Chapter Twenty-Eight

Green-Eyed Monsters

Jennifer did manage to doze off for a little while, but the wearing off of her current potion prompted her to get up and go about her increasingly complicated morning rituals, carefully refitting the corset that she had transfigured the night before after hearing Minerva's comment. It had been the only good thing in Jennifer's opinion to come out of the outing, and Severus like all the others, Jennifer thought to herself bitterly, had easily accepted it as her vanity. He of all people should have known better. She pushed away her anger as she double-checked to make sure she had covered every wound before finishing to get dressed. And what was she going to do about later? Already she knew there would be no way she could spend any real quality time with Severus and not have everything come out…she growled angrily.

This was definitely getting out of hand… was Ciardoth right in that it was only a matter of time before she betrayed them? No, she thought to herself. There was no way she was going to play into Ciardoth's hands, no matter what she was going to have to go through. The best solution was to find the mansion Lucius was hiding at and kill him…in fact, she knew it was truly the only solution. The only other outcome could be her own death, and if she were not careful, that of her entire family's. Well, she mused, looking herself over in the mirror, she could easily ask if they could go to Corey's tonight…often that turned into a long outing when he got them working on some project in the lab, and she could easily enough claim to be tired after that. She found herself choking back tears, wishing nothing if not to tell him the truth, but it was much too late for that now.

She was going to have to face this on her own. What would Severus be doing, she wondered, if he had been the one dealing with this? Preparing for the worst, she answered grimly, while spending all the rest of his waking moments on the problem. She stared at the mirror, reading her own thoughts from her reflection. She had to find that mansion and fast, and in the meantime…

"Yes, I know," she sighed sympathetically at her reflection. "But it's not like I wasn't going to need to write one sooner or later. Under the circumstances, I guess it had better be sooner. But who do I go to? I can't go to Vallid, she'd be on me like a magnet," she said, and then nodded to the reflection again. "Do what you have to do. That's all you can do," she told it and then finally left, heading to Severus' sitting room.

She had expected him to be there reading or marking papers, but he wasn't there at all. Curiously, Jennifer got out her watch and found his arrow pointed to his office, glancing at the coffee table, which had been set, the tray left covered. She went over to it and saw the note, glancing at it.

"Unexpected conference. Will return soon," she read then glanced at the time, wondering when he had left. All the children were in their houserooms except for Aurelius, who appeared to be at Quidditch practice. Had something happened with Zoë, she wondered? No, he would have said something about her then. Well, there was little to do but wait. Pouring herself some coffee, she waited for the ice chips to appear, giving it a quick stir before breaking out her journal. Inside, she had made notes of the mansion. She frowned at them. It could be any old building, she thought irritably and sighed, distractedly sketching out some of the rooms from memory to help her think, but nothing came to mind. No, she realized, she would have to find a way to see the outside of the building to even hope to figure out where it was.

Jennifer glanced up then, her eyes falling to Severus' personal bookshelf. He had many books on mental disciplines…if she could find a way to force herself into whatever dream state Ciardoth was putting her in…putting away her journal she went over to look through them, but sighed as she scanned the titles. They would be in his office, she realized. Except for basic tomes and encyclopedia sets, most of these were mysteries. Could she borrow such a book without suspicion, she wondered. Probably, she realized, any number of excuses would work, even though she really didn't know if any of them would have something that would help or not. Perhaps Fleur might know? The idea of going to her under any circumstances made Jennifer cringe. But at least if she asked Fleur there would be hardly any way that Severus could hear about it since he had made a point to avoid her. Jennifer smiled softly at that. He really had gone out of his way to reduce as much friction as possible between them. Glancing at the watch again, she sighed. It had been nearly an hour, and she had napped for another hour on top of it, and she knew she should send probably send a note to Corey warning them they were coming. Surely whatever business he was up to could be interrupted at least to ask him if he was interested in going.

Jennifer went down the back stairs so she could slip in the first available passage downward to save how many staircases she had to take. But before she got to the last turn, she met up with Icarus, who floated in from the sidewall.

"There you are, Jennifer! Can I talk to you a moment? Up in my office maybe?" Icarus suggested.

"What about?" Jennifer frowned.

"Oh, ah, divination things…memories…that sort of thing," Icarus said nervously.

"Not right now, perhaps later," Jennifer said, waving the ghost off.

"Oh, but it really must be now!" Icarus insisted. Jennifer sighed.

"All right, Ick. What is it? We can talk here."

"I'd rather go back upstairs, actually."

"I'm not going to walk all the way up to the North Tower just so you can tell me something. If you have something to say, say it here," Jennifer said.

"It's just…" Icarus said, frowning a bit. "It's just that it's important for you to remember that often things aren't what they appear to be. What I mean to say is…well, only that you shouldn't jump to any conclusion about…well, anything."

"You wanted me to walk all the way up to the tower for that?" Jennifer said dubiously.

"Well…how about lunch? Yes, let's go talk over lunch!"

"Ick, you don't eat lunch," Jennifer said, then turned to walk down the corridor again.

"Neither do you, so it should work out fine!" Icarus pointed out. "How about tea?"

"Ick, why are you trying to stop me from going to Severus' office," Jennifer asked point blank.

"Um…" Icarus said, attempting to think quick. "About…about what I was saying..."

"Is she in there?" Jennifer squinted, and then suddenly picked up the pace, ignoring Ick's pleas for her to come back.

"Oh, no," he said when she slipped out the door, holding his ethereal forehead with his hand. "It's happening again."

Jennifer swiftly stepped into the classroom, noting the door was shut and most likely locked. Growling angrily at that, Jennifer stepped forward poised to knock, but then stopped. Quietly she whispered the password, carefully turning the door handle and opening it a crack.

"I know, Severus, but I don't like it, I don't like it at all," Fleur was saying as she paced the room. Jennifer let out a silent sigh. At least she had her hood up. "It's dishonest not to tell her the truth, no matter how hard that might be for her. She really needs to know."

"Fleur, you know as well as I do how Jennifer would react to this. Now is not the time," Severus said firmly. "I don't want her to know until I've…found some way to prepare her."

"She will never be prepared for this," Fleur said, getting up again. Jennifer ducked back a bit more, but kept her ear to the door. "What happened…it was so unexpected to both of us. But now…now that I'm sure that this isn't a feeling that's just going to go away, I can't possibly go on like this, especially after what happened last night. She was so cold to me, Severus, so very cold. She suspects something, I'm sure of it."

"Something, perhaps, but I highly doubt that she could even fathom what's really going on. Aurelius has seen to that. And I agree that she can't be kept in the dark forever, but now is not a good time. She's not ready to hear it."

"She'll never be ready to hear it, Severus," Fleur said with a sigh. "She is going to be hurt no matter what we tell her. But I'm also not going to deny what the two of us have found because of her, either. That wouldn't be fair to anyone."

"I would never ask you to," Severus said. "I merely ask that you let me handle this in my own way and own time, it is better for everyone involved if I do. I will tell her myself."

"Tell me what?" Jennifer suddenly said, pushing open the door angrily and stepping in as Severus and Fleur both turned losing all color in their faces. "Tell me what, Severus?"

"How long have you been standing there?" Severus asked, cursing himself for not having had his snoop stone in his hand.

"Answer the question, Severus!" Jennifer snapped. "How long has this been going on?" The two of them stared at Jennifer again, then at each other, Fleur instantly panicking.

"Oh, no, Jennifer!" Fleur began, but Severus put his hand on her arm.

"I think it's time that you went home for the weekend, Fleur. You have business there, and I would prefer to handle this matter myself."

"What? You don't just expect…"

"Yes, Fleur, that's exactly what I expect. It's not her decision and shouldn't be," Severus said firmly. Jennifer stared at him in shock, and the sheer push of her trying to read his mind was giving him a headache. "Please, just go. Let me speak to my wife alone."

"Well, at least you remember that I am your wife," Jennifer said in an acidic tone. Severus merely met the gaze evenly.

Reluctantly, Fleur headed towards the door but paused when she got there, glancing at Jennifer a moment.

"I truly would have liked it if we could have become friends," Fleur said softly to her, her face both sad and sincere as she stepped out.

Severus came over to the door as well, silently watching her leave. But after she passed through the last door, Severus took out his wand and shut it behind her then dozens of padlocks appeared upon it. He stepped back and did the same to his own office door and then walked over to his desk, turned, and leaned on the edge, folding his arms and looking at Jennifer with an expression of such disquieting anger that she was momentarily taken aback by it.

"Exactly what was it that you think that you were doing?" Severus demanded.

"What did I think I was doing?" Jennifer repeated in surprise.

"Giving you my password to make life a bit more convenient for us does not in any way, shape, or form give you any right to listen in to a private conversation!" Severus snarled.

"A conversation that was entirely directed at me!" Jennifer said hotly.

"Who the conversation was about is inconsequential, Jennifer! You were spying on me!"

"It's a good thing I did, or I might never have known the truth!" Jennifer shouted back, tears forming in her eyes.

"And what truth might that be, Jennifer?" Severus challenged her.

"That you're obviously seeing Fleur behind my back!" Jennifer said angrily.

Severus stared at her, shaking his head at her in complete disbelief, the dead silence a pure indicator of just how angry he was in that moment.

"If you truly have so little faith in me to think I would do so after eighteen years of marriage, after everything we've been through, after the countless times I have risked my life and put everything I have on the line for you, then you deserve to believe it. Perhaps your father's been right all along. You really are a spoiled little brat who cares for nothing but what she can get out of people and has no appreciation for what anyone else has done for her. Get out," Severus said pointing at the door again, the locks falling off and disappearing as it swung open.

"What?"

"Get out of my office. And don't expect the password to be the same the next time you come looking to question my integrity! You have a lot of nerve doing so after all the lies you've been telling me this year, making me stand by and pray that it's all for a good reason and that you'd come to me eventually…not that you ever did. I will not be treated this way, not even by you! So get out, and don't come back until you're ready to prove your faith, because I refuse to play this game with you anymore!"

When she didn't respond, Severus finally grabbed her arm and walked her out, the door slamming shut behind her. A second later, Jennifer heard the loud clang-clanging sounds of the locks covering the inside of it. Stunned and shaking, Jennifer fell to her knees, not moving for a long time.


Even if the rest of the students hadn't noticed the changes within Craw and Snape over the next few weeks, it would have been difficult for their children, niece and nephew to miss it. Both of them were peculiarly quiet in class; even Snape, who despite the unusually firm hand and low tolerance for disobedience, barely raised his voice no matter how many points he was deducting.

But the strangest difference of all was that of Professor Delacour. The normally chipper woman had over the course of one weekend grew somber, melancholy and more serious, and although she still was kind and patient in class, the dramatic difference caused a great many students to be worried about her. She had, at least, seemed to have finally made a friend. Snape, who had always avoided her before, often stopped by in between classes and even occasionally sat beside her for meals in the Great Hall. Craw, on the other hand, kept to herself, and except for working with Zoë and Morfinn in the afternoons and at class times was rarely seen at all.

Andrew had little time to worry too much about his parents' strange behavior, for avoiding Eigil and his gang had become a full time occupation. Halbert had been quite upset with him after he had gotten in trouble for sticking up for him, and even though they had quickly made amends again, Andrew really didn't want another situation to come up where his friend felt like he had to intervene. Instead he chose to travel from class to class alone and invisible and either being the first in class and first out or finding other means inside secret passages and closets to change back and forth.

But one day near the end of January, Andrew…as well as the rest of the school, could no longer ignore the apparent triangle developing between the three professors. It had all started at lunch as Andrew slipped in from the back, passing the table where several Professors, including his father and Delacour sat chatting. Madame Brittle and Professor Weasley were there as well, chatting about the upcoming season, while Delacour sat beside him, going over some of Snape's research.

"Professor?" Andrew said, Snape glancing up thoughtfully. "I was just wondering if everything was going to be all right for Saturday?"

"You'll have to check with Professor Craw on that," Snape said quietly. "However, I for one see no reason why it wouldn't be, assuming none of you lose your privileges before then," he added warningly.

"Great. Thanks," Andrew grinned as Snape began to explain to Fleur about the Unicorns. Fleur shuddered in response, and then said something that made him nod thoughtfully. Hermione and Danny suddenly became interested in the conversation, but Andrew hadn't heard the comments for he had already turned for the Gryffindor table, hopping over the bench into place between Halbert and Zack. "Well! Sounds like everything's still on for the second!"

"Great!" Halbert said enthusiastically. "I can't wait to see the Unicorns again. Are you two coming?" He asked the twins.

"Sure, why not?" Zack said, but Zoë poked at her plate distractedly. "What's the big deal about the second, though? I mean, why not just wait until the Hogsmeade trip?"

"I don't know, exactly," Andrew admitted, "I just know there's a real deep connection between Rel and Pali on St. Brigid's day…even more than on Halloween, even though he likes to see him then too. And since he gets to go, I'm hardly going to pass up an opportunity to see Cody. He's a real chum."

"That Unicorn has definite personality. Even if he does have a bit of a horse face," Halbert teased.

"Does not," Andrew said defensively.

"Does too," Halbert grinned.

"Oh come on, they all look like horses," Zoë said impatiently. "Really, what are they but horses with horns?"

"They're much more than that, Zoë," Andrew said.

"Not to me," Zoë said, getting up. "In fact, I'm sure I've already made plans with Gretchen on Saturday. I think I'm going to go sit with her." As she left, Zack merely shrugged at Andrew, and Andrew politely decided not to comment.

"Hey Andrew!" Phil Rich nudged Dana and Selda, who had been sitting next to Zoë, to scoot into the empty spot so he could be a little closer to them. "So um, what's going on between your father and Professor Delacour these days?"

"What do you mean?" Andrew frowned at him, and Phil rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Andrew, it's not like the whole school hasn't noticed your parents haven't had a falling out. It's pretty obvious why," Phil said, glancing up at the table and shaking his head. Andrew glanced up as well to see the Fleur, Danny, and Hermione all giggling about something, while Severus looked unusually smug. "What is it that gorgeous women see in your father, anyhow? I don't get it, it's like a beauty and beast complex or something."

"I still have no idea what you're talking about," Andrew said. "So he's hanging out with staff, big deal. Most of the staff is female."

"He's been hanging out with Professor Delacour," Phil said. "Open your eyes, Andrew. She's got her hooks in him good, and Mr. Midlife is falling for it. You'd better start paying more attention to your parents, because I have a feeling one of them won't be coming back next year." Andrew glanced at Halbert, who looked unusually somber. Apparently, Phil hadn't been the only one who had noticed.

"I don't believe it," Zack said firmly, stabbing at his sandwich with his fork. "I don't care what it looks like, I simply don't believe it. You don't believe it either, Andrew. It's just another wild story about the Snapes because everyone loves to gossip about you guys, just like condemning the old man for this Skull thing based on circumstantial evidence. First off, Snape wouldn't be so damn obvious if he was going to cheat on her. The man's a genius…he's an ass, granted, but still a genius. And second, if it was real, I'm sure he'd have talked to you four about it by now. There's no reason to jump to conclusions over this. I did that once myself, and boy did I regret it."

"I think you're both in denial," Phil decided. Beside him, the two girls listening both nodded in agreement. "Don't believe me, fine. But you might want to look in the doorway."

Andrew, Halbert and Zack immediately turned to see Jennifer standing just to one side, partially hidden by the door itself as she stared vehemently up at the main table, knuckles white as she glanced at the students, reading some of their expressions.

Just then, Jennifer heard a wild laughter behind her and turned to see a small lime green creature with large feet and no arms. A large fanged mouth took up most of the front bottom half of the two-foot high egg-shaped creature, while taking up the top of its dome was a large eye shaped like a teardrop with a large green, circular pupil.

"Oh, no! Not that!" Jennifer said in fright as the corridor around her suddenly filled up with the creatures, attracted with little doubt to the pure strength of her jealousy in that moment.

Screams broke out within the Great Hall itself then as an entire colony of the little Green-eyed Monsters appeared inside and began gnawing on the tables and all its contents, the students leaping to get out of the way as the Professors clambered to their feet. Immediately, Severus looked straight out the doors at where she stood, his mouth going thin knowing full well what had happened as he got to his feet.

"Craters!" Jennifer said, and would have hid if she had thought it would do any good. She took out her wand and began spraying out fishing nets to try and contain them. It was a temporary setback, however, for the creatures immediately began to gnaw holes in the netting. She knew from experience that the only true way to get rid of them was to call an exterminator. She had gone through quite a number of these invasions when Aurelius had been younger, and nothing ever seemed to keep them busy for too long.

A spark of flames whisked up from behind her, and Jennifer turned to see Filch down the hall, furiously trying to keep them back.

"They're everywhere on this floor, Professor!" Filch barked at her. "We can't let 'em get to the stairwell! They'd be chewin' on the paintings!"

"Oh stars, you're right," Jennifer said in a panic. "Damn! What are we going to do?"

"Jennifer!" Severus barked, somehow climbing over the pack of them to get to her, kicking them off his boots. "Jennifer, run out to the courtyard. They can't eat through stone, and they should follow you!"

"Don't tell me you started all this!" Filch said in surprise.

Grimacing, Jennifer ran through the halls, netting every group she saw gnawing on something, her rib hurting extremely by the time she ran out the door and stood by the fountain, waiting. A moment later, Hermione, Danny, Fleur and Severus appeared, their clothes torn, chewed and looking completely disheveled as they paralyzed, froze, mesmerized and stunned every one of them in their way.

"They're not coming out!" Hermione said.

"We noticed!" Danny said, Jennifer shrugging unknowingly where she stood out of hearing range. "The excitement must have worn off the jealously!"

Cursing loudly, Severus glanced to make sure Jennifer was watching then grabbed Fleur and kissed her, while Danny, Hermione and Filch stared at him with dropped jaws. Instantly, the halls around them grew silent as the Green-eyed Monsters suddenly popped in from apparently nowhere and piled on and around Jennifer, completely filling the Courtyard and burying her in the process. Danny put out a hand and called up her broom, hurrying out to rescue Jennifer from the pile while Severus and Fleur both wiped their lips with the back of their hands and then glanced at each other warily. Fleur glared at him.

"Sorry, no choice," Severus said apologetically.

"Apologize to your wife," Fleur retorted.

"I will… eventually," Severus murmured.

"And that had better not be the only one you apologize to either," Fleur said hotly, watching as Danny gave her a hand up and helped her get rid of a persistent monster who was still dangling from her robes. Several other professors came up behind them, and Severus glanced over to see Dumbledore standing there.

"The exterminators should be here any moment," he assured them, and then stared with surprise through his glasses at the two figures hovering on the broom, the monsters still jumping in attempts to get at them. "It's been quite some time since we've had this big of an infestation! Goodness, is that Jennifer? What have you been doing, Severus?" Severus grimaced but said nothing, while Fleur looked as if she wanted to be anywhere else but there. "Hm," Dumbledore said, but said nothing else as he watched a group of wizards in bright orange robes work to round up the pests.