Legally Binding

Chapter 2


When the trio hit the tiled floor they went sprawling all over each other in a tangle of arms and legs.

“Get off my foot.”

“Get off my legs. Merlin’s beard, Ron, you need to lose some weight.”

“Bloody hell! Someone just kill me now.”

Ron and Hermione untangled themselves faster and looked at Harry who was sprawled on the tiled floor holding his head. A distinct pop was heard and a house-elf appeared before the three. Hermione was more interested in Harry’s state of mind than the house-elf; Ron on the other hand was looking at the new intruder.

“Master says to get your Gryffindor hides off his entryway floor. If you can’t do it yourself, Master says I’m to do it for you.” The elf’s blue eyes glinted with evil mischief.

Ron snarled at the elf. “Go away.” He stood up and reached a hand out to Harry. When he found one not forthcoming he grabbed one of his hands and pulled it away from his face. “Get up Harry, or this elf will make you.”

Hermione stood and started looking around; she took in their surroundings. She tugged on Ron’s robe sleeve. “Where are we, Ron?”

“I don’t bloody care at the moment, Hermione. At least we don’t have a mob after us.” Ron began pulling on Harry’s arm, who was not about to stand. “Okay, Harry. Just lay there.” Ron moved off and started looking about the entryway along with Hermione. He looked back at the elf that was standing over Harry peering down at him.

“Move. Master wants to see all three of you.” The elf put his hands on his hips waiting for the other young man to get up. “Fine. I’ll do it for you.” With the wave of his hand he had Harry standing, and walking. “This way you two.” The elf peered back at them as he was making Harry walk.

The went out of the entryway into a dark hall thit oit only just enough while you were walking so you wouldn’t stumble or fall. The elf stopped in front of a large dark mahogany door, he waved his hand without so much as touching the snake doorknobs to open it up. Making Harry take the steps down into the den, the elf sat the young man down in the nearest chair, the one closest to the fire. He looked at the other two and waved his hand at the small setae. “Sit.” He commanded them. “Master will join you shortly.” The elf then left the room after he closed the doors behind him.

Hermione noticed the black leather couches and the dark furnishings of the room. Ron pointed to the painting above the fireplace. Hermione’s eyes grew wide when she recognized at least some of the features in the man in the painting. “We’re at Snape’s house.”

“Oh shite! Now we are really in for it.”

“Why would you be in for it?” The voice was soft very feminine. Hermione and Ron spun around and looked at the young woman who was sitting in the corner in the shadows. They could only see her pale hands.

Hone one gulped. “Well…you see…we were…”

“Any day now? Stop stuttering, it is very unbecoming of a young lady.” The young woman rose out of her chair. Her blue robes caught the light of the fireplace, Ron sat back, her black eyes were just as menacing to look at as the potion masters. Her black hair was shimmering silk and flowed freely as she stepped closer to the three.

“Blimey, I didn’t know Snape had a sister.” Ron sputtered.

“I didn’t know Charlie Weasley had such a rude brother.” Her words were biting and made Ron blush.

She walked around the setae, not bothering to look at Harry. “Now, tell me why you are in Snape Manor. Severus wouldn’t have sent you here unless something happened that he could not have gotten you away from it without any other means.”

Hermione began again, this time telling her everything about the new law that had been enacted. Severus sister listened until Hermione got to the part about Harry and what he had done. She looked over to Harry. “Foolish. Should have kept your mouth shut.”

Harry turned his green eyes upon her. “Why, so I can be parade around stockades for sell.” Harry stood his anger coming back at what Fudge had forced upon him. “I just got my life back, for me. Only now I have to get married, it never occurred to anyone that maybe I don’t want to get married. I’ve had everyone dictate how they want me to live my life. I’ll be damned if I allow someone to tell me now who I have to marry. If Fudge even had an inkling that I was born from a Muggleborn witch this stupid law might not have included me.”

“Everything must always be about you doesn’t it Potter!” She snarled at at him.

“You don’t even know me, don’t even have a clue as to what I’ve been through. How in the hell can you even judge me?”

“That will be enough Potter!” Severus yelled from the door. “How dare you raise your voice towards my sister with that tone? Sarin, if you’ll excuse us, I’ll deal with these three alone.”

Sarin Snape looked at her older brother, Severus turned thirty-eight this year and Sarin was thirteen years his junior. Sarin gave one last look at Harry her black eyes boring into green ones, he didn’t look away. Sarin raised an eyebrow at him, she walked slowly past Severus who was looking from her to Potter. Sarin was a lot like Severus, being that few people would dare look them in the eye and not back down. Severus was able to make Potter look away, but Sarin hadn’t been able too.

“You never think before you speak Potter! You run blindly into trouble.” Severus rounded on Potter as he was walking closer to him.

“That isn’t true.” Hermione said.

Severus glared at her and Hermishrushrunk back in her seat. “I don’t want to hear one word from either of you.”

Severus turned back to Potter who was glaring at him, Severus glared back and watched as Harry looked down. “The wizarding world doesn’t revolve around Harry Potter! You are in more of a mess now than you were when Voldemort was after you. If you had kept your mouth shut it wouldn’t be on the bloody front page of the ‘Daily Prophet’. As it is, expect it to be in this evenings paper.”

Harry coiled back and sat down in the chair that he had been standing in front of, keeping his head down the whole time Snape was towering over him.

“But is not Harry’s fault, if this law hadn’t have been passed he wouldn’t be in this position.” Hermione threw out behind Snape’s back.

Severus rounded on her butppedpped when he saw Sarin in the doorway. She was watching everything. His anger was reaching a boiling point, not only did he have the bloody Gryffindor trio under his roof, now his sister wasn’t even listening to him. He strode over to the doors of the den. “I thought I told you to leave.” He hissed at her.

“You are not my father.” She glared right back at him.

“I’m the closest thing you had as a father, now leave.” He left no room for arguing and slammed the door to the den shut. He spun around and saw Weasley and Granger were watching with interest while Potter was still sulking in the chair.

He glared down at the two, Weasley turning as red as his hair and ger ger looking away guiltily like she had been caught doing something she shouldn’t have. “I want you three out of my house.” Severus pointed to the fireplace in the den. “Take the floo powder and leave.”

Ron jumped and rushed to the fireplace, it didn’t take him being told twice, he was ready to leave the viper’s lair. Hermione was right behind him, but looked at Harry who was still sitting in the chair.

“Leave Miss Granger. Potter will be along shortly.” Severus glared at her and she jumped into action, following right behind Ron to the ‘burrow’.

Severus stood in front of Potter, the last to leave. The boy had always been the only one who would withstand his wrath. “Any day now Potter.”

Harry looked up at Severus. “I…I…you’re right. The wizarding world doesn’t revolve around me. Thank you for getting me away from the crowd today.” Harry stood and slowly made his way to the fireplace.

Severus studied Harry as he headed to the fireplace; his shoulders were slumped in defeat. He had never seen the boy give up so easily, even the whole time he faced Voldemort the boy was a force to be reckoned with. Harry turned in the fireplace and glanced over at Severus, even the spark in his eyes were gone. Severus admitted to himself that he didn’t like what he was seeing now. How many times had he tried to break the boy? He never could, no matter how hard he tried. Potter had seemed to be made of stuff that even Severus Snape feared potions master of Hogwarts couldn’t break. It had taken a law that would in fact change the rest of Potter’s life to break that iron will the boy had.