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CH 13 For You
This story is now (finally) beta’d. The previous chaps are also going to be revised. Hope you enjoy!

“No!” Harry’s voice thundered suddenly through the otherwise quiet cell. George had been the last member of the order to go in for questioning. Like his brother, he had been returned to their community cell within fifteen minutes with a glorious smile plastered on his disobedient face.
“Absolutely not! It’s out of the question!” The young man threw his arms in the air, his expression twisted in anger. He, Snape and Dumbledore stood in the middle of the room, while the others remained hesitantly in their bunks.
“Be reasonable.” Severus commanded, flush creeping into his cheeks.
“They’ve questioned all of us.” He growled slowly and shot an irritated glare towards the twins, who had obviously not aided the investigation.
“They’ve said nothing to lead us to believe that we’ll be released. Harry this is a way for us to go home.”
Harry shook his head and childishly stomped his foot. “I’m sorry, but this is not going to happen.” He shrugged defiantly.
Severus straightened himself before answering. “It’s not for you to decide.” The dark man fumed at the audacity of Harry’s attempt to boss him.
“Then let me…I’m…” Potter was cut off before he could finish.
“I most certainly will not!” Snape clenched his jaw tightly. Tonks issued a silent prayer that her ex-professor’s teeth could stand up against the pressure.
“For once in your miserable existence will you just obey me?”
Harry locked eyes with his soon-to-be husband searching for answers he wasn’t sure he’d find. Albus graciously removed himself from the private moment and sat down by the twins.
“Why you?” Harry questioned quietly.
Snape sighed and placed his hand on the back of Harry’s head, pulling Potter into his chest. “You’ve done enough Harry.” He tried to sooth his young counterpart.
“You saved my soul, you’re going to save the world. It’s time to let me do something for us.” He finished the last words in a whisper meant only for his lover.
“But the Headmaster said that it’s worse than the Cruciatus. You heard him. The pain is said to be unbearable.” Harry begged as he stepped away from his partner.
“They’ve said the same is true of the Cruciatus and I seem to bear that splendidly.” Snape nodded at Dumbledore and then to the door. Dumbledore gestured for Sirius to join Harry’s side.
“It’s not open for debate. I’m doing this and you’re not.” He kissed Harry softly then eased him towards Sirius.
“I have to go.” Snape hastily left the cell with Albus in tow, leaving Harry speechless.
Harry looked towards his friends. “Un-bloody-believable.” He grinned remorsefully at Ron.
“You’re right no one asks us anything.”
“That’s because you’re all morons.” Fred grinned and hugged his friend.
“Tic-Tac-Toe?”
*** *** ***
“You’re sure you want to agree to this?” Dumbledore asked cautiously, for what seemed like the hundredth time.
“Practically elated.” Snape was hovering in mid air as if laid out on a table.
Albus shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “You understand that there is nothing I can do for the pain?”
Severus rubbed his eyes then glanced around the room. It was cleaner than any of the other rooms he had viewed in Azkaban. Large shelving occupied an entire wall, filled with potions. It was in the medical ward.
“I assure you that I’ll be fine.” He promised the Headmaster.
“So this will show us, without a doubt, who bonded their souls?” Amelia questioned, examining Severus’s floating form.
Albus’ eyes hardened. “Yes Minister. The spell will extract a small portion of their soul from Severus. I’ll then place it in the pensive where you’ll be able to read the magical signature of the wizard who cast the spell. In this case it will be pure light magic.” Dumbledore spoke to Amelia as if she were a first year student.
“It’ll be unpleasant?” She questioned. Snape knew she felt no remorse.
The headmaster was aghast. “Good woman I’m removing a piece of his soul! It’s entangled with every fiber of his being. It’ll feel like he’s being ripped apart on a molecular level.” He attempted to massage the tension out of the back of his neck.
Snape interrupted them with a grunt. “Much as I enjoy discussing my impending torment, can we get on with it?” The man huffed.
“Alright.” Albus cooed.
“Relax and take a deep breath. Just tell me when you’re ready.” He attempted to comfort the other man.
“I do wish you’d stop arsing about and do the damn spell.” Severus snapped bitterly.
It was Dumbledore that closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, trying to rid himself of his unbridled anxiety.
“Animus Extractus.” Before the words were finished Severus was groaning in agony. As the snarky man wretched and twisted about, sympathy embroidered itself into the features of Dumbledore and Amelia. Minute trickles of light leapt into the tip of the headmaster’s wand.
“Focus on Harry!” The tortured man screamed inside his head.
“Damn it man!” Harry had been accurate. This pain was unbearable; as if boiling acid was flowing through his veins. He would swear that he could feel hellish pain in every cell of his body. Severus had caused excessive amounts of pain in his day, yet he was sure nothing compared to what he was currently experiencing. Someone was crushing all of his bones and shredding his soft tissue. He had to find a way to make it through this. Images of Harry flooded his mind.
*** *** ***
---Flashback---
Severus silently opened the dingy door to the bedroom that held Harry. He had felt the urge to check on the boy as he slept soundly in Grimwald Place. Potter remained still, safely tucked into a dream world. The Potions Master carefully closed the door and returned to his quarters. Moody and several of the Aurors had escorted Harry to his Godfather’s house earlier in the evening after receiving news of the dementor attack on Potter and his gluttonous cousin. Severus had argued that a member of the order should take the boy away so as not to subject him to that idiotic trial. Not a soul had taken heed to Snape’s warning and Harry was set to meet his fate the very next morning. Severus had excused himself to his guestroom after dinner to allow himself time to plan an exit strategy for Harry should the hearing go amiss. If need be he was prepared to get the other man to safety.---
*** *** ***
Memories of Harry had denied Snape the terror of the shrill echo his blood-curdling screaming was issuing throughout the room. Amelia pressed her hands over her ears in the corner while Dumbledore remained attentive to the task at hand. He wanted this finished.
*** *** ***
---Flashback---
“I’m sorry Professor.” The young man ran into the dungeon classroom, obviously winded from his journey.
“Peeves filled the whole second floor with ooze.” He emphasized this with a disgusted face.
“Between that and studying for my O.W.L’s, I couldn’t make it on time.” Harry was desperate to not befall any more punishment.
“Another detention, perhaps? At the same time tomorrow? Do try to be punctual Mr. Potter.” Snape declared without turning to face his student. He could not allow himself to fall into the depths of Harry’s eyes. He chastised himself for the feelings of warmth he was starting to harbor for his once most hated pupil, but he would not permit the young man to glimpse this weakness.
“Yes Sir.” His bitter tone was not lost on Severus.
“Glad we understand each other. Now, might I suggest you get to work.” Snape granted himself momentary eye contact with the object of his affection, while gesturing to a pile of cauldrons.
“I’d like very much to make it to bed tonight.” With his final instruction given, Severus removed himself to his private lab, slamming the door behind him.
*** *** ***
“Harry…Harry…” The words gurgled through the blood from Snape’s badly bitten tongue. They seemed to have the power to bring him momentary peace from his anguish.
“That’s right my boy, find solace in your memories.” Dumbledore consoled.
“How much longer?” Amelia questioned almost impatiently. Yet it was clear she held some sort of pity for the man that seemed to be trapped in an incorporeal inferno.
“Shut up.” Dumbledore ordered, out of character.
“This is your fault.” Albus noticed that the floor was pooling with blood, sweat, and tears, making a sticky mess at his feet. He had sworn long ago to protect all members of his faculty and he was finding it difficult to view Snape in such a fragile state.
*** *** ***
---Flashback---
Severus was all but leveling the area of forest he had found himself standing in. He’d long since lost his wand and was taking it out on a particularly large tree. Sweat poured from his furrowed brow as he threw blow after blow into the hard bark. His robes were torn to shreds in the midst of his fit. He hadn’t even noticed his knuckles were bruised, bleeding, and broken. He didn’t care. He didn’t feel anything except overpowering self-hatred. Harry had seen him kill Dumbledore and he had run, like a coward. Snape heaved himself to the forest floor and let out a pained howl. It was over. If Harry ever laid eyes on him again he would surely kill him. Severus reminded himself that it was of no consequence. The young man was safe and the Order had control of the castle. He had played his part marvelously and lost everything in the process.
*** *** *** ***
---Flashback---
Snape lay drowning in his own death on the floor of the shrieking shack. He felt as if his body had been twisted into a heap of mess. Even as the coldness of the situation slid into every wound, his soul was oddly a peace. The man he loved was kneeling next to him, his warm hand cradling the tired head of his teacher. “Look…at…me…” Snape begged, weakly squeezing Harry’s arm. Green eyes reached his own and he drifted off into the darkness, not able to conjure a better way to leave this world.
*** *** ***
Dumbledore lowered his wand ending the spell. Severus attempted to catch a throbbing breath. The pain had diminished greatly, yet the air around him seemed to sting every pore.
“Reproba Mortis.” Dumbledore whispered and Snape fell instantly still.
“What did you do to him?” Amelia accused, tapping her foot hurriedly on a clean spot of the floor.
“Allowed him to sleep.” The old man answered simply as he tapped the tip of his wand on the pensive located to the right of the potion shelving. It emptied its shimmering opaque, gaseous liquid into the stone bowl. Dumbledore mused that it wasn’t much of a finale.
Amelia stepped forward and placed the tip of her wand into the glimmering piece of the Potter-Snape soul. She closed her eyes and shuddered, a small cry escaping her lips. Her face was guilt ridden as she turned to face Albus.
“You may all return to Hogwarts.” She whispered shamefully, the white magic stinging her very core. She had been wrong and she had allowed all of these people to suffer in vain.
“Greatly appreciated,” The Headmaster snapped with unforgiving detest. He said no more as he levitated the unconscious form of his Potions Master behind him down the corridor.
*** *** ***
“What the Hell happened!” Harry screamed as he entered Snape’s private quarters at Hogwarts.
“What did you do?! You never said anything about…” Dumbledore turned swiftly to face his irate student. He was surprised to see the reflection of the flames from the fireplace dancing in Harry’s eyes. It was fitting.
“The spell went as planned. Just give him time to recuperate.” The headmaster floated the injured man to the warmth of his deep blue silk bed linens. Harry was immediately at his lover’s side.
“Did you happen to notice that he’s a fucking mess?! We need to get him to the hospital wing! Gods he…”
“Silence.” Albus breathed tiredly.
“Harry he just needs rest. I swear to you.” The elder wizard paced around the large oak bed, resting his drained hands on the ornate footboard.
“We’re all exhausted. He’ll wake soon enough and when he does, aid him in drinking this.” Albus handed Harry a vial of dreamless sleep.
“It’ll make him more comfortable. I must attend to my duties now if you are capable of…”
“We’ll sit with him.” Sirius bit into a sandwich as he entered the room, with Lupin not far behind.
“Well then, I’ll bid you good night boys.” Dumbledore glanced remorsefully at his charge before hurrying out of the room.
“Harry we’ve brought you some dinner. Please eat.” Remus urged, seating himself on a large black sofa.
“I’m not hungry.” Harry didn’t bother to look towards the other men. His gaze remained solely on his incapacitated partner.
“You must keep up your strength.” Sirius implored, sipping a glass of scotch he had helped himself to from the liquor cabinet in Snape’s front lounge.
“Look at him.” Harry ran his hand through blood-caked black hair. “Look what they’ve done to him.”
Sirius moved from the doorway to the sofa next to Remus. He reached a hand out to pat his godson’s shaking digits.
“He knew what it entailed, Harry, and he did it to protect you. Let him have his moment of glory.”
Remus presented the sandwich again, this time Harry reluctantly complied.
“Where is everyone? I lost track when we flooed back.” He asked through an unhappily full mouth.
Remus gave a chuckle. “The twins ran off right away to prepare a battle plan to further test their invincibility. Ron went with us to the kitchen, he’s still there. I’d wager we won’t see him for days and Hermione is waking all of her Professors so that she can begin her missing work tonight.” Harry took notice of the werewolf’s hand resting on Sirius’s knee.
“Where’s Tonks?” He asked curiously.
“She went home.” Both men sat up straight, as if caught in some dubious act.
“So what’s your plan you know…with…her and…well, you…” Harry shifted nervously.
“What did Snivellus tell you?” Sirius gritted his teeth, downing the remaining scotch.
“Just that you two love sick pups enjoyed a good romp in the…”
“Severus!” Harry threw himself into the arms of his newly awakened lover. Snape twisted from unspoken pain.
“Morning, love,” The dark man soothed his younger counterpart.
“How do you feel? Should I call for Madam Pomfrey? Are you hungry? Thirsty?” Harry looked around frantically. “I…I have a sandwich.”
“Harry please.” Snape braced himself on Potter as he stood.
“Escort me to the restroom.” Harry stumbled briefly under the weight of the older man. Snape closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to calm the pain coursing through his body.
“We’ll go and alert the headmaster that you’ve awoken.” Lupin quickly ushered a reluctant Sirius out of the large double doors.
Harry wrapped his arm around Snape’s waist and guided him the few steps it took to get to the marble bathroom. Severus removed himself silently from Harry’s grasp and steadied himself on the counter surrounding the sink.
“Sev, are you alright?” The man simply nodded, as he looked himself in the mirror. He had looked better dead. His skin was gray and pasty and seemed to hang loosely from his face. His bloodshot eyes were sunken far into his head and stale blood crusted his nose, mouth, and hair.
“Stand outside.” Harry knew not to protest the tone and quickly exited to the other side of the door. He squeezed his eyes closed while he waited, willing his partner to be ok. Water could be heard running into the sink. Potter listened intently to the sound of Snape moving around the other room. Harry jumped slightly as the bathroom door opened. The young man instinctively supported his frail bonded in his arms when he took a shaky step over the threshold, into the bedroom. They took clumsy steps to the bed, where Snape collapsed onto his pillow.
“Dumbledore wants you to take dreamless sleep. It’s from your own stores.” Harry pointed to the bottle on the nightstand. “He said you’d be more comfortable.”
“Come here.” Snape weakly pulled the other man down to his chest. Harry’s body remained tense, not wanting to hurt his lover.
“Just lie here with me.”
“You should take…” Harry gestured again to the vial.
“This mother hen routine is going to soon prove tiresome.” Severus squeezed Potter’s shoulder. “Harry are you alright?” Snape queried.
“Oh, me? I…I’m good…fine…I…” The man stammered nervously.
Severus turned his head to meet his mate’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, nothing…I was just…scared.”
The potions master chuckled. “Lest you forget we’re invincible.” He teased.
“You were in pain.” Harry chastised.
“I’ve been in pain a good portion of my life. I assure you that this is not a variation.” The man lied.
“That makes me sad for you.” Harry’s voice was small once again. His features appeared injured.
Snape’s eyes softened. “You are insufferable. We live in pain Harry. That was the life we were dealt. You simply strive to find something that eases that pain, if only for a moment. I’ve found that.” He finished with a gentle kiss.
Harry relished these moments. He loved his snarky potions master, but it relieved him to have glimpses of a gentler partner. It was seldom that the man was allowed to break the hardened surface.
“I must sleep now.” The pained man downed the potion, falling instantly asleep. His bonded was still wrapped in his arms.