Tyler's home had been invaded. Severus woke with a screaming fear, his wand sparking and whistling in a high pitched way that could only mean someone had tripped the security at the old house. He barely stumbled into a pair of shoes before flying toward the floo in bleary rush.

He was standing with a handful of floo powder, his hand hovering over the flames before his brain caught up with him. He couldn't storm into Tyler's house. He had to protect them, sure, but he also had to be smart. Reason dictated that he couldn't sacrifice his own position for them yet. He needed to think about what would he find there. The ministry, Death Eaters, Muggle kids holding rolls of toilet paper? What would he say to any of these groups to explain his sudden presence? What was his position, what would be his alibi for knowing so quickly that something had happened? His heart was fighting his brain in a death match. Harry … and to a lesser extent (he tried to convince himself) Tyler were in trouble but he had to save face, play the game correctly. He took a steadying breath and considered his options. It took ten seconds but he made a decision. He placed a silencing charm on his shoes and chucked the handful of floo.

He spun back into his own living room seconds later.

"Oh very nice, Moody." Severus spat landing heavily after being, in no uncertain terms, kicked back from Tyler's Floo. "Clearly an auror trick, an auror trick that screams Mad-Eye Moody", Severus continued to fume.

Though it wasn't comforting to know that dark wizard catchers were at Tyler's house, Severus consoled himself that if the house were attacked at least one of Dumbledore's top men were on the case. He couldn't let it go though. He needed to see the house himself, know that it wasn't in ruins, that it wasn't god forbid burning to the ground with a certain symbol hanging in the sky.

His breath caught in his throat at the mere thought that Tyler and Harry had been attacked, but he couldn't let himself think that way, not yet. He marched to his bookcase, scanned every row until he found what he was looking for and threw open the book to the section on anti-blocking spells. He glared over his shoulder at the floo, would he be able to break through Moody's wards while in transit? It didn't matter, he had to try.

It took a half hour and several attempts before he could break through every spell Moody had cast, and after being spat out of the floo three more times he was able to slip through the whirlwind of flames into Tyler's home.

True to the silencing charm he landed on cushioned feet. It didn't take long for Severus to realize that the disaray in the house was more than just Tyler's usual messy lifestyle. There had been a search, and possibly a struggle. Severus reached out and touched an overturned lamp. It was Tyler's favorite. Severus groaned that he knew that bit of information about the boy, but before he left the room to continue his search he repaired it with a flick of his wand and replaced it on the side table.

The house was silent. He prepared to see bodies around every corner as he search the kitchen, then the bathroom. He tiptoed upstairs wand at the ready. Every room was a mess, but devoid of human life.

Severus couldn't think of anywhere else to look, unless… Severus turned toward the locked basement. Of course. If Tyler were hiding safely it would be in the one magically secure place in the building. Even if he hated the place. Severus went to the wall where the door was hiding and stopped. The magical seal that usually kept it hidden had been broken. In fact there was a small glimmer of light peaking around the edges. Someone was down there. Severus couldn't let himself hope that it was Tyler and Harry. To much had already gone wrong that night for it to be this easy.

He reached out and opened the door. It couldn't be Tyler, he reminded himself, to keep his hopes in check. Magical bobbles of light bounced along the ceiling, and his heart sank. It was definitely not Tyler. Severus could see the hem of wizard robes swishing below. Severus stealed himself for whoever might be in the basement and stepped onto the creaky top stair. The man at the bottom of the stairs turned, stepped over and peered up at him.

"Severus." A dangerously cruel face smirked back.

"Carrow?" A thousand terrifying thoughts screamed through Severus's head. His worst nightmare, a Death Eater standing in Tyler's home, had just come to life.

"On the trail of Lupin." Carrow hissed in delight. Hunters eyes flashed at Severus and his stomach twisted.

"and have you found him?"

"Noooo" Carrow exhaled. He almost sounded contemplative, though Severus wasn't sure it was in the man's power to use his brain. He took another step down and followed Carrow's eyeline. He was admiring the bloody spatter-paint of the basement walls. Severus had never seen the place in such good lighting. He usually lit one lamp and dragged the limp body of Tyler out of the chilly space as quickly as possible. Under the bobbing lights of Carrow's several flames the place was horrific. Blood and claw scratches marred every surface. There were stains in colors Severus didn't want to think about and rust had begun to build up from the years of spilt blood. He looked over to Carrow and was disgusted to see the gleeful intrigue in the man's face.

Carrow must have noticed, "Remarkable what those things do to themselves during a full moon. Especially locked in a closet."

"Remarkable indeed, but does it answer any questions?" Severus asked, trying to keep bile from sneaking up his throat.

"Hm?" Carrow looked up at him, as if surprised that he didn't have anything gory to say about their surroundings. As if to punish Severus's lack of interest he asked snidely, "What are you doing here? Dumbledore sent you to check up on our search for Lupin?"

"Of course it was Dumbledore." Severus replied cooly. Carrow was making it too easy for him to cover up his reason for being there.

Carrow looked skeptical about Snape's life choices, "Yeah, well this is a dead end. Lupin might have been here last month, but he init here now."

Severus raised an eyebrow, "How do you know he was here. This could be anyone's blood." Severus needed to know if Carrow had any suspicions about Tyler. It was bad enough he had found the cellar, he didn't want to give away its main occupant.

"Nah, this place is a classic werewolf… Blood, scratches and all that. Anyway, it would got to be his seeing as this place belongs to some muggle and his kid. Couldn't be him turnin' into a wolf every month." Carrow laughed, as if a muggle werewolf was the craziest thing he had ever heard but Severus let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Carrow didn't know Tyler's identity, he didn't even know he was in the home of the Harry Potter, "Ah well. I should head out. Nothin' to see here." He paused at the door and grinned wildly at Severus, "but if the ministry gets anything out of the muggle, I may just get to catch myself a rabid dog tomorrow."

Severus waited as Carrow's feet creaked up the steps and then across the first floor to the Floo.

Severus felt cold shivers pass down his arms. Tyler must be at the ministry. They had him because they believed, as Severus did, that Tyler knew Lupin's whereabouts.

Severus didn't need to look at the dirty walls of the basement any longer, he snuffed out the lights with his wand and turned to hurry up the stairs. He needed to speak with Dumbledore.

He paused at floo once more. He needed a pretense for having the knowledge that he did. Perhaps he could simply tell Dumbledore Carrow had gotten in touch with him… at midnight, in order to get helping finding Lupin. The lie fell flat, he suspected Dumbledore would be able to see right through him. His powder-full hand faltered over the floo, then with a heap of determination he chucked the powder in to the fire and stepped into the green flames.

"Headmaster's office, Hogwarts." He demanded, and without another second to look at the disheveled state of Tyler's home he was dropping away.

"I don't KNOW where Lupin is." Tyler screamed again. "Where is Harry!" He added. He heard his voice crack. It was breaking from the screams from earlier that night and the subsequent talking, because he had been talking nonstop for an hour. Severus would have sneered and told him to shut his worried mouth. He knew he talked when he was nervous, or tired, or surprised, but now he was shaking with fear and words beyond his control were spilling out of his mouth. He had already told the men and women in maroon robes everything he knew about Lupin. He told them that the wizard had looked shabby when he had stopped by the house, that he had only been there to apologize for not being around more, and that he was fine, really, and he didn't need a place to stay. Tyler even told them he had offered him Lily and James's old room.

Tyler continued babbling. He told the witches and wizards that he was suspicious of Remus's claims that he was "fine" but he was used to Remus's nonchalant shrugs when it came to his health and his home. He didn't know how many times Remus had said the same things to James and Sirius over the years. Tyler said he had to trust he knew what he was doing. He explained that in the end he had sent the man off with a sandwich and a wave. That he didn't believe Remus was capable of what he was accused of. That he was always nice to him, and that Sirius was a brat who didn't deserve Remus's friendship.

The wizards demanded more than mere stories though. With each question Tyler feared more and more for his and Harry's lives.

"Why were there fresh anti-werewolf charms on your basement then?"

"I don't know! I want to see my nephew!"

"Are you hiding a werewolf in your basement?"

"Dude, I'm a muggle. I have no clue what you're talking about…" Tyler fumbled. He was thankful Moody had already left the room. Moody probably could have sensed his lies.

"There was blood."

"I don't know!" Tyler's heart was doing flips. If they found out about him he would lose Harry, and he would do anything to keep Harry, anything.

Forty-five minutes later and he was starting to wear them down with his useless information.

"Look I'm a muggle." He insisted to the few remaining wizards, "I study science and cook food on a stove and make a lot of toast with an electric toaster, and I like to use lightbulbs and I only know silly magic tricks, really. Hold on, I've got one I can do, even in my pajamas, with my hands tied behind my back." Tyler scrunched up his face. "Pick a number between 1 and 10."

An auror left the room in frustration. There were eye rolls from the two remaining people in the room, one old witch who looked bored with the interrogations and a young wizard doing his best to look intimidating by the door. They didn't take the bait, so Tyler asked again,

"1 and 10 it's easy."

"Shut up."

Tyler ignored them, "Where's Harry? Can I see him yet?"

"Maybe if you tell us something useful." The younger man snapped.

"No." The witch intoned over top of the younger man. Her word was stretched out and languid. Tyler blinked slow, tired blinks, he didn't know what other angle he could try to work the aurors at. They had Harry, he knew it. Wouldn't they have told him if they had handed Harry over to Petunia or some other wizard family? He needed to know his nephew was safe. He needed to know. It was the only thing on his mind, sparking and too bright, he couldn't look away from the question.

An hour later he became belligerent. "I need to know he's safe at least." Tyler croaked. His voice was getting worse as the night wore one. It must have been near three am though he couldn't tell in the small enclosed room. The wizard sniffed, crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. They were just sitting with him now. Not talking, not asking questions, just sitting.

"Is there something I could do to speed this process up? Seriously." Tyler almost cried.

"Unfortunately there isn't."

"Why? I'll do anything. I need to see Harry."

"You are the sole witness to a man who has dissapered and may be attached to Sirius Black's activities on Halloween night."

Tyler's stomach flipped violently, and not for the first time that evening. Every time Halloween was mentioned his stomach flipped and his body ached with grief. His heart temporarily stopped beating. He had spent so long trying to quiet the storm in his mind from that night that the constant reminder from strangers was nearly killing him.

"Please stop saying that." He managed. "Lupin wasn't involved. If he was and I knew where he was I would be more than happy to to turn him over, but I don't know where he is. I just want to see my nephew and go home."

"We're working on it."

"What do you mean you're working on it?"

"You're being obstinate, so Moody's getting the paperwork signed to use veritaserum on you."

It was a quick floo jump into the headmasters office, but the room was dark when he arrived. Dumbledore either wasn't awake or had already left to sort out whatever mistake had taken place. Severus raced to Dumbledore's desk for any hint that Dumbledore was aware of the events of the night. There was nothing written, no notes from the auror, magical law enforcement or even the werewolf capture unit. Severus was just about to head toward Dumbledore's sleeping chambers when the floo once against burst to life. Out stepped the headmaster in brilliant green robes with small stars dancing on the shimmering material. It was those stars that seemed to have Harry's full attention for the boy was staring at one on Dumbledore's shoulder and poking the shimming gold color. Of course he would like gold, Severus felt a piece of his brain grumble, before reality set in. Dumbledore was holding Harry. Harry was okay! Severus inwardly melted with relief.

"Dumbledore." He greeted.

Harry turned at the sound of his voice. Severus felt cold filter from his shoulders down to his fingertips. The boy was looking right at him. He was pointing and grinning with familiarity. Severus knew he was in trouble. The boy was old enough to recognize him, but too young to understand that he shouldn't point to him in public.

"Severus." Dumbledore didn't seem the least bit surprised by the boys actions. In fact he simply smiled, placed the boy on the ground and watched as Harry stumbled across the stone floor and into the safe folds of Severus's robes.

"Headmaster?"

"I cannot blame either you or Tyler for reuniting. I do not need to know the circumstances either." Dumbledore gave Severus a pointed look. He knew, it was clear he knew, but without speaking Dumbledore was giving Tyler lenience. Severus tried not to breathe out relief too obviously. As the headmaster swooped around his desk and into his high-backed chair Severus leaned down and plucked Harry from the floor. There were still tear stains on his cheeks and he seemed tired and frustrated, but as soon as he was up in Severus's arms he leaned his head into his shoulder and sighed with comfort. Severus hesitated but then reached up and wiped the tears from Harry's eyes with the sleeve of his robe. Harry leaned in closer and shut his eyes, breathing in his musty black robes as if everything in the world were once again in order.

It took Severus a few moments to compose himself before he could turn back to the headmaster and ask, "Why did they release him to you? Where is Tyler exactly?"

"Tyler is with the Auror department. They seem to think he knows where Lupin is… He doesn't does he?" Dumbledore shot Severus with a piercing look.

"He knew, but I don't believe he knows anymore."

"They sent someone from the Werewolf Capture Unit to Tyler's home. He returned to the ministry just as I was leaving. I took it upon myself to wipe a few things from his memory and reapply a few safety spells to Tyler's home to keep Carrow from being able to return without my permission. I hope that's alright. I realize Carrow is an old friend of yours."

Severus grunted his approval. Having Carrow in Tyler's home was jarring. Like finding a venomous snake living in your bed. "…and Harry?" Severus had to ask the question again, nodding to the boy on his shoulder.

"They couldn't just hand The-Boy-Who-Lived off to anyone could they?" Dumbledore answered off-handedly.

"Of course not." Severus realized Dumbledore was the only solution short of handing Harry over to Petunia, and he was certain neither she nor her neckless husband would be happy about that particular call at one in the morning. Dumbledore didn't seem to have any similar worry.

"I plan to drop him off at his aunt's as soon as possible."

"Petunia?" Severus perked up with shock and worry.

Dumbledore looked up at him and with complete seriousness and replied, "It's likely they won't let Tyler keep him after tonight."

Worry pierced Severus's heart.

"We need to find him."

"Find who?" Dumbledore asked.

"Lupin. We need to find him. He's the key. If we turn him in they'll have to let Tyler go. They'll see that Tyler had nothing to do with his hiding out!"

Dumbledore pondered his logic for several moments. Peered at him with his almost glowing blue eyes, then said simply, "I do not believe Lupin to be guilty."

Severus wanted to scream that he didn't care what Dumbledore believed, that he only cared that Tyler would get to keep Harry, that Harry's happiness mattered, that the child of Lily Evens should be with Tyler and not their anti-magic older sister. Instead he countered, "I do believe he's guilty" without worry that the headmaster might chastise him about childhood feuds. On his arm Harry could feel Severus tense. They boy rose up and tried to pat Severus's face, just as Tyler would pat his when he cried. "Harry I'm fine. Go back to sleep." He pressed the boy's head back onto his shoulder with his free hand and Harry reluctantly returned to his lounge.

"So you would turn Lupin in to get Tyler out? It's unnecessary. They cannot hold Tyler for more than 24 hours and there is a chance that they won't discover his secret and everything will return to normal."

"But if I get Lupin to them before they discover his secret then I save Tyler and turn over a Death Eater." Severus almost hissed.

"I can't stop you. But whatever happens to Lupin will be on your shoulders, and he is a good man. He is an Order member, part of the team…"

Severus heard the threat in the headmaster's voice. Severus didn't need any more guilt on his shoulders, but he couldn't let Tyler go down- he couldn't lose Harry- not without fighting with everything he had. "I think I'll live." He bit.

Severus turned to head back toward the floo, to begin his search for the wayfaring werewolf, but Dumbledore piped up one last time, "You can leave Harry with me. I promise that he will be safe."

Severus spun and looked at the Headmaster, then down at Harry lazily playing with a loose thread on his robes. Maybe he trusted Dumbledore, but not tonight. Dumbledore would leave Harry in the arms of almost unknown relatives, who didn't want him. Severus couldn't allow that, not on a night when he had been ripped away from the only father figure he knew.

"I'll keep an eye on him." He told the old man and without waiting for a response, he turned and disappeared through the floo.