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's say we didn't 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'll buy a bag with expanded space, and that is it."
"It's still safer there."
"It depends on how you look at it. But let's 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," Severus 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 met the eye. 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 Severus had locked it with a spell before they left.
Severus moved fast. He kicked the door open, wand up in the same motion, and leveled it at the man sitting calmly behind the counter.
"You again," the words came out like a knife.
The intruder sat with his arms folded, stroking a thin mustache, wearing worn trousers and a dark cloak. He smiled.
"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's not comfortable right now. Put the stick down before she gets worse."
"If one hair on her head..."
"Oh, shut up." The intruder snatched Severus's wand and aimed. "Stupefy!" A red flash caught Severus squarely in the chest and knocked him back into the door. "We told you to do this the easy way."
"For a thousand Galleons?!"
"It's not worth more." He stepped in and kicked Severus 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 a self-satisfied smile. Two unconscious figures were slumped behind him, and a middle-aged woman was trailing down the stairs at his heels.
"Leila!" William forced himself upright despite the pain, his voice cracking.
"I'm fine. They didn't touch me," Leila said gently, reading his expression. At the same moment, Severus dropped the two still-breathing bodies at the intruder's feet.
"Tell your master this building belongs to Severus. 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, making threats 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 stepped 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 from now on, and I do not need that kind of complication. I think you understand."
William nodded, even though deep down he wanted to strangle all 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 what you did when you sold this place." 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 always be welcome here."
"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, 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 were shells: an office, a bedroom, a living area.
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, he 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 on 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 somber, austere elegance. A long table stretched across it, surrounded by sixteen wizards, Bella and Lucius among them. Severus didn't recognize the others, but one figure drew his attention before he'd 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 wasn't what struck him; it was the power emanating from it, sitting slightly below Dumbledore's level.
*I arrived at exactly 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'll do for now. Abraxas, you are raising a wonderful heir." The pale creature let the words draw 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 honor." Abraxas rose briefly, then settled back beside his son.
"Rodolphus. Were you able to trace those artifacts?"
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 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 dismissed them faster than I expected. Not my concern. Severus's gaze drifted from the figure now crumpled on the floor to Bellatrix, sitting very still, thoughtful at the far end of the table. His smile faded slightly.