Chapter Thirty-Six

Making Exceptions, Taking Exceptions

Ambrose was sleeping restlessly when something stirred him awake, and he felt as if something was calling to him despite the fact that when he opened his eyes, he saw nothing but his roommates, fast asleep. He felt a chill breeze and looked blearily up at the window, swiveled inward as if an owl had pushed it open, a soft snow blowing in. Reluctantly, he got up to close it, but as he stumbled to the window, he tripped over a large bundle. Reaching down in the darkness, he felt a small leather pouch on a long cord, and what appeared to be a bundled up cloak. He called up a wisplight and inspected it, a bit surprised to find his name on it as he shuffled back over to his bed. Carefully, he pulled out a rolled note and read it, somehow managing to read it over twice before it disintegrated in his hand. He put the cord around his neck then, feeling the pouch in his hand a moment before opening it to see the top of an ornate key.

It took several well-placed kisses for Severus to finally untangle himself and slip away, gently covering Jennifer back up and making certain there was a window open before slipping into the bathroom for a quick shower, tossing on a robe so he could go in the office and check some things before they started getting ready for the day in Hogsmeade. He couldn't help but be a bit surprised to see Aurelius in one of the chairs with his feet propped up on a stool, gazing fixedly at him.

"And just what are you doing here?" Severus asked, genuinely curious, despite the tone in his voice.

"Waiting for you to emerge, obviously, since I knew you would have to come in here sooner or later," Aurelius said calmly.

"I'm sorry, Severus, but I'm afraid he didn't believe me," Armando said somberly.

"Why? What exactly have you been telling them?" Severus asked.

"He told me you went skin diving," Aurelius said flatly. Severus thought about it for a moment.

"Yes, so I did," he said at last. "As did your mother."

"Obviously," Aurelius snorted in disgust.

"Nice turn of phrase, that, Armando," Severus said, looking quite relaxed as he sat down at his desk.

"Thank you, sir," Armando said with obvious amusement. Aurelius simply stared at his father, not in the least bit impressed.

"What was it you needed, Aurelius?" Severus asked.

"I came to let you know that the girls and I are planning to head down to Galloway later today," Aurelius said. "Joanie thinks she found a possible lead, an old family there that boasts lineage to Morgan's son, Owain. I'm going to go help eyeball them while the others do a bit of wandering about… supposedly, there's a church with an interesting catacombs in the area that's supposed to have Neolithic markings in the lower portions."

"Sounds promising," Severus ventured.

"That probably means it won't be," Aurelius said with a sigh.

"And what should I tell Fortuna?" Severus asked.

"We'll drop by there before we go," Aurelius said. "I assume the plan hasn't changed, right? Everything ready?"

"More ready than she is, I imagine," Severus said with a nod.

Lucky woke up early and let out a sigh, staring at the beams of light just peeking in the window just above her bed. Petting Houdini gently before pushing his butt off her shoulder, she slipped out of bed to pull out a dress to wear to church (not that there was much of a choice, since she had few appropriate dresses) and then paused, frowning at the bottom of her closet a moment as she noticed a pair of snow-white flats that she had never seen before.

"'Ey Connie…. Yo! Connie!" Lucky shouted, and Connie rolled over with a moan. "Are these your slippers?"

"Wha? Urph, my shoes are under my bed," Connie murmured, still half asleep.

"Then where did these come from?"

"I dunno. Shoe Elves, I guess. Go back to sleep," Connie advised, then started to snore.

"There are Shoe Elves?" Lucky asked seriously, but then shrugged it off, and on a whim tried them on to find they fit perfectly.

It was an easy decision to wear them rather than try to search through the disorganized mess in the bottom of the closet for her normal dress shoes, especially since they fit so well. She glanced at the two dresses, one black one white, and instantly went for the white, more to match her shoes rather than any other significance. After all, no one else was likely to understand the real reason she wanted to go to church today… she sighed softly and tried not to think about it as she shuffled off for a shower and to get ready to go. When she finally got back, Connie even seemed to be moving; at least she had a foot on the floor.

"You'd better get goin' if you plan to go to Hogsmeade today," Lucky reminded her, and Connie blinked.

"Good point, I guess I should," Connie said, finally sitting up with a yawn. "You want me to pick anything up for you?"

"Nah, you just have fun," Lucky said, folding some paper money in her wrist purse before checking the time and walking out of the castle to see Francis standing in the courtyard talking to Jennifer.

"There you are, Lucky! Happy Birthday! Goodness, you got ready on your own without a fight? That's never happened before," Jennifer teased lightly.

"Well, she is a young woman, now, after all," Francis chided her. "Jennifer was just showing me were the fountain is going to go, and I hear you had a large part to do with it?"

"I just organized some of the fund raising," Lucky shrugged.

"And a splendid job she's done, too. All they need to do is a bit of letter writing for a few more contributions and they'll have it," Jennifer said.

"Very impressive," Francis agreed. "But we really must be going."

"All right, I'll suppose I'll just have to wait to give out presents until later then," Jennifer said with a wink.

"I should think so!" Francis chuckled, offering Lucky and arm. "Come along, Lucky! We're going to take a bit of a shortcut," he said with a wink as they stepped out the gate. Lucky could have guessed what he meant by that even if she hadn't seen the chalk drawing sketched on the brick.

It had been almost a year since the last time Lucky had gotten to go to church, and she was unsurprised to see there was a new priest, a younger man named Father Laurie, who took over for O'Malley. Once during the sermon he seemed to look directly at them, smiling warmly at her before continuing. It was a rather small church, but quite traditional in look and feel which suited Francis perfectly, although Lucky couldn't help but be a bit glad of having a new voice on the podium, for O'Malley was much stiffer and more solemn that sometimes made her wonder if her new family didn't have the right idea in staying away from it all.

As they were waiting their turn to leave (Francis' pew was quite far towards the back,) it became increasingly obvious that Laurie seemed anxious to speak with them, but Francis waited until the very end until he at last took his hand.

"I see your pew isn't quite empty for a change, Francis, but I think I'm right in guessing this is not Alicia," he said mischievously.

"Oh, no, but don't worry, she'll be at the christening next week for certain, Father. That is something Alicia definitely will not be able to talk herself out of," Francis said, Laurie laughing at that.

"I'm so glad to hear it, it will be nice to meet her at last," Laurie smiled. "And your guest?"

"This is my youngest sister, Fortuna, originally from America. She's come with me before on occasion, actually, but she especially wanted to come today, since it is her Quinceaños," Francis said. Lucky did a double take and stared at him in surprise.

"Is it? Why, Francis! Why didn't you mention it when we set up your son's christening! I could have had something planned for her!" Father scolded him.

"Actually, I didn't realize it until after I had already planned it," Francis admitted reluctantly.

"It's okay, I'm just happy I came," Lucky shrugged.

"And I am very glad that you are happy that you came. That shows a great deal of responsibility and respect for your spirituality. Wait here just a moment," Laurie said, smiling at her, but when he looked up at Francis his tsked very audibly in apparent disapproval as he turned and walked towards the back.

"So…" Lucky began, but then paused uncomfortably when Francis glanced back over at her. "Nobody else knows about that, right?"

"You don't want them to know?" Francis asked.

"I just… I don't wanna be… well, I'm a Snape, now," Lucky said.

"No doubt about that," Francis agreed. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well it's… it's not their heritage, you know, I mean… well, it's not a family tradition, so I shouldn't expect it," Lucky said.

"Well, christenings aren't exactly in their 'family traditions' either, but I guarantee you they'll go to Michael's… yes, even Severus," Francis said with amusement. "Just like they both went to a protestant church with Corey several times when he was growing up. They probably would have come today if you had asked them."

"No, that'd be more than I could take," Lucky said, shaking her head in protest so fervently that Francis chuckled again. "So could you not mention it?"

"Lucky, just because you're a Snape doesn't mean you're any less you," Francis said gently. "Tell me truthfully, Lucky, before you were a Snape, perhaps when you were a lot younger, did you ever dream of the day you turned fifteen?"

"Well, yeah, of course I did, but I was a kid then," Lucky shrugged. "There were also a lot of times when I wasn't so sure that I would make it to fifteen at all," she admitted, Francis' gaze turning somber. "And times I really didn't wanna to live that long, either."

"But that's different now?" Francis said.

"Well, yeah, of course it's different now, that's exactly what I mean. I got a new life, new family, new ambitions, and new Predators. What more could a girl want?" Lucky shrugged.

"Yes, let's not forget the shoes," Francis said with amusement. "But really, aren't those a lot of good reasons to celebrate?"

"Yeah, I guess, but I don't want anyone goin' out of the way for it," Lucky said.

"Oh, it's too late for that," Francis said, Lucky squinting at him suspiciously. "Really, Lucky, you don't think your father would just declare a Hogsmeade trip 'on a whim' on a day which also happens to be your birthday, do you? Have you ever been to an event that your father has organized? My wedding, for example?"

"Aw no! He's already going overboard, ain't he?" Lucky said in realization.

"More than likely," Francis said amusedly, and then looked up as Father Laurie came back.

"These are for you, Fortuna," he smiled, handing her a white rosary and a new white bible with several silky white ribbons inside. "I marked some passages for you, as you can see. You should coax Francis to bring you around more often now that you're a young woman."

"Thank you," Fortuna said with a weak grin.

"She goes to Hogwarts, Father, but I will try to bring her as often as I can," Francis promised.

"He knows about that too, eh?" Fortuna said, eyeing the priest thoughtfully.

"I have to confess to someone, don't I?" Francis pointed out.

"Yes, and because of Francis, I am beginning to understand why so many distilleries began in our monasteries," Laurie joked, the two of them grinning and saying goodbye before stepping into the entry and then keying back to the studio.

Alicia already had Michael dressed and was waiting for them when they arrived.

"About time! I thought church got out half an hour ago!" she scolded him with exasperation.

"We stayed to have a few words with the father…"

"Never mind that, everyone's waiting! Here, Lucky, change into this!" Alicia insisted, throwing her a white ball gown with sparkling tear drop crystals that moved down the pleats in the dress like rain on a sunny day. "Oh, and here's your jewelry, and this tiara… really, stop staring and get ready!"

Lucky suddenly felt as if she were in a whirl (especially when Alicia came back in with exasperation to help her charm her thick hair up and around the tiara) before finally finding herself being pulled into a painting and back out through one of Charles the Third's dragon drawings on the Willowby ice box.

"Oh, Lucky! There you are!" Jennifer said brightly, getting up from where she and Minerva were having tea. As Minerva fussed over the dress, Jennifer grabbed a pair of white heels off from on top of one of the cupboards. "I think to be safe let's just have you take those flats off now and I'll put these at the bottom of the stairs?"

"Bottom of the stairs?" Lucky echoed.

"Yes, well, it got much too crowded up here, so we had to move the party to the basement," Jennifer explained.

"Too crowded? Hey, who all's down there?" Lucky shouted when Jennifer began to walk out of the room.

"There is only one good way to find out," Minerva said with a smile.

"Yes and… do try to act like a lady for a change!" Jennifer said. "What's the point of getting dressed up like a princess if you can't pretend to be like one for awhile? Or a couple hours… perhaps one… how about thirty minutes, can you do thirty minutes?"

"Jennifer, calm down," Minerva laughed. "Goodness, she is excited enough for both of you," Minerva said with a smile when she saw Lucky's pallid face and knew there was a pit in her stomach just by the way she was standing. "Although, I must say, I think Severus looks even more nervous than either of you."

"I am nothing of the sort," Severus said irritably. Lucky blinked at surprise, having never heard him even come in the room. But everyone else quickly cleared out, and Severus paused to make sure everyone was down stairs before finally turning to her. "Shall I walk you down, or do you just want me to walk ahead of you?" Severus asked.

"Ya," said Lucky. Severus squinted.

"Which?" Severus prompted, and somehow Lucky managed to talk herself into taking his arm, despite the fact that she barely seemed to feel the steps beneath her feet despite the fact their steps sounded very loud in the eerily quiet basement. But as she stepped down and into the shoes Jennifer had put at the bottom, a roar of cheers went out, and Lucky saw not only all the Owls (except poor Bobby), but all her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, as well as Librarian Boulderdash, Madame Brittle and her husband, and the Brims. Lucky couldn't help but to groan and grin at the same time when she saw their band equipment out.

"You do know how to dance, I hope," Severus muttered as if it were an afterthought.

"Ya," Lucky said again, stiffly letting him lead her in a waltz.

"And do you know any other words other than that?" he asked with exasperation. Lucky thought about it.

"No," she said, but then grinned.

Severus shook his head at her, but was quite conscientious about just how uncomfortable she was, and after a couple of darting glances led her over to where the main group of students where hanging out and then stopped short in front of Dale, earning a suspicious look from Lucky.

"Mr. Chance," Severus said evenly.

"Professor," Dale said, nodding cordially.

"My daughter, Fortuna, I believe you've met," Severus said, casually, Dale grinned and offered her his hand, not put off in the slightest by the fierce look in her eyes that threatened bodily injury if he did just that. "My daughter is a quinceñera now, she is finally fifteen, and old enough to be treated like a lady. Yes, well, it might surprise you to know that fifteen has always been dating age in my household, but even though I must acknowledge the fact to myself and everyone here that my daughter is fifteen whether I am ready for it or not, I want you personally to understand that she is only fifteen, and as such, I reserve the right to pop up at random and extremely inconvenient times to check in on her… at least for another year or two." Behind them, Jennifer was having a very hard time trying to keep a straight face.

"Um. Yes, sir, I understand," Dale said solemnly, a bit leery of the unnerving gaze that Severus gave him when he finally stepped away. Dale was somewhat surprised that he managed to retain a hold on Lucky's hand in the process.

"Fine, but no waltzes," Lucky said when they got far enough away from Severus that Dale was paying attention to her again.

"You heard the lady… how about some tempo?" Dale said with a grin. And Corey grinned back and turned to the others to suggest something livelier. Jennifer winced a bit and walked over to Severus' side with a smile, content to watch as the rest of them started to dance.

Soon Aurelius stepped in to dance with Lucky, and then Alex went over to have a few words with her as well until Ambrose pushed his way through for his turn.

"Milk?" Janus asked, when his mother worked his way over.

"No, Mummy has to leave again," Alex sighed.

"Is that child still not talking yet?" Thomas said with a scowl, ignoring the gentle nudge that Fleur gave him.

"Actually, he knows three words now," Ben said cheerfully. "This week he learned the word, 'mine.'"

"Did he?" Thomas said with renewed interest. "Why, that was my first word, and Maurice's first word as well! Come, let me take a better look at him."

"Why am I not surprised," Jennifer murmured. Standing beside her, Albus chuckled softly.

"There is always going to be the occasional black sheep, Jennifer, especially in a strong willed family like yours," Albus winked. "I'd expect no less. Besides, it rather spices things up a bit, and it helps keep Severus on his toes."

"I hardly need help," Severus protested dryly. "In fact, I've been on them for so long I don't think I know any other position."

"Some things never change," Albus chuckled.

"Don't let him fool you, Albus, he's actually changed quite a bit," Jennifer said, putting a hand around his arm lovingly.

"And so has Jennifer," Albus smiled. "And although Minerva has told me a lot, I have seen very little of you on my unintentionally extended visit. Even though Severus has been visiting me quite regularly, you haven't come by once."

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I've just been so busy!" Jennifer said, sounding sincerely apologetic.

"Busier than Severus?" Albus asked with a curious smile.

"Jennifer has been working on a research project lately studying divination in magic items," Severus explained casually. "She has gotten rather caught up in it, I believe."

"I suppose that's really no excuse, but don't worry, we have plenty of opportunities before the two of you head home in a few months. Perhaps we can set up tea sometime soon?" Jennifer said distractedly, glancing around for some reason.

"That would be splendid, Jennifer," Albus smiled. "Perhaps tomorrow?"

"I doubt anyone is going to have time to talk tomorrow," Jennifer said. "Excuse me just one moment," Jennifer said, wandering over to where Andrew stood with a lovely blonde-haired girl that Severus hadn't remembered seeing before.

"Well, I must say, Jennifer does seem to be doing better, doesn't she?" Albus said when he noticed Severus' gaze following her with a frown. "Or is she?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, in some ways she is doing better," Severus murmured in a low voice.

"Yes, well, you don't seem to be," Albus said, lowering his voice as well.

"I'd be a lot better if I didn't have this constant nagging feeling that I am making the biggest mistake of my life," Severus muttered.

"No, I believe that was last year," Albus said quietly. Severus blanched but forced himself to recover, and just in time as Natalie, Hope and Charles had all launched themselves in his direction to try to get him to settle a dispute they were having.

Hardly anyone noticed exactly when Ambrose slipped up the stairs, using the bathroom as an excuse to sneak away, and it was nearly a full two hours later as everyone gathered so Lucky could open her presents that Severus missed his presence, reaching for his watch only to find nothing but an empty pocket.

Ambrose;

Your father is being held prisoner within an oak tree on a cliff above Viviane's lake. You are the only one who can save him, but your path does not go without protection. Take with you this Chest Cloak, the Crooked Wand you found by the lake, and whatever familiars might want to accompany you, along with a pack you will find waiting in your mother's home after your appearance at Lucky's party. You have also been lent this school key which must not be used except if you are in extreme danger, for it is unlikely that you will have another opportunity to attempt a rescue should you be seen at the school gates. When you have accomplished your mission, return the key discreetly to Professor Weasley's office; your familiar will be the safest way. And know that even though we may not be able to support you publicly, you have many allies on this mission. Good Luck.

Everyone was having much too good of a time to notice exactly when Ambrose slipped away and ran home, finding just as promised a pack waiting for him on the kitchen table. Encouraged by the obvious indication that his mother knew about the attempt, Ambrose threw on the cloak, slung on the backpack, and stepped out the back door, whistling for his familiar. A moment later, Halcyon, who had been perched on the kitchen windowsill, came down, trilling at him curiously.

"I almost forgot that Mum was looking after you for Mr. Toby," Ambrose said, gently petting the bird when it landed on its shoulder. "I was actually whistling for Archimedes. We're going flying… a long flight, though. Do you want to come too?" he asked, and the bird stretched his wings and looked at him expectantly. A moment later, he heard the unmistakable hoot of the wooden owl. "Yes, I think I'm ready, Archimedes. Let's go before anyone sees us out here," Ambrose decided. In an instant, Ambrose willing himself into falcon form, hovering a moment to get used to his wings again, wondering which way was south. But fortunately, Archimedes seemed to know the way, and in no time the curious trio of flyers were off pushing up towards the sky.

Ambrose had always wondered how birds were able to manage such long distances without tiring, but Halcyon had quickly gotten his attention, pushing him up higher than perhaps he normally would have attempted to fly on his own, fighting the winds and pockets of air that seemed to be trying to hold them back. But quite abruptly all that pushing and heavy beating of the wings seemed to stop, and Ambrose was aware of a new sensation as they eased into a current. He felt as if he were floating in mid air without moving, despite the occasional beat of wings to keep at the same height as the two familiars in front and beside him. Every now and then they had to circle a bit and push through another wall, and Ambrose couldn't help but marvel and wonder how Halcyon always seemed to know which way the next current was. The kingfisher also seemed to realize where they were going, for as they followed the shoreline he took the lead more often, while Archimedes settled into point beside Ambrose.

Ambrose was so busy paying attention to the birds that he had no idea how long they had flown or even the time, but landed when they did to take a break, quite ravenous and glad to see that his mother had packed more than enough to handle his appetite. But not long after he had eaten, the two familiars seemed ready to move on, so reluctantly Ambrose stretched and then changed into his bird form again to follow them back up.

As they went up, there was a curious sensation in the air that he hadn't noticed before. It caused a tingle in his feathers that he couldn't quite explain, and for a while he wondered if it might have been a warning of an impending storm. But after a while, nothing seemed to happen, despite the fact that the sensation didn't fade. His thoughts wandered suddenly to that very first day that his godfather had brought him to the castle… he had been so young then, and eager, he remembered, hoping that testing the Professor's defense system would earn him the right to the wand. It was then that he realized he was feeling a similar sensation as to how he felt when he stepped into the castle. Was it a sense of magic, he mused, and decided at last that perhaps that made the most sense and yet wondered why it was there. It was only then he realized as he looked out over the sea that they really were traveling at an incredible pace. Perhaps that was how familiars got around so fast? He had always known that familiars picked up things that regular animals did not, through their owner's thoughts and abilities, and Ambrose began to wonder just how far that influence extended. Much farther than he had believed before, that much was certain. But surely Archimedes, being made out of wood, wouldn't pick up the same from him, rather from the person who carved him. Could he have grinned in his current form, he would have, for he was quite sure he was going to have an impressive tale for Mr. Toby by the end of the journey.

The three flyers slowly began to descend through a thick layer of marine fog as they approached the island, and Ambrose found himself feeling a sudden sense of nervousness and dread. He could do this, he told himself as they finally bumped over air currents and landed in a tree. No one else could. With that in mind, he bolstered up some determination and hopped down to the ground, changing back into his normal form and for once remembering to cast the footprint spell, belatedly wondering if Viviane could sense spells cast in her area. Well, it couldn't be helped, he realized, because he was quite sure that if he were going to be able to do anything at all, he would have to use magic to do it.

Ambrose heard Halcyon's shrill call and pulled the cloak around him, following behind as best he could through thick brambles, more than a little glad it was the dead of winter, knowing it would have been harder to traverse in the spring. Of course, it also didn't offer as much cover, he realized as he stepped out onto the cliff and found himself looking at the icy lake. It was very, very still, and Ambrose began to get the feeling that perhaps Viviane wasn't home at all. Ambrose turned and looked around the edge of the cliff, quite certain that the tree would be somewhere in view of the lake so that she could keep an eye on it. It wasn't long, however, before Ambrose's eyes feel upon a giant oak tree with a gnarled, knotted trunk that reminded Ambrose so much of Merlin's flowing beard that even had Halcyon not landed on the tree to confirm it, he would not have had any doubts that it was the right one.

As he crept over, there was a strange sound in the breeze that made Ambrose pause and listen to, for although it was simply a rustle, it almost sounded like breathing. In fact, the more he listened to it and watched the branches above as they moved ever so slightly up and down, he could have sworn that the tree was snoring.

"Father?" Ambrose said tentatively, looking nervously over his shoulder at the lake before walking to the other side of the tree. "Father, wake up! Can you hear me?" he asked, wondering how silly that sounded. "I suppose you can't, can you? You don't have ears! But you don't have a nose either, but you were snoring!"

I beg your pardon young man, but trees do not snore.

The sound rather startled him, for it was no more than the wind rustling past the branches, and yet he heard it quite plainly.

"How are you doing that?" Ambrose wondered. "How is it that I can understand the rustle sounds?"

I don't know, I suppose it's a subconscious thing. I must be doing it in my sleep.

"You're asleep?" Ambrose asked in confusion.

Yes, asleep. So why don't you come back in the spring?

"In the spring?" Ambrose repeated again. "I think I understand now! You're not asleep so much as the tree itself is asleep, because it is winter! I need to find a way to get you out of here!"

I'm afraid it just isn't possible, since I got myself into this position in the first place… making a deal to spare you, if I remember correctly…

"Well, you saved me, so I'm here to save you," Ambrose said firmly. "I don't suppose I can dig you out?" Ambrose wondered, and then felt something in his cloak pocket. Mystified, he pulled out his hand and took out a small shovel.

As much as your intentions are in the right place, I'm sure, that will accomplish nothing but perhaps killing this fine tree and perhaps even me in the process. Besides, it wouldn't have worked anyhow, only my physical form has been trapped within the tree, Ambrose, my soul is elsewhere, for both cannot exist within the tree at the same time… oh dear, I suppose it would be too complicated to explain the reasons for it to a boy as young as yourself, but that is the way it is.

"You weren't transformed into the tree?" Ambrose said.

No, the tree was already here. I am simply trapped within it.

"I think I understand," Ambrose said, gazing up at the tree. "You're being held in two different cages… one physical and on this plane, while the other is ethereal on another plane. That way, not only does it make it more difficult to break out of, but more than likely if one side does break out of one cage, Viviane will be alerted and can try to stop you before you break out of the other."

Hm. I suppose you are my son, after all.

"Yes, Father," Ambrose said with a grin. "So what we really need to do is get all of you into one cage first before trying to break you out."

And just how do you propose to do that?

"Transfiguration, of course! I'll just change the tree into something that can handle both a physical form and a spiritual form at the same time! Transfiguration is one of my best subjects after all. Of course, I've only transfigured dead wood to animals before now, not ever a whole tree…"

Oh, you need to be very careful, Ambrose. Whatever it is must be capable of sustaining two souls, mine and the tree's, for although plants and trees work on a very different level than we do, they do have a spiritual and magical energy of their own, and it must be preserved as well if we're to survive such a thing. Besides, I've grown rather fond of this tree, even if it does have a bit of a problem with some sort of beetle or something gnawing on its roots.

"Don't worry, I'll think of something. If only I had my Transfiguration book with me…" he paused, and then felt something in his pocket again. In surprise, he reached down and pulled out a heavy tome. "This isn't mine, it must be whoever owns this cloak! 'Advanced Transfiguration for Useful Purposes.' This is the seventh year book, I think," Ambrose frowned, thumbing through it. "But this one has a ton of notes in the margins and lots of highlighting, as if… wait a second…" Ambrose said suspiciously, pulling his hand back in and pulling out a little black book that had ten times the pages within it that it should have had for a book that size. "I know whose cloak this is now. Rather handy, though! I think I want one of these Chest Cloaks for my birthday!"

Did you find something useful?

"Yes, I think I found a transfiguration spell that can help only… well, I haven't done anything this complicated before… or this big," he added, careening his neck up to look at the tree. "It… well, it might be a bit risky."

No one ever got anywhere in life by not taking risks, dear boy. Bring it on… at the very least if you fail it might shake the tree up enough that it wakes from its hibernation so I can be of better assistance.

"All right," Ambrose said with a sigh, sitting on one of the low branches as he perused the book and studied the spell carefully, murmuring the words in his head before he glanced at the two wands at his side, opting for his own as he stood back up. "I think I'm ready."

The tree may sleep but the rest of me is awake and ready.

Ambrose nodded, murmuring a complex chant he had learn to focus in on the subject he was going to transform, a misty purple haze swirling out of the wand and slowly climbing the trunk of the tree. It took much longer that he would have liked to actually encompass it… he wasn't sure if it was just his perception or if it truly was so incredibly slow to envelop it.

But as it was finally beginning to branch out over the top of the tree, he unexpectedly lost his breath and was unable to continue his chant. He whirled around on his heels, unsurprised to see Viviane standing there.

"And just what do you think you're doing? Shouldn't you be in school?" Viviane said.

"I'm rescuing my father!" Ambrose said defiantly.

"And just how did you manage to get all the way out here on your own? No, don't tell me, Jennifer is the answer to that little riddle, isn't it? My, my, helping a student off property and halfway across the country, that won't sit well with the board, will it?"

"She had nothing to do with it! I came here on my own!" Ambrose said.

"Quite unlikely," Viviane tsked. "Don't you know better than to try to fool me? Oh, considering who your parents are, I suppose you don't. Well, you can't stay here, so I had better take you home."

Leave him be, Viviane.

"I am simply honoring my agreement and making certain he gets safely home, and then I plan to make Severus understand that I do not approve of catching one of his students trespassing on my home when they should be studying. Come, Ambrose, your hand," she said firmly, gracefully offering hers to take it.

"I'm not leaving without my father," Ambrose said, shaking his head and backing away.

"Don't be foolish, Ambrose. I assure you it is better for everyone involved if you simply return quietly," Viviane said, sounding much more impatient.

"If you try to get me to leave, it won't be quietly!" Ambrose warned.

"Then I'll simply put you to sleep like I did the first time," Viviane said with exasperation, reaching in her pocket for what looked to be a handful of sand. Realizing he had no time left, Ambrose whipped out his wand, pointing at the tree and hoping beyond hope that enough of the mist had covered the tree to transform it completely.

"Custodius Maximus!" Ambrose shouted, pointing it at the tree and throwing everything he had into the spell as he swept his entire arm into motion as if winding up a baseball and then thrusting it full force at the tree.

A bright light issued out and hit the mist surrounding the tree, and from the exertion he felt when the spell left, he thought for a moment that it had worked. But all the sudden, it appeared as if the light from the spell was eating at the mist binding the transfiguration in place and began to fade from the trunk on up, moving much faster up the tree than had the original spell.

"I don't know exactly what were trying to accomplish, but whatever it was obviously didn't work," Viviane said, sighing and turning back away from the tree and moving towards him. "There, you've had your little rescue attempt, you must come home now."

"You get away from me! I'm not leaving without him! Leave me alone!" Ambrose shouted. As she blew the dust at him, Ambrose managed to pull out an Alchemist Cloth out of his pocket and cover his mouth and nose, diving and rolling out of the way to get out of the cloud of glittering dust as it fell.

"Oh, stop acting like a brat! I really don't want to force you to come with me, but you're going to leave me with no choice," Viviane frowned.

"I dare you to try!" Ambrose said back.

"VIVIANE! YOU LEAVE THAT BOY ALONE!" a booming voice roared out behind them, so loud that it left Ambrose's ears ringing and it took him a moment to realize what the voice had said.

Viviane swiftly turned around, staring wide-eyed at where the oak tree once stood, for in its place was the tallest two-headed giant she had even seen, one head with a gnarled wizened face – apparently still asleep – while the one with the long shaggy beard was most decidedly awake, and most decidedly furious.

"Wow! It worked after all!" Ambrose said with sheer delight. Viviane, however, did not look quite so delighted. She made a dive for the boy, grabbing his arm and pulling him back to his feet.

"You are willing to break out agreement? Think carefully now, Merlin!" Viviane warned him.

"I have broken nothing! I am still in this tree!" Merlin said firmly. "But you are in danger of breaking your agreement at this moment! You may as well let him go before I lose my temper! If you continue to interfere with this rescue, you will have interfered with his business, and I will just get out of this cage all the faster!"

"What?" Viviane said in surprise, her expression changing to fury. "She is behind this! She made it so you would get out either way! She tricked me! Why that manipulative bitch!"

"It takes one to know one!" Merlin retorted, pushing Ambrose back with his cupped hand to get him out of the line of fire. "And although I don't know who 'she' refers to or what 'she' has to do with my son's valor, but if someone did send Ambrose after me, you weren't tricked. You were outwitted!"

"I may have been thwarted temporarily, but not for long!" Viviane growled. "I will have my revenge for her interference, and nothing you or that foolish apprentice of yours will be able to stop it!"

Viviane raised her hands then, a cold blast of snow hitting them from all sides as she called up a winter blast, hoping that the shock of the freezing blizzard would force the tree deeper into its slumber and pull Merlin back with it. Below him, Ambrose wailed at the biting sensation of the cold that hit him, hanging on to the giant's leg to steady himself. He raised his wand carefully, shouting into the wind as he made the symbol for the ice ward with the tip of it, a flash temporarily enveloping him and protecting him from the spell.

"Ambrose! You had better head home and let me handle this," Merlin said, and would have pulled up his sleeves if he had had them.

"I'm not leaving without you!" Ambrose said firmly. "If she can't do anything to me without breaking the agreement, then she can't send me home, either!" Viviane growled ferociously.

"Fine! Fine! Have it your way! Just get off my land and get that child out of my sight!" Viviane snapped. "I have more important things to do than fight a battle I cannot win!"

Ambrose turned around as the giant suddenly became strangely blurry, and Ambrose then realized that instead of a two-headed giant there were two giants standing there taking up the same space. But then the bearded giant slowly knelt down, while other began to stand up straighter, growing more and more gnarled by the second until finally the kneeling figure stepped away from it and became Merlin once more.

"Father!" Ambrose said with relief, and then pushed the stick in his belt at him. "I brought your wand!"

"So you did, thank you," Merlin said, taking the wand. "Now that that has been settled, do you mind telling me just who it was that you think outwitted you?"

"You know perfectly well who it was! And know this, Merlin, your protection will not be enough to save her this time, any more than your feigned ignorance! Now leave, before I truly lose my temper!" Viviane growled.

"Yes, perhaps I should. Come along, Ambrose," Merlin said, reaching for his hand.

"I have a key to the school if it would help, Father," Ambrose offered brightly.

"No, I think it'd be better if we saw your mother first," Merlin decided. "Where do you suppose she'd be right now?"

"Hogsmeade, of course, it was Lucky's birthday today," Ambrose said.

"Oh, really? That's very interesting. Come along then," Merlin said and tapped his wand. A moment later, two shooting stars raced across the sky, fading just outside of Hogsmeade. But Viviane stood there in their absence, still steaming and still scheming. But as she looked down in the snow and saw something lying there, her next move became quite clear to her.