Chapter Sixteen

Christmas at Azkaban

Jennifer finished bundling up Aurelius, glancing over at Corey as he minimized the last of the gifts and put it all in one bag, handing it to his Mom before picking up Alex.

"Are you sure they'll let us in with them?" Corey asked for the tenth time. "I mean, I know they did last year, but this is different."

"Don't worry, Corey, if I have to speak to the Warden myself to get them in there, they're going," Jennifer said with determination. She looked around the house, which was unusually bleak with only token decorations, for Jennifer had not had time to make too much of a fuss this year. Still, she was quite set on making the best of it for all of them. Letting Corey go first, Jennifer followed quickly behind, distinctly saying 'Azkaban,' and popping out not long after in the entrance room. Wind howled outside, and the air was cool enough to see their breaths on the ride across the channel. Jennifer, taking only a second to wipe a smudge of ash of the baby's face, walked through the first checkpoint with only a nod and an inquisitive glance. It wasn't until the third checkpoint that someone finally seemed to take notice of the children... rather like last year, Jennifer recalled, when she came to visit her father. But unlike last year, it was Hinge minding the gates, and the sight of the four of them standing there waiting to go in was a bit of a surprise.

"How did you get down to this level? Children aren't allowed to see prisoners on this level," Hinge said.

"That's true, but my husband isn't technically a prisoner. They are only holding him pending his trial," Jennifer pointed out. "Therefore, there's no reason he should be included in that."

"If he's held in this quarter, he's included," Hinge said. "The boy can go if he's searched, but you'll have to take the others back home."

"Where's Boltin?" Jennifer asked.

"Boltin is busy, and even if he wasn't, I am the head duty officer for this shift, and I say you don't go in, security clearance or not." Hinge said firmly.

"Very well then, I'd like to speak with the Warden, please," Jennifer said calmly. Hinge's eyes went wide.

"You can't speak with the Warden. No one speaks with the Warden!"

"I'm not leaving until my children and I either see my husband or I see the Warden," Jennifer said, promptly making herself comfortable in the guard's chair. Hinge stood there, debating what to do, knowing he really ought to throw her out. But something about trying to throw a world famous witch and member of the Order of Merlin didn't seem very appealing, rules or no.

"Whatever is all the racket up here?" a hollow voice said as Icarus suddenly floated through the wall into the checkroom. "Oh, it's you, of course. I should have known."

"Icarus, what did I tell you about bothering guards when they're on duty?" Hinge said with a scowl.

"Oh, I'm not here to bother them. I'm here to bother her. My entire goal in death is to annoy her Crawness as much as possible. At least, according to her it is." Icarus said somberly.

"If you're trying to get me to leave, it's not going to work this time," Jennifer said with annoyance, trying to be careful not to wake up her sleeping son. "I'm not going anywhere."

"A rather dull place to spend Christmas," Icarus mused. "I should know. Do you know how many Christmases I've spent here?"

"I don't know, and I really don't care at the moment," Jennifer answered curtly.

"Can't you be nice even one day a year?" Icarus asked. "At least Hinge has an excuse to be cranky. He has to work on Christmas and got passed over for a promotion this year," he taunted the guard. Hinge growled at him in annoyance.

"And Severus has to spend his Christmas in this horrid place and I won't have him spending it alone. I swear, Hinge, if you do try to throw me out of here, I'll make sure every single wizard newspaper in the world knows about it," Jennifer snapped.

"Wouldn't that be fun! I can read the headline now. Famous Witch Un-Hinged over Irate Guard," Icarus teased.

"That's it. Jeff, go get Boltin and tell him Ick is acting up again. If anyone can get rid of him, he can."

"I thought it was rather clever," Icarus said glumly.

"I liked it," Corey put in, getting an annoyed look from Jennifer in return.

"Let me see if I can think up another one. I know, how about 'Hinges loose at Azkaban, claims Merlin Initiate Craw?'"

"Boltin!" Hinge yelled. But Jeff had apparently found him, for Thatcher Boltin walked up the hall, sighing and shaking his head when he realized what was going on. "Would you please get rid of this ghost?"

"I'm just entertaining her Crawness, who's staging a family sit-out. That's what it's called these days, isn't it?"

"Something like that," Boltin said, looking over to Jennifer. "Whatever happened to our promise that it was going to be just that one time?" he asked.

"That was with Dad," Jennifer said, standing up. "And Dad's a prisoner. Severus isn't convicted of any crimes at the moment."

"She has a very valid point, you know," Icarus said with a nod.

"He's still in maximum holding, so the same rules apply. Regulations are regulations," Hinge said insistently.

"He's not technically convicted and she has security clearance… the boy may as well have too, being a licensed Focus Caster himself," Boltin gestured to Corey, who grinned. "Let them in. I'll escort them myself. If anyone complains just lay the blame on me, lord knows I've been to bat enough for these folks already."

"Thank you, Boltin," Jennifer said with a smile. Hinge looked rather furious, but didn't say a word as they were led through the last point and through the halls.

"He really is one of the best guards here," Boltin commented the moment they stepped away. "He just doesn't like bending the rules.""

"I suppose they shouldn't be bent in a place like this," Jennifer said, wondering if she just got Boltin into trouble again. "I suppose I was out of line back there."

"Well, if it's any consolation, the Warden and I were both expecting you and your kids to show up, and he already approved your coming back here ahead of time. I just forgot to mention it to Hinge," Boltin grinned. "And we also set something else up Hinge hasn't been told of yet," he added. "Call it a Christmas present from the Warden and me to you." Jennifer looked up curiously, wondering what to expect as they entered the visitation room, then broke into a large smile when she saw both Severus and her father on the other end of the field, playing a game of chess as they waited for them to arrive.

"You're late!" Thomas Craw declared, moving his black queen over to take the white bishop. Severus glanced at it in annoyance, but quickly turned his attention to his family.

"Yes, what kept you?" Severus asked.

"Hinge," Jennifer and Boltin said.

"He's just angry because he got stuck with gate checks all day," Boltin grinned.

"Yes, it wouldn't do for that tight-wound bugger to find out about this, would it?" Thomas said cheerfully, moving another piece and looking over at his son-in-law. "I wonder what we could do to get him fired? Could be a good project for us while you're here."

"I didn't bring you two together to scheme," Boltin frowned at them.

"Severus won't be staying long enough for you to hatch any plans anyhow," Jennifer said firmly, trying to sort through bags while still keeping a handle on Aurelius, who had woken up and was pulling her hair.

"Where's Carol?" Severus asked.

"She went home for the holidays," Jennifer answered.

"You've been handling these two and Corey alone all this time?" Severus asked with a frown. Jennifer nodded and smiled.

"Since Yule. I don't mind."

"Boltin where are your manners, can't you see the two of them have their hands full?" Thomas said contritely. "Here, hand me my grandson. I want to get a better look at him."

"How is it that I knew that this would happen?" Boltin said, shaking his head and holding his arm out for the baby. Before long, Aurelius found himself in the arms of his appraising grandfather, and Alex with her father, snuggling into him contentedly while Corey and Jennifer sorted out the gifts. They had brought their own gifts along as well, so everyone had a chance to see everything, and plenty of food for everyone, including Boltin, who was in charge of passing things through the field. There were even several gifts for Boltin from Thomas, Severus, and Jennifer.

"You know this is going to look like a bribe, don't you?" Boltin said.

"Oh, come now, Thatcher. You probably know more about this family than anyone as many notes and parcels you've gone through, not to mention sitting in on our conversations," Thomas said. "You might as well be family."

"I hope this doesn't end up on the Security and Reform report," Boltin said, but finally accepted the gifts.

Toys emerged and began to walk noisily across the floor, as Alex scrambled down and back over to the visitor's side to play with a roaring dragon toy while Aurelius got his first taste of licorice cake when his mother was looking the other way.

"Isn't she a bit young for that?" Severus asked with a frown, when Alex tried to reach the dragon, which took flight when she neared it.

"Oh, don't worry, I dismantled the fire-breathing spell," Jennifer assured him.

"What exactly are all these books, anyhow? I've never heard of any of them," Thomas asked, looking over Severus' stack.

"Muggle mysteries. I told you about them," Severus said, glancing at one of them.

"Ah, yes. Odd taste in reading you have," Thomas said, turning back to his new photo album, looking over pictures of the children.

"Well, this amulet is going to go perfect with my Merlin robes," Jennifer said, gazing lovingly at her husband.

"I ordered it just after your birthday. I am glad that Anna had time to pick it up."

"Aunt Anna gave me more music books too," Corey grinned. "But I love the new lab kit! It's got everything in it!"

"I wonder where she is, anyhow? I would have expected she'd be by," Severus said, suddenly concerned. Just then there was a knocked at the door, and Boltin got up, unlocking it and peering out.

"Well, it's not Anna," he announced, opening the door wide enough for Harry to get in.

"She's at the Ministry, actually," Harry said, in such an excited tone that everyone looked up. "Sorry I can't stay long, I just wanted to stop by. I think we're finally on to something," he explained. "Hermione, Ron, and I are going over some records with Anna and Ederick. She'll be by later, I'm sure, but it might be late."

"On to something, like what?" Jennifer asked, and Harry turned to the side.

"I don't want to get any hopes up in case our theory is wrong," Harry explained. "But we think we might have found out what happened to the wand, all we need to find out now is who," he smiled. "Hang in there, and Happy Christmas."

"Wait, a minute, Harry, did this have anything to do with what happened to Thurspire?" Jennifer asked. Harry paused a moment as he opened the door, shaking his head.

"No, not exactly," Harry said. "If you really want to know what happened that night, I think you need to sit down and have a very long talk with Professor Ravenclaw. In fact, I think you need to talk to him in any case."

"Professor Ravenclaw?" Jennifer said puzzled.

"Mad Ick, Mom," Corey offered.

"If you don't believe me, just ask Dame Rachel about him. You might learn something," Harry added, leaving. Jennifer turned to Severus and Thomas, who shrugged unknowingly.

"I don't know what that was all about, Jennifer, but if Ick knows something about why Thurspire turned me into a rock, I'd like to hear it," Thomas said. "Where is that wet blanket today, anyhow?"

"Don't question it, just enjoy it," Jennifer said, picking up the sleeping Alex from where she lay curled up with the flapping dragon on the floor. "After all, it's Christmas. I'll talk to him about it later."

"Excuse me, Boltin, but do I need an escort to run to the bathroom?" Corey asked.

"No, it's just straight across the hall, just don't linger in the hall, alright?" Boltin said, letting him out the door and watching him step across to the bathroom. Making sure the door was locked, Corey cleared his throat experimentally, wondering if this would even work.

"Ick? Ick, are you there? Icarus? Professor Ravenclaw?" Corey said, pausing after each one, hoping for a response.

He could be anywhere in the entire fort, Corey realized, hoping he wasn't going to have to try to go after him. If only he knew the way to the crypt. From what his mother had said, he was sure he could get in touch with him there. Cautiously opening the door and looking down the hall to see if it was being watched, he slipped down the far end, wondering what the penalty was for getting caught in the prison without an escort.

Peering down the hall, Corey began taking side corridors, which he thought might bring him further towards the center of the castle, when abruptly the white washed walls ended. Instead, roughly hewn stone corridors lead into the darkness, filled with huge doors with rusted bars at every turn. He wasn't sure where he was, but he was quite sure wherever it was, it probably wasn't a good idea to be found here, and chances are his parents were probably going to wonder what was taking so long if he explored to much further. It was as he was turning around to head the other direction that a familiar apparition appeared drifting down from the ceiling with a surprised, almost concerned look on his face.

"Corey Willowby," Icarus said disapprovingly. "What in the world are you doing down here?"

"Looking for you," Corey said. "Mom's still here, don't you want to go talk to her?"

"Why would I want to talk to her? She never wants to talk to me," Icarus said gloomily. "And I'm quite certain it wasn't her idea for you to wander to the fourth quarter to find me."

"Is that where I am?" Corey said, looking around. "I got lost."

"Yes, not many would come here on purpose," Icarus said quietly. "Except those doomed to stay here and those doomed to guard it. Once the entire castle was like this. But in a way, Voldemort actually did us a favor, for the horror of the Dementor Revolt was enough to convince the wizards to reform the prison. Just think, had that revolt never happened, Thomas and Severus would have been in cells like this too, weakened by the Dementors' terror. Jennifer wouldn't have dared to bring any of you then."

"What about you?" Corey asked.

"Me?" Icarus said, slightly surprised by the question. "Ghosts carry their own terrors with them. Such creatures don't affect us. Only the evils we brought onto ourselves plague us. Come along, I will take you back to the visitor's room."

"By the way, how exactly did you get here, anyhow? I mean, did you die here?" Corey asked.

"No, I died at Hogwarts," Icarus said, "it was decided by the board that my presence disturbed the students, so the school reluctantly had me removed here. But I would do anything to go back there," he said, wistfully. "Not that I haven't found my own niche here over the years, but this is not where I belong. If only I could convince others of that."

"Why don't you just tell Dumbledore? I'm sure he'd let you back if you asked him," Corey said.

"Do you really think so?" Icarus said. "Oh, but I dare not ask. I'm needed here, you see."

"It never hurts to ask," Corey shrugged. Suddenly he bumped into a door, realizing belatedly that his escort began to walk through it. A moment later, Boltin opened the door and let him in.

"Here he is," Boltin said, shaking his head.

"He got lost," Icarus said in his defense.

"Between here and a room across the hall?" Severus asked with a scowl.

"It can happen," Icarus said evenly.

"Well, get your things together, we need to get going soon," Jennifer said gently, turning back to Severus. "How I dread going home and leaving you here."

"With any luck, it won't be much longer," Severus said. "Then again, with my luck, it could be forever."

"Don't say that!" Jennifer said emphatically. "You don't belong here, and the school isn't the same without you. I'm not the same without you," Jennifer admitted, gently touching her hand against the field near his. Severus said nothing, but gazed at her for a long time.

"Well, I suppose this is goodbye for now, little grandson," Thomas sighed, handing him over to Boltin who gingerly handed him over to his mother. "Thank you, Boltin. Having Christmas together is the best present any of us could have expected."

"Thank the Warden, not me. I just deliver his post," Boltin protested, opening the door for Jennifer.

"Well whoever he or she is, we definitely owe him one," Jennifer said. "Thank you both," she added, gazing one last time at Severus before leaving with the children.

"She's really quite nice, when she wants to be," Icarus commented. "Even if she is a bit headstrong."

"What do you expect? It's in her bloodline," Thomas said proudly.

"Yes," Icarus said thoughtfully, "I suppose it is."

It wasn't until the next morning as Jennifer got up to feed Aurelius that she noticed a waylaid rectangular package under the tree. Wondering how it could have gotten missed, Jennifer stopped to glance at it, seeing only her name but not who it was from, opening it cautiously. It was with deep surprise that she found a yellowed journal in her hand and knew exactly whose it was. But how? How in the world did Janus Craw's journal get here? Quickly she settled Aurelius with a bottle and scribbled a note to Severus, waking up her dozing bat and sending it to Azkaban. Later that day the note was finally returned, reading: It wasn't me. Ask Sirius.

Sirius? Jennifer wondered. She had known since before Severus was arrested that he had Sirius helping him with his scheme to try and find the journal. In fact, that was exactly what had got him into those business deals with Lucius Malfoy. Could Severus' suspicions that Malfoy had bought it finally paid off? Jennifer chewed on her lip slightly, before sending a note to Sirius as well. Not long after Ratfly got back from delivering it that there was a knock at the door.

By that time Alex and Aurelius were playing on the living room floor, and Alex cheerfully greeted him by calling out "Dadda!" A pained expression appeared on Jennifer's face, but Sirius pretended not to notice, instead picking up the girl and tried to get her say, "Uncle Sirius."

"Good luck with that. I still haven't gotten her to say Mama yet," Jennifer said glumly, "and Carol gets back tomorrow."

"Just as well, you shouldn't be doing so much in your condition anyhow," Sirius said.

"Nonsense, this is getting to be old hat now. I haven't even lost my magic yet," Jennifer said, pouring them some tea as Sirius gently lifted the kids into the playpen. "Corey helps me out as well, of course. He's off with Essie right now, though."

"You're still not very far along, the magic will sputter eventually," Sirius said, almost reassuringly. "So tell me about how you got the book. Can I see it?"

"I don't know how. It was here wrapped when I got here this morning, and Severus told me to ask you," Jennifer said. "So I take it you didn't get it?"

"No, I never had the chance, and I wasn't quite sure how to bring it up without too much suspicion," Sirius admitted. "Made quite a bundle on Malfoy property investments though," he couldn't help but add cheerfully. "But that is rather puzzling. I was almost sure he had it. I am also fairly sure that he doesn't have the other book I'm looking for."

"You mean Merlin's spell book?" Jennifer asked.

"Actually, I know where that is," Sirius admitted. "I'm looking to find out what happened to the fake spell book that Severus made to replace it. We suspected for a while that Malfoy might have been responsible."

"Well, yes, that makes sense. After all, he had possession of the book for a long time, and it wouldn't have been hard for him to figure out that Fudge had it. That doesn't explain how he could have gotten hold of Severus' wand, though," Jennifer pointed out. "Still, if he had gotten in and figured out it was fake, he probably would have destroyed it."

"Yes, I doubt he'd be helpful enough to try and keep it, or even sell it like the last time we tried to nail him," Sirius chuckled. He carefully leafed through the journal that she had handed him. "I don't know who sent this or how they knew you needed it, but it looks legitimate to me."

"I'm going to take it to Dumbledore to make doubly sure anyhow," Jennifer said, glancing at it. "And if it is his journal, I think my work is cut out for me to try and find the Cauldron."

"Oh, why's that?" Sirius asked. Jennifer turned back to the last couple of pages, muttering a translation spell before having him read it. Sirius blinked at it a few times before looking back at her. "You're not going to try and do this on your own, are you?"

"No," Jennifer said, shaking her head. "Not without help, and definitely not without Severus. He'd never forgive me putting myself in this sort of danger without being able to be there to back me up."

"I suppose that means we'd better make sure we get him out of Azkaban then," Sirius said. "Because there shouldn't be a Jennifer without a Severus anymore than a Sirius without an Anna. Which reminds me, I'd better go see if I can drag her away from the Ministry. She's becoming even more of a workaholic these days than her brother is." He smiled warmly at Jennifer, a reassuring smile. When he left, Jennifer turned her attention to the journal once more. She read another few lines and shook her head before becoming lost in thought again.