Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!

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"Well, headmaster?" Severus asked as he stood in front of Albus Dumbledore. Severus peered at the elderly man while he read over Lily's letter, "Will you lend me your assistance?"

"Severus…..." Dumbledore said, shaking his head once he finished reading the letter, "Severus, I know that you're still in love with Lady Potter, but all that's in the past now. She's no longer who you remember her as…..The knowledge of her tragic illness is widespread. I'm certain that this letter is no more than a spree of mania-induced ramblings."

"Would a person suffering from insanity be able to write such a detailed, cohesive letter?!" Severus hissed tersely.

Dumbledore shrugged, "The use of basic language skills does not absolve-"

"-So you refuse to help me, then?" Severus interrupted.

"Severus, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do." Dumbledore said, gazing at the young potions master over his glasses, "James Potter is a good man. He's an upstanding citizen and a large contributor to our institution. Hasn't he shown his wife kindness by not consigning her to an asylum? Most men in his position would have done so long ago. Leave the Potters alone and get on with your life. Surely you can find a better use for your time."

"Thank you, headmaster." Severus said curtly.

After he abruptly snatched Lily's letter back from Dumbledore's hands, he turned and glided out of the room with his black cape flowing behind him.

Severus scowled as he walked back to his office, hearing Dumbledore's words echo through his thoughts.

Most men in his position would have done so long ago.

Perhaps Dumbledore was right, but no….

He couldn't be!

That proved Severus's suspicion even more!

James hadn't committed Lily because she wasn't really mad!

Lily's letter was written in lucidity and its claims were true.

Lily wasn't ill, she was a prisoner!

Harry was his son.

Severus was certain.

Albus Dumbledore was a powerful, renowned wizard with a kind heart and a wise mind. Since Dumbledore was also the headmaster of Hogwarts, Severus had hoped that Dumbledore would have been quick to help him reunite with his son and rescue his beloved Lily.

That had not occurred.

Instead, Severus was forced to think carefully about his next choice of action.

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James had more friends than Severus.

James had more respect than Severus.

James had more wealth, more clout, more power, more influence.

James had a lot more of everything than Severus.

But Severus bested James on at least one level.

Severus was more cunning than James.

Trying to keep up with the classes he taught while pursuing James Potter was a bigger challenge than Severus anticipated. James Potter was a busy man and it took some time for Severus to spy on his enemy at the right moment.

Finally, one morning, after waiting all night for James to return to his home, while the Potter coachman's back was turned, Severus finally found it.

One of James's brown hairs that had fallen onto the tufted velvet of the carriage seat.

Severus pocketed the hair quickly and apparated back to his rooms at Hogwarts.

Through his time of observing James, Severus had come to know his schedule quite well.

Severus heated the iron, he added this, he mixed that…...

Severus's black eyes glistened as he stared down impatiently at his bubbling cauldron.

For Severus, the potion couldn't brew fast enough.

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Lily was sitting in the chair beside the fireplace in her room one evening, reading to pass the time. The redhead held the book carefully so she wouldn't disturb the bandages on her hands.

Lily's miserable existence had become even more so since Harry had gone away to school.

She had heard James leave earlier, in the afternoon, on one of his overnight business trips.

"Business."

James had started taking many business trips recently, much to his wife's delight.

Lily didn't know where James went and she didn't care. She just took comfort in knowing that he wouldn't come looking for her, at least for the rest of the night.

Sometimes, if Lily was very fortunate, her abusive husband was away for two or three days in a row. How peaceful they were!

The fire crackled while Lily turned another page.

Without warning, a loud bang sounded from the outside and the door to Lily's bedroom flew open.

Lily gasped and looked up, dropping her book onto her lap with wide eyes.

Lily's heart pounded in horror as James walked in with a menacing sneer on his face.

It was a sneer that Lily had come to know well and for her, it was a harbinger of pain.

"I-I didn't expect you back so soon." Lily murmured quietly, averting her eyes from James.

She always tried not to look at him.

For some inexplicable reason, it seemed more bearable if she didn't look at him.

When James said nothing in reply, Lily gathered her courage and glanced over.

The look in James's narrowed eyes made her flinch.

"James-" Lily began, but before she finished speaking James stomped towards her and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her from the chair.

Lily shrieked, though she noticed a gentleness to his grip she had never felt before.

"Shut up. You're coming with me." James hissed in Lily's ear as he pushed her ahead of him, twisting her arm behind her back.

Lily's red hair fell in front of her face in a shameful, disheveled way, as she swallowed anxiously and walked out of her room, across the hallway, and down the stairs under James's direction.

Some of the servants were scattered around, watching vigilantly while they completed their chores. When they glanced at Lily and saw James standing behind her, holding her in his grasp, they quickly looked away and let their master see to his own whims.

Lily blinked as James pushed her through the front door and into a carriage with no coachman. With a flick of his wand, Lily's hated husband sent the vehicle into motion.

James had never allowed her to leave her room before, much less the house.

Where was he taking her?

Why would he…….?

Oh dear.

James was driving her away.

There was no coachman.

That meant no witnesses.

Alone with her beastly captor, Lily imagined she was about to meet her end at last.

Those frequent "business" trips.

James had grown tired of her.

James had met another woman he could enslave in her place.

Someone younger with a fresh body for him to scar and a fresh spirit for him to destroy.

James seized Lily by the shoulders and pulled her close to his chest, petting her red hair gently.

It made her want to vomit that he would patronize her moments before he took her life.

Unable to flee, Lily laid against him, staring straight ahead numbly while her breath came in ragged, terrified sobs as she whispered, "Just…….do it quickly, James. Haven't I suffered enough?"

As the carriage bounced along, Lily didn't feel James shiver against her.

Instead of James's mocking, haughty tone, a low, slow voice purred in response, "Indeed you have, my love. But it's over now, I've recovered you at last."

Lily gasped and sat up with a start.

When she looked at who she was really cuddled against, she cried out in joy, overwhelmed with relief.

"SEVERUS!" Lily screeched.

Brewing polyjuice potion correctly was a difficult feat, but Severus was considered to be a master of potions for a reason.

Severus and Lily both had happy tears rolling down their cheeks as they embraced one another.

"It's me, my darling…... It's me…….It's alright now. You're safe…….You're safe at last….." Severus cooed to Lily, placing kisses over her face and neck as she clutched onto him.

"Eleven years!" Lily cried in anguish as she held onto Severus.

"Eleven years." Severus said sadly as he nuzzled Lily, "But we're together now…….it's over, Lily, It's over…...Don't worry about a thing, my love. I'll keep you….and our son….safe."

As Lily whimpered against his chest, Severus felt the wetness from her tears soak through his robes, "I thought…...I thought I'd never see you again!"

While he held her close, Severus glanced down Lily's pale neck and over the glimpse of shoulder that her nightgown offered. Upon seeing the scars and bruises that blemished her beautiful skin, Severus's face twisted into a scowl.

"My love……" Severus whispered in sympathy, "My love…….what has he done to you?"

"...Everything." Lily replied in a voice that was resignedly bitter, then she looked up at Severus worriedly and asked, "Is Harry alright? Is-"

"Our son is fine." Severus said flatly, cradling Lily close to him, "The castle is the safest place for him right now but I intend to remedy that soon. First, I need to help you."

Lily rested her head against Severus's chest and he grimaced when he felt how thin and frail she seemed in his arms.

As the enchanted carriage drove along the path to Malfoy manor, Severus whispered soothing words of love to his darling Lily.

Lily closed her eyes and listened intently, enjoying the comforting warmth of Severus against her, taking in his familiar scent, the smell of vetiver and fresh parchment that she had missed so much.

Was it true?

Was she finally, really, free?

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"I'm not certain what I can do to show my gratitude." Severus spoke to Lucius Malfoy a little while later, as he sat on the side of the bed Lily lay in while Lucius stood behind them both.

"I'm sure an opportunity will arise sooner or later, Severus." Lucius said dryly as his gray eyes scanned over Lily, "Do not concern yourself, she will be safe here for the time being. Even James Potter wouldn't dare attack my family, at least, not outright."

Lily was quickly dozing off to sleep, more exhausted than she had ever been, feeling as if she had just emerged from a great battle.

"She needs food and drink." Severus said attentively, lovingly touching Lily's cheeks, "And she may frighten easily."

From the other side of Lily's bed, Narcissa Malfoy laid a black-lace covered hand on Severus's forearm. Looking at him, Narcissa promised, "We'll take excellent care of her, Severus. You can count on us."

"I…...I shouldn't be long." Severus said quickly, both to Lily and Narcissa.

Severus took Lily's limp hand and pressed a gentle kiss against its back, then he stood to his feet and removed his wand.

"What is it exactly that you intend to do?" Lucius asked, narrowing his eyes curiously at Severus.

"Secure my victory." Severus replied cryptically.

With a swish of his wand, Severus apparated away, leaving Lily in Narcissa's and Lucius's care.

Narcissa stayed where she was, watching Lily sleep while Lucius glanced over at her.

Narcissa glanced back at her husband but the two of them remained silent.

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Severus arrived at his destination with a loud pop.

Standing on an ancient, stony drawbridge, Severus hunched his shoulders against the cold fog that billowed around him, creeping through his black robes threateningly as if it meant to engulf him.

Severus had to stare intently through the thick, cobweb-like mist, but he saw it, just ahead.

A spindly castle, as ancient and as stony as the bridge in front of it. The castle sat up high on a cliff that overlooked a medieval village in a place far away from the Malfoy and Potter estates.

With his cloak rippling behind him, Severus began his journey, walking through the village and climbing up the cliffside to reach the main door of the castle.

Stretching out a pale hand and using the massive door knocker, Severus took a step back for a moment and waited.

Slowly, the giant castle door creaked open.

Severus looked inside and several faces looked back.

Men and women, whose irises all shared Severus's black hue, dressed in fashions that were outdated by more than a century, held fine crystal glasses in their hands as they seemingly enjoyed a marvelous party. Though they stared back at Severus, eyeing his nondescript robes curiously, waiting on him to speak.

"I'm Severus Prince………" Severus called out confidently, but when the castle's inhabitants didn't move, Severus clarified, "...Son of Eileen."

That was it.

The crowd parted as if Severus had uttered a password and he deftly stepped into the castle. While Severus walked down the stone foyer's long hallway, he could feel the gazes of all those inside boring into him.

Severus didn't pause to look back or exchange glances with anyone, he just kept walking confidently towards a heavy, closed door at the end of that impossibly lengthy foyer.

The others didn't make Severus anxious in the least, he had every right to be there.

From outside the castle, a dark figure had crouched atop one of the building's sharpest spindles, watching Severus approach.

Once Severus entered the castle though, that dark figure moved from the spindle, whispering through the air like a trail of toxic smoke, blowing into the room that Severus walked towards.

Severus made it to the heavy door at last.

Calmly, he reached out a hand and turned the knob, opening the door.

When he was greeted only by silence, Severus strode into the room and it was then, and only then, that he saw the tall man, with black hair, dressed in a black, antiquated suit and cape standing by the window, looking out over the misty day.

"I am Severus Prince, Eileen Prince's son…...Are you still the head of our family?" Severus asked dryly.

The tall man with black hair glanced eerily over his shoulder at Severus for a moment and then he turned around, laying a hand over his chest as a smile came over his handsome, pale face. The tall man's long nails clicked against the buttons of his vest as he spoke, "I will always be the head of the Prince family, fiul meu~. I am the one who began it."