Disclaimer: Credit to JKR, slash implied, mild language
Pairing: HP/SS
Portrait Living
By: Tracev
Harry looked around bewilderedly, clutching Mrs. Norris to his chest. He looked from the Headmaster to Mr. Weasley who still had Ron clutched to his own chest. His friend didn't meet his eyes. Mr. Poe had whipped his wizard hat from his head and was fidgeting nervously in the corner, his eyes darted wildly around the room not meeting his eyes nor anyone else's. Filch stood hunchbacked still lingering in the doorway, his fingers twitching precariously as if he was going to grab Mrs. Norris from him and run.
Harry licked his lips his mouth suddenly felt dry. "Um…um…I still don't understand?" He looked over his shoulder to Ron, who still wouldn't meet his gaze. He swallowed loudly, looking back to Dumbledore for help.
But Dumbledore ignored his question, he instead looked to Ron who was now looking at the floor.
"Ron Weasley, what is your excuse?" Dumbledore's voice sounded harsher then Harry had ever heard.
Ron shrugged his shoulders still looking at the floor.
"Explain yourself boy." Snapped Dumbledore.
Mr. Weasley flinched but didn't stop the Headmasters line of questioning. He dropped his arm from his youngest son, Ron looked back to his father for support. But the lines and creases on Mr. Weasley's face didn't look encouraging.
"I didn't think…sir" he whispered.
"I'm aware of that Mister Weasley. You grew up in a wizarding family, you knew the binding consequences of wedding portraits, did you not Mister Weasley?"
Ron nodded, "I didn't think…that the canvas was enchanted yet."
"Did you think that this wedding canvas sticker in the corner was wrong? Why did you paint Mrs. Norris and Professor Snape along with Harry?"
Ron muttered something incomprehensible.
"Again Mister Weasley".
Harry thought he sounded frighteningly like Snape.
Ron gulped, "it was a joke…the people we…didn't like." His eyes darted to Filch who looked angry and very glad Snape was no longer in the room.
Dumbledore pressed his thin lips together, standing he breathed a heavy sigh.
"Mr. Potter, portraits are done for many reasons." He suddenly redirected his attention back to Harry. "To remember a loved one when they pass on, or because one is well loved; wives, husbands, children, grandparents… or if one accomplished something exceptional in life; Merlin for instance or pervious Headmasters… Then, finally…wedding canvas, to bind a couples life together."
"So because someone paints your picture…as a joke, you become married?" his voice rising sharply in panic.
"Not normally no, but if someone does so on wedding canvas…ah, perhaps I should explain that wedding canvas is weave with spells and charms of hope and happiness for the intended couple. Wedding ceremonies are little more than that but a ceremony. Just a public show so that the family and friends can share in the moment but it is not necessary for a marriage to be complete, just the painting on wedding canvas with necessary spells and charms. It is your wedding ring, so to speak. That is why it is closely monitored by the Ministry of Magic."
Harry held his breath, "I didn't consent to this. I didn't ask for it. This can't be binding, it's the worst portrait ever done. That doesn't even look like Snape. It could be anyone and that gray splat could be any cat."
Dumbledore turned the portrait around on his desk so that Harry was no longer looking at it upside down. He pointed to a subscription on the bottom of the painting, small minute writing in black swirl; Severus Snape and Harry J Potter their pet Mrs. Norris, was etched along the bottom.
"They were the focus of Mister Weasley intent so the charm added their names, as it is suppose to".
Harry moaned stomping his foot once, "but if we rip it up…"
"Its enchanted to re-stitch it's self back together."
"Burn it?"
"Flame resistant."
"All the same I would like to try."
"Its pointless Harry, but do with it what you will. It is yours."
Harry muttered something. Suddenly feeling very tired as if the weight of it all was finally coming down on him. His head hurt, there had to be a way out, a reversal spell or charm. A potion, Snape had to be aware of a potion…
"Divorce?"
"It's binding, no divorce in the wizard world, nor separation. The only thing we can do is see if there is a loophole to get you and professor Snape out of this. There are several book and fellow scholars I will contact to see if we can not get this resolved."
"Mr. Weasley if you could send Harry's things along as he will remain at the school. And I believe your son as well, he will assist me in the necessary research. Boys you may return to Gryffindor tower. Mr. Poe you will remain as well."
They were clearly dismissed. Harry nodded as he headed for the door, he met Ron's eyes for just a moment. He wasn't sure if he was angry with Ron for being so careless or not. He should have known better that much was obvious. He clutched Mrs. Norris a little tighter causing the cat to cry out. The cat swatted up at him scratching his chin as Filch snarled at him pulling the cat from his arms and dashing for the door.
Mr. Poe collapsed in a chair, the day's events clearly having drained him.
The boys followed Mr. Weasley out. Ron turned to face the Headmaster, "What happens if we can't break the bind?" his voice sounded small.
Dumbledore's blue eyes locked eyes with his, "The laws you broke Mister Weasley were very serious. Two of the laws call for your wand to be snapped. The other is life in Azkaban."
Ron nodded "and Harry and Snape. What would happen to them?"
"They would be married, Mister Weasley. The bond would override all common sense and will force them to be close to each other."
Harry gulped, narrowing his eyes at Ron. He certainly hadn't thought of that. A life with Snape. That couldn't possibly be good, a life with the greasy potion master. He felt cold and suddenly very angry with Ron.
Ron and Hermione had always been his guide in the wizard world. His wand hand twitched. He had to stop himself from reaching in his robes and pulling his wand. Ron turned back to them seeing the look on Harry's face he looked back to floor.
They walked in silence back to the dorm, Mr. Weasley left them at the portrait to return home. Harry climbed through into the empty common room and headed toward the stairs and his bed to lay down.
"I'm sorry Harry." Ron called.
Harry didn't turn around, "Just do the research Dumbledore asks of you…" he turned to face Ron, "If you don't…" he didn't finish but rubbed his scar with the back of his hand then turned and went to his room.
***
Harry had very little hope that he would get out of this. His life never had the pleasure of working like that. Ron was not the best student to study in thick old research books. He might as well just move his stuff down to Snapes rooms now and offer it up.
He pulled off his robes and shoes and climbed into bed, pulling the curtains shut around him.
Snape, they would probably kill each other in the first week. He would surely need to learn more shielding charms, he could just imagine the hexes that would fly. And Snape his husband, touching him, he just couldn't imagine that. Those yellow potions stained fingers, that greasy hair, those thin lips. Would he be expected to be a proper husband…with husbandly duties.
Would they be expected to sleep in the same bed? What about school? Damn it Ron better find something tomorrow. Something good to make all this go away.
Harry turned on his side and shut his eyes, trying to get a good mental picture of Snape. Black hair and eyes. He was tall he liked that. He bet Snape was strong, would hold him tightly. Harry shook his head, why was he even thinking about it. Why was he so convinced that his best friend and headmaster weren't going to get him out of this? They would, they had to. Harry drifted to sleep when he felt the weight of cat sink the end of the bed and a soft comforting purr begin.
***
Snape stood in the middle of his rooms with his fists clenched, grinding his teeth. A strand of greasy hair hung in his eyes, he shook with rage. He made to get a drink but stopped mid pour. He turned to sit in his favorite chair but stood back up. His rooms felt as if they were closing in on him.
He headed to his private potion lab, entering and Accio'd his supplies to his workstation. He looked down at the little vials of ingredients with out really seeing them, he tried to surpres the chill that crawled across his skin. He tried to force all thought from his head.
But he couldn't stop it, he was married to Potter. To his hated student, a Gryffindor. He snorted. He couldn't stop the stunted laugh from coming from him, the somber chuckle and then the silence. Potter.
He wound his hands in his hair, pulling his head down into his hands. He stood there a long time, silent, not thinking. Then screamed in frustration and then hurled everything from the wood stained countertop. The vials hit the stone floor, the cauldron sounded against the opposite wall. The ingredients mixed causing small puffs of smoke and sparks of a fire that quickly ignited, then went out of there own accord.
Snape slumped to the floor, leaning against the cupboard, Potter, A Potter. His husband. The emerald eyed little monster. The boy who had grown up, tall, not as tall as he, the black hair had grown out, pale skin, not totally unpleasant to look at.
Snape banged his head back on the cupboard. What the hell was he saying? It was Potter, to say he was the bane of his existence was an understatement. Snape got to his feet, he had to trust that Albus would get this mess straightened out. At least before the bond grew too strong and they were forced… no, he wasn't going to think about it.
But as Snape stood back up regaining control, totally ignoring his moment of weakness and evil little thought popped into his mind. He could have fun with this bond. He could torment Potter with this bond. See how far he could go to make the boy uncomfortable. His precious little husband. A plan began to form, a truly evil little plan and Snape smiled.
TBC
