The Last Man Standing
#1 Disaster averted.
The sixth year Slytherins looked up uneasily as someone could be heard cackling crazily in the corridor leading up to the Slytherin common room.
"That sounds like Sev" stated Goyle looking worriedly at Lucius for guidance, "Shouldn't we evacuate immediately?"
In any other circumstances Lucius Malfoy would have snorted scornfullyat the seeming paranoia of his henchman, but at that moment he mentally viewed Goyle's suggestion as pretty appealing. One: he recognized The Laugh. He'd had the misfortune to hear it more than once, since he bought one Severus Snape a mobile extra-lightweight self heating, self stirring customized cauldron. And through painful and embarrassing experience learned that The Laugh is followed by either a) Grievous bodily injury b) Irreversible dress robe mutilation and/or c)a long and dreary sleepless night trying to salvage what remained following an aftermath of a potion related devastation. Two: The Time. It was one minute past twelve. Even the most non superstitious wizard would take all necessary and sufficient precautions if they had resided in a dorm room that also included a Snape. As they would prudently know that HE preferred to Strike around midnight. But most of all what made Goyle's words ring true was the mysterious and (doubtlessly deadly) blue vapor that was sneaking its way under the door frame.
Lucius leaped up from the armchair that he was sprawled on just moments ago, knocking an infuriated Narcissa unceremoniously to the floor from her perch on his lap. He shielded his aristocratic nose with a black silk 'hand embroided' handkerchief and took a determined step backwards, directing the others to: "Back away….. Slowly...NOW"
As the others hurried to obey his order to the word, the Entranceway slammed open; revealing a tall boy whose eyes stared fixedly from behind a screen of greasy black hair. He held one arm in front of him, his fingers curled around a glass vial which was releasing the aforementioned noxious fumes. His coal black eyes never left the apparent treasure in his hand, even though he continued to laugh maniacally.
Behold! Severus Snape had arrived.
"You seemed to have forgotten the thunder and lightning Severus, They would've made your entrance more…. dramatique" smirked Narcissa boldly even though Lucius saw her eyes scan all possible exits.
Unfazed, Severus raised his treasure up to the candle lit chandelier making the light dance off the fuming electric blue liquid. "This" he declared in a voice of suppressed emotion. "is the end." "This is the answer" "This…. "Has to stop now or I'll be forced to take certain actions which I assure you wouldn't find agreeable." Concluding that neither Snape nor the foul blue fumes weren't an immediate threat; Lucius decided it was time to reestablish his dominance and control of the situation.
Snape's eyes snapped out of their possessed state, and the familiar scowl twisted his features as he stared at his child hood friend. "As I was saying" he continued, but now with the customary sneer inserted firmly and comfortingly. A bad tempered Snape was the best the Slytherins had come to expect, a possessed Snape was entirely another thing, a more dangerous other thing, "This- is- the- key to destroy those blasted Gryffindors and end their immature pranks once and for all. Three drops that's all we need." Severus paused to examine his creation with malicious pride.
"Er. Its poison? Crabbe asked puzzled. He thought Lucius explicitly banned Murder that could be traced back to the instigator, way back in third year.
"No moron" it's a See Allpotion. With this we'll be able to see through Potter's damned invisibility cloak. I swear this is the end of their infernal sneaking around." Severus swept hair out of his eyes with his free hand and glared around at his house mates, daring them to contradict him.
"Any after effects?" Lucius asked unperturbedly, yet all the while his mind examining all the possibilities that the potion opened up. All the glorious possibilities………
"Eh?"
"Come now Sev. Any particular repercussions that we ought to know?" Lucius wasn't surprised to notice that Narcissa had managed to regain her icy composure within seconds.
"Well". Severus sneered, reaching out for the empty goblets on a side table. "There's only one way to find out."