Chapter seven; Master or Slave?
"Master?" Sirius quiet voice sounded suddenly at the doorway.
Severus turned to him, guilty. Had he realized his train of thought, and come to stop him somehow?
"Master, I did not thank you. I needed to talk to someone about…about that house. I have not spoken of it in many years, and the only person who ever knew is now dead. You…you are a good Master to help me so," Sirius' voice quavered. "I don't want any other Master,"
Severus gaped at him.
"But I took your freedom from you, when you were to be free for the first time in thirteen years. I've taken all you own, locked you away from the rest of the world. You hate me, you always have. How can you say I'm a good Master? I'm not a good anything!" he stumbled backwards, as Sirius moved further into the room.
"I did not need any of those things. I've been without them long enough to realize how useless they really are. I would have spent a hundred years in Azkaban if only James had lived, if only Lily could have seen her only son grow up. There were four people who mattered to me, and I am denied all of them. It took away my reason to live. Just knowing they were there is enough. Now, all is lost and I drown in a sea of nothingness, until your voice calls me. I can live through that,"
"I didn't want to give you a purpose! I wanted you to be mine, and mine alone!" Severus shrieked suddenly.
"I am yours. Even if you somehow broke the bond, I would always be yours. If you call, I will come running at the sound of my master's voice," Sirius shrugged
Severus groaned, and buried his face in his hands.
"What have I done?" he said aloud. "I can do it you know, just free you like I would a house elf. If I did, you would probably kill yourself, and I would free of your burden. I should do that, you know,"
"You are my Master. Whatever you do will be the right thing," Sirius said with a shrug.
Severus looked at him as if seeing him clearly for the first time.
"I think we need to see the Headmaster,"
Dumbledore's usually bright eyes were looking at Severus with an uncommon expression.
"So you enslaved him. You knew he would have no other choice, and you used a petty grudge as an excuse to gain revenge," he said clearly.
"I resent the use of the word 'petty' Albus, when it is in reference to the fact that Black tried to kill me. But yes, that was my reasoning," Severus scowled.
"I had a choice, Headmaster. I knew what I was doing," Sirius piped up suddenly. He was wearing a matching scowl, unhappy about where this conversation was heading.
"Regardless, Severus you have denied Sirius a basic human right. That to freedom, to personal choice, and I cannot allow such blatant abuse to continue-" Albus' eyes flashed dangerously as he stood, looming over Severus.
Sirius moved in front of his master, arms folded.
"But you haven't even asked me how I feel Headmaster. Did it ever occur to either of you that I might like my new situation? I don't want to break the bond," he pushed out his chin stubbornly.
"I have spent thirteen years without freedom, Albus. If anyone knows how it feels to be denied 'human rights' as you say, it's me. But my Master is a good one, and has never treated me as badly as I deserve,"
"You don't know what you're getting into, Sirius! He can use you in any way he likes! If you think you're deserving of such treatment, I can assure you that you're wrong. No one deserves what has happened to you, all those years in Azkaban…"
"Then why did you let it happen, Albus?" Sirius asked softly he pushed out his chin stubbornly.
"I have spent thirteen years without freedom, Albus. If anyone knows how it feels to be denied 'human rights' as you say, it's me. But my Master is a good one, and has never treated me as badly as I deserve,"
"You don't know what you're getting into, Sirius! He can use you in any way he likes! If you think you're deserving of such treatment, I can assure you that you're wrong. No one deserves what has happened to you, all those years in Azkaban…"
"Then why did you let it happen, Albus?" Sirius asked softly. It was the first time he had referred to the Headmaster by his first name. "You knew me. You knew how much I loved Lily and James. You KNEW to whom my loyalty belonged to. It was just so convenient though, wasn't it? You were too busy crafting Harry into the perfect little savior to care what happened to me. I was just tucked away into a nice little corner where no one could see me, where no one cared…well, enough of that. I have made my choice Albus. MY choice. For the first time in thirteen years, I am making a choice," He laughed, a strangled sound that sounded eerie in the now quiet Headmaster's office.
Sirius pushed past a gaping Severus and into the corridor, leaving the two stunned men behind.
"I think we will leave the bond intact, Severus," Albus said finally.
"What? Headmaster, I-" Severus gasped.
"Until Sirius himself wants it broken, there is nothing I can do. Right now there is more harm in breaking the bond than in continuing it. But if you use this bond to hurt him irreparably, I can't be held responsible for my actions Severus," Dumbledore looked at him scrutinizing through half moon glasses, and for a brief second Severus understood how the man in front of him had faced and defeated Grindelward all those years ago.
Although he had his back to the man in black, the tension was obvious. Severus sighed and ran his fingers though his hair in irritation. He should have he crowing over his obvious domination of the other man, but it was just making things worse. While they were equals, there had been a constant power struggle. Now he had won, there was no glory in it. He sighed again, and moved to sit next to Sirius, who acknowledged him by flinching involuntarily away.
"Do…do you want to talk about it?" Severus asked, wincing at the hesitation in his voice.
"If you order me, Master, I will tell you anything," Sirius said listlessly.
"I'm not going to order you to. Tell me, or wallow in sorrow alone. It does not bother me either way," Severus replied neutrally.
"Really?" Sirius sighed. " Then I'm just tired, that's all,"
"I see. Then I'll just leave, shall I?" he stood, halted by a hand gripping his wrist.
"Stay with me. Please," Sirius said barely audible.
"I'm meant to give the orders," Severus replied, but he sat back down anyway.
"I know. Please just stay. I'm only asking," he turned his eyes to meet his Master's.
"Don't try those puppy dog eyes on me, Black. I'm a cat person," Severus said with a slight smile.
"Really," Sirius smiled back. Without knowing it, they had reached an understanding.
A/N- Thanks for some of the great reviews for this story. I will admit, it's been one of my favorite stories to write, and I'm glad to see you guys enjoy it.