Chapter Fifty-Eight
Portraits
Once classes were done for the day, Wind walked over to the Commissary. Jennifer was at the Wolves Den table, sitting with Asher and Lav and working on a list rather than eating. Then he noticed Frank and Ray walking over carrying several cups of coffee, delivering them to the three at the table as well as themselves. A plate of sandwiches appeared on the table out of seemingly nowhere, and Wind shook his head knowingly at that, walking up to them.
"Well! This is a dramatic change in seating for you, Jennifer. Why, you can't even see the pond from here," Wind teased.
"I'm helping them put the finishing touches on this updated Pharmacology list," Jennifer explained. "And guess what? Asher talked to a couple of the alchemists at the hospital with connections with the WDA and they've petitioned to expedite the Lycanthropy preventative dose. After all, they can only look at the research they have been given a physical copy for right now, and I'm one of the few who have done that. And if they do start debating it, it might be approved before I leave the school in the summer."
"It shouldn't take them long. It's been in use in both Europe and in Canada for some time now," Asher said. "It is simply that the whales have been making sure their Potions get approved first, so it kept getting pushed back."
"Whales?" Jennifer asked.
"Bulk Alchemist Companies, Jennifer, places that make a decent amount of profit from their research that often offer WDA officials jobs after they retire from public service," Frank explained.
"Why am I not surprised?" Jennifer said with a sigh. "Honestly, getting that formula approved for general use helps everyone out, not to mention it will no doubt save the government and the public a great deal of money preventing a disease that has life-long expenditures."
"Well, not to sound too mercenary about our government, Jennifer, but that's exactly why they weren't enthusiastic about it," Ray replied. "But I for one will be very glad when it's approved."
"I don't suppose we can set up a vaccination clinic at the Healer's school after it's approved, Wind?" Asher asked.
"Yes, of course you can," Wind agreed. "Jennifer, are we still meeting in the art room in an hour?"
"Oh, definitely! I'll be there," Jennifer said enthusiastically.
"Alright," Wind said with a smile, and went to get something to eat.
"Are you meeting up with Alicia?" Lav asked.
"Yes, she's working on some security portraits for the school," Jennifer explained.
"And she's putting you in one? That's pretty brave," Ray said, and the others laughed at that.
"It's one with Wind and I together, actually, he insisted," Jennifer chuckled. "Trust me, you'll be glad of those paintings in the school once they're properly set up. It'll be much more secure."
"Unless the sprinklers go off again," Frank said.
"No, they're charmed to withstand things like water, and one of the new portraits... I can't tell you which... will be charmed to move them all to a safe location if necessary. Severus gave Wind and Alicia a list of what to include, and I assure you, when it comes to security, he has a knack of thinking up worst case scenarios to try and prepare for it," Jennifer said.
"Too bad someone hadn't consulted him on Wizardnet security. Maybe he would have been able to prevent what happened, eh?" Lav said.
"He most certainly wouldn't have," Jennifer said testily. Asher and Frank glanced at one another. "Severus hated those blasted things almost as much as I do, and I know for a fact that he was not sorry to see them go."
"I see," Lav said, drinking her coffee. "Still, I guess he was too far away to have been the one behind it."
"What makes you think anyone was behind it?" Ray asked at her defensively, while Jennifer pushed up her glasses.
"The Wireless reports," Lav explained. "I've been listening to them while working in the lab. The WIAB has got it in their head now that the cause was magic related, and probably emanated from one source."
"Well, you know, I have a theory on that," Frank said before the silence could get awkward. "I think it was caused by a CME." Ray, Asher, and Jennifer looked at him curiously.
"Isn't that what the non-magics are saying caused it?" Lav said skeptically.
"When they're right, they're right," Frank shrugged.
"Right," Lav said skeptically, then caught sight of Kay waving at her. "Look, Kay's here. Maybe we should move over to our table, Jennifer."
"I'll be right over, Lav. You three had better grab sandwiches if you want any," Jennifer said as an excuse to linger. But the moment Lavender cleared out, Jennifer lowered her glasses and looked at Frank skeptically.
"Really, Frank? Lying to Lav is only going to make her more suspicious that something is going on," Jennifer warned him.
"I didn't lie to her," Frank said calmly, grabbing a pumpkin butter sandwich. "I said it was caused by a CME. I didn't say what those letters stood for. If she thinks it stands for a Coronal Mass Ejection, she simply misinterpreted my diagnosis."
"Dare I ask what your interpretation of CME is?" Ray asked warily.
"Catastrophic Magical Erasure," Frank replied.
"It definitely was that, wasn't it?" Asher said, putting his head in his hand.
"Quite catastrophic," Ray agreed. Jennifer grimaced, giving them one last grab at the sandwiches before taking them over to the other table.
Jennifer walked into the art room with a smile on her face as Alicia attempted to get to a place to pause on Brenda's portrait.
"Oh, that's really coming along!" Jennifer said appreciatively, stepping over next to her daughter.
"What do you think? Is it me?" Brenda asked with a chuckle.
"Getting there," Alicia assured her with a smile. "It scared her a bit when she saw it the first time today. She didn't know that paintings have ugly stages."
"The darks go on first in oil painting," Jennifer explained.
"There, you see? Even Mum knows," Alicia said.
"Although my paintings hardly ever come out of the ugly stage," Jennifer admitted with a chuckle. "But I've had occasion to take lessons with Francis Pyther when he taught at Hogwarts... back when he was still a vampire."
"What do you mean, 'still a vampire'?" Brenda asked.
"Good job, Mum, I didn't have a look of shock in here yet," Alicia said with appreciation.
"You didn't know Francis was human, now?" Jennifer asked.
"No, I just assumed he was still a vampire," Brenda admitted.
"If he was, we wouldn't have three kids," Alicia told her, putting one last touch in before reluctantly moving to cover her palette and clean up her brushes. "It's my father's fault, really. He has the reputation for doing the impossible."
"Then it seems the two of them are well matched, from what I've seen of your mother," Brenda teased.
"Mother is the reason that my father is typically forced to do the impossible," Alicia replied.
"Oh, you behave," Jennifer scolded her, but Brenda laughed at that.
"You can get up and take a look now," Alicia said. Brenda eagerly went over, brightening at how much better it looked.
"So it does look like me after all!" Brenda said, pleased. "I'll have to bring my husband in once it's done to see it. Do you suppose it'll be done before the Spring Garden Party in two weeks?" she asked.
"Yes, more than likely," Alicia agreed. "Especially if you come in for an hour every day after school."
"Sure! I don't mind!" Brenda agreed, then noticed Wind stepping over. "Wind, what do you think of my portrait?"
"It's quite lovely! I am looking forward to it being done so I can hang it up in my office. As I'm sure Mr. Pyther will be glad to have his paintings back," Wind said with a chuckle.
"No, you should keep them until all of the paintings are finished here and we know this place is safe," Alicia insisted. "Those two secretary paintings may be very sentimental for him, but security is more important. Besides, if you try to give them up early, there's no doubt in my mind that you'd find them back on the wall by morning."
"Well, personally, I'm glad of that, because I am really warming up to having a painting secretary," Brenda said.
"And I am warming up to the new appointment books that warns me when Steve Mason is coming whether he makes an appointment or not," Wind replied. Brenda laughed at that.
"I'd better get home, since it's my turn to cook dinner. See you in the morning," Brenda said.
"See you!" Jennifer replied with a smile, but then immediately turned to Wind. "What did you mean about that Steve Mason comment? Considering you just got those books on Tuesday, that means he must have been here since then."
"Wait! Hold that thought! Mum, you know this isn't how it works. Let me get you both in position before the two of you start talking school politics," Alicia protested.
"Is that really what you want us to talk about in the painting?" Wind asked thoughtfully.
"Since this is going to be one of the security paintings, I'd say yes. Just talk normally about anything, including school politics, or whatever you normally talk about," Alicia said. "Now, let's see, where should we sit you at?"
"Can't we go outside? I'd much rather do this in the garden," Wind suggested.
"Oh, yes! So would I!" Jennifer agreed enthusiastically.
"Well, if we had unlimited time, I'd agree," Alicia explained apologetically. "But I'm not only teaching and doing these portraits, but I have to run back and forth to help out at home, and I'm spending my weekends doing a portrait at Hogwarts. So let's do this. Let's pull in one of the garden benches along the wall, and I'll arrange my lights to imitate mid-morning light. Then once I have Leu and his friends done, we'll set aside some time to go outside and get the background done," she proposed.
"Yes, alright," Jennifer said. "Did you manage to get Diana in the picture?"
"Yes, but ask me about it after I start painting, or you're going to run out of things to talk about!" Alicia protested.
"Is that even possible for her?" Wind pondered.
"Hey! No picking on me!" Jennifer scolded him.
"Oh, my gosh, you two are going to be difficult as all hell, I can tell!" Alicia protested, insisting that they stop until a bench could be brought in and set against the wall, and Jennifer watched impatiently and Alicia fussed with her lights.
"At this rate, time will be up before you even get started," Jennifer complained when Alicia came over with the needles.
"Are you going to be this much trouble when I paint you and Father?" Alicia asked dangerously, asking her to hold out her finger.
"No, I'm quite certain he'll be much worse that me... ow!" she complained, sucking her finger after the blood drops went in the ghost paint.
"Should I add mute oil to these?" Alicia asked.
"Wouldn't that make it hard to perform security functions?" Wind asked.
"Some people aren't comfortable having versions of oneself running around in paintings and who can talk to you out of the blue," Jennifer explained.
"Yes, like you, Mum," Alicia replied, and Jennifer made a face. "It's up to you, Wind. Both of you know sign language, so your paintings will too. They would have a form of communication even you didn't mute them."
"I believe I would prefer them the keep their voices," Wind said, rubbing his finger as she mixed the other ghost paint bottle. "After all, Jennifer will only be here at the school for a few more months. I'm likely to miss her when she returns home."
"Oh, Wind!" Jennifer said with surprise.
"Would you too stop having these great conversation moments when I haven't even gotten to the canvas yet?" Alicia snapped with frustration.
"Sorry, she takes after her father," Jennifer explained.
"I'm going to tell him you said that," Alicia said, as she stepped behind the canvas and got out some vine charcoal, quickly sketching in the proportions. But after a few minutes, she frowned, because they were both staring blankly at her.
"Seriously?" she asked with exasperation, grabbing her paints. "Well don't just sit there, start talking to each other! And Mum, take off your glasses for now."
"Yes, alright," Jennifer said, but after she took them off, there was another silence as they both attempted to think of something to say. Alicia sighed.
"So what was that bit about Steve Mason when the two of you came in?" Alicia asked. Both of them simultaneously made a look of disgust so telling and Alicia smiled and got to work.
"I had almost forgotten about that," Jennifer admitted.
"I was rather hoping that you would," Wind confessed. "He came in this morning, throwing around accusations and complaining about POW tests."
"As if anyone could have predicted that would happen!" Jennifer exclaimed with exasperation.
"Yes, I know, I know. But I don't need to tell you that he has a very limited view of the world, and he is convinced we're out to get him personally, you know," Wind explained. "I had more than my fill of it and ended telling him to leave. I even had the security adjusted so he can't come back on property without an invitation, and I assure you that he will not be asked back this year."
"Good riddance," Jennifer said.
"So were you able to help Asher get those updated lists done for the local hospital?" Wind inquired.
"Yes, all done. Actually, we made copies for some of the surrounding hospitals as well," Jennifer replied.
"Good, I'm glad it's one less thing on your plate then," Wind said. Jennifer looked at him quizzically. "It's just that I've noticed how much you have been committing to the school lately, Jennifer. It had already been picking up over time, but after the Wizardnet failure, you seem to have been taking more upon yourself than ever before around here."
"Everyone is doing their part to pitch in, Wind, it's not just me, surely you see that," Jennifer chided him.
"I suppose that's true to some extent, Jennifer. But I can't help but be a little bit concerned about how much these commitments are eating into both your time when you came to work on your research," Wind said sincerely. But Jennifer smiled at that.
"You needn't worry about that, Wind. Severus certainly isn't," Jennifer reassured him. "You see, he's quite convinced that the solution I'm looking for won't come to me by pouring over books for hours of research. I've already spent twenty years doing that, and I've learned everything I can already," she explained. "Instead, what I needed most was some time. A time for new experiences in a place where I could freely be myself. A time that I could contribute in my own way without the outside pressures that I had at home. In other words, the best way for me to find new solutions for my research was to learn how to open new doors. To find a way forward with my research, I need to find a way forward for myself. I'm not taking on any commitments right now unless I choose to take them. And as Severus just reminded me the other day after that meeting at the Pumpkin Patch, as long as I keep trusting myself, I will find a path forward."
Alicia took a step away from the canvas, staring at her mother as if seeing her for the first time. The two of them smiled questioningly at her.
"Sorry, I'm just a bit taken aback. Short of a crisis situation where you're digging your heels in, I've never heard you speak with such confidence before, Mum," Alicia admitted, getting back to work.
"To be honest, neither have I," Wind said in turn, putting a fatherly arm around her. "Her confidence was quite shaken after her years here at Whitebridge, and as much as Rosemary and I tried, her self esteem was all but lost. Family pride was the only thing that propped it up."
"I suppose it only makes sense for me to find it where I lost it," Jennifer said with a smile. "Although really, my experiences here make up only part of the equation. Severus has been sending me a note every day, and as simple as it sounds, it's gone a long way to help build my confidence as well."
"Oh yeah?" Alicia said, smiling wickedly. "How many of them aren't family friendly?" Jennifer blinked and put on her glasses, blushing and scolding her daughter softly while Wind simply shook his head with a smile.