Disclaimer: I own none of the characters.
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"What!"
"Ow, my ear." I hissed at James.
"Sorry," he whispered back, then turning back to Dumbledore, "it can't be him, we saw him…"
"Any information would be welcome James."
James stood there, his sceptical face facing Dumbledore.
I spoke up. "It's just, we saw him."
"When?"
"Around two or three days ago."
Dumbledore now looked older than his age. He sat heavily down in his large seat, placing his cupped hands over his face.
"We'll try to send out search parties." James said, looking at Sirius and me.
"Will do." I replied.
++…1 week passes…++
…Snape's POV…
Pain. Darkness. Pain.
The eternal cycle of suffering strung itself into my day, shattering all hope.
Out of the darkness, voices grew louder and louder. I perked up, those sounds weren't of a malicious torturer, they were of frightened men.
Avery, Crabbe and Goyle rushed into my cell, closely followed by Lucius Malfoy.
I growled at him as he moved closer and the rough hands of Crabbe and Goyle grabbed my arms and pulled me up, their grip tightening until I was sure that the blood circulation had been cut off.
"They're still at the entranceway." Avery exclaimed, rushing back.
I looked at Malfoy, my eyes full of hatred. 'I thought he was my friend. What a fool I was.'
They stuffed my mouth full of cloth and tightened a long, thick strip of rough cloth over my eyes.
They began to pull me to what I assumed was the door. I slowed down their movement as much as I had when there had been a Death Eater meeting.
"Severus, could you hurry?" Malfoy said, his voice speaking very close to my left, feigning the friend that was never there.
Unable to reply, I kicked in the direction of the voice, and was rewarded with a grunt of pain.
"Why you insufferable…" Malfoy hissed.
I felt a punch to my stomach and I doubled over in pain, the air driven out of my lungs and prevented back in by my mouth blocked and only my nose, which was already half blocked with dried blood, for air. I felt my legs begin to weaken, and my head drooped, allowing the Death Eaters to half drag, half carry me through the maze of hallways.
Suddenly, I felt myself being pushed into a hard, wooden surface. I struggled weakly, I was this close.
I heard a door close and bodies squeezed me into the narrow space between them. I whimpered silently, closing my eyes tightly as my body protested, sharp bursts of pain coming from my legs, which had been whacked multiple times going up a staircase.
"Sorry for the trouble, Mr Malfoy, we'll leave now."
My eyes opened in shock. That was Lily's voice! I can't give up now! Not now, when I'm this close!
I managed to pry my hand out of the tight corner between the wall and one of the bodies, and ripped the gag out of my mouth.
A hand came up to muffle my voice as I opened my mouth. Perfect.
I bit down hard, the cry of pain echoed, alerting the intruders to our presence.
…Lily's POV…
I looked at James. He was smiling, his smile sceptical to say the least.
"So what was that about your wife away on vacation?"
"I…" Malfoy stuttered, his face growing whiter than his hair, "Please, she'll be killed if I fail."
"Don't lie to me. Who's behind that cupboard door?" James growled, his voice getting more dangerous by the second.
"No-one."
"Really. Lily, keep an eye on him. You too." James said, looking at Shacklebolt.
He went over to the door and opened it.
…Snape's POV…
The darkness behind the blindfold seemed to light up. I grinned behind the hand covering my mouth as I heard the stunning spell cried thrice.
The blindfold was taken off and I saw Potter standing in front of me, clearly trying to mask the fact that he hates me.
He turned back to someone behind him. "So Malfoy, slipped off the tightrope, did we?"
I peered out from behind Potter, then stepping out to stand by Potter's side. I smirked at Malfoy.
Then the party turned around and headed towards the front door. I quickened my pace, not wanting to be left behind.
—+++++—
We had made it. The apparition border was behind us.
Freedom tasted good.
All of a sudden, Shacklebolt whispered something to the others.
Potter turned around. "Sorry, but…"
'You've got to be kidding.' I thought as everything went black.
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Have a great day guys! Hope the chapter was worth waiting for!
