CHAPTER 2
A/N: Wow! Thanks a lot for reading and reviewing the first chapter in such great numbers, it's wonderful to be back with this story and to see that you're back as well!
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"I may prefer men, Headmaster, but Potter is someone I definitely do not prefer, least of all to bond with!" Severus whispered, glaring at Dumbledore.
"But isn't bonding synonymous with marrying? Aren't they more or less the same thing?" Harry asked.
Severus threw him a scornful glance.
"Nor do I prefer espousing ignoramuses," he remarked glacially.
"Please calm yourselves and resume your seats," Dumbledore said quietly. Both wizards obeyed without delay.
"Bonding, Harry, is a wizarding ceremony which is often regarded as even stronger than marriage. It is separate from the marriage ceremony and gives you blood protection. Blood is taken from both participants, poured and mixed into a vial and sealed magically. A contract is signed by both parties, the bonder and a witness. Your blood protection expired when you turned seventeen, Harry. If you bond with Severus, then he will protect you. The bonding ceremony allows you to choose who protects whom."
"Which means, both parties can protect each other?"
"They can if they so desire," Dumbledore replied.
"I wouldn't ever want your protection, Potter," Severus spat, "after all, it is you who has to be protected all the time. When do you ever protect?"
"And I would be protected like my mother's love protected me?" Harry asked, pretending not to hear Severus's sarcasm.
"Only from Voldemort; the bond will recognise your nemesis immediately. He wouldn't be able to touch you, and his spells would be considerably weaker."
"So he can still hurt and kill me. And the Death Eaters can still touch me."
"Yes, but it will take Voldemort considerably more power, especially if you bonded with a powerful wizard like Severus. Also, bear in mind that he has a tendency to forget ancient bonding magic."
"But why would we have to marry?" Harry wanted to know.
One of the portraits made a gagging sound and Phineas Nigellus pulled a horrible grimace in his picture.
"Because blood protection is an extremely intimate kind of magic, which is why only a blood relation can transfer it – or a bonded spouse."
"And one has to be married for that?" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"Yes. It is rather restrictive and far from open-minded, but that is due to the Ministry. All marriages and bonding ceremonies, for those who choose to undergo such a ceremony, are registered at the Ministry. Bonding ceremonies alone are illegal and can entail a very heavy fine or a stay in Azkaban. It is not a frequently performed ceremony, as it is said to be quite painful due to the method of withdrawing the blood."
"How is it done?"
"Taking blood from the left wrist of both spouses with a very sharp needle. The pain is part of the ritual. Protecting someone means suffering for that someone."
"The bond, contrary to an Unbreakable Vow, is automatically dissolved if the marriage ends in divorce or with the death of one of the spouses," Severus added in a bored tone.
Dumbledore was silent for a few moments before resuming:
"Marriages with bonding ceremonies have to be consummated within two weeks."
"And marriages without?" Harry said in a tight voice.
"Well…they can take their time, though procrastinating or avoiding the consummation of a marriage can lead to annulment."
"That is completely unfair! And…er, religion…faith?"
"Does not make a difference, except that bonding ceremonies, like marriage ceremonies, have all kinds of variations and procedures all around the world, according to cultural traditions."
"I still don't see why I should marry Sn – Professor Snape," Harry said stubbornly.
"Sometimes, these kind of sacrifices have to be made, my boy," Dumbledore said sadly.
"I shall never marry or bond with Potter," Severus said, his tone flat and final.
"I will have pamphlets on marriage and bonding ceremonies forwarded to both of you tomorrow," Dumbeldore announced, sounding even more final than Severus, " and I expect your answer in three days' time."
"You do realise that the consummation of such a marriage would be anything but consensual, Albus?" Severus asked Dumbledore.
"I can imagine that it would be very uncomfortable for both of you," Dumbledore admitted.
"It would be rape, Headmaster," Severus said bluntly.
"I disagree," Dumbledore answered, "and I would never have you perform a deed which made you a rapist or a murderer, Severus. That would be all. Harry, please stay."
Severus stared at his employer with smouldering black eyes before shoving back his chair roughly and striding away.
Harry gazed at Dumbledore, whom he trusted and regarded as the father, or grandfather, he had never had. He felt betrayed and angrier than he had been after Sirius's death.
"Is there no other way, sir?" he whispered.
"I can't think of any other way. The blood protection has saved your life before. And Severus is a human being, Harry. I know that he not easy to approach or to understand, but he is most suited to protect you."
"But…just because we are both attracted to men it doesn't mean that we are attracted to each other. In case you haven't noticed, we pretty much loathe each other, actually."
"I know, Harry. I know. I am sorry that you have to go through all this instead of enjoying your young life. Go now, my boy, and think of what I have suggested. Depending on your choice, you will have to change your quarters."
"Which means…?"
"Moving down to Severus's rooms if you choose to marry him. You would have your own bedroom and bathroom, however. I consider them to be the most private rooms in one's quarters, as I am sure both you and Severus agree with me, and therefore not places to be shared, especially with the current state of matters between you."
Harry spent the three days closeted in Gryffindor Tower. Dobby brought him his meals, worrying more about Harry's health than Harry worried about it himself. The pamphlets on marriage and bonding ceremonies arrived from the Ministry. Harry leafed through them glumly as if they were death certificates. Once, when Harry ventured out for a walk in the grounds, he came across Severus, who had a brooding look on his face. Harry, though strongly tempted to avoid him, approached him tentatively. The black eyes frosted over with hate when they saw him.
"Potter," Severus spat.
"I was thinking that maybe we should talk this over a bit," Harry said in a small voice.
"You can think. How amazing," Severus said acidly.
"I mean…perhaps it would be better if we discussed it and came to a decision together instead of going to Professor Dumbledore's office with separate decisions."
"Remove your insufferable person from my field of view," was the sole rejoinder he got, accompanied by the Potions Master turning his back on him.
Harry wished he could have written to his friends or had had a two-way mirror to communicate with one of them, but it was impossible. Three days were not enough for Hedwig to fly back and forth. Sometimes, the wizarding way was oddly impractical when compared to the Muggle world. Hermione, who had internet access and an e-mail account, would definitely have responded within three days if Harry had had the means of e-mailing her. He actually felt thankful that Sirius was not there to witness all this. Sirius would have killed Severus with his bare hands or given the Headmaster a good yelling. Harry nearly hated Dumbledore.
The evening of the third day approached; with a heavy heart, Harry went to Dumbledore's office. Severus Snape was already there. What had he decided? Had he already told Dumbledore?
"Harry. Please have a seat," Dumbledore said. Harry wondered how he still managed to be courteous in such unpleasant situations as he sat down on his chair.
"Well, Severus? What is your decision?"
"I accept," Severus said without preamble. His gaze however, was filled with abyssal abhorrence.
"And you, Harry?"
"I accept," Harry said, managing to sound steady instead of strangled. His stomach roiled with nervousness and uneasiness.
Dumbledore nodded.
"Good. I am glad that you have chosen reason over animosity," he said.
Severus's lip curled with scorn.
"When will the wedding and bonding ceremonies take place?" he asked curtly.
"In three days, if that is alright with you."
"You mean, alright with you," Harry muttered.
Dumbledore looked tired.
"We will meet in my office. The bonding ceremony will take place after the wedding vows. The person who marries you to each other will also be your bonder. Madam Pomfrey will supervise the second part in case one of you feels faint or passes out. I will act as your witness during both rituals."
"May we invite any friends or family?" Harry asked.
Severus raised his eyes to the ceiling.
"How sentimental," he murmured.
"It would be better if you enlightened people afterwards," Dumbledore said gently.
"Well, at least I won't have to bother with getting acquainted with any in-laws," Severus remarked cruelly.
"What about me? Will I have any…acquainting…to do afterwards?" Harry asked, controlling his temper with a big effort.
"No, you don't, Potter. I have no family or extended family, and if I did, they would never get over the shock."
Dumbledore cleared his throat delicately.
Both wizards looked at him with pale and set faces.
"You may leave, Harry. Severus, I still need a few words with you."
Harry's legs felt like sticks. He got up and left the room without looking at either Dumbledore or his future husband.
Dumbledore gazed at Severus.
"Please forgive me for all this, Severus," he sighed.
Severus shrugged.
"What has to be done has to be done," he said coldly.
"Shall I send someone to help you with the dress robes and preparations?" Dumbledore asked.
"There is no need, I have always managed on my own and do not require any help with dressing," Severus snapped.
"Dobby will be helping Harry. I am sure he would be most willing to not only assist you but to also attend to your and Harry's needs in the future."
Severus did not react.
"Well…that would be all, Severus."
Severus got up.
"Severus?"
The Head of Slytherin turned.
"You are a brave and good man. I know you will protect Harry well. I thank you for accepting this responsibility and all it entails."
Severus gave him a succinct nod in acknowledgement of his thanks and marched from the room.
"What a wretched situation," Dumbledore said into the silence of his office. The portraits around him sighed in agreement. Only Fawkes refused to yield to pessimism. He sang a short encouraging melody and returned to eating sunflower seeds.
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