Lily's Charm- Severitus fanfiction

Cutting Deep

1996

"Slow down," Remus called automatically to the back of two first years' heads as they scurried past him on their wary to the Great Hall. He shook his head in amusement. Why did first years always seem to be in such a hurry? he wondered with a chuckle as he continued on his way.

"Hi, Professor Lupin," came a breathless voice from behind him. Remus turned, smiling down at Hermione as she rushed out of Flitwick's classroom. Well, maybe first years and Hermione, he amended. But then he frowned.

"You're not supposed to be alone, Hermione," he reminded the flushed girl. She shook her head.

"I know...I heard you out here so I thought maybe you'd walk me to the Great Hall. Professor Flitwick is doing some research for me," she explained. Remus nodded in understanding.

"Of course, Hermione," he assured her, gesturing with his hand that she should join him. She fell into step beside him. "What sort of research is Professor Flitwick doing for you?" Remus asked with interest. Hermione smiled, a sort of smug expression. But she shook her head.

"It's a bit of a secret," she told him. Remus swallowed his amusement, nodding as seriously as he could. Before he had a chance to voice his acknowledgment, Hermione halted. Remus stopped as well, looking down at her curiously. Her eyes went wide. "Harry!" she yelped sharply.

Remus' head shot up in panic. Straight ahead, only meters from them, Harry was being roughly grabbed from behind by Argus Filch, while a tall Slytherin sneered as he wiped a smear of blood from his mouth with the back of hand. His heart hammering in his chest, Remus bolted away from Hermione who was still rooted to the spot; he covered the distance to Harry in only seconds, but even before he could reach his young friend, Argus had spun Harry around and was shaking him violently.

"Argus!" Remus shouted in objection. "Let go of him!" he demanded. Though he noticed both Ron and Neville beyond Harry and Filch, both grappling with three other Slytherins on the floor, he ignored them in favor of using his entire body to shove Argus aside, pulling Harry from the other man's grasp; Argus stumbled against Ron and he heard the boy crying out in surprise as without warning, Harry pitched forward against Remus.

"Harry?" Remus questioned urgently. He lifted Harry's head gently; he grit his teeth. Harry's eyes were closed, his body limp. Sparing only a second to pull his wand out and direct it toward the Great Hall, hoping Severus was already there, a wolf erupted from the tip and ran gracefully toward the Hall. Then Remus knelt down, carefully bringing Harry with him gently, until the boy was resting his head in Remus' lap.

Using his wand, he performed a quick Diagnostic Spell. A commotion from off to his right had Remus looking up quickly. A crowd of students had gathered in the entrance to the Great Hall and Remus could see Minerva spinning down from Albus' office, though she was running down the staircase, not waiting for it to deposit her at the bottom.

"What is the meaning of this?" she was demanding as she came, but nobody bothered to answer her.

And then there was a shouted, "Partis!" from behind where the students blocked the Great Hall and the throng of students immediately parted down the middle as they went flying backwards, their limbs flailing wildly, as though a great wave had just separated them. Severus appeared in the now-empty space, his face filled with anxiety. Ginny was right behind him, her face much paler than normal.

Severus came down the now-cleared space at a run and when he spotted Harry on the floor, he drew in a harsh breath, his face paling to a shade beyond white. "Harry!" he breathed. In a panic, he sprinted the rest of the way to where his son lay and dropped down to his knees. Ginny followed suit.