'Sam!'

In a way he was overjoyed that she had recognised him in spite of his changed appearance. In his pain addled brain it meant to him she would always recognise him anywhere. The other part of him was suffering for her sake. He heard her screams and it tore at his heart. They hurt so much more than the kicks these idiots aimed at his body. He gave no sign that he felt them at all, but he stored every single blow in his mind. The exact feeling it caused him, where their boots connected with his body and who's boots they were. He would hold them accountable for every single one.

He heard a loud smacking noise and saw Sophie's body hit the ground.

'Shut up, you muggle bitch. We'll take care of you later.'

Without thinking his chosen mask of indifference slipped and he struggled like a maniac against the ropes that were holding him.

'It is him! We've got him! Ah… you do have a soft spot for your women, don't you, Snape?''

The horrid face of that dungbag Mulciper appeared in his field of vision.

'You can stop the charade now...and don't you worry, Snape. I will let you watch everything I will do to her. You shall have the best spot of all… now let me think, where shall we sit you?'

He rose and turned to look around the room. His eyes fell on an icon depicting Jesus Christ which was hanging on the wall. It had been a gift of a greek friend of Sophie's. A malicious grin spread across his face.

'Tell me, Snape, do you believe in God? That almighty muggle deity that preaches forgiveness of sins, isn't it? I did hate my muggle studies lessons but maybe they were good for something.'

'You could always have chosen ancient runes instead but I guess that would have been exceeding your mental capacities.' Severus replied. He knew it was futile to further pretend. If they knew it was really him they would concentrate on him and leave Sophie alone.

'Snape, I almost felt sorry for you a moment ago. But now I'm going to enjoy this even more.'

He lifted Severus with a hovering spell in the air and levitated him to the wall on the right side of the room, next to where the icon was hanging.

'I heard your looks are far from pleasing to the eye, Snape. Maybe just as well you are… what? Polyjuiced? Yes? Yes, I think that's it. But don't you worry. We will be able to bear your natural face once it shows itself again, no matter how ugly.' That earned him a round of roaring laughter from his companions.

'We will simply arrange you in a way that will make it more tolerable. A way that shall remind us of our past. Our past was suffering, Snape. SUFFERING! And now you will suffer. I don't care in what body you suffer as long as you feel pain.'

There it was again, the madness that sprang from his eyes and that shouted there would be no mercy. It did not scare Severus for himself, but such a twisted mind knew no limits. He would have to do something if he was going to save Sophie. Mulciber petrified Severus from the neck down and untied the ropes. In this state there was very little he could do. He tried hard to concentrate on a spell to see if it would work in his current situation but he could not even levitate the end of the discarded rope.

'So, now let's see, as far as I remember he was undressed and then nailed to the cross. So Snape…' with a slashing movement of his wand he tore Severus' shirt to shreds '... ah… no, not quite yet. But maybe if…' he moved his wand again and forced Severus's arms to be lifted to the sides '... yes, there definitely is a likeness now, don't you think, boys?'

They laughed and Severus closed his eyes in humiliation. It wasn't his body they saw now. But as soon as the potion wore off they would see him. Sophie… and his entire new family. His torso was covered in scars. He knew what impression that would make. But he needed to focus his thoughts on how he would repay them, and most of all on Sophie and how he would do anything to keep her alive.

'Well, there is one thing that is still missing though.'

With another wave of his wand Mulciber conjured big and crudely made iron nails. He hovered them towards Serverus' hands. Severus opened his eyes when he heard Sophie shout.

'No! No, you animal, you bloodthirsty beast, how can you!'

One of the wizards slapped her in the face again. Severus stared at the nails. Yes, this was definitely going to hurt. But he would manage. He had always managed. No matter what kind of punishment the Dark Lord had inflicted upon him, most of the time due to the misinformation he was ordered to pass on for Dumbledore, Severus had always lived through it. He would get through this as well. If Potter hurried, he would probably not even be too affected.

Mulciber uttered the spell and the nails bore down into the palms of his hands. Severus moaned in pain. He could not totally suppress his reaction. Sophie cried out loudly as did other members of his family. He had never wanted them to be exposed to such a display of violence. His life had always been suffused by it, but these people had never know anything worse than a heated argument. His head sank on his chest and for a moment the familiar feeling of guilt was stronger than the physical pain. Until Mulciber released the petrifying spell and the hovering spell and Severus body sacked down until his weight was solely supported by the nails in his hands.

The pain was blinding. But he needed to stay conscious. With a huge effort and a loud cry of resistance he tore his head back and looked up to the ceiling.

Yes, he was crucified like Jesus. Sophie had told him all about her religion. But only because he had asked her. She had said that Jesus had died on the cross to bear the sins of the world. Well, he only had his own sins to bear. But he suddenly felt admiration for an innocent man who had volunteered to bear this torture to free and help others. How strange. Before he had always thought him a fool. And how much stranger still that he should think of such things now when he was hanging by a wall like a bloody painting.

But thinking such things, that were totally removed from his current situation, was helping him to cope with his pain. He needed to stay conscious… no matter what. But it became harder and harder… the pain… think, Severus, think… don't give up...Sophie...don't give up.

He reached for the pain, willing his mind to open up to it, he experienced it in it's full force. He examined it and then willed it to leave his body. Out with the scream that tore it's way out of his lungs. And it worked. His mind cleared somewhat and the bloody haze that had threatened to cloud his consciousness just a moment before, lifted itself. He heard and saw his enemies laughing, standing around totally unaware of the hell they had just unleashed for themselves. His hands were nailed to the wall, but his strongest weapons, his mind and his magical strength, where not covered now. They had finally made a mistake, and now they would pay.