Chapter eleven

Harry left first, got his cloak and slipped it to Neville who still looked uncomfortable taking something that belonged to Harry's dead father. Neville kept saying the cloak would be safe, that nothing will happen to it, no one will know he even had it. Harry had to clamp his hand over Neville's mouth to stop him but to Harry it showed a true friend. Harry joined everyone for lunch but gave Severus a smile and nod before sitting down at the Gryffindor table.

'Haven't seen you all morning, where were you?' Hermione asked in her usual snippy voice.

'Around, I went up to the astronomy tower for a while, then I was down at the forest, not in the forest just near it.'

'But why, there's nothing going on is there?' Ron asked but Harry noticed he sounded excited even if he tried not to.

'No, well, Sirius, I was remembering a few things that we did together, things he told me. I want to do something in memory of Sirius so I needed to think.'

'What do you want to do?' Hermione asked cautiously.

'I'm setting up a fund to help orphans, when they start here most of the time they have second hand robes and equipment. So I've wanted to work on some details before I asked Sev then he could speak with the governors. I want it named after Sirius, so the Sirius Black orphaned fund, or the Padfoot fund, something like that.'

'Why Sirius and not call it after your parents?' Hermione asked sounding disapproving.

'It's Sirius money that will be used and I loved Sirius, the only person I did love,' Harry had worked that perfect. He wanted them to know he never loved them but he did love Sirius but he also didn't want them asking, now Severus was walking towards him which gave Harry the excuse not to answer them, but they just sat quietly.

'You said you wanted to discuss something with me, about your godfather?'

'Yeah, I do, somewhere private?'

'If we go to my room then we won't talk, our mouths will end up busy, so my office.'

'We can go to your room after and have some fun with our mouths,' Harry slipped his arm around Severus, chuckled at the disgusted look on Ron's face, even Hermione looked sick.

Harry outlined what he wanted to do using Sirius' money and how he wanted it named after Sirius.

'It is a very good idea Harry, but you know Hogwarts has a fund to help orphans.'

'Yeah, but it's not enough Sev, the orphans all wear second hand stuff. I know how that can make you feel, make you very self-conscious, I know I did especially when I saw Draco in his good clothes. The school clothes I had were new because Hagrid took me to my vault, but my other clothes were all second hand. If there were more funds then they could have new school clothes and new school equipment. I remember you saying something in class one day about a kids cauldron once, it was rusty which kept effecting the potion.'

'Yes, a lot of things can effect potions, that is why most lower grade students are asked to get a pewter cauldron, they clean easily when finished. Alright, since this is something that needs to be done I will speak with the governors about this. Now how much did you want to work on?'

'Ten million galleons and why I'm suggesting a lot Sev is that in eleven years there are going to be a lot of orphans starting here. You and I both know how many people died before the war, not to mention that night.'

'I've already know it's going to be hundreds Harry, some that were children when their parents were murdered, some were babies, within a year old. In the next few years there will be more orphans than we've ever had starting here, the most we've had so far was your age or just older as that is when he really started to put his plans into action.'

'Yeah, I worked that out, but hundreds, Sev,' Harry sighed, 'I bet most of those were muggleborns.'

'Yes, they are. But since we are talking about this and you seem to be very passionate about what happens to these children. Do you wish to be involved if we set this fund up?'

'I would love to, but apart from donating the money how could I help?'

'It will need someone to run it, organise how much things cost, discounts for buying multiple items. We know a few shops that will do that if you buy more than two items, they will discount the third and fourth. Madame Malkin gives the staff discounts as we buy multiple robes every few years. Now I know the Weasley family never had a lot but there was a large family when I was a student, eight children, all a year apart. Now when they bought two robes that got the third half price. If they bought four they got the fifth free.'

'I could do all that and I want to. You know I don't want to be an auror anymore, I might be good at fighting but it's not something I want for my life. But I wouldn't have to work from the ministry, would I? I still don't trust a lot of the people in there.'

'If I can organise it, then you could work from here. Think of this as well, as headmaster I usually assign the deputy to visit the coming eleven year old, you could visit at the same time. Work out if that child needs everything paid for or just some. There are orphans like you that had money left to them by their parents, sometimes it wasn't a lot so those funds we would leave for when the child leaves Hogwarts. They would need somewhere to stay since they would not be allowed to return to the orphanage, they are adults when they leave.'

Harry sat there staring at Sev when another idea came to him, 'Maybe that's something I can help with as well, but I like the idea of working from here. If they did need anything, I would know exactly what from the classes they take. Robes naturally, quills, parchment, cauldron's, books, now they can get expensive, but also things like dragon hide gloves for herbology, knives and scales for potions, telescopes for astronomy.'

'Yes, a new students does require a lot of equipment that can get expensive. But what was this other idea?'

'Two things actually, one for when the seventeen year old orphans leave. Maybe I could set up some housing for them, something they wouldn't need to pay rent on, just their own living expenses. Once they get work then they have a certain amount of time to get their own place, say two or three months, something like that, maybe even up to six months.'

'Again a very good idea if you wish to do that. You have more money than I thought Harry. So I'm saying this now, do not go spending it on me.'

'You're like me Sev, we live simple lives, but maybe the odd gift, for your birthday. But this other idea and again that would need the governors approval as well as yours. Now it's something completely different for Hogwarts but it's also something that would work well, especially for the younger students, ones that can't go into Hogsmeade. See, one time I ran out of ink and my quills broke, that was second year, I had to borrow Hermione's spare quill and use her ink or Ron's. What if we set up a spot here inside the castle that carry that type of stuff, like a small shop for school supplies?'

'That idea is very good and something I never thought of. I have had younger students who forgot to buy their knife for potions, other students had quills stolen or broken. Let me discuss that idea with Minerva because it does have merit. It would also mean someone would need to run it.'

'Couldn't I do that as well. It's not like normal shops Sev, it could be open just one day a week or even two.'

'Yes, you could if taking care of the funds leaves you time.'

'I want time with you as well, so I'll make sure, split the difference. During the day say Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the funds, Tuesday and Thursday for the shop.'

'Very well Harry, I will organise to talk to the governors and Minerva. But let me ask you something, will you be satisfied with this type of job, it's basically buying equipment, maybe taking an eleven year old orphan to buy what they need?'

'I like to help Sev and I also know what it's like. I was lucky that Hagrid took me shopping otherwise I would have been so lost that day. Then buying everything, I know what to get and as you said, buying multiple items might mean a discount. I'm looking for a calmer life than I've had, this could be it.'

'Yes, it could and think of this even though you will not like it. You are Harry potter, saviour, if you were to talk to the shop owners about a discount for multiple items, I do not believe they would turn you down.'

'I don't want them to feel like they would have to give a discount just because it's me.'

'I know but they might want to as a small way of saying thank you. You released that statement saying you did not want to be thanked, that you were just doing what you had to. I know you still get a lot of attention but you do not like it or spend a lot of time in public. This could be there way of showing their appreciation without having to say a word. But now my love, why don't we head to my rooms while we have some time.'

'I love the way your mind works Sev, take me to bed,' Harry grinned then held Severus hand as they walked through the large office and into Severus' private rooms.