Warning: JKR gets credit

You Could

By WittchWay

Harry kicked the edge of Ollivander's desk, gripping the edge roughly. "I don't know why he's got to be here for this." He banged his fist on the counter.

Dean fidgeted nervously, "I'll wait outside for you then," he squeaked, he certainly had no desire to see Professor Snape again.

"Excellent idea Mister Thomas" Snape said appearing in the doorway.

Dean darted for the door.

"Coward" Harry muttered, Ron wouldn't have run, he would have stood by my side. Harry straightened up as Snape came in the door, the man was dressed simply in black summer robes, lighter in material then the robes he normally wore in the dungeons. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, with a few stray strains pulled loose and had been tucked behind the mans ear.

Harry eyed Snape attempting to stare the man down. But Snape appeared not to care, his own dark eyes looked over the shop, nodded at Ollivander and rightly ignored Harry Potter.

He slowly pulled his wand from his robe and handed it to Ollivander, leaning lazily on the counter watching the old man bind the two wands together with a thick cord.

The old wand maker started to move down the aisle chanting again and with better success this time. Boxes began to fly through the air toward the desk, faster and with more power then Deans had.

"I don't want you here," Harry spit out glaring at Snape who had been watching the flying boxes.

Snape looked at him as if he forgotten he was there, "You don't say Mister Potter," in a monotone voice.

Snape casualness about the whole thing was infuriating Harry. He held the desk firmly wanting to punch something...anyone.

The boxes landing on the desk were wider then the single boxes that had appeared for Dean, obviously holding two wands. This made Harry even angrier, he felt as if his hand was being pushed toward this ridiculous bond. It was like everything in the wizard world was trying to push them together. Couldn't they just realize he just wanted to be normal, even if it was just for a little while.

Snape opened the first box, moving aside the tissue paper and picked up the darker of the two wands, he waved it and set it aside. Opening the next box, he took out the blacker of those wands as well and gave it a wave.

"Professor Snape," Ollivander called out, "it would be more effective if your magical fields were touching…" He smiled at them and continued walking down the aisle searching for more wands.

Snape grabbed Harry's hand and picked up the first wand again. Green and silver sparks flew out and danced around the room. Harry jerked his hand back. Holding it to his chest, his hand felt warm and tingled nicely.

Snape glared at him and jerked Harry's hand back away from his chest, scratching him in the process, "Pick up the wand" he hissed.

Harry picked up the wand, the warm sensation spread to his fingers, he waved once as the gold and red sparks darted forward and floated around the room.

Ollivander set the still tied wands together on the counter and began packaging the new wands into separate boxes and bags. Snape banged some galleons on the counter, grabbing his box and the tied wands. Clutching Harry's forearm in his grip, Snape dragged the boy from the shop.

Dean, who was trying not to watch as he waited outside, jumped as the door banged open and one angry Snape dragged an equally pissed Harry Potter from the store.

Snape dragged Harry around the building to the small dark alleyway filled with trashbins, slamming the boy into the stone wall, holding him in place with an arm to the throat.

Harry was nearly equal height with him, his black hair hung in his green eyes, more disheveled then normal. His heart pounding hard in his chest.

"I don't need you paying for my wand." Harry struggled to pull the arm away from his throat.

Snape leaned into him, his crooked hooked nose bumped Potters. "You need to grow up Potter." He started, "This isn't about you, or me. This is about ancient magic that won't be denied. You can run to the ends of the earth Potter and it will still find you and I will be there every step of the way." Snape dropped his arm and took a step back.

Snape roughly pulled the wands apart, snapping the cord that bond them, tossing Potter his wand. He pocketed his own and pulled a newspaper from his robe, shoving the paper under Potter's nose.

The headline screamed, "Boy Who Lives won't Save us".

Harry growled tearing the paper from Snape hand, "When did this come out?"

"This morning…and this is only the beginning."

Harry scanned the article that accompanied the headline and the nasty picture of Snape and he. The article's intent was clear, hell, the entire wizards' world was clear, they expected him to bond in order to end Voldemort's reign. They expected him, them, Snape and him, to save them…in their eyes there was no other option. It was destined.

"You ran to the papers," Harry screamed in outrage.

"No you fool…we had a room full of witness or were you blinded by your own celebrity to notice. It's only going to get worse, things are changing and quick. The Order is not happy with you Potter, they've losing important information because I can no longer return to Voldemort," Snape snapped.

"Why?"

"Why… are you an idiot boy. The bond Potter… the bond."

"You can't honestly tell me you want this." Harry growled at him.

Snape looked at him over this shoulder, "I want the war to end." He said dryly.

"So you will bond with someone you don't love or care about to end a war." Harry was screaming again.

Snape shook his head, "Someday Potter" he said softly but no less fierce. "When this war has been going on for to long and your friends are dead. You'll show up on my doorstep, begging me to bond with you and then... this will finally end."

Harry shook his head, "Never." he tried to keep his tone even but was unable to. His voice cracked and he thought his legs would give out beneath him.

Snape watched him a moment as the color came back to the boy's cheeks, Snape walked back so that he stood in front of Harry, tilting the boys chin up. "You will…in time" and Snape let his lips softly grazed those of Harry Potter, his tongue darting out licking at the pink lips, Snape quickly slipped a arm around his former student, pulling him forward, against his chest, kissing him with more force. His tongue slipping in licking the palate of the warm mouth, startled by the sudden movement Harry let himself be lifted off his feet, let the kiss continue, the warmth over take him.

"Harry Potter will you bond with me," was murmured into the boy's mouth.

Harry quickly woke from the trance that had embraced him, flushed and angry pushed the man away, "No." he screamed. He reached for his wand but was dropped back on his feet so roughly he toppled into the wall, scrapping his arm on the stone.

Snape smirked, he opened his mouth to say something but didn't…just snorted and apparated away.

Harry stood there in the alley for a long time, his cheek pressed against the cool wall. His scrapped arm throbbing. He could still taste the bitterness of Snape's mouth on his, strong tea and a taste of a prudent potion. He should have hexed Snape to hell and back. He should have kneed him in the groin, he should have...

Harry shut his eyes.

Dean cleared his throat, still as nervous as before, "We have to get back… with the others" he whispered.

"Right" Harry snapped, pulled his cloak around him straightening up. "Right" he muttered, and strode from the alley.

Dean followed him silently, not that Harry wanted to talk anyway, he just wanted to get out Diagon Alley. It suddenly didn't look so bright.

TBC

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