POSTSCRIPT

A Short Time After The Deed

"Professor."

"Quiet"

"Please sir"

"Don't say anything."

Severus and Draco sat in the abandoned house which had been made unplottable some time back by Albus and Severus.

Draco was terrified. He had failed and now he was on the run with Severus who obviously wasn't in any mood to be civil."

Severus was in great pain though he did not care to show it. The talons of the Hippogriff tore large rents across his back when they were escaping the grounds of Hogwarts. His neck and hands were feeling pretty bad also.

Draco persisted "Sorry for failing, my mission."

Severus looked up at him "You don't realize the half of it the master had expectd you to fail and is prepared to destroy you as a consequence to punish your father."

Draco paled even more than normal.He didn't realize he had been just another expendable pawn in one of Voldemorts plans.

Severus thought quietly to himself "Right, here I am because I promised Alblus to follow his plan.I know that Potter was there under his invisiblility cloak, at least Albus immobilized the brat for me."

Draco looked around the old house and spotted a Magimedi Kit. He went over to pick it up and brought it back to the table where Severus sat in silence.

"Professor maybe I should look to cleaning those wounds on your back." Draco said in a subdued tone

Severus studied the boys pale face and said a little more kindly "All right go ahead."

He slid his tattered cloak and coat off, The shirt was caked with blood.Severus pulled it off carefully as it hurt him to move . Draco gasped to himself as he saw the extent of the damage one Hippogriff could really do then proceeded to clean up the wounds.

Severus hoped that Albus had remembered his promise to leave a record of their plan with a member of the Order, meanwhile he had Draco and he knew the boys Dark Mark was burning from the summons just as his was.

He had to think of what was to be done now.

He didn't want to go to Voldemort yet or take Draco with him He had to get the boy to his mother as promised but not to Spinners End where that abomination Pettingill would more than likely be lounging around onthe sofa making an absolute pig of himself as he was wont to do. That rat would love to take the Boy and Severus himself if he could in front of Voldemort and watch them suffer from the vicious hexes and curses that Voldemort would lay on them once they returned. He would use excuses that he had to punish both of them.

Draco for failing him and Severus for not returning promptly with the boy.

He swore to himself at Lucius for encouraging the boy become a Deatheater and making it sound like it was the right thing to follow in his footsteps.

Draco himself was thinking as he worked."I really did it to myself this time, Iv'e mde a real mess of things and now here both the Professor and I are stuck

My arm is burning bad with Voldemort's summons and I am afraid.The Professors arm must be doing the same.

Draco was finished cleaning the wounds and was now bandaging them, trying to be gentle as he winced thinking of how much they must hurt but Severus gave no outward sign that he was bothered by them.

After Draco was done he put the kit away and they both sat there at the table with food and drink untouched in front of them.Each in their own thoughts.