Chapter Thirty-Two

Closets and Conclusions

"Has anyone seen Andrew?" Halbert hadn't been worried at first when Andrew had disappeared, but that quickly changed when he sat down for dinner and Andrew wasn't there.

"Not since this afternoon," Zoë shrugged. "Maybe he's studying or something."

"During a meal?" Halbert said.

"Yeah, that does sound far fetched," Zack agreed, but neither of them got up when

Halbert went over to the Ravenclaw table. Within seconds he had Alex's attention and a moment later found himself standing outside with Alex, Alicia, and Aurelius, who reluctantly showed up at Alex's call for a family meeting.

"Andrew's missing. He hasn't been seen since lunch," Alex said. "Have you seen him, Rel?"

"I saw him and the rest of you planting that stupid tree. After that, I don't know. I had work to do in the library," Aurelius shrugged.

"What do you do in there all the time?" Alicia asked.

"What do you do in the Trophy Room?" Aurelius retorted. Alicia decided to drop the subject.

"Look, it's not like Andrew to miss a meal and we all know it, but before we panic, let's go try the kitchen. Meanwhile, Alicia, start sketching," Alex instructed. "Hopefully he's still somewhere in the castle."

"Are you quite sure you haven't seen him?" Halbert asked Aurelius again suspiciously, Aurelius meeting him eye to eye.

"I haven't seen him," Aurelius said. "Now, can we get this over with?"

But the short trip to the kitchen proved to lead them to another dead end, and Aurelius reluctantly agreed that it seemed strange that he didn't even stop for sandwiches. Stepping into the secret passage behind the pantry, Alicia threw down her sketch and hopped in, pulling the others in after her.

In no time they found themselves standing on the edge of a dark frame and Alicia was squinting to try to figure out what the painting was of. It was a watercolor of a city street, she realized, and although the blending and shading wasn't quite right, the colors seemed true to the subject. Done by an amateur, she mused. At last she recognized the painting.

"Why, this is one of Morfinn's! I think we're in the storage closet next to the art room!" Alicia said at last, carefully stepping through. The others bumped into her one by one, but as she tried to step aside, she fell over something soft at her feet. "Andrew?" she said unsurely. "Someone get some light in here!" Aurelius quickly found the door, pushing it open before anyone had time to bring out a wand, but when they saw only bare floor, they realized he was invisible.

"Andrew?" Halbert said, kneeling and feeling around until he found himself touching an arm. "Well, he's still warm at least."

"Andrew, wake up!" Alicia said, shaking him.

"Careful! He may be injured. We have no way of knowing!" Alex said.

"Ow! Someone's standing on my foot!" a voice moaned.

"Ouch, I think that's me. Andrew, we can't see you!" Alex said. A second later, Andrew appeared, a bit disheveled but otherwise looking dazed but all right, rubbing the back of his head. "Are you all right? What happened?"

"I… I'm not sure. I was following… I mean, I was exploring the passages," he amended as he saw Aurelius standing in the doorway. "Then there was a light in my face," he said, slowly sitting up with Halbert and Alicia on either side, supporting him.

"That's all you can remember?" Alex asked.

"I'm not sure," Andrew said with a frown.

"Maybe he just needs some time," Halbert said.

"Maybe, but someone should to check him over," Alex said. "Let's get him to the hospital wing. I'll call up a stretcher."

"I can stand, really," Andrew protested and proceeded to do so, Aurelius moving out of the way to let the others through. As they all filed out, Halbert supported his friend to help him out. Andrew paused just outside of it, staring at the closet with a frown.

"What is it?" Alex asked anxiously.

"I'm not sure," Andrew said. "Something's not right about all of this."

"Brilliant deduction, Andrew. I'm sure we find you knocked out and invisible in a closet every day," Aurelius said tersely. "Come on, the hospital wing isn't far at all from here if we take the secret passage… it's just the next one over."

"You're right, let's go," Alex said, the five of them heading towards the bookshelf that the passage was hidden behind.

In no time, Andrew found himself being poked and prodded by Madame Pomfrey before comfortably settled in bed with a tray of quickly devoured food.

"Well, I think it's safe to rule out a concussion with that appetite," Pomfrey said dryly. "All the same, you did get a bit shaken up, and I'd rather you stay here until Professor Dumbledore can speak with you about what happened. The rest of you can go. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to speak with him later."

"But there's so much we don't know!" Alex protested as they were ushered out. "Why would anyone cast a spell on him? What sort of spell was it, was it a Dark spell? Why was he put in the art closet? Why was the closet door unlocked? And how come he can't remember anything? Did he get memory cursed?"

"Out, out, out! Goodness gracious!" Pomfrey said with exasperation as she showed them to the door. "I'm sure once he knows, he will more than likely tell you! Back to your weekend activities, please!"

"Could your mouth run any faster if it was tied to the back of Alicia's broom?" Aurelius asked her irritably as they left.

"Oh, I'm not even finished yet," Alex said, coming up even with him. "Just where were you when Andrew was getting spelled?"

"What? What do you care what I was doing? I was minding my own business, something that you never do," Aurelius said.

"And just what is your business these days? Because it never seems to have anything to do with us," Alex said. Aurelius paused, staring at her a moment.

"You know, this may come as a big surprise, Alex, but the world does not revolve around you. I have friends to think about, a house to uphold, and frankly, I don't have time to muck about on your petty little painting trips, acting lessons, and model making. You're the one who is always telling us to grow up, Alex, and that means moving on and preparing to make our way in the world. I, therefore, am looking after my business, making sure that things in my life are going the way I want them to go."

"So you're saying you don't have time for family anymore?" Alicia asked. "That we don't matter?"

"What I'm saying is, that if you want me to still consider you as family, don't get in my way," Aurelius said. "And don't expect me to come to your aid every time you bleat any more either. I'll only help you as much as you deserve to be helped, and believe me, there will be times in the near future that you will need me. Keep your noses out." With that he turned and went down the stairs, leaving them all to stare after him in disbelief.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way," Halbert said slowly, "But your brother is really starting to scare me."

"Yeah," Alex said softly. "He's starting to scare us, too."

"The whole family's cracked, I tell you," Zack said when rumor got around the school about what had happened.

The twins had finally gotten caught up with the last of their assignments just after dinner. They lingered in the hall near the library afterwards long enough to hear the latest news from other students, and then threw their books in their rooms and headed outdoors with Ceo on Zack's heavily gloved arm.

"Go fetch, Covert," he told his familiar, letting the goshawk up in the air. "First there's Snape, who's done everything but bring a bullwhip into the Defense room. Then Aunt Jennifer teaches class as sweet as punch no matter what we do only to spend the rest of the time sulking, probably due to marriage problems because she's having some sort of thing with her teacher. Then there's Aurelius who seems to have gone the way of Anakin Skywalker and sold out to Lucius Malfoy of all people, and probably tried to knock off his own brother. Meanwhile, Alicia is obviously in denial, hoping that if she doesn't believe her family's cracked, perhaps they're not… and then there's Alex, who has decided that she and she alone is going to heal the entire family's ills. I have decided that our dear gothic uncle and his zoo crew have earned the title of the most dysfunctional family I have ever met."

"Well, I admit they don't seem the sanest family here, but you are exaggerating a bit don't you think?" Zoë said.

"Zoë, they make the Osbournes look normal."

"Yeah, you got a point," Zoë admitted. "Maybe we ought to say something to Mom about this Elk thing. I bet Aunt Jennifer would tell her if something's going on."

"Oh, come on, Zoë. What would Aunt Jennifer say? All right, I admit I'm cheating on your brother? Then again, a divorce might be the best thing that ever happened to that family. Uncle Severus might finally take an anger management course, and Aunt Jennifer would remarry…who knows? Elk's a headmaster, I bet he makes decent money…"

"Zack, he teaches in the U.S."

"Oh, right. Well, at least they might have a semi normal life in America…"

"With an old man that keeps an oily foul smelling pouch around his neck."

"Well, yeah, but at least it's just his pouch," Zack said, but Zoë was frowning at him.

"Okay, so maybe we should say something to someone. We'll tell Dad."

"Dad? But Dad would be delighted! He wants to see Uncle Severus roast, remember?" Zoë said.

"Call him Snape, will you? Uncle Severus reminds me too much of how he used to act before he turned into Professor Stick-in-rear," Zack sighed.

"I think it's this school that's changed him," Zoë said. "I swear it's like everyone turns into someone different here. Even you."

"Me?" Zack said with surprise.

"Yeah, in the way you've been taking everything so seriously, for one thing. It's not like anything that goes on here matters. It's a joke, really, what do we care what goes on in this school? I mean, I agree with everything you said, but instead of trying to fix anything or get involved, we should just get out. We don't belong here, Zack."

"What, you mean run away?" Zack said with surprise.

"That, or even better, get expelled," Zoë said. "That way, they'll have to send us back to America where we do fit in."

"But I like it here," Zack said. Zoë stared at him.

"It didn't sound like it a moment ago," Zoë said. Zack watched thoughtfully as Ceo came back and dropped a hare at his feet, taking his place back on the glove. "Besides, what's more important, this school or your sister?"

"Well, if you put it that way," Zack said. "I suppose I will go along with whatever you had in mind. But first, I think I'm going to try talking to Snape about this Indian thing."

"Oh good. With any luck you'll be able to get us expelled without me even having to come up with a plan," Zoë said. Zack merely gave her a dirty look before putting the hare in a bag.

"I'm going to go see if he's back now. Take this back to the room for me?"

"No way. You're the one who taught Covert Operations how to hunt, you take your stinky corpse back."

"It doesn't stink, it's a fresh kill," Zack said, but Zoë stuck in the nose in the air and walked ahead of him. "Witch."

By the time Zack got downstairs and settled Ceo with his meal it was nearly curfew, and Zack knew he was going to have to hurry if he was going to catch up with his uncle that night. He went by the office first; Descartes cawing in alarm at his presence and making him take some rapid steps back out of the classroom. Well, he wasn't there, Zack sighed. He wondered if he was in the staff room, heading quickly towards the Great Hall. But as he stopped to glance at his watch near the castle's main entrance, he heard voices outside, and one of them sounds quite a bit like his aunt's. Curiously Zack tiptoed forward, slipping behind the door.

"I know, Jennifer. I understand all too well how hard it would be for you to get over it, after everything you've gone through. But you are too strong of a woman to let yourself become a victim to this set of circumstances."

"I won't be," Jennifer said. "Because I have no intention of ever putting myself in that position again."

"I think that would be a mistake," Elk said. "And not only because of the children, but because you, whether you want to admit it or not, need that stability in your life. You must allow yourself to change, Jennifer, it is nature's way. For things to be born, things must also be destroyed, there is a balance in everything. And I do not believe that you will be able to give your family the dedication it deserves until you can move on. It is not worth the anguish it is causing you." There was a long pause as she thought about it for a moment.

"Of course you are right," Jennifer sighed. "I suppose I've known it all along. Everyone's tried to tell me, you know, but I guess I wasn't ready to listen. To be perfectly honest, I haven't been so sure who to trust lately."

"Trust yourself, Jennifer, first and always. Goodness, but I had a sense of déjà vu just now. Have I said that before?"

"Oh yes, quite often," Jennifer admitted with a sigh and a weak smile. "Well, I suppose I had best help you find Dumbledore, then perhaps I'll let Severus know I had a change of heart."

"I am glad, Jennifer. I know it won't be easy for you, but I think in time, you will realize you are doing the right thing," he said.

Suddenly the door opened, and Zack froze in place as they passed by him, completely unaware that he stood shielded behind the door as they walked towards the stairwell. Zack chewed on his lip. Now what was he going to do? Feeling a bit queasy, Zack paced for a moment. Maybe it was too late to do anything. But what was going to happen to his cousins? Gathering his courage up again as he thought about what it might mean for them, Zack took off down the hall, only to slide to a halt when he neared the staff room, whose door had been left open. Quite an unusual number of staff were gathered there for this time of night. What more could go wrong?

"Mr. Black?" Zack looked around startled to see Professor Weasley standing there, looking at him with concern. Beside her stood Draco Malfoy, who looked at him as if he were sizing him up. "Is something the matter?"

"I… I was looking for Professor Snape, actually," Zack stammered.

"Really? I'll go get him then," Hermione said, hiding her curiosity behind a quick smile before escorting Draco into the staff room. A moment later, Severus came out, shutting the door behind him.

"Out a bit late, aren't we? What is it? Have you come to confess?" Snape asked.

"Confess?" Zack blinked in complete surprise. "What did I do now?"

"Never mind. What did you have to see me about that couldn't wait until morning?"

"Well… man, I don't know how to say this," Zack realized, and then sighed. "I think Aunt Jennifer is planning to leave you."

"I beg your pardon?" Severus said, looking at him in complete bewilderment.

"It's that Indian, Dean Elk! She was holding onto his arm all this afternoon, and they went to dinner together, and then… well, then I overheard them talking outside the castle, and he's talked her into breaking it off, I'm sure of it! She even admitted she had a change of heart and everything, so you've got to do something quick, or it's going to be all over!" Zack said, and then began to get the strange feeling that something wasn't quite right. For one thing, his uncle didn't react, merely stared at him with incredulity. Zack wasn't sure what reaction he had been expecting, but that wasn't it.

"Mr. Black," Severus said at last. "Am I to understand that you have been intentionally eavesdropping into the private conversations of your professors?"

"No! Well, yes, but this was for personal reasons!" Zack stammered. "Oh come on, Uncle, everyone knows Aunt Jennifer isn't happy, but she was all glowing earlier today, and after what they said, I thought you ought to know so you could do something about it!"

"I see, and you have the most noble of intentions in mind," Severus said dryly. Zacchius wasn't quite so sure he liked the tone in his voice. "Although I find it much more likely that you are gathering your misinformation for the sole purpose to cause trouble. In any case, the personal affairs of the staff are none of your concern. In fact, I think we should go have a little chat with Professor McGonagall about this newfound hobby of yours to listen in to other people's conversations."

"I don't believe it! I was trying to do you a favor!" Zack said, throwing his hands up in the air. "Why, I have no idea!"

"Mr. Black, do me a favor and don't do me any more favors," Severus sighed, opening the door enough to get someone's attention.

"Oh believe me, I won't," Zack said, gritting his teeth as Professor McGonagall came out.

"Oh no, what has he done now?" Minerva sighed with exasperation. But before Severus could explain, he caught sight of Jennifer coming down the hallway.

"Hi, sorry we were out so late. Professor Dumbledore said something else is missing now?" Jennifer asked, looking between Minerva and Severus worriedly.

"Yes, and something else happened that you need to know about, we'll go talk about it in a moment. How was your dinner with Dean Elk?" Severus asked calmly, Zack looking at him in surprise.

"Oh, it was lovely! Well, the food wasn't all that, but we were too busy catching up to eat anyhow. He was like a second father to me growing up. I can't believe he's actually here! Severus, don't you want to come meet him? It was your idea, after all. At least it was from what Dumbledore told me," Jennifer said with a smile. Zack suddenly felt like kicking himself.

"Presently, yes. Professor McGonagall, Mr. Black here needs your attention. It seems that he has been listening in to other people's conversations and making some very astounding observations that I think might interest you," Severus said calmly.

"Oh really?" Minerva said, looking disapprovingly at the boy. "Shall we go to my office then, Mr. Black?"

"And perhaps tomorrow we can chat about the situation, Professor McGonagall? Just to make sure he tells you at least as much as he told me," Severus said.

"Of course, Professor Snape. Shall we, Mr. Black?" McGonagall said, raising an eyebrow at the boy who was glaring angrily at his uncle. Severus offered his arm to Jennifer, who smiled at him curiously before she took it and he led them down another corridor towards the back staircase.

"Open sentiment in front of a student, Severus? That's not like you," Jennifer commented.

"Yes. Thanks for humoring me," Severus said expressionlessly. "And remind me to tell you what that was all about once we get back to the room. I think you'll find it almost as amusing as I did."

Jennifer did get a good chuckle from it when Severus told her about it after they had settled in for the night.

"Perhaps you were a bit hard on him. It does sound like he was only trying to warn you."

"He needs to be discouraged against going around and making assumptions based on things he's overheard," Severus said.

"Yes, but how can you scold him for eavesdropping while encouraging Andrew to do the same thing?"

"I am not encouraging him. It was something Andrew was doing far before I got involved, and he doesn't jump to conclusions about information he gathers, he merely reports it."

"And now it seems he's in danger because of it," Jennifer sighed.

"Now who's jumping to conclusions?"

"Severus, he was found unconscious in a closet. He may have even run into whoever it was who stole Dumbledore's sword. If the children hadn't gotten suspicious, who knows how long he'd have been in there? And he doesn't remember what happened on top of that…" Jennifer's voice faltered.

"It might not be spell related. It may be amnesia caused by the trauma of whatever he went through."

"Yes, Severus, that makes me feel better," Jennifer said sarcastically. "I'm not sure letting the children do something like this is a good idea."

"Jennifer, we've always encouraged their talents."

"Yes, but this one can kill him…"

"That is what you said when Alicia asked permission to join Quidditch," Severus pointed out. "Andrew was not physically hurt, and everything that he sees and does comes straight to me, just as you did when you first came here."

"I was in constant danger. Is he?"

"Everyone is in constant danger all the time, Jennifer, safety is merely an illusion," Severus sighed. "He is safer with me than without me."

"And what of Aurelius? Is he safe?" Severus didn't answer right away.

"We can't hold their hands through life, Jennifer," Severus said quietly. "They have to make their own decisions, whether we agree with them or not. All we can do is try to guide them. It is up to them to listen." It was Jennifer's turn to grow quiet, letting out a long soft sigh into the darkness. "So what was it exactly that Zacchius was actually overhearing, anyhow? He said that you stated you had a change of heart about something."

"Oh, that," Jennifer said, turning on her back. "I'm surprised you didn't guess. In fact, from what I read for him, Mr. Elk knew the situation before it even came up… the argument over getting another house, I mean."

"Really? Have you then, had a change of heart?" Severus asked slowly.

"We can't spend half our lives in suitcases," Jennifer sighed. "Well I could, but that'd hardly be fair to the children who really need more stability right now, or to you, or even to my father. Elk opened up a lot of old memories when we talked… a lot of them relating to how unsure I was… not just of myself, but everything in my life after we abandoned the Craw mansion and moved to America. And to finally learn to trust people in general only to be torn from another house was just too much. But that doesn't give me the right to punish anyone else for it, especially the children. It was not their fault we were put in this position. So, I guess what I'm saying is, that perhaps I'm ready to start looking for a new summer home now."

"Perhaps we could even go look at a house tomorrow," Severus suggested.

"What, just like that?" Jennifer chuckled. "Well, let's not rush into things. We still have a few months before school begins."

"Yes, but your father needs a house now, and it would make more sense if he lived with us. Besides," Severus said, turning over the other way. "There is a slight chance that I might have been persuaded by Sirius to go ahead and purchase one."

"What?" Jennifer said. When he didn't answer right away, she sat up, the candles flickering to life.

"He forced me into it. I was compelled to close the deal today before the house went up to the public. Anyhow, it was vacant so we can move in whenever we like." Severus finished, still without turning around.

"You bought a house without even talking to me first? Wait a minute, you bought a house when you knew I didn't want one!" she accused him.

"You only thought you didn't want one. I think from what you've just told me…"

"That is completely beside the point! I bet this whole thing with Elk coming was to keep me busy while you closed the deal. So that's why you wanted the assets folder… why you over-sized snake!"

"Jennifer, I am sure once you see the house…"

"See the house? Right now I don't even want to see you!" Jennifer said, climbing out of bed and grabbing her pillow, taking a swipe at his head before storming into her sitting room and slamming the door. As the room grew quiet Severus merely snapped his fingers to snuff the lights out, unconcernedly falling asleep.