Harry's interruption of his father's first years Potions class wasn't received very well. With a firm grip on the collar of his robes, Snape hustled his son out into the corridor. When he let him go, his arms were crossed over his chest and mirrored his stony glare.

"Harry James Potter-Snape, you're supposed to be in class! What are you doing here interrupting me as I am trying to make an impression upon those thick-headed first years skulls?"

"I'm sorry, Da... uhm, Professor, but I found out a way to protect my mind from Voldemort!"

Before Snape could chastise his son for the use of You-Know-Who's name, Harry's scar exploded with pain and he crumpled to his knees upon the floor.

His surroundings blanked out as he was drawn into the dreary house and towards the room where the hideously distorted Dark Lord sat. Lucius Malfoy stood disconcertingly next to Harry, but the blonde-haired wizard didn't see him. Lucius was looking towards the malformed thing seated in the red velvet chair before the fireplace.

"Luciussss..."

Lucius Malfoy stepped past Harry and into the room. He knelt down. "We are prepared, my Lord," said the elder Malfoy, his head bowed respectfully. "We shall have him this weekend."

"Remember, you are not to kill him. I want that pleasssure for myssself." A stubby, somewhat dessicated hand stretched out and stroked Malfoy's cheek. Dark, red blood was left behind on the pale skin.

A hand touched Harry's shoulder in the vision and he turned to see Snape standing beside him. Just as Harry was about to speak, that grotesque laugh burst forth like an infection from the creature in the chair.

"Father and ssson!" crowed the whispery voice of Voldemort.

The bulbous mass that was attached to the malformed body by a mere boney resemblance of a neck, turned slightly. Two bloody slits focussed on Harry and Snape. Snape hurriedly pushed Harry behind him. He would have had his wand out, but it wasn't here in this vision.

"You can't have him!" growled Snape.

"Master?" asked Lucius in puzzlement. He was looking toward the doorway, but didn't see what his Dark Lord was seeing.

Harry was weakening considerably and he grabbed onto his father's outer robe as he tried to stop from sliding to his knees. Snape turned slightly and caught Harry by slipping his arm beneath Harry's and pulling him close to his side.

"Luciusss," rasped a sharp warning tone in the Dark Lord's voice. "You mussst not fail me. Your death in place of hisss if you do."

Lucius lowered his head and a faint shudder went through the Death Eater's body as the sanguinated hand rested on his blonde hair, staining it. Lucius then quickly rose to his feet and strode through the door and through Snape.

The vision broke apart like shattered glass. Harry, now on his hands and knees, vomited violently. Snape, who had entered his son's mind by Legilimens felt just as ill and as violated. He swallowed the bile burning in his throat and drew the boy, trembling, closer to himself while he Scourgified the mess.

"Harry, I have you. It's all right now." One cool palm rested against Harry's brow.

"Da-da-dad..." he couldn't stop his teeth from clattering together. "Y-y-your c-c-class..."

"Dad!" Draco came running down the dungeon and skidded to a stop before he collided and fell over the two figures in front of the classroom door. "Harry?" He dropped down to his knees by his brother and touched a hand to Harry's clammy and shaking fingers.

"He had a vision," Snape said as he swallowed again. "Draco, I need you to dismiss my class as quickly as you can. Use the alternate egress. Then, bring Calming Potion and Anti-Nausea Potion."

Draco didn't hesitate. He jumped to his feet and pushed his way into the classroom through the door.

"Family emergency, kids!" shouted Draco with no hint of panic in his voice. "You have twenty minutes before your next class, so you're going to wait up in the Great Hall." He hustled the muttering children towards the back of the class where he revealed a door his height. The alternate egress led the class of slightly confused first years to the corridor outside the Great Hall. They milled around for a little bit, but then went into the Great Hall as Malfoy had ordered them to wait until the bell sounded for the next class.

Once Snape's classroom was emptied, Draco grabbed the needed potions and went back out into the corridor. He handed them to his father and helped Harry to drink down his potions.

"Dad, you take care of Harry. Someone's going to wonder what all those firsties are doing in the Great Hall. Do you want me to tell the Headmaster?"

Snape shook his head. "No, once you get up there, contact your mother. Let her know what happened. Until I've taken care of Harry, no one is to say anything about him having had another vision."

"All right." Draco squeezed Harry's arm and gave the boy a smirk. "Great way to dodge classes, Hair." Harry could only manage a weak upturn of his mouth before his brother jumped to his feet, went back into the classroom, and took the shortcut to the Great Hall.

"H-how did he... know?" Harry rasped.

Snape frowned for a second, then realised Harry was referring to Draco's timely appearance. "The portkey amulets that I gave all of you at Christmas. The amulets are portkeys, but the chains allow me to keep track of and contact you, Draco, Hermione, or Ron in an emergency."

Harry tried to stand, but wasn't very successful. Snape rose to his feet and supporting Harry, took him into the classroom and helped to settle him into a chair. The boy was still shaking, but it was lessening as the minutes passed and the Calming Potion took effect.

"D-d-d-dad... he's c-c-coming for m-m-me..."

Snape now could see a trail of blood leading from Harry's scar, down the side of his face and neck. Conjuring a cloth and warm water, he began to carefully clean the blood.

"I h-h-hate this!" spat Harry. "His hatred is so... so... it's like experiencing all your worst nightmares at once." Once the blood was gone, Snape drew up a chair beside Harry. The boy leaned against his father and Snape draped an arm over his shoulders. "You saw?" Snape nodded. "Lucius has something planned... this weekend." He felt Snape's body stiffen slightly and he looked up into his father's implacable gaze. "Oh no... you're not going to let me go to staff/student Quidditch match, are you?"

"Of course I'm not, Harry..."

"Bloody!"

"Harry!" snapped his father sharply. "I will not tolerate such crudity even when you're distraught! Your life matters more to me than some frivolous game."

Harry pulled away from Snape. "I'm sorry, but it's not about that, really. I'm just getting tired of having him... there... all the time!" Harry rose to his feet and began pacing. "Everytime I think I might be able to do something normal like enjoy my weekend with my girlfriend, I can't because he's out there plotting my death! It just isn't fair! Why me? Why did that stupid bloody prophecy have to choose me?"

Snape stretched out a hand, caught Harry by the wrist, and drew him back over to the chair. "Come here. Sit down, Harry." Harry did so and slumped into the chair. "First of all, we've talked about these prophecies. The Dark Lord certainly believes in them, and so it seems does the Headmaster. However, you are not obligated to let them rule your life. You will be dragged into a fight someday with the Dark Lord because he sees you as a threat. Despite that, there is no way I will allow you to fight him alone. It's what we've been training for. We're also not going to sit on our hands waiting for him to come after us. When the time is right, we shall go after him."

"That doesn't sound like what Dumbledore has planned," Harry said quietly.

"Albus believes that you won't be ready to meet the Dark Lord until your seventh year, Harry. Although I've kept him up to date on your training, he has no idea what you and your friends are capable of. The Headmaster seems to be of the old school that looked down upon Ley Line magic as being a discipline only for witches, and a weak one, at that."

Harry frowned suddenly. "Yeahhh, I just realised... Professor Dumbledore hasn't come to any of the duels, has he?"

Snape shook his head. "No, he hasn't. He approves of the wandless magic, and our strategy, but he is demanding more concentration on the 'accepted' ways of fighting."

Harry shook his head. "Dad... this Quidditch match..." Snape started to glower, but Harry waved his hands in a mild form of surrender, "...no, wait. I'm not trying to change your mind, I've got a question about it." Snape then nodded at his son. "It's at the Quidditch pitch, isn't it? I mean, it should be safe there, shouldn't it?"

"I have had my reservations about it, which I've brought up with the Headmaster. It is, indeed, on the pitch and well within the wards protecting the school and grounds, but Albus has allowed the invitation of parents and intends to hold a fair, as well." Snape conjured a clean handkerchief and placed it gently against Harry's scar which had trickled a little more blood. "If it were just our students and staff, I wouldn't object as much, but this is going to be a much larger crowd of people and students and it can only mean trouble. Not just for you, but Draco as well."

"You think Lucius could sneak in?" Harry asked checking the handerkerchief a few times before he was certain he'd stopped bleeding.

"I have no doubt of it, Harry. So, for your safety, I want you and your brother to stay in our quarters. I'll tune one of the enchanted windows to the pitch so you can watch the game, if you'd like." Harry sighed and Snape frowned. "Oh really, son, you're not going to complain further, are you?"

"Oh no, Dad. I was just thinking it's too bad you're not playing. I'd really like to see you play."

Snape smiled slightly, pleased by the wish. He patted Harry's arm. "When I can suitably relax, then I'll join the game." He smirked suddenly. "I've always thought I'm the better Seeker in this family."

"Hmph! That sounds like a challenge!" Harry beamed.

"It could be. Now, can you tell me what brought you down to the dungeons when you should be in class?"

Harry frowned for a second. He had forgotten and he scoured his recent memories. Then he made a yelping noise. "Oh! Luna found this text about Nagas that said they're natural Occlumens and that if Kalima binds her mind to mine, she could keep You-Know-Who from getting into my head!"

Snape tapped his finger against the side of his nose. "Hm. Well, let's talk to Kalima after dinner this evening and see what she has to say on the subject. For now, I want you to go to our quarters and lie down." Snape went over to his stores cabinet and emerged a few minutes later with a potion Harry recognised; Dreamless Sleep Potion. "It's a small dose. I don't want you sleeping through dinner."

Harry took the potion and tucked it in his pocket. "Thanks, Dad." Harry started for the door, but then stopped and turned slightly. "You've been tracking us?"

Snape looked down his nose at his son, "So Luna is your girlfriend?"

Harry blushed. "Uhm... yeah. I guess we'll talk about this later." He sprinted for the door and vanished from the classroom.

Dinner happened to be one of those times the Headmaster had ordered all of his staff to be present. For the first time Snape saw that the interraction that had been occuring with his sons and their friends, had spread to others outside of their circle. There was a small group of Slytherins, all who had at least one parent within the Dark Lord's Inner Circle, that huddled together. Snape made a mental note of those nine students. He was surprised to see that Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, Draco's bookends for his first three years at Hogwarts, weren't with the nine students seated at the furthest end of the Slytherin table. Crabbe was currently seated with a group of students that consisted of three Hufflepuffs and a Ravenclaw. The Ravenclaw girl was taking rather an avid interest in the boy's diet.

Now that he thought of it, Crabbe's grades had been improving, especially in Potions. Maybe it was the influence of that pretty, black-haired Ravenclaw.

Goyle, on the other hand, was still struggling in most of his classes, as he always had but it appeared that the shyness the boy had held up like a shield while tagging behind Draco, had gone. The boy was starting to lose some weight and to develop some muscle. He was actually looking better, much healthier than his father who had a bad addiction for sweets and fattening foods. One of these days the man would suffer a massive coronary under the Cruciatus Curse.

Gregory Goyle was seated with two other Slytherins, a Gryffindor, and a Ravenclaw. They were all involved in an animated discussion regarding various Quidditch teams.

By far, the largest group consisted of the Weasley twins, their sister, Ron, Neville, Pansy Parkinson- whatever did she see in Longbottom? his mind gaped- Luna, Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Millicent Bulstrode. On the periphery of this inner group were a few Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs.

Snape's observations were interrupted as he heard Moody's gruff voice addressing his wife.

"Seems a shame tha man' kept ye in hidin' all this time, Madame Snape." Moody's swiveling eye settled for a moment on Snape before continuing its erratic spin.

Lyrica glanced demurely at the old ex-Auror. She had complained a few nights ago to Snape about the man's rather haphazard, and what she considered dangerous, teaching practices. Since they'd come back from 1899, the man had sent no less than at least half of all his students to the infirmary with various injuries and need for spell reversals. The man's recent demonstration of the Unforgivables had both excited and horrified the students. Lyrica had been absolutely infuriated when she stumbled across Neville, after curfew, frozen and staring out a window. He'd been traumatised by the demonstration of the Unforgivables; two of which had been used on his parents.

Both parents were also disgusted when Harry began to suffer a few nights from dreams where he dreamt of Lily, bathed in the acid green death of the Killing Curse. Snape had been incensed when he found out that Dumbledore had actually approved of the demonstration.

Lyrica did not care for the man, but her graciousness did not permit her to show her dislike, or her evident displeasure at the rude question. "As always, my husband does what he must to protect those he cares for, Professor. It was safer to keep me as he did."

Moody snorted; a sound that put not only Lyrica off her meal at the moment, but caused Minerva, who sat on the other side of Moody, to glare at him disdainfully. "Who would have thought a Death Eater ever had a heart!"

The force of the slap rang out throughout the Great Hall stopping all conversations and sending all eyes to the staff table. Alastor Moody, the recipient, had been so caught off guard that his reaction had thrown himself and his chair backwards and tumbling to the floor. Lyrica was standing over the man while Snape watched with a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Your words insult me and my family, Professor Moody. This is your only warning. Do so again, and I shall demand my Right of Honor."

Snape's mouth dropped open, as did the mouths of several others at the staff table. The Headmaster quickly intervened, "I think that a sincere apology ought to suffice, Madame Snape. I really cannot permit such a duel upon school grounds."

Lyrica inclined her head once in deference to Dumbledore. "You are right, of course, Headmaster. I shall require a sincere apology at dinner tomorrow. For now, I shall retire." She delicately stepped away from Moody, still on his back, on the ground, stopped beside Snape, who rose to his feet, and quietly escorted her from the Great Hall.

Moody grumbled and Minerva glanced down at the man, not even offering to help him rise. "Have a care, Alastor. Right of Honor is still legal and binding."

"She's a woman!" he snarled under his breath.

Minerva's pinched face scowled so darkly that Dumbledore leaned a bit away from the formidable Scotswoman. Alastor had said the wrong thing to the wrong person.

"Professor Moody, I was fourteen years old when I demanded Right of Honor from a man who was 25 years my senior." Her voice lowered considerably. "I took care of him with one curse. I may be much older now, but believe me, my reflexes haven't suffered one whit!" Pushing her chair back, Minerva stood. She turned to the Headmaster. "Goodnight, Albus."

Dumbledore smiled and nodded. "Goodnight, Minerva."

Moody righted his chair and sneered at the Head of Gryffindor House. "One curse," he snorted with a look at the Headmaster. "What could that woman have thrown at fourteen years of age?"

It was Hooch who replied, a wicked gleam in her eye, "I believe it was the Denique Castro Curse, wasn't it, Albus?"

Moody paled considerably while under the table his knees clacked audibly together. "She did that?" He shuddered.

Dumbledore shook his head and went back to his dinner. "That she did, Alastor, that she did!"

After the brief excitement at dinner Harry had forgotten about talking to Kalima and his parents about her becoming his Occlumens. He had homework to do which took some time and then he spent time playing chess with Ron. Harry was ecstatic when he actually won. He danced around the Gryffindor common room like an American Football player in the endzone. The jerky dance drew a few laughs from Hermione and Ron.

He spent that week in Gryffindor tower, mostly studying and preparing for his finals. He hadn't yet decided on what he'd do after school. It seemed to be a toss-up between being an Auror, a Quidditch champion, or possibly Potions Master.

That last was something he wouldn't have dreamed of before, but with his changed relationship with Snape, there was a part of him that wanted to do what sons had been doing traditionally for years; follow in his father's footsteps. He did enjoy Potions more and he especially liked helping his father brew potions. Maybe he would ask his father what he thought.

Friday night came and most of the castle were asleep early. Tomorrow was the fair and the big staff versus students Quidditch match. The students team had been made up of a good mix of all four houses and most of the staff were on the staff team. Minerva McGonagall with Lee Jordan would announce the game, and the Headmaster would share refereering duty with Ron Weasley.

A prize was being offered that was a combination of House points and galleons for the student team, and for the teachers, an entire week of vacation before the end of term. Everyone knew it was going to be fun, but it would also promise to be a tough contest.

Now curled up in his bed, Harry was just about to drop off to sleep when he felt something tickling his ear. Turning rapidly, he came face to face with Kalima.

"Do you have to sssneak up on me like that, Kalima?" he admonished.

"I do apologissse, Harry, but I was visssiting Ravenclaw when I learned you are in need of help from me." Kalima's smooth head butted gently against his temple.

"You weren't visssiting Luna were you? Can ssshe talk to you?" he asked excitedly.

"I am consssidering giving her the gift of Sssnake Tongue. Ssshe isss sssuch a fassscinating creature. You mussst have many eggsss with her, Harry."

Harry sat up abruptly choking and quickly had to cast a wandless Muffliato spell. "Kalima! I'm only fourteen! And... and... Luna'sss twelve!"

Kalima's tongue flicked against his cheek. "I ssshall wait. Now, what may I help you with?"

Harry explained to Kalima what Luna had found out about Nagas and why he had trouble Occluding his mind. Then, in case she didn't know, he told her about his scar and how Voldemort was getting into his mind via his scar.

"You mussst be sssure, Harry," Kalima spoke after a long silence. "The binding isss for life. I chossse you asss my egg, asss Lyrica isss my egg. For me to bind with you, I mussst accept becoming your ssservant."

"You mean like houssse elfsss?" asked Harry with concern.

"Yesss."

"I can't do that to you, Kalima," whispered Harry.

"You are my egg, Harry. I would keep the Dark Sssnake from you." Kalima stroked her head against his cheek and flicked her tongue against his ear. "I would keep sssafe all your eggsss with Luna."

Harry blushed and was glad it was dark. He'd have to discuss Kalima's preoccupation with 'eggs' later. "How doesss the binding work, Kalima?"

"It isss sssimple. Blood exchange." The serpent whipped her tail around until she was seated on a wide portion on her body. A quick strike and she had bitten herself. Two crimson drops of blood welled up. "Take the blood and sssay, vosss esss meusss vernula."

Harry grimaced as he cast Lumos, lighting the end of his wand. He wanted to remain ignorant of what Kalima meant by taking her blood, but he knew what she meant. He took a deep breath as he had a quick flash of some of the ingredients in potions. A lot of them were worse. He quickly leaned over and lapped up the two drops of blood trying not to be rude and grimace or stick out his tongue. He whispered the incantation, "Vosss esss meusss vernula."

Without warning, Kalima struck swiftly with her fangs, piercing the skin of his forearm. Her bite wasn't deep, but it did hurt. Two drops welled up, and Kalima flicked them away with her tongue. The Naga whispered, "Vosss esss meussss vinco."

A crimson spark of magic travelled between the two bites, healing them both. Harry rubbed his arm. The pain had vanished. He sat up, trying to figure out if he felt any different. He didn't.

"Time for sssleep, Harry."

"Kalima! You're in my mind!"

"Yesss, I am. I mussst weave the barrier while you sssleep. I wisssh you to asssk your father to tessst it tomorrow."

Harry smiled and made himself comfortable. "Thank you, Kalima. Goodnight."

"Sssleep well, Massster."

As Harry drifted happily into sleep, he looked forward to a lack of nightmares.

Snape was in the midst of putting on his outer robe and getting ready to check the castle wards one last time before the opening feast. Harry was in the living room, talking to him, and he was only half listening.

"What did you say?" Snape whirled on his son, thinking he heard something about Kalima and Occlumens.

"Dad, you weren't even listening to me!" Harry pouted crossly.

"I know, but you have my full attention now. Tell me again, but make it brief."

Harry huffed, but as he looked into his father's concerned, dark gaze, he simply said, "Kalima's my Occlumens now."

Snape had been bent over, now he straightened and closed his eyes for a moment. Draco walked in, finishing a pastry. "What'd you do now, Scarhead."

Snape narrowed his eyes at Draco. "What are you doing eating now, Draco? The feast starts in twelve minutes!"

"We're not going to the feast, Dad," reminded Draco. "Don't you remember? We're stuck in here all day."

Snape had forgotten. He muttered to himself, "This is going to be a long day. Harry!"

"What?"

"I thought we were going to talk to Kalima first before asking her to bind herself to you. That's not something you ask of a Naga lightly."

"I know, Dad, but it was actually Kalima who offered. I'd kind of forgotten about it, to be honest. I was studying and all. Kalima heard about me having problems Occluding my mind from Luna."

"You do understand the ramifications of this binding now, don't you, Harry?" Snape asked with concern.

"I think I do. It's like a house elf binding?"

"It's exactly like a house elf binding, Harry. Kalima is now bound to you, your children, grand children, and possibly great-grandchildren. She is literally your servant, bound to obey whatever orders you give her and to keep your secrets." Snape knelt down on one knee as comprehension of what he'd done showed on his face.

"I know how pure your heart is and you have nothing but the best of care in mind for Kalima. The fact remains that she is a Naga, a very powerful magical beast. When you pass her onto your children and grandchildren, you must be certain that no one will ever abuse her or her power. Look to what the Dark Lord has turned his Naga into. Nagini was once a proud, noble, and free serpent. She is bound to him, kills for his pleasure, and through her own pain, keeps his body alive."

A tear slipped down Harry's cheek and Snape thumbed it away. "I didn't know, Dad. I just didn't want to hurt anyone."

"I know you didn't, Harry. However, you really must think before you take such actions. Kalima chose to protect you, but you should have spoken to us first. You must take care of Kalima. Try your best to keep her from feeling as your servant. Promise me this."

Harry nodded. "Do you... maybe you should test...?"

"Easy first, then I'm going to push. Hard. Legilimens!"

Harry felt his father's mind slip into his, but then there was an odd shifting, a slithery-ness where he was certain he felt Kalima's mind and not his father's. After a few minutes he blinked and was staring into Snape's eyes.

"Did it work?" he asked.

"It did, and very well." Snape rose to his feet, and ruffled Harry's head. "I have to get going. Enjoy the game, and both of you," here he eyed Draco, "try not to get on your mother's nerves."

Snape left his quarters, nearly running up to the Great Hall, since he was late. He was met at the castle entrance by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody, and Minerva McGonagall. The entrance was crowded with students and their parents.

"Merlin's teeth!" cursed Snape as he looked around. "Is it going to be like this all day?"

"It's bad," muttered Moody, taking a sip from his ever-present flask. "Got more'n parents coming in. Some brought aunts, uncles, cousins."

Snape shook his head imperceptibly, and wondered again at the Headmaster's insanity. It was going to be a very long day.

Chaos reigned from that moment forward as more people crammed into the castle. Snape never thought the castle could feel crowded, but it seemed to be bursting at the seams. He tried taking points, but the Headmaster had declared that no points would be taken or given until after the game.

Moody, Snape, and a few Aurors were in charge of keeping an eye on everyone. Both Snape and Moody groused about there not being enough men and women to watch over everything. At least Snape knew that Draco and Harry were safely locked away in his quarters with Lyrica.

The fair that took over most of Hogwarts grounds was run by the house elfs. There were booths with food, sweets, jokes, and some of the students were running booths where they showed off tricks and talents with their magic. Sybill Trelawney was kept happy with a fortune telling booth that she was being helped with by Padma Parvati and Lavendar Brown.

Fred and George had a booth that held a variety of sweets that did everything from making someone smell bad to changing them into odd coloured birds. Dumbledore had permitted them to sell some of the more benign products. Even so, shifty-eyed Argus Filch hovered over the two Weasleys most of the afternoon plotting various ways to do away with the two boys and their mischief.

At noon the staff/student Quidditch game began. The fair continued on the grounds and as Snape followed his patrol for perhaps the thousandth time that day, he swore there were more people. Inwardly he cursed the Headmaster for holding such an event when they were hardly equipped to handle it.

"Snape!" shouted Moody stumping over to the Potions Master as quickly as he could. Snape stopped and eyed the ex-Auror. "Kingsley needs us to go check a breach by the Forbidden Forest!"

"A breach?"

"I'm just repeating his words. C'mon!" Moody turned jerkily and made his way toward the forest.

Snape rolled his eyes. Obviously he had to go and follow. His wand already in his hand, he strode up beside Moody and they approached the forest. Waving his wand, he checked the wards. As he was doing so, Moody let out a shout and headed into the forest.

The Potions Master and ex-Death Eater resisted the urge to shout at the old warrior. If Moody had seen something, or someone, the last thing he was going to do was to broadcast his location. With every sense on alert, Snape slipped into the forest, going after Moody.

Minutes passed by and the noise of the fair, the crowd and the game was silenced as Snape went deeper into the forest. Moody had completely vanished and he was worried now that something was wrong- more than just the ex-Auror having disappeared. A few more steps and he knew that his instincts were correct.

"Moody!" he hissed. The man was on the ground and blood was pooling beneath his head. Snape quickly went to the man's side and knelt down by him. This was his downfall.

Moody, with more speed than the old wizard was capable of, turned sharply, pointed his wand and had Snape caught in a full body bind before he could blink. Snape fell to the forest floor and an uninjured Moody rose to his feet. He snatched the wand from between Snape's fingers and threw it aside. Moody then cast a silencing spell and then grasped Snape's arm tightly in his fist. In seconds, Snape felt the pull of a portkey taking him away.

Snape woke up sharply and was quickly assaulted by the lingering pain of the Cruciatus Curse. He could taste blood in his mouth and knew he'd bitten his tongue several times.

His mind wanted to drag him back down to unconsciousness where nothing hurt, but he fought to keep a tight hold on his senses. If he didn't, he would lose any chance he had at escape.

Trying to move, he discovered he was still bound spread eagle against the front of a statue of the grim, angel of death by magic. Around him were old headstones, some broken, a few fallen over. He shivered in the breeze, despite the fact it was warm out beneath the stars. His robes were gone and he'd only been left with the dignity of a torn shirt and his trousers.

He couldn't remember how many times he'd been hit with the Cruciatus Curse while bound to the statue but it was enough for his back to have been severely abraded by the worn granite of the statue. He did remember who cast the curses...

Mad Eye Moody paced back and forth in front of Snape, not saying a word. It took the Potions Master a few minutes to determine that the man was waiting for something to happen. It wasn't long before it did and Moody stood before Snape as his features began to melt and his bones and joints cracked as the Polyjuice Potion wore off.

Snape had expected Lucius Malfoy, but that wasn't who stood before him. The man that stood before him had eyes that darted back and forth, afraid of being caught by Snape's obsidian orbs. His light brown hair was a ragged mess that brushed his shoulders and his tongue, nervously flipped out between his lips like some kind of twitchy frog.

"Barty Crouch, jr," drawled Snape and the young man ducked away from the dangerous tone of voice. Snape had always terrified the young man.

Crouch put on a passable sneer that was ruined by his darting tongue, "Severus Snape, you traitor."

"I see your death was an exaggeration, Barty. Who did your father bury?"

Crouch bristled at the condemnation in Snape's voice. "Mother. She sacrificed herself for me. Stupid woman!" Madness gleamed in the young man's eyes and he aimed his wand at Snape. "CRUCIO!"

Crouch didn't let Snape catch his breath between the curses. In the back of his mind, the ex-Death Eater almost wished it were Bellatrix LeStrange cursing him. She always had to taunt and gloat between throwing the Unforgivable and it often gave her victim a moment to gather their senses. Crouch kept up with his curses to the point that Snape nearly passed out.

"A little weary, are we, Severus?" the voice of cool satin brushed against his ear and Snape looked defiantly into the icy blue-grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy. "I ought to thank you for turning your back on our Master, Severus. Although I was his right hand servant, due to your betrayal, I am now his favorite."

"And so you've brought me to him so you could kill me, Lucius," sneered Snape. He would not let Malfoy know he was concerned for his family, nor would he give the wizard any clue that he was afraid of never seeing them again.

Lucius twirled his wand. "Alas, killing you is one thing I am not allowed. Our Master wishes that honor for himself. You hurt him deeply, Severus. The trust he had in you... such a waste." The blonde-haired wizard directed a Cruciatus Curse at Snape that only lasted a few seconds. Snape did not make a sound.

"Will you tell me, Severus, how you managed to destroy your badge of honor?" Lucius lifted Snape's arm and touched the clean flesh with the tip of his wand.

"Honor?" spat Snape. "The Dark Mark is a brand of slavery!" Snape could not stop the groan that escaped his lips as Lucius sent a bone crushing curse towards his foot.

Barty Crouch, jr. stepped towards Lucius and rasped, "It's time."

Lucius swept away from Snape, waved his wand and conjured a large cauldron of iron in front of the Potions Master. A blue flame burned hotly beneath the vessel and a sickly looking liquid of mottled brown bubbled beneath his nose. Snape suppressed the bile that threatened as the odour of rotted flesh floated upwards with the steam.

Lucius, now wearing his hood and his silver and white Death Eater's mask raised his arms and wand towards the sky. Dark shadows of heavy clouds roiled above them, blocking out the twinkling stars, and the full, Blue moon.

With a sudden flourish, Lucius spun towards Snape and swept his wand downward and shouted, "Sectumsempra!"

Blood welled up from a deep cut across Snape's chest. It took every bit of stoicism he had to keep from crying out in pain.

"Blood from an enemy, forcibly taken!" Lucius watched with glittering eyes as Snape's blood fell into the putrid, boiling liquid. Vicious steam immediately rose upward, blinding the bound wizard.

"Bone of the father..." Snape did cry out this time. Behind him, the statue split in half and the earth beneath him shook. His magical bonds stretched him apart to the point he felt his shoulder being dislocated on his right side. The wound in his chest stretched further apart, spilling more blood into the cauldron. Lucius' voice continued as an old bone fell into the now blood red boiling liquid, "...unknowingly given!"

More steam boiled upward and Snape's exposed skin was uncomfortably seared. He was very afraid now. Not for himself but for his family. He knew he was going to be killed and there would be no one to protect them. The steam cleared and Snape was able to see that Barty Crouch was now standing next to the cauldron holding his right hand over it. In his left hand was a sharp athame with a copper blade.

"Flesh of a servant...!" Lucius' voice demanded just as Barty Crouch, jr. brought the blade down swiftly just above his wrist. "...willingly given!"

Crouch fell to the ground, his self-inflicted, wounded arm clutched tightly to his abdomen. Lucius ignored him as he strode into the dark entrance of a tomb. He was gone only for a few seconds and emerged with a ghastly form; the stuff of Harry's nightmares. This thing was all that was left of Tom Riddle after casting the Killing Curse against the innocent baby.

Those that came to investigate the aftermath at Godrics Hollow only found the bodies of Lily and James and little Harry crying beneath the fallen form of his mother. The Death Eaters that had been with Voldemort had taken his destroyed body into the deepest dungeon at Malfoy Manor where they used every Dark Arts spell possible to breathe some semblance of life into the shattered body..

Riddle knew it would take years to repair the damage done to his body and so he had tried, at first, to possess the bodies of his faithful. Only Quirrel had been strong enough to host him, but as faithful as Quirrel had once been, his own fear of losing his body and mind to his master had made him resistant to his weakened lord's powers. That fear had also allowed the Boy-Who-Lived to banish the Dark Lord's spirit back to his ravaged body.

A second time he had managed to infuse his spirit into a younger memory of himself within the pages of a cursed diary. Riddle had very nearly succeeded, but was once more thwarted by damned Harry Potter.

Voldemort had no choice but to repair his damaged body and he found his salvation within the blood of his Naga, Nagini. Bound for life to her hideous master, Nagini kept him alive while he waited for the rare time of the Blue Moon when he could have his most faithful bring to him his greatest enemy and perform the Resurrection Ritual.

Lucius dropped the damaged thing in his arms into the swirling, boiling liquid. Voldemort screamed and Snape screamed as the steam from the cauldron rose up in a caustic, cloud of sickly yellow and acid green to burn his vulnerable flesh. He closed his eyes tightly, doing his best to protect them as deep within a flame of determination burned. He had to survive!

A burst of green light rose up from the cauldron, bathing everything nearby. The cauldron vanished as a ball of blood red smoke writhed above the ground like some evil birth contraction. The smoke took on form and soon the renewed figure of Voldemort, the Dark Lord stood beneath the cold light of the Blue Moon.

Lucius rushed over with a robe to clothe the dead white body. He kept his eyes averted from the terrible, snake-like face, and the red, reptilian eyes. Long fingers caught Lucius' by the hair as he began to draw away and he froze in place. The fingers drifted through the silken strands until they reached his chin and lifted Lucius' eyes upward.

"Do not ask me for the traitor's life, Lucius, but I shall give to you anything else you desire," whispered Voldemort.

"Snape took my wife," ground out Lucius, his eyes burning like flinty pieces of ice. "He took my son. Give me his wife so that I may pledge another heir to serve you, my Lord."

A grim smile touched the thin lips and Voldemort nodded. "She will be yours when Snape's sons are dead."

Lucius dropped to his knees and kissed Voldemort's feet. The Dark Lord then spun to face the traitor. "You do not look well, Severus," hissed the abomination.

Snape opened his eyes and looked into Voldemort's red eyes. The black orbs burned with the anger and hatred of the deepest most terrifying black hole of the cosmos. The gaze was such a palpable force that it caused the Dark Lord to take several wary steps backwards. This was the depthless gaze of a vow; an Unbreakable Vow that promised only death.

Severus Snape smiled.