Chapter Three
Magic Touches
The clamor of feet alerted Aurelius to the presence of morning at the Broom Closet, the seemingly humble cottage of the Snapes. A moment later, there was a knock and Andrew poked his head in the room.
"Come on, get up! We can't start breakfast without you and I'm hungry!" Andrew insisted.
"You're always hungry," Aurelius said grumpily but sat up anyhow. "We haven't been home not twenty-four hours and they're already insisting we get back into the summer routine?"
"Of course!" Andrew said with a grin. "Isn't it always like that? I rather like the rule that mealtimes are always spent with the whole family."
"You just like mealtimes. And I think Mum made that rule because of Father's tendency to get lost in his study rather than because of us," Aurelius said, pulling on a shirt.
"Speaking of which, Father's already said we're having forms class this morning. He wants to get started right after breakfast because he's planning on teaching Alex some sparring before lunch."
"Hey! How come she gets to learn sparring without us?" Aurelius said in annoyance.
"Well obviously because she's been to Hogwarts and we haven't," Andrew said.
"I'm going to Hogwarts this year too. I should be allowed to try as well," Aurelius said angrily, slipping on some shoes and heading out the door with Andrew.
"Don't worry, Rel, I'm quite sure you'll be able to do all sorts of fun things that we won't be able to next year," Andrew said. "You should just relax and have fun this summer. It is your last few months without the added responsibility of real magic to deal with."
"I bet I'd be every bit as good of a sparrer as she is," Aurelius muttered. "Just because she won the first year tournament and has a wand she thinks she's better than us."
"Oh come on, Rel, you know Alex isn't like that," Andrew sighed, shaking his head at him.
"Well I'm getting a wand this year and then she won't have that to hold over our heads," Rel said.
"I think the only one holding it over anyone's head is you," Andrew said. "Stop taking everything so personally! You'd think everything that anyone ever did was to spite you. Come on, I'm starving."
It was Mercy their head House Elf and not Jennifer who did most of the cooking at the Broom Closet, and she was so happy to have them all in the house again that everyone found their plates filled with their favorite foods for breakfast; from kippers, blood pudding and eggs on Severus' side of the table to olive bread and cheeses all the way down to pumpkin pancakes with a chocolate chip smiley face for Alicia. But everyone had to stop and stare at Andrew's plate for a moment, which was piled up with a bit of everything, built up in a mound like a little hill. Contentedly he stabbed the sausage at the top with his fork, noticing everyone's expressions after he took a healthy bite.
"What?"
"Where do you put it all?" Alex asked her lanky brother.
"Well, it has to last me to lunch if we're doing forms today, doesn't it?" Andrew said, proceeding to make his way through the pile until he polished off the last bits of egg and gravy with a piece of bread.
"I was wondering," Aurelius said after a few moments, picking at his plate a bit. "Do you think we could go ahead and get my wand this week?"
"What, already?" Jennifer chuckled good-naturedly at her son. "Aurelius, you have weeks before school. We don't have to worry about that for awhile."
"Well, I was thinking perhaps if I got it now I could go ahead and start sparring a bit before school starts."
"You are not going to be using a wand before you learn how to use one properly in any case," Severus said with a frown.
"Yes, but you could teach me," Aurelius suggested.
"We didn't take liberties by training your sister ahead of school, and I've no intention of treating the rest of you any differently," Severus said firmly.
"What about Corey? Did you treat the wandless wonder the same way?" Aurelius challenged.
"Andrew, would you pick up the table when you're done?" Jennifer said quickly, going into the kitchen to collect the post.
"Aurelius, you really need to learn to have some respect for your older brother," Severus said tiredly. "I am sure I speak for the rest of the family when I say I would rather not have to deal with another infestation of Green-eyed Monsters this year. Pest control has already warned us they'd charge us double if it happens again, and I will take it out of your allowance."
"Can I use my wand during forms?" Alex asked hopefully, earning glares from both Aurelius and her father.
"Absolutely not," Severus said, getting up. "If you're done, you'd best head out and line up. I don't want to be at this all day." He waited a moment for the four to file out before turning to Jennifer, who was still sorting through the post. "Perhaps you should work on not being quite so obvious when one of the children strikes a chord?" he suggested.
"One of the children? It's always Aurelius," Jennifer said. "He's always testing us in ways that none of the others do."
"Mostly he only tests you, and that's because he knows you'll rise to the occasion," Severus said. "You wouldn't fall into that trap if he were a student."
"Well he isn't a student. Not yet, anyway," Jennifer said, pulling the bar back into place and sitting on one of the stools with a sigh.
"Yes, and if you want my advice, I would get a handle on it before he becomes one," Severus said as he walked towards the door, "or you may have a war on your hands once we get to Hogwarts."
Jennifer gazed at him thoughtfully, knowing that he was probably right. How she wished she could read Aurelius! But his inborn talent to hide his thoughts and that of those around him had always shielded him from her abilities as a Truth Seeker. Perhaps if she could only get a glimpse, she might get an idea of how to get through to him.
Pushing aside her frustrations, Jennifer attempted to concentrate on the post again, pulling out a rather official looking letter in a Gringotts sealed envelope. What intrigued her was the return address; William and Heather Weasley; Eskisehir, Turkey. What on earth were they doing there, she wondered, and why were they writing to her? She set down the other letters and opened it, reading only a few lines before becoming completely absorbed. She went over to her corner desk in the living room, pulling out several books off the shelves before settling in.
She was still there when Severus came in a few hours later, peering over her shoulder curiously until she finally noticed him. She handed him the letter, which he quickly scanned then went back to read it more carefully.
"'So far our attempts to awaken her have proven difficult since the river said to have broken the curse has gone through changes over the years, notwithstanding debris from earthquakes prevalent in the region as well as modern pollutant concerns…' attempts to awaken her? Have they gone mad?" Severus said with alarm, glancing at the dark magic tomes in his wife's arms. "Surely you're not intending to help them." Jennifer turned around and looked at him curiously.
"Why wouldn't I help them?"
"Because, Jennifer, we know very little about the person they are trying to save. Why is it, for example, if Midas had been cured, was she left cursed? Something's not right here. Perhaps it would be better if we didn't interfere."
"This from the man who insisted on checking on the Fomorians after that earthquake," Jennifer said. "The woman has been trapped like a statue for well over a twelve hundred years. No one should be doomed to such an eternity."
"And what will it be like for her after twelve hundred years, coming into this world of advanced magic and Muggle technology? Are you so certain we are not setting her up for an even crueler fate by forcing her into a world she couldn't possibly recognize?" Severus argued.
"Everyone deserves a chance at life, Severus, you should know by now how I feel about that," Jennifer said.
"Strongly enough to allow Lucius Malfoy to walk free even though he would kill us both were he able," Severus muttered.
"Thanks to a death curse that I placed on him, he can't," Jennifer said. "And you have to admit now that I was right. Making it so that if Lucius tries to harm us it would cause his own death, I mean."
"You just didn't want to be held directly responsible for killing him," Severus said, earning a dirty look from his wife. "But we're getting off the subject. What right do we have to interfere in something like this when we don't know why she was left like that in the first place?"
"Wait a minute, Severus, what is all of this 'we' stuff?" Jennifer challenged back. "All of the sudden, it sounds less like you're questioning my involvement and more like you're questioning your own."
"You didn't expect me to let you go off on this mad rescue mission alone, did you?" Severus frowned, knowing that was exactly what she had in mind.
"But what about the Gringotts' Curse?"
"Nothing that a pair of gloves won't stop," Severus said, a bit annoyed that she brought it up.
"And the children? We can't exactly pack them up and send them back to the Weasley's now, can we?" Jennifer pointed out.
"Are we going to get to go somewhere?"
Jennifer looked up to see Andrew peering in from the kitchen, a sandwich in hand and a hopeful look on his face. Jennifer and Severus exchanged thoughtful glances. "Oh come on, you can't use the excuse we're too young to go abroad now. And besides, I bet wherever you're going Alicia's paintings could get us all there faster."
"You know he's right? We've never really taken them anywhere abroad except to visit their aunt's house and back. How dangerous could it be? Surely Bill, you, and I are more than a match for one disoriented princess if she turns out to be hostile," Jennifer whispered softly. "Besides, it might be an advantage to have Alex along if our translation potions run out."
"This is a bad idea," Severus murmured to her. "Andrew, go gather the other three for a family meeting. We're not going anywhere until we lay down some ground rules and I get their potion kits filled," he scowled.
"Hurray! Finally, we get to go somewhere exciting!" Andrew said, wolfing down the sandwich and running outside. A moment later the door reopened. "Where are we going again?"
It didn't take Aurelius long to figure out that their 'Muggle' clothing didn't really help them to fit in. They looked every bit like British tourists, open to stares as they stepped of the hotel and onto the busy streets. Alex had gotten a tour book from the hotel gift shop (although none of them had even half an idea how much they paid for it. It was bad enough trying to convert pounds to galleons let alone foreign currency) and was reading it off to them. Even Dodger, stuck in a cage that Jennifer was carrying, listened intently as she talked about local interests.
"There are just tons of museums on archaeology and architecture here, and loads of markets and meerschaum merchants," Alex said excitedly.
"What's meerschaum?" Alicia asked.
"Soft magnesium, usually carved into pipes," Severus said, glancing casually into a shop displaying a few before Jennifer caught his eye. "Sherlock Homes had a good calabash pipe…"
"Don't even think about it, Severus Snape," Jennifer warned knowingly.
"Only for display," Severus said. Jennifer rolled her eyes and took out her watch. "The note they sent back with Dodger said they'd meet us for dinner, so I'm afraid we won't have time for any museums today," Jennifer said. "We'll need to be starting back to the hotel in half an hour."
"Why are we eating dinner so early?" Aurelius complained.
"It's two hours later here, well past five o'clock," Jennifer explained. "I dare say it won't kill you to eat early."
"Sounds quite all right to me," Andrew said enthusiastically. "I wouldn't mind trying the local cuisine."
"Now there's a surprise for you," Aurelius said sarcastically.
"Alicia, keep up," Jennifer snapped. She had begun to linger behind to sketch something, quickly hurrying to catch up while trying to avoid her mother's gaze. "And if you dawdle again, I'll take those away from you the rest of the trip. We can't afford to be separated."
"I can get home as long as I have my stencils and paper with me," Alicia pointed out.
"That'll be quite enough of that," Jennifer warned, taking up the rear as they gazed in windows and peered in vendors' wares until time to head back.
Bill and Heather were already waiting in the lobby as they came in, welcoming them warmly, helping them get situated at the table and ordering.
"I appreciate your coming at such a short notice, Jennifer. I wasn't expecting the entire clan, but you're all more than welcome," Bill chuckled, smiling at the children. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes lots!" Alex said emphatically. "Whatever are those blue pins for that you and the waiter have on, Heather?"
"They look almost like little eyes," Alicia agreed.
"They're Nazar Bonjuk, and they're supposed to look like eyes. It's a tradition here to ward off the 'evil eye' and protect against people casting spells at you," Heather winked. Aurelius snickered, causing the other three to follow with a round of chuckles.
"Can we get some too, Mum?" Alicia asked.
"I suppose, if we can ever figure out how much they're actually costing us," Jennifer said dryly, invoking another round of laughter. "But we really ought to get to business. Severus and I are a bit concerned about what is going to happen with the statue…" Jennifer hesitated when the waiter returned to fill their drinks. "After it's restored."
"We're taking her back to London," Bill said as the waiter moved away. "She may need medical attention and she'll need a lot of help getting acclimatized to things. But if you're worried that we might make a spectacle of this, don't. I've no intention of letting the media get a hold of this one, even if I have to tie and gag my own brother to make sure of it."
"You're not intending to take this on yourself, are you?" Jennifer asked. "She's going to need full time attention for a long while, and you both have global careers and barely enough time for yourselves."
"With all due respect, Jennifer, you and Severus had four children with your hectic careers and managed. I'm sure we can handle one young woman," Bill said.
"We had quite a bit of help," Severus pointed out. "How many people do you know at home who will be able to understand her language, let alone the intricacies of her former society?"
"I could understand her," Alex immediately volunteered, receiving a warning jab from Aurelius.
"Well, if it is Midas' daughter, her mother would have been Greek, and therefore would have known the language as it existed at that time," Heather said. "I think it'll be easier to find those that studied ancient Greek rather than Phrygian, although there are a great deal of similarities between the languages."
"I can think of two who might know it; Witolf and Sagittari. Witolf could hardly support another 'granddaughter,' and Sagittari has the welfare of the grounds and animals of Hogwarts to worry about," Severus said.
"I could help. Really," Alex said again, ignoring Aurelius, who was glaring at her.
"Alex, it's very nice that you want to help," Jennifer said, patting her hand. "But it's going to take months, probably even years before this girl is ready to be on her own. You've got school."
"And I appreciate what the two of you are trying to say," Bill said to Jennifer and Severus. "We do understand what we're getting into here, but in all good conscience, there's no way we can possibly leave a human being trapped in this sort of curse without doing something when we have the ability to help her."
"Just because someone has an ability doesn't mean they should use it," Severus murmured.
"Bill, we understand or we wouldn't have come," Jennifer said. "We just wonder if we're doing the right thing."
"Hard to say considering the only person who can answer that question can't do so right now," Bill said.
Their meals arrived then so the conversation was left at that, Jennifer and Severus exchanging a long, thoughtful glance. Jennifer had read Severus' mind from that gaze, Aurelius knew, and somehow that had caused them to make an unspoken agreement. His siblings were quiet too, busy testing and tasting the kebabs and leeks and yogurt soup as if trying to decide whether they liked it or not. But Aurelius was anxious to see what was going to happen next, and waited impatiently for everyone to finish their deserts of puddings and baklava, barely touching his.
Finally they were done, and Bill lead them up to their room, pausing in the hall to remove a spell from the door and glance back at Severus.
"You'd best put your gloves on now, and ah… keep back a bit," Bill recommended apologetically. "I wouldn't want to have to fill out an accident report. It might spoil my impending promotion."
"What does father having gloves on or not have to do with anything?" Alex asked curiously. But her question was quickly forgotten as the door opened, revealing a room stacked from top to bottom with gold items of every kind imaginable. Quickly they herded the children in and followed behind, shutting the door smartly behind against any curious passersby in the halls.
"Woah," Andrew said, for lack of any better word.
"Sorry about the mess, but I was taking inventory this morning and hadn't quite finished," Bill said cheerfully. "Quite a stash, isn't it?"
"A stash that you wouldn't have found without me," Heather pointed out, receiving a loving kiss on the cheek for the reminder.
"Most of it is nonmagical except for the residue of the spell that turned it that way. Of course, that'll decrease the gold's value being magic-made, but there is also the sheer collectability value considering where it came from."
"I believe I'll just stand by the door for now," Severus decided.
"What's wrong? You act almost as if you're allergic to them," Heather asked curiously.
"Rather it's the other way around," Bill said with amusement. "He's been inflicted with Gringotts' curse."
"Gringotts' curse? What's that?" asked Alex.
"One of the protections on the goblin vaults is that if someone successfully casts a spell while in them they're inflicted by a curse where any gold they try to touch turns to lead. It's hardly fatal, but quite permanent," Bill explained.
"Thank you for sharing that with the whole class," Severus said sarcastically.
"Permanent?" Andrew asked.
"Now, children, there's no such thing as a permanent curse, we just haven't exactly found a cure yet," Jennifer said. Severus grimaced.
"So that's why he started wearing gloves all the time at school last year. And why goblins avoid you like the plague!" Alex said.
"I found out after he stopped wearing his wedding ring," Jennifer said, looking slightly amused. "He had to have it reset in silver."
"Are you quite finished?" Severus said with such irritation that Jennifer apologized sheepishly. "Where is the girl?"
"Over here," Bill said, heading further into the room, clearing many of the items away from the door. Severus followed behind Jennifer as they went to look at the statue, Jennifer muttering identify spells as the worked their way over. She paused to look at a black leather chest, sitting upright on an end table with several chains around it.
"What's in there?"
"A cup with the Wine of Satyrs in it. Don't worry, I'm not sending that with the haul. It's going to the Ministry," Bill assured them, "as an artifact."
"Yes, that sounds safe," Severus said in such a tone that Bill glared at him.
"You know, Severus, there are still times when you make me remember quite distinctly why I hated you as a teacher," Bill said. Alex choked back her laughter, forcing her face straight as her father turned and squinted at her. "Here she is," he said, drawing their attention to a statue beside the bed.
"She's beautiful," Aurelius murmured. Andrew agreed with a nod as they stared at the graceful figure.
"So is Ciardoth, but that doesn't mean she isn't deadly," Alex pointed out.
"Alexandria is correct," Severus said, turning to the children as Jennifer took a better look at the woman. "I want the four of you to stand well back near the door. Alicia, have a painting ready and get them out if there is any trouble."
"Yes, Father," Alicia said, looking more excited than worried as she got her paper out.
"Well, there's no need to panic yet. I'm not even sure if I can cure her," Jennifer said, taking a step back thoughtfully. "The countercurse I have is specifically to counter the effects of the Golden Touch spell, which was never meant to be left in a permanent condition. But this was the actual ancient spell it was made to mimic, and quite a bit more powerful. Let's give it a go, I guess."
"Try it on one of the other items first," Severus suggested, getting out his wand to spot her in case something went wrong.
"Something small?" Bill suggested. Severus pointed to one of the gold grapes and Jennifer nodded, setting it aside from the rest and pointing her wand at it, concentrating.
"Aureus relegare!" Jennifer intoned. The golden grape suddenly flew against the wall, ricocheting off of it and against the ceiling and other items until Severus finally suspended it in air.
"Good thing you didn't try that on the girl," Heather said, peering out from behind the edge of the bed.
"I was afraid of that," Jennifer said, glancing over at her husband. "This is your area, not mine, Severus. Conventional magic isn't going to work this time."
"I still think this is a mistake," Severus muttered with a sigh, frowning thoughtfully at the statue. "She is an unwilling victim of a wish that was chosen willingly by Midas and given willingly to him by Silenus, correct?"
"Well yes, I suppose," Bill agreed.
"Severus, are you going to…?"
"No, Jennifer, not that, it wouldn't work," Severus said sharply, knowing exactly what she was talking about. "That only works when I completely and unquestionably want something to happen. And in this case, there's no question that part of me doesn't like this at all. However, there is a spell I acquired that may help, although I can not guarantee the results would be anything like you may want them to be."
"What do you mean?" Heather asked.
"The spell gives victims in certain circumstances a right to choose their path. If she chooses life, the spell would theoretically cancel out the curse, since she had no part in the original bargain. Of course she may choose death as well, but it would be her choice to make. Either way, the spell upon her will be broken," Severus said. The room grew quiet. "You said earlier that the only one who can answer the question of her release was the girl herself. I suggest we ask it of her." Jennifer nodded supportively, followed by an unsure nod by Heather. Bill sighed.
"You're right, of course. Either way she'll finally be free, and that's really what we came to do, wasn't it?" Bill said quietly.
"Jennifer, would you take the children to our room, please?" Severus said, nodding to Bill.
"But things were just starting to get interesting!" Alex protested.
"Your father's right, Alexandria, this isn't something the four of you need to see," Jennifer agreed, gently nudging them towards the door. "Besides, you haven't done your lessons for today."
"We were hoping not to have to, seeing it's an outing and all," Andrew argued fruitlessly, still walking towards the door.
"I'll be back as soon as they're settled. Do be careful," Jennifer said before opening the door and quickly ushering them out.
With them out of the way, Severus got to the problem at hand, pulling out a journal of notes and going over them while Heather sat in a chair, watching expectantly.
Bill put on some gloves and attempted to finish his inventory to make some room, placing them in a rather large brown bag that never seemed to fill no matter how many items he put in it. Finally Severus put his notes away and held his wand at his side as he walked in front of the girl, studying her.
"Is there anything you need me to be doing?" Bill asked quietly when he finished.
"I shouldn't be in any danger as long as her spirit is weaker than mine, and it should be after all of these years of confinement," Severus said. "I suggest you stay out of the way, but be ready for anything should she decide to stay."
It was just as Bill had gone over to stand by Heather that he noticed an eerie change coming over Severus. As he raised his wand, the electric lights in the room dimmed dramatically as if bowing to a greater power at work. The words intoned were like none that Bill had ever heard before, and he felt a very intense chill as if someone was walking over his grave. How Severus had learned such ancient words Bill had no clue, but he was quickly realizing that there was more to his old irate teacher than he had given him credit for. There was something of a calling in them, more of emotion and will than language; language could only reach so deep. It was from this calling that the wisps of a spirit, distorted and featureless except for her eyes, rose from the statue, still partially attached.
But the spell did not end there. The words and tone changed, sounding cold and harsh to Bill and Heather's ears. It felt blunt and unfeeling, and Bill realized that it was the choice itself being delivered to her now, detailed and unbiased. The gift of change, Bill mused, was a very brutal gift indeed, for although it induced choice, it was not often well received. The release was to occur whether she wanted it or not, and it was in the choice and the choice alone that her dilemma lay. Finally, in what seemed like both an instant and an eternity of contemplation at the same time, there was a shrieking reply as the spirit grew brighter and brighter, consuming the statue completely as it seemed to fuse itself once more with the figure.
Suddenly the brightness faded and the figure slumped to the floor. Severus decided to follow her lead by collapsing into a chair, putting away his wand tiredly.
"Well she's your problem now, she has decided to live," Severus said, not even bothering to look at the woman as the other two went over to her side, Heather speaking to her softly in Greek.
"Her name is Thera. She seems to understand she was imprisoned and wants to know who contacted the gods to save her," Heather said.
"Severus a god? Now that has got to be the scariest thing I've ever heard of in my entire life," Bill said seriously.
"Just leave me out of this, thank you very much. None of it was my idea, and she won't remember any of it in the morning anyhow," Severus said.
"Thanks, Severus, we did the right thing," Bill said. The golden haired woman looked between the two men puzzledly while Heather struggled to try to explain. Thera turned to look at her, said something, then sat up and kissed Bill so enthusiastically that he had a hard time pulling himself away. "What was that for?"
"I just told her how we found her and she's decided she belongs to you now," Heather scowled.
"Well, tell her I belong to you!" Bill said helplessly.
"I did. She says she has no trouble sharing," Heather glowered. Severus sniggered, getting up to answer the soft knock at the door.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," Severus said.
"Well, we could always tell her your part in this, you know," Bill threatened.
"Not unless you want your little golden princess turned into something vile, since that's Jennifer at the door," Severus said calmly, opening it. Jennifer came in with a question on her lips, but stopped short of asking as she saw Heather and Bill trying to help the princess to her feet.
"So it worked," Jennifer said in apparent awe.
"And she chose to live," Severus nodded, looking over at them as well. "And because of that, I find I trust her less than even before."
