Note: This story contains pretty descriptive sex scenes involving two men. Don't like? Don't read. Constructive reviews are very much appreciated 

Summary: Harry's' world is a changed place; Voldemorts' regime is renewing old customs – including arranged marriages. What will it be like to be Snapes' husband?

Chapter 1 – Sealing His Fate

Harry sat in disbelief. In all the battles he had fought, his choices had always been clear; there was the choice he would never make: give in, give up. And there was the right choice, the one which meant running or fighting for your life.

Being faced with a battle with no easy solution or path was something he was not familiar with. With a sigh he lifted to face his old headmaster. The once regal old man now sat somewhat broken before him. His grey eyes regarded the young man coolly, weighing his words.

"I have long said that I trust Professor Snape, Harry. This has not changed. We are faced with a law that will change the rest of your life. You must consider carefully your options. This law states any person of age is to be married; the arrangements to be made by family or in the case of orphans, the ministry.

With Voldermorts influence within the Ministry, the next decree will state that only parents or the Ministry may marry the young off. Combined with the pure wizard only marriage law this ensures him a lot of control over the future of our populace. He is of course trying to breed out muggles and mudbloods.

Once his pawns have passed this law Harry, he can effectively have you married of to whomever he likes. Any one of his loyal deatheaters will bring you straight to him. And you are magically bound to serve your husband in the bonds of marriage. We must be one step ahead of his plan and marry you off before he has the chance to pass this law change."

"I get that, but why Snape? Why not someone else?" he asked hopelessly.

"Voldemort will assume I have arranged the marriage falsely trusting Snape, and effectively putting you into his hands. With you under Snapes control you will no longer be a threat to him. I am hoping this will buy us some time."

"And if Voldemort demands that Snape hand me over?"

"Then Professor Snape will have no choice but to show where his true loyalties lie. But we have reason to believe he wants to control you, not kill you, at this point."

"Well that's comforting."

Albus laughed, a somewhat hollow, hopeless sound.

"I believe this would be in your best interests, Harry. But I wont make this choice for you. Go sleep on it for tonight, ill need your answer by morning. We cannot delay any longer."

Harry did his best to sleep on it, but that (unsurprisingly) eluded him this night. He wriggled and sighed for hours in his bunk, earning a few cushions thrown from various other Gryffindors who were trying to sleep.

Its all right for you, he thought furiously, I don't see you having to make this kind of decision!

But as the light grew outside and the birds began to sign he had to face facts; he really didn't have much of a choice. Snape may be horrible but he was certainly preferable to certain death. Having reached this conclusion he didn't want to wait any longer. He wanted it done.

Throwing off the covers he dressed and left the dorm, making his way up to the headmasters office. "Lollipop" He growled in annoyance at the waiting statue then climbed the stairs.

"Come in, Harry." Dumbledore's voice floated through the door has he was about to knock.

He obeyed and opened the door to find a group of people clearly discussing the same topic that was on his mind; Snape skulked in the corner, Remus sat with his head in his hands and Molly and Arthur Weasley sat unhappily gripping floral teacups.

He blushed deeply and took an unoccupied seat, staring fixedly at the floor.

"What has been your decision Harry?"

"Well um… I don't really think I have much of a choice, do I?"

"This stinks." Remus snarled. Harry silently agreed with him but kept his eyes glued to the floor.

"Well then, I see no point in delaying the matter. I have sent a letter to the department of marriage, an official will be arriving shortly."

Harry felt a cold burst of anger explode in his chest "You were going to do this anyway, whether I said yes or not, weren't you?!"

"No Harry, I just had a hunch that I knew your decision. That is all. And my hunches, as you know, are usually pretty close to the mark." The old pride flickered in the headmasters eyes briefly under his mask of unhappiness, and Harry felt sorry for his quickness to anger.

A quiet knock at the door produced professor McGonagall and a well dressed official that would be overseeing the "marriage".

"I have all the paperwork here Albus, you are lucky you are doing this so quickly; just as I left the office I heard an order for a marriage proposal between the young Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter. I'll need to go into hiding after doing this I think… but I'm sure I can get your assistance with that Albus?"

"Of course Udro, I am very appreciative you could arrange this so quickly. The Order do its best to assist you in disappearing discreetly." Dumbledore inclined his head politely.

"Well then, here are the scrolls. The Dursleys have already signed their permission as Harry's legal Guardians, on the proviso that they will no longer be responsible for him. Actually, they were quite pleased when I explained to them that Mr. Snape would now be taking care of Mr. Potter." Udro finished apologetically.

Harry chuckled; that was the Dursleys alright. Snape looked up, his expression unreadable. Dumbledore studied the papers;

"Harry if you would sign here… and Severus here… lovely, and Udro as the official witness…. There we go. And now just the incantation I think, Udro?"

"Yes indeed Albus. If you would both stand here with your right hand on your partners heart…" Harry's' knees shook and he felt ready to vomit; he dared not look at Snape. A low droning incantation began which caused Harry's' head to feel briefly light. He became suddenly very aware of the man standing in front of him, and the heart beating under his fingers, there was a strange ache starting in his abdomen.

"I now pronounce you husband and husband." Udro finished quickly.

Harry lowered his palm quickly and sat down in the nearest seat, the ache dissipating as he got away from Snape. There was some quiet talking amongst the people in the room, hugs from Molly, Arthur and Remus, a wish of luck from professor McGonagall and Udro, and finally it grew quiet.

"Come Harry, I will take you to your new room." Snape said quietly, the usual malice strangely absent.

He called me Harry. The boy mused. I wonder if that marriage spell did something to his head? He chuckled quietly at the random thought.

"Cola." Snape muttered to the door in the dungeon. It was a nice door really, with moving snakes coiling around the hinges and knob. A few of them winked and hissed at him. "Welcome to your new home at Hogwarts."

Again Snapes' voice lacked venom, this was a good start. "Thank you." He said, somewhat cautiously. Stepping in to inspect the place he found it was small but cozy; brick walls, a merry fire blazing in the hearth, a squishy couch and small table. There was a potions work bench and large bookcase, and two doors leading to a reasonably sized bathroom and bedroom.

"Where shall I put my trunk?" He asked, removing the shrunk item from his robe pocket.

"In the bedroom here. I've cleared a space for your robes to hang here; and you can use the small dresser on this side of the bed. I prefer to sleep on the right."

"Um… okay thank you." He tidied away his things will Snape busied himself clearing a space on the bookshelf and bench.

"You may put your books and scrolls here. A little organization may do your grades some good." The corners of Snapes mouth turned slightly upwards. Harry gaped at him, did Snape just make a joke?

"Um… I've been wondering professor… what do I call u now, now that we are married and all?"

"Call me Severus, Harry. As my husband you have that right."

"Um… right okay thanks."

"Are you hungry? The elves have sent up breakfast." Severus nodded towards the table.

"Yea I kind of skipped breakfast." Harry moved towards the table, his nervousness having abated somewhat now that the actual "marrying" part was done with and Severus was being cordial with him.

They both tucked into cereal, bacon and eggs and Severus poured them both a large glass of a clear, orange liquid.

"Drink up, I think we've earned it." He said gulping at his glass with enthusiasm.

Wow, he's giving me alcohol too. He must be pretty upset about the marriage thing too I think. Harry eyed the man out of the corner of his eyes and also sipped his drink gratefully. It burned on the way down then made his head tingle slightly. I like this stuff.

"Harry… I know we haven't gotten along in the past but I think you'll agree we don't have much of a choice now. As husbands, we are bound by our marriage to serve and protect each other. And I plan to do so."

"Yea I think it would be a bit silly to pick fights with you now that I have to live with you." Harry agreed. "And, if your feet stink I want to be able to tell you that without you hexing me." He tried to joke and was rewarded with a chuckle.

"I promise you can tell me if my feet stink" Severus grinned slightly.

Suddenly the world spun and a confusing array of voices assaulted Harry's ears

"Are you sure about this Yaxley?"

"Certain My Lord, the paperwork is quite clear, Harry Potter has been married to Severus Snape." A brief explosion of anger.

"He has acted without my permission!" Then a sudden rush of relief. "Perhaps dear Severus knows something we do not… long has he been a loyal servant… yes this could be to our advantage. Severus is much more reliable than that fool Draco. Yes… Severus will come when he can and we will discuss…"

With the lessening of Voldemorts' emotions the voices faded away and Harry found himself on the couch in Snapes… no, HIS new lounge.

"Did you hear all that?" Harry asked cautiously.

"I take it you were reciting what Voldemort was saying? I heard enough to understand what happened."

"What will you do?"

"Go to him, in an hour or so. Tell him some story about how Dumbledore was going to marry you off to Hermione Granger and I had to act fast to prevent it, by suggesting myself as a more suitable candidate."

"Sounds like a reasonable story."

"Indeed."