(A/N: Welcome back once again to this lovely little fic. I'm glad that you've stuck around for so long, I hope that you are still enjoying it. Anyway, one with the show!)

The North Wind Blows

Part 29

The time for dinner came more swiftly than the boys cared for. It seemed only a few minutes that they had been immersed in their studies before Lucius was standing and declaring that it was time for them to stop reading. Of course, they knew that it was far longer than that as the Library was now lit up by lamps instead of sunlight, but prying those three away from their studies was always a chore.

"Come now, it's a dessert night, surely you don't want to miss that," Lucius said as the boys dragged their feet about finishing up the last of their notes and making an indication of the page they'd left off on. None of the books were allowed to leave the Library, so the boys very neatly placed them at their designated work stations. All three took their notes with them, however, wanting to be sure to be able to study them later on.

"No Uncle, but can you really blame us for learning?" Draco said in his sweetest voice and Lucius laughed, gently ruffling his Heir's hair in response.

"No Draco I suppose that I can't. But you three do still need your dinner and your potions, so I must insist," Lucius replied and all three boys groaned again.

"There's nothing wrong with my potions," Severus spoke up.

"There's nothing wrong with them, you brew them flawlessly. The problem is being in a position to have to take them at all," Harry explained in his most adult voice. It was a lingering problem; he still proved to be far too mature and advanced for his age. Part of him was certain that it would never go away; at least it wouldn't leave him until he was already and adult and meant to be behaving like one.

"I see. Then why is Draco so insistent on learning to alter the taste of them?" Severus questioned, it was obvious that he was aiming for something more playful and not disappointment.

"That's easy, he wants to start a line of child friendly potions when he grows up," Dudley spoke up and Draco blushed, ducking his head and running his hand back through his hair.

"Sorry Godfather, it isn't that I dislike your potions. I just think it would be easier to convince kids to take their medicine if it tasted better," Draco explained and Severus laughed softly.

"I understand Draco, believe me I understand. I was not and still am not the biggest fan of the flavors that come out when you brew, I rather look forward to your innovations," Severus assured gently as the group made their way out into the hallway.

"That is a worthy aspiration for the Malfoy name, I look forward to investing in your business Draco," Lucius said and Draco beamed.

Halfway to the Family Dining Room, they met up with Narcissa. Her hair was pulled back from her face in a tight bun and her fingers were stained with various colors from her ingredients, but she looked absolutely pleased with herself.

"Ah, hello you lot. I'm glad I didn't have to remind anyone that it was time for dinner. It took Dobby telling me that it was time to take a break for me to know what time it was," she said in greeting and the three children crowded her for hugs as they always did whenever she spent more than a few hours out of their sight.

"Did you see the note I left you?" Severus asked softly once the boys had each received a hug and a kiss from their mother or surrogate mother.

"Yes, thank you Severus for allowing me to use your ingredients. I know that they aren't cheap. As soon as this practical is over I shouldn't need to brew again for some time, and I will be happy to help you replenish your stores," Narcissa said and Severus made a dismissive gesture.

"I am pleased to share my stores. Besides your knowing how to brew these potions will hopefully lead to you spending some time in the Lab with me and thereby splitting the time that either of us needs to spend brewing in half," he responded.

"Of course, I would be honored to take some of the workload off your shoulders. I know that you brew for the boys and your Mail Order clients, so if I handle the ones for the boys it will certainly reduce your time in the Lab," she said and Severus smiled, indeed it would be nice to share more time with Tom and Lucius, not to mention getting to spend time with the boys.

"You've been really quiet Tom, is everything alright?" Harry piped up, looking concerned at the other man's silence.

"I'm perfectly fine Harry, thank you for asking. I've just been considering your current interest. Wand Making is a very technical venture in some ways, but it is also very simple. Perhaps we should consider letting you try your hand at crafting your own wand," Tom said and Harry's jaw dropped open.

"Would you really let me do that? I know that it likely wouldn't pass as my adult wand, but for a children's practice wand it wouldn't be bad. I could make one for Draco and Dudley as well," Harry said and earned excited hoots from Draco and Dudley. So far of the three of them Harry was the only one who could use his magic intentionally, but that was only to talk to magic and occasionally summon things, none of them knew any real spells yet.

"Of course, it is worth a try. We wouldn't want you three to be unprepared when school starts. I hadn't even considered practice wands as something that we should have gotten you, but you're very right Harry. I shall contact a few people and see if I can't get you the supplies to set up your own Wand Maker station," Tom said and Harry hugged him around the middle so tightly that he groaned.

"That's wonderful! Thank you Tom, thank you so much!" Harry said excitedly and Tom ruffled his hair, ruining the careful work Draco had put into tidying it. But if that bothered Draco the excitement at the prospect of a practice wand outweighed it.

"Alright, enough talk; let's see what our wonderful Kitchen Staff have prepared for dinner, shall we?" Lucius said quickly, knowing that if Tom and Harry got on a tangent that neither of the pair would move for at least an hour while they discussed the specifics.

So they made their way through the Manor and into the Family Dining Room, which had actually been expanded slightly to hold all 7 of them comfortably. Already there were steaming platters of food waiting and the smell of it seemed to get to the children first as all mutterings of conversation stopped and they quickly took their seats at the table.

(A/N: Well that's all for now folks. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter as much as you have enjoyed past ones and that you will leave me a review or a comment to let me know what you thought. As always thanks for reading and I hope to see you next time!)