Before Severus, Lily, and Harry flooed to Witches Moon, they stopped in Hogsmeade at a magical plant store with the intent of buying a couple of dirigible plum plants. They sent their trunks and other things on ahead.
Harry looked around the store at all the plants they had, but he managed to locate a couple of healthy Dirigible Plum plants. "Mum, Dad, how about these two?"
Severus came over to where Harry was. "These look okay, don't they?" Harry asked.
Severus carefully examined the plants for any signs of disease and then nodded. "They appear healthy. Good job, Harry."
Lily bought some flowers to plant at Witches Moon and Severus different kinds of vegetables.
They used the Three Broomsticks floo connection to floo to Witches Moon. As soon as they stepped out of the floo, the elves were there to greet them. Severus put all the plants they had purchased temporarily in the Conservatory until after lunch.
They had lunch in the Conservatory and when they finished Harry went upstairs to get his book about growing Dirigible Plums that Luna had given him for Christmas and Severus went to get a shovel from the shed.
"It says they can grow either in the sun or shade," Harry said as Severus came back.
"They'd probably grow best in a sunny spot," Lily said. "How about over here?"
Severus nodded, took up the shovel and began to dig. He dug two holes and they planted both of the Dirigible Plum plants. "Aguamenti," Severus said holding his wand over both plants so they got equal amounts of water.
"Does Tita know how to make jam?" Harry asked.
"Yes, she's always made jams and jellies from all the fruit trees here for my grandparents," Severus answered. "If the recipe for Dirigible Plum jam is different you may have to ask Luna if her father would mind sharing his recipe."
"I'll ask her," Harry decided.
They spent the rest of the day outside. Lily planted her flowers and Severus dug up plots for his vegetable garden and a garden for his herbal and magical plants. Harry helped Lily plant her flowers and then helped his dad with the digging. Severus then mixed bags of dragon dung into the plots. He would allow it to sit overnight then transplant his plants the next morning.
After dinner Harry decided he was going to start his summer assignments and get them out of the way.
"If you need any help with anything let us know," Severus said.
"I will," Harry replied as he went upstairs to his room. He checked on Keb and Isis to make sure they had settled in okay and got Hedwig fresh water and gave her a couple of owl treats before starting his homework.
Downstairs Severus and Lily were discussing Dumbledore. "He just can't seem to accept there's no longer a dark wizard left to fight, can he?" Lily asked.
"I suppose because he fought Voldemort for so long he is unable to accept that he is gone for good."
"Well, he's not making Harry or any other student into the next one," Lily said fiercely.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Amber arrived at Longview Manor by floo exactly at the time the invitation she'd been sent stated. It was for afternoon tea at two o'clock with Madam Augusta Longbottom and another guest, Madam Walburga Black. She had meant them at her uncle's dinner party last week and was flattered that they would think of inviting her. Her aunt had mentioned that it would make a good impression on two of the most prominent dowagers in wizarding society if she were to arrive exactly at two.
As she stepped out of the floo, making sure to remove any ashes first, she was greeted by a house elf. "Mistress told Bailey to watch for Miss Amber and escort her to Mistress," he said. "This way please."
Amber followed Bailey into the Conservatory where Augusta and Walburga were waiting. The wicker table was set formally with a large teapot and three plates of different scones and muffins. A china holder, containing jam and Devonshire cream for the scones, sat in the middle of the table.
Amber curtsied to Walburga and Augusta. "Good afternoon Madam Longbottom and Madam Black."
They nodded and Amber sat down. Augusta poured tea and passed the cups around and then passed the plates of treats around followed by the jam and Devonshire cream. Once they were settled with their tea and treats, the three of them talked about inconsequential things.
Walburga then started the line of conversation she and Augusta had agreed upon before Amber had arrived by asking, "How did your grandson finish up this year, Augusta?"
"Oh very well thank you, Walburga. Neville got an Outstanding in Herbology and thanks to Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter he received Exceeds in most of his other subjects although he did receive an Acceptable in History of Magic, but few do well in that with Professor Binns teaching it."
Amber's ears had perked up at the name of Harry Potter. "Is this Harry Potter related to James Potter? Maybe a cousin or a nephew?"
"James is an only child as were both of his parents," Walburga answered.
"Harry is James' son by his first wife, Lily Evans. She is a Muggleborn witch and teaches first through third year Charms at Hogwarts. She was most helpful in giving Neville extra tutoring in the subject too. She is married to Professor Severus Snape, the Potions Professor. He adopted Harry after he delivered Harry's Hogwarts letter and saw how dreadful Harry was being treated by Lily's sister and took him away from them. This was of course before Lily and James came back through the Veil."
Amber put down her teacup. "James never mentioned he had come back through the Veil or that he had a son."
"It is not surprising he didn't mention Harry considering everything," Walburga replied.
"Would you like more tea?" Augusta asked.
"Please," Amber replied holding out her teacup to Augusta. "What do you mean considering everything?"
"Severus adopted Harry through Wizarding Child Services in August almost two years ago," Walburga explained. "Lily and James returned from behind the Veil in October of that year."
"During Christmas break two years ago, Harry requested that Severus blood adopt him and Lily agreed so they performed the ceremony. When James found out; he went to Gringotts and disowned him because he did not want the Potter blood spoiled by Snape blood. You see James is a Pureblood while Professor Snape is a Half-blood," Augusta explained.
Amber looked shocked at James callousness. "But surely there is more than just that as to why James would disown his son?" She asked.
"Severus and Lily came from Manchester and were best friends before they came to Hogwarts," Walburga explained. "James and my eldest son, Sirius took a dislike to him to him the minute they met him because he made the mistake of saying he wanted to be sorted into Slytherin. James set his cap for Lily and Sirius did what he could to help James."
"Severus is very inventive; he's invented all kinds of potions and spells. In fact he recently invented a potion to help my son and daughter-in-law after they had been tortured into insanity by Death Eaters eleven years ago. Because of his inventiveness, my grandson now has his parents back," Augusta said.
"I believe James has always been jealous of Severus' brilliance at potions and he was angry with Harry because Harry loves Severus like the father he never had. Harry was only fifteen months old when James and Lily were killed and I doubt he remembered much about them," Walburga said.
"Well, I'm certainly going to have a talk with James about reconciling with his son," Amber replied. She got up, curtsied then said, "Thank you for inviting me to tea."
"Bailey," Augusta called. Bailey appeared with a pop. "Bailey, please take Miss Amber to the floo."
Bailey bowed and said, "Bailey is happy to do as Mistress asks." He straightened up again and said, "Please follow Bailey, Miss Amber."
Once they heard the floo sound indicating that Amber had left, Walburga asked, "Do you think anything we said made an impression on her?"
"I thought I saw some doubt and dismay in her eyes," Augusta answered with a wink.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Harry had his summer homework finished by the end of the first week of vacation. He went out to check the Dirigible Plums first thing before breakfast each morning. He was amazed to see how fast they were growing.
Severus was out watering his herb garden which consisted of Muggle herbs and magical herbs and plants. He had already watered his vegetable garden. Both gardens were growing well. Lily's flowers were growing and blooming filling the air with their scents.
"I really like working out here," Harry said.
"And you are very good at it," Severus said as he finished watering his gardens, Lily's flowers, and the Dirigible Plums.
They went into breakfast after washing up. Lily was reading the Daily Prophet still in her robe and slippers. Unlike Severus she had never been an early riser on the weekends. She smiled and laid down the paper. "Good morning, you two."
"Morning Mum," Harry said. "Your flowers are really blooming. They brighten things up and make everything smell great too."
Lily smiled. "I'm glad you're enjoying them."
Severus sat down. "Everything is growing and thriving. Is there anything interesting in the Prophet this morning?"
"Nothing that isn't fit for the bottom of an owl cage," Lily replied with a sniff.
"Did I tell you that Nev told me his mum is going to start crossbreeding some plants in hopes of breeding new plants for potions? He said he's going to be helping her too."
"If anybody can do it; Alice can. She was always excellent at Herbology," Severus remarked.
"I'm so glad that she's found something to replace being an Auror," Lily said.
"It'll be exciting to see what she and Nev eventually come up with," Harry said. "I'm going to show Draco our garden tomorrow." The Malfoys were coming over for dinner the next evening. "Do you think we can ask them if they want to go to another movie?"
"Yes we can," Severus said. "I am sure they will want to go. Luc is quite impressed by them." He chuckled.
"Maybe we can go into London so I can get a paper to see what's showing."
Lily nodded. "I'm sure we can do that."
After breakfast Harry asked permission to fly his Nimbus 2000 and after he was done flying he was planning to visit Galenus in the greenhouse.
"That is fine," Severus replied. "Just remember to stay inside the wards surrounding the house." There was no need for a Notice-Me-Not charm as Witches Moon sat disillusioned in the middle of the Yorkshire Moor.
"I will," Harry promised as he went upstairs to retrieve his broom. He came back downstairs and Severus and Lily watched him take off from the backyard. Hedwig flew beside him easily keeping up with his broom.
"It seems we have some time to ourselves," Severus said. He knew Harry would be flying for quite awhile and would also be busy helping Galenus in the greenhouse. He offered Lily his arm and they went back upstairs.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
James and Amber met for lunch at one of the most expensive restaurants in Diagon Alley. As they studied the menus, Amber suddenly asked, "James, why didn't you tell me you had a son?"
"I don't," James replied curtly, trying to concentrate on making a selection from all the delicious sounding choices on the menu.
"That's not what Madam Longbottom said when I had tea with her and Madam Black last week. They said you have a son named Harry who you disowned because he's been blood adopted by his stepfather."
James growled under his breath, cursing those two old biddies. "Well, what they apparently forgot to mention is that Snivellus is a Death Eater."
"Why isn't he in jail then?" Amber asked.
"Because he made sure we couldn't charge him with anything even though we knew he was You-Know-Who's right-hand wizard."
"All the more reason to get your son away from him then isn't it?"
"Wizarding Child Services will side with Snivellus. He knows the director, Sara Mullings because he's head of Slytherin House and he claims a lot of abused kids get sorted into Slytherin," James sneered. "She's probably a Slytherin just like him."
"If you think your son's in any danger at all from his stepfather then you definitely should do something."
James made a face. "Snivellus has already turned Harry against me. He doesn't want anything to do with me."
"Are you sure he's not under a potion or spell that takes away his free will?" Amber asked.
"There's no way I can have him checked," he complained. "My ex-wife and Snivellus won't let me near him."
"That's all the more reason to find a way to have him evaluated."
"I'll talk to Albus. Maybe he can think of some way Harry can be checked," James promised.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco stepped out of the floo after removing any ash from their clothing. Severus, Lily, and Harry were waiting to greet them. Draco looked at his parents first thing and asked, "May I go to Harry's room and see Keb and Isis?"
"Yes, you may," Lucius nodded in approval at Draco's manners.
Draco and Harry hurried upstairs while Severus shook his head. "Keb and Isis are quite the attraction. Harry's always brings his friends down to the dungeon to see them. Even Mr. Longbottom is no longer afraid of them."
"Speaking of the Longbottoms' a Gryffindor Governor has decided to retire and I heard Augusta Longbottom wants to replace him."
"Well now that she no longer has to raise Neville I expect she has a lot of time on her hands," Lily said.
"She would be good. She has high standards and will not take any crap from Dumbledore," Severus said nodding.
"We do need to make some changes," Lucius said. "The curriculum at Hogwarts has not kept up with the curriculum of the other magical schools."
"We were considering sending Draco somewhere else and so we got school catalogues from other magical schools. Salem Magical Academy is much more advanced than Hogwarts especially," Narcissa explained.
"Advanced how?" Lily asked.
"They offer many more courses that Hogwarts such as more advanced defense, warding, alchemy, wand safety," Narcissa replied.
"They also require the students to cast their spells non-verbally right from their first year," Lucius added.
"And we start them at sixth year which is really late in the game," Severus said grimly. "A lot of students never do learn it."
Lucius nodded. "We fail a lot of competitions because of it also."
"But wouldn't you need to replace nearly all the governors to make any changes?" Lily asked. "Especially the two other Gryffindor Governors who are cronies of Dumbledore.
"Yes, it will be very difficult to make any headway until then," Lucius agreed.
Tita came into the room, bowed and announced that dinner was ready. When there were guests present she was more formal then when it was just Severus, Lily, and Harry.
"Tita, can you pop upstairs and let Harry and Draco know?" Lily requested.
She bowed again. "Tita will do so, Mistress."
Harry and Draco came downstairs in a few minutes and they all went into the dining room where a delicious repast awaited them. As they were eating, Harry looked at his dad and lifted his eyebrows.
Severus smiled and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Harry has decided we should all attend another movie."
"That would be wicked!" Draco said. "Mother, Father?" He asked in a pleading tone.
"I did enjoy the other ones we have seen so I think it will be good to see another one," Lucius said.
Narcissa nodded her approval and then said, "As long as it is alright for children of your age to see."
"Thanks, Mother, Father!" Draco exclaimed. "I can't wait!"
"I'll have to get a Muggle newspaper and see what's playing and the times," Harry said.
"I have to go to Gringotts tomorrow so I will stop at the newspaper seller on Charing Cross Road and pick up one," Severus volunteered.
"We can have dinner and then see the movie," Lily suggested.
"Maybe we can have dinner at the Bear and Staff?" Harry asked. He looked at Draco and said, "They have wicked Macaroni and Cheese and hamburgers too."
"I do not see why we cannot," Severus answered. "I took Professor Flitwick there last month and he enjoyed it tremendously."
"It sounds interesting," Lucius remarked.
"As soon as we find out what time the movie starts we'll floo you and we can make plans from there," Lily said.
After dinner was done, Harry and Draco asked their parents' permission to fly their brooms until dusk. Draco had asked his father to shrink his broom before they left Malfoy Manor and now he asked him to resize it.
"That is fine," Severus replied. "Just remember to stay inside the wards."
"We will," Harry promised. "Come on, Draco."
Severus, Lily, Lucius, and Narcissa retired to the parlor where Severus poured them each a snifter of the finest brandy from the Prince's wine cellar.
"Any word on the rat?" Lucius asked.
Severus shook his head. "I checked with "I checked with Lord Slytherin." He nodded towards the empty frame hanging in the living room. "He said Nessendra had so far not seen the rat again. It is frustrating not knowing where he went to ground!"
"Wherever it is I hope he is suffering mightily," Narcissa said in a vehement tone.
"Mad-Eye, Orion, and their crew of trusted Aurors have been looking also and they have not able to find a trace of him so far either," Severus added.
"He had best hope I never see him!" Lily stated. "Because there won't be enough of him left to send to Azkaban."
Lucius chuckled and raised his snifter. "Here, here."
"I've been trying to think of somewhere he could have gone after Hogwarts, but I did not know him well enough to even begin to imagine," Severus said.
"He would not have hidden at Potter Manor, would he?" Lucius asked.
Narcissa nodded and said, "I know that Regulus has told us that neither Potter nor Sirius believe Peter is guilty of betraying you and Potter to Voldemort."
Lily knitted her brow and said, "They are idiots and they're mad because they didn't see Pettigrew was a Death Eater even before he graduated. Potter Manor could be a possibility, Luc. I remember Dazzy always complaining there were rats in the elves' quarters because Potter Manor sits near to the river. He might have decided to hide amongst them figuring Potter Manor was the last place anybody would look."
"How can we find out?" Narcissa asked. "He certainly will not let any of us search there."
"I believe Harry is still the actual owner of Potter Manor," Severus said. "I am fairly certain Potter never went in and had his identity verified at either the Ministry or Gringotts." He grinned. "Dumbledore must have overlooked that little detail. Of course that does not mean James will let us search without a fight."
"You could also save yourself a headache by suggesting to Mad-Eye and Orion that they should search Potter Manor," Lucius suggested.
"Yes and they are immune to all Potter's blustering," Severus agreed. "And they will not be gainsaid by Dumbledore's protests either."
Harry and Draco came in with their brooms and Draco gave his to his father so he could shrink it again. The talk turned to the elective subjects Harry and Draco were taking the next year.
"I wasn't going to take Ancient Runes or Arithmancy," Lily confessed. "But Sev talked me into it."
Severus shrugged and chuckled. "I figured you would be end up being bored in Divination and Care of Magical Creatures."
"And you were right," Lily admitted. "Not to mention I would have had to listen to Potter in Divination telling me constantly that all the signs were pointing to us being together."
"You can't learn to be a Seer," Harry said. "So why do they have such a stupid subject?"
"No you cannot teach anybody to be a Seer. You are either born with the ability or not. If we had a competent professor teaching the course they would be able to teach you how to develop whatever psychic abilities you might have and everyone does have some," Severus replied. He chuckled. "I made Professor Trelawney angry one time last year by telling her you were now my son and her "Inner Eye" must have forgotten to inform her."
Everybody laughed and then Lucius rose. "I apologize, but we must be getting home as I am due in Scotland early tomorrow for a consult on runes at The Centre for Nordic Studies in Shetland. Thank you for the delicious meal and stimulating conversation."
"We will floo you about dinner after we find a movie and what time it starts," Severus said.
"We should make a date to go shopping after Draco's and Harry's letters arrive," Narcissa said to Lily.
"Floo me and we'll set up a date to meet in Diagon Alley," Lily replied.
Draco said goodbye to Harry and the Malfoys disappeared in a whoosh of green flames.
"Draco really likes Hedwig; he spent a lot of time in my room petting her and giving her treats," Harry said. "When we go to Diagon Alley; we should convince Uncle Luc and Aunt Cissa to buy him his own owl."
"I know he does use Zeus, the Malfoy's Eagle Owl," Severus said. "And he is old enough now to take proper care of a familiar," Severus said. "We can certainly talk to Luc and Cissa about it."
"Did you and Draco have a good time flying?"
Harry nodded. "He showed me some places on the grounds here that I hadn't discovered yet."
"Draco's been coming here since I first inherited it," Severus said. "And I know he's done a lot of exploring."
Harry yawned. "I think I'll go upstairs and read for awhile before I go to bed." He gave his parents each a hug.
"Good night, Harry. Sleep well," Severus said.
"And have pleasant dreams," Lily added.
After Harry had gone upstairs, Severus tossed some floo powder into the fireplace and flooed Mad-Eye. "I may have a new lead on Pettigrew," Severus said.
"Good!'" Mad-Eye replied with a nod. "We're coming up short here."
Severus explained about the rats in the elves' quarters at Potter Manor. "He could go virtually undetected there."
"We'll check it out. He blew up a street, killing thirteen Muggles and one of my best men when we had him cornered him after the Potters' deaths. He cut off a finger before that to make us think he's been killed in the ensuing explosion."
"It should be easy to spot him amongst the other rats then," Severus said.
Mad-Eye nodded. "I'll let you know what we find."
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
James had just gotten settled into one of the squashy red chairs in the library of Potter Manor with the latest edition of Quidditch Illustrated with some snacks and a Butterbeer when the floo sounded. James sighed. He hoped it wasn't Amber checking to see if he'd contacted Albus yet about Harry.
As it turned out he didn't have to contact him; Albus was flooing him. James got up and knelt by the fireplace. "What is it, Albus?"
"Can you step through to my office, James? There is an important issue I need to discuss with you."
"Alright, move aside Albus," James said. He flooed over and stepped out into Albus' office. "Does this issue have anything to do with Harry or Snivellus?"
"In a way," Albus replied. He motioned for James to sit down and then sat down behind his desk. "I don't know if you are aware, but Lucius Malfoy gained a seat on the Board of Governor's this year."
"Yeah, so?"
"So I've heard from two of my contacts on the board that one of the Gryffindor Governors is going to be retiring and Augusta Longbottom is planning to replace him."
"And …" James said somewhat impatiently.
"She would be a disaster and a definite roadblock to my plans so I want you to be appointed as the new Gryffindor Governor instead."
Thank you for reading! Please review.