Bound To You

Part 2

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR and other miscellaneous big shots I have not taken the time to memorize. I''m honestly not worth suing.

Rating: PG-13 as of yet

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: SS/HP

Summary: A prank results in the bonding of two professors who are notorious for their hate for each other. Could there be any other revenge so sweet? But what happens when the prank backfires?

Harry clutched almost desperately at his coffee mug, trying desperately to ignore the scornful look he was getting from the man sitting close beside him. The bitter liquid was turning his otherwise tense limbs into a quivering mass of mush. And it was exactly what he needed. The morning had become excruciatingly uncomfortable as time had passed. First was the little mishap upon waking, next had come a dilemma while using the bathroom. Suffice to say both had agreed on using cleaning charms until further notice. Trying to shower together would have done neither a great deal of good. After Albus had come by with the news that the students responsible hadn't yet been caught right before breakfast, the tension in the air had seemed to worsen still. The looks he was receiving from Snape were starting to make his stomach broil with unease and he savoured every little relief he was given. Which included the caffeine that was currently making its way through his system. Yes, he rather thought there'd be much coffee abuse from now until the end of their bonding period.

He shifted carefully, trying to ignore the annoyed sigh from the man beside him. He was completely going out his mind with boredom. There was absolutely nothing to do that wouldn't set Snape's anger against him, and despite the fact there would be no physical attacks, Snape was just as vicious when it came to verbal attacks. As thick skinned as Harry had become over the year, he did not like the thought of being on the wrong end of one of the dour mans scathing comments.

No, small talk was definitely not something to consider. Leaving the room would probably be even worse. Harry was sure that if they even stepped a toe outside those doors they'd find themselves the subject of well over a dozen photos which would promptly find themselves in the hands of the Daily Prophet and other miscellaneous wizarding papers.

No talking and no going outside.

This left them where they were. Sitting together silently, in Snape's rather depressingly comfortable sitting room and trying to pretend they were anywhere but in this situation.

Harry nearly jumped when the velvety voice of his companion broke into his contemplation.

"I don't know about you, Potter, but I think a few guide lines might better be set down."

"Guide lines?" he repeated cautiously. "What sort of 'guide lines'."

Snape's lips seemed to twist as he looked at Harry with an expression that said quite plainly 'isn't it quite obvious.' With a long-suffering sigh, he leaned forward and continued to clarify. "Rules, you could say. No overtly personal attacks against the other. No insults on personal taste or appearance. We'll be as courteous to each other as the situation allows and we'll avoid arguments as much as is possible."

"Sounds like the truce Malfoy and I had in seventh year," Harry responded, almost amused with these 'rules.'

"You could consider this a truce, though I find it unlikely to last nearly so long as the one you and Mr. Malfoy so impulsively jumped into." He paused, studying Harry a few brief moments. "I fully expect things to go back to the way they have been the moment this spell has run its course."

Rolling his eyes, Harry nodded. "I don't think you have much to worry about, there. There's nothing that you could possibly do to change anything. I suppose we should just be glad they didn't use the permanent version of the spell."

"Heaven forbid."

"Kind of leads me to wonder what would have happened if this wasn't temporary. Do you think we really would have had to get married?"

"I try not to think upon such things, Potter. Though knowing the headmasters demented sense of humor, I can't find it in me to doubt it."

"Now that's a scary thought."

And it was. For a brief moment Harry stopped to contemplate the thought of a marriage between he and Snape. He shuddered. No, definitely not a pretty thought. And judging from the look on the Potions Master's face, he wasn't the only one who thought so.

"So," he spoke haltingly, trying to rid himself of the mental image of their not-so-happy matrimonial bliss. "Since we seem rather stuck with each other, what is it do you think we should spend our day doing?"

Snape's eyebrows shot expressively into his hairline, showing his obvious surprise at actually being asked. Still, the man didn't comment on it, no doubt aware of the limits that had just been set. "Leaving these rooms is completely out of the question. I must admit there isn't much to do in here. I would suggest a trip to my lab, but that leaves you with little to do but encumber my work."

"No potions, then." Harry was more than relieved. He'd been half expecting that exact thing for an answer.

"Also, nothing involving separating. That leaves us at a loss, I'm afraid."

Harry nodded and flopped back against the couch. No. There was absolutely nothing to do and really, he'd grown tired of counting the square panels that covered the ceiling. He'd already studied what had once been the mystery of the Potions Master's chambers. It wasn't anything extraordinary. Comfortable as opposed to the torture-like setting he'd expected, with it's forest green wallpaper and wooden panelling. It was far from flamboyantly cheerful, but it was something he could grow used to coming home to every night, especially with that fire crackling in the background.

Not that he particularly wanted become used to coming home to Snape's rooms every night, just that he could live with it for the next month. He had to. Snape had already refused to use his room, especially with how close it was to Gryffindor tower. As stubborn as he was, the older man was even more so and he'd given in as the argument had gone on far longer than he had cared for. All things considered, this was probably the best place for them to be. The dungeons were the most secluded areas in the school and Harry supposed it was less likely for them to be spotted down here than in any area on the other floors.

That didn't mean he had to like it, though. Yes, he would stay here out of necessity, but that's as far as it

went. No, he would not admit to finding himself feeling almost content.

"We could find something to read," he offered distractedly, trying to rid himself of the mood that overtaken him. "I've seen you with a book more times than I care to count and I can't see how that can't be at least partially a personal hobby. Can't say as I don't enjoy reading myself."

"A rather... accurate observation coming from you."

The sting that would have usually come with those words was obviously missing and Harry merely ignored the half-attempt at baiting him. His emotions were in a turmoil of confusion and he did not want to add blind fury to that.

"I'm not always a blind idiot, Professor. Sometimes I do notice things outside of what's glaringly obvious."

"So you do admit to being a blind idiot most of the time?"

"Not at all, just that I'm not as infallible as two thirds of the wizarding world would like to believe." He stood, dragging Snape with him so the man couldn't respond to the comment as he no doubt wished to, and began tugging him towards the bookshelf. "Now, I think I should be able to find something in your collection. I remember seeing you with a Dark Arts book that had caught my eye. I wasn't able to find the title in any book stored I visited afterward."

Snape seemed distracted enough by the last part to forget, or at least ignore the first. "Not unlikely. Many of my books have long since been out of print. Or never were in print. Some are bare manuscripts without much hope of ever being published. The Dark Arts has always been a well-liked subject and there are certain restriction on the publication of some topics."

"Ah.. That would explain it."

The ministry had been scanning Dark Arts books for generations, getting rid of anything that may be considered Unforgivable. There was a very thin line between Unforgivable and Dark and even then, the line would blur into something else entirely. The problem with the system they used was that a lot of grand findings were lost in the process. Almost any spell could somehow be used to harm, but there was a select few that had been created to harm that could also be used to set things right. It was in these cases that the wizarding world lost what could have been advantageous.

Scanning the titles carefully, pulled one from the shelf titled Inside Into the Unforgivables. He had no real idea what lay between the covers, but it sounded interesting enough. Reluctantly pulling his eager eyes away from the extensive collection, he turned back to the warm presence at his side. Snape was studying the shelf a little more leisurely than he had, taking his time in his choice. As he owned the books, Harry couldn't much blame him. It was likely the man had already read through everything he owned.

Finally, he pulled a well-loved, leather bound book from the top shelf and gestured for Harry to go. It was disconcerting how normal walking side-by-side with their shoulders and hips touching had become.

They settled down again, still touching, though this time without the rigid discomfort that had come with the tension. They had seemed to have come to an agreement, even without officially discussing it. Harry knew full well this quiet would only last for so long. There was only so long anyone could last practically locked up with someone you disliked with only reading to pass the time. The moment boredom set in and they became even remotely used to this they'd be at each others throats again.

To Be Continued

Shade: This chapter has been complete for quite some time. Four, perhaps five months. Unfortunately my beta decided she didn't like the HP fandom any more and never told me so until quite a while after I'd sent this to her. I'm rather less keen on the whole thing than when I first started and I can't honestly say if I'll ever get around to writing the entire fic out. Still, I will endeavor for as long as it still holds some interest to me.