Chapter Five

Worthy of a Thousand Words

Albus Dumbledore was gazing thoughtfully at the walls of his study when he heard a knock on the door and waved them open. Shaking off his mood he turned to greet Jennifer and Severus with a warm smile.

"Please, come in! Welcome home," he added, knowing the two of them had grown to think of Hogwarts in that way as he had done.

"It's good to be back, Albus, despite everything," Jennifer agreed with a smile as he gestured her to her favorite chair.

"Now I don't want either of you to spend your entire time the next two weeks worrying," Albus said. "Between Harry, myself, and half the wizards in the country keeping an eye on things at his house, I'm sure those four are perfectly safe."

"All the same, I for one will be glad when school starts," Jennifer admitted.

"As will we all, I think. But considering how much there is to do to prepare for this year, I believe it will pass in no time," Albus assured her with a smile and then turned to Severus. "In fact, don't be surprised if a lot of academic projects come up. You're going to find, I'm afraid, that a lot of eyes will be on the school. One reason for it, unfortunately, has to do with that bothersome matter of Aurelius being much too clever for his own good," he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Professor, let me assure you that neither I nor Jennifer 'coached' Aurelius on that test in any way," Severus said firmly.

"Oh, I have no doubt of that, Severus. If anything, I know for a fact that if the two of you had any faults, it's that you have always pressed the four of them harder than the other students in your classes instead of make things easier," he said, smiling when the two of them grimaced at each other. "However, I'm sure you can see how the board might be a bit concerned about the matter, especially considering that you organized the revisions in the first place. I have already given my statement on the matter to them, but I expect there will be an inquiry of some kind. Still, I'm sure whatever comes of it you can take care of it. In fact, here's a list of meeting dates in case you want to attend them," he added, handing a sheet over to Severus who stared at it and the Headmaster in surprise.

"You want me to deal with the board, sir?"

"Well, Severus, I really had little to do with this whole OWLS revision business to begin with except for giving you and Hermione permission to organize it, and the board knows it. I really don't have the right to speak for you on the issue. However, might I suggest that now might be a good time to finish that follow-up on your Flux Effect research? It never hurts to have a little good publicity to counteract the bad at times like this," he suggested. "Besides, I am going to be too busy this year to bother with their petty arguments. Hermione Weasley and I are going to be reorganizing some of the administration structure to make it more efficient, and I dare think it's going to take all year to do so. Jennifer, I know how the two of you like to get involved in events outside the school, but before you get too wrapped up in that this year, I want you to help Severus double-check all the securities in the school and if either of you discovers anything we can be doing better without hampering the daily activities of staff and students go ahead and see to it. Feel free to consult Sirius, of course. Our new Transfiguration teacher may be able to assist you with that as well," he added, the two of them looking at him with interest. "I decided with everything going on and tension being so high among the wizard parents to hire an Auror to fill in this year. It may ease some of the worry having one on the premises. Also, we have a new Muggle Studies instructor now that Madame Gillet…"

"I'm sorry, who did you say the Auror was?" Severus frowned.

"Well, I thought you'd be more interested to know who the Muggle Studies instructor was, Severus," Albus smiled. "Since it's a returning instructor. Anna Hughes Black has decided to come back now that she's living in Britain full time."

"Great!" Jennifer said enthusiastically. "I bet Alexandria is going to love that!"

"Yes, actually, I suspected my sister was up to something like that. However, I am still curious to know who the new Transfiguration professor is…"

"Oh, don't worry, Severus, it's someone with a particular knack for that sort of thing, or I wouldn't have asked her…and actually, I do believe she's on her way up right now."

Severus and Jennifer turned curiously towards the door hearing the voices of two women laughing. Hermione appeared first, smiling warmly and waving at them as she stepped in. But the woman behind her was so busy still chuckling at something Hermione said that she tripped over the threshold. As Hermione attempted to steady the woman the two of them tumbled, crashing into a small table filled with artifacts that went flying. Fortunately, Albus had been expecting something like this, and the items were suspended in air above them as they scrambled to their feet.

"I'm so sorry! Here, let me put them back!" said the pink-haired woman, apologetically dusting the table off before doing so.

"You hired Nymphadora Tonks to be the new Transfiguration teacher?" Severus said, turning a skeptical eye towards Albus. Tonks stopped short, squinting at him.

"Severus, we may be coworkers now, but if I catch you repeating my first name again you'll wake up with wings, a tail, and the nose of an elephant. Not that anyone would notice," she said indignantly.

"Now, now, Tonks, I'm quite sure he meant no offense by it," Albus said good-humouredly. "Welcome to the staff."

"Welcome, Tonks," Jennifer told her with a warm smile.

"Jennifer, remind me later that the first security procedure should involve making sure everything's nailed down," Severus said. Hermione looked between them, not so certain she liked the syrupy sweet smile Tonks gave him in response before glancing at Albus, who didn't seem bothered by it at all. Still, it seemed to be a sign to her that it was going to be another long year.

"I wonder what sort of reorganization Albus is doing," Jennifer said when they left so that Albus could have some words with Tonks about her new position.

"I don't know but I can tell you it's well overdue," Severus said, leading them down the back stairs. "Those ten months I had to help Minerva when he was gone were some of the longest of my life. Of course, some of that was because of you being gone."

"Funny, that seems like forever ago now," Jennifer murmured, taking his arm at the thought of it. "So much has happened since then. I wonder how Mark's doing? I haven't heard from him since I sent that letter to him about Baylor's death."

"Due to be out soon, isn't he?" Severus said unconcernedly.

"Not sure. Perhaps I should write him again. Severus, weren't we going to stop by our room first?" Jennifer said curiously as he missed the fifth landing and kept going down.

"No, actually, there's something in your office I want to show you first," Severus said enigmatically, turning her head with one hand when she tried to look at him. "No peeking."

"Don't tell me you ended up getting me a birthday present after all?" Jennifer sighed with exasperation.

"A joint present, actually. Dumbledore had a lot to do with it," Severus admitted as they went down into the dungeon, "and I did have to make a promise that if anything happened to us we'd donate it to the school."

"Now you have me worried, Severus," Jennifer admitted as they stopped at the office door.

"Beware the Daughters of Leo," Severus said, earning a dirty look from Jennifer when the door opened. But Severus strode in not looking at her, pausing in front of the cache where the Cauldron normally sat.

"Well?" Jennifer said impatiently. Gently Severus turned her around then to face the fireplace, and immediately Jennifer began to stare with a dropped jaw at the painting hanging above it. For it was a portrait of Severus himself in his favorite corner of his sitting room upstairs, standing or sometimes resting upon a tall stool where he sat to play his violin.

"Oh, Severus," Jennifer murmured, too astounded to say anything else as the painting gazed back at her intently before a wicked smile crept across his face.

"Terrible, I know. I probably should never have let Dumbledore talk me into it," Severus mused.

"Oh, Severus!" Jennifer said with exasperation, turning to kiss him lovingly. "I don't believe you actually did this! And however did you manage to find the time? Half a moment, I thought you said this morning you weren't going to get your painting done!" She said, poking at him.

"Yes, this morning. I had this done weeks ago," Severus said evenly and she rolled her eyes at him. "Dumbledore thought it would cheer Pyther up after losing his studio," Severus said tersely. "And the Headmaster has been after me to have it done for ages now, as have you, so I finally gave in."

"I think it's absolutely marvelous, Severus! It's one of the best gifts you've ever given me," Jennifer said, kissing him passionately. When it finally ended, Severus glanced up and back at her again.

"Look, Jennifer, it seems he has a visitor," Severus said in a low voice. Jennifer turned to see the portrait of herself had wandered in from Severus' own office, and they watched as the painting drew her in his arms.

"Finally, she's not alone anymore," Jennifer said happily, leaning into him. "I take it he's made with the Mute Oil as well?"

"Yes, they'll be silent until we have passed on," Severus nodded, gazing at his wife. "Safer that way, really. I don't want you turning to a painting when you should be turning to me. Or a mirror for that matter."

"Don't worry about that, Severus. After last year, I've more than learned my lesson. I'm not going to keep anything from you again no matter how terrible I think it is. I don't want anything to come between us again like that," Jennifer said, leaning into him again. But as she tried to get close, she felt him suddenly stiffen and lifted her head to gaze at his strangely blank face still looking at the happy couple above them. "What is it?" Jennifer asked softly.

"Jennifer, Ciardoth is after our family because she is convinced that I am the one who is ultimately going to stop her attempt to destroy this universe. She wants me to suffer as much as possible until my death, which she remembers occurring just before her last memory." Severus said, meeting her gaze so she could read him.

"Well, maybe she only thinks you die... from her perspective, you know…perhaps it's Cosmic Sleep or something…" Jennifer said.

"Perhaps," Severus said softly.

"But you don't think so, do you?" Jennifer murmured. Severus sighed.

"I don't know. I don't know what she saw. But I certainly don't intend to work my life around a portent of the future, even if it is one of these supposedly 'unchangeable' ones. I still believe we are ultimately in charge of our own destinies regardless of what she or Icarus or Essie or what anyone else sees, and I don't want you to be troubled about it either," he said firmly, frowning at her worried face. "I only told you because it's probably something you should be aware of. Perhaps there is something to fate, but we still make our own choices, Jennifer, and it is those choices that ultimately determine who we are and therefore can change what fate plans for us."

"Icarus couldn't," Jennifer murmured.

"And yet I would argue that Icarus' choices helped to cause his predicament rather than prevent it," Severus said softly. "You and I both would be willing to sacrifice our lives if it meant the survival of our children or even the safety of this school, but if it ever comes to that, it should be on our terms, not hers. Personally, I myself would prefer living to a ripe old age. Maybe I'll even break a record on how many generations of students can hate the same teacher or something…"

"Oh, Severus, really! Your students don't hate you," Jennifer chuckled. "Okay, maybe some of them do, but some of them haven't been too fond of me either."

"Oh, nonsense," Severus protested.

"Nonsense is right," Jennifer chuckled softly then shook her head with a smile. "And you were right to promise Albus to leave the portraits with the school. I've always wanted to think our work all these years have left something of us in Hogwarts, but the idea that a piece of who we are now is here to show them means a lot to me. Thank you. I know how you hate such things."

"Perhaps I was wrong in being quite so critical," Severus mused. "I admit after watching them together I should have at least done it for your portrait's sake," he said, gazing at them thoughtfully as his portrait kissed hers. He frowned then. "I hope they don't carry on like that in front of the students, though."

"Oh no, scandal at Hogwarts! Paintings of a married couple take to each other," Jennifer teased.

"I'm serious, Jennifer. What if they get out of hand?" Severus said.

"Afraid it'll ruin your image?" Jennifer said mischievously.

"You know, that pun is beneath even you," he scolded her. "We'll just have to keep an eye on them I suppose." Jennifer didn't mind that idea in the slightest.

It felt strange to be working in Hogwarts again after all those years. Anna Hughes Black stepped in the office she had worked in fifteen years ago, and it struck her how little it had changed. Of course that was Hogwarts; with its relics, décor and even furniture to some extent hundreds of years old…perhaps it was just as well that stayed the same since the dynamics inside the castle itself seemed to be endlessly changing.

Her life had also taken quite a number of dramatic changes since she had first been brought there, when a series of strange events alerted Albus Dumbledore to the fact that Snape's half-sister was far from the squib that everyone had been led to believe. Instead, she had found out she was something called an Aethermage; someone who was actually a part of magic instead of just using it… like a Fae or a House Elf, or even some of the magical beasts like Unicorns and centaurs that made their home in the forest nearby.

It was an ability she didn't want, and a fate she didn't want; spending years of her life going between her magic and non-magical lives until finally it began to take a toll on her marriage and family. After a couple of bad turns with her children finally made her and her husband Sirius to go to Severus for help, Anna knew her life between worlds would have to end. Not without reluctance, but with the determination to stick with the decision, Anna finally chose to move to Britain and use her experience in criminology to help the Ministry.

And then, Audacious died. Audi had been a close friend to her for many years, and someone who had looked after her long before Anna had known any details about her true family. But Albus Dumbledore had seen how badly she was taking it…had known she had been considering going after Ciardoth herself…and had walked over to her after the funeral and whispered in her ear that there had been enough deaths that week. How exactly that conversation went from her frustration to the school needing a new instructor, Anna still didn't know. But somehow or another it had and she found herself immediately accepting, despite the fact that she suspected that Albus was just attempting to keep her close in hand again for her own safety. No, that wasn't fair, she thought, shaking her head. She was far from the disoriented young woman she had been all those years ago.

Perhaps she never truly had explored her talents fully as Albus had wanted, but she had learned to control them and even use them when she had to. It was pretty rare that she wanted to use it short of getting from here to there; her two boisterous children and her husband did more than enough magic for all of them. She had always been much more comfortable with her Muggle side, so instructing it was ideal; and she had enough Muggle knowledge in two continents to keep even Alexandria busy. But as she flipped through the current books, she frowned at them and then grimaced. After trying to take a pen over some of the questionable items pushed it aside, glaring at it. She knew she should have taken a closer look at them before she got there, not that she had really had much time to prepare. How could she possibly teach that, she wondered with a frown. She pulled out some of the filing cabinets in the room to search through the old tests on file there.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" said a cheerful voice. Anna looked up in surprise to see the painting of Caprica Dusthorn appear within the painting of a tractor in a field of hay. "Welcome back to Hogwarts!"

"Thanks, Caprica. Awake again? I thought you were supposed to be asleep," Anna said, pulling out a handful of tests and sitting back at her desk.

"No, no, actually I'm supposed to be awake," she said amusedly. "I must admit I'm anxious for the students to get here, although I will miss the parties with the paintings and ghosts in the Great Hall," she laughed.

"You just want the students here so you can have someone to do your mischief for you," Anna said knowingly.

"True, true," Caprica smiled. "I can't help it, you know, it's the Pooka in me…and besides, this is a very special year."

"Is it?" Anna said distractedly, thumbing through the tests and looking over the requirements with a frown.

"Oh, most definitely," Caprica said with an enigmatic smile. "And I am very glad Dumbledore took my advice and asked you back." Anna's eyes flicked up then to the painting, but Caprica had already left it. She stared at the tests for a while but had trouble concentrating, as her mind kept mulling over whether Caprica had been serious or not.