Chapter Sixteen
Goblins and Ghosts
Jennifer couldn't help being a bit excited when they walked towards Gringotts Bank the next morning, her curiosity getting the better of her. Her father had been vague about her dowry vault's contents, only being apologetic about it not being more since he had lost so much money investing in some bad business deals with Lucius Malfoy. But Jennifer really wasn't interested in wealth anyhow, only the heirlooms taken from their old estate. She knew there would be cursed and enchanted items, something that extremely interested her since she was little. She had often dreamed of making her own enchanted items, wrote out fine inventions on paper as she was growing up, but her strange aversion to any but black magic put a damper on that ambition. Cursed items were fascinating, and interesting to try and figure out and dispel, but nothing she'd want to make herself. Still, it was this interest that prompted her to go into teaching potions and items just a year out of school, a new teacher's license in her hand. If it hadn't been for that, she thought, perhaps she'd never have taught at all.
Severus took out the letter her father had given them to release the vault to her and Jennifer took out the key, showing them to the goblin at the desk who then quickly ushered towards the carts. Jennifer was thrilled to find out the vault was in one of the lower levels, loving the sensation of speeding through the tunnels, trying to keep track of the different turns and bumps along the way. Finally they arrived at the right vault and stepped out of the cart, and Jennifer handed the key over to the goblin.
"You must stand with me behind the door please. This vault is cursed and a Craw must see it first." The goblin said. Severus immediately moved over unconcernedly. Jennifer, however, was less than enthusiastic about that last bit, and waited as the goblin opened the vault.
The first thing she saw was a pair of eyes, watching her suspiciously.
Holding up her lantern, she saw it came from a painting that was nestled in a pile of galleons that came up to her shoulder…and it wasn't the only pile. Reminding herself that she had to breathe, Jennifer took a step forward, gazing at the painting of Mallus Craw. She carefully picked it up and made it face towards the wall, glancing around in total awe. Items were scattered throughout the vault in haphazard fashion, some littered among piles of coinage, making Jennifer feel like she was standing on a dragon's horde. If it hadn't been for the picture of Mallus, she would have sworn that this couldn't possibly have been her vault. This was her father's idea of meager? She thought of her own much smaller vault and the small pile of sickles lying there, and shook her head again, but then remembered that Severus was standing outside.
"It's safe…I think," Jennifer said, her voice unusually shaky. He appeared in the doorway, looking around expressionlessly.
"Hm. I see this is going to take some time," he said thoughtfully.
"You and your understatements!" Jennifer flailed, totally overwhelmed. "I have no idea where to start." Severus put on some gloves, setting his lantern casually down on one of the coin piles.
"Well, cover the paintings and mirrors and books and get out your Puzzlebox. We'll see how many items we can manage to take with us. If you see anything familiar, grab it." Severus said, taking out his wand.
"Whoever said dark magic doesn't pay must not have known my family," Jennifer muttered, taking some dust cloths out of her Puzzlebox.
It took them a better part of an hour to fill the box, carefully minimizing several of the bigger pieces once they were certain it would have no ill effect to cast on them. Books, scrolls, and papers went first, the most obvious items to have clues, with some miscellaneous things in afterwards. The goblin glared at them impatiently but said nothing, closing the door behind them as they came out.
"We're going to need to speak with Dumbledore about where to store some of these," Severus commented after they got out of the cart and back on their own two feet. "Until we've completely gone through them, I wouldn't feel safe with them in our rooms or offices."
"Maybe Dad knows what some of them do," Jennifer suggested. "Maybe we can talk Boltin into letting us see him."
"Let's drop your Puzzlebox off in Dumbledore's study first," Severus suggested. "I can't see trying to get through security with that on us." Jennifer couldn't help but chuckle.
Boltin hadn't been expecting to see them this week, so was quite surprised when he was called up to security to talk to them.
"I thought you visited your father last weekend?" he asked curiously.
"Actually, we're here to see someone else," Jennifer said. "Although if we could somehow manage to see Dad too, that'd be great," she hinted with a grin. "We're here to see one of the resident ghosts. Ever heard of a ghost that goes by 'Mad Ick'?" Boltin made a face.
"Yeah, everybody knows him. He's a ray of sunshine," Boltin snorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why would anyone want to talk to him? Bad enough he follows people around and tells people how doomed everyone is without encouraging him."
Boltin lead them down to the lower levels of the fortress, following a strange, back and forth path between several staircases to finally reach the dungeon level. It was very cold and damp, and a strange dreariness held in the air, as if the effect of the Dementors presence of yesteryears had never washed cleanly away from the place.
"This is the crypt section of the dungeon, where we lay to rest prisoners if no one claims them," Boltin told them. "Mad Ick is usually down here if he's not causing trouble upstairs. He claims it cheers him up," Boltin said, glancing in the individual cells where the vaults were kept. About four down he stopped, pointing them inside.
Sitting on a stone coffin in the center of the room was a somber apparition, apparently reading the epitaphs off the vaults. He was still wearing the same Ravenclaw robes that Jennifer had seen in the memory, but slightly crumpled and wrinkled with a large stain of splashed liquid across the front and one of his sleeves.
"Icarus, there are some folks here to see you," Boltin told the ghost. Icarus glanced up then looked back down again.
"These people are alive. I'm not in the mood to talk to living people today. They depress me," he said, sighing dramatically for emphasis. He did seem rather depressed, but Jennifer couldn't help but sense that part of it was an act and he was actually more interested than he pretended.
"Oh, come now, I brought them all the way down into this dank quarter to see you. You can at least talk to them. It's not like you don't have time to spare." Boltin said, teasing good-naturedly.
"Tell them to come back when they're dead," Icarus grunted.
"Sorry, Professors, I tried to warn you," Boltin said with a shrug.
"Professors?" Icarus said as if finally intrigued, "from Hogwarts?"
"The current Keeper and Beater, actually," Jennifer put in, and the ghost stood and floated over to them, eyeing them carefully.
"I see," he said at last. "You, then, must be Jennifer Craw, Thomas' daughter. I never thought a day would come that a Craw would be a Hogwarts professor again. And if you're the Beater, then you must be Severus Snape," he said, frowning at them. "I always knew it would come down to this, but no one would listen. No, no one listens to 'Mad Ick,' I am but a pain in their sides now. Most of them have no idea what burdens I bear, or even care. The living only care about the living, no matter how maddeningly close they get to dooming themselves to an eternity of despair, it matters not so long as they aren't forced to listen to someone warning them of what lies ahead."
"Well, we're listening," Jennifer said, trying not to get impatient. "Could you tell us where Salazar's Tomb is?" Icarus gazed at her.
"What do you mean, where is it? You're the Keeper! You're supposed to be guarding it, and you don't know where it is?" he asked in an apparent panic. "This is a complete catastrophe! That means he might have found it by now…or not," Icarus said thoughtfully, "after all, there is still a Keeper alive, and that is something."
"It hasn't been for the lack of him trying to correct that," Severus muttered.
"I think I'm surrounded." Jennifer sighed. "Look, I don't know and neither does Dad, and as far as I know there hasn't been a Craw who's known since Mallus Craw died. Surely you know where it is, considering…"
"Considering what?" Icarus snapped, drawing himself up to hover above them.
"That's not going to work with me," Jennifer said. "Believe me, we have far scarier ghosts at Hogwarts. I opened the box, I know all about what you did, and I could never be afraid of anyone who's so afraid of who he is that he'll kill himself and his family instead of dealing with his problems."
"How dare you speak to me that way?" Icarus said angrily, glaring at her at surprise. "You speak of things you nothing of. You weren't there. You didn't see what I did, nor did you have the choice I had to make."
"I would not have made the choice you made, regardless," Jennifer said coldly. "Nor am I here to listen to you wallow in your own self pity. I would very much like to get to the Tomb before your father's descendant does. Are you going to help us or not?"
"I see you Craws haven't changed much over the years; always judgmental, always ready to dispense your own justice in your own way," Icarus said, taking a step to the side but still keeping his eyes on her. "It's a wonder you've survived this long. Unfortunately for you, even if I were willing to help, I would have to explain to you that my family and I died before my father's body was even found. Your family was assigned to guard that area, and apparently it has failed miserably."
"At least my family had a chance to try," Jennifer retorted impatiently. "Fine, if you don't know, we'll find it, but you could at least tell us something about the items you four left behind."
"I don't know why I should, the way you keep insulting me," the ghost said, attempting to look indignant.
"You don't look a bit insulted. You think I'm amusing and also think I'm too idealistic and young and need a dose of reality. But regardless of what you think, we'll manage, with or without your help. Fine, stay here and feel sorry for yourself as you like, but I have better things to do," Jennifer said turning around with every intention of leaving.
"One moment," Icarus said, floating closer, watching her turn around with a stern, searching look on his face. "Is she always like this?" he asked Severus.
"No," Severus said calmly, "Only when she knows she's right."
"Well, then, I'm happy for you it's not too often," Icarus said, crossing his arms and looking back at Jennifer. "The Beater's potion should be drank by the person he trusts the least. It contains a gift, a protection, and a price. The Keeper's gem is a protection to be used when the Keeper is at her darkest moment. The Keeper's family already received the gift and the price. The Seeker's mirror contains a secret worth keeping, a secret worth revealing, and a secret worth using. The Chaser's scroll contains a secret knowledge, a knowledge worth passing on, and a knowledge worth using. Now if you don't mind, I think I'm going to see if I can go kill myself again. I knew I shouldn't have spoken with the living today," he said, and promptly passed through a wall.
"I warned you he wouldn't be much help," Boltin said as they headed out of the corridor, "But if I'd known how that conversation was going to go beforehand, I might have tried warning him as well."
"I suppose I was a little short with him," Jennifer admitted. "But I have very little tolerance for that sort of ilk." Severus glanced thoughtfully at her but kept unusually quiet as they headed back up to the main floor.
Boltin, understanding but strict about the rules, only let them talk to Jennifer's father for a moment, just long enough to update him on what they were working on.
"Most of those items won't hurt you, Jennifer, the heirlooms were made to order," Thomas told them, "But be very careful of the painting. If you chose to talk to him at all, don't ever try talking to him alone. That painting was made at the height of his power; never trust it." Armed with that advice, the two of them made their way out of the prison and back towards the school.
Harry and Ginny were having similar luck with Sir Nicolas, for although he was willing to help out didn't seem to know anything about a secret pact, which, he supposed, wasn't surprising, because if a Gryffindor had made a secret pact, surely he would have kept it a secret.
"My great grandfather he was, yes, apprenticed under Gryffindor himself. Taught Charms, I believe. Didn't stay with the school very long, however, you see, took up a position as a court wizard back in the good old days when it was still in style to have our folk about. Married a Muggle lady, in point of fact, we lived there for years. Always had ties to the school though, of course, and we all went here. Pity I wasn't able to carry on the family line," Nicolas told them soberly. "Say, I hear you all might stay for Christmas this year, is that true? Should be quite interesting having so many people about for the holidays."
"I have heard rumors, but I don't know," Harry said, "I think they're worried about the train security."
"Not that you need to worry, Harry, Sirius always picks you up. And I'm pretty sure Dad would come get us as well," Ginny commented. Ginny didn't like the idea of staying in the school for the holidays and was hoping to avoid it if possible.
"Oh well, perhaps it was just a rumor. I'll be sure to keep you posted if I hear anything new," Nick said politely as he floated away.
"Yes, us too," Harry waved then turned to Ginny. "Come on, I think Hermione and Ron are in the newsroom," he said, and the two of them walked out of the Great Hall.
The newsroom was converted from a spare classroom on the second floor, with several of the desks pulled together to create a central table with several other desks spaced apart that served the main staff. Hermione and Ron were sitting at her desk as Hermione tiredly finished up the copy sheet, looking satisfied.
"Hello, you two. Do you ever leave this room?" Ginny asked as they walked up.
"Not recently," Ron said, glancing at Hermione. Hermione looked apologetic.
"Well, I'm all finished now, and I promise I won't touch it again until we print it. How was the game?" Hermione asked.
"Pathetic," Harry said glumly, "I knew it would be. Ravenclaw had too many good players graduate last year. Slytherin swept all over them."
"We talked to Nicolas too," Ginny put in, "but he didn't know if he was the apprentice we're looking for. He said the Charms instructor went off and became a court wizard and didn't stay teaching long."
"Well, the more I think on it, the more I think it was probably the Symbology teacher," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Even more so if the Charms professor didn't stay very long. These apprentices seemed awful dedicated to the school, and I don't think one would leave without a very good reason. But before that, I was thinking it was this other man because there seems to be a lot of Symbology at work here… the titles, an apprentice from the four…there's probably a lot of other symbols we haven't seen that are there as well. Pretty fascinating really, I'm surprised we still don't have Symbology at Hogwarts. I wonder why," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Anyhow, perhaps we should concentrate on him, I am pretty sure that's the Gryffindor we're looking for. The thing is, I have a feeling there has to be something in this school that's tied to him that we can find. I mean, the school is full of history. Even if we can't find a picture we may be able to find some other clue to link him to the group."
"Even if we do find him, I'm not sure that that it will lead us to the Tomb," Harry said thoughtfully. "You know, hardly anyone's hardly mentioned Halloween this year, and it's coming up next week. After what happened last year, you'd think we would have heard something about security by now."
"I doubt Voldemort would trying anything like that two years in a row," said Ron, "What's he going to do, poison all the apples and pumpkins going into the school?"
Harry, Ginny and Hermione looked at each other.
"Oh, come on, guys, you know I was only joking," Ron complained.
"All the same, we haven't talked to Dobby in awhile. Maybe we should see how he's doing," Harry suggested.
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Hermione said, getting up. "I want to see how he's doing converting the other House Elves out of slavery while we're at it." Ron put his head in his hand, looking at her thoughtfully. Was he ever going to get her to slow down enough he could talk to her?
As it happened, Severus and Jennifer had no time to get into the Puzzlebox when they got back. Having reached the teacher's Quidditch box to watch the last few minutes of the game, Minerva informed them they were going to be having an impromptu staff meeting right after dinner to go over security for Halloween and the upcoming holidays. But Jennifer, who was getting weary from a weekend of clue chasing with little results, welcomed the chance of getting back into the swing of things.
Dumbledore smiled warmly at everyone as they entered and filed into the staff room, waiting patiently for them to find a seat and touch base with other staff before calling the room to order.
"As you all know, Halloween is in a few days, which seems to be a turbulent time of year for us over the last few years. I don't expect we'll have too much trouble inside the school, especially with all the new security measures, and the paintings all know their new procedures as well. I believe most of you are aware of your assignments this year? Jennifer, a few of our extended family should be around, and also Anna's going to stay the night if you'd escort her in before the feast."
"Yes, Professor."
"Severus, if you would, please help the volunteering ghosts on hall patrol. I have a feeling you can help discourage any students from wandering about after hours," Dumbledore said with a slight smile. Severus nodded. Dumbledore then leaned back, looking around. "Now, onto another important matter. As most of you know, one of the reasons that I have been absent so much is that I have been working with the rail company along with Filius to solve safety problems with the train route, and although I think we've found some ways to do that, in all likelihood it will not be in place until after Christmas. I also think, given the present set of circumstances and the threat against the entire student body, that it would probably be best to strongly suggest to the parents and board to allow us to keep the students here over the holidays. It is my belief that both the students and the parents will be safer if they stay at Hogwarts."
Several of the professors exchanged looks with each other. Jennifer suddenly felt terrible. She remembered how the Willowbys wanted to make sure that Corey was coming home from Christmas, and she assured them he would be able to. Of course, she couldn't have possibly known what was going to happen with the train. Still, it felt like she was breaking her word. And what about all the other students? What a dreary Christmas for them, stuck in the school away from their family and nothing to do.
"Those of us Professors who are staying, I'm sure we can come up with ways to make this as pleasant an experience as possible. Speaking of which, I know many of you have other commitments, but are there any volunteers to stay and help out?" Dumbledore asked. As Jennifer shifted, Severus reached over and grabbed her hand, frowning at her. Jennifer stared at him for a long time. Yes, it would have been the first time since Severus bought the house that she'd have been able to go over there, but how could she even think of it when Corey had to stay? After a long exchange of glares, Severus sighed in resignation and moved his hand. Jennifer immediately raised it, followed by a less enthusiastic hand from Severus. "Ah, good, I was hoping you two would join the volunteers," Dumbledore said brightly. "Poppy, thank you, and Filius, I knew I could count on you. I will see about sending word out about what arrangements can be made and some letters written explaining the situation."
Jennifer knew from the start that Halloween was going to be a long day, getting up before dawn to head to the newsroom where Hermione and Ron were yawning over two piles of copy; one neatly stacked to be handed out to students right before lunch, and a more precarious pile of rolled copies for parents. Jennifer quickly handed out mugs for tea and coffee, giving them a moment to wake up before going over the parent copies one last time and helping them take them up to the Owlery.
"I can't believe it, The Veritable Wizard Biweekly issue one! I never thought we'd get it out in time."
"Well, it took us a month to do a Biweekly, so I think we're in trouble," Ron said as they headed back to the tower. Jennifer hushed them gently, reminding them that everyone was still asleep.
"Don't worry, the first one always takes longer. We had to set up staff and stories and set up topics and order…so as long as everyone gets their stories in by the end of the week, I think we can manage getting the edited and everything approved my McGonagall the night before it's supposed to go out, so it'll be in the Owlery before then. I have no intention of getting up this early again if I don't have to," Jennifer grinned at them.
"That makes two of us," Ron said.
"You'll have to get up pretty early if you decide to work at the Ministry," Hermione reminded him.
"I haven't decided if that's what I want to do yet," Ron said. "And I'm definitely not doing it if he tries to put me in Percy's department. By the way, did you hear Percy and Penelope are engaged now? They're getting married in the spring."
"What took him so long to ask? They've been seeing each other for ages." Hermione said, putting down her box.
"Well, it's not something you just jump into, you know. Probably one of the first smart things Percy's done was wait a year or two," Ron said. Jennifer cleared her throat.
"Okay, I've the local box here for our owls. The other box goes to the main post, and their owl should be here any moment for it, it's nearly dawn. Close it up and I'll minimize it," Jennifer said, taking out her wand. Quickly getting it down to size, they then added a tie to make it easier for an owl to carry. "Let's start sending out the rest. Where are our volunteers?" she asked, looking up. Several owls came down and they began passing them out, still yawning sleepily as they read them where they went.
"Up with the birds, are we?"
Jennifer turned around to give Severus a dirty look from where he stood by the door.
"What are you doing awake?" Jennifer asked.
"Saw you were awake and came to make sure you hadn't gone down any more pipes," Severus said calmly. "Do you have a moment?"
"We'll be all right, Professor," Hermione assured her, handing out another paper.
"All right, I'll be right back," Jennifer assured them, following Severus down the stairs.
He didn't go far, however, turning instead to the door on the tower steps leading out to the parapet, opening it to fill the stairwell with chill morning air. As Jennifer stepped out, she found herself suddenly in total awe of the view. The sunrise was just starting to creep over the line of tall hills in the distance, streaking red and gold color through the lower clouds, while above them the castle was still cloaked in a veil of purple, slowly creeping further and further back as the sun ascended into the sky.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Jennifer said quietly, stepping up to the wall.
"Yes, very beautiful," Severus said softly in return. Jennifer looked up to meet his steady, unwavering gaze. A strange mix of emotions crossed his face, as if he were briefly remembering several different things at once. He took a step closer to her, leaning against the wall. "You know, it wasn't all that long ago that I wouldn't have even glanced out the window while walking through the castle, let alone notice what was beyond it. Too caught up in my own problems to have given it a passing thought."
"Sounds like me lately," Jennifer sighed, suddenly feeling guilty. "I'm afraid I've been a bit preoccupied, haven't I?"
"Well, yes, but what I was referring to goes beyond that. My preoccupation was induced by bitterness, not being overzealous like you are. Sometime before we get married, I want to sit and explain a few things that has been difficult for me to bring up before."
"If you feel you must," Jennifer said, gazing at him lovingly. "I've always known since we've met that you've been long haunted by things I couldn't read from your face, not knowing where to begin to look… not wanting to intrude. But no matter what, nothing could ever diminish my love for you."
"Be that as it may," Severus said, his voice nearing a whisper as his face took on a more serious look, "I would rather there be no barriers between us, and you have the right to know what all you're getting into."
"Me?" Jennifer chuckled softly, "and what of you? My father always said it takes nerves of steel to marry a Craw." Before he could answer, they heard a loud, whooping WOOT coming from above, and Jennifer quickly remembered what she'd been doing a few moments ago. "That's Revere, I need to go," she said, suddenly wishing she didn't.
Severus quickly leaned down and kissed her passionately, leaving her totally off balance as she reluctantly made her way towards the door. His eyes never left her until she slipped out and back up to the Owlery, and he glanced out towards the sun, now above the horizon, before hurrying down the stairs.