Chapter 52: White Rose

Diagon Alley, London, England

April 25, 1987

Harry felt nervous as he clutched the shoulder strap of the leather bag that held his purchases and pulled it over his shoulder. He had just finished purchasing a gift of assorted candies for Astoria and now he had to find the perfect present for Daphne.

"We need to go to Flourish and Blotts," he said as he looked over his shoulder at Anthony Archer, his guard. The man had been a student of Harry's current Master, Adhemar Rosai. Master Rosai had introduced Archer and his romantic partner, Jet Matthieu, to Uncle Marius with the hope that Marius would hire them to protect Harry and Dudley. Harry and Dudley lived in a blended household of Squibs and Wizards. Still, none of the Wizards who were employed by Marius Black were combat trained. The addition of Archer and Matthieu had eased some of his aunt Petunia's worries, and for that Harry was grateful.

The raven-haired Archer nodded. "Still looking for a present for Heir Greengrass?" the man asked.

Harry nodded in the affirmative. He had known Daphne Greengrass for years. He had spent many happy weekend afternoons playing with Daphne at gatherings of family and friends. He had adored Daphne from the first moment he met her at Leonis's third birthday party. This was the first time that he had been invited to Anemone Hall to spend time with Daphne in her own home. He was excited and nervous, and he was eager to make a good first impression.

He really wanted to make Lord Greengrass like him.

Daphne's father was not known to be an elitist snob, but he was regal and aloof, and it was hard to tell if the man liked him or not. He liked that Lord Greengrass didn't seem to care that Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived. Despite the best intentions of his family, Harry had encountered too many people that fawned over him because he was known by that stupid moniker. Draco had made him laugh over it, but it really wasn't a laughing matter. People had set him up as some sort of figurehead. He didn't want to be a figurehead.

Harry now had a better appreciation for his family trying to shield him from the rest of the Wizarding Public. A week ago, when he was shopping for Hannah Abbott's birthday party, he had been trapped in a corner of a store by the reporter, Rita Skeeter. The blond-haired Witch had fired off a long series of questions, some seeming innocent enough and then following those up with horrible questions that angered Harry. He was very grateful when Lord Prince had come upon them. Harry had never spoken to the man before because he had an intensity about him that Harry found a bit frightening, but he had always been respectful in his manner around the man because he was Draco's beloved Godfather. Harry didn't like to hurt Draco or to make him angry. Draco might look like an angel, but he was a true devil when angry.

Lord Prince had, with a few precise words, shredded Rita Skeeter and had her fleeing the shop. Harry now felt a little bit of hero-worship for Lord Prince. He now understood just why Draco adored the dark and dangerous man. Lord Prince had escorted Harry back to his aunt's side and that had been strange watching Lord Prince and his aunt Petunia together. There was history there, he was sure of it, but Aunt Petunia would not answer his questions with any more information than that she and Lord Prince had known each other when they were children.

Harry went over the mental tally of his gifts in his mind in the hopes that it would help him figure out the perfect gift for Daphne. He had accepted Uncle Marius's help in picking out a nice vintage of Elven Wine for Lord and Lady Greengrass to thank them for inviting him to their lovely home. They would know that he hadn't picked it out alone, but gifts of food or beverage were traditional gifts to offer one's hosts when invited into their home. He had chosen an assortment of sweets as a gift for Astoria. Though he was not obligated to give a gift to Astoria, he would not want her to feel slighted. For Daphne, he needed something special.

He entered Flourish and Blotts and immediately walked to the section of the store that focused on books of fiction. Daphne enjoyed reading almost as much as Hermione and Eleanor did, so he hoped to find an interesting story for her to read. Perhaps she'd spend some time reading it to him.

Harry had searched the store twice hoping to find something that would suit Daphne when he bumped into Lord Prince, literally bumped. Harry blushed in embarrassment as the man narrowed obsidian eyes at him.

"I'm very sorry Lord Prince," Harry hurried to explain. "I was not watching where I was going," he said and braced himself for the Prince's anger.

Yet Lord Prince did not yell at him like Harry feared he would. "Apology accepted," he accepted Harry's apology with a good humor that Harry didn't understand. It was as if the man found it amusing that Harry would even apologize. It made Harry wonder more about his aunt's history with Lord Prince.

"Is something troubling you, Lord Potter?" Lord Prince asked him in a calm voice that held a subtle command that Harry obey him and tell him what was troubling him.

Harry willingly obeyed. "I have been invited to Anemone Hall and I am searching for a good present for Daphne," Harry admitted. "This is the first time that I have been invited to Anemone Hall and I want to make a good first impression. Uncle Marius says that first impressions are very important."

"I see," Lord Prince murmured. "I take it you have already chosen gifts for Lord and Lady Greengrass."

"Yes," Harry nodded eagerly, suddenly hopeful that Lord Prince could help him. "I also picked out a gift for Astoria so that she is not left out. I just have to find something perfect for Daphne."

Lord Prince nodded thoughtfully as he stared down at Harry. "And you don't think you'll find what you are looking for here?"

Harry sighed sadly and shook his head. "I had hoped so, but I haven't found the right gift for Daphne," Harry said feeling dejected. "Hermione suggested jewelry, but Uncle Marius said that I couldn't buy jewelry for Daphne until I had permission from Lord Greengrass to court her."

Lord Prince smirked then. "And do you wish to court the Heir Greengrass?" he asked.

Harry blushed and nodded his head. He couldn't explain the pull that he felt toward Daphne. He felt whole, complete, and like he was powerful when he was with Daphne. It felt good and right, and he wanted that feeling to last forever. He wanted to spend his life with Daphne. "Yes, Lord Prince, I do hope that Lord Greengrass will eventually consider my suit. I know that I cannot make a formal request for a few years yet, but I do intend to make one as soon as Daphne and I reach that age."

The man nodded as though he had expected no other answer from Harry. "Heir Greengrass is a smart young lady," he said in approval of Harry's choice. "Come with me, I may know of a present you can buy Heir Greengrass."

Harry was so giddy with excitement that he followed Lord Prince, trusting that Archer would follow.

"Lord Prince," Archer began carefully. "I hope you do not find this an impertinent question, but I must ask where you wish to escort my charge," he said. "As you are aware, Lord Potter's safety is my great concern."

Harry blushed but he looked up at Lord Prince through the fringe of his hair. He saw that amused upturn of the older man's lips as he looked at Archer.

"I am going to escort the pair of you to my home," Lord Prince declared.

Archer seemed to consider this for a moment before he politely nodded his head. "We are honored to be invited to Mourning Vale," Archer said politely.

"I will just tend to my purchases and then we shall be on our way," Lord Prince promised them. Then he approached the front of the store.

Harry stared up at Archer as he watched the man go. He slowly put his hand in Archer's hand. "Archer?" he asked softly. There was something about Archer's stance that Harry read as unease.

Archer looked down at Harry with kind blue eyes. "I am just being careful, Harry," he promised. "Mr. Black is not closely associated with Lord Prince, so, I am unsure of whether we should go with him."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. He understood Archer's hesitation. He was new to the household and was not sure of the family's many contacts. While Uncle Marius was not closely associated with Lord Prince, he had never disapproved of Harry spending time with Draco when Lord Prince would be around. Furthermore, Lord Prince was the master of Leonis, Draco, and Aleksei.

"He's Draco's God-father and he's the Master of Heir Black, Heir Spinks, and Draco," Harry pointed out to Archer. "Uncle Marius is not going to worry about us going to his home."

Archer didn't seem completely convinced, but he didn't argue against going either. "Just stay close to me the whole time," he ordered Harry.

Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. He had only to glance around the shop and see the other eyes stealing glances at him, some rudely staring at him, to remind himself that he did need a bodyguard whether he liked it or not. Archer was a nice guy. He could have a far worse guy to act as his guard.

"Okay," Harry agreed even as they made their way toward the front of the store to meet with Lord Prince.

Lord Prince swiftly paid for his purchases and then he led them from Flourish and Blotts back into the Diagon Alley. He led them to the Leaky Cauldron and toward the floo.

Harry stayed close to Archer as they moved through the crowd in the Leaky Cauldron. Eyes again followed him. He hated the feeling of their eyes upon him, but Aunt Petunia had told him that he would have to get used to it. She was clearly unhappy about it, as unhappy about it as Harry was, but his aunt was a smart woman and she had told him that she had known since a few months after he had been given into her care that he would have to face the wizarding public's interest. He didn't like it, at all. He really wished they cared because he was the young Lord Potter and not because he was some sort of icon against evil.

Harry was grateful when Lord Prince offered him the floo powder. He then whispered a spell that Harry had never heard before. "Muffliato," he paused a minute more and then said to Harry and Archer. "Say the destination and then the passcode Tuney."

Harry's eyes widened as he heard the nickname for his aunt Petunia. Just what was between this man and his aunt? They had known each other in their childhood but aunt Petunia said that they had not been friends. Had Lord Prince liked his aunt? Did he hold her memory in tenderness? He'd have to ask Draco some questions about his Godfather later. For now, he took up the floo powder and said, "Mourning Vale Tuney."

He stumbled only slightly as he exited the floo connection into a pretty receiving room. He hated traveling by floo as much as he hated traveling by portkey, but he had gotten better at travel by portkey. He still needed to master floo travel. He still could not leave the floo with an elegant stride the way that Draco and Leonis could.

He was startled by the voice of a house elf greeting him. He whirled around and stared at the prettily dressed elf. She was wearing a black pillowcase that had been formed into more of a dress than a pillowcase. It had pretty embroidery upon it in Gold, and Harry recognized the Prince coat of arms upon her attire. The hem of her pillowcase dress even had pretty frills that he often saw on the hem of dresses.

"Oh, hello. I'm Harry, erm that is, I am Lord Potter," he introduced himself to the little elf.

"Lord Potter, it is an honor to have you at Mourning Vale," the Elf said.

A moment later Archer stepped out of the floo. He was then followed by Lord Prince.

"Master Severus," the House-Elf greeted happily.

"Asphodel," he greeted her back. "Have there been any messages?"

"Master's oldest bond-sister would like you to contact her. She said that it was not urgent, but it was about Heir Spinks and his education," Asphodel informed him. "There be no other messages."

"Very well, I shall contact her later," Lord Prince said. "You may return to your duties."

Asphodel nodded happily and then seemed to skip away. Harry chuckled as he watched the Elf leave. "Archer, what is a bond-sister?" he asked softly.

Archer smiled at him. "A bond-sibling is a sibling not of blood but because of a bond. Lord Prince is the Ardenvraar of Heir Malfoy and as such he is as a brother to Heir Malfoy's siblings as well," he explained.

"I was also a Ward of Lord Malfoy for a few years due to the death of my mother," Lord Prince admitted to Harry. "Lord Malfoy was kind enough to take me in due to my being a Great-nephew of his mother."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "So, you are related to the current Malfoy's because you are related to Lord Malfoy's mother?"

"Yes," Lord Prince said simply. "Now, follow me. I think that I have just the thing for Heir Greengrass," he said. Then he strode from the room leaving Harry no choice but to follow him.

Harry shrugged his shoulders and followed. He did wonder what Lord Prince could possibly have that might be perfect for Daphne. He barely paid attention to his surroundings because he was so busy trying to keep up with the long strides of Lord Prince. The man led him down a long hallway and then through a door into a conservatoire. Harry stared in amazement at all the beautiful flowers. "Aunt Petunia would be green with envy," he murmured.

"Tuney always did like flowers," Lord Prince said in an offhand manner. It was another reminder that Lord Prince might have known his aunt very well when they were kids. "I thought perhaps this would please your Lady Faire," he drawled as he led Harry to a particular flower.

Harry stared in wonder at the white rose bush. The white roses glistened, and it reminded him of freshly fallen snow. He and Daphne had played in the snow the first time they had met. He could still remember how the snow had looked as it fell into her hair, clinging to her golden locks. Snow had clung to her gold-tipped lashes and her cheeks had been flushed from cold. She had been so pretty. Beautiful really.

"Lord Prince, this is perfect!" Harry exclaimed. "How may I barter for it? Would you like money or perhaps a service?" he asked. He had to give this to Daphne. It was perfect for her and she loved flowers. Like many of the Greengrass's before her, Daphne enjoyed herbology and Harry could tell that this must be a rare flower. If it was not, then surely Lord Prince would not have it.

"No price and no service," Lord Prince said in a decisive voice. "I have more than one of these bushes. If you think that Heir Greengrass will enjoy it and take proper care of it then that is enough for me."

Harry stared in wonder at Lord Prince. Was he giving him this because he held the Greengrass family in high esteem? Or was it because of his past with his aunt? Either way, Harry was truly grateful. "Thank you, Lord Prince," he said with great sincerity. "If you should ever need a favor from me, please do not hesitate to ask for it. It would be my honor to repay your kindness with a kindness."


'He really isn't at all like his father,' Severus thought as he watched Harry Potter, the last of his line, the Lord Potter, gently pet one of the petals of the winter rose.

"Thank you, Lord Potter," he said softly. Being in this boy's presence should have hurt, but it didn't. This boy was kind and not cruel like his father had been. This child was no bully. He had known that. Draco was very fond of Harry and considered him one of his best friends. Severus had never heard a story in which Harry was a bully or said a cruel word to other children. Still, it had been hard for him to separate his own memories of James Potter with the reality of Harry Potter. He would never again have that problem. Harry's kindness was like a healing balm over the old wounds.

'Lily, be proud of Petunia. She's raising your son to be a good man,' he thought.

Harry smiled up at him and Severus found that he could easily stare into those green eyes. They were familiar but different. They were the same shade of green as Lily's, but they held different emotions and different secrets. They were the window to a different soul and Severus was glad that he could stare into those eyes without feeling the pain and regret that he sometimes felt when he thought of Lily.

"When might we retrieve the Rose Bushel?" Archer's voice interrupted his thoughts and he was glad for it. Back to the practicalities.

"If you'll give me a few moments, you may take it home with you shortly," Severus promised. He then strode away from the pair to the closet where he placed tools used for tending the plants in the Conservatoire. As per Narcissa's request, he had always left plants in the Conservatoire as those that were aesthetically pleasing. Very few of them had ever been used in his potions experiments. He and his Apprentices were researching the Winter Roses though. Draco had theorized that the petals or buds of a winter rose might be useful in creating better potions to deal with wintery ailments such as cold and influenza.

Severus swiftly donned his working gloves. He then took up a shovel and a pot to hold the rose bush. He returned to find Harry staring at him with hope in his green eyes.

"Can I help?" he asked.

Severus was surprised by the request. "If you like," he said easily. He was used to his Apprentices helping him, but he had not considered that Harry might wish to help him to remove the bushel from the soil. He watched as Harry smiled at him, excitement gleaming in green eyes. Severus put the pot on the floor out of the way and then he went back to the closet. He retrieved Draco's work gloves and handed them over to Harry. "These are Draco's, they should be a good fit."

Harry stared at the gloves in confusion. "I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty," he protested. "I'm not afraid of what a little hard work will do to my hands."

Severus chuckled. "When working with magical items it is always better to wear a protective covering, especially since you are a Wizard yourself," he told Harry, adapting the same tone of voice he used when speaking with Leonis, Draco, and Aleksei. Narcissa called it his teacher's voice. She said it was compelling and melodic.

"Why?" Harry asked curiously even as he donned the gloves.

"A magical object is not completely benign. It can affect anyone who touches it. Even a Muggle who does not have access to a core of magic of their own can be affected by magic," Severus explained even as he took up the shovel and began to carefully maneuver soil away from the stalk of the rose bush. "Gently move the soil away from the bush, pulling it away," he instructed Harry.

The boy was swift to obey him. Harry was silent for a few moments as they worked. Severus let himself enjoy the silence and he felt unexpectedly happy to have the boy's company. They had been working for a few moments in silence when Harry finally chose to speak again.

"So, my magic can react to magical objects?" he asked.

Severus nodded his head. "Yes," he agreed. "If you do not know enough about a magical object, it is always best to wait and do a little research first. Never be afraid to ask questions, Lord Potter," he encouraged the boy. "It is not a sign of weakness to want to learn more. It is a large world and there are many unknown things out there to explore."

Harry smiled at him, his green eyes bright with intelligence. Severus had a feeling that Harry Potter was a swift study just like Lily had been. This young man would be swift to learn things so long as he had the drive to do so. Even his father had been intelligent, for all that Severus had never appreciated James Potter's intelligence. This boy was not James Potter and he no longer feared that Harry would be anything like his father. It was a relief to see that Petunia was doing a good job raising the child. At least in this, the child had not suffered due to Dumbledore's power play.

The placement of Sirius Black in Azkaban Prison and Harry with Lily's Squib sister had been a power play, no matter how Dumbledore chose to deny it. Whether Dumbledore really believed Sirius guilty, Severus still could not tell. He hated that he could not always read Dumbledore. Worse was the thought that perhaps he could not read the older Wizard well at all. Perhaps he only saw what Dumbledore wanted people to see. That was galling to Severus, who prided himself on his insight. No, he could not know for sure if Dumbledore had believed in Sirius Black's guilt. However, he had refused for Harry to be placed with his Wizarding relatives. By law, Harry should have gone to live with Pollux Black, the oldest sibling of Dorea Black, Harry's grandmother. Instead, Dumbledore had placed Harry with Petunia and then made a grand speech about how in this case the law must not be followed for Harry's own well-being and safety. He had gotten approval from the Minister of Magic. It was an idiotic move on part of Minister Bagnold, but Severus believed the woman wanted to focus on the Death Eater roundup and so didn't care where the infant Lord Potter was placed so long as it was a safe corner somewhere. Severus had been pleased when Petunia had managed to see Dumbledore removed as Harry's magical guardian. It had been the most entertaining few sessions of the Wizengamot that he had ever sat through.

Severus glanced at Harry and noted that the boy seemed happy moving the soil from the roots so that they could carefully remove the plant. "Here," Severus said as he handed Harry the little hand shovel. "Begin placing some of this soil you have been moving into the pot," he instructed.

Harry nodded and then Archer picked up the plot from where Severus had placed it and placed it on the ground between where Severus and Harry had settled down to work. "Thank you, Archer," Harry said.

The guard nodded but then frowned in thought. "Why don't you just use a spell to move the soil and the plant?"

Harry chuckled then and Severus glanced at the child. "Weren't you listening, Archer?" the boy asked his guard. "The plant is magical. So, it stands to reason that there is magic in the soil as well. Perhaps a spell would not interact well with it or maybe it would hurt the plant," the child wisely theorized.

Severus found himself giving the boy one of the rare smiles that he reserved for his Apprentices. "Very good Lord Potter," he said approvingly. "There are magical elements in the soil that are due to the plant. The Winter Rose sheds little magical snowflakes every twelve hours. The snow beads up on the petals, making the petals slowly grow heavier and heavier and then the snow sheds from the petals falling into the soil below."

Harry smiled at his praise. "Does it enrich the soil? I noticed that it looks really dark like the enriched soil of Aunt Petunia's gardens."

Severus nodded curtly. "Yes, it naturally enriches the soil. Many flowers leach the soil of the nutrients that they need to thrive and so a good gardener must continue to treat the soil and the plant to keep the plant healthy. However, the Winter Rose enriches the soil and so takes care of itself. Very little maintenance is required. If anything, one must be careful in keeping the bushes pruned or they might take over your garden."

Harry laughed at that. "Daphne will truly love this," he said.

"Then I am pleased for you," Severus said.

They continued to work for another fifteen minutes and finally, Severus was able to gently remove the thick roots of the winter rose from the soil bed and see it removed to the pot. He gently placed it in the pot and he and Harry made swift work of repotting the bush. "You may use magic to lift the pot," he told them, and Archer smiled in gratitude. Clearly, the guard had not looked forward to carrying the bush home through the floo.

Harry swiftly divested of his gloves as did Severus and he placed his gloves and Harry's in the bin by the conservatoire door for cleaning. He then led his guests back to the receiving room. "Give my regards to Mr. Black," Severus said politely, and he thought that would be the end of it. He was therefore surprised when the boy rushed toward him and threw his arms around him in a hug.

Severus was stunned for a moment but when Harry looked up at him with those green eyes, he found himself giving the boy that soft smile that he reserved for his Apprentices. He gently ran a hand through Harry's messy black hair.

"Thank you, Lord Prince," Harry said. The boy's voice was full of gratitude and happiness.

"You are welcome Lord Potter," Severus said with fondness creeping into his voice.

Harry seemed reluctant to let him go, but the boy did at last release him and move away to the floo. He watched as the boy called out "Longview Manor, Poseidon," then the boy was gone in a burst of green flames.

Archer looked at him for a moment and nodded in respect. "Thank you for your assistance Lord Prince," he said. "Lord Potter was despairing over his gift to Heir Greengrass," he said.

Severus smirked. "I had noticed and think nothing of it," he said simply. He could tell that Archer was curious as to why he had chosen to help Harry, but he had no intention of telling the man. He watched as the man left, and he smiled as he turned away from his receiving room. He had never thought he would host a Potter in his home willingly, but he had. He had invited Lily's son into his home and the boy had been respectful, kind, exuberant, and intelligent. Harry had learned swiftly. If the boy did exhibit traits from his parents, perhaps it would only be the best of the both. Only time would tell.

With that last thought, he left the receiving room to head for his study. He needed to review his notes on Aleksei's education before he fire-called Callista. He was sure she was calling to complain about the dismal tutors who could not keep up with her son's intelligence, but Severus wished to be as prepared for the conversation as possible. He hummed an old song happily as he made his way to his study.


Thank you my dear readers for reading and reviewing! I hope those that live in the countries that celebrate it had a very nice Thanksgiving! Some might not like the way I spelled Conservatoire and think it should be Conservatory. It is the same thing. In case of a home or manor home a Conservatoire or a Conservatory is a room with a glass roof and walls, attached to the house at one side and it is used a a sun parlor or a greenhouse. Obviously Severus, a renowned Potions Master would have such a place in his home. Also about Severus's password: no he is not pining for Petunia. He hated her when they were children, but most in the Wizarding World do not know that he grew up with Lily and Petunia. Even those who remember that he was once close friends to Lily do not know that their friendship began before Hogwarts. Many think they befriended each other on the Hogwarts Express as First Years. Many who think he is pinning for Lily would assume he used her name as a passcode to get through his family wards. Instead he chose Petunia's nickname since no one would suspect it. But it does let Harry and his friends speculate about Severus and Petunia for a while and that tickles me.

Next Chapter: Harry visits Anemone Hall to spend time with Daphne Greengrass.