Chapter Fifty-Nine
Investigations and Epiphanies
Jennifer and Frank closed up the boxes as the students filed out of her classroom. They labeled which box went to which school, and then put them into the delivery van that the school bought at Cyanbook prices from someone who used to deliver for Charmbasket.
"Hey look, this long narrow box here is for us, from the Allegheny school," Frank said.
"Oh, that's probably the parchment order. Sue's going to teach her class how to use a quill and how to make scrolls," Jennifer explained. "We should take it in."
"We really are going to the Dark Ages, aren't we?" Frank teased, pulling the box out.
"I'll have you know that Hogwarts has been using both parchment and paper for years, and it's a good skill to know how to do. There are a lot of very old and fiddly spells that are so sensitive to technology that they don't record correctly on manufactured paper, but they are still practical to learn even in this day and age," Jennifer reminded him.
"Which is exactly why we have our students memorize them. Most of the problem spells only effect Charms and Defense classes anyway," Frank said, Jennifer shaking his head at him. "Never mind, you know if we start philosophizing about balancing technology with tradition again, we'll never get to lunch. Don't forget that we're meeting Ben in the Media Room today."
"I've not forgotten! Hopefully he was able to get that press set up correctly," Jennifer said. The two of them went inside, dropping off the parchment before walking to the room formerly known as the Wizardnet Lab.
In the far back right corner, the old computer desks had been cleared away to make room for an old fashioned printing press, all set up and ready to go with rolls of Wizard newspaper print and ink beside it, hooked up to a charmed typesetter. Next to it was a tall cabinet of typeset drawers of different fonts, carefully labeled. In the opposite corner was a small booth with a lantern hooked beside a small door, serving as a small dark room. A wireless hung on the wall, and there were desks put together for students to work at. And just to the right of the door was a pair of desks with two and only two Wizardnet devices. Ben was sitting at one, while Asher was watching him work. Ray was sitting at the student table next to the food. Jennifer took the scene in, but was immediately distracted by a painting that was placed between the dark room and the printer.
"Ron! Hermione!" Jennifer exclaimed, walking over to the painting with a smile. They were sitting side by side just outside of their current house, right in front of the bushes. Every now and then, the bushes would rustle, and Jennifer could almost make out someone hiding behind it.
"Hullo," Ron replied.
"Hi, Jennifer," Hermione said with a smile.
"Hermione! I didn't know you ever had your painting done! And this is one of Alicia's too, isn't it?" Jennifer smiled.
"I commissioned it for our wedding anniversary," Ron explained. "Normally we hang in the entryway of our house."
"Yes, but my living self told me that Whitebridge was going to start a newspaper and asked if we wouldn't mind hanging out here for a while to help out with some advice until they're well established," Hermione explained.
"Which means that we'll probably be stuck here for at least a year and a half," Ron said, then saw Frank watching them curiously. "Nice school, though," Ron amended. "No offense meant."
"None taken," Frank replied. "Friends of yours, I take it?"
"Oh, my yes, they were students during my first year of Hogwarts, even," Jennifer replied with a smile. "Frank Byrd, this is the painting of Ronald Weasley, editor of the Daily Prophet, our respectable newspaper at home."
"Thanks to me," Ron said unabashedly, getting a slight elbow from his wife for saying it.
"And this is Hermione Weasley, Professor of Charms and Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts," Jennifer added. "She also helped me run the school paper for a number of years."
"Pleased to meet you," Hermione said.
"Oh, so they're newspaper experts! That will come in handy," Frank agreed, but then pointed. "And what about him?" he asked, pointing at the red-haired boy behind the bushes.
"Rich!" Ron said with exasperation, turning around to peer at the boy. "Would you go inside? You know you're not supposed to be in this painting."
"But I want my painting done too!" Rich complained, Jennifer chuckling softly at that. "Joanie and Jacob have their painting done."
"It was a wedding present," Hermione told him. "And this is an anniversary present, not a family portrait."
"Tell you what. I'll get a painting of you done once you're sorted into Gryffindor," Ron promised. The boy gasped.
"But what if I get Sorted into another house?" Rich asked. "Does that mean I won't be able to get my painting done if I'm not?"
"Yes," agreed Ron.
"No, it doesn't," Hermione said at the same time. The two of them stared at each other in an apparent face off, until Ron rolled his eyes.
"We'll talk about it later, but would you please get out of the painting now? Or you won't be getting it done either way," Ron threatened. Rich sank behind the bushes again. Jennifer chuckled and walked over to the Wizardnet corner.
"You know, it could be me, but I think Rich won, considering he did manage to get in the painting," Frank commented to Jennifer. Jennifer grinned.
"Alicia probably did it on her own accord, thinking it was rather funny. She has her father's sense of humor, I'm afraid," Jennifer said.
"Boy, isn't that the truth," Ben said.
"Hello, Ben! How is it going?" Jennifer asked.
"Finished, just testing it now," Ben replied. "This device is set up so that students can insert their articles in different newspaper layouts. On top of traditional typesetting, you'll be able to teach them some basic Wizardnet publishing skills."
"That sounds highly specialized," Frank said.
"It is. Its only function is publishing and it's charmed to link with devices in this room and nothing else. These two are completely internal," Ben confirmed. "I based the operating system on XML, though, so if you need to tinker with it for some reason, you shouldn't have any trouble figuring it out."
"Thanks," Frank said. "So what happened to the other Wizardnet kits we made yesterday?"
"Two went to the Business department with a basic spreadsheet and graphic program, four went to the Industry Shop with basic design and automatic programming features, and four went to the Healer's School with medical and alchemist journals," Ben replied.
"The rest of them were sent to the other two schools, Frank," Jennifer replied. "Wind Elk isn't going to approve any more Wizard computers until next year. He wants his staff to get used to doing without them before they make a case that they need them in the classroom. He's calling it a 'drying out' period."
Frank folded his arms.
"You know, Jennifer, I want you to know that I support everything you're doing for the school and all of that, and these two can tell you that I'm all in favor of reforming the Wizardnet system now that we have a clean slate," Frank prefaced. "But since the computers are now in specialized positions and this room has been turned into a Media Room, it isn't lost on me that I seem to be out of a job."
"Nonsense, Frank," Jennifer said with a smile. "Wind is still going to need a computer expert here regardless to help maintain the ones on campus, and I know from talking to him he has no intention of letting you go, especially when he's planning on expanding the curriculum now that we have a printing press. He's going to file a proposal to turn the room next door into a Wireless Radio station for the College and High school students, not to mention that he's going to need an Items Instructor for next year. And now that there's more time slots open since computer skills will be learned in their main classes, he can also propose a four year Defense requirement instead of a two year, which you know I am firmly in favor of."
"So am I," Ray agreed.
"More than likely, he'll probably talk to you once the agenda is sorted out and let you have the pick of the lot. So I wouldn't be packing your room anytime soon," Jennifer advised him with a smile.
"Too late. It blew up, if you'll recall," Frank reported.
"Yes, that's right. Sorry," Jennifer said with a pained expression. "I suppose I have done quite a number on your life lately, haven't I?'
"It's quite all right," Frank said with a chuckle. "I forgive you... as long as I'm staying, that is."
"Goodness, I don't know what that Commissary corner would be like without you sitting in it. That truly would be a loss," Jennifer agreed sincerely.
"You're leading them on again, Jennifer," Ben said without looking away from the screen.
"I most certainly am not!" Jennifer said, scowling at him.
"I don't think she can help it," Ray decided.
"Yes. She's a natural at being provocative," Asher agreed.
"Hey, don't forget she's my mother-in-law, okay?" Ben protested with a chuckle, while Jennifer turned bright red and made a play at checking the typesetting drawers to see what fonts they had.
They were still teasing her when Aurelius burst in the door, quickly closing it behind him.
"Look sharp, all. The WIAB is on their way over here," Aurelius said seriously, everyone looking up in surprise. "I'm hiding all of your thoughts in case they bring a Truth Seeker, but you still need to keep your wits about you."
"Understood," Ray said seriously, and Jennifer pushed up her glasses.
"Do something casual," Aurelius suggested. He went over to grab a slider out of one of the fast food bags on the table and sat down next to Ray, Frank doing the same. Jennifer went back to checking the typesetting, while Ben and Asher looked interested in the newspaper layouts he was setting up.
Wind Elk then came in with two wizards in black WIAB robes and sunglasses.
"Ah, here we are! And everyone is together, too," Wind said with a smile.
"Hello, Wind! Yes, we're having lunch together and I'm showing them the press now that everything is set up," Jennifer replied.
"This was the Wizardnet room?" asked the taller agent skeptically.
"Until last week, yes," Wind agreed. "We have been spending the week adapting it into a Media Room instead, thus the printing press."
"And where did you get that from? It looks old... I doubt you had money in the budget for it," asked the suspicious second wizard.
"My husband donated it, actually. It was our old one at Hogwarts. We've since upgraded to a larger one," Jennifer explained.
"Hogwarts?" the tall one asked in confusion.
"Perhaps we should start with introductions," Wind suggested. "This is my Items Instructor, Jennifer Craw Snape."
"Oh?" the tall one said curiously. "Then your husband is..."
"Severus Snape, yes," Jennifer confirmed with a smile.
"Ah, yes. We thank him for his service, then," he replied. Behind their backs, Aurelius rolled his eyes.
"Over here, we have Doctor Asher Smith, Professor of Wizard Pharmacology," Wind introduced, Asher giving them a simple hand wave. "and Benjamin Clemmons, one of our technical contractors," he said, and Ben immediately held up a Diplomatic Passport.
"Alexandria Clemmons' husband. You can't legally question me without a Ministry of Magic representative and the Head of the WIAB here. Sorry," Ben said with an apologetic smile. He let them check his passport before he put it away and went back to his work unconcernedly.
"This is Auror Aurelius Snape," Wind said, and Aurelius immediately held up his paperwork as well.
"You're a bit far from New York," the suspicious one said after glancing at his credentials.
"I'm having lunch with my mother," Aurelius explained.
"Our Defense teacher, Raymond Eldridge," Wind went on.
"Buck's son," Ray said for good measure.
"I know him," the suspicious one admitted.
"And this is Frank Byrd, our Wizard Technology Specialist," Wind introduced, stepping back a bit.
"So you're the Wizardnet teacher," the tall one said.
"I was," Frank said dryly.
"This is Officer Gamma," Wind said, gesturing to the tall one, "And Officer Iota," he said, gesturing the the suspicious one.
"At least you're past beta," Frank said, Ben and Asher smirking at that.
"I see you've maintained your sense of humor during the crisis," Gamma said as the two of them turned their attention to him. "We're from the Investigations Department of the WIAB."
"So I gathered," Frank said with a nod.
"We've been trying to trace what caused the Wizardnet failure by working backwards based on the events as they happened," Gamma explained. "Fortunately, Wizard fire departments use charmed fire alarms that automatically leave a written record of every occurrence where they're triggered, so we've been able to use that to get a timeline of the events. And as far as we know, the earliest event that we can trace back to what happened is the fire alarms going off in this school. In fact, it seems to have gone off two and a half seconds before any of the other fire alarms went off in the area, including the next closest one at the Mason residence across the river."
"Alright," Frank replied.
"Do you know anything about it?" Gamma asked.
"I know it destroyed my room," Frank admitted.
"And where were you when that happened?" Gamma asked.
"I was in the Items classroom, talking to Jennifer," Frank explained.
Wind glanced in Jennifer's direction but then did a double-take to study her more carefully. She had that look again; that fierce determined look that she always got when she had done something and was daring anyone to ask her about it. Wind blinked at that, then instantly felt a weight on his head. He immediately smacked it away, watching as the energy went back to its owner; Aurelius, it seemed.
Thank you, but I can protect my own thoughts, Wind projected.
"Sorry," Aurelius blurted out. Gamma and Iota looked at him curiously.
"What are you sorry about?" Gamma asked.
"Oh, it was nothing. Sorry," Aurelius said apologetically.
"If it was nothing, then why are you sorry?" Iota asked suspiciously.
"I'm British," Aurelius explained evenly.
Ben covered his nose, pretending to hold back a sneeze. Gamma shrugged it off, wondering if it was an intentional distraction.
"So while you were talking, did any Wizardnet computers explode in the room?" Gamma asked.
"Yes, Ray's computer did," Frank admitted.
"Oh?" Gamma said, glancing at Ray curiously. "So you were in there as well?"
"I was," Ray confirmed.
"Who else was in the room? Anyone?" Gamma asked.
"Just Asher over there," Ray said, and Asher gave a non-committal wave again.
"Then perhaps you should come over here to the table as well," Gamma suggested.
"I was really starting to get hungry anyway. I have a class in fifteen minutes, you know," Asher explained.
"You'll be released when we say you're released. So what happened when it exploded?" Gamma asked.
"It sparked, smoked, and disintegrated," Ray said.
"But the room didn't catch on fire," Gamma said.
"Do we look injured?" Ray pointed out.
"It didn't even set off the sprinklers in the room," Frank added for good measure.
"We were still in the Items Room when the fire alarms went off," Asher added. "I lost my personal room as well."
"Oh? Is there anything both of those rooms have in common?" Gamma asked curiously.
"I can answer that," Ray replied. "They both had a lot of Wizardnet devices. And I do mean a lot. More than anywhere else in the school other than this computer lab."
"Yes, the sprinklers went off in here as well. We had quite a mess to clean up," Wind agreed.
"Were those the only three rooms on the property that were affected?" Gamma asked.
"Yes, that is correct," Wind confirmed. Gamma pondered that.
"Perhaps it was the proximity of so many devices at once that caused the fires in those locations then," Gamma suggested.
"That does sound logical, but that doesn't explain why everyone's thoughts are blocked from me," Iota snapped. "Somehow... and I don't know how, I can't read anyone in this entire room, Gamma." Gamma stared at him in stunned surprise. That had never happened before. That was when Ben cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen, if I may," Ben said, causing both of them to look over. "I would like to testify, for the record, that my thoughts are being hidden because I have been imparted with sensitive and classified information concerning a British citizen. I also wouldn't be surprised, especially knowing my brother-in-law Auror Snape, if that wasn't the reason behind everyone else's thoughts being protected as well."
"You are correct," Aurelius agreed.
"For the record, how many have their thoughts hidden to protect a British citizen?" Gamma asked with a sigh, and everyone's hands went up except Jennifer's. "And what about you, Mrs. Snape?"
"I protect my thoughts for the sake of my family," Jennifer said defiantly.
"I think that counts, Mum," Aurelius pointed out dryly.
"You're the Item's Instructor, correct?" Gamma asked.
"I am," Jennifer agreed.
"And what happened to your personal computer?" Gamma asked.
"It was blackened in my room when I got up there. I didn't use it except for grades, because I really don't care for the things. We don't use them at Hogwarts," Jennifer said.
"Still, you know how they work, correct?" Gamma pressed.
"Of course, we made a basic version of one during class," Jennifer replied.
"Then, in your expert opinion, what do you think happened to Ray's computer?" Gamma asked.
She glanced over at Ray, Frank, and Asher's worried expressions before looking at Gamma again.
"Well, after consulting other teachers at this school on the matter, we have come to the conclusion that the Wizardnet failure was caused by a CME," she stated resolutely. The three wizards smiled knowingly at that.
"Really," Gamma said skeptically.
"That's what the non-magics have been calling it," Iota said with exasperation.
"Officers, I would like to say I was one of the people she consulted, and I thought it might be a CME as well," Frank said.
"Yes, me too," Asher agreed.
"Same here," Ray added.
"Officers, I know I am out of my jurisdiction, but might I say something?" Aurelius said, and the two looked over at him. "In the northeastern jurisdiction, we've been investigating a wizard house explosion that happened on a ranch in rural Maine that led to a total destruction of the house. They had been running a Dark Wizard Web trafficking site from there, but since they had no automated fire alarms or anything else of the kind and the Wizardnet was destroyed, it is impossible to tell whether or not for certain it's the primary cause, despite our department's conjecture that it might be. In fact, I can say that is probably true in many of the incidents that happened both here and elsewhere. Very few buildings have fire and police alarms that are connected directly to local emergency stations; only schools and other government buildings have that sort of system. So even though this was the earliest event that you can trace, that doesn't mean it's the earliest event. All it means that it's the earliest event tied to a public building that had an alarm go off that you found a record for. Most of the records of what might have happened, as you know, went up in smoke, no pun intended. If you'd like, I could fill you in on that case in Maine that we've been investigating, because I'm certain it's the root cause of this whole thing."
"Fine," Gamma said, then turned back around to Jennifer. "Very well, we are done for now. If we have further questions, we'll be back... with proper clearance," he added for good measure.
"Well, if you do decide to come back, be sure to inform my lawyer first, because I don't think she'd be very happy with me if I didn't include her in anything more than an informal inquiry," Jennifer informed them. "Her name is Lunette Vallid. And that is two L's in Vallid, by the way," she said for good measure.
"Yes," Gamma said flatly. "I know." Iota glanced at Gamma, frowning at what he read from him before the two of them stepped out of the lab, followed by Aurelius.
Wind Elk watched as shoulders relaxed around the room and Jennifer exhaled loudly. She went over to table and gave the three wizards a warm smile, reaching for the bag of hamburgers.
"Oh, Jennifer," Wind said in a sing-song voice that made her freeze like a frightened animal, realizing immediately she was in trouble. "Why don't you come have lunch with me so that you and I can have a chat, little squirrel? Frank, you can handle things in Items class if our lunch runs over, can't you?"
"Of course," Frank said, wondering if they were going to be in any trouble for backing her up.
"Come along then, Jennifer," Wind said calmly. Jennifer grimaced sheepishly, putting her hands in her pockets. She even shrank back a little when she past him, making him momentarily look even taller as she slipped out the door. Wind stepped out behind her, closing the door gently as they walked through the garden on the way to his office.
"I'm not going to get fired, am I?" Jennifer murmured in a low voice.
"After springing me from that bear trap? Hardly," Wind reassured her. "But that doesn't mean that you don't have a lot of explaining to do, young lady." Chuckling nervously, Jennifer reluctantly followed him into his office.
It was so wonderful getting back to Kingler's and Company again. Jennifer sat down with such an exhausted sigh that Leu, Quintin, and Severus all looked at her curiously.
"That was the longest two weeks that I've ever had in my entire life," Jennifer exclaimed.
"For some strange reason, I get the feeling that those last two weeks were the same length of time as any other two weeks," Severus said drolly.
"It was," Quintin confirmed.
"First that dreadful Items Fair, where Steve Mason spent the entire week getting on my nerves, and then that whole dreadful business with the Wizardnet! I am so glad I can finally take a day just to relax with my family," Jennifer said emphatically. "Thanks, Sally!" she said gratefully when Sally left them some coffee, tea, and juice.
"I take it you've been under a lot of stress," Sally said.
"Most definitely," Jennifer said.
"French toast breakfast it is," Sally said with amusement.
"French toast?" Quintin repeated.
"Eggy bread," Leu explained to him.
"I want eggy bread too!" Quintin decided enthusiastically.
"Sure, second breakfast sounds good," Leu decided.
"Fine, I suppose I'll go with the consensus," Severus said.
"Give me a heads up when you're coming in stressed out again, Jackie, so I can add a second baker's order for the week," Sally teased, walking away again.
"So, Leu. Alicia was telling me that she managed to talk Diana into sitting for that portrait yesterday," Jennifer prompted.
"Yes, but I'm not sure that talked into is the right word," Leu said. "Diana kept coming over to watch Noah and me getting painted, and after a while she asked what it was for. Alicia said it was to hang up in the castle, but she also added that only top students had that sort of privilege. Then Diana pointed out that she was at the head of most of her classes and was also the best Chaser Hogwarts had in twenty years. So Alicia told her that Diana won and that Diana talked her into it, and she started sitting with us ever since," he explained. Jennifer laughed softly at that.
"Well, I'm glad. I think that painting is going to be spectacular," Jennifer said with a smile.
"And how is your new portrait with Wind Elk going?" Severus inquired.
"It's coming along, although Alicia keeps complaining that the two of us say the best stuff when she's not actively painting and that we're a bit stiff when she is painting," Jennifer said.
"That's hardly surprising, you're both fairly private in general, although I'm certain there is little to worry about, if our own paintings are any indication. It'll all come out once it's finished even is she isn't painting it first hand," Severus replied. "And how are things at the three schools since we spoke?"
"A great deal more stable," Jennifer assured him. "Whitebridge is now in very good shape, and the two Wizard Vocationals are pretty close. They were a little more dependent on the hybrid computers than Whitebridge so it is taking them longer to adjust, but we've been providing them some tomes and books and enough paper to get them through until S&S bookstore is able to fill their orders. Oh, and Wind says we should have our food supplies back to normal just in time for the Spring Garden Party next week."
"Well, if you find they're in need of backup catering, I'm sure Beth and your brother will pitch in considering they already asked me on occasion how you were holding up and if you needed any help," Severus said, Jennifer smiling at that. "You know, they had been debating converting more of their hotels in the United States to a Wizardnet based system. This little calamity of yours has caught them at the right time to rethink their plans. At the very least, if they do go to that system in the future, it won't be without making sure they have a regular register, phone, and other backup measures in place."
"Well, that's lovely, but what do you mean by 'this little calamity' of mine? It's everyone's calamity, not my calamity, after all," Jennifer said defensively.
"Only that you are the family member that was the most put out by it, although I understand Lucky lost some of her thesis. Still, she didn't have to help put together a school administration, did she?" Severus pointed out smoothly, but Jennifer didn't seem to be buying it. "Besides, what my suspicions are doesn't really matter. I trust you to do what's best for everyone, whether you decide to tell me everything or not," he assured her sincerely. But Jennifer kept squinting at him, unaware that her behavior only confirmed his suspicions. "And hopefully, this little step backwards will serve as a cautionary tale not to take technology for granted."
"True," Jennifer agreed. "And although I don't know how many will learn that lesson outside the school, I know for certain that Wind and most of the teachers of Whitebridge have taken that to heart, at least."
"And the other two schools as well, from what I learned about them," Severus agreed.
"It's made a difference in the lives of individual teachers as well, Severus," Jennifer said. "Frank is feeling a little unsure of himself, considering how much of his life was based on the Wizardnet, but Asher has begun to turn that hyper focus of his onto his career and has really been putting it to use to help out the local hospitals to recover."
"That is a surprise turnaround," Severus admitted. "I suppose the abrupt loss of his addiction fueled a need to turn all that energy elsewhere."
"Partly, at least," Jennifer said carefully. She had been debating if what had happened to her had something to do with it as well, but that was nothing she was prepared to bring up, nor did she really need to. She sighed at that, shaking her head. "So many people were abusing them, Severus, when it just as easily could have been used for beneficial ways. They could have helped make students' lives a little easier, and instead gave schools a way to turn students into learning robots. They could have made news faster and more accurate, but instead it seemed to do the opposite, justifying a person's opinions so that they'll stick around long enough to spend some money on their advertisements. It could have been a way to share ideas and let everyone have an equal say at the table. Instead, it seems to have driven people apart by encouraging their unrealistic images of one another... playing up the fantasy and downplaying the humanity."
"Like Asher and his silly girl collecting game?" Severus inquired.
"Surely that's but one example, there are thousands more," Jennifer agreed. "I just don't think our society is ready for the silly things yet, to be perfectly honest. It's not just Asher that needs to grow up more; it's everyone, really," she explained. "It's still hard to imagine that so many people were spending that much time and energy on something that is nothing more than some charmed mirrors, a sorting device, and a bit of memory."
Just then, Jennifer sat up in her seat so quickly that Quintin, who was sitting next to her, jumped in surprise.
"Charmed mirrors, a sorting device, and a bit of memory! Severus, that's it!" Jennifer exclaimed so loud that most of the customers glanced around as she grabbed a napkin, pulled out a Never-dry Quill, and began sketching. When the food arrived, she pushed away her plate in annoyance, making Sally "hmph" and had Billy wondering if his first attempt at french toast was a failure. Curious, Severus switched seats, making Quintin protest until he realized that the plate in front of him had more eggy bread than his first plate did and decided the change wasn't so bad after all.
"Here, you're being silly, Jennifer, stop drawing on napkins," Severus protested after a moment and handed her a notebook out of his cloak. But as she began drawing again, Severus swiftly gathered up her napkin drawings, smiling at them thinly before stashing them safely away in his pocket.
Leu and Quintin stared at them for a bit before they slowly started eating. It was hard not to be curious about the intensity in their mother's gaze as she scribbled, their father too focused on her drawing to eat either. But finally she finished her rough blueprints, sitting up and glancing over at Severus, who was still gazing at it intently.
"What do you think?" Jennifer asked.
"It is going to need a great deal of dedicated space," he mused.
"Yes, it is," Jennifer agreed.
"And a lot of memory strands," Severus added.
"That's yet to be determined, really. Perhaps half a dozen," Jennifer estimated. "But the question is, will it work?"
"Only one way to find out, I suppose," Severus replied, Jennifer nodding at that. "You do have time to work on it, I hope?"
"Well, I am busy at the school right now, but spring break starts after the Garden Party. I'll spend the entire week at the Book Club and get as much of it done as I can," Jennifer said.
"What was that, Jennifer?" Sally said, filling coffee cups and leaving Leu some more hot water for his tea. "Is that your way of telling me you're not working the week of Easter?"
"Sorry, Sally, but this is really important!" Jennifer said, hugging the notebook and gazing at her pleadingly. "We'll still be here for Easter brunch, I promise!"
"Okay, okay. You can make it up by eating your breakfast all gone, especially that french toast. Billy made it just for you, you know," Sally informed her.
"Deal," Jennifer said, picking one up with her hands and eating it, smiling at Billy when she saw him peeking around the corner.
"I suppose you're going to need my help gathering supplies for this, all things considered," Severus offered.
"Thank you, Severus. I hope it proves to be worth it," Jennifer said.
"You are worth it. Never doubt that," Severus murmured quietly to her, and Jennifer beamed happily at that, leaning into him for just a moment before turning back to her breakfast.