A Wizard's Debt

Severus



That was the third piece of sweet and sour pork that catapulted across the round table; it made a nasty orange stain on the white tablecloth embroidered with Chinese letters.



“I think you need a fork, dearie.” Marcia said, shaking her head at Hermione’s attempt at using chopsticks.



“I think I do too.” She said, vanishing the projectile and the stain from the cloth. “I’m sorry, Mr. Heng.” She said.



“Do not be sorry! You have tried to learn to use chopsticks, but it shall be cold before you manage to eat any.” He smiled encouragingly, “Please, call me Zhi.”



“I’ll master it at some point, I feel a bit silly using a fork when everyone else uses chopsticks.” She blushed.



“I used a fork for years after we got married! I couldn’t get the hand of it at all! But it was even better to watch Zhi dry and eat a roast beef Sunday dinner with chopsticks! I had to teach him how to use a knife and fork!” Marcia said, using a prawn cracker to scoop up the last bit of rice. “Eating together was a real experience at first!”



“Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald.” Zhi chuckled, placing the beautifully carved chopsticks down on his clear plate and patting his hairless head.



“That was delicious.” I said, nibbling on another prawn cracker and waiting for Marcia and Hermione to finish. “Most memorable experiences are either hilarious looking back or frightening at the time.” I rubbed the mark on my arm through my claret-coloured shirt. I learnt a long time ago that wearing a similar colour as the food means nobody can tell if you miss your mouth, I hadn’t used chopsticks for a long time, and I’d missed my mouth on more than one occasion tonight… but you couldn’t tell.



“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” Zhi said thoughtfully, smiling as Hermione quickly devoured her meal. “Shall we move into the lounge for coffee? We can talk there.”



“Could I have tea instead?” Hermione asked quietly, probably not wanting to offend Zhi’s offer of coffee.



“Of course? What type?” he asked, moving back into the fragrant kitchen and returning with different jars of various teas.



“Erm? Is there Earl Grey?”



“Indeed there is. I shall make a pot of both Earl Grey and my own blend, and coffee for my Dragon.” He shuffled back, his scarlet floor-length tunic, covered in dragons was held tightly at the waist by a wide white belt embroidered with phoenix designs. Zhi was always a well dressed man, and was incredibly proud of his ancient heritage as well as the one he was adopted by.



***



“There is something about this room that makes me calm.” Hermione said, sitting on the sofa next to Marcia and sipping her tea. I sat on a large floor cushion next to my old Master. The only Master I have ever fully obeyed and admired. When did it all go so wrong?



I had long ago become accustomed to the interesting blend of pastel blue, dark green and pink decoration and furnishings; the blend of Marcia and Zhi in every room of the house. It was remarkable that two such different cultures could come together so seamlessly but still be separate.



“It has good Feng Shui, the energy flows well around our home and calms the chi.” Zhi said, smiling at her noticing. It took me months to realise how comfortable I felt in this home. “The pale blue gives joy; the green promotes strength and health for a family; the pink is for love in marriage. There is no clutter, only special and vital items invade the space, oh, and the plants invade also.”



“I didn’t think Feng Shui was real.” Hermione admitted, looking embarrassed.



“Neither did I until we knocked the walls through between the flats above the shops and Zhi redecorated.” Marcia said, smiling at the little man sat on the floor cushion.



“Feng Shui is complex, many use it as a fad to make money – those who do it correctly benefit. The direction of chi is important – especially in the wizarding world where it blends with magical engery.” He looked thoughtful before standing and shuffling into his library and returning with a beautifully bound book.



“Oh! This is lovely!” Hermione gasped, a lover of all books she could tell the quality and importance of the text she had just been handed.



“A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood. Open and read, you may find it interesting!” Zhi said, smiling, “It is a well-written explanation of chi and Feng Shui, you may like to use it as you design your home together – Severus mentioned you would be moving to other rooms in the castle. There is a lot of magical energy there, much of it young and confused, but you can direct it around your chambers in a manor that will promote calm.”



“Thank-you so much!” she said, gently placing down the book and hugging him. She was taller, and Zhi stood on his toes to gently kiss her cheek.



“You are welcome! You will be a good influence on him. As he will influence you. I think this marriage you move into will be a wonderful thing after some time.”



“Now, dearie, what was this G-thing you were on about earlier?” Marcia asked, patting the pale blue sofa next to her for Hermione to sit down.



“Let me get my bag, they’re in there.” She shook her head before setting on a course that would probably shake the wizarding world.



“Is this it?” Marcia asked, holding up the scrap of lilac lace and tiny tapes.



“Yeah. That’s all there is to it.” Hermione shook her head at Marcia’s confusion. “Hold it the right way up and you’ll see what I mean.”



“You don’t get much for your money with these.” She muttered, unimpressed.



“But they can’t be seen under an outfit because they’re so small – and most muggle men rather like them…” she trailed off with a blush.



“Muggle Men wear women’s underwear?” she gasped.



“Well… some do, but I was suggesting in a more… suggestive sense.”



“If a girl seems as shy as a mouse, you still have to look out for the tiger within her.” Zhi chuckled from beside me, twiddling his moustache as he watched his wife slip the underwear onto a tailor’s dummy that suddenly appeared.



“Ah! Now I see how it goes…” Marcia walked around the manekin, looking unimpressed at the back. “Though, it looks uncomfortable to wear.”



“So does a corset until you get one that is made properly on. I’ve worn this style of underwear for a while, I find them more comfortable than knickers, but I only have matching bra/knickers sets – I didn’t want to turn up for a fitting in something that didn’t match… The thong is just a bigger version, but a similar design to the G-string…” she tugged a plain black cotton scrap of fabric from her bag.



“There was a real hoo-ha with the bra when it entered the magical world! I’ve got customers who think they are the most marvellous invention to ever grace the planet; but others who see it as an abomination… but these will be ever so much fun to publicise and make, the controversy alone should bring more customers to me!”



My eyes widened as Marcia turned the realistic manikin around to show the... cheese wire of a piece of fabric passing between… well… erm… it was between… oh Merlin, she wears those?



***



“Thank-you so much for the meal, Zhi, and the rest of the duck too.” I held a paper bag with the remains of the duck meat and a few pancakes in it.



“You are very welcome – I like to cook for new guests!” he bowed to me, and as a mark of respect for a mentor I bowed back.



“This marriage law is going to change the wizarding world.” Marcia said, hugging Hermione to her before dragging me into a firm embrace.



“I don’t know if it is a bad thing…” she bowed to Zhi as he bowed back, “I think it might improve the world as Severus and I know it.”



“Before preparing to improve the world, first look around your own home three times.” Zhi said before we apperated back to the Hogwarts gates.