Harry Potter and all related characters, places and terms belong to JK Rowling and/or (not sure which) Warner Brothers.

This chapter is a bit weird, nothing much really happens. I'm trying to get some action in and this wasn't read through by my usual Beta (can I call you my Beta, Yeti? You do it for me anyway even if it's not official) so if it doesn't sound too good just tell me. I just wanted to get something up already.

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Chapter 10: Nowhere to Run

Voldemort apparated into the room where he had left Snape to find him still unconscious. A vicious kick to the stomach solved that problem, and with a groan Severus woke up.

"Where are they?" He didn't answer, and another kick just made him groan more. "Where are they?" he screamed, pulling Snape up off the ground.

"My… my Lord?"

"Don't try me Snape. You know what I'm talking about. Where are they?"

To tell the truth, Severus had no idea what he was talking about. Understandably, his mind wasn't working particularly well.

"What…? I don't know…"

Voldemort lost his temper, shoved Snape back down and pulled out his wand. "I have all the time in the world, Snape, but yours is running out." He cursed him, and sat down, watching Severus intently. "I know as well as you do that when it comes down to it you will choose yourself over the girl. Is she really worth it? Because it would be a shame if you went like this, you know. I've seen hundreds die scrunched up on the floor, but you - I always imagined that I'd kill you face to face. It seems to do you more justice. So maybe I'll give you the chance."

He raised his wand and both he and Snape got to their feet. "Now where are they?"

Snape shook his head slowly. "Honestly, my Lord, I don't even know what you're talking about."

"The Potters, Snape! Where have they gone?"

"So they did escape…"

"You know something."

Snape realised his mistake too late, but he had nothing to say. Voldemort on the other hand, leaned down and spoke, his red eyes staring straight into Snape' face.

"Don't try to protect them Snape, it's no use. No matter what you do - if you help me or not - I will find them and I will kill them. The only question is wether you'll be there to see it or not, and right now it's not looking too good for you."

"I'm not trying to protect them. You said it yourself my Lord, I would pick my life over hers when it comes down to it. I would kill her myself if it meant my survival. I can't tell you where they've gone because I don't know."

"And yet you knew they escaped before I even told you - "

"I am your spy, my Lord. If there are whispers behind closed doors, I will hear them. Someone has been planning to help the Potters escape, and Dumbledore is in on it. But I don't know who, and I don't know where they are going. I only just found out and was coming to tell you when you called."

"Then why the sudden change of heart? Not very long ago you were pleading for her life…"

"And then I found out she was a filthy mudblood."

Voldemort's lip curled up into a sneer. "You did not know?"

Snape bowed his head, trying to look ashamed, but actually wondering what to say. "No my Lord, I only found out at the same time as the plan for escape."

The Dark Lord laughed. "Stupid, Snape. Well, what would you propose we do about it?"

"Well we can't exactly change her heritage, my Lord…"

"Don't be smart, Snape. What are we going to do about the Potters?"

"I'll keep my ears open, my Lord, and tell you as soon as something comes up."

"Good. Go then, it's getting early. You have a class to teach, do you not?"

Snape turned around, marvelling at the fact that he was alive and that Voldemort seemed to have accepted his story. Standing tall, he walked out the door and only when he was a safe enough distance away did he double over in agony. Trying to get his thoughts back together, he gathered the last of his strength and disapparated.

* * *

Back inside the room, Voldemort drew his eyes away from the door that Snape had just exited from, and called out to no one in particular.

"Wormtail."

In an instant, the small and unobscure looking rat crawling around on the floor disappeared, and in its place appeared Peter Pettigrew.

"Now tell me, Wormtail, what did you just see?"

"Umm, Snape, my Lord?"

Voldemort sighed, wondering how stupid one could get. "Yes, Wormtail, that was Snape. Was there anything else?"

Pettigrew didn't know what to say, so he said nothing.

"That, my rodent friend, was a prime example of lying."

"Oh. Will you kill him then, my Lord?"

"Well, Wormtail, I don't know how much he was lying about. If indeed he does know of a plan for their escape, he may still prove useful. Maybe I won't kill him just yet. Go find Crabbe and Goyle for me."

Pettigrew disapparated, and in a small space of time reappeared with two large cloaked and masked figures. There were darker stains on their cloaks, which didn't surprise Voldemort, or escape his notice.

"I take it that Malfoy is doing a thorough job at the hospital, then?" They bowed their heads in agreement. "Good. Now, I have a job for the two of you…"

* * *

Lily had been safely seen off to the hospital wing, with a surprised and extremely delighted Minerva McGonagal and Poppy Pomfrey fussing over her and the baby. James, Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus had left the three of them there, and were currently in Dumbledore's office.

"Now then James," Dumbledore began "what are we going to do?"

"I don't know, I was hoping you could tell me."

"Well, going back to Godric's Hollow is out the question."

"I thought so. What will we do with the house?"

"It will be all right for now, James. We just have to find somewhere for the three of you to live."

Remus spoke up. "I would offer my house, James, but full moon is coming soon and with Harry it would be too risky."

"You could stay with me, James."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid that's out of the question as well, Sirius. That's the first place Voldemort would look. You and Remus are going to have to lay low for a while as well."

"What? Why? I've just moved, not that many people know where I live. And Gringotts isn't really big on divulging information on their clients."

"Does Peter know?"

"Peter? Well, yes, but what does he have to do with it?"

Dumbledore looked at the three of them. "Sit down, all of you. I have something to tell you. I had a talk with Severus earlier this morning. He's a Death Eater and he's here as a spy for Lord Voldemort."

Sirius jumped up enraged. "WHAT! That filthy, slimy - I should have known!"

Dumbledore stood up. "Sit down, Sirius, and let me finish. I will not have you insult Severus."

James looked up in disbelief at Dumbledore, and stood up with Sirius, shaking his head. "I don't know what you're up to, Albus, but if you're going to condone Snape being a Death Eater -"

"I told you, James, that I haven't finished. Now sit down, both of you." They did so reluctantly. "That's better. Severus has agreed to help us; to turn around and spy on Voldemort."

Sirius snorted. "What's in it for him?"

"He's trying to save someone he loves."

"He knows what the word means?"

Dumbledore shot a warning look at Sirius when James spoke up.

"Albus, he can't be trusted."

"On the contrary, James. I trust him completely."

"Why?"

Dumbledore swung around to face Remus. "He swallowed a bottle of Veritaserum."

Sirius' jaw literally dropped. "I always knew he was insane. Does he know what that stuff can do?"

"Of course he does, Sirius. He's the Potions Master."

"What happened?"

"He was unconscious for a while" the three Marauders tried to stifle their laughs, "then he told me quite a lot."

"What?"

"Voldemort knows about the prediction. Severus told me, and he told me that he was preparing to kill you, James. You owe him your life."

James was rendered speechless but Sirius, as always, had something to say. "How did Voldemort know?"

"That's what I have to tell you three. It's Peter - he's a Death Eater as well."

It took a while for the statement to sink in. Sirius and James exploded, but Remus just sat, looking shell-shocked.

"The little rat!" Sirius shouted "That little rat! Wait until I get my hands on him…"

"Sirius, calm down…"

"I won't calm down!"

"Shut up, Sirius!" James told him, looking pointedly at Remus, who had his head in his hands.

"Remus?" Dumbledore tried gently.

"You have to be joking, Albus" Remus whispered, shaking his head. "He wouldn't - I mean I knew he was up to something, but not this."

"I'm afraid it's true, Remus. Be quiet, you two, and sit."

"No Albus. I'm going to find him, he's going to pay -"

"You're not going anywhere, Sirius. Don't make me stop you."

Sirius ignored Dumbledore, and headed towards the door. James ran over and grabbed him, forcing him to sit down. "You heard Albus, Padfoot, now sit down. It won't help."

"You have to be joking me, James. Are you just going to sit around and do nothing?"

"No, Sirius, but not now. You have to think before you do anything rash."

Sirius came and sat down, still fuming. But he quieted down when he saw Remus.

"Moony, what's wrong?"

He shook his head. "I can't believe it. Why?"

"Because he's a weak little coward, that's why!"

James told Sirius to be quiet, and turned back to Remus. "Don't worry, Moony, we'll get him for it."

"I don't want to get him for anything! I just don't want it to have happened in the first place!"

"Remus," Dumbledore started quietly, "There's nothing you can do about what Peter has done. The question is now what we're going to do."

"I can tell you what I want to -"

"Sirius! Will you please just shut up and listen to Albus for a second?"

"Thank you, James. I think what you need to do first is talk to Severus."

"That's asking a bit much, Albus."

"Wouldn't you like to know more though, James?"

"I know enough. We just have to find him now."

"Are you sure you wouldn't like some more information?"

"Like what?"

"Maybe where Peter is likely to be, what he's doing. What he's done. It would help your search if you had a starting point."

"Fine then, Albus. Where's Snape?"

"He went to see Voldemort, and then…"

"Then what?"

Dumbledore had just realised. He didn't know.

* * *

Snape apparated at the base of Hogwarts' front drive, and slowly began to make his way up the driveway. He managed to get halfway up when he heard loud and heavy footsteps behind him. Looking back, he saw two very large figures running towards him. Filled with as sense of dread, he tried to walk faster but only managed to trip over onto his face. He was hauled up by the back of his robe, and came face to face with the familiar Death Eater mask. Crabbe pulled out his wand and Goyle pulled out his fist.

"The Master has a message for you."

* * *

Back at St Mungo's, Lucius surveyed the bloody scene in front of him in grim satisfaction. Parts of the building were on fire, and even though most of the curtains were drawn he could see the violence happening by means of silhouettes coming through from behind them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the first fingers of light creeping over the hills around the hospital. He entered the building, making sure that everyone inside had been taken care of. At the conclusion of his inspection, he came across a heavily spelled door with several Death Eaters trying to break it down.

"What's happening?"

"The head of the hospital's in there, and we can't seem to get in."

"No matter." Lucius took a small square box out of his robes. The Death Eaters looked at it expectantly. "I'll lift the anti-apparition spells. Tell everyone to get clear. You know what will happen to anyone left inside."

"And her?" A nameless Death Eater nodded towards the door.

"I just said, you know what will happen to anyone left inside. She's inside, isn't she? Now go." Lucius waved his wand, and the Death Eaters around him began to disapparate. He dropped the box onto the floor outside Mallissa's door. Disapparating himself, he appeared on one of the hills outside. Giving all the Death Eaters sufficient time to get out, he waved his wand and muttered a spell.

Inside the hospital, the box was activated. Managing to apparate out of her room, Mallissa looked at it, realising too late what it was.

As dawn broke over the hospital, Lucius watched as the building slowly began to expand. Within a second, the hospital had exploded into a fireball.

* * *

Dawn also broke over the school, revealing a dark figure slumped against the stark whiteness of the remaining winter snow. The rivers of melting snow along the Front Drive of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy ran red, a mere kilometre from the oak entrance doors of the school where Snape would have been safe.

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Pleasant, aren't I?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, sorry I took so long. I don't know how long the next one's going to take (I have exams) but just hang on for me and it will come eventually.

Kit Cloudkicker - Dumbledore suspects Snape of what?

Phoenix Angel - You'll have to see who lives, but I'm very sorry, people are going to die. About the Dumbledore thing, I never really thought about that. But problem solved now - Snape's just going to call him Albus from now on. And if you really passionately like Snape, don't be mad at me. I like him too but the idea of bashing up appeals to me.

Robin - Sorry if this was a bit of an anticlimax after the action of the last one. I'll try and shove more into the next chapter.

Blue Yeti - Always reliable *cough cough*. At least you haven't read this one before. How would you know if James is IC or not? He's never been described in the books. And Remus still has a soft spot for Wormie - remember the fixing up in the hospital? Oh man I just called him Wormie. I put the nameless Death Eater in for you.

Later -

~*Lady*~