A/N
Duj: thanks for your many welcome suggestions. I've adapted the previous chapter accordingly. The quote from LOTR wasn't exact, but I did that on purpose.
Oh, and you and Jilly Rose are absolutely right of course, a reflecto would not stop an avada kedavra, but bear with me for the moment, k? It'll all be explained later.
I slept fitfully, waking often. Harry and Severus were completely out. At noon I snuck down to the lobby to see if there was something decent to eat for lunch. There was a small shop in the lobby I hadn't noticed when we first came in. Was probably closed then, anyway. I bought a paper and a roadmap.
Back up in the room I scanned the paper for any news on the gasstation, but it wasn't in yet. Oh well, I would have been none the wiser if there had, the ministry would have covered it up anyway. Then I took my time studying the map. We had to go north, obviously. Our progress, despite the delay at the gasstation, hadn't been that bad. I estimated that if we drove off that evening, we could be near Hogwarts before dawn.
A noise caught my attention. Looking up, I saw Severus opening his eyes. "Mr Longbottom," he said, "it would appear I was not dreaming. We are really travelling towards Hogwarts in a muggle car?" I nodded. "And there really were…I mean…" I nodded again. He narrowed his eyes. "Rastaban…he cast…" I began to feel slightly stupid, nodding constantly. "How come we're not all dead, then?" he asked, impatient. I shrugged. It made a nice chance from nodding. "I don't know. I apparated in front of you and cast a reflecto, albeit forcefully. It shouldn't have worked, but it did. I think we both have an inkling as to why."
Severus stared at me. "You never cease to amaze me, Mr Longbottom." He looked thoroughly disgusted with himself for letting this compliment slip. He tried to sit up. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Walking over, I pushed him back down on the bed and checked for a fever. None. Potion was still working. "I was planning a route, and wondering how on earth we were going to find Hogwarts, as neither Harry nor me know how to get there by car…one that's not flying, at least. How are the bruises? Are you in pain? Hermione keeps a good stock of painpotions in that kit…"
"No, no, that won't be necessary. And I do know how to get to Hogwarts. Show me the map." I had a fleeting flashback to the potions classroom. We went over the map together, and I felt a lot happier knowing where to go precisely. I stuffed the refolded map into my pocket.
"Tell me, how DID you and mr Potter manage to overpower five Death Eaters? Bellatrix Lestrange specifically?" I blushed. He raised an eyebrow and waited. "I threw a packet of tampons in her face," I whispered, "that distracted her so Harry could stun her." For an agonizing ten seconds, Severus just gaped. Then he burst out laughing, which in turn caused him to cough violently. He curled around my arm as I helped him sit up, patting his back. Harry woke up confused. "Give me the cough potion, Harry," I said, as Severus gasped and struggled to catch his breath. "Oh Merlin, that is priceless," he said, "If only that could make the Daily Prophet…" I held the vial to his lips and forced him to drink. Harry had gotten a damp towel from the bathroom and wiped Severus' face. "We should sleep some more, Neville," he said, "If the rest of our trip is gonna be as eventful as last night, we better be well rested."
We left as soon as the sun went down. The girl was sitting at the reception again. As we walked to the car I cursed myself for not having asked her number, and promised myself I'd go back here for a very long holiday once the war was over.
Harry passed a few chocolate frogs he still had in his pockets. "Paracelcus, again. Must have dozens of him. Which one do you have, Neville?" I had decided chocolate frogs and driving don't mix. "You open mine." Harry ripped it open. "Saladin. If you have that one already, can I keep it?" I nodded. "Who do you have, professor?" Harry asked.
Severus' hand shook as he held the card. "D..Dumbledore," he said softly, staring at the picture of the late headmaster. A tear trickled down his cheek. "Oh Merlin, I miss him so much…"
He totally shut down after that. The rest of the night we drove without a word. An hour before dawn we stopped for some necessary…sanitary matters, and to have a bit of a stretch, not to mention some food. I filled up the gastank with the jerrycan. "That should last us till Hogwarts," I said, "Assuming it isn't far now." Severus looked up. "No. Nearly there."
With Severus' directions we arrived at the Hogwarts grounds safely, taking a detour to avoid Hagrids hut. We weren't sure, even though Ron and Hermione had arrived two days ago to explain matters, that Hagrid wouldn't kill Severus on sight. We stopped near Dumbledores grave by the lake. Severus carefully got out of the car and took a few hesitating steps towards the monument. Then he turned away. Professor McGonagall suddenly rushed towards us. "There you are! We've been worried sick, we expected you yesterday and those Death Eaters at the gasstation…" She stopped to take a breath and compose herself. Then she looked at Severus, who tried very hard, if unsuccessfully, to meet her eyes. She stepped towards him and gently touched the bruises on his face. "Oh, you poor boy," she said softly, "Come on, let's go take care of you, shall we?"
To our surprise, Severus let himself be taken to the castle by McGonagall without comment. Harry looked at me quizzically. I shrugged. "The chocolate frog card and the grave. Gave him quite a shock, I imagine. He's not in very good shape anyway." We reached the entrance hall and were immediately overrun by Hermione and Ron. "Where WERE you?" they yelled, "We were so worried!" McGonagall, holding Severus by his elbow to steady him, called us from the stairs. "Hurry up, you four. Explanations can wait until we are in the office, at least." Follwing her, we waited for the gargoyle to move and entered.
"Ah, there you are," a familiar voice said, "Good to see you." Albus Dumbledore beamed at us from the enchanted canvas of his painting over the fireplace.