The Knockturn Alley Challenge
Title: A Special Talent
Challenge: Knockturn Alley
Time: 40 mins. (?)
Characters: Snape/Voldemort
He knew he was forbidden to be on the street. The headmaster had made it very clear students were not to be on Knockturn Alley for any reason what so ever. Severus Snape knew it was considered a dangerous place, inhabited with individuals who had a ignoble reputation. He did not care. He was willing to break all of Dumbledore’s rules to complete his mission.
The Marauders had to pay for the incident in the school yard. Severus’ embarrassment had turned into a need for revenge. A few stolen nights in the Restricted Section and he had found the perfect solution. It was a potion that was so devastating that it would take weeks, if not months for the Marauders to recover from.
Severus was able to collect all the ingredients for this potion except for one. It was an herb that was considered so dangerous that it was not allowed at Hogwarts. The only place to find this banned herb would be at the end of Knockturn Alley.
There was no sign on the herb shop, but its window advertised its wares sufficiently. Gnarled roots and limbs hung upside down in the window. Several shelves displayed jars with exotic names of herbs from all over the world. There seemed to be dust every where and a musty smell wafted from the open front door. Severus hesitated for a moment. He collected himself against the unknown and entered the shop.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light inside the shop. When he was able to focus, he saw a deserted counter at the end of the shop. Cautiously he walked to the counter and found a rusty push bell. He tapped it and it pinged shrilly.
Severus noticed behind the counter a set of stairs that led to a cellar. He heard the steps creak and groan as someone climbed them. At the door way an old woman appeared. She had white hair that was severely pulled back, exposing a skull-like face. She seemed as gnarled as the roots in the shop’s window. She hobbled up to the counter and smiled at Severus.
"Good day, young master," she rasped. "What is that I can do for you today?"
Severus gulped and stuttered. "I need to purchase some Clasina herb."
The old crone scrutinized him carefully. "That is a strong herb."
"I have a special potion I am making."
She sniffed. "A special one indeed. You feed a grudge with an herb like that. You want someone to pay for what they have done to you."
Severus remained silent and stiff in her presence. She shook her head.
"It is none of my business. I will get you what you want." She slowly moved to the end of the counter and from underneath pulled out a small tin. From her pocket she produced a set of keys. She fingered through them until she found the right one and unlocked the tin. From it, she gingerly picked up a few leaves and placed them in a small envelope. She turned back to Severus and placed the envelope on the counter.
"Any thing else, young master?" she said mockingly.
"That will be all for today, " Severus replied as collected as he could.
"Young master is going to make it habit to break the rules of Hogwarts? Well, again it is none of my business. Five galleons."
Severus was shocked. His classmates at school were wrong. They had all said two galleons would be the cost of the Clasina. He was short. He desperately thought of what he could do.
"I seem to be a little light," he stammered, "perhaps I can purchase a little less."
The old crone shook her head. "Not got enough? Just like those Hogwarts dunderheads not to teach you the cost of things in the world. Look, I have little time to waste re-weighing and re-pinching today. I have a business to run, and you have nothing more that a school vendetta to brew. Let me tell you...."
The old crone was interrupted by the sound of coins clinking on the counter. Severus was astounded to see five gold galleons sparkling in the dim light. At first he thought they had magically appeared or had perhaps dropped from the sky. Then he saw the long graceful fingers of a man’s hand. Severus’ eyes followed up a well tailored sleeve to a find a man smiling kindly at him. A stranger to Severus, he was an older wizard who was elegantly dressed and possessing an air of self-assurance. Severus was impressed with the authority this wizard had as he spoke to the shop keeper.
"I see you have not changed, Maura," the man said, his voice was full of sarcasm. "You are still the charming shop keeper you were on our last meeting." .
The crone had lowered her head and averted her eyes from the man. She had become meek. Severus was in awe of how one person’s presence could do that.
"Severus Snape, is it not?" the man asked turning his attention away from the crone. "I have heard much about you. I have been told you possess some rather special talents. Potions are a specialty of yours, are they not?"
Severus silently nodded. "I have a knack for them, sir."
The man laughed. "A knack. An interesting word is it not, Lucius?"
"Yes, my lord," came a familiar voice. Severus turned to see the patrician face of his former class mate, Lucius Malfoy, emerge from a dark corner of the shop.
"And where were you intending to brew this potion of yours?" asked the man.
"My dorm room, I suppose," Severus answered. "I do not have any roommates. I can work undisturbed."
"Good, good. Secrecy is always a good when brewing a potion that will cripple your enemies."
Severus was surprised that the man knew what his intentions were but remained silent.
"I am sorry," the man said in a gracious tone. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Lord Voldemort."
Severus gasped. He was in the company of the most powerful wizard in their world. The same one whose name was only whispered by many. This most respected and feared wizard of the day was now spending time talking to him.
"In the future," Voldemort hissed returning his attention to the crone, "whenever young Snape here comes to you for something he needs, you will see to it that he obtains it. You will put whatever purchases he makes on my account. Do you understand?"
The crone nodded her head but never raised her eyes. "Yes, my lord."
"That is settled then. Now you should hurry back to Hogwarts. I know Dumbledore has his rules, silly as they may be. I am sure a bright young man, like yourself, will be able to get back in without being caught." Voldemort gently touched Severus’ shoulder and ushered him to the door.
In the bright sunlight Severus squinted. He placed his hand above his eyes and glanced around for his benefactor. He needed to thank Voldemort. Voldemort startled him by leaning close and whispering to him.
"We should have a chat sometime," Voldemort said in a hissing manner that reminded Severus of a snake. "We should talk about your talents. Those talents should not be squandered and my friends and I have some ideas of how best to use them."
"I would be honored, sir," Severus said slowly and quietly. "Thank you."
"It is settled then," Voldemort said. "We will meet again and soon."
Severus slowly backed away from the pair, never allowing them to leave his sight. He stumbled over some boxes left in the alley but recovered his balance quickly. He made a small bow to both and turned to quickly leave Knockturn Alley.
Severus started to run through the streets to hurry back to Hogwarts. Breathless, he was excited at his good fortune. Meeting the great Voldemort was an honor that few in his class would ever have. Certainly none would be invited as he had to sit and converse with this preeminent wizard. Severus was sure that this was the sign of marvelous things that lay ahead for him. His future would be assured.
"A bit clumsy is he not, Lucius?," Voldemort said as the two of them began their leisurely stroll through Knockturn Alley. "Are sure he possesses the skills that we require?"
"I am certain, my lord," said Lucius. "He is young but he has a natural talent for the Dark Arts."
"Fine then, " said Voldemort, "arrange a meeting in a few months. We will talk to young Snape then."
"Why a few months, sir?" asked Lucius cautiously. It was never a good idea to question the Dark Lord’s reasoning.
"Young Snape will be locked up for awhile. That potion he wants to brew smells terrible. Horrible. Stains the hands too. He will be detected by the staff before he even gets to use it. Dumbledore will have him in detention for months." Voldemort shook his head. "If young Snape had just read a little further in that book he would have found another potion that would have done the job just as well with less detection. Of course, I could have told him that but I felt it was better for him to learn this on his own."
Voldemort stopped their walk and drew Lucius close to him. "Snape will be in the proper frame of mind at that time, Lucius. He will be angry and disgruntled with the world. It will make him more attuned to our message. He will be ready to learn what they refuse to teach him and I will be there. I will teach him what he really wants to know."