Bound Freedom

Chapter 4: Friendship

A:N: O.k. so I'll try updating every 1-2 weeks. It all depends whose hogging the computer…my laptop crashed so I have to share so bleh.

So thanks for all the reviews. I love you all.

Disclaimer: Not mine! I promise.

Potter's…I mean Master's redheaded friend gaped, looking rather like a fish.

"Harry" Ron whispered to Harry "Snape's right behind you."

What levels of observation. I kept my mouth shut. There was so much I wanted to say, but I had to hold it in.

"I know that Ron." My young master said, and sat down. Like a beaten man I handed Potter his breakfast. All eyes fell on me. I glared at the large cloud and spat out "What are you staring at?"

Finally Dumbledore took notice of us. He amplified his voice and said "Students, Professor Snape has had a curse put on him. It is an ancient curse that makes him a slave to whoever the spell caster chose. Do not underestimate his power over you though. He has full authority over all of you except Harry Potter."

Everyone talked, I glared at Dumbledore. Surely he knew how fast gossip goes around here. Finally he took notice and said .Allow these two people the pleasure of a normal breakfast, which I may remind you is the most important meal of the day. If any of you at all harasses either of those two you will spend the rest of the year in detention."

With the whole crowd trying not to notice me, Potter whispered to me

"Severus I'm fine, why don't you eat at your table?"

Damn. Doesn't the boy understand. "I...I can't Master. I am hungry but you are eating and I can't sit down while you are sitting down."

"Oh well I'll finish eating soon then while I change you can eat." He innocently grinned at me. Such innocence. So unlike everyone I know.

"Won't you need assistance?'' The words came out of my mouth.

Potter looked confused, after a short pause he said.

"Oh yeah you have to be near me...here eat this on the way to my dorm" He threw me a bagel. Merlin, I hated them. It was an order though. I took small bites while I followed my Master to the dorm.

"Harry!"

I turned around. Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger were running towards us.

"Harry what's going on here?" His redheaded friend blurted out.

"Severus?" He looked at me as if I would explain everything, I bowed to him. Instead of ordering me to explain though he said to me

"Why don't you get your class ready, I'll see you at lunch" I stood there for a second, waiting for him to see the obvious. Finally knowing he wouldn't get the hint I said

"Excuse me master, but..." I stuck out my wand. Potter finally understood. "Oh, forgot about all that, sorry. Severus you can use magic and potions until I see you next time... Oh almost forgot, Severus I order you to teach until lunch." I whispered my thanks, and bowed my way out of the room. I heard a snicker from Mr. Weasly, followed by a yelp. Good girl Ms. Granger.

Finally after passing notes through my classes, by lunch Ron and Hermione knew everything that happened. I went to get my lunch when I saw Severus standing there like a statue. Students were staring at him. I went up to the tall man. "Severus let's eat outside." It felt strange as he followed me and my friends to the open field to eat. Finally we sat down.

It was awkward, so I tried to get a conversation going.

"So Severus was there any more pain?"

"No Master, I think it was because I was busy with all the students." He was always so emotionless…

"So you were able to do potions?" I asked Snape.

"Yes it was a good idea to only have my powers temporary so my mind doesn't have to worry."

My questions seemed to make things even more awkward.

"That's good." That was the only thing I could say, Snape said all his words so apatherically, as if he was in monotone.

I looked to my friends, hoping for things to seem normal…well as normal as it could get at Hogwarts. Hermione stopped eating. "This is wrong." She glared at me, as if I had no problem with owning Snape.

"Hermione I know it's wrong, but it would be suspicious if he came back to Voldemort with nothing to say." I tried to reason with her, but she yelled. "Fine S.P.E.W. is going on a new mission, to save Professor Snape."

After lunch I headed to Potions. I was so nerve-wreched. Would Severus grovel at my feet the whole time? I entered the classroom, and sat at my desk. Snape went to his desk, and glared at the class. It wasn't as bad as I thought. The period went by slowly though, as if everyone was staring at me.

A ghost came into the class, and went up to Severus. "Harry Potter and Professor Snape, Dumbledore wishes to see you, I'll take over the class in your absence. Also he said he likes acid pops, I swear he gets crazier and crazier every year" I smiled, and Severus followed me to the office. Finally when we arrived I said 'acid pops' and sat down, Severus standing behind me.

I knew I should start worriying when I saw Dumbledore's eyes twinkling madly.

"As you know Christmas Vacation starts tomorrow. Being the case where will you two be staying?" He said as if trying hard to not spoil a secret.

"Not the Dursley's." I blurted out on instinct. There was no way I would stay there.

The headmaster's eyes twinkled even more brightly.

"I did not mean it that way, you see Severus has a house which he normally stays in during the holidays."

That would be great…not only would I be away from the Dursley's, but maybe I could learn more about Snape.

Finally I faced Severus who was staring at the floor.

"Would you like to go to your house Severus?"

"Whatever you wish." Severus looked at me with a blank expression.

"I'd like to go, it would be nice to see new places besides Hogwarts and the Dursley's" I said, hoping Snape wouldn't take it as a order.

"I'll go pack our things." He bowed to me. If I stayed alone with him for a whole Christmas I would probally end up insane…

"Could Ron and Hermione come?" I asked Snape. At least if they came I could do something fun.

"If that is what you want…Master." Snape bowed to me, and left the room in such a rush.

Maybe I'll have an interesting Christmas after all.