At five am on July 31, 1996, Harry Potter woke up with the most excruciating pain he had ever experienced in his life. It was far worse than the cruciatus and that was saying something. He rolled over on his bed, hoping the pain would go away. It didn’t. Harry moaned feebly and briefly wondered what he should do. The pain felt like it was in every single cell in his body, flaming, burning. Harry didn’t think it could possibly be a Muggle illness. He would have to contact the headmaster. But how? He looked around for Hedwig before remembering that he had sent her off very early that morning with a note for Ron. He remembered the pain he had felt in his heart when he received no gifts the previous night.

Flashback

Harry sat on his bed, staring at the clock, waiting for midnight. 11:59, 12- there, he was sixteen today! He looked at the window expectantly. Sure enough, Hedwig flew in moments later with a… single piece of parchment. What…? He looked over her head at the window, expecting to see Pig or Errol, but neither owl was forthcoming. Harry pulled the parchment off his owl’s leg and read the extremely short note in disbelief.

We’ll see you soon.

R and H

That was it. Not even a “happy birthday”! Harry was hurt and angry. They must have forgotten! He scribbled out a terse note to Ron:

Thanks for nothing!

He didn’t sign the parchment but tied it to Hedwig’s leg. “Off with you now,” he told her, pushing her roughly towards the window. She looked at him indignantly but flew out the open window nonetheless.

End Flashback

Since he couldn’t send an owl for help, he would have to go to the next best source- Mrs. Figg. ‘The woman might be a squib,’ he thought, ‘but she’ll have a fireplace where I can Floo Dumbledore.’

Knowing it was still early and not wanting to wake his eccentric neighbor, Harry tried to ignore the pain. Suddenly a renewed burst of fire convinced him not to wait any longer. Quickly changing into Muggle clothes, Harry left #4 for Mrs. Figg’s house. He ran all the way and was at the older woman’s house in minutes. ‘Great!’ he thought furiously. ‘Now I have an aching pain in my side on top of this… awful pain everywhere else in my body!’

He rang Mrs. Figg’s doorbell twice- the pain was nearly unbearable. He waited two minutes before he thought he would scream in frustration. ‘She isn’t home!’ he thought, somewhat angrily. ‘What am I supposed to do now?’ He tried the knob, not really expecting it to turn. He was very surprised, therefore, when it did. He didn’t even think about how upset Mrs. Figg would be if she knew he was breaking and entering- he would apologize to her later.

He raced to the fireplace and grabbed some Floo powder. He threw it in the fireplace and said, “Hospital Wing, Hogwarts” and stepped into the emerald green flames. He instantly felt the uncomfortable sensation that was Flooing before he tumbled out into the just brightening hospital wing. The pain had lessened a tiny fraction but it was still raging through his body. It seemed to be…pulling…him down the stairs. So, without waiting for Madam Pomfrey to help him, he headed down several flights of stairs. He ran until he was in the dungeons, in front of an unfamiliar black door.

The pain that was pulsing through him distracted him so much that he didn’t even consider who lived behind this door. He knocked on the door loudly and had to wait only a moment before he heard footsteps on the other side. The door flew open and Harry launched himself inside without looking to see who had opened the door. He immediately breathed a sigh of relief- the pain had ceased!

‘Why did it stop? That is so odd…’ he thought, confused. Just then he realized that he had heard Snape sigh loudly too. ‘What…?’ he wondered briefly. “Y…you felt it too?” Harry asked questioningly.

“Yes,” the older man snapped. “What on earth did you do to me?” he asked grouchily.

Harry squeaked. “Me? I didn’t do anything to you,” he snapped indignantly. “I woke up at 5 o’clock on my birthday with this awful pain and obviously you did too. It must be some sort of new torture…” Harry’s voice trailed off, his mind thinking over the possibilities.

Snape sneered at him. “Well don’t just stand there. We need to go see the headmaster to find out what the matter is. You head on up and I will be there in a moment after I get dressed.”

Harry nodded at the other wizard and headed back out the door. He hadn’t gone ten feet before the searing pain returned. ‘What’s going on?’ he wondered. He moaned softly. The pain was intense. He moved back towards the door, thinking maybe the answer was his proximity to Snape. The pain lessened the closer he got to the door. “What on earth!” he muttered. He knocked on the door again, needing for the pain to go away again.

Shortly thereafter the door opened again, admitting a fully dressed Severus Snape. “It is obvious,” he snapped, “that you have to be…close…to me for this blasted pain to leave. So on we go then.”

Both breathed a sigh of relief as the closer proximity brought complete relief from the ravaging agony. The two wizards headed up the stairs to Dumbledore’s office. When they got to the gargoyle, Snape said the password, “Skiving snackboxes.” Harry chortled, thinking of Fred and George Weasley and their funny inventions. He remembered fondly how the two had escaped the clutches of that awful Umbridge woman last term.

The two men rode the revolving staircase up into the headmaster’s office. As soon as the steps stopped moving, they headed towards Dumbledore’s desk, where the older man was surrounded by stacks of parchment. He looked up from whatever he was working on and a huge smile creased his wrinkled face. His eyes twinkled merrily as he exclaimed, “Ah my boys! What do I owe the pleasure of this visit? And Harry, why are you not still at your aunt and uncle’s house?”

Severus merely nodded at the old man while Harry said, “Hello Headmaster. We are here because, well…” Harry’s voice trailed off. He wasn’t quite sure how to describe the situation he found himself in.

Severus looked at Harry in exasperation before beginning his explanation. “We are here because we share a similar dilemma. We both woke at dawn this morning to a rather… shall we say… immense pain throughout our bodies. I was about to come up and inquire about said pain when this…child,” he spat, “came launching himself through my door. When he did so, the pain ceased.”

Albus looked shocked for a millisecond before his normally twinkling gaze resumed. He steepled his hands under his chin and looked thoughtful. “Hmm…Well, this is a rather interesting development. How did you get here, Harry?” he asked calmly.

Harry looked a bit sheepish. “Flooed through Mrs. Figg’s fireplace.”

Albus nodded sagely. “Good thinking. Tell me about this pain,” he questioned, looking at Harry.

Harry shuddered in remembrance. “Easily ten times worse than the cruciatus. I don’t know what would have happened if it hadn’t stopped when I entered Professor Snape’s rooms, though.” Harry paused, thinking. “It’s funny, but I almost felt… pulled to his rooms,” he finished, pointing at Severus.

Albus looked surprised at this. Suddenly the twinkle in his eyes brightened.

Severus’ gaze narrowed and he stared at the headmaster suspiciously. “What is it?” he growled.

The old man just smiled brighter. “I think,” he said in an amused voice, “that you two have been bonded somehow.” His words ceased as two cries of “What?!” echoed through the office. He continued his speech as though nothing had interrupted. “Yes, indeed. It must have been spelled to begin at dawn on Harry’s sixteenth birthday. Happy birthday, by the way,” he added to Harry.

Harry beamed at him. “Thank you sir. But,” his look changed to one of confusion, “who would have bonded the professor and I? And why?”

The twinkle in Albus’ eyes dimmed a little. “I’m not sure of the who or the why right now, Harry. Perhaps Voldemort, though I couldn’t begin to guess at his reasoning. Perhaps to get you, since you will not be able to be apart from Severus without causing both of you pain. So if he called Severus, Severus would have to bring you along and he could kill one or both of you. How he knew this more than 16 years ago, though, I have no idea.”

The two “bondees” were stunned. “That makes sense,” Severus muttered. He heaved a great sigh. “I suppose this means my spying is over,” he grumbled, already knowing the answer.

Albus looked troubled at the thought of losing his only spy. “Yes, dear boy, I am afraid it is. Unless Harry went under the invisibility cloak…” The words trailed off and Severus looked at the older man angrily.

“Are you crazy? No way. No, he is not going to a meeting and that is final! I do not want him to see what happens.” The last of his words were whispered and Harry had to strain to hear them.

Harry was beginning to see his professor in a new light. He knew that spying was an extremely dangerous job and very important. He stared at Snape for a moment, trying to figure the man out. What a hard life he must live! Having to constantly watch his back, always worried he might slip up… It couldn’t be easy to do. He put a hand on his teacher’s knee and spoke quietly. “Thank you for what you have done all these years, Professor.”

Severus nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt the hand on his knee. He was not accustomed to being touched, especially in a caring way. He couldn’t believe the words that had just come out of the brat’s mouth. ‘He’s thanking me?’ he thought incredulously. ‘No one ever thanked me for spying. Ever. Hmm… Maybe there is more to Harry Potter than meets the eye.’ He shook his head to dispel the strange and slightly disturbing thoughts. To cover up his discomfort at the touch, he abruptly stood up and snarled at Harry, “Kindly cease from touching me, Mr. Potter. Now if that is all, Albus?”

The Headmaster looked at the two of them and nodded briefly. “For now. We will need to get together later to discuss this in greater detail. I am afraid, Severus,” he went on, “that Harry will have to spend his evenings in your rooms, at least until we can figure out if this bond can be blocked.” He eagerly awaited the younger man’s response. It was sure to be a doozy. To his disappointment, however, Severus merely nodded, resigned to his fate.

“Fine,” the potion’s master growled. “Good day,” he said, nodding to the two remaining wizards before he swept out of the room.

“Fine,” the potion’s master growled. “Good day,” he said, nodding to the two remaining wizards before he swept out of the room.

Albus and Harry stared at each other for a moment before Albus broke the silence.

“So my boy, what do you want to do for your birthday?”

Harry looked at the older man in surprise. He hadn’t been expecting to do anything.

“Well I-”

Before Harry could say another word, a now- familiar blinding pain raced through his body. He grimaced at the headmaster before grinding out, “Gotta go.” With that, Harry raced- well, more like hobbled quickly- out the door and down the revolving staircase.

After Harry left, Albus sat still for a moment with a thoughtful look on his face. He reached over to pet Fawkes’ head.

“Well,” he said to the beautiful phoenix, “my plan is working out nicely.”

Fawkes cocked his head and looked questioningly at his human.

“Yes, yes, I did indeed initiate this bond for the sake of my boys.”

The bird gave a look that would have been a scoff if he was a human.

Albus continued. “I mean it, Fawkes. Those two have to learn how to get along. They are always at each other’s throats. Only if they cooperate will they be able to defeat Voldemort- together. And how better to learn how to get along that to be stuck within ten feet of one another.”

The slightly barmy headmaster laughed in delight.

“This should be interesting,” he stated before he again focused on the parchments in front of him.

**********

Harry found Severus in the Great Hall eating breakfast. As if on cue, Harry’s stomach growled loudly. He sat down at the closest chair to the head table and both men heaved a sigh of relief.

“’Bout time you got here,” Severus grumbled.

Harry blushed a little. “Sorry sir. I was talking to the headmaster about something and just… forgot. I will remember from now on.”

Severus gazed at him in contempt. “See that you do. As a result of this unfortunate… affliction… you will come with me to my lab after we finish eating. In spite of your abysmal performance in my class, I am sure you can manage some simple cleaning or chopping while I make potions for Pomfrey.”

Harry nodded in resignation. He should have known that being- linked- to a potion’s professor wouldn’t be any better than living at the Dursley’s. He would be treated like a house elf here too. ‘Why can’t I ever have a normal summer?’ he wondered grumpily. He sighed inwardly before he responded to his teacher, “Yes sir.”

Food arrived in front of Harry moments later and he began to eat, thinking that out of all his past birthdays, this was the best yet, mainly because of the fact that he was back at Hogwarts. ‘Maybe I could ask Dumbledore if Ron and Hermione could come visit,’ he thought. ‘Oh right. I’m still mad at them for forgetting my birthday. Well, it would still be nice to see them. I’m sure it will be really boring here if I see no one other than Snape.’ He groaned inwardly at the thought. A whole month being within ten feet of Snape! ‘What did I do to deserve this!’

Too soon for Harry’s liking, Snape’s voice intruded on his depressing thoughts.

“Potter! We’re leaving, now. Come on, hurry up. I don’t have all day waiting for your lazy butt.”

‘I am not lazy,’ was Harry’s only thought as he reluctantly stood up and followed the grouchy man out of the Great Hall and headed for the dungeons.