"You know about wizards?" Severus asked in shock.

"Well, of course," Wonka said, "it was Rubeus who informed me about Loompa-Land."

"Hagrid?" Severus asked. Wonka nodded.

Dumbledore chuckled. "I should have known."

"How do you know Hagrid?"

Wonka shrugged. "Long story."

"I'd like to hear it," Severus demanded, "you've had your mysterious secrets, Wonka. Now it's time for answers. What is the purpose of this tour? Why did you send the other contestants to rooms were they would be eliminated? How do you do impressive things even spells couldn't make happen? How do you know about wizards? When did you meet Hagrid?"

"What a curious mind," Wonka observed, "very well, Severus, I'll answer some of your questions. The main reason for the tour was to find an heir to give my factory to when I am no longer here."

"But Severus is roughly your age," Dumbledore observed.

"Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles. Severus is my heir, and he'll need to pick his own heir soon. I had expected Severus to win from the start, given what brats those kids were. But I didn't interfere in the game."

"What about those songs?" Severus pointed out, "don't expect me to believe they were improv."

"Every contestant had a demise song written about them. We even wrote a song for you, in case you were eliminated. I guessed the odds of whether a contestant would be eliminated or not, which was how the tour was organized."

Severus wasn't following. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Augustus was most likely to be voted out, given his gluttony, so we went to the chocolate room first. Violet was ruthless, so it was inevitable that she would backfire, and gum was her dark passion, but I knew Augustus would go first, so she was second. And so on. You behaved cordially, so I assumed you were least likely to go."

"So you intend to give me your factory?"

Wonka nodded. "You were the best behaved of them all, so you win. Do you accept?"

Severus paused. The factory was very impressive, and he yearned to flee Hogwarts. But he had his duty to fight the Dark Lord.

"I have no opposition to inheriting the factory," Severus finally decided, "but I have a responsibility to help Dumbledore."

"Help Dumbledore what?" Wonka asked eagerly.

Severus turned to Dumbledore. "Do you believe Wonka is trustworthy?"

Outrage filled the chocolatier's face. "And why would you assume that I'm not?"

"Because I just watched you spend the day organizing cruel fates for four children to satisfy your amusement."

"It wasn't for my amusement," Wonka insisted, "though it was amusing. I was trying to teach them a lesson."

Severus scoffed. "Those brats are too far gone. Nobody can 'teach them a lesson.'"

"I believe Mr. Wonka is trustworthy, Severus," Dumbledore said.

Severus sighed. "The Dark Lord returned four years ago. Dumbledore has formed a resistance group."

Wonka didn't seem that surprised at this revelation. "And you are to defeat Voldemort?"

Severus shook his head. "No, not me. I have, however, been posing as a Death Eater for the last decade and a half. The Ministry wished to annihilate me, but the Headmaster pulled strings." Severus decided he needed to learn more about Wonka before he told the man about Potter.

"Interesting," Wonka commented, "that's quite noble, giving up your life for such a purpose."

"It is indeed," Dumbledore agreed.

Severus scoffed. "Well, you two are the only people who seem to believe this."

Wonka was surprised at the hint of bitterness in Severus tone, then felt a wave of empathy as he realized Severus was likely as much an outcast as he was.

"As to my questions about your knowledge of wizards and your impossible talents?"

"We'll get to that later," Wonka decided quickly, clicking the Puppet Hospital button. The flying glass elevator once again raced through the factory, causing Severus to hit his face against the glass.

"How are my lovely guests?" Wonka asked as the elevator doors opened. Augustus and Violet were the same as when Severus had last seen them, only they were now joined by Veruca Salt, who was covered in garbage along with her father; and Mike Teavee, who was no longer shrunken-as he was unbelievably flat.

"How's the taffy puller?" Wonka asked, amusement clear on his face.

Mike growled, but made no comment. Severus guessed the boy must be eight feet tall. Scarlett, meanwhile, was glaring at Wonka, her eyes like sharpened blades. Clearly, she was not going to easily forgive the man for the three course disaster.

"Well, I hope you enjoyed my factory," Wonka barely resisted the urge to chuckle, "your tickets say your allowed to visit anytime you, so it's not the end. In any case, I came to tell you that Severus won the special prize."

Scarlett's loathing immediately evaporated as she noticed Severus was indeed in the room. "What is the prize, Severus?" Scarlett purred.

"Apparently, the entire factory," Severus answered.

"What?" Violet snarled, "you gave him the whole factory because he didn't try one of your stupid inventions against your rules?"

Wonka nodded. "Yes, except my inventions aren't stupid."

"Congratulations, Severus!" Augustus cried.

Mike sighed. "Well, I suppose your the best choice if it's not me. Good job, Severus."

Veruca offered Severus her hand. "I hope you do great things, Severus," Severus reluctantly shook her horrid-smelling hand.

Oh, Severus always does great things, Dumbledore thought to himself.

Veruca turned to the chocolatier. "And Mr. Wonka, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you in the Nut Sorting Room. I should have listen to your rules."

"I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you in the Television Room," Mike forced out, "and I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you, Dad."

"I'm sorry." Augustus muttered.

"How touching," Violet sneered, "well, you fools caused your own fates. I'm an innocent in this."

"Oh, indeed?" Severus had a heavy dose of skepticism in his voice, "how do you suppose so?"

"I'm the chewing gum world record holder."

Several crickets could be heard from outside.

"And?" Severus asked.

"It means I'm the best gum chewer in the world!" Violet boasted.

"Ew," Wonka replied, "that's just sick."

"You're just jealous," Violet predictably claimed, "I'm an even better chewer than Cornelia -"

Severus wasn't even pretending to listen to the girl anymore, instead analyzing everything that had just occurred. Wonka clearly wasn't going to answer how he knew about magic unless Severus agreed to be his heir. But Severus couldn't be his heir until Voldemort fell. Besides, although Severus liked the factory, he had very mixed views about Wonka.

Severus was distracted from his thoughts as he noticed that an out-of-breath Oompa-Loompa was racing into the room. He walked up to Wonka, and whispered something in fear. Wonka did not share the Oompa-Loompa's panic.

"Oh, what a pleasant surprise. Severus, would you follow me to the factory entrance? We have special visitors."

Severus cautiously followed Wonka back in the flying glass elevator, wondering what was going on. Wonka clicked a button titled Entrance Hall. The elevator stopped, but this time Severus avoided hitting his face by a second. They where back in that heated white corridor where the tour had started.

"Who is at the door? Hagrid?" Severus asked.

Wonka snorted. "No, Rubeus isn't here. But some old friends of yours are," Wonka's eyes had a devious look, as if he was already planning something.

The room where the loathsome puppets had been was now cleared out, and was empty.

"I'm thinking of turning this room into a lickable art gallery," Wonka mused thoughtfully, "in the meantime, why don't you greet our guests?"

Severus looked at Wonka in suspicion. What is the man planning now? Severus walked up to the factory door. After briefly turning around to glance at Wonka's eager face, Severus opened the door. The potion's master involuntary gasped upon seeing who was there. "What are you doing here?"