Chapter Twelve

Suspicious Natures

Anna paced, wondering how long it was going to take for her to get back with her brother. Jennifer had acted so strange. Was there something wrong with him, Anna wondered? Twenty years had past since she had seen him last. She was quite sure he had probably changed, being a wizard and all, and wondered if he didn't look like a younger version of Dumbledore. At last there was a knock at the door, and Anna flung it open. They stood there for a moment, eyeing each other suspiciously.

This was not the brother she had remembered. Not even from her wildest dreams had she imagined him quite like this. She remembered the dark eyes, but now they were tainted with years of bitterness. She remembered the face, but it had not been so pallid in his youth, having spent much time outdoors hunting snakes and lizards and beetles to taunt her with. And she definitely didn't remember the air of darkness about him that now could only remind her of their belated father. She certainly wouldn't have imagined him in dreadful black robes that clenched the neck and made him look as if he were ready for a funeral. Even still, there could be no doubt that this was her brother, yet just as a part of her wanted to acknowledge him, another part wished rather to cower away, as if exploring a side of herself that she had little desire to.

Jennifer, standing along side Severus, kept looking back and forth between them, watching the steady gaze as if waiting for someone to blink. Finally, Jennifer chuckled.

"It's official, you're definitely related. Anna, let us in," Jennifer said impatiently. Anna slowly moved and Jennifer and Severus came in, Severus glancing around the room curiously. He went over to the fireplace and picked up the photo, looking at it for a moment before setting it down.

"How are your grandparents?" Severus asked cautiously. Jennifer could tell from the look on his face he didn't really care for them much.

"Fine. I spoke with them today. They were a bit worried, but they're okay now."

"I see you're doing well." Severus said, not turning around. Jennifer was watching him carefully.

"Except for having my whole world turned upside down, yeah," Anna said, nodding. "How are you?"

"Very well. Happy." Severus said quietly. Anna could have thought of many things of how Severus looked. Happy wasn't one of them. Jennifer, however, smiled warmly at him as if she was seeing something that Anna wasn't. Anna found that rather irritating.

"You look much different than I expected," Anna admitted, sitting down tiredly but still watching him warily.

"Well, considering that from what I understand, you thought I was dead until a little while ago, I'll take that as a compliment," Severus said, turning with a smirk that almost resembled a smile. "You, on the other hand, look quite a bit the way I was expecting. Although I admit that seeing you and my fiancée in matching Muggle outfits is a bit alarming. We're not going to make a habit of that, are we?" Severus asked, peering quizzically at Jennifer.

"Wait a minute, your fiancée?" Anna said blankly, looking at Jennifer. "You mean to tell me this is who you were talking about earlier?"

"Anna, believe me, I had no idea your brother was Severus or I would have told you a lot sooner," Jennifer said.

"What exactly did you say about me?" Severus asked, squinting his eyes at Jennifer.

"Nothing bad," Jennifer said with an innocent smile.

"Except she said your students hate you," Anna said, looking at Jennifer. "I take it that means he teaches at Hogwarts?"

"I'm the Potions Master, and not all my students hate me," Severus glared at Jennifer. "Some of them only extremely dislike me."

"Anna is sort of like a Truth Seeker without magic, what's it called again?" Jennifer asked.

"Criminal profiler," Anna sighed at her. "In fact, one of my first visits I was here was to profile Sirius Black."

"Let me tell you a thing or two about Sirius Black…"

"Severus!"

"…Some other time," he finished, glancing over at Jennifer with a scowl. It was pretty apparent to Anna that whatever it was he was going to say was probably uncomplimentary at best. But as curious as Anna was, the events of the day had begun to take its toll and she was having a hard time concentrating.

"Are you feeling all right, Anna?" Jennifer asked, studying her. A quick flash of concern swept over Severus' face, fading into a thoughtful frown as he looked over at his sister.

"I should be all right. It's just, I'm drained, whenever I do something… magic… I get this way, like protecting you today," she admitted to Jennifer.

"Perhaps I can find a potion to help that. I'm quite sure I have something that will work," Severus offered.

"No thanks, I probably just need rest," Anna decided. "It's been a hectic day."

"You can say that again," Jennifer agreed. "I think I'll let you rest then," she said getting up.

"Yes, me too," Severus said quickly, looking over at Anna hesitantly. "It is good to have the chance to see you again, Titiana," he said stiffly. Anna knew from the look in his eyes that he meant it, even if he were reluctant to admit it.

"It's good to see you too," she smiled, not feeling much more confidant than he did.

At least, Anna thought as they left, he seemed comfortable with admitting his relationship to Jennifer, and Anna was somehow sure that whatever struggle they may have getting to know one another again would not compare to what he must have had to fight through to get to that point with Jennifer. But before she could wonder about why she knew that, Anna collapsed into a deep sleep.

Jennifer slept fairly late. It was nearly eleven before she crawled out of bed and into her robes, glancing at her watch. Seeing that Severus was in the forest, she decided to leave him alone with Anna for a bit, opting instead to go talk to Hagrid since she missed dinner the night before. Still feeling a tad groggy, she took the long way around the lake, hoping the fresh air would wake her up. It was then she noticed the fallen form near the other shore and quickly went over to him, kneeling beside him and turning him over. Remus awoke, looking bleary-eyed at Jennifer. He tried to focus as he sat up shakily, fighting to get his bearings.

"Boy, you look like the tail that bit the dog, don't you. Can you walk?" Jennifer asked, offering an arm. Getting up and leaning on her for support, the two of them slowly made their way to Hagrid's. "How did you get on this side of the tree? I thought…"

"Change of plans due to a new resident in the forest," Remus explained softly. "I just couldn't get back in time this morning."

"Well, it's all right now," Jennifer said comfortingly. Hagrid was outside when they came up, and quickly hurried over to help get Remus inside.

"'Ere, now Lupin, you just rest a bit an' I'll see abou' gettin' you some tea." Hagrid said. They gently sat Lupin down on Hagrid's large chair, and he promptly fell asleep. Jennifer resisted the urge to giggle as he started to snore softly. "Oh, wull, s'much fer that, ya know what they say about lettin' sleepin' werewolves lie," Hagrid said. He poured himself and Jennifer mugs of mugwort tea and they went back outside. "Wunner what he was up to, last night?"

"Well, I'm sure we won't know for several hours from the way he looks," Jennifer said. "The poor man. It's strange to see him like this…he looks so helpless. You should have seen him when we brought the train in, just like night and day."

"Eh, well, you should see his otha side. Then again, ya prolly shouldn't. It's not pretty." Hagrid said. Suddenly a newspaper dropped to the ground, followed by an owl, which he handed some knuts to. Hagrid picked the paper up.

"The second exhibition game is later, you going?" she asked.

"'Course, wouldn' miss it, what with Gryffindor playin' an' all," he said.

"And the best part is, I don't have to referee," Jennifer said with a smirk. "I got the day off." Hagrid was getting ready to say something else as he opened the paper and glanced at it, but then his eyes went wide and he sat his tea down.

"Uh oh."

"Uh oh? What uh oh?" Jennifer said in alarm, seeing from Hagrid's face it had something to do with her. "I knew summat held ya up, yesterday, Professor, but I didn' know ya were in so much trouble."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jennifer asked, peering over at the title, then the picture, with her jaw open. "Great stars above!" she swore, wincing as she realized the events of yesterday weren't over yet as she read the lines: WITCH SEEN BY COUNTLESS MUGGLES CASTING SPELL, MAKES MUGGLE NEWS, followed by a picture of her casting at the officer.

"Says here that the Muggles have pictures in their paper too."

"Oh man, I am in so much trouble," Jennifer groaned, sitting down and putting her head in her hands.

"Wull, it also says the Ministry is claimin' responsibility fer it, but it don't say why. What happened?" Hagrid asked. Jennifer did another recount of the events of the trip as they finished their tea, Hagrid shaking or nodding his head every now and then as he listened. Severus walked up from the forest as she was finishing up, looking over at them thoughtfully.

"From the way Arthur had reassured me, I thought this was all going to blow over, but boy, I sure don't think so now," Jennifer sighed as Hagrid showed Severus the paper. Severus shook his head and sighed.

"You never do anything halfway, do you?" Severus observed.

"I'm talented that way," Jennifer muttered.

"Wull! I'd better go in and check on Lupin afore the game," Hagrid said, offering to take Jennifer's cup as he got up.

"He's here? Let him know then I'll bring him out something later on to help him recover," Severus said.

"Yes, Professor. See you later, then," Hagrid said, and Severus and Jennifer began walking back.

"I thought you said you didn't like Remus," Jennifer said tauntingly.

"Of course I don't, but we can't have him lying around half-dead and completely out of his wits all of the time," Severus grunted at her, very aware she was testing him. "I also don't like the way he looks at you. By the way, you didn't tell me he ended up triggering that potion Pettigrew gave you."

"Severus," Jennifer chuckled, linking her arm in his as they headed towards the pitch. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were jealous. Harry and Ron were with us the whole time and I went straight to Poppy afterwards. Besides, you know how hard it is to fight potions." Jennifer looked away, her thoughts troubled. In the past, she had always thought of potions as an aid, and had trusted them above regular magic…they were more dependable in some ways, less fallible, and easier to control. But now she found herself viewing them with more suspicion, a suspicion and leeriness she had never felt before. Severus had been watching her face as they walked in silence, suspecting what she was thinking.

"I think I know how to make you feel better about that," he said quietly. "I know you well enough to know you hate being out of control of a situation as much as I do. If I could only get you to stop rushing into thing and get you to stop and use that brilliant little head of yours. But perhaps we can work out some plans ahead of time to curtail anything like this from ever happening again."

"How?" Jennifer asked, looking into his gentle gaze.

"Let's go to my office after the game," Severus suggested as they neared the pitch, "and we'll talk about it."

"Professor Craw!" Hermione ran in from the school, out of breath. "I have to talk to you about something important." Jennifer read her face carefully.

"Excuse me a moment, Severus," Jennifer said, moving over to meet her. Hermione started talking to Jennifer rapidly and Severus squinted, trying to discern what they were saying.

"Professor Snape?" Severus glanced up long enough to nod to Minerva, who was coming up beside Pummeler, his eyes darting back over to Jennifer as Hermione handed her a piece of paper. "Mr. Jasper is here and would love some insight on your house players during the game. I don't suppose you and Jennifer would like to join us in the teacher's box?"

"I'm especially interested in seeing the two Seekers. I hear Mr. Malfoy is quite good, best trainers and all, and of course Mr. Potter is legendary," Pummeler said, but quickly noticed the other man's distracted gaze. "I hear the Beaters on Slytherin are very good as well," he added.

"Yes, especially Amadeus Longbottom," Severus nodded absently, "although he's only a third year, he seems to excel in everything."

"Everything but schoolwork," Minerva said with a thin smile. Severus was about to retort on how he never had any trouble with him when Jennifer stepped up.

"Excuse me. Severus, something's come up that I need to take care of. I'll still meet you after the game, okay?" Jennifer said quickly. "Hello, Professor McGonagall, Mr. Jasper."

"Anything I should know about?" Severus asked, studying her suspiciously.

"I'll tell you all about it later," Jennifer promised. "Have fun watching the game."

Jennifer then walked a few steps away until she met back up with Hermione and then the two of them broke into a run back into the school. Severus and Minerva exchanged glances.

"Shall we get to the game?" Pummeler asked, looking between them.

"Well, Severus? Are you going to trust her, or trust your instincts?" Minerva asked, plainly waiting for him to do something. Nodding to Minerva and Pummeler, Severus turned and walked into the school, looking at something in his pocket. "Let's go find some seats, Mr. Jasper. I'm sure I can give you any detail about both teams quite well, I used to play Quidditch myself, you know," Minerva said, taking only a quick glance back at the door before heading towards the boxes.

"I can't believe you guys did this, before a game and everything," Jennifer said, glancing down at the list Hermione had given her. "But boy, have you been busy. Where the heck did you find this?"

"It's a long story. I was helping Professor Binns out dusting history books and such…"

"Hermione, ghosts don't care about dust."

"Well, Professor Binns is in denial," Hermione explained. "Anyhow, I was in there studying when I realized there were old class lists in there. That's when I found the tome with the old listing. And then, when I was in Professor McGonagall's office borrowing some exam books, she had to go out for a moment and I took a peek at the front of the Book."

"Hermione!"

"Well, that's when we knew for a fact that Janus Craw was one of the very first students under Slytherin. In fact, we think some of the older students were actually apprentices as they used to do under the old system, and if what I read in the Dark Wizards book is correct, Mallus Craw is a direct descendant, and you're his direct descendant, which makes you the Keeper of Dark Wizardry, right? You know every dark spell up to your generation?"

"Yes, I am, Hermione, you have me there. But I'm sure Harry probably knew that after what happened last year in the cemetery."

"That's how I figured out it was connected…you, the wand, and the Tomb I mean, because I found a book on the legend behind the tomb, in which it states; 'many ancient Dark rituals that are no longer used today are said to have been preserved in the Tomb.'" Hermione said.

"Well, you could have explained all of this earlier and told me what you guys were planning to do," Jennifer snapped.

"You didn't want to listen!" Hermione protested as they went into the bathroom. "It's in here," she explained, pointing down the hole. "Come on." A young girl ghost came out of a stall, watching them curiously, sniffling as they headed down.

A moment later, the door opened and Severus came in, an annoyed expression on his face. He locked the door behind him, hoping to keep any more students from getting involved in whatever hair-brained scheme they were into this time. Ignoring the protests of the Moaning Myrtle who wanted to know what he was doing here, he crawled into the passage.