Lucius was surprised. He came home from spending some time with his son. He expected to find Jade in one of two places. He was usually in their rooms. He was still after a week pretty scared to leave the rooms on his own. But he did sometimes. The only other place he was usually was the library. He loved to curl up to read. Lucius had brought some of the books that Jade would have don in school. Jade was confused and scared by his wand. But he had been doing his book studies. He seemed actually interested in history of magic. But it might just be for it was the only thing he did not need a wand for. Lucius would work on that. He had sworn he would help Jade come back as much as he could. He was a wizard and a very good one at that. He had tried calling him Harry. He knew the others wanted it. It seemed foreign to him. But Jade refused to respond to Harry. And he started crying when Lucius tried suggesting it. Lucius had moved from Master to Master Lucius, but could not get Jade to drop the title. He knew he needed to get Severus and Remus to come more. The only interaction Jade saw Lucius have was with elves. And the elves called him Master as well. Jade needed to see him interacting with people who did not.

When he found the library empty too he was confused. He had no idea where Jade would have gone. Jade had the freedom of the manor and the grounds. But he never used it before. He took walks with Lucius when Lucius was home. For a moment he panicked that someone had taken him. But Severus, Remus and Draco were the only ones who could come in unannounced. And Remus and Severus would not take Harry from him. They had seen how well that worked before. Remus had come almost every day to see Harry until yesterday. And he had admitted his cub seemed so much happier here then he had been. Jade's eyes lit up when his godfather came for his visits and he talked to Moony about his studies or about the grounds. He was so much like a little child. It made it easier for Lucius to keep his word on hands off.

He finally decided. "Dibby." And when the little elf appeared. "Do you know where my precious has disappeared too?"

Dibby bowed his head and nodded. "Jade be in stables Master. Jade be with master's horse. Jade be out there since lunch time."

Lucius was a bit surprised. But he assumed Jade's curiosity was at work again. He was relieved that Jade was starting to take advantage of some of the freedom he had been given. The conditioning as well as the horror of nearly dying had set Harry back. Lucius was not in a rush to bring Harry to his proper age. Harry was never a child. He did not mind at all allowing Harry to have a taste of the innocence of childhood which had been taken from him. They would get him back with time. But he would not rush it. He did not want to scare Harry and set him back.

He walked into the stables. He smiled when sure enough Harry was there. He was not in the stall but sitting on a bail of hay a foot from the stall door. He was eying Lucius' big black. There were over a dozen horses and several ponies in the stables. But Harry had been drawn to his horse. He was a bit surprised. Naxos was a bit of a brute, a wild horse that only allowed Lucius to ride him.

He sat down next to Jade. "I was a bit surprised when I came home for dinner and found out that you were out here."

Harry suddenly looked panicked. "I am sorry Master Lucius. Jade is sorry. Jade will go back inside. Jade knew he was being naughty coming out alone.|

Quieting him Lucius drew him back down. He assured Jade that he had not been bad. It was times like this which took Harry back to Jade in his mind. Jade was so pure and innocent. Jade had none of the pressures of the world on him. He thought in a way it was kinder to let him be Jade. Harry Potter was a pressure for him. He was not expected to be anything as Jade. He was not being relief on to win any war. Well the war was over. But still.

Lucius smiled. "You are allowed to go any where remember. But you can't leave the grounds or you might get hurt. But you can come out here any time you want."

Jade's smile returned. "Master Lucius can Jade learn to ride? Jade likes horse."

Laughing Lucius assured him he could. But he would have to choose another horse. Both Naxos and the dapple gray next to his were off limits. The gray was Draco's horse. He assured Jade he would show him how to ride any of the other horses he liked in the stables. Jade's eyes lit up like Christmas and he looked up and down the stalls in sheer delight. Lucius led him along the stalls and named the different horses.

Jade stopped at a big white mare that he was told was named Ceres. "Master can Jade ride her?"

Lucius smiled and nodded. "Ceres is your horse if you'd like her. She is a very nice horse. It is almost dinner but I will give you a lesson tomorrow."

Jade looked a bit disappointed. But he said nothing. Jade never protested anything. Well except when Lucius tried to give him freedoms. Lucius took pity and summoned some of the apples, carrots and sugar cubes that they fed the horses. Jade seemed even more child like as he giggled as the big mare ate a carrot and apple from his hand. Lucius was amazed s they passed Naxos and the big black actually allowed Jade to feed him as well, and scratch his nose. It seemed Jade's affect on house elves seemed to also work on animals as well.

They were going to head inside when Dibby appeared. "Someone be in the house. He be using old family portkey. He be demanding Jade. Be saying his."

Jade cowered against Lucius crying. "Master. No. Please master. Please no send me away. Jade do better. Jade stay inside. Jade be better."

Calming him Lucius swore he was not going to send Jade away. He was not sure Jade could handle seeing Sirius. He had forgotten. The damn Black had an old family portkey thanks to Narcissa. He would not be able to take Jade out of there without Lucius' permission. The wards would not allow him or anyone else to. But he still knew that he would try and did not want Jade getting hurt.

He looked at Dibby. "Take Jade to Spinner's End and keep him there. I will come for him when I deal with our unwanted house guest."