Control

I am glad to see some familiar faces to watch the drama unfold and I appreciate the reviews. Here is the next chapter and you will learn a bit more about the bond- however this tale has several story lines including a dom/sub relationship and Snape's past. Enjoy and feel free to leave me review!

Ladylancelot

Consequences

Outside of the bedroom Harry could hear people come and go, whisper to each other and now and then Madame Pomfrey resolutely sent whoever was outside away. Inside the young wizard tried to sit more comfortably in his chair and only the sound of him turning a page in the book about history of quidditch was heard. It was the first sunny day in may and the sun was filtering in through the halfway drawn curtains casting the room in a warm light.

The only other occupant was sleeping in his bed and the thought of him waking made Harry's gut churn. He had had a terrible fight with Sirius two days ago about him rushing into stupid things and how doomed he now was that he had been bonded with Severus Snape- so far he had not felt any different and he could easily pretend that they were all wrong. Surely he would have noticed some changes in his condition by now if-

No. Nothing happened. He would marry Ginny in four weeks and all of them were wrong.

A soft noise alerted Harry and before he had chance to react he felt Snape's death like grip around his wrist almost crushing it.

“Potter, what have you done?” His voice sounded very much like his old sneering potion master self and made Harry cringe with the silent fury he found there.

Finally he could free his hand and deciding he could not face his teacher right now, he bolted out of the door almost running into the mediwitch.

“Mr Potter, watch your step!”

Dumbly Harry pointed to the door behind him. “He is awake,” he muttered and was relieved when the witch went inside without another word.

Leaning heavily against the wall Harry tried to clear his mind of any of the nasty scenarios Sirius had painted in their last argument. But he already felt his body reacting to Snape's absence and his magic tingling inside, forcing him to carefully open the door and look inside.

The mediwitch was currently rearranging her patients pillows, all the while she tried to calm Snape, who even if still pretty weak was furious. Never in all the years he knew the man had Harry seen him so murderous, spitting out so many insults and once his blazing eyes met Harry's he seemed to explode with another burst of obscenities.

Harry wanted to close the door when he felt a soft hand in his back carefully pushing´him inside.

“Now Severus, I would like you to calm down.” Dumbledore sounded more amused than upset and once he had pushed Harry far enough into the room he closed the door with a flick of his wand. “I do not wish to remove your tongue but I will if I have to.”

Snape scowled at both of them but kept silent, obviously not taking the chance that the headmaster would carry out his threat.

Steering Harry closer to the bed, Dumbledore pressed the young wizard into his deserted chair and easily sat down on the side of Snape's bed his blue eyes twinkling.

“I am glad to see you up and about but you should take it slow Severus, You have been seriously injured and there is no need to be so upset with Harry. He only tried to help you and without him you would be dead my boy.”

“I would prefer that”, Snape muttered clearly in a foul mood.

“Now, now- surely you cannot be serious.” Dumbledore's eyes rested on Harry's head who looked to the floor and he sighed. “Poppy, will you leave us alone for a moment.”

The mediwitch left the room at once obviously feeling the tension. A soon as she was gone Dumbledore sighed once again deeply.

“Do not be so glum both of you. Actually most of the wizarding world are still celebrating Voldemort's defeat. There is absolutely no reason to be so negative about the current situation. This could be very much an advantage for both of you.”

Snape snorted and scowled at the young wizard sitting in his chair his eyes cast down to the ground.

“If Potter for once did not do the first foolish thing that came to mind, we would both not be trapped in a bond neither of us wants or requires. Do you have any idea what you did?”

Harry looked up and silently shook his head.

“Oh that is so typical- you have absolutely no idea how much you ruined your life and mine. You are the most obnoxious foolish excuse for a wizard-” Suddenly both Severus and Harry groaned in obvious pain the older wizard clutching his arm.

“You both need to learn to get along my boys or this will be very painful for you,” Dumbledore said popping one of the sweets on the side table into his mouth. “ Now if you are done with your rant Severus we could get down to business.” When both wizards nodded he smiled. “Splendid. Now I have talked with Minister Fudge and he has notified me that there is a written record about your bond but I think it might be possible for both of you to live normal lives without noticing it much.”

“So, we do not have to live together?” Harry asked suddenly hopeful. Maybe everything was not lost.

“At least not permanently. It should be adequate if both you shall see each other once a month and do whatever the bond requires. Other than that I am convinced you can live separate lives.” When Harry wanted to ask something Dumbledore raised his hand. “I am aware of your plans to marry Ginerva Weasley but that won't be so easily solved. You are already bonded with somebody and even if that bond has been formed of necessity not love there is no way you can be bonded a second time. I am sorry Harry but of course-” He placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. “you can have other relationships. You just cannot marry in the traditional sense.”

Sighing Harry had a fleeting feeling that Ginny would not be happy with that but right now this was far better than what Sirius had pictured two days ago. So, he would have to spend a little time once a month with Snape and other than that he was a free man allowed to have other relationships. That sounded not too bad. However his reassurance was short lived when Dumbledore continued.

“Of course you need to share your magic with each other but it should be adequate if you do it once a month. Severus, I trust you to explain the details to Harry because I am needed at the wizengamot this evening.” He rose from the bed and walked over to the door. “Oh and Severus- be kind to Harry. He truly wanted to help.”

With that and a last warm smile he left Harry and his bonded partner alone in the hospital room. The silence grew between them until Harry could not stand it any longer.

“So that sounds as if not much we both have to sacrifice.” He shrugged carelessly. “I guess we can both spend a day of the month together.”

Snape curled his lip. “You truly have no idea what you have done Potter? How do you think it is possible for two wizards to share their magic? Through spending a couple of hours together? The only way we can pretend that the bond does not exist, is to be intimate once a month and I do not know about you but that sounds like a rather big sacrifice to me.”

The blood disappeared from Harry's face as he took that in. “But I am not... I mean I do not...”

“Me neither at least not with you but since you rushed into this bond, just so that you could act up on your saviour complex, we will be required to, unless you want to go mad.” Snape sat up wincing with the pain. “Now I am sure you have other people to harass so do me a favour and leave me alone for today.”

Suddenly wanting to get out of Snape's presence, Harry rose and without looking back left the room not seeing the sad look Snape wore when he reclined into the cushions.