The Miseducation of Lavinia Llwynog: Chapter XX

One of the problems that Vinnie had was when she made a decision, but could not think of the proper words to express it.  She had played out the scenario countless times in her head.  She would meet with Sebastian in Professor McGonagall’s office.  She wouldn’t be alone, of course.  Professor McGonagall would be there and so would Professor Severus Snape.  Sebastian would be seated to the right of Professor McGonagall’s desk, as he had been when she had first met him.  She would stride towards him with purposeful, measured steps.  He would rise from his chair, and say:
“Well, then Vinnie, my girl, what shall it be?”

Everything ground to a halt.  She could not find the right words and she was angry at herself for failing.  It wasn’t as if she hadn’t already made up her mind, or did not have enough time to think it over.  She was simply stuck.

“I’ll just have to trust my instincts and see what happens,” she sighed.  Both Sebastian and Professor Snape had told her that her instincts were good and Soren’s theory to go with her gut when it was in conflict with her logic had proven correct.  Why was she so afraid then?

“I don’t want to make a mistake,” she whispered softly to herself.  She had made so many mistakes before—bad ones.  Would the wrong choice here be a disaster?
 
“Do not hesitate to act because you fear making mistakes.  Mistakes are not failures, even if you fail.  They are lessons.”  Professor Evelyn Snape’s words from the first day of Muggle Studies came back to her.
 
Evelyn Snape and her husband had taught her about academic risks and recognizing her own unique talents, even though she was nowhere near the top of the class.   Soren, AlSev and most recently, Gus, had demonstrated the risks and rewards of standing up for one’s beliefs and individuality.  As for Sebastian…

“We have lots to talk about, Sebastian.”  Vinnie thought to herself as she made her way towards the Headmistress’ office.   A spirit of calm determination settled upon her.
“Darjeeling!” she announced to the gargoyle.  It parted way for her to ascend the staircase to Professor McGonagall’s office.

Sebastian was seated in the same chair by Professor McGonagall’s desk.   He was dressed in a dark blue Muggle suit with a green foulard patterned tie.  His coat was folded on the chair next to him, but he still had his cashmere scarf draped over his shoulders.  Vinnie recognized the Lloyd-Jones tartan.
 
There was no sign of either Professor McGonagall or Professor Snape.  Aside from the previous headmasters who were bustling about or snoozing in the portraits, the two of them were alone.

“Hello, Vinnie.”  Sebastian rose to greet her.  “It is good to see you.“


“It’s been a while,” Vinnie managed to stammer.

“Has it been a long time?  Only two weeks, but depending on the people and circumstances, weeks can seem like months.” Sebastian repled.

“Where are Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape?”  Vinnie had been counting on their presences for support when she made her decision.
 
“I asked if they would give us a few moments alone first.  Vinnie,  I owe you an apology.”

“Pardon?”  Vinnie wasn’t sure if she had heard him correctly.  Sebastian struck her as the type of person who never apologized for anything.  Was he calling her bluff?  However his amber eyes were sincere and there was no sign of deceit in his face.

“I said that if we were going to continue with our lessons, you would have to trust me.  I haven’t been completely open about the nature of our arrangement and it is only fair that you know.”

“Professor McGonagall recommended you and Hadrian is paying you.” Vinnie said.
 
“That is true.  However there is another part of this arrangement that neither of them know about.  I never had any intentions of tutoring anyone.  I had run into a difficult situation with my business and I had no time to spare.  I needed to hire someone and was about to send word through my usual channels, when the perfect candidate showed up at my office.”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with our tutoring sessions,” Vinnie said in confusion.

“That person was Evelyn Snape,” Sebastian continued.  “Her husband was unhappy about the proposed arrangement.  He doesn't like me and Evelyn wanted to meet me in person to see if I was a suitable candidate.  She cares very much about you.  I could see that immediately.”

“I was impressed with Evelyn and knew that she would be the perfect person to fill the position.  However I never hire anyone without vetting them first.  I told Evelyn that I would tutor you if she would return the favor.  I asked her to tutor my son, Augustine.  I felt that a wise, caring teacher would help him since he was struggling to find his place here. I swore Evelyn to secrecy.  I told her that both you and Augustine would not wish to continue the arrangement if you knew.  Evelyn agreed.  She had no idea that tutoring my son was a test to evaluate her suitability for the position with my company.”

“A position which she turned down when I offered it to her,” Sebastian said with a regretful frown.  “Evelyn is a teacher.  It is her true calling as well as her passion.  I can see how she has influenced both you and Augustine.  I was sorry to lose her, but she made me realize that her place was here, and that it would be a disservice to everyone if she left.  Indeed, she is irreplaceable.”

“Evelyn also made me realize that by not being transparent about our arrangement, I was doing a terrible disservice to both you and Augustine.   Vinnie, when I was first hired I saw this position as being short-term.  I never expected to enjoy teaching a student the ways of being a fox animagus.  However you surprised me.  I saw your natural talent and dedication.  I saw that your relationship with your father had damaged your confidence and was holding back your true abilities as an animagus.  I hoped to erase that doubt through our exercises and let you become the smart and cunning vixen that you truly are.”

“Vinnie, I told you that you weren’t the only person who had a bad father.  You asked about my father, and I promised that I would tell you if you trusted me.  Regardless, of whether you do, I will tell you now.  I owed you that apology, but I also should tell you about what led me to study becoming an animagus.”

Sebastian paused and stared at a small painting on the wall.  It was a portrait of a redheaded witch weaving a complicated pattern on a loom.  She frowned in concentration as she waved her wand over the threads.

“My father painted that portrait.  The witch in that painting was the great grand-niece of Armando Dippet, who was the headmaster before Albus Dumbledore.  That painting was my father’s first commissioned portrait.  It is only one of nine surviving portraits that he painted.“

“My father, Raphael, had a rare gift as an artist.  He painted his subjects not only as he saw them physically, but also as they were emotionally.  It is true that most wizard and witch artists are able to depict the general demeanor of their subjects, but people who knew my father said that he was able to capture their souls.  That is completely far-fetched, but it is true that his portraits were more realistic in revealing the true nature of the subject.  Sometimes that did not work to his advantage.  Walburga Black’s portrait caused quite a scandal.  She was a beautiful woman, but her base, ugly nature was laid bare for all eternity in her portrait.“

“That portrait caused trouble for my father.  Commissions began to dry up.  Although people recognized his talent, many feared what his portraits would reveal about them.  Raphael also was an arrogant man, who was convinced that his greatness put him above accepting commissions which he deemed to be beneath him.  This attitude coupled with a loss of income and an appreciation for his more attractive female subjects put a great strain on my parents’ marriage.  Wendy had taken a leave of absence from the Ministry of Magic shortly after I was born.  Her childhood home had been unhappy and she was not going to raise her child in a home where quarreling was becoming an everyday occurrence.  She ordered Raphael to leave, telling him not to return until he learned some humility and realized that providing for his family was more important than cultivating his reputation.”

“Raphael was angry, but he loved Wendy and feared losing her. He resolved to find steady work and become the good husband and father that Wendy believed that he could be.  He received a commission to paint the mastiff of a rich and lonely old man who was consumed with bitterness and regret.  Rapahael was an ambitious man who aspired to be a famous artist.  He was appalled that his talents were wasted on painting an animal, but reasoned that if his client was pleased with the result he would recommend him to his friends.  He painted a magnificent portrait of the loyal dog, the only living creature the old man loved and trusted.  He was paid a handsome fee, but unfortunately his client died of dragon pox shortly after the painting was finished.”

“At the funeral repast, Raphael was approached by his late client’s son.  They had both been in Slytherin, but were in different social circles.  Raphael’s old House mate told him how much his father had loved the dog’s portrait, but he personally believed such talent should not be squandered on painting portraits of dumb beasts.  He told Raphael that he would like to commission him to paint his portrait.  If he was satisfied, he had a circle of wealthy and influential friends who would hire him."
 
"Raphael was certainly interested and attempted to negotiate a fee.  The old man’s son laughed and said that there was no room for negotiation.  He told Raphael what he would be paid—far more than any of his other clients had paid him to date.  The man then handed my father a bag that was heavy with Galleons.  That was the first installment—the rest would be paid when the portrait was completed to his satisfaction."

“Most people would have had plenty of questions and would have wisely declined the money and asked for some time to consider the offer.  However my father’s judgment was easily clouded by flattery and money.  He also longed to return to his family.  He was living with the Widow Zabini, but he was a poor artist and she preferred wealthy men.  His poverty saved his life in that instance.  He never returned to finish her painting.  It is the only one of his surviving portraits that is incomplete.”

“My father returned home and apologized to my mother, asking her to forgive him.  He told her that things would be on the up and up and that he had just landed a profitable job with promises of more to follow.  When Wendy saw the money she was immediately suspicious and asked Raphael who his new benefactor was.  When he told her, she told him to return the money and tell the man that he wasn’t interested.”

“The man—who was he?” Vinnie asked.
 
“Lucius Malfoy,” Sebastian replied, not bothering to hide the loathing in his tone.  “He had been the protégé of Wendy’s Death Eater father.  My grandfather had known Voldemort since they were school boys at Hogwarts.  I believe that he may have been his first disciple.  Before he died he was the Dark Lord’s loyal lieutenant, and vetted prospective Death Eaters before presenting them to his Master.  Lucius was from a rich and influential Pureblood family.  After my grandfather’s death he assumed the task of recruiting people who were loyal to the cause.”

“Raphael was not persuaded by Wendy’s protests.  He reassured her that he was simply painting Malfoy’s portrait, and what was the harm in that?  Wendy was not happy, but relented.  She believed that my father was contrite and she wanted to encourage him.”

“My father reported to Malfoy  Manor the next day.  As he painted Lucius, he was overcome with a feeling of unease, but could not ascertain why.  Lucius was a cooperative subject and engaged in polite conversation during his sittings, but my father was agitated and exhausted by the end of each session.  My mother told him to quit, but he argued that would be professional suicide.  When he completed Lucius’ portrait, he was paid a generous fee and recommended to Lucius’ colleagues.  His next commission was for Lucius’ sister-in-law and her husband, Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange.”

“Raphael ‘s feelings  of unease were more intense than when he painted Lucius.  He became ill from nervous exhaustion and lost his appetite.  He also became introverted and short-tempered.  Wendy implored him to quit, but he angrily told her that he was making money and was gaining a reputation as a successful artist.  Wasn’t she happy for him?  He was providing for his family—wasn’t that what she wanted? “

“After he finished the portraits of the Lestranges, Lucius told Raphael that he and his friends needed an artist to create art for a cause which they wanted to become more public.  Surely as a fellow Pureblood Raphael recognized that his magic was superior to that of Half Bloods or low-born Mudbloods.  Could a Mudblood have possessed his magical artistic skill?  He was the perfect artist to increase public awareness of the superiority of blood purity.”

“Although my father was a Pure Blood he was indifferent to the idea that blood purity was a sign of superior magic.  However Lucius appealed to his vanity, love of money and quest for fame.  My father designed some posters that advertised Voldemort’s message, with the slogan that would be burned into the public’s minds and which would be his lasting legacy.”

“Magic is Might!” Vinnie gasped.  Sebastian looked at her with a grim smile.

“So, you’ve found out about Raphael’s contribution to the cause.  He also sketched the preliminary design for that wretched statute which eventually was erected in the Ministry of Magic.”
“The fool had no idea how much trouble those posters would cause.  The slogan became a rallying cry for Voldemort’s supporters.   After the Dark Lord was defeated in the First War, the Ministry wasted no time rounding up his followers.  My father was arrested on the grounds that he had aided and abetted the Death Eaters through use of propaganda.  He protested his innocence  before the Wizengamot, but a witness came forward with damning evidence.”

“Was it Lucius Malfoy?” Vinnie inquired.
 
“Yes.  Lucius was arrested shortly after the Dark Lord’s fall.  He was an excellent liar and convinced the Ministry that he had been a victim of the Imperius curse.  He cleverly prevented further investigation into his affairs by  giving the Ministry information concerning Voldemort’s other followers.  Most of the people named, including my father, were not followers and were only guilty by association.”

“The evidence against my father was circumstantial, but the damage and destruction that Voldemort had caused did not incline the Wizengamot to mercy.  Lucius testified that it was Raphael who had cast the Imperius curse on him and that the propaganda posters were his idea.  His testimony, along with the  propaganda posters were enough evidence for the Wizengamot to reach its verdict.  Raphael was sentenced to six years in Azkaban.  I was two years old when they took him away and had no early memory of him.”

“He died there,” Vinnie said softly.  She pictured her father sitting in a dark, damp cell.  She didn’t love him, but was suddenly overcome with intense sadness.

“No, Raphael did not die in Azkaban.  He was released after he had served his sentence.”

“He was released?  So you did know him!” Vinnie cried.

“Yes and no,” Sebastian said wearily.  “He was released shortly before my ninth birthday.  Azkaban had broken him.  He was a young man when he was taken away, but looked old and hollow when he returned home.  The Dementors did not suck out his soul, but their torments made him lose his mind.  He spent days sitting in a chair, staring out the window.  He never spoke to us.  At night he would groan and scream.  Wendy spent most of the money she earned on healers, but he was beyond help.  She hired a man to take care of him during the day, to insure that he would not wander off or harm himself.  She took care of him during the night.  I often wondered how she was able to do it, but now I realize that it was because she loved him, and hoped that he would show a spark of the man that he once was.  Love and hope motivated her.”

“I saw things differently.  I had no memory of Raphael before he went to Azkaban and the ailing man who returned was not what I had expected when my mother told me that my father was finally coming home.  I was angry.  I was angry at Raphael for getting himself into the situation.  I was angry at my mother because it seemed that all of her time at home was taken up caring for him.  I was angry at Lucius Malfoy.  I remember that the first oath that I swore to myself was that I would destroy him when I got the chance.”

“The anger led me into the darker and more dangerous corners of Knockturn Alley.  Not a safe place for an adult and certainly a place where great harm could come to a child.  I didn’t care.  There I discovered that I had the ability to distract and charm people, as well as move quietly and swiftly.  All the characteristics of a talented thief, and I soon caught the eye of a not very talented one who saw that he could benefit from my skills.  Mundungus Fletcher was an oaf, and I soon parted ways with him when I saw that I could do better on my own.  I was still a child, though, and was eventually caught when I became embroiled in an elaborate theft.  The authorities were tipped off, probably by Fletcher who certainly never forgot grudges.“

“My entrance to Hogwarts was conditional on never stealing again.  I promised that I would not, but I did have another operation on the side.  Some of my old contacts provided me with goods that were not strictly illegal, but certainly not allowed within the confines of Hogwarts.  I ran quite a nice business selling contraband to the students.“

“Just like the Weasley twins!” Vinnie exclaimed.

“Not exactly, Vinnie.  The Weasleys sold items that were jokes.  The items that I sold, if discovered in a student’s possession, would cause him or her to be in serious trouble.  I eluded detection for several years until a jealous Ravenclaw gave me up.  The boy was a long-time customer and I had no reason to believe that he would inform on me.  I thought that expulsion was imminent, but Professor Snape took me aside when we met with Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.  He stared me down like only he can, and told me that although I deserved to be expelled, Professor McGonagall had offered to give me another chance.  I had been experimenting with animagus transformation attempts after I had discovered a book in the library.  It was obviously hexed, and my initial transformation attempts sent me to the infirmary.  Professor McGonagall confiscated the book after I told her what had happened.  Professor Snape told me that I could remain at Hogwarts if I trained with Professor McGonagall  to become an animagus.  If I did not, he would gladly sign the expulsion papers.   Naturally I said that I would.  It was only years later that Minerva confided in me that Severus had interceded on my behalf as well.”
 
“Being a fox was freeing.  Minerva was an excellent teacher, but the training showed me that I had other skills besides thievery, and that there were more creative energies than anger which could drive one to self-discovery.  She saved my life.“

Sebastian rose and offered his hand to Vinnie.

“It was a pleasure training you Vinnie.  Your animagus skills are strong.  You should have no trouble finding an instructor whom you trust and who is better suited to teaching you.”

“Excuse me, Sebastian, but isn’t that my decision to make?” Vinnie replied.

“Pardon?  You mean that you wish to continue training with me?” Sebastian asked as he dropped his hand.

“I didn’t say that.  I told you that I would give you my answer when Professor Snape and Headmistress McGonagall returned.  We will wait for them,” Vinnie said firmly.  The look of surprise on Sebastian’s face was worth it, she thought, as she heard the door to the office open and footsteps mounting the stairs.




“I don’t believe it!” Severus muttered.
 
Evelyn watched as her husband paced back and forth across her office.  He stared out the window, slammed his hand on the sill and strode over to the bookshelf.   He picked up a tome, frowned, and shoved it back into place.  He pulled out another book, gave it a cursory stare, then replaced it.  He repeated this process three more times before Evelyn could no longer stand it.

“Severus, either say something now or leave and come back when you want to talk.  Stop disordering my books!  You know that I hate it when they aren’t in their proper places!”

“Don’t worry, Evelyn, I put them back as they were,” he replied.
 
“You’re the only person who is reacting poorly to Vinnie’s decision.  She’s made up her mind and Minerva respects her choice.  A choice that wasn’t yours to make, Severus,” Evelyn chided him.

“Merlin’s beard, Evelyn!  Certainly you cannot be happy with her decision!  After all the deceit and trickery that went on, the bastard got what he wanted in the end!”

“Did he really?  I turned down the position that he wanted me to take, which was his main goal.  At least he thought that it was at the time.  It turns out that his son’s happiness replaced that as his main objective.  It looks like that didn’t turn out well, either,” Evelyn sighed heavily.  Gus had not attended her class and had not appeared for his weekly session that week.

“Don’t blame yourself for that, Evelyn,” Severus said.  “That plan was Sebastian’s.”

“I went along with his plan against my misgivings.  Poor Augustine!  Deceived by his father and his teacher!  I don’t blame him for not returning.  How can he ever trust anyone now?  I wouldn’t return, either.”

Evelyn stared down at the envelope on her desk.  She had worked so hard to earn the boy’s trust.  What would happen to him?
 
“Evelyn, please.  If you reason like that, then I am also at fault.  I should have been more aggressive in telling both Minerva and you that making deals with Sebastian was a bad idea.“

“You could have, and we wouldn’t have listened.  Minerva was convinced that Sebastian was the perfect tutor for Vinnie and would not be negated.  I wanted to help Augustine realize his talents and see how wonderful he truly is as a student and a person.  Agreeing to Sebastian’s terms seemed harmless at the time.”

“Evelyn, you don’t know Sebastian like I do.  He’s a tricky bastard, but not a malevolent one.  I believe that Vinnie has made a mistake, but probably not one that will seriously harm her.  You have taught Augustine well, and if he feels wronged, he should be intelligent enough to figure out that his father was the culprit.”

Severus sat down across from Evelyn and cupped her face in his hands, bringing her eyes to his.  He gently traced her lips with his finger.

“You need to retouch your lipstick, Evelyn.  Why not use the one that Sebastian gave you? “ He hinted softly.

“I don’t have it anymore, Severus.  Sebastian vanished it.” Evelyn replied.
 
Severus’ face clouded as he gripped the edge of Evelyn’s desk and slowly rose to his feet.  His expression was murderous, but whatever he was about to say was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Professor Snape?” Gus poked his head in, but stopped when he saw Severus.  “I’m sorry, if this is a bad time…”

“Mr. Renard, it’s never a good time for you!”  Severus snarled at him as he stormed out of the room.

“Don’t mind him, Augustine!  Come in!” Evelyn made an unsuccessful attempt at a serious face, but her sides ached and the laughter exploded from her throat.  She motioned for Gus to sit down.

“I don’t want Professor Snape to be angry with me,” Gus said fretfully as he sat down in the seat that Severus had vacated.

Don’t worry, Augustine.  He isn’t angry at you.  Things just aren’t working out the way he expected,” Evelyn said.
 
“I’m sorry that I missed our session, Professor Snape.  That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

“I’m glad that you came,” Evelyn replied.  She noticed that Gus had replaced his Gryffindor scarf with his family tartan.  Otherwise he looked the same—disheveled and concerned, but not as anxious as he usually was.
 
“I spoke with my father,” Gus said slowly.  “He told me everything about the arrangement that he had with you and why he agreed to instruct Vinnie.”

“I’m sorry, Augustine,” Evelyn said softly.  “I was reluctant to go along with the plan, but I didn’t want to spoil things for Vinnie.  I was going to decline, but then I decided that I wanted to work with you.  I believed that you had strengths that you weren’t aware of that needed to be discovered.  I never intended to deceive you.  The secret nature of the arrangement disturbed me.“

“I believe you, Professor,” Gus said.  “My father told me that if there was any blame to go around, it all was on him.  He told me that you wanted to be open about the arrangement from the start, but he made you swear not to say anything.  I’m not angry at you, Professor Snape.  I would like to continue working with you, if you wish to do so.”

“Nothing would please me more, Augustine.  Did you tell your father?”

“Yes, I did.  You know what’s funny, Professor?  I’m not angry at him.  I guess that I should be, but I’m not.  I think that I’m not angry because he apologized to me.  He’s never done that before.  My father rarely apologizes, so I knew that he meant well, even if his plan was questionable.  I told him that I forgave him.  I told him that I loved working with you.  I told him that I was friends with Vinnie.  He was really surprised to hear that, but I could also tell that he was pleased.  He asked me if I was happy, and I told him that I am happier now than I ever have been at Hogwarts.  He was very pleased to hear that and said that he was proud of me.” Gus said the last sentence with a slight air of surprise.

“Your father is right to be proud of you.  You should also be proud of yourself.  I am very proud of you for several reasons, but here is one of the more tangible ones.”  Evelyn placed the thick, heavy envelope in his hands.

“This is the galley for the book that I just finished.  I just received this draft from the publisher.  Some corrections need to be made, but it should be in print by late spring.  Look at the title page and read it to me.”

“The Pact of Silence:  How Witch Trials Led to the Statute of Secrecy" by Evelyn Black Snape,” Gus read aloud.  He paused and stared at the page, agape.

“Please continue, Augustine.”

“Additional research by Augustine Renard,” he whispered in disbelief.

“I’m sorry that it is in smaller print, but my publisher insisted.  You truly do deserve a byline considering the amount of work that you’ve put into this book.”

“This is the best thing that has ever happened to me!” Gus blurted out.  He sounded as if he were about to cry, but managed to keep his voice steady.

“I remember the first time that I saw my name in print,” Evelyn told him.  “I had done research for one of my professors at university and he credited me in the same manner.  I was happy and overwhelmed at the same time.”

“I can’t believe it!” Gus exclaimed as he handed the papers back to Evelyn.

“Believe it, Gus.  This is all the result of your hard work.  I anticipate that this won’t be the last time that your name appears in print.  Let’s meet at our appointed time next week.“

“All right,  Professor Snape. “  Gus straightened his scarf and opened the door.  He turned around before closing it and looked at Evelyn with grateful adoration.

“Thanks again, Professor.  I can’t tell you how grateful and happy that I am right now.”

“You’re welcome, Augustine.  Hurry or you’ll be late for class.”
 
Evelyn smiled as she watched Gus close the door.   She loved him and she loved Vinnie.  Maybe good things had come out of Sebastian’s secretive plan.  She felt warm and confident, as if everything would be all right.  Severus had indicated that things would be fine, even if the results were not to his liking.
 
Evelyn walked over to the window and stared out at the school grounds.  It was late autumn, and the trees had shed their leaves, the branches looking black and bare against the early afternoon sky.  A figure in a dark green jacket caught her eye.  It was Vinnie!  Evelyn watched as the girl jogged down the path that led to Hagrid’s hut.




Vinnie pushed the hair out of her face as Hagrid’s hut came into view.  The day was chilly and the wind had stripped the last autumn leaves from their branches.  Sebastian was standing in Hagrid’s pumpkin patch.  He motioned slowly for Vinnie to approach, holding his other finger to his lips.  She slowed her pace and silently stood next to him.  He pointed towards the Forbidden Forest.  
Standing out against the dark trees were two young vixens.  They nipped at one another playfully before rushing into the forest.  Sebastian turned to Vinnie and smiled.

“They were born this past spring.  Their mother was very protective  of them, but now that they are older I think that it is safe to go in and observe them.”

“The Forbidden Forest is off limits to students,” Vinnie informed him.

“The Forbidden Forest is off limits to students, but not foxes.  Are you game, Vinnie?” Sebastian asked.  He was smiling and his amber eyes were bright.

“As if you need to ask, Sebastian!” Vinnie retorted.

“Excellent! Vinnie, I guarantee you that the lessons will be far more interesting going forward.”

“I know, Sebastian.  I trust that they will be.”

“Minerva knew what she was doing when she asked me to instruct you,” Sebastian said.  “She told me that a fox could learn a lot from another fox.  She was correct.  You have taught me a lot.”

“That is why I decided to continue with the lessons after you spoke to me, Sebastian.  We understand each other.”

“Indeed we do.  Now we also trust each other.  Follow me, Vinnie!”

Vinnie looked down at fox Sebastian, who was padding towards the Forbidden Forest.  He stopped and flicked his handsome tail.  The scarlet vixen caught up with him just he scampered into the dark shadows.  She plunged into the black depths of the Forbidden Forest, following his lead without hesitation.