Forever in your arms, by sorciere noire

Published on FFnet between the 11-09-08 and 02-11-09

Translated by Paperblank

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Chapter 1 - Rescue

Deep in the dungeons, in the Potions Master's rooms, a handsome man rests in an armchair, his hands put down negligently on the arm-rest, his long legs crossed. However, his eyes are sharp and don't miss anything. At the moment, he's listening to his old friend and associate, as the man brings him up-to-date on the last events.

Suddenly, the blond man stands up. He immediately points his wand at the fireplace, while his friend does the same. A green flash lights up the hearth and the Headmaster of Hogwarts steps out of the flames.

"Gentlemen ! I am very pleased to find you here."

"Did something happen, Headmaster ? Another attack ?"

"No, not at all. Nonetheless, the alarm on 4 Privet Drive rang. I believe Harry is in danger. I want you both to go in Surrey, collect the boy and bring him back."

The old man doesn't wait for an answer. He turns back and disappear in the fireplace. The two men exit the room in haste and run through the corridors. Once out of school, they apparate to the suburban house of 4 Privet Drive, scanning the surroundings with their hand on their wands and stepping cautiously towards the house. Every light is out for the night. The dark-haired man vanishes the door with a quick spell. The blond looks for any activity, be it Death Eaters in the street or Dark Mark in the sky. Odd, there is nothing suspicious. He follows his friend inside the house.

Dressed in black, the dark-haired man climbs the stairs to the first floor, while the blond explores the ground floor and finds no one. He waits in the corridor.

Upstairs, the dark-haired man finds three people. They are asleep and there is no sign of Potter. Back downstairs, they decided to check the garden even though it is dark.

Wands in hand, they sneak to the back of the garden before one of them conjures a small light, invisible to the eyes of the Muggles. They can see a shed with a couple of rubbish bins.

The brat has no reason to be out here, the dark man thinks.

The two men exchange a look. They are ready to turn back when a small noise surprises them. They hedge around the shed quietly and look everywhere. There is nothing but some rags and a chain which extremity is knocked into the wall. They get ready to turn back again, but there is a slight movement under the rags. The Potions Master comes closer and lifts the corner of the dirty cloth to investigate. He gags and wails in horror.

"Severus, what is it ?"

"I found Potter."

"Here ?"

"Yes, here ! Come help me, take my wand."

Lucius Malfoy approaches to take Severus' wand. He glances over his friend's shoulder and looks away quickly, bile rising in his throat. The dark-haired man unties his cloak, as he looks at the tortured body ; if he touches it, the pain will be untenable. So he uses a coma spell, so that he can wrap the boy in the cloth and move him.

"Lucius, would you please sever the chain ? I will also need my wand back. Impossible arrogant brat, of course he puts himself in a desperate situation !"

"Do you truly believe if asked for this, Severus ?"

"It's pathetic, is what it it ! How is he supposed to defeat the Dark Lord ? He isn't able to defend himself ! Let's go and hide him, then," the Potions Master growls.

They apparate and find themselves in the undergrowth of a forest. With a wave of his hand, Severus Snape dispels the illusion and a manor appears in the distance. He walks quickly because the coma spell is failing and the boy is moaning in pain, pain soon to be unbearable. Malfoy follows hurriedly, opening the manor's door with his wand so that the obstacle doesn't stop his friend.

The dark-haired man strides along the hall with the pitiful burden in his arms. He rushes up the stairs, opens the door with a quick of his foot and finally puts down the body on the bed. The wounded boy's breathing is so shallow and laboured that it's barely discernible. The chain around his neck burrows in the flesh and oozing scabs stench the atmosphere with the smell of infected pus. Harry is reduced to a mass of bloodied flesh and the bed sheets are red with blood already.

The young man has had his fingers crushed, his jaw broken, his arms and legs fractured, his back whipped. He has been stabbed, though the wounds seems to aim at more suffering and not outright killing. As Severus puts his fingers on the youth's chest, he finds several broken ribs. A medical scan with his wand reveals several internal injuries, and more importantly an exhausted heart. The boy is naked under the grime and dried blood, and his body is gaunt with prominent hipbones. Infuriated, Severus sighs.

"We have to get the chain out of the way, Lucius. But first, let me give him a restorative potion for his heart. In his state, too much pain could very well kill him."

The Potions Master takes a green vial. He wrinkles his nose in weariness and lets the fluid drip in Harry's mouth. It runs down his chin, as the boy isn't able to swallow.

"Holy Merlin, nothing for it, then. I have to remove it now."

The man delicately pulls on the chain's rings but the tricky movement pulls out some scabs that bleed. Harry's eyes are wide open, his pupils dilated by the agony and a hoarse cry leaves his mouth as he tries to curl up with his arms protecting his head.

"Lucius, you have to restrain his arms ! Damn, make sure he doesn't move !"

The blond man comes closer and holds the wrists down. His eyes are taking the disaster : the young man's fingers are swollen and some of the bones pierce the skin. When he looks at the neck, Severus is finishing off. The boy has stopped struggling from exhaustion. The festering sores provoked by the link soil the linen and the Potions Master tries to remove the pus with a sponge. The metal chain lays forgotten on the floor.

"I can't heal him in these conditions. He's more than filthy. And this foul stink... I must scrub him clean. Get the elf to cook some broth and for Merlin's sake, get the hell out of here !"

Lucius grumbles away, for he knows that Severus works better alone when he's so tense. The dark-haired man prepares the bath with tepid water and undresses down to his underwear. As he comes back to the youth, the latter looks at him with desperate eyes and panics. He tries to speak and croaks. The older man bends over him and listens. He pales. The seventeen-year-old boy is asking for death, with whispered words. Let me die, let me die please, no more.

Severus can identify the terrified look in the boy's eyes. He has seen it in Voldemort's torture dungeons, always with rape victims. Yes, he knows. He's not angry against Potter anymore. His eyes are softer and his movements gentler.

"Calm down, Potter. Nothing will happen to you here. I have to clean you up so I can heal you. Mend your broken bones..."

Harry's heart is beating wildly and his body is trembling violently. Severus takes him gently in his arms despite the horrible smell and cradles him, murmuring soothing words. The Potions Master knows the boy no longer has any will to live.

"You're going to live, Potter. I will get you back on your feet. I promise it will get better. I swear you won't get hit here, nor beaten, nor whipped. I'm sure you know I'm a nasty bad-tempered bastard and well, I won't change. But I'll make an effort for you. Only for you, insufferable brat. In return, you will let me heal you. Do you understand ?"

The young man feels a tear running down his cheek. "Yes, sir." His answer is barely comprehensible and he closes his eyes.

The Potions Master gathers Harry in his arms and carries his to the bathroom. He checks the water with his hand, then simply steps inside the tub and sits the boy on his knees. He uses a soft flannel to wash him until the grime and blood drains away. Once clean, he carries the boy out and wraps him in a comfortable bathrobe. Back in the bedroom with the scrawny body still in his arms, Severus waves his wand to replace the bed sheets.

The scowling man puts the Gryffindor down on the bed and leaves him unattended for a few seconds so that he can dry his body and dress. As he comes back, he lights more torches. The healing work will be long and difficult. Eyes closed, Harry shivers despite being mostly unconscious. He really needs a pain potion, but once again the swallowing reflex isn't triggered by the the presence of liquid in his mouth and he dribbles. Severus is reluctant to revive the wounded boy from his slumber but needs must.

"Potter, wake up !"

Harry can hear his name called, but his eyelids are so heavy he can't open his eyes properly. He can see a man he doesn't recognise. He whimpers in fear and huddles up further away in the bed, hyperventilating. Severus calls for Lucius.

"Would you help me please ? He must take the potion this time."

The blond sits on the bed and speaks softly reassuring words until the boy calms down. When the older man gives him the potion, Harry tries to drink it in small gulps. He chokes and spits and his eyes are brimming with tears. Finally, Harry falls back asleep under the effects of the potion so that the two men lay him down and begin the healing process.

Lucius closes all the wounds : from a belt, from a cane, from the chain. Severus mends the broken ribs, the fractured knees, the swollen fingers. The young man is keening in pain, writhing on the bad, so the Potions Master binds the wounds and stops.

"Enough for tonight, it's time for him to rest."

Severus covers the young man up. He thinks about the small cuts on his face and the swollen eyes. Let's see, tomorrow will be soon enough, he thinks. The two men don't leave the room but let the Gryffindor fall asleep. They are dead tired. Severus summons two glasses of Firewhiskey and offers one to Lucius. They stumble into deep armchairs and indulge in the drink. The Potions Master stares at the wounded young man lying in the bed. He's not even sure if Harry will survive the night.

"So ?" Lucius asks, cautious.

Severus turns his head towards his friend and decides honesty is the best policy.

"If he survives the night and tomorrow, then he may live. If he lives, then it will be an uphill struggle." His tone isn't desperate, but it isn't hopeful either. "I'm staying here tonight. You should go sleep."

"No, I'm staying as well. You might need me, Severus."

After a two-hour vigil, Severus stands up and goes to the bathroom to freshen up. He glances at the mirror, his face still wet and weary. How can someone beat a child so badly for so long ? Tomorrow, he'll take care of the boy's back and the less serious wounds.

In the bedroom, Harry's body is twitching, restless. Behind closed eyelids, his eyes move frantically. His head shakes. Hoarse groans escape his mouth. Lucius calls Severus back and the dark-haired man rushes at the bedside, grabbing a Dreamless Sleep vial. The young man's jaw is clenched so tightly it is impossible to administer.

Surprisingly, Harry feels fine. He's in a peaceful place. A soft light illuminates the surroundings. He's walking towards three people waving joyfully at him. His eyes sting when he recognise his mother who is smiling at him and opening her arms. He runs in her embrace. As the two other people come closer, Harry raises his head and smiles at his father.

"Mum, Dad ! I love you so much !"

"What about me, pup ?" Their third companion is pouting.

"I love you too, Sirius."

"My dear child, your father and I have to talk to you."

The young man turns expectantly towards them.

"Yes, I know. You came for me. You came to take me away." Harry beams.

"Are you so happy to die, son ?"

"Yes. I'm here with you. I would only go on suffering there."

"We know, Harry. But right now, two men are struggling desperately for your life. These two men swear to protect you. They want to give you everything."

"No, Dad. I don't want to go back !"

"My love, my baby," his mother says softly. "You have to fulfil the prophecy and for that, you need every advantage on your side. I know it is a lot to ask, but you must rely on Severus and Lucius to help you."

"What ? My advantage is two Death Eaters ?"

"No, Harry. They're not Death Eaters. They don't work neither for Voldemort nor for Dumbledore. So at this moment, you're safe. You have to be careful around your friends Hermione and Ron. Though Neville and Draco can be trusted."

"But, Dumbledore..."

"No, Harry. The old coot is manipulating you, as he does with everyone."

"And I really must go back, with them," Harry asks, resigned.

"Yes, my treasure, you must. We love you, Harry. Be happy."

His parents' voice is weak and low now. The young man tries to stay, he hasn't had time to speak to his godfather yet.

"Again !" Lucius screams.

"Cardium pulsa !"

This is already the fourth time Severus shouts the incantation which should jolt the heart into beating again, when finally the young man gasps with his mouth and his eyes wide open. The Potions Master immediately forces a restorative potion down his throat and both men sigh, relieved the worst is past. As he turns towards the table, the vial escapes his fingers and he freezes. Above the bedhead, words written on the wall have appeared. I don't want to live anymore, let me be dead.

Severus glances at the blond - yes, his friend has seen it too - and sits beside Harry. He slowly takes him in his arms and rocks him like a child, his hand stroking the youth's dishevelled hair. The movement is calm and mellow. The Boy-Who-Lived weeps in silence. Lucius sits close to them and takes the boy's hand in his.

"You have to live, Harry," the aristocratic man whispers. "We're here now, and no one will hurt you ever again. No one will beat you ever again." The low voice gets harsh when Lucius adds. "The one who did this to you... Believe me, Harry. We'll visit him and it won't be a courtesy call."

Harry closes his eyes, comfortably curled up in the arms surrounding him, and falls asleep. Severus trades his place with Lucius and looks at his lover holding the young man in his arms to keep nightmares away. He smiles.

"Holy Merlin, I'm becoming a Hufflepuff..."