Harry Potter and Co. all belong to Rowling!

Chapter 9. Payback is a Bitch!

The next couple of days proved the most difficult and dangerous for Harry and Professor Snape. Albus Dumbledore had renounced the Professor from the hilltops and had consequently set the Wizarding World against Snape. In addition, he had tried to have the registered bond done away with but all his efforts had been useless.

Now, there was no way in hell that the Professor was going to set foot in the Ministry so Snape hired some of the best Wizarding Barristers to argue his case. The testimony of the Healer and the documentation presented by the Ministry of Family Affairs had given the Professor a victory. He had acted within his right. When Albus continued pressuring Snape made it known, that Harry had accepted the second part of the bond in blood. That settled the matter. Bonds accepted in blood were irreversible, they were a way of life in the Wizarding World and as much as the Ministry might not like Snape, it could not interfere with this kind of magic. Snape could have been Voldermort himself and they still could do nothing.

But as bad as things were for Snape in the Wizarding World it did not compare to what was happening in Snape Manor.

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"You're nuts if you think for a moment that I'm going to go through with this." Harry said angrily crossing his arms in front of him.

The argument had been going on for a good twenty minutes and Snape was beginning to lose his patience with him.

"If you have any ideas I'm just dying to hear them."

"How should I know? You're the potions master!" shouted Harry trying not to lose it again. He had lost it this morning and the house elves were still repairing the damages.

"Do you think I haven't tried to find a way out of this situation?" growled Snape running his hand through his hair in frustration.

"Well you need to try harder!" Harry knew he was being unfair but his mind could not accept his reality.

"Will you listen?" tried Snape.

"Not if you're going to say the same thing."

"You are fourteen, act your age."

"Then why ask me to make a decision now that will affect my whole life?"

"Because now is all we have! If you try to come into your magic without assistance you will not survive!"

"I survived a killing curse!"

"That could have been a fluke!"

"It was not."

"You don't know that. Balancing your age magic would help you, you'd be the age of consent, you'd-"

"BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE BOND!"

"Is that what you think this is about?"

"INS'T IT!"

"YOU ARE A FOOL! You would risk your life, because you think I want to get you in bed." Gritted the professor in pure disgust.

"That would be the ultimate revenge wouldn't it? You have hated my father all these years and here is his son on a golden platter!" Harry knew it wasn't true but he didn't really care right now.

"You are so stupid!" Snape bit out. "Once the age magic is balanced you will be seventeen."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Spoiled brat."

"Jerk off!" insulted Harry right back.

"I seem to be intruding…" called out a voice from behind both. Lord Gustavus had decided to make a surprise visit to see his Godson and naturally and more importantly to look in on Harry. The boy's vocal chords seemed all right as for the rest of him who knew.

"Who are you?" said Harry drawing his wand immediately. The man looked shocked but did not move.

"What are you doing Potter? Put that away this instant!"

"Who is he!"

"I'm sorry to have intruded Mr. Potter, my name is Lord Gustavus Gribaldi, Judge of the Ministry of Family Affairs and Professor Snape's Godfather." said the older Wizard bowing slightly. Harry did not lower his wand but instead looked to Snape for confirmation. Snape nodded angrily and Harry finally lowered the wand slowly.

"You shouldn't walk in on people like that Judge you might get your hat shot off one of these days."

"I will keep that in mind Mr. Potter, may I call you Harry."

"Ah, no!" answered Harry rudely.

"That will be quite enough Potter show some respect, Lord Gustavus was instrumental in getting us out of Dumbledore's clutches!"

"There is no US Professor!

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! There's no need to argue least of all when the solution is so ready at hand." Say Lord Gustavus walking over to them.

"Yeah the age magic balance!" Said Harry smirking at the Snape. Snape was not out done and smirked right back.

"You are against it Mr. Potter?" asked the Judge.

"Dah! What do you think?" asked Harry sarcastically.

"You would be granted 3 years, enough so that you can come into your magic…." Tried the Judge. Snape shot him a look and wished him good luck.

"And complete the bond!" finished Harry angrily.

"Ah!You are against the bond!"

"Gee nothing gets by you Judge." Harry said sounding a lot like Snape.

"That will be enough Potter another smart ass remark and I'll hex you so badly you won't have to worry about Dumbledore or the Dark Lord or anything." Threatened Snape walking away from the boy.

"What ever!" Harry said feeling tired all of a sudden. His headache was back and his hands were trembling slightly. He put them underneath his robe and made his way to a large comfortable sofa. Lord Gustavus did not overlook the fact that Harry chose the Sofa closest to where Severus stood. There was still hope.

Snape ordered some tea and asked his Godfather to stay for lunch. Both men talked about the Ministry and though Harry could have left he chose to stay. Yes there was definite hope, thought Lord Gustavus.

The truth was that Harry had done a lot of thinking and knew that there was no way out of it. He and Snape were stuck together and that was that. Snape couldn't walk away from him without Harry getting a headache.

Harry was trying to come to terms with the fact that he had had no say in the bond. Harry reminded himself that it had not been Snape's doing and that the Professor had wanted to tell him the truth but Dumbledore had ordered him not to.

His mind went over everything that had happened and could not help but feel that the adults around him had taken advantage off him. Well, everyone except Snape that is. Looking back he remembered the occasions when the Professor had helped him out of scrapes. If only he weren't such a son of a bitch.

Harry couldn't help feeling that Snape would always have the upper hand if he went too quietly into this but how to get some leverage, he was so fucking young. Wait a minute that was it! Why stop at seventeen when he could make it a little more. A kid of seventeen had no chance with Snape but how about a man of 25! That was it! but would Severus go along with it, probably not. The git awas a Slytherin, he was not evil like Voldermort but would he want to give such an obvious advantage away? Most defiantely not!

You climbed up on the slaughter table so don't expect me not to take advantage of it, he had said to him not too long ago. No the man would not agree to pushing the age magic balance to make him 25. He would have to do it alone. First, he would need time so he would have to stall a bit more and find out everything he could.

Snape and Lord Gustavus talked about the Ministry and Dumbledore.It seemed that Fudge had been visited by the old Hero and had gotten an earful which Fudge had then tried to pass on to the Judges, that got him nothing of course. The Ministers had all been offended and had ignored his ramblings. Both men talked but looked Harry's way every now the teen seemed to be deep in thought.

Lord Gustavus sighed and thought

He's young Severus.

He's an insufferable brat Godfather.

He's trying to come to terms with it Seves be patient.

He's trying to find a way out of this Sir and I am patient.

Lord Gustavus smiled and was about to reply when Harry interrupted them.

"I'll do the age magic balance." Harry announced to both men. Lord Gustavus and Severus looked at Harry and then at each other. Snape was not buying it but said nothing. " but I need you to tell me exactly how it all works." Harry finished.

"Why?" asked Lord Gustavus.

"Because I don't trust any of you." Harry answered with a smirk. What a question!

"Little shit." Mumbled Severus finishing his tea.

"I'm hurt Snape, I'm really hurt." Harry said right back.

"Harry you can call me Severus." Snape said in mock affection.

"…and the last part of the bond will not be completed until I say so." Harry said looking at both men squarely in the eye before adding, "I'll do everything but consummate the bond until I feel …"

"Ready." Finished Severus.

"No, until I feel like it." corrected Harry…. and I won't feel like it for a long time.

Harry thought maliciously as he crossed his arms in front of him.

Lord Gustavus only looked on and thanked his lucky stars he was not Snape. The boy was a handful albeit he had a lot of right to be, those he had looked to for protection and affection had only used him. It was quite tragic.

Snape opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind, and locked eyes with Potter; the boy did not even flinch.

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Lunchtime finally came around and though they did not speak to each other both Severus and Harry sat at the dining table while an elf served. Lord Gustavus noticed how Harry refused most of the food and settled for a small piece of chicken of which he ate only half.

"You're meal is not to your liking?" Asked Snape.

Nothing gets by the freakinf git! Thought Harry."I'm not hungry."

"You didn't eat breakfast." Said Severus cutting into his steak.

"So! What are you my keeper?"

"As a matter of fact yes." answered Severus digging into his potatoes.

"Well I'm not hungry so drop it." Harry hated people noticing his eating habits.

"What I will drop is a brick on your stubborn head Harry."

"Don't call me Harry!"

"Severus I'm sure he's just not humgry." Said Lord Gustavus.

"How can somebody who doesn't eat not be hungry? Ever!" asked Severus angrily. "and I'll call you whatever I want."

Lord Gustavus frowned when he noticed Harry's hands trembling slightly. Snape looked to his Godfather but said nothing.

You noticed it. thought Lord Gustavus.

Yes I did. I'm working on it. said Snape.

The rest of the meal was carried on in complete silence. That is until Dobby appeared infront of them shouting.

"Master Snape! Master Snape something horrible has happened!" screamed the elf rushing to his side.

"Dobby!" screamed Harry surprised by the elf's sudden appearance.

"Master Harry! Something horrible has happened!

"This had better be important you are not allowed before us."Snape reminded the elf.

"It is Master! It's Sirius Black!"

"What's happened Dobby?' Harry asked as a cold chill went over him.

"He's been captured! Someone told the Ministry where he was! Dementor's came! It was horrible! Dobby tried to help! He and Professor Lupin were taken by dementors!"

"Professor Lupin! Dementors! Are you quite sure about this?" asked Lord Gustavus.

"Yes Sir." cried Dobby in his hands. "Professor Lupin was visiting and he tried to help but he was taken."

"That's impossible no one knew where he was. No one." whispered Harry to himself.

"Someone knew." Said Snape rising from the table. Harry looked at Snape inquiringly.

"Dumbledore." Answered Snape. "Payback is a bitch."

"We have to get them!" Harry shouted rising from the table.

"No, it's too dangerous." Answered Snape. There was no way he was going to risk their very precarious safety over a wolf and a mutt.

"I can't let them rot in Azkaban!" shouted Harry.

"There's nothing that can be done." Interjected Lord Gustavus kindly.

"Sirius is not staying there and neither is Lupin!" shouted Harry running from the table. He did not make it very far, the doors as did the windows shut him off. Harry was trapped turning around he drew his wand and pointed it at Snape; ignoring the sharp pain in his chest.

"Please, I can't let them die." He begged. Severus was unmoved he could feel Harry's distress but what could any one do. "No." came the cold answer.

All hell broke loose as Harry felt his magic rage inside him and brake loose!

Well there it is. I hope you like it! Read and Review!