Snape and Lucius apparated to the gates of Malfoy Manor without incident. The baby was still limp and pale. Severus and Lucius simply gave each other a hopeful glance and put on their best Death Eater façade and made their way into the Manor with Severus carrying the baby.

The Manor was empty on the exception of Bellatrix and the Dark Lord. "Ah, I see my eager and faithful servants have accomplished their task first. Quite impressive to be the first ones back." The Dark Lord's cold vile voice echoed as he walked toward them.

Severus was still clutching the child close to him. Silently begging Merlin to let his plan work and allow them all to walk out of that Manor alive.

"I assume you succeeded?" The Dark Lord questioned.

"Yes My Lord, all three of them are dead." Severus said in low cold tone.

"We shall see about that. Let me see the child." The Dark Lord demanded.

Severus grudgingly moved the baby away from his body but did not let the child leave his hands.

The Dark Lord sneered as he looked at the muggle child. "Bellatrix, go make sure the parents are dead as well and hurry. I want them gone before the next pair arrives." The Dark Lord ordered as he still looked at the child in disgust. "Remove the blanket. I wish to make sure you have properly completed your task." He then ordered Severus.

Severus cradled the baby in one arm while he unwrapped the fluffy blue blanket leaving the baby exposed in just his thin sleeper. The Dark Lord watched intently at the child to see if it would breathe or move. The baby lay limp in Severus's arms; the Dark Lord then poked the child with his wand not wanting to touch it. When the Dark Lord seen no signs of life from the child he barked, "Put the child in this chair Severus." The Dark Lord was still not totally convinced the child was dead. No more mistakes could be made. He had to make sure the child was truly dead.

Severus gritted his teeth, but slowly walked over to a nearby wingback chair and placed the baby in it and stepped back but not far. He felt a sense of dread as soon as his fingers left the child's body.

The Dark Lord sneered and slithered around the child still looking for signs of life. He stopped directly in front of the chair looked down at the child in disgust, "Filthy muggle." He tilted his head to the side and raised his wand pointed it at the baby and the words echoed throughout the Manor as the cruel voice bellowed, "Crucio!"

Severus with a clench jaw and balled fist made one step forward when he felt Lucius grab him from behind. He turned to look at him and with his head down he shook his head 'no'. Severus was livid on the inside, he wanted to kill the Dark Lord on the spot even if it meant death for him. Anyone cruel enough to torture an innocent baby didn't deserve to breathe.

The baby never moved, he never cried, he never took a breath; the Dark Lord cackled then looked to Lucius and Severus, "Excellent! The filth really is dead. One less little brat to have to worry about."

It took everything the pair had to remain in their Death Eater façade and accept the compliment. "Thank you, My Lord." They coldly rang in unison.

Bellatrix's apparition pop came and the Dark Lord turned to her, "Well…."

Bellatrix had hell dancing in her eyes, "They appeared dead but I made sure My Lord. I set the house on fire." Bellatrix said with an evil smirk.

"Wonderful. Such a good servant you are." The Dark Lord said in praise, which elated Bellatrix. The Dark Lord turned to Lucius and Severus, "You two are dismissed, you may go do whatever it is you two do so often together, drinks and whores, I assume." The Dark Lord hissed at them.

Severus wasn't about to leave that child in the hands of that evil bastard, "My Lord, may I take the child and properly bury him. You have verified he and his parents are dead. He is but a baby." Severus said in a pleading tone.

The Dark Lord looked smugly at Snape, "I suppose your brief time as a soon to be father left a soft spot. I suppose every Death Eater is allowed a few moments of compassion. If it will ease your conscience, yes you may dispose of the filth any way you wish Severus."

Severus nodded, "Thank you My Lord." He muttered as he quickly picked up the baby. "Lucius I'll meet you in our usual spot in about 30 minutes." Severus lied as a cover.

"I'll go with you, we can dispose of it quicker if we do it together then we can see who wins at shots tonight. Winner picks the losers slag!" Lucius lied in return with a chuckle as they walked out of the Manor.

Severus quickly bundled the baby, pressed him against his chest and wrapped his cloak around him before they reached the gates. He whispered to Lucius, "Laugh and slap me on the back, leave your hand there so we can apparate." Lucius did as he was told and within seconds they landed inside Prince Manor.

The apparition crack was heard throughout Prince Manor, as it had been dead silent since Shelby had returned the second time with the bottle of draught.

"Severus! What do I need to do?" Dumbledore said in a rush as soon as he seen the pair.

"Sir, I'm not sure. I gave them the draught thinking that would be enough to satisfy the Dark Lord, but Bella returned saying she had set the house on fire. I have no clue if they are still alive or not." Severus said in a panic.

"What about the baby?" Lily asked nearly in tears.

"I have him, I convinced the Dark Lord to let me 'properly bury' him. The fucking Dark Lord used Crucio on him to make sure he was truly dead. I have no idea how injured he is, as I gave him the draught too. It was all I could think of to keep from killing them." Severus said pitifully.

"Severus I need the address, I will handle the parents, you all handle the child." Dumbledore said hurriedly.

Lucius fished the parchment out of his pocket and handed it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore was gone in an instant.

"Sev, love, the baby. I need to see him and I need you to think. I need you to try to remember how long he will be out. Was that the only spell used on him?" Lily said gently but with a tone of seriousness.

Severus unusually shaken came to his senses and gently placed the bundled baby in Lily's open arms, "Yes, just the draught and the Cruciatus curse. He should wake on his own but I'm not sure when he will wake, I've never given it to a muggle much less a baby. I gave him a very small amount I don't think he will be out long. That's if I didn't give him too much."

Lily looked loving down at the child then to her very shaken and brave husband, "We have him now. Go have a drink or five, both of you. I'll send Shelby for Madame Pompfrey if Remus and I can't handle his injuries. You two go settle your nerves; both of you did an amazing job. We are all safe now. Lucius, Narcissa and Draco are napping, I'll let her know you're back when they get up."

The men looked at each other but dared not to argue, it had been a hell of a day and a drink did sound tempting. Lily was right, she was the most capable healer in the house and they were finally all safe; at least everyone in Prince Manor was.

While the men sat in silence and drank reflecting on the days events. Lily and Remus checked over the baby. They found no visible injuries nor could either of them detect internal injuries. They did find the faintest sound of a heart beat so they knew the baby had survived the Cruciatus curse and was still alive even though he appeared very much dead.

Lily always kept some of Draco's clothing, blankets and diapers in her room for when he slept in their room, she asked Remus to go after clean clothing and a diaper. While Remus was gone she gave the baby a nice warm bath in the kitchen sink to get the filth of the presence of the Dark Lord off him.

In no time at all the baby had that intoxicating smell of innocence back, clean clothing and a clean blanket did wonders for his appearance.

"I think this is all we can do but wait for him to wake." Remus said quietly.

"Yes, I think you're right. I'll keep him with me." Lily said never breaking her gaze from the ball of innocence sleeping in her arms.

Remus watched Lily with the baby knowing how quickly she would attach herself to him and gave a slight frown knowing it probably wouldn't last; they would have to return him to his family if they lived. "I'll be in my room should you need any help." He said softly before leaving.

Lily took the baby with her to check on the guys and found they were quickly drinking away their stress. They both looked up and smiled seeing Lily holding the much better looking baby they had risked their lives for.

"Merlin Lily, what did you do to him? He looks like a different child." Lucius said looking at the baby intently.

Lily laughed, "It's a miracle what a bath and fresh clothing will do isn't it."

"He does look much better. I think some of his color is returning. Was he injured badly?" Severus asked worried yet relieved.

"Honestly, he wasn't really injured at all. I think maybe the draught saved him from the Crucio that bastard sent at him." Lily answered angry at the thought of the baby being tortured.

"So he should be fine then?" Lucius asked timidly.

"Yes, he'll be fine once the draught wears off. Remus and I couldn't find anything else wrong with him." Lily answered smiling down at the little one.

"That's a relief." Severus said with a sigh.

"We just wanted to check on you. I wanted to make sure you two were alright as well. We'll be going now." Lily said as she kissed Severus on the cheek.

Lily left the bar with the baby, satisfied that Sev and Lucius would be fine after the horrible day they had endured. She walked the main floor of the house quietly whispering random things to the still slumbering baby in her arms. She finally made her way to a rocker that had been placed in the living room for Narcissa and Draco. It was beautiful in there at night. The glass wall the chair faced gave a beautiful view of the moon and stars. She found herself mimicking what she had seen Narcissa do with Draco many nights when he refused to sleep. She sat and pointed out constellations and said their names. When she couldn't remember anymore to name, she sat and hummed softly to the baby not realizing how long she had been there or even caring. The moment that child was placed in her arms, he had her wrapped around her finger. Now if only he would wake.

She never heard the whispers in the doorway; she never noticed all of her housemates were gathered behind her watching her fall in love with this child that wasn't hers to fall in love with. She refused to think about the fact that this sweet little baby could be gone by tomorrow. She refused to worry about the fact he may never wake. She refused to face facts and be sensible like she would be normally. Lily's only thoughts were that this little boy needed to be taken care of and she wanted to be a mother more than anything. She selfishly gave into her wants and desires; that little baby was her only concern in the world in that moment.

"This could be bad." Sirius said in a low tone.

"You think I don't realize that!" Severus snapped quietly.

"What are we going to do with her when she has to give him up?" Remus asked in a hushed tone.

"Hell, if I know. I'll buy her a damn baby if I have to!" Snape said in quite frustration.

"Well, Bella did say she set the house on fire….. it's possible…" Lucius whispered hopefully.

"Lucius! Please!" Narcissa bit with a small slap to the arm.

"I'm simply saying, he could be an orphan now." Lucius whispered defending himself.

"I'm sure there are other family members." Remus said in a low sad tone.

"Just leave her be. Give her this, however long it lasts. Let her be a mother. I'll find a way to fix it when and if the time comes to give him back." Severus said quietly as he watched his wife finally getting to mother a child. Something he had taken from her; it was a bittersweet moment and he refused to ruin it.