Chapter Seventeen

A Winter Chill

As winter settled in and the end of November came, students began bringing their coats and mittens to Jennifer's dungeon where the windows remained open regardless of the weather. The warmth from the ever-present bubbling cauldrons kept the breezes in check, but Jennifer welcomed the brisk air. She also tolerantly made use of the elbow length rubbery gloves and fume mask during her labs as a precaution to the more poisonous substances, and arranged for Severus to come in for a one-day lesson on venom extraction for the first year classes. Even with all of the annoying restrictions and uncomfortable mornings, Jennifer had never felt happier.

The only troublesome part came a couple days before her scheduled checkup with Weathering when she began to notice her magic was beginning to dramatically waver. It had been extremely evident in the last sparring class when she was helping demonstrate a new spell to the younger members of the class. The Feeble spell she had been trying to cast suddenly let out a mere flicker of light as it came out of wand before fizzling all together, and when she began inspecting her wand it went off, landing on her. Well, at least Severus was nice enough not to say anything (not that he had to, the look on his face spoke volumes) but after that, Jennifer began to be a bit more wary as to how her magic was operating.

All of the other witch instructors were delighted with the news, telling her not to worry about it. It was often thought a good sign that the child would be strong with magic if spells wavered, although there really had never been any proof that this common witches' symptom of pregnancy really had any true significance. She did become increasingly glad that she was teaching Potions that year instead of Defense. She'd hate to think what would happen if she had to use her wand in every class.

That Friday during her conference time, she swept up the chimney to Weathering's office, a rather drab, old-fashioned place with uncomfortable chairs and a wizened thin old nurse with rather largish glasses. As she filled out a form, she couldn't help but notice the small passage at the bottom:

This office specializes in the care and the delivery of children in full wizard families and reserves the right to refer any new client to a different office in the best interests of the child.

Best interests of the child indeed, Jennifer chuckled. She knew he was conservative and traditional, so being a purist to boot wasn't so much of a surprise. Before long she found herself run through an almost assembly line routine of weight checking, tests, and exam before he brooded over the chart in front of her, frowning.

"Well, the baby seems fine, although you seem to have developed a chill. Your temperature is slightly low, your blood pressure is up, and you've lost a bit of weight," he said disapprovingly. "Exactly what is it that you do in that school again?"

"I'm the Potions Master," Jennifer said, slightly annoyed at the tone in his voice. "But don't worry, I've been taking the necessary precautions in the lab."

"And how many hours a week do you put in?" he asked sternly. Jennifer thought about it.

"I have no idea. Fifty perhaps."

"And I suppose you are under a lot of stress?" he asked.

"Only during checkups," she retorted. Weathering sighed at her in annoyance, and then scribbled something down.

"I want you to rest this weekend until your temperature has improved. If you develop a fever, check in with your nurse and alert me if it goes over 38.5 C. Otherwise, you need to stay inside in a closed room. I cannot give you a cold potion, so you are just going to have to wait it out. I want to see your weight up and blood pressure down by next visit. If not, I will recommend that you go on an extended leave of absence." Jennifer blinked at him. "In fact, I think I'll send a copy of these orders directly to your husband to make sure they're followed out." Jennifer's jaw dropped at that.

"I am quite capable of taking care of myself, thank you, and I can tell him myself. And I'm not going on any leaves of absence, I feel perfectly fine. In fact, if I am stressed about anything, it'd be about all of these blasted restrictions. Who made up all of these rules anyhow, a man?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Have you ever tried following this five page list of rules yourself, Doctor?"

"Of course not. I've never been pregnant. But-"

"Exactly," Jennifer said, getting up. "Why don't you get back to me when you are, and after seeing how you do trying to follow them. Oh, and don't forget to quit your job while you're at it, since having a life isn't allowed either," she added on her way out the door.

Doctor Weathering frowned after her and shook his head, scribbling a few added comments before folding up the sheet and giving it to the nurse for the post.

Jennifer came back irritable and grumpy, but fortunately her last class of the day had a test on antitoxins that took the entire session. When Severus showed up as class let out and suggested they should eat in one of the sitting rooms so she could rest, she snapped at him so ferociously that he backed off in sheer surprise. Severus frowned in concern, hoping that she wasn't going to be like this every time she had an appointment.

Jennifer used her "rest" time that Saturday to get her midterm tests written and set up her reviews before the Christmas holiday. Some of the answer sheets she couldn't find at first, but then realized that her earlier tests were still in her Puzzlebox and got them out of Severus' chest to sort them. Late into the morning there was a knock on the door, and she opened it to see Corey standing there. Even with the briefest of glances, there was little doubt to Jennifer that there was a lot on his mind.

"No practice?"

"It's too cold. I didn't feel like playing anyhow. In fact I… I'm thinking about quitting the team," Corey admitted. Jennifer looked at him thoughtfully.
"Come into my oven, and have some tea or cocoa. Let me get these papers out of the way so that we can chat," she smiled. "Come to think of it, it's been a while since we've really gotten together outside of class and Sagittari's, hasn't it?"

"Oh, that's all right. Most people don't see their parents for months and I see mine every day," Corey said.

"Hey, you make that sound like a bad thing," Jennifer scolded teasingly. She stacked the papers, tossed the safe in her cloak, and opened the windows before finally sitting down. "So, why do you want to quit? You fared pretty well your first game," she said. Well, at least he never fell off his broom, which was better than she could have done.

"Mom, I sucked eggs." Corey sighed. "I was so afraid I was going to hurt somebody that I wasn't following through on my swing. Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a Beater."

"Corey, someone capable of smacking McGonagall's broom at full speed in a twist maneuver is cut out to be a Beater," Jennifer said, handing him a cut with a slight smile. "It is a rough game, and people do end up getting hurt. But we also have a fantastic hospital wing, and Poppy hasn't lost one yet," she winked. "Colin doesn't seem too upset about not playing anymore. In fact, his parents had been wanting him to drop out so he could get his marks up even before this happened. You never know, he just might graduate because of this," she chuckled softly. "Corey, it's not your fault that Colin got hurt, there's no reason for you to feel guilty for making the team."

"But Mom, before the game I… I was thinking…"

"How you wished something might happen so you could make the team?" she inquired.

"That obvious to you, huh?"

"Corey, you have barely been thinking of anything else. You even slipped to second in all of your classes but Potions again. I know what you're thinking, but Corey, you didn't cause anything bad to happen during that game," she reassured him. "He was hit by a well placed Bludger by the Slytherin team, and that is that. Let me ask you this, Corey. Did you ever want anything bad to happen to Colin specifically?"

"No, of course not."

"Were you wanting the Bludger to hit Colin when it did?"

"Er, actually, I was watching Ginny," Corey said. "I was so angry at those Slytherins pulling that blockade on her…"

"Well, in that case, it seems to me that if you had been wishing anything at that moment without knowing it, one of the Slytherin players would have gone down instead," Jennifer pointed out with a half smile. Corey relaxed slightly and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just… considering what we'd talked about with Dad over the summer, I was afraid…"

"I know," Jennifer said understandingly. Some of the things Severus had told her about his past during that talk had rattled her as well; it was little surprise that it bothered Corey. "But I also know that you would never hurt anyone on purpose."

Severus walked in with a book in hand, waving absently to them as he went over to the bookshelf.

"Do you remember when we talked about your needing a wand last year, and I explained that one of the main reasons you needed to learn it was for spell discipline?" Jennifer asked. Corey nodded. "Sometimes you just can't control how you feel about something, and when you have magic at your disposal, it makes it even harder to curb that first impulse to do something about it. That's why discipline becomes so important. There's enough in this world to be afraid of without having to worry about yourself. It might seem frustrating and even limiting now, but trust me, you'll be very glad of it later in life."

"Discipline is one of the greatest powers one can have over magic," Severus put in, taking another book off the shelf. "Although I doubt that you will learn to appreciate that until that first time you want to kill someone standing in front of you and can, but don't."

"But how do you get to that point and still keep an edge?" Corey asked.

"That's the next lesson," Severus said expressionlessly, shutting the windows and sitting down to read.

"Are you sure you want to quit the team? You know, it is possible to be a good defensive Beater if you know what you're doing," Jennifer said.

"Yeah, but I need more speed for that," Corey said, nodding seriously. "So can I have a Skymaster?"

"I wondered when brooms would be getting into this conversation. Go to lunch, you little rascal," Jennifer chuckled shaking a finger at him. "A Beater on a Seeker broom…we haven't even decided for sure if we are going to get you one!"

"But Mom! I'm on the team, and I have kept my marks up, and I've only had two detentions this year. I've even kept up on my homework," he protested as he stood up.

"I don't know, Jennifer, lately I've been getting one sentence essays again," Severus put in.

"We'll just have to see how you do on your midterms, I suppose," Jennifer decided. "Don't forget to finish your Dabbler's lab results. And legibly, if you don't mind."

"Okay, okay. Thanks, Mom." Corey said, smiling at her when he got to the door.

"Don't wait so long to come to us next time," Jennifer told him, and he nodded, leaving. She turned to walk back towards the couch. "You know, I think I'm finally getting a handle on this parenting thing. Maybe it's not so hard after all."

"Don't you dare touch those windows. It is freezing out there," he warned.

"It is stifling in here," Jennifer protested, opening them anyhow.

"You know, you probably became ill because of how cold you keep the lab. Just as well that we had to move Rasputin out of your office. He may have turned into an icicle." Severus scowled at her.

"I'm not working down there unless the windows are open," Jennifer said obstinately.

"Very well, but if you're too ill to go to Hogsmeade next week, don't blame me," he said calmly.

Jennifer certainly wasn't about to prove Severus right, and after spending a cautious weekend in the rooms, she had Mr. Filch fix the windows in the classroom. Then she left one of them open but closed the rest, much to the relief of her students who shucked off their coats and scarves. By the next weekend, Jennifer was feeling much better and looking forward to an afternoon out of the school as they headed to Hogsmeade.

After a casual stroll through Pitch Plus sports shop (they had no intention of any serious Christmas shopping with so many potential student spies for Corey about) Jennifer and Severus stopped by to see Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks. Several professors were already sitting at their reserved table when they got there, greeting them warmly as they approached.

"What's this, Jennifer, regular robes today? That's not like you," Rolanda teased, coaxing her to sit by her.

"I can't get in my burgundy dress anymore, thank you very much," Jennifer muttered, and several of the others chuckled.

"Well you should have said something, Jennifer. Come up to my sitting room tomorrow and we'll see what we can do about it before you two leave for break," Minerva insisted.

"You're not staying? Are you sure that's allowed? I thought Jennifer was chained to the school." Rolanda said.

"That's quite enough out of you," Severus glared at her. "I'm sure you're not staying either."

"Hardly anyone is, students or teachers alike. I suspect it's to make up for having to stay for Christmas last year." Minerva said. Just then Rosmerta appeared again, standing behind Jennifer and Severus in greeting.

"I thought I saw more bodies over here. You should have shouted, not that anyone can hear much over this racket," Rosmerta said cheerfully. "Hello Severus, Jennifer! Hey Jennifer, I have something I want you to try, be right back," she said, then disappeared a moment into the crowd. Within no time she had reappeared with a glass of Black Anise wine for Severus and a mug for Jennifer. The hot Butterbeer was topped with a large scoop of ice cream, already beginning to melt into the drink.

"It's a new twist on an old favorite, I've been testing it on some of the students and they love it but I haven't decided what to call it yet."

"I suppose 'Butterbeer with ice cream' would be out of the question."

"I see marriage hasn't ruined your sense of humor, Severus. No, I'm thinking something catchier, like a Drowning Cow, or a Buttered Dream."

"Make it lemon ice-cream so it's yellow and call it a Snitch in the Mud," Rolanda suggested. Several of the professors stared at her.

"I sort of like that, I wonder if lemon ice cream would work with butter beer. Or maybe banana…I'll have to test that," Rosmerta pondered. A call from another table sent her away again as Jennifer poked at the ice cream skeptically with a spoon. Just then, two figures swam through the crowd towards them, and Jennifer waved warmly at Sirius and Anna as they walked up.

"Hello, Titiana. What are you doing here, Sirius? I wasn't aware that Rosmerta allowed wildlife in the bar," Severus said in a tone that made everyone give him a dirty look.

"Then how did you get in?" Sirius retorted.

"All right, that's enough, both of you," Minerva said sternly. "After all, there are students present. Anna, Sirius, would you care to join us? There's plenty of room."

"Thank, you Minerva, that's very good of you. It is quite crowded in here," Sirius said.

"And getting more crowded by the minute," Severus muttered, putting his glass down. "Jennifer, are you about ready? I could use some air, it's a trifle stuffy in here."

"I'm sure it'll clear up right after you leave the table," Sirius said evenly.

"I think I'll wait outside, this place seems to be going to the dogs rather quickly now," Severus muttered, putting some coins on the table and heading towards the front. Everyone at the table looked over at Sirius.

"What? Don't start blaming me. He was the one…"

"He wasn't the only one," Anna said, frowning at him. Jennifer sighed softly and grabbed her coat and cloak.

"Well, it's freezing out there, so I'd better not keep him waiting; we still have a few shops to hit. We'll see you back at the school, I think." Jennifer said getting up.

"Actually, do you mind if I tag along? I think it's about time I had a talk with my brother," Anna said.

"Sure, let's go," Jennifer said as the two handed towards the door. Sirius glanced over at Minerva and Rolanda, and Rolanda shrugged at him.

"Maybe it's the cologne," Rolanda suggested.

Jennifer wanted to stop by at Honeydukes, so the three of them walked across the street as students rushed past them. Jennifer went ahead to steal or bribe a better place in the queue, while Anna slowed down, causing Severus to look back at her quizzically, if not a bit warily.

"So are you going to tell me why you insist on blatantly insulting Sirius so much lately?" she asked. He stopped and gazed at her expressionlessly.

"Have I? Sorry, I didn't mean to pull his chain," he smirked.

"There you go again, what is with you? I know the two of you have never gotten along. You've both told me enough about that to leave my head pounding. But last year at Christmas, the two of you were almost speaking. Ever since you got married, it's been a complete reversal. Sirius is fed up with it and so am I," Anna said. A couple of students passed watching them curiously, and Anna put her temper in check. "I am tired of being in the middle of this personal war, and I'm tired of worrying which one of you will actually succeed in killing the other. I don't know what caused this whole thing to blow out of proportion again, but whatever it is, it isn't worth it. If this doesn't end soon, I swear I'm going to go to Dumbledore about how out of hand this is getting."

"I wasn't the one that showed up in a panic in Greenland and nearly got us killed…"

"Severus, don't start. And don't try to make me choose between you, because you may not like my choice," Anna said coldly, then turned to walk into the store.

Severus gritted his teeth in irritation as he watched her walk in. There was no doubt in his mind who was turning her against him. Severus glanced inside but had little desire to go inside the packed shop. Instead he stood outside and glared at the students going in and out the door, making them hurry by a little faster when they felt his eyes on them. Peering in and seeing they were going to be awhile, Severus turned and walked down the street. That was when he spotted a lone figure on a hill just beyond where a shack once stood.

Harry looked out towards the forest, where the skeleton trees of winter and the light snow starkly revealed the rifts in the earth created when the caverns beneath had collapsed. Severus stepped beside him and into the biting wind that sped by. They stood there quietly for a while gazing out thoughtfully out at the depression where the Tomb has been.

"There's a Muggle saying that states that every time you get a sudden chill, someone is walking on your grave," Harry said. "I swear that every time anyone walks over there, I can feel it." Severus said nothing. Instead he stared over at the wasteland thoughtfully as he pondered the heavy dark energy that still lay over the area. It was little wonder that so many unwholesome creatures were entering the forest with the remains of the Tomb bleeding into that side of the Dark Forest. "By the way, I found out who sent Alice Craw the chest from Britain, although I'm a bit leery about following up on it."

"Oh?" Severus said, glancing over at him.

"Cornelius Fudge," Harry said. Severus frowned.

"Cornelius Fudge had access to the Craw vault?"

"Scary thought, isn't it? Apparently he had power of attorney for a bit after Thomas 'died,' although I haven't been able to delve too far into that; the records are closed. If there was any correspondence between he and Alice, it wasn't left behind after she was taken."

"How come every time you find more facts, you leave me with more questions than answers?" Severus muttered.

"Sorry, I'm new at this," Harry said, unable to hide the amusement in his tone. "I haven't told Dumbledore yet. I thought you might want to look into it." Severus nodded to him. As he turned his head back he noticed someone coming and frowned at the sight of Sirius and Ginny heading up the hill. As usual of late, Sirius did not look happy.

"I thought you were looking after Anna?" Sirius challenged Severus.

"Jennifer is with her, so there is little reason to panic. They're in the candy shop."

"No they're not, we were just in there," Sirius said. Sighing softly, Severus got out his watch.

"Well they are still here somewhere, so go fetch," Severus said, waving him away.

"That's it, I have had it. It's time you learned some manners," Sirius suddenly growled. Before Severus could react, Sirius had his wand out, and Severus was hit in the face with a swirling light before either Ginny or Harry could stop him.

"Ettiquettia Parlem!" Sirius snapped. Severus blinked a few times and took out his wand, glaring at him furiously.

"Pardon me, sir, but if you'll permit me a moment of your time, I would like to ask if you would kindly be so obliging as to not do anything like that again, please? I might be forced to react to this disagreeable situation, and then I shall have to excuse myself for spilling your blood." Severus snapped.

Ginny blinked at him. Harry, noticing the murder in Severus' eyes and having some idea what he really would have said if he had his own tongue, quickly stepped between them.

"That's enough. If you keep this up, you'll have the whole school up here wanting to watch. Come on, Sirius, release him from the spell and shake hands," Harry said.

"I'd sooner shake hands with a troll."

"I would be more than obliged to help you fulfill that desire, sir. Excuse me, Harry."

"No, I will not bugger off or whatever it was you were trying to say! This fighting is absolutely pointless and you're both just making asses out of yourselves." Harry said sternly.

"This is none of your business Harry, take Ginny and leave," Sirius said.

"Kindly step aside please, Harry. I would not have you involved in such a disagreeable event," Severus said murderously.

"What is going on here?"

The four looked up to see Anna and Jennifer standing there, Jennifer frowning with concern as she studied Severus' expression. Anna glared at Sirius with unmasked fury in her eyes.

"A bit of the usual, Anna, these two are trying to kill each other again," Harry said. Sirius and Severus glared at each other accusingly.

"It's just in one ear and out the other with you, isn't it?" Anna said, glowing slightly as she clenched her fists. Jennifer blinked and regarded her warily, as did Sirius and Severus. "Fine, if you two are this bent on killing each other, go ahead! But don't expect us to send flowers! Come on Jennifer, I'm walking you home," she said, grabbing Jennifer's arm before she could react and walking her down the hill.

"Now look what you've done! They're angry with us again!" Sirius snarled.

"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I do believe, and rightly so, that you started this altercation, in fact I have yet to reciprocate the favor." Severus said, his eyes flashing with hatred.

"No, Severus - Sirius- you know, this is more than what I bargained for. I swear if you don't both put your wands down right now, I am going to get Dumbledore." Harry warned.

"That won't be necessary, Harry," said a voice from behind Ginny. Harry looked up in relief as Dumbledore stepped up, and the two men on either side of him lowered their wands.

A shiver went down Jennifer's spine as they crossed the hills near Beansidhe's Mound, as the sunken hill that had been the entrance of the Tomb was now called. The wail of the wind seemed to carry the haunted memory of the creature's presence on that end of the Dark Forest, and as the afternoon waned, Jennifer bundled her cloak tighter as they walked. She took out her wand and on the third try was able to get the simple cold protection spell up. Beside her Anna walked in silence, still very angry and hoping the walk home would cool her off. Jennifer would have just as soon taken floo back, but she wasn't about to leave Anna, especially as the little light in the forest was beginning to dim.

They had yet to get onto the connecting path towards Hogwarts when Anna finally sighed, making a futile attempt at brushing away the snowflakes that had begun to land on them from above.

"I am so tired of them fighting. There is really no need for it. Don't those two know how to just drop something?" Anna asked.

"Apparently not," Jennifer said companionably. Although she wasn't really angry at either of them, she couldn't help but be concerned about how preoccupied Severus was getting about the matter.

"Now Sirius, I can understand why he's getting mad, because Severus has been getting quite vicious lately. No, honestly, Jennifer. I'm much more mad at Severus for pushing this like he has been. He's been doing everything in his power to try and stop Sirius and me from getting together, you know," Anna said.

"I don't know about that," Jennifer said, feeling defensive. "I mean, he might not admit it to himself, but I really think he's known all along. Maybe Sirius is just taking things too personally."

"Oh, come on, Jennifer. They can't have a conversation without some form of insult, usually some sort of 'mutt' joke. If someone did that to you, you'd blow up too," Anna replied.

"Severus did tease me about my age when we first met," Jennifer admitted, "but I was too busy trying to figure out why he did it to be really angry at him. Maybe Sirius ought to ask him."

"What?"

"Maybe instead of blowing up, Sirius could try asking him why he's doing it," Jennifer said. "At the very least, Severus will probably quiet down if he doesn't want to talk about it."

"You know, that almost makes sense, which probably means it will never happen." Anna said. Jennifer stopped for a moment to try to get a wisp light going, and finally got a good-sized ball up.

"It's awfully dark out here tonight. There must be a thick cloud cover," Jennifer commented, as she followed the trail.

"You know it's strange, but this part of the forest doesn't look familiar at all, although I've traveled this path dozens of times." Anna said.

"Yes, me too," Jennifer admitted, feeling disoriented as well. "Maybe it's just because it's so dark."

That was when Anna started glowing again.

"I don't think it's just because it's dark." Anna said. Jennifer pulled out her wand, looking around.

"If anything happens, you Apparate on ahead," Jennifer said.

"Oh and leave the pregnant fizzle queen here on her own? That would be, how do you say it? Bloody brilliant."

"Shh, hang on, I thought I heard something." Jennifer said, pausing. But all she could hear was the wind.

"I feel strange," Anna said, glowing slightly.

"Just don't faint on me now, okay?" Jennifer said as she turned to look at her.

That was when the hair on the back of her neck began to prickle and Anna's face became white as a sheet. Jennifer turned around to see a shadow rising above them, the folds of darkness stretching out over them and reaching near the height of the trees around them. A pair of unearthly eyes made of blackness and mist blinked open and a hollow shadow of a face; cruel and relentless, terrifying and grotesque, fixated on its intended prey.

There could be no doubt it was a wraith of unprecedented power.