Forgiveness

Dad must have put me to bed after I fell asleep on him, because the next thing I remember is waking up in the guest room sometime in the afternoon to Monkey shaking my shoulder and grinning. "Yo, Wolf-boy, you gonna sleep the rest of your life away, like some strung out junkie, or are you gonna come and have lunch with us? Evelyn made some awesome fish and chips."

I sat up, yawning. "I don't know why I'm so damn tired all of a sudden."

She cocked her head. "Maybe it's 'cause of that stuff they gave you. That midnight mushroom crap."

"Could be." I threw off the covers. "You're in a good mood, Janie. What's up?"

"Your brain. It's up there somewhere, lost in the clouds."

"Funny," I smiled at her, it was an old joke between us. "Seriously, you look like you just won the lottery." It was true, she sparkled or glowed or whatever, her dark eyes dancing and there was this air of joy about her that I could feel coming off her in waves.

"Well, in a way I kind of did," she said softly, brushing her hair off of her face. "Evelyn took me shopping and on the way home she, uh, asked me if I wanted to live with her."

"For real? As in forever?" I repeated, my eyes widening.

"Yeah. As in forever and I'm like her adopted niece or daughter."

"And? Did you say yes?"

"What d'you think, dumbass? Of course I did!" She threw her arms around me and hugged me. "I'm so happy, Gav. I never in a bazillion years ever thought anybody would ever give me a home, I'm not adoption material any more, y'know. People only want the cute little kids, not street riffraff like me."

"Not true, Monkey. Evelyn wants you."

"I know," there was a look of startled wonder in her eyes. "Can't figure out why, but hells bells, who cares? Least I won't be livin' in a leaky flat no more, snitching outta the garbage or people's pockets. I never liked that, y'know. I only did it 'cause I had to, so's I didn't starve, know what I mean?"

"Yeah. I never liked it either," I admitted. "I'm glad, Monkey. You deserve it, and Evelyn's a real nice lady." Then another thought occurred to me. "Hey, she's actually my aunt. Great aunt, I guess, but still . . ."

"Man alive, does that make us related? Yuck! I'd don't want you as my pain in the ass little brother." She made a face at me.

I made one right back at her. "Me either. You'd make a terrible older sister. You're already too damn bossy."

"Hmm . . .on second thought . . .if I was your sister, I could tell you what to do,"

"Like hell." I growled, and shoved her playfully. "I ain't letting no girl boss me around."

"Oh? You think you can take me, Wolf-boy?" She gave me a challenging glare.

"Damn straight," I said, then I grabbed her arm and wrestled her on the bed.

We scuffled playfully for a bit, though I was careful not to use my full strength on her. Big mistake, because then she started cheating and tickling me. I was laughing so hard I fell off the bed, but I dragged her with me. I landed half on top of her and demanded, "So, who's the boss now, huh?"

"Let me up, Gav, you idiot!" she gasped, giggling. "You're crushing me."

"Say it," I mock growled.

"Okay. I'm not the boss of you, Snape. He is."

I looked up to see my dad standing in the doorway. "Just what in hell is going on here?"

"Uh . . .nothing," I said quickly, springing to my feet. "I was . . .uh, demonstrating a kung fu move to Monkey."

He arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? It sounded like you were about to bring the house crashing down on our heads, young man. Now behave."

"Yes, sir."

"It was my fault, Severus," put in Monkey, climbing to her feet. "I started it."

He shook his head, muttering something about incorrigible brats, then said, "Come and eat lunch before it gets cold."

We followed him obediently down the hallway, Monkey telling me how she was going to have her own room and start school in the fall. "I'm kinda nervous about it, but Evelyn says the best thing is an education."

"Evelyn is one hundred percent correct," said Dad.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, you're gonna say that, Dad. You were a teacher."

"He still is," pointed out Monkey. "He teaches you, right?"

"I try," Dad smirked.

I shot him a dirty look. "I'm a good student. I don't goof off half as much as the twins do."

"I'll give you that, but you mouth off to your professor far more than you ought to."

"Yeah, well, come on, Dad. That's part of my rep. Driving you crazy."

"Smartass," He playfully cuffed me, smirking. "Kids like you are the reason I'm such a strict bastard in class, you know."

"Sure we are, Dad," I shot back. "I mean, it's not like you don't love giving out detentions or whatever."

"Only when you deserve it, scamp. Which is almost always."

"Got that right," laughed Monkey.

"Shut up, Jane! I'll bet you can't go a whole day without getting in trouble in school."

"Wanna bet? I'm smart, I know not to pick a fight when the teacher's watching," she said. "That's the difference between me and you."

"Think so?"

"I know so," she sniffed. "Girls are born with sense. Boys have to learn it, and it takes until you're his age to do it," she jerked a thumb at my father. "Least that's what Evelyn says."

Then she skipped down the hallway, leaving me and my dad to exchange mutual glances of resignation.

"Girls!" I muttered. "They always have to have the last word."

"Get used to it, son. It doesn't change," Dad said. Then he put an arm around me and we continued on into the kitchen, where our lunch was waiting.

* * * * *

A few days later, Dad said I was recovered enough to go back home, and so we packed up our suitcases and called Flash to fly us back to Lily Lane. I was excited to be going home, not that I didn't like being with Evelyn and Monkey, who now wants me to call her Jane, since her being Evelyn's ward means she's no longer a Raven. "I'm still going to use my real name though, since Jane Eyre Proctor doesn't sound right."

I agreed, it didn't. I promised to keep in touch with her by email or letters, I'd finally convinced Dad to get a computer. I wished her the best in her new life, and Evelyn said we could visit over the holidays and the summer if we wanted, and Dad said they had an open invitation to drop by our house, they could fly down or take the train, since Evelyn didn't drive long distances any more.

We Apparated to the beach, where Flash was waiting and climbed aboard. The bronze turned his head and said, "Well, how was your vacation, Sev?"

"It was . . .interesting, Flash," Dad answered, his tone carefully neutral.

I guess that was one way of putting it.

Three hours later we were back in Jersey, and walking up the driveway. Home sweet home at last. I threw my trunk and suitcase into my room and flopped down on my bed. I didn't really feel like unpacking, but I knew I had better, otherwise Dad would be on my case. I had just started to shove my clean clothes into my dresser when Dad came in and interrupted me.

"As soon as you're done unpacking, we need to discuss your behavior, son," he said ominously.

"What did I do now?"

"You mean what have you done?" he corrected. "Surely you haven't forgotten? Using glamours to disguise yourself, sneaking out of your hotel room at night, lying to me, need I go on, or do you remember now?"

I dropped my eyes to the carpet and studied the blue fibers. "No, sir. I remember." Although I'd hoped he had forgotten. Fat chance.

"Good. When you're finished, I'll be in my study, going over messages and reading the mail." Then he left.

I continued unpacking, though I now worked as slowly as possible. I couldn't even imagine what kind of punishment he was going to give me. I knew it would probably involve me losing my Windstorm again, maybe soap and a couple of swats too. I sighed. I hated all three of those punishments with a passion. Too bad I couldn't seem to behave so I could avoid them, huh?

But then, I'd known before I ever snuck a look in Dad's black book what I was courting. So now it was time to pay the piper, as Colin said, and take my punishment like a man. But I wouldn't mind delaying it by an hour or so. I began folding all of my shirts military style, something I'd learned from Drake, who had learned it at the Dark Hunter Academy.

* * * * * *

But after an hour, I'd folded all my clothes and put my books away and I couldn't put off the inevitable any longer. I started down the hall to his study, dragging my feet a bit. I'd considered just staying in my room for the rest of the century, but I knew it'd be worse if my father had to come and escort me down to his study, especially since said escorting would be done by grabbing my ear.

I hesitated before the wood paneled door, my hand hovering just above the doorknob.

"Come in, Gavin."

I heaved a sigh and obeyed. Don't ask me how in hell he knew I was there. Must be some kind of parental radar or something, like the way he always knew I was sneaking cookies before supper when his back was turned. Like a sixth sense. I wondered if I'd ever develop it. Maybe it was something you only had if you had kids.

I entered the study, which was lined with wall to wall bookshelves, just like a library, in fact it was one. Most of the shelves were filled with magical texts and spellbooks, but there were Muggle books mixed in with them, since Severus has an insatiable need for books and reads everything. He was seated behind his mahogany desk, which had several stacks of parchment, a container filled with quills, an inkstand, and a message crystal on it, among other things. In front of the desk was an armchair, and the study was lit by several recessed mageglobes, which would brighten or dim at a word. Along the walls were several snapshots of various family members, including me, Arista, Trish, Marietta, and now baby Sev. Also up there were several degrees, including his Masters in Psychology, his Potions Mastery, and another from the Academy certifying that he was a Combat Master and there was a plaque commemorating his appointment as Director of DHI.

"Sit."

I walked over to the armchair, my sneakers whispering across the plush throw rug with its Navajo pattern done in green, blue, gold and crimson. I sank into the chair and waited for the inevitable lecture to begin.

He didn't disappoint me. "I don't think you need me to tell you that your actions over this vacation were, at best, reprehensible."

"No sir," I said, studying the tops of my sneakers.

"You behaved very irresponsibly, using your magic to deceive and trick not only Evelyn, but me as well. You also disobeyed a direct order from me and interfered in an investigation that you had no right to go poking your nose into, and you nearly killed yourself as a result. Have I left anything out, or was there something I missed?" He gave me one of his famous glares, that always made my insides turn to absolute mush.

I forced myself to meet his gaze. The disapproval was like a sharp slap in the face, but I managed not to flinch. "No sir." Well, he didn't know about the twins sneaking out with me, but I wasn't about to rat them out and get them in trouble too. Like Jane said, I was no snitch.

"Do you have anything to say in your defense, young man?"

"Not really. Except that I'm sorry and I just wanted to help Janie and well . . . there's really no excuse for the other stuff, except that I just had to know more about the Brotherhood."

"Insatiable curiosity," he remarked, frowning ferociously. "Not exactly a good enough reason to risk your neck, now is it?"

"No sir. I just didn't think-"

"Exactly," he interrupted me sharply. "That's your problem, Gavin. You don't think. You act. Something that can get you killed one day if you're not careful, son. Like it did two weeks ago. I don't know how many times we need to have this conversation, Mr. Snape, before it sinks into your stubborn head. You are ten years old, not a bloody Dark Hunter, and not invincible, firecaller or not. It's not your place to go rescuing anybody, I don't care who they are. That's my job, I'm trained for it, you aren't. And until you are, mister, I'll thank you to keep your interfering nose out of Hunter business. Do you have any idea how worried I was when I found that note you left, Gavin Albus Snape? I nearly had a migraine just reading it the first time."

"But at least I told you," I pointed out. "Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Yes. It reduces your punishment by a fourth."

"What's that mean?"

"It means that I won't spank you this time. However, you're grounded for a month, with all the losses of privileges that entails, you know what they are by now, so I don't need to go over them. That's for your disobedience. For your lying tongue you've earned two minutes with a bar of soap. And last but not least, since you broke my trust by sneaking about the way you did and using your magic to deceive me, I'm going to punish you the way I would a criminal, mister, and we'll see if this makes you think twice before doing something like this again."

"Huh? You mean you're gonna put me in a cell in Inferno?" I stammered. I couldn't believe this. I'd rather get spanked than that. I hated being locked up.

"No, of course not," Dad rolled his eyes. "I'm going to watch your every move with this," And he pulled out a silver bracelet from inside his desk drawer and held it up to the light. "Since I can't trust you not to lie to me about where you go and what you do, you're going to wear this tracking device. That way I can know where you are at all times and if you try to leave the property without permission, it will alert me immediately."

"But . . .it'll be like I'm in prison."

"Yes. Which is no more than you deserve. You'll wear this for two weeks and if you behave during that time and comply with all my rules, I'll remove it. Come here."

I walked up to him reluctantly, and he took my wrist and slid the cuff over it. Then he spoke a word I couldn't catch and the bracelet shrunk till it was tight about my wrist and I could remove it. It wasn't painful, it didn't rub me wrong, but it felt heavy as iron, even though it weighed almost nothing. It had a red gem set in it that glowed with a soft light.

I glared at the silver circlet with distaste. "I'd have rather been spanked," I muttered very softly. A spanking hurt, but it was over in two minutes. This though, I'd have on for two weeks and feel like I was being watched every second.

Dad eyed me knowingly, and I knew he had heard what I'd said. "Hopefully, you'll remember this and not be so impulsive and deceitful ever again, young man."

"Yes sir." I sighed. "Can I take a shower with this thing on?"

"You can. It's designed to be worn under almost any conditions." He rose to his feet. "Speaking of soap . . ."

I groaned, but followed him. There was no point in fighting, and besides, I deserved this too.

Afterwards, he hugged me and said, "Now don't make me repeat this again, won't you?"

"I won't," I promised. "Do you forgive me then?"

"I do. Now you have to learn to forgive yourself, son."

Which was not as easy as it sounds, believe me.

But over the next two weeks, while wearing that infernal bracelet, I did a lot of thinking. About what I'd done and why, and who I really wanted to be. I still had nightmares about the witches and wizard who had died as a result of my impromptu hunt, and Dad always knew and came to sit with me until I fell asleep. But gradually I managed to forgive myself for them, a little bit at a time.

My magic was not damaged as badly as Dad had feared by the midnight mushroom, and I could summon fire and cast spells as well as I'd ever done within a week, thank Merlin's starry hat. Dad was very relieved and so was I. He agreed that I could begin a small part of my magical education this summer. "Maybe school will keep you out of trouble, Mr. Snape."

I had Defense lessons with Dad and Colin every other day, after Severus and Colin were done with work. I also had Potions with Dad three times a week and Herbology with my grandpa and Care of Magical Creatures with Nana. Trish taught me Charms, since she was very good at them. Drake volunteered to show me and Marietta some Transfiguration spells, which Marietta picked up quicker than me, much to my chagrin. Then again, she's got talent in that area, she partially transformed Draco with his own wand one time when she was four.

From Arista I learned Medicine, and also how to take care of a baby. I did a lot of babysitting over the summer. Actually, both Dad and I did, because he loved being around his new grandson. Big surprise there. But I wasn't jealous, really. Because I knew Dad loved me too, way more than my real father ever had. And little Sev was a funny baby, he liked to be tickled and we played absolutely idiotic games with him and acted like he was the cleverest kid in the universe. (Which he was, excepting yours truly.)

I hated that bracelet, but I took my punishment with good grace and didn't complain too much, for I knew I'd earned that and more for making Dad worry that way and breaking his trust like that.

But finally, the two weeks was over, for which I thanked God, and I swore I'd never do anything to get the damn thing put on me again. "I hope you've learned your lesson, Gavin," Dad said sternly, then he removed it with another whispered word. No, I didn't catch it that time either, blast it!

"I have, sir," I said. It was true. I had learned that lesson and one other very important one, perhaps the most important one of all. That love truly made a family, not blood. And I would never be alone again, because my dad would be there to watch over me, even when I didn't think I needed it, because he loved me, Gavin Albus Snape, firecaller, no matter what.

A/N: This is the end of the second installment of the Dark Hunter trilogy. How did you all like it?

I have plans for a third one called Somebody Else's Magic and it will have an older Gavin, probably sixteen, Jane, and Severus, plus Arista's son little Sev and Trish's daughter Beth. It will also have a psychotic wizard criminal who believes the best way to eliminate problems between Muggles and wizards is to murder them . . .by giving them magic that slowly kills them every time they use it, adminstered by a contact potion. Sound interesting?

Thanks for all the reviews and for reading this series! I really appreciate it!