Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof.

Chapter 11

It had been over two weeks since Severus had been summoned to a Death Eater's meeting. Actually, it had been that long since anyone had even seen the Dark Lord. Still, he had been forced to go on a couple of 'raids,' as Lucius called them.

Severus hated the raids because he had to torture people, otherwise it would raise suspicion, but he never uttered the Killing Curse. Bellatrix had always preferred to do it, so he let her when he knew that he could not save the victims.

Sunday evening had found Severus sitting on his couch, drinking a glass of his best elf-made wine. He was exhausted because he had finally finished four of the potions that had been brewing for months. As he sipped the wine, he realized that he had not had the time to seek Lily out for about three weeks.

"Surely she's had her baby by now," he muttered to himself as he took another sip of his drink.

He wanted to watch Lily interact with the child. They had talked about children while they had been together. He smiled as he remembered how her eyes used to light up at the mention of kids. She would be an amazing mother.

Severus had to go to Hogwarts on Tuesday for a final interview with the Headmaster. He decided that if he finished early, he would head to Godric's Hollow to see if he could get a glimpse of her.

After he drank his glass of wine, he headed to bed.

The next morning, just after he had ate breakfast, Severus felt his mark burn. Grabbing his Death Eater mask and robes, he put them on, and apparated toward where the summons was pulling him.

He knelt before Voldemort's feet and waited with the others. There were only twelve people kneeling when he had beckoned them to rise.

These were the people that the Dark Lord trusted the most. So if it was, indeed, all that was coming, then this was a meeting of great importance. Everyone took their correct seat for when this particular group was called. Severus' seat was directly to the right of the Dark Lord, Lucius' seat was directly to the left. He knew that under the mask, Lucius had a smug, superior look on his face. It took quite a bit of restraint for Severus not to roll his eyes at the man.

"I have summoned my most loyal follower's to my side today to announce that after a couple of weeks of researching, speculating, and ... torture (everyone could feel the glee come off of him as he spoke), that I have discovered the answer to the prophecy!"

Severus had been correct. This was a meeting of great importance. He had been so busy preparing potions that he had forgotten about the prophecy all together. At least he now knew why the Dark Lord needed Veritaserum the month prior.

"It seems that the child," hissed Voldemort - the word just barely not spoken in parseltongue, "that is supposed to be my downfall is the son of ..."

He paused for dramatic effect, mostly just to watch everyone lean in toward him.

" ... James and Lily Potter."

Severus felt his heart stop and his lungs quit working.

"I'm sure that those gathered here know of the battles that I've had in the past with the Potters, so this shouldn't really come as a surprise to many of you."

A few agreed. However, Severus still felt like his heart and lungs were frozen and it seemed like his gut was now on the floor as well.

"Dear sweet Lily Potter had her son on July 31st, which as those in this room know is when the seventh month dies. This child, Harry James Potter, is a half blood wizard, thus he would be harder to sway to our side. So it will be the Potter's that we have to hunt down, and then I shall end this threat before it can even become one."

Voldemort sat himself upon his throne (he had began pacing at some prior point) and told everyone that they were to find out all that they could about the Potters but not harm them. That job was to be left for himself. He then dismissed them all.

As the Dark Lord's most faithful servants left the room, Severus realized he could breathe again. However, before he could form a coherent thought, Lucius strode up next to him and whispered in his ear, "Bad luck Snape. Maybe if you ask nice enough, he'll let you play with the mudblood before he kills her."

Severus inwardly groaned. Now he was going to have to tell the Dark Lord about his past relationship with Lily. So, instead of leaving with everyone else, he approached the Dark Lord's throne and knelt before him, waiting to be recognized.

Voldemort eyed him warily. "Stand Severus. What is it you need?"

"Thank you, my Lord. I'm unaware if you heard the exchange between Lucius and myself, but either way, you should know that this woman, Lily Potter, she and I have a history. We dated for several years while we attended Hogwarts together."

Snape let his mind be probed just enough to prove this.

"According to my information Severus, she's a mudblood. A muggle born witch."

"She is my Lord, but she was very intelligent and her blood line was easy to overlook. I was often otherwise pre-occupied with her." As he spoke, Severus made sure he sounded offended in retrospect, at the idiocy of dating someone that was muggle-born. As for what he said, he would just let the Dark Lord make his own assumptions behind the meaning of his words.

"I just wanted to bring this to your attention, My Lord. I did not want you to think that I would ever deceive you by withholding information. I only live to serve you." He knelt again.

In all honesty, he expected to be punished for admitting to dating a muggle-born, so he prepared himself to be hit by the Cruciatus Curse.

Voldemort looked over one of his most trusted councils and beckoned him to stand again.

"Severus, you have served me very faithfully these past few years. You were young and naive about the world then, so I will look over that transgression. However, I do not need to kill the woman. I imagine the husband will be a problem, but the child is my main target. If she stays out of the way, I will spare her for you."

"Thank you my Lord. You are very merciful." Severus bowed again.

"Now, how goes the task I set for you?"

"Good news on that, my Lord. I have a final interview for the Potion Master's position tomorrow, so I should know within the week."

"Very good Severus. Very good. Dismissed."

Severus, yet again, bowed before dis-apparating.

A/N: 7/29/11 - Edited words and such ...