Entry tags:

tdoas

FIC: The Death of a Soul ch 7
Title: The Death of a Soul
Author: roedhunt
Pairing(s): HP/SS
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Every choice and decision in Harry’s life has been made by the wizarding world. Now the only thing he has had control over - his freedom - is threatened. Will Harry succumb to this new challenge as he usually does or will he finally stand up and fight? … Because there is only so much a man can take before his soul dies.


Highlight for Warnings: * Non-consensual sex in a forced male/male relationship, first time, hurt/no comfort accepted. HET in chapters One and Two. *
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers …No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Acknowledgements:
To: silentauror, lemonade8, lsr, swanpride, annephoenix, ironhide, and political_poet. Thank you for all of the excellent advice you gave me!
To: magic_helmet. Words can’t say thank you enough for making sure I didn’t stray away from my original plotline! And a huge thank you for the absolutely wonderful icon you made me! *super big huggie*

Chapter Seven


The sky is beautiful today. Not a cloud in sight. The wind actually feels warm when it caresses Harry’s face as he glides through the air with ease. After searching for what seems to be a lifetime, there it is; just in front of him. He leans down level with his broom and speeds up after it. The faster he goes, however, the faster it goes. Harry stretches his body dangerously far over the front of his broom and on any other day he would have fallen off. But not today.

Today he’s still safely on his broom, reaching out to take what he wants. It’s just there, right in front of him. Harry wiggles his fingers trying to touch it. To grab it. But only his fingertips graze it once or twice. He stretches his arm further out and begins to flail frantically in the afternoon air. Suddenly, a gust of wind hits Harry on his side, knocking him off balance. His body rolls over to his right and he finds that he’s now hanging by his fingers. He looks around helplessly but then a wave of relief washes through him when he sees his two best friends and the rest of his classmates cheering in the stands.

Harry opens his mouth and starts yelling to them for help. No one hears him. In fact, he can't even hear himself through the thunder of happy screaming. He searches around him and breathes another sigh of relief when he spots Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Harry shouts at them, but by the look on their faces, they don’t even realise that he’s in trouble. They too are cheering.

The Gryffindor Seeker could feel his grip slipping, so he tightened his fists. It didn’t work however because each time one had a firm grasp, the other to have it slip off. Harry knows he will soon fall. His eyes plead with his mentors and his friends again, but they are unconcerned. They merely laugh at him. Harry closes his eyes briefly but they snap open again when it becomes apparent that his hands are holding on to nothing. Panic hit Harry and his hands claw desperately for something – anything - to hang on to. But there’s only air. Cold, stagnant air.

Harry is falling.

Harry searches for those friendly faces again, but they are still cheering and clapping, watching him as he falls helplessly. His head jerks to the left when he hears one voice call out to him. It’s Draco Malfoy. He’s saying something to Harry but his words doesn’t make any sense. The blond’s face is smug and he’s sitting proudly atop Harry’s beloved broom. But there’s something odd about Malfoy. His pointy chin is becoming even pointier. His back arches up as his arms spread out in front of him. He’s growing hair! Malfoy is actually growing hair! He’s turning into a … wolf! But it’s not a wolf. It’s more like… like… a coyote! A scavenger. Dark eyes, long snout, sharp nails and pointy fangs are now visible. Harry can't look at him anymore. He glances one more time to the people he loves before plunging into the abyss.

‘ No,’ Harry says quietly before yelling, ‘NO!’

“No!”

Harry woke up startled, hearing a loud, stern but familiar voice. His eyes darted around, seeing everything but seeing nothing.

“I’m not telling you again! OUT!”

The young wizard heard quiet words of protest followed by silence. He took a deep breath when he realised that he’s safe and sound in the infirmary.

“And that goes for you as well,” Madam Pomfrey warned. A low grumble. “I know who you are and who he is, but he is my patient and until I give the word, he will have no visitors.”

Another low grumble.

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that,” she hissed. “You’ve done enough damage to that boy. Now not another word! Out!”

Harry smiled. For once her gruffness was music to his ears. He heard the ruffle of fabric fading and another approaching so he quickly lay back down on his side with his eyes closed.

“Sit up and take your medicine, Potter.”

Harry didn’t move.

“I have been hounded for four days now, Potter and I’m in no mood for games. Now sit up.”

Damn she was good. Harry slowly sat up and opened his eyes. Madam Pomfrey was busying herself with bottles that were sitting on the table next to him.

“Do you remember your dream?” she asked.

“What?” Harry asked as he took the bottle that he was handed.

“You had another nightmare. Do you remember it?” she repeated, irritatedly.

Harry blinked a couple of times trying to get a grasp on what she was referring to. Nightmares? Four days?

“N-no.”

He heard her scoff under her breath. “That’s unfortunate. The sooner we learn what your nightmares are about the sooner we can rectify it. Then I can have this place back in order,” she barked softly. “Now drink. It’s only a relaxant.”

Harry watched her as she gathered all the phials on the table and placed them on a tray. He downed the potion in one gulp, making a face at the foul liquid.

“Madam Pomfrey,” asked Harry reluctantly, after swallowing enough spittle to speak. He didn’t want to aggravate her any further.

“What is it, Potter?” she replied, not looking directly at him.

“Umm…”

She spun around and faced him. “Well come on. I haven’t got all day,” she snapped.

Harry lowered his face to try to hide his embarrassment. “Will there be any… internal damage?” Gods, he couldn’t believe he just asked her that!

Madam Pomfrey gave Harry the most peculiar expression. Bringing her attention back to the potions, she said, “No of course not. Lucky for you those imbeciles only used a mild Stunning Spell. But five at once...?” she tsked, shaking her head.

Harry kept his eyes focused on his lap and swallowed hard. “I meant after. You know…. afterwards.”

The older witch slowly turned her head towards him. She gazed at him for a few moments before nodding, as she finally understood what he was talking about.

“No, Potter. There will be no injury to any parts of your body if it’s done properly,” said Pomfrey in a type of tone that would be used to scold a child.

Harry sighed and nodded once. He drew his legs up to his chest and held onto them tight. He could feel her eyes boring into him.

“Has no one discussed this with you?” she asked sharply.

Harry only shook his head.

“Well that doesn’t surprise me at all.” She picked up the loaded tray and started walking away. “I’m not the correct person you should be talking to. I will send for someone more qualified.”

“NO!”

Madam Pomfrey spun around. Her mouth was hanging open and her light blue eyes were now dark. It almost appeared that for the first time ever she was speechless.

The boy furrowed his brows and blushed with guilt. “Sorry.”

To his surprise, she only grunted in her throat as a reply and then quickly left. He felt so stupid asking her, but he thought she would’ve been medically qualified. He sighed, knowing that wasn’t the real question – and she knew it as well. Harry rested his head on his knees and hugged his legs tight hoping to block out the world. He remained like that for quite a while. The potion must have worked fast because in no time at all he was asleep.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


If Harry had another dream, he didn’t remember it or it wasn’t that important. He tilted his head side to side trying to stretch out the kink in his neck. Apparently his head had rolled on its side and stayed that way.

“Are you all right, Potter?” came an emotionless baritone voice.

Harry jumped and scrambled backwards, forgetting about his neck.

“What are you doing here? Get out!”

Snape didn’t flinch. “I came to see if you are well.”

“Bollocks! What do you want? Why are you really here?” Harry spat as he covered himself with the sheets, pulling them to his shoulders.

Snape still seemed unaffected by his reaction. “I came to bring you this,” he said simply. He placed a thin roll of parchment at the end of the bed. “I suggest you fully read it. Any questions you might have had will be answered in there.” He turned to leave. “If anything is still unclear, contact me and I will explain further.”

He took three steps and felt a soft thud hit his back and looked down behind him. The contract was lying at his feet. Snape sighed and bent over to pick it up. His calm eyes rested on a pair of hateful green ones.

“Potter, it is necessary that you read this,” Snape said.

“And if I don’t?” challenged Harry with more venom in his voice then he thought was possible.

“It isn’t a matter of do or don’t. You need to.”

Not waiting for a retort, Snape placed the parchment back on the bed and disappeared.

“I need to,” Harry mocked. He stared at the paper and scowled. “I need to,” he bitterly repeated.

Harry reached over and grabbed it then tried to rip it in two. It only crinkled. It was clear that it was indestructible. “Figures,” he muttered.

He unrolled it and the seal crumbled into tiny pieces. Harry took pleasure in that small triumph. He straightened his glasses and began reading it through narrowed eyes.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

MARRIAGE of CONVENIENCE AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT, made this twenty-first day of February in the year 1999 is between Severus Snape and Harry James Potter.

1. PURPOSE The rights regarding spousal support or maintenance

a. Protection of each from dangers, harm, reproach, contempt.
b. Equal rights in making decisions in the life of their family such as the right for fatherhood.
c. Equal division of duties and both choose the place of their residence.
d. Forbids either spouse to be emotionally, mentally, or physically abusive.
e. Neither be a source of arguing, deception, trickery, tyranny, humiliation, and abuse.
f. Mutual right for personal freedom and time alone.
g. Speak respectfully in absence and in presence to advance each other's good reputation.

2. AGREEMENT

a. Both shall be entitled to respect, understanding, and should overlook many faults, whether they are wise or foolish, intelligent or slow, skillful or clumsy, beautiful or ugly, rich or poor, submissive or rebellious respect.
b. Patience with each other and sympathize if any problems or troubles should arise.
c. In times of anger or disagreements, try not to speak critically to and of the other one nor use disrespectful words or tone, but speak honestly to one another.
d. Never discuss with others things about your marriage that your spouse wouldn't like you to discuss.

3. THE DUTIES OF MARRIAGE REQUIRE LIVING TOGETHER

a. Maintaining regular but moderate marital sex.
b. The equal right for sexual gratification and must not be characterized by selfishness.
c. Forced or psychic influence to have sexual relationship is entrenchment on a right of a spouse for personal freedom and can have consequences in accordance with law.

4. STAYING FAITHFUL TO EACH OTHER

a. Marital sex is designed to remedy impure affections, not excite them.
b. Information about your intimate relations should be kept between you and your spouse.
c. Faithfulness also involves keeping each other's secrets. These must not be disclosed.
d. No sexual activities outside the marriage will be permissible unless otherwise discussed.

5. EFFECT OF
Each of the parties shall separately retain all rights in the property he or she now owns.

6. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Each party acknowledges an opportunity to inquire further as to the financial information provided by the other, and each party specifically waives any right to any further disclosure of the property and financial obligations of the other beyond that provided by the exhibits to this Agreement.

7. BINDING ON SUCCESSORS
Each and every provision hereof shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the heirs, assigns, personal representatives, and all successors in the interest of the parties.

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Each party acknowledges that he or she has had an adequate opportunity to read and study this Agreement. Each party acknowledges that he or she has examined the Agreement before signing it, and has been advised by independent legal counsel concerning the rights, liabilities and implications of this document.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Harry couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t even think. He sat still on the bed just staring at the parchment. It was real. This whole thing was real. And now he could feel all the deep-seated emotions that he had hidden rising up to the surface. Harry blinked once and his eyes sharpened quickly as a dark spot appeared on the paper below him. Then another. He reached up to his face and felt just under his glasses, which had slightly slid down. He was crying. Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived, was crying.

Harry let the parchment slip from his fingers and removed his glasses. He wiped his eyes several times but the tears kept falling.

‘This is it,’ Harry thought. ‘The life I had and the future I wanted is now gone.’

He curled up on his side hugging a pillow and the parchment fluttered to the floor. This time, Harry didn’t stop the tears from flowing. He just let them come.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Harry tossed and turned, trying to untangle himself from the duvet that surrounded his body. He pushed and pulled but couldn’t break free. He opened his mouth and screamed but he heard his own voice wailing. Not screaming. Wailing. He looked left, right and at his feet. He was boxed in. Was he in a coffin? Harry panicked. His wails became louder. His cries caught silent in his throat as four friendly faces looked down at him. Four large faces. Professor McGonagall, Headmaster Dumbledore, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Their faces weren’t exactly friendly, they were more like – compassionate. And he wasn’t in a coffin. He was in a cradle! And at the foot of it stood Professor Snape.

They all bent over and whispered to him, using soft velvety tones. Harry began to scream again. He tried to yell for them to stop it. To stop coddling him. But again his words were only babbles and they weren’t even listening to him. Not that they could understand him anyway. But surely they knew. They knew, didn’t they?

Ron and Hermione were pushed away, out of Harry’s vision, and a blond boy stood in their place. Draco Malfoy. He smirked down at Harry and then crossed his arms.

“Stop crying like a baby, Potter and accept your responsibilities.”

With all his might, Harry sat up, ready to strangle the smug boy.

“Lie back down, Harry. You need to relax.”

Dark hateful green eyes shot over to a pair of onyx one. Severus Snape.

“You had another nightmare, Harry. Can you remember it?”

Harry’s eyes flashed to Albus Dumbledore. He was there as well, along with Hermione and Ron. Harry frantically searched the room for Draco Malfoy.

“Who are you looking for, Harry?” Hermione asked in a soft voice.

Seeing that the blond was not in the room, “No one,” he scoffed.

He narrowed his eyes and watched each of their expressions, trying to decide which one had told him to stop crying. His hand flew up to his face but there were no sign of tears.

“Get out,” Harry said in a low voice.

None of them moved but all opened their mouth to begin speaking.

“GET! OUT!” he screamed. He was happy to hear that he had his voice back.

Instantly, Madam Pomfrey arrived and motioned the four of them to leave. They each protested but the angry mediwitch won. After closing and sealing the door, she walked back over to Harry.

“What was your dream about, Mr. Potter?” she asked sternly.

Harry looked away. “Nothing.”

“What was your dream about?”

“Nothing!” he snapped.

This time he wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed for yelling at her. He was tired of people acting like they cared about him. His dreams were his - the one thing he had that was still his. Madam Pomfrey kept her cool and remained there, apparently awaiting an answer.

“I’m fine,” Harry said firmly. She raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m fine! I want to just get this over with.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Harry held onto the peacock quill tightly. His hand was shaking as it hovered inches above the contract. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He expected someone to say something about his hesitation but there was only silence.

“What if I refuse? Will there be another hearing or will you use the Imperio Curse on me?” he whispered, still hanging onto a way out of this.

There was a deafening pause. Then a frustrated sigh.

“Mr. Potter,” Cornelius Fudge began. “We didn’t want this to come that.” Another sigh. “If you refuse, you will be stripped of your magic, Obliviated and returned to the Muggle world with a small portion of your heritance.”

Harry knew as well as they did that death was no longer an option. But losing his power, his magic? Everything that made him different? But most important: Losing the sacred memory of his true love. Although he had swore to himself to forget all about Ginny - he couldn’t. He just couldn’t. Ginny had been the first and only one who had loved him unconditionally.

They had deprived him of the aspects of a loving and happy future, but he wouldn’t let them take away the memory of her love for him and his for her.

So, Harry nodded and signed his name as a fresh tear dropped onto his hand.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter Eight


PREVIOUS CHAPTERS:
1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6