Don't get too excited. Having 2 chapters in one day is not going to be a regular thing! I don't have the time for that. Actually, this is very short and really more of an extension of chapter 4 than anything else.
Thanks to the few people who reviewed the last chapter.
To the person who wrote that there's no point in a slave fic without a love relationship between the slave and master – to be honest, any slaves that fell in love with their masters would probably need psychiatric help, literally. And as much as I love those types of stories – Deepest Bonds is one of my all-time favourite fanfics - that's not the type I'm writing and I said so right from chapter 1. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it.
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"Hey Ginny," Harry greeted as he flopped down into a chair, reaching over to give her a quick kiss on the lips, and grinning slightly at Ron who was glaring at him. Apparently his 'blessing' on their relationship only lasted insofar as he didn't have to see his best friend snog his little sister.
"How'd it go?" asked Hermione.
"As expected. He didn't like it, which I suppose makes it a good punishment. And he doesn't suspect anything."
"What punishment? Who doesn't suspect anything?" This came of course from the boy with the unquenchable curiosity and desire to know everything.
"Snape."
"What happened?" asked Ginny.
"He broke my quill," said Harry with a grimace.
"Ouch."
"So anyway… Hermione came up with a way to punish him without resorting to physical violence."
Ron blinked. "What'd you do, make him stand in the corner on one foot?"
Harry snorted. "I'll bear that in mind for next time. No, I took his wand." He took it out of his pocket and twirled it idly.
Ginny gasped. "Isn't that dangerous, to leave him without defenses?"
"Nope. Not the way we planned it. And anyway, I doubt anyone would want to kill Snape. Any left over Death Eaters or their kids would be far too happy with Voldemort's revenge to try their own."
"They might hex him without killing him! He's defenceless!"
"Not for long honey." Harry smiled, somewhat sadly. "But he thinks he will be, which is the idea. I told him he had to ask for it back at breakfast tomorrow."
"In front of the school?" Ron gaped. "He'll hate that!"
"Just because I told him that doesn't mean it's the truth."
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Dinner was over, and Snape was glad to get out of the Great Hall and go back to the privacy of his quarters. It had not been a pleasant meal; it had only served to remind him of what lay in store for him the next day.
He had to publicly ask for his wand back. Severus Snape had been a servant of Lord Voldemort, had been a spy, and had endured all types of torture, magical and muggle. And yet he feared this humiliation more than any of them. To be ridiculed by children… it felt too much like his own time as a student.
He stopped suddenly, as he heard his name called by a familiar voice. He was in a quiet area of the castle, and had not expected anyone else to be there.
He turned, and then bowed low as he recognised the speaker. "Master."
Harry gave a brief smile, and then held out his hand. Lying on his palm was Snape's own wand.
"Master?" he asked, uncertainly.
"Take it." Harry moved the wand closer and, feeling confused, Snape took it.
Harry took mercy on him. "I never meant to keep it all night Snape, and I really never meant to humiliate you in the morning. I just wanted you to think I would. That was the punishment. I'm sorry if it was a bad one, but I thought it would be better than beating you."
He stared at his master, incredulously. "That's all the punishment – Master? Nothing else? You're not going to make me ask for it back?"
"No. This should be enough. The slave bond isn't asking for more, is it?"
Severus shook his head, feeling bewildered.
"Good." Harry paused. "Snape… this isn't going to work a second time. Now that I've tricked you, and the slave bond, once, I probably won't be able to do it again, definitely not straight away. We need to work out some kind of punishment that we can both live with, because as much as we might try, at some point you're going to break the rules."
He sighed. "I know, Master. And… thank you."
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Hermione was lying on her bed, engrossed in yet another text about the history of the slave trade. Suddenly her eyes widened and she desperately sped up her reading, before jumping to her feet and rushing out of the dorm.