A/N: I don't own Harry Potter.

"I promise, I'll take care of them," Karkaroff stated shaking hands with the man standing in front of him.

"Good. Remember, an hour, wait an hour for me, if I'm not back by then..."

"I know, take them somewhere safe, has her memory already been altered? Will I need to do anything more?"

"No. Everything shall be in place when she wakes. The baby is named 'Hyacinth' by the way."

"Be careful, Severus. I don't want a family, not like this. I especially don't want your left overs." Severus glared at the man before him before sweeping off into the night.

Igor Karkaroff looked at the young woman sleeping on the couch, her red hair falling across her pale face. A small basket sat next to the couch, inside a sleeping almost newborn. Igor sighed settling into a chair across from his new charges. He knew Severus would put in a good word for him with Dumbledore, although he doubted that would be enough. Maybe this job, these two, would be his redemption? He knew that's what Severus was hoping on, that and the false memories he'd planted in the girl's head.

She stirred slightly, but continued to sleep.

"An hour, Lily, you'll see him in an hour, or less, hopefully," Karkaroff muttered wondering exactly who this woman and child were. Severus had given him their first names, nothing else. He had a feeling the woman was a muggle, or muggle-born. He glanced at the clock and then towards the window. This was going to be a long hour.

LLLLLLLLLLLL

"Severus Snape, serpent and spy." Severus froze at the voice. He recognized it immediately, which was unfortunate.

"Bellatrix, I see you've managed to avoid being captured, so far."

"No thanks you, you half blooded traitor! You're the reason our Lord is gone, you and that mudblood pet of yours!" She fired a hex at him, he deflected it with ease. Of all the people, he had to run into her. He knew she was mad, knew she hated him to begin with, but her eyes seemed to glow with insanity.

"I had nothing to do with any of this, Bellatrix. I certainly had nothing to do with his defeat."

"You gave him the Potter boy's name! You betrayed us! You led him to his death!"

"Do you honestly think he's dead, Bellatrix?" The question paused her for a moment.

"If he's not, I'll certainly be rewarded for murdering his betrayer!" she laughed. "Avada Kadava!" She watched Severus' body fall onto the ground before apparating from the spot, still thinking of how her Lord would reward her once he returned.

LLLLLLLLLLLL

"An hour, it's been an hour," Karkaroff muttered looking at the sleeping woman, barely a woman if he was being honest. She was still young, pretty if you liked the sort. With a sigh, he gently put her over his shoulder and picked up the baby basket. He pulled the watch from his pocket and pressed a button on the side. With a flash of light, the three were gone.

Karkaroff placed the woman, Lily, he remembered on a bed. He gently set the basket on the floor. He checked to make sure the child was breathing and found himself face to face with a pair of large blue eyes.

"You're awake, I thought he said you'd stay asleep. What am I supposed to do with a baby?" The infant gurgled and kicked off her blankets. Behind him, he heard Lily start stirring. He really hoped Severus had been right, that she wouldn't be a problem.

"Where are we?"

"My home." Lily studied the man in front of her, her eyes darting to the floor and her daughter.

"Is she alright?"

"She just woke, here," he lifted the baby and gently handed her to her mother. He'd never had any experience with babies and was terrified it would break if he wasn't careful. Lily smiled.

"Thank you, Igor. Severus said you'd be helping him hide us." Igor nodded. The false memories seemed to be in place.

"How much do you remember, before you woke?"

"There was an attack, Death Eaters, I know you and Sev are spies, of course."

"Of course." He personally thought Severus had laid it on a little thick with his lies. Spies, the pair of them? He'd only just considered switching sides tonight, or was it the night before?

"Where is Severus?"

"I don't know. He was supposed to meet us over an hour ago, I fear the worst, Lily." She nodded holding her daughter close, the baby was still silent, thankfully.

"Do you have my things, my bag, wand? Hya's bottles, formula?" Karkaroff nodded pulling a tiny suitcase from his pocket and unshrinking it.

"Thank you, the kitchen?"

"That way," he nodded his head. She slid from the bed, popped open the suitcase and removed what she needed.

"I'm going to go make her a bottle. Do you know if..." He knew she was asking of Severus.

"No. All I know is he didn't arrive at the portkey in time. He might have merely been delayed. He was on his way to meet Dumbledore." Lily wrinkled her nose.

"I don't trust that man, Igor. I'll be back in a moment." He watched her walk to the kitchen trying to figure out what exactly what he was supposed to do now. Severus disappearing was not part of the plan. He was supposed to get Karkaroff's name to Dumbledore, who would in turn put in a good word with the Ministry. Then Severus was supposed to come back and get his witch. Karkaroff had no interest in this woman, despite the fact she had a fairly attractive body. He shook the thought from his head. No, there was still a chance Severus might turn up.

LLLLLLLLLLLL

"Igor, it's Severus," Lily whispered looking at the morning paper. Igor turned towards the table.

"What of him?" She turned the paper to face him. He snatched it from her hands. No, this couldn't be. Fuck, Severus was dead!

"Now what?" he heard Lily ask. The baby was in her arms drinking greedily from a bottle. "He promised we'd be safe," she whispered tears starting to fall from her eyes. Karkaroff sighed. He should have known this was going to happen. Nothing good ever seemed to happen to him.

"I will honor his wishes, Lily. You and the little one will stay here, with me, until I am sure it is safe, even if it takes years. I will not let anything happen to either of you." He knew he didn't believe the words, not really, but if Lord Voldemort was really dead, then maybe they would be safe, the three of them? Karkaroff knew enough names of his fellow Death Eaters, naming names was always a way to stay out of jail. Idly he wondered if Severus had been killed before or after he'd had his talk with Dumbledore.