The Fountain 13/?
Title: The Fountain 13/? Author: Eriador117 Pairing: Snape/Harry Rating: Adult Warnings: I am not putting warnings as I do not want to give away the plot. Everyone is over 18. Summary: Non-magic AU. Severus Snape is a world renowned archaeologist and needs student volunteers for his new project. What the students and Snape don't know is what it is they are searching for and Lord Thomas Riddle intends to keep it that way... Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Potterverse; I just play in it from time to time Beta'd by Rakina, thanks so much :)
The room wouldn't have looked out of place in a hotel. Painted in hues of pale blue and white with pictures of seascapes and landscapes on the walls, it did indeed remind Severus of some hotels he'd stayed at. But this was no hotel, and the boy lying prone on the bed wasn't asleep.
Even without the beeping machines letting the staff and Severus knew that Harry was still alive if not conscious at the moment, it was obvious it was a hospital room. It smelled like a hospital; the cloying scent of disinfectant overlaid other stale odours of sweat and vomit.
Severus had been sitting by Harry's bedside for the past two hours, ever since he'd returned from the gift shop with Harry's toiletries and a small gift of a teddy bear that he couldn't resist once he'd seen it. Severus had no idea if Harry even liked teddy bears. He'd never bought a teddy bear for anyone before, and although Severus had never expected anything like this to happen, he knew it had. Severus had fallen in love with Harry, and the thought that Harry might lie in that hospital bed and never wake up was making his chest hurt. It was difficult to breathe. He couldn't lose Harry, not now that he'd found him.
"Professor Snape?" Dr. Bones asked softly after she'd checked Harry over yet again. "Do you know if there is anyone else we should contact? We can't get through to his aunt and uncle. Does he have any other next of kin?"
Next of kin? Severus stood, his legs feeling weak at the knowledge of how serious Harry's condition was.
"I suppose that might be his godfather, Sirius Black."
"Do you have his contact details?"
"Not the home number, but I know the telephone number for their shop." Remus had made a point of sending Severus the number once he and Sirius had bought the shop. If things had been different, it might have been Severus running an antique shop with Remus. If Sirius Black hadn't... but it was useless to dwell on the past. Things were what they were and right now the most important thing was Harry. It didn't matter what Severus thought of Black, Harry would want the people he loved here with him. "Do you mind if I ring them? I don't want the news to come from a stranger."
"If you feel up to that, Professor." Dr. Bones left the room so Severus could have privacy for the phone call. He stared at the phone on Harry's bedside cabinet for a few minutes after the doctor had left. What would he say? How could he tell them this? Maybe he should have left it to the doctor after all? But no... Severus shook his head. It was the least he could do since Harry was so ill. Severus pulled the phone towards him and tapped out the number on the keypad from memory.
"Good afternoon, Noble House Antiques," Remus Lupin's voice came on the other end of the line and Severus felt instantly relieved that he wouldn't have to speak to Black straightway, if at all.
"Remus, it's Severus."
"Severus, Good grief, it must be twenty years!"
"Eighteen," replied Severus, but who was counting?
"Severus, oh my God! Something's happened to Harry!"
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Harry was mugged this morning and he banged his head." Severus took a deep breath; there was no easy way of doing this so he just came right out with it. "He's in a coma, it's very serious."
"Oh Lord!" Remus gasped. "Where are you? Are you with Harry?"
"Yes, he's in Hillingdon hospital. Remus, they don't know if he's going to make it. They wanted to contact his next of kin but they couldn't get through to the Dursleys. They might have gone on holiday."
"Severus, I'll tell Sirius and we'll be on the next flight down. We should get there in a couple of hours. Will you stay with him until then?"
Severus nodded before realising he was on the phone and Remus couldn't see him. "Yes, I'll be with him." He didn't add that he would be here for as long as Harry was. Severus wasn't leaving Harry's side and he didn't care what Sirius Black might have to say about that.
***
Severus woke with a crick in his neck; he'd fallen asleep over the side of Harry's bed. A nurse was reading the monitors and adding something to the chart on the foot of Harry's bed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Would you like me to get you a cup of tea or anything?"
"No, but thank you." Severus wasn't feeling hungry or thirsty although he hadn't had anything since breakfast that morning. He wouldn't have been able to keep anything down; his stomach was tied in knots of worry over Harry.
"You shouldn't give up hope," said the nurse, a young woman who didn't seem much older than Harry. "People do wake up. I know it's rare but it does happen. You should talk to him. He can still hear, or that's what the people who've come back always say. Or we could put some music on, what does he like?"
Severus felt a tightness in his chest. He had no idea what music Harry liked. He didn't know whether or not Harry took milk and sugar in his tea, or even if he drank tea at all. He didn't know Harry's favourite colour, or if he had a favourite book or film. So many little things that he didn't know about Harry, but if Harry woke up... No, when Harry woke up Severus would enjoy finding out about them. Then he would make every minute spent with Harry count.
It was hard to believe that the still form of the young man on the bed had been laughing and joking only a few hours previously. Harry was so still, so silent now, the rise and fall of his chest with the constant drone and beeps of the machines were the only things that indicated he was in fact still alive.
The nurse finished her checks and with a soft smile at Severus she left the room, the door clicking behind her. Once she'd gone, Severus leaned over and took Harry's hand in his, caressing the skin around the IV needle. "I'm not sure what to say, Harry. I've never really been one for big speeches or anything like that. I don't know you very well yet, but I know that I want to. I've never met anyone else like you. You're kind and clever, and your lips taste like strawberries. Wake up, Harry. Come back to me, please."
"Get your fucking hands away from my godson!" Sirius Black roared from the doorway.
Severus turned to see the shadows of Remus and Sirius by the open door. "Sirius, stop shouting, we're in a hospital," said Remus calmly, his hand on Sirius' arm.
"That's right, defend him!" Sirius shook his arm free and stalked into the room. "You always take his side! Anyone would think you're still in love with the git!"
"Sirius, that's enough!" said Remus. Severus had the impression they'd had this argument many times before. "It was good of Severus to wait with Harry until we could get here."
"Good? It's his bloody fault that Harry is in hospital! What did I tell you? That man is jinxed!" Sirius turned his eyes on Severus. "Well, we're here now, Snivellus, so you can just fuck off!"
Severus didn't allow the name-calling to get to him. Harry was far too important to let old hurts take centre stage.
"I'm not leaving," Severus said firmly. "I'm staying with Harry."
"Like hell you are!"
The young nurse who'd just been in to check on Harry appeared at the doorway and glared at Sirius. "If you don't stop shouting I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave. Our patients need calm and quiet."
"I'm his godfather! I have every right to be here. If anyone should leave, it's him." Sirius jabbed a thumb in Severus' direction. "He shouldn't be here."
"Professor Snape can stay with Harry as long as he likes. We find it sometimes helps for the patients to know that their loved ones are here with them."
"We're his loved ones!" Sirius protested. "Snape is nothing to Harry!"
"I am very surprised at your attitude, considering you also have a male partner."
"Partner? What are you talking about? Snape and Harry aren't together."
"That's where you're wrong," said Severus, reaching over to caress Harry's hand again.
Sirius' eyes widened and he lunged for Severus. "You disgusting pervert! Get away from him!"
Remus managed to pull Sirius back. "That's enough, Sirius! Come on, I'll take you to get a coffee or something. You need to calm down."
"Yes he does," said the nurse. "If he doesn't, he won't be visiting."
"I'm very sorry about this," said Remus as he ushered Sirius out the door.
"What a bad tempered man!"
"You have no idea," said Severus softly, all the earlier abuses he'd suffered at Black's hand rising up to haunt him once more. He shook his head, memories weren't going to help Harry.
"If he continues like that I won't let him into see Harry at all, I don't care if he is his godfather! Maybe you should take a break yourself, Professor? You've been with Harry all day."
"I don't want to leave him alone."
"Why don't you go and freshen up and I'll wait here with Harry until you get back?"
"What about your other patients?"
"The other nurses will cover for me, it's not a problem."
"If you're sure?" Severus did feel a bit wrung out. Maybe he could at least visit the men's and splash some water on his face.