Scarred Souls

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Title: Scarred Souls



Author: Misty Moonlight/Co-author: QueenBoadicea



Beta: QueenBoadicea



Pairings: Severus/Harry



Published: 12/10/2008



Summary: A widowed Harry must bond with Snape in order to save his daughter’s life. Sev gains a family, for better or worse, and the hearts of two scarred souls will be changed forever.



Warnings: Romance, Drama, Angst, Alternate Universe, Sexual Situations, Hurt/Comfort, M/M, Slash, Anal, Language, Humor, possible MPreg, Bonding, Original Characters, Family, OOC-ness,

non-canon, WIP



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Chapter 42: Photographic Memory





“Harry?” Severus swung open the kitchen door and frowned. He was certain Harry had gone this way. He’d seen him taking that pushy dragon-chasing Weasley away but the two of them hadn’t returned in over five minutes. Feeling a distinct unease, Severus had gone in search of his wandering husband.



Nothing. But the cottage wasn’t that big and they couldn’t have gone to the upper floors. He whipped out his wand and began casting diagnostic spells. Other than a warding that had been recently laid on the door, he couldn’t detect any other magic spells that might have been cast recently.



The kitchen door opened again and he found himself face to face with Ronald Weasley. “Oi, Severus. Where’s Harry? Lily was fussing, says she wants her Daddy.”



“Harry’s gone and so is your brother, it appears.” He beckoned Ron over to him. “Did your brother seem strange to you, Ronald?”



The red-haired man’s face creased a little. “Just a bit. But then Charlie’s away from the family so much and he gets into weird company. The last time we saw him—”



“When was that?” Severus snapped, not willing to be drawn into a rambling reminiscence.



“About six months ago, before you and Harry got bonded.” A hint of anger sparked in the blue eyes before fading. He clearly still harbored some resentment over the way the bonding had occurred. But Severus had more pressing issues.



“How did Charles seem to you six months ago?”



“A bit distracted. A new brood of eggs was due to hatch.”



“Anything else?” Severus pressed.



“No, that’s it. What’s with the questions? And where’s Harry?”



“He’s not here. And your ‘brother’ appears gone, too. I don’t think that’s a coincidence or a happy circumstance.”



The blue eyes narrowed, searching his face. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it? Fuck.” Ron spun around, preparing to lunge out the door.



Severus grabbed him by the arm. “Where are you going?” he demanded.



“I’m going to tell Hermione to take care of the kids. Then I’m coming with you to search for Harry.”



“No, you will only alarm her and likely she will insist on joining you. You will waste precious time convincing her she is in no condition for Gryffindor heroics.”



The redhead fumed but allowed himself to be dragged back into the kitchen. “So what do you suggest we do, Snape?”



Severus threw up Locking and Silencing Charms, just as a matter of habit. They helped to steady his nerves. “Who could have wanted to kidnap Harry?” At Ron’s incredulous expression, he amended the question. “All right. Who could have wanted to kidnap Harry who would know about his birthday party, impersonate your brother well enough to fool his family and be attracted to him?”



“Attracted?” Ron yelped.



“Whoever was pretending to be your brother was conversing with Harry in a very intimate fashion earlier. I don’t believe a mere kidnapper would bother with such a ruse. This man seemed genuinely engrossed with him.”



Ron appeared to think the matter over. “I think…Colin Creevey,” he said slowly.



“Who?” Even as he asked, Severus turned over the name in his mind, rapidly flipping through his mental files of names and faces. His memory was prodigious; in all his years of teaching and studying, he never forgot the name or face of a student. “Colin Creevey, that annoying little toady who was always following Harry around with a camera during second year?” he asked tightly.



“That’s the one. He came up to us in Rosmerta’s a few weeks back. He acted—queer, like he had been lying in wait for us.”



“What did he say?”



The man’s brows furrowed as he tried to remember. “Not much. Talked about how he’d been with his dad in the Ministry but got bored with it and quit. He also mentioned seeing Harry again, which I thought strange ‘cause it sounded like he was talking about a recent meeting and Harry hadn’t told me anything about it.”



This was it, then. This was the connection. Creevey’s father worked in the Ministry. How hard would it have been for this Colin to obtain information about the Weasley family, procure some of Charlie’s hairs even, if the older Weasley had visited his father now and again—perhaps as recently as six months ago?



“He’s got Harry.” Both men spoke it at once, Ron with horror, Severus with grim anger. He could feel his magic sparking in the air, the glasses in the kitchen shivering on the verge of explosion, and forcibly reined it in. It wouldn’t do to let anyone else in the house know something was wrong.



He barked at Ron, “Where do you think he might have taken him?”



Now Ron looked lost. “No clue. We didn’t exactly keep in touch with Colin after graduation.”



“Then the first thing we do is find his father at the Ministry. Doubtless he will have knowledge about his son’s whereabouts.”



“Right then. Hang tight, Severus.”



Ron grabbed Severus’s upper arm. The Slytherin felt the familiar jerk of Apparition and barely managed to keep to his feet before he found himself outside the Ministry.



********************************************************************



The usual preliminaries had to be gotten through and Severus fumed while they were given their passes (“Rescue Mission” indeed!), took the elevator and searched through the various department rooms for a certain Berthold Creevey.



While they ran through the Ministry, Ron stopped to alert some of the Aurors. The Weasley man filled them in on the probable situation, as they knew it. They wanted to know what Severus was doing there; he certainly wasn’t a Ministry official. But Ron dismissed their questions with an authoritative air that Severus grudgingly admired.



Some of the Aurors were immediately dispatched to Colin’s house. However, Severus was certain he wouldn’t be hiding Harry there; that would be the first place anyone would look. Searching didn’t turn up any other address for him. Severus let them search; he had his own plan.



He and Ron found Berthold Creevey in his office, arguing with another man, a small figure in a chartreuse coat and scarlet derby. Berthold himself was a man with a broad chest, barrel-like legs and a windy way of speaking.



“Now see here, Merkus! You can’t use that on Muggles! It’s dangerously close to an Unforgivable!”



“But it isn’t an Unforgivable, innit? Don’t be so fucking soft, Berthold!” Merkus said with a mutinous sneer.



“Mr. Creevey, a word,” Ron said grimly.



“Ronald? That you? Where’s your dad?”



“He’s not here.”



“Busy celebrating Harry’s birthday, is he?” Berthold chuckled.



Ron ignored the question. “Mr. Creevey, we need to talk.”



“Not now, Ronald.” Berthold flapped a hand impatiently at them.



“Yes. NOW.”



The steely tone caught Berthold’s attention. He snapped his head up and seemed to notice, for the first time, the glowering figure with Ronald Weasley, one who practically radiated menace. “Um, Merkus, old chap. Give us a mo, will you?”



Merkus flicked his eyes between Berthold and Ron. He licked his lips and grinned at the idea of seeing his superior in trouble. “Why? You and me haven’t quite settled our business, have we?”



“Where’s Colin, Mr. Creevey?” Ron snapped, paying no attention to Merkus.



“Colin? That boy? Haven’t seen him in months, not since he started skiving off and finally quit.” He gave a bright smile but his eyes shifted ever so slightly.



“You are lying,” Severus said in a deadly tone that made Ron’s hair stand on end. Merkus suddenly recognized Severus Snape and went a trifle green. He decided he had urgent business elsewhere and used the distraction to sidle through the door and scurry away down the corridor.



Berthold blustered. “What? Now see here—”



Severus stepped into the room, the door slamming shut behind them. Ron winced as powerful, wordless magic surged out, warding the doors against entry and sound.



Berthold turned red in the face. “What is the meaning of this? How dare you just throw around magic in my office, you miserable piece of Death Eater trash! Get out of my office now, before I call the Aurors!”



Severus leaned on Berthold’s desk. “I have reason to believe your son recently infiltrated a private party thrown for my husband.” It was the first time he’d ever said the word aloud without sneering. He only hoped that Harry would be alive to hear it and know how Severus’s feelings had altered.



“Husband—you mean, Harry?”



Severus smiled. The expression caused the other man to shrink back in his chair. “Ah, you’re cognizant with the newspaper printings. Good, that makes this easier. Your son was enthralled with Harry Potter during their school years. He was working for you and through your auspice obtained personal information about my husband.”



“N-no, he didn’t. My son long got over his adoration of Harry Potter,” Berthold protested. Now even Ron was convinced of the man’s guilt as the stench of fear seemed to fill the room.



“Perhaps he told you what his ultimate purpose was, perhaps not. The fact is, he has impersonated Charlie Weasley and kidnapped Harry.” This was no longer a theory to Severus. The moment fear had sparked in the man’s eyes, he knew. He was happily prepared to cast an Unforgivable if it forced Colin’s wretched accomplice to cooperate.



Ron spoke sternly, trying to get the other man to realize just what a mess he was in. “Mr. Creevey, listen to us. This is Harry Potter we’re talking about. If word gets out about what your son did and that you helped him, your name is dirt here at the Ministry. The public will be hounding for your blood.”



“That is, if I don’t finish you off first,” Severus growled softly.



“Better believe him, mate. Voldemort didn’t keep him on for nothing,” Ronald stated.



Berthold winced at the name, as most everybody did. Then he pressed his face into his hands. “It seemed just harmless curiosity. I didn’t know he’d go this far,” he mumbled.



“But you knew he was obsessed with my husband,” Severus said, his voice eerily flat.



“No more than everybody else is!” Berthold spluttered in protest, raising his head.



“I’m well aware of the public’s infatuation with Harry Potter. What I don’t understand is how you of all people failed to realize how dangerous your son’s interest in him had become. You are a Ministry official. Don’t they train you to recognize when curiosity grows into obsession?”



“Surely that’s the job of the Aurors, isn’t it?” Berthold flung at Ron.



“I spend more of time out of the office than in it, Mr. Creevey. I certainly didn’t stumble across your son—not as much as you must have done.”



“Enough of this.” Somehow Severus’s wand was in his hand. Berthold stiffened as a very powerful Binding Hex tied him to the chair. “Where has your son taken Harry Potter?”



“I-I don’t know.”



“I’m giving you until three.”



Berthold struggled in his invisible bonds but was unable to break them. “Ronald! Don’t let him do this! Stop him!”



Ron said, “Severus, maybe we should get the Aurors in here.”



“I thought you were an Auror.”



“Ah. Right. Well, that’s covered then,” Ron said in a placid tone, clasping his hands behind his back.



“Three.”



“Wha—wait! You were supposed to count!”



“Too late, Bertie,” Ron said nonchalantly.



“Legilimens.” Berthold stiffened and sweat broke out on his face as Severus dug into his mind.



Severus straightened. “I know where they are.”



********************************************************************



Harry awoke slowly. The room swam sickeningly when he opened his eyes and he quickly shut them again. But the brief glimpse he’d had told him something was wrong so he squinted, allowing sight to filter in little by little.



Above him was a wooden ceiling, high with crossbeams meeting in an X. There was a weird chemical smell in the air, akin to potions but much harsher, that made him wrinkle his nose. The windows were high but barred and shuttered against the light.



He was lying in a broad bed with crisp linen sheets covering him from his chin to his feet. The chamber was very spacious but it wasn’t the cottage or Grimmauld Place. Where was he? And more importantly, how the hell had he gotten here?



Harry took a deep breath and tried shuffling through his memories. But they were curiously missing. He’d been at the party…and then here. The party. Here. Additional effort produced a total blank. Shit, had he been hit with a Memory Charm?



He scanned his surroundings, hoping to get a clue as to where he was. Harry was puzzled and then shocked to see pictures covering the walls, pictures of…himself!?



The photos were everywhere; there wasn’t a single clear space that didn’t have an image of himself on it. Pictures of him at the Gryffindor table in Hogwarts. Pictures of Quidditch games. Pictures of him with the children. Official photos of him in fancy dress at Ministry parties. Scads of pictures with him, Ron and Hermione. Pictures of him with Ginny—only Ginny’s face was removed, viciously scratched in some photos, slashed to ribbons in others.



“Harry, you’re awake.” The deep voice came from his right. Harry swung his head around carefully and smiled in relief to see the face of his bond mate.



“Severus? Wh-what happened? How did I get here?”



“You were kidnapped by Colin Creevey. I managed to rescue you.” The man laid his hand on his forehead. “How do you feel?”



Harry tried to sit up but failed when the room lurched around him again. “Queasy.”



“Here. Drink this.” Severus bent forward, his hair falling over his face. He brought up a vial of a colorless liquid to Harry’s lips and Harry gratefully swallowed it. His head felt better but now there was a queer lethargy in his limbs. As Harry tried to move, he realized he was unable to.



“Severus—I-I can’t move my arms,” Harry fretted.



“Really?” Severus sounded oddly unconcerned.



Harry looked sharply at his husband. Something had been niggling at his mind and suddenly he knew what it was. “Severus…where are your scars?”



Puzzlement flickered through the black eyes. “Scars?”



“Yes. The ones on your face. Why can’t I see them?”



“I cast a glamour over them. I didn’t want to alarm you when you first woke up.”



“But I’ve been seeing your scars for weeks now.”



Severus shrugged as if he didn’t think it was important. But the gesture was off and the truth hit Harry, leaving him even sicker. “You’re not Severus.”



“Harry, just relax. I’m not going to hurt you.” He swept off the linen duvet. To his horror, Harry realized that he was naked underneath the sheet.



A horrible suspicion arose. “It’s you, isn’t it, Colin? It was you at the party, too, pretending to be Charlie.”



Those dark eyes gazed at him fixedly as the man pulled up his robe and dropped it on the floor. Harry’s flesh crawled as nude flesh was revealed, the cock jutting rigidly, already shiny and leaving a sticky trail on the lean stomach.



“Colin, I know it’s you. Severus doesn’t go skyclad under his clothes. Just stop this and I’ll see to it that the Ministry doesn’t punish you too badly.”



The other man didn’t answer. That crazed light was in his eyes again and he positioned himself over Harry’s body.



“No!” Now Harry knew what the other Gryffindor wanted, what he’d intended all along. He strained to escape but his limbs refused to obey. Concentrating all his power, he aimed his magic at Colin, hoping to send the man flying into the nearest wall. If possible, he wanted to send him through the damn wall.



But his magic didn’t come. Instead, a fiery pain lanced up his right arm so that he screamed in pain. When he regained his breath, he gasped, “Wh-what did you do to me?”



The other man’s face twisted in an ugly smirk. Even that looked wrong, nothing like Severus’s familiar sneers. “You’re supposed to be the greatest wizard of the age, Harry. I know how powerful you are. Did you think I wouldn’t take precautions?” He reached down and lifted Harry’s limp arm, showing the dragon bracelet on it.



“I had this made a few months ago, at considerable expense, I’ll have you know. It’s not just a Portkey. It effectively binds the magic of any wizard who’s wearing it and only the giver—that’s me—can remove it. Too clever by half, eh? Not bad for a Gryffindor.” He chuckled and the obscene, high-pitched sound curdled Harry’s stomach.



“Colin, don’t do this. You’re going to be in enough trouble as it is. When Severus finds you…”



“No one knows where we are except my father. Even if he tells, the wards won’t let anyone else through except teachers and registered students.”



“Teachers and students?”



“Yeah. I don’t just run occasional columns in the Prophet. That’s freelance work, not really enough to pay the bills. So I opened up a photography studio. I teach photography to wizards and witches. I even learned about Muggle techniques for those who are interested. It all pays surprisingly well. This,” he waved his hands at the walls, “is my private room.”



“But how did I get in here? I’m not a teacher or a student,” Harry demanded. Keep him talking. Keep him talking until Severus gets here. Harry had no doubt Severus would be the one to come for him. He just had to play for time.



Colin sat back on his haunches. He appeared unconcerned about his nudity as if he had all the time in the world to carry out his scheme. “I was carrying you. The wards will let anyone else in as long as they’re brought in by a willing member of the staff or a student.”



He ran a hand down Harry’s chest. “Now relax, Harry. I’ll make this good for you, I promise.”



Harry couldn’t move but he shuddered with an increasing sense of panic. “You can’t! Colin, don’t you remember the terms of the Vow? I can’t give myself to anyone willingly besides Severus! If I do, I’ll die!”



“I am Severus, Harry. At least for the time being.”



“How did you manage that, anyway? And how come you don’t have Severus’s scars? Polyjuice makes a person look exactly as he is. You look the way Severus did before he was bitten.” Harry knew he was just rambling now. He didn’t really care how Colin had managed to get strands of his husband’s hair. But he’d seize on anything to keep Colin talking.



“He was always picking on Gryffindors in school. I thought imitating him might be a chance to cause trouble for him. So I managed to get strands of his hair by using a Summoning Charm back in fourth year. I just never really had a reason to use them before now.”



Harry shook his head. Really, it was frightening the way the rest of his body didn’t respond. “Colin, I know it’s you. You can’t fool magic like that. Why are you even doing this? What the hell do you hope to gain by it?” he pleaded.



For the first time, rage flared in the false black eyes. “I want to show you what you could have had, Harry Potter! I was faithful to you in Hogwarts! I was more loyal than a Hufflepuff, just as brave as any other Gryffindor, sneaky as a Slytherin and I think all this proves that I’m as smart as any Ravenclaw! Hell, I even joined Dumbledore’s Army for you! But first you turned to a redheaded girl like your mother, which I thought was truly bent. Then you get shacked up with Severus Snape!”



“And you know I couldn’t help that, Colin.”



“I know the story; Snape tricked you. But you could have said no. You could have refused to go through with the bonding. And there was no reason for you to marry him afterwards!”



His face crumbled. “Why did you do it, Harry?” he whined. “Did you actually want that greasy bastard?”



Harry inhaled and exhaled slowly. He had to remain calm, no matter what. It was clear Colin’s sanity was teetering on a cliff and he couldn’t risk sending him over the edge.



“Colin, what does it matter now? The bonding is done, the Vow is permanent and unbreakable. And it’s been years since we were in Hogwarts and I haven’t seen hide or hair of you until this year. Why all this and why now?”



“Severus’s” face contorted and went red with rage. Spittle flew out and flecked Harry’s face and glasses. “Because I wanted to make myself someone you could admire, Harry, someone you could see as an equal. In school, I was just this stupid little kid who trailed after you with a camera. I was a joke. Oh, yes, I was! Don’t even try to deny it!” he yelled when Harry opened his mouth.



“But afterwards, I was ignored, shunted to the side. Hardly anybody would talk to me. I meant nothing to them—especially you!



“I bounced around from one job to another and all anybody had to say to me was ‘What was the great Harry Potter like?’” he said in a fawning shrill voice, as if mimicking a love-struck fan.



“Finally, I found I could make a living at something I was good at… and I was very good at it. You have no idea how many pictures I took of you and your little friends. The ones in this room are nothing compared to what I’ve got in storage.” He gave another high-pitched asinine giggle.



Harry spoke softly, looking into the other man’s eyes. “Colin, I didn’t realize you cared for me so much. I thought it was just hero worship. I used to get that all the time from practically everybody in school except Slytherins. How was I to know you wanted me that way when you never said anything?”



“For fuck’s sake, Harry, I followed you around like that ugly mutt followed Hagrid! What did I have to do, paint it out on the sky for you?!” Colin snarled.



“I’m sorry that I didn’t know, Colin. But this isn’t the way to handle things. What happened to us going out for drinks?” Harry asked with a smile, hoping to placate him.



“I tried that. You weren’t interested. Too busy mourning your dead wife and cozying up to Snape. Well, all that’s done with—”



Colin stopped short and his eyes narrowed in concentration. “Fuck,” he snarled.



Hope flared. Harry tried to keep Colin from seeing it. “What is it? What’s happening?”



“Someone’s battering at the wards. Too bad. I wanted to take my time. Guess that’s no longer an option. Oh well.” He spread Harry’s legs.



Harry wanted to scream but he wouldn’t give this little prat the satisfaction. He only hoped that Severus kicked his narrow arse and that he got to see it.



A surge of magic, powerful and deadly, filled the air. The walls of the room rippled and the photos blasted from them in a hail of paper. Colin yelped as the pictures turned into sharp-edged arrows and tore bloody paper cuts over his exposed skin. He fell off the bed just as the door blew off its hinges.



For a split second, real and fake Snapes confronted each other and each man froze at the sight of his doppelgänger. The true Severus was the first to recover.



Colin Summoned his wand but he was no match for the wizard who had triumphed in dozens of duels and survived Voldemort’s two wars. A jet of blue light flew from Severus’s wand and Colin was unconscious before he hit the floor.



Ignoring his prone body, Severus came running over to Harry. “Harry, Harry, my love, are you all right?” He stroked Harry’s hair, raking his exposed body with his eyes.



“Severus. I…he gave me something.” Hang on. Did Severus just call me love?



“What?” The ebony eyes, so blessedly familiar, acquired a terrified expression. Severus began frantically searching in his robes. “I have a bezoar stone—”



“Not a poison. It just immobilized me. I can’t move from the neck down.”



“The stone will neutralize any such drug. Open your mouth.” When Harry obeyed, he placed the black stone between his lips.



Harry swallowed, grimacing at the feel of the pebble being squeezed down his throat. However, his immobility immediately left him. He sat up in bed and was swept into his husband’s embrace.



Harry gasped for air as the wiry arms seemed to crush him. Then Severus was kissing him fiercely and Harry wound his arms around the lean back, caught in the tide of emotion he could sense coming from his husband, his own mind whirling in shock.



He loves me. Merlin, I don’t believe it. What should I say? Do I love him?



He wanted to talk about this with Severus. But he became aware of other voices in the room and he opened his eyes to see Ron and several other people he recognized from the Ministry. Becoming self-conscious of his nakedness, he whispered to Severus, “I hope you brought an extra kit.”



The man pulled back to glare at him. “I was more engaged in coming to your rescue, you silly brat.” The old nickname made Harry grin. Seeing it, Severus snapped, “Get your wand and Summon your clothes, idiot.”



Harry tugged at the bracelet on his arm. Sure enough, it wouldn’t come off. “Mm, I can’t. This bracelet inhibits my magic. He bought it especially and he’s the only one who can remove it.” Severus didn’t need to know that he’d put it on himself. The man would tear into him for his trusting stupidity and Harry didn’t want that now.



Severus narrowed his eyes at the ornate bracelet. He had the sense not to touch it or attempt any kind of magic on it. Merlin knew what spells were laid on it to prevent removal by another party. “Very well. I suppose we need to wake up this little shit and get him to remove this.”



Harry’s clothes were Summoned and Severus stood in front of him, holding up the sheet to hide him from view of the others. Harry dressed quickly, acutely aware of that dark-eyed gaze on his skin the whole while.



Colin was awoken in due order. By this time, the Polyjuice had worn off and he was revealed in his true, shrunken form. He immediately began ranting and raving, alternately reaching out for Harry and cursing Severus for doing this to him. The Aurors held him back, gripping him tightly so he couldn’t Disapparate.



“Enough,” Severus said in a subterranean growl. “You have kidnapped my husband and will stand trial for your crimes. But first, I want you to remove this monstrosity on his wrist.”



“And if I don’t?” Colin muttered, surly as a first year.



Yellow teeth were bared. “I know curses that make the Cruciatus feel like a feather tickle. I will happily tell them to the Aurors and let them work you over.”



Colin yelled, “They won’t! It’s illegal! My dad won’t stand for this!”



“It’s your father who gave you up, you felonious little flobberworm!” Severus snapped. “He’s in as much trouble as you so don’t expect any help from that quarter. It’s only by cooperating with the authorities that he can hope to keep out of Azkaban. I suggest you follow his example.”



At these words, Colin seemed to crumble up like a wadded piece of parchment. He began crying, in great gulping sobs, and the embarrassment of seeing his emotional collapse made Harry cringe.



Severus thrust his wand under his chin, sharply enough to bring Colin’s crying to an abrupt stop. He bored into Colin with eyes cold and hard as iron. “You may indulge in hysterics another time. Remove this infernal piece of jewelry at once.”



Colin seemed hypnotized by that stare. Slowly he reached out and pulled at the circlet around Harry’s outstretched wrist. Immediately the bracelet slid off as if it had been greased with butter. Severus levitated it over to the custody of the Aurors. “Careful how you touch that,” he murmured and Ron quickly Transfigured a napkin into a small bag. The bracelet dropped into it.



After that, Ron and Arthur agreed to take care of all the preliminaries in processing the prisoner. Harry could come to the Ministry tomorrow to give his statement against Colin. Right now, Harry wanted nothing more than to go home and the Aurors indulged him. In any case, they were too busy gathering up all the incriminating photos from the floor and walls.



Severus knew this wasn’t normal procedure. But for once he had no complaints about the Chosen One receiving preferential treatment. He pulled Harry close against his side and they left the Ministry officials to their business.





TBC