*21*
Again Snape found himself in Dumbledore's office because of his advent calendar. This time it was Kingsley Shacklebolt who had come to hear about what had happened.
"We received intelligence that there was a serious difference of opinion among the deatheaters," said the auror. "Do you know anything about it?"
Snape sighed and then reported how Bellatrix had opened the calendar and taken an impromptu bath.
"He enjoyed the fight a lot," said the potions master. "He had us step back and watch the Lestrange brothers duel."
"Who won?"
"Neither. Once Bellatrix had recovered, she joined the fight and she won easily. Rodolphus had half of his skin burned and the Dark Lord forbade me to help. Rabastan was hit by a fever spell and without a potion it will take him at least a month to recover."
"Why would He make his followers useless for so long?" Shacklebolt asked.
Snape smirked. "He likes to watch people suffer and since he seemingly doesn't think he'll need them in the near future, he this time watches the Lestranges suffer."
The auror looked doubtful. "And you mean to tell me that you took down two deatheaters using an advent calendar?"
Snape shrugged. "That's what happened."
"Severus's calendar is quite a handful," Dumbledore chimed in. "Sometimes the spells are harmless, but several people got hurt."
"In this case it's dangerous magical item," the auror said sternly. "And from what I heard, I think the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Division should be informed."
"Nonsense, no muggle came near it since it has been hexed." Dumbledore hurried to point out. "The minister of magic himself investigated and declared it harmless."
Snape recognized a chance when it presented itself. "Would you like to open today's window?" he asked. Certainly an experienced auror was not going to have problems with the calendar.
"Why not?" Shacklebolt reached for the proffered calendar and opened the window. "An apple."
A big apple pie materialized on Dumbledore's desk. "Kingsley!" cried the old wizard. "May I offer you a cup of tea to go with this pie?"
The auror snorted. "Yes, please. I don't believe one word, Snape! This is a toy! Nobody can win over two deatheaters using it. One day I will find out the truth!"
"There's nothing to find out, Kingsley," the headmaster said reassuringly while he poured tea for three. The auror cut the cake, snorting in response to Dumbledore's statement.
The pie was good. Slowly but surely, Snape got annoyed by the fact that others got the good things from the traitorous calendar while he was subject to the catastrophes.