"Of course not!" Voldemort naturally found those words most pleasing. "She was merely carrying out a task for me, while also readjusting to this world."
There was more confusion in Snape's voice. "Readjusting to this world?"
Voldemort rose to his feet and slowly walked over to Snape's side.
He patted Snape on the shoulder and said gently, "After all, so many years have passed. Only now has she reappeared before you, with my help."
"Think about it... after all these years, how many new changes must there have been? She needs time to accept the world as it is now and process those changes, doesn't she?"
"Of course!" Snape nodded, lowering his voice. "Master, you have thought this through far more carefully. I was too impatient."
Voldemort slowly returned to his seat and said gently, "I understand how you feel, Severus. I understand very well..."
"I truly understand very well..." He repeated the words, as though using them to hint that Snape ought to properly appreciate his generosity.
Calchas, listening in, felt a chill run down his spine and could not help shuddering.
He truly found it hard to imagine that Voldemort could... speak in such a tone.
It seemed Barty Crouch Jr.'s sudden betrayal had indeed dealt Voldemort quite a blow.
Now that he still had a servant as loyal as Snape, even someone like Voldemort would consider changing his attitude in order to preserve Snape's loyalty.
Calchas did not know exactly what Snape was thinking, but he knew what Voldemort was thinking.
Voldemort only displayed this so-called "generosity" because he needed Snape at the moment.
And the Lily Evans Snape truly wanted was not the one Voldemort had brought before him.
Once all the plans were carried out in the future, and Snape belatedly discovered that Lily Evans