Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters, they're all JKR's

Chapter 21

The day after Christmas dawned bright and clear, with the freshly fallen snow white and crisp. The children were soon out, wrecking havoc with their new sleds, and toys. Snowball fights broke out everywhere. Even the adults with Yule feast hangovers were smiling. The Kenilworth apothecary was doing a brisk business, especially in stomach calming draughts and hangover cures.

Severus, who usually did most of the brewing, was press-ganged into helping at the front of the shop part of the morning, they were so busy. The owners Aubrey and Hadrian had needed a few of the potions themselves, and, if Severus was honest, he had needed a sip of hangover cure, himself.

He had shocked a few of the customers by smiling a few times, at the sight of some babies that were about the age of Harry and Draco. Some part of him was gagging in horror, when he traded a few 'Christmas present opening by babies' stories with the customers. The rest of him didn't care – he was happy as Harry's dad, and the only thing he was lacking at the moment was a picture of Harry to show off.

He was digging in the backroom of the apothecary for more fever reducer – they were almost out in the front. There were several 'cracks' announcing the arrival of several wizards, but then there were screams heard, and people shouting "death eaters"

Severus drew his wand and went out to the front of the apothecary, keeping a shield up as he did, luckily, as it was immediately hit with several curses. He shouted at the nearby Aubrey to run and firecall for Aurors. He took a quick count of the death eaters, there seemed to be four – he could hear Bellatrix's babyish sneering, so that was one, and from the immense strength of the magical signature one was the Dark Lord, himself. Most likely the other two were the Lestrange brothers.

Hadrian was down, unconscious, with several deeps wounds. Severus ducked behind the counter and threw up his strongest shield around the two of them. Almost all the customers had apparated away, or had otherwise fled. Bellatrix was holding a small child, who was squirming in protest, one of the brothers was holding the mother, while she cried and pleaded. Voldemort removed his mask and spoke.

"Severus, my dear Potions Master, come out and speak with us. I'm quite anxious for us to start dealing together, there's no reason for these hostilities." When Severus did not immediately appear, his voice took on an edge, "If you don't come out, my friends will start the party without you, and I'm sure this nice lady and her child won't like that."

Severus cursed under his breath, where were the Aurors? "You have me well trapped, why don't you let them go and we'll talk?"

"Oh, no no no, Severus, my friend. I believe our talk will go much more smoothly with their sweet presence. Now come out before they start in with some annoying screaming. That will make conversation so much more difficult." The death eaters echoed the Dark Lords chuckle.

Severus noted that the brother with the woman was directly in front of the door; he took a deep breath and hoped the Aurors were on their way. "Okay, if I come out will you let them go, then?"

"Perhaps, perhaps." Lord Voldemort mused, obviously enjoying toying with the mice he'd caught. Bellatrix was grinning madly – never a good sign.

"Okay, I'm coming out, there's no need for any violence." Severus got up slowly. As he'd hoped, they had loosened their hold on the prisoners, ready to grab their real prey. Severus slashed with his wand, tearing the child from Bellatrix's hands, to land in it's mothers arms, then in quick succession, casting a vicious Sectumsempra on the Lestrange brother – making him scream and clutch at his face, then shoving the mother and child out the door. He had only a split second to enjoy the death eater's screams of rage before he was hit from all sides with curses.

He hit the floor, screaming from two simultaneous Cruciatus curses. They were mercifully short, as the Dark Lord barked that he wanted the Potions Master sane, as well as alive. "So you mean to make things difficult for yourself Potions Master Snape? You could be a part of my inner circle, among the first in my world order. I would even let you keep your little pet, Lily."

"I'll never follow you. You would never keep any promises made to me, you would only keep me alive for as long as I was useful." Severus' answer was met with a snarled 'confringo' spell that abruptly smashed both Severus' hands, he bit back a scream as all the bones were broken in both hands. The Dark Lord's spell was backed by considerable power and a lot of anger.

With relief he heard the crack of several apparitions. The door was blasted open and Moody, with Frank Longbottom and Kingsley Shacklebolt charged into the room, and immediately bound the still bleeding death eater that Severus had hexed. Bellatrix and Moody faced off, with Kingsley taking on the remaining LeStrange brother. Frank faced the Dark Lord, knowing he had little hope of actually defeating him, he just hoped he could hold him off until others arrived. "Couldn't you face a few potions makers on your own Voldemort? Can't take on Severus without three others at your back?"

The Dark Lord shouted 'Diffindo' at the Auror, almost screaming the hex at him in fury.

Frank Longbottom threw his strongest shield up, just in time. The spell hit it like a sledgehammer, throwing the Auror into the wall and stunning him. The floo sounded, and the Headmaster shouted "Tom!!, stop this madness." Voldemort sneered at him, and threw a muttered curse at Severus as he apparated, followed by Bellatrix. Both LeStrange brothers were now bound.

Severus however was screaming, again, as his left hand had burst into flame. Albus rushed to his side casting reversal spells frantically.

"What is this spell, Headmaster?" Kingsley was still in training, and this spell was new to him, and quite horrifying.

But it was Moody who answered, "Gubraithian Fire, must be modified, to work in flesh. Makes it burn forever. D'you know the cancel, Albus?"

"It's not working, Alastor" Albus was becoming frantic, Severus' screams had faded to moans, and he was obviously going into shock.

"Shove over and let me try." Moody dropped next to the Potions Master and started a long chant with a lot of wand movements, the fire finally sputtered out, but the hand was horribly blackened. Severus was now unconscious.

Alastor started barking orders, "Kingsley – take those two pieces of crap to Ministry holding cells, You there –" He pointed at Aubrey, who had come back in, after the death eaters had left. "Take you partner, Hadrian, to St Mungos. Albus – you take Snape, and I'll take Longbottom, you know the coordinates to the Auror area of St Mungo's?" Albus nodded, and they were off.

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The emergency area of St Mungo's reserved for Aurors was bustling with activity. Franks minor concussion was dealt with one wave of a wand. Severus however was still deeply in shock, unconscious and breathing shallowly. Skin paler than was normal, even for him.

There were four healers gathered around, - two senior staff and two trainees. There was a lot of muttering between them, and the managed to get several healing and pain potions down Severus. The right hand was healed without difficulty – mere broken bones were nothing for the healers to fix. The left hand however was a problem – curse damage was often resistant to healing. The shock he was suffering from was also a problem, as much of it was from the doubled Cruciatus he had been under.

Albus wrung his hands a bit, healing was not something he had studied very much of, and he was feeling the lack, now. He finally, mostly out of need to do SOMETHING, borrowed a floo, and called Malfoy Manor, and explained to a pale Lucius, who promised to tell Lily. Soon Lucius and Lily were at Severus' side. Narcissa had stayed at the Manor with Draco and Harry. Lucius' jaw was clenched and Lily was tearful. Lily clutched the healed hand and pleaded with him to stay with her.

Lucius eyed the left hand and paled a little more. "Gubraithian Fire? I thought that couldn't be used on people?"

"Apparently that black-hearted beast modified it" Moody answered. Moody gave him a run-down of what they had pieced together from witnesses. Moody snorted and said, "I'm going to buy him something in Gryffindor colors for this stunt."

Lucius shook his head and chuckled "His birthday is coming up – I'll be sure to send an invitation, if you promise it will say 'closet lion' on it." They snickered nervously together; both hoping Severus would be well, and up to a thorough ribbing on his birthday.

Another healer arrived – a nerve specialist to treat the Cruciatus, she chanted for what seemed forever, but she finally was satisfied. Severus did seem less pale and his breathing was easier. The other healers stopped and straightened up, the hand looked somewhat better, the bones no longer broken and most of the blackening was now an angry red.

"It will take two or three sessions of healing to completely reverse the curse, there may be scarring, but he should have full functioning by the end." The Healer seemed pleased with himself.

The others sighed in relief; they knew that as long as his hands were fully functioning he wouldn't care what they looked like.

The Aurors left after they were assured that Severus would recover, Lucius patted Lily's shoulder and said he and Narcissa would care for Harry until she felt she could leave Severus. Lily promised to firecall as soon as Severus woke up. Albus and Lily took chairs on either side of the Potions Master, and waited patiently.

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A/N Yeah, made it through another chapter!!!!!!!!!