The next day, closer to lunch, Severus was already standing in front of a small shop in Diagon Alley with a rather simple name: "Artifacts for Everyone."
As soon as he entered, his gaze was met by cabinets and tables packed with various things and trinkets that radiated magic, and behind the counter stood a middle-aged wizard who looked very much like the former Slytherin Head Boy.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Snape, I take it?" the wizard greeted him with a friendly smile, waving his wand, and in the same moment the door slammed shut and locked.
"And I am glad to meet you. You are John's father, am I right? And where is he, anyway?"
"He is waiting for us in the basement," Mr. Macmillan replied, waving his wand again and opening a hatch in the floor. "I am very interested in that artifact, and I am willing to buy everything you have for three hundred Galleons apiece. What do you think?"
Listening to Mr. Macmillan's slightly bored tone, Severus could barely hold back a smile. The shopkeeper was clearly trying to deceive him by showing only mild interest in the toys, but he did it so poorly that Severus wanted to blurt out, "I do not believe it!" Still, he held back and simply shook his head.
"That is not all. Just one such artifact costs me over three hundred Galleons, not to mention the time I spend on it instead of improving my abilities. Time is precious in these troubled days. And soon my studies will begin, you understand. There will not be any time left. Professor Slughorn is a very serious man, and if he sees me sleep-deprived, he will start lecturing me. And I am not even talking about the Head of Gryffindor, who has taken a dislike to me."
For the next ten minutes, Severus kept stringing the shop owner along, complaining about his problems and dragging every teacher into it, even the headmaster, all while wearing a very honest face, even though the artifact was always at least indirectly to blame. Mr. Macmillan started twitching after just five minutes, his lips trembled by the eighth, and by the tenth he lowered his head and raised his hand.
"I get it, that is enough. I give up."
"I am glad to hear that. I was just running out of ideas for what to talk about next," Severus nodded with a smile and continued. "Now, I hope we can discuss the price of my artifacts properly?"
Stroking his goatee, Mr. Macmillan hissed in displeasure and, turning around, began to descend.
"Follow me."
"Good," Severus said, not worried that a trap might be waiting below. He was confident in his own abilities, and he had ten cubes in his pocket under transfiguration, so he had nothing to fear. Mr. Macmillan did not seem like that kind of person, and over nearly fifty years he had learned to read people well. To Severus, Mr. Macmillan was like an open book.
As soon as they reached the small stone room and passed through the barrier surrounding it, Severus immediately saw John himself, the former Slytherin prefect, sitting at a small round table and waving at him with a smile.
"This is a special room for important negotiations. No one will hear us or disturb us here," Mr. Macmillan explained calmly, taking the seat at the head of the table. "Sit down and let us get straight to the point. Name your price."
With a calm step, under Mr. Macmillan's intense gaze, Severus approached the table and sat opposite John.
"I have been researching prices for artifacts like this for a while, and given the current situation in the country, I was thinking of eight hundred Galleons," he said, watching Mr. Macmillan's reaction out of the corner of his eye. "But I realize eight hundred is a lot, so I will lower it to seven hundred. What do you think?"
John froze in shock at the number, but Mr. Macmillan only frowned slightly, as if he was not surprised at all.
"It is expensive. what does that price consist of?"
"Of the factors I mentioned earlier," Severus said, his right eye flickering. "And also one hundred percent protection against the three Unforgivables."
".What?"
"As for Avada, the Dark Wizards' favorite curse, as you know, it only knocks the soul out of the body, and an artifact has no soul to knock out," Severus continued calmly. "I have already tested Crucio, and the artifact blocked it easily. Imperius is rarely used in battle, but it can repel that too. And most importantly, while this artifact is active, no Legilimens will be able to invade your mind. That is, not counting wizards like Voldemort and Albus Dumbledore. Even the best artifacts will not protect you from them."
"That is understandable, but."
"It is worth its Galleons. Stop trying to lower the price. I am sure you have already tested it and realized how powerful it is." It is even a little embarrassing to call this toy a powerful artifact; in my world, I would be laughed at for that. "Also, do not forget who could really use these artifacts right now."
Seeing how steady Severus was, Mr. Macmillan had no choice but to accept the price. Mr. Macmillan understood it was already fairly low, and if you remembered the wealth of the Potter family, who are among Albus Dumbledore's supporters in the fight against the Dark Lord, and the old wizard himself, then seven hundred Galleons were a drop in the ocean. Even if Mr. Macmillan added another five hundred on top of the seven hundred, they would still gladly buy them to increase their chances of victory in this still-cold war.
"Okay, I agree. How many can you provide right now?"
"Six. As I said earlier, it takes too much time to create one such artifact. I can only make two a month at most, and that is if I barely sleep," Severus answered thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair.
"As I expected. and if, say, I want to buy a drawing."
"One million, and it is yours."
"Just say you are not selling," Mr. Macmillan waved his hand wearily, opening a chest in the corner. A moment later, Galleons poured out like a fountain, filling the table in seconds without a single coin falling to the floor. "There is ten thousand in here."
"Twice as much. Why so generous?" Severus asked, narrowing his gaze, and Mr. Macmillan only smiled contentedly.
"I hope for a long and fruitful collaboration, and that such artifacts will be sold only in my shop."
"I see. alright. I really need Galleons right now, so I am ready to accept your offer."
"Glad to hear it. How about we celebrate?"
"I think I will refrain. I do not have time to waste on drinking right now, but I will be happy to make up for it in the future," Severus continued, shaking Mr. Macmillan's outstretched hand. Under John's still-shocked gaze, which held nothing but a mountain of gold, Severus went on. "But I do have one request."
"I am listening carefully."
"Do you know any Parselmouths?"
Both Macmillans froze at the question.
"You understand."
"That nonsense about only Dark Mages speaking the language of snakes? That is nonsense. If Salazar had spoken cat language, would it also be considered the language of Dark Mages, and cats their minions?" Severus looked at Mr. Macmillan with a smile, and Mr. Macmillan burst out laughing a few seconds later.
"Well said. I never considered every Parselmouth a Dark Lord accomplice, even though it is true that most of them are Dark Wizards. But forgive me, I do not have any such acquaintances, but."
"But?"
"I will be right back," Mr. Macmillan said, and there was a visible struggle in his gaze as he quickly left the room.
Severus watched him go with a puzzled expression, then turned to John, who immediately lowered his eyes.
"What is wrong with you? You used to be more talkative."
"You used to be my junior, and now you are our business partner, and my father taught me to treat people like that with respect."
"I get it, but still, act like before. I am not such an important business partner."
Just two artifacts like these are our store's net income for six months. John thought wryly, but he did not say it aloud, only nodded. I need to get as close to him as possible. Maybe set him up with my younger sister?
"Why are you frozen?" Severus asked, seeing John's pensive face.
"Ah! Sorry, I was lost in thought. Never mind, what were you saying?" John muttered quickly, embarrassed.
"Yes, I was thinking about your sister."
"A?"
"I am telling you, you are thinking too loudly."
"You. how."
A playful grin spread across Severus's lips at John's stunned expression.
"Legilimency, nothing special, and I recommend you study Occlumency from your father. Your mind is too open."
".nonverbally." John still could not get over the shock, because only two people were known to be capable of that, and those two were the most powerful wizards of this century. The longer he thought about it, the more his respect for Severus grew.
At that moment, Mr. Macmillan returned to the room, carrying a simple wooden box in his hands.
"This was brought to me." Mr. Macmillan began, but sensing the strange atmosphere in the air, he looked at John and then at Severus. "Did something happen?"
"No, we just discussed something."
"Yes, Father, everything is fine," John said quickly, pulling himself together and giving a small smile.
"Alright," Mr. Macmillan nodded slowly, turned his gaze to Severus, and opened the box. Inside was a silver chain with a small black snake attached, its eyes set with red gemstones. "I have had this artifact for twenty years, but I never got around to selling it. It lets you speak and understand the language of snakes. I do not think I need to explain why."
"That is understandable, but I am surprised you did not destroy it. If someone had found it, you would have been guaranteed a trip somewhere very unpleasant." Severus pulled the artifact toward himself, touched the snake, and smiled faintly. "And you are right, I was thinking too narrowly. Why should I learn the language when I can simply use an artifact that does it? Thank you, Mr. Macmillan, you have been a great help. Deduct its cost from the ten thousand."
"No need. It has been lying around unused for a long time, and it was a shame to throw it away. It is dangerous to store it anyway. Consider this another gift in honor of our friendship."
"I will gladly accept. I will be in your debt," Severus answered with a joyful smile, because he was finally one step closer to the Basilisk's heart. Now all that remained was to strengthen his body and remove the curse from his sword, and then he would be ready to kill the serpent.
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