Black-and-white (Translation)

87. Family secrets

The next day, both went to the conservatory. Winky said it would be best to have breakfast there. As Harry walked into the room, he could only agree with his little friend. The room was friendly and bright.
"Hey Sev, look at our expectant parents. the nest looks great. "
Severus followed his man's gaze. It was true that Fawkes and Hedwig had outdone themselves. But as it looked like the other animals had helped diligently. At least Frog was bringing some flowers, hedgehogs took them off and climbed to the nest. Then she received the firebird.
"They are already a well-rehearsed team."
Harry nodded enthusiastically.
"They are all looking forward to the chick. Yuki also always asks when it's time. She's looking forward to a feather sibling. "
The Potions Master laughed.
"Like a human child. 'Mom, I want a little brother'. "
The vampire counsel burst out laughing at the disguised high voice.

The elves brought breakfast for all, including the animals, and then sat down at the table. It was important to Harry and Severus that the two did not feel excluded. They belonged to the family. Singer sat on the back of Winky's chair.
"I would like a grape, great."
Dobby handed it to him.
"Here. You're welcome."
"Thanks a lot."
"He will not stop that," Winky sighed.
Harry just shrugged.
"That's the special thing about him. I think it's cute. "
While eating, a tawny owl fluttered into the room. He sat Severus on the shoulder and stretched out his leg.
"Who wants something from us now?"
Severus took the letter and opened it.
In the meantime, Harry handed the messenger water and an owl biscuit. The little one looked absolutely finished. but that was no wonder, nobody knew that they were here. The bird had certainly had a tough fight.
"Is the letter really harmless?"
Severus nodded.
"Otherwise the bird would not have made it through the shields. the letter is from Lucius, he invites us to dinner in a Muggle restaurant for tomorrow. Do you feel like?"
Harry nodded eagerly.
"Good, then I'll write him back right away. When you recover, you can fly back. "
The last sentence was addressed to the owl.
"I am surprised that Mrmalfoy has such an inconspicuous animal in his possession. "
Severus bit his strawberry jam bread with relish before answering.
"Probably others think that too. That way, he'll make sure the letter is not intercepted. "
Harry stroked the bird's ruffled plumage.
"Not stupid."
"Say, do you want to go to the forest with me today? I want to show you something."
Harry pricked up his ears.
"About animals?"
That made his man laugh.
"I'm sure there is, but I had something else in mind."
"That's mean, you can not just make a hangover curious and then reveal nothing."
"I rate that as approval, then we go to the food. And woe you are lurching. "
Harry grumbled, but he obeyed. much to the amusement of the elves.

After the meal, and after the bird had set off again, the two went over the grounds of Severus' property.
"It's really beautiful here. How did your family manage to make everything bloom? and then in those colors too. I saw a peach tree on which the fruits are pink. "
"That's what I want to show you, it's one of the family secrets."
"Can you really tell them all then?"
Severus stroked his husband's head.
"Yes, yes. do not worry about it. We're almost there."
Harry started sniffing and when they came into the woods, he paralyzed.
"That's a great smell. Much better than in the greenhouses at Hogwarts. What's this?"
"Will you see it soon?"
They walked on for about five more minutes when Harry suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
"Is it real?"
Severus chuckled.
"Indeed."
"But that's dangerous, when he's active."
"He is, but there is no danger. Come closer, it will not happen to you. "

The two went on and then stood in front of a three-meter-high volcano. In him, Harry could hear it boil.
"Is that the secret of your garden? An active volcano whose lava makes the soil fertile? "
Severus nodded.
"Partly. a normal volcano could never provide such diversity. "
"That means he is magical?"
Severus nodded.
"Yes, my ancestors were herbal mages. They experimented with all kinds of fertilizers. All of course harmless to nature. one of my ancestors then had the idea with the fire. Many plants need fire to reproduce. And everyone knows that in areas with volcanoes there is very fertile soil. So an artificial magical volcano was created. You see the result. "
"That sounds so easy, it certainly took him years to do that."
"She, it was a woman. And yes, that's it. But she was also an excellent potions brewer and just combined her two skills. "
Harry looked at the volcano from all sides. He even jumped up and stopped at the edge. It was really remarkable what you could do with magic.
"And the fire never goes out?"
"It has to be moved to a potion every hundred years with a potion. the recipe is another secret. And also how it succeeds that the volcano does not endanger humans or other organisms. "
Harry nodded, just great. He jumped down to his husband again.