Late Arrivals and Lifetime Rivals: Snape's Worst Halloween
Chapter 22: A Motley Assemblage
When Professors Snape and Vector arrived at The Three Broomsticks, they were bombarded by greetings from the Order, much to Snape's consternation. The guests from last year's party refrained from laughing at Snape's basilisk costume---at least to his face (which was concealed, for the most part, by the snake head piece.)
Mundungus Fletcher was dressed as an inferi. Ironically, he was out on parole from Azkaban for the same offense.
Remus Lupin was not dressed as usual. Nymphadora Tonks, whom most of the patrons of the Broomsticks backed away from, had morphed into a werewolf to show her support and obvious care for Lupin.
Arthur Weasley was dressed as Abraham Lincoln and most of the crowd had no idea who he was supposed to be, for they had only absorbed so much in Muggle Studies as youths. Molly was dressed in full Civil War regalia and was "President Lincoln's" wife and First Lady, Mary Lincoln. (Arthur had talked her into it.) It was only because he had agreed to throw away his collection of muggle batteries and spark plugs that were now secretly stashed in the desk drawer of his office at the Ministry. Kinglsey Shacklebolt had found it quite amusing when he walked into Arthur's office to brief him and found Arthur lovingly holding up a plug in his hand. He had sworn a solemn oath not to tell his wife.
It was then that Professor Vector's mirror that Sirius Black had lent her for the evening glowed. She opened the clasp and lifted the top.
Sirius had agreed to watch the younger Weaselys, Harry, and Hermione while the adults had gone out for the evening. It was o.k. He didn't mind. Sirius and his godson could still monitor the comings and slitherings of the "basilisk" from 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Hello, Septima. Great costume!"
"Hello, Sirius, Molly wants to know how the children are doing."
"Playing exploding snap in the living room…by the way, has the basilisk ventured to the…the loo yet?"
Septima pulled the mirror away from her face. The laughs and catcalls were so loud. She only hoped that Snape had not noticed. He was busy looking around the pub, miserably.
"Er, he is fine. Tell them to calm down a bit. Molly will contact you soon."
"Alright, Septima. Just…tell him…to watch for the rooster's call…it may prove fatal."
Septima closed the mirror on the loud bark of laughter that followed.
