Chapter Eleven

"Leaving?" Lily asked, yawning as she entered the small kitchen. Severus had spent the night at Spinner's End, and his movement downstairs had roused her.

"I have a meeting with Dumbledore," he said, and flicked his wand at an old percolator on the stove. It started bubbling, forcing small jets of coffee into the bulb, and he waited a moment before pouring out cups for himself and Lily.

"Going after Death Eaters again?"

He nodded. "They've been a little more active lately, trying to recoup after failing to take the Ministry…" He looked at his watch. "I have to be off."

She nodded and walked over to him. "Well, be careful today, all right?" She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

"Right," he said, setting the cup down and exiting the house. "I'll see you in a few hours."

Once he was safely outside and had disappeared down an abandoned alley near the old mill, Severus reached up and touched the patch of skin Lily's lips had brushed against. A pleasant shiver ran down his spine. If only she knew what that meant to him…

Focus, he told himself strictly. The Dark Lord had told him to report to Cornwall for special instruction today. Not only would he need all his wits about him for that, but apparating from Manchester to the southernmost tip of the country was hard enough without splinching himself along the way. Clearing his mind of everything but his destination, he turned on the spot. A sound of waves crashing against rocks told him he'd reached his destination. He opened his eyes and looked down… And immediately regretted it, backing away from the bank several paces. Why Land's End?

"Severus. Excellent." Lord Voldemort's voice came from behind him. Grateful for any reason to look away from the drop, Severus turned to it and bowed.

"My Lord."

"You are wondering, perhaps, why I have brought you here." He indicated the thousand-foot cliffs with a sweep of his hand.

"Yes, my Lord." The words were barely out of his mouth when the Dark Lord ran for the cliff and, before Severus could move or make a sound, had jumped… And taken flight. Severus watched in awe as he made a circuit around the cliff face and came in for a smooth, graceful landing. "That was astounding, My Lord," Severus said. It truly was.

"It is a useful skill to learn, Severus," the Dark Lord said. "It takes great discipline, powers of concentration, and intelligence… All of which you have." Again he bestowed that look on Severus, the one that made him feel like a favored son.

"How is it done?"

As the Dark Lord described the process, Severus listened raptly. Flying, as it turned out, was an issue of mind over matter: One only had to imagine themselves light enough to fly, and they would. But was it that simple?

"Do you wish to try it?" Voldemort asked.

XXX

Severus made his way back to his house much later that day, stiff and sore all over. Flying wasn't as hard as the Dark Lord had said it would be. It was infinitely harder, and Severus had spent hours running flat out and taking a vertical leap, trying to convince himself that he was light enough to catch the wind, only to crash down onto the ground, at one point chipping a tooth. Oh, he hurt now; tomorrow he'd be lucky if he could get out of bed without assistance.

Wearily he tapped the door with his wand, heard the lock click, and entered, his nostrils greeted by the delicious smell of beef stew. Lily was sitting in the living room, absorbed in a book. He made his way past her into the kitchen and towards a pot on the stove, and ladled some of the stew onto a plate. He took a bite. It tasted as good as it smelled.

After about fifteen minutes, Lily walked into the kitchen, jumping a bit when she saw him. "Sev! I didn't hear you come in. How do you like it?" She nodded towards the plate.

"It's delicious," he said.

Lily smiled. "I'm glad you like it. It's one of the few things I make that's actually edible." She sat down across the table from him. "How was your day?"

"Long and tiring." He noticed that Lily was gazing at his hair, which hung in its usual greasy curtains.

"Sev, you really have lovely hair. You should take better care of it."

He blushed slightly. She thought his hair was lovely? Or was she trying to be nice about telling him to wash it? Well, whatever; if it made her happy, he'd wash it tonight.

XXX

Severus groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground. Over a week since the Dark Lord had offered to teach him how to fly, Severus had still not achieved it. The Dark Lord must surely regret his offer to teach him, Severus thought, but when he looked at him, he seemed as indifferent as ever.

"Try again," The Dark Lord said simply.

"My Lord, perhaps I am not suited to this," Severus said, wincing as he felt the freshest bruise on his ribcage.

"You are well-suited for this, Severus," The Dark Lord said. "You must be patient. You nearly achieved flight on your last attempt."

"I did?" He thought back; yes, he had felt as though he would fly for a second.

"Yes. Try once more." The Dark Lord stood back and watched patiently.

Once more. Right. Severus willed himself to stop feeling the pain, took a deep breath, and started running. I will fly this time. Mind over matter. He closed his eyes and leapt, felt the brief sensation of being lighter than air… But any moment now he would crash.

Except he didn't. He opened one eye to a squint, just to confirm it- Yes! He was flying! And what a sensation it was; he had never imagined feeling this free before. After a moment he willed himself down for a gentle landing, coming to a jerky halt barely a hundred feet from where he'd taken off.

"Excellent," The Dark Lord said. "Try once more, just to get the feel of it, and then you are free to go."

Once again Severus took off, remembering the feeling of being lighter than air, and soared around the area once more before landing (much more smoothly than last time) and, with the Dark Lord's approval, apparating back to Spinner's End.

Approaching the house, he suddenly shivered. He unlocked the door, keeping his wand at the ready, and slowly entered the house. Albus Dumbledore sat in the sitting-room, looking grave.

"Severus," he said when he heard the door close, standing and looking into Severus's black eyes in that piercing way.

"What are you doing here? And where's Lily?" A hundred horrible scenarios crossed his mind, all of them ending with Lily dead.

"She is safe," He said. "I set up a quiet meeting with her and Remus Lupin. I wish to speak to you alone."