Disclaimer: I do not own HP or his world, it's JKR's, I'm only borrowing it, same goes for the lyrics to Les Miserables.

Bring Him Home

He waited a full twenty-four hours for word from either of the boys. Nothing. What had happened? He refused to think the worst. His boy was a true Slytherin; cunning and self-interested. His faith in the boy was unshakable. The past year he had proved himself as a worthy apprentice, therefore Snape did not doubt whether Draco would be able to snatch Potter back. It seemed simple enough, those young ones were easy to manipulate. But something must have gone wrong. He knew his boy, and if he had been successful he'd be back here with Ms. Weasley as soon as possible. So, why wasn't he?

"That's it!" Snape grunted, slamming down his tea cup on the kitchen table. He had to do something, find out what had happened. And if that meant going back into the Snake's Den, so be it. He couldn't give up on Draco so easily. Potter, he could care less about by this point, he was Dumbledore's Golden boy, everyone worshipped him. But Draco, damned if he wouldn't be able to live a life Snape had only dreamt about. Snape stood , grabbed his wand and ran up the steps to the apparition point in the front hall.

Gods on high, hear my prayer.

In my need, you have always been there.

He apparated outside of the old mansion, donning his mask he entered the hideout cautiously, unsure of what or who he would meet here. A single Death Eater guarded the door. Security, it seemed, had become lax in the aftermath of the last battle. The guard was young and bored and an old pro like Snape found his mind easy to read. Snape pulled the images out expertly. Flashes of a figure in black being dragged in by the rest. He was struggling feebly within their grasp.

He is young, he's afraid.

But where had they taken him? Delving deeper Snape saw an image of the same figure crumpled in a corner of a dark cell, his hood had fallen off revealing a shock of platinum hair. Gods no!

Let him rest, Heaven blessed.

Bring him home.

Snape quickly immobilized the guard, hiding the body in the shadows. Carefully, he crept further into the mansion, heading for the basement stairs. He slipped past a lounge where a small group of young Death Eaters were drinking and talking. He briefly heard snatches of conversation.

"...this afternoon. No sign of Potter."

"He must have let him escape. There is no Dark Lord any more, he betrayed us all."

"How could he, the bastard. We were mates."

"He's gone soft, he has. He barely struggled once he realized it was us who got him."

"So, what do we do with the scum now?"

Thank the Gods, that meant he was still alive, somewhere. Those boys, those stupid moronic boys, had only locked him up. Though, if he had been beaten, who knows how long he has.

He's like the son I might have now.

If God had had granted me a son.

He spared one more glance at the small group. With the Aurors gaining ground they wouldn't last much longer. They were all his boys. He had led them into this life. Snape shook his head slightly in despair. He was guilty of so much.

The sons must die one by one.

How soon they fly on and on.

Snape continued to the stairs, encountering no others as he went. Sliding silently down the steps into the cellar, his eyes adjusted to the darkness. How long had he been forced to live this double life. How long would Draco be forced too? Snape wished to see this boy happy and loved, but above all, he wished him acceptance. Snape doubted he would ever receive that luxury.

And I am old and will be gone.

Draco had his life ahead of him.

Bring him peace, bring him joy.

He is young, he is only a boy.

As Snape approached the cells one by one, his nerves shook. He didn't know what he would find. In a cell at the far end he spied his young apprentice, lying quietly on the cold stone. Blood streaked his hair and ran down the side of his face. His leg was bent at an awkward angle. Snape took in a sharp breath and whispered a silent prayer as he worked on the wards locking the prison.

You can take, you can give.

Let him be, let him live.

Once broken, the old Potions Master entered the cell and kneeled by the unconscious body. Casting a quick invisibility charm, he lifted him into his arms. Draco moaned quietly in protest.

Snape whispered to him. "Oh, what have they done to you, my boy?"

"Nothing.. I ..didn't deserve." He mumbled back, before losing consciousness again.

Snape hefted the boy, and began to carry him out of the basement and up the stairs. As he reached the top, he stayed in the shadows, listening for the young men, praying they were still occupied. As he got closer, he heard them arguing with each other over Draco's fate. Good. Now, to quietly get by the doorway. He held his breath as he made his way across the hallway.

If I die, let me die.

He barely breathed again until he had reached the apparition point. He wasted no time apparating to 12 Grimmauld Place, landing in the front parlor he barked for Molly and Poppy. The invisibility charm had worn off the boy and the two women, who had run in the room at Snape's call, gaped at the bundle Snape held in his arms.

"Stop gawking witches, he needs your help!"

Striding upstairs to a bedroom, he laid him down and stepped back to let the two women fuss over the boy. Severus sighed, what had he done? He had made Draco go back for Potter, it was all his fault.

Let him live.

Snape heard a small gasp from the doorway behind him. Ginevra. She made her way over to her Potions Master, eyes wide in terror, imploring him.

"Is he.... he's going to...he can't! I...need him." She broke down into sobs. Severus, not accustomed to comforting others, did his best, drawing the young witch to his side.

"Shush, Miss Weasley, we'll have him back soon." If the young Malfoy only knew how much he was needed.

Bring him home.

Ginny brought in a bowl of soup for her laid-up patient. She smiled at him as she sat down beside him on the bed. Today was a good day.

"Now you eat this all up, young wizard. Medi-witch's orders." She spoke sternly.

He rolled his eyes at her playfully. It was so nice to be with her again.

"And if I don't?" He challenged, raising an eyebrow seductively,

She laughed, shaking her hair back.

"I'll use force if I have to; and trust me, it's not as good as it sounds!"

She stayed while he ate his lunch and afterwards read to him a little before he began to drift off to sleep.

"Gin?"

"Hmm."

"Potter took the portkey, you know."

"What? Wait, Draco, that would mean..."

"Yeah, it means he made his own choice Gin. He didn't want to come back."

"But why? Why leave all of us, all of this. He's a hero."

"He didn't want to be one anymore, Gin, he'd had enough I guess."

Ginny bowed her head and let a tear escape. Draco brought his hand up and smoothed her hair away from her face.

"No matter what your destiny Sprite, there's always choice." Draco sighed and leaned back into his pillows.

"Could you let Dumbledore know? They have to stop searching, Harry just doesn't want to be found. No use risking anyone else for him."

Ginny brought her head up, and then decided to snuggle in beside him.

"Alright, I will." She murmured into his shoulder.

He had already fallen asleep, and his crimson-haired sprite followed him, only a few heartbeats later.

Bring him home.