Chapter Thirty-Three
The Father and the Bride
Jennifer awoke to the smell of something rather acrid by her nose, feebly lifting her hand only to find a cup in front of it. She blinked a few times then, forcing back the surge of pain going through her as her eyes met those of her husband who was gazing at her with intense scrutiny.
"Sit up and drink this," Severus said insistently. "I let you sleep long enough."
"What is it?" Jennifer asked, carefully attempting to sit up.
"Herbal tea."
"It smells terrible," Jennifer said grumpily, but took it anyhow.
"Yes, well, drink it anyhow," Severus said, turning to the wardrobe and checking his cloak to make sure none of the potions within it had been disturbed. "It's courtesy of Doctor Sagittari," he added, nodding when Jennifer looked up at him, horrified. "I decided to have a few words with him after what happened last night since I couldn't get to sleep. And despite the fact that he is utterly appalled at your refusal to see him and his reluctance to help you until you do, he suggested this particular blend to me to help soothe your nerves and any prickling sensations you may be feeling," he said, ignoring her face of disgust when she took a drink, "and recommended you drink it in place of your regular tea for awhile. He's also given me permission to give you Sleeping Potion at night for the next week…"
"Really?" Jennifer said, brightening dramatically at the thought of a week of dreamless sleep.
"…And I am instructed to somehow convince you to see either himself or Poppy as soon as possible, and I plan to carry it out," he threatened warningly. "I can think of absolutely no reason why you've suddenly become so intimidated by a check up. This isn't like you," Severus complained, pacing the room.
"I'll drink the icky tea," Jennifer said quickly, hoping that humoring him would calm him down.
"Perhaps it's still not too late to find another chaperone," Severus brooded as he paced.
"Actually, Severus, I really want to go today," Jennifer said, drinking down the tea, before glancing at the gloomy portents in the bottom. "But maybe… maybe it'd be better if the kids stayed here." Severus stopped in his tracks and stared at her.
"Any particular reason?" he asked.
"I don't know I just… I just have a bad feeling today, that's all," Jennifer said softly.
"To be perfectly honest, so do I," Severus murmured. "However, even considering that I think I would feel much better if the family wasn't separated today. Hogwarts isn't any more safe than Hogsmeade if Ciardoth is involved, and I think I would rather they all be close enough we can grab them in a hurry if need be."
"Yes, I suppose that makes sense," Jennifer said, nodding slowly. "And another reason we should go today."
"Perhaps you should get ready then," Severus said, taking her cup for her. "And don't take all day about it?" Smiling wanly at him, Jennifer watched him as he went to his sitting room as she reluctantly began to get dressed. At least he didn't seem so worried about her now, she mused, wondering whether or not that was a good thing.
The rain let up just before sunrise, the fog burning away to reveal an unusually warm spring day as the Hogwarts students invaded the streets of Hogsmeade, many of them rushing to one store or another to try and beat the rush. But the Blacks and Snapes didn't bother, knowing that between the six of them and their friends, they weren't going to manage outside of a snail's pace. As if sensing what was going through their minds, Zack suddenly stopped, sighing at him.
"Look at us! We look like a bunch of thugs, or even a small invasion force or something. If I were a shop keeper, I'd take one look at us and hide the merchandise," Zack declared.
"It can't be helped. You know Father's rules," Alex said, but from the way she was standing with her hands in her pockets and the expression on her face, it was evident she was no more thrilled about it than he was.
"Do you suppose he'd let us split up into boys and girls, at least?" Alicia suggested. "There'd be five of us with Mandria and Gretchen."
"I came here to hang with you, Alicia," Morfinn pointed out.
"Well, you can count as one of the girls," Aurelius said, Andrew elbowing him disapprovingly. "Then it'd be six in your group and five in ours counting Stock and Halbert. But I don't know if he'd go for it, what with what happened in February and all."
"This isn't going to work," Alex sighed, shaking her head. "You know, Zack's right…this has really gotten silly. None of the other students have to travel in mobs, and it's totally unfair to all of us to have to spend half the day in shops we don't want to be in just because father's paranoid. Everyone here knows basic Defense, even Gretchen can pack a punch in an emergency…"
"Durmstrang it hard school sometime," Gretchen said with a thick accent.
"So what I say is, let's go ahead and split up in pairs or greater and just meet up again after we're done with every shop, inform all the other groups what shop their heading to next, and so on. That way everyone knows where everyone is, and the girls don't have to spend hours in Zonko's and the boys don't have to spend hours at Madame McGonagall's," Alex finished. "It isn't like we'd be more than a handful of steps from one another at any given time."
"Well, I did want to go see Pali later, and that's a lot more than a handful of steps," Aurelius said. Stock and Zoë both grimaced.
"Well, then we'll meet up for that and go together, and we'll meet up for lunch too, of course."
"As long as it's at the deli," Morfinn put in.
"All right, but not until we've checked with Father," Aurelius said, Alicia rolling her eyes.
"You know, he's not your advisor anymore. You don't have to keep sucking up to him," Alicia said, but Aurelius gave her a freezing look.
"I'm not stupid enough to think for one minute we're safe in this town with everything going on," Aurelius said. "No changes in plan without our parents knowing it."
"I agree," Andrew said.
"Me too," Alex said. Alicia glanced at Zoë and Zack who were nodding as well.
"Fine! Let's get it over with then!" Alicia sighed.
"They usually stop by the Brooms to save the Professor's table until the others arrive," Aurelius said. "It'll only take a moment."
But surprisingly enough, it didn't take as much convincing as Aurelius thought it would. From the moment the eleven students arrived everyone in there looked up and stared as they bumped chairs and otherwise tried to make their way to the back while Rosmerta folded her arms as if daring them to ask to sit together. Much to Aurelius' surprise, it was their mother who was quick to shake her head and say it wasn't a good idea. Severus, however, sighed and looked them over, finally nodding to Aurelius.
"Just make sure you know where each other is at all times," Severus said. "And if you lose track of anyone, even for an instant, I want to know about it. We'll stay here until you gather for lunch and do our shopping during times we know you're all together."
"Thanks, Father," Aurelius said, Jennifer still looking at Severus worriedly as the group retreated, grinning at Rel when he nodded to them.
"I don't like this, " Jennifer frowned.
"I'm aware of that, but what can we do? Aurelius is right; we can't expect them to horde into every shop like that, it's unfair to them, and they did come up with a compromise with considerations to safety," Severus said. "They also came to us with their idea before doing it on their own. I think we can trust them."
"It's not them I don't trust, Severus, it's everyone else that worries me," Jennifer said, Severus looking at her thoughtfully while Jennifer turned her attention to Rosmerta.
"The usual, I assume?" Rosmerta said, glancing at Severus knowingly.
"Of course," Severus said.
"Actually, can I get a double Highland Firebreather? And don't cut it," Jennifer said. Severus turned to gape openly at his wife. Fortunately, Rosmerta recovered sooner.
"No water?" she asked.
"No, but can I get a tall glass?" Jennifer asked, and Rosmerta smiled and nodded curiously, walking to the bar. Severus' mouth finally closed, but his stare was so persistent that Jennifer finally looked over at him.
"What?"
"Since when do you drink dark scotch?"
"My father used to drink it when I was little," Jennifer said irritably. "Don't be so critical, I wasn't going to drink it straight." She duck in her cloak then and brought out an unopened bottle of Coca-cola, handing it to Severus. Sighing he opened it just as Rosmerta got back to the table, the two of them watched dubiously as Jennifer poured the Muggle liquid into the frosty glass and poured the scotch on top of it, stirring it. She took a sip then, and nodded thoughtfully, getting ready to pull it closer when Rosmerta's hand came out.
"I'm sorry, may I?" she said with, her curiosity getting the better of her and Jennifer paused so she could grab a quick drink. "Hm. Not bad," she had to admit, her eyes watering a bit. "Still a bit strong, but definitely not bad. That's a Muggle based drink isn't it? Is there any magic equivalent?"
"Forget it," Jennifer said glumly. "I've tried it."
"Again," Severus put in, "And again…and again."
"I think she got the hint," Jennifer said dryly.
"Yes, but does she truly appreciate how much our Home Magical Accident insurance went up because of the attempts?" Severus said, Jennifer glowering at him. Rosmerta chuckled and was about to excuse herself when she noticed someone coming down the stairs from above.
"Oh! Good morning! You're here already!" Fleur said with surprise.
"So we are," Severus agreed enigmatically, looking at the woman with such a thoughtful and yet unreadable look that Jennifer glared at him. Severus however seemed to ignore it, twisting his Black Anise Wine in his hand. Fleur, however, didn't miss it, frowning slightly.
"Rosmerta, would you mind terribly if I stepped behind the bar a moment for a scotch?" she asked.
"Highland Firebreather?" Rosmerta inquired with amusement. "In a foul mood today, I take it?"
"Dreadful, I'm afraid," Fleur said, glancing at Severus who gazed at her with open sympathy as she went to the bar.
Jennifer pushed her drink away, not wanting it anymore.
"Too strong for you after all, Jennifer?" Rosmerta said, lingering despite her previous attempt to get back to work.
"No, just suddenly not to my taste," Jennifer said dryly. "Got any Wailing Inis Whiskey?"
Severus stared as his wife again.
"More than likely," Rosmerta admitted, eyeing Jennifer thoughtfully before turning back towards the bar. But just then Fleur floated by again, carefully and gracefully carrying the drink in hand with a napkin around it.
"You were nearly out of the scotch, Rosmerta, so I went ahead and made a Wailing Inis instead," Fleur said, Jennifer stunned speechless as she started back up the stairs. "Please don't go anywhere. I'll be right back down."
"What is going on?" Jennifer said to no one in particular, but immediately Rosmerta wandered off and Severus sipped his wine. "That was very odd. Since when is dainty Miss Perfect Parisienne interested in hard dark whiskey?"
"Since when are you?" Severus inquired.
"I just ordered the first thing that came to mind that I thought was strong enough to relax me," Jennifer admitted defensively. "But at least with my heritage it makes some sort of sense…" she paused then as Fleur came back down again, smiling at them both before turning to her.
"Jennifer, I need you to come upstairs with me for a moment," Fleur said.
"Why?" Jennifer frowned.
"Well…" Fleur hesitated, looking at her hands before glancing at Severus and back again. "Well, there's something you need to know, and you have to come upstairs to find out," she said sincerely, glancing at Severus again.
"Go on, Jennifer, it won't kill you to talk," Severus coaxed.
"You're not coming?" Jennifer frowned at him.
"No, the situation is explosive enough without my presence at the moment," Severus said, waving her off with a hand before tending his wine again. "Go on, Jennifer, I'll wait here for you."
Jennifer was so stunned that he was actually leaving her alone to do anything at all that she found herself following behind Fleur, growing more confused by the second as they slipped between the tables on the balcony and down a back corridor to a row of doors, knocking on the second one before opening it. Jennifer was led into a rather plush apartment decorated with floral prints in a manner much too frilly for her tastes. But that first impression was suddenly blown from her mind as she saw the figure getting up from where he sat at the breakfast table, looking so out of place that Jennifer couldn't help but blink a few times in disbelief.
"Hello, Jen-girl," Thomas said as he downed the contents of the glass in his hand. "Surprised to see me, eh?"
"What are you doing here?" Jennifer demanded.
"I live here," Thomas said. "Temporarily, at least. Fleur, why don't you go downstairs and keep Severus company? This is probably going to take awhile. And have Rosmerta send up a bottle of this if she gets a chance."
"All right, Thomas," Fleur said with a smile, slipping out the door. Jennifer stared after her, more confused than ever.
"I've actually been scouting for somewhere more permanent," Thomas said casually, sitting back down. "In fact, I've found a nice place just inside my parole limits that might work…"
"Dad, we're not moving," Jennifer said firmly.
"Who said anything about you moving? I was talking about me," Thomas said seriously.
"Dad, assuming that you aren't going to spend the rest of life in prison for dodging parole in the first place, there also is the little matter of the fact that you are presently wanted in connection with the deaths and terrorist acts of the Skull…"
"Jen-girl, I have absolutely nothing to do with that!"
"I know, Dad! But everyone thinks you do, and with you always showing up just before or after the attacks…what are you thinking of, staying here in plain sight? You're going to get Rosmerta in trouble, and besides, you're not supposed to live alone…"
"Who said anything about living alone?" Thomas interrupted in such a strange tone that Jennifer stopped and stared at him. The fuzziness that had covered his thoughts suddenly lifted, but what came now with clarity was not something that Jennifer was prepared to handle. "In fact, I can say with certainly that I am less alone now, even under the present circumstances, than I have been in twenty years."
"Please, please don't tell me you're actually living with that woman…" Jennifer said, her face paling in horror.
"Jennifer, I married that woman," Thomas admitted solemnly.
"No," Jennifer said, shaking her head in disbelief. "No, I didn't hear that. It's the whiskey…yes…maybe it didn't react well to the Coke…"
"We've been married over a month, and I've been living with her since Christmas…well, actually off an on before that as well…"
"Have you gone absolutely insane? She's six years younger than I am! Craters, Dad, you're almost twice her age! Comets and constellations, don't you see she's throwing the Veela at you?"
"I am not charmed!" Thomas boomed angrily, standing. "Get that out of your head right now, it had nothing to do with it!"
"Oh, sure, no more than her platinum hair or kicking her skirts! I can't believe you'd do something so foolish! I can't believe you'd do something like this to my mother!" Jennifer shouted at him.
A slap came across her face so quickly that Jennifer suddenly stepped back in sheer surprise, staring at the fierce anger behind his grey eyes as he pulled up a chair and made her sit down in it.
"If you're going to condemn me without a trial then you're at least going to hear me out!" Thomas snapped. "There isn't a single thing that has gone through your head that hasn't gone through mine! I never asked for this! In fact, when I realized I was taken with her, I made the exact same conclusions that you did! It was her heritage that was to blame, her eyes spoke that way to every man she met, she was nothing but a creature built to charm, and therefore I was not at fault for what I felt! Hmph, well, it sounded good, at any rate. And despite the fact after I saw her at her very worst and felt stronger about her instead of less so, I still fought her! Until the game…" he murmured, finally sitting himself. "When I learned this…this creature…this woman…who had been nothing but plaguing my thoughts since the first time I slammed a door in her face had met Alice and known her…had known just how special Alice was… that was when it changed. I wanted desperately to hear Fleur tell me about her and at the same time wanted to tell her how I felt about her as well. She agreed to talk with me, and after we had our talk, you know what happened? Well, she decided she didn't want to have anything to do with me. That's when I knew I was onto something."
"On something you mean," Jennifer scowled. "Dad, you treated her like dirt…"
"Yes, I already explained that part," Thomas said testily. "Stop interrupting me. I started writing her letters then until she finally agreed to have dinner somewhere quiet; I seriously doubted she wanted anyone to be seen with me any more than I wanted to be seen with her at that point. Things had gotten strange by then, and because of that, our talks began to dwindle away from Alice and became about Malfoy, until finally the talks were about me… and not only that, about her. By then I'd already begun to realize something, although I'm not quite sure when, exactly… that allowing Fleur into my life was just that… adding something. It didn't take anything away. I can't spend the rest of my life living in the shadow of your mother, Jen-girl. Alice wouldn't have wanted me to. I've got to learn how to let go, Jennifer."
"Let go," Jennifer said in a tone so hurt that even Thomas couldn't miss it. "Just like that, you want to let go?"
"Not just like that!" Thomas snapped.
"Why haven't you ever asked me just how I felt about mother? How I felt about losing her?" Jennifer said, her voice trembling a bit. "How I felt about growing up, watching her work twelve hour days six days a week so you could stay home to supposedly take care of me when all you ever did was drill me in endless spells and have me make you sandwiches!"
"Well, you couldn't make anything else, you were eight…"
"This isn't about me!" Jennifer shouted.
"Are you sure?" Thomas challenged her.
"This is about my mother!" Jennifer said firmly, tears coming to her eyes. "Everything she went through for you! Everything she gave up, including her own family! Riona was right, she was right all along! It was my mother next, and now you're turning your back on her!"
"Jen-girl, I don't know how you came to speak with Malfoy without killing him, but you should know better to listen to him…"
"You transfigured her blood! You did, you bastard! You drummed into me the great ideals of family being the ultimate importance when you do nothing but destroy it! And now you expect me to just sit here while you play fancy to a creature who probably only married you because she knows your head is on the block and you sit there and go against everything you've ever taught me! I hope they catch you and give you what's coming for you! You never deserved a second chance!"
"Jen-girl! Get back here, you foolish child, before you do something you'll regret!" Thomas barked.
"I'm not a child! I'm older then that… that… thing you married!" Jennifer shouted from the hall. "And as far as I'm concerned, I'm no longer your child in any case!"
Fortunately, the normal noise of the Three Broomsticks drowned out exactly what she had said to the patrons in the back of the pub who had tried to stop and hear what the yelling was about, everyone looking up curiously as Jennifer came into view, her face red and furious as she barreled down the stairs and straight over to where Fleur and Severus were sitting. Several other professors, including Danyelle and Pomona had arrived and sat down, looking at Jennifer's face with alarm and surprise.
"Any …woman… foolish enough to try and seduce a sadistic criminal deserves what she gets!" Jennifer said venomously. Fleur glanced worriedly at Severus.
"Jennifer…"
"And as for you…" Jennifer said, cutting Severus off as he stood. "I can't believe what you've put me through, just because you were mad at me for snooping! And then to keep this from me! Talk about a breach of trust! Well, I've had it from all of you!" Jennifer turned and stormed out of the inn, which had grown unusually quiet. Wide-eyed students watched as she left.
"Did she just call Professor Snape a sadistic criminal?" Shelly whispered to Ted Gaffney, who shrugged and nodded as they turned to look back at where the Professor's table. Still wearing a stony expression, Severus sat back down.
"Well, that went about how I expected," Severus sighed, getting out his watch.
"Should I go after her, Severus?" Danny asked in a low voice. Severus watched the compass thoughtfully a moment.
"Knowing Jennifer, she is going to Keki's Grove," Severus said in a low voice. Danny nodded in understanding.
"I'll let her have a few minutes alone to cool off first," Danny assured him, finishing her drink.
"She's never going to accept it, is she?" Fleur murmured.
Severus didn't say anything, having no more idea what the answer was to that as she did. Just then, Albus Dumbledore stepped in, more than a little curious about the excitement in the Pub as he walked back, attempting to hear the discussions as he passed by them. But had he not heard from the chattering students, he could have guessed from the expressions on Fleur, Severus, and even Pomona's faces as he sat down and ordered a drink.
"Good morning, everyone. Good morning, Fleur. Terribly sorry you need to rush off now, but these things happen you know," Dumbledore said. Fleur blinked at him in surprise. "No, no, it's quite all right, no need to make excuses. I understand that there is an important package that you need to get out at once before it gets too late. We'll still be here, I'm sure, when you get back," he said, gazing at her over the rim of his glasses. "I suggest you hurry." Immediately she got up and slipped up the stairs, Severus looking at him thoughtfully.
"Sir, I'm not sure that anyone here will be able to infer anything from what Jennifer said." Severus murmured. "I think it more likely that they believe…"
"On the contrary, Severus," Albus said quietly, taking a moment to thank Rosmerta for his tea before continuing. "Not only do I believe there's a possibility the truth will get out, but that's it's even more probable that it's now already out."
