Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 11

“So come on Harry fess up. Where exactly was your mind in my class today?” Remus sat patiently in the chair opposite the podium Harry was stood on. The tailor was still magically cutting and styling the fabric around Harry for the new robes he’d commissioned.

“On Malfoy if you can believe.” Harry whispered as he turned slowly around, having been prompted by the tailor, who was making a fine job of the rich blood red robes. Remus looked slightly surprised at Harry’s confession but didn’t comment as Harry was turned back around. “I think he’s sleeping in Snape’s chambers.” Harry didn’t mean his comment to sound so sour but just thinking about the blonde made his blood boil.

“How do you know that?” Remus inquired as he played with one of the ties of the many parcels that sat around him. He and Harry had been shopping all evening, the boy seriously having put some thought into his purchases. Harry shook his head quietly at his professor, indicating silently he didn’t want to answer that question in unfamiliar company.

“There, we go Mr. Potter.” Harry turned his attention to the old wizard before him, who stood back from him and brought over a full-length mirror. Harry stared at his reflection in admiration. The new robes were beautiful. His trousers and shirt were made of the purest black while the outer formal robes were blood red, trimmed expertly with gold. Turning full circle to acquire the full affect, Harry looked questioningly at Lupin, who was now staring at Harry in amazement.

“Well what do you think?” Harry questioned, eager to hear what Remus thought of the new robes he’d had made especially for this ‘ring ceremony’.

“Wonderful, Sirius will be amazed by how mature you look in them.” Harry blushed but nodded in acceptance. Turning to tailor Harry smiled his thanks, as he stepped down from the podium.

“Thank-you you’re very talented. I’ll just go change, and Remus will finalize the payment for me.” The tailor nodded and ushered Harry into the change room leaving Remus to pay the 100 galleons it had cost the boy to have the new robes. Harry emerged from the change room back in his normal school robes, and watched as the tailor carefully packed away the new outfit, as he and Remus collected up their other parcels.

“So is that everything now Harry?” Looking down at the armfuls of parcels they had Remus sighed as he stepped out into the moon lit street.

“Yeah, that’s about everything, want to sit and have a pumpkin juice before we go back? On me of course.” Harry smiled gesturing at the small witch café on the corner of the street. Remus agreed easily and both men sat down at an empty table inside, having ordered their drinks.

“So are you going to answer my question now?” Remus inquired as the waitress brought over their juices. Harry reclined back in his chair pondering whether he should be explicit about his concerns but considering there was precious anyone else he could speak to, Remus seemed the obvious answer.

“Snape leant me a book and I returned it last night. Draco was there, having a bath. Snape said he was just receiving treatment but I saw a pillow and a blanket on the couch.” Harry whispered softly as he sipped from his drink, cautiously gauging Remus’ reaction. There was silence for a little while before Remus shrugged his shoulders unknowingly.

“All I can say Harry is that Draco, is Snape’s godson he is rightfully allowed in his guardian’s rooms. And if Snape does say that Draco was receiving treatment I see no reason not to believe him.” Remus paused as he sipped thoughtfully on his juice before continuing. “Why does it bother you anyway?” The question Remus asked was the one Harry had been asking himself all day, but no matter how he reasoned a little part of himself still swelled up in rage when he thought about Draco and Snape.

“That’s the point Remus, it shouldn’t bother me.” Harry whispered his juice now finished. Remus frowned but let Harry continue. “Last week I couldn’t have cared less if Draco was sleeping there or not, In fact I didn’t care if Snape fell off a cliff and died but since I signed that piece of paper the other day something inside of me is irritated knowing Draco’s sleeping in his chambers. Unconsciously I’m keeping track of Snape, watching him when I’ve got no reason to do so. It’s driving me up the wall Remus. I hate the slimy little git, but I don’t too, if that makes any sense at all?” Harry sighed and put his head in his hands finally cracking under the strain of the week of hell he’d just had. Through Harry’s little speech, Remus had remained strangely silent. Glancing up from his hands Harry was a little stunned to see Remus staring at him blankly almost in shock.

“It’s the bond, it’s forming already.” Harry dropped his hands and looked curiously at Remus who had now pushed his juice aside and was leant forward on the chair, his voice lowered so no one else could over hear them. “I’m sure you read the differences between a wizards’ marriage and a muggle one yes?” Harry nodded prompting Remus to continue. “Well this is one of these differences, Wizard marriages are legally called ‘bonds’ and describe the uniting of two magical creatures with one another.” Harry frowned and shook his head not following Remus at all. With an exaggerated sigh Remus continued regardless. “Unlike a muggle marriage which is merely a uniting of souls, a wizard marriage is a uniting of magic. Essentially by agreeing to marry Snape, you’ve agreed to share your magic with him, and he with you.”

“So Snape can use my magic? Shit.” Harry whispered all of a sudden regretting having ever put his name of that parchment. Seeing Harry’s fear, Remus reached across a placed a gentle hand on Harry’s.

“No, not yet anyway, that’s the last stage of a bond and takes many years to occur if ever. What you’re experiencing is the early stages of the bond forming.” Remus pause yet again letting the information sink in before continuing. “Normal couples have already experienced this. Due to their affection for one another, the effects of a bond can be passed off as love, but because you and Snape are rather adverse to one another you are feeling the effects of your magical bond forming far more acutely. Most couples never feel any different after marriage, because the feelings for one another that would have been formed during the bond have already happened during the early stages of their romantic relationship.” Remus came to the end of his speech and while a little wiser Harry was more worried than ever, with what Remus was suggesting.

“So you’re saying I’m falling in love with Snape because my magic wants company?” Harry pulled a horrid face the idea alone turning his stomach. Remus chuckled and shook his head lightly.

“No, you’re just becoming more aware of Snape because your magic is combining with his. Your magic is essentially a very intimate part of you, and is highly sensitive to your moods, health, mental well-being. It only makes sense that when you introduce another person’s magic, just as intimate as your own that you’re going to feel it. This is why it is usually only couples in love that form wizard bonds or marry if you will.” Harry stared at the empty glass in front of him deep in thought before he looked up in concern at Remus.

“Isn’t this a little dangerous? If Snape and I are ‘bound’ to one another, won’t you-know-who be able to feel it through my bond with him?” Harry touched his fingertips to his scar by way of explanation. Harry watched as Remus sighed deeply his expression darkening a little.

“We don’t know, that is why we tried so vehement to prevent this but as you know we had no choice.” Harry sighed inwardly and rubbed his scar absently. So even if none of them told old Voldie, he and Snape were husband and husband, the bastard might already know through the bond. Snape was doomed and that somehow made Harry feel bloody awful. “Come on Harry it’s late, we need to get back.” Harry nodded and gathering his purchases followed Remus towards the apparition point. There was a little line up for the point and Harry and Remus joined the cue to wait patiently. It was while they were standing there that Harry thought about the other thing bothering him.

“Remus?” The werewolf glanced down at Harry who was staring up at the night sky absently. “What do you know about seals?” Harry inquired as they moved along the line.

“Seals?” Remus whispered in complete confusion. “Well they swim in the ocean, they’re kind of gray and furry oh and they taste like chicken.” Harry stared up at Remus blankly the man seemingly pleased that he’d recalled that last fact.

“Seals as in wax seals you close letters with, not the sea mammals.” Harry clarified watching as Remus’s face lit up in realization.

“Oh right, okay then. What do you want to know?” Remus inquired bubbly, a little more enthusiastic now he knew what he was talking about.

“Anything really, like do wizarding families have seals, what do they symbolize?” Harry looked expectantly up at Remus who pondered on the questions for a moment before answering.

“I don’t know a lot about them, but I know the old wizarding families still use seals a lot. They’re more old school than anything else, they used to symbolize ownership of property but now I think people just use them to ‘seal’ letters and important documents. Each individual family seal supposedly incorporates the characteristics of that family. I couldn’t tell you much more about them. Snape probably knows more, his family seal has been around for millennia, you should ask him.” Drawing closer now to the end of the line Harry began shrinking his packages and slipping them into the pockets on his robe, Remus helping the boy.

“Yeah I think I will ask him.” Harry replied thoughtfully as the last of his packages were stowed securely in his pockets.

“May I ask why the sudden interest in seals?” Remus glanced down at Harry again as he paid the point keeper the two knut’s to use the apparition point.

“Oh just something I saw, it’s not important I’ll just ask Snape.” Harry brushed the question off as he and Remus stepped up into the apparition point, Harry automatically wrapping his arms around the professor, still legally not having his apparition license. “Incidentally Remus how do you know seal tastes like chicken?” Looking up at Remus from the man’s chest, Harry watched as a cheeky smile twitched at the corners of the professor’s lips.

“It’s a wolf thing you wouldn’t understand.” With that they were gone, a sharp pop echoing in their wake.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>