I Forgot That Mudblood Long Ago!

"You're two hours and seven minutes late, Severus."

Standing in the mountains, Voldemort fiddled with a wand in his pale left hand.

He looked into the distance; the view was expansive, and he could see a brightly lit area.

Voldemort silently admired the distant silhouette of the castle against the horizon.

The unique spire of Hogwarts shines with a mysterious light of wisdom against the dark summer night sky.

That must be the treasure trove, he thought.

That was also his former home, where his most important memories of his childhood are buried.

But he couldn't go in.

For the past few decades, it's all been because of an old man... and tonight, a young man has joined the effort.

Dumbledore will eventually grow old; in fact, he is already old. But the Stark who suddenly appears is only sixteen years old.

This gave Voldemort a strange sense of urgency.

"Why did you choose this place to meet, Master?" Snape humbly prostrated himself on the ground.

"This place is too close to Hogwarts; they're searching you. If Dumbledore finds out..."

"You think I'm afraid of Dumbledore?" Voldemort's red eyes flashed coldly.

"No, ever since you were resurrected tonight, Master, Dumbledore has been very worried. He's afraid of your resurrection... He's too old!"

"I don't see any fear in him, otherwise how could he let that Mudblood Stark appear alone at my Resurrection Feast?" Voldemort snorted.

"What, you didn't bring Dumbledore and Stark with you to arrest me, you came alone?"

I thought there might be an ambush here.

"I've always been yours, from beginning to end." Snape became even more humble.

"Back then, you ordered me to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Wizardry to secretly monitor Albus Dumbledore... Have you forgotten?"

"Yes, obeying my orders... and you've been doing this for over a decade. I didn't realize you were such a loyal servant," Voldemort sneered.

"If you are truly so loyal, why haven't you come to me all these years? To rescue your poor master?"

Lift your head and look me in the eyes!

Voldemort said indifferently.

Snape looked up, his black pupils meeting those enchanting red eyes.

He knew that Voldemort was already Legilimency to determine whether he was lying.

"I thought you... at the time, everyone thought so... you were dead," Snape said sincerely.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted your abilities, and I don't want to make excuses or cover it up, but that's just how it is..."

"Yes, Avery, Yaxley, the Carrow, Greyback, Lucius..."

Voldemort's red eyes and his flat, snake-like face gleamed with a pale light in the dim light.

"And many others... you all think the same way, that the great Dark Lord is dead, killed by a tiny baby."

Even though I tell you repeatedly that I have gone further down the road to death than anyone else.

But none of you believe it!

You have disappointed me!

Cruciatus Curse!

Snape screamed and rolled on the ground in agony, begging for mercy.

But Voldemort showed no sign of stopping; he relished this torment, and this spell, in fact, lasted longer than the one he had cast on Malfoy... and longer than the torment he had inflicted on anyone else.

Because Snape... was late!

When the Dark Lord summoned his servants, Snape didn't arrive immediately... For that alone, he deserved to die!

But Voldemort still wanted to hear Snape's explanation; if Snape couldn't deliver a surprise, the merciful Dark Lord wouldn't mind giving him one.

"Why did you stop me from getting the Philosopher's Stone four years ago?" he asked.

Snape wailed:

"At first, I didn't know it was you. At that time, all I saw was the greedy and incompetent Quirrell who wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone."

I admit, I did everything I could to stop him.

But you didn't contact me, not even to let me know a little bit about your plan, and I would risk my life to steal the Philosopher's Stone for you!

Do you know why I didn't tell you? Do you know why I was so weak, preferring to share a body with a mediocre wizard rather than expose myself to a former servant?

Voldemort stared into Snape's eyes and raised his voice slightly.

"Because I don't know if you can be trusted, I'm afraid... afraid that you've gone from a loyal Death Eaters to Dumbledore's lackey!"

I didn't trust you then, so four years later, tell me, why should I trust you?

Voldemort didn't step on Snape's hair, but instead stepped on his back.

"Even if you could rush to my side the moment I resurrected, when I felt the Dark Mark burning me... I could convince myself to try to trust you."

But you didn't!

"Yes, I returned two hours later, Master," Snape said loudly.

"I returned on Dumbledore's orders."

"What? You came back following Dumbledore's orders?" Voldemort was furious.

"Yes, Master," Snape said, wincing in pain. "I was late, but I only waited two hours—just two short hours—and I assure you I can remain at Hogwarts as a spy!"

Voldemort stared at Snape without saying a word.

"Now, Dumbledore thinks I'm one of his men," Snape said quickly.

"I can continuously report intelligence about him and the Order of the Phoenix!"

"The Order of the Phoenix!" Voldemort roared.

"Yes, earlier tonight, Dumbledore issued the Phoenix Order, reactivating the Order of the Phoenix!" Snape brought the first piece of intelligence.

"As expected," Voldemort said dismissively. "Go on!"

"During those months, the Dark Mark became clearer and clearer, and I knew you were going to make a comeback. All the Death Eaters knew!" Snape continued to explain.

"I have enough time to think about where to go next and what to do next."

I remember your order!

But since I can't reach you, I can only take matters into my own hands. I think... gaining Dumbledore's trust will bring more benefits.

I succeeded. He really thought I was his...

Voldemort said in his loud, clear voice, "So, what important information have you brought me?"

"All the intelligence about Dumbledore over the past sixteen years," Snape said immediately.

"This is indeed a valuable gift..." Voldemort nodded.

"Anything else?"

Crouch has been captured, along with that House-elf Winky. His plan has been foiled by the Stark.

Therefore, Stark will be at your Resurrection party tonight.

"A loyal servant, but alas... utterly useless," Voldemort said coldly.

A dead servant is worthless, no matter how loyal he was.

"I have another important piece of information."

"What?"

Snape whispered, "Dumbledore and Minister Fudge have parted ways. Fudge doesn't believe you're back."

I think it won't be long before Fudge interferes with Hogwarts next semester.

Dumbledore busy taking care of himself to deal with us.

Voldemort smiled; this was the first time he had smiled since seeing Snape.

"That's good news, the first piece of good news I've heard today. The other servants are of no use except for regret."

Snape remained expressionless, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief.

This means... he passed tonight.

Voldemort trusted him again.

After a moment of silence, Voldemort suddenly said, "Severus, you are Potions Master, and you are more proficient in this than I am."

Could you take a look at the injury on my arm?

Snape was taken aback.

Voldemort pulled up his sleeve, revealing his right hand, which he had been concealing, was poisoned and turned black.

Snape muttered a spell and pointed his wand at the wrist, but the wound on his arm did not heal.

A storm raged in his heart as he recalled that morning when Shidake came to him and asked for a series of Potions.

Voldemort's poison was clearly a new type of mixed poison.

"I don't know the type of poison, and there's no cure yet. I can only temporarily contain the poison in one hand..." Snape shook his head.

Voldemort did not expect Snape to heal him immediately.

He stared into Snape's eyes and suddenly said, "Severus, you begged me to spare that Mudblood Lily Potter's life."

But I still killed her in the end. You won't blame me, will you?

Snape looked into Voldemort's eyes, his tone completely flat. "Master, just a Mudblood!"

He died... that's it.

I've long forgotten about that Mudblood.

Voldemort stared intently into Snape's eyes for a long time before finally smiling and saying:

"Very good, I'm going to give you a task now."

Get me the antidote from Stark!