Chapter Twenty-Three

Surprising Recognitions

Fawkes was feathering quite nicely now, sitting comfortably on his perch and watching the students intently as they worked on their tests. They knew better than to try to cheat with Fawkes there; one warble was all it took for Dumbledore's eyes to flick away from his work and over towards the guilty party. He never said a word about it; but then he didn't have to. There was something about that brief exchange that had a way of convincing the student that perhaps it wasn't such a good idea after all.

But everyone looked up with surprise, Aurelius included, when the door of the classroom popped open and Severus came in. His right hand was wrapped in tight bandages with only his fingers showing and there were marks on his face. But he otherwise looked a great deal healthier than he had been when he left several weeks ago. Aurelius immediately forgot all about the test, watching his father intently as he walked over to Dumbledore.

"Not here empty-handed, I trust, Severus?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"St. Mungo's, sir. Might I see you a moment?" he asked, Dumbledore getting up.

"Of course. Your office or mine? I suppose it's all the same thing anymore," Dumbledore said with amusement as they walked to the door. "Class, if you finish before I return, feel free to leave your test on my desk. I trust you'll keep your eyes on your own papers," he added, glancing at Fawkes who warbled as if in response.

"Professor Snape?" Aurelius called out anxiously, looking at his father questioningly.

"We'll talk later," Severus promised, slipping in the office behind Dumbledore. Aurelius looked after them with a frown as the door closed, but Heph nudged him with a smile.

"Sounds like she's back, eh?" Heph whispered.

"Yes, but in what capacity," Aurelius wondered.

Suddenly, Fawkes took flight, startling all the students as he came and perched on the edge of Stock's desk, craning its neck a bit to stare at him straight in the eyes. Stock, who had just risked a peek at Heph's paper when he whispering to Rel, suddenly realized that the bird wasn't moving, even when he had gotten brave enough to try to nudge him off. Instead, Fawkes merely took a step and trilled a bit. Stock looked nervously at the office door, deciding that perhaps ignoring the stupid bird and finishing his paper was the best course of action. Quickly finishing, Stock then ducked out of the room, the obstinate bird watching the other students intently again, but not moving from the table it had perched on. There could be little doubt that Dumbledore wouldn't mistake for an instant what had happened when he got back. Aurelius quickly turned his attention to his paper, quite determined for the bird not to be sitting on his own desk when Dumbledore and his father came out.

Word spread quickly after that. Inside and outside the castle alike, the air was filled with electricity as word rippled out like a small disturbance on the surface of the ocean pushing out and causing a giant tsunami. Owls flew back and forth in busy detail, and St. Mungo's Hospital found that its already busy public day was about to get much more out of hand.

For it wasn't just Jacqueline's presence that had Mungo's nurses on their toes keeping away reporters and other riff raff. Jacqueline had learned that the night before, some citizen of high profile and importance in the wizard community had been taken there after he had collapsed.

But Jacqueline had enough on her mind to satiate that curiosity, taking all sorts of strange memory tests and watching with fascination as carts and beds moved themselves around. Strange smoking concoctions were given to her to ease her headaches from the pills that she had been given. Since she had first woken up, there was nearly always someone with her, but she quickly forgave them when she discovered that they answered every question as she asked; and she had lots of questions.

Several wizard doctors had come in to ask her questions too, many of them with long white robes under their white jackets wearing some of the most comical hats that she had ever seen. The fuss she was given was undeniable, and she was quite sure that not everyone had a private room with a view of London. Anything she asked for directly seemed to be at her disposal as well; from books to pumpkin butter sandwiches, and no one even blinked when she asked if they had it. If anything, the nurse seemed completely delighted as Jacqueline sat on her bed and dug into some basic spell books, a plate of sandwiches at her side. She was still like that when the nurse knocked, peering in with a smile.

"Up for visitors, dear?" she asked.

"If one of them is the Professor," Jacqueline grinned. She had given up trying to remember to call him Severus instead of Mycroft. Professor, it seemed, was true in either case.

"It's possible," the nurse winked at her and stuck her head out the door again. A moment later, Severus entered, followed by another man and woman.

Ignoring the others, Jacqueline's face suddenly lit up, leaping out of bed and giving him such a kiss that the woman blinked in complete surprise and the man grimaced and turned away, making a gesture to ward off evil.

"Sirius, grow up," Anna said, hitting him when she noticed what he was doing. Severus looked over at them then, apologetic.

"And just where have you been all day?" Jacqueline asked.

"Checking in at work, and updating your friends and family about your current condition," Severus explained.

"I must have a lot of friends and family then," Jacqueline teased.

"You have no idea," Severus said dryly, turning her around gently. "This is my sister, Anna, and that, unfortunately, is her husband, Sirius."

"As in solemn or as in star?" Jacqueline asked with a smile.

"Star," Sirius grinned at her. "We have too much of the other around here already."

"We're glad to have you back here," Anna said. "What do you want to be called?"

"Um, I don't know…" Jacqueline said, glancing back at Severus. "I suppose I should be getting used to being called Jennifer, shouldn't I?"

"That's up to you," Severus said gently. She turned back around thoughtfully, looking at Anna.

"I'm here now. This is where I want to be… well, maybe not in the hospital," she chuckled, glancing at Severus and back again. "If Jennifer was the name I was born with, it's what I want, even if I can't be the same person as I was."

"Do you even want to be?" Anna asked seriously.

"Well, I do want my memories… all of them, now and before," Jennifer said thoughtfully. "But if I'm understanding all this right, the chances of that happening aren't very good, are they?"

"If there's a way, we'll find it," Severus said calmly. "And if not, you will still have me." Jennifer smiled and leaned into him.

"Yes, I see how that would be very comforting," Sirius said sarcastically. Severus glared at him and Anna elbowed him. "Sorry, I can't help myself. I can't stand seeing him in here acting on his best behavior without taking advantage of it."

"Well, try. Really hard," Anna warned. There was another gentle knock and Anna went over to answer it.

A moment later, Jennifer found herself facing the most wizardly wizard she had ever seen with long silver hair and a long silver beard, silvery satin robes and a hat to match, and the most sparkling blue eyes that she had ever remembered seeing. But it wasn't until he spoke that something struck a chord.

"Well! I see you're having a party already and didn't invite me!" Dumbledore said teasingly. "Welcome home, Jennifer. We have so missed you here."

"That voice," Jennifer murmured, staring at him. "I've heard that voice before in my dreams. I recognize it," she said with surprise, the old wizard beaming happily. "Who are you?"

"I am your friend Albus Dumbledore, Jennifer. Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where you used to teach."

"I used to teach?" Jennifer blinked. "Oh that's right, you told me that once, didn't you Professor?" she said, looking back at Severus. Dumbledore seemed rather amused by that for some reason. "What did I teach?"

"Potions," Severus said. Her reaction immediate; she grimaced with complete disgust.

"And one of the best instructors of Potions we've ever had, along with Severus himself," Dumbledore smiled.

"I wish I could remember," Jennifer sighed. Severus winced at the word.

"Yes, so have I," Severus said crisply. "Do you remember anything else about Dumbledore, Jennifer? Did you dream about him?" Jennifer gazed at him a moment then away from his thought-filled face, her expression distant as she looked back.

"You… you made me promise to hold on, once. Maybe twice. Maybe more," Jennifer said. "I'm sorry, but every nightmare I've had has been about dying, and yet you seemed to always be there, telling me not to."

"Was anyone else ever there?" Dumbledore asked with interest.

"Sometimes Mycroft was, but not always," Jennifer said. "Of course, the boy was always there." Dumbledore blinked in surprise, looking at her with intensity for a moment before turning thoughtful. "Professor, do you… I mean do we… I don't suppose we have any children?" she asked. Severus nodded slowly. "A boy?"

"Perhaps one or two," Severus admitted.

"You might as well come out and say it, Severus. I've already arranged for them to come visit after dinner," Dumbledore warned him with a smile.

"Don't you think that'd be rushing things?" Severus growled.

"The hospital staff didn't think so," Dumbledore said calmly. "Don't worry, Severus, the children understand that she may not recognize them."

"They? Exactly how many children do I have?" Jennifer said, staring at Severus in surprise that he hadn't mentioned it before. Anna looked at her brother thoughtfully, but Sirius seemed to think his discomfort was fairly amusing.

"Five," Severus said at last, watching Jennifer's jaw drop. "One adopted son, two boys and two girls. Ages ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen and twenty-five." Jennifer stared at him warily then went to the mirror and looking critically at her appearance, turning around in disbelief.

"Just how old am I, then?"

"You'll be forty in August," Severus said, watching as she turned to stare dubiously into the mirror again.

"How old are you?"

"Fifty-one," Severus sighed. Jennifer studied him for a long time before turning to Dumbledore.

"How old are you?"

"Jennifer, suffice it to say that many of us do look much younger than our actual age," Dumbledore said with a smile. "But he is telling you the truth, you know."

"I know that, I can tell when he's lying to me," Jennifer said, Severus grimacing at that. "It's just that he tends to leave out a lot. I wasn't expecting he'd leave out anything on quite this scale, though," she said, glaring at him. "This is going to take some getting used to."

"Well, not too long I trust," Dumbledore smiled. "They are coming to visit, you know."

"Do I have any other surprises to look forward to, or is that it?" Jennifer asked, looking almost accusingly at Severus.

"Did you tell her about her father yet?" Sirius volunteered. Severus turned to him with a look ready to kill, and Jennifer sighed and sat down, ready for anything… or so she thought.

"So this man, Mark, was being paid by Erascus to pretend to be her boyfriend?" Zoë asked the Snapes. The four of them were at the Black Mansion, helping Alicia get her uniform together. The other three, wearing their best Hogwarts' robes, were quickly trying to get Zoë and Zack appraised of the situation.

"Apparently he was in all sorts of trouble with some sort of commission over some trades he'd done, selling out or selling short or something," Alex explained.

"Perhaps a bit of both," Aurelius said.

"Erascus needed a patsy type to look after her and help hide her, and Mark couldn't resist. A frying pan into the fire thing, I suppose. But Erascus, Baylor I mean, scared Mark, so in the end Mark turned on him and called the police. Fortunately, Vallid had been waiting for something to happen and gave order for special officers if any calls came from that apartment," Andrew continued. "Mark agreed to help testify against Baylor too, as long as he was guaranteed some safeties, and some sort of plea bargain thing."

"What's that, anyhow?" Alicia asked, finishing putting on her vest as Andrew handed her a Stoddard coat.

"Groveling one's way out of a higher charge so that they don't have to have a lengthy trial over it, from what Father said," Aurelius said. "They want to concentrate on Baylor, because they're hoping he'll crack and confess who it was that cast the curse on her."

"What? You mean it wasn't Baylor?" Zack frowned.

"Baylor was just some sort of middle man," Alex explained. "Apparently he slipped up and admitted there were more involved. It's not over yet."

"Do you think whoever it was will come back? Like a back to the scene of the crime, thing?" Zack asked.

"Why should he? Found or not, he still succeeded, didn't he? Mum's memories are gone, and chances are, she's not getting them back," Aurelius sighed.

"Stop saying that," Alicia snapped. "I don't care how little chance there is, there's still a chance."

"Alicia's right. Instead of grousing about it, we need to start trying to think of ways to help her," Andrew said, straightening Alicia's coat.

"You all just never give in, do you?" Aurelius said, shaking his head.

"No, we don't," Alex said. "And neither do you," she added, before heading down the stairs, the others turning and following. Reluctantly, Aurelius turned and followed. There was no way he was going to admit to the others that he was as anxious as they were about the visit. But he did feel a bit better when he saw their father looking them over with such intense scrutiny and picking over creases in their uniforms that it was apparent they weren't the only ones who were nervous.

"What's the use of all the picking? Aren't we taking the floo?" Aurelius complained.

"I have a key," Severus said curtly. "And you will stay turned out, and please keep your tongues."

"I'm not sure I'd know what to say to her anyhow," Alex admitted.

"You're not there to speak but to be seen. Answer only if you're spoken to," Severus said curtly.

"Don't worry them, Severus," Anna said. "We saw her this afternoon and despite losing her memories, she really is fine."

"How can you be fine without your memories?" Aurelius asked.

"Aurelius, I'd rather not leave you behind, but I will if I don't think you can keep your tongue civil. She has a lot of things to adjust to, so let's not cue her in to the four of your demonic sides until she gets to know you better," Severus warned. Anna and Sirius couldn't help exchange a grin at that. "Fine. Let's get this over with," he said at last, holding something out in his hand.

A moment later they were in the hospital library, Severus stopped by the desk to return the key and let the nurses know they were back.

"You can go on up, Professor Snape. Professor Dumbledore is already with her," the nurse behind the desk assured him. Giving one last look at the four, he went over to the Door ift, lining them up in turn and lead them into the hallway near the private rooms. Then Severus knocked lightly on the door, asking the children to wait a moment before slipping in.

Jennifer was sitting in a chair next to Dumbledore talking, dressed in a simple green robe she had picked out from some things they had sent her from the castle. She glanced over when Severus peered in, looking at him nervously.

"Are they here, Severus?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

"Yes, I merely wanted to make sure you were ready for them," Severus said solemnly.

"I'm not sure ready is the word," Jennifer admitted, but stood expectantly. "All right."

Severus nodded and nudged them in a line from oldest to youngest, each one of them looking back at her with timid, worried faces. But Jennifer couldn't help but stare but the second in line, suddenly getting tears in her eyes as she gazed at him.

"It's you! I can barely believe it, but it is, isn't it?" Jennifer said, the boy watching her warily back. "You're Aurelius!"

"Mum?" Aurelius said warily back. Suddenly he found himself getting hugged while everyone else watched with surprise, especially Severus.

"This is the boy you saw in your dreams?" Severus asked.

"Yes! In every one!" Jennifer exclaimed. "And yet you're real!"

"Wait, what about them?" Aurelius said, backing off a bit. "Don't you remember anything about them?"

Jennifer paused and looked at the other three, all of their faces filled with hope. Jennifer faltered then, not knowing what to say, knowing what it must be like to be standing there now, waiting for some sort of recognition. But her silence was as powerful as any words and she realized at once that truth was rarely gentle.

"I only wish I could," she said, the youngest one gasping softly. Severus waved a gloved hand at her as if in attempt to calm her.

"This is Alexandria, the eldest of the four. Aurelius, as you have guessed, then Andrew, and Alicia at the other end," Severus introduced quietly.

"I'm so happy to meet you all," Jennifer said sincerely, but then paused, glancing back at Severus blankly. "Why do all their names start with A's?"

"It's a rather long story. Remind me later if you're still interested and I'll tell you," Severus said.

"Well I'm interested," Alex quipped, earning a disapproving look from her father.

"Yes, I wouldn't mind hearing that story myself," Dumbledore put in. "Although I can't help but be a bit more intrigued with wondering how much you remember of Aurelius."

"I can really only tell you what I know of him from my dreams, really," Jennifer admitted. Aurelius kept his distance, and had even taking a step back away from the the others. "I know he was angry with me for leaving and that I let him down somehow," she explained, watching him. Aurelius looked even more uncomfortable. "And I know he was trying to show me something, something important. But the nightmares kept getting in the way and I kept panicking and waking up."

"It figures I wouldn't be in any normal dreams," Aurelius said dourly and got another hug for it.

"So, what was it like, I mean, to be a Muggle?" Alex asked.

"Alex," Severus warned.

"Well, what's it like to be a witch?" Jennifer asked her.

"Well its… fine." Alex said, trying to think of a better answer. Aurelius rolled his eyes.

"Sort of hard to compare when you've only been one, isn't it?" Jennifer nodded to her. "I suppose I'll be able to soon enough."

"You're not as different as I was afraid you'd be," Andrew said with a grin. "In some ways, you sound just the same."

"I'm sure in others I'm a long way from being the same," Jennifer sighed, gazing between them. "I've lost so much time with all of you…" she murmured. "Well, there are advantages to a clean slate too, I suppose. Tell me about yourselves!"

Except for a few words and gestures from their father to keep Alex from upstaging the others, they were allowed to talk about anything they wanted as she tried to coax as much information as them as possible about Alicia's painting and Andrew's models and answering Alex's questions about the café and asking them about school. Only Aurelius seemed not to have much to add, standing with his hands in his pockets and answering with short answers. But then, Andrew thought, that was very much like Aurelius, and yet at the same time, it was obvious he was bothered about the events of that night.

They got back late, but Halbert was waiting anxiously in this bed, waiting to hear about how it went, and Andrew went into length about what had happened when they had first arrived. The lights were out, and others were fast asleep, but neither of them felt tired.

"Are you very disappointed? I mean, that she only remembered Aurelius?" Halbert asked in hushed tones.

"I was at first," Andrew admitted. "Actually, it was more than that. When she saw Aurelius and recognized him like that, I was hoping it was all over; that it had all come back to her and everything was all right again. But it wasn't that, she just dreamed about him, and Aurelius… I don't think he liked being singled out like that. I think he wanted it to have been anyone else but him. Father says it was the first time she had recognized anyone by name. She hadn't even recognized him like that."

"There must be a reason," Halbert said. "It wasn't like it was just one dream, right?"

"She said it was every one," Andrew agreed. "And all of those seemed to be about close calls she's had in the past. But there is something important about Aurelius being there. There has to be. I'm just not sure what."