Chapter Thirty-One

Christmas Coffee

Andrew stood with the other three Snapes staring at the contraption on the bar when they woke up on Christmas morning, viewing it with suspicion.

"What is it?" Alicia asked.

"Well, it's not breakfast," Andrew said.

"It's a Muggle coffee maker, at least, I think so. Although this one doesn't look much like the one in my Muggle Studies book," Alex said.

"Muggle coffee maker?" Aurelius repeated with disdain. "What, don't they have stoves and regular old coffee pots?"

"I don't know, they like gadgets," Alex shrugged, wandering to the other side of the bar. "I wonder where the plug is?"

The four of them looked up as the door to the bedroom opened and Jennifer peered out letting out such a squeal that the kids took several healthy steps away from the counter.

"I don't believe it! Even Kingler's doesn't have one this fancy. It's even got a built in coffee grinder," Jennifer declared to them, opening the lid to look in, the others standing on their tip toes a bit to look as well. "Two burners, for those long shifts, of course… look, the coffee bin is even full! I have got to try it." Even Aurelius came back over to the counter from curiosity as she filled one of the pots with water, but ended up jumping back again when a horrible loud noise came out of it as she put a fringed white paper in place and pushed a button. "Oh, don't be alarmed, it's just the grinder. Goodness, what's got you all spooked? This isn't like any of you."

Before of any of them could think of an answer the basement door opened and Severus stepped into the kitchen, glancing at the children before turning his attention to Jennifer.

"Coffee isn't done yet?" he asked casually. An instant later, the Snapes all watched in complete disgust and horror as Jennifer nearly leapt into his arms, giving him a passionate kiss.

"Never mind the breakfast, I'm not sure I'm hungry," Andrew said.

"Hungry? I am going to be ill," Aurelius said, and Alex grimacing as if she felt the same.

"Well, it is Christmas, even parents deserve to let their hair down now and again, don't they?" Alicia declared.

"If Mum let her hair down any more, I think it'd fall off," Alex murmured.

Severus gently coaxed her Jennifer back a bit, getting lost in her green eyes in spite of himself.

"You know, we don't normally do this sort of thing in front of the children, although I am glad you like your gift," he murmured.

"Really, we don't? Why not?" Jennifer said with surprise.

"Well for one thing, that," Severus said, turning her around to see their expressions, "And for another I'm not into public displays. And neither are you," he added.

"Oh," Jennifer said. "Well, I suppose I had better finish the coffee," she grinned flirtatiously as Severus let out an exasperated sigh. "It is absolutely perfect."

"Where did you get it?" Andrew asked curiously.

"Harrod's Knightbridge, not that it's really any of your concern," Severus said, taking another step into the kitchen to make sure it was working right.

"But that's a Muggle shop, that means it'd be electric. We don't have electric," Alex said, still looking for a plug.

"As to that, I had Sirius convert it to a magic power source, which seems to be holding quite nicely," he said with a nod, sitting down as it began to drip.

"But Father, I thought you've always told us you don't approve of that sort of tampering of Muggle things! That's what you always said about Uncle Sirius' motorbike," Alex said.

"That's entirely different," Severus said, giving her a warning look.

"It's illegal to do it, though, isn't it?" Aurelius put in.

"I hardly think the Ministry is going to be concerned with a Muggle coffee machine that works in a magic house," Severus told them. "Now go get dressed if you expect to get any of your presents today."

"Can we have coffee too?" Alex asked hopefully.

"Get dressed," Severus snapped again. "And Aurelius, no lingering in the family room without an adult present." Reluctantly the kids turned around and went to their rooms, Andrew opening up the bookcase for the girls and then following behind them.

"Ever feel like someone's trying to get rid of us?" Alex said sarcastically.

"What do you suppose has gotten into them?" Alicia asked worriedly. "Zoë and Zacchius were telling me a movie they saw where aliens from another planet came and replaced everyone in a whole town and ate the originals."

"Alicia, those Muggle movies are just like plays, you know. None of that stuff really happens," Alex sighed at her. "They're just teasing you."

"You can always try reaching them from the paintings to be sure," Andrew suggested.

"I still have to make a new one of Mum, the old ones don't work," Alicia said. "Think she'd sit for a new one?"

"I'm sure she would," Alex agreed. "She does seem to like us. But I admit it does seem strange she never scolds any more. In fact in some ways she doesn't act like a parent at all. Father's the one who's been doing all the ordering and yelling and scolding lately."

"Well, that's understandable, isn't it? I mean, we're still next to strangers to her. Maybe she doesn't feel like she has a right to," Andrew said.

"But she's acting more like the big sister type and less the Mum type," Alex said. "And really, Father's been acting all different as well. He completely dotes on her and never says the slightest thing out of line around her."

"Father's always doted on Mum. It's just that Mum's always been more reserved, that's all, although I do agree with the big sister bit," Andrew admitted.

"Yes, so do I," Alicia said. "She's almost too nice to us. I'm not sure how much more of it I can stand. I want my Mum back. Right now it almost feels like we had an overly sympathetic step-mother or something."

"Yes, that's exactly what it feels like, Alicia," Andrew agreed, Alex nodding right along with them. "Don't forget to dress warm, I imagine we'll be heading to Azkaban before noon if Father wants us dressed now," he advised, heading to the door of his room.

"Think Mum's coming?" Alicia asked. Andrew shrugged unknowingly. "She's never met him before. Does she even know?"

"I seriously doubt that Father would keep him a secret," Andrew said.

"I seriously doubt that Grandfather would let him," Alex grinned, heading into her room.

As Andrew suspected, just before noon as the excitement of their gifts had begun to wear and they had started actually fiddling with them instead of admiring them, Severus was ready to get going, frowning when they didn't instantly get up from what they were doing.

"Come on, there'll be plenty of time for that, this stuff is not going away and you know how your Grandfather gets when we're late," Severus said impatiently.

"Are we going to be long?" Alex said, glancing at her new broom wistfully.

"That depends on if Boltin's there," Severus said tersely. "Get your coats on," he said again, heading up the stairs.

"Do you think Boltin is the Warden?" Andrew asked, Alex immediately nodding. "Everyone thinks he is."

"Then maybe he isn't," Alicia said, pulling on her coat thoughtfully. "I mean, perhaps he's too obvious."

"How do you suppose Grandfather is going to react to Mum?" Alex wondered. "You know how he can be sometimes. I hope he's in a good mood."

"He's always in a good mood when I'm there," Aurelius said. Alex rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. It was hardly a secret to any of them which grandchild he had favored, although it did annoy Aurelius a little bit that none of his other siblings seemed to care. "Well, let's go then."

Upstairs, Severus was waiting impatiently with his arms folded, tapping his fingers as they arrived, glancing over at the bedroom door until it finally opened and Jennifer came out in her forest green coat looking a little on edge.

"So, how do I look?" she asked.

"As beautiful as always, but we must get going. You could be dressed in handspun silk or nothing at all and your father would still comment first that we were late," Severus said impatiently nudging the children to get their floo powder, each disappearing in fire as they spoke out their destination of Azkaban Prison.

Andrew dusted himself off and waved to the guard standing boredly in the entryway. They were hardly unexpected, nor were they even remotely detained, being waved towards the next post and beyond without even a casual search.

"Not much on security, are they?" Jennifer murmured to Severus behind them.

"Oh, this is hardly normal procedure," Severus said calmly back. "You'll find very quickly that there are few doors closed to you… except perhaps the Malfoy residence," he added dryly.

"We're cutting it close, aren't we? Two minutes to spare at the most," Alex said as they past the last post.

"I hope the clock in the visitation room isn't early," Andrew agreed. Just then a door opened and Thatcher Boltin looked out, grinning a bit when he saw them.

"There you are. I was beginning to wonder if we'd have to hear him bellow again," he said. "Good thing I turned the clock back five minutes."

"Does he bellow a lot?" Jennifer asked in a low voice.

"From time to time," Severus admitted, stepping up to the door. "Jennifer, this is Thatcher Boltin, Head Guard of Azkaban, as well as one of your father's personal guards."

"I just can't keep away from the old fool," Thatcher grinned. "Good to see you all. Happy Christmas," he said, showing them in.

Thomas Craw was sitting on the other side of the table drumming his fingers when they came in, immediately standing with a thin smile on his face.

"On time for a change, I see. Come here, boy, let me look at you! You don't visit enough!" Thomas immediately said, waving Aurelius over. "I've been hearing some disturbing stories about some of the things you've been doing in school, hmm, and Quidditch?" He glanced over at Severus who shook his head slightly with a frown, instantly regretting that he'd mentioned the incident to him. "That's the way to stack the deck in your favor! Always expose every advantage as they come, well done!" Thomas said, shaking Aurelius' hand and completely ignoring Severus' fixed gaze. "Come, sit in front of me. Alex, Alicia, getting prettier by the year, I see…" he said, his gaze lingering on Alicia thoughtfully. "You know, I believe your hair is darkening a bit. You look more like your grandmother every time I see you. It makes me miss her all the more."

"Happy Christmas, Grandfather," Andrew said, putting the presents down cheerfully.

"Andrew, I see you're sporting Gryffindor colors. Does nothing for you. Makes you look lankier than ever. Never had a Gryffindor in the family before," Thomas added looking back up at Severus. "I doubt there's been many in the Snape line, either. Maybe it's the name…"

"Feel free to pick up and put away those presents at will, Andrew," Severus said evenly. "I'm sure we have other things to do today."

"Oh, sit down and stop being so stuffy. It's Christmas," Thomas grumped, eyeing where Jennifer was standing near the door watching him warily. "What's wrong, Jen-girl? Don't recognize me, eh? Can't see the family resemblance? Or are you trying hard not to?"

"Actually, I do recognize you," Jennifer said slowly. "I think I might have accidentally spelled you off of a mausoleum once. You tried to kill Severus."

"No, I merely tried to kill Voldemort and every bastard and bitch foolish or twisted enough to support him. Severus merely happened to be one of them," Thomas said bluntly.

"Thomas, the children," Severus said tiredly.

"Thomas, please try to be civil," Boltin warned. "Just because you had a bit of a tiff with Harry doesn't mean you have to take it out on someone else."

"Very well, Thatcher," Thomas sighed. "Well, let's see what we have then. You can come closer you know, Jen-girl. I'm not allowed to bite, I checked."

"So he did. Recently," Boltin said dryly.

"What did you fight with Harry about?" Severus asked, slightly surprised.

"Oh, the blasted Baylor thing. He's angry at me because I signed my name to support Thurspire's movement within the Council to get him expedited," Boltin said.

"What? Has this prison finally made you go completely insane?" Severus said in such a tone that the children and Jennifer stare at him.

"Now you're starting to sound like Harry. The penalties are stiffer over here, Severus."

"Penalties be damned, he needs to be tried on Vallid's home ground where I can be sure he gets what's coming to him. Don't you realize if he comes over here he'll probably plead for Malfoy's aid and turn the trial into a literal circus?"

"You know, Severus, for someone now sitting on that side of the table instead of this side you show very little faith for the justice system," Thomas said calmly. "As to Malfoy, he'd be a fool to get involved in this case because quite a number of wizards out there would see that as an admission that he was involved somehow. There is also the advantage that if the trial is here, the person responsible will be in the courtroom during the hearing. They won't be able to resist for one thing, and for another to insure that Baylor doesn't even attempt to squeal."

"Yes, but that's not what this is about. You just want him here, don't you? In this prison, where you can have some control over him. Admit it!" Severus said.

"Severus, I have no idea what you're talking about," Thomas said calmly. "Thank you for the socks, Andrew. You've been talking to Dumbledore again, haven't you?"

"Yes, I'm sure you don't," Severus said in a cold, sarcastic voice.

"Where he can have some control over him? You can't possibly mean he's the Warden?" Alexandria blurted out. "But he's a prisoner!"

"Quick mind, that one. Too bad her tongue is quicker," Thomas said, his eyes darting over to Alex. Alex blushed bright red.

"Aurelius! Pact it," Severus snapped.

"Done, sir," Aurelius said, glaring at his sister.

"And for your information, Alex, I am just as much a prisoner as I always have been, but when Boltin and the Ministry came to me about it under the provision that Boltin be in charge of making sure I followed my own rules, I accepted. It isn't like I have anything better to do," Thomas said acidly, looking over at Boltin who merely smiled at him in return. "They know I won't take bribes short of someone offering me Malfoy's head on a stick, which unfortunately no one has done yet. Although I highly suspect that part of the reason my parole hearing keeps getting delayed is because they don't want to replace me."

"Now, Thomas, you know that's not true," Boltin said with a sigh, accepting an offered gingerbread from Alicia. "Yes, I have testified about your constant threats against Malfoy, how couldn't I? You tell everyone who will listen."

"No, no… the parole hearing specifically says that I need to prove that I am not an endangerment to the public. I am not. Just leave out the part that I'm an endangerment to one man, and we'll be set," Thomas reasoned. Boltin looked almost pleadingly towards Severus.

"Have some coffee, Thomas, Jennifer made it herself," Severus said, getting a few cups out of the larder basket.

"Oh, really," Thomas said dubiously, taking a sip, his expression changing a bit. "Hm. Not bad, better than what they give me here in any case. Why did you make it, what happened to your Head Elf whatsitsname?"

"Nothing, Mercy's fine," Jennifer said defensively. "I'm not sure she'd be able to figure out the machine, though, and I like making it anyhow." Thomas choked a bit on his drink.

"Machine?" Thomas stared at her.

"Yes, Father got it for Mum for Christmas! It's from Harrod's," Alex said, Severus winced slightly, gripping Alex firmly in the arm.

"It's been magically updated of course…"

"Son, are you trying to tell me that my own flesh and blood picked up a nasty Muggle habit and you are actually encouraging her?" Thomas said, his voice so calm and low that Andrew knew he was probably going to erupt again.

"Yes, on several habits in fact," Severus said evenly, holding his ground. "It's called being supportive. You should try it some time."

"So kids, how would you like a tour of the Fourth Quarter?" Boltin said quickly. "Pretty scary stuff, I'm sure you'd enjoy it."

"Wait for me, I've heard enough," Jennifer said, getting up. "You are the most horrible, beastliest person I ever remember meeting, and I can't believe anyone is insane enough to put you in charge of anything, let alone consider actually releasing you. And honestly, I think I liked it better when I thought my parents had both died in Connecticut." Boltin looked at her thoughtfully as she stepped out the door, then he glanced at Severus questioningly. Severus waved it off, deciding it would be best to let her cool down.

"I see she hasn't really changed all that much, has she?" Thomas said with a chuckle. "Oh don't look at me like that, Severus. I'm not going to walk around on my tip toes because Jen-girl's forgotten what it means to be a Craw, and I am not going to be less than myself for anyone."

"Yes, which is one of the reasons you are probably still in here, Thomas," Severus said with a thin forced smile. "Try one of the commando gingerbread."

"Bah, but they're burnt," Thomas said, scowling critically at the backs.

"Yes, and they did it to themselves intentionally," Severus said. "I wonder who that reminds me of," he added, dunking a biscuit in his coffee before biting into it thoughtfully.