The Threat of Time

Chapter 4

"Ummm, Harry?...Harry are you awake?"

Harry groaned in his sleep, "Go away Aunt Petunia, or I'll turn you into something."

"Harry. Ummm, the nurse said that nothing's wrong with you. So you can leave."

Harry made no movement to show that he was awake. Severus sat back down on the chair positioned by the bed. He had sat in that chair all night. Waiting for the boy to regain consciousness. He wanted to make sure the boy was okay. He felt protective of him somehow. He couldn't explain it. It was like an instinct. It felt so right to be with him. He had never felt as at ease with someone as he did last night.

He just sat there, watching the boy breath in and out. It's strange how something so simple, can be so comforting. He stared at the boy. Studying every curve of his face. His chin. His mouth, oh god his mouth. His mouth was slightly open. Every time the boy breathed out his lips would form a small circle.

Severus bit his bottom lip. Pushing the disgusting thoughts from his dirty mind. His nose. He had such a small nose. It was sort of cute. Though he would never admit it. His sleeping eyes. He wondered what he dreamed about. A woman perhaps? One with long slender legs and full pouty lips. Well that woman wasn't here now was she? No, he was here. HE was here. Not even his good for nothing friends were here. Oh they stopped by once last night. They wanted to know how long he'd be out, and then they left. Practically hanging on each other. How disgusting.

His eyes wandered to his forehead. His hair lay disheveled over his it. He reached out his hand and lightly moved his hair to the side. He had such soft hair. Like an owl's feathers. And it was as black as his own. Which made him smile. He loved his black hair. It wasn't dyed like some peoples. Posers, he thought. Not this one though. We're the same you and I. We don't follow the crowd.

He noticed that his forehead was paler than the rest of his skin. He must always keep it covered. But why? Then he saw it. A very vivid scar. It looked like a lightening bolt. How did he get such a scar? It's so pronounced. It's as though he got it recently. But he knew better. He wasn't a straight A student for nothing. That scar was given to him long ago. Many many years ago. Probably when he was a baby. Now if he could just get a closer look he might be able to tell what sort of spell was used on him.

He put his knee on the edge of the bed and leaned in closer.

"I've never seen anything like this." He ran his hand over the scar. This is amazing. Only a very powerful spell could have caused such a scar. Just look at the depth, and the way it healed. It didn't even scab over. It could easily bleed. But by judging how long ago the scar was given to him, how did he survive such a spell? I'll have to do some research on it. Perhaps I've made a mistake, he thought to himself.

He traced the scar with his index finger. Harry's hand shot up and grabbed the offending hand by the wrist. Severus gasped with shock. He tried to pull away but that only made Harry tighten his grip. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Good, everyone was still asleep. And the amazing thing was, so was Harry.

Or at least he seemed to be, but he started to pull on Severus' wrist, forcing him closer. Severus started to panic, what do I do? He didn't want to wake the sleeping boy and allow him to find them in this awkward position. Severus was halfway on the bed. His knee was on the edge of the bed, dangerously close to Harry's chest. While the free hand tried to support himself on the bedpost to keep from falling onto the boy. Harry groaned and rolled over bringing Severus' wrist with him. Severus lost his balance and fell forward. He landed on top of Harry. He closed his eyes and braced himself for Harry to wake up and start screaming.

After a few moments had past and there was no screaming, Severus opened his eyes. Harry was taking long, deep breaths. Sleeping. Severus let out a sigh of relief. He didn't know what he'd do if Harry had found them like this. He freaked out just from discovering his name. Did Harry know who he was? Perhaps he's heard of him.

Severus suddenly realized that Harry had loosened his grip on his wrist. He pulled him arm forward and his wrist came free. Thank god. Now to get out. He carefully rolled off Harry onto the bed. This is too easy. He looked at Harry's sleeping form. He felt comforted by it. All of his problems no longer existed.

Somehow, it seemed as though everything would be fine. The world had righted itself in a single moment No more worries, just him and Harry. He wanted to hold onto this feeling. To sink into it and never find a way out. But he knew better. Harry didn't like him that way. The harsh reality hit him, and he made to get out of the bed.

A lot of good that did. Harry's entire arm flung itself across Severus' body. It tightened around his waist and Harry pulled himself closer. Closer....soon

Harry had himself pressed against Severus, his arm still firmly around his waist.

Crap! Severus thought. And yet, not crap. He was still contemplating the situation when he feel asleep. A deep, comforting sleep.

"Ron! Oh, god Ron where are you?" Hermione ran frantically in search of her boyfriend. She hadn't seen him all day. And with people disappearing left and right, who knew where he might be.

Ever since Harry, Draco, and Ginny vanished, so have other people. Just one morning you would wake up and they'd be gone. The entire school had gone into complete chaos. Dumbledor kept going away on meetings and none of the teachers would say what was going on. This made the students very upset. Especially the ones who were losing family members and friends.

Hermione was particularly disgruntled by what was going on because she couldn't figure out what was causing all the mysterious disappearances. She had a theory that somehow the three were sent to an alternate universe and were either purposefully, or accidentally, alternating the course of the future. But she deemed in irrational. If that were the case, wouldn't the ministry be able to do something about it?

Hermione reached a locked classroom and banged on the door, "Ron! Are you in there?! Ron answer me!" She reached for her wand and pointed it at the door, "Alohamora!" She shouted, but it didn't work. She threw her wand down in frustration. She couldn't perform spells anymore. Even the most simple of spells weren't working.

"What's happening to me!" She feel to her knees and sobbed into her hands. "Ron I need you. Please come back."

Ron came running down the hall. He slipped and went sliding past Hermione.

"Hermione! Where have you been! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Hermione went running after him. "Where have I been?! Where have I been?! I've been looking for you! Where were you looking? In the sky?" She walked up to him and looked down at him. He had come to a stop and lay flat against the floor. He gave her a funny look.

"I thought I'd lost you." Ron looked up at her knowingly.

And with that Hermione flung herself on him and began kissing his face. "I'm not going to lose you again. I don't care about classes, I'm not leaving your side. Do you understand me?"

Ron replied between kisses. "I....understand....I....love.....you.....Hermione."

"Oh Ron, I love you too." She buried her face in his chest and started to sob. "I love you so much."

Ron stroked her hair. "I'm not leaving you. Do you hear me? I'm not going anywhere. I can't survive without you Hermione. And I mean that quite literally."

He smiled at her. "Do you remember that plant thingy that we got caught in our first year?"

Hermione looked up and smiled through her tears, "Devil's Snare," she said remembering.

"Yeah that. If it weren't for you that thing would have eaten me alive. I owe my life to you Hermione." He put both of his hands on her cheeks and kissed her.

"Besides," he said, "you're the best damned kisser in this school."

Hermione laughed, "Yeah, but you could use a little work."

Ron pretended to be taken aback. "Well I guess I'll just have to practice then."

And started to kiss her.

TBC