This is only a very short chapter, but I thought you'd appreciate having it quickly rather than waiting for me to write a longer one, which could potentially take a while since I have an assignment to write this week…
Once again, thanks to everyone who reviewed, it's kind of overwhelming actually – I'm used to writing CSI stories where I get a lot less reviews and a lot less quickly! Particular thanks to people who have given suggestions and ideas, some of which I am thinking of using, and one of which was the basis for this chapter (albeit significantly altered) – so thanks Opal.
(Oh and if there's anyone reading this who also reads my CSI fics… don't fret, Role Reversals isn't dead, it's just in hibernation while I figure out where to go with it.)
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Harry quietly murmured the password and entered Snape's quarters. It felt wrong, just coming in without asking like this, but the almost-consciousness of the slavery bond would be highly unlikely to respond well to him knocking. In actual fact, a master was not supposed to seek out his slave at all, rather the reverse, but summoning Snape to the Gryffindor common room would be sheer cruelty with all his housemates in there, and to go to a third location would be idiocy when he could just save time and come straight here.
The living room was about what he had expected; fairly dark, with a fair amount of books and similar items neatly organized on large shelves – probably alphabetically or by subject matter or some such, he could not imagine Severus Snape just shoving them in any old place – and leather armchairs arranged around a low wooden table.
He called out, and after a pause lasting a few seconds, there was the sound of footsteps coming from the bedroom. The slave emerged, bowing low and murmuring "Master," concealing his own feelings about the intrusion into his personal space and thanking whatever deity there might be out there that he had already finished getting changed when Potter called for him. A slave was not allowed privacy from his master, not allowed to conceal his owner's property from him.
"I'm sorry to just come in here like this," said Harry quietly, "but Hermione's come up with some good news in her research, and I thought you should know."
Snape looked at him, for the first time since the spell had been cast feeling some measure of hope. Oh, he doubted even the Wonder Girl could have found a way to free him, but even the smallest bit of good news would be welcome right now.
Harry lowered himself into an armchair, and gestured permission for Snape to sit also. The potions teacher gritted his teeth: had Harry forgotten that he could not sit on a chair whilst being addressed by his master? He silently lowered himself onto his knees, watching as the other man closed his eyes in pain at the act. Although Severus was among the minority who found kneeling comfortable, it still hurt him to have to show his subservience in such a way.
Harry said nothing about the kneeling however, choosing instead to get straight to the purpose of his visit. "Hermione thinks that because you saved my life two months ago, and on a number of occasions before that, I owe a life debt to you. I know I've saved your life a time or two as well, but she says it doesn't matter, it just means we had a bond between us before Voldemort cast his spell. And according to the book she's been reading, it should have prevented the slave bond from forming at full strength."
Snape looked at the seventeen year old, feeling a variety of indefinable emotions. "What does that mean, Master?"
Harry sent him a slight smile. "Well, for a start, even if Voldemort did pick one of the incantations for permanent slavery, it wouldn't have worked. I'll be able to free you after thirty years."
A deep breath was drawn in. Freedom. Not for three decades, an incredibly long time, but yet… it would come. He would be free again, someday.
"She also thinks that the life debt will prevent me from killing you, or doing you any permanent harm. Not that I ever would anyway, but… I thought you'd be relieved to know that all the same."
It was true; in reality this changed little, he'd never expected Potter to abuse him. But all the same, the relief he felt at these words was tremendous. The belief that Potter had life or death authority over him had been one of the most painful adjustments to make after the onset of his slavery. And now – it wasn't true. It was not just that Potter wouldn't kill him, but that he couldn't. And that, combined with the previous news of his future freedom, was enough to give Severus the first sliver of happiness he had had since this whole thing began.
"'Mione thinks the debt may have other effects too, good ones… but even if it doesn't… you'll be free someday, Severus." The first time that Harry had used his first name.
"Thank you, Master."