Harry sat at the large mahogany desk in the study as he scribbled away at his penmanship practice book Minerva had given him the week prior. They had been at the manor for nearly a month now and often Harry spent his days in the spacious, book filled room. They had resumed his lessons the week prior and he was determined to master the blasted quill.

He found the more he practiced the less his hand cramped after taking his chapter summaries and writing his essays. Harry was proud that he hardly left any ink blots at all anymore, although his script was not nearly as ornate and neat as his guardians. He had lost track of how long he had been at it, but his dwindling inkwell was proof enough it had been several hours.

"Harry, dear." Minerva came through the doorway and frowned at him. "As much as I think your studies are important, I think we are both in need of a bit of sunshine. You've spent far too much time cooped up in here."

Harry looked out the window at the blanket of white that had laid itself the night prior over the grounds. "Out there?" He questioned and looked at her in surprise.

"I'm a witch, or have you forgotten already? Snow will not trouble us." She smiled at him, "I think a walk to the stables would be a perfect use of our time today. Come on, grab your cloak."

Harry looked at her uncertainly, but placed down his quill and grabbed his cloak from the closet. Minerva met him in the hall and cast a few warming charms upon both of them. They walked through the frozen garden and slowly made their way towards the large stable that lay on the outskirts of their property.

"Minnie, why don't you want me to study?" Harry asked as they walked. He had thought she had wanted him to excel in his studies. He was trying his hardest to earn her praise and approval. However, it felt like he was doomed to disappoint all the adults in his life.

"I want you to study." Minerva answered him, "However, it is important to balance your time. You cannot hole yourself up and expect the world to come knocking at your door. Tell me, when is the last time you can remember taking a walk?"

Harry paused and thought for a moment. "Not since we left the village." He murmured and she tutted.

"Do you not like the grounds here? Aren't they pretty with the fresh fallen snow?" She asked and he took the time to look around. It was rather beautiful with the soft rolling hill and the glittering white snow encasing the manor. He could see the last of the autumn's greenery poking out from the thinner patches of snow.

"No, it's very pretty." Harry said reluctantly, he was certain she was setting him up to realize something.

"You are not a prisoner here, Harry." Minerva stated and looked at him pointedly, "This is your home. Take the time to enjoy the things around you. Find the things you love, the things you hate, and explore at your leisure. Life is not all about hard work and diligence. It is also about beauty and freedom. You can be a child here."

"I don't know how." He offered meekly and they paused outside the stable doors. He looked determinedly at the ground and away from her reproachful stare. "I just want to make you proud."

Minerva gripped him by the chin with her gloved hand and pointed his gaze upwords. "You make me very proud. You are a very intelligent and responsible young man, but you are seven years old not seventy. I expect you to play, to get into a bit of mischief, to explore, and to wonder. Just try it, you may be surprised by the outcome."

"I'll try." Harry offered and she nodded.

"That's all I ask, come lets meet the horses." Minerva led him inside and Harry found his senses overwhelmed by the smell of fresh hay and the snorting of the large creatures before him. He had never seen a horse before and he hadn't quite imagined they would be so large.

"This is Persephone." Minerva patted the caramel colored mare on the nose and offered her a small treat from a nearby bucket. The horse grazed from her hand greedily and nuzzled her for more. "Why don't you give her a treat?"

Harry plucked a large treat and held out his hand hesitantly to the animal. She sniffed at him before licking his hand and taking the treat with it. He let out a giggle as she tickled him with her nose and tongue.

"She likes you." Minerva took out a wiry looking brush and slipped it over his free hand. "I'm going to lead her out of the stall and we can give her a brushing."

Minerva led the horse out and Harry followed her instructions and began to stroke the creature slowly. He found he rather liked tending to the horse and it seemed she didn't mind the attention. A smile slipped across his face and he quickly lost himself in the activity. By the end of his ministrations Persephone was glimmering and Harry had found himself building up a light sweat. His stomach growled in protest and he looked up at Minerva sheepishly.

"Time for dinner, I think." Minerva smiled at him and they strolled back towards the house slowly trekking through the snow.

Harry helped himself to a platter of roasted meat and vegetables and in between bites the pair chatted about the horses and when he could learn to ride. Minerva wanted to wait until spring time when the paths were less treacherous and she could get a farrier in to look at the horses' shoes. In the meantime, she gave him several book recommendations on magical and non-magical horse breeds and riding manuals. Harry vowed to look them up as soon as he was permitted back in the library; it seemed his guardian still thought he had used up his allotted time in his favorite room of the house for the day.

After dinner, they played a round of wizard's chess together which Harry lost spectacularly before getting tucked into bed for the night. He stared at the photo of his parents with a smile as he drifted to sleep with Mallow tucked in under his other arm.

A/N: Thank you all for your patience and your lovely reviews!

Antares Graceford: Mallow was a name that came to me as I always thought that barn owls looked a bit like toasted marshmallows and when I was a child I often called the sticky sweets, mallows.