Chapter 48: Happy New Year!

The crowd cheered, whistled, and screamed for more when Parselmouth finally ended the song, but there was no possibility of an encore. Minerva had been very clear about that.

"Thank you, Hogwarts!" Tracey called out. "Our time is up and we've got to go now, but if you want to meet with us, we'll be out in the courtyard. We've got copies of several of our songs for sale, and some t-shirts, too."

"Come on, Captain Hook, let's go meet the band," Rita said, taking hold of Severus's arm again. "I need to get their names for my review. That song is fairly accurate, you know."

"It is? There really was a werewolf here at this school?"

"Oh yes," Rita told him. "I can't imagine what Dumbledore thought to accomplish by hiding a werewolf here. The fellow's name was Remus Lupin, and he was incredibly irresponsible. Lupin must have known that he was a danger to the public, but apparently he was glad to have his pals turn him loose to go for a romp. He managed to get through his student days without killing anyone, at least as far as we know, although a few people reportedly had some very close calls."

Severus suppressed a shudder. He remembered his encounter with the werewolf all too well.

Rita paused to sip her champagne. "Years later, Dumbledore brought Lupin back as a professor," she said. "But even then, when he was an adult, the man sometimes forgot to drink his potion. He forgot. Can you imagine that?"

"That Dumbledore fellow sounds like a madman," Severus said. And I trusted him with Lily's life. And my life. How could I have been so stupid?

"He certainly was," Rita continued, "but many people worshipped him. Many still do. I keep trying to enlighten them, but there are those who refuse to believe it. Some get quite hostile about it, in fact. You should see some of the Howlers I get!" She finished her drink. "I should give you a copy of my unauthorized biography of him, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. It explains everything. I'll autograph it for you."

Severus gave her a warm smile. "That would be very good of you. However, I must excuse myself for a few minutes. I need to locate my friends. I'm not sure where they disappeared to. It could jeopardize our mission."

"I'm sure they're fine," Rita said, holding tightly to his arm. "They're probably off fact-finding somewhere. Stick with me. I can give you lots of information. And I must tell you about the new book I'm currently working on. It's an unauthorized biography of the double-agent, Severus Snape. It will include a new look at Albus Dumbledore, among other things."

I've got to find a way to escape from her, Severus thought, but she started to pull him toward the courtyard. Resistance was futile.

XXXOOOXXXOOOXXXOOOXXX

"The Sssshlippers of Sssshlytherin," Kat said, imitating Daffy Duck as they returned to the Great Hall. "And the D-d-d-dentures of Dumbledore!"

"Dentures?" Clark asked. "Really? I missed those."

"No, I made that up, but I bet Lord Whatzisname would have loved to make a Horcrux out of them!"

Clark gave him a look. "Are you ever going to grow up?" he asked.

"It looks like we missed the first band," Kat added, ignoring the captain. "Where's Slade?"

"Over there, on the other side of the Hall, with a lovely lady on his arm," Biscuit said, grinning.

Clark chuckled. "We mustn't disturb them then."

"Aye, matey," Kat laughed. "Let's find some more of that champagne."

Fawkes flew in after them and settled in the rafters. He had a distressing feeling that something bad was going to happen. Something evil. But he couldn't tell what, or who, the source was. His golden eyes scanned the room. He'd keep watching until he found it.

XXXOOOXXXOOOXXXOOOXXX

A matador watched Severus and Rita as they made their way through the crowd. "Are you prepared?" he asked the cowboy beside him. "You must strike at midnight, when everyone is distracted."

"Yes! Dumbledore must be avenged!" the cowboy replied woodenly. Despite the venom in his words, he seemed to be in some sort of trance. He stared blankly toward the crowd.

"Excellent!" the matador said. "You will go down in history as a great hero. Just go closer and wait for the fireworks to begin. The noise will provide cover for your attack."

"Yes," the cowboy muttered. "I must strike at midnight."

XXXOOOXXXOOOXXXOOOXXX

After the crowd had quieted down a bit, Minerva levitated the lectern back onto the stage and the Lawrence Lombard Quintet began setting up behind her. "Attention, everyone!" she announced, rapping her wand on the lectern. "We will now begin the countdown to midnight and the start of the New Year!"

People cheered and soon bright silver numbers began to appear in the air: 60 seconds, 59, 58 …

Severus and Rita entered the courtyard. "How nice," Rita said. "The Elves have cleared the snow out of here and cast a warming charm."

Forty-five, 44, 43 …

Parselmouth came out and started shaking hands with the gathering fans, Draco and Astoria among them.

Thirty-seven, 36, 35 …

The cowboy marched out and stood rigidly at the edge of the courtyard.

Twenty-four, 23, 22 …

The matador stayed in the Great Hall and stationed himself near the main entrance where he had a clear view of everyone inside.

Ten, 9, 8 …

Fawkes kept watching as his premonition grew stronger, but he still couldn't see anything unusual. Everyone seemed to be watching the numbers, waiting to toast the arrival of the new year.

Three, 2, 1! 1999!

Fireworks started popping, the Quintet launched into Auld Lang Syne, and everyone cheered. Almost everyone, that is.

No one noticed as the cowboy stepped forward, but as the man raised his wand, Severus's sixth sense kicked in and he whirled to face him.

"Death to the Dumbledore-hater!" the man screamed. "Avada…!"

Severus shoved Rita hard to the left as he dove to the right.

"Kedavra!"

The green flash passed between them as Severus hit the ground and rolled. He came up in a crouch with his wand in his hand.

People were screaming and throwing themselves flat as the green flash burst against a wall. Somewhere in the background, Tracey Davis was swearing.

Severus cried "Incarcerous!" and the cowboy was wrapped tightly with magical ropes from his shoulders to his ankles. He tipped over and fell, dropping his wand.

How did he recognize me? Severus wondered. He ran to the attacker and bent over him. "Evil lying witch!" the man managed to croak.

Severus didn't think he'd ever been called a witch before, but then he realized that he wasn't the target. The target had been Rita.

XXXOOOXXXOOOXXXOOOXXX

Inside the Great Hall, Fawkes recognized the flash and crack of the Killing Curse. My wizard! He leapt off the rafter and swooped toward the courtyard as people below him screamed and ran for cover.

The pharaoh ripped off his mask and pulled out his wand. It was Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister for Magic. "Aurors! To me!" he shouted.

There he is at last! the matador realized. His wand appeared in his hand, he pointed it at Kingsley, and he screamed "Avada Kedavra!"

A suit of armor threw itself in front of the curse and exploded as Kingsley threw himself flat on the floor.

Several of the Aurors cast Petrificus Totalus at the assassin, but their spells bounced off his shield charm as the man turned and fled out the main entrance. Kingsley jumped to his feet and gave chase, followed by the Aurors, including Ron, and Harry, as well as Bill and Fleur, all still in their costumes. Several suits of armor clanked after them.

"Get him!" Ginny yelled and ran to join them.

"Ginny! No!" Molly shouted and ran after her.

Fawkes sailed into the courtyard and saw that the cowboy had been captured. Then he heard the second curse. I've been fooled! he realized. It was a diversion! He went into a tight turn, flew back to into the Hall, and followed the Aurors out the main entrance.

The crew looked up from behind an overturned table. "Come on!" Clark said. "We've gotta find Slade!"

XXXOOOXXXOOOXXXOOOXXX

"Ms Skeeter! Are you all right?" Severus asked as he helped her to her feet.

"Yes, I … I think so," she said. She was shaking and was probably in shock.

"Stay down until it's safe, Astoria!" Draco shouted as he ran to Severus. "That was a smooth move, sir," he said admiringly.

"No, it wasn't, Severus told him. "I almost tripped over the stupid cutlass." He'd practiced quite a few moves, both defensive and offensive, until he could do them in his teaching robes as well as his Death Eater robes, but he'd never expected to be doing them while wearing a sword.

"Draco, please ask Lucius to tell the Aurors that I've taken the lady home. She's had quite a scare and she needs to rest. She can give them a statement tomorrow, if it's necessary."

"Yes, sir!" Draco said, and he ran off to find his father. He passed Captain Clark and the crew running the other way.

"Are you okay, Slade? What happened out here?" Clark whispered as he arrived beside Severus. "Someone just cast a Killing Curse back there in the Hall. Our bird-friend and a bunch of Aurors took off after him."

"This chap cast a Killing Curse at us here," Severus told him in a hushed voice, pointing to the prisoner. "I'm going to see the lady home. I need to get out of here before the Aurors decide to question me. I want you all to go back to the boat where it's safe. I'll join you when I can."

"Sure thing," the captain said quietly. But not until we find out what's going on here. Slade is right, this school can be a dangerous place. Stuff like this never happened to us at Bayou!