A/N Welcome to Series Four Book Three (Seventeen) of the Jennifer Craw books (which starts with Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand, 1-14, then three short stories, with this series preceding it starting with Paintings of Twilight.) This is without a doubt a character builder type story that involves all the characters (mostly OC's, but if you're a regular reader you know that by now ;) with the primary focus being on Jennifer, Severus, and Lucky... and most especially Ambrose and Toby. Jennifer and Sev still have quite a bit they need to sort out thanks to last book's headaches, and Lucky's past starts to catch up with her and her second ability is revealed (if you haven't figured out what it is yet... some of you may have already guessed) And Ambrose is in for some serious wake up calls and finds out one of the lessons of this book; Heritage can be dangerous. With that, I'd like to dedicate this book to my nine year old son, who can in many ways be just as exasperating as the son of Merlin...

The book have some serious dark moments when it comes to Lucky especially, and has some suggestive content (more or less like last book) but you should find it a much lighter book than the last and ultimately an easier read. Good to see you back! JCWriter.)

Jennifer Craw and the Guardian of Fate

Chapter One

Whistle Blower

Severus Snape, Headmaster of Hogwarts, was not a man who usually trifled with anniversaries; short of perhaps grabbing a trinket from Tassels and Panning for his wife. It wasn't even a major anniversary, being the twenty-ninth. But the year before had tried his marriage with Jennifer to the very brink of disaster, and Jennifer, who had been eating up his constant spoiling and pampering like a sweet tooth locked in Honeydukes, would soon find that the old fool had finally given in to something that Jennifer had wistfully been wanting for years and years and years.

It was a family dinner whistle.

They had gotten home from Hogwarts quite late the night before. Jennifer, happy to be back, had snuck out of bed to try and go all-out making breakfast for Severus before he had time to stir. But the moment she stepped in the kitchen and saw the cord, she squealed outright with joy, half tempted to blow it then and there if she hadn't known that she'd have woken up most her family in the process.

Jennifer, who had originally been thinking breakfast for five, immediately began planning breakfast for fifteen, pulling every last egg, sausage, scone and slice of bread out of the cabinet. She also grabbed flour, chocolate chips, syrup, and anything else she could think of that any person in the family was even remotely fond of and piled it on the counters, filling up every last surface until she had to resort to using levitation spells for more space.

Severus decided not to say a word. He simply leaned on the door in the hallway and watched, shaking his head all the while and moving only long enough for Ben and the baby to get past. But Ben stopped short just inside the door, gazing at the stove thoughtfully.

"I don't suppose there's any hot water on there somewhere?" Ben said, and Jennifer looked up in surprise.

"Oh…bottle, right, I'll start on that now," Jennifer said, moving a griddle she was heating towards the ceiling and putting a pot of water on. Ben looked over at Severus unsurely to find that he was rolling his eyes at his wife.

"Jennifer…" Severus began, immediately getting tackled with kisses. Sighing, Ben went to the icebox to fish the bottle out and put it in the water.

"I can't believe it! We finally have our own dinner whistle!" Jennifer said enthusiastically.

"Yes…actually…" Severus began, lifting his chin out of range and got his neck kissed instead. "Might I point out the word 'dinner' in the term dinner whistle?"

"Well, yes, I know, but I want to try it out now!" Jennifer explained going back over to the counter, Ben shaking his head but not saying a thing as he waited for Icarus' bottle to heat up.

"Fine, perhaps I can understand your wanting to try it out. But might I also point out that even though all of your children might hear that bell when you pull it that there's no guarantees that all of them are going to show up? It's a suggestion, not a command, after all. I seriously doubt we need all of this food."

"Oh, but…they all like different things," Jennifer protested, Severus staring starkly at her. "Alex likes her eggs poached, but Alicia won't go anywhere near those, and Lucky prefers pancakes, of course, where Andrew won't touch them unless he makes them…not to mention Francis is a vegetarian and he only eats fruit in the morning, and that's not even getting into the particulars of the grandchildren."

"Icarus likes his milk warm, and Janus likes his milk cold," Ben chuckled at her, taking the bottle out of the water and going over to sit at the counter.

"Well, I meant if Corey and his family decide to come, of course," Jennifer said with exasperation and Severus closed his eyes to keep from rolling them again.

"You did warn the others about this whistle thing, I hope?" Ben asked. Before Severus could answer, there was a scream from the front room.

"Oh, Severus, can you get Janus? I'm rather busy," Jennifer said, barely looking up from the griddle.

"Mercy? Can I just get coffee at the table?" Severus sighed, walking towards the front room to get Janus, who simply raised his hands insistently.

"Oh, I can get your coffee, Severus," Jennifer protested, but the Head House Elf had already set it on the table, having wanted to find a way to help for quite some time.

"I have it," Severus said, plopping Janus down in a high chair and then sitting down, pretending to ignore the boy. Janus stared at him accusingly before he began to kick impatiently. "I'm sorry, did you want something?" he asked unconcernedly. "Here, I'll take that," he said when Ben tried to give Janus a cup of milk. "I have this one, you have your hands full," he added, shooing Ben away. Ben frowned but went back over into the kitchen, blinking when Severus decided to add some of Janus' milk to his coffee and put it back on the table. Janus cried out in protest, stretching his arms out. "Oh is this what you want?" Severus asked, holding up a spoon, but the boy simply kicked and cried again.

"Severus, what are you doing?" Jennifer shouted from the kitchen.

"Teaching," Severus said back, giving the boy the spoon and then went back to his coffee. Jennifer peered in and shook her head before going back to what she was doing, while Ben was still watching curiously as his ill-mannered son chucked the spoon and reached towards the bottle again. "Milk?" Severus asked Janus. Janus glared at him. "Milk? Say it, just attempt it and you can have it. Until then, it stays here," Severus said, going back to his coffee. Suddenly the milk disappeared and Severus immediately jumped up and grabbed it from Janus before he could take a drink. "Oh, no you don't. That won't work with me. You won't be getting any 'isn't that cutes' or 'look what he can do now' or even any 'I'll give it to you if you stop crying' responses while I'm here. I am home for two whole weeks, and in the meantime, you are going to have to deal with me," Severus said firmly. "Milk?" Janus glared at him. "Fine, I can be just as stubborn as you can be," he said unconcernedly.

Just then, there was a low air whistle sound like the whistle on a boat, and Severus glanced over to see Jennifer looking quite elated.

"Should I do it again?" Jennifer said after she thought about it a moment.

"Once is more than enough," Severus said, and there was a knock at the door. "There, that proves my point."

Jenniffer hurried over to the door, opening it and then laughing and hugging Corey and Rose as their children ran in and began fighting over seats.

"About time you blew that thing, Mom, the natives were getting restless," Corey chuckled.

"Oh, so you knew?" Jennifer frowned.

"Do you really think I'd buy something like that without a family warning?" Severus said, and then glanced up in time to see Francis hopping out of a painting. He then took the painting off and set it on the floor before carefully helping his pregnant wife out. Andrew came in from the back to try a sneak a peek in the kitchen.

"Make yourself useful and transfigure another table outside for the kids or something," Jennifer scolded him.

"I should have known I would be put to work," Andrew complained.

"You should know better than going into that kitchen by now," Severus said, turning back to Janus. "Milk?"

"Someone go upstairs and get Lucky," Jennifer said.

"I'll do it!" Natalie said.

"Me too!" Hope said following her up, nearly crashing into Aurelius and Alex who had just come in the door.

"This house is insane," Aurelius stated as he saw the chaos and shook his head. "You're going to regret getting that thing, Father."

"More than likely," Severus agreed. It was at that point that Alex stepped in and Janus started babbling up a storm while sobbing pathetically.

"What do you mean that you're starving to death and Grandfather doesn't love you? Of course he does!" Alex said and picked him up before Severus could protest and handing him the cup off the table.

"Alexandria, you are being counterproductive again," Severus complained, but she ignored him, listening as Janus began to babble and cry even more and Alexandria stared at her father.

"Did you really steal his milk?" she asked.

"Putting a bit in my coffee is hardly stealing…"

"Oh Father, how could you! You know how sensitive he is!" Alex said with exasperation. "I'll get you a fresh cup, Janus," she told him, taking him to the kitchen. Janus smiled triumphantly over her shoulder while Severus glowered at him, plotting to get even.

Just then, there was the sound of clamoring feet on the stairs.

"We found her!" Natalie declared.

"Found me? They tackled me!" Lucky complained.

"We didn't tackle you. We pounced you, there's a difference," Hope said indignantly.

"Lucky, why don't you take your nieces and nephew out to the table in the backyard and keep an eye on things?" Jennifer suggested, handing her a tray.

"Me? Babysit? Am I gonna get paid?" she asked.

"Out!" Jennifer said.

"I think I'd better sit out there too," Rose decided. "You know how Destiny's been since she learned the 'L' word."

"I seriously doubt she can get into trouble out there with it," Corey chuckled.

"Maybe, but I don't trust her," Rose said, grabbing some cups and heading outside.

"Destiny learned a new word?" Jennifer asked brightly.

"Yeah, well, apparently she's a Focus Caster, Mum," Corey said. "And we're already starting to pay for it."

"Are you certain it isn't just W magic, Corey? It can be quite common at that age," Severus said.

"No, no, no. Her new word is 'Lumos,'" he said in a low voice, making sure she was outside first. "See, we've been hitting the stage where we have a fight at night over keeping the light off and on and…well, she overheard us. Now she's been turning them off and on at random for fun."

"Maybe she'll get tired of it," Francis chuckled.

"Hopefully before the neighbors start complaining that our farm has turned into a lighthouse," Corey said dryly. "So has Janus started talking yet?" he asked when he saw Ben had come back in. He shook his head, glancing at the kitchen before answering.

"He keeps holding out and only talks to his mother on the weekends," Ben said in a lowered voice. "He is catching up in other areas, though."

"Yes, he's extremely intelligent, in point of fact," Severus murmured, "but that's nothing compared to just how obstinate he is."

"An obstinate child in this family? Blasphemy," Alicia chuckled.

"You'll get yours soon enough," Severus warned her, while Andrew propped his head up.

"You know, if I keep coming to these family gatherings, I swear I won't have any reservations left about staying a bachelor forever," Andrew decided.

"Here we are! Finally got everyone settled out there," Jennifer explained as she and Alex took their seats, beaming at them. "Isn't this marvelous? Rather like a holiday, isn't it?"

"Considering none of us were sure you were even going to make it to this anniversary, I'd say it's definitely worth a holiday," Andrew said.

"Yes, well, let that be a lesson to all of you, never take anything for granted," Severus said evenly, and Jennifer put a hand on his, smiling lovingly.

"Especially each other," Jennifer added.

"Well, I would like to suggest we do something extra special for next year, assuming we get there in one piece," Corey chuckled. "Rose and I were wondering if since we're going to be having our Pumpkin Anniversary next year and you two your thirtieth, and being they're so close together, we could have a joint party or something."

"I like that idea," Jennifer said enthusiastically before Severus had much time to think about it.

"Wow, it's staggering, isn't it? I still remember when you two were dating!" Alex said.

"Date? We didn't date, we simply got stuck together all the times you decided to set us up," Corey said accusingly. "Come to think of it, I don't think we had an actual date until our honeymoon."

"What about you, Mum, did you two date?" Andrew asked.

"Well…sort of," Jennifer said, glancing at Severus who was gazing at her steadily. "Although nearly all of it involved work. Security patrols, marking papers, that sort of thing, but then considering I was marked for death and Severus was supposed to be working for the other side…well, we didn't exactly have that many options," she said dryly, and noticed everyone gazing at her with open interest. "I suppose the actual first date was him simply offering to 'save me a seat' at a Quidditch game…of course, I didn't make it to the end, I was rather too busy getting tortured at that point," she said, chuckling softly to herself despite the fact that all the children had blinked.

"That stupid mirror of yours," Severus said, shaking his head.

"Well, how could I have known they had rigged it? You know how naïve I was back then, Severus. Besides, it worked out, didn't it? Thanks to you and Harry."

"Harry? Harry did nothing but nearly get both of you killed!"

"Now, Severus, he did break the wand…"

"And started Voldemort rampaging for a new one, don't forget."

"It would have been worse if he had kept it, and you know it," Jennifer said.

"Has anyone here heard this story before?" Andrew wondered out loud. Even Corey shook his head, and he knew more than most; Francis was the only one who had apparently heard it. "You know, you really ought to write some of these down or something."

"Out of curiosity, did any of your dates not involve he-who-isn't-supposed-to-be-named-at-the-table?" Corey asked with a chuckle. Jennifer thought about it for quite some time, glancing at Severus.

"Only the ones involving marking papers in our rooms," Jennifer admitted.

"Well, that explains why Father put that on of his old Chocolate Frog Cards," Alicia grinned.

"Actually, I got the impression it might have meant something more than what it said," Andrew said, looking for some sort of confirmation, noting that his mother had quickly pushed her glasses up.

"How about we switch off ancient history and talk about something else?" Severus suggested. Francis cleared his throat.

"Well, there is something I wanted to mention, since we're all together," Francis said, Alicia smiling at him encouragingly. "I received some news in the post the other day that a position was opening up for a Stoddard first grade teacher. Apparently they looked up my inquiry from the year before and asked if I was interested."

"What?" Severus said blankly.

"Now, Severus, you knew Francis wanted to teach younger children! I think it's marvelous, isn't it marvelous?" Jennifer said supportively.

"Peachy," Severus said flatly.

"You did only ask for one more year, sir," Francis pointed out.

"Now, don't you worry about that, Francis, we'll find someone. It's more important that you find your own niche in work you'll enjoy," Jennifer smiled at him. "Isn't that right, Severus?"

"I suppose, although I am beginning to fear that the Defense position is about to see a reemergence of the dreaded One Year Curse," Severus said so dryly that Jennifer chuckled at him.

"I don't think it's going to be as hard as you believe finding a replacement, Severus," Jennifer said, shaking her head at him.

"I'd like to see you try and come up with someone who's both qualified to do the job and the board will approve of in two months time," Severus retorted.

"There's no need for that, Severus. I can do it in two seconds," Jennifer said. "Aurelius, would you like to try your hand at the Defense job?"

"Sure, why not," Aurelius shrugged. "Just for a year, though."

"Fine," Jennifer nodded, turning to Severus who was looking back and forth between them. "There you are. Now you have another year before you have to worry about it."

"That's no good! I was hoping you'd bring someone new in, preferably female," Andrew said, only half joking. "How am I ever going to meet a nice girl when you haven't been hiring women lately, Father?" Aurelius rolled his eyes and then concentrated on his breakfast, ignoring his brother.

"What about Tracey?" Alex asked.

"She was too nice, unfortunately," Andrew said. "I couldn't get anywhere with her!" he said with exasperation. Alicia had to hold her nose to keep her milk from coming out of it. "After all, we went out for a whole month…solid…practically. I'm sorry, but there has to be some sort of happy medium!"

"I'm afraid to ask what your definition of a happy medium is," Ben put in.

"In Andrew's case, somewhere between the ceiling and the floor, and always horizontal," Aurelius said. Alicia snickered, and Francis nudged her.

"Rel, stop criticizing something you know absolutely nothing about," Andrew said.

"Boys, please…" Jennifer said.

"He's a boy. I'm not," Andrew said.

"Do you really want me to get involved?" Severus asked.

"I swear, anytime we get around this table, those two always revert to teenagers," Alex said with exasperation. Before either of them could turn on their sister, Hope ran in with Lucky following more casually behind.

"Uncle Pyther! Lucky says you finally got your animagus form! Can we see it?" Hope asked.

"Really? What form?" Corey asked.

"Oh…a swallow, actually," Francis said.

"Really? Can you carry a coconut?" Ben asked. Lucky snickered while Corey simply coughed it off.

"Um…pardon?" Francis asked.

"I think we should clock his air speed too," Corey said.

"Ya, that'd be fun!" Lucky agreed.

"Come on, I want to see!" Hope insisted, pulling on him.

"Hey! I don't remember any of the family making this much of a fuss over my squirrel!" Andrew protested as Francis was dragged outside.

"The reception from the girls at school more than made up for that," Alicia retorted, the others laughing in response.

"Well! This is nice, isn't it?" Jennifer said brightly, glancing over at her children happily. "Do you want to do it again for dinner?" Everyone stopped eating and stared at her.

"Good God, man, you turned our mother into Molly Weasley with this thing, didn't you?" Aurelius said, staring accusingly at his father. Severus simply glanced at them apologetically when Jennifer clung happily to his arm, while the others began glancing at each other as if silently plotting on how they were going to get rid of it.