The Fountain 18/?
Title: The Fountain 18/? 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 :)
Severus set aside his pen and stretched his arms above his head, making the camp stool wobble. The small folding table in front of him was covered in spiral bound notebooks, but most of them were still empty. He found writing the reports to the Riddle Foundation the most boring part of his job, even more so at the moment for they had yet to find anything noteworthy to report. Only one of them had a few pages written, just a list of the things they had so far discovered: pottery, a few combs and even less jewellery.
Lord Riddle was of the opinion that the site they were currently excavating had once housed an extensive temple complex that rivalled some modern cities in size, but so far no evidence of such a thing had been found. They'd been digging for three weeks and so far the only things they'd discovered were a few pottery shards and pieces of jewellery. The shards were plain and unadorned but there was nothing that remotely resembled ceremonial bowls or weapons. In fact they'd found no evidence of weapons at all, which was unusual for this civilisation. Even if the tribe who had once occupied this place had been peaceful, they would usually have needed some sort of weapon to hunt animals and protect the village from animal, and possibly human, attacks.
It would have been a great coup to discover a lost temple, but Severus didn't hold out much hope of it. This was just one of any number of ancient tribal villages that had been plentiful in this part of the world and was nothing for the media to get worked up about. Media attention sometimes meant the death of a dig, but sometimes it helped to spur further interest and further funding.
The diverse group of students seemed to get on well, with those from different universities working together with no qualms. All except for one. Draco Malfoy seemed to think it was beneath him to get his hands dirty and Severus had yet to see him using any digging tools. Probably afraid of breaking his manicured nails, Severus thought. Draco was vociferous in his complaints about the basic facilities at the camp. There was no hot water, admittedly, but they had very basic outdoor showers; a tin tank on string was pulled and water fell out through the holes in the tin to allow a quick wash. The toilet facilities were even worse than the showers. A mile or so outside of the camp were wooden huts with a wooden bench seat over a deep hole as there was no plumbing for flushing either. Severus had the impression that Draco wouldn't be so keen on going on any more digs with him, something Severus was grateful for.
He had his camp stool and desk just outside the flap of his tent so while he worked he could watch the others. Or rather, one other in particular. Harry was never far from his thoughts or his sight, Severus was too terrified of what might happen to Harry if he wandered off on his own. They were in the middle of the jungle after all with dangerous plants and exotic animals that might attack if they felt they or their habitat was being threatened.
It was good to watch Harry work, he fit in well with the others barring Draco of course and those two seemed to avoid each other as much as possible. Harry was working with Ron Weasley and Viktor Krum, a student from Oxford, while Hermione Granger was having an animated conversation with Luna.
Severus' neck prickled, like it had been doing for the past week. He turned his head and just caught a flash of brown skin as someone ran through the jungle foliage. They were being watched and had been for some time. Luna and Hermione marched over to him. "Did you see them?" Hermione asked, hands on her hips.
"Briefly. I don't think they mean us any harm."
"But should we even be here?" Hermione continued. "We might be trespassing on their land and they don't want us here."
"If they didn't want us here, they would have said something," said Luna.
"Do they speak English, then?"
"No need. Miss Lovegood speaks a few of the local dialects, that's why she's my assistant."
"Wow! Really? Did it take a long time to learn it?"
"No, not really, I grew up in Peru and after my mum died my nanny was a local, so she taught me quite a few."
"Miss Lovegood, perhaps you could go and see what our visitors want?"
"Yes, Professor."
Severus and Hermione watched as Luna entered the jungle and disappeared from view for almost half an hour. When she returned, she was smiling and waving back at someone he couldn't see.
"You need to bring Harry," said Luna.
"Why?" Severus demanded, his heart in his throat at the thought of putting Harry in any more danger.
"They've been waiting for you. Both of you. They will explain everything once you and Harry go with them."
Curious despite any danger they might be in, Severus called Harry over and relayed Luna's request. Harry's eyes widened. "But why do they want to see us?"
"Shall we follow them to find out?" Severus wouldn't make Harry go if he didn't want to.
Harry nodded eagerly. "Miss Granger, please stay in the camp and let Dr. Pomfrey know where we've gone. If we're not back in two days, feel free to send a search party."
"You expect to be gone for two days?"
"I don't know. It's all very mysterious, isn't it? Miss Lovegood, what do you think?"
"They didn't say how long we'd be."
"Why are you going?" Hermione asked, pouting.
"I'm allowed to go because I am their voice. They don't understand our language."
"Right." Hermione still sounded put out and Severus guessed she would have liked to be in on the mystery as well.
Once Hermione returned to her work, Severus and Harry followed Luna Lovegood into the jungle and over to the three tribesmen who'd been waiting there. One of them was very old and short, his skin was wizened like wrinkled paper, his short cropped hair was white rather than the deep black of his two companions. These two were of a height with Harry, a little bit taller than the oldest man. Their skin was bronze and their eyes were beetle-black. All of them were naked except for leather loincloths tied loosely about their hips and each wore a few necklaces of bone or teeth around their necks. The two younger men carried small daggers, the handles jutting out from their loincloths, but the older man appeared to be unarmed. Instead of a weapon tucked into his loincloth, he had a horn on a leather thong draped across his chest. He said something to Luna, pointed at Harry and Severus, then pointed further into the jungle.
"He wants us to follow him," said Luna. "They've been waiting for you both for a long time."
"Why would they be waiting for us?" asked Harry.
"To them, lightning and twins are sacred. They have a prophecy; they are waiting for the lightning twins."
"But we aren't twins," Severus said.
"Yes you are," Luna insisted, pointing out their matching scars. "You are lightning twins. Very rare and very special to this tribe. They are going to show you what you seek."
The three men forged ahead through the jungle foliage, leaving Severus, Harry and Luna with little option but to follow them. Severus didn't know how long they travelled for, this far into the jungle the light faded rapidly and it seemed twilight already. Luna was the first behind the tribesmen, Harry in the middle and Severus taking up the rear. The errant tuft of Harry's hair that always stuck up at the back was almost vertical today and Severus had to resist the urge to tame it. Not that it ever worked anyway, but Severus had always enjoyed trying.
He and Harry had done little besides kiss in the past few weeks despite sharing a tent. Severus was mindful of Harry's shyness and knew Harry wouldn't want the others to hear what they might be doing, but the truth was Severus wanted to risk more with Harry, but at the same time he didn't want to scare him off. It was somewhat frustrating but Severus knew that if he was patient with Harry now the rewards in the future would be more than worth it.
Severus could hear the rush of water up ahead and a few moments later their path was blocked by a large waterfall gushing into a pool below them. Wiping sweat from his brow, Severus was tempted to dive into the pool to cool down. Their guides marched along a path to the side of the waterfall and then disappeared behind it. Harry glanced back at him, a broad smile on his face, before he too followed Luna and the tribesmen behind the waterfall. Severus took a deep breath and did the same.
There was a deep cave behind the waterfall, but very little light once they were away from the entrance. Severus hadn't thought to bring a torch, but Luna had her mobile phone with her. Despite not getting any reception for phone calls this far into the jungle and mountains, she turned it on so that they could use the screen for some light. The tribesmen didn't seem to need any and negotiated the rocky floor with an ease Severus envied.
As they went deeper and deeper into the cave, there was a small pinpoint of light up ahead, revealing that it had been more of a tunnel than a cave. Harry was breathing rather heavily and Severus belatedly realised that Harry was claustrophobic. Severus reached out and gripped Harry's hand in his. "It's okay, Harry. We're nearly there. Not too long now."
"Sorry," Harry mumbled.
"There's nothing to be sorry about. Look, here's the exit." And indeed they had reached the end of the tunnel and emerged onto a thin ledge. Far below them men and women went to and fro about their daily business in a massive stone city. Severus and Harry looked at each other.