Harry Potter was in the Great Hall eating breakfast at the Gryffindor table. With him, were Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna. The group had all slept late up in the Gryffindor Tower, after yesterday's busy activities. While Harry was busy at Gringotts' Bank meeting with Ragnorak IV, the King of the Goblin Nation, and learning of his inheritances with Griphook, Neville and Luna had spent the day visiting Neville's mom and dad at Saint Mungo's Hospital. Ron and Hermione spent their day helping Mrs. Weasley and Ginny finish some of the cleanup of the castle.
Harry asked everyone what plans they had for today.
"Well Luna and I are going back to the hospital to talk with my folks," Neville said. "We are bringing them up to date on what has happened in our lives."
No one else had any plans so Harry suggested some.
"I would like Ginny, Ron and Hermione to join me on a trip to Potter Manor. It is where my grandparents lived, and I never even knew it existed until yesterday when the Bank gave me a portkey to its location. I want to see what is there. Will you three go with me?"
The four friends walked out of the Great Hall and out of the castle till they were on the grounds of Hogwarts. Then Harry activated the portkey to Potter Manor as everyone grabbed a hold of the portkey envelope. And after a few minutes of spinning, found themselves outside the gate to Potter Manor.
Once everyone stopped spinning and was able to stand up straight, they saw that they were outside a large brick wall that surrounded the estate. Directly in front of where they landed was an ornate metal gated driveway that led up to the manor. The gate was closed, and after Ron checked, it was locked.
Harry looked on as Ron tried to open the gate and couldn't. He then came over to the gate and placed his hands on the lock. The lock immediately clicked and the gate opened.
As the foursome walked through the gate and followed the driveway past the manor fence, they could see the manor house. It was a three-story brick and rock building with ten windows facing the driveway. In the middle, two solid wood doors interrupted the brick and rock motif to enter the building. Each of the floors above the first story had six half circle balconies with windows on either side of French doors.
As the group walked to the front doors, the doors opened and a house-elf dressed in a butler's uniform came out of the house.
"My name is William, I am the Head Elf at Potter Manor. May I help you?"
Harry replied. " I am Harry Potter, William, I was just informed that I have inherited this place, and decided to come with my friends to see the estate."
"Master Harry, that explains how you were able to unlock the gate, welcome to the estate, let me give you the grand tour of Potter Manor, and let me introduce you to the staff that is here to support you." William replied.
William invited Harry and the others into the front hall. The entry way was a large tiled foyer with double staircases leading upstairs to the other floors. William stopped in the middle of the front hall as he was joined by three other house-elves.
"My lord Harry Potter let me introduce the house staff to you. Maria, he pointed to the first female house-elf next to him, is the head cook. She is assisted by Snoopy; he is the assistant cook and baker. Next we have Lionel, he is in charge of the grounds and gardens here at the estate, and finally we have Martha, she is the upstairs maid and takes care of the Master suite, and the twelve guest suites within the manor."
Harry greeted each of the elves and shook their hands. Then he asked each to call him Harry, not master or my lord. Then Harry called Kreacher to the manor.
"This is Kreacher. He is a House Black elf that I inherited when I became the head of House Black. Kreacher has been working for me the past two years. Kreacher, this is William, Maria, Snoopy, and Martha. William is the head elf of Potter Manor. You will still be head elf of House Black, but coordinate with William while we are here at Potter Manor."
"I understand Master Harry." Kreacher replied. "I have known William for many years when the Blacks and Potters used to socialize together."
"Welcome Kreacher to Potter Manor. Do not worry, Harry Potter, " William stated, "Kreacher and I will work together for the sake of both houses."
William then dismissed the staff to continue their work, asking Maria to develop a lunch for the group. After the staff left, William led the way down the hall to the right of the entrance doors explaining that these were the public rooms of the manor.
The first room they came to was a sitting room with three separate sitting areas each with a settee, a love seat, and a plush side chair grouped around a coffee table. William explained that this was the Gathering room for social occasions or formal assemblies.
The next room was a formal dining room with tables and chairs to sit 20. At the other end of the room were doors leading to the kitchens for serving, and doors leading outside to the manor's patio.
Further down the right hall was the smoking room. This was primarily the men's lounge and had chairs grouped for holding private conversations, and a large wet bar set up for serving alcoholic beverages. The back of the room also had doors to the outside patio and the manor's back yard.
After the smoking room, William led them back to the main lobby and started leading the group down the left side of the first floor. First room off the lobby on the left side was the Master's study. It included a large desk, chairs and couches for meetings and a full wall of bookcases.
Across the hall from the study was the private dining room with seating for 12, and again doors to the kitchen.
The last room on the left side was a large 2-story Library about the size of Hogwarts. The room had a few tables and reading benches, but was primarily wall to wall bookcases and was open to the second floor where more bookcases and chairs lined the walls. A spiral staircase in one corner allowed access to the second floor.
William then turned the group round and led then, with Ron pulling Hermione away from the library, back into the private dining room. From the dining room, William led the foursome through the servants' doors into the kitchen,
The kitchen was as modern as a downtown London restaurant. Modern, muggle appliances, and both dry and cold pantries with stasis charms filled the kitchen area. A bakery area was setup on one side of the kitchen with huge ovens and commercial designed mixers. William showed Harry and the others the doors leading from the kitchen to the formal dining room. He said the kitchen was located behind the double staircase in the lobby. He also stated that next to the library were doors leading outside to the back of the manor where a barbecue and picnic area was setup, and a party patio existed. The backyard was also reachable from the kitchen and from the formal dining room and the smoking room.
William announced that lunch was ready, so he led the group back through the servant doors to the private dining room. He would continue the tour after lunch showing the group the second and third floors.
Harry and Ron were kidding Hermione about having to be pulled out of the library as lunch was served to them. They all had roast beef sandwiches with potato salad, and butter beers.
After lunch, William returned to the private dining room and led the foursome out of the dining room and then back to the main lobby. From the lobby, Williams led the group up the right staircase to the second floor. As they climbed the stairs, William reminded everyone that the right side of the lobby was considered public areas, so each of the bedrooms located on the second and third floors on the right side were considered guest rooms. Each room of six of the second floor consisted of a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom.
William opened the first door on the right hand side of the corridor and showed them the guest room with ensuite bath. The room had a queen size bed, a few side chairs, and end tables on either side of the bed, and a matching bathroom with tub/shower combination.
William explained that the other rooms on the right side of the manor on the second and third floors were exactly the same. A total of 12 guest rooms. As the group returned to the stairs, William opened a door next to the stairs and explained that this door was normally locked, because the left side of the manor is the private or family side.
Walking through a long corridor between the right and left staircases, the group came to a small office. This is the mistress' study. It permits the Lady of the house to do her paperwork undisturbed. It also has a dumbwaiter to the kitchen allowing her to pass menus or taste test meals between herself and the head cook.
Past the Mistress' study was the left staircase back to the first floor lobby. On the other side of the stairs was a private Masters' study. On top of his public study off the lobby, the private study and fewer bookcases, but still a desk and a safe for funds or private papers.
On the other side of the left corridor was a long hall leading to bedrooms. There was a master suite, consisting of a bedroom, dressing room and bath; a mistress suite identical to the master suite; and a nursery
William explained that the third floor left side hall consisted of four bedrooms and two baths for older children.
After showing everyone the master suite and nursery, William returned to the private study then walked next to it, the upper floor of the library. He explained that the third floor above the library was a classroom and above the private study was a play room for the children.
Entering the upper level of the library showed the group more bookcases but also a reading lounge consisting of a couch and several chairs. William explained that this lounge allowed the family to read without having to dress formally for being on the first level of the library.
While William explained the lounge, a new voice said hello to Harry. Looking around he saw the portraits of his Grandfather and Grandmother; Charles and Samantha Potter.
"Good afternoon young man," his grandfather stated. "You must be our Grandson, Harry. How old are you now?"
"Yes sir, I am Harry James Potter, I will be 18 in two and half months. These are my friends, my girlfriend Ginny Weasley; her brother and my best mate Ron Weasley, and his girlfriend and my pal Hermione Granger. Last week we had a battle at Hogwarts and we won. Voldemort is dead, and the death eaters are fleeing. Because of the war, I just came into my inheritance yesterday. So we are here looking at Potter Manor for the first time. William is showing us around."
"Harry," Samantha Potter said, "When you have time, please sit with us and tell us about the last 17 years. And bring your beautiful red-headed girlfriend with you."
"I will", Harry promised. Ginny blushed as she came up next to Harry and smiled at his Grandmother.
William next invited the group to descend the spiral staircase to the first floor of the library, as the tour was finished. As they walked down the stairs, Harry turned to William and told him that he would be back tomorrow with a larger group to stay at the manor until their own homes are repaired, so be prepared to support 18 people for at least a couple of weeks.
William nodded his agreement to the task and told Harry he and the staff would be ready.
With a great thank you and smiles from the entire group, Harry and the group departed the house and walked back out to the gate. Once at the gate, Harry activated the portkey to take them back to Hogwarts.
Upon landing outside the gate of Hogwarts, the foursome walked through the gate and up to the castle. From there they all went up to Gryffindor Tower to the common room and their dorms to freshen up.
Once Harry and everyone else were in the Great Hall for dinner that night, Harry gathered the Weasleys all together and gave them the bad news about the Burrow.
"Kreacher checked the Burrow yesterday, what he found was the Burrow had sustained major damage to the kitchen and third and fourth floor bedrooms. At my direction, I had Kreacher contact the Goblins at Gringotts Construction Division to repair the damage and make the Burrow like new. But this will take a little time. I am told everything will be repaired in two weeks. In the meantime I am inviting the Weasley family to visit and stay at Potter Manor until the Burrow is repaired and everyone is happy with it. Also because we recently learned that Longbottom House is undergoing repairs at the same time, the Longbottom family is also invited to visit and stay at Potter Manor until Longbottom House is finished. This invitation is extended also to Ms. Hermione Granger and Ms. Luna Lovegood, and will also include Mrs. Andromeda Tonks and Teddy Lupin."
After Harry's invitation, both the Weasleys and the Longbottoms agreed. To accompany him to Potter Manor will take several house-elves many trips back and forth between Hogwarts and the manor.
Harry finalized the list of everyone who would be going and how many trunks or other baggage the group would have to transport. Then he called for Kreacher and William. When both elves had reported to Harry, he gave them the lists and they agreed to start at 1000 the next morning.
