AN: Thanks so much to Yen for helping me get to the end. Also, thanks to all of you who have stuck with me until here. ^-^

Epilogue

Harry leaned against one of the gatehouse's parapets, looking across the park towards the manor. He couldn't see the manor from here, but he knew that Ron and Hermione were both arriving from their home to start the day.

The gardening staff was already hard at work making sure both gardens - the Muggle-friendly one and the Wizarding one - were ready. They were hosting a Muggle Wedding with a reception and a Wizarding Birthday party this morning. 'Severus was right - it was a good idea to have two gardens geared towards the different worlds.' Mr Richards had found him the perfect head gardener - Amelia Ames. She was a Muggleborn who had excelled on her Herbology NEWTs and then had gone on to get her Muggle Horticultural degree.

Dobby had requested more house elves to help in the manor kitchen as they were not only catering the parties, but they also cooked for the hostel. Not that the Muggle side of the hostel had any idea that their food was being magically delivered into the backroom of the dining area. He's heard people talking about how expensive it had to be to have an underground tunnel to bring it over. Of course, he had three elves working in the hostel alone - two to clean the towers and then Nigel who worked the meal delivery room. Hermione had overseen their hiring and many of them wanted to be bound to Harry just to be sure that their former masters couldn't call them back.

A quick glance at the sun and a double-check of his watch, had Harry walking the rest of the way across the rampart that connected the gatehouse towers over the gates, moving towards the Wizarding side of the hostel. 'Though the only real difference is that you can use magic in the rooms of the Wizarding side, except the gift shop at the bottom as that is used by everyone.'

He entered the back Wizard Tower and rushed down the stairs to the bottom floor. Stepping out, he glanced over the gift shop and couldn't help the grin that filled his face. 'You wouldn't know that this wasn't a Wizarding shop. The Muggles think it is just costumes and gimmicky things. It helps that most of the Muggle parties and weddings are in costume.' That had started by accident - a Wizarding child had gotten lost from their party, a Muggle child found them, and wanted to go to the costume party. The gardener had latched on to that excuse and since then, they'd promoted the idea. 'Now, the Wizards get complimented on their costumes, and they help the Muggles look more authentic if they cross paths. And we can sell Wizarding and Muggle goods in the gift shop without breaking the Statute.'

He brushed past a display of robes on his way out the door to open the gates. Soon, they'll be serving breakfast and the cyclists will be heading on their way. Not long afterwards, the wedding party would arrive.

He walked out the tower door and pushed the gates that unlocked at his touch open. It was as he was making sure that both sides were secure that a tired looking group of cyclists stopped on the road, except one who came down a small section of the drive before the gates.

"Excuse me," the older man called, "can you direct me to the Black Gatehouse Hostel?"

'I thought the signage was obvious. Ron was right, no one looks up.' Shaking down the sleeves of his robes, which he noted that none of the cyclists reacted to, he approached the man. "You found us, welcome."

"I thought this was a place for both Muggles and Wizards," he stared pointedly at Harry's robe.

Grinning, Harry nodded, "Yes, but the Muggles think I am in costume, and Wizards know I am dressed comfortably." The man relaxed and chuckled. "If you wish to stay, then, please, go through the gates and take the right-hand path. It will take you to the bike parking. Then follow the rose path back and come into the left-hand tower to check-in. It is the Muggle Tower, so no magic while there. Actually, none in the bottom of either tower. Breakfast will be served shortly."

The cyclist turned and waved at the others to come over. "How far is it to Stonehenge?"

"It's around four miles, give or take," Harry said. "I'll see you in that tower," he pointed to the back Muggle Tower. With a wave, he walked away.

Minutes later, he was behind the wooden check-in desk that guarded the door into the backroom. Not far from him the dining tables stretched the entire bottom floor of the back Muggle tower and the connecting hall to the front tower. A touch of magic had expanded the insides to give it a little more space for walking. The group of cyclists came through the door, their faces brightening at the sight of the tables.

The spokesman beamed at the quill and registrar book, "We'd like to stay for two days, please."

"Group room or private rooms?" Harry had checked to make sure he had space, and he possibly could fit them all in private rooms since a large party was leaving, but he'd prefer the group room.

"Group room is fine. Bunks can be," the man glanced about the room and spotted people coming into the dining room, "made to fit two?"

Nodding, Harry spun the book around, "Just sign in here and write W next to your names, please." He quickly double-checked the headcount, and then wrote down the cost, "This much, a basic breakfast is provided, but dinner, lunch and tea are available and you can change breakfast for a charge."

"Thanks," he said as he passed over the money.

"You're welcome," Harry said as he slid the galleons into the appropriate drawer. "If you want to store your gear, go into the other tower. Alan will tell you where the door is, and Nilly will tell you where to store things. If you wish, come join us for breakfast afterwards."

He wasn't surprised when he spotted them all in robes a bit later. Leaving the dining room to Marrisa, he headed out to make sure the coaches were there to pick up the wedding party. 'No Muggle things near the Manor, especially cars since they make exhaust.' Cartwright made it abundantly clear that anything that breached that edict would go against the Grade II documentation. So, Harry made sure to provide catering, photographers, and such. There was also a subtle spell that destroyed all Muggle electronics after the fifth notification that they needed to remain in their vehicles. They signed a contract saying if something happened to them it wasn't Black Manor's fault. He wasn't going to have the Ministry on him. It only took three times before there were no more incidents.

He waved to the wedding party as they pulled in and directed them towards a small drive on the left side that led to the car park. The carriages were already at the pickup spot near the gardenia lined path coming back from the lot.

The guest came down the path and Harry smiled as Dennis Creevey snapped their pictures there and as they were getting into the carriages. The party was already dressed in costumes. He and Dennis rode up to the manor on one of the carriages.

The Muggle party was sent into the side entrance near the chapel and Harry went into the one for the main house. A sigh of relief left him as the door closed behind him. The last four years had been hard work, but it was paying off. Black Manor was a full-time job to run even with Ron and Hermione's help.

A flick of his wand showed the time and anticipation filled him. Rushing up the stairs, he poked his head into the sitting room connected to the master bedroom. No one was there. Passing through it, he stepped into the bedroom and right into Severus' arms.

"Welcome back!" was all he was able to say before he was kissed soundly.

It was a wonderful kiss, full of promise and happiness. The tight hug afterwards was just as wonderful, even if both were short.

"You have guests?" Severus asked as he stepped away.

"The place is busy today," Harry grinned, "but I have a moment. What was the decision?"

Severus smiled, "That Minerva is perfectly suitable for the position of Headmistress, and that I am allowed to sit on the Board of Governors."

Harry started bouncing on his toes, just slightly, but waited quietly for Severus to finish.

"I am also permitted to be contracted to make the Infirmary potions, and Black Manor is allowed to sell potion ingredients to the school," Severus finished.

"Yes!" Harry cheered, "So, you can be here and run that side of the business! Right?"

Severus nodded, "And I believe that will free up Hermione to focus on opening the Museum."

Harry smiled, "So, do you want to supervise the Ashbury Birthday Party, the Christopher Wedding, watch the hostel, or just relax?"

Severus narrowed his eyes as he thought, "The hostel until the Birthday Party is done, and then you can join me there planning out our next bike trip. I was thinking of exploring the Lake District National Park. We can start in Manchester."

"Awesome! I'll let Ron and Hermione know," he kissed Severus quickly before rushing to the door. He turned back around, hand on the knob, "Oh, Dudley is due in two days from now and he is bringing his girlfriend – Sofia. She is the sister of a Muggleborn, and he sounds pretty serious about her."

Severus folded his arms, his face falling into its professor expression, "Do you want me to determine her suitability?"

Harry laughed. Dudley and Severus had connected over the last couple of years in ways that Harry hadn't expected. Then again, he should have known that Severus had an interest in psychology and couldn't resist teaching it to a willing student over the month in the summer that Dudley stayed. "Go right ahead, but you explain it to Dudley. I've got to go – the wedding party has already arrived, and the birthday party should be flooing in in about five minutes."

Severus crossed the room and kissed him soundly before nudging him out the door, "You know that there will be an early guest. I'll be in the hostel."

Rushing towards the guest floo, Harry couldn't help but smile. Yes, life had improved over the last four years and it was going to get better now that Severus was there to stay.