Severus watched as Lucius and the others returned, looks of satisfaction on their faces, blood on their hands.

"Cleanse your hands before you kneel before me!" Voldemort screamed.

Instantly there were cleaning charms being muttered all around.

"Now my loyal servants I have ..." but Voldemort did not finish his statement, for running towards him was a portly woman.

The woman was dressed in what appeared to be the garb of a warrior, but all too soon she was stunned and brought before Voldemort in the streets.

"What have we here, someone thinking they can stop me? A savior perhaps?"

The snorts and jeers were heard throughout the ranks of the Death Eaters and Lucius stepped forward.

"My Lord let me kill this muggle for you, let me have that pleasure."

Voldemort smiled at Lucius and laid his bony hand upon his shoulder.

"Lucius, my ever loyal servant. You were always ready to do my bidding, but I have another in mind for this task. Severus step forward," Voldemort said.

Severus felt his stomach twist into a knot, but he masked it behind a face of cold indifference. Bowing before the Dark Lord he stood, facing him.

"Often you have missed out on the fun of the hunt Severus, but I shall not deprive you of killing this muggle for she is one who deserves to die."

Severus watched as the woman was woken from the stunner and then he watched her futile attempts to break free.

"Kneel before the Dark Lord!" he roared and instantly the woman lunged for him. Severus sent a curse flying towards the girl, knocking her back a few feet and then she was dragged back by her arms to face him again. Severus leaned over and picked up the supposed weapon. When he saw it was nothing more than a plastic sword he sneered.

"Were you going to kill me with your sword?"

The woman struggled to break free, but failed. "I may not be some witch or whatever you are but I read the comics, the villains in comics scare me more than you."

Severus leaned towards the Dark Lord and whispered in his ear. "My Lord, this one is suffering from delusions, a slow witted muggle that is hardly worth your time."

"Any muggle death is worth watching Severus but perhaps you are right. My followers what shall become of this muggle who chooses to taint the world?"

"Let us curse her to starve to death!" Crabbe yelled out.

"That is inane! It will take weeks for someone her size to die from starvation," Severus explained.

Many more ideas were shouted while the woman cowered before them, but it was the sickening smile that came across Voldemort's face that made Severus cringe inwardly.

"Silence!" he yelled. "Severus, my little potion master. We shall try out your new creation on this muggle, a testament of your loyalty to me. I wish her to suffer Severus or I shall not be pleased and you shall be the bearer of my anger."

Severus gulped back the bile in his throat and grabbed the fat meaty neck of the woman. She would not open her mouth willingly so Severus punched her in the face. That was all it took for her mouth to open and then the potion was poured down her throat.

Severus knew he would have to put on a show, a show of defiling this woman before he would be allowed to kill her. For just a second Severus prayed for forgiveness for himself and then he sent the hex towards her.

The screams brought rounds of applause as the woman's legs were broken. Severus wished to kill her, but again an again he sent the curses and hexes flying towards her. The woman's screams filled the air, begging, pleading for help that was not coming.

Willow! why are you doing this?" she screamed, until Severus threw the curse at her. The woman retched until blood poured from her nose and mouth, all the while begging Krystal to save her, but Krystal was not coming.

"Listen to her Severus, listen to the muggle scream for help," Voldemort jeered. "She begs for forgiveness for her past sins, and tonight she will have it in the form of death."

Severus could not take her screams anymore and with one last hex he sent the muggle woman to her death.

All was silent now in the streets of Enfield and that is when Voldemort turned back to Severus.

"I am pleased with you tonight Severus, but you ended our fun prematurely for that you must be punished, Crucio!"

Voldemort would be hexing Severus for many more minutes, but the woman he ordered to be left in the sewers, where filth like her belonged.

Severus felt the pain right away and fell to his knees in front of the Dark Lord, but back at home it was Harry who felt the pain the worst.

Harry was just about to drift off to sleep when the pain of the curse hit him. Instantly his eyes widened and he bit down on his lip to keep from screaming out in front of Remus.

Remus' senses picked up the scent of blood and looked down at Harry. He didn't see any blood but he sensed it. "Harry?" he questioned.

Harry lifted up just a bit and Remus saw the bloody lip. "When did you do this?"

Harry fought back the pain and replied, "I was thinking and bit down on my lip too hard."

Remus thought Harry far too sleepy and stood up. "I think you are tired. Why don't you go to bed. I will wake you the moment your father gets home."

Harry stood and walked slowly to his room but before he could climb into the bed he fell beside it and lost the contents of his stomach. Harry tried one last time to stand but he collapsed on the floor again, this time falling into a fevered unconsciousness.

Remus paced the floor for a while and then sat back down when Lucy brought him a cup of coffee. He sipped at it, but his growing worry for Severus had him going to check on Harry. He noticed earlier that Harry was distant.

As soon as Remus opened the door he knew something was wrong. Looking to the bed he didn't see Harry, and it was when he walked towards it that he spotted the boy on the floor.

"Harry!" Remus yelled to him, thinking the boy had fallen and hurt himself.

Harry picked up his head, "Remus, I don't feel good," he whimpered.

Remus could feel the heat radiating off Harry, but when he went to lift him off the floor Harry yelled out in pain. Remus almost dropped Harry, but he carefully and quickly placed Harry on the bed and went to get a cool cloth for his head. Coming back into the room Remus flicked his wand to clean the mess from the floor and pulled up a chair to sit with Harry. The child was now shivering; Remus thought from the fever but it was the after effects of the Cruciatus.

Severus laid beneath Voldemort's feet waiting for the end of the curse and soon Voldemort released it from him.

"Severus, think about this the next time you wish to defy me and end my entertainment."

"Yes My Lord," Severus said, still kneeling.

The sound of several people apparating in caused the end of the conversation as the Aurors had arrived. Severus went to stand, knowing he would be in pain, but as he stood up straight he realized that in fact he felt all right. Thinking he was lucky Severus apparated away as he saw Alabastor Moody headed his way.

"Remus," Severus called, as he came through the door. He didn't see the werewolf anywhere and swore outloud.

Severus' heart started beating faster hoping nothing had happened and called for Lucy. The house elf popped into the kitchen, wringing her bandaged hands. Severus would have asked her why she had punished herself but his mind was on other matters.

"Where is Remus?"

"Master Remus is with Master Harry sir."

Lucy seemed to have more to say but she didn't and Severus was in no mood to question her. Severus felt an old grudge surfacing, one that told him he should not have left Harry with Remus, but when he opened Harry's door and saw Remus asleep, his hand on Harry's head he soon realized his error.

Severus walked quietly over and shook Remus, bringing the man from his sleep instantly. He motioned for Remus to follow him out into the sitting room.

"Severus, did things go well tonight?" Remus inquired.

Severus launched into the story about how they massacred the muggles of Enfield, but of how he thought that he was back in the Dark Lord's good graces.

"Does Sir need Lucy to get him the potion?"

Severus noticed the house elf who had popped in while they had been speaking. "No Lucy, I am actually feeling much better now. The Dark Lord must be weakening for I never recover this quickly after a few of his curses."

Remus shook his head, placing it in his hands. "Severus in all the excitement I forgot to tell you, Harry was feeling unwell earlier. I put him in bed and he fell asleep right away, but he did look rather pale."

At the news that Harry was ill Severus rushed into the room. Harry was still fast asleep, but it seemed to be a troubled sleep. The sheets were drenched in sweat and tangled underneath him. Harry's left arm held his stuffed dragon, but his face was what brought Severus to his side. The normal rosy cheeks were now ashen, and Severus could see the dried tear tracks on his face.

"He was fine earlier," Severus said aloud to himself.

Severus gently pushed back the covers and gathered Harry in his arms. Harry whimpered, but then fell silent again. Severus noticed his breathing seemed troubled, and felt his head.

"Do you need me to stay Severus?" Remus asked.

"We will be fine Remus, thank you but you may go home," Severus said, taking his wand out and placing a freshening charm on Harry's clothes. When Remus did not make a move towards the floo Severus turned around.

"You may transfigure the couch into a bed and stay if you prefer."

Remus gladly accepted his offer, feeling much better knowing he could be there to help with Harry, for he was the closest thing Remus had to a family.

Severus continued down the hall till he got to his room, and pushed open the door with his foot. He had Lucy turn down the covers and then laid Harry down on the bed. Harry once laid down moaned and then curled into a ball, grabbing at the sheets with his hand. Severus finished getting dressed in his night clothes and laid down beside Harry, gathering him in his arms he rocked the child. Harry for his part knew his father was home, knew he was safe, but the effects of the curses filled every fiber of his being with pain.

Harry finally drifted off into a troubled sleep, one filled with men in masks laughing over the people they had killed.