Severus sighed tiredly as the familiar sound of his parents' shouting match reached his ears. He had just returned from Hogwarts the previous day, and already the oppressive atmosphere of his home was wearing on him. Was it too much to ask for some silence? He waited until the shouting subsided, his father's voice fading to a grumble. Deciding it was as good a time as any, he went downstairs to find Tobias nursing a beer.

Severus hesitated for a moment before approaching. "Dad, do you know any mechanics?"

Tobias looked at him oddly, his eyes narrowing. "Why the hell are you asking about mechanics?" he growled.

Severus swallowed, trying to keep his voice steady. "I have some ideas to earn extra money."

Tobias let out a harsh laugh, taking a swig of his beer. "And how are you planning to do that, boy? With your little wand tricks?"

Severus felt a surge of frustration but kept his tone calm. As much he loathed it, he needed his help for the ideas. He was yet to become an adult for some time. "I was thinking of opening a small mechanic shop and trying to work it."

His father's face twisted into a scornful expression. "And you'll just use your magic tricks to do all the hard work, won't you?"

Severus clenched his fists. "Magic is useless for electrical items, Dad. Sure, I can clean tires and do simple tasks, but electrical things need to be done by hand."

Tobias stared at him for a moment, his expression unreadable as he looked back at him. "You think you're smart, don't you? But what about your Ministry of Magic? Won't they come down on us for this?"

Severus shook his head, his patience wearing thin each moment now. "There are no rules against these particular things. They don't care about mundane work as long as I don't use magic in front of Muggles."

Tobias took another swig of his beer, pondering. "And if it gets too complicated?"

Severus hesitated, then decided to share his backup plan. "If that doesn't work out, I thought about breeding animals and selling poultry. We'd need some space, but it's doable."

Tobias raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Breeding animals, huh? Poultry?"

Severus nodded. "It's not glamorous, but it's steady work. We could make a decent profit with enough effort."

Tobias seemed to mull this over for a moment. "Well," he drawled, "at least you're thinking ahead. But are you sure you can handle it?"

Severus met his father's gaze. He was completely determined to do this. "I'm sure. I need to do something productive. I can't just sit around and wait for things to change."

Tobias leaned back, eyeing him critically. "You think you're going to be some kind of businessman now? You're just a kid."

Severus felt his anger rising but tried to keep his composure. "I'm not a kid, Dad. I can do this. I've been saving up. I need to worry about my future. Besides, it's better to earn some cash than simply sitting around."

Tobias snorted, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes.

"It's a start," Severus said firmly. "I know it won't be easy, but I have to try."

Tobias took another swig of his beer, his eyes thoughtful. "Alright, boy. We'll see about this mechanic idea of yours. But you better be ready to put in the work."

Severus nodded, relief washing over him. "I will, Dad. Thank you."

Tobias grunted, waving him off. "Don't thank me yet. You've got a lot to prove. Atleast, you're taking the manly route."

Severus turned and headed back upstairs, feeling a glimmer of hope. It wasn't going to be easy, but at least he had a plan, and that was a start. It was really a miracle that his father was in a good mood. He hadn't thought that it would be this easy though.

He really hadn't.

Tobias Snape sat in his worn armchair, nursing his beer, and mulling over his son's request. He hadn't thought Severus had it in him to actually step up like this, to act like a man. But then again, the boy had always shown a certain steel in his spine, even if he did come across as a wimp most of the time. Too scared, too coddled, Tobias thought. Still, the mechanic shop idea had potential. They could earn a decent wage if they did things right, but it was tricky work. They couldn't attract too much attention. A Muggle boy running a shop while dabbling in magic? It would look odd.

And there was the other thing. If the work happened too fast, people could get suspicious.

The second option, though—that sounded better. Tobias's thoughts wandered back to his grandfather. His grandpa had acquired some land when he retired from the army after World War I. He had nearly cultivated enough to feed his family and was smart with holdings. He'd then managed to buy more land from soldiers who couldn't farm or learn a trade. If he remembered correctly, between his father and grandfather, they had accumulated about 150 acres over the years.

Tobias wasn't going to lie to himself. While his father was a shrewd man, Tobias lacked that sharp mind. He had always resented himself for being a waste to the family legacy. Instead of continuing the family tradition, he'd settled in Spinners End, working for the company until it shut down. Occasionally, he received letters from his father and mother, but he didn't want to burden them with his problems. How could he explain his wife and son? Magic was a strange thing, and his parents were completely normal folks. He had kept his distance to spare himself the embarrassment and disappointment.

He was no better afterall. Magic had made things complicated for him too. He hadn't thought that Severus was going to be a wizard. Eileen had told him about magic before marriage. He had then thought that it was going to be an easy ride. Things had changed, he had changed. All of which had ultimately things only worse.

It hurt to his pride. His wife and son could bend reality with their sticks, while he was stuck as jobless. Eileen was the one who brought and arranged for most of the times. He himself was a drunken waste most of the times, wanting nothing else than to drown in his own sorrows.

He sighed deeply, thinking about Severus. The boy had grown up in this bleak environment, yet he was smart and resourceful, traits Tobias respected even if he didn't often show it. Maybe this was Severus's chance to break away from the cycle of failure that seemed to plague their family. The mechanic shop was one way, but the poultry business on the family land seemed more feasible. They wouldn't need to worry about attracting unwanted attention, and there was a sense of continuity with their roots.

Tobias took another swig of his beer, his mind made up. He would talk to Severus about the land, about their family's history. Maybe it was time to bridge the gap between them, to show the boy that he believed in his ideas, even if he didn't always show it. The old land could offer a fresh start, a way for his lad to carve out his own path while staying connected to his heritage. It wouldn't be easy, but then again, nothing worth doing ever was.

Severus looked at the address in his hand. Ashford Haven. It was a small town, the home of his grandmother and grandfather. His father had only mentioned them in passing before, but last night, he had sat down and told Severus about them in detail. Severus didn't know what to expect, but he hoped they would like him. Otherwise, all his preparations would be for nothing.

That morning, he had gone to Diagon Alley. The trip had a specific purpose: a makeover. His nose was now straight and smaller, and his teeth were perfectly aligned, though they still ached from the treatment. It had cost him 15 galleons, but it had been money well spent.

In truth, he had 698 galleons in total savings, though he would never tell Narcissa the full extent. Keeping secrets was a well-learned lesson in Slytherin. It was a lesson, he had learnt early in Slytherin.

He had exchanged another twenty galleons for Muggle money and used ten more to buy some gold. The wizarding economy often baffled him. Gold was cheap in the wizarding world, and while galleons were essentially gold, they appeared as copper to Muggles due to charms and couldn't be replicated. However, they could be melted down. Selling gold ingots to Muggles was dangerous, but it was a risk Severus was willing to take.

Since he was in Diagon Alley, he used a glamour charm, making him into an adult without worrying about the trace. It was necessary for what he was planning to do. Looking in the mirror at the Leaky Cauldron, his face now appeared to be that of a twenty-one or twenty-two-year-old.

He held the melted gold ingot in his pocket, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He needed to visit a pawn shop.

Walking out of the Leaky Cauldron, he immediately searched for a pawn shop. He immediately found it, though it was a long walk. He probably travelled around 3 kilometres or more just for the shop. He didn't want any shop near the Diagon Alley, as it might alert the Ministry, since the shop owners could actually be wizards. As such, it was necessary to take precautions. Finally walking inside the shop, he was met by shelfs of various strange items. There were lighters, guns and various other items.

The owner was a grizzled old man who was eyeing him suspiciously. "What can I do for you?" he asked immediately looking at him. The shop was rundown as such Severus had an idea about the company in the shop. The shop was probably affiliated to some gang.

"I have a gold ingot to sell," Severus replied, trying to sound as confident he could.

The owner raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting it. "Let's see it, then."

Severus handed over the ingot, watching as the man inspected it carefully. "Where'd you get this?" the owner asked carefully after some moments.

"A family heirloom," Severus lied smoothly. It was better to lie and test the waters.

The owner grunted, not asking anything more. "I'll give you 300 pounds for it."

Severus shook his head. "It's worth more than that. How about 600?"

The owner scoffed. "500, and that's my final offer."

"550 and a deal," Severus said quickly, not wanting to push his luck. The owner grunted in approval after taking a final look at him. He placed the ingot on the counter and opened one of the drawers. He took out some notes and started to count it.

Severus waited patiently and was relieved when the owner finally gave him a stack of notes. He counted it and was relieved that the man had actually given him the exact amount.

He pocketed the money and left the shop, feeling a sense of triumph. It had been a good trade, and he could make this a regular source of income if he was careful.

The gold was probably 250 grams. He wasn't sure but it was the weight he could think of. The man was going to make a hefty profit from it. Technically, he was still a skinny 16 year old despite the glamour. Plus, the man had guns in his shelf. It was better to tread calmly.

He walked back to Diagon Alley with a smile on his face. He stopped on a cloth shop to pick some clothes for himself though. He was outgrowing himself and since he had money now, he could actually spend some on nice ones. He mentally reminded himself of getting a nice haircut this summer. Since he had gone through that shameful and painful sesion of that wizarding beautician, he could actually do some things for him. The idea with the gold had worked and he had made a large money with it. If things turned good in future, he could actually make more than a thousand galleon this summer.

Once, he arrived back in the Leaky Cauldron. He discarded the glamour he wore. His teenage face reappeared in the reflection of the bathroom window. He had made a tidy profit today.

Perhaps, he could treat himself a lunch before he take the Knight Bus for Ahsford Haven.