Chapter Two
Looking Glasses
Hope looked up from where she was having tea and sandwiches in the Auror Department reception room, more interested in getting her tea to her liking than she was in the flag board she was supposedly watching. Eben stepped inside, and she smiled warmly at him.
"Hey, great, you're on time for flag board training! I wasn't sure you would be, since you were in Canada yesterday. I sure as hell wasn't ready the next morning," Hope said, and Eben grinned at that. "How did it go?'
"Great, I learned a lot," Eben replied.
"And how are my grandparents?" Hope asked, offering him a sandwich.
"Not speaking to one another at the moment," he admitted.
"I meant how did they do," Hope clarified with a chuckle. "Although I guess that answers that as well too, doesn't it? Did gran flunk out?"
"She was running circles around us by the end, but she was not happy about it," Eben replied.
"Really?" Hope said in shock.
"Flyer Wright was very hard on her," Eben explained. Hope smiled in understanding. "He shut down every ploy, plot, and manipulation she could think of before any of them could pick up any steam. He even called out every flirt and play for sympathy she made... brutal, positively brutal. The Professor's in trouble for not intervening on her behalf. They only gave him a hard time for the first two days before they stopped harassing him, but they still called him Pro until he left."
"I bet they did," Hope smirked. "What about you?"
"Well, they pushed me hard too, but didn't harass me as much. They did call me Keener, though," Eben said. Hope winced in sympathy and then smiled.
"Well, you're not the first among us who earned that moniker, so at least you're in good company. Harry and Gamban both earned that title their first time over there. I was a Pro," Hope added ruefully, and Eben grinned.
"Did anyone else earn the moniker Knockout?" Eben asked. Hope frowned.
"Knockout?" Hope asked.
"Yeah, that's what they started calling Jennifer after she kept landing in trees..."
"That is so perfect for her! I bet they made that up just for her, and if they did, she is never ever going to get rid of it," Hope said with a laugh. Eben chuckled at that, but then his face looked strangely blank. "What's wrong? Relative in the building?" Hope guessed.
"My father," Eben admitted after a moment. "I hope he doesn't wander this way... I stayed at Aunt Blair's last night, so he hasn't seen me since I got back."
"You need to get a flat," Hope suggested.
"On a Auror's training salary?" Eben asked skeptically.
"Whatever happened to all the wealth that you're supposed to have?" Hope teased.
"All tied up in trust conditions... one vault doesn't unlock until I get married and the other doesn't finish accruing until I'm twenty-five," Eben said. "I'm staying at Aunt Blair's because I don't have any expenses there, and the only thing she asks out of me in return is coming to all of her social events."
"Oh? And you haven't invited me to go yet?" Hope asked.
"They're pretty stuffy," Eben explained. "Really, it might be wiser if you didn't go."
Hope put a hand on her hip.
"Are you saying I can't do posh?" Hope said.
"No, I don't think you can," Eben agreed, and Hope pointed at him.
"If Jamie can learn it, I can learn it," Hope declared. "I'll get the name of her charm school."
"You don't need to do that," Eben sighed. "I like you the way you are."
"Hey, thanks!" Hope grinned.
There was a knock on the door, and the two of them looked over. It was a man in tailored robes with button cuffs, made of inexpensive cloth despite its detail, and his feathered white hair tied into a tail in the back.
"Oh, hey, it's Lockhart," Hope said in surprise, expecting Eben's father.
"Indeed yes, thank you," Gilderoy said. "Is Harry in the office? If so, I'd like a word, if it's convenient."
"He's not in yet because he had to go out of the country yesterday. He should be here by noon," Hope explained.
"Then I shall call back," Gilderoy replied. "I have some research to do in Artifacts, so it's no trouble; I don't want to take him away from his duties if there is something urgent on his plate."
"It's been slow, but I'll let him know," Hope promised. Gilderoy bowed and continued down the hall.
"Do you think that Harry is likely to see him out of the blue like that?" Eben wondered.
"They've a complicated history... or are you asking why he didn't make an appointment?" Hope asked.
"The latter," Eben replied.
"Appointments are useless in this office. You never know what's going to come up, and nine times out of ten, they get canceled or endlessly rescheduled to the point that Harry just gave up on the idea," Hope explained. "Also, if you need time off, don't be surprised if you have to beg, borrow, and bribe for it, because we're in charge of making our own arrangements. You should try to give Harry and Aurelius at least two week's notice, although a month or more is better, since it gives them less of a reason to turn it down."
"Noted," Eben said, then felt a prickle on his neck. "My father's coming this way."
"No problem!" Hope assured him. "While we wait, maybe I should explain all of the different flag colors to you."
"He's not far," Eben replied, looking over at the door expectantly.
Worley walked through the door, glancing around the room and taking in everything from the paintings, mirrors, maps, flag board, and even the stark wooden floors. His eyes finally landed on his son.
"Good morning, Father! It is good to see you," Eben greeted him.
"Eben, welcome back," Worley said simply. He frowned at Hope, who, like most of the Snapes, read like a blank wall.
"Father, this is the girlfriend I've told you so much about, Hope Willowby," Eben introduced.
"It's an honor to meet you," Hope said politely.
"Charmed," Worley said with a thin smile. "The Alchemist's daughter, correct?"
"I come from a long line of alchemist's, really. My grandmother, Ashley Tinker, is also an alchemist, and her family are filled with alchemists all they way back to Nicolas Flammel," Hope replied. "She's retired now, of course. Off on an extended holiday until next year."
"Oh, where to?" Worley inquired.
"They didn't give us any specifics, but then they never do," Hope said with a shrug. "Her husband has a wanderlust and likes to travel all over to fill his shop, so they could be just about anywhere, I'm afraid. The moon, Tir Na Nog, Timbuktu, who knows?"
"Anyway," Eben cut her off quickly, a bit worried she'd say something they'd both regret. "Hope was wondering about coming to Aunt Blair's next social engagement."
"By all means, you know that your Aunt Blair loves to meet new people, especially when someone in the family has taken an interest. Perhaps your grandfather should meet her as well. Let us make it a family affair... the garden party, perhaps? That way your sister can join us," Worley suggested.
"That sounds great! I'd love to meet everyone!" Hope agreed before Eben could suggest something a bit more modest.
"Then it's settled. I will see you both there," Worley said. "I have other business to attend to while I'm here. Good morning."
"Good morning," Hope repeated with a warm smile. Worley turned and stepped back out of the room. "So! Back to the flag board!" Hope suggested.
She ignored the fact that Eben was still fixated on the door, his eyes glazed over as he kept track where his father was. But as just as his father turned the corner and was more comfortably away, Eben felt another presence coming in their direction. It was very familiar, despite the fact he had never felt him before. How could it be both new and familiar, Eben wondered in confusion. That was when Aurelius stepped inside, meeting Eben's gaze calmly before thinking, Don't worry, it's just me.
"Hi Eben," Aurelius said. "Hope."
"He never says hi to me," Hope confided in Eben.
"That's because when anyone does say hi to you, you start singing," Aurelius said bluntly. "How is flag board training coming?"
"We haven't even started yet, because people keep popping in for one thing or another," Hope admitted.
"Well, you know how it can get around here," Aurelius said, glancing at Eben. Let's talk in my office. Aurelius opened the door to his office, and Eben walked over. "Anyone important drop by?"
"Lockhart popped in looking for Harry, and Worley came in to check on Eben. By the way, can we have off for his Aunt Blair's Garden Party, whenever it is?" Hope asked.
"The Saturday after this one," Eben said.
"It's a bit short notice, but I'll see that it's covered," Aurelius promised.
Hope looked pleased at that, watching as Eben followed him in. Shrugging at losing her trainee, Hope went over to get a fresh cup of tea.
Rel hopped over his desk to get to his chair. It was so second nature to him now that he didn't even think of the inconvenience.
"This room could use a spatial charm," Eben suggested.
"We put in for one ten years ago, actually, but none of the other departments are willing to give up any square footage. I even asked my grandfather for a couple of square yards for a birthday present, and he bought me a slightly smaller desk instead," Aurelius replied. Eben laughed.
"What about your sister's office?" he asked.
"Oh, that office isn't even in the building It just looks like it is," Aurelius explained, getting them both a cup of coffee.
"Maybe you should do the same thing then," Eben said, and Aurelius pondered the idea.
"Huh, you have a point. I wonder what hoops we'd have to jump for that sort of concession?" he wondered.
"Hopefully less than the ten years the other request is taking," Eben replied.
"Good point. I'll look into it," Aurelius said, taking his seat and flicking his wand at the door to close it before settling his gaze on Eben. How are things going with Hope? Aurelius thought.
"Alright," Eben replied. "I really like her. She's confident and has a lot of energy, and I never know what she's going to say next."
"She's her father's daughter. Corey was exactly the same way," Aurelius said. His thoughts focused on what Corey was like as a child, and how he absolutely couldn't stand him.
"He seems nice enough now," Eben replied.
"It only took six kids to wear him down," Aurelius replied. Eben grinned at that. "How does your father feel about Hope?"
"He still hasn't made up his mind yet," Eben admitted. "To be honest, I'm a bit worried about taking her to the Garden Party. Hope is a bit rough around the edges, after all."
"True, but she's an Auror as well as a member of the Snape family, so they'll probably overlook it," Aurelius replied. "The Auror Department and the Snape family both have a reputation for being rude, but our society knows that only a fool would be rude to us in return. Besides, I don't think that's what you're really worried about, is it? It's something else," Aurelius mused. Eben sighed.
"Father made a point of saying that my sister was going to be there," Eben admitted.
You have a lot of sisters. Perhaps you're referring to Griselda? Aurelius pondered silently.
"Yes, Zelda, my father's favorite daughter. I think he wants Hope to go to an event where Zelda can try to learn something about her in case she's only seeing me to find out more about my family."
"Well, don't worry. Zelda can't see through anyone I'm protecting any more than she can see through you or Mari when you were protecting her," Aurelius assured him. "Of course, she can see through any friends of Hope that you aren't protecting, but that shouldn't be a problem in this case. First off, few of Hope's friends are likely to be there, and even if they are, only the three of us know the real reason behind why I got the two of you together. They all have their suppositions, of course, but nothing more. I know that your father can tell the difference between a person's best guesses and actual firsthand knowledge when he's reading people. Can your sister?" he asked.
"Of course she can," Eben said with a sigh. "She's the most powerful Truth Seeker in the entire family."
"No, she isn't," Aurelius said with such certainty that Eben stared at him, seeing at once that Aurelius thought that that he was.
"I'm not a Truth Seeker," Eben said flatly.
Like hell you're not, Aurelius thought. How is it that you can read my thoughts, then?
"Because you're projecting them at me," Eben replied.
Sorry, I don't know how, Aurelius thought back truthfully. I'm just focusing my thoughts like Father does when he wants to send a private message to Mother. I was only trained to receive thoughts just like my mother and my grandmother were. We were never trained the other way because it's a bit of a taboo in this country, thanks to how Voldemort used it, and even before then, really. You did know that, I hope? Eben frowned at Aurelius unsurely. Unfortunately, I can't read at all you unless you project at me, not until you learn how to take those walls down, anyway.
Eben flinched.
"Not going to happen. I won't ever take them down," Eben snapped fiercely.
"Sorry, they're going to have to come down at some point, or I'm not going to be able to train you properly," Aurelius explained.
"Train me?" Eben repeated. "I've been trained in mental skills all my life!"
"Yes, but not as a Truth Seeker," Aurelius replied evenly. "You hid it from your family and you hid it from yourself, because you were just as terrified of the ability as you were terrified of anyone finding out you had it," he informed him bluntly. "I know, because I did the exact same thing myself and I didn't acknowledge it until I was a fifth year. The only reason you haven't begun questioning yourself about it before this point is because you were protecting your sister, but now she's safely out of reach."
"Whether my sister is safe or not has nothing to do with it," Eben snapped. "I'm not a Truth Seeker. I can simply block. And I'm very grateful that I don't have that accursed ability, because I'm a Maxen, and that won't ever change!"
"You're terrified of your family because you know that if your father ever found out the truth, he'd keep you close at hand so he can turn you into another one of his weapons," Aurelius concluded.
"We're his weapons either way," Eben said angrily.
"Except that right now he thinks he's got an unloaded gun and not a howitzer, is that it?" Aurelius inquired.
"How do you know what a howitzer is?" Eben parried irritably.
"Have a half hour conversation with my sister Alex sometime, I pick a lot of it up from her," Aurelius said. "Only she won't come up for air long enough to explain anything she's saying, because she'll assume everything she says is translating into English you can understand. It doesn't always, by the way..." he added. "Still, I have also picked up a trick or two from her too, like paying attention to every word that people say. Eben, you wouldn't call it an "accursed ability" if you didn't have it. People who don't have it think it's a blessing."
Eben gazed at him with a troubled expression, but couldn't come up with anything else to say. Suddenly, he burst into tears. Aurelius smiled softly, glad that Eben was finally ready to accept the truth.
Things became even more complicated for Eben after that. In fact, that was the last time that he saw Hope until the day of the Garden Party, for his life seemed to be scheduled to the minute. He was up before breakfast with a quick juice on his way out of the door, spending every morning with Destiny Willowby playing Hunter and other Auror training games during Doug Brim's training session.
Every lunch was spent with Aurelius. He was determined to get him started on basic Truth Seeking, and gave Eben a Pensieve to put some of his memories in so that his prior training wouldn't get in the way. Aurelius then taught him the flag board, and at the end of the week, accompanied him to Conner Donovan's office to give him his basic evaluation for becoming an Auror.
But after passing the exam with flying colors, Eben was a bit baffled when Conner asked Mindy to make Eben another appointment in two weeks. Mindy scheduled it and handed Eben a slip, and Aurelius opened the door so they could leave.
"Is that normal?" Eben asked as they stepped out of the office, staring at the appointment.
"It happens," Aurelius shrugged. "Mike left with an appointment too," he recalled, but Eben squinted at him.
"You know something about this. It wasn't just routine," Eben decided suspiciously.
"You're right. I recommended it," Aurelius admitted. Eben glared at him. "It's not as bad as you think. You just go in there every other week, play a game, and maybe break some of the cue sticks on his pool table. It's no big deal."
"No big deal? Everybody's going to think I'm crazy!" Eben snapped.
"You are not responsible for everyone else's unhealthy view of therapy," Aurelius replied, checking his watch. "Come on, let's drop this paperwork off at the office. It'll give us something to do before Ambrose Tinker gets home from the museum. He's going to open up his father's shop for me."
"For what reason?" Eben asked curiously.
"To buy you some gear," Aurelius explained, holding out his office key and landing them inside.
He stepped into the reception area to see Garvan doing forms in the reception room and noticed that Harry's door was open. He strode right in with Eben following behind, showing Harry the form.
"Here's the last of his paperwork," Aurelius reported. Harry pulled Eben's file out of his top drawer to put it inside. "Also he has an appointment every other Tuesday, starting next week."
Eben grimaced, but Harry simply pulled out a calendar.
"Okay, what time?" Harry asked.
"One-thirty," Aurelius said.
"Oh good, that's right after Jennifer's, it'll make it easier to schedule around," Harry commented.
"Wait, what? Jennifer has to go back too?" Eben said in complete shock.
"You think you're put out about being in therapy? That's nothing compared to how my mother reacted when she found out she had to go," Aurelius confided to Eben.
"I didn't even know she was back yet. I thought they took an extra week off to go to France or something," Eben said.
"They did. I escorted her over to Conner's the moment she got here yesterday," Harry explained. "It helped that Severus already warned her that getting the exam was a normal procedure, but she was a little put out about having to go back. But don't worry, Rel. Severus already promised to pay all of the damages to Conner's office, so he's not taking her to court over it."
"It helps to be related, even if it is by marriage," Aurelius commented.
"Conner's always had a lot of respect for Jennifer, and so do I," Harry said. "Which is why I am going to make damn sure that she doesn't end this summer with more mental baggage than what she came in with... less, if I have my way. In fact, I think I owe a keg or two to Flyer Wright with what he's done for her already. I don't know how I'm going to pay Severus back, though, especially since they made amends during their holiday in France for Seren's sake and now they're not speaking again."
"It won't last," Aurelius assured him. "Not only is my father an expert at calming my mother down when she's in a mood, but the fact that they talked you into letting them partner up will make Mum want to prove to you that they can be civil to one another."
"Hopefully they don't make me regret it," Harry said. "Anything else?"
"No, we're heading out to do some shopping," Aurelius replied.
"See you later then," Harry said in dismissal. Aurelius led Eben back out again, and the two of them walked to the main reception area of the Ministry so they could pop over to Hogsmeade.
It was bright and sunny, and children ran past them from Haven's Row, likely going to Honeydukes for some ice cream. Aurelius stepped over to the Tinker Shop and opened the door to see Ambrose inspecting the shelves with a wooden owl on his shoulder.
"Hi, Ambrose. Thanks for opening up," Aurelius said.
"Hi! I was looking forward to it, actually," Ambrose said with a smile, stepping behind the counter and pulling something out. "This arrived for you, Eben. A note from your sister," he said.
"Finally!" Eben said, eagerly hurrying over to take it. "About time!"
"Teledim letters always take a while," Aurelius replied. "Is that your first one from your sister?"
"Yes, although I did get one previously from Albus Dumbledore letting me know she was safe and getting settled in," Eben said.
"Maybe you should get your own Teledim? I'm fairly sure I have one or two around here," Ambrose suggested.
"Thanks, but I'm staying at my Aunt's house, so that's out of the question at the moment. It's going to be bad enough just trying to hide this letter from her," Eben said.
"It's alright, Eben, I charmed it for you already so that no one else can read it," Ambrose assured him. "I may not be an Agent anymore, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn a trick or two."
"Thanks," Eben said with a smile.
"We're here for some shades for Eben," Aurelius explained.
"Oh, right! I think I saw a case with some spectacles in the center aisle," Ambrose suggested, and Aurelius began looking for it.
"You mean the same kind Jennifer and Truman wear? I think that's a bad idea," Eben said immediately. "My father might get suspicious."
"I doubt they'd look anything like my mother's glasses, really. Your face is the wrong shape," Aurelius decided. "Besides, what we need is something that does exactly the opposite of the glasses that they own," he explained. "What we need is a set of glasses you can put on during our training sessions that will let me see past your blocks while you're wearing them. Not like their glasses, which do the opposite."
"I only have to wear them during training sessions and that's it, right?" Eben asked evenly.
"Right," Aurelius confirmed. "They're just a way to help you train your blocks so that you can learn how to put them on and take them down as easily as you put on a pair of glasses. Eventually, I'm hoping you won't need them."
"Did you need them?" Eben asked skeptically.
"No, but I wasn't in the same position as you are," Aurelius replied. "When I finally admitted I was a Truth Seeker and began training, I took down all of my personal walls and only left up the walls that protected my siblings. You don't have the same luxury," he explained apologetically.
"How did you did that, though?" Eben asked with interest.
"I'll show you when you're ready," Aurelius promised, grabbing a black case and handing it to him. "Here, try these on."
Eben opened them.
"They don't look like your mother's at all. They look like regular glasses," Eben noted.
"There's a mirror over there if you want a look," Ambrose suggested from behind the counter.
Eben walked over to the full-sized mirror that had appeared on the other side of the shop, putting on the glasses and staring at himself.
I look like a Ravenclaw bookworm.
"Wait, what?" Eben said, putting his hands on his head as tried to stop the weird echo in his head. I think I just read my own thoughts! "That is so weird! I don't I like that at all!" he exclaimed in a panic, taking them off. Aurelius laughed softly.
"I thought they looked really good on you," Ambrose reassured him.
"I think they do too, but it wasn't the glasses he was rejecting," Aurelius informed Ambrose. "Eben, I'm sure you've seen your Father and sisters stare into a mirror often enough when they want to have a think. My mother does it too... so do I, really."
"Why would they do that on purpose?" Eben asked with distaste. "I already know what I'm thinking! I don't want to see it reflected back at me!"
"Then don't look in mirrors when you have them on, I suppose," Aurelius shrugged, going over to the jar to pay for them. "We'll take the glasses."
"I'm guessing I won't need to wrap them," Ambrose grinned.
Eben slowly put them back on again with a frown. Then he glanced at Aurelius with the same skeptical expression. Aurelius smiled sympathetically. It isn't the glasses you hate, but the fact that they're making you face the truth, Aurelius thought.
Eben sighed, taking off the glasses and putting them in their case.
"Thank you," Eben said at last.
"No problem," Ambrose replied. "If you want to get a letter back to your sister, I'll be at the museum tomorrow morning and here in the shop tomorrow afternoon."
"Thanks again," Eben said with more enthusiasm. Aurelius led him around the corner so that they could safely take his key back to his office.
"We need to get you out of your aunt's house," Aurelius commented once they got to his office. "That way we can get you your own Teledim and you don't have to go through Ambrose."
"I can't move out of that house without a lot of awkward questions and a very good explanation as to why I would want to, especially considering all of my expenses are paid while I'm still living there," Eben said.
"Well, there's always the most obvious way," Aurelius pointed out.
"I don't know how I feel about that," Eben said flatly. "Hell, I don't know how she feels about it either."
"Then it's a good thing I bought you those glasses," Aurelius concluded. "Shall we begin?"
