Chapter Eleven
Halloween Surprises
Halloween was again upon them, and Severus had not yet returned. Sighing softly, Jennifer stepped in front of her seat at the high table. Beside her, Rolanda cheerfully recounted a close broom race between Corey and Danny earlier that day, trying to cheer her up.
"He nearly caught up with her there for a moment. I can't remember the last time I've seen a school broom pushed to that limit," she chuckled. "It almost reminded me of how you used to push that old automatic you had when you were refereeing last year."
"You refereed on an automatic broom?" Alvin said as he stepped up on the other side of Severus' chair. "In front of all those students? That takes a lot of character," he teased.
"Well, I was on Quidditch security then, so it only made sense that I'd take a turn on the broom, even if I am a lousy flyer," Jennifer explained.
"Lousy is an understatement," Rolanda grinned. "But she has a keen eye and a quick response if anything goes wrong, a really a top rate referee in that respect."
"Good evening, everyone. Happy Halloween," Dumbledore walked up to the table beside Minerva, then glanced over to where another professor entered from the back. They didn't miss Jennifer's soft groan however as the colorfully robed Sibyl Trelawney approached.
"Good evening everyone. I thought I might come down and join you. I sensed strange vibrations in the air," Sibyl explained with a smile.
"Well, it is Halloween, after all," Dumbledore said with an amused sparkle in his eyes. "It is good to see you out and about, Sibyl. You spend too much time in the tower." Minerva and Jennifer glanced at Dumbledore as if they thought otherwise.
"Thank you, it is good to see you as well. Oh, and Jennifer, never fear, I foresee that Severus will be returned from his unexpected trip any day now," she said with a mischievous, triumphant smile as she went to her seat.
"Lovely, very lovely, thank you," Jennifer said with a lack of enthusiasm. Dumbledore looked over at Jennifer questioningly but didn't say anything as they took their seats. Minerva tapped her glass to get the students' attentions as Dumbledore stood.
"Just a couple of short announcements; please remember to return to your rooms directly after dinner for house activities. Since Professor Snape is gone on family matters, Professor Archibald has volunteered to oversee the Slytherin house, so I trust that everyone will have an enjoyable evening. Also, please remember that no séances are to be allowed in the houserooms, although I'm sure you might expect a ghost visitor or two in any case. Now, without further delay, I have only this to say; jack-o'-lanterns."
As the feast began, the smells of sweets immediately overwhelmed Jennifer, and she was suddenly wishing she were somewhere else. She felt glad, and not for the first time, that Halloween only came once a year. She nibbled on an apple butter sandwich when Rolanda smacked her hand.
"Hey, you're not supposed to have anything that healthy at this feast! How did you rate a sandwich?" Rolanda asked. "You have to wait until this evening like the rest of us."
"Oh, it was probably Francie, one of the House Elves that followed me from the cottage. She's been fussing over how much I eat lately. The silly House Elf worries too much," Jennifer said, putting it down.
"Well if you don't mind me saying so, I agree with her," Minerva said, leaning over to look at Jennifer sternly. "You haven't been yourself lately, and I'm not sure it's all just from Severus being gone either."
"Oh, Minerva, I'm fine. You all worry too much," Jennifer said, peeling the chocolate off a chocolate-dipped orange.
"Now, Jennifer," Dumbledore said, glancing at her from the other side of Minerva, "We only worry because we care, after all. It wouldn't take much time out of your morning tomorrow if you headed down to see Poppy… just to put the rest of us at ease," he said calmly. It was apparent from the sparkle in his eyes what he thought it was, but she was certain it was too early for it to be that. Still, there was no use arguing with Dumbledore.
"Sure, I can do that, if it means everyone will stop pestering me," she glowered. Rolanda clapped her gently on the back.
"It's as if Severus never left," Rolanda teased mercilessly.
Jennifer met Hermione in the staff room right after dinner for hallway patrols, and Jennifer opted to check the towers on first while Hermione began in the dungeons. For Halloween, things seemed unusually quiet as the students made their way to their houserooms, but Jennifer knew from experience not to count on it being peaceful on this night of nights. She never had a Halloween since she had been to Hogwarts where something hadn't gone wrong. Perhaps now that Voldemort and Pettigrew were gone, there was a chance for a quiet evening, she thought optimistically as she climbed towards the Owlery.
She paused at the door near the top of the winding stair and went out onto the parapet and to the spot Severus referred to as the Perch. He seemed to have a name for everything, Jennifer chuckled thoughtfully, leaning over the edge. Too bad not many of them were so complimentary. The smell of autumn leaves was heavy in the air, and the breeze was fresh and cool. Pale moonlight glinted off of the lake, mingling with the reflection of lights from Hogwarts itself. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful. Jennifer smiled softly, starting to believe that perhaps it would actually last this time.
She went back down towards the Gryffindor Houserooms to get the painting's total for bed check just as the staircases began to move. Hoping no one was watching, she hopped quickly over to the next one to continue her route, landing neatly on the steps, holding onto the rail for the support as it swung around to the other side. At last the stairs settled near the painting of the Fat Lady. Jennifer asked her for a student count, and then hearing what she wanted, she strode over to the next hall towards Ravenclaw.
Just then, she heard a familiar hollow giggle and groaned, knowing where it must have come from before she even looked up.
She shouldn't have looked up.
A large pumpkin cake suddenly plunged from where it was hovering above her head and right in her face as an echoing laughter sounded around her.
"Trick and Treat! Trick and Treat!"
"Peeves! I thought McGonagall told you to stay out of the kitchen!" Jennifer yelled at him, and he broke into another round of laughter. Wiping cake off her eyes and cleaning her wand off on her robe, she looked around for the poltergeist but he had already moved on. Thinking she'd probably better warn Hermione before it was too late, she hurried down the main stairs. As she turned into the main corridor towards the Defense classroom, she heard the poltergeists' uproarious laughter.
"Trick and Treat! Trick and Treat!"
"That's Trick OR Treat you stupid git!" Hermione muttered, coming around a corner covered with cream pie. Jennifer tried to bite back a chuckle as Hermione spotted her. "I thought he was a bit more lenient on staff."
"Oh, most definitely not. In fact, I think he hits us harder most the time," Jennifer grinned. "We'd better get Filch after him and check the damage in the kitchens."
"Why don't we just get the Bloody Baron? You know he'll take care of it," Hermione suggested, "and with the way he keeps popping in and out tonight, it'd be easier all around if another ghost was after him."
"He's not popping in and out," Jennifer suddenly realized. "He's going door to door! We'd better make tracks before he starts hitting the houserooms. If we head to the kitchens, maybe we can cut off his ammunition. Come on," she said, and the two of them turned towards the Great Hall and past the staff room into the kitchens. Just as they entered, they saw him picking up a chocolate mousse cake, disappearing before they could get to them. A large group of House Elves had gathered, trying to finish their baked goods for the next day and put them in the ice rooms before anything else was stolen.
"I think I've got an idea," Jennifer said with a grin.
Dobby, Francie, and the other House Elves were only too happy to provide a delectable cream pie for the trap as Hermione and Jennifer quickly prepared it and stepped behind the door. It was not long before the problematic poltergeist came to take the bait. Suddenly as it began to hover as the filling of the pie began to inflate, and before Peeves could react it enveloped him. He squealed out in surprise as he was sucked into the pie, his distorted shape wriggling in the gooey substance.
"Quite brilliant as always, Jennifer," Hermione grinned, "a perfect mix of ingredients."
"Amazing what a bit of baking soda, bubble gum, and an Angelica Ghostward potion can do," Jennifer smirked. Shall we call it "Crème de Peeves? Or just Peeves Pie?"
"How about Halloween Surprise?" Hermione grinned. Suddenly Hermione found herself surrounded by grateful House Elves, cheering her loudly.
"The union of working House Elves officially thanks your heroic efforts saving our baked goods!" Dobby bowed low to Hermione.
"Oh, but I just helped, I didn't…" But the House Elves were making so much of a fuss Hermione found she couldn't get a word in edgewise. She looked up pleadingly, but Jennifer had already managed to tiptoe out the door.
The halls were dark and quiet as Jennifer's shift was nearing its end, her fears abating as midnight passed and the hour drew closer to one o'clock. She stopped in her office to feed Rasputin, taking off his eye patch long enough for the basilisk to petrify the unlucky mouse she was holding up by the tail. She fixed the patch from behind him and deposited the mouse in front of him, quickly making her way out of the office before she had to listen to the unpleasant crunching noise that usually followed.
Glancing at her watch, she saw it was nearly time to meet Flitwick and went back up to the main floor. It was then that she heard voices and curiously went to investigate. There, holding a lantern, was Rolanda Hooch (who had gate duty that night) and someone she had never seen outside of Azkaban prison. It was her father's guard, Thatcher Boltin. Jennifer hurried over to them, their attention immediately drawn to her as she approached.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" Jennifer asked him worriedly.
"It's your father, he seems to have escaped," Boltin said. Jennifer stared at him dumbfounded.
"But Boltin, that's ridiculous. My father wouldn't try to escape! Not without a good reason!"
"Well, he may have had a reason," Boltin sighed. "Lucius Malfoy was released late this evening."
"WHAT? Why wasn't I told?" Jennifer snapped while Rolanda hushed her gently.
"The deliberations went late because of some trouble getting hold of Vallid. I'm sure the letter would have arrived tomorrow. In any case, I need you to come with me to the prison if possible. We need help trying to figure out where he may have went," Boltin said.
"I'm coming. Let me get my cloak. Rolanda, let everyone know where I went?" Jennifer asked. Rolanda nodded quietly with concern in her gold eyes. But this was no time to hesitate; who knows what could happen if Jennifer's father was on a rampage again? And yet something in Jennifer doubted he would go this far. Even with everything Thomas Craw had done, Jennifer couldn't see her father breaking out just for revenge. Threaten to, perhaps, but actually do it, no. Not now. He had changed in the last year… Jennifer shook her head, grabbing her cloak. Or was she just fooling herself into believing that?
Quickly she and Boltin hurried out the gate and Disapparated to the island, Jennifer stumbling slightly as they reappeared, blushing slightly.
"Sorry. It's late," she muttered as she fell in step next to the enchanter.
As they made it to the first checkpoint, Jennifer noticed a man in Ministry robes leaning against the wall and talking to the guard. He was a very lean, sharp-featured blonde man who met her disgusted gaze with a look of thoughtful suspicion. His name was Ederick Thurspire, and he was the First Assistant in the Department of Investigations. That he had attained such a promotion in Jennifer's mind was laughable after all the times he had jumped to conclusions, accusing her and her friends of just about every crime in the book. And yet, somehow, Dumbledore didn't seem to mind him so much, nor did Anna, nor Vallid. But Jennifer was highly convinced that their trust was misplaced. She could not stand the man, nor had any inclination to make an effort to change that fact.
"You're not letting her in there with that cloak, are you?" Ederick asked.
"She's here at my request as another investigator, not as a visitor," Boltin said. "I already cleared it with your boss, the Warden, and the Minister of Magic, so you can take it up with them." Apparently, Boltin wasn't too fond of Ederick either. But Ederick nodded sharply in response, standing up.
"Fine, ready when you are," he replied.
"Don't tell me he's coming along," Jennifer said.
"Ederick was the last living person to see your father in his cell. I want him along too," Boltin explained as he escorted them past the first ward.
"Last living person?" Jennifer asked with alarm.
"Yes, although it's not what you're thinking, no one was hurt. In fact, everyone's accounted for, other than your father. I mean, Icarus claims to know something, only he's not willing to tell anyone… he wants to talk to you," Boltin admitted.
"Peachy," Jennifer said glumly. Boltin smiled at her sympathetically. They passed the visitor's room where Jennifer normally saw her father and through another enchanted vault door into an even deeper cell block, the heart of the maximum-security area. Using a handprint and key system, Boltin opened the door.
"No signs of struggle, no signs of magic use, break-in, nothing," he said as Ederick went into the cell and glanced around. Jennifer leaned on the door, a bit reluctant to go into the small area.
It was terribly tiny, and it didn't even really leave anyone room to pace, with the barest cot and humblest facilities. Jennifer frowned. The only comfort in the place was a corner with a small desk where he kept his letters, papers and other things that they had given him over the last year. It was very strange to see those items from this perspective; letters carefully stacked and photos set around the desk of her, Severus, and Corey. There was even one of her mother standing next to a much younger Audi under a blossoming tree, laughing, her mother in her wedding gown. A curious sensation of regret suddenly began to well up in her, and Jennifer pushed it aside… this was no time for her emotions to get the better of her. They had to find her father. A hand reaching over her to grab a stack of envelopes interrupted her thoughts and she quickly smacked it away, scowling at Ederick.
"I don't think you're going to find anything in Severus' letters to Dad having to do with this, so just quit while you're ahead, Thurspire. And before you start trying to blame him, he's out of the country at the moment," Jennifer informed him, a warning flash appearing in her eyes.
"We've already been through the recent letters, Ederick, it's part of our screening and all," Boltin added. But Ederick regarded Jennifer steadily, obviously not so sure that she hadn't had something to do with this. Jennifer forced herself to keep her temper in check.
"So, what did you speak to my father about, Thurspire? I assume that was from here instead of the visitor's room? And how long after you left was it before someone noticed he was missing?" Jennifer asked, studying his face carefully.
"If you must know, I was in here talking to Thomas about Malfoy and some old business deals I'm investigating," Thurspire said defensively. "And if you want to know how long, ask Boltin, he's Craw's guard, not me."
"You threatened him to come clean about some old business deals involving your father?" Jennifer questioned him. "How can you threaten a man in jail?" Boltin suddenly stood up straight and looked at Ederick with surprise.
"What? Ederick, I thought you said you were here on court business, not personal business. You're not allowed in the cell area in an unofficial capacity," Boltin said. Ederick's eyes flashed angrily at Jennifer.
"It was court business. Brown had me look up bad business deals with Malfoy Enterprises and your father was on the top of the list as a contributing partner," Ederick snapped. "Nor should I have to explain myself to you, because honestly, it's Ministry business not yours."
"If it involves my father's disappearance, it becomes my business, and my father didn't 'escape' willingly," Jennifer said, picking up the book on the desk. "See this? He's only halfway through the Wizard's Weekly Digest I brought him last visit. My Dad would never leave anything half finished… not even a book if he were going to escape. He's a chronic perfectionist." Boltin glanced over at the book in surprise and opened it to the bookmark.
"He hasn't even finished the tri-word puzzle. Jennifer's right, something is definitely wrong here," Boltin said. "Let's go down and find Mad Ick."
The three stepped out of the cell and Boltin guided them back to an unused quarter of the prison. The abandoned area was dark and cold and had bare stone walls, unpainted and dreary, and there was a very unsettling feeling in the air. Only darkness peered through the bars, and yet Jennifer couldn't help but wonder if she was being watched.
"What is this horrible place?" Jennifer asked.
"This is the fourth quarter…the old maximum security area when the Dementors were still here. We still haven't got it all the way cleaned up yet, obviously. Charming, isn't it? Mad Ick hangs out here a lot when he's out of his crypt. This is where I found him earlier," Boltin explained. "Icarus, come out! You have visitors!" Boltin shouted. An eerie echo followed his shout that made Jennifer shiver slightly. It was if the memory of a scream haunted every word spoken in the area, unused to echoing any other sound.
"I don't see why I should," a voice sounded from around them from somewhere close. "It's obvious her Crawness can't stand the sight of me, so I won't bother to appear and disturb you."
"We don't have times for games, Ick," Jennifer said, her temper rising already. "We want to know what happened to my father."
"You mean the tall man? Stormy eyes, fading auburn hair, likes to criticize everyone else's actions but his own?" the voice of Icarus inquired.
"You know perfectly well who my father is!" Jennifer snapped.
"Oh, but I thought I didn't know anything," Ick said back. "Why don't you ask that tall fellow behind you? After all, he's the one who cursed your father with Living Stone and hid him so no one could find him." Jennifer and Boltin turned and stared at Thurspire, who looked just as surprised at this accusation as they did. "If you don't believe me, check his wand. The last spell he cast was Living Stone."
"I have never cast a major dark spell in my life! How dare you suggest such a thing!" Thurspire yelled, grabbing his wand out and thrusting it at Boltin. "Here! Test it if you don't believe me! Jennifer, you don't believe that rubbish, do you? I admit I don't like your father, but surely as a Truth Seeker, you can see that I didn't do anything to him." Jennifer had been watching him carefully, then nodded to him, even as Boltin cast the recall spell on the wand.
"He's telling the truth," she admitted. But Boltin looked up at her.
"Normally I would believe you, Jennifer, but oddly enough, Icarus is right. The last spell cast on this wand was Living Stone," Boltin said. The color drained out of Jennifer's face as she gazed at his bewildered expression. How was that possible? Boltin took out his own wand, pointing it at Thurspire.
"Where's Thomas Craw at, Thurspire?" Boltin asked.
"I have no idea!" Thurspire exclaimed. Jennifer saw from his expression that he was quite confused over the matter.
"I know where he is," Icarus offered. "But I'm only willing to lead Jennifer there. I don't want that man back down in the crypt. He depresses me."
"He's in the crypt?" Jennifer said inhaling sharply. "Fine, I'm coming. Boltin, maybe you'd better get Thurspire to the other guards until we can sort this out." Boltin weighed the situation and then nodded. Had it been nearly anyone else, he would never have agreed to it.
"I'll be down to find you as soon as I can," he said, staring fixedly at Thurspire. "Hands where I can see them, back to the checkpoint," Boltin ordered. His face had become hard and cold, and Jennifer was suddenly glad that she had never been on his bad side. As they walked out of view, Jennifer turned and looked around.
"Fine, they're gone. Now take me down to my father," she demanded. Slowing fading into view as if reluctant to do so, Icarus appeared.
"Don't you ever say, 'please'?" he asked, and then turned down a corridor.
Jennifer soon found herself on a stairwell, her legs growing heavy beneath her as they went farther and farther down. She was very keenly aware that they were underground now, and was trying desperately to ignore it; her eyes steady on the hovering figure in front of her. But they didn't stop anywhere near the top level; instead, she found herself going several more levels into the oldest part of the crypt right where she had met Icarus the first time. As the light grew dim, Jennifer touched the wisp light around her neck, causing Icarus to regard her with curiosity. Let him wonder, Jennifer thought with frustration. She wasn't about to let that annoying ghost know just how hard it was for her to be underground ever since the Tomb. But she also wasn't about to leave her father, no matter how suffocated she felt. Finally the ghost went into a cell, pointing glumly.
Jennifer noticed right away that something was wrong, for one of the vaults in the wall had recent prints on it and signs that had been disturbed. Jennifer cast the open spell and the vault slid open. Lying inside like a perfect statue was the stone figure of her father, his expression one of slight surprise. Burying her emotions and ignoring her pounding head, Jennifer fished in the inside of her cloak and pulled out a mandrake elixir. Putting the bottle to his stone lips she took out her wand and pointed at him. "Imbibe!"
Slowly the contents of the bottle began to disappear as the aid spell got past the outer layer of the curse and into the man beneath it.
She was not aware of how long she waited…she was barely even aware of Icarus' droning voice beside her as she laid watch over her father. She only knew it seemed like an eternity before the stone began to take on a softer appearance and he began to move as she reached over to hold his hand. Moments later he became aware of her, opening his eyes with some great effort.
"Is…Ederick…dead?" he asked with a hoarse voice.
"No, Dad. Is that who did this to you?" Jennifer asked him. He nodded slightly.
"Caught me unawares…had just left…came back and hit me. Damn Thurspires. I should have killed them all when I had the chance," Thomas muttered.
"I see this experience hasn't curbed his lust for blood any," Icarus mused.
"Shut up, Ick," Jennifer snapped.
"I see. No please, no thank you, just shut up, Ick. I should have just left him down here to crumble for a few hundred years." Ick said forlornly. Jennifer suddenly looked up at the ghost, who was standing in a corner making a futile attempt at trying to touch a vault so he could knock the cobwebs away.
"Thank you, Icarus. I suppose I owe you one," Jennifer admitted reluctantly, encouraged by the warmth that was beginning to come back to her father's hands.
"Actually you owe me two," he said. "You wouldn't have survived the Tomb if it hadn't been for the artifacts I had left," he pointed out. "But who counts favors to the dead? Not like anyone cares," he muttered. "At least my sacrifice wasn't all in vain, was it?" he asked. Apparently he had not expected an answer for he faded away again.
For the first time since she had met the ghost, Jennifer found herself feeling a little sorry for him. He sounded so terribly bitter and lonely, and she realized that the guilt of his crime had plagued him mercilessly since his death. She had been so busy reminding him of it that she hadn't seen the impact his own feelings must have had on him. And yet, here she was comforting her father whose own crimes in many ways were just as bad as his…
It was very late before Boltin was able to help Thomas back to the ward, and by then Jennifer was almost beside herself wanting to get back out in the open. Thurspire was being detained until morning at least, and with that done, Jennifer thought it was high time she got home to get a few hours sleep. She passed the last checkpoint and stepped out into the entryway, inhaling the sea breeze deeply and listening to the waves for a moment before she Disapparated to the Hogwarts gates. Rolanda was there, greeting her tiredly, but Jennifer hadn't taken more than three steps into the courtyard when she was hit with a sudden wave of dizziness and fell to the ground, unconscious.