CHAPTER 3 - SHATTERED RIBS
The next morning was wet and rainy. Harry had slept very little the night before, but he had almost finished his book and was so close to his goal that even Quidditch practice after classes in this kind of weather didn't dampen his spirits.
Harry bounced into the Great Hall. Dumbledore was sitting at the teacher's table, enjoying some ham with syrup. He smiled as Harry entered, apparently happy that Harry seemed happy. Harry got the distinct impression that he knew something about him that he didn't. Then again, he always did. Harry smiled back, then grabbed a heap of pancakes and doused them in syrup and whipping cream and seated himself in front of Hermione. As he began to eat Ron trudged in looking puffy eyed and grouchy as he seated himself next to Harry.
"Hey, Ron. You okay? You look a little sick."
Ron yawned. "'m fine, mate. Just tired. Was up late last night finishing up Snape's essay."
Harry paled. "Oh no!" He let his fork drop onto his plate noisily and buried his head in his hands.
"What?"
"Shit! I forgot about the essay!!!" Harry slammed his head against the table causing a group of fourth year Griffindors to throw him disdained looks. "Snape's going to kill me." He groaned.
Hermione peaked out from behind her daily prophet. "Well it's your fault, you know. You only have yourself to blame."
"Oh shut up, Hermione! Harry's been having a tough week, haven't you Harry. He had a nightmare last night."
Harry raised his head. "You heard?"
"Not much. I had just gotten into bed when you woke up. I figured you didn't want to be bothered." Harry was glad he didn't. He didn't think that Ron seeing him blubbering like a snotty-nosed kid would have been a comfortable experience.
"What did you dream? Hermione chirped. Then she became quiet and serious. "Was it about Voldemort?"
"Not really," Harry said lamely. "You know, the usual; the whole Sirius dying thing again."
"Oh, Harry are you alright?"
"Sure." Harry groaned again. "Snape'll murder me." At the moments Harry wished Voldemort would storm the Grand Hall and kill him. It was better than facing Snape at the moment.
How could he forget? He'd been doing so well over the past three weeks. Snape had been pleased by his progress and Harry was finding it easier to keep up in class, as well as understand the material. And Snape was treating him like a human being, not some dog he could yell at whenever it pleased him. All that would surely change when Snape finds out he didn't do his essay. He felt guilty. The man was trying to help him pass and all he could do to repay him was to forget about his essay. Brilliant, Potter.
Harry pushed away the rest on his breakfast dejectedly. Suddenly all his energy disappeared. With Bo breblan now at the back of his mind, he left his friends and headed for the dungeons. He told them he'd forgotten his books in the dorm. On his way there he bumped into Hagrid, who was dripping from head to toe. Hagrid, who was easily the smiliest person in the castle, managed to make Harry smile with one of his stories about man eating plants. As Harry continued to the dungeons he wondered what Hagrid was doing among wild man eating Shlumpkins in the first place. But Harry reasoned that Hagrid would always be happiest among dangerous creatures. And for some reason Harry found that he was Happy during his weekly meetings with Snape. It wasn't the cliché happy that involved smiles and sunshine. It was more a peaceful contentment. Peaceful Snape? The world must be ending.
The potion's classroom door was ajar when Harry arrived. Tentatively he pushed it open. Snape was sitting at his desk, scratching away with his quill. He stopped and looked at Harry neutrally.
"I daresay you are early Potter. What pleasure do I owe?"
"Nothing, sir. I finished breakfast and decided to get a head start."
"I see. You may enter and get started on today's potion. The instructions are on the board." Snape then continued to write.
"Sir."
"Yes, Potter?"
"I…forgot---to do my essay. The one on anti-aging serums…"
"I am well aware of the essay I assigned, Mr. Potter."
"Sorry Sir, I-"
"You forgot to do your essay." Snape rose from his seat and came around to the front of his desk. He touched his fingertips together and looked Harry straight in the eye. "If you knew how many times students have used that excuse you'd know that I do not accept it. If you think that my tutoring you will make me more lenient on you then you are mistaken."
"I wasn't expecting that, sir."
There was a long pause.
"Very well. 10 points from Griffindor. And I want the essay in by tomorrow morning, is that clear?"
"Yes sir."
"You must understand that your mistakes have consequences." 50 points from Griffindor! "And those consequences are sometimes irreversible." One week detention with Filch! "You will learn to accept them as you mature. But for now, try writing down your homework." You witless old fool, Snape said to himself. He seemed to have misplaced his backbone.
It was still raining when Harry stepped out onto the Quidditch pitch. His boots were filled with muddy water and they made a squelching sound as he walked onto the field. Their new team captain, Jack McLarren, gathered his players around. Harry quite liked McLarren. He was witty in his play and very strategic. Harry appreciated that quality in a Quidditch player. McLarren ordered a few rounds around the pitch to get warmed up. The team kicked off. Harry sped around the goal posts and dove in and out of the stadium. His elbow was paining him slightly as he turned corners but he'd suffered much worse. So he kept on flying. Ginny and Demelza, the team's new chasers, whistled as Harry did a tight double loop. Harry spotted Peakes and Coote swinging their newly earned beater bats. Katie and Angelina were whizzing about. And flying above him was Cormac McLaggen. He was the only team member that Harry was uncomfortable with. But in the end it had been Jack's decision to bring him on board. Harry would just have to deal with him.
After five minutes in the heavy rain, the team was already heavy and cold. But Jack psyched them up. "Come on Team! If you can fly through this weather then I guarantee you'll have no trouble defeating Slytherin!" His words sparked a fire in the Griffindor's hearts. With that he freed the snitch and the bludgers and tossed the Quaffle to his chasers.
The snitch was immediately out of sight. Harry flew around the pitch, surveying the grounds for that glint of gold. The rain and fog were so thick that he had trouble seeing three meters in front of him, despite the shield charm he'd cast on his glasses. In the distance he heard Ginny say 'Jack, it's impossible. I can't even see Demelza, let alone pass to her.' And he heard Jack reply, 'keep going anyway!" So Harry kept looking. The water added excess weight. His elbow was protesting to the added strain. Then suddenly there was a wink of light in front of him. His heart raced as he rushed forward, darting after it. He was determined not the let the thing out of his sight.
Somewhere behind him he heard someone yell 'HEY!' Then Jack's angry voice pierced the rain. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'
Then Ginny screamed. Harry tried to turn his broom to see what was happening. He lurched and his elbow spiked with pain. One minute Harry cried out and grabbed his injured arm and the next he was being hit with such force that he couldn't breathe. His already darkened world went black and he felt himself falling.
Harry heard panicked voices. Demelza was sobbing. Jack was yelling with McLaggen. Several people were calling his name. The rain was still fallin hard and as it pricked Harry's face.
He heard Katie's voice: "This way professor. He took a bludger hard in the chest."
Then Harry heard the deep silky voice of Snape. He felt the man kneel next to him and touch his neck, looking for a pulse. Then he picked Harry up. There was intense hot pain in his chest and shoulder. He heard himself scream and his teammates cried out in concern. He felt Snape walk and felt the vibrations of his breathing. Every step Snape took was agonizing for Harry. Breathing was so painful. He thought he was going to die.
Snape burst into the infirmary, startling Madame Pomfrey.
"Poppy, Potter's been hit with a bludger. He took it in the chest. I think his ribs are broken."
"Dear Merlin! Lay him here, Severus."
Harry cried out as his body was placed against the hospital bed. It felt as if his lungs had collapsed. He felt hot tears in his eyes as he struggled to breathe. His teammates cried in outrage as Madame Pomfrey bustled them outside and locked the door. Then she rushed to Harry's side and waved her wand over his body.
"He has five broken ribs, a cracked sternum, a ruptured lung and massive internal bleeding! Stand back Severus."
Snape backed away, but Harry wanted him back. He had been warm and comforting. Pomfrey muttered complex incantations and waved her wand. Harry felt his bones mending, coming back together. He moaned and writhed in pain. Snape retuned to his side, placing a warm hand on his forehead.
"You must relax, Potter. Drink this." Snape held a vial up to Harry's lips and he gulped it without question. "The potion will take a few minutes to take effect. Until then you must keep breathing. Potter!"
Harry jolted in pain and grabbed Snape's robes as tightly as he could. "Prof-professor! Ah, God it hurts! Why does it hurt so much?
Snape leaned in closer and took Harry's head in his hands, stroking his wet hair. "Your lungs have been punctured. The potion I gave you will repair the damage but until then you must fight it. Breathe."
"I can't breathe!"
"You can! You must overcome your pain. Inhale slowly through your nose."
Harry tried his best and painfully managed to inhale a significant amount of air into his battered lungs. Snape continued calming Harry with his caress. Harry had never imagined this man to be so gentle. His harsh words could cut deep, but his hands told another story.
The potion was kicking in and Harry felt the pain become less sharp. His breathing became easier and fuller. He was able to open his eyes and look at Snape. The man's eyes were black yet they seemed alive in the dim candlelight.
"Poppy, please retrieve a blood replenishing potion and an analgesic serum."
"Of course, Severus." Madame Pomfrey sounded relieved. She fetched the potions and handed them to Snape.
"Drink." Snape ordered
Harry obeyed quietly. The remaining pain was dulled to nothing more than a slight throbbing and he felt his limbs begin to warm. Harry couldn't keep his eyes open much longer. But he felt completely safe with Snape. So he allowed himself to close his eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
AU: Plz R&R I don't know what you think of my story if you don't! Thanks for reading!