Chapter Twenty-Eight

Coventry Conundrums

Mike woke up with a shiver, weakly pulling on tightly tucked in blankets before attempting to focus. Professor Scribe pulled a few straying strands of hair away from her face and smiled.

"Back from the dead, I see. How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Dry," Mike decided. Scribe nodded, helping him with a small water cup that had been by his bed.

"Quite a stunt you pulled, running like that when you obviously weren't well. Madame Potter was quite furious with you for risking your health for that race. Shall I get your mum?" Sally asked.

"My mother is here?" Mike said with a frown.

"She stayed with you until your fever broke, then Doctor Sagittari was able to convince her to get some rest at the Pavilions. Your grandfather requested to see you as well, but we all agreed that it was better to wait until we were sure you weren't contagious first," Scribe explained. "Your friends have been asking for you too, of course," she added.

"How long have I been in here?" Mike frowned.

"Only a couple of days… not long enough to get too far behind," Scribe assured him with a wink.

"Every day counts, Professor Scribe."

Sally Scribe looked up to see Professor Snape standing in the doorway.

"Oh, good morning, Headmaster," Scribe said with a smile.

"I came to drop off your runes homework, Mr. Coventry," Snape said, setting a scroll on the side table. "I need to ask you about something as well."

"Shall I excuse myself, Professor Snape?" Sally asked.

"No, I'm not staying more than a moment. It's about Hope Willowby, actually. She has lodged some complaints with Commander Bellamy, Madame Brittle, and Professor Weasley accusing Elizabeth and Donald of getting you sick 'on purpose,'" the Headmaster explained. "I wondered what your thoughts were on the matter, considering her accusations are pure hearsay, along with any evidence you would have to support such a claim."

Mike grew somber. Finding evidence of such a thing, he realized, was problematic at best.

"If I did suspect that something like that occurred, would Professor Craw look into it?" Mike asked carefully.

"And if she were to find out that your sister had a different motive and wasn't thinking about the consequences of her illness?" Snape asked.

"What do you mean?" Mike asked, but Snape simply waited for an answer.

Was he asking him simply to let it go, Mike wondered? No, it was more complicated than that, and he what he really wanted was for Mike to decide how to proceed. The Headmaster had probably already consulted his wife on the matter, Mike realized. And if Beth had other reasons, Mike had little doubt that his brother had offered them. Mike sighed. Pursuing that would get complicated, he realized, and even if the Headmaster was willing to do so, it would certainly end up involving his father and mother, and that would likely cause a great deal of headaches for everyone concerned.

"It's just a game," Mike said at last. "Madame Potter's right about that… but I don't regret running, even if did make me sicker." The Headmaster nodded expressionlessly.

"Very well, then we'll just leave it at that… although we may have to convince your mother to do so as well…"

"I'll talk to her, sir," Mike said.

"Then we'll leave it at that… and make sure you expound on the essay questions, Mr. Coventry, to make up for your lost time in class," Snape advised before walking back out of the room.

Severus was unsurprised to find his wife was hovering just outside the door.

"Shouldn't you be heading to your first class by now?" Severus suggested.

"Oh… I was having a few words with Ashley," Jennifer said as an excuse, gesturing to the daycare room. "Was he awake? What did you tell him?"

"I didn't really tell him anything, I merely asked him about the situation. He has decided to let it go," Severus explained.

"Oh," Jennifer said in such a strange tone that Severus gazed at her quizzically. "I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"It sounded like a reasonable decision to me. It is just a game, after all…"

"And it's saving us some headaches if he does, I know," Jennifer said with a nod. "But you don't have Don in any of your classes now. You don't know how he's been."

"I hear quite a bit of it from Danyelle, actually, although I'm wondering about what you mean by that," Severus said, gesturing her down the corridor.

"Well, it's really sort of odd, Severus. I had no trouble reading him when it came to what happened at the foot race. It was quite obvious from his thoughts that he had talked Beth into it on the pretense of helping her get something she wanted from their father… just as obvious as she was only thinking about herself and not the consequences," Jennifer said with a shake of the head. "And yet at the same time, I keep wondering if he's blocking me or not."

"Blocking you?" Severus frowned.

"Not only blocking me, but feeling quite smug and confident about it working," Jennifer said. Severus squinted. "And yet, every time I ask him something specific, I have little trouble reading him. It's quite odd, really."

"Why haven't you mentioned this before? How long has it been going on?" Severus said.

"For a while now. I didn't mention it because I thought it was simply his way of attempting to toy with me. But what if there is something to it… and yet… if there is something to it, why would he so easily have let me read his part in getting his brother sick?" Jennifer asked. "Or anything else, for that matter."

"A good question," Severus said. "I think I'll drop by the library to see what sorts of books he's been checking out lately."

"Do you suppose he's been borrowing books on Occlumancy?" Jennifer asked.

"I don't know, but if he is, I want to know about it," Severus said. "I'll see you this evening." Jennifer nodded and went down the back stairs while Severus went the other way.

But as she got closer to the Potion Lab, Jennifer heard a lot of her student's voices, debating something heavily. As she cleared the last landing, she saw they were all standing in the corridor with the Ravenclaw statue blocking the door.

"Oh no, not her again!" Jennifer groaned.

"Now that your professor is here, I shall give you an easy one," Ravenclaw said calmly.

"You haven't so far," Helena scowled at her. "The last riddle was so convoluted we couldn't remember all the details."

"Water is my enemy. It wounds me, pounds me, and belittles me. But no matter how small the water makes me, I am still myself. What am I?" Jennifer furrowed her brows.

"Stone, obviously. We're not primary students," Don snapped.

"Yes, of course, obviously," Jennifer said, flustered and annoyed. The statue simply smiled and slid out of the way. Jennifer waited for her students to enter, muttering softly and wondering how much water and time it would take to rid her of a particular statue.


"Professor Craw!" called out Abraxus Coventry just after Jennifer had opened the school's doors to the public after classes that day. Jennifer stifled a groan, and instead smiled and greeted one of the other parents. "I'd like a word if you don't mind."

"Would it matter if I did mind?" Jennifer asked testily.

"Not really, no. My son told me at lunch today that your class was forced to stand in the corridors because some statue kept them from entering on time…"

"They weren't forced to do anything, Mr. Coventry. Professor Ravenclaw's statue is simply a door guard with a riddle key. If anything, they were only forced to use their heads. It isn't my fault they didn't guess her riddle," Jennifer said.

"Well, it is your fault she was there in the first place. And just why were you so late getting there?" he demanded.

"Frankly that is none of your business. Come to think of it, how doors are guarded in this school is really none of your business either," Jennifer said firmly, turning the corner in hopes that he would leave it at that.

But the moment she walked around the corner she regretted it, for the floor in the main corridor was completely flooded with water. Abraxus followed behind, his protests cut short after he caught sight of the corridor.

"What the blazes?" Coventry cursed. The high-pitched wail of a ghost echoed in the distance. "Just what exactly goes on here at this school?"

"Mr. Coventry, you were a student here once. There's no point in acting shocked over the fact that ghosts sometimes cause mischief in the castle," Jennifer said with exasperation.

"When I was in school, Dumbledore was the headmaster and he ran this castle like a tight ship. From everything I've witnessed this year, I think it's quite evident that the school seems to be running your husband instead of the other way around."

"How uncharacteristically observant of you," Jennifer said under her breath.

"I beg your pardon?" Coventry said, still huffing.

"I think you ought to go to whatever event you signed up for, Mr. Coventry, and voice your complaints in writing or at some other time. I obviously have other things to attend to and you are simply in the way at the moment," Jennifer said curtly.

"I think I'll take my complaints to the board," he threatened.

"Lovely. Good idea. Excuse me," Jennifer said, waving him off before attempting to follow the flooded corridor to its source. She was rather relieved to find that John Carnegie was already standing in front of the girl's bathroom near the Great Hall, attempting to chain the door open before Moaning Myrtle had a chance to lock it. "What in the world is she doing over here?"

"Ah, Professor Craw. My guess would be that she didn't feel like she would get enough attention in her usual bathroom," John Carnegie. "I've sent a student over to the Pavilions to fetch Doctor Black. I hope you don't mind…"

"No, of course not, you obviously had no choice. Any idea where Noah is?" Jennifer asked.

"Not yet, Professor. I sent a prefect off to try and find him," John said.

"Come to think of it, he may be out with the mounts, considering we moved the competition up by two weeks. I'll check out there and get back to you," Jennifer decided.

"Thank you, Professor Craw," John said, charming another mop into attempting to keep the corridor dry.

Jennifer decided to avoid the main entrance and worked her way towards the side doors nearest the Quidditch Pitch. She certainly didn't want to have to run into Abraxus again, she thought to herself, then frowned when she realized that he hadn't even bothered to ask how Michael was doing. She sighed softly at that and attempted to focus on the situation with Myrtle, walking around the outside of the Quidditch Pitch to get to the mounts.

As she passed the coaches that ferried guests back and forth from the Pavillion area, someone called out to her. She looked around to see Regina standing there, frowning critically as if wondering why Jennifer was there instead of diligently guarding her son.

"Hello, Regina. Did you get enough rest?" Jennifer asked politely.

"As well as can be expected," Regina said. "But I hardly want to exchange trivial formalities right now. I suppose you haven't checked on my son recently?"

"As a matter of fact, I just came from there. He woke up just a bit ago and seems to be doing much better. In fact, he'll probably be back to his old self in a day or two."

"That's what I am afraid of," Regina said. "I believe it would be better for everyone involved if Michael withdrew from all competitions in which he must compete against his siblings."

"I really don't think Michael would want to do that. After all, he's in the Hexathlon, and there are only two events left…"

"And one is jousting, Jennifer. Do you really thing Donald will pass up the opportunity to injure his brother in such a forum?" Regina snapped. "Besides, it isn't about what Michael wants. It's about the fact that I'm his mother, and I have the right to pull him if I like."

"Well, I suppose I could refer you to the headmaster about the matter, but I think I already know what he's going to say," Jennifer said. "Michael is a seventh year… and not only that, he's a seventh year who has pretty much been guaranteed acceptance in Auror training if he doesn't completely flub his NEWT exams. Not only is he not likely to want to quit after all he's already been through, it wouldn't look good on him or his future ambitions to do so just because he's running into obstacles."

"A lot of good his ambitions will do him if he gets himself killed…"

"Right now he's in a supervised environment, Regina. This is the best time for him to learn to roll with the punches, so he isn't as likely to get killed when he gets out in the real world. Anyway, that's what the Headmaster is likely to say, and in this case, I agree with him. However, if it'll make you feel better, I can probably arrange it so that they won't be paired in the earlier rounds, which means it's possible one of them may be eliminated before they have to face each other," Jennifer suggested.

"Possible, but quite unlikely. I raised very determined children, Professor Craw," Regina said.

"So you did, which is why I don't think Michael will listen if you try to talk him into quitting," Jennifer said with a smile, knowing very well she was going to try anyway. "Was there anything else you needed to see me about? I have another matter I need to attend to."

"I assume it's all right for me to visit Michael again," Regina said.

"Absolutely," Jennifer said with a smile. Regina simply nodded and walked towards the castle, giving Jennifer the opportunity to let out a long sigh before continuing on to the practice grounds.

Quite a number of students were out with their mounts; some practicing, but most grooming or talking to them while waiting their turns in the practice courses. Noah was one of them, so it was easy for Jennifer to wade her way through the students to where he and Shadow were standing near the side of the dressage area.

"Might I talk to you for a moment, Noah?" Jennifer said, Noah nodding at her in response.

"I am to be going soon, though. It's nearly my turn, you see," Noah said.

"It'll only take a moment, really, it's about Myrtle. You see, she's in one of her moods again and is causing quite a mess in the hall. Mr. Carnegie is quite put out about it, especially since we do have to finish the last of the indoor events tonight," Jennifer explained. "I don't suppose you'd talk to her after you're done with practice?"

"I suppose I shall since I usually do, but I want to ask you a question, Professor," Noah said solemnly. "Just how many other students do you ask to intervene when you have a problem with their girlfriend? Because I'm not sure you'd be doing it if I were human."

Jennifer stared at him a moment, then grimaced.

"I suppose you're right, Noah. I never thought of it. I guess it became a habit since you both were here long before you became a student," Jennifer explained.

"Yes, which is why I wonder how come it is that people have been coming to me more about Myrtle since I became a student than anyone ever did before I was one," he complained.

"Perhaps that's true, although I must say that I don't remember her ever being as bad as now, so I think that's the reason. Still, you are right. We shouldn't always be bringing the matter to you, should we?" Jennifer said apologetically. "Even so, if you know what's upsetting her…"

"Probably the same things that always upset her," Noah said curtly, mounting up. Jennifer nodded and took a step back as Noah led Shadow towards the square.

"So, I'm not the only ghost that can put you in your place from time to time," came the voice of Icarus from behind Jennifer.

"He hardly put me in my place, Ick. I simply agreed that he had a point," Jennifer said defensively. "I don't suppose you know what's put Myrtle off this time?"

"Oh… it was Noah, more than likely. It always is," Ick explained. Jennifer put her hands on her hips.

"Just what do you mean by that?" Jennifer demanded, but her pause met only silence. "Ick? Ick, where did you go? Oh, these damned ghosts!" she swore, muttering as she stormed across the Quidditch Pitch. She was nearly halfway across when she heard her father's voice and turned around, frowning at the expression on his face.

"You're going in the wrong direction," Thomas said.

"Actually, I'm in the middle of attending to a ghost problem. Why, is something else going on?" Jennifer asked.

"Leave the ghosts to Zack and come with me to the Pavilions. I think that'll prove to be even more of a headache than whatever the hell you're on about," Thomas said.

"One of the tents got broken into?" Jennifer asked anxiously, turning to walk with him. "Is Harry over there?"

"Yes, but even his patience is wearing thin," Thomas grunted. "Considering who it was." Jennifer studied her father and then groaned.

"Oh no. Anything but that! Not Abraxus Coventry! I've already had my fill of him today!" Jennifer grumbled. "Who would break into a tent anyhow, especially his tent?"

"I can think of a number of reasons. Not only is Coventry an unpopular man, but he is also a rich, unpopular man," Thomas pointed out.

"Yes, well so are you," Jennifer snorted.

"I'm only rich on paper. Abraxus flaunts his wealth and is known to spend lavishly," Thomas said.

"True, but he isn't going to go overboard with spending inside a tent, is he? Well, I suppose he might, but how likely is it that money is a motive when only one tent was broken into?" Jennifer asked.

"Unlikely," Thomas said. "But it's bound to come up in the bluster, isn't it?"

Thomas didn't bother ringing the tent bell when they arrived, walking in to see Harry standing just inside wearing an even expression, watching Abraxus pace the floor as he ranted.

"The entire situation is quite unacceptable. I have half a mind to sue the school for failing to secure the premises," Abraxus threatened.

"Considering that half the LE department and all of my Aurors have been checking up on the Pavilions and the school when they're off duty, I really don't think you would have a case, Mr. Coventry," Harry pointed out. "They've done everything they can."

"All of those supposedly 'checking up' on us and yet no one saw anything suspicious at all?" Abraxus said.

"Well, I have Aurors asking some of the others staying here to find out if anyone noticed anything out of the ordinary, but no one who was on watch saw anything worth reporting this morning," Harry said.

"And just why is it that that gargoyle guarding the door of the pavilion wasn't there this morning?" Abraxus asked. "It almost feels like that part of it was set up."

"Great Craters, it's like being stuck in a repetition spell. How the blazes do you put up with it?" Thomas said in a loud enough voice that Harry and Abraxus looked up.

"I wonder that myself sometimes," Jennifer said under her breath.

"I didn't give anyone permission to enter!" Abraxus protested.

"It's a crime scene. It's too late for invitations," Thomas snorted. "And nobody's setting anything up with the gargoyles. They tend to stay close by the castle when there's an event inside, if you haven't noticed, and they're finishing up the team Go and Wizard Hearts competition tonight."

"Yes, and the rest of events are outdoors, so I expect the gargoyles will be filtering out here soon enough," Jennifer said. "Someone may have simply noticed that it was gone and took advantage of the opportunity."

"Right, although right now it doesn't look like anyone came in except for those who had tents. I think I'll go confirm that real quick," Harry said, glad for the excuse to leave Coventry to someone else for a few minutes.

"So, exactly what was taken from here? Everything seems in order," Jennifer asked.

"My business attaché, full of sensitive scrolls and several prototypes of our new glass phials and beakers." Abraxus said.

"Who would want something like that? And why would you bring something like that here in the first place?" Jennifer asked.

"Do you mind? You're a professor, not an investigator," Abraxus said indignantly.

"He's right, Jen-girl, just stand there unless you're spoken to," Thomas said, getting a glowering look from his daughter in response. "Abraxus, why did you bring your business documents to a sporting event?"

"Plenty of my business associates are also staying here for one event or another, I am simply using the times between events to get some work done. I'm hardly the only one. You've been to Brogan's corner at night, you know what it's like," Abraxus said.

"Well, I do, and there's not supposed to be any alcohol on property –"

"Let's not get off the subject, Jen-girl. You should make a list of anything sensitive, Abraxus, and give it to Harry to look at," Thomas suggested.

"Fine, but if anything bad comes out of this financially, I am holding the school responsible," Abraxus threatened.

"You can't. At least not legally," Thomas said, Abraxus blinking in response. "Didn't you read the agreement Professor Weasley made you sign when you rented a space here? The school isn't responsible for any mishaps, accidents, or losses. You're going to have to handle this through Harry and hope he comes up with the culprit. You can sue him if you like," he added. "Come along, Jen-girl, I need to speak with you a moment."

Jennifer followed him out, taking a breath of relief but glad he didn't continue the conversation until they were well out of the pavilion.

"So? What was he thinking about in there?" Thomas said.

"Oh, just what we were talking about. He was trying to remember everyone he had shown or was planning to speak to about his new business plan for his alchemist supply company," Jennifer said. Thomas frowned. "Do you want me to make a list of some of the people he was thinking about?"

"Hm. Actually, I was toying with the idea that this was something he set up himself," Thomas admitted. Jennifer blinked, and then shook her head.

"No, I rather think that would have been quite clear to me if he had, he's pretty easy to read. He's also fairly certain it was a competitor of his," Jennifer said.

"Which would mean the break in would have had a money motive, and I have already explained to you that is quite unlikely, case or no case. I wonder if something else is missing that he may have overlooked," Thomas murmured.

"Something else?" Jennifer said thoughtfully. "You mean that the case may possibly be covering up for something else, knowing that it'd be one of the first things he'd check for?"

"If so, it means it could be someone else close to him who had done it, knowing his general habits, and therefore would still fit in to my idea that this was an inside job of some sort," Thomas concluded. "I don't suppose you could have a word with Regina? After all, she has been in and out of here recently…"

"Me? Oh, no, that's not fair. I don't want to talk to her again, I've already had words with her today already, and I happen to know she's spent most of her time looking after Michael… oh, wait… she did come over here to rest didn't she?" Jennifer realized with a groan. "Can't you do it?"

"You know perfectly well why I want you to do it. She may have come over here looking for something sentimental and for some reason didn't want to deal with her ex over it, and if so, I have a feeling the case will reappear on its own, don't you? The sooner she's questioned, the sooner we can drop this whole thing and deal with real problems. This is nothing more than a petty headache," Thomas said.

"That may be, but right now my headache is pulsing," Jennifer grumbled. "Fine, I'll go talk to her again, although I'm sure she won't be in the best of moods, because I'm certain that Michael will resist her wishes for him to withdraw."

"Considering your mood, you can call it even then," Thomas suggested. "I'll be back in my tent when you're done. You can send a message through Maurice if you like, he'll be coming over for dinner."

"Fine, but I'm not sure I approve of your getting him involved all the time," Jennifer said, knowing the complaint was bound to be ignored as she made her way back over to the other side.

As she neared the hospital wing, Jennifer heard Regina's voice in the hall, followed by the low and yet firm voice of Severus. Sighing at the inevitability of it all, Jennifer walked up the stairs.

"It doesn't matter how safe you think it is for most students. I simply do not think it's safe for Michael," Regina said firmly. Jennifer had the feeling that it wasn't the first time she had said it.

"Perhaps we are going about this the wrong way. Perhaps we should discuss this together with his future employer's input. Good afternoon, Jennifer. I don't suppose you have seen Potter recently?" Severus asked.

"Oh, well, yes, but he may be a bit busy at the moment. Apparently, Abraxus' tent was broken into. Someone stole his business case," Jennifer explained, glancing at Regina.

"That's what he gets for bringing it here in the first place then. He should be paying attention to our children's events, not his latest business scheme," Regina said curtly.

"For once, I tend to agree with you," Jennifer admitted.

"In that case, let's continue this conversation in the morning, shall we? I would like to speak to Michael about it myself when tempers aren't as flared," Severus suggested.

"Fine, but I shan't be changing my mind," Regina warned. "Good evening!"

Jennifer stood there with a frown and watched her walk down several flights of stairs before she finally walked into the nursery to find a friendly painting.

"Would you please get word to Maurice Craw to tell his father tonight that Regina has nothing to do with it?" Jennifer said.

"A bit cryptic, but I shall pass on the message," the portrait of a Victorian nanny replied before stepping out of the frame.

"That was a bit cryptic," Severus agreed, leaning in the doorway behind her. "Wouldn't it be better to tell him yourself?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm quite done up with anything having to do with the Coventry family today," Jennifer said briskly. "Good afternoon, Ashley! How was Quintin?"

"He's a very good boy, Jennifer. But he does go on about broken clocks. Every hour, as a matter of fact," Ashley added with amusement. "Even after I fixed the clock."

"We've been having similar problems," Jennifer said, picking up Quintin who seemed disinterested in the conversation. "But really, it's such a small thing, isn't it? Seems to me most other parents have a lot more serious problems with their children." Severus gazed at her thoughtfully.

"True enough," Ashley agreed with a smile. "I'm sure he'll grow out of it."

"Thank you, Ashley! We'll see you in the morning," Jennifer said.

"Of course! Have a good evening," Ashley replied with a wave.

"I hope that doesn't mean you want to discontinue our attempts at getting him used to a variable schedule," Severus murmured as they stepped into the hall.

"Well, not yet, but I am having second thoughts about it. After all, most parents spend months trying to get their children on schedules, and yet here we are attempting to break him of it," Jennifer pointed out.

"Yes, well, not of their children go to the same extreme that ours does when he is off of it," Severus replied.

"True, but it is such a small thing, isn't it? Compared to some children, ours was always so well behaved, really…"

"I will be glad when that new alloy is set so we can finish that prototype. Then you can continue on your memory research," Severus said flatly. "Although I'm not sure it will help with selective memory."

"All right, I suppose they all had their moments, especially Aurelius… I spent many hours worrying that he wouldn't make it through school, and he very nearly didn't. But he got through it. I can name quite a few of students that didn't," Jennifer said.

"I am certain I can name many more than you can of those that didn't," Severus said quietly.

"And what of their parents? How did they feel when they watched their son or daughter fall after loving them and raising them and hoping for their success?" Jennifer asked.

"A majority of the ones I witnessed go through that didn't have that support network, Jennifer. Hogwarts was the only thing going for them; and most had developed an extreme distrust of any adult or authority figure by the time they arrived," Severus murmured.

"But not all of them, Severus. Some of them had good parents that did their best to do what was right, but as their children grew older they lost their influence over their children. Like Regina for example…"

Severus stopped walked and stared at Jennifer until she looked back at him curiously.

"I think you may be working too hard, Jennifer. How can you possibly sympathize with Regina? Although I admit she has become slightly more tolerable since the divorce, she is hardly an innocent party when it comes to her children's problems, including Donald's," Severus said with annoyance.

"I know, Severus, but at the same time, in her mind she thought she was doing her best for her children. Really, when it comes down to it, all any parent does is try to do their best, and no parent is perfect. I dare say a great many out there probably don't approve of our parenting skills either," Jennifer conjectured. "Who are we to judge, really?"

"Their teachers," Severus said flatly. "And as such, we do have a right to express our opinion, since their welfare during their time here is our business, as well as their educational development; both of which are directly affected by their personal well being. And that woman is nearly as guilty of their spoiled upbringing as Abraxus is."

"Not in her opinion…" Jennifer interjected.

"No, I would think not. But what her intent hardly changes the situation at hand, does it?" Severus said. "Tell me, was she thinking about something just now that started all of this?"

"Well, when I mentioned the break in, she instantly thought that Donald might have done it, although she really couldn't fathom why he would have needed it. I really can't think of a reason, either, but she was quite bothered by the fact that it was the first person she thought of…"

"I see, so it was very much like you felt any time anything happened that Aurelius may have been responsible for…"

"That's not fair, Severus. Circumstances were different. They're nothing alike," Jennifer said defensively.

"Perhaps not, but the situation itself reminds you of it, does it not?" Severus confronted her.

"I suppose it does in some ways. But in spite of the past, I can't help but sympathize a bit with her feeling helpless to doing nothing but watching as her son self-destructs. Really, Severus, isn't there any more that we can do?" Jennifer asked.

"Danyelle has been my study every day, asking for advice," Severus admitted in a low voice. "She is doing what she can, but she feels that her efforts are simply not getting through to him. I have been watching when I can, but even with a bit of turning here and there it is nearly impossible to keep up. Having Quintin here would have been enough time restraint, but the games are taking their toll… on everyone, really, staff and students alike."

"Well, I admit I'm quite relieved that it all moves outside after tonight," Jennifer agreed.

"Perhaps you can convince Andrew to take your shift tomorrow and we can take tomorrow night off," Severus suggested.

"He's already working my shift tomorrow, but it does us no good, I'm afraid. Leu's next Hurling match is tomorrow night," Jennifer said with a sympathetic smile. "How about just having a day off dealing with any Coventry family members? I would be much in favor of that," she added enthusiastically.

"If I could arrange it, it'd already be done," Severus agreed in kind as they continued on to the study.