A/N: So, this one is a little shorter, but I absolutely could not physically bring myself to make it any longer.
Again, thanks for the wonderful and thoughtful reviews, they really do make my day and mean a lot to me.
But I'm cranking them out! This should be updated a lot in the next few days as scenes are rolling around in my head and I need to get them out and down because I know exactly where I'm going with this and how I'm going to get there. I know a lot of you are probably not exactly happy with me for torturing one of our favorites, but, well, yeah I didn't like it either. But it will get better, never fear!
Anyway, here we go!
Harry woke early the next morning, not having gotten more than a few hours of restless sleep. He sat by the window for a while, thinking over everything that had happened since he had been in Severus' care.
He tried to decide when he had fallen in love with the man, but he couldn't pin it to an exact time and place, all he knew was that somehow, between all the bickering and sarcasm, he had indeed come to love him.
It hadn't been all bad, he reasoned. The wedding, when they danced, had been nice. And when Snape had sat by his bedside until he got better.
He sighed, rubbing a tired hand over his face.
He looked to where Ron and Hermione slept, curled into each other. Where had all the time gone? It felt like yesterday that they had been sharing a dormitory at Hogwarts.
He got up silently and summoned his father's old cloak. Setting it on the table next to their bed, he left the room.
He grabbed his cloak and prepared to leave, not anticipating needing, or being allowed use of anything else.
As he prepared to go, a movement to his left caught his attention. He turned around to face the living room and found Neville and Luna staring at him from where they sat amid all the blankets and pillows on the couch.
"You're going now, than?" Neville asked sadly, no hint of arguing to his voice.
"Yeah, figured it'd be easier," Harry whispered, not wanting to wake anyone else up.
Neville nodded, face blank, and Luna came to stand in front of Harry.
"Be careful, Harry. It's like they say, A nargle never bites twice," she said, a knowing look in her eye.
"Er...yeah, thanks," he mumbled, not sure at all as to what that was supposed to mean.
She caught him in a hug then, her small frame surprisingly strong. He wrapped one arm around her and hugged her back.
"Tell everyone I said goodbye, and I'll see you in a couple days,"
"You have the tracking charm on you?" Neville checked.
Harry nodded. "'Mione did it last night when she came to bed, thought I was asleep," he grinned half-heartedly, which wasn't returned by either one of them "Well, I'm off then," he said quietly, voice shaking slightly.
The two watched him go, and he paused in the yard, looking back at the house. For the first time, he felt a sense of foreboding, as if he may never live to see it again. He swallowed hard. No, they would come for him soon.
He thought about Severus, focusing on the clenched feeling in his stomach, and apparated.
x X x
The door opened to Snape's left, but he didn't look up anymore. He didn't care who had come to beat him today.
Dolohov pushed off from his place on the wall across from Severus, where he had been watching the man as he hung in his restraints.
A large thump was followed by a soft whimper, and than heavy footsteps came thundering down the small staircase.
"Look what I found," Macnair said, triumphant.
"Well, well, isn't this a nice surprise? Looks like you have company, Severus," Dolohov purred.
Severus didn't move. He wouldn't let himself fall victim to whatever ploy they were trying to pull.
"Up, boy!" Macnair barked, "I want to show you something,"
He heard a scuffling as someone was lifted forcefully to their feet.
"Severus," a familiar voice breathed.
Snape's head snapped up instantly, and he turned to his left. His eyes were wide as they took in the sight of Harry, alive and well. And here, where they would shortly change that.
"No," he whispered, voice thick and coarse.
Harry took in the sight before him. Severus was naked, hair tangled and lank, hands hanging limp and bloody from their restraints. He was thinner than Harry had ever seen him, and every inch of his pale skin seemed to be covered in cuts, bruises or welts. He had a split lip, and a black eye. Harry wanted to be sick.
Now he knew why the feeling in his stomach had been so severe. He hadn't been protecting Severus. He had failed their vow.
"Harry, no," the frail voice managed, coughing up a bit of blood and spitting it out in front of him.
"Where'd you find him?" Dolohov asked, walking in circles around the boy.
"Outside the gates. Crying, yelling for poor Severus," Macnair laughed, switching his voice to a high soprano that sounded nothing like Harry, "Severus! Where are you Severus?" he laughed again and went on, "Let him go, I'll do anything, just let him go!"
Harry cringed away as Dolohov gently stroked his cheek.
"Yes," he breathed. "So supple, so soft,"
When Harry backed away, a look of pure disgust twisting his features, Dolohov reeled back and struck him.
"Tie him up," he barked, and Macnair set about the task leisurely, tying the handcuffs too tight and laughing at the wince of pain it elicited from Harry.
"You won't last two days, will you?"
Harry stared ahead defiantly, never moving his eyes from the point on the wall he was fixated on.
Macnair punched him straight in the gut. Harry bit the inside of his lip, but let no sound out.
"Than again..." Macnair mused. "Just as well, we needed a new play thing. This ones getting all worn out," he jerked his head toward Severus.
"I don't know, I've grown quite fond of Severus," Dolohov murmured, stroking his long, dirty hair. With a slight chuckle, as if to some private joke, he yanked down on Snape's hair.
Harry cringed in his restraints. He hoped the Order worked out their location quickly.
x X x
"Harry," Severus said tiredly, when their captors were summoned upstairs. "Why?"
"I couldn't leave you," he said quietly, "and besides, I was going insane. Really. That vow really is something, isn't it?"
Severus appraised him doubtfully, realizing there was something Harry wasn't telling him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Harry shook his head, casting a wary glance over Severus' shoulder to the stairway.
'Get in my head' he mouthed. Snape raised one eyebrow. Harry rolled his eyes and nodded furiously.
Snape locked onto his gaze and in seconds Harry could feel him in his mind. He replayed everything that had happened between Diagon Alley and now.
Severus sighed. "There was really no choice, was there?" he said, straight into Harry's thoughts. Harry simply shook his head.
"It's been over two weeks, no ones coming," Severus thought bitterly.
Harry stared at him, eyes unreadable. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was all over for them.
"You should try to rest while you can. Those moments will help you get through," Snape supplied.
Harry nodded mutely. How had it come to this? He had never seen Snape look so utterly defeated and helpless. Apart from Dumbledore, he was probably the strongest man and wizard he had ever met. To see him powerless was disturbing.
All too soon, the door opened and the two men came down again, followed by Greyback. Severus hadn't seen the wolf since arriving, and he glared openly in his direction.
"Now, Severus, no need to be so rude," he tutted.
Harry snorted. Severus hung his head. The boy would never learn, would he?
"Something funny, boy?"
Harry stared at him defiantly, but said nothing.
"I asked you a question," he growled, gripping Harry roughly by the shoulders and shaking him.
Still, Harry made no noise.
"Answer me," Greyback snarled.
Harry just stared at him, unblinking.
"Get him to talk," Greyback ordered, stepping back. "I want to hear him scream for mercy,"
Macnair smiled and stepped forward, slowly circling Harry, who never moved.
"What have we here?" he murmured quietly, "A seeker, if I remember correctly? That means...yes, yes I know,"
He reached up and in a quick motion broke all the bones in three of Harry's fingers.
Harry inhaled sharply, and clenched his jaw. His breathing was rapid, and his eyes watered, but he still made no noise.
Macnair grunted once before snapping the boys wrist, but still Harry remained stoic.
Don't be so brave, Harry. Give them what they want Snape tried to will the boy into compliance.
Macnair was growing angry, and with one more strike, bent Harry's elbow backwards, shattering the bone and fracturing his forearm.
Harry was shaking his head violently back and forth, tears streaming from his eyes, but still he was silent.
Severus turned his head away, not wanting to witness any more. The movement did not escape notice.
"Hold on, I've got an idea," Dolohov said, walking forward. "Turn him this way,"
Macnair held Harry so that he was facing Severus, and he watched through the burning tears as Dolohov advanced.
He picked up the metal tipped whip and struck hard and fast against Severus' chest. Harry winced as Severus recoiled.
Dolohov raked the whip four more times over Snape's already tender flesh, before moving to pick up a branding iron.
Harry swallowed hard, and as soon as the burning tip collided with Severus' shoulder blade, the older man started screaming.
Harry had always thought of Snape as strong and willful. Throughout their torture, Severus had taken it without showing weakness, stoic and impassive as always, only relaxing into his shackles when the two death eaters had retired.
To see him now, crying out in agony...
"Stop it! Stop it, please just stop!" Harry cried, fighting against Macnair.
Dolohov lifted the iron from Snape's skin, and the cry died in Severus' throat as he slumped in his handcuffs.
"There's a good boy," Greyback said, fighting laughter. "We may have fun with you yet,"
With that, he turned and walked away.
In a blinding flash of green light, it all ended.
Harry heard a loud thump, and a number of footsteps, but couldn't find the strength to even open his eyes anymore.
'They must have changed their minds and killed him' Harry thought, trying to muster up the sadness he knew he should be feeling.
But instead, all he could do was wait with held breath for the welcome darkness of his own downfall.