How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

At the Burrow, Grant was in the kitchen with Molly Weasley, a smile on his face as the red headed matron showed the small man numerous household charms and spells. Things he could now do with his new wand.

Harry had had a hard time not laughing at his mother-in-law; it seemed as if the little man was charming everything he came across, no matter what the outcome. He, himself had had blue hair twice already in the space of six hours.

Once they had arrived back at the Burrow from their little shopping trip, Harry had pulled Molly to one side and quietly explained to her about Grant's new wand and had asked her help to keep the man from blowing something up inadvertently. It seemed as though this had given Molly something to concentrate on rather than dwelling on the memorial service the family had attended earlier that day for her deceased son.

Harry slipped away and made his way below stairs to rest for a moment and to fire call his father-in-law. He wanted to make sure the older man understood why his husband had gone ahead and bought a new wand without consulting him.

Harry was determined to speak to Damon, man to man, and hoped the man would understand and not deny Grant his new found freedom.

In Echo, Damon stared at the empty soda and beer can pyramid as he straightened the living room before Max and his family showed up for dinner. Grant would have his ass if he knew that the place wasn't sparkling when they were having company. Drawing his wand, he cast a quick cleaning spell over the room and sprayed the can of mulberry fragrance to clear out the cigarette smoke. Another thing he was going to have to do before Grant came home; air the house out.

He sighed, sniffed the air and nodded, satisfied that it was acceptable. He banished the pyramid to the rubbish bin just as the fire flared.

"Grant?" Damon asked hopefully as he scooted around the sofa to answer the call, hoping it was his husband. He was missing the man something terrible.

"No, sorry Damon, it's Harry," the small man said as he awkwardly knelt down to lean into the flames. He could see into the Wolffe's living room and he whistled softly at the state it was in. Grant was going to have Damon's hide.

Damon's face fell and he sighed. "Hey Harry, Sev's not here right now. He's still at the shop. You want me to have him call you?" He looked around the room and moved closer to the flames, blocking the room with his body.

"Everything all right?" he eyed the little man. Smiling slightly at the way Harry looked in the flames. Grant had been so beautiful pregnant and he could see Harry was as well as he progressed further in his pregnancy.

Harry smiled and then nodded. "Everything is fine Damon. Actually, I was wanting to talk to you if that is alright," he said as tried not to chuckle at Damon's attempt to hide the house.

Damon smiled and nodded, settling himself on the hearth. He turned and summoned a soda then looked back at Harry. "Fine, Harry. What's on your mind?"

"It's about Grant," Harry began and then took a deep breath. "He's bought himself a new wand. One that works."

Damon narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean one that works? Harry, I bought that wand for him when he was younger. It didn't need to be replaced."

"Yes it did. Did you know he was virtually a squib while trying to use that piece of rubbish?" Harry asked and then looked at Damon. "You didn't inhibit him, did you? Make him more dependent on you?"

"Son of a bitch." Damon glared at Harry. "It was not rubbish. He's done fine with it this entire time. How dare you ask that question of me, you little shit? No, I did not inhibit him." He stopped and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, before he bodily pulled the pregnant man though the floo and swatted his backside.

Clearing his throat but not sounding any less angry, Damon started again. "Harry, his magic is different than ours. His own mother didn't care to teach him properly. My parents tried the best they could but it just didn't work. He didn't take to the training. There's just something about Grant that doesn't work well with a wand as a focus."

Harry looked right back at Damon, not willing to back down and cower. "Just what exactly could he do just fine, Damon? Simple parlour tricks and children's spells because that is all that farce of a wand he had was good for."

Damon cleared his throat again, "Harry, you are treading a thin line here and I am not about to explain anything to you. However, I will say this. Your attitude is unbecoming and I will make certain that Severus is told just exactly what you have accused me of." He stopped and shook his head.

"Just a minute, boy wonder, I think I will explain something to you. My Grant's magic is fused with mine. Now, you being Sev's little pet, I am certain you were educated in all the traditions and should understand that statement. If you don't then here's another for you. Grant's gotten by on his own merit and his own brand of magic, none of which was taught to him by a white man. He doesn't need parlour tricks or children's spells to get by because he's got me and others who care for him to help him out," Damon continued defiantly.

Harry stared stonily at Damon, still refusing to back down. "He couldn't do simple things, Damon. His clothes were wrinkled this morning and he couldn't do a simple charm to press them out. Does that sound like he was getting by? He's relied so much on doing things like a Muggle that I don't think he knows how to be a wizard. You've come to his rescue when he couldn't do things and you saw that he couldn't. Who knows how much he hid in embarrassment?" he said and then took a deep breath.

"I may be out of line Damon, but I'm speaking to you man to man. You asked me once to look out for your husband and I did," Harry said calmly. "It's your right to tell my husband that I've been disrespectful."

"You're damn right it's my right, you little snot. Man to man be damned. I take care of my husband not because he might be ill trained in his magic but because I care about him. He doesn't need to use his magic all the time. That's what I am for," Damon paused, trying to calm down.

"The mountains here disrupt the flow of magic. Ask Sev. Ask Max if you don't believe me. Hell, even ask my husband, but don't you dare tell me I have made him feel inadequate by making him be a Muggle."

"Would you feel better if you could actually see what I mean?" Harry asked softly, starting to wonder if he hadn't made things even worse by talking to Damon.

"No, I don't want to see what you mean. I want to know why you took my husband out, helped him buy a new wand and filled his head with lies about me," Damon demanded. He knew Grant was self conscious about his magic and he also knew Grant would have never done something like this without asking. It hurt to think that his son-in-law would do something like this after everything that had happened when Grant had been so ill. He swallowed and looked up at Harry. "Why, Harry? Can you just tell me why you did this?"

"I didn't fill his head with lies about you Damon," Harry protested. "Everything here is magic; it's not like there in the States. Grant was helpless Damon; I just wanted to help him be able to do things for himself. I told him it would be alright, that you would understand, and that a working wand was a necessity for him. I was wrong."

Harry looked down at the hearthstones and waited.

Damon stared at Harry for a moment, trying to digest the information though his rage. "What do you mean everything is magic there?" he asked softly, a sick, heavy feeling filling his gut as he looked at Harry's bowed head. Memories of Severus' tales about the school he'd taught at coming back to him.

"We do everything with magic here. There's no electricity, none of the things he's used to at home. To get into Wizarding areas you must use magic, to visit certain shoppes you must use magic," Harry said softly, his head still bowed. "He was helpless."

Damon rubbed his face, the feeling in his stomach made worse as he listened to the soft voice. Helpless, Harry had said. He had sent his little husband to a foreign place unprepared.

"Fuck..."

He swallowed and licked his lips as he thought about what to say. The past couple of days and his actions weighed heavily on his heart and he didn't quite know what or how to say what he really felt about the news so suddenly dumped on his lap that he had failed his little husband once again. "Harry, look at me, please."

Harry lifted his head and looked at his father-in-law.

"Harry... I... Thank you, Harry, for taking care of him for me. You did a good thing." Damon said as he met the green eyes though the fire. "I'm not angry with you or Grant, all right?"

Harry cocked his head and looked at Damon for a moment, not sure what to make of the sudden change in the man's temperament. "Let me fetch Grant for you," he said softly as he struggled to his feet.

Going to the foot of the stairs, he called up for his mother-in-law and soon Grant was joining him; a bounce in the small man's step and a smile on his face.

"What is it Harry?" he asked with a smile as he entered the bedroom and stopped, seeing the green flames in the hearth. He turned and looked at his son-in-law.

"Damon," Harry said softly, nodding towards the flames.

Grant took a deep breath and nodded before he crossed the room and dropped to his knees on the stones, his head bowed obediently.

"Sir."

Damon looked at his little husband, longing filing him as he sat there. Damn, he missed the man. "Hello, Grant. Harry tells me you had an adventure today."

Grant swallowed and then nodded. "Yes Sir," he said softly. He could actually feel the weight of his new wand setting in the pocket of his shirt, could feel the warmth that radiated from it. He would miss it.

Slowly, he drew the length of willow from its pocket and laid it on the hearth in front of him. "I'm sorry," he whispered and then picked the wand up and handed it to his husband through the flames.

Damon just watched his husband for a moment, looking up to see Harry standing over his shoulder. He met the younger man's eyes then focussed on his husband again, taking the wand and running his fingers over it. "That's a nice looking wand you got there. How does it feel?"

"It was nice Sir," Grant murmured, his eyes still down. He wondered if Damon would break the wand or make him do it. It was within his husband's rights and Grant knew it, he should have insisted that they wait until he could ask Damon's permission.

"Just nice?" Damon asked as he rolled the wand in his fingers. It was lightweight and he swished it gently, nearly gasping as the thing shot sparks almost immediately. "Was? Are you planning on taking it back?"

"I shouldn't have bought it without your permission. I don't deserve it," Grant said quietly, wishing Harry would just go upstairs so he didn't have to see him like this.

Damon nodded and set the wand on the hearth in front of him. "I agree that you should have let me know you needed one, but I am thankful Harry took you to retrieve it." He reached through the flames and pressed his hand against Grant's chin, lifting his face to meet his eyes. "Now tell me how it really feels, Pet."

"Alive," the little man replied as he looked into his husband's blue eyes.

Damon nodded and rubbed his thumb across Grant's cheek. "Be careful with it then, Pet." He picked up the wand and held it out to his husband. "Make certain you get a proper holster for it as well. I think Harry can help you out with that."

"I don't have to break it?" Grant asked curiously as he stared at the wand in Damon's hand.

"Be a shame if you did, Pet. I'd hate to have to buy you another one." Damon waved the wand a bit and arched an eyebrow. "You do want it back, right?"

"Please," Grant said as he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the slim wood, a sigh of relief coming to the surface as he felt the gentle tingle in his blood. "Thank you."

Grant was quiet for a moment, looking at Damon before he spoke, "Do you want to see what I can do?"

Damon nodded. "Be careful, Pet," he warned almost as an after thought from doing it for so many years.

"Show me what you can do, baby," he said smiling at his little husband.

Grant smiled and backed up just a little from the fire and looked around the room for a moment. With a smile he picked up one of his wrinkled shirts and set it down in front of him so Damon could see it. With a quick flick of his wand, the wrinkles were pressed out of the garment; it neatly folded itself and then flew back over to Grant's bed and landed softly on the coverlet.

"How's that?" he asked excitedly, a huge grin on his face as he turned to look back at Damon to see the man's reaction.

Damon smiled at his husband. The charm was a simple one Grant had never been able to manage before now. Many of his uniform shirts had fallen victim to the charm when his mother had tried to instruct Grant early on in their marriage. "Excellent, baby. I'm proud of you."

Grant positively beamed; proud of himself to finally be able to do something he'd been trying to learn for fifty years. "I can do some other things too," he said as he scooted back close to the flames.

Damon chuckled and smiled again. "That's good baby. I'm so glad you are having a good time with Harry. Be careful though around him." He wanted to pull his little husband through the fire and wrap his arms around him just to hold him and feel the excitement running through his body at having accomplished something.

He settled for sticking his hand into the fire and cupping his husband's cheek, fingers stroking the fiery skin.

Grant leaned in and let his cheek rest against Damon's palm. "I promise I won't be lazy and use it to do my work," he murmured, closing his eyes for a moment. "It'll stay in my drawer like the other one did."

Damon made a face for a moment then shook his head. "No, I know you won't. Grant, you use your wand when you need to, you hear me. You are going to need time to bond with the wand so I want you to use it."

He caressed Grant's cheek, wanting so much to hold the man in his arms and tell him how sorry he was he hadn't done a better job in caring for his magic. The weight in his gut and heart ached to make it better for the little man and he sighed, settling for the small comfort he could provide though the floo. "I love you, my Injun."

"I love you too," Grant murmured. He missed his husband so much it hurt and even the man's touch was bittersweet. "The man at that shop said the other wand just didn't work right. We didn't know." He had a feeling Damon was beating himself up for what was happening and he didn't want that at all.

"It could have been that it just didn't like me from the beginning," he said as he pulled back and looked at Damon.

Damon nodded. "I'm glad the problem was solved then, Pet. I owe Harry a great deal of thanks for catching that." He looked up over Grant's shoulder and nodded at the other small man.

@@@@@@@

Severus arrived back at the Wolffe's house with his employee Jason before Max and his family. He looked over at the heavily pregnant man with a little concern, not certain he felt comfortable with Jason still working as he did at the apothecary.

Jason could feel the other man's gaze on him and pulled his coat around himself a bit tighter. "Thank you for picking me up Professor, but I'm close enough I could have walked," he said before reaching over to pick up the casserole he'd brought from home as his offering to the potluck meal that evening.

Severus nodded. "Be that as it may Jason, the weather is taking a turn for the worst and it's not good for you to be trudging around in the snow so much, being the size that you are now." He held up a hand to forestall the protests he knew were coming.

"I'm not trying to tell you want to do but I am concerned about you and your child." He eyed the huge belly then looked back up at his little employee. "I like to think of you as a friend, Jason, regardless of our professional relationship and hope you don't think me too forward in inquiring about your health occasionally."

Jason shrugged. "I'm alright. The healer says I'm doing well. I'm not underweight or anything." He looked at his boss for a moment. "I was curious about something."

Severus filed the information away to tell Damon at a later time. "About what exactly?"

The subject had been weighing heavily on Jason's mind for a few weeks now, keeping him up at night on occasion. "After I have the baby, do I still have a job?" he asked looking away as he opened the truck door and slid to the ground.

Severus blinked and got out of the truck, nearly jumping to help Jason and scowling when the man got down on his own. "If you can find a solution as to how you are going to manage the child's care during the day, I don't see that it will be a problem. I've no complaints with you and you and Harry work well together."

He reached over Jason and picked up the casserole dish, carrying it for the other man as they walked up to the back porch of the old farmhouse.

Jason nodded, that was the other thing that had him worried, how he was going to pay for child care. "Thank you Professor. Could you tell me if I'll have a couple days after the baby is born, or if you'll need me right back?" he asked. Maybe he could work something out with his sister.

So long as you don't have the child in the middle of my store, Jason, you may have adequate maternity leave to make arrangements and such." Severus smiled at Jason and opened the door for him.

"Thank you; I didn't know what you allowed. I'll try not to be more than a couple of days," Jason said as he lifted his hand in greeting to Damon when he entered the kitchen. He set the casserole on the back of the stove, noticing the absence of the smell of home cooking in the house. Damon must be missing Grant terribly.

"Hello Mister Wolffe," Jason said as he shrugged his old coat off and hung it behind the door. He still wasn't certain why he was here, it was a family gathering.

Damon smiled at Jason. "Hey Jason, what'd you bring us? Thought I told you to call me, Damon."

He resisted the urge to pick at the tinfoil and see what the young man had brought. Instead, he opened the fridge and pulled out the Salisbury steaks and gravy Grant had made earlier then turned on the oven to warm. He looked at Severus and chuckled. "Think we can manage mashed potatoes, Sev?"

"It's a beef pot pie, but I didn't have any beef, so I guess you can call it mountain surprise," Jason said with a wicked grin. He didn't know if his boss ate venison, but he figured Mister Wolffe did.

Severus nodded as he went to Grant's potato bin. "I can do mashed Damon," he said as he pulled the root vegetables out and sent them to the sink with a flick of his wand, grimacing as one took a wayward turn and ended up in the laundry room. "Bugger."

Damon laughed and retrieved the potato. "Careful now, you know how this old mountain is." He tossed the potato at Severus and turned to Jason as he got a large pot to cook the potatoes in. "Deer or rabbit, Jason? Been a while since I had some good mountain game. I can't wait."

"Deer," Jason said and then looked away. He'd shot the animal out of season, but it was on his property, so he didn't really know where the law would stand on it. "Small doe, so it should be tender enough."

Damon nodded. "Sounds good, Jason. Ain't nothing like a good deer meat. I'm going to have to go hunting again soon." He reached into the fridge and pulled out the milk and butter for the potatoes. "You want something to drink? We have tea and sodas." He nodded to the twelve packs sitting on the floor beside the laundry room door.

"There should be some pies left in the deep freeze too. What kind do you want and I'll go look to see what all we have."

"Water's fine Mister Wolffe," Jason said as he sat down at the small table, taking the weight off his swollen feet.

Severus soon had the potatoes peeled, diced and put on to boil before he poured the boy a glass of water from the tap and set it in front of him. "Would he have any apple in there?" he called out to Damon. The apple pie was one of his favourites and so far he'd not been able to coax Harry into attempting to make one.

Damon nodded and went into the laundry room. "I'll see. Last time I looked I think I saw one. Jason, you got any preference? Shit... I don't think I have anything in the house for Davy to eat."

Damon stuck his head out of the doorway. "Sev, look in the little freezer and see if there's some tofu. I'll make up a marinade real quick and grill it on the indoor grill for him."

"No sir, it doesn't matter to me," Jason replied, drinking his water as he relaxed in the cozy kitchen.

Severus grunted while he rooted around in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator for a few minutes. "No tofu and the only soybean product looks too freezer burnt to bother with," he said as he threw the small package in the rubbish. "There's a jar of peanut butter in the cupboard though."

Damon came out with two pies, one apple and one cherry, and sighed. "Damn, there's got to be something. Look up in the cabinet and look for some chick peas. I'll dig out the processor and make some hummus. Grant's got a recipe around here somewhere."

He looked up at Severus. "The boy's not eating peanut butter here. I know they are bringing something but he's got every right to eat good as well. I don't want to hear you and Max bitching either. I don't like the stuff but that doesn't mean he should suffer for it."

"Do you even know if he's not eating meat today?" Severus sighed as he began to poke through the cupboards. "There's potatoes as well, perhaps add some cheese to them?"

Damon shook his head. "No I don't, but I'd like to have something for the boy to eat if he isn't. Grant would wipe the floor with my ass if I didn't."

"Want me to call and see if he's eating meat today and if not go get something for him at the market? They carry that sort of thing, don't they?" Severus asked as he closed the cupboard door having not found any chickpeas. "What about tuna?"

Damon sighed. "Tuna's meat too or at least to Grant it is whenever he goes on these vegetarian binges. Yeah, call over there if you would and ask him. I want to be certain so we can all have a good time tonight."

Jason looked up and scratched at his chin for a moment. "I've got stuff to make bean burritos at home, would that work?" he asked with a shrug. He hadn't realized what a huge effort went into making sure the new doctor's husband had food to eat. It seemed kind of frivolous to him, but then again, on his budget he couldn't afford to be choosy.

Damon stared at the little man. "Jason, you are brilliant. Grant's got some black beans in the cupboard and I know there are tortillas in the freezer as well." He ran a hand over the man's head and patted his shoulder. "Thanks."

He looked up at Sev and smiled. "Never mind, don't bother them. They are most likely on their way here now. You don't have to go anywhere either. We can slice up some tomatoes and lettuce and shred the cheese. Sound good to you?"

Severus shrugged, he didn't really care, he wasn't eating it. "Should we wait until he gets here so we know rather than risk so many leftovers?" Personally, he hated leftovers, would rather put them out for the dogs if it were up to him.

Damon made a face. He had no problem with leftovers for one extra night beside that would mean all he had to do was nuke them for tomorrow. He hated cooking.

"I have no idea. There's going to be the three of us plus Davy and Gregory as well as Max and the urchins and his parents. Right now I could eat the ass end out of a French fried Shetland pony so it doesn't matter to me. I like the bean burritos does that way. Wish Grant was here to make Spanish rice for them too. They are good like that as well."

"I can make that... I think," Jason said biting his lip. "Well, I can make what I call Spanish rice, but it's probably nowhere as good as Doctor Wolffe's."

Damon grinned. "Jason, you do that for me and you can take all the leftovers with you." He knew Severus wouldn't eat them and neither would he after the one day. "I can't wait to see what everyone else is bringing. We'll have to talk Grant into doing potlucks more often on Sunday dinners."

He rubbed his hands together in anticipation then sighed. "Are you certain you feel up to that?" he asked gently eyeing Jason's rotund frame. "You look like you are about to pop all over the place."

He stopped suddenly, blue eyes widening alarmingly. "You ain't gonna, are you?"

Jason rolled his eyes and got to his feet. "No Mister Wolffe, I'm not going to pop in your kitchen, I was raised with better manners than that," he laughed as he lumbered over to the counter and began to poke around the stocked cupboards. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but the prospect of taking the leftovers home was appealing.

"I don't want to take anything you'll eat," the young man said as he measured out rice and water into a saucepan before setting it over a flame.

Severus looked at Damon for a moment. "What did you make? I have some bread from Clangman's bakery and cheese. You never mentioned what you wanted."

"What do you mean what'd I make? I got Grant's steaks there." Damon frowned. "You were supposed to bring something Sev, it doesn't matter what. That's why it's called a potluck. Everyone just brings something then you set it all out and take a bit of everything to enjoy. Like Lynelle's buffet down there at the China King."

Severus frowned, pursing his lips as he thought. Glancing up at the clock above the sink, he realized the market would be close to locking up for the evening by the time he got there. With a self satisfied smirk, he turned back to the refrigerator, opening the freezer and peered in for a moment. He pulled out a foil pan that was wrapped in plastic and foil, a small note card taped to the top. R

Reading it, he set it out on the counter. "I have lasagne to go with the bread," he said with a nod of his head, proud of his ingenuity.

Damon arched an eyebrow and shook his head. "Ballsy s.o.b, aren't you?" He laughed out loud and looked at the container. Turning on the second oven, he shook his head and reached for a cookie sheet to place the lasagne on. "All right then, problems solved. Jason's cooking a bit and for his reward he can take all the leftovers home."

He grinned and walked into the laundry room, rummaging around for a moment before returning with a package of paper plates, sleeve of plastic cups and a bag of plastic silverware. "Dirty dish problem solved too." He set them on the table and grinned at the other two men. "Don't know why Grant gets so fussed over Sunday dinners."

"Because he's wound so bloody tight, he'll explode if you breathe wrong," Severus laughed as he looked over at Jason who was waiting for the water to boil.

"I forgot to bring in the bread and cheese," Severus said as he poured himself a drink. "Would you mind terribly Jason?"

Damon reached over and slugged Severus's arm. "Get up off your lazy ass and go get it yourself. He's pregnant and cooking for us besides Grant said to lay off him."

He turned to Jason. "A watched pot never boils, son, come sit down and get off your feet until it does."

Jason shook his head. "It's alright Mister Wolffe, it's kind of hot in here, I could use a breath of cooler air," he said as he checked the flame on the rice and waddled to the door, sweat glistening on his brow. He nodded towards the driveway.

"Looks like Doctor Sorens is here," he said as he pushed the door open and stepped out onto the porch.

Max got out of the big truck and reached back in for Sarah. As he set her on the ground he looked up and shook his head at Jason. "Look at you! We going to find out what that bundle is come Friday aren't we?"

Jason shrugged as he watched the little girl stand in the slush of the driveway. Children still seemed like little foreign aliens to him most of the time. The little girl stared back up at him looking as though she felt much the same way about him.

"I don't know Doctor Sorens, maybe," Jason said as he reached out to take the plastic containers that the man was trying to juggle while trying to pull out an infant carrier. "I got them."

Maxwell Senior shook his head as he helped his wife from the big truck and took the baby from his son. "I'll get them. You shouldn't be out in this cold."

He smiled at the little man, even though he didn't know him. He'd been around Wizarding eccentrics all his life even though he himself was a Muggle. "Maxwell Sorens. Nice to meet you. This is my wife, Patty." He held out his hand to the younger man as he juggled the infant carrier to his other arm.

Jason nodded, sticking his hand out to the older man and then his wife. "I'm Jason Summers, nice to meet you," he said as he relinquished his hold on the food. "I'll be in shortly."

With another nod, Jason excused himself to go to his boss' truck to get what the man had wanted. Now he was ready to just go home, there were more people here than he was expecting, people he didn't know.

Maxwell watched the boy go and shook his head before turning to his son. "What's his story Max? He seems like a nice kid."

Patricia nodded. "He's so big already. How far along is he, sweetheart?"

Max regarded Jason thoughtfully for a moment, the boy was huge. He knew that he was a month further along than Harry, but still, he was bigger than what would normally be expected.

"Dad, he's a patient, so you know I can't say much," he said under his breath, his eyes still on the younger man. "But... I don't think he should be that big."

Maxwell nodded. "I understand. You'll figure it out through." He readjusted his grandson and some of the containers. "Come on little Sarah, let's get you and little Max inside where it's warm. I know Mister Wolffe will have a fire blazing."

Sarah took her grandfather's hand, leading him up the steps to the kitchen door. She wanted her Pop Pop and her Nonnie.

Jason pulled out the plastic carrier bag with the bread and cheese, closing the door of the truck and leaning against it for a moment. He hated the fact he was huge and getting so ungainly now, made even the simplest things like going to the bathroom a real pain in the ass.

Patricia Sorens walked over to the young man and smiled at him. "Tough, isn't it? You look like me when I was pregnant with Max. Are you all right?"

Jason jerked his head up at the sound of the woman's voice and then nodded his head. "Yes ma'am, I'm fine, just hot," he mumbled, shifting the bag from hand to hand. "You should go on in, it's cold out."

"If you don't mind, I'll wait with you. This snow is so slick sometimes." She looked around the yard and sighed softly as she pulled her cloak about her. "I'm going to miss all this when we go back to California. It'll be eighty degrees on Christmas again this year." She smiled at Jason again and held out her arm to him. "Come on dear, let's go in together. It wouldn't do for you to catch a cold out here."

She winked at him, "You can be the only one who was gentlemanly enough to help an old woman across the snow. Something my husband and son seemed to have forgotten."

"Yes ma'am," Jason said as he offered his arm to the older woman. If he'd learned nothing else growing up, he did have manners. He carefully led the woman along the worn path in the snow to the back porch and then up the steps. "There you are ma'am, mind the linoleum, it's a little slick with everyone's feet."

Patricia smiled and patted his arm with her other hand. "You are a good man, Jason Summers. I'm glad to have had the chance to met and talk with you."

She opened up the door and stepped into the old farmhouse nearly cooing with delight. "Oh Mister Wolffe. Your home is simply lovely. Thank you for inviting us."

Damon smiled and nodded. "We're all family here, Missus Sorens. Come on in out of the cold. You too Jason."

He reached over and smacked his son again, hissing at him softly. "Sev, get up and help Jason."

Severus got to his feet, crossing the room and taking the carrier bag from Jason. "Thank you. Your rice started boiling, so I turned the heat back," he said as he set the bag on the counter and then wrestled the coat off of his employee. "Take it off Jason, you aren't running anywhere."

Severus had an idea from the look on Jason's face that the small man would most likely try to slip away unnoticed and walk home through the fields. "Do not make me confiscate your shoes Mister Summers," he said softly, his black eyes boring into Jason's as he hung up the jacket and then steered the man to a chair.

Jason glared at his boss, seriously considering telling the man to mind his own business and fuck off. "Wasn't going to run," he muttered softly. "Waddle maybe but I haven't been able to run for several months." He crossed his arms over his chest and sank down into the chair. "Thank you, Professor. It just needs to simmer now for about twenty minutes."

Severus only nodded as he set a timing spell with his wand. He'd long ago gotten over being self conscious doing magic in front of Muggles and had met Maxwell Senior several times in the past.

"Hello there Maxwell," Severus said as he turned his attention to the older man, sticking his hand out in greeting. He'd wait a few minutes, be polite and then corner Max in the other room.

Maxwell took the tall man's hand and smiled at him. "Severus, good to see you again, son. How's that little husband of yours doing? When is he returning from England? My condolences to his family."

Severus smiled as he thought about his little husband. "Harry is doing well; pregnancy seems to be agreeing with him. They should return a week from today unless they decide to change their plans," he replied. "May I offer you something to drink?"

Maxwell nodded. "Excellent, I'm glad to hear it. Thank you kindly, Severus. Tea if it's available, just some water if not. Patricia, would you like something dear?"

Patricia nodded. "I'll have the same Severus, if you are going for it. Thank you, love." She toed up and pressed a kiss to the pale cheek. "I'm so glad you are here in the states. Max really needs you now." She pursed her lips and shook her coiffed hair. "I really worry about him late at night."

Severus sighed and then poured them both a glass of tea he'd set out on the table. "How is he doing? Has there been any word from Allie?" he asked, concerned for his big friend.

Patricia sighed. "You know how he is. Had both of the children in the bed with him last night. It will take a miracle to break Sarah back to her own bed after this." She shook her head and sipped her tea. "That... woman, after she left those papers, hidden in the mail I might add, hasn't bothered to call or anything. No word whatsoever about where she might be. Just a phone number scribbled on the envelope from her lawyer. Poor Max and Sarah are beside themselves. Little Max is too young to understand and I suppose that is a good thing."

She smiled suddenly. "I'm so glad though that Davy and Gregory are around so much. Those boys are just the sweetest pair. So happy with each other and Sarah just loves Davy."

Severus raised a brow curiously, he'd not been aware that the Corricans had been spending so much time with Max. "Yes, it is nice of them to be there for the children," he said softly, he needed to get to the bottom of this before Max did something on the rebound that might have horrible repercussions for everyone involved.

"So there shan't be any argument over custody, that is a miracle in his favour," the Brit murmured and then smiled at Patricia. "If you would excuse me for a moment, I'd like to go have a word with Max myself. I fear I've not been as available to him as I should have been."

Patricia nodded and kissed his cheek again. "You do that. He needs someone to talk with, Severus." She turned and looked at Jason. "As for you Mister Summers, how goes your pregnancy?"

@@@@@@@@

Max sat down in Damon's chair as he watched the older man take his son to lie the sleeping baby down in the room next to Damon and Grant's bedroom. The boy would sleep for a few hours then he could get him back up to have his bottle.

Sighing he looked down and smiled at his daughter as she bent to get something out of the toy box in the corner of the living room and was bowled over by both dashounds and Baby; the sound of her laughter making him smile wistfully. It had been a few days since he'd heard it unless the little girl was playing with Davy.

The two men had been coming by to see to his children since the day Max had brought his son home from the hospital. He was grateful for the company. Gregory and his mother had gotten on well as the man had done his duty and checked over the newborn, reassuring Max the boy was doing well after the circumcision.

He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath and trying to relax. He knew he wasn't faring well with all that had happened and had been trying to hide it from his mother. The damned woman was perceptive and continued to invite the Corricans over, hoping the couple could bring him out of his funk. He knew she meant well and thought he'd like to be around friends but he couldn't look at Gregory with Davy like that. It hurt too much to watch the happy couple.

Max sighed again and opened his eyes, looking up as Severus entered the room. "Hey man, Mom's not driving you crazy, is she? I told her to back off tonight."

Severus gave a dismissive wave, sitting down on the sofa and crossing his legs. "Don't worry about it." He looked his friend over for a moment and could see the cracks around the edges.

"How are you doing? Honestly, no bollocks, how are you holding up?" Severus asked just watching the big man's face. He couldn't imagine what Max could be going through and would dearly love to get his hands on the man's wife. How could she do something like this, to her own children if nothing else?

Max snorted. "I'm here, aren't I? No one's insane or dead so I must be doing something right." He looked over at Sarah then back at his best friend. "Davy and Greg have been spending a lot of time with Sarah so it's helped."

Severus didn't say anything for a long moment and then sighed. "I can find her... if you want her found," he said quietly. It would be using something close to Dark Magic, but it would locate the witch within moments, whether she were dead or alive and he doubted someone as innocent as Max would have knowledge of the spells needed.

Max shook his head. "No, don't. If she's happier this way then let her be. Right now, she's not causing any problems." He looked up over at his friend. "In fact she's even willing to put a codicil in the divorce decree to give up her rights to the kids." he whispered softly. "I'll not have any problems with her, so she says. She just wants her freedom."

Severus nodded, knowing that if he were in his friend's place, someone would be roasting in Hell at the moment.

"Any luck in finding a nanny yet?" he asked, that was something he was curious about knowing that he and Harry would need childcare soon.

Max nodded. "Yeah, got one of the Farnsworth's daughters, Sherry; Fannie's girl, from the agency Damon suggested. She's certified with American Red Cross in their babysitting and CPR courses, a witch and a local. Sarah seems to like her." He shrugged. "Between her and Davy, I got it covered. He comes over after his appointments from the hospital and spends his lunch with them."

Not sure of the best way to voice his concerns, Severus cleared his throat and decided to simply come out with it. "Do you think it's wise to have Greg and Davy there so much?"

Max chuckled and looked up at his friend. "With Mom and Dad there yeah, I see no problem with it." He made a face. "Besides, they're a happy little couple don't you know." he said just a little bit bitterly.

"I know, but I also know what you felt for Greg and I've seen how you look at him." Severus was careful to keep his tone non-accusatory.

Max narrowed slightly his eyes at his friend. "Look man, I know you are trying to help but I can control myself. I just lost my wife, I'm not in any real hurry to, one; jump into someone else's bed or, two; break up someone else's marriage." He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry. He's very easy on the eyes and I remember how good it was between us but he's happy now and I wouldn't break into that for anything. Have you seen how Davy looks at him? That's all I wanted and now, I'll learn to live without it."

"I'm not taking the piss Max, I just don't want to see you or anyone else hurt anymore," Severus said with a sigh. "It would be like me having Davy around constantly."

Max nodded. "I know, I'm just so..." A low growl came from his throat and he closed his eyes as he shook his head then looked towards his daughter. Sighing he returned his gaze to Severus. "It's a distraction I can afford right now because as I hear it told, Davy and Harry have plans of taking up with Jason after he returns from Britain. Something about planning Christmas dinner and bring Jason out of his shell. Plus they have a friend arriving from out of town, Montgomery somebody, coming to spend the holidays with them."

Severus closed his eyes for a moment, he really didn't need to hear that he would be spending more time in Davy Corrican's company; not that he minded the younger man, but he was a link to a past he was ashamed of and worried about what might be said to Harry.

"I heard it was a doctor that Greg knows, someone that specializes only in Fleymann's," Severus said, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

The light bulb went off over Max's head as he stared at Severus. "Richard Montgomery? Damn, it never dawned on me that it was him. I was only half listening when Gregory said something about it. There's only one Fleymann's doc, Sev, and he's it."

Severus nodded, that was the name he'd remembered. "I take it he's good then?"

"Is he good?" Max chuckled. "The man has made some amazing advances and helped lots of men with Fleymann's. I really admire all he's done. It's helped me out as well." He stopped and looked around the room for Damon then leaned closer to Severus, hissing softly. "I use his research to try and help Grant but don't you dare tell either one of them. Grant has a hate on for that man that rivals the one for Margaret Farnsworth."

Severus chuckled; he well knew what the little doctor was like when he decided that someone had offended him by simply existing. "Then this should be very interesting. Do you think we should keep them apart? Do you know how long he's planning to visit?" he asked as he pondered the logistics in keeping everyone separate during the holidays.

Max sat back and rubbed his face, reminding himself he needed to shave. Fuck all; maybe he'd grow a beard. "That's going to be interesting to say the least. As far as I know he'll be here for both holidays or at least that's what Gregory is going to try and talk him into. He also said something about the man finishing up a three year project. Wonder what he's discovered this time?"

"Would you have any of his papers? I wouldn't mind looking them over," Severus said, wondering if he might find ways to help his young husband adjust to everything that was happening to him. "Is the man married?"

Max shook his head. "To his work maybe, Gregory didn't say anything about a spouse." He sighed and settled back in his chair as he watched Sarah walk down the hallway looking for her Pop-pop. Damon hadn't returned and Max had a sneaky suspicion he was in there just watching the baby.

"I have all his articles from the past WMA journals in my office. Come on up tomorrow morning and I'll give you the binder I put them in. He's pretty well known in certain circles and in other well, let's just say his reputation proceeds him and not always in a good way."

Severus frowned for a moment. "What do you mean? Is he unsafe?" He was wondering how Grant would be around the new baby now that he had more time on his hands and he hoped the small man wouldn't spiral into depression.

Max shook his head. "No, nothing like that. From what I hear he's just very... determined and straight forward when it comes to his speciality. I heard Grant go off on him one time all the way from his old office. Had to get up and muffle the sounds of him yelling so I could finish my charting." He chuckled and shook his head. "I am damned glad the office was closed for the day because Grant used words I never even thought to hear out of that little man's mouth."

"You're joking?" Severus said as he looked at Max, he really couldn't see Grant getting that angry. "Did he have the man on the telephone?"

"I am not lying to you." Max looked at Severus sincerely. "I think he was talking to Damon because there were pauses and after the initial outburst it was much quieter. The article on how the gene was passed from parent to child had just come out and let me tell you, he was all fired up for days. I felt so bad for Damon. I gave the poor man an extra script for the calming potion Grant normally takes because he'd already gone through one."

Severus raised a brow; this was something new to him. "Grant is on a routine sedative?" he asked curiously, he knew he'd never filled it for him. Perhaps his 'mother' was getting it elsewhere.

Max nodded. "Don't worry you'll be getting a script for it soon enough when he returns. It's almost that time of year for Fleymann's carriers to come into season. Didn't you say it was sometime in June when you and Harry might have caught?"

Severus nodded and looked at Max dumbly. "Season?"

Max nodded. "Did you ever notice with Harry that sometimes he'd be a little more clingy or touchy? Most often round the equinoxes and solstices. Someone with Fleymann's can only get pregnant around four times a year. That's their season, I think Montgomery calls them cycles. They have four chances in one year to produce their child and the body knows it, so it kind of goes into overdrive I guess the word would be." He shrugged and looked at Severus before continuing.

"The people afflicted tended to get clingy, have cravings and their sex drive goes into overtime in preparation to produce a baby. According to Montgomery's research, there's three weeks of building up to the solstice or equinox and on that last night is usually when they get pregnant if they are going to. It's fascinating stuff."

Severus shrugged, with Harry's history it was rather hard to tell what was the effects of the Fleymann's and what was the after effects of his past. "I assume it will be more noticeable after he's had the baby?" he asked. He did recall Grant being very clingy with Damon at times and wondered if that explained it.

"I have no idea. Maybe, maybe not." Max shrugged and sighed. "Harry and Jason are two of the few patients that I am seeing continuously. Most just come in and deliver then leave again. it should be interesting to see what happens afterwards."

"I'll need to sedate Harry as well, then?" Severus asked as he recalled one instance not long after meeting the Wolffes that Grant had stayed sedated for nearly a month.

Max frowned. "I don't know, we'll have to see. You and Harry are young and still within the childbearing age." He chuckled and smiled at his friend. "You are going to end up with a whole brood if you aren't careful though."

Severus chuckled and shook his head, he knew he'd like to have a large family, but it would depend a lot on how his young husband felt about it. "I suppose I could always go and have the surgery done."

Max nodded. "That's one way to go. It didn't seem to help Damon any with the seasons except Grant's never gotten pregnant again."

Severus contemplated a life of Harry behaving as neurotic as Grant did at times and found himself shuddering. "Isn't there a male contraceptive potion on the market now? I seem to recall reading something about it several weeks ago," he said slowly as he tried to recall the article in question.

Max hummed and thought for a moment. "I think so but I don't really remember where I read about it. I'll look into it more thoroughly if you like though."

Severus nodded. There had been potions for years to help wizards to become pregnant and carry to term, but until recently there had been no safe alternative to avoid pregnancy in a male prone to conceive.

"If the success rate is good, then I shall look into purchasing rights to brew it here," he said thinking that many of the couples that came to deliver at Blue Ridge may be interested.

Max grinned. "You should see if Gregory will introduce you to the man. He might know more about it and with your pharmacological degree the two of you might come up with something better than the calming potion as well."

"Do you think it may act as a suppressant for Grant's behaviour?" Severus asked as he watched the hallway, wary of Damon coming in on the conversation.

Max shrugged and made a face as he saw where Severus was looking. He didn't want Damon hearing about any of this either. He knew Grant kept the man in the dark about his health history. "To be honest I have no idea. I'm struggling with Grant because of how he is with his medical history. It's a fight every time he comes into the office." He shook his head and sighed. "Other doctors are the worst patients."

Severus nodded and then smirked, he knew he'd not make the most pleasant of patients as well and was thankful he'd not had any reason to see Max on a professional basis yet.

"How is the baby sleeping at night?" he asked curiously, changing the subject before the wrong ears tuned in.

Max chuckled and nodded at the subject change. "He sleeps pretty good. He's still up every couple of hour but feeding him with formula makes it about every four hours instead of the two Allie had to do with Sarah." He swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment. "In one way I wish I had gotten a wet nurse but in other ways, I'm glad I didn't. It's nice to just hold him and give him that bottle. Sarah will sit with us sometimes and help." He opened his eyes and looked over at Severus. "His eyes are so knowing sometimes, like he just knows I'm going to take care of him. It's an awesome feeling to experience."

"I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like with Reganne," Severus murmured. He'd not been in the States when Sarah had been born and had missed those early weeks with his god daughter.

Severus smiled to himself and gave a shake of his head before speaking again. "Is Jason truly well?"

"When Max wakes, I'll let you try it. It'll be good practice for you." Max smiled at his friend. "As for Jason, as far as I know he's healthy. I can't really tell you the details, you know that."

Not pleased with the answer, Severus looked at his friend. "All I need to know is if he's progressing normally. He's huge compared to Harry and I know they are less than a month apart."

Max spread his hands. "Again, my hands are tied on that Severus."

"I have a right to know if the boy is going to whelp in my shop Max," Severus growled softly.

Max snorted. "No Sev, he's not." He folded his hands over his face and began laughing at his friend. "First babies take a long time to get here," he answered through his hands and laughter. He'll not be whelping any where but the hospital."

"Thank Merlin," Severus snorted and then looked at his friend again. "How much longer can he safely work?" He didn't want the stubborn young man to push himself harder for a few dollars when he needed to be resting.

Max sighed and rubbed his face. "I have no idea. Some people work right up until the day they go into labour."

"I suppose I should go ahead and relieve him of his duties," the Potions master murmured, trying to reckon where he'd find a replacement for Jason.

Max shook his head. "If he's not complaining then let him work. It's not your place to tell him he can't work. Just take it a bit easier on him."

Frowning, Severus decided he'd discuss the matter with Jason the following morning at the shop, determined not to let the young man simply wheedle his way out of the topic.

"What did your mother make?" he teased Max trying to lighten his mood and that of his friends.

Max chuckled. "King Ranch casserole and all the sides. She had a time in the kitchen cooking today. What did you and Damon come up with?"

"Some dishes Grant had in the freezer," Severus said with a shrug. "Salisbury steak and lasagne." The dark haired man chuckled at the image of such a diverse table that they would be sitting down to shortly.

"Grant would need to be sedated if he were here now," he laughed.

Max nodded and laughed again, the sound still a bit close to hysteria than he'd liked. "It's fun, I think we should tell him what we did. I need a little more fun right about now."

"I think Damon's missing him terribly. I've been staying here and the man just paces the hallway at night, up til all hours. I'm worried about him," Severus said confidentially, not wanting to admit that he was missing Harry just as badly.

Damon walked out cradled the baby on his shoulder and had Sarah by her hand. "Max, he's awake and I think he wants something. I changed him for you." He looked at the two men and arched an eyebrow. "Sarah's hungry too."

Severus stared at Damon in disbelief as Max stood to take the baby from the older man.

"You changed a nappy?" Severus asked, feigning shock as he gaped at the ex Marine. "You just charmed him dry, didn't you?"

Max shook his head, chuckling at Severus before he took Sarah's hand to lead her into the kitchen. "The baby is in one piece, so whatever he did seems to have worked."

Damon rolled his eyes and watched Max and the children go before sitting down in his chair, eyeing Severus. "I know how to change a pamper. Grant made certain of that some forty years ago. These new ones are a bit different that the cloth ones, but I think I did all right. You never heard him cry, did ya?" He chuckled and shook his head. "Besides Sarah told me how to do it."

Severus chuckled and shook his head. "So does this mean you'll change Reganne for me when she's born? I don't recall you changing Sarah."

Damon made a face and shook his head. "Hell no. Little Max at least has the same equipment. I never changed Sarah."

"How are you holding up, Damon?" Severus asked as the older man took the chair Max had just vacated. "Did you hear from Grant today yet?"

Damon nodded and sighed. "Yeah, Grant's doing much better now that Harry took him to get a wand," he whispered softly not looking at his son. "I owe your little one an apology, Sev."

Severus raised a brow. "What happened?" he asked curiously, he'd not heard anything from Harry yet that day.

Damon sighed again and looked up at Severus. "Apparently Grant's wand wasn't the one he should be using. He's been spelling things right and left since they returned from Diagon Alley and he's had a little trouble but not near anything that he'd been having here. It's my fault he's been screwing up the spells." Severus knew about Grant's magic but he had never thought he'd had to reveal his part in suppressing it.

"So Harry took him to Ollivander's?" Severus asked, still not seeing why Damon felt he owed the younger man an apology. "You didn't know it was the wrong wand."

Damon nodded. "Yeah, apparently Grant was having a time at Harry's relatives and Harry discovered that the wand I bought for him was worthless." He closed his eyes and rubbed his face. "I was busy trying to get him off the res and somewhere safe, I didn't even think about making certain he'd been fitted correctly. There was only one wand maker in South Dakota back then and it took me months to find him. So I just took the first thing that reacted with Grant."

Severus listened, well aware that there were a precious few reputable wand makers in all of the States. It seemed as though it was tradition for an older family member to make the wand of a younger family member; something about the passing of inherent knowledge, ability, and instinct from one generation to another.

"Once again Damon, I fail to see how this is your fault," he said slowly. The old mountains had a reputation for making magic go awry and he himself had been victim to the whims of the land.

Damon closed his eyes and shook his head. "Harry and Grant went and got the wand without asking and then called me. Then before explaining a damned thing Harry accused me of inhibiting Grant's magic. I let him know right then and there what I thought of his little idea not too gently, in fact."

"He shouldn't have been rude about it Damon, I shall speak to him," Severus said, pursing his lips in displeasure. "He did apologize afterward?"

"Don't get on to him, Sev, he took the brunt of my anger and he shouldn't have. He was just looking out for Grant like I asked him." Damon sighed. "He has Mrs. Weasley coaching Grant too in the household spells. he did the right thing, Sev, I just didn't take to it well."

Severus still wasn't mollified and would be speaking to Harry about the best way to approach subjects with others after the younger man returned.

"Molly is teaching Grant how to use his wand?" Severus repeated and blew his breath out sharply. "In that case, do not expect actual home cooking again. She's a good woman, but doesn't do up meals as Grant has been accustomed to, relies on magic for most preparation."

Damon chuckled. "He's told me he wouldn't use his wand too much once he returned and honestly, it will be more difficult to do so here as well. I'm not really fussed about it well not too much now. I was angrier with myself for missing something so damned simple all these years. It was just easier for me to cast the spell for him and get it over with."

He looked up at Severus and sighed. "I've fucked up big time, this time Sev."

"Is Grant angry with you?" Severus asked softly. He knew the small man and couldn't imagine him blaming Damon for any of this.

Damon shook his head. "No, he tried to tell me it wasn't my fault, shoddy workmanship apparently but that still doesn't excuse my actions." He cleared his throat. "Dammit. You should have seen his face, Sev. Like Christmas had come early and when the spell he cast worked the first time, doing exactly what it was supposed to do, he was so proud of himself. It hurt to watch knowing I had fucked up all them years ago."

"You didn't know, Damon. I know that doesn't make it better, but it is the fact of the matter. Grant has hidden many of the things he couldn't do from me in order, I think, to save face. Don't you think that may be possible as well? He simply didn't want you to know what he was not able to do?" Severus asked with a sigh, wondering if Damon would forgive himself for this.

"Is the wand maker in question still in business?"

"I have no idea Sev. You know what a little shit he is sometimes and most of the time he went for his wand, I stopped him from doing the spells. I didn't want him to hurt himself especially after that time he set the house on fire trying to light the hearth. Scared all three of us to death." Damon looked over at Severus and shook his head.

"Doesn't matter now, does it? The man is most likely long gone, laughing at the dumb white man and his Injun playing wizard."

Inwardly Severus seethed at the thought of someone so blatantly cheating Grant out of his birthright. "If you can recall the man's name, I should like to find out if he is still in business anywhere. I've a few things I'd like to discuss with him," he said, his voice soft.

He understood Damon just taking care of things for his small husband; he'd been guilty of it himself. Not wanting to watch as Grant became frustrated with trying spells and charms repeatedly only to have them not work or back fire dangerously. Severus wondered if Grant would have had better luck if John had made the wand, but didn't know since Grant was not related to him.

Damon looked at him and shook his finger at Severus. "Don't you dare, son. That bracelet is the one thing keeping your family safe here in the States and I won't let you fuck that up, Severus. It'd kill us if something happened to you and Harry."

Severus regarded him with a stony stare. "Do you think perhaps at the time, Grant's magic was so different that the wand did indeed suit his abilities?" he asked slowly, the wheels beginning to turn. He'd heard the stories of how different the small man's magic was from his, but had rarely seen examples of it.

Damon shrugged, turning the subject back to Severus. "I don't know but I don't want you doing anything to jeopardize yours and Harry's position here. You got away with that shithead a few months ago but the W.I.N.S will be coming around to check on you and Harry. We don't want to give them any cause to dig deeper, Sev."

"Yes Damon, I understand. I'm simply wondering if indeed at the time he was fitted, that was the appropriate wand for him," Severus said, already past the need for retribution and now looking for possible reasons why Grant had a sub-standard wand.

Damon nodded. "Just making sure, you are as pigheaded as Grant sometimes." He chuckled and shook his head. "You know Sev, I have no idea. I just glad he's got a good one now; Harry made certain of that. There's nothing I can do but try and make up for the mistake."

Severus smiled, he was glad his husband had seemed to mend the rift between Grant and himself. "Have you thought of a tutor for Grant once he returns?"

Damon stared at him for a moment. "Are you shitting me? He'd skin me alive if he thought I had gone and got some teeny bopper to tutor him. Can you imagine the scandal Farnsworth would start on her damned radio spot? Merlin I am so glad Grant wasn't here when that wench went on the air."

"Apparently I've missed something. I don't listen to the radio at the shop," Severus said as he eyed Damon curiously. He was not aware of anything that would send Grant around the twist.

Damon snorted. "You should. Some idiot hired Margaret Farnsworth to do a little local program on WHKO." He stopped and snapped his fingers. "Mountain Ears and Eyes, I think the show is called. She tells the towns gossip in the most tawdry way. Something Grant would normally love but heard through Farnsworth's voice, well it will be hell on earth when he returns." he laughed again as he shook his head.

Severus rolled his eyes and grimaced. "He'll petition to have her taken off the air. Who exactly is she targeting with her gossip-mongering?" he asked, somewhat curious, not wanting to be subject to discussion in the township.

Damon nodded. "Won't work because it's not exactly one group she's targeting. I guess it's supposed to be like a woman's talk show thingy, what's that one Grant watches; The View? It's kinda like that. I heard it on the P.A. system in Clangman's when I went to go get more soda yesterday. It seems to be catching on because I heard Jennifer and Clangman's daughter, Maria, talking about it and just a laughing." He shook his head. "Crazy women."

Severus had been somewhat worried the woman would target Jason as an unwed parent and the last thing he needed was to deal with that fallout. "So she isn't mentioning names?" he asked carefully.

"Well, she reported about the birth of little Max and divorce proceedings with the Sorens but that was in the paper." Damon shrugged. "She did that with all the births, deaths and wedding and divorce announcements."

"If she singles out a member of my family or someone I know, I intend to sue her for slander," Severus murmured. The last thing the small town needed was another gossip broadcasting everyone's dirty laundry.

Damon sighed. "Welcome to small town life, Sev. The gossip gets around one way or another. Did you even notice that when you and Harry bought the Overlook it was in the paper as well as when you began to rent out that space for the apothecary from us too."

"No, I hadn't noticed that," Severus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. "Be that as it may, Grant is going to need proper training. Molly Weasley may be able to cover how to prepare a roast hen and mashed, but there is much more he will need to know."

Damon nodded. "I know. I'll have to figure something out because I am not certain if I can remain objective enough to teach him properly. I don't know if I can stop myself from just doing it for him if it doesn't work. Maybe that's terrible to say," he chuckled. "But you forget I taught him to drive as well and that cost me some grey hairs and a clean pair of jeans after I dropped him off back at the grove."

Severus laughed softly, that was one story he'd yet to hear and wasn't certain he wanted to hear it. "There is a woman that comes in the shop weekly, she teaches remedial spell work and charms at the high school. Perhaps she could be retained for private lessons?" he asked, knowing well that there would be no way that Grant would ever step foot in a classroom of teenagers as a student.

Damon's eyes widened. "Merlin, should I go ahead and retain this person now?"

"I don't know Damon, but you might call her tomorrow just to see if she would be available," Severus suggested. "The thought of Grant randomly casting spells untrained has me a bit concerned."

"You ain't the only one, Sev." Damon murmured. "The way this mountain is, there isn't anyone safe from a wayward spell."