"Is the young master feeling better? The small elf asked, looking between the two males with a knowing glance. Severus blushed and shook his head. "He's a sly one he is. Twinkle will keep both eyes on that one." The headmaster gave a bemused smile and chuckled before dismissing his old wise friend after apologies were delivered. That he is!

He bonelessly allowed his guardian to feed him and did not complain as he was settled in bed on his stomach. His tired eyes mere slits as he watched the older wizard wandlessly spell down the lights. The soft glow and crackling fire only added to his feeling of contentment. For the first time since his mother died he felt the love of a parent again…

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Severus swam towards consciousness not really clear what had awoken him. He froze for a moment not recognizing where he was. He turned from his stomach only to wince and roll on to his side as his bottom made contact with the mattress. Bloody hell! Twin pink splotches colored his cheeks as he recalled the night's events. He had been spanked like a naughty child by the very man snoring lightly not eight feet away! Anger surged through him as he chastised himself for crying and clinging to the man like he had over a few swats. He carried on like a damn Hufflepuff. He hadn't cried like that since fifth year when he called Lily that awful name. How would he ever look the headmaster in the eye again! Maybe he would start calling me Snivellus, too, he thought in horror. He could see the welcoming feast introductions going something like this: And this is my Potion Master Snivellus…I mean Severus Snape. Uggh! He buried his head under his pillow in shame.

A jolt of pain brought him out of his revelry. He grasped his left forearm and cradled it to his chest as he curled in to himself. The first pulse of the dark mark always startled him. A small whimper escaped his lips at the insistent throb of his mark. He struggled not to cry out as he felt around for his wand. It was not there, under his pillow, where he always left it !

"Severus? Are you all right, my boy," Albus inquired as he rose from his bed and tied his dressing robe. Something had interrupted his sleep. He gazed at the silent form huddled towards the wall. He creep closer not wishing to wake the boy, if he was sleeping. He was almost ready to return to bed when he thought he heard a very faint sniffle. Anyone else would have dismissed the noise as a clearing of ones' throat, but not knowing this child as he did. Severus liked to hide his pain he reminded himself. That prompted him to come closer.

Severus felt the mattress dip as the calming presence of his mentor sat beside him. What the hell was wrong with him?? He held his breathe hoping to fey sleep. He did not want the headmaster to see him this way. He had never witnessed him actually being summoned.

"Child, I know you are not sleeping, if you are in pain I could administer a potion…if you wish," Albus began carding his fingers through the boys hair. His hand stilled as the boy tensed and pulled away. Patience he reminded himself.

"My wand. You took it." the teen accused.

"I guess in all the excitement yesterday it was forgotten on the floor. Here it is," the elder wizard removed the ebony wand from the night stand, offering it to the lad.

The youth snatched the wand bringing it close, like a child would cuddle a teddy bear, and sighed in relief. The moment was short lived as his dark mark flared again.

"I must go." he said trying to push himself off the bed without looking at the headmaster.

Strong hands gripped his shoulders and attempted to push him back down. "And just where would you be going at nearly one in the morning, young man?"

The dark haired wizard took a deep breathe and fought to school his features. "I am being summoned." The pronouncement hung in the air like acid as neither wizard moved.

"No, you shall not go." Albus responded resolutely. The boy was in no shape to walk let alone be apparating to who knew where. There must be another way.

"What?! I must go, the Dark Lord will expect me or I'll be …" Severus could bring himself to say the word "punished" to the older man. He turned angry, tear soaked eyes on his mentor.

"I'm sorry, you are in no condition to go gallivanting around with Death Eaters tonight." his sorrowful blue eyes willing the boy to understand. He could not voluntarily send him back to that beast tonight.

"Perhaps this has escaped your notice, old man, but I am a Death Eater." he shoved his arm up. He'd reject me now that he saw what I really was, Severus thought.

Even in the dimly lit room, the angry red tattoo was clearly visible. The child must be greatly pained by this. Albus reached a finger forward as if to touch the mark, then stopped at the tingling of Dark Magic it gave off. "No, Severus, you were never truly one of them. You are not going."

The potion master groaned in frustration and pain. "I am of age, so I decide what I am going to do. I have apparated in worse shape, now move out of my way." He did his best to sit up without grimacing.

"I will not allow you to leave. What if you splice yourself? " he reasoned, while placing a hand on the boys' chest.

"You can't stop me. You never have before. Have I not been a good enough spy for you." he spat sarcastically, out daring the headmaster to stop him.

"Your information is invaluable, but not at the cost of your life. He will understand… you are injured...unconscious in the hospital wing-unable to answer his call. Surely your house would have notified their parents of your illness…many of them are suspected Death Eaters," he explained.

"And if he does not? I guarantee he will not swat me like a toddler and be done with it." the teen argued. "Do you know what he will do to-"

"Enough! Albus was losing his patience, he closed his eyes and ran a hand over his face. "I am well aware of what Voldemort is capable of." Seeing the child cringe at the use of that name he lowered his voice. "Trust me, my boy, we will make this half-truth believable even to him." his guardian pleaded.

"I ..I don't know…I Can't ," A sudden burst of pain erupted and this time a moan of agony was wrenched from his lips. His drew his legs up resting his head on his knees and rocked as if that would relieve the burning flesh . This was the worst it had ever felt. Even if he was, by some miracle able to apparatus, he would be dangerously late. He did not want to go, but to rely on anyone was…frightening.

"Fawkes! Twinkle!" the headmaster commanded as he drew the boy into a restrained embrace. As expected the child wriggled to be released. "Hush, now give me your arm."

Instead the by lashed out struggling to escape the forced hug. For an elderly man he sure had a strong grip. No matter which way Severus moved he was held fast. "LET ME GO!" "LET ME GOOOO! "please, PLEASE!" The desperation in that plea nearly broke the headmaster's resolve. Fortunately, the crying squirming body in his arms went limp.

An agitated phoenix landed on the bedpost beside an anxious house elf. "Sirs, you be calling Twinkle. He wrung his hands staring at the form cradled in the headmaster's arms. Is-Is the young master dying? I bes hearing him scream-not even the elves who have burn off their privates sound so awful Great Mas-"

"He is alive, he has just succumbed to the pain. I need you to fetch a potion for me from Madame Pomfrey's lock box. The key is there; Class 4 Pain Potion. " Twinkle grasped the key from the bedside. Twinkle bes hurrying." he was gone with a snap.

In an instant, the faithful elf returned," Twinkle is back Great Master. Shall Twinkle helps the young master." the elf hopped on the bed with the potion already uncorked in his hand.

"Yes, Twinkle, pour while I hold his head back." Albus rearranged the unconscious boy in his arms to allow the potion to be administered. He placed a hand on his forehead and dipped his chin up. As the potion slid down the boy's throat, he felt some of the rigidness leave his body. Even being unconscious did not cure the discomfort it seemed.

"That is all, Perhaps a late light breakfast later, Twinkle." The elf bounced with excitement and promised to return at precisely ten before apparating.

"Fawkes, my dear one, is there anything you can do for this? " The man rolled up the sleeve, revealing the scarred flesh caked with blood . Conjuring a cool damp cloth, he sponged the area clean. He looked to his familiar again, "Can you help our boy?" his eyes beseeching the flame colored bird to aid him.

The phoenix leaned forward, not even hesitating, and trilled a sad tune. Before long a single precious healing tear fell. Albus sighed in relief as the wound noticeably improved. But would it be enough? Tears of another kind threatened to spill as he starred, transfixed at the mark of his own failings. How had the child ever thought this would lead to success? This is your fault, his mind repeated.

"I am sorry, so very sorry, my child. If I could take this for you…" tears of remorse fell against the baby soft head against his cheek. This is just like…her.

TBC…

Author's note: Thanks so much for all the great reviews almost 50. WOW! I think that is very good for my first story. Thank supergirl3684 for this quick posting of the next chapter. Sorry for all the typos in the last installment, will fix them when I get a chance. I start a job at the end of this month and don't know when I will have time to work on this story. Doesn't real life suck? I have a lot more planned and some truly unexpected secrets will be revealed. Each chapter is at least 4 pages long! LOL! And I type about 10 words per minute but my muse is on overdrive.

Someone sent me a PM but I don't know how to retrieve messages on this site. Anyone know?