Chapter Six
With and Without Contest
Jennifer woke up and stretched from where she lay on the cot, the light catching on the wall where she had pinned up copies of the London Times and the Daily Prophet over the past week and a half. The Times especially seemed more comical and yet grimmer to her with tourists reporting of beautiful women in secret organizations freeing them from government terrorism practices. The Daily Prophet, at least, took a closer look at the true problem at hand… that is, it did after the novelty of the two Professors in jail pending a hearing had worn off. The true problem was what had kept Jennifer monitoring the papers like a hawk every single day; what was the fate of the town going to be, now that it had turned into a political nightmare?
Reaching over to the rickety stand, she grabbed her yellow pocket mirror and then walked across the Tower cell and over to the bars, opening it. But this time, she wasn't interested in looking at herself to see what she was thinking. Instead, she saw the image of Severus Snape where he stood in the next cell.
"Thought you would sleep all day, did you?" Severus said.
"Sorry, good morning. Have you been awake long?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes. I don't suppose you have my coffee ready?" Severus asked.
"Once we get out of here, I swear I'll make you coffee every day for the rest of the year. I owe you at least that much considering what you've gone through because of this," Jennifer sighed.
"Let's not get into that again. You didn't ask me to step in, and I've told you before not to feel obligated for other people's decisions. Besides, we've only a few more days left of this if Draco is correct and I believe he is. They're not likely to hold us after the hearing. We will be a bit late for work, of course."
"Don't remind me. Trying to get all of my pre-term potion making done in just a week is going to be harried at best," Jennifer said.
"Oh, I have a feeling you may be able to find a way to bribe another professor into helping you get done in time," Severus said with a wicked smile.
"Oh really? What sort of bribery did you have in mind?" Jennifer asked, leaning on the bars.
"Well, I'm sure you can think of something. I hear you're supposed to be very clever… for a Potions Master."
"Severus Snape! You are so lucky that I can't get to you right now for that comment!" Jennifer said, chuckling in spite of herself.
"What is going on here?"
Jennifer quickly snapped her mirror shut and pulled her arm back through the bars out of reach as Thurspire strode in, looking between them with annoyance. Beside them stood Draco Malfoy and Sergeant Tibbs, who looked after the holding block.
"Well, well, well, Deputy Minister Thurspire," Severus said in a less than respectful tone. "How nice of you to visit. What took you so long? I had thought you would have been up here to gloat the very same night."
"I have been busy investigating your town's illegal magic practices," Thurspire replied. "Whose bright idea was it to put them in adjacent cells? And who was the idiot who allowed them to have mirrors?" he snarled. "Don't you know how many spells can be cast without wands using just a hand mirror?" The jailer cleared his throat.
"Minister Weasley was the id…er, the person who authorized it, sir. Along with the open windows at the ends of the hall," Tibbs said. "He thought it'd make things a bit more comfortable for Professor Craw, considering."
"I don't believe it. We send them to jail for disrupting Ministry officials and he sends them on vacation!" Thurspire growls. "What's next? Gourmet meals?"
"Conjugal visits?" Severus suggested. Thurspire glared at him.
"Sorry, Severus, that only applies to long-term sentences," Draco said, managing to keep a straight face.
"Oh, well. Perhaps next time around then," Severus said, sounding disappointed. Jennifer laughed openly at that, Thurspire looking even more furious than before.
"Good morning!" They all looked up to see Albus Dumbledore standing in the hall with a tray in hand, smiling warmly. "I've brought your breakfast."
"They don't eat in the mess hall?" Thurspire asked.
"What? Like common criminals?" Tibbs said with surprise.
"Let's see, eggs benedict, that would be yours I think Severus… and froutalia for the witch of the house," Dumbledore said, the bars parting to make way for the trays. Thurspire gaped openly in disbelief. "Oh, and a special treat… a late birthday present from me, Jennifer. Anna had to go to the States this morning so I had her send back some fresh coffee, a la Kingler's, of course."
"Brilliant! Dumbledore, you're a godsend!" Jennifer said enthusiastically as she accepted the cup.
"Yes, I know. Severus, for you?" he said, handing him another cup.
"That is it!" Thurspire growled in fury. "I'm issuing a complaint to Ministers Brown and Weasley!" he declared, stomping out of the room.
"I hope you haven't replaced us yet, have you, Professor?" Severus asked.
"No, although…" Dumbledore paused a moment, as if changing his mind about what he was going to say. "I will be very glad to have you both back out of there and in Hogwarts again."
"Were they very hard on you, Professor? I mean, for sticking up for me?" Jennifer asked.
"Do not worry, Jennifer," Dumbledore said. "I was more than happy to admit to being involved in the rescue, and a guilty plea and a fine is nothing compared to what issues this has brought back to the surface. Many of the Council members are taking a very hard look at their decision to allow the Obliviation Curse. And I am not the only one out there who is sympathetic to what you did. Also, I spoke to Corey yesterday after Anna came to pick the children up, and he and the other children are proud of what you did as well."
"How is Corey? I assume the Ministry still hasn't allowed him to reopen?" Severus asked.
"Yes, please, what can you tell us about what's going on in town? The papers have been anything but encouraging. They all seem to think the Ministry wants to shut Corey's shop down permanently," Jennifer said.
"Jennifer, have you been reading the Times as well? Ah, yes, I see that you have," Dumbledore said with a sigh. "I would like to give you both a more positive view than what you've been given so far, really I would. But the fact is that the incident has had very long reaching effects in both Muggle and non-Muggle worlds. A great many people are frightened and upset, and if the Council were called today to decide the matter of whether or not to continue allowing the open community… I'm afraid that fear would dramatically alter the vote."
"But Albus, it wasn't Corey's fault! He was set up! What about that girl with the lemonade, the one all the Muggles swear they saw but no one knew who it was?" Jennifer asked.
"Especially considering there was a little girl involved in the party incident early in the year," Severus agreed. "Don't they think that's a little bit curious?"
"Not to mention the idea of a Muggle stealing specific potions. Even if it was a Muggle, or a squib, they couldn't have acted alone," Jennifer pointed out.
"And what about that phony brochure announcing 'Witch's' Bluff' as a tourist destination, when the town hadn't used that name in decades? Even Thurspire can't be that much of an idiot." Severus said.
"Yes, yes, I agree with both of you, of course," Dumbledore assured them. "However, it doesn't answer the Council's question about whether or not some similar incident might have happened on its own. What if some group of unsuspecting Muggles did stumble in the town, and then stumble in the shop? Could the outcome have been the same?"
"Maybe," Jennifer admitted. "But accidental magic happens in front of Muggles all the time, everywhere, and we deal with it as it comes up! Why can't we just deal with this in the same way? I don't want this one single incident to destroy what everyone in that town has fought so hard for these last ten years; a chance to live together without anyone having to hide anything."
"Oh, Jennifer, I know," Dumbledore said softly. "And I don't want to see it either. But I want you to promise me that whatever happens next, you don't blame yourselves for it. Let the guilt work its way on those truly responsible; don't let it consume you as well. You did what you had to, as you always have done. Remember that," he said, making eye contact with both of them. "Now I must be getting back to the school. Quite a bit to do there, don't you know. I'll see you after the hearing," he added as he walked away. Draco, who had been standing back listening thoughtfully to Dumbledore took a few steps closer.
"I don't like how he said that," Jennifer said softly. "It certainly didn't sound like his normal 'everything's going to be all right' speech."
"Yes, I believe that translated to 'brace yourselves,'" Severus agreed somberly. "Corey is going to lose the shop."
"Oh, Severus," Jennifer said aggrieved. "He's going to be so heartbroken."
"So, Counselor, since you're all we've got, what's your advice?" Severus asked, leaning on the bars.
"Well, don't say it like that," Draco said indignantly. "It is not my fault that Vallid's tied up in the Baylor-Longbottom case. But, I have a feeling she'd agree with me on this one. You've really got only one plea open to you."
"Jennifer Craw Snape," Magistrate Muse said, glancing over at the podium where she stood, the room seeming strangely dark to her as she stepped up. "You have been accused by the Ministry of Assaulting a Ministry officer with a disarm spell, illegal possession of a Ministry officer's wand, twelve counts of threatening a Ministry official with a death curse, and willful obstruction of the Ministry's attempts to carry out their duties. How do you plead?"
"No contest, sir," Jennifer said. A murmur erupted in the crowd behind them, only to be silenced by a single look in their direction from the head Magistrate.
"Severus Snape," Muse said, glancing at the figure beside her. "You have been accused by the Ministry of Assaulting a Ministry officer with a disarm spell, eleven counts of illegal possession of a Ministry officer's wand, and an accessory to willful obstruction of the Ministry's attempts to carry out their duties. How do you plead?"
"No contest, sir," Severus said expressionlessly.
"Very well," Muse nodded solemnly. "Since you have both pleaded no contest, I assume you're aware that in the absence of a trial that I have the right to decide your punishment," he said, the two of them nodding and answering in agreement. "I don't think I need to tell either of you that there will be heavy fines involved in both possession and obstruction charges, and of course assaulting an officer is mandatory jail time, as you know. However, I have been informed that you have been awaiting sentencing in the Tower, so as far as I am concerned your time is served. Jennifer Craw Snape, I still need to address the matter of the death threats upon Ministry officers. Do you understand the seriousness of this charge against you?"
"Yes, Magistrate," Jennifer said softly.
"Such actions do not befit a member of the Wizard Council, nor in fact one who serves the public by teaching our children, although I'll let the board contend with that. But I cannot consciously allow you to continue to serve when you have done such a disservice by intentionally disrespecting not only the law but also the officers appointed to carry them out. You are therefore suspended from the Council of Wizards pending their vote on whether or not you should be allowed to continue that service, and a fine equal to the amount had you actually cast the spell will be added to your totals. Furthermore, I should inform you that upon reviewing the totality of the events leading up to these charges, the court is going to recommend to the Council of Wizards that the charter allowing the town of Haven's Bluff to function as an open mixed community be remanded, and that the town be fully restored to a Muggle community, as it had been before the magical contamination."
"What? But that would mean we'd all get evicted!" Jennifer said as a wave of pure horror went through her.
"That is for the Council to decide, Mrs. Snape," the Magistrate reminded her gently. "And one that due to your actions against the state, you will not be able to defend first hand. This hearing is now closed."
Jennifer found herself stuck to the podium as everyone began to talk behind him, the rest of her unwilling to move as this newly formed fear took hold of her mind. Charter remanded? Possibly evicted? Lose her house? Memories flashed before her then… the day she had first seen Corey… those endless summers turning the weed choked garden into a bounty of herbs… the addition of the second floor to accommodate their plans for a family and watching them get filled… her children grew up in that house, and every holiday had been spent there, cherished there, growing and changing as they grew and changed like a living breathing member of the family.
She was still thinking about it when Severus led her back, quietly gathering their trunks while Jennifer stood for a long time wandering about the house and then finally outside, standing in front of the tall maple tree where all five of her children had climbed in their youth.
"Everything is ready to go," Severus said, stepping up behind her.
"Strange, but you know there are times I can still see Corey sitting up there," Jennifer said distantly, folding her arms. "That first summer I stayed here. Do you remember?"
"Yes, and then you proceeded to get us both in quite a bit of trouble with Dumbledore and the board because of him," Severus mused. "Some things never change."
"You're always reaching out to keep me from drowning myself and I'm always pulling you in with me," Jennifer snorted.
"Yes, well, good thing I finally learned how to swim then," Severus said, putting his arms around her. "How I've been longing to do that over the last two weeks," he murmured.
"Oh, Severus," Jennifer sighed, letting him draw her nearer, leaning into him. "What a mess we're in. What are we going to tell the children?"
"There's no reason to tell them anything yet," he said. "The Council doesn't meet until the end of October, and a lot can happen before then. You know as well as I do that Dumbledore is already organizing wizards in support of this town. He's not about to give up yet, and neither should you."
"I'm not giving up. I'm only frightened," Jennifer sighed, turning her head to look at the cottage. "We've spent every holiday here since we were married. We spent most of our first honeymoon here. And what about Essie? Are they going to move them out of the farm too? That was their parents' farm, Severus, what is that going to do to them?"
"I suggest we not waste our time worrying about things that only may happen and work instead on ways to prevent them," Severus said. "And really, the best place to do that right now isn't here, but at the place you actually call home," he said, lifting her chin. "Are you ready to go home now?"
Taking one last look at the tree and then back at the cottage, Jennifer finally nodded, managing a weak smile. It was time to head for Hogwarts, and not a moment too soon.
Severus dropped off the last of his class plans and hurried down the back stairs, slipping on his gloves and whipping off his cloak, tossing it onto the back table of the Potions Lab as he entered.
"Here I am. How can I help?" Severus said, gliding over to where Jennifer stood nearly buried in a sea of bubbling cauldrons.
"Thank goodness, I'm at wit's end and we are so out of time," Jennifer said, waving at a wand a set of quills and parchment floating in air, dictating her words. "Scratch that last sentence and hold for a moment, please," she told them, putting her wand down again. "Could you bottle that first row of cauldrons for me?" She turned to check the temperature on another one before adding a skinned but otherwise whole dead toad to the mixture. Severus in the meantime was staring at the bright color of the first cauldron puzzledly, glancing at one of the bottles and reading it.
"Dr. P. L. Seabow's All-Purpose Cure for all Ailments? What on earth is that?"
"Oh, that, I made it up. It's flavored corn syrup and red dye," Jennifer explained, Severus giving her a bewildered expression. "I got a note from one of the first year's doctors warning Sagittari, Pomfrey and myself that we've got a hypochondriac on route tomorrow, and a very convincing one; he has a full range of psychosomatic allergies. I'm not allowed to give him any real potions unless I'm sure he's dying, but I figured I'd make a bunch of these up in case he insists."
"I can't believe you wasted a cauldron on this, not to mention your time," Severus said disapprovingly, bottling it anyway.
"What's one more cauldron in this mess?" Jennifer said exasperation, stepping over one to test different one, her finger turning blue the moment she stuck it in. "Well, this one's about ready."
"Nonsense, hardly purple enough. It needs another hour," Severus scowled at her, moving on to the next set.
"Easy for you to say. How am I ever going to get these done by tomorrow?" Jennifer said exasperated.
"Have any Wakeful Doses made up yet?" Severus suggested. Just then there was a knock on the door, and the two of them saw Minerva McGonagall standing in the doorway with a sympathetic smile on her face.
"Jennifer, your syllabi? Test schedules?"
"I'm working on it, Minerva," Jennifer assured her with exasperation, glancing back at the parchments still floating in air.
"Well, don't forget we have a pre term staff meeting tonight. A mandatory staff meeting," Minerva added. Jennifer and Severus both looked at her with surprise.
"But Minerva! Look at this place, how can I possibly get everything I'm working on bottled in time?" Jennifer said.
"Use the Freeze Frame if you have to, Jennifer, but you both must attend this meeting," Minerva insisted, glancing over at Severus. "There are some things happening in the school that the two of you should know about, and since you couldn't make your normal chat with Dumbledore, you really need to come."
"What sort of things, Minerva?" Severus said, suddenly concerned, but Minerva quickly turned around.
"I'm sorry, but I promised Dumbledore to let him tell you himself," Minerva said. "See you at the meeting," she added with a quick look back before walking down the corridor. Severus immediately turned to Jennifer only to notice her face had drained of all color, immersed with grief.
"Well? What is it?" Severus demanded.
"Severus," Jennifer said slowly, looking up from where her eyes had been fixed on the empty doorway. "I think she's leaving."
The two of them hurried into the staff room only a handful of minutes late, the rest of the faculty looking up and giving them a smile with those a few of them stepping aside so that they could take the two end seats at the table.
"Now, I know there is probably going to be a bit of alarm from some of the parents over this change in policy, but if it comes up, just reassure them that no student will be allowed in the Dark Forest without direct teacher supervision at any time and that occurrences of this will be strictly enforced," Dumbledore said. "In all truth, you know as well as I do that we've been doing this for years, under the table," he added mischievously. "But that is one of the reasons I decided it was best to change the policy. When a rule is broken constantly it no longer has any reasonable validity to exist. So, I see we're all here now," he glanced over at Severus and Jennifer, who looked slightly apologetic for their tardiness. "Professor Snape, how is the OWLS/NEWT project going?"
"I've been getting updates and suggestions from all the teachers involved over the summer," Severus said, "and I'll be having a meeting with my team after we've all settled back into routine. With any luck, if we stay on deadline we'll be able to present our list of recommendations at the January board meeting."
"Yes, well, don't push yourself too hard. If it looks like it will take longer, feel free to amend it," he advised. "Especially don't neglect your research into your Flux Effect project, that is important too… providing neither interferes with your work or home life, of course," he amended, Severus looking rather uncomfortable. It was rather personal advice, and he was aware that quite a number of the faculty was looking at him. "I think it's going to be a busy year for you, Severus. And you're not the only one," he said, folding his hands and looking at them for a moment before glancing around.
"I'd like to take a moment here to apologize in advance to those of you that I had not had the opportunity to tell you about this individually, and please forgive Minerva for not mentioning as well, for I had asked her not to," Dumbledore said, glancing at her. She smiled back at him encouragingly. "And I would like for you to keep in mind that the matter I'm about to address is knowledge for the staff only, so try not to let it slip out. Minerva and I had a rather long talk at the end of the year, and she has decided that this year will be her last year teaching at Hogwarts. She has decided to move on and polish off some old ambitions, and I fully support her decision. The school has greatly benefited from her leadership over the years, as have we all, and I for one am going to miss her greatly.
"But, as you know, life at the school does go on, and so must we. And because of the amount of work that is involved in doing the job that Minerva has made appear so effortless over the years, there was a need to go ahead and have the board approve a replacement who can spend this last year with her learning the ropes, as it were. But I have no doubt that the person who has agreed to take on that responsibility and fill those shoes will not only do so with complete brilliance and efficiency, but also with unmistakable personal flare. With that, I would like to congratulate the Professor who will be taking the Deputy Headmaster position at the end of the year; Hermione Granger Weasley."
Jennifer felt a lump in her throat and a sharp pain go through her as everyone began to clap, barely bringing herself to do so as she glanced over to see Severus own stunned face, his pallid masked expression hiding his disappointment. How could Dumbledore do this to him? Anger swelled up within her and she couldn't make out what Dumbledore was saying after that, so furious for the choice that she could barely keep herself from walking out of the room. After everything he did, after everything that had happened last year. Minerva and Hermione were passing them both worried glances, and Jennifer forced a smile on her face when she noticed. It wasn't either of them she was mad at. It hadn't been their decision.
As the meeting began to break up, Severus quickly let Jennifer know he would meet her back of the lab and was the first one out of the room, leaving Jennifer to fume. Her eyes were piercing through Dumbledore who apparently didn't notice, cleaning his glasses before turning with a warm smile to Hermione and Minerva, talking to them quietly.
But Jennifer wasn't about to let this go without saying something. Lingering by the back door, she waited until Dumbledore came out and intercepted him, Dumbledore not the slightest bit surprised that she was there.
"Might I have a word or two, Albus?" Jennifer said.
"Actually, I do have quite a bit of work to do before tomorrow and so do you from what I understand," Dumbledore pointed out, walking towards the back stairs.
"I don't care. I'm not letting you get by without explaining to me why you did this," Jennifer said.
"Did? What did I do?" Dumbledore asked thoughtfully.
"Don't give me that, you know exactly what I mean," Jennifer said angrily, following behind him. "I'm talking about your appointing Hermione to Deputy Headmaster."
"Ah, yes that," Dumbledore said, pausing a moment in the stairwell to look at her. "I would have preferred of course to have informed you both earlier, but under the circumstances, well, it just wasn't possible. And I am sorry. You were considered for the position, and very seriously too, but I really think you truly shine the most in the classroom. To be honest, you really don't have the temperament to become an administrator."
"I'm not here because of me!" Jennifer said with exasperation. "I wouldn't have wanted it even if you had asked. But I can't believe you passed Severus up after everything he's done for you, especially after last year! He's been at your side and loyal to you and this school since the night you dragged him out of there, and he's done nothing but make sacrifices since. He's been your left hand man since before I even came to school, doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"More than you realize, Jennifer," Dumbledore said quietly. "And yes, it is true, as Minerva's been my right hand all these years, Severus has undoubtedly been my left, a position just as important in many ways as the other, and that is where I need him to stay. Do not think the appointment was made lightly. I did what I had to for the good of the school. Severus has no more the temperament for that job than you do. All you have to do is walk in when he's teaching to learn that," he added. "And think of this, Jennifer. Even if I had allowed my personal feelings and loyalties get in the way of my judgment and suggested to the board to appoint him to the position, do you think a board, the majority of which now, by the way, remember him solely as students sitting in his class," he said, nodding when he saw her face register that, "do you truly think they would have gone with my recommendation?"
"I bet every single one of them came out of this school knowing the material," Jennifer murmured.
"Oh, I don't mean to imply in any way that I think Severus is a bad teacher, Jennifer. In some cases, especially when handling student affairs on a one to one basis, he's probably the most brilliant teacher in the school. But he also doesn't inspire them to do better than what he asks for either. Well, there have been exceptions of course, but I think you understand what I mean. Most importantly, I need a Deputy Headmaster that can keep the momentum going in the school in a way that doesn't overwork, overstress, or cause the person taking the job to sacrifice their personal and family needs to do so. Now tell me, Jennifer, could Severus do that?" Jennifer sighed and shook her head slowly.
"No," she said softly.
"No," Dumbledore agreed gently, putting a hand on her arm. "And I have cared for Severus too long to allow him to sacrifice everything he has fought for, especially when we have someone here who can handle the job and her responsibilities at home without having to make the sacrifices he would. And, I know it is more than about the position that's bothering you, Jennifer. For even before you knew him, Severus was instrumental in the events that brought down the downfall of Voldemort and many of his followers. In fact, he's been instrumental in nearly every trial that's plagued this school since he became a teacher."
"He deserves more recognition than he's gotten," Jennifer agreed. Dumbledore smiled at her.
"Really, Jennifer, as long as he gets that recognition from you, I doubt he cares all that much."
"And you, Albus," Jennifer insisted. "He's seen you like a father ever since his parents died."
"I know," Dumbledore said. "Why do you think I have not ever fought with him about calling me Professor all of this while? Some day I will have to break him of the habit, though," he mused. "Perhaps over a cup of cocoa," he added, heading up the stairs.
Jennifer merely stood at the landing, watching him as each step brought him to the next floor of the castle, higher and higher up the stairwell until she could no longer see him. Letting out a long sigh, she swung around the banister and down the stairs, heading to the lab. She went straight to work alongside Severus, neither being asked nor commenting on where she had been or what she had been doing.