The Fountain 15/?
Title: The Fountain 15/? 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 :)
Harry scraped his spoon around the edges of the bowl trying to get the last few scraps of lime jelly, his eyes closing in pleasure at the fruity taste. Ever since he'd woken up he'd been ravenous, eating everything put in front of him as if he'd never been fed before. His favourite was the lime jelly; he could eat that just on its own and be happy. He'd never had it before but he had a feeling he'd be seeking it out in future.
Jennifer, the nurse who had been tending him, knocked on the doorframe; for ever since Harry was awake he'd left the door to his room open. He'd already spent too much time cut off from the rest of the world. "Harry, there's a visitor for you."
"Oh, right,” said Harry, putting down his spoon since it was obvious that he wouldn't be able to get any more from the empty bowl anyway. Severus, Sirius and Remus had been haunting the hospital for days now so Harry wondered if any of them could really be considered visitors any longer.
But his visitor wasn't any of the three men he'd been expecting.
"Aunt Petunia! What are you doing here?"
"Where else would I be with my only nephew in hospital?" Petunia was wearing a flowing summer dress that skimmed her ankles and a pair of sandals with bare feet. Harry had never seen her in anything so casual before.
"The doctors thought you might be on holiday," said Harry.
"We were," replied Petunia. "We just got back and got a message on the answer machine. You're not in a coma."
Harry wasn't sure whether that was a comment or an accusation. "I was, but I'm much better now."
"I see. We didn't even know you were in London."
That was true, once Harry had left Privet Drive he hadn't kept in touch either by letter, phone or even the odd visit. Now, with his aunt here, he felt guilty at that slight. The Dursleys didn't even know Harry was going to Peru. Harry had never been happy at that house, although he could never quite put his finger on why. The Dursleys were strict, that was true, and more often than not Harry's punishments for wrongdoing were of the physical variety and he hated being hurt. But what hurt more than that was the knowledge that Harry was always compared to their perfect Dudley and found to be lacking. Harry could have told them a tale or two about perfect Dudley, but he knew he wouldn't have been believed and so he'd kept all the bitterness inside. When he'd moved out and gone to Hogwarts, it was as if he'd been able to breathe freely for the first time in years.
It was only luck that Harry was still here for her visit. After lunch he was due to be released and was only waiting on Severus to arrive back with some more clothes for him. The ones Harry had been wearing were still covered in blood and even without the blood they brought back too many bad memories for Harry to wear them. Severus had assured him that the Riddle Foundation would cover all extra expenses, such as getting Harry's new camping equipment and everything he'd need for their trip. They were due to take the late flight out to Miami tonight and then travel on to Peru with the rest of the group.
"Why were you in London?" Petunia asked, looking anywhere but at Harry.
"For the airport. I'm going as a volunteer on a dig for the summer holidays."
"I see," she said, her mouth pursed in a tight line, as if she didn't see, not at all. "And you didn't think your uncle and I might like to know where you were?"
"Vernon wouldn't care. He never has before, so why start now?"
"That's a lie! Of course he cares, why else would he have taken you in? We've raised you since you were a baby and you just threw it back in our faces. Haring off to God-knows-where without even a note or a phone call! Has it never occurred to you that we worry about you? About what might happen to you? You don't know what the world is like, Harry. There are people out there who would do you harm. I've only ever tried to protect you."
"You didn't protect me!" Harry ranted. "You suffocated me! Why else do you think I went to a university as far away from Surrey as I could get? You can't keep Dudley and I wrapped up in cotton wool forever. Don't you see, by trying to protect us you only made it worse for us to cope once we did get out in the real world?"
"Harry, I'm only looking out for you. There are things you don't know. Bad things, I was only trying to help."
"If you really want to help, you'd let me live my life." Harry wished he wasn't sitting in bed wearing nothing more than a flimsy hospital gown. He felt vulnerable like this and too much of the child he'd once been when his relatives had been in control of him. He hated feeling like that again.
"I wish you would reconsider and come back home," said Petunia. "You could go to a different university, one that's nearer so you wouldn't have to board."
Why couldn't she understand? Privet Drive had never been his home, no matter how many speeches Petunia now made about life, family and all the rest of it. Harry had been unwanted the whole time he was there and none of them tried to hide it until he decided he wanted to go to Hogwarts. Suddenly, they were all supposed to be one big, happy family? Harry wasn't buying it, not for a second, but he did wonder why she was so keen to get him back to Surrey.
"I'm sorry; I won't be going back there. That's all there is to it."
***
Harry was quiet on the taxi ride back to the airport. Things were still feeling a bit unreal around him and after Petunia's strange visit, he'd had to put up with more of Sirius' rants on how he shouldn't be going anywhere with Snape, or 'Snivellus' as Sirius kept insisting on calling him. Harry had had a blazing row with Sirius about breaking Severus' nose, appalled that his godfather had done such a thing. Remus had done his best to smooth things over but they'd left on bad terms and now Harry was feeling guilty about that as well. He shook his head as if to clear all the memories from it. Why should Harry feel guilty when it was Sirius who'd been acting like a spoilt child?
"Are you all right?" Severus asked him, reaching out for Harry's hand but not touching it, perhaps afraid the taxi-driver would be offended.
"Yeah. I just wish Sirius would grow up. How's your nose now?"
"Fine, that nurse set it. I think she has magic hands, hardly any pain at all."
"Good," said Harry. "I'm glad you're okay. He should never have done that."
"No." Severus looked out the car window, as if he wanted this conversation to end but didn't quite know how to go about it.
Harry gladly changed the subject. "Have you been to Miami before?"
"Briefly, it's one of the normal stop-off points for flights to Peru. I haven't really seen much of it besides the inside of a hotel room. And the view from the window, of course. Miss Lovegood has arranged for us to share a room. It has two beds, so I hope you don't mind."
Mind? Harry was ecstatic that they would get to share a room. "That's fine, Severus. I'm happy you'll be sharing with me. It'll be nice to know there's someone there if I get a bit woozy again."
"Harry, if you're not feeling up to the trip any longer, I'll understand."
"No, Severus. I want to go. I feel loads better, really."
"If you start feeling sick or faint, you tell me or Dr. Pomfrey straightaway."
"I will," Harry replied just as the taxi pulled up to the drop off point at Terminal Three.
While the taxi driver removed their luggage from the boot, Severus paid their fare and grabbed a trolley for their luggage. Severus put both backpacks on the trolley and headed for the check-in desks. "If you need the bathroom, I'm going with you," Severus said in a whisper as they reached the queue.
Harry's heart sped up at that thought, even though he knew Severus meant nothing naughty by it, but was just being protective. He quite liked being protected like this, especially by Severus.
There weren't as many people at the airport as there had been the first time they'd been here and of course none of their group at all. It felt more like he and Severus were going on holiday together rather than going to work on a dig with lots of other people. Harry had only been on holiday once before, that time he'd gone to Spain with some people from his A Level class, but they hadn't really been friends. Harry thought they'd only invited him to even up the numbers, as shared hotel rooms were cheaper than singles. He'd been stuck with Guy Weston, who snored, and Harry had hardly had a wink of sleep the whole time he was there. Harry risked a glance at Severus, wondering if he snored but feeling it would be too rude to ask.
By the time they'd reached the front of the queue, Harry's legs and back were aching and sweat was dripping down the back of his new t-shirt, despite the air-conditioning. He shuffled from foot to foot to try and find a more comfortable position as they were asked all the relevant security questions by a sour-faced woman who reminded Harry of Aunt Petunia. At last they were deemed not to be a danger to air travellers and were allowed to leave their luggage for the hold.
They had quite a few hours to kill before their flight left, so Severus insisted they have an early dinner. "Although they don't have the best selection of eateries here," Severus said, making Harry want to giggle. He'd never heard anyone use the word 'eatery' before.
It was a relief to be able to sit down though and Severus had managed to get them a table at one of the few restaurants that had waiter service rather than self-service. Harry felt like being lazy today and he didn't object. The waiter left them alone to peruse the menu while he seated some other patrons. There was so much on the menu it was difficult to choose; Harry would have quite liked a bit of most things. In the end he decided on an omelette with salad and new potatoes. "Are you sure that's enough? I don't know what we might be served on the plane."
"It's fine for me. I had a big lunch at the hospital," said Harry, remembering his lime jelly. He'd already taken a quick peek at the dessert menu, but there wasn't any jelly at all. Maybe it was more of a children's dish.
"Hospital food," Severus said with a shudder.
"The food was all right. Especially when you're hungry."
"Hunger is the best sauce," Severus agreed. "Harry, I know we'll be sharing a room in Miami, but I hope you don't think I'm trying to pressure you into anything. That is not my intention. Miss Lovegood just thought it would be the easiest arrangement since everyone else is already settled."
"I know, Severus. We don't have to do anything we don't want, either of us. But have you forgotten already?"
"Forgotten what?"
"That you promised to give me a practical demonstration on safe sex," Harry said with wink.
Severus coughed and spluttered, his face flushing. Harry smiled, feeling happier than he had in days that he could make Severus as flustered as he sometimes made Harry.