-Do not own Harry Potter.

-Thanks Beauty Queen1979 for the review. I knew that tomorrow was spelt wrong, and I forgot to do spell check. Sorry.

Chapter 4

Snape was relieved that he wasn't the last person to arrive when Voldemort called them. Whoever arrived last would be punished severely, and that was the last thing anyone wanted. As Death Eaters arrived they took their place in the circle. Lord Voldemort watched everyone with the eyes of a snake waiting to strike. There were quite a few gaps in the circle. Voldemort looked around at all of his followers seeming like a snake getting ready to strike. It wasn't long before he did.

"Last night was a total disgrace. You call yourselves my faithful servants. All of you acted like muggles and mud bloods. Crabbe. Come here!"

"Yes my lord."

"You dared to run away from the battle when you saw the Auroras."

"N….no my lord."

"Don't lie! Crucio."

The bulky form of Crabbe fell to the floor and shrieked. When Voldemort stopped Crabbe was whimpering. "Yes my Lord." Crabbe cried.

Voldemort set the curtious curse of him again while the other Death Eaters looked on with thanks that it was not them under Voldemorts wand. Severus didn't know what to think. The other Death Eaters, like him, wandered who would be next to face Voldemort's wrath.

The Death Eaters stood in the circle for awhile as other Death Eaters were called forward and punished for their cowardice. Snape was hoping with every Death Eater called forward by Lord Voldemort that it would be the last. Then Voldemort's voice rang out through the crowd. "Snape!" Severus jumped at hearing his name, but only slightly and made his way to stand in front of Voldemort.

"My Lord?" Severus asked and in a way replied.

"Of all of my Death Eaters you were the last one I believed that would run away."

"My Lord I did ….." Severus started, but was cut off by Voldemort.

"Silence Snape! I will not deal with your excuses. Crucio!"

Severus fell to his knees, but did not cry out as the others had. His father had put him under the Crutious Curse many times, and Severus was now used to the pain. "My Lord," Severus aid through gritted teeth, " I did not run away."

"Silence!" Voldemort yelled looking down at Snape as he lifted the curse. Snape was still on his knees. His whole body ached and he could hardly breathe.

"My Lord," Snape started again, "If you would let me explain."

"Crucio." Voldemort yelled again.

Snape didn't scream, but the pain was excruciating. Memories flooded him back to when he was a child. When his father placed the curse on him if Severus made any noise while under it he would have to suffer more time under the curse. "I saw someone run away, and I followed."

"Silence you coward!" Voldemort yelled and put more power into the curse.

Severus fell to the floor and curled himself up into a ball. He wanted to scream out in pain, but he knew that he had to make sure Voldemort trusted him like he had his father. It seemed like forever, but was in fact only a few moments before the curse was lifted. Snape was laying on the floor gasping for breath as his whole body ached. "My Lord," Snape whispered, "you saw me running because I was chasing after someone. It was a Seer."

"Do you dare lie to me?"

"No my Lord." Snape whispered as he pulled himself up.

"My Lord." another Death Eater called.

"What is it Bott?"

"Snape could be telling the truth. I was chasing someone, and there was another person just a few feet ahead of me. I lost track of both of them though my Lord."

Voldemort looked at Bott, and then turned back to look at Snape. "You better thank Bott, but if you deify me one more time I will kill you. Do you understand?"

"Yes my Lord." Snape said and bowed. He then took his place back in the circle. Severus clenched his teeth together trying to prevent his legs from giving out and to stop his body from shaking.

Voldemort began to walk around the circle of Death Eaters while he spoke. "Next time I want all of you to do better and actually accomplish something. If we are ever to rise and rule then we must take out those things that contaminate the Wizarding kind." Voldemort paused and looked at all his Death Eaters in turn. Finally, after what seemed like forever to Severus, Voldemort spoke again. "Leave me. I will call you to me again soon."

All the Death Eaters bowed and disappierated. Snape looked around at the forest he must walk through in order to get to Snape Manor, and cursed the anti-appiertion barrier again. It may have it's uses but it still could be a nuisance. Severus's took small shaky steps as his legs threatened to give out with each one. The only thing that he wanted to do was lay down and go to sleep, but he had half-a-mile to walk before he reached Snape Manor and ate the rate he was going it was going to be a while before he could climb into his bed. Then it started to rain, and Snape cursed the heavens even more as the cold rain added to his misery making him cold as well.

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Katlyin paced in front of the front door waiting for Severus to return. Her father was still sitting in the living room with a cup of tea that the House Elves had brought to them. Katlyin had given up on sitting still since the clock struck 11'o' clock. The House Elves had tried to get her to calm down. It had worked for a while, but then it started to rain and Katlyin began her pacing. "What's taking so long for him to return?" Katlyin asked to no one in particular.

"You must be patient Katlyin. He will return as soon as he can."

"I know, but I still can't help being worried about him."

"He will be fine. Severus can take care of himself."

"I can't help it I have to go look for him." Katlyin said as she reached for the door. She was about to pull it open when a House Elf appeared in front of her from a side door.

"Please don't," the House Elf squeaked, "Master Snape would be upset if wes let you go out in this storm. It is not safes for you at all."

Katlyin's father put his hand on his daughters shoulder. "The Elf is right Katlyin. Come sit down." He demanded.

"But father, what if….?"

"There are many if's my child. Come sit down. He will return when he can."

"Katlyin nodded and followed her father back into the living room. The House Elves had closed the curtains on the windows and lit some lamps in the room. Katlyin sat on the chair closest to the door and stared at hoping that Severus would return soon.

Snape was covered in mud, wet, and aching twice as much as he had been. The storm had picked up and it was raining twice as much as before. Finally he reached the door. Snape used his wand to unlock the door and fell through it as it swung open. From the living room he heard someone call his name and catch him in their arms as he stumbled in.

Katlyin heard the door open and then she saw Severus. She yelled his name as she saw the state he was in. Severus was wet to the bone and covered in mud. A House Elf came up with a towel, and Katlyin took it. She pulled off Snape's cloak and handed it another House Elf as she began to dry off his hair and face. Behind Katlyin her father was giving orders to the House Elves.

"Bring him into the kitchen Katlyin. The House Elves have started a fire in the fireplace." Vernos said.

Katlyin nodded to her father and helped the shaking Severus down the hall and into the kitchen. Snape was shaking both from the cold and the pain that he felt from the crutious curse. As he passed a mirror he looked in it and saw his white face and he was thankful for Katlyin's help.

When they reached the kitchen Katlyin sat Severus down in a chair next to the fire, and began to try and dry him off again, but his clothes were still dripping wet. A puddle began to form on the fall. Katlyin turned to the House Elves and began to give orders. "Someone go upstairs and get some dry robes, and someone else bring some blankets. Also make some hot tea."

"Thank-you." Severus whispered to Katlyin as he looked at her. Katlyin brought her eyes to meet his and the two of them looked into each others eyes without saying a word until Katlyin began to cry. "You worried me." she whispered.

"I didn't mean to." Snape said.

Vernos looked critically at Snape. "He put the critious curse on you, didn't he?"

"Yes." Snape whispered not looking at Katlyin knowing the fear for him he would see in her eyes. Lucky for Severus the House Elves returned with blankets and clean, dry robes. Vernos led his daughter out of the kitchen as Snape changed, but he didn't know what to say to calm her down. A few minutes later a House Elf came up to them.

"Master Snape apologizes for the inconvenience," it squeaked, "but you are both most welcome to stay the night."

"Yes that would be very helpful." Vernos said politely to the House Elf.

"If you are ready I will show you to your room."

"Yes thank-you." Vernos said.

"I know where my room is already. If you don't mind I wish to talk to Severus."

The House Elf bowed and lead Vernos up the stairs. Katlyin went back into the kitchen were Snape was sitting in a chair next to the fire wrapped in a blanket. Katlyin wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. So instead she walked up behind Snape and put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Silently she began to cry. Snape reached up and put his hand on hers.

"Don't cry Katlyin," Severus said, "I'm alright."

"I know, but I was so worried about you. Why do you risk your life so much? I don't want anything bad to happen to you." Katlyin said through her tears.

"I'll be fine as long as you are safe."

Katlyin moved away from behind Snape to stand to the side. He stood up and followed her. "Katlyin." he said.

Katlyin didn't know what to say so she just stared into Severus's eyes trying to tell him with her eyes what she could not say. Severus stared back into her eyes and was both shocked and surprised at what she saw there. Severus brought Katlyin into his arms and wrapped the blanket around them both as she cried on his shoulder. Severus hugged her close to him. The only person that Severus had ever hugged before was his mother, and that had been a long time ago. Snape was one to rarely show affection to anyone, but Katlyin was different. She was the only person in the world that he cared for, and he vowed to himself that he would find away to keep her safe from Voldemort even if it killed him.

-Well. What do you think? A review would be nice. There is plenty more to come, and I'll try to update soon.