Chapter Twenty
Getting In the Middle
Snow fell outside the window of Alexandria's room as she and Aurelius looked out of it with completely vexed looks on their faces. They were the same expressions they had been wearing since they came home from Hogwarts, despite valiant attempts from both Andrew and Alicia to cheer them up. It didn't help matters that neither of them seemed to want to talk about it much. The only thing that was quite clear to the other two was that their parents weren't feeling very forgiving. They hadn't been allowed in the family room for visitors, and even worse they hadn't gotten to go to Dagda's Market that morning, and it would have been Aurelius' turn to pick out the Yule Log.
Delicious smells followed by crashing and banging sounds announced that the gingerbread men were just about done, and Aurelius scowled even more knowing that they probably weren't going to be invited down to help get them into the ice box. He preferred to snatch one when they were still wriggling instead of when the biscuits were so cold that had to really work hard at sticking their tongues out at him.
Alex and Aurelius heard the thumping sound of feet on the hollow stairs, and a moment later Alicia and Andrew appeared, chatting merrily as they tossed off their snow covered coats and untied warm wool earflaps to take off their pointed hats.
"We got the biggest log there, Alex, I'm quite sure of it!" Alicia said excitedly. "Father nearly had to widen the fireplace. He said we got carried away," she said with a grin. "And guess who we ran into at the market?"
"Who?" The other two answered with no enthusiasm whatsoever.
"Uncle Sirius! And he says that Zoë and Zack and Aunt Anna are coming to spend Christmas here! It'll be just like old times!" Alicia said happily.
"Lovely," Aurelius said dourly, going over to the desk. "Well, you can tell them where we'll be, stuck in this hole of a house writing this entire book out a hundred times," Aurelius said, grabbing a huge volume six inches thick and dropping it on the floor.
"Oh, come on, Rel, copying rules out of the Hogwarts' rule book isn't all that hard. Mum did say you only had to copy down the ones you broke," Andrew comforted him.
"Only first we have to find them. Even I don't want to read that," Alex grumbled. "How in the world are we going to possibly be able to find them all?"
"I have an idea!" Alicia said brightly. "Don't move. I'll be right back!" she bounded out the room and down the stairs.
"And just where does she expect us to go?" Aurelius retorted.
"Look, it's really no good for you both to be going on like this," Andrew said, sitting on the bed. "Mum and Father will cool off eventually." Andrew received dubious looks in return. "Besides, even if they don't, Aunt Anna's here, and you know she's not about to let them keep you locked away for the entire holiday… even if our parents would, which I don't really think they would."
"If only you hadn't put in that part about his nose," Alex murmured.
"Would you please stop saying that?" Aurelius snapped. "I'm tired of you mentioning it! Why don't you go soak your head or something?"
"Please don't quarrel again!" Andrew pleaded. "Honestly, it's been absolutely too much to bear around here lately what with you two sulking and the way our parents been acting. It's not been easy on Alicia or me either. Look, why don't I talk to them and see if there isn't some way to work this out so you both can enjoy your holiday?"
"Father will only tell you to keep your big bloody nose out of it again," Aurelius said.
"And Mum will threaten to rearrange it," Alex said. "Remember that carrot incident?"
"Oh, I'm not foolish enough to talk to Mum right now," Andrew assured them. "I'll just stop in the kitchen long enough for a sandwich or two."
"I shouldn't even be in trouble, at least not like you are," Alexandria said the moment Andrew was out of range. "Why should I get in trouble for your mouth?"
"Would you like to me to remind me how many times I've gotten in trouble from yours?" Aurelius retorted. Alex decided not to comment on that. "Any particular reason we're letting a ten-year-old help decide our fate?" Aurelius asked glumly, turning back to the window.
"Because we don't have any better ideas at the moment," Alexandria said, propping her head up in her hand.
But both of them knew that Andrew had a way of smoothing things over, not to mention being able to slip past their Mum who might have objected to him raiding the icebox so close to dinnertime. Down in the basement, the humongous log sat in the fire all ready to be lit, while garland and candles were spread around the quiet room. He walked through it and down the other set of stairs to his father's lab, where quite a number of different cauldrons and bottles were bubbling and simmering around the room.
Severus barely glanced up when the boy came in. Andrew peered curiously at the thick green liquids and thin, almost tea-like purple liquids and deep magenta, berrylike liquids, glancing at the bottles labeled beside them.
"I say, do we actually need all these?" Andrew asked curiously. "What's Ginger Vitae with Extract of Allheal?"
"Toothache Remedy," Severus said, carefully leveling a spoon of white powder out of his mortar.
"What about Barkbite Balm?"
"It heals dog bites. Hand me that bottle of Essence of Mountain Breeze."
"I wonder exactly how they bottle that," Andrew said, searching the shelf for it while his father began to drum his fingers impatiently on his worktable. "And how come we need balm for dog bites anyhow?"
"Because your Uncle Sirius is in town," Severus snapped. "The blue bottle please?" Andrew handed it over, ignoring his father's churlishness. "I am merely using up the old stock of mistletoe in potions where freshness is not so much an issue before the new shipment arrives. However, considering you never take any interest at all in the lab unless you want something, I would gather you are here for some other reason."
"Yes, I must be," Andrew agreed diplomatically, pulling one of the stools out from under the table and sitting down companionably. "Are we going to light the Log soon? Is anyone coming?"
"I expect at sundown as always, and yes, your Aunt and her family are coming," Severus said, placing the bottle in a larger glass container before opening it to make sure the breeze didn't escape.
"Are Aurelius and Alexandria coming?"
"Andrew, we hardly nailed them to those chairs. They're detained in the house, not to a particular spot in it," Severus said.
"But they're not allowed to have any friends over," Andrew commented. "And what about our Christmas shopping trip?"
"I'll be the parent here, if you don't mind," Severus said sternly. "Why don't you just concern yourself with your own affairs before worrying about your siblings gets you into trouble as well?"
"Oh, I'm not worried about them," Andrew said insistently. "I was just concerned about you and Mum." Severus stopped what he was doing to stare blankly at him.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Well, you've both always said that all four of us were planned out…that's why we're all the same age apart, and why our birthdays are so close… except for Alicia, who was sick and all."
"Yes? What does that have to do with anything?" Severus asked, finally setting the potion to boil and giving his wary attention to Andrew.
"Mum's also mentioned how she's always dreamed of seeing all us in Hogwarts too. Are you disappointed?"
"Andrew, this is a discipline matter, not a personal one. They broke quite a few school rules."
"Didn't they get disciplined at school for that?" Andrew asked.
"The other students involved had notes sent to their parents as well," Severus said.
"Yes, father, but if someone sent a note to you telling you that I was caught somewhere I shouldn't have been, would you have reacted same to that note as you're doing now? I mean, didn't you get just get in trouble with the Ministry and goblins for the exact same thing they did nearly two months ago?" Andrew pointed out.'
"That was an entirely different matter."
"No, it wasn't, Father," Andrew said firmly. "You were trying to help the Fomorians. They were only trying to do the same. Yours wasn't about blatantly disobeying rules of any kind. It was about doing everything that you and Mum could in any way you could. I don't see how you can possibly punish them for something that you both taught them by example. Now if you're merely angry because Aurelius was disrespectful, you have a right to be, I'd say. But all of us dreamed of going to Hogwarts too, and not because of stories growing up or learning magic or any of that rubbish, but because we'd finally get to see more of you and Mum. As I understand it, the transition has been rough on everyone involved so far, and I think you ought to cut them a bit of slack. Now if you don't mind, all of this talking made me work up an appetite. I'm going to raid the kitchen again."
As Andrew turned and faded away, Severus let out a long deep sigh, shaking his head with a frown.
Jennifer hummed softly to herself, putting the finishing touches on the decorations in the front living room just as the light outside began to dim with the approach of sunset.
Despite the garland and candles, nothing really felt like the holidays for some reason. Perhaps it was the trip to Myrkinbrek that she was missing… the bundling up of the children who spent nearly every moment they could in the toy shop instead of shopping for others… the sipping of warm spiced drinks and eating chestnuts from the goblin vendors that inevitably appeared every evening… while Severus would sneak off to Tassels and Panning to buy her another outrageously clever trinket for much more than he should have. Perhaps it was merely because it was too quiet in the house with Aurelius and Alexandria spending all their time sulking upstairs instead of talking excitedly about Christmas or asking for friends over or even fighting with their other siblings.
Jennifer wound up her music box on the mantle in the front room and wondered how to liven up the mood when suddenly Alicia bound in from outside. Alicia cried out in surprise as she crashed into something unseen near the bookcase door.
"Andrew Albus Snape!" Jennifer called, hands instantly on her hips. Something moved from the pile of books that had avalanched after the collision. "What have I told you about lurking about the house?"
"You won't let me do it outside of the house either," Andrew said as he appeared standing in the pile, helping his sister up. "I'm sorry, I was just hungry."
"You can very well wait until your cousins get here," Jennifer scolded. "Alicia, don't forget to take off those wet boots, and help your brother pick up the books. Is Corey coming?"
"No, Mum, he said he has to go to Hogsmeade again. He said he has to go there every night until Christmas," Alicia repeated. Jennifer sighed. Corey was taking too much on himself running the store and dealing with the bank. She couldn't help feel a pang of regret at not having him around during the holidays. Perhaps that was part of what was missing too. "Can we go back upstairs now?"
"All right, but all four have you had best be getting ready. Your cousins should be here within an hour."
"All four of us? Aurelius and Alexandria too?" Alicia asked.
"On second thought, perhaps I'll leave them up there while we eat," Jennifer said. "Of course them too." She shook her head as they grinned and ran up the stairs. She glanced over at Severus, who had just appeared in the doorway from below. "It isn't as if we have them shackled to the walls, is it?"
"Perhaps the restrictions to the house are a bit harsh, considering the school assignments they were given for the same crime," Severus mused. "I would not object to lifting the 'grounding' part of this if they were to get their words written."
"What? It isn't like you to be the one to have a change of heart. What made you change your mind?" Jennifer asked.
"A bit of quiet time in the lab," Severus said, "perhaps influenced in part by your son the family psychologist." Jennifer didn't miss the accusing tone in his voice.
"My son, is it?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes, who is the father again?"
"As if anyone could have possibly gotten by you," Jennifer said flirtatiously. "And how else would you explain that build of his?"
"Or the awkward profile," Severus admitted.
"He'll grow into it," Jennifer said lovingly, "and with his gentle nature, I bet he'll be quite the lady's man by the time he graduates."
"Yes, now there lies the question," Severus said. "Where does he inherit his lack of personality? Too much time with the Weasleys, perhaps?"
"Honestly, Severus! How could you say that? There's nothing wrong with his personality!" Jennifer protested. "In fact, he's quite a charmer."
"Even little Alicia knows how to bite back now and then. Although he does tend to get in the middle of things, doesn't he?" Severus mused.
"That's what you get for suggesting we give him Albus as a middle name," Jennifer teased, briskly trying to brush the powder off his robes. He caught her hand then, holding it in front of them and drawing her attention to his steady gaze. "Anna and Sirius will be here soon," she reminded him quietly.
"They can't come in until we let them," Severus murmured, catching her other hand as it nonchalantly attempted to brush at his shoulder. "You know it's pointless trying to smarten me up. If you haven't managed to do it after all of these years, no one can."
"I am merely trying to help you look presentable. You are a sight right now," Jennifer protested.
"Yes, and so are you," Severus said softly. "But more like a painting an artist doesn't dare to touch up or frame for fear of losing something in the process."
Jennifer shook her head at him with a smile, a bit confused by what she read in his face. Why would he ever be afraid of losing her? Work, perhaps? Jennifer tried to push back memories of their arguments, reminding herself not for the first time those were professional, not personal. No, she was sure it was something else, but what she couldn't seem to read.
"I think you've spent too much time in the lab today," Jennifer whispered at last. "Especially if you think this painting would have gotten anywhere without your steady hand holding the brush."
Jennifer leaned forward so he could kiss her, but before it could last more than an instant, a loud ruckus could be heard outside. Both of them growled a bit in frustration, glancing at each other in amusement that the other had reacted the same. As Severus went to open the door, the thunder of four sets of footsteps let them know they weren't the only ones who heard the commotion.
Sitting on the road was the motorcycle of Sirius Black, who was busy helping his daughter Zoë off with her helmet. Behind them a car had pulled up, which Zack leapt out of barely after Anna had stopped it.
"Isn't it a bit cold for that sort of transportation?" Severus barked disapprovingly.
"Nope, I installed a Wizomatic space heater under the seat, and the tires are charmed to keep its grip even on ice," Sirius said cheerfully.
"Just don't let the Ministry find out about it," Jennifer said.
"The Minister of Magic helped me install the heater, actually," Sirius said mischievously, stepping out of the way as the kids rushed out to greet each other. Anna came up then and hugged her brother who stiffly accepted it, then she turned and hugged Jennifer who did the same.
"I can't believe how big Zoë and Zack have gotten! Why, Zack is as tall as Aurelius," Jennifer exclaimed.
"And probably as much trouble or more," Severus said. Jennifer nudged him hard, but Sirius was nodding in agreement.
"Zack is going to be doing family service chores for some time, as a matter of fact," Sirius said. "He's lucky we decided not to take part of the damages out of his Christmas money."
"Why? What did he do?" Jennifer asked curiously.
"Let a Bludger loose in the house," Anna said, her voice showing how vexed she still was. Severus and Jennifer both winced. "I think that's the closest I've ever gotten to actually considering murdering my own child."
"Yes, I know the feeling," Severus said.
"Aurelius! Alexandria! Come inside, you know you're not allowed to be out there, not until you get your words done, at least," Jennifer scolded them from the doorway.
"Do you mean we can come out after we get our words done?" Alex said excitedly.
"That is what I just said, isn't it?" Jennifer said impatiently.
"Then Ben can come over?"
"Not until I have the paper in my hand, young lady. Now come in, we're going downstairs soon."
The children took turns slapping Andrew's hand in some sort of odd ritual before coming in and down the stairs.
"So, what you been brewing today? Sulfur Surprise a la Severus?" Sirius asked, earning an annoyed look. Severus smiled thinly at Sirius and took a bottle out of his robe, setting it on the counter.
"For you, Anna. It'll help prevent rabies," Severus said. Anna read the label on the bottle, rolling her eyes. "And if he starts foaming at the mouth, I hear the Muggle method of shooting him is the most humane solution."
"Ha-ha, very funny. Twenty years and he still lacks the creativity to come up with anything but dog jibes," Sirius said. "It's getting to be as old as that robe you're wearing. Are you sure he takes this thing off, Jennifer?"
"Really, can't you both behave even during Yule?" Jennifer asked with exasperation.
"Why ask a question you already know the answer to?" Anna asked.
"And why haven't you both stopped by the new bank yet? Nearly everyone else in the school has at least taken a look at it. In fact, Dumbledore was our first customer."
"Dumbledore helped finance the project. It only makes sense that he would," Severus said. "I, however, am not sure I trust your security measures and prefer to keep a close tab on my galleons this time of year."
"Even considering that I have Potter and your own son working on security?"
"That is supposed to make me feel more secure?" Severus asked expressionlessly.
"Severus, why don't we take our shopping trip to Hogsmeade this year?" Jennifer suggested. "At least then we can drop by and show our support. It's not as if we can go to Myrkinbrek."
"Don't remind me," Severus said, reaching for a square of springerle off the plate that had been in front of him. It was then he noticed the plate was not there and sighed with irritation. "Then again, perhaps I can get some ideas for security on this kitchen," he muttered.
Downstairs, the six children were sitting on the rug near the unlit fire as Aurelius and Alex worked to fill them all in on everything that had happened, while the rest ate off of several plates of biscuits that Andrew had liberated for them.
Zacchius and Zoë seemed almost out of place in the group, but then, it was always like that. It seemed they came off as obviously American any time they visited Britain, and yet all of their schoolmates in California thought they were obviously British. Their intentionally unkempt hairstyles and taste for flashy t-shirts and jeans made them obviously Mugglish, but all of their friends knew there was something peculiar about those two, especially the ones not in "the Know," as it was referred to in the States. Despite appearances, the two of them felt comfortable in nearly any situation, adapting to new things so quickly one would almost suspect that they had already done it all and seen it all. But there was one thing that everyone could agree on any time either of them opened their mouths. They were, without a doubt, the children of Anna and Sirius Black.
"So you're positive it's in the castle, or it was at least, but the adults won't listen?" Zack paraphrased.
"Well, it's probably because we haven't told them exactly how we know," Alex admitted. "Alicia's not allowed to use paintings without supervision."
"Please don't tell them," Alicia said worriedly. "They'll take away my lessons with Mr. Pyther and all of my drawing supplies if they knew."
"Of course not. As far as I'm concerned, you're still protected by the Pact in that," Aurelius said. "No one is going to find out anything unless we all agree it's for the best."
"But are you sure the cup is there? Now, at this moment?" Zoë asked. "I mean, everyone's left the school for vacation, right?"
"Well, not everyone, just nearly everyone," Alex agreed. "There are a handful of students that stay over during the holidays, and of course Dumbledore is there and a couple other professors, I think."
"Well, then, maybe now's a good time for you to look again," Zack said. "Think about it. The cup's too important to leave behind. Whoever stole it would have taken it home." Alex and Aurelius looked at each other thoughtfully. "And if it's still there, then whoever did it would almost have to be one of the few left at the school, so going now would narrow your field down a lot, wouldn't it?"
"You do have a point," Aurelius said. "The only problem is that Father is watching us like a hawk right now, or rather, he's watching his pocket watch like a hawk. If any of us even left the house for even a moment or two and he happened to notice it, we'd all be dead."
"Right you are," Zack said. "But he doesn't have a watch hand on either of us, does he?" Zoë grinned at her brother and nodded, looking over at Alicia.
But before the conspiracy could go any further, there were footsteps on the stairs and the adults came down, finding them all innocently looking up at them from the sofas and chairs with only the crumble-filled plates to give away that they had been up to anything else.
