FOR SERVICES RENDERED

A/N Sorry about the long time between updates I have been unwell. However am back to normal now so updates should return to their old regularity. Thanks to Kim and TQA for their hard work betaing and thanks to all the people who took time to review. I hope you are still enjoying Asia Seres_Mimosa!



Severus was still sleeping at 8 o’clock the next morning. Farid had not the heart to wake him, he looked so content. Farid thought about how he loved his Master’s looks. He was not a classically handsome man. Farid had known enough beauties in his life to know what one looked like. Sirius Black was a beautiful man, Farid thought to himself. He had even features, sparkling eyes and a smile that lit up the room. But he did nothing for Farid. He was good at being able to see the inner man, and Black had a seam of cruelty running through his personality, a petulant air about him that Farid did not altogether trust.

But with Master it was different. Truly, he could be cruel too, he had a very cutting tongue and could reduce others to tears without much effort, but it took a lot more than a few cruel words to bother Farid. He loved the strength in his Master’s face, the kindness in his eyes, the goodness that Farid felt was a core to the man and that he rarely displayed to others.

He was sitting beside Master on the bed; cross-legged just watching him sleep and Farid was content. Yesterday had been so hard. Farid had been exhausted, but more than that he had been very scared. Being drugged frightened him, just as being tied up did. When he had awoken this morning he had been tangled in his Master’s nightgown and for a short while he’d panicked. All too often in his life, Farid had been tied down while cruel and painful things had happened to him, so being restricted in that way terrified him.

And Master had noticed and since that first time back at the castle, Master had never tied him up again. They had bought a drawer full of toys, that time in Knockturn Alley. But they sat unused, still in their original wrappings waiting for Farid to be ready to play with them.

Sometimes, in the past few weeks Farid had needed to wear his collar, because it made things easier somehow. When he wore his collar he did not have to think about all the things that he was expected to do now: make friends, learn to read, wear clothes and fight a murderously evil Dark Lord.

His life had been awful before, and if master had not come along when he had Farid was not sure what would have happened to him. But his life had also been simple then. He had just had one purpose to fulfil, one that he knew he was good at and most of the time it had been very easy. Because he was well trained, and he didn’t have to think about what he was doing, and in recent years he had been punished only rarely. Of course he had been beaten and tortured fairly regularly, but that wasn’t for chastisement, that was purely for Yusuf’s pleasure and, strangely enough, he had been able to cope with that. But he hated being tied down.

When he had had bad dreams, he had tried to stifle them. But Master had noticed and when Farid needed it he would put his collar on him, then hold him close and Farid would drift back off to sleep feeling safe and secure, listening to the beat of his Master’s heart.

He knew that he was strange. Damaged beyond repair in many ways, he thought, and Hermione despaired of him sometimes. She kept reading those books on… What was the word? Oh yes, ’Psychology,’ and telling him what was wrong with him and how they would make him better. But Farid knew what was wrong with him. He would never be ‘normal’ like these English children were, not after what he had been, what he was. But as long as Master cared about him, Farid could cope with all of his… What did Hermione call them? ’His issues,’ and goodness knew, he thought, he had enough of those.

What he did care about, what he was frightened about right now, was this battle he would someday have to have with Voldemort. Once Master had accepted him as Harry Potter and not rejected him, as Farid had been afraid he would do, he knew he would be able to talk to him about his fears; but as yet there had not been time. Farid was frightened of what he knew he would have to do, and he was even more aware of how big the task was since he had confronted Voldemort and been inside the Dark Lord’s mind.

Farid knew he was powerful, but he now also knew how evil the dark wizard was. Voldemort’s vision of the future of the wizarding world was as scary as anything that had happened to Farid and the thought of such things, such awful things, happening to the people he had come to care for, terrified Farid to the very depths of his soul. He was not sure, he was far from sure, that he was strong enough to fight such pure and unmitigated evil. He had damaged the Dark Lord, he knew that, but at what cost? Voldemort knew his strength now and Farid was sure that he would recover very quickly from the blow that he had dealt him and be back for another battle and this time Voldemort would be prepared.
But now, however it was time for Master to wake up. They had a day to face and Master hated being late. So, grinning from ear to ear, Farid burrowed under the bedcovers heading for a very special prize. Farid had the perfect method for waking his Master.

Severus was surprisingly well rested. He was also particularly sated. His orgasm that morning had been monumental. He had woken screaming his completion and Farid had just smiled up at him from beneath the duvet, green eyes shining in their catlike way. Severus had not had time to return the favour, as since Farid had not been told to be aroused, he had very evidently not been. But Severus had very definite plans for later to thank his boy for the lovely awakening.

He was still thinking about yesterday too. He was still not sure that what he and Black had done to the Dursleys was enough. He thought he would go back and check on them in a few days, he liked his revenge nicely chilled and prolonged. It was their fault that Farid had been through so much and Severus really did not understand how Farid had managed to survive his childhood to become the wonderful creature that he was.

Today, though, they had to meet with Albus in his office and with Fudge. He had apparently not been satisfied with the explanation of the bond yesterday, and wanted to meet Harry Potter for himself. What he would make of Farid, Severus could not imagine. Farid also had to meet with Black and Lupin. Albus wanted them to discuss training with Farid and, after all their support the day before, Severus thought they at least deserved the chance to meet Lily’s and James’ son properly. So they were headed there for breakfast.

Farid looked very demure this morning in his school robes. His hair was neatly tied back as he walked along, a couple of steps behind his Master. It was reminiscent of their time in Kazakhstan and Severus was determined to break Farid of the habit. He wanted the boy to walk beside him proud and free, and one day, Severus determined, he would do just that. But right now Minerva stopped them. She did not approve of their relationship, Severus could tell. He knew by the flaring of her nostrils and the way her lips pursed whenever she saw him with Farid. The boy was one of her Gryffindors and she would have liked him up in her tower, well away from the wicked Potions Professor.

“How are you today, Professor Snape?” she asked, and then turning to Farid, “And how is Mr Potter?” Severus knew that he would never be forgiven for letting her find out who Farid was through the gossip network of Hogwarts rather than telling himself, but he hadn’t exactly had much chance before Black had outed him to the entire school, had he?
“I ham fine zank dyou, Professor.” Farid was saying, “I sleep wery well indeed. You look wery nice today, zat colour suits dyou.”

The robe that she was wearing was a sort of sludgy tartan, but Minerva was obviously rather flattered because she almost giggled. Severus had to refrain from rolling his eyes; Farid was really good at flattery, plenty of practice over the years, Severus thought wryly.

After simpering at Farid for a moment (and who other than Farid would ever get the redoubtable Minerva McGonagall to simper?), Minerva turned her steely gaze back to Severus. “How is he truly, Severus?” she asked, concern evident in her eyes. And he relented. Maybe she did really care about Farid. The boy was altering his relationships with everyone that he knew, making him less prickly, less defensive. So, with this in mind, he sent Farid on ahead and stopped to talk to his colleague. He soon realised that this was a big mistake.

Farid had indeed taken himself off as promised, but evidentially he had not gotten very far, for up ahead there came the sounds of some sort of disturbance. Severus didn’t wait for another second. He just gathered his robes and ran, rushing once more to the rescue of his errant boy.
Farid was trapped by a hoard of hungry monsters; he was ensconced in the midst of the World’s Wizarding Press. There were cameras, reporters and a number of curious hangers on. This time Farid really was Daniel in the lion’s den, and these lions weren’t friendly Gryffindors either, they were ravenous and ready to destroy.

As he got closer though, he could hear what Farid was saying, so he dropped down, behind the banisters and out of sight of the crowd below, but in an excellent position to observe. Seconds later, and without much gesturing from him, Minerva joined him at his vantage point.

Maybe he had to trust the boy, just like he had when Farid had introduced himself to the Gryffindors. That hadn’t gone badly in the end, with a little help from Albus that was. Perhaps it was time to summon the old man again? He whispered a spell and from the tip of his wand a silver spider appeared and scuttled off in the direction of Albus’ office.

“So dis is called a Chamera?” Farid asked one of the burly photographers questioningly. “Quat does hit do, Adrian?” the boy was dwarfed by the large man and was standing on tiptoe, peering enquiringly at the photographic equipment that he held.

Severus almost laughed, Farid had been there only for a few moments and yet he had already found out the photographer’s name. The man was currently trying to explain the workings of his camera to a curious boy, who was asking a stream of non stop questions. When Farid asked what photographs were there was a collective intake of breath from the tough reporters gathered in the entrance hall.

One of the crowd asked in a quiet American accent, Severus thought it was Adrian, if the boy really didn’t know. He could see Farid turn his wide green eyes to the photographer shake his head and state simply that no, he truly didn’t know what a photograph was. Adrian seemed to have bonded with Farid, or maybe the boy was just really good at zeroing in on the most sympathetic of his would-be questioners, because the man was searching through his pocket searching for something. After a moment, he triumphantly produced a small pile of what must have been personal pictures and started to show them to the boy one by one, whilst all around them flashes went off and photos were snapped. Farid was gazing at them intently and giggling a little bit, then he brushed his hair out of his eyes and there was a communal gasp as his scar was exposed.

Then the crowd started to part and Albus wended his way from the direction of his office to where Farid was held captive by the sheer number of people surrounding him. He looked up at the Headmaster and smiled. Severus had to stuff the sleeve of his robe into his mouth to smother the laugh that threatened to escape, because quite a number of the gathered hard bitten newsmen and women collectively awwwed.

But with Albus’s arrival the questions started to fly thick and fast.

How did the boy not know about photographs? How was he after taking on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? How had he removed Severus’s mark? Could he do it again? How could he stay with an ex Death Eater? What was his favourite colour and what did he like for breakfast?

Between them though, Albus and Farid seemed to be managing the press with no problems at all. Albus told everyone that Farid would never have seen photographs, because Vampires cannot be captured on film. Farid said that he had been very tired after fighting Voldemort (name said in full, more gasps from gathered throng), but that Professor Snape was looking after him. That generated several rather pointed questions about Severus’ suitability to take care of such a treasured person as the Boy Who Lived. Farid turned that emerald gaze of his upon these questioners and pointed out that “Master” didn’t beat him, or keep him naked in a cage and that the only reason he had been able to remove the Dark Mark from Severus’ arm was because he loved his Master with all his heart.

Severus felt a lump in his throat when Farid said that and a strange silence fell over everyone. Finally Rita Skeeter from the Daily Prophet asked the boy what it was like being held captive by Vampires for so long, and Farid, who had charmed this crowd so easily, turned his green eyes on her in her turn and told them all exactly what it had been like.

When he finished half the people present were sobbing but Farid just stood quietly as if the rapes and torture that he had described happened every day.

And Severus wondered just how many of the horrors that Farid had revealed would actually make it to the page. His story was too graphic, too terrible for the average reader to digest with his morning cuppa, and so a lot of flowery prose and editing would be needed to transform the notes taken today, he was sure.

Adrian, the photographer, asked Farid in a choked voice how on earth he had survived. Farid smiled at him and stood on tiptoe again, this time to wipe a tear from the man’s cheek, “My Masteer, che make better and hit vas not mooch vorse zan ven I live wiz my Uncle, zey really chate Me. They keep me in cupboard and beat me mooch too.” he said in a quiet voice. Then the crowd erupted in anger demanding to know how such things could be allowed to happen, and what was the Minister doing about it?

Albus had to use a temporary silencing charm to quieten them down long enough for him to say.

“I am sure Minister Fudge will answer your questions momentarily,” the Headmaster said soothingly. “The Minister is currently in my office. First of all he needs to meet with Harry and then perhaps you can interview him too?” But neither he nor Farid moved, and Severus realised they were waiting for him. Carefully, he backed up well out of sight, before standing and heading downstairs. He met Minerva’s eyes as he stood, only to see that they were awash with tears. It was after all one thing to hear what had happened to Farid from others, it was a very different experience to hear from Farid what he had suffered in his matter of fact, no nonsense way. She squeezed his hand and then, in a gesture of moral support, accompanied him down to meet the reporters.

Severus found it a very different experience from the day before. The hostility seemed to have receded and the crowd quietly parted to let him through, not speaking, just letting him pass. Once again Farid had managed to charm everyone to support him, and questions would no doubt be asked about what Vampires had been allowed to get away with in Kazakhstan. After Farid’s graphic description, something would have to be done. And as for the Dursleys, if they had not richly deserved whatever happened to them, then Severus might have had some pity. Farid had extracted a sublime revenge. There was nowhere that they could go on the planet where they would be able to escape the pursuit of the ultra magical Wizarding Press, who would demand to know just why they had treated the beloved Saviour in such a way. It was the most perfect torture that could have been created for the family, being made to face magic and to be exposed for what they truly were.

When finally Severus reached his boy, Farid was as always delighted to see him and threw his arms about his waist.

“Masteerr, where were dyou? I miss dyou,” he said placing a kiss on his Master’s lips, “Dyou moost meet my new friend Adrian.” And Severus found his hand gripped in the bear like paw of the American.

“Pleased to meet ya, Professor Snape,” Adrian growled. “I hope you are taking good care of our boy here?” And Severus unable to do anything else, just nodded that yes, yes indeed he was doing his very best to do just that.

Then they headed off to keep their appointment with the Minister of Magic, whilst the press waited patiently, like a pack of hyenas, to confront the unfortunate man later on.