Yay! I'm close to updating all my stories, which is good because school starts soon and I probably won't be able to do much then. Anyway this chapter is a little choppy, I couldn't seem to get much of a flow happening.

Please review, it encourages me to get new chapters up faster. Thanks for reading.

I don't own this. JK Rowling does.

A meeting with Lord Voldemort

Severus stood absolutely still, dread in his heart, waiting for that high, cold voice to fill the air around him. He braced himself for it, determined not to show his weakness through an involuntary shudder.

"I hope you come to me with good news, Snape," there it was. The voice of Lord Voldemort addressed him. It contained just the slightest hint of sarcasm, as though he thought Severus incapable of bringing good news. Severus managed to repress the shudder that was every second threatening to ripple through his shoulder blades. He had no idea why he had signed up for this. Being a Death Eater was no laugh riot. Perhaps he had just been that desperate to belong somewhere, to fit in.

Once he had composed himself Severus spoke, "No my Lord, I have no good news. Lily and James Potter managed to escape my trap at the last minute," he kept his head lowered as he delivered this news to Voldemort. He hoped that it looked like he was just being humble and obedient. The real reason for it was that it was easier for him to guard his mind from the Dark Lord when he didn't have to look at those probing red eyes.

"Look at me Severus," Voldemort hissed. So apparently his ruse hadn't worked.

He immediately snapped his head up. He knew that obeying Voldemort was the only thing that he could do in this situation. Making sure that his mind was carefully guarded and cleared of all thoughts that would be considered treasonous, Severus looked up and met the eyes of the man he had sworn to serve.

He kept his black eyes on Voldemort's red ones, even though he had to stop himself from flinching every second that he held that gaze. He made sure that he looked unfazed, that nothing could be read into his expression. His strength at legilimency had saved his life on several occasions. He had only slipped up once, but that had not been a fatal mistake, at least not for him.

He wrenched his mind away from Lily, after all that was how he had gotten himself into this mess in the first place and focused on the tree behind Voldemort. It was probably a beautiful tree by day, big and grand, but in the shadows it just looked ominous. The branches stretched high overhead, surrounding the clearing. It made Severus feel like he was caged, and it couldn't be a good thing to be stuck in a cage with Lord Voldemort. He was more dangerous than anything Severus could think of.

Severus blinked; there was something beyond the tree. Something glowing. He stared trying to work out what it was. It was approaching fast now and Severus could see that it was a patronus. He gasped in horror as he saw the Doe approaching, then cursed himself. It seemed that anything Lily-related made him forget where he was.

Severus ture-focused his eyes on Voldemort's trying to cover up his lapse of attention. That was his mistake. The Dark Lord cut through into his unguarded mind in that instant and the clearing was almost immediately filled with his angry shouts. Severus bit his lip and wondered just what Voldemort had seen in his mind. He'd been thinking about Lily and the way the doe had nudged him…If Voldemort had seen that then he would know that Severus wasn't putting his heart and soul into killing the Potters. And if Voldemort knew that, then Severus was a dead man walking. He guessed that this was the case, given the incohernt shouting that was coming from the normally articulate Dark Lord.

Finally the shrieking came to an end and Voldemort surveyed him with cold eyes. "I should kill you right here, you worthless half-blood," that was the best insult that Voldemort could think up. Severus nearly snorted, but stopped himself in the nick of time. He was shocked at how reckless he felt. How recklessly he was behaving.

"Give me another chance my Lord," the words were smoothly delivered and Voldemort paused for a second, his wand half-raised. "I can put my feelings aside and finish the job this time," Severus sounded perfectly sincere, he almost believed himself. He knew it wasn't true though, he knew that he would never be able to put aside his feelings for Lily Evans.

Voldemort had lowered his arm. It appeared that he had bought the lie. In the recesses of his mind Severus felt vaguely smug about the fact that he had successfully lied to the Dark Lord. He had lied to the most accomplished Legilimens in history.

Voldemort was speaking again and Severus forced himself to listen, "I see that you are not traitorous, Snape. Merely incompetent. Perhaps your judgement is clouded when you get near the girl, causing your inability to do the job Whatever the problem, it is not your fault. It is hers, I should have expected nothing more from a mudblood, a piece of filth."

Severus could not help the shock from registering on his face. I fell in love with Lily and he's blaming her? Severus forced his features to compose themselves with difficulty. It was only in that moment that he understood just how twisted Tom Riddle had allowed himself to become.

"No, I do not hold you accountable for this, Snape. I've let this go on far too long. It's time I took out that Mudblood temptress and her family myself," Severus felt horror fill him. Lily was going to die, Voldemort was going to take her away from him.

The pain was almost too much, it rose up to engulf him. He didn't trust his voice, he knew that it would give his feelings away, so he just nodded curtly at these words. The prophecy would be fulfilled, Voldemort would face off with the Potters' young son. The boy whose eyes were so like Lily's. Severus had no doubt that Voldemort would win.

It was hopeless. No-one survived once Voldemort had marked them out for death. He was far worse than the Grim. Severus could feel his breathing coming faster and shallower as the panic set in, it was like Lily was his oxygen and he knew she would be gone soon. He needed to get out, before Voldemort noticed that something was wrong.

"You can go, Snape," Voldemort sneered at him, "Unless you adore me so much that you would like to follow me for the rest of your life? Don't worry I'll take care of Lily Evans." He said it in a reassuring tone, as though he was allaying Severus' greatest fears rather than contributing to them. Severus hated the way he said her name, it was like he was spitting rather than speaking. He thought it must be something you picked up after speaking Parseltongue for the better part of thirty years.

Once again, Severus' voice was not up to the task. Hi throat seemed to have knotted itself into one giant entanglement of misery. He swallowed repetitively trying to get rid of it so that he could take his leave of the Dark Lord. Eventually he gave up, turning on his heel he disapparated. As he left that clearing he knew there was only one thing he could do to ward off the misery that was pressing at his body from every direction. He had to save the Potters.