Chapter 22
Buckbeak trilled happily as Harry managed to scratch just the right spot, right behind his cheek, which he loved. He wished he could go for a fly, something he tried to do almost every day when the weather was right, but he knew they would be leaving soon. Marigold pranced over, throwing her head, and Harry laughed, reaching over the fence and giving her a scratch also.
"You ready kiddo?"
"You know I hate being called that." Harry replied, annoyed, without looking away from the demanding hippogriffs.
"And you know that's why I keep calling you that." He could hear the mirth in his godfather's voice. Sometimes it really surprised Harry how joyful the man could be after so long in Azkaban around dementors. According to Sirius though, coming here, to a place that could not be more different, open sky, fresh air, a comfortable bed and company, made his time imprisoned feel like a bad dream. Harry was just sad to hear those bad dreams at night sometimes. "Now, are you ready to go?"
He held up the mokeskin pouch with an undetectable extension charm Sirius had bought for him in his shopping spree. Harry had been interested in the use of extension charms and runes ever since acquiring his trunk and tent. Another such object had caught his eye, and Sirius had leapt on it. It had proven useful in his studies however.
"Let's be on our way then." Harry nodded in response and Sirius turned them on the spot. He wasn't sure that he would ever come to truly appreciate apparition, but he was thankful he did not lose his lunch as he coughed, gripping his knees.
"Any clue where to from here?" Sirius asked casually, while patting his godson on the back. They had appeared in a small town called Milton Abbott in Sussex, Sirius had been before, having visited the Abbotts 'during the war'. The town was apparently named after an ancestor of theirs, and they still lived in its centre to this day. It was a mix of muggle and wizarding occupation, similar to Godric's Hollow. Though, besides the large (for wizards) Abbott family there were only a few wizarding households.
This was a common trend, Harry had begun to notice, small smatterings of wizarding families. He wondered why there were not larger permanent settlements.
"Her letter said down Catchings Way, third gate on the right." Harry said with a shrug, not really knowing where the actual street was. "Also that it's a bit of a hike."
"No time like the present!" Sirius said enthusiastically, taking out his wand. "Directum, Catchings Way!" The piece of wood tugged him to the left.
"Seems useful." Harry noted.
"Not as much as you might expect, but I'll teach you later." Sirius led the way through the town, avoiding the town centre to not draw attention while using his wand.
Milton Abbott was a quaint little town, made mostly of painted white render cottages with thatch roofing. More often they were surrounded by small manicured kitchen gardens with picket fences or hedge rows. He thought it seemed like a pleasant place to grow up. A place Privet Drive could only aspire to be, and probably did.
They finally reached Catchings Way, which was little more than a one way dirt road with enough grass on either side for two cars to squeeze past should they meet. It was framed by old slate walls and tall pointed cedar trees. He could hear insects and birds singing all around them in a noisy summer symphony.
They made their way down the country road, basking in the pleasant summer afternoon. It was Laurel's Peak's only real failing, even at the height of summer it only grew slightly warm. So basking in the southerly weather was a welcome change.
They reached the third right after almost a half hour walk. The metal gate was old but well kept and attached to an old stone wall covered in a thick layer of moss on top and in its crevices. It was definitely the right place, Harry could almost feel the magic on the barrier, but also beyond it. It felt much like the tingle that occurred when entering Hogwarts or when he was close to the Dawn Oak as it grew.
"Old magic." Sirius said, seeing his look. "Lots of the older pureblood houses feel like this. Centuries of occupation by witches and wizards has made magic practically saturate the very stones."
"It feels, comforting, warm." Harry observed, not quite able to put the feeling into words.
"A good sign."
"Why is that?" Harry asked. This feeling, it had only ever seemed pleasant, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and other places. Though something else touched at the corner of his memories, just out of reach.
"Places where darker magic has been practised somewhat routinely, like the house I grew up in, have something of a colder feel. Not corrupted, or even actually unpleasant, but colder and sadder." Nocturne Alley, that was how he had felt there, beneath his terror at being lost in such an unsavoury place. But he had felt somewhat that way in Gringotts too, down in the mine shafts. And in the Chamber of Secrets most severely. He shivered unconsciously.
"So, a good sign about your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Harry shouted perturbed.
"Bees you the Potters?" A high voice squeaked in interruption. Harry had never met a female house elf before, however that is unmistakably what appeared before them, head poking up from behind the wall. She was slightly smaller and somehow skinnier than Dobby, with smaller but still overly large though perky ears and a nose like a carrot. She also had sparse black hair across the top of her oval shaped head. The elf was dressed in a starched white well tailored pillowcase with a brown leather belt around the middle.
"I am Harry Potter, and this is my godfather, Sirius Black. And who are you?" Harry asked with his hand stretched out, though the creature had made no move to pass the wall. Rather to the contrary it ducked down behind it until only its nose was visible, the large protrusion resting on the moss. The elf's tanned leathery skin turned a slight pink.
"I's be Beamy, sir. Master is be asking Beamy to let Potters sirs in." The creature clicked its spindly fingers and the gate creaked open, the elf then disappeared as quietly as it had arrived.
"You know, I have gotten far too used to Dobby." Sirius observed as he stepped through the gate. Harry knew what he meant, their own resident house elf was more present then he ever was discrete, mingling with the family and eating with them at Harry's insistence. Though Harry liked that about him. Harry had also tried inviting Kreacher along on a few occasions, but had only ever been rejected, often with an insult, but he was not discouraged.
They entered a sprawling well maintained property unlike any Harry had ever witnessed. The dirt and stone path gently curved up the hill which was topped by a large, though not palatial, house. It was somewhere between a suburban house and lord's manor.
To the right of the pathway was a row of tall ornamental cypress trees like something from the Italian countryside, but beyond them were rows of various fruit trees. Some were trees Harry could identify, like peaches and nectarines that were in season, some were trees that Harry guessed were not in season, and then there were the clearly magical flora. One tree had bright red leaves despite it being the height of summer, another had some tubular flowers or fruits, one of which reached out and took an apricot from the tree next to it and consumed it whole, another was sprouting roots all the way across its branches and had no leaves, making it look more a ball than a tree. There were so many more and only some Harry could even identify. Like a flaking ficus, it's green bark raining and covering the grass below, a flutterby bush, and a twisting arch, which was so old it had already started its third wave-like archway across the ground.
The left side was nothing if not even more peculiar. It would look almost like an exceptionally large overgrowing English cottage garden, if not for the magical mix of plants. There was again normal plants, though they were used in potion making, such as straight goosegrass and lavender, various herbs such as thyme and st john's-wort and some bushels of rosemary. Mixed amongst them were magical plants like dittany, purple shrivelfigs and wrinkling silverleafs. Then there were even dangerous plants such as snaking venomous tentacula, some tops of mandrakes, and snapdragons and tigers paws striking out at insects close to them. There were so many more that Harry had never even seen before.
It was an assault on the senses. With so many colours, and flowers and active plants interacting with their surroundings. Some were even rolling around or walking between the raised garden beds. It was pure chaos to Harry's eyes and must have taken prolific effort to execute.
Beyond the garden, curbing around the hill was a series of large glass greenhouses. Sirius whistled in appreciation.
"This is a lot." The dog animagus noted. "Lots of rare stuff here, hard to grow."
"It's insane." Sirius grinned at his godson's exasperation. He gave Harry a stiff pat on the back and they started on the path upward.
"You'll come to learn, as I keep trying to teach you, old wizarding families are different. No it's not that pureblood nonsense. They aren't better at magic but they do grow up with access to the magical world. They have time to build wealth and make things like this. So it's only natural that the homes they live in, sometimes for generations, reflect that history. All of this would take generations of magical knowledge, often jealously guarded."
It did make sense to Harry, generational wealth was not unique to the magical world. Though in his opinion muggleborns had their own advantages, sometimes fresh eyes did not hurt, as Professor Babbage would often say. It did make him more sad about the ruins brought to both of his own ancestral homes however.
"The Burrow isn't like this though." Sirius shrugged in response.
"The Weasley's are an exception more than a rule you will come to find. I don't know much about their home but I do know it's relatively new, as the Weasley family have a contradictory habit of moving around quite a bit. I suppose that's what you do when you can feel your home or family anywhere you go. Aren't both the eldest overseas at the moment?" Harry nodded in affirmation, the Weasley family magic was one of the more strange he had heard of thus far.
The house they were approaching was two stories tall and had one round tower at the back right corner of the building one floor taller than the main building and one protrusion across the flat façade, for the large wooden front doors. The house was made of white stone bricks and had a very tall pointed red roof. The large inset windows were high in the wall and had deep green painted frames. The whole building was covered in ivy, hiding much of the brick work, and fronted by loose gravel which crunched underfoot.
The heavy front door opened and out stepped two people, one unfamiliar, and the other made his heart uncomfortably and unusually lurch within his chest.
She was dressed in a light white summer dress with buttons up the front, not dissimilar to when he had last seen her on the Express. Her hair was loose and brushed over her shoulder, contrasting with her dress and pale skin. She also had a straw wide brimmed hat clutched in her hands before her. He could feel the colour rising on his cheeks.
The man with Daphne was clearly Cyrus Greengrass, Daphne's father. A broad tall man, about the same height as Sirius and brown wavy hair, which was receding slightly. His face was lined and sported sharp features but not unpleasant in the way Lucius Malfoy's were. His ears were also on the larger slide and slightly protruding. Greengrass senior, unlike the muggle wear of the teenagers, was wearing a deep blue smartly cut robe. Harry remembered now seeing him in the Wizengamot.
"Welcome, welcome!" The elder Greengrass greeted in a deep baritone and an open smile. He shook Harry's hand first, with the firmest grip Harry had experienced since Uncle Vernon, then turned to Sirius also. "Cyrus Greengrass, and you must be Harry Potter, accompanied by Sirius Black himself coming so casually to my doorstep, I would have never believed it."
"Um, thank you sir." Harry replied, slightly taken aback. Sirius and Remus did not know much about Cyrus Greengrass, except that he walked in many different circles and was principally a businessman, specialising in potion ingredients and apothecaries. Seeing his house Harry could believe that. They had not, however, expected such a jovial greeting.
"Please come in, come in." The man ushered, making way for the two guests. "I believe you Harry-" He paused slightly. "-you don't mind if I call you Harry do you?"
"I would prefer it, sir."
"Grand. I believe you know Daphne, Harry, but please allow me the opportunity to introduce my daughter, Daphne Greengrass."
"A pleasure to meet you both." Sirius greeted in return, shaking her hand, having already performed the ritual with the proud father.
"Hello." Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Hi." She greeted back, smiling that slightly crooked smile, which pushed her lips to the side, and made his stomach flop.
"My wife and youngest will join us later, so I propose, with formalities out of the way, we might get down to brass tacks, as they say and get the business portion out of the way first?"
"Sounds good." Sirius agreed. They were ushered to a drawing room just to the left of the main entrance area. It was warmly decorated with dark wooden floors, roof and wall panelling and deep emerald wallpaper. Or what little of it you could see as the walls were covered, floor to ceiling, in moving portraits of every variety. Some were magical animals, but most were various witches and wizards in all manner of dress, showing the different styles across the family's long history. There were even two jousting knights.
There were two ornate pillowed wooden sofas in the middle of the room, separated by a coffee table with claws for feet. In the far side of the room was a large wooden desk and well used seat. Upon the coffee table was the pot Harry had given Daphne, with a healthy looking flitterbloom. This was likely Mister Greengrass' office.
"Please sit, sit." They each took the sofas facing each other, Greengrasses on one side and Sirius and Harry on the other. "Would you like any refreshments? Beamy?" The little elf appeared with a tray of silver goblets and a pitcher, which contained water. She poured them each a cup and then disappeared once more. Harry took a grateful drink, it had been a sunny walk.
"Now, I believe you know why I invited you here?" The elder Greengrass asked.
"Yes, sir, you sell plants and Daphne has showed you my gift to her. She suggested you might be interested in buying some." Harry responded.
"Indeed, quite interested. However it would also be quite the investment, so I also wished to meet you in person. Business is about trust, and getting a measure of your business partners is just as important as the deal itself."
"Right, then just to make sure we are on the same page, perhaps you might show…Cyrus?" The man nodded obligingly. "Our newest model Harry?" Sirius asked him, clearly trying his best to be in the business mode he had been practising for days, driving Harry and Remus spare.
Harry took out his bag and opened it wide. Reaching in he drew out a smaller pot, a prototype he and Remus had come up with for this purpose.
"It's rather a bit small."
"It's just an example model, we can make them any size you need." Harry remarked and set the new product down in-between them.
"And what makes it different from the admittedly impressive item Daphne returned home with? That flitterbloom is only a few weeks old." The plant's tentacles were curling and dancing happily despite the lower light of the room.
"It's no different in the way it grows plants sir, however." Harry picked up the pot and dropped it on the ground. The ceramic container simply hit the rug beneath them and bounced once then came to a rest. He retrieved it and put it on the table again. Sirius then tapped it with his wand and stood up. The pot floated along beside him and followed as he returned.
"As you can see, we included impervious, levitation and following charms to the mix. This should ensure ease of use as well as preventing breakage, saving you having to replace it when accidents happen." Sirius finished his pitch with a smile. Practice made perfect Harry supposed.
"Very good. Now, my real concern is not with the product, however, but with the people." Harry was slightly taken aback by this turn. What was the man implying? Daphne looked surprised at the change in topic too and Harry easily recognised her nervous gesture of wringing her hands.
"Now, now young Potter, I meant nothing by it. Your product is fantastic, however." He paused again, clearly wanting to add effect. "I've seen many businesses fold even with brilliant products. The most I know of you is that it's owned by a teenager due back to Hogwarts in a few weeks and, no offence, a man who has been in Azkaban for more than ten years. I need to know you can deliver, so to speak."
Harry frowned slightly, never taking too kindly to anyone casting doubt on him. Even if the man did have a point. "You invited us here-" Harry started, but Sirius put his hand on his shoulder.
"We have another partner who is also competent at runecraft who will be making most of what we sell. We aren't looking to expand intensively, but rather wish to be known for our quality and unique products. Harry is without a doubt a prodigy in runes and working with us will probably only have upside." Sirius took a deep breath and sighed.
"However, we understand your perspective also. So I have a proposal. Make a smaller order and we will fill it, payable on delivery so no risk to you. If you are unhappy with what you receive then we can simply call it quits there. We will also guarantee the life and quality of the products for up to five years, replacement. No risk to you in that as far as I can see."
Harry was torn between frustration at the insinuations and pride for his godfather. Maybe he really was going to earn his keep. The large man rubbed at his chin for a moment, a sharp calculating look in his eye, then grinned. "Exactly what I was going to propose." Daphne sighed noticeably and released her hands. Harry sagged a bit, letting go of the tension he was holding.
"Now, given the improvements, but as an initial venture I thought thirty galleons each and a first order of one hundred?" And the tension suddenly returned, three thousand galleons?
"Forty galleons, these things will improve your business tenfold." Sirius countered.
"Forty galleons and a contract of exclusivity for the next ten years for this product, with option to extend." Cyrus counter offered once more.
"Forty galleons, exclusivity depending on minimum orders."
"Agreed." And the men shook. Four thousand galleons? Just like that? Harry wasn't sure about the exclusivity agreement, but would talk with Sirius about it later. "I will have my solicitor owl a contract for you to look over. Now, with that fun out of the way. We can proceed with the social element. Daphne, perhaps you might like to show Harry around?" The redhead smiled brightly and jumped from her seat, Harry was only too eager to follow. "Sirius, how would you fancy some twenty years aged port?"
"Fancy? I'd marry it!" Harry heard his godfather joke as they left the room. As soon as they were outside again, apparently the tour was starting with the garden, Daphne grabbed his hand, surprising the young runesmith.
"I'm so glad you came, I hope father wasn't too much just now." She looked up at him, worry shining in her big eyes. This is not what he had expected.
"No, the man clearly likes his business. But still nothing like sitting in front of the Wizengamot or playing quidditch." Harry reassured her, bringing a renewed smile to her pink lips.
"I'm glad." As she guided him amongst the plants, pointing out interesting ones, or her favourites, or more strangely which were feuding or which were jealous of others, Harry watched her intensely.
This Daphne Greengrass was different from the Daphne Greengrass at school. In class she barely interacted with anyone, they never even said a word to each other. There was a hardness to her demeanour.
In the greenhouses or in the few times he had caught her in the hospital wing, the library or the corridors she was more open. In those times Harry had seen more of the girl who he had been thinking of and wanting to see more and more as the year drew on.
But this was the real Daphne Greengrass, outside of the stress of Slytherin house or responsibility to her sister or anything else. Right here is the girl who had shined in the ceremony in the winter snows. Proudly showing him around her garden, hand in hand, unafraid and unburdened.
There was a gentle breeze which tickled at her hair and blew at her dress. The warm sun cast a pleasant glow. Harry wasn't sure he wanted to be anywhere else, ever.
"-and the flutterby bush over there gets sad every time the sun begins to set, it's rather a dramatic plant. Harry, are you listening to me?" She was scruitising him sharply.
Harry wasn't sure why, but right then and there he pulled on his courage, leaned in, and planted his lips on hers.
She was too shocked to move for a moment, and he had an instant of panic rising up. But then her hands came up and cupped his cheeks on both sides and she pushed back against him.
They pulled away a moment later, his cheeks burning but hands had come to rest on her hips.
"I-um sorry." She giggled at his bashful apology.
"I wouldn't have kissed you back if I was unhappy."
"But, um, but you said we-" He trailed off, not really wanting to raise the topic.
"And we can't, the reasons still exist, but we aren't at school right now…"
Harry grinned and closed the distance between them again. Practice did make perfect after all.
They returned to the house after watching the sunset from a pergola overlooking the open fields and hedgerows that stretched out behind the house.
They spent the hours talking mostly, of their summers and other small topics. Daphne lay her head comfortably on his shoulder and later sat between his legs and in his arms. The conversation was interspersed by chaste kisses.
It was, without doubt, the best afternoon Harry had experienced in his short life. He thought his patronus might be the size of a house if he was to summon it.
When they returned Harry met Daphne's mother, whom she inherited her hair from. As well as her younger sister, who was a brunette like her father and was paler than her sister, though they looked much alike, and had dark rings beneath her eyes. Though seemed muched too pleased with his presence, if the conspiratorial look she was sending her sister when they joined the set dinner table was anything to go by.
Sirius and Cyrus had apparently been having a good time also, though perhaps too good a time, and we're deep in their cups. They seemed far too cheerful on the return of the teenagers, and had apparently been swapping school stories, Cyrus being only a few years older than Sirius.
The dining room of Greenarches was similarly furnished to the office. With numerous portraits across the walls and even the taxidermied head of a bicorn upon the wall. It was what Harry imagined old aristocratic manors were like. It was warm, certainly better than where he grew up, but not really to his taste he had decided.
"So, Harry, I hear you have apprenticed with the Runes Professor at Hogwarts." Daphnes mother, Calisto, asked politely from across the table as the main course, beef wellingtons, was served. It was a more formal dinner than Harry had experience with and he had been following Daphne's lead throughout to get him through all the cutlery.
"Youngest ever, I had a meeting with Dumbledore about it, says Harry is the best he has ever seen!" Sirius bragged before Harry could answer.
"Daphne, dear." Cyrus perked up. "Didn't Madame Pomphrey, renowned healer, give you an apprenticeship also?" Harry already knew this but was going to say something anyway before Sirius jumped in again.
"Harry was made youngest seeker in a century, he's caught the snitch in all but one match." Daphne went a shade of pink at that and Harry wondered if it was about him having given her one.
"Snitch got your tongue Daphne?" Astoria asked from next to her mother.
"Daphne has inherited the family magic, she could be the best magi-botanist in a decade." Cyrus bragged again in turn and Harry was starting to see what this was now.
"Harry can cast a patronus at thirteen, he's too if his year at Defence Against the Dark Arts." He must have got that from Remus.
"Daphne is one of the top of her class in potions and charms." The Greengrass returned, and his wife rolled her eyes in an unexpectedly unladylike fashion, obviously growing tired of the pissing contest.
"Harry killed a fully grown basilisk with a sword when he was twelve!" Sirius cheered, obviously deciding he was the victor. All chatter in the room ceased immediately and everyone besides Sirius was staring at him. Harry palmed his face in annoyance.
"He what!" Daphne exploded in her seat next to him. Sirius finally had the grace to look at least somewhat bashful, knowing he had said something he shouldn't have, as Harry had told him that in confidence.
"I had help?" The Boy-Who-Lived offered feebly.
"How are you alive, where did you even?" Daphne demanded from next to him.
"I got lucky and Dumbledore's phoenix helped me. I don't really want to go over it to be honest." Harry replied tersely. It wasn't something he liked reliving. He had almost died, had even come to accept he was going to in that moment. It wasn't a triumph like other people claimed. It was one of the hardest moments of his life, laying on that cold wet floor waiting for death. "It's dead though and I'm alive and that's all there is to it."
Daphne grabbed his hand, which he only then realised he was gripping his fork with white knuckles. Harry relaxed his grip and smiled sadly at her.
There was a firm clear cough at the end of the table from Mister Greengrass, but Daphne didn't remove her hand. Her mother was looking at her quite intently. "Yes, well." Cyrus started uncomfortably. "Tell me Harry, they say in your first match you swallowed the snitch."
"Do you think you might be able to visit again, before the end of summer?" Daphne asked him. They were standing outside the front door of Greenarches, away from the others who were saying their farewells. She was holding his hands firmly.
"I think probably, Sirius owes me I reckon." Harry said, and she smiled slightly then gave him a kiss on the cheek and then they shared a lingering hug, until someone coughed awkwardly. The two teens separated and found the adults all looking at them.
"It was lovely meeting you Harry dear." Calisto farewelled him, giving him an unexpected was warm like Mrs Weasley's and pleasant, but without the force.
"I look forward to a long and prosperous business arrangement." Cyrus said, holding out his hand and shaking Harry's firmly. "Best not do anything to jeopardise that." He left the warning hanging in the air and Harry gulped hard.
Daphne hugged him again and kissed his cheek and with a final. "Owl me." Went back inside.
"Well that went swimmingly." Sirius Black, untrustworthy godfather, commented jovially. As they made their way down the path back to the front gate.
"It was, until you decided to tell everyone I killed a bloody basilisk!" Harry growled.
Sirius just shrugged though. "You'll thank me someday." The man clearly had decided he had done Harry a favour.
"Why would I thank you for telling people my secrets?"
"Your new girlfriend probably figures you'd kill a basilisk for her, and her father now knows you can." The man grinned, teeth flashing in the moonlight.
Harry groaned. "You're a bloody menace."
"Thank you."
That's all for this instalment folks. I am actually pretty proud of this chapter. It took a while as even though I knew what I wanted from it some other projects side tracked me, some of which may see the light of day who knows.
The thing I am most nervous about is the romance element. I am not experienced writing that stuff and I have been very unsure if I have been building it believably. So I wouldn't mind some feedback on that, and just everything in general. i always appreciate reviews.
Next time we are on our way to the world cup and the book 4 events begin. I know that a lot of the plot points have been big bits of canon, besides all things Sirius being free, and we are still going to be going into the Triwizard. However, things are going to begin diverging more and more soon now the groundwork has been laid. Yes all 22 of these chapters were in part the groundwork for one major piece of divergence to come (though it won't be for a few chapters still).