Chapter 17: Lord and Lady of The Manor

Outside Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Horse drawn carriage is how Sebastian Prince, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, and Ron Weasley left the grounds of Hogwarts. It had been a strange overcast day. The sky looked as if it had been painted with silver with swirls of dark gray scattered here and there. There was a chill in the air but nothing too extreme. Draco had been pouting as he stared out the window trying his hardest to appear like he was not enjoying himself despite the company. he had not liked that Lady Hamershal had more money that his family nor did he like the impressive gifts she showered Sebastian with as if she had any right. Ron had been excited to get out of Hogwarts and see somewhere new. Harry had been enjoying the ride. He had occasional stole glances at Ginny, who had sat between him and Ron, while her brother had not been looking.

Sebastian had been content to have Hermione in his arms as the carriage continued on to its destination.

"Your aunt's loaded isn't she?" asked Ron breaking the comfortable silence.

"Ron." said Ginny embarrassed by Ron's directness.

"What?" asked Ron not getting what he had done so wrong.

Sebastian sighed.

"My aunt?" he asked looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"We kinda looked up Lady Hamershal's background while you were away." explained Harry sheepishly.

Sebastian turned his gaze on Hermione.

"I wonder where you could have come up with that idea." he said as if he had not known that Hermione was involved.

Hermione smiled at him sweetly.

"Gryffindors." said Sebastian shaking his head. "Insufferable the whole lot of you."

"Hey!" replied Ron defensively. "We had a couple of Slytherins helping us."

Sebastian turned his gaze to Draco who tried his best to appear busy with whatever it was outside the window.

"Really Draco." he said in a mock surprised tone. "You went to a library to study books...with Gryffindors?"

Draco rolled his eyes.

"This from the guy who spend most of his time shagging one." he said bitterly.

Hermione blushed as both Harry and Ron looked at her in shock.

"Mione!" said Ron stunned.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Grow up Ron." she replied. "I've been 18 for months...and Sebastian is my boyfriend."

"I know I just didn't expect..." started Ron.

Ginny elbowed Ron in the side to get him to close his mouth, which had been agape as he tried to recover from his shock.

Harry simply looked out the window as Draco had trying to ignore the entire conversation. He couldn't look Hermione directly in the eyes for a while. The sandy brown haired Gryffindor witch turned her attention back to Sebastian.

"Whether or not Lady Hamershal is my "aunt" remains to be see." said Sebastian coolly. "But, it appears that we are indeed blood relatives."

Hermione looked at him shocked.

"You knew?" she asked.

Sebastian smirked.

"She invoked Blood Rights on me." he said.

Draco's eyes widened.

"S-So it's true then." he said a little sadness in his tone. "S-She's your blood relative."

Sebastian looked the young albino wizard in the eyes.

"Yes." he said.

Draco fell silent then looked back out the window. Sebastian sighed and did the same. Hermione noted the unsaid and largely ignored sorrow between the two boys. It was clear that Draco was taking the potential threat to his wanting Sebastian to be apart of the Malfoy family hard. Sebastian had not known how to address being wanted by anyone. Now he had Draco, Hermione, and Lady Hamershal in his life. They each demanded a great deal of attention from him.

Hermione noted the far off look in Sebastian's eyes and kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her and gave her a small smile. The sandy brown haired Gryffindor witch clasped her hand in his, amused that he had not taken off the ring she had gotten him for his birthday.

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Hamershal Estate...

After traveling across the countryside with rolling hills and vast grasslands, they had finally arrived at their destination. The Hamershal estate had been everything in that Draco Malfoy had feared, as he realized half the countryside they passed along the way had been all apart of the woman's lands. In the center of the enormous property had been a mansion half the size of Hogwarts itself.

"Bloody Hell!" said Ron once again having his mouth agape. "Your Aunt is loaded."

Harry looked at Sebastian who looked down at his hands. He had not really expected her to have a fortune that vast. Hermione saw him become a little uncomfortable and squeezed his hand a little taking his mind from his thoughts for a moment. He treated her to another small smile in gratitude. The carriage came to a halt and they climbed out bidding the driver farewell and crossed a large cobblestone driveway making their way put to the looming old house itself. Two silver serpents had been in the center of a large and relatively thick door made of oak wood, the silver snakes had their tongues' sticking out and wrapped around large silver rings. Sebastian used on of the rings to announce their presence.

The group stood before the large oak wood door awaiting entry.

Harry had shifted nervously hoping that there was nothing formal about this occasion. He had very little practice with wizarding world social graces. Ginny had fidgeted some unsure of how anyone could afford an estate this large. Her own family could only dream of houses this size despite the number of people that called the burrow home. Draco's face had been set to an almost permanent scowl reminiscent of his Godfather. His arms had been folded across his chest and his eyes reflected his barely concealed rage at the idea of this woman being more wealthy than he could have ever imagined.

The junior Malfoy had been determined not to have a good time here. Hermione gripped Sebastian hand unsure herself of how to behave or how his wealthy Pureblood aunt would appreciate her "nephew" dating a Muggle-Born. She had known the woman opposed Voldemort not once but twice, but she had been well versed in elegant wizarding society. From her experiences those people had always looked down on those of Muggle-Born background even before Voldemort.

Ron had never seen so blown away in his life. It was almost as if he had been told that Lady Hamershal owned Gringotts herself. The red haired wizard even had thoughts of all the various foods she would have access to and briefly wondered if she had been in the market for a young and famous wizard to call her own. He had known very well that her husband had died, it would be understandable that she would need some company. Maybe someone who could help her put some use to all her galleons.

"She's got more money than The Malfoys." said Ron looking around.

This time Harry elbowed him.

"What?" asked Ron not getting why everyone was suddenly on egg shells.

The large oak wood door opened and a thick air of superiority seemed to ooze out of the manor. The group had been greeted by a tall man with a thin build clad in the clothes of a muggle house servant. His skin had been pale but mostly due to lack of exposure to the sun than complexion. His dark eyes fell on the collection of young wizards and witches. The man had a nose with half the prominence of Sebastian's and short, well maintained hair of silver suggesting his old age. His expression had been blank but his eyes appeared to be that of a man that bore witness to a great many things in his lifetime.

"Good evening Master Prince." he said in an expressionless but civil tone. "I am Jiles Ventinhall, butler to Lady Hamershal and overseer of Hamershal estate."

If Sebastian had been uncomfortable with being addressed as "master" he gave no indication of it. He simply returned the man's expressionless gaze and civil manner.

"Good evening." he said coolly. "Is the lady of the manor within?"

The man known as Jiles stepped out of the way opening the door wide so that everyone could enter.

"Lady Hamershal is in her study at the moment." replied Jiles. "You and your company have the Lady's permission to do as you please...but you are to be mindful that her study is off limits."

Sebastian nodded in understanding.

"Very well." he replied and followed Jiles into a large entrance hall.

It had all the decor one would expect for a woman of Lady Hamershal's station.

The group followed Sebastian looking around at the decor with both fascination and apprehension. The raven haired wizard had come from quite a wealthy line. One would imagine that he would be set for life if he so chose to simply sit back and do nothing. Hermione shook the notion of Sebastian living off the wealthy of his nearly extinct family line. There was no way the ambitious young wizard would ever be inclined to do such a thing. He had a very hands-on approach to almost anything he applied himself to and lounging in comfortable chairs looking down his nose at productive witches and wizards had not been something that would suite him.

"Are you the only ones who live here?" asked Harry thinking about how empty the big house seemed as they walked.

"Mister Potter, This house is occupied by at least 100 servants at all times and a great many house elves." replied Jiles still in an emotionless tone.

Harry had been stunned by the mention of his name.

"Y-You know who I am?" he asked unnerved. He had not liked to be recognized even before Voldemort's defeat in the second wizarding war. It had always seemed so eerie that many people knew of him even when he was just a baby.

"Everyone knows of you Mr. Potter." replied Jiles still without emotion. "As well as the rest of you: Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and of course you Mr. Malfoy."

Draco had been a little taken aback by being recognized by Jiles but acted as if the man was suppose to know of him.

They came to a stop at the end of the hall where two winding staircases made of white marble with black handrails spread out on opposite ends of the hall. In the center of the staircase was a young wizard with dark brown hair much like Harry's but his had been neat and skillfully trimmed. He wore attire that had been reminiscent of Professor Lockhart from The Golden Trio and Draco's second year. He had even been posturing in the same arrogant, self-assured manner.

"Jiles." he called from the stairs. "What have we here?"

"Master Jarvis." said Jiles in his usual expressionless tone. "As you can see, your mother's guests have arrived."

The young dark haired wizard made his way down the stairs to get a better look at them. His dark eyes gleaming in an indignant manner. Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the young wizard before him. Jarvis Hamershal appeared to be an arrogant, pompous, twit of a boy and looked to be no more than 16 years of age. A sly smile had filed across his relatively good looking face after his gaze fell on the Gryffindor witches. What passed for charm had begun to ooze off him like the stench on a rotted corpse.

The raven haired wizard had decided in that moment that he had not liked him. Though he had agreed with himself mentally to be civil. Hermione had been slightly amused when Sebastian tightened his grip on her hand possessively when Jarvis approached them.

"Well...well.." he said in a pleasant manner. "Welcome cousin...I've heard so much about you from mother, she didn't tell me that you were such a looker...although given who your father is one could hardly be surprised...you do resemble Severus Snape a great deal."

Sebastian fought back the urge to verbally assault this pompous twit.

"You must be Jarvis Hamershal." he said already knowing the answer. "Son of Fredrick and Theodora."

Jarvis had been quite pleased at the recognition.

"Indeed I am." he replied happily.

Sebastian fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"Are you a wizard?" asked Ginny unable to take her eyes off the confidant younger boy.

Jarvis smiled at this. He had what appeared to be a brilliant smile. His teeth were exceptionally straight and all as white as ivory. There was a pleasantness to his appeal that made even Hermione blush in his presence. Sebastian fought back a scowl hearing her mental comparison of him to a man named Lockheart had been bad enough but to see her actually picture it and remember her reaction to him had annoyed him to no end.

"Why yes I am." said Jarvis confidently whipping out his wand and levitating a nearby vase.

Harry rolled his eyes. Apparently, Sebastian had not been the only one to be put off by the wizard's flashy antics. He felt disgust build at the show of admiration in Ginny's eyes. Draco had already classified Jarvis as just another pompous Pureblood prat. It was just a matter of time before the discussion of blood status came into play.

"If you're a wizard how come I've never seen you attend Hogwarts?" asked Harry wanting to take Ginny's mind off the younger wizards antics.

"It's simple really." replied Jarvis with a grin. "Mother enrolled me at Drumstrag Institute."

"That's where Sebastian use to go to school." said Ron joining the conversation.

Jarvis eyes flicked over to Sebastian.

"Is it really?" he asked. "It's quite a shame we haven't met while you were attending...no doubt we..could have had right good fun...cousin."

Sebastian flashed a grin of his own.

"Indeed." he replied in a tone of challenge.

Harry smirked at his. He got the feeling that Jarvis had no idea of the kind of "right good fun" Sebastian had in mind. Draco grinned some as well despite himself. He too had known what Sebastian was alluding to.

"You have such a lovely home." said Hermione trying to break the ice.

Jarvis turned his attention to the sandy brown haired witch. She had been clutching Sebastian's arm at this point and seemed to be a good deal comfortable with him in the eyes of the young wizard. It appeared that the two of them had been an item of some sort. He turned up the charm seemingly out of spite and greeted her warmly.

"Yes this place does have it's charm." he said in a seemingly bored tone. "But it's no where near as lovely as the likes of you."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the younger wizard. Did he just attempt to flirt with Hermione? Apparently, the pompous twit had a death wish.

Jarvis turned his attention to Jiles who had been standing by in a state of silence as he watched their little exchanges. His expression remained in its usual emotionless mask.

"That will be all Jiles." he said in a dismissive manner. "I shall see to our guests until mother surfaces."

Jiles gave him a slight bow.

"As you wish Master Jarvis." he replied in his usual manner. "Good day to all."

"Good day." replied the group in parting.

Jiles took his leave of them.

Jarvis smiled at them.

"So shall we take a tour?" he asked rubbing his hands together in a fashion that eerily reminded Draco of Professor Slughorn.

"At your lead." replied Sebastian civil.

Jarvis perked up. His confidence radiating off him once more.

The group had walked over much of the manor listening to the amusing anecdotes Jarvis told them about each room and it's significance. He brought them to a long hall that had been bright with the assortment of large windows that allowed light in from outside the manor. He lead them up to a closed brown door.

"And this is Mother's study." concluded Jarvis.

"I believe we were advised to steer clear of this room." said Sebastian.

"Nonsense." said Jarvis waving him off. "It's my house I can go where I please."

The younger wizard had seemed to be trying hard to impress them all.

"I think we should find somewhere else to explore." said Hermione feeling as Sebastian had.

"That's a good idea." said Harry in agreement.

"Your mother's probably busy anyway." replied Ginny.

"I agree with these guys." said Ron gesturing to Sebastian and the others.

Draco had not said a word. He had been afar too busy pouting about the splendid decor and history this vast house had. His own had truly paled in comparison. Mother is going to have a conniption fit. The young albino wizard thought. Just wait until father hears about this.

Jarvis did not seem to have any apprehension about venturing into his mother's study. Normally he would never have been so bold as to come anywhere near this room but he couldn't resist putting on a show for his newly discovered cousin and his infamous friends. They had all been well known through out the wizarding world and he was beginning to feel inferior in their presence.

"Mother's quite alright with visitors." he said casually and attempted to push the door open.

He had been caught completely by surprise when a hex sent him sailing across the hall and into a near by wall. He landed quite roughly on his back side, much as Draco had in the second year when he dueled Harry in front of Professor Snape. The young wizard groaned in pain from his landing. Ginny and Hermione both stifled a giggle. Sebastian raised an eye brow not at all hiding his approving smirk. Harry smiled happy the young boy had been taken down a peg. Draco had been utterly amused that the pompous twit had been put in his place. Ron had simply gazed at the door weary of it and it's magic.

In a matter of seconds the door swung open violently and Lady Hamershal stepped forward her eyes scanning the perimeter for the one who had been fool enough to disturb her. She had been quite a sight in common black robes with her usually elegant raven hair lank and greasy in it's appearance. Her face twisted in a sallow expressionless mask and her dark eyes flashing righteous anger. Her complexion had been pale and she lacked the usual air of superiority but had lost none of the grace in her movements.

"She looks like a female Snape." said Ron with his mouth agape.

Both Ginny and Harry elbowed Ron.

Lady Hamershal glared at Jarvis who had barely gotten to his feet.

"Jarvis what have I told you about this area of the manor?" she asked in an icy tone.

The young wizard looked down at his feet in an attempt to hide the flush that had come across his cheeks from his embarrassment.

"I apologize mother I forgot." he said in reply.

Lady Hamershal narrowed her gaze at her young son.

"See to it that you remember next time." she said still in that tone of ice.

Sebastian couldn't help but admire the situation.

Lady Hamershal turned her attention to the silent group beside her.

"Sebastian, darling...welcome home." she said with her tone evening out. "It is lovely to see you and your friends."

Sebastian bowed slightly in respect.

"It is lovely to see you too as well Lady Hamershal." he replied.

Everyone else gave her their warmest smiles in greeting.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." they all chimed in unison.

Lady Hamershal looked them over for a moment. Her eyes fell on the slightly pouty Draco Malfoy and she smiled.

"The son of Lucius Malfoy in my home at last." she said amused.

Draco's eyes widened.

"Y-You know my father?" he said taken by surprise.

"Indeed I do." replied Lady Hamershal. "I am also aware of Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley and Mr. Weasley here."

Everyone looked at each other and then at Sebastian.

"I suppose it wouldn't be hard to recognize the heroes who have brought down that despot Voldemort." continued Lady Hamershal.

Everyone seemed to relax a bit at this.

"You must have been working on something of extreme importance." said Sebastian observing her appearance.

"Indeed I was." replied Lady Hamershal. "Now as lovely as this little visit has been...I'm afraid that I am going to have to go back to me work...we'll all have time to get to know one another over dinner...but for now I really must go."

Sebastian nodded in understanding. He had known what it was like to be wrapped up in his work to such a degree that distraction was not warranted.

Lady Hamershal disappeared back into her study slamming the door behind her.

The group turned their attention to Jarvis who had seemed to compose himself in his mother's absence.

"Shall we continue the tour?" he asked.

Everyone shook their heads in disbelief. Jarvis lead them away from the study to other parts of the house continuing with his amusing little anecdotes.