Bound Freedom

Chapter Two: The Master and the Slave

disclamer: still not mine.

It finally sunk in when I was telling what happened to Dumbledore…I was really Potter's slave. Me. Severus Snape…my 'Master' was a snotty brat…

"Are you sure you need to serve Harry?"

I had never seen Dumbledore's eyes so lively before. Bloody great. This was entertaining him.

"Headmaster, my body urges me to go to him. I can't control it. If I don't see him soon I'm going to find him."

Yes…those urges were easy to tell. I got images of Potter…he was close I could feel it.

"Well if that's the case. Harry come in."

He really was here. I instantly stood up. The door opened and Harry came in. I fell to my knees. I used all my strength…I couldn't get out of this humiliating position. Curses.

"You sen…Professor!"

I flinched. Oh the humiliation. How could I ever live this down…best to remain emotionless…sure my body made me grovel, but my mind could still show that I was not just a mindless tool.

"Yes." I answered. Then something seemed to come from my throat, making me form a word…I would not say it. I would not.

"Yes, Master."

I actually said it. I called James Potter's son my Master.

"What's going on?" Potter asked. Before I was about to say, but Dumbledore cut in.

'Yes, I should be a quiet slave.' I thought bitterly.

"Well Severus can't tell us who did it but I know he was spying for the Order. He told me he had to see Voldemort."

His suspicions were right…Dumbledore was always right.

"You see Harry, Severus has been cursed…he is now your slave."

I almost sighed. He was definitely blunt about it…just as well. Potter probably couldn't comprehend the situation if he wasn't so clear.

Potter eyes filled with confusion and started to shake his hair in frustration.

" Wha...am I dreaming!"

Dumbledore grabbed hold of the boy, and whispered to him.

"Please Harry don't yell. I understand that you are shocked, so I'll leave you two alone for a little while."

Oh bloody great…now I get to be alone with him.

I was just getting used to this whole magic thing…and now this!? I sat down in a chair and sighed. Snape was looking at all the pictures around Dumbledore's room.

"It's not very private in here…Master" he remarked.

All these people staring down at us, who wouldn't be unnerved?

"If it pleases you we could go to my chamber…well not mine….it's yours now Master."

That was another thing I didn't like. I didn't want to own him. I didn't want to own anything that he owned.

"Don't call me that, and I don't want any of it."

I said quickly, showing my disgust on this whole situation.

"Please…"

It didn't sound right coming from the snaky Potions Master.

"It is yours now….it is old magic but very powerful. I have no power my life. If something disturbs this my whole body goes in pain."

Damn. It hurts him…I couldn't stand even seeing…Snape getting hurt because of me.

"So your saying if you claim something as yours and not mine you get hurt?"

"Precisely"

My hope of just leaving him alone was now completely evaporated. I didn't want the portraits to hear this…

"Professor…can we go somewhere more private."

The man got off his kneeling position, I waited for him to lead, but he just stood there. Finally when I started walking he followed me. Weird. He always stayed three steps behind me…

We finally arrived to his office. I nodded at him and he quickly said.

"Doxycide"

The door opened and Snape held the door open for me.

"So what do you wish to know Master?"

He was still calling me that. It made me feel weird.

"Do you really need to kneel and stuff like that?" I finally asked, after an awkward silence.

"Yes master, you see my body makes me say and do things I have no control over. I am forced to call you master…"

At that he bit his lip, and bowed lower than I had seen anyone do.

"Is something wrong?"

I didn't want him bowing. I mean…I was unconfortable every time those house elves did it. Plus he was suppose to be the man that didn't listen to anybody.

"I should have held my tongue." His face was starting to look very strained. Like something was choking him. Damn it. Where's Dumbledore?

"I'll go get help…stay here."

I ran out of the dungeons over to the other side of school.

"Chocolate Frogs." Good thing Dumbledore gave me his password. He thought of everything. I stepped onto the spiral and soon was in his office, and relized how tired the run had made me.

"Come…Snape…" I managed to get out.

My hands were on his knees. Running that fast for that far cost me my strength.

"Harry here take this."

He handed me some chocolate. I took a bite and not wanting to whaste time I said "Something's wrong with Professor Snape!''

Without another word Dumbledore was walking at an unbelievable pace, I had to jog to keep up with him.

I ran up to the door and said "Doxycide"

Snape was lying on the ground...I couldn't believe it, the greasy git…Snape was screaming in pain. I went up to him.

"What's wrong?" I tried not to sound too scared.

Soon his screaming came to a gradual stop and he settled on his knees.

"Well Master, I think that is what I look like scared. When you left master..."

He stared strait at the floor clearly angry at himself.

"When I realized you had left my mind told me to find you, but you told me to stay here. My mind went in a fit and all I felt were daggers..."

Dumbledore looked at Snape and said in a cheery voice.

"Well at least we know why he made you a slave. You need to be near Harry at all times just to live."

Of course, not that it could get any worse.

Dumbledore headed for the door.

"Well you two need some catching up to do." He said cheerfully. I wonder what he was thinking.

Then closed the door behind him.

"So Professor..." He looked up at me as if he were confused. What had this spell done to him?

"Begging your pardon."

Snape seemed to had trouble with these new words to his dictionary.

"It would seem illogical for you to call me Professor...it seems wrong."

I was confused for a second then rememberd the curse.

"It's the mind controlly thing again?"

"What else could it be Master?"

I couldn't really tell if this was sarcasm, so I didn't comment just in case I had to see that face on Snape again.

Wanting to get away from the subject of torture I asked the first thing that came to my mind. "So what should I call you?"

He looked at me like the answer was obvious. Curse or not this was still Snape.

"Whatever you see fit Master."

I'd be weird calling him by just his last name…maybe his first…it make take away some of the awkwardness.

"Severus"

No I was still wrong. Calling him by his first name did not make me feel any better.

"…is this permanent?" I finished.

"I truly don't know master, when the person who did this wishes to free me I will then be freed."