Chapter 23
As soon as Lucius left, Severus smiled, cut his finger, and drew a diamond-shaped pattern on his palm.
"And here I thought it would be harder," he said, licking the blood from his fingertip and looking at Nagini, her head resting in his lap. "Thanks for your help. Without you, I doubt I would have pulled this off," she muttered, eyes closing. "I honestly did not understand you, but whatever."
August 29, 1976
Without Severus realizing it, the time to return to Hogwarts was drawing close, and Diagon Alley was filling with parents and children hunting for school supplies. Many shops that had been closed began to reopen. After all, the start of the school year was a bigger celebration for shopkeepers than even for the students themselves.
Severus did not stay home either. He was eagerly waiting to return to Hogwarts, finally fully prepared to hunt the Basilisk. And, like everyone else, he walked the winding, crowded street with Nagini. He had grown close to her during this time, and he had shrunk her down to the minimum so she would not draw attention. Glittering shop windows, bright signs that seemed enchanted to catch a wizard's eye, the cheerful faces of vendors, it all felt like a fairy tale, as if the war had stopped existing. Compared to a month ago, Diagon Alley looked alive again, if only temporarily, giving ordinary people at least a sense of peace on a day like this.
"There." Nagini hissed, pointing her tail at a small studio.
"I know. You have already gotten on my nerves with these clothes," Severus grumbled, heading that way.
"You are constantly using Transfiguration on your clothes. What if you get distracted one day and lose control of the spell? And that is not even mentioning that in the wizarding world, it is simply wrong. You are degrading yourself by doing that!"
"That is enough, I get it, I get it." Severus waved her off, glancing sideways at a pair of wizards in dark formal suits as they scanned the area. "That is the fifth patrol already. Trying to show they are not afraid of any Dark Lord, that everything is under control. What a stupid performance. They could have at least dressed the Aurors in everyday clothes, idiots."
The moment Severus stepped into the studio, a short woman in a purple dress hurried up to him with a bright smile.
"Hello, young man. I would be happy to help you choose a robe. Let me take your measurements."
"Of course, but I also need two pairs of dark trousers and two shirts."
"Trousers?" She blinked at him, puzzled. "Students do not usually wear trousers."
"You do not have them?"
"Yes, of course I do. I am just surprised. Oh, I am so sorry, I have been talking too much. Let me take your measurements!" A tape measure flew off the table and began fluttering around Severus's waist, and at the same time a sheet of paper and a pen floated toward the woman.
Only half an hour later, Severus left the shop with new clothes, having placed an extra order on top that would only be ready tomorrow.
After that they visited a shoe shop, where he bought high boots with metal inserts as well as light shoes. Then they went to the Magical Menagerie, where he bought a postal owl. He had wanted one for a long time, but he had been too lazy to go, and there had been no one to write to anyway. Either Malfoy sent an owl and Severus replied with it, or the Macmillans did the same.
He also went to the bookshop to pick up his sixth-year textbooks. He still had Eileen's old ones, but they were already badly outdated.
Closer to two in the afternoon, he finished his walk, stopping at the last ingredients shop and leaving almost fifteen hundred Galleons there.
"Were there goblins in your family, by any chance?" Nagini asked suddenly, thoughtful enough that Severus almost stumbled on nothing.
"Who knows with the Prince line. Maybe there were. Why do you ask?"
"Your love of gold is a little scary. You already have almost twenty thousand Galleons in your bag, and you are planning to cheat Malfoy again by selling him your potion for seven times the cost," she hissed, poking her head out from under his shirt.
"What can I do if he comes for it himself? I am not forcing him to buy anything, and I did not set that price. I only offered six times that," Severus shrugged, and Nagini shook her head and slid back under his shirt. "And do you really think he is taking them for himself? We should figure out which of us is the real goblin. He is definitely reselling them for ten times the price."
"Both are good."
"Can not argue with that. hm?" A sly grin tugged at Severus's mouth as he felt the warmth of one of the diamonds in his palm. "Do not come out, no matter what happens next."
"?."
As they passed a dark alley, thin arms shot out and yanked Severus inside.
"Did you think you could escape me by changing your appearance?!" Bella hissed, pinning him to the wall with one hand and holding her wand in the other, the tip only a millimeter from his neck.
"Bella, how I missed you, especially your sweet lips."
"Shut up!" Black hissed, jabbing her wand into his throat. "If you dare speak again."
"About the strawberry flavor?" Severus looked at her furious face, his expression unchanged. "Fine, I will not, but I would not mind tasting them again. Want to treat me?"
"In the next world. Avada."
"I would not. I am sure Voldemort would be upset to hear I died."
".yes. what are you talking about? Why would our master care about the death of some pathetic half-breed?" Seeing the smile on Severus's face, the confidence in her words began to drain away. "Answer!"
"I do not want to," he said with a chuckle, turning his head aside.
"Answer!" Bella demanded, pressing the tip of her wand harder into his throat, no longer as sure as she had been before.
"No."
"Then I will kill you."
"Kill me, and we will see how you look him in the eye afterward."
"YOU." Black's hand trembled. "What do you want?!"
"You already know," Severus said calmly. He looked into her black eyes, raised his hand, and touched her chin.
He could not help smiling at the struggle on her face. Through the mark he could feel that fountain of murderous intent, but one thought, that killing him could interfere with her master's plans, kept her from taking the final step.
"It is just a kiss. I am not asking you to sleep with me." Severus raised his other hand, calmly pushed her wand aside, and, still watching her eyes, leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, so tempting. This time, though, he held back and did not use his tongue. He did not want to scare her off, and he did not feel like getting bitten again. "You could at least change your expression." Severus sighed, weary, shaking his head. Disappointed, he let her go and tossed the vial of potion aside. Then he turned and walked toward the mouth of the alley. "Last time was much more interesting. Now it is like kissing a doll."
Bella remained rooted to the spot, staring at his retreating back. She recognized the potion at once, and that was why she could not attack.
And what was that reaction? Black thought again, irritation rising as she touched her lips for a moment.
"If you want to increase the number of potions Malfoy usually buys from me, then I want you to come pick them up yourself, with payment, of course, and a small bonus." Severus called over his shoulder before leaving the alley, and his cheeky laughter echoed in her head for a long time.
"You fucking bastard." Bella clutched the potion and hurled it at the wall with all her strength. It shattered. "Someday, I swear, I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!"
Leaving the alley behind, Severus headed for home. He had already bought everything he needed. All that was left was to wait for the first of September.
"What was that?" Nagini's voice sounded indifferent, with a hint of jealousy.
"A game of cat and mouse," Severus said with a smile, stroking Nagini as she slipped out from under his shirt. "But do not worry. You are the only one in my heart, and there is nobody who could replace you. Besides, we need to restore the family line," he added with a wink.
"Pfft! Come to your senses, pervert. I am a snake."
"That can be fixed. I am working on a potion that should help you tame your beast side."
After that, Nagini was silent for a few seconds.
".Thank you." she said in a muffled voice, turning her head away.
"What are you crying for?"
"I am not! I just got something in my eye!" Nagini hissed quickly, sliding back under his shirt.
"All right, all right. I will believe you."
"No, I am not crying!"
"Then why is my shirt wet? Or maybe you are pe."
"NO! I will bite you right now if you keep talking nonsense!"
"Okay, I will stop. But speaking of Hogwarts, will you come with me?" Severus changed the subject so he would not embarrass her further.
"What if they notice me?"
"We will tell the truth. I want to develop a potion that can make you human again, and if they do not see your real nature, then you will be my pet. It is not forbidden to have pets at Hogwarts."
"Then I will go with you. I do not want to be alone again."
"That is great."
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