Chapter Forty-Five
A Matter of Trust
Jennifer was very glad she didn't have to go back to Whitebridge straight away, because it took only one glance at Sirius in the corridor to realize she had a lot to catch up on and sent out several invitations for lunch.
Ambrose, Anna, Sirius, Hermione, Danny, and Aurelius got settled around the fireplace in Jennifer's office, still attempting to get Danny caught up as Jennifer walked in wearing the Sorting Hat.
When Hermione asked the question, "Does everyone here know about the Hat?" Jennifer and Rel's attempts at quieting her were no to avail; Sirius and Ambrose had already grown suspicious, and the comment simply gave them confirmation of what they had already suspected. It didn't take long for Danny to figure out what the fuss was about, but at the same time, she wasn't in the least bit surprised.
"Is there anyone else you want to let in while you're at it?" Aurelius asked his mother curtly.
"Oh, come now, Aurelius, do be realistic. Considering how deeply involved we all are in this, it's better if we don't have to worry about each other. I certainly wasn't going to be able to keep it from Sirius much longer," Anna replied.
"You got that right. I knew there had to be a reason that Jennifer was forcing Quintin to wear that Hat while she was gone. Do you realize how suspicious that looked?" Sirius asked.
"Now, Sirius, the Hat has had a memory charm on it well before it became home to a ghost. It would make sense that Quintin might want to have access to it to help him with his formal research paper. In fact, I even signed paperwork at the Ministry before I left so that Quintin had a special research license to do so. Ask Otto if you don't believe me," Jennifer replied.
"Actually, that was my idea. I don't like how the Daily Prophet still gets Letters to the Editor now and then over suspicions of the new house," Aurelius said. "The last one hinted that it might have been temporarily hexed by a faculty member or something... but I'd rather they believe that than find out the truth."
"Who would have hexed the oh... no, don't tell me. They think it's me again," Jennifer said with exasperation. "Don't worry, Rel, I'm dotting every 'i' and crossing every 't' that you and Alex have been throwing at me when it comes to official paperwork. But now that we've discussed that, please tell us about those memories they found this weekend, and don't leave out any details," Jennifer insisted.
Just getting everyone caught up to what happened took most of the hour, and Jennifer was more than a little reluctant to get up out of her chair when the Rogue Painting reminded them of the time.
"I am so glad you were there to warn them about what they were walking into, Sir Hat," Jennifer said.
"It was the only memory I was in, and I cannot guarantee similar results if more comes out about this," the Hat warned.
"Yes, I understand, but I'd still feel better if you went along regardless, especially since we all know who's next on their list," Jennifer said.
"But what are you going to do about Severus? You know he doesn't like Icarus and Quintin to spend time together. Why, I don't know," Hermione admitted.
"Yes, it's a very personal matter, but I will speak to him about it," Jennifer replied. "And if anyone wants to speak about any of this further and have a class this hour, I'll make myself available for dinner."
"Sure, I have some questions to ask," Ambrose replied.
"Count me in," Anna said.
"Me too, if I can bring Sam," Sirius said.
"Let me see if Severus wouldn't mind hosting the girls tonight," Jennifer suggested.
"You have a conference next, right, Jennifer? Do you mind if I stay for a chat?" Danny asked.
"Yes, alright... Severus, would you tell the Headmaster that I have conference and dinner plans and ask if he would mind hosting Sam and Seren for dinner?" she asked. "Too late? Oh, he's on his way down."
"Back to work! I'll schedule for another lunch," Hermione said quickly, getting out the door first.
"I've got to get to class, and I promised Ginger I'd be home early... Mum, don't you dare tell anyone else tonight."
"Yes, alright," Jennifer said with an apologetic smile. There was a knock on the door that Hermione had left open, and Severus watched curiously as the large group filed out of the room, leaving only Jennifer, Danny, and the Sorting Hat.
"Did I miss a message somewhere?" Severus guessed, taking note of everyone as they left.
"Yes, Severus, I suppose I should have sent the Rogue earlier," Jennifer apologized. "We were having a meeting about Quintin's research and Danny asked to stay during my conference to speak about house advisory business. I don't suppose there's any way you can have dinner with Serendipity and Samantha this evening? I need to speak with Anna, Ambrose, and Sirius about the new house to sort out some things they found out during the weekend concerning that research project."
"Are you planning on keeping the Hat?" Severus asked expressionlessly.
"I was going to, actually, there's still a lot to sort out... did you need it?" Jennifer asked sincerely.
"Not at the moment, but is there any chance of things being sorted out after dinner?" Severus asked.
"Yes, I promise I'll bring the Hat straight over," Jennifer replied.
"Thank you, I'll see you then," Severus said, stepping out and closing the door behind him.
Danny frowned at the door. Then she looked at Jennifer.
"Is it just me, or has he been acting really weird lately?" Danny asked flatly.
"Oh, he just didn't want to admit he was wanting the Hat back to tell her bedtime stories tonight," Jennifer said.
"I've been missing our time together," the Hat admitted.
"That wasn't what I meant, Jennifer. I meant the fact that he came into a suspiciously large meeting that obviously wasn't a house advisory meeting, and yet he didn't even question what we were up to," Danny said. "He didn't even look suspicious!"
"No, but you do," Jennifer teased.
"You're right! I'm suspicious of him not looking suspicious!" Danny declared.
Jennifer laughed at that, refilling her coffee and Danny's tea before sitting down again.
"I'll question him for you later," Jennifer promised with a smile. "I suppose all of this was a bit overwhelming for you, but now that Jack has gotten involved, I thought it was important to bring you in on everything that's been going on."
"Aurelius has been keeping me up on some of the research, but he was also keeping a lot of it under his hat," Danny said.
"Thanks, it's almost been a half an hour since someone last used that pun," Godric said dryly.
"To be honest, Jennifer, I've been really eager to find out what all they've been uncovering. Ever since that day we found that second Chamber to try and help figure out where the Cauldron is, I've always had unanswered questions about what happened down there," Danny said. "Especially about Wuscfrea... managing to get all the way to the Westernmost Isle and back, and yet somehow he managed to get captured by Slytherin and then shackled to the wall with no one knowing what happened to him until Anna and Aurelius finally managed to free him. It's all rather sad, really... I'd like to see that one memory Anna spoke of... the one where he was helping the students hide. I want to see what he was like as a person, because I get the impression that he was kind and didn't deserve the death he got."
"No would have deserved that," Jennifer replied.
"Well, I'm not as forgiving as you are, so I won't go as far as to say no one deserves it," Danny said. "What about you, Jennifer? Did you hear anything new today?"
"Nearly everything the team found out was either something I knew or something I had already guessed by reading between the lines," Jennifer admitted. "But I was a bit surprised to learn that it was Janus that built the first crypt in the Memoriatorium... it's not really written down anywhere. What about Dame Rachel? Where was she buried, Godric?"
"Under the chapel," Godric replied. "Most of those who died during construction were buried off property; Dame Rachel was buried there at Rowena's Request, and under the circumstances, the three of us agreed."
"Yes, I suppose that does make sense, especially since she was a ghost," Jennifer said.
"Actually, we hadn't realized that she was," Godric admitted. "She didn't appear until after Icarus died. After that, there were random accounts of a witch in grey with her hands over her face, standing in the corridors or in the library. Any time a student or professor attempted to approach, the phantasm would fade away again."
"She was probably grieving because of Icarus being her unfinished business," Danny guessed. "She wanted him to find peace with himself, so his death probably came as a blow to her."
"He almost didn't have the chance to find peace. I would have incinerated his remains if Caprica hadn't jumped in. I was angry and horrified at what he had done, and I wouldn't have spared him had it been left to me alone," Godric admitted. "I am ashamed that I acted out of temper rather than justice, without even asking myself if I had all of the facts. And I am ashamed that I viewed him with open disdain until the day we left for the Giant Wars, never to return."
"Perhaps after all of this is over, the two of you can make amends," Jennifer suggested with a soft smile.
"Perhaps," Godric grunted. "But not until we've learned what those two have been keeping from us."
"Keeping from you?" Danny repeated curiously.
"I don't know if Janus and Ick are keeping things from us or not," Jennifer said. "But I do admit that there are plenty of unanswered questions, and I'm quite certain that they're the only ones who can answer them."
That night the Sorting Hat was greeted by happy, rosy cheeks, and after the last three days, he was quite eager to spend a quiet hour with Serendipity, so much so that he decided to recite the Owl and the Pussycat, knowing how long that would take.
Because of that fact, Severus decided that he was going to have plenty of time to check on Jennifer. She was sitting at her desk chair with Radiance on her shoulder, sharing a raspberry or two off her plate while she sipped some soothing mint tea.
"I see you've had a long day, and after a very long week, no less," Severus ventured.
"Oh, yes, my goodness... remind me not to judge the Industry Fair next year," Jennifer said.
"Didn't you say that last year, and didn't Wind still talk you into coming back even after I reminded you?" Severus pointed out.
"He tricked me, like he always does, but he's not going to do it next year. The very moment those dates are set, I'm going to tell his secretary painting that I can't come in that week for some good reason I haven't come up with yet."
"Care to organize OWLS interviews next year?" Severus inquired.
"I'm tempted to say yes. I'm not going to," she added firmly, "but I'm tempted. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a sip of your special Subtle Slumber just now... or perhaps some lavender cream for my shoulders... have you seen my crystal set lately?"
"If you're going to start giving me not-so-subtle hints like that, you will have to wait until Serendipity is in bed properly," Severus chided her. "That gives you plenty of time to try and get that bird off your shoulder. I have two sickles that say that I will be done first."
"Is that so?" Jennifer said, bringing her bowl of raspberries over.
He wasn't surprised when he came back ten minutes later to find that the bowl of raspberries was empty and Radiance was still shifting one leg to Jennifer's shoulder every time that Jennifer managed to get the opposite leg on her stand.
"There, you see? I told you to take Radiance with us," Severus said. "I knew she would be like this."
"But you weren't staying to watch the Cloak Chest, and she's so hard to get through customs!" Jennifer protested. "Oh, honestly, Radiance!" she protested with exasperation. Severus finally waved his hand to make wooden stand stick to the bird's claw.
Alarmed, Radiance cried out and moved her other claw over in an attempt to free it, getting both of them stuck in the process.
"There we are. I learned that trick from your daughter. Don't worry, it'll wear off soon. You can pay me later," Severus informed Jennifer. He nudged her into his sitting room, swatting her away when she attempted to inspect his ingredient shelf.
"If you don't sit down, I wont make the potion," Severus warned sternly.
"After all these years, you still won't let me have a hint? You're so stubborn," Jennifer said, pouting.
"Yes, but not as stubborn as your familiar. Weren't you going to find that crystal balm set?" he pointed out. Jennifer went over to the sofa, looking around thoughtfully. "And while you're doing that, perhaps you can tell me what sort of favor you're leading up to this time."
"Favor? Leading up to? What are you talking about?" Jennifer asked.
Severus wasn't in the least bit surprised that when he glanced back over at Jennifer again, her spectacles were all the way up.
"Would you rather I pretend that I haven't noticed that you're up to something?" Severus suggested. "That way, I can have all of the benefits of you buttering me up in advance, and then I have the privilege of saying 'no' well after I've taken advantage of your attempts to persuade me."
"Are you saying that I need a reason to want some attention?" Jennifer parried.
"Not at all, but how you behave when you do have a reason for flirting and how you behave when you don't have a reason are decidedly different," Severus informed her.
Jennifer frowned.
"How are they different, exactly?" Jennifer wanted to know.
"If I told you that, you'd try to change your habits, and I rather like the way it is now. I can come in sufficiently armed or disarmed, depending on what the case may be," Severus replied, testing the burner temperature.
"Now who's acting suspicious?" Jennifer asked, squinting at him.
"Not I, surely," Severus replied, watching the potion carefully.
"Danny thinks that you're the most suspicious when you're not acting suspicious, and do you know what? I think she has a point," Jennifer decided.
"And I always thought I was the paranoid one," Severus said, pouring the potion into mugs, but left them there while he cleaned up. "Now, I did make the potion on the light side, but I won't let you have a sip until you tell me what you're up to. If you don't, I won't tell you where I've hidden the crystal set."
The moment Jennifer's spectacles started to slide, Severus quickly reached over and plucked them off, stashing them away.
"You were saying?" he inquired.
"Yes, alright, I do have something on my mind, but it will spoil the mood if I bring it up now," Jennifer admitted. "It's about Icarus, actually."
"Oh? Well, tell him that I won't teach him my Subtle Slumber formula either," Severus replied.
"Now, Severus, do be serious for a moment," Jennifer said. "I've been talking to the advisors involved in Quintin's research, and we've come to the conclusion that he really can't go any further without talking to Icarus, and perhaps finding out what memory he left."
"Wouldn't that be an administrative question?" Severus pondered.
"It's not the administrative part I'm worried about, Severus, it's your personal opinion of him, really."
"Says the witch who never had a high opinion of him. Even now after the two of you have made up, you have reservations," Severus challenged her.
"Yes, I admit that I do," Jennifer agreed solemnly.
"Let's get the administrative perspective over with first so it's not in the way," Severus suggested. "You said this afternoon that you were in a meeting to discuss research... I assume you mean Quintin's research?"
"Yes, they're all involved," Jennifer confirmed.
"Including Sirius, who's not even a teacher and only filling in for John while he's on leave?" Severus inquired.
"Everyone is helping for their own reasons, really. Sirius jumped in last weekend while we were away to make sure Quintin's team were properly supervised. He stayed out of curiosity, I think," Jennifer replied.
"I don't suppose Zack Black would be part of this research advisory board of yours?" Severus inquired.
"Well, not really, but I'll admit he knows a bit about it. He helped me out once, and we've also been in contact with him about Jack helping the student research," Jennifer replied carefully.
"Fine... then my administrative answer is that I'd like any interviews or memory dives with Icarus to be supervised by both you and Zack... you for the student's protection, and Zack for Icarus' protection."
"I was already planning to ask him," Jennifer admitted. "Icarus has been doing so well lately and hasn't had a bad spell in ages and yet... I don't know how he'll react to this, so I thought it might be a good precaution, just in case."
"Just in case? Zack will most decidedly be needed," Severus warned her. "Just how would you feel knowing that an army of researchers are about to open up an old wound and lay it bare to both staff and students? What if it were something like... that last encounter with Lucius in the basement, perhaps?" Severus challenged her. Jennifer pulled her arms tightly against herself, looking away.
"You're right. Maybe we're going too far interviewing him," Jennifer said conscientiously.
"Perhaps it would be going too far, if he wasn't already prepared for it," Severus agreed. "But I have noticed that other than that stunt where he tricked me into letting him teach Quintin's class, he has been doing everything in his power to stay out of my way this year. He hasn't come knocking on doors at inopportune moments, and he hasn't been anything close to the normal pain in the arse he typically is on a day to day basis. Instead, he's been helping out when needed but otherwise remaining uncharacteristically quiet. And the only reason I can think of that would inspire him to behave like a good little ghost is because he is very much hoping that I'll give in and allow him to participate in this. He wants to speak about it, Jennifer... moreover, he wants the opportunity to defend himself against the information the new house is uncovering, which I'm sure is probably getting more and more damning with every crumb of information and every little interview," he said. Jennifer nodded somberly at that.
"Yes, well, his condemnation doesn't really have anything to do with his present job or position here, other than the fact that he has a well of experience and personal missteps in his toolbox of teaching tricks. He was hired by Dumbledore based on his service as the Warden of Azkaban and his ability to do the job. And since then, other than his ever-decreasing ghost angst incidents, his record is clean... cleaner than yours, at any rate," he put in, and Jennifer made a face at him. "His ancient past has nothing to do with his current position, other than the fact that it can trigger ghost angst that inhibits him from performing his job. As headmaster, I am really not willing to risk losing a senior faculty member of his calibre, so I insist that his therapist be present if this particularly sensitive topic is brought up... and um, let Essie know what your plans are beforehand in case we need her to fill in for his classes."
"Yes, Professor," Jennifer said with a smile. "As for your personal response?"
"That is more complicated," Severus admitted, picking up the mugs and bringing them over to the table. "I have been told by a familiar source that the amount of temporal interference while Quintin is in school is minimal compared to what it was in the years leading up to that dreadful circus, and the rare incidents when they do occur are likely to be intentional and unavoidable. Even so, I am still angered by their necessity and by the fact that our son is being used as a tool in whatever mess caused these temporal hiccups in the first place, especially since I know that Icarus plays a part in it. Just how do you feel about it?"
"I don't know," Jennifer admitted. "I've never really known how I should feel about it, because I really don't have enough information to judge. On top of that, you know that I only understand the basics of Temporal Magic. I'm no expert, and to be perfectly honest, I rather don't want to be. I have my hands full living one moment at a time, just like most people, I suppose. I am worried, perhaps even a bit frightened about Quintin's well being. And yet... I also hope things play out the way we've seen them play out so far... because if they do, I know that Quintin will keep growing into someone special. He will find his Cosmic Match and have a good life... and because of possibility, I don't want to interfere too much. I want it to play out as things are meant to, even if that means that I play no part in it."
"I understand entirely," Severus replied, sitting beside her. "Especially considering how my year is going. I am watching big events happen around me, knowing it is best not to intervene. I also want them to play out, even if I do not play a part in it," he said. Jennifer's green eyes were focusing on him so intently that she was certainly attempting to break through the cloudy sections of his mind that she yearned to see. "I realized what my position in this was on the very first day of school, when Quintin and the Sorting Hat conspired to take that decision away from me. Events that transpired since have done nothing but reiterate that I shouldn't interfere. Even after I had already resigned myself to it, Aunt Viviane decided to show up to make certain that I didn't."
"Viviane?" Jennifer said, her expression turning to one of disgust. "What does she have to do with anything?"
"Everything, really," Severus admitted. "You see, when Merlin left, he asked me to look after things in his absence... not in the Ancient Magic sense, in that I am still an amateur as far as he's concerned... but as the Apprentice of Free Will and Choice. He wanted me to keep an eye on Viviane and to maintain the balance here. The only problem is that Merlin's idea of balance and mine are different. Merlin's idea of balance is for Free Will to always have the upper hand over Fate in all circumstances... to offset how tipped the Otherworld is towards Fate."
"Well, I suppose I can see his point. But at the same time, Tir Na Nog is a different world and follows a different set of rules. I don't see how that has much to do with us, despite the link between them," Jennifer decided.
"Yes, well, I do believe that Tir Na Nog is tipped more than it should be in favor of Fate, but opening the portal is helping that problem by exposing Tir Na Nog to the concept of Free Will as more of us venture over there. In many ways, I believe that closing the portals harmed their world a great deal more than it hurt ours," Severus admitted. "But let's compare it to the relationship between two different countries to put it in better context. Both have their own systems of government and have areas where they do better than the other; they are independent states which benefit from exchanging ideas and philosophies with one another. Both are attempting to reach a healthy balance where everyone can prosper and grow, regardless of how they get there. The more out of balance one country is, the more they can benefit from the healthy exchange, because they have a greater distance they can leap as they strive to reach Equilibrium."
"Oh no, not that word again," Jennifer said with an exasperated smile. "I may not see all of your thoughts these days, Severus, but I have noticed that ever since that Christmas when you came to terms with your aunt, you have been mentioning that word a lot more often."
"It's because that's the moment when I realized just how significant it was. It was rather like the last piece of the puzzle... a puzzle I've been working on since you first experimented with the Obol of Decision in an attempt to change Fate. In the process, made me realize Fate's importance. Opening that door for me allowed me to reach another level of understanding... and it made me feel utterly foolish for fighting Fate for so long and not acknowledging how it had gifted me with so many blessings in my life. Fighting Fate is very important when you have been dealt a bad hand, but throwing away a good hand because you felt undeserving is foolish. Rather, one should be taking those opportunities to turn things around in one's life, as well as to pass it on to others so that they too, feel as if they have drawn a better hand. In the process of helping others, we bring them one step closer to finding their Equilibrium as well... the point where Fate and Free Will are working best together. You see?"
"Not entirely, no," Jennifer admitted. "And I think I missed the part where you told me what this has to do with your aunt."
"Well, right after Merlin left for his extended trip, you and I had our hands full. We had to settle Jay and Rus into our household, doing everything we could so they would feel safe and secure once more. We also were looking after your last pregnancy, and all the worries came with it. But as time moved on and we found our rhythm, I became more fixated on Quintin's growth. I began wondering what I could do to minimize or even stop the temporal interference we had been experiencing before that point."
"I remember that," Jennifer sighed. "You were a bit obsessive about it, really. I was almost hoping that some ancient artifact or dark wizard would show up to menace the school and distract you from it... Worley, at least, if he hadn't been so focused on taking over the Traditionalists. Still, it got decidedly better after Serendipity was born."
"Yes, because Serendipity was a bit of a curve ball... an unexpected outlier that's been gracing our lives ever since," Severus replied. Jennifer smiled at him and set down her mug. "It wasn't something we had planned for or spent countless hours discussing as we did all of the others. She was a product of Fate, especially given the fact that the only reason you even took that potion was because you had made several very poor choices."
"Wait, what?" Jennifer asked with a blink.
"Mirage and the Green Lady took advantage of the fact that your first impulse often led to you making bad decisions, which is why they pressured you into an immediate answer," Severus told her bluntly. "Had they given you time to think about it more carefully or allowed you to speak to me more openly, you would have realized that the best solution to your dilemma would be to find a way to end the curse before midnight, rather than allow them to put you into a compromised position. They manipulated you thanks to knowing not only that flaw, but the fact that you would readily sacrifice yourself for any member of your family. Is that not so?"
Jennifer frowned as she thought about it.
"Very well, you have a point," Jennifer admitted in a low voice.
"Fortunately for all of us, you were able to get yourself out of the situation, escaping the worst case scenario and returned to your family... with the added catch that without drastic sacrifices, another child was going to be added to our lives. It was only then that we had time to make our own choice in the matter, and we chose not to make those sacrifices."
"Who chose not to make those sacrifices?" Jennifer challenged him tauntingly.
"Yes, well... I admit that I realized early on that I didn't have the will power to last the year, so why force us to suffer? I knew you'd be willing to throw in the towel just for the opportunity to be a mother again," Severus replied knowingly.
"You have no regrets about your decision, I hope," Jennifer said sternly.
"None whatsoever, but that brings me back to the point I was about to make. Other than poor timing on our part, Quintin was a child of Free Will, while Serendipity was a child of Fate, just as her name unabashedly declares."
"That's what I get for letting you pick their first names," Jennifer teased.
"Well, believe it or not, it was as I was holding her for the first time that I realized one of the reasons why Quintin's fate is so eschew. His interference in Temporal Magic was a result of a string of Free Will choices rather than Fate. Regardless of what will cause the string of events that causes his timeline to become jeopardized, the only way Quintin could have had such a power to begin with is if Fate and Free Will were completely out of balance. Free Will must have had a strong upper hand."
Jennifer frowned.
"So what you're saying is that the time traveling has something to do with someone's Free Will choices throwing off Fate? Something will happen in the future that causes Free Will to have too much power?" Jennifer asked.
"I am not certain when the point of the greatest imbalance is. It may or may not be in the moment Quintin breaches time, I don't know. But I can tell you that Free Will must have had the upper hand in every situation that he successfully altered," Severus replied. "I also don't think that Quintin's going back in time can be stopped any longer. Too many events are in our past now, and we cannot change the fact that they occurred," he explained. Jennifer nodded somberly. "Even so, we must do what we can to curb these temporal inconsistencies going forward. Even with Merlin gone, things are still greatly out of balance. And while Merlin probably wouldn't agree with the decision if he were here, I have chosen to help our universe come to a place of Equilibrium once more, and the only way I can do that is if I let Aunt Viviane have the upper hand... at least until Merlin gets back, and even afterwards if I feel like I can get away with helping her further." Jennifer's jaw dropped. "Have another sip of the Subtle Slumber, Jennifer, you might need it after that confession."
"Don't even tempt me," Jennifer glowered, "because now I'm quite worried. I don't like you helping her."
"It will be alright," Severus assured her quietly. "I know you have reason not to trust her, and you probably shouldn't. Instead, I ask that you put your trust in me. I am doing what I think is best for our family, and this school."
"Of course you are, Severus, I don't doubt that in the slightest," Jennifer replied with a sigh.
"Nor do I doubt you," Severus reaffirmed quietly. "I trust you to do what's best for our family and this school as well, including your judgment when it comes to Quintin's 'little' project."
"Thank you, Severus," Jennifer replied softly.
"Might we get to the payoff for my being incredibly understanding now?" Severus inquired. Jennifer chuckled at that, kissing him warmly.