Chapter Twenty-Five

A Second Place

Jennifer was always quite happy when Sunday evening rolled around, especially when Severus was able to come home for dinner.

Quintin was finally settling into his new routine. Spending time with his cousins at the Pyther's had come with a pleasant surprise for his parents because of the sheer fact that his cousins had very little routine at all. Oh, Francis made certain they stuck to a bedtime and when to get up in the morning, but what they did in between was quite chaotic and random. They ate when they were hungry and took naps when they were tired (if they took one at all), they played whenever they liked and read whenever they liked, and if they needed anything they asked their father, who generally saw to it that they got whatever they required. The only rule, it seemed, was not to bother their mother when she was working. Outside of the studio, even she was fair game to be included in their quest for fun, although a bit less likely than their father to participate in some of their more rambunctious activities.

At first Quintin had done his best to keep to the same schedule he had at home, but it wasn't long before he had given up. Eating on a schedule often meant he was left out when they were doing other things, not to mention missing when they went out with a basket lunch during his normal reading time. So, Quintin reluctantly gave in to their random schedule, but still made it a point to be the first one ready for bed at night and always got up five seconds before the clock struck six every morning.

Jennifer noticed that he seemed much more relaxed on the days he was home; thriving on a routine schedule without being as much of a slave to it as he had tended to be before these weekend trips. He also didn't seem to dwell on whether his father was early or late getting back on Sunday evenings and was glad to see his father regardless; dropping the interrogation he used to give to others when they deviated off their expected schedule. Those positive changes in him had gone a long way to soothe Jennifer's concerns about leaving him there on the weekends, and Severus could tell that Jennifer was feeling much more comfortable about the arrangement.

"Quintin, why don't you clear the table and go ahead and get ready for bed? I'll be in to help you with that clock model of yours in a little while," Severus suggested.

"Yes, Father!" Quintin said enthusiastically, gathering everything up and putting them on the cart.

"And don't leave towels about the bath this time, Quintin. Francie and Maisy have enough to do. You're old enough to learn to be tidy," Jennifer added.

"Yes, Mum," Quintin replied, finishing his chore before bounding into the next room.

"He's growing up so fast," Jennifer commented, chuckling softly at his enthusiasm. "I can't believe he'll be going to school next year." Severus blinked.

"You're not getting broody on me, are you?" Severus asked flatly.

"No, Severus, nothing like that, trust me," Jennifer said, chuckling at his expression. "I am certain that part of my life is over; I've quite lost all desire to go through all that again," she said fervently. Severus nodded in agreement. "Although I will leave a caveat open for any Hogwarts student that came to need a family in a dire emergency..."

"It would have to be quite dire," Severus warned her, "and only after exhausting every other possible option. However, I understand the necessity for that caveat being there, considering what we went through with Fortuna and Llewellyn. That said, I am quite glad that you have come to terms with us not having another. Quite glad," he reiterated, making her chuckle.

"I am very happy that we've been able to raise Quintin with us, Severus. And I'm just as happy that we did so without a curse hanging over us like when we raised the first four," Jennifer said, Severus nodding in response. "And I look forward to every day as he learns new things and as he grows... it's all quite exciting! But at the same time, rather guiltily I suppose, I find myself wishing for more time for my own projects instead of spending every holiday catering to theirs."

"You have little reason to feel guilty about that," Severus reassured her. "It's only natural to want some time for your own interests now. We're simply moving on to another stage in life, that is all. I suppose the Healer's Conference made you start thinking about it."

"Not thinking about it so much as it making me aware that I had already been thinking about it. I just hadn't been ready to acknowledge it just yet," Jennifer explained. "But I still a feel a bit guilty." Severus rolled his eyes.

"Then it's high time you taught yourself how to live your life for yourself instead of others. I only hope that you don't have to go to the extremes I did to learn that," Severus said.

"No thank you, I'm not putting our family through that sort of crisis again. Besides, right now we still have Quintin and Leu to look after. But I do think I will be much more ready for an empty nest when it is time to move on."

"Can I get that in writing?" Severus challenged her.

"If you like," Jennifer said, gazing at him over the rim of her spectacles. But Severus simply nodded in acceptance.

"You know, it's curious that we're talking about this now, considering one of the conversations I had this weekend with Mike and Laura," Severus said thoughtfully.

"Oh? Was this after that fun fugitive capture you were telling me about last night?" Jennifer asked curiously.

"Just after it, yes," Severus nodded, getting himself a cup of tea and pouring her one as well. "While we were having lunch, I was able to steer them onto the subject of taking some time off of work."

"That must have taken some doing, getting them on the subject," Jennifer teased.

"No, not really. They haven't been around me long enough to get tired of my recollections so they still listen when I bring them up," Severus said. Jennifer laughed softly at that. "I was speaking of Tir Na Nog at first, and Michael indicated that he wouldn't mind going to see Aepheri."

"Oh! Well, actually that does make perfect sense, after Toby gave him those chimes and all. I suppose he's been curious to see the real ones for a long time," Jennifer said. "And really, it's a very practical choice for him too, because I really think a pilgrimage up the hill would do him a great deal of good."

"Yes, I believe so as well," Severus agreed. "Would that I could afford the time, I wouldn't mind going back myself. I want to see how Bael and Dumbledore's school is coming first hand, and it would be nice to visit without a demon invasion going on or something else we have to intervene in." Jennifer chuckled.

"Yes, I see your point. What about Laura? Under the circumstances, I'm sure she has little desire to go back," Jennifer asked.

"She didn't offer up anything at all," Severus said, Jennifer watching him searchingly.

"Are you sure there's reason to worry?" Jennifer asked.

"It wasn't as if she had somewhere in mind and simply didn't want to talk about it. She had no idea... as if she didn't even think of a better place she could be at other than at work seeing to her obligations. Tell me, Jennifer, if you needed to take some time off to sort things out away from the family, where would you go?"

"That's no wonder, Severus. I'd go to Kingler's and Company," Jennifer said. "I always have when I needed a break for one reason or another."

"Yes, so you have," Severus murmured thoughtfully. "But what about a time before that?"

"The Broom Closet, I suppose..."

"No, no... let's put yourself more in Laura's position," Severus explained. "Let's say the year before you met me... back when you were at Beauxbatons as a first year instructor."

"I was living with my mother then, Severus, I was hardly on my own," Jennifer reminded him. "And I was much too busy just finding my place in the world to even think of taking a break from it."

"Yes, I suppose it is hard to find somewhere else to go when one doesn't know one's own place to begin with," Severus acknowledged thoughtfully.

"All the same, you might ask some of the other staff on the subject. You're likely to get an interesting range of opinions. Perhaps even some new ideas," Jennifer suggested. "Most of them are wondering what you're up to, you know, and why you're so involved in the Auror department right now."

"Oh? None of them have been coming to me about it," Severus replied.

"No, they've been coming to Hermione and me," Jennifer explained. "Hermione has been telling them that you're looking after the school's best interests and then dropping the subject. I've been telling them that you're helping with investigations."

"Well, both are true, and it's also true that I don't necessarily want every staff member to know my true intentions. In fact, Ravenclaw has cornered me on some faculty members who he'd prefer I keep out of it, actually, although his reasons were sound. Such as Andrew, who has already an adverse opinion about Laura's behavior so is unlikely to be unbiased... not to mention he still has some personal obstacles to overcome."

"Yes, I agree to both of those points, although he has come a very long way since they've gotten back, Severus. His sabbatical did him a lot of good," Jennifer said.

"Yes, where did he go again? Somewhere in the States, wasn't it?" Severus inquired.

"He did a bit of touring of some historical wizard sites, and then he spent the rest of it in the Northwest U.S., I think he said. He spent most of it in the mountains in his squirrel form. He said it was relaxing," Jennifer said with an amused smile.

"I'm sure it was relaxing, but I don't see how would help progress his understanding of how he's changed since Tir Na Nog," Severus said critically, then shrugged it off. "Still, his teaching has improved, and I am sure just being alone by himself did help his mental state regardless of the methods. But I think Ravenclaw is probably right in keeping his part to a minimum, even when it comes time to pull in the family safety net."

"You sound like you're convinced that it's a matter of when rather than if, Severus," Jennifer said solemnly.

"I still have a great deal to learn about this situation. It has only been a few weekends since we started this after all," Severus reminded her. "But from what I've seen so far, I believe there will come a time when she will need some intervention. Things are stable at the moment, however."

"Well, what about that business with Rummert's name coming up? Have you found out any more about that?" Jennifer asked.

"No, but then I wasn't expecting it just yet. Still, I have a feeling we'll be learning about that soon enough."

It was Francie who saw to Severus' breakfast the next morning, and after dropping Quintin off, Severus had a meeting with Hermione to go over any last-minute changes to the guest list and arrangements for the Spectral Ball. By the time he got back to the study, it was lunchtime and a tray was already on his desk.

"Maisy, are you still around?" Severus asked.

"Yes, Professor. I was waiting to speak with you," said Maisy, appearing on one of the chairs.

"Have you heard something, then?" Severus asked, sitting down.

"A bit, Professor, but not exactly about what you were looking for just yet. My son says that Dandy didn't notice anything in writing about Rummert at all, but that Mr. Jeffers has been spending a lot of his free time visiting his father. It would seem that his father is abroad at the moment. Jeffers is telling everyone who inquires that his father is spending time out of the country for health reasons... to 'get out of the damp air'," she explained.

"Let me guess... he went to Nevada," Severus said.

"Arizona, Professor," she corrected.

"Easily within Apparation distance," Severus said, deciding to walk around. "So that would indicate that his father is definitely involved with whatever is going on with the missing wizards... but what about Arnold? He simply could be trying to look after his father... is there any indication at all whether or not Arnold is personally involved in anything?"

"I don't know, Professor. Dandy informed us that the counselor seemed rather agitated before and after the meetings but always gets straight back to work and doesn't talk about it," Maisy explained.

"Yes, but that is also not truly indicative of how much he does or doesn't know about the situation. It could be that he's personally involved and is acting as a go-between for his father. But it is also likely that he is simply attempting to figure out what his father is up to out of concern to why he's down there."

"It would be aiding and abetting in either case, Professor," Maisy pointing out.

"That is assuming that his father has done anything wrong. All we know is that he has decided to suddenly move to a warmer climate. Perhaps he's simply attempting to take some time away from the madness here," Severus said. "It's true his father may have some clue as to who killed Abraxas and may even know where Donald is, but right now we have no proof of anything. Armando, is Arnold Jeffers on Hermione's guest list for the Spectral Ball?"

"Yes, Professor, he's on the master list," Armando said. "But he doesn't often come, you know. The Collection Society typically have a fancy dress ball on Halloween."

"They do, don't they?" Severus said thoughtfully. "Is Anna in her classroom or at the farm today?"

"Her classroom, Headmaster," Armando confirmed.

"Then I'll think I'll go down and have a chat," Severus said.

"But what about your lunch, Professor?" Maisy protested. Severus lifted the lid and snagged half a sandwich.

"Thank you, Maisy," Severus said, taking it with him as he walked out.

"Perhaps you should send the rest to Anna's office," Armando suggested. "It might give her a warning that her brother is heading down to see her."

"Good idea," Maisy agreed, and disappeared with the lunch tray.