Chapter Fifteen

A Matter of Timing

"So, what you're implying, Severus, is that you think whoever did this was an Aethermage?" Alastor asked. He, Audi, Jennifer and Anna were all sitting in Dumbledore's office, which had grown so quiet that only the snores of the paintings could be heard. Audi was rubbing her head as if attempting to clear it, still trying to remember who had given Alice the ring.

"No, rather something that is a step above that. An Aethermage, as we have come to discover, is someone whose magic behaves differently because of the mixing of the four types of magic in their bloodlines, making them a part of magic, rather than someone who merely uses it," Severus said. "Such as Anna, my sister, who has powerful strains of each type because she is descended from all of Merlin's children. It was said, not only in legend but from the book he wrote himself, that each child inherited a different piece of the magic he controlled, and that his own powers, such as the one that caused him to live in all times at once came from his rather unusual heritage. Some say he was descended from Fae, others by demons… I am inclined to think both are true. He is the product of both Seelie and Unseelie Courts."

"The good and bad of the faerie world," Audi said, nodding.

"But he was human, wasn't he? I mean, he certainly looked human, and all our books…" Jennifer began.

"They state that he was part human, yes, but that shouldn't be meant to imply that his mother didn't have some mixed blood of her own. The Danaan who once migrated to this world were not well known for keeping to their own race, and many of them had relationships with both humans and Fomorians. Even so, I'd be hesitant to judge anyone as human by his or her appearance. Viviane looks quite human, but I think we all know now she is far from it," Severus said. Anna looked slightly uncomfortable at that, but the rest nodded.

"What makes you so sure that this just isn't some power crazed lunatic who is just killing people for kicks?" Alastor asked.

"If it were, we would have had some indication of who they are by now," Anna said. "Those that kill for pleasure tend to escalate their crimes, becoming sloppy as they become more self assured that no one can catch them. These are cold, calculated, methodical killings. Not that that has anything to do with whether or not they're human."

"We have also established that they can do certain things such as getting into places protected from normal Apparating… a feat which can be gotten around by the Fae and Aethermages alike. And there was that disturbing admission by Icarus that he had only a vague memory of now, as if something were blocking it. There can be only two explanations of this. Either it was an event which can be changed… which should have appeared as a vision for him instead of a memory… or someone with sufficient knowledge of events in the future found a way to cloud it."

"Wait a moment, son. Are you implying that we may be looking at an enemy who has the advantage of seeing all times at once?" Audi demanded, looking him straight in the eye.

"It is, at least, a possibility," Severus agreed.

"Yes, and one you believe is true," Audi said with a frown.

"Stars and comets," Jennifer swore softly, gazing over at Dumbledore. "How can we possibly fight an enemy that knows our moves before we even make them?"

At first Dumbledore didn't answer, his hands drawn thoughtfully to his lips as he leaned over his desk, his eyes searching out and meeting the eyes of everyone in that room, resting on Severus last and for the longest time.

"Please ask Professor Ravenclaw to join us," he said quietly. It was then that everyone knew that Dumbledore believed it too.

Alex was so absorbed in the latest copy of the Daily Prophet that she didn't hear a word until Mandria pulled the paper down to stare at her.

"Alex! We need to finish our Transfiguration homework," Mandria said with frustration.

"In a minute! We have an entire half an hour before class. Aren't you the least bit interested in what's going on in the outside world?" Alex said.

"Alex, we are in school. What is happening in the outside world has nothing to do with us," Mandria said, holding Alex's book in front of the paper. Alex took the book and set it back down.

"That's what you think. Listen to this: 'Auror Potter, with the help of Aurors Belle and Moody, has now discovered that the missing diamonds are thought to have been distributed to prominent wizarding families as long as twenty-five years ago. Anyone who received a gift of diamonds during this time, especially anonymously, should contact the Ministry to have them checked. Any diamonds found will be held in private security until which time that the situation has been resolved.' Prominent families of the time! That could be either of our families!"

"Oh, Alex, honestly! My family has been mostly primary teachers and spell researchers, I'd hardly consider any of them prominent," Mandria said, rolling her eyes.

"Just the same, you don't have any diamonds, do you?" Alex asked anxiously.

"My mother won't even give me a pair of gloves without attaching them to my coat," Mandria snorted. "I bet you don't have any either."

"My mum has a lot of diamonds," Alex said, putting down the paper.

"Alex, your mum is an expert of cursed items. I think she would know if she had one. Besides, a person would have to be absolutely insane to try to tangle with her." Mandria said. "She knows all twelve death spells, after all."

"It only takes one," Alex retorted, picking up her Transfiguration book.

It took Alex a bit longer than she had expected to finish the Transfiguration formulas on changing dormice to doorknobs, somehow managing the scribble down the last two lines and look up to see the hall nearly empty of lunch goers.

"Come on, come on! We only have two minutes to get to class. McGonagall is going to be positively livid!" Mandria said, helping Alex pickup her things.

"Let's cut down the hall to the back stairs. It'll be faster if the front stairs decide to get temperamental," Alex suggested as they hurried out the door, skidding as they dove down the hall.

"We're never going to make it, we're in for it for sure," Mandria panted as they ran. Just then the door to the janitor closet opened in front of them and Alex screamed as she ran into it, Mandria dodging out of the way just to trip over Alex's foot and land face first beside her, groaning.

"I am so sorry! Alex, is that you? Here let me help you," said a man's voice, and Alex looked up to see a hand held out to her and a familiar face looking at her with concern.

"Harry?" Alex stammered.

"A bit dangerous running down the hall like that after the floors are waxed. Are you okay?" he asked as he got her to her feet and held his hand out to Mandria who took it in awe, allowing herself to be pulled up.

"We were going to be late for class," Mandria explained, slightly flustered.

"We definitely will be now," Alex said in resignation. "What were you doing in Filch's closet? Aren't you supposed to be chasing the murderer or something?" Harry blinked once before forcing himself to smile.

"Getting soap. Lavatory was out," he said. "Well then, I don't want to keep you. Hope it's not Snape's class you're missing."

"McGonagall's," Mandria said. Harry winced. "Do come on, Alex! We're in enough trouble as it is."

"She's right you know, you'd better get moving, I'll see you later," Harry said, closing the closet door and heading the opposite direction as Mandria grabbed hold of Alex's arm and made a run for it. "And don't tell her you got lost! It won't help!" he yelled to them. He exhaled sharply then, hurrying towards main doors.

As they bolted into the classroom, Alex suddenly realized that McGonagall had been standing by the door as they came in and stopped short, Mandria colliding into her.

"Would you stop doing that?" Mandria moaned, rubbing her elbow.

"So, the two of you finally decided to grace us with your presence?" McGonagall said with a cynical smile as she shut the door.

"I'm sorry, Professor, we had a bit of an accident in the hall. We bumped into a door," Alex explained.

"Among other things," Mandria added.

"Would that be perhaps because you weren't watching where you were going, or because you were running in attempt to beat the clock?"

"Well, we were trying to get here on time, that is true," Alex admitted.

"And yet most of your other classmates arrived nearly ten minutes ago. Curiously enough, a fellow professor happened by and mentioned that he had seen the two of you there still working on your homework for this class. Was the assignment so long that it would take you more than two days to finish it?"

"No, Professor," Alex said glumly.

"And would this also have something to do with the fact that your assignments come to me almost entirely illegible, Miss Snape?"

"I'll try to do better," Alex promised.

"I suggest you begin thinking about how to better manage your time in the future. And that will be ten points each off of Ravenclaw as a reminder," McGonagall said sternly, moving out of the way so they could take their seats.

Mandria sighed, moving over to her desk with Alex behind her, both of them passing their homework over as McGonagall walked back up to the front.

"Do you think Harry was really in that closet for just soap?" Alex murmured softly to Mandria as they opened their books.

"Alexandria Snape, if you get me in trouble again today I shall probably hurt you," Mandria hissed back turning her attention to the class.

Jennifer, lying in bed wide-awake, was staring fiercely at the clock on the wall when she finally heard the door open to Severus' sitting room. Flinging back the sheets she immediately rose, standing in the bedroom doorway with her arms folded and glaring at Severus as he threw his cloak on the hook and looked over at her curiously.

"What are you doing awake? It's nearly three a.m.," Severus said with surprise.

"What were you doing out until nearly three a.m.?" Jennifer demanded back. Severus blinked at her.

"Don't you ever make use of your watch? I was just where I told you I was going to be, at the Ministry."

"But not all night!" Jennifer said with exasperation. "What about our plans to spend tonight together? Walk in the Forest? Spend some time on the Perch, and all that? It was your idea, as I recall." Severus, who had just made a move to sit down at his desk, stopped short and stared at her.

"Oh. That was tonight, wasn't it?" Severus said slowly. "I'm afraid I got so involved that it completely slipped my mind. However…"

"Slipped your mind?" Jennifer echoed. Growling in frustration she went back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. A second later a series of loud clicking and clacking sounds followed by a loud thud indicated quite forcefully that the door was locked.

Muttering softly to himself, Severus left his sitting room and walked a few paces down the corridor to the next painting.

"Still lurking about at this hour?" Sir Nicolas inquired curiously as he hovered passed him.

"Yes, but not for long," Severus said curtly. "Irene Adler," he said to the painting of Dewhurst the Raven. The Raven flapped its wings as the door opened and Severus slipped inside Jennifer's sitting room, striding across to the bedroom door and opening it, quickly entering before Jennifer could correct her mistake. The other door, Severus noted, was covered from top to bottom with locks, shackles, chains and bars. Jennifer, after recovering from surprise, gave him a freezing look and pulled the covers over her head.

"You can put up as many barriers as you like, Jennifer, but there is no keeping me out," Severus said, sitting on the bed. "If you'd locked the other door, I'd have broke out the Acidify potion. Build a wall, and I'll climb over it. There's no where you can hide that I cannot find," he said, watching her covered form closely for any sign of movement.

"You know, over the years we've given ourselves every which gadget we can find to each other; to find out what the other is feeling, and even figure out what the other is thinking, you with your talent and me with the occasional telepathy potion," Severus said, shaking his head. "But ever since this school year started, I find that I cannot for the life of me figure you out. Your temper flares faster than mine used to before I met you, and you bolt at any word you can twist the wrong way. You, who I have witnessed having a steadier nerve than anyone I know, who can control her emotions in the worst of times. It wasn't so long ago that if I came home with information of any sort, you'd be jumping to find out what I learned," he mused as he crawled closer and leaned over her. Jennifer forced her eyes shut tighter as he slowly pulled back the covers around her head, his breath on her neck making her aware of just how close he was.

"Now, why don't you tell me exactly what's been going on with you, hm?" he said directly in her ear, making her shiver. "It's not that silly thirteenth year nonsense, is it?" he asked, meeting only silence in return. "Jennifer, you and I have changed over the years, there is no denying that, or the fact that because of those changes, our relationship has changed. But isn't that what keeps things interesting? Always having some new challenge to work on and different fuel to spark the fire? We fought long and hard to get to where we are right now. Just because we're actually content with our lives, it doesn't mean our relationship is static. And if you really want my opinion, I would say the only thing I am bored of is this scheduling of our private time depending on if it's a weekend or if someone has an early class the next morning. I prefer spontaneity myself, provided it's served with a modest dose of responsibility, which both of us are already inclined to provide," he said, still breathing in her ear.

"Now, since I've covered what it is you wanted me to talk about, perhaps I can now persuade you to listen to what I was trying to tell you? Or am I going to have to use deadly force instead?" he threatened wickedly, pulling back her hair and brushing a finger across her neck. Jennifer jumped slightly, feeling her temperature start to rise as he kissed her ear and then her neck, his other hand moving around her waist.

"Severus!"

"Finally ready to talk, are you? A bit late for that," Severus mused, pulling down the shoulder of her gown and kissing the nape of her neck.

"If I give in, you'll stop?" Jennifer said, squirming slightly in a half-hearted attempt to get out of the way.

"Well, that was my original intention, yes, but now I am beginning to enjoy myself," he admitted as he pulled at the ties on the back of the gown. Squealing softly, Jennifer rolled over and attempted to push him away a bit.

"Okay, okay, you win. I'll listen. But honestly, Severus, you don't fight fair."

"Surely not," he agreed, backing off only slightly, using his retreating one arm to prop up his head. "But the idea that you thought for one moment that I'd rather be stuck researching in the Ministry all night with that fool Thurspire than be here with you had to be reckoned with."

"I think you got your point across," Jennifer said, her face slightly flushed.

"Well, not yet, but I am content to let it go for a moment in favor of getting you up to date," he said with a sinister smile. "The brooch in the pawn shop, it seemed, belonged to the Nelson family."

"The Nelson family?" Jennifer blinked in surprise. "Danny's father? How on earth?"

"It appears that over the last few years Byron Nelson seems to have gotten over his head in some bad investments and in the process lost his credibility, so to speak. Since most of his money is tied up on the Muggle end of things and he didn't want anyone asking nosy questions, he's been disposing of some of his 'harmless' stock into their shops. Nothing he knew was enchanted or cursed… I seriously do not believe he was aware that that brooch was in any way even questionable until the murder appeared in the paper."

"Does Danny know?"

"No, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention it just yet, she has enough to deal with right now family wise. I also had a brief chat via the international tubes with Vallid and found that Gabriel Delran is actually related to the Hughes family. She is a second cousin to my sister through Anna's grandmother's line. Which leaves only Ursa."

"Don't tell me, the Selezin's?" Jennifer asked. Severus shook his head slightly.

"Doubtful. My mother had been dead for some years before your parent's wedding, and I do think that was the time most of the diamonds had been distributed. I was thinking perhaps there is another connection we may not have realized. Perhaps Ursa was adopted."

"I think you've been reading too many Sherlock Holmes novels, Severus," Jennifer decided, shaking her head at him. "If she was adopted, I would have seen it."

"Are you so sure of that?" Severus said. "When you call Corey your son, do you mean what you say? Or do you think it comes off as a lie?"

"Okay, you may have a point," Jennifer admitted.

"And it may also explain why someone gave her a present signed as her mother, that is, if her birth mother was alive," Severus said calmly. Jennifer turned to stare at him again. "So, as I was trying to say before you decided to slam the door on me, that I need to write a letter to Alvin to inquire about whether or not she is and if so find out if her parents were alive or not, because if she is and they are, it will clear up quite a bit about where the diamond she had came from and why."

"Do you need to write the letter right now?" Jennifer asked softly, gazing intently at her husband.

"No, right at this moment, it seems I have other pressing matters to attend to," Severus decided, leaning back over her again to kiss her. Forgetting her resolve, Jennifer kissed him back passionately, finding herself completely undone from his mere insistence for her undivided attention. As he began loosening her dress again, she suddenly heard a series of loud snaps and then a crash as all of the locks and chains on the door tumbled to the ground.

"Show off," Jennifer murmured.

"Merely the overture," he replied, but before he could kiss her again, there was a loud, insistent knock coming from Severus' side sitting room door. His expression changed immediately to frustration. "Why must everyone keep interrupting me at times like this?"

"It's three-thirty in the morning, Severus. If someone needs you, it must be important," Jennifer said worriedly, gazing at the clock. "You don't think someone else has been murdered already, do you?"

Growling, Severus forced himself up, pushing his way through the door while Jennifer scrambled to get a bathrobe around herself.

"What is it now, Minerva?" Jennifer heard Severus say as hurried into the room to join him.

"Harry was called away on a family emergency, and Dumbledore wants to know if you can stand guard for a few hours until Audi can get here," she said, nodding to Jennifer as she came over.

"Who's down there now?"

"Francis Pyther, but he can't afford to be here more than another hour."

"Say no more, I'll be down as soon as I can," Severus sighed in pure resignation. "The last thing I want to have to put up with is having that vampire stuck in this castle all day. Then again, it may make for an interesting Defense class…"

"Severus!" Jennifer frowned at him.

"I'll be down," Severus nodded.

"Audi should be there by seven. Hopefully that'll give you a bit of time to rest before your visit with the children," Minerva said sympathetically. "I'll see you this afternoon."

Severus nodded and shut the door, looking over at the pouting face of his wife.

"Care to come with me?" he asked slyly.

"Oh, Severus, you know how I hate it down there."

"Well guard duty can be so monotonous alone, and it sounds as if we'd be down there alone… for three whole hours," Severus said, finally catching her eyes. "I'm sure I can take your mind off of where you are." Jennifer gazed steadily back at him for a moment.

"I'll go get the cloak then," Jennifer said, "I suppose I'd better change, too."

"Don't bother," Severus recommended, earning a blush from his wife. As they stepped into the bedroom to get their things, a bright flash of light flickered across the window, but curiously enough, no rumble of thunder followed. Glancing at each other, the two of them went over to the window to look out on the dark, but star-filled night.

"That wasn't lightning, was it?" Jennifer said with alarm.

"I think we may have a visitor," Severus said, quickly grabbing his wand, pushing his feet into his shoes and heading towards the door. "And I seriously doubt they're here for an early breakfast."

"Wait up a minute!" Jennifer called out, quickly throwing a Hogwarts robe on over her nightclothes and grabbing her own wand, rushing to join him.