Chapter Twenty-Two

The Not-Distant-Enough Relative

More neighbors dropped by with baskets and well-wishes over the next few days, leaving with gingerbread cookies that wriggled in their bags and in the waiting hands of the local children. Remus was in constant attendance as well, usually in the kitchen sitting at the bar and talking to Carol or helping with the kids, which had grown rather fond of their 'Uncle Moony.' But Severus stayed fairly close to the lab, working on potions that he wanted to include in his cloak. He only stepped out when Harry came to see him, the two of them quickly disappearing back into the lower basement.

Before Jennifer knew it, it was Christmas Eve. Corey, Essie, and Jennifer worked at hanging the last of the stockings and tagging the last of the presents for the midnight owls. Carol had left just a few hours earlier, fussing over having enough bottles and plenty of supplies on hand before she went with Remus back to Ireland to visit her father.

The children were soon nestled all snug in their beds, and Corey and Essie made their way through the up the snowy road to attend church. With watch in hand, Jennifer went downstairs to the lab. She sighed softly, shaking her head.

"Can't that wait for one night?" Jennifer asked as Severus looked up from a series of bubbling beakers.

"Are they on their way?" Severus asked, still working.

"Yes, it's already pointing to Rebecca's," Jennifer said.

"The others?"

"Coral bells under the windows and doors warded," Jennifer replied, "just as you asked."

"You think I'm being overly cautious, don't you?" Severus asked, finishing the first of the mixtures and turning it off.

"My father always says there's no such thing as being overcautious," Jennifer said. "Besides, I think the truth is that you don't think I take the danger we're in seriously."

"It's not that," Severus said, turning off another burner with a sigh. "You know there was a time when we first met that you took any advice I gave without question. A trust…that was probably not very well founded, really," he admitted. Jennifer smiled softly.

"Wasn't it? Would I be here today if I hadn't?" Jennifer asked.

"No," Severus said, "No, you wouldn't, but that wasn't exactly what I meant. I only meant that to so willingly offer such blind trust to someone you knew nothing about wasn't exactly the most brilliant thing you've ever done," he said.

"And yet you act as if you miss it," Jennifer said knowingly. "Although I can't say I blame you. Severus, I'm sorry about what I said about the house. It's merely a place, it's not important compared to our safety. It's just that ever since I was seven, I've always felt like I was on the run. Even coming to Hogwarts, I was running from my own past, from the pain of my mother's death… and then you bought this place, the first place I ever dared to try to make into a home in all those years. I guess I've gotten sentimental in my old age," Jennifer admitted before turning to gaze at Severus, who had just turned off the last of the burners. "If you think we should move, we'll move."

"What time is it?" he asked abruptly.

"Oh, um, just after eleven," Jennifer said.

"I suppose that's close enough," Severus said, walking right by her and across the corridor into his small study, taking a scroll off the desk and handing it out to her.

"What's this?" Jennifer asked, carefully unrolling it.

"It's the deed to the property," Severus said expressionlessly. "I had it transferred to your name. Not that it wasn't always yours, but at least now it's official."

"I don't understand," Jennifer said. "I thought… well, I mean, it's not about our safety as much as the children, and you're right in that we can't compromise that."

"If the only way you could insure their complete protection was to lock them in a vault with no windows or access to the outside world, would you?" Severus asked, and Jennifer stared at him in surprise.

"No, of course not," Jennifer said, looking at him thoughtfully.

"Yes, well, Harry asked me the same thing," Severus said, "and in the process got me to admit that when protection begins to impair the ability to live, it isn't worth it anymore. And you shouldn't give in so easily when you're right," he told her sternly. Jennifer smiled softly at him.

"You know me better than that. I'm as stubborn as they come, unless the person I'm arguing with happens to be you."

"Odd, I seem to have the exact same problem," Severus mused. "Of course, you realize that we'll have to put some other security measures in place here for when we're gone," Jennifer hugged him warmly and he held her in his arms contentedly.

"Whatever you think is necessary, I trust you," Jennifer said, gazing at him. "Do you want your present now as well?"

"I already have the greatest gift you can give me," Severus shrugged slightly, his eyes not leaving hers.

"I love you, Severus," Jennifer said softly.

"Yes, that's the one," Severus agreed, kissing her lovingly.


Chaos broke out promptly at eight the next morning with a loud squeal from Alex, followed by the ruckus of Corey attempting to get the other two down to the main floor to the guest living room where their presents were. Jennifer reluctantly stumbled out of bed only to find her slippers missing again. She sighed and threw on her robe, walking out of the bedroom as Corey stuck Andrew in the pen, the other two already trying to figure out what was up with all the wrapping paper. As she sat down in her favorite chair with a yawn, Jennifer found a cup of black tea and her nausea potion in front of her nose as Corey held them out to her.

"So, can we get into our presents now?" Corey asked, ignoring the fact that Alex had already found the doll left out for her and Aurelius was experimentally pulling ribbons off all of the packages.

"Wake your Dad up," Jennifer said, downing the potion before settling in with her tea.

"Too late," Severus said irritably, stalking into the room, sitting down beside Jennifer but glancing wistfully at the ornate cloak folded up under the tree. "Maybe I'll try out your gift this morning."

"Oh, no you don't," Jennifer chuckled at him. "You're going to stay right here where I can see you and be a part of the family for a change. That's what you get for not going to sleep at a decent hour."

"Well, it's your fault," Severus said defensively.

"Never mind the flirting! Can they get their presents or not?" Corey asked.

"As if it wasn't yours you were after," Jennifer scolded him knowingly. Corey grinned.

"Well, it's not like I can't figure out which one is mine," Corey said, peering at the broom leaning in the corner behind the tree.

"Let's try not to turn this one into toothpicks?" Severus scowled at him, picking up Andrew as Jennifer let them loose on the presents. Pretty soon animated toys of every kind were bleating, squawking, screeching, walking and flying around the room, turning the area into a zoo. Corey also handed Alex his present to her, which was a bag of the licorice beetles. After taking one and watching it wriggle suspiciously for a moment, Alex swallowed it whole and set the bag down and let them wander out as she went back to her doll. The baby was sucking its thumb, crying and kicking realistically any time Alex pulled it out until she put the thumb back in again.

"Oh, just what we need. Another Aurelius," Corey teased. Hearing his name, Aurelius looked up and glared at Corey, still sucking his thumb. He then spied one of the beetles and proceeded to smash it into the floor with his other fist, then peeled it off the floor and nibbled experimentally on it. Jennifer shuddered.

"I don't think I like those things," she decided.

"They're not all that bad," Severus decided, already having eaten half of his bag of them, offering her one. Jennifer took one look at it and promptly went into the kitchen, followed close behind by Severus, who had sat Andrew on the floor to play with his talking book. "You know, I think we overdid it this year."

"We overdo it every year," Jennifer grinned, grabbing a piece of stolen off the bar. "If we keep this up, we're going to have to add more room to the nursery. Have you seen my slippers?"

"Cheshire probably took off with them again," Severus frowned.

"Well the last time they were missing, I found them in Rasputin's bed in your office," Jennifer pointed out.

"Probably Cheshire attempting to get Rasputin into trouble," Severus muttered, going down to check his office.

At that point, there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was his sister, Corey went to grab it, popping open the door and staring in complete surprise at the person beyond it.

It was not his sister.

The tall man, dressed in an old-fashioned suit with a long tailored black coat, eyed Corey warily with his beady, jet-black eyes. He had thick grey hair, streaked with black, which he wore slicked back just off the shoulder, and his face was sharp featured and pale.

"I am looking for Severus Snape, and I would like to find him without further dodges, distractions, or diversions, if you don't mind," he said curtly.

Corey glanced over his shoulder but Jennifer had already become alert, stepping over to the door to see a rather familiar looking man gazing her over with unnerving scrutiny, from her auburn head to her dressing gown to her bare feet. But Jennifer had no doubt at all, although she never met him before, exactly who he was. There could be little doubt she could be looking at another Snape.

"Augustus Snape?" Jennifer inquired and his eyes quickly focused on hers. "I'm Jennifer Craw Snape, your nephew's wife. Won't you come in?"

"Yes, I've heard a great deal about you," Augustus said almost skeptically, as if suddenly not believing what he heard. "You are Thomas Craw's daughter?"

"Yes, I am," Jennifer smiled proudly. Augustus' piercing gaze calmed slightly.

"I know him… a bit quick tempered, but a good man. I hear he took out several of those nasty Death Eaters before they sent him to Azkaban?" he inquired, gazing around the house and at the paper tossed mayhem of the living room. Alex held her dolly and looked at him curiously, as did Aurelius, but Andrew was too busy playing with the ribbons to give anyone else any notice.

"He turned himself in, actually, but yes, he's in Azkaban," Jennifer said. "Would you care for a drink or something?" she offered cautiously. Before he could reply, the basement door opened and Severus walked out, carrying something mangled in his hand.

"Well, I found them, or what's left of them," he began, stopping short when he saw who was standing in the living room, dropping the slippers. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I see you haven't changed," Augustus said disapprovingly. "At least your wife has some manners at least. Actually, I have tried to call on a number of occasions, but found that hospitality is somewhat lacking in this… lackluster community of yours. I've had Muggles treating me like common gutter trash with no one ever giving me a straight answer as to your exact whereabouts. Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with my niece, who finally gave me directions."

"Remind me to thank Anna for that the next time I see her," Severus muttered to Jennifer, who smiled wanly at him then excused herself to her room to get dressed.

"So, I see fame doesn't appear to have brought you much fortune, if the size of your house is any measure," Augustus said, looking around distastefully. "And are all of these yours?"

"This is Corey, Alexandria, Aurelius, and Andrew, and we live here because we like it here," Severus said defensively. "And perhaps if we had known you were coming, we could have prevented any trouble you might have had with our neighbors."

"When you were young you wouldn't have ever even considered having anything to do with that sort of 'neighbor' at all. Perhaps you have changed some," he mused speculatively.

"Make up your mind, either I have or I haven't… not that I really care about your opinion anyhow. You lost that and any say so in my life the day my parents died."

"He did the same to you that my aunt did to me, didn't he?" Corey realized, looking at Augustus curiously. "Were you afraid of him too? Or just what the Death Eaters would do to someone who looked after him?"

"Corey, was it?" Augustus said, studying him warily. "You should learn to hold your tongue when speaking of things you know nothing about, especially when adults are speaking. Fear is nothing but an impairment of reason, and men of reasoning don't succumb to it. I have merely learned to know my limitations, and I was hardly qualified to take in such a troubled youth."

"You wanted me institutionalized," Severus accused him. Corey's expression turned of one of extreme dislike. "And Corey can say what he likes, he knows exactly what he's talking about."

Jennifer came back in her best dress, smiling warmly as she rejoined them, ignoring the round of glares passing between the three of them.

"Well, I hope I didn't miss anything. Severus, it's much too crowded up here today with the presents and all, why don't you invite your uncle downstairs?"

"No," Severus said curtly. "He was just leaving."

"Nonsense, Severus, he just got here, and after all, it's Christmas. Don't be such an old scrooge," Jennifer scoffed lightly. "Here, let me help you with your coat. Corey, would you see about picking up in here a bit and letting each of them take a toy downstairs in the play area? Right this way, Uncle Augustus, it's much more comfortable down here. Would you care for some tea?"

Severus and Corey stared after Jennifer as she led Augustus down the stairs, baffled by her actions, looking at one another in disbelief.

"Haven't you ever told her about him?" Corey asked.

"Yes," Severus replied with a glower,"often."

Even so, the two of them knew it was too late to do anything but make the best of it for now. What was she thinking, Severus wondered, picking up Aurelius before he tried to tackle the stairs on his own. After all, she was a Truth Seeker, no matter how naïve she could be on occassion. By the time they got down there, she had already shown Augustus the lab, Severus' office and was heading back up the stairs into the living room.

"No, just our room is in the original cottage. The nursery is upstairs, on the second story behind the book case, as well as our nanny, Carol's suite," Jennifer was explaining as they came up and she grabbed a tea tray, setting it on the side table by the fireplace. "We had a terrible time finding a nanny. We wanted someone traditional that could handle what we had in mind. I'd hate to have to replace her," she sighed, handing Augustus a cup.

"I can imagine, it's getting harder and harder to find dependable help these days," he agreed. "What do you intend to do with their schooling?"

"Stoddard or Kensington for primary, most likely. Since I grew up in the States I've no preference, but I've heard they're both excellent schools," Jennifer told him. Severus stared in apparent disbelief of their casual conversation.

"Kensington is a bit more respectable if you ask me, and more selective about their students. Stoddard will let anyone in who's willing to pay the tuition. Severus, you went to Stoddard, didn't you?" Augustus asked, looking up at him. Severus promptly stomped out of the room and down to his office, slamming the door. "I'll take that as a yes," Augustus said evenly, sipping his tea while Jennifer sighed and frowned at the stairs. Corey, who looked even less hospitable than Severus, quickly excused himself the moment he heard a knock at the door.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Augustus, I don't know what's gotten into them," Jennifer said apologetically.

"Don't apologize for him, Jennifer, I certainly don't blame you for it in any way," Augustus said gruffly. "It's less about what's gotten into and more about what he's not gotten over. If he tried looking at what happened from an adult perspective, I'm sure he'd have a different take on things," he mused, shaking his head. "Severus had been a troubled child ever since his mother died; Meryl's presence only made things worse, and then after what happened… I told Octavius to get out of there years ago, but he wouldn't listen, stubborn as a mule, my brother was. And then after what Severus did, it was apparent right away that I wouldn't have been able to handle him. I was neither qualified nor in a position to help Severus, although I would gladly have paid for any care he had needed had Dumbledore not shown an interest in things and had taken over. It's probably the best thing that ever happened to him, see if he can argue that point," Augustus said with a curt nod to Jennifer, who smiled softly in thought. "I wouldn't have been able to save him."

"I know," Jennifer said gently. "Give him time, I'm sure he'll see that as well."

"He's had thirty years," Augustus pointed out, standing. "If he isn't willing to see it now, he never will." Just then there were footsteps coming from above and Jennifer looked up to see Corey, Anna, and Sirius coming down the stairs, exchanging 'Happy Christmases' as they came into view. To Jennifer's surprise, Anna immediately went over and hugged Augustus, who stiffly patted her back in return before she headed over to the pen and grabbed Alex, who had been trying to climb out.

"You had no trouble getting here this time?" Anna asked him.

"Thank you, no. I was able to get here without being accosted for a change," Augustus glowered again.

"If I had any idea it was really you, I would have made sure they knew to let you in," Jennifer assured him. "But from the description they gave, we thought it was Lucius Malfoy."

"I in no way resemble Lucius Malfoy," Augustus said in such an indignant tone that Jennifer had to grin.

"What, has the dragon retreated to his lair already?" Sirius said, glancing down the stairs. "It's not even eleven o'clock yet."

"I take it things didn't go so well," Anna sighed.

"Yes, well, I warned you," Augustus said, putting on his gloves.

"Are you still coming to the mansion to see us this evening?" Sirius asked him.

"I need to call on some people since I'm in the country, but I'll be sure to stop by before I head back," Augustus said.

"I'll show you out," Corey said icily, heading back up the stairs in front of him.

"Let that fool husband of yours know that I think he has a charming wife," Augustus said. "And if you ever have trouble with him or feel he is taking advantage of you in any way," he said, noting the children and her condition, "feel free to come to me." Jennifer blushed bright red.

"Er, thank you, Uncle Augustus, I will," Jennifer said to him as he nodded politely then followed Corey up the stairs.

"I think I'll go see how badly Severus is breathing fire," Sirius said cheerfully, hurrying down to the lab. Jennifer sat back down in relief, offering Anna a seat as well.

"Well! That was a rather unexpected Christmas surprise! Anna, why didn't you mention he was looking for us? From what I've read, he's been in contact with you for awhile."

"Yes, I've been writing to him for nearly a year, figuring he'd be a good place to find out some of my Snape genealogy. I had no idea he had been trying to get to Severus until last night when he ended up at the mansion furious as creation and threatening to blow up your entire town," Anna grinned. "Not that he'd do it, but he was definitely furious. Some of them were just dodging him, some threatened to turn him into the police for trespassing, and others kept offering to take him and leading him as far away from the town as they could get."

"Great stars, I hope they're careful. If that had been someone like Malfoy, we might have found some townsfolk missing," Jennifer said worriedly.

"I doubt it, Jennifer, you know what the penalties are like for killing Muggles with magic. Malfoy would never put himself in a position where he'd cleanly be to blame for something like that. Besides, from what I understand from Harry, Dumbledore's been keeping an eye on this town for months. If there's trouble, I'm sure he'll hear about it. He's been watching all of the towns involved in the attacks four years ago," Anna said, "although this is the only town that seems to exhibit any integrated behavior."

"To be perfectly honest, I've always been afraid of the idea," Jennifer admitted, "But this town is so close knit, it's not like we're in a Muggle town at all, really. And I rather like all of the townsfolk I met. I'm just afraid they're going to get hurt."

"Jennifer, you've been without magic three times and you were anything but defenseless," Anna said in annoyance. "They're no more defenseless than you are."

Corey appeared on the stairs, sitting down halfway to the bottom.

"Well, you can all relax now, that pompous ass finally left," he said.

"Corey Willowby!" Jennifer exclaimed, standing up in surprise, putting her hands on her hips.

"Mom, you didn't hear him earlier. He was treating Dad, like…like…"

"Like your Dad treats other people?" Anna finished mischievously. Jennifer glared at her.

"Well, only during class," Corey defended. "Actually, he was more like Malfoy and Dad on a bad day, all mushed into one person. That's just too scary for words, I can't believe you were nice to that grinch!"

"Corey, you of all people should know by now not to judge people by first impressions," Jennifer scolded him.

"Mom, he was a creep," Corey said.

"Duly noted and seconded," Severus said, coming up the stairs followed closely behind by Sirius.

"I like him," Sirius said cheerfully, putting his hands in his pockets.

"You only like him because he doesn't like me," Severus accused him.

"True, but I still like him," Sirius agreed.

"You know, you really ought to talk to him. After all, he did come here on Christmas to see how you were," Jennifer told Severus.

"Duly noted and seconded," Anna put in. Severus glared at them. "He's coming for dinner if you want to drop by later." Severus gave her such a sour look that even someone who wasn't a Truth Seeker could tell indicated he would rather harvest fresh newt eyes than do any such thing.

"Sirius, you look so much better than I've seen you look in a long time," Jennifer commented with a smile, quickly changing the subject.

"Oh, yeah, the problem with spells weakening cleared up again, so I am taking a vacation for as long as it holds," Sirius chuckled. "One thing about this wacky rift, it does come and go. This is the second time we've had a lull since these problems started."

"Well, at least whatever's causing it was decent enough to take off for Christmas," Jennifer chuckled.

"I'd drink to that, if I had a drink," Sirius said mischievously, and pretty soon found himself with one before they settled in to exchange presents.