A Helping Hand

Snapegirlkmf

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The Rescue

*fourth in the All That Matters series; written for lightnings pride as a birthday present*

Isle of Wight

October 31st, 2017:

From the journal of Albus Severus Potter-aka Sev:

It was the first Halloween I had ever spent away from my family. In Godric's Hollow, my brother and sister and cousins all went trick-or-treating together. First we did all the streets in the neighborhood, then we moved on to Diagon Alley, and finally to Hogsmeade. We always saved Hogsmeade for last, because we could go to Honeydukes. On Halloween, Honeydukes gave out samples of their new candy and it was usually awesome.

This year, though, would be different. I'd be going by myself, since I hadn't really had time to make any friends here. I almost considered asking my godfather if he could take me to Hogsmeade, but thought better of it. I didn't want to impose on him, and I knew that Halloween was difficult for him, since it was the day my grandparents were murdered. My godfather had been best friends with my grandma Lily and had loved her till the day she died. So this day wasn't one he cared to celebrate. In fact, after breakfast and our morning lesson, he had disappeared into his study and told me to not disturb him till suppertime. I asked if he would mind if I went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood in the afternoon, and he said to go ahead, to use my robes as a costume, and come home before five. He also said not to eat any sweets until he inspected them first. I agreed, then left, sensing he wished to be alone.

I read for a few hours, then made myself some lunch. I left a sandwich on a plate for Uncle Severus, in case he got hungry. Strangely enough, he hadn't assigned any homework for today, maybe he had been distracted. But I wasn't about to remind him. I felt kind of lonely and decided I might as well dress in my costume and put out a bowl of chocolate bars for any kids who were brave enough to venture up to the house, since I knew Uncle Severus would never answer the door. After leaving the bowl of Cadbury bars on the porch, with a sign that said "Take One" on it, I took my pillowcase and started off.

My black robes, which I wore everyday when I had lessons, didn't usually have a crest, but today I cast a small Illusion Charm and put a Slytherin patch on them, because that was the House I figured I'd have been Sorted into had I gone to Hogwarts.

Not many kids were out yet, it was a little early, but I didn't mind that. I went to all the houses closest to the Ivy Manse first. Then I headed down a street that twisted and wound about the hills. There were more farmhouses on this road, and from those I got a lot of homemade sweets—fudge, taffy, chocolate covered pretzels, toffee. My mum made taffy and I wondered if it tasted as good as hers. I was tempted to take a bite, but made myself stop. I knew why Uncle Sev had told me to wait until I got home to eat anything, because some people were sick and put drugs and poison in sweets and though I doubted anyone here was going to stoop that low, it was better if I didn't take chances. I didn't want to die at age ten.

As I was cresting a rise, this part of the road was deserted, I heard a strange sound—a loud whinny, like a horse would make in distress. Some of the farmers around here kept horses, maybe one had gotten out and was stuck somewhere. I walked quickly in the direction of the sound. As I grew closer, I could hear the poor beast wheezing, as if it were gasping for air.

I hurried, going around the hill on the right hand side, my sack of treats banging against my hip. When I slid to a stop, I saw it, a large gray shape lying on the ground. As I cautiously approached, I saw that it was a horse lying there, looking as if it were on its last legs. It looked pitifully thin but its eyes were open. They looked directly at me.

I gasped. This horse's eyes were an odd shade, like gold melted. Its coat was full of dirt and burrs but once I thought it might have been beautiful. It lifted its head slightly and made a soft groaning sound. Then I saw the tiny horns sticking out of the top of its head. "Whoa! You're a magic horse!" I exclaimed softly.

The mare, for I could now tell that clearly, bobbed her head as if agreeing with me. I didn't know what sort of magical horse it was, she didn't look like anything I'd read about in Newt Scamander's Fantastic Beasts, but I did know that she looked to be at death's door. I walked carefully around her, staying out of reach of her hooves and teeth. She didn't look strong enough to hurt me, but one never knows. I couldn't see any injuries on her, but then I saw how bent her left foreleg was. "Oh. You've hurt your leg. It's either sprained or broken."

Again the mare bobbed her head and snorted, as if to say, Obviously, boy, otherwise I'd not be lying here.

I studied her thoughtfully. I knew that most people would have written her off as a lost cause and just gone on their way. Either that or put her down. But I couldn't do that. I loved animals and couldn't bear to see one suffering. And though she appeared half dead, there was something in those eyes . . . intelligence and determination . . . and I knew that if given half a chance, she would try to live. This one was a fighter.

"I wish Hagrid were here," I said to her, conversationally. "He'd know how to help you. But, since he isn't, I guess it's up to me." I looked about for any kind of long sticks that I could splint the leg with.

Since I wasn't sure if it was broken or not, I figured splints couldn't hurt. But there was nothing. I also had nothing to wrap it with, unless I ripped apart my robe, and Uncle Sev would have my head if I did that. So, there was nothing for it but to go back home and get the things I needed and bring back a healing text as well. There was a Magical Creatures text in my godfather's library, I was almost certain it would tell me what I needed to know.

"Listen," I said to the mare, going close to her head and speaking nearly into her ear. "I don't have the supplies I need to fix your leg, or know the correct way to do it. So I need to go home, okay? I'll be back as quick as I can and . . . I'll cast a Notice Me Not charm on you before I leave. That'll keep you safe."

I drew my wand, it was rowan with a dragon heartstring core, a good wand for protection against dark magic and healing, and I cast the simple charm my uncle taught me. Unlike Hogwarts, I could use magic outside of class, so long as there was a valid reason. This sure qualified.

As the magic settled over the mare she quivered. "Shhh. Easy, girl. I'll be back soon." I reassured her. I knelt and gave her a quick pat on the cheek. Her coat felt soft and silky, despite its appearance.

Then I rose and started to run back the way I'd come. It was only three o'clock, I still had two hours before curfew.

By the time I got back to the Ivy Manse I was gasping and coughing for breath, I didn't think I'd ever run so fast or so far in my life. When I entered the house, all was quiet, just as it had been when I'd left. I went into the large kitchen for a drink and saw the plate with the sandwich was empty. So Uncle Sev had come out and eaten. After drinking some water slowly, I didn't want to puke, I'd seen that happen to Jamie once, I crept into the big library.

The lights came on and I went to the stand in the middle of the room. The stand was meant to hold large spellbooks and it was also like a card catalogue. I placed my hands atop the scrolled ledge and said, "Category—Magical Creatures; non-fiction; medical treatment." You had to state exactly what you were looking for, and then the stand would search it out for you.

I waited as the stand sent out a golden ribbon of energy.

Three minutes later it returned with a large text called Scamander's Veterinary Handbook Anatomy and Treatments for Most Injuries and Illnesses. "Thank you," I told the library before paging through the table of contents. I found a section called Equine Ailments and Treatments and flipped through it. I found a section with leg injuries and studied it. It showed how to dose a horse for pain and how to set or wrap an injured leg. I copied the page with another handy little charm Uncle Sev had shown me. Then I paged through the kinds of magical equines, just to see if I could identify the mare. Nothing . . . nothing . . . nothing . . . wait! Here she was . . . My jaw dropped.

I had found a nightmare.

I stared at the picture of the horse in the book. It said nightmares were usually black and had red eyes. They often rode with the Wild Hunt and were harbingers of death and lived to cause fear to humans. They were rumored to be evil and serve the devil and sent bad dreams to wizards. They supposedly fed off the souls of humans.

I felt my heart start to beat crazily. I looked at the picture again. It did look very like the horse I had found, except . . . she was the wrong color and her eyes were not red or burning with hellfire. She was also out during the day, which the book said was not possible for nightmares. Maybe that's why she was so weak? I bit my lip. What should I do? I wanted to help her, but what if she decided to kill me and suck out my soul? I knew dark creatures wouldn't hesitate to do so, even if their life had been saved by a human.

But I hadn't gotten the feeling that the mare was evil. Uncle Severus had taught me how to recognize dark auras and the mare hadn't made me shiver with icy cold or feel sick or frightened, as a dark aura would have. Could this be a different kind of creature? One that only looked like a nightmare? Should I risk it?

I pictured again the mare in my mind, lying helpless and hurting on the cold ground. Who knew how long she had been there, suffering? In the end I knew I couldn't leave her there to die alone. It would be cruel. So I gathered up the things I needed to splint the leg and I took a Pain Reliever from the bathroom cabinet along with a basin and filled a jug with some water. I found some rope coiled in the lab and took that too, thinking I could make a kind of halter for her.

I emptied out my treats into a bowl and left them on the table and stuffed everything into the pillow case. I glanced at the clock. Three thirty. Then I returned to the mare.

She was lying where I'd left her, and I could see her struggling for breath. I paused beside her and whispered, "I don't know what you are—nightmare or something else, but I want to help you. I think you can understand me, so I want you to promise that you won't try and hurt or kill me if I save your life. You're in a bad way, horse, and you'll die unless I help you. I'll help you gladly, but not if you're going to turn on me. Understand?"

I knelt and looked into the mare's eyes.

The eyes are the windows of the soul, my dad told me.

I stared into the molten gold depths, and as I did so, I saw resignation and fear, the mare knew as well as I did her life was slowly draining away. But I did not see hatred or maliciousness. This close to her, I would have sensed something. I drew my wand and tapped her on the forehead. Rowan was a guardian wood and anathema to creatures of the night. If she had been of the dark, it would have sparked and burned her. But it didn't even react.

That decided it.

I pulled out the basin, the potion, and the jug of water. I mixed the potion and water together and pushed the basin under her nose. "Drink that. It might taste funny, but it'll help you."

The mare groaned as she half rolled upright, managing to dip her head into the basin and drink. She blew and shook her head at the first swallow.

"I know, it's gross. I hate taking Pain Relievers myself. But you need to, otherwise when I splint your leg it'll hurt like nobody's business and I don't want you kicking or biting me."

The mare looked at me, her upper lip curled slightly. Then she sighed and drank the rest of the potion laced water down.

I removed the basin and put it back in the pillowcase. "All right. I'll give that a minute or two to work and then I'll try and splint that leg."

I took out the page of the book and re-read the instructions. I set out the green sticks and bandage. By the time I had finished, the mare had put her head back down and looked as if she were dozing. That seemed like a good sign.

I moved over to her injured leg, sitting off to the side just in case she lashed out. Then I took two deep breaths and placed my hands on the leg. I could feel that it was swollen, hot, and fractured. I grasped the upper and lower halves and whispered a prayer to Merlin. "Ready? On three. One . . . two . . . three!"

I pulled the leg straight and heard something snap.

The mare neighed but didn't kick or bite me.

"Sorry, girl. Sorry." I said, wincing. I quickly placed the sticks on either side and wrapped the leg as best I could, not too tight or too loose. I used a Sticking Charm to keep the bandage on. There! I had done what I could.

Now what? She was still injured and in need of shelter. Did I dare bring her home with me? The Ivy Manse grounds were large, there was a large shed in the back, mostly filled with gardening tools and fertilizer. Could I keep the mare in there? What would I tell Uncle Severus?

I sighed. I'd cross that bridge when I came to it. Right now I would try and get her home.

I made two loops with the rope, a makeshift halter, and slid it over her head. It wasn't a very good one, she could slip free if she chose, but it was the best I knew how to do.

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

I glanced up at the sky. It was going to rain. Blast!

I knelt and patted her cheek. "Hey! Hey, girl! Wake up! We have to get home, it's going to rain. Come on, girl! Get up!"

She remained where she was. I whistled sharply. "Come on! Wake up!"

Her ears swiveled, then she opened one eye.

"Come on, pretty thing! Get up! Before we get soaked." I coaxed, clicking my tongue at her.

She whickered, then rolled over till she was lying with her front legs sprawled in front of her. I tugged on the halter. "Good girl! Now get up, so I can take you home."

She remained looking at me for a few moments, then heaving another sigh, she climbed awkwardly to her feet.

I smiled at her. "That was great! Okay, follow me." I tugged on the halter again and started walking.

She took one stumbling step after another, but she followed.

I wanted to run down the road, but knew she could never keep up with me. The charm was still working so no Muggle could see her, and I walked as quickly as I could, hoping to get home before the storm broke. Funny, but the forecast hadn't called for rain.

Halfway home, the sky grew dark and threatening.

"Aw, hells!" I groaned. We would never make it home at this pace. I took off my cloak and draped it over her back, it would keep her from getting soaked.

Right after I did that, the sky opened up and rain pelted down.

Bowing my head against the cold rain and the accompanying wind, I continued down the road.

The rain made the road, which was part gravel and dirt, muddy and slippery and it took me forever to get back home. I could barely see my hand in front of my face, I was soaked, muddy, and freezing.

By the time I stumbled to a halt on the front lawn, my teeth were chattering and I was sure I would never be warm again. I felt the mare snort and her warm breath on my shoulder. I wiped the water from my eyes and looked up.

There on the porch was my godfather, and he was glaring at me. He did not look pleased.

I gulped. Then I gave him a tentative smile. I felt like my brother Jamie, caught out in some mischief. "Uh, hi, Uncle Severus."

He crossed his arms over his chest and said sternly, "Albus Severus Potter, where in Merlin's name have you been? It's six o'clock and thundering and lightning! I was worried sick thinking you were lost or . . . dead in a ditch or kidnapped!"

I hung my head. "Sorry, sir," I mumbled. "I tried to get home as soon as I could but she couldn't go that fast."

Lightining flashed and there was a crack of thunder.

The mare jumped and whinnied in fear.

It was then that my godfather saw what I had brought home with me, until then he hadn't seen her through the sheeting rain, dark, and the charm upon her. His eyes widened and he said, very softly, "And just what is that doing here? This isn't a farm and I'm not Old MacDonald, young man!"

I looked up at him pleadingly, my hair was dripping water in my eyes. "It's a mare, sir. She's hurt, her leg is broken and I just . . . she's magical, Uncle Severus, I couldn't leave her out there. I splinted the leg and I thought . . . we could put her in the garden shed. Just for tonight. Please?"

"Who do you think I am, Hagrid?" he grumbled. I thought for sure he was going to say no. But instead he muttered something that sounded like, "You're getting soft in your old age, Snape." Then he came down the steps and said, "Fine. But only for tonight. I am not James Herriot."

"You read those books too?" I exclaimed. I had loved those books and read them over and over after buyig them from a Muggle bookshop.

"Of course I did. They were required reading when I attended primary school. I grew up in Yorkshire," he said impatiently.

He led the way to the shed, lighting up his wand as he did so.

The shed was musty but dry. He moved all the equipment out of the way and Transfigured some old blankets into straw. I took my cloak off her, it was dripping wet, and watched as he cast a Drying Charm on her.

I dragged two large buckets from a corner, and he filled one with water and one with oats and placed it before her. I sent a glowing ball of wizard light into a corner of the shed and then said, "She looks comfortable now, Uncle Severus. Thanks."

He snorted. "Humph! Let's get inside, before you catch your death."

We shut the door of the shed and I let my godfather shepherd me up the stairs and into the house. I was shivering violently now, chilled to the bone, and I began to cough. I wondered how much trouble I was in. From the expression on my teacher's face I was in for it.

A/N: Well, what will Severus do now?

James Herriot is the author of the series All Creatures Great and Small, about a Yorkshire vet.

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