Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Potter Universe. It all belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling, who, I might add, is a genius! I only like to force the characters to do things they would never do without the assistance of chemical substances!!!!
Pairing: Harry/Severus …. If this freaks you out, then PLEASE don't read any further, I don't really appreciate reviews telling me how sick I am, okay? P.S. Harry is underage, even in the U.K. okay? He's in his 5th year in this fic, but don't worry, it doesn't get really heavy for a while…maybe not ever, because I don't have much confidence in writing naughty scenes like that. -
Summary: Harry tries a blood magic potion to better understand his summer potions homework, but mixes up the name with another potion that binds the drinker to his or her most compatible match in ability(not necessarily romantic, for instance, siblings are often bonded). Guess who Harry gets bonded with?
Spoilers: All the books, especially the 4th one, so if you haven't read it, well, you'll find out what happens.
Author's Note: Yes, I know there are several fics out there just like this one, but I just wanted to write my own and maybe get a few nice reviews, so give me a break okay? And I've changed the rating to R for increased cursing in later chapters and naughty thoughts… and understand that a relationship between Harry and Severus will take a while to form. Kissing or any other actions probably won't happen for a while. Some of you may think that Snape's too mean in this chapter, but come on guys! Snape is not going to suddenly love Harry. He's not the nicest guy in the world. You know the old saying, "it will get worse before it gets better"? That's how I imagine Snape reacting to being bonded with Harry – he'll dislike him more before he likes him.
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Chapter 5: The Dreaded Outing and Bad Memories
Harry mentally cringed as he sat down for breakfast the next day. He could feel the heavy weight of the stares he was receiving from many of the professors; Dumbledore had told the rest of the faculty at dinner last night. He didn't dare look at Snape, who had gone from screaming angry maniac mode to a contemplating, intense mode. He, like the rest of the staff, kept his eyes on Harry for longer than was necessary. It seemed that the question that everyone seemed to be thinking was 'how could they be soul mates?'
Harry's lowered head jerked up as the Great Hall doors opened. He groaned when he saw Professor Trelawney gliding toward him.
"Good morning Sybil," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "It is so nice to see you!"
"And you, Headmaster." She sighed mistily. Her magnified eyes swept the table and came to a shuddering halt as they saw Harry.
"My dear boy," she sighed. "The fates have informed me that your soul has found a mate in Professor Snape!"
Harry nodded. Professor McGonagall tutted.
"Ah!" she cried suddenly, bringing the back of her hand to her forehead. "Alas, this predestined union escaped my well trained eye! I am shocked that I did not sense the strong attraction that your souls share for each other sooner."
Harry looked stonily back at here. It didn't surprise him one bit.
Professor Trelawney shut her eyes, sighing. She held out her arm and wiggled her fingers at Harry, then at Snape. "Aha!" She cried. "There it is now!" A few teachers tittered quietly.
Snape stood up. "I wish to be excused." he said curtly. He looked at Dumbledore. "Send for me when you are ready." He threw a quick, emotionless glance at Harry, before turning on his heel and walking quickly from the room.
"Clearly, my probing of his soul disturbed him." Professor Trelawney whispered, then lowered herself into his vacated seat, and began to eat.
"I think it disturbed everyone." Professor McGonagall said wryly. Harry smiled to himself as he finished his eggs. At least the mood had been lightened by Professor Trelawney's antics.
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Twenty minutes later, Harry was waiting in Dumbledore's office for Professor Snape and Professor Carroll. From what he had gathered from Hermione in third year, Professor Carroll was female, and quite young. She had been a Hufflepuff when she was at school, and was an excellent teacher. He hoped that she and Snape got along, because Dumbledore wasn't coming on this trip to keep Snape's temper at bay, which was usually tested by being around nice people, who Professor Carroll undoubtedly was.
He already knew they were traveling by a portkey, which was lucky because Harry didn't think he could handle another car ride with his new soul mate.
Harry had tried to dress in his best clothes, so that he didn't look like a complete ragamuffin in London. He had his jeans on of course, with a white, long sleeve t-shirt that he had gotten from Dudley when he was six. It now fit Harry perfectly. Harry looked down at his shirt and smoothed out the wrinkles when he heard approaching footsteps. The door opened to reveal Professor Snape. Harry gulped.
The man was wearing black slacks again, this time with a soft looking blue button up shirt. His hair hung in a loose ponytail, and a few strands in the front framed his face. The usual sneer was in place as he stalked in the room, looking around for the third member of their party.
"She's not here yet." Harry said.
"I can see that, Potter, I'm not blind," he snapped. Harry scowled.
"You don't have to talk to me like I'm scum do you?"
Snape looked down at him, and gave him his best 'I-Think-You-Are Scum' glare. "Well, excuse me Potter. It's rather difficult not to, when you address me with the same scorn in your voice."
"I do not!"
Snape grinned with malice. "Petulance, then."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, then shut it quickly. He settled for glaring.
Snape raised an amused eyebrow. "See? There you go with that childish sulking." Snape's amused face changed to a nasty scowl, and his voice gained a harshness that Harry hadn't heard since that day in 3rd year when he was caught near the witch statue. "Maybe I wouldn't be so rude to if I wasn't suddenly stuck, against my will I might add, to a foolish, gangly brat who has yet to reach puberty!"
Harry gasped. He could feel his face heat up with embarrassment and anger – Harry hated to admit it, but the fact that he wasn't as developed as the rest of the boys in his year was quite a sore spot – one that Snape didn't mind exploiting. There was a faint pricking in the corners of his eyes, and he quickly blinked them away. How could this be? How could he share a soul with his man? It was impossible! Snape's eyes glinted with triumph, and Harry looked away at Fawkes, who was currently sleeping.
The door slid open again, and Harry looked up to see a kind-faced young woman with straight brown hair enter the room.
"Professor Snape," she nodded at him, then turned to look down at Harry. "Hello Harry," she said. She had a gentle, understanding tone, and her honey brown eyes were smiling. "I don't believe we've ever met." She held out her hand and Harry shook it quickly, hoping she wouldn't notice the unshed tears in his eyes. Unfortunately, Professor Carroll was one of those extraordinary people, who were always aware of other people's feelings.
"Harry, are you all right?"
"Oh, it's nothing." Harry smiled embarrassingly and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "Just a bit of dust." He looked up and gave her a close-lipped smile. She nodded, but looked up at Professor Snape with hard, suspicious eyes. Harry didn't look at him, but if he had, he would have seen that Snape wore that same expression when he told him about sleeping in the cupboard.
"Well then," Professor Carroll said quietly. "Shall we go?"
Harry and Snape both nodded. Professor Carroll reached into her pocket and pulled out three hair bands.
"They all deliver to the same place," she explained. "But Professor Dumbledore wanted us each to have one in case of an emergency." She glanced at Harry as she said this and Harry knew she was talking about Voldemort. "All you have to do is say 'Transportum' and the portkey will transport you back to this room."
She passed out the hair bands, and they each put them on their wrists. Professor Carroll looked at her wristwatch. "Any second now…" The watch beeped. "Right," she said smiling. "See you in London."
Harry felt the tug in his stomach, and he was pulled forward, a whooshing sound in his ear. 'Don't think about it, don't think about it…' The sensation was bringing back snapshots of memories, and Harry shut his eyes tight. It didn't really help.
Harry's feet landed, and he fell to the ground. Pain shot through the back of his head. He opened his eyes, expecting to see sunlight and streets, but instead it was dark and he was in a cemetery. 'What?'
A hand reached out for him, and he took it. He was pulled to his feet and he looked up to see Cedric, eyes wide and empty. Harry gasped and let out a low moan. No please no, not again.
"Harry…"
"No!" Harry pulled his hand away and fell backwards. This was not happening, this couldn't be happening!
"Harry!"
Harry opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground. Snape and Professor Carroll were looking down at him with panicked looks on their faces. Harry blinked and sighed in relief; it hadn't really happened.
"Harry, are you all right?" the concerned voice of Professor Carroll floated above him.
"Of course he's not all right!" Snape snapped. He reached out and hauled Harry up into a sitting position. A wave of nausea hit Harry's stomach and his head hurt.
"Wha – what happened?" Harry asked, blinking his eyes to see clearly.
"You fell. You hit your head on the ground." Professor Carroll said quietly.
"Oh, I –I was remembering last year…" Harry muttered. "The portkey…at the tournament-" Snape held up a hand to silence him.
"Of course, Potter. No need to explain." Again, Snape grasped his forearm and hoisted him to his feet.
"Thanks." Harry muttered, feeling extremely embarrassed. He'd lost it in front of Snape, who, not only didn't like him, but thought he was an undeveloped little boy. Could it get any better?
"Are you sure you're all right Harry? We can go back to Hogwarts if you wish."
Harry looked up into the woman's kind face and thought it over. Honestly, he wasn't really looking forward to this because of Snape, but on the other hand, he did want new clothes…
"I should be fine," he said. Behind him, Snape groaned. Harry scowled. He'd had enough of this.
"What's the matter Professor?" Harry asked, looking innocently over his shoulder. "Not feeling up to it? I guess at your age, everything seems so tiring."
Snape looked livid. Harry smirked. He couldn't help it; the man deserved it after what he said! Two can play the age game.
"I assure you, Mr. Potter, I possess an ample quantity of stamina to last though any amount of strenuous activities." The older man said silkily. Professor Carroll coughed. Harry blinked. Was that a suggestive remark? Harry quickly turned to look at Professor Carroll.
"Well. Off we go then," Professor Carroll had an odd sort of smile n her face, and she led them out of the alleyway into the packed streets of London.
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"Here, this one, try on this one!"
Harry sighed as he grabbed yet another shirt from the hand poking through the changing room curtain. Once they had actually found a good store, Professor Carroll had transformed into a shopping fanatic. She seemed to think that Harry was some sort of doll that she could dress up and play with.
"Harry, what do you think of these? Try these!" Her hand passed through a pair of designer jeans.
Harry sighed again. He hoped another assistant wouldn't yell at them. Earlier, a young lady with a tight blonde bun and thick black glasses had told them quite sternly that only five items of clothing could be in the room at a time. Snape had scared her off with one of his famous 'You-Are-Taking-More-Than-Your-Fair-Share-Of-Oxygen' glares – at least he was good for something.
The changing room he was currently in was spacious with a long mirror for him to observe himself in, and the floor and bench was covered with clothes that had been tried on or were waiting to be tried on. Harry found out quite quickly that he looked – well, pretty darn good. He could pull off any color except bright yellow and orange. Pants looked good on him, baggy or tight. Shorts, t-shirts, sweaters, button-ups, tanks… anything! This was so exciting, how could any body not like shopping?
"Harry! I think you should show Professor Snape those jeans! They're just fabulous!"
Harry blanched. His new found self esteem flew out the window.
"Um…" he said, fidgeting as he looked at his reflection. "I don't think he wants to. No, I know he doesn't want to."
"Of course he does! Don't you professor?"
A grunt. "I beg your pardon?"
"See?!"
Harry looked in the mirror. A skinny boy in tight jeans and a clingy black sweater looked back at him. No way was he showing Snape! He'd laugh, or sneer, or-
"Oh c'mon Harry! You look like a supermodel fresh off the run way!" Professor Carroll called through the red curtain. The more they shopped, the younger Professor Carroll seemed to get.
"No I don't, I look-" Harry never finished his sentence because a hand came flying through the curtain and yanked him out. Harry let out a protesting whine, but it was too late.
Snape was sitting in a chair in front of the changing room, apparently waking up from a doze. He sat up straight as Harry stumbled into view. Harry gulped and immediately felt his face heat up. This was so embarrassing.
Snape raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms and legs as he surveyed Harry. Harry tried not to notice the fact that one of his professors, now his soul mate that also happened to think he was zilch, was looking him over. Harry waited for the brutal comment to come.
"Hmmm." Snape said.
'What? Oh, not that blasted hmmm again!' Harry wrinkled his forehead in distaste. He hated that. Now he wouldn't know what the man thought.
"Oh come now, Professor, you can say more than that!" Professor Carroll said, smiling. "What do you think of your soul mate? Doesn't' he look simply gorgeous?"
Snape's lip curled. "Quite."
Harry blushed, and looked down at his feet.
"Great!" Harry was shoved back through the curtain. "Harry, pick everything you like, and I'll get them paid for. Is there anything else you need?"
"Erm…" Harry blushed again. "Well, I need, um, new boxers."
"Oh! Well, I think I'll let Professor Snape help you with that!"
"That was unnecessary!" Snape's voice said harshly. "Albus made it clear to you all that this was not a romantic partnership!"
"Oh, I know!" Professor Carroll answered. "I just meant, because you're a man."
"….Oh. Of course."
Harry wanted to crawl into a hole and stay there for the rest of his life. This was beyond embarrassment. This was mortifying.
TBC
Hey all! How'd you like? This chapter could have been better, but I'm leaving tomorrow for Spring break and the war with Iraq is coming, which is really freaking me out, so it was kind of rushed.
Hey, has anyone noticed that Snape says "Hmmmm" when he wants to avoid answering a question? Hee hee! Professor Carroll has it right! I certainly wouldn't mind my own Harry doll that I could dress up (and down! ::evil grin::) and play with! And what did you think of Snape? He's being a little meanie isn't he? The part when Harry is not quite crying – the reason Snape has that little contemplative look on his face is because he's wondering how Harry is such a good actor about his emotions, and it disturbs him because he thinks Harry is a little too good at it.
Yes I think Harry has low self esteem about his looks, which will come into play an awful lot. In the books, people always make comment about how little Harry is, and even though he gets taller in every book, comments are still made, and Harry's a wittle sensitive…Oh I wish I could hug him!
Ok, serious issue – I wanted to do this whole story in Harry's point of view, just like the books. But I sometimes find myself dying to put the readers into Severus' head – like before. So, what is your opinion on that? Should I just keep to Harry's pretty little head? Or take a turn in Snape's?
The next chapter will be out by March 30th. Give me feedback people! I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!