The morning dawned brightly - promising to be a scorcher. Both boys smiled at breakfast.

"Yao will be pleased at all the heat." Dudley snickered.

Harry just nodded happily and eyed Dobby warily as more bacon was served. Dobby eyed the pair mournfully - Tinker had given him an hours - long lecture on how devoted ‘the wonderful, clever, Potionsmaster Professor Severus Snape' was to his wards. Dobby remained only partially convinced.

Dobby's old mistress had been a distant cousin of Lucius' and had hated him. She had ranted about the Dark Lord and his servants, insisting that Lucius had been one and had laughed hatefully when Lucius had gotten away by claiming the Imperious curse. When the old mistress had died he had served the Malfoy's with reluctance, and had become more and more unhappy. Now, here he was - serving the great Harry Potter, but he had a friend of Lucius Malfoy as his guardian, and Dobby was afraid for him. He went back to making the hideously strong coffee that Severus preferred with a sigh.

Severus stumbled a bit blindly to the table and groped for his coffee cup, bringing it to his lips sleepily. He heard muffled snickering at the same time he realized blearily that the cup was still empty. He set the cup down and glowered at his insolent charges. Tinker popped in next to him with the coffee pot and served a steaming cupful. Severus downed the cup gratefully and poured another.

"I should warn you both that I'm not a morning person. It's best not to bother speaking to me until I've coffee in me." The boys grinned and made a few coffee jokes and threatened to buy T-shirts for him regarding coffee.

"I saw one that said ‘I have too much blood in my caffeine system' - that would be perfect!" Harry chirped.

Now that he was on his third cup even Severus smiled, as he started on the excellent scrambled eggs. "I expect you outside this morning, before the afternoon heat strikes." Severus told them. He appreciated their interest in studying about their new world, but they needed to be outside as well. "I'm sure that Draco will bring some games to interest you, while I set up my lab."

Draco arrived, then - right on cue. All the boys trooped out to the garden, Draco holding another bag of goodies that they were all giggling over as they left. Severus watched them and hoped for no broken bones, then went with Tinker to the cellar.

The cellar would have been adequate for a small lab, but if this was now to be home Severus wanted a deluxe one. He had sent Dobby and Tinker to demolish another two of the awful Spinners End hovels under the disillusionment charm. The three of them soon had the cellar expanded and deepened using brick and timbers from the old houses. Ventilation and lighting were improved and shelving and cabinets were also salvaged from the houses - they would do well for storage. Severus looked around - adequate for now, he could add upgrades over time.

Tinker fetched his potions equipment and ingredients, and Severus was one again in business. He usually made a fair amount of money over the summers, and he needed to get moving on his usually very lucrative potions - of course, now with more room he could brew a lot at one time.

He sighed happily and headed for the shower, lunch would start soon.

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Lucius and Angus stood outside the Black vault, eyeing Narcissa's nervous attorney. They were awaiting Narcissa's return with the list of items Lucius had demanded. Before she had gone in she had demanded he also give her one of the British Manors near London in exchange for her fetching the items.

He had raised a brow and said. "Perhaps, if you are able to find all the items..."

She had smirked triumphantly and gone in. Angus had expected this and had withdrawn the relevant manor title from his wizardspace briefcase.

Narcissa finally appeared at the doorway holding a featherlight bag. "Do I get the manor, Lucius?" She waved the bag enticingly. "I have found them all."

He sighed a bit dramatically and nodded, and Angus held up the title. Narcissa stepped through the door and raised her own eyebrow. "The gold cup appears to have belonged to someone important, Lucius." She stopped in front of him. "I want my house-elves Tarry and Tizzy - there are only two in each of the other houses."

Lucius glared and eyed her coldly. "No more last minute demands after this." He hissed.

She smiled and gave him the bag. Lucius gave her the title and called the two house-elves to her. The pair left the bank without further words between them and both went to thoroughly ward their houses from each other.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

While dressing for lunch, Severus considered how quickly to let his ...well, he supposed she was his girlfriend - know about his wards. They had been seeing each other for years, although they were careful that no one knew about it. Well, he supposed that Lucius knew, but was respecting his privacy in this matter.

They had struck a friendship about a year after the war ended. Severus was still having nightmares about his brief stay in Azkaban, before Albus had sprung him and had headed to Hogsmeade for a drink that weekend. She had been out back of the Three Broomsticks, sobbing. She had taken a vicious curse during a raid on Hogsmeade before the Dark Lord had fallen, and after several trips to St Mungo's the Healers had regretfully told her she could never bear children.

She had been in hysterics that night because her fiancé, after sticking by her for months, had finally caved to familial pressure to ‘marry a witch who could give him children' and had dumped her that night, just weeks before their wedding. Severus had awkwardly offered her a calming draught, which she had seemed to find a bit funny. They had talked, long into the night during which she had poured out the whole sorry tale. After that he had found himself seeing her most weekends to talk and reminisce.

Their friendship had healed a bit of his heart that had been desperately missing his friendship with Lily. She was different than Lily, and much more accepting of his, admittedly, numerous faults. Their friendship had deepened over time into becoming lovers. They both had careers that took much of their time - he had demands the entire school year, and she had her business. They did vacation together during summer - she had never been out of the British Isles and he enjoyed showing her a bit of the world. In return she listened to his grumbling about students during weekends.

He really didn't want to ruin a valued companionship. They had been seeing each for almost a decade, he realized, and as unlikely as their relationship seemed - it worked for them. Perhaps she wouldn't mind being the defacto female figure in Harry's life. He sighed; he may as well get to it. He opened the floo in his bedroom and called for her.

"Rosemerta! Are you in?"

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Angus Essex watched Lucius and Narcissa leave Gringotts with a sigh of relief. He didn't know why Lucius needed whatever it was in that vault, but he had been prepared to pay an extortionate amount to obtain it. He still had a few things to clear up at Gringotts.

Petunia Dursley had made it clear that she wanted everything to be transferred to the wizarding world to be kept safe for Dudley; although at the time she had thought she was dying. Still, since she would likely reside on the Reserve, moving it all into Gringotts was a sound idea. Angus opened a vault for Dudley, with Petunia also named on it. As Dudley's guardian Severus would hold the key for him. With the stocks liquidated and the banks emptied there was a tidy amount there.

Then the more sticky issue was tackled. He sat with one of the managers of Gringotts and turned over a copy of the guardianship of Harry, and asked (very politely) for Harry's keys. The manager perused it carefully and barked at the assistants. Three keys were handed to him, with lists of the contents - monetary and otherwise.

"We have the key to the Potter family vault, and keys to two vaults - one belonging to a great aunt Audra Peverell, and a third cousin Roderick Potter that he inherited. The key to Harry's personal vault has been held by the Headmaster Dumbledore to fund Harry's needs while growing up." The goblin eyed the lawyer's stormy countenance.

Funding Harry's needs, indeed, Angus thought. Well, most of that was now in Dudley's vault and ‘all in the family' as it were. "Well, Harry's key needs to go to his guardian, now, if you will arrange it." The goblins chuckled and nodded. "If you would forward all records of the vaults to the Norris Accountant Firm they will handle them."

The Goblins nodded happily. They always enjoyed a potential shakeup between wizards - with all sorts of confiscation and potential for a good fight. They were always disappointed if things were handled peaceably.

Angus had already severed Narcissa's access to anything Malfoy, and the Divorce Papers would be finalizing even now. A good day's work, he thought as he apparated to his office, and owled the keys and lists to Potionsmaster Snape.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Lucius arrived for lunch in triumph, waving the bag at Severus who nodded with a smirk. Lunch was served by Tinker - Dobby having opted to continue cleaning the garden, away from Lucius.

The boys were sweaty and dusty. They had played exploding snap and gobstones and worked out on the gym, while Draco explained the intricacies of Quidditch. They were all eager to learn to fly, although, perhaps flying in the Dragon-infested skies of the Reserve would not be all that wise.

Harry cleared his throat and looked at Severus, "Umm, do you think we would be able to go swimming in any of the ponds around here? I know the dragons use them, but could one of them be... warded... or something?" Harry looked at him hopefully.

Severus looked thoughtful. "That would be a good pastime for the hot weather. The reserve would not ward any of the ponds for you - it would be useless - the dragons already know they are there, and would break the wards. They have their own sort of magic, you know." Severus smiled at their crestfallen looks. "However, I'm sure the director would let us build a pool near the compound that the dragons would leave alone. They don't fly into the Center, by agreement with the Reserve - though they sometimes do wander in on foot if they need help, or something. So, they should treat it as part of the Center, and leave it alone."

"Dragons seem a lot smarter than the books say they are." Draco offered, while all three boys grinned ‘they were getting a pool!!'

Lucius huffed in annoyance. "Most of the dragon keepers and dragon riders are reluctant to part with their hard-won knowledge. They do write books about it - but only give copies to others on the Reserves. A few of their stories make it outside the Reserves, but not all believe them. Most wizards realize that Dragons are sentient, they even acknowledge that the Riders and Keepers do communicate with them - they just don't admit how much they do understand."

Lunch ended, and the boys went to design a pool complete with the water slides that Dudley had described and a springboard. Of course Draco suggested cabanas to change in, and some tables and umbrella over lounge chairs, etc....

Lucius and Severus tuned that boys out and went to the library and shut the door, and locked it. Lucius levitated the cup out of the bag, in spite of the fact that Narcissa had handled it, they were wary of enchantments. Lucius drew out the diary and set it down on the other side of the table. The cup radiated with almost palpable evil while the diary seemed...neutral by comparison. Severus nodded, it was as he suspected, then.

They both sat down and pulled the books on Horcruxes to them. They had some reading and casting of spells to do.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Harry listened to Draco and Dudley and their arguments and plans for the pool. He was happy to be getting the pool, of course. Mostly, though he was just happy. Severus had only been his guardian a week, and life seemed impossibly perfect. Even when grumpy this morning the worst he'd done was to warn them that he was to be avoided until ‘coffee ingestion had been achieved'.

He had a brilliant room in a house on a Dragon Reserve, but best of all he seemed to have a home. The Dursley residence, in spite of the changes those last few weeks, had never been a home. Severus seem to actually like him, he hoped that would not change. Severus had assured him that this was now his home, and that nothing would change that. He desperately hoped that was true.

The afternoon wore on and Draco and Dudley had finally run out of additions to the pool, and they got out more books, and made a list of more books they needed. Lucius and Severus came out of the library just before dinner.

"We'll go to the Spain - their marketplace in Madrid has a larger selection of what we need." Lucius said, and he and Draco departed for home and dinner.

"Spain, we're going to Spain?" Dudley squeaked with excitement.

"Yes, we have things we need to obtain and you will have a chance to interact with wizards without being mobbed by Harry Potter fans." Severus smiled at Harry to take any sting out of the words.

Harry just grinned. A trip to Spain, as well! His guardian was brilliant.

Severus looked uncomfortable and Harry thought he even saw him squirm a bit. "I also have someone who wishes to meet you both. She'll be coming on the excursion with us. There are a few places Lucius and I need to visit we don't want you to go in, and she can see that you three can continue sightseeing." At the boy's blank looks, he continued. "Her name is Rosemerta, she runs a pub in Hogsmeade Village she's, well my girlfriend."

"Oooooh," Dudley started to tease, and stopped abruptly at Severus' glare.

"Is she nice?" Harry asked, he thought anxiously. A girlfriend - maybe she wouldn't want him here. She'd likely want Severus all to herself.

"You'll both like her. She's quite anxious to meet you both." Severus grimaced. He had laid out the whole appalling tale, and then had to make her swear not to go straight to Hogwarts and give Albus the hexing of his life. The trip to Madrid would give her a chance to meet the boys and have a nice time. The distractions of sightseeing and shopping would help overcome any awkwardness... he hoped.

Dudley and Harry were finally off to bed, and Severus sipped some tea, and stared at the carefully locked and warded cabinet in the Library that currently held the two Horcruxes. The book "Horcrux Horrors' he had found in an obscure booksellers stall in Berlin had contained a lengthy list of ‘magical miscalculations' with Horcruxes. There were an appalling number of things that could go wrong of course. There was even a mention of a similar problem to the scar that Harry had - of course the outcome for that one hadn't been pleasant, but it did give Severus some ideas.

They needed a plan for the diary, and the dragon's magic had given him some ideas. Spanish wizard were more progressive with their small Reserve of Dragons. They had a mixed bag of Hebredian Blacks and Peruvian Vipertoothes and a few of almost every other kind. They might have an answer. Yuan had given a letter of introduction when he and Lucius had flooed him during there brainstorming, but no absolute promises of help.

They needed to get their plans off the ground. Severus sensed that time was short. Voldemort would start making his move, soon. He would want to kill Harry before he was out of school.

Severus closed his eyes. Harry had already wormed his way into his heart, to his dismay. The thought of him dying was already intolerable. He wouldn't let that happen...ever.