Saviour of Nothing

Prince Manor

Harry stumbled onto the lawn of the most magnificent manor house he had ever seen. He felt his jaw drop as he gazed up at what looked like an honest-to-god castle. It wasn't as large or imposing as Hogwarts, but it was still impressive nonetheless.

It looked like the house was split into three sections. The west and east wings extended beyond the middle section. It was only two stories, but the breadth of those two floors more than made up for it. Harry shared a look with James and his mother. James seemed unimpressed, prompting Harry to wonder what Potter Manor looked like. Harry began his ascent up the paved pathway to the door. Severus opened it, and Harry spotted at least two house elves behind him.

Harry led the two adults the rest of the way up the front walk. He couldn't help but gape at the beautiful house. The pale grey exterior shone in the moonlight. Harry couldn't wait to see the grounds during daylight.

"Welcome to Prince Manor," Severus said, sweeping his arm out. He stepped forward and gestured to the two house elves. "These are Mopsy, the head elf, and her twin sister and second in command, Mipsy."

Both elves curtsied.

"Mopsy will be our personal elf, Lily. And Mipsy will be yours and Remus' when he arrives, James. Harry, your elf is Tippy," Severus said as a third elf appeared, curtsying as well. "We also have twelve additional elves. Napi will handle Neville's needs once he arrives. The rest will come if called, either by name or by asking for the nearest available elf. Their names are Flopsy, Topsy, Ibbi, Tinky, Posey, Nipsey, Binki, Tibbi, Nicci, Lessi, and Treaky," Severus finished. Each elf bowed or curtsied at their name.

Severus dismissed all except Mopsy who gave them the tour. Harry once again found himself gaping at the opulence. They toured the entire first floor first. In front of them off the entryway was a living room, to the left was a library and to the right was a dining room. There was a floo room next to the living room.

"The floo is password protected. I set the password myself today, so I know it is secure," Severus said when they passed through the room. Harry noted the couches and found it to be quite cozy.

The kitchen was huge and seemed to have most of the elves working on one thing or another. There was a dueling room that Harry had to be dragged away from. He spotted a pool outside through the double doors from the living room and wondered if he could learn how to swim this summer. There was a large bedroom behind the kitchen and a hallway with storage closets obscuring the ward room. Only Harry and Severus could enter the ward room, since they were the only ones with Prince blood.

After that were the house elf quarters. They crossed back to the west wing to see the potions lab and a large suite. Severus said the bedrooms on the first floor, as well as several on the second floor, would be designated as guest suites. There was more storage behind the library along with laundry facilities.

Upstairs, above the potions lab, were two bedrooms. They passed two more bedrooms and a loft with comfortable chairs and sofas before they came to a second suite.

"I confess that I prefer the East Suite and thought you and Remus would enjoy the West Suite, James," Severus said. "Neville can take the west bedroom in the middle, which will share a balcony with the room I like for Harry."

James was agreeable, and the group moved on, passing a ballroom that overlooked the back courtyard and pool before reaching Neville and Harry's bedrooms. Harry was impressed with the size of the rooms and happy to have the balcony connecting them. There was another sitting loft across from Harry's room. Above the house elf quarters was a large, empty room. There were two more bedrooms before they reached the East Suite.

"Mopsy has told me the sunrise is incredible from this suite. I know how you love a good sunrise, Lils," Severus murmured.

Lily smiled and Harry could sense the love she had for this man. He decided then that he would give Severus a fair chance. He would leave the past behind them and look to the future.