Chapter Ten
Family Dinner and
Starting a Revolution
Harry and Hermione stepped into the Reception Room at Malfoy Manor and each took a deep breath. They looked at each other and laughed at the truly insane day they had been through.
"Well, Lord Potter, welcome to Malfoy Manor." Hermione said in mock formality, grinning at her best friend. Harry shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah that isn't going to sound real probably ever." He laughed. Hermione snickered in agreement.
"Mipsy!" She called out, and the little elf popped in at her side, squealing with joy at seeing her little Mistress.
"Missy Addy is home! Oh Mistress will be so pleased. She has been very worried about yous and Master Malfoy."
Adhara smiled down at the little elf. "Mipsy could you please let Mama know that Harry and I have arrived, and that Papa and two of our dinner guests will be here shortly?"
Mipsy nodded and popped out. Adhara turned to Harry and saw his bemused expression.
"House elves, Hermione? Really? What about Spew?"
She rolled her eyes at the intentional mispronunciation before looking sheepish.
"I still think that elves deserve better treatment and have told my parents as much. Draco was terribly amused at that conversation, and I think Papa almost died of shock when I thanked the entire kitchen staff for lunch. But I also remember now that they need to be bonded to a house in order to keep their magic healthy. Which reminds me, you need to properly bond with Dobby before too much longer or have him bond with Hogwarts."
Harry looked surprised at this, but nodded all the same. "I'll call him as soon as we get back to Hogwarts."
Narcissa walked into the room just as the floo roared to life behind the teenagers and Sirius stepped out.
He froze and stared at his cousin. They had been close once. Not as close as he had been to Andy, but Cissa had been his little sister in many ways.
Sirius stepped up next to the children and gave Narcissa a small bow.
"Hello Cissy."
The sound of his voice snapped her out of her shock and she all but ran to him. Her hands framed his face as if to confirm that he was actually real before she hugged him fiercely.
"Oh Sirius it really is you."
He hugged her back just as tightly.
"I'm back now Cissy. Lord Black in the flesh."
Narcissa pulled back in surprise. "Lord Black? But I thought Aunt Walburga disinherited you?"
Sirius shuddered at the mention of the woman who had birthed him.
"Well, she blasted me off the tapestry at Grimmauld but only the head of house can actually disinherit the next Heir, and Arcturus refused to remove me from the line."
The floo came to life once more and Remus stepped out followed closely by Lucius.
"A Lord for all of an hour and already trying to steal my wife, Black?" Lucius raised an eyebrow, smirking at this chance to so easily rile his wife's cousin.
Adhara stifled a giggle at the looks on Sirius and Narcissa's faces. Sirius looked offended and Narcissa fondly exasperated. Sirius started to reply before he saw the amusement on Lucius' face and huffed.
"Just what I need, the peacock of the Manor accusing me of keeping the bloodline too close. Kitten, must you ask me to endure an evening of this torture and play nicely with Sniv…" Remus elbowed him hard ". . .with Snape?" He whinged.
"Yes Pads, I must. Or have you already forgotten what Dumbledore did?"
Both Marauders growled at the mention of the Headmaster, sobering quickly.
"Kitten? Seriously?" Narcissa raised a sculpted eyebrow at her cousin and then at her daughter.
"Oh just wait, love. Let's head to the dining room while we wait for Severus and Minerva. Once they arrive we'll tell you what happened at Gringotts. His little pet name for our girl is the least of our problems." Lucius took his wife's hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm before leaving the room, knowing the promise of food would ensure the others would follow.
Albus Dumbledore was not a happy man. You could easily use the word enraged for his current state. He had been walking through the castle when the bindings on Harry had broken, and the influx of magic to his system had knocked him flat on his back. A terrible fortune for any wizard over 100, but particularly embarrassing to the Headmaster of a school who could have been chanced upon by any student not currently down in the village. He scrambled to his feet and quickly went back to his office, cursing that meddling Malfoy girl under his breath as he went.
Too smart for her own good. Or anyone else's. Doesn't she see what I am trying to accomplish? The Wizarding World needs me as its leader! Me! I am the benevolent Dumbledore, the grandfather figure everyone trusts!
Fawkes had stopped staying in the Headmaster's quarters, his final friend abandoning him. He was going to need to get hold of the Potter boy as soon as he returned to the castle. Ronald had utterly failed him.
Minerva and Severus have been in Hogsmeade today. One of them has to show up at dinner.
He couldn't have Harry reaching full power, especially now that the castle would recognize the boy as the Heir to two of her Founders. She would never respond to the Headmaster again as long as Potter had access to Gryffindor and Slytherin's magics.
Damn and double damn. Albus thought as he tapped a quill on his desk. He was the only one allowed to meddle. Everyone else needed to go away. Now he had to Obliviate seven people.
Tonight is going to be exhausting. He thought as he made his way down to the Great Hall for dinner. Upon entering the hall he spied Severus already sitting at the table sipping a goblet of something, his trademark scowl set as he surveyed the students trickling in. Minerva was nowhere to be seen, but she had taken her dinner in her quarters before so that wasn't entirely unusual. He took his place at the center of the high table and sat brooding for the meal until he saw his Potion's master flinch. He locked eyes with the dark man who nodded almost imperceptibly before standing and striding quickly away.
Ah, more information. I can take care of Severus later then.
The thought that his spy was working tonight brightened Albus's mood considerably and he finished dinner with gusto.
As the group of six sat at the table waiting for the Professors, Sirius caught Narcissa up on his life the past couple years (and it was a short conversation) and the children were asked many questions about earlier school years. Lucius looked up as Adhara was explaining how she and Harry had become friends and she trailed off mid sentence.
"What is it Papa?"
"I do believe Minerva has just arrived, which means Severus should be here shortly. I'll meet him at the door, why don't you go get your Head of House?"
Adhara bolted from her chair and ran to the receiving room. She entered as McGonagall was siphoning the last of the soot from her robes.
"Professor! I'm so glad you were able to make it." Ahdara smiled brightly at her Head of House.
"Ah Hermione. I know how to out trick the old goat when I need to. And I wouldn't miss this for anything, your patronus sounded like you have at least some form of plan in mind."
"Yes ma'am I do. We're all in the dining room if you'll walk with me."
The two witches headed to the dining room. Minerva arched a brow at the sight of Sirius and Remus.
"Miss Malfoy, are you trying to ensure a brawl ensues this evening?"
Ahdara snickered. "No, Professor McGonagall, I am hoping to avoid it. However I know Rome wasn't built in a day so I can only hope that Lord Black stays on his best behavior as he promised." She shot Sirius a warning glare and he mimed zipping his lips and throwing the key away. She rolled her eyes at the man child and seated Minerva on the other side of Harry.
Just then Lucius walked back in with Severus, the dark Potion's master quirking a small smile at his goddaughter before grimacing at the sight of Black. She grinned back at him.
"Hello Uncle."
"Adhara, must I endure the presence of the mutt for the entire evening?"
"Greasy Dungeon Bat." Sirius muttered under his breath.
The young witch pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, knowing she would need to get this solved before anything else could happen.
"Yes, Uncle I am afraid his presence here is necessary. He has told me he will attempt to be civil, however I can see now that most likely isn't going to happen."
Severus snorted. "He may have told you he'd keep a civil tongue but he's a Gryffindor and a Black. Such a promise is impossible for him to keep."
"Oi! At least I'm not a slimy double crossing snake who's been playing both sides of this war for the last 15 years because of some twisted form of love and guilt!" Sirius leapt to his feet. "Hermione knows where I stand and where my loyalties are. How the bloody hell is she ever supposed to trust you?"
"Because I trust him, Sirius." Harry was now on his feet as well. "He may have been a right bastard to me for the past four years but he's also protected me. For some reason he only sees my father in me. Care to explain why he would be so hostile to an eleven year old who just so happens to look like his father? One of the two men who bullied him during school?" Harry all but growled the last question. He hated nothing more than a bully, and knowing that his own father had been one stung.
"Tell me Pads, what did Snape do to warrant such targeting?"
Remus hung his head in shame and Sirius gaped like a fish.
"I…. Well I mean….. it was just…. We were only…."
"Nothing! I cannot think of a single thing that warrants, say, suspending him by an ankle and then taunting him while you hold his wand so he can't defend himself, Sirius. Absolutely nothing. That you and my father made sure there were other students within sight of your little stunt makes it all the worse." Harry sneered as he cut his godfather's stuttering off.
"I do not want to hear you questioning his loyalty. Professor Snape's motives are his own and he doesn't owe any of us an explanation as to what those motives are. You will sit down and respect the man who has saved my life at least once a year since I began at Hogwarts, or you will go back to Grimmauld and either I or Hermione will fill you in later."
Everyone in the room was staring at Harry in shock. Adhara, Narcissa, and Minerva looked proud of the young wizard. Severus looked extremely uncomfortable that such an impassioned defence came from the boy who he had, as Harry had so rightly termed it, been such a bastard to. Remus was both proud and chagrined, knowing that he had been complicit in everything the Marauders had done to Severus during their school days. While the two men would never be friends, he and the Potions Master had come to a truce during the year Remus had taught DADA and there was no longer any animosity between them.
Lucius kept his face blank, wanting to see how Sirius would respond before showing his emotions on such an outburst.
Sirius was in shock. He knew he had no defense for his actions during school, nor his continuation of such a juvenile attitude as a man now in his 40s. Hermione had called him out at the bank, and now that his godson was the person taking him to task about his behaviour he felt ill. He hung his head in shame and was silent as he contemplated what to say in reply to such a thorough thrashing.
Adhara stood from her chair next to Harry and slipped her hand into his, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
"I'm proud of you Harry." She whispered.
He squeezed her hand in thanks, still staring hard at Sirius.
"What's it going to be Sirius? Can you act like an adult for the rest of the evening?"
The sound of Hermione addressing him had Sirius lifting his head to look at the two teenagers across the table from him.
On their faces he saw disappointment and disapproval. He never wanted to be the reason they felt that way again.
"Harry, Hermione, you both have become my family. I don't believe I have ever felt as ashamed as I do right now. I have no excuses or reasons to give you that can justify my continued targeting of Professor Snape. I can say nothing other than he was an easy target in school and the Marauders took advantage of that fact."
Sirius now faced Severus. He was not looking forward to this.
"Severus Snape, I formally offer the apology of House Black for the wrongs committed towards your person during our school days, and for the continued taunting by my person over the last two years since my escape from Azkaban. I would have us be enemies no longer, and move forward as allies from this day."
Severus was floored by the formal apology from the mutt. He had expected something flippant, not a formal alliance between houses. He shot Lucius a look before locking eyes with Sirius.
"Lord Black, House Prince accepts your apology and no longer considers you an enemy. Your offer of alliance is accepted upon the continued promise of good faith between our houses. So mote it be."
"So mote it be." Sirius stated. The two men nodded at one another and Sirius retook his seat at the table, staring at the woodgrain as if attempting to memorise it. Severus took the seat next to Minerva and Lucius returned to the head of the table.
Harry and Adhara sat down as the tension in the room began to fade. There was silence for a moment before Adhara spoke.
"I have asked you all here because each of us know something needs to be done about Dumbledore and the Dark Lord. Each of us has a foot in one camp or the other. Uncle you're the only one who sees both sides right now. What do you need from us to make sure you survive this war?"
The question caught Severus off guard. He had long ago resigned himself to the fact that his survival was slim at best, so to be asked his opinion and given a choice was slightly terrifying and extremely welcome. He smiled at his goddaughter, momentarily marveling at her thoughtfulness and care for all those she loved.
"Well Addy, I ….. I don't quite know how to answer your question because I've been on my own for so long." He looked straight at Lucius as he spoke, silently pleading with his oldest friend.
"Severus, you had only to ask. Of course I shall assist you." In his mind, Lucius pressed against the dark man's Occlumency shields. Once they were lowered just enough, Severus clearly heard Lucius in his mind.
I have had your back since school and that will not be stopping now, brother.
Thank you. Severus said, his relief bleeding through their mental connection while his face stayed passive.
"Papa, I need you and Uncle Severus to both survive this. Thankfully you're both Slytherin to the core so I don't need to worry about any Gryffindor level fits of heroics."
"Oi!" Sirius and Harry both looked at Hermione offended. She raised an eyebrow at them both, daring either man to disagree with her statement. They stayed silent at her look, knowing she was technically correct but hating it all the same.
"Right, now that's taken care of, the next order of business is clearing Sirius' name. Papa, were you able to find anything about a trial in the Ministry Archives?"
"No, sweetheart. Sirius Black was never even given an initial court date. At the time, The Wizengamot was mostly a kangaroo court so his conviction is already in question. As Harry's Godfather, appointed by Lily and James and bound by magic, if he were guilty of betraying Harry's parents then the bond between Black and Harry would have been severed completely, no matter what blocks Dumbledore placed."
"So proof of the active bond is all we need to clear my name?" Sirius asked, shocked at the simplicity.
"Yes." Lucius said. "A trip to St. Mungos would be beneficial so we have two unbiased reports of the bond being active. The more we can give the head of the DMLE, the less Fudge and the rest of the court will have to question."
"But he's still technically a wanted criminal, so how do we get him to St. Mungos without the Aurors being called?" Harry asked.
Narcissa spoke up in answer to Harry's question.
"I can add him to my schedule. No one will think twice about it if I already have an appointment blocked out."
Adhara sent her mother a grateful smile. "Thank you Mama."
Cissa smiled back at her. "Of course my darling."
"The sooner we can get his name cleared, the better. We need his weight back in the Wizengamot. On that subject, Harry, the first thing I would recommend you do is appoint a proxy for the titles you hold. You are technically an adult due to your emancipation but while you finish school you will want someone you trust without question to be your voice within the Wizengamot."
Harry looked thoughtful at Lucius' words and Minerva almost came unglued.
"Emancipated? The boy is fifteen Lord Malfoy how in Merlin's name has he been emancipated? And just how many titles does Mr. Potter have?"
"Harry was emancipated when he was forced to participate in the TriWizard Tournament last year, Professor. Since the rules surrounding contestants entering the Tournament clearly stated that all participants must be of legal status in the Wizarding world, Harry was deemed an adult in the eyes of Lady Magic and therefore the law." Adhara explained quickly.
"To answer your other question, I have four titles, Professor. Technically I am Lord Slytherin-Gryffindor-Peverell-Potter. But I plan to keep those first three a secret for as long as possible."
Minerva looked fit to burst, knowing it had been Albus who had pushed for Harry to compete since the Goblet of Fire had spit out his name. She paled when Harry stated his full title.
Heir to two of the Founders, she thought. Then she smirked, a gleeful thought coming to mind.
"Minerva I do not scare easily, but I have never before seen that look on your face and I willingly admit it is making me uneasy. Share your thoughts please." Severus stated calmly, his unease exhibited in his leaning away from the Deputy Headmistress.
"Well," Minerva said, "it just occurred to me that Albus's attempt to keep Harry close set the boy free. As an adult in our world, Harry can now choose any of his family properties to live in so long as they are warded properly and deemed liveable by a cursebreaker. Given his status as Heir to Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin, he could live at Hogwarts all year round and the old goat could do nothing about it."
Harry stared at his Head of House in shock. "So…. I don't have to go back to the Dursley's next summer?"
The pure hope in the young man's voice broke Minerva's heart. "No, Harry. You never have to go back there again."
Harry smiled like a kid on Christmas. Today was quickly becoming one of the best days in his entire life. Hermione squeezed his hand quickly, knowing just how much he dreaded the end of the school year. He felt like he could breathe properly for the first time in years. Turning to Lord Malfoy, Harry responded to the suggestion of appointing a proxy.
"Lord Malfoy, once Sirius' name is cleared I want him to stand proxy for the Potter and Gryffindor seats. As for Houses Slytherin and Peverell, I would be honoured if you would be proxy for me for those two Houses. Hermione trusts you which means I can trust you."
Lucius stared at the boy before bowing his head in acceptance of the request. Today had been humbling and he would have much to think about in the coming months and years.
"The honour, Lord Potter, is mine. House Malfoy shall be a credit to you."
"I look forward to the alliance between House Malfoy, House Peverell, and House Slytherin." Harry knew that putting two of his seats in Lucius Malfoy's hands was a risk, but he knew the man was more politically savvy than any other person who he currently knew, and that knowledge would pay dividends long into the future.
"Now Papa, how are we going to handle the press as far as revealing my return?" Hermione turned to Lucius, knowing his expertise as a politician would be what they needed to navigate everything to do with the Prophet and social opinion.
"Well a formal announcement by the family welcoming you home is going to send a strong message. We can allude to knowing who took you and state that we do plan on taking legal action as soon as all relevant information is gathered by the DMLE. Full use of your new legal name, which I filed at the Ministry on Tuesday including the change you requested."
Adhara was nodding along at her father's words. Sirius looked thoughtful, if not slightly bored.
"A statement by Lord Potter would also be a good idea."
"I'll do it. Will Lord Potter be enough or should I use one of the other titles?" Harry was quick to agree to a public show of support for Hermione.
"Give away as little as possible Harry. The Potter name holds enough political sway, and you being Lord of the House and not simply the Heir will put enough people on alert." Sirius chimed in.
"I will make a statement as soon as my name is cleared, which should hopefully be by Halloween. Anyone mentioned in James and Lily's Will is going to receive a notice of the Will readings date and a summons to the bank to be in attendance. If Albus tries to stop you, remind him that he cannot prohibit you from answering a Gringotts' summons for a Will reading, especially as this is the will of the last Lord and Lady Potter, the title you now hold. Whatever you do, do not tell him that you know of his deception or that you have already accepted your titles."
Harry nervously ran a hand through his hair, relaxing as he felt Hermione scratching the back of his head. She always knew what he needed and he thanked the Founders he had her beside him through all of this change.
"Professor Snape, I think I need to start trying to learn Occlumency again." Harry looked extremely nervous as he addressed Severus. Their last meeting had gone spectacularly horribly.
Everyone waited for Severus to respond, watching as he sized up the teenage wizard silently.
"Uncle Severus, I believe he may have an easier time controlling his magic and emotions now that his system is no longer under any form of outside influence. Horcrux included."
Obsidian eyes flashed at the mention of the Dark Magic act.
"Adhara." Severus' voice was like ice. "You failed to mention anything about a Horcrux before this meeting began. What exactly did the goblins find while you were at Gringotts today?"
Harry produced his Inheritance results and the Curse Diagnostic. Adhara quickly made copies and passed them to the two professors and Narcissa.
Severus was livid as he read the information. Minerva wracked her brain trying to understand how his symptoms had not been reported to her. He was in the hospital wing often enough that Poppy would have said something when it came up on his yearly physical at the start of term.
Narcissa cleared her throat before addressing Harry.
"Lord Potter, I hope I'm not being presumptuous when I ask if I can run a Healer's Diagnostic on you. It should have been done at the beginning of each school year, but judging from the look on Professor McGonagall's face it was either never done or she never received a copy."
"Bloody right I never received anything. And I know that is unlike Poppy, she's always meticulous."
"Albus." Severus growled.
The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees before Harry replied to Narcissa.
"Not presumptuous at all Lady Malfoy. I'm sure we would all like to have a proper medical record on file. The DMLE will certainly want a copy. Lord Malfoy, Sirius, what exactly can we charge Dumbledore with?"
The two men looked at each other for a moment before replying.
"Well," Sirius started, "regarding you, the glaring one is willful neglect and abuse."
"Four charges of attempted line theft. Grand Theft with the funds he took from your vaults. Depending on what's in your parent's will, wilfully ignoring the final wishes of a Lord of the Sacred 28 and failure to execute the Last Will and Testament of Lord and Lady Potter as instructed." Lucius continued.
Sirius nodded quickly, "Those will apply since he went and had himself named as your magical guardian. It would have been his duty to ensure James and Lily's last wishes were carried out to the letter."
Harry nodded as the two men spoke. Narcissa was looking over the readout her wand had printed of Harry's full physical and she felt ill. She silently handed a copy to Severus and Minerva.
McGonagall began crying, her silent tears flowing down her face. Constant malnutrition, stunted growth, bones broken and wrongly healed. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD, all before the age of five.
Snape realized that the boy had been no better off in his youth than he himself had. Albus' tale of Harry living well was a farce. Every book about the boy was wrong. No silver spoon was ever given to the child who had saved them all.
"Mr. Potter." Severus' voice startled everyone.
"I feel I must apologize to you. I assumed that your defiance and lack of attention in my class was the result of arrogance, due to your life having been filled with praise and reminders that you were the best of us. However I see now that your mistrust of authority was the direct result of every adult in your life failing you. I have continued that trend and I am ashamed of such a fact."
"Professor Snape, after seeing what my own father and godfather did to you during school, I don't blame you for disliking me on sight. I am a constant visual reminder of the worst of your own school experience. I hope I can make a better impression on you as a student now that I am no longer being meddled with." Harry locked eyes with his Professor before bowing his head respectfully.
"Harry, I will take this with me to St. Mungos tomorrow and have it officially notarized. Lucius and I can begin gathering all the required documents to give to the DMLE and our solicitor." Narcissa was resisting going into full mothering mode on the boy, and this was the minimum she could do right now to know he was being taken care of. She thanked Morgana for her daughter sticking next to the boy through school.
"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy, that would be extremely helpful."
"Please call me Narcissa, Harry." She smiled warmly at the young man. "You are my daughter's best friend. You will always be welcome in our home."
Harry teared up a bit at that. The devastation of hearing what Molly and Ron had done to Hermione had made him grow cold towards the whole Weasley family. He hoped that there were some of them he could still trust, but he just didn't know right now.
Adhara sent her mother a blinding smile in gratitude. "Thank you mama." She then addressed the whole group.
"I think that we should put in motion what we have discussed this evening. Papa, do you want to put the family announcement in the evening paper tomorrow? You and Mama can come to Hogsmeade and meet Draco and I and show a united front." Adhara was treading new waters here and felt the need to have her father confirm her plans at every turn.
Lucius smiled at his daughter. "I think that is a wonderful idea sweetheart. We'll meet you and Draco outside of Hogwarts at ten tomorrow morning."
"I'll be there as well. The Prophet will have a field day about it but I'll back Hermione no matter the rumours Skeeter writes." Harry's voice was confident and calm.
Adhara grimaced at the reminder of the acidic reporter and the ridiculous articles she had written during the Tournament last year. But she brightened quickly at the memory of the deal she had strong armed the illegal animagus into.
Harry took one look at her expression and fondly shook his head. "Whatever made that look appear I don't want to know, do I?"
Adhara did her best to appear innocent. "I have no idea what you're talking about Harry."
"Hermione, that is your 'I got my way' expression and it means you did something to Skeeter. Not that she didn't deserve whatever it was, but it's safer when I don't ask questions after seeing you grin like that."
She pretended to look offended before grinning at her best friend. She wasn't going to correct his assumption.
Severus and Minerva stood from the table during the teasing happening between the two teenagers.
"Harry, Adhara, we need to get you both back to the castle." Minerva said.
Everyone stood and headed towards the floo, each feeling slightly more calm now that plans had been laid and they knew who most of the players were.
Sirius and Remus each took turns hugging the children.
"Be safe you two." Remus said as he and Sirius stepped into the floo. "We're always an owl away."
The teenagers nodded at their chosen family, promising to do their best.
The Professors went next. Before he left, Severus said, "Addy, you floo directly to my office. Mr. Potter, you're going to Minerva's."
"Yes, sir." The children said, knowing that there would be a good reason behind the order.
Harry turned and shook hands with Lucius.
"Thank you for all of your help today Lord Malfoy. Between you and Sirius I think I will have all the tools I need to learn how best to use my Lordships."
Lucius smiled at the young man. "Lord Potter, I request that you call me Lucius while in private. We shall be working together closely for many years to come."
"Yes, si. . . Lucius. Lady Malfoy, I appreciate your assistance today as well."
Narcissa quickly wrapped Harry in a tight hug.
"No matter what happens between you and Adhara you will always be welcome here." She whispered to him. He hugged her back fiercely, letting himself revel in the warmth of a mother's hug again before letting her go.
"Thank you, Lady Malfoy."
"Narcissa, Harry." She gently reminded him.
"Narcissa." He smiled at her. He gave Hermione a quick squeeze before stepping into the flames.
"See you there 'Mione." And he whirled away.
Adhara hugged both her parents.
"Oh before I forget. Could you owl this letter for me? It's to the Grangers and I didn't want to risk any mail blocks at Hogwarts messing with it." She was nervous asking them to mail a letter to her other parents.
Narcissa took the envelope and kissed Adhara's head.
"I'll send it before we leave in the morning, darling. Now go before the Headmaster notices you're missing."
Adhara stepped into the fireplace and blew her parents a kiss before throwing her floo powder down and disappearing. Tonight had been productive and she really couldn't have asked for more than that.