Never Forgotten

He looked up at his master, who slowly turned around to face him, lips bearing a vindictive smile.

'Master? You called me.'

'Indeed. I need information on everything that's going on in Hogwarts. Tell me about the boy.'

The room winced at a voice so high and cold that if glass might have cracked, it would straight away have frozen over. The only voice that he was really scared of.

It was obvious what boy the dark lord was referring to, but still Snape wished his master had referred to Draco in some other way. The word boy stung him every time. Because that's what Draco was: just a boy. What would Lily think? What would she say if she knew that not only was he letting this happen, he was aiding it.

'An answer, Severus?'

No, he told himself. Forget about Lily, she doesn't matter. She can never hear it now anyway.

'Yes my lord. I am helping him. I will not let him fail to carry out his task.'

'The boy-'

Snape just stopped himself from cringing.

'-will not risk failure.' Voldemort finished.

'Very true my lord.'

'Your information is invaluable Severus.'

Something that Dumbledore often told him. But when this year ended there would be no more Dumbledore and Snape would have to continue his work alone. Alone – always.

'It's nothing my lord.'

'I have something to show you Severus. A little tip, shall we say?'

A flicker of a smirk crossed Voldemort's face again.

Severus followed him to an open patch of ground. There was no risk of being seen, they were both hidden by the cloak of night. Not that being seen was ever a risk when you were with Voldemort. On the contrary, it was a risk for the unfortunate one who saw you.

'Watch me now.'

Snape watched as Voldemort hissed a charm, then a flash of light shot out of his wand, and he was in the air. Flying into the blanket of stars. Broomless.

'Thank you master' Snape gasped. 'I promise what you have shown me tonight will be used only to serve you.'

The lie was swift. Easy. He barely even noticed it wasn't necessarily true.

'Try it Severus.'

'Surely not right now, My Lord?'

'I said try it, Severus.'

The voice was getting higher. So dangerous. But Snape didn't want to fly. It was incredible, a priceless gift, yet for a reason he did not himself understand, it scared him to try and use it. But Snape knew, as did all the death eaters, that what the Dark Lord said, his servants did. On pain of death.

'Of course My Lord.'

Snape muttered the words he had heard his master say, and he was up into the crisp night air.

'Very good Severus. A quick learner.'

But Snape barely heard. He was flying. His fear was washed away, and he forgot that Voldemort was watching him. He was 10 years old again, and anything was possible. He hadn't yet become the slimy, creepy little dark arts kid he would later be known as. He was still an innocent young boy, with all his opportunities open. Best of all though, he still had Lily.
And then he realised why he had been scared to fly. Because it would give him freedom. Freedom and happiness. Two things he hadn't felt since Lily. And for him, Lily was everything yet nothing. Everywhere, yet nowhere. For him, Lily was Flight.

And he had been wrong before. Lily did matter. She was the only thing that mattered. And he could never forget.