A/N: If you suddenly stopped receiving emails letting you know when these chapters go up, you may fix it by going to your settings and sliding over the 'opt in' option. Also, if twitter suddenly goes under, I'll let you know via these author notes where to go to get updates on when the next chapter is. (In this case, the next chapter in Sunday). Thanks! DQ
Chapter Twenty-Four
First Fall Twice
Jennifer stepped down the back stairs with a wide smile that didn't leave her, even after she stepped over to the Defense Room. Albus was busy finishing up his class, making certain that everyone was writing down their homework assignments.
"Professor Laura will be back on Monday, but don't be surprised if your last essays still have some comments from me on them. I suggest that you review your reading over the past two weeks as well as the assignment I gave you, since I wouldn't be surprised if she quizzes you on it when she gets back," Albus said. "It has been very nice to meet you and to have a chance to serve as your teacher, and I have no doubts from what I've witnessed that you'll all do well in your studies this year. Keep up the good work, dismissed," he added. The students began to gather their things. "Mr. Snape, Mr. Miller, I believe Professor Craw is here to see you, if I'm not mistaken."
"Not mistaken in the slightest," Jennifer replied with a grin, stepping over to the two boys who looked up curiously. Suddenly, Quintin began to grin too. "So! After the two of you turn in your History essays and homework, how would you like an excused absence for your last class, so that you can go represent the school as ambassadors on a goodwill mission?" she inquired.
"Goodwill mission? What's that supposed to mean?" Jeremy asked.
"Oh, I can explain that in two words," Jennifer said mischievously. "First Fall."
"First Fall!" Jeremy exclaimed. Quintin laughed at Jeremy's surprise.
"Run along and turn in your homework. Professor Scribe already knows you're not staying for class, although she is a bit put out about knowing that the two of you will get out of her class two weeks in a row. Those essays had better be good," Jennifer warned.
"We're at the top of her class," Quintin protested.
"Don't just stand there, let's go!" Jeremy said excitedly, grabbing Quintin's arm. The two boys hurried out of the classroom and dashed down the corridor.
"Jennifer, could you please let Wind know that I will join him after I finish my last class? I only have one more left," Albus said.
"Severus is going to wait until Jay is finished with his next class anyway," Jennifer replied.
"Oh, good. It's always good to have company to travel with," Albus said.
"I'll let him know," Jennifer replied, and walked towards the History room. But the two boys were already running in her direction, so Jennifer suggested that they run up for their coats.
When Eben wandered through the Great Hall at dinner, he gazed curiously at fifth table to see who was there. Then he walked over to Pete and Oscar.
"Did Quintin and Jeremy decide to eat in the library tonight?" Eben asked.
"No, they left on a family trip," Oscar replied.
"I thought that was next weekend," Eben said.
"Oh, they're still leave that weekend too, this was some sort of spur of the moment thing," Oscar explained.
"They've got all of the luck! Because they left early, they get to miss two weeks of History class!" Pete grumbled.
"Don't mind him, he got in trouble for being too messy," Oscar said. Pete glowered at him for mentioning it. Eben grinned.
"I had my essays rejected a time or two myself. It happens to everyone," Eben said. "So if they went on a family trip, who's in charge right now?"
"I think Professor Weasley's still here at the moment, but I heard someone say that Professor Ravenclaw was watching the castle overnight," Oscar replied.
"Thanks," Eben said, then hurried to Weasley's office to get the prefect schedules for the evening.
It was almost his sister's birthday, and Eben couldn't help wonder how she was really doing. He was certain that their father and aunt were putting some pressure on her to get married, but she never wrote about it other commenting about just how dull the social events were getting.
I was never much of a reader, but I'll admit there are times when I could just curl up in a quiet room with a good book, she had written him. Perhaps that meant she felt she wasn't getting enough time alone?
My aunt is throwing a birthday party for me, but it is likely to turn into a political affair. Wouldn't it be wicked if the Hags showed up to terrorize those staying over at the house?
Eben grinned at that, no matter how unlikely it was. It was too far from Scotland, and if any did manage to brave such an urban area, Mari would likely be blamed for it. Eben pondered what he could send her to cheer her up, deciding that he would try to find something at Hogsmeade.
He had already made plans to go with TJ and Elliot; the Order of the Owls had committed to helping organize the auction, so they weren't going to be able to go to the last Hogsmeade trip before the winter holiday. Being head students, they had been able to sit right up front.
They were quick to turn towards Honeydukes, but were unconcerned about several third years that decided to run to get ahead of them.
"This is probably our last chance to shop in Hogsmeade until we get back," TJ commented as they walked down the street. "Our father typically shops in Myrkinbrek and London, so we're unlikely to come back up here at all. This is a Christmas shopping trip for us."
"I'll likely be up here a lot, especially since my Father is hoping to host an open house for the distillery, and for some political fund-raising," Eben replied. "But I would like to get my sister something for her birthday, preferably at the Tinker Shop."
"We'd like to go there to get something for our father," TJ replied. "Some people are simply impossible to shop for, aren't they?"
"Definitely," Eben agreed, and the three of them went in to grab chocolate frogs and candy parcels for some of their friends as well as assortment bags for themselves.
"Can we go to the bakery next?" TJ suggested. "I didn't eat this morning, and I'd rather have a morning bun than start on this candy."
"Sounds good... and some hot tea to take with us," Elliot suggested.
"It is quite brisk out here," Eben agreed. "I suppose it won't be long at all before it snows up here as well."
"As well?" Elliot asked.
"Jack told me this morning that the reason the Snapes left yesterday was because of a Whitebridge school holiday called First Fall. They cancel classes the first time it snows and have a big festival," Eben explained.
"They cancel classes on the first day of snow? That sounds splendid!" Elliot said.
"Headmaster Snape would never let us do anything like that. How would you justify it?" TJ asked, shaking her head.
"Apparently they use it as a school fundraiser, too," Eben explained, and TJ regained interest.
"Did you say fundraiser?" TJ asked brightly.
"Well, some of the booths are free for students, but others have a small charge. On top of that, the moment it starts snowing, both parents and alumni show up for the festivities," Eben said. "Professor Craw always volunteers to run a booth, and I guess they took the others since it was on a Friday."
"Let's hit the news stand," TJ suggested immediately.
"Oh, no. You're not thinking of trying something like it at Hogwarts?" Elliot asked. "The Headmaster would never agree to giving the students off for something as frivolous as that, and you know it."
"Well, maybe he'd approve a festival that took place after classes?" TJ suggested, buying a newspaper to check the weather. "We're in luck! Here's Essie Brim's report: Light snowfall is expected tomorrow in higher elevations, including Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. It will be no more than a couple of inches with gentle breezes; perfect for a special outdoor event. There, you see?"
"Perfect for a special outdoor event?" Elliot repeated. "But it's tomorrow! How can we possibly put anything like that together in that short of time? We don't even have permission to hold an event!"
"Right, first thing's first. Eben, who's the main chaperone today?" she asked.
"Professor Weasley," Eben replied. "She told me yesterday that she'd be in the Three Broomsticks if we needed her. Do you really think we could get something together that fast, TJ?"
"We could at least try! After all, Eben, that carpet is going to cost a small fortune. If we're going to contribute, we are going to need to fund-raise every chance we can get," TJ reasoned. "Come on... we'll get the morning buns later."
When Radiance first rubbed her head against Jennifer's cheek, Jennifer tried to push her away. But the bird was nudging her so insistently that Jennifer reluctantly got up. As quietly as she could, Jennifer followed Radiance into the other room and dumped an unusually large portion of dried nuts and berries in her familiar's bowl so that she could go back to bed. But when Radiance saw Jennifer groggily turn back towards the bedroom, Radiance began complaining loudly. Jennifer had to quickly shut the door to keep Radiance from waking Severus, shushing her scoldingly. That's when Jennifer realized that an Owl Post letter was on the windowsill.
"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?" Jennifer asked. Radiance took to her stand in indignation. "It's from Hermione... she's not in the castle? Oh... right... Hogsmeade. I need coffee," she protested, reading the note. As she read it a second time, a grin crept on her face, scribbling out a quick note and handing it to Radiance. "Here, take this to Hermione. She's at the Three Broomsticks," Jennifer said, and Radiance warbled with interest. "Yes, you can stay and visit Ember if you like. I'll be along," she promised.
Radiance took off and Jennifer then slipped back into the bedroom. She gently and then more insistently shook Severus' shoulder, giving him the chance to try and wave her away.
"Severus... I'm going to go to Hogsmeade to meet up with Hermione. I'll pick up Seren from Alicia's when I'm done, so you can just sleep for now."
"You woke me up to tell me to go back to sleep?" Severus complained drowsily. "I thought we were going to skip Hogsmeade and get caught up on the time lag."
"You can, at least, especially now that I'm fetching Seren. But I simply must meet up with Hermione to help the students organize booths for First Fall tomorrow. See you later," Jennifer said, grabbing some clothes out of the closet as she went towards the bathroom.
"First Fall? But we just came back from that!" Severus shouted at the closed door. Wondering if he had misheard her, Severus decided that his best option was to put his covers over his head and go back to sleep.
Jennifer wasted little time volunteering some staff and rounding up help from some of the businesses at Hogsmeade, explaining the last minute festival to them as she went.
"I know it's a bit sudden, but because of the nature of the festival, it's always been like that," Jennifer explained to Mitch. "At Whitebridge we have the booths stored away, and a large stock of mittens and cocoa, but everything else is always put up in a rush. It's part of the fun of it, really."
"I see. Well, I can make a great many biscuits in a hurry," Mitch offered. "And maybe some gingerbread, if John comes home to help me mind the ovens."
"Thanks, Mitch," Jennifer said with a smile. She stepped out of the bakery as TJ, Eben, and Elliot stepped out of the joke shop.
"Zonko's said they'll donate their overstock of sparklers and hiccough treats," TJ reported. "And Honeydukes is going to send over one of their vendor trolleys for the day!"
"At least that's one booth we won't have to provide for. But what about shelter and booths for the others?" Eben wondered.
"Don't worry about that, Eben, I doubt we'll have to resort to tents with tables, because Andrew and Laura are back in the castle now. I'm sure I can borrow Andrew long enough to conjure up some temporary solutions," Jennifer assured him.
"There is one problem with this whole plan, though," Elliot said. "If it does snow tomorrow, how many students are going to have spending money after this trip today? We could be doing all of this and not getting much out of it."
"Hermione's already taking care of that," Jennifer replied. "She's sending out invitations to friends of the school and alumni in good standing, so there will be more than just students going. I suggest you three start recruiting more of your order to help. We'll meet in the Quidditch Pitch tomorrow morning after breakfast and we'll start assigning whoever shows up to a booth."
"This is so exciting! I'm so glad that the Headmaster is letting us do this!" TJ exclaimed.
"Well, he didn't say no," Jennifer said with a mischievous smile. "You were in charge of fund-raising for that carpet, weren't you? And you're approved for that, so this counts. Now, run along and find the others, while I had better find faculty volunteers to handle security."
"Is it going to be hard to find to find volunteers?" TJ asked.
"No, it's not hard at all... they simply say good afternoon or ask me a question and they find themselves volunteered," Jennifer said unabashedly. "See you back at the castle!" she added before walking towards the Pyther Studio.
"Isn't she sneaky?" TJ commented. "She's terribly good at getting others to go along with her crazy ideas, isn't she?"
"Who's idea was this?" Elliot asked her accusingly.
"Yes, but I'm an amateur at it," TJ decided. "Professor Craw is an expert."
When Jennifer dropped Serendipity off and said she had to get back to work, Severus didn't question it. After all, Jennifer had as always taken off at a moment's notice to help out during First Fall at Whitebridge, regardless of whether the rest of them had an opportunity to go or not. Because of that, she always left some work hanging at Hogwarts that needed to be taken care of the next day.
"Armando, ask My Old Self how Quintin is doing this morning," Severus said. He sat down at his desk, pulling over the current list of auction donations that had been sent to his desk for his signature.
"He says that Quintin still got up precisely on time to do some homework, and he didn't take to the painting's suggestion of going back to bed for a few hours," Armando reported.
"Quintin really needs to learn how to deal with that time lag more responsibly and give himself some room to recover," Severus replied with a sigh.
"I'm not sure he can help himself, Severus," the Sorting Hat offered. Severus glanced in the Sorting Hat's direction.
"Yes, well, like it or not, he is going to have to learn. Between administration and business obligations, our family is completely obligated into traveling over there on a regular basis now," Severus said. "It's rather ironic," he realized thoughtfully. "You know, for decades, my sister went back and forth between countries. I thought she was rather mad to do so for so long, believing that she should be focusing on things here. Nowadays, she only returns to the States to go to her grandmother's Thanksgiving party and to visit her grandmother and Aunt Tony on their birthdays. So, now it is the reverse of what it once was, since her focus is almost always here at home and we're the ones hopping back and forth."
"Times change and people change, and so we must adapt," the Sorting Hat replied.
"Yes, that is quite true," Severus said, getting back to work.
It wasn't until that evening when Severus was reading a bedtime story to Serendipity that Jennifer got back to the Study, plopping into her favorite chair tiredly. Severus got up and peered out the nursery door, ignoring Serendipity's comment that Duckie wasn't tired yet.
"Did we overdo it today?" Severus inquired, seeing just how tired she was.
"A bit," Jennifer admitted.
"Did you want me to take over, Severus?" the Sorting Hat inquired. "It isn't as if I don't have that silly Brave Little Witch series memorized now, as many times as you've read it."
"Yes, alright," Severus said.
"Thanks, Sir Hat," Jennifer said appreciatively.
Severus picked him up and carried it to the next room, putting Serendipity in her bed with the book and putting the Hat on her head before tucking her in and coming back out to the Study. He turned to Jennifer questioningly.
"Just why did you call him Sir Hat? It isn't as if you were playing with the children," Severus inquired.
"I'm just tired, I suppose, and grateful that the Sorting Hat offered to step in," Jennifer replied.
"And just what have you been doing all day?" Severus inquired.
"Hermione, Andrew, and I have been helping the Order of the Owls organize a fundraiser for the new house's carpet tomorrow. You don't mind if we use the Quidditch Pitch, do you? There's no game."
"Why would I mind that?" Severus asked. "It isn't as if I didn't know there wasn't going to be countless fundraisers for the thing, considering the cost."
"Yes, exactly. I spent the day helping them work out the details. In fact, I'm so whacked and I need to be up so early, I think I'm going to go to bed," Jennifer confessed.
"Shall I read you a bedtime story as well?" Severus inquired.
"Don't you dare start flirting when I'm too tired to defend myself," Jennifer protested with a chuckle.
"What better time?" Severus reasoned and began sorting his desk. "At least let me tuck you in."
"Yes, alright," Jennifer chuckled at him, stepping into the back. But by the time Severus dimmed the lights in the Study and nursery and made his way to the bedroom, Jennifer was already fast asleep.
