Chapter 2
"Professor Snape! Welcome," trilled a Mr. Thelonius Burke as they entered the well-known Borgin & Burkes. And with a noticeably less friendly tone a moment after seeing Ron enter, "And Mr. Weasley. How…nice to see you again."
"Relax, Mr. Burke. Mr. Weasley is off-duty and not here on any official business. He is my guest," Severus explained, giving the man a sardonic look. To be afraid of a Weasley…honestly! If just the sight of an Auror set the man off, Severus did not know how he dealt with some of his more dangerous clientele.
"Very good, sir. I received your package just the other morning. I must say, I've never dealt with such rare material before," Burke simpered, leading them to the back of the dreary shop.
"I should think not. Not even your grandfather ever managed to get his hands on it," Severus said, a hint of pride showing through.
"If I may ask –" Thelonius began, a familiar look of greed marring his features. Severus had seen it many times on the face of Caractacus Burke, the now retired owner, who had stopped at nothing to acquire any artifacts he deemed worthy of his time.
"You may not. Suffice to say that I have my methods," Severus interrupted sharply. As Thelonius left the room with a bow and a simper, Severus felt a hand clamp down harshly on his arm.
"Just what the hell are you getting me into?" Ron hissed, trying to keep his voice from carrying. "I'm an Auror, in case it escaped your notice! I can't watch my best mate's boyfriend dealing in illegal materials."
"Unhand me, Ronald," Severus snarled as he pushed a stinging jinx through his skin and into Ron's hand. Ron cursed, but the spell had the desired effect of removing his paws from Severus's person. And if Severus derived some small measure of satisfaction from the pain he'd caused Ron for using such a banal descriptor for his relationship, no one need know but him. And possibly Harry. But later – much later. Certainly not today – not until his plans had been carried out. "The material in question is perfectly legal. It is simply…hard to come by."
Severus was spared from more of Ron's objections by the return of Borgin & Burke's proprietor. Thelonius brought with him a small bundle of dragon-hide leather, bound by the thinnest of Whomping Willow branches. As Thelonius held the package carefully cupped within his hands, the branch whipped its ends to try and defend its treasure. Severus had chosen this specific genus as the protective barrier because of its ruthlessness.
"What the-" Ron gasped as he caught sight of the pouch. Severus hushed him with a look.
"There we are. Would you do the honours, Professor?"
"Certainly," Severus allowed, waving his wand sharply.
The Whomping Willow tendrils slithered away like a snake, straightening and stilling as soon as they were on the table's surface. Severus stepped forward and with cautious movements, unveiled the glowing gemstone inside the hardened material. He heard Ron's gasp as they all took in the sight before them. As he'd said, it was very difficult to come by – potentially one of the rarest substances in the world.
"Is that…" Ron trailed off disbelievingly, never taking his eyes away from the stone that was alight with what seemed to be fire. It was like coal…only the swirls of colour included jets of blue, red, orange, yellow and purple.
"Dragon's Breath," Thelonius Burke said with more than a hint of wonder. He used a simple ruler to measure the height and width of the rock as he spoke. "The finest specimen I've heard of in at least fifty years. The largest ever recorded was –"
"Spare us the history lesson, if you please," Severus cut in waspishly. "Do you have a blacksmith who can tame it, or must I take my business elsewhere?"
"Oh, no – I mean to say – yes, of course, Professor Snape. I know just the man for the job; or should I say, just the goblin," Thelonius stuttered nervously. "It will cost a pretty Galleon, though."
"Money is no object," Severus sniffed imperiously. "Name your price."
"Of course, sir, of course. May I ask what object or objects you hope to create? I must assume you know that Dragon's Breath is notoriously tricky to work with; but my contact is an expert and can craft any manner of things," Thelonius explained.
"I shall require a moment with my associate, in that case, Mr. Burke," Severus advised, nearly shooing the shop's proprietor out of his own back room. Then he looked to Ron, who was still watching the interplay of colours chasing each other around the rock's hard surface. "Well?"
"Well, what?" Ron gasped, finally tearing his eyes away to stare at Severus. "Where the hell did you get Dragon's Breath, anyway?"
"Your brother in Romania was most helpful in that regard," Severus murmured. "But what do you think?"
"What do I think about the Dragon's Breath? It's bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed. "What are you going to use it for? I hear there's all sorts of spells that can be worked into –"
"Weasley. Use what brains your lovely mother gave you," Severus snapped impatiently. "What is the most common use for Dragon's Breath?"
Severus watched the variety of expressions as they chased each other across Ron's face. First, the consternation at the interruption. Then, the "deep in thought" look – or as Severus preferred to call it in his head, the blankly clueless expression. Then, the dawning realization, followed quickly and interchangeably between horror, amusement and elation.
"Don't tell me you're getting jewellery made?" Ron guffawed and Severus almost killed him, friendship with Harry be damned. "What – gonna get some manacles made so you can chain Harry to the bedposts? Ooh! Or will you make matching bracelets engraved with love hearts? Please tell me it's the second one! Now that I think about it, anything that isn't related to sex is best."
"It's a wonder you've survived so long, Weasley – truly. I should have slipped poison into your morning pumpkin juice years ago," Severus retorted. "Before you could grow into the absolute worst friend in the Wizarding world."
"Whoa there, mate! I was only joking," Ron reassured Severus with another laugh and a chummy slap to the back. Severus twitched violently with the need to curse the brat. "I know you want to make rings. You've been making moon eyes at Harry for long enough as it is. Mum and Hermione were going to start plotting if you hadn't made the move soon."
Severus could count on one hand the number of times he'd been surprised by this particular Weasley. The first time they had played chess against one another, certainly; when Ron had made full Auror; and now, of course. Ron laughed again and did something he'd never done before. He hugged Severus. Severus nearly threw him across the room as they heard the shop keeper returning. Severus Snape did not do friendly hugs. Especially not from blasted, infernal, pain-in-his-side irritants like Ronald Weasley. No, sir.
"Have you made a decision yet, Professor Snape? I do have an 8 o'clock approaching," Thelonius explained, looking chagrined. Ron looked pissed off again. Serves him right, thought Severus.
After explaining his requirements, the measurements and spells that he would need imbued in the final products, Ron and Severus left the shop together with a promise for pick-up in a month. Knockturn was still empty as they moved towards Diagon Alley.
"So, I'm assuming I can't tell anyone about what I just saw," Ron inquired, looking smug.
"Your wife may know. That is all," Severus warned with an imposing finger waved in Ron's face.
"Yeah, yeah. Otherwise you'll curse me to within an inch of my life, I get it. Boring," Ron yawned, waving the transfiguration from his robes so they went back to their gaudy scarlet.
"Oh, no, Ronald," Severus chuckled darkly. "Since regular threats do nothing to the Weasley courage, if you share this news with anyone but Hermione Granger nee Weasley…I'll curse you to only ever see my face when you get aroused."
Ron's squawk of horror made Severus grin even as he Disapparated from the scene of the crime.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed this look into Severus and Ron's friendship. May be a slight delay in getting the next chapter out, but I'll do my best to tell RL to piss off 3