Sleep should be a pleasant activity. Snape abhors it. He hates it. But he can't escape his much needed rest and the many dreams and memories that will reach him.

The potion was shimmering while he hastily put on his Death Eater robe. He summoned a small phial and walked to the cauldron to stare at its content: it had lost its blue, illuminating aura. He sighed gratefully and quickly put the freshly finished liquid in the small glass.

The phial was hidden in a pocket and he tried to decide whether he should send a message to the Headmaster, but his mind received a second pain wave in his left arm.

There was no time any more for unneeded actions.

He walked to the door and almost opened it, but quickly turned back when he saw his mask in his left eye corner. The object was grabbed violently from the table a few second later and the man marched away.

"You are late, Severus." He didn't miss the anger and impatience in his tone and answered without delay.

"The potion needed more... time." He winced behind his mask; that was no suitable excuse, at all, even if it was the truth. The Dark Lord was narrowing his eyes. He didn't comment, but turned around and motioned for the kneeling man to follow him.

The masked man stood up slowly and followed a few steps behind him. They walked to a man who was lying on the ground and Snape turned his questioning gaze to Voldemort.

"Your test object." He widened his eyes slightly and saw that he was smirking. He had thought by now that it wasn't necessary any more to test the potions that he would make for him because he had only failed once or twice and the faults were minor and the potion didn't lose its efficiency. So he opened his mouth to reply.

"My Lord, I don't-" He stopped speaking when he saw an outstretched arm in his direction. He knew at that moment that he couldn't win this argument and quickly produced the small phial from his pocket and dropped it carefully on the bony fingers.

Voldemort brought the small glass to his face and rotated it slowly to examine it. A pleased expression was formed on his face and he walked to the man on the grass. He put a hand in his hair locks and forced him to drink the potion. His hand left the frightened face, but he remained on his knees.

Nothing happened.

Voldemort narrowed his gaze and turned his questioning and doubtful eyes to Snape.

He quickly walked to the unmoved man, crouched down and put a hand on his chin to force eye contact.

His eyes were not dilated and his breathing was slower than it should be. He released his head and stood up.

Snape closed his eyes and mentally repeated the brewing process: the ingredients were fresh, his quarters had the optimal temperature and he hadn't skipped anything to accelerate the brewing.

Wait...

He groaned silently; he was in such a hurry that he had forgotten the last, crucial step. The potion was useless now without that final action, even if he had done the whole process perfectly.

"Severus?" His whispered voice had a dangerous quality now so he quickly opened his eyes and tried to explain himself.

"The potion... It's..." He stopped his reply and stared at the narrowed, red eyes.

"You have failed me." He swallowed and stared at the scared man again, but widened his eyes and almost flinched when he saw a bright green flash in the frightened man's direction. He saw its lifeless blue eyes and wanted to turn his shocked eyes to him, but he was hit by a spell.

The disturbed man fell on the ground while he felt a familiar pain coursing through his body.

"I have given you... more than enough time, and yet..." He stopped the spell.

"You are getting inattentive, Severus." Snape tried to stand up, but the same spell hit him again.

"And you know how important this... potion is..." He crouched down in front of the shaking body.

"But... I am in a... reasonable mood, today." Voldemort grabbed his chin and looked into the onyx eyes.

"The day after tomorrow, Severus." He nodded slightly despite his physical suffering and felt that the cold hand had released his head. The wand was lowered and he stood up to watch the trembling man with a narrowed gaze.

"Do not disappoint me again... Severus."

This is my second story already! It's a whole different direction, this one, so I'm curious to know if this idea is to your liking!