BLOSSOM HILL PT. I
4th August 1986 - On The Way
"Shadow, is there lots of land to play on like at Hagrid's Hut?" asked Harry.
"Bigger than, Magpie," smirked Severus. "And, a woods to get lost in."
Neville snorted, "You wouldn't allow us to get lost, Shadow."
"As I intend to look for ingredients for my potions in the woods," replied the Potions Master, "I would expect a Mouse and a Magpie to lend me their assistance."
"But what if there isn't anything, Shadow?" demanded Harry.
"I do not consider anyplace without doing research on the flora and fauna of a place," remarked Severus. "The Eleutherian Clover is one ingredient that is abundant on the land and the surrounding area. 48 different plants both magical and non- are in the area that are of use. There is also supposed to be a herd of Unicorn I hope we can find so that I may strike a proposal with them for ingredients."
"Can't you just take what you want, Shadow?" asked Neville.
"Not one single bit, Mouse," replied Severus. "The Unicorn is a sacred animal in our world and one cannot take anything from a Unicorn unless a bargain is made." His eyebrow sharply as he leaned menacingly towards his sons. "Not even their scat!"
"Ewwwww!" both boys chorused in disgust. Severus chuckled and Poppy shook her head.
4th August 1986 - Blossom Hill Farm
Granier Polydore was an oddly muscular realtor for wizards and witches. His robes only added to his quaint oddity. He wore a tweed cap with leather ear flaps that were untied at the moment. Granier had turned up the ear flaps. His robes were an amber brown tweed over a woolen tweed suit. Although suit and robes were well made, there was possibly too much tweed. Another aspect of the man was long, red hair to his shoulders that was tied back by a leather string, fluffy red muttonchops, and a moustache so bushy and long on the ends it fit the definition of a walrus moustache.
Granier watched as he knew the invisible carriage and Pegasii were arriving with his appointment. He saw nothing until Jonesy alighted the carriage and Pegasii on the ground. Each Pegasus gracefully shook out their wings and then folded them up against their bodies.
Jonesy jumped down from his driver's perch on the carriage, opened the short door, and disabled the safety wards. Severus emerged first so he could help Poppy down and then Harry and Neville skipped the carriage steps and jumped from the carriage.
"Welcome to Blossom Hill Farm!" smiled the realtor with outstretched arms. "I'm Granier Polydore." He lowered his arms, stepped forward and bowed.
Severus bowed in return and then introduced himself and his family. "Sirius Black said that you would show us the farm."
"Indeed, Master Snape! Come along." As the family followed the realtor down a cobbled driveway Polydore began elucidating the history of the farm. "Blossom Hill Farm consists of 38 acres which will give you plenty of room with no neighbors in the immediate vicinity. The woods comprise about 15 of those acres. Master Snape, you will find a wealth of flora for ingredients in the woods."
"Are there unicorns, Mr. Polydore?" asked Harry.
The realtor tapped his chin in thought. "I've never seen one but I have heard tales of Unicorns from locals."
Chatter was stopped as the farmhouse came into view.
The farmhouse was hidden by a hedge nearly as tall as the house itself. The hedge was thick, made up of leaves of burnished and sharp green. Flowers bloomed all over the hedge in colours of yellow, orange, pink, and red. The driveway they had walked on went through a wide opening that gave a perfect view of the farmhouse.
The house itself was a classic, stone constructed house with slate coloured clay tile roofing that had been charmed against weather and fire. The house was "capped" at either end by chimneys that the realtor led to two large fireplaces; one for the kitchen and one for the living room.
"Of course, the fireplace in the living room is currently disconnected from the Floo network but that is something to be remedied once the house is occupied," said Polydore.
A flowering vine crawled up one corner of the house and Poppy shielded her gaze from the sun as she followed it from ground to roof. "The vine is an attractive feature, Mr. Polydore, but I grew up where quite a lot of houses were in ruins because of such vines."
"Ireland?" smiled Polydore. He had detected the faint lilt to Poppy's accent that not many perceived.
She nodded. "So, the vine, sir?"
"It's a hearty vine but as each stone was placed and mortared, Madame, it was enchanted against natural erosion," replied Polydore. "As to the vine itself it's clinging tendrils do not damage the stone as it thrives." Garnier Polydore reached the pretty, green painted door, touched the door with his wand and the door popped open. "Come in!"
