A/N Have a bonus chapter! Please review if you get a chance. Thanks!

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Making a Time Conscious Decision

Not long after Jennifer and Quintin left with their trunks, Severus went down to Jennifer's office. He frowned at the state of the shelves and wondered how bad the Potion Vault was, but couldn't bring himself to look.

"Oh, well, at least they're both out of my castle for a while," he murmured out loud, then noticed someone dusting. "Is there a Trade Elf present?"

"It is I myself, Headelf Francie," Francie said, then appeared. Not a spec of dust seemed to get on her Headelf uniform; she was quite proud of it. "Are you planning to use the lab, Professor?"

"Thank goodness it's you. Are you planning to stay for the holiday?"

"I thought you might need some assistance, Professor, since Maisy went home for the holidays, so I thought I might stay and look after things until you go home. I will visit my mother then," Francie explained.

"I could use some help getting this lab in order. I need to put some finishing touches on that antidote potion for those idiots addicted to the fake Life Elixir to make sure it's a permanent cure, and I really don't have the whole day available to organize this disaster," Severus said.

"Of course, Professor. Why don't you have an early lunch and some coffee and I'll have the shelves sorted before you're done? The Potion Vault may take longer," Francie admitted.

"Yes, that's what I was afraid of. I'm glad I didn't look in there, then. Jennifer is disorganized on her own but she and Ivano combined make quite the disaster."

"It reminds me of the lab at home when she was trying to discover the secrets of Coca-cola, Professor," Francie commented, fading away as she began to clean.

"You're right, it does resemble that," Severus said, pouring himself a cup of coffee before walking over to the desk. He had just gotten settled when there was a knock at the door.

"It is Professor Andrew, sir," Francie informed him. Severus waved the door open and Andrew peered in.

"Hermione said you wanted to see me before I left. What are you doing in here?" Andrew asked curiously.

"I needed to use the lab. Did your mother tell you that Yule will be held at your grandfather's house this year?" Severus asked.

"Yes, although I can't remember ever going to grandfather's for Yule before. Exactly why are you staying here this year?" Andrew asked.

"It is less about needing to be here now and more about making certain that I am off for Christmas. You are aware that I promised to look after Laura for Remus, are you not?" Severus.

"Yes, although I really don't understand why you pulled so many other members of the family on high alert over her getting sacked, especially since we all know it was long overdue."

"The fact that you don't understand is exactly why we decided not to get you involved," Severus said curtly. "However, there is a family matter now that I do need you to get involved in. Your mother put a brave face on leaving this morning, but I know perfectly well she is less than happy about my having to stay at the castle for Yule this year. Having it at the Craw Mansion may be a good idea in principle, but I wonder if it will bring up some unpleasant memories for her."

"You're right, it might. Mother does tend to dwell on unhappier times when someone is missing from a family event, especially when it was traumatic, like the year of your estrangement," Andrew said, thinking back on that Yule Ball with a frown.

"Yes, I believe you understand this particular situation perfectly well, which is why I want you to be the one to keep an eye on your mother until I get home," Severus said.

"Of course, Father, I'll do what I can. And if I can't, I'm sure I can enlist Quintin and some of my nieces and nephews to help keep her busy," Andrew decided.

"I'll leave it to you, then," Severus agreed.

"Have a good Yule. I'll see you when you get home," Andrew waved, stepping back out of the office.

"Just how is it that he understands one and not the other?" Severus murmured to himself, finishing his meal and turning to his work.

The next day, Severus awoke to a castle that seemed calm, empty and still; with only the sound of a gentle, cold rain greeting his ears.

Suddenly, Severus leapt out of bed and quickly put himself together, flipping through his journal until he could find the note he was looking for before stepping down to the empty library and through to the staff research library. He paused to study the room, then saw a large tome on the table filled with astronomical charts. One of the pages turned.

"Is that you, Ick?" Severus asked.

"Well, of course, it is. Who else would it be?" came Icarus' voice. "Even if I wasn't a ghost practically everyone else has left the castle."

"True enough," Severus acknowledged.

"I decided to get a jump start on my next semester's class since I really had nothing better to do just now," he said, slowly fading into the chair. "Were you looking for me?"

"I was, actually. I wanted you to know that those notes of Nicholas Flamel's that you were concerned about have been found," Severus said.

"Oh! They have? Thank goodness!"

"Yes, you were right to be concerned about them, and you were right that it wasn't Amadeus who had them," Severus said. "They're safe now."

"So you have them?" Icarus said.

"No, I gave them to Boulderdash to take home so that Gemshard can find a way to preserve them, as well as to charm them so that no one without my direct permission can use them," Severus explained. "Why do you ask? Do you need them for something?"

"Not at the moment, but I may in the future," Icarus said vaguely.

"Very well, we'll discuss it when the time comes," Severus said with a nod.

Severus left, walking quickly to the back staircase. With a step he was back in his office, and he strode over to his desk and pulled out the Maurauder's Map, wasting no time in opening it and searching for Icarus' name. Where was it? Was he not even in the building any longer?

Acting on a hunch, Severus went up to the telescope, making sure it was on day mode before he began scanning the grounds, and finally found Icarus on the back grounds. As he expected, Icarus was still partially materialized, floating to the Greenhouse and then around it. Severus frowned, unable to see around the corner. He then checked the map, but the map mainly covered the castle proper and didn't cover the full grounds. Severus suspected that he was reporting to someone; but who it was remained a mystery. Before Severus could think of going down there, Icarus appeared again as he walked through the greenhouse door. Perhaps he was just taking a walk through the garden? No, Severus decided. He would not have remained materialized unless he wanted someone to see him. In fact, even as he was watching Icarus walk towards the castle, the ghost faded from view. Whoever he was speaking to had gotten Icarus off track, and intentionally so... to help Severus discover what was going on. But who was it? It rather sounded like something Merlin would do, but Merlin was in the Otherworld, and was not expected back until spring. His aunt was unlikely to help in such a way, but who did that leave? Who else was capable of doing something like that?

As Severus was pondering the problem, he noticed that the Elf Willow hadn't reacted at all; it was still in its partially awake slumber, despite the fact that it should have attacked anyone approaching that wall. Could it be possible that he himself was doing it, Severus began to wonder, at some unknown time in the future? A likely possibility, Severus decided. But if he was doing it himself, there was yet no indication of when he was supposed to go back and set this current string of time paradoxes in motion.

Severus reversed the telescope dial to get the exact time that Icarus went behind the Greenhouse and how long before he appeared. He hurried down to his journal and noted the times and then frowned. He needed a more dedicated time log, he realized.

"Armando, is anyone still left in the castle capable of watching security here while I run a quick errand?"

"Sagittari is still in the Hospital Wing doing inventory on medical supplies," Armando offered.

"Good. Let him know I'm out of the castle and will be right back. I need to run to Hogsmeade," Severus told the painting. He strode out the door, skipping stairs to the basement and through the long tunnel leading to the Alchemist Shop and then out to go to Toby's Trinkets.

Several holiday shoppers were inside when Severus arrived, and he feigned browsing while they found their purchases and had their gifts wrapped, intentionally waiting for a lull to step up to the counter.

"Good afternoon, Uncle Severus. I take it you're looking for something specific?" Ambrose asked.

"Yes, one of those journals... and the key to go with it, if you don't mind," Severus said.

"That's two items," Ambrose pointed out. Severus frowned at that.

"You're right. Perhaps that won't work after all," Severus mused.

"If you're worried about someone getting the key that shouldn't have it, you don't need to," Ambrose said. "That box doesn't even appear except on very rare occasions, and only to those who might need to open it in an emergency. Never to anyone else."

"Really? I saw one when I came in, I thought..."

"Well, since you don't own one of those journals, I bet it's for someone else's box," Ambrose guessed. "You're probably the person that might need to open it in an emergency." Severus frowned and walked over to it, noticing it was the typical, "In case of emergency, break glass" instructions written on the top piece of opaque glass.

"I have no idea whose journal this goes to," Severus admitted flatly.

"Oh. Well, then it's probably going to gather dust until you do," Ambrose shrugged.

Severus set it down and saw one of the journals appear; black with gold scroll-work.

"I'm not sure I should get this without the key, considering what I want to use it for," Severus murmured.

"Yes, I can see the disadvantage to knowing that a key exists," Ambrose agreed. "Why would anyone want to write in the journal, then? Most people who buy the journals don't know about them... and nobody buys the emergency box if they don't know what they're for..."

"Then just how do they end up getting to the right person who needs it?" Severus asked.

"From what I've seen, Dad finds ways to trick them into taking it," Ambrose admitted.

"Yes, that does sound like him," Severus said. "And part of why I don't necessarily trust him with the key."

"Maybe I can help. Maybe I can be the one to get it to the right person instead," Ambrose suggested. Severus gazed at him thoughtfully. "What did you want the journal for?"

"I want to create a time log," Severus explained. "A chronology to help keep track of all of the time inconsistencies caused by my own actions manipulating time, as well as any strange out-of-order events that I observe. I am very much concerned with how many of those I have been noticing in the last few years, and I do not want to blow holes in the universe by creating an unintentional Time Paradox."

"I'd say that's pretty important. And pretty important to keep safe," Ambrose agreed. "And these boxes definitely won't let anyone get the key unless it's an emergency. But Uncle Severus, what if there was some sort of emergency? What if there was some sort of Time Paradox so dangerous that the only way it can be stopped is to look at your logs to find out what happened? What if something happened to you in the middle of the crisis? I'd say the question isn't whether or not this thing is secure enough. The question is, do you really want your research inaccessible if the worst possible outcome actually happens?"

"Yes, you are right. It would appear this is another one of those leap of faith moments that crop up in my life from time to time," Severus admitted, putting the journal on the counter and pulling out some coins. Ambrose smiled and nodded.

"Yes, it is. But now that I know what it's going to be for, maybe I can steer the key in the right direction before my Dad gets back," Ambrose said. "I'll make sure that other key gets to you somehow, too," he added.

"Thank you, Ambrose. I would be grateful if you can, but also not surprised if you can't. I would also be surprised if the old man himself doesn't have the key for this one, actually," Severus decided, glancing at the journal before pocketing it. He strode out of the shop, ignoring several potential customers who were mulling about on the other side of the brick wall.

But before Ambrose could fix the sign to let people back in, the brown-cloaked figure dashed in from around the corner and into the store, searching the table frantically before grabbing a black box with gold trim and an opaque etched glass top.

"I knew it. I just knew you'd be after that," Ambrose said flatly. "I'm not sure you should trade for that..."

"I'm not trading for it. I'm buying it," said the Deuce firmly. Ambrose beat him to the box, putting his hand over the coin slight.

"What makes you think you're the one that needs it?" Ambrose challenged him.

"Look, Ambrose. Only four people can possibly get this box," the Deuce said. "Me, you, Jennifer, or Merlin. If there is an emergency, only two of us are capable of fixing whatever went wrong. So between your father or me, which one of us is the most likely to be willing to do that?" he challenged Ambrose.

Ambrose met the fierce gaze of the other man searchingly.

"Fine, but only on the condition that from this point forward, you tell me everything you are doing... and I do mean everything," Ambrose demanded. The Deuce shook his head.

"Your Father would never approve of that..."

"Then we don't tell Father," Ambrose shrugged. "This pact is only between me and you. Either make it, or you walk away without that key."

"Deal," the Deuce said. Ambrose moved his hand, and the Deuce immediately paid for it, grabbing the box and dashing out as quick as he came. Ambrose sighed, walking out to retrieve the emergency box that had reappeared the moment the brown-cloaked figure left.

"At least I know what I'm getting Uncle Severus for Christmas now," he said to himself, putting some money in and then wrapping it before finally changing the sign.