Chapter Four
Back to Hogwarts
Jennifer tried not to think about the fact that her wand cost as much as their house addition, knowing it couldn't have been helped. Severus took it all in stride, and when Corey excitedly asked if they could come back to the town before Christmas, Severus told him that they could. Jennifer shook her head at them, but didn't say anything. The last thing they needed right now was to get carried away with money, Craw vault or no.
Now with her new wand ordered and paid for and school shopping for Corey done, Jennifer could concentrate on preparing the cottage for the long school year ahead. Anna, who had stayed in the States much longer than she had expected, arrived just a day before Jennifer and Severus would need to be back. Many of the bookshelves in the living room had been emptied, and two chests and three footlockers sat in the middle of the floor. Jennifer knocked on the bookcase before sitting down with Anna and talking to her while waiting for Corey. The basement door opened and Severus stepped in carrying a small suitcase.
"Hello Titiana. I thought I heard your voice. I've finished packing the lab," he said. "Corey's still not done yet?"
"Apparently not," Jennifer said, getting up. "I'll go and see if I can't hurry him up," she offered, getting up and heading upstairs.
"So," Severus said when Jennifer had left, "I got a summons today. Jennifer didn't." He sat down by Anna, looking at her thoughtfully.
"I take it you haven't told her about it yet then," Anna inquired.
"No, not yet, but you know I can't keep anything from her for long, nor am I willing to anymore. I have a feeling that whatever they want me to say at that hearing, it is not going to help Audi," he admitted. "I really don't see how this can be stopped at this point," he said. "We need to be prepared for what might happen if he does get out."
Corey came down the stairs with a suitcase in one hand and a pet carrying case in the other, Cheshire looking none to happy for being inside of it.
"Now, you sure you're going to be all right with this Muggle thing," Jennifer asked Corey, who rolled his eyes in response.
"Mom, I was a Muggle for eleven years. Don't worry, I can handle it," he insisted.
"No magic, not one spark, and listen to your Aunt. Anna, if he gets into any trouble, don't hesitate to send for us," Jennifer said.
"Don't worry, Jennifer. Corey and I are going to be fine," Anna reassured her. "We're going to play Muggle tourist and visit some of London. Seems that Corey's seen even less of it than I have."
"What potions do you have in your wallet?" Severus asked him. Corey took out the large wallet about the size of a notebook that he had gotten for his birthday and opened it. Inside were five sets of straps holding individual phials.
"Floo powder, healing potion, bezoar solution, sleeping dust, and bottled swamp gas. Something for every occasion," Corey said.
"Fine, just don't use any of it except for an emergency, and not in front of Muggles if you can help it," Severus frowned. "Where's your wand?"
"Packed away, it's not like I need it anyhow," Corey said.
"Yes, well, he's not going to be casting any spells away from us or Hogwarts so it's not going to be an issue, right, Corey?" Jennifer said sternly.
Although she understood Severus' insistence to be prepared for any emergency, she was a tad afraid that Corey might take advantage of that and redefine what an 'emergency' was.
"Well, I guess I will take him off your hands then, and don't worry, we're only a pop away. Besides, Sirius will be coming back from Harry's in a few days and he'll be around to help too," Anna said.
"Wonderful," Severus said in a tone dripping with sarcasm as Corey came over to shake his hand and then gave Jennifer a hug.
"See you at the Sorting," Corey said, waving.
"Take care you two, don't work too hard," Anna said, helping Corey pack his things into her car.
The next day was Jennifer's birthday, and as always she spent it gathering last minute things from the cottage and sending them along to the school. The house seemed so bare and quiet. Her familiar Ratfly had left the evening before, so even his annoying squeaking sound was missing, and the absent sound of feet on stairs left a void in the cottage. It was strange how a few short months had changed so much of her outlook on things, expectations, even her priorities somewhat. And going back not as the Defense teacher but as the Potions Master made it seem in some ways like it was her very first year all over again.
She had been standing in the kitchen gazing at the garden when a glitter crossed in front of her eyes as a pair of hands moved around her, drawing something gently against her neck and fastening it.
"Severus! I knew you were up to something on that trip to Myrkinbrek," Jennifer said with exasperation as she touched the small star-shaped pendant. It hung on a fine silvery chain that sparkled like starlight, made from a material Jennifer didn't recognize.
"No arguments, goblins offer no refunds," he said calmly, handing her her yellow pocket mirror. "The chain is made from Moonspider thread, it glows softly in the dark…the less light, the stronger it gets. The pendant is red wisp crystal. It can provide even more light if necessary," he explained, gazing at her in the small mirror. "Don't tell me you dislike it."
"Severus, it's wonderful, and I do like it," Jennifer said, turning around to look at him. "Although I'm not sure we should be catering to my fears like this." Severus shook his head with a frown, straightening the necklace and putting his hands on her shoulders.
"I would have to be completely blind to miss that what happened to you down in that Tomb left some scars, and understandably so. I know you are capable of fighting through these sorts of setbacks, but I also know that is going to take time for those scars to heal. I don't want you to feel trapped by darkness again," Severus said, gazing seriously at her. "It's not catering to a fear to offer a solution. Besides, it would be nice to be able to turn the lamps off at night without you waking up in a cold sweat."
"Oh Severus, I am so sorry. I must be a total trial to put up with as a wife," Jennifer chuckled apologetically. Severus' expression turned to one of mild surprise.
"It can't possibly be any worse than putting up with me."
"Nonsense, I'd rather be with you than anyone else in the world," Jennifer said, kissing him lovingly.
"And they say miracles never happen anymore," Severus said softly, pulling her close.
Jennifer greeted Minerva McGonagall with open arms when they arrived at the gate, very glad to see her close friend and supervisor. Minerva chuckled and hugged her warmly back, leaving Severus to walk contentedly behind them as the three of them entered the castle.
"You both might as well have been halfway across the world as little as we heard from you," Minerva scolded them.
"Don't blame us. Dumbledore was the one who told us to take it easy this summer," Jennifer grinned.
"Well honestly, you could have dropped a card and told us if you were ready to kill each other or not," Minerva said. Jennifer laughed at that.
"I can safely say it was the best summer of my life so far," Jennifer said, smiling back at Severus. "Where are we headed, to the study?"
"No, actually, Dumbledore isn't here at the moment," Minerva admitted.
"Not here on the first day of full staff? That's rather odd," Severus said, frowning slightly.
"Yes, well, things do come up, as you know. I'm sure he'll fill you in later. In the meantime, I'd like to get you both settled. We did a bit of room arranging this year with the new staff and all, so I hope you don't mind. Your room has been moved, Severus, while Jennifer's rooms are generally where they were. You'll see what I mean when we get up there. Now, Jennifer, Dumbledore wanted me to ask you if you would work with getting Hermione Granger oriented this year. I'm sure it won't be too much of a problem as far as learning the castle since she was a student here, but if you could work with her on the security devices, etiquette and so on, that would be wonderful."
"Of course, Minerva, glad to help," Jennifer agreed.
"Severus, might we ask you to get our new history professor gets acclimatized if you will? You may be surprised to hear this, but it's going to be Alvin Archibald. He had been teaching at Durmstrang."
"Alvin Archibald?" Severus said blinking. "I wondered what had happened to him. I thought he had probably been killed."
"Who?" Jennifer asked.
"Someone I went to school with; a fellow Slytherin two years behind me. His father had been a Death Eater as well, but had been murdered early on. Somehow Alvin had managed to stay out of the whole thing, I don't know how, really. At that point I was too embroiled in my own hell to really pay attention to what everyone else was doing," Severus said. Minerva regarded Severus with thoughtful surprise. She couldn't remember the last time she had heard him make such an open remark before. "Is he here now?"
"No, he'll be a day late; he's still trying to get his affairs in order. Also, I should warn you both we should have quite an influx of new students this year. Many old alumni have come back to the area since June, some with very exceptional children," Minerva said, smiling softly at Jennifer. "Dumbledore wants to have the before term staff meeting once everyone is here and settled. Here we are, Severus," she said, pausing in front of the painting of the sleeping dragon. "The password is 'Nightshade.'"
"And here I was thinking we were going to my room! Now yours is right next to mine!" Jennifer said pleased.
"Yes, thank you, Minerva, this will make life a lot easier this year," Severus agreed.
"Well, just because you're married doesn't mean you are allowed to let your discretion slip around the students…"
"Please, Minerva, spare us that lecture again," Severus said with open annoyance. "You know us both better than that."
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Minerva said with a half smile. "The two of you have changed more over the summer than you might realize. Your password is 'Foxglove,' Jennifer. Now, I know you both know your way around so I'd best go down and see who else has arrived. I'll see you both later." They watched her walk down the stairs before turning back to each other.
"Coming in for a moment?" he asked.
"I'd better go let Ratfly in first," Jennifer decided, walking down the corridor a few steps to the painting of a bright-eyed raven. It looked at her, winking an eye as if glad to see her. She in turn was happy to see him, the painting solidly making her feel like she had come home at last. "Foxglove, Dewhurst," she told the raven. The painting opened, and she stepped into her sitting room.
Although she was sure it was the same sitting room as that she had in previous years, there had been some remarkable changes. The corridor on the left side of the room that used to lead into her bedroom was now just a solid wall, although the mirror that had hung between the rooms was still there, near where the old door has been. She glanced at the mirror in bewilderment as she went over to open the window, then noticed Ratfly's perch had also been moved and there was now a door at the far right corner of the room. Letting her curiosity get the better of her, she opened it to find herself in a tastefully but sparsely decorated bedroom with double nightstands and bureaus, a large bed and wardrobe, and a bathroom slightly bigger than her old one. If she had any doubts what the extra space was about, it disappeared completely when the door on the opposite side of the room opened and Severus stepped in, looking amazed in spite of himself.
"I think my personal indebtedness to Dumbledore and Minerva just doubled," Jennifer said when she could finally bring herself to speak, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Is that all? I was thinking mine just increased tenfold," Severus mused, sitting beside her and glancing around thoughtfully.
"We should go start unpacking," Jennifer suggested, but didn't get up. Instead she tried to get a glance at her ring without looking like that was what she was doing.
"Yes, we probably should. Especially since you'll have the lab to organize," Severus agreed, turning to look at her. Jennifer was apparently occupied with looking at the carpet. "Do you suppose anyone would notice if we didn't go down for lunch?" he asked suddenly.
Jennifer met up with Hermione Granger at dinner in the staff room, quickly making plans to get together the next day. The new librarian couldn't help but be a tad surprised at Severus' appearance when he stepped in a few moments later, for he did not seem like the same person she had first met as a student eight years ago. Even though Hermione didn't voice it, Rolanda Hooch, who was sitting beside her, was quick to do it for her.
"Severus, I do believe that married life agrees with you. You look ten years younger! And you're growing your hair out! I like it. Is that a new robe? No, it couldn't be, Severus never wears anything until it has tenure," Rolanda teased mercilessly. Hermione decided she liked seeing this side of her old broom instructor.
"Yes, if you must know, Jennifer made it. And yes, married life is quite agreeable, thank you, but don't you have something better to do than try to taunt me?" Severus scowled at her, sitting down beside Jennifer. Rolanda looked thoughtful.
"Nope, can't think of a thing," she decided, stabbing at her dinner.
"Rolanda!" Jennifer chuckled at her. "I see you're getting started early this year."
"Speaking of getting started early, are you going to help me with tryouts again, or did you ever get another broom?" she asked.
"No she didn't, and no she isn't, and she isn't going to be getting on a broom at all this year, so I expect you'll have to find some other poor soul to help you referee," Severus said, folding his arms and glaring at Rolanda.
"Well, I see some things haven't changed," she said, waving at Poppy Pomfrey, the school nurse, who had just walked in the door.
"Sorry, Rolanda, but this time Severus is right. I'm not getting on a broom this year," Jennifer said. "Besides, I really had little time last year for anything with the paper, sparring, and Quidditch games, and I was asked by several people to cut back."
"Including me," Poppy nodded to Rolanda and then to Jennifer. "Welcome back! I've been looking for you! I have the regular prescription list for our second through sixth year students ready so you can get started on stock," she said, handing Jennifer the list. Jennifer's jaw dropped, and Severus smirked softly.
"Great stars, that many?" Jennifer said.
"Oh, and here's my list," Poppy added, smiling beatifically as she handed it to her. Jennifer gazed stonily at it for a moment before noticing that Severus was watching her with intense amusement.
"You know, I should have some spare time after I get these syllabi done if you need me to lend a hand…" Severus began.
"Oh, no you don't. You stay out of my lab. Yours is at home. Besides, you decided to go with new books this year, remember? You have plenty enough to do, and I am more than capable of taking care of my own work, thank you." Jennifer said, glaring at him stubbornly.
"I love it when they get like this," Rolanda told Hermione, offering her some popcorn from the bowl that had appeared in the middle of the table. "The last time they did this is when we got together that grudge Quidditch match last year, remember that?" Severus and Jennifer turned their glares on Rolanda.
"You know, this isn't quite how I imagined things were going to be on this side of the table," Hermione said. "I guess I didn't expect everyone to be so… human."
"Don't worry, give it a month or so and you'll be feeling right at home. If you're anything like Jennifer when she joined the staff, you'll be well over your head in no time," Rolanda said cheerfully. "So how are you on a broom these days, anyhow?"
The next day, Jennifer took Hermione around to show her many of the various security devices hidden around the castle. Some of them, like the one in the library, Hermione had known about as a student after one or another professor had used them, but others she hadn't known about at all. If she had, she might have been a lot more cautious about what she said and where she was as a student.
"There are certain rooms in the castle you can Disapparate or port out of, as long as the destination is outside of the castle. Dumbledore has a way to alter that, but I have no idea how he does it. Suffice it to say that if he asks you to Apparate in the castle, you can at that particular moment," Jennifer explained. "Students can't, of course, nor do they need to know that we can. Many of the paintings are rigged with security as well, but honestly there are so many of those that I still haven't memorized them all yet. If you need detail, ask Severus or Argus Filch, they both know them pretty well. I can tell you that any with the picture of a Headmaster is tied to security. Whatever you do, if you see one of them sleeping, never ever wake one up. If they need to be woken up, Dumbledore needs to be the one to do it. And no, I don't know why that's the rule, and I'm not sure I want to know why," Jennifer grinned. "Can we step out to the greenhouse? I need to talk to Pomona about some ingredients I'll need for potions. I can show you what security she has out there while we're at it."
"Sure," Hermione said, grateful for the short break. It had started to become increasingly evident how little she knew, and she found it a lot to process. As much as she had known about Hogwarts, she was beginning to realize that she had only scratched the surface, and maddeningly wanted to learn more.
Pomona Sprout was working outside the greenhouse, having brought out several dozen flats of blossoming herbs to bathe in the direct sunlight. She greeted them both warmly as they came over.
"Heartsease, how lovely! And still blooming!" Jennifer said with a sigh. "The ones I tried to grow in my garden just didn't do well at all."
"Jennifer, Heartsease is quite the easiest thing to grow. Goodness, just drop seeds and they'll take care of themselves even if you ignore them for months," Pomona said, putting her hands on her hips. "What exactly did you do to them, child?"
It was as they were talking that Hermione noticed two figures walking along the inside wall and slowly making their way towards them. The one figure, tall and dressed in black, she assumed could only be Severus, but she didn't recognize the other one. Perhaps it was the new History professor, or the Magical Creatures professor? Hermione's attention returned to Pomona as she began to inform her about the security measures around the northern grounds.
Alvin Archibald was a dusty blonde haired man with a closely trimmed beard and mustache. He walked slowly along the grounds beside Severus in his chocolate brown silk robes with tight-cuffed sleeves, his face haunted with old memories.
"It's strange, Severus. Back at Durmstrang, I probably couldn't have told you much at all about my life here, but now it's all coming back and it's the memories of Izelda and Igor that are fading. Hogwarts hasn't changed much. You have changed, though… senior faculty professor, left hand of Dumbledore, and now Defense Arts teacher? Does that mean you're not a pain in the arse anymore?" he asked jokingly.
"No, I'm still that," Severus said calmly. "I am sorry to hear that Karkaroff came to a bad end, but I had a feeling he would when he left here after the games."
"That school has gone steadily down hill the three years since then. In all honesty, I'm a bit surprised that they hadn't offered the position to you," he said.
"Who's to say that they didn't?" Severus replied expressionlessly as they walked along the wall.
"You're joking. You turned it down, are you insane? Do you know how much that would have meant... the prestige, the money, and your status?" Alvin said, looking at him incredulously. "And you call yourself a Slytherin. I would have taken it in a heartbeat."
"And what would have happened here if I had? Voldemort had risen again; I was not about to leave Dumbledore when he needed me most, any more than he was willing to leave me when I had nowhere else to turn. Besides, they hadn't asked me until Christmas, and by then I had other things keeping me here."
"Such as?" Alvin asked, studying the solemn man curiously.
"Follow me, and I'll show you," Severus replied, changing his path away from the wall and towards the greenhouse.
Alvin glanced ahead at where three witches were standing just outside. A young witch, barely out of school, he supposed, stood watching as an older witch bent over several rows of yellow and purple flowers. That was when Alvin began to make out the features of the third one as she knelt within the blossoms.
"Who is that?" Alvin asked quietly as they came a little closer. "She is amazing. Surely she can't be for real? A dozen enchantments I bet."
"Which one?" Severus asked casually, "the girl?"
"No, no, the one with the exquisitely angelic face, auburn hair and slender figure. Surely even you can't be totally blind to that."
"Oh, her. Yes, she's always looked like that. She's the new Potions Master, you see, but I would forget about her if I were you. She's married to a jealous and temperamental husband," Severus advised him. Alvin's shoulders slumped slightly.
"Ah, it figures. The good ones are always taken. I envy the lucky stiff," Alvin chuckled.
The witch looked up and a bright warm smile swept across her face. She waved and stood, stepping out of the flowers. The girl and older witch moved to join her as the two men approached.
"Severus! I finally figured out what was happening to the Heartsease. I think my Griffonlilies were eating them," Jennifer said.
"Didn't I tell you when you planted those that you had them too close to your omnivores?" Severus reminded her, folding his arms.
"Yes, well, next year I'm going to plant them on the outer wall. It's not like they're not common around there," Jennifer decided, smiling at the man beside Severus who was gazing at her thoughtfully. Apparently he thought she was pretty.
"Alvin Archibald, might I present Hermione Granger, the new librarian, Pomona Sprout, our Herbologist, and this is Jennifer Craw, our Potions Master."
"Jennifer Craw? Oh, wait, you were the Defense Professor that helped Harry Potter defeat Voldemort, aren't you? I wasn't expecting you to be so… young," Alvin said, looking increasingly amazed. Jennifer looked uncomfortable.
"Well, I don't really know that I was of that much 'help,' but yes, I was down there," Jennifer said, who glanced pleadingly over at Severus. Severus seemed to be amused about something, but before she could get a good look at his expression, he had turned towards Alvin.
"Perhaps we had better finish our rounds so the girls can get back to what they were doing," Severus suggested. "Jennifer, Alvin knows of a respectable apothecary down in Wales we can try, so we're going to go see if it's still there. Do you still need components?"
"Do I, and then some," Jennifer said with a sigh. "I sure hope it's there. I was about ready to give in and go to Draco's. The supply lists are in my class folder up in my sitting room."
"I'll stop by our rooms and pick them up before we go," Severus said.
"Thank you!" Jennifer replied.
"Our rooms?" Alvin blinked in total disbelief. "As in…"
"As in I'm the lucky stiff, yes." Severus said as a thin smile played across his face. "Frightening, isn't it? Come on, we'd better head out if we're going today."
The two men didn't get back until late, but the mission had been a success, for he apothecary was still where Alvin had last visited it in a small, rural area outside of Carmarthen. Glen Witolf, Severus told Jennifer, was a very venerable old man, and his granddaughter Ashley did most of the running of the shop. In any case, the quality was excellent and the prices reasonable. Jennifer was quite happy with the results, although a bit overwhelmed with the amount of components she was going to have to reorganize.
"I am going to be stuck in this lab all day tomorrow, I can tell," she said when they entered the dungeon. She went straight over to the outside corner of the room where the top half of several windows let in a bit of evening light. Then she climbed up on the table, trying to fiddle with them.
"Those don't open," Severus said, going through one of the parcels. Jennifer took out her dagger; concentrating on it until it turned into a glasscutter,. With an annoying screeching noise she cut out the glass, setting the panes aside.
"They do now," Jennifer said, hopping off the table. "I can't possibly work down here without air. I was already starting to suffocate," she said, walking over and feeling the breeze on her back. "There, now that's so much better."
"What are you going to do about your office? There's only the barred window in there," Severus pointed out, gazing at her thoughtfully.
"Do what I always do when I'm in the basement at home and just leave the door open," Jennifer said. Severus didn't look too keen on that for some reason. "Besides, there is a fireplace, so I still have an escape route, right?"
"Jennifer, you are not going to get trapped in that office," Severus said, frowning at her. "Are you sure you don't want to switch offices back? My classroom is only up the stairs."
"Oh, yes, I can hear the students wondering about that one. No, that is my office and this is my classroom, and we both know why the lab can't possibly be moved anywhere else. I will just have to get over it," Jennifer decided. "Good grief, I thought I'd never get on a broom again and yet I can now, so I'll survive somehow."
"Very well, have it your way. But if you start having nightmares again there are going to be some changes made," Severus frowned. "Now, about tomorrow. I am probably going to be gone most of the day. I have business in London."
"Oh? You never mentioned that to me before," Jennifer said, looking up from the supply shelf.
"I received a summons in the post to appear at Audi's hearing," he said grimly. Jennifer glanced over at him, easily reading from his face as to why. "I'll probably go to Azkaban for awhile afterwards. I'm not sure how well your father is being informed of all this, so I should tell him what's going on."
"Oh, I know what Dad will say. He'll say, 'Well, if Jennifer had let me kill Lucius Malfoy when I had the chance to kill him, none of this would ever have happened.'" she said, imitating his voice so well Severus smirked slightly. "And you know the scary part is that I'm beginning to agree with him."
"Well, don't give up yet. I'm sure Lunette Vallid still has a word or two to say about all of this. I wonder perhaps if that's where Dumbledore's been all day, talking to her and Audi," Severus mused.
"I'm sure we'll soon find out," Jennifer said with a sigh, opening another box.