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AN: This story is a continuation of all those fanfics in which Harry and Severus are forced together by a "Soul Mate" potion (or spell), usually masterminded by Albus Dumbledore. I've never written such a fic myself, but after having read more than my share, this plot bunny just wouldn't let me be. I've chosen to remain true to the variety of fics I'd read which sported this particular plot so Harry is an Auror, Sev is no longer teaching at Hogwarts, and the rest you will find out in due time…

Warning: HP/SS Slash!

He Who Knows Best

Chapter 6:

The following week passed uneventfully as Harry and Ariel attempted to resume their normal routine. Severus was not discussed, nor did he contact them again. Harry had spent long hours revising his reply to Severus' harsh letter, but never felt ready to send off the finished version, for fear of further alienating his husband.

He was angry and hurt, but also knew the older wizard well enough to realize that forcing on a confrontation, at this point, would do nothing but add to his mounting agitation.

Hermione had firecalled several times to make sure they were faring well. She also updated Harry on some juicy gossip regarding other 'Animus Ligare' couples.

Ginny, it seems, had filed for divorce just as soon as the Ministry offices opened for business on Monday. Marcus, her husband, had tried to talk her out of it, but to no avail. It was a good thing she had her brother Bill with her during their last meeting, since Marcus had evidently assumed that if he couldn't convince Ginny with words, he'd let his fists do the talking. Bill was there to defend his sister, which is how her abusive husband landed at St. Mungo's with 12 stitches and a broken nose.

Ron and Susan had chosen to remain together. While the news about the spell gave them an initial shock, it didn't really cause much damage to their relationship. The two had been deeply in love well before the spell had been supposedly cast, anyway.

Blaise and Emily Zabini were currently undecided. The couple did not have any children and they led pretty independent lives, which meant they didn't have much to lose by breaking things off. Blaise had been spending long hours with Draco lately, trying to figure out what his next move should be.

Harry would listen to Hemione's stories and experience pangs of envy towards every one of the couples in question. Even Ginny. Excluding the Zabinis, who didn't seem to be all that emotionally involved with one another to begin with, all of the other couples knew what they wanted. Their future was clear to them and they didn't have to deal with pain or fear of having their lives fall apart.

In a way, learning the truth about the spell had freed many of them from past obligations and allowed them to choose a positive new path in life.

If only he could do that too. If only he could will away his pain, wipe the slate with Severus, forget how much he loves the man, maybe then he could veer his life in a new and exciting direction. But as much as he tried, his thoughts always returned to the same place…he couldn't imagine being happy without Sev in his life, no matter how much the prickly sod was hurting him.

* * * * * * * *

That weekend Hermione and Draco invited Harry and Ariel over for lunch. Though he didn't feel much like socializing, Harry realized his daughter needed a change of scenery and would probably enjoy spending a carefree day with her friend, Troy. As soon as they arrived at the Malfoys Ariel and Troy disappeared into the young wizard's room to play. Harry looked sadly at his daughter, thinking how long it had been since he'd seen the playful, mischievous glint, which had suddenly reappeared in her emerald eyes.

He joined Draco and Hermione in the living room for a chat, while waiting for the paid house elf to finish preparing lunch.

Draco's behavior was making Harry nervous. The man had never been nice or friendly towards him without having a hidden agenda, but that was exactly what he appeared to be doing now. Harry was certain 'Mione had coerced her husband into treating Harry civilly, considering the difficult situation he was in. But when Draco steered the conversation towards Severus' reaction, Harry became curious. He suddenly considered the possibility that the blond wizard might have had contact with his estranged husband.

Merlin, how could I have been so daft? Harry chastised himself inwardly. I bet he knows where Sev is and what he's been up to this past week.

"I must admit that Sev is acting like a right prat, Potter." Draco offered.

"Draco! Can we please talk about something else?" Hermione said to her husband, annoyance written across her face.

"No, 'Mione, that's quite alright." Harry added, "I'm actually intrigued as to Malfoy's take on the subject," and nodded curtly in Draco's direction.

A sneer graced Draco's features for a moment as he looked at his vexed wife, before he continued:

"I've spoken to Severus a few times this week, Potter. He's just so damn angry and feels so betrayed by Dumbledore that he's lost sight of everything else, for now. Every time I feel I'm making a bit of progress with him, he resumes that infuriating cold and distant expression, and I know I've lost him again."

Harry sighed sadly and muttered, "I guess now that he isn't forced to be with us, he has to choose what he truly desires."

Hermione looked like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it and remained silent, whereas Draco replied:

"I don't think that's the case, Potter. I think old Sev is just too blinded by anger at the moment to see things clearly. His feelings for you seem to be linked, in his mind, to the 'Animus Ligare' spell. I'm guessing it will just take him some time to discover that though the spell was a hoax, the feelings it ignited were real."

Harry gave his childhood nemesis a surprised look before saying:

"I hope you're right, Malfoy. By Circe, I hope you're right."

After lunch Harry mustered all the nerve he could and asked Draco directly where Severus was hiding. As can be expected, the blond wizard refused to disclose his friend's whereabouts, though he obviously felt uncomfortable about it.

A moment before Harry and Ariel were about to floo home, Hermione swung her arms around Harry, hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear "You can find him at 'The Unforgivable' in Knockturn Alley". Harry kissed his friend on the cheek, thanked her with a glance, and returned home with his daughter.

* * * * * * * *

With this new information in tow, Harry decided he'd given Severus long enough to deal with his emotions. The children were upset, Harry was hurting, and it was high time to confront him about where their relationship was headed.

After dropping Ariel off at school on Monday morning, Harry apparated to Knockturn Alley. He sought out the dingy inn where his husband was staying, and entered the pub below. He needed a drink to help soothe his nerves, before facing Severus. Twenty minutes later, as Harry was trying to think up a way to find out which room Sev was in, the older wizard made an appearance in the pub. He stalked in, dressed in his usual black robes, his hair tied back at the nape of his neck, looking as stern and aloof as ever. At the sight of his husband Harry cringed inside. He was expecting to find Severus in the state he'd been during his brief visit home. It was easier to accept Severus walking out on him if he knew the man was experiencing extreme stress, but judging from his cool exterior, this didn't appear to be the case. Severus looked as calm and calculated as ever; a fact that only deepened the betrayal and torment Harry was experiencing.

Severus sat down in a corner booth, without so much as a glance around the room. Harry jumped to his feet, cradled his drink in the crook of his arm, and moved swiftly towards his husband's table.

They handsome young wizard's features softened as he caught a glimpse of his husband's expression, upon seeing him. The surprise of having Harry stand before him had overrun Sev's usual control, and for the briefest of moments, the older wizard's expression conveyed a mixture of warmth, happiness, and pain. If Harry had blinked, he would have easily missed it, but luckily for him, he hadn't. The look on his husband's face did wonders to restore Harry's self-esteem as well as his faith in their feelings for one another, which had been diminishing quickly recently.

"Hello Sev" Harry said as he sat down across from his husband.

"Harry" Sev grunted.

"You're looking better," Harry continued.

Severus eyed him intently and remained silent for a moment, before offering dryly:

"I'm sorry for everything."

Sev's apology took Harry by surprise. In their 15 years together, Harry could remember only a handful of times in which he had heard the man apologize to anyone.

Harry wanted to steer the conversation in his chosen direction. He wanted to show Severus that they were both in this boat together, that they'd both been manipulated and lied to.

"So am I, Sev. Albus did a right job on all of us."

Severus twitched and a livid expression graced his face at the mention of Albus' name.

"But does it have to end everything?" Harry added, wistfully.

"I mean it's a huge shock and an even bigger breach of faith, but does it wipe out the past 15 years?" and before Severus could reply, he whispered softly, "It hasn't for me."

Severus attempted to emit his signature snort, but a second glance at Harry's deeply pained eyes changed his mind. He looked into his husband's eyes and said:

"It's not that simple, Harry. None of the 'Animus Ligare' couples were ever offered a choice in the matter. You and I were tricked into a marriage bond that neither of us would have chosen freely. Might I refresh your memory by reminding you that we loathed one another at the time? It took us several years to relate to one another properly. We even had to resort to the use of a potion in order for you to conceive our son."

Harry thought back on all the events Severus mentioned. It was true that neither he nor Severus had taken the news of their bonding well. They'd both been miserable at first and though they tried, could not find a way to overcome the animosity, which had defined their relationship until then. After the war, when the Ministry issued a decree stressing the importance of producing a strong new generation of wizards and witches, requesting that all bonded couples contribute to the cause, both men wanted to comply. The problem was that the only way for a male wizard to conceive is if the bond he shares with his mate is strong, stable, and reliable. If love, trust or intimacy are lacking in a wizard-wizard bond, the only way for them to reproduce is by having one of them ingest a specific potion that 'tricks' his body into thinking the needed bond actually exists. This potion is comprised of extremely rare ingredients, making it very difficult to come by. Severus had slaved away on its preparation for close to six months.

Harry breathed deeply, before replying.

"That was years ago. I remember just how hard the beginning was, but that's all in the past. Granted, we would never have gotten together if it weren't for Albus' manipulation, which let me assure you, I find just as appalling and deceitful as you do. But don't allow your pain and shock to blind you to the truth, Sev. We found one another in the end. It may have taken us a good four years to get there, but we fell in love!

I refuse to sit back and let you forget that part! I love you, Severus Potter-Snape. Do you hear me? I love you just as much as I did when I believed you to be my soul mate. The fact that we were fooled changes nothing about my feelings for you."

Harry's raised voice rang with emotion and sincerity, and Severus found himself unable to reply. Instead, he allowed his husband to lace their fingers together, bring them to his mouth, and kiss Sev's fingers lightly. Severus' was torn inside with feelings of love, passion, and a strong desire to stop all the pain he'd been inflicting on Harry. On the other hand, he still felt crazed with anger and bitterness by what he'd found out about their bonding.

Harry was trying to convince him logically that he should not cast aside their life together. Problem was, for once in his life Severus was following his instincts rather than his head. He was at an impasse, not knowing which direction to choose.

A few moments later Severus pulled his hand back, leaving Harry's cold and empty.

"I do not wish to raise your hopes, Harry, for I am still terribly confused about how to approach that which I am currently feeling. However, I believe it might be time for me to return to our home. It will help our daughter accept that I have not abandoned her, while enabling us to further explore our relationship."

Harry allowed a small grin to show as he nodded.

"Let's go home, Sev."

TBC

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*sob*

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