Remember

"You betrayed me, Severus. Betrayal does not go unpunished by me."

Severus Snape, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's Potions Master, lifted his head defiantly, ignoring the pain coursing through his body. Death Eaters milled around him, their ivory masks contrasting drastically with their black robes.

He is playing with me. I am his toy. A mouse to his cat. A pig to his butcher.

Severus smiled inwardly. He would show him. What is that Muggle term....I might be down, but I am not out. Interesting. Here I am thinking about the very people I was trained for the better part of my life to hate.

He laughed, his voice rising every second with amusement. The Death Eaters swished their robes with uncertainty. When Voldemort was angry, no one dared to laugh and at the moment, their Dark Lord was very infuriated.

"Severus," the most feared wizard since Grindelwald drawled in a friendly, yet menacing voice, "please share with the rest of us, gathered here. What is so funny about your current situation? Are you that eager to meet the afterlife?" Voldemort laughed cruelly and a few novice Death Eaters chortled stupidly. The older ones fingered their wands, ready to pull them out the second their leader gave any indication.

"Thomas Marvolo Riddle," Severus said, savoring the slight flinch the notorious wizard gave. " I made a mistake years ago when I put my trust in you. I believed you could help me. I was under the illusion that you were in possession of infinite wisdom. Wisdom through which you could guide me, help me become a person I would be proud of".

The Potions Master shook his head, amazed at the stupidity that he had shown by following the footsteps of Lord Voldemort. "I was a fool, but unlike these zombies," Severus jerked his head roughly towards the direction of the nearest Death Eater, a gangly lad with flaming red hair and a sprinkle of freckles on the hands holding tightly to his wand, "who are brainwashed to do your will, I have seen the light." He paused for effect, noticing that there was absolute silence. "I have found the greater good."

"There is no good," Voldemort sneered. Severus snorted and Voldemort abruptly stopped speaking. The dark wizard walked to Severus, slowly closing the distance between them. Voldemort looked down at the bound man, staring into the Potions Master's intense coal like eyes. He held the ex Death Eater's gaze with fierce intensity, both burning with concentrated hatred for the other. Severus continued.

"There is only power and those too weak to see it right." Severus did not ask a question. He stated a fact with a bit of irony and mocking. Voldemort paused and the Death Eaters around him shifted uncomfortably. Lord Voldemort lifted his wand and pointed it straight at Severus Snape's heart.

"No one ridicules me." Severus raised an eyebrow.

"You really have been out of touch these last few years, haven't you?" Voldemort ignored him and turned to his followers.

"Let this be a warning to all who think that I am someone to be trifled with." He turned back to the condemned man. Severus opened his mouth, no longer interested in speaking to the man in front of him. He was speaking to the gathered crowd.

"Look for the goodness in the world. The only thing your 'lord' wants from you is your loyalty. You are expandable. Remember Professor Quirrel. Remember the innocent people who lost their lives because they didn't have the same views. Remember the Prewitts. Remember the Bones. Remember the Pott-"

"Avada Kedavra."

Severus saw a flash of green light hurtle towards him in what seemed like slow motion. He had completed his job. He smiled broadly as the beams swirled around him.