A/N Welcome to book four of the Jennifer Craw Destiny Series (Series Three). If you are new to the series, it starts with Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand. This book is about the moral plight of one Aurelius Snape. Alicia gets Sorted, and some major changes take place in the Ministry...besides other places...and Lucius...well, behaves like Lucius. The first book in the third series is Jennifer Craw and the Diamonds of Time... if you like mixes of original characters in fanfic, hope you check it out. For everyone else, let's get started! Last revision-Sep 2021.
Jennifer Craw and the Shield of Snakes
Chapter One
Portrait of a Household
The private library was dark with a mere flickering candle for light as its master paced the length of it. How could this have happened? How could things have gotten so out of hand? Of course, the answer was the same as it always had been: because of Craw and Snape. The dark wizard's pale hand grasped something tightly in his fist; the means, perhaps, of their destruction… if only he could. Fury and frustration welled up in the man and he took it out on the room; a priceless cursed vase shattering into thousands of pieces at the force of his blow.
A painting of a couple suddenly turned into ghostly shapes and fled, while the window burst open, his hatred mirrored in the stormy weather outside. But what he hadn't expected was that someone had been watching him from the storm, and as he pivoted around to pace the other way, a flash of lightning smacked close behind him. The wizard turned, his wand in his hand and white hair whipping in the wind. As the light dimmed and he saw the tall beautiful woman in front of him, realization quickly sunk in. Ciardoth had returned.
In the cool mornings of summer when the sea held back the heat of the day, Jennifer Craw Snape, Potion Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, spent her time kneeling in a garden that had grown rather wild from neglect after the past year. But what a year it had been! A spell, commonly used on Muggles to keep them from remembering magic they might have stumbled into, had been used to cut Jennifer off from her memories. It might have worked, too, if it hadn't been for a bond she had once made with a Unicorn. Even in death, the Unicorn Keki, through the means of her son, had once again been able to save her life.
She had learned so much about herself in that year; things that she had taken for granted in the past. She had also learned a great deal more about her husband, Professor Severus Snape, than she could ever even guessed that she had missed. And she had learned quite a deal about her children, although admittedly there was still so much about them that she didn't understand.
Alex, her oldest daughter, had been having a most tumultuous summer filled with the aches and pains of growing up, while Aurelius, her oldest son by birth, barely spoke to her at all. Then came Andrew, whose eating spree caused him to shoot up another inch. He preferred spending his free time helping out their older adopted brother Corey in his alchemist's shop. And last but not least there was Alicia; her quiet surface nature incredibly deceiving; for in many ways the artist of the family had the tendency to put her heart in everything she did, and things she wanted done tended to get done, no matter what it was.
Right now, the youngest daughter was in the living room of the tiny cottage, sitting on a stool in front of her easel. She had just gotten done painting the outside of the Broom Closet on the canvas; the modest porch and vine covered walled garden that her mother was working in, the small white-washed stone building itself and the cliff it resided on overlooking the ocean. Using a technique she had recently learned from her instructor, Mr. Pyther, Alicia had then opened the door of her painting as well as the house's real door and stepped in.
The canvas became blank again except for the edge of the door itself, and she added the interior of the bookshelf laden front room and small kitchen to it without leaving out any of the detail; from the trinkets and jewelry boxes on the fireplace to the fancy Muggle coffeemaker that sat on the end of the bar. She was busy adding some fine lines to the different exits so she could continue the next part of the painting when the basement door opened and she had to pause as her father stepped out, looking at her curiously.
"What are you doing inside? I thought it was Alex's day to pick the game?" Severus asked her.
"She's having another melodramatic day so we're all doing other things. Could you close the door, Father? I'm painting it," Alicia replied.
"Haven't you made sketches of the house before?" Severus said, but closed the door anyhow. "And there had better not be any of us in there," he said, coming over to frown suspiciously at it. "Interesting perspective," he admitted reluctantly.
"Mr. Pyther is teaching me three-dimensional layered impressionism," Alicia explained, squinting at the front door in the painting. Immediately the image backed up, showing the outside of the cottage once more. "See? All the viewer has to do is concentrate on the door and it opens, and you can see further out or in. Look," she said, squinting at the door again, bringing the view inside.
"Yes, fine, but stay out of my study and our bedroom," Severus warned her.
"But Mum said I could paint the bedroom so long as I stay outside the door," Alicia protested. "She thought my painting was clever."
"Too clever," Severus muttered, stepping out the back door into the garden. Jennifer immediately looked up from her garden cushion, smiling at him.
"So how's the experiment coming?" she asked.
"Predictably unpredictable. Jennifer, did you give Alicia permission to paint our room?"
"Only if she stands by the door. I'm hardly going to take off the wards we've placed on it for that," Jennifer replied.
"Yes, but you know what her paintings are capable of. If she has a painting of our room, she can get in any time she likes just by stepping into it," Severus scowled.
"Severus, if she wanted to, she could do that now," Jennifer reminded him. "You always insist on hanging that portrait of me in there anytime we're home, and I have a sketch of you that she could use to get in if she wanted to."
"Let's not give her any ideas," Severus snapped.
"Severus, none of the children have ever, ever tried to violate the rules we set about our private space."
"There's always a first time," Severus grumped.
"And if so, it'd happen with or without the painting. Goodness, Severus, she merely wants to paint a picture of her home. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you didn't trust your children too much," Jennifer taunted him.
"Never trust anyone under the age of eighteen," Severus agreed. "Where are the boys?"
"Aviation Park, I believe. Alex is in her room. She says she's not feeling well still," Jennifer sighed.
"Didn't she take the potion I gave her?"
"Yes, Severus, but really I think it's more than just that," Jennifer said, standing. "No matter what her body's telling her, I just don't think Alex wants to grow up yet. And frankly, I don't think the other three want her to either."
"Still, she is rather immature for her age, isn't she?"
"I think they all are," Jennifer admitted. "But don't worry, I'm sure she'll be up for the party."
"Whether or not she thinks she's up to it, she's going," Severus said firmly, stepping back inside to where his younger daughter was still busy painting. "Very well, Alicia, from outside the door," he said, the girl grinning widely at that. "But I had better not catch you in there. Ever."
"Thank you Father," Alicia said, happily mixing up a new batch of brown, waving to him as he went out the front door.
It had not always been easy being the youngest Snape, even with her twin cousins nearby to keep her company during those rough times when her mother was missing last year. Every letter and every holiday, she got to hear of their amazing adventures at school, adventures that she was left out of. Not that she and her cousins hadn't their own set of adventures, but none of them seemed significant compared to what her siblings were doing. On top of that, the excursions through her paintings just didn't seem as fun anymore now that her parents, aunt, and uncle knew about them. It had lost its excitement, and Alicia found that many times she would much rather just paint them instead of explore them.
But now it was going to be her turn, assuming the Hogwarts letters ever got there. Her Mum said it would be any day now. At last the entire family would be together, no more Saturday visits or anxious letters. Alicia put her brush down as she thought of it, afraid that her anticipation would seep into the painting. As much as she liked the Broom Closet, the idea of finally going to Hogwarts seemed much more important, and now it was less than a month and a half away!
She looked up as her Mum came in with a dusty but satisfied face, smiling at her as she went to wash off her hands.
"So how's it coming?" Jennifer asked.
"All right, almost done in here," Alicia said.
"Well then, maybe do the bedroom next? Perhaps your Father won't grouse so if he knows I'm watching," she winked, opening the icebox thoughtfully.
"Mum, is Mr. Pyther still going to be able to give me art lessons while I'm at Hogwarts?" Alicia asked, moving her easel.
"Yes, actually it'll be more convenient for him in a lot of ways," Jennifer said, putting some things on the counter. She had gotten into the habit lately of cooking nearly every meal herself instead of getting Mercy, their Head Elf to do it. She was even starting to get better at it, although Alicia admitted to sneaking sandwiches now and again. "Mr. Pyther often refurbishes the paintings at the castle, and he lives in Hogsmeade so it's much closer. We'll have to see how your schedule is. Well, assuming you get a letter of course," Jennifer added teasingly. Alicia looked up in pure fear.
"You do think I'll get a letter, don't you, Mum?" Alicia asked nervously. "I don't want to be left out again."
"Now, don't you think there'd be more than a minor revolt in this house if you didn't get one?" Jennifer smiled at her. "You have been actively using a magical talent all of your life."
"But what if that is the only talent I've got?" Alicia asked.
"Then it would be a good thing that you like what you do," Jennifer smiled mischievously at her, turning back to her work.
Just then, the door opened and in came two boys. Aurelius, the older, was the shorter of the two with dark hair and stormy eyes that never seemed to want to look at anyone directly. Then came Andrew, one year younger with a lanky scarecrow build, awkward nose and thin blonde hair, smiling warmly at them as he came in. Severus stepped in behind them.
"Lunch almost done?" Andrew asked cheerfully.
"Yes, and afterwards you should start thinking of getting cleaned up for tonight. It's Corey's birthday, you know," Jennifer told him. "Set the table, Andrew."
"What is this? Do you know what Alicia's doing?" Aurelius said almost accusingly as he spied her sitting by the bedroom door.
"She's doing her homework for Mr. Pyther, but don't worry, I'm supervising," Jennifer said, glancing at Severus who still didn't seem to keen on the idea. But as Aurelius turned around to look at him, Severus' expression changed, nodding to Jennifer and Alicia in full support as he tossed his cloak on the chair. "Aurelius, go upstairs and tell your sister to come down, please."
"Are you mad? You know what she's like this time of the month. She turns into some sort of alien creature or something. I swear it's like having a werewolf in the house," Aurelius complained.
"Aurelius, you will not speak to your mother that way, nor will I allow you to speak of such a serious disease in normal banter. Now go do as your told," Severus warned him.
"If I don't, will you make me stay home?" Aurelius suggested brightly. But one more look from his father told him he was hardly amused. Muttering to himself, Aurelius opened up a bookcase in the front room and went in. A moment later there was a scream from upstairs and Severus let out a long exasperated sigh.
"I'll go get her, Mum," Alicia offered, quickly cleaning off her paintbrush and slipping past her father, who then went to scowl at the painting.
"She's really getting good, isn't she?" Andrew commented. He pulled out the bar to form a table, quickly setting it and taking his place. "You can hardly tell the difference between her scenery and Mr. Pyther's any more. Of course, she still has trouble with faces when she does portraits," he added thoughtfully.
"Always so eager to enter our opinion, aren't we, Andrew?" Severus frowned, glancing back at him.
"Of course. Mum says it's a Snape trait," Andrew said. Jennifer suddenly became very busy, refusing to look around knowing that Severus' eyes were centered on her.
Upstairs, Alicia entered to see Aurelius standing in the center of Alex's room, refusing to budge despite her threatening him with her wand.
"Go ahead, do it. See how fast I can get Mum and Father up here," he dared her.
"I've told you once I've told you a hundred times, I don't want you in my room!" Alex said.
"What? Afraid I'll tell your friends all your smelly little secrets? Like this Poxnix Pimple Potion?" Aurelius taunted her.
"Aurelius, did you even bother to tell her that Mum wants us down for lunch?" Alicia sighed.
"She hasn't given me the chance. The moment I came in, she started screaming like a banshee. Sounded just like one too," he added.
"You don't come in my room! And most especially you don't barge into a girl's room without knocking!" she shouted at him.
"Well, even if you weren't my sister, it isn't as if there is much to see, is it?" Aurelius said. Alicia quickly jumped between them just as Alex made a move to cast.
"You have turned into the most repulsive little worm since you joined Slytherin!" Alex declared venomously.
"That's nothing compared to what you've turned into over the last few months. So tell me, what's it like to be a Harpy with the complexion of a toad, anyhow?" Aurelius sneered.
"That's it! I'm getting Mum!" Alicia declared, stomping out of the room.
Her two older siblings stopped arguing and looked in the direction she went, trying to decide if she were serious or not. Finally they both clamored out of the room, managing to catch up just as she opened the door. Alex and Aurelius glared at one another as if promising that this argument wasn't over yet.
"There, so she is still alive after all," Jennifer observed, nodding for them to take their places. "Mercy and Folly are going to put some outfits together for you on your beds, so when you're done eating, I want you to get ready. I'd rather get there early so we can help Essie and Corey set up security."
"Security? I thought this was going to be a mixed party?" Alex said with alarm. "Ben said he and his family were going."
"It is, but we can't possibly have some stranger from outside of Haven's Bluff wander by and see some of the things they've planned for the party," Jennifer explained.
"Oh, yes. One more Muggle may find out about our jolly little town. That would be tragic," Aurelius said sarcastically.
"Aurelius, I am quite sure I've warned all of you how this town is hardly the most popular in the eyes of the current council. The last thing we need to do is make any more waves," Severus said sternly. "And I had better not catch any of you playing any 'tricks,' no matter how harmless, on any of the Muggles that are going, either. Not only will it get you in trouble with the Ministry casting spells, but your mother and I will assuredly not be happy," he warned.
"That includes Ben," Alex added.
"That includes everyone," Severus said, frowning disapprovingly at his daughter for speaking out of turn. Just then there was a flutter of wings behind them. Jennifer got up to meet Dodger at the kitchen window, the family owl carrying a rather large bundle of letters. "Bill day already?" Severus said casually when he saw stack.
"Well, definitely a lot of official looking mail at any rate," Jennifer said cryptically. "Six of them even seem to have the same seal on them, strangely enough."
"Did you say six?" Alicia repeated excitedly.
"Well, I may have miscounted them, let's see, one for me, two…" Jennifer passed one to Severus, who looked disinterested and tucked it in his pocket. "three, four, five…" she tossed the others to Alex, Aurelius, and Andrew. "Well what do you know? Six," Jennifer said, handing Alicia the last Hogwarts letter while her daughter beamed gratefully at her. "I suppose that means everyone has one now."
"Every one of us!" Andrew said cheerfully. He hugged his sister, Alex following suit while on the other side of her Aurelius congratulated her with a smile. Jennifer went over behind Severus then, wrapping her arms around his neck, and whispering in his ear.
"All together at last," she told him happily.
"Not until the last one is Sorted," he murmured back, taking the rest of the letters out of her hand and looking through them, handing one back to her, "One from Vallid. And here's one from your father."
"Addressed to you, no doubt," Jennifer said wryly, standing up again and opening her letter. "Craters!"
"Mum!" Andrew said in horror, the girls staring at her with their jaws agape. Aurelius sniggered. If any of them had said that word, they would have been burping bubbles for the rest of the day.
"Jennifer, the children," Severus said, glancing up from his letter. "What's wrong?"
"There had better be a letter from the Ministry here about this," Jennifer said dangerously, throwing the Vallid letter at Severus as she searched for the rest, finding a Ministry note buried between two cauldron advertisements and snatching it up.
"'Longbottom has plead guilty to breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, which is a 3rd degree burglary charge and class D felony which ranges from two and a half to seven years maximum penalty. However, due to lack of evidence on the part of the original kidnapping, the Ministry agreed not to extradite Longbottom on such charges providing that he plead guilty to the charge of 'abusing a controlled spell with intent to harm' which has a maximum penalty of…'" Severus then said something that made even Aurelius look shocked.
"Six months," Jennifer finished grimly, not even commenting on what was spoken. "But it was either that, or 'lead him into a trial without any substantial evidence at all and have to deal with the high probability that he would walk out of there exonerated of all guilt in the case,' thus states Minister Brown," she repeated, shaking her head at the Ministry letter.
"And it states that since it's his first charge, even at maximum penalty he is likely to get out of there in a couple of years," Severus snarled. "If I didn't know Baylor was getting put away for a long time, I'd be completely put out over this."
"If you and Harry hadn't done what you did, he might have gotten away with it completely," Jennifer said, putting an arm on his shoulder again. "Now he's had to admit to the world he's done it. And Malfoy's counselors or not, nothing is going to be able to ever blot that charge out."
"Six months. Absolutely laughable," Severus grumbled again. "If it had been an illegal spell, he'd have been serving time in Azkaban for it."
"Normally, I'd assume the charge is accompanied by a main charge and it's just there to add a little time to it," Jennifer replied.
"Our lives were nearly destroyed by that spell!" Severus snapped.
"But they weren't. Because you didn't let it," Jennifer comforted him. Aurelius suddenly stood up and stormed down into the basement, slamming the door behind him. Everyone stared at it. "Ugh, I should probably go talk to him," Jennifer said.
"Give him a few minutes," Severus advised, glancing at the table. "The three of you had best get ready. Here, let me have those," he said, holding his hand out for the letters, smiling thinly at Alicia when she handed him hers. Grinning, Alicia followed the others up the stairs.
"Strange," Jennifer said, watching the bookcase slowly swing shut behind them. "Here we are at the brink of the very moment we've been waiting for since Alexandria was born, and yet it seems only yesterday when she was up the chimney and they were crawling about the floor and I thought we would never get them here. Now they're all so big, and independent, and in some cases downright stubborn," she added, looking towards the basement door.
"Of course," Severus said, turning back to the mail and handing the one from her father to her. "It's a Craw trait, don't you know."