Bonds that Tie

IMPORTANT A/N..... This chapter is one really large flash back... going back to where it all started.... Now I know I left a lot out, especially during the end part, so I'm going to ask for your help. If there is anything you would like to see that could have happened during the summer before fifth year and even during sixth year, please let me know and I'll write it in as a flash back. Thank you.

If you reconize anything from the movies or books, it's not mine.....

Thanks again to Kei... without you this would be a mess....


Summer after fifth year

It had been three days since the members of the Order of the Phoenix had threatened his aunt and uncle and Harry was bored. For Harry, being bored was never a good thing, as it gave him to much time to think about what happened the month before at the Ministry of Magic and the death of his godfather. As the memories once more tried to resurface, he attempted to push them away while suppressing a shiver of horror as well as a huge pile of guilt. Deciding that working out in the garden, one of the few things he was required to do anymore, was better than setting around doing nothing, or better yet allowing the memory to resurface in full detail in his mind, Harry pulled on a ratty shirt and treaded barefoot out the door.

Five hours later, Harry returned to his room, only to stop and stare at his bed in shock. Centered precisely in the middle of faded sheets, were three bottles and a book. The bottles contained a nutrient potion, a burnless sun potion and, to his immense relief, a vial of Dreamless Sleep.

A quick search of the room, which included turning the book upside down and giving it a shake, turned up no note. Shrugging his shoulders, he quickly downed both the nutrient and burnless sun potions and set the Dreamless Sleep on the nightstand for later that night. Picking up the book again, he looked at the cover and almost dropped it when he read the title.

Meditation: The Art of Clearing One’s Mind by E. A. Prince.

~~hp~~

The following two weeks settled in to a regular pattern: waking each morning with the sun, making breakfast for his “family” and eating the meagre portion they allowed. Afterwards, he would go out while the day was still cool and do any of the yard work that needed to be done, which had grown to include all of the outdoor work: painting, washing windows, cleaning out the garage, washing the car, et cetera. The afternoons he had to himself, to do with as he pleased as long as he stayed within the boundaries of the yard.

Harry really didn't mind, knowing the physical activity was good for his body, and it gave him something to do while he worked on clearing his mind, which had almost become second nature to him once exactly what he needed to do had been explained to him, in fact, he had managed to build the first of his shields the night he had received the book.

He had also found a side effect of clearing his mind: it had allowed him to sense and therefore track the magical signatures around him, and much to his amusement it had also allowed him to identify specific people that had come to guard him, although the mistakes his guards all seemed to make it even easier. 'Dung of course smelt of alcohol, while Shacklebolt smelt like exotic spices. Moody always had a heavier tread with his wooden leg, and Tonks was clumsy. The only one that he had been unable to identify was the one that he preferred to have around. There was just something so soothing to the feel of the magic around this mysterious person that Harry didn't want him – for he knew that much at least – to leave.

As Harry started to clean up after he finished the yardwork, he felt the magic around him shift. Paying closer attention he “felt” Tonks leave as his unknown watcher appeared. With a small smile, Harry headed inside and up to his room to gather some of his homework assignments. “Might as well take advantage of the nice weather and do it outside,” he mumbled to himself without realizing that he was doing so out loud. Going back outside, he sat under the tree (which, coincidentally, his watcher was sitting in) and spread his potions work on the grass in front of him. Reading through the few chapters that had been assigned, he shook his head and went back inside to retrieve the rest of his potions books.

An hour later Harry found himself even more confused over the subject matter. Dropping the book he was reading and attempting to understand, he thumped his head into the tree a few times in frustration. Going over his meditation exercises in order to calm down once more, he picked up the book and muddled through it in the attempt that maybe this time he would understand what it was he was suppose to do. “Note to self,” he grumbled, “Find a book entitled 'Potions Basics for the Slytherin Student'”

Two days later, along with the dreamless sleep and the nutrient potion, Harry found another book. Picking it up, he read the cover, a slow grin spreading across his face.

Everything You Needed to Know About Potions: A Beginner’s Guide to Brewing by E & S Prince.

This time a short note accompanied it. All it said was, “More to follow as needed” written in a slightly familiar script.

~~hp~~

The following weeks leading up to Harry's sixteenth birthday changed very little during the day. Books were added to his collection covering many different subjects. Muggle books included texts on maths, science, history, self-defence theory, and managing finances; there were also books about brainstorming and writing proper essays. Harry would have sworn the magical texts covered the entire Hogwarts curriculum from first year on, focusing especially on Potions, Defence, History, Transfiguration, Charms, and Herbology (conveniently his core subjects); Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Astronomy were also included. Harry also received texts (Muggle and magical) and lessons on language acquisition and practical lessons on writing with a quill.

Harry figured that if he kept going at this pace, he should be capable of achieving the top marks in all his classes, as well as a few he wasn't taking.

The nights, on the other hand, were totally different. Nightmares came nearly every night, making it almost impossible for him to sleep and giving him extra time on his lessons. However, much to his dismay and despite his shields, the Visions from Voldemort came straight through.

One night, the silencing charm that one of his watchers placed on the room broke from the strain of his screams as he watched Voldemort torture his own minions, waking up the entire house in the process.

Vernon Dursley had reached his breaking point. After being threatened at the train station, he had been forced to play nice and had allowed that… that abomination to laze about the house all day, and do that which he had been forbidden to do until now: study. Storming into the freak’s room, he grabbed hold of the shuddering teen and, making sure to hit walls, railings and everything in between, dragged the boy to the cupboard and tossed him in, not caring about any damage done to him in the process.

~~hp~~

Severus Snape glared around the hospital wing at the members of the Order that clustered around his bed. Madam Pomfrey, conniving woman that she was, had allowed the intrusion only to make sure that he remained in her tender care for at least another day. He had only paid enough attention to the conversation around him to be able to say that he listened, until what Tonks was saying caught his attention.

“What do you mean you have not seen Mr. Potter outside in the past three days?” he snarled softly.

“Exactly what I said. We've been keeping to the regular schedule only substituting your shifts with who ever was available, and no one has seen him. We've seen the three Muggles, but not him.”

By this time, everyone else had also started to pay attention, although the others really didn't see what Snape saw. Gathering closer, they waited for the Potions Master to reveal what his big problem was.

“I just want to make things perfectly clear. You have not seen Mr. Potter for the three days I have been here. You are not particularly concerned, despite the fact that the boy has a clear habit of going outside to do the atrocious amount of yard work in the morning. The same boy, who even on days where he can not be outside due to the weather, still comes outside for a few minutes. This is the same boy who, after making lunch and getting little of it to eat, once again goes back outside to do his homework. You are telling me that for the past three days the Boy-Who-Lived has not been seen at all, despite the fact that his very clear schedule that has not changed at all since he has been returned to the loving care of his relatives.” By the time he was done, his voice had lowered to the point that even the most hardened of Aurors cowered in fear.

Tonks and the others who had shared guard duty simply nodded their heads. That was exactly what they had done. “We were worried about you. No one knew for sure that you were going to be okay, and we assumed Harry was just staying inside,” Tonks said softly.

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his temper at bay. All he knew for sure at this time was that he was surrounded by idiots. The voice of the Headmaster broke his dark thoughts on how exactly he could accomplish the Dark Lord’s objective of taking out the Order of the Phoenix and disposing of the evidence.

“Severus, how do you know exactly what Harry does during the day?” Albus said softly.

“I don't sit outside of the yard unlike the rest of the imbeciles you have guarding the boy. There is a large tree near the middle of the backyard with a perfect spot to sit within its branches. I sit there while Potter does his homework.” Looking up at Moody, who stood off to the side of the others, he asked, “Did you know that he's figured out exactly who his watchers are? He's learned to read magical signatures, and can track each of you around the property. There is only one he hasn't figured out yet.”

“You,” Moody stated, clearly not that surprised.

Snape just nodded his head. “He talks when his relatives can't hear him. Sometimes he goes over his lessons or he makes idle comments about what is going on in the Wizarding World. It could be that he's just talking to fill some of the silence…”

“Or he's talking to you,” Albus pointed out.

Sighing softly, Snape confirmed this. “Or he's talking to me.” Falling silent, he thought about everything he had learned and the pieces started to fall together. “None of you have seen him since the last time I was called?” he questioned once more, just to confirm his suspicions. When he only received nods, he swore softly under his breath and reached for his wand with one hand while removing the blankets covering him with the other. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he quickly transfigured the hospital issue gown into his usual black apparel and stalked to the door.

Madam Pomfrey, seeing the Potion Master leaving her ward, stood in his way, not at all intimidated by the glare on his face. “Just where do you think you are going, Severus Snape?” she growled.

Folding his arms across his chest, Severus gave her a glare. “I am going to retrieve Mr. Potter from the loving care of his family. While I am gone, you will be making sure that his bed here is ready for him.” With that, he stepped around the gobsmacked Matron and continued on his way.

~~~hp~~

Apparating to his usual spot behind the Dursley home, Severus didn't bother casting the invisibility spell that he normally used when keeping watch over Harry Potter. Stalking up the walk to the front door, he cast a wandless, wordless spell that allowed him to make sure all four occupants where home, and the gave a grim smile when he saw that they were. ‘This will make my mission so much easier,’ he thought without humour.

Reaching the front door, he knocked briskly and pushed open the door without waiting for it to be opened for him. He ignored the thin-necked woman who was just started to rise from the supper table to answer the door. He swept up the stairs three at a time and, upon reaching the top gave his wand a short wave at the line of locks, which quickly dropped to the floor. Stepping inside, he surveyed the room and, not finding his intended target, moved down the stairs faster then he first went up and had his wand settled beneath the quivering jowls of one Vernon Dursley in a matter of seconds.

“Where is Harry Potter?” he hissed, his voice soft and dangerous.

Caught between fear and anger, for once in his life Vernon did the right thing: he told the truth. “C—Cu—cupboard,” he managed to stutter out.

With a muttered oath, Severus turned away from the whale of a Muggle. He knew what this particular cupboard was, and what it was used for in the past. “So help me Dursley, if you move from that spot, you will find out just what exactly a Dark Wizard is!” he growled as he swept out of the room.

Standing in front of the cupboard, Severus cursed the Gods that had put him in a position to help this young man, and no he did not just mean tonight. It never failed that something would happen and he was the one hauling Potter’s arse out of the fire. With a deep breath, he steadied his nerves for what he thought he would find and slowly lowered himself to his knees. Taking a second deep breath, he used a touch of wandless magic to unlock this door as well and carefully open it. He moved forward slightly in order to peer in to he darkness. A soft “Lumos” gave enough light to bring a dull shine to a pair of pain filled green eyes. “Hello, Mr. Potter.”

~~hp~~

Harry sat huddled in the dark, reciting every spell and its use that he could remember. When he couldn't recall any more, he went on to History, both Magical and Muggle and from there he went on to Potions, math and science. He wasn't sure how long he had been in the cupboard this time, but had felt the magical signature of at least two different people, but even then he couldn’t be sure if that was because he missed the others while he was unconscious. He could say for sure that the unknown presence that he craved had not made an appearance, which he knew he would have remembered even if he wasn't aware of the rest of his surroundings at the time.

His suspicions on who that mystery person was had all but been confirmed with his last vision. He had had the honour of front row seats as an unwilling witness as the snarky git of the dungeons had been cursed almost beyond endurance for the location of the Dursley’s home. The curses were many and varied, and started out with his follow Death Eaters only to be finished with a few rounds from the Dark Lord himself. In the end, when it became obvious that Snape didn't know Harry’s location, he had been ordered to find out where the Muggles lived and give the information to the Dark Lord as soon as possible; sooner, if he could. He had also been ordered well to find rare potions ingredients that were needed for a special potion, and ordered to leave. When Voldemort’s attention had been taken off of him by another Death Eater, Harry had still been able to “see” Lucius Malfoy gently pick the Potions Master up and activate a portkey.

Harry hadn't felt that magical signature since that night and he figured that it was Snape who had been helping him all summer long. And didn't that just raise all sorts of questions about why he had been helping when the past five years had made Harry believe that the man hated him, never mind the reaction the older man had to Harry this past school year.

To avoid falling asleep and therefore making sure he did not suffer through nightmares or Visions, Harry allowed his mind to wander over the past years at Hogwarts and his encounters with Snape, as well as the times the man saved his life. This had allowed him to come to the conclusion that maybe the man didn't actually hate him. He even allowed himself to think that maybe the man might actually care.

Another puzzle to his mind were the actions of Lucius Malfoy. It hadn't been the first time he had seen the elder Malfoy acting out of character and he wasn't sure if the man was another spy or just not totally loyal to the dark. He finally decided that at this time it wasn't worth the headache and put it to the back of his mind to stew, knowing full well that when he needed the information all the important stuff would be his.

Adjusting his body slightly, Harry struggled to hold back the darkness the threatened just from the pain it caused. He didn't want to face the bleakness of unconsciousness again, especially since he figured that he had a concussion—not bad, but enough to worry about. Holding himself still, he directed the magic that he could control to the areas most in need of help, and hoped that someone would come soon.

Even before the thought had fully formed, Harry's head snapped up, much to his regret, as a shiver of awareness worked its way down his spine. Quieting his breathing as much a possible, he waited for what seemed like eternity as the unknown presence barged into the house, and followed the presence mentally, right up until it stopped right in front of his cupboard. Holding his breath, he stifled the whimper of pain as he tried to push himself further into the corner of the small space just in case he was wrong over who was on the other side of that door. Closing his eyes against the first harsh glare of light, he opened them once more when he felt the wash of magic on his skin at the murmured Lumos. The quiet greeting in that oh-so-familiar voice almost had him sagging in relief, only catching himself before he managed to move his shoulder once again. “Professor Snape,” he breathed out in relief.

~~hp~~

Cursing softly under his breath, Severus carefully manoeuvred the slight teen out of the cupboard, being as gentle as possible. He knew just by the way Harry held his shoulder while still inside the tiny room that the shoulder itself at the very least was broken, and knew that this exercise would be extremely painful. When he had Harry closer to the door, he sat down on the floor itself and with a murmured warning, slide his arms almost completely under the boy and pulled him all the way out and into his lap, greatly surprised when Harry did nothing more then hiss in pain, although the blood coming from where he bit his lip gave away the withheld scream. Cradling the teen in his lap, he waited a few minutes for Harry to catch his breath before he removed a few potions from his pocket and carefully fed them to Harry. Even with the painkillers Severus knew he would have to be very carefully in standing, but managed with a minimum of fuss and, adjusting his grip slightly to take a better hold on the young man in his arms, stalked to the kitchen to deal with the three he knew would still be waiting there for him.

Severus didn't pause long in giving the Dursleys a very small portion of what they deserved, mostly because even with the pain killers running through his system, Harry was barely remaining conscious. Severus knew that a portkey was out of the question in getting them both to Hogwarts, the only problem was that Apparating wouldn't be much better. Shaking his head in disgust over his worries and tightening his arms slightly, so as not to cause more pain than necessary, he gave another growled warning before Apparating both of them to the gates of Hogwarts, and moving quickly as possible to where the young man could be treated.

In the Hospital Wing, he gently lowered his burden down on the prepared bed, his cold voice cutting through the outraged babble. “I do believe this is a good time for all of you to get out and actually do something useful, as you most certainly can not be trusted to look after one fifteen year old boy.”

“Now Severus, you know that's not exactly fair,” Albus tried to point out.

“Then explain to my satisfaction, Headmaster, just why no one checked on him when he hadn't been following his daily routine for the past three days, when everyone in this room knows that he suffers through everything the Dark Lord does when angry!” he demanded, and then added on an extra little dig. “Especially when you, Headmaster knew there was a history of abuse!”

Albus winced at both the questions and the formality used by one so close to his heart. Bowing his head, he sadly shook it, not having an answer available

With his attention riveted to the Medi-witch now working over her newest patient, he gave his hand a wave, a clear dismissal to everyone in the room. As they all filed passed him he reached out and grabbed Tonks by the arm and pulled her close. “Mr. Potter's belongings are still in that house. Gather them and don't forget to check the loose floor board under the contraption they called a bed,” he murmured softly.

Tonks wisely didn't give a verbal answer and as soon as the crushing grip on her arm was released , she moved quickly to do his bidding. In all the years she known the Potions Master, she had never seen or even heard of him becoming this worked up over a slip of a boy, unless of course it was to flay them alive with the sharp edge of his tongue.

The following three days passed, for some, in utter disbelief for the protective manner in which Severus Snape watched over Harry Potter. No one wanted to spend any period of time in the vicinity of the Hospital Wing and the snarling man who had taken to haunting it, unless they wanted to be on the receiving end of a lashing from a tongue that had dipped in venomous vitriol.

For Snape, however, those three days passed extremely slowly. He had taken to doing any paper worked that needed to be done, like the marking for his end of term exams, including going over Po—no, Harry—no, definitely Potter’s school work, sitting in a comfortable chair that had appeared during on of the infrequent trips out of the infirmary, which were only made when Poppy kicked him out.

This was one of those times when he had been ordered down to his chambers to “refresh” himself under the threat that if he didn't go willingly she would do it herself. Even now as he was stepping out of the shower, the look in her eyes as she made that pronouncement made him shudder in disgust.

He had just finished dressing in clean fitted black trousers and a cream dress shirt, and was reaching for his outer robes when his Floo flared green and the dreaded woman’s voice sounded through his chambers.

“Severus! We need you! NOW!”

The panic in her voice put him on full alert. Forgetting his robes he moved quickly toward the fire place. “What has happened?” he snarled.

“He started tossing and turning as soon as you left. It got to the point were Albus tried to restrain him physically, and his magic practically exploded out of him. No one can get near him through the storm his magic is creating.”

The explanation was barely out of her mouth before Severus was standing in her domain. The moment he was fully in the room, the wild magic surrounding Harry died down, though he continued to thrash around on the bed. The closer Severus drew to the bed, the quieter the teen became. As he reached out to brush the hair off Harry's damp forehead, Harry’s eyes snapped open unseeing, and he bolted upright in the bed. “Professor!” he croaked, and reached out for the presence he could feel close by, latching onto the hand still partially raised towards him.

“Calm yourself, Mr. Potter, I'm here,” Severus soothed, squeezing the smaller hand within his own.

“You left.” The voice was small, barely above a whisper

“Only for a moment. You are safe here at Hogwarts.”

“Hogwarts?”

“Indeed. Now relax and allow Madam Pomfrey check you over.”

Harry reluctantly released the hand he was holding and laid back down, blinking moisture into his eyes. “Why can't I see?” he asked fearfully.

“A lingering side effect from the potions you needed to heal the concussion you had. They will clear up in a few minutes,” Madame Pomfrey reassured him.

Blinking a few more times in the hopes of speeding the process up, his unseeing eyes tracked the presence of the dark wizard as he moved across the room, his body becoming more and more tense the further away his professor went and relaxing once again as the Potions Master moved closer.

“Close your eyes,” came the gentle command.

Harry followed the order immediately and felt a damp warm cloth that smelt somewhat spicy settle over his eyes. A few minutes later the cloth was removed and the command to open his eyes came. Blinking a few more times, Harry relaxed even more when he could once more make out the blurry figures around his bed.

A pair of glasses were gently placed on his nose and, after a disoriented moment, his vision cleared. “Where did these come from?” he croaked once more, and gratefully accepted the glass of water handed to him.

Albus cleared his throat softly and waited for Harry to focus on him. “Your other ones could not be repaired, so I sent out for new set. These are Wizarding glasses and self-adjust as needed.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Harry replied softly

As Poppy finished running her scans, she smiled in grim satisfaction. “Well, Mr. Potter, once again you've survived to attempt to sneak out of my ward once more.”

Hearing the low growl of anger, Harry quickly looked up at Snape, surprise written over his face. “Professor?” he questioned.

“It's alright Harry. Professor Snape, I believe, is just upset that I'm treating your injuries lightly,” Poppy answered instead.

“Oh… But you only meant that I was fine,” Harry said in confusion.

Poppy just smiled. “Indeed I did, and you are allowed to leave as long as you’re supervised and take it easy for the next few days,” she said lightly, patting his good shoulder gently before walking away.

Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling softly, smiled at Harry and then turned that smile on Severus. “That is very good news indeed. Now the only question is where to send you?” Turning thoughtful he started to work out the problem. “I think the best place for you would be Grimmauld Place with the Weasleys…” he started to say before being interrupted.

“I would rather not,” came from Harry,

“ I think not,” Severus said at the same time.

Ignoring the glaring Potions Master for the moment, Albus turned troubled eyes on Harry. “Whyever not, my boy?”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Harry started to choke out a response. “I… Siri…” He didn't get any further before he buried his head in the pillow, desperately trying to hold back the waves of grief that just the mention of that house brought down on him.

“Severus?” Dumbledore questioned as he watched his Potions Master run slim fingers through unruly hair.

“At this time, being in that house will be a drawback more than anything. Consider as well that being around all of the Weasleys would not be restful,” Severus answered as he unconsciously messaged the nape of Harry's neck.

“I see. Well, he cannot stay in the Tower as he will not be supervised there either,” Albus stated, smiling inwardly, knowing what would come next. In fact, he knew it would happen even before he brought up where young Harry would be staying.

Severus, only then realizing that he had been manipulated, grimaced slightly. “I suppose that he shall be staying with me then. It will give him a chance to catch up with the practical part of his summer work.”

“Excellent suggestion. If of course that will be alright with you Harry?” Receiving a simple nod in response, he continued. “Very well then, I will ask the Castle to add another room to your chambers then, Severus.”

“That will be fine, but I must remind you that we will only be staying in the Castle for a few more days, or have you forgotten that I'm supposed to be travelling to collect rare potions ingredients?”

“And you want to bring young Harry with you?” came Dumbledore's surprised question.

“Of course. I can’t trust any of you to keep him out of trouble,” Severus answered with a sneer.

Harry turned over to study the man still standing next to his bed in surprise, being careful not to dislodge the fingers still tangled in his hair. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Severus Snape wanted to take Harry Potter, Bane of his existence, into his home. Not only that, he wanted Harry to share his summer while travelling. A quick glance at the Headmaster showed the same surprise but it was quickly covered once again, and oh, how those eyes twinkled brightly.

“Well then, I have things to do, and you have arrangements to make, so I'll leave you to it,” Albus said before taking his leave.

Severus preserved the moment in his mind, the day he finally surprised Albus Dumbledore.

“Really, Sir?” Harry asked and received a nod in response. “Thank you,” he said softly.

Severus looked down at the teen and noticed that he had somehow managed to get his fingers tangled in the dark mess of hair. Quickly removing them, he sneered softly. “Do not thank me, Mr. Potter. Make no mistake, you will be made to work.” Softening slightly at the look in those green eyes, he continued. “Your talent with snakes may just come in handy whilst gathering several rare ingredients. We will be doing a lot of foot work in areas rarely seen by humans. Along the way, I will teach you everything I can about the ingredients collected and what they are used for. Along with the summer work we have already started, I will teach you how to fight, magically as well as hand to hand; none of this nice stuff that you have already learned. By the time I'm done with you this summer and during this upcoming school year, you will know how to survive against anyone.”

“So, low down and dirty?” Harry asked with a small smirk.

“Indeed, Mr. Potter—just like a Slytherin.”

Between the evil smile and the look in those dark eyes, Harry wasn't sure if he should sigh in relief or run in fear.

~~hp~~

September First saw Harry Potter waiting for his friends at the Gryffindor table well dressed, well toned, well bronzed and most definitely with a whole new appreciation for one Snarky Git of the Dungeons.