Chapter 20
As Severus left the bank with William, he could feel the goblins' sharp stares burning into his back, because another client had just walked away after emptying a vault.
"Why were they looking at you like that? Did you really steal their gold?" William asked, trying to make a joke.
"Let us just say we did not get along from the start, and now they probably think I am the one who talked you into taking everything out of your vault."
"Uh. I get it, but I would still recommend you do not quarrel with them."
"Mutual dislike at first sight. And why would I keep all my wealth with them? I will buy a bag with expanded space and that is it."
"It is still safer there."
"It depends how you look at it, but let us drop it. Better tell me why you trust me so easily. I thought you would throw me out the moment you heard I wanted to buy the building."
"After years of working here, I have gotten pretty good at reading people," William said with a smile. "You do not look like a rich kid, more like someone without much money, but your posture, your manner, and your eyes told me you were more than you seemed. My instincts almost never fail me."
"All right. By the way, when are you leaving?" Severus asked again.
"Tonight. The sooner, the better."
When they got close to the building, both wizards noticed the door was slightly open, even though William had locked it with a spell.
William lunged forward, kicked the door wide open, and instantly pointed his wand at the man sitting behind the counter.
"You again!" William hissed venomously, never taking his eyes off the smiling wizard in worn trousers, a dark cloak draped over his shoulders.
"I warned you not to do anything stupid, but you went and sold the place anyway," the intruder said, calmly stroking his thin mustache. "I was offended, so I decided to teach you a little lesson."
"Where is my wife?! Answer me, or I will kill you right now!"
"Oh, oh, oh, you scared her so much. Put the stick down, or she might get sick."
"If even one hair."
"Shut up, will you?" The intruder snatched his wand and pointed it at William. "Stupefy!" A red beam shot out, hit William in the chest, and knocked him back into the door. "We told you. Give it up the easy way."
"For a thousand Galleons?!"
"It is not worth more." The intruder bared his teeth and kicked William in the chest, making him cough violently. "Do not anger my boss, or else."
"Or else what?" a playful voice rang out, and the intruder tensed at once. He spun, stepping to the right, wand snapping toward the speaker.
Severus was coming down from the second floor with an easy smile. Two bodies hovered behind him, and a middle-aged woman came down after them.
"Leila!" William shouted, forcing himself up even through the pain in his back and chest.
"I am fine. They did not do anything to me," Leila said gently when she saw the worry on his face. At the same time, Severus tossed the two still-living bodies at the intruder's feet.
"Tell your master this place belongs to Snape. He will understand. Now pick them up and get out. Do not make me dirty the floor."
Hearing Severus's words and seeing the confidence in his face, the intruder swallowed all the threats he wanted to spit. If it was true, threats would only bury him faster. So he said nothing. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed his partners and left in silence.
As soon as the room held only the three of them, Leila ran past Severus and almost jumped into William's arms.
"Do you know them?" William asked sullenly as he wrapped an arm around her.
"No. I was digging through one of their memories," Severus said casually as he went downstairs and sat at the table. "And it turns out I know who their boss is, which is why I did not kill them. I still have to run this place in the future, and I do not need extra problems. I think you understand."
William nodded, agreeing, even though deep down he wanted to strangle the bastards who had dared to touch Leila.
"Love, go get your things. We are leaving right now," William said warmly, kissing her forehead. Leila nodded timidly and hurried upstairs. "Sorry I thought you were one of them," William added, lowering his head in guilt.
"I would have thought the same. Forget it. Consider it thanks for selling this place for next to nothing. And if you ever need help in the future, I will be happy to help."
"Thank you for understanding. You have already done far too much. If you ever end up in Italy and decide to visit Bari, I will be happy to welcome you as a dear guest."
"I will remember that," Severus said with a smile, shaking his hand. "Should I see you out?"
"No need. We will Apparate."
"As you wish."
A minute later Leila came down with a small handbag over her shoulder.
Once the couple disappeared, Severus was left completely alone in a run-down room that needed urgent repairs. So he stayed until evening and, with Reparo, restored the floor and the wallpaper, as well as the tables and chairs, bringing the place back to something at least vaguely human. Even so, it still needed a proper renovation and an interior update.
The second floor still looked fairly decent, apart from the cauldrons in the storeroom, which needed repairing. The other rooms, like the office, bedroom, and living room, still needed furniture.
He decided to turn the building into his temporary home, and later a shop where he would sell potions and artifacts. Of course, he did not plan to stop with only this one. The next morning, after leaving the bar, he continued his stroll through Diagon Alley, and by evening he had bought two more buildings: a smaller one for three thousand Galleons, and a slightly larger one for three and a half thousand.
Severus had no doubt this foolish war would end soon. In his old world, Alan had seen many Dark Lords over its long history, and every one of them had met a tragic fate. So he was sure that after the war, during the rebuilding, the price of every building would soar, and he would make a handsome profit.
Two days later.
Lying on his huge, soft bed, Severus could not help smiling in satisfaction. He had finally finished tidying up the building and even improved it a little, adding Invisible Expansion charms to two rooms and then Illusion charms over them to hide them. Those charms were forbidden for private use, allowed only for producing items like the pouch Eileen had left behind, or Leila's purse.
One of the rooms was meant specifically for Severus's training, and its size was comparable to a football field. Besides the many exercise machines, it also held an alchemy corner where he planned to refine recipes from his old world.
Severus did not forget security either. He added a couple of traps for uninvited guests and several signaling charms.
My last day of rest. I should sleep well today, because tomorrow will be my personal hell. ugh. if that old man saw me getting ready to train, he would definitely shed a tear. He muttered with a grin, clenching his fist tight and closing his eyes. I hope Lucius finds those ingredients before the school year starts, and I wonder what she is doing now.
An image formed in his mind: a large, dark hall decorated with taste in heavy, dark tones. In the center stood a table, and sixteen wizards sat around it, including Bella and Lucius. Severus had never seen the others, but one figure caught his attention at once: a pale, thin, almost human-looking creature with narrow slits where a nose should have been, and blood-red eyes. The face was not what surprised him. It was the creature's power, only slightly weaker than Dumbledore's.
I was lucky. I dropped in and immediately saw the local Dark Lord.
".my lord, I managed to reach an agreement with our suppliers. They will increase the supply of potions by another ten percent, but that is the limit."
"Good. very good. That will do for now. Abraxas, you are raising yourself a wonderful heir." the pale-faced creature drawled with a smirk, a faint hiss in his voice as he looked at a man who resembled Lucius, only much older.
"Thank you, my lord, for such high praise," Abraxas replied reverently. He rose, then sat back down beside his son.
"Rodolphus, were you able to find out where those artifacts came from?"
Rodolphus flinched at the Dark Lord's question.
"No, my lord. we searched every magical shop, but we could not find anything, except that their source is Albus Dumbledore."
"I will not kill you only because I still need your help, but do not you dare fail me again. This was your last warning. There will not be a next time." The Dark Lord glanced indifferently at Rodolphus, then lifted his gaze to the others. ".that applies to you too. I will not forgive any more mistakes."
"Yes, my lord!" they shouted in unison, rising from their seats and bowing.
I did not expect him to sell them so quickly, but. it is none of my business. When Severus's gaze slid from the body lying on the ground to the pensive Bellatrix, his smile faltered.
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