A NEW SURPRISE
Snape was once again attending a Death Eater meeting. The Dark Lord seemed to be in a playful mood that night - as playful as a Dark Lord could be. In other words: dangerously playful.
"There will be another attack on Hogwarts," Voldemort stated with a sadistic smile, "very soon." He paused and looked around at his Death Eaters and smirked. "Of course, Dumbledore's little spy will not miss informing the old fool of my plans… so know only this: you will not be able to prevent this one… Dismissed."
Snape apparated back outside Hogwarts's grounds. Now that the Dark Lord knew there was a spy among his followers, he was more distrustful than usual and no longer confided in them. Instead, he teased his Death Eaters, knowing it would annoy one to no end.
Snape immediately headed for Dumbledore's office. Even if it was the middle of the night, this was of major importance. The Headmaster was very often up late at night, anyway.
"Ah, Severus." Dumbledore didn't look surprised to see him. "Come on, have a seat. Just give me a moment to ask Minerva and Endora to join us."
Half an hour later, McGonagall and Wilson were there. McGonagall was waiting anxiously for an explanation, while Wilson looked ready to fall asleep if only she dared to blink.
"Severus?" Dumbledore insisted.
"The Dark Lord is planning another attack on Hogwarts," he said.
"When?" McGonagall queried.
"Very soon," Snape replied.
"What kind of attack?" the Headmaster asked.
"Unfortunately he didn't tell us anything about it. He knows there's a spy," Snape retorted.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment. "It can't be giants again. I'm still in negotiations with them, but they won't obey him any longer."
"Dementors, maybe?" McGonagall suggested.
Snape shivered. An army of Dementors… Such a delightful prospect.
"It could be," Dumbledore replied, "but I fear it might be something we don't even suspect."
"What do you mean?" McGonagall asked.
"There are many ways an attack can be led without having to fight," Snape replied for the Headmaster.
"Absolutely," Dumbledore nodded, "and this, we cannot prevent."
Snape instantly remembered the Dark Lord's words. You will not be able to prevent this one… What could it be, exactly? What had this evil little brain of his stirred up again?
"So all we can do is wait and see, then?" McGonagall sighed.
"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore replied, "but we must remain alert. Endora?"
The Charms teacher straightened suddenly and her half closed eyes were now slightly more open - just enough to make them half open, Snape noted sarcastically. "Hmm?" she muttered softly.
"Have you reinforced the protections around the school after the giants' attack?" the Headmaster asked.
"Oh. Sure," Wilson replied groggily.
"Good. One last thing," Dumbledore continued. "Severus, I want you to teach Occlumency to Harry again."
Snape glared at the old wizard. "You're not serious?"
"Oh, be assured that I am very serious, Severus," Dumbledore confirmed. "The boy is still having visions and it must stop. This is making him too vulnerable and we cannot afford that."
"I doubt it will work any better now than it did two years ago," Snape countered.
"It has to," Dumbledore insisted. "Harry has been working on his own, but he needs a skilled teacher."
"Then why not ask Professor Wilson here to teach him?" he suggested, hopeful to discharge this burden on someone else.
Wilson instantly straightened. "What?"
"She's a skilled Occlumens too," he continued.
"I'm not an Occlumens!" the witch contested.
"Oh, please, you prevented the Dark Lord from reading your mind that night," Snape argued.
"Well, this wasn't really Occlumency but rather – "
"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted, "I want you to teach Harry. You know my reasons."
Snape cast a killing look at the Headmaster. Oh yes, he did. Dumbledore wanted Harry to be trained by someone he wasn't comfortable with or even on friendly terms with, so the boy could practise under conditions as close as possible to those he would have to face against the Dark Lord.
"All right," Snape conceded reluctantly.
Snape was fuming when he walked back to his rooms. First the Death Eater meeting and the unknown attack menacing them, then having to teach Occlumency to Potter again… This night couldn't get any worse. Or so he thought.
As he was about to reach the safety of his rooms, Snape bumped into Ursaglow, obviously on a night watch.
"Hey, Professor Snape!" the young wizard exclaimed joyfully. "I didn't expect to meet anyone so late at night."
Snape walked just past him without acknowledging his presence.
"Are you on a night watch too?" Ursaglow asked as he caught up with Snape. "It's a pity I didn't know, we could have – "
"Now listen to me, you dense incompetent," Snape interrupted as he turned round, his wand in his hand. Tonight just wasn't the night to get on his nerves. "Won't you ever stop following me around? I'm more than tired of you and can barely tolerate your existence any longer."
Ursaglow made to speak but Snape lifted his wand menacingly. Ursaglow closed his mouth and gulped uneasily.
"From now on, you will stop following me," Snape began to order, his wand still pointed at the young wizard while he advanced threateningly towards him. At the same time, Ursaglow stepped back. "You will stop talking to me. You will ignore me and even stop acknowledging my presence. You will behave as if I didn't exist. And then, maybe, I will be able to forget I ever had the misfortune of meeting you." Ursaglow was now against the wall and Snape's wand was an inch from his face. "Any question?" Snape added as a matter of form.
"I… I just wanted to make friends," Ursaglow stuttered.
"And I obviously don't," Snape replied coldly. "Now follow my instructions to the letter and maybe I won't feel the need to curse you until you hurt so much that you cry for mercy."
Snape turned on his heels and entered his rooms with relief.
The next day was, as Snape soon realised, a continuation of the previous night's disaster. While the morning unrolled rather uneventfully - apart from a couple of odd behaviours from some students - the afternoon was another story. It was as if all the students in this double Potions NEWT level class had decided to aggravate him. On a brighter note, he had managed to break the all time record of points taken from a single House - how unfortunate it had to be Gryffindor - during one lesson.
However, at the end of that lesson he had had to ask Potter to stay so he could inform the boy about Dumbledore's decision regarding Occlumency. Obviously the Headmaster had already told Potter about it himself so Snape was saved the bother to argue with the insolent boy.
Snape later headed for the Great Hall for dinner. He realised his mistake the instant he set foot in the Hall. Valentine's Day. He had completely forgotten about that one - even if it explained the morning students' odd behaviour.
He should really keep track of all these insignificant little things that made his life hell so he could avoid them.
Snape reached the teachers' table doing his best to ignore the pinkish and other hearty decorations - he didn't even want to wonder who had taken care of these this year. Ursaglow didn't look at him even once. Maybe he had managed to get a piece of information into this thick head, after all…
When Snape looked down at the students, the density of teenage hormones per cubic metre made him sick. Thankfully, Dumbledore didn't make any indigestible speech about love - Snape wasn't sure he would have been able to eat after that. Instead the meal started immediately and Snape discovered with mild horror a heart-shaped pie on his plate. He gave it a long disgusted look before picking up his glass while he watched students digging in their plates heartily.
Snape frowned just as his glass almost reached his lips. There was… yes, this very subtle and almost undetectable scent to his drink. A scent so faint only the finest nose would be able to identify the delicate mix of syrup of Hellebore and essence of Belladonna associated to a hint of infusion of wormwood.
His eyes grew wide with horror as he drew his conclusions. A quick look at his left and he discovered with shock McGonagall drinking.
"Don't!" he hissed as he snatched her glass from her.
The witch stared at him with surprise. "Severus, what's come over you?"
Snape stood up abruptly and turned towards the students. "Don't drink anything! The drinks are poisoned!" he yelled.
An odd silence settled as all the heads turned in his direction. Snape knew the other teachers were staring at him too. During a few seconds there were a few murmurs, some exchanged glances, until all the students started to eat again as if he hadn't said a thing.
What were they doing? Snape wondered with disbelief. Were they all stupid enough to ignore his warning?
Still standing, Snape turned to Dumbledore for support, and found the old wizard his nose above his glass, a frown on his forehead. The Headmaster suddenly stood up as well.
"Do as Professor Snape told you!" Dumbledore instructed. "He's right, the drinks are poisoned!"
Snape didn't have the time to get offended that this time the students looked at each other anxiously, for he soon felt a hand on his wrist. He turned and saw McGonagall sniffing at her glass with a concerned look on her face.
She looked up at him. "Severus, what kind of – "
She never finished her sentence. Her gaze suddenly became empty as her glass slowly slipped from her hand. She fell head first on the table.
"Minerva!" Snape called with worry, a hand on the witch's shoulder, but it was too late. She was already unconscious.
Snape looked up at the sound of cries of fear and panic erupting from all around the Great Hall: dozens of students were falling, unconscious as well.
Coming Next: Interrogations