"If I'm a princess then I should have my own dragon," she quipped and he smirked at her, she'd been asking for a pet dragon for years, but her father always refused.
"You already have one." He drawled and she snorted.
"Draco doesn't count, he can't even breathe fire."
Though, she doubted it would be long before he did, her cousin had been trying to learn the fire breathing spell from the moment he got his wand.
Following her father into the large entry hall she wasn't surprised to see her mother standing with a dicta quill floating along behind her as she made lists of the things she wished to buy or have brought over from their family vaults.
The hall was unsurprisingly empty of any furnishings, as her father had warned them both that only the room he used, along with his study had furnishings and those were minimal at best. He hadn't even furnished a dining room, instead taking his meals in the study when staying over at the castle. They'd brought some furnishings with them, but it was only enough to furnish a room for her mother and herself, plus the smaller dining hall which was for family use.
Selena hadn't wanted to bring too much with them, wishing to see the now finished castle before she began planning out the decor, as the last time they saw the castle it was little more then a few stone walls.
As the castle was to be their families permanent residence, her mother was insistent that most of the older more valuable furnishings, paintings and other items be brought out of storage from the Morte and Slytherin vaults, along with the sparse few things left in the Gaunt vault.
At the rear of the entry hall was a large grand stairway leading upwards, with a landing halfway up and halls leading to each side. Peering up, she could see the stairs continued past another two landings before stopping at a fourth. To the right was a large set of doors, which led into a vast room with a massive hearth, hearing her mothers voice chatting away to her dicta quill, she guessed this would be a receiving room for guests and would be furnished with plush lounges and a handful of tea tables.
The room on the opposite side of the hall, was a large rectangular room which from the large table covered in maps and other paperwork, had been used by her father for meetings with the teams working on the isle. It seemed it would continue to serve that purpose for now, and would double as a formal dining room when needed.
Walking past the stairs, there was a set of doors with a stairway which led to the lower levels where the kitchens, servant quarters, and various workshops were located. Walking past the closed doors to the runes workshop which her grandpa had claimed, and the workshop her father had, she was led to a large empty workshop set up with large benches, tools and caldrons.
"This one is yours," her father said giving her a small push into the room.
"Mine? My own workshop? No more sharing with you and grandpa, and getting thrown out because I'm in your way?" She asked, eyes wide as she ran her fingers over the bench set up for rune carving.
"Yes yours, and you wouldn't get kicked out if you didn't talk every five seconds." Her father said, and gestured to the caldrons set up in the corner.
"Those are purely for metal forging, if you wan to brew potions you will need to do so in the potions lab. Though you will need to have care not to annoy your tutor, who has migrated into our dungeons from Hogwarts." Her father drawled, an amused glint in his eyes.
"Master Snape is here? But the school year doesn't end until next week?" She asked, looking up from the heavy stone cauldron she was inspecting.
"Exams are finished and there are no more classes, so he departed early."
Nodding, she exchanged a small smile with her father. Everyone in their circles knew Severus Snape hated children, well, not so much children as a whole, but children who didn't pay attention or had no talent in his favored craft.
As her tutor, and her cousin Draco's godfather, the man had been teaching them both potions from the moment they could hold a measuring spoon. She still had a tiny vial filled with her very first potion stored on a shelf in her room, it had been a potion to create a mass amount of colored bubbles when mixed with water.
They'd first started learning about ingredients and how to prepare them, before progressing to potions which required no flame or heat to prepare. Only when they were both nine did master Snape deem them competent enough to start brewing potions over a burner.
Sure enough, as her father continued with his tour they found her tutor hulking over a large cauldron, staring into the bubbling substance as though it held the secrets to the worlds greatest mysteries.
Hearing them enter, he flicked his gaze up for only the briefest second before returning to stare at his potion. Knowing he was likely at a critical stage, they said nothing as her father silently showed her around the large room where several dozen burners were set up, some with cauldrons full of various potions bubbled away. Eyeing the potions she was able to identify a few as ones having healing properties based on their color, smell and cauldron type, so guessed her tutor was working on potions for either the Hogwarts hospital wing or possibly the hospital which was being built on the second isle.
Frowning at a cauldron which she was certain was skelegro, and seeing it was about to reach the stage where the flame needed to changed to a lower heat whilst it was stirred in a clockwise direction, she touched her wand the runes on the cauldrons lip to dispel the shield from over the potion. As she was stirring the potion, she sensed her tutor approach her from behind observing her motions for several moments.
"More of a twist in your wrist, and add a anti clock wise stir after you add the crushed red spider." Master Snape drawled, placing a jar with a live spider on the bench next to the cauldron.
Nodding, she continued stirring for another fifty three seconds before replacing the shield and tipping the red spider from the jar. With a sharp thwack, she used the small wooden mallet to crush the spider before it had a chance to escape, adding a few more hits, and rolling the mallet over it to ensure she had it completely mashed into a pulp before scraping it off the prepping board into the potion.
She could hear her father and tutor talking lowly in the background, but tuned them out as she focused on the potion, waiting to see the correct change in color before giving a anti clock wise stir, before once more replacing the shield. The potion would need another three hours to simmer before being ready to bottle. Tapping her wand on the side of the cauldron, she added three hours to the timer before moving to join the two men who stood near another cauldron.
Seeing her approach her tutor scooped up a ladle of the potion he was bottling, and poured it into a cup passing it to her without a word as he continued talking to her father. Scowling at the cups contents she downed in one gulp, the still warm potion tasting even more vile fresh then it did when chilled.
The potion was to help a persons body adjust to the higher altitude that the floating isle maintained. The body would naturally adjust within a few days, but they would suffer headaches and for some nausea. The potion was simple enough to brew, and her father intended to sell it at a low cost on the second isle. Those who lived long term on the isles wouldn't need the potion, but for people visiting the second isle to access the commercial district it would be a must have.
"Vinia," the potions master drawled drawing her gaze away from the empty cup.
"How is your core recovering? Do you wish for a magic gathering potion?" He asked, and she thought for a moment, sending her focus inwards to her core.
"I am at about half capacity, but the rate of magic flowing in has increased since we passed the wards. The density here is thrice that of what it is at the estate or anywhere in England." She said, putting down the cup as she spoke.
"Indeed, even the magic at Hogwarts pales in comparison to the isles." The man said, eyeing her for a moment before nodding.
"If your core has not filled on it's own by the evening meal come see me for a gathering potion. I have some I brewed for the hospital in the storage room."
"Thank you Master Snape, I shall do that." She said, inclining her head respectfully in the mans direction.
"How are you progressing with the potions for the hospital? The first of the healers we recruited will be arriving in September, and I know Head Healer Shafiq who will be overseeing the hospital arrived the day before last. Has he come to discuss the needed potions?" Her father asked.
"He has, and we have discussed the needed requirements. We will be using some skilled freelance potion masters to brew the lower tier potions until the hospital acquires their own masters for brewing. The hospital is nearly complete, with only the interior work needed to be finished. I believe the healers quarters have also been completed for those who will be living in the hospitals staff accommodation." Snape said, handing her the filled vial's of altitude potion, and gesturing that she should begin labeling them.
"Good, the hospital is one of the most important initial structures. I will be meeting with Shafiq in the morning at ten, and you may attend if you desire, as we will be discussing potential potion masters to approach for positions brewing. Did you take some time to view the lab built on the second isle near the hospital?"
"I did, with a lab like that you will be able to poach most of the St Mungo's potions master's, though there are only two I would recommend taking."
"We will discuss them during our meeting then, for now we will leave you to your brewing." Her father said, and hearing his words she placed down the vial she just finished labeling.
"Very well my lord, I shall see you in the morning. Vinia, I expect you here at nine to resume your lessons, you will watch the potions whilst I am meeting with your father."
"Yes, master Snape." She murmured, giving a slight curtsy to show her respect for the highly esteemed potion master before leaving with her father.
The rest of the lower levels consisted of a cellar with a section enchanted to store cold foods, and the house elf quarters, which were a smaller sized version of the quarters their human servants would reside in.
Following her father back above stairs, they found her mother still talking to her quill being followed by what appeared to be a books worth of parchment. Her mother was in her element as she planned out the furnishings and decor for the castle. The Morte estate would undergo a complete makeover almost every year, though at times she suspected her mother did so out of boredom more then a desire for a change of decor.
The left side of the first level of the castle held her fathers study, and the library which unsurprisingly was already full with copies of books from the Morte estate and other books. Her father had a set order to receive any books published by the main publishing houses in pretty much every magical community. She doubted there wasn't a book he didn't own, he was like a dragon hoarding gold, except he hoarded books. They had books in every language, and even multiple copies of the same book in each language it was printed in. Her father also had plans for a large library on the second isle, which would be open for the public, though unlike the library at Hogwarts or those of the muggles, books could only be read inside the library. If you wanted to read the book, you would reserve it with the librarian and it would be kept for your use until you finished with it.
Also on the second level was an empty room her father informed her would be her mother solar, which would be where her mother spent most of her time, entertaining ladies from the noble houses, reading or playing with her plants. The solar had a curved side which was a massive glass window, and she could already picture the area filled with flowers, herbs and other plants. Her mother was a Herbology mistress, having gained her master level in the craft a few years ago, and all the herbs used as ingredients in the potions lab at Morte estate had been grown by her mother and were always very high quality.
The right side of the first level was a family dining hall, a wash room and another solar, which her father mockingly called a playroom. The second solar was for her use, and where she would be allowed to entertain any guests who came over to spend time with her. She wasn't going to call it a playroom, she was eleven, a young lady, and ladies had solar's not playrooms.
The third level consisted of a dozen guest rooms, each with their own bathroom and gathering room. The fourth level, was the family wing where her and her parents rooms were located. Moving back down the grand stairs her father led her through a door behind the stairs which lead through the rear courtyard. Enclosed on all sides with shelters walkways, the courtyard was paved with the same cobbled stones as the road leading to the castle. The area was sparse of any plants or gardens, but she was sure that would soon change.
"The tower to the left leads to the owlery, and the quarters for the groundskeeper and his family who will be arriving next week. The tower to the right is being used as an observatory, with the lower levels used for storage." Her father said, and she nodded reaching up to stroke the feathers of the Fwooper who was as always perched on her shoulder.
The Fwooper who she'd named Razle, was small for a Fwooper only being about eight inches tall, where as most Fwooper's tended to be between twelve to fifteen inches. Razle also didn't make much noise, even with the band around his leg nullifying the effects of his song.
The bird was old enough that before the bands were released a year prior, it had spent the first year of its life under the effects of a silencing spell. This resulted in her Fwooper having very little desire to sing, it was why he had been still available at the menagerie. People wanted the Fwooper's because they produced beautiful quill feathers, and delicious eggs with pretty patterns, they were also playful birds with a beautiful song, a song which now they no longer needed to fear would turn them insane. No one wanted to buy a Fwooper who was too small for quill feathers, didn't produce eggs, and didn't play about or sing.
Though, in her eyes Razle was the perfect pet, his stoic and intelligent gaze reminded her of the cool glares her father and tutor were known for. Of course he didn't play around, he was a noble Fwooper of the Morte house, not some silly common thing like those Fwooper's others had.
"Razle doesn't like owls," she murmured, and as though agreeing with her the Fwooper gave a rarely heard trill.
"Yes," her father drawled, giving her bird an amused look. "That became clear when he plucked out the eye of the daily prophets delivery owl."
"It tried to take bacon off my plate, if Razle didn't get it mother would have. She hates when the delivery owls get passed the house elves and interrupt breakfast." She said, and her father nodded, a tinge of annoyance showing in his eyes.
"Doesn't seem to matter how many wards I use, those damn birds always get through. Its not as though they have anything special on their bands, I've checked each time." He muttered and she giggled.
Even after so many years her father still hadn't realized the owls got through because her grandpa would mess with the wards just enough to let the owls sneak through before putting them back to normal. Both her parents hated it when the owls flew in and landed on the table, more often then not making a mess knocking things over and stealing food.
Her mother had at first refused to allow Razle to come into the room during breakfast, but when they were in the midst of arguing about it, the post owls arrived. When one attempted to steal from her plate, Razle had launched a swift attack, pecking out the owls eye before returning to her shoulder and resuming his stoic pose. The result had been a flurry of fleeing owls, and her mother finding some small bit of respect for Razle who remained elegant even when attacking. The Fwooper now had his own perch in the family dining hall, where he sat whilst she ate, her mother was only willing to allow him in the room, and not her shoulder, as she felt it unsanitary for the bird to be closer to the food.
"You may keep him in your rooms, the window has been spelled so he may leave when he wishes, though he doesn't seem to fly much on his own." Her father told her.
"Razle's wings are too small, he doesn't have a lot of stamina even with the rune band. I don't think I will be able to use him for letters, and even if he could, I don't think he would." She said, tilting her head so she could see the bird on her shoulder, who was giving her a stare that clearly said he was far above the commoner duties of carrying things like letters.
"I will be performing an inspection of the sixth isle soon, so you can accompany me then and seek Newts advice regarding your Fwooper if you wish. I know you expressed some concerns regarding his diet." Her father said and she nodded.
"He doesn't seem to eat much, and the store owner said he was wild hatched, so I'm thinking his size is in part due to malnourishment caused by him not transitioning to the commercial Fwooper seed. I read the book you gave me, and it said they eat seeds from magical plants, and grasses. The seed the store sold is said to be formulated for them, and has been made with things to improve the brightness of their plumage, but he just doesn't seem interested."
"I'm sure Newt will be of some assistance, there are several Fwooper on the sixth isle." Her father informed her and she nodded, following as he led her out of the courtyard and down a path towards a large building in the distance.
"Why haven't you named any of the isles?" She asked, looking around at the spacious land surrounding the castle.
There wasn't much plant life aside from the grass, which considering the islands were artificially formed made sense. The only plants would be those they themselves grew.
"I'm sure they will be named at some stage, but it wasn't something I felt was important. Your mother suggested the naming of the isles be done at a later stage once they progressed further, allowing the residents of the isles to partake in the naming in a natural manner."
"Hm, they should be named something that suits their purpose." She said, tilting her head in thought, but she honestly couldn't think of anything suitable.
Reaching the large stone building she saw Mister Peterson grooming the Abraxan's which had been unhitched from the carriage.
"M'lord, M'lady," the man said, giving them a bow.
Mister Peterson was in his late forties, and was a half-blood who's family was well known for breeding Abraxan's. Though, as a side son, being born from his fathers muggleborn mistress he wasn't exactly welcomed into the family business.
She'd met the man at the race tracks when she was seven. She and her cousin Draco had attended a race where her uncles Abraxan's were racing. They'd been in the racing stables admiring the different Abraxan's under the care of her uncle's jockey, when she'd happened upon mister Peterson tending an Abraxan with a wounded wing. He'd been working at the race track at the time, and had advised the jockey who was to ride the Abraxan against doing so, only to be sneered at and mocked. When that same Abraxan who was the favorite to win, fell from the sky during the third lap, the jockey had accused the man of sabotaging the race.
She'd been in the stables yet again, congratulating her uncles jockey on his win, and witnessed the scene of mister Peterson being fired. Disgusted by the scene, she'd stepped up to defend the man, having seen the care he gave all the Abraxan's. Sadly even with her interference, the man was still fired, as the race track officials hadn't cared for the word of a young girl, Morte heiress or not. So instead she'd offered him the position of her riding instructor, having decided after watching the race she wanted to learn to ride.
He'd been with them ever since, and not only taught her to ride on the Abraxan mare her father purchased for her, but tended the herd her father later bought. The mans input in selecting the best specimens for their herd, and in breeding their families herd to produce even better Abraxan then her uncles, had gained him a rather high standing within their household. The herd had been moved to Serpens castle the year before with the completion of the stables and grazing fields, and mister Peterson moved with them, now residing in a cottage near the stables with his wife, who was a former jockey.
"Hi mister Peterson, how's Swiftwing? Did she have the foal yet?" She asked, peering past the tethered Abraxan towards the fields, looking for her mare.
"Ay, little lady she did, a nice wee colt who'll for sure give his sire a tough time on the tracks when he be bigger." The man said, putting down his brush and waving for a boy to come over to continue with grooming.
The boy, named Jacob Burke was almost nineteen, and despite lacking enough magic to attend Hogwarts had graduated from the London school of magical crafts with high grades in care of magical creatures.
As John Peterson led them into the stables she admired the stone work, and large roomy stalls. She knew her father intended to increase the size of their herd, and had recently shown some small interest in racing their own Abraxan's as shown by his entering their best stallion StarStorm into several races the past year. No doubt his interest was goaded by a desire to outdo her uncle and some of the other lords who enjoyed bragging about their wins. StarStorm had done very well in his first year, and won seven of the dozen races he was entered into. She'd even heard talk of an Abraxan racing facility being planned for the second isle, with her uncle Lucius wishing to fund the facility as Abraxan's were the mans greatest passion.
There would also be stables at the Astrum school of magic as well as the Institute, which was at her insistence. The students could sign up for riding lessons, same as they could for lessons on broomsticks. A number of specially trained Abraxan's would be available for students to use for lessons, and she was sure it would be a popular class. With the isles floating as they were, it was the perfect environment for flying to and from each isle. While other means of magical transport could be used, she was sure flying would be the most popular, and her father seemed to agree as he had plans drawn up for public transports which would fly between each isle on a regular basis.
After spending almost twenty minutes cooing and awing over the her mare and the little foal, whilst her father talked with mister Peterson, it was time to move on as her father guided her towards a large green house.
There wasn't much to see at the greenhouse, aside from a few rarer plants that master Snape had 'acquired' from the Hogwarts greenhouses before departing. From there her father escorted her to see the beginnings of a quidditch pitch, which she didn't have much interest in. Her cousin loved the sport, and she followed along with it because he often dragged her with him to games. She also followed the sport because her betrothed and his family were just as crazy about it as her cousin. Viktor recently had been gaining some notoriety in Bulgaria for his skill on the school team, and from his last letter it seemed he'd been approached by some scouts from the national team. She'd seen him fly in some casual games with her cousin and others during social events, so knew he was a skilled flyer, but hadn't realized he was so good as to gain attention from professional teams.
Making their way inside, they found her mother still talking to her quill on the first level, the stack of parchment now the size of three books. Sharing an amused look with her father, they silently separated, with her father darting into his study to hide and her heading upstairs to see if the elves were finished unpacking her furniture and personal items.
Hope you're enjoying the story so far, as many can guess after the first few years at Hogwarts, we will be moving to the school on the floating Isles. I have many plans for the isle, but haven't yet managed to name them beyond their number. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know, and I will put it under consideration.