Summary: Severus has been cursed. Only true love can save him.

Warnings: HPSS/Slash/Snarry – Don't like, don't read!

Notes: Takes place during spring of 7th year. AU – some events of HBP and all events of DH are ignored. Dumbledore is still Headmaster, Snape is teaching Potions, and Voldemort is still alive.

Disclaimer: JKR owns the characters, I'm just having fun with them. The idea for the cure was undoubtedly inspired by fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Rapunzel.

Please review! Thanks!

HPSS HPSS HPSS

Ch.1: The Curse

Harry's screams of pain woke up Ron and his other dormmates. He had forgotten his Silencing Charm before bed. Every night he casts the charm around himself and Ron so that only Ron could hear him. Harry doesn't have nightmares every night, but when he does and he cries out loud in his sleep, Ron wakes him up to comfort him. What's worse is when Harry experiences what they refer to as "Voldy-Vision."

The connection between Harry and Voldemort had gotten stronger over the last year. In the past Harry's scar would hurt when Voldemort experienced particularly strong emotions, especially hate and anger, but lately Harry would occasionally feel milder versions of the pain that Voldemort inflicts on others. When Voldemort, for instance, punishes his Deatheaters with the Cruciatus curse for disappointing them, Harry feels a mild version of the torture.

Whenever Harry yells out from pain in the night, Ron would then wake Harry up and give him potions kept in the nightstand. When the pains first began, Harry was reluctant to go to the Hospital wing, but eventually gave into Hermione's and Ron's insistence to visit Madam Pomfrey. After Pomfrey, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape discussed Harry's unique situation, they decided to allow Harry to keep a small supply of potions in his nightstand so that Ron could administer them immediately to Harry in the middle of the night as needed. Snape brewed potions specifically tailored to Harry, including milder forms of the pain-reliever, muscle-relaxant, and nerve-soothing potions that are used to treat the aftereffects of Cruciatus.

But this night wasn't like any other.

Harry seemed to be in more pain than ever; he was screaming in pain and tossing and turning violently in the tangled sheets. Ron immediately got up, stood by Harry's bed and tried to wake him. Their dormmates sat up in bed, bleary-eyed and half-asleep, but concerned. Harry finally woke up, crying out in pain, eyes wild for a few moments before finally locking onto Ron's. Ron knew something was different this time. "Don't worry, mate, you're going to be fine. Cruciatus?" Harry nodded, whimpering, gasping, and crying. It was clear he was trying to be quiet but was in too much pain. Ron grabbed vials of potions from the nightstand. He helped his friend swallow the potions and watched carefully.

Harry's cries quieted and his body began to relax, but Ron could see that he was still in considerable pain. "Do you need a Calming Draught?" Harry nodded and Ron got it for him. Harry drank it down, but it didn't help enough. "Harry, can you talk to me? What was different this time?"

Harry couldn't speak at first. His eyes were closed tight and he tried to suppress his cries but he couldn't stop. Finally he gasped out "Snape… Hurt… Different curse... Help… Now…"

Ron asked Neville to get Prof. McGonagall and asked Seamus to get Madam Pomfrey. She had told Ron to get her, or bring Harry to her, if the potions didn't work or if the pain Harry experienced ever worsened.

McGonagall arrived. "Harry, can you hear me?"

Harry nodded. He tried to speak through the pain. "Find Snape... Voldemort cursed... Pain... Unbearable... Hurry..."

"Was it Cruciatus, Harry? That is nothing new for Prof. Snape and he can deal with that just fine." McGonagall knew that Snape hated asking for and receiving medical attention, and so he took care of himself. His quarters at Hogwarts were fully stocked and he also carried vials of potions with him every time he attends a meeting with Voldemort and takes them, when needed, at his first opportunity. So Harry really needn't worry.

"Cruciatus and… something else... Much worse… Hurry… It's unbearable..." The effort to talk was too much. Harry curled into himself, buried his face into his pillow, and cried loudly into it.

"Professor, I already gave him the potions I normally do and he always feels fine after that. But the potions hardly helped! Whatever this curse is, whatever Harry is feeling, Snape is feeling much, MUCH worse!" Ron explained.

Madam Pomfrey arrived just in time to hear that last part. She was surprised that Harry appeared to be in so much pain. She asked which potions Ron gave him. Poppy then took Harry to the Hospital wing.

McGonagall reassured Ron that Harry was in good hands and would want his friends to sleep and that Prof. Dumbledore would find Prof. Snape. Ron was disappointed that he couldn't keep Harry company in the Hospital wing, but McGonagall insisted that he stay in his dorm. She then left quickly to inform the Headmaster.

HPSS HPSS HPSS

Pomfrey was still running diagnostics on Harry when McGonagall joined them and sat in a chair next to Harry's bed. Pomfrey could not find anything physically wrong with him, nothing to account for the lingering pain he felt. "Harry, are you still in pain?" she asked, even though it was quite obvious. Harry nodded. "Minerva, this doesn't make any sense. My tests show that not only is there nothing physically wrong with him but that he also is not experiencing any pain!" Pomfrey turned back to Harry. "I know it's hard to talk, but can you explain your pain to me? How does it feel? Where does it hurt?"

Harry scrunched his forehead and breathed deeply. He grabbed his chest. "It aches. Here."

Pomfrey ran some quick diagnostic spells that were specific to the heart and lungs and ribs but found nothing. "I'm still not finding anything physically wrong with you."

McGonagall thought for a moment. "Poppy, do your tests only reveal physical pain?"

"Aha! Yes, it does. Thank you, Minerva. Harry, can you compare it to something you've experienced before? Have you ever felt this way, even a milder version of it? Do you have any particular thoughts or feelings since you woke up?"

Harry breathed deeply and slowly. "Hurts like when Sirius died... Only worse… Feels like… I've lost everyone…" He wrapped his arms around himself and hunched forward. "Feels like I've lost everyone important to me and I can't get them back," he whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek. "It feels like no one loves me."

"Strange," Pomfrey murmured as she looked significantly to McGonagall, who had a look of devastation of her face. "I dare not imagine how Severus must be feeling." McGonagall nodded. Pomfrey looked back at Harry. "It seems that you are experiencing emotional rather than physical pain, even though emotional pain can feel physical. When Ron gave you a Calming Draught, did it help much?" Harry shook his head. "I'll see if I have any potions I have on hand that may help you. You need something much stronger than a Calming Draught."

When Poppy left Harry's bedside, he looked at his Head of House. "Where's Snape?"

"Prof. Dumbledore will find him, I promise."

Poppy returned with a shimmery pink potion and Harry drank it down. A warmth spread through him and he did feel much better. He no longer felt the agonizing grief of losing all his friends and family; it was as though it was something that happened long ago. He still felt sad, but it was faint, as though in the time that had passed, he was able to find enough peace to live his life. But he continued to ache with worry for his Potions Professor. The feeling was strong and strange. He knew that Snape put his very life at risk by being a spy. He was thankful for everything Snape did for him and for the Order and his respect for him had deepened over the past year. But never worried about him. Why did he not worry before? Why was he worried now? Harry wasn't sure. But he had a growing awareness that his heart was aching at the thought of the man suffering so.

"Feeling better?" Pomfrey asked. "Yes, loads," Harry answered. He wasn't sure why, but he was too embarrassed to admit the worry and ache that he felt towards the Potions Professor.

Pomfrey smiled with relief and left again, this time to start retrieving potions that she would administer to the Potions Professor once he arrived. Harry sat up in the bed, deep in thought, while McGonagall held his hand comfortingly.

Harry was having a flashback. Deatheaters stood in a circle. In the middle Snape stood, hands clasped behind his back. "You wonder why I summoned you?" Voldemort asked. "CRUCIO!" Snape struggled to stand still but dropped to his knees. His face was pinched and his hands in tight fists by his sides as he fought to keep his body from shuddering in pain. Voldemort finally released him from the curse. Snape's face was stoic, he kept his eyes forward, and his arms were held still by his sides. "You betrayed me, Severus. Don't deny it. But I won't kill you. No. That is not near enough punishment for your transgressions. CRUCIO!" This time Voldemort performed the curse much longer. Snape's body twitched, his hands clenched, and his forehead was furrowed in concentration until Voldemort finally released him. "No, Severus, killing you isn't enough. Not even the Cruciatus is enough. Not for you. No. I don't want you to lose your mind or your life. I want you to live a long life. And I want you to suffer every minute of it, fully aware of the life you live and the life you can't have." Voldemort walked around him slowly. "Why, Severus? For what? For love?" Voldemort hissed. He spat on the ground. "I'm disgusted by you. You and that crack-pot old man. Oh, how he loves to talk about the power of love." Voldemort sneered at Snape, but the Potions Master remained stoic. "Love is weak. It gives you no power. But since you seem to think so much of it, I know just the punishment for you… You give up so much for love? You betrayed me and continued to betray me for love? But Severus, who loves you? Anyone? Can anyone?" Voldemort laughed and continued walking until he faced the raven-haired man. "Ever hear of the Cor Contritum Maledicere?" Voldemort asked with an evil grin. Snape's face paled slightly. Voldemort cackled then waved his wand and thrust it forward like a bladed weapon. "TU AMITTERE OMNIS AMOR!" Snape crumpled to the ground. His body shuddered. He pulled in his shaky legs towards his chest, wrapped his twitching arms around his knees, and his face twisted horribly in agony and concentration. It was as though he was trying not to cry or scream. But his efforts were in vain. He –

The sounds of anguished screaming and the Headmaster's voice interrupted Harry's flashback. "Poppy! Minerva! We're here!" Dumbledore cried. McGonagall and Pomfrey rushed over. Harry didn't notice the professors laying Snape onto a bed, Dumbledore casting a silencing charm to prevent the screams from being heard outside the Hospital wing, nor Pomfrey and McGonagall attempting to administer the potions. All he was aware of was the rush of conflicting emotions. On one hand he was deliriously happy and relieved that Snape was finally here, safe, and could be given care. On the other hand he was very worried because he knew that his own pain had been unbearable and he could not imagine how much more painful it was for Snape. He's here, he's here, he's here. He's safe! Oh gods I know he's hurting! He's in so much pain! Safe from Voldemort. He's safe here! He's going to be ok. He's gotta be ok! Oh gods let him be ok! How do we help him? There must be a way to help him! He roused himself from his thoughts. He felt the need to be close to the suffering man. And he also needed to tell Dumbledore what he remembered from the flashback. Perhaps if he told him the incantation that Voldemort used, Dumbledore would know how to save him.

Harry approached the Headmaster cautiously, as he and the others were deep in conversation. "Prof. Dumbledore?"

"Just a minute, Harry. Poppy, I forget what it's called, but do you have a potion that can force a patient to fall asleep?"

"Yes, I do, Albus. And I can give him a Dreamless Sleep potion at the same time."

"Excellent, Poppy. Hopefully that will relieve his suffering until we can find a solution." She rushed off to retrieve the potions. Dumbledore and McGonagall shook their heads in sadness as they looked at the Potions Master. Despite the potions already given to him, he was still screaming in pain. "I wish I knew what Voldemort did to him. Severus was unable to talk to me and I'm not even sure if he was coherent enough to hear me. Merlin, he is in excruciating pain," Dumbledore said softly.

"Professor, I might be able to help."

"Harry! Dear boy. How can you help? Do you remember your vision?"

"Yes, Professor. First, there's something I have to tell you. Voldemort knows. He knows that Snape was a spy. That's why he punished him." Dumbledore nodded sadly. "First he performed the Cruciatus on him, twice. Then he said something I didn't recognize, perhaps the name of the curse? And then he waved his wand and spoke an incantation. I didn't recognize that either."

"Can you remember what Voldemort said?"

"First he said 'Ever hear of the core con try tum mala dissery?,'" recited Harry, stumbling over the unfamiliar words.

Dumbledore gasped. "He said 'Cor Contritum Maledicere'?"

"Yes! That's what he said. And the incantation was 'to a mitt terry –"

"Stop! Don't say it, Harry," Dumbledore interrupted.

Dumbledore stood in silence, shaking his head in disbelief while Harry and McGonagall looked at him curiously. Just then Poppy returned with the Dreamless Sleep potion and Sandman Draught. With the help of the professors holding Snape still, she poured the potions into his mouth and massaged his throat to make him swallow. In less than a minute his screams became whimpers, his face relaxed considerably, the violent spasms of his body were reduced to small twitches, and not long after that, he was asleep.

"Albus, what is this curse?" McGonagall asked.

The Headmaster took a deep breath. "The Cor Contritum Maledicere, or Broken Heart Curse, is a very very dark and ancient curse. It's been about a thousand years, I think, since its last known use."

"Why hasn't it been used in so long, Professor? A curse this painful seems right up Voldemort's alley and he hasn't used it until now."

"Because, Harry, the incantation, wand movement, and any other additional instructions have been lost for centuries. Efforts were made to banish all knowledge of how to cast the curse, including burning instructional books and altering the memories of those who performed the curse, were victims of it, or witnessed it being cast so that they would not remember how the curse is cast. That's why I stopped you from saying it. The fewer people who know it, the better. Despite all efforts to banish it, the incantation and instructions must have survived somehow, secretly, and Voldemort managed to obtain it – most likely fairly recently… It is a very evil spell. The literature suggests that it takes as much hate as the Killing Curse, if not more, in order to successfully cast it. If it were still in use, it would likely be regarded as an unforgiveable, and very possibly the worse of them all."

"Albus, why might it be considered more terrible than the three unforgivables?" Minerva asked.

"Because the literature suggests that it is much more painful than the Cruciatus. And clearly, looking at Severus, it is indeed. Also, the literature suggests that it is permanent, unless one is cured, and there is only one known cure and not everyone, shall we say, has access to the cure. Finally, wouldn't you say that a lifetime of that kind of pain" gesturing towards Snape "is worse than death?"

Harry's heart ached more for the raven-haired man with every minute. "Professor, what's the cure?"

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "True love's kiss."