A/N Welcome everyone to the Jennifer Craw Heritage Series. With the exception of Severus, this series focuses almost entirely on original characters, with the JK's becoming more and more background characters as their descendants take over the spotlight. If you're not interested in how the OC's are getting along you might not enjoy it so much, although I wonder how you got through my last fourteen if you don't.
This will be the last series; because it'll be open ended. This is the fifteenth Jennifer Craw book (the first being Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand, and alternate Harry year five.) There are also three short mysteries that occur in between (the first three novellettes in the Headmaster Snape mystery series.)
Here are some tidbits for those who skipped the Snape
shortstories:
Eight and a half years have past since the end of
book fourteen. Ambrose, quite his father's son, snuck into Hogwarts
early and at the ripe age of eight is entering his second year of
Hogwarts as a Hufflepuff. Jennifer (much to Severus' dismay) got
enamored with the magic talents of a young girl born in El Barrio of
New York, living off the streets because of a tragic family history.
The young Gryffindor is entering her second year at Hogwarts,
although has had problems adjusting to her new life. Also of note,
Severus and Alicia have signed a cease fire after a curse caused
Alicia to lose her eyesight for a short time and Severus was
instrumental in having it restored. She has not met Pyther yet and we
learn in the book why that is. That's about all you need to know to
get started.
If you've never read my series and just wanted to take a gander: It has been almost thirty years since the defeat of Voldemort. Umbridge never made it to Hogwarts...Dumbledore called in Jennifer before that could happen...and nothing that took place afterwards ends up the same. Family ties are also different (at the point of book four none of those were explored.) Other than that, Severus Snape is the legitimate Headmaster of Hogwarts now after Dumbledore's retirement on the merits of his defeat of Ciardoth, an evil fae who attempted to destroy time itself. Most of the old staff has moved on or retired, and Severus, although a decent Headmaster, isn't exactly happy with his new job or the state of his family, which is in constant state of disarray.
Such is life in Jennifer's world. Anyhow, hope you like my new book. JCWriter.
Chapter One
The Headmaster's Wife
It was the almost the beginning of Headmaster Snape's ninth year at Hogwarts; and Jennifer for one could hardly wait to get back. Summers were always difficult now that Severus spent most of it at the school, but fortunately his appointment book tended to schedule her needs over everyone else wanting to see the Headmaster, and she could at least expect one meal with him four or five times a week.
Of course, it wasn't that she hadn't plenty to do at home these days. Their adopted daughter, Fortuna "Lucky" Snape, was prone to get into trouble when she didn't have anything to do. Football camp, forced reading time, and locking up every deck of cards in the house had gone a long way to curb that mischief.
She also spent quite a bit of her time fussing over her oldest daughter Alexandria, now four months along on what would be Jennifer and Severus' first blood grandchild. Living in the same house gave Jennifer plenty of opportunities to spoil her, and Alex tolerated it with understanding, even agreeing to name their first after Jennifer's side of the family.
"Let's see, well the girl's name would be Jennifer, that much is clear," Alex said out loud as she sat at the living room desk. Jennifer was busy going through her trunks and going over her checklist, wondering if she missed anything. "But I still haven't decided on a boy's name."
"As long as you don't use Thomas or Mallus, pick any name you like," Jennifer said, repacking her Cloak Chest.
"How about Icarus?" Alex suggested, only half joking. Jennifer stood up, staring at her.
"Alexandria, don't you dare," Jennifer frowned at her. Ben went over to the desk, looking over Alexandria's short list.
"I think I like Janus best out of those names," Ben said.
"Any objections, Mum?" Alex asked.
"None that come to mind, although you might consider checking with him first," Jennifer said distractedly, glancing at her watch. She closed up her trunk and went over to the stairs. "Lucky! Time for the shopping run! Don't forget your coat, it's raining!"
Jennifer paused to slip on her own gloves and coat, and a moment later heard footsteps clopping down the stairs. The twelve-year old girl had her wire black hair in an unkempt tail, but otherwise looked turned out enough to suit Jennifer's pickiness.
"We're taking Ambrose too, sí?" Lucky asked.
"Yes, we'll hit Corey's first and pick him up there," Jennifer said. "See you both in a bit."
"Have fun, Mum," Alex said, waving as the two went into the fireplace.
As always for that time of year, Willowby's Wands and Weeds was hopping as students came in to get their kits refilled. Several customers greeted them as they came out of the fireplace, and Natalie quickly jumped up from where she was stocking Whipped Slug Bile and ran over to give Jennifer a big hug.
"Grandmother!" she beamed. "Where's Grandfather?"
"At the school of course," Jennifer chuckled at her. "Go tell your father it's time for the big list."
"Okay!" Natalie said, running behind the counter.
"Good morning, Mrs. Snape!" a wizened old witch with a purple hat said as she came in.
"Good morning, Mrs. Mayfair," Jennifer smiled at her.
"Still looking the same as always, I see," she said, eyeing Jennifer thoughtfully.
"Yes, well, runs in the family, you know," Jennifer said quickly, excusing herself to walk over to the counter, well away that the old woman was following her.
"Yes, it must," she agreed. "Considering your father seems pretty spry considering his job and the little boy, and chasing that young wife of his. How old is he again?"
"Mom!" Jennifer looked over to see Corey gesturing to her, and Jennifer hurriedly headed to the back.
Lucky was debating whether or not to follow when she heard her name and saw Sirius Black smiling at her.
"Congratulations on your dribbling award, Lucky," he said with a wink. "Glad to hear you got something out of that football camp besides a black eye."
"Thanks," Lucky said with a grin. "What are you doing here?"
"Escorting the girls to get their kits filled, what else?" Sirius said, nodding to where Lindsay stood in line chatting with another third year girl…a Ravenclaw, Lucky remembered. "We just got back from Diagon Alley. What is with those new books? I swear it seems like every year since Severus made Headmaster the books have gotten larger."
"Oh, great," Lucky said unenthusiastically. "We're going there next."
"Bring a back brace," Sirius advised, not inspiring much confidence in his niece.
"I really am sorry about what happened out there, Mom," Corey was telling Jennifer in the lab as he pulled something out of his private stock for her. "She came in here pestering me the other day about a new youth balm and wanted to know what you used. So I just told her it was something you made yourself."
"You shouldn't have said anything at all," Jennifer hissed at him, glancing at the mirror.
"I only voiced what everyone else already believes," Corey said, handing her the bag. "And considering the other alternative is telling them the truth, I think we ought to stick with that." Jennifer sighed softly, sitting on a stool.
"Maybe it is something that should have been destroyed," Jennifer murmured.
"Dad and Dumbledore both have only used that thing when it was absolutely necessary," Corey said quietly.
"I know, but it really is starting to show now. I've aged only a year or two since that first Elixir dose, Severus just a little more than that... three, perhaps four. And you know, you and Rose look the same age now…"
"She's also had five children since we got married, that'd take a lot out of anybody," Corey chuckled.
"I wonder how I'd look in glasses," Jennifer mused. "And maybe I'll grey my hair a bit."
"I can already hear Dad on this issue. Probably because if he were to get started on it I'd probably be able to hear him from here," Corey joked. "Take my advice and just let them think you're on something non-toxic and be done with it. Come on, I'd better start getting the rest of your personal list ready, I have my other clerks working on the Hogwarts list."
"I should check on Lucky anyhow," Jennifer said, heading back out front. She smiled when she saw that Lucky had already made her way into line with the other two girls. Jennifer waved warmly at Sirius as she stepped over to them. "Hello Sirius! Hello Lindsay and Laura! Got both of them today, do you?"
"Yeah, someone was having a bad day," Sirius said. Lucky raised an eyebrow at him. Laura Lupin looked rather somber.
"Well, make sure you get double phials of those I have marked on your list with an asterisk this year, girls. I swear nearly half the class ran out," Jennifer advised.
"We will, Aunt Jennifer," Lindsay promised as Laura took out her list to double check it.
Just then the door burst open with such force it nearly knocked a couple of first years over who were trying to get their basic kits. In ran a young boy, who, except for perhaps his dark hair and his mother's chin, looked decidedly, strikingly, unequivocally like his father…and he didn't even know it.
"Aunt Jennifer!" Ambrose said, panting. "You didn't forget you're taking me to Diagon Alley for my books, did you?"
"No, but you're going to need your raincoat. Have you gotten everything you need from here?" Jennifer asked.
"Oh, ages ago," Ambrose said, and then ran out the door and to his mother's shop.
"Speaking of books, Jennifer," Sirius said. "Is Severus having a rodent problem in the school or something? Because I'm sure dropping those books on them would do the trick…"
"Now, Sirius, don't start, it's not his fault," Jennifer sighed. "The board thought our curriculum was too lenient and recommended a booklist with more 'challenging'material. Hermione picked out the majority of them and from what I've seen she did a splendid job considering some of the other choices they gave us."
"Too lenient? Hogwarts? Under Severus?" Sirius said with a dubious expression on his face.
"Yes, much too lenient according to some of the board members who happen to have children just coming of age to go to school," Jennifer said in a lower voice.
"Oho, I see now, this is all about our resident second year eight-year old, isn't it?" Sirius said, his eyes sparkling knowingly. "They had to grudgingly accept his perfect entrance score but someone decided his marks were high because the classes were too easy, so now they're going to flood the whole school with these monstrosities in hopes he'll drown?"
"Not the whole board, Sirius. Chairman Dalance knows very well the reason we can't take him out now, it'd be too dangerous. Besides, I have a feeling once the new marks are in they'll be eating their hats and we can phase them back out again," Jennifer explained quietly.
"Dangerous?" Lindsay frowned. "Why would it be dangerous?" Jennifer looked down to see Laura and Lucky were frowning at her as well.
"That wasn't meant for your ears," Jennifer said, twisting her finger to get them to turn back around. "We'll talk about it later, Sirius," Jennifer said.
"All right," Sirius said, shaking his head. "I don't envy you, Jennifer, but I can say for certain I envy the students even less."
The pouring rain was nothing compared to the dampened spirits of the students standing around Flourish and Blott's when Jennifer arrived. They were flipping through the books with such grim faces that Jennifer wished it wasn't too late to back out of using them. Reluctantly she stepped in and started helping Lucky and Ambrose.
"Holy smokes, and I thought the books were big my first year!" Ambrose said, reluctantly picking up the copy of 1001 Charms for Perfect Aptitude Tests.
"That ok, Bill, I don't think this one is even in English," Lucky said as she stared at the first few pages of her potions tome, some of the formulas being several pages long.
"Don't worry, we'll just learn the theory, we're not trying any of the labs," Jennifer said in a tone too low for anyone else to hear.
For some reason, that only made Lucky feel slightly better. She gathered the rest of her books and suddenly noticed they were being stared at…or rather, Ambrose was being stared at…by several of the first years who viewed him with open distain. Jennifer had gone over to the main desk, talking to one of the other parents standing nearby.
"What? Can he help it if he's smart?" Lucky said in a challenging tone.
"Don't worry about it, Lucky," Ambrose said, pulling her arm away from them. "It doesn't matter what they think. All that matters is I get to go back to school this year." She looked over at his smiling face thoughtfully a moment.
"You are one chico extraño, Bill. At your age I'd be thrilled at getting out of school, and here you are thrilled to get into it," Lucky said, shaking her head at him then looking at her pile of books again. "I guess it's too late to get un-adopted, isn't it?" she grumbled, causing Ambrose to grin wider.
"Way, way too late," Ambrose chuckled. "Come on, my arms are going to fall off!"
"Yours and mine both," Lucky agreed, the two of them walking back over to where Jennifer was waiting.
The next day after having Lucky settled with Alex and Ben and everything else in its place, Jennifer found she couldn't get out of the Baker Street house fast enough, thankful that senior staff were expected there a day or two ahead of the regular staff. Her trunks had been whisked away the night before, so Jennifer quickly had a bite of toast and went through a short list of warnings for the girl sitting sleepily at the table before Apparating just outside the gates.
She took a minute to breathe in the misty Scottish air and gaze at her Hogwarts home, like a child standing in awe in front of their presents under the tree on Christmas morning. Suddenly, Jennifer dashed across the courtyard, up the steps and down the hall, hearing the grinding of the staircases moving in front of her. Even before they settled she raced up the stairs by twos, not stopping until she got to the fifteenth floor. There she allowed herself a moment to catch her breath and to take out her pocket mirror to primp her hair and straighten her robes. She snapped it shut and put it away, serenely walking up the spiral staircase with a calm, relaxed look on her face.
Sitting in a cozy chair to the right of Severus' desk, Hermione leaned over and stared at her when she slipped past the double doors.
"Wow, you got up here fast," Hermione commented in awe.
"Yes, I believe she's attempting to tie the record for the lowest known time for breaking their neck upon entering the castle," Severus said sternly.
"Sorry, Professor," Jennifer grinned, heading over to the high-backed chair on the left. But as she got in full view of where Hermione was sitting she stopped short, blinked, and then broke into a glowing smile. "Hermione!"
Severus took out his watch and clicked a button, apparently ignoring his wife's exclamation and the rueful look that came over his deputy's face. Four months along, Hermione was already starting to show.
"How lovely! Whatever happened to your not planning on having more than one?" Jennifer asked.
"Bad batch of Oat's Bane," Hermione admitted with a grimace. "Out of the Minute Alchemist catalog."
"Honestly, you should know better. You should have gone to Corey's! You are happy about this, aren't you?" Jennifer asked, suddenly concerned.
"As a matter of fact, once Ron got over the initial shock, I'm positively thrilled," Hermione admitted with a grin.
"When are you due?" Jennifer asked without pause.
"Oh, I'm four and a half months along," Hermione admitted uncomfortably.
"But that means you're due about the same time as Alex! They'll be going to school together!" Jennifer beamed. "My won't that make for a busy January…" Jennifer paused then, her face turning stony. "January?"
"Two minutes and fourteen seconds," Severus announced, glancing over at Hermione, who looked flushed. "See what I mean?"
"It did take her awhile considering she's a Truth Seeker," Hermione admitted, trying not to look at Jennifer.
"Yes, I know, it's fascinated me for years…" Severus said casually.
"January?" Jennifer said again, hands on her hips. "But who's going to take over your duties when you go on leave?"
"You are," Severus said calmly. Jennifer then stared at him for a moment, before she started looking between them and backing up.
"Oh, no. No, not me!"
"Jennifer, you are the next senior staff member and on top of that the only other person who has been trained for the job," Severus pointed out.
"Well, what about Pomona Sprout?"
"Honestly, Jennifer, you know she's been slowing up these past few years even in her regular classes," Hermione said quietly, "she couldn't possibly keep up with that level of paperwork."
"She can't? I can't!" Jennifer protested
"I expect you'll have to learn to manage," Severus said firmly.
"Why can't we train someone else in it, then?" Jennifer asked.
"There is no point to doing that when other than needing a leave now and again neither of you are going anywhere for quite some years to come, unless there's something either of you haven't mentioned to me yet," he added, his eyes flicking between them.
"I'm certainly not going anywhere, Severus," Hermione reassured him emphatically.
"Tempting," Jennifer said dangerously.
"Jennifer, it's only for six weeks or so, and if you have too much trouble I will help pick up the slack. It can't be helped one way or the other, so I believe this discussion is closed. Hermione, make sure before we close on Christmas that Jennifer has a refresher course. She hasn't done this since I took over and we have made some changes to the system," Severus said, putting on his glasses.
"Of course, Professor," Hermione said. Jennifer reluctantly sat down, obviously not as enthusiastic about coming back now as she had been.
"Now, about these books," Severus continued, noting that both women's faces grew dark. "I am sure neither of you will be surprised when the rest of the staff begins to corner us about them; feel free, however, to simply inform them I'm not happy about the matter either and let it drop. Hermione, I have no problem with your suggestion of having them turn in syllabi for only half the term, so long as they understand that if we are forced to continue with these until the end of the year it's likely to make a long Christmas holiday for any who choose go that route. Other than that, I want everyone following the book material to the letter until the board itself is convinced that this was a mistake."
"Professor, I
hope that doesn't include the labwork…"
"It
includes everything, Jennifer."
"But some of these even listed under lower years are NEWT material!" she protested.
"I'm well aware of the material, Jennifer, I've looked over all the books myself. As written, Jennifer," Severus said firmly.
"Very well, Professor, but don't blame me if you find yourself having to replace the lower half of the castle if someone makes a mistake…"
"Then don't let them make mistakes," Severus suggested with a thin smile. Jennifer looked at him dubiously. "On the bright side, we've already gotten numerous parent complaints about them and even a number of Howlers, which I promptly sent off to the board. I suggest if you hear parents complaining that for some reason didn't feel they could go to me about it that you direct them towards the board as well. Hermione will handle staff complaints."
"Yes, Professor," both of them said unenthusiastically.
"Very well, I suppose that's all for the moment. Hermione, if you could include a list of substitute recommendations for your charm classes when you turn in schedules I'd appreciate it."
"They'll be on your desk in the morning," Hermione said with a smile as she got up. "Actually, I'm rather looking forward to teaching these new books. I read a lot of them as summer reading back when I was going to school," she admitted. Jennifer and Severus looked up and stared at her but didn't comment until she stepped out of the room.
"Now I know these are going to be a disaster," Jennifer said.
"I am counting on it," Severus said, getting in his desk for a stack of forms he had been neglecting. "The fact that the board would do something like this out of spite for one student burns me at both ends."
"Is it spite? Or is it fear?" Jennifer murmured, Severus looking at her thoughtfully. "It's almost as if people are beginning to truly sense that this about more than advancing a gifted student. Remember how people first reacted when Anna's abilities came out?"
"Yes, but that did blow over, nobody even blinks over it now," Severus said.
"That's true, Severus, but if it ever comes out who his father really is, the situation with Ambrose will never blow over."
"Tell me something I don't already know," Severus sighed in annoyance, putting down the quill. "I only hope that this is the sort of secret that can be kept. At least with Aurelius guarding it, he'll be able to sense if it's about to break."
"Well, we might be able to keep it from the rest of the world, Severus, but if you could see Ambrose's face the way I can, you'd wonder how long we can keep it from him," Jennifer warned. "He's too smart and too determined not to figure it out eventually. Perhaps you should tell him…"
"Jennifer, despite his intelligence and status in this school, he still has the maturity level of an eight year old," Severus reminded her. "He's not ready."
"Is it he that's not ready, or is it you?" Jennifer asked knowingly. Severus squinted.
"I see you've decided to upgrade to prawns this year," he said flatly.
"Well it does make a better bait," Jennifer said with an enigmatic smile.
"Not this time," Severus retorted. "I have too much to do right now to get caught in your nets…just like you should be turning in your security suggestions for this year and starting on Ginny's potion list."
"Yours to command as always, esteemed Headmaster," Jennifer said mockingly, standing.
"And that sort of fishing lure will also not get you anywhere," Severus warned her. Jennifer simply smiled and walked behind the desk, wrapping her arms around him from behind and kissing his neck. "Can't that wait until tonight?" he asked in a low voice.
"I'm sure it can, it's waited this long," Jennifer said mischievously as she headed towards the curtain hiding the sitting room door. But as she opened it, she paused for a moment, glancing up the stairs at the Headmaster's private observatory. "I wonder how Alicia's doing?"
"With all we have to do, you're still concerning yourself with that?" Severus said, not even bothering to look up from his work.
"So are you, even if you refuse to admit it," Jennifer said knowingly. "Do you suppose it's happened yet?"
"Not likely in the slightest," Severus said curtly.
"How can you be so sure?" Jennifer asked curiously, and he handed up a letter.
"Because she's still writing to us," Severus said simply.
