Chapter 26 – Saving a Life

Hey guys, I got chapter 26 finished nice and early like I promised! Actually, it took me mere hours ;) I don't like it as much as the last few though…I think I've written it quite badly… Thank you mandancie, brookesk1977, Jayla728, Hope06, Ttennis1121, blackangel150, Dixie.f.9, Therio and Lupinesence for your amazing reviews!

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With the ferocious horntail out of the way, Severus was able to focus his full, undivided attention onto pulling Harry out of the water. The lake, however was deep, too deep for him to be able to wade in and pull the boy out. Knowing he was forbidden to go past knee height, Severus had no choice but to find something long enough to cast out to the exhausted child. He tried to call out to Harry, to draw his attention, but it was no use. The boy was panicking, flailing and thrashing about in the water. Something clearly had him terrified!

After also witnessing Harry being sideswiped into the lake, Draco had moved to his godfather's side, helping Severus to come up with a rescue plan. Severus was aware that he too had been watching the younger boy in confusion…

Harry appeared as though he was struggling against something in the water, something that the other wizards could not see. Severus, terrified at the thought of what could be hiding in the lake, hoped he was wrong. He tried once more to gain Harry's attention, failing miserably.

"What do you think is out there?" He found Draco asking him, leading him once more to the task of finding something to pull Harry out, and quickly. But what? There was no sticks or branches in sight, long enough to pull him out.

"Hopefully nothing," He answered in reply, although he was convinced otherwise. "I need to get him out of there though, and there's nothing around long enough to throw out to him."

"Potter," Draco called, also unable to claim the other boy's attention. "Potter, you need to get out of there! Swim this way, now!" It didn't matter how hard he yelled though, because there was obviously something more important on the other boy's mind right now.

Although both wizards had their full attention focused on their companion, neither wizard noticed the first time the grindylow started to pull him down, though Harry became slightly more vocal, throwing his arms around. It wasn't until he was pulled right under that the other two noticed, a feeling of dread settling in the pits of their stomachs.

"No! Harry!" Severus was horrified. He waited a moment longer, which felt like forever, yet there was still no sign of the child. The seconds ticked by, but there was nothing Severus could do. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe…couldn't speak. He was paralysed, the shock of the scene before him causing his body to go numb. The boy, Harry Potter, was dead. His child was dead. The boy had been under so long that his mind was unable to come to any other conclusion. Harry Potter had drowned and Severus hadn't been able to save him… Not even the flash of light shining from beneath or the magic driven rippling of the surface of the water could convince Severus that the boy was alive.

Harry was alive though, and Draco wasted no time in diving into the water to rescue him.

This caught Severus' attention, drawing him out of his state of shock. "Draco, get out of there! I can't lose you too! Please come back or you'll be killed!" What in Merlin's name was his godson thinking? Severus' heart thudded rapidly in his chest…

"He's not dead Severus, I can see him. Those things…grindylows, or whatever they're called were repelled by the revulsion jinx Potter just cast." And that was the last thing Severus heard from Draco Malfoy before he, too, disappeared into the depths of the lake.

DM

Draco watched on, horrified, as his classmate was dragged down under the surface of the lake. His heart clenched tightly at the despair in his godfather's voice as he screamed for the boy who had just been pulled under. "No! Harry!" He made no move though. His form was completely still, the devastated, pained look trapped on his usually expressionless face. Had he thought that Potter was already dead? He must have, because the flash of light and the rippling water that could only have been caused by Harry's wand had failed to pull him out of his trance.

Draco realised that Harry was alive and Severus in shock, leaving it up to him to drag the younger boy to safety. Not bothering to waste time in removing any clothing, Draco dived into the lake, intent on saving Potter from drowning. "Draco, get out of there! I can't lose you too! Please come back or you'll be killed," he heard his godfather beg. Severus never begged, not for anyone, or anything. It was obvious that he was heartbroken at the 'death' of Harry, yet he was still alive. He explained that the grindylows were gone and Potter was alive, before diving down to rescue him. It seemed he was too late though…

By the time he had propelled himself down to Harry's sinking body, the younger boy had already lost consciousness, death moments from claiming him. Draco knew he had a very limited amount of time to save Harry from drowning. He just hoped there was still time…

Draco, realising he could help further, cast a bubblehead charm on his classmate, before wrapping his left arm tightly around his torso. Kicking his legs hard and fast, he rocketed them back to the surface of the lake, he himself gasping for air. Maybe he was too late after all. Maybe Harry was dead. Powering through the water with his right arm, Draco brought them back to where Severus was standing at the side of the river. He was as alert as he had been an hour ago, ready to pull them both out of the water. Draco, now tired, thrust his free arm out towards Severus, allowing him to drag them back on to the dry land, before rolling on his side in a heap. He did it; he got them to safety.

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Severus quickly snapped himself out of his self-centred trance, finally realising his godson had been right all along. Harry was alive; he had 'seen' him use magic. And had Draco mentioned grindylows..? Grindylows, of course! It all made sense now to Severus… It explained how the boy was able to put up a fight before being pulled under, and then free himself so easily. Easily, Severus snorted. Since when was fighting against a gathering of grindylows alone easy? The child was strong though, and thankfully, he had somehow managed.

Too soon he had underestimated Harry, and if not for Draco, that would have cost the boy's life. Although his godson was still submerged, he did not let panic and despair take over so soon. Good thing too, because only seconds later Draco re-emerged, with Harry's limp body in tow. Severus' chest swelled with pride, not only because Draco had managed to do what he himself had been unable to, save Harry from drowning, he had also thought to cast a bubblehead charm on the boy as well, potentially saving his life. As Draco began to swim towards him, Severus moved closer to the water's edge with an outstretched arm. Eventually Draco's hand met his, and he swiftly dragged both boys back onto the much safer dry ground.

Severus knelt down between the two boys, drenched and laying on the cold, hard ground. Temporarily removing the bubblehead charm from Harry, Severus cast another, more important spell. "Anapneo!" he spoke powerfully, causing his child to expel the frightening amount of lake water that he had inhaled into his airways. Severus rolled him into the recovery position as he coughed and spluttered, trying to prevent him from choking. Eventually the water flowing from within his child had stopped, his breathing had returned to normal, and, finally, he had opened his eyes. It was a miracle that the child was still alive after coming within an inch of drowning. He replaced the bubblehead charm on Harry, taking in his appearance. It was in that moment, seeing the child laying soaked in a puddle of water he had just coughed up, half dead, that Severus realised just how serious and dire the situation had been. Without Draco, Harry would be dead.

With that thought in mind, Severus turned back to his only godson, letting out a choked sob that he had been unable to hold back. "Draco," he said, tears pooling in his eyes. "Are you alright? You saved Harry when I was unable to, Draco. I'm so proud of you!" He reached for his godson, who was now sitting up, and pulled him into a fierce, loving embrace.

"Let go, Severus. I'm fine. It's Potter we need to worry about." Severus knew Draco was only pretending to be annoyed; he had always craved Severus' approval.

"You sure you're alright, Draco? Lie down and relax; let your body recover from the stress it has endured."

"Really Severus, I'm okay. Let's just worry about Potter."

Severus moved round to Harry's other side, allowing Draco to sit where he had been just moments before. "Harry," Severus spoke, so softly and gently, allowing his fingertips to lightly brush his child's forehead. "Harry, are you alright, my child?" As Harry nodded slightly, an unsure smile slightly twitching at the corners of his mouth, Severus' own emotions rebelled against him, leaving him sobbing silently into his hands, in front of both Harry and Draco. The older boy reached out to place a comforting hand on his godfather's shoulder, leaving Harry giving them both questioning glances, wondering what the hell he had missed.

Finally, Severus reigned his emotions in, his red, puffy, tear-stained face left uncovered as he looked back to Harry. "I'm so sorry child…" Harry frowned and went to cut him off, but Severus continued. "It's my fault that you very nearly drowned today… No, you did drown…I'm sorry that I very nearly got you killed. I shouldn't have left your side, not until we reached the safety of the cave…not while you were so exhausted. You would never have been knocked into the lake otherwise. And I apologise for panicking when you first went under; I hesitated…" More tears escaped as he realised his grave error in judgement, giving Harry his first chance to speak.

"Sir, please don't cry," he begged, his voice quiet and hoarse. "It wasn't your fault; none of it was. You carried me to safety, remember? I forgive you, for anything that you blame yourself for. I know, if you could've, you would have done everything possible to prevent me from drowning… But look sir, I'm alive; everything is fine."

"It's true, Severus," Draco agreed. "Listen to Potter; none of it was your fault."

"How can you boys possibly forgive me so easily, after I very nearly let you both drown?" Severus was confused by the pair.

"Because you weren't to blame Severus, it wasn't your fault," Draco replied easily. "And besides, we both care about you… We both love you."

Severus searched their eyes as they nodded, confirming their love for the older wizard. He embraced them tightly, one at a time, and helped Harry to sit up. "I love you both too," he replied, reaching out to give them both a gentle squeeze on the back of the neck.

He smiled at Harry, but slowly it morphed itself into a frown. The boy was as pale as a ghost. "Harry, are you sure you're alright child?"

Harry snorted. "I've never felt better sir…"

"You never have been a very good liar Harry." Although he outwardly seemed to be in no amount of pain, Severus knew that his smile and sarcasm was a mask to hide his true feelings. Surely nearly drowning after being charged by a four hundred kilogram beast, would have had some effect on the poor child… That reminded him, he still needed to check Harry over for any damage caused by the impact. He would be keeping a very close eye on the child tonight.

"I'm a great liar." He answered back, before turning to his older classmate. "Hey Malfoy… I know you saved me, so thank you."

"What? How did you..?"

"Well, at first I assumed it was you because I saved you yesterday, but then I realised that you're just as soaked as I am…"

"Oh, ha ha Potter, very clever… You're such an ass."

"A simple 'no worries' would have worked just as well…"

Severus turned back to Harry. "Harry, it was grindylows that attacked you, wasn't it? They're not usually so easily overpowered."

"I used a revulsion jinx on them sir. I'm just lucky it worked as well as I hoped it would."

"Indeed. It was very quick thinking on your part Harry, I'm proud of you; both of you. The pair of you would not be sitting here right now, had you have acted without the bravery, courage and maturity you displayed today. I am so very proud of the both of you." He finished with another small smile.

The boys smiled back at their professor, Harry speaking up. "Sir, do you think we can get the draconum lapidem ardentem and get out of here without anything else going wrong?"

Severus shook his head, ebony eyes meeting Harry's emerald ones. "Honestly Harry, I doubt it. It seems that nothing ever goes right for you…you never can catch a break."

So that's chapter 26 complete. I did try my best, although not even that could improve it to the standards of the last few chapters. Ah well, there's always tomorrow! It could've just been the fact that over the last 16 hours I've written, published and posted one and a half chapters, and I've just had enough… Nah, I could never fit enough Harry Potter into one day! ^_^ But seriously, half the words on the page don't even make sense to me anymore ;) I promise I'll work extra hard on chapter 27! Thanks for reading!

AsSafeAsSnape