The Vision of Slytherin
Severus Snape once again sat within the Three Broomsticks, drinking a butterbeer. He would prefer firewhisky but he had to return to dealing with students and could not afford the time to enjoy it or the mild buzz he would have received.
Finally, the reason why he wanted to drink firewhisky walked in the door. The new arrival looked around, saw him, and then took on a demented grin. Severus shuddered.
"Sevvie! I see you made it!" The man called out.
When the man sat down, Severus gave him a cold look. "Must you persist in your juvenile attitudes? My name is Severus. Or Snape. Not," shudder, "Sevvie."
Sirius Black did not lose his grin in the least. "Well, I'm certain you don't want the really juvenile name we used to call you. So Sevvie will have to do."
Severus gave the man an annoyed look and said, "Fine." He took a pull from his butterbeer. "How have things progressed?"
Sirius motioned Rosmerta for a butterbeer with a flirtatious wink and then turned his attention back to the darkly-dressed young man before him. "I've made progress. I saw my grandfather and confirmed that I am still the main heir – he didn't like it much but the other choices are less pleasant." Sirius smirked. "He really hates my other grandfather, his cousin Pollux. Most of what my dear old mum spouts off about she got from him – so Grandpa Archie is satisfied that I won't be following her lead. I had to promise I wouldn't marry a muggleborn in the future." Sirius thanked Rosmerta for the butterbeer and drew a pull. Once she was out of hearing he continued, "Of course, a consort isn't a wife – so I can love who I want. He just can't stand the idea of a muggleborn Lady Black."
Sirius took a look at Severus with some confusion. Severus, seeing his expression, said, "What?"
Sirius replied, "I was certain that I was going to annoy you to no end talking about this banal family crap. Why aren't you more irritated?"
Severus gave him the look of annoyance Sirius had been going for. "Regardless of the fact that I have absolutely no interest in hearing about your social life and I care not one small iota with whom you cavort, the small intricacies of the pureblood mentality is of value to me as Head of Slytherin. Try not to be a complete dunderhead."
Sirius considered that and then shrugged. "So no stories of my escapades then? Where's the fun of that?"
Severus gave him a withering look.
Sirius smirked back unrepentantly. "Anyway, has Dumbles heard about our visit yet?"
Severus replied with his own small smirk. "No. As far as he is aware, you are still following my directions and are currently trying to obtain a muggle residence in preparation. That he failed to ask if you actually had attempted to reach the boy's residence is not my failing but a matter of his own tunnel-vision."
Sirius nodded happily. "Good. I've stopped by a couple of times. Lily's sister is starting to get used to it. It helped that I brought toys for both Harry and Dudley. I figure if I'm going to visit, I might as well try to get along with all of them. I even doted a bit, even if the boy is a bit of a brat."
Severus looked at him approvingly. "Appealing to Petunia's sense of importance is a good step. Just try to teach the little idiot some self control. Our visitor's stories of his childhood did not paint a pleasant picture."
Sirius nodded. "Yeah. Something I plan to work on."
Severus nodded. "How is that other issue our visitor brought up coming – the small treasure needing proper handling?"
Sirius glanced around to make sure they weren't being overheard. Severus had to stop himself from rolling his eyes – he had already done that. "That's coming up next. I plan to visit my mother soon and get it taken care of. I already have permission from Grandpa Archie to use things from the Black vault to take care of something I am 'concerned' about. I didn't tell him what it was – but I told him that I was dealing with some magic that even our family objected to."
Severus nodded. "I've been working on educating Lucius in preparation of dealing with the other item. By summer at the latest, I plan to have it done."
Sirius nodded. "Okay. Two weeks, back here?"
Severus nodded in agreement. Sirius stood and motioned to Rosmerta. When she came over Sirius dropped some Galleons in her hand. "For me, Sevvie here, and the absolute joy that being in your radiant presence has brought." He winked outrageously and walked out, to the sound of Rosmerta's chuckle. Severus only held back from a pointed comment because he didn't want to annoy Rosmerta – who after all was a pleasant person to visit.
Vernon stood in front of Grunnings manufacturing plant. He had made the trip especially for the day. With him stood two security guards, an older man dressed similarly to Vernon himself, and a young man dressed as a worker.
Very soon, a limousine pulled up. The driver got out and opened the door. Three men got out. All were dressed in the finest suits from Savile Row. Two looked uncommonly serious. Vernon walked forward, smile firmly in place, his hand presented to the one who was obviously most important. "Mr. Ragnok! Welcome to Grunnings Drills manufacturing plant. I hope your trip was pleasant."
Ragnok, under glamour as were his guards to blend in, replied, "It was pleasant. My thanks for providing the car."
Vernon nodded. He nodded at the guards but otherwise ignored them – he had been told that they would be present. He turned and motioned his group forward. "These two are our own guards – not that you particularly need them but its policy where we'll be visiting. They've been told their primary concern is your safety and ensuring that you aren't needlessly bothered by anyone. This is Billy – his job will be to ensure your comfort. We'll be having lunch after the tour and he'll be in charge of providing it. Have your people give him your preferences. And this is Robert Slate – he's the supervising manager of the plant. He'll answer any questions as we go."
Ragnok nodded at each of the others, but didn't shake their hands or really speak to them.
The tour was thorough. Ragnok asked a few questions. The lunch was also good – the visitors ate prime rib and very little of the extras. They completely ignored the salad. The group as a whole then left the plant and moved to the main office in Surrey.
Soon, Vernon and his guest were in the office of the owner, Samual Grunning. The guards were left outside.
Mr. Grunning spoke to the visitor. "Mr. Ragnok. I wasn't familiar with your operation. When Vernon here mentioned your visit and your desire to tour the plant, we had to do a search. Your company comes up in some very odd places – it was a surprise to find that you might need our products."
Before Ragnok could reply Vernon interrupted. "Not need, per se, Mr. Grunning. Their operation is very efficient. I happened to find their company when dealing with a family matter and explained that we might help them to make it even better."
Ragnok nodded in approval towards Vernon. Ragnok added, "Our mining operation is normally out the general purview of outsiders. We are more known for our financial operations."
Mr. Grunning nodded. "Yes. Very old and respected from what we found. What can we do for you?"
Ragnok sat back. "I find I am very interested in perhaps obtaining one of your large mining drills and then cutting heads and maintenance parts in the future. What would one of them cost?"
Mr. Grunning quoted a figure and then was surprised. His surprise was not that the number was so large – it was that the visitor didn't even bat an eye at the figure. Mr. Ragnok only nodded.
"Mr. Dursley here told us the approximate figure – I was just verifying. We would prefer to, how you say, negotiate the price."
Mr. Grunning smiled and said, "Well, that's Vernon's job. I was a little surprised to be included in this."
Vernon answered that. "It wasn't the sale that I requested your presence about – it was the method of payment." He nodded in deference to Ragnok.
Ragnok pulled out a package with several small vials. He pushed them across the desk to Mr. Grunning along with a packet of paper. "These contain various grades of diamond dust as well as legal verification as to their source. We create this as part of our operation. These samples are a gift so that you can test them and verify their quality; quite usable for your diamond-impregnated drills. How much of what grade of dust will be sufficient is the question."
Mr. Grunning inspected the small glass vials with interest.
Severus face was unreadable as he approached the door to the Headmaster's office. As he was coming to find was normal, Dumbledore invited him in before he could knock.
"Severus! I see you got my message," Dumbledore smiled congenially.
"Yes. The medallions are as efficacious as they seemed. You needed to see me?" Severus asked.
"Yes. I was curious. I have not heard back from Sirius. I was expecting him to be more adamant about seeing his godson." Dumbledore's face was a study of innocent curiosity.
Severus was torn within himself: To tell or not tell. Finally he answered, "From what I understand, he has almost completed his purchase of a muggle home. He has also had a few issues to deal with regarding his family – he needed access to the Black vaults for the purchase price. His mother's attempts non-withstanding, he found he was still considered the Heir Apparent of the House of Black. With the loss of the youngest son, the remaining heirs are all too distant to be acceptable to Arcturus Black. I am certain that Narcissa would wish her son was Heir Presumptive, but it is not the case. Such are the things that he had to resolve."
Dumbledore considered that. It would not do to interfere with the House of Black. Although in his innermost heart he almost wished Sirius would disappear, it wouldn't do for the resources of such an old house to fall to the Malfoys and thus, ultimately, to Tom and his Death Eaters.
"Well, as long as his family is not aware of his location. Now, I wanted to discuss how things are going within Slytherin."
It took a bit of effort, but Severus convinced the Headmaster to leave him to deal with his House. The Headmaster was curiously concerned about the lack of inter-house confrontations. He tried to cite such things as a normal part of the culture, but Severus would not rise to the bait.
He had his House under control on his own terms and he would brook no interference. Especially from a Gryffindor such as the Headmaster.
He smirked to himself as he made a decision as to how to best use the last conversation.
Slytherin House was having another meeting. Now that they were becoming used to the idea, they found it was a useful platform to raise concerns and issues.
At an opportune moment (one of the students had brought up the reduction in tension between them and the other Houses – even Gryffindor), Severus made a small observation.
"An interesting comment was made to me regarding this subject. It might be of interest to you all to learn that the Headmaster has expressed concern over the lack of confrontations. In his mind, the Gryffindors are not being properly prepared for life post-Hogwarts. He raised the matter to me on Wednesday last."
The students all looked at their Head of House in surprise. Finally one of the sixth years asked, "What did you say to him about it?"
Severus shrugged briefly. "I told him that things were still settling from the end of the conflict with Riddle (the students had all completed the assignment as far as the parentage of the Dark Lord and knew whom he spoke of – many Slytherins had been surprised and angry to learn that their families had been hoodwinked by a half-blood). I did, perhaps, fail to mention that my opinion of the matter is that if Gryffindors needed to be 'honed,' the Headmaster could find another system to do so. I don't particularly wish to encourage blind stupidity in my students. Of course, the Headmaster was a Gryffindor – so he might not have understood." Severus' tone was very dry.
The Slytherins smirked to each other. Very few of them longed for the "good old days" from the months and years previous. They were having a much easier time since Snape had taken things in hand and they liked they way things were going. Even those who were sour on the idea had their hackles raised to learn that the Headmaster was using them in such a way. They resolved to refuse to backslide.
Lucius once again had his son's godfather in front of him in his study. "I've thought about our previous conversation and have reluctantly decided that you were correct. I've also received hints that the students of Hogwarts have learned of the history of the Dark Lord?"
Severus sipped his wine and nodded. "Yes. They were a bit shocked to discover that the Dark Lord is a half-blood. They were torn between anger at being hoodwinked by someone who was lesser and sheer admiration of the deceit he perpetrated to achieve power. I am controlling their reactions as possible."
Lucius was curious. "What direction are you encouraging?"
Severus smirked. "Slytherins respect power and they all acknowledge that he had that in spades. However, they are coming to realize that it wasn't sustainable. Some of what we talked about is being realized by some of the more intelligent of them and they are speaking to their fellows."
Lucius sat back and sipped his own glass. "I've made a decision."
"Oh?"
Lucius sat up. "Yes. I've decided that the Dark Lord must not return. I don't know if I want to see our way of life changed, but the Dark Lord's return would be, as you said before, disastrous. My question is: How do we prevent it?"
Severus looked at Lucius to see if he could discern his real drive. Finally he decided that Lucius was being earnest – if reluctant. "I do know how it could be done. But the information must not become widely known. If Dumbledore heard about it before it was achieved, he would try to use it to further his agenda. We cannot have that."
"How so? Wouldn't he be happy that the Dark Lord is prevented from returning?" Lucius asked.
Severus sighed. "You know how he thinks. You see the direction he tries to guide Britain into: All magic not personally taught and approved under his authority is questionable. If he isn't in control of it – it must be Dark. How many of the old ways has he caused to be lost since coming into power as Headmaster? Even Halloween has become a time to eat candy and play with pumpkins rather than a festival of the Harvest as it was traditionally. Who, anymore, speaks of Samhain?"
Lucius nodded. That was the most vocal complaint against Dumbledore: He had no respect for Wizarding traditional beliefs and he forced others to follow his lead.
Severus almost smirked. "It's almost amusing to think that there are more groups outside of the Wizarding world which celebrate our traditional holidays than we do ourselves."
Lucius looked interested. "What do you mean?"
"There is a revival of traditional Celtic and other beliefs within the muggle world. The muggles are beginning to espouse 'Freedom of Religious Practices.' The traditional celebrations that the Wizarding world followed for centuries is being revived by many who no longer wish to call themselves Christians. Within perhaps twenty years, I can see it becoming an acceptable alternative. It's truly a shame that the muggles are becoming more traditional than we ourselves."
Lucius was astounded. "We really should look into that. But that is a matter of another time. We were discussing how to prevent … unpleasant occurrences from taking place."
Severus nodded. "Yes." He looked at Lucius. "You word, your magical word, that you shall not speak of what I am about to tell you unless I free you from the oath."
Lucius considered his friend and then acquiesced. Once Lucius had given his vow, Severus explained Horcruxes – and how the Dark Lord had worked to prevent his death. "We should not be squeamish, but even the Blacks find such magics unacceptable. That is how bad it is."
Lucius felt some trepidation. He wondered … "What good does knowing this do?"
Severus looked at Lucius drily. "If we can find and destroy them all, the Dark Lord will be one step closer to being destroyed. I know of four of them that have been destroyed. I have a line on one more. I am of the belief that there is still again one beyond that. The Dark Lord was fascinated with the number seven – six pieces and himself. If I am right – there are two more, and soon only one. Now it is just a matter of finding it. Destroying them is difficult – but possible."
Lucius tried to ask as though he was mildly curious – but Severus saw through it. (Of course it helped to know that Lucius had the last one.) "How are they destroyed, anyway?"
Severus gave a chill reply. "The must be destroyed beyond operation – hopefully without activating them. One was a ring. If it had been worn, it would have activated. A cup would have to be drunk from. A book read or written in. Once activated, the difficulty rises astronomically. Basilisk venom, fiendfyre – even the storied Veil of Death might work. If all else fails, the goblins will do anything for a fee and are not known to fail."
Lucius nodded. He then moved Severus onto other topics.
Sirius and Severus were back in the Three Broomsticks. Remus had also come along. Sirius had news. "That object is gone."
Severus' eyes gleamed. He had been feeling deep emotions at the presence of the werewolf, but this had shocked him out of it. "Truly?"
Sirius nodded. "Got my brother's house elf to cough it up. Used a dagger to destroy it after using a muggle recording our visitor gave me to open it. Creepy, but successful."
Severus nodded in satisfaction. "That means that there is only the one left. Lucius is coming around to my way of thinking. We should have this resolved before the summer."
The three all drunk to that. "How close are we to allowing the Headmaster to be aware that you've visited?" Severus asked.
Sirius thought about it. "Well. I have a house now. Good neighbourhood. I'm trying to hire Moony here to take care of it to give him an income, but he's balking."
Remus said, "I won't accept charity. I'm not going to do some makework for it either. I'll make my own way – regardless of the troubles due to my condition. I just have to find an employer who can deal with the occasional absence."
Severus gave Remus a digusted look. "Imbecile."
Both Sirius and Remus looked at Severus in protest. "What?" Remus asked.
Severus gave a long-suffering sigh. "You let your … condition dictate far too much of your life. I am ignoring the fact that your best friend is wealthy and will waste money regardless of whether you accept it or not. I am not speaking of the fact that accepting what he offered would provide you with time to spend with your late friend's child. Regardless of those things, you are still being a dunderhead. Are you a wizard or not?"
Remus and Sirius were both confused. Sirius, who had become used to Severus acerbic comments, completely ignored the insults. Remus, who had not had the chance, was feeling the sting. "What are you talking about?"
Severus sighed. "Muggles like old things, especially rich muggles. Old things break and wear down. Muggles pay obscene amounts of money to repair and restore old things. Old furniture. Old paintings. Old statues. Old automobiles. And they don't expect you to work every day, or instantly. You could work on your own schedule. I find it difficult to imagine that any graduate of Hogwarts can fail if they just used their mind."
Remus was intrigued (while still feeling a bit stung). "Wouldn't that violate the Statute?"
Severus asked, "How? They don't have to see you work. They only care for results. Go into business with this fool. He can be the face of the business and establish himself in the muggle world. You can be the brilliant and eccentric expert that does the work outside of sight. You can be rich and famous and never even be seen."
Sirius eyes gleamed. "That sounds like a great idea. I schmooze the rich ladies for work and you can do the job. They'd pay for it anyway – and I'm sure you could do a better job than most muggles."
Remus was both excited and trepidatious. "It sounds like cheating."
Severus gave him a disbelieving look. "How? They want their things fixed. You fix them. They pay you. End of story." He sighed. "It doesn't take a Slytherin to figure out how to take advantage of that circumstance."