The Bonds That Tie
A month had gone by and students were back in school. Harry couldn't wait for the next month to pass because his sixth year would be over and school would be out for the summer. Two and a half months to relax, maybe. There were still things to do, like try and fix the Longbottom's and then recruiting for the cause. The army was already growing from the original thirty-five; there was now sixty, including Harry himself. Somewhere in the school as students still, and others were those who graduated. Others were from the Order of the Phoenix, but only Severus, Remus, and Tonks or rather, Nymphadora Tonks, but she preferred to be called Tonks. It wasn't safe to try and recruit beyond them from the Order, not yet. Albus needed to be revealed as a liar first then others might be willing to shift. It was nice that all the original army members returned, except Ginny, who had not been told because she was definitely working with Albus to try and hook Harry. Of course, so far, all attempts had been thwarted because Harry's rings warned him of danger when it came to compulsion charms and potions. Imperious had been attempted, but Harry could easily throw it off, just like he could with the Cruciatus and Killing curses. Harry had been able to do it before he was a vampire, so it was natural he didn't lose that ability once changed. Albus's tactic was trying to be the grandfatherly type to Harry, but it didn't work. Ginny couldn't try much because she got warned by Harry that he would get a magical restraining order against her and if she broke that; it was off to Azkaban for an undetermined amount of time.
Voldemort was recruiting too, the number of death eaters had increased at meetings but not by too much or it would attract attention. Though, Harry did scold Voldemort for breaking some of his old death eaters out of Azkaban. Told him it was a foolish move and they'd never win over the public if he kept up the criminal mind activity. Aside the movement they were trying to make, Harry kept himself focused on his studies even though he really didn't need to. Harry's inability to sleep unless he was weakened and needed to heal allowed him to get quite a bit done at night and Harry had already moved himself ahead into seventh year work. Honestly, Harry was getting ready to just say screw it and take his NEWTs early. Harry was sure Lucius and Narcissa wouldn't mind, but the only reason Harry hadn't asked them is because he didn't want to leave his friends behind at the school. Who knew what Dumbledore would do to them if he wasn't around to keep them safe and that went for Severus too. The two of them had gotten closer and Harry dare say he might actually be falling for the man. Maybe not, but Harry couldn't deny that he liked Severus a lot. Now that they weren't fighting all the time, it was easier to just talk and hang out or train. Harry fed from Severus once a week, and then they'd also squeeze in their healing and occlumency training. Harry was doing good at shielding his mind, and healing, but the shields weren't strong enough to maintain all the time, so they were still working at it.
And then over the summer, there would be training for Severus in his vampire abilities and controlling the hunger. All that had been worked out that Draco would feed Severus until the man could two weeks between feedings then Harry and Severus would shift to feeding on inconspicuous muggles or Harry might reveal to Severus about the coven, where they could get muggle blood whenever. Harry couldn't tell Severus yet, it was supposed to be kept a secret to only vampires. There was a lot of risk in things coming out too early, plus Harry had the added job of trying to get vampires and werewolves accepted into society. If all went well with showing the people that Voldemort wasn't out to kill everyone, it would work for vampires and werewolves too. This world was gonna change, everyone was going to be equal. That was the goal Harry had to make happen. All the diversity and corruption is what ruined the world. Years of power-struggles needed to be undone.
"Harry!" Severus said loudly, which made Harry snap out of his thoughts and back to the real world. "There you are."
"Sorry…" Harry told the man.
It was about 9:00 pm and Harry was in Severus's private quarters while they were doing occlumency training. This was on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays along with healer training. The two would work on occlumency first from 8:45 to 10:00 pm, then healing from 10 pm to 11:45 pm. After that, Severus would usually go to bed while Harry spent his night doing assignments for the next day or researching. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were days Severus taught the students of the army occlumency, but with help from those who already knew it so any of the Slytherins, then Lucius, Narcissa, and Bellatrix. It wasn't safe for Voldemort to assist in the endeavor and it was always done in the school down in the chamber of secrets because Harry manipulated the coins to be able to travel down to the snake door and he would open it with the group learning that particular night. It was always done after 10:00 pm and only until Midnight. Plans were moving right along. The only other thing being done was that Harry had put Dobby in charge of making sure Potter Castle was clean and moving things in that Harry had at the Malfoy's, such as everything from the Chamber of Secrets, and then other places he'd owned. The place was almost done and Harry couldn't wait to see the finished product when summer started.
"It's not like you to get distracted, Harry…" Severus stated.
"Had my mind on other things." Harry admitted.
"Do you want to stop for tonight?" Severus asked.
"No, it's fine. I'll stay focused," Harry responded calmly.
"Alright." Severus nodded. "Are you ready?" Harry relaxed himself completely, shutting down all emotions and focusing on keeping his mind blocked. It was imperative that he above the others could do this. Finally, Harry nodded to Severus. "Legilimens!" The man cast as Harry felt resistance like always; he could always block it for a bit, then it would shatter. Sure enough, after two minutes; the shield broke and Severus was able to get inside his head. The potions master pulled back as Harry muttered something about this being impossible. "It's not impossible, but it is hard to do and then maintain." Severus said calmly. "You're getting better."
"But not fast enough." Harry told him.
"Not everyone has the gift to do this quickly, Harry." Severus informed. "Just as not everyone can cast the patronus charm but you somehow got everyone in the army before it's reform to do it. Everyone can learn Occlumency and Legilimency, but it takes work." He explained.
"We've been at this for a while, Severus." Harry remarked. "I can't hold the shield longer than three minutes."
"It's better than before when you couldn't even shield," Severus smiled. "But I do agree that it seems like you can't progress past this level and perhaps there's a reason why. Maybe you can't shield me because of our bond." He added. "It's possible you just can't block me because I'm your mate and our bond already offers you protection from me."
"Do you really think that's why?" Harry wondered.
"Only one way to find out. Get us to the manor, we'll have the others who can use Legilimency try." Severus suggested.
"You sure?" Harry asked.
"It's theory if nothing else. I'll let Dumbledore believe I've been called and the old fool will just believe you are in your room for the night." Severus wrote a quick note and sent it off with one of the Hogwarts' elves. "Can you apparate us without setting off the wards?"
"No, but I can take us across the lake and apparate from Hogsmeade docks." Harry informed. "Come on, we'll go to my room and use the window."
. . .
It took minutes for Severus and Harry to reach Harry's room, then phase through the window into the lake and shoot across to Hogsmeade. Hidden under darkness, Harry apparated them to Malfoy Manor, right in the main room.
"Pup!" Sirius beamed.
"Hey Uncle Siri," Harry greeted.
"Good heavens!" Narcissa put a hand over her heart. "Harry, warning would be nice. I don't desire to have a heart attack this young, sweetheart."
"Sorry," Harry smiled.
"Leading us into the next statement…Why are you both here?" Lucius asked. "Did Dumbledore attack you again?"
"No." Severus shook his head. "We came with a reason."
"Care to enlighten?" Voldemort asked.
"I've got a theory as to why Harry can't hold his mental shields against me, and we need to test if it's the reason why or not." Severus stated.
"What's the theory?" Bellatrix wondered.
"Harry's shields can't hold against me for longer than three minutes and we think it's because of our bond. Not wanting us to shut each other out, even for training. That and it might be ineffective because my shields already offer him some protection." Severus explained.
"I suppose it's possible." Lucius remarked. "How will you test it?"
"One of you needs to cast the spell on him and see if he can block you." Severus said.
"I'll do it." Voldemort offered as he stood up and drew his wand.
"Close our bond, Harry. If we're to see if this works, we need to see it without my shields to help." Severus instructed. "Remember what I taught you…Clear your thoughts. Control your emotions. Shield your mind…" He instructed calmly.
Nodding, Harry focused himself as Severus had been teaching him this time around. The first was a lot of yelling and animosity between them. This time was genuine trying to help him because he wanted Harry to be protected. First, Harry closed the bond between him and Severus. This wasn't hard; he did it plenty when they had been arguing over the fact they were bonded. Harry's research led him to understanding that this closing off was a form of occlumency, but only to his mate. Harry then closed his eyes, letting his thoughts clear out completely and then he turned off his emotions. This was something Sanguini actually taught him, and natural ability to control their emotions and being able to turn them off, or dull them down. Last Harry cast a silent shield charm before opening his eyes.
Severus nodded to Voldemort to go ahead. "Legilimens!" The dark lord cast. No, Harry didn't like this. When Voldemort was trying to get in his mind; it made his scar burn. The shield shattered quickly and Harry had to step back with the base of his palm to the old wound. "Does that test your theory for you, Severus?"
"No, unfortunately…" Severus sighed. "Harry, you alright?"
"I can't, not with him." Harry said. "It's the same problem with you, Sev…I'm holding part of the dark lord's soul within me. Every time he tries to get in my head, it sets off the scar burning. I've never been able to shield against him because the pain makes me lose focus. It's working against the link we have. If anything, the link is stronger than ever before because Tom has the rest of his soul back, excluding the diary because that was destroyed four years ago. No, someone else with no connection to me has to do it." He finally moved his palm away when the pain faded off.
"Does family connection count?" Narcissa asked. "If so, it would automatically takes Draco, Lucius, Bella, and myself out of trying…"
"I think it means just those he's linked to like Severus as his mate and the dark lord with the soul piece…" Rabastan stated.
"Bella, you're stronger at it than myself and Cissy. Why don't you give it a try?" Lucius suggested.
"You alright with that, Potter?" Bellatrix questioned.
"Got nothing to lose by trying," Harry nodded as Bellatrix stood up and moved across from Harry.
"When you're ready," Bellatrix remarked as she pulled her wand. Harry focused himself once more and looked at Bellatrix with a nod. "Legilimens!" The shield rattled and shook, it would crack. Bellatrix kept trying for another ten minutes before Harry had to close his eyes and turn his head and the barriers fell. "Bloody hell…" The woman panted, but was smiling.
"How was it?" Rodolphus asked.
"Definitely there, and can hold…But not solid." Bellatrix informed while looking at Severus.
"So I was right that he can hold them, but not solid you said?" Severus inquired.
"No. They still shook and cracked, eventually shattered at the end. Harry broke eye contact and unlike you, I can't reach thoughts without eye contact." Bellatrix reported.
"Barriers fell before I looked away." Harry told the man.
"But you still held her out of your mind for fifteen minutes, Harry…That's much more than the three you had working with me." Severus revealed. "And it proves the theory. You can't block me or Tom unless you close the links we have to you. But when it comes to others trying to get in your mind…You can hold them off for a good amount of time. Fifteen minutes may seem short, but it would be enough to keep someone out long enough to let you escape their presence. Dumbledore is someone else who hasn't mastered checking thoughts without eye contact. He can touch surface thoughts no problem, but everything else would be safe." He explained.
"Yeah, but I can't keep you blocked because it hurts both of us." Harry reminded. "We should test the theory of if your shields are interfering with mine when the link is open."
"I agree." Severus nodded. "Bella, if you wouldn't mind?"
Harry opened the link with Severus, allowing the bond to reconnect them and mesh together. Severus stood normal next to Harry, who was refocusing himself. Bellatrix pointed her wand at the pair and cast the spell. Severus and Harry's shields were both the same, untouched. Unbroken. Bellatrix pulled back and lowered her wand. "When the link is open, your shields are both the same. Color, strength."
"Which explains why Harry's shield doesn't hold when Severus is trying to get in his mind. Harry can't block his own mate because their bond is actually protecting both of them." Voldemort stated calmly. "In short-,"
"They're stronger together." The small group that was there said together.
"As long as the bond is open and running strong between you two; you're both always protecting the other. It doesn't matter how far apart you are." Lucius said.
"So we can't call it mastered skill, but we can call it effective?" Harry wondered.
"It's mastered, Harry. If you can occlude entirely with our bond open and there's still separated shields, then you're good. You're protected and that was the goal. Plus, you already have your own version of Legilimency as a vampire." Severus remarked. "I feel it's safe to say that we've gotten over our differences and there isn't anything else that would cause us to fight which would strain the bond."
"True." Harry nodded. "That means we can now use the lesson time for just healing, right?"
"Yes, and you're doing quite well with that too. We're almost to the end of what I was taught, just in time for your attempt with the Longbottom's." Severus informed. "Has all that been set up with Augusta?"
"Everything is set. June 21st." Harry responded. "It the morning. Only Severus, Augusta, Neville, and myself allowed. Private room, no interruptions. I'll have to work on them one at a time, and there's no set time for how long it could take and if it even works." He informed.
"And I'm still feeding you the night before?" Severus inquired.
"Of course." Harry replied.
"I hope it works." Narcissa stated. "There's much work to do, though, isn't there?"
"I have to heal the damage to their bodies inflicted by the Cruciatus curse, and put shattered pieces back together before organizing them." Harry said.
"And you still haven't decided if you'll possess or use astral projection?" Bellatrix wondered.
"I don't think possession will work; it gives me control over their bodies…But not the mind-healing part. Astral Projection, though, that will let me put my soul into them with my powers. Just like how Tom's soul was able to pass me his own magic with the piece of him inside me. But that's why it's so imperative I'm good without my wand because I can't take that with me. Nothing physical, just myself and since my magical core is attached to my soul…I can take that with me." Harry explained.
"So your body, physical body, is going to be a shell while you're soul is projected out of it?" Lucius questioned.
"Basically comatose, yes. That's why Severus has to be the one to watch over me while I work, so he can keep me grounded to my own body. He'll be able to use the bond to call me back." Harry stated calmly. "Hopefully, I can work in shifts if not all at once. I need to repair the damage from the curse first, and that targets to fire all pain receptors at the same time, over and over, causes nerve and brain damage from pain overload. If I can fix that, then it won't be a problem when I go trying to repair memories and thoughts. If they're brains are still under the impression they're being hurt, it's no wonder that no one could handle repairing."
"They're not still in pain." Severus said.
"I know, but if they went insane under that curse…It's possible they still feel like they are under that curse. It's the mind retreat I was talking about. I know they don't feel anything, but the reason they're so messed up is because they themselves are shells with their brains fried from the curse. Once I, hopefully, repair the brain damage, I can heal the rest. It's been years now, it might not be possible to reverse." Harry stated. "And if I can repair it, it's very possible the last thing they remembered was pain. It's muscle memory that they might feel like they're still under it and that will make repairing the thoughts and memories hard to repair."
"Ideas for how to prevent that? The pain?" Narcissa asked.
"One. Draught of the Living Death." Harry shrugged. "Something to put them to sleep indefinitely while I work, so they can't be moving around, can't feel pain…Something peaceful. Keeps their minds from trying to work overtime. They might be shells of themselves, requiring constant care…But even in that state, they're functioning. Nerves in the brain are firing what little action they are for basic function." He considered. "Sev, can you alter that potion? I need it's death-like sleeping properties mixed with peaceful dreams?"
"I'll do my best for you, Harry, but I can't promise anything." Severus informed.
"Trying is all I ask. I'm only suggesting a mix because if they're completely comatose; I can't find which part of the brain needs fixing. I need to know what is working still and what is not. So if they're able to still dream happy…I can work with that." Harry explained.
"I'll get to work on it when we get back, which we should be doing. I sense my wards going off. Might be a student…" Severus informed.
"Got it. Hold on," Harry told his mate as they linked hands. "See ya around." Severus and Harry were gone in a flash.
"Do you really think he can do it?" Bellatrix asked.
"It's anyone's guess, but the theory behind it all is more promising than what's already been tried." Narcissa said. "Everything else has been attempted by mind healers and those Legilimency. Harry's way is new because who would have thought a vampire with the ability to heal and enter the mind would work in concession with one another? Harry's got just as good a chance as all the others."
"We can only hope for the best." Lucius agreed.