I hate tacky, senseless, fleur-di-lies. But I'm going to make use of some anyway; I'm uping the rain content, oh and some thunderstorms, simply because they're so much fun!

But some things you just can't change. Like how much Snape hates Harry

/breaks into song and dance/ I'm just wild about Harry! And Harry's wild about me!

Snape's hooded eyes followed the Death Eaters as they trudged up the hill and into the house. As the door snicked shut, Snape began to fumble with the rope binding his right hand. His fingers shifted loops and wrapped the rope in a strange pattern around itself.

Suddenly the rope slithered to the ground.

Harry did a mental double-take. How did Snape do that?

Severus didn't even glance at the rope. He was already struggling with freeing his wand and himself from the tree. He tried to twist the wand, but it didn't budge. Snape tried harder, twisting and straining himself, but his grip only slipped off. Very white and breathing shallowly, Snape braced himself against the trunk. Finally he croaked, "Accio wand."

Nothing happened.

Snape caught a breath and whispered again--a shrinking spell on the wand, this time. Nothing. He tried to enlarge it, to break it, finally to shove it completely into the tree, but the wand would not respond. Snape pushed half-heartedly against the trunk, but he was now gasping and sweating. He leaned in and closed his eyes, looking wholly defeated. The wand remained firmly wedged in its place

Harry was frightened. No! Please don't give up! Keep trying! Please, Professor, we need you! I need you! Keep trying!

But Professor Snape didn't stir--he only stared blankly at the stones in the graveyard and dropped further against the tree.

Harry suddenly felt himself able to move slightly. Though he wasn't entirely free of the spell, he called quietly. "Snape! Professor!" There was slight movement. He called again a bit louder. "Professor!"

Slowly the focus returned to Snape's eyes. He looked up at the house. Desperation came to his face. Snape seemed to be struggling now without thought; without worry of harming himself. He wedged his fingers under the pinned hand and began frantically to pry. His hand jumped from the end of the hilt with a spray of blood and Snape dropped straight to the ground.

................

Harry hoped Snape would come to soon. It seemed like an eternity had passed since Snape had fallen to the ground. The darkness of night had covered them, though the light of the house filtered down. Harry didn't know what Voldemort was doing in the house, or what his Death Eaters were up to either, but Harry felt sure they wouldn't be gone much longer.

A crack of thunder exploded overhead. Snape cried out and rolled into a ball. A moment later his lifted empty black eyes to the sky. He seemed disoriented--disturbed--as he touched the welts on his face and felt others on his body. His right hand quickly explored the hole in his left; then the place where the Dark Mark had been. A strangled sigh escaped his lips.

In the darkness Snape reached for his torn sleeve and ripped it free. He wound the material around the palm of his hand--there wasn't enough for his arm--and put out his hands. He first touched the tree, then turned away and began to hitch himself across the graveyard. The fingers of his right hand were spread ahead of him feeling, feeling.

Deafening thunder crashed again. Snape stopped crawling. He was shaking and shivering. He turned his head away from Harry, standing nearly frozen just a few meters away.

Harry asked with concern, "Professor? What's wrong? Are you all right?"

Snape's head whipped up. "Potter! Potter, shut up!" he hissed. "Do you want them to hear you?"

Harry lowered his voice. "But you're hurt! You've got to have help!"

Snape shook his head. "Fool boy! Who'll help us here? Just stay there. I'll do it." He curled his left hand tighter around the bandage, and began to crawl very slowly forward again, fingers extended once more.

Harry felt like he would jump from his skin with impatience. "Get what you're after and let's get out of here!" Suddenly Harry did wonder, "What are you looking for?"

Snape came to the area where Harry had dropped his wand. He felt around in the dark, slowly touching branches and cobbles, roots and rocks. His trembling fingers closed tight around something invisible-- Snape slid his fingers along its long, straight shape. "This."

"What is it?" Harry asked. "Hurry!"

But Snape suddenly looked very dizzy. He lowered his head to his arm. A moment later his eyes were closed.

"No!" Crap! Harry panicked. "Snape! Don't faint! Come on! Wake up! Wake up!"

Professor Snape opened his eyes and pulled his legs under him. He spoke to the object in his hand.

A wonderful feeling spread through Harry's body. He could move, and suddenly visible in Snape's hand was Harry's wand.