Chapter Twenty-Four
Salvaging Christmas
Although Alex never did remember falling asleep that night, she did remember very distinctly the horrible sound that woke her up…a loud, rumbling, off-key roaring of several inhuman voices that made her sit up and look around.
"What in the world is that?"
"Probably Andrew's stomach," Aurelius muttered, merely pulling up the flap of his bag as if threatening to go back to sleep again.
"Sounds like it's coming from outside," Andrew yawned unconcernedly, but Alicia sat straight up, pushing herself out of the bag.
"Let's see if we can see anything from his observatory," Alicia suggested. "We can use one of the smaller scopes."
"Good idea," Alex agreed and cast a quick spell to straighten her clothes before hurrying up the stairs. The Sorting Hat and Fawkes watched her with mild interest as she passed by them and began peering through one of three small telescopes that were set around the base of the large one. "Wow, these are nice! I can see nearly everything from here! Hullo, what's this?" Alex said in surprise when she pointed it in the direction of the study wall. "How funny! I can see straight through to the Quidditch Pitch on the other side of the castle!"
"Do you see what's causing that horrid noise?" Alicia asked impatiently, wincing as another painfully sharp series of notes clashed again.
"It's at the main gate! Why, it's a chorus of Carol Trolls!"
"Of what?" Alicia said with a frown.
"You'll cover them next year… they're an annoying pack of scavenger trolls that survive by threatening people with their music and demanding a bunch of items in return," Alex explained.
"I bet it works. They sound worse than Father does playing the violin," Alicia said, rubbing her ears a bit.
"Alicia, you just gave me a fantastic idea. Come on, we need to go get Dodger and then head to the kitchen," she said, hurrying down the stairs.
"Why?"
"You'll see," Alex said. "We'll be in the courtyard, Aurelius."
"You're going to get into trouble," Aurelius said.
"Well, it's not like we can lose points while on vacation, can we?" Alex pointed out before the two of them left.
Outside, the Carol Trolls were giving it their all, while Jennifer, Filch, and Sagittari quickly tried to sort through the lists.
"Aren't there any other staff members here?" Jennifer said, frowning as she read through the demands.
"Most left this year to be with their families," Sagittari said. "I believe even Pomona went to visit relatives."
"It is too bad that Professor Delacour wasn't here. She might have been able to charm them away," Argus said. Jennifer gave him a dirty look.
"Well, we simply can't do all of these between us. The walls will start to shake apart before then! I'm going to see if I can't get the children to help," she said.
"I'll start digging in the supply room," Argus nodded.
"And I will begin to see what I can find to give them upon the grounds," Sagittari agreed and the three of them each took a list. But before the group had time to go their separate ways, two figures exited the castle carrying between them a very large serving tray with large tankards upon them.
"Alexandria and Alicia, just what are you doing?" Jennifer said, putting her hands on her hips. "Where are you going with those?"
"Don't worry, Mum, we have it all under control," Alex said as they passed them. Frowning suspiciously, Jennifer quickly followed behind them, making sure her wand was securely in her sleeve. "Excuse me!" Alex shouted in a voice loud enough that the Carol Trolls paused. "I have something for you!"
The Trolls stared at her in complete bewilderment and said something that to Alicia merely sounded like a serious of grunts and snorts.
"You speak our tongue! You're not so stupid for a human," the leader said suspiciously.
"Thanks, I think," Alex said. "You have such powerful voices, I can't help but be impressed! I'd love to hear more!" She added, the other trolls in the chorus murmuring to each other as if agreeing with her. Alicia glanced sideways at her sister. "But I thought you might like some drink first. You prefer Christmas Grog, right?"
"How do we know it not some wizard trick?" the Troll squinted, but the others around him weren't listening. They had already begun to grab tankards off the tray, guzzling them down while the chief watched them to make sure they didn't fall over from being poisoned.
"Good stuff," said one of them. "You don't want it, boss? I'll take yours!"
"Nobody takes my stuff!" the leader said, guzzling his down. "We're keeping the cups too!" he added firmly.
"Sure," Alex said, and wasn't surprised as they grabbed the tray too, staring at their distorted reflection in the polished silver.
"We take the mirror too," he added. "Now go get more stuff!"
"Oh, we will," Alex said. "But can I stay to hear you sing one more song first?"
"You want to hear Bash the Halls?" the leader said brightly.
"Sure, why not," Alex grinned, glancing at her sister before the two of them took several healthy steps away from the gate to make sure they were out of the troll's range.
Jennifer came to stand beside them, unsure of what to expect. But out of all the guesses she could have made, none came close to what happened next. For as she braced herself for the worst and the leader took a deep breath to lead the others in song, a pure harmonious chorus came out from the troll's mouths filling the air with the most melodious tones that Jennifer had every heard. She could tell which trolls were female now as the sopranos rang over the top of the deep, deep bases of the males, each note hitting with such perfect pitch it was nothing short of breathtaking. But before they even got halfway through the first line the trolls were looking at one another in pure horror until at last, one by one, they burst into tears.
"Our songs! What have you done to us?" the leader wailed angrily. "Give us our voices back!"
"You want your voices back? All right, but first you must promise not to come back here and bother the castle again!"
"We not want to come here again! We would be too embarrassed! You have made our voices ugly!" the leader said.
"Then if you want them restored, you must head back to your village right this minute without your demands and not speak until the sun is high in the sky. If you do what I say, your voices will be returned to you," Alex said.
"They had better, or we will be back," the chief threatened. Sullenly they turned around, looking quite dejected as they stomped back towards the mountains.
"Well? What did they say? Did it work?" Alicia asked anxiously.
"You bet it did!" Alex laughed. "We won't be seeing them again!"
"Alex, just what did you do to them?" Jennifer asked with a frown.
"I just put a healthy dose of Liquid Inspiration in their grogs, Mum," Alex said cheerfully. "But don't worry, it'll wear off before they try to sing again. And they won't be back!"
"Well, it's not something I should applaud you for, but I admit it worked," Jennifer said.
"We should try to put these lists together anyhow," Sagittari said solemnly. "Those trolls depend on these yearly supplies despite the manner they are gathering them, and I do not believe they will try another house this year."
"Yes, I suppose you are right in that," Jennifer agreed reluctantly. "Just how did you get that potion anyhow, Alexandria? I know very well you couldn't have made it, and even if you could have it takes more time from that."
"Oh, well, ah…I'll get it back to you, Mum," Alex said quickly, grabbing Alicia's arm. "We should be getting back to the others."
"Did you get that out of my office?" Jennifer asked, cutting them off. "And just how did you manage to get in?"
"Oh! Um, well, I didn't, Mum. Actually… well, actually, Dodger got it for me. You see…"
"What?" Jennifer said in surprise. "Oh, so that's how it's done, is it? Taking advantage of your ability as well as the family owl and taking school property, is it? Alexandria Snape, I ought to…"
"Commend her for her outstanding ingenuity," Dumbledore finished from behind her, and Jennifer turned in surprise to see he and Severus standing there, Dumbledore with a beaming smile. "We've been having troubles with those Carol Trolls for a great many years now…not that they're really all that dangerous except to the walls and our ears, but really they can be a nuisance. Even so, I fully agree with Sagittari's decision of going ahead and doing the list. Perhaps now we can work something out that's mutually beneficial between us, by helping us dispose of some junk and giving them things to work with. In any case, I believe fifteen points is in order… unless you have any objections, Jennifer?"
"Of course she wouldn't, it would put Ravenclaw ahead of Slytherin house," Severus said in annoyance. "However, I would like to point out that since we're on holiday and not in session, points aren't necessarily appropriate…"
"Oh, nonsense, Severus. It's hardly the first time staying students have done something worthy of points during the holiday. Besides, I'm the Headmaster, I can give points when I like. Well done, Alex, and Happy Christmas," Dumbledore winked, waving to them as he headed out the gate.
"Speaking of Christmas, we should be heading back to our rooms. I believe you have some things waiting for you," Severus said, nodding to them.
"Let me tell Sagittari and Argus that I'll be back to help them with the list later, then," Jennifer said, excusing herself.
"Do you mean we are going to get Christmas presents this year after all?" Alicia said wistfully.
"Had them all written off, did you?" Severus said evenly. "I thought you might have remembered that we store your presents at Hogwarts to keep the four of you from snooping about the house. Unfortunately, nothing from the house can even be checked for curses until the Ministry is done with their investigation, but it's something."
"Was anything taken? What about our trunks? Did they go upstairs? Do you know if…"
"Alexandria, would you please give it a rest? No, nothing appears to be missing, but I've hardly been allowed to return and take inventory. Mercy and the other House Elves whisked as much of our valuables out of danger as they could before they went into hiding, and I know of all your Puzzleboxes and your mother's Puzzlebox and jewelry box are safe at any rate. But other than that I have no idea, so I would appreciate it if you would curb your questions until there are answers to give."
"Three cheers for Mercy!" Alicia said relieved, following him inside.
It didn't take long for the four of them to make short work out of their presents, and soon Jennifer's study was filled with books and clothes and magical gadgets galore. Severus was busy gazing warily at the appointment book that Dumbledore had given him, knowing it had been prompted by several missing lunch engagements, while Jennifer poked through the paper looking for more tiny parcels with things to fill her new jewelry armoire with. But the next small box she found proved to have her son's name on it, and sheepishly she turned it over to Aurelius.
"I can't believe it! This is just what I needed. A snoop chain just like Father's!" Aurelius said with admiration, fiddling with the clasp.
"Yes, make sure you wear it all the time," Severus said. "Along with the Shield, if you don't mind… especially now since I had to send mine to Tassels and Panning this morning to have the charm checked. It's been going off much too regularly." Alex frowned, a bit irritated that her brother had been the one to get the expensive piece of jewelry.
"What's wrong, Alexandria? That was the gown you wanted, wasn't it?" Jennifer asked.
"Hm? Oh yes, of course, thanks, Mum," Alex said, but frowned at Aurelius anyhow.
Andrew, who had been busy unwrapping one of his own, stared at the book in his hand before chuckling.
"It's a cookbook."
"It's a hint," Jennifer chuckled chidingly, playing with her new shawl broach. "You're not always going to have Mercy and I around to keep that stomach of yours full."
"Apparently I have the same hint," Aurelius said, picking up a wrapped book.
"Probably because lately you've been eating as much as I have," Andrew teased.
"Alicia, aren't you going to open up anything else?" Severus said impatiently. His youngest daughter had unwrapped a long rectangular package that was obviously a new watercolor set and hadn't touched another as she tested each color in her sketchbook.
"Oh! I guess, which one?"
"Try the one that's moving," Severus suggested. "And be careful not to turn it over." Jennifer threw him an enigmatic smile.
The rest of her siblings suddenly put down what they were looking at in anticipation as Alicia carefully picked up the box, pulling off the ribbon and cautiously lifting the lid up only a little to peek inside. It was then that a tiny white lizard-like head peeked out at her with cold black eyes that made her jump a bit, barely able to hold onto the box as she opened it further. Glancing at her parents skeptically, Alicia reached in and picked up the small creature by the midsection, his body smooth and glistening from the bowl of water it had been sleeping in at the bottom of the box. The creature met her unsure eyes with a similar look of its own as she timidly put it in her lap.
"All right, that's one more for the reptilian side," Andrew grinned.
"Actually, it's an amphibian," Severus said. Aurelius frowned with disappointment at that, while Alex grinned, knowing that that meant Aurelius wouldn't be able to understand its speech. Suddenly, the sleek white body turned into a brilliant shade of yellow as it curiously began to inspect its surroundings, earning a quick round of ooo's from everyone watching. "It's called a Chameleander; a magic breed of salamander that can change colors on a whim. I was told this particular breed of them has the widest range of color." Just then, the Chameleander slipped off Alicia's lap to investigate the wrapping paper in front of her, turning into a brilliant royal blue and earning a round of aaaah's from those watching it.
"I admit I was hoping for a bat," Alicia grinned. "But now that I see it, I think it's perfect!"
"It'll also be a lot easier to take care of," Jennifer assured her. "Its aquarium is wrapped up behind you. Make sure you keep his pool filled with water."
"Is it a he or a she?" Alicia inquired.
"I have no idea," Severus admitted. Alicia fished the Chameleander out of the paper, her hand matching the length of its body perfectly, its tail curling under her hand as she turned it around and stared at his beady eyes again.
"I think it's a he," Alicia decided. "I think I'll call him Marion."
"Marion? Isn't that a girl's name?" Aurelius said skeptically.
"It's both, actually," Andrew said with a grin, "which is perfect, since we don't know for sure if he is a he."
"I can ask him! Hullo, Marion! Want to be friends?" Alex said enthusiastically while Alicia held him close to her protectively.
"Alex, no talking to her familiar until she has a chance to bond with him," Severus scowled at Alex. "Andrew, help her get Marion settled in his aquarium. After that I don't want anyone taking care of him but Alicia for at least a week."
"At least this one won't take up much space," Jennifer said jokingly.
"Neither does Achilles," Aurelius said, petting the small grass snake wrapped around his arm before reaching for another package. "What's this? How did this get here?" Aurelius frowned, glancing at it before showing it to Alex.
"What is it?" Severus asked.
"It's the box Mr. Toby sold me to give to you," Alex said. "I thought I took it home."
"Here, let me have that," Severus said. "Jennifer? Just in case?" Jennifer nodded and brought out her wand as Severus carefully opened it and drew out yet another box made of polished oak on five sides. The last side was merely a pane of frosted glass with words painted on it. "'In case of emergency, break glass,'" Severus read.
"Do you suppose it's a Freeze Frame?" Jennifer said.
"What's a Freeze Frame?" Alex asked curiously.
"No, probably not," Severus answered quickly. "But whatever it is, there can be no mistaking it is from Toby. I'll play with it later," he said, putting it in his cloak. "How's Marion?"
"He's making a lunch out of the snails in the aquarium." Alicia grimaced. "And he feels very lavender about it." Just then, a great deal of cawing could be heard from Severus' sitting room.
"Speaking of lunch, I should work on convincing Descartes that Marion isn't just that," Severus said, getting up.
"I think someone's at your door, Father," Alex said.
Severus went through the bedroom, pausing to hear another fervent knock before he went over to open it. On the other side stood Filch, who looked no happier to be stuck playing escort than Thatcher Boltin was to have him.
"Hello, Thatcher. Trouble?"
"I'm afraid so," Boltin said. "I'm looking for Thomas. I suppose you can guess why."
"Not really. With Thomas it could be any number of things," Severus said evenly. Thatcher nodded slightly.
"Well, are you aware that the parole office reported to the Ministry that Thomas Craw seems to have left the London area willingly and unsupervised?"
"No, but are you aware that my home was broken into last night and my family was forced to flee for their lives?" Severus said curtly.
"Yes, Severus, I know, but Thomas was already gone by then," Thatcher sighed. "And we went to every Auror friend and escort he had last night. Each of them have stated different locations and business…well, until they found out who it was about and tried to change their stories," he added with a faint smile which quickly faded. "But, as much as I would like to believe them, I think we all know the truth. Consequently, the parole office has put out a warrant. I volunteered to try and find him and talk him into coming back peacefully before things get further out of hand. Severus, with everything going on, his flight right now would look terribly bad in the public eye."
"Thatcher, you don't believe Thomas has anything to do with this any more than I do," Severus sighed.
"No, of course I don't," Boltin said quietly. "And if I had any choice in the matter…well. Thomas did break his parole, and I must ask you for you to tell me where he is."
"I don't know," he shrugged.
"Severus…"
"Thatcher, I'm telling you the truth. I have no idea where he is. I'll take a Veritaserum if you'd like, but it won't change the fact. I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. Furthermore, if he did find some way to contact me, I seriously doubt that he'd be willing to tell me where he is considering the circumstances. My father-in-law is no fool," Severus said.
"No, no, he's not," Thatcher said with a sigh. "In many ways he's one of the most brilliant men I've ever met."
"And as such, he won't be found until he wants to be found," Severus said.
"For his sake, Severus, I frankly hope you're right," Thatcher said, shaking his head. "Because if things keep going the way they are, it won't be long before people are going to want more than just putting him in Azkaban."
"Thomas Craw is not one to care about public opinion, Thatcher. I need not tell you that if Thomas has broken his parole as you believe, he won't return until he has accomplished the task he broke his parole to do."
"Severus, this quest for revenge is going to cost him his life," Thatcher murmured.
"In many ways, it already has," Severus said grimly.
