Chapter One Hundred-Sixteen: The Tyree Estate

Chapter One Hundred-Sixteen: The Tyree Estate

Thursday, 8 April 1999

Severus woke to the sound of the shower and Poppy singing a cheerful tune. It seemed vaguely familiar, he thought as he rolled over and drifted back to sleep, pulling Poppy's still-warm pillow to his chest.

He woke again to a kiss on his cheek, Poppy sitting beside him on the edge of the bed. She was wearing the mauve- and lilac-coloured robes that she had worn on their "holiday" in the Ravenclaw guest rooms.

"I hated to wake you, you were sleeping so peacefully," Poppy said, caressing his face and brushing back a lock of hair. "You must have been having a nice dream."

"I don't remember. I don't think I was completely asleep," Severus said. He took her hand and kissed her palm. "You were singing in the shower."

Poppy laughed. "I'm sorry. I should have been quieter and let you sleep."

Severus shook his head. "It was a good way to wake up." Not quite as nice as waking up to her making love to him, he thought, but a close second.

"If you'd like to sleep longer, I could go up to breakfast..."

"No. I want our holiday to start as soon as possible," Severus said, sitting up and letting the feather comforter fall back, exposing his chest to the chilly air of his dungeon bedroom.

"I thought it had a pretty nice start last night," Poppy said with a wink. After Minerva, Gareth, and Helena had left her rooms the evening before, Severus had made love to her on her sofa, then they had Flooed to his rooms and made love again in his sitting room before falling into bed.

Severus gave a crooked grin. "It was. Sorry I fell asleep so fast. I hope it was all right for you."

"More than 'all right,'" Poppy replied, grinning in return.

"Good. I guess the sparring the last few days tired me more than I'd realised."

"It does take a lot out of you, all that magic. And I'm sure that casting the anti-gravity charm on Filius took a lot of energy."

Severus groaned. "Don't remind me!"

"Well, Filius doesn't seem bothered about it, and he's back to his usual self, so I wouldn't worry if I were you."

"I'm not worried," Severus said. "Not worried, simply embarrassed. I don't know what I was thinking."

"That it was clever, no doubt," Poppy said, standing and letting Severus swing his legs out of the bed. "That's something you Slytherins have in common with Ravenclaws...you can become enamoured with the cleverness of something without always thinking through all the practical implications."

"Hmph. I suppose." Severus Summoned his dressing gown. "Did you want breakfast in the Great Hall?"

"Whatever you'd prefer."

"You're all packed, right? I only have a few things I need to put in my bag, and I need to fetch the potions for Johannes. I suggest that we call Twiskett for tea and toast and leave immediately. Unless, of course, you're quite hungry and would prefer a full breakfast."

Poppy shook her head. "No, that sounds good to me, too. We can always have a second breakfast at the cottage, or an early lunch."

"I need a shower."

"I'll fetch my bags from my rooms, then, whilst you shower, and meet you back here."

~*~*~*~

Fifteen minutes later, the two were sitting down to their light breakfast in Severus's sitting room when the fireplace flared green and Minerva's head appeared.

"Good, I caught you two before you left. Albus has offered to Apparate with you to Raven's Ring, Severus. What shall I tell him?"

Severus sighed. "Tell him whatever you like. I suppose I can live with his winks and grins. If, of course, that's all right with you, Poppy."

"It's fine. Tell him as much or as little as you like, Min," Poppy said, taking a bite of toast.

Minerva nodded. "I'll tell him that as you're both going to the estate, you're Apparating together. And I don't see any point in trying to cover that you will both be taking your holidays there at the same time. I won't get into your, um, individual accommodations unless he asks, however."

"That's fine," Severus said. Dumbledore knew that he'd been planning to visit Eoghan over the holiday, anyway, though the implication had always been that he'd pop by the Tyree place for tea, not for an extended stay. If the old wizard thought that he and Poppy were spending more time together while they were there, that would at least keep the awkwardness to a minimum when he did learn that they were together...and it would be easier on Minerva. It was getting to the point where she was moving from being discreet about the relationship to being secretive, and Severus didn't want to put her in an uncomfortable position. Besides, if Operation Woo and Win Poppy Pomfrey was successful, eventually everyone would learn of their relationship, and preferably sooner rather than later. That thought both excited and frightened him, and he pushed it aside.

"Have a good time," Minerva said. "I'll see you in a few days, then!"

"Bye, Minerva! Fuller is still locum, if there are any illnesses or accidents."

Minerva's head disappeared from the fire, and Severus smiled. "You didn't tell her to call you if she needed you."

"I'm sure that if there's a very good reason for her to call me back early, she will, but barring that, I'm on holiday with you, and I don't want to sacrifice one minute away from you. Duty calls enough on both of us when we're here; we don't need to be thinking about that whilst we're away, too."

"I did imply to Eoghan that I would come to tea over the Easter holiday," Severus began.

"Oh, yes, I know that, and that's fine. I think it would be nice, too, if you two spent some time on your own together. I just don't want either of us to be drawn back to Hogwarts unnecessarily before our holiday is over."

"We shall see. At least we can both go to tea with the Tyrees. Perhaps it won't be as onerous if you are with me."

Poppy laughed. "I thought you enjoyed the time you spent there with Gareth."

"I suppose I did," Severus admitted, "and Eoghan seems acceptable, for a boy and a Prince relation."

"He's a Tyree, too, and his grandmother is a Muggle-born. He adored Lydia Prince Tyree, but she was his great-great-grandmother. So try to see him as a person in his own right, not just as a Prince relation."

"Hmph. Minerva says we're also related through, um ..."

"Yes?" Poppy prompted, picking up her teacup.

"Apparently we're both related to, er ..."

"To whom?"

"A pair of sisters." Severus bit into his wholemeal toast.

"Sisters?" Poppy shook her head, confused.

Severus chewed slowly and swallowed. Well, this wasn't the most embarrassing fact of his existence, after all. "Longbottoms."

"Ohhh! I do remember that Bertrand is married to a Longbottom, now that I think of it. Sally. I didn't know you were related to the Longbottoms."

"Neither did I. And I'm still not sure whether I believe it," he replied. "Minerva could be having me on."

Poppy laughed. "I doubt that, Sev. Besides, I think the Longbottoms are related to everyone. Minerva's got some Longbottoms in her family tree on her mother's side. In fact, my father's mother's mother was a Longbottom. A cousin of some sort to Minerva's great-grandmother. We figured it out once back in school."

"So you and I are related?" Severus said, eyebrows raised.

"Very distantly. But unless someone's a Muggle-born, they're bound to be related in some way to most of the rest of wizarding Britain."

"Good thing there are Muggle-borns, then," Severus said.

"It does inject some new blood into the population," Poppy agreed. "Of course, Gertrude has a theory ..."

"What's that?"

"She thinks that all Muggle-borns, or most of them, anyway, must have a Squib or two in their family trees, and that eventually the magic re-emerges in their descendants."

"That does make sense. Of course, pureblood supremacists would hate that. If it were proven true, it could lead to anti-Squib feeling...greater anti-Squib feeling than there already is. They already disapprove of witches and wizards marrying Muggles and would like to outlaw that; they'd likely be quite vociferous in their opposition to Squibs marrying Muggles, too...they'd see Squibs entering Muggle society as a threat to blood purity, certainly."

"Fortunately, the people who think that way have been defeated. I think it will be a long time before we see views like that gain any headway again, at least officially."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Prejudice dies hard, and it provides a sense of security for some people."

"I can hope, anyway. And I think that Hogwarts can be a force for changing some of those old attitudes, particularly with you as Head of Slytherin."

Severus simply nodded. He believed that Poppy was naive, and he didn't want to remind her that he had been Head of Slytherin during some of the worst, most prejudiced years in recent wizarding history. It was not a positive way to begin their holiday together.

The two met no one on their walk down to the gates, though they saw Stan Shunpike tossing bits of something into the lake for the Giant Squib to catch. Poppy, wand drawn, insisted on going through the gates first and checking the bushes on either side of the road. When she cast a Revelare to see whether anyone were hidden by magic, Severus bit his tongue. He doubted that anyone would be waiting beside the Hogwarts gates on the off-chance that he might be coming through them, but it was good of Poppy to be concerned and careful. Besides, it did seem that the vigilante watched her victims for some time before attacking them; he supposed that it wasn't completely unreasonable for Poppy to think the witch might be hiding in the bushes outside of Hogwarts. He just hoped no one was watching from the castle windows as he stood there like a Milquetoast and let the Hogwarts matron check for danger for him.

When Poppy waved him through the gates and they had clanked shut behind him, she told him to Disapparate first and she would follow on immediately after. Poppy arrived on the drive only seconds after Severus, the crack of his Apparition still reverberating off the surrounding mountains and the old, grey stone castle the Tyrees called home.

"I should have brought my broomstick," Severus said, looking around him. The sky was an intense blue, with only a few gauzy white clouds scudding across the sky toward the higher mountains to the northeast of them. The breeze was chilly, but fresh, and Severus thought he could smell the sea.

"I'm sure there's one you could borrow if you like. You and Eoghan could go flying one afternoon. That's something he'd be sure to enjoy with you."

"Wouldn't you want to come?" Severus asked as the two walked up the drive, their luggage following behind them at his wandless command.

"I really don't enjoy flying very much, Sev, but if it's important to you, I could come along for a bit."

He nodded. "We shall see."

"I hope you enjoy hill-walking."

"I am sure that here, and in your company, I will," he said, looking toward her, a slight smile on his face.

The front door to the large house opened, and Severus recognised the house-elf who had greeted him the previous occasions he had visited with Gareth and then with Dumbledore.

"Hello, Brantin!" Poppy called, waving.

The house-elf nodded at her, smiling. As they drew closer, he said, "Madam Siofre expects you. She asks if you would join her in the morning room."

"Thanks, Brantin," Poppy said. "We can find it."

Brantin wiggled his fingers at their luggage, taking it from Severus's Levitation and setting it all down in the corner of the front hall. "You like the luggage sent to Primrose Cottage now?"

"Yes, that would be fine, wouldn't it, Severus?"

"All but the brown box," Severus said, nodding, and with his assent, Brantin snapped his fingers. He and the bags vanished with a resounding crack.

"It's through here, Sev, if you haven't seen the room before," Poppy said, starting down the broad, wood-panelled hallway.

"Eoghan brought me this way, I believe," Severus said, looking around at the various paintings and artifacts that decorated the house.

Siofre set aside the newspaper she was reading as the two entered. Breakfast was laid out on a sideboard, and two empty places were laid at the table.

"Good morning, Poppy, Professor Snape. Would you care for some breakfast, or have you already eaten?"

Severus found himself famished as the aroma of sausages and coffee wafted past. The tea and toast had only served to whet his appetite, it seemed, but he wasn't sure whether they should accept or not. Apparently Poppy had no such question in her mind, and Severus was glad to hear her agree to breakfast.

"We just had something light before we left," Poppy explained as she helped herself to kippers. "We wanted to get a start on our holiday."

"Quite sensible," Siofre said with a nod. She poured herself a cup of tea. "I thought you might like a bite, in any case, before settling in at the cottage."

"So where are the others? Johannes and Eoghan?" Poppy asked, sitting down across from Siofre and accepting a cup of tea from her. "Don't tell me that Johannes is still in bed."

"Nay, that would be a rare occurrence," Siofre said with a sharp smile. "He was up before dawn and out working in the garden before breakfast, then he ate with me a while ago and went back out. The weather can be somewhat variable here, particularly this time of year, and he wants to work outdoors while it's clear."

"And Eoghan?" Poppy passed Severus a small pitcher of cream for his coffee. "I thought we would see him this week."

"Aye, an' you will." Siofre smiled at Severus. "The lad has taken to you, Professor. I hope you do not disappoint his hope that you will come to tea whilst you are here, you and Poppy both, of course."

"Indeed. We had spoken of that ourselves," Severus said.

"Eoghan is down with his grandparents now, but he will be returning this evening. Perhaps you would care to come to tea tomorrow afternoon, or Saturday?"

Severus nodded, chewing his sausage.

"Saturday afternoon would suit us well, I think," Poppy said. She thought that Severus would appreciate having two days more-or-less to themselves with no outside obligations. She looked over at him questioningly.

"Yes, thank you, Madam Tyree. Saturday afternoon," Severus said. "We look forward to it."

"Severus was saying that he wished he'd brought a broomstick with him. Would you happen to have one he could borrow?"

"Aye. There's the broomshed near the greenhouses, over on the other side, away from the house. You remember it? Take whichever ones you like. Eoghan has his in his bedroom, so you may feel free to use any of the others. I fly seldom now, though Honnie likes to have an aerial view of the gardens and fields, and he flies fairly regularly, and others on the estate sometimes use them, as well, so the brooms are all in good order and well maintained."

"Speaking of others on the estate," Poppy said, "are Bertrand and Sally around at all?"

"They are. They braved a Highland winter with us this year...though they did spend a few weeks in January down in Bournemouth with friends."

"I was just mentioning Sally to Severus this morning. We think they may be related in some way," Poppy said.

"Aye," Siofre said with a nod. "Sally's sister, Louisa, was your grandfather's mother."

"I can barely remember her." Severus had a vague recollection of a silent, staring old woman whom he had seen at his grandfather's house a few times, but he had always been sent off while the adults talked...his mother, grandfather, and great-grandmother. She hadn't expressed any interest in him.

"She and Sally weren't on good terms for a long time before she died. Sally wasn't even told of Louisa's funeral until after it was held," Siofre said. "I think Louisa was an unhappy woman."

"My entire family was unhappy," Severus said. "It would surprise me if she were an exception."

Siofre gazed at him over her teacup, considering him with her sharp hazel eyes. "I will borrow you for an hour or two this week, an your lady permits," she said with a nod toward Poppy, though her eyes remained on Severus.

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"You mention the unhappiness of your family." Siofre set down her teacup. "We may speak of that. I am an old witch, Professor, with a long memory."

Severus, still mystified, inclined his head. "As you wish."

"And we will invite Sally and Bertrand to tea on Saturday, as well, shall we?" Siofre asked rhetorically.

"Of course," Severus said. "It would be ... interesting to meet them." They were both blood relatives, he realised. Bertrand as Lydia's son, therefore his great-grandfather's cousin, and Sally as his great-great-aunt. He had mixed feelings about meeting more "family," but if they had been estranged from his grandfather and his grandfather's parents, they might be acceptable. On the other hand, Bertrand and Sally might not be inclined to meet him, if they disliked his side of the family.

"I hope that Eoghan won't feel ignored," Poppy said.

"We will see that he has time to speak with his cousin," Siofre replied.

Severus turned to Poppy. "I will not forget the boy, Poppy. Do not worry."

"Now, however, you begin your holiday and settle into the cottage." Siofre rose. "If you have eaten your fill?"

"It was delicious, Siofre, thank you," Poppy said.

"It was most welcome," Severus agreed, standing. "Thank you."

"Then come with me. I have something for you that will make your stay here easier and more pleasant...or which shall when complete."

Poppy and Severus followed Siofre as she led them through to the conservatory, then the music room, and into the sitting room. They waited, curious, as the old witch opened a drawer in a cabinet at one side of the sitting room and drew out two objects hanging from soft dark cords. One was a small, pinkish-orange spiral shell; the other looked like a bit of colourful petrified wood.

"I prepared these for you," Siofre began. "After I have performed the final charms, you may wear them to bypass the Anti-Apparition wards and Apparate freely about the grounds."

"Thank you, Siofre," Poppy said. "That will be very convenient."

"Aye, well, there are few enough open Apparition points, and if you are hill-walking, you may find it useful to be able to Apparate." She held up the polished petrified wood, dangling from its dark green cord. "This one is for you, Professor. Eoghan gave it to me from his collection especially for you when he heard I was creating them." The corner of her mouth twitched up. "He was enthusiastic to provide it to you."

Severus nodded. "Thank you both, then."

"I assume you have no terror of a wee blood spell?" Siofre asked.

Severus hesitated, lips parted. He was not opposed to blood magic, per se, nor was he concerned that they might be violating some British wizarding law. But blood magic ... that was powerful, risky, and potentially dangerous. He barely knew this witch, even if he wished to be able to trust her.

"I am curious about it," Poppy broke in. She had seen the hesitancy on Severus's face and knew that he was likely loathe to question Siofre, but uneasy about the blood magic, nonetheless.

Siofre turned to her. "Here, we shall finish yours first. Just a drop of blood from a finger is all we need. With that, I will create a charm that will allow you to Apparate freely over the Tyree lands, just as if you were family admitted to the wards and had the freedom of the estate. Because it is created with your blood, none other can use it, an' there's no danger to the estate if it be lost or stealt." Siofre glanced up at Severus. "'Tis not lightly given. But you are in a manner of kin, through young Eoghan, and Minerva's trusted man at Hogwarts."

"We appreciate it," Poppy said. "Is there anything I need to do to prepare?"

"Nay, gi' your hand t' me, an you're ready."

Poppy held out her right hand. Siofre set both pendants on a small table beside the sofa and drew her wand.

"T'will not hurt beyond a slight prick." Siofre picked up the shell by its deep blue cord, flicked her wand slightly at Poppy's outstretched hand, then held the shell to the tiny bead of blood at the tip of Poppy's index finger. With the shell resting in the palm of her left hand, and holding her wandtip just above it, Siofre whispered a few words. The slight smear of blood vanished, the shell glowed for an instant, and Siofre closed her hand around it. She nodded.

"It is complete. The charm will last twenty or thirty years. Longer than I will live to see, no doubt. But you may use them if you return for other visits."

"We will leave them with you before we go," Poppy said, taking the charm and slipping the cord around her neck, tucking it into her robe.

"Leave them at the cottage. A house-elf will retrieve them. We will keep them in the North Tower relic gallery for you."

"Are there restrictions on the charms we should be aware of? Places they won't work...and may we Side-Along with them?" Poppy asked as Siofre cast a quick healing charm on the pinprick on her finger.

"Aye, you may Side-Along...and if the Professor does not wish his own charm, you may provide him with Side-Along Apparition. There are no restrictions on them other than good manners."

"Where are the open Apparition points?" Severus asked.

"The drive here, where you have arrived on your visits to us, and a few other spots near estate residences: the walk and garden outside the lodge; the lawn at the well down by Morgan and Fiona's house; the flagstone by the sundial at the gatehouse...Bertrand and Sally reside there when they are on the estate...and there is a large open green up near the cottages on the sea, where a few other clan families live, and where they may direct their visitors to arrive an they Apparate. Both the gatehouse and the green have wards, however, that sound a bell when any arrive there. We can hear the gatehouse bell here at the house, and if anyone visits when Bertrand and Sally are away, a house-elf pops over.

"Minerva is here too seldom for an open point to be secure...or necessary...at Primrose Cottage, and there is none there. You may easily walk in fine weather as we have today, though...or borrow a broom...even an ye have the two charms. 'Tis a pleasant walk, not two miles from the lower gardens beyond the greenhouse to the orchards near the cottage. We walk it oft, Honnie and I, as we view the grounds. And anyone may Disapparate from anywhere on the grounds, and from a few of the outbuildings, such as the greenhouses, but only to leave the grounds entirely...and they may not Side-Along someone, nor may they Disapparate from within any of the residences without Splinching, not without a charm such as these or admission to the family wards."

Severus glanced at Poppy, let out a slow breath, and held out his left hand, palm up, but fingers curled. "These amulets will be secured when we leave?"

"Aye, lad. The North Tower treasure room is secure enough. An you prefer it, we can destroy the amulet afore ye both leave, but if you come again, you might want it." Siofre gave Severus a slight grin. "We have no need of your blood for aught else, and if it may ease any doubt you have, Professor, Albus had one of these for a number of years, and it still rests above, untouched."

"He doesn't use it any longer?" Severus asked.

"We admitted him to the family wards some time back," Siofre said briskly, "so he doesn't need it." She raised her wand and looked at him for confirmation. When he extended his fingers and held his hand steady, she twitched her wand, raising a droplet of blood at the tip of his index finger. She picked up the piece of petrified wood and repeated with Severus's blood the spell she had performed on Poppy's shell.

"Wear this in good health, Professor," Siofre said, handing the charm to Severus.

The petrified wood was quite warm, whether from Siofre's spell or her touch, Severus was unsure. He followed Poppy's example and slipped the dark green cord around his neck and inside his shirt.

"Thank you, Madam Tyree." Now that the spell was cast and his blood used, he realised what a privilege she had given him, and what trust she had shown. There may be some in the wizarding world who did not want to sit at the same table with him, but a witch of discretion and power had just given him the freedom of her estate. Siofre Tyree's trust meant more than the petty snub of some prejudiced young witch in the Three Broomsticks.

"You may leave through the conservatory, if you like, and walk from there, or stop by the broomshed and select a couple brooms," Siofre said. "You remember how to reach the cottage from here, Poppy?"

"Yes, thanks! We may walk, or maybe I'll give Severus a Side-Along," Poppy replied.

"It is a nice day for a walk or a flight," Siofre said.

"I left some potions in the front hall," Severus said. "They were some that I brewed for Professor Birnbaum."

Siofre nodded. "I will tell him when he comes in. Now, one last thing. If you need anything at all whilst you are here, Duster will be listening for your call. If he is occupied, it may take him a few minutes to arrive, but he is a good elf, and he often serves Minerva when she is here. Let me introduce you before you go. Duster!"

The three waited only a few moments before there was a crack and a house-elf appeared beside Siofre. His skin was a pale tan, but he had a large blue scar on one side of his face, running down his neck and disappearing beneath the multiple tartan tea towels he was wearing, wrapped and draped around his body and across his shoulders. One ear had a few short tufts of fine brown hair emerging from it; the other ear was scarred blue and hairless.

"Duster, this is Professor Severus Snape. You know Madam Pomfrey."

"Aye." Duster bobbed his head at Severus, then smiled crookedly up at Poppy. "You look like a spring bouquet, Madam Poppy!"

Poppy laughed. "Thank you, Duster. You are as poetic as ever."

Duster's crooked grin broadened. "Mister Morgan prints another book of my poetry next month. Napping on orchids. Mammie doesn't like this one, she says, but she doesn't like napping."

"I am sure you never nap when you should work," Poppy said.

Duster laughed. "It isn't really about napping, anyway. It's about ... about how it feels to dream while working, that feeling of working in the soil with Master Professor and forgetting that I and the orchids and the earth are not one. That feeling. It is a feeling all house-elves know when they are happy in work, but it is hard to describe. Every poem in the book is about that feeling."

"I think that humans get that feeling sometimes, too," Poppy said.

"That's what Master Professor says, and Mister Morgan."

"All right, now," Siofre said briskly. "Enough talk of poetry. Honnie will wonder where you've got to, and I know he needs your help. But when either Professor Snape or Poppy call you whilst they are here, you will serve them."

"Right, Madam Siofre!" Duster looked expectantly up at Severus.

"Say something, Sev," Poppy whispered. "He needs to hear your voice."

Severus cleared his throat. He had thought that silent little Twiskett was strange, and Blessen, his alabaster-skinned brother with the tufts of red hair, but he'd never met a house-elf who wrote poetry before. "Er, congratulations." Severus nodded at the creature.

Duster nodded back, then with a snap of his fingers, he Disapparated.

"Shall we pick up a pair of broomsticks, Sev?" Poppy asked as they stepped out of the conservatory onto a well-tended path of pea stones that led down into the gardens.

"Yes. We can fly to the cottage."

"Wouldn't you rather walk? It is a beautiful walk, and you could get a feel of the place."

"We will have a good view of the grounds if we fly," Severus said, "and we will be there more quickly."

"I'd enjoy the walk with you, myself." Poppy looked up at him and took his hand, smiling. "Can't hold hands on broomstick. Or if you're in a hurry, I could Apparate us."

Severus squeezed her hand. It was nice to be able to hold hands like this, with no worry about who might see. He smiled down at her, then swiftly bent and kissed her forehead. Another thing he could do here that he couldn't do at Hogwarts. "I love you, Poppy, and I hope that we have other walks together, but I'd like to get to the cottage sooner and unpack, get settled, and so on. And if we fly, I will have a better sense of the grounds. Dumbledore said that they are among the most extensive privately held wizarding lands in all of Britain." He also wanted to get to the cottage and see whether Birnbaum had received his note about the roses, and the card that he had enclosed to be put with them. He hoped so; he had been anticipating seeing Poppy see the roses and open his card for days.

"All right, then," Poppy said. "Broomstick it is!"

Poppy led them down past the greenhouses, around a hedge, and to a small cluster of outbuildings, one a large stone barn-like structure, a second medium-sized stone shed, and the other two, smaller wooden sheds.

"It's this one, I think," Poppy said, pulling open the door on the smallest shed. "Yes, this is it."

The rafters glowed with a spell as the two entered the shed. There were several brooms there, resting on hooks on the far wall, as well as a carpet rolled up on a shelf, two long toboggans leaning next to the door, and several sets of skis and ski poles.

"Pick one out for me, Sev? It doesn't need to be fast, just steady."

Severus examined the brooms, quickly choosing for himself a German Drachenfeuer, which he'd read good things about but never seen in person. It was black with gold flame-like stripes down the handle, a black moulded handgrip, and dark red and black polished twigs at the other end.

"Do you think Professor Birnbaum would mind if I borrowed this one?" Severus asked, holding it out for Poppy to see.

Poppy shrugged. "I don't know why not."

"It's German. I thought it might be his personal broom."

"I don't think he'd keep it in this shed if he cared who used it. He may have another, anyway."

Severus nodded, looking over the other brooms. "How about this one? It's a Cleansweep Seven. Good solid model, excellent stability charms, comfortable cushioning charms. Fast enough, and very responsive, but not a real racing broom."

"Okay. That sounds fine," Poppy agreed, reaching for it.

They stepped outside, and as soon as Poppy closed the door, Severus mounted his broom. He was pleased with the way that it responded. Nothing like the Thunderbolt that Helena had let him use, but quite good, at least as good as the Firebolt, he thought, but a bit more comfortable. He rose straight up, but then immediately floated back down to Poppy.

"Coming?" he asked.

"Yes, of course. Let me just get settled." She grinned at him nervously, then released her hold on the Cleansweep, letting it float beside her, and mounted. She seemed to let out a sigh of relief, then rose up a few feet to hover beside Severus. "I'll lead the way, obviously, since I know where the cottage is, but feel free to fly higher, or to circle about as we go."

"All right. Don't fly much?"

"No. Very rarely. I don't enjoy it much, and I don't completely trust broomsticks," she said, lowering her voice as if the broom she was riding might hear her and take offense.

"If you really want to walk..." Severus began.

"I don't dislike it that much. I don't have a phobia about it. We'll fly. You'll enjoy it." Poppy smiled gamely and started forward, rising gradually, Severus following her, until they were about fifty feet in the air.

"All right?" Severus asked, pulling up beside her.

"Just fine," Poppy said, gingerly taking one hand from its grip on the handle and patting it before grabbing on again. "You picked a good one. Now the cottage is to the southwest over there." She raised a hand and gestured, tottering slightly, then regaining her balance. "You can't see it from here. That long house there, you see it? That's the lodge, where Branwen and Renwick and their kids live."

Severus nodded. "Someone pointed that out to me when I was here before."

"That house beyond the rise over there is Morgan and Fiona's place, and the larger building next to it is where they have their presses and offices. They built the small house after the kids all grew up...they used to live in the lodge...but the press building has been there for ages. Siofre and Johannes put it up for them a year or two after they moved to the estate back when the quads were babies."

"They believe in having many children in that family," Severus remarked.

"Morgan and Fiona stopped at four...though that was enough, especially all at once! Malcolm only ever had Gareth, and Melina is Murdoch's only child. And, of course, Minerva and Albus ... they never had children. But you're right...Morgan and Fiona, and then Branwen and Renwick with their three, have helped populate the estate!"

"Where is the gatehouse?" Severus asked, looking around.

"Back the other way. If we followed the drive from the front of the main house, we'd come to it."

"I didn't realise that so many people live on the estate. I thought it was just Siofre, Birnbaum, and Eoghan."

"They do rattle around in the main house a bit, but they often have company. And even sometimes when Minerva comes here, she stays there rather than at the cottage if it's just a quick visit for a night or two. Liam and Judith, Eoghan's parents, used to stay here a lot, from what Minerva says. It was like a second home for them, and they practically raised Eoghan on the estate. I guess that's one reason why Eoghan came here to live with Lydia rather than going to Connor and Elisabeth, his grandparents. They also simply have plenty of room for him here."

"I got the impression from Birnbaum that Eoghan will inherit the estate."

"Will he? Well, I suppose that would make sense ... although I'm surprised it wouldn't be one of Bran's kids, actually, since they're Siofre's descendants, and the place has belonged to Siofre since her grandparents died when she was young."

"I suppose it's because she and Birnbaum adopted him as their son," Severus said.

"Probably. And I doubt that Wren Caoimhe and the others will be left out in the cold."

"And they're all coming to Hogwarts in the autumn, according to Dumbledore, all four of them."

"It's going to be a large class, I think."

"Indeed. Almost as many as this year."

"And here we are. Those are the apple orchards there, and there's the house," Poppy said.

Severus circled the cottage and gardens. "Very nice."

Poppy set down in front of the house, where Scottish primrose were already beginning to bud. She didn't stumble, but she took a moment to steady herself and regain her feet before she dismounted her broom. Severus set down more lightly, dismounting as his right foot touched the ground. After riding with Helena recently, he had polished up some of his old skills.

"There's no password," Poppy said, adding with a laugh, "though there is a lock, but Minerva says they never use it when they're away, just when they're here and they want to deter casual callers from wandering in for a visit."

"Really."

"Yes. I guess that when she and Albus first began coming here, guests would drop by and when they didn't rush to answer the door immediately, some of them would just wander in and call out. Very friendly, you know, but not very comfortable if you're, um, relaxing, if you know what I mean."

"I do," Severus said. "And I think that we should be sure the door is well latched. I do not wish to provide either education or entertainment to any of the estate's curious residents!"

Poppy laughed. "Minerva said that when they were about eight or nine, Aiden and David once wandered in whilst she and Albus were in the middle of, um, you-know-what, and they had to scramble to cover up, since they weren't dressed. That's when they started locking the doors."

"I doubt we will have such visitors," Severus said as they walked up the front path. "This is a larger house than I thought it would be."

"I think that Siofre believed Minerva would like to raise a family here." Poppy shrugged and opened the door. "I wonder where Brantin put our luggage."

"I'm sure we'll find it." Severus also wondered where the roses were, if Johannes had even received his message. "Give me a tour of the place?"

"Of course."

Severus followed Poppy into the living room.

"The living room, obviously," Poppy said. "There's a dining room through here. Then down this hall, here we have the kitchen. Minerva said that she'd had it stocked for us. We can explore later. Through this door, Minerva has made a reading room. It used to be an artist's atelier years ago...some ancestor of Siofre's, I think...and Minerva liked the light from all the windows. And the downstairs loo is in here, too...just behind this door by the kitchen."

Severus nodded. So far, no flowers except a dried arrangement in the dining room. "This is a nice room," he said, stepping into the reading room. There were a number of green potted plants there, but no bouquet of roses.

"It's nice when it's raining, too. The rain beats down on the slate roof and against the windows, but it's warm and cheery in here, and right next to the kitchen if you want a snack. A nice place to curl up with a book."

"You've been here often?"

"Fairly often, usually with Minerva, but a few times on my own when I needed a break, you know. I love Violet and the rest of the family, but sometimes it's nice to get away for a bit during the summer, and Minerva and Albus spend time out on the island, too, so they aren't here the entire summer."

Severus hesitated. "Were you here with Murdoch?"

"No." Poppy shook her head. "That is, I visited the estate with Murdoch, but we stayed at the main house, and we did visit Minerva and Albus here a few times, but Murdoch and I never stayed here."

Severus nodded, and Poppy looked up at him. "I haven't stayed here with anyone else, either," she said.

"It's all right."

"Just making sure."

"I was just curious," Severus said. "I'm not always jealous."

"Of course not. Okay, on with the tour."

Upstairs, Poppy showed him briefly through the first floor, where Minerva and Albus's bedroom was, then led him up to the second floor.

"There's a library up here, of sorts, and the rose bedroom that Minerva suggested we use. It's actually pale yellow, but there are roses carved in the bedstead, and it overlooks the primrose garden in front. There's also a bathroom and loo here, so no need to go downstairs."

Poppy opened the door to the bedroom, and Severus smiled. Birnbaum hadn't let him down. There was a huge bouquet of deep red roses on the low dresser between the bedroom's two front windows, three dozen flowers, at least, and every blossom perfect.

"Oh, my," Poppy said, stopping and staring at the roses.

"There's a card," Severus said softly.

Poppy found the card set between two of the roses. "They're from you?" she asked, seeing his handwriting on the outside.

Severus nodded.

She opened it.

Poppy – You alone have my love forever. – Severus

She set down the card and turned to Severus. She swallowed. "They're beautiful. And your card, too."

"I mean it, Poppy. I love you. I do." His heart pounded. She seemed so still. Had the flowers and the message been too much? He raised his hand to caress her face.

Poppy closed her eyes as he touched her, then she stepped toward him and put her arms around him, leaning into him. "I love you, too, Severus," she whispered. She held him more tightly. "I love you, too, so much."

Author's Note: I apologize to my readers for the long delay in updating A Long Vernal Season. I haven't lost interest in it...or in any of my WIPs...but last year was not a good year for writing. The autumn and early winter, in particular, threw a lot at me, and I had little energy left for writing. I hope that I'll be able to update on a somewhat regular basis now, even if not as frequently as I might like.

Thanks for sticking with Severus, Poppy, and this story...and with me!