Midsummer, Relaxing on a beach, Permission and a Family Feud
Severus placed a small vial on the table. "The whole thing."
"I was spotted yesterday, how will you explain me looking different?"
"I hexed you in an attempt to get you to go away."
"But I remained. It is midsummer and I want to drive you mad."
Severus' currently light blue eyes brightened. "You did drive me mad. That can be the only reason why we are together."
Harry laughed and downed the potion. Closing his eyes, he waited for the twisting feeling to go away before he responded. "You drove me mad, and it wasn't midsummer."
(o.o)
"Well, what do I look like?" Harry looked about for a mirror.
"Your hair is a bit lighter, and your eyes are a medium brown. The scar has vanished and you look like anyone you could meet on the street and not remember." Severus leaned forwards slightly and wrapped his fingers about Harry's hands. Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted the light auburn hair that was currently his. Harry had played with it last night and then declared that he preferred it black. "Today, you are going to check on the spell lines?"
"I am."
(o.o)
Harry walked along the narrow beach path, his fingers trailing along the rock facing. He had made a point earlier of irritating Severus publicly, and had been ordered away. So, he was circling as close as he could just to be annoying according to Severus.
Sinking to the sand, he leaned against the cliff wall and watched as the water licked at the sand. 'This would be a more fun if Severus was here next to me.'
He let the sounds of the waves wash over him, relaxing him until he felt the ward lines in the stone behind him.
(o.o)
Severus felt the moment that Harry's magic connected with his. His partner had full permission to use him as an anchor and a ground whenever Harry needed to, but this time he was going to show Harry what he had observed already.
Touching the soil, he directed Harry to the strange spells that were under the standard greenhouse ones.
Severus could feel Harry's probe wrap about his and follow it to where Severus was directing him to. A look out of the corner of his eye caused him to pray that Harry would finish soon. Derrick was watching him intently.
(o.o)
Harry followed Severus' guide and almost puked.
Death, cloying and sickly sweet, was clinging to the spells that were lying just below the surface. The nutrients that feed the plants were laced with it, and Harry knew that the last herbalist wasn't the only one to have met their demise at these people's hands. Determining the names of the others, he then pulled out of the morass and back to himself.
Dusting the sand off his trousers, Harry headed into town. It was time to put Severus' permissions to be annoying to use finding evidence on how the others died.
(o.o)
"A feud? The Oswalds were fighting over whom'd have control over the family business?" Harry pushed a pint closer to the man.
"Yeah. Those brothers fought since the day they were born. Wouldn't be surprised none if old Matthew did his twin in. No one ever found the body – Gregory just up and vanished one night."
Harry knew exactly where Gregory Oswald was, as well as his wife and children. There was no chance someone else would step forward to claim the business.
"I'd worry about that herbalist even if you don't like him. They vanish."