Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Disclaimer: I own nothing belonging to the Harry Potter Universe except the twisted plot, a few original characters, and a desire to share my weird obsession with others.
AN: I will not respond to individual reviewers on this story site. If you really need a question answered please e-mail me and I will try to respond.
Chapter 4: Friends or Foes?
Severus awoke after another night of cat naps interspersed with feeding Harry, tending the fire, and checking the perimeter for incipient dangers. He fed and dosed Harry again, noticing his fever elevating again. He wracked his brain for another solution than what he was already doing. He had searched diligently but in vain for more helpful potion ingredients, but there was nothing available in the area. He was unwilling to leave Harry for very long or to range further than he could comfortably hear or see the child.
Severus had tucked Harry in with his cloak after propping him up as much as he could to help his breathing. It had been a relief to see the boy in a restful, healing sleep instead of the semiconscious state he had been in for the past week.
As Severus carried the pot over to get more water from the creek he whipped around suddenly, wand at the ready. A wagon with two men in the front pulled by a large bay mare came into view and stopped when they noticed the armed and alert wizard.
"Hail, fellow wizard. We come to offer help. We noticed the surge of raw magic that originated from this meadow last week. My granddaughter saw a vision of your need and sent us with supplies to bring you back to the castle where the boy can be healed. My granddaughter, who is also at the castle, is a renowned healer. There are bandits in this area and many wild animals that will be drawn from the surge of power. Keep your wand up and see in my mind that we mean you no harm. I can tell by your mind shields that you are an Occlumens also. I will allow you access." The older of the two called across the clearing.
The old man looked a lot like Dumbledore with a long white beard and hair. His robes however, were plain earth tones with a sash of gold belted at the waist. He carried a thick staff with intricate carvings and a large green stone on the top. The younger man looked to be in his 30's and was dressed plainly in brown robes, clean shaven with his nondescript brown hair tied neatly in a short ponytail that hung just past his shoulders. Both men wore simple sandals.
Severus met the bright green eyes of the older wizard and felt his probe being allowed inside the man's mind. He could see a beautiful woman with dark black hair telling the old man about a child and his guardian needing their help and that it was imperative that they be brought to the castle for their safety and the good of their world. He also felt an overwhelming sense of goodness and caring just as he felt when Dumbledore let him past his shields. Severus nodded at the two and dropped his wand hand.
With a gentle flick of the reins, the younger man pulled the wagon up near the shelter and the two climbed down. With a sprightliness that made the old man seem much younger than he appeared, the two men started to unload supplies from the back of the wagon. Severus poured the water into the cauldron to simmer by the fire and hurried into the tent to be beside the boy before the strangers could enter. He may trust them to help them; but his trust only went so far. He would not leave the boy alone with them until he was positive they meant him no harm.
As the younger man started preparing a meal at the fire from the supplies he had unloaded, the older man knelt beside Severus and handed him a box full of potions and salves to inspect. Each carefully labeled vial matched the proper color and consistency and the Potion Master carefully sniffed, visually inspected and finally tasted each one cautiously. He found strong pain relievers, sleeping potions, nerve strengtheners, bone strengtheners, and fever reducers. Finally, with a nod of respect, Severus gently scooted behind Harry and gently propped him up against his chest to feed him the potions. "Harry, child, you need to wake up and drink these potions. Harry, wake up, child!"
Harry groaned and fought to open his eyes. He knew the voice speaking to him, he knew it fed him and cared for him but in his fever and pain, he wasn't too sure who it was yet. Understanding flooded him and the stabbing pain surged through his battered body again. "Don't want to…hurts too much…" he croaked in a whisper.
"Harry, this man has brought real potions to heal you but you need to wake up to take them."
"Real? Heal me?"
"Yes, silly child." The tone in the voice made the insult almost a pet name.
Harry opened his eyes and obediently opened his dry cracked lips to accept the offered potions. Only after swallowing what seemed to be dozens of potions, Harry noticed the old man sitting beside them. Because he didn't have his glasses, he had at first thought it was Dumbledore, but no, this man had green eyes like him even though his beard and hair looked like the old headmaster's. "Who are you?" He mumbled.
"You may call me Emrys, my child. My companion, Artemus, and I felt the magic and knew you were hurt and came to find you to bring you back to my castle where my granddaughter can heal you. She would have come herself but she is very much with child and it wouldn't be safe for her to travel right now. After we get some more potions in you and a couple of meals followed by a good nights sleep, we will load you and your guardian up into our wagon in the morning and take you back to the castle. It is only two days from here. It took us longer to get here because we weren't exactly sure where you were, and it took us several days to find you."
Harry felt the immediate relief of the magical potions flowing through his body, healing him with a feeling of warmth and comfort. He relished the touch of the man gently cradling his body against his own chest. He wasn't sure he wanted to be healed. He had come to care for the 'evil git' that was holding him like a father.
Whenever he was awake, Severus had talked to him, explaining how they had escaped, how his injuries were doing, and a myriad of other subjects. Merlin, they had even calmly discussed why Harry did so poorly on potions when he did so well in all of his other magical classes. Severus had told him stories of wizarding history and culture, of his own feelings towards Harry, and why he had acted like he had hated him. They had even discussed about how they would act toward each other when they returned to the castle. Harry had to admit that most of the discussions were pretty one sided as he was unable to make more than one or two word responses because of his ribs.
Harry hadn't yet discussed his childhood with the Professor but he knew the older man was only waiting until he could actually say more that one or two sentences without the pain in his ribs flaring up. Severus still didn't know that Harry had heard him musing about taking custody of him; so that subject hadn't been broached. Harry was afraid the man would reject him after having been such a burden to him the past week. His Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had spent his entire life letting him know that he was a burden, not worthy of anyone's care or love and he knew that once Severus realized this he would turn away and abandon him just like everyone else. So for now he would lean against the strong chest, comforted by the gentle rise and fall of his breathing and sleep with the rumbling vibration of his deep, silky voice above him talking to the old man.
Harry woke to the smell of a delicious aroma of sausages and hot bread with melted cheese. Severus still had him against his chest and was eating while talking quietly to the old man.
"Hello, child. How are you feeling? I know you are not completely healed, but you should be feeling a lot better." Emrys asked gently after putting down his own plate. "Are you ready for some broth?"
"My chest doesn't hurt when I breathe anymore and my head feels almost normal. But my arms and legs still hurt, though not as bad as they did." Harry admitted, "And food smells wonderful."
Severus laughed and said, "It may smell wonderful, but you only get broth, a small piece of bread, and tea for now until we know that your stomach can handle more. You have been out of it for over a week."
Harry squirmed slightly against the man holding him. "Severus, I need your 'special spell' though before I eat anything." Harry whispered so only the man sitting behind him could hear. Severus chuckled and whispered the incantation making Harry feel much better.
Artemus brought in a bowl of broth and a piece of soft bread for Harry who looked rather disappointed at his dinner. Severus laughed outright at his expression and explained that he had to keep the broth and bread down and if he did all right on the simple fare he could have the other food in a couple of hours. Harry had gotten over his embarrassment at being fed and cared for over the last week but he was still grateful that the two strangers went out while Severus fed him and then changed his bandages and cleaned him up. The supplies included clean clothes for both of them and Harry felt much better actually wearing the soft warm robes instead of just being wrapped in Severus' cloak and his pants and socks. Luckily Severus knew the proper spells to dress someone who had bandages everywhere.
"Ah, Harry, you look much better. Perhaps Harry and I can visit while you get cleaned up yourself, Severus? I will be sure to call you if he needs anything. Artemus has hot water in your cauldron down by the stream so you can wash if you like." Emrys smiled as he ducked into the makeshift shelter.
Severus looked grateful to Emrys and took the folded pile of clean robes and undergarments the old wizard had in his hands, and left the two alone to become acquainted. Severus knew from his talks with the wizard that he was completely trustworthy. He knew the old man was keeping something secret, much like Albus always did, but everything he had told him was truthful. He had just not told all of the truth yet.
After Severus left to get cleaned up, Harry learned that Emrys lived in a castle about two days travel from where they were. His granddaughter and her husband as well as his grandson and his wife lived in the castle. Emrys' granddaughter was a healer and her husband was a potions master and they had made the potions that Harry had taken. His grandson and his wife were both scholars and his grandson's wife was a well known seer as well, and had 'seen' Harry's and Severus' plight and sent them to bring them back to safety.
As the old man quietly talked to Harry his eyes blinked slower and slower until he could no longer keep them open. Just as Severus came back to the tent, clean and freshly clothed, Emrys ducked out the front and smiled saying, "He's asleep again. Perhaps you would take this opportunity to sleep also. The back of the wagon is well padded for our journey and Artemus or I will wake you if he needs you."
Since Severus had only managed a series of short naps while tending to Harry alone for the past week he gratefully accepted and was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Harry barely woke long enough during the afternoon and evening to eat, swallow potions, and go back to sleep. Severus never woke at all. Artemus and Emrys took turns watching while sitting by Harry while the other slept that night.