Serena Snape: Love of Magic - chapter 6

July 4, 1976 / Serena PoV

With a moan of pleasure I returned to the waking world, I was once again full of energy after about 10 hours of sleep, I realized as I checked my phone, I couldn't remember the last time the old Serena had slept this long straight without being woken up for some random reason, mainly nightmares, the old me had really weird hours to sleep at so I wasn't one to sleep for long hours at a time either.

So now I was at my peak of efficiency and began to tackle my most immediate problem, money, there was a little less than two months until Hogwarts started, I really needed money, I still needed food and to buy supplies for the new school year, so with a huff I dressed in my coat and boots and left the room with the key in my hand.

"Well, hello again, good night's sleep? Should I make you breakfast?" Tom asked with a smile as I approached the bar.

"Spectacular, I needed a nap" I sighed as I threw him the key and dropped into the seat while looking at the menu and made a face "anything from 3 Sickles" goodbye to my savings, but I needed sustenance.

"Going out!" I hummed lightly as I waited, the breakfast was placed in front of me quickly, I frowned at the full breakfast that undoubtedly looked like it was more expensive than 3 sickles, I narrowed my eyes at Tom who masterfully ignored me while he cleaned the bar, I huffed in annoyance and without wasting time I started eating while thinking about how to get money, I had my credentials with my OWL grades, I had 9 subjects in which I took exams, the 7 basic subjects plus Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, they were a collection of extraordinary and exceeded expectations, my best grades were obviously in Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, in both I had an O+, I was sure I could find some job in the Alley, maybe something related to Potions I hoped, with a sigh I finished my breakfast.

"How much?" I growled at Tom, he smiled widely at me.

"3 Sickles!" I growled annoyed at him, but I huffed, not wanting his charity, left my remaining 3 sickles on the bar and stood up.

"Thanks," I muttered embarrassedly as I left without hearing any response. It was still early, the day had just begun, so I had good hopes of being able to find some work.

---

"What?! What do you mean?! I have more than enough qualifications!!" I exclaimed angrily as I looked at the owner of the apothecary, who only snorted with a frown.

"You're still a student, girl, be careful how you talk to adults." This time it was my turn to snort.

"Yes, I see, old and senile" I growled annoyed, the man turned red with anger.

"Get out! Get out of my pharmacy! You're not welcome!" the old man exclaimed, and I glared at him.

"I don't want to be in this disgusting pit of mediocrity, just by entering I could see how poor your skills as a potion maker are, I feel sorry for all your clients!"

"How dare you?! Get out before I call the Aurors!!"

"Fine! Shove your cheap potions up your wrinkled old ass!" I exclaimed angrily before storming out of the shop and slamming the door loudly, ignoring the scream from inside. I was upset, too upset. I was more than qualified to work at that stupid apothecary, but the owner for some reason found reason after reason, one more ridiculous than the other. You were still young, there's no way you could make the delicate potions the customers ask for. O.W.L.s are no reflection of your skills as a potioneer. Ridiculous excuses that could simply be countered if he had just let me brew any potion, even if he wouldn't let me brew the more "complicated" ones, I was more than capable of agreeing to brew the easier potions, but no, it turns out that the quality of a potions master when brewing even the simplest of potions was on another level of quality from that of a student, I called bullshit, I had seen and smelled the potions, and old Serena shuddered in anger they were completely disgusting, passable at best by his standards, but the old man wouldn't let her prove my worth even after half an hour of pleading and screaming.

Unfortunately, I now had to look for another option, the main apothecary and apparently the only one in Diagon Alley was obviously no longer available, not now, nor in the short term, at least not until the current owner dies. There was another option if I really wanted to work making potions, I was sure I could get a job in another field if I kept looking around the shops, but potions were old Serena's love, and although the feelings were dissociated, I still wanted to respect that even if just a little, not to mention that I really liked the idea of making potions, it was a magic in itself and it was something I wanted to delve into, I may not have Snape's talent but his memories and knowledge, the talents in the catalog would help me cover the rest so I had complete faith in being able to make better than average potions, hopefully, on par with the future Severus.

So it was decided, with a grimace I followed Severus' memories and headed to Knockturn Alley, before entering I swallowed pewter and tin and began burning them immediately, the sudden increase in senses was disconcerting for a few seconds which I grimaced, although thanks to the talents I adapted with ease, I still kept my right hand, my dominant hand close to my wand to unsheathe it as quickly as possible and my left hand itched over the glove, I had put on Roy Mustang's glove in case of emergency, I still had to practice and train using flame alchemy, but in desperate cases it was a method of defense that I could use, the alley was a place where I couldn't let my guard down, less being as young as I was, I seemed like easy prey to everyone who hung around the place. with wary eyes, after walking through some shady alleys.

I arrived at the place I was looking for, an apothecary, specifically an apothecary that specializes in poisons, even before entering I could feel the burning in my nostrils from the deadly potions, even so, I entered without hesitation.

"Aren't you young to be here, girl?" an old voice growled as soon as I entered. I blinked a couple of times to get used to the interior and saw her, an old woman, a Hag, short and slightly hunched over, her height reaching my chest, white hair tied in an uneven braid, she was leaning on a small cane that she held in her hands.

"I want a job" I said simply.

"HA! And I want to be able to stand up straight again, but don't you see me getting any younger! Try again girl!"

"I really want the job, I need money" I said with a frown, I quickly held out my O.W.L. results, the Hag looked curious and snatched them from my hand, she looked at them quickly and let out a whistle.

"Awesome girl, but you still don't tell me why you're here, with these grades you could find a job at that cute apothecary in old Balvin's" the sarcasm could be heard from miles away, I snorted and crossed my arms.

"I already tried, the old man didn't want to, and I doubt it will be an option now or in the future"

"HA! It sounds like a story, but still, this-" the Hag held up my grades "-are of no use here child, I work with poisons in case it wasn't obvious, nothing that is taught at Hogwarts, and certainly nothing at O.W.L. level, so tell me child, why should I hire you" the Hag's gaze seemed to search the depths of my being, I frowned and raised my poor occlumency shields, one could never be too careful, much less dealing with another wizard or witch, especially an elderly one who thrived in Knockturn Alley, after all, the devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil.

"Test me, Hag, after all, there is still no potion invented that I cannot prepare." My arrogant statement made the Hag laugh with joy.

"Arrogant girl, I like you, come on let's see if you can back that up" I hoped I could too, with that the witch turned around and walked into a back room, I followed her inspecting the entire place, it was a large laboratory with about a dozen cauldrons, more than half of them seemed to be in use as they were either stirring on their own or sitting over the fire boiling, on the walls were rows of shelves with ingredients both common and rare, I could identify most of them, just as I could recognize many of the poisons being brewed by smell and color "Here, prepare this" the Hag waved her cane and a recipe came out from somewhere in the room and straight into my face at high speed, I could barely react thanks to my new found talents "Good reflexes, you have one hour."

With that the old woman turned around and left to check on the potions that were being prepared leaving me at an empty work table, I snorted, looking at the paper in my hands and frowned, I recognized it easily, and it was certainly something beyond NEWT level, she was testing me, I grimaced before smiling, I would show her what I could do, I or old Serena may have never prepared such a poison, but Severus sure had.

I put the paper aside and moved quickly around the laboratory, bringing to the front of my mind everything related to the potion in question, the ingredients, the steps to prepare, the necessary movements, everything and I began to compare it with what I had in front of me.

Again, it was a potion above NEWTs, but that doesn't mean it's "difficult", not for me, not for Severus, yes, I had to calculate the temperature just right and precisely, along with the movements when stirring exactly for the indicated amount of time, but nothing exotic, there was no need to curse or enchant any ingredient or the potion, so I simply crushed, chopped, juiced, and ground all the ingredients with extreme efficiency just as I remembered Severus doing so as not to waste resources, the Hag had come over after 15 minutes and was watching from the side with hawk eyes but hadn't said anything, and she still didn't say anything when I changed the recipe slightly, adding or removing ingredients here and there, extending the time on the heat, stirring more or less times in opposite directions to the recipe.

I barely flinched throughout the entire process, old Serena and Severus had stood in front of a cauldron countless times but this was my first time working on a potion, as adult Severus said, potions is an art, they were artists, and at the 53 minute mark I finished my work, I hadn't been able to replicate the delicate and precise movements that Severus used, the way he moved when he brewed potions was not something I could hope to replicate, at least not any time soon, even old Serena would have handled herself better in front of a cauldron but still, for a first attempt I did an acceptable job, barely meeting Severus' unreasonable standard.

I had barely turned off the fire under the cauldron when the Hag pushed me aside with her cane roughly, but I couldn't care less, I had an arrogant smile on my face while the Hag examined the potion, after several minutes the Hag glared at me.

"Who the hell are you?" he said coldly. "This poison has almost more than half the normal potency, it shouldn't be possible." I snorted.

"I'm Serena Snape, and it's clearly possible," I said as I pointed to the cauldron and shrugged, "there's the proof, if others can't do it it sounds like it's their problem," I put aside that I was aiming for it to have at least double the power, my mistakes had lowered the quality.

"HA! You're right, girl, you're right," said the Hag jovially, leaving her suspicion behind. "Now, on to business. When can you start? And what do you want for the new recipes? I hope that poison isn't the only thing you can make, girl."

"Of course not, I've been tampering with potions since my first year, I cringe every time I see the potions books" I said with my face scrunched up, the Hag let out another laugh.

"I imagine, with a gift like yours, we mortals are not up to their standards."

"Obviously not, if I have to rewrite all the potions books I will" I said arrogantly, before turning serious "that said, the recipes are not for sale" the Hag punched me on the calf "Hey!" I growled at her.

"First listen to my offer, girl!" the Hag growled back. "I don't want the rights or patents to your potions, girl. Just permission to use them in this lab and sell the 'improved' versions. I can sell the potions for more money. The more you pay me, the more I'll pay you." I considered this lightly.

"I want a contract, you can't tell anyone about my improvements" the Hag snorted, but nodded "I'll only be available to work until I have to return to Hogwarts, I need an advance on my pay until then"

"And why would I do that, girl?" I huffed, crossing my arms.

"I need the money, I'm broke, I don't even have enough for the next meal, I need the money to eat and buy supplies for the new school year" the Hag wrinkled her face while making a grimace.

"Fine" she spat out half-heartedly as he extended his arm, I quickly grabbed it "You start tomorrow, at 8, I'll have your contract, don't be late, now, get out of my lab" with that, he released his grip and began to push me with his cane, I huffed, but walked out of the shop with a smile.

Once outside with a bag of galleons in my hand I was completely satisfied, the Hag had been generous with the pay so now I had more than enough to make all the purchases I needed, now as money was not really a problem, I needed to find a place where- wait-

I stopped stiffly in the middle of Diagon Alley, I can't be that stupid, I suppressed the urge to groan at my stupidity, I pulled out my phone and quickly pressed the screen.

[Salary: $10,000 USD]

I closed my eyes and suppressed the urge to scream, I had forgotten, the company paid 10,000 dollars a month, I hadn't been bankrupt, I hadn't needed a job now or in the near future, but now I had one and I wanted to curse myself for forgetting something so basic. wait- my eyes opened widely and I moaned again, I could transmute material into gold, it was really easy to do and I would get all the money I wanted, I wouldn't do it to the point of unbalancing the economy, but I could have gotten enough to get everything I needed. I let out a sigh at my stupidity, I couldn't do anything now, I had already gotten the job, there was nothing I could change right now, although it did considerably alleviate my worries about money, I now had a job to fulfill so it was a waste of time.

...mmm... although considering it might do me some good, I would have to familiarize myself with potions once again if I wanted to be on par with old Serena or even Severus, and there was no better place to do it than an apothecary, yes, it specialized in poisons but I identified a few potions that weren't so the opportunities to brew potions and get paid for it while I practiced was something worth holding on to, I quickly manipulated the phone in my hands and tapped the convert money option .

[Salary: 1531 Galleons, 5 Sickles, 9 Knuts]

I whistled in amazement, I certainly wasn't poor anymore, I had things to do, with a smile I continued walking.

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