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 – a soul mate, if you will(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? Understand that a relationship between Harry and Severus will take a while to form. Kissing or any other actions probably won't happen for two or so chapters more.
P.S. I'm SORRY this took so long! Exams are coming up, my mom broke her arm, and the school musical was coming! This chapter is mostly plot building, nothing too romantic, especially since the last one was chock full of it! ^^
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Chapter 9: The End of Summer
It had just been four days after Harry's birthday party and the giving of the eyebrow-raising gift. Harry was just as dumbfounded as everyone else. Why had Snape given such a peculiar gift (for him, anyway)? The day after the party, Harry had gone in search of Snape to thank him again, and maybe ask him about the gift. Did it have a specific meaning? Was Snape finally going to try and be something besides a git to him? But to Harry's displeasure, Snape was no where to be found. Harry even tried knocking on the door of Snape's private chambers. So Harry had no choice but to sit and wonder, and possibly get some homework done.
"Spin and point…spin and point…," Harry spun his wand around clockwise, then swung it upwards, then pointed it at a large stone by the lake. It was a little past lunchtime, and Harry was getting a good start on his Transfiguration homework. The assignment Professor McGonagall had given them had been to practice the wand motions for self-transformation spells and the pronunciations of the spells; at different times, of course. Harry turned to look down at his open text book. A shadow fell across the page.
"Harry, I've been looking for you,"
Harry looked up to see the Headmaster smiling at him, his glasses glinting in the sun.
"Hello Professor."
Dumbledore smiled again, then looked out across the lake.
"What a lovely day it is," he said wistfully, as though he hated to ruin it. Harry braced himself.
"What is it, sir?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Severus is expected back today. I fear that he will bring unhappy news."
Harry started. "What do you mean, coming back?"
Dumbledore looked down at him. "Severus was called," Harry blanched. "I can only hope that he is safe."
Harry nodded and gulped. Actually, what he was more worried about besides the fact that Snape was with Voldemort was the fact that he was so troubled by the idea. Last month he probably wouldn't have reacted at all. Harry chewed his bottom lip as he thought; he was too busy thinking to see Dumbledore smiling.
"How are you, Harry?"
Harry looked back up, unsure of how to answer that question. "I – I guess I'm okay…"
Dumbledore hitched up his vibrant purple robes, then lowered himself down next to Harry on the grass. Harry shifted a bit to give the older man room in the shadow of the tree he had been sitting under.
"Harry, I'm not trying to pry," Harry smiled to himself. "But I am interested as to how your relationship with Severus is progressing." Harry squirmed at the word, 'relationship'.
Harry paused, wondering how to best phrase his feelings without being rude. "Professor Snape is very…erm …hostile…about the whole thing."
Dumbledore chuckled merrily. "Yes, I can imagine."
"But," Harry said hastily, not wanting to cause trouble. "We've been getting on all right lately."
Dumbledore laughed again. "It's all right Harry, I understand perfectly. Severus is not the easiest person to get close too. From what I saw at your birthday, however, you two are much closer than you think."
Harry looked up from the grass that he had been staring at, and watched, puzzled, as Dumbledore gave him one of his secret smiles and stood up and walked away.
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Harry yawned tiredly. He stretched and looked at his wristwatch: it was half past six, and it was getting dark. He might as well go in for dinner. Harry stood up and packed his bag and swung it over his shoulder, a gesture that he had picked up from Hermione. He took one last look at the lake, which was starting to reflect the moon. Harry's gaze shifted suddenly when he saw something suddenly appear at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It looked like a person! Harry began to panic. Was it a Death Eater? Just as he was about to sprint up to the castle, a cloud shifted, allowing the moon to illuminate the stranger. Harry's heart sped up as he recognized the sharp profile of Snape, and he gasped as he fell to the ground. Harry dropped his bag and ran as fast as he could.
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"A – A – amok!" Harry panted. The gargoyle sprang away, and the wall parted. Harry grunted with the effort of dragging his professor through the wall, then slumped against the spiraling stairs.
"Ung…" Harry started and looked down at Snape. He was stirring, and he hissed with pain, his face half obscured by his hair. Harry reached down and pulled back his hair. He felt something wet and sticky, and he pulled back his hand to see blood on the tips of his fingers.
"Professor? Professor, can you hear me?" he asked shakily. An odd feeling was stirring in his stomach. He was practically hyperventilating from the effort of dragging his professor, and panic was making him irrational. He needed these stairs to be at the top NOW!
A cough. Harry looked down, and ran his fingers through the older man's hair, trying to find the wound. "H – Harry?"
Harry sighed in relief. "Yes, it's me. Don't worry, we're almost there…"
Snape coughed again, and Harry winced at the bubbling sound, knowing that he was being choked by his own blood.
"Harry?" Harry looked up at the top of the stairs to see Dumbledore.
"Professor!" He scrambled to his feet, holding on to the collar of Snape's robes. "Quick, Professor Snape's hurt!"
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Dumbledore shouted, lifting his hand. Snape flew out of Harry's grasp and floated upwards and threw the door. Harry hurried after them.
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Severus concentrated with all his might on not crying out. This moment of torture had become routine. Ever since he had returned to Voldemort, he had struggled to keep up the façade of a spy for the Dark. For some reason, Voldemort was suspicious of him yet again.
"Don't lie to me, Snape." The high cold voice hissed. "I have a reliable source that has told me that you were seen with Potter! In Hogsmeade! I have told you time and time again to bring the boy to me if you ever got out of Hogwarts on your own! You have disobeyed me!"
"No," he croaked.
"Liar," the man breathed. "Crucio!"
Severus gasped and fell to his knees. This must have been the seventh time; he couldn't remember any more. His head was pounding from the blow he had received the moment he had apparated, and he retched violently.
"Tell me, Snape!" he sneered. "I know you were with him! Why?"
The pain lessened. Severus gasped, then looked up. "I – needed – to buy ingredients – for the werewolf." He coughed again; he could taste his own blood.
"Why did Potter go with you, Snape? Why was that necessary?" Severus could hear the mocking laughter.
Severus coughed, blood dripping to the ground. Why had he invited Potter to go with him? 'Because,' he told himself. 'Black would have found him and would have found me….' No…a voice said in his frazzled mind. You asked him to come with you…because you wanted him to come with you… you didn't have a real reason did you? Just wanted your soul mate's company? Idiot! Bleeding fool!
Severus was brought back to reality by a blast to his stomach.
"Answer me!"
"Potter's birthday…" he coughed. "Dumbledore was planning it – wanted him away…"
"You are lying, Snape. Potter was born July thirty-first; you were spotted a week prior to that! Go back to Hogwarts. You have disappointed me."
"No – my lord, please! I am loyal to you!" Snape rasped. If he lost Voldemort's trust, that would be the end!
"Oh, you will still be called, Snape, never fear." Voldemort laughed cruelly. "But I will not trust you. Go. Lucius, give him a portkey. If that old fool asks what you have learned…tell him about my plans for Draco."
Snape gasped as Lucius kicked him in the stomach, smirked widely.
"But – if I tell him, he – will – try and interfere-"
"Of course he will, my friend. Can you not see? Draco will claim to be a converted Death Eater, desperate to be saved." Voldemort laughed again, and so did the assembled Death Eaters. "Dumbledore will trust him, and then we will have another spy for us – a true spy!" he finished wickedly. Lucius smiled proudly. It made Severus want to vomit what was left of his stomach.
Lucius thrust the portkey, a black feather, into his hand. "And as for Potter…" Severus was losing consciousness. "Draco will take care of him."
Severus grimaced at Voldemort's tone, and clutched his heaving stomach as the portkey began to work. He felt like he was being sucked into a tornado, and the last thing he remembered was the moon shining overhead before he fell into the dark.
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Harry sat anxiously on a chair outside of the Hospital Wing. It had been over an hour since he had seen Snape fall to the ground. What was happening to him? Harry swallowed. His soul mate…. What would happen if Snape died? Would he never have someone to be with? Harry snorted to himself. He kept forgetting that 'soul mate' didn't have to mean romantic – but
"Harry?"
Harry snapped out of his thought at the sound of Dumbledore's questioning voice. He leapt to his feet.
"Is he all right, Professor?"
Dumbledore gave him a comforting smile. "Yes, he will be fine." Harry sighed with relief.
"It is lucky you found him when you did. Otherwise, we may have been too late."
Harry just nodded, not wanting to think about it. He resolved, at that very moment, that he didn't want to lose his soul mate even if the man was a callous git; he would get to know his soul mate and learn to make the best of this situation no matter what.
TBC
Yes, I know I took forever to get this out, and YES I know it's shorter than all of the previous ones. Sorry about that. I'm not that good at plot building. This was the "turning point" chapter, where Harry's feelings begin to change… – I kept wanting to skip to the Christmas chapter -
Anyway, I would really appreciate understanding from you all (exams, school musical, mom's arm got broken…cut me some slack!) and PLEASE bear with me! School is almost over, and when it is, I'll get chapters out much faster! I LOVE YOU ALL! REVIEW!