Chapter 42. Problems With the Shop. Part 1. Back to Diagon Alley
As soon as the weekend came around again, Severus left Hogwarts early in the morning and, using one of the fireplaces in Hogsmeade, traveled to Diagon Alley.
When he finally reached his shop-house, he saw a long line of wizards standing before a closed door, with a sign hanging on it:
"Open from 9:00."
Severus did not go inside at once. First, he sharpened his hearing and began to eavesdrop with mild interest.
".I heard this shop sells a magnificent beauty potion that combines all the effects of Madam Primpernelle's potions, only twice as strong and longer lasting."
"That is exactly right. The price bites a bit, seventy Galleons, but the effect is incredible. If we went back to Primpernelle, we would have to spend twice as much," a middle-aged woman said with the air of an expert, explaining to a younger girl who had come for the first time because of the rumors. It was easy to tell from her slightly dazed look and the huge crowd. "But today I am here for something else."
"There is something even better?" another witch joined in.
"Yes. I am here for a potion that can restore youth for one day, even to the oldest witches and wizards."
"There is a miracle potion like that?!"
"Yes. Yesterday, when I was coming home, I saw a young woman about twenty-five in my elderly neighbor's house, with two gentlemen escorting her. I asked who she was, and found out something shocking: it was the same old woman, she had taken the youth potion bought from this shop. and then all night, excited female moans came from the house." the woman said, clutching her cheeks in embarrassment.
Behind her, three men's faces went pale in a heartbeat; they imagined themselves in place of those two idiots.
They quickly moved away from the ladies, went up to two other wizards, and told them about the horror. Those two told others, and within half an hour every man in the crowd had heard about the terrifying potion.
Severus found the situation amusing, especially when two men approached him to warn him about the potion's effects and advised him to be very careful and check documents if any witches came up trying to get acquainted.
Severus, in turn, shared a dreadful truth: why would elderly witches need wizards at all, when the outside world is full of Muggle men, and roping a couple of those would be far easier than wasting time on wizards?
Strangely enough, they had to agree, yet they still told him to stay cautious.
There were also rumors of a potion that enhanced magical ability without side effects, but those were just tall tales, because no ordinary wizard had ever seen it with their own eyes. The first in line were always Malfoy's people, Aurors from the Ministry disguised in civilian clothes, men from other gangs, and other big shots, because the potions had limits: one hundred per day and ten per person. They were bought up like hot cakes, bringing the shop nine thousand Galleons a day. That was, of course, before expenses.
Of course, such colossal profit was only temporary: once ingredients started running out and everyone figured out roughly what the potions were made of, the price of herbs would rise severalfold. And no one's purse was bottomless; demand would fall sooner or later, and wars do not last forever.
Today was the seventh day since the shop opened, and also the last one after which Severus planned to keep the number of potions at one hundred, but per week. From the start, he had done it to draw ordinary wizards' attention to his shop, and since the goal had been achieved, he could move to normal operations. He was not made of iron; he could not stand over a cauldron for hours brewing.
And he still had huge quantities of ordinary potions that he needed to sell. That was why their prices were three to five percent lower than competitors', to sell them faster and not be constantly pestered.
After a quick look over the crowd, he also noticed a few ill-wishers glaring at his little shop in a very unfriendly way. Each of them understood exactly what kind of profit it was bringing, and drooling over such a moneybag, owned by a mere Hogwarts student and Potion Master, was only natural.
Severus, for his part, simply waited with a smile.
And tonight promised to be very interesting.
He avoided the main entrance and used a back one, hidden by an illusion behind the building.
The moment he stepped inside, he watched with interest as a curly-haired man of about twenty-seven hurried around, setting out goods and preparing for opening.
"Looks like I did not choose wrong," Severus's voice made him flinch. He instantly grabbed his wand, but lowered it just as quickly when he saw who it was.
"Mr. Snape, please do not scare me. My nerves are already at the limit lately," he sighed, placing potions on a shelf and dropping into a chair.
"What is it?"
"Ah. problems."
"Hm? I told you to contact me if anything happened," Severus said with a stern frown, and the man shrank slightly.
"I am sorry. I thought I could handle it myself, using my connections. You have already helped me so much. paying off my huge debts."
"Talk."
"Yes. it is the local gangs. I used to have ties with two of them, but after that incident they both disappeared, and now others are pressing in to take their place."
Hearing about that incident, Severus felt awkward; he was the reason they had vanished.
"I understand. I will stay with you today and help."
"Ah! No need, I can." the man jumped up anxiously, but Severus forced him back into the chair.
"I want to see these heroes." And future corpses.
Karner noticed the dangerous glint in the young man's eyes, and a herd of goosebumps ran down his spine.
Half an hour later the shop opened, and in about five seconds it was completely packed, so Shafiki had to quickly drive everyone out, leaving only five, who immediately bought half the potions that enhanced magical abilities.
Severus did not stand idle either; he helped with sales. Karner tried to talk him out of it under the astonished stares of customers, but failed, so he took over all the physical work and left Severus behind the counter.
After an hour, Karner noticed, with surprise and a touch of envy, that he knew how to talk to customers: he joked when needed, became serious at other times, and every one of them left happy with their purchase. Especially the women; some even left their addresses and Floo codes. Severus answered with a half-business smile, slipping the notes into his shirt pocket.
But besides flirting, he watched the rest of the customers too, and used Legilimency to skim their surface thoughts. If someone thought about something not nice, he marked them. To his surprise, there were not many, only seven in that first hour, but of course, the evening was still ahead.
For the next nine hours, he did not leave the counter, continuing to watch everyone who came in. His list grew by another hundred names.
When eight o'clock finally came, Karner stepped onto the threshold and announced closing. The crowd grumbled, but had no choice except to disperse in disappointment.
At last, locking the shop, Karner stretched with a tired smile and looked at Severus.
"Mr. Snape, I had a real shock today: I never would have thought you were so good at trading!"
"Nothing special. A trained voice and Legilimency can make anyone a god of commerce." He nodded slightly. "Not bad: twenty-one thousand six hundred Galleons for the day. And for the week, not counting the first day, we made one hundred thirty-seven thousand."
"It is all thanks to you!" Shafiki stared with shining eyes at the pouch in Severus's hand.
"But without your skills, little would have worked," Severus said. Another pouch appeared in his hand; he tossed it to the startled Shafiki. "That is your bonus."
"Please, no. You already pulled me out from rock bottom. I am happy to help, and my salary is enough, it is already very high." he tried to hand it back.
Instead of taking it, Severus walked past him toward the exit.
"If you do not take it, I will fire you."
"Uh. I. thank you." Shafiki bowed deeply and only heard the door slam and lock. He really is a good man. Warmly smiling, he decided to look inside the pouch. And even if it is just a little. But the moment the amount registered in his mind, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. For a moment he even stopped breathing. "H-How. HOW MUCH?!"
His shout made a slightly sleepy Nagini crawl out from a shelf near the counter. She had spent most of the day eating and sleeping.
"Watch the shop while I am gone," Severus's calm voice sounded in her head. Nagini narrowed her eyes in annoyance.
Could have taken me with you. But as soon as a plate with a whole chicken was set down in front of her, she lifted her narrowed gaze to the nervously smiling Karner.
"I heard you like that kind of food."
"Fine. I will watch the shop."
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