Chapter Seven

Consequences

As Jennifer listened to the tale from Fudge's point of view, she couldn't help but notice when Severus dazed off with an odd expression on his face, as if having an internal struggle. He finally fought past it, and was stuck in a memory. Anna as well seemed stricken in a similar way, but not so completely; the memories that were hidden from her were not as clear in her mind because of how young she was. Yet neither Jennifer nor Audi missed the anger that was building in both of their faces when Fudge finally finished his tale of the reception and the two of them returned to the present. Severus' eyes darted over to Fudge.

"I hate you," Severus snarled, the fury in his eyes betraying the forced calmness of his expression.

"Yes, well, I suppose I don't blame you. But it was not my decision to make. Your parents made it," he pointed out.

"You were the one who gave them the idea to cut Anna off from her magic in the first place," Severus growled. "And how dare you Obliviate me like that?" Jennifer quickly put a hand on Severus' shoulder as if reminding him where they were.

"Severus, he had no choice, none of us did," Audi intervened. "You were already touched by Voldemort, we all saw you go over there and speak to him. We were afraid that he might have found out through you."

"And you… you never mentioned you even knew my parents. How many times have I went out on a limb for you, and you didn't even bother to inform me that anything was being kept from me?" Severus snapped at Audi.

"Severus, what did you want me to do? Come up to you and say, hi, I met you and your sister when you were kids and did you know you got Obliviated?" Audi said. "But honestly, I'd rather you both blamed us rather than your parents. They were up to their necks in trouble before any of this… they just didn't want to risk the two of you in what they were caught up in. And then, after they were killed, we had no choice to keep it a secret," Audi said.

"What about when Voldemort disappeared the first time and everyone thought Harry destroyed him as a baby?" Anna asked. "Why weren't we told then?"

"That was because of another problem," Audi sighed. "That was because of where Sirius was at the time."

"Azkaban Prison," Anna said softly, and they nodded.

"We suspected that the two of you might have a deeper connection," Fudge admitted. "Audi had written to me not long after he had been put into prison, and before I had even told her what happened. She told me that a change had come over you, that you had grown aloof and disconnected for no apparent reason. So with the help of your Aunt Tony, who understands your magic a bit better than most, and Audi's help to try and subdue Sirius' influences, we sealed your magic even deeper than before," Fudge said quietly.

"And it worked… that is, until he got out," Audi sighed. "There was no controlling it then. You were grown up and on your own, and we heard second hand from your Grandmother that you had gone to Britain. By then, it was too late."

"That was the first time I stepped into Diagon Alley, when you found me," Anna said accusingly at Fudge.

"Of course, and I Obliviated you so that you wouldn't recognize me and sent you straight to visit your aunt," Fudge said. "You must understand that we thought that Sirius was a murderer at that point and that both you and Harry were in grave danger. I had no choice. I had to send you back."

"But that wasn't the only time you did it," Jennifer interrupted suddenly. "You also sent her back that first year I was at Hogwarts, didn't you?"

"He was still a fugitive then," Fudge reminded her.

"Yes, but that wasn't who you were afraid of," Jennifer said. "It wasn't Sirius you were worried about at that point. You were worried about what Dumbledore was going to do when he found out about what you had been hiding all of these years," she said, feeling her own anger building. "You never told him, did you? He knew about the fairy blood, but he never knew the extent of her power until Anna appeared in Hogwarts on her own. Until then, he was led to believe that she was a Muggle just like you had told everyone. You were afraid that he'd be able to put things together and figure out what you did. But why? Why in the world would anyone want to hide something like this from Dumbledore?"

"Because, Professor, they knew I would never had allowed it."

They looked up to see Dumbledore standing in the door, and Jennifer could tell at once from his face that he had been there the entire time. He was gazing at Fudge with a look that Jennifer wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of… a serene disapproval that spoke volumes.

"I might have advised them to find a quiet place to live so that the children could grow up in peace without fear of being exposed before they were ready, but I would never have caused them to forget, nor would I have denied abilities to a child that was not old enough to be included in the decision on whether or not to do so."

"Well, it wasn't your decision to make," Fudge said defensively.

"It wasn't yours either, Cornelius," Dumbledore stated quietly. "And yet your fingerprints are all over this decision, and it was your advice mixed with the fear of Voldemort that motivated their parents to go along with it. So, Audi, this is why you so readily agreed to move to America when I wanted someone to keep an eye on things there."

"Well, I did owe a lot to Jennifer's mother, but I admit it had occurred to me that it'd also put me closer to Anna as well, yes," Audi nodded. "And you're right, Albus. I knew you wouldn't have approved, but I still think we did the right thing. Anna grew up safe and happy without having the burden of being an Aethermage, and no one suspected her as being anything but a Muggle. She found out when she was ready to handle it, and no one was harmed by not knowing what happened that day." Severus abruptly stood up and walked out of the room, Jennifer watching him with a worried expression before looking back up at Dumbledore, whose eyes hadn't left Audi's.

"Do not be so sure of that," Dumbledore replied evenly.

Jennifer climbed up the long stair to the Owlery and opened a door that led out onto the parapets, unsurprised to find it unlocked. There, looking out onto the evening like a shadow longing for the darkness stood Severus, as he often did when there was something on his mind. Closing the door behind her, Jennifer quietly walked over to his side, taking hold of his arm without saying a word. They stood there silently for a long time before Severus finally moved, putting an arm around her with a sigh.

"You really do look a lot like your mother," he said at last, glancing over at her. "Even at nine I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She had a light in her eyes that was all her own, just as you do," he said gazing at her sincerely. "Perhaps I saw something of my own future that day without knowing it. In fact, I know I had, in many other ways…" he said, his voice faltering a bit.

"What is it?" Jennifer asked, looking up at him with concern.

"The Grim that Fudge spoke of… I'm not sure it was a real Grim, but rather the shadow of one… in either case, I was the one that had called it there," Severus sighed, gazing out at the lake as well. "I didn't know it at the time, but now, I'm quite sure I had. I was angry at Sirius, convinced that he had attempted to harm my sister, and wished that he would meet his fate."

"You know under other circumstances, I would have found the irony of that very funny," Jennifer admitted, although her face was solemn and supportive.

"As far as I had known up until tonight, I had met Sirius in Hogwarts during an incident I'd rather forget," he said, snorting at that. "As far as I had known, the first time I had ever wished ill on someone and had it occur was the night my parents died. But what if I had remembered? What if Dumbledore had known? What if the entire event could have been prevented if someone had realized beforehand that I was capable of that?"

"I doubt it would have prevented what happened," Jennifer said quietly. "And I'm not sure you should really want it to have changed." Severus looked over at her with surprise, squinting at her. "Severus, you are who you are because of what happened. Had you not killed the man who had killed your parents, he would have surely murdered you and Anna as well, and then where would we be? You had no choice. It wouldn't have changed anything."

"Perhaps," he said quietly. "But perhaps if Dumbledore had known that Voldemort had already shown interest in me, a lot of other things might have been avoided. I had forgotten just how angry I was at my father for marrying again, especially to someone my mother would not have approved of. I had been too angry to notice how often she put my needs above her own, trying to make amends that I wouldn't accept. She did everything in her power to help me, and I blocked every attempt. And then I betrayed them, by telling Lucius and his friends where I lived. I am sure that is how they found us that Christmas just as sure as I am that Voldemort was ultimately behind it. And how quickly after that Voldemort had convinced me he had nothing to do with it!" he sighed, angry with himself all over again. "If it hadn't been for Dumbledore stepping in after that incident with Sirius several years later, I don't think I would have seen another sunrise after that night."

"I still would have loved you," Jennifer said softly. Severus looked over at her for a long time before finally leaning over and kissing her. Dumbledore, who had just opened the door behind them, smiled softly and closed it again, feeling more reassured than he had a moment ago.

Quite some distance away, Anna had just come home to the mansion after having a long talk with Audi, pulling off her jacket and shuffling over to where Sirius was sitting behind his desk. He looked up and smiled, partially out of relief; Anna realized he'd been a bit worried about what had been keeping her. Before he could ask, she had taken a lollipop out of her pocket and handed it out to him expectantly as he looked at her with bewilderment.

"Fix?" Anna said.

The color suddenly drained completely out of Sirius' face.

Corey hurried out of the Gryffindor common room to find his Mom waiting, glancing at her watch impatiently. She was wearing her favorite burgundy dress with the black sash as she often did when she went to visit Azkaban.

"There you are," Jennifer said, shaking her head at him. "You know how your grandfather hates it when we're not right there the moment visiting hours start, although I do admit I'm not much in the mood to go traipsing about another prison right now. Oh well, let's be off," she said, leading them down the steps and out of the castle, heading to the train station. It was a windy day, and the air was already beginning to chill, and as they headed through the floo system to the island the temperature fell even more, the rain echoing through the bare entry all of the prison. "Brr! I should have brought some tea along," Jennifer said. "It's going to be another long winter, I think."

"Just as long as it stays nice our first few games," Corey said, walking along side her and holding up his arms expectantly as they got to the first checkpoint. "Of course, we play Ravenclaw first game. No contest there."

"Don't get too cocky, Corey," she warned him after he got patted down and they moved on. "Ravenclaw is also picking up a Seeker again this year."

"True, but I doubt they'll be anywhere the challenge that Slytherin is going to be. Danny's the best!" Corey said, peering around corners every time they passed a corridor.

"Corey, what are you doing?" Jennifer asked, looking at him curiously.

"I was just seeing if Mad Ick was following us yet," he admitted as they passed the second checkpoint.

"What do you mean yet? What makes you think that horrid ghost would bother following us?" Jennifer asked, hoping that Icarus hadn't heard Corey say his name out loud.

"Mom, he always follows you around when you're here," Corey grinned at her. "Why would today be any different? Besides, I have a message for him." Jennifer looked at him for a moment before stopping short.

"Please tell me you haven't been in the Trophy Room."

"Mom, I haven't been in the Trophy Room," Corey said truthfully, looking her straight in the eye. Jennifer sighed.

"Good. For a moment there you had me worried."

Whatever she was going to say was cut short as she got to the last guard post where Thatcher Boltin waited with a smile. He was a dusty haired, cheerful enchanter the same age as Jennifer, but a Hufflepuff to the core. He was also her father's personal guard, and one of Thomas Craw's greatest defenders. The two of them had become good friends over the last few years, and Jennifer was grateful that her father had such a dependable companion in his jailer. It had sometimes been hard for Jennifer to accept her father's fate to live the rest of his life in such a place, although her father never seemed to regret turning himself in. Thomas had plenty of visitors and filled his cell with books, magazines, and newspapers, keeping himself up to date with the outside world.

In fact, as Jennifer and Corey came in to the visiting room, she couldn't help but notice that her father looked healthier than he had since he had been imprisoned. She smiled slightly at that, but he on the other hand was busy tapping his watch and frowning at her.

"You're late again!" he accused her.

"Well, Corey wanted to come along so I had to wait for him, and you know how he procrastinates," she said.

"I do not!" Corey said, handing his packages over to Boltin to put through the magic field. "Guess what, Grandfather, I'm learning to play the guitar."

"Yes, do you mind if we leave him here with you until he gets over this phase?" Jennifer teased.

"Mom!"

"I think the Warden would revolt if we even threatened to put a teenager of any sort in here," Boltin chuckled, handing the packages over to Thomas, who immediately began shuffling through the letters and pulling Severus' letter out of the pile.

"And how are my other two grandchildren?"

"Active," Jennifer chuckled. "I spent nearly all day yesterday chasing Alex around. And Aurelius is perfect, he never gives much hassle to anyone."

"That doesn't sound much like Craw behavior," Thomas grunted. He was still slightly annoyed that they had chosen not to give him a first name to represent the Craw line as well, but as far as Jennifer was concerned that was his own fault, and Thomas knew better to start that argument again. "And the next one is coming when?"

"Dad," Jennifer chuckled. "We're working on it, give us some time. Besides, you know it'll be after Halloween before we know anything in any case, and there's plenty enough to do without worrying about it."

"Two down two to go," Corey said cheerfully. "Good thing you gave Carol a raise."

"What, already? She's only been working for you for two years," Thomas said.

"I got a raise myself this year and I passed some of it on. She's doing a splendid job with them, Dad. They adore her. Perhaps too much," Jennifer admitted, quieting down to let him read his letter.

"So…" he said after a moment, putting it down thoughtfully. "They knew about Anna all along, did they?"

"Apparently," Jennifer nodded. Corey looked over at them, wondering what he had missed.

"Truly, it's neither here nor there… it's too late to change it all now. And they were right about one thing… if Voldemort had known the truth about her, she and her mother would have been dead before her next birthday," Thomas grunted. "Nobody he saw as a threat survived."

"Except Dumbledore," Jennifer said. "And you." Thomas smiled thinly.

"Yes, and look where it got me. Life in prison for attempting to stop it all from happening again. That's gratitude for you." Jennifer shook her head with a smile, knowing better than to get into that again. "I don't suppose now that you're a hotshot Order of Merlin you couldn't see about getting me a pardon?"

"Dad!" Jennifer said with exasperation.

"In for a penny in for a pound," Boltin chuckled. "He was just given more yard rights for good behavior, Jennifer, and I think it's going to his head."

"Yes, they have decided I am not a flight risk, so I have two hours in the brine-filled air instead of half an hour. And of course, it's been raining half of those days since it started. Now if only we could get rid of this wretched force field so my daughter could actually hand me my mail without a go between…"

"Don't count on it, Thomas," Boltin said, shaking his head. "Too many of us guards have heard what happens when you get angry. Allowing you more time to roam alone in the yard is one thing, but I seriously doubt the Warden will ever want to risk what would happen if you lost your temper with a visitor."

"As long as nobody lets Lucius Malfoy in, it won't be a problem," Thomas shrugged, "and so far, he's not stepped one foot in Azkaban since the bastard bought his way out."

"Thatcher, what about the possibility of relaxing it a bit for security cleared guests like Dumbledore and myself?" Jennifer asked. "Certainly someone allowed to have a wand in here shouldn't have to worry about one unarmed Craw."

"I beg your pardon, daughter, but a Craw's first weapon is his mind. We're only unarmed when we're dead," Thomas said sternly.

"Dad, you're not helping me here," Jennifer sighed.

"I don't know, Jennifer. You're just going to have to write the Warden and ask," Boltin said with a shrug.

"And just what are we asking him about?" an echoing voice asked. Jennifer groaned softly and glanced around as the gloomy faced Icarus appeared floating through the inner wall, looking straight at Jennifer.

"Must you stick your nose into everything, Icarus?" Jennifer asked in annoyance.

"There you are!" Corey said excitedly. "I was hoping you'd turn up today!" Everyone turned and stared at Corey, including Icarus, who looked quite surprised indeed. "I'm a friend of Professor Dusthorn. Did anyone tell you that she woke up?"

"Corey Willowby! I thought you said you hadn't been in the Trophy Room?"

"I haven't been, Mom. Dusthorn was afraid after you all found out she was awake that you professors would try to stop us from talking to her, so she set up another place for us to contact her," Corey explained. Jennifer stared at him completely aghast when a mischievous, delighted chuckle suddenly erupted from Icarus. "She said she's not going to sleep until she's preserved a special friendship. What do you think she means by that?"

"It means, my dear boy, that Professor Dusthorn has a lot of work to do, and so does your mother, because she's the only one who can help us find the one who's missing," Icarus confided to the boy with a solemn smile.

"Wait a minute, what are you talking about and what does it have to do with me?" Jennifer demanded.

"Ask Caprica," Icarus said, waving her off. "I'm not good enough for you to talk to, remember? But you, Mr. Willowby," he said, turning so his back was to Jennifer, "Can come and see me anytime you like. And please, let Caprica know that I have not forgotten."

"Yes, sir," Corey grinned. Breaking out into another chuckle at being called 'sir,' Icarus faded away, leaving Jennifer gazing at Corey with an almost murderous look on her face.