92

CHAPTER NINETY TWO:

By the time Harry and Amelia parted a number of points had been covered, including some that were quite close to Harry's heart. He felt a bit guilty for giving Amelia yet more work, but he knew some of his suggestions were important for the wizarding world's future.

A big point was that of witches and wizards under Hogwarts age – he insisted that the parents of Muggleborn children be informed immediately that their child was magical, and that the parents be given as much support as possible in raising their child. In the case that the parents should choose not to keep the child, it should go to Black Manor as the single magical orphanage in Britain. Orphaned magical children should logically also be moved from Muggle orphanages into Black Manor, where they could be with similarly gifted children.

Courses on Muggle and magical culture alike should also be available for everyone, he argued, so that there wouldn't be a new set of Death Eaters in a few decades. Integration of magical beings, also, particularly humanoid ones such as vampires and werewolves. Harry pitched a suggestion for a small department within the Ministry that would deal with werewolves: With only werewolves working in the department, charged with educating the public on their kind, distributing Wolfsbane Potion, and arranging for better integration of werewolves into wizarding society. Amelia seemed hesitant until Harry said that he would fund the department and cover the costs of such a large amount of Wolfsbane Potion. He also pointed out that Elphias Doge knew a vampire and could enquire whether they would be interested in their own department. They both agreed, however, that Goblins preferred to be separate, centaurs weren't interested in politics, and house elves wouldn't want to be equal to humans. Yet, Harry added, and Amelia neither agreed nor disagreed with him.

In retaliation, Amelia said pointedly that vigilante groups were illegal, which Harry countered by saying that had the Ministry been doing its job the Order of the Phoenix would never have been necessary, but he agreed without much argument to disband the Order after Dumbledore's execution. Deciding it might be better to switch the topic, Harry asked what changes she would like to see made to Hogwarts, and they moved on to a pleasant topic for which both of them had ideas but no obligation to see them realized. That was in Minerva's lap – and that of the Board of Governors, but since Madam Longbottom was on it and the Death Eaters weren't anymore Harry wasn't really worried. Amelia did make some interesting suggestions involving the parents, such as them being allowed to attend Quidditch matches and a Hogwarts fair where students could possibly sell things they had created in class if approved by their teachers – transfigured plushies, engraved objects, usable potions… Harry wasn't sure that would work out well, since he thought parents would most likely only buy the things their own children did and Death Eater children and orphans would feel excluded, but Amelia said that it was worth a try and that everything should be sold anonymously anyway. She seemed to think that outsiders would also be interested in buying things, particularly potions, as they would be cheaper than store-bought ones.

At any rate, they both felt like their lunch had been both enjoyable and constructive when they parted ways, and both had hope for the future.

OoOoO

Speaker, Medusa hissed a greeting when Harry rounded the corner to Severus's quarters.

Medusa, he returned with a smile. The statue had taken to initiating short conversations lately, something that never failed to put Harry in a good mood. How has your day been?

Innnteresting, the snake replied in a sort of drawl. The bushy-haired lioness visited the Potions Master, and a blonde snake hesitated here for a time before leaving again. She seemed to wish to speak to the Potions Master but lacked the courage to.

Harry frowned slightly. Could you describe the snake in more detail? I would deliver your message to Severus.

The snake seemed pleased at that, if his tone was anything to go by; most likely he didn't appreciate being unable to inform Severus himself. The snake had dark blonde, straight hair… blue eyes… She was here before, accompanied by the Potions Master one night but leaving alone. She was crying then.

Daphne? Harry asked in surprise. As far as he knew, she, Draco, and Blaise were the only Slytherins who had recently been in Severus's personal quarters. I will inform Severus immediately; it may be something of importance, he told the snake, and with a pleased hiss the statue slid aside.

"Severus?" Harry called as he walked into the living room. "Are you here?"

"I will be there shortly," came Severus's voice from within his lab, and Harry went to fetch some robes while he waited; it could take Severus several minutes to finish, and it was chilly in the castle.

"What is it?" the man asked as he walked out of his lab, stooping to give Harry a kiss when he reached him.

"Medusa says that Daphne spent some time hesitating before your door today," Harry explained with a gesture at the doorway. "He says it looked like she wanted to speak with you."

Severus frowned. "Indeed? Perhaps I shall approach her after dinner." He wouldn't normally approach a student without good reason – let them come to him if it's important – but Greengrass was in a difficult situation and perhaps in need of guidance. Besides, Severus was honest enough with himself to admit that the fact she was his lover's former wife most likely influenced his decision.

Harry just smiled and slid closer to Severus, resting his head against the taller man's shoulder. "You got my message?"

"I did," the man confirmed, holding Harry loosely in his arms. "What were you thinking of doing with your day off?"

"I thought I might leave it up to you," Harry raised his head and stretched to give Severus a languid kiss. "I'm all yours," he murmured against his lover's lips and was rewarded by the darkening of Severus's eyes.

"Indeed?" the man murmured, holding Harry more firmly now. "Then I shall have to think of something suitable to occupy you…" His heated gaze and firm hands spoke of the occupation he thought suitable – and Harry couldn't have agreed more.

OoOoO

That evening they had dinner in their quarters instead of joining the school in the Great Hall, and the food tasted all the better for having worked up an appetite prior to eating. Their conversation was lighthearted, staying away from the heavy topics of politics and the future, and Severus reluctantly left to find Greengrass only once he could put it off no longer.

"I require the presence of Daphne Greengrass," he informed the stretch of wall hiding the entrance to the Slytherin dorms. He only went in for the most extreme of circumstances, believing that the common room was a space where the students should be on their own, without fear of a teacher intruding.

A few minutes later the wall slid open and his student stepped out, outwardly composed but the circles under her eyes betraying her fatigue.

"Lady Greengrass," Severus inclined his head, catching the tiny wince the girl gave at the title before she inclined her head similarly.

"Professor Snape," she replied softly. "How can I help you?"

"The statue guarding the entrance to my quarters informed me that you appeared to wish to talk to me earlier today," Severus said blandly. "What was it that brought you to my door?"

Greengrass seemed surprised, then rueful. Clearly she realized she should have expected the statue to report back to him – not that it had, as Severus couldn't understand Parseltongue and the magic linking him to the statue only did so much – and nodded before saying, "Actually, it was Lord Potter-Black I wanted to talk to, but since no one seems to know where he lives…"

Severus hummed, turning to lead her to his quarters. "Lord Potter-Black has guest quarters near Gryffindor Tower, but he is rarely to be found there. He spends much of his time at the Ministry, these days."

"Of course," Greengrass agreed, a slightly strained note to her voice at the reminder of her parents' trial. "He's with you at the moment, Professor?" she enquired when they passed the staircase that would have taken them up to the entrance hall.

"He is," Severus confirmed, revealing nothing else, and the rest of the way proceeded in silence. They entered the Potions Master's quarters to find Harry on the couch reading a potions journal Severus had left on the table, and he looked up when they walked in.

"Da- Lady Greengrass," Harry greeted, his expression going from pleasantly surprised to slightly pained as he realized he wasn't entitled to call his former wife by her first name.

"Lord Potter-Black," the girl returned, and hesitated slightly before saying softly, "You are welcome to call me by my given name." She was visibly taken aback by Harry's delighted and relieved grin, and even more so when he immediately returned the offer. "Harry, then," she said hesitantly.

"Would you prefer I leave you to your discussion?" Severus said smoothly before an awkward silence could fall.

"You are welcome to stay, Professor," Daphne replied, giving him a tiny smile. "However, I don't know that it will be of much interest to you…"

Severus gave her a searching look, taking in her stance and expression before replying. "I believe I will remain, then," he said, turning to take a seat on the armchair nearest Harry. Looking at his student as she sat on the other end of the couch from Harry, he saw that her posture had relaxed slightly from the uncertain and nervous stance she had unconsciously channeled previously. The brief look Harry shot him showed that he hadn't missed it, either, and Severus wondered whether Harry was adept at reading body language or simply experienced when it came to his future wife's expressions.

"I wanted to ask you about our future and the Greengrass business," Daphne began, her gaze level on Harry though her posture spoke of nerves. "You spoke previously of Black Manor and a set allowance, but I wished to enquire again about the details."

Harry's lips twitched slightly – it was a very Slytherin way to say that she hadn't paid attention to the details the last time, believing they wouldn't apply to her – but schooled his features into a more serious expression before replying. Explaining the details of the Black Home, he outlined his plans for a summer intensive course to Muggles that was obligatory for all residents of the Black Home, the ground rules and hierarchy – and she was obviously surprised that the house elves were to be given a status and respect just under Narcissa Black and Peter Oakley – and the amount of money each child would get transferred directly into their own account each month. She clearly didn't think it was anywhere near enough money, but didn't protest once Harry explained that upon graduation they would receive a far greater sum, and that they could continue to live at Black Manor until they turned twenty.

By the time they reached that age, Harry said, they would have had two years since graduation to find a job and potential housing – keeping in mind that she and Astoria could choose one of the Greengrass properties to live in – and unless they spent their allowance frivolously, enough savings to support themselves for some time. To his relief, Daphne agreed that it seemed fair, and changed the topic to that of her parents' business.

Rising, Harry went to get the notes he had taken while discussing that topic with the goblins, and briefed her on what he had discovered about the various branches of the business, as well as which ones he had kept and which he had immediately dropped.

"I had the goblins find suitable employees to continue the business, and you can assume control of it when you graduate from Hogwarts, if you want to. You'll have to read up on business management and such if you want to successfully take charge of it, though," he warned her. "Right now the goblins are dealing with all that, but they charge more than you'd be able to afford."

"I understand," Daphne acknowledged the point with a nod. "Thank you for taking charge of the business for us."

"Of course," Harry smiled. "I did it for the other private-owned businesses as well – they're mostly small shops, but this way other children will also have the option to take over their parents' line of work once they're old enough."

Daphne looked intrigued, but Severus was the one to ask whose parents had businesses.

"Several of the families of children under Hogwarts age," Harry replied. "One of the younger Ravenclaws' parents owned the luggage shop on Diagon Alley; a Slytherin's parents supported an owl service business, and a lot of Death Eaters had shares in a variety of companies, so the children will be getting those when they come of age." Harry still felt guilty about taking their money and more, but they'd be getting a fair amount back, and he was now the one giving them all food, shelter, an education, and hopefully a better future. A lot of them would probably disagree with the last point.

"Does that answer all your questions, Lady Greengrass?" Severus intruded on his thoughts, clearly deciding this conversation had gone on long enough, and Daphne nodded.

"Yes, thank you. But please, Professor – call me Miss Greengrass." She was plainly uncomfortable with being called Lady Greengrass, but Severus gave her shrewd look.

"You would give up the advantage it gives you over the other students? Are there no other Slytherins lording their superior status over their housemates?"

Daphne hesitated at that. "Nott," she acknowledged reluctantly, and Severus nodded.

"Do not give up an advantage so readily. However, I will call you Miss Greengrass in private if you wish."

The girl looked grateful for that small concession, and thoughtful about how it changed her status within her House. She had read up about the rules concerning emancipated students, of course, and knew that she had a lot more rights now than she'd had previously, but hadn't considered how it put her above her classmates. Others, like Nott, had, but somehow she hadn't seen that as affecting her.

"Thank you, Professor; Harry," she said quietly as she stood. "I will think on what you have told me."

"Do so," Severus agreed as he stood.

"And let Astoria know that she's welcome to talk to me if she has any questions as well," Harry added with a smile. Daphne just nodded and made her farewells before leaving.

"About time," Severus grumbled, grabbing Harry and pulling him up off the couch. "That was near interminable."

"Only because you've heard it all before," Harry countered, but Severus scowled at him.

"So had she," he informed his lover curtly. "Had she paid closer attention then, this would have not been necessary. Did you not also send her a letter concerning the business?"

"I did," Harry conceded, and Severus scowled harder.

"Well, then. That was an entirely superfluous conversation."

Harry's lips twitched at that. "Not everyone has your powers of retention, dear," he drawled in a fair imitation of Severus, and the other man paused before narrowing his eyes at him. Harry chose that as his cue to beat a hasty retreat.