Chapter Twenty-Nine

Air, Water, Fire, and Earth

It was Albus Dumbledore who was there when Jennifer woke up late the next day. He smiled warmly and reassuringly at her as she became more alert, sitting up on her pillow.

"Where's Alicia?" Jennifer asked, glancing around for a crib that wasn't there.

"It's alright, she is safe," Dumbledore assured her gently. "Severus is with her, and your friend Doctor Linde, and even Sagittari. She couldn't be in better company, unless of course, I visited her myself," he winked. "How are you feeling, Professor?"

"I'm all right, but that doesn't matter," Jennifer said, but took the pain reliever potion Dumbledore handed her anyhow. "She's not in the castle, is she?"

"No, Professor," Dumbledore sighed, seeing that she was going to insist. "You see…well, I suppose I should start with what caused you to go into labor in the first place. It appears that when Anna took on the responsibility of carrying Alicia when you were ill, a bond was formed between Alicia and her own twins, and to a smaller but still significant amount between Anna and yourself. When it was time for the twins to be born, Alicia, it seems, got it into her head that it was time to be born too. And no amount of magic potions we gave you could possibly stop something that laid beneath the foundation of magic itself… the bond between differing souls. So, despite all of our efforts, Alicia won out, and she was born before her true time… something that hasn't happened to a witchborn in several centuries, since the potion to stop those sorts of things were developed. Of course, the downside to that was also that we wizards have developed no medicine that could help support a child born too early, because there was no need. Aging potions wouldn't work; it would leave her underdeveloped all her life, and anything else was not made with any intention of working on a child so small. But fortunately, your friend Doctor Linde was here and suggested instead that she be sent to a Muggle hospital, where they have quite a bit of experience dealing with this sort of thing."

"A Muggle hospital?" Jennifer said paling, Dumbledore taking her hand and patting it.

"Sagittari supported the move, and Severus gave his permission, knowing he had to do what was best for your daughter. But I promise you they haven't left her side, and from the post I just received from Severus she seems to be stabilizing."

"Stabilizing?"

"Yes, Professor. I daresay Doctor Linde probably saved her life," Dumbledore smiled. "Now there's no need to worry, she really is in the best place for her right now, although she will probably be there for quite some time." Jennifer grew quiet for a moment, trying to digest that information.

"How is Anna?"

"Anna and her twins are doing quite well… surprisingly well, according to Sagittari and Poppy, for having two of them. In fact, Poppy is helping them get settled at the mansion now, and I believe Ginny and Harry are going to stay on for a few days and keep an eye on things. And you, Professor, should just rest and take care of yourself."

"Professor?" Jennifer said with a sigh.

"Yes Professor?" Dumbledore smiled.

"Could you please stop calling me Professor?" Jennifer asked. Dumbledore smiled even wider, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Are you finally going to stop calling me Professor, Professor?" he asked.

"You are making this difficult," Jennifer muttered.

"I know," Dumbledore said with amusement. "You know, I can be your boss and your friend."

"Well yes, but it's not like you're just anybody, you're Albus –" Dumbledore quickly put up his hand, not letting her finish the last name, looking at her through his glasses.

"There now, Jennifer, was that so hard as all that?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, s-" she stopped as his hand came up threateningly in front of her mouth. "Albus," she said quietly. Dumbledore beamed at her. "This is going to take some getting used to."

"Well, you can still call me whatever you like in public, of course. But personally, I am quite relieved it is over. I was getting rather tired of reminding myself to not to call you Jennifer," Dumbledore smiled. He paused and looked up when there was a recognizable knock and Dumbledore got up and let Severus in. "Goodness, Severus, I hope you are planning to get some sleep soon," he couldn't help but comment as he came in, and Jennifer had to agree that he seemed quite exhausted.

"Presently," Severus said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"How is she?" Jennifer asked.

"It is still too early to tell. Linde estimates she'll be there for a few weeks," Severus said.

"A few weeks?" Jennifer repeated, her heart sinking. "Why must Muggle medicine always take so long?"

"But time is truly what she needs the most, Jennifer," Dumbledore said. "It is, after all, at the heart of the trouble."

"I won't even hardly know her," Jennifer sighed.

"You will know her," Severus said, snorting softly. "In fact, I think in many ways she takes after your side of the family than mine. She is obviously going to do whatever it is she wants despite everyone's attempts to tell her otherwise." Jennifer smiled at him and shook her head.

"Well, I suppose I should be off; I need to speak with Minerva about what to try to do about the class schedules with all of this."

"No reason to reschedule any of mine, I'll be back to work on Monday," Severus said.

"Professor… Albus, I mean, if it's all the same to you, I would like to finish out the year still, as soon as Sagittari gives me leave," Jennifer said, Severus looking around with surprise. "Especially since it seems Alicia is going to be in the hospital for a while." Dumbledore, who wasn't a bit surprised, smiled warmly at her.

"Do not hesitate to tell me if you change your mind, Jennifer. I'm sure we can work it out… after all, it's but this last time. It is the last time for the two of you, isn't it?" he added mischievously as the other two nodded their heads rather fervently.

"Most definitely," Jennifer agreed. "I don't want to go through this again."

"I couldn't agree more," Severus added. Dumbledore nodded and smiled at them, heading out of the room, taking a slight detour to check the book again.


Corey was busy passing around pictures of his niece and nephew the next day to those sitting around him, nodding to their question.

"Yes, it's true. I heard it straight from Snape itself, she's coming back to finish out the year, and he's coming back today. And Craw's friend Doctor Linde has extended his visit to make sure my little sister gets all the attention she needs. I don't think Madame Black's coming back this year, though. Madame Granger is going to take over for her classes."

"I am going to miss Madame Black, but Madame Granger is a good teacher too," Perry said with a nod. "Especially for Muggle Studies, although I've heard her say her interest is really in Charms more than anything."

"At least she's not as much into essays," Corey snorted. "It makes me almost regret not taking Muggle Studies again this year."

"So how do you feel about this last game, Corey?" Angela asked from where she and Essie sat near Doug.

"I think we're going to skunk your team, no offense," Corey said, earning a grin from the rest of his teammates.

"Although, they really do have a better Seeker," Kate had to admit. "Your sister seems to manage a lot tighter turns than I do."

"It's all in the wrist, really," Doug told her. "You really have just as much talent. I think you just probably need to practice some tighter maneuvers. See, where we live, we have this gully where we have to fly at, because there's Muggles nearby and it's the only safe place to practice, so we've had to develop some sharp moves to keep from bouncing against the sides all the time. I can show you what I mean Saturday at practice if you want," he offered.

"That'd be really nice, thanks," Kate smiled at him. Corey rolled his eyes and leaned over to Taylor.

"Well, there's one more for the scoreboard," Corey whispered.

"Essie, are you alright?" Taylor asked her when she suddenly looked crestfallen, poking at her food.

"Sure, just thinking about a test I have coming up," Essie said suddenly, getting up.

"Anything I can help you with?" Corey asked, looking over at her thoughtfully.

"Oh, no, it's Divination. I should probably go study."

"Yes, me too," Angela agreed, waving to the others as she followed Essie out. But Essie couldn't hide what she was really feeling from Angela, who shook her head and sighed heavily.

"Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, Essie. He's been trying to go out with her for years."

"It had always been some consolation that the only girl he really liked wouldn't have anything to do with him," Essie sighed. "What chance do I have now?"

"Same as before. None," Angela said. "And playing pet hasn't done anything but make you more attached to him. When are you going to tell him the truth?"

"Tell him the truth, are you crazy?" Essie said, her eyes wide. "He'd never forgive me! Corey would never forgive me! I'd have to run away and… and turn into a gypsy or something. At least then I wouldn't have to face that embarrassment." Angela chuckled.

"You know, I think all this extra studying about crystal balls you've been doing is going to your head. Turn into a gypsy?" Angela teased her.

"Well, I'm not telling him about the Whiskers thing. I'm just… I'm just going to stop coming around when he starts looking for his familiar again."

"I've heard you say that before," Angela said, shaking her head. "Give it up, Essie, this relationship just isn't healthy. Why don't you go out with Aelfred? He likes you."

"Aelfred?" Essie said, making a face. "Besides, I really do have more important things to do than think about boys."

"There are more important things than boys?" Angela asked, stunned.

"Look, Trelawney said that there was going to be 'something terrible' at this week's game, right?" Essie said.

"Well yes, but…"

"Every time she predicts something like that, she always comes out of the Tower to try and stop it, just like she did at Halloween," Essie said. "So, instead of going to the game, I think I'm going to go up and see if I can get better results off of her crystal ball."

Angela stared at her.

"Are you nuts? Do you know what'll happen if you get caught?" Angela said.

"The only teachers who know what I can turn into is Uncle Severus and Aunt Jennifer. I'll be perfectly safe in mouse form," Essie said.

"You can't be in mouse form and use the crystal, though," Angela pointed out.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful. Hopefully it'll be a nice long game so I can really have time to concentrate." Essie said.

"Alright, but you know this is the first time Hufflepuff has been in second place in the standings in forever, and I'd hate for you to have to lose it for us."

"There are more important things than the House Cup too, you know," Essie sighed.

"Yes," Angela nodded. "Boys."


By the next Sunday, Jennifer was up and about, spending most of her time at the hospital and working on her class notes for the upcoming week. She was torn about missing the last game of the season, but Severus had decided to stay so she could go visit their youngest. Severus' morning was spent in the lab, mixing up an unusually potent and foul concoction. Sirius, red eyed and quite exhausted, had made his way down to talk to him… in fact, he had made quite an annoying habit of bugging him over the last week, in pretense to ask how Jennifer and Alicia were doing but mostly to ask a ton of questions about parenting that he, oddly enough, expected Severus to be an expert about by now.

"She's very annoyingly overprotective about them, and she won't let anyone but me and Ginny go near them. I for one just wish I could get some sleep. I don't suppose there's anything to give them so they'll sleep through the night…"

"You'll just have to suffer through it like the rest of us did," Severus said evenly, although rather amused by the thought of it as he added another phial of acrid smelling liquid to the potion.

"Yes, but you didn't have two at once. The moment we get one to sleep, the other one wakes up. I'm telling you it's a nightmare."

"Well, you can always put one of them up for adoption."

"Oh, you're a real card. Ha-ha, I'm laughing," Sirius said sarcastically.

"You're the one who took the potion, after all, you have no one but yourself to blame for the results," Severus said, pouring himself a chalice of the foul brew, swirling it around slightly, causing another waft of the nauseous smell to permeate the room.

"Gah, what in the world is that?" Sirius asked with a grimace.

"A sort of permanent Oat's Bane, to insure that the number of children with the name of Snape stays at four…for someone who at one time would have recoiled of the thought of even one," Severus said thoughtfully, twirling the handle slightly before nodding to Sirius and drinking it. "Care for a cup?" he added expressionlessly.

"Er… no, despite my current frustration, I think I'd better talk to Anna before doing something that drastic."

"Wise decision," Severus said with an almost imperceptible smile as he took another long drink. "Going to the game?"

"Only if I can curl up under the stands and take a nap," Sirius yawned, getting up.

"If you think you can sleep through that racket," Severus said.

"I can sleep through anything, except maybe Anna kicking me the side and telling me it's my turn to get up," Sirius grumbled, following him out of the room.


Corey felt he was in good form with his new broom in one hand and trusty bat in the other, exchanging open grins with the rest of his teammates as they waited at the Quidditch gate. Doug offered his bat to cross for good luck and nodded to him with a smile as he did, turning his attention back to the opening gate as the cheering crowd greeted them. It was warm and sunny, a beautiful day in the beginning of May, and a perfect day for Quidditch. Of course, every day was a perfect day for Quidditch in Corey's mind. The Hufflepuff team looked to be in good spirits as well, even wishing the other team good luck as they took their position where Alvin stood below with the Quaffle in hand, waiting for them to settle down before releasing the balls.

Immediately Doug and Corey split up to get good positions across from one another, knowing their work would be easy today; for although the other team had the better Seeker, there was no better Beater team than Doug and Corey, and the Hufflepuff's team had weak Beaters.

They did have to keep on eye on Aelfred, for like his brother, Aelfred was turning out to be a devil in the Pitch; Chasers had always been strong on the Hufflepuff team. Perry, playing Keeper, was well aware of that, and was even more alert than ever, completely in his 'zone,' and it wasn't long before Gryffindor began to rack up points in their favor.

Clouds began to gather overhead, easing the sunlight and making it a great deal easier to see the Bludger as it barreled towards Corey, who smacked it into the field of Chasers heading for the rings. This would be a good time for the Snitch, Corey thought, especially with them being ahead 60 to 30.

But then, a curious chill went through him as the sunlight dimmed even more, and Corey found his eyes drawn from the game to look up at the sky. It was then that he realized that it wasn't a cloud covering the sun after all; rather, it seemed like a flock of something, and as he stared mesmerized towards it, he realized that several of his fellow teammates had turned to do the same, watching as the 'cloud' grew nearer. Not one word of his Defense book had ever left him, but even as he looked at what was drawing near, part of him wanted not to believe it, turning his head desperately towards the stands where his Dad stood, squinting at them.

Just then, several things took place at once. As Alvin blew the horn and motioned the teams down, teachers began to clamber up to the highest part of the stands, taking their wands out, while Minerva quickly took over the intercom from Taylor as the canopies over the boxes suddenly began to retract.

"This game has been suspended! All students please enter the castle and head to your dormitories as quickly and as orderly as possible!" Minerva ordered. That was when Corey knew without a doubt what they were; the Sluaghs… evil undead Fae who often worked to steal the dead or dying for their ranks. But what were they doing here, and in the middle of the day?

Corey landed he began to look for his friends, and soon Danny and Taylor managed to work their way down and meet them behind the stands as a crowd of students hurried by.

"There can be no doubt now that the gate is weakening and maybe even gone altogether," Corey said from where he stood. "I bet I know what they're after. I bet they're after the Lia Fál. It says in the books that Sluagh are sometimes attracted by ancient runes and relics."

"I thought you said the stone wasn't in the castle anymore," Danny said.

"It's not, but it is nearby. All of the professors are going to be busy here, so someone needs to go ahead and look after the stone just in case any get through."

"Corey, I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying," Taylor said.

"It's near Hogsmeade," Corey continued, ignoring Taylor's protest. "Come on, I know how we can get there quickly without anyone seeing us," he said, running inside, the others right behind him. A moment later, a large black dog came out from under the stand and dashed to get off the grounds to Disapparate, determined to beat them there.

In the stands above, Severus, Dumbledore and several other teachers stood to look over at the approaching Fae.

"We need to stop them before they get to the grounds. If they descend on us, we'll have a nasty fight on our hands," Severus warned.

"Yes, but they're still out of range to try anything yet," Alvin pointed out, taking out his wand.

"We should call the dragons," Minerva suggested.

"We would be putting our familiars in great danger. Unlike the snakes, these are intelligent, casting, flying beings. We may lose more than we gain," Dumbledore said.

"Not if we find a way to force them down first," Severus said. "I think I know a spell from the Tome that might work for that," he said, taking out his wand.

"A spell from the Tome?" Minerva repeated in surprise, "But I thought you destroyed that!"

"I had Corey read it from cover to cover first and store his perfect memory of it in his Pensieve, which he then gave to me for safe keeping," Severus explained evenly. "Really, Minerva, you should know me better than to think I'd destroy something like that without preserving it in some way."

"This is not the time to discuss it, Severus, but if you have an idea, I suggest you implement it since they are closing in," Dumbledore said.

"Do you need us to add our power as well?" Minerva asked.

"No," Severus said calmly, "not for this sort of spell," he said, taking out his wand and standing on the highest bench in the box, his face suddenly taking on a dark and very disturbing appearance.

He began to recite something that Minerva found she could almost understand… the foundations of a language long forgotten over hundreds and hundreds of years, each syllable harsh and emphasized in an almost threatening tone.

Clouds began to form before everyone's eyes, white at first then growing denser and greyer as the land underneath began to take on a dry appearance. Even the lake slowly began to lower as moisture was pulled into the clouds. The Sluaghs began to turn and look at the clouds in surprise, their boney, hideous features now somewhat discernible in the distance as they scanned the skies. One of them with blood red feathers tucked behind its large pointed ears turned to find out the cause, shrieking loudly as it spied the wizards, trying to call the others to charge them. Dumbledore was quick to react, a series of silvery nets shooting out of his wand and over at the leaders, their wings quickly tangled in the meshes as the others came about to attack.

Just then, the clouds opened up in a downpour that seemed more like a dam bursting; the steady stream pushing the Sluaghs downwards as they began to lose lift under the pressure of the torrential rain. Sheets of sleet soon followed, and the furious beasts dropped to the ground and attempted to scramble out from under the clouds. But the clouds followed their movements, making it difficult for them to escape.

It was then that Dumbledore, Minerva, and several other teachers turned their attention to the Owlery, casting the sync spell before letting out a burst of colors that arched over the castle like a rainbow as it hit its target and one by one the owls emerged, growing large and larger until a flight of dragons appeared overhead, encircling the clouds.

The Sluaghs had little time to recover from their plight. The clouds finally began to dissipate, but they found themselves surrounded by menacing firebreathers, determined to keep the evil beasts contained. The Unseelie Fae packed closely together to protect each other, and they began dispelling any of the dragon/owls that came too close.

"There is really only one way to stop a group of restless spirits, elven or otherwise," Dumbledore said, lifting up his wand.

Suddenly the soaked ground beneath the Sluaghs began to shift, and all around them in a circle the earth came up around them as it collapsed underneath, the walls of dirt then tumbling down over them, burying them in a thick layer of mud until it formed a mound at the edge of the lake. Silence fell, for the rest of the professors were gaping over Dumbledore's handiwork as rocks from the around the lake settled perfectly over the mound like a cairn as he finished the spell.

"That spell wasn't in the book," Severus said as he broke the silence, giving Dumbledore an almost accusing look.

"You are not the only one to have picked up a forgotten trick or two, Severus," Dumbledore said with a tired smile. "And you've seen me cast it once before, to save a stranded hero and heroine from a certain Tomb. But now, we must hurry. Those Sluagh are most assuredly after a piece of the Seal to prevent us from fixing that gate, and I'd rather make certain they were not merely a diversion."