Survival Bonds

Chapter 22: My Husband

"Harry, my boy. That isn't something you have authority to decide." I force my back to remain straight and upright. Choking down any weakness, I repeat myself.

"He will not be returning as a spy." The headmaster shakes his head.

"I understand that you are concerned for him, but right now the light needs him to gather as much information on the movement of death eaters."

"He isn't even accomplishing that though." I say as confidently as I can. "He hasn't gotten any new information since the raid on my relative's home. That hasn't changed the fact that he's been summoned nearly a dozen times. You have to know what goes on at those meetings." He already knows.

Albus Dumbledore exhales tiredly and takes a seat behind his desk.

"Yes Harry, I do know what he must go through in order to give our side the edge to win. My boy, I need you to understand that should Tom Riddle succeed, your concern over Severus will be a moot point. In times of war, we must all make sacrifices. I myself was prepared to die for the greater good, and unfortunately, I expect the same from Severus. Rest assured. He knows what I am asking from him and he did agree to become my spy. There are many things you do not know. He was not always loyal to the light. He himself agreed to become my spy and to any harm that goes with that."

"I didn't agree." I say and he tilts his head slightly. "I did not agree for him to become a spy, and he's my husband." The word feels strange on my lips. But to a certain degree, that's what he is.

"I'm afraid that Severus will continue to act as a spy."

"No. He will not."

"Harry. You are not in my position. You do not understand the potential outcomes of this war. You are still a child."

"A child that you instructed to rape his teacher." He pauses. "You deceived me. You knew that my uncle had molested me and you knew that Severus has been raped before. You knew all of that and you still instructed me to hurt him. We trusted you."

"It was the only way to ensure your safety. He knew that. He agreed."

"Because he had too! Well, now rather he likes it or not, he's stuck with me. We are soul bonded, and I do not want my 'husband' to be raped again. He will not return!"

"I'm afraid my boy, that he must."

"Then I will go to the daily prophet." The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

"Harry."

"That's what I'll do. And I know that Severus may hate me for it, but I will go to the daily prophet and I will confess that he and I are soul bonded. I'll out him for the spy that he is, and I will clear his name of the charge that he 'attempted to kill you'. I don't care if he ends up hating me." Of course I care. The thought manages to make my chest feel like it's being stabbed. "I would rather him hate me then continue being hurt the way he is now." It's difficult to reign in my emotional state.

"Are you aware of how greatly that would put him in danger. Riddle would be intent of killing him."

"If Severus stops attending the death eater meetings, then Voldemort will already desire to kill him. I know you and Severus think that I'm impulsive, but I have thought this over. You need a potions professor for the upcoming term, and I need to know that Severus is safe. If you refuse to rehire him, then I will still out him as a spy because I know he will continue putting himself in harm unless he knows going to that man would mean death. He isn't an idiot. If you refuse to rehire him, then I will not be attending Hogwarts this term. Severus and I will find a safe place to hide. Just us." And the elves, but I will not bring their existence up right now.