Burnt

Two things happened almost at the same time. Fire engulfed him with a loud roar, and at that moment Severus was convinced that he was going to die. But the split second after the flames engulfed him, a deluge of water hit him.

Instead of finding himself on fire – with imminent death as a possibility and severe burns as a certainty – he was standing in front of the fallen beast with his new robe in sodden tatters and the acrid smell of burnt hair assaulting his nose.

Severus took a staggering step and turned, trying to grasp what had happened, but as he did he overbalanced. His foot got trapped in a root, and he fell, landing on his hands and knees with a heavy thunk.

That was when the shouting and screaming began. Before he knew it, he was surrounded by the other students, and someone was kneeling in front of him.

"Oi, mate, are you okay?" Weasley said, placing his hand on Severus's shoulder. The touch stung, and Severus hissed with pain.

"Let go of me," Severus said at the same time Weasley yanked his hand back.

"He's in pain. Hagrid, we need to get him to the hospital wing," said Potter.

"It's all my fault, please ..." said Lavender, voice trembling.

"Leave me alone. I'm all right!" Pain had started to bloom on his chest, and it was spreading over his shoulder. He bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to counter the pain. It didn't work.

"Ye're not ok. Anyone can see tha'. Yeh have to keep calm now. Ron, yeh run on ahead an' tell Madam Pomfrey wha' happened."

Weasley got to his feet, and Severus could hear him set off running. The sound was gone within seconds.

Severus tried to get up, but he was still on his hands and knees, gritting his teeth in pain when Hagrid bent down and hoisted him up from the ground and into his arms. Just to make his humiliation complete, Hagrid carried him in the manner associated with the proverbial maiden in distress, which made Severus cringe.

"What are you doing? Let me down!" Severus made a violent attempt to get down – and out of Hagrid's arms – only to have Hagrid hold on to him even harder, and Severus's field of vision narrowed with the searing pain from his shoulders.

"I'm really sorry abou' this. I know yer in pain an' all, bu' we need to get yeh to the hospital wing as soon as we can, an' this is the fastest way."

And with that said, Hagrid ran towards the castle. He started out in a lumbering jog, but he gained speed fast, and in the end his pace was bone-jarring. It was a nightmare. The pain kept building as they went, and Hagrid's soothing mumbles didn't make any sense to Severus at all.

The next thing he knew, they had reached the castle. Hagrid didn't open the doors of Hogwarts' grand entrance. Instead he slammed into the heavy doors, shoulder first. The bang when the doors hit the walls inside the castle was deafening, and the noise made Severus groan and surface from the fog of pain that had engulfed him.

Everyone in the whole miserable school would hear and come running to see what was going on. It was that realisation that made Severus close his eyes for a moment, in a vain attempt to block out the snowballing melodrama.

"Sorry abou' tha'. We'll be there soon," said Hagrid, who was starting to sound winded. "Yer an uncomplainin' sort. Jus' like yer dad. He didn' complain much either ... at least not abou' bein' in pain." Hagrid charged the stairs as he talked. "He complained abou' a lot o' other stuff though."

To Severus it felt like Hagrid was taking the stairs three steps at the time, and all the way up they passed a blur of faces. Severus didn't care anymore. His face was burning, and the searing pain covering his shoulders and chest was enough to make him whimper in distress.

Then Draco's drawl cut through the Hall. Severus made another attempt to clear his mind as he realised that the boy was following them up the stairs.

"What have you done to him?" Draco said.

Hagrid walked even faster hearing his voice.

"Nothin'," Hagrid said, sounding contrite.

"It doesn't look like nothing to me," said Draco. "He's burnt! What did you do?"

Another voice chimed in, accompanied by quick, sharp steps. The voice's owner had a pronounced Scottish brogue.

"Severus ... Severus, are you all right? What happened?" Minerva asked.

Severus turned his head in her direction attempting to calm her. It didn't work. As he turned his face in her direction, she gasped and turned her ire on Hagrid, ripping into him as they all half ran, half walked through the corridor.

"Are you breeding Blast-Ended Skrewts again? If you are, I will have to consider reporting it to the school governors," Minerva said, and her shrill tone of voice promised that if Hagrid was, he would be in a world of trouble.

Severus couldn't hold back another moan. The pain was getting worse, and the horror of being carried was immeasurable.

"Headmistress McGonagall, you heard that: he's in pain! If you don't take action, I will, and if you think my word counts for nothing just because I'm a Malfoy, you had better think again," said Draco, keeping pace with them.

"Mr Malfoy, did you just threaten me?" Minerva's shrill voice cut like glass through Severus.

"No, I didn't. I stated intent."

When had Draco decided to grow a backbone, Severus wondered. And why had Draco decided to show it now? The boy was flawed, he decided. He lacked self preservation. You just didn't go at Minerva like that if you wanted to keep all of your limbs.

The Care of Magical Creatures students had caught up with them somewhere along the way, Severus discovered, and they were gathered around him and Hagrid, keeping pace, also listening to Minerva and Draco's exchange.

"Ten points from Slytherin, Mr Malfoy."

"You are deducting house-points while that ... that ... oaf just gets away with bringing dangerous beasts to Hogwarts, even breeding them?"

"We don't know if that is the case yet, Mr Malfoy. Hagrid, I assume that I will not have to deal with Screwts or illegal breeding of any kind?

"No, yeh won't, Headmistress," said Hagrid, sounding more sure of himself now. "Nothin' illegal. It was jus' a Pyrolisk. An' I need to get this boy to the hospital wing righ' now!" Hagrid – once more – lengthened his stride. It wasn't much use; Minerva, Draco and the rest still kept up with them.

"A Pyrolisk?" asked Minerva. Now her voice sounded squeaky. Severus had never, in all the years he known her, heard her sound like that.

"Yep, a Pyrolisk," said Hagrid. "Almost as excitin' as a dragon ..."

Severus wanted to get down. It couldn't be more painful to walk on his own, compared to this.

"But you can't bring Pyrolisks into the school grounds!"

"I didn'. I put it in the Forbidden Forest. I read the school rules, see, an' tha's all righ'."

"It's not allowed to keep Pyrolisks at all, Hagrid. It's a dragon! You can't keep dragons."

"No, it isn't," said Ginny Weasley from somewhere behind them. Weasley was keeping her tone of voice neutral. "It's like Hagrid said: Pyrolisks aren't dragons. He taught us that just this morning."

"Pardon me, Miss Weasley," said Minerva, her voice so cold that it was quite clear that she considered the girl's statement no less than treason.

"Here," said Weasley, and Severus could hear a rustling sound, not unlike dry leaves. "It seems that a while back, my Dad gave Hagrid some pointers about regulations, rules and where to find them."

Minerva fell quiet as she walked beside them.

"I understand," she said. "Hagrid, make sure Mr Snape gets adequate care. Since it is – surprisingly – quite all right to own and breed Pyrolisks, there isn't much I, or the school governors can do." She added, "Mr Malfoy, you will accompany Mr Snape. You seem to have become friends. You will tell Mr Snape that I'll be with him as soon as I have sent a couple of owls.

"Miss Weasley, your brother is still in Romania, isn't he?"

"Yes, Headmistress, and Dad still works at the Ministry," said the Weasley girl. "Did you know that you can't get Howlers into the Ministry? If you want one to get through, it needs camouflage."

It was quiet for a couple of moments, and Severus forced his eyes open, trying to get oriented again and see what was going on.

"Thank you, Miss Weasley. I'll bear that in mind," said Minerva, tone clipped, and then she hurried down the corridor in the other direction.

"Don't worry. He isn't getting away with this. I'll have a word with Mother," said Draco to Severus, coming up beside him. "I'm quite sure she can make the school governors see sense. I was slashed by a Hippogriff my third year, you know. The same class of course, with the same teacher ... I almost lost an arm ..." Draco let his voice trail off, and gave Hagrid a malevolent stare.

Hagrid gave Draco an equally malicious look in return.

"Oh, come off it, Malfoy. Yeh played tha' for all it was worth, yeh did. Yeh almost got Buckbeak killed, even though Madam Pomfrey had you patched up in no time."

"Would you stop bickering?" said Potter in an unexpected outburst. "It was really rotten luck, on Snape's part today. He did everything right, and he still ended up hurt. Let's just get him to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey can help, then you two can go duel. If you bring McGonagall, you can all have a tournament, for all I care."

With that, he strode up to Severus.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

"Yes, I think so," said Severus, at that point realising his voice didn't carry very well.

"Put him down, Hagrid," said Potter, giving Hagrid a stern look.

Hagrid's hold on Severus became even tighter for a second, but then he looked down at Severus. Severus couldn't interpret Hagrid's expression, but he was put down, and Hagrid only let go when he was assured that Severus was standing on his own.

"Could you use a hand?" asked Potter, looking wary and keeping his hands in his pockets.

Severus hesitated. He didn't want to admit it, but he was dizzy and nauseated, and standing on his own made the pain worse, after all. And it was Potter offering to help. He didn't want Potter's help. On the other hand, thought Severus as the burn in his chest seemed to expand, radiating pain, the boy owed him. He owed him a lot.

"I think I might," said Severus.

Without another word, Potter put his arm around his waist and let Severus support himself on his shoulder. After hesitating, Draco stepped up and held onto Severus from the other side, and the three of them started to walk towards the hospital wing, with Hagrid and the rest of the students following them.

"When you meet Madam Pomfrey ... she's our mediwitch," said Potter, "just remember that she means well, ok? She'll be fussing. She'll put you to bed and throw the rest of us out, the general idea being that your friends tire you out and are a nuisance. That's when she'll start prodding and ordering you about. But still, she means well."

Draco heard what Potter said and gave a derisive snort.

"You'd know, Potter. She's fussed over you enough times anyway."

Severus had known Poppy for a long time and, for once, he agreed with Potter. As annoying as she could be, she always did mean well.

"Come on, Snape. Not far now," said Potter, and hoisted Severus up again, since he was slumping precariously.

"How is he?"

It was Lavender's voice, sounding distraught.

"I'll live," Severus said, making a failed effort to sound dismissive.

"How do you feel?" He felt her touch his hand. The one hanging over Potter's shoulder. She had cool, dry hands that sent a small shiver through him. He assumed it was because the rest of him was warm and parts of him were burning with pain.

"I ..."

Severus never got the chance to finish the sentence. They had arrived at the hospital wing, and Poppy was meeting them at the door.

"Potter, I should have known you'd be involved," Poppy said, giving Potter a stern look.

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey. I'm not the one hurt this time, though," said Potter with a nod in Severus direction.

"No, I can see that, and I'm glad. You've had more than your share of trouble. Get him on the bed over there." Poppy pointed at the closest bed.

Draco gave an inarticulate grunt as a response since Severus was leaning heavily on him and Potter by now. Severus was getting so tired. His chest hurt. He could even feel his own pulse beating in the wounds.

He was helped inside and seated on one of the hospital beds and given a Calming Draught. It didn't take away all the pain, just enough to make it possible to follow what was going on around him a bit better. He sat huddled on the bed, both arms held around his body, not caring that he probably looked defensive and miserable.

She made a quick examination of Severus's face and scalp, simultaneously making a couple of tutting noises.

"I'm not fond of the idea of yet another accident-prone boy at Hogwarts, mind you. We seem to be growing them by the dozen." She looked at his chest without touching it as she spoke.

"It could have been worse, I suppose. Robins and Weasley drenching you with water seems to have helped a bit. What are you lot standing there for? Out, everyone. Get moving. He needs to lie down so I can get some proper work done, and the patient needs peace and quiet."

Harry gave him an awkward nod when he turned to leave, which Severus didn't acknowledge. There were a lot of dissatisfied mumbles – the most vocal being Hagrid – but everybody left the room. The only one who stayed put next to his bed was Draco.

"I'm not leaving," he said, his upper-class accent more pronounced than ever.

"Yes, you are, Mr Malfoy," said Poppy, her voice cold and dismissive.

"No, I'm not. Headmistress McGonagall told me to stay with him, and I will."

Draco looked less than sure of himself, though, and he had an almost unhappy air, but before Severus had time to analyse why, Poppy looked at Draco and then gave him a curt nod.

"You may stay then, if you make yourself useful. Go to the medical cabinet in my office, and fetch me the roll of silver netting and the jar that says: For burns."

Malfoy hesitated, and then, with an unaccustomed willingness, he obeyed the order.

Poppy had vanished his robe, and used a freezing charm to cool his burns. He watched as she made the complicated wand movements that ensured precision application of the spell. A couple of cleansing spells were used too, as Draco returned with the items Poppy had asked for.

She gave Draco a quick glance and then narrowed her eyes. Then she asked, "Why do I want the silver netting, Mr Malfoy?"

Draco gave her a confused look as she lifted a bowl of water from the bedside table. "I ... I don't know, Madam."

"Silver has anti-bacterial properties. That's also why it works against werewolves, for example. Lycanthropy is a bacterial infection of sorts. You can also dress open burns with it to prevent infection. Even Muggles use it."

She gave Draco a wet cotton cloth, lathered with soap.

"Wash Mr Snape's burns with this first."

A flicker of panic crossed Draco's face. Then he adopted a haughty look.

"There are cleansing charms, you know."

"Yes, I know. I've already preformed those. They aren't enough, though. They never are."

Draco's shoulders slumped.

"I've never done ..."

"Then it's about time, isn't it? Wash the burns. I'll hold the bowl of water for you while you do it."

Draco gave Severus a pleading look that turned into an embarrassed blush, but Severus ignored it. He felt well enough to want to see how Draco would handle it.

"I'll try to be careful," said Draco. "Just ... be sure to tell me if I hurt you."

Draco refused to look at Severus while he washed his burns, and in the end Severus was surprised: Draco was careful and meticulous when cleaning the wounds.

It seemed that Draco had made an impression on Poppy, too. She kept the boy busy, making him put the silver in place over the wounds on his chest while she dressed it. His chest was the only place where the fire had burnt through several layers of the skin.

The wounds were not pretty: crimson red and looking disgusting since a yellowish discharge was also running from them by now. It stung so badly as they were treated that he couldn't control the clattering of his teeth. The Calming Draught Poppy had administered only gave him partial relief from the pain, and he was exhausted when they were finished.

Draco, pale as he always was, was even paler by the time he placed the last piece of silver net.

That was when Draco was ordered to cut Severus's hair and, odd as it was, that was the worst part of it all. Not that he had much hair left as it was. He didn't even want to contemplate what he looked like now, feeling almost bald with only half an inch of hair left.

When Poppy administered the sleeping draught, he was grateful.

Hogwarts was a foul, insane place, he decided and as soon as he was rested he was getting out of here. He was a bloody fantastic potions brewer, and he could support himself as such.

The last thing he heard before drifting off was Poppy:

"Not at all as useless as one might have been led to expect, Mr Malfoy. I'll have a word with the Headmistress about you," she said.