Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof.

Chapter 16

When Order meetings were held in Dumbledore's office, Severus would listen to them from a neighboring room. Since it wasn't known to everyone that Albus had a spy in the Dark Lord's camp, he had to keep his presence unknown, mostly because both Albus and Severus had figured out that there was a traitor amongst the Order. However, neither of them could figure out who it was as only the Dark Lord knew who each of his follower's were.

In late August, there was another impromptu mass raid. The Potter's were included this time around, and just as Severus had predicted, he was sent along with three others to Moody's house.

Severus prided himself on being an excellent dueler (ironically enough, that was mostly due to Potter during school because of his incessant attacks) but he wasn't stupid enough to think that he could even begin to contend with Moody. Therefore, he was truly glad that Alastor knew which side he was really on, otherwise he would have been in Azkaban faster than he could have blinked.

During the battle, Moody killed one Death Eater, cursed another into unconsciousness and hexed both Severus and Wilkes. (He knew who was who under the masks due to his magical eye.) When Wilkes had his back turned to Severus, Severus sent a stunning spell toward his fellow Death Eater just as he had fired off the Killing Curse at Moody, which thankfully missed.

They had talked for a few minutes about the attack. Severus then obliviated Wilkes mind of what he had done. Alastor added his own mind 'enhancements' as well. Then for good measure, a few more hexes, curses, and jinxes were thrown at Severus as he apparated toward the Dark Lord.

Once he staggered to his feet, he bowed and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robe. It really wasn't unusual for the group that was sent to Moody's residence to not come back, or to only have one person return. Thus, he knew that it would not surprise the Dark Lord that only he returned.

Looking around the room, he saw that he was indeed the last to arrive. He inwardly groaned. That was not a good thing.

"What happened?" Voldemort hissed.

Severus was weakened from all of the spells that were on him but gave the true account of what happened, at least until it came to Wilkes. Then he gave the version that he knew would appear in Alastor's reports. The Dark Lord had always managed to get a copy of the Auror's reports through his ministry contacts.

Just as he started to go heal the injured around the room, he felt one of the Dark Lord's own torture curses hit him. It was not as powerful as the Cruciatus Curse, but just as effective.

After he released Severus from it, he was allowed to heal most everyone but himself. He listened to everyone's conversations as he passed out potions and murmured incantations over certain wounds.

It turned out that Voldemort, himself, did not go hunting. Bella, Lucius, and four others went to the Potter's. They were told that if the chance arose, they were to kidnap the child, otherwise just play with them a bit. Yet again, their two cohorts were there (Pettigrew was visiting his mother in St. Mungo's when the attack happened), but they also found a surprise in the fact that Dumbledore was there as well, which would explain why only Bellatrix and Lucius managed to escape. (It turned out that when Severus was summoned, Dumbledore had decided that he would pay them a visit, just in case.)

The Dark Lord would not let Severus heal any of the raid leaders that had failed, however, none of them were hurt as badly as he was. Before anyone was dismissed, the raid leaders were placed under the Cruciatus Curse multiple times to make a point about failure to everyone else.

"Leave my sight!" Voldemort hissed after he was finished.

Everyone then dis-apparated to their own destinations.

Staggering his way across the castle grounds, Severus found himself grateful that it was still summer and no students were around. Albus and Minerva had seen Severus coming and ran to the entrance hall to meet him there.

As soon as he saw them running toward him, he quit fighting consciousness. He awoke two days later in the hospital wing and groaned. Poppy Pomfrey could be fussy at times which greatly annoyed him. Albus was sitting at his bedside when he sat up. Moody had already told Albus that he had been part of the group that visited him and that he had helped with Wilkes.

Severus explained what had happened and what he had overhead while healing everyone. Albus then updated him on everything that had happened while he was out cold. He also told him that Lily asked if he was alright, as she did every time she had found out about a raid.

Severus groaned. "Please tell me that you did not tell her that I was lying unconscious in the hospital wing?"

Albus nodded. "She wanted to come and see you but I wouldn't allow it. I knew you would be angry with me if I let her see you like this. I will, however, tell her that you are fine now and were asking about her."

Severus nodded. "Thank you, Albus."

Albus then told him the best piece of news he had heard in a while.

James Potter had finally agreed to go under the Fidelius Charm sometime during the month of September.

A/N: 7/29/11 - Edited words and such ...