August 21st Special Note: Please be patience, the last chapter of this story will hopefully be posted this weekend of August 23rd. I want to make sure I wrap up this portion of the story properly. If you want to see an outline for some hint of what the last chapter will include, visit my livejournal. The link can be found on my profile page.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, nor the location their are camping in. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done. I'm making no money from this story.
A/N: I really want to say thank you again to those who have read my story and reviewed it, especially xikum, TommieBoy182, Lee Lee Potter, Maximum Poofy-Queen of AU, Arwen Rayne, Corgi1, DxInsider, The Goddess Artemis, Ambrosia-Ku-Ran and so many more.
As a reminder this is a PRE story and is still rated PG-13. Okay, this is the chapter I promised a bit more action/adventure. It's the longest one to date. Hope you like it.
I will be continuing this story on into a sequel.
Anything between two *, indicates a thought.
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A Camping We Will Go
Chapter 13 - Accidents Do Happen
Severus told the students that the return portkeys were time activated and according to the timer they had approximately 15 minutes before they would port back to school. So the students rushed to finish and get into place.
During that time, Harry has walked over to Severus. Severus had his backed turned to Harry and was talking to his Slytherin students. Harry tapped the professor on the shoulder to get his attention. Severus slowly turned and had a scowl on his face at being interrupted. The scowl dropped when Severus noticed that it was Harry standing there.
Harry was shifting from one foot to the other. Severus raised an eye brow at this. "What's the matter Mr. Potter, do you have ants up your pants?" Severus smirked and the Slytherin students snickered. harry caught the smile in Severus' eyes, letting Harry know that it was just an act. Harry thought to himself, *Must keep up the pretense until the bitter end, eh, Severus.*
"Um ... no, sir. I ... uh ...," Harry was embarrassed to say what he needed to say, especially in front of the Slytherin students. He leaned closer to Severus and whispered so only he could hear, "It's another call to nature, sir."
Severus' lips quirked in amusement and he too leaned in to talk quietly to Harry, "Can you not wait until we return to Hogwarts, Mr. Potter?"
Harry shook his head back and forth furiously. "I can't wait 15 minutes, Professor. I need to go now," Harry hissed through clenched teeth. He was still shifting his feet awkwardly.
Severus muttered, "Fine. Just hurry back. You'll need to keep track of the time. Don't make me come after you." Severus pointed Harry down the path they had taken yesterday for their two hour hike.
Harry didn't need any further urging and took off at a run, as fast a run as possible while carrying his sack on his back. Harry wanted to be far enough away from the camp site to so as to not stumble across another student. He took care of business as rapidly as possible, before heading back to the site. He was coming back down the trail at a jog, when he saw something from the corner of his eye. Whatever it was darted out and moved right in front of his feet.
Harry tried to avoid running into whatever creature it was, by taking a last second jump over it, but misjudged and caught his footing on what he thought was a branch laying along the forest floor. Harry stumbled and then tumbled off the edge of the path, Harry tried to grab for purchase on anything, but the plants just ripped right out of the ground. Unfortunately for Harry, the side of the trail he feel down over was a tree and rock strewn hill leading down to a small ravine. Harry tumbled and rolled down the hill, his body hitting the rocks, he feet and ankles crashing into trees. Thankfully, his back and neck were protected with the knapsack he was still carrying. He stayed conscious through it all until he came to a stop at the edge of the water. His head landing squarely onto a small flat rock. Just before harry passed out from the pain that exploded behind his eyes and from the aches that could be felt from the rest of his body, he muttered softly, "Merlin! Severus is going to kill me for sure."
Back at the camp, the others were waiting anxiously for the portkeys to activate. Hermione and Ron were also becoming extremely agitated because Harry had not yet returned.
"He'll be back, he probably just got turned around for a few minutes." Ron tried to sooth Hermione's nerves.
"Yes, you're right, I'm sure he'll be back any minute now." Hermione didn't sound convinced though, but played along.
Severus had not been paying too much attention, thinking Harry would definitely be back in only a few minutes. How long could it take a young man to go take a piss anyway. Surely no more than a few minutes at most. So Severus continued talking to his Slytherins.
With only 3 minutes left remaining before the portkey is to activate, Hermione could stand it no longer. She left the others and walked over to Professor Snape. She tapped him on the shoulder with rapid, short and sharp jabs. Severus whirled around and was about to bark at whoever was rude enough to disturb him. When he caught the anxious look Hermione had, he knew what was wrong before she even spoke.
"Sir, Harry's not back yet. I'm beginning to think something is wrong."
Severus, reached up and touched Hermione on the shoulder to comfort her, it was awkward for them both, but Hermione felt some small amount of anxiety let go in her chest.
"Ms. Granger, if I'm not back before the portkey activates, head straight to the Headmaster's office. Request two more portkeys, one to bring you and perhaps Madame Pomfrey as well, back and the other to return us once again to Hogwarts. Ask that they be wand activated instead of timer activated. Have Madame Pomfrey bring whatever potions and other medical supplies she thinks we may need like pain killers, sleeping draughts, Skele-Gro. If she doesn't have any, have the Headmaster go to my office to fetch anything else. Do not worry, Ms. Granger. I'm sure Mr. Potter is just fine."
Severus hurried her back to the her group, just seconds before the portkey activated. Severus looked around him and felt the silence press in on him. Just moments before there had been students chattering and birds chirping in the background. Now even the animals seemed quiet, as if they sensed the worry and anxiety weighing down on Severus.
He turned and walked down the trail he had pushed Harry towards just minutes ago. Severus walked as fast as he could for several minutes, hoping beyond anything that Harry had just gotten lost. *Damn that boy, where is he.* Severus was starting to panic. He stopped in mid-stride. He took a deep breath, *I'll be of no help to Harry if I can't be calm. I need to be in control, for his sake and mine.*
Severus soon realized that Harry was in all likelihood, not lost, but hurt somewhere. *Thank Merlin I know it's not the Dark Lord and his minions at work.* Severus shuddered at that thought as it had always been something of a worry to him of just that possibility happening before the Dark Lord's defeat.
Severus started calling out Harry's name. "HARRY!" Severus not even thinking to use his wand to cast the Sonorus spell, so great was his need to voice his concern and fear.
"HARRY!" Severus continued to yell as he walked back in the direction of the evacuated camp.
Severus looked along the path and scanned for any sign of where Harry may have had an accident. After a minute, Severus stopped, when he noticed the same snake Harry had carried with him after Ron had been bitten. The snake instead of being hidden under brush, was lying right in the middle of the path. Severus looked intently at the snake, and the snake raised his head up and bobbed it up and down. The snake then turned and slithered over to the edge of trail, he looked back at Severus and then looked back down the hill. For it was the snake that had darted out onto the path in front of Harry earlier, for he had wanted to chat again with the human that spoke his tongue.
Severus finally understand that the snake was telling him where Harry was. Severus rushed to the edge of the trail and noticed through the sparse scattering of trees, Harry laying still at the bottom. Severus breath hitched and became shallow. "Harry," he whispered in pain. Severus' heart ached and almost stilled.
Severus apparated down to beside Harry. Severus noticed immediately the blood trickling down from a gash at Harry's forehead and the cuts and bruises along Harry's arms. There was no telling how many more Harry had suffered in his long descent down the hill. Harry's glasses lay precariously on his face, partially snapped in half at the bridge.
Severus reached out and felt for the pulse at Harry's neck. It was very slow and Severus noted that Harry's breathing was shallow. *He's probably broken a few ribs.* Severus slowly slid his hand up under Harry's head to cradle him gently. His hand became sticky, and he realized Harry also had a major gash on the back of his skull. Severus tried to still the panic rising in him.
Severus leaned down and spoke quietly in Harry's ear, "Harry. Harry, can you hear me?" Harry moaned and tried to stir, but fell silent and stilled once more.
"Harry, please, wake up. You must wake up for me, Harry." Severus tried to keep his voice even and calm. He did not want Harry to sense his agitation, his worry. Harry moaned again and this time rasped out, "Sev?"
Severus' breath rushed out in relief that Harry wasn't totally unconscious. He leaned down close to Harry's ear once more, "Sev, eh? Did I say you could call me anything other than Severus? I don't believe I did." Severus tried to lightened the atmosphere with a bit of humour.
"Hurts... to talk. Your name...too long. Feels like cotton in ... mouth." Harry stammered, and was fading back out. Severus continued to talk to Harry, anything to keep him awake.
"Harry, listen to me. You must stay awake. You're badly injured. I have a few vials of potions here with me, but they were mostly for rashes, or allergic reactions. I wasn't expecting to need a full array of supplies from the infirmary. The others have already gone back."
"Hermione has gone to the Headmaster to fetch another portkey to take us back, plus she will fetch Madame Pomfrey." Harry's eyes fluttered open. They were pain filled and his pupils were like pin pricks. *He must have a severe concussion. I have to keep him awake until Poppy can look after him.*
Harry barely saw Severus, but he knew he was there. Harry could feel Severus cradling his head. Severus' touch was gentle and soothing.
"Sev, so sorry. Didn't mean to cause trouble."
"Harry, trouble either finds you or you find it. But in this case, accidents can and do happen." Severus took his free hand and went to grasp Harry's lightly, to let him know that he wasn't angry at him.
Severus' eyes watered at the sight of Harry lying so still, so battered. He blinked rapidly to hold back his tears. "If I didn't know better, I think you were just trying to prove me wrong."
"Prove .. what ... wrong, Sev?" Harry got out in between short gasps of air.
"That you skull isn't as thick as I claimed it to be. Maybe an anvil could do some damage." Severus chuckled.
Harry's lips quirked up briefly as he tried to smile. "Feels more like three anvils tried to take me out."
Severus knew they had to leave the ravine and get back to the camp site soon. Severus just hoped that it wouldn't take Dumbledore long to procure the necessary portkeys from the Ministry. *Damn them for having to regulate their use. Even if this is an emergency.*
"Harry, can you stay awake for me please? I'm going to apparate back up to the top of the hill and then levitate you out. I know you can't move and this is the only safe way." Harry squeezed Severus' hand. "I think ... so."
"Good, hold on, it will only take a second." Severus release Harry's hand and gently removed his hand from behind Harry's head. Severus looked down at his blood stained hand. Severus thought he would never have to see so much human blood every again in his lifetime, but he was wrong. *Just stay awake, Harry. For your sake ... and for mine.* Before leaving, he cast "Petrificus Totalus" on Harry to keep his body immobile while levitating him out.
Severus apparated back up to the top of the hill and waved his wand at Harry and said "Mobilicorpus." Harry's body slowly wound it's way up the hill through the maze of trees. Severus continued to point his wand at Harry to control his progress once they were both back on the correct trail. Severus noticed that the snake was following them back to camp. Severus continued to talk to Harry, to keep him awake and focused.
"Well, Harry, it would seem your little friend from yesterday wants to make sure that you're okay. He's following us back to camp." They arrived within minutes and Severus gently maneuvered Harry onto the ground before dissolving the levitating spell. Severus then released Harry from the body bind and sat down next to him.
Severus once more cradled Harry's head to support him as the pack was still on Harry's back, which caused him to lay on the ground at an odd angle. Harry's eyes opened. They were still filled with pain, but the pupils were slowly starting to return to normal. Severus smiled at Harry; warmth, caring and concern flooding his eyes.
"Thank you," whispered Harry.
Severus released his wand onto the ground and reached up with his free hand to gently brush the hair along the edge of Harry's forehead near the ever present scar. "No thanks are necessary. I'm sure if our roles had been reversed you would have done the same."
Severus continued to cradle and talk quietly with Harry as they waited for Hermione's return.
***
Back at Hogwarts, the students ported back to just outside the doors to the school. Some staggered and slowly regained there bearings. Hermione dropped the port key she held and ran for dear life inside the school and towards the Headmaster's office. In her headlong rush, she collided with Professor McGonagall.
"Ms. Granger, please, no running within the school halls." Professor McGonagall righted herself and steadied Hermione.
"Sorry, Professor, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Something terrible has happened to Harry, I just know it. Professor Snape stayed behind. Professor Snape told me to go straight to the Headmaster to let him know the situation and to request additional portkeys." Hermione got out in a rush. She took a deep breath, to calm herself.
"Harry, Severus are in trouble? Oh dear. Well then, I'll escort you to the Headmaster. The password was changed while you were gone, Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall turned with Hermione and walked promptly to the entrance of the Headmaster's office.
"Ton Tongue Toffees."
The stone gargoyle statue swung away and the stairs were revealed. "After you, Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall swept her arm towards the staircase.
Hermione was just about to knock on the Headmaster's door, when it opened, by the Headmaster himself. "Ah, Ms. Granger, welcome back." Dumbledore looked over Hermione's shoulder and saw Professor McGonagall standing with her. "Minerva! What seems to be the problem?" Dumbledore looked back down at Hermione and noticed her excitement and anxiety.
"Ms. Granger, has something happened?"
"Yes, sir, Professor Dumbledore." Hermione shook her head and then explained in detail as to the situation of Harry and Professor Snape. She told the Headmaster the directions Professor Snape had given her and her rush to reach the Headmaster's office.
The Headmaster's smile faded somewhat but the twinkle did not leave his eyes. He felt sure that Harry would be just fine, as long as Severus was with him. Dumbledore turned towards the fire and picked up some green powder and threw it into the fire, and called out, "Minister Arthur Weasley's office."
Dumbledore stuck his head into the fire and his head appeared on the other side in front of Arthur Weasley just as he'd turned when he'd realized he was being summoned.
"Yes, Albus, what can I do for you?" Arthur asked politely of the old wizard.
"Arthur, we've got an emergency. I need two more portkeys similar to the ones I'd arranged for previously, for the 7th year Muggle Studies camping trip. Same porting location."
"Certainly. Is everything alright, is Ron okay? Harry?" Arthur asked with concern as he turned to his undersecretary to make sure the man had caught the request. The under secretary nodded and left immediately to carry out the command.
"Ronald is just fine, it's Harry though. He didn't show back up to the port key site before the others left, Severus stayed behind to look for him. I'm sure Harry is fine, however. Severus will take care of the boy."
Arthur nodded in agreement. "I'll floo you and give you the portkeys as soon as they are ready Albus. Should only take a few minutes, as this is an emergency."
"Thank you, Arthur. I'm grateful for your promptness." Dumbledore left the fire and turned once more to Hermione and Professor McGonagall. "Everything is being arranged as we speak, should only take a few minutes."
"While we wait, Ms. Granger, why don't you go find Madame Pomfrey and help her gather any supplies she may feel is necessary."
"Yes, Professor." Hermione left the office at a more sedate pace then when she arrived. She found Madame Pomfrey and once again outlined the situation. She told the medi-witch that her presence would be needed on the trip to the site and back.
Madame Pomfrey gathered the items Professor Snape had requested, plus some bandages and followed Hermione back to the office. When they had returned, the noticed Arthur Weasley had joined them. He had brought two portkeys with him and was just outlining the directions for using them when the entered.
"Hermione, so good to see you, dear." Arthur smiled at the young woman. "Everything alright?"
"I'm sure everything will be fine once we find Harry and make sure he's alright, sir."
"Well then, I had best illustrate how to activate the portkey's then." Arthur held up the first key, which was a medium sized rock. "Everyone who is going needs put place a finger on the rock while you tap a wand over it three times in quick succession. Once you are there, the rock becomes useless and can be thrown away."
Then Arthur held up the second item, which was an old fashioned lantern. "The same goes for this, tap it three times and this time say 'Hogwarts infirmary' and it will take you straight there."
Arthur handed over the items to Hermione. She handed the lantern to Madame Pomfrey and kept the rock in her hand. She looked to the medi-witch who nodded that she was ready for she had placed her fingers to the rock as well.
Hermione looked to the Headmaster, "Well be back shortly, see you in the infirmary sir." Dumbledore nodded his head and Hermione tapped her wand three times on the top of the rock.
***
Hermione and Madame Pomfrey appeared in a blink of the eye just feet away from Severus and Harry.
Severus looked up and sighed when he saw them both. Harry heard the sigh and looked up at Severus in question.
Hermione rushed to Harry's side before Severus could speak. "Harry, are you alright?"
Harry looked to Severus to answer. "He'll be fine once Madame Pomfrey has taken care of his more immediate needs. He has some bumps and bruises that's all." Severus did not want to alarm Hermione without need.
Madame Pomfrey motioned for Hermione to move and then took out her wand to examine him from head to toe. Her eyes widened slightly as she noted all the damage that had been done, but thankful that none of it appeared to be life threatening.
She took out a vial for pain killing and one for mending broken bones, which she made Harry drink. Harry grimaced at the awful taste. She then cast a few advanced healing charms to his head and hands to heal the gashes he'd received.
"I'll have to wait to administer some of the other potions once we get back. Harry, I'll need for you to stand, dear. Severus help him up and support him, please." Severus did not glare at the medi-witch for commanding him. He silently followed her orders.
Harry groaned in pain as he was forced to stand. He leaned heavily on one foot as the other was too sore and tender. Madame Pomfrey took up a position on his other side to support him, as the porting would disorient him greatly.
"Alright Ms. Granger, I think it's time for us to head back now."
Hermione picked up the lantern that the medi-witch had set down next to Harry and held it up so that everyone could touch it.
She tapped it three times and called out "Hogwart's infirmary." They disappeared completely from the camp site.
tbc