A/N: Chapter beta read by Forty-Two Dreams. All remaining mistakes are mine.
NEW PLANS
Snape rummaged in the drawer where he kept all his old grading records for NEWT level, transferring all its contents to his desk. Having always been a very methodical wizard, it was only a matter of seconds until he found the ones concerning his first two years of teaching - they were the ones at the very bottom of the pile.
He quickly turned the pages until he reached the Ravenclaw section, browsed through the names until he found the entry labelled 'Lupin, Endora', and rapidly looked over the grades he gave Wilson back then.
Not any 'Outstanding', a couple of 'Exceeds Expectations', many 'Acceptable' and a few 'Poor'. In a few words, Wilson's grades in Potions had been just above the average. Certainly not excellent, but not awful either, which usually indicated a lack of interest from a Ravenclaw student.
He could have come to that conclusion without looking through his old records, Snape thought. However, the Charms teacher seemed to know the composition of the Healing Potion - quite a feat from someone who disliked Potions so much.
Ravenclaws and their paradoxical thirst for knowledge…
But this disinterest wasn't an isolated instance. It seemed that nowadays, more and more wizards and witches were turning their backs on the ancient Art of Potions. Most were now buying ready-to-use potions instead of ingredients to brew them themselves. Many an apothecary had closed its doors these last years because of this trend.
Such a pity, really…
While he had some spare time, Snape also read 'Combining different kinds of magic: great possibilities but terrible dangers' again to try and see what was so special about it for Wilson to be so eager to lay her hands on it.
Overall it wasn't much to write home about, but there was an interesting section about curing curses that could be of help with his ongoing project. In the same section there was also a part quite worthy of note, dealing more specifically with poison-induced curses, a topic hardly ever tackled in works of any sort.
Christmas holidays were coming soon, and with them the perspective to be able to spend most of his time on his project. Hopefully these two weeks would be quite free of any Order business once the big end-of-year meeting passed.
During the latest meeting, Dumbledore had let them know that he was in negotiations with the giants. Nothing was accomplished yet, but Grawp had won them a valuable delay. Now Dumbledore was spending a lot of time in discussions with the giants to convince them to join their side.
The information about the attack on the school was hushed up. The Daily Prophet barely mentioned some ructions, but nothing educated. The Quibbler had some of its facts truthful, but had mixed everything so much that the result was totally inaccurate.
Christmas holidays came at last. Snape took a malicious pleasure in giving loads of homework to his students on the last day of class. Of course some complained, which gave him a last-minute opportunity to take House points before the end of the term, as well as to add even more homework to the list - really, they ought to know better.
In the evening he watched the students carry their heavy trunks down Hogwarts corridors with unconcealed satisfaction. Two weeks, two full weeks to work on his project, free of whining students, free of disappointing pupils.
Wishful thinking… Later the same evening, his work was interrupted by the waking of his burning Dark Mark. He put everything on hold and disapparated a few minutes later.
While obviously still in central Europe, the location was not the same as for the last Death Eater meeting. Snape took his place in the circle after the greeting ritual, and observed the Dark Lord anxiously - he looked upset, really upset, which was never a good omen for any of them.
"The attack on Hogwarts last week," the Dark wizard eventually spoke, his voice smooth and dangerous, "was very close to what I would call a pitiful disaster."
The Death Eaters were very silent around him.
"Not only has the attack caused only minimal damage, none of it permanent," he went on, "but the giants are beginning to turn their backs on us." He paused. "Nott."
Nott took two apprehensive steps forward. "Yes, Master?"
"You were in charge of the dealings with the giants, Nott, weren't you?" the Dark Lord questioned.
"I was," Nott confirmed uneasily.
"Would you care to explain me what happened, then? Why did the giants let us down?" Voldemort asked.
"I– I don't know, Master."
The Dark Lord smiled nastily, inching closer to Nott. "Why did the giants let us down?" he articulated slowly and menacingly.
"I honestly don't understand, Master," the Death Eater replied in a rush, "our agreement was very clear. They were supposed to continue the attack and do much more damage than that, and in return we – "
"Crucio!" Voldemort interrupted. "I know full well the terms of the deal, Nott!" he exclaimed angrily while the Death Eater fell to the ground, contorted with pain under the curse. "But I can't understand why they would have broken our agreement!"
Nott kept yelling until the Dark Lord eventually lifted his wand. After breathing heavily for a few seconds, Nott stood up to face his Master again. Voldemort's wrath hadn't lessened.
"Thanks to your incompetence; by now Dumbledore is probably already luring the giants to his pathetic side. Now listen to me closely," the Dark Lord threatened. "Win them back. Surely you know how to bribe them, Nott?"
"Of course, Master. Of course," the Death Eater hastened to answer.
"At any cost I don't want that fool to succeed," Voldemort went on. "The giants will be on our side, or they will be on none. Do I make myself clear?"
Nott nodded vigorously. "Certainly."
That was crystal clear, indeed, Snape thought. Either Nott managed to get the giants back to Voldemort's side, or he would have to get rid of them.
"Be careful, Nott, for I will not accept another faux pas from you," the Dark Lord concluded with a dismissing wave of the hand.
Nott moved back to the circle of Death Eaters, probably very grateful to be still alive.
"Snape," Voldemort called.
Severus tensed briefly before stepping forward. "Yes, Master?"
"Since Nott seems unable to tell me what happened at Hogwarts and since you were there, you surely can, can't you?" Voldemort asked.
"Of course," Snape replied.
"Tell me what stopped the attack, then" the Dark Lord enquired.
"It was a giant. Not one of those on our side, this one came from the Forbidden Forest," Snape explained. "It was led by Hagrid, the half giant gamekeeper."
Voldemort interrupted him impatiently. "I know who Hagrid is. But how could one giant stop all the others?"
"It talked to them," Snape replied, half expecting not to be believed. Voldemort gestured him to go on. "I can't tell what it said exactly, but it was enough to convince the others to interrupt the attack and leave."
The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed as he studied him. "Did you know of the existence of this giant?"
"No, but I suspect Dumbledore did, even though he never informed us of the presence of this giant," Snape answered.
Voldemort remained silent for a second. "Did Dumbledore know about the upcoming attack?"
It was no use lying about this, the Dark Lord probably suspected the answer.
"He did," Snape replied. "Very early on the morning of the attack he summoned all the teachers to his office to explain the situation."
Voldemort nodded and gestured him to return to his place. For once, this meeting was going rather well for him, Snape thought.
"As you have all noticed, this last operation was a failure," the Dark Lord said with disappointment in his voice. "I will not allow any other," he added firmly. "Which is why I expect the next to be a total success."
This was getting interesting… This was usually when Voldemort would explain all about his new plans. His love for bragging about his tactics would be the end of him, Snape presumed.
"A few nights from now, I will send some of you to the Ministry of Magic, more specifically to the Committee on Experimental Charms, to make away with some… things I would like to put my hands on," Voldemort ended mysteriously.
A raid on the Committee on Experimental Charms… Now that was something new…
"Crabbe, Avery, Malfoy, you will remain here for further instructions," the Dark Lord went on. "All the others, you are dismissed."
Snape apparated just outside Hogwarts grounds a few seconds later. The Committee on Experimental Charms… What did Voldemort have in mind, exactly? And why didn't he tell what he wanted to retrieve from there?
The grand meeting of the Order of the Phoenix the next day at the Headquarters would be the perfect opportunity to discuss these questions and take appropriate measures, Snape concluded as he returned to his rooms.
Coming Next: Decisions
