Chapter Six

Semblance of Normalcy

Jennifer took her place between Severus Snape's empty chair and Filius Flitwick's. The Charms professor was already seated on his stack of pillows when she arrived.

"So glad to see you! I didn't know if you'd be here, considering the flying train and all," he teased cheerfully. "I saw it come in from my window, and what a sight it was! It looked like a seasick dragon crashing into a cloud, puffing away all the while."

"It was definitely a memorable experience, but not one I'd care to repeat," Jennifer admitted with a grin.

"Yes, and I bet the Ministry will have a lot of fun trying to cover that one up. 'Floating train seen over countryside, say local farmers!'" Filius laughed. Jennifer blinked.

"I hadn't even thought of that," she admitted, wondering if she were going to get fines again.

Dumbledore, Minerva and Remus entered, followed by Anna, Harry, and Ron who made their way to sit at the Gryffindor table. Jennifer watched the older woman in surprise and glanced back up to Dumbledore, who didn't seem at all surprised. Jennifer frowned. How annoying it was to be on the other side of the study door when something interesting was going on! Well, she always had dinner at Hagrid's on Saturdays, she thought to herself, so if she hadn't figured it out by then, she could always confront them about it.

Jennifer waited impatiently for Minerva to bring in the first years, while beside her Filius commented that he'd heard there were quite a few talented students coming in this year. Of course, he said that every year, Jennifer chuckled softly to herself. Along the side professor's table, she noticed Remus sitting with Hagrid, glancing over at her with an almost timid smile. She smiled warmly back at him, trying not to show her discomfort. Then she gazed back at the main doors, wishing they would open.

At last Minerva entered with the new students, and Jennifer careened her neck to see Corey, who was gaping at the Great Hall and staring at the other students at the tables as they walked to the front. He gazed at the head table and smiled at Jennifer, but his face fell as he scanned the rest of the table and at the empty seat beside her. The frown didn't last long because he had noticed the Sorting Hat, squinting at it suspiciously as Minerva went up to call out the names.

"Doug Brim!"

Julie's younger brother stepped up, grinning at Cory and Taylor as he got on the stool, trying to show them he how nervous he wasn't. Down went the Hat, thinking a while before it called out, "Gryffindor!"

Then she noticed the other boy from the compartment, Taylor Brittle come up, watching to see where Corey's other fast friend was going to go. The Hat wasn't long in deciding, and shouted out "Ravenclaw!" for everyone to hear. Beside her, Filius clapped happily, and so did she, knowing that he would probably be one of her most thoughtful students.

Jennifer found she was quickly making mental notes on each child, and even though each one had their own personalities, she did find she knew just about what to expect from a student of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, or Slytherin just from where they were placed. At last came Corey Willowby, grinning nervously at Jennifer before hopping up on the stool. Jennifer gazed intently at the Hat, hoping to hear every word.

"My goodness, where am I going to put you?" said the Hat. "Well, you are definitely not a Hufflepuff, that is for certain, nor Slytherin, that is sure. You have a gifted mind, it is true, but still, I think you're best for… Gryffindor!"

Oh no, another Gryffindor, Jennifer clapped with a grin, secretly thinking he'd have made Ravenclaw for sure. But then, she knew he had that witty, conniving, charming side that seemed more suited for the house he was put in, and he was obviously happy about being in any house right now. The last two students were Sorted, and the numbers seemed to be balanced again, unlike last year where most of the students seemed to go to Slytherin. Dumbledore stood for announcements, smiling at them for a long time before speaking.

"First, I want to say how happy I am to have you all here, safe and sound. I also want to say how proud I am for all of your brave and valiant efforts getting here this afternoon. I am quite sure this event will end up in the school history books, and your children and children's children will be forced to learn about it." A rolling chuckle spread through the Hall. "I would like to also thank our school friend, Mr. Remus Lupin, and our own Professor Craw, for orchestrating that event and keeping everyone from losing their heads on the way.

"Now, as I'm sure you realize, these events also remind us of how trying these times are that we live in, and because of them, we're going to have to take greater security precautions than ever before. It is with deep regret that I must inform you that all student trips to Hogsmeade are suspended until further notice." A disagreeable rumble went up among the students. "Also, you may not leave the grounds for any reason without my express permission. We will also be reviewing security procedures for the train service, but hopefully we'll have that cleared away before the holidays. As always, the Dark Forest is off limits, and Mr. Filch's banned item list is posted on his office door for any who are unsure of what is and is not allowed in the halls and in the school. And now, I have only three more words for all of you. Hold the popcorn."

With an outbreak of laughter, the feast appeared. Jennifer grinned over at Remus, who was grinning mischievously back at her. She glanced over the tables below with a smile. Well, the year didn't exactly start smooth, but it was nice to see some semblance of normalcy again in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

It was extremely late when there came a knock on the door. Jennifer became instantly awake, leaping out of bed and diving towards the sitting room, Ratfly squeaking with irritation as she passed. Severus stood expectantly on the other side, looking tired and annoyed as she let him in the dark room.

"Sorry, I had to change the password, it's Rosencrantz."

"Never mind about that. I want you to tell me about everything that happened today," Severus said with a frown.

"How much have you heard?" Jennifer asked.

"Well, I heard about your interesting train ride, but then again, everyone's talking about that. I'm more interested to hear what they're not talking about," he said. "Like why Ron and Harry are signed up for detention, and how come Lupin is avoiding me, and why was someone in my office today?"

"Ron and Harry are in trouble for leaving the train before anyone gave them permission to leave. What makes you think Remus is avoiding you? And as to why someone was in your office, it wasn't me," she said and went over to the couch, wondering how she was going to tell him.

"I know it wasn't you. You always leave everything out of order when you borrow anything." Severus said, noting the way she had walked away from him. "One thing is perfectly clear and that is everyone I've spoken with tonight has decided to leave it to you to tell me about something, and for some reason you don't want to do it. You've never kept anything from me."

"I just don't want you to get worried," Jennifer sighed.

"Now I'm worried that you don't want to get me worried," Severus said, sitting beside her and making her look at him. "You haven't been this reluctant to tell me something since that time you pulled a wand on Malfoy," he added searchingly. "Tell me." Jennifer sighed.

"Pettigrew was on the train today. He snuck in the baggage car. Remus and I went after him after we landed."

"He what? Why didn't anyone send for me and Sirius? We were searching for him all day, what happened?" Severus demanded, grabbing her arms.

"Could you please stick to one question at a time? You're making me nervous," Jennifer snapped back. "There wasn't any time. We wanted to catch up with him before he endangered anyone else. But he ran straight for the stone cottage." A quick flash of fear surged through Severus' eyes like a lightning strike, a dark gaze remaining in its absence. "The wards were dispelled… we didn't know what we'd stumbled into. I'm still not completely sure. We followed him down into a maze of tunnels that didn't seem to go anywhere, but it didn't take us long to figure out there was no way we could win down there so were going back to get help. That's when we heard Harry and Ron in the caverns. They'd followed us down. We went to find them, and got separated…" Jennifer paused a moment, aware that her voice was trembling. It wasn't like her to get so unnerved, she thought angrily.

"It was a trap. Pettigrew was trying to get at me, and as usual, I walked right into it," she said. "He came up behind me and had me disarmed and muted before I could do a thing, and tried to drag me further in. I was able to get a hand free and left a trail of my junk so the others could find me if they went looking. I finally got him to let go, but he… forced me to drink a bewitchment potion, and if they hadn't found me…" Jennifer was keenly aware of Severus stiffening in anger, and she quickly reached out to hold his clenched hands. "I did the only thing I could and just closed my eyes and refused to open them. I don't know how much longer I would have been able to hold on, but Harry and Ron showed up, and then Remus must have tried to pick up my wand where it had dropped because it came back into my hand. Then somehow, and I'm not quite sure how, Pettigrew got thrown into the wall when Remus cast a spell on him, and he managed to teleport out of a Stupefy."

"Yes, I've seen him do something like that before," Severus said, his voice far from calm. "One thing is certain, when I find him, he won't be breathing long enough to escape again."

"That was another thing," Jennifer said as she thought back on it. "He used a Cat's Breath phial on Ron." Severus squinted.

"That's quite a complicated potion. What kind of bewitchment potion was it?" he asked.

"Poppy thought it might have been Chains of Enthrallment," Jennifer admitted. Severus' eyes went wide and he held her tightly against him for a moment.

"Where is Pettigrew getting the potions?" Severus asked and suddenly growled. "I know quite well he couldn't make a basic brew in school without blowing half the lab up, although knowing him he could have been doing it on purpose. Malfoy has the skill, but he's still stewing in jail."

"Voldemort has picked up a lot more followers if what we saw at the bridge was any indication," Jennifer said. "Any one of them could be helping him." Severus sighed, privately wishing he still had an inside view of what was going on.

"I'll talk to Exeter, perhaps he knows something," Severus said. "In the meantime, I want you to promise me not to be follow Pettigrew if he tries to set you up again. You should have known better than to go down there in the first place from how many curses were placed on it, dispelled or not."

"Do you know what they were looking for? That didn't seem to be random digging down there. They seemed to be searching for something," Jennifer asked. Severus gazed at her thoughtfully, somewhat reluctant to say more.

"They were looking for the Forbidden Tomb, Jennifer," Severus said. "Dumbledore is aware of what they were doing, but I ask that you not mention that to anyone else. There is no reason to start a panic about something that Voldemort has obviously not been able to find."