Chapter Eleven
A Race Against Time
Jennifer buttoned the cuffs on her new red velvet gown, taking one last look in the mirror.
"Hurry up, Severus, remember we do have door duty tonight," Jennifer said, pulling up her high collar. "Maybe this dress makes my hair look too red. What do you think?"
In the other sitting room, Severus was going through his Cloak Chest, checking everything before laying an old Tome on top, locking it back up again.
"I think you worry too much about such things," he said at last as he stood up, putting his cloak on over his Hogwarts robes before cutting through the bedroom to join her. "And I'm not going to fall for an obvious attempt at fishing for a complement," he added knowingly, closing the door. Jennifer pouted slightly. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, wonderful," Jennifer sighed, putting her wand up her cuff. "Not a stomach flutter or a spell fizzle, either. Perhaps it didn't work this time," she added, looking over at him.
"It's much too soon to jump to that conclusion. But if you aren't, I dare think it's because you needed the break," Severus said expressionlessly, handing Jennifer her Chest Cloak.
"But Severus, I usually wear my Night Shroud for things like this…"
"I'd feel a lot better if you took your cloak," Severus insisted with a frown, putting it on her shoulders himself. "Besides, the dark tone brings out the color in your eyes. Let's be off." Jennifer smiled at him lovingly as they went out the door.
The Great Hall was decorated in orange and black jack-o-lanterns and wispy spider webs were draped around the room. Several of the ghosts had already arrived, and Jennifer couldn't help but notice several paintings had somehow managed to find their way into the room as well, hanging between the fireplaces and along the far wall. Filius was already there, his band playing gently in the background. Minerva was with Pomona Sprout, who had set up the refreshment table. Even Sibyl Trelawney had come down from her tower, standing nervously by the back door near the staff room.
"Good evening, Jennifer, Severus!" A voice said as the two of them moved to take their place by the door. Jennifer looked up to see her ancestor standing there with a smile, and he was tapping a ghostly gentleman's cane.
"Good evening, Janus!" Jennifer said, smiling warmly at him. She had quickly become quite fond of her ancestor… in many ways; he was very much like her father, although a bit more calculating and less temperamental. When she spoke to him, she often felt that she was getting a better glimpse of herself, for many of his personality traits had been carried through the family. "Decided to join the festivities tonight?"
"Well, this is the first living party here since the four of us got together. We could not resist coming. And there are some people coming tonight that I really want to meet," Janus explained with a smile. "Good evening." Jennifer waved to him, glancing at Severus who was watching her carefully.
"I don't suppose we can't lock Ick away for the night?" Jennifer asked. Severus' lip twitched slightly.
"It's hard enough to lock Peeves away. You know what Argus had to go through to get him in a ghostproof box tonight," Severus reminded her. "I also seriously doubt after a thousand years at Azkaban that Ravenclaw could be locked away. He probably knows more tricks about such things than we do. Besides, perhaps it'll cheer him up a bit the way he's been carrying on lately." Jennifer gave Severus a dirty look, but before she could comment, they heard voices approaching. With surprise she found herself looking at Norman Balmweed, accompanied by Bronan Tubbins and Draco Malfoy.
"Good evening, Vice Chairman, Mr. Tubbins, Draco, good to see you," Severus said with a courteous nod.
"Professors, good to see you again," Balmweed said. "How is everything? Is everything secure for the night?" he asked. Severus squinted at him, while Jennifer gazed in his face carefully.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Severus asked with a slight frown.
"Oh, well, with everything happening out there, one can't be too careful," Balmweed said in a low voice, sounding somewhat nervous. "In fact, I'm rather surprised that you're having a social event like this, considering everything that's been going on."
"If Hogwarts wasn't safe, we wouldn't be," Jennifer said, sounding slightly defiant. Balmweed smiled nervously.
"No offense meant, Professor Craw, of course… I'm sure that with you and Dumbledore here that matters are well in hand," Balmweed said.
"As well as some of our guests," Jennifer pointed out with a smile as Harry, Ginny, and Anna came in. Harry grinned at Jennifer as the other three men turned around.
"Good evening Jennifer, Severus, Malfoy," Harry greeted, the last name said without much warmth. Ginny didn't look too thrilled to see Draco there either.
"Potter," Draco echoed warily.
"I trust everything's well with the Order of Equinox," Harry added politely.
"Yes, although we're all a bit concerned about the alarming events of the last few months, as I trust the Order of Merlin is," Tubbins replied.
"But we're keeping you detained. We should join the party. I'm sure there will be plenty of time to speak tonight," Balmweed said quickly, bowing politely to them with a smile as he and Tubbins went further into the room.
"Sorry to hear about your magic," Draco added to Severus before he followed the other two.
"Who invited him?" Harry asked after they'd gone.
"Lucius is forbidden from school grounds, so Draco often comes to see Danny," Jennifer explained. "He's always stayed very civil, Harry," she assured him.
"Yes well, I hope you don't mind if I make sure he stays that way," Harry said, earning dirty looks from Ginny and Severus. "We're going to go sit with Hermione and Ron if you need me," Harry added with a smile.
"I thought you said we were here to have fun?" Ginny reminded Harry in a whisper as they began to walk away.
"No Sirius still?" Severus asked Anna as she passed by. Anna gave him a dirty look but didn't say anything, deciding to go speak to Minerva instead. Severus frowned after her, and Jennifer gazed back over at him.
"They still haven't made up?" Jennifer asked. "No wonder she's been avoiding me," she said with a sigh. "This is all my fault."
"Anna's forgiven your part in this and so should you. I have to admit, those two are definitely matched in their stubbornness, aren't they?" Severus mused.
"Yes, I don't know any other couple like that, do you?" Jennifer teased. Severus smirked at her.
It was not long before Audi Belle and Moody showed up, Percy and Penelope Weasley, and then, to Jennifer's great surprise, Vallid and Erik, both smiling at them warmly.
"Lunette! What are you doing here?" Jennifer asked with a grin.
"What, am I not allowed to come to Britain just to visit?" she laughed. "Actually, I had some business with Harry. Nice party. I am allowed to crash it, I hope?"
"I'll speak for her if she isn't," Erik said mischievously.
"Truth Seekers are always welcome at Hogwarts," Jennifer grinned.
"Rather good policy if you ask me," Erik commented and the two of them went in.
Not long after came Molly and Arthur, and with them Arnie Peasegood, Ederick Thurspire, and a woman who seemed very familiar to her, although she couldn't place her. She looked to be just a little older than Jennifer, staring at the ceiling and everything around her with open awe from where she stood beside Ederick. It wasn't until Anna came out of nowhere, grabbed her arm, and dragged her away that Jennifer finally realized who she was.
"Is that Anna's old Muggle friend, Megan?" Jennifer asked with surprise.
"Oh, is that where I recall her from. She threw a pitcher of water at me," Severus said with a scowl.
"Did she?" Ederick said with a bright smile. "I think I like her even more than ever!" Severus gave him a sour look that displayed just how unamused he was about that remark.
"When did you two become an 'item,' as it were?" Jennifer asked.
"Actually, I rather started flirting with her at the wedding. Although, well, she did have me convinced for a long time that she knew nothing about our world. She had me playing Muggle for months," he said, chuckling good-naturedly, although Jennifer could tell it had rather annoyed him. "Dumbledore said I could bring her," he added.
"That's good enough for me," Jennifer said with a nod, suspecting that Dumbledore probably thought it'd be good for Anna to see her, especially if she were as at odds with Sirius still. Thurspire clicked his heels and bowed slightly, heading on in.
"Too bad Megan didn't come alone and left her date behind somewhere," Severus muttered, and Jennifer grinned at him. She wasn't too fond of the overzealous investigator either. Still, he had helped prove Severus was innocent in the trial against him, and that wouldn't be forgotten by either of them.
Jennifer heard a hollow giggle as Moaning Myrtle and Blue-Faced Noah floated past them, Noah looking around nervously.
"That's not water, that's punch. You won't be drowning in that," she explained to him. Jennifer chuckled and was about to make a comment to Severus when she noticed a figure on the other side of them and realized it was Viviane. All of the ghosts in the room had stopped to curtsy and bow, soon followed by the paintings. But just like the last time she came, Viviane didn't seem to notice, walking straight over to where they were and giving them a curt nod.
"Severus, Jennifer. Playing door sentinels tonight, are we? Where's Dumbledore?" Jennifer looked up at Severus, trying to get an idea of what his reaction to all this was.
"He hasn't come down yet. However, I don't recall anyone mentioning you were coming, so perhaps you're unexpected," Severus said, an almost questioning tone in his voice.
"Good, that's as it should be," she said simply, gazing around for her niece. "I believe I will go see Anna now," she added, and strode in to find her. Jennifer looked over at Severus again.
"Now do you see what I mean?" Jennifer said.
"Wait here. I think I'm going to go keep my eye on her," Severus frowned.
"Be careful. Don't forget your magic…."
"I'm not likely to forget that," Severus said dryly, quickly heading to follow her. Halfway across the floor Viviane paused, obviously well aware of Severus but also unconcerned about him. Instead, she seemed to be looking around for someone else. A moment later, Janus Craw came up, bowing gracefully.
"M'Lady, it is an honor to see you at Hogwarts again."
"Yes, yes, yes. Never mind that. I hear Icarus is here now. Fetch him and tell him that I want a word with him," Viviane said, glancing over her shoulder. "In private."
"Of course, Lady Viviane," Janus said, turning around and abruptly fading away as Viviane continued towards Anna.
"Tell me, Aunt Viv, how exactly do you know Icarus Ravenclaw?" Severus asked, stepping up next to her when it was obvious she was aware of him behind her.
"Severus, dear, I think you have more important problems to worry about tonight," Viviane said, glancing sideways at him. "Once you have them straightened out, perhaps we'll talk then. Anna?"
Anna, who had been in a deep discussion with Megan, suddenly stood as her Aunt came near, wiping off her cheeks. She had been crying, Severus realized with alarm, wondering what on earth was going on that she would cause her to do something like that in public.
"And what exactly, may I ask, did you do with that husband of yours?" Viviane asked testily.
"What do you mean what did I do with him?" Anna asked.
"You know perfectly well what I mean. Whatever you quarreled about to make you send him away like that, I suggest you get over it," Viviane said impatiently.
"Look, it's not up to me. Sirius just hasn't come back," Anna said, obviously upset. Viviane rolled her eyes.
"Of course he hasn't, you silly girl! Don't you realize what you've…" Suddenly she paused and looked around. Severus followed her gaze to see Icarus floating in from the wall with Janus close behind.
"Hello, Lady Viviane, I've been expecting you," Icarus said calmly. Viviane looked at him with wary dislike. "What brings you to our humble hall this evening?"
"If you knew to be expecting me, you know why I'm here," Viviane snapped at him. "I see that your plan went about the way I expected," she added with a thin mocking smile.
"As if yours is going any better," Icarus said icily, turning around and heading for the wall. "Follow me, if you want to chat about it," he said as he floated through the wall. Scowling in annoyance, Viviane stomped over to the door, muttering to herself.
Severus stared at her in complete confusion, trying to make some sense out of what just happened. Dumbledore appeared in the back doorway, stepping out of Viviane's way with a look of complete amusement as he walked into the Great Hall. Severus then turned towards where Anna had been sitting, but she and her friend were no longer there, apparently having moved when her aunt became distracted. Slightly frustrated, Severus decided to take the more sensible route and went over to Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, would you mind explaining to me who that Viviane woman is, and why she thinks she has the right to go anywhere she wants in this school?"
"Calm down, Severus, it's quite all right," Dumbledore said. "And you already know who she is. She's Anna's Aunt."
"How many generations removed?" Severus demanded. Dumbledore looked at Severus over his glasses. "She spoke to Icarus as if they were old adversaries."
"Anyone who goes against Viviane is an adversary, Severus, whether it is for good or ill. But I assure you that she is no threat to the school at the moment," he said calmly.
"So what you're telling me is that you trust her?" Severus asked. Dumbledore paused thoughtfully.
"No," Dumbledore said. "But she couldn't care less about us, and I dare say we would probably be better off if we cared less about her," Dumbledore said with a smile, walking further into the room. Severus watched him walk away with his hands on his hips, and a look of complete bewilderment on his face. Grimacing in pure exasperation, Severus went back over to Jennifer.
"So, did you learn anything?" Jennifer asked him curiously.
"Yes, I learned that sometimes it's better to mind my own business," Severus muttered.
Soon after he returned, the students were let in with the later years coming in first. With all of the guests were accounted for, Pomona stepped in to take over at the door so the two of them could relax a bit. Jennifer waved at Corey where he was sitting with his sister and Angela, while his friends Danny and Taylor were on the dance floor, along with Doug who was dancing with Gail Sisna.
Corey, playing the perfect gentlemen, walked over to the punch bowl, holding out three cups as a charmed crystal ladle poured punch into each one. He then walked back over, handing them to the girls before he sat back down.
"How did Doug end up dancing with Gail?" Angela asked curiously as she sipped her spiced pumpkin punch, glancing at Corey.
"Doug decided not to take a date," Corey explained. "He figures that way he can dance with whoever he wants without any of the girls getting angry at him."
"I wish I had a date," Essie said glumly.
"Nonsense, dates are overrated," Angela snorted. "And so is dancing for that matter."
"I thought you told me the other day you had a date?" Essie asked curiously.
"Well, yeah, I did," Angela admitted glumly. "Figures that the first time mister head-of the-class Greisley decides to fail a test it'd be the one right before the ball," she muttered.
Corey and Essie stared at her.
"I'm never going to understand girls," Corey decided. "Come on, Essie, I swear you're the only sensible girl here," he said, dragging her out on the dance floor. But it wasn't very long after they got out on the dance floor when they were distracted by the commanding presence of Professor Snape and his wife out on the dance floor.
Jennifer didn't need levitating shoes any more to float across the room. From the moment he took her arm, she felt as if time itself had stood still, with the music being the only reminder that it hadn't. Instantly her thoughts were transported to the first night they had danced, the night she first suspected that Severus had felt anything for her at all.
Severus, it seemed, was thinking of the dancing lessons, which she couldn't help but smile at. She had been a terrible student, and for all he had tried, he was hardly a patient teacher. But as much as they had stumbled over each other at first, improving little by little, it was nice to finally reach one flowing harmonious movement, like an outward symbol of the changes their own relationship had gone through. It wasn't until after the song had ended that Jennifer realized how much they were being gawked at and she took a step away, suddenly remembering where they were.
Viviane, back from her chat and standing near the table, took a few steps out of the way and found a place to stand near the back wall, watching them thoughtfully.
"You look a bit flushed. Care for a drink?" Severus asked, a mischievous glint nearly hidden behind his black eyes.
"You know, I really think you enjoy shocking the students like that," Jennifer accused him as they went over to the punch bowl.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Severus asked in an even voice, Jennifer shaking his head at him.
"You know what I mean. Mean and sour old Defense Professor Snape suddenly turning into a human being on the dance floor," Jennifer teased.
"How dare you accuse me of acting human?" he challenged her back. "And what is this 'old' thing?"
"I meant older…"
"That's not what you said," Severus said tapping his fingers on the punch table as several students sidled away. Severus took up the silver ladle and poured them each a cup, still giving her an accusing look.
"Besides, I was speaking of what the students think, not what I think," Jennifer said smoothly, taking a glass.
"In that case, I want to know what you think," Severus said with a sinister smile, giving her the cup. But as she was thinking of an answer, Severus was suddenly distracted by a strange murmur in the crowd.
"Jennifer, STOP!" Dumbledore said in an urgent tone.
But before Severus could figure out what it was that Dumbledore had wanted her to stop, Jennifer had taken a sip of the punch. She immediately felt out of breath, her head spinning as she fell to the ground. Severus dropped his cup and dropped to her side, aware of a blaze of white light hitting Jennifer from the side. Vallid had cast the spell from where she stood beside Icarus, her wand pointed at Jennifer and her face as white as a sheet.
"Severus! Get Sagittari to the hospital wing at once!" Dumbledore ordered. Severus didn't have to be told twice, running out of the room. "Harry, Audi, secure that refreshment table! Vallid, help me get her out of here, and someone get Francis Pyther! Jennifer has been poisoned!"
No one could miss the desperate urgency in Dumbledore's voice; especially Anna who came running up just as the nearest door came flying open and Jennifer was sped out. Anna, who had been following close behind, was immediately aware that she wasn't in the corridor next to the Great Hall at all, but right outside the hospital wing. She ran in to find the door of the backroom shut and many excited people standing there with her, trying to figure out what was going on. A moment later, Anna heard a clopping noise as Sagittari burst into the room with Severus right on his heels. As Sagittari went in, Poppy Pomfrey came out of the back, yelling insistently.
"Out! Out! Everyone out at once, except you and you," Poppy said, pointing to Anna and Severus.
"Anything I can do?" Minerva asked, her face lined with worry.
"Find Corey Willowby," Poppy said gravely, shutting the door.
A moment later, the back door was opened again and they hurriedly brought Jennifer back out, laying her on one of the beds.
"What's going on? Why is she back out here?" Severus snapped.
"How much time did we buy, Poppy?" Dumbledore said, his sharp voice alarming Severus even more.
"An hour at most, much less than that before the poison gets to the child… mere minutes," Poppy said worriedly. "Even Cosmic Sleep doesn't slow it enough to protect her against a poison this fast, even after a purge. The antidote for this would surely kill the child. Can't you use the last resort?"
"I can, but then we have the same problem. If I give her the Elixir, the baby would never develop, and that just as surely would lead to her death," Dumbledore said, turning to Severus, who had turned deathly pale, suddenly having trouble standing. "Severus, Jennifer is dying. We've drained as much of the poison as we could, but it is fast and only a trace amount is needed to kill. Her immune system is weak and she's too tired to fight this on her own. She is six weeks pregnant," he said, his voice gentle now but firm. "We cannot save them both."
"Why, why now when I don't have any magic to do anything about it?" Severus said suddenly furious at himself. "I wish for her to be well again!" he pleaded, putting every ounce of his desire in it. Dumbledore stood quickly, putting his hands on Severus' shoulders.
"Even if you had your power, if she were meant this fate, it wouldn't work," Dumbledore said quietly. "We need to do what we can to save Jennifer." Slowly Severus nodded, a look of pure grief on his face. Why did he ever let her talk him into not waiting, despite his concerns? If she survived, she would be devastated, and if she didn't…
"Wait! Wait, please," Anna said suddenly, stepping up.
"Wait, what wait? Save Jennifer!" Severus shouted. But Anna put a hand on him.
"We can save them both," Anna said back firmly. "Let me carry the baby for awhile. Rachel did it for Ravenclaw, I know there has to be a way to do it."
"Anna, what you're speaking of is very risky, although it may be possible," Dumbledore said, glancing at Sagittari, who nodded.
"Hold on, Dame Rachel died doing this, or have we forgotten that?" Severus snapped.
"Only by having the baby. I'm only going to carry it until she can handle it," Anna said. "We don't have time to argue about this. I'm doing it."
"Anna, this may endanger your other children…" Sagittari warned.
"Children? Plural?" Severus demanded.
"Severus, you do need to calm down," Dumbledore said, closing his eyes. "Poppy."
"I'm not arguing anymore, there's no time," Anna said, lying down in the next bed, beginning to glow.
Poppy came up to Severus, firmly making him step back as Jennifer too began to glow, and Dumbledore seemed to fall into a trance. At first the glow seemed to be equal of each other, but then slowly the glow around Anna grew and the one around Jennifer dimmed until it disappeared altogether.
"Professor?" Sagittari asked impatiently.
"It's done," Dumbledore said gently, checking on Anna as Sagittari turned his attention to Jennifer and making her imbibe the antidote. "How are you feeling, Anna?"
"Full," Anna said simply. "I think the baby's alright," she added after a moment.
"And the twins?" Dumbledore asked.
"Confused," Anna said.
"I've given her the antidote, Dumbledore," Sagittari sighed, putting down the empty phial. "But I still do not know if she's strong enough to survive."
"Then perhaps it's time for some added insurance," Dumbledore said. From out of his robes the Headmaster took out a clear phial filled with a glistening liquid that seemed to shimmer with its own light, refracting out of the phial and filling the air around it with prisms. "This is the third time I've had to give her one of these since she's been at Hogwarts, Severus. At the rate she's going, she's going to outlive us both," he said as he carefully cast the imbibe spell and the liquid slowly drained from the bottle at her lips.
"Let us hope so," Severus said, shakily sitting in the chair by her side grasping her cold hand. "I cannot possibly bear losing her."
"Do not kiss her," Sagittari warned him. "It'll be dangerous waking her yet, Elixir or no."
"Could you have made this any more difficult if had you tried?" Severus snapped.
"It could have been, Severus," Dumbledore said distantly, and then gazed back down at Jennifer once more before getting up to take care of the matters at hand.
Icarus, who had been hovering in the front of the room for some time, followed Dumbledore out as the Headmaster walked down the corridor towards McGonagall's office. Ick was reliving a vision that he had seen from someone else's eyes of a house of cards falling, as well as the part Trelawney had not spoken of, of the house suddenly rebuilding itself just to fall all over again… but the second time around, a golden sleeved hand had appeared, steadying the bottom tier before the last card could fall.
"Are you ever going to tell them what you had to do to save her?" Icarus asked.
"No, they don't need to know that," Dumbledore said calmly. "I only wish I had not been in the Great Hall. Perhaps if I had left a bit sooner the first time around, then I could have come in sooner and stopped her from even taking it."
"At least they'll survive now, and you can forget about what you saw the first time," Icarus said.
"Yes, I believe I shall be spending some time at my Pensieve before the night is done," Dumbledore agreed wearily. "But whether they survive or not is still left to be seen. I may have only postponed the inevitable. Cheating death is one thing, cheating Fate is quite another."
"Jennifer wasn't supposed to die, Professor. Ask Viviane if you don't believe me," Icarus said.
"It's quite all right, Icarus, I trust you," Dumbledore said with a smile. "If I didn't, we wouldn't all be heading to Minerva's office to tell Corey that everything is going to be all right."
"And what of the assassin? What will be done about that?" Icarus asked.
"I trust Harry will get to the bottom of that," Dumbledore said, the sharp tone in his voice betraying the fury he felt over what had happened. "I dare say I don't trust myself with it right now."
