We reached Hogwarts just in time for dinner. After a sumptuous meal in the Great Hall, I headed straight toward the dungeons.
I knocked lightly before opening the office door.
"Happy New Year, Uncle Snape."
He was seated behind his desk, surrounded by rolls of parchment covered in complicated formulae and brewing notes. Several Muggle chemistry books I had gifted him before Christmas lay open beside an equally thick stack of potion manuscripts. Judging by the amount of corrections scattered across the pages, the comparison between magical and Muggle chemistry had given him more than a few new ideas.
"Alastair, you're back," he said, setting his quill aside. "Come in."
I closed the door behind me before taking a seat opposite him.
"What brings you here the moment you've returned to Hogwarts?"
"I actually have a couple of things I wanted to discuss with you," I replied. "Though seeing you working like this has given me another idea."
His eyebrow rose slightly.
"Oh?"
"You know I own two shops in Diagon Alley."
"I do."
"I already have plans for one of them, but the second has been giving me a headache. I don't want to start a business that directly competes with another family's flagship industry. That would only create unnecessary enemies."
Snape gave a faint nod.
"A sensible concern."
"But seeing you just now made me realize there is one area that desperately needs improvement."
"What area?"
"A potions shop."
He looked at me thoughtfully but remained silent, allowing me to continue.
"I've spent part of the holidays researching the market. Ever since the fall of the Potter family, there hasn't been a truly trustworthy potions supplier in Magical Britain. The business is divided among dozens of families and independent brewers, but none of them specialize solely in potion production on a meaningful scale."
I leaned forward slightly.
"St. Mungo's constantly faces shortages. The Ministry purchases enormous quantities every year. Ordinary witches and wizards either travel to St. Mungo's for basic potions or commission a private potioneer, both of which are expensive."
"The demand exists," Snape admitted.
"It does."
I paused before reaching the main point.
"And I would like you to manage it."
Snape's expression immediately hardened.
"No."
I had expected that answer.
"You misunderstand."
"I do not," he replied flatly. "I have no interest in standing behind a shop counter all day selling Pepperup Potion."
I smiled.
"Neither do I."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I don't need you brewing hundreds of bottles every week, nor do I expect you to spend your weekends running the shop."
I spread my hands.
"I need someone capable of building standards."
That made him pause.
"You are arguably the finest potions master in Britain. Every year talented students graduate from Hogwarts, yet many end up wasting their abilities because they have nowhere to continue developing. Under your supervision, they could."
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
"I want you to interview applicants, decide who is worth hiring, establish brewing standards, supervise quality, and occasionally provide guidance when your schedule permits."
"And when exactly do you imagine I will find time for this?"
"The shop manager will handle daily operations. You'll only oversee the professional side."
He remained unconvinced.
"And why should I?"
"Because no one else can."
That earned a skeptical look.
"People may dislike your teaching methods," I continued calmly, "but no one questions your ability as a potioneer. Working under Professor Severus Snape would become the greatest recommendation a young potioneer could have. The most talented graduates would come willingly."
Silence filled the office.
Finally, I added,
"You would also help raise the overall standard of potion brewing in Britain."
"There is also your compensation."
Snape frowned.
"There is no need to discuss money. I am your godfather."
"I disagree."
He opened his mouth to interrupt, but I continued.
"I've learned that personal and professional matters should remain separate. I cannot ask someone—even family—to build a business for me without recognizing their contribution."
I met his gaze.
"You'll receive twenty percent ownership of the shop, and every potion you personally brew will earn you fifty percent of its profits. Employee salaries, promotions, and hiring decisions will also be entirely under your authority."
For several long moments, Snape said nothing.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, his expression unreadable as he quietly considered the proposal.
After nearly two minutes of silence, Snape finally gave a small nod.
"Very well."
I resisted the urge to smile.
"I'll do it, but under my conditions."
"I expected nothing less."
"I will have complete authority over quality control, hiring, and dismissal of employees. I refuse to have incompetent brewers tarnishing my reputation."
"Agreed."
"I will not be managing day-to-day operations. I shall only visit the shop during holidays or whenever my schedule permits."
"That's perfectly fine," I replied. "As long as hiring and firing are based on ability rather than blood status."
Snape merely gave me his usual unreadable stare.
That was answer enough.
"Excellent. I'll have the contracts drafted and begin preparing the building."
I pulled out a notebook and made a quick note.
"Do you have any specific requirements regarding the layout?"
"There must be separate brewing rooms."
He answered immediately, as though he had already begun designing the workshop in his head.
"Many potions release magical fumes or residues during brewing. Cross-contamination can easily ruin an entire batch or, in some cases, cause far more unpleasant consequences."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Five dedicated brewing rooms should suffice initially."
I quickly sketched the layout.
"It's a two-story building, so that shouldn't be difficult. The ground floor will serve as the storefront and customer reception. The first floor can house consultation rooms for clients requiring custom or confidential potions. We'll dedicate the second floor entirely to brewing laboratories, while the basement can be converted into secure storage for ingredients and finished products."
Snape gave a brief nod.
"That arrangement is acceptable."
He then looked at me.
"And what of ingredients? Brewing talent alone is worthless without a reliable supply."
"I've considered that."
I leaned back in my chair.
"The easiest solution would be purchasing directly from the Calder family. They've spent years building botanical gardens and magical plantations overseas, so their supply chain is both stable and diverse."
"But?"
"But I'd rather not become permanently dependent on another family."
Snape's expression suggested he approved of that reasoning.
"My preferred option is obtaining harvesting rights within the Forbidden Forest."
He was silent for a moment.
"That would certainly solve your supply problem."
"It would."
"The Board of Governors might approve such a proposal," he mused. "However..."
"...Dumbledore."
I finished the sentence for him.
Snape nodded.
"He is unlikely to allow unrestricted harvesting inside the forest."
"I thought the same."
For several moments neither of us spoke.
Finally, Snape said,
"Establish your relationship with the Calders first. A stable supply is more important than an independent one during the shop's early years. Once the business has proven itself, we can revisit the matter of the Forbidden Forest if shortages become an issue."
"I was thinking along similar lines."
I closed my notebook.
"Then that's settled."
The foundation of the business had been laid far more quickly than I had expected.
I looked back at Snape.
"Now, let's discuss the reason I came to see you the moment I returned to Hogwarts."
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