Note: This is a story I've been working on for a while, and uh….well, I need a Beta for it So, anyone who wants to beta for me….puppy eyes Please! I'll give you a virtual cookie!

"G.E.M.M" is pronounce 'jem' okay? Good. Severus might be a bit OOC but, please stay with me here, the only person who can truly get into his head is J.K. no matter how evil she is.

This is AU. Moldyshorts and what will be dealt with (maybe) later Though he is mostly dead, thanks to Longbottom

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Many would think that it was through sheer curiosity that I entered that stupid store, but contrary to popular belief it was because he forced me it.

"You are far to secluded from the world, Severus, down there in your dungeons. I think you need some companionship!"

At least he'd had the capacity to call them my dungeons, which they were…..technically, anyway. It wasn't like other people came down to visit me, or chat about the latest gossip. If they did, they left quite quickly, for fear of their life. Which I prided myself on, and here he was, trying to force a….a…. 'companion' on me!

"Come on Severus, hurry up! I want you in here so we can look around!"

"Whatever, Headmaster." I grumbled as I stepped into that dreadful shop.

The whole place had a peculiar smell about it. Unlike any other 'companion' shop I'd ever been in. It didn't smell like unclean cages, or stale air mixed with stale animal scents, no it smelled like something I'd only had the pleasure of smelling once before in my lifetime: clean babies.

"Welcome, good Sirs, to my humble shop! I'm sure you've heard all about my wonderful G.E.M.M.s by now; there are very few people who haven't!" The short, grey haired man said with a bright smile plastered to his face. I tried my very hardest to not strike him for it, but the impulse was quite great, mind, I should have gotten a medal for my self control.

"Oh, heavens yes! My students have been gabbing all about it during their free time! It's very hard not to hear about who's G.E.M.M. can run faster or fly higher or swim deeper than everyone else's; it's quite infectious! I don't believe I've ever heard a happier bunch of students in all my years, I must thank you for it!" Dumbledore gushed, his eyes ablaze with that damnable twinkle. "Isn't that right, Severus?"

My eyes went wide with the sudden change of attentions. I'd been trying to sneak back out, and hide in an apothecary or some other distasteful place Dumbledore wouldn't wander. Having been once again dragged into something I didn't want to be in, I threw on my harshest sneer and my most sarcastic voice. "Of course, headmaster, when are the delightful creatures more happy?"

The shop owner blushed with modesty, or something equally gushy. "Oh, you're just saying that." He brushed an invisible fold out of his blue robes. "But, you know, I originally had only my daughter in mind when I started creating them….she was always getting into mischief or something unpleasant and I wanted to make a friend for her who could keep her happy without any harmful side effects, you know how it is."

Dumbledore nodded emphatically. "Oh, don't I ever! My students are always trying to break into something just to see what's on the other side! I'd probably drive myself crazy with worry if I didn't know that I had such responsible people caring for them!"

I grumbled under my breath at that. "Not that you haven't already done that."

"What was that, Severus?" Dumbledore asked with a small smile.

"Nothing."

"Oh, well," The shop owner said, suddenly seeing a customer who needed help. "I should let you get back to browsing! Call me if you need some help, my name's Levi!"

The Headmaster nodded and smiled politely. "I will if a problem arises."

I chose this moment to see if I couldn't at least lose the old coot in the shop, maybe sneak out later. The whole store looked ever more like a weird mad scientist dungeon from one of those cheap muggle books I was fascinated with in my younger years. Odd cages hung here and there, with shining, eager eyes peering out at the world, large signs attached to some of the cages announced that these were 'sale' beings.

A few blank looking creatures stood up against any spare piece of wall, or sat on any bare surface, small signs in their laps or hanging from their necks stated the model, and price. I looked over a few of the more human ones, letting my eyes linger over each one with a very well hidden awe at their perfection. I noticed a rather large, loud looking sign near the counter.

Can't find something to your liking? We do CUSTOM models! Prices as low as 79 galleons!

I blinked. Custom. Not only could you personalize the creature's behaviors, you could customize their appearance. I looked around a bit more, noticing that different specialized foods and things were also available. I shivered slightly at the very normal way in which the electric 'control' collar was being displayed. Learning through physical pain was not, as some people seemed to believe, my favorite mode of teaching.

"Genetic Engineering through Magical Means." The thought that muggle technology had helped create these creatures that brought such joy to the spoiled brats only fueled my ever growing distrust of these things.

Dumbledore seemed to have found a quaint looking Scottish terrier to play with, the creature seemed to be able to work it's way around speech, as Dumbledore was chattering about which type of sock he thought would have a longer life as a chew toy, not that he was having much problem holding up his end of the discussion.

I turned away, annoyed for some reason that stayed well out of reach of my logic. Maybe it was the fact that I'd been dragged here or maybe it was the fact that I was being ignored by the one who had forced this torture upon my person.

In my annoyance I had wandered through to the back of the shop, where the few creatures around me gave off a sickly need to be loved. I looked around uneasily. There were no other customers near me so I settled down on some rather comfortable looking lounges.

I didn't notice the small boy sitting curled up on the one I was not sitting on until he moved to pull himself away from me. I looked curiously at him.

"Hello." I said my voice flat and emotionless. "You look like you're lost. Do you want me to get someone to find your family?" And that he did. The boy wore clothes that seemed to belong to several different people, and he had just chosen random bits and thrown them together. His hair was a raven black, and looked like someone had just stuck a bowl over his head to cut it, then given him to a chummy sort of guy who would soundly ruffle the mess into a mother's nightmare. His skin was even worse shape, looking like it had never been washed or seen the light of day, smooth and unmarred (with the exception of the mysterious dirt), a small lightening scar sat in plain view on his forehead. His eyes stood out the most to me, the brightest emeralds I'd ever seen, but somehow they looked like they had long been jaded by the world so that they had grown cloudy and dark.

I got the distinct feeling that this boy was not from a family that cared a great deal about him.

The boy said nothing, glancing at me with a scared look in his eyes.

I stared at him, waiting for an answer, though I knew I probably wouldn't get one. The silence that fell wasn't quite uncomfortable, but it was by no standard the type that old friends have. "Why are you here alone? Your family's probably looking for you, probably worried sick."

Worried sick about the loss of their kid. Something my own parents hadn't been the most avid about. I figured that out one day when I'd decided to run away. I was gone for a whole day and they hadn't even noticed. The only reason they knew is because one of the house elves had the maid tell them.

"They l-left m-me h-here." A soft voice rasped, as though it had never been used in a long time. "I-I d-d-don't h-have a f-f-family. Everyone always b-brings me b-back."

I looked at him more closely, ignoring his obvious stuttering problem. "What do you mean?"

The boy held out his hand, a small yellowing card lay in his palm.

Special Sale:Needs a good home; previously used.