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A Most Trusted Soldier	By : Rettavex Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 58683 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
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
- 1-A Most Trusted Soldier
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
- 27-Author's Note: update
- 28-Still getting reviews...
- 4
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As the door to the office banged tightly shut, there were several audible intakes of breath, as the remaining members of the Order were released from their imposed silence.
�Dear me, Mr. Potter certainly knows how to make an exit,� said Minerva, as she whisked herself over to take a seat behind her desk.
Severus was nearly shaking with rage. How dare that Potter refuse to be his Guardian? Everyone knew that a Right of Fides was both rare and a privilege. It had to be freely given. Leave it to Potter to snub his nose at such a gift. Severus was pulled from his incredulousness by the still scowling, heavy breathing, redheaded third of the Golden Trio, who was now pacing like a trapped animal, while throwing irritated glares at Severus.
�Minerva, Kingsley, Arthur, would you please leave me alone with Mr. Weasley for a moment?� Severus asked, his eyes never leaving Ron�s pacing form.
�I am not so sure that would be wise. I know he punched you Severus. That was wrong. Ron, apologize,� said Arthur, looking nervously at Severus, as if expecting the man to begin hexing his youngest with Death Eater specials at any moment.
�Arthur, I assure you that I only wish to speak with your son, if he is agreeable,� said Severus, giving Ron a knowing glare.
�Yeah, dad. It�s fine. Snape and I will both behave. Won�t we, Professor?�
�Absolutely,� said Snape, with a nod.
Minerva rose from her desk all the while muttering to Fawkes to come to her at once if either of the men raised a wand. Kingsley and Arthur followed Minerva to the door, all three looked rather apprehensive, but bid their goodbyes as they exited the office.
Severus and Ron both stood still as statues, but looked each other square in the eye. Severus broke eye contact and walked over to Minerva�s desk, where he used his wand to unlock a hidden drawer. He retrieved a bottle of amber liquid and two tumblers. After pouring he handed a glass to Ron and motioned for the younger wizard to sit.
�I�ll remain standing thanks,� said Ron, before knocking back the entire contents of the glass in one go.
Severus sneered at the young Auror�s uncouth drinking behavior, but did not comment.
�Mr. Weasley, am I to presume that there is some good reason for Potter�s little crack-up and subsequent refusal?�

Ron shook his head and let out a snort. �You�ve got to be kidding. The man is handing you your freedom back with no strings and yet you berate him for it. Only you, Snape.�
�My freedom? Surely you jest? Even you must know that I am neither the trusting sort, nor am I as rich in Guardian prospects as Potter seems to think. Despite our rocky past, I have no desire to go down the path of Bellatrix Lestrange. I am not certain why Albus left the Right to Potter, Still, I learned long ago that while I may not always understand Albus� motives in the moment, the reasoning inevitably becomes clear with time, and is more often than not the most prudent course of action,� said Severus.
Ron could find no fault in Severus� logic. He himself had tried to explain that very thing to Harry by the lake. Ron felt torn. He held no real liking for the man standing before him, and he loathed the idea of going behind his best friend�s back on this, but Ron�s instincts were screaming that if nothing else, Albus had known what Harry was and had still chosen him to take over Severus� Right. That had to mean something. Harry was simply too afraid and obstinate to even consider accepting.
Ron crossed his arms across his broad chest and said, �Tell you what, Snape. You promise me that whatever you learn, whatever reasons you discover for Harry�s decision, that you keep it quiet. Promise that and I�ll point you in the right direction.�
Severus was highly averse to being forced into a vow of secrecy. He eyed his former student carefully, as he assessed the pros and cons of agreeing to the terms. The war and adulthood had done wonders for the redhead. He had reached his full height and put on a few stone of muscle mass, no doubt the result of years of fighting a war and Auror training. He may not have Severus�s imposing aura, but he could easily be fearsome and commanding when needed. The younger man was obviously torn about helping him, yet sought to compensate by assuring that anything learned could not be used to damage his friend. It may surprise some, but loyalty counted for a lot with Severus. Having experienced very little loyalty on his behalf, Severus had always secretly envied the loyalty Potter had found in his two best friends at such a young age.
�Doable,� was Severus response. He held out his hand and Ron shook it. After Severus had taken a long swig of his drink, he sat down in a chair next to where Ron was standing.
�Now that we have the terms of your assistance out of the way, what can you tell me?� asked Severus.
�Nothing.�
Severus sucked his teeth in annoyance. �Why am I not surprised?�
Ron just smirked.
�I didn�t say I didn�t know anything. I just said I can�t tell you. You should well know that anything worth knowing is usually guarded by something. I�m under a geas. I could only speak of what I know to someone who was already in possession of the knowledge,� Ron explained.
�Then what good are you to me, Weasley?!� Snape bellowed.
�None. But, Hermione could be. I�m not saying she�ll help you, or even tell you what you want to know. Still, she is the only one aside from Harry who could tell you.�
�Very well. How can I find your better half? Shall I dispatch owls to every library from here to Antarctica, or shall you provide me with a locale?�
�Drop the snark and I�ll tell her the situation. You know well she is an Unspeakable now, but she also has a private office that she works from. She is at the Ministry most days, except Sunday. If she agrees to see you, she�ll send an owl with a date and time.�
He drawled his thanks to Ron before using the Floo to return to his chambers in the dungeons, his mind abuzz with all that had transpired. So, whatever spooked Potter was serious enough to invoke a geas. Severus was more than a little curious at this point and was eagerly awaiting a response from Mrs. Weasley nee Granger, although to anyone looking he would appear just as stoic and expressionless as always. After setting the three-layer wards on his chambers, he headed straight for his own well stocked liquor cabinet. He had a thirty year-old scotch that would aid nicely in helping him endure the wait.

The following Sunday found Severus ascending a flight of rickety stairs that led to the private office of Hermione Granger-Weasley. Severus paused just outside the door and took a fortifying breath, before knocking on the heavily scarred door.
�Enter,� was the muffled reply.
Severus stalked into the office, his cloak billowing, fully prepared to threaten and intimidate the diminutive, know-it-all, She-Weasley sitting behind the desk. Severus knew that Hermione protected Potter as though he were her own young. Yet, the young woman simply smiled at him.
�Mrs. Weasley, I thank you for seeing me,� Severus said in greeting, careful to address his host as formally and respectfully as possible.
�Have a seat, Professor. Ron has brought me up to speed on the reason for your visit,� said Hermione, as she returned her quill to the inkpot and straightened a stack of papers on her desk.
�Excuse the mess, please. I have some personal projects I am handling. They just keep growing I�m afraid,� she added upon seeing the disdainful way Severus was eyeing her office. Books were stacked as tall as Severus in every corner of the office. Several stacks of parchment and scrolls lay about the desk, in no particular order that he could discern.
�What exactly do you work on in this�space, Mrs. Grang�Weasley?� Severus inquired.
�Oh, well, in my spare time I lend my skills as a freelance book editor. Historical accounts mostly. I have several young, as yet unpublished, authors as clients. I also take the occasional textbook editing job. I�m actually helping to update a section about Harry and the war in the new addition of Hogwarts: A History. Keeps me busy enough,� Hermione explained, her eyes dancing with excitement as she spoke.
�I would think being an Unspeakable would keep even your mind occupied,� said Severus with a snarl.
�Careful, Professor,� came a quick warning from Hermione, all excitement gone from her eyes.
Severus inclined his head slightly in apology. Careful Severus. Granger may be an insufferable know-it-all, but she is a frighteningly clever witch. She will not be baited.
�I meant no disrespect, Mrs. Weasley. We all have our passions. Clearly, you enjoy yours,� said Severus, coolly, his eyes laughably innocent.
Hermione gave him a calculated glare, but nevertheless relaxed her posture and demeanor.
�Very well, Professor. What say we cut to the chase? I have work to do, and I am sure you�d much rather be somewhere else. So tell me, what would you like to know?�
Severus would normally breathe a sigh of relief at the direct approach, but this was simply too easy. Wary, but without missing a beat, Severus took the opening.
�Why won�t Potter accept my Right? Is this some sort of punishment for how I treated him as a student? Am I supposed to run begging at his feet?�
Hermione�s mouth turned into a smile that did not meet her eyes, which were hardened and held a sinister glint.
�No, Professor. Begging, even from you, I am afraid will not get you the results you seek. The situation is far more complicated than you imagine,� said Hermione.
Severus sucked his teeth. �Well, then out with it woman. By Merlin, tell me what silly little hang up Potter has that caused this refusal. I will properly atone for it or placate him, and we can all move on. No doubt it is some trivial Gryffindor ideal about not mastering any person that has our beloved savior so overwrought.�
�Professor�Severus. Is it alright if I call you Severus? After all, I am no longer your student, to both our pleasure I would guess,� Hermione said, standing up behind her desk and walking around to the font.
�Certainly,� said Severus.
�Severus, you know a great many things. While I have never been a fan of that cantankerous personality you love to lavish upon us, I respect that vast intellect of yours. You, like me, have a hefty respect for knowledge and the books that contain that knowledge. However, there are things worth knowing that cannot be found in books. Even I have learned this sad fact. One such thing is Harry. I know Harry and you do not. You know the 11 year-old boy easily intimidated by his blustering Potions Master; the James look-alike; the rubbish printed by the Prophet; and you know the fiction that you have crafted out of thin air that is based solely on Harry being the son of one of your childhood enemies. Quite frankly, sir, you are as ignorant of Harry as most Muggles are of magic. What you know of Harry the person, the man, would fit in a thimble leaving room for one of your potion-stained thumbs,� said Hermione, her steely eyes never once turning away from the scathing look Severus was sending her way.
�Nevertheless, I will help you and tell you what you do not know. Why? Because, Harry has been hiding too long. Yes, he is out and about socializing, consulting, etcetera, but that is not Harry. You know magic, you know potions, and you know the wizarding world, Severus. Yet, I am the keeper of keys as it were to Harry. All I ask is that you agree to a few conditions. �
Severus was livid. This little witch, barely a woman, had the nerve, the gall to speak to him in such a way. Oh, what he would not do at this moment for Cruciatus to be legal. Still, needs must. He would have to play nice with the Missus Weasley if he had any hope of gaining Potter as his Guardian. Severus had thought long and hard all week about alternatives to Potter. None were appealing in the slightest. Ron was correct in that Severus trusted no one enough to feel comfortable with them as a holder of his Right of Fides. And despite the shock of Albus� decision, Severus had quickly realized that Potter was the only logical choice. The brat was honest to a fault, not prone to abuse, and while he had no particularly friendly emotions towards Potter, at least the man was younger and had a stubborn knack for staying live. With any luck, which Severus had precious little, he would die long before Potter, thus avoiding the need to ever replace his Guardian.
�What would these conditions be?� Severus asked, careful to refrain from belittling the young woman standing haughtily before him.
�One, you never use what you learn to harm Harry in any manner. Two, you submit to the geas to retain the secret. Three, you allow me to be at the meeting between you and Harry when you decide to approach him. Last, if� and it is a big if�he agrees to accept your Right, you do everything in your power to accept him, Severus. I would ask that you begin with clean slate with Harry. I meant it. No baiting and no horrible comments about his father or Sirius. What you are going to be asking of Harry, whether you realize it now or not, will be dangerous for you both. You cannot go into this as enemies,� Hermione warned.
Severus thought for a few beats before responding, �Potter, while not a friend, is not my enemy. I accept all of your conditions. Now tell me what I need to know.�
Hermione took her wand out and performed a series of spells over Severus. At the end of her chanting a thin, light purple stream of light connected both Severus and Hermione before it faded away. Hermione resumed her seat and conjured tea for them both. After a few sips she reached into her desk and retrieved a small, gray book with no title.
�This is something you will need once we finish our talk. Take it. The password is �Looney�. Now, as you are Dark Sought, what I tell you will cause a near immediate reaction, so prepare yourself.�
Severus barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes at all the pomp.
�I am sure I won�t faint at your utterance of this earth-shattering information, nor will I go into heat like some wild beast of Hagrid�s,� Severus snarled.
Hermione let out a sound somewhere between a snort and a giggle. �Very well. The reason Harry won�t accept your Right is because he is the last known living descendent of the Boundless Fates, or as they were more commonly referred, the High Amorals.�
Severus barely had time to register what Hermione had told him before his heart rate increased, sweat began pooling down his lower back, and the world took on a slant. Before Hermione could raise her wand to cushion the impact, Severus� eyes rolled back in his head and he fell out of his seat and onto the floor in a curled up heap.
Hermione, unable to contain her laughter, took a moment to indulge in a fit of giggles. She laughed at the stern, buttoned-up Potions Master who lay splayed in a twisted sort of fetal pose on the floor of her office. Serves the arrogant bastard right, she thought. I told him to prepare.

A/N: WAIT!!! Before you let loose the howlers, I promise an explanation for the High Amorals in the next chapter. Had to get this background out of the way. Remember what you were taught in preschool, play nice. Hands are not for hitting!! :-)
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A Most Trusted Soldier