What the Devil Wants

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Harry stepped tentatively into the foyer of the dingy looking little hotel. Snape was already at the front desk, talking to a man perched on a walking stick behind the counter. When Snape had said they wouldn’t be staying the night at the Leaky Cauldron like Harry had expected, he’d never imagined the alternative was going to be so uninviting as the place he currently stood in. Snape had been an entirely different person for the second half of the day they had spent in the twisting lanes and creepy shops of Knockturn Alley. Where Snape had been uncomfortable, stiff and formal in Diagon Alley, the man had seemed to blend in and settle perfectly within the dark surrounds of Knockturn Alley. The conversation had improved too, and while they’d stayed away from the topic previously discussed at lunch, Snape had been informatively instructing Harry on all the unusual, interesting things they ran into during the afternoon. Harry had leant an amazing array of information, and had learnt more than a few ways of bartering for a better price than the one being offered by the shop attendant. Snape seemed to be a master of manipulation, using the simplest of twists to get what he wanted from anyone.

Now however, as the sun had begun to set Snape had led Harry to the hotel, stating that Knockturn Alley had never worn darkness well. Harry had assumed that to mean it was more dangerous at night, than during the day in Knockturn alley and had promptly agreed to end the day at the chosen hotel. However Harry wasn’t sure he should have agreed so readily to the hotel, looking at it now.

“Come along Potter, they have dinner ready for us.” Harry nodded and hastily followed Snape through the foyer and into a small dimly lit dinning area. Harry swallowed nervously as he glanced around the room. There were already a few tables occupied but Harry didn’t dare stare for any longer to find out who the people were. Harry took his coat off and sat down as Snape ordered them a jug of water and asked for the menu. For the second time that day Harry found himself sitting awkwardly in silence opposite Snape, as he read through the selection of meals on offer.

“Could I please have the pasta?” Harry hadn’t really recognized anything else on the menu, or if he did there was something accompanying it he didn’t entirely like the sound of. Tomato pasta sounded the safest option and Harry hoped Snape agreed.

“You’ll enjoy it, it’s very nice.” Snape muttered over the top of his menu as he finished his own selection and gestured for the waiter. A tall gangly looking man with thick black hair scraped back into a tight loop stepped up to the table with a notepad and quill. Harry tried to avoid looking at him as Snape began to order.

“We’ll have the tomato pasta, a well done fillet of lamb with roast vegetables and gravy. A plate of cheese and crackers and two apple and blackberry crumbles with cream.” Snape glanced over at Harry for confirmation, and the boy automatically nodded in agreement. It all sounded really nice, and a lot better than what had been on the actual menu. With a curt nod the waiter disappeared leaving Harry and Snape in awkward silence again. Harry shifted in his chair as he realized Snape was staring at him across the table.

“He was an unwanted gift.” Harry raised his head from his chest curiously as Snape addressed him. “I have provided him with everything I am required to, I have never demanded anything from him and have never pushed him into something he did not wish to do.” Harry’s eyebrow rose in surprise as Snape sat back in his chair to swill his water goblet in his hand carefully.

“A gift?” Harry queried purposefully noting the fact that Snape didn’t use Draco’s name.

“Yes. When I first joined the ranks I did something for his father causing me substantial personal loss. His royal darkness saw fit to reward me with something of equal value in return. I reluctantly ended up with him, much to my own disgust knowing that to refuse would be damaging not only to my position in his ranks but to my person.” Harry easily read between the lines, Snape careful not to be specific in the presence of others in the dining room. “It is one of his more manipulative ways of controlling me and ensuring my loyalty. It is also a creative way of joining two powerful bloodlines together.” Snape ended and took a generous mouthful of his water as the waiter returned with what looked like complimentary bread sticks and another jug of water.

“Then if it’s important that you and he…” Harry stumbled over his words as he sought to find an appropriate way to describe Draco and Snape’s relationship. “Are together. Then it’s a pointless exercise in him blackmailing me.” Harry grumbled with a shrug of his shoulders, as he chewed a bread stick thoughtfully. Snape’s crooked smile returned and Harry swallowed the lump of bread in his mouth like it was a lead weight. The elder wizard was breathtaking when he smiled and Harry had been given the rare opportunity of enjoying it twice on this trip.

“Desperate wizards commit desperate acts Mr. Potter. He knows that as soon as he turns 18 everything he owns including his freedom becomes mine, as does he himself. Can you not understand why a young wizard such as himself, would do anything to get himself out of a situation he has never had any say in?” Snape raised a knowing eyebrow in Harry’s direction, as if having seen for himself the condition Harry had lived in with the Dursley’s summer after summer. Harry nodded silently but didn’t reply as their meal was delivered to their table in a lavish spread.

Grateful for the interruption, Harry managed to steer the conversation to the food and for the rest of the meal there was nothing but general chat about school, the coming holidays and potions.

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Harry awoke with a start, his breathing rapid, his eyes streaming fear-induced tears and his brow soaked with sweat. It was dark and cold in the unfamiliar room; dust clung to the air and made his already rapid breathing difficult. Coughing loudly Harry looked around blindly trying to remember where he was.

“Do you always have nightmares Potter?” Movement from the side of his bed drew Harry’s attention, and the boy groped around for his glasses so that he could see the figure that had addressed him. Harry wasn’t sure why the man’s voice relaxed him, but upon hearing it his tremors subsided and his breathing evened out. Crudely wiping the sweat of his brow with the sleeve of his pyjama top, Harry sat up and stared at Snape.

Snape was sitting in the armchair by the glowing embers of the fireplace, his face turned towards Harry so that the flickering red of the fire caught in the man’s deep onyx eyes.

Having come up stairs after dinner, the pair of them had headed straight to bed. Although they shared a room, Harry had been relieved about the single beds. Having climbed into bed himself, Harry had then watched cautiously as Snape went about his own nightly rituals. It was strange watching the potion master in his domestic chores; it made him seem more human than Harry had previously given him credit for being. The last Harry had remembered was staring at Snape’s hair as the man had finally eased himself into his own bed. With his hair tied up low at the base of his neck with a leather strip, Snape looked younger and Harry had admired the man’s features until he’d fallen asleep. Now though Snape sat beside the fire, his hair still tied back but his gray nightshirt covered by a thick dressing gown that bunched at the man’s neck and finished at his feet.

“Some worse than others.” Harry croaked as he pulled the blankets up around himself to ward off the chill. “Sorry if I woke you.” It wasn’t really an answer to Snape’s original question but for some reason Snape didn’t press the issue like Harry had expected.

“No, I was already awake.” Snape whispered as he turned back to face the fire. Still feeling cold Harry dragged the blankets with him as he shuffled out of the bed and over to the fire. As if sensing the boy’s chill Snape leant forward and with a flick of his wand re-ignited the fire. Harry sat down on the rug at Snape’s feet and stuck his feet out onto the fire surround to warm them. For five or so minutes they sat in companionable silence until Snape broke the silence with a clearing of his throat.

“Have you done your homework for my class Mr. Potter?” Snape inquired as if clutching at a topic that was safe for both of them. Harry nodded and snuggled down into the blankets.

“Yeah, easier than the last homework you set. My backsides still sore.” Harry grumbled still a little bitter that Snape had been so cruel as to set such a homework assignment. Snape huffed what Harry assumed was an amused chuckle.

“I never specified that you had to wear it everyday Potter, and I certainly didn’t tell you to wear it during Quidditch. Although the chatter in the staff room after the game, regarding the reasons behind your poor performance was amusing.” Harry dragged his gaze away from the hypnotic dancing flames in the fireplace to spare Snape a glared over his shoulder. Harry however chose not to comment and instead turned back to the fire. “I’m surprised to see your name is still not registered on the schools ‘active’ list.” Without being specific Harry knew what Snape was referring to, and grumbled silently to himself about magic and the lack of privacy it afforded.

“Just because Draco’s easy doesn’t mean I’m going to do him.” Harry barked from beneath his breath, still angry that Draco was playing him for a fool like he’d done two people before him. “Besides he’s got his hands pretty full with you and Pansy.” Harry grumped some more not quite realizing what he’d said until a firm hand had come down and whacked him hard on the back of his head.

“There’s no need for crudeness Mr. Potter, we may have a shared understanding but I am still your Professor and deserve respect.” Harry rubbed the back of his head and quietly apologized. Surely teachers weren’t supposed to injure students but then again, Snape had done more than just hit him before now.

“Why do you let him do it?” Harry muttered his thirst for understanding regarding Snape and Draco’s situation finally biting him hard. Snape tilted his head to the side in confusion and so Harry elaborated. “Let Malfoy sleep around? If he’s your intended shouldn’t you forced him to be faithful?” Harry queried his ideas about so called marriage not quite fitting this situation. Snape seemed to find something amusing in what Harry said and snorted, rather undignified at the comment.

“Typical muggle values Mr. Potter, but I shouldn’t be surprised by your ignorance.” Snape slipped his feet out of his slippers and put them on the fire hearth beside Harry’s to warm them up. “Draco is a promised child Mr. Potter, a child bound by contract to an elder. The contract is an official, ministry legal document and therefore contains various exclusions and clauses to protect both parties. Specifically the document allows for the fact a ‘promise child’ is still a minor and until such time as he or she comes of age to marry is permitted to experience ‘growing up’ like any normal wizarding child. That clause includes ‘sexual experimentation’ with other partners aside from their intended.” Snape ended his explanation and allowed a moment for Harry to process the information before continuing. “I on the other hand am restricted to either my right hand or Draco as company.” Harry bit his lip determined not to smile despite the seriousness of the situation and even though Draco’s comments about Snape’s performance in bed came flooding instantly back. Despite himself a smirk managed to break to the surface and Harry was powerless to stop Snape from seeing it.

“I know he’s told you Potter.” Snape’s voice was icy cold and Harry swallowed nervously still unable to swipe the smirk. “The one thing Draco craves is a confidant, someone to discuss his secrets with. I’m not angry he’s done it, it’s only natural he’d want to confide in someone but I do ask that you respect both his, mine and your own confidentiality in the matter. I needn’t remind you that no one is supposed to be aware of Draco and my relationship and that broadcasting it will undoubtedly earn the wrath of his royal darkness.” Finally the smile fell away and Harry nodded in understanding. Sure, he would have liked to tell the world what Draco was really like after the git had blackmailed him but Harry didn’t want Snape to get hurt by Voldemort because of it. “I don’t suppose he mentioned that it was he who came to my bed not the other way around?” Harry turned around from the fire unexpectedly and shook his head in confusion. Draco had given Harry the impression Snape had been the one who’d forced the union.

“No, he made it seem like it was a condition on his 15th birthday or something.” Harry shrugged his shoulders.

“14th” Snape corrected automatically like it was something he did often in conversation. “I don’t know how much of it was Draco and how much of it was Lucius but I certainly didn’t invite him to my rooms that night, nor did I have any intention of sleeping with him.” Snape paused as he yawned, before continuing. “Contrary to the general consensus of Hogwart’s student populace, I do not take delight in forcing my attention of someone younger than myself,” Snape paused again, a shadow of a smile returning to his thin lips. “Besides, I don’t like blondes.” Harry couldn’t help himself and snorted in amusement of Snape’s very flippant remark. Severus Snape didn’t just make off handed comments or jokes like that, especially about his personal life. Even talking about Snape’s personal life seemed absurd. Not a week ago the pair of them couldn’t hold a civil conversation, and yet here they sat in almost friendship discussing sex. It occurred to Harry then as his laughter died that the situation was quite strange and as yet there was no explanation of it.

“Why are you telling me all this?” Rather abruptly Harry turned fully to face Snape, his head tilted to the side in genuine confusion about why this was all happening now, and why Snape had changed his behavior so quickly. Snape sighed heavily and removed his feet from the surround to slip them back into his slippers.

“Because I believe you have a right to know, especially since there is a chance that Draco’s scheme might just work this time.” Snape stood up from the chair and moved over to his traveling trunk that was sat at the end of his bed. Harry frowned and stood up as well, not quite understanding what Snape was saying.

“What? I thought you just said it was a pointless exercise!” Harry snapped as he watched Snape remove what appeared to be a hip flask from his trunk.

“It was with the others.” Snape uncapped the flask and took a generous swig from its contents before offering it casually to Harry. Harry refused politely but still stared at Snape intently waiting for a continued explanation. “For the contract to be void Mr. Potter, Draco has to prove and make both his father and the dark lord believe that I have broken the conditions of the agreement. The only clause however that he can use in his deception is that of my forced faithfulness to him. If Draco can make it seem as if I am with another intentionally then the agreement is automatically broken.” Snape sat down on the edge of his own bed, its covers neatly folded down and straightened unlike Harry’s bed that was tossed about in disarray much like how the boy looked at present. “With Miss Merryweather, Draco could not convince his father I would change preferences for her. With Mr. Wainright, it was a case of status. Draco could not convince anyone that I would stoop beneath myself to binding with a muggle born and a boy of far less magical standing than myself. The union would have been pointless.”

“What about me? Like you-know-who is going to believe you’d bind to me, we hate each other.” Harry commented quickly having seen where this was going, and adding himself to the pattern. Snape smiled strangely at Harry’s last comment but chose to ignore it as he took another swig from his hip flask.

“Indeed, he might not believe my actions are due to romantic attachments to you but he will believe that I am tying myself to you for the selfish pursuit of power that a union between myself and you will bring. He will also believe that I am finally fulfilling the task he set for me, in delivering you to him by luring you out from behind the protection of Albus Dumbledore.” Snape re capped his hip flask and leaned over to place it carefully back in his trunk before sitting back up to meet Harry’s stare head on. For a moment Harry didn’t comprehend what was happening but as he replayed the conversation over in his mind the pieces finally fell into place.

“You knew what Draco was going to do, when you sent me to him. You want him to succeed! You planned this all!” Harry shouted, rapidly feeling himself loosing control of the situation, as he reeled at what had just been discussed. Winded Harry grasped at his chest unable to calm his breathing as he realized he’d yet again been backed into a corner with no way out. “Why are you doing this? In all of this, what’s in it for me? Either way I’m screwed!” Harry continued to shout between gasps of air, his chest tightening painfully as his stress levels continued to rise.

“I told you Mr. Potter, I did not enter this contract with Draco willingly. It was forced upon me as a form of control. For me to become a valuable asset in this coming war, I must sever the contract before it’s too late and I have taken the opportunity as it has arisen. Draco knows too much about me already, should he and I bind I would be unable to hide my work as a spy for the order from him. Placing both you and the rest of the order in danger.” Snape ended his succinct explanation and surprisingly enough Harry had calmed down a little. Just thinking about the safety of Sirius, Remus and the others in the order had settled his anger. “While that is the main motivation behind my actions, I admit I am also selfishly protecting myself. I do not want Draco Malfoy, and like him I am prepared to do almost anything to break the promise with his father.” Snape rubbed his brow with his fingertips the man obviously just as stressed about the situation as Harry was. For a long time Harry sat on the edge of his own bed staring at Snape. The potion master looked tired, his skeletal frame was practically buried beneath the robe and nightshirt. Years in the service of Tom Riddle had taken its toll. Harry tried to imagine what Snape would have looked liked if he had never taken the dark mark. It was a hard image to conjure and Harry gave up after some few minutes of effort.

“If you hate him so much why do you fuck him?” Harry wasn’t quite aware of just how noticeable the tone of jealousy and bitterness was in his voice as he spoke. Snape raised his head from his massaging fingertips to stare at Harry strangely through the few strands of dark hair that had fallen from the leather tie and into his face.

“For the same reason you went to him.” Snape whispered his eyebrow rising in silent challenge to Harry who opened his mouth several times to protest but in the end shut up with a huff of defeat. Yawning Harry swung his legs back up into bed and did his best to rearrange the blankets and covers around him comfortably. With a sigh Harry settled back into the lumpy mattress and turned to face Snape, who was still sitting on the edge of his own bed.

“Are you still punishing me for kissing you?” The comment was random but Harry knew he had nothing left to lose. A Slytherin smile twisted the corners of Snape’s lips as he looked up from beneath the loose strands of hair still hanging in his face.

“What makes you so sure I ever was?” Before Harry could blink he was staring down the length of Snape’s wand. Then in the time it took for Harry’s heart to beat in fear Snape had flicked his wand and Harry was plunged into darkness and into the most restful, nightmare and dream free sleep he’d ever had.

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TBC>>>>>>

A/N *Comes running in out of breath* My god, emergencies in the outback, thankfully not involving sheep this time around so I have returned in one peice. Sorry about the delay in updates, work kind of freaked out so I had to actually do something for my pay check this week. Anyway hope you're all still with me on this one, I know some of you predicted this but what you can't predict is what Snape's looking for next....... Thanks for the reviews, I love you guys sooo much too. *Huggles all round*

Cheers
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