Chapter Seven

Double, Double

Asher woke up early as he always did, slicked back his golden hair and put on his glasses, taking extra pains to make himself look presentable before he grabbed his pumpkin Tome computer and went down to meet the early morning crowd in the Commissary. Gretchen and Lavender were already there, sitting in their normal spot at a small table near the coffee machine instead of over in the corner. Asher stopped on his way by.

"Good morning. I take it Ms. Craw isn't up yet," Asher inquired.

"No, she went home last night, actually," Lavender said.

"What? Really?" Asher asked in surprise.

"Her daughter-in-law went into labor," Lav said. "Apparently she makes it a point to help out for a couple of days after every family birth. She made arrangements with Dean Elk beforehand to take off when her son and her father's babies are born."

"Her father is expecting?" Asher said with surprise.

"Well, not personally, his wife is," Lavender smirked.

"Just how old is he, anyway?" Asher asked.

"Well, I guess his wife is younger than Jennifer, and half Veela on top of it. But from what Jennifer told us, they're more than up to the task of having more kids," Lav said.

"He's also the Minister of Law Enforcement," Gretchen said for good measure.

"Which is what?" Asher asked.

"Well, I guess the equivalent here is being head of the WIAB," Gretchen explained.

"Oh," Asher replied flatly.

"Yep, so if you're smart, you'll leave Jennifer alone. Besides, she's married, too," Gretchen said.

"Yes, I know. I was simply asking because I wanted to talk to her about her Lycanthropy research, considering Magic Pharmacology is my specialty. So don't get the wrong idea. It was just an educational inquiry," Asher explained.

"Sure it was," Lav said, turning back to her breakfast.

Asher took his preferred seat on the other side of the room. It was in a corner against the wall and the window, but away from the glare of the morning sun so that he could work on his computer. In fact, he sat there long after Gretchen and Lavender left, and long after his coffee got cold, preparing all of his homework and tests for the first quarter. Once that was done and sent to Brenda, he also sent Frank a text before closing the computer and going across the street to Quickbrooms for an early lunch.

A few minutes later, Frank showed up with a Silverbook in one hand and a few old yearbooks in the other.

"I had to do some old fashioned research in the student library this morning," Frank said, putting down his stack of books. "Brenda mentioned that Jennifer graduated from here, so I got some yearbooks from when she was in school."

"I've been researching her father myself, and I'm running into all sorts of weird," Asher admitted.

"Hold that thought... let me go order," Frank said and hurried to the counter. Then he noticed a wizard with dark, shoulder-length hair. He also had a goatee and mustache that did nothing to cover up the scar on the his cheek. "Hey, Raymond. Come sit with us," Frank offered.

"No, thank you. The last time I sat with the two of you, you spent the whole time talking about your latest conquest," Raymond said, turning back around.
"Actually, we're working on a new project," Frank explained. Raymond rolled his eyes and pretended to ignore him, stepping up to order before taking his number and pointedly finding a table with a single chair across the room. Shrugging it off, Frank ordered and returned to Asher's table, putting his plastic number on it.

"Ray's back," Frank informed him.

"Good, bring him over," Asher said.

"He said he didn't want to sit with us," Frank replied.

"Well, tell him I am researching Thomas Craw. Considering he killed a bunch of Brit Expats on American soil and got away with it, I'm betting he's probably heard about him," Asher said.

Blinking at that, Frank brought him over. Asher gathered his empty plates on his tray and made room for him, the three of them readjusting the table just as the rest of the food arrived. Frank ate his chicken fries and waffled potatoes as quickly as he could, eager to get back to the yearbooks. Helpfully, he took Asher's tray and stacked it underneath his when all he had left was coffee.

"Alright, now that we're finally settled, do you mind telling me exactly why you're researching Thomas Craw?" Ray asked.

"His daughter's teaching Items at Whitebridge this year," Frank explained, using a wet wipe on his hands. Then he dried them with a napkin before setting their trays on a nearby table to get them out of the way.

"Here at Whitebridge?" Ray said, baffled. "That's strange. Why would she be here?"

"Well, from what I heard from Brenda when I turned in my agenda earlier, she's an alumnus of the school, and Wind invited her here personally," Frank said, setting aside the book he had just skimmed through and grabbed another. "I'm looking through these old yearbooks to see if I can find her."

"That makes even less sense," Ray said with a sigh, taking a sip of his iced tea. "See, the Craw family are Dark Wizards, going back centuries. In fact, back when I was an Auror, I heard more than one person say that they know a lot of old Dark spells that fell off the books a long time ago. One of the worst ones is called Shrieking Death, which was designed to wipe out entire towns of people at once. The man who invented the spell was a Craw with Banshee blood in him, and he was responsible for obliteration a couple of towns and killing all the children in a third one."

"Really? Just how do you know so much about it?" Frank asked curiously.

"Well, about ten years ago, there was a nasty portal breach in Germany that let in a whole bunch of demons. There was a rumor going around the department that it had something to do with an heirloom item that once belonged to the guy that created the spell. Apparently the demons were there because one of the Craws was playing around with the item or something. Oh, they're considered respectable now, because Thomas Craw was one of Voldemort's men and turned on him and killed a whole bunch of Death Eaters both here and over in England. He served some time in prison for it and eventually earned a pardon," Ray explained. "But the Craw family's inclination towards Dark Magic runs very deep. That is why it makes no sense to me how the daughter of such a man could have ended up in a Light Magic school that specializes in the healing arts."

"Maybe she's the white sheep of the family," Frank suggested.

"Oh no, don't say that! I'd like to keep thinking of her as a Dark Witch with dastardly secrets in her past," Asher decided with a distant expression on his face as he sipped his coffee. Ray rolled his eyes.

"There's nothing romantic about Dark Magic," Ray scolded him.

"To each their own," Asher said.

"I suppose, until someone kills you in your sleep for having such a foolish notion," Ray retorted.

"As long as she takes advantage of me first, I'm perfectly fine with that," Asher decided. Frank snickered at that.

"If you both don't grow up, I'm going back to my nice quiet table," Ray said with disgust.

"Aren't you a bit concerned that Ms. Craw of the Craw family might very well be a Dark Witch? In our very school? Under your very nose, Mr. Defense against the Dark Arts?" Asher challenged him. "She might charm all of her students. She might even teach them how to make some of the cursed items she's created over the years and that no one knows how to dispel but her. Or is that so hard to believe?"

Raymond frowned at that.

"Here, I finally found her, Asher," Frank said.

He flipped the yearbook around so that the other two could see the picture of an awkward eleven-year-old with a thin frown and eyes that betrayed the fact that she would rather be doing anything else other than having her picture taken. She was thin, pale, and slightly freckled, with piercing green eyes and coppery auburn hair.

"Hard to believe that squirrelly little thing turned out to be so damn hot," Asher ventured.

"Would you please refrain yourselves? I don't care what she looks like. I do care to know whether she's a danger to this school or not," Ray said. Frank flipped through the yearbook with interest.

"Oh, look! Here's another picture of her, standing with Wind Elk and Rosemary Carmody... she's actually smiling in this one," Frank pointed out. "It helps her appearance a bit."

The other two looked over to see the three of them standing in front of the hedges near the Items room. Jennifer was busy attempting to hold a muddy-pawed white rabbit who seemed to be in a hurry to get back into the garden.

"It helps a bit, I suppose, but there's still something strange about that gaze of hers, isn't there? It's like there's a cloud hanging over her," Asher mused.

"I think you're seeing things that you want to see," Ray said, giving up and moving his tray. "I believe I'll do a bit of digging on my own, and with the unbiased eye of a trained professional who knows how to leave his emotions out of a personal inquiry."

The two of them watched him leave. Frank shook his head.

"I like him a lot better when he's drunk. He's still just too damn Auror when he's sober," Frank commented. "We should try to get him hooked up with someone. Maybe he'll loosen up," Frank suggested.

"The idea has merit," Asher agreed.

"I know, I'll upload his information on a wizard dating site and see what comes up," Frank decided. "I wonder what type he likes?"

"Considering that he was an Auror before becoming a teacher, my guess is he likes a dark rose just as much as I do," Asher decided with thin smile and a spark in his eyes. "I have fifty bucks that says he ends up falling for her too."

"You're on," Frank decided.

Jennifer couldn't help but beam happily as she held little Brigid Audacious, while next to her, Severus was busy holding a very content Branwen Alastor, the two girls quite sleepy after their busy day. Doctor Cottonwood came out of the back, smiling at them and the twins.

"How is Ginger?" Jennifer asked him.

"She'll be all right, but she's going to need some extra rest," Brad Cottonwood said. "I hear you're planning to stay on a couple of days?"

"Yes," Jennifer agreed.

"She should stay in bed except for the minimum needed to take care of herself and her babes until her strength his back. My wife is going to stay here tonight and help, as well as make certain the babies are feeding properly. As long as she's happy with their progress, I'll check back in a couple of days," Brad said.

"Knowing Ginger, she'll be chomping at the bit to get out of that bed by then," Severus replied.

"I hope so! It will make her more prepared to take on the challenges that come with raising twins," Brad said, looking up at Aurelius with a smile when he walked over. "That goes for you too."

"Thanks, Doctor Cottonwood. Fortunately, we happen to have a very large family network to call in case of a panic or a forced surrender," Aurelius said, Jennifer chuckling at that.

"Yes, I know. And I have no doubt you'll be needing that large family network... especially after that other set is born as well," Brad warned knowingly. "Goodnight, Professors, ladies, and their father."

"Good night," Aurelius said, showing the doctor out before sinking into the arm chair across from them. "So! What do you think of them?"

"I am still too stunned to even express it! I can't believe you managed to keep the fact you were haven't twins from me!" Jennifer admitted, still grinning.

"Well, it wasn't easy, especially during that lunch we had for you a few days ago. That's the real reason Ginger didn't get up from the table that day, because she had gotten pretty big. Not as big as Fleur is, but still impressive," Aurelius explained.

"I just thought she didn't feel like she was up to standing, that's all," Jennifer admitted.

"Oh, trust me, she definitely did not feel up to standing," Aurelius agreed, and the two of them chuckled.

"Aurelius, since you're obviously going to have your hands full learning how to cope with twins, why don't I take Justice to the castle for a couple of evenings?" Severus suggested. "After all, Quintin is the relative who is closest to his age, and Duncan is only a year ahead of him. I'm certain that Ashley wouldn't mind," Severus assured him. "Or Andrew, for that matter. Right Andrew?"

Andrew chuckled from where he leaned on the kitchen door frame.

"You only included me because you saw me standing here, and I well know it," Andrew said. "Still, if we are kidnapping Justice tonight, I probably should go ahead and take him to the castle since he's already dozing off in his chair as it is."

"It is past his bed time," Aurelius admitted guiltily, wondering if he was neglecting him.

"Of course you're not neglecting him, Rel, but I think Severus is right," Jennifer said. "As you admitted yourself, you have a large family network willing to help. It's okay to give yourselves a few days to get to know your daughters and adjust to this new family dynamic. If you need us to, I'm sure we can arrange for a distraction for Viorica as well."

Viorica poked her head out her bedroom door.

"Quidditch Training Camp with Apollo?" Viorica suggested.

"Not a chance in hell," Aurelius told her, grinning out of pure exasperation that she even dared to suggest it.

"How about a sleepover with Amber and Destiny?" she asked.

"Better," Aurelius replied.

"I'll get ready then," Viorica said.

"I can drop her off too," Andrew offered with a chuckle.

"Everyone else gone?" Aurelius asked tiredly.

"Yes, all cleared out," Andrew confirmed, going to Justice's room to get his things together.

"Aurelius, you might want to go have a lie down while you can, you know. Sleep is going to be at a premium for a week or two," Jennifer suggested.

"That's probably not a bad idea," Aurelius agreed. "I'll be in my study."

"Okay, Aurelius," Jennifer said. She sighed contentedly when it had gotten quiet for the first time that day, leaning into Severus.

"Are these two interruptions going to put you far behind when it comes to getting your class setup?" Severus inquired softly.

"Honestly, Severus, I really don't care. Wind knew before I even signed the contract that I was going to take off for this, and as exasperated as I was getting with their education system, I was glad for the distraction," Jennifer admitted. "They've gotten so wrapped up in trying to stay ahead of the next standard test to come out that it's created a nasty loop, and even though I haven't seen it in practice yet, I can't say that it's healthy for either the teachers or the students."

"Yes, I've heard other educators mention it before during conferences. It's been going on like that for awhile now over there," Severus replied.

"Well, I spoke with Wind after our staff meeting because I thought that testing every two months was a little excessive, and he completely agreed with me. He told me to teach the course however I want and ignore the testing schedule," Jennifer explained. Severus nodded thoughtfully at that. "In fact, he's rather hoping that I can throw a spanner in the works, so to speak."

"Oh? He never hinted to me that was the plan when we discussed you teaching there. Come to think of it, he never mentioned what he would be getting out of it at all, other than working with one of his favorite students," Severus said.

"Well the reason I was his favorite was because of how much trouble it was to get me through school, despite all my talents," Jennifer reminded him.

"Yes," Severus nodded. "That much is obvious, at least."

"Of course it is, because we've had the same experience ourselves," Jennifer replied, adjusting the baby carefully. "As far as Wind is concerned, I was Whitebridge's version of Corey Willowby," she explained. "When the Rogue Painting wants something done, he enlists the Corey paintings to do some dirty work for him... just as you had done when Corey first came to Hogwarts," Jennifer went on. "He wants me to be myself, regardless of how much chaos it creates for the school. In fact, he's counting on me doing just that."

"And how do you feel about that?" Severus inquired. A smile crept across Jennifer's face.

"Well, I do admit a bit of passive payback sounds quite tempting," she admitted with a soft chuckle. "Perhaps it might even put one of my old ghosts to rest at the same time."

"Just don't forget the real reason you're there, Jennifer. Not only to give yourself a break from all of this, but also to give you some space to work on your research," Severus reminded her. "Do you mind if we switch now? I would like a chance to hold Brigid as well, if you don't mind." Jennifer took a moment to hand Severus the red haired girl while Severus deftly handed Jennifer the dark haired Branwen. But the moment they were settled after the exchange, Jennifer sighed.

"Oh, I see how it is. You didn't want to have to deal with newborn poo," Jennifer said accusingly, standing up.

"Yes, well, I do need to get back to the castle at some point tonight, so I thought now would be a good time to meet my other granddaughter as any," Severus reasoned.

"I see," Jennifer said, not buying the explanation as she went to get the changing bag. She picked it up and shook it only once before a temporary changing table appeared. "You know, Severus, the more I think of it, the more I think that teaching Items was a good idea... not only so that I can branch out, but for my memory research as well."

"Oh?" Severus asked curiously.

"After all, Severus, it was an item, a Unicorn Horn, that put me back together again, and yes, I know that was only because part of me was in it," Jennifer said, gently changing the baby. "But a Pensieve is an item too, and there are a lot of items designed to bind memories; like Mallus Craw's ring, for example, or even items that manipulate them in other ways."

"Oh, do you mean like all of those nightmare and memory cursed items that you've been procuring from Borgin and Burkes, lately?" Severus asked in a very casual tone. It was so casual that Jennifer grimaced at him.

"Alright, fine, I'll admit I have been doing that a bit more often over the last year or two," Jennifer replied sheepishly.

"Perhaps now that you are prepared to admit it, I can get you to agree to opening up a vault specifically for your 'items research' and 'class demonstration items' so that you're not just carrying it around in that ticking time bomb you call a Puzzlebox wherever you go," Severus suggested.

"Do give me credit, Severus. I didn't bring it to Whitebridge," Jennifer protested. "Although I will admit you're right. They probably should go in a vault. Besides, I'm running out of space in my Puzzlebox."

"This was not meant as a license to go bat crazy buying more cursed items, either. Especially considering that I know perfectly well you nearly emptied out your personal coin vault the day you moved to Whitebridge," Severus said.

"Now, Severus, not all of it got spent, even considering I had to buy a Wizardnet device and a phone and all of that silliness. Most of the money went into bank accounts. Some went in the account I already had in New York, and the rest went in one called Midwest Regional Wizard Exchange, which has a branch in Pittsburgh and handles Whitebridge's accounts," Jennifer explained. "It has a direct deposit option with the school."

"Perhaps I should get Hermione to send your Hogwarts guarantee pay to one of your accounts this year," Severus mused.

"The New York one will be fine, Severus. I'll probably be doing most of my shopping there anyway," Jennifer said, sitting down beside him. "But as I was trying to explain, maybe a magical device of some sort is a better answer for a memory cure. Maybe my latest dream therapy potion is the best that I can do using that route, not that it doesn't have alternative uses other than memory restoration. Conner has mentioned that he prescribes it to some of his patients; it can help with trauma induced mental blocks that keep some of his clients from working through past events. So, it's not like the potion research was completely wasted, because it is good for some types of memory blocks. But since I'm going to be focused on items anyway since that's what I'm teaching, I think it's time I looked into it as a possible solution. At Whitebridge, I have better facilities for items research, since the school has had a permanent Items course for decades. They also have a lot more connections to industry, and can help me acquire metals, gems, and other rare components. That means tracking something down I need for a specialized item won't be as much of a headache as it usually is. The only problem I have, actually, is the fact that I can't have any cursed items on property at all. So if there comes a point where I want to study anything in my collection that I want to reverse engineer to try and solve a problem, I'm going to have to go home to look at it," Jennifer said with exasperation.

"That does sound inconvenient," Severus admitted. "And I don't know what the laws there are on the books for cursed items in the United States, either, which means that even if you tried to bend the rule on property, you have no way of knowing if it's banned in that country or not. I believe the safest thing to do is to consult Lunette about it, since she'll have a much better idea on whether or not there's a better solution."

"You're right," Jennifer said, gently bundling Branwen up.

"Do you want to switch back again?" Severus inquired, offering up Brigid.

"No," Jennifer said primly. Severus reluctantly got up and reached for the changing bag.