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77. Narcissa asked
🕑 Added 2025-04-14 03:12:00 +0000 UTC"Dad said Witches Moon was built during the reign of the Muggle King, Henry VIII," Harry explained. "Sir Edmund Prince was an apothecary and brewed a special potion for Henry and in gratitude Henry granted him an extensive tract of land in Yorkshire. Witches Moon was started in 1541 and finished in 1543. The Muggle King Edward VI stayed there and so did the Muggle Queen Elizabeth I on their royal progress."
"What's a royal progress?" Neville asked.
"It's when a king or a queen takes their throne to outlying districts that may go for centuries without ever seeing their rulers because people rarely left their homes and went into London," Hermione explained. "So the king or the queen would travel with their court and stay at various noblemen's or knight's manor houses or castles along the way."
"Wicked!" Draco exclaimed. "But that must have been expensive for the knight or nobleman who had to host them."
Hermione nodded. "It was very expensive not only for the food, but they had to be entertained too which meant paying for minstrels, jugglers and traveling theatre troupes."
"Not to mention a new wardrobe for the entire household too," Millie pointed out.
"So it was a real big deal then?" Vince asked.
"Yes, because your fortune could rise or fall with the king or queen's patronage," Harry said. "And if you did something to piss them off then you could find yourself confined to the Tower of London and your estate seized by the crown."
"And your ancestor, Sir Edmond; he was a wizard right?" Neville asked.
"Yes and that meant he had to be extra careful when royalty did come to visit."
Harry stopped by his dad's quarters after dinner. Severus looked up from the paper he was grading and smiled. "Did you need something, Harry?"
"Kind of, Dad. I was telling everybody about Witches Moon and invited them all to visit us there," Harry explained and then rushed on, "I know I should have asked your permission first before …"
Severus held up his hand. "It's okay, Harry. Your friends are more than welcome to come for a visit this summer, but…" he pointed a finger at Harry. "Your summer homework must be completed before they arrive."
Harry's eyes lit up. "Wicked, Dad! Does the invitation include Fred, George, Percy and Lee Jordan too?"
Severus sighed inwardly at the thought of the Weasley twins and their friend, Lee Jordan at Witches Moon. "Yes, they can ask their parents' permission and we can work out a time when they can all come together."
"Great! Thanks, Dad!" Harry exclaimed, giving Severus a hug. "I need to get back to the Tower and study for my quiz in Herbology tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Harry. I'll see you at breakfast. Sleep well and don't stay up too late studying."
"Okay, Dad."
Page ~*~*~*~*~* Break
The next morning when Severus walked into the Great Hall, he noticed immediately that Dumbledore's large chair was empty. He nodded and smiled at his snakes as he made his way towards the head table. Harry and his friends were seated at the Hufflepuff table today. He noticed Harry was talking to Cedric Diggory.
Severus sat down next to Minerva and murmured, "Where's the old barnacle this morning?"
Minerva shrugged. "Fawkes woke me up with a note from Albus this morning saying he was going to be gone until tomorrow. Where I have no idea."
"Probably at Potter Manor planning more mischief," Severus muttered, but then it occurred to him that it would be the perfect time to search the Room of Requirement without having to sneak around Dumbledore and worry that he might discover what they were doing. Before he went back to the dungeon, he went to the Charms corridor and stopped in the classroom where Lily was preparing for her first year class of Gryffindors and Slytherins.
"Good morning, Sev," Lily said smiling. "What brings you here?"
Severus cast his Muffliato spell first before answering her. "I just heard from Minerva that Dumbledore is going to be gone until tomorrow and I thought tonight would be an excellent opportunity to search the Room of Requirement."
"Will Cissa and Luke be able to help us?"
"I am going to floo call them right now and I will let you know," Severus promised. He turned to go and then stopped. "By the way, I gave Harry permission to have his friends visit at Witches Moon during the summer holidays."
"That's fine, Sev as long as Harry has his homework done before they arrive," Lily replied.
"I have already informed him of that necessity and he agreed with it."Severus returned to his quarters. He had a few minutes before he was due in class. He took some floo powder from the china cauldron that sat on the mantle, tossed it into the fire and then stuck his head into the green flames and said clearly, "Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire."
A Malfoy elf by the name of Crumpkin answered the floo call. "I need to speak to your master and mistress. Please tell them that Professor Snape is calling," Severus requested.
"Master and Mistress are having breakfast, but Crumpkin will fetch them."
Severus nodded and waited. He heard footsteps and then both Lucius and Narcissa knelt down in front of the fireplace. "Severus, what is it? Is Draco alright?" Narcissa asked.
"Draco is fine," Severus assured them. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"
Lucius shook his head. "No. We are staying in tonight. Why?"
Severus grinned. "How would you like to go on a treasure hunt for the Ravenclaw diadem?"
"You know where it is?" Narcissa asked.
Severus explained about his talk with Blinky and his revelation about the Room of Requirement. "Lily and I were thinking You-Know-Who may have hidden the diadem in there.
Lucius frowned. "I remember hearing rumors about a magical room, but I never thought it was anything but that. It's supposed to be on the seventh floor from what I heard. That being Gryffindor territory, nobody ever went up there to see if the rumors were true."
