Author's note:
I've decided to post this chapter a little earlier! Y/N isn't in this chapter, but she will be in the next one. I hope you enjoy!
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Word count: 1.9k
Warning: Human trafficking and loss of memory

Severus is pacing around in his living room, anxiously waiting for his friends to show up. He truly hopes that they can help him figure out what in Merlin's name is happening to him!

Lopsy brews him a cup of tea to calm him down. He takes a sip and sighs. It helps a little with his nerves.

Finally, he hears a knock from outside. "Lopsy will open the door!" the house elf states before running towards the door. She quickly opens it as the guests walk inside the house.

"Lucius, Narcissa, Minerva and Potter, finally- Wait a minute... Potter?" Severus questions, looking at the boy suspiciously. Why in Merlin's name is he here? He's quite sure that he didn't ask for his presence.

Harry crosses his arms. "I was talking with Professor McGonagall when Lopsy told her to come here. It sounded urgent, so I figured you could use my help, too" he explains.

Severus rolls his eyes. "I suppose the more the merrier..." he mutters.

"So, what do you need our help with, Severus? I have just the thing if you need the perfect bubble bath-" Lucius starts enthusiastically before Severus stops him.

"I don't need a bubble bath, Lucius! This is serious!" he exclaims, crossing his arms.

Narcissa gives him a worried look. "What is it, Severus?" she asks.

He sighs. "I'll tell you everything... Why don't you sit down?" he suggests, gesturing to the couch. The four of them slowly nod as they sit down, waiting patiently for him to tell what happened.

He tells them everything - how he went for a walk in Muggle London only to end up in a sketchy place. He tells them about the creepy Muggle man who dragged him to the old car wash building where he showed him the women.

At this, all of them look disgusted and horrified. Potter looks like he's actually about to throw up. Just as Severus is about to warn him not to throw up on the carpet, Lopsy gets ahead of him and is ready with a bucket in case the boy needs it.

Clearing his throat, Severus continues. He tells them about the girl... Y/N Y/L/N. How he bought her in order to save her.

Lucius instantly looks intrigued by the mention of the girl. "Is she still here? Did you two-" he rambles on before Minerva tells him to be quiet and let Severus talk.

Severus rolls his eyes at Lucius. "Thank you, Minerva" he mutters before continuing.

He finally tells them about the pain... Whenever the girl tries to leave the house, his whole body is in pain. And when she returns, the pain is gone in an instant.

That leaves his friends puzzled. "You are in pain every time she tries to leave? That is strange... I must admit I have never heard anything like that before" Minerva says, looking confused.

"Neither have I" Harry says, looking confused as well.

Narcissa sighs. "I haven't either. It surely sounds like dark magic" she states.

Lucius nods. "Indeed, I agree with my wife... You mentioned a contract, Severus. May I see it?" he asks.

Nodding, Severus searches his pockets only to find nothing. Raising an eyebrow, he tries to think of where he could have put it. He then widens his eyes in realisation.

"The creepy Muggle never gave it to me" he tells them.

That seems to make Harry deep in thought. "Are you sure he was a Muggle? Maybe... Maybe he tricked you" he slowly says.

Severus raises an eyebrow. "Tricked me? How so?" he questions.

"I mean... What if he cursed the contract?" the boy finally suggests. The living room instantly turns quiet as everybody seems to be taking in the possibility.

"There is only one way to find out... We must retrieve the contract" Minerva states. The others nod, agreeing with her.

Severus then remembers something. "The man mentioned an auction... He's going to sell the other women today!" he informs, his face turning pale.

Narcissa gasps. "How terrible! We must save them!" she exclaims, looking terrified.

Harry nods. "Yeah, we have to save them before it's too late!" he agrees.

"Why don't we save them while also retrieving the contract? That way, we can make the man tell us what he has done to Severus" Lucius suggests.

"I agree... However, I can't go. We have no idea if the pain also shows up if I'm the one who's leaving" Severus reminds them.

Nodding, Lucius puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Of course. Don't worry, my friend. We will save the other women and figure out what is happening to you. We will help you get through this" he assures him.

He then smirks. "So... While we are on the mission, you can get to know the girl better" he suggests, wiggling his eyebrows.

That makes the former Potions Master huff. "Why would I? I told her she could go, and now I have to keep her here against her will... She obviously doesn't want to talk to me" he points out.

He hopes that they can fix this today... If not, the girl might have to stay here forever. She would surely hate him for that.

Narcissa offers him a smile. "Don't worry, Severus. Everything will be all right" she reassures.

Sighing, he reluctantly nods before telling them the location. Lucius, Narcissa, Minerva and Harry then apparate to Muggle London for their mission.

As they arrive, Lucius looks around his surroundings with a disgusted look on his face. "Do Muggles truly live like this?" he questions, gesturing to the dirty environment.

Harry sighs in annoyance. "Not everyone... Come on, it's over there!" he states, pointing to an abandoned car wash shop. They retrieve their wands, ready to attack as they sneak inside.

They immediately hear the voice of the man who has kidnapped the women. "Oh, I'm going to be rich tonight! You girls are going to make me a lot of money! It's a shame I already sold the virgin last night" he says, sighing.

He suddenly gasps when Harry and Lucius point their wands at him. "Let them go!" Harry orders.

While they make sure he can't escape, Minerva and Narcissa unchain all the frightened women and help them outside the building.

The man growls. "No! They were going to make me rich!!" he yells, sounding like a child having a tantrum.

"You make me sick. Now, where is the contract my friend signed last night?" Lucius demands.

That makes the man laugh. "Oh, him? I didn't give him the contract? I must have forgotten" he simply says, giving an innocent look.

Not having it, Lucius points his wand at the man's throat, making him choke. "Okay, okay! It's right here!" he says, nervously retrieving a parchment.

Lucius immediately grabs it, examining it. "Now... Did you do this? Did you pretend to be a Muggle so you could curse Severus?" he demands, waiting for an answer.

The man looks frustrated. "I still don't get what 'Muggles' mean!" he exclaims. That surprises Harry and Lucius.

"So you aren't a wizard... But you have heard the term 'Muggles' before?" Harry questions, looking confused.

The man sighs. "Look... I just did what I was told to do, okay? I was threatened! They said if I didn't make that guy buy one of the girls and make him sign the cursed contract, they would torture me!" he defends himself.

Lucius raises an eyebrow. "So you know about the curse? What happens if the girl and Severus are apart? And, who made you do this?" he asks, shoving the contract in the man's face.

"If they are too far apart... Well, your friend will die. That's all they told me. And, as for who did this... I don't remember" the Muggle man says, shrugging.

Harry and Lucius share a look. "What do you mean you don't know?" Lucius questions.

"I mean exactly what I said, I don't know. At least, I don't remember who. I remember they threatened me and wanted me to curse that guy, but that's it... I don't remember them at all. Not their face, not their voice. Nothing. It's almost like it's gone from my memory" the man explains.

Harry sighs. "Great, he's been obliviated" he mutters.

Lucius sighs as well. "It seems as if we will need help with this one... I know that they are great with helping obliviated people regaining their memory at St. Mungo's Hospital. We have to take him there" Lucius states.

"Yeah... It might be our only way of finding out who did this to Professor Snape" Harry agrees.

Once Narcissa and Minerva return, the four of them apparate to St. Mungo's Hospital with the Muggle man.

"That was horrible... I think I'm going to be sick" the man complains, referring to the apparition.

Minerva huffs. "That is the least of your problems" she reminds him.

As they enter the hospital, they spot the Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Ah, Harry! What brings you here?" he asks the Boy Who Lived.

Harry clears his throat. "Sir, we have a problem..." he explains.

After they tell him what has happened, the Minister nods. "I see. Very well, I will make sure the Muggle gets treated immediately. I will let you know if there are any changes to his memory. However, it might take time, I'm afraid" he tells them.

They thank him before returning to Spinner's End with the contract. Lopsy lets them in to a very exhausted-looking Severus. "Finally... I was afraid something had happened. I hope you bring good news?" he asks them, seeming on edge.

Narcissa looks at him sympathetically. "We saved all the women from that horrible man... It turns out he is a Muggle," she starts.

Minerva nods. "Yes. Apparently, someone threatened him and told him to make you sign that cursed contract, Severus" she continues.

"Unfortunately, he has been obliviated. He doesn't remember who did it" Harry explains.

Lucius then retrieves the contract. "At least we got this," he says as he hands it to his friend.

Severus quickly reads it. "It doesn't say anything... Nothing gives away what is happening nor how to break it" he says, sighing in frustration.

Lucius coughs a few times. "About that... The Muggle told us that if you and the girl are too far apart... You will die, Severus. The curse will kill you" he slowly tells him.

Severus groans, burying his face in his hands. Will he ever be able to live a peaceful life?

Harry looks at the contract. "It's a long shot, but perhaps we can burn it?" he suggests.

The others look between the contract and the fireplace. Could it really be that simple?

Lucius decides to throw it inside the fireplace. However, as soon as he does so, Severus is in terrible pain. And the contract flies out of the fireplace... It hasn't been burned at all.

Harry and Narcissa quickly help Severus sit on the couch. Lopsy brings him a glass of water, hoping it will help. He takes the offered glass and drinks all of it in one go before raising an eyebrow at the Boy Who Lived.

"You saved me only to suggest my death, Potter?" he sarcastically asks.

Harry glares at him. "Hey! I didn't know that would happen!" he snaps.

Narcissa sighs. "It didn't work... What now?" she hesitantly asks.

"Until the man recovers his memory so we can figure out who has done this, the girl must stay with you, Severus. You can't let her leave" Lucius tells him.

That makes Severus sigh loudly. The girl won't be happy to hear that... She will surely try to escape. Why did this happen to him? And who in Merlin's name did this?
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Author's note:
The next chapter will be published on 11/25/2022!