The Most Difficult Of All Our Tasks

Chapter the Twelfth – Conditions



On a scale of one to ten of how shocked a person could feel, Harry was about a gazillion.

“I’m…but…you…it’s…” he spluttered intelligently.



“Good to see your mental capacities have not been harmed,” Jack sniggered, before stepping back at the filthy look her friend sent at her.



“All yours Snape,” she muttered to the older man before vanishing once more into the flames.



Harry stared in desperation at the other’s retreating figure. He didn’t want to be here: standing facing Snape, having to deal with a man who had clearly lost his sanity.



“I…” Harry began weakly.



“I am serious,” Snape repeated, still on one knee, the ring box still held towards the younger man.



“Oh get off the floor!” Harry snapped as he began pacing. He ignored the slight noise of Snape standing and determinedly looked at the wall.



I can’t deal with this. Not being pregnant and all.



The thin, pale wizard began to speak calmly, trying not to let Harry’s immediate reaction and subsequent pacing bother him. “I read the announcement in the Prophet, and I wanted to speak to you about it. I know I am certainly in no position to order you around, but I am one who knows Lucius Malfoy, far better than you do. Please believe me when I say that Committing to him will make you miserable forever.”



Harry had stopped walking and was regarding the other silently. He hadn’t started yelling at Snape yet, purely because the older man seemed to be voicing Harry’s own deepest, darkest fears.



Reassured by the lack of argument, Snape continued, “He is Bonding with you to protect you from the Wizarding World, I would imagine, but chiefly he is ensuring his child is a true Malfoy. I dislike and distrust Lucius, but that doesn’t mean I would sabotage your happiness if I thought he was what you wanted. I don’t believe that the Harry I knew at Hogwarts would allow himself to be manipulated in this way by an enemy.”



Harry swallowed. He’s right. I’ve always known what Lucius was like, why have I let him touch me and force me into this marriage?



Snape went on as Harry remained still silent. “Lucius has perhaps made you feel that you must be Committed to him to be safe. That is not so. As one of the fathers of your first child, I have as much of a right to ask for you to Bond with me as he does. In actuality, I have more right, as Mycroft is alive, whereas you could lose the baby you are carrying at the moment.”



“Are you threatening me?” Harry asked, voice and eyes cold.



“Of course not.”



Snape sounded so reasonable that Harry felt ashamed of accusing him.



“Miscarriages can happen, even with wizards.” He took a breath then said, very steadily, “So, I am formally asking you to Bond to me.”



The younger man was silent, one arm held protectively across his stomach. Hang on, how come my stomach has stopped hurting so much?



There was no noise from either wizard for a long time. Finally Harry responded, “Yes, I can see why you are offering. But I won’t Commit to you. I won’t give you control over my life. Perhaps Lucius will make me miserable, but I’m not going to change from him to you, KNOWING you’ll make me unhappy.”



“I won’t make you unhappy,” Snape answered quickly. “We can agree our conditions before the ceremony.” He saw the surprise on the other’s face. “Ah, no doubt Lucius has kept that a secret from you. Any marriage ceremony in our world is capable of having a contract attached to it, the conditions of which must be adhered to, or the marriage is void. Only with the consent of both parties can a stipulation be altered. A marriage, or a Bonding without a contract automatically assumes that the woman’s property and wealth will become the man’s. In the case of same sex marriages, whosever name is first on the certificate is assumed to be the dominant one in the relationship, the one who will benefit from the other.”



“So you’re saying I could say no sex, and you’d have to agree?” Harry asked, amazement spreading across his face.



“I wouldn’t like it, but if that was a condition that you demanded, I would have to agree.” Severus clarified.



“What if I demanded to Bond with you and never see you again?” Harry asked, curious.



“Then the Ministry of Magic,” Snape responded deliberately, “might wonder why we were Bonding at all. Remember, they do have the final say in whether or not a Commitment Ceremony is approved.” He paused, looking straight at the other. “Would you consider it? The Bonding? With appropriate conditions?”



“No sex.” Harry stated categorically. “Mycroft and this one,” he lightly tapped his belly, “are to be raised by me, and we’ll be given the freedom to come and go as we wish. We’ll live with you… somewhere neutral. Not my house, and not Hogwarts. Somewhere else. My possessions will remain my property, and your possessions will remain yours. We’ll split all costs between us. If any conditions are broken, without agreement, not only is the Bonding void, but the other loses all his property as well.” Harry looked seriously at Severus. “I won’t change my mind about the sex, Snape.” He said, “Don’t think you can persuade me. You try anything, and I’ll take every penny you have.” He glowered before adding, “Understand?”



Snape inclined his head. “I understand. Am I allowed to suggest a few conditions of my own?” He waited for Harry’s nod before starting, “I am at liberty to seek sexual gratification elsewhere, providing I am discreet. No doubt you will not need that release, as you clearly are not bothered by sex.”



“What?!” Harry yelped.



“If you have stipulated no sex, then sex, as an act, must hold no charm for you. The Ministry would never approve a Commitment where the two parties won’t have sex together, but will sleep with others.” Snape spoke smoothly, a slight smile twisting his pale lips.



“I can’t have sex?” Harry gasped.



Severus shook his head. “If you wish sex, it must be with me, or no one.” He waited for a moment. “Perhaps we can amend that condition to be that sex is allowed, but can only be instigated by you. That would give you the final say. And,” he added inconsequentially, “would mean that I could not ask for my clause. It would be sex with you, or sex with no one.”



Harry looked shocked. “You’d do that?”



“I would do what is necessary to ensure my child is brought up properly, feeling loved, not feeling like the unwanted bastard Lucius no doubt sees him as.”



Harry shook his head, feeling sick. He’s right. That probably is how Lucius would treat Croft. This marriage to Snape would stop any cruelty to him.



“What about this one?” Harry asked, again prodding his stomach. “Would you treat this one as the unwanted bastard?”



Severus shook his head, a dark expression on his face. “Never. If I am Committed to you, I am committed to the children you have. That boy or girl would be treated as if it were my own. He or she need never even know that I am NOT its biological father.”



“Will do if it’s blond,” Harry muttered under his breath. Aloud he said, “Not that I am agreeing, you understand, but how would I go about breaking off the first engagement without having it turn into a battle? Lucius isn’t going to want to let me go.” For the first time Harry seemed aware of just how trapped he was.



Severus looked thoughtful for a moment or two before slowly smiling. “Do you have the paperwork detailing your name change?”



Bewildered, Harry shook his head.



“I thought not. Well, for once, we can get the better of Lucius. I will merely arrange the paperwork to marry Harry Potter. Malfoy will know nothing about it for a while and when he does, Lucius can make no counter claim as he is officially engaged to Harry Greene; until that is publicly broken off, he can do nothing. In the mean time, I will be preparing the ceremony, and we will pretend to anyone who watches that we are a devoted couple, and to split us up would be a cruel act.”



Harry wasn’t thrilled with the idea. “Have I got to pretend to love you?” He asked, looking horrified. “Won’t that make the sex clause seem a bit odd?” He added.



Snape shrugged. “I can explain away the clause, don’t worry. And you will only need to pretend should Lucius catch wind of what is happening. I will obtain an expediated response. No doubt the Ministry will be glad to help you out.”



“One of the few perks of fame,” Harry said sardonically.



“Indeed. Will you Bond with me?”



Harry thought for a moment, his face twisting. He sighed. “Oh, go on then.”



“A little more enthusiasm would be appropriate,” Snape commented before leaving.



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