Harry Potter and the Wandmaker of Avalon

Part 3

Chapter 2

Harry groaned as he finally made it back home to Grimmauld Place. He toed off his shoes and left his messenger bag near the entrance while he hung up his Auror robes. Then he trudged further into the house, not at all caring of the eyes of several paintings on him. Sirius' relatives were a weird bunch. A Dark family indeed and more than discriminating towards Half-bloods and Muggleborns. After the end of the war these paintings changed their tune somewhat, at least to Harry inhabiting the house. He had no doubt that they didn't want to piss off the wizard that beat Voldemort. Them being reduced to kindling was highly possible now.

That was another surprising after-effect. After the war, Harry found out that he had gotten a magical power boost of some sort. Likely due to the Deadly Hallows and him becoming the Master of Death. He now didn't necessarily need his wand to do things. A quick wandless spell had a tumbler of Firewhiskey being poured before it floated over to him as he sank into his plush couch. Harry sipped the liquid as he felt the alcohol burn down his throat as he relaxed.

He was on his second tumbler of whiskey when his fireplace flared green and Ginny stepped out. "Ginny, how have you been?" Harry greeted as he vanished his glass to the sink. He'd do the dishes later when he wasn't so tired.

"I've been fine Harry, though I really wish you would stop doing that," Ginny muttered as she set a pie she had baked on the coffee table.

"Ginny we've been over this." Harry groaned. "I'm careful about wandless magic outside of my house but what I do inside my own home is my business."

"Oh Harry, you know I can't help it, right. It's just so weird to see wandless magic being performed so freely." Ginny sighed. "You know it puts me on edge a bit. People would panic if they knew you had so much power."

"People would panic regardless," Harry sighed. "Remember how Skeeter got everyone into a panic when she wrote that article suggesting I'd be the next Dark Lord. It was a mess. That's why I limited my use of magic in public. I won't do so in my own home."

"Not even when it scares your girlfriend a bit?" Ginny asked while pouting.

"If it does then I doubt we are compatible Ginny," Harry retorted.

"Harry don't say that!" Ginny exclaimed. "I love you!"

"You seem to love only parts of me," Harry sighed as he stood up. "Maybe it's better if we end this once and for all Gin. We've been on and off again since the war."

"NO!" Ginny said as she suddenly gripped Harry's shoulders. "I love you, Harry! Please don't go breaking my heart. I'm sorry for what I said."

Harry sighed as he ran his hand through his mop of hair. "Ginny...we've had this conversation before. At this point, I really do think you mean it. Maybe it's better if we go our separate ways."

"Harry I'm just concerned. What if they see you doing wandless magic?! The Ministry could turn on you again. The Public! They are so narrow-minded that they could destroy your career!"

Harry gave a wry chuckle at that. At this point, he himself wasn't even sure if he still wanted a career as an Auror. "Ginny please, I really don't want to have this argument again."

"Alright," Ginny said as she wrung her hands. "I baked you a pie. Your favorite, blueberry."

"Thank you Ginny," Harry said sincerely. Ginny usually brought food in the evening when he was there because the paintings made a ruckus if he wasn't. He did love blueberry and asked if she would stay for a piece.

"Oh no, I can't Harry. I have to get back. Mum wants me to help her with dinner tonight. Bill and Fleur are coming over." Ginny quickly stated. "Be sure to have a good dinner though. You look worn out."

Harry nodded and gave Ginny a quick peck on the cheek before she went back home. He sat back on his couch after Ginny had left and looked at the whiskey and pie. He might as well dig in.

The following morning Harry was walking through Diagon Alley early. Most of the shops hadn't opened yet but there was one particular shop he'd had his eye on, Snape's apothecary. Harry saw from the distance that the sign had just been flipped to OPEN so he walked a bit faster.

"Good morning Professor!" Harry greeted as the bell above the door jingled.

"Mr. Potter, just what did I do to have you grace me with your presence this early in the morning?" Severus sighed as he took a sip from his coffee behind the counter. "Also I have not been your professor for years."

Harry held up a plastic container and then said "Ginny made some pie yesterday. I wondered if you wanted some." Harry grinned since he figured out from Minerva that the man had a sweet tooth that he would never admit to. "It's blueberry!" Harry tempted.

Snape glared at the container like it was some foul beast before muttering "You can put it on the counter." Harry gave a laugh and then spotted something banging in a jar on the shelf behind Severus.

"Really professor. Did you have to put Melvin in a jar?" Harry sighed as he reached out and opened the glass jar. He reached in and picked up the tiny grimreaper by its black robes and placed it on the counter.

Snape proceeded to glare at the tiny thing named Melvin before retorting "If it drinks my scotch again then yes."

"Ouch," Harry mumbled.

"Potter can't you do something about this?" Snape asked as he gestured to the little grimreaper that did not look sorry at all. "I've had this thing attached to me for five years now."

"I doubt it. Death sent Melvin over to observe. He can be a peculiar one." Harry shrugged. "Besides only you and I can see Melvin."

"Well, you're apparently the Master of Death right?" Severus asked. "If this thing drinks anymore of my expensive scotch I will use it in a potion."

"I'm sure it's not so bad." Harry laughed. "So......."

"So what?" Snape muttered. "Aren't you going to be late for work?"

"Have you changed your mind about the gala?" Harry asked eagerly.

"If you must know I will be escorting Minerva that night." Severus sighed.

"Then I'll see you there tomorrow night professor!" Harry grinned before departing.

Severus blinked for a moment, watching Harry depart and thinking he had become odder over the years. He then looked at Melvin who was as tall as the plastic container. The little grimreaper was eyeing the pie and Severus muttered "Don't you even dare,"