The Fountail 11/?
Title: The Fountain 11/? 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 :)
When Severus returned home later that night he discovered a parcel from the Riddle Foundation waiting for him on his front steps. Surprised it hadn't been stolen by some of the neighbours, he brought it inside but decided to wait until the morning to see what it was. Feeling, tired, sticky and uncomfortable after his heated kissing session with Harry he decided just to have a shower and get to bed.
Stripping off his clothes, he left a trail of garments as he padded to the ensuite bathroom and turned on the shower. The shower was one of his little luxuries; it was double size with massage jets down the back of it and could also be used as a steam-room - a small stool pulled down from the side of it. Since he lived on his own Severus had no-one to please but himself and he enjoyed his showers as much as some people enjoyed drugs or sex.
As the hot water cascaded down it didn't take long for his mind to wander back to earlier that evening and Harry's hot, wet lips. Harry had been wild and unrestrained in his arms, allowing every kiss, every touch, every caress that Severus had wanted to give. Severus had never had such a responsive lover before and he revelled in it. To come almost from the kissing alone! It had been so erotic, both of them still fully clothed, as if they just couldn't wait long enough even to get undressed.
Predictably, as the memories swam before his eyes, Severus' cock swelled. He palmed his hand over it, taking his time, just enjoying the arousal before the need became too great. Although Harry had displayed some nervousness at first he soon became engrossed in the pleasure that a good kiss could give. Severus slowly stroked himself to completion while thinking of Harry shuddering against him in orgasm. Severus' own orgasm shot from him in ecstatic pulses as he let out a heartfelt groan, Harry's name on his lips.
That night was the first night he'd slept right through until morning for quite some time.
Once he'd washed and had breakfast, Severus opened the invitation to his initiation, which had nothing surprising in there. He was expected at the Headquarters of the Knights of Salazar at eight o'clock that night, Friday. Severus would have preferred a different day as they were off to Peru on Saturday and he didn't want such a late night the evening before. He had no idea how long this initiation was going to take or what it entailed but he was determined to go through with it.
Once he'd read it he set the invitation aside and opened the parcel. Inside the large box was a layer of tissue paper. Severus folded it aside before examining the contents. There was a red velvet cloak trimmed with some sort of white fur that Severus thought might be rabbit, but he wasn't sure. Delving deeper he found a long, sleeveless white garment that reminded him of a woman's petticoat or a tunic of some sort. Further in there were a pair of thonged leather sandals that wouldn't have looked out of place on a Roman foot soldier. The very bottom of the box held a list of instructions for the candidate.
The Candidate must approach their Initiation with purity in their soul and submission in their heart.
Severus smirked a little at that. He had never been one to submit in any area of his life, but knew he had to do it if he wanted to see what the Knights were really up to. Or at least seem as though he had.
The Candidate will be prepared by their Sponsor an hour before they are due to be tested. The Sponsor will remove all of the Candidate's body hair and anoint the Candidate in oil from face to feet. The Candidate must never reveal the secrets of the Order to which they will be privy.
Severus frowned as he read. Lucius Malfoy was going to remove all his body hair? Lucius Malfoy was fastidious and somehow Severus couldn't imagine the man stooping to do such a menial task, but maybe as part of the Order, Lucius had to obey and do things he wouldn't normally do.
Severus sighed and set the instructions aside. There was nothing else to be done, not if he wanted to be initiated into the Knights of Salazar. And he very much wanted to be.
***
Heathrow was jam-packed with tourists waiting to jet off on their holidays. Clingy couples, screaming kids, giggling teenagers. Severus wished he had a magic wand to hex the lot of them silent. Sleep had eluded him last night after his Initiation and the pain in his arm was just not going away, despite the painkillers he'd washed down with coffee that morning. Due to the vows of secrecy, he knew he couldn't go to a doctor about what ailed him. Severus had the feeling that Riddle would find out if he did, but what if the bloody thing got infected while they were in the wilds of Peru for the next two months?
The group of students and other staff were huddled around the concourse in front of him, but although he saw Harry's two friends, of Harry himself there was no sign. "Right everyone, pay attention. The flight leaves in three hours. There will be a one-night stopover in Miami before we continue on to Peru. Everything has been organised in advance, you just need to show your passports at reception when we check in to get your room keys. Since it is a very busy time of year, we have had to double you up, so it will be two to a room. If you have someone you would like to share with, please let my assistant Miss Lovegood know and she will try her best to accommodate any requests, but there will be no guarantees."
Severus scanned the crowd of students in front of him once more, but there was still no sign of Harry. Worry started to gnaw in his guts. Harry wouldn't be late, not for this.
"Let me introduce you to the others on our team. Dr. Pomfrey and Nurse Umbridge will be our medical team for the duration of the dig, so if you have any medical concerns, you can see them at once. Did everyone receive their travel inoculations?"
A mass of heads nodded and shuffled their feet. "Miss Lovegood will deal with anything else not medical related. If you've lost your equipment or find anything unusual, seek out Miss Lovegood first."
Luna Lovegood nodded and smiled dreamily at the students, most of whom were older than her. A few gave her odd looks; for Luna was dressed in what seemed to be a medieval dress of purple velvet and a pair of Doc Marten boots. Luna's neck was decorated with lots of jewellery: a Celtic cross, a Star of David and an upside-down T-shape that Severus vaguely thought might be a symbol for the Norse god Thor. He had no idea if she was wearing these as some sort of religious affiliation or if she just liked them. She was odd, Severus had to give her that, but she was the best assistant he'd ever had. She wasn't afraid of hard work and Severus didn't care that she chose to dress in a manner that some people might consider quirky.
Draco Malfoy was looking at Luna with a furrowed brow and a disdainful air, as he was to most of the other students. If Lucius Malfoy hadn't been such a financial benefactor to the Foundation, Severus would never have chosen Draco to accompany him anywhere, never mind on a dig. Thoughts of Lucius brought back rather hateful memories of the night before when Lucius had to anoint him. Lucius had shuddered every time he had to touch Severus' scarred face. Some days Severus even forgot he was scarred. But there was no chance of that after Lucius had touched him with such revulsion.
"Professor Snape, not everyone is here," said Luna close to his ear. "Harry Potter is missing."
Severus had already noticed that. He headed towards Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. "Did Mr. Potter not come with you this morning?"
"He did," said Ron. "He's just gone to the bathroom."
Severus had been standing here for over half an hour.
"But he's been gone a while. Maybe you should go and check on him," said Hermione to her friend. "Perhaps he got lost or something on the way back."
"Right." Ron nodded and headed away. Luna was busy checking that everyone had their tickets and passports ready for check-in. Severus was glad he had someone else efficient enough to take care of all of the administrative details, for he found that sort of work tedious. Give him a pick and an unexplored piece of ground any day rather than writing up reports.
"Oh my God! Harry!" Hermione Granger shrieked so loudly that every other passenger in the vicinity stared at their little group.
Ron Weasley had found Harry. In fact, Ron was holding him up. Harry's t-shirt was covered in blood; his face was swollen and he looked like he might fall to the floor at any minute. Poppy and Severus both ran over to the two friends.
"What happened?" Poppy asked as she and Severus helped Ron move Harry over to a bank of chairs.
"I was mugged in the toilets," Harry said, his words slurred through the blood that was still dribbling from his mouth. "They stole all my stuff, the tent and everything."
"What about your tickets and passport?"
"No, Hermione has those," said Ron. "She was afraid we'd lose them."
"I'm sorry," Harry mumbled.
"Did you pass out?" Poppy removed a penlight from her bag and shone it in Harry's eyes. He squinted and tried to move away.
"No."
"Any nausea or dizziness?"
"No, just a headache," replied Harry.
"Well, you seem passable for the moment," said Poppy. "I think you should be fine to travel, but I think we ought to get you to a hospital once we're in Miami just to make sure. They can do a scan just in case."
"So I can still go on the trip?"
"I should think so," said Poppy. "Now, I saw a policeman around here somewhere. You just rest there awhile and take it easy."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, dear. Severus, can you help me find that policeman?" Poppy gave him a strange look and Severus realised she wanted to talk to him alone, not necessarily about the police.
Once they were out of earshot from the rest of the group she revealed what she wanted to talk about. "Severus, I think Harry should sit next to you or me on the plane, that way we can keep an eye on him. He shouldn't fall asleep. He might have concussion."
"Then wouldn't it be better that he gets to a hospital here to make sure? What happens if he gets ill in the air? I can take him to the hospital, get him checked out and we can both fly out to Miami tomorrow if everything is all right. I don't want to take the risk of something happening to him on the flight."
"You could be right. Do you want me to stay as well?"
"No, you need to look after the rest of the group. I'll get Luna to book some extra nights at the Miami hotel and then we can all meet up before going on to Lima."
"Right, Severus. If you're sure?"
Severus nodded. He was sure all right: he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to Harry.