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Mistress Slytherin

WARNINGS:

VIOLENCE

LANGUAGE

HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

QUESTIONABLE MORALS

Let me know if I missed anything.

Chapter 8

Harry shook his head in mild amusement as Lord Black watched the workers like a hawk. Apparently installing a new potion lab somehow meant that the entire three story building had to be torn down and rebuilt. Harry knew better but he wasn't about to argue again, it was embarrassing the way Lord Black would intentionally and loudly go on and on about Harry's achievements until he caved. Besides, Lord Black seemed happy, a rare sight since Hester had been placed under the care of a round the clock healer having been declared clinically mad. So if it made the man happy to replace Harry's old rickety building with a new building made with quality supplies than Harry had very little he could actually argue about. Besides the man was very good at getting what he wanted.

"What are you doing you nitwit that's the front door! I've clearly numbered them on the floor plans! The mages and wards men can only place their wards and protections on certain types of wood you idiot do you know nothing?!" Lord Black growled at the men who were carrying an unfinished door. Harry twitched slightly.

"Mages?" Harry said once the two men grumbled and carried the door away.

"You ward the loo when you take a bath Hadrian you can't tell me that you aren't paranoid. This building will be the best protected building in the area, wards on all doors, windows that can't be broken, solidly built. The shop will be the first floor, the front door will allow customers to come in but the moment one tries to attack they will be sent from the building like a slingshot with a nasty rash to warn them. If they come again the door won't let them through without your express permission and any intent to harm will have them flying out again same rash only in more ahem, sensitive portions of their bodies." Lord Black said smugly. Harry snorted.

"Clever, is it legal?" He asked curiously.

"It's your property; you have every right to protect yourself on your property." Lord Black said with a sniff. Of course this wasn't an answer which Harry was aware of but he knew better, Lord Black was not budging on this. His eyes caught sight of something else and he narrowed his gaze.

"Are those…granite slabs?" He asked dryly.

"Black granite, I believe I promised you a top of the line potions lab, everything will be of the highest quality."

"You did?" Harry said his voice coming out slightly higher pitched.

"Black granite is top quality for a lab, the magical properties of the stone apparently." Lord Black said smirking.

"Top quality." Harry breathed. "Right I think it's time for tea…" He said shaking his head. Just how much money was going into this project? True his lessons the last three weeks with Professor Foxtrot had been going well but well…this was a bit much wasn't it? He shook his head. No matter, he just had to pretend that this building wasn't costing a fortune.

"Ah yes tea would be lovely." Lord Black said nearly beaming with sly glee at having broken Harry's every argument. Harry sighed; it was going to be a long summer.

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Harry let out a long sigh and groaned his forehead hitting the heavy dusty book in front of him with a dull thud. Merlin, he was exhausted. Lord Black's idea of keeping Harry from arguing too much about how much was being spent on the building project was to keep him busy every hour of the day. Every morning for seven hours he worked with Professor Foxtrot, then he stopped for a brief lunch which he shared with Lord Black before attending his etiquette lessons his history lessons, his lessons in wizarding law and his bloody violin lessons. After these lessons he had dinner before returning to his room to study. He understood why this was happening to him and a part of him enjoyed the things he was learning but he could honestly say that he hadn't been outside of the house for a month.

Soon school would be starting and he would be facing his seventh year at Hogwarts. He smiled a bit at that, he would finally graduate from Hogwarts, Hermione would have been proud. None of them had graduated due to the war. He lifted his head and stood deciding that he might feel better if he splashed a bit of cold water on his face. He moved to the loo and glanced at himself in the mirror. He looked tired, nightmares of the war had been plaguing him the last few weeks and if it weren't for good silencing charms he was sure no one in the house would be getting sleep. He frowned at his reflection. Odd, he didn't look eighteen…he still looked young, like he had when he'd first arrived. He shook his head and turned on the water before splashing a bit of the icy liquid onto his skin. Maybe the Dursley's and the war combined had stunted his growth; hopefully he would hit a growth spurt soon. A kid with big green eyes and effeminate features hardly looked threatening. Shaking his head he rubbed his eyes before turning the light off and returning to his desk. Merlin he was beginning to miss the days when he could just read leisurely…

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The shop was complete a week before Harry would return for his seventh year. Lord Black had proudly given him a tour slyly pointing out that the building's defenses were so strong now that no one could get in that he didn't want in. Harry shook his head. Luckily the first floor wasn't overly opulent, there were hints here and there but over all it was simple and Harry could even see himself setting up shop, it was a nice idea, once he had his potions mastery he could set up shop and brew here. He could live a quiet life without being bothered by the world and its woes. On days when business was slow he could sit and read behind the counter or try his hand at something new. This shop presented Harry with an idea that he'd never dreamed possible, an idea of a peaceful life. He set his hand on the polished wood and smiled a bit.

"And this." Lord Black said breaking the silence solemnly as he handed Harry a portfolio. Harry frowned and opened it. "I have already spoken with my account manager in Gringotts and I have arranged everything with the goblins. No one can take this place from you. Should the worst happen and Arcturus somehow finds hold over Orion I have made certain that nothing that I have given to you can be taken back by any law. This is yours, it was given to you and I won't allow anyone to take this away from you even beyond my grave." Lord Black said smiling faintly. Harry stared at the paperwork in shock. This was…his? It was really his? "I want you to be taken care of Hadrian; I understood that night that I could have left you without anything and after everything I've announced about you being my son, I couldn't fathom leaving you like that. I'm an old man Hadrian, and I will not always be here but you will be taken care of no matter what, I promise you that." Lord Black said firmly. Harry nodded numbly.

"Can I ask you for something?" Harry said uncomfortably. Lord Black smiled a gentle sort of smile one that he wasn't accustomed to seeing on the stern features.

"Of course Hadrian, anything." The man said settling his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry felt his eyes drop and bit his lip.

"Spend this last week with me?" He said softly. "I return to Hogwarts soon and well, then I'll be an apprentice, I don't want to be too busy to spend time with you especially when you're talking like…like that." He said gritting his teeth. Lord Black nodded slowly.

"I didn't mean to frighten you Hadrian, of course I'll spend this time with you, I fear I must have gotten too caught up in this to have realized that I should be with you getting to know you better." He said nodding. Harry shook his head.

"You gave me time when I needed it; I figured you must need this." He said shrugging slightly. Lord Black nodded.

"You're right Hadrian; I think I did need this." He said softly. "I needed to be sure that you would be safe, and taken care of. But now I'm sure, and now I want to spend time with my youngest son." He said leaning on his cane. Harry felt himself grin sheepishly as that swelling warm feeling rushed through him again. This was the best gift Lord Black could have given him.

#$% #$% #$%

Hadrian spent the next week with his father, the two were inseparable, they could be seen at café's or strolling down some of the greatest museums in wizarding history. Lord Black spoke for hours about Black family history and his son listened, he had become a very good listener he found. They talked of the foolish things Lord Black had done when he was young, they laughed at some of his antics. Harry even shared a few of his more private memories, ones involving Hermione and Ron, of having watched Ron die, of seeing Hermione loose herself to the pain of war. He talked of the twins and the mayhem they used to cause, and he talked of Molly and Arthur who had all but treated him like he was part of their family. In his stories they were all muggles though, he couldn't risk that, but Hermione had always been smart, she didn't need to be a witch to be smart. And Ron had always been brave and loyal; he didn't need his gun to be mistransfigured to have died by it. And Molly, the matron who could hardly feed her family- due to rationing this was entirely believable.

And Harry felt better talking about them, even allowing himself to weep over them over the loss of them when he'd thought that his tears had long ago dried up. And Lord Black was there for him, for all of it which was something that Harry had never had, and something that Harry knew he would cherish.

Slowly Lord Black became the father Harry had never had.

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"I still remember the day I met you here Hadrian." Lord Black said as the scarlet train puffed billows of white smoke into the air. "You were so paranoid." He said with a smirk. Harry snorted.

"I had every reason to believe that you might kill me to hide the fact that you had a child out of wedlock." Harry countered.

"Quite right." Lord Black said a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. "Yet here we are, you starting your seventh year, head boy none the less, on your way to becoming a potions master." The man said slyly. "Though I can hardly say you've grown much in that time." He teased. Harry scowled.

"It isn't my fault; at least my voice isn't all squeaky." He said slightly miffed.

"Yes you are quite intimidating." Lord Black teased. Harry nudged him with his elbow in slight annoyance.

"Hey leave off! Is this how you want to say goodbye? Insulting me every step of the way?" Harry said smirking slightly. Lord Black hummed lightly.

"And let you get away with teasing me about my bald spot? Never!" He said nudging Harry right back before his expression gentled. "Seriously Hadrian, have a wonderful year, study hard, but don't forget to live a little hmm? You are far too serious sometimes, it's unnerving." He said with a lift of his chin. Harry snorted.

"Are you telling me to get into trouble?" He said amused.

"Of course not, what Slytherin gets caught?" Lord Black said gazing down at him from the corner of his eye. Harry chuckled.

"You would." He said shaking his head just as the whistle blew warning him to get onto the train. "Good bye…father." He said sheepishly. Lord Black's face lit up and he pulled Harry into an embrace patting his back.

"Stay well my son, I love you." He said before pulling away and nodding his lips pressed into a thin line. "See you soon Hadrian." He said with a short nod. Harry returned the gesture his cheeks burning as he turned to the train and climbed on.