Bonds of Affection

Author\'s Note: Okay, it\'s finally here. The secret of severus snape , part I. Please drop me a review, let me know what you think. Now, on to the story:



Little Duckling



The next day, morning and afternoon were spent with Severus instructing Harry on how to behave around Lucius.



“Do try to act... reasonably subservient,” Severus told him stiffly. “I don\'t want there to be any doubt in his mind that you are... subdued. And a single stupid remark from you, Merlin help me, I\'ll punish you right in front of him.”



Harry wanted to say something snide, but with a single dark glare from Severus, the smart remark died in his throat, and he just nodded mutely.



When Lucius Floo\'d in, Severus welcomed him cordially. Harry was standing slightly aside, and greeted the Death Eater with a respectful bow.



“Lovely to see the brat finally showing some respect,” Lucius said with a broad smile. “We should have done it years ago.”



Severus rose an eyebrow. “We, Lucius?” he asked impassively.



“Yes, \'we\', Severus,” Lucius said smugly. “After all, I am the one who came up with the idea of slavery... just as soon as we learned that our dearest Harry was a Horcrux...”



“Clever,” Severus said coolly. “I bet you wish Lord Voldemort had chosen you to be Harry\'s Master...”



Lucius shrugged with feigned indifference. “No matter. As long as Our Lord\'s will is done, I am pleased. By the way, Severus, dear – I must request my book back.”



“Your book,” Severus repeated absently.



“Yes,” Lucius said wryly. “On Imperceptible and Intangible Bonding of Slave to Master. That\'s mine, I am afraid.”



“Draco lost it to Hermione in a game of chess,” Harry blurted out impulsively, and was instantly rewarded with a sharp slap to his face – from Severus. He gasped quietly, and lifted his hand to touch the burning cheek. “Forgive me, Sir,” he said, as contritely as he could.



“Don\'t speak out of turn again,” Severus intoned coldly. “If you do, you know where the cane is, and I am sure Lucius will be happy to assist in administering the punishment.”



“All too happy,” Lucius confirmed with a wink. Harry shuddered inwardly.



“Yes, Sir,” he said meekly. “Thank you, Sir.”



“As if my son could ever lose a game of chess to that insecure, arrogant mudblood,” Lucius said contemptuously. “No, I am afraid this was just a case of teenage cruelty. He learned that Harry had taken the potion... and he wanted to- ah, make him sweat, as they say.”



Severus nodded curtly and glanced at Harry. “Fetch the book,” he ordered.



Harry bit his lip at the unfairness of it – but did not protest.



“Yes, Sir,” he said with a credible amount of respect, and walked away. He returned with the book a minute later, placed it on the dining table, between Severus and Lucius, and stood back, waiting for further instructions.



Severus shot him a displeased glance. “Well, what are you standing here for? Bring in the dinner, won\'t you.”



“Yes, Sir,” Harry said quietly and departed into the kitchen. Placing the dishes on the tray, he could still hear the subdued voices from the dining room:



“Tell me, Severus, will you have him eat off the floor, or join us at the table?” Lucius inquired with curiosity.



Severus laughed unpleasantly. “What makes you think he\'ll eat at all?”



Lucius clucked his tongue with mock disapproval. “The child is entirely too thin. You shouldn\'t starve him.”



Severus snorted. “Oh my, such concern from you. It\'s almost as if you care.” He clapped his hands and called, “Slave! Hurry up with the food.”



“Yes, Sir,” Harry answered promptly, and entered the dining room, carrying a large tray filled with delicacies on his hands. He placed it on the table gently, and bowed slightly, taking a few steps back.



“Get out,” Severus said sternly.



To Harry\'s surprise, Lucius shook his head and leaned to Severus, whispering something in his ear.



“On the second thought, you may remain and eat,” Severus said impassively, his dark eyes glaring at Harry dangerously. “But do not be a nuisance.”



“Yes, Sir,” Harry said quietly. “Thank you, Sir.”



They ate together quietly, Harry barely managing to swallow a few pieces of his meal. His stomach was clenched in a knot, and his heart was beating rapidly. The scar on his forehead was hurting so much, it nearly made him nauseous and dizzy. He gazed at his plate in silence, and continued eating slowly, even as he tasted bile in his mouth. He sensed Lucius staring at him intently, but did not lift his eyes.



“How is the slave-bond progressing, by the way?” Lucius asked with a smirk.



“The slave-bond is just fine,” Severus said indifferently. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”



“Ah,” Lucius chuckled, amused. “Have you told him though?”



Harry glanced at Severus questioningly. Severus was glaring at Lucius in a most vicious way.



Lucius, however, was undeterred. He gazed at Harry serenely and asked gently:



“You don\'t know, do you, Harry? You don\'t know why being in his embrace is so comforting to you? Why it feels like it\'s ... just the safest, most peaceful way for you to be?”



Unexpected terror coursing through him, Harry shook his head mutely. Lucius chuckled again.



“How sad, Harry. I bet, when you first arrived to Hogwarts, and first caught sight of your stern, cold-hearted Potions Professor, you just wanted to throw yourself into his arms and drown in his embrace... but the greasy bat was too spiteful, too vicious to allow this sort of.... connection... to take place. Were you sad about that, Harry?”



Harry sat at the table, unable to move. When he finally gathered the strength to turn his head, he glanced at Severus, but the man\'s face was completely unreadable.



Lucius eyed Harry with a mixture of contempt and amusement.



“Do you like ducks, Harry?”



Harry stared at him, wondering if Lucius had gone completely insane. But Lucius was glaring at him, clearly demanding an answer, and Harry forced himself to reply:



“Yeah, sure, Sir. I like ducks.”



“Well... you may want to read up on ducks – and learn about imprinting,” Lucius said snidely. “When ducklings first hatch, they imprint onto the first thing they see.... be that their mother\'s face, or a face of the human who is studying them. Whoever they first see.... is the one they will attach themselves to, and follow, from that moment on.”



Harry bowed his head, afraid to hear more, but he had no choice.



“You are our little duckling,” Lucius laughed softly. “The day your parents died at the hand of Our Lord was rather traumatic for you. The shell that protected you was broken. It was.... like being hatched. Can you see that, Harry?”



Harry gave no answer. His eyes were studying the surface of the table.



Lucius spoke again:



“You see, Harry, on that night of October 31st, there was someone by Voldemort\'s side at Godric Hollow, assisting him... helping him dispose of your parents. That person\'s arms were the first to pry you from your mother\'s lifeless body and cradle you. That person is someone you had imprinted on. From that moment on, the hands of the man who had assisted in the murder of your parents, are the only thing that can bring you complete comfort and peace. Rather tragic, don\'t you think?”



Harry did not move. His mind was blank, filled with disordered meaningless noise. Lucius might have asked something else, but Harry could no longer understand what he was saying. Finally, Harry managed to stand up, just barely. His knees felt weak.



He avoided looking at Severus. “Sir,” he asked softly. “May I be excused, please?”



“Yes,” Severus said quietly. “Go to your room.”



Harry did, without looking back.