Drusus Snape was a tall man, with sharp black eyes and a surprising sweep of once-auburn, now grey-streaked hair. He had the standard Snape family hooked nose and sallow complexion, but unlike Severus Snape and most of the rest of them, Drusus' smile suggested genuine friendliness rather than toothache.
He beamed happily upon the gathered Snapes, and bowed deeply to Livia.
"Dear sister, what a great pleasure it is to answer your summons immediately."
Livia was unimpressed by the sarcasm.
"Had you answered immediately, my *dear* brother, you would have arrived several hours ago.
"Details..." Drusus waved this off. "Ah, Severus! You are our host for this evening, I believe?"
"Yes, Uncle." Muttered the potions master, looking faintly disgruntled.
"Still a chemist?"
"I teach potions, Uncle."
"Yes...quite. Well, someone has to do it, I supposed." He leaned over the diminutive Livia to hiss loudly in Snape's ear, "that's it, son, fight the good fight."
Livia looked disgusted, Snape confused. Poking Drusus with her umbrella, the matriarch herded him in the direction of the Sackville-Snapes, followed by each group of guests in turn, with Snape following grimly.
"You remember dear Mildred Mont-Strepping and her family..."
"God, yes."
"And the Malfoys; Lucius..."
"Good evening."
"Narcissa."
"Dear lady!"
"...and little Draco..."
"Hello, young man. And this must be your girlfriend, I suppose? "
Draco forced a sick sort of smile; Helena Mont-Strepping was hanging on to his arm, giggling.
"We have some unexpected guests, Drusus." Livia went on, poking him towards the punch table. "By the way, Severus, what has happened to your colleagues?"
"Quite!" Agreed Drusus. "I wanted a word with Albus Dumbledore. His brother is an old pal of mine."
"I'll...see if I can find him." Snape slunk off. Livia continued to prod Drusus in the direction of Harry, Ron and Neville, who still lurked despairingly behind the punch table.
"We need to find Dumbledore." Harry was muttering to Ron. "He'll know what to do about Hermione. Or McGonagall...bet she'd be a match for Livia."
"But where *are* they?" Ron hissed back. "They've bloody disappeared."
"Children!" The three boys jumped violently as Livia came up behind them. "I wish to introduce my brother, Drusus Maximillius Snape, who has been made Headmaster of Durmstrang School. This Gathering is held in his honour."
"Er...hello. I mean, good evening." Harry managed, awkwardly, staring up at the strange old man.
"Well, hello, young chaps."
"Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley, and *Harry Potter*." Livia intoned. Drusus peered at them.
"Potter eh? Nice. I mean, nice to meet you, boys. How are you enjoying the party eh?"
"Er...yeah...it's...great." Muttered Ron. Neville squeaked something.
"Drusus, a friend of these boys is also here, a muggle-born, Miss Granger. You must talk to her, I feel she might be...helpful to us, later."
"Oh! Ah." Drusus was prodded off. Harry turned desperately to Ron.
"That's it, we're finding a teacher, now. Even if it's Snape."
Neville moaned, but Ron said,
"I think it'll have to be. None of the others are around."
"Harry took a deep breath. "Come on."
They made for Snape's last known location; he had been heading towards the high table, but when they reached it, there was no sign of him. Draco and Helena Mont-Strepping were there, however, sitting together; Helena was smiling sappily at Malfoy, who looked ill. Harry couldn't resist.
"Malfoy...seen professor Snape?"
"Get lost, Potter." Snapped Draco.
"No need to bite my head off. Maybe your girlfriend's seen him?"
Helena giggled.
"Draco's a real catch, you know." Harry confided to her, loudly. "Fantastic Quidditch player..."
Ron looked amazed for a moment, but quickly caught on, and chimed in,
"Yeah...and he's good in lessons, too, really clever. They say intelligence is in the genes, don't they, Harry?"
"Yeah, and sporting ability, as well."
"His kids would be really talented." Confirmed Ron, nodding sagely. Malfoy looked as though he really was going to be sick; Helena was beaming at him. Harry only had to wait a few moments before Malfoy pointed in the direction of the back door leading out of the hall, and muttered,
"He went through there."
"Thanks...Drackie." Harry grinned, and led the way.

The door was locked, strangely, but a quick spell opened it easily, and Harry, Ron and Neville slipped through. They found themselves in an empty corridor.
"What would Snape be doing in here?" Ron wondered. "Unless...he's with Malfoy's mum." He shuddered.
"No, I saw her talking to that enormous Mont-Strepping woman." Said Neville.
"Which one?"
"The *most* enormous one."
"Thank God for that." Muttered Ron.
"Listen!" Harry snapped suddenly, waving at them to be quiet. Voices could be heard, dimly, apparently coming from somewhere inside the wall.
"What the..." Harry shook his head, listening carefully. He traced the sound to several panels of wood partway down the corridor, and stood before it, frowning.
"I don't like this..." Neville whimpered, backing away. It was fortunate he chose to do so; the panel right in front of him suddenly swung upwards and outwards, Neville squeaking in fear as none other than Severus Snape stepped out into the corridor.
"What the devil are you three doing?" He growled, and tried to slam the panel shut...but not before Harry spotted movement behind him. Shooting a look at Ron, he shoved past Snape, who looked furious, and climbed through the gap left by the panel.
Harry found himself in a small, dimly lit room, clearly a storeroom of some kind...it contained only dusty old furniture, a musty, smell, and...
"Professor Dumbledore! Professor McGonagall! Hagrid!"
The three of them were sitting on boxes in the middle of the room; Hagrid bent over so that his head didn't brush the ceiling. McGonagall half-rose, and if Harry hadn't known her better he would have sworn she was blushing slightly.
"What...I mean, sorry to disturb you...er...but what are you all *doing*?" Harry couldn't help asking. The teachers exchanged guilty looks, but did not answer immediately.
"Are you...are you *hiding*?" Harry wondered, amazed.
"It is not hiding, Potter." Muttered McGonagall; she was definitely blushing. "We have made a...strategic retreat."
Dumbledore, far from being embarrassed, looked rather amused. "I suggest, Harry, that you and your friends do the same. Severus!" He called suddenly; the sound of Snape berating Ron and Neville could clearly be heard in the corridor outside. Snape's greasy head appeared around the panel.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"Let the boys come in here, please. And you had better get back to your...relatives."
Snape, looking immensely sulky, stepped aside to allow Ron and Neville to step into the room. Or rather, Ron stepped in; Neville fell through the gap, and the way he rubbed his behind as he got up gave the distinct impression that Snape had *assisted* his arrival somewhat. The potions master gave one and all a last, filthy glare before departing.
"Do sit down." Dumbledore indicated boxes. "Now that we have a fair number, would anyone like a game of cards?"
"Potter." McGonagall said sharply, ignoring Dumbledore, " where is Miss Granger?"
Harry, Ron, and Neville exchanged worried looks.
"That's why we came to find you, professor...s. Hermione is talking to Nicholas Sackville-Snape."
"He's used some sort of charm on her!" Ron growled angrily.
"If that's true," muttered McGonagall dryly, "he's the first member of the Snape family I've ever known to have any."
"This could be quite serious." Dumbledore murmured, peering at the boys over his half-moon spectacles. "Did Madame Livia introduce Hermione to the Sackvilles, by any chance?"
"Yes, she did. And she made a big deal of her being Muggle-born." Said Ron, before Harry could answer. "The Snapes are up to something, they want someone for their Muggle sacrifice now Alan Rickman-Snape's escaped."
Dumbledore looked astonished.
"Muggle sacrifice?" He said wonderingly.
"Do you three honestly think that Professor Dumbledore would allow such a thing?" Demanded McGonagall.
"They wouldn' dare, 'arry!" Put in Hagrid, who had been sitting silently on his box, looking ashamed of himself, until now.
"Well, they obviously want her for something, professor." Harry argued. "Nicholas Sackville-Snape seemed to be...hypnotising her, or something."
"Ah, yes." Murmured Dumbledore. "An ability common among vampires." He heaved a sigh. "I suspect that Livia's intentions, while far from pure, are not quite what they seem. Miss Granger is certainly not in any danger of being involved in a sacrificial ritual; Livia has another, altogether different sort of ceremony in mind."
"What is it?" Ron wondered.
"Marriage."
"What!?" Cried Harry, Ron and Neville, together.
"She's too young!" Harry exclaimed.
"That's...that's sick!" Agreed Ron.
"Urgh." Said Neville, less eloquently but with equal feeling.
"Livia would not suggest marriage immediately, but a long betrothal. And Nicholas Sackville-Snape is not, physically speaking, much older than Hermione. Chronologically speaking - he can wait."
"But...why would Livia want one of her relatives to marry a Muggle-born?" Wondered Harry.
"Vampires are not capable of propagation by the...er...usual means." Dumbledore explained. McGonagall cleared her throat, and looked uncomfortable, while Hagrid blushed. "Neither is it possible for vampires and pureblood wizards to...er...propagate by the usual means. Therefore, in order for a vampire to...er..."
"Propagate by the usual means...." Said Harry, Ron, and Neville.
"he must marry a muggle female. The Sackville-Snapes are clearly intending to introduce new blood into the family - if you will forgive the pun."
McGonagall looked as though she would not. "Miss Granger could be in serious danger. Someone must intervene at once!"
"I quite agree." Said Dumbledore, gravely.
There was a long pause. Harry, Ron and Neville looked at the teachers expectantly; the teachers looked at one another, unhappily. Eventually, Dumbledore said calmly,
"Off you go then, Harry."