Chapter Forty
Closure
Severus walked into Jennifer's sitting room to find her staring at herself in her full-length mirror. Sighing in pure exasperation, Severus went to stand behind her, frowning disapprovingly, although he did have to admit to himself he was amazed with how well she looked considering what she had been through after the weeks of checkup and scar treatments. But except for a couple of small marks on her hand and thigh that Sagittari didn't think would ever go away, by June she was looking like her old self again.
"Severus, does my skin look blotchy to you?" Jennifer asked.
"Only when you attempt to use that silly compact," Severus said.
"Oh, Severus, honestly!"
"Yes, honestly!" he scowled at her. "You look fine without it. Besides, for some strange reason I rather don't trust cosmetics anymore. By the way, your father wants us to meet him somewhere after the Feast…I hope you don't mind, but I already made arrangements to transport us all to him afterwards."
"Probably to see that new farmhouse he bought for Fleur. Could he have gotten any closer to the edge of his parole radius if he tried? And the thing is huge…four bedrooms! Why on earth would they need so much room?" Jennifer said, rolling her eyes.
"Possibly because they plan to fill them?" Severus mused. Jennifer stared at him horrified.
"Don't even joke about that, Severus. My father's way too old for that sort of thing!" She protested, and Severus wisely decided to change the subject.
"Shall we head downstairs so you can proceed to gloat in your house's honor?" he suggested. Jennifer chuckled at him.
"Even Ravenclaw deserves the cup sometimes, you know," she teased, taking his arm and letting him lead her out. "Oh, Severus, it's so hard to believe that Alex is ending her sixth year and soon going into her last."
"You're right, that is a miracle," Severus mused, earning a dirty look for his attempt at humor.
"You know what I mean, Severus," Jennifer said. "Soon they'll all be out of Hogwarts, grown up and on their own, getting married, and then we'll never see them."
"And we'll have all the free time we could possibly want," Severus said, smiling enigmatically.
"Well, maybe I don't want free time," Jennifer said argumentatively as they reached the back stair. "Free time sounds so…dull and boring."
"Jennifer, children here or not, I have a feeling as long as we're working for this school that nothing will ever get dull and boring," Severus said. "In fact, we'll probably always feel just as grateful to get to summer so we can visit them all as we will feel grateful for getting back to the grind."
"Do you really think of teaching as a grind, Severus?" Jennifer challenged him with a smile.
"When I can think of a more accurate metaphor, I'll let you know," Severus answered.
"Good, I'll hold you to that," Jennifer said in flirtatious voice as they went into the Great Hall to take their places.
Below, four Snapes and two Blacks sat among the students, exchanging glances with each other as they sat with their friends. They had all grown greatly that year; some decisively more than others. Just like Jennifer and Severus, they too were glad for the promise of summer. But still, along with the joy of being able to go home again to spend perhaps their last holiday together as children, the question of Ciardoth's whereabouts sometimes drifted through their minds. And yet, perhaps now that Malfoy was gone she would have to rethink her strategies. There had been no sign of her in the months after that fateful day…was it too much to ask that she stay away longer? Dumbledore stood then, smiling down at them warmly.
"Another exciting year at Hogwarts has passed," Dumbledore declared, "full of all the ups and downs that come with it. Speaking of which, I have a special announcement…a couple of them, actually. First, I would like you all to know that our dear Professor Delacour Craw, who has, if I say so myself, been an outstanding Transfiguration teacher and example for us all in the year she has been here, has decided that she will not be staying with us another year due to her recent marriage. And although I regret losing such a fine teacher, I wish her all the happiness in the world and all the best of luck, and I think we ought to thank her for having been with us." He began to clap; the student body breaking out into a thundering one of their own as the rest of the faculty followed. Even Jennifer clapped after Severus nudged her, although it was nowhere near as enthusiastic as everyone else. "Now, for my other announcement! I have here in my hand, as you can see, a small plaque which normally resides in the Trophy Room," he said, holding up the mahogany and bronze plaque. "It contains a list of students that have, over time, excelled to a level in academics astounding enough to knock even a Headmaster's socks off. It's been, hm, about twelve years since it was written on last?" he said, glancing at Danny Brittle who grinned. "Well, I'm afraid you won't be the last on here, any longer, Madame Brittle, because I'm adding another name to it… for there happens to be a student in here who actually aced his OWLS." An excited murmur went up. "Yes, a perfect score, as has not been seen in a very, very long time, and so I would like to announce the winner of the Award for Academic Excellence…and the fifty points that goes with it… to Mr. Aurelius Snape. Congratulations."
As a roaring cheer went up that filled the room. Alex, Andrew, Alicia, Zoë and Zack all stood and clapped enthusiastically, while Aurelius nodded as crisply as he could, unable to keep a wide grin from appearing on his face. Jennifer jumped up and began applauding as well, beaming with pride as the rest of the staff followed her lead, and the points settled behind them moving Slytherin house back up to second place. Dumbledore smiled warmly at them all, allowing the applause to take its course, letting everyone settle down on their own before awarding the house cup to Ravenclaw and beginning the feast.
"It really has been a very exciting year," Dumbledore said after they took their seats again. "Although I dare say, Jennifer, I hope there's not going to ever be a repeat of anything like that again."
"No need to worry about that, Professor. I have every intention of keeping both eyes on her from now on," Severus said, Jennifer exchanging a private glance with him.
"And hopefully vice versa. Severus deserves a bit of watching too, at times," Dumbledore said, winking at Jennifer behind Severus' back. "One can't get very far in this life without learning to support each other, you know."
"Perhaps we are still trying to learn that, Professor," Jennifer admitted. "But I'm sure we'll get it eventually."
"Not too much longer I trust," Dumbledore said. His tone was strange, somehow, but Jennifer couldn't see his face behind the goblet he had picked up to take a drink out of.
"So just where are we going tonight, Severus? You never did tell me," Jennifer said, picking at her food.
"To witness the end of an era," Severus said, Jennifer gazing at what she read from him thoughtfully. "You're coming of course, Professor?"
"Yes, I'll be along," Dumbledore assured him. "I just need to take care of something trivial first. In fact, I think I should go ahead and do that now," he decided, excusing himself.
He stepped out then into the lonely hallway listening intently to the hundreds of voices in the Great Hall as he walked away until it became a strain to hear them, finally fading away as he reached the main stairwell. He stood there lost in thought a moment, listening to the yawns of sleepy paintings ready to slumber and relax during the summer holiday.
Tiredly he climbed up the first flight, wondering if it were the stairs or his bones creaking underneath him as he made it to the top, glancing at the plaque in his hand a moment, going down the list of names until he reached the first one he recognized…a young bright lad when he was but a teacher. Not too far underneath was the name of Thomas Craw, and after thinking back a moment to what he was like in his youth, he continued again, reading each one in turn to attempt to remember each young face before finally reaching the last three: Hermione Granger, Danyelle Nelson, and of course Aurelius Snape, allowing himself a private smile.
He stepped into the Trophy Room then, carefully hanging it back on the wall and gazing at it thoughtfully before glancing over the other trophies, monuments, and mementos there, each in turn.
"Do you know, Caprica, I do very much love this school," Dumbledore said, picking up and looking at a photo of one of the old Quidditch teams.
"I never doubted it," Caprica smiled at him from where her painting hung above the door. "Ready to get started?"
"Not entirely. There's something I need to take care of first, quite important, you see," Dumbledore said.
"It's all right. I can just hang around until then," she laughed merrily at her own joke.
"Yes, true, but I think I shall at least move you to your new location, if you don't mind. I may be too tired to do it later… or too reluctant," he admitted, taking out his wand. She smiled understandingly.
"Coming back to the school tonight?"
"Hm? Oh, yes, of course. There really is lot of work for me left to do here."
"Oh, undoubtedly," Caprica nodded in agreement. "Then I shall see you later?"
"Oh yes. I will see you in my study," Dumbledore agreed, pointing his wand in her direction.
The painting disappeared, nestled, he knew, amongst the other Headmasters. How long would it take her to stir them all up? Not long he knew. He chuckled quietly to himself, hoping that she would have the decency to wait at least until tomorrow to do that. One more evening of quiet to start off what he knew was going to be the most important year of his career. Slowly he turned, but walked out of the room with a much lighter step than he had going in, hurrying down the stairs and out to the main doors to see Hermione standing there, a strange, questioning look on her face.
"It's done," Dumbledore said. "You need not worry about coming back to the school except for scheduling and enrollment, Hermione. Once I return tonight, I shan't be leaving the school this summer."
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm sure there's plenty I can do here to help…"
"No-no, you have a daughter to prepare for school next year," he smiled at her than waggled a finger. "And that does not mean force-feeding her Hogwarts, A History until she has it half memorized either."
Hermione grimaced.
"Too late," Hermione admitted. Dumbledore chuckled at her, and then shook his head.
"I'll be back in an hour or two. And then you will enjoy your summer, or else," he threatened with a mischievous wink before he headed out the door.
The people of Little Hangleton would later hear that the fire was an accident; although many whispered that it had been quite suspicious considering the Riddle House had just been recently bought by some swell in the gold business who probably would have benefited from the insurance claim. But investment had never Thomas Craw's intention, nor had money even entered his mind.
The garden and lawn of the mansion had been completely cleared, leaving a ring of earth and stone around and in front of the property, where a very large group of witches, wizards, goblins and even dozens of Muggles gathered as night fell, many of which carried wooden torches in their hands and wore solemn expressions. Carefully Thomas counted the numbers, nodding to Pyther who had just arrived to pick up his torch, as well as Dumbledore, taking one of his own.
"Everyone who was not assigned a torch, please pick one out of the pile," Thomas said at last. "Not one must go unlit." He waited patiently as Muse, Vallid, the townsfolk of Haven, the Snape children and several others went to pick one, not moving until each one had been taken.
"I realize that some of you may not know yet why I asked you here, and others may be too young to understand," Thomas said, glancing at some of the children. "But I thank you all for humoring me tonight. I would ask everyone who is carrying a torch to take a moment to look at it now, for on each one you'll find a name written in gold. It is the name of a person who was killed directly, indirectly, or in the name of Voldemort." Jennifer gazed down at her torch to see her mother's name, having a hard time keeping her eyes from watering. Sirius seemed surprised at the name on his torch, and looked over to Severus, who nodded at him. Sirius looked back towards Thomas, trying to keep his own eyes clear. "I know that many of you, like me, still have trouble sleeping at night or even getting up in the morning without feeling a sense of loss, or guilt, or anger, or all three. And although there is no true magic cure to make that go away, I for one would like to be able to think of my missing loved ones and remember them fondly instead of remembering them for what was done to them. I am in no way saying that what has happened should be forgotten, merely that it is time that our loved ones are separated from the anger we feel. Voldemort is gone, as now is the last of his loyal followers. Let us light the torches now and let those they represent know they can finally rest in peace, and in the process help us to move on. Jennifer?"
Jennifer stepped up, putting her torch in the air and watching it light as Thomas and Fleur's lit as well, carrying the names of Riona and Astrolobe Corsiva. Together they stepped up to the front door while beside him stood Severus and Anna with their parents' names…Harry and Ginny with Harry's parents'…Amos Diggory with his son's…Corey, Essie, and Pachem with the Willowby names, Thurspire with his father's and so on around the circle. The circle widened as they stepped back to make room for more and more until everyone was around it, including Parvati Malfoy, helping steady her daughter's hand as Mary gazed mesmerized at the flame of her grandfather's torch, while Draco stood in the shadows outside the finished circle. Finally, Thomas threw his torch in the door of the mansion and the rest soon followed, crashing windows or up against it as the house caught ablaze.
Some, like Thomas, stood silently watching it, backing up as the raging fire grew but standing solemn in serene, while many, like Jennifer, found themselves unable to hold back tears. Severus put an arm around her as they watched, and those from the back of the circle came to join the rest in the front of the building, many of them also sobbing and seeking comfort in their family and friends as they watched. Draco and Danny stood to one side, talking quietly to themselves, while not one of the Weasleys seemed to be able to hold back their emotion; even Arthur was brushing futilely at his face with a handkerchief. Corey and Essie stood with Pachem and the Haveners, and for once Eliza was quiet and serene. Dumbledore had come up to stand beside Harry sharing a few quiet words of his own. Anna and Sirius pulled Zoë and Zack over to them hugging them warmly, while the four Snape children stood near their grandfather, talking quietly to each other. Gently, Severus walked Jennifer over to be with the rest of their family, and Alicia, seeing the deep grief on her mother's face hugged her worriedly.
"Are you all right, Mum?" she asked softly.
"Not really," Jennifer admitted, giving her a weak smile. "But I'll heal."
"As will we all now," Thomas said solemnly from beside them, still watching the blaze. Jennifer went over and hugged her father, letting him cradle her in his arms for a moment.
The End of Book 6
A/N Thanks everyone for reading and I really hoped you enjoyed the book. The title of of the next and final book in series three is Jennifer Craw and the Headmaster Hogwarts. After that is three short stories before series four begins. While the short stories are of a different format, it is important to read them since it introduces characters and provides character development that will matter greatly in series four. See you next book!
