AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
He should've known the aurors would get involved.
Proudfoot knocked upon the door as Savage watched on, their badges glimmering in the moonlight. Severus raised his Occlumency shields. It was clear the aurors suspected the apothecary of being less than legitimate. Had a tip been called in? Who would have called them? Nobody knew about his operation other than his clients. Of that, Severus was certain. Could this be an emergency mission where a potion was urgently needed? If so, why not send an owl or floo call first?
More importantly, why would Proudfoot come? Investigating an illegal potions operation was not amongst his usual duties, unless he came for more personal reasons...
A crack interrupted his musings. The man who usually collected the contraband appeared, this time in a black suit and a hat. He motioned for Proudfoot to lower his hand. The man stood before the door but did not knock. What could they be waiting for?
Severus raised his wand, unsure if he would use it to allow them entry, or would fire upon them. One last crack determined his next move.
A man in blue formal ministry robes appeared. There wasn't a blond hair out of place on his sleek head. His posture was perfect, as was the grin which had won him many an election.
It was all enough to make Severus' stomach constrict. The possibility of leaving with his freedom intact was becoming less and less likely. The only question was what kind of prison they had planned for him.
"Severus," the man in the black suit knocked upon the door. "Open up. I have some special guests for us tonight."
Severus put the crate behind his desk before pointing his wand at the door, muttering the spell for it to open. He kept a tight grip on his wand as they entered, lest things become too unpleasant.
"This is where we manufacture your supply. As for the potioneer," the man pointed to Severus. "He needs no introduction."
"Indeed he doesn't," the man in blue robes approached Severus, his arm outstretched.
The man in black stared at it, not moving a muscle.
"You must be shocked to someone such as myself here," the man in blue began.
"I am, Mr…"
"Tiberius, Tiberius McLaggen."
"Oh yes, I have seen you before," he lowered his wand and shook the other man's hand.
Proudfoot shut the door behind them.
"Yes, I'm sure you've seen me on campaign posters and in the news," Tiberius began.
As if Severus could ever forget someone with that oily expression on his face.
"I believe we've met in person too. We saw each other once at the Slug Club. It was just after I'd won a seat on Wizengamot, back when I was just starting out." His eyes took on a dreamlike quality.
"Indeed," Severus drawled. He remembered that visit well. Slughorn thought his club should listen to someone who was a success, someone they could emulate. Apparently Tiberius was the best he could do. The evening was nothing short of painful. Tiberius droned on about himself for a solid two hours. The only thing worse than his grating voice was seeing Lily cuddled in James' arms during the whole thing. Severus had spent many a night trying to get drunk enough to forget that train wreck of an evening.
"Never once did I think I'd owe one of those students a 'thank you' for helping me win a debate," the dreamlike quality was replaced with something more predatory.
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"You heard the debate last Wednesday, did you not?"
"No, political debates are too tedious for me. When I hear people speak, I prefer them to say something of value instead of giving me cliched platitudes."
"Oh?" Tiberius asked. "What would you rather hear than platitudes?"
"The truth."
"What kind of truth?"
"For starters, we could admit divination should be outlawed and potions research could use more funding. Then again, I am biased in both matters."
"That you would be."
"Still, if you would say those things I cannot say I would be ungrateful. Perhaps I would believe a politician is worth something after all."
Savage glowered at Severus while Tiberius broke into laughter. "I can see why you like him so much, Antonio. He isn't afraid to speak his mind, and looks so confident doing so."
"He's a character, isn't he?" Antonio flashed his white teeth.
"Yes, a character." Proudfoot glared at the man in black.
"Back to my original point." Tiberius cleared his throat. "It's rather unfortunate you missed this debate. You were the star."
"I did not realize I was a topic worthy of discussion," Severus said.
"You are interesting in your own right, but your potions are absolutely fascinating," Tiberius said. "Your little puțină otravă stomacală was enough to cause Kingsley severe stomach problems all night. He could barely focus. All the papers said I won quite handily."
Severus shot a look at Antonio.
"Did you think you were only brewing that potion for the tenth Chicago district?" Antonio asked.
"I've learned not to ask questions as to how you use your potions. You can dump them in the sewer for all I care so long as I am paid."
"Oh no, your potions are much too good for the sewer," Antonio said. "They are too perfect for us to extend our reach beyond the States."
"I can see that," Severus quelled the sinking feeling in his stomach that he wasn't escaping from this arrangement anytime soon.
"I'm honestly impressed with the operation you have going here," Tiberius glanced around. "This is one of the most respected apothecaries in Britain headed by one of the most sought out masters in the world. You even managed to hire Hermione Granger as an apprentice. Quite impressive."
"Indeed, she's quite an asset," Antonio cut in.
"There is no need to mention Hermione. She has nothing to do with any of this," there was a clear warning in Severus' voice.
"Don't look so upset, I'm complimenting you," Tiberius continued. "What could be more legitimate than hiring the third person of the Golden Trio? She's the perfect cover for this whole operation."
"Keep Hermione out of this," he growled. "She doesn't know anything about any of this. I intend to keep it that way."
"Of course she doesn't," Savage cut in. "She'd tell Potter everything if she had any idea what you were doing."
"Or that fiancee of hers," Antonio said.
"No, she'd tell Potter," Savage answered. "Ron's useless, and she knows it."
"It has truly been a pleasure becoming reacquainted with all of you. Sadly, I am too famished to be any kind of conversationalist," Severus said. "Please state your business so I can get some dinner."
"Ah a man who gets straight to the point," Tiberius said. "I like that."
"If you like it so much, please state your business."
"I'll get to the point," Tiberius said. "You, Savage, Proudfoot, Antonio and I are going to work together from here on out to get me elected Minister of Magic."
"Oh?"
"Indeed," Tiberius answered. "I started my campaign months ago. With your potions I see it being one of the smoothest campaigns in Britain's history."
"That is all fine and good, but if I may ask," Severus turned to Proudfoot. "Why are you supporting this?"
The auror stood with a neutral expression
"Your the Head of the Auror Office. Why in Merlin's name should I trust you to keep quiet about any of this?"
"I have my own reasons," Proudfoot answered. "Reasons I do not feel I must disclose to you."
"That is problematic given that without knowing your reasons, I am unsure how loyal you are to our cause," Severus said.
"I am very loyal to the cause," he lowered his voice. "The question is are you?"
"Of course he's loyal to Ms. Sorrela," Tiberius cut in. "We all are."
"Indeed," Proudfoot did not remove his eyes from Severus.
Severus turned to Savage. "What about you? Why are you helping us?"
"Let's just say I spent one too many nights at Potowatomi."
"Potowatomi?"
Savage shifted his eyes to a speck of dust on the ground.
"Where is that?"
"Nowhere you'd ever go," Savage glared at him.
"Very well then," Severus cleared his throat. "What is my reward for putting my livelihood and possibly freedom at risk?"
"Excuse me?" Antonio cocked his head.
"At any minute one of these three men could turn me in for selling illegal potions. Tiberius and Savage barely know me. Proudfoot has never held a high opinion of me. What assurances do I have that they are loyal enough to Ms. Sorellia not to turn on me?"
"Perhaps if you weren't a Death Eater we would think more highly of you," Proudfoot growled.
"I was a spy."
"A profession which will serve us well."Antonio cut in.
The men turned their attention to him.
"Look Severus, it's normal to be skeptical. I was even taken aback when Ms. Sorellia put me in contact with these gentlemen. Once we discussed things though, it became clear our goals were more than compatible."
"I would still like to know what assurances I have that nobody will betray me," Severus said.
"This." Tiberius pulled out a small bag from his suit jacket. After setting it on Severus' counter, he tapped it with his wand.
It grew to one of the biggest bags of galleons Severus had ever seen.
"With that transaction, I've put my lot in with you," Tiberius said. "Now do you think I'd risk my political career for someone I planned to turn on?"
Severus was trying to calculate the amount of galleons in the bag. His heart was racing as he pondered all the research he could conduct with these funds.
"Now, do you still have questions?" Antonio asked.
Severus opened the bag as if one wrong move may cause it to explode. He examined the galleons. They were all real. Every one he touched was real.
"You're one of the best potions masters in Britain," Tiberius said. "No, best in the world. You are renowned for your work. We'd be fools to betray you, not when you can prove so useful to us."
Severus stared at the gentlemen. He wondered how long Antonio, and by extension Ms. Sorellia, had been grooming him for this moment. If he took the galleons, he was as good as theirs. Anything they asked, he would do, lest he be accused of conspiring against the future Minister of Magic. If he refused the galleons, they would arrest him on the spot. Proudfoot's finger was itching for his wand, just waiting to arrest him. Severus was as good as another prisoner in Azkaban if he turned down this offer. There, he would be at the mercy of the Death Eaters, the very ones he'd testified against at his trial.
The choice was more than clear.
He raised up the crate that was to his left and set it on the counter. "There are three hundred vials of puțină otravă, two hundred vials of puțină otravă stomacală, one hundred vials of mulfrac, one hundred vials of crește insulina, and ninety vials of amãgire."
"The people of Britain and Chicagoland thank you." Antonio took the crate and set it down.
Like vultures on a corpse, Savage and Proudfoot began casting spells to insure the legitimacy of the potion.
"Some trust would be appreciated," Severus snapped. "I have no reason not to brew those potions correctly."
"We trust you, we truly do," Tiberius answered. "But old habits die hard. There's no harm in allowing them to check."
"We wouldn't be good Ministry employees if we didn't at least make an effort to ensure the safety of the potions," Proudfoot growled.
"You technically wouldn't be good Ministry employees if you were buying illegal potions."
"That's a minor detail," Proudfoot said.
"Or so you say," Severus muttered.
"Once again, it was a pleasure doing business with you." Tiberius flashed him a stomach churning smile. "I look forward to doing more business with you in the future."
"Likewise," Severus answered.
The aurors ceased examining the crate. Antonio picked it up and looked at Severus. "Have a wonderful evening, and thank you again for your services. We will see you on Tuesday."
"Thank you for the galleons," Severus said. "And I will have your new shipment ready by Tuesday."
"Good." Antonio led the men out of the apothecary.
Once the men shut the door behind them Severus warded the door locked. Peeking into his bag once more, he took a deep breath.
It was unlikely he would ever regain his freedom.