A/N: Follow-up chapter out early since last one was a background chapter. Hope you enjoy, and let me know if you have any input.

Disclaimer: All chracters and copyright belong to J.K. Rowling


Harry tried not to fidget as he sat outside the restaurant. They had arrived early, and the table was still being prepared. While Harry hoped that the dinner wouldn't be too formal, he was unnerved as he saw the opulent setting. To his annoyance, the person he had seen in the bathhouse arrived and greeted Harry. While he was inwardly irritated, he put on a friendly face in greeting.

The young man had explained that he was invited as well, as it was his first time here. The man shook his head and said "Ah, but vere are my manners. izvinete, excuse my rudeness. I did not have time to introduce myself at our last meeting. I am Ivan Krum".

Harry tried not to show recognizance at hearing the once familiar name. "I'm Charlus. I'd, um, prefer not to give my surname. Seeing how this is outlawed in Britain and all." Snape had ingrained in Harry the importance of keeping up their anonymity. Harry had remembered the name from an old genealogy book
he had seen at Grimmauld Place. When he found it he was surprised, but a bit pleased to have another connection to his godfather.

The young man, Ivan, said angrily. "More and more places are becoming like that. This is one of the last havens to purchase slaves in Europe. It is quite annoying."

Harry did not want to verbally agree, as he felt saying it would be too difficult. Instead, he nodded his head, as if he approved of Ivan's sentiments.

A few minutes later, a man with short cropped brown hair and grey eyes greeted them. He wore a robe that displayed the crest of the villa. The same crest that Snape had marked on his flesh. Harry noticed a slight movement from Snape, as his former professor's eyes quickly cast to the floor.

The man went up to Harry and shook his hand enthusiastically. "Good evening." He did the same for Ivan. "Please, follow me."

As they walked to the table he asked "I hope you have been enjoying the accommodations here."

Harry politely said "Yes, thank you for your hospitality"

They were led to a private room in the restaurant and there were already two slaves there - a male and female that may have been twins, or at least related in some way. Snape had guessed they were his personal slaves. They both wore a similar scant tunic that was of a much higher material than the standard issued slave outfit. Additionally, they both had an otherworldly beauty that made Snape think that they were a prized collection bred for their looks. They ended up in a private room and Severus and the other slaves knelt gracefully at their master's feet. Luckily the talk was pedestrian, and they had practiced their answers beforehand. Then to his dismay came the talk about him. He had hoped that Marcello would just ignore him, as Master's rarely thought much about their chattel.

Curiously the man asked, "Was your slave trained here?" Harry confirmed the man's question. "I see you did not bring him here for training. I hope that his conditioning was adequate"

Snape wanted to glare, but to his disgruntlement, his conditioning was more than adequate to keep him from showing any emotion. Of course, the man who had broken him, would not remember him. While he had a glamour and his looks were not typical for a slave there was no way that the man could remember him after over twenty-five years.

Harry, trying to divert the questions to him asked "I assume those are your, erm, slaves?"

The man possessively stroked the head of each of his slaves, which made Harry a bit more uncomfortable and wish he never asked. "These are my personal favorites for now."

As the dinner went on Marello casually said 'Rilassati' and his two slaves broke their standard kneeling position. Harry tried to avert his eyes as he saw Marcello grab some of the bread from the table and fed pieces to his slaves, who seemed famished and eagerly accepted the scraps. He instead tried to concentrate on finishing his own food.

He looked up at Marcello who asked "You don't feed your slave your scraps?"

Harry said gruffly, "No, I don't." Harry knew that the man would think that he didn't feed his slave anything but the tasteless gruel, but it would be better than trying to feed his former professor like a pet. Harry couldn't even imagine what Snape would do. He knew that Snape couldn't bite his fingers off in his current state, but that was the only reaction he could imagine from the Potions Master of Hogwarts.

Ivan, laughed, "Seems like my new friend here is a strict Master."

Snape who was kneeling at Harry's side had a full view of the vulgar display in front of him. After the two slaves had eaten the discarded scraps the female had grabbed her Master's hand and licked its surface. The male knelt, his head contentedly pressed against his Master's leg. He wanted to roll his eyes. That was the trouble with these slaves whose wits were bred out in favor of beauty. He tried not to smirk thinking that their combined intelligence would probably be lower than Lockhart's. However, they probably had magic that was specially bred to please their owners which would make them quite valuable - way more prized than himself.

As dessert was coming out Harry asked reluctantly, not wanting to ruin this chance, "I wanted to ask you something?" He took a sip of water, as his throat was dry from nervousness. "It's about one of the texts I read." He saw the man's face turn serious and wondered if what he was about to ask would jeopardize their trip here.

Marcello said "Esci da qui" and Harry watched as his two slaves immediately rise from their places on the floor and go to the other side of the room. Harry was confused until the man shook his head and said "What do they teach in England? It is good you came. You don't ever want slaves to know what those books contain."

Harry then looked down to Snape. He knew he would have to give a command. In his head, he internally apologized as he snapped "Go with the other slaves." He hoped the others present wouldn't notice his shaking fists.

As Snape quickly got up and turned away from Marcello, he gave a death glare to his young Master. With every fiber of his being, he prayed his malcontent would imprint on his Master's dimwitted skull. His head tore in pain, but it was worth it. He was not upset for the command knowing that Harry had no choice in that, but was upset for bringing this up. He would have hoped for more time to research, but as usual, the boy had an impatient streak.

As he sank to the floor across the room, the loud noise from the restaurant drowned out conversation from the table. Snape, however, would have been a terrible spy if he did not know how to lipread so he tried to concentrate on reading the lips at the table while keeping his face impassive.

The female kneeling next to him had other plans. In Italian she asked "Slave do you have a name?"

Snape had tried to ignore her the first few times she asked as he intensely stared across the room.

He then heard "Are you a mute or an idiot?"

He gritted his teeth at the insult. Not looking away he answered, "It's Tobias." As Harry had picked Charlus, Snape had choose Tobias. He had no love for this father, but at least it was a name he would not forget.

"Well, are you going to ask me my name?" She said playfully.

Snape was glad that in Britain he did not have to interact with other slaves often. He had spent his youth at Hogwarts, and had to hide his slavery outside Malfoy's room. The only time he had fraternized with others of his kind was when the Malfoys would send him to the Villa over the holidays. At the manor he was kept in relative isolation.

He tore his eyes away from his Master, knowing that it was fruitless trying to concentrate with this annoying woman.

Harry now alone with the other free men said "Well, it's just I read something in the library. There was a book that described something called 'locum tentum servitus' I just never heard of it and wanted to see if you knew more about it?"

Marcello scratched his chin, and then explained to Harry that it was a process used to modify the curse. There were potions, spells, and rituals created throughout history that could modify the curse, but after the 18th-century modification of the bonds grew out of fashion. He explained that this specific modification was a result of the Crusades. Magical and Muggle history was not as separate. As some men left their holdings for longer periods of time, the slaves they left behind would grow resistant to the bonds. Marcello then pointed to the slaves and said "As you know the slave bond has to be maintained and usually is restricted to one owner. While the men were at war this potion would allow the wives to control the slave while the husband was gone."

Harry looked up hopefully. It was not exactly what he was hoping for, but it was a modification of the curse. If things were desperate, perhaps they could use this to keep Snape from being completely controlled by Voldemort.

The man saw Harry's candid expression and said "However, the incantation has been lost as modifications have been out of favor for centuries."

Harry didn't want to show his disappointment, and instead casually noted "I was just curious, that's all." As he looked at the man to ensure that he could not see suspicion, he looked over to Ivan who had a knowing smile which unnerved Harry.


After dinner Snape could feel his Master's apprehension, which made him on edge. The bond made him want to do anything to relieve his Master's sour mood, but he was upset as the boy brought up this topic of conservation to the villa owner.

As Harry flopped onto the bed, he threw a pillow over his head to try to escape his annoyance as the villa owner did not know the incantation. He could still hear Snape's chastisement - well as much rebuke as Snape's bond was allowing him to give.

Through veiled words, Snape had to contain his impulse to yell. Instead, he spat out "Master, as usual, your brilliance and heroism will save another poor victim. What did you learn?"

Harry yelled into his pillow "Shut up, shut up!"

While his voice was muffled, Snape could instantly feel the restriction in his vocal cords and his knees start to give way to his Master's will.

Harry heard the room silent and realized his error. "Shit, sorry. You can talk, okay? I didn't mean that." He threw the pillow off the bed.

Snape, even more, upset said in a raised voice "Unfortunately, not everything can go your way, Master."

Harry was about to retort when they heard a small knock on the door. Both instantly froze. As a slave, there was no reason for Snape to be speaking up. In their anger, they both forgot to put silencing charms up.

Snape moved to the door, and answered it, immediately relieved to see only a small boy standing nervously at the threshold. Harry thought he may have been ten, but he was small and malnourished. He also sported a black eye that looked recent. The boy warily walked past Snape, and bowed low to Harry, proffering a small rolled up parchment in both hands.

Harry scanned the letter reading, "Meet me in my quarters at midnight. I have something you will want to see. - Ivan". Harry was intrigued. What did Ivan have to show him and why the secrecy?

He then looked at the boy "Do you need help healing that?" Harry pointed to the black eye, which looked painful.

The boy eyes grew wide for a second but quickly went back to his dull lifeless expression. The movement reminded Harry a bit of Snape and if Harry wasn't staring at the boy he would have easily missed it.

"This slave appreciates your concerns, but I haven't received permission to be healed by the Dominus I was assigned to." The boy's voice was passive, hiding any surprise that showed on his face a moment before. He then bowed low again. "If you accept, I shall escort you later tonight."

Harry cast a quick glance at Snape, who slightly lowered his head. The bond had been chastising him for raising his voice, and he wanted to avoid any further pain. Harry said, "Alright, I'll accept his invitation."

The boy gave another bow and accepted the parchment back, saying "Very good, Dominus." As the boy walked out of the room to Harry's amazement the parchment lit on fire and disengaged to ash. Harry was amazed at the control of magic that the boy had at such a young age. As Snape closed the door Harry wondered what other abilities the slaves here had and what they had to give up for these powers.