Late Arrivals and Lifetime Rivals: Snape's Worst Halloween

Chapter 16: The Summons

Professor Snape sat in a green chair in his study and read quietly. He had an ongoing account with Flourish and Blotts to receive the latest potions books that were published. He had thought about writing his own one day, but for now he was far too busy…

He closed his book and reached over slowly to his mahogany end table. He retrieved his silver goblet with the Slytherin crest and took a sip of elf-made wine.

No meetings, no paperwork, no Vector…it had been a glorious day. They were few and far between. These periods of time when he was left completely alone…and furthermore, not one murmur of a Halloween party had reached his ears.

He marveled at his luck.

Halloween was in two days and so far no invitations had been brought to his attention. Charon claimed he had been approached by no one and when he swooped in to the dungeons to deliver the mail daily, nothing had slipped in either.

Snape had originally thought that maybe Charon did not wish to distress him and had disposed of an invitation knowingly.

If that was the case, so be it.

If so, then Snape had trained his owl well, a true Slytherin…

Or maybe, he was just extremely fortunate after last year's debacle.

What were the odds that every holiday was spoiled for him year after year when all he wanted was to be left alone?

Snape smiled nastily to himself. He may even enjoy this holiday.

Snape's smirk suddenly turned to a frown. It had been one disaster after another at the Order of the Phoenix party last October.

However, he still kept the costume in an old wooden box in his stores.

As a reminder, that he would never be put in such a position again.

He tried to remind the fates that his adolescence was over almost 20 years ago.

Merlin, however, seemed to have a sense of humor.

That Night…

Severus Snape sat up quickly in his bed.

He rolled up the sleeve of his gray nightshirt and looked down. The mark that had been lighter for days was now dark and glowing.

He rose and changed into his robes.

He was being summoned by the Dark Lord.