A/N: Not relevant to the story and I am making nothing for this advertising except that I feel the need to share it:
There's this charming little candy shop I stop at every day for work that I thought I should tell y'all about. They have a website, so if you like honey candy, or would like to try it, you should google: Queen Bee Gardens. / They are based in Lovell Wyoming and I have never had tastier candy. As far as I know they only ship within the United States (sorry to my non-state readers.) Everything they sell is gluten free and to those it may concern they even have some organic options.
Those busy bees are also having a St. Patricks sale going on for all of their 'greens.'
My personal favorite are the Honey Essence Honeymoon Patties, but if you prefer dark chocolate, the Black Pearls are supposed to be excellent. Not to mention the tasty mint ones and their honey caramels in so many different flavors.
Honestly, all of their candies are wonderful. If you are interested, go check them out, they are well worth a try. I would happily have more pickups from them to send your way!
Aside from that, your chapter awaits:
Severus escaped his mother after their lunch and went for a walk. Not before stuffing his pockets full of any and everything that could potentially be used in potion making, including his shrunken school trunk and all of its contents.
He ran into Lily as he passed the playground and she reluctantly joined him.
"The full moon is in two days, Sev."
"More the reason to go now, then." He countered.
They wandered out into the woods, in search of nothing in particular but hoping to find a few usable ingredients, heading in the general direction of the shack.
"My father doesn't want me to hang out with you anymore." She said offhandedly.
"Oh? Then pray tell, Miss Evans, why are you doing so?"
She huffed. "Because he can't choose my friends any more than Black can."
He smiled in amusement. "And you told him this?"
"N-" Lily flushed in embarrassment. "Not yet…"
He could not contain the chuckle that found itself in his throat.
Severus circled the pitiful structure once they arrived. It didn't seem terribly sturdy, but magic could help with that. After his evaluation he cast a muggle repelling charm, gave it some structural reinforcements, added a few protection wards and then a notice-me-not charm for good measure.
Lily looked impressed at his wandless work, and he offered her a small smirk. He then gestured for her to enter first.
Severus set up a work area for himself on the vacant floor. Lily did the same right next to him, borrowing some of his supplies and sharing her picked ingredients from the woods. They brewed silly potions (that caused hiccups, sneezing, eyebrow growth and one that would briefly turn skin an array of neon colours) until suppertime.
Ah, it was lovely to have no issues with his knees. He wouldn't be bowing to any dark wizards in this lifetime to wear them out either.
The following day after work he was given a modest envelope of his earnings which he was eager to accept, and earlier than he anticipated to boot. Apparently, Mr. Courtney paid his employees weekly.
He asked his mother to take him to Diagon Alley.
She was hesitant to do so at first, but he reminded her that he could not make a potion for father if he lacked the proper materials.
Eileen borrowed Mrs. Beckett's car to drive them to London.
Gringotts was their first stop, after passing through the Leaky Cauldron of course, so Severus could convert all but some pocket change into Galleons. His mother even exchanged a bit for herself.
Slug and Jiggers was mostly empty, save for a tall young woman speaking quietly to an elderly looking man that Severus was certain he had seen before. The looked out of place with her animatedly cheerful demeanor.
Severus quickly rounded up the ingredients he needed to experiment with for his modified wolfsbane potion, as well as his father's anti-alchohol potion, and then a few he liked to keep on hand for pain potions and such.
The cheerful young woman rang him up and asked 'what on earth' he was making.
"Experimenting over the summer." Severus dismissed casually.
"You must be quite the potioneer, young man..." She looked as though she was about to say more, but the shout of 'Cadogan' from the elderly man, now in the back of the shop, interrupted her.
"Have a good day." She said with a smile and hurried to the summons.
He found his mother poking around the pre-made potions.
"Shall we?" He asked.
She nodded.
He didn't have enough leftover to buy himself any decent robes. So, upon Eileen's request, Eyelops Owl Emporium was their next stop.
Severus was curious as to why. Was she planning on getting an owl?
Severus went straight over to a sleek black owl who nibbled at his fingers. She was beautiful, but certainly cost more than he (or his mother) could afford. At least not today. Severus stroked her feathers despite this fact and she trilled in satisfaction.
Eileen interrogated the old wizard, who looked a bit owlish himself, until she was satisfied with whatever deal she had made and handed over her galleons.
The old man lead her to a somewhat pitiful looking owl and caged the small bird. He was a young owl, no more than a year or two, but his feathers were falling out. The poor thing obviously had some sort of disease.
Something a potions master could certainly treat, if not cure.
Clever purchase, mum.
She returned to his side, showing him her selection.
"He looks like roadkill." Severus observed as they walked out of the shop.
Eileen frowned from his comment.
He handed her his bag from the apothecary as he took the caged bird. Poking his fingers through, the creature rubbed the side of his face on them.
"He's charming, though not very pretty. A Snape, if I ever saw one. All he lacks is a black cloak."
Amusement could be seen on her face, but she shook her head.
"Any thoughts on a name?" He asked.
She thought for a moment. "Hermes."
"Mother, that is a terrible name for an owl." He handed the cage back in exchange for his bag. "How about Hephaestus?"
"Severus."
"What? Not many owls can look that ugly with dignity. I would say he is worthy of a greek god's name, and that one suits him well."
She studied the bird and he cooed his agreement.
"I still don't like it... I have always been fond of the name Horus."
"Egyptian god of the sky, among other things." Severus made a face. "Though it just reminds me of Slughorn."
"Right, your head of house has a variant of that name...Amun, perhaps?"
He glanced at the creature. "God of the sun and air...he could be an Amun."
"Amun it is, then." Eileen agreed.
Flourish and Blotts was their last stop. Amun was left in the entrance, for it would be impolite to lug an owl about the shop.
It was not as if they could purchase much, but he wanted to browse the selection nonetheless, as did his mother. They both spent the rest of the day, which was coming to an end, perusing books until the shopkeeper had to shoo them out so she could close.
Severus ended up spending the last of his galleons on a small book about boggarts.
