#7 A Serpentine Conversation
Snape stared at the smoldering ashes of the challenge his mind working furiously. But before he could move a muscle, the bell rang, signaling the end of a breakfast which he hadn't had the opportunity of taking part other than a hasty swig of black coffee; thanks to the combined contribution of Lucius's nagathon, Black's beast and the infernal invitation.
Lucius stood up and regally offered his arm to Narcissa who was scrupulously searching for any split ends caused by the mini inferno. "I believe we have to attend History of Magic." he declared and turned on his heel and strode out of the hall. "Crabbe, Goyle, Sev coming?
Yeah sure I'll come to stick something up your thought Severus his anger at the Marauders transferring smoothly into anger at Malfoy for including his name in the same sentence as the two dumb drones.
So the little snits thought Gryffindor was superior to Slytherin didn't they? I guess we'll have to modify that impression. Severus followed Lucius out of the Great hall suppressing the urge to glance over at the Marauders. But there had to be a catch. There always is. Why an open challenge? Why is it so thought out? The wretched werewolf's behind this. The date, the time, place, self destructing mechanism…everything planned without a chance for blackmail. Potter isn't smart enough for this. His idea of preparation is shrieking: On the count of three. One…Two…Ten. Black wasn't patient enough. He'd rather attack us at the loo rather than wait until midnight. And Pettigrew wasn't…well he just wasn't.
"Today we will discuss the longstanding effects of the goblin wars, which were introduced in the last lesson. In the early sixteen hundreds, Morwark the Mad extended…"
"Severus" Silence
"Severus" Silence
"Severus listen to me or I'll let all the sixth years know exactly what's rolled up in a sock and shoved behind the third panel to the left of the dorm room door"
Well…thought Snape it was fun while it lasted. Might as well ignore Malfoy while I can and as for the thing behind the third panel…investigate at your own risk!
"Well what is it Lucius?"
"Does Binns bore you out of your short term memory? The Challenge that's what! I was just wondering what you're going to do about it?"
"What am I going to do about it? I precisely remember the invitation was out to all of us and that includes you Lucy."
Giggling hysterically, Narcissa dragged her desk closer to Lucius making an ear splitting screech on the floor. Many students were jolted awake from their snoring and a few brave one's shot nasty looks at Narcissa. The nasty looks reached halfway around the classroom and with only two feet of Narcissa, turned tail and ran screaming for their life.
"Yes Miss Blog?" The screech had not even escaped the wax ridden ears of Binns.
"It's Black Professor. Isn't Lucy such a sweet name?"
"Ye-s –uh- Miss Blank. Now as I was saying Morwark…"
"What are you playing at?" hissed Lucius incensed at being ridiculed by his biggest fan.
"No just that I think it's adorable. Who knew Gryffindor mutts had such a knack for nicknames. What do you say Severus?"
"Yeah Lucy and Cissy real cute!" deadpanned Snape.
"I'll deal with you later." Growled Lucius as he firmly turned his back to Narcissa and faced Snape. "Fine so we're in this together. I think that we'll have to modify our plan just a little in order to fit in this new development. So instead of luring them to the forbidden forest we'll spring the trap in their own tournament or whatever.
"Does listening to Binns actually change your genetic make-up? Snape asked in disbelief. "Are you really suggesting that we try to hoodwink the Fantastic foursome in their own much thought out challenge in the middle of enemy territory at twelve o'clock in the night?
"Yes"
"How unSlytherin of you"
Lucius started laughing and banging the desk. Several of the less brave students which included all of the Hufflepuffs shifted their tables away in fright. It's not every day that Lucius laid down his dignity and risked desecrating his family honor by trading the patented smirk for a smile. The Malfoys seemed to live by the motto that while smiling confused your enemies, smirking downright terrorized them.
"I feel like an island" stated Goyle looking around the five feet empty space surrounding them.
Lucius spared a glance at him for actually managing a grammatically and politically correct sentence and then focused on Snape. "How unSlytherin of me? Dear Sev have you ever heard that being predictable is worse than hanging a bulls eye over your heart?
"Actually Lucius I've never heard of that. You just made it up."
"That's irrelevant! Well as I was saying, I am and always will be a model Slytherin Severus, until I die due to old age because Slytherins don't die any other way as they are too smart to be killed by arson treason or poison. That being said do you really think that I would walk into a likely trap without being in absolute control of the situation. Please Severus do try to remember that We always dictate the terms of engagement."
"Enough already but why can't we stick to our old plan? We dictate the entire scenario of that one remember?"
"Because we were challenged and it's beneath us to refuse."
"Isn't that what Slytherins do though?" spoke up Crabbe with a look of utmost confusion on his fat face.
"What are you implying Crabbe?" hissed Lucius in a low threatening tone.
"That we are cowards?" offered Snape with a sneer.
Lucius's face darkened and Severus braced himself for another longwinded lecture.
"OF COURSE we ARE! That's why we're Slytherins you idiot. I meant that we should accept the challenge because that's the unpredictable thing to do."
"Wait a second darling I'm getting confused; if the Marauders challenged us out right and if they have set up a trap it's because they are predicting that we'd come. So technically accepting the challenge is predictable while refusing is not."
Lucius considered Narcissa thoughtfully and after a few minutes of contemplation said
"Shut up and powder your nose."
"Why? Is it too shiny?" wailed Narcissa and started digging around in her handbag for cosmetics.
"Narcissa's right Lucius! Is it just a coincidence that the Marauders come up with a challenge the morning after I finished the See-All potion? Could they have somehow overheard everything?"
"The only way Potter and his friends could have eavesdropped was from under the cloak. We all drank your potion remember? So we would have seen them. That is… We would have seen them if you potion could actually see through invisibility cloaks. If you doubt your own creation Sev maybe I'll call the whole thing off.
"Get stuffed Malfoy it works alright! Don't you remember seeing Goyle's pink underwear last night when Crabbe stepped on his overcoat and ripped it?"
"Shhh" whispered Goyle frantically as all the students turned around and stared at his lower body.
"Believe me I won't forget that in a hurry. The memory alone is potent enough to give me nightmares for the rest of my life." Lucius stopped talking to regard the inquisitive eyes of the Hufflepuffs still zeroed onto them. "What are you looking at? I know I'm an attractive sight but if you don't want a conjunctivitis in your face I suggest that you look away."
"So…" he continued "now that we're clear that the Marauders don't know about our…ok fine your little invention, let's plan our 'modus operands'. I'm willing to bet fifty galleons that those fools will stoop to their little cloak to stay out of sight until the time limit is up. So Severus you need to make more See-All potion. Lots of it. Next we'll also need the Draught of Dread and some Confoundus Concoction and any other nasty surprises you can manage."
"… and I'll manage everything in less than ten hours time which includes six classes eating and sleeping time not to mention my personal time to breath?"
"Yes you've got it. Good man Sev."
"Never mind! I know my potions are fabulously wicked and all but I don't think that they alone can dictate the terms of engagement; now can they Lucius?"
"You think too much Snape. Why can't you be more like Narcissa? Wait! I did not say that! Lucius shook his head to dispel any images formulated in his mind. "Trust me; when we meet the Gryffindors at half past eleven tonight, it will be me directing the show. So don't trouble your self, just remember that we hold all the Aces.