Chapter Thirty-Seven

Dark Night, Dark Morning

Halfway through the tunnel Aurelius took off into a run, the other two struggling to keep up.

"Wait a minute!" Alex panted. "What's wrong?"

"The chain went off. Malfoy knows we're out of the castle," Aurelius explained. "I just hope he didn't recognize where we were. Come on! Everyone out!"

"Are you sure the old man is going to be there?" Andrew asked as they pushed their way through the trap door onto the hill and into the brutal path of the wind and rain.

"If not, we'll stop by Corey's. Maybe he'll have some idea on how to get it off," Aurelius said as they hurried down to the street. But as luck would have it, Aurelius saw that the lights in the back of the shop were still lit, and although the hours clearly stated he was closed, a knock on the glass showed that the door was left ajar, swinging open from the force of his hand.

Toby the Tinker was sitting with his back to them on his stool working on a project. He suddenly turned, his shadow projecting strangely on the wall, elongating to make the shadow look as if he had a long pointed hat and a flowing white beard.

"Come in, come in," the tinker said, the image disappearing as he stood and walked to the counter. "A bit late to be shopping, isn't it?" Aurelius didn't answer, his eyes shifting to the shelf beside the counter and going straight over to it, grabbing the Remover and fishing out some change. "Ah! Finally, someone in this family is actually behaving in a sensible manner," Toby said somberly, nodding to Aurelius as he put some coins in the jar. "My hat's off to you, Wart, but I fear it may be much too late to change the events now coming to pass."

"About the crystal…" Aurelius said, rubbing the cream vigorously over his hands. "It's from there, isn't it? The Cave?" Toby glanced thoughtfully at the other two.

"It's all right, sir," Andrew said sheepishly. "I know who you are now."

"Me too," Alex said softly. Toby nodded with acceptance.

"Ciardoth found the Crystal Cave," Toby said quietly. "Attracted by the Lake's powerful magic. She was enthralled, I'm sure, by the images within, and came to strike the crystal… I can hardly guess why… perhaps she saw something within them that she didn't wish to see. A part of the crystal broke and she seized it, determined to learn its secrets and perhaps even learn to control the power of the cave itself. Some of it she kept whole; some of it she shattered again and again in attempt to learn of the magic that bound it. But no matter how small the crystal got, it still maintained its properties…and learning that, I think, was what inspired her to combine it with something seemingly innocent to spy upon her enemies. But how could she deliver it to them? What shape could it take to be believable, and how to guarantee it would be used? These answers she did not know herself, but her past, present, and future memories guided her on who to go to."

"Lucius Malfoy," Aurelius nodded. "But what about the Sword? Wasn't it down there?"

"Never you mind about that. Suffice it to say it was kept safe," Toby said, polishing the wand he was working on. "At any rate, you can imagine with her stealing the crystal, a substance older than this entire universe, it was bound to attract attention sooner or later. When Viviane came back from over the pond to find her house broken into at Christmas, she was not in her best of moods. A fight of astronomical proportions broke out that night, and if you've noticed Ciardoth leaving most the work to her minions it is due to a weakened state she is still recovering from; for I am glad to report that Viviane was able to force her away, and then she sealed the Cave so that no one will 'happen across it' again."

"But if Viviane's so powerful, why didn't she just take Ciardoth out?" Alexandria asked, but Toby shook his head.

"She cannot. Nor can I," Toby said, getting a piece of sandpaper out of a drawer.

"But Ciardoth could destroy this whole plane of existence and the two of you with it!" Alex said.

"Yes, Miss Snape, we're well aware of it, but it is not our affair," Toby said gently.

"So you're just going to sit here and do nothing?" Alex frowned, Andrew putting a hand on her shoulder warningly. Alex folded her arms.

"Miss Snape, have you ever heard the term, 'All life is a play?'"

"Yes, of course, it's from Shakespeare," Alexandria said.

"I would say more than likely the metaphor has been in use since the very first amphitheatre, but yes," Toby said, setting aside his work. "But a good play is more than just one lead actress, it's supporting cast, writers, directors, stage men, scenery, lights…and an audience, not to mention usually a critic or two. In this particular play, I'm merely the Prop Manager," he said with a smile.

"And Aunt Viviane?" Andrew asked.

"Definitely a critic," Toby said with such a straight expression that Andrew couldn't help but grin. "But everyone is important…there are no small parts, and you three are no exception, though supporting actors you may be, and I'm afraid you still have quite a great deal to do before the last act."

"In that case, I'd better get the umbrella," Alex decided as she noted it was still raining, grabbing it off the shelf.

"Well, we need to go back and warn Mum about the Invisibility Cream…or better yet, warn Father," Aurelius said, but noticed Toby's face darken. "It can't truly be too late to change things, can it?"

"Perhaps not, but I do not think it is something that one of you three can do," Toby admitted softly.

"Who then?" Aurelius said.

"I will tell you this much, Aurelius, that it is directly connected to the curse that your mother once placed upon a man to protect your family," Toby said quietly, glancing between them. "No one affected by that curse can stop what is going to happen. But that doesn't mean there isn't someone in your family that can't stop it. With great love comes the willingness for great sacrifice; sometimes needless, sometimes not. Soon we will see which one wins out in the end," he said, bagging up the cream and handing Alex the umbrella. "Take care of yourselves… and stay together tonight," he advised.

Glancing at each other they walked silently out of the shop, pausing on the doorstep long enough for Alex to get the umbrella open, proving to be just the right size for three people to walk under.

"I ask a simple question, and I get a riddle," Aurelius said irritably. "How like him!"

"At least we don't have to worry about being spied on anymore," Andrew said.

"Well, we still have to get this stuff to Zoë and Mum," Aurelius said.

"Any ideas yet just what she might be hiding with this stuff?" Alex said. "Zoë used it to hide a tattoo, do you suppose she was trying to hide a mark of some kind as well?"

Perhaps had Aurelius had the time to think more on it, he would have come up with the correct answer. But as they walked up the hill, Aurelius got a strange sense of impending doom and paused, looking around. A moment later, his chain also began to react.

"What is it? Did the cream not work after all?" Andrew asked anxiously. But just then a blaze of torches sprang up at once, and the three Snapes, belatedly pulling out their wands, stared in horror at the number of Death Eaters surrounding them.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my grandchildren," said the voice of the Skull, a white figure stepping out of the circle, the unmasked face of Thomas Craw peering out from the shadows of the hood.

"Baylor," Aurelius murmured with certainty.

"You shouldn't be out here in the rain. You might get a cold…or worse," he threatened as the others moved in. "But don't worry. I have every intention of taking good care of you."


Severus woke up early that next morning, gazing at his sleeping wife for a long time before gently kissing the brow of her peaceful face. For the first time in weeks, it seemed that things were turning around. It had been quite a long time…perhaps even years…since Jennifer had responded so tenderly, so lovingly, so passionately to his touch. It was, in many ways, as if the dark cloud that had loomed over him had momentarily traveled behind the sun, shadowing the world in light instead of darkness.

It wasn't until an hour later that he realized just how foolish a notion that had been.

He had neglected quite a bit of work that weekend that had to be done before class, so he slipped quickly out of bed and got dressed, grabbed his folders and books and went to his office before the stroke of six. Coffee was the first order of business, of course, and then organizing his papers by class order, assuming he could always use the earlier classes to finish the tests for the later ones if he ran out of time.

He took out his reading spectacles then, gazing at them. He had been pondering wearing them in class, remembering his wife's advice on making a change in his own right to make him feel more comfortable about the changes now going on in his career. It seemed rather silly in a way that he had been fighting it for so long, and yet for him such a move would be a big admission to himself as well as his class that he wasn't quite as infallible as he wanted them to believe. Well, after what had occurred over the last few weeks, few needed much convincing of that. Unfolding them, he put them on his nose. Were they really that bad? He scowled at himself in the mirror, but it was rather dark in the room.

Sighing and forcing himself to pull the mirror flat so not to think about it, he opened the small window then to let in some extra light and noticed a pair of letters on the ground…post that must have arrived during their busy weekend. One was a returned post from Jennifer to the Bently Beauty Company with the stamp, "No longer at this addressee" upon it. Rolling his eyes at it, he tossed it on the desk and looked at the other one, frowning. It was a heavy, eggshell colored envelope addressed to Mrs. Jennifer Corsiva Craw Snape, Professor of Potions, Hogwarts. Severus frowned, finding it odd that anyone would call her by her full name, then noted the return address; Theodore, Meyers, and Brighton, Civil Counseling.

Severus groaned softly, wondering if Jennifer was about to be sued over what had happened that weekend. Then he paused… the date upon it was the day before yesterday, and had perhaps arrived before it had even occurred. Curiosity got the better of him then, opening it despite the fact it was marked private. As he opened the seal, the envelope turned into a long legal scroll with a small note attached that read: Here is your final copy. Rest assured we also have one on file should anything happen to it, and thank you for your prompt payment. We hope that this document will ease your mind and hope that you will turn to us if you ever need any other legal services. J. Theodore, Civil Council.

It took only reading one line for Severus to feel his heart in his throat, his face paling in pure terror. Feeling off balance, he took a seat as he stared in disbelief at the scroll in her hand.

It was Jennifer's Last Will and Testament.

It was not the fact that she had one that frightened him; he had kept one for years. It was the fact that it happened so out of the blue. It was the fact that she hadn't spoken to him about it. It was the fact that she chose to entrust anyone with such a thing other than her good friend Lunette Vallid, knowing full well that if she had, Vallid would have known… known that something was very deeply wrong. Severus stood up in anguish, still staring at it numbly as he paced restlessly, thinking of how she had refused to seek medical attention over the last year, keeping it to herself, and all the painkillers… could she be dying? Locking it shut in a drawer, Severus reached for his watch only to find it missing from his cloak pocket. Another wave of fear went through him as he scrambled for his Cloak-Chest, nearly breaking the lock to get it open and mindlessly digging through it, knowing he wouldn't find it.

He dashed out of the office then and was hurrying through the classroom when three students appeared in the doorway, looking frantic.

"Professor! Andrew didn't come to breakfast this morning!" Halbert said in a panic.

"And Alex's bed wasn't slept in!" Mandria said.

"Aurelius didn't show up for the morning meeting," Stock added. "I don't think they're in the castle."

"What do you mean they're not in the castle? When was the last time you saw them?" Severus snapped.

"Just after the game," Stock said. "Aurelius said he had to check something and said he had a family meeting later with the others."

"Alicia?"

"I do not know, I didn't check," Halbert said worriedly.

"Never mind, I'll check. Halbert, Stock, go tell Dumbledore they're missing. Mandria, do you know where our rooms are? Go get Professor Craw and have her meet me in the hospital wing," he ordered, taking the stairs by two up to the second floor and dashing down the hall with such a look on his face that all the students gathering for early classes quickly got out of his way.

Much to his relief, Alicia was just where she was supposed to be, sitting up in bed and eating her breakfast while doing her class reading. Poppy Pomfrey waved to Severus but then grew surprised at the grave look upon his face as he went over to his daughter.

"Alicia, did you see your brothers and sister last night?" he asked, Alicia looking at him in surprise.

"Yes. Is something wrong?" Alicia asked.

"What did you talk about? Did they say they were going anywhere?" he asked insistently. She nodded slowly. "Where?"

"They had to go to Hogsmeade to see Mr. Toby," Alicia said, Severus blinking at her.

"Why?" he asked, but Alicia grew uncomfortable. "Alicia, they didn't come home last night. Tell me why they left!"

"The… the cream," Alicia said at last. "Aurelius thought Toby had an antidote."

"Cream? What cream?"

"The Invisibility Cream. The one Mum's been using," Alicia murmured. "It's got something in it so Lucius can spy on people." Severus stared at her in horror. "I should go find them. They might be in trouble…"

"No! No, I want you to stay here," Severus said, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "No matter what happens, promise me you'll stay right here. At least I'll know one of you is safe. Stay here," he said firmly. She nodded once, watching as he hurried out of the room and up the main stairwell and up to see Mandria still standing in front of the painting of Dewhurst.

"She wouldn't answer, sir," Mandria said.

"Go ask Dumbledore to meet me here," Snape ordered, going in as Mandria quickly and without question went to do as she was told. But as Snape entered the room, he could already tell that she was gone before even opening the bedroom door. The bed was made with a note laid upon it, which he frantically snatched up to read.

My dear Professor,

There are no words to express the happiness I've felt from the years we've spent together. Even when we've fought, sometimes to the point of silence, I have always loved you and known in my heart that you loved me as well. You've become a wonderful father and teacher as well as a husband, and my only wish is that you do not take any guilt onto yourself for any of the events that you will soon come to know about. I do not intend to give up hope that perhaps I may be able to someday explain it to you myself, but the reality of that happening is probably little more than a pipedream. Please forgive me for what I must attempt to do, and that I did not do it when I had the chance all those years ago. For this reason alone, a price must be paid. I only hope that the children will come to forgive me as I know you shall.

Your loving wife, Jennifer.

"What are you going to do, Jennifer?" he asked the note helplessly. Severus went into the bathroom to pull out the jar of cream, careful to put his gloves on first. But the jar was completely empty; not one drop of it had gone unused. Frustrated, he tossed it across the room. He ran into her sitting room and turned it upside down looking for something… anything… before going back to his own sitting room and running a hand through his hair as he looked around. It was then his eyes caught the box Alexandria had given him for Christmas, staring at the words.

"Well if this isn't an emergency, I can't think of another time," Severus said to himself, pulling out his wand and shattering the frosted glass to pieces. Carefully picking up the box, Severus gingerly took out what looked to be a tiny gold key. He stared at it a moment before recognition took hold, dashing to the bedroom and throwing back the covers and pillows of the bed to reveal Jennifer's journal. Snatching it up, he brought out the key and instantly a lock appeared where there had not been one.

With a quick twist, the journal flipped open in his hands, her unmistakable handwriting covering the pages. He flipped through the first two, which seemed to contain trivialities at best, until he ran into a page that made his blood run cold; for upon it the full curse was written.

"Dear God, Jennifer, what has he done to you," Severus murmured in anguish, taking his spectacles off and rubbing his eyes.

There was a knock on his sitting room door and he opened with a wave of the hand, still staring with open horror at the book as Jennifer made notation after notation attempting to find a loophole, with intermittent references to new wounds although not always saying where she got them.

"Severus?" Dumbledore called out as he and Fleur came in. "Halbert and Mandria told us that Andrew, Alex and Aurelius were missing."

"As is Jennifer," Severus said in a deadly calm voice. "He's been torturing her for months."

"Who has?" Fleur said with alarm.

"Lucius Malfoy," Severus said evenly. "And now he must die."

"Severus, don't do anything you'll…"
"There's no other way!" Severus shouted at Dumbledore, thrusting the book at him. As Dumbledore took it, Severus went over his cloak, checking its supplies and grabbing a few things off his shelf, including a more ornate cloak, which he stuffed inside the other one.

"You are right. There is no other way," Dumbledore said, flipping through the pages somberly. "These drawings… I recognize them."

"As do I," Severus said, putting his cloak on. "There can be little doubt that he is at the Riddle House. Please watch Alicia. I wonder with the others gone if Ciardoth isn't there as well."

"Wait, Severus, I have something for you before you go," Dumbledore said, handing the book to Fleur and following him out.

Fleur gazed down at it, having trouble keeping her eyes clear as she scanned through it. Glancing back to the door they had exited, Fleur took out a ribbon and put it in the book to keep it from shutting all the way, placing it in her pocket.

"Here, you should take this, just in case," Dumbledore said softly, bringing out a tiny iridescent phial and placing it in his hand, Severus exchanging a private look with him.

"You couldn't possibly have many more of these left…" Severus murmured.

"Suffice it to say I have enough to save a friend if need be, and if I am not mistaken, it will be needed. Just bring them home, Severus."

Sighing softly, Severus put it away and nodded grimly before turning to head down the stairs. Dumbledore was still standing there watching, feeling rather helpless to do anything else when Fleur stepped out, closing the door behind her.

"I can hardly believe it. She seems to have been through so much," Fleur grieved.

"Much more than she has written down, I am quite sure," Dumbledore replied softly.

"Do you think Severus will be able to get to her in time?" Fleur asked worriedly.

"I am not certain that anyone can," Dumbledore admitted. "You can be sure with the children gone as well that Lucius will have planned for Severus coming after them. It's more than likely that he's walking straight into a trap."

"Did you tell him that?" Fleur asked anxiously, but Dumbledore shrugged.

"He already knows," Dumbledore said simply.