Dinner finished around 9:00 pm and the house elves cleaned up. Draco and Narcissa were reading as Severus and Lucius ended up in Lucius's office. Severus instantly sat down and sighed out.
"What's on your mind, Severus?" Lucius inquired.
"Many things." Severus admitted.
"Would you like to discuss them?" Lucius offered. "I'm not sure how much help I could offer, but sometimes someone listening is all it takes."
Severus considered the idea before looking at the man. "How much do you know about the bond used between Potter and I a few months back?"
"It's powerful, old…Unbreakable by only the people who got bound with it." Lucius listed off. "Why do you ask?"
"How powerful?" Severus pushed.
"It uses blood magic, Severus. I think you know just how powerful without me saying so." Lucius informed. "But again, why do you ask?"
"I'm wondering if the bond can affect the two using it in a negative way." Severus finally said after a moment of trying to find the words.
"That depends on what you consider negative," Lucius remarked. "How about you stop asking questions, Severus, and just tell me what's on your mind…"
"I don't know, Lucius," Severus looked at the blonde male. "We…May have gotten into a fight and something feels…Different now."
"Different how?" Lucius questioned calmly.
"Like something is…Pulling me towards Potter. If we're in close range, there's this feeling to be closer. When we're rooms apart; there's something telling me to go to him," Severus informed. "Then there's the emotions that are not mine I feel."
"It sounds like your bond with Harry is trying to keep you two together." Lucius commented as Severus stared at him. "I assume you were unaware?" Severus gave him a look as if to ask what? "Your bond was formed on your own promises to each other, Severus. This wasn't just a wedding, it was a bonding. The entire ceremony invokes vows, magic, and blood. It is one of the strongest binding rituals, created to be unbreakable only by death or unfaithfulness. You saw the circle's reaction to you and Harry, the gods and goddesses have smiled upon your union, blessing it…"
"Yes, you spoke of some sort of soul bonding." Severus mentioned.
"I said it was rumored to be a sign that you were blessed by the divine because you are soulmates." Lucius corrected. "Say what you will, but blood magic and soul bonding are two of the strongest magics in our world…" He added. "It explains what you've told me about. Tell me…What was this fight about?"
"I had told Harry he could come to me in my quarters if he…Well, you know…" Severus hinted. "But I was busy grading papers and told him no. We got into it over me never touching him since the wedding…So we back and forth until I yelled at him that he needed to let go of the illusion that we were actually married because it wasn't real among other things…"
"Well, then what I say is happening, Severus." Lucius mentioned. "Your bond is suffering a strain, and it's affecting both of you while trying to repair itself. You two are destroying your own bond, but it's not going to just break; it'll take you down with it as the previously stated idea that you're soulmates. It's rare, but bonds have been known to connect two people indefinitely by their lives so that if one goes; they both do…A way of one never having to live without their other half, if you would…"
"This pull I'm feeling, that's the bond trying to get Harry and I back together?" Severus questioned.
"That's the basic explanation. You're both fighting the pull, it's causing everything that you're both suffering. Stop fighting…Make up with Harry." Lucius told him.
"I don't know how to do that, we've always had a strained relationship because-," Severus started.
"Because Harry looks just like James." Lucius nodded. "And Harry's godfather is Sirius. And Harry's unofficial uncle is Remus. The people who gave you hell as a boy are some of the most important to Harry. But here is the thing, Severus…While you harbor hatred towards your bullies, you need to remember that Harry is not like them. And Harry is Harry, not James. You not seeing past that hatred is probably affecting Harry too, Severus. It's precisely what Sirius did, only seeing James instead of Harry. You're pushing Harry away…Why?"
"I don't know." Severus sighed.
"You need to figure it out, or it's going to hold you back from truly connecting with Harry. If this bond is truly that of a blood magic and soulmate one…Then it's your rejection that is hurting you, and Harry. I know he's one of your students, and he's twenty years younger. But if you look past that, is it really so out there that you two might get along and come to like one another. Is it really that awful you two might be-," Lucius had started, but Severus glared at him.
"It's ridiculous, Lucius!" Severus said quickly. "Do you presume to assume that Potter and I are in fact soulmates? That we could love one another?"
"Is that such a ridiculous notion, Severus?" Lucius questioned. "When you two aren't at each other's throats, you are fine. We all saw proof of that during the wedding dinner. Severus, just give it a chance. There are forces at work here above you, me…Even the dark lord. Give this a chance with Harry. A real chance. Get to know him, take things slow. Be his teacher when you have to be, but any other time…Be his husband." Lucius advised. "I know you love Lily, but she chose James and…Sadly, she is gone now. All that's left of her is Harry. Use your love for Lily to see past the hate."
"You've no reason to hate Harry. He's never done you any wrong…From Draco's stories, you've been rather mean to him over the years…But still protected him? So you give him a hard time because he's James's son, but protected him because he's also Lily's? Come now, what sense does that make?" He sighed. Severus closed his eyes. "Give this a chance, Severus," Lucius told him. "Just try."
"And if we tried and nothing came of it?" Severus inquired.
"Severus, I don't think the bond would have even formed if it didn't see something in you two worth fighting for and that's what it's doing with that pull feeling you get. Harry probably feels it too, that's why he tried to come to your room so many times over the last few months. Maybe he is assuming that pull for you is a sexual urge or maybe he just wants to be close to you. As for feeling emotions that aren't yours…They're probably Harry's. Bonds can do that, open to allow the other person to feel what their partner does. It can act as a line of communication, or a way for a partner to know what's going on. What you're feeling that you think aren't yours are Harry's. You're feeling his pain when you reject him." Lucius explained.
"So you believe the bond is fighting for us to stay together, but eventually, it'll break. And that you think when it does; it may kill us with it?" Severus questioned.
"I said it's possible that powerful bonds tie into your lives, ensuring that when one dies, the other follows. I do not know if that is the case between you and Harry, but do you want to take the risk? Dying over something so…Easy?" Lucius wondered.
"This bond was never supposed to be a permanent thing, Lucius. You know that…One year, Potter turns seventeen and then we're done." Severus remarked.
"Severus, you picked the bond to use. You chose something that could not break unless it was by YOU TWO. I only performed the ceremony, but you chose the one I did and it chose to accept your vows and hold you to them. Now, maybe I'm wrong and you two won't die if things break…But that doesn't make me wrong about the fact you're feeling Harry's pain at your rejection. Or about him feeling sick because his heart is literally breaking." Lucius informed.
"We don't love one another, he's nothing to be upset about. I'm not." Severus argued.
"You are." Lucius told him. "If you didn't feel the effects of the rejection you placed on Harry, you wouldn't have brought all this up wondering if the bond could be hurting the people it's holding together." He remarked. "Just because you and Harry don't feel love for one another doesn't mean it's not possible that you could. The bond has recognized you as soulmates, so maybe if you give it a chance, liking and loving could come in later. Are you really so against opening your heart to him? That might be why you don't feel anything. You closed your heart after Lily died…Regardless, you still feel something. You care enough to have said something about why you believed the bond was giving negative effects. You care enough that Harry's sick and you're wondering if it's the bond. Care enough that you're worried about his depression…"
"Maybe I do care, but I promised Dumbledore I'd protect the boy for Lily." Severus growled.
"And how do you think Lily would see you know, hurting her son?" Lucius asked.
Severus flinched some. "She'd be very disappointed in me."
"You cared enough about the boy's welfare to agree to the union. Cissy, Draco, and I all said after you left for your wedding night that marrying Harry for the reasons you did was very out there for you to do for any student that may have come to you with a problem of this level. And would you have done it for anyone else? Answer honestly…" Lucius questioned.
"Probably not…" Severus sighed.
"Exactly. You did it because it's Harry who came to you. He trusted you enough to help him and he didn't even demand it by calling in the life debt you owed James. He ASKED you to marry him, begged you to help him. He chose you to ask because he knows you've always protected him even if it seemed like you hated him." Lucius stated. "Stop denying that you care, Severus. It'd probably do you wonders. You care, that's why you brought all this up, because deep down you feel guilty for what you said to Harry."
"Lucius…You know I can't get close to the boy. The dark lord-," Severus began.
"Knows nothing. He suspects nothing, Severus." Lucius remarked. "And Harry gave you his word he'd protect you from him. You need to trust him. Right now, the dark lord is angry that unlike first year where he was attached to Quirrell's head, and second year with the diary…Harry managed to beat him as a fourth year student when he was restored to a physical body and had his wand. Aside from being angry, the dark lord is beside himself that he actually lost last year too." Lucius stated.
"I don't think you have much to worry about in that area. Severus, fix this before it damages the boy to the point where he feels like he did in fourth year he doesn't want to fight because he thinks it's pointless. You heard him months ago where he said he won't plan a future because he doesn't even think he'll still be alive. Fix this while you still can."
"I'm trying…" Severus stated. "I just…Don't know how. He's avoiding me and I can't talk to him as a husband in the great hall during meals or in the common room…"
Draco appeared at the door and knocked slightly.
"Draco…What are you doing here?" Lucius asked.
"Thought I should let you know that Harry just called the main fireplace. Mom is talking with him now…I came to get you, Uncle Severus."
"Is he feeling worse?" Severus asked.
"Don't know, he only said he was calling because you told him to." Draco informed before he left the room.
"I should be getting back…" Severus stood. "I'll keep you posted."
"Severus…" Lucius stopped Severus from leaving. "Listen." Lucius said firmly. "Take a deep breath and go see Harry, check on him. Once he goes back to sleep, then just take some time to clear your head. Forget about James, Sirius, Remus, and even Pettigrew. They can't give you trouble now. And from what Draco told me, Harry gave his godfather a pretty firm warning not to mess with you anymore back in fourth year. That should show you that Harry is not like them." Lucius informed.
"Start seeing Harry as Harry, no one else. Figure out your words and then find time to sit down with Harry and talk to him. I advise beginning with an apology for being an ass…Tell him you want to get to know him, that you want to try and make the marriage work…It's only you two that will suffer if not."
Severus nodded as he left the room and walked to the main area, Lucius with him, of course. Severus took Narcissa and Draco's place in front of the fire where Severus could see Harry's head in the coals. Severus looked at Lucius for a moment, who mouthed the words to be gentle.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Severus asked calmly.
"You said to call if I felt worse…I feel worse, Professor," Harry replied.
"Alright, go sit on the couch and I'll be right there." Severus informed.
"You don't have to trouble yourself to come back. I'm just letting you know because you told me to tell you." Harry responded, but had mumbled the last bit.
"Don't be daft, I wanted you to tell me so I could come back and take care of you." Severus said.
Harry gave a snort. "I thought you didn't care about me to have to take care of my needs?"
"You're still my husband, Pot-…Harry," Severus commented.
"Now who is eluding themselves that this is real?" Harry repeated. "Don't trouble yourself, Professor. I can take care of myself, I have been for years. I'm going back to my room…"
A moment later, Harry's face disappeared.
"Why did he say that?" Draco looked at his godfather. "Why did he say you didn't care about him to have to take care of his needs, and something alluded to what is real?"
"Nothing, Draco…" Severus stated.
"Don't give me that…" Draco narrowed his eyes. "What did you do?"
"We just had a small argument and said some things in the heat of it. We haven't yet…Made up." Severus informed.
"I don't believe you. Not between earlier before we ate and this…" Draco folded his arms. "What the hell did you do to my best friend?"
"The fight may have included me telling him that the marriage wasn't real and that I didn't care about him…" Severus sighed.
"Why would you ever say such things?! When was this?" Draco scolded.
"A month ago…" Severus replied.
"That's when this depressive episode started." Draco thought back. "That's when he got miserable. You did this. It's been a month and you haven't made this right?!"
"I didn't mean it," Severus said. "It was said in the heat of the moment…"
"Go home right now and take care of him. When he's feeling better, you fix this. I won't lose my best friend…" Draco ordered.
"Draco, you're not going to lose Harry…" Severus assured.
"You don't know that, Uncle Sev. The last time he acted this way, looked this miserable was the night I found him hanging over the edge of the Astronomy Tower…When he was done with everything because he couldn't stand how it felt to be rejected by everyone for being in the tournament." Draco reminded. "Fix this…So help me, Uncle Severus, if Harry goes off the deep end and tries to kill himself because of you holding onto your hate of his father and godfather, I'll never forgive you."
"I love you, but Harry's my best friend…I see him like a brother, and we've been close since the wedding because it's like he's family to me. I'm not losing him because you can't get over the past." Draco told him. "James Potter is dead, Pettigrew obviously works for the dark lord, and Sirius is locked in St. Mungo's because he's so messed up from losing James that he couldn't accept that his best friend is gone when Harry looks just like his father."
"Wait a minute…You know what Sirius did to Harry to make him want to leave his godfather's custody?" Narcissa looked at her son.
"Of course I do…" Draco replied. "I'm not gonna say what happened because it's Harry's business, but I will leave you with it being bad. It scared Harry…And Harry does not scare easily." He paused. "Go home and fix things with Harry."
"I've told you the same, Severus," Lucius added. "With everything you've said and now I've heard from my son; it cannot be denied any longer that you need to remedy things with Harry or things could go very badly for you both but more so for Harry."
"I'll try, but you see how opposed he is to anything with me." Severus remarked.
"He thinks you hate him!" Draco yelled.
"Draco…" Lucius warned for his son not to raise his tone. "I told you what to do, my friend…Get your head together, tell Harry you want to talk to him, and start with a genuine apology for your behavior towards him. Work out your problems…It's part of marriage, Severus. Yes…All couples fight and disagree,"
"But they get over it that day, or a couple days later. Never just leave things the way they are after a fight." Narcissa informed lightly. "If you know you're the one in the wrong, you take the first step to admit you messed up and apologize. Then you talk things out to fix the problem so it doesn't become a problem again. Relationships are all about trust, communication, and mutual feelings. Now, I know you and Harry do not love one another…But it's possible for you to like one another and get along, even if that like is not in a romantic, crush type of way."
"A lot of pureblood marriages and bonds aren't out of love, doesn't make the union any less successful." She continued. "Marriage, Severus, is not fifty-fifty. You both don't put in half the effort to make it a joint ordeal. Both of you put in one-hundred percent effort at all times. By the sounds of this…Harry is the one who was making the effort to make things work in a less than perfect situation. Now it's time you do your part."
Severus nodded, he really had messed this up by letting his anger of the past get in the way. Anger of the situation itself. "Now that you realize you've been an outright ass to my best friend, Uncle Sev…Go home and fix it. Do what you've always done for Harry since first year…Save him. Your hate of Harry's godfather and father never stopped you from protecting him from Quirrell, or Lupin, trying to teach him Occlumency, or giving him that Gillyweed. I know you did, and covered yourself as helping him by saying Harry stole it." Severus mumbled. "Stop seeing him as an enemy, like I did. Let go of the past. Harry is not his father or godfather." Draco said.
"I acted like you did in first year…I didn't like him, I thought he was all that and got away with everything…That was until I saw how miserable he actually was being famous. Until I saw him wanting to throw himself off the tower. I realized maybe I was wrong about Potter's perfect life…I let go of the past to save him, and decided to try and be his friend. I got to know him." He informed. "He's a great guy, Sev. You just have to take the time to get to know him, if not as a lover…A friend, at least. But stop seeing him as nothing more than your student. Get to know the real Harry, give him a chance."
"And now we've wasted enough time telling Severus the best ways of how to fix his relationship with Harry." Lucius stated. "It's up to him. Go on home to Harry, my friend. When he's feeling better, we'll do another dinner together and we will see you for Christmas."
"Yes, of course!" Narcissa beamed.
Severus nodded as he turned and got into the fireplace, then threw down the floo powder and called the name of his own floo before being swallowed up by the green flames; his goal in mind that he needed to fix things with Harry and truly give things a chance.