Title: The Art of Necromancy

Author: Artemis Luna Diana

E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com

Rating: R

Pairing: Harry/Severus

Time: begins right after GoF

Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts to spend the summer. Out of sheer boredom, he scours the library for books to read and stumbles across a book that will change his life…

Disclaimer: I own not a thing

WARNING!!!! THIS IS A SLASH STORY!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLASH OR THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!

Chapter Eighteen: Aftermath

"To understand everything, you are going to need to know what happened to me before I disappeared," Harry began. Hermione and Ron looked at him nodding for him to proceed. Harry flicked a glance at Severus, who sent him feelings of comfort along their bond. "I am a Necromancer."

Ron started laughing. Hermione stared. Ron's laughter died at the pained expression on Harry's face. He gulped. "You're not serious are you?"

"Yes. I am the only current Necromancer in existence, and the youngest ever."

"Have you raised the dead?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"No. I've not raised anyone."

"If you do," Ron hesitated. "Would they be zombies?"

"No. That is one of the places where the history of the Necromancers' has been twisted."

"That would explain the discrepancies in some of the books I've read," Hermione said with a brisk nod. "What happened to twist the history? And what else is inaccurate?"

Ron blinked. "Wait a minute, if they aren't zombies then what are they?"

"They are alive, just like you and me." Harry sighed. "Look, just let me tell you what I know, and if you have any questions, ask me when I'm done. Okay? Good." Harry then proceeded to tell Ron and Hermione everything that he had told Albus and Severus.

"And you've no idea why the Necromancer refused to heal the man's son?" Hermione asked curiously.

Harry shrugged. "Not a clue."

"Okay," Ron said. "I think I speak for both of us when I say we understand the Necromancy stuff, but why the bonding?" His unspoken 'and to Snape of all people' was clearly understood by all. Severus glared at Ron, and Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Harry closed his eyes and took a calming breath.

"As with everything, both living and non, Necromancers' have weaknesses too."

"I thought you just said that you were immune to the killing curse," Hermione asked puzzled. "If that doesn't affect you, what magic could?"

"I am affected by magic, just in different ways from normal wizards. The problem isn't in my magic defense-"

"It's your physical defenses!" Hermione cut him off.

Harry sighed, and Severus barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes. "Yes. Necromancers are very weak to physical attacks. There is also the compulsion to heal." Harry explained once more the problems associated with the compulsion.

"I don't see how a bonding would help," Hermione said confused. "A bonding combines the minds of two individuals and links their life energies together. How does that counteract your weaknesses?"

"The difference that your forgetting is that I am not a normal wizard," Harry corrected.

"What kind of effect does being a Necromancer have on the bonding?" Ron asked leaning forward slightly in curiosity.

"The minds and life energies merge just as in a typical bonding, but the wizard or witch the Necromancer is bonding to takes up a dominant position in the bond. Instead of the 50/50 of a typical bond, the Necromancer only influences about 35% of the bond. The Necromancer's bond-mate is known as the Necromancer's Guardian because that is the typical purpose behind a Necromancer's bond. The Guardian can stifle the compulsion by exerting an influence on the bond." Harry smiled at the dawning looks of comprehension on Ron and Hermione's faces. "Also, the Guardian transfers some of his physical defenses to the Necromancer, and the Necromancer transfers some of his magical defenses to the Guardian."

"How much is your physical defenses strengthened by the bond?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I won't bleed to death from a paper cut now," Harry said dryly.

Hermione and Ron blanched.

Harry rubbed his hands over his face; he was exhausted. "My blood clots now, and my bones have strengthened somewhat. It will be a little harder to break them, but still easy compared to you two."

"Professor Snape? How much has your magical defenses increased?" Hermione asked.

Severus blinked. He hadn't really wanted to stay in the room while Harry tried to explain everything to his friends, but Harry had been worried that they would react like Sirius had, so he had stayed for his bond-mate. He had been expecting to be ignored or blamed. He hadn't expected to be asked a civil and intelligent question. The pause before he answered was small, but noticeable. "The killing curse won't kill me on the first try, but if it is cast twice within the space of an hour, I will die on the second cast."

Hermione leaned back in her chair, staring at the couple pensively. Ron leaned back in his seat as well. He frowned. "Is that," he gestured at Harry and Snape's hands, "An effect of the bond?"

Harry glanced down. Their hands were clasped together. Harry blushed slightly. "Uh, no. I have been attracted to Severus for nearly two years now." He smiled at Severus. "It's just he finally gave in."

Ron gaped. "Two years! And you never told me!"

Hermione laughed. "Well, I can understand why. You are such a prat, Ron."

Ron blinked. "What?" he asked confused.

Hermione sighed and gazed fondly at the two men sitting side by side. "They're in love. Everyone is always cautious about revealing who they love when they are unsure of the other's feelings."

Severus gawked. He always knew the girl was loony! Harry blushed a deep red. "Hermione!"

Ron's eyes darted from the couple to Hermione and back. He sighed and place his head in his hands. "I'm so confused."

"That's normal. Don't worry, I'll explain it all to you again tomorrow," Hermione said and stood. "I'm sure that you'd both like to sleep, so we'll be going now. Come on, Ron."

Ron sighed piteously. "Yes, Mother."

Harry snickered.

***

Harry fell asleep the instant his head hit the pillow. Sleep did not come so easily for Severus. Harry had explained everything to him and to Albus before the bonding, and it had all seemed to make sense. Yet, hearing it again tonight, everything seemed so much more important, more significant. He had never wanted to bond with anyone. His parents had been bonded, and they destroyed each other. The practice had been nearly gone by the time they had started Hogwarts, yet his grandparents had wanted their children bonded. Unfortunately, his parents had hated each other and their bond had twisted. It was his understanding that they had never even liked each other.

Harry was convinced that their bond was pure and strong. Yet, when was the last time that lovers had successfully bonded? There was always a problem, that's why people stopped bonding. The risks outweighed the advantages. If only for a little while, though, Harry would be protected from Voldemort's influence. If their bond were to fall, Harry would be the one to survive… right? Or would they both die?

Severus shifted again, trying to calm his mind and his body. Granger was wrong. He wasn't in love with Harry. To be in love would be to give too much of yourself up to someone else. And that wasn't something he was prepared to do, ever. His eyes opened and focused on the shadowed form beside him in the bed. 'I'm not in love with him. I'm not.'

'I'm not… ever going to tell him.' Severus shifted closer to Harry, relaxing finally as Harry's body welcomed his embrace. 'I'll never tell anyone… not even myself.'

***

TBC…