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Run to Me	By : Cardinal Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 3070 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Severus, who was accustomed to waking slowly, was abruptly woken when two arms wound their way around his chest and hugged him closely. The man froze and peered over his shoulder at a sleeping Potter. Whoa there! Severus thought as something poked him in the lower back.

"Potter, get off me!" Snape barked in outrage as he tried to squirm out of the boy's arms, surprised by the strength that he felt in them.

Harry slowly opened his eyes and peered sleepily down at Snape, and then yelped once he realized that his arms were around his professor, holding Snape's body against his own.

"You were on my side of the bed!" Harry accused with a scathing glare.

Snape rolled his eyes, "You forget, Potter, that it's my bed and you were only in it because you acted like a child over a storm. Now get out!" Harry was promptly thrown out of the bedroom with the door slammed behind him.

Harry sighed and stretched his hands over his head. "The start to another great day."

~-~

The two men had their showers and were seated at the table waiting for their breakfast. Fingers drumming on the table, Harry thought back to earlier when his morning erection had been pressed into Snape's backside. Bet he got a surprise out of that, Harry thought with a snicker.

"Something funny, Potter?" Snape questioned.

"Yeah, just thought of something funny, that's all," Harry answered, although he was still chuckling.

When the food was brought out into the Dining Room where they waited, Sterling handed a letter to Harry and then walked sulkily out of the room. Harry shared a glance with Severus before looking down at the letter and recognizing the Hogwarts seal. Opening it he found that it was Dumbledore's loopy writing which scrawled across the parchment.

"Floo to my office at 9:15, the line will be open.
~Albus Dumbledore"

That was simply all the letter said and Harry frowned, what could the Headmaster want? And why did Dumbledore insist upon being so blasted mysterious about everything?

"What is it, Potter?" Snape questioned as he speared sausages and put them onto his plate.

"A letter, from Dumbledore, telling me to floo to his office at 9:15, but it doesn't say why." Harry took his wand out of the pocket of his burgundy robe and tapped it onto the parchment, checking its authenticity.

Glancing up at the clock over the mantle, Harry sighed. It was 9:14 exactly.

"Well, I guess I'd better get going then." The boy said simply before throwing his napkin onto his plate and walking over to the fireplace where a pot of Floo powder sat on the mantle. Taking a pinch he tossed it into the flames and watched them turn green.

"I hate Flooing," he grumbled to Snape, who was still nonchalantly eating, before stepping into the fireplace and whirling out of sight.

~-~

Albus Dumbledore sat, head bowed, as he thought about the information that he'd been given. It seemed that an ancient wizard mating ritual had been stumbled upon by Nymphadora Tonks. It stated that if the ritual was carried out, there were certain magical benefits that accompanied the mating. Increased powers, protective wards, even telepathy, if the bond was strong enough.

When Harry Potter practically fell from his fireplace, Dumbledore forced on a smile and motioned for him to take a seat. "Please, sit Harry. Lemon drop, or tea?" he questioned.

Harry waved off both, even though his stomach protested since he hadn't had a chance to eat breakfast. "No thank you, Professor."

Dumbledore smiled pleasantly. "So, how are your living arrangements with Professor Snape going?" he questioned lightly.

The Gryffindor shrugged. "Alright, I guess, better than the Dursleys at least."

That took the smile from Dumbledore's face. "Harry I am truly sorry about that entire situation. I should have been keeping a closer eye on things, and I want you to know that if you ever need anything you're always welcome in my office."

Harry smiled tightly. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."

"Now, what I wanted to discuss with you is some information that Nymphadora came upon and brought to my attention. Here, read this." Dumbledore passed an ancient, dusty scroll that looked as if it were being held together by magic, across the desk to Harry.

Harry read down through the information, wishing that he had Hermione there to read it and give her thoughts as well. A mating ritual? He tried not to let the surprise show on his face. Words on the scroll such as “bonded,” and “sexual intimacy” loomed up at him.

He cleared his throat, worried that his voice might come out squeaky. "And this will increase my powers? Make me more likely to defeat Voldemort?"

Dumbledore nodded gravely.

I need this. Harry didn't exactly like the idea of magically bonding with someone for the reason of power but neither did he want to find himself on the receiving end of an AK.

"How much time do I have to decide?" Harry questioned.

"You should find someone by the time the school term starts back, then you will be able to train with this new power under the guidance of the Hogwarts staff," Dumbledore reasoned.

Harry nodded, feeling weighed down and stretched thin with the decisions he was being asked to make. He wanted the opportunity to be carefree, for once, but with a resigned sigh he knew that until Voldemort was dead, he had no chance of a normal life.

“May I take this scroll with me?"

"Of course, that’s a cloned copy. Contact me if you have any further questions."

Harry tucked the scroll inside his robes and walked back to the fireplace, not even bothering to bid the Headmaster farewell as he tossed in a pinch of Floo and swirled his way back to Snape Manor.

Upon falling out of the fireplace, again, Harry found that Snape was still seated at the table, which was in itself a rarity because he always bee-lined it down to the dungeon when he was finished eating.

"So, Potter, what did the Headmaster want?" Snape questioned with a curious sniff, obviously trying to act as if he wasn't very interested.

Harry unrolled the scroll and placed it in front of his professor before flopping himself back down in his usual seat and helping himself to the breakfast that had been left on the table for him.

With satisfaction, Harry watched the Potions Master's eyebrows shoot up in surprise as he read through the details of the magical Mating Ritual. "This is what Albus wants you to do?"

"So it would seem," Harry said with a sigh.

Snape rolled his eyes at the entire ordeal, obviously finding it ridiculous. "I'm sure the mob of mindless twits at Hogwarts will be throwing themselves at you. Being picked by the glorious," the word practically dripped with sarcasm, "Boy Who Lived earns one certain popularity in the wizarding world."

Harry's jaw clenched as he studied Snape, wondering what drove the twisted man to purposefully fling that up in his face. He'd already considered how hard it would be to find someone who wanted to be with him for a reason other than the fact that his name was Harry Potter.

As if sensing the awkward tension that his comment had created, Snape looked uncharacteristically fidgety and asked, "How long has Albus given you to decide?"

"If I go through with this, I have to pick someone before the school term starts back." Harry wolfed down some eggs, although now his stomach was protesting the food since it was tied in knots over the decisions he had to make.

The Slytherin seemed to think about the matter for a moment before dismissing it, after all, Potter always managed to land on his feet, and usually, he ended up with more fame and glory than before.

~-~

"You want him to WHAT?" Remus thundered in outrage at the idea that Albus Dumbledore was suggesting. "This is the most ridiculous idea that you've ever had Albus!" The werewolf exclaimed, pacing the Headmaster's office, looking a bit like the caged wolf he sometimes became.

"Remus, do you want him to survive this final battle or not? He has the power on his own to defeat the Dark Lord, but I'm not sure that he can do it and survive." Dumbledore's periwinkle eyes followed the pacing form of the werewolf.

Remus sighed as he ended up in front of Dumbledore's desk. "Is there someone in particular that you're hoping Harry will choose?"

Dumbledore nodded, "As a matter of fact, there is."

"Who?"

"Severus Snape."

The color of Remus' face went from white to a bright pink in a heartbeat.

"SNAPE?! He's a Death Eater! He's way too old for Harry and... and... Bloody hell, Albus, it's SNAPE!"

"Spy, he's a spy, Remus, and yes he is older than Harry but do you want the boy to survive when he faces Voldemort? Snape is a formidable wizard, the bond would be quite powerful. Harry has sacrificed enough for this world without having to sacrifice himself as well, don’t you think?" Dumbledore’s periwinkle eyes flashed steely for a moment and for the first time since Remus had known him, the Headmaster looked downright angry.

Remus took a deep breath, paced a little more, and then turned back to Dumbledore. "Would Snape be willing to do this? There's a lot of bad blood there."

"I won't guarantee that there will be fireworks and love, but if Severus agreed to the bonding I am positive that he would do everything in his power to take care of and protect Harry." Dumbledore would stake his life on it.

The werewolf studied the face of Dumbledore for a long silent moment before finally agreeing. "Fine, then I'll help you try to steer Harry in Snape's direction." But I still don’t like it, Remus thought.

~-~

The summer had gone by impossibly fast for Harry. The Gryffindor somehow managed to put thoughts of bonding and Voldemort out of his mind as he spent hours snooping around Snape's manor and stumbling onto ancient dark artifacts. Snape knew of his ramblings, as he had found Harry snooping on more than one occasion, but the Potions Master was mostly happy to have the Gryffindor out from under his feet.

Now it was last week in June and Harry's birthday was quickly approaching. He'd owled Hermione and Ron on the subject of the bonding and while they were both appalled and shocked at the suggestion of it, they did see the benefits and Hermione was already trying to play match-maker.

Harry was constantly writing letters that started with, "No Hermione, I will NOT bond with...."

The only good suggestion that Hermione had was Oliver Wood, but upon a little investigation they found him to be quite taken with a fellow Quidditch player.

"Potter!" Snape barked from the den by the foyer.

Harry, like any teenager, dragged himself into the den. "You bellowed?"

Snape speared him with a glare. "It seems that I have been so lucky as to be chosen to host your birthday party," the man's voice dripped with sarcasm and misery, "so, who do you want to come so I can make up some pretty little invitations for you."

The mental image of Severus Snape with a party hat on and a red balloon floating by a string in his hand was more than enough to cause Harry to snicker. "The usual... Ron, Hermione, Remus, Professor Dumbledore, and all of the other Orders members aside from Mundungus, he's kind of shady."

The Slytherin snorted. "Shady isn't even the word for it, I wouldn't let him in my home even if you and Dumbledore both begged for it, and mind you, I'd do a lot to see either of you beg."

As soon as the words escaped Severus' mouth he realized how they sounded and he caught the look in Harry's eye as well. With a clearing of his throat, Severus shifted in his chair. It wasn't as if he hadn't thought about Potter in that way, because the boy was living in his home, and Snape was a human man with needs after all, but he didn’t want to put any ideas into the teenager’s head.

I bet he's got one of those lithe bodies, toned from Quidditch. Alarm bells sounded in Severus' mind as he snapped out of his trance in time to keep himself from drooling.

"Well? Are you going to stand there and stare all day?" Severus snapped at Harry.

The boy rolled his eyes and shrugged, muttering about Slytherins as he retreated back to his room.

~-~

"Remus!" Harry launched himself at the werewolf as the man entered Snape's manor.

Behind Remus followed Dumbledore, Hermione, Ron, the entire Weasley family with the exception of Bill and Charlie, and a few members from the Order.

Off to the side, Snape watched as Harry hugged each of the Weasleys, and then shook hands with Dumbledore and the other Order members. Gradually the adults meandered over in Snape's direction and thanked him for hosting the party. The man simply gave some muttered reply that must have seemed halfway polite as they all moved with high spirits into the den.

Such an invasion. A Gryffindor invasion of the worst kind. Severus couldn't help the long-suffering sigh that escaped his lips as he sat down in his usual straight-back chair and let the conversation flow around him, the lone, dark outsider as usual.

As Harry was chattering away to Ron and Hermione, having to say a lot to catch up on things since he'd been away all summer, he occasionally tossed a glance in Snape's direction and each time he did he found that the entire room faded when the Potions Master was in his view.

Sitting so perfectly poised in his long black robe, serious expression, and tranquil black eyes, Harry found the man's presence and appearance most soothing among the sea of red that surrounded him.

Whether Harry or Severus realized it, they were becoming a solid and steady thing in the other's life. Severus was there whenever Harry was in trouble, needed some sensible talking, or help with his school work, while Harry was there with his constant problems (that came with being The Boy Who Lived) which gave Severus a chance to use his intelligence, potion skills, and problem-solving abilities, which kept him busy and happy to be active.

What neither man had thought about was how it would feel when they returned to school. For Harry all conversation and thought would be consumed by the loud, energetic teenagers who were constantly worrying about clothes, the opposite sex, and which Quidditch team would pull out to win the World Cup.

For Severus, his world would once again close around him and leave him in complete loneliness. He wouldn't have someone constantly bugging him with a problem, or someone simply trying to force small talk onto him while he ate breakfast. He didn't know it now, but Severus would miss those things when they weren’t there.

"Okay everyone, Severus has just informed me that the food is ready in the dining room so we may all head in that direction," Dumbledore announced and Harry looked up from his conversation with Hermione to see that Severus was standing by the door of the den, waiting to show the party-goers to the dining room.

This has to be torture for Snape, he doesn't like anyone in this room, but hey, if he can put up with me for this long then he can handle a couple of hours with the crew, Harry thought.

Severus led the loud crowd of Gryffindors back to the dining room where the chairs were grabbed from under the table and scattered about the table as people sat down and began to munch on the finger foods that had been set out by the house elves.

When it came time for cake, Harry was more than ready for it, and he watched in awe as the Quidditch player that had been designed on the cake moved and flew after a beautifully golden snitch. It was the nicest birthday cake that Harry had ever had.

A rousing chant of "Cut the cake" soon sprang up around the party-goers and so Harry graciously turned the knife over to Hermione who rolled her eyes but began slicing the cake up into perfect little squares.

The cake went down fast and nearly everyone went back for seconds and had to have a refill on their pumpkin juice. When most of the cake was gone and everyone was lounging in their chair complaining of having eaten too much, the presents seemed to appear in people's hands.

Harry found himself sitting in the floor, resting his back against a chair that he'd abandoned, with a small mountain of presents scattered in front of him. Feeling shy and awkward with everyone watching him, Harry flushed a bit and grabbed the first present.

He thanked Dumbledore for the Auror's mirror, Ron and Hermione for the new set of crystal vials that mixed wicked colors for quill use, Fred and George for their box of tricks and candies, Remus for an entire box of honkeydukes chocolate and butterbeer, and then last he thanked Snape who'd given him a book entitled "Potions for Dummies".

"Thanks again, everyone," Harry said as some of the adults had to leave on official business, leaving behind Ron and Hermione only.

Severus departed from the room as well without a word but Harry knew that his professor was going down to the dungeon, leaving him some time with his friends. Or to escape, he thought with amusement.

"So Harry, what's it really like living here?" Ron was the first to ask as he looked up around the walls and inspected the room more closely.

Harry shrugged. "It's not that bad. The only time Snape and I ever really see each other is at mealtimes." The Gryffindor was sure not to mention the times, since it happened on more than one occasion, when he found himself running to Snape's bed over a storm, a bad dream, and once a livid thought from the Dark Lord which worked its way through Harry's scar.

The redhead nodded but still looked as if living with Snape was his worst nightmare.

"So Harry, have you decided who you're going to pick yet?" Hermione questioned, not being able to leave the subject alone, as was the girl's need to have all of her ducks, and everyone else's, in a row and ready to go when the date arrived.

Harry sighed. "No, I haven't. How am I supposed to find anyone in the amount of time that I was given? It’s a pretty permanent situation."

Hermione nodded. “I’ve been reading up on the magical Mating Ritual. Once you’ve completed the ceremony with someone, there’s no going back. Only death breaks the bond.”

Great, Harry thought with a groan.

Mrs. Weasley poked her head back into the room then. "Okay, Hermione, Ron, times up, we need to be apparating back now."

The two teenagers sighed but got to their feet with Harry and then engaged in a group hug. "We'll see you on the Hogwarts Express, mate,” Ron said.

"Okay." Harry felt a nervous coil tighten in his stomach. The next time he saw his friends he would be bonded to someone. It was a scary thought.

When the two left, Harry was sure that all of the company was gone and he turned to gather up his gifts only to find Remus standing and waiting to talk with him.

"I thought that you'd already left," Harry said, glad that Lupin had remained, with Sirius gone Lupin was like a second godfather to him.

Remus smiled, but it was only a small one and Harry could tell that the man wanted to talk about something serious.

"Harry, I need to talk with you about .. about the bonding." Remus sat down and watched as Harry did as well. "Have you decided who you would like to bond with?" he asked first.

Harry shook his head. "I don't know how I'm supposed to decide when everyone my age is on summer break and I won't see them until I return to Hogwarts."

Remus’s eyes were sympathetic. "Harry, Dumbledore never meant for you to find someone your age...." The werewolf paused at the quizzical look on Harry's face, "..what was intended was for you to want to bond with Snape."

The Gryffindor's jaw dropped. "You’re kidding? But .. but .. he's my PROFESSOR .. and .and .. he's old enough to be .. my FATHER! And ....He's SNAPE for Merlin's sake!" The mere idea of having anything to do with Snape in the bedroom made Harry feel nauseated and appalled.

It was the reaction that Remus had expected. "I know, Harry, I know, but look at it this way, Snape would take care of you, he's already proven that, and he's very powerful, the bond would be something to mark down in history books." Tears flashed in the werewolf's eyes, "I want you to be happy Harry, but I want you safe as well. I've lost James, Lily, and Siri ... I can't lose you, too."

Harry's amazement at Remus' suggestion withered as he came to reality. He couldn't make this choice based on his heart, or emotions, he had to do what was best for the wizarding world. He had to bond with Snape so that he could increase his power, destroy Voldemort, and allow the wizarding world to step out of the fearful shadow that the Dark Lord cast. It was all about the good of the wizarding world. After all, it was his fault that his parents had died, his fault that Sirius had died.... All of it was his fault.

This is all I am good for, Harry thought.

"How do I know that he'll say yes?" Harry questioned slowly, hardly believing that he was even considering the ludicrous idea.

Remus was good at reading someone's eyes, and he'd seen the way Severus watched Harry throughout the party, he didn't think that the man would object after a bit of talking. “You don't, but I am almost positive that he will, even if he doesn't seem warm to the idea at first."

Harry nodded his head, obviously unhappy with the situation. "Fine, I'll talk to him about it and let you know since I'm sure you and Dumbledore will be waiting to hear if your plan of manipulation worked."

The werewolf flinched at the bitterness that he heard in his young friend's voice. "Please don't think of it like that, Harry, we only have your protection in mind, I can't-"

Harry cut Remus off with an upward flick of his hand. "I know I know, you can't lose me, but in truth, the wizarding world can't lose me and that's why you want me to bond with Snape. I told you that I'd ask him about it, but I didn't say that I'd like it. Thanks for coming," Harry muttered as he stood and left the room, leaving Remus sitting in the dining room alone.

~-~

Neither Harry nor Severus were very hungry when dinner time rolled around so Severus requested that the house elves simply make them a salad or something light that they could munch on.

Even something as simple as a salad was making chewing and swallowing difficult for Harry as he was incredibly nervous and trying to think of how he was going to broach the subject of bonding with the person he hated nearly as much as Voldemort himself.

"Um.. Professor Snape..."

Severus' head snapped up, as Harry rarely addressed him as 'Professor Snape' and when he did it usually meant that something was wrong. "What is it now, Potter?" His sigh said it all.

"I need to ask something of you Professor… " deep breath, "Dumbledore has been pressing me to choose someone to complete the Mating Ritual with and .. well ..would you do it?" He nearly choked on the words and as soon as he asked the question he wanted to take it back.

If only Harry had a camera, for the expression on Severus Snape's face was priceless and one of a kind as his mouth dropped open, his eyes grew huge, and he dropped his fork onto his plate.

"YOU WHAT?"

Harry gulped. "I said- "

"I heard what you said!" Severus snapped, his eyes flashing in anger. "Is this some sort of joke Potter? What would make you think that I'd be even remotely interested in bonding with you?" His eyes were narrow slits.

It hurt, very much in fact, to hear Snape’s tone of voice, and Harry cursed himself for listening to Remus. "Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I was told that you were the person Dumbledore was trying to get me to choose. He said to choose someone powerful because that would only increase the power of the bond, therefore, increasing my chances of survival and defeating Voldemort."

Severus opened his mouth to say something and then snapped it shut. He hadn't taken the time to think of it like that. If he bonded with Potter, which would inevitably create a strong and powerful connection, he could offer himself more protection against Voldemort when he was working his double life as a spy.

It was obvious that the wheels were turning in Snape's head as he calculated what he could gain from this complicated situation.

"Okay, Potter, I'll bond with you, but I want you to know that it's for the protection that it will offer me," Snape sneered.

Great, the beginning of a lovely partnership, Harry thought sarcastically.

"Fine, I'll inform Dumbledore," Harry said with a sigh.

The house elves entered the room and took away the salads to replace the plates with treacle fudge instead. The meal continued on as if everything were normal, except for Harry, nothing was normal and never would be again.
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Run to Me