Late the next afternoon, Evangeline popped out of a painting into the conference room that Dumbledore had set aside for strategic planning for the defense of Gringotts. The room was full of witches and wizards, most of whom, she didn't know. They stared at her with varying expressions, ranging from astonishment to fear, on their faces. She smiled reassuringly at everyone and searched the group for a familiar face. Snape wasn't there yet, but Remus Lupin was seated over by the far wall next to a window. Carefully she made her way around curious people, to drop down into the chair next to his.
"Hi, Remus," she said with a smile.
Surprised to see her here, he smiled back. "Evangeline! What are you doing here? You shouldn't be involved in this. You haven't fully recovered."
She patted his hand. "According to Madame Pomfrey, I have. She gave me a clean bill of health an hour ago. And why shouldn't I be involved? I have a lot to contribute."
That was hard to argue with given her unique abilities, but he was still a bit concerned that it was too soon for her to be involving herself in dangerous activities. Actually he never wanted to think about her doing anything remotely dangerous, though he did understand that he didn't have anything to say about it. Although he wished that he did. "Yes, I'm sure you do, but this could be really dangerous. Does Severus know you plan to be involved in this?"
Her eyes slid reluctantly away from his to focus on the floor. The expression on her face spoke volumes, and he nodded again. "Uh huh! Suddenly sitting next to you doesn't seem like the safest seat in the room."
With a stab of annoyance, she turned back to him with flashing eyes. "Severus doesn't own me! I make my own decisions about my life. He has no right to keep me from participating in this."
Then as Lupin raised an eyebrow at her, she sighed. "I suppose that's not really fair of me. We've never actually discussed it. I don't even know if he'd try to stop me."
"If you believe that, then why didn't you tell him you'd be here?"
She glanced down at the hands she was twisting together in her lap. "You know why. He's a bit overprotective at times."
Lupin put his hand under her chin and raised her head until he could look into her eyes. "With good reason, Angel. We all almost lost you just a few days ago."
She bit her lip. "Remus, there's really no reason for you to be concerned. I'm not going to be doing anything dangerous, like you and Severus are. It's very hard to just sit and wait and do nothing. I need to be part of this…even a small part."
Remus nodded his head at the room's doorway. "I'm not the one you're going to have to convince, Evangeline."
She turned her head in time to see Snape come through the door. He paused and glanced around the room, saw her sitting next to Lupin, and frowned. Swiftly he headed in their direction. It hurt Evangeline to see many of the other witches and wizards give him a wide berth, as he moved through the room. They wore expressions of distrust, or outright dislike, on their faces as they looked at him. All of which he seemed to simply accept and ignore with the ease of much practice.
Once he'd reached their corner of the room, he sat down next to her with a scowl on his face. "Why am I not surprised to see you here, Evangeline?" he said in a pained voice.
Feeling a sudden burst of affection for him, and wanting to somehow make up for the cold reception he'd gotten from so many of the others in the room, she leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. This raised some eyebrows and started some muttering from many who'd continued to stare their way with supercilious expressions on their faces.
As she drew back, she smiled gently at him. "Because you know me so well, Severus. I promise you my part in this isn't dangerous. I'll be back at Hogwarts long before the actual attack begins. However, I'm the best stealthy entrance to Gringotts we've got."
He nodded gloomily. "I was afraid that that would be Albus' decision."
Snape paused for a moment then continued to frown darkly at her as he said, "I suppose there's no point in arguing with you about this."
She shook her head firmly and smiled sweetly at him. "Nope. None whatsoever. It's all arranged."
With a heavy sigh he muttered in a disgusted tone of voice, "There are definite advantages to meek, biddable women."
Lupin snorted and turned to look out the window to hide his smile.
Evangeline smirked at Snape. "Only if you want to be bored to tears, Severus."
His lips twitched in amusement, and his countenance looked less grim.
With a satisfied smile on her lips, she took his hand and squeezed it gently, and they sat there in silence waiting for the meeting to begin.
Finally Dumbledore stood up. "I know that we all know why we're here today. At last Voldemort has apparently decided to make an open move, and we have aligned to stop him. Everyone knows his or her assignments. This meeting is to coordinate our actions, and to be sure that all the details have been ironed out." He turned to Snape.
"Severus, is there anything else you can tell us about the planned attack?"
Snape rose fluidly to his feet. "I've told you everything that I was able to learn, Albus. The attack will commence with the rising of the full moon."
Dumbledore nodded. "When are you to deliver the Wolfsbane Potion to Voldemort?"
"I'm to deliver enough doses for 50 werewolves, to the Dark Lord, at 10 p.m. this evening." There was some alarmed muttering as the number of werewolves was revealed. Snape waited for it to subside before continuing on. "I believe he'll have them consume them at once as the potion needs time to work. If I've adjusted the potion correctly, it will only last for slightly more than two hours. So, hopefully, the werewolves will lose control of their faculties shortly after the attack begins."
"You don't sound too sure, Snape," growled Alastor Moody.
Snape frowned at Moody. "There was no way to test the potion. I'm accustomed to my potions working with accuracy. This is the first time I've ever had to sabotage one, but I believe I've made the correct adjustments."
"And if you haven't?"
Snape scowled, cocked his head, and stared Moody in the eye. "Then the battle will be more difficult, won't it?"
Dumbledore reasserted himself. "Severus, have you completed the protective potion for those who'll be battling the werewolves?"
Grasping tighter control of his rising temper, Snape forced his attention back to Dumbledore and nodded stiffly. "The bottles are on your office desk, Albus. One swallow should protect the drinker for 6-8 hours. However, as a precaution, I'd advise anyone who's bitten or scratched, to get the wound cleaned as soon as possible."
Still feeling the need to challenge Snape's word, Moody stood up and glared at the Potions Master with his hands on his hips. "What guarantee do you give us that this potion will work, Snape, if you aren't sure about the other one?"
Snape glared back at Moody, his patience at an end. "This potion has been tested and found to be effective, Moody! However, I give no absolute guarantee to you. If you wish to go into battle without its protection, be my guest!"
Moody's glare intensified. "How do we even know if any of this information you've fed us is the truth, Snape? Why should we trust anything that comes out of your traitorous mouth?"
At that, many people jumped to their feet, to add to the mob mentality. Evangeline was pleased to see that many were defending Snape, but was worried that they definitely appeared to be in the minority. Snape stood as still as a statue, a black look on his face, allowing the noise to wash over him without drawing a response. Evangeline could see how pale he was getting, and she knew that his hands were clenched into tight fists at his side. Holding back his temper was getting more and more difficult. Just as it looked to her as if the besieged wizard might snap and lash out at his attackers, the Headmaster stepped in and reasserted his authority.
"SILENCE!!" roared Albus Dumbledore.
Shocked, the room quieted as all turned to stare in amazement at their leader. "We do Voldemort's work for him when we fight amongst ourselves like this! I trust Severus Snape implicitly! All the preparations we've made are based on the information he was able to bring us at great danger to himself. If any of you cannot put aside your own petty grievances, long enough to participate in our struggle for the common good, then leave now! For there is too much to be done to further waste time this way!"
With many shamefaced looks, the group once more took their seats. Snape nodded shortly to Dumbledore, and also resumed his seat next to Evangeline. She took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He squeezed back, but she could feel him trembling with suppressed anger.
The meeting droned on, as everyone went through his or her last minute instructions. Evangeline was told to begin ferrying people through the paintings by 9 o'clock, since they weren't sure how many she could take at once, and Dumbledore wanted everyone in place by 10:30 p.m. No mention was made of Snape's little mission to rescue the ministers. Everyone was dismissed to go get some dinner and rest, if they could, in preparation for tonight.
Snape, Lupin, and Evangeline stayed after the meeting for a private word with Dumbledore.
"Have you made all the necessary arrangements for your rescue mission, Severus?"
He nodded. "Yes, Lupin has agreed to accompany me, even though he isn't comfortable venturing out under a full moon." With a slight frown, he added, "Black has agreed to come as well."
This was apparently a surprise to Lupin, who raised his eyebrows. "You didn't tell me that, Severus."
Snape looked impatiently at Lupin. "He only agreed right before the meeting. There hasn't been an opportunity before now to bring it up. I will meet the two of you in back of Malfoy's mansion at 11:45 p.m. Do not be late. We need to get in and out again, as soon as possible."