1He was tired of it raining, those he supposed it was better. It didn't tempt him to leave the room, which was becoming slightly claustrophobic. He was used to large and spacious dungeons, filled with shelves of his creations, dead, pickled ingredients, as well as fine books, glittering candles, and the dark, thick tapestries that hung on the wall. He missed the home that he had for almost seventeen years... Only because he lost control of everything.

Another stab of regretful resentment shot through Severus Snape. He scowled and rolled over in the cold bed, pulling the thin sheet up to his stubble-ridden chin. He stared at the ceiling, completely lost in the fresh memories of killing Albus Dumbledore... all for the cause that probably wasn't worth fighting for. What difference would it make if the Dark Lord was killed or not? Even after most of the Wizarding World thought he dead the first time around, they all still lived in complete fear; none daring to say his name – as if that would have brought him back sooner. Though Severus couldn't blame them – he'd never even said it himself. But still... what difference would it make? If Potter vanquished him again ... Wouldn't everyone still live in fear? Living from day to day as they always had since the Dark Lord first came into power? No manner of rejoicing could steer away the ghost of mortifying fear and hatred. Somewhere, still in their deluded minds, they would be fearful that one day he would return, and no one, not even St. Potter, could redeem them.

How could Albus Dumbledore, someone that Severus thought (even though sometimes Dumbledore himself proved to the contrary) was an abnormally intelligent person, put so much faith into a stupid little teenage boy with absolutely no extraordinary magical powers? It didn't make sense... And Severus didn't like things that didn't make perfect sense. He sneered, his eyes narrowing.

If the Wizarding community was going to be scared of every little thing from now on, well, better dead than afraid, Severus thought. He rolled over again, giving his dark thoughts a moment to rest, his eye lids becoming heavy, and his body feeling as if deep sleep was approaching...

BANG.
Severus woke with a start to hear a scream. He sat up, his black eyes wide. A voice sounded... the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Filthy, disgusting muggles!" Came the muttered shriek. A few more inaudible mutters ensued, and then silence. Severus froze on the spot, his hands holding onto the side of the bed as if he thought it would buck him off at any moment.

Suddenly, there was a quick movement. The sound of feet hurriedly running across the bare boards of the hotel, the sound of someone trying to run while experiencing uncontrollable panic... The sound of a muggle hoping to spare his life.

Severus could hear whomever it was making their way towards the door – He guessed that they were probably half way there. He waited with bated breath. How had they gotten that far? Severus reckoned that one of the Death Eaters would have picked him off by now... but no. The muggle ran, until finally Severus heard another loud bang and a blood-curdling scream, followed then by a sickening crack and a dull, heavy thud. Whomever was downstairs had most likely died painfully, and Severus was next.

"It's like hunting, isn't it?" Bellatrix laughed. A few other voices joined her. They were all male, Severus wagered, and he sighed. He started to make his way off of the bed quietly, hoping that they would take time to gather a plan before searching the hotel.

Severus' foot touched the worn floorboards when the entrance door downstairs swung open on it's hinges. The Death Eaters stopped laughing. A cold, reverent silence swept over the entire building. Severus gasped softly.

"Where is he?" Came another voice. A hiss. A cold, dry, high-pitched hiss.

Was it the Dark Lord himself...? Severus blanched, his sallow skin draining completely of what colour it had.

Severus slinked slowly out of bed and kneeled on the floor, pressing his ear to the dirty, termite eaten floorboards.

"We do not know, my Lord. We have only finished exterminating the pests." Bellatrix said, and Severus could hear the satisfied smirk on her face.

"It is shameful that it took you that long to kill two muggles..." The Dark Lord hissed, "You and your hunting games. Wasting Lord Voldemort's precious time!"

A small sob sounded, "I am most regretful, My Lord." Bellatrix said. "Forgive me..."

"Do not waste more time, Bella." The Dark Lord hissed, and there was a moment where he heard indistinct muttering. As if the Dark Lord was gathering a plan. Severus took this opportunity to gather his clothes and start slipping them on quickly... The Dark Lord was here, and it was not a place to be, at all. Especially in his position.

The Dark Lord spoke again, and Severus felt a chill run down his spine. He was speaking parseltongue, most likely to his dearest pet, Nagini. She could slither around the hotel, undetected, and then alert the Dark Lord when she found something worth taking a look at.

Severus pulled on his boots haphazardly and walked softly to the window, pushing it up as slow as he could without losing the important need to make haste. It seemed that the tracks and hinges hadn't been oiled in years, and Severus, even as strong as he liked to think he was, couldn't get it more than halfway open.

"Fucking-bloody-shit-hell-damn." He whispered furiously, pulling out his wand. A small trickle of sweat ran down his nose, and his heart felt as if it was going to jump out of his throat any minute. He heard a hiss fairly close to his room, and for the life of him, he didn't know if this was Nagini or the Dark Lord. He didn't care to find out. He quickly muttered a charm that send the window upwards with a loud crash. Severus snatched up his bag.

"Upstairs!" Bellatrix shrieked, and heavy footsteps sounded.
Severus frowned, "Brilliant", he muttered before stepping out onto the roof. He gasped, feeling the cold, stinging rain on his face. He looked down, and lightning flashed nearby, reflecting in his eyes. He gasped, losing his footing, and fell. He hit the ground hard, mud splashing up into his nose as he landed face-down.

He stood, the hard rain washing most of the filthy mud from his skin. He picked up his bag that he dropped at his side after falling, stood, and immediately felt a stabbing pain in his ankle. He hobbled away as fast as he could, and at a whim, Apparated. Though he swore he heard an angry hiss and bellowed orders before he went...

Warmth. All he could feel was warmth as he opened his eyes to find that he was in the heart of a very lush forest. The sun glittered through the trees, and he stood there, sopping wet and covered in filth. He scowled as he realized where he was. It was then that his ankle decided to began to throb and ache. He took in a sharp breath as he took a step.

"Wounded..." He said bitterly, "Bleeding wounded."

He hadn't even really picked this place. Inadvertently, this is where he first thought of, but as he limped past a small, weed-infested stone walkway and onto a rickety porch, he couldn't help but inwardly kick himself. As he stared at the peeling gold letters next to the door that spelled out "Lupin", he thought, why did he think of here first? What was the point? Why show up at a member of the Order of the Phoenix's doorstep? ... Especially Remus Lupin's? Now that he was wounded, Lupin wouldn't have to do much to make his ability to move or escape impossible. But... if he didn't take the chance, he'd regret it later.

Severus stood on the porch, now staring at the door. He took in a deep breath, and pulled out his wand. A simple cleaning charm was all he needed to becoming respectable looking. But, before he could convince himself to knock on the door and not run and Apparate again to somewhere less... well... somewhere that definitely wasn't here, the door opened, and Remus Lupin stood there, his eyes wide and alight with extreme surprise.

Black eyes met blue and they stared at each other for a moment. Severus tore his eyes away as Remus opened his mouth to speak.

"Sever–"

"No, I did not do it for the Dark Lord. No, I am not a faithful Death Eater. And yes, I know the Order of the Phoenix didn't know of the plan. Besides, unbreakable vows are just that, unbreakable." Severus interjected quickly. He chanced another glance at Lupin. He had closed his mouth, then, to Severus' surprise, stood aside.

"I've been meaning to ask you." Lupin said quietly, nodding towards the interior of the house, "Come in."