Blood Bonds

Chp 3: Operation Get Harry Into The Snake Hole

     Severus stared moodily into the fire in his rooms. He was tired of being a pawn. Tired of serving two masters; of balancing on a knife’s edge; caught between the light and the dark. Albus Dumbledore; leader of the Light demanded that Severus pay time and time again for a stupid mistake made when he was young and impetuous: allowing himself to be seduced to the Dark side by the promise of power. It was a reckless decision, one that he regretted quickly, but too late to walk away. Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. As for the flip side of the coin: Voldemort, the Dark Lord, demanded that he uphold vows made to a madman and his insane vision. And now his mate would rule him. He’d always assumed that at least if he found his mate, he’d have the power there. Something in this world that he could control; rather than controlling him. How the fates loved to kick him when he was down. A manipulative Headmaster, a psychotic Dark Lord and now a seventeen year old mate. Too many puppet masters pulling his strings. How many men could one man call master? How many tunes could he dance to at once? Something had to give, and Severus feared it would be him.

     His thoughts spiraled downwards as he became more and more depressed. He started rocking slightly back and forth in his chair, his despair overwhelming him. In the depths of his anguish, he grasped on the one bright light he could see in it all: he did have control over something. He could choose not to continue. It would be so simple…a single sip of potion and then peace. Beautiful, silent peace, where no one could ever rule him again… Unknowingly in his distress, his mind reached out, seeking solace. The torment vibrating along the bond was enough to awaken his mate, who, for the second time that night, snapped awake to find himself hovering above his newly transfigured bed, wings, teeth and talons extended to protect his mate from whatever was causing him such agony.

     “Stop. Severus Salazar Snape, you will cease these thoughts at once. I will not allow any to hurt my mate, including yourself. As for Dumbledore and Voldemort, are you a Hufflepuff or a Slytherin? Do not tell me that my mate: Severus Salazar Snape; the most feared teacher in all of Hogwarts; the most respected potions master in all of Europe; vampire; spy and Slytherin, can not conceive of a plan to weaken their hold on himself? You, my dear a’ashi, are everything I could ever have wanted in a mate. You are strong, you are devastatingly intelligent, you are sneaky; cunning and sly. And now, you have my full support and protection. Together, we will sever the chains that tie you to the others. None but me will ever hold sway over your life again. And I promise you that you will willingly submit to me; from love, rather than fear. We will be happy, my mate.”

     Severus started at hearing the voice of his mate echoing in his head. A curious feeling welled inside him as he listened to the words. He felt…cherished? Protected? Loved? Hopeful? Things that he hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever. It was slightly disturbing to the mistrustful older vampire. “Love is a fool’s fantasy, dreamed up by the weak to enslave the strong. I have enough masters, I neither want nor need another. My sole desire is to be Master of my own destiny, and the rest of you can burn in the pits of Hades for all I care. I will never submit to a child.” Severus spat the words aloud as in his head, fury and fear warring within him.

     “Ah…Severus Salazar Snape. Such passion is within you. Perhaps the hat chose wrongly with you, for surely such short-sighted sentiments could only come from a Gryffindor."

     The potions master choked at the words. The arrogant brat dared? First a Hufflepuff, now a Gryffindor? “How dare you! I am a Slytherin, body, mind and magic! …”

     The voice of the other interrupted him mid-rant. “Then prove it! Be the man I know you are, and stop this self-pity. I will not lose you now Severus Salazar Snape, you are mine, whether you like it or not. Talk with me. Together we will find a solution to our problems.”