A/N: Thanks to Lori for the beta! Sorry it's been so long, guys! Please forgive me? Bunches of love!

The burn in Charlie's arm slowly began to spread, and seep into the rest of his body, as Voldemort twisted his wand. The wood bit harshly into his delicate skin, as it was moved at a snail's pace from his wrist, to the inside of his elbow. Charlie chewed desperately at his lips, choking back every scream that tried to fight its way through his mouth.

Snape was to his right, inconspicuously massaging Charlie's shoulder. It did nothing to alleviate the aching fire rushing through his body. He was hyperaware of every bead of sweat trickling down his face, dripping from his nose, and soaking into his shirt.

The internal inferno blazed throughout his body, reaching every extremity. The flames began to lick hungrily at his feet - scorching him from the inside. Charlie started to wonder why he'd ever agreed to this. His answer came in the form of worried grey eyes, and a flash of blonde hair, as darkness descended upon him.

Not dead. That was his first thought upon regaining consciousness. His second thought was the burning had subsided, but only slightly.

Water rolled over his forehead, and he could hear Draco's frantic pleading.

"Wake up, Charlie. Please, please, please, just open your fucking eyes."

Draco's voice was raw and panicked, as if he'd spent hours screaming, or crying.

Charlie's throat and mouth were parched, and his tongue felt like sandpaper against the roof of his mouth. But, somehow, he managed to answer.

"I'm okay."

Fighting the urge to sink back into oblivion, Charlie forced his eyes open, and watched Draco's expression change from fear, to relief. The wash cloth he'd been wringing over Charlie's head fell to the floor, and Draco exhaled loudly, as he dropped his head to Charlie's chest.

The flaming ache that had settled deep into his bones was dissipating, and he was able to lift his arms enough to get them around Draco. Taking in his surroundings, Charlie realized they were back in their room - their prison.

Draco wept into Charlie's bare chest, and Charlie gripped him as firmly as his current state would allow. He absorbed every tear, every quake of the other man's body, and cooed soothingly at him.

"It's over, Draco. I'm fine. You're okay." The words rasped ruggedly from between cracked, dry lips.

Jerking up, Draco swiped the wetness from his face, and reached for something on the table to Charlie's left. A tall glass of water leaked condensation onto Charlie's still heated skin, as Draco brought it to Charlie's mouth.

He wanted to down it in one gulp, but knew that would end badly - most likely with him getting sick. So, he sipped slowly, and could almost feel the liquid sizzling down his throat, and into his stomach. Once he felt he'd taken enough to quench the worst of his thirst, Charlie gently pushed it away.

"You need to drink, Charlie. Severus said that you'd be dehydrated, and that I should get you to drink as soon as possible."

It hurt to smile, but Charlie stretched his mouth into the closest thing he could achieve.

"I'll let you give me some more in a minute. I just want to make sure this stays down first. I won't be a difficult patient, I promise. How long have I been out?"

"A few hours. But, we were worried." Draco reached up to push Charlie's damp hair off his forehead.

"We?"

"Surely you didn't think only Draco had been charged with your care?" The slow drawl came from his right, and Charlie turned to see Snape sitting in a chair by the door.

"Snape."

"Indeed. I am to report to the Dark Lord the moment you awaken." But, the man did not move to do so.

"How do you feel, Mr. Wealsey?"

Charlie snorted, "Like I've been run over by a herd of hippogriffs, then torched by a dragon." The latter he didn't have to imagine, as it had happened to him more than once.

"Can you walk?" Snape was studying him in a way that suggested there was more to the question than his mobility.

"Or, better yet, could you run? Would you be able to Apparate?"

Charlie's heart leapt, and then began beating fiercely. If he wasn't horribly mistaken, they were getting ready to make their escape.

"Yes." And, he could and would, if it meant getting out of here.

"I think now would be the best time, if you are up to it. The wards are mostly designed to keep unwanted visitors out. Anyone with the Dark Mark can freely pass through either way. There are a few spells in place to keep anyone who isn't Marked from leaving, which is why Draco cannot simply walk away. I believe it will only take a bit of work to alter the wards in a small area, so that Draco would be able to slip through-"

It didn't make any sense to Charlie. If the wards could be altered easily to let Draco pass, then why couldn't they have planned this before Charlie was marked?

"And you didn't mention this before I got this nifty new ink, because…?"

"It would be exponentially harder to create a void for you to pass through. This is Draco's home, that being the case, he is naturally tuned to the wards. Basically, the wards will want to allow him passage, so it will not be as difficult to manipulate them. With your 'nifty new ink' - as you put it - you will be able walk directly through."

"It sounds like you've been thinking about this for a while."

Snape sighed, "I have, and had I a safe place for Draco to hide, he would no longer be here. As it is, I am not capable of keeping him safe out there. You, however, have shown to be rather invested in his well-being."

Charlie blushed, and hoped Draco didn't read too much into Snape's words.

"I trust that you will be able to break through the wards on the west side. As I said, they were not originally intended to keep people in, and they will likely easily bend to your will, with Draco's help. I will create a diversion on the east side. You should have enough time to pass through, and Apparate, before you are discovered."

Draco, who had been silent through their entire exchange, finally voiced his opinion, "He isn't well enough for this, Severus. He has just been Marked, and you know it will take several days for him to rebuild his strength."

Suddenly, Charlie realized he hadn't even inspected the new addition to his skin art. Lifting his left arm, he rose up from the pillows that were wedged behind him, and looked at it for the first time.

It looked exactly like the Mark every other Death Eater wore - that's what I am now, isn't it? A Death Eater - but his was fresh. The deep black was outlined with angry, red, swelling skin, and it turned his stomach.

Sensing his inner turmoil, Draco wrapped his right hand around Charlie's left, and lowered his arm.

"Don't look at it." He got the feeling that Draco was speaking more to himself than Charlie.

Charlie allowed Draco to hide the damaged arm without protest. He wasn't sure he wanted to see it any more anyway.

"Draco, now is the most opportune time to do this. The two of you will be long gone before they even suspect you have escaped."

What Snape didn't say, was that once Voldemort figured it out, Charlie would be called back. Charlie just hoped he could withstand the pain, and the desire to answer his new Lord. He also hoped that Voldemort wouldn't be able to track them through the Mark. Surely a Fidelis could withstand even Dark Magic.

"Look, Draco, if Snape says we need to do this now, then we are doing it now." Turning to Snape, Charlie asked, "How long should we wait before we try to break through?"

Standing, Snape answered, "The moment I leave, gather anything you need - quickly - and Apparate both of you just inside the wards, close to the large oak where you left the dragons."

Snape pulled Draco's wand from his robes, and tossed it to Draco, "Mr. Wealsey will need to work from outside the wards, and you will need to assist him from inside the wards. As soon as you have a hole large enough, leave. Do not look back, and do not concern yourself with what happens here."

Draco was growing more frantic by the second, "Severus, come with us, please."

Appearing more human than Charlie had ever thought possible, Snape held out his arms to the smaller man, and they embraced.

Snape leaned into Draco, and placed a kiss on the top of his head.

"You know why I cannot do that. My place is here."

Draco sniveled once, and tore himself from his godfather's arms.

"I just… I'll go make sure there's nothing in the loo that we need to take."

Charlie knew there wasn't, but allowed Draco his dignity. Snape took it as an opportunity to have a quick, private word with Charlie.

Snape's eyes darkened slightly, and he pulled himself up to his full height.

"Take care of him, Charles. I swear to you, if one hair on his head is harmed…"

In order to remind the older man of his dedication to Draco, Charlie lifted his left arm, showcasing the tattoo.

"I will do whatever it takes."

Snape nodded, and issued one more piece of advice, before sweeping from the room, "Have patience; don't push him. He's already starting to care for you, but don't expect miracles. Be gentle with him, and don't ask for more than he can give."

Charlie thought about Snape's words for a moment, before he eased himself out of the bed, and gingerly began slipping his socks and trainers on.

By the time Draco had finished in the loo, Charlie had everything packed, and shrunk to fit in his pocket. Without a word, he held his arm out to the younger man. Leaving his silencing charm in place - to cover the sound of their Apparition - Charlie relocated them to the oak tree on the west side of the Manor.