TITLE: There is a Time 10/B Author: Sheila B Email: Rated: R/NC17 Summary: Severus and Remus have rescued Draco from his job as Voldemort's unwilling consort. However, in order to do it, Severus had to drink a Poly Juice Potion and take his place. Disc: Not my characters. Feedback: Yes please. Archive: Okay, if you want. Let me know where though. Warnings: Severe (ish) S&M involving a just barely legal person, technically. I was going to write the entire scene, but discovered I couldn't really do It.. but if someone else wants to try //shrug//

**

"Well, well, "MacNair drawled. "Not so proud now, are we?"

"What did I ever do to you?" Severus spat out. MacNair grabbed him by the hair again and jerked his face up to look the huge man in the eye. It had been a long time since Severus had been helpless and an even longer time since he'd been small. He was both now, and he hated it.

"Oh, nothing. Little worms like yourself tend to go below my notice. But from what I've been told, you mince about as if you own everything. Typical of a Malfoy, of course. For a moment, I considered respecting your father's memory and declining this particular assignment, however, my loyalty to the Dark Lord goes beyond loyalty to a dead friend."

"You bastard!"

The whip cracked across his shoulder blades.

"Apparently, you need a refresher course in manners. Strip."

"No." Stall him, he had to stall MacNair. The longer it took him to be "trained" the longer it would be before he had to perform for Voldemort. Plus, he was just bloody minded enough to refuse to submit anyway.

"Crucio!"

MacNair waited for him to recover before repeating the order. This time, Severus obeyed, as slowly as possible.

"This will go much worse for you if you continue to be stubborn, Malfoy."

"Fuck you."

MacNair whipped him for that, and by the time it was over Severus was ready to at least try to do as he was told.

**

Remus nervously watched Draco sleeping. He was terrified for Draco, for Severus and for himself. Voldemort was going to react just as badly to the loss of his "child bride" as he did every time Harry Potter managed to defeat him. Severus had figured out how to tweak the PolyJuice potion to last for 24 hours instead of one hour, but one second more than that and he might not get out.

Draco stirred on the bed. Remus went over to him and lay down, pulling Draco against his chest.

"Sleep while you can."

"You saved me. I knew you would. Where's Severus?"

"Uh, Draco, that's what I need to talk to you about. But get some sleep first."

"No! Tell me now!"

"Severus used a PolyJuice potion to disguise himself as you, while I brought you here to Hogwarts. He's going to meet us later and we'll go to a safe place."

Draco was out of his arms in less than four seconds, and Remus just barely made it to the door to block Draco from leaving.

"Let me out!"

"He knows what he's doing."

"I can't let him.I can't!" Draco stood shivering in his thin pajamas, Remus regretted not stopping to put a sweater on him before they left.

"You know no one 'lets' Severus do anything. And, I wish now that we'd warned you before we put our plan in action."

"Well, you didn't ask, did you?" Draco cried, his eyes flashing. "You treat me just the way Mother and Father and Master did, like a piece of property. All of you do it! You didn't even feel it was necessary to inform me that I was going to be rescued! I'm sick of being fought over like-like-a Snitch!"

"Draco, no one meant for-"

"Right. And I believe you. Why did it have to be Severus, though? Why couldn't YOU have gone?"

Remus couldn't pretend not to be hurt by that.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, "he said stiffly.

"I didn't mean it THAT way, "Draco said with a gruffness to his voice. An almost apology?

"Here's why, Draco. Because Voldemort was never going to let you go unless Severus was dead and he had nothing to hold over your head anymore. So Severus had to fake his own death, which is one reason why he was the logical choice to stand in for you. Unlike me, he no longer has classes to teach! "

"Stop yelling at me, "Draco said, with a slight quiver.

"I'm not yelling at you, "Remus snapped. "It's been a very long night. Help me pack some things for Severus and we'll get you to the safe house."

**

Severus buried his face in the pillows of Draco's bed and cried. He tried to banish the feelings of shame he had for not being able to hold out longer. He'd tried to hold out, he'd tried not to be broken. However, as the sun was coming up over the hilltops, the bruises and bleeding and sleep deprivation caused him to crack. He began to really think himself the "worthless, dirty whore" MacNair kept calling him.

MacNair had healed the wounds, but Severus was beginning to discover that Draco was right. They still hurt.

He cried until he was all cried out. He must have lain there for hours, a house elf brought in a food tray at some point, but he didn't stir to eat.

When the sounds of the day began to get louder, he finally sat up and gingerly dressed himself in some of the filmy robes found in Draco's wardrobe. He scrubbed his face with soap and water, willing himself to be strong.

Holding his head up high, Severus descended the sweeping staircase to meet his Master.

**

Remus and Draco touched down outside a row of dingy Muggle buildings in London. Remus gave Draco a note and told him to read it and memorize it. When #12 appeared between the other houses, Remus marched up to the door and tapped it with his wand. It was opened quickly and they were beckoned inside.

Remus hauled Severus' trunk into the lounge, and Draco followed but gave a terrified squeak at who he saw there. He almost moved to hide behind Remus, who pulled him back out.

"It's alright."

"But that's- and -COUSIN SIRIUS!"

Mad Eye Moody looked completely confused and Sirius blinked.

"So, you're Narcissa's kid?"

Draco nodded dumbly, his eyes huge.

"Ere', why's he frightened of me?" Moody demanded.

"Remember your imposter, two years ago?" said Remus. "He performed a very cruel spell on Draco, " he smoothed out Draco's hair lovingly. "turned him into a ferret and bounced him around the hallway."

"That's really-"Sirius began with a grin, and Remus glared at him. "Not very funny, " he amended quickly. "how's your mother, by the way? Haven't seen much of her since I was disowned. "

Draco gasped, broke free of Remus and ran out of the room.

"What did I SAY?" Sirius demanded. Fred and George walked by in the hallway, looking annoyed.

"Was that Draco Malfoy who just ran past? "

"Think it was. "

"First Snape, now Malfoy? "

"He was in his pajamas too."

"Leave him alone, "Hermione snapped. She'd been retrieved from the morgue a couple of hours ago and was none the worse for wear except for the occasional Snapelike mannerism.. they'd caught her striding earlier.

"Draco's mother is in Azkaban, "Remus explained. "She killed his father, "he lowered his voice, "and abused Draco for years."

"What a surprise, "Sirius said. "Where's he staying? We're beginning to run out of room."

"He'll share with me."

"I'll put in a cot."

"No, you misunderstand. He's sharing my bed."

"Remus, you dog, "Sirius laughed. "How long have you been banging the students?"

"First of all, that's a rude word to use to describe what Draco and I do, and second of all, he's not my student. He had to leave school recently owing to no fault of his own. "

"Sorry, mate, I didn't realize it was so serious between you two."

"I should go find him. " Remus searched throughout the house for Draco and finally found him in the kitchen with Molly Weasley. She was forcing a full English breakfast on him, insisting that he was "too skinny, the poor child."

Draco ate with the gusto of a typical teenager, which made Remus smile over his head at Molly. A pity it couldn't last longer, halfway through his eggs and toast Draco began to shake. His juice glass slipped out of his hand and smashed on the floor.

"Remus!" Draco pulled back his pajama sleeve quickly to reveal his bondage mark, burning brightly.

**

Severus felt an excruciating pain in his left wrist. The shock nearly made him scream. Instead, he hurried down the stairs, pausing at the bottom to try and figure out where he should go to find his master. But where was he?

Only his master could make this pain stop and Severus didn't know where he was!

The house was a maze, Severus searched and searched, growing more and more frantic as the pain in his wrist grew worse. He finally burst through a set of large double doors to find Voldemort sitting comfortably in a chair, waiting for him. This room was decorated with big marble statues and gold brocaded chairs.

"That took you longer than usual. I'd almost believe you've completely forgotten the layout of my house. But then, you were never very bright to begin with, so I'll mark it down to lack of sleep. "He patted his thigh meaningfully. "Come, sit. "

Severus perched gingerly on the bony lap. It hurt to sit down and he was sure Voldemort knew this. A cold as ice hand traveled up and down his back slowly.

"I'm waiting for the Daily Prophet to be delivered, "his master explained. "Usually, I prefer to be left alone when I read my morning papers. I find that the presence of other people, especially a dimwit like you, makes me too annoyed to concentrate properly. Today, however, I wish to question you about how last night went."

"Yes, Master, "Severus whispered hoarsely.

"Walden tells me you were not very hospitable to him."

"No, Master, I wasn't."

"Why?"

"I-I-" He made up a lie on the spot. "I don't want to be touched by anyone except for you, Sir."

"I had assumed, due to your well documented career as a whore and erotic film star, you'd be used to it."

A huge black raven arrived with the morning papers strapped to its leg. Voldemort untied the bundle and began scanning the front pages. With a sudden snarl of rage, he stood, depositing Severus on the floor.

"Severus Snape, murdered! I did not order this! "

Severus clapped a hand to his mouth and gasped.

"Noo!"

"This was NOT THE PLAN. WORMTAIL!" Wormtail scurried into the room, rubbing his eyes blearily.

Severus curled up in a ball and began to sob. He had no trouble dredging up tears, since it was his own death he was "mourning".

"Stop that racket!" Voldemort kicked him. "Wormtail, lock the boy in his room. The Malfoy family could demand that I return him his mother is still of anything resembling a sound mind." Moreover, it wasn't said, Draco might decide he had nothing left to lose and run for it.

Severus allowed Wormtail to seize him by the arm and drag him down the maze of hallways to the big front staircase. When Wormtail was distracted by the sound of Voldemort smashing a piece of pottery, Severus went for it and kicked him in the crotch.

"I've always wanted to do that to you, you traitor, "he sneered. Wormtail lunged, Severus danced nimbly out of the way and ran for the door.

As he zipped across the gardens to the high black iron gates, Severus was incredibly grateful to be in Draco's body and not his own. Not that he was out of shape, but Draco was in peak physical condition for a young man. He reached the gate with Wormtail hobbling after him angrily, and MacNair thundering out of the caretaker's cottage as blue sparks shot into the air from Wormtail's wand. Severus swung his arms upward and hauled himself over the fence.

His thin robes were torn, and his leg got scraped on one of the iron spikes as he scrambled over. Falling to the dirt road on the other side, he heard a bone crack in his ankle. Severus used his last bit of strength to Apparate to where he knew he'd find his lovers again.

**

Draco became so hysterical with the pain that he had to be held down.

"Now we know which side of the family he takes after, "Sirius said, glaring in the direction of his mother's portrait.

"Sirius, it hurts him."

"I know, I'm only saying. Certain members of my family are a bit high strung."

They were all startled by the sound of something crashing into the dustbins outside. Remus and Sirius ran outside, leaving Molly to hold Draco to her bosom and whisper comforting words. Severus, bleeding and limping and nearly naked was struggling to his feet.

"Severus!" Remus cried. Sirius gave him a funny look as Remus ran to help Severus inside. He found a blanket for his lover.

"Where's Draco?"

"Hush. He's fine. He's here. Molly's taking care of him. "

"I want to see him." Severus pushed past him and went to the basement kitchen, where he knew to find Molly. He took Draco from her arms and carried him wordlessly up the stairs again. He held Draco with such tenderness and affection that no one watching could help being moved.

"Remus, we'll use your room."

"Certainly."

They lay Draco down on the bed, and Severus knelt to examine the tattoo. Hermione knocked on the doorframe and entered without being requested. She was holding a glass bottle and a sopping wet handkerchief in her hand.

"I know a way to get rid of the mark. It's a sort of Muggle thing.."

"Well, give it here." Hermione handed him the acid bottle.

"It'll hurt for a minute or two, but it'll effectively erase the tattoo, and if he drinks enough water the magic might eventually leave his bloodstream. Magical tattoos enter the bloodstream of the person who is branded, and so the marked person should drink as much liquid as possible to flush their system of the magic. "

Severus glared at her.

"That's NEWT level, "he said solemnly. Hermione blushed. Severus unscrewed the bottle and tipped it over Draco's left wrist. It steamed and burned, and Draco shrieked. But Remus quickly wiped it down with the cold cloth and used his wand to help heal the scar.

Draco guzzled the water they gave him, shaking and shivering still. Hermione smiled politely and slipped away.

Severus and Remus lay down on the bed with Draco and held him between them. They kissed him and nuzzled him and told him how much they loved him. They were just so happy to have him back.

PWP to follow soon.