Chapter Fifteen
Wary Welcomes
Andrew was more than ready for lunch after the long Transfiguration test, but was pretty sure he did well. Halbert seemed a bit more nervous about it, but then that was Halbert. He was always feeling something strong about everything, whether it was nervous or excited, often pulling Andrew into the momentum.
"Don't forget it's Wednesday," Halbert said. "That means it's our turn to clean the barn."
"But it's Halloween," Andrew said. "I'm not about to miss the feast, and I doubt they'll let us go after."
"'Course they will, we've made an obligation," Halbert said.
"I can't believe you two are slopping about in the barn voluntarily," Conner Donovan said. "That detention was supposed to be a punishment. And aren't the Magical Creatures classes supposed to take care of that?"
"I think we got punished more that night when the creatures stampeded," Andrew said dourly.
"Doctor Sagittari only has five classes, the other two days he cleans it unless there's a detention," Halbert said. "Now we do one day."
"Isn't cleaning the barn every week beneath a Snape? What's your father think about it?" Conner asked.
"I'm not sure he even knows about it, actually, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind. And I don't think it's beneath anybody. The animals have to be taken care of," Andrew said. "It sounds to me like you've been talking to my brother. But you know, he's really not a bad person."
"He's a wart," Conner chuckled. "And I can't wait to trounce him in Quidditch in a couple weeks."
"We'll have it in the bag with Rose seeking. Henry can't keep up, and I hear Xavier is furious with him right now," Stewart Gaffney put in. "So has anyone heard if Dumbledore's back yet?"
"I don't think so," Andrew said. "I hope he makes it."
"If Dumbledore says he'd be here today, he'll be here," Stewart said. "And not a moment too soon. Not that McGonagall and Snape haven't been doing a good job, but if you don't mind me saying so, Andrew, your father has been rather strung out the last couple of weeks."
"Yes," Andrew said quietly. "We've noticed it too."
"I can't wait. I haven't seen Dumbledore since I was little," Halbert said.
"Were you ever little?" Conner teased him. Halbert chuckled good-naturedly.
"In a matter of speaking," Halbert grinned.
"I admit, I can't wait to have Dumbledore back myself," Rose agreed. "It's just not been the same without him."
But as the afternoon wore on, there was no sign of the Headmaster in the halls or any flurry from the faculty, even though they too seemed to be keeping one eye on the doors as if expecting some word that he was back. Even the ghosts didn't seem their normally spooky selves this Halloween, not making the fuss that they had made in previous years.
As they settled for the feast, Andrew glanced over at Alex and Aurelius sitting with their friends, seemingly unconcerned about starting the feast without Dumbledore there. Jack-o-lanterns floated overhead, while others were positioned around the tables, filled with candy and booing the students occasionally, making all sorts of scary faces, each time dropping candy out of their smiles.
"The work of Madame Weasley, I bet," Ted Gaffney said. "Aren't they neat? Here, try a jelly dragon," he said, passing it to Andrew.
"Look, here come the professors now," Halbert said intently, standing a bit in his seat to see better.
"Halbert, get that big bloody head of yours out of the way," Conner complained.
"I don't see him," Andrew said at last. Everyone else was there, though, from Sagittari to Ravenclaw to Brittle and Sinistra, and of course McGonagall and Snape, sitting as always on either side of the big chair, seemingly unconcerned. "They must know something we don't. I bet he'll be arriving at any time."
"Surely they wouldn't start without him then," Rose said, looking over. Snape and McGonagall were talking softly to each other. Finally, Snape stood to make some announcements.
"Please be advised that all students are expected to report to their common rooms right after the feast, and that curfews should be observed after your individual house festivities. Staying up late will not be considered a viable excuse for missing your first periods tomorrow."
"Stay in our rooms?" Halbert murmured. "Surely he don't mean us, we've got to clean the pens."
"We'll just make sure we get straight back after," Andrew said. "Maybe we should leave early, that way we can get a good start on it."
"Not without taking a stash with us," Halbert whispered back in horror.
"No, of course not," Andrew reassured him.
"As in other years, séances are discouraged without trained professionals present, and for the good of everyone involved, I advise that you stick to the plans already approved by your advisors for your evening activities. Anyone not following these advisories may expect a less than lenient response to their exploits," Snape continued, frowning at Aurelius who looked back at him evenly. "So let's just keep close to the castle tonight, shall we?" he smiled thinly. He made a move as if to sit down but then paused, glancing at the door.
A loud booming sound could be heard in the distance, as if a huge door had suddenly been thrust open and slammed… then another... and another... until finally the doors of the Great Hall itself were flung open. Everyone gasped with surprise at the intense fury on the face of Albus Dumbledore as he strode up the center row muttering to himself. Sirius Black reluctantly followed after him with a somber look on his face.
The direction of his gaze was quite evident to everyone. It was centered on Severus, and it was most decidedly not a happy gaze. The room had fallen into a complete silence and everyone, including the teachers, were holding their breaths. There were no words of welcome. Something about the look in Dumbledore's eyes had quite plainly told them that perhaps it was not a good time to do so.
"Severus, I want to see you in the staff room now," Dumbledore snapped. Severus got up without a word; eyes intent on the door while everyone else had theirs on the Headmaster, wondering what was going on. "Minerva, Hermione, follow me, please," Dumbledore added before following Severus out. Minerva tapped Professor Sprout on the shoulder as the next senior faculty. The Herbology professor forced a broad smile on her face as she called the students back to attention, starting the feast. But the moment the plates filled, everyone started talking at once about what had just happened rather than eating and wondering what was going to happen next.
Severus himself was wondering the exact same thing when Dumbledore came in behind him. Curiously enough, it was perhaps the first time in Severus' life that he realized he was taller then the older wizard. At the same time, there was no question who had taken command of the room. Minerva, Hermione, and Sirius slipped in, all of them looking uncomfortable and wishing they were somewhere else.
"Severus, did I or did I not mention on more than one occasion that family obligations came before this school?" Dumbledore said sternly.
"I have been seeing to my family, Professor, as well as my obligation to the school," Severus said evenly.
"Obligations be damned, Severus, Jennifer is not here! Why wasn't I contacted the moment this occurred?"
"We did try to contact you a few months ago, Professor," McGonagall quickly put in. "Through the painting of Mr. Pyther's just as you requested, and that painting informed us that he would tell you."
"I will deal with that next," Dumbledore said, a flash in his blue eyes. "Severus, I picked you and Minerva to run this school because I had faith you would do what was right in my absence. But I did not expect you to run yourself and your family into the ground to do it! You should have taken a leave of absence to see to this from the moment it started. Minerva and Hermione could have managed without you. If you don't have enough sense to ask for help in the worst of times, then I suppose I'll have to insist. You are officially suspended from your duties here. Don't you dare think of stepping one foot on these grounds until Jennifer is safely back among those who care about her, memories present or not. Now get what you need from your rooms this instant and get out of my school. I'll have Minerva send your pay directly to Gringotts' account until you return. Dismissed, Severus," he added sharply when Severus attempted to say something.
Severus hesitated and glared defiantly at him as if he was going to continue to speak anyhow, and a fierce battle of wills ensued. Finally, Severus' shoulders slumped. He glanced at the other three who were trying to avoid his gaze before he finally turned and stormed out the door.
"Albus, aren't you being a bit hard on him?" Minerva said quietly after he had left. "He has done a very impressive job keeping things together despite the enormous pressure he has been under…"
"That is entirely beside the point. He shouldn't have been placed in that position in the first place," Dumbledore snapped. "Sirius, go fetch that blasted painting and get Francis to put it in my office." Sirius quickly took the opportunity to get away while he could. "Minerva, I'm afraid you are going to have to keep with a few more responsibilities for a while, and you as well, Hermione, if you are as I suspect you've been helping her with her paperwork. I won't be able to attend to my full duties for some time."
"Why not?" Minerva asked anxiously.
"Because I have decided that I am going to teach Defense myself until he gets back," Dumbledore said, heading to his office. Hermione and Minerva glanced at each other in complete surprise.
"I guess the boxing isn't quite over yet," Hermione said.
"Just when I thought things couldn't get more complicated," Minerva agreed before heading out after him.
It didn't take long to get the word to Francis Pyther that Dumbledore was back. The Headmaster had barely started pacing the length of his study when the painter arrived with the large covered portrait, setting it to one side only long enough to get an easel out to sit it on.
It was a painting of Merlin. It blinked only once when the cover was removed, quite awake, calm, and not at all surprised to see Dumbledore waiting on the other side of the cloth.
"Did you have a nice trip back?" Merlin inquired.
"Do not try to exchange trivialities. Why didn't you call me when they tried to send for me?" Dumbledore demanded.
"Did they?" Merlin asked innocently. "Oh, come now, Albus. As you can see, everyone's alive and well and they managed quite well without you."
"You intentionally left me in the dark about what was going on here. In fact, I wonder now if you didn't know what was going to happen before I had even left. Have you any idea what this has done to Severus, not to mention to this school?"
"Albus, the school has stood for over a thousand years. A missing teacher happens every now and then, and it's always withstood it. And how is Severus? Didn't he do as well as you expected?"
"I never intended him to go through this, and now I find myself wondering if that isn't exactly what you intended!"
"We are but the sum of our experiences, Albus. Whether it causes personal hardship along the way is inconsequential," Merlin said calmly.
"You were testing him!"
"Yes, weren't you?" Merlin challenged evenly.
"Not like this. Never like this," Dumbledore said, covering the painting with disgust. "Perhaps I never should have gone."
"Now it's you that you're being hardest on," Minerva said, following Dumbledore to the desk. "Didn't you say yourself that if you waited for everything to be perfect that you'd never get away?"
"Yes," Dumbledore sighed tiredly as he sat down. "But not at the expense of a good friend."
"I've never seen him like that," Andrew admitted, leaning on his rake thoughtfully and reaching for the bags to feed the Pegasi. "And we've spoken quite a bit ever since…"
"Since what?" Halbert asked.
"Well, he found out about a secret of mine," Andrew said. "Anyhow, after that he spoke to me and later the other three too from time to time."
"What sort of secret? Do I know it?" Halbert asked.
"Well, no, Aurelius hasn't given me permission to tell you yet," Andrew admitted.
"Tell me what? What does Aurelius have to do with it?"
"Aurelius has something to do with everything in this family," Andrew chuckled, sliding a feedbag over Babe, Ruby, and Pepper. "I'll need help feeding the hounds. You know how they get."
"Andrew, does this secret of yours have anything to do with the Dark Forest?" Halbert asked, glancing out the window.
"No," Andrew said, looking at his friend strangely. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I think I just saw someone heading in that direction, and if I didn't know better, I'd think it was your brother," Halbert said.
"What?" Andrew said with sudden concern, going over to the window. "He wouldn't go in there, not after he nearly got killed last year. Why ever would he? Are you sure it was him?"
"Well, no, but whoever it was is short and slender with dark hair and looked to be wearing Slytherin colors," Halbert said. Andrew sighed.
"We'd better go after him before he ends up getting hurt," Andrew said, "Come on."
Halbert didn't even hesitate, even after countless stories his father had told him to try to discourage him from going in there himself. Of course, as in many cases, it only served to pique his interest all the more as they stepped in. Halbert, it seemed, had keener eyesight in the dark, and Andrew had little trouble letting him lead, following the direction that Halbert had seen him going.
"Watch out for that branch there…" he said just as Andrew tripped over it. "The path is widening. I think we're coming to some sort of clearing."
The clearing turned out to be a creature trodden area near a trickling brook. It was there just up the brook that Halbert thought he has seen something and took out his wand, pointing it out in front of him defensively, Andrew following suit.
"Declare yourself! Are you friend or foe?" Halbert challenged in his most threatening voice, shaken though it was.
"Never mind all of that. Aurelius? Is that you?"
"Andrew?" A moment later, a shadow moved out of the darkness from upstream and raised a lantern, staring in disbelief at his brother's face. "Andrew! What are you doing in here? Don't you know this place is dangerous? Please tell me that idiot beside you didn't talk you into this!"
"What? We followed you in here!" Halbert said. "I saw you go in from the pens."
"Didn't you hear Father say you were to go straight to your rooms?" Aurelius scolded.
"Didn't you?" Andrew retorted.
"I needed some time alone to think. Now come on, I'm taking you back."
"No, not until you tell us what you're doing here," Andrew said stubbornly. "I can't believe you'd be in here for a casual stroll."
"Look! What's that?" Halbert exclaimed excitedly.
"What's what?" Andrew asked. Halbert suddenly grabbed the lantern away from Aurelius and shined it behind him. There in the darkness a pair of bright eyes gazed back at them curiously, and Andrew couldn't help but be amazed at what it was he was seeing. "It's a Unicorn!" he said in awe.
"If it is, it's the ugliest Unicorn I've ever seen," Halbert said. Andrew had to admit that that was true. Even in the poor light it was obvious that the beast was heavily scarred from its face to its back and the tip of its horn snapped to form a rather strange, jagged point.
"His name is Pali," Aurelius said angrily. "And if you say he's ugly again, I swear I'll get you both lost out here and you'll have to find your own way back."
"Aurelius? You're bonded to a Unicorn?" Andrew said, stunned. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"It's… it's a private matter. And I'd appreciate it if you don't mention it to anyone else."
"How did this happen? I mean, Dad told me that he'd never heard of it happening out of a wives' tale until your mother did it, and that was from necessity," Halbert said.
"Ours was from necessity too. He helped me take on the Manticore," Aurelius said, stepping over to pat his neck, "and we both nearly died from it. Anyhow, that happened a year ago today, and I just felt like I had to see him again, that's all. Now do you understand?"
"Wow, I wish I had a near death experience that got me bonded to a Unicorn," Halbert said wistfully.
"Well, as you said yourself it doesn't happen often so forget it," Aurelius snapped.
"I bet it has to do with something in our bloodline," Andrew said, noticing now that several others Unicorns peeked in and out of the shadows. "Look at that one over there staring at me with the long mane in his eyes. Perky looking chap."
"No!" Aurelius protested standing in front of Andrew protectively. "Under no circumstances is another member of this family going to do it too! I've kept all of your secrets for years. I should be entitled to at least one thing all my own!"
"Selfish bugger, isn't he?" Halbert murmured to Andrew.
"Fine, you win, Aurelius. I'll keep your secret and even help everyone get back to the rooms without getting caught by scouting ahead for you, but that means I get to tell Halbert my secret."
"If this Pact gets any bigger," Aurelius complained. "I'm going to have to rent a Quidditch Pitch just to hold story collaboration meetings."
"Does that mean yes?" Halbert said, looking so intently at Aurelius that he missed the moment that Andrew disappeared. "Er, Andrew?"
"Welcome to the Pact, Hagrid," Aurelius said dryly.