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Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Don't recall if there were any specific clarifications requested, but I don't believe there were. If I'm mistaken, they'll be included next time, as for now, I have a dial-up connection... urgh.

Chapter 24: On the Modes of Warfare

Severus Snape watched the two boys preparing their potions ingredients like a hawk might watch its prey. Snape was not about to take any chances with these two. Somehow, he had a very bad feeling about having the two boys together in a room with volatile potions ingredients.

To further his impersonation of a hawk, Snape began circling the two boys once they had started adding their ingredients. They were making a Cheering Draft, loathe as Snape was to assign such a frivolous potion. Yet should the boys decide to misbehave and Snape himself be too slow to stop their mischief, at least not much damage could be accomplished by messing with this potion. For that matter, the potion might prevent another duel between the two if things should go awry. The potion was effective if it touched the skin, though not as much so as when ingested.

"Your potion should be a deep burgundy at this point," said Snape, sneering at Potter's yellow potion. Malfoy snorted as he glanced at Potter's potion. Malfoy's potion was perfect. Potter was seething. Snape had to think of him as Potter if he was going to keep what little sanity he had remaining, especially when Malfoy was around.

"Where did you go wrong, Potter, or can you even tell me that much, dim witted as you are?" Malfoy tried to contain his laughter. Potter seethed.

"My potion went wrong when Malfoy threw a handful of porcupine quills into it, Professor," said Potter.

"That would be ten points from Gryffindor for not putting an Imperturbable Charm around your cauldron, Potter, but as school is not in session, that will be a detention instead," sneered Snape.

Potter was clearly livid. Surely even the boy could see that this was necessary? Perhaps he would speak with the boy later. He didn't need the boy trying something foolish again.

Just then Severus felt a sharp pain in his left arm.

Damn.

Snape twitched, but just barely.

Malfoy's eyes shot up, quickly followed by Potter's.

Wonderful.

"Continue working, there is something I must see to," and with that Snape left in a billow of robes.

He'd be lucky if the two hadn't blown up the dungeons by the time he got back.

* * * * *

Apparating to a clearing in a wooded area, Snape took his position among the other Death Eaters. After a few moments time, the meeting began.

"My faithful Death Eaters," hissed the Dark Lord. "I have developed a plan that will bring the Wizarding World to its proverbial knees."

"Lucius," the thing said, turning to the aristocratic man whose features were currently masked by the same hideous white atrocity that all of the Death Eaters present donned. "I trust all is ready?"

"Yes, My Lord. All is in order, and prepared for your success. The negotiations have been completed to favorably," said Lucius, prostrating himself at the feet of the creature to which he had declared allegiance.

"Excellent, Lucius. You shall be rewarded," said the horrid voice.

"My faithful servants, soon you shall all be rewarded with the riches and power promised to you. As the new year approaches, we shall seize Gringotts. The Muggle-loving fools will starve, their war effort will be hindered. All else will declare fealty or perish," the thing laughed maniacally. Severus repressed a shudder.

* * * * *

Severus walked back to his classroom from the Forbidden Forrest. He would have to speak to Albus soon, but first he had to make sure the brats were alive.

Severus was prepared for a scene of devastation. What Severus saw, though, exceeded even his wildest expectations. Snape shook his head in horror at what he saw.

There was a giddy house elf bouncing around the room. Potter and Malfoy were rolling on the floor in laughter. All sorts of potions ingredients were hovering in the air, floating about lazily. The two cauldrons that the brats had been working at were tipped over, there contents spilled on the floor.

"WHAT is going on here?" demanded an extremely irate Potions Master.

Severus was answered with renewed laughter from the floor and the sound of a house elf crashing over a table.

Perhaps they had overdone it a tad with the Cheering Draft.

Seeing no immediate harm in the situation, and having acquired a splitting headache, Severus decided to go see the one person aside from Potter who could make said headache worse: Albus.

Severus swept out of the dungeons, slowing only when he reached the gargoyle protecting the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

"Billybligs," said Snape. Apparently the move from candy names to nonsensical combinations of syllables as passwords was a new security precaution.

Severus knocked once on the Headmaster's door.

"Come in, Severus," Snape heard the Headmaster say.

"Entering the office, Snape found the Headmaster dressed in the most horrid of pink floral robes, dancing with Fawkes.

Snape briefly wondered if he had entered some ridiculous alternate universe. Or perhaps the Dark Lord had tortured him to insanity and he was currently actually lying in a bed at St. Mungo's. Perhaps, but perhaps not. He might as well get on with his report.

"Albus, I have just returned from a Summoning," said Severus.

The Headmaster suddenly turned grave, and took his seat behind his desk. Some semblance of normalcy having returned, Snape took a seat as well, relaying to the Headmaster the evening's occurrences.

"That is most disturbing. If Voldemort takes Gringotts, we will be economically devastated. If we thwart his actions, we will be economically devastated as well. It seems unlikely that we can avoid a bank crisis at this point. I think it also likely, if I know Tom's mind, that he will surround the date for the intended seizure with a week or more of other 'festivities,'" said Albus distastefully.

"That is most likely. He will want his first highly public activities to surrounded by quite a bit of hoopla. I would not be surprised if attacked Hogsmeade, or, barring that, a number of smaller villages. Perhaps one each night leading up to the... 'main attraction,' shall we say? That will instill the greatest amount of fear in witches and wizards across the country, and that is what the Dark Lord has always craved most. I believe he will start on Yuletide, saving the main event for a New Year's celebration," agreed Snape.

"Do you know what Voldemort has offered the Goblins in exchange for their cooperation?" asked Albus.

"I do not," Severus almost felt compelled to add a 'My Lord' to the end of that and bow his head. Too many masters... "I can only conjecture. I believe equal rights with common witches and wizards, including the right of wand use. Not that anyone is apt to have many enforceable rights with the Dark Lord ruling Britain."

"Indeed," agreed Albus. The aged wizard looked deep in thought. Severus sincerely hoped that Dumbledore would come up with some viable plan. It looked liked they were facing dark times ahead though. "Perhaps if we can oust Fudge before the end of the year, we can sway the goblins. It seems our only hope."

"Do you think it possible," asked Severus skeptically.

"Severus, my boy," responded Albus, "you have yet to see me wage full-scale psychological warfare. I will call a meeting of the Order tomorrow to discuss strategy. Now, I have plans to design, Severus."

Severus knew a dismissal when he heard one. "Of course, Headmaster. Goodnight."

Manipulative Old Coot, thought Snape fondly.