Chapter 39

"I don't know how to thank both of you," Deidric said as they were about to apparate back to the Prince estate. "Is that all you really wanted?" The young man questioned while gesturing to the heavily sealed black box in which the Goblins had placed the artifact.

"Oh yeah, this is perfect." Harry nodded while patting the box.

No sooner were they back at the gates of the estate, with Harry grimacing as side-along apparition never sat well with his stomach, a voice could be heard shouting for them to stop.

"DEIDRIC! WHERE THE BLOODY BLAZES HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Rodger hurried to the trio as his walking stick clacked on the uneven gravel road.

"Father I..."

"Your mother is beside herself!" Robert continued while cutting off his son. "How dare you sneak out of the house and go galavanting around! You are to return home with me this instant! Lord Prince I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience this boy has caused."

"Come along now Deidric," Robert uttered in a tone one would use to address a small child. "We will discuss your indiscretions at home,"

"No," Deidric spoke up as he took a shaky breath. "I will not be going with you Father,"

"What was that?" Robert spun around. His brows pinched together as he looked at his son. A look that said clearly 'How dare you disobey me,'

"I do believe he said that he will not be leaving with you," Snape said while stepping forward. "Or do you need to get your ears checked as well as your brain?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Do you take me for a fool?" Snape questioned. Secretly Harry was hoping the man would answer Snape's rhetorical question just to see how the Potion Master would rip him to pieces. "There is a reason the wards aren't allowing you in," Snape continued while drawing his wand but not pointing it at the man just yet. "I've been reading up on the estate. The curious thing about the Prince wards is that they do not let anyone cross should they mean to cause serious bodily harm."

Deidric stiffened as he looked at his father who was gaping like a fish.

"You will leave and not bother this young man anymore," Snape stated. "If you refuse then you will learn just how I dealt with nuisances during the First Wizarding War,"

Robert chose wisely and apparated on the spot though he did send a glare Deidric's way. "This isn't over, he's not going to let this go," The young man muttered.

"Then I suggest you learn how to stand up for yourself," Snape stated. "You are Lord Black now," Deidric looked down at the Black family Lordship ring on his finger and nodded.

"Masters! So great you are back!" Tibsby popped up in front of the trio even before they reached the front doors. "Lord Prince the new house elves have arrived and I've been putting them straight to work!"

"That's good to hear Tibsby,"

"Oh yes sirs, the place be more livelier now!" she continued. "Tibsby also has surprise for Lord Prince! Come!"

The elf led the trip to the basement. What was waiting there for them was a spotless Potions lab. "Does Lord Prince like?" Tibsby asked excitingly. "Tibsby could never clean up all of the house alone! Now with new elf family, we can!"

"You lot did all this?" Harry noted Snape was clearly impressed by the tone of his voice.

"Tibsby I hope this isn't an invasive question but how come you couldn't clean the house on your own?" Harry asked. "I know it's big but restoring a room a day or a week would work right?"

"No no Lord Princey's partner. Elf magic does not work like that," Tibsby answered. "Magic houses need extra care. We elves scrub bottom to top, top to bottom and we give magic to house wards to protect family. The more elves a family has, the easier magic share is,"

Harry tried to wrap his head around the concept that Tibsby was talking about. As he hadn't had a house elf after Kreacher he was a bit out of his depth. Snape had previously mentioned that there was quite some history between wizards and elves as well.

"Perhaps I could clarify?" Deidric shyly asked.

"It is not a talked about situation though most Pureblood families know the lore surrounding the elves," Deidric stated as Tibsby nodded along. "If you've read Lord of the Rings then you would know elves like Muggles know elves. Haughty, regal..."

"You've read Lord of the Rings?" Harry questioned.

"I like to read as I wasn't allowed out much," Deidric stated before going back to the story. "You would be partially right. Elves like that existed... up to the age of the Founders. The tale goes that Hogwarts was built not far from a forest. A forest said to house elven tribes. Now the elves weren't particularly fond of Wizards. They had their own magic and customs. Elven magic was said to not be bound to an elven body, instead like a hive they channeled the earth's magic between them. The more of them there were the stronger they became."

"Okay...."

"The tale goes on to tell how the first students of Hogwarts invited their parents to come visit them on the day of Mabon for a celebration. The students' families had to travel through elven territory as a local lord in the region had set up tolls along the roads to swindle travelers out of their coin. The elves did not take kindly to trespassers and killed them all without hearing their side. The real tragedy was that they also killed the younger brothers and sisters of the students without mercy, some mere babes."

"A growing wizarding populace without a Ministry to control them yet turned into a mob out for blood when the murders became known. The elves formidable in their own right stood no chance against enraged wizards. One by one the elven tribes fell. The surviving elves surrendered but as children were prized by the wizarding community they were given a very harsh punishment. A dark ritual was performed on the once regal elves, turning them into..." Deidric gestured towards Tibsby. "The elves and their descendants would forever be bound to the wizards. Their access to magic from the earth was diminished. They live to serve because the curse upon them compels them to and they slowly wither away if not bound to a magical family. Curiously one thing remained. The more elves there are, the easier the load becomes as the elves also feed the house wards whenever the family is unable to. Many Purebloods have Summer houses and the like that sit empty for most of the year yet those wards never fall."

After learning all of that Harry and Snape returned to their rooms. Deidric had sensed something and quickly excused himself. Harry flopped down on the bed once Snape closed the door.

"That was heavy," Harry muttered, referring to the tale he'd heard. Tibsby had nodded along and hadn't corrected Deidric before popping away. It definitely explained why House elf magic was not like wizards though Harry did not find it fair that they kept paying the price for something their ancestors did.

"You need to stop dwelling on it," Severus stated. "It has been a thousand years since it happened and it is not something that can be changed."

"You're right... I need something to take my mind off..."

"Why don't you come snog all sense out of me again?" He then suggested while rolling over slightly and staring at Snape with his chin on his palm. "We never did get to our last make-out section,"

"Why Harry, that's the most sensible thing you've said all day," Severus smirked as he came towards the bed and leaned over Harry. Snape felt a swat on his shoulder for that comment though Harry did close the distance between them with a steamy kiss.

Moans could be heard from both of them as Severus reversed their positions with him now sitting on the bed and Harry straddling him. Things were getting pretty heated as Snape's hand wandered past Harry's neck, along his shoulder, and while opening several of his shirt buttons with ease.

"That was... hot... how..." Harry panted.

"My buttons aren't just for show," Snape smirked before he captured Harry's lips once more.

Harry ground his hips into Snape, feeling the man's hardness through his pants but then he froze. "Wait!" Harry uttered, startling Snape who had started trailing kisses down his neck.

Severus stilled in his ministrations as Harry scooted back a bit, popped open his trousers, and just stared.... And stared...

"Snape It's not getting hard!" Harry freaked out.

".........................Excuse me....WHAT?!"