It took three agonizing days before Snape received his summons, on Christmas Eve. The summons, when it came, came from an unexpected source, in an unexpected way. Snape received a message by owl at dinner, while he was pretending to eat. Its contents caused his heart to drop and sharpened the already constant pangs that inhabited his insides.
After a hastily concluded meal, Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Lupin, and Black met again in Dumbledore's office.
"The note is from Malfoy," stated Snape shortly.
"Malfoy!" Black exclaimed. "That's not good."
Snape nodded. "For Evangeline, it's not good, but for us it may make things easier. It seems that I was correct in my assumption that he wishes to curry favor with the Dark Lord. To the point that he has not yet informed Lord Voldemort of Evangeline's capture."
Lupin expressed surprise. "Really? I'd think it would go badly for him if Voldemort found out that he was holding out on him."
Snape nodded again. "It would, but Malfoy is arrogant and is willing to take the risk. He doesn't want to merely present Evangeline to Voldemort. He wants to break her first, so he can present the total package to the Dark Lord, "a willing slave" to grant Voldemort's wishes."
The Potions Master paused and wiped his face carefully blank. "His best efforts have not so far produced the desired result. He further chides me for not finding her "under my nose at Hogwarts", as he so charmingly puts it. He appears to know all about her abilities, and he wants me to bring various mind controlling potions with me when I come."
"How did Mr. Malfoy find out where Evangeline was, Severus?" asked McGonagall.
Snape looked bleakly back. "He has his own spy within our walls, remember Minerva."
"Draco!" snarled Black, as he cracked his knuckles and glared.
Dumbledore placed his hands on his desk and stood up. "Well, we shall have to hope it'll be easier to free Evangeline from Mr. Malfoy, than it would have been from Voldemort. Let's go over our plan once more."
They went over the plan from start to finish, exploring all the options. It seemed sound. When McGonagall expressed some anxiety that it might put Snape, himself, in danger, his response was a glare and a "Do you really think I care about that?" It would have taken a braver person than McGonagall to raise that particular point again.
"Very well," exclaimed Snape finally. "We're wasting time. I must gather my belongings and go."
"Good luck, Severus," said Dumbledore solemnly. The others all nodded.
Stiffly he nodded back and without another word, turned and left the room. A short while later, he left the castle, and went out into the night.
The others waited.