Chapter Seventeen

Perspective

Word about the night's events traveled quickly, and by lunch even the outside world had begun to learn about what had happened that early morning. Few could have been more interested in the news than Lucius Malfoy, sitting at his desk at home, drumming his fingers thoughtfully. The room was shadowed with only a few dim candles on the table, and three figures stood by the door, cloaked in the darkness.

"Ciardoth… pretentious name," Lucius said. There was little emotion in his face as he said it, but his eyes had an almost far away look. "Find out everything you can, any clues to what she had been doing before this. And I want you to find someone who still has some of those diamonds and bring them to me."

"The diamonds?" one of the figures asked.

"The diamonds and the owner," Lucius said, enunciating his words in hopes of getting through the man's thick skull. "And make sure it's not a Snape," he added, adjusting his gloves. "I won't be able to guarantee this person's safety once you find them."

"Yes, Lord Malfoy," the same figure said, and the three of them walked out of the room. Lucius stared at the flickering candle, lost in thought, but with a thin, grim smile upon his lips.

Four Sentinels and a ghost attended the noon meeting in Dumbledore's study, most of them pacing about restlessly while Dumbledore sat at his desk, fiddling with a crystal Phoenix ring he was wearing. Jennifer, still exhausted from the night before, sat in the high-backed red chair with an expression of defeat on her face.

"I still can't believe I fell for that," Harry said with a sigh as he sat down in one of the chairs. "I should have guessed right away there wasn't anything wrong at home."

"Don't you have some sort of code or something for your letters?" Severus asked critically.

"We use Witchlock Paper. When it disintegrated early, I just thought it was a bad batch," Harry said.

"I wonder why Ciardoth would care? No offense to Harry, but I haven't seen anything like her. I'm not sure any wizard would have a chance fighting her one on one," Jennifer said.

"Jennifer, all of us have been faced with someone who seemed overpowering at some point. We're here because we used our brains instead," Severus said.

"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed, a slight twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, but none of them could see all times at once," Jennifer said.

"Only events that cannot be changed are clear to her, Jennifer, and only from her own perspective," Icarus Ravenclaw said, floating closer to them. "We see things in between, of course, but they come as visions instead of what we consider memories. It is during the times when things can change where we have the advantage."

"I am not sure I agree with the idea that these future memories cannot be changed, Icarus," Dumbledore said calmly.

"I believed that anything could be changed once, and look what it got me," Icarus said bitterly.

"Well what do you expect, after you murdered yourself and your family? Taking lives isn't the answer," Jennifer said.

"Please, must we get into that again?" Severus said, tugging Jennifer's hair from where he stood by her chair.

"Professor Dumbledore, it's one thing for someone to cheat death when one is needed, but it's quite another to cheat Fate," Icarus said in an almost scolding tone.

"Yes, but what is the true Fate? That which she perceives to be truth? You lived in all times, Icarus, but you admit that was restricted to memories from your own perspective or that of ancestors or descendants. It is quite possible then that there are things she now sees as clear memories that may in fact turn out to be something quite different than what she thought it was going to be," Dumbledore said. Ravenclaw nodded knowingly to Dumbledore, while the others stared between them. "She may see all times, but she sees time through one set of eyes, and while she knows how the enemies in front of her are going to react before they do it, somewhere out of her view, someone else could be working against her in a way she can not see."

"Are you then suggesting that our best offense must be waged from a distance?" Sagittari asked.

"Not necessarily, it was merely an example to explain what I meant. I believe that there may be a way to turn her extraordinary memories of the future against her, but only if we understand exactly what it is she's seeing," Dumbledore said.

"Well, we know one thing she saw," Jennifer sighed. "She saw herself getting all the diamonds."

"She knew our names, so she remembers us, and considering the diversion, Potter as well," Severus said.

"But she was surprised to see us. In fact, she told us we were early," Jennifer continued. "And on top of that, she couldn't have recognized Pyther at all, or she would have realized what he was and would have used a different attack."

"More proof that she is hardly infallible. No matter how strong her magic is, she does have some obvious weaknesses. I dare think that she must have been surprised of Alex's attack as well, to have allowed it to continue for so long without changing spells," Dumbledore said.

"Sir, I urge caution in this line of thinking," Severus frowned. "Ciardoth is not to be underestimated. She can go anywhere, has the power to avert at least one death spell, and probably render many other spells useless. She kills because she can and has no remorse for it. Now it appears we have given her some cause for revenge. And, from what she has said, she will do everything in her power to destroy us, even at the cost of herself."

"I don't think any of us have any intention of underestimating her, Severus. But neither should we see this situation as hopeless," Sagittari put in. "She may be strong of Wild magic, but if Wild magic were invulnerable, it would be the Fae who would have ruled this world, not man."

"Even if the situation were hopeless, would it matter? There isn't a person in here that wouldn't be fighting it, is there?" Harry pointed out.

"Yes, but fighting in what way?" Jennifer asked.

"In every way," Sagittari said. "We all have different strengths, it's time to put them to use."

"Right now, I think our priority should be finding a way to make this school immune to her magic so that no students are harmed," Severus said firmly. "Or at least find a way to alert everyone in the castle if she comes back."

"Now that the diamond is gone, would she really have any reason to come back here?" Harry asked.

"Severus is right. We cannot take that chance, for we may not be as fortunate as we were last night if it were to happen again," Dumbledore said. "Severus, you and Sagittari work together on a detection system. Icarus, I'd like to get with you and Janus in a little while to talk over some architecture notes I found in Gryffindor's journals. After that, you can expect to find me at the Ministry, for I need to update Alastor and Arthur on what happened here last night. As for the two of you," Dumbledore said, looking between Jennifer and Harry. "Concentrate on finding out just who it is that tried to hide those diamonds in the first place."

Many of the staff jumped in to do what they could to answer parent concerns and help the Ministry tie in the new clues with the old. But Professor McGonagall made it quite clear to professors and students alike that the school itself would proceed with its normal scheduling. Unfortunately for Alexandria, a lot of that didn't include her. It was excruciatingly tough when she remembered that Sunday was the big Quidditch game, and she regretted it even more when Mandria came back to the rooms in total excitement because Gryffindor had actually won the game!

"When they caught sight of the Snitch, Rose was determined not to let Henry the Ox get too close," Mandria said excitedly. "I don't think anyone's going to laugh at Rose for her homegrown brooms anymore. That new one she has is a match for even a Starchaser Elite, if not a shade faster! She came up from below where he couldn't see her and totally cut him off! He was so out of his head after the game that I hear he broke his broom in half!"

The other two girls, it seemed, hadn't lost their privileges, but both of them did end up with nasty howlers that left the lunchroom in tears from everyone laughing. Still, the humiliation and the jeers that came afterwards were short lived in compared to Alex's own misery. No one at the Ravenclaw table wanted anything to do with them, not after they had just evened up on points a week before, and over at the Gryffindor table, it seemed that the boys were teasing 'Thorny' again.

The next two weekends were spent in detention. The first week Alex was assigned to help Filch clean up all the janitor closets in the school until she was sick to death of all of them (the shelf, she noted, had moved back to its original position on the back wall.) Mandria and Rose were assigned to cleaning the stalls and cages in Sagittari's outdoor classroom, and each of them believed the other got the better part of the deal. The second found all three of them with Librarian Boulderdash, categorizing a stack of books so high that it literally touched the ceiling.

But as Mandria and Rose was realizing the worst was finally going to be over, it was not even half over for Alex. As time went by, Alex's grumpiness grew worse until the last Thursday in November arrived. She shuffled out of her first afternoon class and over to the Great Hall with books in hand, dropping them down with complete depression.

"What is it?" Mandria said.

"I suppose you don't know what day it is," Alex said glumly. Mandria shook her head. "It's American Thanksgiving. Every year, my siblings and I would go to my Aunt Anna's. We'd leave in the afternoon but it'd only be morning there, and we'd spend the extra hours sitting around watching real Muggle television in a house with electricity and everything while my Aunt and her Grandmother and their relatives would cook a feast in the kitchen."

"Well, it's not like we don't have feasts here now and again. And electricity is a bit overrated," Mandria said comfortingly.

"Well, I like it, but that's not all the holiday is about. We get to spend time with our cousins, whom we never see these days. And well, going there is like a whole different world to me, there's something so irresistibly nonmagical about America, even in a wizard's house."

"I'm not sure I'd like that very much," Mandria admitted, opening her book. "But I am sorry just the same. It sounds as if you miss your siblings." Alex didn't answer, too depressed to respond, when suddenly a piece of paper appeared in the air, drifting to the table in front of them. Quickly Mandria snatched it up before Alex could react, reading it out loud. "'She only misses bossing us around. By the way, hi sis. A3.'"

Alex sat straight up, looking both excited and anxious at the same time.

"Please tell me you're not right here," Alex said.

"Alex, I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what's going on?" Mandria asked as another note appeared and Mandria picked it up again. "'Of course I am here. Let's go somewhere safe.'"

"Let's go," Alex said quickly, piling her books back up.

"Where are we going?" Mandria asked. At first Alex had no idea, until she felt a tug on her sleeve and followed in that direction. After a few turns she found herself in a short hallway she had photographed just before the door out to the greenhouse.

"There she is!" They heard a voice coming from the painting. Mandria stared in complete disbelief as she gazed into it and saw three kids standing in on the landscape, two girls and a boy that seemed to fair each other quite a bit in looks. It had been the girl with the fine blonde hair that had spoken, waving at her. "Alexandria! Aren't you coming?"

"No! I mean, I can't. I still have a class left today! Really, it's not a good idea. Does Aurelius know about this?" Alex asked the image of her sister in the painting.

"He told us it was too risky."

Mandria jumped halfway to the ceiling at hearing a voice right behind her, and turned around to see a lanky golden haired boy with calm blue eyes and an unmistakably Snape nose.

"Hullo," said Andrew.

"It is too risky! I can't believe you even came. The photos I sent were supposed to be for emergencies only."

"Well, it is an emergency! Sort of. Uncle Sirius is going to take us to New York to see the parade! Live and everything!" Alicia said.

"There will be lots of Muggles. All over," Andrew added.

"Aw, come on, Alex, don't be such a drag. Who's going to miss you for a few hours?" Zacchius Black said.

"Mum is. You don't know how mad she is at me right now. She's madder than when Rel called Corey an M.B.," Alex explained. Andrew whistled low at that.

"Well, at least come for a little while, just until your next class. I'll get you back in time, I promise," Alicia said with large pleading eyes. "It just wouldn't be the same here without you."

"Come on, at least come long enough to visit the twins and all," Andrew said, nudging her a bit. Alex looked over at Mandria hesitantly.

"I don't see how you're going to get anywhere. In fact, I'm not sure how you even got here," Mandria said to Andrew. "I suppose this has to do with those secrets you wouldn't tell me about, Alex?"

"It's all right, she's a friend," Alex explained.

"Did you want to come too?" Alicia asked politely.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather stay here and cover. I've had quite enough adventures for one month," Mandria said. Alex grinned and hugged her.

"You are a saint. I'll be back before my next class," Alex promised.

"Do you have an Invisibility Cloak or something?" Mandria asked Andrew, unable to keep her curiosity any longer.

"Nope. I don't need one," Andrew said with a wink. "Developed the talent trying to hide from my brother. He's not a very easy to hide from, you see."

"We had better get going if we're going," Alicia said. "Somebody's going to realize we're missing soon."

"Well, give us a hand then," Andrew said. As Mandria watched in sheer astonishment, a real hand suddenly emerged from the painting, grabbing Andrew's and pulling him in until he too stood in the landscape. Mandria's legs gave way from beneath her, her jaw still dropped to her chest when Alex glanced her way.

"My sister has a bit of artistic talent," Alex admitted as the hand came out again.

"The notes from the paintings! That's how…"

"Yeah… one of the ways, anyway…"

"Come on, Alex, before Aurelius comes to look for us!" Andrew reminded her.

"I'll explain it all later, Mandria, I promise," Alex finished grabbing the hand and getting pulled into the painting.

"Alright follow me, this way to New York," Alicia said cheerfully, walking out of the frame.

"It was nice to meet you Mandria!" Andrew said politely as he turned to follow them out of the frame.

"Thanks, Mandria! I'll try to bring you something back!" Alex said as she too stepped out of the frame. Mandria waved slowly, still wary of what she saw as they moved through the next picture beside them then disappeared altogether. After a moment, Mandria walked over to the painting, tapping it softly to make sure it was really there.

Severus noted the candlelight flickering one more time and glanced his window to see a freshly mowed lawn. It was another House Elf. Sighing in annoyance, he glanced at the clock in his office and hurried down to Sagittari's hut where he was bringing out three Pegasi for his next class. Babe greeted Severus with a sleepy neigh, while Ruby's foal Pepper bucked playfully, carefully maintaining her distance.

"Ah, Severus. Thank you again for letting me borrow these, although the piebald is getting to be a handful," Sagittari chuckled. "Who was her sire again?"

"Cloudchaser, from the Withers Institute for Winged Horses. They wanted to buy them but Jennifer would have nothing of it. It's just as well as they're here. They get restless in the fall, and the Brims never take them out as much as I'd like. It isn't as if anyone would blink to see them in that neighborhood," Severus grunted, giving Babe a quick pat at the Pegasus' insistence. Ruby gave him such a pitiful look that he petted her as well. "Don't worry. I'll send Jennifer out here as soon as she gets back from the Ministry," Severus told Ruby. Noticing the amused look on Sagittari's face, Severus grimaced and stepped away.

"I never pictured you as much of an animal enthusiast, Severus," Sagittari said.

"They were a wedding present, and Jennifer grew attached to them. I very well couldn't get rid of them," Severus said defensively.

"Well, now that we've gotten those Kelpie seawater tanks out of the way from last year, you're quite welcome to keep them here. With all that's going on, they may come in handy," Sagittari mused. "I gazed long into the stars last night, Severus, and the portents were very troubling, very troubling indeed. A great change has occurred, and I fear this is only the beginning. And yet, although it shows change, I see nothing of our adversary."

"Those wild magic detectors we put in are still too sensitive," Severus said evenly as he quickly changed the subject. "They flicker anytime a House Elf casts a spell in the area."

"Despite their servitude status, House Elves have an extremely large amount of Wild magic in them. I wonder sometimes if they weren't kept bound as they are just to keep them under control," Sagittari mused. "I do believe, however, if something more powerful than they entered the area, our detectors will respond more forcefully."

"Very well, let's hope the staff doesn't grow to used to the Elves setting them off that they miss the real one when it comes," Severus frowned, nodding to him and walking back towards the school.

It was as he took out his watch to check how long he had until his next class that he missed a step, staring at it with complete alarm. He shook it a moment and looked at it again before breaking out into a run, taking the steps two at a time as he raced into the castle while students scurried quickly out of his path.

Standing in the corridor near the Great Hall, Mandria was too busy trying to catch Rose before her next class to notice Snape descending on her from behind. A quick grab of the collar alerted her to her situation, staring at him in complete horror.

"Where is she?" Snape demanded.

"Where's who, Professor?" Mandria managed to get out after swallowing twice.

"Your ring leader, the one who never stops talking, my daughter?" Snape snarled. "She is not in this castle, as I am sure you are quite aware, and although we both know that normally she never leaves your side, she is not here. Now if you don't speak up and stop trying my patience, I have full intention of dragging you to Dumbledore's study!"

"Severus?" Dumbledore, who had just come out of the Great Hall, looked over at the two with surprise. "What is it?"

"Miss Snape is missing. My watch informs me she is 'Elsewhere,' which it would not if she were anywhere on this campus. Miss Shea was about to explain just where she was, weren't you, Miss Shea?" Severus snapped.

Mandria looked between Snape and Dumbledore. She had a feeling nothing short of the truth was going to work, but she also had little intention betraying a friend either.

"I saw her just a little while ago, Professors. She was… she was admiring some paintings in the castle, and told me that she'd meet me in our next class. I'm quite sure she'll be there, Professor. Perhaps your watch is broken?" Mandria suggested meekly.

"My watch is not in the slightest bit broken! She is not here!" Severus snapped at Mandria. Dumbledore's eyes, however, had shifted over to the owl painting and back again, and as Mandria focused pleadingly on Dumbledore to divert herself from Snape's wrath, something completely unexpected happened.

"Oh, dear. I'm terribly sorry, Severus, I believe the fault in this matter is mine," Dumbledore said. "I was just coming to tell you that I needed to have another chat with Alex about some things, and I asked her to step into my study before her next class. I'm quite sure she's there this very moment, in fact. Would you like me to have her stop by your classroom on her way down?" Severus squinted at him calculatingly. He did not like this at all. "Come, now, I assure you she is here. Perhaps you read your watch incorrectly," he said calmly.

"See for yourself!" Severus said, taking out his watch and showing it to him.

"A very nice watch indeed, Severus," Dumbledore smiled. "But I believe if you look closely, that you will see quite plainly that the watch says she's in my study."

Doing a double take, Severus found himself staring at his watch, looking between Mandria and Dumbledore as if wanting to say something and not quite knowing what to say. Finally giving up, he turned and walked away, gazing at his watch every now and then to make sure it didn't change back.

"How did you… why did you…" Mandria stopped short, quickly realizing that saying anything else would be an admission that she knew more than what she was saying.

"It's quite all right, Mandria. It is only important to know that truth sometimes can depend on one's perspective, and I dare say both of us used it to our advantage just now. But if you'll pardon me, I have some very important business to take care of, and you, I think, have a class to get to," Dumbledore smiled at her. Not daring to trust her own words, Mandria nodded and turned down the corridor. Dumbledore looked at the time on his own watch before going up to his office.