CHAPTER 30

About two weeks after taking their relationship to a new level, Snape discovered Harry waiting patiently in front of his classroom after a particularly tiring Duelling class. "Snotter Club" was now a firmly established name among the students – but they didn't even dare whisper the rude name in front of Professors Potter and Snape, knowing that the two men would stand up for each other. A couple of students giggled as they left the classroom and passed Harry. Snape narrowed his eyes. As soon as the last person was in the corridor, Harry slipped inside with a smile and closed the door behind him. Snape didn't wait for Harry to come up to him; he approached the young man quickly and greeted him with a gentle kiss on the mouth.

"Merlin, those dunderheads nearly drove me up the walls," he muttered. Harry smiled and cuddled him warmly. Snape pressed his lips against Harry's forehead before drawing back.

"Now, I want to hear you play the piano."

"But it's Monday, not Saturday," Harry said innocently.

Snape raised his eyebrows.

"Do you remember that I told you how demanding I am when it comes to teaching?"

"How can I forget?" Harry smiled and obligingly went to the piano-room – this time to Snape's personal one – and sat down on the stool.

Snape, back in teacher mode, listened critically to Harry's playing, interrupting him twice to correct him.

"Excellent. I am pleased with your progress, Harry. You will be able to play at Enchantments soon enough."

Harry swallowed.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course."

"Uh…"

"I am sure 'Legends of the Fall' will suit the audience."

Harry's eyes sparkled; he loved the piece and, besides mastering the notes, had added his own little decorations and accentuations to the music – something Snape had approved of immensely.

"So…when am I to play?"

"In two weeks' time," Snape said, "and no rebelliousness from you, love."

Harry chuckled, then became serious.

"I want to show you something," he said, getting up from the stool and taking Snape's hand.

"Another cuckoo clock?"

"Haha," Harry said exasperatedly, leading Snape to his rooms. Once in his quarters, he made him sit down on their favourite sofa near the fire.

"I got something for you," he said, blushing and giving Snape a small deep-red box.

Snape looked into his eyes.

"Harry, what is this?"

"Open it, beloved."

Snape did so and slowly lifted out a jet-black triangular pendent in a delicate frame of platinum which was decorated with filigree runes. A fine chain went with it.

"It is obsidian shaped by dragon-fire," Harry said shyly. "Charlie Weasley obtained it for me in Mexico, and I had it designed to its current shape over here. It has an Unbreakable Charm on it – Albus tested it to make sure – and the same protective spells you put on the jade disc you gave me. I chose it because it goes with your eyes and hair. As for the shape…Triangles are said to be symbols of perfection besides circles. I want both of us to be protected. Do you like it?"

Snape's eyes were sparkling with an unnatural brightness. He gathered Harry into his arms.

"It is beautiful, love."

When they separated, Harry fastened the chain around Snape's neck and extracted his own jade disc and touched it briefly to the obsidian pendant as symbol of their attachment to each other.

Dumbledore was quick to notice their jewellery and deduce that they were gifts the two wizards had bestowed upon one another as tokens of love. In addition, it was Snape who now sat between Dumbledore and Harry. Staff and students soon became used to the highly unusual pairing. The Howlers stopped altogether, as did the stares and whispers. In fact, people began to appreciate the fact that Snape was now in a loving relationship with his former archenemy. Snape remained Snape, of course; he was as strict and quick-tempered as ever; his sarcasm didn't lose its bite, and he still favoured his own students, though to a lesser degree. He remained very exigent and exacting. However, his cynicism and bitterness began to retreat under Harry's influence. Sometimes, he would even smile without reason during a Potions Lesson and touch his chain – when he thought no one was watching. Harry often teased Snape mercilessly, from naughty verbal prods to tickling, jinxing the bed sheets and threatening to go into his Potions Laboratory and rummage around inside. Snape refused to admit how much he actually enjoyed Harry's teasing and light-hearted side. It wasn't long until Harry and Snape abandoned their rooms to move into enormous shared quarters on the third floor, where the piano-rooms were. Their offices, however, did not change their locations. Snape's days and nights were livelier than ever. The only thing on which they disagreed upon vehemently was the cuckoo clock, which Harry had insisted on fastening to the kitchen wall.

"I don't want that ridiculous thing in here," Snape grumbled.

"But I want it in there."

"What is so fascinating about a stupid bird chirping foolishly every half-hour and hour?"

"Because it's a gift from Hermione," Harry answered tiredly.

"I can't stand it."

"How about making the bird chirp something different instead of 'Cuckoo, cuckoo?'" Harry suggested.

Snape's eyes gleamed.

"That's not a bad idea, love."

With a tricky little charm, he managed to make the bird bark, meow, moo, crow and utter every possible sound excepting the cuckoo-call every time it shot out of its hole. Hermione, on being informed of this modification, was not pleased. Ron, on the other hand, was delighted. Dumbledore, on visiting the couple, was highly amused.

"My, my," he murmured as the bird trumpeted like an elephant at him. "Nice touch, Severus."

Snape's mouth quirked.

The two weeks until Harry's piano trial in the main hall of the karaoke bar elapsed quickly. Harry practised so much that the Music Master began to fall asleep on hearing the same melody over and over again. Snape was forced to bellow the password to gain access to his industrious pupil and lover. Naturally, Snape's presence distracted Harry, and he would get sidetracked from his rehearsals. As he shrewdly pointed out, Snape was doing this intentionally to see how focused he would be on the big day – which found Harry standing in front of the mirror nervously, settling his sober black robes solemnly. He was wearing his emerald ear stud and his hair was carefully gelled. Snape approached him from behind and kissed his neck.

"Very nice. Your fan club is going to increase drastically."

"It already has, ever since you became a member," Harry grinned.

Snape tweaked his ear.

"Behave, Potter."

"Kiss me, Snape."

Snape obeyed most willingly and took Harry's hand, leading him from their spacious quarters.

"Good luck, my boy," Dumbledore said with a decidedly mischievous twinkle in his eye when the couple passed him on their way out.

"You won't be attending, Albus?" Snape asked.

"Alas, I cannot, Severus. Ministry business," he sighed mournfully, "but I am looking forward to a blow by blow account."

He gave them a graceful wave. Harry and Snape left Hogwarts, the former excited, the latter smirking rather smugly.

Enchantments was packed. Nervosus could hardly manage at the front door while Madleina tried not to be run over at the back entrance. Harry and Snape were admitted through a side door and led to their lockers by a thrilled Tonks.

"This place is flourishing thanks to both of you," she told them. "Everyone wants to see you, Harry, with Severus."

Harry blushed as he discovered a flyer advertising his concert stuck to a locker. Snape was mentioned as his teacher. Snape, who had organised the flyers, smiled at Harry's embarrassment.

"Come on, love, you should be used to fame after such a long time."

"Won't ever get used to fame," Harry said.

They followed Tonks to the main hall of the karaoke bar and onto the stage. A handsome piano, polished and gleaming, was ready for Harry, including a stool for him to sit on and a chair for Snape in the background near the piano.

The hall was bursting with people. A hush descended when Tonks, her voice magically enhanced, announced Harry's performance. Harry, blushing more than ever, greeted them with a shy nod; Snape had trained him carefully how to behave when approaching the stage and leaving it. People strained forwards in their seats when Harry sat down at the piano. He dared not turn his head to look at Snape, whose face was rather stern. Taking a deep breath, Harry started to play. As soon as he touched the keys, the nervousness fell off from him and another emotion took over: love. Love for the music, love for being in Enchantments, love for the people attending something as small and simple as a piece of music played by a complete amateur, love for his friends and Hogwarts – and love, overwhelming love for Severus Snape, who had taught him and who was now sitting near him. Music flowed simultaneously from the instrument and from his heart. The piano seemed to take his voice and emit it in its own clear tones. When the last tune drifted into the room, silence fell. Then deafening applause erupted, even stronger than the first time he had performed in order to get the pass coin. Harry thanked the audience with a bow before nearly stumbling up to Snape. The tall wizard enveloped him in an embrace.

"That was beautiful, love. Perfect. I am so proud of you."

Harry smiled at him, his green eyes filling with tears at Snape's whispered praise.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out at the back of the audience. Tonks frowned slightly.

"Hey! Calm down, guys! This was a superb performance but…Oh my goodness!"

Jets of red light had erupted, Stunning people right and left. Pandemonium reigned. Harry instantly drew out his wand; Snape did the same, his black eyes full of anxiety.

"What's happening, Severus?" Harry said.

"Don't leave my side, Harry," Snape said sharply.

A group of six or seven hooded figures came charging onto the stage; the one in front cast back her hood, revealing streaming black hair. Tonks became deathly pale; for she, like Harry and Snape, recognised the face of the witch leading the gang: it was Bellatrix Lestrange, and next to her was Draco Malfoy, his pale eyes narrowed to slits as he stared at Harry and Snape. Before Tonks could move, she was knocked to the floor by a Stunning hex. Harry darted forward towards her; Snape held him back.

The hall was empty now except for the Death Eater escapees and the two lovers; people had run away through every exit they had been able to find, and others had simply Disapparated.

"So!" Bellatrix rasped, her mouth curving into a cruel smile. Snape and Harry pointed their wands at her; but Malfoy aimed his wand at Harry.

"Try hexing us with or without a wand, you traitor, Snape, and Potter dies," the witch hissed.

Snape blanched. Harry's mouth was very dry. His mind went through all the things he had learnt during the war against Voldemort and the material he had taught his classes. With his eyes, he tried to convey to Snape that his jade disc would absorb an Unforgivable Curse thrice before shattering and thus giving up its protective function, and that Snape's jewellery bore the same magic. To Harry's horror, Snape lowered his wand.

"Remove their wands!" Bellatrix ordered. With a sneer, Malfoy stepped forwards and grabbed their wands, handing them to another Death Eater.

"Now, we're going on a little trip," Bellatrix purred. Some of her followers began to laugh, including Draco Malfoy.

"How did you get in here?" Harry managed to speak at last.

"We Stunned that stupid wizard guarding the door while you were showing off at the piano," Malfoy sneered.

Harry concentrated hard. There were sunflower seeds in his pocket; with a non-verbal spell, he managed to levitate them out of his pocket into his hand. He shifted to make the boards creak and cover the sound of the seeds falling onto the floor as he let them slide out of his grasp. He desperately hoped someone would enter the hall, find them and realise that they were a clue.

"Seize them!" Bellatrix ordered. Malfoy and another hooded Death Eater stepped up to Snape and Harry, twisting their left arms onto their backs and forcing them to stretch out their right ones in order to grasp an empty Butterbeer bottle – a Portkey. Harry turned his head to look at Snape. He saw the courage, love and determination to fight reflected in the black eyes. Just as he was about to touch the Portkey, Harry thought he saw Tonks stir feebly. Then the Portkey bore him and the others away.

With a sudden shock, Harry landed upon firm ground. Looking around, he recognised the place immediately as the cemetery where Voldemort's father lay buried.

Rough hands pulled him and Snape to their feet. The Death Eaters stepped back, forming a small circle around them with Harry and Snape in the middle.

Bellatrix laughed shrilly while Malfoy stared at them contemptuously.

"You've mucked up the pure blood by bonding with Potter," he flung at Snape.

"How dare you insult Harry," Snape said in a lethal voice.

"How touching," Malfoy laughed coldly.

Snape and Harry did not let go of each other's hands.

It did not escape the gaunt witch's eyes.

"Separate them," she ordered. Harry flung his arms protectively around Snape.

"Harry, leave me," Snape whispered to him, his first concern being Harry's safety.

"Don't touch him, don't you dare touch him!" Harry shouted, but a dozen hands dragged him away.

Bellatrix shook back her hair, her hate-distorted face demented in the waning daylight.

"Crucio!"

Harry lashed out at his captors without success; Snape was driven back as by a strong blast of wind – but nothing else happened. Bellatrix stared, then screamed wildly:

"Crucio!"

Snape, who was trying to get up, stumbled back a second time but showed no signs of pain. Bellatrix looked mad. She walked up to him and seized him by the front of his robes.

"What is that you're wearing around your neck, you filthy traitor?" she spat, "this is what must be protecting you. No longer!"

She yanked at it, but the Unbreakable Charm resisted her efforts.

"Remove it, Malfoy! Undo the clasp – it can only be opened without being broken!" Bellatrix ordered. She and two other Death Eaters pinned Snape's arms onto his back while Malfoy fumbled with the catch.

"It refuses to open, Aunt," he snarled.

"Charmed to be unfastened by either that filthy Potter or the traitor," the witch said. She pointed her wand at Harry.

"Give me your chain, Snape, otherwise…Avada…You know what I mean…"

"Severus, no!" Harry said. Snape looked at him, then back at Bellatrix. He slowly reached behind his neck.

"NO!" Harry repeated.

Snape reluctantly handed the chain to her. She took it, careful to avoid touching his fingers.

"Shall we torture him together, Aunt?" Malfoy drawled lazily.

"First me, then you! Release him!" Bellatrix snarled. Everyone retreated except for the vindictive witch. Harry tried to kick but received a punch to his face. He saw stars and his nose began to bleed.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix shouted.

This time, Snape fell on the floor, writhing in excruciating pain. Harry screamed, struggling against his captors.

Malfoy approached Snape and kicked him hard a few times.

"You son of a bitch!" Harry yelled at Draco.

Bellatrix nodded to the one of the other Death Eaters.

"Do with him what you like. Make sure to humiliate him."

"I will," he said and approached Snape.

"Don't worry, Potter, I am simply going to ravish him. Like you've done during several nights, I'm sure."

Harry went deathly pale. The other Death Eaters laughed, including Bellatrix.

"Make sure he bleeds like a pig," she said.

The Death Eater seized a handful of Snape's hair in one fist, yanked back his head and pressed his knee into his back. Snape grimaced silently with pain.

Harry felt Snape's jade disc against his hammering heart. He summoned every ounce of strength left in his exhausted body; the Death Eater grasping him had momentarily relaxed his grip because of his laughter. Harry twisted around and kicked him in the groin with all his force and snatched his wand back. Confusion broke out as Harry aimed Stunning spells around him until only Draco and Bellatrix were remaining.

Draco rushed towards him, wand outstretched. Bellatrix pushed him aside.

"No! I will Duel with the dirty half-blood!"

She and Harry faced each other. Blood streamed out of Harry's nose. He felt like he was going to suffocate.

Jinxes and hexes bounced back and forth between them, Bellatrix trying several times to pronounce an Unforgivable Curse excepting the Killing one. Finally, hindered by pain and the blood which made breathing difficult, Harry stumbled. His wand flew out of his hand.

"Baby Potter, your hour has come," Bellatrix cackled triumphantly. Malfoy began to whoop with joy.

"But before I terminate your worthless life…a bit of entertainment for myself and my nephew. Crucio!"

The curse was deflected by the pendant Harry was wearing; it had escaped Bellatrix's notice since it was hidden underneath his robes. The curse bounced back to Bellatrix, who ducked – but she wasn't fast enough. She keeled over and hit her head against a tombstone, which resulted in her losing consciousness. Draco Malfoy instantly drew a knife out of his robes and stabbed Snape in the chest. Harry's cry of anguish echoed through the cemetery. He stumbled to his feet and grappled with Malfoy, seizing the wrist of the hand which held the knife. Malfoy's other hand fastened around his throat and squeezed. Harry choked and retched. Somehow or the other, he managed to knee Malfoy in the abdomen. He sank onto the floor with a howl of pain. Harry Stupefied him non-verbally, his throat a sea of pain. A moan from Snape on the floor made him throw off his exhaustion.

"Severus!" he screamed, the sweat stinging his eyes. He tasted a drop of blood and wiped his sleeve across his bleeding nose. He flung himself next to him, taking his hand. Snape's eyelids flickered.

"I am dying, love," he said softly, looking steadily at Harry. He gently chafed Harry's fingers.

"No!" Harry choked out. "No! I love you!"

"We will see each other again, love. Promise me that you will be happy, Harry. That you will fall in love again…"

"Severus, don't go! Please don't go!"

"Harry…Thank you for enabling me to enjoy my life. I learnt to value it through you. It was a brief time, and you made it very special. Farewell, my love. I love you."

"NOOO! SEVERUS! BELOVED!"

Harry pressed his cheek against Snape's neck, sobbing and screaming wildly, holding the thin body in a tight embrace.

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