The Bonds That Tie
Just as Draco announced it would happen, Severus and Harry enjoyed their evening after Harry's feeding and went right to bed. Not that Harry slept, but they never left their room and it was under a locking and silencing spell. Harry nor Severus cared who knew; it wasn't forbidden knowledge they had sex as mates and they had every right to do so. The night was peaceful, most everyone spent it doing what Harry had said they should; preparing for an evacuation in case of a surprise raid. Harry obviously had a feeling that it would happen eventually and wanted everyone ready to mobilize at a moment's notice. When morning came, Harry spent it with everyone for breakfast even though he didn't eat. Harry was actually pretty quiet, seemingly preparing himself for a long day of trying to restore the Longbottom's sanity. It was going to be trying and Harry warned several times that what he thought of was only theory, no guarantees. Harry was doing all the work himself, he was going to come home tired and weak; Severus was on standby to feed Harry afterward but was also in charge of watching Harry's physical body while he worked.
"Harry?" Severus asked as the vampire looked over to his mate. "Are you ready?"
"As I'm going to be." Harry nodded. "You have the potion for me?"
"I do. I managed to modify it with help from Salazar's notes." Severus informed. "I meant to tell you last night, but we were…Busy."
"It's fine, love," Harry said as he got up and kissed Severus's cheek. "Thank you. Ready to head to St. Mungo's?"
"Waiting on you," Severus smiled softly.
"Then we're on our way. See all of you later." Harry waved.
"Best of luck, Harry!" Narcissa and Draco said together.
"Let us know," Lucius added afterwards.
Harry linked hands with Severus and apparated them out.
. . .
It was about 10:00 am when Neville and his grandmother, Augusta arrived inside the hospital's lobby. The two waited patiently for Severus and Harry, who appeared by 10:15 am and walked in side by side, but not holding hands.
"Harry, Professor Snape," Neville greeted with a smile.
"Mr. Longbottom," Severus replied. "Lady Longbottom," Severus gave a light bow to Augusta.
"Hey, Nev. Hello again, Lady Longbottom," Harry gave a small bow to them.
"Good to see you both," Augusta responded. "I've made the arrangements, and all is prepared."
"Thank you, Lady Longbottom, for the opportunity to try and correct this." Harry informed. "Your lead?"
Augusta walked with Neville, leading Harry and Severus to the fourth floor and the grandmother handled the talking to the desk staff there. It wasn't long until they were taken to a room close by, inside where Alice and Frank Longbottom on their beds.
"Neville and I will just be sitting off to the side here, if that is alright?" Augusta hoped.
"That's fine with me, but I must request silence?" Harry said.
"We'll be quiet." Augusta promised.
"I can only work on one at a time, and there's no telling how long this will take if I make progress. Professor Snape is here to monitor me, pull me out if my magic stores get too low. If this goes quickly, and I'm not weakened much with success; I'll work on Mr. Longbottom." Harry informed them.
"Whatever you can do will be amazing, Harry…I know it's not guaranteed, but the fact there's something possible that hasn't been tried is great." Neville smiled. "I believe in you."
"Thanks, Neville." Harry told his friend. Harry smiled and nodded as he set his hands on his legs, palms open towards the ceiling. Harry closed his eyes and relaxed entirely, clearing his mind. Unfortunately, the problem was how loud it was. "I can't do this here. It's too noisy. I know it's quiet to you three, but not me. My hearing can pick up thing all over this floor, above and below us."
"So what?" Neville asked gently.
"We need to move to the manor. I know everyone there will be quiet for me." Harry revealed.
"I'll let the workers now. You may take her ahead," August stated.
"I'll go with Professor Snape and Harry, Gram." Neville nodded.
"I'll take Neville, you take Alice." Severus told his soon to be mate.
Harry lifted Alice into his arms and vanished back to the manor. Once there, Harry appeared in the main room, surprising everyone. Severus and Neville were right behind.
"That was fast." Narcissa said.
"Hasn't happened yet. The hospital is too loud for me to meditate in." Harry informed as he laid Alice's figure down on a transfigured sleeping pad while he made a second one for himself.
"We'll be quiet for you then." Lucius assured as everyone nodded. Augusta arrived moments later, taking a seat next to her grandson and Severus was standing close to Harry and approached, holding the potion.
"Administer it to Alice, please, Professor." Harry asked.
"What are you giving her?" Augusta asked.
"I need her completely still and asleep while I work, it's just a mild sleeping draught to promote good, peaceful dreams." Harry explained as Severus moved carefully to give Alice the potion and then laid her back on the bed gently. Alice slowly drifted off to sleep and Harry knew it was working when a smile appeared on her lips. Severus looked at Harry, giving him a nod. Harry moved to the one extra pad, kicking off his shoes and sitting cross-legged across from Alice's figure. "When my body slumps, leave it be. If you touch me, it'll bring me back so don't physically touch unless you see my stores go below twenty percent, Professor."
"Understood." Severus nodded. "Good luck."
Harry repeated the position from before, hands apart and resting on his knees as he closed his eyes and entered his meditative state. It only took a few moments before everyone saw a white aura take over Harry's body like flames and then a blue cloud of smoke poured from Harry's chest and took form of Harry next to Alice's place. The blue Harry levitated himself to line up with Alice and then his figure faded into hers. Sure enough, Harry's physical body slumped over onto the bed, completely unmoving. Severus flicked his wand to put a silencing bubble over his mate, and then finally take a seat next to Harry's body making sure to tap into their bond to watch things through feeling as he couldn't see like Harry could.
/In-Body/
Harry saw right away what Severus had meant by the memories and mind being in complete shambles; this would take work. First, though, was dealing with the brain. Harry focused himself to the center of the head, appearing smaller but able to see the brain in full. Harry had to watch closely to find the parts affected by damage; this took some work to get everything recovered. Harry had to not only heal, but repair. This took time and Harry had no idea how much had passed outside the body. Harry had to actually touch the brain physically to heal damage and repair it. Not everything was easy fix, though; really damaged parts took more work. When everything looked like it was functioning again, Harry turned his attention on the memories. Harry got all the pieces to stay stationary so he could work with them. It was just like a jigsaw puzzle. This was going to take far more work to do, but it might not affect his magic to put pieces together. Harry was actually putting Alice's life back in place, from her earliest memories as a child to when Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jr. had tortured her.
"Some memories weren't shattered and sadly, Harry knew the ones in tatters; he might not be able to repair, but he was going to try. "There's no way I can do all this in a day. Merlin knows how much time has already passed…" Harry sighed. "Still, it can't have been too long or I'm not weakening by doing this. Severus hasn't pulled me out yet." He added.
Harry kept walking through the memories and found himself looking at a door. Harry put his hand on the knob, feeling it not turn due to being locked. Harry relaxed. "Alohomora." Harry cast as the door unlocked with a click and then he turned the handle to go inside. It was rather dark. "Lumos Maxima." Harry held up his hand as a ball of light spread throughout the room. Harry found full memories of Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jr dancing around a young woman. Only these memories were full-bodied, casting Crucio over and over again. "Everte Statum!" Harry sent Bellatrix and Barty Jr. into the wall hard. "Avada Kedavra!" A blinding green light obliterated the memory of both people and Harry made his way over to the woman. "Alice? Alice Longbottom?"
The woman looked up, shaking and afraid, but she nodded. "W-Who are you?" She asked.
"My name is Harry James Potter." Harry introduced.
"Harry Potter is just a baby, like my Neville…" Alice replied.
"I need you to listen to me. Where you believe you are is not reality. You are trapped in your own mind, plagued by pain of being under the Cruciatus curse. Out there…It's been almost sixteen years since you were tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr." Harry explained. "I am Harry James Potter, only son to James and Lily Potter. I am sixteen, and best friends with your son, Neville. Bellatrix and Barty Jr. tortured you and your husband to insanity and you've been inside St. Mungo's all this time, needing around the clock care." He continued. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I'm here now to bring you back. I promise it is safe, you can trust me." Harry offered his hand. "Please trust me?"
Alice was hesitant, but she slowly reached out her hand to Harry's and took it as Harry pulled her up. "I didn't know how to get back."
"You've been trapped here within your own mind all this time, that's what insanity is. Losing your mind. No none has been able to heal you all this time." Harry informed. "I have abilities that mind healers do not possess. And to be honest, I wasn't even sure it would work. But your son is a good friend of mine and I had a way to try and bring you back; I couldn't not try it. You don't have to be afraid." He assured gently. "Just come with me and I'll guide you…There will be much to be told about what you've missed, but it will be worth it. And I promise, pending my own return to my body, if I'm not too weak from this; I'll bring your husband back too." He said.
"You are truly James and Lily's son?" Alice inquired. "You don't look like them."
"The appearance you're witnessing is that of what I became, Mrs. Longbottom. I will be honest, I'm a vampire. I was turned almost two years ago now, but it's these abilities as a vampire that have allowed me to come find you." Harry said. "When you return to reality, I will show you that I'm every bit of James and Lily."
"I suppose I have no choice but to trust you. You know too much for it to be made up or a trick." Alice smiled.
"Thank you kindly," Harry smiled. "Now, we have to leave this room. You will see shattered memories of your own, from being tortured. But you know all that's happened in your life, I believe, together, we can repair them." He informed. "Do you trust me?"
"I trust you." Alice nodded.
"Come with me." Harry guided her out of the room she'd been locked in for all these years. "We've just entered your mind. Center of your brain, if you would. I want to try casting a repairing charm on these pieces. But I'll need you to stay connected to me and cast at the same time. You'll need to focus what you know into the spell to repair everything. Can you do that?"
"I think I can." Alice replied softly.
"At the same time, we cast Memoria Reparo. Okay?" Harry told her.
"Will this work?" Alice questioned.
"I don't know, it's new to me as well…But we've got nothing to lose by trying." Harry told her. "Ready?" Alice nodded.
"Memoria Reparo!" Harry and Alice cast together. There was a flash of white as the memories around them swirled and formed up to fix and be whole once more.
"Oh, Merlin…" Alice looked around. "A-Are these from when I was insane?"
"Appears so. You always knew who your son was, but couldn't make the connection with the state of your mind. That's him, your little Neville. Let me tell you, he's one hell of a wizard. You and your husband will be proud." Harry informed.
"Harry, thank you…" Alice hugged him.
"You're welcome." Harry returned the hug to Alice. "I have to leave to wake you up, but when you do…You'll be inside where I live. I will be there too, with Severus Snape. Don't be afraid, the world has changed from all those years ago. Things are not what they were and once we get your husband back…All will be explained."
"I trust you." Alice nodded to him.
Harry apparated himself out, finding his body and returning to it.
/Reality/
Harry's eyes opened fast as the shot up in bed. "Harry, you're back." Severus said quickly. "We were worried…"
"How long has it been?" Harry questioned.
"I know you don't want me to lie to you…But it's been about eight hours." Severus informed.
"Dear Merlin, really? It felt like two to me." Harry shook his head, trying to fend off a headache. "Did you have to pull me back?"
"No. Your stores had only just hit thirty." Severus assured. "How do you feel?"
"Definitely can't attempt this again today," Harry admitted.
"H-How did it go?" Neville asked hopefully.
"We're gonna find out, my friend," Harry told him. "Step back for now, though. We don't want to overload her if it worked. I promised her I'd be the first familiar face she saw when waking to ensure it was real." Neville nodded as all of them left the room, but watched from the doorways quietly. "Wake her up." He said gently to Severus. Harry forced himself to try and stand, but it was weak and Severus had to brace him for a moment then went over to give Alice the potion to reverse the effects and stepped back. Alice woke slowly, then her eyes opened and looked around before sitting up carefully. "Alice?" Harry asked.
The woman looked at him carefully, then smiled. "Harry…I-I'm back? I'm truly back?" Alice asked.
"Do you remember everything that's happened?" Harry asked.
"After your parents were killed by Voldemort, Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jr tortured me and my husband for information on where their lord was…It's been dark since then, until you came." Alice said gently. "W-Where's my son and husband?"
"Your husband is still at the hospital. I'm too weak to restore him today, but now that I know what to do…I'll get him back tomorrow for you." Harry said.
"You promised to show me how you look like your parents?" Alice laughed a little.
"That I did." Harry stood on his own and waved a hand over his figure to reveal how much he looked like his father.
"Oh, my…Just like James. But your mother's eyes…" Alice gasped. "You mentioned things are not what they were years ago?"
"Much has changed," Harry told her. "Too much to explain for one night." He added. "How would you like to see your son?"
"I want nothing more…" Alice nodded.
"Nev, you can come out of hiding now. Same with Lady Longbottom," Harry called. Neville inched his way out slowly.
"Neville. My baby boy…Oh, how you've grown…" Alice said gently.
Augusta quickly moved into the room now. "Alice? My darling daughter in law, is it truly you?"
"I'm back, Mother. All thanks to Harry," Alice nodded. Neville immediately darted forward to hug his mother tightly and Alice wrapped her arms around him, kissing his cheeks and forehead. "Oh, don't cry…I'm here. Mum is here now…"
"This means my son can be restored, yes?" August asked.
"Yes, Lady Longbottom. I can get him back, I just need the night to recharge if it's gonna take another eight hours." Harry informed. "Mr. Longbottom will be back tomorrow."
"Bless you, Harry…Bless you." Augusta gave the vampire a hug and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Harry smiled softly, tiredly. Augusta went on to hug Alice and Neville hugged Harry next.
"Harry…I don't have the words. Thank you…You gave me my mum back," The teen was trying not to cry hard. "Giving me my family back. You're truly a wonder and my best friend. Not just this, but all you've done over the years for me. Thank you so much. If there's anything I can ever do for you, just say it. I'll do whatever to pay you back for this."
"Nev, hey…Relax, my friend." Harry chuckled some. "You don't need to pay me back for this. I, like you, understand how valuable and meaningful family is. I can't be reunited with my parents, but I've gained all the people I have now. Trust me, I get it." He put his hands on Neville's shoulders. "Tomorrow, we'll get back your dad."
"Thank you, Harry…" Neville hugged him again then went back to his mother and grandmother.
"Harry…For what it's worth, your parents would be very proud of everything you're doing to right this world. I have no doubts how proud they are of you." Alice said sweetly. "Thank you for bringing be back to my family."
"My pleasure, Mrs. Longbottom." Harry nodded. Harry smiled gently as he tried to step and felt that weakness setting in. "Sev…Help."
The potions master instantly got to Harry's side, bracing the vampire to lean on him. "You need to sit down and feed, Harry. You're stronger than most, but not invincible." Severus sighed.
"Just take me to bed…" Harry mumbled. "I think I'm tired enough to sleep for once. Oh, feed me too?" He joked.
"Come along you." Severus shook his head as he guided Harry from the room and took him upstairs.
Once in the room, Severus got Harry on the bed, sitting up before he shucked off his shirts and moved close to Harry to let his mate bite into the neck and start feeding. Harry easily adjusted to push Severus back on the bed, straddling the man's legs while he fed. It didn't take long as it never did when sucking from the neck. When Harry was done, he comfortably laid against his mate and yawned, tired for once in Merlin knew how long. Harry slowly drifted off to sleep, arms wrapped possessively against his bonded. Severus knew he wasn't going anywhere tonight, but that was fine. Severus was good to stay in bed all night with Harry, who right now, was fast asleep and Severus was just taking the time to admire the vampire. Amazing where they started, and now this. Mates. Going to be spending basically an eternity together. It sounded kind'a nice, a life Severus could more than accept with Harry. After all, they were soulmates and Severus could admit to himself that he was falling for Harry Potter. Very soon, Severus would tell Harry. Everything was working out for the better.