Disclaimer: I am J.K. Rowling! Except that's actually a lie. So that.
A/N: Okay. So this is pretty AU, but not entirely. I'm writing this entire thing based solely on my writers' license. Ahaha.
Let me make a few things clear. I'm ignoring the epilogue, for starters.
Dobby's dead, Remus and Tonks are NOT dead (as made very clear by this chapter), Fred is NOT dead, Moody is dead, Crabbe is dead, Narcissa is dead, Bellatrix is dead, Ginny is dead (surprise). I think that's all that matters as of now.
It's been two months since Lord Voldemort was killed by Harry, and therefore, I'm estimating about 9 weeks since they left Hermione at Malfoy Manor.
Lucius and around 30 other Death Eaters were ordered by Voldemort to stay behind with the traitors (Severus and Draco, mainly), and their bargaining chip (Hermione).
Draco and Hermione don't know that Voldemort's dead. But, after his death, they were moved to one of the Malfoy's other homes in England.
I think that should clear some things up!

Oh, also, beta, anyone?

Chapter 2: The Surprise

Remus John (Moony) Lupin was having a bad day. Not even a normal bad day. No, his bad day had to be exceptionally, extraordinarily bad.

Firstly, he woke up with only one sock. He was sure he went to bed the night before with both socks on.
He tore apart his bedding trying to find the sodding sock to no avail. Where the fuck could it have gone?

Secondly, they were out of coffee. Everybody in the house knows better than to drink the last cup of coffee in the morning lest they face his beastly rage. So where the FUCK did it go?

Lastly, and probably worst, Tonks left him. He didn't even have to ask where the fuck she went, because she told him she was going to stay with Andromeda, and to call her when he got his shit together.

Yeah, right. Fucking bitch.

Remus was sitting at the kitchen table, wallowing in self-pity, and clutching his coffee cup miserably when Severus Snape apparated into the kitchen. Remus blinked at him, then rubbed his eyes, unbelieving. "This is it," he moaned. "I've finally lost my mind."

The dark-haired man let out a gasp of pain, and began to collapse. It was only Remus's werewolf instincts that allowed him to leap forward, catching the skinny man under the armpits, only to fall backwards himself.

They lay there for a minute; Snape's ragged breathing was the only thing Remus could hear. His nose picked up the metallic, wet smell of blood. "Snape," he began. "I thought you were dead."

The body on top of him let out a faint grunt. "'Bviously not," he mumbled almost incoherently.

Remus carefully slid out from underneath him, and gasped when he saw the full damage done to Snape's face. Purple, nearly black bruises ringed both of his dark eyes. A long gash sliced through his right eyebrow, continuing down his cheek until it stopped at his jawline. His lips were chapped and bloody. Dark purple bruises in the shape of two hands ringed around his pale, slender neck. Remus could only imagine the damage done to the rest of his body.

"What happened?" he demanded seriously. He gently wrapped his arms around the taller man's torso (he could feel every bloody rib), and lifted him up, draping Snape's limp arm around his own shoulders.

"No time," he grunted. "Granger. Draco. Need help."

Remus blanched. "You mean Hermione's alive? She's been alive this entire time?"

Snape sent him a scathing look in reply.

"Hey, Remus, what's the racket…" Ron slowed to a stop, staring blankly at Snape. "Bloody hell."

Snape tightened his grip on Remus. "Time!" he growled. Remus ignored him.

"Ron, get Harry, your brothers and your parents. Get Kingsley here, too, and Hagrid." Ron ran off, shouting.

Remus repositioned Snape so he was supporting most of his weight. He weighed less than Tonks did. "Bloody hell, Snape, did they even feed you down there?" Another glare. "Guess not."

"Time," Snape moaned. His eyelids drooped shut. Remus panicked, and gently patted his frigid, pale cheek.

"Hey, hey, c'mon Snape. You have to stay with me. Hermione, you remember her? She'll die. And what about Draco? He's important to you, yeah? Think about him. We can save them. You just have to stay awake."

Snape's head slumped against his chest. "M'sorry," he mumbled.

"Hey, no!" Remus slapped Snape's cheek, hard. "C'mon, Snape, don't do this. Severus!"

His eyelids fluttered open, revealing startled black irises. He listed sideways, gaping at Remus. Remus blushed, looking everywhere but at the battered man beside him. "What?"

"Name," he stuttered in amazement.

Remus opened his mouth to respond, probably with something rude and obnoxious, but Ron burst into the room before he could. Ron was followed closely by Harry, whose mussed hair and skewed glasses indicated that he had still been asleep, Fred, who was hastily pulling on a shoe and holding the fingerless left hand of George, who was as pale and expressionless as ever, Molly, who looked faded and rumpled, Arthur, whose dark circles had circles, Kingsley, who looked impassive (as per usual), and Hagrid, who was unusually quiet.

Bill and Charlie skidded in moments later; the lipstick smeared on Bill's face indicated that he had been with Fleur, and the scorch marks on Charlie's gloves indicated that he had been with a dragon. Maybe four.

Remus felt Snape (Severus? No, no, Snape, always Snape) tense and move a fraction closer to him. He cleared his throat. "As you can see, Snape is actually not dead. He apparated into the kitchen, how," he added with a slight glare, "I do not know as there are supposed to be protection charms surrounding this place." He shot a look at Harry and Ron who looked slightly abashed. "He says they have Hermione."

Everyone's heads shot up and they all stared at Snape. He shifted uncomfortably. "And Draco," he grumbled in Remus's ear.

"Of course," Remus said absently. "Can you get us there?"

Snape nodded sluggishly. "Have…floo," he stumbled over the words. "Lots of floos. Removed…charms from one when…I escaped." He stopped, gasping for breath. Blood bubbled on his lips.

Molly gasped quietly, Ron looked faint, and everyone stared on in shock as a trail of blood made its way down Snape's chin.

Remus slowly maneuvered Snape over to a chair, and sat him down, supporting the frail man's shoulders. He wiped at the blood on the greasy git's mouth. "Come on, Snape, we still need your help. Just tell us where they are."

Snape blinked dazedly at Remus. "Fernwell Estate. Liverpool. Big house. Cellar. Lucius." His eyes glassed over, and he sagged limply against Remus's chest. "Molly," Remus pleaded. "Will you stay with him?"

She scurried over, collecting the unconscious man in her warm arms. He moaned in pain. "Shh," she comforted him. "It'll all be alright." Molly turned her attention back to Remus. "You go get her," she said firmly. "And you bring my children back unharmed." With a final glare, she situated Snape onto the large couch in the living space in front of the fireplace and began bustling about, collecting items to begin treating the injured man.

Bill took a look around. "Wait, where's Tonks?"

Remus scowled. "C'mon, let's go. They could be dead by now for all we know."

Everyone shut their mouths, and an identical look of determination took over everybody's faces.

Remus was the first to go through. He grabbed a handful of Floo powder, took a breath, stepped into the fireplace, and said, "Fernwell Estate!" He disappeared with a puff of smoke.

RLSSRLSSRLSS

Remus opened his eyes to an immaculate green room. The couches were green, the curtains green, the bloody bookshelf was green. Remus jumped as Kingsley appeared in the fireplace with a small pop. He placed a finger over his lips, and Kingsley nodded.

Remus tiptoed carefully to the door of the room, and pressed an ear to it. He could hear muffled voices coming from a room down the hallway. He gave the all clear to Kinglsey, who was backed by Arthur, George, Fred, and Charlie.

It took another couple minutes for everyone to pop through. Hagrid was the last, and he stayed at the fireplace, armed with his wand. A large bag of Floo powder hung on his belt.

"Everybody ready?" Remus asked grimly. His wand was gripped firmly in his hand. Ron and Harry's faces were twin images of ferocity mixed with hope mixed with fear. Fred brandished his wand carelessly, but his eyes were focused, and his arm was wrapped protectively around his twin's narrow shoulders. George's face was blank, but he had his wand held loosely in his right hand. The uneven nubs on his left hand were twisted desperately in Fred's shirt. Bill and Charlie nodded determinedly, and Kingsley stood silently.

"Let's go."