Severus sat nervously as his feet dangled from the chair in the Great Hall. He made sure not to make eye contact with any of the other students...it would be best if he did not draw attention to himself. While he was enrolled as a normal student, that would be to follow the laws of the Ministry of Magic. Slavery was outlawed in Great Britain, but his bound and curse was deeper and more ancient than the modern Ministry. Plus, he had no intention of being sent back to Villa Pietra, which is exactly what would happen if his status was known. He was here to be an attendant to his Master's son, Lucius Malfoy, and once his son graduated he would continue his education here to ensure that the Malfoy's would eventually get their worth out of him. He had no control of his future, however he was relieved that he might not be condemned to a life at Villa Pietra.
Abraxas Malfoy was a demanding but very detail-oriented Master. Every step of this day had gone to plan. He didn't know what this Sorting Hat was, but he was commanded to repeat 'put me in Slytherin' over and over when that time came. He did so, and now he sat in the Great Hall sorted into the same house as his Master's son - to ensure he would be able to attend to him in the Slytherin Common Room.
He had been given a set of surprising commands - permission to sit in the Great Hall and to attend classes like a normal student. However, in the confines of Lucius Malfoy's chambers, he would take his rightful place on the floor. It was unheard of for the rest of the Houses; however, not many secrets ever escaped those sunken dungeons. He would never forget his place, a fact that was made more prominent as he sat there in the oversized and mismatched robes from his predecessor - the other slave attendant who apparently tragically died. It was recorded as an accident on the surface, but Severus knew that it wasn't. If he died, it would be an annoyance to his Master's family, but he knew he was replaceable.
Severus sat underneath a hall of floating candles and food that magically appeared out of thin air. It was just as mother described before they were separated. The thoughts of his meager life vanished as he looked above and got lost in the lazily floating candles that gave a feeling of belonging. He wanted to burst into tears from happiness. I am here mother. I am at Hogwarts.
Of course he wouldn't dare touch the food - while he felt he was in a dream being able to study at this magical school he could not forget what he was - a slave. When it was permissible, he would get scraps at a later time. Still, he couldn't help but take in the smell.
While the young slave sat he noticed a couple of other students giving him strange looks as his plate was not touched. He quickly averted his eyes to the floor and waited. It was very unnerving for him to be sitting on the level of free persons, especially his Master's son, however he was directly ordered to sit. His head throbbed slightly, but he could not disobey an order. After some time the man who had introduced himself as Albus Dumbledore gave some closing words. While he spoke to the entire room Severus felt that the twinkle in his eyes and smile were meant for him.
He was then led in a group with the other first-year students deeper into the depths of the castle - then they went lower and lower until they ended up in a clammy hall that looked like a dead-end. A password was spoken and a passage was revealed. Severus was just as mesmerized as when he trailed his Master to Diagon Alley right before school started. He stayed closely behind his Master, who on the surface introduced him as his ward. However to the select few, it would be obvious that Severus was a slave.
Severus was still in shock for the first time seeing a community when they went to Diagon Alley. They were there to pick up all of Lucius' new school gear. All of Severus' supplies were from the previous slave, and he had no idea how many before him used the rusted potions pot and almost useless quill pens. He was shocked when they walked into a wand shop and he was able to pick out a wand. His Master tersely told him before they entered that the wand was a privilege and that it could be taken away at any time. While the threat was there Severus could not help but let a slight breath of air out as he marveled when the wand that chose him surrounded him with magic and filled his body with a sense of power. He quickly made sure to keep his face stoic, knowing that if his Master saw how elated he was there was a good chance that it would be taken away at any sign of disobedience.
He quickly pushed those thoughts from his mind as he tried not to get left behind as the group was being led into the common room. A hand roughly grabbed his robes, but he knew better than to resist. He didn't dare look up because he knew who was dragging him deeper in the dungeons - his Master's son Lucius Malfoy. They both ended up in a well-appointed room. It was a private chamber with a singular large bed. Dark wood furniture that was obviously hand carved gave the room a sense of regalness while the wall was covered in green-hued tapestries.
Severus knew immediately that this was a space where he would not be allowed to feign freedom. He immediately knelt, showing obeisance to his Master's son. The dungeon floor was rough but he knew he would have to get used to that - that was the place that he belonged here.
The wisp of a boy didn't dare to speak and waited until he heard an order. He finally heard "Unpack my bags."
Without looking up Severus stated "Yes Dominus." There was no reaction as Severus heard the older boy leave. He then got straight to his duty. Severus quickly unpacked and nervously looked around the room. As he was taking in the room he heard footsteps and went to the center of the room and knelt his head pressed firmly on the floor. It was made clear to him that in Lucius' chambers those who entered knew of his status and he would not have to hide what he was.
Lucius Malfoy returned with two others. Another boy and girl. They were laughing as they strode in the room. Severus waited for an order hoping to be dismissed or even just to kneel in a corner. He kept his eyes firmly planted on the ground but could hear their footsteps circling him. What was this all about?
"Slave how did it feel to be sitting with free persons?" Severus knew that to be the voice of Lucius and quickly answered. "Unfitting, Dominus." While he was young he was still recently trained at Villa Pietra and knew the expected answer. His owners after all had no concerns for his feelings, just obedience, and anything other than unfitting would probably result in a punishment.
Lucius spoke "Even so, how about we make sure that you don't forget your place?" How could I ever do so? The bond was more than just a mark on his body. Still Severus knew some sort of pain would come to him. He only held on hope that his Master's wish for him to be as undamaged as possible before the holidays would be adhered to.
Severus heard words in Latin and tried to prepare himself for whatever came. As his eyes widened in fear he saw his Master's son, a young woman with blond hair, and a short, but stocky, boy. However he was more transfixed on the scroll - a plain-looking piece of parchment with some sort of seal. His gaze did not last long as pain ricocheted throughout his body and mind. As he immediately went down, pain coursing through his veins, he thought "There is no way I will live through the night."
In the illuminated guest room at Villa Pietra Severus tried to pull himself together before the spell was cast. For a few seconds after the spell was uttered Snape was determined not to let it break him. The pride that had built up within him in this decade of freedom gave him some resolve to resist, but he should have known better.
He could not tell if he was kneeling or sprawled out on the floor. The only thing he knew was pain and there was no way to push it out or tell if it had been minutes or hours under the spell.
For so many years Snape learned and perfected occlumency and he could push out the most painful physical tortures, however there was no way any occulumency should could protect his mind from the pain.
He assumed he was crying or perhaps he bit hard on his tongue as he could taste salt in his mouth. It made the hoarseness from his throat feel even worse as he knew he had to be screaming. However his body felt so far away as his mind felt like it was being split into two.
At this point he would have done anything to feel any sort of reprieve no matter how mild. Snape did not care that he was at the feet of this spoiled young wizard. No Hogwarts student would be able to imagine their proud Potions Master feverently debasing themselves to kissing the feet or offering anything to make the pain stop, but if Snape could speak or even move he would have done so with no hesitation.
Harry watched in absolute horror not knowing how far this would go. At that very moment Snape had looked like he was about to crumple to the floor, but Harry was amazed as he still kept on his knees.
In an almost nonchalant tone Ivan stated "Ah, it is starting to work." Harry wanted to do nothing more than snatch the scroll from him, but he was too afraid to move and cause any additional harm. Instead he asked "What is working?"
Ivan circled the kneeling man, as if studying a specimen under a microscope."See here." He pointed at the exposed skin near Snape's collar. "There is no marks, but you can ze the spell in the veins."
Harry then saw something, perhaps a glint of magic, coursing through Snape's body. It then started to subside and he heard Ivan say "Stand up slave."
Many thoughts raced to Harry's head as he heard Severus Snape reply back "Yes Master." Master!? What did he do? Harry looked and Severus' face that moments ago were in tears from pain now held a vacant expression on his face as he looked at Ivan.
Something deep inside Harry riled up his anger. Questions raced through his mind. Did Ivan trick him to obtain Snape? Was he feigning not being interested in him to take him? Harry had been trying to be calculated this entire time, but should have stuck to his gut. He then possessively spat out "He is my slave!" Harry did not know what would happen if he disrupted the spell, but he knew he had to stop it. He couldn't lose Snape to this prat.
Almost instantaneously Snape turned around. For a brief second Harry thought he could see relief in his former professors eyes before the older man barely whispered "I am yours Master." before he collapsed on the ground at Harry's feet.
Harry called out for Snape to wake up as he did before, however there was no reaction. He was so focused that he did not notice the boy at first, but finally understood the words that the boy was saying. "Dominus do I have permission to n check on your slave?" Harry blurted out yes, not caring what that looked like to Ivan.
With approval the boy approached and waved his hands around Severus. Harry thought he almost heard a slight sigh. "Your property is not damaged Dominus."
Not damaged? Snape was knocked out on the floor.
The boy continued. "I do not sense any permanent damage Dominus. He should wake up soon."
Harry almost wanted to cry out in relief. At the same time he wanted to tackle Ivan. On cue the older boy gave Harry an appeasing smile "Ze, he is all good. That spell does nothing more than make a slave temporarily under another control. Just for a few minutes. No harm." He waved his hands as if this whole event was nothing to him.
"Why did you do it then?" Harry tried to hide the anger in his voice, although he felt he could not do so.
Ivan shrugged his shoulders. "Ah when I vent to Hogwarts I got this from a student from the, how you say, snake house?" Harry wanted to spit out Slytherin. Ivan continued "I was much interested in the scroll but no slave of my own. I could not do this to the slaves here, the trainers here know ven the tampering is done."
All of this just to satisfy his curiosity? Harry felt sick at the disregard for the lives of slaves, and the realization that he had possessively called Severus Snape his slave made his stomach drop. However he nearly forgot why they had come here. The scroll! "A deal is a deal, let me see the scroll." Harry was too exhausted for conversation, but he wouldn't let Snape's efforts be in vain.
The other boy beamed and said "Of course," and placed the scroll in Harry's hands. If Harry was not so tired he would have laughed at the irony. He did not have to spend long looking at the words or seal as he knew instantaneously where the scroll came from. Toulouse Pur. Always Pure. The House of Black's motto and crest brazenly adorned the scroll.
