All the characters belong to J K Rowling; I'm just borrowing them for a while. The story is my own. Any and all feedback is welcome.


Severus's feverish mind struggled to remember the correct amount of Valerian Roots he needed for the Draught of Living Death he was currently working on. Luckily for him they wouldn't be needed for a few hours yet. His arms hurt so much now that he tried to start on his ingredient preparation as early as possible, the simple task of cutting them into the right size sending painful sparks flying through the maimed limbs, hindered by the unusual stiffness he had developed there. Giving up on that particular task he cautiously made his way over to another workbench and started to bottle the Veritaserum he had completed earlier, it would need to mature for a Luna Cycle before it was used but his part in it was now finished. He was at the point of desperation now where he would do anything to occupy his mind. Mundungus had deteriorated quickly over the past 12 hours to the point where now Severus could not rouse him from his sleep. He was loosing that battle, he was sure of it. And just to complicate matters his own condition was now getting frighteningly serious. The burns on his hands and forearms had split and become pus filled in the unsanitary conditions of the lab. He was certain that this was what had been causing his fever, but he did not have any of the ingredients to brew a fever reducing potion or an antibiotic paste to help with it. He knew, deep down, that if help did not arrive soon, they would both perish in this dark, damp hell, and would then simply be left there to rot. That was his last thought before his tired body mutinied on him, and he collapsed unconscious on the cold floor.

XxXxXxXxX

Poppy Pomfrey returned to the Burrow the next morning, her bag packed to bursting with anything she could find that may be of use in the following hours. Following closely behind her was a slightly younger looking man who she promptly introduced as Theodore Pomfrey, her younger sibling, and an accomplished Mediwizard who had come to offer his help. It hadn't occurred to anyone else that they would soon hopefully have two patients and only one Mediwitch, and they were all grateful it hadn't slipped Poppy's mind.

Dumbledore sat at the table, in exactly the same spot that he had occupied the day before, putting the finishing touches to the Portkey that Wilin would be sent away with. The small Phoenix pendant resembled the Order alarm that Severus had activated upon his revelation as a spy. It was light enough to be slipped on a short chain and hung around the bird's neck, leaving Wilin free to carry the note with him in his beak, like he had before.

"I think that should just about do it," he announced as he slipped the golden chain around Wilin's head. "I've attuned it as best I can. According to my calculations they should appear either in here or the living room" holding out the note the ebony eyed bird he whispered "fly fast and true Wilin, their fate rests with you now"

Cocking his head slightly in one of his trademark mannerisms, Wilin took up the note in his beak and took to the skies through the open kitchen window. Without a backwards glance the lonesome rouge began his journey back to his master and friend.

XxXxXxXxX

Severus forced himself back onto his shaking limbs, determined not to give in to the cruel treatment of his captors and tormentors. He felt as if he were on fire, but yet couldn't stop himself from shivering. He hadn't eaten in days but yet he felt sick to his stomach, and his head felt ready to explode. But still he persevered, and slowly and clumsily made his way back over to Mundungus to check on his condition.

XxXxXxXxX

Wilin flew as fast as his wings could carry him through the clear open skies, retracing the path he had used before. It was lucky for all concerned that he had known of the lab that his Master used in that dark place, he had been taken there as a chick whilst he was being raised. However, his visits there had been forced to stop when some of the other humans there found out about him and threatened to do him harm. His master had been quick to find him a safe place to stay for the summer then, in a large hut occupied by an even larger, but kindly man. He was getting close to his destination now; he could see the large oak tree on the hill that marked the small cramp entrance into that hellhole. Beating his tired wings a little harder, Wilin picked up the pace. Reaching the small entrance, the Raven began his difficult trek through the tight space. He reached the entrance to the room just in time to see a flash of long blonde hair leave the room and the solid oak door loudly slam shut.

XxXxXxXxX

Severus lay curled in a foetal position on the floor, his arms wrapped around his torso trying to stop the pain in his newly broken ribs from worsening. Lucius had been sent by the Dark Lord to make sure that he and Mundungus were…comfortable in their accommodations. Apparently his quick whit and dry humour hadn't gone over very well, and Lucius had retaliated violently. Not once did the blond Pure-blood take out his wand, he seemed to derive some sort of sick pleasure out of being able to physically beat Severus in his weakened state. Even now, as Severus clenched his eyes shut against the pain rising in his chest, he could still clearly see the look of ecstasy that shone in the older mans cold grey eyes as he repeatedly kicked and punched. Severus was just about to give into the feeling of hopelessness that had been coiling tightly in his chest for a while now; when he heard the sound he had been waiting for. The soft fluttering of feathers sounded much louder than it should in the quietness of the potions lab. Pushing himself up painfully on shaky arms the Potions Master lifted his tired eyes to see his bird quickly approaching him, parchment tightly clutched in his bill and something gold glittering around his neck.

Reaching out, the note was quickly taken and read, and then re read as if to convince himself that it had actually said what it did. Albus had seemingly once again pulled off the unexpected, and found Severus a way out of his troubles. Removing the pendant from the chain hanging around Wilin's neck, Snape quickly called for him to perch on his shoulder. No reason to make the animal fly back when he can simply use the Portkey too. Reaching clumsily behind himself, Severus tightly grabbed some of Mundungus' clothing and did just as Dumbledore's note had directed him to.

Clutching the pendent tightly in his right hand, as if scared it would disappear suddenly from his grasp, Severus uttered on a tired, crackly breath "The Burrow". A few short moments later, the only evidence that there had been any living being in the room before was an empty sleeping pallet, a boiling cauldron, and a single black feather floating lazily to the ground.


So guys, what do you think of it so far? please review

So whos looking forward to book 7? if you hadn't guessed by now Snapes my fave character. I still think, despite the Dumbledore insident that he's going to be a good guy. My theroy...that Dumbledore was already going to die due to the curse on his handand that Snape and he had discussed Draco's situation, and Dumbledore said that if the time comes, Snape would have to kill him to save the boy. Either that or its going to turn out that Dumbledore was a bad guy really. I think WAY to much emphasis has been put on Harry and the others not trusting the man and him being evil for it to actually be true.

WHATS YOUR THEORIES?