Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 36 Mistakes Are Part of Being Human

Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.

Al Franken, "Oh, the Things I Know", 2002

Alexis stared in disbelief at the giant rabbit with the truly remarkable set of horns that was sitting on Remus and Amber's hearth rug. "I…," she stuttered to a halt just shaking her head.

The jackalope was replaced by a large rotund man in his mid-seventies.

"That is one of my more difficult changes," Uncle Buck explained with a jovial smile, "I had the devil of a time getting close enough to one in order to observe it and absorb what I needed in order to master the change. And then those blasted hunters trying to shoot me," with unmistakable pride, "of course I totally understood their desire to bag a ten point rabbit, so I only mildly hexed them, which led to some issues with the American authorities. They are really rather straitlaced regarding hexing Muggles. The fines they wanted me to pay were outrageous and then what that one chap suggested, well, let's just say I really do not believe it to be physically possible, not even with magical assistance. But, I digress," he tickled Cynthia under her chin, "Now this little angel seems to be very powerful. I wasn't able to master a complete change until I was three years old myself, much less change into a magical creature."

Uncle Buck had been demonstrating for the last thirty minutes some of the more interesting creatures he could transform into. "Now here is one of my absolute favorites," he chortled, "see if you can guess what it is."

The next moment a reptilian looking creature about the size of a small pony was burbling on the much abused hearthrug. It had eyes aflame and rather large claws that looked designed to catch prey. The beast flashed a most impressive set of canines and snapped his jaws as though ready to bite anyone foolish enough to approach it. With a whiffling noise the monster was gone and Uncle Buck's benign countenance was revealed, "So anyone, can anyone guess what that was?"

Snape sniffed, "A Jabberwocky of course."

Uncle Buck looked crestfallen for a moment but recovered quickly, "Of course it was my boy. Excellent!"

Snape looked nonplused for a moment at being referred to as boy before asking with feigned casualness, "When your scales molt, do you collect them?"

Uncle Buck shot him a knowing look, "I do my fine young man, indeed I do. Perhaps you and I could discuss this at another time? I believe Remus mentioned you are a Potions Master?"

Snape nodded slowly. This might turn out to be a very fortuitous meeting after all. Knowing someone who could morph into a variety of rare and magical beasts would allow him access to a much wider variety of some of the rarer potion ingredients, "Can one animorphmagus learn different animals and creatures from another animorphmagus or would you have to learn directly from a natural creature?"

Uncle Buck grinned at Severus, "Why I learned how to change into a dragon from the only other animorphmagus I've ever met, besides this here angel."

"And it is exactly as if you were the animal you have transformed into," Snape continued to question.

"Yes sir," Uncle Buck winked at him slyly knowing exactly where Snape was headed with his questions.

Snape eyed his young goddaughter with a slight hint of avarice. If she could be trained…..his thoughts trailed off as he felt a faint scorching sensation on his skin. Looking up he realized that Remus and Amber were glaring at him while Alexis was trying not to laugh.

"Severus Snape if you think for one moment you are going to use our daughter as a never ending supply of potion ingredients," Amber snarled in protective mother mode, "you can stop it right this minute."

Snape looked affronted, "My dear Amber that is the last thing on my mind. There is no way I would possibly consider Cynthia as a never ending supply," at Amber suspicious glare, "just a possible supply is all." Snape was surprised when Amber did not appear in the least mollified by this last remark.

Remus knowing full well that Snape would never hurt Cynthia continued to question Uncle Buck, as everyone had been invited to call him, "Sir, do you have any ideas about how we can control Cynthia's transformations without stunting her abilities?"

"That is a pickle of a predicament," Uncle Buck nodded seriously, "With the power she has and her apparent natural abilities, it is going to be very difficult," the elder wizard steepled his fingers and leaning his head back stared contemplatively at the ceiling.

The other adults in the room waited expectantly. When twenty minutes had passed without any further comment, Alexis shot a look at Snape. Snape totally missed the look because he was still making a mental list of all the potions ingredients he would be able to obtain once he had persuaded Uncle Buck to train Cynthia in transforming into a myriad of magical monsters.

Amber caught Alexis' look and raised an eyebrow in question. Alexis nodded toward the wizard who appeared to be deep in thought, pondering all the possible solutions to Cynthia's dilemma. Remus intercepted the look and leaned over to whisper, "Do you think he can help us?"

"Filius appeared to think so," Alexis reassured him.

The two couples continued to wait for Uncle Buck to deliver his verdict. Severus snorted irritated and Amber and Alexis gave him a stern look. Alexis leaned over and whispered, "Don't disturb him."

Just then a loud snorting snore interrupted and Snape replied sardonically, "I don't think a herd of rampaging hippogriffs could disturb him."

At that point a particularly loud snort and snuffle caused the to corpulent wizard to start up blinking myopically at the group, "Where was I?" he yawned.

"You were going to tell us how to assist Cynthia in controlling her abilities without stunting them," Snape said politely.

Remus fell out of his chair with a loud thump, "Severus, are you well?"

Snape sneered at him disdainfully before returning his attention to the man who was going to train his amazing animorphmagus goddaughter so that she could reach her full potential and provide a plethora of potion ingredients.

"Oh yes, yes indeed," he grinned at them, "Haven't the foggiest notion how to do that," he replied amiably.

"WHAT!" came at him from four different directions.

"Nope, haven't got a clue. Never really been asked that question before now," he grinned genially.

Alexis pushed back the sleeve of her robe where Aniya was twisting around her wrist. Hissing in Parseltongue to Aniya, Alexis wanted to know what the problem was. Ignoring both the questioning looks and Uncle Buck's look of surprise she continued her conversation, "Ughh!" she wiped at her face with a handkerchief, "I wish Parseltongue didn't involve so much hissing. She said she will not do it but she will allow one of her babies to be bonded to Cynthia."

"And that will work?" Amber asked barely daring to hope.

A few more moments conversation with Aniya and then Alexis continued with her explanation, "Part of their magic is the ability to dampen our magic if using it will harm us. You will have to set up some guidelines, Aniya will tell Cynthia's new guardian and that should be that. She wondered why we didn't ask her about it before but was too polite to say anything that might come across as criticism," Alexis' shrugged.

"A polite snake?" Remus questioned.

Snape smirked, "All snakes are polite, the more deadly, the more polite. Guardian Asps are among the most poisonous snakes known to Wizards and as such are the epitome of etiquette and courtesy."

"It is that simple?" Amber stuttered in disbelief.

Uncle Buck was staring at Aniya with a look of longing in his eyes, "Do you think I could hold her for a moment or two? I've never had the opportunity to study one so that I can make the transformation."

Alexis couldn't resist, "Severus, do you have the antidote?"

"I believe I do have some here somewhere," Severus replied, "although I cannot exactly recall when I distilled it so it may have expired."

"Antidote?" Uncle Buck questioned.

"For Aniya's bite," Alexis responded helpfully.

"Antidote?" he asked again.

"Yes, just in case she were to nip you," Alexis smiled sweetly at him.

"Antidote?" Uncle Buck quavered as Alexis held out the small asp to him.

"Don't worry, I can almost guarantee that she will not bite you," Alexis chirped.

Everyone had finally left and Amber looked into the crib at her sleeping daughter and the newest edition to the family: Zareb, the guardian asp. Zareb was coiled around Cynthia's wrist and to the casual eye would look like nothing more than baby bracelet.

Amber was cautiously hopeful. They had set out the guidelines and Aniya had assured Alexis who had passed it on that Zareb would not allow Cynthia to transform except when given permission to by either Amber or Remus.

For the first time since Cynthia had displayed her unique magical talent, Amber felt as if she might be able to get a full night's sleep: but, first things first, her husband was waiting in the bedroom.

Amber quickly showered and slipped into a sexy nighty. Strolling into the bedroom she spied Remus sitting up reading in bed. With a running start she leaped on her surprised husband who barely had time to put his book down.

Kissing him passionately she snuggled up next to him, "You sir are about to get really lucky," she trailed kisses down his neck.

Remus cleared his throat, "Amber," he tried again as he caught her hands before they could unbutton his pajama top, "Amber, slow down for a minute."

Amber pulled back and stared at him in amazement, "What did you just say?" before he could answer she grinned, "It was a joke right? Very funny, now where was I? Oh yes," Amber began to slip the spaghetti straps of her gown off of her shoulders.

Remus pulled them back up.

Amber pushed them back down.

Remus pulled them up and held on to them, "Amber, we have an audience," he whispered and nodded over to the corner of the room.

Amber turned to look expecting who knew what only to see Pookie lying on the rug, "What? It is just the dog and his back is to us?"

"But what if he turns around?" Remus continued to whisper.

"Who cares? He is just a dog. And why are you whispering?"

"I don't want him to hear us."

Amber stared at her husband and realized he was serious; "I promise to be quiet, now come here," Amber pulled him into a heated embrace.

At first Remus kept one eye on Pookie but it had been a very long time since he and Amber had been alone and she was doing that thing with her tongue that he just loved. Remus' eyes drifted closed and he began to enjoy the attention.

He was really getting into it when Amber pulled back. He tried to follow her but her hand on his chest stopped him, "What is it?"

Amber whispered, "He really is watching us."

"Who?" Remus tried to kiss her.

Amber pulled back some more and nodded to the edge of the bed.

Remus twisted to look and there was Pookie with his head laying on the edge of the bed watching the show: all he needed was a box of popcorn and a cold drink. Remus grabbed the sheet and pulled it over Amber before jumping out of the bed.

"Out!" he shouted and opened the door.

Pookie, with a doggy grin on his face trotted out into the hallway. Remus shuddered as he locked the door behind him.

Amber was sitting up in the bed hugging her knees, "There is something very strange about that dog."

Remus regarded her nervously, "What do you mean?"

"He is the only dog I have ever known to get mail," she turned back to Remus as he got back into the bed.

"Mail?"

"Yes a couple of large barn owls delivered him a package the other day," Amber explained before Remus distracted her, "It had a whole ham in it, bread and some chicken legs."

"Maybe he got on the meal of the month mailing list by mistake," Remus offered before they both lost all interest in everything for a long time.

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The Triwizard Tournament was over.

Alexis was awake waiting on Snape to return from answering Voldemort's call. Everything was quiet. The babies were asleep. Her hand was resting lightly on her slightly rounded belly where her daughter slept. And still she waited. Being married to a Slytherian, and thus an honorary Slytherian, she plotted and planned how to help Severus and maybe in the process rid the world of a mad man.

AN: Abrupt ending but it just seems to be dragging on. I do have some ideas for OotP but for now this story is on hiatus.

Sorry guys!