The Death of a Soul

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Chapter Nineteen

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Hermione immediately left the infirmary to send an owl to her parents to obtain any information on comas, and what was the best method to wake people up from one. Healer Graham and Madam Pomfrey retreated to her office to see if there was another solution to relieve Harry’s dilemma, and to debate whether changing the vows would be successful.

Albus and Severus decided to go back to Dumbledore's office to recall the exact words Harry had used in his vows by using Dumbledore’s Pensieve, and Snape’s memories of the ceremony. As they walked away from the infirmary, a dark figure emerged out of the shadows. He watched the two until they were completely out of sight before creeping into the quiet room. He carefully scanned the room, making sure no one else was around. It was empty except for a lone figure on the bed. Only the swish of his robes made noise as made his way to Harry Potter's bed. Draco Malfoy looked down, smirked and shook his head.

“Well, well, Potter. Look at you now.” he scoffed. “Is this what you wanted? To be lying in the infirmary? Have you just given up, Potter? Is that it? Famous Harry Potter can't deal with something as trivial as a forced marriage, so he just lies down to die? What the hell kind of Gryffindor are you? A coward?” Draco stopped a moment then leaned down, his breath tickling Harry’s ear. “And here I thought you were smarter than that. Seems I’ve misjudged you.”

“Mr Malfoy!” Madam Pomfrey snapped, raising her voice. “What are you doing here? You are not allowed to be here! Now out!”

The blond glanced over his shoulder, smirked and shrugged with indifference. Poppy abruptly escorted Draco to the door, and watched as he retreated. She wanted to make sure he was truly gone before turning back to check up on Harry. Something was now different about him. His head was lying on its side. She leaned over to take a closer look at his face. His eyes were closed, but he was in fact… crying. Poppy gasped and ran over to the fireplace.

“Albus! Severus! He’s awake! Potter's awake!”


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Time was of the essence so both wizards Floo’d to the infirmary and rushed over to Harry’s bed. He was still deathly pale and his eyes were still closed.

“Harry?” Severus whispered.

The young wizard made no attempt to move. Snape touched his hand and Harry suddenly flinched. Yes, he was indeed awake.

“Harry?” he tried again.

A low and gruff sounding voice whispered, “Go away.”

Madam Pomfrey quickly stepped in. “The boy needs rest. I will call you when he’s strong enough.”

Snape scowled but reluctantly nodded. At least Harry was out of danger. This particular time anyway. As soon as Severus and Albus left the room, Poppy turned back to Harry.

“Potter, this is Healer Graham. He’s from St Mungo’s and he’s here to help you.”

“Hello, Mr Potter. Glad to see you're all right,” he said kindly.

Harry turned his face to look at him. “Was it you?” he said hoarsely.

Healer Graham furrowed his brows. “Sorry?”

Harry cleared his throat. “Just a minute ago. Were you the one speaking to me?”

Alexander and Poppy exchanged looks. She sighed. “No Potter, it wasn’t. It was…”

“I know who it was,” he interrupted, more to himself than to them.

“Do you remember what he said to you, Potter?” Madam Pomfrey inquired.

Harry turned his head away and stared at the hanging curtain that still surrounded his bed. He didn’t answer. Annoyed with the lingering silence, she opened her mouth to speak, but Harry finally spoke up.

“No.” His voice was cold and empty.

There was a small pause before Poppy asked, “Do you at least remember your dreams?”

Harry closed his eyes and sighed. Dreams. Yes, he remembered the dreams. Nightmares to be precise. Always the same. Snape. Dumbledore. And his two best friends. Always there smothering him. Giving him unwanted comfort. But there was one other who was there, as well. Draco Malfoy. It seemed like the blond was always there, hovering over him, making him feel so small. Yes, he remembered his dreams. Every last one of them.

“No,” he replied distantly.

“At all?” Healer Graham asked.

“No,” Harry repeated firmly.

“The reason we are so concerned is because you were…”

“AAAH!” Harry screamed and doubled over in an attempt to curl up his body, but his hands wouldn’t move. “Let me go!” he cried, shaking his confined arms and legs.

“Mr Potter, you were trying to injure yourself while you were sleeping,” Healer Graham explained, raising his voice loud enough so that Harry could hear him.

“I don’t care! Let me go!”

Against their better judgement, the restraints were removed and instantly Harry’s hands went in between his legs, holding on to the source of his pain. He coiled up into a foetal position and his face started to turn red, a vein stood erect and angry on his neck. His screams of agony were muffled in his throat, causing his face to turn a deeper shade of red.

“Potter! Breathe, you foolish child!”

Harry shook his head frantically. Unable to retain his breath any longer, he took a large gasp of air. His cry filled the infirmary and echoed out into the corridors.

Harry Potter fainted.


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“I, Harry James Potter, promise you, Severus Snape, to never forget this day or what you’ve taken away from me. Therefore, I shall now take away from you. From this day forward I am no longer the Harry Potter that you or anyone else knows, for he no longer exists. In his place, you have created a new Harry Potter, which stands before you now.

I hate you. I have always hated you and now my hatred for you will only continue to grow and will not end until one of us dies. You have done nothing but lie to me since the first day I met you and you still continue to lie. I will never trust you or your promises you speak of. I offer you nothing except my name and my body of which I do not willingly give. You speak of your desires, but know this: I will never desire you. Ever. Because of this contract, you are allowed to take your pleasure by using me as a vessel, but as long as we are married, there is nothing you will be able to do or say to me that will arouse me, entice me, please me or satisfy me, for those desires within me no longer exist.”

Albus Dumbledore and Severus Potter exchanged a quick glance, and then both retreated into a long and an uncomfortable silence.

Finally, “Do you think he will?”

“I honestly don’t know, Severus.”

Healer Graham cleared his throat and the two wizards turned around to see him and Madam Pomfrey standing outside Dumbledore's door.

“He’s getting worse, Professor.”


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“I want to thank you, Harry.”

The Boy-Who-Lived jumped and his eyes opened wide, staring at nothing save blackness. He knew that voice. It was the voice that haunted many of his dreams. Harry shivered and pulled his legs to his chest tight. He pushed himself further back into the corner he was sitting in.

“What do you want?” he hissed.

“Merely to say thank you, of course. I’ve been waiting patiently for this moment and I knew you wouldn’t fail me.”

Harry shivered again. “Go away.” His voice was getting weaker.

“You needn’t worry about me, Harry. It will be over soon enough and you’ll be able to see your parents again,” the ethereal voice said in a mocking tone, as though it were talking to a child.

“Then go away,” Harry whispered, laying his head on top of his knees. He could barely breathe.

“No, I don’t think so. I want to stay and witness the demise of Harry Potter.”

Suddenly, a bolt of light pierced through the darkness.

“GET OUT!”


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Harry gasped deeply. It felt like he had been deprived of air for hours. His eyes quickly darted around the room. Standing next to his bed was three very concerned wizards and one horrified witch.

“Why didn’t you tell me that He was in yours dreams?” Severus demanded, narrowing his eyes.

“This was the… he’s never…” Harry wheezed.

“Mr Potter, I will be honest with you,” Healer Graham interrupted. “Your life is in grave danger. If you do not act immediately, you will die,” he stated firmly.

Harry closed his eyes and nodded. Truth be told, he really didn’t want to die. Not like this anyway. “What must I do?” he whispered.

A sense of relief filled the air.


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“Is everything prepared?” Albus asked Poppy.

“Yes. The room will be sealed and no one will be able to enter.”

“You do understand, Albus, that once they reinstate their vows, you must leave immediately.”

“Yes, of course, of course.”

Healer Graham nodded. “Good. Let’s begin.”


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“Harry?” Severus whispered.

The young wizard lazily opened his eyes.

“Remember, you don’t have to repeat your vows. Just revoke your old one and state a new one. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” he said coarsely.

Snape softly smiled at him and glanced over to Healer Graham, Madam Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore. Everyone nodded. Poppy laid down a bowl of warm water and a few flannels on the bedside table along with plenty of linens.

“For how long?” Severus asked Alexander.

“You’ll know when to stop.” He looked over at Harry. “I will warn you, Mr Potter. This will be painful.”

Harry looked away and barely nodded. “I understand.”

“I must remind you that this was invoked by a magical wedding vow and this is the only way to counteract it.”

He looked back over to Healer Graham with cold eyes. “I said I understand,” he managed to croak out.

“Very well. We will be leaving now. Good luck, Severus.”

Healer Graham and Madam Pomfrey left the infirmary, leaving Snape and Dumbledore alone with Harry. Albus stood at the end of Harry’s bed and Severus took his left hand in his, joining the two wedding bands.

“I bid you look into each other’s eyes and reinstate your wedding vows.”

“I, Severus Snape, renew my wedding vow to you, Harry James Potter, for all that I had previously said still holds true and will always remain true.”

Harry looked up at him with a transfixed gaze and paused briefly. He had to do this.

“I, Harry James Potter, retract my previous wedding vow and impose this one in its place. I am husband to Severus Snape and as such will fulfill all the requirements and duties that a husband is required to do,” Harry conceded reluctantly.

Albus finished. “Go now and enter into the days of your togetherness.”

It was short and simple, but it was enough.

Instantly, Harry screamed and flew headfirst into his crotch. Dumbledore all but ran from the room.

“Make it stop! Make it stop!”

“I will, Harry. I know it’s hard, but please, just try to relax,” Snape said, with a slight panic in his voice.

Severus grabbed the blankets and yanked them down in one quick motion before taking Harry by the wrists and pulling his hands away. Severus quickly reached in between his husband’s legs and grasped the large and swollen penis, now fully erect. He closed his eyes and ignored the infliction from Harry’s nails as they dug deep into his skin.

“NO! NO!” he screamed, grabbing his arm to push it away.

“Harry, I have to. Please relax. It must be done this way and it must be done by me.”

“No,” he whimpered.

The strokes were quick and hard, and even though the binding vow was now removed, Harry still tried to resist. His mind screamed ‘Stop!’ but his body demanded release from the blazing pain. He knew no matter how relieved he was going to be rid of this all consuming pressure, it would still at the hands of his enemy. His husband. Harry wanted this to stop and stop now because he secretly knew what this meant. Defeat.

Harry thrashed violently, and within only a matter of minutes, he was coming. His back arched up and his heels dug in the bed as his body turned rigid. His tearful howl sent a strong tremor up and down Snape’s spine. Instantly, Harry collapsed back down, panting heavily.

“I…I hate…”

Severus sighed. “I know.”

Harry’s body thrusted upwards and he screamed again.


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It was almost two hours before Severus emerged out from the infirmary. He looked tired and his robe was off, revealing a sweat-soaked shirt that clung to his chest.

“It is done.”

“Don’t worry, Severus, he’ll be fine now,” Poppy assured him.

Albus placed his hand on his shoulder. “Go and get some rest now, Severus. It’s been a trying day.”

Any other time, Snape would’ve argued. But not today.


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