A Wand for You, A Chance for Us
A Wand for You, A Chance for Us
Harry looked up when he heard the bell ding at the front of the shop and put down the wand he was in the middle of carving. He pushed away from the workbench and left the workshop, closing the door behind him, and making his way down the short, narrow corridor to greet his customer. He came around the wall to be in the shop of wand and wand accessory-filled shelves, stepping up behind the counter.
“Hello, how might I—” he broke off as he realized who he was looking at and blinked owlishly. “Professor!”
Snape looked at him briefly before letting his eyes drop to the counter. “No, not anymore.”
A small pang hit Harry’s heart at the quiet admission. It wasn’t that he hadn’t known. No, he was very aware of his abject failure at keeping the man before him out of Azkaban ten years earlier at the end of the war. It was a failure that had haunted his every moment. What he hadn’t realized was that the man had been released. How long had he been out? Visually, it was hard to say.
Harry cleared his throat, pushing aside his thoughts and ceasing his blatant examination of Snape. “Well, how can I help you?”
“I require a new wand and you are the only wandmaker left in Britain,” Snape said, still speaking fairly quietly. Was it intentional or a result of Nagini’s bite or a decade of sitting silently in Azkaban?
Harry thought of Snape’s old wand. It had been a beautiful piece, sleek and clean and powerful. It was truly a shame to have had such a thing snapped.
“Whatever you have that works for me and is…cheap will suffice,” Snape continued, clearly uncomfortable. “I have little means of payment.”
Harry held back a sad sigh. Released from prison after ten years with no wand and no money. Did he even have a home anymore? Did he have anyone?
He glanced over the man’s shoulder at his shelves of wands, chewing his lip as he thought. He could think of plenty over there that would suffice, as the man had put it, but was sufficient enough for this particular man in front of him? Could he accept giving Severus Snape something mediocre for his power and skill and talent?
Moving his eyes back to the former professor, he cocked his head to the side and his lips curved as he made a decision.
“Let me make you one, a wand tailored specifically to you,” Harry said and Snape’s head flew up, dark eyes very clearly shocked before narrowing.
“I cannot afford a personalized wand,” Snape said.
Harry shrugged a shoulder. “We’ll figure something out. However, it is quite an intensive process, time consuming and can get quite personal.”
Snape turned his head, obviously unable or unwilling to keep eye contact. “It is unnecessary.”
“Maybe, but I would like to,” Harry said. “I think you deserve something that’s yours unequivocally.”
Snape moved his eyes back to Harry again.
“I’ll have to see you every day for a good couple of months at least,” Harry said. “Where can I find you?”
Snape tensed, eyes dropping away once again, and Harry knew. Severus Snape was homeless. He made another quick decision.
“Stay here during the process,” Harry said. “There’s a small flat upstairs that I don’t use, came with the place. It’ll make it easier anyway, having you here while I work.”
“Potter, I cannot possibly—”
“Sure you can,” Harry interrupted. “It’s really no trouble and I could use a challenge.”
There was a long pause where Snape just stared at him, wary and confused and seemingly ready to just bolt.
“If you insist, I suppose,” Snape said slowly and Harry smiled.
“I really do, just like you always insisted at me,” Harry said. “I trust you’ll listen far better than I ever did.”
There was a flash in the dark eyes and the thin lips twitched. It was brief and very hidden, but he had sparked amusement in the man.
“Not a very high bar to surpass,” Snape said and Harry laughed.
“You’re not wrong,” Harry said, chuckling still. “Come on, I’ll show you up, and then we’ll get started right away.”
There was still a hesitancy, but Snape did circle the counter and allowed Harry to lead him upstairs. Harry just smiled to himself as he did. He may have failed to help Severus Snape retain his life ten years ago, but he would do everything he could to help Severus Snape regain his life now.
There was no one that deserved it more.
Fin