Chapter 41: The Spy
Severus wrote to Lily that night, after spending most of the day practicing the spells he and Lucius had found over the last month. It had been exhilarating; cathartic, even, to cast again. And in the afternoon, he'd retreated to the library once more, but this time, it was in an effort to have more information on spell creation. Goyle would likely know most, if not all, of the spells Severus had learned over the summer. He needed something unique, something of his own that his dormmate wouldn't be ready for.
There was nothing helpful there, and he vented his frustrations to Lily in the letter. His good mood from earlier evaporated as he lay in bed and contemplated confronting Levina about the deaths of the two men he'd seen at Fawley's. Was she responsible? What would he do if she said she was?
Kenoa was perched on the end of his bed when he woke up, a letter from Lily on top of his blankets. Severus scrambled to open it, idly scratching Kenoa's head as he read.
Sev,
Holiday is going fine; Petunia complains about the lack of rain and the heat, but I love it. Madrid is beautiful—I don't know how I'll ever be able to go back to dreary Cokesworth and be satisfied.
I'm sorry you're not finding anything else about spell creation. I'll try to look at the libraries down here and see if there's any mention of it—or of Luminis Praesidium. Most of what we've gotten into has been Muggle sightseeing, since the others can't do any of the magical stuff, but I researched how to access the magical areas around here, so I'll try there if I can.
And I can't BELIEVE you did magic outside of Hogwarts! We were expressly told not to. I swear you trust Lucius too much—even if you didn't get into trouble with the Ministry, the rule's there for a reason. Just—be careful.
You haven't said anything about your apprenticeships. Are you enjoying them? Is it all menial labor, or are you actually getting to learn? I'm sure there's a reason behind it, but it was good of Mr. Malfoy to get you in there. What did your mother say when you told her?
I feel like this letter scolds you more than I meant it to, but I have to mention one last thing—Steven wrote to me to see if I could get you to write him a letter. He's your brother, Sev, and he's lonely. Send him a bloody note.
Love,
Lily
Severus felt a spark of indignation, smothered immediately by guilt. Steven had written him weeks ago, but he hadn't found the time to answer him.
Found plenty of time to write to Lily, though, didn't you?
He grudgingly took out a piece of parchment and scribbled a quick note to his brother.
Steven,
I've been pretty busy here. Abraxas has gotten me an apprenticeship at an apothecary in Diagon Alley, so I'm not even at the manor much during the day.
As an afterthought, he added,
Maybe you can talk Mum into bringing you down during the week and I'll show you around the shop.
-Severus
He sent Kenoa off with the letter—he wasn't ready to answer Lily's just yet—and went down to breakfast.
Lucius and Abraxas were already seated, half their food eaten when Severus took his new place to Lucius's side. Abraxas raised a brow, but said nothing.
Severus stared at the plate of food, his stomach roiling as he thought again of confronting Levina.
"You haven't had much of an appetite lately, Severus," Abraxas noted. He cast a sidelong glance at his son as Severus jerked his head up.
"Sorry, sir. I think I'm just tired."
"Levina certainly seems to keep you busy enough. You've barely had a moment to tell me about your work there. Are you finding it a good use of your time?"
"Yes, sir. Levina—"
Abraxas's eyebrows shot up. "You don't show her the deference her position deserves by calling her Madam Yaxley?"
Severus reddened. "She told me to call her that, sir."
His lips thinned, scowling as Lucius snickered. "I'll have a word with her. She should not be encouraging you to forget your place. You are not her equal."
"No, sir."
He let out an agitated grunt, then stood from the table. "I have business this morning in town. Lucius, see that you aren't late for the Ministry."
He left before Lucius could reply, but the older boy shook his head, the smirk firmly attached. "I've not been late yet," he said. "You flustered him."
"Me? What did I do?"
Lucius's grin widened. "Best not be late, Severus. Levina won't like it." He laid his napkin on the table and smoothed his hair back before stepping into the fire to Floo to work.
Severus frowned after him. He was never late, either. What had gotten into the Malfoys?
He pushed away his plate, untouched, and stepped into the fireplace himself. Might as well get there early and get the confrontation out of the way. If she was going to terminate his apprenticeship, earlier was better than later.
Severus went to the backdoor as he'd been doing for the last month, halting when he heard low voices coming from inside the workroom. Levina, and a man—it didn't sound like Mr. Yaxley. He sidled up to the cracked door and peered inside, yanking his face away immediately.
Abraxas was there, one hand at Levina's throat.
The murmured voices were low, but not impossible to hear. Severus remembered what Lucius had said about underage magic—if there were other wizards and witches around, the Ministry wouldn't be able to tell for sure if he cast a spell. There was an amplification spell he hadn't tried—
Lily's admonishment loomed in front of his eyes. Knowing he could get away with it didn't make it right.
But, dammit, he was tired of not knowing what was going on. He slipped his wand down into his hand. As he was getting ready to cast, he had a moment of clarity. The Amplification Charm wouldn't make it louder just for him; it actually increased the volume of the speaker's voice. He didn't want that.
Aggravated, he inched closer to the open door, turning his eye to the crack again so he could at least see what was happening.
Levina didn't seem intimidated by Abraxas's hand—she stood straight, eyes fixed on his, a smile curling up one side of her mouth. The growl Abraxas released was clear enough to Severus, even at this distance.
He watched, mouth agape, as Abraxas pulled Levina forward, his mouth covering hers. Levina leaned into it, her hands sliding inside of Abraxas's robes.
Severus snapped his face away again, his heart pounding. Abraxas and Levina were lovers?
Everything made sense—the glare from Mr. Yaxley at the luncheon, Lucius's smirk at breakfast this morning when his father had spoken of business—Lucius.
He wanted me to see this, to find out this way. He cursed his friend. He really was starting to feel like a voyeur.
It clearly wasn't a secret; Mr. Yaxley had to be in the front of the shop, stocking up for the day. And sure enough, when Severus made his way to the front door, Yaxley yanked it open, eyes snapping.
"Why didn't you come in the back way as usual?"
Severus didn't want to tell him what he'd seen. "It was locked."
Yaxley huffed, eyes going to the storeroom door. "How responsible of her," he said dryly. "Get in, then. You can carry on here. Levina has—company—just now. I'll let her know you're in."
Severus nodded and peered at the half-stocked box of Hogwarts packs as Yaxley moved to the storeroom. They were selling as quickly as Yaxley had suggested, and they'd been struggling to keep up with demand since August hit.
Raised voices came from the storeroom, and Severus had the urge to move closer, but he stayed where he was. His last two attempts at eavesdropping had been more disturbing than helpful.
Still, as the voices continued, his feet twitched. The box of packs was empty now. He could move that way and profess to be returning it to the back to keep things tidy.
He took a few steps in that direction, halting when Yaxley came out, face red, chest heaving.
"Go on then," he said.
Severus nodded and moved toward him.
"Snape."
Severus paused as he reached Axley's side and looked up at him. "Sir?"
Axley's hand rested on his shoulder. "Door wasn't locked."
Severus swallowed. Was he about to get sacked because he'd lied?
The hand on his shoulder squeezed slightly, then was removed. "You're a decent lad, Snape," Axley muttered. "I hope you get what you want out of this business."
Severus frowned as Yaxley walked away, but moved forward into the workroom when Levina called after him.
It was as though nothing had happened—Abraxas was gone, no sign that he'd been there at all. Levina had several cauldrons going already, a weathered book in front of her.
She glanced at him when he came in. "Next time, just come in the back door. I leave it open for a reason, Severus."
He blushed. "I thought—I didn't want to disturb you. You seemed—busy."
She smirked. "Well, it's done. Get your work robes on and get started on the Numbing draught, and then we'll begin some experiments."
Severus blinked. "I'm not helping Mr. Yaxley today?"
"No. You are too valuable back here. I told you if you did well at Fawley's you'd stay here with me."
Fawley's. He'd almost forgotten about the dead men.
"Well?" Levina prompted when he didn't move.
"Levina, some of those men I told you about on Friday—Lincoln, and then another man, Conley, I think?"
"Yes, what about them?" Levina had gone back to work, carefully measuring out beetle eyes.
"They were killed on Saturday."
The jar of beetle eyes shattered as it fell from her hand, pieces going into the cauldrons in front of her and ruining the potions she had been brewing. Her face paled and her eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
"What are you talking about?"
"It was in the paper. Lincoln in the morning, Conley the afternoon."
Levina's hands shook as she lowered the remnants of the jar back to the table. "I don't read The Daily Prophet, Severus. You'll have to forgive my shock."
Severus wasn't sure if he felt relieved, or more upset that she didn't know what happened, either. "I thought, because it was right after I told you about them, that—"
"That I'd murdered them?" Levina let out a short bark of a laugh. "No, Severus. Those men are far less useful to me dead. Well." She cleared the contents of the cauldrons with a flick of her wand and repaired the bottle of beetle eyes. "I certainly made a mess of things, haven't I?" Her voice was low, barely a whisper. She cleared her throat. "I think I might increase your apprenticeship to Fawley, Severus. Twice a week, perhaps? Would that be satisfactory to you?"
He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "You want me to keep spying on him? Even after what happened?"
"Because of what happened," she amended, "it's more important than ever that we know what's going on over there. Perhaps we'll see a pattern."
Severus inhaled deeply. "Yeah," he said finally. "I guess that's okay."
"Brilliant. Now get your robes on. We've shelves to stock. I'm going to have a word with Fawley, arrange your extra day."
Fawley leapt at the chance to get Severus another day, and for the next two weeks, Severus worked both shops, reporting anything he heard or saw to Levina. There were no more murders of Fawley's customers, thank Merlin.
The week before term started, Severus was sweeping in Fawley's shop when the door chimed. He glanced up, then quickly backed into a corner when he recognized his uncle. Sebastian greeted Fawley like an old friend. Severus panicked, casting the Disallusionment Charm before his uncle could see him.
The voices at the counter carried to his spot without a problem.
"I've been meaning to stop in since you moved premises," Sebastian said. "Glad to see you're doing well, Fawley."
"Things are going well, aren't they, Snape? What are you looking for today?"
"I've something of a pest problem, I'm afraid."
Fawley tilted his head to the side. "You're not the type to have minded an infestation before. Tolerable, I think you said once."
"Well, I've lost patience as I've gotten older. A man can change his mind, can't he? Now, I've heard your Doxycide is quite a remarkable brew."
Severus froze. Nobody since the two men who'd been killed last month had asked for Doxycide. Not that he'd been around to see, at any rate. He disagreed with his uncle on many counts, but he didn't want him murdered.
Before he could overthink it, he undid the charm and stepped into view of the two men.
"Uncle Sebastian!" Severus feigned surprise.
Sebastian's head whipped toward him, eyes narrowed. If he'd been able to shoot fire from his eyes, Severus had no doubt he would have done so, incinerating Severus on the spot. He swallowed, almost regretting stepping forward.
"What are you doing here, boy?"
"He's my apprentice. Two days a week, now. You didn't know, Snape?"
"Obviously not."
"Well, surely you can't object? He's been damned useful."
"Has he?" Sebastian's eyes hadn't left Severus's face. His face hardened further.
"You might have told me earlier you had a nephew so gifted with Potions," Fawley said, his voice a bit petulant. "I might have gotten my hands on him before Yaxley. Anyway. I'll get that Doxycide for you."
He went into the back room, and Severus sprang forward, whispering urgently. "Uncle Sebastian, I don't know what's going on, or why you're here, but the last two men that bought Doxycide from Fawley were murdered. Don't take it. Get it somewhere else."
"Do you know what happened to those other men?" Sebastian asked sharply, eyes darting to the storeroom door to make sure Fawley hadn't returned yet.
"No. Just one day they were here saying just what you said, and the next, they were dead."
"And who did you tell about these men?"
Severus hesitated. If he told his uncle the truth, would he yank him from Yaxley's? "The person I told was shocked when they turned up dead. It wasn't them."
Sebastian looked annoyed. "That isn't for you to decide, boy."
"Who I trust isn't for me to decide?" Severus shot back. "I'm pretty sure it is. Buy your damn doxycide, then. I was trying to help."
He turned away as Fawley returned with the box, raising an eyebrow at the posture of uncle and nephew. "Family squabble? Don't worry, Snape. I treat the boy well. I even allow him an entire hour at lunchtime."
Sebastian pulled out his pocket watch and nodded. "Good. Then you won't mind if borrow him for a few moments. We see so little of each other these days." He looked up at Fawley. "Send the doxycide to my office, won't you?"
"Of course. Put the broom up before you go, boy. And don't be late coming back."
"I'll finish sweeping first," Severus said. He wanted to feel like he had some control.
His uncle's hand encircled his arm, his grip like a vice. "Put the broom up, Severus. I do not have the time for your petulance today."
"Finish when you get back," Fawley said. "I don't want any family rows in my shop."
Severus yanked his arm to free it, but his uncle's grip only tightened. "Difficult to put the broom up if you pin me here."
Sebastian let go, eyes following Severus to the back room.
I should go out the back door. But what would that solve? No doubt Sebastian would turn up again the next day, maybe even at Yaxley's, to have his say. This is what I get for trying to help.
He slammed the broom into a corner and jammed his work robes onto the hook by the door before meeting his uncle back in the shop.
Without a word, Sebastian led him into Knockturn Alley, through the winding streets and up into the brightness of Diagon Alley. Severus scowled and squinted against the sunlight, his mood souring with every step.
They didn't stop until they reached Gringott's. Sebastian nodded to the goblins at the door before he led Severus through a door marked 'private'. They ascended a spiral staircase and traversed a long corridor that ended in a sizeable office.
Sebastian closed the door, and as he began adding charms to it to ensure their privacy, Severus looked around. He'd never been in his uncle's office before, hadn't, in fact, even been above the ground floor at Gringott's.
Narrow windows flanked an enormous desk littered with stacks of parchment. A worn leather armchair sat in a corner beside two bookcases, and in the opposite corner, a wall of apothecary drawers.
Severus realized as his gaze swept the room that he didn't even know what his uncle did here. What did he keep in those drawers?
"Sit." Sebastian's voice was hard, edged with annoyance.
Severus frowned. "Why? If you're going to yell, do it so I can actually get food before I'm due back."
"Sit down!"
Sebastian's voice had never echoed that way before, rumbling around the room and rolling over Severus like thunder. The armchair hit him in the back of the legs as his uncle brought it flying forward. He sat.
"You are not to go back to that apothecary," Sebastian said, steel eyes on Severus's face. "Do you understand?"
"No, I don't. Why?"
"That it's in Knockturn Alley is reason enough," his uncle snapped. "You should never have been there in the first place."
"It's not far into Knockturn Alley," Severus argued. "And I'm learning a lot from being there!" That wasn't quite true. He was learning a lot from Levina. At Fawley's he was a glorified owl who recited conversations instead of bringing letters. But Fawley and Yaxley had different ways of doing business, and that much he had learned.
"No doubt," Sebastian said, almost to himself. "And yet you'll end your apprenticeship with Fawley. Today."
"I won't," Severus said. "And you can't make me."
"You have too much confidence in Abraxas's reach, and far too little in mine."
"Father signed the paperwork," Severus said. "You've got nothing to do with it."
"Your apprentice contract is for the Yaxleys only. There was no mention of Fawley, and the fact that they sent you there could be cause to nullify the entire thing."
That made Severus worry. He set his jaw and stared at his uncle. "You haven't the right to tell me what I can and can't do," he said tightly. "You're not my father, you're not a legal guardian—you're just someone who says they want to help but never do."
Anger rippled through Sebastian's features. "I have no issue with your apprenticing with Levina Yaxley; she's earned my respect. But Fawley? Fawley's a worm, a dangerous gutter rat who pulls down everyone who has contact with him. So choose your next words wisely, boy. Will you go down there today and sever your agreement with him? Or will I be speaking with the Ministry before you make it out of the building?"
Severus's jaw tightened further. He wanted to tell his uncle to go to hell, that he wouldn't cave to an ultimatum.
Maybe he's bluffing. It was possible that Sebastian had many connections within the Ministry; Severus wasn't aware what his uncle's position at the bank afforded him. Was he willing to risk the experience—and Abraxas's irritation should he lose it—to show his uncle that his threats would get no reaction?
He opened his mouth to tell Sebastian to sod off, then remembered what had started this whole thing to begin with. "If Fawley's so disreputable, what were you doing there? What's going on with that doxycide?"
"I need not explain myself to you," Sebastian said. "So it's the Ministry, then?" He grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace.
Bloody hell. "What am I supposed to say to him? Or Levina? She'll want to know why I've quit."
"Tell them your father found out about your being loaned to Fawley's shop, and he won't stand for it."
"And when Abraxas goes to Father with another contract to include Fawley, he'll get him to sign that one, too. What's the point of doing this? There's only a week left before term. Is it to make me look bad to both the Yaxleys and the Fawleys, and Abraxas as well?"
Sebastian snorted. "Abraxas Malfoy will do whatever it takes to keep his claws in you, boy. And I'm afraid I'm not sure how to safely release you—yet. I know my pleas for you to be vigilant fall on deaf ears, Severus." He exhaled heavily. "This business with Fawley—the men who were killed, that you saw buying doxycide from Fawley, who were they?"
Severus folded his arms over his chest. He'd be damned if he was going to give his uncle what he wanted after what he'd just threatened.
"Can't remember."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm losing what little patience I had, boy. I can still reach out to my Ministry contacts about that contract."
Anger flared in Severus's chest as he stood. "Do it, then," he snapped. "One less thing you can hold over my head. I'm going back to work."
He reached for the handle of the door, yanking his hand back when it met with a shock. "Open the door," he demanded, back still to his uncle.
"Not until we've finished," Sebastian said. His voice was ice, cooler than Severus had ever heard it.
"I am finished." Severus pulled out his wand and lifted the stinging hex from the door, a satisfied smirk on his face when the handle turned easily and he stepped into the corridor.
His uncle didn't stop him.
Severus returned to Fawley's as though nothing had happened, giving the man a nod in answer to his asking if everything had turned out all right.
"He's an odd one, that uncle of yours," Fawley said.
"How do you know each other, sir?"
"Oh, we were mates at school. Well, not really mates. We worked together on a bit of research." Fawley's tone was nonchalant, as though the project had been nothing. But it made Severus freeze.
"Sir? What was it you were studying?"
Fawley looked up and shrugged. "A myth, that's all."
Severus swallowed. "It wasn't Luminis Praesidium, was it?"
Fawley's eyes narrowed. "He's told you about that?"
"Not exactly. I know he studied it. But he won't tell me anything about it."
A smile spread over Fawley's face. "Doesn't want you to know anything about it, eh? Well, far be it from me to get in the middle of a family squabble. Finish up with the sweeping, and be quick about it."
Severus hesitated. He wanted to push the issue—was this why Sebastian wanted him to quit? If he followed through with his Ministry threat, Severus wouldn't get another chance.
"Mr. Fawley?"
"What is it, boy?"
"I don't suppose you'd still have any notes, or could at least point me in the right direction?"
"What do you care about Luminis Praesidium, boy?"
"You know how it is, sir. Uncle Sebastian told me to leave it, so of course I want to find out what I can. I haven't had much luck in the school library."
Fawley snorted. "Of course not. After your uncle botched our chance of a breakthrough, they forbid further research into it. Anything that even mentioned it was removed."
"Was it so dangerous, then?"
"The theory wasn't dangerous—a spell that would imbue the target with a permanent protection against dark magic? It was when Sebastian decided he wanted to move to human experimentation that the Headmaster went a bit mad. Dippet very nearly expelled us both. Would have, if I hadn't talked him out of it. He settled for destroying our notes."
Severus's spirits, which had buoyed as Fawley was speaking, plummeted. So there was nothing left of their research.
"Of course," Fawley said, his eyes shining, "Since I was so willing to provide information, they never doubted me when I told them I'd given them everything."
Severus's eyes widened.
"Sod your uncle. If he hadn't been so obsessed with informing the headmaster whenever he wanted to move forward, we'd have both made a fortune already. Come on, then."
He swept past Severus and went into the back room, Severus right on his heels.
Severus's mind spun. Had the notes been in the backroom, feet from him this entire time?
But Fawley went to the dormant fireplace in the back of the storeroom. A pinch of Floo powder and a bellow into the flames it produced, and the head of a house-elf appeared in the hearth.
"Yes, Master?"
"Bulty," Fawley said, "Fetch the folio from my study. It will be in the locked drawer, at the back. Say nothing to anyone in the house about it. And don't be seen."
"Yes, master. Bulty will be quick."
Fawley didn't have time to even turn his head to Severus before the elf was back, pushing a worn leather folio toward him. "Bulty was not seen, master."
Fawley took the folio and stood, saying nothing, allowing the fire to die out when Bulty backed out of the flames.
Severus was almost salivating. The folio was thin, but it was something. He reached for it without thinking. Fawley smirked and held it out of reach.
"You've done well here, boy, but you want this too badly to just hand over. I'll need something in return."
Severus dropped his arm, his body going numb.
No. I'm so close.
"What do you want?"
"Information, Snape. I want you to bring me information on Levina Yaxley."
Severus deflated further. Bugger.
#
It isn't a big deal. Just stay behind at lunch and see what you can find.
Severus repeated it to himself over and over the following morning, as he sweat through his work robes. Fawley hadn't asked for anything specific, just that he wanted Severus to find out if Yaxley had anything to hide. The easiest way to do that, he'd said, would be to raid the books in her storeroom for hidden information.
Severus balked at the thought yet again. He hadn't agreed to do it as much as not agreed not to do it by remaining silent. But Fawley had information he wanted. No, information he needed.
But Levina trusts me; she's taught me so much already. If I screw this up, I'll—
"You're more pensive than usual this morning, Severus. Something on your mind?"
Bollocks. He looked up from his potion. A bit of truth will help her be less suspicious. "My uncle came to Fawley's yesterday and wasn't too happy I was there. He threatened to get the entire apprentice contract voided if I didn't quit."
An appreciative smile curled her lip. "I didn't get an angry visit from Fawley, so I assume it's safe to say you haven't?"
Severus shook his head. "No. I walked out of his office."
Levina threw back her head and laughed. "Well done you, Severus. I helped Abraxas draw that contract up; don't worry. There's a clause in it about loaning you out if I feel it helps your education. Even if your uncle has the pull to challenge it—and without being your legal guardian, he'd have to have a lot of pull—we've done nothing that warrants voiding it."
Severus breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't have that hanging over his head now.
"I do wonder, though," she mused, almost to herself. "Why he had such a vehement reaction to your being there. Fawley's annoying, but he wouldn't be able to maintain two shopfronts if he weren't a hell of a salesman. You'll learn that much from him, at least."
And what my uncle's not telling me about Luminis Praesidium, Severus thought, a twinge of guilt shooting up his spine.
"Anyway, it's nearly lunch. Let's grab something next door, and we'll start a new experiment this afternoon. I've thought about the last batch we did, and adding the billywig stings was a pipe dream. We'll need to think about how to stabilize it without them."
Severus's heart raced. This was it. This was where he could at last get some answers. "I'm not quite finished here," he said. "I'll meet you there when I'm through."
"Don't be ridiculous," she said, peering into his cauldron. "It's five minutes."
"I'm not very hungry," Severus said. "All the worry about my uncle this morning—"
"Then don't eat," she said with a shrug. "But I am hungry, and we need to discuss how we'd like to proceed this afternoon."
Damn, damn, damn. He allowed himself to be led to the restaurant, abstaining from ordering. His stomach certainly wasn't going to keep anything down the way it was roiling.
Levina never left the storeroom that afternoon, either. He returned to the manor that afternoon in frustration, knowing he the weekend was going to be spent trying to figure out how to be alone in the room.
Sunday afternoon, Lucius came to his room, where Severus had been holing up, wracking his brain for any ideas.
"All right," Lucius said. "You've moped all weekend, and it's the last one before you leave, so what's going on?"
"Summer's over," Severus said with a shrug. "Enough of a reason, right?"
"Except you love that stupid school," Lucius said. "Much as it pains me to admit, probably more than you like staying here. All that learning." He smirked, throwing himself into the desk chair. "So what's going on?" he asked again.
Severus swallowed. What should he tell him? He couldn't use the fear of his contract being voided; if Levina knew it was ironclad, so would Lucius. "I have to make a decision," he said carefully. "Between two very important things."
"What decision?" Lucius was suddenly sitting ramrod straight, his brow furrowed, mouth turned down into a frown. "Who's forcing it?"
"It's a decision having to do with the apprenticeship," Severus said. "And if I screw it up, it won't be there next summer."
"Maybe I can help clarify it."
Severus stared at him. "You can't say anything. To anybody. Especially Abraxas."
Lucius snorted. "I rarely tell him anything these days, Severus. Being of age and having my own money has been so liberating. Out with it. What're you deciding?"
"Whether or not to find information on Levina."
Lucius narrowed his eyes, head tilted slightly. "Who asked you to?"
Severus swallowed. "Fawley."
"And why are you even considering it? You've said before Yaxley's a far better potioneer than Fawley. Why risk your chance to learn from her?"
"Fawley has information I need."
"About what?"
"Doesn't matter," Severus said, suddenly shaking his head and standing from his bed. "I can't do it." He had the feeling that he'd said too much to his friend already. He wasn't about to tell him about the safeguards on his sister. If he told Abraxas, and Abraxas could find the weak spot, he'd be able to use that against Severus if he needed to. The less people knew about Sabine's gift, the better.
"Have you tried?"
"I haven't had the chance," Severus said. "And there's only this week left before school; there's no point."
"Well, if you put your mind to it, I'm sure you'll figure it out," Lucius said. "Want to have one last round of dueling practice before dinner? Get your mind off everything else for a bit."
Severus exhaled, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. A distraction was exactly what he needed.
#
Severus approached Yaxley's with his heart in his throat. If he was going to do anything, it would need to be today. Tomorrow was his last day with Fawley before term, and the day before, the man had taunted him with the folio, making sure Severus saw it at almost every opportunity. Severus was getting desperate enough to think about forgoing the information exchange and just breaking into Fawley's shop at night to get the damn thing. He knew where he kept it—under the ledger books at the very back of the counter with the till—and swiping it would be easy enough.
Except he'd know it was me. I'd be expelled, and probably thrown into Azkaban.
He steeled himself as he walked into Yaxley's stockroom. He was going to do it. Today.
Levina wasn't bent over the worktable, as usual. In fact, all of the cauldrons were cold and no ingredients were laid out.
His mind raced. She wasn't in yet. Did he have time to look now? His palms were sweaty; he wiped them on his jeans and took a few steps inside.
"Levina?"
No answer. His eyes strayed to the books lining the shelves. He'd stayed up last night, looking through Abraxas's library for spells that would let him search through an area quickly, but none of them were quite what he was looking for. If he had any hope of finding anything, he'd have to tear the room apart, or else have it to himself for hours. And sneaking in after the shop closed wouldn't work—he'd already tried that a few days ago, but Levina showed no signs of leaving during the four hours Severus watched from the alley.
But if he had nothing by tomorrow morning, Fawley would never give him his research.
He waved his wand and pulled down the first book—dust flew from the spine as it dislodged.
Probably not it, then. It wasn't. Neither were the next three. He pulled down the fourth—a well-worn copy of Potions by Paracelsus—and let out an annoyed grunt when there was nothing of use hidden inside it, either.
"Looking for something to do?"
Mr. Yaxley's voice cut through Severus's frustration, and the teen straightened, closing the book with a snap.
"I was just—"
Yaxley waved an irritated hand. "Don't care. Levina won't be in today. Sends her regrets."
Severus's heart leapt. He could be in here all day, searching—
"Brew up a few batches of the Numbing Potion, and we'll see where we're at with stock. Might be you can get out of here early today."
Severus opened his mouth to protest, but realized it would seem odd, wanting to stick around sweeping rather than enjoying an afternoon free days before school started.
"I hope Mrs. Yaxley is feeling all right," he said.
Yaxley huffed. "I'm sure she'll be in bed all day," he said. "But you needn't worry yourself about that, boy. Get to that draught, now."
"Yes, sir."
As soon as Yaxley left, Severus pulled several more books down, ignoring the ones with a decade's worth of dust. None of them had anything interesting.
He started the Numbing Potion and looked around the room. Would she even have hidden anything here? It didn't seem likely.
Yaxley came back in an hour later, scowling at the unfinished potion. "Distracted today, aren't you? Hurry up—we've only one bottle left on the shelf."
"Sorry, sir," Severus muttered, leaning back over a cauldron.
Yaxley left again, and Severus finished the potions as quickly as he could, carrying an armful of vials out into the shop.
"About time," Yaxley grumbled. "Just put them on the shelf and get out; you're done for today."
Severus shoved the bottles onto the shelf and hurried to the back. He hung up his work robes and scanned the room, eyes going from floor to ceiling.
Where would she have hidden something?
He cast Scourgify on the cauldrons, and swept the ingredient remnants into the garbage bin before franticly looking around again.
What if she had nothing to hide?
The men from Fawley's shop swam into focus—men who had died the day after Severus mentioned them to Levina. There had to be something to that.
But she'd been as surprised as I had been. No, not surprised—scared.
"Still here, boy?"
Severus jumped, knocking into one of the open storage cabinets. Yaxley scowled at him.
"Just cleaning up, Mr. Yaxley."
Yaxley's eyes went around the room, then settled back on him.
Compartmentalize. Remember Occlumency.
Severus blinked at met Yaxley's gaze. The older man grunted and turned away.
"Go home, boy."
"Yes, sir."
Severus reached into the cabinet to set a jar back on the shelf, then took a step toward the back door. His foot knocked into something, but when he looked, there was nothing there.
He frowned and nudged around the floor with his toe.
Thud.
His heart was in his throat as he kneeled and felt around for the invisible object. His hand connected with it—it felt like a book.
"Revelio,"he whispered, tapping at the cloaked object.
A logbook, not unlike the ones Levina filled with her experiment notes, lay open on the floor.
He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Yaxley had gone back up front, then began flipping through the book.
Most of it made no sense to him. Times and names that had no meaning. Until he got close to the end.
F.F. - Doxycide.
The date was the day Severus had seen the men in Fawley's shop. So F.F. must be Francis Fawley. Beneath the Fawley note, another, hastily scrawled: Draught of Living Dead. Blood traitor. Attack imminent.
Attack. On Fawley?
Footsteps sounded outside the storeroom door.
Severus realized with panic that he didn't know the charm to make the book invisible again. He kicked it under the cupboard and ran out of the shop.
#
Severus went straight to his room when he got back to the manor, but couldn't sit still. He was still pacing the corridor when Lucius got home, a raised brow at his friend as he went into his own room. Severus followed him in.
"Something on your mind, Severus?" Lucius asked.
"I found something."
"On Levina?" Lucius asked, tossing his Ministry robes onto his bed.
"Yeah."
"Hmm." Lucius ran his hand through his hair and leaned against his bureau. "Well? Are you going to tell me what it was?"
"I'm not sure I know what it was." He told Lucius about the notebook, and the entry.
Lucius shrugged. "Means nothing to me."
"But she wrote that an attack was imminent. I should tell Fawley, right?"
"That's not my decision, Severus. But you said he had information you wanted, and you have information he asked for. What's the problem?"
"Something feels off about it," Severus said. "I don't know what. Like I'm getting something wrong."
Lucius shrugged again. "Then don't tell him."
Severus growled in frustration. "I don't know what to do, Lucius. I need that information he has."
Lucius narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps if you told me what the information is, I could be of more help."
Severus stared at him. Should he tell Lucius about Luminis Praesidium? There was no reason not to—he told his friend nearly everything else—but something held him back.
"It's just—it's important."
"Then tell him," Lucius said, throwing up his arms. "But if you throw away the opportunity to work with Levina Yaxley next summer, Father won't be very forgiving."
"I know. That's part of the problem. But what if I don't say anything, and it turns out there is an attack?"
"That isn't your problem, Severus. Decide what best serves what you want, and do it."
"No matter the consequences?"
"The only consequences you need to worry about are the ones that effect you," Lucius said.
Severus frowned. "But—"
"Do it or don't. And if you don't want to tell me why it's so important, then that's the best I can do. If that's all, I'd like to clean the hypocrisy of the Ministry off before dinner." He pushed off the bureau when Severus hesitated. "I know you don't always pick up on cues, but that was an invitation to get out."
"What would you do?"
Lucius sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I don't have the information I need to tell you that. But going on the very vague specifics you have given, I'd do whatever it took to get the information I wanted."
"Whatever it takes," Severus repeated, his resolve strengthening.
#
Severus was late to breakfast the next morning, afraid seeing Abraxas would make him less sure of his decision to tell Fawley what he'd seen. By the time he got to the table, Lucius and his father were already gone.
He managed a few bites before the turmoil in his stomach began in earnest, and he left for Knockturn Alley before his courage failed him.
As per usual, there weren't many shoppers yet in the alley; nothing was open this early. But the hair on the back of Severus's neck stood on end as he walked the short distance from the Floo point to the shop. Everything was eerily quiet.
Severus arrived at Fawley's and raised a hand to knock on the door as he normally did, but stopped in mid-air when he saw it was already cracked open. His hands were sweating as he pulled open the door.
"Mr. Fawley?"
There was no answer.
"Hello?"
Severus stepped inside. There were no lights, no sounds coming from the stockroom. He managed only another few steps, his heart racing, before he tripped and fell, throwing his hands out to catch himself.
"Lumos!" The ball of light from his wand showed what he'd tripped over—Mr. Fawley, eyes open and staring straight through Severus.
He wasn't breathing.
Severus scrambled backward, bumping into the front counter. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the dead man, even though his brain was screaming at him to get up, to move, to do something.
He reached up to the counter and pulled himself up, eyes still trained on Fawley. I waited too long. If I'd come straight here yesterday instead of worrying about it last night, maybe he'd be alive. And I'd have the notes.
The notes. Severus managed to look away from the body long enough to scan the area behind the counter. The edge of the folio peeked out beneath the ledger books. He grabbed it before he could second-guess himself, shrank it, and stuffed it into his pocket.
The action was enough to get his legs moving, and he ran out of the shop, shouting for help. A few shopkeepers emerged, shooting him irritated glares, but none made a move to call the Aurors.
Severus cursed them under his breath and ran to the Yaxley's, wrenching open the back door.
Levina looked up, startled.
"Severus? This isn't—what's wrong?" Her eyes scanned his face, and she was beside him instantly.
"Fawley," he breathed. "Fawley's dead."
Her face paled, even as she rushed toward the door. "All right. Stay here, do you understand? Let Mr. Yaxley know if he asks." She nodded at his wand. "And you'd do well to put that away before the Aurors start showing up."
She sped down the alley, and he looked down at his wand, still lit from his spell. He cast Nox and stowed the wand in his pocket, his fingers twitching as the wood slipped past the miniaturized folio.
Severus almost pulled it out to read it right then. What if the Aurors make me turn out my pockets, and they take it? His heart stopped. He was too close to answers to let them slip through his fingers now. Should he hide the folio somewhere in Levina's storeroom? What if Levina found it?
He didn't have time to decide. The back door swung inward sharply and a middle-aged man in a long trench coat took a step inside.
"You Snape?"
Severus nodded.
"I'm Auror Moody. You see anything that happened?"
"No, sir. I just saw the door was open, and then Mr. Fawley, laying there. I ran right out and called for help, but nobody came. That's when I ran up here to get Levina."
What am I doing? Lying to an Auror? Severus forced his breathing to be even as the Auror narrowed his eyes at him.
"You didn't see anybody? Hear anything?"
"No, sir."
"You're Mrs. Yaxley's new apprentice?"
"Yes, sir. And Mr. Fawley's, twice a week."
"You see anything suspicious while you were down there? Think of anyone who might have done this?"
Severus shook his head—maybe a little too quickly.
Moody frowned. "All right. If you think of anything, Snape, let me know." He handed Severus a business card that read: Alastor Moody, Auror.
"I will, sir."
"Hmph. All right. Get on home. I'd say you won't be needed at Fawley's today."
"Thank you, sir."
He nearly ran out the door, opting for the longer route via The Leaky Cauldron than going back down to Knockturn Alley and past Fawley's shop again. The folio seemed to burn his leg, the information it housed too important to contain.
Lucius and Abraxas weren't at the manor when he arrived. Severus raced up to his room and pulled the folio and his wand out of his pocket. He hesitated, wand wavering over the tiny packet, before enlarging it again.
His fingers trembled as he undid the tie around the closure and the flap fell open. He reached inside, frowning at the single sheet of parchment he pulled out.
One is better than nothing, he thought, eyes raking over the page, his heart sinking as he read the lone sentence.
I've destroyed these for your own safety.
~Sebastian
Severus threw the folio across the room.