Once Evangeline had returned to the painted realm, Snape turned to Dumbledore questioningly. "Well, Albus, what's our first move going to be?"
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and considered his Potions Master thoughtfully. "I think Evangeline is right. We need to take a look at outer island."
Snape nodded in agreement. "I can fly over the island tonight. The chances of being spotted in the dark are negligible."
"I agree, but I don't want you to go alone. And I do think an invisibility cloak would be advisable," the Headmaster added quietly.
Snape raised an eyebrow and stated in an innocent tone of voice. "I don't happen to have such a cloak, Albus. Perhaps you know where we could borrow one?"
Dumbledore smiled complacently at him. "Yes, I believe I do."
Snape sighed disgustedly. He'd always suspected that Dumbledore had known all about that cloak, and in fact had given it to the little prat in the first place. "Potter."
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling at Snape's tone.
Snape frowned at the Headmaster. "You know giving that cloak to him was inviting mischief!"
Dumbledore gave Snape an enigmatic smile. "Perhaps, but it has turned out to be a useful thing at times. For you, too, I understand."
Snape looked away. "Not in the long run."
As a new and highly unpleasant thought suddenly occurred to him, he turned back quickly to further question the Headmaster. "Surely you don't intend to send Potter with me on this reconnaissance mission?"
The old wizard steepled his hands in front of him and favored Snape with a reassuring smile. "No, I think someone else would be more valuable. Someone who's done some spying of his own, and who could perhaps camouflage his presence if necessary."
Realizing that he meant the one person who would be even less welcome than Potter, Snape passed a hand over his eyes and groaned. "Please, tell me that you aren't thinking, what I'm afraid you're thinking. Please…anyone but Sirius Black!"
Dumbledore continued to smile complacently. "I believe he would be the best choice, Severus. He's better on a broomstick than you are. If he's driving, you can devote yourself to observing, something at which you excel."
Snape rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. His head was beginning to throb painfully. "Oh, please…surely we can take separate broomsticks."
Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid there's only one invisibility cloak."
With a defeated look on his face, Snape threw himself back in his chair and glowered darkly at the floor. "I can't wait to hear you explain this cozy little mission to Black. I'm sure he'll be every bit as thrilled as I am."
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"You want me to what?! Cozy up to Snape on a broomstick under the same invisibility cloak? Are you insane, Albus?" Black's face was bright red with indignation as he leaned over Dumbledore's desk and glared at the wizard in outrage.
Snape lounged back in his chair, tapped a finger against his cheek, and muttered softly, "I told you he'd be thrilled, Albus."
Tired of dealing with these tantrums, Dumbledore drew himself up to his full height and frowned over his desk at the two of them. "I've already had this conversation with Severus, Sirius. I do not wish to waste any further time on your childish aversion to each other. You are both adults, working toward the same goal. This could be very important. My only other viable alternative to attain the information we need would be to send Evangeline, alone, into Clendenning Castle to spy on Victor Clendenning and Lucius Malfoy. Is that what you'd prefer I do?"
Rising to the bait, as hoped, Snape leaped to his feet. "I've already agreed to go, Albus…alone, if necessary! Evangeline is not to be put at further risk!"
Not wanting to look like a completely callous cad, and realizing that he'd been out maneuvered by a master at the game, Black nodded resignedly. "I agree. She shouldn't be put in more danger. All right, Albus, you win, as usual. I'll do whatever you want. When do we leave?"
Dumbledore nodded with satisfaction. "As soon as I can obtain the invisibility cloak from Harry."
Black sighed and looked away from Snape. "Better ask Harry if we can borrow his broom, too. It's much faster and handles better than mine."
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An hour later found them flying out over Caernarfon Bay under a cloak of invisibility.
"Hang on tight, Snape, but watch where you put your hands. I'd hate to dump you off out here in the middle of nowhere," Black yelled over his shoulder at his highly annoyed passenger.
No happier about the situation than Black, Snape snarled back in his companion's ear, "Try it, and the only place I'll be putting my hands is around your neck, Black! You tend to your job, and I'll tend to mine. That's outer island we're coming up on. Go a little lower."
Miraculously deciding not to argue for once, Black flew a little lower, and they cruised slowly over the island. The southeastern part of the island was entirely wooded, but a small stone circle stood on a grassy hillock on the more barren northwestern end. A group of figures moved around the circle and clustered near a stone building on the edge of the woods. Whoever they were, they'd obviously been digging, as there were holes and piles of dirt all over the immediate vicinity.
Snape pointed to a rocky outcropping near the stone building. "If we're careful and stay under the cloak, we could land there, and get a better look at what they're doing."
Finding himself to be rather curious to discover just what was going on down there, Black nodded. "Okay. We'll give it a try."
The two wizards set down carefully behind the rocks and peered stealthily over the top. A large cluster of people stood around the entrance to the stone building. Torches on long poles illuminated the surrounding area throwing everything into sharp relief, but the flickering light made it difficult to determine exactly how many people there actually were milling around. Suddenly three new figures appeared in the exact center of the stone circle. After a brief pause the small group headed toward the building where the larger group awaiting them now stood silently with an air of anticipation. The man at the front of the approaching group was tall and broad shouldered with a full mane of wavy iron-gray hair. He moved with long purposeful strides, a man of consequence, obviously the one in charge.
Snape nudged Black none too gently and nodded towards the leader. "The great man himself, Victor Clendenning. They must've found something. He wouldn't waste his valuable time otherwise. How are your ears in canine form, Snuffles?"
Black shot Snape an annoyed look but didn't waste his breath in protest; instead he quickly transformed into a large black dog, and slunk off through the edge of the trees to get closer to the gathering. After Black vanished into the shrubbery, Snape clutched the invisibility cloak about himself and moved carefully around the rocky outcropping, so he could get nearer to their quarry, too.
As Snape stealthily moved closer, Clendenning entered the small stone building. Almost immediately, he exited the building once more. There was a brief discussion among the gathering that Snape still wasn't close enough to hear then Clendenning headed back to the stone circle. He was followed by the two bodyguards who'd come with him. The guards, however, were no longer empty handed. Between them they carried a small chest that they'd obviously removed from the building. The three of them retreated to the center of the circle and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Alarmed that it appeared they'd arrived too late, Snape moved quietly back behind the rock. Black joined him shortly. Silently, they remounted the broom and took off. Once they were airborne, Snape leaned forward. "Well, Black, could you see or hear anything?"
Black nodded. "Clendenning seemed happy. Apparently, the chest is what he's been searching for. I heard two words I didn't recognize…Dracones Dominantes. Any clue what that means?"
Snape nodded and replied in a grim voice, "Trouble, if I'm remembering correctly. We should get back to Hogwarts as quickly as possible."
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Author's Note: My thanks to my friend Pat, her son Will, and his wonderful Latin teacher for help with the Latin terms!