The Second Turn of the Wheel of the World's End – In the Devil's Lair

Disclaimer: YES, I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER! (Disclaimers stress me. --x')

SEVERUS

When Severus received Black's image he fought the pleasant feeling that settled in his heart. He brushed it off his mind remembering that they shouldn't meet. Not in battle, not until the war was over. It was too risky, too open. And that was the reason he had sought for the boy instead of reaching Sirius' mind as he had wished all the time. It was too personal.

Since their "agreement" begin he tried his best to act as if nothing had changed. It was too dangerous to have that piece of information lying around. He was a traitor. If they found out about his betrayal, they could use their "fling" to blackmail Sirius for information on the Order. He knew he, Severus, was ready for the torture, but he wasn't sure he could take to watch Sirius in pain again. They hadn't had the time to talk about it, but he hoped Sirius understood.

"To Hope"… Such an alien verb in Severus Snape's vocabulary. He had always schooled himself never to hope. Hope was for the silly starry-eyed young, and Snape was no fool. However… (Hell, there were always life's "but's") After Sirius' revival and that, oh so special night it was starting to get harder and harder not to hope. Not to think about a future when things could go a little better for him and Black.

He was so lost in these thoughts that he didn't even noticed the presence on top of the tree. The enemy hidden there smiled at this in the shadows. Faster than Severus could register, Kant, the young Death Eater to his right, was stupefied on the floor and he himself was being chocked by a violent arm around his neck and had a wand pointed to his temple.

"Release your wand. Or your friend here is history."

The words, the voice, the arm around his neck, the smell of the man behind him… It was all PURE Sirius Black. The man's presence threatened to swallow him and all he wanted was to melt in it, but they were being watched. He held his breath.

Marcus Flint, his other Death Eater companion, waited.

Black increased the pressure on his wind pipe and glared at the masked boy. It was hard to breath.

Flint dropped his wand.

Black stupefied him.

He released Severus neck who coughed air back to his lungs. Black held him by the waist. The Potion's Professor could feel his attacker's breath on his ear.

"Missed you" Muttered the man.

Severus sighed.

Put his hands on Sirius', leaned on him.

"Me too."