The Fountain 12/?
Title: The Fountain 12/? 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 lay propped up by pillows on an examination trolley still dressed in his jeans and t-shirt, although he'd already removed his shoes, not wanting to soil the blankets beneath him. There was a privacy curtain pulled around the cubicle, blue with white clouds, but it only gave the illusion of privacy for Harry could hear everything that was going on around him. There were screams and sobs coming from some of the other unseen patients and arguments coming from a few more cubicles. All the arguments seemed to relate to how much drinking someone had done the evening before.
Severus was sitting on a chair beside Harry's trolley bed and holding his hand while they waited for the doctor to arrive. "How are you feeling now?" Severus asked. The professor hadn't left Harry's side since they'd arrived at the hospital and Harry was glad of it; he'd never been anywhere near a hospital before and had no idea what to expect. A nurse had already examined Harry, taking his temperature, his blood pressure, checking his ears and throat as well as taking a medical history before she was called away to another patient. As she left she did promise that a doctor would be with him shortly, but they'd already been here an hour and a half and as yet no doctor had appeared.
"I still have a bit of a headache but I don't feel dizzy or faint."
"Head wounds can be tricky. It's best to get it seen to just in case."
"I suppose so. Thanks for staying with me. I'm not used to hospitals."
"I've seen my fair share," said Severus softly. "I wasn't about to leave you on your own. The only place I need or want to be right now is by your side."
Harry blinked back a few unexpected tears; Severus always seemed to know the perfect thing to say.
The curtain was pulled aside with a soft 'swish' and there, standing on the other side of it, was one of the most handsome men Harry had ever seen. The man looked like an angel. He had blond curly hair to his shoulders, so fine and soft it looked as if he'd just stepped out of a shampoo commercial. His eyes were the blue of the summer sky and when he smiled at Harry, he had a row of perfect white teeth that looked almost too perfect to be real. The contrast to Severus was almost startling, but even though Harry knew the man to be handsome, he felt no increase in his heart rate, no fluttering butterflies, not like when he looked at or even thought of Severus. Harry squeezed Severus' hand, as if to reassure him that he had no intention of running off with the handsome doctor.
The man hardly looked old enough to be a doctor, but he was wearing a white coat over his lilac shirt and a stethoscope hung around his neck. The doctor smiled at both of them again before lifting Harry's chart and reading it with a professional air. "Hello, Mr. Potter. I'm Dr. Lockhart; what seems to be the trouble?"
But before Harry got a chance to reply, two burly orderlies seemed to appear from nowhere and grabbed hold of Lockhart, wrestling him away from Harry's bed. The chart fell to the floor with a clatter. Severus stood up and let go of Harry's hand. "What is going on here?" he demanded of no one in particular just as a woman appeared around the corner.
"So sorry about that. Mr. Lockhart is one of our psychiatric patients and he slipped out of the day room again. He thinks he's a doctor, but he only did one year of medical school before he had his breakdown. Couldn’t handle the stress, poor thing. Now then, young man, what can we do for you?"
Severus stood in front of Harry's bed. "And you are?" Severus asked frostily, as if he was protecting Harry from any more unwanted attention.
The woman unclipped an identity badge from her breast pocket and handed it to Severus, who perused it with the same intensity he'd stared at Harry during dinner the other evening. "Everything seems to be in order. Harry, this is Dr. Bones."
Harry stifled a giggle. "Really? You're a doctor and your name is Bones?"
She sighed. "It is and I have heard every joke there is. Now, Harry, is it? You had a bit of an adventure this morning I take it?" Dr. Bones lifted his chart from the floor and nodded as she read through. "Your blood pressure is elevated a bit, but that might be from the adrenaline after the assault. Not a nice thing to happen. Did you lose consciousness at all?"
"No, at least I don't think so. It all happened so fast. I was drying my hands and the next thing I knew someone had pushed me against the wall next to the dryer. My nose was bleeding for a while but I don't think I blacked out. I could have forgotten if it was only for a few seconds, though, couldn't I?"
"That is possible. I want to keep you in overnight just to make sure you're all right. I'm still a bit worried about your blood pressure levels. Have you any history of heart problems? Or has anyone in your family?"
"I don't know. Both my parents died in an accident when I was young and I never knew my grandparents."
"I see," said the doctor, but Harry didn't think she did, not really. "Are you sexually active, Mr. Potter?"
Harry blushed, trying not to squirm. Did coming in his trousers while doing nothing more than kissing count? "Um, I'm still a virgin," he admitted at last.
"That's fine, I'm sure you've heard all the safe sex lectures already."
Harry didn't bother to disillusion her, but he thought he might have to ask someone about this soon. Preferably someone male.
"Can you sit up for me? I'd like to listen to your heart and check your lungs." Dr. Bones took out the stethoscope from her pocket and waited while Harry struggled upright on the bed. "Lift up your t-shirt, please." Harry did so, gasping when the cold metal disc was pressed against his skin. He was too nervous even to worry that Severus and the doctor would see his chest bared.
"Take a deep breath in and hold it. That's it, and then breathe out. Good. Now, cough. Good, good." Dr. Bones put the stethoscope away. "Well, other than the bump on the head and your low weight you seem in perfect health, Mr. Potter. Your heart and lungs seem fine; I think the high blood pressure is just a reaction to stress. I still want you to stay in overnight though, and I think the rest and a hot meal will do you good too. I'll just go and arrange your admission with the ward sister."
"Dr. Bones, may I talk to you for a moment?" Severus asked her.
"Of course. Mr...?"
"Snape. Professor Snape."
The doctor and Severus left Harry alone for a few moments and when he returned he was smiling broadly at Harry.
"Well, that was easy. I managed to get you a private room, Harry. It'll be much easier on you to have a bit more privacy than the main ward."
"Severus, I can't afford a private room!" Harry protested. "I can't let you keep paying for things for me!"
"I'm not paying, the Riddle Foundation is," said Severus softly. "All the volunteers are considered part of the Foundation's payroll in effect. This hospital is partly funded from grants from the Foundation and as soon as I let the doctor know that, she agreed that you may have a private room."
"It doesn't seem fair," said Harry. "What about all those other people who won't be able to get that room because I'm in it?"
Severus leaned over and kissed Harry's forehead. "Harry, you are too generous for your own good. You've had a terrible shock, you deserve the best treatment and you are going to get it. Just enjoy it."
"Okay, but if I still feel fine tomorrow morning I'm checking myself out of here."
"That sounds reasonable. Will you be all right on your own for a bit? I can get you toiletries and things from the gift shop."
"You don't have to do that," Harry said, feeling guilty that Severus would be buying him things again.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to. Please, it's the least I can do. Let me do this for you." Severus squeezed Harry's hand and Harry realised that Severus wanted to feel useful. He wasn't bribing Harry with expensive gifts.
"Okay, but nothing expensive."
"Fine. And Harry, once you're better I can give you a practical demonstration of safe sex," said Severus as he gave Harry a soft peck on the lips.
"Oh fuck," Harry moaned.
"I don't think you're ready for that quite yet, Harry." Severus smirked and kissed him again, longer and deeper this time until Harry felt as if he was falling. Harry's lips still tingled for a few seconds after Severus left, as if he'd left some magic behind.
Once Severus had been gone for a few minutes, guilt assailed Harry again. He felt fine. What if he was using that room and someone really ill needed it? They might get turned away from the hospital altogether. They might die and it would be his fault. God, if only he had been a bit more aware of his surroundings this morning then none of this would have happened!
When Dr. Bones returned, she had two policemen in tow who took Harry's statement, but there wasn't a lot he could tell them. He hadn't seen his assailant, hadn't even heard him before he was slammed into the wall.
"Well, if you do remember anything else, just let us know."
"Thank you," said Harry and meant it. He was glad the interview was over and he could rest now. His eyes were so heavy his eyelids felt weighted with lead. Just for a moment... he could rest his eyes for a moment.
"Harry!" He dimly heard someone scream before darkness embraced him like a blanket.