Gustavas touched the crystal in his pocket; at the moment it was the only thing shielding him from both the magical defenses of Hogwarts and the Gangrels. He hated to rely on such kitschy items, but until he healed himself it would have to suffice. He paused and pressed against the dank wall of the dungeon as he listened for the sound of breathing, he needed to be careful, he had already wasted far too much time searching for the other professor, all to no avail. However he had overheard the thoughts of the students, they were full of images of the dark potion teacher and one of the Methuselah’s childer. It was obvious that this man must be the Sidhe’s new lover, and therefore the perfect target for revenge.

Gustavas stared at the stump were his hand had been and pictured the hand of the teacher in its place. Granted the man’s hands were not as large or strong as his were, but it would certainly do in a pinch, and he could always find a more suitable match later, after his business here was done. ……

Sev listened and smiled when he heard Catri defending him to Black, not only she had not forgotten him, she was siding with him. He felt his heart swell with love and longing as he watched her tend to Black, he would gladly endure such pain over again if he would have her to heal him. As he watched Black stare longingly at Catri, he was reminded of the look in the vampire’s eyes from this morning, they both had the same desperate look to them, much as he imagined his own eye looked around her. “Catri, if you only knew how much you meant to me. Why did I wait, I should have proposed to you at Puck’s.”

“To bad you didn’t I would have enjoyed killing you more if you were her betrothed.” Gustavas spat as he leered evilly at Snape.

Sev pulled out his wand and aimed it quickly at the vampire, who stood his ground as he laughed manically “A stick, do you think your pathetic magic is any match for me?” Gustavas roared as he motioned with his hand, setting Snape’s wand on fire. Even so, Severus refused to let go, he had endured far worse than this, and the thought of never seeing Catri again was far worse than any physical pain he could imagine.

Severus held onto his wand and shot off several spells at the vampire, all to no avail, Gustavas was simply too fast. Snape grit his teeth as the flames licked and blistered his fingers. No matter what spells he tried, he could neither extinguish the flames, nor stop the monster from getting closer. Severus backed up against the cauldron and thrust his wand and hand into the potion, if nothing else, he did not want this creature to find Catri and Potter. He would never risk their lives, no matter how much pain he was forced to endure, no matter the costs, he would protect them both with his dying breath.

“Well now, that was foolish” Gustavas growled, a look of pure malice on his face as he approached the potion professor. “Do you think I won’t be able to find her or her wretched son? Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Gus sneered “Have some faith, by the time I’m done with you. You will take me to her yourself, maybe I’ll even let you kiss her farewell before I kill you both, would you like that? Hmm? The lover’s last kiss.” he asked a cold mocking tone in his voice.

Sev narrowed his eyes, glaring hatefully at the soulless beast in front of him. “I think not.” he snarled as he reached behind himself with one hand, searching for the stinging nettle tincture that he had been using earlier that day. “You may just find that I am full of surprises” he said his hand grasped the bottle and quickly pulled in within the billowy folds of his cape, unseen by the vampire. Sev fought of the urge to run as the monster grew nearer and nearer, he knew he would only have one chance, and he would have to make it count. Backing his way along the rows of ingredients, Snape tried to position himself to face the door so that when he made his move, he at least had a chance of escape.

“Trying to get away already?” Gustavas smirked “I would expect far better from one of MacLeod’s lovers, she must be slumming.” he added as he leapt forward with the speed of light, and wrapped a cold hand around the man’s throat, a sickening smile crossing his bluish lips as the professor’s eyes grew wide with pain, Gustavas laughed heartlessly at the professor as the man grabbed onto his arm, helpless to prevent the blows as he struck him repeatedly with the stump of his arm. Gustavas lowered the wizard slightly until the man’s face was level with him and his feet dangled mere inches from the floor. “What, no screams? Why aren’t you calling out for your lady love, surely she will come and protect you.” Moving his fingers slightly, Gustavas placed his icy lips against the warm flesh of the wizard’s neck. “Call her to you” he demanded, “call her now.” “No” “Then suffer until you do.” The Tremere growled darkly, sending a bone chilling vibration through Sev’s spine. He struck the potion master across the face several times with his mutilated arm, breaking the man’s nose and abrading his skin. “Aw, has the wizard got an ouchie” Gustavas sneered, “here, let me help you with that.” he added as he licked the blood from Severus’s face, sneering wickedly as the wizard scowled and shuddered with disgust. “What? Too good to be touched by anyone but her? I think not.” the Tremere glowered darkly as he easily ripped the wizard’s robes, exposing his pale flesh to the vampyre’s amusement. “My, my, but you don’t get out much do you? I think you need a little colour, how about ….red.” he asked as he tore through Severus’s flesh, causing the man to groan with pain. Pausing once more to lick the wizards blood off of his mangled body, Gustavas continued his torture. “Come now, at least make it interesting.” Gus sneered, hoping the wizard would scream or beg him for mercy as he repeatedly smashed the man‘s head against the stone wall.

Sev clenched his jaw as he felt the immense pressure against his throat, and the painful thud of his head and back against the wall. He knew he would never be able to physically overcome the creature, but it had always been his quick mind that had preserved him, not his fists. He pictured Catri in his minds’ eye, her belly full and round with their unborn child as he bided his time, knowing from Catri’s tales that the Tremere would not be satisfied until he was dead, or worse.

Sev grunted with pain as the vampire slammed his knees into his stomach, forcing Sev to cough up blood and grimace in agony. Severus caught his breath as he thought he heard the scuffle of footsteps outside his office door. Apparently Gustavas had heard it too, because he had paused his torture just long enough to determine it was nothing.

“Rats in the dungeon, I would have thought those stupid Garou had eaten them all by now.” he remarked as he stood nose to nose with Snape, pressing his knee into the professors most sensitive flesh. “Will she miss this? Will she miss you?” he asked as he increased the pressure against the wizard’s member. “Or has she already found another to replace you, one more suitable to her duties in her clan?” Smiling tauntingly, he added “Is he screwing her now as you suffer for your love?”

Growling with anger, Severus decided his only chance was now or never. Breaking the neck of the bottle with his strong fingers, he flung the tincture directly into the vampires eyes, temporarily blinding him. Sev fell to his knees as the Tremere dropped him, and began clawing at his eyes while screaming obscenities at the potion master. Sev drug himself along the floor, hoping to get to the door and find another teacher to aid him before the vampire recovered, but he had forgotten how quickly the undead healed. Just as he reached the door, he felt the beasts hands grab the collar of his robes, tearing them further as he was jerked off the floor and tossed across his own office like a child’s toy.

Pain ricocheted through his body as Sev’s vision dimmed momentarily as the torture threatened to over come him. Blinking his eyes and looking up, Severus allowed himself a small grin. The vampire had tore at his own eyes and face to stop the burning in his eyes, leaving deep, bloody gouges across his face. Granted it wouldn’t take long for the devil to heal, especially after the beast drained him of his life’s blood, but at least he would not find Catri, or the child Severus desperately hoped was growing in her womb. Closing his eyes, Severus sent a silent message of love towards Catri, hoping she would always remember him and keep his memory alive in her heart.

Just as Sev felt the vampire’s putrid breath against his face, and the fiend’s claws scraping at his throat, he heard a loud, deep growl filling the office and a sudden rush of cool air passing over him. Slowly opening his eyes, Sev felt a gasp escape his lips as he saw Cash slash at the monster with his now talon-like nails, forcing him to back towards the door. As much as Severus had always avoided and despised the man, he was never so glad to see Cash in his life. Feeling his head spinning, Severus struggled to hold onto consciousness as he heard the battle raging next to him.

“Methuselah” Gustavas snarled. “I thought you would have been tending to your little ‘family’ or have they finally grown tired of you.”

“Give it up.” Cash said flatly as he barred his fangs. “That doesn’t work, not on me, not anymore. I love and have faith in my clan, and they love and have faith in me.” he stated, walking towards the Tremere the way a wolf walks towards a deer. “And this wizard is under the protection of my clan, I’m sure you know what that means.” he mentioned, smiling wickedly and licking his fangs as the Tremere backed towards the door. “There is no escape Tremere, you have harmed my descendants, you have attacked those whom I defend.”

Gustavas sneered as he reached for the door, “You’ve never been able to beat me Gangrel. You’re no better than the Garou or any of the other beasts that you run with.” he snarled as he opened the door and turned to run, only to be stopped by Hamish and Joshua who stood on the other side of the door, arms crossed over their chests and a murderous look in their eyes. Stepping forward, they forced Gustavas to move deeper into Snape’s office and closer to Cash.

Cash was all but frothing at the mouth as he stalked towards the Tremere, even his own clan was becoming nervous around him. “You nearly killed them. My descendants, my children, the future of my clan” he spat as he summoned his sword, fully prepared to hack the Tremere limb from limb. “I’ll damn well finish what my little girl started” he growled deeply, eyes flashing dangerously “Angel took your hand, I’ll have your sorry excuse for a heart before I’m done.”

Sensing a frenzy was about to come over the Gangrel Methuselah, Gustavas turned on his heels and ran towards the ornate window that overlooked the lower dungeon. It may be a hard landing, but it was safer than being trapped with the Gangrel in his state. Just as Gustavas ran toward the window and attempted to jump through it, he was thrown backwards by Angus, who was hanging on the wall on the outside of the window to prevent just such an escape. Angus flipped himself onto the window’s ledge, landing in a crouch as an evil grin crossed his face. He was looking forward to this, the Tremere had harmed far too many of his clan and now it was time for revenge, vendetta. However, one look at the wizard told him he would need to delay his blood lust for at least a few more minutes. Signaling to Joshua, Angus motioned towards the door.

“Rick,” Joshua called down the hall, “Get the wizard out of here, Roel can keep watch over the hallway alone. And hurry, I think our friend is about to lose his mind.” Joshua added as they all took a few steps back when Cash turned to stare at them, a cold flicker dancing in his blue eyes……

Rick quickly rushed to the potion master’s side and lifted him to his feet, “Let’s go Professor, believe me when I tell you, you do not want to see this.” Rick whispered hastily in the wizard’s ear.

“What about Catri and the students.” Snape asked, his voice hoarse with pain and trauma, groping for Rick’s arm as he heard the two vampires growling at each other.

“Angel is safe at home with her son, and the Garou are protecting the students. Come on Severus, don’t make me carry you.” Rick replied. One look in his eyes told Sev that the vampire was not bluffing. He leaned heavily against Rick as the Gangrel wrapped one arm around his waist and used the other one to hold onto the arm that Snape had loosely draped over his shoulder. “Just relax and let me take care of you Professor Snape. I’m going to take you somewhere safe.”

Severus nodded numbly as he felt Rick move effortlessly with him, pausing only to give a brief report to the Gangrel called Roel. He wanted to sleep, to lose himself in one of his potions and forget about the world for the next few years, but he knew he didn’t have that luxury. Too many people depended upon him, whether they knew it or not. After all, if he shirked his duties, who would keep tabs on Voldemort and the death eaters assuring the safety of the students and the wizarding world as a whole. Who would protect Draco from his father’s murderous temper, how many times had he stepped in and saved the boys life now, last time he bothered to count it had been five, no , wait, six times since Draco turned ten. And Catri, his lovely Catri, he missed her already, he wanted to feel her hold him, kissing and healing him the way she was doing to Black. Sev found himself wishing he had tried materializing to her side when he had first pierced the veil of Fernglennis, even the strange creatures in her home could not have inflicted any more pain on him that that devil had. Sev felt his mind grow fuzzy as the bright light of the noonday sun cascaded over him, he knew he couldn’t hold onto consciousness much longer……

Sensing Snape’s weakness and vulnerability, Rick decided the best place to take him would be Angel’s room. He had the distinct impression it would put the wizard at ease, and he obviously needed to rest and heal. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, I certainly have no intention of offending you,” Rick said softly “but I don’t think you’ll make it under your own power.” He paused for a moment as the wizard’s dark eyes met his own, only to roll back into his head as the potion master lost consciousness. “Poor guy” Rick sighed as he picked up the wizard, cradling him in his arms as if he were a child. “I’ll take you to Angel’s, you’ll be more comfortable there, your room is too damp and chilly. You need to learn to accept comfort and kindness instead of sulking off on your own, festering in pain and hurt.”

Rick looked down on the wizard’s face and smiled tenderly, they were so much alike, it had been the same for him. Only then it had been Cash carrying him, the wounded mortal, the one who had risked everything to save the children of Clan MacLeod. It had been the start of his new life, a life that had taught him the importance of love, companionship, touch and laughter, in short, a far different life than he had ever known before. “I hope I can be half the teacher to you that Cash was to me.” Rick whispered as the door to Angel’s rooms opened before him.

He carefully laid Sev on Angel’s bed and took off the wizard’s shoes and his tattered robes, brushing the wizard’s dark hair off of his face, Rick smiled wistfully as memories, long quiet, rose to the surface. Loosening Severus’s trousers in the hopes of making him more comfortable, Rick covered him with Angel’s soft, warm quilt then pulled up a chair, preparing to watch over the man until he woke. “I’ll let you rest now professor, but as soon as you wake, I’ll need to clean you up, you are quite literally a bloody mess.”

Staring intently at the professor, Rick felt a flood of old emotions; the sense of longing, of wanting to belong but never feeling as if he fit in, the all to familiar sense of your heart being torn in two by your desire to love and the terror of that same desire. “I wish I could spare you the pain of this lesson Professor Snape, but the only way to grow is to experience” Rick sighed, then smirked lightly as he added “at least that’s what Cash and Orpha kept telling me. You’ll really like them once you let that stone wall around your heart crumble.”

Stretching out his legs and leaning back against the chair, Rick closed his eyes as he waited for the professor to wake. It had been so many decades and still, he had not really gotten the hang of walking in the light of day, he just always felt as if he belonged to the night, even before he was embraced as a Gangrel. ……

Severus felt the familiar nightmares of his youth surrounding him, threatening to devour him, heart and soul. He heard his mother sobbing behind a closed door, her screaming and pleading finally at an end as his father rubbed his sore, bleeding knuckles and retied the cords of his robes. Severus knew exactly what had happened, it was a fairly regular occurrence in the Snape household. He cringed as he realized that was probably how he was conceived, against his mother’s will. Ducking out of sight, Sev hid inside a dark room until his father’s footsteps faded away, he may only be ten, but he knew enough not to get within an arms reach when his father was like this. The elder Snape had always terrified Severus, the icy glint in his black eyes and the constant, nasty sneer sent cold shivers down his spine at every turn. How he had wished he could have been someone else’s son, he had seen other families, families that seemed to love each other. He remembered clearly sitting at a café with his mother in Diagon Alley as his father did his business in Knockturn Alley. He was watching other father’s and sons as they walked together, laughing, smiling…. That’s when he had first seen them, Black and Potter with their fathers, they had all seemed so happy, so content, at least until Angus Black saw his mother.

Angus Black had stopped short the moment he spied them, Sev remembered clearly the look in the man’s eyes as he evaluated him, as if comparing him to his own son, his ‘golden‘ boy. It was then that his mother had sent him off to talk to the other boys, he had hardly gotten out of his chair before Angus sat down in his place, taking his mother‘s hand in his own. Sulkily, he walked towards James and Sirius, but paused when he saw the look in Harrison Potter’s eyes, it was obvious from the look of disgust that the elder Potter knew his father. Pulling his cloak tightly around him, more to hide the tell tale marks of his father’s latest temper tantrum than anything else, Sev glanced warily at the trio. “Come on, we’re going to the Quidditch store to look at brooms”, it had been James who invited him, smiling, pleasantly disheveled, and always friendly James.

It had actually gone fairly well, until his father had burst into the store, glowering darkly as his eyes fell on Severus. Sev realized quickly he had crossed some sort of line, as apparently had his mother, who was being drug along by her wrist behind his father. Sev felt himself burning with anger and embarrassment, only made worse when Angus Black appeared behind them, rubbing a large red welt on his face that was quickly bruising and glaring hatefully at his father. Obviously his father’s temper didn’t end at his own family, Sev found himself wishing that the two wizards would attack his father, he would rather be fatherless and penniless than have to endure the constant beatings and verbal tirades, but he knew it would never happen, not here, not now. He just wasn’t that lucky, in fact if anyone asked him, he would tell them he was cursed.

Sev had survived that particular ordeal and many, many more, to be truthful, it was not until he became a father himself that he developed the courage to stand up to his own father. He would have done anything for his Serenity, as would his mother, she was their little girl, how often had they taken her out together, three generations making the only ‘true’ family he had ever known. He had always thought it a pity that his wife never seemed interested in their daughter, he was used to her ignoring him, she did what she considered her ‘duty’ and that was the end of it. But he and his mother had made up for any apathy on her part, there was hardly a moment Serenity wasn’t being held or cuddled by one of them from the moment she was born. It had been as close to perfect a life as he could ever hope to have, although even then, he would find himself wondering what his life would have become if Catri hadn’t run away. If she would have accepted his invitation to join he and his mother. He knew she never would, not after her one and only visit to his home, she had seen what his father was capable of, of the depths he could sink, she despised him almost as much as he did himself.

Suddenly Sev’s dream became murky as it shifted ahead several months, he had finally had his fill of all the killing and terror, true his father had had him initiated into Voldemort’s army, a role which he had dutifully filled since he was fourteen years old, but tonight, tonight had been too much, the child had been too much like Serenity, and his father had refused to let the child live. Severus nursed the deep gashes on his upper arms, a token from his loving father for refusing to kill the baby. Lucius however was more than willing, and in fact had taken a perverse pleasure in ending such an innocent life. It was then that Severus knew what he had to do, he had slunk off into the darkness, allowing the others to ‘enjoy’ themselves in the carnage. He needed to think, he needed to take his mother and daughter far away from there, somewhere they would all be safe, somewhere his father and the other death eaters would never, ever find them.

Sev smiled as he realized what he could do, Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore, his old headmaster would help him. He would offer Dumbledore and the Ministry a trade, he would spy on Voldemort, tell them everything, and they would hide his daughter and mother. Without wasting another moment, Sev apparatated to just outside of Hogwarts, proceeding quickly to the headmaster’s office. It had seemed to be a godsend, Albus, while upset that one of his students would have joined forces with Voldemort, was more than understanding, and quite willing to help him. It seemed that he was in the process of doing the same thing for the Potters as well. Sev smiled widely when he saw the baby in Lily’s arms, he was only four months old, ‘baby Harry‘, James had called him, as if someone would mistake him for his grandfather. Lily had allowed him to hold the baby, remarking at the way baby Harry kept smiling at him, they had exchanged baby stories, laughed at old school days, it was almost as if he were speaking to Catri. He had made the mistake of asking Lily about her, only to see her head shake sadly, “She contacts me when she can, but the Ministry has exiled her, she can’t break through, not even to see our baby.” she explained, her deep green eyes filling with tears. “I miss her Severus, I want my sister back.”

He understood, he wanted her back as well, he had seen her playing with children in Hogsmeade, heard her stories about life with her family, she would be a wonderful mother for Serenity, and, he supposed, a loving wife to him. After all, she had always been so very kind to him, defending him against other students, even against that black hearted villain Sirius Black.

By the time he had left Hogwarts, everything seemed right with the world, his daughter and mother would be spirited away the day after next, he would take a position at the school as a teacher and inform Voldemort that he would spy on Dumbledore for him. After all, Voldemort had been trying to get someone close to Albus for years now, none of the students could manage without being caught, but as a teacher he would be able to go nearly anywhere in the school. He doubted Voldemort could resist such an opportunity, he would even enlist Lucius’s help, asking him to ‘lose’ certain documents when his appointment to the school went before the board.

Sev smiled as he thought of his future, for once he had something to look forward to, perhaps his daughter and Lily’s son could grow up together, after all, there was only a few months difference. They would grow up with friends, not alone as he had, they would know comfort and security, they would be safe from harm no matter what. And when Catri finally broke through the spells, as he was sure she would, perhaps he could try again with her, when her heart had healed, when she was able to understand how desperately he loved her. Reaching the door of his home, Severus took a deep breath and put on his familiar stony face, it was time to slip into character again. Time to pretend he didn’t care, that he hated the world and all its inhabitants. He was halfway up the stairs when he heard his father’s voice spouting obscenities, more than likely at his mother. Steeling himself for the worst, Severus proceeded to walk back down the stairs, determined to protect his mother once more, only this time, he was far too late. The image was burned into his mind, his mother’s beautiful violet eyes staring at him, unseeing and unfeeling as his father continued to pummel her lifeless, blood soaked body….

Rick awoke to the sound of Professor Snape writhing and thrashing in his sleep. Rick quickly sprang to the bed and sat next to the professor, taking his hand in his own and cooing softly as he tried to wake the wizard from his nightmare. “Professor Snape? Severus? Come on,” he said, shaking the wizard gently “come on, time to wake up. Professor?!” Rick cringed as he heard the usually stoic professor crying out pitifully in his fevered sleep, whatever he was dreaming about, it couldn’t be good. “Please, Severus, wake up!”…..

Sev had lost his mind in those few short moments, he felt the rage swelling inside of him, pounding against his numb mind. By the time he realized what had happened, he saw his father’s mangled body underneath him, and a trail of blood leading from where his mother’s corpse laid to his own stained hands. A wordless moan of pain and realization sprang from his lips as he fell backwards, shocked and disgusted beyond comprehension. He had to find his daughter, he had to get her to safety, to Albus or Lily, it didn’t matter whom, he just needed her to be safe. Tearing up the stairs, he ran towards the nursery, tripping over the body of his wife as a cold terror filled his soul. Flinging open the nursery door, he fell to his knees and screamed as his heart was wrenched from his chest, it was over now, nothing mattered anymore, nothing……

Severus screamed as he ran from the nightmare, only to find himself wrapped in a pair of strong arms, arms that were trying to push him down. “Professor, please, you have to calm down.” it was the voice of the Gangrel, one of Cash’s clan, the one that reminded him of Black. “Rick?” he asked, uncertain if he even had the right name.

“Professor Snape?” Rick asked, his voice filled with worry, “are you back with us now? I’ve never seen a person suffer through a nightmare the way you just did. Come on, look at me, let me know your still there.” Rick replied, slapping Severus’s cheek gently, hoping to rouse the wizard from whatever images had done this to him.

“Would you stop it!” Severus spat, pushing the Gangrel away from him, “I am perfectly fine, stop hitting me.”

“I have” Rick said softly, lifting the professor’s chin so he could see his eyes. “You still aren’t all there, are you?” he asked as he brushed his fingers over Sev’s cheek. “Alright Professor Snape, lets get you settled again” he sighed as he gently pushed Severus down into Angel’s bed, tucking him in once more……..