Author's note; I would like to thank all of you for reading and sending me such enthusiastic PMs about the return of the story, I admit I am shocked about how many people have been waiting for it to return. Starting in this chapter I would really like to thank CupcakeSev23 once again, who has officially become my editor for this story. Thank you all, once again, for your support.
I hope to see more lovley reviews and messages from you all and I hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Chapter 3; What's in a Wedding?
"W...what?" Harry's voice was thin in his own ears, his mind going mildly hazy at the words Snape, of all people, had just said to him. He stared at the two older gentlemen, Dumbledore looking sad and Snape looking furious. Harry couldn't help but shiver, remembering the reaction Snape had in his fifth year, after having looked into the Pensive and saw those horrible memories. He couldn't fathom how being MARRIED to a man who loathed him so much could be anything but dangerous…
"A bonding, Harry, is the Wizarding World's version of a wedding. It is a binding magical contract, and acts in many ways like the unbreakable vow does. Only rather than killing one who makes the oath, so long as both participants remain loyal and true to their vows, the magic creates a form of protection over them." Dumbledore explained. "How such a binding magic was created was lost long ago, but many scholars, including myself believe that it was created as a form of protection, not for the binding couple themselves, but for their offspring, so that they are not left without a parent."
Harry frowned slightly and looked at his hands, thinking on those words.
"But...it didn't work on Mum and Dad…" He said softly. "Not against HIM. How would it work on us?"
"Bare in mind, Harry, James and Lily had been married, bonded, for a handful of years before you were born." Albus continued to explain. A dark movement caught Harry's eye and he looked up to see Snape starting to pace the room, clearly uncomfortable. "The magic is strongest when it is still new, within the first year."
"So…" Harry thought for a moment, his mind slowly catching up to what his ears were hearing. "You want me to marry Snape, just so I can have some super strong protection for...a year?" He stopped and shook his head, a hand running through his messy black hair. "I mean, I'm gonna be back at Hogwarts in a month anyway, why on earth would I do that!? Besides, he's my teacher! Aren't there rules about students and teachers?!"
"Yes there are rules." Dumbledore explained, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees his long bony fingers entwining under his long silver beard. "However, there have been exceptions in the past, so it would not be unheard of, though precautions would have to be taken not to risk favoritism in terms of grades…" A scoff drew Dumbledore's attention to Snape, who seemed utterly disgusted at the thought of showing HIM favoritism. Albus shook his head at the man before focusing back on Harry.
"So long as you of legal age, which I shall remind you Harry, you are, and the precautions are taken into place, there is no legal ramification for marrying one's teacher." Dumbledore said with a smile, as if hoping that would make Harry feel better. It didn't.
"Maybe not legal…" Harry muttered. "But socially I'll be ruined for life. Gods, poor Neville would think I betrayed him or something."
"You could just tell Longbottom the truth about protection." Snape said cooly, leaning against a wall. "He is a part of 'Dumbledore's Army' is he not?"
"I'm afraid that is not possible, Severus." Albus said rubbing the bridge of his nose. "As Bondings are a magical contact they a near impossible to get on a whim, and the usual process for being approved of one is long and strenuous, often taking months if not years to go through. The ministry does not bind people for the sake of their protection, but for the fact that they truly wish to spend their lives together. If word gets around that Harry was bound to you for protections sake rather than love, well lets just say many people will be very angry at the Ministry's favoritism towards Harry. Not to mention 'Tainting the sanctity of Bondings.' No...it is far better, overall, if we simply act as if this was the plan all along…"
"Albus…" Snape pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like he had a headache. "I could probably handle living with Po-Harry, hell even pretending to enjoy his company." Snape looked at Harry, letting a small flicker in his eye tell that he had picked up on Harry's surprise at his words. "But aren't you forgetting what MAKES a Bonding a Bonding? You cannot seriously ask the boy to do such a thing, not with what he has been through."
Dumbledore smiled softly at Snape, where as Harry only looked confused. Harry knew what he was talking about, if Snape had really been the one to find him in the cupboard and treated his wounds, but what did that have to do with the bonding? Unless…
"Oh, Merlin, no…" Harry felt the blood rush from his face, and for a moment he felt as if he was going to vomit. He pressed his hands against his mouth, unable to control it as his body started to shake, causing the tray with soup to shake as well. Dumbledore quickly grabbed the tray, probably to prevent the soup from spilling and burning Harry.
"Harry, calm down." Dumbledore's voice was gentle, as was the hand on Harry's back, but still the boy pulled away, quick and panicked, causing him to fall out of the bed and onto the hardwood floor. Harry didn't care about the new bruise he got on his hip, he simply scuttled away from the two men who were talking about..
"No, please no." Harry muttered, pressing against the corner of the room and pulling his knees up to his his chest, hugging them tightly. "Please don't make me do that! Please don't hurt me please!"
Harry couldn't stop the tears from streaming down his face at the mere thought of being touched right then. He clenched his eyes shut and buried his face in his arms, trying to curl up as small as possible, like he did when trying to avoid Uncle Vernon's fists. He heard Snape mutter something before the door closed. Harry wondered for a second if they had left before foot falls approached him. He curled up tighter, not wanting them to touch him. 'Please don't. Please don't…' The foot falls ended a ways away from him, and then there was a soft rustle of cloth.
"Po-Harry." The familiar voice. One that had always been so cold and hard, it was strange so hear it sound so soft and gentle. So strange that it forced Harry to look up, to see what the Potions Master was doing.
Snape was about a yard away from Harry, right next to the bed. He was sitting on his knees with his hands, palms up, in his lap. Harry frowned at the sight and looked at the man's face. It seemed nervous and sad, a look he never would have thought Snape possible of having. The man, who used to constantly terrify him on purpose, looked like he couldn't hurt anything right there. How could just a voice and a sitting position change that?
"Harry? Are you calmed down?" He asked, his voice still gentle and quiet, as if he was talking to a scared animal. Harry had to admit, it was helping. He nodded slightly and uncurled his form a bit just enough that his muscles would stop cramping. Snape nodded but otherwise didn't move, for which Harry was grateful, his nerves were so tightly wound up…
"Harry...I know you're scared. Please believe me when I say, I DO understand." Harry frowned, looking at Snape in the eye as he spoke. The man...wasn't lying, he didn't think.
"You were…" Harry asked cautiously, and Snape nodded. Harry gasped slightly, thinking back on what he had seen in Snape's memories. "Oh god...oh god did-"
"James Potter was not the culprit." Snape said, as if he knew what Harry was thinking. "We do not need to discuss this further, Harry, I simply wished for you to know that, despite what you feel, you are not alone."
Harry bit back his relief at knowing his father was NOT a rapist. Still Harry felt a little better knowing that Snape had enough knowledge on the situation to be tactful. He still didn't like the guy, he doubted that he ever could, but he could at least understand a touch of it now.
The sound of Snape's voice pulled Harry out of his thoughts again, the voice stronger, but still gentle, still soft.
"Harry. I swear I will not hurt you." His eyes were locked on Harry, not the same cold stare he had been used to, but something much different. "I would never cause you pain. I am all too aware that I am an ass, but I have never physically harmed you, and I never would. Okay?"
Harry nodded and scooted forward a little bit more. Biting his lip nervously as he debated whether or not to ask the question he needed to, or if he should just accept the answer he already knew to be true…
"We don't really have a choice, do we?" he asked, voice barely a whisper in his own ears. "We're gonna have to get Married...then...S-Sleep t'gether…" Snape sighed heavily and looked away from Harry for a moment before nodding, his eyes slightly downcast.
"Once Albus Dumbledore has made up his mind, it is impossible to change it." He said softly. "I don't think he could force you, technically, but I can't disobey him. I swore him my servitude in exchange for my life, seventeen years ago."
Harry nodded and sighed heavily as well. Though he wasn't under any such vow as Snape was, he had never really been able to refuse a request from Dumbledore. He had far too much respect for him. He always trusted the Headmaster to know what he was doing, certainly a lot more than Harry did. So, Harry took a deep breath and stood up, walking over to Snape and standing closer to him. He was about arms length away as he looked at Snape, expecting the man to stand in return,...but he didn't. He remained there, on his knees, looking up at Harry through a curtain of black hair. Harry swallowed nervously, suddenly very aware that his most hated Professor, was KNEELING in front of him. It was bizarre. Harry shook the strange feeling out of his mind, He must be worried of scaring me more, the guy's nicer than I thought…
"Well, er….Professor….if we don't really got a choice then I guess we don't got a choice then…" He said, scratching the back of his head. "Just...er...please be gentle? Not that I think you would intentionally be rough! I Just, er…"
"Mr. Potter." Snape's voice seemed strained, as if he was biting back annoyance. He remained on his knees but one hand reached out and took ahold of his own. The long fingers were rough and calloused, but extremely gentle as they wrapped around the smaller, rounder fingers. Harry watched with shock as Snape brought that hand to his lips, gently pressing a soft kiss against the back of the knuckles as he spoke.
"Gentle or not, such a thing would be traumatic to you, given what you had just recently endured. So I must beg to differ, that it is I should ask for you to be gentle to me."
"Whoa, Snape, you don't mean-!" Harry said, taking a step back, though he did not pull his hand away.
"I most certainly do, Harry." Snape said, his voice firm once again, making it very clear what he was saying. "I will not put you through that trauma again. I refuse to do so. Thus speaking, there is only one way for us to bond."
"But what about-"
"I have healed." He stated, though something in his voice made Harry feel as if that was not fully true. " And I am capable of remaining calm, even if I do feel stressed. Which, frankly, will make it far less painful."
"I...don't understand." Harry stated, looking at the hand holding onto his own. "How can it be less? Doesn't it always hurt?"
Snape chuckled deeply, releasing Harry's finger and returning his own hand to his lap, palm up.
"Trust me, Harry, it does not always hurt. In fact, with the proper preparation and patience, It can even be quite pleasurable."
Potter gaped at the man, feeling his face go from what was once pale to a bright fiery red.
"H...how, what?" Harry stammered. Snape smiled and shook his head, the black locks falling into his face even more.
"That I feel is a discussion for another time." Snape said. "Now, can I stand up without you having a fit? My knees are hurting."
Harry's blustering turned into a bright red scowl. I take it back, He's not nice at all.He shrugged and folded his arms across his chest, not looking at the man anymore.
"You're the one who assumed that I would have a fit. Get up if it bothers you so much, it's not like I forced you to or anything."
Snape scoffed and got up off of the floor, brushing off his black robes and slacks as he looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearing eleven at this point. He looked back at Harry, who was still huffing angrily and sighed.
"We should inform Dumbledore that we are ready." He said, causing the boy ot look back at him. "Luckily for us he is ordained by the ministry, so we do not need to worry about finding someone. But time is of the essence, so to speak."
Harry sighed and nodded, looking down at himself. He had noticed the clothes, obviously, but the thought of getting Married in what was essentially some of Snape's non-work clothes was just a bit...surreal. Still, he doubted that he would have anything better among his own stuff. So he just shrugged and flung his fingers through his hair real quick before nodding again. Snape turned and opened the door, waiting for Harry to step through, into what felt like some form of prison.
The house was empty, save for Dumbledore, who was sitting in an armchair, reading something. As soon as the old man noticed the two of them coming down the stairs he gave them a warm smile and stood up, putting a rolled up magazine into his robes.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Dumbledore asked and Harry nodded, stopping at the foot of the stairs just as Snape stood beside him.
"As good as I can be…" He said quietly. Dumbledore's smile became rather sad and the old man sighed.
"I'm sorry Harry, Severus...but this really is the best way." Dumbledore said, already pulling out his wand. "Given what we are facing, we cannot risk losing either one of you. Every little bit of protection is needed."
"Let's just...get this over with…" Harry chanced a glance at Snape. The man was unreadable now, hands clasped in front of himself, face like stone. I wonder what he's thinking about. Probably cursing Dumbledore's name, and mine. Snape's eyes turned to Harry, clearly catching him staring. One black eyebrow raised in response, though he said nothing.
"Alright then, if you two would clasp hands?" Dumbledore asked, standing so that he was slightly beside and between them. "I understand your discomfort so I'll skip the ceremony."
Snape nodded and turned towards Harry, who mimicked the motion, not too sure what to do. When Snape held out his hand to Harry, he hesitated. Snape had made a point not to touch him earlier, save for that one, brief moment. But he had been on his knees then, not a threat. Standing up Snape was still a great deal taller than himself, and his black robes made him intimidating as all hell. Still, he could tell the two of them were waiting, so he reached his hand out to Snape, the both of them clasping onto each others wrists.
A simple flick of the wand and, starting from their hands hundreds of silver tendrils began to wrap around their hands and arms, slowly moving up to their chest. Harry was mesmerised by watching that light twist and turn around Snape, almost looking like the threads of memories used in a Pensive, or even a wisp of a Patronus. It was beautiful, and terrifying at the same time.
"Alright then." Dumbledore said, looking up at Snape and taking a deep breath. "Do you, Severus Tobias Snape, vow to keep Harry James Potter close to your heart, through good and ill, till the end of your days?"
"I do swear." Snapes reply was quick and strong, not a waver in his voice as his eyes remained locked with Harry's. Harry swallowed as Dumbledore turned to him, his hand in Snapes unable to stop shaking.
Oh Gods this is really happening…
"Do you, Harry James Potter, vow to keep Severus Tobias Snape close to your heart, through good and ill, till the end of your days?"
Hesitation. The words were stuck in his throat. Till the end of my days? Is there no wizarding divorce we can do after Voldemort is gone? Am I really going to be stuck with him till the day I die? What're Ron and Hermione going to think? And Sirius? He'll be furious! Oh god, oh god…
A gentle squeeze from Snape's hand drew Harry out of his thoughts. Harry looked up at the dark eyes that had been so severely locked on him. Those eyes were not as cold as they had seemed a moment ago. They were warmer, much like they had been back in the room. Harry swallowed and clasped the hand a little bit tighter.
"I...I do swear." The words finally came out, though the stutter made it sound far less sure than Snapes did. Harry watched as Dumbledore flicked his wand again and the tendrils all started to fade, leaving no trace behind, save for the slightly shining silver rings on their clasped hands. The two of them unclasped their hands and looked at the rings, simple and smooth, but the meaning behind them was all too clear.
"I now pronounce you as married."