A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 2 ~ Branching Out

”This year’s earnings were quite good, Bartleby,” a silken voice said to the balding, brown-eyed and rather stout solicitor sitting at a large mahogany desk in a modest office.

“Yes, quite good,’ John Bartleby replied to his client, “Your potions patents, sales and residuals are certainly bringing in the galleons. Business is going quite well, quite well.”

There was a moment of silence.

”Bartleby, how long has my corporation been in business now?” the smooth voice inquired.

Bartleby did a bit of calculating.

“You had me set up the independent corporation eighteen years ago, this coming July,” the solicitor responded, “And I have to admit, Sparse Venues Development has been going strong ever since.”

Long fingers stroked a pale chin.

”For the past eighteen years, we have remained focused on potions development, our main expenditures for materials and ingredients,” the voice said looking for confirmation.

”Yes, overhead has been kept to a minimum,” Bartleby agreed, “Which has added to profit.”

”I believe it is time to expand, to spread out into other fields,” the wizard said.

”Other fields?” Bartleby asked, his bushy eyebrows raised in surprise.

”Well we are a development company after all,” the voice said.

“That is true,” Bartleby said, “But branching out into another field would require a site be constructed. Currently, you only have your own lab. You will need an actual base of operations in order to expand…and…employees. These costs will affect your profits.”

”I have over eighteen years worth of profits that have only been invested repeatedly. The gains were quite good. I know what I’m worth. I can afford whatever I need to do for expansion. It will be small at first. I already have a site where construction can begin immediately. It is quite isolated, privacy and security being the main issue. The field of development is quite competitive and our research will have to be protected. I have certain specifications I expect the building to meet. I will owl you the detailed instructions tomorrow,” the voice said smoothly.

Bartleby nodded although he wasn’t sure this was a wise move, but then again he was of the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” persuasion. Sparse Venues was doing fine. Improvement wasn’t necessary as far as he was concerned. But he didn’t own the business. His client did and he had to meet his client’s needs. For the most part, Bartleby handled all aspects of the business except for the actual creation of potions. The patenting, marketing and collection of profits and residuals was his area of expertise. He also kept the books. His client’s name was nowhere on the actual incorporation paperwork but he had legal documents for proof of ownership carefully hidden away. His client was a man who preferred the background and with good reason.

“Might I inquire what field you wish to explore?” Bartleby asked the dark wizard before him.

”Yes,” Severus Snape purred, his black eyes resting on the wizard, “The field of original Charms. Spells Making. You are to place an ad for the position of Charms Researcher/Developer. All responses are to be sent directly to me. I will choose who will be interviewed and ultimately who will be employed.”

”Understood,” Bartleby said, already thinking of what periodicals he would run the ad in.

”Be sure to include that a full Charms degree is a must,” Snape added, tapping his fingertips together, “And make it clear that the degree matters more than work experience.”

Bartleby stared at the wizard.

”But surely, you want someone who has a number of years working in the field. Otherwise, the output will be significantly slowed…which will be reflected in the numbers,” the solicitor said, “Production will be severely curtailed…”

”Just do as I say, Bartleby,” the Potions Master snapped, “Let me worry about possible losses. I know what I am doing.”

”Very well,” Bartleby said, shaking his head slightly, “I suppose that your reasoning is you can pay a person with less experience a lower salary?”

Snape looked at him.

”No. I intend to pay top galleon,” he replied, rising, “Just take care of it for me, Bartleby. I will see you when I see you.”

The wizard raised his hood and exited the solicitor’s office. Bartleby had been under oath not to reveal Severus Snape’s existence or whereabouts for the past eighteen years and was well-paid for his secrecy. But in all that time he knew the wizard no better now then when he first walked into his office with a sack of galleons wearing a hood and secured his services. The Potions Master was content to let him handle all his affairs, although periodically he went over the books with a fine-toothed comb. It was a good thing Bartleby was an honest wizard. If he wasn’t, he might have been a dead one. At least that was what he thought.

Although Severus Snape was considered one of the wizarding world’s greatest heroes post-mortem, there was still something very sinister about the wizard, a kind of darkness one could feel in his presence. Not a completely evil aura…more like…a dangerous one.

He wasn’t a wizard to cross by any means.

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Snape apparated to his unplottable home, purchased by his corporation and located far from neighbors, on a mountainside, the area around his domicile warded with “Private Property” signs prominently displayed along with warnings that “Trespassers will be hexed.”

The wizard removed his cloak, hung it up and walked into his living room, taking a seat in front of the fireplace and staring into the flames as he did almost everyday, losing his thoughts in the crackling flames. A house elf winked in, holding out a shot of firewhiskey. Snape took it wordlessly as the elf winked out again. He tossed it back and set the empty glass on a small table next to his chair.

An old Daily Prophet rested there. The one with Ronald Weasley’s obituary and funeral information. He had been buried a week ago. Snape had attended. Ron Weasley had fought bravely in the final battle and been a great help to Harry Potter during the events that led up to Voldemort’s ultimate demise

The wizard had married Hermione Granger. As a result of that marriage, the witch never pursued her field, becoming instead a wife and mother. Even when her children began to attend Hogwarts, she remained at home, her dreams all but forgotten. She had become a Molly Weasley clone, living only for her husband and children. Snape remembered how promising the witch’s future was, and felt it a shame her talents were never utilized for the good of the wizarding world.

Snape wasn’t alone in this. Hermione had been the brightest witch to graduate Hogwarts in over fifty years, and initially this designation was repeated with pride by the Professors at the school, holding her up as an example to emulate to new students. But when it became apparent that she would never do anything with her great potential…they eventually ceased to talk about her any longer. No one said it out loud, but Hermione was considered a wasted witch, someone who threw all her potential away to don an apron.

But now, Hermione had to step out. She was a widow and had to make a living somehow to support her children. It would be a shame if she were stuck on some Spells assembly line making fad charms, all her potential wasted because of her lack of experience.

To be honest, Snape had been considering expanding his business’ scope for some time, but Ronald Weasley’s death and Hermione’s resultant situation brought it more into the present. The Potions Master didn’t know if Hermione’s mind had atrophied or not, but he was willing to give her a second chance. He knew how important second chances could be, and how they could change a life. Plus, he’d make plenty of galleons if the witch’s abilities remained. That was always a good thing.

The house elf winked in again.

”Your supper is ready, Master,” it squeaked.

Snape nodded to the creature and it winked out again.

The wizard rose, stretched and headed for the dining room. After supper he would prepare the specifications promised to Bartleby and send them out.

Construction would start immediately. There was a small plateau on his land about a mile from his location. Secluded and well-protected, it would be the perfect site for original charm development.

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Rose and Hugo had just returned to Hogwarts, and Hermione sat in front of a stack of parchments looking them over. They were unpaid bills. Ron had minimal insurance, since a large policy would have taken quite a chunk out of his weekly salary. It was enough to cover the cost of the funeral, food, a few more months’ rental and then Hermione would be on her own.

Harry and Ginny would be glad to help her out, they’d said as much, but Hermione knew she couldn’t rely on the generosity of friends forever. She would have to get a job. She looked over at a picture of her and Ron taken years ago, standing together arm in arm, both of them grinning at the camera and tears filled her eyes.

Ron had been so full of life, it was easy to think he would live forever. He had been a good husband and father, though a bit archaic in his views concerning marriage. He was to be the breadwinner and provide for his family and Hermione was to be the wife and mother and nurture him and her family. They had quite a few rows about that before she became pregnant with Rose…then, the argument became moot. They had a traditional marriage just like Arthur and Molly. There was initially some resentment on Hermione’s part, but then she thought she was just being selfish and eventually pushed her dreams out of her mind and became what she needed to be for her family.

Hermione sighed and wiped her eyes. She had to be strong and find her own answers, her own solutions. She wasn’t helpless. She could care for her family.

She’d start looking for a job tomorrow.

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A/N: Ok. Groundwork is laid and I think I have a general idea how I want this to go. Thanks for reading.