A huge bunch of thanks to:

texasjeanette, magdelena1, earnest, Sylvanus Snape, flack, Elmindrea-al'Thor, Anarane Anwamane, aryth, Crystal56, Orihara Kaoru, Corgi1, Joy Cutting, Winnie2, the-magic-is-in-you, Kateri1, Venus4280, TommieBoy182, sunny, slytherinsela, nerd-girl!

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…

(Just one more chapter to go!!!)

Warnings: Albus Dumbledore is quite OOC, stemming from old age…and of course HP/SS Slash!

He Who Knows Best

Chapter 9:

The Potter-Snapes were making their way to Hogwarts intent on trying out Luke's new theory. They strode purposefully, each one deep in his/her own thoughts, which varied from facing Albus to proving him wrong, notwithstanding fears of finding out who their true soulmates might turn out to be. In fact, the stress was so consuming that Ariel was weeping silently as she tightened her grip on both her fathers' hands. Luke was in the lead, marching proudly with his family in tow. This was his moment to shine! He was about to show off his meticulously researched conclusions and hopefully, to prove them right. Oh how he hoped and prayed his calculations had been correct. This would not only put an end to his fathers' frustration and discord, but could also catapult him to fame. He would no longer be Luke Potter-Snape, the quiet, reserved son of the Boy-Who-Lived and the ex-spy for the Light. He would be known by his own merit. His achievement would surpass that of Albus Dumbledore's, who had been mistaken when dealing with this particular spell.

Luke chuckled to himself. Okay, perhaps he was getting ahead of himself. After all, it's not as if Albus Dumbledore was some two-bit magician pulling rabbits out of his hat. The old man had been responsible for bringing down Grindewald, after all, but a boy is allowed to dream, isn't he?

* * * * * *

The family reached the large iron gates of Hogwarts and entered hesitantly, unsure of what would follow. Harry was feeling the beginning of a migraine pulse through, as he gently massaged his temple. He wasn't convinced this was such a great idea. And it was just so unlike Sev's normally distrustful and overprotective nature to suggest that they act as their son's guinea pigs. The green-eyed wizard couldn't help but ponder how much they'd both changed over the years. He had to admit it was quite foreign to his Gryffindor nature to be so doubtful and wary of a challenge. When he was younger he would have been the first to try out the new spell, without so much as a second thought. Yet here he was now, a 33-year-old family man, wondering if he was about to lose everything that mattered to him, for the second time within less than two months.

Once they reached the entrance to the castle Luke turned to face Severus and asked in a determined tone:

"Where would you like to do this?"

Harry offered the Room of Requirement as the perfect venue for this particular occasion, but his husband refused.

"We will be testing the spell in Albus Dumbledore's office." He stated, matter-of-factly, his thin lips twisting into an angry scowl, as he mentioned the headmaster's name. The rest of the Potter-Snapes simply gaped at him in surprise, before Harry spoke up.

"Sev, this is crazy. I think it would be wiser to try it out in private before facing Albus."

Severus' expression seemed set in stone and he refused to budge from his stance. So his confused family found themselves following him quietly to the headmaster's office, not wishing to prolong the disagreement, and rather eager to get started on their experiment.

Harry was relieved that they had not bumped into anyone in the hallways of Hogwarts. Since it was a Hogsmeade weekend, most students were off the grounds along with the teachers chaperoning the excursion. The rest of the students must be in their common rooms, or possibly at lunch, for the hallways remained empty.

Not knowing the password to Dumbledore's office, Severus stood in front of the stone gargoyle and knocked forcefully. Harry and the children stood by him, passively, concern evident in their faces. Within a short moment the door opened to reveal the swiveling staircase leading up to the headmaster's room. Severus led his family to confront his former mentor.

Albus was seated in the large puffy purple chair behind his sturdy mahogany desk, wearing his half mooned spectacles and a fluffy purple robe. This unannounced visit must have been caught him by surprise, since a hint of stress seemed to wash over his features before they beamed up at the imposing guests.

"Ah, Severus, Harry, children, I've been wondering when you'd be over for a visit. It's wonderful to see you again." He offered, as he rose from his seat and approached the family.

The tension in the room grew terribly thick, and Luke and Ariel, though not really understanding their parents' somber moods, remained silent, not quite knowing how to behave in this odd situation. They'd never seen their parents look this upset with Albus before, something they found rather unsettling. Both men had cold, rigid expressions on their faces, as they remained glued to their spots, eyeing the headmaster menacingly.

"This is hardly a social call, Albus" Severus hissed, folding his hands in front of his chest.

"Our purpose in being here is twofold, old man. First and foremost, my husband and I believe you are long overdue a piece of our minds regarding the callous and appalling way you've toyed with our lives and the lives of so many others."

Albus shied away as soon as he heard this. He snuck a peak at Harry's face only to be struck by the steely emerald eyes transfixed back at him.

"Our second matter of business is to right a wrong" Sev continued with a sneer. "Our adolescent son believes he's discovered the error in your 'Animus Ligare' spell. We intend to cast it again today, and reveal the truth, once and for all."

A chilling pause followed as Albus stared at Luke, disbelief plastered on his face. He then approached the young wizard, knelt before him and asked in a curious tone: "You've revealed something about 'Animus Ligare'?"

Luke was still confused as to how he should react. This was his surrogate grandfather and his current headmaster, yet his parents seemed quite irritated with him. Luke decided his father would have interrupted had he not wanted him to speak, so he looked straight at Albus and replied shyly:

"I've been researching the spell for quite a while now. In fact, I began as soon as I arrived at Hogwarts. At first I was just trying to understand the intricate calculations behind it, but then, after the anniversary ball, when dad and father told me the spell had produced mistaken results, I totally immersed myself in it, trying to find the loophole that was responsible for the error."

Albus nodded, the usual twinkle returning to his eyes, as he asked the boy to continue.

"I couldn't find anything wrong with the calculations, but this past week the answer just came to me, as I was going over the magical theory involved for the umpteenth time." Luke was starting to get excited again, as he spoke of his new revelations.

"According to your book, you cast the spell using the wizard or witch's wand"

Albus nodded again.

"But the wand has no contact with the soul. It is an external tool that channels our magical power and essence. It would be incapable of revealing the desire or will of our soul."

Silence.

Severus and Harry gazed at Luke proudly as Albus rose to his feet and leaned on his sturdy desk, all the while stroking his long white beard pensively, as his eyes flickered across the room. It was obvious the old wizard was reevaluating the spell and processing young Luke's input.

Before Albus could recover from the apparent shock of the young boy's words, Harry said:

"We're here to try the spell again, with Luke's correction."

Albus turned to face Harry as a wide smile spread over his face. He then turned to Luke and proffered the student his hand: "Your conclusion is most impressive, Luke. I admit I find it quite fitting that I'd be shown up by no other than the son of my two favorite students." As he shook the young Slytherin's hand he peered over at Severus and Harry. Harry was fidgeting nervously, not quite knowing how to respond, whereas Severus remained impassive, unimpressed by Albus' subtle attempt to pacify the angry men.

"Well then, gentlemen" Albus added ceremoniously, "Shall we set up for the spell? I believe I am to be the one casting it, correct?"

Severus glowered at the old man, striding closer to where he stood.

"Not so fast! You will most definitely be responsible for casting this spell. Although neither one of us trusts you in the slightest, we are well aware of the fact that a spell of this magnitude cannot be cast by a wizard who has yet to reach his magical peak. Luke may have been the brilliant mind behind this revelation, but it would harm his magical force to perform the spell.

"However" Severus hissed slowly, accentuating every syllable.

"There is a condition."

Albus' eyes widened in surprise at hearing this.

"And what is your condition, Severus?" he asked calmly.

Severus glanced at Harry before replying, taking his husband's hand in his and offering a tight squeeze.

"Once the two of us have completed the act, one of us will cast it on you."

Gasps were heard from everyone present, including Fawkes, who had awakened to find the conversation around him most enthralling. Then a gleeful chuckle escaped Harry lips, as he mulled over the oh-so-suitable punishment his husband had thought up for the man who had tricked them for so many years. Ariel, who had been frozen with fear until that moment found her dad's reaction relieving, and she joined in with her playful laugh, which was immediately met by Luke's.

Severus and Albus were the only ones not to join in. The potions master continued glaring at his former employer with the same stern expression, as Albus paled before them, exhibiting fear and concern none of those present had ever seen in the aged wizard's face before. He then turned around, slowly, and circled his desk claiming his seat in the purple chair behind it.

"I understand your desire for vengeance, Severus." He began sadly.

"I have wronged you and so many others for years. I have already explained that the deception had occurred with good intentions, but I realize that does not make up for my behavior."

Severus grunted loudly, but Harry gave him a warm look, which requested that he allow the old man his explanations.

"As you both recall, times were bleak and I truly believed the 'Animus Ligare' spell would help in saving our side."

Severus arched his eyebrow and was about to say something, but Harry interrupted him: "Wait a minute. You told us you'd never invented the spell, Albus. You said, in your speech during the ball, that it had been a hoax from the very beginning!"

Albus looked at Harry wistfully and whispered: "An old man trying to cover up his failure, Harry. No more than that, I assure you."

"What are you saying?" Harry persisted, not knowing whether he could trust the man before him or not.

Albus slouched in his seat and appeared smaller and more vulnerable than ever before, as he clasped his hands together on the table, faced the Potter-Snapes and explained:

"I'd worked on the invention of the 'Animus Ligare' spell for over a decade. The idea had come to me during Voldemort's first rise to power. I had read somewhere that binding soul mates to one another strengthened a wizard or witch's natural abilities to such an extent that it could offer our entire side the protection it needed from the Dark Lord and his followers.

"It took me years to come up with the right incantation, the proper magical force, and the necessary setting to perform such a spell. When I finally completed my research I had to face the Ministry and the backlash from the magical community who all believed love spells were unscrupulous mind tricks performed by charlatans. By the time I had convinced them all to allow me to proceed, in order to save us all from Voldemort, everyone had already heard and known of our plan. Anyone was welcome to volunteer, knowing fully well that the spell's conclusions would be binding."

By now Harry and Severus were curious to hear the rest of the story. They joined their children on the large cream-colored sofa across from where the headmaster was seated, waiting for him to continue.

"On the day scheduled for the 'Animus Ligare Act' to take place, I found myself facing one hundred and thirty six anxious witches and wizards, awaiting their fate. You, Harry, were their role model. As soon as word spread about Harry Potter rising to the challenge so many other Hogwarts students volunteered as well.

"I began preparations to cast the spell on the first volunteer – you. But to my great dismay and in realization of my worst fears, nothing happened. I touched the tip of my wand to the tip of yours, said the incantation, and waited for the sparks to fly. I wasn't quite sure of their color, but I knew they should appear. If you recall correctly, Harry, I then asked you to close our eyes while I recast the spell, explaining to you that it hadn't worked because of that missing detail. Once your eyes were closed and nothing changed I realized I must have been wrong about one of the other components of the spell. Problem was, I had a horde of people outside waiting for me to empower them and shield them by bonding them to another. It was a sticky situation and I couldn't afford to dawdle nor to show weakness. So I decided to pair everyone up according to my own intuition and beliefs, just as I'd explained at the ball." Albus let out a small sigh.

"Perhaps it was the wrong choice to have made, but at the time I felt what our side lacked was unity, something to believe in and to gain strength from. I knew that by pretending the spell had been responsible for the findings, I'd be able to offer all of you exactly what you needed in order to face the battles to come."

Once again all those present were quiet as they processed the new information. Though still enraged by Albus' lie, Harry was finding it easier to accept, now that he knew the entire story behind it. After all, no one could argue that the binding ceremony had indeed offered them the sense of security and unity Albus had intended it to. Perhaps it hadn't been the most moral or ethical decision to make, but then again those were difficult times. Sometimes one must sacrifice certain principles and codes of behavior when fighting a battle against evil forces, especially if the final outcome is a positive one.

Severus still seemed to be mulling the new information over in his mind. He then peered directly at Albus and said, in a defeated tone:

"You stole my freedom. Not unlike the Dark Lord had, before."

Albus nodded silently.

"That I did, my boy. I cannot apologize enough."

Severus was still seething. No matter what the intentions behind the deception were, he, Severus Ignatius Snape had been played for a fool. He had been stabbed in the back by his most trusted friend and tricked into binding to a man he loathed.

Well, he had truly despised Harry back then, hadn't he?

The Slytherin inhaled sharply as he sensed his husband take hold of his hand.

So what if he loves him more than life itself now? That's no compensation for the breach of faith he'd suffered.

He then felt Ariel scoot closer to him, as the young girl leaned back against his chest.

And their children. Thanks to that lurid lie he had fathered the two most wonderful, bright, charming children in the world.

Somehow Severus was not quite as angry as he had been before. After all, his life had turned out so different than how he'd imagined, but nevertheless, it was pretty damn incredible. And who is to say that this farce hadn't been his life savor? Chances are he and Harry never would have found one another on their own. Perhaps they all would have perished at the hands of Voldemort, even.

The ambivalent wizard breathed deeply as he inhaled the warmth, love and strength offered by his family. They were everything he could ever ask for and more. For a moment he almost panicked, as he realized how close he had come to losing them, out of sheer idiocy and stubbornness.

So instead of lashing out at Dumbledore, as he'd intended to do, he offered him a glacial look and asked:

"Why now, Albus? For fifteen years you've remained silent, never breathing a word of this to any of us. What possessed you to burst our little bubbles in celebration of our fifteenth wedding anniversary?"

The headmaster, who had recovered from the tension and insecurity previously evident in his manner, resumed his natural stature. He offered the Potter-Snapes a sad smile as he explained:

"I am not getting any younger. I feel my body losing its strength with every passing day. I know my time here is quite limited. This was something I knew I had to confess before moving on. It had burdened my heart and soul since it happened, but I had convinced myself it was for the best. I saw you all accept your mates, slowly and cautiously. I marveled at the lives you'd built together, the children you created, and for a while I allowed myself the luxury of remaining silent, thinking the truth would only lead to misery and confusion."

At this Severus and Harry snorted in unison, causing Albus to chuckle mirthlessly.

"You could say I felt the need to set things straight with you so as not to leave any loose ends when I left. As for the particular timing I chose, it was premeditated. I thought that after fifteen years together your relationships would be solid and secure and the chance of anyone reacting hastily would be slim."

A sharp pang of guilt and remorse washed over Severus, but Harry merely tightened his hold on his husband's hand, assuring him the past had been forgiven.

Harry couldn't help but ask:

"Do you have any idea what you'd put Ginny Weasley through, by binding her to that animal, Marcus Flint?"

Dumbledore lowered his gaze shamefully and replied, pain laced in his tone:

"Had I the slightest clue as to what I'd done to her, I would have removed her from the situation in a swish of the wand! I truly believed Miss Weasley's honesty, strength of character, and easygoing nature would blend well with Mr. Flint's determination and resourcefulness. I severely underestimated his violent streak and for that I will never forgive myself."

Severus decided more than enough time had been spent talking and figuring out the past. It was time to return to the present. The spell must be cast again: first on him, then on Harry, and finally, on Albus. The potions master was quite pleased with the revenge he'd thought up for the old geezer. Old age or not, he'd be spending his remaining days with whomever the spell would select – whether he liked it or not!

A pleased smirk graced the dark haired wizard's face as he rose to his feet, suggesting that they begin…

~TBC~

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