With concern Remus Lupin noticed that not much of his companion's characteristic stride was discernible as they stumbled through the undergrowth. It was cold and dark all around them and he could not hear a sound. The only thing he perceived was the smell of the blood of the man leading him through the woods. It was obvious that he wouldn't be able to continue much longer but Remus also knew he would never let it show.

Let's take a break. Lupin suggested and stopped walking.

No, they might be coming after us. Snape said in a hoarse voice.

I'll be able to hear them before they get too close.

It's too dangerous. Snape started walking again.

How far? Lupin called after him.

Snape turned around, glared at him and walked back towards him. Why don't you just light a fire and shout a little louder? He hissed.

How long will it take us to get out of here? Lupin repeated his question, keeping his voice low.

The woods are deep. Snape replied. Three hours.

Lupin studied the man standing in front of him. His clothes were still soaked from when he had been thrown into the sea and the deep cuts that stretched from his shoulder and neck over his chest were still bleeding. Remus felt like he was freezing and in the state Snape was in the cold had to feel ten times worse to him.

You won't make it. Lupin stated. If I'd tip you with one finger now you would just fall over, unable to ever get up from the ground again.

Better don't try it. Snape muttered and turned to continue with his way. Lupin reached out and grabbed him by the shoulder.

If we walk on now you'll be dead in no more than an hour.

What would you care. Snape replied.

Fine, let's assume I don't care if you live or die, but I need you to get out of here. Lupin replied. You're the one who knows his way around here.

The anger in Snape's eyes suddenly seemed to die down as he felt weakness creep up inside of him. He muttered and reached out to a tree trunk for support. Remus pretended he hadn't noticed and sat down on the ground.

Maybe it's a mistake to rely so much on being wizards. Lupin said. Without a wand we're nothing. We can't even light a fire...

When his companion didn't say anything in return Lupin looked up from the ground and saw him sitting with his back against a tree, his eyes half closed and breathing heavily. He sank down a little lower and finally allowed his weak body to rest on the ground.

Try to sleep, I'll keep watch. Lupin whispered.

I don't need you to tell me what to do. Snape muttered but didn't protest any further. He was lying on his side, his head resting on his arm.

You should take my cloak. You must be freezing. Lupin said.

I'm fine. Snape replied, refusing his offer.

Remus Lupin sat in silence and concentrated on any sound that might come from the forest as well as on listening to the other wizard's breathing. A few minutes later he was convinced Snape was sleeping, leaned over to him and gently touched his shoulder. His soaked clothes were as cold as ice. He took off his own cloak and covered him with it, knowing Snape would probably kill him for that when he woke up again. If. The thought made him shudder. A soft breeze was rustling in the treetops. Snape had a troubled sleep, turning from one side to another, clenching the cloak he had as a blanket and from time to time whispering some unintelligible words. Lupin watched him through the darkness and wondered if he always slept like that. He could still smell fresh blood. Maybe resting here hadn't been a good idea, it might make Snape's condition even worse. But there hadn't really been a choice.

About half an hour later Snape woke and met Lupin's eyes with a glare.

Stop staring at me. He muttered.

You're talking in your sleep. Lupin replied.

Snape said curtly and looked at the cloak he had been sleeping under. With concern Lupin noticed that he didn't say anything about it. Snape coughed and sat up, leaning against the tree. His voice was trembling slightly, but still enough for Remus to hear. You should go... on your own.

Lupin shook his head. I won't leave you here to die.

If you wish to risk your own life you may as well wait here and leave when I'm dead... His voice was becoming weaker with every word he said. Your last look will be the one into the eyes of a wolf... He muttered, more to himself than to Lupin.

Lupin asked softly. He was quite sure Snape was slowly going insane.

My birth prediction. He whispered.

Lupin replied surprised. I didn't think you had one, I mean, I thought nobody was still doing that nowadays...

Barely anyone, it can be cruel really... I actually always thought it told me you would kill me one day, but maybe it was meant to be like this.

You're going to live through this. Suddenly it became clear to Lupin that he really had to leave. If he stayed he could do nothing but watch him die, but if he left he might still be able to make it through these woods and get help. How will I get out of here?

Follow your nose, werewolf. Snape almost managed a weak smile. Watch the stars. Keep north for about an hour. He coughed again. There's a large lake, turn west to get past it. And watch your step... there'll be some deep rifts on your way.

Lupin nodded and looked around himself to memorize the place in order to apparate back here. All right... I'll be leaving now. He said and looked at Snape who had closed his eyes again. I will come back.

I know. Snape whispered.

Lupin wanted to say something else but he couldn't think of anything appropriate so he just reached out and put a reassuring hand on the other man's shoulder. Don't dare to die while I'm gone. He said softly.

Finding his way on his own was trickier than Lupin had expected. The trees often prevented him from seeing the stars that were supposed to lead him and more than once large rocks growing out of the ground forced him to leave his direct way. The vegetation covering the ground kept growing higher and slowed him down. Whenever he had the chance he stopped and looked up at the sky to make sure he was still keeping to the right direction. The moon was shining bright and for the second time in this night he considered that turning into a wolf might have something good to it. The wolf would have been a lot faster on this terrain. He didn't waste another thought on it and continued on his way. It was getting colder, he was running out of time.

Severus Snape was lying on the ground and listened to his own breathing. He too could feel the cold, he felt it creeping up inside of him and he knew that the cold would be his nemesis in this endless night because with the cold came death. This couldn't be the way he was supposed to die, lying in the dirt on the ground of the forest, clutching Lupin's cloak. He had never expected to be fighting against death, but he also hadn't expected to have the time to do so. It had always seemed most likely to him that a deadly curse would end his life, not allowing him much time to think about what was happening. This was way worse. Why of all people did it have to be Lupin he had ended up here with. Even Black would have been better, at least they both had clear positions: they hated each other, no ifs or buts. But it was getting harder and harder for him to hate Remus Lupin for even Snape had to admit that he actually was quite a likeable person. Calm and quiet, but also perceptive and quick-witted. And caring. Even towards him. Although this wasn't enough reason for Snape to like him, he couldn't really hate him either. He could hear his own heartbeat. Voldemort had to have given up searching for them, otherwise he would long have been found by now. This meant there were only two roads left for him, dying here or being saved by the werewolf.

Lupin had to fight hard against just giving up and collapsing to the ground. He was feeling completely exhausted, his pants were torn from the sharp thorns in the undergrowth and he was shivering from cold. But he kept on walking, noticing the forest slowly seemed to become thinner until it finally was no more than a few lonely trees on a large meadow. The sky was turning from black into gray, the sunrise couldn't be too far away. Across the meadow he saw two dimly lit windows staring at him like eyes out of the darkness, the windows of a small cottage. A wizard's house, he hoped.

The time of twilight, Snape thought when he looked up to the sky. As it was slowly getting lighter he could make out single branches of the trees above him. It was still cold. In this forest it always seemed to be cold, no matter how bright the sun might shine. He was feeling tired and closed his eyes but still didn't give up fighting against falling asleep. Cold accompanied death, but sleep was death. He thought he might actually just have found a new nemesis. He heard a soft rustling in the dead leafs on the ground.

Lupin apparated a few steps away from him. He stared at Snape for a moment, lying on the ground, pale, motionless and his eyes closed. He addressed him but as he had expected, the other wizard didn't react. Lupin slowly approached him, knelt down next to him and reached out to touch his neck. Be alive, he heard himself whisper again and again. When he touched his skin it felt cold. He whispered again and this time he could see that Snape was slowly opening his eyes. His gaze was empty but deep in his black eyes Remus could still see a flicker of life when he smiled at him. I'll get you home. Lupin whispered, put an arm around Snape's shoulders and they both disappeared.

Dumbledore, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey, the mediwitch, were already waiting when they apparated in the Forbidden Forest. Lupin immediately collapsed to the ground next to the other wizard. Apparating here and bringing Snape with him had taken all the energy that had still been left in him.

I'm fine. He whispered weakly when he felt a hand on his shoulder and the mediwitch nodded and concentrated her attention on the other wizard.

Snape heard familiar voices whispering some spells and soon he felt neither cold nor pain. He could feel McGonagall gently taking his hand.

Thank you for bringing him back, Remus. Dumbledore said in a soft voice, offered him a hand and pulled him back to his feet.

I told him I would come back. Lupin replied while glancing over at Snape.

I told him I knew he would. Snape muttered. Too much of a Gryffindor not to.

Even though hearing that from you makes it hard I'll try to regard this as a compliment. Lupin said and smiled at him.

-end-

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed :)

- snapefan51, sar-spasm, shadowycat, ladyravena, B-Elanna, gimlien, Piri Lupin-Snape, NewMoon589, siw-wa, melodie, caius julius, risi, binx, emma, Jenna and of course to anyone who still might do so now.

shadowycat: Why I made Malfoy let them go: Malfoy didn't care about Lupin, he didn't even really acknowledge his presence. He let Snape go because they used to be friends for quite a long time and he didn't really want to see him dead. Because he couldn't persuade him to return to the dark side he gave him a chance to get away. He wouldn't have done so if he would have been held responsible for his escape but the other Death Eaters are to blame for this. Hope this explains a little about the way I see and usually write Snape/Malfoy.

In case you were wondering about that 'birth prediction' thing I put in: a friend of mine from Romania told me about it, it's a one-line prediction made by some sort of fortune teller when a child is born which has some sort of meaning regarding a part of the life (or death) of that person. No idea if it's true but I liked the idea so I used it.