Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. Only the events in this story are my own.
When breakfast was over, Harry bid farewell to Ron and Hermione, who were not arguing anymore; Harry guessed that Ron had convinced Hermione to write the essay for him. Laughing to himself, Harry slipped into the side hallway and waited for the rush of students to pass.
Professor Snape appeared before him, tall and menacing. "Come with me, Potter," he snarled. A group of second-years squeaked in fear and hurried away from the professor. As they scuttled past, Snape winked at Harry. The two of them walked through the hallway toward the stairs.
"S'more," said Snape as they reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"That's not really a candy though, is it?" Harry asked as the door swung open.
Snape stepped onto the moving staircase, helping Harry up with him. "I don't know. I have never had one."
The door closed as the staircase carried them to the top. "This summer," Harry told Snape, "I'm taking you camping. We'll have tons of s'mores."
Snape put his arm around the sixth-year. "Of course."
The staircase slowed down, and the door swung open. Harry and Snape walked out into the large, spacious office.
"Hello, Severus, Harry," said Dumbledore, putting down the graham crackers and closing the jar of chocolate. "Please sit." He waved his wand; two red armchairs appeared instantly before his desk.
They sat down. With another wave of Dumbledore's wand, the desk was free of food. Dumbledore leaned forward, propping his elbows on the desk.
"Harry, Professor Snape has requested that we meet."
"Yes, Professor," Harry said quietly.
"He did not tell me the details, but I think I can surmise what has passed between you." Dumbledore sighed. "You must realize that this should never have happened."
Snape lunged forward in his chair. "Professor, this was not Harry's fault!"
"I understand, Severus. Yet you and I both know that teachers must never approach students." He turned to Harry. "Did Professor Snape seduce you?"
Harry gasped; Snape gave a shout of anger. Dumbledore waved them to silence.
"Harry, I know that this is uncomfortable for you, but I must know what happened before we proceed."
"No," said Harry angrily.
"You must answer my question, Harry," Dumbledore went on. "Do not worry about offending me."
"I think that that was Harry's answer, Professor," Snape cut in acidly.
"You mean that you willingly -"
"We drank a Soul Potion," Harry blurted out. There was silence. Dumbledore looked stricken.
"You drank a Soul Potion?" he asked at last. "Severus, what in Merlin's name were you doing?"
"Sir, if you think that I brewed that thing myself, you are horribly mistaken. I had never seen a real Soul Potion before last night. Even then, I did not recognize it, as it was mixed with one of my normal potions. Last night, I took my Awakening Draught and gave Harry a Warming Brew. I had no idea that we were consuming anything else." Snape ran a hand through his hair, looking visibly distraught.
Dumbledore blinked several times. "And has the potion been activated?"
"Yes," Snape said.
Harry interrupted. "What do you mean by 'activated'?"
"Once the drinkers of the Soul Potion touch one another, the spell cannot be undone. Until they touch, if they are kept apart, there is hope for an antidote." Snape looked at Harry.
"Can't you do anything, Professor?" Harry asked Dumbledore.
The headmaster, looking older than usual, shook his head. "I'm afraid not. No cure for the potion has been discovered. There is usually little need for any; the Soul Potion is so difficult to brew that it is only used two or three times every century. This case is . . . extremely unusual."
"It would be great for bad marriages," mused Harry. "You just drink it, and poof! You love your wife, she loves you, and everyone's happy."
Snape laughed. Dumbledore gave a wan smile.
Harry looked at them. He suddenly wanted to cry. "So, then, what should we do?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Obviously, we cannot risk Voldemort -" he ignored Snape's pained hiss at the name - "finding out, or he would try to use you aganst each other. I have no wish to keep you apart, for you are now soul-mates, but I would also hate to put either of you intentionally into danger." He rubbed his temples. The daylight shining through the high windows glinted off his glasses frames.
"If you truly want to be together," he continued after a few moments, "I cannot stop you. But I must command you now: let no one know of your relationship. Stay at arm's length during classes, and do not speak to one another unless you must. If you want to meet, do it always in secret - you may use the Room of Requirement for that purpose, but never when others expect you to be elsewhere. If you want to employ a secret means of communication, always destroy the evidence. No one, no one may know! When the war is over, perhaps, you can live together in peace; until then, obey the directions I have given you here."
Harry closed his eyes tightly. Snape took his hand and spoke for them both. "We will do as you tell us, Headmaster."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. You may leave."
They rose together and began to leave. As they reached the door, Harry turned around to see Dumbledore watching them. "Good luck," murmured the old man as the door to the revolving staircase opened again.