Scarred Souls

*****************************************************



Title: Scarred Souls



Author: Misty Moonlight/Co-author: QueenBoadicea



Beta: QueenBoadicea



Pairings: Severus/Harry



Published: 12/10/2008



Summary: A widowed Harry must bond with Snape in order to save his daughter’s life. Sev gains a family, for better or worse, and the hearts of two scarred souls will be changed forever.



Warnings: Romance, Drama, Angst, Alternate Reality/Universe, Sexual Situations, Hurt/Comfort, M/M, Slash, Anal, Language, Humor, possible MPreg, Bonding, Original Characters, Family, non-canon, OOC, WIP



*****************************************************



Chapter 18: Attack and Accusations





Getting new potions ingredients from Slugs & Jiggers hadn’t proved to be nearly so difficult as he’d thought. Snape still couldn’t use a glamour, not with that odious dye staining his hair, but he had been adept at sneaking around during the war. He simply waited until dark and then made his way to the apothecary shop by every roundabout means necessary. Thanks to his frequent trips, he was well acquainted with the alleys and byways winding through the area.



The man behind the counter hadn’t hesitated to provide him with the necessary articles although he’d directed searching glances beneath Severus’s hood, trying in vain to catch a glimpse of his face. He tied the packages into neat bundles and laid them on the counter. “Will that be all, Mr.–?”



“That will be quite all.”



“You don’t wish to have them delivered?”



“No, I can manage,” Severus said, allowing just the faint trace of irritability to enter his tone. He had been relieved to see this clark was quite new. He might know Severus by description but his voice would be unfamiliar. Severus felt quite safe speaking to the man in normal tones instead of trying to disguise his voice.



“Very well. The total is 3 Galleons, 12 Sickles and 3 Knuts.”



He paid and left. Because of his work at St. Mungo’s, Severus was fairly well off. He could live comfortably on what he made; he certainly didn’t need Potter’s money. But it was gratifying to have the boy running errands and paying with his own coin. Let the brat spend some of that money his conceited, over-privileged father had left him.



His walk slowed as he pondered his next move. He really didn’t want to go back to the cottage. Those heads would be waiting for him, including head number three, doubtless with new material. He’d taken to drinking a heavy sleeping draught before going to bed just to make it through the night. But it was becoming of limited use with each passing evening. It was getting so that he was even hearing those damned songs in his sleep.



So engrossed was he in worrying that he failed to notice the man crossing his path.



“Snape, you bastard! How dare you do this to Potter!” the man snarled.



With the agility that had saved his life during many a sortie, Severus dodged to the side, the hex narrowly missing him. He whipped out his wand and retaliated with the Stunning Charm, causing the man to topple to the ground.



But the wizard’s cry had alerted others. Angry shouts, insults and threats flew through the air along with several curses. Severus managed to duck every single one while firing off random spells. He heard cries of pain and imprecations while he ran but he didn’t stop to listen, only continued to shoot off spells over his back. He managed to find a clear space and Disapparated.



Landing on the doorstep to the cottage, he fumed at the undignified way he’d been treated. This was all Potter’s fault! He was supposed to have rectified this mess!



Severus sucked in a breath when he realized that he was shaking. He had survived all those years as a double agent, working for the Order while playing the helpful servant of his Dark Lord. He had learned to hide fear beyond a stony countenance and to deflect all suspicion from his person. He had done this in the certain knowledge that it was what was needed for atonement and done it without flinching.



Yet he had been glad when the struggle was over. At least, he had been able to practice his craft afterwards without having to play nursemaid to a bunch of witless, wet-behind-the-ears students. It wasn’t entirely what he would have wished. He’d had to serve in secrecy for the people at St. Mungo’s but at least it had been on his own terms.



Now he was getting his revenge on Potter and everything was going wrong. He had managed to survive trials that would have broken another man only to run from the attack of an unruly mob!



He swallowed his fury, letting emotion drain from him. Straightening himself to his full height, he marched to the front door and let himself in.



“Well, look who’s back! Welcome home, beakface! Did you have a nice time playing with your friends?”



“He doesn’t have any friends,” head number two answered.



“You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, you put your right foot in and shake it all about…



Sweet Merlin. Slamming the front door, he made his way to the basement.



Severus took a quick look around, his wand at the ready. At first glance, all seemed to be in order. Nothing had been moved. There were no utensils strewn on the floor. Cautiously, he inched into the room. Still giving sharp looks round, he pulled out his packages, expanded them to their proper size and began putting them away in the various proper flasks and jars.



Severus paused as he realized something was missing. Where were his cauldrons?



At the thought, a heavy brass cauldron fell to the floor with a loud clang, barely missing his head. Startled, he looked upwards.



All of his cauldrons were there, magically suspended from the ceiling. At his glance, they plummeted to the floor, one by one, letting out discordant bangs with each crash.



Throwing up a Shield didn’t help as the cauldrons merely banged off it and flew or rolled all over the open space. Running as fast as he could, Severus made it to the door just as the last cauldron crashed to the floor.



Again, the heads laughed like loons, bobbing around him in dizzying circles as they applauded this latest childish trick. Severus ground his teeth until his jaw hurt to prevent him from lashing out at the damned things. It only increased their delight when they managed to make him lose his temper.



This was all Potter’s fault but the man couldn’t hide forever. He would have to step from the confines of Grimmauld Place sooner or later and when he did—



The whoosh of the floo alerted him and he pulled out his wand and inched to the living room. He heard the childish treble of Potter’s brats and the lower soothing tones of the man himself. Severus paused as he listened to him reassure the little whiners.



His voice had deepened since Severus had heard him last in the Shrieking Shack. He hadn’t really taken the time to listen before now. Odd, how low and tender the man’s voice sounded. He had more patience with children than Severus had ever been able to manage. Severus was hesitant to intrude and destroy the fragile peace.



He tucked his wand into his sleeve and crossed his arms, adopting a menacing pose. There was no point in showing kindness now. It would only make those urchins believe that they had won.



The Gryffindor marched from the living room, pausing when he saw Severus standing motionless in the hallway. “Boys, get washed up and I’ll fix you lunch.” The children edged around Potter, still unwilling to get anywhere near their other father. Lily was nowhere to be seen but Severus couldn’t be bothered about any of them right now. For the moment, his business was with Potter.



“Mr. Potter, a word.”



“Not now, Snape. I just got here. Give me two minutes before jumping down my throat.”



“This cannot be delayed.”



“Fine. I’m just going to the kitchen to fix the children something, Snape. You can come along if you want,” Potter said wearily.



Severus fell into step behind him. “I suppose you received my missive.”



“Oh, you mean that charming threat of magical harm you sent via owl? Yes, I did. That’s why I’m back.” He didn’t stop to talk to Severus, however, just continued marching towards the kitchen.



“Stop staring at his arse, Snivellus. The man doesn’t swing that way and, even if he did, he could do better than a gruesome old prat with scar tissue.



“Yeah, the only people who ever slept with you were the curious and the whores of Knockturn Alley. Nowadays, you couldn’t get laid in a morgue.”



“Face it, Snivellus. You’re unloved and unlovable. Harry could have anyone he wanted. Some of those people who attacked you this afternoon probably wish they were in your shoes. You lucked out when you got Harry and he definitely got the short end of the stick when he was forced to bond to your monstrous self. And stop staring at his arse!”



Severus scowled. He had not been staring at Potter’s buttocks. Though now that his attention had been called to them, he realized just how taut and trim they were, firm mounds of flesh that flexed with every step Potter took. Quite delectable, really, and in keeping with the firm muscled chest he’d seen the night his hair had turned pink.



With that mental reminder of his first humiliation, he returned to the pressing issue of his own safety. “It is a serious problem, Potter, not just for me but for you. If I die…”



“I know the drill, all right? You die, I die. No need to belabor it,” Potter hissed quietly. He began striding around the kitchen, pulling various foodstuffs from the cabinets and pantry and banging down plates and saucers.



“Apparently, there is. I was attacked in Diagon Alley today—”



Potter halted in his labors and stared at him, his eyes wide with concern. “Oh god, Snape. Are you hurt?” He stepped towards Severus only to stop abruptly, no doubt recalling his warning against being touched.



Severus sneered. “Don’t pretend to care, Potter. In any case, you see that I am fine. My attackers were clumsy and ill prepared to deal with me. Nevertheless, the experience was unpleasant and, for your sake as well as mine, best not repeated.”



The man stood unmoving and then nodded stiffly. “That’s good, then.”



“Is that all you have to say? What do you intend to do about this matter?”



Potter leaned back against the kitchen counter and stared at him, his mouth drawn into a thin line. “What do you expect me to do about it, Snape? You’re the one who thinks he’s so clever and all and I’m just a stupid dunderhead. So why don’t you come up with a brilliant plan?”



“Because this is your fault!” Severus hissed, fed up with his bond mate’s stubbornness. “You went blabbing to some reporter—”



Potter threw up his hands. “Now stop right there! I’m not taking the blame for something I didn’t do. You honestly think I want people to know that I was forced to wed an ugly, old, manipulative Slytherin who used my daughter in some twisted, sick scheme of revenge?”



“This is nothing more than you deserve, Potter, for abandoning me and leaving me to die!”



“I thought you were dead!” Harry shouted. “It’s not like I could stay to check, not with Death Eaters attacking the school and Voldemort waiting—” He bit off the words, his face suddenly tight as if he’d said too much.



Severus decided to ignore it. He had more pressing matters on his mind. “If you didn’t speak to a reporter, then who did?”



Potter shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe that Ministry official you insisted get us married?” he sniped.



Severus thought for a moment. In truth, he hadn’t considered that possibility. He was certain he had cowed the man into silence. It was possible he may have simply infuriated him instead, causing him to run to the papers with his grievance. But the wedding had been days ago. Why would there be a delay in the article’s appearance?



The green-eyed Gryffindor had turned his back, readying the meal for his family. Severus couldn’t help but notice only three plates were set.



“Where is that little drooling toddler of yours?”



“Lily is past the age of drooling except when she’s asleep, Snape,” Potter replied coldly. “I’ve decided to leave her with the Weasleys for the time being.”



“Neglecting your own offspring, Potter? Tut tut. What would the public say if it knew its Golden Boy was shunting his child into another’s arms?”



“They’d say it was probably to keep her safe from the demonic bastard I married,” Potter shot back.



“Good one! That would make two Lilys you drove off, wouldn’t it, Snivellus?”



The heads might have been crude in their construction. But the shafts they threw were sharp enough to draw blood.



Potter stared at him. “Snape, are you all right? You look pale all of a sudden.”



“My health is not your concern, Potter.”



“Just a moment ago you were pointing out how I’d die if you did,” Potter said dryly.



“Only if I died by violence, you imbecile. Do you honestly think the bond would penalize you for my demise through natural causes?”



Potter’s lips pursed as though he hadn’t considered the possibility. Severus’s gaze fell to those pouting lips and he could feel his trousers tighten. Thank Merlin he’d worn his robes today; they hid a multitude of weaknesses. It was disturbing, these flashes of lust; the heads whispering of the futility of his desire made the emotion no easier to handle.



“In any case, that’s neither here nor there,” he said with a wave of his hand, dismissing both his unwelcome feelings and the previous subject matter. “I’m still wondering why you would keep away your youngest child, who would surely need you the most, but keep the other two spawn. Surely, they should be kept out of my clutches as well?”



“James and Al are old enough to take care of themselves,” Potter replied. “And they’re not convalescing from an illness. Lily needs stability right now, not being dragged back and forth between houses. But when—things settle down here, I’ll bring her back,” he finished quietly.



“Things will not settle down if this matter of that article is not resolved.”



Potter heaved a great sigh. “Again, what do you expect me to do about it? I don’t know who sent in that article. I can’t demand that they retract it, not when it’s the truth. Besides, the whole evil mess was bound to come out sooner or later. Did you expect to be hidden from the Wizarding World forever?”



“No, of course not,” Severus began.



“And, honestly, what did you expect would happen when you married someone you claim always has his ugly face plastered across the front pages? The Daily Prophet is always printing up some rubbish or other about me. It was only a matter of time before your name got dragged into it after you married me.” Potter paused and a smirk twisted his lips. “Not the brightest move of your life, was it?”



“Any possible foolishness of mine far outweighs your most intelligence move, Mr. Potter,” Snape sneered.



“So this whole situation could be put down to a combination of my so-called stupidity and your ‘brilliance.’ That pretty much emphasizes that I can’t fix it. Unless…” Potter tilted his head and his expression became sly. There was a hint of mischief sparkling about his eyes. For a moment, Severus was reminded so sharply of Lily Evans that his heart stuttered in his chest.



“Unless what, Potter? Do grace us with your no-doubt idiotic plan? It will be useless, of course, but—”



“We go out in public together.”



“What?” The interruption caused him to blink as did the suggestion. “We go out together?”



“That’s right. The news about us being bonded is out; there’s nothing we can do about that. But we can prevent any more attacks if people see us together and see that you’re treating me right.”



Snape snarled. “I’ll do no such—”



Potter acted as if he hadn’t spoken. “And we’ll have to take the children, too. People know about them and they’ll want to see how you’re acting with them.”



“If you think I’m going to suffer your children—”



“We could go out tomorrow. I’ve neglected my job long enough so I’ll have to show up at the orphanage anyway. I usually take the children with me,” Potter said thoughtfully. “You could come with us.”



Severus shuddered. It was bad enough enduring Potter’s unkempt progeny. There was no way he was dealing with the cast-off wretches from other people’s families.



Then he thought about what Potter had just said. “You have a job? At an orphanage?”



“What did you think, Snape? That I spent all my time lazing around at home, doing nothing?”



“Your pastimes are of no interest to me, Potter. But, yes, I had thought you would play the idle spoiled brat, living off your father’s inheritance.”



The glare from those green eyes could have melted a cauldron. “Well, you were wrong, weren’t you? It’s not the first time or the last that you’ve been wrong about me.”



“Spare me the melodramatics, Potter. I know everything about you I need to.”



“No, you don’t. But, once you start spending time with me and the children, I’m sure you’ll pick up a few things.”



“You forget, Potter, that I still have a follicle problem to deal with.” Snape took a hunk of his hair between his fingers. In truth, only a few of the strands still showed the appalling pink color.



“It looks like it’s almost gone. Tell you what. If all the pink has vanished by tomorrow, you can come with us.” When the man opened his mouth, Harry added, “If nothing else, being with me will act as protection. No one will dare to attack you with me around, yeah?”



Snape folded his arms. “Your plan has some merit, Potter.”



Harry smiled. “Good. And if this is going to work, you’d better start calling me Harry.”



Severus sneered again but Harry paid it no mind. Having finished setting up the meal, he called for the twins to join him.





TBC