"She's impossible!"

Lord Lucius Malfoy paced about his sitting room, stepping over books and papers. It had been a matter of hours since his only granddaughter, the spirited Vanessa Malfoy, had once again found herself in an impossible predicament. She and her friends had snuck off Salazar knows where in the dead of night without so much as leaving a note.

The vast grounds surrounding the Malfoy Manor were rumoured to be home to dangerous ghouls and spirits as well as Dark Magic. It was no place for a seven year old and her friends to be alone and without supervision.

Lucius felt himself a fool. His only son had asked him to watch Vanessa while he and her mother were off to visit their inlaws in Germany for a few weeks. In the three days she had been here, she had managed to get stuck in his fireplace, unsuccessfully trying to Floo to Madame Malkins, turned over the entire kitchen and scared his elves whilst baking cupcakes and plucked three of his best peacocks bare of feathers. She managed to allow Lucius to invite her a few playmates to keep her company for the evening and the three managed to successfully disappear on Lucius after bedtime.

It could not be had!

The one hope Lucius had rested on his friend Severus' ability. Yes, it was no secret that his friend knew how to find missing wizard children. He had worked as a Professor in the magical school of Hogwarts for many years and knew the sorts of tricks they held up their tiny little robe sleeves. Lucius relied entirely on the ept abilities of his closest and dearest friend to find his granddaughter and her little friends.

Severus did not disappoint. Thirty minutes since being dispatched, a dark and tall figure crackled into sight in the sunrise feild behind the Manor. Severus and three floating witch-children approached the house...rather, he walked and they flew towards the house, kicking and screaming bloody murder.

Severus Snape, his oldest and dearest friend, knew just what to do when it came down to wizard children. He was the sort of wizard who could instill fear with a simple look at him. Towering at over six feet, he had a svelte but firm build with skin stretched tight over his pronounced cheekbones and long fingers. He had pale skin and beetle-dark eyes and under uncertain light conditions, looked like the reaper in full flesh. Along with his customary dark robes (which he refused to remove) and equally drooping black hair locks, he easily commanded both respect and fear in large doses.

A tear dripped down Lucius' forehead and he grabbed his heart. Rushing out towards the figures, he grabbed Vanessa's hands and kissed them.

"Oh my darling, I was so worried! Wherever did you go off to?"

Vanessa pouted, her brows and mouth in an expression of chagrin. "Oh, poppy, we were trying to find Dobby number three to play hide-and-seek with him, and he hid way too far."

"False." Severus' voice cut through the prattling of the little witch. "These three girls were brewing Amortentia at midnight in the clearing."

Lucius beamed. "How splendid!" Then, seeing the scowl on Severus' face, schooled his own expression into a more stern one. "I mean, how horrid. Horrid indeed, my doves! Amortentia should not be brewed until one is at least twenty years old."

Vanessa's face grew very red. Her two friends squirmed in the air beside her, saying that they would never do so! But Lucius had already decided. He crossed his arms and stomped his foot.

"I am very disappointed in the three of you. That's right. As punishment, I will only be reading you two books from the Malfoy Library tonight instead of three and you and Dobby #3 will serve the cocoa in the nineteenth-century cups."

Vanessa gasped and the two other witchlings began to cry. Releasing them, Lucius pointed towards their rooms. "Up you go. I will have the elves run you a bath."

"But poppy!"

"No, no, and no Vanessa Parkinson-Malfoy. You've already made me succumb to lesser value porcelain and lower quality bedtime reading rituals. Poppy needs his recovery time."

Watching the girls disappear, exchanging hushed whispers and slumped shoulders, Lucius sighed.

"Do you think I was rather harsh?"

Here, Severus' thin lips curled into a fleeting smile. "Do you want me to be honest?"

"No, I suppose not."

The two older wizards ascended to the sitting room and Lucius poured them both glasses of elderberry liqueur and summoned the elves for breakfast. Severus sipped on his glass and pensively stared into the liquid, judging the flavour.

"Brewing in the forest at midnight at only seven years!" Lucius continued, "It's not unheard of. The Malfoys produce exceptional children, but what a little scoundrel that one is!"

"What could be worse than a midnight brew?"

"It's not funny," Lucius said with a snarl. "Now I'll have to tighten the wards, and with the little sleep I've been having these nights, I can hardly remember to apply my evening skincare. Never mind that blasted old spell."

"I digress, old friend. The Amoretentia was of exceptional quality."

"Is there anything you think about besides potions?"

Severus smirked. "There is little that surprises me more than an ept brew. I have allowed myself to procure a small sample." Severus withdrew a vial and handed it to Lucius for a whiff. "Try for yourself."

Lucius took a deep whiff of the contents of the vial. Ah! Roses and champagne, the favourite smells of his late wife, the Mistress Malfoy. It was of the correct colour and consistency too and with a few gradations of rose and fuchsia sprinkles inside.

"A sixth year potion. I'd say, your youngest has the makings of a skilled brewer."

"And now you're siding with her?" Lucius said.

"Merely suggesting that instead of punishments that you hire the young witch a tutor."

"A tutor," Lucius said. "Yes, that's not a bad idea at all. But this would be no easy task. The Malfoy Manor is host to deep and dark magic, not to mention the ancient grounds are dangerous to wander about after hours. This witch would have to be talented and brave all in one."

Severus raised a glass. "Best of luck."

"No, no, you won't weasel your way out of this one," Lucius said. "It was your suggestion. Surely you must know at least one witch who can handle a chit like Vanessa. Someone clever, yet dependable. Not afraid of dark magic and good with children."

"I might," Severus said apprehensively. "But they're already employed."

Lucius' face lit up. "What about that apprentice of yours, Miss Granger?"

Severus cleared his throat. "What about her-"

"She's perfect."

"I wouldn't say so."

"No really. She can handle a dark spell, and she's had plenty of experience working with difficult children. And didn't you last say that you couldn't wait to have her out of your hair?"

Severus' expression darkened. "She wouldn't like to work in the Manor."

"She would if I paid generously. Every witch values a good Galleon. She'd have the best lodging in the house, food and drink at her command and anything she might need to teach Vanessa magic."

"Miss Granger happens to enjoy working at Hogwarts."

Lucius psh-ed, pouring both more liqueur. "In that damp dungeon of yours with the dirty cauldrons and those foul half-bred wizard children running amok? I can have a state-of-the-art brewing laboratory imported here in hours."

"Skill doesn't increase when you brew in a newer cauldron."

"I can talk to her. I am very convincing."

Severus smacked the glass on the side table. "No," he said with a growl, his expression suddenly darkening. The dark orbs in his eyes glowed dangerously.

Then, Lucius understood. "You're right. It's not about the cauldrons." He pointed his finger at his friend. "It's about you. You simply don't want to let her out of your hands."

A flash of something hot and heavy ran through Severus' expression. Instantly, he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, shielding himself with his long robe sleeves. "I don't care for the witch."

Lucius grinned. "I don't doubt that. You're refusing her a prime employment opportunity. My name on her resume would have her hired by any respectable Ministry of Magic Department in seconds."

"I simply believe her talents are best spent in Hogwarts."

"In your chambers-"

"-You're going to make me do something I will regret," growled the lanky wizard, reaching for his wand.

"Don't overreact Severus. I am simply asking you to consider the proposal. In fact, you can be the one to supervise the entire operation. Aren't you curious to see what else Vanessa can brew under surveillance and with the proper instruction?" Lucius nodded. "If it's a loss of a teaching assistant, I will happily finance your loss as well."

Severus lowered the wand, his expression softening. "I will consider it. But only if Miss Granger agrees."

Lucius was certain she would. After all, Malfoys always end up on top. His granddaughter would receive proper training, his best friend would be around him more often to keep him company and he'd have a very young witch employed by him to soften his gaze. Since the death of his beloved wife, Lucius wished for some female presence to exist around him, even in passing. Miss Granger was no great beauty, but she was a female.