Chapter Fifteen
Cans of Worms
The dreary rain seemed to continue on and off over the next few weeks, but Jennifer was too busy inside to notice. The announcement at dinner about the newspaper had gotten immediate interest, and Jennifer and Minerva had been able to quickly set up the newspaper staff. Annoyingly, Severus expressed complete disinterest in the project, but Anna more than made up for it by offering to help with the Muggle section along with Lori Bates and Taylor Brittle, both first year Ravenclaws. Dean Thomas quickly jumped in to do the sports article, and Madam Trelawney offered to do the horoscope. Hermione, the head student editor, somehow managed to talk Ron into helping report, along with Neville and Amadeus Longbottom, neither one particularly happy to see the other there. Jennifer handpicked several others to round out the houses, making sure each had the same representation until there was four of each house. She had tried to avoid using Quidditch players, since most of the work on the paper would be done during practice on Sundays, but when Draco and Justin both volunteered their time and cameras to the effort, Jennifer couldn't refuse. At last, work on The Veritable Wizard Biweekly began, sorting out teams and trying to pick subjects for their first issue, which they decided would come out on Halloween.
Monday mornings were spent grueling over old tomes in the library, looking for information on Icarus, Janus, and the other apprentices as well as Mallus Craw's history, hoping for some clues. Severus would often join her at lunchtime, helping her sort through lists.
"I wonder if the Chaser might have been old Caprica Dusthorn," Severus said thoughtfully.
"She was one of the first Headmasters, right? There's probably a painting somewhere. I'll know her if I see her," Jennifer said. "And I've got the Seeker narrowed down to either George de Mimsy the Charms instructor or Bedivere O'Laren from Symbology. Icarus Ravenclaw was the Potions Master, little surprise there, but according to this, he had an 'uncanny' talent for foresight. Janus Craw taught Dark Arts for nearly fifty years when they changed the agenda to Defense Against the Dark Arts, and he 'promptly left and was never seen by the school again.'"
"Now that definitely sounds like a Craw," Severus said with a smirk. "Come on, let's see if we can't find that painting."
"Maybe we should ask Filch," Jennifer suggested as they left the library.
"Good idea. This way," Severus nodded. "You know, when I spoke to your father yesterday, he hinted that there were several heirlooms in your vault, some of them from Mallus Craw's era. Perhaps it's time we took a look." Jennifer glanced up at him thoughtfully. "I know you've been avoiding getting into it, but speed is a factor, and if there's any chance there's something in there, we should look into it."
"You're right, of course. How about we go down Sunday before the game, unless you have patrol on Saturday?"
"No, mine is tonight and tomorrow. So, if you'd like to go for a walk…" he paused as he heard footsteps behind him as Corey ran up.
"Professor Craw? Did you buy it?" he asked out of breath, looking excited.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Corey?" Jennifer asked puzzled.
"Taylor was in the library when Hermione was talking to Madame Pince, and they mentioned Haven's Bluff, and a' course Taylor knew I was from Haven's Bluff, and she said they'd sold the house, so I was wondering if you bought it." he asked.
"Corey Willowby, I swear I've told you a dozen times all ready about gossip in this school," Jennifer said, hands on her hips.
"Well, yes, but this was personal. Almost. I mean, that's a neighbor, and neighbor's are like family almost, right?" Corey grinned.
"No, Corey, I didn't buy the house," she said. His face fell in disappointment. "And if you spent even half the time you spend gossiping on your homework, you'd be doing a lot better in my class."
"Did we have homework?" he asked distractedly.
"You have a test on perceptions tomorrow," Jennifer frowned at him.
"Oh yeah, but it's not like I don't know all that stuff anyhow. I already read it once. I wish you could have gotten the house. But at least I get to see you at school," he added, glancing up the hall where his friends were waiting. "Sorry to keep you, got to get ready for Sprout's class!"
Jennifer sighed in exasperation, watching the boy run up the hall.
"I swear, he has all that energy and none of it ever goes into his school work. His homework is always late, and I really have to sit on him to get him to do anything. His spells are perfect though, he just doesn't like the writing work." Jennifer complained as Severus and she picked the pace up again.
"I think he is probably just taking advantage of you. I never have a bit of trouble with him in my class," he said.
"I am by no means lenient on him," Jennifer said defensively. "What am I supposed to do? Chain him to the floor after class until he gets his homework done?"
"That would be a start," Severus smirked softly. "By the way, how come you didn't mention to me that the Broom Closet was up for sale?" Jennifer glanced up at him, but he was a step in front of her, and she picked up the pace to catch up.
"Why would I? Does it matter?" Jennifer shrugged.
"It might have," Severus said calmly. "I know how hard you worked getting that place in order."
"Well, sure, I had to make it livable, after all. But I knew it was just a rental, it's no big deal. Besides, I know how much you disliked that cottage." Severus turned around to look at her, folding his arms.
"I never said I didn't like it. In fact, I recall commenting on how much I liked the cellar."
"You commented that the basement was bigger than the house. That wasn't exactly complementary." Jennifer said in annoyance.
"What I want to know is how you feel about it," he asked with equal annoyance, drumming his fingers against his arm.
"It was a rental, it didn't mean anything to me, okay? Now would you drop it?" Jennifer said, going around him to get to Filch's office.
"Have it your way, then. I'll just to put it up for resale," Severus snapped. Jennifer turned slowly back around, studying his face in disbelief.
"You bought it? I thought… how did you find out about it?" Jennifer asked.
"Oh, a student might have casually mentioned it to me at some point. Probably just trying to get on my good side," he said, waving it off. "Of course, if I knew you were going to act this way about it…"
Glancing down the side corridors quickly to make sure no one was around, Jennifer leaned up and kissed him lovingly, receiving a cautious kiss in return. It was just then that the door to Filch's office popped open and he looked out.
"Oh, good gawd, how disgusting is that? Bad enough catchin' the students at it. Ain't you both got enough sense t' come out of the hallways either?" Filch asked as Jennifer whipped quickly around, face bright red with embarrassment. "At least pick someone else's hallway next time. I just et," he grumbled, heading back inside. Suddenly they heard loud kissing noises followed by a mad giggle.
"Snape and Craw were snogging in the hall!" Peeves sang, his vapory form heading quickly out of range.
"The one time we're not behind an office door, and Peeves is there," Severus muttered. "We'll never hear the end of it."
"Not to mention we'll have to sit through another one of Minerva's professor conduct lectures," Jennifer added with a sigh.
"I can already hear it now," Severus grimaced. "At least now I know you're glad I bought the house. But we really need to find that painting if we're going to do it today, and we don't have much time before our next classes."
"Right," Jennifer quickly agreed, reluctantly heading into Filch's office.
Peeves, however, was far from ready to let the matter go. In fact, after taking a tour of the castle singing his new song down every corridor and to everyone he passed, he hovered back up to where they were standing in the trophy room beside one of the paintings there, making loud kissing noises. Severus excused himself for a moment, leaving Jennifer who was trying to ignore the annoying poltergeist, while Filch sniggered softly.
"Well, it's yer own fault, ya know. Bet McGonagall will have say something when she gets wind of it," Filch said.
"Oh come on, Filch, lay off, haven't you ever been in love, even once?" Jennifer asked, hands on her hips. Filch squinted at her menacingly as Peeves burst out in rolling laughter.
"I know! I know!" Peeves said, "You'll never guess who he had a crush on, it was –"
"PEEVES!" A loud voice bellowed out so outraged that even Jennifer jumped. The Bloody Baron, ghost of Slytherin house and the only one who could manage to keep Peeves in line, appeared in horrifying clarity coming in the doorway, followed by Severus. "How DARE you taunt the head of Slytherin house! Have you forgotten already what happened the last time you made that mistake?" he boomed, his eyes flashing. Peeves quickly darted out of the room with a whimper, closely followed by the Baron, hot on his tail. Severus then walked up with a smug look on his face, putting a hand on Jennifer's stiffened shoulder. Filch sniggered again.
"Well, that should take care of that for awhile," Severus said, glancing around. "That's her, isn't it?" Severus asked, pointing at the painting above the door.
"Yep, that's the one. She don't move much no more, pretty sleepy that one. Probably needs some repairs," Filch grunted.
Jennifer glanced up at the picture, immediately recognizing the woman. She was much older in the picture, Jennifer realized, by many years, but there could be no mistaking the eyes.
"That's definitely her," Jennifer said with a nod. "So the only one we don't know now is the Gryffindor. Either George de Mimsy or Bedivere O'Laren."
"Dunno as I've seen either of 'em by name, but maybe George is related to Nicolas somehow?" Filch suggested.
"Good idea. Thanks for the help, Argus," Jennifer smiled warmly, glancing at the watch. Severus nodded to him as well as they headed out of the room.
"Any time. Good luck keeping Peeves quiet," he sneered at them, glancing back up at the picture thoughtfully.
Jennifer and Severus turned down the back stairs, veering off at the second floor landing where Jennifer headed quickly to the classroom just in time for her double Defense period. Quickly she got the class started on the chapter on Dementors, wraiths and spectres, and was in the middle of her lecture on their different aspects when Peeves waltzed in.
"Professor Craw was snogging in the hall," he started to sing over and over again. The class began to chuckle as Jennifer put her hands on her hips, looking over at him in annoyance, gesturing at Julie to close the door.
"All right, class, let's skip back a couple of chapters to page eighty-seven and someone can get some practice in," she said, as the students grinned and turned to the chapter on poltergeists. "Let's try the one on the bottom of the page, shall we? David, why don't you try it? On my nod, one, two…"
"Tetera reversus!" He called out, pointing at the poltergeist. A flash of light bathed around him, but nothing appeared to happen.
Peeves chuckled, pointed at the boy, and said, "Peeves is a trouble-maker!" Peeves blinked in surprise as the class started laughing. "Peeves is a nosy nuisance! Peeves is a nosy nuisance!" he sang, looking frustrated as everyone started laughing again. Suddenly books started flying in the classroom off the students' desks, but all headed straight for the poltergeist. Crying out in surprise, Peeves ran for the door, passing through it just as the books came banging against it, falling to the floor.
"Ten points for Hufflepuff, well done, David," Jennifer chuckled with satisfaction as she gestured lightly with her wand to put the room back in order once more.
On Saturday the rain finally turned into a miserable drizzle, tapering off by the time that Jennifer, Hermione and Ron finally finished the layout for the first newspaper and headed to the Quidditch Pitch to meet up with Harry and Ginny, bringing a copy with them for Anna to look at. The lake had risen and mud puddles abounded, but Jennifer and the students walked safely over to the cottage with the footprint spell, hardly even noticing it except for one stray remark.
"Look at the Quidditch stands now! They're totally covered, after all that work we did a few weeks ago scrubbing them," Ron muttered in annoyance. "They're even worse now than before our detention!"
"Don't blame me, it's not like I chose to make it rain after you finished your work. And you all did such a nice job too," Jennifer said expressionlessly, knocking on the door. She wasn't about to tease them about it, but she wasn't going to play to their sympathy either. Detention wasn't supposed to be easy.
Hagrid opened the door cheerfully and they went in, warmly greeting Anna as they came in, Hermione immediately handing her over the layout for her to look at.
"How are you doing, Hagrid? Bet you're glad the rain stopped," Jennifer grinned at him. Hagrid's small house had been filled with lightening cats, who had positively refused to leave and had completely interrupted last week's dinner, zapping the ankles of anyone who wouldn't listen to their pleas for table scraps.
"Wull, I dunno, I was sorta gettin' use ta havin' em all inside, but Fang didn't like 'em much, so he's glad, I'd say." Hagrid said.
Anna didn't say anything, but was also glad they were gone, despite never having trouble with them shocking her. Her keen dislike of animals had not really dissipated any since she had arrived, although she had developed a tolerance to some that she couldn't get rid of. Jake was the only exception to that rule, and even he had taken a long time for her to get used to. But the dog would not go away, sometimes sticking around late into the night, even in the pouring rain. She had finally given up and let the dog in, glad to have someone to talk at who didn't answer back. What was strange was that the dog always seemed to be actually listening, and some of his reactions were eerily human. She was quite certain there must have been something magic about him, but wasn't quite sure what. Anna was also beginning to wonder if he didn't feel the same way about humans as she did about animals, for he always left the room when Remus or Dumbledore or Jennifer came to visit, and always hid when Severus came over. In any case, she had come to finally accept him, even to the point of missing him if for whatever reason he didn't come that day. She was having little luck finding out who he belonged to, so that still remained a mystery to her. Even Harry wouldn't tell her, although he asked about the dog often.
"So, what do you think?" Hermione asked Anna, bringing her thoughts back to the paper.
"Looks really good, for a school paper," Anna commented, reading some of the first page, which featured an article entitled, Daily Prophet Journalist Integrity Questioned.
"For a school paper?" Hermione said with irritation. "But it needs to be more than that. It needs to be convincing."
"Then you need to change some of these words around. There's nothing convincing about an intransitive verb. Got a pen?" Anna started making a few notes as Hermione peered over, and Jennifer found herself tuning back into the conversation going on between Harry and Hagrid.
"Well, I'm just not sure that's what I want to do," Harry said, "I mean, I suppose it could be fun being on a real Quidditch team, but, somehow I thought I'd be cheating myself." Ron looked at Harry as if he were insane. Jennifer also saw that Ron often thought that opportunities came way too easy for Harry, but could see how he might easily benefit from knowing a professional Quidditch player. Thoughts of being an agent came to mind.
"Oh, come on, Harry, you know you want to do it, and you'd be famous, you know. I mean, even more than you already are, and you'd make a fortune," Ron said.
"That might be alright for Justin, but I'm just don't think it's right for me, especially with Voldemort…" Harry said.
"Harry, you can't plan your entire life around if Voldemort lives or dies, that's just insane. What are you going to do, put your life on hold for years at a time?" Ron asked. Jennifer suddenly felt uncomfortable, glancing at her engagement ring, which was showing her its normal faint blue color. She and Severus had been doing exactly that themselves in a way, so she could see where Harry was coming from just as much as Ron.
"Harry can do anythin' he sets his mind ta. If ya wanna play, play. If ya don't wanna, don't feel like you hafta. It's not like anybody'd ever turn ya down for a job no matter what ya wanna do," Hagrid said, putting a cauldron of stew on the table.
"Snape told me that he thinks the only reason they would even offer me a contract would be to fill seats because I was famous, and not anything to do with my playing. He said the scout wasn't even paying attention at the last game because he was too busy talking to McGonagall." Harry said.
"Oh, come on, now Harry, you don't really believe that, do you? I mean, everyone knows you were the youngest Seeker here in a century. You can spin circles around everyone else out there," Ginny protested. There was a knock on the door.
"Harry, you know I agree with Hagrid and Ginny that this is totally up to you," Jennifer said, getting up to answer the door. "But as much as I understand why you might be enthusiastic about the idea, you should probably ask yourself what's really important."
Jennifer opened the door to see Sirius standing there, his smile warm and cheerful even though she could tell something was on his mind. He entered before she could question it, greeting her warmly.
"Good evening, Jennifer. How is my favorite dragon tamer? Evening, Hagrid, Harry and company," Sirius said, smiling at Anna, who nodded slightly towards him. "Brought you some things from town, Hagrid, sorry I'm late," he added, setting his bags down and sitting down next to Harry and Ginny. His eyes wandered back over to Anna, who was still working with Hermione on the paper. Jennifer was watching Sirius carefully to try and figure out what he had been thinking about from the moment he came in, so was quickly aware of the wistfulness behind the long thoughtful glance. Anna looked up then, staring at him a moment before turning back to Hermione. There was a strangeness to her look as well, Jennifer noted, as if she were arguing with herself on whether or not to trust him. Jennifer glanced across at Harry, who was trying to think of something to say to end the sudden silence.
"So how's the paper looking, guys?" Jennifer said, glancing over at Anna and Hermione. They handed over the heavily marked sheet, and Jennifer scanned the work with a nod, handing it back.
"It just needs tightening up," Anna said.
"I'll probably have to spend most of tomorrow fixing these," Hermione said thoughtfully, not noticing Ron's dirty look. "But I do think you're right, this does read a lot better." There was a soft knock at the door.
"I'll get it, Hagrid. It's Severus," Jennifer said, getting up, and answering it. Severus peered in suspiciously when she answered, glancing in to see who was here. "Hello, what's up?"
"It's getting late. I thought I would check up on things," Severus said, looking at the students with a scowl. "Don't you think they should be getting back? As should you? Don't forget we need to go to the Alley tomorrow."
"I know, I know, we'll be along in a moment," Jennifer assured him.
"I could walk you back if you like, Anna," Severus offered, his glance at Sirius revealing that he wasn't sure he was capable of doing it. Sirius glowered at him. Anna quickly got up, hugging Hagrid and thanking him warmly before heading out the door. Jennifer hid a chuckle as she shut the door behind them.
"You know, Sirius," Jennifer said, feeling mischievously brave, "she is a Snape at heart, but if she's anything like Severus, I'm sure she'll warm up eventually." Sirius stared at Jennifer. "Don't give me that, I'm a Truth Seeker. Admit it, you like her. I'm not going to tell Severus."
"Well, of course I like her but as to what you're getting at, I'm only trying to make friends to make my job of protecting her easier." Sirius said defensively.
"I thought that's what the whole excuse about the dog act was," Jennifer taunted. Hagrid, Harry and the rest of the students started looking back and forth between them. "Seems to me since she doesn't trust you, it'd be easier to just stay that way while protecting her."
"Well, I usually do, actually, but it's going to come out eventually and I'd rather not have her despising me at the time she finds out," Sirius said irritably.
"Why?" Jennifer asked. "I mean, you don't go out of your way to make anyone like you, I've watched you. They either accept you for who you are or they don't. And how come you never flirt with her when you flirt with every other girl you meet? This sounds awful serious to me."
Sirius looked her straight in the eye and sat there for a moment, well aware that everyone else was looking at him expecting him to say something.
"She doesn't like me. She doesn't trust me. She's only putting up with me when Harry is around. Well, in human form anyhow," he added. "So unless you think you can dig in that little head of hers and find out what's going on, it doesn't matter what I think."
"I think I know why she doesn't trust you," Harry said, looking over at Sirius. "I'm sorry, I was going to mention it before, but she was here. The reason she came to Britain in the first place was to look for you…when I was staying at the Cauldron, that's when she went in Diagon Alley, trying to find you. She's done all sorts of research for her job for it," Harry explained. "I think she'd trust her own reasoning over anyone else's if they contradicted her own opinion, no matter who it is."
"Severus is the same way," Jennifer agreed. "I'm sure that's it. We need to find out what the Muggles think about you, Sirius," Jennifer suggested. "Bet that's where we get some answers."
"So go talk to her then. I certainly can't," Sirius said.
"I can't go tonight. Severus and I need to go out tomorrow. We're trying to locate some information on the Tomb," Jennifer explained. "We think there might be something in the Craw vault that might give us a lead, or at least get us information on the four apprentices that were down in the Chamber after he died." The four students looked over at her with interest.
"What have you found out so far?" Hermione asked.
"Not much, only the names of three of them, but we still don't know the Seeker, we got it narrowed down to two though…George de Mimsy and Bedeviere O'Laren." She admitted.
"Any relation to Nearly Headless Nick?" Ginny asked.
"We haven't asked him yet, haven't had time to track him down," Jennifer admitted.
"Let us ask him for you then. We get along really well with him, even went to his Deathday party," Harry offered. Jennifer looked at them for a long moment.
"All right, but if Severus finds out you're helping, I'll deny I knew about it."
"Who were the other three?" Hermione insisted, her face intent on going on another book hunt.
"Caprica Dusthorn, she was a Headmaster, Janus Craw, of course, and Icarus Ravenclaw."
"Mad Ick? Mad Ick was involved in the Chamber of Secrets?" Sirius chimed in, his face in complete surprise. "You have got to be joking. What a dreary, annoying, doomsayer he is!" Jennifer squinted at Sirius.
"You are saying you know him?" she asked.
"Only too well," Sirius said, his voice betraying his bitterness. He shook himself out of it, looking back at Jennifer. "He's one of the ghosts at Azkaban. But if you can get anything out of that spook other than the world is coming to an end, I'll be surprised."
"That sounds like the right Icarus to me," Jennifer said excited, looking up at Hagrid. "I don't suppose you could take ground Quidditch patrol tomorrow?" Jennifer asked with a sweet smile.
"If you promise ta watch my creatures next week while I'm gone, like ya did last year. I hafta be gone by Tuesday," Hagrid said. Jennifer nodded, having some idea where he was heading.
"All right, deal. That'll give us time to head to the prison tonight," Jennifer said.
"Then who's going to find out about Anna?" Sirius asked, looking around.
"Leave it to us," Hermione said with a smile. "We'll talk to her."
"Well, get her to come to the school then, you know you guys aren't supposed to be out there without an escort. Come on, let's get you back," Jennifer said, not noticing the quick look the four of them exchanged. "I'll come by tomorrow evening so you can fill me in on the beasties, Hagrid."
"Alright then. Goodnight folks," Hagrid waved as the five of them headed out. Sirius closed the door behind them.