not even sure why i bother with typing anything anymore. especially author notes. its not like you guys want to know about me or care to talk to me. just get on with the story, huh? depression is a bitch.

He wasn't entirely sure when or how he made it back to their apartment above the apothecary. Nor how long it had been since he returned, nor how long it had been since he'd seen her. Severus had no concept of time since he last saw her. To him, it was an eternity.

He'd gone looking for her, he truly did. There was no hint or trail to follow, and Moody was nowhere to be found. Severus couldn't find him at the ministry, Hogwarts or a place he called home. It's like the man only appeared when he was wanted or needed.

Garrick had been no help, telling him it was his own fault he lost his wife. Juliet was able to get a letter to him before Moody stole her. He refused to let Severus read the letter, which was maddening. The apothecary hadn't been open in over a month, and Jiggers was losing his patience. Severus didn't care, he wanted Juliet back.

Apparently, Moody had dealt with Dumbledore for him. Telling him, he wouldn't be given unlimited access to the one person who held their fates in their hand. He was livid, of course. Moody had gotten him in the biggest checkmate of loopholes. Yes, he did have Severus at his every beck and call, but what point was that if Severus himself didn't have control of his wife?

What Severus hadn't done was return back to his new master. The reason everyone was in their current predicament. It wasn't until he felt the mark burn his flesh for the first time that he remembered he had the ghastly thing. As if feeling the burn himself, Albus came through his floo unannounced with Severus' mask that had been forgotten at Grimmauld Place.

That's when Severus got angry, "You speak so much of doing what's best for us," he waved the mask in his face mockingly, "yet you send me to my death again."

He shook his head, "Trust, you will not be injured this time."

"And pray tell, how do you know that?" he spat sarcastically.

"I have my ways."

Severus stopped in his tracks, "No, you have a seer," slowly turning with narrow eyes, "You've seen her."

"I never said that." Albus scowled and crossed his arms.

Severus ignored him; instead he let his nose lead him. His eyes turned to slits, the sound of Albus' heart-pounding was ringing in his ears. The smell was sweet, familiar, her. The dragon recognizing her scent, his core recognizing her magical trace, however faint it be.

"You need to go before they come looking for you. Tom doesn't take kindly to deserters."

"Give…. Her… back…" his voice changed, dropping several octaves and sounding sinister. A growl forming in the back of his throat that rumbled the air around him.

Albus' hand came out right as Severus charged him. Both forgoing their wands and resorting to their darkest secrets. Severus was in mid-transformation, ready to chew the other man in half to get to his wife.

Unfortunately, Albus was faster. His wand hand shooting out and clenching into a fist. The pain of the vow tripping Severus as he charged. The golden chain around his neck and arms stopping him in his tracks, sending him crashing to the floor as he clawed at his throat.

"Thief!" he choked out with a large flame aimed at Albus.

He reared his fist back as if pulling on the leash around his neck, "YOU WILL FALL IN LINE!"

"Never-" he couldn't breathe. The magic around his throat burning into his skin as it tightened. Severus thrashed wildly on the floor, trying to break the hold around his neck while also trying to kill Albus.

Severus' body was fighting back; the only way it knew how. The air around him was getting hotter, the floorboards beneath him creaking and starting to smoke. Albus was sweating and tugging on the collar of his robes.

Albus was pushed aside roughly, loosening his hold on Severus.

Moody rushed forward, spraying his smoking body with jets of water from his wand. Steam rising quickly and filling the room. He pointed the finger at Albus threateningly, "Ye wanna blow yerself up, fine by me. But I ain't gonna let you take all of Diagon with yeh!"

"I've had enough of you involving yourself in my affairs!" Albus scolded back.

"I don't give a damn about yer affairs- you've fucked it all to hell. Next time ya want to teach the boy his place, take him to a clearing. Somewhere he won't catch shit on fire or demolish the bloody neighborhood!"

As they stood there arguing while hosing down Severus, he tried to speak. Every time he opened his mouth, a jet of water would hit him. He couldn't breathe.

"Holy Father- give me strength…" Garrick mumbled as he walked upon the scene.

He threw a hand up casually to repel Moody's jet of water and rolled Severus onto his stomach. Severus coughed and gagged, and he beat on his back, "Breathe, son. That's it, breathe."

"What the hell is he doing here?" Albus pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

Moody curled his lip, "Don't lookit me, I could hear ya from the street. Only a matter of time before the 'King of Diagon' came stomping too."

Garrick grabbed Severus' hand and lit a small incendio spell, setting the flame in his palm ever so gently. Severus cupped it protectively, bringing it to his chest and curling into a ball, shivering and twitching as he lay there helpless. Garrick stood up and rounded on them.

"Yes, while you two argue, you were going to let him die!" Garrick shoved an angry finger into Moody's chest, "You turned him into this- this is your monster- your creation!" he seethed, "You made him, you take care of him!"

Moody shoved him aside and started to walk away.

"You've turned him into the weapon you needed. Both of you." Garrick said sadly.

"He knew what he signed up for," Albus said.

"Did he?"

"Aye." Moody agreed with Albus.

He shook his head, "You turned him into your weapon of war and told him to find peace." He picked up a picture of Severus and Juliet, holding it up to them to show the now blurry image of her. "But you took his peace."

Moody snapped, "You know it had to be done!"

"Does he? Does the beast know why his mate is gone? Why both of you reek of her, yet he cannot find her?" Garrick said angrily with tears in his eyes, "Does the man know? Have you tried speaking to either, or have you just used pain and torture to communicate?"

Neither man spoke, nor met Garrick's eye.

He picked up the discarded mask from the floor, "He's not ready to meet his third master. You know it. His mind is nearly gone, and your secrets are not safe. He's not the perfect pureblood he needs to be."

Moody nodded, "Aye, tha's why I've come."