Chapter Four

Start of the Fall

Jennifer wasn't about to miss this wand choosing. It still pained her to remember how she had missed when Andrew got his wand last year, choosing a rabbit foot wand. A smile came to her face as she thought about it. Her first familiar had been a rabbit, and somehow having Andrew choosing one seemed so appropriate. In fact, each child had chosen decidedly well, and now it was her youngest child's turn.

Alex and Aurelius, who were restless and wanting to see their friends, were quickly dismissed to go hunt down their books and things for the year. But Andrew stayed close at hand, as curious as his parents were when Alicia stepped up to the counter.

"Ah, here we are at last, Miss Snape! Goodness, but you look like your grandmother, don't you?" Ollivander smiled at her. "Looking forward to joining your siblings at Hogwarts?"

"Very much, thank you," she said eagerly, watching him put the boxes on the counter.

"Here we are, let's try this Pixie toe, shall we?" he suggested.

Alicia took the golden oak wand curiously, but didn't even get a full wave in before he yanked it away again, upgrading her to a Hippogriff feather. It sounded fantastic, Alicia thought, and she did like the strange bluish patina in the grey wood, but once again he took it away. It was the serpent's tooth he went for next, the same type, she remembered, as her father's. But again he took it away, growing thoughtful.

"Well, I do believe we are getting closer," he said before slipping to the back in an unlit corner. Jennifer and Severus exchanged a frown, guessing that was reserved for long-term storage of nocturnal components. Was their youngest actually the first and only one that needed a dark wand? "Here we are, it's one of these two I think," Ollivander smiled. "Let's try the batwing first, shall we?"

Jennifer admitted she wouldn't have minded Alicia having batwing wand, but even though Ollivander let her get a full wave of it this time, he once again put it away. Then he slipped out a beautiful deep blood red wand, not quite as dark as Jennifer's rosewood with beautiful purple ring lines. She knew it was right before Alicia had even tried it, for it looked like the wand of an artist.

"Wonderful! A perfect match!" Ollivander declared, a glow coming to Alicia's face that was only partially caused by the tingle of magic heavy in the air. "And quite astounding, really, considering the wand has been sitting on that shelf for several hundred years now."

"Several hundred?" Jennifer said thoughtfully.

"Yes. A thirteen-inch Kingwood vampire tooth wand, one of a kind, in fact," Ollivander said. Jennifer quickly looked up at her husband as the color drained out of her face, while Alicia looked delighted.

"A what?" Severus stared at him.

"Severus, Alicia just found her wand, it's marvelous, isn't it, isn't it marvelous?" Jennifer said, nodding at him and standing in front of him to catch his eye.

"You know, I'm not certain that's quite right. Why don't we try the batwing again? I'm sure that was better suited for her. Don't you agree, Jennifer?" Severus suggested, his face expressionless.

"No, really! I like this wand!" Alicia said. "Nobody else I know has a vampire tooth wand." Severus flinched slightly.

"Oh, I know a few very good wizards that have had them, Miss Snape, but it's not common, of course. Then again, you do have quite a deal of Craw blood in you. Receiving a dark wand is hardly unheard of. In fact, I find it quite amazing that you were the first of the four," he admitted with a smile, wrapping it up and handing it to her while Jennifer quickly paid for it.

"Yes, it is amazing. It's lovely, isn't it lovely, Severus?"

"Yes," Severus said, sounding anything but thrilled. "Lovely."

Aurelius had paused to gaze in the Quidditch shop window when he heard his name called and looked up to see Stock. He was wearing brand new robes and looking rather impressive, despite the fact that he hadn't only grown up but out over the summer, and a pair of thin spectacles now rested upon his nose. A man was with him that Aurelius had never seen before, wearing old but carefully mended robes. The wizard had light brown hair that looked almost as if it were fading rather than greying.

"So? What did your parents say about Alicia?" Stock asked.

"She can play as long as her marks are good and she stays out of trouble," Aurelius said, nodding to the man politely.

"Oh, that's just my Dad," Stock said, as if reluctant to admit it. "Dad, this is Aurelius Snape, one of my friends at school."

"That's right, one of Jennifer Craw's boys," the man smiled and offered his hand, which Aurelius took. "Pleased to meet you."

"Coming in, Aurelius? I'm going to buy some new equipment since I know I'm on the team this year," Stock said casually. "Maybe I'll get some for the rest of the team too. Need anything?"

"Not really, but thanks. I'll come look for a moment, though," Aurelius said, going in with him. Inside, Aurelius was surprised to see Hephaestus as well with his father, the two of them in a heated discussion. A brown-haired girl Aurelius assumed was his sister stood nearby with new Hogwarts robes under her arm, rolling her eyes.

"What you have at home is more than good enough. There's no wear and tear on your bat or your broom," Mr. Grey was telling his son. "Just the goggles."

"Fine," Heph said, catching a glimpse of Stock and Aurelius as they came in. "He's just getting me goggles."

"No problem, I can get the rest," Stock said casually.

"Thank you, George, but he doesn't need it and neither do we need your charity," Grey told Stock coldly. "Come, Heph, we still need to get Phoebe's books."

"I could use a new bat," Heph told Stock.

"Hephaestus, I said no! Not after what happened earlier!" Mr. Grey said sternly, opening the door for them. The young girl went out, shaking her head and muttering something about 'brothers.' "Now, let's be off. I don't want to be at this all day!"

"What did you do?" Aurelius whispered.

"Splintered my bat on my sister's stone head," Heph whispered back then glanced at Stock. "Get me a Pummelwick, will you?"

"Right," Stock said, waving to him as he left. "Is he parent whipped or what?"

"Speaking of which, I had better get back to my shopping as well," Aurelius said.

"Sure you don't need anything?" Stock asked.

"No, but I'll let you know," Aurelius grinned at him. "Goodbye, Mr. Stockton."

"Nice to meet you, Aurelius. Perhaps you can come visit sometime. Over the holidays, perhaps," Mr. Stockton offered.

"If I'm still living with him," Stock put in.

"You will be," Mr. Stockton smiled thinly. "I think our new counselor will see to that."

"So it's true, then?" Aurelius looked up in surprise to find Lucius Malfoy standing near the door, giving the man a calm but very cold look.

"Ah, Lucius. I figured it'd only be a matter of time before you showed up after you found out your son took over the case," Mr. Stockton said with an almost triumphant smile.

"And exactly how are you paying for this? Pro bono?"

"I happened to have had a long talk with Professor Dumbledore over the summer, and it was he who offered Draco's services, stating that he thought it was in George's best interests to do so."

"You would let a total stranger come in and not only blatantly interfere in your family life, but take over the battle?" Lucius asked.

"Why not? That's what my son did hiring that Rummert fellow," Stockton said icily.

"Father, I'll remind you that you're under a court order not to insult my counselor in front of me," Stock reminded him.

"Now, now, let's not let family politics ruin your little shopping trip," Lucius said, tsking. "Besides, Stock, I wouldn't worry about your father getting help on this. The fact that he's willing to take help from Dumbledore is merely a sign that he is losing the battle. I'm sure you'll be out from under his thumb soon enough. Good day."

Aurelius watched as Lucius stepped out the door, the eyes of Mr. Stockton also following him out with wary dislike. But Aurelius found himself trailing behind, glancing to make sure none of his siblings were watching as he slipped behind him into the cauldron shop. Not that Aurelius really needed anything in there; in fact, no one of his family did. He browsed aimlessly for a moment before Lucius looked around as if noticing him for the first time, smiling thinly as he stepped over.

"Well, if it isn't Aurelius Snape again. Weren't you just in the Quidditch shop?"

"Just browsing," Aurelius admitted. "I'm waiting for my parents to get done getting my baby sister's stuff."

"Oh, are they both here?" Lucius said with surprise. "I suppose I should be going then. I wouldn't want any unpleasantness."

"Don't worry, they won't come in here. We've been buying most of our cauldrons and stuff directly from the maker," Aurelius admitted. "I was just curious. I mean, to see what they carried."

"And here I was hoping that perhaps you came in here wanting to speak to me," Lucius said.

"Why would I want to do that?" Aurelius asked quickly.

"That is what I'm still waiting to hear, Mr. Snape," Lucius said, his eyes never leaving his. Aurelius sighed softly.

"I suppose I just wanted to say, the other day at the park… I understand what you were saying, about being betrayed and all," Aurelius said. Lucius nodded slowly.

"Yes, I thought you might," he said quietly. "And now it appears my so-called son is now tampering with your friend Stock's life as well. But don't worry. Draco is no match for Rummert in the courtroom. Rummert is also one of my counselors, you know, and no one is more cunning. And I know that it is hard to live with being betrayed by family like that, but I find there's no better cure to a problem than actually doing something about the problem. I have disowned him, much like Stock is legally disowning his parents, much like you, at times, would like to do to yours, I imagine. It can't possibly be easy being a Snape, especially having to live in the shadow of Willowby. Come, tell me the truth, Aurelius, may I call you that?" he asked, standing close to him, his voice barely above a whisper as he made a play at looking over a set of phials. "Have you ever tried to think of ways to correct the Willowby problem?"

"I'd never hurt him," Aurelius murmured.

"No, of course not. It would break your parents hearts, I'm sure," Lucius agreed. "But that doesn't mean there aren't ways to teach him a lesson. You deserve so much more than what you're getting, Aurelius. After all, you were the first-born son, and yet here you are, stuck playing second to a mudblood pretender. I know what its like to stand in the shadow of someone else, Aurelius, but what you need to understand is something that in time I came to understand; the best way to get out of someone's shadow is to take the light into your own hands," he said, moving a step back and glancing at a pocket watch. "But I need to be off. Why don't you take this," he said, handing him a business card. Aurelius took it thoughtfully. "It'll help your owl get past my security if you ever want to contact me, or need some advice on… well... anything. Even so, I suggest we keep this just between us? I wouldn't want you to get into any trouble with your parents."

"Aren't you afraid I might turn this into my parents and they'll have a way into your security?" Aurelius asked daringly.

"Yes, that's thinking like a Slytherin," Lucius said with a thin smile. "But one can't go through life trusting nothing just because one person has betrayed you. No, you have to learn to trust again. And I think I can trust you," he said decisively.

With a quick nod and another look at his watch, Lucius went out the door again, leaving Aurelius to stare at the card he had been handed. What if it was trapped, or cursed? The words of his parents about never accepting anything from anyone pounded through his head as he stuck the card in an inside pocket and went outside. Immediately he heard his name called, and he looked up to see Alex walking towards him.

"There you are! What were you doing in there?"

"Nothing, just looking," he shrugged.

"Well, we're going to go eat at the Leaky Cauldron. Come on," Alex said. "You all right? You look funny."

"Just tired, I suppose," Aurelius shrugged, following her through an arch and into the back door where a table was set up for them. Everyone else was already there, and Severus looked between them thoughtfully, putting away his watch.

"He was hanging outside the cauldron shop of all places," Alex said with exasperation.

"Well, I hope you didn't buy anything. We can get better prices direct," Jennifer told him. "Did you find everything on your list?"

"Yes, Mum," Aurelius said, taking a seat beside Alex.

"Good, then I guess we're officially done then, except for Corey's," Jennifer said. "I let him know we would be stopping by tomorrow so he can have most of the Hogwarts order ready."

"Good. Alex, Aurelius, Andrew, I want you to get out your potion kits tonight and write down what you need so we don't forget anything this year," Severus said.

"Yes, the last thing we need is anyone else in this family to forget anything," Aurelius said dryly. Jennifer and Severus both gave him a fixed look.

"Aurelius, do me a favor. If you can't improve the silence, don't speak," Severus said.

"Can I show them my wand?" Alicia asked.

"When we get home, you can. I don't want you losing it or getting it dirty already," Jennifer told her.

"What kind did you get?" Alex asked with interest.

"A thirteen-inch kingwood vampire tooth!" Alicia beamed. Jennifer glanced at Severus but only his hand flinched that time as he reached for his drink.

"Wow," Alex said in surprise.

"You? Little miss sunshine has a Dark wand?" Aurelius said in disbelief. Alicia stuck her tongue out at him. "I thought Ollivander was mad before giving me a Unicorn wand, but now I know he is. She doesn't have a dark bone in her body."

"She has Craw blood, as you all do," Jennifer said curtly. "And besides, it's not about the wand but how you use it. I'm sure you'll do fine with it, Alicia."

"Well, at least with that wand, I bet she'll fit in at the Slytherin table better than I did," Aurelius said.

"With your wand you should have been a Hufflepuff," Alex told Aurelius disdainfully, getting a jab for it. "Besides, you want to be a Ravenclaw, don't you, Alicia?"

"I don't know, really. I wouldn't mind being in the same house with Zoë and Zack," Alicia admitted.

"Oh no, don't tell me they're coming too," Aurelius grumbled. "I thought Zoë wanted to go back to the States for school."

"No, their father is making them stay here," Alicia said. "So it'll be all six of us!"

"I just hope Hogwarts is ready for it," Jennifer chuckled softly.

"I'm not," Severus admitted, eating his stew.

"So Mum, about what you were saying about that Craw blood thing. Does that mean that some of us might have a knack for Dark magic?" Aurelius asked. Severus and Jennifer both looked up at him, studying him carefully.

"That depends on what you mean as Dark magic, Aurelius. Any spell can be dangerous if used improperly, as you should well know by now," Jennifer said.

"Well then what determines if a wizard or witch is Dark or not?" Aurelius asked.

"Usually by the way they choose to use it," Jennifer said.

"Does that mean you're a Dark witch then?" Aurelius asked evenly. Alicia gasped in shock, and Alex and Andrew sat with their jaws open. But strangely enough, neither parent seemed too upset about the question, only more intent.

"What makes you believe that, Aurelius?" Jennifer asked.

"I overheard someone the other day who said that you put a death spell on Lucius Malfoy, and that if he hurts any of us, he'll die," Aurelius said. "Is it true?"

"Where did you hear this? That's hardly public knowledge," Severus said sharply.

"At the park," Aurelius shrugged.

"Severus, don't forget you did mention it in front of quite a few people that day at the hospital," Jennifer pointed out.

"You mean what he's saying is true? You have a curse on Lucius Malfoy?" Alex asked. "That's why he saved me that day at the park, isn't it? That's why he was so angry!"

"Boy, that's a load off my mind. I've had nightmares about him since I was little," Andrew admitted.

"Just a minute, all of you. Just because he can't harm you doesn't mean he isn't dangerous," Jennifer said firmly. "He would stop at nothing to make us suffer if he could. I think what happened last year proves that."

"But I thought you said that Malfoy had nothing to do with it, and that Longbottom did it," Aurelius said.

"Yes, but it could have very easily been Malfoy," Severus said. "And considering he survived with the knowledge that Amadeus did it, despite the curse's stipulation that he must intervene, he might have survived had he done it himself."

"I don't see why that matters. I mean, if he had nothing to do with it, he had nothing to do with it, right?" Aurelius asked.

"Aurelius, the point is that if given an opportunity, he wouldn't hesitate to harm any of us. That's why the curse is there," Jennifer said sincerely. "And despite quite a few opinions from people close to me that I should have killed him outright," she glanced back at Severus who looked back at her somberly. "I would like to think that what I did was the right thing. All right?"

"Fine," Aurelius said, turning his attention back to his food despite that fact that she hadn't answered his question about being a Dark witch or not.

"Also to add to that, I would rather that this not become a normal subject of conversation. The less who know about the curse, the better," Severus put in. Although all four of the Snape children passed glances to each other, none of them spoke after that.

Aurelius tossed and turned in his bed that night until he finally gave up. Making sure his father wasn't still working in his study, he tiptoed up to the living room. He could hear the waves crashing beyond the curtain as he approached and slipped past it, looking out onto the dark sea. As softly but as evenly as he could he let out a whistle, waiting impatiently until Dodger appeared, handing him a note with the card attached. He waited a moment, making eye contact with the bird, feeling his mind bend around it.

"This is just between us, Dodger," Aurelius murmured, feeling the Owl enter the Pact. "All right, take this to the Malfoy estate." He sat down upon the balcony and stared up at the moonlight, a mere shadow sitting in the darkness.