Chapter Thirty-One

A Reunion of Old Friends

"I can't believe I'm doing this. Why did you want me along again?" Jennifer asked Dumbledore for the fifth time as they walked down the corridors of Azkaban.

"I could ask him, you know, but he wouldn't ever do it without your blessing," Dumbledore said calmly.

"My feet hurt, my back aches, I've only been back two days, and this is where I end up," Jennifer complained. But Dumbledore only smiled tolerantly at her, opening the door for her.

"You will feel so much better when this is done," he assured her.

"Somehow I doubt that," Jennifer said, waving at Boltin, who escorted them up the Warden's tower.

Icarus was quite surprised to see them, anxious to seat them and make them as comfortable as possible before floating behind the desk.

"Could Thatcher stay this time, Icarus?" Dumbledore asked. "I believe what we have to say concerns him as well."

"Of course," Icarus said, and Boltin smiled and closed the door, stepping up beside the desk. "Now, what is it that I can do for you?"

"Rather, the question is, what can we do for you, Icarus?" Dumbledore asked.

"Pardon, sir?" Icarus said, looking confused.

"You have said often enough that you've served as Warden through the worst of times, and have, I think, added greatly to its reform. You've served, in fact, a normal man's lifetime and more here. Have you ever thought of retiring?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Retiring? To what? To wallow in the crypt for the rest of eternity?" Icarus asked glumly.

"If that is what you prefer," Dumbledore said. "But Caprica, Professor Craw, and I have had a long chat, and Professor Craw would like to offer you another option." Jennifer gave Dumbledore a dirty look for putting her on the spot.

Icarus turned intently to her, an almost fearful hope in his eyes. Could it be, after all these years? He dare not hope, he dare not consider it. But if Jennifer was a bit reluctant to say it, something in his eyes suddenly made her want to put him at ease. She sighed.

"You're invited to come back to spend your internment at Hogwarts, if you'd like. Of course, if you'd like to stay here, we quite understand…" she added quickly.

"Me? At Hogwarts? Come back? After all this time?" Icarus said. "You, Jennifer? You want me to come back?"

"Well, Janus wants you back," Jennifer explained. "And, I suppose in a way, I'd really like to see you all together again... all of your memories, at least."

"Then you succeeded? Janus Craw is back at Hogwarts?" Icarus asked brightly.

"Yes, Icarus," Dumbledore assured him. "He woke after his trip yesterday and is even now haunting the halls and getting acquainted with all of the other ghosts."

"And the Cauldron?"

"The Artifacts Department has it at the moment," Jennifer said. "But, since Janus Craw was the last one to technically own it, Vallid is fighting to have it registered in my name so that we can bring it back to the school."

"For the right reasons, I hope," Icarus said with a frown.

"Why don't you come and find out for yourself?" Dumbledore asked. Jennifer gave him another dirty look. It was quite obvious to her now that Dumbledore was determined to get Icarus back to the school, one way or the other.

"I think I shall," Icarus said, trying not to sound overly excited. "Yes, I do believe I shall. But there are things I must do here, things I must take care of first, important things. Like making a recommendation or two for a new warden," he added, glancing at Thatcher, who blinked at him.

"When you've written it up, I would like to sign it," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Oh, yes, me as well," Jennifer added.

"Then we shall see you in a week to finish up here," Dumbledore smiled, "and that'll still give us a couple of months to settle you into Hogwarts before the new school year."

"New school year," Icarus repeated. "Me! At Hogwarts!"

"Hogwarts will never be the same again," Jennifer said dryly.

"And I'll get to haunt the place where I actually died at!" Icarus said excitedly.

"And where was that, exactly?" Jennifer asked.

"Why, the office next to the Potion's Lab, of course," Icarus said.

A bloodcurdling scream rang out through the Prison of Azkaban.

One week later, just as dawn was beginning to break over the forest, there was a knock on the door of Dumbledore's Study. The door opened and Dumbledore looked up to see Minerva with the Book in her hand, an enigmatic smile on her face. Dumbledore closed the tome he was reading and looked over at her with interest.

"I thought you'd like to see our newest list edition, Albus, since you're still up," she offered.

"I would be delighted. In fact, that is rather what I've been waiting on," he admitted as he gently put the tome aside in favor of looking at the open Book in front of them. He glanced at the name, and then decided to clean his glasses, looking at it again with a smile.

"Well, what do you think of that?" Dumbledore said as a read the name Andrew Albus Snape over one more time.

"I only hope he doesn't end up being a Slytherin," she said mischievously.

"Well, now I suppose I'll have to stay long enough to find out," he chuckled at himself, getting up. "Are those four still at it downstairs?"

"I believe so, Albus," Minerva nodded.

"I think then I shall go speak with them before I turn in. Good night, Minerva, and thank you."

"And good morning," Minerva said with a smile. "I think I'll run up and finish the baby robes I was making now that I know they need to be blue."

"Let them know I will be by later this evening to pay my respects," Dumbledore smiled, then went down the stairs. Only one set of stairs did he take before he reached the main floor, and only a few footsteps more and he was at the back door of the Great Hall.

Most of Caprica's party guests had gone home with only a pair of odd friends here and there, still dawdling at the outskirts of the room. But the four apprentices themselves were still there, Caprica and Bedivere on the wall above the high table, drinks in hand and a chessboard between them. Icarus and Janus were standing before them, and they were still talking among themselves.

"So there you are, after all," Dumbledore said, repeating it in Latin.

"We really need to get poor Janus up to speed. He's been isolated much too long," Caprica chuckled.

"And what brings you down here so early in the morning, Dumbledore? Any news of the Cauldron?" Icarus asked.

"Yes, that and more. I suppose you'll be pleased to know that the Cauldron is officially coming back to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said, getting cheers around. "The Artifacts department has licensed the Cauldron to Professor Craw…'provided that the Cauldron remains on school property.'"

"That sounds quite fair indeed," Janus Craw grunted. "Perhaps some lessons have been learned over time."

"I'm still of the opinion that history always repeats itself," Bedivere said, moving a chess piece.

"No," Icarus said thoughtfully, "I do not see it like that. Rather, history is more like an artist, practicing the same subject over and over, trying to do better than the last. With every repetition, something is learned, and something is gained."

"But sometimes, detail gets lost in the process, dear boy," O'Laren said, musing over Caprica's move.

"And that is when we need remind ourselves of what the subject of the painting is, so we don't lose sight of the true goal," Icarus said with a smile.

"I can see the four of you can discuss philosophy without stop for years on end," Dumbledore said mischievously

"And we intend to on occasion, when I'm awake, that is," Caprica said with a grin. "But you did say that you have other news for us."

"Yes. Two of you, it seems, have a new descendant."

"Which two?" joked Caprica.

"His name is Andrew Albus Snape," Dumbledore smiled. Janus groaned.

"That's no Slytherin name," Janus scowled.

"I got dibs," Caprica put in.

"Nonsense, he's not your descendant, and he's the son of scholars. A Ravenclaw for sure," Icarus said.

"With that middle name, how can he be anything but a Gryffindor?" O'Laren put in.

"I really must remember not to come to you four with news when I am tired," Dumbledore chuckled. "But I must get a few hours a sleep at least. After all, I have a meeting with the justice board to go to on your behalf, Icarus."

"Do you think they'll accept my final recommendation? To downgrade Thomas to Level Two?" Icarus asked, suddenly serious. "I know the parole clause might persuade them from it, since that means he'll now get a hearing after a decade, but it isn't as if he'll ever pass a parole board."

"Perhaps not," Dumbledore said quietly. "But I think that being able to hold his daughter's hand now and then and to see his grandchildren more than once a year will be a very appreciated gift indeed. Family has become more important to him than ever, you know."

"He's a Craw," Janus said, as if that explained everything.

"Yes," Dumbledore smiled. "And he's become a good friend once more. But I really must be off to bed."

"One other thing before you go?" Caprica put in, glancing at the others and waiting for Icarus to nod.

"Yes, Professor?" Albus inquired.

"Three of the items of the Seal are now here in the castle, and only one is remaining, although I daresay it won't be as hard to find," Caprica said, glancing at Icarus. "When the last piece is found, what do you intend to do?"

"That depends," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "What do you four intend to do?"

"Wait and see what happens, I suppose," Caprica said, moving up the Queen.

"And that is what I intended to do as well," Dumbledore smiled. "Goodnight," he added, turning.

He knew, of course, what they wanted. And he knew very well that it might still happen… perhaps. What if the Fourth Sentinel is not found? What if there's no other way? What if that which they had been avoiding is now imminent? Open the gate? Could it be done? Would it be done? Should it be done? And would He be there, waiting as he said he would, to see how the world had progressed since he last left? Dumbledore had a curious vision then, of standing before a man who resembled himself in many ways and who greeted him by name… but then the vision disappeared, and Dumbledore wondered if he wasn't just a tired old wizard in need of sleep.

"Bedivere! You're cheating again!" Caprica accused him. "How can I capture a king when it isn't even on the board?"

"Ah yes," Bedivere smiled, putting the king on the board. "There, all of the pieces are in place. Now the real game begins."

A/N Another book, another Snape! And boy do they have their work caught up for them now! In the next book, Jennifer Craw and the Sentinels of Merlin, the quest of the last Sentinel continues, and hopefully not too late to save the magic it protects. I hope you like the Sentinel series enough to continue on to find out the series conclusion! In any case, thanks for the reviews, and thanks for reading! ~ Doublequill