Esclavitud *Now Complete*

Chapter 14 The Memory Chest


They basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. They both shared a pillow and were gazing at the ceiling catching their breath. Harry turned his face to look at Severus who in turned also turned to meet his lover’s gaze. Harry sported a fool’s smile and Severus closed his eyes.

“You don’t want to look at me?” asked Harry.

“Master Harry, I would never tire of looking at you. I close my eyes in order to place the memory of this moment in a secure place.”

“Come again.”

“It is something my mother taught me when I was a child, and she had figured out that life was not going to be easy for a half blood child.”

“Did she call you that?” asked Harry with a worried looked on his face.

“No, Master Harry, she did not. My mother never had an unkind word for me. She, herself, was a victim of prejudice attitudes; namely my fathers’.”

“So what is this thing she thought you to do with your memories?”

“She said that there were some people that did not have perfect lives. That some people did not have good memories readily accessible to them, so she thought me how to place my good memories in a treasure chest. This way they would always be accessible to me.”

“Sort of like Occlumensy, right?”

Severus closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Somehow Harry didn’t think he was storing memories. “No, Master Harry, it is not, but I do believe it had some influence in my Occlumensy’s skills. I was but a child when my mother taught me how to do this and it does not require any magic. This is why, to this day, I am able to go back to my treasure chest. It is a gift my mom wanted to make sure no one would ever be able to take away from me.”

“And I am going to make it my life mission to fill it up to the rim,” smiled a loving Gryffindor as he kissed his beloved Slytherin. He enjoyed the fact that Severus’ eyes were closed when they parted. When Severus opened his eyes he looked a bit flushed, so Harry decided to change to topic of conversation. “You haven’t told me how things are going with Hermione’s potion.”

Severus immediately turned gloomed. “I am afraid that Mistress Poppy and I are at a stand still in our search for a cure.”

“Do you at least know what the problem is?”

“My mistress’ brain.”

“Come again?” asked Harry with a chuckle.

“My mistress is a very smart witch and Mistress Poppy and I are under the impression that her babies are inheriting her intelligence.”

“And this is a bad thing…why?”

“Well, it is only a theory, but we believe they might be emitting too much magic while still in the uterus, causing it to rupture.”

“So can’t you give her something to straighten her uterus?”

“Yes, Master Harry, that is exactly what we would like to do, the only problem is that it would be a very painful process for my mistress.”

“Then, why not give her a pain potion? I know you are very adept at them, believe me, Poppy gave me plenty while at Hogwarts.”


“Master Harry, it is not recommended that a witch take pain portions during her gestation.”

“Isn’t there another way?”

“That is precisely what we are trying to find, but to no avail.”

Harry was staring blankly at him. “Master Harry?”

“You do know what we are doing, right?”

When he saw Severus’ puzzled look he realized the man had no idea. “Pillow talk!” exclaimed the Gryffindor. “We are having ‘pillow talk” just like any normal couple would. Isn’t it great?” and to Harry’s surprise and pleasure, Severus closed his eyes.

***
The following Friday, Harry was waiting by the fireplace for his three guests to arrive. He greeted his friends in the usual manner and then gave Severus a hug and a kiss. Then he turned to Ron, “I got this box of chocolates for Severus hoping you wouldn’t mind giving it to him.”

“Wow! That’s an awful big box of chocolates.”

“Three pounds, I figure if I give you three pounds, Severus might get at least one,” said Harry with a wink towards Hermione.

“You do know him well,” agreed Hermione.

“Oi, I wouldn’t eat Severus’ chocolates. Well, no more than I have to, you know the curse and all,” said Ron ending a bit sheepishly.

They were all laughing and making fun of Ron when Harry noticed that Severus was shaking. “What’s wrong Severus?” he asked with concern.

“I do not know, Master Harry, I need to be close to my master.”

“Severus, it is ok, you can be close to Harry, I don’t mind.”

But Harry could see that something was not right with Severus. “Severus, it is ok, go with Ron, do what the curse tells you.”

Severus took two steps toward his master who was waiting with open arms. Ron looked to his wife for answers.

“I can only guess,” she said to both her husband and Harry. “I think the curse needs to reaffirm itself because it can read Severus’ desire to be with someone other than his master.”

“But Hermione, we have been together and the curse did not punish him.”

“Harry, it was common practice to loan out a sex slave. I think the problem here is that Severus wants to be by your side and not his master’s.”

Harry looked over to where his lover was. It pained him to see him in another man’s arms, but his first concern was for Severus. “Severus, are you in pain?” he asked.

“No, Master Harry, I am not,” said Severus speaking into his master’s neck.

“Severus, I want you to be well. I want you to stay there, where you feel safe. Is that understood?”

“Master Harry is too kind. I think it might be best if my master allows me to leave.”

“No!” said the trio of friends.

“Severus, I am really ok with this. I will take your presence any way I can. Please don’t leave, I miss you when your not here.”

Ron and Hermione stole a glance at each other, than averted their eyes.

“Severus, why don’t we eat, and then we will see how you feel,” said Ron rubbing Severus’ back.

Harry called for Kreacher and Mimi, who proceeded to clear a space in the middle of the sitting room.

“What are they doing now?” asked Ron.

“I thought we could sit on pillows around the coffee table.”

“Why?” questioned Ron, again.

“I think it is a great idea,” said Hermione catching on to Harry’s plan.

“Why?” insisted Ron.

“Ron, come on, it will be like when you took me to that Japanese restaurant,” prodded Hermione, not wishing to spell things out to her spouse.

“Oh, are we having Chinese?” said Ron cheering up.

“Ah, no,” answered Harry and then continued, “but I am sure you will enjoy what Kreacher has prepared.”

Ron simply grinned knowing that Harry was right. He caught on as soon as he saw that once seated everyone was at eye level with Snape.

Dinner passed with pleasant conversation and light banter. Soon the elves had restored the sitting area back to normal. Severus knelt next to Ron and Harry tried no to let it get to him by continuing a conversation with Hermione.

“Severus, why don’t you sit? We can play around of chess.”

Harry could not hear what Severus’ answer was, but he could see Ron moving his head up and down in consent. All of a sudden, Ron got up and said, “Well, I guess we will be leaving…”

“What?” was Harry and Hermione’s chorused question.

Severus walked over to Harry, smiled, and bowed his head.

“What is going on, Severus? Do you still want to leave? I assure you, I am fine, please don’t go…”

“Master Harry, I am not leaving,” interrupted Severus. “I have asked my master for permission to stay and he has granted it.”

“You asked him?”

Severus simply nodded his answer and Harry could see Ron smiling with a wink in the background.

“Right, then… good night… thanks for coming. Bye!” said Harry as he ushered them to the floo.

“Well, we know when we are not welcomed,” said Hermione in mock offense.

They laughed then said their goodbyes.

***
Once they were gone, Harry stepped into Severus’ arms. He placed their foreheads together and said, “I still can’t believe you asked him.”

“I am sorry, Master Harry, if I overstepped my boundaries.”

“What? No! I am just so very impressed by it. To be honest, I feel that you took a big risk to be with me, no one has every done that.”

“Master Harry, shortly after I became your slave, I made a decision to care for you. I have little to lose and you are worth the risk.”

Harry took Severus up to their bedroom and showed him how much he appreciated the fact that Severus was risking his heart.

This became their routine. Once a week Harry would ask if Severus could stay with him and every Friday, Severus asked his master for permission to stay with Harry. The elves were happy to have Severus stay at least twice a week and continue to help him in his quest to help Hermione.

A/N
I know this is very short, but I am very upset that I did not meet my Sunday posting date. I do not know if I will have one for Wednesday, but I will do my best. I am sure this is loaded with mistakes and I have had no time to correct the ones you pointed out to me in the last chapter. By next week I should have everything back to normal.

I got the idea for Hermione’s problem from the novel: “The Time Travelers Wife”

Thanks again for all your great reviews. You are a wonderful crowd.

Moon of the Sea