It had been a few days since he was informed by Dumbledore about Severus' state of health. He did not know how to interpret this. Was that good and Severus on the mend or was it getting worse and Dumbledore busy saving him from death?

During the day he was distracted by his thoughts about Severus from the Death Eaters, because they were not supposed to notice his condition. For most of them it worked. Although they noticed that Pettigrew, Malfoy and Severus were missing, they were satisfied that the first two had died and that Hogwarts could not leave them now in order not to expose his espionage activities and therefore could not attend the meetings for the time being.

They took note of it and did not take any further care of it. All but one.

Avery.

He had never been good at closing his mind and so one day he didn't disappoint like the others after the meeting but asked for a conversation.

"My Lord," he began, "I haven't seen him since the day that Severus didn't return on the mission. What really happened to him? He was hurt, wasn't he?"

Avery, after Severus, was the best man Tom had. He understood like Severus, but not quite as well as he did, to observe the people and to draw conclusions by their behaviour to facts which did not correspond to the truth as they were presented at that moment.

Tom stood at the window and watched the rain running down the pane in long threads. Like that one night. The thunderstorm that joined it came closer and closer and thunder was heard directly on every lightning.

On the outside he looked as usual, and only those who watched him properly could see the slightly cramped shoulders, which indicated that something was burdening him.

He wondered what he could tell Avery, was allowed to. Avery was Severus' best friend, if you could call it that. Could he trust him? Or was he planning something. Avery's thoughts, into which he could get unnoticed, brought clarity.

Avery was really worried about his friend and Tom was ready to tell him something.

"You're absolutely right, Avery. Severus didn't come back that night. You know how important he is to our side as a spy and brewer, so I spent some time after I discharged you on my way to find him.

I found him near the apartment boundary you told me about. Seriously injured and completely wet.

But it wasn't the Aurors who did this suffering to him, it was some of our men!

Tom took a break and watched Avery closely. His face had lost all his blood and he seemed more than upset.

"Had I known that, My Lord, I would have stayed with him. I wouldn't have let him down."

"You couldn't help it, Avery. Pettigrew and Malfoy joined forces to commit this ambush. They received their just punishment."

"What exactly... How is Severus? And where is he?"

"Malfoy and Pettigrew have forced Severus to drink a potion containing Nagini's poison, thus preventing the wounds inflicted on him by the Sectumsempra from closing up and he would sooner or later die of enormous blood loss.

The wounds were inflamed and blood poisoning was added.

As if that wasn't enough, they shot some Cruciatus curses at him and broke four ribs. Due to the long time he was out in the rain he got pneumonia which caused him a very high fever.

And to top it all off, we had Halloween this weekend. He was struck a long time ago by a curse that causes him to be plagued by cramps and nightmares and has headaches.

He was able to develop a potion that had to be taken three days before.

He couldn't do that this year. And so he also had to go through that. That was last night.

After I found him in the forest, I first brought him here. But because I lacked the means to treat him, I brought him to Hogwarts. Where else?

Dumbledore then found him and took him with him to the castle. Three days ago he gave me a report and it didn't look very good for Severus.

Since then I have no idea how he is doing."

Tom hadn't turned around a single time while talking to Avery. He kept looking out the window without really noticing anything.

Avery interrupted the silence.

"Is there anything I can do, My Lord?"

"I'm afraid not. I just must wait and hope that his body can cope with the strain itself.

I'm just asking you not to tell anyone else, they wouldn't understand and it's none of their business."

"But of course, My Lord."

With a bow he said goodbye and left the house and property.

Tom looked after him and opened the window of an owl that flew towards him.

He didn't know the owl and as soon as he had removed the parchment roll from her leg, she flew away again.

The letter was from Dumbledore and when he had read it he put his trembling hand on the desk next to the chair on which he had sat during the reading.