A Twisted Web We Weave

CHAPTER 16

Harry stared quietly out of the window watching as the rain streaked down the glass obscuring the view beyond. Beside him sat Julius tucked comfortably in his cloak his hand resting possessively on Harry’s knee. The portal had taken them to a field in the middle of nowhere. Strangely enough it was raining and the wind howling about them was what drew Harry back into his sense of normality after the stomach-churning ride of the portal. Julius had strode off across the soggy ground as soon as they’d arrived. He was heading towards a hedge leaving Harry to scamper behind him. Stepping over a cattle gate in the hedge they came onto a little road and Julius paused looking both ways up the barely visible road. They’d only been standing there a few moments when out of the driving rain rolled an ordinary muggle car. Julius smiled as the car rolled to a stop in front of them, and pulled open the back door. Harry had been ordered to get in quickly and the boy did so obediently. Once inside the car Julius exchanged conversation with the man in the front driving. It was in a language Harry didn’t understand, but the tongue sounded ancient to his ears. Satisfied that the driver had got the message Julius had turned back to Harry and pulled a duffle bag from the front seat, thrusting it into Harry’s chest. The order had been simple and Harry had reluctantly begun to get changed, scrambling out of his school uniform and into the rich velvet blue robes he found in the bag Julius had given him. Harry was acutely aware that Julius had watched him change the man’s emerald gaze appreciatively staring at the young boy’s body as it was revealed to him. Twice Harry had felt icy cold fingertips running over his back and neck as he’d bent to pull on the soft leather boots he’d also found in the bag. The robes were expensive, made of lush thick material, which seemed to hold the heat even in the cold weather.

Nothing else had been said for the rest of the journey and Harry had merely ignored the hand that had settled on his thigh and continued to stare out at the countryside they passed. Nothing he could see from the car window could possibly tell him where he was, he wasn’t even sure he was still in England.

“Sir.” The driver spoke as the car slowed and turned onto a gravel path. Julius leaned forward and again spoke to the driver in the unfamiliar language while Harry stared out of the window up at the large manor house that had appeared from the rain like a mirage in the countryside. The car came to a stop beside the front stone steps leading up into the house and Harry obediently followed Julius out of the car and up the steps. The doors to the house opened immediately and Harry cautiously stepped inside and began instantly looking around. The house was beautiful, adorned in rich period furniture and paintings. Twin stone staircases lay in front of him, splitting in two to go separate ways at the second level. Torches warm with flame lit the place ablaze with light. Gold, and sliver fittings glittered from every surface and Harry was in complete aw. Beside him Julius took off his coat, the man’s smug smile focused on the boy beside him. Harry hadn’t even noticed the two other young men who’d been waiting beside the door before one of them approached him and helped him take off his coat.

Harry stared at the two boys, noting with apprehension that they both bore silver collars though neither of theirs was adorned with gemstones like his own. Neither boy met his gaze as he stared at them. The first was taller than him, thinner too. He had short blond hair, and his well-muscled upper body caught the light as he turned to hang his master’s coat up on the appropriate hook. The second boy was younger but no less stunning than the first. His high cheekbones and angular chin accentuated by the shoulder length brown hair that was tied up with white ribbon at the base of his neck. Both boys only wore white cheesecloth like trousers that hung from their hips, and soft black leather boots similar to the ones Harry had on.

“Harry, this is Hamish. He is to be your guide for the next few months while you settle in to your new routine.” Harry bit his lip as he watched Julius reach out his hand and stroke it carefully over the taller boy’s cheek, watching as the boy leaned in to Julius hand pressing a chaste kiss to its palm. Julius chuckled at the gesture as Hamish finally looked up from the floor to meet Harry’s gaze. “You will do well to follow his example if you wish your stay here to be pleasant.” Harry swallowed awkwardly as Julius moved to the smaller boy beside Hamish, Julius running his hand over the boy’s cheek just as he had done the other’s. “This is Paris, he is a wizard like yourself so I imagine you will have certain things in common. Your room is next to his.” Harry watched as Paris glanced up from the floor the young boy smiling weakly at Harry before instantly lowering his head again when Julius stepped away from them. “Hamish will inform you of why you are here, and the rules regarding your stay. I will see you at dinner.” With a smile Julius strode off down the long hallway his imposing figure disappearing into a side room, a door slamming closed in his wake. The two boys bowed low as Julius left only rising when the echo of door closing slid into silence.

“Hi.” Paris stretched out his hand and offered it to Harry, who took it carefully and shook it.

“Hi.” Harry replied nervously feeling still somewhat weakened by what ever the potion Julius was giving him was doing to his body. Harry glanced up at Hamish who rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, looking down at Harry with somewhat disgust. “I don’t think I should be here, there will be people looking for me.” Harry whispered as he glanced behind him at the entrance he’d just walked through, silently processing the thought of how much effort it would take to run, fighting the small part of him that told him not to. Paris must have seen what Harry was thinking and instantly situated himself between Harry and the door.

“Don’t bother the nearest town is over 5miles away, and in this weather you’ll not make it a mile before he finds you again. Besides the pull of the potion will kill you the moment you breach the proximity boundary to him.” Harry looked at Paris in distress watching as an expression of hopelessness swept over the young boys’ gray eyes. Paris reached out and placed a warm hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Come up stairs and have something to eat you’ll feel better, we can explain why you are here on the way up.” Paris guided Harry towards the stone staircase and the boy allowed himself to be led. Hamish led the way two steps in front of them the entire time, the elder boy not having spoken two words together since being introduced to Harry by Julius.

“What is this place?” Harry whispered as he blindly followed his guides, all the while taking in the surroundings of the lavishly furnished house.

“Julius Snape’s home and ours.” Paris whispered in return as they passed through a door and into a large spacious lounge on the third floor. Harry felt all of a sudden very self-conscious as he realized several other young men, all of whom were dressed like Hamish and Paris, occupied the room they’d just walked into. All eyes in the room focused on him, small whispers catching his hearing but he was unable to decipher what was said. Quickly they passed through the lounge and into another corridor and Harry noted that they seemed to be passing bedrooms of some sort.

“Where…” Hamish pushed open a large oak door at the end of the corridor and Harry was stunned as he was led through into another lounge, which was far more opulent than the last and more comfortably arranged.

“We’re not sure, in Scotland somewhere we assume but no one but Julius himself knows that.” Paris gestured for Harry to sit down in an armchair beside the warm fire. There was a small tray of cheese, biscuits and fruit waiting on the table between the two chairs in front of the fire. “This will be where you spend most of your time. It is the upper lounge and is closest to Julius’ chambers, through that door there.” Paris pointed to a door on the far side of the room beside a large bookcase. Harry nodded as he reached for a piece of cheese his stomach grumbling in hunger pains. “Only wizards and Julius’ favorites are permitted in here, you are lucky that he seems to have favored you already.” Paris reached forward and touched his fingertips to Harry’s collar where the diamond’s caught the firelight.

“Why am I here?” Harry whispered as he shifted the collar on his neck a little, it’s edges already beginning to chafe him.

“You are in the service of a bounty hunter Harry. You have been taken as payment for the services rendered by Julius to who ever employed him. You’re a trophy of his successful hunt” Harry shivered as he thought about what might have happened at Hogwart’s after he’d left, if he was to be the successful trophy.

“But I don’t know anything about a hunt or why he’s taken me. He was my professor at Hogwarts, he’s been slipping potion into my meals. I shouldn’t be here. I’m Harry Potter, the boy who lived.” Harry looked at Paris pleadingly for an answer and watched sadly as Paris shook his head in sympathy.

“Yes, I know who you are Harry and that is probably why you were chosen. Such a high profile wizard in his possession, you will improve his status. As for the hunt, you do not necessarily have anything to do with the actual murder he may have just decided you’d make a fine partner for himself. Most of the muggle boys are here because their families had no other way of paying for Julius services, so they gave their son to him. Most wizards are here as exchanges with other bounty hunters or as gifts given to him by admiring employers. It is obvious he saw something in you that may benefit him in someway, hence why you are here.” Harry sighed now truly beginning to piece everything together that had happened.

“What do I have to do?” Harry whispered almost dreading hearing it from Paris’ lips.

“Likely not very much.” Paris smiled comfortingly as he continued. “The muggles are employed to do tasks every day, such as cleaning, gardening, cataloging in the library, but we are left to amuse ourselves. We are required at meals and if requested we share his bed at night, servicing his pleasure. On the odd occasion that he hosts a party we are required to keep the company of his guests but that is rare. He will call for us on a daily basis and likes to see us as often as he can around the house while he is here but apart from that we can do as we like within the bounds of his rules.” On the outset Harry did seemed surprised by how little would be required of him, but three words in Paris explanation made his blood run cold.

“Servicing his pleasure?” Harry whispered nervously watching as Paris nodded quietly.

“Yes. Julius enjoys taking his fill from us, and for that we are grateful that he bestows his company on us. Those who have not been favored with a place in his bed suffer cruelly from the effects of the ‘constantine’ potion, while we are spared the pain.” Harry wondered what madness had engulfed the boy in front of him that he would welcome Julius Snape’s touch but as he thought about it, hadn’t he himself been craving the man’s touch. “By now you’ve no doubt discovered the effects of the potion.”

“Yes.” Harry whispered remembering how humiliating it had been not to be in control of his own body.

“Indeed, the potion is designed to keep you loyal to him. Without it you would be like a common slave. The potion ensures your willingness to do anything for him, preventing you from becoming difficult, as Julius describes it. It makes you crave him like a drug, and those he does not bestow his touch upon can often go mad without it. By taking you to his bed he is showing he cares for you more than the others he doesn’t chose.” Harry nodded wondering who created such a horrid potion and for what it’s original purpose was.

“What about the rules?” Harry glanced behind him. Hamish was sitting on a window seat staring out at the rain running down the glass outside. Paris chuckled and Harry turned back to him in confusion.

“Don’t expect him to tell you. Hamish has been in Julius’s service since he was 12, and hasn’t spoken a word since he arrived. He is the oldest one here and the only muggle that Julius allows in his bed.” Harry looked sympathetically back at the tall young man sitting in the window seat.

“He’s never said anything at all?” Harry whispered in curiosity.

“No. All though there is a rumor that he calls Julius’ name when he comes but of course no one knows for sure.” Paris smiled cheekily at Harry who was still staring at the silent boy behind him. “Anyway there’s heaps of rules most you’ll learn as we go along but the main one’s are simple but important.” Paris lifted his hand showing Harry the five fingers he wiggled in demonstration. “Number 1, never speak in Julius’ presence unless you’re spoken to first.” Paris lowered the first of his fingers before continuing when Harry nodded in understanding. “Number 2, you eat at meals only after Julius has begun. Number 3, never say no and do everything Julius asks of you. Number 4, no magic outside this room, your bedroom and Julius private chambers and Number 5.Never, ever discuss what happens inside Julius chambers with anyone else.” Harry nodded understandingly, instantly imprinting to memory the five important points, especially the last. Not that he was going to let his guard down anyway but like he’d discuss anything like that with strangers.

Just as Paris came to the end of his explanation there was a ringing of a bell, hanging above the entrance into Julius chambers, that Paris had indicated to before. Harry looked from the bell to Paris quickly, wondering what was happening.

“Don’t look so worried its just dinner. Come on.” Paris offered his hand to Harry who obediently took it comforted by it’s warmth as he was led out of the lounge and back down the stone staircases heading for the lower floor.

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