A few minutes later, a thin wizard appeared on the streets of Diagon Alley.
He wore a long black robe and cloak, his face hidden beneath the hood, revealing only a prominent hooked nose.
He soon arrived at his destination—Slug & Jiggers Apothecary.
Pulling back his hood, he strode inside.
The pale, gaunt-faced wizard revealed himself, scanning the shop with cold, inscrutable eyes.
Christian Zieg, the shop's owner, was a pale young man who looked just over twenty.
"Professor Snape?" he said in surprise and delight, hurrying over. "What an honor... I was just reading your article on improving the Wolfsbane Potion in this month's Extraordinary Potions magazine!"
"Is that so?" Severus Snape replied coolly, taking the magazine from Zieg, glancing at it briefly, and tossing it onto the counter.
"Can I help you with something?" Zieg asked enthusiastically.
"I need to buy some potion ingredients—for personal use," Snape said. "I'd prefer if this stayed confidential."
"Of course, of course! We greatly value the privacy of clients like yourself!" Zieg nodded eagerly. "What do you need?"
As a Potions Master and Hogwarts professor, Severus Snape was without doubt a valuable patron for any apothecary.
Maintaining a good relationship with him was crucial—and Zieg knew that well.
Snape pulled a list from his pocket and began reading:
"Fifteen ounces of Bicorn powder."
"Two Bezoars."
"Ten ounces of dragon liver."
...
The young shopkeeper quickly waved his wand, collecting each ingredient into a shopping case as Snape listed them.
Snape sat calmly in a nearby chair. "Make sure you're not handing me inferior substitutes. Believe me—I'll know."
"Of course, Professor Snape!" Zieg said with a forced smile. "Everything I'm giving you is top quality."
The assortment of ingredients nearly filled the case. Zieg grinned as he passed it to Snape.
"How much?"
"Ninety Galleons, normally... but since it's you, I'll give you a discount—twenty percent—no, thirty! Just sixty-three Galleons, Professor Snape."
"Is that so?" Snape arched an eyebrow, his tone unreadable.
"Very well. I almost forgot—add a pound of Murtlap Essence, and a Boomslang skin."
"Of course, just a moment…"
A bottle and a pouch were added to the suitcase.
"That brings the total to one hundred Galleons... with your discount, just seventy Galleons."
Snape took out a coin pouch, counted out seventy Galleons, and handed them over.
Then, smiling faintly, he picked up the now full case and strode out of the shop.
"Always a pleasure, Professor Snape—come by anytime!" Zieg called after him.
...
After leaving the apothecary, Professor Severus Snape made his way to Flourish and Blotts.
There, he picked out a few books on potion-making.
Next, he visited a dimly lit shop where he bought a new cauldron and several silver spoons.
Finally, he spent five Galleons on an enchanted backpack with expanded internal space and stuffed it into his suitcase.
With his arms full, he returned to the Leaky Cauldron.
"My goodness!" the barkeep exclaimed, hurrying over. "Professor Snape—what an honor!"
"Good afternoon," Snape said, setting down the suitcase to shake his hand.
"My mischievous granddaughter is studying at Hogwarts now—she's one of your students…" said Old Tom, rubbing his nearly bald head with a grin.
"She's… adequate," Snape said noncommittally, his expression oddly stiff. "May I use your washroom?"
"Of course! Upstairs, first door on the left. Shall I show you?"
"No need. Thank you." Snape jogged upstairs.
...
Jon Hart, wearing a backpack, cautiously stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron's bathroom.
Just as he reached the stairs, he bumped into a young girl heading up.
"I'm so sorry…" Jon apologized quickly.
"Jon?" The girl, with two golden braids, looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Good afternoon… Hannah…" Jon stammered. "I… I got a bit lost."
"Lost?" Hannah gave him a skeptical look. "It's already dark—it's not afternoon anymore."
"Ah… then good evening…"
Luckily, Hannah didn't press the matter. "Oh right, the Leaky Cauldron is my grandfather's. Want to come down and meet him?"
"Mr. Tom… I think I already have," Jon replied with an awkward smile. "Maybe next time, Hannah… My parents are still waiting outside… I need to get back to Southampton before midnight… Sorry!"
Before Hannah Abbott could say anything else, Jon had already disappeared.
She tilted her head in confusion, then returned downstairs to the bar.
Tom Abbott, the Leaky Cauldron's owner, was behind the counter, waving his wand to mix a cocktail.
"Hannah…" he said with a grin. "Your professor, Professor Snape, was just here. He should be upstairs now. Did you see him?"
"Professor Snape?!"
Hannah jumped back in fright, taking two steps away.
"I… I didn't see him…"
"He was just complimenting you!" Old Tom looked up toward the stairs and muttered to himself, "Hmm, why hasn't Professor Snape come down yet… Must've Apparated out… I was going to treat him to a drink!"