A/N Welcome to the third book in the Sentinel Series! (Series 2, begins with Jennifer Craw and the Cloak of Icarus) Where Corey tries his hand in music (Poor Snape) and we learn much more about Mad Ick, the ghost of Azkaban, and the legends of the founder's four apprentices in general, as well as learning about Anna and Severus' youth. If this is your first time around, enjoy! And if you're not sure where to begin, series one starts with Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand.

This story was written early 2003. Last revision: 1-14-2016

Chapter One

The Golden Letter

It was perhaps the hottest summer in ten years, and it was most definitely the hottest summer that Jennifer had experienced since she moved to Britain five full years ago. Of course, being a witch, things could have been quite a bit worse to bear without magic. It also helped that her small little cottage, affectionately known as the Broom Closet, lay above a bluff that reached out over the open sea.

As usual, her adopted son Corey, who was becoming an exceptional wizard in his own right, had his best friends Doug and Taylor over for his birthday. Jennifer watched near the rocky shore while the three boys swam out farther than she liked so they could practice a bit of Gill-diving. Glancing at her watch, she called out to them to get their attention until finally after the third try she got one of the boys to look up. The boy's head then disappeared again under the water and Jennifer stood up, shaking her head with a sigh. Suddenly the three burst out behind the rock with a scream, trying to startle her.

"I might have fallen for that the first few times, Corey Willowby, but don't you think I'd have figured it out by now? Now come along, it's getting late, and I'm quite sure the potion's about worn off anyhow, it's nearly been two hours," Jennifer scolded them as they came out of their water.

"Oh, Mom, we had plenty of time," Corey protested as he grabbed one of the towels that appeared in mid-air. "See?" he said, showing her the gills on his neck and arms. Just then the gills began to disappear, and Jennifer nodded knowingly. "Well, maybe not quite as much time as I thought," he admitted.

After a careful climb up a long ladder staked to the side of the cliff, the four finally stepped up onto the bluff. The tiny cottage looked deceivingly small from the outside; a stone-built house with a low porch and deep windows and a walled garden much like out of a fairy tale. On the porch lay a striped cat, stretched out in the shadows and as still as a statue, giving them only a cursory look when Corey scratched his head on their way by. Inside, a curious blue fire burned ice-like coals in the fireplace, cooling the air in the living room as well as the adjacent kitchen. And in a small pen on one side of the room sat a one year-old auburn-haired girl, who had somehow managed to pull several of the books off the shelves built into the wall next to her. Looking up at them, she used some to get to her feet, climbing on the books she had felled, reaching her arms out over the pen.

"Nana!" Alexandria said.

Jennifer sighed with frustration, walking over to the pen to get her, while the boys quickly opened up the bookcase on the other wall and headed up the stairs beyond.

"I'm not Nana, I'm Mama. Can't you say Mama? Or Mum? Or something?" Jennifer asked her, taking her into the kitchen.

"Nana!" Alex said, accepting the offered bottle contentedly.

"No, I'm not Nana," Jennifer said with a frown, sitting down with the baby on her lap, giving her a biscuit to gnaw at. "Nana is busy upstairs with your brother. You see, once upon a time, there was a young teacher only a couple of years out of school who became lucky enough to become a professor at the greatest wizard school of all, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She came to the school headstrong and ready to conquer the world, but she soon learned that everything wasn't as easy as it seemed.

"Her family was in all sorts of trouble with Voldemort for fleeing him when he was still at the height of his power, and a lot of people wanted her dead. But then, the teacher met up with another professor who helped her get past all that. Oh, well, perhaps not at first. I'm not sure you could say they hit it off on the first day, you know, because the sour older professor was suspicious of everything and everyone, even more than he is even today," Jennifer explained, nodding to the girl. "But after a bit of heart searching and after a lot of adventures that you're not old enough for me to tell you about yet, the two of them fell in love and got married," Jennifer said. "Well, that is… alright, so it was a bit more complicated than that. So they had to work past the fact that everyone thought he was a Death Eater, and the fact that her father, long thought dead showed up and tried to kill the professor because he thought he was one as well, and of course there was Voldemort to contend with and that horrid Wormtail, but I promise you they did eventually get married and have been living happily ever after… except perhaps for a few occasions like when they had to deal with a Muggle who had gotten a hold of a cloak he oughtn't, and a Wraith and a Dreadbiter did their best to try to kill one or the other. But I've found over time that there's just no keeping some people down no matter how many twists and turns get thrown at them. And people will go on doing what they can to live normal happy lives despite these little things that come up. And that is why they decided to settle down and have children and live happily ever after in spite of all that. Of course, that does mean having to have a Nana here to take care of their children when they have to go back to Hogwarts so that they can be safe and sound, but that doesn't make them any less your parents, and it doesn't make me any less your Mama," Jennifer said with a nod. "So, let me hear you say 'Mama' just this once?"

"Nana," Alex said, discarding her biscuit on her floor.

"What a stubborn little thing you are!" Jennifer said with exasperation.

"I wonder where she gets it from," said a deep voice behind them. In the open door leading to the basement stood a tall man with dark black hair and dark eyes, who was shaking his head at Jennifer with a frown. Alex turned around excitedly and put her arms out expectantly.

"Dada!" Alex said demandingly.

"I give up," Jennifer muttered.

"A sour old professor, eh?" Severus Snape scowled, letting her know that he'd been standing there for some time.

"I said older, I didn't say old," Jennifer pointed out to her husband, putting Alex back in her pen while gathering up the books that were in there, glancing at a title. "Looks like our daughter is already showing interest in Biomagic Potion Formulas," she chuckled.

"And what about sour?" Severus persisted, squinting slightly.

"Look, the post's here," Jennifer said quickly, going over to the kitchen window, gathering up the notes lying in the box on the sill.

"Did you really think I was sour?" he asked, standing over her like a hawk.

"Well, weren't you?" Jennifer said back gazing up at him almost nervously. "You were the one who kept telling me that I was wet behind the ears…"

"Well, weren't you?" Severus asked back tauntingly.

"Perhaps a little, but at least I'm willing to admit it," Jennifer said. "Here's one from Doctor Linde, I wonder what sort of Muggle healing technique he's going to tell me about this time? Oh, and here are birthday cards from my father and Danny…"

"Here now, I'll take a look at that last one," Severus said, plucking the envelope from her hand.

"Oh, really, Severus. I know the girl's living with the Malfoys now, but I seriously doubt they'd booby-trap her letters to Corey. Malfoy has always been subtler than that. Besides, with all the protections on this house, I doubt it'd get through," Jennifer said.

"All the same, do you doubt that if Lucius had for one instant a chance to kill either of us that he wouldn't?" Severus asked.

"No, of course I don't," Jennifer said quietly. A man capable of hiring a psychotic killer to murder her mother was capable of anything, she knew. Being the guardian of one of Corey's best friends didn't make him any less dangerous…in fact, in some ways he was more dangerous than before, and Severus knew that. "You're right, we can't take any chances."

"I'll take this down to the lab then. Anything for me in there?"

"Yes, Witolf's bill, something from the Ministry and a letter from the school, from McGonagall it looks like, probably our pre-term stuff. Yes, here's Corey's book list," Jennifer said, sifting through the post still as she handed Severus his. She was staring at the last letter in her hand thoughtfully, putting the rest down for a moment, intrigued by the fine woven gold paper and at the perfectly written calligraphy on the front with her name written in gold leaf paint; Professor Jennifer Corsiva Craw Snape. Turning it over, she glanced at the seal in apparent shock. Severus, who had paused to glance at the bill before heading downstairs, caught the peculiar look on Jennifer's face and looked over her shoulder. Stamped on the seal was the symbol for the Order of Merlin.

"Well, don't just stand there, open it," Severus snapped impatiently. Carefully Jennifer broke the seal and opened it, a soft golden glow emanating within, bathing her face in light. She scanned it for a moment, her eyes growing wider and her face growing paler until she finally looked back at Severus.

"I think I had better sit down," she decided.

"At least let me read it!" Severus said, snatching it away as soon as she made the slightest gesture towards him with the note.

"'Dear Professor Craw, after careful review of your deeds and contributions to society, the council of the Order of Merlin is pleased to announce that you and one other have been chosen as this year's initiates into our order! After the completion of a short trial period where your sponsor will guide you through our laws and purposes, you will be admitted as a full member of the order with all of the privileges and obligations thereof. If you are interested in accepting, please speak with your sponsor, Lunette Vallid, at the earliest opportunity.'" Severus read; looking rather surprised himself for a moment before his face turned expressionless again. "I wonder what took them so long?" he mused.

"Me? Order of Merlin? But I'm just a school teacher," Jennifer said in awe.

"Yes, and Dumbledore is just a school headmaster," Severus said sarcastically. "You are going to accept it, aren't you?"

"I don't know! I suppose so. I just wasn't expecting this. I mean, there are so many people that probably deserve it more. Like Harry, or McGonagall, or you," Jennifer said, making Severus blink.

"I doubt I'm the right type to suit them," Severus said seriously. "As for the other two, it did say there was one other candidate, and I wouldn't rule either of them out. That lot are mostly Gryffindors, you know," he added. "I wonder where I put that bottle of Anise Wine I was saving for this sort of thing?"

The bookcase opened in the front room, and out came a rosy, red-haired Irish woman, humming softly as she walked into view carrying a tiny bundle in her arms, smiling warmly at Jennifer and Severus. Alex, who had been half asleep in her pen, suddenly jumped up alertly, stretching her arms out.

"Nana!" Alex said.

"Now, what be you doin' awake, lass, aren't you even a wee bit tired after getting into so much trouble this mornin'?" the nanny exclaimed.

"Here, let me give you a hand, Carol," Jennifer offered, taking Aurelius from her arms. The six-week-old baby seemed quite content no matter who was holding him, and even more content when Jennifer picked up the warm bottle on the counter and offered it to him. The boy's eyes were much lighter than Alex's, but his hair was black as the darkest night, as if a part of the predawn sky that he was born under lent itself to him. He was wearing a dark blue outfit that gave him almost a princely look, his eyes lidded contentedly as if he knew the entire household came to a pause at his every whim.

"Well, you at least look well enough for visitors," Jennifer grinned at him.

"I'll have Alex smart enough as well 'ere anyone arrives," Carol assured Jennifer, taking her up to the nursery.

"I had better go make sure those three have gotten themselves together as well," Jennifer said with a sigh. "Are you going to wear that?" she asked, straightening Severus' threadbare black robes.

"It's my house, I will wear what I like," Severus said in annoyance. Just then there was a loud thundering noise outside, and Severus' scowl grew as he glared at the front door.

"Severus, I have got to check up on those boys, please let Sirius and your sister in…and try to be civil!" Jennifer said, putting Aurelius in the pen as she headed into the bookcase.

"I am always civil," Severus muttered, opening the front door. "Will you please park that two-wheeled contraption off the lawn?" he snapped at Sirius Black before they even had time to get off.

"How about adding some parking?" Sirius suggested, pulling the motorcycle back on the dirt road. "Even recluses like you should expect to have guests sometimes."

"Most of our guests use more normal modes of transportation that don't require wheels, loud noise and nasty fumes that wouldn't even be acceptable in a potion lab." Severus said irritably.

"Good grief, you two! We haven't even gotten in the door yet!" The woman beside Sirius exclaimed.

Anna Hughes Black's grey eyes flashed slightly at the arguing men, indicating that she wasn't about to put up with that today. She was a tall woman with light brown hair pulled up in a tail, strands of which invariably escaping the ties and trailing her oval face. In many ways she looked nothing like her half-brother Severus; she was as fair as he was dark, her features soft yet defined, and yet there was something about her expression and the strength in which she carried herself that was very much like him. Perhaps that was what made Severus even more baffled as to how she ended up with the likes of Sirius Black, for Severus had long disliked the tall dark-haired man and his almost reckless views on the world. Of course, a lot of that recklessness had been spurned from Sirius' stay in Azkaban, Severus mused, but he had always been one to rush into things in his youth as well. But now he was family, and Severus was reluctantly beginning to get used to him. Of course, that didn't mean he liked him, and he certainly wasn't going to allow Sirius to think any different.

Despite Sirius being in Anna's life, Severus was still very fond of his sister. They had been separated since their parents had died when he was eleven. Anna, thought to have been born without magic, was taken to her mother's parents in America, while he was left to attend school in Britain. Then, just three years ago, they had found out that his sister wasn't a Muggle at all, but an Aethermage, one who is magic instead of uses magic. Had that not been enough, his wife had made a startling discovery just a few months before, and had found out that the ability was actually but a sign of a remarkable heritage; Anna was descended from all four children of Merlin.

It was incredible to fathom, and yet when they spoke to Dumbledore about it the Headmaster had only nodded as if he had already guessed. Perhaps it was the strange artifacts that had begun to show up that had tipped him off, or perhaps it was her ability to help open the gate to the Otherworld. But whatever the reason, Dumbledore was not surprised, and suggested that they try to keep the knowledge as quiet as possible. Severus agreed with the reasoning behind that. Already one person who had once been an ally had been prepared to go to extreme measures to try and keep Anna from exploring her heritage. Severus had little doubt that others might be frightened enough to go even farther in their attempts to protect themselves from her magic, perhaps even try to kill her outright. Not to mention he wasn't completely sure what impact it would have on himself, for he knew that all of the blood ties to Merlin could not have come from her Muggle side of the family. Most undoubtedly some of it came from his father's side of the family as well.

As Anna and Sirius walked in, there was a thunderous shaking through the building as Corey ran down the stairs and popped open the bookcase, ignoring Severus curt snapping at him for not looking before he did so.

"Hullo Aunt Anna! Uncle Sirius! Where's my present?" Corey asked brightly. Severus sighed disapprovingly, but Anna chuckled.

"What makes you think we got you anything at all, you rascal?" Sirius teased him. "We're just here for the pumpkin ice-cream."

"And to see Aurelius and Alex, well, don't you look adorable," Anna said, picking up the baby boy from the pen.

"Aw, come on, you wouldn't come empty handed. I'd never let you live it down," Corey said.

"Corey Willowby!"

"It's alright, Jennifer," Sirius chuckled at Corey, taking out a small package. Instead of handing it to Corey he set it on the coffee table, and instantly it grew ten times it size into a very large rectangular package. Severus squinted at it with suspicion as the boy tore into in, his frown growing by the second as Corey finally ripped open the box.

"Wow! This is exactly what I wanted, a Spellstringer bass guitar! Just like the kind Tremlet uses!" Corey said excitedly. "See guys, now we can start a band after all!"

"The buttons on the side are your sonic controls, just don't turn it up in the house or play it when the babies are asleep or your parents might be tempted to kill us," Anna said, already noting the murderous look on Severus' face directed pointedly at Sirius. Corey strummed the guitar and Jennifer and Severus cringed at the noise that issued forth.

"Corey, why don't you go take that thing outside to the garden tables while I have a little chat with your uncle about his taste in gifts," Severus glowered.

"And set the tables while you're at it, and get your friends some drinks. I'm sure Harry, Ginny, and your sister will be arriving soon," Jennifer said.

"Sure, Mom! Thanks Aunt Anna! Uncle Sirius!" he said, heading out the door with his friends.

"Don't you think you should have spoken with us before getting him something like that?" Severus asked Sirius the moment the boy had left.

"I have a feeling that they already knew what we would say," Jennifer said, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Yes, you're right, which is why we went and got it anyhow," Anna said. "I know neither of you like the modern music, but that's no reason to hold Corey back if this is how he wants to express his creativity. You can't expect the boy to stay home and do summer homework every day. He needs some room, give the leash some slack for a change!"

"Corey's an energetic boy who has trouble…well, staying out of trouble," Jennifer said. "I know we're strict with him, but we've had to be to keep his feet on the ground. Still, I don't suppose it'll hurt all that bad if he had another diversion, perhaps it'd actually help keep him out of trouble," Jennifer said, earning a look of disbelief from her husband. "At least it'll be another thing we can restrict him from if he gets lazy with his schoolwork again."

"I can always have his room soundproofed if it'd help," Sirius said amused.

"We prefer to hear what's going on in our house," Severus snapped. "Fine, it can stay, but from now on you check with us before buying him…or any of our other children for that matter, anything." Severus turned around then and headed down to the basement, muttering, "Spellstring guitar," under his breath.

"That went well," Sirius said cheerfully.

Large enchanted fans provided a steady breeze to their guests under a cloth staked tent where the garden tables had been placed, providing plenty of room for everyone. Corey's sister Essie was the next to arrive, walking over the pastures next to them and over the stone wall, leaving the sheep that had followed her braying beyond it. Ginny and Harry arrived a little later, receiving warm hugs from Jennifer. Harry hugged his old teacher and friend in return, walking beside her to join the rest of the party. Severus, who was attempting to keep everyone in line before they arrived looked over and nodded at them as they approached.

"So did she tell you?" Severus said expressionlessly, looking over at Harry.

"Tell him what?" Jennifer asked puzzledly.

"What you received in the post today," Severus prompted her.

"I bet she got the same thing I got in the mail today," Harry suddenly grinned.

"You got the Golden Letter too?" Ginny put in, her face brightening.

"Golden Letter? What's that, Mom?" Corey asked, wondering why Sirius and Carol were suddenly looking at them with amazement.

"It means that Harry and I have been accepted into the Order of Merlin," Jennifer said with a smile. "Isn't it fantastic? I'm so glad you were chosen too, I can't think of anyone else more deserving!"

"I can. You," Harry grinned at her. "Who's your sponsor?"

"Vallid. Yours?" Jennifer asked

"Dumbledore," Harry chuckled.

"Well now," Carol spoke up, "what do you think of that! We're in the presence of greatness and didn't even know it! Now we truly have many things to celebrate today!"

"Hang on then, it's my birthday, I wanna make a toast," Corey said, standing on his chair watching a glass fill up in his hands. "To Harry and Mom for their letters, may they take their rightful places in history and in the order, and to me, 'cuz it's my birthday, and to my new career as a rock star," Corey said as Severus rolled his eyes. "In short, I'd like to toast to new endeavors and new beginnings of all sorts, and may I never get a single detention this year so that Gryffindor and skunk Slytherin out of that cup they keep stealing." As he finally finished a few chuckles went out and nearly everyone honored the toast, except for Severus, who couldn't seem to make up his mind whether to drink to that or not.