Survival - Chapter 12
Severus did indeed give Abeo some of the money from the sale of some of the basilisk – enough for the boy to be able to live comfortably for the rest of his life without having to work. Severus didn't do anything but write a letter to the boy as he didn't know where the young man was. It wasn't that he didn't want to know, by any means - because he really did want to know - he just didn't. Abeo had written back saying thank you and that he really appreciated it. After that exchange, they didn't hear from each other again.
Harry had heard from Dumbledore, of course. The old man had tried to win Abeo's trust and then resorted to trying to blackmail him into finding Harry Potter for him. He had failed of course.
One time, Abeo got really sick of the man sticking his nose in and told him where Harry was. Of course, it was a lie, but Dumbledore didn't know that. Harry regretted that he wouldn't be able to see Dumbledore brighten up like a Christmas tree and then completely dim when he realized that the information was a lie.
Abeo wasn't, but Severus was. When Severus got back to Hogwarts he found Dumbledore looking really annoyed - more annoyed than even the Dark Lord could make him.
"Albus?" asked Severus, hiding his amusement.
"That…that boy!" snapped Dumbledore angrily.
"Who?" frowned Severus, now utterly confused.
"Abeo! That's who! The brat told me where Harry was, or I thought he had! He lied to me," said Dumbledore, looking well and truly pissed off.
"I see," said Severus, hiding his amusement with difficulty. He was beginning to really like this boy. It had been a long time since he had seen Dumbledore angry or even annoyed. It helped remind him that Dumbledore was not just a loving grandfather but also a powerful wizard that could be angered.
"What are you doing here anyway, Severus?" asked Dumbledore, sitting down after realizing Severus was in his office.
"I was just coming up to see you and let you know I will be leaving for today," said Severus.
"Why?" asked a shocked Dumbledore. Severus had never left the school grounds without him since, well, since Voldemort had been defeated.
"Because I have basilisk skin, teeth, and bones to sell," said Severus.
"Basilisk, Severus?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling brightly.
"Yes," said Severus.
"Just how did you aquire it?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes no longer twinkling.
"I found the dead basilisk in my dungeon," said Severus honestly. It wasn't a lie but it certainly wasn't the complete truth, either.
"Hmm… Well, Severus, I suppose I could buy it off you… for a fair price," said Dumbledore, plans already in motion. He could get three times the price Severus could for it and could double his current monies. He was always looking for ways to acquire more money, just in case he needed to put the Order back together again.
"How much?" asked Severus with a raised eyebrow. Dumbledore didn't know that Severus had already been out selling the basilisk ingredients.
"Four thousand galleons?" asked Dumbledore, thinking Severus would gratefully accept.
"No, thank you, Headmaster. I can actually get more than triple that if I sell it myself," said Severus. He nearly already had, come to think of it.
"How about six thousand galleons, then?" asked Dumbledore, compromising.
"No, Headmaster. I'll sell it myself, thanks for the generous offer. Now, I've got to go. I'm meeting a potions master from America in a few hours," said Severus. Honestly, who did the headmaster think he was! Severus would not give away priceless basilisk ingredients for that price! He knew the headmaster was being his manipulative self. After all, the man's vaults were hardly going to empty any time soon. Come to think of it, neither were his. Severus smirked inwardly.
"Very well," said Dumbledore, his shoulders slumped. Well, that plan went right out of the window. He shrugged his shoulders, there were plenty of ways he could make money. He could pretend to do something for St. Mungo's, for instance, and keep most of the money to himself, giving only a little to the hospital.
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Over the next few months Severus became a galleonaire. Using his Slytherin charm was proving quite useful during the sale of the basilisk ingredients. Plus, any potions master would die to get their hands on them. He was due to see another one now, actually.
Severus was, however, getting really worried, confused, and annoyed with Abeo. The boy was not in a single Ministry record! He was beginning to think that Abeo was actually the Dark Lord's son. It would explain the hate for all things muggle, the hate for Dumbledore, and being able to locate impossible-to-find, very rare ingredients.
When he thought about it, the boy did resemble Voldemort when he was a teenager. Question was, should he go to Dumbledore with this new information? No. He would give the boy the benefit of the doubt. Even if he was the Dark Lord's son, he looked like he had lived his life with muggles and on the streets, as well.
Finding nothing at the Ministry, he apparated away. There was only one option left and that was to go to the Slytherin records. He could only do that after he met the potions master from America, however.
"Ah, hello, Severus, isn't it? May I call you that?" asked Potions Master Gideon.
"You may," said Severus. "If he's trying to sweet-talk me into giving him the ingredients for less, then he has another thing coming," Severus could not help but think.
"Thank you. Now, let's get down to business. I want to see the basilisk skin," said Gideon.
"Here," said Severus, handing over just a tiny sprinkle of the basilisk skin.
"So it is pure. I will take twelve ounces," said Gideon.
"Twelve ounces? Are you sure you can afford it?" asked Severus as an eyebrow rose.
"I can," said Gideon, looking insulted.
"Very well," said Severus, nodding curtly. "Ninety thousand galleons."
"Very well. Will a Gringotts check do?" asked Gideon.
"Yes," said Severus curtly.
"Very well," said Gideon, who got a checkbook out and wrote out the check.
It was a real and official check, but Severus was taking no chances. "No ingredients will change hands until the money is in my account," said Severus, standing up.
The man curtly nodded and began following Severus to Gringotts. Gideon obviously understood that Severus was sure to be protective of the ingredients and certainly not stupid; he had known that the man would not let the ingredients go until he had proof the money was in his account. He had been watching Severus Snape since he had gotten there. The man was a mystery and very unpredictable. Never once had Severus gloated about his accomplishments or told stories about how he had gotten the ingredients - very unlike any other person Gideon had ever met before. Gideon felt that he could get on with Severus famously.
"So when did you pass your mastery?" asked Gideon, making conversation while they waited on an updated statement.
"When I was eighteen," said Severus.
"How many years?" asked Gideon in surprise.
"One year," said Severus.
"Amazing! Is it true you have the highest score?" asked Gideon.
"That is correct," said Severus.
"I completed mine in two years. I got a result of 88, which was good compared to some," said Gideon.
"Yes, it is," said Severus, thinking about the little horrors he had to teach.
"Here," snarled a goblin, interrupting their conversation.
"Thank you," sneered Severus, checking the statement.
"It's been completed. Here you go," said Severus, handing over the ounces of basilisk the man had purchased. "Good day and enjoy."
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It had been a few days since he had seen the American potions master and he was just as confused as ever. He was getting nowhere in learning more about that boy. Could he just be taking things a little too far, maybe? No. As far as he was concerned, he had to look out for number one…himself.
Did he spy on the boy? Follow him around and try and get to know him without the boy knowing? Or did he find the boy and pour veritaserum down his throat and get answers that way? Spying would take ages… Then again, it was illegal to administer veritaserum to anyone. Of course, he was never really bothered about being on the right side of the law… But, unfortunately, he only had Dumbledore's protection and that protection only went so far. He best keep his nose as clean as possible.
So, there was really only one option left and that was to spy on the boy. First he had to find him, though that should not be too hard. There were potions that could find someone as long as they contained the essence of the person. He shouted for one of his house elves.
"Sir?" asked the house-elf, popping in.
"Do you remember the boy who stayed here? Abeo?" asked Severus.
"Of course, sir," she said, nodding her small head eagerly.
"Good. Now, have the sheets been cleaned since he left?" asked Severus.
"No, sir. Would you like me to do that, sir?" asked the house elf, her eyes wide.
"No, that's fine. Just get me some hairs of the boy. I don't know where he is and I want to talk to him. I'm going to have to use his hair," said Severus softly.
"Yes, sir, right away, sir," said the house-elf, popping away.
Severus made his way to his potions lab to start making the potion right away. There was no better time like the present, anyway, was there? Sighing softly, he rolled up his sleeves and put on a pair of dragon hide gloves before getting to work. The potion was a fairly simple one; the only difficult bit was when adding the hair or other essence of the person you were looking for.
"Here is the hair, sir," said the house-elf, popping in.
"Very good. You may go after you leave that just there" said Severus, pointing to his workbench.
"Yes, sir. Goodbye," said the house-elf, popping away.
Soon Severus was immersed in the potion with no idea what time it was, or even if it was the same day. All he cared about was the potion in front of him; he didn't even glance at his watch. Eventually, he added the hair and began stirring it into the potion.
Soon the potion changed from bubbling red to clear, allowing Severus to see just where the boy was…
That was…
