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Drop by drop Harry watched, as his recently worst nightmare was unveiled. He closed his eyes, the name on the parchment burned into his retinas.
He laughed.
He laughed out of pure desperation. His supposed soul mate was none other that Hogwarts own potion master, Severus Snape. He shook his head, and laughed again, this time out of pure insanity.
He couldn't stop laughing.
The noise he was creating attracted the headmaster and Snape's attention. Snape raised his eyebrow at the seemingly mad young man in front of him.
"Problem, Potter?" He drawled.
Between gasps of air and still laughing, Harry pointed at the other wizard. "Y-you..." He clutched his sides and wiped his eye. "You..." He really needed to get his laughing under control, he couldn't breathe."
"And what, Potter, may I ask is so funny about me?" He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the hysterical wizard, who was at this point taking great gulps of air trying to control himself.
Harry motioned to the booth in front of him that he had just vacated, his expression now stony. "Why don't you see for yourself, Professor?"
Snape passed by the young man and went into the booth only to come out moments completely livid. If looks would kill, Potter would be toast.
"If this is your idea of a joke," he hissed, "I will make sure I deliver you myself to the Dark Lord, do you understand?" He spat. Harry just looked calmly into the face of the irate professor. "If you don't believe it, sir, why don't you redo it then?" Snape glared. "I think I will."
Dumbledore walked over to where the two stood. "Gentlemen, whatever seems to be the matter?" He asked.
"Potter, here." Snape spat. "Seems to have done the impossible and screwed up his results,...we were just about to re-run the test."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, continue then, I'll wait here to record the results." He twirled his bright pink quill, his eyes twinkling.
The potions master grabbed a new potion and parchment. He set the potion in the holder, uncorked it and pulled out the pin. "Your hand, Potter." Harry calmly offered his left hand. Snape grabbed the offered hand and roughly pulled him over next to the table. He took the pin and sharply jabbed it into the index finger and squeezed three drops of Harry's blood into the vial. The potions master briefly applied pressure to the wound with one hand, while he recorked the vial and shook it up with his other hand. He released the hand that was in his and placed the vial back into the holder. Harry took a deep breath as the older wizard took the dropper and filled it with the potion.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Harry asked him softly.
Snape glanced at him, confusion was shown on his face before his mask slipped back into place and he glared. "Afraid to be caught at your games, Potter?"
The-boy-who-lived shook his head. "Suit yourself, continue then." He closed his eyes and turned from the other man. He turned back with a blank look moments later when he heard a sharp intake of breath from the stoic man. Their gazes met for a moment before the headmaster broke it by clearing his throat, both wizards' heads snapped toward him.
"Well, I must say, this is unexpected." Dumbledore wrote something in his ledger. "Now if you two will just join hands." The two younger wizards eyed each other wearily. "Sometime soon would be advisable, gentlemen." The two reached out to where the tips of their fingers were barely touching. "Come now." The headmaster chided. "You need to join hands, both of them."
They did, and as the headmaster started chanting a spell in Latin, a light silver mist rose from and circled the two. The mist stayed for a few moments after Dumbledore finished before absorbing into the joined wizards.
"I believe." The headmaster stated. "That you shall manage just fine, why don't the two of you go and get to know each other better. Harry, your things will be sent down to Severus's rooms shortly, and may I be the first, gentlemen to offer my congratulations, and wish you both many years of happiness together."
The potions master, realizing he was still holding the-boy-who-lived's hands, let go as though he was holding a hot coal, and turned to leave. He opened his mouth to say something only to snap it closed when the headmaster interrupted.
"Don't forget...the bond must be consummated within twenty-four hours."
Harry closed his eyes as he counted backwards, trying desperately not to hex the old man severely.
"Come, Potter, I don't have time for your hysterics." Snape barked and left the room with his robes billowing out behind him.