Chapter Twenty-Five

A Somber Holiday

Jennifer woke on Christmas morning to soft sunlight and the motion of Severus falling into bed. She blinked then, focusing in on the clock then sitting up with surprise, staring at her husband.

"You're just now getting to bed? Did putting that thing together really take you this long?" Jennifer said.

"To be perfectly honest, I never quite finished it. I ended up needing to take care of some Slytherin matters," Severus said, hand over his eyes. Jennifer moved it.

"You mean it's under the tree in pieces?" Jennifer asked, exasperated.

"Jennifer, I have had a long night like you wouldn't imagine, but I promise if you let me get a half an hour of sleep, I'll argue with you as much as you like later."

"Severus," Jennifer said with growing alarm, ignoring his grumpy sigh. "Why can't I read you?"

"It has to do with that Slytherin business I told you of. Might we talk of this when I'm a bit more awake?"

"Oh, no. Oh stars, Severus, it isn't Aurelius? He'd never do anything to warrant..." Jennifer faltered a bit, thinking back over what had happened that year, wondering if any of that could have been him.

"He came to me, Jennifer. Perhaps not completely of his own will, but he did," Severus said. "You must let me handle this in my own way. His life may depend on it, do you understand? Trust me this once, as you used to."

"Oh Severus…" Jennifer paused as she heard excited voices coming from the next room, and Severus groaned in resignation. "Sorry."

"It was inevitable," Severus grunted, sitting up again. "Let's join them if we must. I suppose I have some clever explaining to do." Jennifer smiled at him sympathetically as she pulled on her robe, opening the door to her sitting room.

But before she could take more than a step into the room she found herself staring in surprise, for right beside the tree was a completely built and functional bicycle, with all the tubes and gears and brakes looking, as far as she could tell, in the proper places. She glanced over her shoulder at Severus who had the same stunned look on his face, until he noticed Andrew smiling at him, tapping his nose.

"Isn't it beautiful! A real Muggle bicycle! I've always wanted one!" Alex said, fiddling with the gear switch curiously.

"Yes, well, remember, no magic tweaking it," Severus warned her sternly. "You can put fall charms on yourself if necessary, but I should not under any circumstances see this bicycle do anything questionable."

"We saw a movie at Zoë and Zack's once where a bicycle flew," Alicia put in.

"No tweaking it," Severus said, squinting at Alicia with a frown. "No painting it, either."

"Can I paint my new broom?" Alicia asked.

"Oh, look at the little bird!" Alex said, staring at the cage. "Hey, why is that in Andrew's stack?"

"Come, let's not fight over familiars again!" Severus sighed. "Try looking lower, Alex."

"And before anyone says anything, the familiars weren't my idea," Jennifer said.

"It's a tree finch, isn't it?" Andrew said, admiring the tiny bird before taking him out of the cage. "I was rather hoping for the Stymphalian Bird, but this'll do," he grinned.

"The Stymphalian chick is in the Menagerie now where such a dangerous creature belongs. I think you'll find the finch will suit your needs well," Severus replied.

"I like him. I'm going to call him Darwin," Andrew announced. Severus rolled his eyes.

"I don't see any cages down here," Alex said worriedly as she crawled under the tree. But suddenly she noticed a curious package wrapped in the strangest yellow wrapping paper she had ever seen. In fact, it appeared to be made out of rubber galoshes. More importantly, a persistent scratching noise was coming from inside it. Carefully she pulled it out, checking the tag even though she was quite sure it was what she was looking for, gazing back at her parents before pulling the ribbon from the top of the box.

"Don't put your hand in before it's fully open," Severus warned, but it was too late; Alex felt a jolt run through her hand and leapt back away from the box, sitting down and shaking her hand to try to get the tingling sensation away. "See what happens when you don't listen to your father?" he said calmly. Jennifer tried very hard to keep a straight face, as the lid popped off and a jet-black head of fur looked out, cautiously surveying the room.

"Wow! It's a Lightning Kitten!" Andrew said impressed. "Halbert told me about these! His father raises them!"

"Yes, that's where I got this one," Severus said. "From what I understand, she was having trouble getting along with the rest of the litter, a bit underdeveloped at birth, and born mute like she was."

Alex turned and stared at him.

"What? You mean she can't speak?" Alex said, staring at the kitten as it tumbled out of the box, its fur standing on end as it stretched. "Oh Father, how could you? It's not fair!"

"Careful, Alex, don't forget she can understand you perfectly well," Jennifer warned her.

"But how am I going to understand her if I can't talk to her?" Alex said with grief, the kitten watching her with sparkling yellow eyes.

"Like most people who have familiars do, Alex," Jennifer said gently, reaching over and scratching Ratfly's head from where he snoozed hanging from his perch. "It's time you started learning that communication is more than what people or animals say, it's what they do."

"That's splendid coming from you, Mum. You've admitted yourself you have trouble talking with us not being able to read our minds," Alex said.

"Yes," Jennifer admitted, glancing at Severus. "But it seems one way or the other I'm learning as hard as it is for me. Time for you to start too."

"Past time if you ask me," Severus said.

"You can understand me, can't you?" Alex asked the cat, who was licking her paws. "I don't suppose you would mind being my companion, would you?" The cat merely stared at her noncommittally until Severus handed Alex a small bag of treats. Nonchalantly, the cat came closer, attempting to look disinterested as she opened it and held some out. Finally Alex gave up, putting the treats on the ground, which the cat daintily tiptoed over and ate.

"What are you going to name her?" Aurelius asked.

"I'm not sure yet," Alexandria said slowly, petting her gently. "It would be easier if I could talk to her, though," she said, earning a gentle smack in the arm from her Father.

"You can talk to her all you like, just don't expect her to answer. And whatever you do, do not let that cat get wet," Severus warned.

"Doesn't Alicia have a familiar?" Andrew asked, trying to get Darwin to sit on his shoulder.

"She's not quite ready for a familiar yet," Jennifer said firmly.

"Oh, that's all right!" Alicia said quickly. "I wouldn't mind waiting until I'm fifteen if I can get something neat like Alex has. Besides, I got a new broom and a ton of new art supplies. And there's a new Quidditch ball set!"

"That's for all of you to share. Don't you dare lose them again," Jennifer said.

"But where will we play at this summer?" Andrew asked.

"I'm sure there will be Quidditch parks nearby wherever we go," Jennifer said quickly, gazing over at Aurelius. "Are you all right, Aurelius? Don't you like your new broom?"

"Oh, sure," Aurelius said. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little tired."

"Tired? I think I could sleep for a week," Andrew agreed, throwing his new cloak over his shoulders.

"Really? I slept like a log in here. I can't believe the two of you had any trouble," Alex said, the cat finally deciding that Alex was good enough to sit down on, her fur sparking as she licked it casually. It made Alex's hair prickle with static.

"I don't suppose there's any way I can go back to my room, and maybe show Darwin around and take a nap?" Andrew asked.

"Andrew, we told your grandfather…"

"Their grandfather can wait, Jennifer," Severus interrupted, Jennifer looking at him with surprise.

"But you know how he gets…"

"Well, he's just going to have to stew, then. I'll send him a note letting him know we'll be there after lunch. Is that long enough, Andrew?" Severus said, Alex and Alicia looking at him with complete bewilderment. But if Andrew wanted to sleep, Severus certainly wasn't going to let anything stand in his way.

"Yes, sir, thank you," Andrew said, cautiously putting Darwin in his cage.

"Aurelius, why don't you take a nap in my sitting room, you'll find the couch comfortable enough," Severus suggested.

"I can't believe they don't want to stay up and fiddle with their presents!" Alicia said.

"Can I try my bike out in the halls?" Alex asked.

"No," Severus snapped.

"But I can't possibly take it outside in this weather! Not unless I… you know," Alex said, Severus giving her a dirty look.

"Severus, maybe just today, after all it is Christmas," Jennifer suggested. "There aren't all that many students that would see." Severus scowled.

"Fine, as long as it's all right with Dumbledore," he said. "Jennifer, take over! I'm writing your father and taking a nap."

"Better you writing him than I," Jennifer agreed as he slipped into the bedroom, turning back over to the girls.

"Ever get the feeling that someone's not telling us something?" Alex said suspiciously.

"Not everything is your business, Alexandria," Jennifer poked her. "Come on, let's go see what's for breakfast."

Jennifer had expected the Great Hall to be nearly empty, so she was quite surprised to see Hermione, Ron, and Joanie there talking to Dumbledore and Minerva, along with Ederick Thurspire, who was finding out very quickly that interrogating centaurs was not exactly the most productive way of getting information from them. Sagittari stood with his arms folded over his chest, looking at Thurspire as Jennifer had often seen him look at an unusually disobedient student. Standing between them was Draco Malfoy, who Jennifer could read quite plainly as wanting to be anywhere else but there, and preferably home.

"What on Earth is going on?" Jennifer asked in confusion, quickly having the girls sit down while she went over to Hermione. "I thought you were staying home for Christmas?"

"You mean Severus didn't tell you what happened last night?" Hermione asked curiously, Jennifer shaking her head. "Someone stole the Sorting Hat out of Dumbledore's study."

"What?" Jennifer said with horror. "How is that possible? With all the securities on that room, how could that be remotely possible?"

"There was an incident near Sagittari's we were attending to," Dumbledore explained. "The storm last night knocked a lantern over and quite a number of animals had to be evacuated. Fortunately, Severus was still awake and he helped Sagittari and I get it under control. I suspect, however, that the storm was not natural in any way, and that in truth it might have been Ciardoth's doing."

"Ciardoth?" Jennifer repeated.

"While we were trying to round up the animals, we heard a thunderclap that sounded as if it were in Sagittari's Hut. When we went to investigate, no one was there. But considering what other two items have fallen into her hands, I do not think there could be any question what she was after," Dumbledore said. "Fortunately, Sagittari had been wearing the Spear at the time, and for whatever reason, she decided not to attempt it."

"Even Ciardoth isn't mad enough to be on the other end of that Spear," Jennifer said. "But wait a moment… she took the Hat?"

"Not one light flickered inside the castle itself, according to both Severus and Argus. It is undoubtedly more likely that someone else is responsible for the Hat's disappearance," Dumbledore said softly.

"But then that would mean that someone here is actually helping Ciardoth get the four items of the Seal! I just don't understand why anyone would ever follow someone like that," Hermione said.

"Why would anyone ever follow Voldemort?" Ron put in. "But one thing is certain. You have a traitor on your hands, Professor."

"I refuse to believe that anyone in this school would knowingly and willingly serve Ciardoth," Dumbledore said firmly. "I am certain that there is much more to this than meets the eye."

"Look out, here comes Thurspire. I wonder what sort of 'wisdom' he wants to impart," Ron said.

"What is he doing here, anyhow?" Hermione asked.

"The Sorting Hat by definition is considered an artifact, therefore I had to report its disappearance to the Ministry," Dumbledore explained, nodding politely to Thurspire as he stepped over. "Any luck, Ederick?"

"More or less," Thurspire said, nodding to Jennifer before turning to Dumbledore. "From what you and Sagittari have told me, I believe that what occurred at the barn was probably just an accident, brought up by an unusually strong, but not completely uncommon winter storm," Ederick said calmly.

"And what of the thunderclap that we all heard?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, of course I haven't spoken to Severus yet, but it sounds to me that the noise could have also been brought on by the storm, and considering recent events that you've had with Ciardoth… well, it's perfectly natural for you to have associated a strange noise with something that might have been lingering on the mind of late. In short, I really don't believe that the incident had much to do with anything, including the disappearance of the Hat itself," Ederick said.

"And the Sorting Hat, Ederick? What of that?" Minerva asked.

"Oh, I think the answer to that is obvious, don't you? Someone sneaking into Professor Dumbledore's Study and passing up priceless magical items for that ruddy old Hat? I think you'll find that the Hat is still somewhere in the building, Professors. This has the hallmark of a student prank, don't you think? And considering how few students there are right now, I think it'd be easy to narrow it down," Ederick said, glancing at the breakfast table thoughtfully.

"Ederick, that Hat has been in this school for over a thousand years, and over time has somehow managed to possess quite a few of its own talents and quirks. It would be very unwise for anyone to take that Hat at face value…or brim value, for that matter. This is quite serious," Dumbledore told him.

"Tell, me, Jennifer. Where are your two boys this morning, and their father for that matter?" Ederick said, Jennifer staring at him in disbelief.

"They are taking a nap, not that it's any of your business, and before you jump to conclusions, all four children spent the night in my sitting room. As to my husband, Dumbledore has already stated he was helping Sagittari, and since we have a long day planned, he is busy attempting to get sleep while he can," Jennifer said angrily.

"Calm down, I was merely asking," Thurspire said, nodding to Draco who was giving him almost a daring look as if waiting for him to say something out of line. "Well, I have your report, here, Headmaster, and I will post it, but please let us know if anyone here happens to stumble onto it under a student's bed or something," he said.

"Thank you," Dumbledore said watching him go.

"So much for any Ministry support on this issue," Hermione said.

"I was hardly expecting any, but as I said before, I had to report it," Dumbledore said.

"Well, not to say too much in Thurspire's defense, but there is definitely a lack of evidence here," Draco sighed, turning to them. "Yes, the Hat is missing, but no one's going to know if it's out of the castle or not unless it shows up."

"And so what? They're just going to let this go?" Jennifer asked with frustration.

"Well, what choice do they have? We don't even have a motive," Draco said.

"Ah, but there is, Draco," Dumbledore said. "Only I did not realize that anyone but a few knew about it until last night."

Jennifer's father was as irascible as ever, but quickly forgave them after he had gotten his ring back, doting fondly on Aurelius when he found out who had discovered it. But even after his nap, Aurelius had been unusually quiet and withdrawn… that fact becoming even more obvious that night when they went to the Blacks for dinner. Alex had broken into a long conversation about bicycles with Zoë, Zack, Jamie and Cedric, who had all, it seemed, ridden them before. Then all of the kids went out and cleared off the deck in an attempt to teach Alex how to stay on the thing, breaking out helmets and every single piece of padding they could think of and loading Alex up with it. After about the fifth crash, Aurelius slipped back in and curled up in the living room, pulling out some schoolbooks well above his year level, burying his nose in them. Jennifer stood and watched him until Severus came over from where he had been talking with Sirius and Harry.

"Visiting hours at the facility begins at one, correct?" Severus said.

"Um, yes, I believe so," Jennifer said.

"Then we'd better be off," Severus said, gazing back over to Sirius and Anna. "We'll be back to get the children by midnight so long as the Portkey Stations aren't busy."

"Just try to relax and enjoy yourselves for awhile," Anna said, handing Jennifer a present for Vallid.

"Yes, visiting Mark is always fun," Severus said dryly.

"You don't have to go in if you don't want to," Jennifer told him, knowing full well that he would. For although he didn't particularly care for the man, he could understand to some extent why Jennifer kept up contact. In fact, he was quite sure that she felt a little sorry for him. But it was never like their visits with her father; the guards were stiff and the time allowed quite stringent, although Mark always seemed glad to see them. In fact, he was glad to have any company at all. Severus also knew with little doubt that Jennifer would be bringing Mark puzzles for Christmas, for it was one of the few good memories that Jennifer felt comfortable speaking with him about.

Even still, Severus was glad when the visit was over and they could head to the Kingler's Café. It was closed for the day, of course, but the moment they came to the door they were quickly let in, and hugs were passed around between Jennifer and her old bosses, Rob and Sally. Emma and Tony were there as well, and as they were still getting caught up on how everyone was, Isaac stepped in long enough to greet them and leave them some warm spinach knishes before heading to work. Pulling a couple of tables together and drinking enough coffee to keep even Severus awake, he listened as they caught up on new times and talked of old. He had been hoping it would have cheered Jennifer up seeing her old friends again, but once they had gotten back to the school and the children safely settled back in their rooms, he found her standing in front of the painting of the Broom Closet, lost in thought.

"You know, if we do go abroad over the summer, it'll be like taking our own miniature zoo with us with all the familiars we have now," Severus said, taking off his cloak.

"You miss Rasputin, don't you?" Jennifer said thoughtfully, letting him take her cloak as well.

"Of course I do," Severus sighed softly. "But I shan't dwell on it, although he probably deserved better than what he got. He at least died protecting someone he cared about."

"He may not be dead, you know," Jennifer said.

"If he was alive, he would have made his way home long before now," Severus said, snuffing out some of the candles. "I will miss that old lizard. Life does continue, past death and even past broken dreams. But broken dreams can lead to new ones, you know."

"All I've wanted for years now was to see the four of them in Hogwarts with us," Jennifer admitted as she dressed for bed. "Now that that's come true, I suppose all I want is for all four of them to make it through in one piece."

"It's good that you haven't given up hope in that at any rate," Severus said, watching her thoughtfully. "And I haven't given up hope that you will finally come to your senses and help me find another summer home to share."

"No house, Severus," Jennifer said firmly as she glanced back at him then crawled into bed. "And I'd rather not argue about the subject any more."

"Very well," Severus sighed. "I promise I won't bring it up again, but only if you promise to stop beating yourself over losing the Broom Closet." he said, sitting on the bed and leaning over her. "You wouldn't let me torture myself with my old memories. I'll be damned if I sit here and watch you doing it to yourself anymore." He tilted her chin towards him, looking her straight in the eye. "Let it go, Jennifer." Jennifer took a deep breath and nodded slowly, sitting up to hug him.