Snape put the two manuscripts in order and stacked them together.
He took an ordinary envelope out of a drawer.
There were no markings on it.
He slipped the manuscripts into the envelope.
He wrote the recipient's name on the front.
"The Quibbler editorial office. For the personal attention of Mr. Xenophilius Lovegood."
He hesitated over the signature.
The last time someone had submitted a piece to The Quibbler under the name "Half-Blood Prince" had been three years ago.
Douglas had done it.
That absurd "Slytherin's Half-Blood Prince"-romantic entanglements, seven mistresses, a body cut into seven pieces and sealed inside all sorts of ridiculous objects-had simply been a public humiliation of him.
Of course, that bastard might also have been provoking the Dark Lord.
But he did not understand the Dark Lord.
At least, not the Dark Lord of the past.
He would never let anyone know he was a half-blood. What he wanted was noble Slytherin blood.
Although no one knew who the "Half-Blood Prince" was.
He knew, though.
So did Douglas.
He had come up with the name himself during his school days.
He had written it in the margins of his textbooks.
Douglas had somehow seen it, then simply used it.
Now.
He was going to take the name back.
Snape wrote the name in the signature field.
Half-Blood Prince.
Then he attached a small note to the back of the envelope.
"Mr. Lovegood:
After three years, the Half-Blood Prince sends you his greetings once again.
Enclosed are two stories.
The attribution rights and all proceeds belong to your magazine. These fifty Galleons are a contribution.
Please do not investigate the author's identity.-Half-Blood Prince"
Everything was just as Douglas had done it three years ago.
He slipped the note into the envelope and sealed it.
He stood