Welcome to Series two, book two, where you get to meet the first (and maybe second) of the Sentinels and what they are, and the continuation of the Danyelle Nelson story and her life as a Slytherin. If This is the first you've seen of my stories, they begin with Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand, and are numbered, although there are three short stories between 14 and 15. These first seven books were written in 2002-2003, before canon book five came out. Last revision of this particular book: 1-2016

Chapter One

Life with Jennifer

While fires burned, cauldrons bubbled, and dim candles flickered with the melting of wax, Severus Snape was finally able to secure a quiet hour away from the mayhem in the cottage to write in his journal. It had been rather neglected of late; in fact, it had been rather neglected ever since Jennifer Craw first came into his life. Oh, there was an entry here and there after one close call or the other, and academic notations, of course, but hardly the daily record that he had kept during the darker years of his life when he had no other outlet. Now seemed like a perfect time to take it up again, as the many aspects of his life were preparing to collide at the beginning of the next school year, and something had to be done to keep his thoughts organized… Pensieves were only useful after the fact. The trick was to be organized from the beginning. Dipping his raven feather quill into the ink, he began to write in thin, spidery handwriting.

July 8th. The summer has been quite chaotic, lending to a complete halt to anything that might have in the past been referred to as, "Spare time." Ever since Alexandria was born on May the 28th (the same day, in fact, that her mother nearly lost her life in Salazar's Tomb the year before,) our lives have been turn upside down as we've struggled to regain some semblance of normalcy. My daughter fairs her mother in appearance, which is something of a blessing. Her hair is the same shade of auburn, although her eyes seem to darken by the day. Her adopted brother Corey has been surprisingly helpful, and with the help of his own sister Essie has been able to preserve Jennifer's and my sanity, and allow us a precious hour of sleep now and again, something I wholeheartedly miss taking for granted.

Severus paused in thought, gazing at the flickering candles a moment before continuing.

Not, of course, that I have any regrets in regards to having children. In fact, both Jennifer and I have agreed to continue on schedule as planned, and not without unsolicited encouragements. Jennifer's father Thomas (who has yet to meet his granddaughter) has already begun to inquire when one with a Craw name would be coming, as we had promised the next to be named after someone from his side of the family.

Jennifer is doing quite well, although I do have some reservations about this modern medicine idea of "natural healing." Natural healing indeed. What good are potions if you're not allowed to use them? I'm quite sure the entire concept was made up by a woman. Fortunately, it has finally been six weeks. I only hope we can engage a nanny soon and perhaps I can entice Jennifer to get away for an evening; and away from the constant distraction caused by the everyday crisis of parenting.

So far the search for a nanny has not gone well. I warned her last year that not going ahead and putting on Miss Finn was a mistake, although I do believe from the glares I've been getting lately that she may becoming tired of hearing me point that fact out to her. I am not quite sure why she took such a disliking to Miss Finn. I, for one, have taken more of a disliking to searching for a nanny, for those who have applied left much to be desired. One had complained that the Broom Closet was not large enough to suit her, another was strangely fond of hybrid houses and didn't want to work in a house without electricity. Quite the eccentric. At least they weren't like the majority of witches who seem to be more interested in how working for the famous Jennifer Craw would look on an application rather than what the position itself entailed. But Jennifer's Truth Seeking ability has come in handy, and perhaps it will help us achieve the impossible feat of finding someone trustworthy enough to take care of affairs here when we return to Hogwarts.

Outside of the home, matters are not so trivial. After the attempt by an insane Muggle last year to unleash the ancient magics, Cornelius Fudge has once again disappeared, taking with him a tome that once belonged to Lucius Malfoy, and which appeared to have spells in it a Muggle could control. Malfoy, for the most part, has been rather quiet over the last month, which makes me tend to believe that he is probably setting another plan into motion to get even with Jennifer for jailing him three years before. In the Dark Forest, things have become more and more unstable despite Sirius, Lupin and my attempts to slow it down, making a dangerous and disturbingly close breeding grounds for any evil creature attracted by the dark power unleashed from the tomb. And my sister Titiana is still attempting to juggle an existence in the Muggle world when she should just be concentrating on ours. How she ever expects to get a handle on her magic and learn control while traipsing about the Earth in Aero-jets I have no idea. If it wasn't for Harry and Vallid, I might have had words with her about it; not that she would listen. In this way, at least, she is most undoubtedly a Snape.

Severus put down his quill and left it there to dry before turning his attention to his cauldrons, adjusting the temperature carefully and testing the potency with specially treated sticks that he kept in a large glass jar on the table. There was a rhythmic knock on the door. After a moment, Severus heard the sound of the door opening and then being latched back and something…probably a chair…being dragged across the kitchen floor. Gentle footsteps tapped down the hollow stairs, stopping halfway to the bottom. Severus glanced up to see his wife sitting there on the steps, smiling tiredly at him with several letters in her hand. To say that she was beautiful would have been an understatement, although it had been her keen mind and unshakable spirit that had chipped away the stone wall he had built around himself to try and keep everyone away. In some ways, she probably knew him better than he knew himself; but then, he knew her better than he knew himself as well.

"I take it Alexandria is asleep," Severus said, turning the burners down even more.

"Finally," Jennifer chuckled softly. "And I have Corey in the garden putting out weeds. He really wants a new Bludger bat for his birthday. His old one is pretty splintered after that last Ravenclaw game."

"Very well, if you insist. But after his marks slipped last year I'm not so sure he deserves it," Severus said, taking out some clean phials.

"Severus, it's for Corey's birthday. I know we had to be hard on him about the broom and his schoolwork, but he shouldn't have to earn every present he gets," Jennifer said, shaking her head and smiling slightly. "Besides, if he doesn't keep his marks up, he can't stay on the team and he knows it."

"Have you spoken to him about sparring yet?" he inquired.

"I thought you were the one who was going to do it," Jennifer said back. Severus sighed. "Oh come now, I can't be the bad witch all the time. He'll argue a lot less if it comes from you."

"Was that what you came down here to tell me?" Severus asked, tapping his fingers on his side, slightly irritable at having to be the one to tell him.

"No, I came down here to tell you that the post came. We have another person coming for an interview this afternoon…"

"Wonderful," Severus said sounding unenthusiastic.

"A letter from Minerva with next year's agenda, a letter from your sister, and a letter from the Chocolate Charms Candy Company letting us know we've both been selected for premiere cards in their Destruction of the Dark Wizard series," Jennifer said, rolling her eyes.

"Me?" Severus blinked in annoyance. "You I can understand, but me?"

"Oh come now, Severus, if it wasn't for you I'd never have made it past my first year here, let alone be able to do anything about Voldemort. Like it or not, you're a hero too," Jennifer said.

"That is the most laughable thing I have heard of all summer. What right does a candy company have to capitalize on Voldemort's death anyhow," Severus muttered. "Isn't it about time everyone just moved on?" he asked, walking up to her.

"I couldn't agree more," Jennifer agreed, handing him his letters. "I have to admit I feel a tad sorry for Harry. What we're going through I'm sure is worse for him ten times over."

"Harry can take care of himself," Severus shrugged, glancing at the post. Just then there was a knock at the door, and Jennifer glanced at her watch in surprise.

"That can't be the appointment already. It's too early," she mused, heading back up the stairs. Double-checking to make sure none of his cauldrons were in danger of boiling over, Severus followed her up.

Jennifer opened the door to see Essie Willowby, Corey's sister, standing there in tears. Quickly, Jennifer had her come in and sit down, Corey appearing from behind a bookcase, looking alarmed at his sister's grief.

"What is it, Essie, what's wrong?" Jennifer asked, gazing into her face.

"An Owl came today. The Owl. But Aunt Rebecca isn't going to let me go," she sobbed, gazing up at Corey.

"You got accepted into Hogwarts?" Jennifer said in amazement. She gnawed on her lip, glancing over at Severus.

"She can't really stop her from going, can she?" Corey asked, looking between Jennifer and Severus. "I mean, Harry got to go even though his Muggle aunt and uncle didn't want him to, right?"

"Corey, those were very different circumstances," Jennifer tried to explain.

"Why? Because he had a scar on his head and she doesn't?" Corey asked point blank.

"It was a bit more complicated than that, Corey. They never legally adopted Harry," Severus said.

"I don't want to go to the regular school. I want to go to school with you," Essie sobbed. "Isn't there anything you can do?"

Jennifer went for the door, and it didn't take Severus long to figure out where she was going.

"Wait, let's not jump into anything we might regret, Jennifer. Why don't we talk to Dumbledore before doing anything that's just going to get us into trouble?" Severus suggested.

"Who said anything about we? I am going to go try and talk to that woman. You can stay here and watch Alex," Jennifer said. But Severus knew very well that if he let Jennifer handle this it would more than likely get out of hand.

"I have a better idea. You stay, I'll go," Severus said, causing Jennifer to blink in surprise. "It's no secret that Mrs. Hunt doesn't like you. Perhaps if I go I will be able to get her to listen."

"I don't know, Severus. I don't think she's going to be very willing to listen to anyone," Jennifer said.

"You also have to be here for the interview. I can't Truth Seek for you. No, you stay. Essie, Corey, you're both with me." Severus said.

"Me too, Dad?" Corey asked, wide-eyed.

"It is high time that Mrs. Hunt realizes who her neighbors are. This has gone on long enough and I'd rather see it over with one way or another. You cannot spend the rest of your lives sneaking around to avoid your problems. Sooner or later you'll have to solve them and better sooner than later. Now march," Severus ordered, opening the door.

As they walked out onto the road, Corey couldn't help but notice something lying beneath the large oak. He tried to get a better look at it when he stepped off of the porch.

"Did you get a dog, Essie?" Corey asked. Severus squinted, turning around.

"That's not a dog, that's a wolf. Jennifer?" he called. Jennifer stepped out curiously, and then grimaced slightly.

"Looks like the interviewee came early after all," she said, nodding to Severus. "Go on, I can handle it."

"An Animagus nanny? How cool would that be?" Corey said to no one in particular, following behind Severus as he headed up the path.

"I expect you to keep your comments to yourself during this trip, if you don't mind," Severus snapped at him, nodding politely to the wolf as they passed her. The arctic wolf stood and bowed her head slightly as they passed, then turned her head to the woman approaching. Jennifer smiled at her softly.

"Hello again, Miss Finn. I see you found the place all right," Jennifer said. The wolf's grey and white coat began to shift in front of her, and a moment later a lovely red-haired woman appeared, her blue eyes twinkling merrily. She appeared to be about the same age as Jennifer, in her late twenties, and was conservatively dressed in a blue-grey dress with fine white embroidery around the cuffs and waist.

"I apologize that I'm a wee bit early, but 'twas such a lovely day, I thought I would just sit and enjoy this splendid view of the ocean until it was time," Carol Finn explained.

"It's all right, come on in. Welcome to the Broom Closet," Jennifer grinned, walking her to the door.

"The Broom Closet?"

"Yes, well, that's what my husband always calls it," Jennifer chuckled, showing her in.

Carol gazed around the tiny cottage with its bookshelf walls and small open kitchen. Despite its small size it was tastefully decorated in rich woods and warm colors, just the sort of place any witch might want to come to if they wanted a quiet spot to relax and think. Light streamed in from the open garden door in the back of the kitchen, letting in fragrant breezes of the salty air mixed with blossoming herbs.

"It's bigger than it looks though, really. There's a second story through that bookcase over there where most of the bedrooms are, and Severus has a full potion lab and work area in the basement," Jennifer motioned at one of the doors before offering her a stool in the kitchen and sitting down.

"Ah, but I thought you were the Potion Master?" Carol asked curiously, taking a seat.

"I may be in Hogwarts, but we agreed before we got married that he was the potion master of the family," Jennifer grinned. "Just as well, I rather hate the basement anymore, or anywhere else underground. But enough about me," Jennifer parried, really not wanting to get into it. "Tell me a bit about yourself. And just so you know, I'm a Truth Seeker and capable of reading faces, so if there's any reason that might be a problem…"

"Not at all, ma'am, I've little to hide," Carol smiled. "I grew up in a traditional wizard family in Ireland, me Da runs a small fishing company off the coast. I went to school at Greenbarrow Wizardcraft…and during one of the first years they allowed witches to attend, might I add, and majored in the Practical Arts. I also attended some classes at the college in Dublin; me Da thought I needed a more rounded education, and thought some Muggle Humanities would do me some good."

"And then you returned home?" Jennifer inquired.

"Aye, that's when I began tutoring for wizard families for primary level classes. But little ones don't stay little forever, and I felt the need to get away from my roots for a while," Carol said. "So, I decided to come here in hopes of getting another tutor or a nanny position and stretch my wings away from the family." Jennifer glanced to look at her references. Well, so far everything seemed all right, Jennifer thought, but she still couldn't help but think perhaps she was too good to be true. There did seem to be some friction when she spoke of her father. Or had Jennifer just imagined that? "Pardon, ma'am, but is something burning?" Jennifer looked up in surprise then glanced at the basement door, seeing oddly yellow smoke drifting in from the cracks.

"Great stars! The potions!" Jennifer said, leaping down the stairs, the door slamming shut behind her. She took them two at a time, coughing slightly at the fumes as she ran to turn off all the burners, trying not to get any of the boiled over liquid on her as she did so. Her shoes got stuck in the sticky substance on the floor and she ended up leaving them behind, stepping gingerly back towards the steps.

It was as she got to the bottom of the stairs that she noticed the door to the basement was shut. Sheer terror gripped her and her head pounded as Jennifer thundered up the stairs, slamming the door back with such force that one of the hinges came loose. She clambered past the surprised Carol and out into the garden to get a breath of air, sitting in a lawn chair with a pounding chest. Gathering her wits about her, Carol looked through the cabinets until she found the tea set and then followed her out with a tray.

"Here now, have some tea to steady your nerves. I expect the potions were ruined enough, but those things happen," Carol said soothingly, handing her a cup. "I think I heard the baby just now... all the ruckus must have woken her. First bookcase on the left as you come in, isn't it? Let me go bring her down, you just stay here and relax a moment," Carol said, whisking back into the house.

Jennifer felt like a complete idiot, sighing loudly as she stared at the cup. Of course the door wasn't locked. That door only locked from the inside. It would have been bad enough had she went into a tizzy with only Severus or Corey at home, let alone a complete stranger. But Carol seemed quite unconcerned as she made her way back out, Alexandria cooing contentedly in her arms.

"What a darlin' princess you have here, Mrs. Snape, you must be very proud of her," Carol said with a smile. "And so good-natured too. Now then, no reason to look so glum, potions can be replaced easily enough."

"Miss Finn I'm sorry, I… lost myself a moment there. You see, I don't get on well underground, and when the door shut… some heroine I am," Jennifer chuckled bitterly to herself. "You know, when I taught Defense, I told all my students that fear was their worst enemy and tried to train them out of it. Yet hear I am, petrified to even go in my own basement. It seems like the harder I try to defy it, the worse it gets. I'm never going to get over this," she sighed softly, looking slightly depressed.

"Nae, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if you never got over it," Carol agreed, surprising Jennifer, who stared at her. "After all, ma'am, you're only human, and what happened to you an' Harry is nae secret to anyone. But if you think the fact ye're not fearless makes you less brave of a person, ye're more naive than I would have thought," Carol said, smiling softly. "It's how you choose to deal with fears that matter, not with whether or not you have them. Now, let me get the wee one a bottle, and you finish your tea, and I'll be right back out to finish the interview," Carol smiled comfortingly, getting up and slipping in the door. Jennifer looked at after the woman thoughtfully, sipping her tea, and realizing she had already made up her mind even before the interview began.