Chapter Eighteen

Courageous and Caring

Anna stepped into Alex's office, reading some coded reports.

"Hi, Aunt Anna. I thought you were going to Hogsmeade today," Alex commented, glancing up from the reports.

"I was there all morning, acting as an escort for Jeremy Miller," Anna explained expressionlessly.

"Those kids will go to any lengths to try and get to Hogsmeade early, won't they?" Alex chuckled.

"I won't disagree with that," Anna replied. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you about an exclusive the Veritable Wizard's working on, because Jeremy interviewed the Dashing Doppler today."

"He did what!" Alex exclaimed, standing up. "And you didn't tell me?"

"If I told you any earlier, he wouldn't have gotten the interview," Anna pointed out, holding out a paper. "I copied his notes for you, but I'm just here to give you notice. I'm going to let him publish it either way." Alex waved her off as she read it.

"Why, the cheek! He really thinks he can challenge me!" Alex fumed.

"Yes, he does seem to think so," Anna agreed.

"Exactly what does he mean by his objective? And what does he mean by 'it depends what they offer in exchange?' What does he want?" Alex asked, but Anna knew Alex was asking herself more than Anna. "Is this all of it? Did he saying anything that's not in the interview?"

"Well, he did tell me he thought the two of us were going overboard trying to apprehend him for using magic in front of Muggles," Anna replied. "And he questioned why I was still head of BELA and helping with the Elderflower Society investigations when all of my books and articles are about treating non-magical people as equals and protecting their rights. And do you know what? I think he has a point," Anna admitted. Alex stared at her with a frown.

"Maybe he's just trying to get you to leave BELA. You're not leaving, are you?" Alex asked. It was obvious from the pause that Anna had been considering it. But after a moment, Anna's eyes became clear and focused again.

"No, I think I'm going to see if I can change it first," Anna decided. "I want to get it moving in a positive direction again, based on the same reasons why it was begun in the first place." Alex relaxed slightly.

"Well, I can definitely see your point in doing that," Alex agreed. "It'll be interesting to see what comes out of it, actually, and I'll back you up on whatever changes you thinks necessary."

"Thanks," Anna said sincerely. "I've also decided to step away from the Elderflower case." Alex blinked.

"What? But I need a U.S. liaison, and you have connections that I don't!" Alex said.

"I'll help you get in touch with anyone in my network you don't already have correspondence with," Anna replied. "But my heart's not really in this case, and the vast majority of potioning cases that are happening are in the United States anyway. Since the main problem is that some of the components are coming from here, why not get Corey as a backup?"

"I've already tried that, but as you can imagine, he's not keen on helping bust wizards giving Muggles healing potions," Alex said.

"Yes, well, neither am I," Anna said. "And really, if you weren't the Minister of Mysteries, wouldn't you be sympathetic as well?"

"Of course I would be, but I have a job to do, and part of that job involves protecting the Secrecy Act. My personal feelings don't come into it. I don't have that luxury," Alexandria said firmly.

"I know," Anna said solemnly. Alexandria sighed, giving her a thin smile.

"I guess I envy you, and your ability to walk away," Alexandria admitted. "But that has nothing to do with the Dashing Doppler case. As a Minister, you shouldn't be entertaining secret meetings with someone on my top five most wanted list!"

"I wasn't being a department head this morning. I was just being a supportive teacher," Anna explained. "Until the interview was over, which is why I stopped to turn in a report. Of course we can't have a rogue spy gathering information in the Ministry, especially when he blatantly admitted that he's willing to hand that information off to anyone who makes it worth his while. But we can't apprehend him if we don't know all of his motives or his methods, so jumping on opportunities like this interview helps us figure that out, doesn't it?"

"True," Alex replied, looking it over again with a frown. "What is this is objective, and why is he having so much trouble getting it when we know he's danced in and out of the Ministry at least a dozen times if not more?" she asked herself. "Well, if he is as singularly focused on it as he claims he is, there can be no doubt of one thing; he'll be coming back."


When Jennifer went into Lasting Impressions for a 'quick look around', Minerva decided to give her the bad news.

"You're going home in the summer? Is Ashley coming back early?" Jennifer asked hopefully.

"I think that is unlikely at best. Albus mentioned that the two of them are visiting the Shadowed Court; the Dark Fae have been engineering a capital city and Lunette invited them to come and see their progress. They'll probably be staying the rest of their visit there, in fact," Minerva explained. "Albus, however, will be back shortly; his last letter was to inform me that he still had some urgent business here to attend to and was just about to leave. Likely, he'll be here for Christmas, and then he promised to wait for me to set up summer fashion so we can head back over together."

"But what am I going to do in the Fall?" Jennifer panicked.

"Hanna and the girls are taking over the shop, and I'm going to make a few dresses in each season for them to set out with theirs," Minerva said calmly.

"But what if it doesn't follow next season's trends?" Jennifer asked. Minerva rolled her eyes.

"Jennifer, both you and Fleur are more than capable of altering your wardrobe if you need to update it, and you can always make your own if need be. Did I or did I not teach you how to make dresses?"

"I haven't made anything other than baby clothes for years! I don't think I can even remember it all..." Jennifer suddenly found a large book thrust against her chest.

"There you are! Everything you need for a refresher is in there! On the house," Minerva added when Jennifer stood there and frowned at the sewing manual. "Here are your dresses and robes! Have a nice day," she added, handing Jennifer her bag. Still staring dubiously at her book, Jennifer shuffled out of the shop.

When she got to the outside table where her family was sitting, Quintin had already eaten his sandwich, and Seren was nearly done.

"Twenty-three minutes, twelve seconds," Quintin reported.

"That was your idea of a quick look?" Severus asked critically as Jennifer sat down.

"Minerva is going home for a check-in next summer," Jennifer said glumly.

"Oh? I suppose that's not all that surprising, considering how long it's been since she's checked in at home," Severus said.

"But Ashley won't be back yet! It's just going to be Hanna and the girls running the shop for months, and although Minerva says she's sewn for next year too, it's not the same as having them here," Jennifer replied.

"No, I don't suppose it is. Did she happen to have an update on Ashley and the old man?" Severus asked thoughtfully.

"They're visiting the Dark Fae Kingdom," Jennifer explained. "But it sounds like Albus is coming back this year for Christmas."

"Already? That is a bit more surprising, considering he visited last Christmas. He isn't typically here on consecutive Christmases like that."

"Apparently he wrote that he had some sort of business to take care of here, but that's all she knew from what I picked up from her," Jennifer replied.

"I see. Well, it'll be nice to have him around again regardless. It will mean that I won't have to late so long before I get to sit down with him and discuss my last lesson," Severus decided.

"What last lesson?" Jennifer asked.

"The one where I learned that sometimes it's in both Hogwarts' interests and my own interests not to know everything," he explained. Jennifer smiled knowingly at that. "And that learning to trust my faculty to do their jobs without always looking over my shoulder is... quite satisfying, actually."

"I don't get it," Quintin said flatly. "A good headmaster would have to know everything that's going on in the school, wouldn't they?"

"I thought so myself until recent years," Severus replied. "It is not one of the easiest of lessons to learn. It requires that you have a high quality staff and have built up a high level of trust with them, which is probably why it took so long."

"Nonsense, Severus. You've had a high quality staff the entire time," Jennifer chided him. "You simply had trouble releasing your control."

"Yes, well, oddly enough, I don't think I've lost control at all as much as I had always feared it," Severus admitted. "I have just as much control as I always have, it is simply that it works differently now. It follows the current instead of working against it, and I understand the ebbs and flows so well that I can anticipate problems, using that knowledge to divert the river in a less destructive direction when necessary," he explained. He paused, putting down his sandwich. "Do you remember how much I fought with Albus when I was a teacher, Jennifer?"

"Oh, yes," Jennifer agreed with a grin.

"As much as I respected him, I often felt he was out of touch and sometimes quite mad... or even senile," Severus admitted, Jennifer chortling quietly as she thought back on one of those occasions. "And now I can clearly understand every single decision, as I make similar ones myself every day I'm behind that desk. I wonder if any of the current faculty ever wonder if I'm going mad or getting senile?"

"Only Andrew," Jennifer replied with amusement.

"Oh. That's alright then," Severus decided, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"It reminds me a bit of that old Mark Twain quote about growing up," Jennifer commented.

"Which one is that?" Quintin asked.

"It goes like this," Jennifer said. "'When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years,'" she quoted. "Sometimes when you're lacking knowledge, it's hard to understand where someone with more experience than you is coming from. But as you gain experience yourself, you also gain insight as to why they made the choices they did." Severus nodded.

"I see," Quintin said thoughtfully. "Do you suppose then there will come a day when you get enough experience that you start understand why Toby does some of the things he does?"

"Bite your tongue," Severus said with a scowl. Jennifer couldn't help but laugh at that, then noticed someone in the High Street.

"Oh, look, it's Harry," Jennifer said with a smile, giving him a wave.

"Harry!" Serendipity squealed, holding up her hands and wouldn't be placated until Harry picked her up.

"There's my littlest Snape goddaughter, how are you?" Harry said, and Seren cuddled into him protectively.

"Won't you have a seat, Harry?" Jennifer suggested.

"Thanks, but only for a minute or two. Actually, I came here to talk to you, Jennifer," Harry admitted. "Is there any way you can come in and work on the weekends for a while?"

"On the weekends? But I have so much to do these days... I even promised Danny that I'd referee the first Quidditch match," Jennifer said.

"I'm sure we can talk Andrew into taking that over, Jennifer, although I was personally looking forward to everyone's reactions of your broom skills now that you went through Flyer training..."

"Ugh! Don't remind me about that," Jennifer protested, scowling at him.

"I know you're busy," Harry said apologetically. "But after what happened this morning, Alex is determined to keep the Dashing Doppler out of the Ministry and wants to put an Auror out in the reception area to try to weed out possible imposters. Obviously being a Truth Seeker is a plus, and there aren't that many out there... especially not with Auror licenses. I promise I'll let you be flexible with the schedule..."

"Fine! Fine, I'll come down to the office this evening so we can work it out," Jennifer said with exasperation.

"Will it be requiring partners?" Severus inquired.

"On occasion, but I know you have even less time than she does, Severus," Harry said.

"While that's true, I will volunteer to partner up once a month if you need the extra help," he offered.

"Thanks, Severus. Sorry, Seren. I have to go," Harry said. "I'll have you over to visit sometime after Halloween, I promise," he told Seren, putting her back in the chair. "See you!"

As Harry left, Quintin looked between his parents intently, wondering which one was going to ask about what Harry meant about what happened that morning. Instead, Severus simply asked Jennifer what she bought at the dress shop. Quintin quickly worked to pick up the trash and trays, hurrying it inside so that they would have a good reason to get up from the table and walk to the Tinker Shop.

His mother was still talking about what she bought as they were walking down the street, so Quintin talked little Seren into having a 'race', the two of them running ahead and stepping into the Tinker Shop.

"Hey, you two! I was just about to open up after I finished my lunch," Ambrose said as Quintin walked in and Seren began staring at the shelves.

"This is our last stop before heading back," Quintin replied.

"I'll give you guys a head start before I open back up again, then," Ambrose offered then waved as Jennifer and Severus stepped in.

"Seren, don't touch anything," Jennifer said.

"I doubt she'd be able to touch anything she wasn't supposed to, Aunt Jennifer," Ambrose replied.

"We've chosen not to underestimate this one," Severus explained, following her around.

"Probably a good idea," Ambrose chuckled. Quintin had worked his way on the other side of the shelves, staring into a tall mirror that was attached to the wall between two shelves.

"Is this a practice mirror?" Quintin asked, glancing up at the carved wooden frame. Among the vines and flowers carved on the wood at the top was the word, "Veritas."

"No, that's called the Truth Mirror, and it's charmed to show you as you really are without judgement or bias. But I am as surprised as you are that it found its way into the shop," Ambrose admitted. "It's my father's mirror, and he's had it tucked away in his closet for ages now. In fact, this is the first time I've ever seen what it looks like polished. Typically, it has so much dust on it that you can't even see yourself in it."

"That's no wonder, your father isn't exactly known for his honesty. Not to mention that it would be dangerous for him to have such a thing inside this shop since it would probably show him as himself, instead of his Toby disguise," Severus said.

"But Severus, I can't see through the Toby disguise, because he's being honest to his nature," Jennifer pointed out.

"Yes, but being honest to one's nature and being honest to one's internal self aren't necessarily the same thing, especially if it's truly unbiased. We can't help but be biased to ourselves," Severus pointed out.

"Well, I don't look any different than I ever do," Quintin said. "The only thing different about this mirror seems to be that I can hear my own thoughts a bit clearer."

"Really?" Jennifer said curiously. She went over, staring into it a moment with a smile. "You're right, they are clearer, Quintin, and I think I know why. It seems to be separating out all of the thoughts we have about ourselves that are lies. Quite fascinating! Still, I'm not sure I'd want a mirror about who could do that all of the time," she admitted. "I'm quite sure it'd damage my confidence after a while." Severus gazed at his wife with interest, impressed with that admission.

"I don't see why it would," Quintin said, a bit confused.

"Humans have a tendency to lie to themselves as a defense mechanism... or for comfort... or to help them through the most stressful times in our lives," Jennifer explained. "We tell ourselves we were right about our decisions to try to justify them, even when we should be questioning them more afterwards. We tell ourselves everything is going to be all right, even when our chances of surviving are bleak. We tell ourselves we're not afraid so that we can do courageous things, when in fact under the surface we are quite terrified indeed. We even tell ourselves we have faith, despite doubts we don't want to acknowledge deep down inside. We all have those sorts of lies going on, consciously or not, to steady us and try to protect us. Of course, it's quite dangerous to listen to them too much, and they can also put you in peril if you're not careful," she warned, glancing at the mirror. "Still, I rather don't think I could live without them. I think I'd be a nervous wreck," she chuckled to herself. "I say, though, this isn't a bad mirror for an occasional check-up, but I know better than to keep something like this around all of the time. Besides, I have Severus around to let me know if I start listening to my lies too much."

"Yes, so you do," Severus agreed with her.

"It does seem to be attached to the wall. Maybe it's here to give everyone coming in the shop a check-up," Quintin conjectured, looking over at Ambrose. "Maybe it's here to try and catch the Dashing Doppler."

"I was wondering if that was it myself," Ambrose admitted. "Especially after Harry came in this morning and was asking about it. He'd been trying to find a way to protect the Ministry against the Doppler and thought about buying it. But after I mentioned that it saw bit about it seeing Truth without judgement or bias, he decided against it, and said he'd talk to you instead, Aunt Jennifer."

"Yes, I've agreed to come in on the weekends to help as a Truth Seeker," Jennifer agreed with a smile.

"So he wanted the truth, but he didn't want truth without judgement, is that it?" Quintin asked.

"Right in one," Ambrose agreed.

"Harry has gotten so wise," Jennifer said with a smile. "Then again, he was wise even as a student really..."

"He was in no way wise as a student!" Severus immediately interrupted in protest, ignoring his wife's amusement. "He was reckless and full of himself, breaking every rule without any fear of the consequences... mostly because Dumbledore took his side... need I remind you that he nearly got you killed on more than one occasion?"

"Yes, alright, but I dare you to go in front of that mirror and tell me what you really thought of him as a student," Jennifer challenged him.

"I'm sorry, but it would seem Seren has found something," Severus replied, ignoring the smug look on Jennifer's face. Serendipity had in fact been standing at his side for quite some time, hugging a flower pot with an unidentifiable blue flower inside. In fact, there were quite a number of flower pots with single flowers in a rainbow of colors on a small garden cart that none of them had noticed before that moment.

"Aren't those pretty! Those aren't native to our world, are they?" Jennifer asked.

"They're a type of flower common in the Southern Faelands in Brenin," Ambrose said. "I forget the Fae name because it's pretty long, but Toby calls them Fairy Blossoms. They change color depending on what they need... they're blue when they get lonely, green when they need better soil, purple when they need watered, and so on. Each pot comes with a planting stake and with information on it."

"Yes, I see," Severus said, pulling out the stake from the pot in Seren's hands and turning it over. "These flowers, common in the Faelands, are typically used in gardens to easily keep track of a garden's overall condition and its needs,'" Severus read. "'It is also common for Fae to give these plants to their younger children to teach nurturing and responsibility.' Yes, that's all well and good, but how exactly will you explain what they're doing in this shop?"

"Dumbledore agreed to cover for them being here, since everyone knows he lives there and is into plants, and he's been here recently," Ambrose explained. "It was actually my mother who asked for them to be put in the shop. She said she fell in love with them and thought the children here might like them."

"What do you think, Jennifer? Do you think she's old enough for something like this?" Severus asked thoughtfully.

"Well, she is a little young, but I can help her for a little while, Severus, and if we teach Sir Hat what each color means, I'm sure he'll help us remind her to take of it as well," Jennifer decided.

"It's safer than getting her a familiar," Ambrose pointed out. "And they're as common as daisies over there if something does happen to it, and I have plenty of seeds."

"I don't suppose you have any seed packets for sale as well?" Jennifer asked brightly, and Severus glanced at her curiously. "I wouldn't mind growing enough where I could test their properties."

"You're as bad as my sister," Ambrose said with an exasperated smile. "She already talked me out of one of the packets already this morning."

"Do you have another to spare?" Jennifer asked and Ambrose pulled a small envelope out.

"Keep these plants in thier own soil and in an enclosed space. It's a wildflower and spreads like mad if it's not contained, so please don't turn it into a inter-dimensional invasive species... that was my father's warning, not mine," Ambrose said.

"Do they do well indoors?" Jennifer asked.

"They should do better indoors than outdoors here, it's too cold. Just find a sunny window, greenhouse, or parapet, but bring them indoors at night," Ambrose said.

"Parapet?" Severus repeated.

"There is a slight possibility that Dad might have anticipated Rose and Aunt Jennifer's seed request," Ambrose said with amusement.

"Thank you, Ambrose," Jennifer said, putting in her coins while Severus lifted Serendipity up to put her own coins in. Seren watched in amazement as her flower turned from blue to yellow.

"That means it's not lonely anymore. It's happy," Ambrose explained. Seren beamed, refusing to let anyone carry her flower for her.

"Did you find anything, Quintin?" Ambrose asked.

"No, I think I'll save my money until closer to Christmas," Quintin decided.

"Always a good plan," Ambrose said.

"Then let's head back," Severus suggested, and they walked to Corey's shop to head home through the tunnel.

That evening when the bus arrived, Jennifer couldn't help but be amused by the amount of students carrying Fairy Blossoms off the bus, each flower a different color as they were paraded in to find their new home.