Antiquity's Corollary by gonnabefamous
Past Featured StorySummary: At Lily's request, Albus Dumbledore has kept a secret from Severus Snape for 17 years. When Dumbledore learns that this secret plays a vital role in the war, however, it is Snape who is left to deal with the consequences. As Harry's true parentage is revealed, both his and Snape's futures become uncertain. The two must learn to work together in order to survive. PreHBP.
Categories: Parental Snape > Biological Father Snape Main Characters: .Snape and Harry (required), Draco, Dumbledore, Ginny, Hermione, Ron
Snape Flavour: Canon Snape
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, Drama, Family
Media Type: None
Tags: None
Takes Place: 6th summer
Warnings: Alcohol Use, Torture, Violence
Challenges: None
Series: None
Chapters: 58 Completed: No Word count: 401010 Read: 379367 Published: 28 Jun 2005 Updated: 11 Oct 2015
Carry You by gonnabefamous

Chapter 9- Carry You

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Severus peeked out into the corridor, checking that the coast was clear. Glancing at Potter's face, he saw that the boy was still unconscious, and stepped out the door. He quietly crept down the hallway, making the best time possible. Within minutes, he'd reached his first checkpoint location. He'd come to the end of the hallway, where he knew there was a secret passage lying inside the walls.

Needing a free hand, he carefully lowered Harry's legs to the floor, just barely able to support the rest of his weight with one arm. He reached up and twisted the second branch of the candle holder, and then re-lifted Harry into his arms. He silently thanked Merlin that the boy weighed so little… at the same time, he pondered why.

Holding the child in his arms, Severus barely managed to squeeze through the narrow gateway that had appeared in the wall. Once inside, Severus started wondering about the state of Harry's lungs. The passageway was cold, musty, dark and dank. If any damage had been done to Harry's throat or respiratory system, these conditions could mean the boy's death. However, Severus didn't have another option. He could only hope and pray that he'd be out of the tunnel soon and that Harry's system could handle the conditions.

It had been a while since he'd last been forced to get out of the mountain this way, and Severus worried that he might need more than his instincts to guide him. However, since neither of his hands was free, and Potter was unconscious, he had little access to his wand, which he otherwise might have used to point him. To make matters worse, Severus' arms were becoming ridiculously tired; he'd been supporting Harry's weight for nearly an hour now. Thankfully, they were close to the end of the tunnel.

When they'd come to a small trap door that led out of the passageway, Severus set Harry down on the moist, dirt ground. He stared down at him. The next leg of their journey included swimming, and he was uncertain how to manage this with the boy unconscious.

"Potter," he said, shaking thim. "Potter, I know you're in pain right now, but I need you to pay attention."

Harry, however, was completely unresponsive, and Severus was at a loss. He pointed his wand at the boy. "Enervate." But it was no use.

As he was debating his next move, Severus heard an opening way at the end of the tunnel. Slowly, and in complete dread, Severus turned his head, and could see a faint light in the distance. He had no other choice; he scooped Harry into this arms, kicked open the hatch, and, clutching Harry tightly to his chest, dropped down through it.

Severus plunged into the icy water and opened his eyes. He looked down at Harry; he had regained consciousness, but was now gasping in lungfuls of water. Time was limited; within moments, Potter would be dead. Severus kicked up to the surface quickly, reaching it within seconds. He then grabbed Harry from behind, pushing on his lower chest and forcing the water out of his lungs. Harry had once again gone unconscious, however, and wasn't breathing. Severus swam to the edge and dragged himself and the boy up onto the ground.

Rolling Harry onto his back, he waved his wand over his chest and attempted to expel the water. A jet of lake water streamed, projectile, from Harry's mouth, but he still wasn't breathing. There was nothing else for it. Severus leaned forward and began CPR; it pained him to use such barbaric, muggle methods, but he hadn't rescued the boy who lived to let him die. "Come on, Potter," Severus growled in between breaths as he pumped the boy's chest, "You've survived the Dark Lord six times, and you're going to let a little water do you in? COME ON, POTTER!"

Severus bent down and filled Harry's lungs with air once again, and to his relief, when he'd pulled away, the boy's eyes snapped open. He was coughing and sputtering, but he was alive. Severus sighed in relief and sat back on his heels, trying to catch his breath as Harry caught his.

Harry was looking around in shock, obviously attempting to figure out exactly what had happened since he'd last fallen unconscious.

"Sit up, Potter."

Harry moved to do as he was told, but winced at the sharp, stabbing pain riveting through his ribs.

"No, better lie down," Severus now ordered urgently, pushing him gently back to the ground. "But we have only a few minutes, at most, before we need to apparate to the Hogwarts gates. Here," he said, pulling out one of the Ebil leaves he'd extracted from the shelf a few hours earlier, "Chew on one of these." As Harry did so, Severus began to wave his hand over his injuries, uttering a quiet incantation.

Harry chewed with a disgusted expression on his face, but was too tired to complain. He was still in a daze; he faintly remembered what had happened hours earlier in the potions lab, but could remember little else. All he really knew was that one moment, he'd felt sure that this was the end; no one would come to save him. The next moment, the professor who loathed him most was holding him steady on his lap and gently helping to heal his wounds. Most days this would have bothered Harry; he'd have had questions about the nature of this caring… but today, he was too tired, and too scared, to care.

"Professor," Harry said once the shock had started to wear off, "What happened?"

Severus looked down at Harry, surprised to find that he felt relief that the boy was conscious rather than the usual annoyance. "It's a very long story, Potter." He said quietly, feeling it was best not to overload him with information just yet. Potter was weak, and telling him of the Dark Lord's new plan might throw him into shock.

Though he didn't argue, Harry felt a familiar surge of resentment. Was it so difficult to answer a question? Why, whenever Harry needed answers the most, was he continually denied them? Why-

"When you're safely in the hospital wing, I shall explain," Severus continued wearily, and Harry stared at him in surprise while his Professor helped him get gingerly to his feet. Though he was still in pain, Snape's quick spellwork had made a vast improvement. "But right now, we need to move. It might not be long until the Dark Lord determines where to find you. Grasp my arm."

Harry did as he was told and suddenly felt a strong pulling sensation, followed by the feeling that every part of his body had been compressed tightly together; he was whipping through the air, spinning- he was going to be sick, and then, with a sharp CRACK they had landed hard on the ground in front of the Hogwarts gates. Harry's knees buckled underneath him and he was on the ground, retching the contents of his stomach powerfully into the grass.

"Graceful, Potter," Snape said from above him, though his tone did not have the usual bite. "When you're done, then."

Scowling, Harry finished and wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve as he stumbled to his feet.

"Come on then, Potter," Severus said, grasping Harry's elbow, but Harry wrenched it away.

"I can walk," Harry said bitterly, and Severus lifted his eyebrows and gestured forward.

"By all means, then."

Harry began to stagger slowly up the pathway to the doors, but was at once too winded to continue. He paused mid step and doubled over, attempting to catch his breath- he had a powerful pain in his side that made it difficult to breathe.

"Apparation can make injuries worse, of course, but under the circumstances," Snape muttered, conjuring a stretcher at once. "Climb on, Potter."

"I'm fine," Harry gasped through gritted teeth.

"You're not," Snape said sternly. "On. Now."

Partially because he wanted to get to the hospital wing as soon as possible and partially because he didn't want to hear one more comment from Snape's direction, Harry finally abandoned his pride and climbed on to the stretch. Once up, Severus made haste to rush Harry to the hospital wing.

Moments later, Snape was waving his hand and the hospital wing doors were flying open ahead of Harry, creating a clear path for his stretcher to drift in. Madame Pomfrey immediately appeared at the noise and gasped at the sight of Harry. "Goodness me!" She exclaimed. "What happened?"

Severus deposited Harry onto the nearest bed and flung himself into the chair next to it, relief washing over his face. "The usual, where Potter's concerned, unfortunately," Severus said darkly, pinching the bridge of his nose. He couldn't remember ever being so tired. "But never you mind, Poppy, he's alive."

Madame Pomfrey narrowed her eyes at Severus, who was once again surprised at how intimidating the small, frail woman could be. "Don't 'never you mind' me, Severus!" She said shrilly. "You may help yourself into the next bed."

"I won't." Severus said, raising his eyebrows. "I'm fine. It's Potter who's hurt, tend to him."

"Not once have you returned from a meeting where something such as this happened and been unharmed." Madame Pomfrey reasoned.

"Well, there's a first for everything." Severus said resolutely.

"I suppose so," said Madame Pomfrey, "and this wouldn't be the first time I've had to force you to accept my help."

Severus rolled his eyes and sank back into his chair. "Oh, bloody hell, woman. Would you drop it? I—" Suddenly, his eyes widened and he jumped from his chair.

"Poppy, the boy's stopped breathing." He said, trying to maintain a degree of calm as he rushed to Harry's side.

xxx End Chapter xxx

To be continued...
End Notes:
Thank you again to all who've reviewed, you’re all brilliant and I love you platonically!


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