Chapter Six

Disclaimer: All the characters mentioned from the Harry Potter books belong to JKR. All other characters mentioned in these pages belong to Velvet Song or myself. No monies changed hands during the writing of this story.

Author's Notes: My apologies for the length of time between this chapter and the preceding one. It has, needless to say, been a loooong and strange summer.

This is the sequel to Velvet Song's "Damsels and Dragons" which she allowed me to complete and post to this archive. If you have not read the first story, I strongly encourage you to do so to avoid any confusion while reading this story. The first chapters by Velvet Song can be found here: http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewstory.php?sid=18337 and my concluding chapters can be found here: http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewstory.php?sid=19501.

This sequel is complete, and chapters will be posted as fast as I am able. Much thanks to noybate for her beta skills. All mistakes found are mine.

Chapter 6

Hermione and Severus Apparated to just outside the gates of Marbh-clah early the next morning after informing Minerva of their destination. She, in turn, made sure that none of the other summer residents of the school followed them.

Hermione moved forward towards the gates of the manor with all due caution. She was not sure just what would happen this time when the true owner just happened to be with her. Severus held back, allowing her to approach the gates alone. To her surprise, the gates opened at her touch, but clanged shut as Severus approached.

"Well, that answers one question," he said, standing just outside the gates.

"What's that?" Hermione asked, not touching the grillwork just in case.

"The manor recognises you as its rightful occupant, and I'm the interloper," he all but snarled. "Not exactly how I am used to being welcomed home."

"I-I'm sorry, Severus," Hermione stammered. "How exactly do I do this? Do I need my wand?"

"It's not your fault; it's mine and that blasted will," Severus said. "You'll need to open the gates and formally invite me in. No foolish wand-waving necessary."

Hermione hesitantly reached out and touched the gates, which swung open once more. Pausing a moment to think, she finally decided a curtsey, even though she wore jeans and trainers, would be formal enough. "Please, Master Snape, welcome to your...I mean, my home. Won't you come in?"

Severus smirked at her curtsey and the wording of her invitation. "Thank you, Miss Granger. It would be a pleasure," he answered, giving her a courtly bow.

She held her breath as he stepped through the gates, then breathed out in relief as nothing more happened. When Severus was clearly inside the wards of the manor, the gates shut once again, locking them inside and the rest of the world out.

"What would happen if Harry or one of the others tried to get through?" Hermione asked, peering closely at the sigils and wards woven into the gate.

"As the manor is secret kept, with Lucius being the Secret-Keeper, no one would ever see it without knowing the address," Snape explained. "And even Lucius would not be able to come beyond the gates without a specific invitation. An alarm sounds in the house whenever someone touches the gate, so anyone inside would be apprised of visitors, expected or unexpected."

"What if they managed to remove the wards?" Hermione cautiously reached out to touch one of the sigils, but Severus held her hand back.

"The wards have held on this place for over seven hundred years, Hermione," he said. "They are renewed every hundred years by the then master of the manor. As my grandfather renewed the wards only sixty years ago, we have time before they will have to be done again."

"And hopefully, the manor will belong to you again by that time," Hermione said softly, her hand dropping to her side.

"We can certainly hope so," he retorted, then turned towards the house. "Now, I believe we have a library to raid."

Hermione grinned. "I like that expression," she said with a giggle. "That's what it feels like every time I enter a library. I want to raid the books."

Severus snorted with suppressed laughter, his eyes sparkling with humour. "We at least have that much in common," he said, making a deep obeisance towards the door of the manor. "Shall we?" With a hearty laugh, Hermione curtsied deeply once again and led the way up the path to the manor.

§§§§§§§

Marigold met the witch and wizard at the door, smiling from ear to ear. "Welcome back, Miss Hermione," she said, then looked at Severus, her smile growing even wider if that were possible. "Marigold welcomes Master Severus home."

Severus hemmed and cleared his throat, although his voice was harsh as he answered. "Thank you, Marigold. It feels good to be home. How have things been?"

"Marigold tells Master Severus when Master Severus is being dragon, Marigold look after everything," the house-elf said. "Marigold look after everything like promised."

"Marigold?" Hermione interrupted. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Miss Hermione always ask questions of Marigold," the house-elf answered. "Miss Hermione owns Marigold."

"Oh, no..." Hermione trailed off as Severus cleared his throat and shook his head at her. "Sorry. Marigold, the wards won't recognise Severus anymore. Is there any way you can fix that so he can come and go without me?"

"Oh, no, Miss Hermione." Marigold bowed so low, her forehead touched the floor. "Only Prince can change manor wards. Ministry say no more Prince anymore. Marigold can not. Miss Hermione can not. Miss Hermione is not Prince family, only live in manor. Only Prince family can change wards. Marigold most sorry." The house-elf looked around for something to punish herself with, her eyes brimming with tears because she could not fulfil such a simple request.

"You've done nothing wrong, Marigold," Severus told her, all but holding the house-elf still by sheer force. "Hermione and I will manage for the time being and hope the Ministry comes to their senses soon."

"Oh," Hermione said suddenly, causing the house-elf and her erstwhile master to look over at her. "I almost forgot." She quickly pulled her beaded bag around and opened it, peering into the depths intently. "I know it's in here someplace," she muttered, rooting around with her free hand. "Aha! I knew it!"

Pulling the manor's copy of Curses Ancient and Moderne from her bag, she presented it to Marigold, who clasped it to her chest tightly. "I promised I'd return it when we were finished," Hermione said. "Here you go."

"Marigold thanks you, Miss Hermione," the house-elf all but sobbed. "Marigold will return book to library. Is Master Severus and Miss Hermione hungry?" She looked expectantly between the two of them, perhaps hoping one or the other would say yes.

"I'm afraid we ate breakfast before we left Hogwarts," Severus gently told the elf, who looked crestfallen at the news. "However, as we will be working in the library most of the day..." Marigold perked up. "If you could be sure to see that we are kept supplied with tea, as well as lunch and dinner, it would be greatly appreciated."

Marigold nodded her head vigorously. "Marigold can do that," she exclaimed. "Oh, yes, she can. Marigold makes sure Master Severus and Miss Hermione has food and tea. Oh, yes!" With a pop, the house-elf disappeared, possibly to the kitchens. Hermione hoped she would return the book to the library first.

Severus smiled fondly. "It takes so little to make her happy," he mused. "Always has." He started down a side corridor, and Hermione made haste to follow.

"How long has she served your family?" Hermione asked, panting as she tried to keep up with his long strides.

Noticing this, Severus slowed his pace and allowed her to catch up. "I'm not sure," he said. "She was here when I inherited from my grandfather, so it's been at least thirty years."

"Thirty years?" Hermione was aghast as she did the math. "Thirty years ago, you would have still been a student at Hogwarts."

"I was a sixth-year at the time," Severus answered. "As the last of the Prince line, the manor and its contents became mine the moment my grandfather passed." He stopped and stared off into space, frowning. "My mother had died the winter before, but it would not have gone to her."

"Because she was a woman?" Hermione whispered.

"No." Severus scowled. "My grandfather magically disinherited her when she became pregnant out of wedlock by a man old enough to be her grandfather."

"Albus Dumbledore."

Severus instantly snarled at her. "How did you know that?" he demanded, grabbing her by the arms. "How did you know?"

Hermione winced at the pressure from his hands. "Lucius... Lucius showed the Wizengamot the memories during the trial to exonerate you," she hastily explained. "Severus, you're hurting me!" She jerked out of his hold when his attention momentarily lapsed and straightened her sweater. "It was the only way he could think of to explain why you killed Dumbledore."

"Lucius and I will have to have a talk when you and I return to Hogwarts," he sneered. "For now, the library is this way." He set off once more at a brisk pace, forcing Hermione to all but jog to keep up.

§§§§§§§

Later that evening, Marigold entered the library and tutted over the dinner trays that sat, uneaten, on the table by the fireplace. With a snap of her fingers, she sent the trays back to the kitchen, then went on the hunt for Hermione and Severus. Hearing voices from the rear of the enormous room, she followed the sounds to find Severus on a ladder and Hermione sitting at the large table, surrounded by books.

Hermione ran her hands through the snarls in her hair, evidence that she had done so several times during the day. "We've found several angles to follow, Severus, but I still believe..."

"There is an answer here somewhere," he interrupted, holding up another book. "Here, this one is disarmed. What is it, Marigold?"

The house-elf put her hands on her hips as Hermione glanced over at her. "You is forgetting to eats dinner," Marigold scolded. "Is not good you not eat, Master Severus. You too thin. Marigold make more dinner. You eat."

Severus blinked and looked down at Hermione. "It's not all that late, is it?" he asked in confusion. "We've only been here a few hours."

Hermione picked up her wand and cast a tempus spell. "Uh-oh," she said. "Severus, we've been at this for almost twelve hours." She slumped back in her chair and smiled at Marigold. "I'm sorry, Marigold. We lost all track of time."

"Miss Hermione as bad as Master Severus," the house-elf snorted. "Lose nose in books and lose time. Marigold make more dinner." She pointed at Hermione. "You eat. Books still there when done."

Marigold snapped her fingers, and two more trays appeared in a cleared spot on the table. "Master Severus eat now," she insisted as Severus climbed down the ladder with the book he had disarmed. "Book wait."

"Very well, Marigold," he said, laying the book on the table as Hermione strained to catch a glimpse of the title.

"No." The little house-elf all but stamped her foot. "Miss Hermione eat. Now!"

Severus smirked as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Pulling a tray over to his side of the table, he told Hermione, "You'd best do as she says, Hermione. Marigold practically rules the roost here at Marbh-clah."

Hermione sighed and pushed the books away in order to reach her tray. "Yes, Severus," she answered. "Thank you for reminding us, Marigold."

"Marigold come later," she said with a smile. "Remind Master Severus and Miss Hermione go to bed. Books still here in morning."

"That would be most helpful," Severus said dryly. "Thank you."