A/N Welcome back, everyone! For those stumbling onto this for the first time, this is the second to last book in the Heritage Series (Series 4) which currently includes 25 completed books and 3 completed short stories. The first book in the first series is Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand, an alternate HP year 5 book. It is an OC heavy series, especially as time goes on.
For those returning, thank you, and I hope you like this newest edition. This book, while traditional format in a lot of ways, will contain a lot of hidden social satire and social commentary on several different subjects... even more than usual. Some of it is to poke fun at ourselves, some of it is simply to think about certain issues in a more focused way.
THAT SAID:
Characters' opinions about any given subject I might touch on is just that: the characters' opinions. Do not assume at any point that their opinion matches my own. If you haven't guessed it by this point, I'm a method writer, and I try to keep opinions in character. The last book was all about character perspective. Consider this book simply an extension of that idea.
Last point: My version of the U.S. Wizard Community is a continuation of already established ideas in the Jennifer Craw series, which has been established since Ivory Skull in 2002. Therefore, obviously, it will not follow canon interpretations of wizard life in the U.S. but rather what's canon for this series.
Don't forget to review and/or share! Thanks, and here we go! ~ Doublequill. (doublequillmlp on twitter). Last revision: June 2022
Chapter One
On the Subject of the Witch
Jennifer let Quintin's hand go just as they stepped inside the castle gate. The boy hummed in time with his marching as they walked towards the doors with a towel covering his head and shoulders. It was the middle of July, and Jennifer had decided even before the end of the school year that she wanted to stay at Hogwarts when Severus returned to look after administration. Even Llewellyn had decided to stay at the school so that he could spend the summer with Noah, only leaving on the weekends to head to the beach for a swim.
Of course, Leu wasn't the only one spending time away from the castle swimming. Quintin seemed to be very much enjoying his daily swimming lessons with his mother, while Severus simply enjoyed watching Jennifer coming home in a bathing suit five days a week.
As they walked up to the doors, Jennifer saw signs of activity on the grounds. That meant either John or Sagittari had returned... more than likely, John. Hermione would arrive on Monday to send out letters, Jennifer recalled, and she frowned. The new school year was moving ever nearer, and the summer was relentlessly racing forward at what seemed to be a record pace.
They stepped out of the Doorlift and Quintin marched into the Headmaster's Study, greeting his father before marching behind the curtain to get changed.
"How did today go?" Severus asked, not looking up as he double checked the school budget for the upcoming year.
"Well, he's not drinking half of the pool when he goes underwater now, so I suppose that's progress," Jennifer said. "His teacher says he should have the basics down by the last lesson in a couple of weeks."
"Yes, well, I'm not sure if you'll be able to stay until the end of the lessons, Jennifer, Andrew may have to take over. School starts much earlier at Whitebridge than it does here," Severus pointed out.
"I know. Don't remind me. I really don't know where the time went this summer," Jennifer grumbled.
"Lost in a sea of birth announcements and weddings," Severus explained. "I am so glad that baby boom pattern is drawing to a close at last, although that dominant year for twins warning we saw at the Solstice reading remains a bit troubling."
"Is it troubling because of how many twins will be in the school this year, or because of Fleur and Dad?" Jennifer asked.
"Both," Severus replied.
"Corey told me that he warned my father time and time again to go easy on the stuff when he noticed him going through the Potency Water too fast, but Dad wanted 'insurance'," Jennifer said, rolling her eyes. "And then Fleur has the gall to be pleased about it. If I had been her, I would have gotten even."
"Yes, but your father would never be silly enough to marry someone with your personality type," Severus said. Jennifer put her hands on her hips and stared at him.
"Exactly how do you mean that?" Jennifer asked dangerously.
"You know as well as I do that your father is very strong willed and has an explosive nature," Severus explained. "Two such people in the same relationship would not do at all."
"You're one to talk," Jennifer retorted. "I could fit you into that category too, you know."
"Are you ever going to change, or do you need assistance?" Severus inquired.
"You're in quite the mood for so early in the day," Jennifer noted, then began walking towards the curtain.
"Perhaps that's because there's a packet that arrived for you while you were out," Severus admitted, causing Jennifer to pause and look back at him with a frown. "International Post," he added reluctantly.
"Whitebridge," Jennifer said, letting out a heavy sigh. "Why do they have to start so much earlier?"
"Yes, well, it isn't anything I didn't ask myself when I found that thing in my hands," Severus admitted. "But it's much too late to back out now." She glared at him for the reminder. Severus turned to his secretary painting. "Armando, would you ask Leu if he'd be willing to babysit after lunch today?"
"Yes, Severus," Armando said.
"I guess I'll go change for lunch," Jennifer said glumly, walking to the back and going towards the bathroom. But she stopped short when she saw a line of wet footprints coming out of the bathroom, following them into her sitting room and across to the nursery door. "Oh, Quintin, really! Dry off better before you go traipsing over my sitting room floor!" Jennifer complained.
"Yes, Mum!" Quintin said from the nursery.
"I have it, Jennifer," a Trade Elf called out.
"Thank you, Maisy!" Jennifer said. She turned and saw the packet on her desk, picking it up long enough to glare at it before putting it down with a frown. Sighing, she grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom to change.
"Lunch time!" she heard Quintin declare before Jennifer was ready to come out.
She reluctantly pulled herself together, using a wand to put her hair up in a simple braid to save time. Then she went over to her desk and opened the packet long enough to grab the notices on top so that she could check basic information and dates while they ate. Jennifer then went to the Headmaster's Study and sat down in her favorite chair next to Quintin, picking out some pumpkin butter sandwiches off the tray.
"I might as well enjoy them while I have them. In the States, it's all about peanut butter," Jennifer said.
"You seemed to eat it readily enough when we visited," Severus recalled.
"True, because I was feeling nostalgic that day. It does get old after awhile," Jennifer said.
"I imagine just the smell of the stuff would get old after awhile," Severus replied with a look of distaste, Jennifer chuckling at that. "So when do you have to be over there by?" he asked quietly.
"Well, fortunately, it's not as strict of a schedule as ours. I mean, there are some meetings I need to go to during the first week of August, but I technically don't have to go full time until a week later. I suppose I should have brought the whole packet out here, but I didn't want it to ruin lunch."
Severus was thinking that it was already too late for that, then noticed Quintin looking at him and pushed the thought back.
"Leu said he'd be happy to sit for Quintin until Andrew got back this evening, Jennifer," Severus said.
"Are you going out?" Quintin asked curiously.
"No, it's just Dad and Mummy time, Quintin," Jennifer told him.
"How come that is never on the schedule?" Quintin wanted to know. "Or in the appointment book?"
Severus and Jennifer glanced at each other, but then the quill went and wrote it in the appointment book.
"Oh look, there it is," Severus pointed out, subtly nodding to Armando, who winked at him.
"Oh. Alright," Quintin replied.
"Besides, Quintin, you and I have been out all morning, so it's only fair that your father get a turn too," Jennifer said.
"Yes, that's true," Quintin agreed.
"Once you're done eating, I'll walk you over to the Ravenclaw rooms," Jennifer said.
"I'll be done in exactly..."
"Quintin, no timing chews and bites," Severus interrupted him sternly.
"Soon," Quintin finished, frowning at his father before taking another bite, watching him carefully in hopes that he might look away.
"Oh, no," Jennifer moaned, grabbing Severus' attention again and allowing Quintin to time his bites once more. "Formal Assembly attire includes the school colors, namely white robes with gold trim and the school crest, along with a white cloak, coat, or jacket... and so on."
"This is news to you?" Severus asked.
"It just hit me, is all... I've never had a white robe in my life, let alone a white cloak or anything else. The only two white dresses I own other than my wedding gown are both matron dresses for weddings. I look dreadful in white," Jennifer said, Severus rolling his eyes at that. "It makes my skin look too pale and freckly..."
"As I recall, Dean Elk wasn't wearing white on our visit to the school, neither was Gretchen, and none of the students we met were in uniform," Severus pointed out.
"First off, it was a weekend, so everyone was casual. Even in class, Professors tend to wear a white shirt and leggings, trousers, or school crested bib overalls. The middle school years wear green bib overalls and gold shirts, and the high school years wear grey overalls over white shirts, and that's the dress code for both boys and girls... after all, you don't want to have them wearing robes when they're climbing around in trees all the time. Come to think of it, I'm going to need more leggings myself. I only use them on the boat, as you well know. In fact, I'm going to need a whole new change of wardrobe! And that's not even including what I'm going to need to walk around an American town without looking like a tourist..."
"Spare me," Severus said with exasperation.
"I had just... forgotten that a wardrobe change was going to be needed. Well, no, that's not honest. The fact of the matter is, I've been trying to avoid even thinking about getting ready up until this point," Jennifer admitted. "And now there's less than two weeks left. I've procrastinated so long that I feel like I have no time at all," she explained, then saw his expression. "Sorry, I know this isn't any easier on you."
"We can talk about it later," Severus said, then squinted at Quintin when he saw a rhythm to his chewing movements. Quintin quickly swallowed it, and then gulped his drink.
"I'm done," Quintin declared.
"Then go wash up and I'll walk you across the hall," Jennifer told him. Quintin hurried off to the bathroom.
"This won't take long, Severus," Jennifer said.
"I'll meet you in your sitting room, then," Severus said, straightening up his work. As she took over with Quintin, Severus wandered through to her sitting room and found himself staring at the opened packet. She had thrown the notices she had taken out at lunch on top of the packet. He glared accusingly at the dates as if they were put there as a personal affront, but then began looking through the rest of the packet, wondering if she might have put off something critical. Knowing Jennifer and her distaste for paperwork in general, it was very likely that she had, he realized. As he glanced at the pile, he noticed that several letters that had been sent over the last couple of weeks had even gone unopened. Curious to which potion books the school was using, Severus began going through the unopened letters and found himself staring at her class information. Then he rolled his eyes and shook his head, going through her other post. She had indeed missed something critically important.
There was a soft rumble and the door to the nursery appeared on the wall. Jennifer stepped in.
"There! Now we can have a relaxing aftern... Severus, what are you doing?" Jennifer asked in surprise.
"Going through your paperwork to find out when you got the wrong idea about something," Severus explained.
"What? Why, did I miss something?" Jennifer asked in surprise.
"Yes, very much so. You missed what class you were teaching," Severus explained.
"What? I thought surely I would be teaching Potions," Jennifer said with surprise.
"It would seem not," Severus said, taking a letter out of the pile and handing it to her. Curiously, she read it. Then she stared at it. Then a smile began to creep across her face.
"Items! Wind wants me to be the Items Instructor? I just can't believe it!" Jennifer said, handing it back to him.
"'As a school dedicated to medicine, we have many fine instructors who can teach Potions, but we are limited when it comes to finding Items Instructors. As you are well versed in both, and you are listed as one of your country's top specialists in the field, I believe that you would be much better suited to teach Items during your term here,'" Severus read out loud, shaking his head in exasperation. "Jennifer, you should have gone through these ages ago. You really are going to be on a time crunch. This is about teaching Items as a required course, not asan elective with two dozen students all working on different projects and different levels as you're used to here."
"Wow," Jennifer said, sitting down to let it sink in. Severus sighed.
"Perhaps we should spend our extra time this afternoon going through all of this to make sure it's all done," Severus decided.
"Oh no," Jennifer groaned.
"Hardly what I had in mind either, I assure you, but you can't sit on this any longer. You may be holding back your enthusiasm out of anxiety and perhaps even a bit of guilt, Jennifer, but I know you," Severus said. "As talented as you are in Potions, it never came close to your passion for Items, not ever. I see how quickly you brighten when someone shows you a new item, and how completely you're fascinated by everything from a tiny sponge designed to clean up a room to god knows what dastardly items are in your Puzzle Box that you've intentionally forgot to mention to me," he said, her lips pursing at that. "You may be interested when a new potion comes out, but never with that level of intensity, or with that glint in your eyes," Severus said, thinking back at all of the times she had done that. "And the vast majority of that items expertise you acquired was accumulated all on your own time, driven solely by your interest in it as a hobby, rather than any educational merit. Despite that, you are still considered one of the best items experts in the country, and out of that one little class period, I could name all of the fantastically skilled Items majors that have come out of it, who benefited not only because of their interest, but yours as well. Wind is quite correct; this is a much better fit for you. Although... Jennifer, you aren't going to be silly and take any cursed items to that school, are you? It is a Light Magic school..."
"Thank you, but I did graduate from there, Severus, I know that already," Jennifer chuckled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as he sorted through her paperwork. "I still don't like the thought of leaving Hogwarts, Severus. But I have to admit, all of the sudden Whitebridge is looking a lot more appealing than it did an hour ago," she said with a smile.
"Yes, that's what I thought," Severus said knowingly, kissing her hand before continuing to sort through her packet.