Hide and Seek

A/N: Whoo! Another chapter! Damn I'm good! But I might start running low on steam... help me keep the story going! Review and show me love so that I can continue to write! Now enjoy!

"LILY!" Severus bellowed as he landed in front of the house, beating on the door wildly. A bewildered James opened the door and barely stepped out of the way as Severus barreled inside, his robes speckled with the rubble from Andy's house. Lily, just as bewildered, ran down the staircase. Crossing the living room in a few great strides, Severus nearly crushed Lily in a relieved bear hug.

"Um… nice to see you too…" Lily said, awkwardly patting his back. He heard James huff and realized that he, Severus Snape, a Slytherin who was supposed to be really damn good at hiding his feelings, was practically breaking his best friend's ribs with a hug- that sort of thing was for other House members! He let go quickly, relief still leaving him feeling lightheaded.

"You're okay," he said embarrassedly. He shook some dust out of his hair, unconsciously rubbing his tingling Dark Mark.

Lily looked Severus over with a critical eye. "Dumbledore told us what happened," she said worriedly, searching his face for telltale signs of hurt. "I wish he'd sent you here; you'd have been safer what with the Fidelius and all… but I bet you loved being with Andromeda, huh Sev?" Lily added, her eyes sparkling playfully.

Severus waved that away. "Never mind that, grab your things! Black can't find Lupin; he says the place has been torn apart. The Dark Lord got to the Longbottoms after all- he's still looking for you. Grab your things! Go!" he said urgently, scanning the street through the front window for anything suspicious.

A soft thump surprised him, and he turned to see James had fallen heavily, ashen-faced, onto the couch. Lily's face, though pale, was fierce. She strode out into the hallway and returned with three small bags. "I thought this might happen," she said quietly. "I placed an Undetectable Extension Charm and a Feather-Light Charm on these bags and packed them after the Fidelius Charm was placed… just in case." A lone tear snaked down her cheek and she wiped it away impatiently, struggling to keep the sobs out of her voice. "Where are we going, Sev?"

The magnitude of the burden crashed on Severus' shoulders. Pushing the voices of doubt away, he said, "Spinner's End. No one but Lucius knows I still live there." Lily had a sleeping Harry over her shoulder already, and James had shakily gotten to his feet and grabbed the enchanted bags. The three adults Flooed to Spinner's End after sealing the fireplaces closed, hoping they were not out of time.

They are safe.

Severus rolled up the three-word note and sent it to Hogwarts as soon as he and James had finished setting a complex array of wards around the dilapidated house. Lily had gone to put Harry to bed again, who was cranky from waking up early from his nap. His Mark burned white-hot, and he clutched his left forearm reflexively. He met James' hardened eyes, a sort of wordless communication traveling between them. He nodded his goodbye, stepped out of the Anti-Apparition wards, and Apparated to the Dark Lord's side.

He knelt swiftly, ignoring the dull thud from the stubborn bruise on his side.

"I see you recovered quickly, Severus," he heard the Dark Lord say silkily, a definite smirk in his voice. He bit back a retort.

"Yes, my Lord; I was allowed to medicate myself at Hogwarts." Severus said, standing upright again. He looked around and saw that this was a general meeting. The dungeon-like room they were in again was full of masked, robed figures. Severus picked up a rock, transfiguring it into the mask he'd left at Hogwarts, and put it on, grateful that seemingly no one had seen his face.

"My fellows, we have taken care of the Longbottoms. They are in St. Mungo's, where they will spend the rest of their pathetic lives. The Longbottom boy is still alive regretfully, but no matter. His parents were nothing special, and therefore neither is he." Lord Voldemort announced almost flippantly. "And thanks to one of my most valuable members, we have a special guest tonight,"

Two Death Eaters stepped forward, dragging a muddy, stinky lump behind them. Severus realized with a jolt as the lump moaned in pain that it was a person. The Death Eaters acting as guards roughly forced the man to sit up and yanked on a fistful of his matted hair, forcing his face upward.

Severus felt his stomach drop sickeningly. His worst fears had come true.

Lord Voldemort had managed to capture Remus Lupin.

"This man, or, should I say, werewolf, is the key to the Potters." Lord Voldemort stated, fiddling with his wand. He turned and pointed his wand at Lupin, barking, "One last chance, mutt. Tell me what I want to know… and Lord Voldemort always knows…"

Severus thought frantically. Was the Fidelius Charm protected from Legilimency attacks? Did Lupin even know Occlumency? Outnumbered by thirty die-hard Death Eaters, Severus couldn't hope to do anything for the man. It was simply too much to hope for to somehow be able to get to Lupin and Disapparate to safety without being followed or outright killed. Fidgeting nervously, Severus forced himself to stay still- the least he could do was report on whether or not the Dark Lord knew where they were.

"Never…never…telling…fuck you…" Remus scoffed through gritted teeth. His hands were bound behind him roughly and he strained feebly against the ropes, glaring at the contemptuous older man. Remus squeezed his eyes shut and groaned as the Dark Lord forced his way into the werewolf's mind, roughly searching for the vital bit of information- exactly where the Potters were.

The Death Eaters jeered at Lupin as Lord Voldemort pulled himself out of Remus' mind with an angry bellow. "Damn that old coot! The Fidelius information is protected from even my superior skills of Legilimency!" he roared, bringing his wand high over his head. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

With a flash of green light and a rushing sound, Remus Lupin was dead. Panic flooded through Severus' being as Lord Voldemort spat on the body and the guards removed it.

"I want the Potters," he said to the deathly quiet crowd. "And I want them as soon as possible. You will not fail me." The crowd tittered nervously, and they began Disapparating in groups. Severus waited until most of the members were gone and made his way over to the body. With a feeling of foreboding, Severus gripped Remus' body tightly and Apparated back to Spinner's End.

Three days later, on Halloween, Remus' funeral took place close to the Hogwarts grounds. Severus arrived under the Polyjuice potion to pay his respects, sitting next to James, Sirius, and Lily.

Severus found Andy near the back, and moved to sit next to her instead. "Sorry about your house," he muttered quietly. She looked at him in surprise for a moment before realizing it must be Severus disguised.

"Yes, well, I expect I'd have done the same in your shoes. Still like her?" Andy answered mildly.

Summoning his courage, Severus said, "No, acutally; I like you. Can you... that is, if you like... erm... grab a butterbeer or something sometime?" Andy again looked at him in surprise.

Gently, she informed him, "I married six months ago." He shot a look at her left hand. Catching him, Andy said, "I married a Muggle man. The rings were both too big, and he insisted on having them done the Muggle way in London. He'll be back tomorrow night."

"Oh." Severus stood awkwardly, his cheeks pink. He made his way back over to Lily, who smiled slightly at him. I'll never get lucky, Severus thought to himself.

Peter waddled over, his eyes puffy and rimmed.

The three marauders mourned their loss as Lily dabbed at her eyes.

"You must come over, Wormtail, we have to drink to Moony," Severus heard James say.

"Oh- I… I suppose I could… remind me where you live again, Prongs," Pettigrew said, his voice thick.

James sniffed. "We're at Number 15 Godric's Hollow," he said.