Chapter Thirty-Two

The Sentinels of Merlin

Jennifer entered the study to find Severus already waiting for her, Dumbledore leaning back in his chair and smiling softly as she came in.

"It was Bagman who gave her the Ladle. I don't know why we didn't realize it sooner," Jennifer said with a sigh, sitting down. "He must have got it from Fudge and someone in Equinox stored it until they could find a person willing to carry out their deed. Apparently Trelawney, like some of their other members, was convinced that opening the gate would mean the end of our world, and Bagman had convinced her that I was a catalyst to all that was going on and should be taken out. But… something must have changed her mind later. I mean, she really did have plenty of opportunities to kill me again if she had wanted to," Jennifer admitted.

"Perhaps, but we were all on our guard after that and suspecting each other," Severus said, earning an amused look from Dumbledore. "I'm sure that that was a deterrent in some respect."

"At least now we know for certain that Essie was able to get away. I received a note from Harry letting us know that she was safe and that he'd be joining us shortly," Dumbledore said.

"Oh, thank goodness," Jennifer said, relief washing over her worried features, allowing herself to relax back into the chair. "I was so hoping she wouldn't go so far as to harm a student."

"She nearly did," Severus said seriously. Jennifer gazed into his expression, startled. "But it seems that Essie was able to keep her wits about her and escape with them in tact if she managed to find Harry."

There was a knock, but when the door opened, there was no one there. A moment later, Sagittari appeared in the doorway, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I don't think I'm ever going to get the hang of spiral staircases," he admitted. "I'm just too broad shouldered."

"Broad something at any rate," Severus sneered, earning a dirty look from his wife.

"How is Alicia?" Jennifer asked.

"As beautiful as the last time you asked me," Sagittari smiled at her. "If she keeps improving, she'll be ready to go home in a week."

"It is good to hear that something has not been upset by all the recent events," Dumbledore said. "I don't think I have to tell any of you how serious things have gotten outside these walls."

"Then we're going to go ahead and open the gate, professor?" Jennifer asked.

"Indeed. Tonight. It's already arranged," Dumbledore said.

"Tonight? So soon?" Jennifer frowned.

"Severus, you will be in charge of getting the Stone there. The rest of us know what to bring, I trust," Dumbledore said. "Sirius and Anna will meet us there at about eleven, and we'll attempt to open it around midnight."

"Well, I can understand the need for my sister going, but why is Sirius coming along?" Severus asked curtly.

"When I arranged to take the Lia Fál, I had to make an agreement with Viviane, and that agreement included making sure that the heir of the Mac Lir clan was there as well. Not, of course, that I wouldn't have invited him anyhow," Dumbledore added with amusement.

"Mac Lir? As in Cuchulain?" Severus said in disbelief.

"That's it. Severus, I want to move to the new world where everyone doesn't have a famous ancestor," Jennifer declared.

"Yes, I'm beginning to agree with you. Still, it does make sense, considering he was cursed by eating dogmeat…."

"Wait, didn't Morrigan do that? And isn't Anna a descendant of Morrigan?" Jennifer asked.

"For some strange reason, I don't think that's a coincidence either," Severus smirked.

"For some strange reason, I think your Aunt Viviane had something to do with it."

"All right, that is quite enough," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling. "Besides, wasn't it the two of you who stated that destiny was based on one's own decisions in life? Well, then, let's put the history lesson aside and simply accept the fact that the two of them were meant to be together on their own merits, and nothing else," Dumbledore smiled.

"Sirius has merits?" Severus asked dubiously. Just then, the door opened unceremoniously and Harry came in.

"It's all right," he said as he walked up to the desk. "Essie is safe. She's with Viviane."

"Make up your mind. Is she safe, or is she with my Aunt?" Severus snapped. Jennifer nodded in agreement.

"It seems that Trelawney was using a crystal ball made from the crystal in that Cave," Harry explained. Dumbledore shook his head in disappointment. "I think that's what finally caused her to go over the edge. Essie stole it from her and brought it to me because she wanted to return it to Viviane where it couldn't do any more harm. I think Viviane kept her because she wanted to make sure Essie was all right, considering she looked in that ball too."

"And Sibyl?"

"Came to the Cave looking for answers, and I think… I think she found them, but they weren't what she wanted," Harry said carefully. "She's in the hands of the Ministry now. She's going to be held in Azkaban and given psychiatric testing. I don't think she's going to be coming out anytime soon."

"How lucky for her," Severus said, his eyes flashing slightly. "Sounds like she's going to be spending some time with our dear friend Bagman."

"Well, the Ministry has now put in a request for Bagman to have family visits only and then with careful supervision," Jennifer said, "He won't be doing any more plotting."

"A man like Bagman never stops plotting, Jennifer," Severus replied, "but hopefully you're right in that he'll no longer have the opportunity to carry them out."

"Well, now that we're all up to date, perhaps we should be getting ready. Severus, if –" There was another knock on the door and Minerva gazed in with a smile, opening the doors wider for Viviane and Essie. Essie soon found herself being hugged by Jennifer, Sagittari, and even Dumbledore, the young girl blushing from the attention.

"Is this stray yours?" Viviane asked politely, her straight expression unable to cover up the amused tone in her voice.

"Indeed, but she is hardly a stray," Dumbledore said.

"I hear you've been having quite some adventures, although you should've clued us in on them sooner," Jennifer chided her.

"Gee, who else is it that I know that takes off like that without telling anyone?" Severus mused. Jennifer ignored him.

"There's something I still need to take care of," Essie admitted, pulling out the remains she had gathered in her pocket. Dumbledore adjusted his glasses as he looked at the fragments of bone and then smiled at Essie before glancing up to Minerva.

"Minerva, I think you should probably see her to the hospital wing to be checked over by Poppy, and then sent to Francis Pyther. I am sure he is more than capable of helping you restore Icarus, Essie. It will be good to have him back. And you, young lady, have done this school a great service by… acquiring that heirloom piece and making sure it got back to its rightful owner," Dumbledore told Essie, glancing up at Viviane. "It is, of course, safely put away at last?"

"For now," Viviane agreed unconcernedly. "You shouldn't have to worry about it again in your lifetime, at least." Jennifer remembered once again why she didn't particularly trust her. "But we do have some pressing business to attend to, don't you think?"

"Can I see my brother?" Essie asked.

"First thing in the morning. I'm sure you'll be up late enough with what you've already got planned for tonight," Minerva told her as they left the room together.

"As will we all," Dumbledore agreed, showing the rest out, and then pausing to take out something from the Sorting Hat.


How exactly Severus managed to get the Lia Fál to Stonehenge so quickly, no one ever heard. But as it was when everyone else arrived he was there leaning against it with his arms crossed in the center of the ring, tapping his fingers impatiently. Viviane arrived next, followed by Anna and Sirius, the stone humming annoyingly anytime Sirius went near it… then Jennifer and Sagittari came with Cauldron and Spear in hands.

"Where's Dumbledore?" Severus asked, gazing at the watch.

"He said there were some others he wanted to be here," Jennifer said. A moment later, Arthur Weasley Apparated into view, followed by Harry and then Lunette Vallid, who was quick to make Anna and Sirius promise to let her see her godchildren after all this was over.

At last, Dumbledore reappeared with Erik Dalance and Norman Balmweed by his side, and quite a number of surprised looks and stares were being past in the Vice Chairman's direction and back at Dumbledore again.

"What is he doing here?" Severus demanded.

"He is here to say 'I told you so' if anything goes wrong," Erik joked. Vallid grinned at him.

"I thought it appropriate that someone from Equinox be here, and seeing that most of his fellow Order members seem to be under a great deal of scrutiny or otherwise detained, he was the most likely candidate to be a witness," Dumbledore explained.

"Please, I may be of Equinox, but I swear I knew absolutely nothing about this Ladle business," Balmweed said. "I would never do anything that would directly hurt the school."

"I believe you, Norman," Erik assured him. "If I didn't, you wouldn't still be my Vice Chairman," he added with a thin smile.

"And what about the Imps? You're saying that you knew nothing about that as well?" Jennifer asked. Balmweed hesitated slightly, aware that everyone else was looking at him.

"I refuse to answer any more questions on the subject in the presence of a licensed Truth Seeker without my counselor present," he stated.

"Wise move," Vallid smirked.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

Everyone looked up to see Lucius Malfoy with Draco not far behind, stepping into the ring.

"As usual, I see you have your ducks in a row, Dumbledore."

"Please tell me you didn't invite him," Sirius muttered from where he was standing next to the Headmaster.

"No, but I'm not surprised he's here, either, although I wonder exactly how he heard about this little gathering," Dumbledore said as Lucius drew near.

"Really, Dumbledore. It's been obvious what you've been planning from the start ever since you sent Craw for the Cauldron, and when the Ministry decided to quarantine the entire area from Muggles, I knew it wouldn't be long. Not that I myself don't want this chaotic mess the Ministry has caused to end…"

"We caused? You think we're responsible? You know, if it wasn't for Lorcan getting hold of the book you had, the gate wouldn't have been damaged in the first place." Arthur pointed out defensively.

"If you had caught Lorcan before he would have found the book 'in the first place'…"

"All right, all right, this is definitely not the time for this," Lunette interrupted, stepping between them.

"Not to mention the fact that it is probably the Ministry who is also responsible for sabotaging the spells around the country. I think it's intentional because you want the Muggles to notice, and if that is the case, the Ministry has outlived its intended purpose of keeping them at bay, hasn't it?" Lucius continued.

"Silence!" A booming voice said, startling nearly everyone there. It had taken Jennifer a moment to realize that the voice had come from Viviane. "The next person to bring up current politics shall be roasted by lightning. You have been warned." Lucius gazed at her warily but quieted down. He gave her a fixed gaze, which she noticed and then summarily dismissed. "Those two have just as much right to be here as some of you…more, in fact, than most of you. Now back off and form a circle while Sirius puts the Seal together." Sirius pointed at himself with surprise and Dumbledore nodded gently to him as encouragement.

"I wouldn't even know where to start," he admitted. Viviane sighed impatiently.

"Make a door frame around the gate and place the Cauldron in the center. Must I tell you everything?" she asked impatiently. It was Anna who pointed out to Sirius where the gate would appear, and then awkwardly he took the Spear from Sagittari, aligning it on the other side of the Stone. Dumbledore then handed him the Sword, and as the others silently watched him balance the hilt on the stone, the tip of the Spear elongated to meet it on the other side, forming a perfect arch. Encouraged by the item's reaction, Sirius smiled and held his hand out for the Cauldron's handle, which Jennifer offered to him.

"Anyone want any porridge before we finish this?" Jennifer joked nervously.

"If we're successful, I daresay I'll want more than porridge," Vallid chuckled in return. "Like a good stiff drink."

"I think I'll want one either way, if we don't implode or anything," Sirius said. Viviane rolled her eyes.

"Just finish what you're doing," she ordered, muttering something about 'mortals' under her breath.

Sirius took the Cauldron then, placing it in the arch. The moment that he did so, the Cauldron's bubbling liquid began to empty and the Cauldron itself became flatter and flatter; and all the while the sword and spear suddenly took on a larger and stonier appearance. It was about then that Jennifer realized what was happening; the other parts of the seal were turning like the Lia Fál, becoming a stone arch of identical size and shape to the others still standing around them. The only true difference was that the Cauldron formed a stone threshold at its foot, completing the doorway. Then, as the pieces of the Seal finished changing shape, a lattice of white light suddenly criss-crossed in front of it, bright at first, then slowly dimming until it could barely be seen, creating a protective mesh between them and the gate itself.

"I've seen this," Jennifer heard herself say. "I've seen this before, somehow."

"Yes, I'm getting a rather odd sense of déjà vu myself," Severus muttered back. Gazing up at the clear starry sky, Sagittari nodded solemnly.

"It is a night for much greatness," Sagittari said.

"The stones," Harry pointed out, coming to stand with the other three, "The other stones of the circle look complete now, just like they do in the Twilight Arch."

"Different times seem to be descending here at once," Severus nodded thoughtfully.

"Fine! You win!" Viviane said in annoyance, and everyone else gazed over, wondering what she was talking about. "You four with the 'astute' observations stand right behind Anna. The rest of you close the circle a bit," she said, ignoring the amused look Dumbledore was giving her.

"Do you need me to repeat the spell for you?" Severus asked his sister gently from behind her.

"No, I know it," Anna said, realizing she did and not quite understanding why. There was a strange tension in the air; and a strange build up of power…but it wasn't all coming from them, or the area around them. No, Anna knew for a fact that the odd build up was coming from the other end of the gate. Those around her seemed impatient, as if wondering what she was waiting for. What was she waiting for, she asked herself. But then that was all answered when she suddenly heard a strangely familiar voice in her head which asked, Are you ready?

Somehow she doubted the answer was really important; she knew then it was going to happen now whether she was ready or not. A phantom wind began to blow through as she chanted peculiar, ancient words that were so familiar she could almost understand them; and she found herself reliving what had happened that day four years ago… but no… this was different… as wrong as that event was, this one seemed just as right, with her friends and guardians about her and her husband at her side, the great Seal that had protected Tir Na Nog for thousands of years in front of them unlocked, and someone… someone was calling to her from the other side.

As the call grew stronger, she found herself walking closer to the Seal, nearly touching it, until she got the irresistible urge to reach her hand through it. The gate beyond suddenly burst open as a door of complete light appeared, so blindingly bright that it was difficult for any of them to look directly at it at all. But then, Anna felt a warm hand in hers… large, pinkish, human… and then the sleeve of a robe followed, and then the tip of a beard, and as Anna stepped back in surprise to let the wizard through she found herself holding hands with; someone who, for the first time since she entered the magic world, even tongue-tied her with awe. There was no doubt who she was looking at, and she was vaguely aware of everyone bowing and curtsying behind her as a slightly amused, thin smile played across Merlin's face as he gazed directly at her.

"Why, thank you, Anna. It is very good to see you again," Merlin said, finally letting go of her hand. "And so pretty too! The line certainly has held up well, hasn't it?" he teased, gazing to where Sirius was standing, dumbfounded.

"Ah yes, and this must be Sirius. I would know that bloodline anywhere," Merlin said with amusement. "Welcome to the family. Oh, hello, Viviane, I should have known you would be here," he added as she gave him a cool but respectful nod.

"I'm sorry about the others being here, but they insisted," Viviane said, looking accusingly at Dumbledore and everyone else standing there as if she had nothing to do with it.

"Well, it isn't as if I didn't know they were coming, of course they're here, Viviane, they were supposed to be. Didn't you get my memo?" Merlin asked with amusement.

"What's a memo?" Jennifer whispered to Severus.

"There are no such things as 'memos' in Tir Na Nog," Viviane said curtly, quite certain he was pulling her leg again.

"Well, haven't you ever heard the old adage not to put all one's eggs in one basket, my dear? Yes, well, perhaps it shouldn't surprise you then that I didn't necessarily tell you everything. It really would have been too much burden to expect you to manage to get the two descendants present the last time the gate was closed and the four Sentinels of magic here, now that would have been too much responsibility even for you to handle. So, I decided to delegate one part of the prophecy to you and another to someone else," Merlin said, obviously very amused that Viviane was totally not amused at all. "Don't tell me, you've been fighting with the Sentinels all these years, haven't you? You haven't changed a bit." Viviane then decided to ignore him completely, but Merlin didn't seem to mind, focusing instead on Dumbledore.

"I am terribly sorry if she was a trial to you, Albus. You know how women are," Merlin said with a mischievous smile.

"She was no trouble, Merlin," Dumbledore smiled, shaking his hand. "I am quite honored to meet you. I was not sure if you would come."

"Of course, one does get rather bored living in a land of immortals. They never change; and they never really want to do anything fun. Give me a room full of everyday folk any day. Now there's some people that know how to have a good time," Merlin winked. "But then, I see that none of them seem to have made it here… there are only wizards and witches present," he noted, glancing around. "I suppose then that means that you must know already what I must say about staying," Merlin said.

"Yes, I know you cannot," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "We are not ready."

"Wise are those who know and truly understand their limitations despite their aspirations," Merlin smiled. "It's quite alright. There will be other occasions for me to return," he assured him. "Nice beard," he added with a wink, before turning to Vallid.

"Oh, it's you again," Merlin said with amusement. "So you were the last face of darkness! Of course, I should have guessed, Lunette. You've always seemed to me more of a muse of vengeance then of justice. Justice in its true sense is exerted immediately and only upon those who deserve sentence. Now courts… courts are truly a sadistic invention." Vallid couldn't help but notice Sirius nodding his head in agreement and Severus' curt nod to second that opinion.

"Perhaps that is why I only take cases I can win," Vallid smiled at him.

"A girl after my own heart," Merlin said amused, glancing at over at Arthur. "Now, I can mistake a name from time to time, but I'd recognize that hair anywhere."

"Arthur Weasley, Sir," Arthur said offering his hand eagerly.

"Well, that I should have been able to guess myself," Merlin chuckled at himself, accepting his hand with a nod. "I am very glad you are doing so well, and most especially, that you seem very happy with your life," he added. "Greatness is nothing without happiness, and power is empty without reason."

"How very true, sir. You are indeed as wise as they say," Arthur said, bowing again.

"True," Merlin said. "But not as wise as you are, I think," he added then gazed over at where Lucius and Draco stood.

"Well, well, well. Who invited them?" Merlin chuckled with a wink towards Viviane who wasn't impressed with his sense of humor at all. "Draco, still uncertain of what direction to take, are you? Oh, don't worry, I'm sure it'll come to you," Merlin said, looking thoughtfully at his father. "And you are?"

"Lucius Malfoy, and you?" Lucius asked warily. Merlin looked amused.

"I have many names," he said.

"And might I ask how you know my son, and not know me?"

"Well, I do know who you're descended from, of course, I can always tell those sorts of things," Merlin said. "But you see, I see all times at once, and I've always felt a certain closeness to those I've come across, whether in the past or future. Some I remember because of deeds they have done or will do, others I see because they are related to me in some way, and others are just casual acquaintances I've bumped into from time to time. And then, there are a small number I have bumped into and decided to forget intentionally, and others that were just nuisances best swatted away because in the long scheme of things, their transgressions really weren't worth all that much," Merlin explained with a wide smile. "It's terribly unfortunate that I won't be here at the point that you figure out which one of those you are, I'll be rather busy. But anyway… Erik! Is that really you?" Merlin asked, leaving Lucius there squinting at him, trying to decide whether or not to believe it was the real Merlin and not some sort of plot laid out by someone else to make them think he was. "Splendid job you've been doing with the Order. Do keep up the good work, I dare say everything is right on track. And well done tuning up the ranks and making sure those who get in deserve to be. Can't have an order getting too wrapped up in politics, you know, which of course, is part of what went wrong with my first Order, I think," he sighed, looking over at Balmweed.

"Equinox was supposed to be there to preserve the ancient texts and prophesies, not destroy them or grossly misinterpret them," Merlin scolded him, his stern gaze quite disturbing after the levity he had expressed with most of the others.

"We… we didn't destroy any texts sir, but Severus…"

"I'm well aware of Severus' activities, and I am not interested in finger pointing anyhow. If the gate opening means anything is going to end, it is your own Order, for I am officially washing my hands of you. You cannot preserve history by hording it, Balmweed, or sticking it in dusty airless vaults, or whispering it in dark rooms surrounded by old men sipping absinthe and grumbling about how nothing ever stays the same. You preserve it by passing it on, instructing others, keeping the essence of the lessons learned by those who are long gone while still respecting of the situations of the present. From where I've stood, I have seen that people haven't learned much of anything over the years… no offense to those actually trying," Merlin added with a nod to Albus. "You are still warring among yourselves and the 'Muggles' as you call them, and truthfully in many ways they've come farther than you have, although I rather blame that on the difference in lifespans. Shorter-lived folks do tend to accomplish more, while the rest of us do tend to procrastinate a bit more. It is the fear present in this society, however, that seems to have held you back the most... fear of change and fear of the unknown.

"But one day in the far off future, perhaps another thousand years from now, there where be a time where you finally come out of your turtle shells only to learn that it really didn't have as much of an impact as you thought it would. Oh, well, you'll get more tourists in Diagon Alley and I'm sure the goblins will make a fair amount in exchange rates, but it certainly won't collapse the wizard ethnic group by declaring its existence. People tend to hang on to their traditions and backgrounds, you know, but that doesn't mean you should cut yourself off from the new way of doing things. Why, even I have considered discarding by robes for a silk shirt and bell-bottom jeans on occasion. However, it seems like every time I've finally warmed myself up to the idea, they go out of style again. Oh, well, I'm sure there will be other opportunities," he mused to himself. He walked towards the last four, leaving Balmweed to try and puzzle out what in the world he was just talking about.

He came to stand beside Sagittari and was about to greet him when his eyes suddenly fell upon Jennifer. Severus became instantly alarmed by the look that Merlin was giving her.

"Forgive me, but not one more minute can be wasted without my meeting this exquisite beauty that has momentarily but completely enraptured my attention," he said. Jennifer's eyes grew wide as Merlin took her hand, kissing it gently. For a peculiar moment she suddenly was reminded of the Beard Wand's constant flirting, and although she was quite aware that she had little to actually worry about, she couldn't help but be taken aback by his gaze. She was also very glad that she couldn't read his expression.

"My dear, if I had seen you before in any vision I would have never forgotten it, but even so, I feel that it was probably destiny that we meet, as unforeseen as it may be. And what, pray, is your name, so you will never elude my attention again?" he asked.

"Jennifer Craw Snape," Jennifer stammered.

"Jennifer!" Merlin repeated with a twinkle in his eyes. "I have always loved that name! So you are the Dark Sentinel! You know, I have always found myself oddly attracted to the darker magics over time. Perhaps under your influence I may actually give in more often," he said. Jennifer risked a quick look at Severus to see him in a complete state of shock, his mouth even open slightly as if not quite sure how to react. "Well, Jennifer, if you ever do begin to get tired of that tall, hawk-nosed wizard with no fashion sense beside you, feel free to come visit me. I would very much like to have you over for tea, where I could sit and listen to you for a thousand years or so and admire you. And if we're not tired of each other by then, well then, we'll see," he winked at her good-naturedly, letting her know he knew the futility of his request but causing her to blush bright red just the same as he turned back to the centaur.

"Sagittari, good to see you! I dare say after this is over, you're going to have quite a few more of the Wild Magic sort to contend with, what with all those who eagerly snuck past to rejoin this world," Merlin said. "But I'm sure you can handle it, especially with such a fine team of Sentinels to help you. And you, you must be Harry Potter," Merlin continued, passing over Severus to greet him, shaking his hand warmly. He looked over at Dumbledore and back at Harry again. "Well, the two of you have a lot in common, don't you?" he commented with amusement. "But I think you can get by without the beard, Harry. At least for the first couple hundred years or so," he advised him. "I can't help but say that I'm quite impressed that someone so young as you has come so far. You will become one of the best Sentinels of the Light we've ever had, isn't that right, Albus?"

"Of that I have little doubt," Dumbledore smiled.

"Thank you sir, but actually, we have been wondering if you could tell us anything about the fluctuations in magic that have been happening lately?" Harry asked. "Does it have something to do with the missing Sentinel?"

"Missing?" Merlin said amused. "There aren't any missing Sentinels. I'd have thought that would have been quite obvious. But if you are asking me if the Ancient Sentinel has been the one causing the magic failures over the last year, the answer is yes. And actually, it's been going on since the boy first decided to stick his nose in the Tome. I really was hoping he'd have figured it out by now," he tsked, shaking his head.

Jennifer turned to face her husband, touching his hand, which had suddenly gotten cold and clammy.

"You, Severus, it's you!" Jennifer said gazing at the haunted expression on his face with awe. "That night… the night the Twilight Arc failed, you had cast a power time delay spell on the lab to keep it from blowing up before we got the protects on it. And the day the Tower appeared was the same day you destroyed the book. In fact, I'd bet every single time you tried casting a spell from that book it had some effect… the only time it let up was when you didn't have access to any magic at all because of the wish taking your magic away!"

"You mean he's been causing all the trouble with the magic failing all year?" Sirius said, suddenly sounding murderous. "Severus, you owe me about five hundred hours of overtime."

"Impossible," Severus said, not sounding too convinced.

"Wish magic is the most basic form of magic, and definitely one of the most Ancient forms," Jennifer added, Severus looking at her unsurely. "You know, just about everybody here is an heir to somebody. I think I just figured out who you're an heir to," Jennifer said seriously.

"My boy, you're never going to learn how to control that side of your magical ability until you accept it, just as you had to accept dealing with the wish part of it," Merlin said, finally looking Severus in the eye. "And I do believe the sooner you do, the better it is for everyone, don't you?" Severus wasn't sure he felt too well all of the sudden. In fact, he probably would have had to sit down, if Jennifer hadn't been by his side, gazing at him with a loving, proud expression so intense that it startled him, finding himself lost in it.

"Rather cute couple," Merlin admitted reluctantly, watching them with a smile before looking back to Viviane. "But someone is missing! Where is the dead fellow?"

"He should be back in one piece at Hogwarts castle by now," Viviane said.

"Well, then. I suppose I'll have to prolong my visit a little while longer. Keep the door open for me, dear Anna, I'll be right back," he said, disappearing into the air without a sound or fanfare.

"Is it safe to kill Severus now?" Sirius asked, earning a jab from Anna.

"Well, this has been utterly pointless," Lucius said.

"Only you of all people could possibly think that this was pointless, Malfoy," Arthur said with open dislike.

"I am not sure that even was Merlin. What did he do except go around and speak down to us like common Muggles? In fact, I'm not even sure this gate is real," Lucius added, stepping up closer to it. But before anyone could bark at him to get away, the right side of the arch suddenly glowed and began to make the sound like a weeping child, louder and louder the longer that Lucius stood beside it.

"What is that?" Anna asked.

"It's the Lia Fál, I believe," Dumbledore said. "It has been said that it cries when a pretender of the High King draws near."

"So," Jennifer said, stepping away from Severus and looking at Malfoy with a spark in her eyes. "So, you're the heir of Mordred?" She suddenly broke into laughter as Malfoy squinted at her with hatred. "Why didn't I see it before? Well, it's good to know even Equinox didn't want to trust you with that book. That's the real reason they tried to send the Imp in for it, they thought you were trying to get it before they could… and you did try, didn't you?" Jennifer said, triumphantly reading his angry expression, then looking over to Draco and back. "You had a student try to steal it for you. That's why Draco was really there on Halloween, to get a report from Amadeus about his progress in getting it. He was the one who tried to steal it."

"How did he get in Severus' office?" Harry asked Jennifer.

"I can answer that," Severus suddenly said, looking annoyed at himself. "He was able to get in because some of the other Slytherin tricked Essie into getting the password for my office on the pretense of getting test results just before Halloween. They stayed long enough at the door to find out what it was and then hurried out believing that I would catch her," he realized, wanting to hit himself for not seeing it sooner.

"Interesting theory, but may I remind you that you don't have proof of any of this, let alone which student I may or may not have talked to," Lucius said.

"What business is it of yours to talk to any of the students at all besides Danny?" Jennifer asked.

"My business," Lucius said, eyes flashing dangerously, looking between Dumbledore and Jennifer. "You may 'banish' me from school property, Headmaster. And you may try to threaten and frame me all you like, Craw, but know this. I will always have a presence in that school, whether you know it or not, whether you feel it or not. There will never be a time when a set of eyes and hands there won't be mine. No matter what you attempt to do to me, I assure you, you will never be rid of me, and neither will your children, or your children's children." Lucius swore.

It was in that instant that something snapped within Jennifer, a fury that she had never felt before, and before she could even think or reason with herself about what she was doing, her wand jumped into her hand and she felt the spell launch from her hand knocking Lucius all the way to the outer ring and against a monolith. Then she cooled slightly, feeling herself panting for breath and her head becoming incredibly clear and alert even as he stood up.

"If you think I am going to stand by and watch you try to rip this school apart, let alone haunt my family anymore, Lucius, you have another thing coming," Jennifer said.

"Don't just stand there, arrest her! She just cast a dark spell at me!" Lucius demanded, looking at Arthur.

"Spell? What spell, I didn't see anything, did anyone else see anything?" Arthur asked with a shrug. No one spoke up.

"Yes, and yet if I cast a spell back you would suddenly notice, wouldn't you?" Malfoy said, angrily clenching his wand as he stood.

"Why should we play fair when you never have, Malfoy?" Jennifer asked. "You want to be on even terms? Fine. You've wanted me dead long enough; I'll be nice and give you a legal way to do it. I challenge you to a Wizard's Duel." she said, her face deadly solemn.

"Jennifer, you can't be serious," Sirius said, alarmed by the look in her eyes. "Severus, say something!"

"I'll second," Severus said with a grim nod.

"Oh great, give him the chance to kill both of you," Sirius said, then Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder. Everyone fell quiet again as Lucius looked over at Jennifer appraisingly.

"Accepted," he said at last, looking behind him. "Draco, you'll second of course?"

"Actually, no, I don't think so," Draco said, stepping aside as Lucius turned on him, his eyes flashing angrily. "You know, she always treated me like a student instead of a Malfoy, no matter how much of a pain in the arse I was. Besides, I think she's going to kill you," he admitted. Furious, Lucius turned to Norman Balmweed, who began to protest loudly but finally gave in when Lucius dragged him to his side, deciding right away if Lucius did get killed he was going to surrender immediately.

"Perhaps we should move out away from this structure. I think fighting here is probably not a good idea," Harry suggested.

"Lorcan died here," Jennifer said, taking off her cloak and handing it to Sagittari, who was standing beside her trying not to look worried. "It's only fitting that I face the other person who took my mother's life in the same spot."

Sirius' protests died and he became as somber as the rest as he realized the underlying reason for this duel. It had plagued her since before she came to the school, and one way or another; she wanted it to end. He only hoped it would end the right way.