Chapter 17
Severus' eyes were clenched shut as he waited for death to engulf him but it didn't come. There was only the rapid breathing of the boy who he was sheltering.
Severus slowly opened his eyes and to look at the man who had aimed the death curse at him. There was something strange in the man's eyes. It looked like fear but that didn't make sense. He was staring at a point in the stone flooring only a small distance from he and the boy. Severus allowed his gaze to follow the man's and his eyes widened in shock.
Lucius' body lay lifeless only inches away from his own.
At first, he couldn't move. His breathing became shallow and rapid. He stayed, crouched over Harry, taking in the death of Lucius.
Harry didn't know what was going on. Snape was still alive. That much he knew from the man's breathing but he couldn't see anything.
Suddenly, a man's voice broke the eerie silence.
"You fool! You've killed him!"
"It was an accident!" came the voice of the man who Harry recognized as the one who threw the curse at Snape. The voice was shrill and defensive.
Harry's mind was racing. Who did the man kill? He didn't have to wait long to find the answer.
Severus slowly got to his feet, never taking his eyes off of his fallen companion. He was aware of the fact that his hands were shaking but he couldn't control them. He felt numb. He was unaware of the wind ripping at his face as he stood, staring at Lucius' body.
Harry quickly pushed himself to his feet now that Snape was up. His throat clenched when he saw Malfoy sprawled out in front of them. A pang of guilt for thinking that the man would betray them hit him. Another death that was because of him.
Harry tore his eyes away from the lifeless body and looked up to his professor. Snape's eyes were glued on Malfoy. He seemed oblivious to the world around him. Harry's heart skipped a beat. What was going to happen to them now?
He gently tugged at the man's sleeve but gained no response.
The Death Eaters were now quarrelling loudly over what was to be done. The man who killed Lucius was arguing that they should still kill Snape. It would apparently look like they had killed each other in a dual that way. The others seemed content with that plan and the argument was winding down.
Harry tugged harder on the man's sleeve. "Professor!" He was yelling at the man but Snape still wasn't responding or showing any signs that he was aware of Harry's presence.
Harry looked over at the men again. The discussion was over and they had all apparently agreed that Snape should die in order to make their story more believable.
Harry's head whipped back to Snape. "Professor, please!" he shouted. His hands were now grasping at the man's clothing covering his chest.
Harry's head turned to see the man's wand pointed back at Snape's chest.
Severus' eyes rose to look at the man who had killed Lucius. Anger and defiance flashed in them. He wanted nothing more than to lash out at the man who was directing his wand back at him again but something stopped him. The boy was clinging onto him.
He looked down at Harry. He was clinging onto him with this face buried in his chest, waiting for him to die.
Looking back at the man, his arm was already in motion to throw the curse again.
In a flash, Severus scooped Harry up in his arms and leapt off of the tower into the darkness of the sky.
Harry's eyes snapped open. He didn't remember ever being so frightened in his life before now. Air was slashing across his body. He felt every millisecond that he was about to come into contact with the ground when suddenly his fall was broken when his body was swallowed up in icy water.
And suddenly he panicked again. He didn't know which way was up. He couldn't see anything. The water was black in the night and he would either suffocate or freeze soon.
Severus' body crashed into the water. He quickly broke the surface though and gasped for air and then began looking for the boy. After a few seconds, horror began to take root deep inside him. Potter hadn't come up. They had been separated in the fall and he might be unconscious.
Taking in one gulp of air, he disappeared under the veil of the black water and made his way toward the bottom of the lake, casting his arms out in every direction to feel for Harry.
Several seconds that seemed like eons passed with no sign of the teen. Severus could feel panic welling up and he felt his stomach clench. He couldn't lose the boy. He had to find him but he was running out of air.
He bolted back to the surface, gasping for air and caught a few bits of curses from the tower. He was about to dive under again when something caught his attention. Bubbles of air were making their way to the surface. It must be Harry!
Severus took another deep breath and then dived under the surface again, making his way to the origin of the air. It wasn't a good sign. It meant that Harry had likely taken on water in his lungs but at least he had a better idea of where to find him.
Harry could feel himself losing consciousness. His need for air had won out and he could no longer prevent himself from gasping for air, but only water rushed into his lungs. This was how he was going to die. But just as he had resigned himself, he felt a hand grasp his wrist and he could feel himself being pulled into another direction.
Suddenly, he broke the surface and immediately began coughing and replacing the water in his lungs with air.
Severus had one arm wrapped around the boy, keeping his head above the water and the other was engaged in keeping himself above the water. He thanked heaven when Harry began coughing up water and breathing. He didn't know if the boy could have made it to the banks of the lake if he hadn't.
His attention on the boy was broken with voices from above.
"Can you see them?!" came one.
"No. Shit!" came the reply.
"Come on! They couldn't have gotten far!"
Severus had hoped that they would have left them for dead, but he didn't expect his luck to hold out. He began making his way to the bank, bringing the boy, who was still having a bit of trouble breathing, with him.
His progress with only one functional arm was slow, but he couldn't let Potter go. When the water was shallow enough for them to stand, he propped himself under one of Harry's shoulders to help him walk to the bank. The boy was significantly shorter than he was so he had to stoop so that Harry could stand.
Once back on the shore, Harry let go of Severus and fell on his hands and knees, coughing up the last of the water.
Severus knelled down next to him with concern shinning in his eyes, but there was no time to waste. Any second now, they would have Death Eaters after them.
Harry pushed himself to his feet awkwardly with some help from his potions master. He hadn't completely recovered but he could sense the urgency of their situation.
Severus took Harry's wrist and led him into the cover of the surrounding forest. His paces were swift as he wanted to put as much distance between them and the castle as possible. The Death Eaters would likely go off in the direction toward England but he didn't want to take any chances.
"Professor, where are we going?" Harry inquired. His voice was a bit raspy and Severus could tell that the boy must be freezing by the quaking sound.
Severus didn't stop, but he slowed down slightly. This pace would likely be difficult for Harry. "Remember that cabin that I told you about before?"
"What's there?" Harry persisted.
"Floo powder. We can use it to get back to Hogwarts," Severus explained with as much patience as he could manage given the situation.
There were still a few questions burned in Harry's mind but he decided that now was not the best time to pursue their answers.
Severus had much on his mind. He had to get Harry a considerably safe distance away but the boy would freeze if he didn't dry off soon. He didn't know how he was going to feed the boy either. The jouney would take about two weeks if it went smoothly.
* * * * *
The men that had been on the tower were now racing down the corridor's toward the closest exit out of the castle. All of their wands were out in preparation to capture Snape and the boy. They couldn't let them escape.
Once they were out of the confines of the castle, the group stopped, looking around for any trace of the escapees. Their eyes darted back and forth from the lake to the wood.
"Do you think they could've drowned?" one of the men suggested.
"No," one of the others answered. "There would've been splashing and screaming," he pointed out.
"Well, where do you think they went?"
"I don't know. Just spread out and look! How far could they have gotten?"
The men separated and searched through the wood in every direction but each gradually came to the conclusion that they would not be able to find them.
Having regrouped outside of the castle's main entrance, they were conferring about who it was that would tell the Dark Lord. It was decided that Pettigrew should be the one since it was his fault that they had lost Snape and Potter. It would be he who would incur the wrath of Lord Voldemort.
* * * * *
Severus felt as if they had been walking for days when he finally saw the first rays of sunshine from the morning sun. It was a good sign because it meant that the boy could rest for a while. The Dark Lord and his followers didn't often commit their deeds in the day light hours so they would have some time to recuperate. He had felt Potter's steps that he was growing weary and would need to rest soon. But that would need to wait until they found a suitable place to rest.
Severus' thoughts were interrupted when he heard a cry of pain coming from the boy. He quickly turned around to see what was the matter and found the boy on the ground, curled up, grasping at his forehead.
He was afraid something like this might happen. He had actually been surprised that it hadn't happened before now, but then again, no one liked giving Voldemort bad news and it was usually put off as long as possible.
"Harry," he spoke quietly.
Harry didn't respond.
"Harry," this time he spoke with a bit more volume but still kept his tone soft.
The teen's eyes opened slowly and looked into his. He could see the pain behind them and he could hear the boy's breathing becoming more labored.
Harry made an attempt to get up but another wave of pain, more intense than before hit him and he fell back to the ground.
Severus sat on the ground next to him and pulled adolescent into his lap. Harry fought this for a moment. Now was not the time to show weakness. But the pain was so overpowering that he felt like he was going to black out at any moment.
Severus held him with one arm and stroked his hair with his free hand. He began whispering the incantation once again to sooth the boy's pain.
Soon, Harry was asleep in Severus' arms. He thought that he had at least stopped the pain in his scar but the Harry was still shivering in his arms and his skin felt cold and clammy.
Sighing, the man stood, picking up the boy, and carrying him in his arms. He couldn't stop here. They were too exposed here. So, he continued walking.
Miraculously, he soon found a cave. They were in the mountains so he thought that he would be able to find something of the sort shortly.
Severus came to the opening of the cave. It looked deep and it was large enough for them to stay at least for a few hours.
Stepping in, he carefully placed the sleeping boy on the ground. It was dry inside and they were protected from the wind at least.
* * * * *
Author's note: Ok, it's short but you wanted an update, so I gave you one ;) Hope that you guys liked this chapter. I get more reviews when I write cliff hangers but there are only so many of those that I can do… Anyway, let me know what you think about this chapter. This is the turning point to where I can focus on Severus' past which I've been dying to write about ;) And I feel bad for killing Lucius, especially after I made him good deep inside…