Chapter Seven
Taking Inventory and Making Arrangements
The stillness of the Baker Street House came to an end as Quintin, Rus, and Truman entered the house, followed by Jennifer, who closed the door and peered into the next room.
"Looks like we beat the others home," Rus said.
"Yes! So I see! Go take your things to the laundry bins to be washed, and Truman, you can have the same room you had the last time you stayed with us."
"Alright, thanks," Truman said.
"Just think, we're going to be doing this in reverse in January," Rus said cheerfully.
"We're still waiting for final approvals on that transfer, you know..." Jennifer said.
"Wind will sign it! He's probably just waiting for you to go there to pick it up so he can hear how your summer went," Rus replied.
"Well, yes, I do admit there's a high possibility of that," Jennifer chuckled. "I think I'll go make everyone some sandwiches."
"They totally starved us at camp," Rus offered.
"Yeah, it was all American food!" Quintin complained.
"What did you expect?" Truman asked, trudging up the stairs with his bag.
"They're expecting more than sandwiches," Jennifer explained. "Yes, alright! I get the hint!"
There were a cheers at the top of the stairs. Jennifer shook her head and went into the kitchen, opening up the cabinets thoughtfully to make sure everything was stocked for the entire family being home.
"I knew I should have taken care of this sooner! If it hadn't been for that last minute capture, I would have already done it! And I forgot to pick up coffee," Jennifer said, looking in the coffee tin.
"Mercy went to Dagda's Market, Jennifer," Darcy's voice informed her. "She went to stock for the children's homecoming, and I am certain she wouldn't forget the coffee."
"Oh, good! If you need room in the icebox, chuck out all of those silly Cast'N'Consume meals we were eating at lunch when we were on Auror duty. Time to get some real food in this house!" Jennifer declared, pouring the remainder of the coffee beans in the grinder.
"Perhaps the children would like to have them, Jennifer?" Darcy suggested.
"What a brilliant idea," Jennifer replied. "We'll do that, especially since Severus, Jay, and Seren will be here at any minute... oh, but no Cast'N'Consume meal for Seren, there is too much salt and sugar in those for her... and save the pumpkin casserole for Severus."
"Yes, Jennifer, but I think that will leave us one short even with Seren not having one," Darcy observed. Jennifer glanced inside the Icebox.
"That's quite alright! I'll have my usual instead," Jennifer said brightly, pushing another button so that the coffee would start brewing.
Before the coffee was done, Seren ran in, getting a hug before being helped into a chair.
"Welcome back! Oh, welcome back, Jay! How was training camp?" Jennifer asked with interest when he stepped in from the corridor.
"I was first in class at the end," Jay reported. "Commander Bellamy said I had real promise, and wondered if I could go to St. James Academy for a year. What do you think?"
"No, I don't think so," Jennifer said distractedly, setting the table. "Jay, why don't you call the others down?"
"Can't we at least discuss it?" Jay asked in protest.
"We can, if you insist, but don't expect the answer to change," Jennifer warned.
"But you're going to let Rus sign up for the exchange program! How is this any different?" Jay argued. Severus stepped in from the living room, watching them thoughtfully.
"Could you go get the others, please, so that their food doesn't get cold?" Jennifer asked again. Jay's shoulders slumped, making his way up the stairs.
"Did you want me to talk to him before I go back tomorrow?" Severus inquired.
"If you like, but I'm not sure it'd help. You know what he's thinking whenever you intervene in one of my decisions, don't you?"
"More than likely that I'm attempting to act in the place of his father, and that I have no right to do so," Severus said. Jennifer nodded to him, getting him a cup of coffee. "On the other hand, he is actively looking for a replacement for his mother, so he more often listens to you. I may not be a Truth Seeker, but I do know a thing or two about child psychology, you know."
"Yes, I know," Jennifer replied, turning to get herself a cup as well. "But it's rather tricky when you have to find a way to explain why his younger brother is ready for something when he is not."
Suddenly they heard an irritating whistle, blowing in perfect beat along with the feet that were marching down the stairs.
"Severus, would you mind?" Jennifer requested with a sigh.
"Not at all," Severus said, making a complex gesture with his right hand before reaching for his cup.
A strange sound came from the whistle and there was a sudden silence, followed by the sounds of voices and footsteps continuing down the stairs.
Quintin came in, staring at what was left of the chocolate whistle in his hand. The rest filed around them and found their seats.
"I ate part of my whistle," Quintin said flatly.
"Don't worry, it shouldn't turn back in your stomach," Severus said unconcernedly.
"Whistles have no place outside of a broom or sports park, and they most certainly have no place in the house. It bothers the familiars and the rest of the household, Quintin, you're old enough to know better," Jennifer said sternly.
"Yes, Mum," Quintin said, sitting down and looking at the tray in front of him. "Hey, Cast'N'Consume! We've never had these in the house before."
"It's like we never left camp," Rus teased.
"We had a few left over from when we used to take them to the Ministry, so we're using them up to make room for Mercy to put some real food in the Icebox," Jennifer explained.
"I don't mind. We have them at home all the time," Truman said.
"Food is food," Jay said grumpily.
"I will be glad to be finally rid of them," Severus admitted.
"I certainly agree," Jennifer replied enthusiastically.
But when she finally sat down in her spot, everyone else at the table couldn't help but notice that Seren and Jennifer's plates were very different than theirs, filled with fresh fruit, cheese, pickled vegetables, and sandwiches.
"And why aren't you having one?" Severus inquired.
"Oh, we ran out," Jennifer said. "But that's quite alright, Severus, I don't mind."
"I'm sure you don't," Severus said dryly, tweaking a piece of the pita off her plate to eat with his casserole.
"Don't worry, I promise to serve a full dinner tonight, Severus. It'll be nice to have the time to cook for a change. I've done so little of it this summer," Jennifer said.
"When do you go back to Hogwarts, Dad?" Quintin asked.
"Tomorrow," Severus replied.
"And how long are we at the house?" Truman asked.
"A week and a half, we'll be leaving on my birthday," Jennifer replied. "But that gives you plenty of time to relax after your busy summer, and plenty of time for us to shop for school. Don't be surprised if I line the three of you up to go through your things and find out what you've grown out of and what you've worn out so that we can make a list from the start. I don't want to be spending the entire week on last minute trips because something or another was forgotten."
"Does that include worn out Quidditch equipment and tennis rackets?" Rus asked.
"Considering you just got a new broom and racket for your birthday, I would say no," Severus said. "If it needs repairs, I think it's only fair if you spend your own money to replace them."
"Can I have some chores to do to earn some, then?" Rus said.
"Yes, alright, but this is the last summer I'm going to supplement your income. Next summer, I expect you to get a job," Jennifer informed him.
Rus stared at her as if seeing his own ghost, feeling it drifting away.
"A job?" Rus said ominously. "Already?"
"You'll be sixteen next summer and more than ready for it, and after the last few years of failed attempts to get you to be more careful with your money, I think it's high time you learned the value of it yourself. You are going to be finding handouts even harder to find after this week, and I'll make sure your mother is aware of it," Jennifer said sternly.
"I'll stop by her office before I head to Hogwarts, Jennifer, to speak to her about it personally," Severus offered.
"Thank you, Severus," Jennifer said with a warm smile, turning her attention to Seren.
Severus stepped out of the fog and into the Minister of Mysteries office, finding Alex sitting with an owl on her shoulder and her Winged Serpent, Austere, curled up on a corner of the desk. She was looking over the paper and rubbing her forehead.
"Good morning... or is it?" Severus pondered as Alex looked up.
"I thought you were heading back to Hogwarts," Alex said.
"Presently, I simply needed to speak with you about a family matter. Do you need a headache powder?"
"Um, no thanks, but you're right that I should probably send for something... Wilder, could you send out for some headache potions, one for me and one for my cloak?" Alex asked. The owl hooted gently and flew out.
"I see you finally managed to settle on a second familiar," Severus commented.
"Yes, Wilder... he's been part of my post fleet for a while now," Alex replied. "He's loyal and very clever, although he does get into mischief when he's bored."
"In other words, he reminds you of Dodger," Severus surmised.
"Perhaps he does a bit," Alex admitted with a faint smile. "Just without the accent, and Wilder is a lot more curious than Dodger was."
"The owl is quite undisciplined, I don't know how you tolerate him," Austere hissed, lifting his head out of his coil.
"He's simply new to the job, and you have absolutely no room to talk considering how long it took me to train you," Alex informed him.
"You did not train me. I trained myself," Austere decided.
"Some things never change," Severus said with a smirk.
"Yes, and some things change too fast," Alex said, glancing over at where Tes' bed once was.
"I know the feeling myself, especially after watching so many children dash through Hogwarts," Severus replied. "Speaking of children, I would like to come to an agreement on Rus' allowance and expenses, because he's old enough to learn how to earn his coin instead of getting handouts when he runs out. Could you please make sure he's doing an adequate amount of work to compensate for any coin you might give him on your visitations?"
"It isn't as if I'm handing him coins for no reason, Father. I give him coins for chores and good marks," Alex replied.
"Yes, but the trouble is that he takes those same report cards and sends them to his Grandmother Mary for second helpings, only to blow it all within a week," Severus replied. "If he wants to go into psychology, he needs to learn to get good marks for his personal benefit, rather than simply because he knows he can get money out of it. He won't ever learn to be fiscally responsible if he feels he can finagle a handout from someone any time he runs out. He's growing up, and fairly soon he'll be out on his own. We are concerned that he'll lack the basic skills he needs to keep a budget."
"Then why don't you simply put him in Boulderdash's budgeting class?" Alexandria sighed with exasperation. "You have more resources to fix this than I do, after all, and I'm sure you can force students to take certain electives, because you did it to us often enough."
"Technically, parents do have that right," Severus agreed. "Very well, I shall, especially since you are in favor of it also, but in return..."
"Yes, fine! Chores only, and not just token ones," Alex agreed. "Now that Rus is sorted, what about that business with Jay?" she asked, and Severus raised a brow. "I got a letter from him yesterday complaining that you wouldn't enroll him in St. James' Academy, despite being qualified to attend."
"On paper, perhaps," Severus replied. "But Jennifer and I believe that would only prove to further isolate him from the family, and Conner agrees with us. I know he's disappointed, but I think it is wiser if he stays at Hogwarts where he has plenty of cousins, uncles, and other relatives to support him when he needs it. Perhaps you can point out that Auror Club would also look quite good on an application to the RBF Academy, and that he should take that instead."
"Fine, I'll suggest it, but I don't know if he's actually going to listen to me," Alex admitted.
"Neither do I," Severus replied. "At the same time, the fact that he came to you at all about this is an improvement," he added. Thinking it over, Alex smiled softly at that and nodded in agreement.
