Chapter Eight
Weekend Visits
"Are you all right, Professor Craw?" Harry asked as Jennifer rubbed her aching shoulder. "I'm sure Corey didn't mean to hit you with that Bludger like that."
"I know he didn't," Jennifer chuckled weakly. "But you know how slow my broom is. And someone needs to explain to him that he can't try to be a Beater and Chaser at the same time."
Jennifer's skill on a broom was legendary in the school, but unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. Even with an Automatic-Uncrashable broom, she still seemed to manage to get into accidents. Still, being on events security she had been talked into referring on occasion, and after years of avoiding the game was starting to get an appreciation for it.
"Well, I think he did a really good job considering he was first year and he knew about as much about Quidditch as I did when I first started playing," Harry said. "I bet he'll make a decent Beater next year, what do you think, Ginny?" He put his arm around her, having learned from watching Hermione and Ron that Professor Craw conveniently never noticed.
"Well, if I make team captain after you're gone, I'll sure keep an eye on him," Ginny said, then sighed. "Next year is going to be dreadful with the three of you gone. Who am I going to talk to? And I'll never see you!"
"So!" Ron said, desperate to change the subject as they walked across the grounds. "When's sparring club starting up again?"
"I think Professor Snape's planning on next Wednesday for our first meeting. Are you all going?" Only Hermione shook her head.
"I think I'm going to do extra studying this year," Hermione decided, looking thoughtful.
"Wasn't it just yesterday you told me some things are more important than schoolwork?" Jennifer said, putting her hands on her hips, looking at her. But her face revealed that she was actually thinking of taking extra courses.
"Hermione said that? You sure that wasn't another Hermione?" Ron teased.
"You know, it's about time we start thinking about our future, I mean, what it is exactly do we want to be doing once we get out of school." Hermione said.
"We have a whole year to figure that out," Ron said.
"We have only a year to figure that out," Hermione said.
"Guys, I think you just have upper classmen blues," Jennifer chuckled as they stepped up to Hagrid's house. "Don't let it bring you down, you'll still be the same people either way."
"I'm not sure I really want to leave," said Hermione wistfully.
"Me either," said Harry.
"Well, I do," Ron said firmly.
"So do I," Ginny admitted.
"And I thought my life was complicated," Jennifer chuckled as she knocked on the door. Hagrid popped it open.
"Wull don' jus' stand there, come in, come in," Hagrid said, ushering them in. "I asked Anna ta stop by too, hope you don' mind, she was feelin' a bit down," he confided in Jennifer.
"Hi Anna! It's good to see you!" Harry smiled. Anna was sitting at the table, looking at its size and wondering how everyone was going to fit.
"Hi, Harry, how's it going?" Anna said, scooting back a bit as Hagrid reached for the table, pulling on it. Suddenly it seemed to stretch out, making room for everyone but at the same time it didn't seem to take up any more space. While Anna was busy trying to figure that out, everyone else sat down, chatting with Hagrid merrily as he served tea.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry asked. Anna gave him a startled, horrified look. Jennifer watched her thoughtfully, again curious about the woman. She seemed so out of place. It reminded her somehow of how Severus looked when he had come to pick her up from America after the summer holiday last year.
"Ah, well, he's doing something for Dumbledore, I imagine, else he'd be along. Just as well, I s'ppose, though o'course I always have room fer one more," Hagrid said cheerfully. "I baked some of my Hagrid quiche just for you, Professor!"
"Quiche! I know what quiche is, that's a start," Anna said suddenly with a nervous grin. Jennifer smiled at her.
"Perfect, Hagrid. It's good to be back here with all of you again, and the quiche just really makes it feel like home," Jennifer smiled. "I don't think I'd ever want to be anywhere else."
"What about that house you stayed in over the summer, Professor?" Hermione asked. "I mean, you seemed rather upset to find out they were going to sell it." Jennifer frowned.
"Did I? Well, it was a nice little place, but…well, it's just not worth the price and all, not when I'd only be using it three months out of the year," Jennifer said, shrugging it off, wanting to change the subject. "You're from Springfield, aren't you, Anna? I visited there a couple of summers ago."
"One of the places I'm from, yes. I worked there as a profile researcher," she nodded. "I used to be a journalist, actually, but I got swept up in this story and... well, now I work with criminal profiles."
"What's that?" Jennifer asked.
"It's when you research a suspect's background to pick up certain behavior patterns so that the police can track them down," she explained.
"It's like a non-magic Truth Seeker, Professor," Hermione added. "They find out about where they are and what they're like without being able to mind read at all. They put facts together." Jennifer's eyes went wide.
"You can do that without magic?"
"You can do a lot of things without magic," Anna said, looking slightly annoyed.
"Oh, sorry," Jennifer said, blushing slightly. "I grew up in a purist family, so I really don't know much about Muggles. I've lived near them before, but I haven't been really exposed to them. I've read some of their literature, though, over the summer. Shakespeare is brilliant, although he does have quite an odd view of witches."
"A purist family?" Anna asked.
"Pure-bloods, folks that don't believe in mixing with non-magic folk or wizards from Muggle families. My father was one of the first Craws to break that line in centuries…my mother was half-Muggle. Even though it did cause a few problems with grandfather, I guess." Jennifer said pensively. "I don't feel that way myself... that is what I meant to say. Such things shouldn't get in the way when you love one another."
"I couldn't agree more," Hermione said, "of course, being Muggleborn myself, I am quite biased."
"I have a ton of classic books. Audi let me bring a trunk full, if you'd like to come and borrow one or two," Anna offered.
It suddenly dawned on Jennifer that one of the main reasons that Anna was hanging around with the students was there was really no one close to her age around that she could really identify with. Knowing next to nothing about Muggles, Jennifer knew she was probably not an ideal companion. But still, perhaps she could try bridge the gap she knew that was between them.
"That'd be great! Perhaps you can help explain some of the things I don't understand too, like, what's a telegram?" Jennifer asked.
"Oh, that's just a message sent by wire," Anna said.
"You send messages with wire?" Jennifer asked, imagining a large clothesline with notes dangling down from it.
"Only important ones. The rest is done by mail," Anna said with a nod.
"Important ones?"
"Like what Revere delivers," Harry said.
"Oh, those kinds of messages." Jennifer shuddered. "I understand that, then."
"People don't send telegrams any more, though, it's antiquated. We use telephones, mobile phones, computers, and fax machines…"
"Facts machines?" Jennifer asked.
"'Ere, now, this conversation mi' take all nigh' at this rate," Hagrid said, putting down the plates. "Your food's gettin' cold."
"I'll save it for when I come over then," Jennifer laughed. "Hagrid, you're totally amazing, this is lovely!"
The conversation soon turned to what creatures Hagrid was covering this year, and besides keeping up with the house mascots, Hagrid added some Pookatans, Lightning kittens, and Shadewolf cubs into the pen, making for some exciting moments.
"The kittens weren't tae happy 'bout them cubs, but they get on all righ' now, fer th' most part," Hagrid said, but his eyes wandered worriedly out the window as he said that.
"Are those kittens from the cat you saved last year from the storm, Hagrid?" Jennifer asked curiously. Hagrid nodded, grimacing.
"I wasn' exactly countin' on her being expectin', but I figured it were a good enuff opportunity for a class."
"As long as they don't get wet," Jennifer said with a chuckle.
After dinner they stayed and talked a while, but it was not too long before Hagrid was getting up, piling up dishes into the sink.
"We best be gettin' goin' soon. Shouldn't wait too long ta take Anna back ta her cabin, ya know what the forest can be like," he said, the students immediately starting to get up.
"The forest?" Jennifer asked.
"Anna's staying in an old hunting cabin near the Centaur's Glen. Dumbledore and McGonagall fixed it up for her," Harry explained.
"Wull I had sommat ta do with it too," Hagrid said. Jennifer looked at him closely. So there was some problem with keeping her in the school, something to do with security, she thought. What was going on? Dumbledore wanted to bring her near, but not at the school? The girl sees herself as a Muggle but feels otherwise? Hagrid, apparently, didn't know too much, and Jennifer soon gave up trying to delve into his face for answers.
"Is it too late to stop by for a book?" Jennifer asked quickly, looking at Anna. "I can always Apparate back to the gate afterwards," she added before Hagrid could say anything.
"That'd be fine," Anna said with a smile.
"Good. Let me walk these four to the castle then and I'll come back." Jennifer said.
"I don't suppose we can go?" Harry asked with a hopeful grin.
"Absolutely not. You know how Dumbledore feels about students in the forest," Jennifer said firmly. "I'm not going to go against Dumbledore. Come on." The four students went sulkily back, talking among themselves about the next day.
"Ginny and I are going to go watch the game," Hermione said, speaking to Ron and Harry. "And then hopefully we can all meet up for dinner."
"Not with my luck," Harry said. "Last year when I did detention with Snape it took Dumbledore to come in before he'd let me go."
"You're both just lucky Dumbledore refused to let me take one of the detentions," Jennifer said with a frown. "I was so mad at both of you I could spark fires. Come to think of it, I'm still mad at you."
"We know. It was stupid and we're sorry. We were only trying to help," Harry sighed.
"Just promise me the next time something like this happens you won't take off like that again?" Jennifer said as they got to the gate.
"All right," said Ron. Harry, however, thought long and hard about it for a moment.
"No, I won't promise you that," Harry said at last, "but I will promise that I won't do anything to put you in danger like that again. I'd hate to think what Snape would do to me if I did," he added.
"You still get to find out what Snape is going to do to you about putting her in danger this time," Ron grinned.
"Better that than cleaning incense jars and hearing how often I'm going to die in the next twenty four hours every time I spill ashes on the floor," Harry said as the four of them went inside. With that, Jennifer shook her head and turned back to meet Anna.
The small cabin was definitely much bigger on the inside than the outside. Jennifer looked around appreciatively, admiring the large central fireplace and the large area rugs made in the familiar pattern used in the houserooms at Hogwarts. On the mantle was a curious picture in a frame that Jennifer paused to look at. The elderly couple in the picture didn't move, as if they weren't even aware she was looking at it.
"That's my Grandma and Grandfather. They raised me," Anna explained. "I want to send them a letter, but I'm not sure they'd understand about owls. Well, maybe they would. Dumbledore says that my mother was a witch too, although I don't remember it. I was too young at the time. It explains my nightmares about watching them just disintegrate, though. I guess that's what actually happened," Anna said softly.
"Someone used Acidic Eulogy on your parents?" Jennifer asked with horror.
"Is that the name of a spell?" Anna asked, "It sounds…painful. What does it do?" Jennifer suddenly realized that maybe this was not the best subject to be on.
"It's a type of death spell. It's just horrible that it happened," Jennifer said quickly. "My mother was murdered as well, a few years ago."
"And Harry's parents were murdered too, weren't they?" Anna said, looking upset. "Why are so many drawn to such a society where so many come to violent ends? What's the point of having magic if you can't do anything to stop it?"
"It hasn't always been like that! Well, I mean, every society has criminals, right? One of ours is Voldemort and we are trying to stop him," Jennifer said, suddenly bristling. "And we will stop him, we have to. Our society might not be perfect, Anna, but it can also be very wonderful too." Anna looked down at the book she was holding.
"I know, I'm sorry. How ironic that I picked up this book, too. It just shows how far from perfect my own culture is. Still…" Jennifer went over to the bookshelf where Anna was, standing on her toes to look over Anna's shoulder.
"I haven't read that," Jennifer said, and Anna handed over a book entitled A Tale of Two Cities.
"I've read it many times. We had to read it in school. And then we had to tear it apart in college," Anna snorted to herself, thinking of how annoying her English Professor had been. "It's not a very happy book, though. If you want something better…"
"No, no, I trust your judgment," Jennifer grinned, and suddenly realized that she did. "But if I don't get going soon, my fiancée is going to start worrying, and believe me, that's not a fun picture. Are you going to be all right here?"
"Yes, I think I'm going to read myself. I got a copy of Hogwarts, A History I am trying to decipher," Anna said.
"Good grief, people actually read that book? I mean, besides Hermione Granger?" Jennifer chuckled. "Well, if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them."
"You too, if you have any questions about that book," Anna grinned, glad to have something in common with the younger teacher. Jennifer stepped out, waving at her as a large black dog watched curiously from a few feet away.
"Oh, not that dog again," Anna said with irritation. "He just won't go away. Shoo! I can't stand animals!"
"But Anna," Jennifer started to say before the dog growled loudly at her. She glanced at the dog in surprise. So, Sirius didn't want her to know someone was keeping an eye on her? "I'm sure he's… harmless," she finished, studying Sirius with a frown. The dog then settled down in the leaves as if going to go to sleep.
"He didn't sound all that harmless when he growled at you just now. Can't you make him go away?" Anna asked.
"No, I doubt Dumbledore would want me to," Jennifer said thoughtfully. The dog raised his head and wagged his tail a moment. "Just ignore him. I'm sure he'll go away eventually. Good night, Anna. Send me an owl if you need anything," she added, nodding to the horned owl perched patiently in the tree just outside the door. Anna, who seemed about as thrilled about the owl as she was about the dog shut the door. Jennifer shook her head.
"And Muggles think we're odd?" she muttered to herself before Apparating to the gate.
Sunday morning was dreary and rainy. Jennifer dressed in some of her best clothes, pulling her hair into a tight French braid and putting on her best hat. It was visiting day, and she was actually looking forward to it for a change. Picking up her bundle she headed out the door, glancing at her watch. She stopped in front of a painting of a sleeping dragon, which opened one eye as she approached. She knocked beside the picture, said "Gildenstern," and peeked in as the door slowly opened. Severus was sitting at the long table of his sitting room, pouring over the potion book from the library and making some notes.
"On your way out?" he asked, taking out a letter from his cloak and holding it up. Jennifer went over and took it, putting it in the bundle. "Let him know that I'm sorry I can not come this month…"
"He'll understand," Jennifer assured Severus, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss. "Just don't forget you have detention shift in half an hour."
"Looking forward to it. I sent for an entire barrel of freshly slaughtered newts for the occasion," Severus said with a smirk.
"You're going to make him harvest newts' eyes by hand? That is totally cruel," Jennifer chided him.
"Yes, isn't it?" Severus agreed, a smile creeping onto his face. "But with any luck, he'll be done before the game is over. If not, perhaps I can see you after dinner on the Perch." Jennifer chuckled and nodded, knowing that Severus was referring to the parapet, reachable by a low door on the stairs to the Owlery. It was off limits to students, and a great place to think, or just to look out over the castle walls towards the grounds below. Having reached a rendezvous point, Jennifer headed to Azkaban.
There in the security of the island prison was kept the other man in her life; her father, Thomas Craw, incarcerated for his crimes as the Ivory Skull. But despite a lifetime sentence and a list of cruelty and murderous deeds that made many cower at the mention of his name, Jennifer had little animosity towards her father.
In fact, they seemed to be getting along a lot better since he was imprisoned than they ever had before. He had never been a kind man, but had always loved his daughter. It was, more than anything else, the knowledge of that love that kept Jennifer from losing sight of his humanity. Little did she suspect it was her mere presence that kept him from losing sight of his own.
She drummed her fingers impatiently as the guards sorted through the bundle, running magic detectors over everything and nosing through letters and newspapers. It was taking a lot longer than normal, and Jennifer was starting to show signs of irritation before they finally let her into the halls with Boltin, an enchanter guard that she'd met before on previous visits. They had to pass through countless security locks before they were finally into the high security section of the prison and into the visitor's room.
Thomas Craw was a tall, grey-eyed man, who under different circumstances might be considered quite intimidating in appearance. But Jennifer couldn't help but notice that prison life didn't agree with him, his hair was thinning and his features were slightly drawn. He was smiling, however, glad to see his daughter healthy and still in one piece.
"Guess what? They actually let me in with Hagrid's cooking today," Jennifer grinned evilly, watching her father grimace.
"Oh. Goodie," he said in a monotone voice that made her chuckle.
"And there are letters from Severus and Harry. Hey, how come you told Severus when my birthday was?" Jennifer scowled.
"I thought he wanted to know when he was only eleven years your elder instead of twelve…"
"Dad! Do you always have to bring that up?" Jennifer said in annoyance.
"You know, if I had sent you to Hogwarts to go to school, you'd never have ended up with him…" he said, smiling wickedly.
"I know, Dad, and I am grateful for that now. But I did not come to be teased. I came to see you," she scolded then paused. "Amazing how fate seems to jump on our decisions like that, though isn't it? Making things turn out alright despite ourselves."
"My daughter, the amateur philosopher," he grunted. "This from the person who has passed up several opportunities to rid the world of Voldemort. Now he has that slime Pettigrew back. If it hadn't been some quick thinking done by Thatcher Boltin, they'd probably have tried to rid the world of me instead. Jennifer, if you run into Pettigrew out there, I want you to stay away from him. Becoming Voldemort's bootlicker seems to have empowered him of late; he's not the sniveling kid I remember anymore. He has a personal vendetta to get even with you, and I don't think he plans to kill you."
"Oh, gee, thanks, Dad. Now you tell me," Jennifer said with a scowl.
Thomas suddenly put all joking aside and eyed his daughter calculatingly, a disturbingly cold look in his eyes. She motioned to Boltin, handing him the package, and Boltin walked through the magic field as if it weren't there and put it on the table. Thomas quickly fished it to find Severus' letter. He banged his hand angrily on the table as he read it, causing the guards in the back of the room to whip out their wands in alarm. Boltin, however, motioned for them to wait, having gotten used to Thomas's displays of emotion.
"I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance!" Thomas muttered. Jennifer's eyes went wide, glancing at him and then at the guards. "Eh, what are they going to do to me for saying that? I'm already going to be in here until I wither with age. Jen-girl, that place that Severus didn't mention that they're looking for," Thomas Craw said, looking up into her eyes, cold and serious. "You must not let them find it. If they do, having the Mallus Wand destroyed hasn't accomplished anything. The wand was made there."
A sudden chill went down Jennifer's back as she realized what that meant. Her first wand, her cursed wand, was the key to several dark magic spells that had been kept secret by her family for five generations. If Voldemort found that place, it was possible that he would find what he needed to totally devastate their world, and possibly annihilate the Muggle world all together.
"Jen-girl, there's something else you need to know about this. Mallus Craw may have been the most notorious of Craws, but he did not start this cycle of events you're swept up in right now, it lies much, much, deeper than that. When you find the right Craw in your history, you will find answers. It's your responsibility to do this, Jennifer. You're the youngest Craw and the last. You need to find out the truth behind why we are who we are." Thomas said, a look of desperate determination in his face.
Jennifer stared at her father, an overwhelming sense of fate taking command inside her as she nodded in acceptance. Suddenly Thomas and Boltin looked behind her, and she turned to see Albus Dumbledore walk in. He smiled warmly at Boltin and Jennifer, then at Thomas.
"Hello, Thomas, it is good to see you. I hope I'm not interrupting," he added, glancing at Jennifer.
"Not at all, Professor. Actually, I really need to get ready for the pre-season game. I have to go referee Quidditch," Jennifer explained, getting up. Her father looked surprised, smiling softly.
"Really? You, Jen-girl? You used to be so petrified of brooms ever since we got to America. I wasn't sure you'd ever get over that ride," Thomas said, looking impressed.
"Who says I've ever gotten over it?" Jennifer said dryly, waving to them as she headed out the door with Boltin following close behind.
"She's going to find out someday, Dumbledore. I know she is," Thomas said suddenly, as if in the middle of a conversation.
"Oh? Did you truly think you could keep her in the dark forever?" Dumbledore asked, sitting down at the table.
"Yes," Thomas admitted. "But you didn't, did you?" he asked, looking across the barrier at the Headmaster. Dumbledore simply smiled at him.