Survival Bonds

Chapter 6: A Truce

"Harry my boy." Dumbledore says lightly. "Severus. How is your first day being bonded." Snape leans come comfortably in the seat.

"The dark lord is furious that he cannot sense Potter any longer. Have you discovered any reason as to why the bond between Potter and his relatives was broken?"

"No. He should have been protected until he reached the age of eighteen, and thus could no longer call that place home." Home. Did I... was the raid my fault. Because I didn't consider that place home. Because my relatives hated me.

"Tomorrow, Potter and I will be venturing back to that muggle home to retrieve his belonging. Knowing that he is not in the area, the other death eaters have given up on that location in favor of searching any other dwelling he could be at. I ask that you relocate Hermione Granger and the Weasley's. The dark lord is not above using them to fish out Potter. He has not yet thought of that, but in time he will. And we cannot trust Potter to stay put if his friends are in danger."

"No. You can't." I say flatly.

"Yes. I will see to that at once. Harry's protection was our primary concern."

"Rest assured, he is safe. Bonded to me, the dark lord will not be able to invade his dreams and search him out." Dumbledore nods.

"Good. Since the two of you will be spending a large quantity of time together, I suggest returning to Occlumency practice, and perhaps dueling as well to sharpen his skills."

The idle chatter continues, and then Dumbledore leaves and I'm left alone with Snape again. Niffy calls us to eat dinner, and this time Snape actually eats a few bites. Not much mind you, but at least I know he does eat sometimes. He excuses himself part way through his bowl and Niffy actually looks pleased that he's eaten at all. I finish my meal and then join Snape in the empty library.

He's playing a game of wizard's chess by himself. He makes his move and boredly watches the opposing side make it's move. I watch a few rounds until Snape checkmates the other side. All of the rubble reforms into the pieces.

"Can I play a game with you." My voice pulls his eyes to me. Why did I say that? I stink at chess.

"If you would like." I take a seat. The white pieces. I move my pawn.

"Do you like chess?" I ask lightly. I'm trying to be civil. If he can be civil, I can be. And it looks like we will be stuck with each other for a while.

"No." He responds curtly. He moves his knight.

"Why play it then?"

"Because life is a game of chess." He doesn't seem to be paying attention to me.

"Ballocks." I move another pawn. "Life isn't a game of chess. That's a very negative outlook."

"No. it's a very realistic one. This entire war. It's simply one king against the other." I watch his fingers elegantly touch the top of one of his rooks.

"I'm not king." I say. He shakes his head slowly. His long hair sways slightly.

"No. You are a pawn. The Dark lord and Albus Dumbledore are in a war with each other. To each of them, their underlings are just pawns."

"I'm not a pawn either." I say agitatedly. This is what I get for trying to be nice.

"You are a pawn. Just, a very useful one. You would be the queen." He lightly touches it and it moves to the place he instructs. "You are the most important pawn. The most powerful. The most threatening."

"Then what are you?" I ask carefully.

"I would be the knight. Not the most important, but certainly the most versatile. Able to go behind enemy lines and simply blend in." He uses his knight to checkmate me. I didn't even see it coming.