Chapter 11

The holidays were still to have some excitement to offer.

The feeling of pain and fear and sluggishness on the part of Wilhelm and Serrik washed over their own immediate friends first, and the other Prince Peak Marauders subsequently.

And then various people were apparating to the little boys; including those who were considered far too young by most standards.

And into the dining room of Herzog Von Frettchen's schloss, an anti-apparating zone, arrived Zhenga, Fyra, Alrik, Bruno – who being a time zone ahead had finished his New Year's dinner and thus would NOT have so much explaining to do to his parents – the Bee Marauders, the First Peak Marauders, the Muggle Marauders and sundry Prince Peak staff, including of course Severus.

The potioneer took in the situation in an instant, seeing the duke and duchess, their twin sons, in their highchairs, Herzogin Ann's parents as well as her brother Wilhelm and his friend gasping for breath, and the baby boys almost at death's door. Sick too were Eduard Von Frettchen's brother and sister in law; and his nephew sat unharmed, smiling gently and with malicious enjoyment of the discomfort of the others even his parents; watching with what could only be described as pleasure as his infant cousins were dying before his gaze.

Severus started chanting, casting the severing spell wordlessly and wandlessly on his palm and on that of each of the babes, dripping blood and strength into them. Chanting would take too long; if he had thought to bring a bezoar…. The other Ubiquitous Marauders were busy dissipating the effects of the poison in their fellows almost absently as they got out wands to point – as did other marauders – at the only person not poisoned. Ignaz had not yet reacted fully; the shock of people arriving in droves into an anti-apparating zone had frozen him in shock. He began to rise, reaching for his father's wand, his own having been broken.

"Muggle Marauders seize that smiling git, Zhenga get a cauldron" Severus broke off chanting long enough to say. "The rest of you a neutralising chant."

The Muggle Marauders leaped on the staring figure of Ignaz Frettchen; who had recovered enough wit to shout for the elves, something about intruders; and then, with his father's wand in his hand he tried to throw the killing curse.

Brief Zig-zag scars appeared, were dissipated and faded; and he was quickly disarmed, wrapped in bonds of what Randolph described as appropriately Lord Randallish for a poisoner – all streakèd and stripèd in yellow and green – vomiting slugs, producing bats which, being a synthesis of the bat bogey hex from Rory and the boogie-woogie-bogey bugle hex from Fred were intoning solemnly the Horst Vessel song in swing time; and he was also squirming from being tickled.

He was NOT going anywhere. Fred, Peter and Rory joined in the chanting, leaving Randolph, who did not chant, to watch him just in case.

Wilhelm and Serrik were cleared of the poison by their blood-bond; the rest stabilising; and Krait invaded the kitchen and demanded ingredients from the elves there, who stared.

Krait called for Gretti, Eduard's old nurse and gave her a concise run down of what was happening.

Gretti started bullying elves; and Krait left her to bring up all that was needed.

The chant would keep the victims alive until the antidote had been brewed. Ignaz had been creative with his potions and an application of Golapott's third law was needed; and the antidote would have to be one too that would purge them thoroughly that would probably have killed Leopold and Leonhard at their age.

The antidote would do for Von Frettchen's brother and sister-in-law and Ann's parents; to preserve the well-being of an important ally was imperative.

"Slice and dice" said Severus facetiously, taking Ann's and Eduard's hands.

"Severus what ARE you like?" scolded Hermione, obediently slashing her own palm.

"In a hurry" said Severus.

The blooding was hurried, but thorough; and a single heartbeat sounded throughout the room as the poison was cleared from the two adults as well as their infants.

"Donner und Blitzen, Severus!" cried Eduard "That is POWERFUL!"

Severus gave a wintry smile.

"Love usually is" he said "You are a friend now; I would be loath to lose you for that reason as well as political ones. Your kin must make do with antidote, yes, Zhenga dear, that's exactly right" he added as Zhenga ran up with a cauldron.

Krait was preparing ingredients; and the Bee Marauders were chanting over the other Von Frettchens and the Scmitts.

Randolph was amusing himself by renewing curses as things like the slug vomiting curse wore off; as this youth was a real enemy he could, he thought, afford to get creative. Ignaz now sported cauliflowers for ears and was growing nettles out of mouth and nose with attendant red admiral butterflies because they were pretty. Randolph was like that sometimes.

"Are we then of this blood group that the boys told us aided the freeing of the elves from compulsion?" gasped Ann "It feels so….. so CLOSE!"

"You are indeed" said Severus "And able to call on us in need. Let me concentrate on this antidote; your nephew is a cunning potioneer. I doubt many could gauge an antidote successfully to the subtleties he has added. I'm surprised to see him at your table."

"It's my idiot sister-in-law's fault" said Eduard giving the unfortunate woman a filthy look "She convinced me that he was contrite and wanted to meet with me formally to apologise. Which was to happen after we ate together to get a more relaxed atmosphere."

"THIS time I take it you will institute proceedings?" said Severus grimly "Jade told me how he tried to poison Ann with a potion that would prevent any child quickening within her that might also have been fatal to her for bringing forth an excess of blood; and that you went with the merciful view of having him expelled and but disowned."

"Yes; I flogged the little tyke too" said Eduard "Which he had not have needed had his parents used the flat of their hands occasionally when he was younger. I still feel weak; is that the residue of the poison?"

"No; it's the residue of the blooding" said Severus. "Ah, Jade" as Jade turned up with Ulvik in tow.

"Need me?" asked Jade.

"No; but I expect Eduard and Ann are glad of the moral support" said Severus.

Jade snorted and picked up the babies as Ulvik went to those of the Ubiquitous marauders he knew and got to meet Wilhelm and Serrik.

"This could have been in more auspicious circumstances" grinned Wilhelm.

"Well at least we know each other now" said Ulvik, helping with the blood clearing. Jade was shushing the not unnaturally fretful twins.

"Want me to take them for a day or so?" she asked. "You will be implementing my suggestion Eduard, I take it?"

"I will" said Eduard grimly "Do you want Jade to take the babies, Ann?"

"No, it's all right; Gretti will help me with them" said Ann. Jade nodded, kissed her, shook hands with Eduard, held out a hand for Ulvik, who came obediently; and dissapparated. She had her own school to get in order.

oOoOo

Severus was the acknowledged best potioneer in the world; and he soon had a dose to force between the lips of the improved, but still groaning patients.

"I thought Jade reckoned anything could be solved with a chant?" said Eduard.

"It can" said Severus "But I'm not prepared to put the time and effort in to them that might be needed to deal with your nephew. I understand Jade suggested returning him to childhood?"

"Yes" said Eduard. "Actually she suggested the idea of offering him the choice of that or being handed over to the Vehmgerichten; on the principle that he would not realise that she meant removing his memories too."

Severus nodded.

"Ready to talk to him then when the antidote finishes purging people?" he said.

"When the elves have cleared up; this room stinks. You'll scarcely want to chant in such a situation? You were offering to do so, weren't you?"

"I was and I shall; and a cleaner spot of air would be welcome" said Severus.

oOoOo

Randolph had, on request, removed the facial adornments and threatened Ignaz as he started trying to pronounce spells that he could think of more creative places to put nettles that would leave him unable to say anything that was not a thin falsetto scream. Ignaz shut up.

"Ignaz" said Eduard. "You underestimate my allies."

"You underestimate the power of the Force" muttered Randolph. Someone had to say it.

Ignaz scowled.

"I don't understand how you can be up and talking!" he said sullenly "The poison had no antidote!"

"There is NO poison that has no antidote" said Severus "I AM the master; you are only the learner" he added quickly before anyone else did.

"And we DID survive; and you are a proven poisoner" said Eduard coldly. "I give you two choices; the Vehmgerichten and a term in Nurmengard so long you'll be tripping over your beard before you get out; or to be returned to childhood and to grow up in MY household, as my brother and his wife can't be trusted to rear you properly, alongside MY sons."

A cunning look crept into Ignaz eyes; and Severus hid a malicious smile. The boy was planning to use his position in his uncle's household to kill when he was old enough to have the physical prowess. The idea that he would no longer have his current thoughts had not entered his head.

"I don't want to go to Nurmengard, please, Uncle Eduard" he said, trying to sound very young "I – I suppose my upbringing must have been wrong to wish harm on you; please let me try again!"

"Very well; it is witnessed that this is your choice" said Eduard. "Severus?" Severus nodded; cancelled the bonds, and smiled unpleasantly as the boy made a bid to rise and found he could not.

"More than one way to do it, you know" said Severus softly; then he began chanting.

Ignaz's body began imperceptibly to shrink; and it was at this juncture that he realised perhaps that his memories were also being gently stripped; and suddenly he screamed in terror.

"My BABY!" cried Frau Von Frettchen starting to run to him. Eduard grabbed her and shook her roughly.

"He CHOSE this over a term in Nurmengard; great powers, woman, after he tried to kill you too you STILL want to cosset the evil little bastard?" he said roughly.

"Oh do not hurt him! If you hurt him I will never forgive you, never!" sobbed the woman.

"And I am supposed to forgive YOU for letting him near enough MY babies that he could attempt to kill them? You mistake the place of whose right it is to forgive you silly creature!" said Eduard. "Randolph, restrain your wife."

Randolph Wright started then realised he shared a name with the younger Von Frettchen brother.

"What ARE you having done to the boy Eduard?" asked Randolph Von Frettchen.

"I'm having him returned to babyhood to grow up in MY house with my sons" said Von Frettchen "In the belief that I and my wife can make a better job of it than you have. He'll be of an age with the four bastards he got on three muggle girls who I will also be bringing into my household, the mothers as nursery maids and your grandchildren in my nursery. They will go to Prince Peak or the subsidised school depending on their talent. And like Ignaz they WILL be told the truth – when they are old enough to accept it. Severus appears to have arranged that all very nicely; he makes a pleasing infant" he added as Severus finished his chant and picked up the chubby blonde bundle of baby boy.

"I made him the precise same age as your twins, Eduard" said Severus "It had symmetry."

"I thank you" said Eduard gravely. "My brother and his wife were just leaving so that my parents in law, my wife and I might have a comfortable atmosphere in which to recover from this traumatic experience."

His sister in law opened her mouth to complain that it had been traumatic for her too; and wisely shut it again.

And the Prince Peak contingent were returning to their own castle or in the case of the pupils who had come to their own homes ready to come to the castle on the morrow.

"Always something new out of Germany" misquoted Severus to himself.

oOoOo

"Y' know what, dad?" said Darryl

"Not unless you tell me son" said Severus, trying not to look soppily pleased that Darryl had decided to call him 'Dad', accepting fully that he was going to marry Mimi.

"I was just thinking" said Darryl "That it was a bloody good job that chant was so tough; because there was so much emotion in it I might have misbehaved with Mimi had not I been too knackered."

"I'm glad you didn't lad; but if you had I'm sure we would have weathered it" said Severus. "I'd rather she didn't fall pregnant before at least Yule next year so she doesn't birth until after the end of her final exams; but if it happens, well we've been through THAT before as a family. And if the pair of you use potions in the meantime and are careful, well you're both adults and I have no right to dictate to the pair of you; only make suggestions."

Darryl looked pleased.

"THANK you dad" he said "For –well, I guess saying you'll stand by us no matter what; I think I'm old fashioned and want to wait until we're properly married; I know my mother was much married but she had boyfriends as well, between husbands and….. well I want OUR marriage to be special. Is that foolish?"

"Not in the least" Severus dropped an arm about his shoulders. "Krait and I jumped the wand rather because of the circumstances; not knowing if we'd live long enough for her to leave school. But if the pair of you want to get married next Yule there's no reason why you should not; it's to think on, hmmm?"

"Yes; we'll discuss it" said Darryl. "Thanks."

They were waiting for the return of the children for the new term in that calm before the maelstrom of children; and it was one of those deeply profound conversations that suddenly spring up from nowhere. And Severus was glad that it had; Darryl had been so deeply hurt by his mother that wanting to be part of a proper family and being able to discuss it meant that he had put it behind him and moved on. And Severus was pleased for him that he could look forward.

It had been a Yule for being a surrogate father; Walter Crabbe had needed his brother Victor as a witness in his claim for sanctuary, since his parents had lodged an appeal on grounds that Walter had been brainwashed by Professor Dumbledore or Professor Fraser and that it was ridiculous that their baby should wish to be a ward of the school. Walter had conducted his own case – really rather well – and had pointed out that his parents had failed him from the first when they had not noticed that he was cursed. Severus gave evidence that it had been he who had first suggested the means of the curse; and that he had felt the Crabbes to be less than co-operative with the healers. Victor had put forward his own story that his unacceptable behaviour, leading to expulsion from Hogwarts, had been caused by a child's and then youth's reaction to his brother's cursed behaviour and the failure of their parents to accept that he was a little monster; and that he had learned about real parenting from Professor and Madam Snape who had given him a second chance; and had added that it took more to be parents than the ability to procreate like his biological parents. His parents had cast curses at him, but Victor's shield charm was impervious; and as his father used the cruciatus curse he ended up in Azkaban for ten years, not merely the six months he had already earned himself for contempt; and his mother was to go away for nine months too. Walter was deeply relieved; that was nine months he did NOT have to worry about repercussions!

"And I half wish I HAD said what I was thinking too" said Victor to Severus later "Which was that it takes a real man to be a dad, not just a leaky little prick."

"As well you did not" said Severus dryly, grinning "You'd have put yourself more in the wrong and would have earned yourself a reprimand even if Tiberius DID laugh about it later. I'll pass it on to him unofficially later though if I may – if it's not an immodest thing to pass on what is also essentially a compliment to me as well as an insult to your father."

"Do if it'll give him a laugh" said Victor cheerfully. He was happy; his brother was free!

oOoOo

Severus was too reflecting on the actions of two more of his relatively recent admirers; the Broomstick Boys. Crys Bass and Nils Tenor had done well in the chant and had declared their year of post graduate study worth it if they only ever used it for that; and had mooted an idea of how they might extend the region affected by the freeing chant.

The new and improved sound they had managed in their musical endeavours for having now a better grounding and more voice control was starting to win the pair a following in America; and Nils had come up with the idea of releasing an album which had on it a track featuring the words of the chant; the chant itself as a background and lyrics over it encompassing its meaning, so that every time it was played perhaps it might reduce the compulsion; especially if it was a hit and was played all over the States. Silvina had helped them with the composition too, entwining magic into it; and whilst Severus was dubious that it would work, it just might; or at least make a subsequent chant there easier. Four time zones yet again were a lot to consider. And if it took off in America it would probably reach a world wide audience too. It could not hurt! Especially as Seagh had played the proper rhythm on the special bodhran as an accompaniment; and the Broomstick Boys had picked a tune form based on Irish folk song that had become one of the ancestors of Country and Western music, such as should appeal to the American ear. Severus thought wryly 'they like both kinds of music here; country AND western' and reflected that at least Crys and Nils were better than the Blues Brothers.

He found he was humming the song; and why not? The more it was sung the more it would set up the ritual.

Turning from the first pale light

Turning hours until the dark night

Seeking for a way, a means I may start

To unlock the spell laid on my heart

Time is turning, a long time turning

Freedom for my thoughts in my heart I'm yearning

Freedom to think the thoughts that are burning

Let my heart be free!

Turn my thoughts unto tomorrow

Hope of freedom from the sorrow

Is there a way that joyfulness starts

To unlock the spell laid on my heart?

Time is turning, a long time turning

Freedom for my thoughts in my heart I'm yearning

Freedom to think the thoughts that are burning

Let my heart be free!

Cassoo doran don ced waar, ced waar [a casadh orainn d'on chéad uoir, chéad uoir]

Slan lesh an eechay, shale go hayrah [slan leis an oiche, seal go haerach]

Soro gray mo cree slan na laytha bee ['s oro grá mo chroi, slan le na laetha bhí]

Samroo go gaymrayd, mo gray mar fee [samradh go geimhreadh, mo grá mar fhís]

Time is turning, a long time turning

Freedom for my thoughts in my heart I'm yearning

Freedom to think the thoughts that are burning

Let my heart be free!

Severus thought it had been particularly clever of the boys to print on their album cover the words of all their songs, effectively hiding the importance of this one in them; and too to put the last verse down phonetically with the actual Gaelic words and a translation underneath; a hope for the future that, written to be a song with his input might even work as a chant of itself, something he had not considered. It meant,

'turning on the first hour, first hour / farewell to the night turning light-heartedly

the great love of my heart, farewell to the days that once were / summer through winter my heart like a vision.'

Typically Lilith had made a free translation of the whole lot into Gaelic and went off to school

singing it; but that was Lilith. She had her own ideas of what was right.

America had an unusual situation so far as its elves were concerned. Very few wizarding emigrants had possessed elves; but the situation in the early days was that in the Southern States at least a wizard might own black muggles. Muggles were never of course as tractable as elves; and many had felt it worth paying stud fees to have half muggle half elven children for the next generation of slaves; with the result that the elven slaves of America were mostly half elven with black skin; and the darker skin of native elves interbreeding had also reiterated that. With the precedent of the half elven children born to the three muggle women held illegally in England it might be that half elven slaves might be subject to automatic freedom in law; though of course the original muggles HAD been enslaved legally by the laws of the time. It was an interesting situation. But freed in law or not, they were still subject to the self punishment curse; the reason wizarding slave owners had wanted the elven blood in their slaves. And doubtless it would be a long time before any kind of fairness would occur even if they could all be freed; muggles in America still had problems arising from the times of slave owning.

And even England had not got around to a law freeing all elves; largely because most elves were afraid to be free. It was a nasty situation all round and likely to be a nightmare for marauders for generations to come. And Americans were not the most courteous to their slaves either; Severus chuckled to himself recalling a dinner given in Malfoy Manor for the American Ambassador; who had addressed some peremptory order to Lala. The little elf had promptly turned to Narcissa and asked,

"Madam Malfoy, is it your wish that I obey this rude person?" to which Narcissa had replied,

"I do not require any of our servants to obey such mannerless oafs who cannot show any degree of breeding."

The Ambassador had had to apologise to Lala – which plainly shocked him – and ask nicely to get his drink refilled; and had retired much embarrassed to be sneered at by English aristocrats just for ordering the slaves around! Severus wondered if he had ever worked out that courtesy cost nothing and set aside a gentleman from a rude fellow.

oOoOo

The various children arrived at the train station bubbling with what they had done in the holidays; and Darryl shuddered at the toy of the year from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes that came with some of the English children. My Little Flying Pony could be fed water or grass; the water came through as water and the grass or hay was compacted and came out with a lift of the tail and appropriate noises. Indeed appropriate noises were also made during the pseudo digestion; and the mechanical creature also whinnied periodically.

Still it had to be less trouble than some of Garjala's more mischievous toys; the Weasley twins had taken her penchant for toys, the new metalworking classes at Hogwarts and liberated goblins to open a toymaking branch of their shop purely for mechanical toys rather than jokes and tricks. It was doing a roaring trade. Mimi had said that she believed that one of the current upper sixth at Hogwarts had submitted some toy designs by way of a job application; this might even be one of them. To each their own! Darryl quickly conferred with Irmi and they decreed that if My Little Flying Ponies behaved themselves on the train then the sixth would organise a gymkhana for them one weekend.

This tickled the imaginations of the five English girls afflicted by ponymania; and had several of the European girls promising to write to their parents to ask that this English toy should be purchased for them.

"Load of rubbish" said Kate Grant gloomily, bearing in mind that her younger sister Lydia was one of the pony-owning five. "This is what you get for having silly aunts with more galleons than sense; could have let her have money towards a really good racing broom if you ask me. I got an improving book and Emily got a ball gown. I ASK you, EMILY!"

"Crumbs!" said Irmi, looking doubtfully at Emily.

"Yes" said Emily "Me who only dances to improve my broom skills of formation work! She's threatening to bring me out after I leave school too!"

"Well that leaves you no choice but to sign straightaway for the Holyhead Harpies" said Darryl.

"Not likely; they're a bunch of aggressive androphobic more-than-lesbian cows, and they're Welsh into the bargain!" said Emily. "I'd rather sign for the Harwitches if I join an all female team; but why should I? I thought I might try for the Chudleigh Cannons; they're at least Professor Ron's team. I've only got a limited time I can play professional quidditch; so sucks to balls because I can always get married if I want to when I retire. The only balls I'M interested in are quaffles, snitches and Bludgers! Besides, playing quidditch I'm more likely to meet a live one than going to soppy balls; THAT's all behind me when I leave school!"

Darryl laughed.

"Balls are considered an acceptable way of meeting members of the opposite sex, our Em; and judging how live they are from their footwork."

"Huh, and doesn't Professor Ron think they're a soppy waste of time too?" said Emily "Believe me, if he wasn't seriously married to about the most dangerous witch alive next to anyone with the surnames Snape or Malfoy I might even bat an eylid or two in his direction!"

"He'd have been more likely to notice if you batted a bludger or two" said Irmi dryly.

"Yes, that's what I like about him" said Emily.

"Oh there's a few unattached Weasleys about who are very talented amateur players" said Darryl "Colin Weasley works in the Goblin Relations office which is about the only credible department in the ministry; and he has a selection of brothers. Roger's a couple of years older than us I believe; the next one down is married to his school sweetheart."

"I guess it IS the best way to do it" said Emily "Get a friend before they get old enough to do the mushy business and make sure you marry him before he has a chance to get away. Madam Granger-Weasley did it that way and see how happy she and Professor Ron are!" she sighed "We never had a chance, us Cackle's girls, to tie one down from friendship; not enough choice, and Irmi snaffled one of them."

Darryl refrained from pointing out that from what he'd heard it had not been that straightforward in Ron and Hermione's case; it would be unkind.

"I object to the term 'snaffled'" said Irmi "Sebastian and I were always close friends from the time I came late. As I recall you were too busy competing with any boys to be friendly."

"Foolish of me" shrugged Emily "It comes of having older brothers. Am I volunteered to help organise this blasted gymkhana?"

"Well you are head of games" said Irmi sweetly.

"For my sins" grinned Emily. "I've never actually been to a gymkhana; what do you do?"

"Cross country races with enchanted obstacles and times when you have to land and show paces on foot; and dressage largely" said Darryl "Dressage is about well turned out beasts who perform strict actions, taking off whilst changing foot, a trotting landing, a standing landing and various takeoffs as well as wingovers and such. My mother had a horsy boyfriend at one point so I had to learn to ride" he added by way of explanation "And enter various events. I hated every minute; though if I'd liked the boyfriend I don't say that I might not have enjoyed it. Ask Cerellia; she's got a connection to both the Malfoys and the Withers families. Lucius does steeplechase on his Granians I believe."

"Probably, knowing Lucius, as much to show off that he has nice legs to all the females present as to actually race" said Emily unkindly. Darryl laughed.

"And there may be something in that! He does have the best seat and hands I've ever seen; though having said that his sons ride well too. Gorbrin enters a few competitions in the holidays; and actually I have considered taking up riding again just because I count Gorbrin among my closest friends. We'll all muck in and come up with some hilarious ideas; Cerellia doesn't compete, her rotter of a father keeps her mother too short for frills like that, so none of them are likely to know if it's done right or not if she hasn't picked anything up from the Withers stepgrandfather."

"Cheers" said Emily "And besides if anyone says it's not exactly like a real gymkhana we say firmly that it's not exactly like using real ponies and sucks to them."

"Quite so" said Irmi, wondering if saying 'sucks' was entirely in keeping with the dignity of a prefect and reflecting that depending on the circumstances it would not have stopped Jade.

And they had collected all their charges with a minimum of bother and no muggles had been menaced by flying and crapping My Little Flying Ponies; and they might get on the train and depart for another term!