Disclaimer: Not mine.

The Connection

Severus slammed hard into the stone wall nearly losing the grip on his wand. Fenrir was fast. Faster than he had ever expected. None of the curses he had attempted on the werewolf had hit the mark. Within seconds Fenrir was on top of him his sharp canines mere inches from Severus' face.

Severus' wand arm was bent at an odd angle, with the wand pointed away from the large beast above him. He could almost see a spark of intelligence in the creature's eyes. And if he didn't know better he would swear the beast was smiling. He realized then that even as a werewolf the creature knew exactly what it was doing and it enjoyed it. That went against everything that wizards had always believed about the creatures. But unless he was imagining things it was true.

If it wasn't his imagination a certain ploy might just work to save his life. "So Fenrir, how does it feel to be one of Malfoy's lackeys again?"

The beast above him, that was just about to sink its teeth into his throat, paused at his words. A low growl was heard issuing from its throat.

Severus saw the reaction and decided to use it to his advantage. "I really imagined that you would feel a sense of independence while Lucius was in Azkaban. Sorry to see that that had to end so soon. I'm sure you enjoyed not having to do his dirty work for him."

For what seemed like minutes but was actually only a few heartbeats there was complete silence in the hallway. Then the silence was broken by an eerie sound. It sounded like a cross between a growl and a laugh. Severus stared into the eyes of the beast and knew his ploy hadn't worked.

The pain was blinding. He had only once imagined what it would feel like to be bitten by such a creature, and his imagination had been lacking in what the reality of being mauled by a werewolf really was.

There was no way he could push the creature off of him, and living the life that he knew he would now be subjected to was not something he could accept easily. He maneuvered his wand hand so it was directed as close to the hall ceiling as he possibly could. "Bombarda." He whispered and within seconds an explosion sounded throughout the hall.

Fenrir turned too late as large stones from the ceiling began to rain down atop him.

Severus watched through pain filled eyes, as it seemed the entire structure would land on top of them. But it was not to be. Several large stones were dislodged landing atop the werewolf. Severus felt the full weight of the foul creature land on him, and knew the beast was unconscious. But the structure itself had held.

Severus lay there cursing himself realizing his pain had weakened the spell that he had meant to destroy them both at that moment. His shoulder was in complete agony where Fenrir's teeth had sunken into it, and Severus considered just staying where he was until the beast became conscious again hoping it would kill him when it awoke.

But then a sensation of pure agony and pain shot through his mind. He felt something familiar about the pain, but could not place it. The pain was not originating from him though. He was sure of it. Then a thought passed over his mind. Had the vow really linked them this closely? "Draco." He whispered knowing he had no choice but to pull himself up and find the young man.

"Damn you, Malfoy. Stop the cackling and tell me what I need to know." Harry bellowed in pure rage as Lucius Malfoy stared up at him with a look mixed with pain and mirth.

"What does it …matter to you, Potter?" Lucius said in a gasping breath. "You have hated… my son for … years now."

Harry could not help the blinding anger that was pouring through him. This man had put him through so much pain, and now he was even unwilling to save his own son. His hand shot out slapping the man hard, wanting desperately to knock some sense into him. "No matter what, he does not deserve death, you monster." Harry had lost so many of those he loved in his life making every life he cared about so precious to him. He would fight for any of them to the death. And even though he had never given a damn for Draco, the thought of a father willingly watching his son die went against ever fiber of his being. It was the most obscene, disgusting thing he could ever imagine.

Val watched in horror as Harry lost control of his senses and she knew in that instant that Lucius would watch his son die before he ever gave into Harry's demands. She looked down to the young man who had grown up as her brother and the only person in the world she had ever counted on. The only person besides Harry who had showed her the slightest bit of love since her mother's death. He was staring up at her, but she could see the immense amount of pain in his eyes clouding his vision. She knew he would never survive this and she had no clue how to take the pain away.

"Val." He whispered finally realizing she was there.

"Yes, Draco." She whispered holding back the sob she felt bubbling to the surface in her throat.

"It hurts so bad, Sis." He said reaching a hand up toward her face.

Val grabbed his hand pulling it against her cheek. "I know, Brother. I know." She answered him. "I wish I could take the pain away."

He knew he was dying. He felt the icy hands of death grabbing at him greedily. "I'm cold, Val."

Ignoring the blood that was beginning to cover most of his body Val reached out pulling him into a sitting position as she wrapped her arms around him. "It will be over soon." She whispered holding him as tight as she could, realizing that emotional comfort was all she had left to give him. "You'll never feel pain again, Draco. You'll be with Momma. She'll take care of you until I can be with you again."

And the words did offer some comfort as Draco remembered the smiling face of the woman he wished had been his mother. Yes, Helena would be there waiting for him. He knew she would. And it didn't matter that she was not his true mother, she would love him just the same. Just as she always had.

When Severus opened the door to the torture chamber he had not expected to see so much human destruction. The amount of blood covering everything from the floor to the ceiling and all those inside was staggering. His eyes immediately searched for the one person he knew needed him the most.

There before his eyes was Val holding Draco rocking back and forth like a mother attempting to comfort a hurt child. Draco, who he could see was covered in blood,had lost almost all color to his own pale skin. Within seconds he was beside them trying to pull him from Val's arms. "Let go girl. Do you want him to die?"

Val in her confused misery had not realized whom it was that was trying to pull Draco from her arms. But his voice brought her back to reality and she stared dumbfounded at Professor Snape who was waving his wand above Draco whispering an incantation she had never heard before. Then her eyes were drawn to Draco as she watched the deep wounds in his body closing.

Harry had turned in surprise as the door slammed open. Tears actually sprung to his eyes seeing the one person who he knew could save Draco. He looked down to Lucius and a wicked smile spread across his face. "Looks like we won't be needing your help after all. I hope you enjoy death."

Harry made his way to where Snape was kneeling beside Draco and watched as the Wizard worked furiously to save him. After a few moments Snape stopped muttering the spell and bowed his head in exhaustion. It had taken a great amount of energy to undo the damage that had been inflicted on the young man. But it was done.

Harry and Val watched expectantly as Draco's eyes opened very slowly. He looked around at the concerned faces above him, finally resting on that of the man who had saved him. "It's about time." He said weakly.

Severus looked down at the arrogant smirk he was used to seeing on the young man's face. "If you had used the voice amplifying spell, as I instructed you to, then maybe I might have arrived sooner, Mr. Malfoy." He said in that all too familiar hiss of his.

"You can give him detention later, Professor. We need to get out of here." Harry said looking around suddenly feeling the urge to run as fast as possible. He suddenly felt a cold chill run down his spine. He looked down to see Snape clutch at the tattoo of the dark mark that was under his sleeve.

"Yes, I think we will have company very soon." Severus nodded standing pulling Draco up and draping his arm over his own shoulder, knowing he would not have the strength to walk up the stairs unaided. "Can you two walk?"

Val stood on shaky legs and reached down helping Harry to stand. She knew he must be ready to drop after all of the blood that Lucius had drained from his body.

Hermione, Ron and Professor Dumbledore stood in his office waiting for any sign of movement from the floo. Ron and Hermione had explained everything to Dumbledore and now there was nothing they could do but wait. The floo network had managed to determine where Draco and Snape had gone and Albus had sent Tonks and any other Aurors that could be contacted to raid the Secret House of Serpents. He only hoped they would not be too late. If Voldemort and his Death Eaters had already arrived, there was little chance that anyone would survive.

"Why is it taking so long?" Ron said leaning against the fireplace mantel looking into the fire. He was wearing a shirt that Dumbledore had conjured for him out of thin air, and he was beginning to regret his show of kindness to Draco by giving him his own shirt. "I swear if that git has duped us into thinking he is helping them, I will personally rip his heart out."

Hermione was sitting on a chair with her head in her hands constantly running her fingers through her hair. "He won't do that." Hermione said, but she was more trying to convince herself than Ron.

"You two must remain calm. I trust in Professor Snape to bring them back." Dumbledore said from his seat behind his desk.

"Yeah well, you've been wrong about him before, now haven't you?" Ron said bitterly.

"In the end, no I wasn't." Albus said chastising the young man. "There are many sides to every man, Mr. Weasley. It's about time you realized that. There is more to this world than right and wrong, black and white. You will find you understand more of life once you accept that fact."

Ron looked up to Dumbledore about to say something when a bright green light flashed in the fire grate and then with a puff of smoke two figures flew out of the fireplace landing on the floor before them.

"Harry. Val." Hermione screamed covering her mouth with her hand as she saw the blood covering both of them and the immense scar across Harry's chest and stomach.

For once Ron Weasley could find nothing to say. He didn't know any curses strong enough to describe his feelings at seeing them in such a state.

Val sat up and looked to Harry beside her. He was moving slow but still moving. Then she looked around the room at the others and broke out in hysterical laughter. Everyone but Harry looked shocked at her outburst. He just smiled at her, and then reached out wrapping her in a fierce hug.

"We're alive." She said hugging him back tightly. But then she pulled out of his embrace and stood facing the fireplace with an expectant look on her face.

Harry also looked to the fireplace ignoring his friends. It wasn't worth it unless they all made it back alive.

"What?" Ron finally regained his voice as he realized they were waiting for something. But then he received his answer as the grate blazed with green light again and two more figures were hurled into the room.

Professor Snape who looked like he had went through a wheat mill was standing before them supporting the bloody form of Draco Malfoy who was barely able to walk at that point. Val rushed forward placing her arm around the other side of Draco helping Snape hold him upright.

"Well before we have explanations, I suggest we get them to the Hospital Wing." Albus suggested. He motioned to Harry. "Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. Do you mind?"

Hermione and Ron each took one side of Harry helping him up and they all traveled the corridors towards the Hospital Wing.