Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 52

Harry stood stoically in front of the closed door of Snape’s master bedroom wincing with every thump and bump that came from within. Finally though the door swung open and Draco appeared blood streaming from his nose, a swelling eye and some deep gashes across his chest. Harry swallowed nervously as he stared at the blonde who sighed painfully and lowered his gaze to the floor.

“You were right Potter, bad idea.” Draco whispered as he leaned up and pressed a bloodied kiss to Harry’s lips in apology before scurrying away to his own bedroom to nurse his wounds. With Draco gone Harry nervously looked back to the open bedroom door and stared in at where Snape was just wiping Draco’s blood from the letter opener he’d used to discipline the blonde. Things had gone from bad to worse in the rock pool when Draco had attempted to fuck Harry. Admittedly the blonde had gotten it in but it hadn’t half hurt, and then it had happened. The baby had moved inside him expressing its disgust at the intrusion of someone not its father. Harry’s magic had reacted on impulse and Draco had been flung across the pool onto the jagged rocks leaving Harry doubled over gasping for breath in pain. That’s when he’d noticed Snape standing watching them from the entrance, his irises inky purple and flashing in anger. With a hand around his neck Snape had dragged Draco up the stairs the boy obediently falling limp in his Superei’s firm hold knowing fighting him would only make things worse. Harry had waddled as quickly as he could after them, trying and failing to explain what had happened but Snape wasn’t listening and had thrown Draco into his room before coldly telling Harry to stand and wait outside less he wanted to face the same fate as Draco.

“Come.” Severus’ voice was back to its usual potion master coldness and Harry shivered as he stepped obediently over the threshold into the large lavish bedroom Snape had claimed as his own. Harry stared at the floor, avoiding eye contact as Severus circled him looking him up and down with an emotionless gaze. “Tell me what I am to do with you Potter?” Snape spat icily as he came to a stop behind Harry, so that he was pressed up against the length of the boy’s back, and his face was resting dangerously against the boy’s neck. Harry swallowed instinctively as he felt Snape’s hand come around his waist to rest on his protruding stomach. “I believe I warned you and Draco about cavorting together in such a manor? Did you think I did it for my own benefit?”

“But you didn’t actually say we shouldn’t….” Harry couldn’t hold his tongue any longer the familiar defiant streak spilling from his lips before he could stop himself.

“Indeed I did not but I would have thought you smart enough to have worked out the consequences of you two fucking while one or for arguments sake, both of your are with child!” Snape shouted loudly against Harry’s neck as he spun the boy around and took a firm hold of Harry’s chin, undoubtedly leaving bruises. “You are mine Potter, you bear my mark and at present carry my child. Any challenge to that ownership be it from another Superei or from an Inferei like Draco, even if I have claimed him to, will be met with your own bodies protection system. The system is designed to try and repel the perceived threat thus preserving the bond you have with me!” Snape was screaming now his face red with anger and spittle clinging to his lips as he barked into Harry’s face.

“I didn’t know…” Harry protested loudly finding it hard to move his mouth when Snape’s vice like grip on his jaw intensified, the nails leaving bloodied half moon shapes in the boy’s pale skin.

“No, you don’t know Potter because you’re not listening to the signs your body is giving you! You have natural instincts for a reason Potter, they are there to keep you alive and you need to listen to them!” Harry was getting angry now and easily dragged Snape’s hand from his chin with a strength he wasn’t sure was his own.

“Listen to them!” Harry screamed finally loosing his temper and exploding in a fit of rage to rival even Snape’s current temper. “I’ve got you telling me to listen to the instincts, I’ve got Draco telling me to remember that we’re all still wizards and men, what is it that you want me to be? A wizard, a muggle, an ElithFuratu, a friend, a father or perhaps a Lover, if Draco’s right about you? Because I have no fucking idea anymore what I’m supposed to be in this little triangle we’ve got going and it’s doing my head in trying to be all of those things, and none of them at the same time. I was better off being the blasted boy that lived, at least then I knew what was expected of me. To die with dignity and save the sorry backsides of a worthless bunch of wizards and witches!” Harry screamed his diatribe finally coming to a breathless end. Harry stood firm his jaw set and his gaze firmly locked with Snape’s indigo eyes in a show of defiance. Harry was unprepared for what came next as Snape raised his hand for what Harry thought was an impending slap, but instead the elder wizard gently cupped Harry’s cheek before leaning in an pressing a soft, feather light kiss on his lips. “What the fuck.” Harry whispered as Snape pulled away the purple that had dominated the colour of his eyes fading away to leave the more familiar onyx shadow of a haunted potion’s professor.

“There is a part of me, as a man and nothing else that thrives on seeing that fiery temper of yours. A temper you share with your mother, who also had no qualms about telling me exactly what she thought and what she wanted. I wouldn’t have crossed your mother for love nor money knowing that wicked tongue of hers could take lashings out of me. Given the chance her chastisements were worse than your father’s empty threats and name calling would ever be.” Harry stared blankly at Snape who gently ran his finger tips over the mark’s his cruel hand’s had left behind on the boy’s jaw before sighing and turning to head for the bathroom without another word. It took a moment for Harry to catch up with the situation before he strode quickly after Snape who was slowly getting undressed in the black marble bathroom.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry snapped his delayed reaction to Snape’s strange comments causing the elder wizard to smile darkly at him in the reflection of the mirror.

“Nothing you should concern yourself with at present Potter.” Snape replied casually as he turned around having shed his shirt and outer robes, leaving him standing in only his trousers. Harry’s irritated retort fell silent on his lips as he saw for the first time the extent to which Snape’s mark had taken over his body. The once distinguishable tattoo on the man’s forearm was barely visible beneath the rotting blackened flesh. Dried blood clung to the edge of the festering wound the skin raw and burning. Just as Draco had described the wound smelt foul and Harry forced down a dry heave as he watched Snape wipe away an oozing black trail of blood. What was most disturbing however was the fiery red line that traveled up Snape’s arm from the dark mark. It was like a child had followed one of Snape’s veins with red felt tip pen. The line ended at Snape’s shoulder, just above the crease of his armpit. Mindlessly Harry stepped up to Snape, his cold tentative fingers tracing the line ignoring the fact that Snape was staring at him blankly. Harry’s fingers didn’t stop where the red line ended at present and instead he automatically followed the path across Snape’s chest to his heart. Silently Harry pressed his hand over the beating he could feel his eyes tracing the path of the red line not yet visible.

Slowly Harry looked up at Snape his eyes practically begging the elder man to disprove what Harry had discovered by himself. When Severus made no move to explain himself Harry felt as if a weight had fallen onto his own chest. Gasping in horror, Harry staggered backwards away from Snape his eyes beginning to swell with tears as he shook his head violently in disbelief.

“No.” Harry whispered shakily as Snape closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

“Please Harry, don’t do this. The odds of any of us surviving this war were slim, I had resigned myself already to my fate.” Harry continued to shake his head trying desperately not to listen to what Snape was saying. Clutching at the sudden pain in his chest Harry slumped against the sink barely keeping himself upright as a wave of emotion swept over him like a torrent. Harry had been used to seeing death, had coped with others and indeed the possibility of his own before now, but something inside of him that shouldn’t have cared whether Snape lived or died had been suddenly ignited forcing all rationality from his mind.

“But why?” Harry managed to croak out as he began to hyperventilate.

“Simple because he can.” Snape spoke calmly as he stepped up to Harry and gently supported the boy’s quaking frame. Almost instantly Harry latched onto Snape’s waist clutching at the wizard who despite everything that had happened was the only constant thing in Harry’s life so far. “You of all people should realize Harry, that Voldemort does not like being deceived, he also doesn’t like losing.”

“But he’s not losing.” Harry mumbled his face pressed against Snape’s sweaty chest so close he could practically hear the blood pumping through the elder wizard’s veins.

“I’m afraid he is Harry. The ministry has sought international help to eradicate Voldemort and his followers. The American’s arrived earlier last week and the Asian Auror’s will slowly begin entering the country at the end of this week. The turning has already begun Harry.”

“Then why is he doing this to you?” Harry whispered his tears mingling with the sweat on Snape’s chest.

“Revenge Harry.” Snape paused his hand gently brushing through Harry’s unruly hair, trying and failing to tame the wild flicks. “While he may loose this war he will not go without taking me with him, he has already vowed that to me himself. I am under no illusions that he thinks I am to blame for his present failures in this war, and he is going to kill me before they kill him, a final satisfaction in the face of such a defeat.” Harry frowned in confusion as he stared up at Snape from the man’s chest.

“But I’m the only one who can kill him, the prophecy said so.” Harry whispered watching as Snape smiled before nodding in agreement.

“Indeed it did and you will see that prophecy to its conclusion, sooner rather than later.” Harry’s frown deepened as he shook his head not truly understanding what Snape was saying.

“But I’m not the boy who lived anymore…” Harry argued as Snape chuckled softly.

“No, you’re not but you’re still Harry Potter and even if your motivation for killing Voldemort has changed somewhat you will still play out the prophecy to it’s end.” Snape smiled warmly down at Harry who was still extremely confused.

“I don’t understand. Isn’t there a cure for this, I need you.” Harry stubbornly pouted looking more like a five year old who’d had his candy taken away, then a mature wizard who was about to loose everything. Snape chuckled and gently drew Harry away from his chest so that he could hold the younger wizard out at arms length and look him firmly in the eyes.

“There is only one cure Harry Potter, and it rests just as it always did in your hands.” Harry watched stunned as Snape drew both of his hands up to his lips before placing a soft kiss on the palm of each before dropping them back to Harry’s side. “Now go away Potter, I’m tired and I have to be up early to take Draco hunting, bodies don’t just land in our laps.” With a firm hand Snape pushed Harry out of the bathroom and with a quiet whisper slammed the door to the bathroom closed leaving Harry staring blankly at the dark bedroom.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>