Dumbledore glanced over at Viviane. "And I thought you and Sirius were busy gathering information in Stratford," he said, in a mild tone that nonetheless managed to sting. Viviane realized he was waiting for an answer, so she stammered, "Er, we, er thought we might be more useful, er…"

"Destroying basements?" Severus offered helpfully.

Before Viviane could either retort or kill the Potions Master, Dumbledore interrupted, his voice urgent. "Remus, head to the front gates and have Minerva let you pass through. Apparate with Sirius to the gates of Hogwarts, and get him inside to the infirmary. Severus, you need to rejoin your fellow Death Eaters upstairs."

Snape turned away with a contemptuous sneer, and gestured towards Viviane. "Shall I bring her along, in case I need to destroy the Hall?"

"That will not be necessary, Severus," Dumbledore said as he grasped Viviane's arm. "She'll be in my sight at all times."

Snape glided back up to the Hall. I should have thrown those two out as soon as they made their appearance. But I was in a rather vulnerable position at the time. Damn you, Narcissa! Why must everyone play the fool when I'm trying to get my work done.

He drew himself up to his not inconsiderable full height, and made an appropriately grandiose entrance into the confusion of the Hall. Malfoy almost instantly appeared beside him, with Roderick Glossop fast behind. "Severus, what is going on? Where is Remus Lupin? And where were you?"

Roderick chimed in. "We're being held here, Snape. Do you know anything about this?"

"One at a time," Snape said, with a haughty look at both of them. "It appears my idiotic fellow faculty at Hogwarts have decided to raid the place."

Lucius blanched and Roderick grabbed Snape's arm, growling, "If you set this up, I swear-"

Snape shook him off with a hiss and fastidiously smoothed his robes. "I suggest we continue our little cocktail party, Lucius. Quite a crowd you've assembled for this little social event, you must be drained. Go refresh yourself at the bar. Roderick, where's your viper of a wife?"

~*~*~

"Stop." Dumbledore turned in surprise, to find Honoria Glossop with her wand raised, pointed at his throat. "Expelliarmus." She deftly caught the two wands, and with a smile tucked them into her ruby-studded belt. "Well, well. Albus Dumbledore, I didn't think you'd be so stupid. And who's this with you?" She walked over and looked up at Viviane, and started to laugh. "I can't believe it. What a find! Fudge has been so busy extolling the return of Viviane Devereaux, and here she is." She stepped closer. "You cut quite a swathe through my family. There are scores of scores I need to settle with you."

Honoria paused for a moment to blast Dobby unconscious, and turned to bind Viviane's arms tightly to her sides. "No swordplay with me, darling. Albus, you're free to go. I'm not stupid enough to move openly against you. I suggest you get out of here quickly, and perhaps you can round up your bumbling troops long enough to catch that fool of a Malfoy."

Dumbledore smiled, and reached forward to capture Honoria's hand and kiss it. "My dear, I haven't seen you in years - you haven't changed, either in beauty or ruthlessness. But I can't let you kidnap a member of my faculty, and I'm sorry to inform you that we've put a Holding Spell on the house. You can't take Viviane anywhere."

"Are you sure? Just how well do you know the Malfoy manse? I know it…quite well, thanks to the lovely Narcissa. She pointed her wand at Dumbledore's boots and cried, "Gluten! You'll be able to move in a few moments. I do wish you luck, Albus; you always were an intelligent and charming wizard."

Honoria grabbed the end of the rope binding Viviane, and Dumbledore heard her speak for the first time since her captor's appearance. "This is so embarrassing," her voice echoed back to him as she was dragged out of the ruins of the Malfoy dungeon.

~*~*~

Professor McGonagall and Mafalda Hopkirk stood shoulder to shoulder before the ornate entrance gates, maintaining the concentration and power needed for a strong enough Holding Spell to surround the entire Malfoy estate. "I wonder how things are going in there," the Transfiguration professor remarked. "Considering those involved?" answered Mafalda. "We're missing quite a show, one way or the other. Albus owes us some especially fine single-malt when he tells us what we didn't get to see."

At that moment Remus staggered up, a limp Padfoot slung over his shoulder. "Minerva. You need to let me through; I have to get Sirius to the infirmary."

"Remus! What happened to Sirius, and why is he - oh, we don't have time for explanations, just go. Be careful, my dear."

He nodded and waited for the second that the Holding Spell would be lifted. With a smile of thanks, he disappeared into the night, leaving Professor McGonagall and Mafalda to exchange worried glances.

Not long after, Percy Weasley walked up, sent by his father to report that nobody appeared to be trying to escape through the east wing. "Er, Professor McGonagall, shall I report back to my father that everything is all right here? And Ms. Hopkirk, should I be taking some notes in case the Ministry requires a report-"

"Shut up, Percy!" both witches commanded, and the unfortunate young man walked off with a sigh to return to his father.