Late Arrivals and Lifetime Rivals: Snape's Worst Halloween
Chapter 30: The End of the Party
Severus Snape was eyeing Wormtail carefully as they stood in the graveyard during Hex-You're-It.
"And why do you believe that my, er, date is not a hag?" he asked in a bored tone.
"Before I tell you, Severus, why don't we work out what I want first?" Wormtail had a smug, victorious look on his face.
"Really, this should be good," Snape said in an offhand tone, but his eyes were calculating.
"I want you to tell the Dark Lord that you no longer want me at Spinner's End. I am not cleaning your house anymore, I wish not to live with you, and I certainly will not be serving drinks anymore…with a lacy apron. And giving me that small room hidden behind the stairs, well, it wasn't fit for even a rat to live there.
"Precisely. That is fine by me," countered Snape.
"Get, er, Alecto to do it for you. She would love the job." Wormtail knew as many others did that Alecto was in love with Snape and made no attempt to hide it.
"So…how have you come to your conclusion that my date is not a hag?" asked Snape, quite still.
"Well, I am not the only one. Nagini is a rather smart pet, er, snake and she passed you and she is very loyal to her master and something wasn't quite right for her. And she told me to look into it and when I passed to give you drinks earlier in the evening, when you complained about the ice cubes melting and the stain on my apron. I smelled the hag. My rat nose is quite reliable…"
"And?" asked Snape in exasperation.
"She doesn't smell like a hag….she smells wonderful…like a woman…a floral smell."
"Well, I am quite sure a hag could douse themselves with perfume, Wormtail," said Snape appearing unruffled, but inwardly pissed that Wormtail, who had never had a woman interested in him, ever, was smelling Vector.
"Wrong, Snape. I escaped from the Shreiking Shack and went to find my master. I had traveled through forests and encountered vampires, wild beasts, Bertha, and hags. And they have a very powerful, distinct smell."
"Worse than yours? I am sure the rooms at my house are still inhabitable," scowled Snape.
"It's very strong and very distinct and no perfume could cover it. And then…I thought about my time as Weasley's pet, Scabbers."
"What about it?" Snape seemed to prolong the questioning so as to give himself time to think and plan how he would get Vector out of there. Actually, he wondered where she was because she was no longer standing where he had left her and told her not to move.
"Well, the third person in the Potter trio is that Granger girl. The smart one…and she was constantly telling Harry and Ron that Arithmancy was her favorite subject and that she liked Professor Vector."
"Well, what does that have to do with my date," asked Snape slowly and with caution.
"Every time that she said it, the Weasley boy would crack on her and say that he felt sorry for Professor Vector because she was a nice-looking woman and everyone knew that you fancied her because you constantly teased her and made trouble. So, I can only assume that the hag you are with is not a hag but….a teacher….that female teacher from Hogwarts."
"That is ridiculous. And Nagini, for your information, hates you." Replied Snape coolly.
"True…but dare to deceive her master whom she loves and…she will back me up on this. Oh, and I lied Snape, I will be out of Spinner's End…and I am still telling the Dark Lord."
Wormtail looked at Snape, waved, and transformed into a rat, heading in the direction of the tombstones.
….
The hag walked on. Where is the rat with the apron?
Professor Vector walked on near the tombstones. She passed several Death Eaters that were running and hiding and trying to get away from Carrow who was IT.
Merlin's Beard, one firewhiskey, is it so much to ask… where is that rat?
And then she saw a sight she could not have imagined. Lord Voldemort was tied to a tombstone, fighting off Bellatrix Lestrange who was apparently trying to make out with him.
"Hag….come here," commanded the Dark Lord, after spotting her when Bella's back was turned. He looked at her intently. He looked like he wished to communicate something to her. She thought very hard, calmed herself, and thought about everything Snape had told her about occlumency and that she had read when she had researched alternative branches of magic. She prayed it worked. She might falter. She was so afraid, but it could very well mean her life. She looked Voldemort in the eye and he said…
"Help! Help me and you shall be rewarded. Distract Bella and untie me now."
She had seen the snake tied a few feet from there and now it made sense.
"Ms., er, Lestrange," croaked the hag sounding like a saw.
Bella turned from the Dark Lord. "What" she inquired rudely. "How dare you hag….addressing me? You filthy creature…"
"Ms. Lestrange…the snake is gasping and doesn't look well and I think it might be dying."
"No, not my girl…Bella you will answer for this…pay with your life if anything should happen to my poor girl, my…" The Dark Lord had caught on.
"Fine, I will free her. And I will be back." Bellatrix apparated a few feet to where the snake was charmed.
Vector, the hag, walked slowly over to the Dark Lord. "My wand is in my cloak but the ropes are too tight. Remove it and hand it to me," ordered Lord Voldemort.
The hag obeyed, hoping he had not seen anything, hoping he didn't free himself and turn on her.
She did as she was asked. Lord Voldemort, wand in hand, magically sliced the ropes, rubbed his wrists and arms and looked at the hag.
"I will not forget this service. I am a merciful lord and remember loyalty…even to creatures of the night such as yourself. What can I do for you?"
"Nothing, er, my lord," she choked out, silently seething. "It was er, a pleasure to assist you."
"Hag…I see you have come to my party with Severus Snape. Did you have a good time?"
"Smashing. Far better than that Dumbledore's," she laid it on thick and hoped he didn't see her trembling.
The Dark Lord's thin lips curved up into what she believed was a small smile.
"Naturally, why wouldn't it be? Now, I know that hags do not marry but if you wish it…I know for a fact that Severus Snape is always available. He was interested in someone a very long time ago but she is gone, and my servant Alecto is a whining bore, between you and me, who carries on so, and is not very attractive to him."
"No, er, thank you, I wish not to marry, my lord."
"Good. I don't blame you." He looked over at Bella and shivered awkwardly.
"Now let us go and find Severus Snape so I can inform him of what you have done, and what a worthy choice in a, er, date."
…
Bella walked over to the snake. She raised her wand and the freezing charm was broken. She looked down at the snake in fury, her crazed eyes nearly snapping.
"You have won again, Nagini. But he will be mine and there is nothing you can do about it."
The snake slithered away from the maniac as fast as she could to join her master.
…..
Hex-You're-It had apparently continued on and now there were hexed, unconscious, and injured people lying about the cemetery. Lord Voldemort and the hag approached them.
"I believe I have grown bored with this game. I wish to return to the Riddle House and you will all watch me and Nagini play with the Karkaroff and Potter piñatas. If anyone should interfere, you will die."
By now his snake had joined him. They both turned to Septima Vector. "Miss, er, Hag, please join me as a guest of honor. "
Snape, who had his wand out and was looking for Wormtail in animagus form could only stare in astonishment, turn from what he was doing, and follow Vector in the Riddle House.
Several Death Eaters rose slowly from the ground amidst shrieks of pain and gasps of breath, clutching sides and trying to maintain balance once they stood. The less injured conjured stretchers and led their comrades into the house.
…..
"Get up…Get up! What an excuse for Death Eaters! Nobody should be sitting while I attack the Potter piñata."
Several Death Eaters struggled to stand. Amycus Carrow rose slowly and fell over.
"Leave him there…and now for the piñatas…"
Professor Vector was seated near Voldemort and Snape signaled for her to stand as well. In the fray, he walked over to her. He wouldn't tell her what happened so not to worry her, but they had to get out of there.
"Damn it!" yelled the Dark Lord. "Why, one shot…the game is over already? That is not fun!" The Dark Lord had raised his wand to the Potter piñata, cast avada kedavra, and a green jet of light had destroyed the piñata whole, and nearly missed Malfoy and his wife on the other end of the room.
"Well, we still have the Karkaroff piñata at any rate. "Nagini, brave girl, get him!"
Nagini slithered over to the Karkaroff piñata and sunk her fangs into the neck of the papier mache figure."
"Daddy is so proud…" Lord Voldemort yelled out with affection. "Look at her strike…" Lord Voldmort stopped mid-sentence and surveyed the living room, "…and look at my worthless followers who can't even play a decent game of Hex."
"Severus Snape….come here," said the Dark Lord imperiously.
Snape walked over to Lord Voldemort.
"Your, er, hag has done a loyal service. It will be remembered."
"I am glad for it. "
"Where did you acquire….er, find her?"
"Knockturn Alley, my lord, where actually I should probably return her. I would think her hag relations…would desire her back," he said smoothly.
"Yes, excellent. We are almost done here. But should I ever have another party. Let her know that she is invited. And should you wish to marry her…you have the Dark Lord's blessing'
"Thank you, my lord…it is an honor."
Snape turned and grabbed the hag quickly by the arm and led her to the foyer of Malfoy Manor.
"I have no idea of what you did but we need to leave," he whispered to her in the foyer. "We will go on the front lawn and hold my hand…"
"Really…I think not. This has been…"
"Silence, do you want them to hear? Hags are magical creatures and do not apparate. However, I can as a wizard and we will use sidealong apparition."
The Hag followed Severus Snape out onto the lawn. He saw the rat running into the house and smirked.
Nobody would believe him.
…
"Thank you all for coming…and spread the word. I wish for Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix to know my party was a success."
The guests started to file out, apparating here and there, some were going straight to St, Mungo's before they went home.
Bella looked longingly at the Dark Lord, grabbed her husband, and apparated in a fury.
Wormtail approached the Dark Lord.
"My lord, I have something I wish to tell you…"
"Do you? Well, so do I. The ice was melting…your apron is inexcusably spotted…and Severus Snape has always been right about you. You are nothing but a nasty little rat who doesn't deserve to be in my service."
"But, my lord, Severus Snape…his, er, date….was not a hag."
"Silence! How dare you spread such lies. She nearly saved my life… and the violation of my person."
"What? If you don't believe me, ask Nagini," yelled Wormtail in disbelief.
Lord Voldemort called the snake to him.
Nagini who was still in shock from Bellatrix said nothing at first, and then told her master that all hags were odd, but this one had saved her from Bella.
"Crucio!" The curse hit Wormtail and he crumbled to the ground in agony.
"Don't you dare spread vicious rumors about Severus Snape and his er, date. And come to think of it you're out of Spinner's End. I wouldn't want such vermin living with me either. Go to the Carrows for awhile until I can place you again," said the high, cold voice.
"Yes, my lord," answered Wormtail.
….
Professors Snape and Vector walked up to the Castle at Hogwarts.
"Well, what happened, Vector? And how is it that the Dark Lord believes he owes you a favor?"
"A long story…I will tell you tomorrow. First…just let me…stop for a moment won't you?"
She halted. They were walking at a fast pace back to the castle and all she wished was to turn back into her old self.
"Allow me," said Snape.
He raised his wand and pointed it at her and transfigured her back.
"Thank Merlin…I've had enough of this." She shook out her long hair and looked down at her blue cloak as if to check that she was not a hag anymore, just in case. "Much better," she said in relief.
He watched her carefully. "Yes, Vector, considerably better."
They both walked up the lane and into the castle doors.
