Chapter Twenty-Eight
Spectators
Fortunately or unfortunately, Alexandria was at least getting away from the petty politics for awhile, knowing it was unlikely for any Traditionalists to be in the professor's box at the Quidditch game. When she came in, only Sashassin was at the gate, hissing at her enthusiastically and shaking its slithery stone tail, refusing to let her pass until she received a friendly head pat. Some of the guests were less than impressed with the guard, especially when Sashassin viewed each one with suspicion, sticking its stony tongue out menacingly to try and detect any enemies among them.
She didn't get approached again by anyone until she got all the way to the teacher's box, where, it seemed, Janus Craw was keeping watch.
"There you are," Janus said as if she had been expected all along. "Your father and siblings are in the center box today, lake side."
"What? Since when do they sit at Center Pitch?" Alex asked.
"Special occasion," Janus shrugged. "Run along now."
"Fine, but before I do, are you sure that it's wise to have the Sashassin gargoyle guarding the gate all by herself with the Dashing Doppler on the loose?" Alexandria said dubiously.
"She isn't. Harry's there," Janus explained. "Just in case Sashassin gets too aggressive or the Doppler shows up. He's in his Cloak."
"Of course! He could have said something," Alex said.
"That would ruin the element of surprise, no wouldn't it?" Janus pointed out. "Booth's that way."
"I know," Alexandria said, then began walking over.
Halfway there, Wilder landed on her shoulder.
"I am happy to report that all of the owls currently roosting in the Owlery are real owls," Wilder hooted.
"That doesn't mean he can't be posing as a familiar somewhere else. A lot of people bring their familiars to the game," Alexandria pointed out.
"Yes, that's true. Should I check them, next?" Wilder asked.
"Yes, but be as discreetly as you can. I don't want my mother accusing me of not trusting her security," Alexandria said, and Wilder flew off again. She stepped to the back and climbed up to the top of the Quidditch Tower. But when she finally reached the top, she couldn't help but blink in sheer surprise. All of her other siblings were also sitting in the box along with their Father, who sat with Albus in the front row with an empty seat to his right.
"Oh, good, you made it as well. Have a seat, Alexandria," Severus said almost distractedly, while waving to the rest of her siblings.
"Happy birthday, I see you suckered the rest of the family here too for some reason," Alex observed, reluctantly taking the seat next to him. "Did you hold their familiars hostage as well?"
"No, in most of the other cases, I simply had to ask. Only one or two of you needed further persuasion," her father admitted unabashedly.
"It's most exciting, I'm so glad you invited us, Severus," Albus said.
"Us?" Alex inquired.
"Minerva and Bael will be up shortly," Severus explained.
"Considering the lack of toddlers, I take it that mother is on baby-sitting duty?" Alex inquired.
"Not in the way you're thinking of, no," he replied vaguely.
"Here we are!" Minerva declared as she and Bael got back up the stairs with drinks. Bael, it seemed, had also acquired a purple and gold scarf. "I'm so glad we got back in time. We heard some skepticism at the drink cart that this game would last very long."
"It's unlikely. The Dusthorn team only has a sixth year and a bunch of second year students, after all," Aurelius agreed.
"Well, when it comes to match ups that don't involve Gryffindor, I tend to root for the underdog," Minerva said, pulling out a purple scarf out of her pocket and tying it around her hat.
"They don't have a chance," Aurelius warned, leaning a hand on the back of their chairs.
"There's always a chance... to catch the Snitch quickly, if nothing else," Minerva said. "Who is Dusthorn's Seeker?"
"Unfortunately, Dusthorn's Seeker was suspended this game, so Jack Black is currently stepping into the role. In fact it's caused a bit of a shuffle on their team, because the team captain talked Quintin into playing, and he only plays one position, which is Keeper," Severus explained to Minerva.
"Position shuffle or not, I happen to know that Blacks tend to be fast as well as bold in Quidditch, and being one of Zack's twins, I expect he's bold as well," Minerva ventured.
"He'd do better this game being more cautious and not take too many chances," Aurelius said. "Having to play against his former team has put a target on his back. I hope he keeps his guard up, because they won't be easy on him."
"Then he'll be all the more motivated to win," Minerva reasoned.
"Five galleons?" Aurelius inquired.
"Very well," Minerva said with a thin smile. "Anyone else in favor of the favorite who would like to back it up?" she inquired.
"Oh, no thank you. I know your luck," Albus said with a chuckle.
"Normally I would take you up on it, considering Jay's on Slytherin. But if Quintin's playing on the other team, I'd rather not put a bet against them," Alexandria said.
"No, nor would I, but I have a wager of my own I wouldn't mind making," Severus offered. "I would like to wager five galleons that no students are injured during the game."
"Is that your way of saying that you expect the Snitch is caught right away?"
"Not at all, I doubt it entirely, nor am I saying there might not be a close call or two," Severus admitted. "But once the game is over, I contend that there will be no worse injuries than the usual skin burns and bruises that come with normal gameplay. Ginny and our two good doctors will be quite bored tonight."
"That new Space Lawn of yours must be even better than I thought," Albus ventured.
"It's not the Space Lawn he's betting on," Aurelius said knowingly.
"Perhaps there should be some conditions involved," Minerva suggested. "The bet would only count if the game goes on at least an hour."
"Agreed," Severus said.
"Same as before? Five galleons?" Minerva inquired.
"Fair enough," Severus said. "Any other takers?"
"Sure, why not?" Alexandria said. "It seems to be a safe bet to me."
"Seems is the proper word for this. You are up to something, my friend," Bael said knowingly.
"Yes, I think so as well, but I think I shall humor him, nonetheless," Albus decided. "Personally, I wouldn't mind the loss, if it really does prove to be a clean game."
"It'll never happen," Aurelius said, and Severus glanced his way. "Fine, I'm in too. No matter how good she is now, it still won't be a clean game, not between these two teams."
"How good who is?" Alexandria asked. Aurelius gestured at the center of the Pitch where their mother had just come out in referee robes, walking over to the chest to grab the Quaffle and let the other balls free. "Mum is refereeing?" she added skeptically.
"Hey, great! I've been wanting to see her fly," Corey said with open enthusiasm behind Alex, making her look back at him with a frown.
"Oh, no. I can't look," Lucky said from behind him, sitting next to Laura.
"You will look. It was part of the deal," Severus reminded her.
"That wasn't a deal, that was blackmail," Lucky glowered. Dale simply smiled and helpfully pulled her arms away from her eyes. "And I'm also not taking your sucker bet."
"Sucker bet?" Alicia said with a snort. "If Mum's refereeing, she'll be the first one injured."
"That would still count as a game injury," Severus pointed out.
"Raising funds for anything in particular?" Laura inquired.
"We do have a bit to do on the Guard Wing, after all," Severus said.
"Well, I think Lucky's right and it's a sucker bet, especially since I know that Jennifer had Auror training this summer," Laura replied.
"Did she?" Albus asked brightly.
"Does that mean she's a lot better on the broom than she used to be?" Leu asked from where he sat with Diana behind Dale, Laura, and Lucky.
"I suppose you'll soon see for yourselves," Severus replied, turning his attention to the Pitch as the teams flew out of their gates, getting an immediate response from the crowd.
The amount of students attending weren't as large as it was during a weekend game since many had tests the next day; the fact that everyone took for granted that Slytherin was about to win didn't help matters any. It also hadn't helped that the rest of the Dusthorn students barely took up three rows in their section, and were completely drowned out by the much larger Slytherin house as well as several generations of alumni routing for the other team.
Quintin was well aware of it as he took his position, still wondering how he had let Jeremy even talk him into substituting in the first place.
"Don't worry, we got this," Jack reassured him on his way passed, hovering up to where Jay was also waiting, already trying to work out where the Snitch might have gone based on the direction it had left by. "Good luck," Jack told him. Jay nodded coolly back, while the rest of the Slytherin squinted at Jack suspiciously as they gathered around.
"Let's keep it safe and friendly today, shall we?" Jennifer advised with a warm smile before lifting up the Quaffle and tossing it into the air.
Bonnibel easily out-touched Pippa, and it wasn't long before all of the Chasers were barreling towards Quintin at breakneck speeds. On top of that, they had barely cleared the area before both of the Bludgers were knocked in Jack's direction. But Jack had been expecting a quick response from Ian and Broc and ducked them before moving far enough away that the Beaters would have to work to get into a position to come after him again.
Dodging past the Bludgers with ease, Jennifer kept a wary eye on the exchange between Ian and Broc before drifting up enough that she could watch the action near the rings. With Bonnibel and Moira being two of the Chasers on the Slytherin team, Quintin realized he had his hands full when the two girls split up and made it difficult to predict which ring they would try for. Bonnibel dropped to the bottom ring, catching Moira's pass and tossing it in.
You're not so powerful. You can't even see past our simplest passes, Moira thought at him tauntingly.
"You can't see past mine at all," Quintin replied defiantly as the other Chasers took the Quaffle the other way.
So you can read me after all? Or at least when I project at you, Moira thought. Quintin immediately ignored her in hopes that she'd think he hadn't heard her that time. But the damage was already done, and Moira gave him a thin triumphant smile before darting to catch up with the others.
Jennifer watched the exchange but didn't comment. After all, it wasn't the time or the place. She had better things to do, watching as Jeremy smacked on of the Bludgers forward to try to trip up Ella Hauk, who had managed to get herself in a position next to Pippa to try to steal. Seeing the large girl closing in, Pippa gasped and tossed it to Curt. While Ella managed to touch the ball with her fingers, she failed to bring it in. Curt was able to secure it until a good block from Meyers batted it into Ella's arms so that she could take it back the other way.
It was clear to everyone that Dusthorn was likely to get outmatched the longer that the game went on, and everyone who had been rooting for them began to look around in hopes for some sight of the Snitch. Everyone, that is, except those in the center tower. Instead, most of them were starting at Jennifer.
From the moment the game began, surprise registered on most of their expressions, and Severus and Aurelius both found themselves quite entertained at their reaction to how well Jennifer was flying.
"Hey," Lucky called out. "Did Jackie get replaced with the Dashing Doppler, or what?" she asked.
"I have to admit, that is a vast improvement," Corey commented with a chuckle.
"I never thought I'd ever see the day that Jennifer would be able to keep up with the Chasers, let alone with such ease," Albus said, pleased. "I would have suspected a bravery potion, were it not for the increase in skill as well."
"She's nearly as precise as Alicia is now," Pyther commented.
"And she's fast. I'll have to race her sometime," Alicia added.
"Does this have something to do with all that Auror training this summer?" Dale finally asked.
"Actually, it was the training with the Canadian Flyers that did it," Aurelius explained.
"Ah ha! Flyer Wright had a hand in it," Corey concluded.
"A really firm hand at that," Aurelius replied.
"Sometimes that is best, especially when someone has a tendency to squirm their way out of things," Diana said sagely, glancing sideways at Leu.
"Hey!" Leu protested with a slight chuckle.
Alex rolled her eyes, turning back towards the front to see how Jay was doing. But as she did, she couldn't help but notice that her father wasn't fixed on where the Chasers were, nor was he glancing around for the Snitch. Instead, he was completely focused on Jennifer, with a similar look to what he gave her when they were out on the dance floor. So that's the real reason they had all been coaxed to come... not only to surprise her children and friends with her progress, but also in an attempt to celebrate it.
No, it was more than that... he was sharing it with them. At the same time, he was completely absorbed and fascinated by how easily it came to her. One by one, the trauma induced fears of her younger years were being put to rest, giving her even more room to shine... and more strength to handle any challenges to come. But in that moment, those challenges didn't matter much; all that mattered was her glorious performance as she sped in front of the Chasers and dove with precision to toss the Quaffle back into play without a single hesitation.
Alex frowned as she attempted to unravel her father's expression, feeling rather strange. She had seen him gaze at her like that all of her life, and yet at the same time, it felt as if she hadn't noticed it before. It was somehow intense, fathomless, and difficult to read, too absorbed to even notice his daughter staring at him to try and figure it out, while on the other side of him, Albus, Minerva, and Bael seemed to immensely enjoying watching both the game and Jennifer, apparently not seeing anything about Severus' behavior incredibly unusual.
Alex heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up as Andrew appeared at the top of them, stopping at the top for a moment to stare at his mother before making his way over to where Laura had made room for him. As he handed Laura a warm drink, Alexandria frowned at the glint off of her Dragonheart Diamond. They were all like that, she realized. Perhaps those expressions weren't as intense as their father's, but the expression was there all the same. She felt her irritation build up again, then realized that Aurelius had his gaze fixed her again. She turned back around and pretended she hadn't noticed it, staring towards the game and having trouble focusing on it despite the fact that Jack and Jay were now in motion as if they had spotted the Snitch.
Severus stood with the rest of them to get a better view as the two boys kept traveling close enough to the towers on that side that it made them hard to see.
One of the Bludgers shot past them, and Jennifer had to deftly bat it back away from the stands so that the Beaters could pick it up again. Suddenly Jennifer flipped around and got out of the way as the Snitch decided to u-turn back in her direction, diving below the two racing boys while still keeping an eye on the Chasers coming up the Pitch. Still, the two Seekers were probably close enough that it wouldn't matter, Jennifer mused, wondering which of the two would be more motivated to reach the Snitch first.
As she suspected, it was Jay who managed to push ahead, using his longer reach and determination to get a hand around it. Jack pulled up a second later, sighing as he watched Jay hold it up and pondering if he should ask for a new broom for Christmas. He was so distracted by the win and the cheering crowd that he didn't see that a late hit Bludger was coming in, aimed at his head.
He heard the CRACK as a bat hit the Bludger just behind him, making him wince. He looked around to see Jennifer hovering there with her referee bat in her hand, squinting at Broc as if not completely convinced that late hit was an accident. Still, it was common for Bludgers to be shot at Seekers at the last minute trying to stop them from reaching it, and she knew she had to let it go, glancing over Jack.
"Well done, Jack. You nearly had him," Jennifer offered with a warm smile.
"I guess. I guess it would have been worse for Jay if I had, though," Jack reasoned. "I'm glad for my cousin. I'm going to congratulate him,"
"Of course," Jennifer said with a proud smile, watching as he hovered over the team and even offered his hand.
Jay nodded to him and said something cordial in response, but stopped short of shaking his hand. Jack shrugged it off, going over to his teammates, who greeted him warmly. There could be no doubt there were a lot of hard feelings, and even hostility towards Jack, Jennifer mused, frowning at Broc and Ian who were intentionally flying below her to avoid her gaze, but it was obvious that Jay wanted to stay out of the conflict and was walking the tightrope between his loyalties between his friends and his family.
Jennifer hovered over to the box where she saw Severus standing with Albus, Minerva, and Bael. As she landed on the rail, she smiled even brighter to see that all of her adult children were in the box as well, most of them letting out comments and exclamations of amazement and approval as Severus helped Jennifer stepped down onto the bench.
"Do you really think my flying is that much better?" Jennifer asked curiously, and got an affirming yes that was so in much unison that laughter broke out soon after.
It wasn't long after that when Lucky suggested they head to the Three Broomsticks to celebrate. Pretty soon Corey, Alicia, and Laura chimed in, and Jennifer found herself glancing at Severus.
"Yes, fine, run along and have fun. I had plans for dinner already, as you know," Severus replied unconcernedly. "Perhaps Minerva and Bael would also be interested in going as well."
"Yes, most certainly," Minerva agreed enthusiastically.
"It would be a good way to get caught up on what everyone has been doing since I've been gone," Bael said with obvious amusement.
"Have a good time. I'm going to stay to look over Hogwarts security," Alex said critically, thinking that was what her mother should be doing. But before Jennifer could turn to look over to see what was wrong, Aurelius chimed in.
"I've got it, Mum. Janus and I can handle it, and I already knew about the flying thing anyway. You go have fun," Aurelius said encouragingly.
"Well, alright, if you're sure," Jennifer said, despite how obvious it was that she wanted to go.
As the rest began to coordinate their invasion on the pub, Aurelius had a quick word with Severus, who then nodded. Aurelius gestured, and Alex followed him down the stairs.
"Can we go pick up Austere first so I don't have to go in Father's office later?" Alex asked.
"Do you really want him hanging around while we work?" Aurelius asked.
"Well, no," Alex admitted.
"Besides, Harry's going to be down by the first aid station talking to Ginny, he's probably waiting for us already," Aurelius pointed out. "If we're lucky, Janus is already with him so we can try to figure out how the Doppler got in here."
"I brought Wilder with me to help check the owls for possible infiltrators, although I thought that Mother was going to help with that part," Alex said.
"Mum has been terrified of flying since she was seven years old, Alex, I think she deserves a bit of credit for finally getting over it, don't you?" Aurelius said
"Sure, but I question the timing, especially since the Doppler managed to get into Hogwarts yesterday. It's her job to deal with security breaches."
"True, but that was yesterday, and we had a full LE team in here looking into it," Aurelius pointed out. "Technically this is just a follow up to try to keep it from happening again."
"Exactly," Alex replied.
Aurelius refrained from any more comments as they walked over to where Harry was standing with Ginny and Sagittari. Janus was hovering on the other side of Harry, watching them approach.
"Since Alexandria has some concerns about the current security with familiars and the owl fleet, I'm going to go grab the master list and take her up to the Owlery," Aurelius informed them.
"Janus and I are going to be checking the security on all of the secret passages," Harry replied.
"Once we are done with the checks, we can meet in my office to secure the place, and perhaps put together a report for my parents with some suggestions on how to improve security so he can't sneak in again," Aurelius suggested.
"We can coordinate our progress through the paintings, and use them to get in touch if someone finds something," Janus said.
"We'll see you in a bit then," Aurelius agreed, and he and Alex turned towards the castle. They hadn't even made it to the doors before Alex couldn't deal with the silence anymore.
"I still can't believe she went to a pub in the middle of a school week when she should be here doing her job as head of security," Alexandria grumbled.
"To be fair, between her jobs at two schools, taking care of Serendipity, and helping out at the Auror department on the weekends, Mum really doesn't have all that much time off these days," Aurelius pointed out. "If anything, she was probably overdue for a night off, which is likely part of the reason Father invited us to the game anyway."
"I think he did it because he thought it'd be amusing to see our reactions. It was a complete waste of time," Alex protested. "If it wasn't for the fact that Jay was playing and that I needed to pick up Austere, I wouldn't have bothered coming. Harry could have easily handled the follow up investigation on his own."
"Are you sure that's the only reason you're upset right now?" Aurelius asked knowingly.
"The only reason that matters, yes," Alex said crisply. "And before you say anything, mind your own business."
"Sorry, still your brother," Aurelius pointed out. "On top of that, I did inherit some qualities from our mother... namely the butting in part, especially when I care about someone. Don't look at me like that, it's not like you didn't inherit the same quality yourself."
"I hate it when people compare me to our mother. We're nothing alike," Alex snapped. Aurelius glanced sideways at her but wisely kept on walking, opening the door for them.
They walked all the way over to the get the list and then up the outer stairs to the Owlery in silence, but Aurelius knew his sister enough to know it wouldn't last. In fact, he took the precaution of slipping his wand out of his sleeve just enough to put a mute spell on the parapet door and the one leading into the Owlery to decrease the chance of them being overheard, shutting the door behind them.
"I have the list of the owls that were added recently at the top," Aurelius said. "It shouldn't take all that long to check them off. Maybe you should start by questioning the owls you know well, and we'll meet in the middle. I don't see any owls here that look like Animagi, but we're going to be working on Father's assumption that the Dashing Doppler has some way to keep Truth Seekers from detecting him to be safe."
"I'd like to find a way to get Mother to confirm that, since everyone, including you, says she picks up things others don't," Alex said with a frustrated sigh.
"That's quite true. She can't read minds as well as a Truth Seeker specializing in investigations, of course, but at the same time, she has a much wider range of things she can pick up that normal Truth Seekers can't. That's one of the reasons that Harry has her watching reception on the weekends, since he trusts her to sense when things aren't right even if something is blocking us," Aurelius replied. "Do you think Father's right in that the Doppler has some way of preventing us to see through hi changes?"
"Probably, since he's usually right about that sort of thing," Alexandria shrugged.
"So you trust his assessment without too much thought, but not hers?" Aurelius challenged her.
"How would I even know what her assessment is when she's never around?" Alexandria retorted.
"Look who's talking?" Aurelius retorted. "You're the one so attached to your job that you don't have time for anything else anymore unless they kidnap your familiar."
"My job is more important than hers!" Alex snapped.
"Are you kidding? She is working three jobs right now, and she still manages to always find time for her family! Finding time for herself is the only thing she's bad at, which is why Father has to corner her with her own family and one of her mentors to make it happen," Aurelius pointed out.
There was a knock and Andrew walked up the wooden stairs.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting your fight," Andrew said.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you go with the rest of them?" Alex asked critically.
"No, I decided to stay with the girls so that Laura could try and relax. Not that she can drink, of course, but I thought the night out would be good for her," Andrew explained, making Alex even more irritated for some reason. "Anyway, I don't have to pick the girls up from the daycare for another hour so Mum asked me if I would check on the two of you and help you run whatever security test that need done. She was concerned about whether or not you had enough help for that."
"If she was that concerned, she wouldn't have taken off to have a party!" Alexandria snapped.
"I can't believe you're really upset because the others wanted to take Mum out to celebrate getting over her fear of flying, Alex. What's the real problem here?" Andrew wanted to know.
"It's on your finger," Aurelius suggested. As Andrew glanced down at his hand with a thoughtful frown, Alex turned on Aurelius.
"That has nothing to do with anything, and you jump to conclusions just as quickly as our mother does!" Alex snapped. Aurelius raised an eyebrow at her. "And stop nosing into my personal life, it's none of your business!"
"Why don't you just admit that you're jealous and get it over with, Alex?" Aurelius told her flatly. "You're jealous and you're angry, because for some reason you're under the false impression that you're the only one in this family who's had a personal tragedy. But a lot of us have lost people we care about, from parents to partners. I know it's hard to move on, and there isn't a day that goes by I still don't think of Pali, just as sure there isn't a day that goes by that grandfather doesn't think of our grandmother, but we've learned to move on and find happiness again, and it's time you did too. And I personally think you'd be better off asking Mum for advice instead of being angry at her over your preconceived ideas of who she is."
"I don't have any preconceived ideas!" Alex snapped. Andrew raised his hand.
"I've been there, and yes, you do," Andrew chimed in. "Let's face it. We've all had moments where we've underestimated our mother to some degree."
"Yes, I did for a long time as well," Aurelius admitted. "Especially that year I ended up with the Sword. She kept me alive, and I resented her for it."
"I know the feeling," Andrew sighed. "And how often I took her love for granted without acknowledging it."
"I have better things to do than to listen to the two of you make sappy confessions. We have owls to check," Alex snapped.
"It wouldn't hurt for you to simply ask her for advice, would it?" Aurelius suggested. "I mean, if you're lonely..."
"Just what would mother know about being lonely?" Alex shouted at him.
"Quite a bit, I should think, considering she arrived at Hogwarts thinking that both of her parents were dead and was alone in a country that she barely had any memories of," Aurelius pointed out.
"Which is why she ended up getting married and having an almost indecent sized family so that she's never lonely," Alex snapped.
"I'd say that makes her an expert in dealing with it then," Andrew concluded.
"She doesn't know anything! She doesn't know what it's like to lose her partner!" Alex shouted.
"No, but she's lost a mother and a mentor, so it isn't as if she's had a life without heartbreak," Andrew replied. "I also don't think it's fair for you to take our your anger on mother because you're lonely. What did she do that made you so upset?"
"She survived, Andrew," Aurelius explained, and Andrew grew thoughtful. "Despite everything that happened at that devilish circus, our mother came out of it virtually unscathed, and Alex resents it."
"Of course I resent it!" Alex shouted angrily. "Why? Why does this stuff always happen to me? Tell me that! How come I am the only person in this family where nothing ever seems to go right no matter what I do? Why is it that I am the only one in this family who doesn't have someone? I can't even take care of my family, thanks to job and circumstance. And everyone is so jolly happy with their perfect lives that nobody in this entire family even cares about what I'm going through right now! They don't notice how miserable I am or how left out I feel. Nobody in this family cares enough to even listen to me! It's easy to shrug it off, since I'm the one who works all the time so I don't have time for family, but does anyone in the family even try to make time for me to begin with? I'm not special, I'm just the girl who isn't worth giving a rose to... what are you doing here? I thought you were at the party," Alex said suddenly, making Aurelius turn around curiously. Alicia was now standing next to Andrew, taking everything in.
"I am here to join my brothers in not caring and not listening to you," Alicia suggested evenly.
Andrew held up a rolled up painting.
"Mother makes me store a painting in my cloak for emergencies," Andrew explained. "It's supposed to be used in a family emergency to get the girls out of the castle quickly if there's a security breach, but I decided it's good for general family emergencies as well. Besides, I was hungry."
"I have the meat rolls you ordered, Andrew, but I'm not bringing them out here, it's not sanitary," Alicia commented.
"I have the key to the Perch door," Aurelius suggested.
"Sure, okay. But I want to hear more about that rose thing at the end," Andrew said.
"Yeah, I was wondering about that too. What did you mean by the rose thing?" Alicia asked.
"Never mind! Forget I said that!" Alex snapped, stomping down the stairs until she got to the door to the parapet. She waited with her arms folded for Aurelius to open it.
They pulled the table away away from the battlements and Andrew produced a couple of extra chairs so they could sit one to each side. After that, Alicia produced the bag of meat rolls for them to share.
"Ah! Perfect! I could use something after all that listening," Andrew admitted, immediately grabbing one. "Still nice and hot."
"Hasn't that metabolism of yours slowed down yet?" Alex asked with exasperation.
"Actually it has a bit, especially since I've been married. but it's alright. Laura and I always find ways to work it off," he explained.
"Andrew!" Alicia scolded him with a stern look of disapproval.
"It's fine. I'm well aware that everyone has a better sex life than me," Alex said irritably. "Especially our own parents."
"Those two are legendary," Andrew agreed. "If I'm allowed only one goal in life, it would be to be as active as those two are when I get to be their age."
"That would be your goal," Alicia replied critically.
"Funny, there are still some times when I can tell these two are younger than us," Aurelius admitted. "Have one Alex, it'll help you feel better."
"I'm not sure I want to feel better," Alex replied, but took the offered roll anyway.
"Isn't this fun in a way? I can't remember the last time the four of us scrambled to have a meal together in the castle like this, with a sack between us," Alicia commented. "It can't have been since we were at school."
"Then likely the year I graduated," Alex said, nibbling on a roll. Andrew thought about it a moment and sighed.
"I remember now. The last time we did this was the night we thought the world was about to end," Andrew said solemnly. "Alex decided she didn't want us all sitting at separate tables waiting for the worst to happen and made a spot for us all on the floor."
"Do you really want to count that one? It was hardly a quiet family rendezvous. The entire school was in that room," Alex pointed out.
"True, but in a way we pulled ourselves into our own special bubble, just us and our friends," Andrew said. "It was terribly frightening."
"Yes, but I was more worried about our mother in that moment," Aurelius admitted, thinking back. "In fact, that's the part I remember most vividly, really. The look on Mum's face when she thought Father had died during the battle."
Andrew looked up from his roll thoughtfully.
"I remember now. You slipped off to see her after it started snowing," Andrew commented.
"She was trying so hard to be brave that night... for us, and for the school," Aurelius explained quietly. "But one look was enough to show just how devastated she was, so when she went to her office to get a moment alone, I really wasn't comfortable with that and went down there. I'll never forget how shaken she was, and how relieved we both were when we realized Father was still alive. I had hoped in that moment that I'd never see her in that state of despair again, honestly. Of course, that was dashed the year of Father's midlife fiasco. I had to step in then, too."
"We all stepped in then," Alex protested.
"I meant in a more personal way than just teaching and investigating," Aurelius explained. "I meant the night I made her a Subtle Slumber so she could get some sleep and to reassure her that her family was there for her when she was feeling so vulnerable and alone."
"I didn't know you did that," Andrew admitted. "But it sounds to me that perhaps Mum does understand what it's like to lose a partner."
"Don't gloss over the part where hers came back!" Alexandria snapped.
"She didn't know that. She didn't know that on either occasion," Aurelius said firmly. "The only thing that kept her on an even keel was the fact that her family and the school needed her to be strong. She didn't show her grief on the basis that she couldn't because she had a job to do... an important job. As much as you hate the comparison, Alex, the two of you are more alike than you want to acknowledge. It was that same look on your face that made me stay with you tonight. It was that look that was probably the real reason that Mum sent Andrew to check on you, too."
"I wouldn't be surprised. She did seem worried," Andrew admitted.
"So what you're telling me is that in the end, you're all here because of Mum again," Alex said, glowering.
"We're here because you need us here," Aurelius assured Alex. "Look, we know you're feeling like Fate has turned against you. I felt the exact same way myself when Pali died. But as brutal as it was for me to accept, I came to understand that horrible things happen, and the most important thing to do is to walk through it. If you continue on your intended path, things will slowly clear. If I had succumbed to my sickness the night I lost Pali, Justice, Brigid, and Branwen never would have been born, Viorica may never have been saved from her family, and worst of all, Ginger might have ended up with Andrew."
"Hey!" Andrew protested immediately.
"Then you wouldn't have found your Cosmic Match... or if you did, it would have gotten very, very, complicated," Aurelius pointed out to him. Andrew frowned at that.
"True, but you said that just to get a rise out of me," Andrew snapped.
"What are brothers for?" Aurelius admitted with a smile.
"Let's get away from the sappy brotherly stuff and talk bluntly for a moment. It's time for straight talk," Alicia protested. "Alex, your siblings have concluded that it's time you moved on. So instead of feeling sorry for yourself, how about doing something about your situation instead?"
"I've been trying, really," Alex protested. "But it's not all that easy, you know, finding someone... especially someone in my position. I'm not giving up my job, because that'd be giving up who I am. But if I don't give up my job, how could I possibly get into a relationship that would be even remotely fair to whoever got involved with me? They'd have to deal with the fact that I'm in constant danger, and they would be too by association. I have massive time constraints that make juggling a relationship next to impossible, especially since I can get called to work without notice at any hour of the day..."
"Alex, I had those same problems when it came to finding someone too, but I managed," Aurelius reminded her.
"By marrying someone who works with you on a daily basis," Alex pointed out. "But other than Grandfather and Draco, everyone in the Ministry are technically subordinates."
"Then marry a super spy... ooo or a criminal mastermind!" Alicia suggested wickedly.
"Bagman's already married. Two of his kids are listed in the school registry," Andrew informed
Alicia. Alicia snapped her fingers.
"I've got it! The Dashing Doppler!" Alicia declared.
"Craters, Alicia, you're as bad as Mum," Alex said, chomping down on her roll to try to hide how warm her face was. "He needs to face charges for espionage against the Ministry... and he needs to be captured before Bagman gets in touch with him about something he's after."
"Do you mean the security plans for Azkaban?" Andrew asked. Alex glared at him viciously.
"That's classified!" Alex snapped.
"Not if you read between the lines, it isn't," Andrew replied calmly. "I read the Letters to the Editor column every day, Alex. That push by Solidarity for transparency concerning the prison funds reads like a Bagman plot to me. He wants to get his hands on it so he can work out how he's going to break out of there if he ever gets caught again." Alex put a hand on her forehead, covering her eyes.
"Yeah, everyone knows about that, Alex, so maybe you should concentrate on getting to the Dashing Doppler first," Alicia suggested. "Offer him amnesty if he agrees to work with you as an agent."
"I don't like loose canons," Alex said firmly. "I need complete loyalty from every Agent I have, you know that."
"True, but if the two of you were romantically involved, you'd probably have that loyalty," Andrew pointed out, "especially when we already know he already has a soft spot for the ladies..."
"The roses! That's what you meant!" Alicia suddenly interrupted and Alex could no longer hide her bright red face any longer. "You're upset because he hasn't given you one! Does that mean you're already interested in him?"
"I told you to forget I said that," Alex snapped.
"Apparently she is interested," Alicia is with sadistic delight. "Isn't that right, Aurelius?"
"It definitely seems that way, considering she's upset about him singling her out like that," Aurelius agreed. Alex buried her face in her folded arms to avoid his gaze. "You can't blame the guy for not giving you one, Alex. After all, you have been trying to arrest him. I'm sure none of the other witches have been attempting to do that," he pointed out. Alex couldn't help but notice the amused tone in his voice.
"Perhaps you should offer him a temporary truce," Andrew suggested. "That way you can find out where his loyalties are, get him on your side, or at least get some information out of him."
"Or at least a one night stand to take the pressure off..."
"Alicia!" Alex snapped. "I am so going to get even with you!"
Alicia was unabashedly smug.
"Okay, guys, let's reel it in. We're here to support her and offer advice, not to tease her, Alicia," Aurelius reminded her.
"She's not listening to any advice," Alicia told him.
"All you've been doing is making me even more miserable," Alex told her grumpily.
"Fine, then my advice is to talk to Mum about it, because the way I see it, she's been through it all and probably has some ideas," Alicia said.
"For once we're in agreement," Aurelius said to Alicia, then glanced over at Alex. "When you've lost your way and need to get back to where your life is moving in the right direction again, there's no one better to consult than our mother."
"I still think you need to try my idea of a temporary truce with the Dashing Doppler," Andrew said. "But barring that, Mum is definitely the way to go."
"If I go to Mum for advice, she'll want to interfere beyond just conversation," Alexandria said.
"That's just your assumption. You don't know that, Alex," Aurelius replied.
"All the same, I don't want anyone else influencing my path but me right now. I need to make up my own mind about what I need to do to turn my life around," Alex said firmly.
The other three glanced at one another, but then smiled.
"If you're done with feeling sorry for yourself and ready to make your own life decisions, I'd say that's progress considering how this afternoon started out," Aurelius commented.
"I agree, much better," Alicia said with a smile.
"All the same, now that we've finished off the rolls, we should probably finish going through the Owlery so that I can collect the girls and head to dinner. I'm sure there are things the rest of you want to do as well," Andrew said.
"I'm going back to the party," Alicia informed them, taking out her wand and making a quick line drawing of the Three Broomsticks in the air and stepping through it.
"I wouldn't mind having dinner at home myself. Would you like to come over, Alex? I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem, and I'm sure your nieces and nephew would like to see you. Justice has been wanting to challenge you to a game of chess," Aurelius suggested.
"Fine, but don't let me leave without picking up my familiars. Speaking of which, I wonder where Wilder is? I sent him off to check familiars to see if he could detect shapeshifters at the game and he hasn't found his way back yet," Alex realized with a frown.
"Maybe he's up in the Owlery," Andrew suggested. "Come on, let's get this done so Winnie doesn't have to stay over in the daycare."
"Still on volunteers, I take it?" Alex asked.
"Why, did you want to volunteer?" Aurelius taunted her.
"No way, I just thought they'd have found someone permanent by now, that's all," Alex said.
"I think Father would have to take a lot of heat if he even tried. Mum wants that position left open until Ashley gets back, and since there's only a year left or so, I don't see why they would fill it at this point," Aurelius said.
"That's assuming she'll even want it back, of course. Tir Na Nog has a way of changing people," Alex pointed out.
"No one knows that better than I do," Andrew agreed, leading them up to the Owlery. "And just as I suspected.. here is your missing owl, Alex!" he said, pointed at where Wilder was perched in the wide opening the Owls used to fly in and out of.
"I am not missing!" Wilder hooted. "I am waiting to report!"
"Very well, Wilder. What do you have to report?" Alexandria asked him.
"I interviewed every familiar I could find that was at the game, and I am convinced that none of them was a shapeshifter in disguise," he hooted confidently. "Am I an Agent now?"
"He says that all of the familiars at the game checked out okay," Alexandria relayed to the others. "Let's just call you an Agent Owl in Training, shall we?" she added, and he puffed his chest feathers up proudly. "We're going to double-check the owls in here, but I'm guessing he just didn't come to the game today, Wilder. I'm going to Rel's house for dinner, so why don't I meet you back at the house later?"
"What about Austere?" Wilder hooted.
"Yes, I'll bring him home with me as well. He'll simply have to tolerate going to Rel's house if he's going to be lazy. See you tonight," Alex replied.
"Yes, Minister Alex," Wilder said, flying out the window.
"Why do I get the feeling that all Austere is going to do at Rel's house is complain he isn't at home?" Andrew chuckled.
"Not before he criticizes every smell and sound in the house," Rel replied.
"I'll admit Austere can be a handful, even if he is a good secretary familiar," Alex agreed. "But Wilder more than makes up for it with his enthusiasm. It's a Yin and Yang thing, really, they're a couple of extremes."
"A bit like you, then?" Aurelius conjectured.
"I'm going to get even with you too," Alex warned dangerously, and Andrew wisely turned their attention to checking off the owls.
