Chapter Ten
Friction
Just as they were coming out of Grendelbane's on their way to the Museum Cafe, Jennifer took a moment to unfold her yellow mirror and warn Severus about Viviane's interference with the rings. Severus knew that trouble wouldn't be far behind.
In Hogsmeade, Toby had a monstrous headache. When he asked his shop to send him something to cure it, the shop had conjured up an item so unexpected that Toby knew something was wrong.
Toby stepped far enough out of his shop that he could no longer pick up its protective influence and focused on the outside world. He began to wander around the town, attempting to make sense of what he was feeling, and staring at each shop as if it was the first time he had seen them. When he finally realized what was wrong, he growled in anger and stomped down on alleyway only to appear at the gates of Hogwarts
Severus heard a stringent note on a violin, warning him of an emergency. He didn't have to ask the Rogue Painting what the emergency was.
"Take evasive action," Severus ordered, and all of the Headmaster Paintings flipped around to their backs. He then grabbed the dozing Sorting Hat off of his shelf, forcing him awake. "Merlin is coming. Go watch Seren."
"Yes, yes, alright," said the Hat.
Severus quickly tossed into the nursery and then used a hidden switch to move the nursery door to the back rooms. Then he hurried over and sat at his desk, pretending as if the over-the-summer budget was the most important piece of school business that he ever had to give to the board.
The doors of the Headmaster's Study were blown in by a strong burst of magic in a very dramatic fashion and Merlin stormed in, not even bothering with his Toby form at all.
"Good afternoon, Merlin. Is something wrong?" Severus asked calmly.
"Don't you 'is something wrong' with me, apprentice! Come out from behind that desk at once!" Merlin demanded.
"Very well, but for the record, I would like to point out that I have not used the Time Turner since the Grill Party," Severus said, getting up and stepping in front of him.
"This is not about what you've been doing! This is about what you've not been doing! You have not been keeping Viviane in line, and now everything around me is all out of whack! In fact, I have been disorientated ever since I returned. I thought that spending some time in my shop would remedy as it typically does, but it kept nagging at me, making me wonder what was causing it. I now know for a fact that Viviane has been interfering! I cannot believe for a moment that Lunette Vallid would choose to wear a Dragonheart Diamond when so much of her future is so unsure! It would be completely unlike her to accept such a burden without careful consideration, Severus. The only reason that Lunette would be wearing that ring is if Viviane forced her hand in some manner!' Merlin concluded angrily.
"I can confirm that," Severus admitted. Merlin gazed at him with open disapproval. "Jennifer contacted me not long before you got here. Viviane sent Jennifer out of the room but no one really went out of the way to hide what must have happened. Viviane did coerce Lunette into taking the Diamond because she wanted to preserve the peace in Tir Na Nog."
"That Diamond is only a symbol of peace when it is whole! It doesn't belong to a couple not of this world!" Merlin snapped.
"Lunette is of this world," Severus pointed out, but then paused and thought better of it, shrugging to himself. "Really, it is none of my affair in either case. I had no part in what happened, and to be blunt, I feel rather sorry for them. I agree with you that the owners of those rings should have a choice in the matter, most decidedly so. But I don't have the power to stop Viviane when she decides to interfere on this sort of level. That is more your business than mine. Besides, is this really so shocking that they were given a set of rings? As I understand it, you went to their wedding along with everyone else, and I don't wonder if you weren't involved in treaty negotiations in some manner."
"Lunette has always been a champion of Free Will just as you have!" Merlin snapped.
"And like her, I got tangled up in my own Fate," Severus replied.
"Yes, but you chose your rings!" Merlin snapped.
"Technically, Albus picked them out," Severus corrected. The air was now prickling with static as Merlin's anger grew. "I really don't know why you're taking this out on me. If Viviane crossed the line, shouldn't you be taking it up with her instead?"
"What happened today is simply confirmation that she has been manipulating things for quite some time!" Merlin snapped. "Her meddling must have begun before I got back from the Otherworld. What I initially took as disorientation from a long trip was actually a symptom of my work being undone while I was gone. And you knew it was going on, you knew it, and that's why you've been avoiding me ever since I returned! You kept coming up with reasonable sounding excuses, and even had others coming into my shop on your behalf! You didn't want to face the fact that you were working against me!"
"Merlin, in no way have I been working against you," Severus said firmly. "All I did was make a choice to stay out of it. Viviane came to me some time ago and pointed out how lopsided things have gotten in favor of Free Will in this world. She told me that it was in my best interests to stay out of it so that she could restore the balance."
"It is not supposed to be balanced!" Merlin retorted heatedly. "Free Will is supposed to have the upper hand in this universe! If you get it too close to equal, it doesn't take much for the scales to tip towards Fate, which is what has happened now!"
"If you have a problem with something she's done, you should speak with her directly. As I just explained, it has nothing to do with me," Severus said.
"Your job is advocating for Free Will, especially in my absence!"
"Well, you happen to be here at the moment," Severus noted. "So shouldn't you be doing something about it?"
"I certainly shall, but first I must deal with your insolence, since you've left me a mess to clean up by 'choosing' to do nothing!" Merlin snapped. "I shall also choose to do 'nothing' for you. You will not see my shop, get any more lessons, or get any extra help no matter what messes you get into for the foreseeable future! And by you, I also mean your entire family, so tell them not to bother looking for me! I also insist that you no longer aid Viviane in any way, and that includes doing nothing when you should be warning me that she's up to something!"
"Very well, Merlin. I will not aid her again, and I promise to keep you informed if Viviane interferes in something you should know about," Severus replied solemnly.
"And you had better keep to your word, or our next meeting will not be pleasant!" Merlin threatened darkly.
"I understand," Severus said evenly.
Harrumphing loudly at Severus, Merlin stormed out of the room.
"Is it safe to come out now?" asked the muffled voice of Armando Dippet.
"Yes, but let me know when he's officially off the property," Severus said, waving his hand to turn the Headmaster Paintings back around.
There was the sound of a knock on the inside of one of the doors.
"Do you want me to get a message to Lady Viviane that you've been grounded for being a naughty boy?" the ghost of Icarus Ravenclaw inquired.
"She probably already knows," Severus told him with a shrug, then moved the nursery door back into position.
When Jennifer, Bres, and Lunette got back from their tour of the museum, Lunette was quite exhausted, conscientiously looking at her Dragonheart Diamond to see it was a brilliant blue. While she had very little knowledge about what the colors represented, Lunette deduced from Bres' thoughts that blue had something to do with how pleased he was with securing a summer job.
"I have never seen a place with such wonders," Bres said. While his expression was as mutes as always, there could be no doubt from the tone of his voice just how sincere he was. "It was as if a small library of books were opened for all to see their contents and be able to reach out and touch them. And the little town with the strange wheeled things…"
"Trains, Bres," Jennifer smiled.
"Yes, trains, that's right. And so many children were there, enjoying the tiny village and the other wonders," Bres went on. "And to learn it was donated by Andrew the Wise himself!"
"Not only donated, Bres, but he built a great deal of it," Jennifer replied. "Anyone for coffee?"
"Actually, that sounds good. Is there any way I can borrow your computer, Jennifer? I'd like to unwind as well as check in with some people," Lunette said.
"Oh, sure! Let me make sure everything's off that needs to be off and everything's on that needs to be on," Jennifer said.
"You do that. Maybe I should start the coffee," Lunette suggested.
"It's alright, I will get it," Mercy's voice said.
"Yes, thank you, Mercy," Jennifer said distractedly, going over to the computer.
"Good afternoon, Mercy," Bres greeted her, sitting down in the dining room to look over the folder he had gotten. "I have a summer job at the Museum."
"Congratulations, Lord Bres! It's nice to have a good job," Mercy said, pouring water into the machine.
"It is very different from anything I have done before, but I am looking forward to learning something new," Bres replied.
"Do you need any help with those forms?" Lunette asked.
"I was hoping I could figure them out myself, but I must admit that I've become more uncertain," Bres admitted as Lunette got a tin of biscuits for the table. "It is this part that confuses me most… there is a box for a street address, a "Muggle" address, and an "Owl Post" address. Jennifer told me that an address is where one's home is, but this seems more complicated than that."
"Bres, it's okay," Lunette said with a reassuring smile. "You don't have to try so hard at being independent when everything is so new. I don't mind helping you fill it out… especially when it's something that's important to you."
"I sense from your emotions that you are not as happy about my new job as I am of having it," Bres said slowly. "You do not have to help me if you don't approve."
"It's not that. My feelings are more complicated than that," Lunette said, and Bres gazed at her intently. "I thought we were going to spend this whole trip getting to know one another better. To be honest, I'd rather you just forget about the whole job thing and help me find my father. To hell with Viviane's advice."
"I'm sure you don't mean that," Bres replied, shaking his head and putting his hand over one of hers. "Lunette, you are used to being on your own, as am I. Before my father sent me to the Shadowed Lands, I spent long hours among my books, eating only when my father's servant insisted, and sleeping only when I became too tired to work."
"That part I know already," Lunette said dryly. Bres nodded with a gentle smile.
"It takes more than a few short weeks to change a lifetime of habits, and I admit that I struggle with it. When you are here, I often feel as if you are distracting me from my work. But the moment you are gone, I miss your presence and want you to return again," Bres observed. Lunette put a hand to her forehead.
"I have never had that dilemma before now," Lunette confessed with a resigned grin. Seeing her coffee cup in front of her, she put in a dollop of cream and took a sip of the bitter yet pleasant brew. "Relationships were something that always happened after hours."
"You have had children," Bres pointed out.
"Well, I've always had the good sense to marry a professional with an extended family to watch the kids… or, like my last marriage, to a doctor who had adult kids and no interest in any more. But now things are different. I don't know what I'm going to do," Lunette admitted. "I've never been a full time mother before. I'm just not the type."
"You're a princess blessed with the first grandchild of King Iuchar since the curse was broken. I do not think finding a caretaker will be a problem," Bres pointed out with a hint of amusement.
"Sure, but what about when we visit this world?" Lunette pointed out.
"We can leave them in Tir Na Nog," Bres said logically.
"What!"
"Did you not say that it didn't matter if we stayed a full season in this world because at home only a few days would pass in exchange?" Bres asked. "Since that is the case, we will never be gone long enough for our children to miss us or hamper their growth."
"I can't do that! That would be… hell, I really don't know how it'd be… it's too bizarre for me to comprehend, but I know that I'd miss them too much! It might be a short time for them, but not for me!" Lunette blurted out.
"Then perhaps you are more nurturing than you believe," Bres concluded.
Lunette made a face at him and took another sip of coffee. Bres held out a biscuit for her as a peace offering, smiling softly.
Jennifer walked in from the living room.
"Alright then… sorry, am I interrupting?" Jennifer asked, watching a grumpy Lunette took the biscuit from Bres.
"No, I was just getting outmaneuvered by Bres' wit. Again," Lunette added for good measure, taking a bite.
"Oh! That's alright then. You two are well matched, I never thought I'd see the day," Jennifer teased. "Imagine him as a Prosecutor."
"What is that?" Bres asked.
"Don't tell him," Lunette said. Jennifer decided to humor her, but not without a smile, going over to pour her own coffee.
"The computer is ready for you, Lunette. You can use it anytime you like," Jennifer said.
"Now that all of your dirty secrets are hidden. Any good Wizard porn sites around here, Jennifer?" Lunette retorted.
"You of all people know how I feel about that, you're simply trying to get back at me," Jennifer said unconcernedly, not falling for it as she prepared her coffee. "I need to go fetch Seren from the castle once I've finished this, but I won't be long in case you do need access to something that I forgot to put on your desktop."
"Actually, I'm going to help Bres with his paperwork for the Museum first, although we might be hard on your cookie tin," Lunette said. Jennifer chuckled.
"Quite alright, it'll give us an excuse to bake. Seren loves to bake," Jennifer said with amusement.
"May I ask about this?" Bres inquired.
"Do you want to learn how to bake?" Jennifer asked brightly.
"I mean about Seren. I want to know how you decide who is going to take care of her," Bres asked curiously. Lunette stared at him, wondering if he picked up from her emotions how much she wished he hadn't asked that question.
"Oh! Well, when we had dinner last night, Severus offered to take her overnight since he knew we had so many errands today. That way, I could concentrate on the two of you instead of what sort of mischief that Seren was getting into," Jennifer said with amusement. "In the summer there is a lot going on, so the whole family pitches in to babysit each other's children. Seren spent the first two weeks of summer with Anna and Sirius to spend time with Samantha, who is the same age. My son Quintin and his nephew Rus are currently at camp until the end of the week. Then they'll spend the night at Jeremy's before my son-in-law Mage picks them up. Then he'll drop Quintin off here at the house since he starts his summer job at Gribitz Emporium on Monday. No matter how crazy our lives get, there's always someone to pass the baby to, which is one of the benefits of having a large family," Jennifer concluded with a smile.
"Do faerie guardians share some of that responsibility as well?" Bres asked.
"He means godparents," Lunette explained.
"Yes, sometimes! Sometimes simply being a friend of the family is enough, too… even parents of our children's friends have stepped in during a crisis," Jennifer replied.
"Perhaps it would be within our best interests if Jennifer was our child's faerie guardian," Bres suggested to Lunette.
Before Lunette had to think up a response, Jennifer couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sure, why not? I've always wanted to be a faerie godmother!" Jennifer replied mischievously. Before they could respond, Jennifer suddenly looked around. "I thought I heard the door just now. I wonder which…"
She was cut off by the sound of feet and Seren ran into the room.
"You're still here!" Seren told Bres.
"I seem to be," Bres agreed, then glanced up curiously as Severus stepped in.
"Good afternoon," Severus said.
"Oh, Severus, I was just about to come fetch her," Jennifer explained.
"It's no trouble," Severus replied calmly. "Don't let her fool you, Jennifer, she's been fed. Seren, why don't you go play in your room for now?"
"Okay!" she said, hiding the biscuit in her hand as she ran back out.
"Coffee, Severus?" Jennifer suggested.
"Yes, in the library," Severus replied, and wandered in that direction. Jennifer glanced over at Lunette, and it was obvious from her expression that she had picked something up.
"I'm going to have a cup of coffee with Severus. Do you need our Muggle and Owl Post address, Lunette?" Jennifer asked.
"Don't worry, I have them written down already," Lunette promised, taking out a small book and showing it to her.
"Alright," Jennifer said.
Refilling her cup and pouring his, she carried them up to the library. As she carefully
came up the stairs and into the room, Severus closed the door with a wave.
"Well, we knew Toby wouldn't be happy," she said, handing Severus his cup.
"No, he was not," Severus agreed, taking a seat across from Jennifer's favorite chair. "In fact, it is unlikely that anyone in the family will even see that shop for quite some time… except perhaps Quintin. If Toby could have closed that shop to Quintin in our present time, he would have, but I don't believe he can do so without cutting off the others. Toby won't do that, especially when he's feeling a bit disadvantaged."
"Does that mean there's a chance that some of the older Quintins will be paying visits to this time period again?" Jennifer asked thoughtfully.
"I suppose it depends on whether or not Toby needs any help with whatever he's plotting to get even with Viviane," Severus answered with a shrug. "One thing is certain; he doesn't trust me right now because he doesn't like the choices I've made over the last few years."
"I don't see anything wrong with the choices you've made over the last few years, Severus. I think you've been doing splendidly, actually," Jennifer said sincerely.
"That's alright then. As long as you approve, I can endure his huffing and puffing," Severus decided. Jennifer smiled warmly at him.
They had shared no more than a couple of sips of coffee before there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Do you suppose that is your new stray?' Severus inquired.
"I don't believe so," Jennifer said. Severus waved the door open and they saw Lunette standing there. "Did you get stuck on the employment forms, Lunette?"
"I'm a lawyer, Jennifer," Lunette told her flatly, then turned to Severus instead. "I saw something about Merlin being angry with you when you came in. It doesn't have anything to do with me, does it?"
"Yes and no," Severus replied, meeting Lunette's gaze. "It is true that Merlin confronted me because Viviane pressured you and Bres into accepting a Dragonheart Diamond ring set. Due to her choice to interfere in your lives, Merlin realized that I had become more moderate in my views of Fate versus Free Will. So, he came to remind me of my place. While it was a catalyst, I wouldn't say the event was the cause of his anger; rather, it's because Fate has more leverage now than when he left. Frankly, I don't think he's been able to sort out his personal memories enough to know what all has changed, so he still doesn't have a clear view of what he's angry about. Despite that, he needed someone to lash out at, and I was the easier target," Severus explained. "For the record, Lunette, I would like you to know that I was not comfortable with Viviane's decision to give you those rings either. But Viviane asked me not to get involved, and that it was necessary for you to have those rings. She believes that it will take Fate to help you find your father, and she wants to safeguard the new peace treaty."
"Yes, she gave me those same points, which is why I'm wearing it," Lunette said irritably, glancing at her ring. "I don't suppose you can write down the different colors and their meanings for me?"
"We can give you a generalized list, but we have found after consulting other couples that there are some individual variations that may be different. That being the case, there may be certain colors or patterns that you may have to work out on your own," Severus said.
"I understand," Lunette replied.
"I will write them all out and send you an Owl," Severus promised. "I can tell you from the color right now that he seems to be curious and filled with anticipation at the moment."
"That sounds about right," Lunette said. The three of them walked back down the stairs and into the dining room.
Seren had returned to the table, and she and Bres both had another biscuit. Severus sighed with exasperation.
"You're such a bad influence!" Lunette voiced.
"Are you speaking to me or to her?" Bres asked curiously.
"Both!" Lunette decided. "The two of you together are nothing but trouble," she declared. Jennifer couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"Yes, well, I will have to let you handle the matter since I need to get back to the school, but first I would like to speak with you about an Owl I received just before I left the school," Severus said. "Professor Boulderdash, our Librarian, was inquiring about you, Bres, and asked my opinion on offering you the Assistant Librarian position."
"Why would Boulderdash do that?" Lunette asked in surprise.
"Well, when Bres expressed interest in looking for a summer job, I took him to Gemshard's first," Jennifer explained. "Boulderdash seemed quite interested in the idea of getting someone with actual experience in the job for a change."
"What Jennifer means by that is I often use the Librarian Assistant position for is either helping a student use it as a stepping stone when choosing a difficult path, or for pulling in school friends who need a reset from the outside world so that they can be in a better place to make their own decisions. I suppose this inquiry is mostly about the fact that Boulderdash needs a break from babysitting," Severus explained with a soft smirk.
"I don't see how hiring Bres would give him a break from babysitting. You're talking about someone who didn't know what glass was before he got here, and all he knows about cars is that they make loud noises outside this house," Lunette said.
"I may not understand the technology here, Lunette, but I do know books," Bres pointed out. "It sounds quite intriguing, but I already have a job at the Museum, educating visitors about my culture."
"The Museum is a summer position, Bres. You wouldn't need to come to Hogwarts until after that job is over," Jennifer explained.
"Woah, Jennifer, don't try selling him on this before he understands what a position at Hogwarts means…" Lunette protested.
"You'll also be making a lot more money," Jennifer added.
"That is not what I meant! Hogwarts is a time commitment! It lasts from September until June and you have to live there!" Lunette snapped.
"Don't be silly, Lunette, he doesn't have to live at the castle if he doesn't want to. He could easily stay at the Black Mansion and head to the school with Anna in the morning, or you could rent a place in Hogsmeade, although the Black Mansion is better, since they'd let you stay for free," Jennifer said.
"How much is it to live at the castle?" Bres asked before Lunette could speak again.
"Room and meals are included if you decide to stay, and Lunette can visit whenever she likes. If you want to go home at night so that the two of you can stay together, the Black Mansion is probably your best bet, although it might hamper Lunette's quest if you did," Jennifer conjectured.
"Jennifer! How about you stay out of it!" Lunette growled at her.
"I was only answering his question," Jennifer said calmly.
"You were being manipulative again! Let Severus answer the questions," Lunette ordered.
"Enough, Islene!" Bres snapped, and Lunette stared at him in surprise. "Lady Viviane told us that you must continue your quest to find your Father while I must stay and learn my own path. And since it is my path to learn, who I choose to take advice from has nothing to do with you. Jennifer has been listening to my concerns and helping me find solutions. Her advice has always been sound, and has shown no more bias than a Delven priestess would, who only wishes to facilitate me towards my intended path. I know that you were Jennifer's guide and understand her failings well, and yes, I know she is still young. But she knows what I need to learn from this world, and she is wise when it comes to helping me find my path. She is a good teacher, and I believe it is my Fate to learn from her."
Jennifer nodded to him with a smile.
"If she's so good with Fate, how come Viviane sent her out of the room?" Lunette challenged him.
"My aunt doesn't like the competition," Severus said drolly.
"Lunette, Viviane asked me to mentor Bres, not that I wasn't planning to anyway. But it's really hard to convince someone that they're in a world of FreeWill when his wife is busy making all of his choices for him," Jennifer informed her bluntly before turning to Bres. "I wasn't going to mention that Viviane said that, Bres. I didn't want to let it influence your decision on the matter."
"It simply confirms what I already suspected," Bres replied. "I don't know how it could even be possible to go against Fate if my Fate is to make choices right now. Then again, from a philosophical point of view, I don't know how it is possible for the choices to be truly mine if it's Fated," Jennifer smiled a warm, enigmatic smile.
"The answer to that question is on your finger, Bres," Severus replied calmly. Bres glanced at his Dragonheart Diamond solemnly. "But understanding that answer may take a very long time. It took us years, after a lot of hard work and cooperation, though it wasn't without regrets and heartaches along the way." Jennifer nodded to Severus knowingly. "The two of you have just started this journey. Regardless of your past experiences, this is a road you haven't traveled before. It is a path worth traveling, and it has unparalleled rewards. But there is also anguish, anger, regrets, and many perils along the way. You must prepare for that," Severus advised seriously.
"I understand, Severus," Bres said. He glanced over at Lunette, who felt quite irritated. Jennifer and Severus glanced at her as well.
"I'm going to use the Wizardnet," Lunette said, then went to the front room.
"Yes, well, I should be heading back. I suppose I'll next see you at Lupin Island," Severus said. Jennifer beamed at that. "In fact, I moved the registry to the Headmaster's Study since I know it'll be any day."
"But that means you'll know before me! You will mirror me, won't you?" Jennifer asked.
"If you like. Until then," Severus said, then slipped out.
"Do you need me for anything, Jennifer?" Bres asked.
"Oh, not at the moment, feel free to use the library until dinner," Jennifer said.
"Thank you," Bres said sincerely.
He got up to put his folder in his room and grabbed his journal to take some notes with him to the library, eager to get down another full day of experiences.