XII

It was just over an hour later when both Ashley and Rose arrived at the house, much to the disappointment of the kids who had just convinced themselves to make an adventure out of it all.

"I'm so glad you're out of there! What happened? Where's Corey?" Jennifer asked them, insisting the two tired women sit down for a moment.

"Oh, they're still keeping him," Rose said dryly. "Draco showed up at the Tower and ordered that one parent of any family with children got sent home, though I'm not quite sure what happened that changed his mind…"

"Some quick thinking from own Mr. Clemmons," Jennifer said with a grin, glancing over at the computer to see him giving her an enigmatic grin back.

"We did have to sign a legal form saying we wouldn't make any more 'Muggle' incidents over the manner," Ashley said in disgust. "I imagine that's what they'll make the rest do as well once Draco has a chance to cool off."

"Well, one thing's for sure, he hardly needs any more bad publicity right now," Ben said. "The papers are having a field day as it is with all the rumors floating around, let alone the murder."

"I couldn't care less about all of that, I just want them to drop the silly cards," Ashley said with frustration.

"From the sound of it, you're hardly the only one," Jennifer admitted. "In fact, even though I saw nothing wrong with them personally, I'm already to the point I'd like the whole thing to go away myself."

"Yes, wouldn't that be nice, but you know it's not that easy, Mum." They looked up to see Andrew standing at the living room door. "Even if a few are willing to throw in the towel and vote to turn it down, there are going to be a lot of wizards and witches who aren't going to budge so easily…"

"Well, maybe not now," Jennifer said, with a thoughtful expression on her face that Andrew became immediately suspicious of. "Not until we find out who really killed Conners, and debunk the whole Muggle in the Ministry thing. At least we have a head start on that…Arthur has already confessed to Severus that the pictures in the Muggle papers were phony. That said, I'm still not sure how it could possibly be a coincidence that those photos hit the Muggle press at nearly the same time as the murder…what with the poison and all, it's as if they had proof that anyone at all could have done it."

"It does sound fishy," Andrew agreed. "But then, I'm sure Father's looking into it…"

"I wonder how much Ron knows about those photos?" Jennifer went on, getting up. Andrew sighed in exasperation as she went to the desk to jot out a note.

"Well, one thing is certain, and that is that it's really out of our hands at the moment," Rose said, getting up even as Jennifer sent Dodger off with the note. "Although I feel awful that Corey is going to get stuck in that Tower another night."

"Hardly the first time he's been in there," Ashley pointed out, receiving a dirty look from her daughter.

"I'll go see if the kids are ready to come down," Andrew offered, running up the front stairs.

"I wonder if Conners had any enemies that got overlooked," Jennifer murmured again, and this time Ben sighed, exchanging knowing glances with Ashley and Rose. "Where is Alex? I'd rather get her opinion on all this since they worked together on occasion."

"At the Ministry with Aurelius, working on what you just mentioned, I would guess," Ben hinted. "It's all being covered, Mum."

"I don't know, I just feel like I should be doing something…"

"Maybe it would have been easier on you if we stayed in jail," Ashley said dryly. Jennifer paused her pacing and grimaced at Ashley, trying to think of a reply when the clamor of feet hit the stairs. Andrew carried the toddler over and handed her to Rose.

"There's my littlest angel! And so sleepy, too, we really ought to be getting them back," Rose said, kissing Amber.

"Man, and I was hoping to get to go to the game," Ambrose said with annoyance as he leaned on the banister next to Lucky.

"Thanks Ben, Jennifer, Andrew…"

"No trouble at all, Ashley. Do you need some help getting this mob home?" Andrew asked.

"It's fine, we have a key on us," Rose assured Andrew as he showed them to the door. Meanwhile, Jennifer was still pacing. Ben decided to take a break from his work and slipped out the front door.

"Can I watch T.V. until it's time to go?" Lucky asked.

"Um, no, you should do your summer reading first," Jennifer said distractedly.

"Come to think of it, I probably should be getting ready too," Andrew decided, excusing himself as well while Lucky reluctantly brought out her book and plopped down on the couch.

A moment later there was a flutter, and Jennifer stopped short as a tiny owl appeared at the window. Quickly she snatched up the note, unaware that Lucky was a lot more interested in her behavior than actually reading.

"Dear Jennifer,

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm not at liberty to answer your queries on the matter at hand.

Best Regards, Ron.

P.S. Severus sends his regards and asks if you would kindly butt out.

P.P.S. (Sorry about that, but that is what he told me to tell you.)"

"Well, I like that!" Jennifer said at last. "Butt out, indeed!"

"Was that from Ron already? That was fast," Lucky commented.

"They must be at the London office," Jennifer said, pulling out her watch and looking at it. "Yes, it's reading Diagon Alley at the moment." She paused then as Severus' hand began to move, settling on the Burrow. She tapped the lid against her lip thoughtfully, glancing at it again.

"You know, Jackie, I don't see how come everyone's making any big deal about the Muggle thing in the first place, especially if the photos in the Times were phony. Ben told me he's gone in the Ministry before, and he's a Muggle."

"Well, that was with an escort, and not on a weekend or after hours, either."

"Yeah, but maybe it could have been someone who really was a Muggle and just had been there with an escort before, so knew their way around. Coulda been a caster too though…because someone didn't use magic to get in there and do the job doesn't mean they didn't have magic," Lucky mused.

"True, although…well, right now I'm more worried why Arthur would have done such a thing in the first place. It's not like him to do something like this…especially knowing it'd hurt his position on things!" Jennifer said with a sigh.

"I dunno, Jackie. From what I've seen he'd do anything for family, maybe one of them is involved," Lucky shrugged. Jennifer paused and stared at her a moment, realizing how much sense that made. As she glanced at her watch again, she saw Severus' arm swing abruptly from the Burrow to Harry's.

"Severus seems to be on the track of something," Jennifer mused, pondering what to do next as the watch then swung to "Elsewhere." At last, Jennifer decided she couldn't take it anymore and walked up to the front stairs just as Andrew was coming down them.

"Andrew, I don't suppose you wouldn't mind taking Lucky to the game yourself?" Jennifer said, and then blinked as she noticed he was already in Muggle clothes and looking at her knowingly. Jennifer grimaced.

"I knew you weren't listening to me, Mum. I had a feeling you'd be anxious to go snooping about with everything going on," Andrew said. "Come on, Lucky, we should go."

"I hope you don't mind, Lucky…"

"Nah, it's okay Jackie, 'tho you're gonna be missing the rematch of the summer, 'cuz I found out we're gonna play Hampton this week too," Lucky said. "We're going to make the Holers eat the pitch this time for sure!" Jennifer stared at her a moment then patted Lucky down, grabbing Lucky's wand out of her sock and putting it on the mantle, ignoring the girl's glowering expression.

"Very well, now you can go. You can't be getting into too much trouble without that," Jennifer said, missing Andrew's dubious grin as she glanced at the watch again. The needle swung to Ministry, and Jennifer knew it was time to go, even as Dodger appeared in the front window, hooting sleepily. "Have fun you two, sorry to miss all the action," she said quickly, glancing at Severus' note before heading out the door.

"Now, why don't I believe she's missing any action at all?" Andrew asked with amusement before handing Lucky her equipment bag and hurried out after.