Summary: see chapter one
Disclaimer: see chapter one
A/N: Please forgive any mistakes it is late, Any reviews would be welcomed
To the reviewers!
Ymmas Sirron: DO not die here it is! and yes they made nice for now.
opal: SNORT that willnot be happening. That was a in the moment kind of thing.
Elwen of Imladris: You know I love the evil bastard, and hehehe I do love the angst as well
HecateDeMort: Thanks again!
Pure Black: Thank you lots! and yes I know what you mean. They can share for now, kinda
monica85: Thanks for the review and your answers are here
athenakitty: as fast as you read the chapter, and yes kind of
I want to thank all of you who reviewed! There are only 3 chapters left of this fic BUT I have two completed ones ready to go! Now onto the fic!
Chapter 31
Harry awoke, but he felt cold despite having found Ron's robe laid over him, and Ron shivering beside him. It should have been warm it was only August, but the forest seemed to suck out all the sun and warmth.
Shifting so he could prop himself up on his elbow Harry peered out the window. It was fast becoming sunset, and he was glad for the little shelter they had found. His stomach however was rumbling loudly enough to compete with Ron's snores. He had gone for many days without food, but not since he had been taken from the Dursley's. He also knew Ron never went without eating, and that the two days of half carrying him on top of that had to be taking its toll on the boy. He took the chance while Ron was sleeping and looked at the bites on his arm. The squirrel had attacked Ron when it jumped out of the fire, and now Ron's whole arm was covered in tiny little bites. He hoped the squirrel has no diseases, but as fate smited him often he knew he probably was not so lucky.
Ron was dreaming of roast beef and treacle pudding, when he heard a groan. Rolling over and peering beside him he saw Harry was gone. Ron looked over the other way and noticed Harry was trying to scoot himself to the door. "What are you trying to do injure yourself worse?" he called out to Harry
"We need food Ron. I was going to see if I could find any."
"How do you suppose to do that when you pass out every few minutes from pain. Get back here and lay down I will go out and search for the food."
There was about to be a big arguement, but Harry relented. "Look neither one of us should be out and about. The forest has already proven it is dangerous. We should stay here and go out at first light and search agreed?"
Ron shook his head, and they both sat down. Hunger gnawed at them both, and the only solution was to go back to sleep, and wait for morning. Curling up in a ball and trying to make sure his foot and shoulder would touch nothing, Harry drifted off into a painful sleep. Ron lay beside him wishing he were old enough to learn to apparate. They could have been in some nice hotel by now, far away from this place. He hoped his mum had not hurt anyone when she found out he was gone. Inside he felt guilty about it, but he could not have let Harry go alone. He would face the terror called his mum when they got back. He was about to close his eyes when a noise caught his attention. In his fuzzy state of mind Ron thought it was coming from the back of the little shed and woke Harry up.
"Mate, Someone is trying to come through the window" he whispered. "Hurry maybe we can make it out the front door before they get in"
Harry thought it was futile, but he would not go down without a fight. Pulling both arms up he stood on his one good foot. The burns on his leg were painful, but he would endure it if he could. Grabbing onto Ron's shoulder they both hobbled over to the door. Ron held Harry in one hand and opened the door with his other.
Remus saw what appeared to be a small monster with four arms coming out of the little shed. He sent a small stunner towards it and saw the thing fall right inside the doorway. Severus smacked Remus in the back of the head. "What were you thinking that could have been Harry and Ron." Casting a luminos from his wand he saw that it was indeed Ron and Harry, who laid crumbled in the doorway and took off running like a bat out of hell.
He was almost knocked over as Sirius caught up to him and both men raced to the fallen duo. Severus reached them first and saw the state that they were both in. Pulling his wand from his robes he awoke them both.
Harry sat up looking quite puzzled before his eyes fell on his father. "Dad!" he yelled, but then he tried to scramble away. "I won't go back, and you cannot make me."
"Harry, What are you talking about?" Severus asked while looking over the boy.
Ron had woken up and was stunned into silence. He did not know whether to run for it or risk the wrath of his Professors. "I am really sorry we ran away, but Harry is right. We are not letting him be taken back to those muggles," he said pulling his wand out.
"Calm down both of you. What gave you that silly idea to begin with?" Sirius asked.
"I overheard Dad and Professor Dumbledore talking. I know the Ministry wishes to send me back and I won't go!" Harry was getting furious at the smiles he was getting.
"Harry James Potter! You only heard half the conversation. If you had stayed you would have found out that Dumbledore told the Ministry he would not have you taken from your father's care, and that they after a long time thinking agreed." Sirius said. "You should really stop eavesdropping young man"
"Does he really mean it? I can stay, I do not have to go back to them?" Harry said looking quite puzzled.
"You will never go back again Harry. I will not let anyone take you from me, ever again." Severus spoke, and once again the tears began to slowly cascade down his face.
Severus pulled Harry into a hug, and Ron's mouth fell open when he was pulled into the hug too. "That is quite an impression of Remus you have there Mr. Weasley" Severus chuckled wiping the tears from his eyes. "Oh and by the way should you ever mention that hug to anyone it will be a hundred points from your house. I do have my reputation to live up to."
Remus reached down and helped Ron to stand, and Severus reached down and picked up Harry and took them inside the shed. Severus quickly conjured a bed and placed both boys on it. Now he was busy studying the various wounds Harry had. Harry yelled out when he touched his shoulder, and Severus could see it was infected. Looking at his foot Sirius had turned and retched onto the floor, and the mess had to be scourfied away
"These wounds are bad and I think you need Madame Pomfrey." Severus said. "Everyone hold on and we will apparate out of this evil place."
Ron was holding on being held by Sirius, and Harry by Severus, and in a flash they were standing on the outskirts of the forbidden forest. Harry's stomach rolled, and had he eaten any food it would have landed on the ground. The jostling he was getting as Severus ran up the hill to the castle was not helping either, and he cried out in pain. That didn't help at all as it only made Severus run faster.
All three wizards burst through the main doors and began shouting for anyone that would hear them. Dumbledore met them in the hallway leading to the medical wing. "Severus you have found them! How are they?"
"They are in need of medical help, that is how they are." Severus sneered. He was tired and in no mood to answer any questions right now. Pushing past Dumbledore he ran into the hospital ward and yelled for Pomfrey. She came out and saw the two injured boys, and promptly started issuing orders.
After accessing them both she shooed all of the wizards out of the room. "You may come back in after you have eaten a bite yourselves" she had put in when she got looks from the tired, pissed off wizards. They agreed and ran off to eat quickly and return.
