Author's Note: We're slowly coming to the end of this fic. Personally, this story has been a joy to write. I hope that you have enjoyed reading it, dear reader. As per usual, I own none of these characters. I simply love writing about them. So, without further ado…read on.

Chapter 7: Practice Makes Permanent

Charity waltzed into the kitchen, past the stove and straight toward Severus' cupboards.

"Mimzy," she called cheerily, as she casually opened a cupboard door.

Charity jumped clear out of her skin as a loud pop emanated behind her and a tiny grey house-elf in an ill-fitting pink gingham dress appeared.

"What the…" Harry exclaimed, unable to finish his thought with his Dark Man's hand clamped over his mouth.

"Mimzy!" Charity chided, "you scared me half to death!"

Large tears began to form in Mimzy's sad, round brown eyes and her lower lip began to quiver.

"Oh, Miss! So very sorry, Miss! Will never do it again, Miss."

"Oh, Mims…" Charity began, patting her house-elf on the shoulder, "It's ok. I shouldn't have been so sharp."

Mimzy snorted as her tears slowly abated. "You too good, Miss," she sniffled.

Charity sighed. She had tried to free her house-elf by giving her a piece of her clothing, but the elf wouldn't leave her family. Despite Charity's best efforts, Mimzy had nowhere else to go and now that her parents were gone, she thought it best to bring the elf to Hogwarts when she came on to teach.

Severus, however, could not help but roll his eyes. The blubbering of house-elves always made him uncomfortable and now Charity's house-elf was blubbering in his rooms. Thinking, however, of the consequences with Charity if he intervened with Mimzy, he held his peace.

"Mims," Charity began, "there's someone I'd like to introduce to you."

Charity placed both hands on Mimzy's shoulders and turned her toward Severus and Harry. Severus nudged Harry forward.

"Harry Potter," Charity remarked, "please meet Mimzy, my family's house elf."

Harry extended his hand politely. "It's nice to meet you, Mimzy," the child said sincerely, unsure of the kind of creature he was looking at.

Mimzy was nearly catatonic – the Harry Potter was speaking to her! Thankfully, she still had her wits about her just enough to raise her tiny paw-like hand to his. She was completely overwhelmed, however. The boy who lived now knew her name and was kindly shaking her hand. Blush formed on her cheeks.

"Pleasure, Master Harry Potter!" she replied timidly, yet unwilling to let go of the boy's hand.

Harry smiled at Mimzy's shy demeanor. Master? Oi! He decided at that very moment that he liked Charity's house-elf very much.

From her vantage point, Mimzy could see Harry's legendary lightening scar. An overwhelming impulse to touch it took over her and before she could stop herself, she raised her other hand to touch the scar with her finger. Harry flinched. Severus stepped forward to intervene, but Charity raised her hand to him, silently requesting him to stop. Scowling, he complied.

Unaware of everyone's reaction, Mimzy continued her hold on the child's hand. When Harry relaxed, she ran one of her boney fingers along the child's scar and turned solemnly to Charity.

"It's ol' magic, Miss. Dark magic. Master Harry needs our protection."

Severus had had enough. He knew elves were powerful and insightful, but Harry did not need to have his fortune-told at this precise moment. What he needed was breakfast.

"Mimzy! Would you stop your gibberish and go get us something to eat?"

The little elf dropped Harry's hand, but held her ground before the much larger wizard – she was a free elf after all. Severus raised an eyebrow when the creature didn't move.

Charity was not impressed with Severus at that moment and conveyed her displeasure with the most severe of looks.

The Potions Master caught her eye and growled. "Please!" he spat at the elf.

Satisfied, Charity tapped Mimzy on the shoulder.

The house-elf turned back to her mistress. "Mims…is that ok? Could we trouble you to get us some breakfast?"

Mimzy smiled at Charity and nodded profusely. "Oh yes, Miss. Of course! Anything for you and Master Potter!"

Severus scowled at the elf's slight.

"Thank you, Mimzy!" Charity offered. And with that, the elf was gone.

"Brilliant!" Harry exclaimed. "Can you do that?" he asked Severus.

"Yes, Potter. Both Ms. Burbage and I are able to apparate. But not inside of the castle grounds."

"So, why can Mimzy "ap-par-ate" inside the castle?"

Charity intervened, turning the child toward her. "Because Harry, in many ways, elves have access to a much more elemental, intuitive magic than we do," she responded reverently. "They are very powerful; their undoing is that they're bound to us."

Severus scoffed quietly.

"Don't listen to him!" she warned the boy, "Severus didn't grow up with house-elves. Harry, you must respect elves and their magic, even if they're not free creatures. Refusing to show them respect can be a wizard's undoing."

Charity crouched down before the boy, both her hands on his arms. "Do you understand?"

Harry really had no context by which to understand anything Charity was saying about house-elves and their magical power, but he nodded his comprehension nonetheless.

Charity smiled her approval causing Harry's stomach to flutter. Severus couldn't handle such sentimental moments. They made him squirm and itch.

"We need a table and chairs," he sounded absently, breaking the moment by drawing his wand to transfigure the coffee table.

Charity rose and looked around Severus' kitchen and sitting room. He really did not have a kitchen table or chairs. She supposed they weren't necessary. The Great Hall was always open. But where would we eat as a family? The young witch subconsciously bit her bottom lip as she turned her gaze longingly toward Severus. He caught her eye. Charity blushed and hoped Severus had not perceived that thought. Knowing his skill as a legilimens, however, she knew he probably had.

Suddenly, a number of loud pops interrupted her daydream. Right in front of her, against the stone wall opposite the hearth, appeared a small rectangular kitchen table, three chairs, placemats, napkins, knives, forks, teaspoons, a teapot, cups, saucers, milk, sugar, and plates filled with eggs, bacon, sausages, buttered toast, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms, and fried tomatoes – a full English breakfast. Charity laughed, while Harry gawked at the feast in before him.

"Thanks, Mims!" Charity chimed. "Gods she's observant!" she continued, more to herself than anyone else.

Severus was impressed, though he would never admit it. There might be hope for Charity's freed house-elf after all, and for them as a "family." Severus smirked. He had, of course, sensed Charity's contemplation.

The three sat and ate their meal together. They talked openly as if it were the most natural thing for them to do – to enjoy each other's company and share their time. The day was planned at the kitchen table. Today was the day Harry would go to Gringotts, and purchase his wand, robes, and schoolbooks. He'd even be allowed to try butter beer at the Leaky Cauldron if he handled all the excitement of the day well. Harry could barely contain himself. The best part was that Charity would go with them. He was determined to hold her hand during their outing, and he knew she would let him.

Harry watched his Dark Man and Miss making plans. How did he get so lucky? Not four weeks ago he was living with people who hated his very existence. Those people had locked him in a cupboard, starved him, hurt him, called him awful names, and tried to keep him from attending Hogwarts. The "monsters" as Professor Snape called them were his family. His mother's kin. His biological relations! And yet, they resented him. They didn't love him or think of him as family. Tightness clasped Harry's chest.

Today was a new day. He was sitting in a beautiful castle with people who had known his parents and wanted him around. They cared about him and would do whatever it took to help him thrive. Even when they were stern, he could tell they would do anything for him – even give up their lives. They were his and he was theirs. Harry's eyes welled up with tears. He had failed to notice that his professors had stopped talking. Charity reached over and ran her hand through Harry's unruly hair, wiping away his stray tear with her thumb. She pulled him from his chair to her and gave him a squeeze and a quick kiss on his temple. She let him cuddle next to her for a few minutes.

Severus' face was like stone as he watched Charity comfort his ward. She was very good at this and that made him desire her even more. He was certain of what he wanted, but first he had to tell Albus of his intentions.

"Do the two of you mind?" Severus asked feigning offence with a raised eyebrow. Harry giggled recognizing his professor's odd sense of humour.

"If we're going to get everything done today we need to get ready," Severus began. "Potter, I'm going to walk Ms. Burbage back to her rooms in Ravenclaw Tower. Will you be ok by yourself for a few minutes?"

Harry nodded soberly in the affirmative.

"Good! Now, go wash up!" The child turned on his heels at the order and thundered down the hall to the loo.

Severus cringed. His rooms would never be quiet again.

Charity laughed softly at Severus' reaction to Harry's exuberance.

"He's a child, Sev. They're noisy."

"I've been a teacher for almost 10 years, Ms. Burbage. I know that," he spat.

"Ms. Burbage?" Charity teased. "Someone's tired…and cranky."

Severus pursed his lips. He really did not like being teased. Pushing himself away from the table, Severus scowled as he moved to clear the dishes.

Charity just tossed her head back and laughed. "Leave it…Mims will get all this."

He turned to Charity to voice his displeasure at her house elf being in his rooms again, but she stopped him before he could voice his dissent.

Taking his hand in hers, she pulled him away from the table.

"C'mon you! Let's go."

Severus nodded mildly, grabbing his wand and teaching robes. He stopped for a minute to make sure Harry was doing as he was told. The shower was running, and was that singing? Severus rolled his dark eyes. He abhorred larks.

"Charity?" he asked, "do you want me to transfigure you a robe?"

Charity hadn't thought of what others might think if they saw Severus walking her back to her rooms in her casual clothes at 9:00 am.

"That's probably wise," she replied swiftly.

"I have a spare robe in my classroom," he offered.

Stepping toward the door he opened it for her to pass first. Charity smiled in approval and walked into the hall toward the Potions classroom. Severus followed behind taking in the view. Ah yes…that's why men do this! He smirked mischievously. And she thinks I'm being noble.

The classroom had changed little since she had been a student. Charity supposed it was not surprising. Not much had probably changed in the world of Potions since she was a student at Hogwarts. Consciously she ran her hand along Severus' desk, rouge rising to her cheeks. This desk had seen a lot of action in her fantasies when she was Head Girl. Charity shook her head at herself. Thankfully, Severus was paying closer attention to his attempt at transfiguration than her licentious daydreams.

"Having trouble?" she asked lightly.

Severus furrowed his brow. "None at all. What colour would you like?" he asked trying to deflect her attention from his less than stellar transfiguration skills.

"Ravenclaw blue, I think!" she smiled sweetly.

"How about black?" he proposed. Charity laughed.

"Black is fine, Sev," she replied, her eyes smiling. He clearly did not realize how adorable he could be.

Severus pursed his lips, trying to concentrate. He flicked his wand precisely at the garment. It grew larger. Severus groused quietly.

"Sometimes all that foolish wand-waving is quite useful, don't you think?" she teased observing his struggle.

"I'll have you know, I received an E in my transfiguration NEWT," he countered.

"Almost 15 years ago? I have no doubt, Professor," she retorted coyly. "May I?" Charity asked tentatively, holding out her hand.

Reluctantly, Severus handed her his wand. "Try flicking your wrist more quickly – like so!" she demonstrated, ignoring his hesitation.

Charity handed him back his wand and watched his form carefully. She grimaced.

"Your follow through needs some work," she said seriously. "Though I think your problem stems more from that fact that you have no resolve in your attempt because you think the hand movement silly. But if you mean it…it will work."

Severus tipped his head. He had taken transfiguration with McGonagall as a teen and had never heard transfiguring objects explained quite that way before. He had believed that being really good at the subject required innate talent – like being an animagus.

"How do you know that?" he queried.

"It's how I'm able to do some wandless magic," she shrugged. "I simply mean it and my magic does what I want."

Severus looked confused.

"Magic is simply energy, correct?" He nodded. "We are taught through our schooling to channel our energy through our wands, but when we're children, we just utilize our magic without thinking. But because we're just doing and not thinking, we're not really all that powerful; not until we have intention, that is. Think back to all the things we accidentally did as children – as Harry has been able to do."

Charity slowed, reflecting on what she was about to say. "When he means it, Severus, he will be powerful! Mark my words." She looked away, suddenly feeling awkward as if predicting a terrible fate upon the child. Charity gathered herself.

"Go on!" she encouraged. "Try again."

Severus considered carefully the robe he wanted to see Charity in, one that would show off her hips and breasts, and flicked his wand at his old robe. A tailored, floor-length royal blue robe fit for Rowena Ravenclaw appeared.

Charity squealed in delight and jumped into his arms. "Sev! You did it! I love it!"

Pleased with his accomplishment, Severus helped her put it on fastening the gold clasp at the top. Charity smiled broadly at him.

"Thank you!" she breathed, stepping closer to kiss him. He stopped her, grabbing hold of her hands.

"Charity…we should speak with Dumbledore first," he spoke softly. She looked down at her small hands in his and nodded in agreement. There would be lots of time for kisses.

Severus drew her hands to his lips and kissed them tenderly. Charity beamed, enjoying the feel of his mouth on her fingers. She drew back and turned toward the door.

"We need to hurry, or we'll never get to Diagon Alley today."

Severus couldn't have agreed more.