Many thanks to Yen for pushing me to finish this. I am so sorry, once again, for how long this took. And unfortunately, the boys opted to make the story longer, so I am still plugging away at it. If they stick to my outline, then it'll finish in one more chapter. If they add wholesale like they did this time ...

Ending the School Year

Severus studied the other professors and staff members, noting the worry on their faces, knowing it was a reflection of his own.

The Hogwarts Express had pulled into Hogsmeade station and the students were on their way here. That much was normal, but this year they had no idea the mental state of their charges. Before the last chaotic few years, they would be, for the most part rested and reenergized. This year though was different. They went home to face dead, imprisoned, injured, or financially ruined families.

"We have to watch them," Poppy said solemnly. "We have to listen."

Argus nodded, his old eyes resting on Severus briefly before shifting to the others, "We need to make sure they are punished fairly just as we were doing before they left."

"Who should we send the ones who need support to?" Rolanda asked.

"It depends on what they need," Severus answered. "Start with their Head of House unless you know of a specific professor they have a good rapport with. If it is an unstable mental or emotional issue, escort them immediately to Poppy."

Everyone nodded even as Minerva, Horace, Filius, and Pomona's faces reflected their preparedness to be inundated.

That evening, over dinner, Severus watched the children. He could see the tension in a number of shoulders, precise head tilts, and hear the too perfect manners. There were side glances that showed uncertainty, fear, or just plain confusion. Among those, though, were grateful looks and friends clumping together.

As dinner ended, he watched as the afraid and uncertain were approached by others – old friends, new friends, or acquaintances – and the tension loosened.

Hope bloomed in his chest, one he opted to nurture this time.

The following weeks showed his hope wasn't in vain. Sure, there were a few students to set straight, to remind of the lessons learned before the Holiday, but for the most part, the student body became that – one entity, not four houses, but one group – the students of Hogwarts.

§§§§§

Harry leant his head back far enough to hit the headboard of his bed, the compact closed on his chest. 'Severus and the other professors have used our information really well. I never expected to see the Hogwarts that the Sorting Hat said we'd need, but it's here. What would our world be like – what would our past be like – if it had always been this way? Sure, there are some personality conflicts, but … Like just yesterday, a Slytherin defended a Gryffindor to a Hufflepuff. They said that 'Your House doesn't define you, but gives you a base to grow from.' and that statement is running wild. I don't know who made it, but they need to be credited with the quote.'

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Harry hoped the quote would leave the school with his Year and infiltrate the rest of the community. 'But the idea has to stay here too. Maybe I should tell Severus to make it part of the Welcoming Feast Speech.'

Thinking of ending and going out into the larger world, Harry heaved himself off his bed. Even though it was Saturday, he had to study – NEWTs start on Monday.

He skipped breakfast – who really needed breakfast when they were stressed – and took his books to the Quidditch pitch. Hermione focused best in the Library, Ron curled up in his bed, but Harry discovered that the stands helped the information stay in his head. Opening a random book at his bookmark, he began to read and take notes.

He'd made it several chapters before a shadow was cast over his book by a floating plate with a ham sandwich and crisps. Harry's head jerked up as he scanned the area, and he froze when he spotted Severus frowning at him.

"Eat, Potter," Severus said and then placed a broom next to him, "And then go fly some. The books will be here and you will understand the material better with the break."

Harry grasped the plate and groused as Severus snatched his book from his lap, carefully closing it while marking his spot. "I don't have time to fly, Severus. I've got to understand this – the tests are starting."

Severus tucked the book away in his robe. "You missed breakfast and lunch. Your brain needs the fuel to keep working. It also needs a break to digest what you've studied so far." He leant over and picked up the rest of Harry's books. "You may come collect these from me in an hour. I shall be in my office. An elf will be by to collect your plate in thirty minutes," he nodded towards a glass sitting next to the broomstick, "and the cup will refill until the elf comes to get it too. I will be told if you have not eaten or flown."

With that, the Headmaster – for that was all that Harry could think of him as at that moment – strode out of the stands.

Grumbling about bossy Headmasters, Harry stopped when his stomach joined in loudly. Sheepishly, he picked up the sandwich. Maybe lunch was a good idea. 'Afterwards, I'll fly a bit just to appease him, but then I will get my books back early. I have too much to learn still for this kind of delay.'

Two hours later found him skimming over Black Lake as his mind finished sorting the information he'd crammed it full of the last couple of months.

'Okay, he was right, I needed this. I didn't expect it to help at all. I wonder if Ron should come fly too instead of just going through the books?' Making the decision to ask Severus' opinion, he flew towards the castle. Clutching the broomstick tightly, he walked into the building, heading for the Headmaster's office. 'I wonder where this is supposed to go? It doesn't look like a school broom.'

The gargoyle didn't move when he reached it. With a sigh, Harry stepped into an alcove, propped the broom, and then pulled out the compact. He noticed the ring was darkened as he went to press it, so he flipped it open instead.

"I've finished in my office, Harry, and am working in my lab. Meet me there when you are ready, but before dinner." The directions to the dungeon room followed, which Harry hastily pictured the route in his mind as the mirror reflected back his face.

Carrying the broom back down the stairs, Harry wondered why Severus' lab was still in the dungeon. Surely, the Headmaster could have it moved closer to his office? 'Maybe because the ingredients need to be stored down there? Regulations from some higher authority?' The musings kept him thinking until he made it to what he hoped was Severus' lab door. He knocked and waited.

A moment passed before the door swung slowly open.

"Come in, Mr Potter," Severus called from inside.

Harry shut the door behind him, giving him time to look around at the multitude of shelves, cupboards, counters, and two fireplaces. "Professor," Harry held out the broom, "where should I put this?"

Dark eyes darted towards him from the cauldron they had been closing watching. Severus looked back at the cauldron, stirring it once clockwise. "Just prop it in the corner near the door."

Harry did and then walked further into the lab examining the ingredients on the counter, marvelling at the precision of their preparation. "No wonder you get frustrated at my ingredients."

Severus shot a frown at him before returning his attention to the cauldron stirring it counter-clockwise twice. "Why do you think that?"

"Yours are so perfectly done," Harry brushed his fingers next to a diced root. "Mine are a mess."

"They are better now that you've been studying for your NEWTs," Severus murmured as he picked up the roots and dropped them slowly into the potion. "And perfection of ingredients is not necessary for the level you brew at. Nice to have, but not needed."

"Would it help with my NEWTs?" asked Harry while he watched Severus sprinkle ground insect wings of some sort on to the simmering surface.

Severus cancelled the flames and hung the stirring rod near the cauldron before he turned his complete attention to Harry, "Of course it would, but it isn't necessary. Now, your books are on the back table. If you wish to remain here to continue studying you may, or you may take them with you." His eyes narrowed slightly, "But do not skip meals or breaks."

Harry found his books stacked neatly next to a sheaf of foolscap, a quill, and an inkwell. "Do you think that Ron would do better if he took a break? Hermione keeps pushing us to study almost non-stop, and it sounds like the right thing to do."

Severus leant forward slightly, "It is not the right thing to do for you. You and Mr Weasley – all the Weasleys – need to move to learn. Miss Granger is capable of studying for hours on end and it staying, but you and Mr Weasley both need time for the information to process."

With a smile, Harry sat on the stool next to his book and opened his Potions book, "If I have a question, can I ask?"

Severus nodded and turned back to his cauldrons, "I might not answer though."

Harry chuckled and started back where he'd left off earlier.

§§§§§

It was the day after the NEWT testing and Severus was ready for a break. He knew it was stressful from the professor's point of view, but NEWTs was even more so as the Headmaster. Dumbledore and Minerva had helped the best that they could, but there was only so much they could do. Albus was only a portrait, and Minerva was still in the classroom and so couldn't handle a lot of the meetings and logistics.

A deep sigh of both relief and satisfaction pulled its way out of him as he walked over to his dresser and checked the compact, towel slung low over his hips. The ring was dark.

Anticipation simmered in his stomach which he did his best to ignore as he opened the compact and his best was very good. Harry appeared in the small glass, bare-chested and clad in only Severus' imagination as he couldn't see anything.

"Severus, NEWTs are done! Thank Merlin for that," Harry chuckled happily, "I was wondering if you would be willing ..."

He paused, biting his lower lip, looking almost as nervous as the day Severus had invited him into his house. As the Gryffindor gathered his courage, he started towelling off. He stopped when Harry started speaking again.

"Can we meet to talk without an audience? I mean, hold an honest conversation without portraits and such around? Or would that not be allowed?"

Arousal, hot and heavy, rushed through him. Alone with Harry. 'No, better not.' The mirror went blank as he fought to control himself.

Closing it, he activated the compact so he could return the message. As normal, he dressed while he talked.

"Harry, meeting without the possibility of supervision would not be advisable. As Headmaster and as a former Death Eater, I am watched. If you wish to speak to me, then perhaps before lunch? We can meet in my lab, here in my office, in my old classroom, in the Great Hall, or even near Hagrid's. Let me know which one and I will be there."

He closed the compact wondering when he'd get a reply – he wasn't expecting it to be there by the time he finished dressing, as if Harry had been waiting for his reply. Viewing the message – which he almost didn't hear because Harry was dressing while he talked – he knew he'd tell Harry in person his answer.

Striding into the Great Hall, he paused by Harry at the Gryffindor table. "Mr Potter."

He waited until Harry looked at him. Granger and Weasley turned as well.

"I'll see you near the lake," and strode off after Harry nodded.

The rest of the morning was spent elbow deep in forms and other details for preparing the school for summer.

An hour before lunch, he stood near the edge of the lake. It was in a less populated area, but not private. Harry rushed up to him, looking nervous but resolute. 'What can this be about? Maybe he is rethinking his career path? Why talk to me about that?'

He set his musings aside as Harry began pacing. "What is it, Mr Potter?"

A hand raked through black hair and Severus could almost feel the tresses between his own fingers. Pushing that away, he waited.

"Can you call me Harry?"

He did through the mirror and had slipped on occasion this past term and called him by name to his face. 'All technicality, he's done with school. He's just waiting on his scores.' Curling his fingers about his cuff, he answered, "Harry, what did you wish to see me about?"

"I was wondering … well, more like hoping," Harry paused as he searched the ground as if the words he wanted were there. "I want to see if we can be friends. It feels as if we've been building up to this over the past year and I want to see if it is possible." He looked up and caught Severus' eyes, "Can we?"

Friends? Could he be friends with Harry Potter? Could he ignore his attraction for the rest of his life to be around someone who trusted him even when he shouldn't have? 'I can try, but first...'

"You need to know more about me before we can even attempt this." It was the best way forwards, get the past out and then see what could be made of the future in the rubble that remained after the explosion coming.

"Okay," Harry sat on a rock with a knee drawn up to drape his arms over, "What do I need to know?"

Severus turned slightly to look out over the lake and spoke. He kept his voice low so as not to carry over the water, but he told about his friendship with Lily and his part in her death. Then he waited, not daring to hope.

"So, you're the one who could have told me about my mum," Harry said softly, "I'm not demanding you to do so, but would you? Sometime in the future?"

Severus jerked around to stare at Harry, who was still sitting on the rock. He could tell that the young man's posture wasn't as carefree as it had been earlier – his shoulders looked stiff - but it was still a lot more relaxed than he had thought it would be.

Harry shrugged diffidently as he answered the unspoken questions, "It's in the past. It made us who we are. It … I honestly can't imagine what it would be like to have grown up with them – not really, not just the wishful fantasies of a child." He heaved a heavy sigh.

Severus shook his head, "No, it's not just the past. You need to step away and think about this. Determine how you truly feel before you can say you want to be a friend of mine."

Harry stared at him and Severus could see the thoughts churning in his head. "Go, and if you still think this tomorrow, then tell me."

Hope refused to fade as Harry walked away.

§§§§§

Harry wanted to scream. Severus was acting like this was a linchpin to them getting along. 'He saved me. He took care of me. Yes, he did something bad, but it was almost seventeen years ago. And if he hadn't done so, who knows how this war would have ended. Maybe he was the cog that made the prophecy happen. I mean, if he hadn't told Voldemort, then I wouldn't have been marked, and then the Dark Lord would still be around because I was the one who had to vanquish him. Or at least my sacrifice did.'

The bed next to him sank and Ron's face came into view. Harry could help but chuckle at Ron laying down to look up at him.

"So, you coming to my place after the boat ride?" Ron asked.

Harry ran a hand over his face, "Boat ride?"

"Yeah," Ron said as he sat up, "Seventh Year's get the ride the boats back over the lake to get to Hogsmeade. It's our final goodbye to the school, like riding them in when we are First Year's is our first hello to the castle."

"Oh, that sounds nice," Harry said as he attempted to envision the castle over the lake with the morning light behind it.

"Charlie, Bill and Percy all said it was and I can't wait to see it myself," Ron looked wistfully out the window. "But that doesn't say if you're coming to my place."

Harry shrugged, "Sure, but how long are you going to be there?"

"Most the summer. I'm rethinking being an Auror and Mum is giving me the time to decide what I want," Ron said.

"You don't want to be an Auror now?" asked Harry, surprised.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I think I would be good at it, but the last battle … watching you … knowing that Hermione could be hurt, seeing the Order members being hurt," he paused, "I'm not sure I can do that for a living."

"Neither can I, mate," Harry said quietly.

Ron looked surprised but smiled, "So, you come to my house and we decide what we want to do. George and Fred might let us help them in the shop for a while, we might could go into business doing something together. Anything – that is the wonderful thing about Voldemort being gone – we can do anything."

"As long as we have the scores," Harry chuckled.

"True, but Hermione made sure we were prepared," Ron agreed.

"Is she coming to your place, too?" Harry asked.

Ron shook his head no, "She wants to go see her parents and then she's coming back."

"Maybe you should ask Snape to make you a pair of mirrors," Harry grinned holding up the compact.

"You could for me," Ron beamed.

"Will do, I'll ask him tomorrow morning," Harry said all the while planning on what else to tell Severus.

§§§§§

Harry leant against his headboard and stared into the mirror glass, words jumbling in his head. He grabbed onto the first thought he could make coherent, "I still want to see if we could be friends. I get it, you did some horribly wrong things to my family – who had done some horribly wrong things to you – and that I should hate you. But, you see, the moment you saw me – not my family, but me – you treated me right. I don't know why, but you did, and that's what matters. I've looked at our past, I've looked at the information that you told me, I considered everything I could and not just this past evening. I've been thinking about this since you took me to see Dudley. What you said yesterday just went with it."

He paused again as he bit his lower lip. Coming to a quick decision, he continued, "Would you like to go on a bicycle trip with me? I need to return Dudley's bike and was thinking of riding to his new house this summer and dropping it off and pick up my trunk. I was looking at the map you gave me last summer and it looks to be about the same distance to Canterbury from Ron's place as it was from yours to his. I'm willing to pay for the trip as a way to pay you back the money I owe you. Just let me know if you want to and when a good time would be."

He reached to close the mirror and remembered Ron's request. "One more thing. Can you teach me how to charm a set of compact mirrors like these for Ron and Hermione? Or can you do it if I gave you the compacts to charm? Ron asked me to ask you."

As he closed the mirror, he hoped Severus would go on the ride with him.

§§§§§

Severus closed the mirror and walked towards the shower, his thoughts swirling and he considered Harry's message. They didn't stop even as he finished cleaning up.

He paused as he towelled off, wondering if he should let this continue. Did he want to be friends, just friends, with Harry? 'I think I do … I think I am on the cusp of it already. But ...' He sighed, knowing that his attraction to Harry could get in the way. 'I can maintain a long-distance friendship like we've been building this year through the mirrors. I know that. Can I keep my attraction unnoticed on his side and not too frustrating on mine if we travelled together?' Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine what it would be like but knew the images were just that, his imagination not reality.

Resolute, he opened his eyes and used the towel to squeeze the last bit of water he could from his hair. Pressing the ring on the compact, he relaxed the tightness around his lips. 'If things go wrong, we'll be on bikes, so I can leave. I can make up many excuses about the school needing me, and they'd be true, too.' He opened the mirror and summoned his shirt. He'd just started on his buttons as the glass changed.

"Harry, if you're sure, then a bike trip would be a good way to see if we could be capable of being friends on an equal footing. That said, I won't be free until August first. Let me know if you are willing to wait until then. As for the compacts for Granger and Weasley, if the three of you bring a set to me this evening, I will teach you how to charm them." He paused a moment, thinking if there was anything else to say, "If you can, then let me know where to meet you, and make sure you have appropriate clothes – it will be hot."

He closed the mirror quickly so Harry wouldn't see his shock at the last sentence. 'Why did I ask that? Harry in a biking outfit … would that be smart?' He turned to get the rest of his clothes, 'But I do need to know if this will work – and this will tell me right away.'

He scoffed at his rationalizing his desire to see Harry on display – at least as much as he could be in public. "I just want to see him, but it will tell me how to proceed with this."

He didn't expect Harry's reply to be there before he finished dressing. He flipped open the mirror, his heart beating a touch faster in both anticipation and fear. The sight of Harry dressing greeted him, and he forced himself to focus on the words being said instead of the fingers moving deftly from one button to the next.

"August first will be great! I'll let you know where we'll meet later. I have to look at the map to see what would be best. Thanks for giving me a chance!"

Severus could almost hear the mirror click shut as Ron came into view.

§§§§§

Ron leant against the bedpost as he asked, "Well, what did he say?"

"He said my plan was a good idea!" Harry beamed but his expression slowly faded into a considering look, "But he won't be free until after my birthday. Can I stay at your place until then?"

"Sure, mate," Ron grinned as he nudged him towards the door, "we can figure out our next step while you wait, and if it's decided before then, you can still stick around until. Mum already agreed. Now, what did he say about the mirrors?"

They'd reached the end of the stairwell and Harry looped an arm over Hermione's shoulders and pulled Ron down until their heads were close together, "We need to bring him a set of compacts up to his office this evening, he'll teach us how to charm them."

Hermione frowned as she searched her memory even as Ron nodded, a smile flashing across to her. "I've got one, Hermione."

With a relieved grin, she pulled them to breakfast.

That evening, after dinner, they brought two slightly dinged up compacts to Snape's office and Harry learnt that the spell was complex. It surprised no one that Hermione got it on her third try.

§§§§§

The boat ride across the lake towards the Hogwarts' Express was all that Harry had imagined and more. The way the sunlight lit the tops of the towers and glowed off the windows warmed his heart. 'Now, it is time to move forward. I wonder what I can do? What my NEWTs will show are open to me? Not an Auror, not a teacher, not a Healer … what is available to do in the Wizarding World?'

He pushed the thoughts away and watched the castle disappear around the bend of the lake. Turning around, he watched as the land came closer – just like his future. 'I've the summer. I'll decide soon.'

The train ride back wasn't quiet per se but the conversations were not as boisterous as the ones from previous years. Harry wandered the train a bit to give Ron and Hermione some privacy, but finally returned to the compartment they were sharing. Ron shot him a grateful look which made Harry glad he had opted to hunt down the trolley instead of waiting for it.

No one waited for them at the train station. They had tucked their trunks into the bags from last summer, said their goodbyes, and after a few backward looks – and Ron suggesting seeing Hermione home first – they went their separate ways.

Harry and Ron did expect to be greeted when they walked through the door but didn't expect Molly Weasley to banish their bags to Ron's room and then sit them down at the kitchen table. Waiting at the table, teacup at hand, was a man that neither recognized.

"Ron, Harry, this is Mr Christopher Worth from the Ministry," she said as she handed them their tea.

Mr Worth looked at both of them before his gaze rested on Molly, "I only need to see Mr Potter."

Harry quickly shook his head, "I want Ron to be here, and Mrs Weasley as well," he turned to her, "if you're not busy."

Molly glanced at Mr Worth and then sat down next to Ron, cup settling next to her.

Mr Worth pulled out several sheets of parchment and tapped the top of the pile with his wand. "Just about two years ago, Mr Sirius Black passed away – at least according to the records in the Department of the Dead."

Harry clenched his fists under the table and was comforted when Ron's hand rested on one.

Mr Worth continued, not noticing – or affecting not to notice – his tension. "At the time you were still considered a minor and your guardians were Muggles. As stipulated in Mr Black's will, we did not contact you about the inheritance left to you until either of those two situations were changed. Since you are now no longer a minor, nor living with Muggles as your guardians, I am here to inform you that your Godfather did not forget to provide for you. The Department of the Dead entrusted the task of informing you of Mr Black's passing to Professor Dumbledore after we determined the validity of the event." He paused, obviously waiting for some sort of response.

Harry remembered sitting in his living room, hoping he could summon Kreacher as Dumbledore requested and the relief he felt when he did. "Yes, Professor Dumbledore stopped by my house that summer and told me."

There was only so much information he was willing to give away, even now.

Worth nodded, "Good. Our department doesn't like letting others handle our task, but the Professor seemed like a good choice as he knew your guardians already. Now," he removed the top parchment from the stack and pushed it over towards Harry. "This is a summary of what you, as Mr Black's heir, have inherited. I, as your designated member from the department, have made sure that all taxes have been paid and all debts have been cleared since you were unable to accept responsibility until now."

Harry looked at the parchment, desperately wanting Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley both to be looking at it over his shoulders. 'Later, I'll have them review this later to make sense out of it.'

"A few outstanding points," Worth waited until Harry looked at him to continue, "You have inherited two houses. The townhouse at Number 12 Grimmauld Place and Black Manor near West Amesbury. The former was the family's main place of residence for the last three generations. Mr Black's grandfather moved there permanently from Black Manor not long after he married. Black Manor comes with several hundreds acres of land, though not as many as it originally had, in the park itself. Over the generations, the Black's have sold off parts to pay debts, taxes, or other reasons." He paused for a moment, giving them a chance to digest that before continuing, "There many properties that were developed by the Black family and are still part of the family estate – all of Grimmauld Place and much of the adjacent housing development and shops in the area; large tracts of land in and around the towns and villages near Black Manor; and a few scattered about Scotland and Wales. The current Estate Manager is still running these and the office contact information is here." He pushed the second sheet on the stack over.

After another short pause, he continued, "The question about what you wish to do with Black Manor has been asked. There have been several requests for a Contents Auction that the previous owners refused, but also have not put the money into maintaining it. Both the Manor and the townhouse are Grade II buildings – so they are of special interest. The Estate Manager firm can discuss with you the requirements needed to renovate and repair the properties, or if you wish to do the Content Auction, and all the paperwork that will be involved."

Harry immediately decided, based on Mr Worth's face as he mentioned the paperwork, not to attempt the Content Auction.

"As you can see, the summary lists the bank vaults and amounts in them," he pushed over the rest of the pile of parchment, "and this is the list of the artefacts and their locations – either in the vaults or houses – that are in the Black Estate."

Harry pulled the pile closer and put the other two pages back on top.

Worth sipped his tea, "One last thing. As you are the last of the Potter line and have inherited the house at Godric's Hollow – a Grade I house by the way – and the current head of the house of Black, it is requested that if you have two children to make one the heir of the Black line and the other the heir of the Potter line. If you do not have children, or just one, find a child of the Black bloodline to designate as the heir to that family line. The Potter line has no stipulations as to who you may designate as heir."

"Can one child inherit both lines?" Harry asked even as he tried to imagine having children.

"Yes, as the Potter line has no stipulations on the heir, but you have to make sure to designate them as such – the heir of both lines. Then, if they have two children the lines will be split between them." Worth took one last sip from his teacup and stood. "If you have any other questions about the information, please contact me – Mr Christopher Worth, Department of the Dead – or your Estate Manager. Thank you for your time."

They jumped up, and Harry offered his hand. "Thank you for bringing this out here, sir."

"No problem, Mr Potter."

Worth followed Molly out as Ron and Harry sank back down to their seats.

"Do you think your Dad and Mum might be willing to help me understand this?" Harry stared at the pile of parchment.

Ron nodded even as Molly came back into the kitchen.

"Harry, if you don't mind, Arthur and I can help you contact the Estate Management Firm. Maybe Bill can go with you to check out Black Manor just to be safe. You need to get this sorted before you can move on with your future plans. It might affect them," Molly said as she sat back down.

Ron chuckled even as Harry felt relieved. "Thanks, Mrs Weasley. I'll post Bill and ask him after we talk to the Management people."

§§§§§

The rest of the month, and a good chunk of July, flew past. Bill was able to go with Harry and Ron to survey the manor house and all three shuddered at the amount of work to be done. What impressed Harry was the gatehouse the guarded the entryway.

At Ron's suggestion, he called in Kreacher and Dobby to go through both the manor and the townhouse and suggested what could be done to make them liveable. Both elves had returned with a long list of things that needed to be done to both places.

Harry had then talked with Richards – the manager for his estates – to find out if what was possible. And then the paperwork ensued. Harry learnt that just because the houses were on the lowest grade of protection, Grade II, didn't cut back on how exacting the demands were on what he could do both inside and outside of the houses. He now understood why the Manor was left to crumble but vowed to do something with it. Ron and Hermione vowed to help.

Before he knew it, it was days before his birthday. He studied Severus' map, trying to find the best place for them to meet up. 'The last hostel I stayed at, the one with the nice owner, was just outside of Taunton. From there Severus and I can decide which of the three routes we can go. I'd rather not go through London, but if he wants to we can. If I get to the hostel early enough, I shop some and buy the bike clothes. They'd be far more comfortable to wear.' Closing up the map, he pressed the ring on the compact. 'I wonder if Severus would mind stopping by Black Manor with me?'

He opened the mirror and couldn't help the smile that bloomed. He was going to see Severus soon.