"So, why are you really here?" Voldemort asked, sitting back against his throne.

"My lord," Severus said, stepping forward a little and inclining his head. "I've come to turn in the Malfoy heir for his punishment."

"NO!" Harry's anger and hurt built back up just as fast as it had deflated. "YOU PROMISED!" Draco looked at Harry, who was still trying to come forward, and the Dark Lord and Severus. He wondered to which one was he throwing that accusation towards.

"We received word of your bargain with the Potter brat," Severus continued snidely, "and we are grateful for a chance to regain your good graces. I've had a long talk with Draco, and I believe he will be much more cooperative now. I apologize for my own actions as well."

"You were supposed to use that to get away from here!" Harry interjected.

"Clearly, we have better plans than what a sixteen-year-old child can devise," Severus barked at him. "Now, shut up, stupid boy!" Voldemort felt the edges of his lips draw into a smirk. Severus pushed Draco forward rather roughly. "I assume there will be some punishment for the two of us, even if we are promised our lives?"

"The deal I made with Harry was to leave both of you unharmed," Voldemort declined. "As much as it would amuse me to see you suffer a bit, I believe I forewent that right."

"Our deepest gratitude," Severus replied. Harry couldn't help the hurt he felt from Severus' words. All the fight suddenly left the boy, his arms going limp in the two Death Eater's hands.

He promised, Harry thought.

"Come here, Harry," Voldemort said.

Harry, lost in his own thoughts, didn't hear the man.

"POTTER!"

Harry's head snapped up as he looked into those cold onyx eyes in front of him. He did not even notice his Professor walking over towards him.

"Don't speak." The command was low and almost soothing coming from Snape.

"Why are you doing this?" Harry's voice was no louder than a whisper.

"Don't speak!" Severus' was the same level.

"Why?" as tears burned the back of Harry's throat.

Severus slightly tilted his head to the side. "Trust me." Harry's expression was guarded, but he nodded almost imperceptibly. Then, throwing caution to the wind, Severus shoved Harry roughly to his knees in front of Voldemort. Harry yelped in pain as his bony kneecaps made contact with the hard stone. Then, for good measure, Severus bowed Harry's head so that all he could see was Voldemort's feet.

"You were called," Severus growled.

"Severus?" Voldemort asked. "Why did Harry ask for your pardon?"

"He's got daddy issues," Severus sneered. "He's desperately looking for a father figure in his life, and he's got some fool notion that I fill that void. Ha! If only James Potter knew. He would be rolling over in his grave. He'd be so ashamed that his son went to his childhood enemy to fill that emptiness." Harry felt his anger rise up inside him as Severus talked. "Perhaps James Potter wouldn't even want to have a son like that." Harry's patience broke. It wasn't an act any longer. Snape had said too much. Who was he trying to kid? Snape would always hate him, and the Death Eaters would always win out.

"It's not like that!" Harry screamed, scrambling to his feet, glaring at Snape. Severus raised one eyebrow as if to say, "What are you thinking, foolish brat?" "It's not like that at all! I want a parent, of course I do! But - but - " Harry was going to say, "But Snape agreed to be my advocate," and then thought better of that. "But my real dad would never be ashamed of me! He died for me, because of him!" Harry pointed at Voldemort. "My dad would be happy that I made sacrifices for my friends and those who are important to my friends! I did it for Draco!" Severus knew if the brat kept talking, Potter was going to ruin his plans. He knew he needed to get Harry to shut his mouth.

He gripped Harry's shirt and spun him around so that he was facing the Potions Master. Harry was about to protest once he got his barrings. Severus could see from the boy's eyes that he spun the boy so fast and hard that he got dizzy for a moment.

"Listen to me and listen good, Potter," Severus growled. "No one wants to hear anything that comes from your fool-hearted mouth. You will keep your mouth shut or so help me, if I hear one more sound come from you, I will cut your tongue from your mouth and use it in my potions. Do I make my self clear?"

Harry couldn't help the shudder from the glare he was getting and the pure disdain of his Professor's voice as he talked to him. He was shocked into silence. It was a lie. It was all a lie, Harry thought. Idiot. Why would I think that he would actually care for me? Harry tried hard to keep that lump of tears in his throat from burning to the back of his eyes. Harry nodded, not wanting to provoke Snape into cutting out his tongue.

"Good, you're learning," Severus sneered, and slapped Harry's face with the back of his hand. In his despair, the blow sent Harry to the floor in a pile. "My lord," Severus continued, turning to Voldemort, "may I inquire as to your plans for the brat?"

"He lives," Voldemort returned simply. "Neither you nor any other Death Eater may kill him."

"But harming him?" Snape pressed.

"No unforgivables. Give him regular breaks, and don't do anything irreparable." Harry winced at the instructions. These rules were certainly more restrictive than Dumbledore's, which was all Voldemort had promised, but Harry still felt disappointed that he wouldn't have more protection than that.

"Then, as a learning experience for Draco, may I request Potter's presence, alone, just the three of us?"

"You expect me to trust you again so quickly, Severus," Voldemort mused.

"Then a suitable compromise," Severus countered.

"And what do you suggest?" Voldemort asked, sitting back in his chair.

"Narcissa can supervise." Severus tilted his head, showing respect.

Voldemort looked over at the three standing in front of him. "No."

Draco, trying to keep his breathing under control, held his breath. This was not suppose to happen.

"You will take Bellatrix."

Harry and Draco both paled more. They'd both been under the scrutiny of Bellatrix.

"As you wish," smirked Severus. "But please keep in mind that Bellatrix has defied you, in some ways, more than I have, as of late. Yes, I heard about the incident in Potter's room with the unforgivable, and I was here when she overstepped her bounds doubting your choice of servants. Are you sure that it's a good idea, to put both of the servants who are on your watch list in the same room?"

"I can be responsible!" Bellatrix shouted.

"Can you?" Voldemort shot back. "Severus makes a valid point. You have defied me twice, both without good reason, whereas Severus defied me once, and his judgement may well turn out for the best in the end. If he can bring Draco around with that little display awhile back, then it will have been the wisest decision. Can you say the same, Bella?"

"It won't happen again, my Lord," she gasped.

"You're right, it won't," Voldemort replied. "See that it doesn't. Narcissa, stay with them." Draco began to breathe again. He had pure admiration for Snape, the way he could play a situation by ear, and still come out on top. With a wave of his hand, Voldemort dismissed Severus. One hand gripping Harry's collar and the other gripping Draco's arm, the trio walked out of the room. Narcissa followed. Once out of the room, Severus' grip didn't loosen. The four of them walked into the room where Harry had previously stayed. Severus finally let go of Harry and closed the door after Narcissa walked in the room. Waving his wand he cast a mild warding on the door.

"Of all the imbecilic, asinine things! Can you not follow simple instructions?" Severus fumed. Harry stood there slacked jawed. Draco walked over to Harry.

"You okay?" Draco asked, looked between Draco's calm, cool manner to his Professor, who was still ranting about idiotic teens to no one in finding his voice, Harry stepped closer to Draco. "Why are you here? You're not suppose to be here?"

"Rescuing you, of course," Draco said as if it was the most obvious answer.

"But…but…" Harry stammered. "I didn't ask to be rescued. You're supposed to be half a planet away by now."

"Yes, well," Severus interrupted, clearing his throat awkwardly, "you are supposed to be at Hogwarts, so not everything works as it should in this world. Accept that fact, and life will go much easier for you." Harry stood there dumbfounded. "Now shall we get on with this, or will you keep staring with your mouth ready as a waiting receptacle for any creature small enough to take up residence there?"

Narcissa moved to the other side of the room where the fireplace stood blazing. She waved her wand, and almost immediately, the flames turned an emerald green, and two figures stepped through. Remus and Minerva stepped aside quickly, and the flames changed color again, as more and more people slipped through.

"What is this?" Narcissa hissed. "I thought this was a rescue mission."

"It is," Severus confirmed. "A permanent rescue mission." Everyone was there in a matter a few minutes. All the teachers from Hogwarts, Order members, and even a few faces Severus didn't recognize.