Severus could hear voices, but they sounded far away. He thought he heard his name but then again, he wasn't sure of anything anymore, other than the searing pain that accompanied every breath. He wondered if this is what dying felt like. He felt cold, and a curious floating sensation was beginning to creep into him as he lay there, fighting for every breath. Dimly, he felt his shield charm collapse behind him, and the air around him shifted as he sensed movement nearby.

"Gods, Severus –" Minerva gasped as she knelt beside him. His face was deathly pale, his chest heaving with the effort of trying to draw a full breath. He could only manage short, shallow gasps. She could see why – his coat and shirt were slashed apart and stained a deep crimson. Between the rendered skin she could see the white gleam of bone where claws had raked over his ribs. He was bleeding heavily – the ground around him was already saturated with it. Leaning over him, she could feel the desperate pounding of his heart vibrating against the ground.

He turned his head slightly and looked into her eyes. The deep obsidian of his eyes conveyed a faraway look that worried her intensely. Choking back tears she ran a shaking hand over the unscathed side of his face, shocked at the coolness of his skin. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, a small gasp of agony slipping from his lips as he did so. Feeling a presence beside her, Minerva turned to look up into the panicked face of the now visible Hermione, who let out a strangled cry as she took in her lover's injuries. Dropping to her knees beside him she began whispering into his ear rapidly, smoothing one trembling hand repeatedly over his uninjured cheek in an attempt to provide comfort. If he was aware of her presence, he gave no sign. She turned a tear stained face to her former head of house.

"Filius has sent a patronus to Albus – we need to get him to the castle," her voice shook with emotion and she renewed her vice-like grip on him. Professor Flitwick nodded mutely, looking distinctly nauseous, "Albus will bring Poppy," he mumbled.

A series of sharp pops suddenly broke the silence and the tall forms of Albus Dumbledore and the plumper shape of Poppy Pomfrey suddenly materialised beside them. The Mediwitch wasted no time in attending to her patient and immediately began casting all manner of diagnostic charms, filling the area around them with coloured sigils and traces. As she interpreted the different outputs, her expression become increasingly concerned and her brow furrowed in concentration, "Merlin above Albus, what were you thinking?" she muttered angrily as she bustled about.

The Headmaster's face was grey and drawn as he lowered himself to the ground beside the stricken man. He grasped a cool, limp hand and squeezed it gently,

"Severus, my boy – can you hear me?" he whispered.

Severus made a gurgling sound before coughing harshly, blood splattering from his mouth. He turned half-open eyes to him. His chest heaved with the effort. More blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth.

"Hush, its okay – don't try to speak," shocked, Albus turned to Minerva.

"Remus – did this?"

Minerva shot a look as if to kill him, "Clearly, your adamance that Severus had time to safely administer the wolfsbane potion was woefully short of the mark. The change was already upon Remus by the time Severus reached the shack. He barely had time to get out –"

"If he got out, how did Remus manage to attack him? He is the best dueller I know – and you three were here also," Albus countered.

Minerva swallowed hard. "He shielded us and drew Remus away. He got these injuries by protecting us. We owe him our lives." Minerva choked, "But the fact remains that you sent him here Albus – despite all our warnings, despite his absolute fear of werewolves – despite everything he has already risked for you, and for the Order – you still sent him here! How could you? Look at him Albus – LOOK!" her voice had risen steadily, and she was now shouting at the old wizard. He looked down at his stricken Potions Master. All colour had leeched from his face and his lips had taken on an ominous blue tinge. Bright crimson blood stained his clothing, the ground, Minerva's robes – it was everywhere. Severus's chest heaved as he struggled to breathe, his eyes were glassy and unfocused – the severe blood loss had made him incoherent, lost to the whispered pleas from Hermione to just hold on. He appeared to be biting his lip in an attempt to stifle his involuntary groans of agony but occasionally one slipped out – it was a deep, agonised sound that tore at his heart. He felt nausea rising in his throat and looked away from the young man's face. He looked to Poppy, who was flittering around the Potions Master, casting numerous spells and charms, each more desperate than the one before, furiously wiping away tears as she worked. Swallowing hard, he moved his gaze to his Charms Professor. Filius was positively grey – shock rooting him to where he stood. He hadn't moved since he had summoned his patronus to send for help. The man looked severely traumatised. He moved on to Hermione and what he beheld finally broke his reserve. She looked utterly distraught, tears tracking down her cheeks as she tried to soothe the trembling man on the hard ground. The man she loved, the man she wanted to a build a life with – the man who was currently bleeding to death in her arms. I did this.

Minerva's voice was pure venom, "Was it worth it?"

"I was wrong," he whispered, his own breath catching in his throat.

Incredulous, Minerva laughed "You were wrong, is that it?! You send Severus out here into mortal danger and that's all you can say? You disgust me Albus Dumbledore."

Hermione gently took her arm, "Professor, this must wait – Severus needs us," she said quietly, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Yes, yes – quite. Let's get him to the castle, quickly now."

As they prepared to transport Severus, Dumbledore sat down heavily on the floor and turned his attention to the restrained werewolf. Whilst their attention had been on the gravely injured man, the wolfsbane potion had taken effect and it was now a sombre Remus Lupin suspended in mid-air. He looked stricken, his attention on the flurry of activity around Severus. He could see blood, Gods, so much blood. He looked down at his hands. There was dark blood caked under his fingernails and across his hands. He swallowed the bile rising in his throat.

"Albus, did I – was this, did I do that to him?" he choked, his voice barely a whisper.

Albus looked away, unable to meet his eyes. Swallowing hard he said "You weren't aware Remus, we were too late getting your wolfsbane – Severus, I sent Severus here to try and administer it before –"

Remus cut him off, "You sent him here? You of all people know that if I am here, the change is almost upon me. How could you put him in such danger?"

"I – " Dumbledore stuttered under the other man's incredulous stare, then gave up trying to justify something he could not, and instead murmured a spell to release him from his bindings. Remus wasted no time running to where Severus lay, his face distraught. He held his hands to his head in despair as he drew near. The sharp metallic tang of blood assaulted him, so strong he could taste it.

"Severus – I, I – I am so, so sorry," he cried, despair hitching his voice. Severus did not appear to hear him, he looked to be unconscious. It was Hermione who answered, her voice husky with emotion, "All of us know this is not your fault, Sev included. He would not blame you for this, you must know that."

Remus fought back the tears, "Is he – will he, erm. Will he be okay?"

Hermione turned bleak eyes to him.

"He's dying. We cannot stop the bleeding here, and his lung is badly damaged, amongst other things. The quickest way to get to the infirmary is by apparition. Minerva has lowered the wards but we don't know if he will survive it. However, it is our only choice. He certainly would not survive the time it would take to carry him back."

Poppy placed a reassuring hand on Hermione's shoulder, tears glistening in her eyes,

"He is young, and strong – he has been through so much in his life already, he will be okay. But Hermione, he is knocking on death's door right now – we really must go now."

Hermione bit her lip and nodded. She rose shakily to her feet and placed herself on Severus's left side, Minerva stood to his right and Poppy at his head. Four-way apparition was dangerous, but they had no choice – they had to keep him as stable as possible. They each placed a hand on Severus's body and with a thunderous clap, they disapparated.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Remus stood motionless, eyes fixed on the horrifying pool of blood Severus had left behind. His memories surged back to him in a rush. Gods! I did this. I sliced into him as he protected our friends and I cleaved him almost in two. I tore into his flesh and spilt his blood. I did this to him. Me, and me alone. He looked at his trembling hands, still stained with drying blood. It was starting to cake and drop off in flakes. He could smell iron. I felt inside him and tore through his lungs, I let them fill with blood, drowning him. I felt his heart thundering as the shock hit him. I remember the feel of it, the sensation, the thrill. Oh, Sweet Merlin, I have killed him.

"Remus? "Filius approached him carefully.

Remus looked up briefly before promptly vomiting onto the cold, hard ground.