Honoria Glossop pushed Viviane in the small of the back to hurry her along. "Do you remember my uncle, dear Viviane? Ivan Meacham? I was always his special pet and it grieved me deeply when he was found headless. I suppose you used this sword I'm carrying?"

Viviane remained silent. First rule, never give your opponent any clue of what you're planning.

They came to a small door through which a slight breeze whistled.

"Out through here then to the summer house in the garden. We'll be away from your friends before they know it. And then, dear Viviane, you're mine."

Honoria reached around her to push the door open and they stepped out into the night air.

The cries of "Bill" and "Stupefy" were uttered simultaneously and Viviane found the persistent pressure at her back relieved.

"Hello, Viv, it's good to see you," Bill said, coming to untie her.

"I can't remember anyone I've been more glad to see," she admitted and graced him with a ravishing Devereaux smile. Looking over his shoulder, she spied a vaguely Muggle-looking chap. "Who's this?"

"Viviane Chance, may I present Professor Harold Miller, Head of the Neurology Department of the University of London? Professor Miller, this is Viviane Chance, witch extraordinaire. Professor Miller's a protŽgŽ of Mafalda Hopkirk's."

"Charmed," Viviane said, giving him a quick smile and bending down to retrieve her sword. "Bill, Dumbledore's in the dungeon. SheÉ" Here, Viviane dug a toe into the unconscious woman's side, "She glued him in place!"

"We need to go in then," Bill said. "Professor, can you stay with Honoria? If Perc comes back to check on us, have him get word to Moody."

"Right-o, Bill. What do I do if she wakes?"

Bill waved his wand and cast a Full Body Bind on the offending subject. "Tell her a story," he said with a smile, then followed Viviane back into Malfoy's lair.

Dumbledore stood in the darkness of the dungeon, listening to the footsteps recede. When it became as quiet as a tomb, he pulled his second wand from out of his robes and lit it. He dispelled Honoria's charm then went to Dobby's side.

"Ennervate!" He intoned. Dobby blinked his large eyes, sat up, looked around and began to weep.

"Oh, Master Dumbledore, Dobby has been a bad helper. Dobby should have been ready for that and ready to help his master when he needed it."

"Nonsense, Dobby, we were all caught unaware," Dumbledore said kindly. "I am not disappointed in you."

"Oh, but Master DumbledoreÉ."

"We don't have time for that, Dobby. We need to pursue Honoria Glossop and her captive."

"Yes, sir, Master Dumbledore. Dobby is right behind you, sir. Unless you be wanting Dobby in the lead. Then, sir, Dobby is right in front of you."

"Master DumbleÉI mean, I will lead the way, Dobby. If you feel we're heading in the wrong direction, please let me know."

"Oh, yes, sir, Master Dumbledore, sir. Dobby wants to help in anyway he can, sir."

It was then that Dumbledore heard footsteps returning down the passage. Looking up, he saw Viviane and Bill Weasley rounding a corner.

"Professor!" Bill cried out. "Are you alright?"

"I'm quite alright, Bill. We were just setting off in search of Viviane. It appears you've rescued her."

"I was working on a plan," Viviane said sullenly.

"I'm glad to see you unharmed, dear," Dumbledore said. "Now, I must ask you, what of the dark chamber beneath us? Will it be of any use to us to go down and search it?"

"I don't think you'd be able, Dumbledore," Viviane admitted. "You know, I didn't destroy it out of caprice. Sirius was in mortal danger and all I didÉ."

"The fact remains, you shouldn't have been here at all."

Viviane had no answer to this.

"Bill, what's going on upstairs from your vantage?" Dumbledore asked.

"It appears they have descended into chaos, Professor. Some of them have discovered the Holding charm. It's not a pretty sight."

Dumbledore stood in thought for several minutes. "Perhaps it's time for us to make our presence known," he finally said. "Bill, please return by the way you came and alert those on the outside."

"Sure thing, professor," Bill said.

"Viviane, go along, please."

"But, Dumbledore, if you're planning on walking in on that party, I don't think you should do it alone."

"I won't be alone, dear. I'll have Dobby with me."

If it were possible, Dobby's eyes grew even bigger.

"DumbledoreÉ." Viviane began.

"I know you have a problem with following rules while unsupervised, but this is a direct order. Go with Bill and help organize those who are waiting."

"Come on, Viv," Bill said quietly, slipping an arm through hers, pulling her away.

Snape was in the process of getting everyone calmed down, which wasn't easy with Lucius following him about asking after Lupin, when Roderick Glossop began to shout for his wife.

"Honoria! Has anyone seen my wife?"

The small, muscled man pushed himself through the crowd towards Snape and Lucius.

"Where's my wife, Malfoy?" he demanded. "She was sitting with that werewolf, last I saw her. If anything's happenedÉ."

"I'm sure she's quite alright, Roderick," Lucius said silkily. "Perhaps she's gone up to pay a visit to Narcissa."

Glossop's eyes narrowed and he turned to Snape. "You brought that thing here. You brought that monster into our midst. If anythingÉ."

"Lupin wouldn't harm her, I'm sure. She's around here somewhere."

Lucius cut in. "Please, Roderick, go have a drink and calm yourself. There's some bourbon which I know you're fond of that I had imported fromÉ."

"Oh, stop it, you fop," glared Glossop. "You think you can buy your way to Lord Voldemort's side with your money and your looks. He sees through you, Malfoy. We all do!"

"Keep your voice down," Malfoy hissed, aware of the eyes in the room that were turning toward them.

"You're all show, Malfoy. Came back to your fine mansion and slipped into a respectable lifeÉ."

"The Lestranges may be your heroes, Glossop," Snape said, loud enough for the eavesdroppers to hear. "But I notice that you're not in Azkaban with them." Glossop glared at him, but said nothing. Snape continued. "You may not wish to admit it, but Lucius has been one of Lord Voldemort's most stalwart supporters. He has kept alive those ideals that our lord cherishes. He has furthered our influence throughout wizarding society with the money and charisma that you hold in contempt. Now, why don't you go and have that drink. Your wife will turn up."

Snape turned away. That seemed to shut him up, he thought, relieved. We may yet recover from this.

"Severus, where do you think Honoria is," Lucius asked quietly. "You don't think she's gone off with Remus somewhere?"

Snape sighed. "Remus is far more clever than us. Perhaps his animal instincts alerted him to the trouble before we were aware of it. I hope he's escaped. Whatever my Hogwarts colleagues have planned, it would go all the worse for him considering his past and his, ah, affliction. Finding a dark beast at a dark gathering is twice damning, isn't it?"

It was Malfoy's turn to sigh. "I suppose you're right. What do you think those fools have planned? I can't believe they'd be willing to move against me like this."

"I think we're about to find out," Snape said, nodding towards the doorway where Dumbledore and Dobby had just appeared.

~*~*~

Viviane and Bill came out into the night air. In the bright moonlight, they saw Professors Miller and Flitwick and Charlie watching through the window into Malfoy's meeting hall. Charlie heard them first and walked over to meet them.

"How's it going?" Charlie asked his brother. "It's become a real hornet's nest inside. They're zooming about as if it were a Quidditch match."

"Where's Honoria?" Viviane asked.

"We toted her over to Moody," Charlie said. "I think he apparated back to Magical Law Enforcement with her. Said he'd return shortly."

"Has Dumbledore appeared yet?" Bill asked.

"No," Charlie said. "You don't mean he's in there alone?"

"Well, he took Dobby," Bill said.

"Dobby?" exclaimed Flitwick, who had joined them. "The house elf?"

"The same," Viviane said. "Dumbledore intends to show himself. We're all to be at the ready."

"We should alert Minerva's team to let them know they may encounter some dodgers," said Flitwick. "Perhaps now would be a good time to call Moody in?"

At that moment, Percy came around the house. "What's going on?" he asked. "Is something happening? Why didn't someone alert me?"

"Calm down, Perc," said Bill. "You're one of the first to hear about it. Dumbledore's inside and he plans on confronting the Death Eaters."

"Oh, my word, Bill," exclaimed Percy. "Do you think that's proper? I mean, we're not really here in any sort of official capacity. I know Minister Fudge saidÉ."

"Let's not second guess Dumbledore at this stage, Mr. Weasley," Flitwick said.

"That's right," Bill said. "Now's the time to come together, just like Dumbledore said back at Hogwarts."

"Percy, get to Minerva and let her know what's going on," Viviane instructed, slipping easily back into her role as security officer. "Tell her she may face a flood of escapees once this starts. How do you feel about maintaining an existing Holding Spell?"

"Me?" Squeaked Percy.

"It might be a good idea to have your father and Mafalda Hopkirk with us as we enter. They're official Ministry representatives. If you could take one of their places and perhapsÉ."

"Hey, all, over here," said Professor Miller in a loud whisper. "It's Dumbledore!"

"Albus Dumbledore," Malfoy sneered loudly as he approached the older wizard. "I don't remember sending you an invitation." He glared down at Dobby, who was trying not to cower behind Dumbledore's robes. "I certainly don't remember inviting you to bring a date."

Dumbledore remained quiet until Malfoy was in front of him, not wanting to raise his voice. "Lucius Malfoy, I charge you with treason against the Ministry of Magic and also with propagation of Dark Magic."

"You charge me?" Malfoy said, then laughed. "Who are you, schoolmaster, to charge me with anything?"

"What does he think he's doing here?" asked Glossop.

Malfoy began to circle Dumbledore, looking him up and down with a mocking curl of his lip. Snape appeared to melt into the crowd.

"How dare you break into my house like this?" Malfoy said. "I assume you're responsible for the explosions we heard from the cellar earlier. When I get finished with you, Dumbledore, you won't be able to find a position at a nursery school."

Lobelia Buckley boldly strode forward and planted herself in front of Dumbledore, hands on hips. "You're an old fool if you think you can bring down this crowd, Dumbledore. You and your silly little house elf."

Dumbledore eyed her coldly. "You were a lackluster student, Miss Buckley, and I see you've grown into a thick-headed adult. But even one such as you should know better than to involve yourself with the Dark Arts."

It was a sign of her thick-headedness that Lobelia Buckley drew her wand against Albus Dumbledore.

From behind the crowd came the cry of Expelliarmas. Lobelia's wand flew from her hand and she fell to the floor from the force of the spell. Some turned to see Bill Weasley and Filius Flitwick descending into the room on a Levitation spell. Others found their eyes claimed by the sight of Viviane Chance standing in the doorway, sword drawn and flanked by Charlie Weasley, sportsman and dragon handler. Lobelia scurried on her hands and knees back to the tightening knot of Death Eaters.

"Really, Dumbledore, this is an outrage," Malfoy spat out. "On whose authority do you presume to break into my house like this?"

"Mine," said Mafalda Hopkirk as she entered the room.

"And mine," said Arthur Weasley who followed.

"Weasley?" Malfoy exclaimed. "I might have known. I'll be counting the silver after you leave."

Arthur approached him with a satisfied look on his face, "Lucius Malfoy, we have evidence of your involvement with the Dark Arts and your plotting on the behalf of He-WhoÉLord Voldemort," This with a nod towards Dumbledore, "You and your guests are under arrest."

At these words, chaos broke out as Death Eaters swarmed for the exit, wands drawn. The air crackled with magical energy from the criss-cross of spells. Viviane and Charlie were managing to hold the door against the mass as Bill and Flitwick moved through the rear of the room employing stunning spells.

Dumbledore was holding off a small group of wizards who disdained escape and instead chose to challenge him. It was then that the old headmaster benefited from a bit of house elf magic that he had only suspected up to this point. While Dumbledore zapped stuns and curses at those besieging him, wandless Dobby created a magical shield that protected him from attack.

Suddenly, Alastor Moody swooped into the room. Pulling out his wand, he cried, "Gran Stupere and instantly all action ceased in the room. Moody approached Dumbledore and lifted the spell from him. As he vacated the doorway, a crowd of wizards in the robes of Magical Law Enforcement followed him into the room. Dumbledore looked at Moody with one eyebrow cocked.

"Well, you told me to get back in touch with the MLE," the old auror shrugged.

Dumbledore and Moody went around the room, releasing the Hogwarts contingent from the sweeping stun spell. Moody frowned at Viviane before giving her a gentle tap with his wand. As her eyes fluttered, he growled, "Don't say I never did anything for you."

The MLE squad moved through the room, divesting Death Eaters of their wands and binding them before bringing them to. The Death Eaters who had so bravely met the challenge when they thought they were up against a small force from Hogwarts kept quiet at the sight of all these security wizards and not a mole in the bunch. Only Roderick Glossop spoke up when Dumbledore intervened as a wizard began to search Snape's unconscious form.

"He's a spy!" Glossop crowed. "I knew he was a spy!"

Dumbledore ignored this and placed his wand on Snape's chest as he said, "Ennervate." Snapes eye's opened and he slowly sat up. "What are you doing here, Professor Snape?" Dumbledore asked, a little loudly.

"Headmaster, I was only here to see Narcissa, sir," Snape replied at the same volume. "She suffers from an ailment and trusts only me to brew the potion that relieves it." He refused to acknowledge the snort that came from Viviane's direction.

"That's a lie," Glossop said. "He's been with us all night."

"Truly, it isn't so, sir. You need only ask Narcissa. I apparated directly to her suite and after administering the potion, I came downstairs to alert Lucius Malfoy of her condition. That's when I stumbled into all this."

"He's lying! And what about the werewolf?"

"Werewolf?" Dumbledore asked Snape. Snape shrugged.

Lucius Malfoy seemed to have caught on to Snape's subterfuge and spoke. "Your professor is telling the truth, Dumbledore. Although I admit to no wrongdoing here tonight, Severus Snape was not part of my invited guests."

Glossop's protests fell on deaf ears.

~*~*~

After the MLE had gone with their prisoners, the small group from Hogwarts went over the room, searching for evidence. Snape approached Dumbledore who was through the contents of a small wall safe that Dobby had revealed.

"Sir, a word?" Snape asked.

"Of course, Severus."

"I'd like you to set Malfoy free."

"What?" Dumbledore was surprised by this request.

"I need a buffer between me and Voldemort, sir. I'm not sure that he would accept me at this time. I also need Malfoy's knowledge of the structure of the Death Eaters."

"The case against many that we captured tonight hinges on evidence against Malfoy, Severus."

"Then let a few more of them go, sir. It is the only way to reach Voldemort."

"We have dealt a great blow to Voldemort's cause tonight," Dumbledore insisted.

"We have won a battle here, but there is still a war ahead," Snape said quietly. "I must ask you to leave me Malfoy. Let him think he's slipped through the net. It will make him all the more arrogant and foolhardy."

Dumbledore turned back to the scrolls and trinkets on the table before him. His brow was furrowed as his hands moved idly over the objects. Finally he spoke.

"I'll see what I can do, Severus. I can't make any promises."

Dumbledore stood and addressed his wizards. Some were part of the old crowd, fighting this evil for a second time in their lives. Others were young and confronting it in a fresh and confident manner. He was no seer, but after tonight, he held a deep faith in his bosom in their ability to triumph.

"We can leave the rest until morning. Let us go home. You are all welcome at Hogwarts."