I'm A Slave For You-Chp36

I'M A SLAVE FOR YOU

Severus slowly woke up, his head swimming all over like a massive hangover he often experienced whenever he had one too many drinks in those adults' party Lucius often held in his mansion. His eyes slowly adjusting to the light, he looked up and saw the ever familiar Hospital Wing that he visited more times than he should as he helped Madame Poppy Pomfrey with her supplies of medicinal potions whenever they ran out. His body slowly regained its sense of touch and he could feel the soft but firm bed of the infirmary, and then the soft feeling of a small hand clutching his tightly…

"Master!"

Turning around slowly, he saw that it was his long awaited Harry staring back at him with millions of feelings mixed together, all projected in those beautiful sparkling pair of jade-green eyes that first caught his heart in a time when he felt like almost yesterday. Apparently, Harry had been waiting beside him all day and all night and would not leave even though Poppy told him to and ordered him not to look when she treated his wounds. The way Harry looked worriedly at Severus and did not even hurl or look sick when she did her thing on Severus' bloody mutilated arm made her wonder just how much horror this small child at such an age of innocence had seen.

"Harry…" Trying to raise his right arm to touch his beloved to make sure this was not a dream, Severus realized that he couldn't even feel it, let alone move it. Try as he might, it would not budge.

"Don't strain yourself, Severus."

Severus turned to see Poppy giving him a very medi-witch-like authoritative look. He scowled back at her, hating the way she looked at him like she had the right to lord over him or something.

"What is wrong with my arm?"

"Honestly, I cannot imagine why you would risk such a thing, even if it is for this child," Poppy shook his head in disapproval. "Dragons are one of the nastiest things in the world and their bites, scratches and burns are the worst. You've suffered a few minor burns here and there about your body, but nothing burn salve won't heal, but the bite the Norwegian Ridgeback gave you was the worst. Its teeth had literally shattered your bones like glass and damaged your nerves, literally tearing them to shreds. You're lucky to be alive, what with the amount of blood you just lost. Seriously, it is so stupid of you for not going to St. Mungo first to get yourself treated. Always have to be the silent hero and gallivanting around with no regards of your own personal safety whatsoever. What if you died on your way here? What would become of this child if you were gone?"

"I do not need you to tell me the direness of the situation," Severus growled, trying to get up but fell back onto the bed in vain. "No use crying over spilt milk. How long before I'm healed?"

"Well, let's just say it'll need time. Therapy maybe still needed in the future. I had no choice but to destroy your entire arm bone and its nerves because they were damaged beyond repair and I had to feed you Skele-Grow and some nerve-reprocessing solution every hour at the hour. It'll heal eventually, though I can't say how long."

"Does that mean I can get up?"

"Yes, but it's best if you just lie down and rest for the moment."

If it weren't Harry giving him a "Listen to her" look, he would've shouted protests by now. He wasn't the kind that stayed still, and he'd be damned if the Potions Master of Hogwarts famous for being untouchable was lying there in the infirmary, confined on the bed like some sort of invalid.

"Fine," Severus growled. "Where is Dumbledore?"

"He's entertaining a firecall at the moment. He'll be with you shortly," Poppy replied, then patted Harry on the head, smiling, "You can stay here as long as you want, sweetheart. Keep this old bat company and knock a little sense into him, won't you?"

If Severus wasn't as old as he was right now, he would've stuck his tongue out like a scorned little child at Poppy the moment she turned her back at them. He waited for Poppy to leave before he looked around to find his robe lay just right on the side table. He reached over to it and pulled the paper that he got from Jefferson out of his robe pocket and gave it to Harry.

"You are free, Harry. You no longer have to do the things you do with anyone else ever again."

Harry was speechless at first. He took the deed with shaky hands and scanned through the words. He may not yet know how to read the complicated vocabulary, but other words that were simple and that he knew to read was enough to tell him that he no longer have to subjugate himself sexually and that he was finally his own person.

"I'm…I'm free…?" Harry stammered, his heart still in shock and disbelief.

"Yes. I did it, Harry," Severus smiled, confirming his question. "You're free."

Fresh tears of joy sprang out of his jade-green eyes as he hugged Severus immediately, wrapping his tiny arms around the Potions Master's neck but careful not to hurt him.

"I'm free…I'm free…" Harry sobbed, unable to believe his luck. After all sorts of stories he heard in the business about how his colleagues went into withdrawals and committing suicides because their kind masters were not able to succeed in their quest to free them, he was the only one to be able to pull through and triumph. The fact that Severus almost died trying to secure his happiness was more than enough to prove that his love for him was true. He couldn't think of anyway to repay such devoted kindness and undivided love, but the only thing he could think right now—which was the least he could do—was giving all the love he could give and more to compensate Severus' selfless sacrifice.

"Yes, pet," Severus patted his head with his good arm, then realizing the current status they were right now and switched his language, "I mean, Harry. I shouldn't be calling you like I own you anymore."

Harry shook his head, "I like you calling me 'Pet'. Please call me 'Pet'…"

"I…I would love to," Severus replied, surprised that Harry has become much more articulate since the last time he was with him, "but only if Albus allows it…"

"Actually, I would be delighted. It's been a long while since I've seen my grandson-to-be so happy."

The duo turned to see Albus leaning against the door frame of the infirmary entrance, flashing that familiar grandfatherly smile at them before slowly moving towards them. Harry went pink and let go of Severus shyly, while Severus tried to sit up.

"Albus, I thought you wouldn't show up."

"Have to run some important errands as usual. It's not easy being both a member of the Ministry and Headmaster of a school," Albus grinned, then stopped Severus from moving, "No, no, no need to get up. I'm just here to tell you some concerning news."

"What is it?" Severus asked. "Is it about Harry?"

"More or less," Albus nodded and produced last week's newspapers from his robes before passing it to Harry so that he could hold it up for Severus to read. "While you were away, Miss Granger showed me this article."

Harry tilted his head a little to read the headlines along with Severus, pronouncing the words slowly, "T…om Rid…dle es…cape…s a…a…gain…"

Severus, shocked, snatched the papers and read the headlines again just to make sure before his face went dark, "No, this can't be."

"Yes, unfortunately," Albus replied regretfully. "The perpetrator aiding his escape turned out to Peter Pettigrew, an old, very loyal follower of Tom Riddle. We interrogated him under the influence of Veritaserum and found out that somehow he, who had been in hiding since Tom Riddle was first arrested and then arrested again for Harry's parents' assassination to allow arrest attempts on him die down, had let the Aurors arrest him by appearing in the most conspicuous situation ever. And from there, he managed to make one of the Dementors go rouge and help Tom Riddle free him. He has learnt to cover his tracks very well since then and is probably on the loose now, probably even going on his murder rampage again."

"Shit," Severus tried to get up again but was pushed back down lightly by Harry.

"No, no," Harry begged, shaking his head as he used his weight to keep him on bed.

"Harry, I need to be out there," Severus protested, trying to push the boy off.

"Calm down, Severus," Albus said. "We don't know for sure whether or not Tom knows that Harry he thought he killed is still alive. So far, I have been pulling out numerous strings and looking for a loophole in trying to get the Ministry to approve me adopting Harry. Knowing Harry's background as a slave, even if I present them with the contract from the slave manager indicating that Harry is free, they would not budge. Having a slave to be as a legitimate citizen of the wizarding world is a far cry, an outrage even, let alone be adopted in a common wizard family. I was thinking of presenting this as an inarguable excuse to want to adopt Harry. I will need the deed of Harry's freedom to back it up though."

"You're right there, Albus," Severus admitted grudgingly, allowing Harry to pass him the contract. "But I still want to be out there. I need to protect Harry at all cost. Let me assist…"

"No, Severus," Albus stopped him with a firm tone. "Your main priority right now is to rest and recover. I will pick up from here onwards. You've done enough."

"Oh alright," Severus sighed as he sat back, his body giving out on him. "But before you go, I'd like to ask your permission to formally court Harry once you adopt him as a legitimate grandson."

"I wouldn't want it any other way, Severus," Albus grinned happily.

Harry blushed really hard at upon hearing those words coming out of his mouth. Formally court him? As a man would to a woman in pursuit of marriage? When he was with a Muggle-born master and lived in his summer cabin in the Muggle world during the summer where he would occasionally have access to watch his TV whenever he was in a good mood, he had seen the old 60s and 70s movies and medieval movies where the boyfriend would come to the house of the girlfriend and bow at her father to ask permission to date her, and it would always lead to a couple of dramas which often led to a happy ending that involved wedding bells. Was his ex-Master actually trying to hint to him that he would officially marry him? Severus smiled humorously at Harry's reaction and took his hand, kissing the back of the palm like a French gentleman would to a French lady, making the poor boy hide his face with the other, overwhelmed with shyness.

"Why shy now?" He asked, grinning, then whispered for only Harry to hear. "I have seen you do other embarrassing things before."

Harry pouted through his red face, glaring embarrassedly at him and giving him an "It's not funny" look, in which Severus chuckled and laid back, his energy literally drained.

"Stay here, love," Severus whispered before closing his eyes and immediately falling asleep.

Harry turned to look at Albus for approval, in which the old man nodded. The boy quickly climbed up to bed and lay right beside him. Because of his body size, he could squeeze in just right and snuggled close. Albus patted the boy's head for a moment before pocketing Harry's deed of freedom he got from Severus and leaving the Hospital Wing.

"Now, to settle some unfinished business."

--:--

A rap on the door and a string of jangling at the doorbell broke the peaceful silence of the house of the Dursleys, one of Privet Drive's richest residents known to everyone. The Dursleys, namely Vernon, Petunia and Dudley, who were seated merrily at the huge dining room having their supper prepared by their Philippine cook, gave a look of disdain at the unwanted visitors' call.

"Shall I get it, sir?" their personal butler, who was standing at the side waiting hand and foot for the Dursleys, offered.

"Of course you should," Vernon grumbled, obviously upset that his lovely supper of grilled turkey was disturbed. "What do you think I pay you for? If it's some salesman or whatever, just kick him out or something."

"Very well, sir."

The butler, rolling his eyes, made his way to the front door. It has been almost a year that he had worked with the Dursleys and frankly, he felt rather annoyed at his masters and mistress's behaviour. But since he was paid about 50,000 pounds a year, he should not complain.

As evidently seen by the lavish way the Dursleys were living, it was clear that after selling Harry off, they wasted no time in investing the silver coins from the wizarding world in rebuilding their life, investing into the stock market (on Vernon's part, since his previous job involved a little stock-buying), buying expensive clothing and home and furniture to accommodate the life of the rich and famous and enrolling their son Dudley into the best private school money can buy. And, of course, they did not hesitate to employ the hired help from only the finest agencies to suit their wealthy lifestyle, all thanks to 14,000 Sickles that was Harry's worth. In short, it was Harry who had indirectly helped them to get back on their feet, but not once did they believe it to be so.

Opening the door, the butler saw Albus Dumbledore standing in front of him, smiling good-naturedly at him in his wizard robes with designs of stars at the hem, his pointed hat and his half-moon glasses.

"A little early for Halloween, sir?" the butler raised his brow, a little weirded out at the oddity before him.

"I suppose," Albus replied, playing along. "But I'm not here for trick-or-treating. I would like to see the man of the house, please."

"And who should I tell my master has come for him?"

"Just say that an old friend of Harry James Potter has dropped by for a little private discussion."

The butler looked at him, quietly regarding him for a few moments before letting him in and led him to sit in the guest lounge before going off to fetch Vernon. Within 5 minutes, the Dursleys seemed to have abandoned their supper and came hurriedly to meet Albus. Dismissing the butler and closed the door of the guest lounge shut, Vernon shot a dirty look at the old man.

"Who do you think you are, showing up in here in the middle of our supper?" Vernon demanded. "And in that freaky clothes no less. Do you want everyone to know that we are associated a freak like you?"

"Depends on whether they truly view me as a freak or not," Albus grinned, not entirely offended by that remark.

"Well, what do you want? Did that boy sent you or something?"

"Oh, of course not," Albus shook his head, then produced a small stack of papers for them. "I am here to ask of your consent to allow Harry to become my legitimate grandson."

"Why would you need my permission for? That boy has nothing to do with us. You can keep him for all you care."

"Ah, well, regretfully, our Ministry is a little bureaucratic, you see. Red-tape and all, everything having to go into procedure. You know how it is, seeing that you must have occasional dealings with the government. Unless I have a written consent that you say it is alright for you let me take Harry into my family, I cannot persuade them to proceed with the paperwork."

"Humph!" Dudley snorted. "That boy now has a freak for a new grandpa. Figures."

"My, my, such hostility. I'd appreciate it if you were to refer Harry by name."

"That boy is nothing but trouble," Petunia retorted. "It's all his fault that Vernon lost his business and forced us to remain with only the clothes on our backs! He's a freak, just like my sister and the rest of you lot! Good riddance to bad rubbish!"

"And yet it is his 'fault' that you are as wealthy as you are now," Albus pointed, gesturing at the riches about them. "If you had not heartlessly sold Harry, you would never have live in this sort of luxury by now, increasing the body mass to your already obese nature."

"Don't you dare insult me and my family!" Vernon shouted. "That boy had it coming! He should've just stay there in that weird world of his with his freaky friends and not come here at all. He shouldn't have bothered us and should've stayed in some magic orphanage or something as soon as his parents died. He shouldn't have anything to do with us!"

"That's right," Petunia agreed. "I dare say I'm ashamed to have such a nephew ruining our lives and getting us into trouble all the time. Why, when he was barely 2 years old, he caused my poor son to fall from the stairs and almost broke his neck, not to mention letting a flock of ravens fly into our house, causing them to shit everywhere and having us cleaning after him because he thought it was funny to have those trash-eating bird brains as pets. And don't even get me started on how he made my darling Vernon fail one business dinner meeting after another in my home when he's around."

"Is that why you think it is justifiable that he should be treated as a hired help in your house?" Albus' tone was no longer friendly or outgoing, but stern and dour. "Is that why you forbid him from attending school and treat him like some sort of animal that should be seen and not heard? Is that why you caused him to be so anti-social and making him lived the worst childhood of his life? Is that why you sold him like he was some sort of merchandize and threw him into a life of sex-selling?"

"Absolutely," Vernon and Petunia replied without a single remorse in their tone. "Though I don't know anything about him living a life of sex-selling. I doubt his body is even worth a second glance by anyone decent enough to know that."

Albus stared long and hard to each and every one of the Dursley family members with a feeling of contempt that he could not even begin to describe. He was almost glad that he did not bring Severus along with him to talk matters with this family, or else the Potions Master would've cast them the Cruciatus Curse by now regardless the rules stating that the magic folks have to keep their clan as secret as possible. If this was the kind of family Harry used to have, it was almost a blessing that they did what they did, selling him back to the wizarding community. He did not know what grudge Petunia had on her own sister that caused her to participate in her husband and son's heinous acts, and it wouldn't be worth listening to the tale anyway, but he knew that there was no way would he allow an innocent child like Harry who had seen too much in life to be returned to the likes of them.

"Very well, I will not prolong this argument any longer," Albus sighed and produced the letter of consent for the Dursleys. "I just need both you and your wife's signature to allow me to release Harry into my care, and we will not bother you ever again."

"Why should I sign?" Vernon asked cautiously. "For all we know, you might be asking us to sign our death warrant."

"As tempting as it may be, that is not my current intention. Unless, of course, you prefer a joint custody in which you have to take Harry in and look after him for me during summers and certain times when I cannot watch over him…"

"Alright, fine!" Petunia was the first to react upon this statement. "We'll sign it! Just keep that boy away from me! The more I see him, the more he reminds me of his ruthless father and my wretched sister," she snatched the quill off Albus' hand and mumbled while she signed, "Always getting the attention…Always been the apple of Mom and Dad's eye…As if being a regular know-it-all girl genius wasn't enough, she had to be a witch know-it-all girl genius…Like I don't exist anymore…"

After signing it, she passed the quill to her husband and he signed without hesitation. Taking the quill and the contract and pocketing it into his robes, he got up and nodded his head, meaning that his business was done and assuring them that Harry will no longer be associated with them any further and that not to expect anymore visits from him. While the Dursleys sent him off, he decided to rub it in just for the fun of it and to satisfy his loathing for them.

"You know, my sources indicate that your son seemed to have…contributed to Harry's sex-selling," Albus turned knowingly towards the fat boy, "What was that term you used on Harry? A slut?"

"How dare you?!" Petunia exclaimed as she covered the boy's ears. "My son would never associate himself with that boy, let alone utter such vulgarity!"

"Maybe you just don't know him well enough," Albus replied, and left it at that to plant the seed of doubt among the family. Before he left, he sort of let his finger linger at the doorknob for a moment before smiling in his usual way and bowed and tipped his hat before apparating away, leaving the Dursleys curious and suspicious about what he had just did.

That very same night, the butler and three other of the Dursleys' hired help decided to quit and Dudley somehow blurted out his secret 'affair' with Harry out of the blue for no particular reason, and for the next three days, the rest of the hired help began quitting one by one and Vernon has received the dreaded call from the stock market broker regarding his stocks.