley stated.
"And make sure he's not in pain, not suffering," Longbottom added.
"He needs to be able to withstand the ritual itself," Ginevra said, which is what Snape was thinking as well.
"We need to ensure Professor Snape's safety," Granger said.
"No, we do not," Snape said. "I am well aware of the risks. I am willing to forfeit my life if need be."
"Professor…" Granger began.
"This is not open for discussion," Snape stated.
Longbottom bit his lip. "What about his magic?"
"That's secondary," Snape said. "He can live without magic."
"Who would want to though?" Weasley commented.
"It's better than dying, you git," Ginevra said, and Snape quite agreed.
"He needs to have a life worth living," Lovegood said in her dreamy voice.
Everyone glanced between Luna and Snape.
"I can see to that," Snape muttered, "as long as the rest can be managed."
"He'll have us," Weasley said defiantly.
"Of course he will," Granger said, patting his arm. "Anything else?" Granger asked, writing each objective in one column, and making notes in another.
"Well, the binding spell will save Harry's life," Granger summarized. "That is probably the easiest part. The hard
der parts are ensuring that Harry is pain free and getting him through the ritual."
"Would a strengthening solution help Harry get through the ritual?" Longbottom asked.
"Could you add a healing potion to the binding potion to get rid of the pain?" Granger inquired.
"Both are reasonable suggestions," Snape commented. But Luna had started doing something strange with her hands. It was distracting. "What is it, Miss Lovegood?" Snape asked.
"If potions could have helped Harry, they would have already," Luna said.
"What do you suggest then?" Snape said, doing his best to hold back his temper. They were out of time.
"Binding spells are ancient magic," she said. "They are powerful and strong and built of love and devotion." Luna laid her hand on Snape's arm. "It is not your potions or you words that will help Harry now, Severus. It is your intentions."
"My intentions?" Snape said, feeling his anger rise. "You know my intentions!" he bellowed.
"Luna's right," Hermione said, a look of understanding lighting up her features. "Ancient magic was about much more than potions and spells. It's almost a lost art today."
Ginevra spoke up then. "My mum always said that long ago, witches and wizards didn't use wands. They didn't need them. It was the strength of their intentions that determined the success of their spells."
"My gran says that once wizards made wands, they got lazy and their magic was diluted," Longbottom added.
"Sometimes, we are too close to see clearly," Luna pronounced.
Snape felt confused and exhausted. He hadn't slept more than a couple hours per night in days. And this seemed to simple.
"When you brew the potion, when you speak the incantation, it is the strength of your intentions toward Harry that will heal him," Luna declared.
"If it were as simple as that, he'd already be cured," Snape said bitterly.
"But it's the magic of the ritual that will bind your intentions to Harry," Hermione said. "The combination is what makes it so powerful."
After everyone left, Luna brought him a mug of tea. "You don't think it will work," Luna observed.
"It's childish, it's foolish. It's wishful thinking," Snape declared.
"Adults tend to forget the innocence of youth. Children believe without questioning. And as such, their magic can be some of the most untainted and strongest in the world."
Snape sipped his tea, considering her words. Then he shook his head. "It can't be that simple."
"Can't it?" she said. "Do you love Harry?"
Snape looked at her with haunted eyes. "You know I do."
"If you were to visualize your love for Harry, to give it a color and shape, what would it look like?"
With anyone else, Snape would have scoffed at the silly question. But this was Luna, who lived in a world of her own, and it drove him crazy just as much as it charmed him.
"White," he said. "Effervescent. And all encompassing. It has no shape because it has no bounds."
Luna smiled. "Is there anything within you that is purer than your love for Harry?"
Snape snorted. "No."
"So," Luna continued, "one could say that your love for Harry could be compared to the pure, innocent, untamed magic of a child. The most ancient and powerful magic there is."
Snape closed his eyes, wanting so badly to believe. "Tell me what I have to do," he rasped. "I would do anything for Harry."
"I know you would," Luna said, patting his hand. "Drink your tea, and I will tell you."
Snape took another sip, and another. He was starting to feel sleepy. "What if I don't do it right?"
"Is being with Harry your strongest desire?" Luna asked.
Snape took another sip, considering. "My strongest desire is to see Harry well. But after that, yes, I suppose it is."
"Then you have nothing to fear. No matter what happens, you will be together."
Neither can die, while the other survives. "If he dies, I die too," Snape whispered in understanding.
"And you will still be together," Luna said.
Snape went to set his cup down, but Luna said, "Finish your tea, and then you should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a new day."
Snape drained the last of his tea obediently. His limbs felt heavy and a bit tingly. He tried to stand up, but his legs felt too weak.
He looked sharply at Luna, who seemed fuzzy around the edges. "You didn't," he growled.
Her peaceful expression never wavered. "You need a good night's sleep, Professor. I knew you wouldn't rest otherwise." She raised her hand, staving off his protests. "It's dreamless sleep, and it will only last eight hours. I will stay with Harry, I promise."
Snape knew he should feel livid, but he could hardly keep his eyes open. "How did you mask the taste," he asked, his words slurring.
"I added pixie wings," Luna said, as if that was the most obvious answer in the world.
