Summer's End

After they had taken leave of the Dragon Council, Severus asked Fireflash to take them to the Flynns, reasoning that they could use some time to rest and unwind after their ordeal, and the Flynns would understand that better than anyone. It was there, a day after their arrival, that the younger wizards told them about what had happened when they were prisoners of the dragonslayers. Severus listened in quiet astonishment as Arista spoke of the courageous Seer Magdalena who had helped them and later sacrificed herself to allow them to escape from the
necromancers who had trapped them.

"I think she really wanted to die," Arista said sadly. "After she realized what she had
done, what they had made her into with the Imperius curse, it was too much for her. She kept saying she should have been stronger, she hated what she had been forced to do with her Sight. I think in the end she sought her own death, because she didn't even attempt to block the curse Adolf threw at her." Her eyes filled with tears at the memory, tears that she resolutely refused to shed. "I don't want people to think she was a member of their Brotherhood. She was as much
their prisoner as we were, not their partner. In the end she kept to her Hunter's Oath and we should remember her for it."

"We won't forget her, Arista," Jenna said, giving her a hug. "We Hunters honor our own and we'll see to it that her record shows that Magdalena Rosvita sacrificed herself in the line of duty, to protect innocent lives. That much, at least, is owed her."

"Anyone who gave her life to save my daughter is a hero in my opinion," Severus added. "Was she the one who let you out of the cell too?"

"No, that was Drake," Arista said. "He's quite a good escape artist. He slipped off his
cuffs and picked the lock on the door."

"Really, Lockwood? That's quite an accomplishment."

"I studied Houdini, is all," Drake said modestly, blushing slightly. "I'm just glad it
worked." He examined his wrists, which were still sore from working the cuffs over his hands.

"Drake, why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" Arista cried, glancing at his wrists.

"Because this is nothing for you to waste your power on," he replied.

"That's for me to decide, not you," she declared, then touched his wrist with a finger. A
soft tongue of white fire wrapped about his arm and in an instant the welts were healed. She did the same to his other arm. "There! Next time don't play Spartan, Drake, and just tell me if you're hurt, okay?"

He sighed. "Okay, Healer Snape." Then he muttered under his breath, "What does she think, that I'm some wimp that can't handle a little pain? Good God!"

Colin and Severus looked amused at the boy's disgruntled expression. Then Colin said softly, "She's a woman, Drake, they love to fuss over men. It makes them feel good."

"And you men love to be fussed over, Colin, even if you'll never admit it," Jenna
interjected. Then she rose from the couch to get something to drink from the kitchen.

Arista followed her, asking her if she recalled the conversation they'd had about chess the last time she visited. Jenna nodded, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Will you show me some moves then?" the girl asked. For even though she was
grounded, she knew her father would not forbid her to play chess with him, especially not with a three Galleon bet on the line.

"Sure, sweetie. It'd be my pleasure," Jenna chuckled. "Let's go into the dining room."

They stayed up until almost midnight diagramming moves, until Arista was too tired to
keep her eyes open. But she went to bed satisfied that she could at least give Severus a good fight this time, and maybe, if she were extremely lucky, beat him at his own game.

The next morning, Professor Snape took Drake shopping for a new broom, as he had
promised that morning in Gifford Pinchot. "You really don't have to do this, Professor," he protested. "Buy me a Nimbus, I mean. It was a gift to me from my uncle, he wants me to be some Quidditch star, I'd never spend that much on a broom myself."

"And how would you explain to your father where your Nimbus 2001 was?" Snape
demanded.

"Uh . . .I'd think of something," Drake said hastily.

"Just let me replace your broom, Lockwood," Severus ordered irritably. "You nearly
ended up dead because of my carelessness, I should have checked the brooms for hexes before we flew that day."

"It wasn't your fault they hexed my broom, sir!"

"Nevertheless, I was responsible for you, and you got hurt, so the least I can do is replace your blasted Nimbus. Now will you stop arguing with me and pick out a new one? Anyone else would be jumping for joy if I offered to buy them a new Nimbus 2001."

"I know that, sir. And I really appreciate you doing this, Professor." Drake said sincerely. "Thank you very much."

"Don't mention it, Lockwood," his teacher said. "Choose one."

Drake chose a Nimbus 2001 with sporty green racing stripes down its handle and let it go at that. Severus paid for the broom and the sales wizard threw in a free Nimbus care kit and a Quidditch player guide as a bonus.

Then they flew back to the Flynns for dinner and some playtime with baby Amelia, until Severus said it was time they returned to the Amarottis. "When do you have to pick up that puppy of yours, Drake?" he asked.

"Uh, next week, I think. I'd better send a letter to the breeder tomorrow, make sure he's got everything ready for us."

They bid the Flynns and baby Amelia goodbye and left within the hour, traveling down
the forest path to where Fireflash waited. Within minutes they were airborne, en route to the Amarotti beach house.

Ari and Leo were happy to see them and asked dozens of questions about their camping trip in the Poconos. "It was very exciting," Drake said.

"We'll never forget it," Arista added.

"That's for sure," Severus agreed feelingly.

"Was it that bad?" Leo asked, his mouth quirking in amusement.

"Uh, let's just say that I'm not in a hurry to repeat it," Severus said quickly. "We ran into
some unexpected problems."

"Like wild animals," Drake added helpfully.

"And nasty hikers who wanted to steal our tent and all of our equipment," Arista
embroidered hastily. "But Dad took care of them."

"I'll just bet he did," Ari laughed. "But at least you didn't have to worry about a volcano
erupting right on top of you, like those tourists in Washington State. Did you hear, Mount St. Helen's blew her stack again? It was totally unexpected, there were no warning signs, and over a hundred acres of forest burned. Luckily, though, no one was killed. No person, I should say, because I'm sure several animals died."

"Wow! Really?" Drake exclaimed, looking totally shocked.

"I'm sure glad we weren't there, Dad," Arista said. "It would have been like the camping trip from hell."

"Did they say if the volcano stopped erupting, Ari?" Severus asked.

"I think it slowed down last night. But they still have all that ash and dust to deal with.
I'm sure glad I don't live over there. I'd be run off my feet trying to help all those poor animals. I wonder if the AMA will send some of our people there, to help with the aftermath? I'm sure they could use a good Animal Healer and an earth mage or two."

"Now, don't go getting any ideas, Ari," Leo warned, eyeing his wife sternly.

"I wasn't, Leonardo," his wife said frostily. "I'm too old to be heading up any disaster
relief program, I haven't got the stamina anymore to Heal for days on end the way I used to. Otherwise, I'd volunteer. But this is a job for the young Healers, let them get some experience in dealing with emergency situations and such."

"Speaking of animals, did you send that letter to the breeder yet, Drake?" Severus
reminded him.

"Not yet. But I'll write it tonight," Drake assured him. "I just have to find the address.
It's somewhere in my book bag."

"That's right, you're getting a magehound puppy," Ari said, smiling. "You should have
a great time training her, Drake. It is a her, right?"

"Yes, ma'am. Dad got the only female in the litter. I can't wait to see her."

"I'll bet she's adorable," Arista said.

"What puppy isn't?" Severus commented. "That's how they sucker you into buying one, because they're too cute to resist. Until you get it home and it wrecks your house. Then you wonder what ever possessed you into agreeing to get the little demon in the first place."

"I'm sure my puppy won't be like that, sir."

Severus shot him a look of utter disbelief. "We'll see what you say a month from now,
Lockwood. After you catch her chewing on your Nimbus or burying your wand in the neighbor's garden. Puppies are like children. Trouble incarnate. Trust me, I lived with an overgrown puppy for fourteen years."

"But Maverick wasn't a magehound, Dad. Magehounds are different, they're smarter
than your average dog."

"Which means they'll invent new ways to drive you crazy. Maverick wasn't dumb, not
by a long shot. He was a clever scamp. I only had to show him a trick once and he never forgot it. He was just stubborn and I swear he deliberately disobeyed me on purpose, because he knew how much it annoyed me. Like someone else I could name," and he eyed his daughter meaningfully.

Arista rolled her eyes at him. "No fair, Dad. I never intend to get in trouble, it just
happens. Like a natural disaster."

"Spare me the excuses, please. Like I said before, kids and puppies are born
troublemakers. I'm sure Leo and Ari will agree with me."

"He's right, you know," Leo said. "If I wasn't yelling at the dog, I was yelling at one of
the girls when they were growing up."

"That's true," Ari admitted.

Arista and Drake looked at each other. "Adults!" they said in tones of mutual resignation.

"What were you thinking of naming her, Drake?" Arista asked.

"Well, she's really my dad's dog, so he ought to pick her name. But if he wants
suggestions, I've been thinking of calling her Liberty, since she's an American dog and all. Libby for short. What do you think?"

"I like that. Or how about Patriot? You could call her Patsy for short."

"That's not bad either. I'll have to see what Dad says, though. He might have something different in mind."

But as it turned out, Dr. Lockwood didn't have a clue what he was going to name the dog, and agreed to allow Drake to choose the puppy's name. He ended up calling her Liberty, Libby for short. And she was just as cute and as mischievous as Severus had predicted. Scout absolutely adored her, and would play with her for hours, letting her chew on his ears and his tail. He also taught her how to track and hunt like the best magehounds in America.

On the flight back to Britain, she slept with the big dog in his crate, and that way did not howl in terror or become too nervous at being separated from her mother and littermates. The only problem the Lockwoods had when they got home was separating her from Scout, who carried on almost as bad as Libby, whimpering and howling heartbrokenly. He moped about the house for days, until Arista asked if they could invite Drake and Libby over for a visit.

"A short one. You're still grounded, miss," her father said.

"Like I could forget," she sighed, for only that morning she had washed all the breakfast dishes by hand and cleaned the living room.

But Drake and the puppy came over to Spinner's End, and the two dogs spent a blissful four hours playing with each other until Drake went home to eat supper with his family. He promised to bring Libby back for regular play dates with Scout, since magehounds loved the company of other dogs, and Scout was a good influence on his harum scarum puppy.

Mel had stopped by two days after they had gotten back, and Arista had told her she was grounded for a month. Then she spent the next three and a half hours telling her everything that had happened over the summer and showing her pictures of all her relatives from New Jersey as well as some shots of baby Amelia and Severus at the christening.

"Aww! She's absolutely adorable! I can't believe your dad is actually holding her. It's
hard to picture Professor Snape with a baby on his shoulder." Mel laughed. "But there's the proof, right there in living color. Amazing!"

"He did more than just hold her, Mel. Jenna told me he woke up one night because the baby was screaming and fed her a bottle and rocked her to sleep too."

"No way!"

"Swear to God, Mel. I didn't see it, because I was sleeping, but the next morning we
found them on the couch in the den, sound asleep."

"I wish I could have seen that! Too bad you didn't get a picture of it."

"I know. But wait till you hear about Marietta, my three-year-old cousin," Arista said
gleefully. She told Mel about the way her cousin followed Snape about like a puppy, threw tantrums over him, and even named her stuffed dog after him.

Mel was in stitches. "Sounds like she's got a bad case of Severitis."

"You can say that again!" Arista howled, and they both laughed so hard they nearly cried. "I can't wait till I tell Trish and Kit. They'll get a real hoot out of it. But you have to promise me you won't tell anybody else, okay? Otherwise he'll ground me for life."

Mel wriggled her eyebrows at her. "Mum's the word, girlfriend. Besides, who'd believe
me?"

"Dumbledore would," Arista said knowingly. "Speaking of Trish, where is she? I'd have thought she'd be over as soon as you told her I was back."

Mel looked troubled at Arista's words. "Something's been odd with her lately. She won't return my calls or my letters. She's been off a lot with her mum, going to fashion conventions and stuff."

"You're kidding! Trish hates that kind of thing."

"I know, but every time I ask her to do something with me, she's always busy. Or she says she's busy. She's been avoiding me for nearly the entire time you've been gone, Arista. I don't get it. It's not like we had a fight or anything."

"Weird," Arista frowned. "Maybe I ought to talk to her. If I had a spellophone, that is."

"Here. You can use mine. She's got a ring of mine," Mel offered, holding out her purple spellophone.

But there was no answer when Arista called. "Maybe she's not wearing it or something."

"Why the blazes not? I'm one of her best friends, for crying out loud!" Mel said angrily.

"Something's not right here, Mel."

"I'll say! Getting ditched by my friend is definitely not all right."

"Maybe it's not her, Mel. Maybe her mother won't let her use her rings or something."

"What, like I'm not good enough to associate with Glinda Greenbough's daughter?" Mel sneered. "I can't stand that stuck-up snob, thinks who the bloody hell she is, just because she used to be a model for Witch Weekly! Big fat deal! My family's just as good as hers, even if we don't hobnob with the rich and famous."

"Take it easy, Mel," Arista soothed, projecting a wave of calming serenity at her friend.
"You're gonna give yourself a stroke if you keep yelling like that. Or bring my dad up here to see what all the screaming's about. And if he sees me with a spellophone, I'm dead meat."

"Sorry. I don't mean to go off like that, it's just she's been acting like I don't exist all
summer and I just wish I knew why. We used to tell each other everything, we never kept secrets from each other. Just like you and I do."

"Have you tried going over to her house?"

"Yeah. But either she's not home or her house elf Tink says she's not receiving visitors. Not receiving visitors! Can you believe that? I'm not a damn visitor, I'm one of her best friends!"

"Something's not right there, Mel. I hope to God she's not sick or something."

"Sick? Like dying of some dreadful disease?" Mel stared at her in horror. "But then why wouldn't they have called you? You're a miracle Healer, by Merlin's Eyebrow!"

"Glinda's never really liked me, Mel. She only tolerates me because I'm Professor
Snape's daughter," Arista admitted. "I don't think she has any respect for me as a reputable Healer."

"Bloody hell, you healed the Longbottoms!" Mel objected. "If that ain't respectable, I
don't know what is."

"True, but I'm not an accredited Master yet. You know how much a title means to her.
That's one of the reasons she's always on Trish's case to lose weight, 'cause she wants her to snare some rich young duke or earl or whatever from a pureblood family."

Mel made a disgusted noise. "How stupid! Like a title makes you some kind of paragon. All the kids with titles I ever knew think they're God's gift to the earth and I wouldn't give them the time of day. Neither would Trish. Or at least she used to be that way. I really really hope she's okay."

"Me too. Guess we'll just have to wait and see."

"Guess so," Mel said glumly. Then she bounced to her feet. "Why don't we go down and see what your dad's making for lunch? I'm starving, and something smells heavenly." She sniffed appreciatively.

"I think it's his rosemary fries. He's been trying out new recipes ever since we got back home."

"I'll be happy to taste test them," Mel sighed, then ran downstairs and into the kitchen.

* * * * * *
Later on that night, Arista challenged Professor Snape to a rematch of their wizard chess game at the beginning of the summer.

Severus smirked. "Think you can take me then? Are we playing for money or just for
fun?"

"For the three Galleons. And remember, you promised to double it if I win."

"What makes you so sure you can beat me, miss? Last time I thrashed you soundly, my girl."

Arista shrugged. "We'll see, won't we, Dad?" she said mysteriously.

"The only thing you'll be seeing is those Galleons disappearing into my pocket," Severus said loftily. "White or black?"

"White." Arista seated herself opposite him and the white pieces stood to attention.

"You move first."

She nodded, biting her lower lip in concentration. Then she ordered her pawn ahead one square, as usual. She would play the way she normally did at first, lull him into thinking this was going to be an easy match, as per Jenna's instructions. Then, when he was sure he had her trapped, she would turn the tables on him. At least she would if she could recall all of Jenna's advice and moves.

The game went on for three hours, with Severus slowly but steadily eating away at her
pieces. But thus far he had not captured any of her major ones, and she was fending him off better than she had ever done before.

"You've improved," he said, then moved his castle two spaces to the right.

"I've been paying attention when you play," she answered, countering him with her
bishop.

"It shows," was all he said, his eyes narrowing as he considered his next move.

Arista studied the board, then moved her knight forward two places, taking out his bishop. Which in turn left him open to a counter maneuver Jenna had labeled the Lightning War. Done properly, it could dispose of all of his major defenders and leave his queen and king vulnerable.

He moved to block her queen, probably assuming she wouldn't know how to take
advantage of the opening she'd made.

It was then that Arista sprang into action, doing exactly as Jenna had taught her. Within moments Severus found himself bereft of his knights, castle, and his queen.

He gaped at her.

She grinned triumphantly. "Got you, Dad. Checkmate."

Her knight swept his sword through Snape's king, cutting it in half.

"Who taught you that move?"

"Jenna, who else?"

"I should have known you two were up to something." He scowled. "I don't believe this. Beaten by an amateur."

"A very talented amateur," Arista crowed. She held out her hand. "Pay up, Professor."

"Greedy little thing, aren't you?" He slowly counted out six Galleons and pushed them
over to her. "Satisfied now?"

She counted the coins, savoring the feel of victory. "Didn't I tell you I'd beat you by the
end of the summer, Dad? Maybe next time you'll believe me, huh?"

"Quit gloating, you impudent brat. One win doesn't make you a master."

"I know that. I probably won't ever be as good as you or Jenna. But I don't care. I beat
you once and that's all that matters." Then she smiled sweetly at him.

"Incorrigible brat!" he mock-growled. Then he grinned back at her. "Guess you're more like me than you know, Arista mine. Want to play again? Double or nothing?"

She shook her head. "No way. I know when to quit while I'm ahead."

He made a face at her. "Now I'm sorry I didn't raise any dumb daughters."

"I'm not," she said, giving him a trademark Snape smirk.

A/N: No, this is not the end yet, I have one last surprise for you