About two weeks after they had come to the manor Harry was in the library working on a complex water charm that Flitwick had sent him to work on, when Dobby appeared.

"Master Harry sir, there be a strange owl Master trying to get through the wards." Dobby told him.

Harry sighed and put down his wand ending the fountain he had been creating. "Do you know who the owl is from?"

Dobby shook his head. "No sir, but it has ministry seal on envelope sir."

Harry knew if it was from Amelia it would have come through the wards. "I'll come out to get it. I was thinking of a ride this afternoon anyways."

Dobby bowed. "I go make sure Master's horse be saddled."

Harry went first down to his husband's potions lab. "A strange owl has come from the ministry. Dobby said it has stayed at the edge of the wards waiting."

Severus looked up from his potion. "And you have decided to venture forth and collect it?"

Harry nodded. "I was planning on taking Quaker for a ride later when I was done with my charms work. Dobby has gone to make sure Quaker is saddled."

Severus had given the beautiful black mustang to his husband when they had first visited the stables. It was sired by his grandfather's horse he knew. Harry had taken to riding as quick as flying and they road together nearly every afternoon since, Harry every day even if Severus couldn't.

"Be careful. I don't want you to leave the wards more then a hand's length to get it. Make sure Dobby is there with you." Severus warned.

Knowing his husband would have preferred if he had just sent Dobby to retrieve it he nodded. "I promise."

Severus reached over to kiss him. "I'd come with you but I need to finish this. Perhaps we will go out later."

Harry nodded. "The horses are getting used to having riders again and Judas will be jealous if I take out Quaker two days in a row and you do not ride today either."

Thinking of his own chestnut that was a foal of his mum's old horse, Severus nodded. "Have I told you how glad I am you have taken to riding now?"

Harry knew his husband was referring to his own dislike for flying, now they had a hobby in common. "Yes, you have. Now finish your work so we can go later."

Harry kissed him one last time and trudged back up stairs and found his massive black horse waiting outside the front door for him. The horse was eighteen hands and intimidating upon first look but he seemed to have a liking for harry. Severus had tried to ride him first but the horse had tried to bite him any time he came near.

Harry went and stroked the horse's nose. "Hey Quaker, ready to go for ride? You might be lucky and get two today." The horse rubbed his nose against him in answer.

Gathering the reigns in hand and pulling himself into the saddle Harry turned the horse in the direction of the gates. "Should we take this at a run do you think?"

The horse nickered in response and Harry kicked the horse into motion and they were soon flying down the front drive towards the gates. The grounds were a number of acres but the wards ended just before the gates at this part of the house. He pulled Quaker to a halt at the end of the gates and saw the owl

Dobby appeared. "The owl won't let me take the letter. It be the reason I told you and didn't just bring the letter myself."

Harry was suddenly alert. He took his wand out and cast a charm Flitwick taught him to detect any portkeys or poisons on the letter. When he was assured that it was safe, he clambered down from Quaker and walked through the gates.

He looked at the owl. "I am Lord Potter Black-Snape if the letter is for me."

The owl took flight and flew dropping the envelope in his hands and then took off. Harry looked at it. "I do not recognize the writing."

Dobby came to his side. "Master Harry need get back in wards. Master Severus not happy if Master Harry beyond wards too long."

Harry nodded and pocketing the envelope he went back through the gates and clambered back on his horse and trotted back up the driveway. When he got to the front door he turned the horse off to one of the other elves.

He stroked the disappointed horse's nose and fed him a carrot. "I promise I'll take you for a longer ride this afternoon."

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Severus had been working on his potion but his mind was distracted by his husband and the letter. Dobby had come to assure him Harry had returned inside the wards right away and was back in the house, but there was something bothering him about all of this. He finished his potion and headed up the stairs.

Nolo appeared as he came to the main floor. "Will masters be liking lunch served soon?"

Severus realized the time and nodded. "Where is my husband?"

"Master Lord Harry is in the library sir. Nolo bring lunch to the library for you both?" Nolo responded.

Severus smiled. "Yes." He had tried to convince the elf he didn't have to call Harry master and lord but thanks to his introductions of Harry as Lord Black-Snape, the house elf refused to drop the lord after master. Severus thought it odd as he was Lord Prince and he was called only master, but he had given up arguing with his elves.

He walked into the library and saw Harry working again on his fountain charm. It was to be able to call water from an underground source or even plumbing of need be, and be able to control it. Limited water and force could be drawn from a wand alone. Controlling existing water could have much more force behind it.

Noticing the letter unopened beside Harry he was surprised. "I would have thought you would have opened that by now."

Stopping the charm Harry turned to him. "I thought I'd wait until you had arrived. There was something about the letter that did not set right with me."

Severus sighed and sat down next to him. "You seem to be doing well with that water charm."

Harry shrugged. "I don't know why but I don't seem to have as much luck with it as the fire one that he taught me last week."

Severus smiled. "The founders were elementals. They all had one element they could control. Gryffindor was fire. We were not certain if the heirs would be able to inherit that power but your ability with fire might be a sign."

Harry was surprised; he had not heard this before. "What is your elemental then?"

Severus took out his wand and made the flower in a pot grow. "I seem to have a bit of the earth power in me. You might as well for you have Slytherin blood. Ravenclaw is air and Hufflepuff would be water."

Harry thought that made sense. "So why haven't I been told about this before?"

"We thought we should focus on occulemency first. The training Flitwick gave you is suppose to be helping practice the elements. Elementals usually have a good talent with all four elements but can do wandless and even silent magic over their natural element." Severus explained.

Harry wanted to understand more. "Can you? I mean can you do things like growing that plant without your wand and silent?"

Severus shook his head. "Minimal but with actual spells I was taught. If I was showing my natural ability I would be able too without an incantation."

Harry's smile dropped. "Does that mean we haven't inherited the gift?"

Severus shook his head. "No. We only performed the ritual a few weeks ago. With time and practice, the gifts have a chance to appear."

Severus knew part of Harry was asking all of these questions for his husband was for some reason reluctant to open the letter that he had gone out to get. Harry had been anxious to collect the letter and learn what it was but he had retrieved it over an hour ago and now it sat unopened and Harry was switching topics. He didn't push it for now.

"I asked Nolo to bring us lunch. After lunch I thought we could take that ride." Severus finally said.

Harry smiled. "I'd like that."

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Harry and Severus had been out in the grounds riding for about an hour. They could have spent days riding on the property and not cover it all with the woods beyond. He reigned in Judas and Harry slowly came to a halt next to him as well. He had seen his husband put the envelope in his pocket.

Getting down from the horse he let his horse graze for a bit and turned to Harry who was doing the same. "Are you ever going to open it?"

Harry was pale and looking down at the envelope which he took from his pocket. "I'm not sure why it's bothering me so much but there is something about the writing and the owl that is making me jumpy."

Severus motioned for Harry to sit with him on a rock. "What is it?"

"I've seen the writing before, but it's not possible. I mean the person whose writing it looks like couldn't have." Harry said.

Severus knew Harry was going to say dead. "Whose writing do you think it is?"

Harry barely said the word; it came out as a whisper "Black." Was all Severus could make out.

Harry's godfather, Severus thought. "Sirius. The writing is like your godfather's?"

Harry shook his head. "No, Regulas."