Disclaimer and Authors Notes found in the first chapter.
-Chapter Thirteen-
There was a long silence in the room. The black dog had fainted for a second time; James, Lily, Remus and Sirius where gaping like idiots, the rest of the Professors, Auror's and Fudge were holding on to things as not to fall to the floor, and Draco was blinking repeatedly without getting anywhere. Dumbledore was the only one that was calm, and he was keeping a sharp eye at the two Slytherins.
Harry was pale, and went paler every second. Severus was just staring at the old Headmaster in shock, his mouth hanging open. In the end the silence was broken by Harry's quiet, disbelieving voice.
"Professor, please tell me you're kidding." He begged.
"I'm afraid not Harry. That's a very old incitation that was cast upon you two, and there's a second part to it that Riddle didn't have time to do. I doubt that he would have done it anyway-" Albus was interrupted by Harry.
"This second part," the teen said, desperation beginning to show in his voice. "What is it?"
"Well, it kind of completes the bonding, though it is not a part of the spell. Lets see if I remember it. Ah, yes: 'Heart to heart are life-mates bound, Soul meets soul when eyes meet eyes. Lad, among those gathered 'round, Stands your new love recognised.' Of course, the beginning of the third line depends if it's a boy or girl. It's an old Elf-spell that's been banned in their lands, and in ours. I quite agree with that decision. Dark wizards used it to bond their enemies to them, that way the Light Forces couldn't kill them. They would have killed one of their own in the process."
Severus was quietly trying to posses everything. He looked over to Harry. The boy was pale, almost transparent, shaking, his eyes wide. The blonde boy by the doors looked shocked and was gaping and blinking without getting anywhere. The rest of the people in the room, except Dumbledore, where having similar reactions.
His attention went back to Harry. Did he want to spend the rest of his live, and beyond, with him? Severus had to admit that Harry was a wonderful person. Funny, smart, sharp, beautiful, mysterious. Severus would gladly have ventured into a longer relationship with Harry, but all eternity?
"P-Professor," he said shakily, everyone turned to him. "I...I need time to think over this. Am I excused?" when Dumbledore nodded he got up and started to walk towards the doors of the room. Severus needed all his willpower, and more, to control himself and not give into the temptation and run from the room.
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It had been a full day since they had gotten the news about being bonded. Harry had been avoiding Severus, hoping that the other boy wouldn't disturb him, he needed time to think over things and he had to interrogate Draco on the things that had happened back home.
"Well, McColgan appeared in the middle of the yard in a flash of light," Draco was saying one day. They where walking on the Hogwarts grounds. "He started to talk about the Chamber, you and Riddle. In the end Snape cast a full Body-Bind on him to shut him up, then released McColgan's mouth so that the Slayer could talk. When he was finished, Snape's eyes where sad, angry, worried and he looked ready to cry. This does explain a lot of things between you and him. Maybe he hates you because you left without saying goodbye?"
"Back up!" Harry said turning sharply to Draco. "Left without saying goodbye?"
"Yeah, orders from Colonel." Draco seemed to shrink under the glare Harry gave him. "We have to leave without them noticing anything. Now that Riddle's back in our time all the Agents are being called back to the Headquarters. Without you there we have almost gone crazy. Ron has been trying to keep an eye at the recruits and at the same time the Tactic Department. I've been training recruits and have been trying to organize the Animal Department. Herm's been leading the researches as usual, and has been giving out missions. We had no idea that you did all that in a days work, and we still have no idea how you manage to survive the stress." They walked in silence for a bit, then Draco said, "Oh, yeah, Colonel told me to tell you that if you even thought about staying here, he will personally travel here and knock you senseless, then take you back home. And you know that he always keeps his promises."
"All too well, Draco," Harry replied shortly.
"Anyways, we have to go back to our time tonight. No matter what happens. Snuffles himself is the Timekey, that's why he had come with me. There's a charm cast over this place, so that none of the teachers - future or present - will be able to interfere with the future. Now, are you all packed and all that?"
"Yes, I am." Harry's tone made it clear that their talk was over.
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In the dead of the night Harry, Draco and Snuffles walked out to the edge of the Forbidden Forest and waited for midnight. Just before the time came, the two humans grabbed hold of the dog's collar, and a second later they disappeared in a flash of golden light.
When they appeared again in the yard of the Phoenix Headquarters all movement stopped up for a moment, then Harry was run over by friends that wanted to welcome him back, reporters and people that worked for the Order that needed help with something or other.
Harry was quickly dragged away from the scene. He had hundreds of things to take care of. He turned back on an impulse, and saw a shadow disappear down a dark corridor.
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-Chapter Thirteen-
There was a long silence in the room. The black dog had fainted for a second time; James, Lily, Remus and Sirius where gaping like idiots, the rest of the Professors, Auror's and Fudge were holding on to things as not to fall to the floor, and Draco was blinking repeatedly without getting anywhere. Dumbledore was the only one that was calm, and he was keeping a sharp eye at the two Slytherins.
Harry was pale, and went paler every second. Severus was just staring at the old Headmaster in shock, his mouth hanging open. In the end the silence was broken by Harry's quiet, disbelieving voice.
"Professor, please tell me you're kidding." He begged.
"I'm afraid not Harry. That's a very old incitation that was cast upon you two, and there's a second part to it that Riddle didn't have time to do. I doubt that he would have done it anyway-" Albus was interrupted by Harry.
"This second part," the teen said, desperation beginning to show in his voice. "What is it?"
"Well, it kind of completes the bonding, though it is not a part of the spell. Lets see if I remember it. Ah, yes: 'Heart to heart are life-mates bound, Soul meets soul when eyes meet eyes. Lad, among those gathered 'round, Stands your new love recognised.' Of course, the beginning of the third line depends if it's a boy or girl. It's an old Elf-spell that's been banned in their lands, and in ours. I quite agree with that decision. Dark wizards used it to bond their enemies to them, that way the Light Forces couldn't kill them. They would have killed one of their own in the process."
Severus was quietly trying to posses everything. He looked over to Harry. The boy was pale, almost transparent, shaking, his eyes wide. The blonde boy by the doors looked shocked and was gaping and blinking without getting anywhere. The rest of the people in the room, except Dumbledore, where having similar reactions.
His attention went back to Harry. Did he want to spend the rest of his live, and beyond, with him? Severus had to admit that Harry was a wonderful person. Funny, smart, sharp, beautiful, mysterious. Severus would gladly have ventured into a longer relationship with Harry, but all eternity?
"P-Professor," he said shakily, everyone turned to him. "I...I need time to think over this. Am I excused?" when Dumbledore nodded he got up and started to walk towards the doors of the room. Severus needed all his willpower, and more, to control himself and not give into the temptation and run from the room.
-------------------------
It had been a full day since they had gotten the news about being bonded. Harry had been avoiding Severus, hoping that the other boy wouldn't disturb him, he needed time to think over things and he had to interrogate Draco on the things that had happened back home.
"Well, McColgan appeared in the middle of the yard in a flash of light," Draco was saying one day. They where walking on the Hogwarts grounds. "He started to talk about the Chamber, you and Riddle. In the end Snape cast a full Body-Bind on him to shut him up, then released McColgan's mouth so that the Slayer could talk. When he was finished, Snape's eyes where sad, angry, worried and he looked ready to cry. This does explain a lot of things between you and him. Maybe he hates you because you left without saying goodbye?"
"Back up!" Harry said turning sharply to Draco. "Left without saying goodbye?"
"Yeah, orders from Colonel." Draco seemed to shrink under the glare Harry gave him. "We have to leave without them noticing anything. Now that Riddle's back in our time all the Agents are being called back to the Headquarters. Without you there we have almost gone crazy. Ron has been trying to keep an eye at the recruits and at the same time the Tactic Department. I've been training recruits and have been trying to organize the Animal Department. Herm's been leading the researches as usual, and has been giving out missions. We had no idea that you did all that in a days work, and we still have no idea how you manage to survive the stress." They walked in silence for a bit, then Draco said, "Oh, yeah, Colonel told me to tell you that if you even thought about staying here, he will personally travel here and knock you senseless, then take you back home. And you know that he always keeps his promises."
"All too well, Draco," Harry replied shortly.
"Anyways, we have to go back to our time tonight. No matter what happens. Snuffles himself is the Timekey, that's why he had come with me. There's a charm cast over this place, so that none of the teachers - future or present - will be able to interfere with the future. Now, are you all packed and all that?"
"Yes, I am." Harry's tone made it clear that their talk was over.
-------------------------
In the dead of the night Harry, Draco and Snuffles walked out to the edge of the Forbidden Forest and waited for midnight. Just before the time came, the two humans grabbed hold of the dog's collar, and a second later they disappeared in a flash of golden light.
When they appeared again in the yard of the Phoenix Headquarters all movement stopped up for a moment, then Harry was run over by friends that wanted to welcome him back, reporters and people that worked for the Order that needed help with something or other.
Harry was quickly dragged away from the scene. He had hundreds of things to take care of. He turned back on an impulse, and saw a shadow disappear down a dark corridor.
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