Chapter Thirty-Two

Andrew in the Ring

They hadn't been back on the train long before Andrew excused himself to go find Halbert to tell them about everything that had happened over the holiday. Halbert was eager to hear all the news, listening so intently that Andrew, normally the quiet one in the family, found him extremely easy to talk to.

"So she remembered him, then?" Halbert said thoughtfully.

"Apparently Grandfather was in one of the memories that was in the Pensieve," Andrew explained. "But things just sort of blew up and Mum and us left for awhile so that Father could talk to him alone," he explained. "After we got back, he was much calmer and acted like nothing happened. But Mum didn't even talk to him after that, not once. You should have seen her face when Dumbledore stopped in to drop his present off, though."

"Why would she care about that?" Halbert asked puzzledly.

"I don't know, I guess it's easier to believe someone's a bad person when Dumbledore doesn't like them," Andrew shrugged. "I think Grandfather merely acts as he was taught. He is a Craw, after all."

"Yes, but your mother never acts like that, does she? Or did she?" Halbert asked, not sure which tense to use.

"Well, only when she gets mad," Andrew grinned. "Not that she gets mad much anymore. She's been unbelievably nice to all of us, even Aurelius, and she used to fight with him all the time."

"Did you ever find out why he's the only one she dreams about?" Halbert asked.

"You know, I don't think she does dream of him any more, not since she got those other memories," Andrew said thoughtfully. "She's mentioned dreams at breakfast before, asking Father to fill in some blanks, but Aurelius hasn't been brought up again. I'd think she would have said something if he had."

"All of the dreams with Aurelius were pretty much before she came here, weren't they?" Halbert mused.

"Yes, I think so," Andrew nodded.

"Maybe it wasn't a memory then, not a real one," Halbert said with a shrug. "Maybe her subconscious just pulled on his image as a sort of messenger to let her know there was a lot more going on than she knew."

"Of course, that still makes one wonder why Aurelius," Andrew said. "What does he have that we don't?"

"Class for one thing," Aurelius said from the doorway, "At least most of us aren't sitting near baggage. What's wrong, Andrew, the rest of us too good for you?"

"I'll be right along," Andrew said, Aurelius gazing at Halbert a moment before rolling his eyes, heading back towards the front.

"Well we know it wasn't his charm," Halbert murmured to Andrew, who merely grinned before joining his siblings.

It felt great to get back to Hogwarts again, and for Andrew the best part of it was without a doubt the food. He had filled himself to bursting after they got off the train, and was up bright and early to do it all over again, contentedly sitting down to breakfast the next morning.

"It's times like these when I would like to go to school forever," he said cheerfully to Halbert, who grinned.

"I think your mother and father would get tired of you after awhile. Hm, I wonder what's going on down there with the in-crowd?" Halbert said thoughtfully. Andrew peered over to near the other end of the table where the Quidditch team were huddled together, barely touching their food and looking more and more concerned by the minute. Suddenly, Rose looked up and straight in their direction. She then said something to the group and then Stewart glanced over then got up. "I wonder what you did now?"

"Me?" Andrew said with surprise. "You haven't been sneaking your pets into the dorm room again, have you?"

"All in the barn," Halbert assured him. They both nodded as Rose, Stewart and Conner came and took seats beside them.

"Andrew, have you heard anything about your father planning to referee some games this spring?" Rose asked.

"Father can referee?" Andrew said with surprise.

"I'll take that as a no," Stewart said wryly, leaning on the table. "We'll never get the cup this year."

"Look, don't give up yet. All they have to do to is lose their last one…"

"Rose, they're playing Hufflepuff next. Hufflepuff hasn't won a game with Slytherin in nearly fifteen years. And you're also assuming we win our two games, and now with Snape refereeing, it doesn't look good. No offense, Andrew, but as I'm sure you've seen from Defense class, Snape doesn't give Gryffindor many breaks," Stewart said.

"Oh, come on, you are exaggerating a bit," Halbert jumped in defending his friend. "So long as you do everything he tells you and get perfect scores and don't talk too much or doodle or look dazed, disinterested, distracted and you don't breathe too heavy, it's not a bad class." Andrew looked over at him knowingly. "What?"

"Exactly," Rose sighed. "And what's more is we're already well behind in points, and if Slytherin dominates Quidditch, we don't have a prayer of recovering, even if everyone at the table actually became perfect angels so that we didn't lose any more," she said, glancing over at Conner. Stewart looked in his direction as well.

"Hey, I gain more than I lose," Conner grumbled. "Look, it's as I was saying before. Our chances of Quidditch points are slim, so we should put our concentration in the sparring tournament."

"Conner, we would have to win nearly every year for it to make a difference," Stewart said. "Do you really think anyone could beat Xavier Platt?"

"Well, I'd rule second and third years out too," Andrew put in. "From what I hear, we don't have anyone capable of beating them, not even your brother, Stewart, although from what I've seen passing through he doesn't seem all that bad," he said, concentrating on his breakfast. But Halbert noticed the exchange of glances passing between the others and saw what was coming.

"So 'Drew, how come you didn't join Sparring Club?" Conner asked.

"Me? I'm just not into that sort of thing, I guess," Andrew shrugged. "I don't like pointing my wand at people. Besides, the Bridle Club takes up most of my free time, not to mention our night cleaning the stables."

"But you don't get points for any of that," Conner said impatiently. Andrew blinked at him.

"I don't do things for points, Conner. I do them because I want to help out," Andrew said.

"What if I said it would be a big help to Gryffindor house if you participated in the tournament, would you?" Stewart asked. Andrew looked between them, Rose giving him her best pleading look.

"I hate violence," Andrew said at last with a sigh.

"All you have to do is disarm them," Rose said with a nod.

"All right, fine, as long as Father lets me, seeing that I haven't been in the club all year," Andrew said.

"Thanks Andrew," Stewart grinned, patting his shoulder a bit. "Finally we have a Snape on our side."

"You always have," Andrew assured him as they got off. "I just prefer to be on the spectator side of the support spectrum."

"Don't worry, Andrew, the tournament is by year. You don't have to worry about having to face Aurelius or Alex at all," Rose said, gathering her books. "I know you'll do splendid. I haven't met a Snape yet that hasn't had some fight in them," she grinned, heading out the main doors.

"Halbert, remind me that I really need to work on learning to say no. Hopefully before they ask me to do something really horrible. Like Quidditch," Andrew said. Halbert smiled sympathetically at Andrew, although he couldn't help think to himself that he wouldn't mind being asked to play Quidditch himself.

"Look, if it'll make you feel better, I'll join too," Halbert said. "That way when I mess up, you'll really look good." Andrew grinned at his friend and the two of them got up, still joking as they headed to class.

But the tournament was still a week away, and Andrew had other things to think about as classes began again, each with a brief review of their tests before heading into their next chapters. Halbert's face fell when he got back his Transfiguration test. Well at least he passed, but barely, he thought, peering over enviously at Andrew's nearly perfect paper as they went over it. He glanced back at Ginger, who was sitting with her hands folded and what was sure to be an exceptional mark, her eyes flicking in their direction before looking back at McGonagall who was going over the most commonly missed questions on the board.

Andrew hadn't missed the exchange, and also hadn't missed the fact that some of the questions Halbert had missed where unbelievably easy first week stuff. He sighed a bit, knowing he couldn't go without saying something about it any longer.

"Not doing too well in Transfiguration right now? Do you want me to help you study?" Andrew offered when they stepped out of class.

"Uh, sure, thanks," Halbert said. "I don't know, I guess changing stuff around doesn't make sense to me. I mean, when am I going to change a desk into a pig in my adult life, huh? Can't eat it, it'd taste like wood."

"Come to think of it, you're not doing so well in Herbology, either. Didn't your mother teach Herbology for awhile?" Andrew said.

"I guess I just don't have her green thumb," Halbert shrugged. "I take more after my father."

"Yes, I suppose. I don't know either well enough to judge. You do well enough in father's class though."

"Well, sure! It's very interesting the way he goes on about everything out there that's going to kill us whenever we miss something on a quiz," Halbert grinned.

"Yeah. And the class is with Ravenclaw, and not Hufflepuff," Andrew said. Halbert stopped short then, staring at him.

"And what do you mean to imply by that?"

"I don't mean to imply anything, I just thought it strange that the only two classes you do poorly in are the ones we have with Hufflepuff, that's all. Perhaps your mind isn't on your work," Andrew said.

"That's just stupid, who we have class with has nothing to do with it," Halbert said defensively.

"That's too bad, because I heard from another girl that Ginger likes your accent," Andrew said casually.

"Really?" Halbert said with surprise. "I mean, I have an accent?"

"Girls really go for that French accent stuff, I hear," Andrew nodded.

"Girls! Girls are nothing but trouble! Never trust them, they're nothing but bad news. Besides, everyone knows who Ginger's been eyeing since the first of the year," Halbert said miserably. "You."

"Me?" Andrew said with surprise, glancing at his reflection in a display case as they passed by. "With this face? Oh, come now, you must be joking."

"Nope," Halbert said with a sigh. "It's a complete tragedy in the making."

"Yeah," Andrew agreed wholeheartedly as they stepped into their next class.

Andrew took to intentionally avoiding Ginger after that, and for the most part succeeded since they only had the two classes together. But the week was quickly charging towards the first day of the tournament, and Andrew gratefully sought the solace of the Bridle Club, the most uncomplicated part of his life… or it had been, until the point that Aurelius came out of the stable with Colossus.

"What do you think you're doing, Wart?" Conner demanded, quickly tying his Hippogriff to the tether. "Where is his saddle?"

"Doctor Sagittari said I could start learning how to ride bareback now that Colossus and I have gotten to know one another better," Aurelius said calmly.

"What? Not on my horse, you don't. He's not trained for that!" Conner snapped, walking over to him.

"Well, neither am I, so that puts us on even ground, doesn't it?" Aurelius said.

"No, because there is no way I'm going to let you ride my horse like this!" Conner said. "Doctor! I want Colossus taken out of the club. He's my horse, and I don't like the way he's being treated."

"Really?" Sagittari said with surprise. "He has hardly been neglected, Conner, by myself or Aurelius. In fact I would go so far as to say that Mr. Snape has been treating him with the utmost respect."

"You call this respect?" Conner said. "Riding him saddle-less like a common animal?"

"Much more respect, I think, than strapping hard leather to a beast's back and treating it like a slave," Sagittari said curtly, leaving Conner momentarily speechless. "Need a hand up, Aurelius?"

"No, thank you, Doctor," Aurelius said, using the fence to get a foot up, sliding awkwardly onto the horse's back.

"The horse is too big for him to try this," Conner said. "He's going to fall off and break his neck. Hasn't that family had enough tragedies recently?"

"I would not have allowed Aurelius to start if I didn't think Colossus and he were both ready, Conner," Sagittari said. "Now, what of you? Are you ready to fly without the tether?"

"Without the tether?" Conner repeated, looking at Ginseng with renewed uncertainly. Ginseng unconcernedly cleaned between her claws.

"We will be practicing inside the Quidditch Pitch today," Sagittari said to everyone, nodding to Conner. "Everyone with flying mounts will be allowed to ride without a tether, with the only restriction that they stay within the Pitch area following normal Quidditch boundaries. I trust everyone here knows what those are?"

Sagittari stayed by Aurelius' side as they walked, correcting his seating and reminding him not to clench his knees or heels, which Aurelius found quite quickly was easier said than done. Never once did Aurelius think at the irony of a centaur teaching him to ride as he concentrated on what he was doing, although he thought of it often enough when he woke up the next morning and tried to step out of bed.

While the others on ground mounts were allowed to trot around the field, Sagittari had Aurelius in the center, making figure 8's both wide and tight while overhead the flyers swooped as if almost taunting those below them. He was concentrating on his balance so much that he had completely missed what Alex and Andrew had seen from overhead; their father standing in the door of the open gate with his arms folded, watching.

Severus had decided to observe them when he had heard Sagittari mention that he was planning to let the flyers loose that day; he wanted to make double sure that the three mounts they owned and those on them didn't get out of hand. What he hadn't expected was to find that his full attention on Aurelius, staring in bewilderment what he alone of all of them was learning. What exactly had prompted him to do such a thing? He could have perhaps seen Andrew being talked into it, or even Alex. He was just about to step over to have a word with Sagittari about it when her heard his name called. Glancing back towards Jennifer and then back to the field again indecisively, Severus finally turned to join her.

Both Jennifer and Severus became quite scarce over the next few days, showing up for their classes but not really seen at any other time… not even during meals. So curious it seemed to Andrew that he stepped into the library that night to ask Aurelius, who was studying with his classmates.

"They've been holed up in the indoor gym for some reason," Aurelius said. "Xavier mentioned that he and Boulderdash ran into them there yesterday, and they were working on forms. My guess is that father wants her to help judge the tournament. They always have extra judges the first few rounds to get everyone done, and he's probably trying to break her back into it."

"Good, I hope I get her ring then," Heph grinned. "I'll bet we'll be able to pull a lot."

"I wouldn't count on that. I mean, she doesn't exactly let us get away with much in Potions class. In fact, lately I think she's been teaching more than Professor Witolf," Andrew said. "Although I don't think I'd mind so much getting her as a judge myself."

"You? You're not even in sparring club, what would you care?" Aurelius asked.

"Oh, I know I wasn't but I signed up. Father said it was alright," Andrew said.

"What? But you don't like that sort of thing! I've heard you say it I don't know how many times! Now all the sudden you just join the tournament without doing any of the work?" Heph asked.

"My housemates asked me. I'm just showing a bit of support for Gryffindor, that's all. That such a crime?"

"They brought you in for a ringer, did they?" Stock asked, glancing over at Aurelius. "Is he as good as you are?"

"Of course not," Aurelius said, "Although he'll probably wipe most the field, except maybe our Meyers, of course, and then there's Davidson to worry about."

"Davidson?" Andrew said with surprise. "You mean she's in it too?"

"She's not as fast on spells as Meyers is," Heph said, "But she's a lot smaller and quicker in dodging. It's been giving her quite an advantage. Rather like Aurelius in that." Aurelius gave him a dirty look. "What? I was only giving you a compliment."

"Thanks for the advice," Andrew grinned. "I'd better go find Halbert, it's our night to clean the barn and I don't want to be late," he said, turning and hurrying out.

"Clean the barn, and excited about it? Are you positive you're related?" Stock asked with disgust.

"Well at least this proves one thing," Heph said with a slight grin. "Gryffindor must be worried about our lead over the field this year."

"Too bad for them. It's not like they have a chance," Aurelius snorted. "One thing is certain, and that is we're not going to be winning in every year this tournament."

"Why do you say that?" Stock asked.

"Because no Snapes are dropping out this year, that's why not," Aurelius said, turning back to the books. "And if they do I'm going to hurt them."

Andrew was surprised at exactly how many students were there, and as Xavier Platt passed to look at the board with a face of dead seriousness he was more than a little glad that they would only be pitted against students of his own class. Ted and Stewart called Andrew and Hagrid over to where the rest of them were standing, welcoming them warmly.

"We got a regular rough night ahead of us," Stewart said with a wry grin. "They paired Xavier with Conner. And wait until you hear who they paired you with, Andrew."

"Who?" Andrew said worriedly. "Davidson?"

"No, Garret Meyers, Slytherin. Cracking good; he'll be a good test for you. Until now it's been a contest between him and Ginger, so odds are, if you can beat him, you don't have to worry about her."

"What about me?" Halbert asked.

"Oh, June MacKay, Hufflepuff. She's not much competition, in fact before this year, she's never sparred before," Stewart explained.

"Well, she's had more than me," Halbert said cheerfully. "I've never done this in my life." Stewart and Conner glanced at each other and before Andrew knew it, he was pulled into a huddle and into a very intense conversation attempting to explain to Halbert what to do when he got out there.

In turn, Professor Snape was busy consulting the matches with the three other judges; Professor Weasley, Madame Craw and Madame Brittle. Only Jennifer among them was blissfully unaware of the fact that Severus was hording all the most interesting matches for himself. She had, of course, been pleased that she was who was chosen to do Alex's match. But she did become rather disappointed when it ended before she had time to even blink, Alex swiftly knocking Ted off balance with her very first spell, the rest of the Gryffindors wincing in sympathy pain.

"This is completely intentional, I just know it," Conner muttered. "He's lined us all up with the best sparrers in school. I bet he's hoping to eliminate the majority of Gryffindors by the end of next week."

"What? My father wouldn't do anything like that," Andrew said with surprise.

"Andrew, I don't know what Snape is like at home, but I think it's time you woke up to the fact that here he's a Slytherin," Stewart said. "Conner's right, this was intentional, but we're going to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't ruin us."

Andrew stepped away from them unsurely and Halbert watched him with concern, trying to judge his reactions. Glancing around, Andrew spotted Rose sitting with Mandria and Alex, who seemed to be taking her clean victory in stride, talking instead about a book she had been reading in Muggle class instead of anything that had to do with the club itself. They stopped talking when he came over, Alex grinning from ear to ear at him as he approached.

"There you are! Have you gone yet?" Alex asked. "Did you see mine?"

"Briefly," Andrew said distractedly.

"That's all there was," Rose grinned.

"Alex, have you noticed anything, well, odd about the way the matches are arranged?" Andrew asked.

"You mean about how all the best matches being in Snapes' ring?" Alex said. "He always does that."

"I meant, well, some of the other Gryffindors think that they're set against the best sparrers straight away, as in, intentionally," Andrew said.

"Yes, I've noticed that as well," Rose sighed. "I'm up against Stewart, though. I suppose either way Snape thinks he's closer to eliminating one of us, at least."

"Andrew, haven't I warned you before about separating Father from Professor Snape?" Alex chuckled. "Here, he's the Slytherin housemaster. It's practically his job to take every advantage he can. If he didn't, he wouldn't be right for Slytherin house. Besides, the truth of the matter is that sooner or later those who pass the first few rounds will have to face the leaders anyhow. He's just trying to get the kids who annoy him the most out of the way… namely, Gryffindors. Well, except you, of course."

"Don't be too sure," Andrew said, looking troubled. "Apparently I'm up against Meyers." Alex, Rose, and Mandria looked at each other thoughtfully as Andrew walked away.

Conner was still dusting off his bruised ego when Andrew paused to get his wand and step up to the ring, glancing over at Professor Snape who merely gestured him into the ring. Instantly, Andrew offered his hand and warily Garret shook it before bowing and pacing three long strides away.

Immediately as they turned, Garret fired with a loud, "Expelliarmus!" But Andrew has somehow managed to dodge with a quick sidestep, standing calmly with his wand pointed in front of him but making no move to counter attack.

"I don't suppose I could talk you into just setting down your wand?" Andrew suggested cordially.

"Yes, quite funny," Garret said in complete disbelief of the boy's ego, taking a step forward and preparing to cast again.

But just as he aimed, Andrew looked strangely blurry, and his spell sped passed him making several students have to duck the spell as it splashed harmlessly against the wall. Still, Andrew didn't try to counter. Garret became irritated and began throwing every single spell they had been taught in sparring that year, some of them Andrew dodging with a step and even once with a neat tumble, while other times he merely stood still as it went past.

"Don't just stand there like a ninny, blast him!" Aurelius barked. Xavier hit him in the chest with the back of his hand

"Let's not forget whose side we're on," Xavier reminded him.

"Andrew, these are timed matches. If you don't do something soon, I am going to call it in Meyer's favor," Severus said boredly. Andrew shrugged.

"I suppose it's your last chance to put down your wand then," Andrew said. "Are you sure you want to hold onto it?"

"Just do something!" Garret panted angrily.

"Respemem!" Andrew suddenly shouted, pointing it directly at Garret's wand. Before he could react, Garret suddenly felt his hand twist, and another second later his feet was over his head as he begun spinning around like a pinwheel, his wand being the spoke, wailing loudly for help while Severus leapt to his feet and the rest of the students gaped in surprise. "You'd better let go," Andrew advised in a voice loud enough Garret could hear over his own shouts for help.

Finally the boy let go landing very hard on the mat with a groan, the wand he was holding still spinning madly in the air until it dropped as well, rolling around the ring until finally coming to a stop.

"And just where did that spell come from, Mr. Snape?" Severus asked, his voice tense and dangerous.

"To be honest sir, it came from me," Andrew said meekly. Severus squinted at him, not quite understanding. "I made it up over the holidays."

"You did what?"

"Yes. It's R.P.M. in Latin. Didn't think it'd work so well, though. I got the idea from…"

"Never mind, I can well guess at who you got the idea from," Severus snapped, his eyes flashing murderously. "And you can bet that I'll be speaking to your uncle about this."

"Zack, actually, but all he said was…"

"It hardly matters, the point is it's the same source!" Severus said, growing even angrier as he stepped closer to the ring. "I thought I told you that if you were allowed in this club you were not to take any liberties, Mr. Snape!"

"No, you told me that the rules said I couldn't use any Dark magic. You didn't say I couldn't use one of my own."

"Using unpracticed magic is strictly against school policy, not to mention Ministry regulations!"

"Well if that's so, then how come so many spell books get revised every year? The new spells must have come about somehow," Andrew reasoned.

"That's more than enough! You'll march straight to Dumbledore's office this very instant and explain to him why you're there! And twenty points off Gryffindor for talking back to a professor! Out!"

"But sir, what about…"

"Now, Mr. Snape!" Severus barked again. Andrew nodded silently then and turned towards the door, suddenly aware that all the eyes in the room were on them. Severus was just as aware of Jennifer, Danny, and Hermione's eyes on him as he turned to face the tournament board with a long, deep sigh, tapping his wand irritably against his arm as he attempted to decide what to do.

"You know, I agree with you a hundred percent, Professor Snape," Danny put in. "He does need to understand the seriousness of practicing experimental magic without a license. Although I don't think that spinning a wand rapidly could possibly be considered a Dark spell."

"Yes, I definitely agree," Hermione put in with a serious nod. "After all, he did warn Mr. Meyers not to hold onto the wand, and perhaps if he hadn't been gripping it so tightly it wouldn't have resulted in such an... er …dramatic event. It's almost as if he defeated himself by holding onto it. Rather clever, really, Andrew has a gift for charms."

"I will make my own judgment without unsolicited opinions, if you don't mind, thank you," Severus told them coolly.

"He tried so hard not to fight at all before he acted," Jennifer said.

"Jennifer, this is a sparring club, the entire point of it is defeating your opponent," Severus said.

"The other day when I asked why there was a club at all, you told me the sparring club was put together to teach students how defend themselves." Jennifer said. "All Andrew was doing was trying to convince his opponent to a different solution other than violence while still quite effectively defending himself up to the point he felt he had no choice. How can we possibly discourage that?"

Severus let out another long sigh, looking at Jennifer for a long time before finally moving his wand to point at the board, Andrew's name appearing as the victor. A cheer of relief swept through the Gryffindor's side of the crowd, while the Slytherin were busy murmuring to each other, gazing at Severus almost accusingly.

"Next time I'll take my own advice, if you don't mind," Severus said irritably before turning back to the ring and calling the next pair.