Chapter Eight

Fateful Advice

"So how did that introduction go?" Severus asked Jennifer as he stood by his desk and poured them some coffee. "I can't imagine that Owain would have been put off by Bres' heritage and presence in the slightest."

"Oh, not at all. They hit it off straight away," Jennifer confirmed with a chuckle. "They were actually quite intrigued with one another, and even as they were leaving, I heard Owain explaining to Bres that his lineage went back before the Invasions ended. I almost regret not sitting in on that conversation."

"Just why were you so willing to leave, considering it was your first night home and had guests on top of it? Considering how out of character it is, I can't help but think that something is dreadfully wrong," Severus prompted.

"It's nothing as bad as what you're thinking, Severus, although there were moments of discomfort when Bres entered an area, and some awkward moments when acquaintances mentioned the newspaper article when I haven't had time to read it yet," Jennifer admitted.

"You won't find any surprises. It was actually a very honest, authentic article… not at all what I might have expected from Lockhart," Severus admitted. "I find it incredibly ironic that as hard as he tried before last year, he only stepped onto the true path of redemption after he abandoned his attempt to earn it."

"True," Jennifer chuckled. "At least Roy's back on the path of rediscovering himself again considering the trauma he went through both from losing his memory and from regaining it. I'm quite certain that Conner is relieved that Roy is finally on a path where he can sort out a lot of his identity problems on his own terms now. It's good to know that someone is on the right path,"she added with exasperation.

"Oh?" Severus prompted.

"Lunette and Bres are having a lot of trouble seeing this marriage on their own terms right now. They're definitely not on the same page. I'm not sure they're even in the same book," Jennifer declared in frustration.

"Wouldn't they technically have to be in the same book if Bres is correct and they are Fated for each other?" Severus pointed out.

"They are in the same library," Jennifer amended, but then frowned. "I think."

"Perhaps you're using the wrong analogy to explain the problem," Severus suggested.

"Oh… well, they just stepped on the train and it hasn't even left the station yet," Jennifer offered.

Severus stared at her in obvious confusion.

"I remember that day rather clearly…" Jennifer continued, sitting in her favorite chair. "I was still trying to clean up my office after Peeves had decided to sabotage when the train arrived. The older students were hurrying to the Great Hall, including a pair of twins who came dashing down the corridor attempting to escape your wrath. You yelled, 'Halt Weasley's!' and I had a peek, that's when I saw you for the first time. I only saw you from the back, to be perfectly honest."

"That explains a lot."

"Yes, well, the next time I saw you was when we were having dinner, of course. I was busy getting to know Rolanda while we waited for you to finish the Weasley twins and get back up to the table to get ready for the Sorting Ceremony. Then I felt eyes on me and you were staring me down, but you were using Occlumency so heavily that I really didn't pick anything up other than distrust and a sense of you challenging my right to be at that table. And I won that battle, because you looked away first," Jenniferr finished, pleased with herself.

"I don't recall that," Severus replied evenly.

"You wouldn't," Jennifer retorted, still quite smug.

"Besides, I had already spoken to you before that supposed staring match of yours, because I recall Rolanda noting how you were picking at your food without eating it," Severus pointed out. "I assumed it was caused by your lack of experience and nervousness. The decades of watching you pick at your food proves otherwise."

"What were you thinking about that night?" Jennifer pressed, gazing at him steadily.

"Just as you suspected, I was challenging your right to be at that table, especially at such a critical time and in such a critical role," Severus replied. "I thought about your father, bolting after Voldemort's Purge and taking his family with him. Of course, at that point I had no memory of you or your mother at all, since my earliest memories were taken from me and Thomas did everything in his power to keep you well away from that side of his life. I was thinking of how foolish it was to return after Thomas' supposed death, knowing full well Voldemort's wrath would have extended to you. I had even argued those points on your behalf before we even met, when Albus told me he had hired a Craw during our preterm meeting. He did not, however, divulge to me that you were a Truth Seeker, and that one of the reasons he asked you to come was to help protect against any more imposters getting in the school without him knowing about it, as well as to vet all incoming guests, since we didn't know who to trust at that point…"

"Yes, but you're getting off the subject," Jennifer pointed out. "By your own admission, you didn't know any of that then. But I want to know what you were thinking the moment you saw me."

"Very well, other than thinking that you were foolish for accepting Dumbledore's invitation, I thought you were too inexperienced and too young to be sitting there, and that gaze of yours was too naive, too defiant, and your eyes were too green… much, much too green. It was quite repelling."

"Too green?" Jennifer repeated with surprise.

Severus' expression remained quite serious.

"You did ask," he pointed out. "It struck a bit of a nerve, being that vibrant… perhaps there was a nefarious reason for it. Perhaps you had intentionally colored your eyes and hair to attract attention, or in an attempt to circumvent suspicion." Jennifer laughed silently at that.

"My goodness, Severus, you really were quite paranoid," Jennifer informed him.

"Hardly paranoid, Jennifer, you know perfectly well the sort of position I was in then and what sort of risks I was taking. For all I knew, you weren't really a Craw at all, and it was part of an elaborate plot to not only infiltrate Hogwarts to test my loyalty. And it is just as well that you weren't, because I would have failed that test utterly, even before the end of the next evening."

"Oh really? Despite the fact you initially found my eye color repelling?" Jennifer taunted him.

"You know perfectly well why I found them repelling, especially since I had no memory of that early encounter with your mother, whose eyes you inherited," Severus said evenly. "Ironically enough, it was your gaze that ended up shattering my initial reaction to condemn you for the unforgivable offense of being so compellingly attractive. By the end of that rather comical first day of classes… " he began, Jennifer smiling sheepishly at the memory, "I noticed you were up late and in your office, so I decided to share a cup of Subtle Slumber with you."

"Oh, yes. I always think back on that night with great fondness," Jennifer admitted with a smile.

"I was still testing your boundaries at that point, attempting to figure you out, and by countering my speculation, you proved that you were doing the same thing. It resulted in us making our first true connection," Severus decided.

"I've always felt so too," Jennifer agreed, sipping her coffee as she thought of the potion they shared.

"Yes, well, that was the first time I remember you looking at me in that way… it was as if your eyes were trying to bore through all of my defenses," Severus said.

"I'm sure they probably were," Jennifer said with amusement.

"It had struck me that no witch had ever really looked at me with such intensity before," Severus murmured. "But then I found out after Albus put you on escort duty that you were a Truth Seeker. In that instant, I felt like a fool and attempted to rationalize that gaze away; you were simply attempting to use your power against me. But it was no more than a moment later when you had the gall to challenge me with a mischievous smile and a gaze so revealing that it utterly disarmed me. It proved to me that I wasn't imagining it. There was more to that searching look than mere suspicion, far more… and I didn't know how to handle it… not until the Mirror of Erised made me face my hidden desire to explore it further. It gave me permission to let go."

"The Mirror didn't do that, Severus, you gave yourself permission to let go… just like you chose to follow the Fate it had revealed," Jennifer corrected him.

"How could I not? It was a much less bitter Fate than what I would have had if I had turned away from you, I am quite certain of that," Severus said seriously.

"As if my Fate would have been any better without you," Jennifer replied with amusement. "But while we're on hypotheticals, I have one of my own to ask. What if… instead of stealing the Mirror and everything that happened after… what if the only way we could have convinced Voldemort I was harmless and keep him from wanting me dead was if the two of us had gotten married right after we met?"

"Oh my god, that would have been disastrous," Severus said, putting a hand to his head in such a way that Jennifer couldn't help but laugh. "Come now, you know I'm right, Jennifer, we'd probably have ended in divorce, and likely more than one divorce as we kept getting pulled back to one another time and again. Imagine Alexandria in middle of that mess and the danger she would have been in, and God knows if Corey would have ever been taken in… perhaps it would have, if we had chosen that old cottage. No… I really don't know that either of us would have lived through such a scenario… considering how much we fought back then, even when we were living in different quarters."

"I wonder if any of the other Cosmic Matches we know would have worked had they gotten married straight away? Even if we discount the ones that met as children or in Pyther's case, even before birth, would any of them have a chance? Sirius and Anna certainly wouldn't have stayed together. Alex's meeting with Mage was rushed as it is, and I can't imagine how badly it would have gone if it had been any faster. And if Andrew and Laura had married right after she started teaching…"

"One of them would probably have ended up dead… and than more likely Andrew," Severus conjectured. Jennifer chuckled and nodded at that.

"Yes, well, now you see my problem, Severus, because after talking to Bres and Lunette, I can very much assure you that they are no further along than we were the first time you kissed me. And not only that, they are still in the explaining stage of what happened… they haven't even gotten to that first argument we had directly after that kiss, when we realized we had very, very different views of what was going to happen next and how to manage our relationship. So, because of that, I am quite worried about them," Jennifer explained.

"Yes, I understand now. It sounds like you have a very good reason to be concerned," Severus replied solemnly. "What sort of position has this put you in, now that they're in the house?"

"Well, actually, once Bres was settled in the library, Lunette and I went to Dagda's to do the shopping," Jennifer explained, getting up and rearranging the chairs for dinner. "While we were wandering the market, Lunette seemed unusually defensive and I had the feeling she was avoiding my gaze. Whether it was intentional or not, I'm not certain. She was struggling with the whole idea of being in a Fated relationship, but she took offense to me trying to give her advice on it. I'm sure that my pointing out that it was the first time she needed my advice instead of the other way around didn't help any, I think it may have hurt her pride a bit," Jennifer admitted. "She was going on about how much experience she had with marriage and relationships in general and then mentioned they hadn't fought once since they were married, and that's when I realized the problem. When I attempted to talk about it, she got even more offended and popped off to New York, since she needed to tell Liberty about getting remarried anyway. Of course, she also told me she needed to get away from me for a while… she was quite annoyed with me."

"I doubt it was you she was running from so much as she was running from dealing with the repercussions of her relationship with Bres, Jennifer," Severus commented.

"Yes, I think there's some truth to that as well," Jennifer admitted. "Anyway, that's when I realized that I needed some advice and arranged for Zack to take Bres out because they've become fast friends. I did have to go buy Bres a pocket watch first, though. He had been relying on Lunette so much that he hadn't needed one before, so I took him to Maryced's for one and told him it was a wedding present so that he'd accept it. Because to be perfectly honest, Severus, whatever else needs to happen in this relationship, I can tell from all of the decisions Bres was making that his main focus is getting back some independence."

"Oh? Getting back his independence in what way?" Severus asked intently.

"In every way, really. From the very moment he arrived, he wanted to handle his own bags, help the household by looking after Seren, and he made certain he understood the rules of the house and what his boundaries were. After that, he had no trouble expressing his desire to stay in the library to learn. He even impressed Mercy enough that she volunteered to stay and help him. Even so, he had no problem putting down his work to spend time with Zack and to meet Owain. And, despite his initial reluctance to accept it, he was quite grateful to have his own pocket watch so that he could learn enough about our time measuring system so that he could start managing his schedule."

"His initial reluctance?" Severus repeated.

"Oh, he was worried about how he was going to compensate me for the watch. I wrote it off as a wedding present with Cedric backing me up that it wasn't too pricey of a present for that," Jennifer explained, leaning on the back of one of the chairs. "Bres' reaction to his situation rather reminds me of how I felt back when I lived with Mark in New York. I didn't feel like I had control over anything until I started making my own money. I mean… I know Lunette reassured him that money isn't something they needed to worry about as wealthy as she is, but it was quite evident to me that it's troubling him."

"Of course it is troubling him. It would trouble most people to be put in such a disadvantaged position. I know enough about most Fae societies to know that while Faerie Queens are often revered when they rule alone, it is still quite patriarchal in nature. He had a profession, did he not? A professional scholar. I'm sure a professional scholar to a lord would have to be well versed in economies and trade even if he himself never wanted for anything. Tell me, Jennifer. If Bres had come alone and hadn't been married at all, what would you suggest that his greatest needs are at the present time?"

"That's obvious, isn't it? His greatest need is to feel back in control of his life again," Jennifer replied. "To be fair, everything he's done so far shows a willingness to do it… in fact, he's quite eager. He just needs a guide to understand our culture and to help him navigate any obstacles caused by his unfamiliarity and race disadvantage."

"And is Lunette capable of guiding him, in your honest opinion?" Severus asked.

"Well, my honest opinion is no. If it were anyone else but Bres, anyone at all, I'd say yes," Jennifer immediately added. Severus smiled thinly at that. "You know as well as I do just how much she helped me when I went to Whitebridge… and I did need her help badly… learning to set up a bank account and shop and learn the technology and all other sorts of unexpected trouble I ran into when I was over there full time. But when it comes to Bres… I don't know what's going on. Maybe it's because she's too close to the problem, since she's missing obvious cues. Maybe it's because she's too wrapped into her own struggles to see it."

"The latter, I think, is the true reason. She may have agreed to this marriage for the good of everyone there and in the name of the alliance, but deep down she knows that things are moving much too fast for her," Severus replied. "But I am wondering, from a friend's point of view, what you would prescribe for her?"

"That's obvious. She needs to back off and let their relationship develop naturally," Jennifer said firmly, then sighed. "No, it's more than that. Somehow she has to come to terms with her Fate. That's not something I can really help her with."

"No, but I can."

The two of them both looked around in surprise and Severus got to his feet, nodding at Lady Viviane as she stood silently in the doorway.

"Aunt Viviane, do come in. We were just about to sit down to dinner if you're like to join us," Severus offered.

"Thank you, Severus, but this won't take long," Viviane promised. "Good evening, Jennifer. It is good to hear that you still understand your personal limitations," she added as she walked over to the desk. Jennifer scrunched up her face in annoyance. If Viviane saw it, she ignored it, focusing on Severus instead. "Jennifer's observations about Lunette are quite correct, but she is unlikely to take advice from anyone she sees as a child, Severus."

"Considering Lunette's age, that leaves few options. Dumbledore, perhaps, but he and Minerva were about to head home," Severus said.

"It should prove long enough for a quick chat, at least," Viviane replied. "The only way Lunette is likely to come to terms with her Fate is if she faces the matter head on. The prescription, as you call it, has already been given. She must follow her grandfather's request and search for her father, but it is a journey she must take on her own. Since it is a journey she has been Fated to go on, her struggles with Fate will come to the forefront, because she will not be able to complete her task if she does not follow her intended path."

"I see. And what about Lord Bres?" Severus inquired. Viviane gestured unconcernedly towards Jennifer without looking at her.

"Jennifer is more than capable of handling that matter. She'll have no trouble mentoring Bres if she follows her instincts. I need to concentrate my efforts on the one who might damage the effort to establish peace in Tir Na Nog. Even the old fool would agree that peace is more important than our personal quarrel, or he wouldn't have gone to the wedding in the first place," Viviane said, a note of criticism in her voice. "However, there is something else I need you to do that he will not only disapprove of, but it is of large enough interference that it will immediately attract his attention in a way I cannot stop it."

"Understood," Severus replied.

"When Jennifer takes them to Myrkinbrek, it is quite imperative that she go to Tassels and Panning so that the Princess and her consort receive their Dragonheart rings," Viviane said.

"What?" Jennifer exclaimed out of surprise.

"I have already arranged for the correct set, they need only pick them up. You will inform them it is my wedding gift to them," Viviane said, turning ever slightly to look back at Jennifer.

"But they're not really ready for them!" Jennifer protested.

"Neither were you," Viviane retorted.

"We were a hell of a lot more ready for them than they are at the moment," Jennifer replied curtly.

"I am well aware," Viviane acknowledged, leaving Jennifer with nothing to say as she turned back to Severus. "Be that as it may, it must be done. Even if Lunette is not ready to accept her Fate fully, it is important that she bear the burden of it."

"We will do what you ask, of course, but you're right in that he'll not be happy," Severus replied. "Merlin went to an awful lot of trouble getting all of the Diamond on this side of the portal."

"He did it to keep them out of Demon hands, which is no longer an issue," Viviane said, and Severus gazed fixedly at her. "Yes, there's more to it than that, and I am aware he is likely to cause me trouble in return for my interference. But this is one of those instances that I believe will be worth whatever mischief he throws in return."

"Considering I will earn his initial reaction, why would you worry," Severus said dryly.

"It is important that you stand up for your own choices, Severus. He may not like them, but if you stand up for your choices, he will respect them… once he cools off, anyway," Viviane added as a caveat.

"Thank you," Severus said dryly.

"Then I wish you a good dinner and a good summer," Viviane said. "If you need backup or advice, seek your old mentors. I'm sure they will be more than willing to spend some time with you before they return home. That goes for you as well, Jennifer."

"I was planning on spending more time with Minerva anyway," Jennifer admitted, and Viviane nodded to her before walking back out of the room.

"Well… now that that is settled, I am going to go fetch Seren and that Hat from their tea party," Severus decided.

"Do you suppose we're doing the right thing following her advice on this, Severus?" Jennifer asked worriedly, a bit afraid that Viviane would hear her concerns.

"Yes, quite sure," Severus replied, then went into the nursery.