"What is wrong with her?" I ask, lifting a very small and sickly girl out from under the stairs.

"Ley her on the couch, so I can take a look at her. I'm glad I have been taking lessons with our healer," Voldemort says as I lay her down with her head in my lap. As Voldemort runs scans on her, I run my fingers through her overly short hair.

"Is… is she ok?" Petunia asks from the doorway.

"How long has she been sick?" Voldemort asks, locking eyes with me. I can feel my heart sink at the pain and sorrow that is showing in his eyes.

"She's always been small and sickly because Vernon won't let me feed her properly, plus he used her as a slave. The past several days, she's been sicker," Petunia says before turning and leaving the house. I go to get up and follow her, but a hand on my arm stops me.

"She's in bad shape. We need to get her to the healer, now," Voldemort says, a look of fear in his eyes. I nod and quickly pick Lily up while Voldemort shrinks Lily's trunk down and sticks it in his robe pocket.

"Is she going to be ok?" I ask, holding her to me.

"I hope so, Sev, I hope so," Voldemort says, leading the way out back. We quickly apparat back to the mansion. Voldemort quickly leads me to a room right across from his personal rooms.

"Shouldn't we take her to where the healer works?" I ask, laying her on the bed as Voldemort removes his outer robes.

"There was a huge raid last night. A lot of our men are injured and in the hospital wing. I don't want to expose her to that," Voldemort says, calling for a house elf and having it fetch the healer.

"I can't believe they put her in that home," I say, sitting on the edge of the bed and brushing her hair from her face.

"She's safe now, Sev. She's with us, now, and no one will ever lay a hand on her again," he says, walking over and running his hand through my hair as the healer walks in.

"It's about time you two stopped dancing around each other," the healer says, setting his bag down and pulling out several potions.

"What?" I asked, standing up, which causes Voldemort to stop running his fingers through my hair.

"There is nothing going on between us yet. Right now our main concern is Lily," Voldemort said, glaring at the healer.

"Of course, my Lord, but I must ask that you two step out of the room while I treat her," the healer says, bowing.

"I'm not leaving her," I say quickly.

"Severus, the last thing she needs when she wakes up is all three of us watching her while he treats her," Voldemort says, grabbing my arm and pulling me out.

"My Lord, I need to stay with her," I say, trying to get back into the room.

"We don't need to be in there for this," he says, blocking my path to the door.

"Yes, we do. She doesn't know him," I say, getting frustrated.

"She doesn't know us either. She really doesn't need three men she doesn't know seeing her when he treats her," he says, conjuring two chairs right there in the hallway and forcing me to sit.

"What are you talking about? We've already seen her," I say, fidgeting with my hands.

"In order for him to treat her, he's going to have to see all of her, Sev, and she doesn't need us seeing too," he says, grabbing my hand to stop my fidgeting.

"Oh, I didn't even think about that. I just feel bad about not going and seeing her sooner. Lily was my best friend, and I've failed her," I say, watching the door for any signs of trouble.

"Firstly, you have not failed her. I've never personally known Lily, but I know from what you've told me that she wouldn't want you blaming yourself. Secondly, did you even know where she was until today?" he says, brushing my hair from my face, which causes me to jump and move away from his hand.

"My Lord," I stuttered, feeling completely confused.

"I hope I'm not overstepping here, but I've always liked you and hope you like me too," he says, locking eyes with me.

"Is this some kind of a joke?" I asked, standing up.

"I would never joke about this," he says, standing as well and stepping closer to me.

"I never knew you felt the same way," I say, smiling slightly. Voldemort pulls me into a hug and I actually relax into him.

*Note: This is a prequel as the title says. There will be a continuation in a second story.*