Chapter 16

With our new base established, I spent most of my free time there. The various spell books in the practice room fascinated me, especially those on healing magic. The last time I was injured and went to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey had me back on my feet with just a few wand flicks and a potion. I was amazed by the wonders of healing magic. Unfortunately, the school didn't offer a dedicated course on it, and while the library had comprehensive books, they weren't very in-depth. Once I began studying healing magic, the Room of Requirement provided more resources tailored to my needs. I absolutely adored this thoughtful and versatile room.

Healing spells, however, were challenging to practice. For now, I focused on learning the theory, memorizing incantations, and mastering wand movements. Perhaps one day, I would find a way to practice safely, since healing magic should only be used on actual injuries.

Lily enjoyed reading and writing essays in the living room. Unlike the noisy common room, our base was a perfect place for studying. Lily was very smart and diligent, excelling in all her subjects, including History of Magic. Sometimes we practiced Defense Against the Dark Arts spells together in the practice room. Lily was adept at the Disarming Charm and reacted quickly, often sending my wand flying. I preferred using the Shield Charm, which, though not effective against powerful spells, was quite practical.

Severus often stayed in the potions lab, even skipping meals in the Great Hall. Despite my efforts to persuade him otherwise, he continued this routine, so I resorted to fetching food from the kitchen and bringing it to our base. Luckily, he still returned to the dormitory before curfew each night. His relentless focus in the lab made him look perpetually greasy, with his hair clumping in strands and his face shining with oil. Consequently, Potter had more ammunition for his usual taunts, now frequently calling Severus "greasy."

"Severus, when was the last time you showered?" I asked hesitantly.

"Cleaning charms work well and save time," Severus replied, taking a break with a book titled *Advanced Potion-Making*.

"But cleaning charms don't work on skin oils! You can't just rely on them to save time. A hot shower would help you relax more effectively!" Besides, hearing Potter call you a greasy little bat is really irritating.

Finally, I managed to convince Severus to shower daily, which helped him feel refreshed and relaxed.

Soon, the Christmas holidays of our second year arrived, and we all went home for the break. Severus's hard work in the lab paid off, as he had brewed several fourth-year level potions and even one fifth-year potion. This meant he met Eileen's standards to access the Prince manor's potions lab. He was spending the holiday with Eileen at the Prince manor, and I was sure he'd benefit greatly from it.

On Christmas morning, I sat under the tree in the living room, unwrapping presents. Isaya and Hughes had given me a set of Chopin piano records. I mentioned the magical room in my letter, and it might even provide an old-fashioned record player. Lily sent me a jar of her homemade cookies, my favorite kind, almost burnt. These were the kind of cookies you couldn't find in any bakery, only made at home. Severus gave me a book titled *Identification and Uses of Common Potions*, perfect for me since, even if I couldn't brew potions myself, I could learn how to use them properly.

Oh, here it comes again. Eileen's gift, another book, *Secrets of Beauty*.

Without a word, I placed the book on my shelf next to last year's Christmas gift, *How to Manage Your Hair*, deciding to read it when I returned for the summer.

On the Hogwarts Express back to school, we asked Severus about Prince manor. His eyes lit up as he described the vast collection of potion books and ancestral research notes. It was his treasure trove.

Severus also mentioned that Eileen planned to travel abroad. We were surprised by this sudden idea. Severus glanced at the compartment door and cast a Silencing Charm. Lily and I exchanged glances, waiting quietly for Severus to speak.

He didn't keep us waiting long. "Do you know about the Dark Lord?"

"Of course," I replied, wondering why Severus brought him up.

"The Dark Lord's Death Eaters often seek out and recruit talented individuals to join their cause," Severus explained.

"You mean they've approached Eileen?" I frowned.

"Not yet, but my mother doesn't want to wait until they do, risking a conflict by refusing. As a Slytherin, she understands their tactics, even if marrying a Muggle might tarnish her image with them. Eventually, they'll come for her."

"Don't you want to join them?" I asked Severus.

"Sawyer, Voldemort is truly an evil dark wizard!" Lily interjected passionately. "The Death Eaters love dark magic. Of course, Severus and Eileen don't want to join!"

"But Voldemort is powerful. I don't like him, but he is strong," I said seriously. "Severus, what do you think?"

"He is a powerful wizard, and I respect that. But he's too violent, and I can't agree with his methods. My mother dislikes his extreme ways and fears the potential for war. Avoiding them seems the best option. Besides," Severus's expression softened, "my mother wants to travel and see the world, so she plans to do so once she settles things here."

I nodded. "That sounds wise. But if Eileen leaves, you'll be on your own?"

"It's not a big deal," Severus shrugged. "I spend most of my time at school anyway. My mother will make arrangements."

"What about the apothecary? Will you close it?" Lily asked.

"I don't think so. My mother plans to hire someone to manage it. I'll continue brewing potions, and the employee will handle the shop."

"Why don't we take over the apothecary ourselves, I mean, with you?" I suggested. "With the house-elf Kaka, we can maintain the shop's basic functions. We can still accept orders for advanced potions and use owl delivery. It would be great to work together."

Lily looked interested. "I could help with basic potions. They might not be as good as yours, Severus, but I can make decent ones."

"Lily, your potions are excellent. Professor Slughorn would definitely agree," Severus said, warming up to the idea. "It sounds promising."

"Exactly. We could have James and Sugar deliver the orders. My owl, James, seems too idle, always disappearing for long periods," I suggested, thinking of giving my owl more to do.

Lily laughed, "It sounds like having Potter do our deliveries."

I snickered, "That would be amusing—having Potter run errands for us. My James is much more likable than him."

Severus smiled too, the tension from discussing the Dark Lord dissipating.

"But," Severus hesitated, "what about customers who need to sell potions? That's an essential part of the apothecary. It requires face-to-face quality checks, which we can't handle by owl."

Lily frowned, "You're right. That's a crucial issue. House-elves can't manage that, and it needs personal attention."

This was a problem. I had no immediate solution. "We'll figure it out. We're not taking over the apothecary tomorrow. Severus, you can discuss our idea with Eileen. She might have a better plan."

Severus nodded. We looked at each other, excitement visible in our eyes. The idea of running an apothecary together, relying on our skills, was incredibly appealing.