41 41. Fury & Persuasion

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After reading the newspaper headline and the author's name, Happy jumped to his feet. He was fine with the woman revealing the details about his blood, as it was true. But calling him 'Heir To Slytherin' was pure slander that he could not accept.

"I need to contact the Ministry and file an official complaint. Ugh...This bloody wizarding world does not even have a justice system, courts, and lawyers—barbarians!" Happy muttered in anger, shocking even Hermione.

But she had to agree, the wizarding world was extremely primitive when it came to administration. Well, basic human rights were not acknowledged, so what can even be expected in the first place?

"Happy, calm down. Rita Skeeter is infamous for writing such articles. She wants you to react." Hermione said.

"I know, but there is a limit to how much nonsense she can spew. If I don't do something now, there's no stopping what she might claim against me next. I will go and speak with Professor Dumbledore about this." He took the paper along and left the common room, having forgotten his original task of buttering up Ginny.

Furiously, he walked to see Professor McGonagall first as only she was available all the time and knew how to enter the Headmaster's office whenever required.

"Professor, I want to speak with the Headmaster. I want to file a complaint against this in the Ministry." Happy put forward the newspaper on the old deputy headmistress' table.

The old woman gazed at him from the gap above her glasses as she lowered her head to glance at the newspaper. McGonagall was not a hateful person or anyone terrible, but she was not warm with most either.

"Mr. Lestrange, I'm afraid the Headmaster isn't in the office. He has gone to an important meeting and will not return today. As for this issue, I advise you in good faith not to pursue this. Rita Skeeter is known to be harder to deal with the more fight you put in, and there are no laws to stop her."

On second thought, Happy agreed with her. As far as he remembered, Rita was an abysmally crazy woman with a mouth too loud for her own good.

'So I will have to catch the beetle myself? Perhaps the lure of an interview with Happy Lestrange might bring her into my trap.' Happy planned silently.

"Then I'll heed your advice, professor. Sorry to disturb you. I was too annoyed by this slander...such baseless accusations." Happy left McGonagall's office to find a spot and continue training.

'Better think of impressing Ginny while at it.'

…

While Happy lost his sweat honing his skills in battle magic, his money-making schemes had finally taken form to a level where the fruits of labor had begun to ripen.

His brilliant and resourceful Elf, Marcus, decided to take on the guise of a wizard and purchased a shop in the heart of Diagon Alley.

Renaming the establishment 'Anytime Store,' Marcus set about redesigning the interior. He strategically positioned numerous shelves, carefully arranged to display an array of intriguing products. To ensure the availability of perishable items, a few well-placed ice boxes were tucked away in the storage area.

To manage the day-to-day operations, Marcus hired a muggle-born wizard seeking employment.

The assortment of products available at the Anytime Store was unlike anything else found in Diagon Alley. While some of the items maintained their magical allure, many were everyday commodities cleverly disguised with magical names. For instance, Darkwater was, in reality, none other than Coca-Cola, while Bepis was Pepsi.

Additionally, there was Revivalator, a magical take on Red Bull, and the Longfast Sandwich, cleverly inspired by Subway's footlong subs. Feasty Hair, a seemingly magical concoction, was, in truth, simply Ramen. And, of course, Potato Fries were a must-have indulgence, just without the name of France in it.

In essence, Happy had created something akin to a 7-Eleven within the enchanting world of wizards.

....

Alastor Moody was an Auror of the highest order, a well-respected and feared man. He enjoyed taking a stroll in a crowd and judging people by looking at them, finding criminals with a mere glance of his one real and one fake eye.

Believing himself to be the best judge of character, he tried to maintain his skills. However, that day he found a bit of an extra crowd outside a strange new little shop on Diagon Alley. Interested, he, too, went ahead and asked around, only to learn about some famous product.

"Here it is, Auror." Moody's subordinates were quick to get the thing. It was a strange metallic can of steel. On it was a red label, saying Darkwater.

"You want me to drink sewer water?" Moody asked in annoyance. "Is that what this shop is selling?"

Moody's assistant quickly opened the can, creating a deep sound of the compressed gas leaving the can. "It's a non-alcoholic drink, Auror."

Sighing, Moody tried it anyway, being an adventurous man. A small, short sip was all he took.

"..."

He took another sip and licked his lips fast, as if trying to draw a parallel to the taste but being unable to as the water was entirely new to his tongue. Yet, it tasted utterly unique.

"This strange sensation on my tongue, as if a thousand bubbles are exploding. How did they make it?" Moody questioned with interest and drank the entire can.

Burp…!

He burped unknowingly, embarrassing himself. "Such a unique thing. Go and bring a sample of one item each from the shop. Inform that the Ministry wishes to ensure public safety by reviewing the new strange products."

"..."

Moody's assistant looked at his boss's face for a minute before walking away. Indeed, it was very shameless of them.

But they were from the Ministry of Magic, and shamelessness was in their job profile.

The "Anytime Store" became an overnight sensation, captivating both the wizarding community and curious visitors to Diagon Alley. Everything was sold out on their opening day!

Recognizing their overwhelming success, Marcus wasted no time in penning a letter to Happy, brimming with exhilaration; their earnings were 6,000 Gold Galleons.

…

"Sweet!" Happy whispered back in the school as he read the letter before tearing it apart and burning it. "This is only the beginning. Once more people know, the revenue will increase."

He began his walk toward the Potions lab as he had something to discuss with Professor Snape. It was extremely important for his survival, and he needed to get Snape on his side no matter what.

As he walked through the bustling corridors of Hogwarts, whispers and curious glances followed him. Passing students exchanged hushed conversations, their eyes flickering with a mix of awe. Some pointed discreetly in his direction.

Happy caught snippets of their murmurs, catching mention of "Heir of Slytherin."

Undeterred by the whispers, Happy's determination only grew stronger.

"Rita Skeeter! I will have you on your knees soon." Happy gritted his teeth and reached the potions lab.

Since it was Sunday, there was nobody in the class but the professor. So he entered after knocking and calling the man out.

"Professor, it's me, Happy Lestrange," he voiced.

Clank!

The sound of a potion's bottle clinking came from the professor's office. It was likely intentional, as Severus Snape was still as mysterious, dark, and brooding as ever.

Happy knew the man wasn't going to start up a conversation, so he started it himself by taking a seat at the table. "Professor Snape, I suppose you read the newspaper this morning. I'm afraid Lucius Malfoy has changed his game and aims to discredit me, ostracize me so I'll be cut off from others, bullied in school, and willingly join their dark side."

Of course, Happy had no idea if Lucius really did it. But he painted the picture in a way that Snape felt connected to it personally.

"I am trying to learn how to fight and protect myself using magic, but I alone can't master what I do not understand. I had heard from my father—you are a formidable wizard. So I came to request that you be my teacher, professor."

Snape stopped fiddling with the crystal bottles and looked at Happy. He folded his arms in the loose robes and plainly watched the latter's eyes, still unable to intrude into Happy's mind.

"Why do you think I will agree to such a request?"

"You're the greatest potioneer, professor—the Half-Blood Prince!" Happy dropped the bomb.

From Snape's sudden, short jolt, it seemed to have worked to wake the man up, prompting him to look away to his workbench. "Who told you that?"

"I know many things, Professor Snape. Things that can result in the downfall of your enslaver." Continuing to hammer his idea into the man's head, Happy used whatever knowledge he could.

But the dark, brooding professor didn't like the tone. "Mind your tongue, Lestrange!"

Thud!

Happy stood up suddenly and walked to stand beside the man. Both of them stared at each other's faces; both knew the other side hid a thousand secrets.

Yet, Happy uttered the following words from the bottom of his heart, for he genuinely felt helpless in his training. Dumbledore wasn't going to do it; McGonagall would rather stop him, and who else was left after that? Lockhart?

"I'm merely trying to protect this tongue. But, if I fall to 'his' hands, imagine his army equipped with my blood—Felicis Felix potions—an unstoppable army high on luck!"

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