When Black and Snape rejoined Dumbledore in his office, they found Evangeline and Remus Lupin there as well.
Dumbledore looked up at their entrance. "Ah, gentlemen, what did you find out on your little trip to outer island?"
Snape was the one who answered. "Clendenning was there. He removed a small chest from the ruins and took it away with him. Black heard one of the men there mention the words, Dracones Dominantes."
Lupin frowned in concern. "Uh oh. That could be trouble."
With a brisk nod of his head, Black looked curiously at his friend. "That's what Snape said. What does it mean?"
Lupin glanced at Snape as he answered, "Dracones Dominantes is a very ancient bit of magic, thought to be lost. It was a scroll, if I recall correctly. This scroll was supposed to contain the means to control dragons and bend them to your will. I never really knew any more about it than that. Frankly, I always assumed it was just a story."
With a grim expression, Snape nodded in agreement. "Apparently there was more truth to the story than we might've imagined. The scroll is said to contain a spell incantation and the recipe for a powerful potion, that are used in conjunction with one another to give the magic wielder control over a dragon for one day and one night."
Black let a small whistle of breath escape from his lips as he rubbed his neck uneasily. "That's not a good thing for Voldemort to get his hands on."
Evangeline added soberly, "Well, he doesn't have his hands on it yet. We need to get it away from Clendenning. According to Alwyn's report to Matthew, Clendenning returned this evening with a small chest that had a crest with a dragon on it. He took it to his study and tried to open it, but it's warded with some rather nasty spells. One of Clendenning's bodyguards was incinerated when he tried to force the chest open. Do you think Clendenning will continue to try to open it himself, or do you think he'll turn it over to Voldemort immediately?"
Snape answered her thoughtfully, "Clendenning is as arrogant as Malfoy, and tends to think along the same lines. He'd want the power for himself if he could get it. I imagine he'll explore all of his options first, before turning the chest over. It may give us some time to try to obtain it from him. We need more information about the layout of the castle. Does Matthew know his way around it?"
Evangeline shook her head. "No. Matthew told me that he's never been inside, and he said that Alwyn was too scared of her master to help him any more than she does by passing information. But that may not matter. We can make a magical map of the castle. I know of a process that uses an animating potion. It can even show us the location of people moving around inside the structure. With an accurate map we could come and go as we pleased and never run into anyone inside the castle."
As they listened to Evangeline's idea, Lupin and Black exchanged knowing grins. "A Marauder's Map!" exclaimed Black with relish as he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
Evangeline frowned in puzzlement and turned to look at them curiously. "I've never heard it called that before, but you're obviously familiar with it."
Lupin grinned at her. "We're more than just familiar with it. We created one of Hogwarts when we were students here."
Snape crossed his arms and frowned darkly at Lupin muttering under his breath. "Finally, the truth comes out."
As Lupin glanced slightly sheepishly at Snape, Evangeline regarded the werewolf with astonishment. "I'm impressed. That's fairly complex magic for students."
Black smiled smugly. "We were upper classmen at the time."
Snape continued to fume. "And experts at causing trouble at all ages," he muttered sourly.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled strongly, and he gave a brisk nod hoping to keep the focus on the here and now instead of getting caught up in the mischief of the past. "Then you have experience. How long will it take to make this map?"
Evangeline sighed and turned back to the Headmaster. "That's the unfortunate part. The animating potion takes 2 days to produce."
"Well, then you'd better get started. If we're to send anyone into Clendenning Castle, they'll need to know where they're going, and who they might run into."
Evangeline turned to Snape. "Severus, can you begin the potion for me? In order to create a map of Clendenning Castle, I'll need to obtain a piece of it. I'll have to go back and get Matthew to go get a piece of stone from the castle walls."
Still a bit disgruntled Snape nevertheless nodded to his lover. "Very well. I'll take care of it."
Lupin added helpfully, "Sirius and I can get the parchment ready with the appropriate graphic spells on it."
Evangeline nodded with a smile for Lupin. "Good."
Dumbledore smiled in satisfaction. He did so enjoy seeing his "students" cooperating instead of bickering. "Excellent. We should get this started tonight, and then meet tomorrow to plan out our strategy."
Evangeline turned to Snape. "Severus, take the Alchemist's portrait into your classroom while you begin the potion. I'll join you there as soon as I have what I need from Clendenning Castle."
He nodded again and regarded her seriously. "Be careful, Evangeline."
She kissed him quickly on the cheek. "I will, don't worry. See you soon." Then with a final quick smile, she vanished through the nearest portrait.