A/N: Thanks to Sindie and Rose for being great betas. Any mistakes are mine, because I do the final edit. Again thanks to everyone who is reading, alerting and reviewing this story.

Malfoy Manor

The Great Hall

Approaching Voldemort with more poise and confidence than he felt, Severus dropped to one knee, leaning forward as he grasped the hem of the black robes and managed to press them to his lips with no outward sign of revulsion.

"Rise, Severus," Voldemort murmured, touching Severus lightly, almost a caress, on the top of his head.

Severus checked his Occulmency shields, allowing bits of discussions with Dumbledore that would confirm the story they had fabricated to drift to the forefront of his thoughts. He slowly lifted his head to look up at the Dark Lord as he stood upright, smoothing out his dark robes. There were still hints of the handsome man remaining in the wasted face, but delving too far into the Dark Arts had twisted his visage into something clearly not completely human any longer. Glancing around the large room, Severus was inwardly nervous; he was last to arrive, and this scenario did not bode well.

"Severus, you were injured in the attack on the Potters?" Voldemort asked, dangerously twirling his wand in his fingers.

"Yes, my Lord." Severus said, bowing his head low once more, "Sirius Black cursed me out of the sky."

"I see," the Dark Lord said as he stepped closer to Severus. "I obtained information from a reliable source stating that the Mudblood and her spawn would be alone in the house, without any guard." Severus inwardly winced at the used of the foul name in reference to Lily, but of course he said nothing.

"Severus, tell me, my most loyal servant, why did you not know Sirius Black would be standing guard in Godric's Hollow?"

"My Lord, I do not know why Black was there. I do not think it was at Dumbledore's request. I would have known about it if that had been the case. I believe it was mere coincidence," Severus explained, not daring to look up at the Dark Lord.

"Then, Severus, can you tell us where the old fool has hidden the Potters away?" Voldemort questioned, his voice dangerously low as he circled Severus in a distinctly predator-like way.

"Dumbledore has taken them to a member of the Order's home, which is likely protected by the Fidelius Charm."

"And you do not know which one?" Voldemort hissed, and Severus heard Bellatrix, who was standing slightly to his left, giggle. That was never a good sign.

"Not presently… I am slowly earning Dumbledore's confidence. He will-"

"Silence," Voldemort hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "You are only at Hogwarts to gather information, to spy on Dumbledore for our cause, and I do not tolerate failure! You know the penalty for disappointing me."

Unfortunately, he knew it well. Severus glanced up, just in time to see Dark wizard train his wand on him and utter, "Crucio!"

The sheer power behind the pain-inducing curse threw Severus backward onto the floor, and then the unimaginable pain ceased for a fraction of a second before the curse was cast again, and again. He writhed on the marble floor in agony, his hands uncontrollably clenching and clawing at his robes, skin, and face. The pain was like nothing he had ever experienced, but he managed to stay conscious long enough to see his fellow Death Eaters had begun taking turns casting the Cruciatus. The last thing he saw before the darkness welled over his vision was Bellatrix's heavily lidded eyes alight with a sickening glow as she cast the curse at him again.

Severus blearily opened his eyes, realizing he was facedown on the marble floor in front of the large fireplace in Malfoy Manor. It was roughly the same spot he had collapsed in earlier as the first Cruciatus had been cast by Voldemort. A string of blood tinged drool ran from his lips into a small puddle that had collected beneath his cheek on the floor. He must have bitten his tongue at some point. If the low burning embers in the grate were any indication, he had been unconscious for some time. A hand roughly grabbed his shoulder and rolled him onto his back; he couldn't help but moan as every nerve and muscle in his body screamed in agony.

"Shush, Severus," a low female voice commanded as Severus blinked, trying to get his eyes to focus. After a few seconds, eyes the color of winter at its most unforgiving and pale blonde hair came into view. Narcissa Malfoy was leaning over him, wiping at his mouth with a cool, wet flannel.

"The meeting is over," Narcissa informed him as she noticed his eyes darting around the room. "Everyone has been gone for hours. The Lestranges are playing host to the Dark Lord for the time being. Bella had a gift for the Dark Lord... Muggles to... entertain, I suppose." A grimace shadowed her face for a fraction of a second. "I would rather that not be done here... Draco is far too young..." She trailed off and looked away, as if just realizing she was talking with one of the Dark Lord's inner circle.

Narcissa helped him sit up, handing him the flannel to hold to his bleeding mouth. "I thought for a moment you were beyond help. The Dark Lord did not want you dead or driven into madness, but my sister's enthusiasm can be contagious."

"I know that affliction well," Severus finally said, his throat sore and voice gravelly, likely from his unmanly screams. His limbs would not stop trembling, and he felt as weak as a newborn kneazle. He saw young Draco peering at him curiously around the sofa, his thumb securely pressed into his mouth. A terrified looking house-elf was standing beside the tow-headed boy with one hand protectively on the baby's shoulder, as if to Apparate away in a moment's notice if there were any sign of danger.

"Dobby!" Narcissa barked as she stood and straightened her ivory robes. The house-elf winced at her tone and stumbled forward, pulling at the filthy pillowcase he was wearing.

"Yes? M-Mistress called for Dobby?" Dobby asked, his large eyes looking up at Narcissa.

"Yes, I want you take Professor Snape wherever he wishes and speak of this to no one," Narcissa ordered, picking Draco up and settling him in her arms. She looked at Severus, narrowing her pale eyes. "If anyone asks, I did not help you. You left on your own."

"Of course," Severus muttered as he watched her march out of the room with Draco.

Dobby's large tennis ball-shaped eyes watched Severus warily as he crawled on his hands and knees over to a nearby chair and attempted to pull himself up into a semi-standing posture. His shaking legs did not hold him, and he flopped gracelessly into the chair. He shivered in chilly room; his robes were damp with perspiration.

"Dobby? Is that your name?" Severus asked, clenching his teeth and taking deep breaths against the intense nausea welling up in his throat. It was difficult to think straight, and the room spun sickeningly as he tried to focus his eyes on the young house-elf.

"Yes, I is called Dobby," the house-elf squeaked, taking a tentative step toward him. "Where does Professor Snape wish Dobby to take him?"

"Dumbledore..." Severus murmured weakly as the house-elf placed his cool hand on the wizard's arm. The abrupt 'shoved through a rubber tube' sensation was too much for Severus, and darkness overcame him again.

When he was able to force his eyes open again, the sun was high in the sky. The golden light was streaming through a nearby window, hurting his eyes. He was alive, amazingly, and in the master bedroom at Asphodel Manor. Lily was slumped over onto the side of the bed, wearing a long, faded Slytherin Quidditch jersey that looked vaguely familiar. Her head was resting on her folded arms; she had apparently fallen asleep in the armchair. Even though it pained even the smallest muscles in his face, he could not help but smile seeing her there, as he reached out and tentatively touched her hair, afraid she was just a another dream.

"She refused you leave your side, Severus." Severus looked over and saw Dumbledore sitting on the other side of the bed in an eye-watering, bright yellow, overstuffed armchair. Something in that of a horrible shade could only be something the headmaster had conjured.

"H-how did I get here?" the young wizard asked, trying to sit up.

"A young house-elf by the name of Dobby appeared with you on Hogwarts gounds. I am afraid you gave Hagrid quite a fright. I brought you here; after all, you are still in quarantine, due to that awful case of dragon pox," Dumbledore said, steepling his fingers together, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair.

Severus snorted and rolled his eyes as he dropped back onto the pillow.

"I assume he was upset with you?"

"Whatever would bring you to that conclusion?" Severus muttered snarkily.

"Severus, I am not sure you realize how it grieves me to witness the pain inflicted on one that I consider a son to me in all ways but blood. You are willingly being tortured because I ask it of you." Dumbledore stated, matter-of-factly. Severus couldn't help but feel his heart swell in his chest at the older man's words. He, too, had found a father in the aging headmaster, a father he had not seen in his own blood relation or in the Dark Lord.

"No, I do it for her... all for Lily," Severus whispered, lightly carding his long fingers through Lily's hair.

Dumbledore rose, his eyes twinkling as he motioned to several potion vials on the side table. "Pain relieving potions, I daresay you will need them in the coming hours. I believe I can take my leave, as I see you are in very capable hands. I have no doubt that if no one else can encourage you to remain in bed, she can."

The aging wizard left through the Floo; a few moments later, his conjured chair disappeared with a loud pop, causing Lily to stir. She looked at him, groggily at first, then her eyes flew open wide as she saw him looking back at her. In a green and red blur, she was upon him, kissing him over his face and moving her hands over his limbs as if reassuring herself he was really alive and not missing any vital parts. In that moment, Severus wasn't sure if wanted to moan in bliss or agony. Lily was practically on top of him, in his bed, wearing a Slytherin jersey that had likely been his own, but every touch and kiss was like a white-hot fire poker painfully burning every nerve in his body. He clenched his hands in the sheets, willing himself not to cry out in front of her or do anything that would make her move off of him. Lily moved back, sitting on the edge of the large bed, and Severus took a deep breath.

"If I had known I would get this sort of reception from you, I would have taken to getting tortured by the Dark Lord ages ago," Severus said cheekily, hiding his discomfort as he looked up into the green eyes that were darkened with worry. Lily's cheeks pinked at the unbelievably playful smirk on his face.

"That's not very funny, Sev! You could have been killed, or worse, you might not... have been you anymore," Lily said, snatching a potion vial from the bedside table and pressing it to his lips. He scowled a bit, but reluctantly drank the potion with a grimace at the bitter taste. She grabbed a larger bottle from the nightstand and and pulled out the stopper. Severus read the discolored, peeling label, essence of dittany, as Lily wet a flannel in the liquid and dabbed at his face.

"The scratches on your face are nearly healed, but your tongue will be sore for a while; you nearly bit it in two. What did they do to you?" Lily asked in a whisper, her voice sounding a bit strangled.

Severus shook his head and looked away. "I told you, Lily. There are some things I will not speak about."

He would say no more on the matter.

to be continued...