A/N: Someone asked if Severus knew Harry/Shadow was having seizures. I guess I kind of confused the issue. Basically, Severus knew Shadow/Harry was going to have occasional seizures. Remus told him that. But he didn't know they brought Out an alter until the day before the Adoption Ritual. While Shadow/Harry slept after the ritual for several days, Severus was working on a potion to prevent Alters from coming Out after a seizure. Hope this helps.

A/N2: I made another mistake with the twins. They will be starting their 7th year, Ron and Hermione their 5th year, Shadow and Ginny their 4th year. I just can't get that right. (sigh) I've got it this time, though. Thank you for keeping me straight! LOL!

Darkness

Shadow didn't know how long he had been waiting. Hours certainly. It had been long enough that he was starting to get thirsty. His mouth was very dry, his saliva was thickening. It was time he tried breaking out. He wandered over to the door and ran his eyes over it. It looked normal, but he could sense magical power around it. He tried the knob. It was locked. Backing up a bit, he lifted his hand and glared at the door, willing it to open.

His magic punched out viciously and…

SNAP

He froze, breath caught in his throat, his eyes wide. The room had been plunged into pitch-darkness. Heart thudding in his chest, Shadow reached for the door and tried to open it. Nothing. It was still locked. The door wasn't even dented. Shadow's eyes opened wide. Fear washing over him like rain. He was in serious trouble.

xXxXxXx

Lucius stood in the open doorway to an empty side chamber. He was watching Severus unlock his wand. Four Death Eaters in black robes and white masks were standing in each corner, wands held ready in case the slippery Potions Master tried anything. He was very pleased with how perfectly everything was going.

Someone cleared their throat behind him.

"Yes?" he asked, turning to see McNair shifting nervously behind him.

"There was a magical surge in the room with the kid. Pretty powerful, but the containment spells haven't been disturbed. We've cut off all the lights, as you ordered to be done should this happen."

"Good," Lucius nodded and smiled wickedly. "The kid probably used a Rune circle or something on the door, trying to escape. He doesn't have his wand so making him blind should put a stop to that. Let me know if anything like this happens again."

"Yes, sir," McNair answered sharply and turned to resume his post.

Yes. Things were going perfectly indeed. Lucius sighed contentedly and returned his attention back to Severus. His son was resourceful, Lucius would give him that, but he wasn't going to be able to escape. In fact, neither of the Snapes were ever going to leave alive.

xXxXxXx

Shadow went rigid, ears straining. Had someone come in? Had he heard something? Heart rocketing in his chest, he didn't dare to breathe. He'd been trapped, blind, for hours it seemed. Was someone finally using the darkness as cover for an attack? Crouching, he forced his eyes closed and silently brought in air through his mouth.

The room was completely quiet. No one had entered. Another false alarm. Slowly, he calmed. Forcing his hands to stop shaking and his heart to still it's rapid pace.

"I'm not afraid of the dark," he told himself. "Or of being locked in dark places."

If they thought this was going to rattle him, they were very wrong. Shadow spent his childhood learning to cope with the cupboard. It had been his room and refuge from the Dursleys, but even so panic and a clawing sense of need to get outside had sometimes come over him. So he had mastered several techniques to push that feeling away.

He was using all of them now. He needed them. Because this wasn't his cupboard. He wasn't safe from attack here, protected because no one else could fit into his room. No. His enemies could slip in easily and silently if they wished. He had to stay alert. Every moment. So he continued his pacing, carefully memorizing the room in numbers: seven strides, ten strides, twelve diagonally. If they did launch an attack, he would know the room and they would not. That would give him a distinct advantage.

A while later, when he knew it by heart, he sat in the middle, cross-legged. His feet were tired of walking. So he began to think. He thought about his father. Severus would have been back by now if he were all right. How long had they been missing? Was anyone looking for them? If they were, where would they look first?

That was easy. They would look at the Ministry. How long would it take to search the whole building? Too long, Shadow thought grimly. But the Ministry had put a monitoring device on Severus. Could the Order track them with that? Probably. Unless… Unless the Ministry kept that quiet and prevented searches. Shadow wouldn't be surprised for a second if Fudge was working with Malfoy. That pompous ass was power and money hungry enough to sell his soul to the devil.

xXxXxXx

The potion threatened to boil over and billowing acid green smoke rose like volcanic ash, filling the air. Severus was wearing protective gloves and facial mask and he could still feel the sting. A quick counter-clockwise turn, followed by a pinch of rose to calm the unstable brew… The potion turned a darker green and began to settle down.

Thank Merlin, Severus thought and stood back with a sigh of exhaustion. He sat on a stool and massaged his brow. This was one of the more complex potions he had ever brewed. After unlocking his wand, they had taken him to a lab and given him a potion recipe. It was of a potion he had never encountered before and it was extremely complex. The lab showed evidence of there being several failed attempts before he had arrived.

Severus wasn't a stupid man. He knew the intentions Lucius had for him, but the man was unraveling at the edges. There was a way to manipulate that into his favor. He had experience in calming madmen, after all. He served both the Dark Lord and Dumbledore. So he set out to make himself invaluable. He would brew the potion correctly, and he then he would have leverage to convince Lucius to let his son go.

xXxXxXx

Shadow had long ago run out of strategic thoughts and had turned to a different kind of thinking all together. Once he was out of here, the first thing he was going to do was drink a gallon of water. Then he was going to eat four of Mrs. Weasley's meat pies. With strawberries and cream for dessert, maybe. Yeah. Then he was going to have some of her potatoes and gravy. Mmmm…. Some pumpkin juice and chocolate pastries. He'd never undervalue her again.

xXxXxXx

Lucius sat in a small rocking rowboat. He hated the damn thing. Every wave threatened to be the one to tip him into the frigid sea. A soft whirl and he was no longer alone. His son sat across from him, straight and tall. His short blond hair was slicked back and his eyes were sneering as soon as he took in what exactly they were sitting in.

Lucius laughed, "Welcome, son."

Draco inclined his head, the perfect pureblooded son. "Hello, Father."

The man gently grabbed his heir by the shoulder and Apparated them the final distance to his headquarters.

xXxXxXx

He had begun pacing again. He was really thirsty now. It had to have been a day, at least, (it felt like a week, a month, but Shadow knew time seemed longer than it really was) of being trapped in here. He was starting to get weak without water, sleep, and food - in that order. And the smell of his prison was becoming unbearable. It wasn't like there was a toilet. The corner had to do.

He wasn't about to wait until he couldn't fight or escape if he had to. He was going to have to try and break through the wards on the door again. Then again…

He should conserve his strength in case the Death Eaters gave him an opening. If he spent himself against that unbreakable barrier when he already tried his best with that first strike, then he'd have nothing with which to attack the next Death Eater who stuck his ugly head through the door…

But if he waited too long, he wouldn't be able to attack anyway. He would have passively let his enemies kill him without a decent fight. And that was intolerable. He would go down fighting if he had to go down at all…

Worn, hungry, stir-crazy, and unsure, Shadow continued pacing. He'd wait a little longer. It couldn't be much longer before someone made a move. Severus would come soon. Someone would remember he was trapped in this closet!

xXxXxXx

It was done. Severus staggered back and collapsed against the wall, sliding down to sit bonelessly on the stool he had pushed aside ten hours ago.

"Very good," Lucius grinned down at him. "You have a remarkable skill, Severus."

"Thank you," he smiled back, hate hidden in his dark eyes. "May I ask who invented such a work of art and what purpose it is used for?"

"No," the blond laughed. "I think I'll let it be a surprise. Yes. Everyone will be very surprised."

Lucius caressed the cauldron before gesturing sharply at the two Death Eaters waiting obediently near the door. Severus watched as they deftly placed preserving spells on the potion and carried the whole cauldron out of the room. Lucius moved to follow, but stopped, remembering the Potions Master.

"You should rest, old friend. Eat, get some sleep. You've had little of both since you began," he said gently.

Severus nodded and pulled himself to his feet. "May I see my son?"

"No," Lucius shook his head and then grinned. "Because he is no longer here. I let him go. I left him on the shore ten miles from here. He can find the rest of the way home, I assume?"

Severus stabbed out in a careful whip of Legemency. Lucius wasn't lying. Closing his eyes in relief, he managed a smile in return. His son was safe.

xXxXxXx

Shadow about jumped out of his skin when he heard the loud (to him) scrape of the door being pushed open. The half-open door let in dim orange light. It was like looking into the sun after so many long hours in the dark. A sharp outline of a figure blocked most of it, thankfully.

Wait…

An outline isn't good, it's bad. It meant someone was here. A Death Eater was here to kill him! Heart racing, Shadow crouched, his magic tightly wound and poised inside him. He was weak and dizzy, lightheaded, but he was on his feet and he was still able to move quickly if he had to.

"Shadow?"

The whisper was so quiet, he almost thought he hadn't heard it. Soft steps came forward. Three.

"Shadow? You there? … Gah! It stinks in here."

This was said a bit louder. He definitely heard it that time. Why would the bad guys be calling so softly? He shrugged and decided to answer. "Yeah," he tried to say, but all that came out was a dry croak.

"Thank Merlin," the hushed voice breathed. Then the person was moving forward more quickly, although still slower than a walk. They were uncomfortable in the dark.

Shadow smiled at that, feeling smug. He crouched and prepared to spring. His attacker wouldn't know what hit him.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. When you missed dinner after your hearing, McGonagall knew something was wrong. She deployed everyone to find you two. Of course Lupin came back to the house to tell me. He knew it had to have been the Death Eaters, and who better to infiltrate?"

"Draco?" Shadow grated, shocked that it took him this long to recognize his friend's voice. Joy and relief burst inside his chest like a tangible force and he almost couldn't contain the sudden shaking in his hands.

"Yes." The blond finally found Shadow's arm and began tugging it back to the door. "I wrote my father, saying Blaise was acting suspiciously and I needed to come home. That I had information I couldn't write down. He didn't write back until the next afternoon, but he gave me instructions. They were very round about. Almost like a treasure hunt. Took me till this morning to get here. And this place is a maze and I couldn't go looking for you until my father was done breathing down my neck."

They were out in the hallway now. It was stone, like a cave, which was completely unexpected since the room he had been held in was normal with square walls. The blond was tense and his grey eyes were bright and sharp, alert. Shadow swayed. Draco supported him with an arm around his waist and looked carefully at his friend's face, worry shimmering in his eyes.

"You okay? Did they hurt you? That room was awful."

"Thirsty," Shadow moaned, squinting against the dim lights.

Fury tightened Draco's mouth and he gently led his friend forward. The cave was damp and cool. They passed several crossways, their footsteps echoing softly. They went to the right on the second divergence and left on the fourth. They met no one, heard no one, and despite himself, Shadow began to feel a bit frightened.

Draco stopped at an unassuming door and pushed it open. It was a bathroom. Shadow fell on the sink, slurping up the deliciously cold water. Draco waited, keeping an eye on the hallway. Several minutes later, Shadow finally pulled himself away. His belly was painfully full, swishing when he moved.

"Where is everyone?" he whispered.

Draco looked over his shoulder at him. "The ritual room. They're doing something big in there. I haven't found out what yet. You ready?"

"Yes. What time is it? Have you seen my father?"

"No and ten o'clock Sunday night," the blond answered. "I'm sorry I couldn't get to you faster."

"You shouldn't have come at all. I was going to break out soon."

Draco shook his head with a doubtful smirk. Before Shadow could retaliate, the blond pulled him into the corridor again. The two teens made their way through the dimly lit passages. More aware, Shadow was amazed at the complexity of the caverns. It took a good fifteen minutes before they reached a cave opening.

Shadow stared. They were about two hundred feet above the ground and looking over violent seas. The night was dark; the stars and moon shinning fitfully through breaks in the thin clouds. The air was cold and the smell of the ocean was overpowering. It smelled like heaven after that room, and he took a deep breath of freedom. He was embarrassed to feel tears rise in his eyes and he grabbed Draco's arm to keep from sinking to his knees.

"I don't know where we are," Draco said soothingly, supporting his friend. He had to speak loudly to be heard over the roar of the waves crashing against the cliffside. "I was portkeyed into a boat a mile off shore and my father Apparated me inside. The caverns are soaked in heavy-duty anti-Apparation and anti-portkey wards, but my father had them lowered briefly to let me in."

"So how do we get out?" Shadow questioned, his eyes scanning the mouth of the cave and the horizon for clues.

"You can Apparate, right?"

"Yes, but you said…"

"The wards end about five feet out," Draco said carefully.

Shadow snapped his head around, eyes wide. "You want me to… jump?"

Draco nodded. "And then Apparate."

"To where?" Shadow asked incredulous.

The blond was about to answer when they heard the sound of quick footsteps coming toward them. They had a few seconds at best and there was nowhere to go. Draco thought his heart was going to explode with terror. Frantic, he looked desperately to his friend for ideas to save themselves, but… Shadow wasn't there!

Gasping, he looked around rapidly. There! A dark, hunched form was hiding next to a bolder. In the dark, the lynx could be just another fallen rock. Draco had no time to feel relief for his father had stepped into the passage.

"Draco?" Lucius asked darkly. His hair was tied back, but his ponytail was whipping around his neck and cheeks. He strode forward, fury in his eyes. "Why are you out of your rooms?"

"I heard a noise. I thought we were in trouble and went to warn you, but got lost," Draco lied quickly.

Lucius snapped his fist out, backhanding his son hard across the cheek. Draco slammed into the wall with a soft cry. Shadow's tail lashed furiously, but he forced himself to hold still and silent. Moving wouldn't help either of them right now. But God. It was so hard not to leap out and scratch that bastard's face off. Rage was beating warmly in his chest like a second heart.

Draco slowly straightened himself, ignoring the blood trickling down his chin. He lowered his head submissively and said nothing.

"To bed, son. Come," Lucius called calmly, almost affectionately.

Shadow shivered in the dark, sickened.

"Yes, Father," Draco answered evenly. His hand behind his back gestured twice toward the opening, clearly signaling Shadow to escape.

The two Malfoys disappeared. Shadow waited until even his lynx hearing couldn't catch their footsteps before he transformed back into this human form. Helpless rage and fear churned through his chest and head. He couldn't abandon Draco. Especially since they would blame him for the escape. But if he stayed, what could he possibly do? He had no idea about the layout or how many Death Eaters were here. If he went after Draco, he'd most likely be caught and thrown back into that small dark room to die slowly of thirst. And that terrified him. He didn't want to die pointlessly. He couldn't face that room so soon.

Punching the rocky floor, he hissed, "Damn it. Damn everything!" Then he flung himself to his feet and jumped from the mouth of the cave... Knowingly abandoning his father and best friend.

The cold wind whipped around him and tore a scream from his throat. The ocean seemed to swell and open up, like a gaping hungry mouth, ready to swallow him into a painful, suffocating death. Shadow screamed denial, almost overwhelmed with a very primitive terror, and closed his eyes, lashing out with every ounce of magic and will he had.

Somewhere safe, he demanded silently. Send me somewhere safe.

With a sharp crack, he disappeared… four feet from the icy water's surface.

xXxXxXx

Neville jerked awake with a startled scream as something heavy fell on top of him, a sharp crack almost deafening him. He flung his hand out and touched his lamp, making light flare inside his room. Eyes as round as saucers, he stared down at his brother, who lay panting, his strange eyes half-closed.

"Shadow!" he cried. "What happened? Are you hurt? Where?" He scrambled from the bed and carefully searched his friend for any wounds.

Shadow managed a weak smile. "Fine. Jus' tired," he slurred. The Apparation had taken almost all he had to give.

Neville didn't have time to feel reassured as he watched his brother's eyes roll, revealing only white, as he began to convulse. Frantic, Neville pinned the thrashing body to the bed. He didn't have the potion that would help. It had expired and he threw it away. Tears burned down his cheeks. What if Demon came Out? Would it kill him and Gran and Uncle Algie? Sobbing, he held fast.

Slowly, Shadow's seizure stopped. He lay limp for only a second before his eyes came open. Neville watched as his brother's face slowly twisted into a mask of terror. The curly-haired teen screamed and jerked away, slamming his back into the wall. Neville jumped back, heart racing in his chest, and watched as Boy huddled in the corner, arms protectively flung over his head, keening in terror. The acid stench of urine filled the room.

"What is going on in here?" Augusta demanded, stomping into the room with her bed robe wrapped tightly around her.

Neville jerked in surprise. Boy began to wail, flailing and scratching at the walls, as if trying to go through them to get away. Augusta gasped. She covered her mouth with her hand, watching in horror. Neville leapt forward and herded the silver-haired matron out of his bedroom.

"That's my friend from school, Gran. He… He has a c-c-condition and whenever he gets like this he flees to safe places. All we can do is let him be until he comes out of it," Neville explained, trying desperately to stop the shaking in his voice and limbs.

"He needs a mediwitch!" she protested.

"He has a one," Neville assured, guiding her downstairs and toward the kitchen. Tea would help calm her nerves. "I promise. As soon as he can't hear or see us, he'll calm down. He'll be okay." At least, he hoped so. He had no idea what was going on, what had happened. He was all twisted up inside with worry. But having to calm his grandmother gave him something to focus on.

The two of them sat in the living room with steaming cups of tea and listened to Boy sob and cry broken-heartedly. It was awful. Augusta couldn't take her eyes away from the stairs as she scowled and fiddled with her robe. Neville sat, pale and sweaty. He wanted to contact Remus and Sirius. Where was Severus? But he didn't know if that was the best thing. What if they had been captured and writing would only reveal where his brother had escaped to? He'd have to wait for Shadow to come around and tell him what to do.

It was during breakfast that the anguished crying finally fell silent. Neville shared a look with his grandmother before bolting from the room and running upstairs. Shadow lay, curled on his side. Neville gently brushed his sweaty curls from his face and the blue and green eyes fluttered open briefly. He looked beyond exhausted, but he was sane. Shadow was back. Neville smiled, his hands shaking with relief. Shadow smiled back before his eyes fell closed again.

"Is it over?" Augusta asked stiffly. She came into the room and looked down at the small teen.

"Yes," Neville smiled. "I think he's just sleeping. He looks really tired."

Augusta lifted her wand and cast a few general diagnostic spells. She frowned at the results. "This boy hasn't eaten for almost sixty hours and he's dehydrated."

"We can't take him to St. Mungo's. I need you to trust me," Neville said firmly, looking up at her.

"I'm not getting into anything foolish and neither will you," Augusta growled. "Is he in trouble with the law? With his parents?"

"It's not like that at all! Death Eaters are after him. He can't go to a public place without his family to protect him, and the fact that they aren't here already worries me. What if they were attacked? Can't we just have Mediwizard Juniper come?"

Augusta had gone rigid at the mention of Death Eaters, but after a long moment she nodded and swept from the room to make the firecall. Neville slumped in relief and looked down at his brother. He was still completely out of it. Sixty hours… That was two and a half days of no food and very little water. What could have happened? Sighing, he carefully tucked Shadow into the bed and pulled over a chair so he could sit with him.

The old, retired mediwizard got there within the hour. He ran several tests, muttering the whole while. The man was going on one-hundred-and-five years old, but the neighborhood still called him for minor things. He said he didn't mind. He liked to keep his hand in. Well, his hand was definitely in it now. Shadow was the worst case he had seen for years.

He gave the teen four potions and some color seeped back into Shadow's pale, drawn face. Neville smiled at the old man, but Juniper did not return the gesture. He was not happy at all.

"He needs sleep," the old man grated. "He's malnourished, dehydrated, and physically and magically exhausted. Not to mention the history of malnutrition here and extensive old wounds. Is this child abused? Are you hiding him from his family?"

Augusta looked at Neville sharply, thinking he had lied to her.

"No, sir!" Neville quickly shook his head. "Shadow's father would never hurt him. But he's been hurt before. His family is a target of the Death Eaters and they got to him once. I'm afraid it has happened again."

"I see," Juniper sighed sadly. "What a thing to do. To a child, no less. Take care of him Augusta. He should wake up tomorrow morning starving."

"I will, Juniper. Thank you."

"Bah," he smiled at her.

xXxXxXx

Things were no longer perfect, he thought. Lucius stood in his shirt and pants, his sleeves rolled up past the elbow. He was covered in disgusting sweat and flecks of salty blood were splattered across his chest and face. Draco was magically bound on the cold cave floor. His shirt was in shreds and soaked with blood.

CRACK

Draco screamed weakly, which then descended into tortured sobs.

Lucius had been doing this for a while, he didn't know how long. He had been angry, so angry. He was so certain he had released Severus' brat, but McNair assured him he hadn't. The brat had been in the room the whole time. At least until the wretched boy had escaped. And Draco had helped him!

He frowned. Why was he certain Draco had helped? And what did it matter the brat got away? He was going to release him anyway. Hadn't he just admitted that to himself. Severus was loyal and his work was priceless for their cause. They didn't need the kid to control him, and keeping the brat might provoke anger from the Potions Master. They didn't want that. He was too valuable right now.

So maybe that was enough punishment. Besides he was tired of hearing Draco sob and scream. Satisfied with his reasoning, Lucius flung the whip away and one of the Death Eaters scrambled to collect it. Lucius looked around at them. Six in all, watching Draco's punishment. As warnings against disobedience, probably. He had forgotten they were there, so caught up was he in the sight and pleasure of seeing Draco's skin part to free the ruby liquid trapped inside.

"Get up, boy. You're a Malfoy," he scolded. Had the boy no sense lying there on the ground?

"Sir?" a Death Eater questioned.

"He had nothing to do with the escape. I see that now. He's too pathetic to stage anything like that." He gazed down at his son. The boy was still whimpering and gasping, moaning in pain. He hadn't moved even though his bindings had been released. He frowned in disapproval. It was only a few lashes. Muggles usually held up better than this. "I remember he woke hearing something the other night. He must have heard Snape's tricky little bastard getting away. He came to get me, but got lost. Draco's is inept, but not a traitor."

"Yes, sir!" They accepted this easily. As they should. Lucius was the master here. He smiled at them.

"Have Draco cleaned up and his wounds cared for… How many lashes was that?" He asked out of curiosity and not concern. He just couldn't remember.

"Thirteen, sir."

"Very good. Hmmm… He's on the smaller size, still growing," Lucius said thoughtfully. "That might be enough to kill him."

"Yes, sir. He's senseless."

"Well, get Severus then. He's a Potions Master," the blond smiled, satisfied with his plan, and walked away.

xXxXxXx

Shadow woke to the sound of his stomach growling. Gentle morning sunlight was shining on his face and he raised his hand to block his eyes. The room he was in was completely unfamiliar, but he felt safe. Confused, he searched his memory. The last thing he could pull up was almost hitting the water. He shivered. It had been very, very close.

Standing, he saw he was still in the dress robes and clothes he had put on for the Ministry trial. They were battered, but not too bad. What really bothered him was the musky smell clinging to them. Making a face, he headed to the closet. He grinned. Neville! Stripping, he cast a wandless freshening charm on his skin, then pulled on some pants and a t-shirt of his brother's. They were too big, but baggy felt comforting right now and they smelled like Neville. He was truly safe.

He turned and made his way downstairs, toward the soft murmur of voices. He found his brother sitting at the kitchen table. A bald, old man who sat with him, grinning, revealing very few teeth. A heavy woman with a straight back and a silver bun stood at the stove and looked at him through frowning eyes.

"Shadow! You're up!" Neville cried happily. He jumped to his feet and embraced his friend.

Shadow pat his back and pulled away, uncomfortable with the two strangers watching this. One, he knew, was Neville's grandmother and he had a large well of anger and dislike stored up for her and her treatment of Neville. He didn't want to be at any disadvantage when he was in front of her.

"What happened, then?" Augusta demanded, flicking her wand at a sizzling pan. "Where is your family?"

"Still in danger," Shadow answered and cold dread sliced through his stomach. He bowed. "Thank you for your hospitality. I am very grateful, Ms. Longbottom, but I'm afraid I must leave."

"What kind of gratitude is this?" she asked crossly. "And you haven't even introduced yourself properly."

"I'm Shadow Snape, ma'am, and I really need to go report." He turned and made his way to the living room where he remembered seeing a fireplace. "May I use your floo?"

"Report? What's this?" Augusta rumbled. "Report to whom? Not the Ministry, I take it?"

"May I use your floo?" Shadow asked again, ignoring the question.

"You're going to the Order," the old woman guessed. She stood stall and rigid, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed into slits.

Neville stood to the side, not sure what to do to end this confrontation. He could tell it was important for Shadow to leave, but his grandmother never let go until she was good and ready. He bit his lip and shifted from foot to foot.

"The mediwizard informed me you would be hungry," she said and gestured toward the kitchen. "You won't do anyone any good fainting. Eat and then you may go, young man. And the longer you argue, the longer it will be before you return to the Order, so I suggest you hurry into that kitchen."

Shadow glared hotly, but couldn't deny how weak he felt. His hands were trembling and he already felt a bit out of breath. Giving in, he returned to the kitchen.

"Sit here," Neville offered and pushed him toward the chair next to his.

"Thank you," Shadow said smoothly, taking the seat. "Mediwizard?"

"He's retired and lives in the neighborhood," Neville explained.

"So what happened, ey, boy?" the old man cut in, practically yelling. "Captured by them Death Munchers, ey?"

Shadow looked at Neville, shocked. His brother flushed, but shook his head slightly to reassure Shadow they didn't know everything.

"Neville tells us the truth. He doesn't lie to us," Augusta said firmly, misinterpreting the look. She flicked her wand and two plates came soaring over and landed heavily in front of the two teens. A third landed more gently in front of the old man.

"I wasn't aware he knew the truth, is all, Madam Longbottom," Shadow responded and, to forestall more questions or conversation, he dug into the food. It tasted heavenly.

The Longbottoms respected his needs and let him eat without conversation. Shadow had three helpings and drank four glasses of water. Neville was smiling wryly at this. Even Augusta softened. It's hard to be harsh with a child in obvious need. But eventually Shadow couldn't eat another bite.

"Very well," Augusta gestured for the boys to follow her into the living room. "You may now use the floo. I hope the Order can get your father back, young man. And I want you to take this." She strode to the bookshelf and took down a book. She passed it to Neville, who saw what it was and went red in the face. He passed it to his brother with an apologetic look.

Shadow read the title. A Complete Collection of True Fairy Tales. He narrowed his eyes, knowing this was about his heterochromia. "Thank you, but I don't understand."

"Not everything is as it seems," Augusta said solemnly. "Read between the lines. You may discover things about yourself you never knew. Now be gone."

Shadow nodded, hugged his brother briefly, and disappeared in a flash of floo fire, whispering the password to get into Grimmauld Place.

xXxXxXx

The sitting room wasn't empty. Ron and Hermione were cleaning. Both looked up as the floo flared to life and Shadow stepped through. Their mouths fell open in shock. Everyone was furiously looking for him for three days - even the twins were strangely subdued and worried - and here Shadow was, stepping casually into the sitting room.

"I'll get the Headmistress," Hermione said before running from the room.

"Hey, man," Ron said with a worried frown. "You okay? What happened? Where were you?"

"Where's McGonagall?" Shadow demanded, ignoring the redhead's questions. He started moving toward the door.

"They're all out looking for you! No one's here except us? What happened to you?"

Shadow sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He came back into the room and sat down in the nearest chair.

Ron came forward and stood near him. "Hey? Shadow, what happened? Are you okay?"

He was about to answer when the twins and Ginny came running into the room. They were all smiling happily. Ron scowled at them in warning and for once they listened to him and didn't jump on their long-lost friend as they wanted to do. That didn't stop their questions, though.

"What happened?" Fred demanded.

"Lucius Malfoy ambushed us. He used a portkey."

Hermione gasped, her hands over her mouth. "Oh, Shadow…"

The teen shook his head, making his curls bounce. "I wasn't hurt. They left me in a room and just forgot about me, believe it or not."

"Shadow!" Minerva and Remus came rushing into the room, Hermione jumping aside to let them in. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, but my father is still with the Death Eaters. They took him away and I haven't seen him since. I think something's really wrong."

"Do you know where you were taken? How did this happen?" Minerva asked gently.

"Lucius Malfoy ambushed us with a portkey from the lift. I don't really know where he took us. We were in caverns, caves. When I escaped, I found a cave opening and I was about two hundred feet above the ocean. It was crashing against the cliff. But it was night and I got a good look at the stars in the sky. That might help us find out where I was."

"I'll go get a Pensieve," Remus offered and hurried from the room again.

"I can't believe a portkey worked in the Ministry! There is treachery at work here," McGonagall hissed furiously, her fists clenched. But then she looked at the distressed teen before her and tried to soften her face. "That was very smart, Shadow, looking at the sky for clues to your location. You did the absolutely right thing in getting away. We will get your father back; don't you worry. But I still need to know a few things. How did you escape? Where did you go afterward?"

"Someone came into the room I was being held in. The lights had gone out long ago, it was pitch black, so I didn't see who it was. Well, I had been waiting for a chance like that and attacked."

"Wandlessly?" a voice growled.

Shadow looked over as Moody limped into the room. There was a darkness in the old Auror's emotions, but Shadow wasn't sure what it was. It was too vague. "No," he shook his head. It was best to keep as low a profile as possible. "My father taught me some hand-to-hand. I attacked him and knocked him out. It was only possible because he wasn't expecting it and couldn't see me. After running around the caverns for a while, I finally found an exit."

"You didn't look for your father?" Moody growled accusingly.

"That's enough," Minerva said sharply, her eyes cutting toward him.

"I looked, but I found the exit first. I was going to go back and look for my father, but…" Shadow hung his head and rubbed tiredly at his face. The others in the room looked on with concern. Well, all of them except Moody. And Shadow wasn't faking. Just remembering what happened to Draco… It made him want to scream. "I heard someone coming," he said tightly. "I was really scared and I backed up. I fell."

"Oh no!" Hermione and Ginny cried quietly.

Shadow nodded and let a tremor enter his voice. Might as well play this up. "I don't… I don't really know what happened after that… I just woke up the next day in a strange bed. It turns out that it was the Longbottoms' house. I met a student named Neville and his grandmother. They fed me and let me use the floo to get back here."

"Neville!" Ginny smiled and then blushed as her brothers made faces at her.

"That must have been very difficult," Minerva murmured and reached over to press his shoulder.

"I just want to get my father back," Shadow said firmly, meeting everyone's eyes. And Draco, he thought privately. I will get them both back.

"Are you sure he wants to be brought back?" Moody asked.

Shadow jumped to his feet furious, but, surprisingly, it was Remus who spoke first. He came into the room with the Pensieve in his hands. His face was hard and his eyes were flashing. "Severus is not a Death Eater, Alastor. Your accusations and insinuations are getting tiring."

"A snake can't shed it's stripes," the old man growled back furiously.

"Funny," Fred drawled. "I thought snakes…"

"…shred their skins frequently," George grinned.

"Alastor, if you aren't going to be helpful, I'm going to have to ask you to resign from the Order," Minerva said, standing ramrod straight. The whole room froze, eyes wide. Even Shadow was surprised.

"Excuse me?" Mad-Eye whispered, hostility spiking around him.

"I need people who can gauge reality and help me strategize. If you can no longer do that, then you are a liability."

Shadow spoke softly beside her. "My father was a Death Eater only because he didn't know what it meant to be one. And when he did understand, he fled and has done nothing but break himself over and over again for the cause of the Light. My father saw first hand what would happen to a world under the hands of Death Eaters and he is now dedicated, heart and soul, to standing against that. He's a hero in his own right and I'm sick of you all looking down on him because of your hateful bigotry!"

"That's enough," Minerva interrupted. "Alastor understands your point. And he understand mine. Severus has been tested again and again. I will say this clearly. Albus abused his power over Shadow's father, and it is only due to Severus' character and sense of morals that he is still in this country helping to make a stand against the Death Eaters. Is that clear enough, Alastor?"

The old man stood there just staring at her.

"Go, Alastor. Spread this message to the others you've been whispering with. Yes. I know of it."

"Very well." The old Auror bowed and left the room without another word.

In the tense silence that followed, Shadow took a deep breath, calming himself. It felt really, really good to know that there were some people who were willing to stand up for his father. He was beginning to despair. "That reminds me, though. The Ministry put a monitoring device on my father. Can we track him with that?"

"What?" McGonagall demanded furiously. "I'll look into this immediately. Remus, will you help Shadow with the Pensieve? Bring me the image of the stars as soon as possible. Fred, George, go to Hogwarts and get Madam Pomfrey. I want her to check Shadow over. Ginny, can you return home and bring back your mother? We're going to have a meeting tonight and we'll need a large dinner."

Everyone nodded and McGonagall gave them stern looks before flooing to the Ministry. Ginny went after her. The twins went third, winking and smiling at Shadow. The curly-haired teen managed a weak smile in return. In less than two minutes, there were only Remus, Ron, and Hermione left.

"Are you ready?" Remus asked gently. His golden eyes were worried.

Shadow could tell he was itching to run diagnostic spells on him. "I'm fine. Let's do this."

Chapter end.