Harry Potter: Beyond Good and Evil in the Wizarding World-Chapter 23 - 20: New Home

Chapter 20

As Severus left the bank with William, he could feel the goblins’ stares following them all the way to the door. Another client had just walked away after emptying a vault.

"Why were they looking at you like that? Did you actually steal their gold?" William asked, aiming for a joke.

"Let us say we did not get along from the start. And now they probably think I talked you into clearing yours out too."

"I see. I would still recommend not making enemies of them."

"Mutual dislike at first sight. And why would I leave my money with them anyway? I will buy a bag with expanded space and that is it."

"It is still safer there."

"Depends how you look at it. But let us leave it. Tell me something more interesting: why did you trust me so readily? I expected you to throw me out the moment I said I wanted to buy the building."

"After years working here, you learn to read people." William smiled. "You do not look wealthy, but your posture and your manner and the way you hold yourself told me there was more to you than appeared. My instincts rarely let me down."

"Fair enough. When are you leaving, by the way?"

"Tonight. The sooner the better."

When they reached the building, both wizards noticed immediately that the door was slightly ajar, even though William had locked it with a spell before they left.

William moved fast. He kicked the door open, wand up in the same motion, and levelled it at the man sitting calmly behind the counter.

"You again." The word came out like a knife.

The intruder sat with his arms folded, stroking a thin moustache, wearing worn trousers and a dark cloak. He smiled. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"I warned you not to do anything stupid. You sold the place anyway." He shrugged, not bothered. "I felt it was only fair to teach you a small lesson."

"Where is my wife? Answer me or I swear I will—"

"Careful. She is not entirely comfortable right now. Put the stick down before she gets worse."

"If one hair on her head—"

"Oh, shut up." The intruder snatched his wand and aimed. "Stupefy!" A red flash caught William square in the chest and knocked him back into the door. "We told you to do this the easy way."

"For a thousand Galleons?!"

"It is not worth more." He stepped in and kicked William in the chest, making him cough and curl. "Do not push my patience. Or else."

"Or else what?" said a cheerful voice from above, and the intruder went still.

He spun, stepping right, wand snapping toward the sound.

Severus was coming down from the second floor with an easy smile. Two bodies were floating behind him, and a middle-aged woman was descending the stairs at his back.

"Leila!" William forced himself upright despite the pain, his voice cracking.

"I am all right. They did not touch me," Leila said gently, seeing his face. At the same moment, Severus dropped the two still-living bodies at the intruder’s feet.

"Tell your master this building belongs to Snape. He will know the name. Now pick them up and leave. Do not make me clean the floor."

The intruder heard the words, looked at Severus’s face, and swallowed everything he had been planning to say. If it was true, threatening the situation would only make things worse for himself. He said nothing. He grabbed his partners and walked out.

The moment the room held only three of them, Leila crossed to William and pressed herself into his arms.

"Do you know them?" William asked, his voice low.

"No. I went through one of their memories while we were upstairs." Severus sat down at the table, perfectly comfortable. "As it happens, I do know who their employer is, which is why I left them breathing. I am going to be running this place going forward, and I do not need that kind of complication. I think you understand."

William nodded, even though deep down he wanted to strangle every one of them for touching Leila.

"Love, go get your things. We are leaving now." He kissed her forehead. She nodded and went upstairs. He turned back to Severus, and his expression changed. "I am sorry I suspected you. I was wrong."

"You would have been a fool not to. Forget it. Think of it as partial thanks for selling this place for what you did." Severus paused. "And if you ever need anything, I will help. No conditions."

"You have already done far too much. If you ever find yourself in Bari, come and find us. You will be welcome as a dear guest."

"I will remember that." Severus shook his hand. "Do you need an escort out?"

"No. We will Apparate."

"As you like."

A minute later, Leila came down with a small bag over her shoulder. The two of them disappeared.

Severus sat alone in a ruined room.

He stayed until evening, working through it methodically with Reparo: floor, wallpaper, tables, chairs, everything brought back to something that at least resembled human habitation. It still needed a proper renovation and new furniture throughout, and the second floor needed work, but it was a start. The storeroom on the second floor had several cauldrons that needed repairing. The other rooms, an office, a bedroom, a living area, were shells.

He decided to make the building his base for now, and eventually a shop where he would sell potions and artefacts. He did not plan to stop at one. The next morning, after leaving the bar, he continued his walk through Diagon Alley and by evening had purchased two more buildings: a smaller one for three thousand Galleons, and a slightly larger one for three and a half.

He had no doubt the war would end. In his old world, Alan had watched many Dark Lords rise and fall over a very long history, and every single one had come to a bad end. When this one was over and the rebuilding began, property values would soar, and he would profit accordingly.

Two days later.

Lying on the large soft bed, Severus smiled up at the ceiling.

He had finished the building. Beyond the basic renovation, he had added Invisible Expansion Charms to two rooms and layered Illusion Charms over them, rendering both invisible from the outside. Strictly speaking, those charms were reserved for producing items like Eileen’s old pouch or Leila’s bag, and private use was forbidden, but Severus was not particularly troubled by that.

One room was dedicated to training, sized roughly like a football pitch. Along one wall ran an alchemy corner where he planned to develop recipes from his old world. He had also added a handful of traps for uninvited guests and several alarm charms, because he was not careless enough to think a building like this in a street like this would stay overlooked.

My last proper rest. I should make the most of it, because tomorrow is going to be my own personal hell. The old man would weep if he could see me preparing like this. He clenched his fist with a tired grin and let his eyes close. I hope Lucius manages to find those ingredients before term starts. And I wonder what she is doing right now.

An image formed behind his closed eyes, clear as though he were standing in the room: a large dark hall decorated with a heavy, considered elegance. A long table. Sixteen wizards seated around it, among them Bella and Lucius. Severus did not recognise the others, but one figure pulled his attention before he had consciously chosen to look. Pale, thin, barely human in its proportions, with narrow slits where a nose should have been and red eyes that held nothing warm. The face itself was not the surprise. The power was, sitting at only slightly below Dumbledore’s level.

I walked in at the right moment. That is Voldemort.

"My lord, I was able to reach an agreement with our suppliers. They have agreed to increase the potion supply by another ten percent, but that is their limit."

"Good. Very good. That will do for now. Abraxas, you are raising a wonderful heir." The pale creature let the words drawl out, a faint hiss underneath them, glancing toward a man who looked very much like Lucius but older.

"Thank you, my lord. Your praise is an honour." Abraxas rose briefly, then settled back beside his son.

"Rodolphus. Were you able to trace those artefacts?"

Rodolphus flinched.

"No, my lord. We searched every magical shop. The only thing we were able to establish is that the source appears to be Albus Dumbledore."

"I will not kill you only because I still have use for you. But do not fail me again. This is your last warning." The pale eyes moved away from Rodolphus without any particular emphasis, scanning the rest of the table. "That applies to all of you. I will not forgive further failures."

"Yes, my lord!" They rose as one, bowing.

He moved them on faster than I expected. Not my concern. Severus’s gaze drifted from the figure now crumpled on the floor to Bellatrix, sitting very still and very thoughtful at the far end of the table. His smile faded slightly.

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