Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Jealous Proposal	By : CodyMThomas Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 29642 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 11
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter 10 warnings: AU, Minor2,

Chapter 10 Close Calls

A/N: sorry for confusing a few people last time, no you aren't missing anything with Harry's organization, it's going to be explained in another chapter, but I threw you guys a bit more info in this one since so many people asked about it. Enjoy and Review please!

It took almost two weeks after Harry's engagement before the story appeared in the papers. Witch Weekly had run an article first, complete with candid photos of himself and his ring, so he knew it was a student who'd sold the story. Harry's face was emblazoned on the front cover with the main headline screaming:

"Boy-Who-Lived Engaged to Mystery Lover!"

Right next to '20 Veela Beauty Secrets revealed!' '10 easy ways to dress up your dress robes.' 'How to catch the wizard of your dreams!' and 'Stud or Dud? Find out if your man measures up!'

Harry was trying his best not to laugh as Hermione held the girls magazine at arms length pinched between two fingers with a scowl of distaste, as if worried that the content was contagious, or possibly to ward off any rumors that she had ever purchased it, and that if she had it was for the sole purpose of giving it to her best friend so he would know what was being said about him.

She'd had a personal vendetta against the magazine after it had tried once more in fifth year to declare the she had been seen sharing passionate embraces with Harry and had even been caught in a compromising position up in the astronomy tower with him. Harry had actually had to give an interview that time and make them sign a contract that they would print the entire thing verbatim in order to finally get the howlers to stop.

"That rag shouldn't even be allowed to call itself literature..."

"It's not, it's called a magazine, and honestly I'll probably prefer what it says compared to whatever the Prophet might print about me."

Young witches grab your hankies, several eyewitness accounts are declaring that Harry Potter, the Wizarding World's boy hero, and our 1,000th issue's most eligible bachelor, is engaged to be married or bonded!

At the scandalously young age of 17, Harry Potter has been seen wearing a brushed platinum bonding ring with Celtic knotwork and ancient rune engravings. He's also been heard calling it an 'engagement ring' to several friends.

Sources and photo evidence show he wears the expensive ring everywhere, and no designer we've been able to contact is claiming the ring as their work, leaving us to wonder who he bought it from, or if it's a custom piece obtained from a Muggle jeweler that was charmed with the appropriate spells, protections, and blessings afterward to make it a legitimate bonding ring.

To add to the romance of the entire thing, Harry Potter is keeping the identity of his fianceé an extremely tight lipped secret, surely making the lucky girl feel like a lovely young Juliet by sharing a secret star-crossed romance with her boy hero.

So far there have been absolutely no clues to the mysterious identity of the future Mrs. Harry Potter, and no one has been seen wearing the matching ring. We'll keep you Weeklies updated as we learn more!

Harry never read the last two lines of the article, he was far too busy being doubled over with laughter and trying to breathe. "A lovely young Juliet? Oh gods are you serious? JULIET? That's too funny!"

Hermione immediately grabbed the magazine and started reading and soon her own laughs were joining Harry's at the very thought of Severus Snape acting even remotely like the classic damsel. Harry's mental image included a pastel renaissance dress, and Severus' hair done up in a braided crown with pale pink flowers and ribbons. It was far too funny to keep to himself, so once he calmed down enough he raced up to the owlry and anonymously sent the magazine off with a school owl, with a note asking "Do you have an affinity for wearing dresses and quoting Shakespeare that I don't know about?" Wishing he could see Severus' reaction in person, but thinking it would probably be safer if he didn't.

At dinner that night Hedwig delivered a small anonymous note that said "No. I hated that particular play before, now I loathe it." Harry'd had an excellent laugh over that too.

The Daily Prophet's article that arrived at breakfast a few days later wasn't nearly as amusing or flattering.

The Boy-Who-Lived, barely come of age a few months ago, has gotten himself involved in a serious situation that many consider a solemn and life altering commitment, but that he is treating like a joke. He has been flippantly showing off a bonding ring and saying it is no more serious than an engagement for marriage. Needless to say such a statement has many of the students in an outrage, especially those raised with our world's customs and traditions, or with parents who have participated in a bonding ceremony.

Many wizarding parents are also showing concern over his decision, fearing it will lead to young people no longer taking a bonding ceremony as seriouly as they should. Is it really wise for one so young and inexperienced in the ways of the world to undertake something like this? Especially since several eye witness accounts as well as his closest friends know and freely admit that Harry Potter has never been known to seriously date anyone, let alone love someone long enough to decide that a bonding ceremony is an appropriate course of action.

If this person is someone recently met then parental concern is well founded. One needs wonder just how serious he is taking a lifebond when he flaunts his ring yet keeps the identity of his supposed beloved a secret! Harry Potter is refusing to reveal the name or identity of his mysterious Paramour, leading several to wonder if he is truly engaged at all, or if the ring is merely another bid for attention. The Daily Prophet is offering 200 galleons either for positive proof of who young Harry Potter's 'betrothed' is, or for proof that this whole offensive display is nothing more than a bad joke. -Rita Skeeter

"Ouch, I think she wounded me... no, wait, it's just this splinter from the table poking me, I'm good."

"I don't think Rita Skeeter likes you anymore Harry." Hermione said with a smirk.

"Oh dear, whatever shall I do? The annoying insect doesn't like me anymore... Wait she liked me at some point? When did that happen? I missed it."

"Well I suppose it could have been worse, I mean if she really hated you she would have thoroughly trounced you, I would call this 'annoyed' more than anything else. Maybe she's a little jealous."

"WHAT? Hermione come on that's gross! I can't believe you even said that!"

Hermione laughed at the look of disgusted outrage on her friend's face.

"Well maybe not exactly like that Mr. Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelor. Maybe more in the way because you are younger than her and you found happiness and she hasn't and that makes her feel even older so she has to cut you down a bit."

"Or she's just a snooty annoying insect that has nothing better to do than try to stir up a controversy even if there isn't one."

"That too. You'll have to be careful though, a lot of the students are going to be tempted with a reward like that. You're lucky the twins aren't here anymore, or you might be in trouble."

"On anyone else that would be true, but even if they figured it out, they wouldn't betray me to Skeeter, not for something like this. They would only want to figure it out because it's a challenge and a mystery. Oh, I almost forgot, I received a letter from them, they want to help us, Sirius has already gotten them to take the vows."

Ron sat down across from them and started piling food on his plate, then glancing at the headline of the Prophet. "Something good in there about you Harry?" he asked as he speared a sausage and put it on top of his pancake.

"Mmmm. Apparently I'm going to be solely responsible for the downfall of marital family values in the wizarding world. That or I'm a liar trying to get attention again. And why didn't you guys tell me that you were outraged over the fact that I'm telling people I'm getting married and not bonded? If I had known the semantics were so important to you I would have tried harder to get it right."

Ron started chuckling as he drizzled the sausage with syrup, rolled it up and took a large bite. "I wouldn't call it 'outraged', maybe 'sympathetic' because I'm no good with that stuff either." He said a minute later. "The only one who might get 'outraged' over it is Hermione, and she doesn't have that look of wanting to beat you over the head with a dictionary, so I think that one's a lie. Besides, no matter the tradition, 'bonded' sounds about as romantic to me as buying tissues, and it also gives me a mental image of you being tied up, and I really don't like that, so stick to 'engaged'."

"Will do. Hey, do you think we could literally give someone a heart attack if I publicly announced 'Oh oops, my mistake, I didn't know the semantics were so important. Yes, I am getting married, and bonded, AND we're throwing in a Trueheart Ceremony just to top the whole thing off properly. And you'll really never guess who my bride is."

Ron started laughing until he choked, and Hermione giggled for a moment before realizing exactly what Harry had implied. Then threw a few sound muffling spells around them before anyone overheard anything. "Really? Harry, are you seriously going to do a Trueheart Ceremony?"

"Yep, we're going to go all out. You guys are invited of course, if you want to come that is."

Ron nodded. "I'm in."

Hermione grinned and threw her arms around Harry. "Of course I'll come! I'm so happy for you!"

Harry was glad to have his friends around him, especially when Luna came up to him a few minutes later, Ron already on his second helping. She sat down next to him and they included her in their charmed sound muffling bubble.

"I'm not mad Harry, she's lying about that." the blond witch said dreamily while stirring huge dollops of whipped cream into a mug of chocolate before drinking it. Harry smiled."Thanks Luna, I appreciate that."

She dipped some toast in the cocoa while Ron finished off his eggs and Hermione her fruit and oatmeal. Harry, for once had a decent appetite at breakfast, most likely because of the 'detention' he had served the night before, and actually managed to eat a full omelet and toast.

Luna stared above their heads, watching the enchanted ceiling after she finished her cocoa. "I think I'm going to give you some lanterns filled with sniggle sprites so that they keep the gloom bugs and waspish wisps away from the wedding and your marriage, because I hope you are really happy together. He's been so much better since you first fell in love, and now he's so happy I'm surprised he can hide it."

Hermione, having perfected the art of anticipating the unexpected around Harry, was about to cast some privacy wards and blurring hexes to add to the sound muffling spells, when Harry grabbed Luna's hand and pulled her towards the doors of the great hall, Ron and Hermione following close behind them. They snuck into a classroom that they locked and warded heavily just to be on the safe side.

"Luna, you know who I'm engaged to?" The boy-who-lived asked in shock laced with a hint of fear.

"Of course. You've been in love for over two years, but you were both a bit stubborn for awhile there at the beginning. Especially Professor Snape. But I'm glad you won him over."

"You've known from the start? Luna, this is really important, how did we give it away?"

"Give it away? Harry you've gained something, not lost it. You do have a lot of nargles around your head today though, could be why you confused it."

"I mean how could you tell we were together, in love? Please I have to know."

"I watch people. They normally only see what they want to see or have to see, I try seeing everything and notice things that others don't."

"Okay, so how did you notice that when we were trying so hard to keep it a secret?"

"His eyes are a bit softer, he smirks or sneers instead of scowling at you all the time. You always keep him at least on the edge of your sight in the Great Hall and make brief eye contact at least once per meal. He goes out of his way to spend time with you instead of just taking house points. I would be careful with that one, the headmaster might notice soon. And the day you came in wearing the ring he kept trying to hide his smile in his tea. He drank four cups of tea that day instead of his normal two because of it. He also smirked when the one girl who had really wanted to be your girlfriend left the room."

"Someone wanted to be my girlfriend? Who?"

"Are you going to go after her and ask to become her boyfriend Harry?"

"What? No of course not, why would I?"

"Then what does it matter? Let her move on and have you become 'the one that got away', instead of being the jerk who knew how she felt and ignored her. Trust me, it's better this way. Besides, you'd want me to keep your secrets, so why would I tell you hers?"

"Uh right, sorry. Does anyone else know? I mean, I know you wouldn't tell since you've kept it secret this long, but has anyone else figured it out?"

"No, no one knows, not for sure anyways. Dumbledore thinks he's getting close though, and he's going to be watching me more carefully now that I got you so worked up. You aren't very good at being subtle, are you Harry?"

"I uh, I guess not. Luna, since you've kept this to yourself for so long, why did you let me know now?"

"We're friends Harry. I wanted you to know I was happy for you both, and besides, how could I be involved in something secret if I knew that you didn't know that I knew the secret?"

It took Harry a minute to work that one out in his brain. "I, uh, wait, what? Oh, do you want to help with the wedding or something?"

"If I can, but I was mostly wanting to let you know that I can cover the wedding as a photographer or journalist if you both agreed. With two such well known people, the Wizarding World will be really interested in your wedding whether you like it or not, and I could at least tell things honestly and keep the insanity away from you, at least as far as the press is concerned since they would have to come to our paper for details instead of to you."

"Would that really work?"

"Yes, if you grant a single paper exclusive rights to a story everyone wants a piece of, they have to go to that paper for everything, and the person with the rights can completely turn them down if they want. My dad is very fond of you Harry, we would keep it as low key as you want, and I would run the full article by both of you before printing anything. Even if you want to wait on announcing anything until after You-Know-Who is gone, we would already have everything ready to go whenever we were given the okay. So you would get complete control over how your marriage is presented to the world, and free wedding photos."

"I'll talk to him about it, he'll probably say yes though. Hey Luna, thanks for being awesome and um, if I ever start to annoy you let me know, because I NEVER want you ticked off at me."

Luna laughed and hugged him. "You're funny Harry. Tell me when he decides. Be careful today, the mooring moaners are in the middle of their breeding season so make sure to keep warm, they love getting people sick. See you later Harry."

By dinner that night many students had become convinced that Luna was Harry's fianceé, and Severus was unconcerned about it since Harry had explained what was going on in a note when he had turned in his homework. Severus had never given much thought to the Lovegood girl, perhaps a mistake on his part, she was in Ravenclaw for a reason after all. He would have her stay behind after class tomorrow and discuss her suggestion.

It was teatime two days later and Severus was sitting in his quarters grading 5th year essays, and debating adding some whiskey to the tea just to get through the drivel without hunting out the perpetrators and hexing them into oblivion.

Suddenly his mark burned on his arm. It wasn't a summons, the Dark Lord was greatly displeased about someone or something, but Severus had heard nothing about any plans which could have been disrupted. A moment later the flames in the fireplace flared to life and Lucius' face appeared.

"Severus! He's searching for Draco! Someone tipped him off on where he is!"

"Come through Lucius, and have a seat. Now, calm down. Who told him, and what did they say?"

"It was an Auror, he arrived at the manor this morning, he and the Dark Lord just left! I thought he'd quit last year!"

"Lucius, their NAME."

"Barbendale. Halus Barbendale."

"I swear to you Lucius, this is to keep you alive and sane. Stupefy! Incarcerous."

Severus left the stunned Lucius lying on his bed completely trussed in ropes and raced for the floo. "Headmaster's Office! Hogwarts!" Minerva was in there having tea with Albus, but Severus couldn't be arsed to care about propriety or decorum as he quickly stunned her unconscious without care as well.

"Trouble. Halus Barbendale just left Malfoy Manor with the Dark Lord to show him where Draco Malfoy is being kept. How much backup will we need and how fast can I get there?"

Dumbledore flew out of his chair and grabbed a sheet of parchment from a drawer in his desk. "No time for backup, just move him and avoid a confrontation if you can. These are other safe houses, you can take him to any of these."

"No, I'll just send him here, you can decide what to do after that, it's safer than me knowing where he is."

"Barbendale doesn't know the password for the floo, so they will have a two mile walk from the apparition point and then wards to contend with. There will be one other auror there, please spare him, if only for questioning." Dumbledore threw a handful of floo powder into the hearth "The Draconic Lair! Lemon Blossoms!"

Severus rushed through with wand raised. The Auror in the room was trussed and bound within two seconds, never even getting the chance to raise his wand. "Draco! We're discovered, let's go!" He grabbed the shocked boy and the Auror and tossed them into the hearth. "Headmaster's Office! Hogwarts!" He shouted, and tossed the floo powder in, then turned and faced the room. "Accio Draco Malfoy's things!" These too he sent on through. With a few waves of his wand the entire place looked old, disused, and abandoned with a fine coat of dust over everything, and finally, he lowered the wards. Then and only then did Severus banish the fireplace and the floo connection, and duck out the back door which he immediately vanished, and hid himself in the sparse covering of woods nearby where he proceeded to charm all the windows unbreakable. Within ten minutes the Dark Lord and who he assumed to be Halus Barbendale approached the house.

"I can have him out here in just a minute sir, little brat has been begging to go outside for a week. I'll stun him and pass him through the wards, otherwise McCallister might notice, and I want to slit that softie's throat myself."

"You had best hurry, Barbendale, this adventure is quickly wearing on my patience."

Severus smirked as Barbendale went inside. No back door, no other exits, no way to apparate out, no floo, or even a broom and he was about to have seemingly lied and led the Dark Lord to something completely pointless. If Severus was akin to feeling such things as pity, he might have done so for Halus Barbendale... that is if the man hadn't gone and betrayed his godson.

Six minutes passed and the man he could just view through the windows seemed to be having a panic attack inside. The spells and chairs he threw at the windows in his bid to escape were completely ineffectual. The Dark Lord, having become increasingly impatient, went to pull the wards down only to meet no resistance. He swept up to the house and quickly entered. Barbendale actually tried to put up a decent fight. The shouts and pleas and screaming lasted nearly half an hour, before with a mighty explosion the whole house went up in flames and the Dark Lord walked calmly out the front door as the man trapped inside screamed in agony.

Though the Dark Lord left soon afterward, Severus didn't leave until the roof had caved in and the house had fallen to pieces. Then he began the long walk to the apparition point and his way back to Hogwarts.

Surprisingly Draco was in the Headmaster's office having tea and sandwiches when he returned. Minerva however was nowhere in sight.

"Uncle Severus!" He'd never seen Draco so happy to see him, but figured if he'd had no better company than Barbendale and the other scowling auror sitting in an armchair with an icepack against his head for however many months, he too would be thrilled to see a familiar face.

"Are you alright Draco? I apologize for the rough treatment, but time was of the essence and I believe a few bruises would be better than to let a rogue auror and the Dark Lord take you by surprise."

"We're fine. John was pretty banged up on the landing, but he'll recover, he has a head like a rock."

Severus walked over and held his hand out to the other auror, a gruff looking man in his forties. "Severus Snape, Draco's godfather. Sorry there wasn't time to explain, I didn't know how badly we had been betrayed, and I couldn't risk it."

"John McCallister. Was an Auror until 2 years ago when I was taken off active duty. Now I'm on protection detail. You sure know how to throw a hex, I didn't even have time to draw my wand. You ever consider becoming an auror? You'd be a sharpshooter in no time."

"I find I do my best work skirting the edges of the law instead of following the exact letter of it. But thank you anyway, and thank you for watching over Draco."

Dumbledore ushered him over to his desk and poured him some tea.

"So Severus, what happened?"

"I cleared the place out completely, made it appear as if no one had ever been there, and disconnected the floo before vanishing the fireplace and lowering the wards. The Dark Lord was not pleased with Barbendale as you can imagine. He burned the whole place down with Barbendale inside it. I stayed until there was no doubt. Barbendale is dead, and the Dark Lord suspects nothing."

"But how did you know in the first place? I was unaware that you had been visiting Lucius today."

"I wasn't. He firecalled my rooms, he actually thought I'd had something to do with getting Draco to safety last year. I got the name from him and told him I'd do what I could."

"Is it wise to take such a blatant stance of opposition when Voldemort could be lurking nearby?"

"Lucius is capable of many things Albus, but one thing I know for a fact, he would not try to sell me out to the Dark Lord if it would put Draco in danger. He came to me as a father concerned for their child, not as a Death Eater vying for a higher position by rooting out a possible spy. And with Draco safe he knows he owes me a favor. Now, the castle is dark and it's near dinner so the halls won't be busy, and Draco hasn't had freedom of any sort for months. I'd like to take him flying for a bit before you send him off to another location where he's liable to lose his mind to boredom."

"Flying? Brilliant!" The young blond cheered.

"Now Severus..."

"Two hours Albus, to visit with my godson whom I haven't seen in nearly 6 months. Surely it will take you at least that long to decide and prepare a new location for him and to ask Mr. McCallister whatever pressing questions you may have. I assure you Draco will be quite safe with me."

Dumbledore made no further protests and Severus quickly steered the boy out of the office and down the revolving staircase. "I'm afraid we must disguise you since technically you aren't here. Princeton should work nicely."

"Princeton? Who's Princeton?"

"No one you need to know about, just that his face is trusted around here, and you will not be recognized."

The glamour settled around Draco and Severus wanted to smile. This would help cement some distance between himself and the student persona as well to anyone who was wising up to him. The students in the halls paid them little mind, they were too busy chatting in groups as they headed down to dinner, and their potions master didn't seem to be in a murderous mood. As they headed to the dungeons Draco grew wary.

"I-I thought we were going flying."

"We are if you still want to, I just left something a little tied up when I left in such a hurry. If I'd wanted to harm you Draco, I simply wouldn't have saved you."

The boy huffed and continued on beside him.

"You're too good at manipulating things, I can never tell whose bloody side you're on."

"Oh that's easy Draco, I always serve my own interests first, I have found it is the best way to survive. That's the Slytherin way is it not?"

They came to Severus' chambers and he opened the door with a key and a bit of wandless magic before leading Draco into the sitting room.

"Here we are. Have a seat on the couch, I need to make a firecall."

The boy was a bit nervous as he sat down, but that was to be expected when he'd been hunted for so long. Snape walked into the living room, tossed the floo powder in the hearth and poked his head through.

"Narcissa? Narcissa are you home?"

The lady nearly flew into the parlor in her panic. "Severus! I- umm-"

"Oh I hope I'm not disturbing you if you have company. I can call later if that would be better."

"No, no you aren't interrupting anything. How can I help you Severus?"

"I've aquired several bottles of wine through an inheritance, and I was wanting to give a few to Lucius for Christmas, however I'm hopeless with wine, and I was wondering if you could come through and help me select some for him since you are so good with things like this."

"Oh! Oh yes of course. I'll be right through."

He had no sooner pulled back when the elegant lady swept through.

"Severus?"

He put his finger to his lips. "In a moment. I must retrieve Lucius, I will answer all of your questions momentarily. Have a seat, please."

Severus went into his bedroom and was quickly met with a fierce glare from Lucius. He released the ropes with a flick of his wand. "I am sorry old friend, it was the only way. I knew you would try and follow me and I did not want you to have to defend yourself if I was discovered. Your wife is in the next room. Come, I will tell you everything."

Narcissa stood as Snape re-entered the living room, her husband right behind him. "What news Severus? Is Draco safe? Did the Dark Lord find him?"

"Calm yourself sweet lady, and follow me." Severus said as he turned to lead them to the parlor.

"Severus enough games, tell us about our son! Is he alright?" Lucius bellowed indignantly.

Draco had leapt to his feet upon hearing the familiar voices and Severus had no doubt that he had heard their concern for his safety.

"Draco is just fine. See for yourselves." and dropped the illusion of Princeton to reveal their son standing there uncertainly, but completely whole and unharmed. Malfoy decorum flew straight out the window as the couple rushed forward to embrace their son. Narcissa was on her knees sobbing and clutching Draco tightly, and even Lucius and Draco looked misty eyed.

He let the family have a half hour of private time while he loaded and shrank a trunk that Draco could take with him, and fetched drinks for everyone. The family was sitting together on the couch when he returned.

"I was able to remove every trace of Draco's existence from the safe house before the Dark Lord arrived. To my knowledge, he suspects nothing and blames no one except Barbendale whom he killed at the site. Draco will return into hiding in about another hour, but I wanted to put your fears to rest, since I know it's been a long time since you have seen each other. I will have to modify your memories, and obliviate my own so that we are not discovered, But I thought it would be worth the risk this one time."

Lucius looked at him sincerely. "We are in your debt Severus, truly. If there is ever anything we can do, you have but to name it."

"If the time ever comes I shall let you know. You asked a favor of me recently Lucius, are you still wanting that favor? Because I may know a way."

"Yes. Now more than ever. I can't risk it any longer."

"Good. Narcissa, you and Lucius will go home tonight and you will have a terrible fight. You will blame Lucius for any number of transgressions and he will do the same to you. This squabbling will increase over the course of the next few weeks until finally, hopefully in the presence of Bellatrix if at all possible, Lucius Malfoy, you will strike your wife. This will no doubt lead to a confrontation with Bella. Take her down, even injure her if you like, but do not kill her, the Dark Lord holds her in higher regard.

Narcissa you will immediately leave Lucius. You are unmarked, so the Dark Lord will not consider you a traitor, especially if you will leave a gift for him as a showing of good faith that you are not turning your back on him, merely on your husband who you intend to avoid until the divorce is final, and that should he require you, he has but to ask. As one Unmarked whom he has never needed before, it is doubtful he will seek you out. You will then apparate to Hogsmeade, send me a patronus to fetch you, and go into hiding like Draco, only you won't have a bounty on your head.

Lucius, I have a plan for you too, but it's unwise to strictly plan too far ahead. This will at least put your family out of immediate danger, allowing us to focus on saving you. Is this agreeable to you for the time being?"

"I can't say I'd ever be agreeable to hitting Cissy, but I know I will have to in order to save her life. It's a good plan Severus, thank you."

"Narcissa?"

"Could I go into hiding with Draco? I've been so worried about him. I know he can take care of himself but the others who are with him, I don't trust them anymore, not after today, they are too easily swayed by money."

"Not to mention it is money which would no doubt come out of your own coffers to pay the one who hands over your son. The Dark Lord would see it as a fitting punishment for you both. I suggest emptying your vaults, in fact, Narcissa, take half when you leave Lucius, no one will question it. I will do what I can to have you placed together, but I make you no promises. Those strings are pulled by the Headmaster, not myself, but he believes very much in the strength of a family, love, and giving second chances. I'm sure we could get him to give in once he is convinced of your sincerity."

"Severus, truly, how can we thank you for this?"

"For starters you will not betray me. I am doing this as your friend Lucius, so I would hate to think my faith in you was ill founded. Beyond that, you are Lucius Malfoy, once this is all over I'm sure an opportunity will present itself. Now, it's about time to head back with Draco, if I don't appear on the quidditch pitch to take him flying, the headmaster will question it. I must modify your memories so we are not discovered. Narcissa, stay behind until I return. It will look suspicious if you return so close together."

"You are almost too good at cloak and dagger Severus." Narcissa said with a smile.

"I have found it's what works best when one such as I has to play the role of a spy behind enemy lines Milady." He replied. Letting them take that however they wished.

Lucius briefly hugged his son one last time and said he was growing into a fine young man, before Severus modified his memory and sent him home believing he had spent the last few hours pulling strings at the ministry and was just coming home for a late dinner.

Narcissa didn't want to let go of Draco, but knew that she didn't have any choice. She took a ring off her finger and slid it on his. "Stay safe, think of us, and I hope that I'll be joining you soon. You're a good son Draco, we are very proud of you. I hope someday, we'll be able to make you proud of us too."

"I love you mother. I'll be waiting." The boy had said very little the entire time they were there, probably not trusting his voice.

With a kiss to his cheek, Narcissa finally backed away and Severus cast the glamour back on Draco again. "I'll return in a bit over an hour Narcissa, please make yourself comfortable." With that they headed straight to the quidditch pitch, and if Severus noticed wetness on Princeton's cheeks, he pretended it was merely winter mist and nothing more.

The boy hadn't gotten rusty in his six months of forced confinement, he flew the pitch like one possessed, determined to feel as much of the wind on his face and the feeling of freedom it gave before having to return to his caged prison. Severus followed sedatedly, never having been much of a fast paced flier. A flash of gold and crimson robes caught his eye on the other side of the field. What was Harry doing out on the pitch alone? He caught sight of the boy looping and diving like a madman and jumped on his broom and flew right towards Severus.

"Training a new player in secret? How sneaky of you. Let's see if he can keep up!" And without a moment to try and stop the reckless young fool, Harry was off and quickly catching up to Draco. "Come on! I'll race you!" Harry called out, with a jolly whoop and with that both boys were off fast as the wind, diving and spinning and obviously having a grand time of things. He let them continue for nearly forty five minutes, but soon their time was nearly up and he had to call a halt. They flew down and landed beside him.

Harry took off his goggles and held out his hand. "That was some great flying, you're going to be great on your team next year. I'm Harry, Gryffindor Captain."

Draco removed his headgear and goggles and you could see Harry's eyes go wide as 'Princeton' took his hand uncertainly. "Princeton? I- uh..." Harry's eyes flew to Severus who shook his head no. "I didn't know you flew, I thought you were determined to lock yourself away in the library. It's good to see you out here. Maybe we can fly again sometime?"

"Yeah, sure, that would be great."

"Brilliant, well it's almost curfew, can I walk you back inside?"

"That will not be necessary Potter, I suggest you get back inside before you are once again caught flippantly breaking rules and wind up once more losing the house cup."

"R-right. Night Princeton, Professor."

Harry flew off to the castle and Draco just stood there stunned and staring at his hand. "He- he was friendly to me! He shook my hand like we were mates, and I'm wearing Slytherin robes! Did he get hit in the head with a bludger?"

"You didn't insult him, it was just friendly competition. I have noted that Potter rarely ever gets in fights these days, and that the explosions in his potions classes have become nearly non-existent. I wonder why that is."

Draco had the grace to blush.

"You are lucky I did not find out about it while you were still a student here Draco, otherwise I would be forced to deduct so many points from you there would be no question on who the Slytherins would have to thank for losing them the House Cup. Such reckless foolishness could have wound up seriously harming or even killing another student. No matter what set your feud off, I hope you take this as a opportunity to grow up. Now, it's time to head back."

Severus stopped them at a side door to the castle. "Draco, I am going to trust you with something because you are my godson, and I want you to have a way to reach help should you need it. You must not show it to anyone else for right now, or even talk about it, things will become known in their due course. Can you keep this a secret? Can I trust you Draco?"

The boy looked extremely serious. "You saved my life today, and the life of my parents, I owe you a lot more than a promise for silence Uncle Severus. You have my word."

"Good." Severus pulled a silver medallion out of his pocket and put it around Draco's neck. "Only other people who are wearing these medallions will be able to see or sense this on you, it is undetectable by any other magical means, and it will not fall off. If anything happens, all you need to do is think 'Help', 'Injured', 'Trouble', or 'Trap', whatever the situation is, and I and as much backup as I can get will have immediate apparition coordinates to your location no matter how many wards you are under. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that this could be used horribly in the wrong hands and is only to be used in extremely dire circumstances. You aren't supposed to know about these since you aren't a member."

"A member? Of... The Wizarding Defence and Morality League?" Draco questioned, squinting at the words running along the border on the front of the coin.

"Not now, everything will be revealed in time. I have your oath Draco, and I intend to hold you to it. You swear to keep it secret yes?"

"Yes, Uncle Severus."

"Good. Now let's go."

The glamour of Princeton was gone by the time they made it to the revolving staircase. It was a few minutes past when he said he'd return, but Severus didn't care.

Dumbledore twinkled at them merrily. "I hope it wasn't too cold out on the pitch."

Draco shrugged. "It was rather good weather for this time of year and the winds weren't up too much. The school brooms are nowhere near as good as my own, but it was nice to go out and fly for awhile. So where are you sending me this time? Maybe somewhere warm, like Greece?"

"I'm afraid not. We've readied another safehouse and it will just be you and Mr. McCallister for the time being until I find a more trustworthy replacement for Halus Barbendale."

Draco shot a filthy look at Severus at the words 'more trustworthy' and Severus couldn't blame him. He took the small trunk out of his pocket and handed it over. "Here, to distract yourself from such horrible oppression."

"What is in it?"

"Some games to keep you occupied, and a few things from the Weasley twins joke shop that I thought you would appreciate, in the hopes you will not drive another of your guards out of their heads. And because I was feeling particularly generous, there is also a whole collection of your 7th year textbooks and assignments that I have gathered from your teachers, as well as a record of all the lectures you have missed so far, with more to come. Just because you're in hiding doesn't mean you can't still pass your classes. The Headmaster, I am sure, wouldn't mind passing your assignments, tests, and homework on to us as needed. You're seventeen Draco, you can practice magic without getting the Ministry's robes in a twist. I expect you to catch up quickly."

Draco's smile was only half forced. "Homework, just what I always wanted. Thank you Uncle Severus."

Severus smirked and completely disregarded the sarcasm. There were many other things in that trunk that Draco would very much be grateful for, including a wizarding wireless, and a complete set of art supplies, tools, sketchpads and canvases. Severus was the only one who knew about Draco's hobby, even Lucius had no idea. He hoped the boy could bring himself to use them, even though he wouldn't be alone. "You're welcome. McCallister, again, I thank you."

The potions master waited outside while the Headmaster sent the boy and auror on through to the safe house. Five minutes later the door opened and he re-entered the office. "It was a very good thing you did today Severus, truly."

"Don't try to spoil my mood with such nonsense Albus, it was Slytherin cunning, and nothing more. In one day I've neutralized a traitor before he could talk a second time, displaced the Dark Lord's attention without suspicion and made him think he hit a completely dead end, gotten the loyalty of all the Malfoys on my side, have that same family in my debt for the foreseeable future, and manipulated you into giving me four favors without you noticing it. It's almost a shame that I won't be able to remember this day until after the war is over, if I live that long. Perhaps I'll preserve the memory and bequeath it to someone, in case I die. Such a day of true Slytherin ingenuity and cunning should not be wasted."

"Four favors out of me Severus? Whatever are you talking about? Allowing the boy to go flying?"

"Hmm five favors then. This IS a good day. Draco Malfoy is now going to be continuing his studies even though he is no longer a student here, I was able to visit with my godson even though you have not allowed me to see him until now, and in a month or less, you will begin providing me with a selection of trusted guards in Hogsmeade ready at a moments notice to escort someone into protective custody. I will require their services twice."

"Protective custody? For whom?"

"Oh, didn't I mention Albus? This incident has completely broken the Malfoy's faith in the Dark Lord. One does not threaten the life of the only heir to a pureblood family as old as the Malfoy's and retain their loyalty. I doubt they will be loyal to your cause of course, but they will no longer fight on the side of the Dark Lord, and they will probably be willing to provide information and to testify against others in exchange for sanctuary. Narcissa will be defecting first to make it easier for Lucius to break free, since then his family won't be able to be used against him. Oh the chaos and destruction we will be able to cause in the inner circle together before we fake his death. I truly think that I want to raise a toast to Halus Barbendale, for providing me with such an opportunity. Have a good night Albus, I know I will."

He could hear the headmaster chuckling after he shut the door. "Well played Severus, very well played indeed."

Narcissa was sitting comfortably reading a book and sipping a cup of tea when the Potions Master returned to his chambers. The Lady Malfoy looked up with a knowing smile.

"You know Severus, I have always enjoyed potions, but I never had the true skill required to become great at them like you do. Everything is so precise, you can't fiddle around or experiment with them the way a chef could with a recipe, not unless you truly know what you are doing with every ingredient. I doubt very many people appreciate or even recognize the dedication and attention it takes to become as proficient as you have in your art. The person you love will be very lucky indeed if you give them the same level of care and attention. I truly wish you happiness."

He held his expression and his complexion neutral only by sheer force of will and practice. "Love? Narcissa, I am a mean, bitter, sharp tongued, cantankerous, ugly bastard who is very proud of the fact. I'm also far too selfish and bad tempered to try and make someone else happy, so who on earth would be mad enough to fall in love with me?"

"Well I can't say I know who they are, but it does look like you had fun. I highly doubt you are so much smaller than Lucius when you are nearly the same height and breadth Severus, not to mention you strike me as more of a 'boxer' man."

Severus followed to where she was pointing and there, behind the back leg of the arm chair across from her was a pair of Harrys Y fronts, clearly torn in half in the crotch and back. They were from Severus' haste to get at the infuriating minx when he'd snuck into Severus' quarters two days ago and waited on the sheep skin rug, already lubed, shirtless and barefoot in his jeans, wrists tied, with chocolate on his chest spelling out 'Lover Boi', after having rubbed undiluted pheromones into his hair and spritzed them around the room. Harry had been a flushed and achingly aroused needy teenager when Severus had found him, and the pheromones only added to Severus' own predicament when he started paying attention to his lovely young lover... He was going to keep those underwear...

Narcissa'a laugh was humored and melodious. "He must be quite extraordinary if he can get you to be so... passionate Severus."

"Infuriated is more like it Narcissa, the minx is insatiable."

"So, should we be expecting wedding sparks in the near future? I do hope you would invite us to the wedding if you do."

"If we survive this war and decide to do something so silly you will be the first to know, but for my sake, keep it from Lucius, the man will never let me hear the end of it if he knows I have a lover and he doesn't know who."

"I will, I want to see the look on Lucius' face when you tell him. He'll be happy for you. I was being honest, I hope your lover makes you very happy Severus. We all need some happiness during the dark times, and I'm begining to see just how dark these times truly are. How much will I remember of today?"

Without preamble Severus raised his wand and cast the spell.

"You will remember everything up until you came through the hearth except for Lucius firecalling or visiting me, and then you will have looked through wine bottles with me. You will not remember the conversation we had but you will still follow your part in the plan. Once we selected Lucius' Christmas gift, I will have shown you a message that Draco smuggled to me. It said that's he's keeping up with his 7th year studies, misses his favorite foods, he's debating learning how to cook because he's sick of sandwiches, soup, and porridge, but that Bob makes a decent cup of tea. He has become much better in both Wizards Chess and Gobstones since he and his two Unspeakables guards play a few dozen rounds of them a piece every day. Since the guards are both such brilliant conversationalists, for awhile he had dubbed them Speaks-Only-With-Eyebrows, and Mr. Glares-With-Sword, but decided those names were too long, and they didn't object or even seem to notice when he later decided to call them Steve and Bob. He has no idea where he is, but that it's warm, sunny most days and there's a beach he can see through one of the windows even though he's not allowed to visit it. He wishes he had a wizarding wireless so they could at least listen to music and quidditch, and he's trying to get Steve to bring one sometime after a rations run. He wants a pair of Sticky Trainers for Christmas so that he can literally climb the walls, four packs of playing cards, and a book with as many ways to play cards as possible. You will NOT remember that I have a lover or what you found under the chair. Memento."

"Severus thank you, I know Lucius will love the gift, and thank you, for sharing the letter with me. I only wish I could keep it."

"It's too dangerous for you to own such a thing and not have told the Dark Lord about it, I don't even know how the boy managed to get it to me unless the guards agreed to send it for him. It holds no pertinent information, but it would be enough to get the Dark Lord angry. With the Unspeakables as his guards he must be in the hands of the Ministry and not with the headmaster like I had originally thought. I don't even think Dumbledore has those kinds of connections since he and the Ministry are always at such odds, and learning any other information will be nearly impossible now."

"He's alive and safe, that's all I can ask for now. Take care Severus, I will see you soon."

"Yes you will, and Narcissa, you can always come to me if you need it, I am your friend as well as Lucius' I hope you realize that."

"I do Severus, and I will, I promise. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Narcissa flooed away and Severus turned around only to be met with a wand tip held directly under his chin and Harry's eyes questioning him. "How did you lay a claim at the Burrow a year ago last summer?"

Severus smirked at how carefully Harry had worded such a personal event.

"I lured you out into the woods, far from friends, family, and aid. I kept you complacently docile with the use of food and drink, and hit you with a confundus charm, then I stole your breath away and placed my mark of ownership on you, binding you into my service to please me at all times." A non-verbal summoning charm had the collar lightly smacking into Severus' hand.

Harry smiled, lowered the wand and kissed Severus as the man clipped the collar on. "That's not how I remember it, there was no confundus charm. So who was Princeton?"

"Draco in the first disguise I could think of. We had a close call today, but because of it several other pieces have fallen into place in my favor. I apologize if I worried you."

"Confused the hell out of me is more like it, which is why I decided to come down under the cloak. Imagine my surprise at finding Mrs. Malfoy in the living room. Must have been quite the eventful day. So are you bringing him into the group? You know I trust your judgment but if you want him in you'll have to convince the others."

"I'll see if he acts interested to learn more. I gave him an amulet in case there's another problem, but I explained nothing except that it could summon help in dire circumstances."

Harry nodded. "So, the curfew bell has already rung, and I'm not in bed yet. Whatever shall you do with me?"

"Rule breaking as usual, Mr Potter. I don't think your detentions are making much of an impression on you. I think you are forcing me to use harsher punishments on you."

"Oh really? And what did you have in mind Mr. Snape?" Harry purred

Severus wound his hand into Harry's hair, gripped tightly and pulled the young man close so he could whisper in his ear. "Something that will definitely have you bent over to receive your due, and putting your ass in a bed I know you'll stay in."

Harry shivered and clenched the front of the potion master's robes. "I'll just go and get that hairbrush then shall I?" He asked, gazing up innocently with a smile and grinding hard into his lover's thigh.

"The switch and black suede flogger too My Harry. I want to make sure I leave a lasting impression on you."

Harry shivered again. "Merlin Severus, you keep talking like that and I'll cum before you land the first stroke."

"Let's see if I can make you think of me every time you move tomorrow. Every stroke of cloth against your skin, every time you sit, every time you have to make sure you are hiding your marks, I want you to think of me Harry."

Harry smiled. "No problem." he replied and was released. This was going to prove to be a very fun night, he thought as he went to get his 'rougher toys' for Severus to use on him. Maybe he'd bring out some green and gold Shibari ropes as well, after all, his lover was in a very good mood tonight, and he was feeling rather lucky. Harry wondered if he'd need a cushioning charm in class tomorrow and he found himself hoping that he would.

TBC

A/N: wow not nearly as much time between chapters this time. Hooray! That's because this year, this story is my NaNoWriMo project, just because I love you guys that much. I've been working on quite a few of the other chapters too, so expect more in the near future.

I was thinking of adding their play scene as another small excerpt, because while I adore spanking/paddling/whipping scenes, somehow in almost every fic they are used as punishment. If you are actually IN the BDSM lifestyle, especially the S&M part of the equation, or have been to a play dungeon, you know that's not the case. Those scenes are used for pleasure most times. Doms have far more creative ways of punishing a disobedient sub than spanking or whipping someone who enjoys it.

Also to clear up a misconception, Harry is NOT a sub. Yes he bottoms and wears a collar that's true, but the collar means something completely different here. Harry has a few abandonment issues, the collar is a physical representation that he's not alone and is loved. He is not Severus' slave or submissive, he might role play it occasionally, but they don't live the lifestyle to that degree. Harry and Severus would be considered 'Kinksters' in this story, they like to play with a variety of toys, instruments, scenes and the like to spice up their love life.
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