Disclaimer: Not mine, however much I wish it was. Hey- did you all hear that the Michigan person who tried to publish the Harry Potter Encyclopedia lost the case against J.K.? Good for her, I say. Protect your rights!… just don't take away FanFiction, please… XD
Title: The Ties That Bind
Beta: un'beta'd
Summary/ Warning: Dom/ Sub, HGRW, PPBZ, RLSB, LVBL …and of course HPSS.
Authours Note: I'm back to corrupt your minds! Yay!
Chapter 18: Strange Bedfellows.
:Parseltongue:
"Conversational thoughts"
Private thoughts, shared memories
The next morning was a slow one, as neither Harry nor Severus were in a mood to deal with the real world. They lay in bed for a while, Harry absently playing with Severus' hair as they thought. It was calming for Harry- a time before reality started and yet also a new day. And he was closeted with his mate, in bed, with no obligations for another hour.
Severus felt the same. Yesterday had been hell on his emotions, and the man who prided himself on himself on his control cringed whenever he thought of his meltdown. But in a way he could just see how Sirius had been right to give him the information. And even though the flea bitten bag of bones had tried to use it against him, Severus found that he was mildly grateful.
He snorted into Harry's chest, and pushed himself up onto his elbows as he looked down at the green-eyed boy beneath him. Harry waited as Severus searched his gaze, and smiled softly as Severus leaned down to press a chaste kiss to his lips.
Harry parted his lips, allowing Severus to enter, and for once just enjoyed the sensation of kissing his mate, no thoughts of anything further that would spur the hotter passions. He just lay still, letting Severus explore his mouth, delighting in the fact that his mate had come to him with no help from Harry.
Severus ended the kiss and settled back into Harry's embrace. The younger man wrapped his arms around the comforting weight atop of him, and let his head lean back against the pillows as he drifted back into sleep.
Severus just watched Harry, planning on waking him up when they had to get ready, and as he did he remembered Monday morning. The boy is very persuasive, he thought to himself, and snorted as he recalled the teens tactics. Instead of reliving the previous day- not wanting to wake another part of his body- and he settled back into Harry-Watching.
Harry walked into the Great Hall with Hermione, having met her on the way up from the dungeons. He had been under his Invisibility Cloak, of course, and had decided to have a bit of fun and scare the living daylights out of the girl. He was currently on the receiving end of a furious and actually rather funny lecture concerning proper conduct and conduct unbecoming of the Boy-Who-Lived.
Not that he would be telling Hermione anytime soon that her lecture was funny- no, for as shitty as it may be at some times he actually enjoyed his life the way it was. With all of his body parts attached.
Sitting at the Gryffindor Table he nodded to Seamus and Dean, and a huge grin split his face as he turned to Neville. "So, Nev," he began, grin still firmly in place, "Why'd you beat up poor Crabbe?"
Neville scowled. "It was Goyle, for your information, and you bloody well know why I beat him up."
Seamus grinned as well as he joined Harry in teasing the poor boy. "Actually, mate, he doesn't know. Remember he was at the 'Super Secret Order Meeting' yesterday?"
Dean couldn't restrain himself. "Oh- you mean the meeting that no one is supposed to know about? Harry was there?"
"Yup," Seamus replied, "Which means he doesn't know why good ol' Neville here beat up the big, bad bully from Slytherin."
Three sets of inquiring eyes turned to Neville, and he groaned as he let his head hit the table. "He was talking to Draco, and Draco was getting scared." He let his head hit the table again. "I overreacted a tad." Seamus laughed, but Harry and Dean nodded to show they understood. Neville grinned sheepishly up at them, and pillowed his head on his arms. "I haven't slept since." Everyone in the vicinity cracked up at the implications of Neville's statement. But they calmed down eventually, and started to eat their meal.
"So what did they do to you?" Harry asked as he loaded his fork full of eggs.
Neville sighed as he remembered. "I've got detention with Snape starting Monday and going through Thursday."
A chorus of sympathy groans met the announcement, and Harry waited until no one was paying attention anymore to cock his brow at the other boy. It took a second, but once Neville realized what Harry was offering he nodded emphatically. When the two boys saw the odd looks they were getting, they merely shrugged.
It was a few minutes later before Harry chanced mimicking Neville and letting his head rest on the table. The others ignored them, used to this by now. It was the silent signal that the Dom was talking to their mate, and as Hermione glanced across the Hall she saw that Theo also had his head nestled into the crook of his arm.
"Good morning, sunshine," Harry greeted as he got comfortable. He chuckled to himself as Severus narrowed his eyes, wondering what his fool-boy was up to.
"What, may I ask, is so good about it that you must refer to me as that infernal element?"
"Considering that you start detentions with Neville on Monday, I'm surprised you're not making the best of the time you have left." Harry chuckled as Severus groaned mentally, and added, "And also, for as long as you're to be hosting his detention, you won't be able to skive off your paperwork as you've been doing."
Severus glared into his goblet and ignored the slightly panicked look Trelawney was giving him. The mad old bint had chosen to sit next to him instead of taking the seat that was open near Flitwick and therefore she had chosen to put up with his mercurial mood. "You are the bane of my existence and I refuse to believe that the Longbottom brat will change my accustomed schedule that much." Severus watched Harry covertly as he sat at the Staff Table, and saw the teen sneak a wink to the other Gryffindor. "Be gone and leave me in peace."
Harry grinned as Severus forcibly cut off the conversation, and turned to Neville. "Hey, Nev. You like Potions, right?" Neville groaned at the question, automatically assuming that Harry hadn't been able talk Snape around. Dean stared at the two boys, wondering what on earth was going on, but shook his head as Seamus commanded his attention. The Irish boy gave him too much work for him to worry about others.
The rest of the day passed quickly, as most of the students reveled in the fact that today was Friday. Classes let out immediately after dinner- Dumbledore had canceled the few evening classes for reasons that the students didn't know or care about. Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron, Seamus, and Dean were relaxing in the Gryffindor Common Room when McGonagall walked in.
Looking around and seeing all the students she needed together, Minerva walked over to them and crossed her arms. "The six of you will be coming with me. As I see you're not doing anything, I'll assume you have nothing better to do." She smiled at them, and turned to walk away. Letting the smile grow as she heard the groans issuing from disgruntled throats, she held the portrait open and waited for the students to precede her.
Once they were all assemble out in the hallway, Minerva gestured for her students to follow and began walking. Harry glanced at Hermione with a question in his eyes, but she shrugged. Realizing they really had no choice in the matter, the six students hurried to catch up with the formidable Deputy Headmistress before she noticed they were not right on her heels.
After walking for five minutes in complete silence, Harry was voted via pointed glares to be the one to ask the Transfiguration Professor where they were going. Running slightly to catch up with the older woman, Harry smiled ingenuously at the stern teacher.
"Can I ask where we're going, Professor?" Harry grinned up at the Head of Gryffindor House impishly, and she glanced down at him with well-concealed amusement.
"Indeed you can, Mr. Potter." Harry waited a minute before realizing what she meant, and smirked. Schooling his face into a properly subservient expression, he brought one hand to his throat and simpered at the older lady, eyes wide and innocent.
"Dear Professor McGonagall, do you by any chance happen to know why we were taken so unceremoniously from the midst of our House Common Room to locations unknown?" Harry's performance was rewarded with a slight chuckle. The other students covered their mouths, caught between horrified fascination and the urge to laugh. To talk so to Professor McGonagall! Harry must be insane, was the general consensus.
"Brava, Mr. Potter." Minerva said, hiding her smile well. The boy had an uncanny ability to make her smile, and she really wished that she could shed her stern demeanor long enough to let him know that. "But as it stands, I am under strict orders to keep you in the dark, so to speak."
"Ah, well," Harry sighed, dropping the act, "It was worth a shot." Winking at his Head of House, Harry dropped back into the crowd following her and latched onto Hermione's arm. Ignoring Ron's unhappy look, Harry gave Hermione a meaningful glance as he gestured vaguely in the general direction of his head. Nodding to show she understood, Hermione took a firm grip on his arm as he called for Severus. "Hey, Severus. Do you know where McGonagall is taking us?"
The grumpy answer came back soon enough, and Harry sighed. "Yes, impossible imp. I do know." Harry waited, but frowned as Severus added nothing further, other than a vague 'please don't go looking for the answer.' Harry let go of Hermione and shrugged, shaking his head. She looked thoughtful as she pondered that fact that no one was allowed to tell them anything.
McGonagall stopped suddenly and turned to face the group ranged behind her. "Here we are. Before I let you in, though, you must understand three things." Raising a brow, she went on. "First, no one other than those who are in this group or already in the room are allowed inside. Second, and most important, you are to never reveal the location of this place. Third and finally, if you do not agree to these terms, you must leave now."
No one moved, and McGonagall raised an approving eyebrow. "Good," she said briskly, turning to the blank wall and placing a hand on it, "Remember the password and follow me."
Stating the word "Invictus," clearly, Minerva moved aside as the wall became a doorway. Grabbing the handle and opening the door, Minerva walked through and waited for her students to follow. When they were all inside the small hallway, she opened another door and entered into a nice sized room. Seamus looked around in amazement- the room was just like the Gryffindor Common Room, but for the color scheme. Everything was black and white, even the walls.
Sitting on the couches that were arrayed in a semi circle around the hearth were other students, very familiar to the Gryffindors. But instead of moving to their mates immediately, they glanced at McGonagall when they saw that Snape and Dumbledore were also present.
"Well?" McGonagall asked sharply, "Take a seat." The Gryffindors scrambled to do her bidding, and soon all of the students were seated and looking to the Professors for instruction. The inter-house pairs remained carefully segregated, as they didn't know what was going on, and Minerva took her place next to Severus as Albus began speaking.
"Thank you for coming." Blaise repressed a snort as the Headmaster began- it's not like they had been given a choice in the matter. Harry felt his anger at the Headmaster begin to run through him, and forcibly tried to tap it down. He glared at his hands as they waited for the Headmaster to continue, telling Severus shortly, "I will kill him." Severus sent a questioning feeling to the teen, ignoring his own anger, and began the task of calming Harry down.
Dumbledore went on, oblivious. "Now I know you are wondering where you are and why you are here, so I will get straight to the point." He cleared his throat and clasped his hands together before continuing. "In past years when students have been brought together by the Subdo Revilio Potion, they have merely stayed in their House Dorms. However, since this year has such a large grouping, Professors Snape and McGonagall have agreed to my plan."
Moving over to stand in front of the fireplace, Dumbledore rested a hand on the mantle. "This is the Common Room of your new dormitory." The students sucked in a collective breath at the Headmasters words, and glanced to their Heads for confirmation. Both Snape and McGonagall nodded, and the students turned their attention back to Dumbledore, excited now. "There are three doorways here-" and Dumbledore pointed each one out- "and each leads to a different place. That door-" and he pointed to the door to the left of the entrance hallway- "leads to three rooms. That door-" and he pointed to the door to the right of the entrance- "leads to three more rooms."
Walking to the third door and opening it, the Headmaster gestured to the inside. "This is a small kitchen area that was provided, as you are further from the kitchen here than in your House Dormitories. There is also a restroom located in this area. Each set of rooms shares one bathroom, and I expect you'll all work out a schedule suitable for your needs." Draco groaned, and Neville grinned at the blonde. Dumbledore ignored the exchange, and continued on.
"Everything is done in black and white for now. Once you choose a room, you will be assigned a House Elf to help you make the room more comfortable. The Common Room will have to be a joint project, but I trust that you will all work together to make this home for you."
He looked around the room, then asked, "Any questions?"
Susan raised her hand promptly, and spoke when Dumbledore nodded to her. "Are we going to be sharing our rooms with our partners?" All of the students glanced up to the Headmaster in interest, and waited for the answer.
"Yes, that is precisely why there are only six rooms. Also- once you decide which room you would prefer, a House Elf will move your belongings to you new quarters. Any other questions?" No one raised a hand, and Dumbledore nodded. "Well then. If you need any help, feel free to contact either myself or Professors Snape and McGonagall. We will leave you here to get settled, and I'll see you all bright and early Monday morning."
With that, Dumbledore left the Common Room, leaving his Potions Master and Deputy to answer any lingering questions. Harry glanced at Severus swiftly, and saw the anger burning behind his mate's eyes. Resolved to deal with that later, Harry turned to McGonagall and frowned.
"Is this legal?" He asked suspiciously, and pursed his lips when Pansy laughed at him. Minerva looked shocked at the question, but answered honestly.
"Yes, of course. Why would you even think otherwise, Mr. Potter?"
"No reason," Harry replied, "Just wondering."
After a moment, an excited question broke the silence. "So, we can choose our rooms now?" Everyone laughed at Draco, and Snape nodded from his position against the wall.
"Of course, Mr. Malfoy. Please, feel free to choose your room first." The other students glared at the Potions Master, but didn't say anything- not wanting a detention.
Neville stared at the Potions Master for a moment before getting up and going over to Draco. The Slytherin immediately went to the door to the right of the entryway, and walked in. Sticking his head out moments later, Draco grandly proclaimed, "My room-" Neville glowered at him, and Draco pouted- "Fine, you annoying prat, our room is the first door on the left. Don't even think about taking it."
The others laughed at the unusual couple and stood, starting to familiarize themselves with the dorm. Snape and McGonagall stood to the side, waiting to interfere if anyone got into an argument. But the students were feeling supremely generous tonight, as they had just leaned that they would no longer have to sneak about the Castle to find time with their mates.
In the end Hermione and Ron took the room across from Draco and Neville, and Harry took the other room in that section. Hermione and Ron's door faced Neville and Draco's door, and Harry's faced the door leading into the Common Room. Seamus and Dean took the room coinciding with Hermione's, Blaise and Pansy took the room matching Harry's and Susan and Theo took the last room. When they were all set, the pairs came out of their rooms, and gathered around the teachers.
"Are you ready to have the House Elves bring your things?" Minerva asked, as Severus seemed to be in a snit. The students nodded, and Minerva gave the pre-agreed upon signal, and the Common Room suddenly had six House Elves in it. Assigning one House Elf to a pair, Minerva took her place against the wall and watched.
Seamus, Dean, Theo, Susan, Pansy, and Blaise immediately started ordering Elves around, but Hermione stood to the side with a frown as Ron made the arrangements with the Elf. Neville let Draco take the lead with the Elf, more than willing to give into his mate in this regard. Harry smiled as Dobby raced to his side, and resisted the urge to glance up at Severus. "Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is to help Harry Potter! What does Harry Potter want Dobby to do?"
Harry smiled benignly at the little Elf, and said, "Could you please retrieve my things from Gryffindor Tower and place them in my new quarters?" Dobby nodded excitedly and grabbed at his hats to keep them from falling off.
"Of course Harry Potter, sir! Anything for Harry Potter!" With a crack! the Elf disappeared and Harry smiled as he ignored Severus' mild amusement.
"Oh, hush you. It's not my fault he hero-worships me."
"I am inclined to differ, my imp. You are the one who freed him, and as he is one of the few House Elves who abhor forced servitude, you are naturally going to be accorded special honors." Harry grinned inwardly at the sarcastic words, and changed the subject.
"Aside from the obvious reasons, why are you mad at Dumbledore now?"
"I am not mad, that implies that I am rabid and I am nothing of the sort. No- I am angry at Dumbledore this time because he is using this idea to try and have the other paired students in a position to guess who your Sub is."
Harry swallowed convulsively in anger, and chanced a glance at his mate. Severus looked up at the same time, and nodded once as Harry's eyes proclaimed his fury. "But there is nothing we can do about it, other than that I will never come here to visit with you." Harry heard the sadness behind the words, and swore. How dare Dumbledore do this to his mate!? How dare he think that he could get away with this!?
But Dobby reappeared and he forcibly turned his attention to the House Elf who bowed repeatedly to him, saying, "I've placed Harry Potters things in his room, just as you like! Will Harry Potter check and make sure Dobby did not fail Harry Potter?" A dejected look crept onto the House Elf's face, and Harry did his best to hide his smile.
"I am quite sure you did well, Dobby. But if you insist, I will of course go and check." Harry walked to his room with the solemnly hopeful Elf on his heels, and opened the door. His things were perfectly arranged in his room, clothing hanging exactly as he liked, and school things neatly set up on one of the desks. Dobby hung back, head down, as Harry walked through the large room, and checked everything.
There was one large closet that his School Robes were hung in, and two huge armoires that were placed one on each side of the bed. Two desks were placed next to each other, along with chairs, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves adorned the one empty wall. Harry's things were neatly place exactly where they belonged, and he turned to Dobby, more than satisfied.
"This is simply perfect, Dobby!" Harry exclaimed, and the House Elf perked up. "You did a wonderful job, just as I knew you would." Dobby grinned from ear to ear at the praise, and danced in place in his happiness.
"Would Harry Potter like his mate's things brought to this room?" Harry froze, and slammed the door with a flick of his wrist. The slight sounds from the Hallway were cut off, and he looked at Dobby with hard eyes.
"What do you know of my mate?" he asked immediately, and almost felt sorry when Dobby's ears flopped and he crumpled into a ball. But with his conversation with Severus fresh in his mind, he was all too aware of what Dobby could do. Casting a Silencing Spell, Harry waited.
"Harry Potter's mate is Professor Snape, and Dobby is sorry!" Harry froze as Dobby's words hit home, and listened absently to the House Elf begging Harry to forgive him. "Please forgive Dobby, Harry Potter! Dobby is a bad, bad House Elf! Dobby doesn't know what he did, but he is a bad, bad House Elf!"
Harry dropped to his knees in front of the small creature, and placed his hands on the thin shoulders. "Dobby, stop. Dobby- I'm sorry, I never meant that you did anything wrong, I just wanted to know what you knew." The Elf looked up at Harry with those large, watery eyes, and sniffed.
"I is sorry, Harry Potter."
Harry shook his head. "Dobby- you did nothing wrong. Will you do me a favour?" Dobby nodded immediately, looking better at the thought of doing something for Harry. "Will you promise to never tell anyone that Professor Snape is my mate? I can't have anyone else knowing, and I know I can trust you."
Dobby looked up at Harry with wide, worshipful eyes, and nodded reverently. "Harry Potter can trust Dobby, yes he can. Dobby will not tell a soul."
Harry sighed expansively, relieved beyond words. "Thank you Dobby," he said sincerely, "you don't know how much that means to me." Harry released the spells and opened the door, thanking Dobby again. Dobby bowed repeatedly as he got ready to leave, telling Harry that "Harry Potter must call for Dobby if he should need anything! Anything at all!" With another sharp crack! the Elf disappeared and Harry sighed as he walked into the Common Room and collapsed onto a couch.
Severus gave him a vaguely searching look, and went back to watching over his Slytherins. Once all of the students were assembled in the Common Room, Minerva said, "Well, now that you are all settled, we will be leaving you. Remember the three rules, and if you have any questions, feel free to find myself or Professor Snape." Looking about the room, Minerva nodded and added, "Good night, and I hope you all become used to your new quarters."
The two teachers left, leaving the students behind. They stared at one another for a few moments, as the reality of the situation seeped in. Seamus said suddenly, "Well I for one never expected this." Heads nodded around the room, agreeing with the Irishman.
For a while they were silent, but soon Blaise stood and stretched. "It's too early to be going to 'bed', even on a Friday night." He grinned as the others laughed at the emphasis he put on bed, and added, "So lets break in the new Dorm."
Ron grinned slowly, and nodded. "The twins sent me a case of Butterbeer, and the Elf brought it down." He smiled as the Slytherins looked at him with interest. "And I don't mind sharing."
The other students perked up, and the party started.
Hello, my loveliest of lovely reviewers! I'm back, and for the time being, this fic shall run it's normal course of being posted on Monday's again. Thanks to everyone for the well-wishes, and hugs to everybody in general!
I was beginning to miss posting this fic, you know. Only the fact that I really didn't have time for it kept me from breaking out of my self-imposed hiatus early. But otherwise, unless something drastic happens, this fic is back on.
Ta!
Netrixie
P.S.: Huge cyber cookie to the person (other than Amber Athame and MannyWitch) who get the reference in the password! I'll tell ya'll next chap.
P.P.S.: By the way-- have any of you other authours out there seen this Reader Traffic thing? It's cool… but it's also telling me that this fic has had a total of 1000 hits since the first of September. Where are the reviews, people? LOL, no-- I love all of my faithful reviewers… XD