Black Plague

Chapter 43

"Which house to you want to see first?"
Draco tilted his head in thought. "Let's do the Potter House." I nodded and apparated both of us to the Potter Gate.
I raised my hand and placed my ring against the gate large black wrought iron gate. Slowly it began to silently swing open. Before removing my hand I began waving my wand. Altering the wards so that it recognized both of us as having access to it, and only us. If Snape wanted access I would add him. But only him. Not even Voldemort would be able to enter. He had caused me too much pain. If he ever wanted to come over I would manual let him in. But I didn't trust him. Especially after obtaining the Elder Wand.

We eventually walked through the gate and I looked up at the house. There was a large man made pond and a fountain in front of the large manor. There was stone steps going across the house leading up to the front door in the center of the building. The house had three floors. The building was gorgeous. And there were mountains in the background. Leaving an impressive sight. I turned to Draco. "This is Potter manor? Jesus it's almost as big as your place!" He nodded and smiled. I hadn't expected in a million years for it to be so lavish. I had always gotten the impression that my father didn't have much money. Yes. I knew I had millions in the bank. But he also raised me in a small middle-class home. I couldn't fathom why he would do that, when he could live here. And this place was far safer. It was set up with ancient wards built within. Yes, they could have still used the fidelity charm here. And made it that much more safe. But then even if they found the place, it would have been almost impossible to break in. By the time someone did. This place had to have secret passages and safe rooms that they could have hided in. It was almost like they wanted to be killed. I would bet Dumbles suggested it. And he probably wanted them to die. For why, I didn't know. Maybe to bolster support for the light. But this was the safest place for the Potter's to have raised me.
I grabbed Draco's hand and we began walking towards the manor.
Draco loved this place. Even before we entered. His eyes lit up with wonder. Looking at everything. I suspect it's because it reminded him of home.
We walked into the front door and we're greeted by an older elf bowing deep before us. "greetings master Potter. We's been keeping the house in perfect condition for yous." I smiled a little at the guy. "Thanks, what's your name?"
"I's be Binky, the Head elf of your estate." I nodded. Draco stepped forward knowing better how to handle these weird little Creatures. Having grown up with a multitude of them. "If we chose to live in this house, I would like to inspect all of the house elves and make sure they are up to my high standard. But for now, could you give us a tour of the place?" He nodded excitedly and began taking us from room to room. We walked into the house. The entrance was magnificent. A couple large chandler hung above with polished crystal. Soon we walked in to the sitting room. There was a lit fire in a large stone fire place. The furniture was a light golden tan leather. A large oriental rug lay in the floor. The walls were a golden cream color. With high ceilings. All the accessories were burgundy and gold. It screamed Gryffindor. I scrunched my face up at the sight. It was beautifully done, but fuck! I would feel completely out of place in my own house. Or I would have refurbished the whole place. The room was elegant and had a nice homely feel. But it didn't fit Draco and I at all. I had always know the Potter's where a long line of gryffindors, and the house screamed it. We walked room to room. The place was fantastic. But red seemed to be everywhere. Jesus people. There should be more to you, that what house you were placed as a child! I kind of hated red. If it had been any other color, I would have been fine, even yellow was nice. It was obnoxiously cheery, but I could tolerate it. Pink was a bit in your face, but at least it was kind of pretty. But red just grated on my nerves. Made me feel almost aggressive. Not something I needed. I was violent enough.
The library was wonderful. I spent an hour looking at everything. But the collection was wilfully lacking. There was history, potions, all varieties of charms and Transfiguration and defense. But I never found a single dark magic book. So, apparently they have never had a dark wizard in the family. Or if they did the books had all been removed. Sighted as evil. Though that was unlikely. It was only over the last 50 years or so that dark magic became absolutely taboo. Before then, it was just considered another form of magic. But light wizards found dark magic incredibly difficult to use. And thus it would be pointless to buy books your core just couldn't properly produce.
If you looked at Slytherin. Many of the Wizards didn't seem overly powerful. But that was because their cores were dark and light magic came more difficult for them. They had to work twice as hard to produce the same light spell a light wizard would find simple. I had been lucky in that neither light or dark spells were more difficult than the other for me. I was probably a gray wizard. There were actually quite a number of gray wizards. You found them on both sides of the war. The gray wizards on the light didn't understand that some people were just more dark leaning or light leaning. Draco was a dark Wizard. But he could do light magic fine. His dark spells came faster and stronger. But he was gray enough that he didn't struggle with light magic all too badly. It took a slight bit more work, but not insurmountable. And the light magic did still come out strong. Just now mind-blowing like some of the similar dark spells counterpart would. Maybe he was more like.... Dark gray. Though I didn't know if that was a thing.
Around the  bedrooms and I was relieved to find rooms in colors other than red and gold.
They were nice. Everything was nice and classy. But I just couldn't get over all the reds and burgundies. There was a world class potion room. I stared in amazement at all the bottles of ingredients lining the walls. Anything you could ever dream or having was there. And in large quantities. There was a long rugged table in the center with almost a dozen cauldrons. Made of different material's. There was even one that looked like it was made of chrystal. There was a shelf that held other smaller cauldrons as well. I would have been in Potion master heaven had I any interest in potions. Sadly, I didn't. I looked at Draco and he seemed slightly more intrigued than me but not pice after this room in any way. We looked at the trophy room which also housed the family tree. It was interesting. I was on it. But it also was clear that I wasn't James blood child. It was a child by marriage only. The tapastry clearly showed that I was Blacks child by blood. I wondered why James never saw this? Why hadn't he lived here? And if his parents were alive why'd didn't they say anything? It left me with so many questions. Answers I was sure I would never get.

We looked at the ball room and smaller party room. Again gold everywhere. Though the res was less prominent, it still had a prominent place there were tall two story windows and a high beautifully ornate ceiling. There were gold chandeliers on the ceiling throughout the room. There was a staircase that lead to a balcony around the room. Small seating groups across it. The carpet was red, of course, and it seemed that every family member had a portrait up here.
I quickly noticed that my parents didn't have a portrait up here. I wonder if he was disowned. Why else would he not have lived here and not have a portrait. Yes they died young, but usually it seemed people got portraits as soon as they married. Maybe I would as a portrait these questions.
I turned to Draco. We hadn't talked much as we looked around. But I had so many questions. "Ok first. Do you think my parents were disowned?" Draco looked at me confused. "The reason is one, this manor is clearly more safe than the small middle-class house they lived in when I was born. I am sure there are secret passages and saferooms, as well as ancient wards, so why didn't they live here? Also, why don't they have their portraits on the wall? I'm finding all of this very strange." His face sparked with understanding. "I don't know. I never heard anything if they were. And that stuff is usually common wizard gossip. But you make a good point. It doesn't make any sense. They should have at least had their portraits up here. Even if they chose to live somewhere else." I nodded and we kept looking at the place.
We were standing in the dinning hall. It was almost as big as the Malfoy's but the table was a golden brown with ornate carvings around the sides. The chairs high back with red velvet. Large arched windows were all along one wall, looking out into the back garden. I sighed. "This place is beautiful. But if I see any more red I'm going to puke. " I whined. Draco laughed. "Yes, it's a bit over done. It's a shame too. Because the place is perfect otherwise. But you would be spending half your fortune just refinishing this place!" I laughed. That was an exaggeration for sure, but the point stood. Red curtains, red rugs, red carpets, red chairs, red lamps and vases. The whole place was like walking into a Gryffindor's fever dream.
I sighed, "I hope the Black house is better. I don't want to seem ungrateful. This place is magnificent. But fuck. I greatly dislike red and it's everywhere you look!"

Binky looked devistated. "Is the Manor not up to your standards master Potter." I groaned at looks at Draco. He stepped forward and spoke to the small ugly creature. "You have done an excellent job caring for the house. Unfortunately, your last master loved red and it's everywhere. We are just feeling a little overwhelmed by it. We hesitant to live here, because we would need to refurbish the whole entire manor. This is nothing you could have changed. You have been very good house elves." I nodded in agreement.
God Draco was so sweet. Even as he talked o the retched creature you could see his pure heart. It was admirable and made me love him all the more.