Wheels Within Wheels – Part Three
Iolanthe
Chapter Fifty-Three
Adjusting to Retirement Life
The arrival at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was uneventful, as arrivals go. A few muggle parents of just-advanced first years were a bit surprised by the kind of end-of-term celebrations going on, the animated origami dragons flying overhead, owls out of cages for a ride on shoulders and wand play of the showers of sparks variety. Magical parents watched, demeanors ranging from calm to mildly-approving, and occasionally assured nearby muggles it was all in fun and not to worry, their magical children well understood their license to be magical would be in abeyance over the summer vacation.
Daphne left Harry alone at Potter Manor while she went to King's Cross to pick up the Potter children. Blaise was on the platform to take charge of Zelda, Tracey being out of town due to work on a splashy wedding.
"Trunks are arranged for," Daphne told the group, "Including Zelda's, unless you've got something different in mind, Blaise? We will be going to #12 for some refreshments with the Granger-Weasleys, then I'll be at St. Mungo's for an hour or two while James, Lissette and Iolanthe will be on their best behavior. Then we re-form at #12 and proceed to Potter Manor. Correct?"
Daphne had it all worked out so well the travelers were compelled to agree. Daphne took Iolanthe and James by side-along, letting Lissette manage her own apparation. The Potters hadn't been home long enough to change when Ron Weasley arrived with Rose and Hugo.
"Hermione sends regrets," he said. "Sounded mysterious. I didn't pry."
"Ohhh…" said Iolanthe. She was making a joke for Rose, in a way, but she felt the loss just the same. Hermione was still an icon for scholarly witches. Just because Iolanthe lived with the healer and mental maladies specialist Daphne Greengrass Potter, OM, didn't mean she wouldn't value a second opinion from time to time.
Ron, it turned out, was free for the rest of the day, so Hugo and Rose were available as well. Ron moved to the garden, which brought James, who wanted to assess the look and well-being of the beds, which naturally drew Hugo in as well. Iolanthe, Lissette and Rose settled in the second drawing room to discuss summer plans.
"Are you going?" Rose and Iolanthe demanded to know when Lissette announced Caroline had invited her to l'Anse des Sorciersfor the summer.
Lissette hadn't decided. She liked Caroline and wanted to get more knowledgeable about the Lestrange family, as well as her place in it, but was reluctant to get too distant from Iolanthe and the Potter-Blacks. She was especially conflicted about the possibility she would miss the upcoming Black Picnic. Besides, she had formed a strong attachment to Potter Manor, especially the mill stream with its stone bridge and grotto.
"I have to think it over," Lissette said. "I want to talk through everything with Lady Daphne before I make any decisions."
"Always a good idea," said Rose, who'd had her own discussions with Lady Daphne.
Returned students roamed the house, changing places inside and out. Rose and Iolanthe joined Ron in the garden. Ron wanted to review the Gryffindor quidditch matches he'd gone to, as was to be expected, but without the energizing presence of Zelda the discussions lacked punch. That left academics, not generally known to be one of Ron's enthusiasms, wands and wand work excepted. Iolanthe and Rose were fine talking about wands, which are just as interesting as any other magical areas.
Hugo still exercised with Iolanthe every morning at school. He expressed his regret that he didn't live at Potter Manor as James did so he could have his customary workout. James invited him over, every day if he wanted, offering to keep Hugo constructively occupied in wholesome outdoor activity when he was done with his wind sprints.
Daphne returned around an hour after arrival, just as she'd promised.
"Ron, why don't you, and Hugo and Rose, come to the house and take some refreshment?" Daphne asked. "Harry'd love the company and the youth can run free for a couple of hours."
Ron accepted immediately. Daphne stopped in her study to drop off some parchment and was hailed by Walburga Black.
"Lady Black," said Walburga.
"Madame," Daphne returned.
"How is his lordship?" Walburga wanted to know. "I really wish you'd convince him to come home," she added. "We can take much better care of him here. If not here, get him to consider Cornwall."
Daphne fought to control her sense of humor. Walburga was completely sincere. Daphne wouldn't do anything to hurt Walburga's feelings, even if Walburga just insulted Daphne's professional competence in assessing such things.
"Lord Harry is consistent, if nothing else," Daphne said, appending, "As we both well know. He feels a strong connection with his history at The Mill. Even Father says the magic comes up out of the Earth there, like a spring. Lord Harry seems to be benefiting from his time at The Mill, for reasons unknown. Certainly nothing I encountered in all of my training says why it should be that he credits that place with his progress. As a healer, I am not inclined to meddle blindly when I see beneficial results just because I don't understand them.
"He does speak of you and the late headmaster Phineas Nigellas often, Madame," Daphne went on.
"Oh?" said Walburga. Something in her tone said she wouldn't mind hearing more.
"Yes, your expression of confidence, calling him a Black warlord," said Daphne, "which he demonstrated he is. He credits that, in part, for the victory over Michel Lestrange. He possessed the skills, you reinforced his spirit. After that, he couldn't let you down."
Walburga looked fit to step out of her portrait and hug Daphne, or perhaps to demand Daphne's hand so she could kiss her ring.
"He has always been a fighter," said an approving Walburga, glossing over the fact that she backed Harry's opponents in some of the biggest fights of his life.
"He is so proud to represent us, on the field, or in the Wizengamot, as the case may be," Daphne finished.
"Blessings on you and yours, Daphne," said Walburga. "Regards to Kendra."
"Always," Daphne assured her as she opened her study door.
The expanded party got to Potter Manor and spread out. Harry was expected to be with the twins, so Ron, Iolanthe and Rose headed straight for the nursery. Daphne called for Periwinkle to ask what had been happening and put in an order for some appropriate snacks and beverages. Lissette stayed with Daphne. James and Hugo headed for what was now universally called the Exquisite Conservatory, the shortened version being The Exquisite.
Ron's detachment climbed the stairs to find Harry had opened up the doors between the nursery and the master bedroom suite so that the lads could have the run of the place. Every toy they owned was out of the toy box or off the shelf and scattered about the two rooms.
"Harry!" Ron called.
"In here," Harry answered.
Ron tracked Harry down in the nursery, closely followed by Iolanthe and Rose. The young Toms were captured in short order and subdued with smothering kisses and gentle hugs. Iolanthe and Rose demanded to know if they'd been missed but the lads hadn't grasped the concept of people coming and going.
"Where's your mother?" Harry asked Iolanthe.
"Downstairs, organizing," Iolanthe answered, looking around an armload of toddler.
"Can I turn them over to you? They were just changed. Might want something to eat," Harry said. "Want a turn, Ron?"
"Sure," Ron agreed, taking a twin from Rose. "Which one are you?"
"Davis," said Iolanthe and Rose in unison.
Ron sat down in a rocker and tried making conversation with Davis, who tolerated the presumption for three or four minutes. Ron let Davis go and reached out for Evans.
"Come on," he said, "You can leave whenever you want."
Evans didn't last as long as Davis, so Ron gave up the fight.
"Let's go find your mum," Harry said.
The main body of toddlers, Rose and Iolanthe, Harry and Ron arrived in the salon at the same time as Daphne and Lissette. Everyone seemed to enjoy the polite conversation. Summer plans were discussed, as were class choices for the fall term. James and Hugo got back from The Exquisite Conservatory. James had not been able to work on his pride and joy since his ignominious departure in November. Even though the garden elves had kept up with the watering and removal of dead plants he saw weeks and weeks of work ahead before he was satisfied.
"Lissette," Ron began, "You've finished seventh year?"
"Yes, sir," Lissette said. "Just waiting for the NEWT results."
"Of course," Ron said. "Any plans?"
"Madame Pomfrey accepted me in the infirmary this year," she said. "Depending on my NEWTs, I'd like to continue and get a Mastery in Healing."
"Impressive," Ron allowed. "Apprentice Researcher with the Wizengamot investigators wouldn't be of Interest, I suppose. It could be a great place for the right person, so feel free to help us with recruitment."
Rose was sitting across from Iolanthe, her head up, listening carefully. Iolanthe caught on. She tilted her head in a "So?" gesture. Rose looked back and gave a "Yes, so what?" combination of eye-roll and head toss. Iolanthe was pleased their non-verbal communication was as sharp as ever. "Bless him," she mouthed.
Rose wouldn't have admitted it in so many words, but she was making opening moves for Scorpius' post-Hogwarts life. Dazzling scholar he might turn out to be, but there would not be a living earned for a couple, or a family, from publishing updated versions of medieval manuscripts. Besides Scorpius, Rose had career ambitions of her own. She knew she occupied a privileged position as the daughter of Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, and she was determined to earn a place for her name alongside theirs. Rose was intrigued by the idea of a career as a magical lawyer. A good lawyer and a historian might be able to combine efforts and fund a household.
"I need a stretch," Harry said, one of the code phrases for exercise time. Hugo was on his feet before Harry could get all the way up.
"Anyone else?" Harry asked. Iolanthe pondered, although not for long. She stood and threw off the robe she still wore from the train, hanging it over her chair, to be followed by her tie. The shoes came off and were parked underneath the chair.
Harry walked to the green, leaving his shoes behind at the edge of the clipped lawn.
"Dueling forms?" Harry asked before walking to the middle of the green and beginning his warm-up of twists and arm-swings.
Life went on. Ron contacted Hermione and informed her he had accepted an invitation to dine that evening at Potter Manor. Hermione arrived promptly at four, a good two hours earlier than her usual return from work. The arrival of Rose and Hugo was working a mysterious magic of its own.
Harry and Hugo had moved on to sparring. They gave no sign of giving it up as long as they had light, which, considering the latitude and time of year, meant they would be out on the green indefinitely. Hugo asked if Harry wanted to move on to wands.
"Sure," Harry said, drawing his. The holly wand nearly jumped from his hand from excitement. "Forms or a little fencing?"
"Let's do forms for now," Hugo said.
Ron was looking on from the patio when the wands came out. He soon joined Hugo and Harry on the green.
"Count off, Hugo," Harry said, and Hugo began leading the drill. They hadn't gotten very far when Daphne spoiled the fun with a great burst of sparks out over the green.
"Dinner!" she called when she had their attention.
Upstairs later on, Harry lay propped up on pillows while Daphne rocked Evans.
"You're getting some of your energy back," Daphne observed.
"Correct," Harry said, "Only it is a lot, not some. It may be the exercise in the fresh air. I've also considered sitting still on the bench by the mill stream. I can't bring it to a conclusion."
"Madame Walburga volunteered something today," Daphne said, "Something that might interest you. She said she wished you'd come home, or at least go to Cornwall. They can take much better care of you if you're present. Thus says Madame Walburga."
"Madame Walburga," Harry said. "She just wants to debrief me. She must get some rejuvenating vibration from stories of crisis and conflict. As a matter of fact I've been thinking about that very thing. It occurred to me it might be time to go on progress. Go visit the properties, walk the lanes with my family, show up on market day. We'll need to start preparations for Black Picnic. What better way to kick off June?"
Daphne looked down at Evans, who appeared to be sound asleep. She gave him a kiss on each cheek. Evans didn't wake up so Daphne laid him down in his crib and closed the nursery door, taking great care to be quiet.
"Tracey is ready to order food," Daphne said as she lay down beside Harry. "The guest list is the same as last year, give or take. You really started something with your Black fandangos Harry. You all but inherited a vacated title, then you resuscitated an entire clan."
"Thanks as always, but I don't think it was just me," Harry said. "At the beginning all I wanted was a little more family than what I'd ended up with, after the war. I really didn't expect this. There's a theory that's been running around in my head for a year or more. All of our Black cousins wanted the same thing. Look at Andromeda and Narcissa. Everyone all fragmented, thinking about conflict that was over and letting that be a barrier to reconciliation.
"I think," Harry said, "And you can tell me I'm no longer rational if you want, but I think Astoria, and you, and Tracey had more to do with this than I did. You are a huge draw, I'm sure you know. Everyone wants to be around you. Tracey, too, and they want to consume Tracey's buffet and attend Tracey Davis-planned events the same as the rest of the world. The Blacks get to do that twice a year for free. Astoria and Draco were critical. That's how we got the sisters together in the beginning. They came to the engagement party at #12, respected the occasion and showed everyone else it could be done."
"Anyway, that's what I think," Harry finished.
"Oh," Daphne said. After thinking it over Daphne rolled toward Harry, put her hands flat on the sides of Harry's face and gave him a kiss. She didn't rush, just took her time, did it right before letting him go and rolling back to her side of the bed.
"Are you going to tell me what I did, so I can do it again?" Harry asked when he'd recovered.
"Worked all the right charms in the correct order," said Daphne.
"Moving along then," Harry said, "Work. Keeping up?"
"Of course, Harry," said Daphne. "It's very high up on my priorities list."
"Thought so," Harry said, "But I had to ask. Statecraft?"
"Not all that demanding," said Daphne. "Without a ministry department under me the most burdensome part is the contact with our Wizengamot colleagues. I buy a lot of lunches, since we haven't been able to entertain while you were laid up. No one seems to expect you to do more than you already are. There haven't been any divisive issues of the Jacques Lafleur sort since, ah, Jacques Lafleur."
Harry smiled at Daphne's conversational cul-de-sac.
"I heard Lissette mention getting her Mastery as a healer?"
"Yes, it could happen, depending on NEWTs," Daphne said. "Her marks in sixth year wouldn't have gotten her there. How could they? I still become furious when I think of how she was treated by those people. Poppy and I have stayed in touch all year, though, and Lissette seems to have thrown herself into both the studies and the practical work. Poppy has written her a very strong recommendation, all ready to go out as soon as she gets her NEWT results."
"She knows she doesn't have to worry about fees and books and whatnot, doesn't she?" Harry asked. "How does she feel about her exams?"
"Yes. Nervous and unsure," said Daphne. "Apparently it's a chronic condition with her. She fears utter disaster until she has the sheet in hand."
"Sounds like Hermione," Harry said. "Back in school she'd have nightmares about freezing up on an exam. With everything else that was going on, that's what she worried about."
"In retrospect, though, Harry Potter did carry the day, so academics really were all she needed to worry about, weren't they?" asked Daphne.
Harry blew his breath out through his lips.
"Ron and Hermione did their share," he said. "Maybe more."
No one had a followup.
"This is fun," Harry finally announced, "But I'm drifting off, and that would be exceedingly impolite of me. Want the nursery door open?"
"Yes, please," said Daphne.
There was rain on Sunday morning so everyone took breakfast inside, watching the water run across the patio. Harry went to the owlery when he saw the rain because any inbound owls would have been unable to find their addressees outside. One owl raised its leg to show it was carrying a little parchment. It was addressed to 'James Potter, Potter Manor, Devon.'
Harry delivered the message and thought about what he wanted for breakfast. James brightened up as soon as he saw the handwriting on the parchment.
"Moira got to St. Magnus," he announced.
No one had anything to say. Finally, Iolanthe spoke up.
"Ground-breaking," she observed. James turned red. Iolanthe wondered if she'd angered him. She looked back down at her bowl of porridge.
"I should have sent her a note," James said.
"You still can," Iolanthe said. "Although, it would be more considerate of the owls to wait until it stops raining."
Harry saw the day getting off to an unpromising start and intervened.
"What's your schedule like, Lissette? Didn't your cousin the Serene expect a visit?"
"Yes, Lord Harry, thank-you for asking," Lissette said, going a little bit formal. "She was trying to get me to come for the summer but I told her I had to come back for Black Picnic."
"Go and come back," Harry said, "Then go again. The logistics aren't difficult. Get some sun, speak French for a month or two."
"Sounds attractive enough," Iolanthe said. "Think about it. Not everyone has a sovereign for a cousin. She seemed really nice the times we saw her."
"Uh-huh," Lissette said. "I think she really is that way. I haven't heard different, I have to say."
The rain did blow out, eventually. James dispatched his owl. Iolanthe took Lissette on a walk in the just-washed countryside around Potter Manor.
"I'd go to l'Anse, if I were you," Iolanthe said.
"I'll go," said Lissette. "I just don't know when or how long I'll stay. A lot will depend on the NEWTs and getting accepted for my mastery."
They walked along in silence, enjoying the fresh, after-rain scents, looking for magical creatures who might be out and about.
Iolanthe spoke up. "I'm glad we met, you know," she said. Lissette kept walking, not feeling a need to speak.
"I know," she said, finally. "You've shown me your drawings."
Lissette snickered a little and went on, then she elaborated a little.
"You're very kind to me," she said. "In your drawings."
Iolanthe turned red, walking along, looking down at the lane.
"Well," she said, "I'll tone it down. Promise."
"I'm not offended, you know," Lissette said, "Just realistic. If that is how you want to see me, you won't hear me complain. I'm glad we met, too."
Lissette stopped talking for a bit before starting up again.
"It was bad. My situation? That was not going well, Iolanthe. It's not an exaggeration to say I feared for my life, whether that was a rational fear or not. I'm not over it yet. Lady Daphne has helped me so much. I don't know what I would have done without the Potters. When your parents brought us back for the Samhain ball and treated me like family, like I fit in and had a place, I think that is when I started to feel better about myself. Tracey Davis thought I was worth her time. Tracey Davis! This wonderful couple, and their daughter who rescued me, all thought I was worth something, and then I began to think so, too."
All the sentiment started to get through to Lissette and again she stopped talking. Iolanthe heard some sniffles and offered tissues from her satchel.
"You are worth something," Iolanthe said. "The fairies say you're a sprite. That makes you very special. I predict you will be discovering powers and abilities in yourself for as long as you live. Those fools who mistreated you? They don't deserve you, and they never did."
There wasn't a lot more that needed saying right then so Iolanthe and Lissette turned their attention to enjoying the pleasures of a country lane in June. Their course took them back to The Mill, a common Potter occurrence, and they worked the charm to change the pile of discarded limestone to a bench. Iolanthe lay back against the stone.
"Ooh!" she said when the refreshingly cool stone met the perspiration on her back. Iolanthe got up and moved from the bench out into the sunshine. She found a grassy spot, cast a drying charm on the grass and dropped her satchel, then took off her sweaty shirt and lay it flat to dry in the sun before sitting down and taking out The Odyssey.
"Want to read?" she asked.
"I thought I'd visit the mill stream," Lissette answered.
"That works," said Iolanthe as she turned her attention to Homer. Lissette dropped her clothing on the grass and disappeared behind the stream bank. Iolanthe heard the song begin almost immediately.
James had his parchment note drafted and rolled into a tube before the rain stopped. He climbed the stone steps to the owlery and looked for the big barred owl Harry liked.
"Know where the Isle of St. Magnus is? It's very obscure," he advised the owl. "Only the best navigators can find it. I hope you like a challenge."
The owl looked like he'd been insulted, intentionally, for no acceptable reason at all. James changed course.
"You are my best hope for getting this message through," he said. "If it can be done I know you will do it. If you come back with the message, it will just mean that Nature is greater than all of us."
James finished tying the scroll and offered the owl a bite of sausage from breakfast. The owl appeared to James to be conveying an acceptance of James' symbolic apology just before he launched for St. Magnus.
James selected some clothing suitable for getting wet and dirty and put it on before returning downstairs. The only human company he encountered were Tracey and Zelda who were casting drying charms at patio furniture. Zelda had what looked like a tumbler of orange-mango juice and Tracey had a big mug of coffee.
"Taking on all that backed-up work in the Exquisite?" Tracey asked.
"The stuff of nightmares, from what I saw yesterday," James said.
That June, when Iolanthe was fifteen, was the first she could remember when Harry had been at home as a full-time husband and father. He no longer had a job, in the sense of being an employee of the ministry. Harry was free to host breakfast for everyone on the patio, retire to his study with a book, host lunch, play with the twins, visit James in his greenhouse and gardens, and generally be the head of two noble houses.
Daphne kept Harry up to date on political maneuvering among the magical factions. When necessary he would take the floo to the ministry, where he still kept a robe, and make an appearance in the Wizengamot. Daphne made sure he thoroughly understood the issue under consideration. Harry was known to be closely linked by history and outlook to Kingsley. As such a known quantity he was perfectly placed to host a luncheon at #12 Grimmauld Place and make a quiet pitch for a Wizengamot rule change or support for a piece of legislation.
Harry didn't do arm-twisting very well, so he stayed away from hardball politics. He was much better at inviting one or more people to the house or Morgan le Fay's where he would take the opportunity to ask about spouses and children, just to catch up. In between the chit-chat about Hogwarts and the summer visit to the grandparents there would be an opportunity to ask about the issue at hand. Harry put a lot of effort into honing his listening skills. A member who was reluctant to support something Kingsley wanted to do might not be negative in principle, they just might not be able to be supportive of this or that detail in the legislation. It might sound odd but the punishment Harry absorbed in taking the magic out of Jacques Lafleur and the constant effort it took to keep it contained combined to keep him in a kind of state. The youthful hothead was defeated by the controlled, disciplined Harry Potter whose preservation depended on maintenance of calm and resistance to display of temperament.
"What would it take to fix the problem?" Harry would ask. Sometimes he'd get a facile answer he knew was possibly a half-truth, possibly not even that. He wouldn't probe. It was better to let his colleague keep his own counsel. Harry knew that in a very high percentage of such cases, the other person was desperate to be more forthcoming, while there was, simultaneously, another driver keeping them from putting their real objective on the table. Harry didn't have any place to be, other than at lunch with another member of wizarding Britain's highest governing body. He'd just let his counterpart enjoy the hospitality at #12 Grimmauld Place and the company of the Grandee Lord Harry Potter-Black, OM. They'd come around, eventually.
By mutual agreement the Potters, and their associate Tracey Davis, kept the politics away from the children. There were people in government who were rapacious in their drive for money, power, influence and more esoteric pleasures. The raw information wasn't useful for young people. The adults all had their sources of information, which they pooled as a matter of course. They didn't think they were doing politics for personal gain. They thought they knew how important good governance was and were trying to help Kingsley and his junior ministers and department heads bring that about.
It was about mid-June when Harry learned from Whetstone that the field that made the indentation along one side of the Potter Manor lands was coming on the market. Harry didn't need any additional land to manage, but he had always thought that piece would be a logical acquisition. The soil was mostly a sandy loam and well-drained. One corner near the lane was a bit of a knob and boulder-strewn. Harry gave Whetstone the go-ahead to find out the price and any terms or obligations that ran with the land.
Just before Black Picnic, Harry got a message from Whetstone. The price was not a problem and there were no caveats or entailments. Harry went to Greengrass Manor to talk the offer over with Fabio.
"We don't need it," Harry said, "But it's good land and if we buy it no one will be turning it into a dump or some kind of nuisance."
Fabio smiled at Harry's observation.
"So what do you intend to do?" Fabio asked. "Is it worth the price to get piece of mind?"
"I think so," Harry said. "There's a second generation from the same family farming it now. I would like to find out how long they've been renting. It could go back to when my father was living right next door. That would be something, wouldn't it?"
"It would," Fabio agreed. "Sounds like you're going ahead."
Harry took a moment to stroke his chin.
"I think I will," he said.
The Potters were in residence at #12 Grimmauld Place when Lissette returned from a short visit to l'Anse. Harry announced at breakfast that he was going to Gringott's at ten, and could take someone along. James and Iolanthe weren't enthusiastic but Lissette sounded eager. Harry and Lissette used Gringotts One and met Whetstone in the small paneled room off the Gringotts board room.
"Good to see you again, Lord Harry," said Whetstone
"The same to you, Whetstone," Harry said, then, "May I introduce a valued associate of the Potter family? This is Lissette Lestrange, who is a school friend of our daughter Iolanthe."
"Welcome to Gringotts, Miss Lestrange. This way," Whetstone said as he led them back to his private office.
Harry kept Lissette involved throughout the transaction, explaining which parcel was involved, how it connected with the other fields, and what he knew about the family that rented it.
Whetstone led Harry through the land transfer formalities, witnessed Harry's signature and even asked him to impress his Potter seal in hot wax on one parchment. Business concluded, Harry and Lissette went on via floo to the Leaky Cauldron for some pumpkin juice.
"Lunch?" Hannah asked as Harry and Lissette exited the fireplace.
"Not today," Harry said. "Just a stop on the way home. We've got time for two large pumpkin juices, though."
The small booth was occupied so Harry picked out a table in the middle of the floor. Sitting with the carving that declared Jacques Lafleur was a vampire probably wouldn't have been good for the mental health of either Harry or Lissette.
"How was your cousin Caroline?" Harry asked as they waited for their juice.
"Great," Lissette said. "She took me all over l'Anse, gave me my own suite in her house. Technically, it's the palace, of course. It's full of magic. She seemed very proud her dining room can be charmed to become a ballroom. She contrasted that with Potter Manor."
Harry had to let go a huge laugh.
"Did she now?" he asked. "It's good we brought in the tents, then. It wouldn't do to go one-up on the Serene. She outranks us!"
"She had a wonderful time at the ball, though," Lissette said. "She mentioned the minister several times. I took it the world doesn't take much notice of l'Anse des Sorciers."
"Perhaps not," Harry said, "All the more reason we should try harder to show the world she's not forgotten. Caroline andl'Anse could have been very vulnerable to pressure from Lafleur and his organization."
"Well, Lord Harry, you saw to that," said Lissette. "Cousin Caroline is very grateful, too."
"Mm-hm," Harry said, not needing to go further in revisiting the scrap with Lestrange. "What else did you do? Are you going back?"
Lissette looked away.
"I…" she began. "It's difficult. My father is Caroline's first cousin. He's her closest relative. She wants to make provision for her succession."
Harry thought he knew where the conversation was going.
"You," he said.
Lissette just nodded.
"Not to be presumptuous, I assure you, but it sounds like your father…John?" Harry asked.
"Yes, John," Lissette said.
"Is he unsuitable, in Caroline's estimation?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Lissette sighed. "My father is a wizard, but when he and my mother broke up, he landed with another woman. A squib. They are doing fine. She understands wizards, and he appreciates her mundane world skills. He's an artist. She markets his paintings in a little gallery. They're a good combination I'll admit.
"He's let his French go. It's competent tourist French, not suitable for matters of state. He likes his life and isn't interested in transforming himself into a viable Serene."
"I see," Harry said. "Is this going to conflict with your plans? Caroline seems to be the picture of health. A hundred and two, doesn't even walk with a cane. She could live another fifty or sixty years. More."
"True," said Lissette, "Maybe she will, Merlin bless her."
"Where about your other plans? Your marks were very good. Better than very good," Harry said.
"Madame Pomfrey and Lady Daphne wrote beautiful recommendations," said Lissette. "I'm pretty sure there will be a place for me with someone."
Lissette drank off a long swallow, finishing her pumpkin juice.
"I want to get my Mastery. We're still in discussions. I don't want to turn her down."
"Maybe I'm missing something," Harry said, "But I don't see a conflict. Caroline could be good for decades, and you'd be a valued asset in l'Anse as a qualified healer. Can I do anything? I'm sure I can deliver Daphne, Tracey, the Delacours, and possibly Kingsley."
Something about that struck Lissette as hilariously funny.
"Thank-you, Lord Harry, I'm sure you can," she said. "I just don't want to disappoint her. She's asking if she can bequeath me her life's work, to carry on."
"I understand," Harry said. "You have a sense of duty. You're a natural royal."
Harry finished his pumpkin juice and stood up, Lissette following his lead. Lissette couldn't see what Harry handed Hannah across the bar. "For the elves' fund," he said and walked straight to the fireplace.