Chapter 13
The following week Harry went to a few different towns looking for a shop to use while Severus and Draco, both disguised went to the ministry to get a business licence. Harry thought he found the perfect place so he sent his patronus off to Sev telling him where he was and for both the men to join him.
Again staying disguised Severus and Draco met Harry in Diagon Alley. He was talking to a man as they stood outside a sealed up and obviously abandoned shop.
‘Mr. Parnel, Mr. Potter explained about the shop you would like to open, he thought this might suit you.’
‘It seems to have everything we need,’ Harry smiled.
‘Then I would like to see it.’
The man opened the door, Harry, Severus and Draco stepped inside, the man followed. They looked around the front part of the shop, Severus making some quick sketches before they headed into the back.
‘What do you think?’ Harry asked nervously.
‘I believe this will work well, it has enough room for everything we need,’ Severus looked around once more before he looked down at Harry, ‘You’ve found the perfect place Harry.’
Harry smiled again, ‘I think so.’
‘Then let’s discuss the lease, how long would you like?’
‘Let’s start off with a two year lease with an option to renew,’ Harry said but he saw Severus nod, so they men went to another shop where they filled out the paperwork with Harry paying for the first year completely upfront instead of the standard month. They were given the keys and were told they could put any enchantments they wanted on the shop before they left, but instead of heading straight home they went back to their shop.
‘Now the work begins. Stocking up on the potion ingredients, buying everything that is needed along with building the shelves to hold potion vials.’
‘I had an idea Sev, I could charm all the vials so they could be taken from the shelf by a customer but in case of an accident they would not fall off or be knocked. Sometimes a customer might have a young child that accidentally knocks one, even some adults are clumsy, like Tonks used to be.’
‘Yes, that is true and it would save us money as well as a clean-up. I’ll let you work on the charm once we buy the vials. Draco, it means you will have to start leaving the country.’
‘I have the list of what you can’t buy here. So when do you want me to start?’
‘I’ll go work on Gringotts before heading home. It will be a vault for the shop with the three of us can access at any time.’
‘You would allow me to access the money?’ Draco asked sounding surprised.
‘Yes, you would not rip off your godfather Draco and this is basically his shop, I’m just helping by financing it.’
‘Thank you.’
Harry nodded then turned back to Severus who was smiling, ‘Alright, you don’t have to look so smug Sev.’
‘Not smug, pleased, you two are finally acting your age, now I won’t need to keep an eye on either of you. This back room will be perfect though, it has enough room to work a dozen potions at once, along with a place I can build a store cupboard for the ingredients. We could drop a curtain at this doorway which would keep anyone seeing me while I am working.’
‘That would work and if we put the counter here then no one can make their way into the back without me seeing.’
‘Yes, that would work as well. Okay, why don’t you head up to Gringotts love while Draco and I discuss the ingredients?’
‘Will you head home or do you want me to meet you back here?’
‘Home,’ Severus slipped one arm around Harry’s waist, ‘Try not to be too long.’
Harry grinned then raised up on tip toe and planted a kiss on Severus’ lips, ‘I won’t.’
Severus and Draco watched Harry leave before they went back to discussing the shop for a few minutes.
Harry spoke with a goblin who organised a vault in the name of Parnel’s Perfect Potions they he transferred a few million galleons from Harry’s vault into the business vault. When Harry turned to leave he saw Bill Weasley standing behind him. Harry ignored him and went to move around him.
‘You should have done the right thing and helped your friends.’
‘Really, if they did the right thing and told the truth then I would have helped. They betrayed me so they can rot in hell for all I care, just like everyone else. Now unless you want to get hurt I suggest you move out of my way,’ Harry snarled and was pleased when Bill stepped back, ‘They don’t deserve my help, they deserve everything they got,’ Harry glared again before he stepped outside Gringotts, saw some people staring up at him.
‘Are you back now Mr. Potter?’ one woman asked.
‘Back, maybe.’
‘Did they release Snape?’ a man asked.
‘They did, he recuperating.’
‘Was he hurt?’ a woman asked.
‘Yes, beaten by the guards also by the real death eaters, it’s lucky he survived. I have to go, he shouldn’t be alone right now.’
‘Tell him we all supported you and wanted them to released him,’ the woman said sadly.
‘Thank you, I will tell him.’
‘Were you involved in capturing those death eaters?’ a man asked.
‘Is that what the ministry told everyone, they were captured?’
‘Yes, a statement was released saying the aurors caught them after they discovered where they were.’
‘All of that is a lie, I gave them the information and they were not captured, they were killed. I was at Hogwarts making sure the school was safe, saw the whole thing. It seems the ministry and the aurors want to take credit for something they didn’t do. I have to go now though,’ Harry got smiles from the people who all kept grabbing his hand, shaking it before they allowed him to leave.
Harry stepped into his home to see Severus sitting in the living room, ‘Vault’s done.’
‘It took you longer than I thought.’
‘Bill Weasley decided to have a go at me, so I told him what I thought. Then there were people outside Gringotts, they wanted me to tell you they supported you and tried to tell the ministry to release you. Those people were genuine Sev, they heard the truth and thought you should not have been punished.’
‘That was nice of them.’
‘They asked if I was involved in the capture of those death eaters.’
‘Capture,’ Severus raised his eyebrows.
‘The ministry released a statement saying the aurors captured them after finding out where they were. I let the people know that I was the one that told them where they were and I was at Hogwarts when the death eaters were killed. I made it seem like I was inside the castle keeping an eye on things. See, even now, they are still doing the wrong thing, lying to make themselves out to be better than they are.’
‘You are going to cause a stir at the ministry, but they might want to question you about what you saw, mainly to see if it was you that killed them.’
Harry shrugged, ‘They can’t prove a thing and they can’t make me talk to them unless they arrest me and use veritaserum, they have no idea I can throw off those effects as easily as throwing off a cloak.’
‘Now you’re just showing off my love.’
‘Where’s Draco?’
‘I sent him home to relax for a day before he heads overseas. I want us to relax as well Harry, we’re in for a lot of long days.’
Harry sat beside Severus, ‘Yep, but I can see your excited about it. I get that Sev, this will give you some purpose again.’
‘Yes, it will, but what about you. Are you sure that working in a shop is the best for you?’
‘You’re the best for me so I’ll be with you, that’s all I need Sev.’
Severus opened his arms, ‘Come here.’
Harry moved until he was pressed against Severus, ‘This is all I need.’
‘Then this is what you get, anytime you want.’
Harry nodded but kept his head on Severus’ shoulder. For some reason he felt himself choke up. He thought now Severus was home he wouldn’t feel so emotional anymore. But just having Severus with him and showing him how he feels is so surprising to Harry that he wasn’t sure if this was real or a dream, but if it is a dream, Harry never wanted to wake up.