~ 20 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
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On the morning a few days later, just before heading out, Snape watched as Eileen pried up a slightly loose floorboard in the living room and used magic to dig a deep pit beneath it.
"Not this one…" she muttered under her breath, poking at the dirt and rubble with her wand. "Reparo."
The process repeated a full seven times before she finally unearthed a small, slightly tarnished golden key from beneath the floorboards. After giving it a quick clean, she tucked it into her pocket.
Witnessing this, Snape's expectations for the vault plummeted.
"Let's go," Eileen said.
After being whisked by Eileen's Side-Along Apparition to the doorstep of the Leaky Cauldron, Snape gasped for air, taking a good while to recover.
"You alright?" Eileen asked, looking down at him with concern. "You'll get used to the feeling eventually."
"I'm fine," Snape said, brushing his ears. "Let's head inside."
They passed through the pub and stepped into Diagon Alley.
It was Snape's first time entering the towering, snow-white building that loomed over the other shops in Diagon Alley.
At the long counter, Eileen tapped the surface and addressed an idle goblin. "Hello, we're here to access the Prince family vault to retrieve some items."
The goblin scrutinized the small golden key Eileen handed over, then nodded. "No problem. I'll have someone take you to the underground vault. Griphook!"
Griphook?
What a coincidence.
Snape couldn't help but stare at the dark-skinned, long-fingered goblin approaching them.
"Wizard, I don't like the way you're looking at me," Griphook said, his slanted black eyes narrowing with displeasure.
Snape quickly averted his gaze.
He didn't recall Griphook being particularly forgiving. There was no need to antagonize him before seeing the vault and returning to the surface.
Griphook led them out of the main hall, through a heavy iron door, and into a narrow stone corridor.
Whistle!
Griphook let out a sharp whistle.
A small cart came rumbling toward them along the tracks with a thunderous clatter.
Once they climbed aboard, Griphook pushed a lever forward, and the cart jolted into motion.
Icy air whipped past their faces.
Soon, they were hurtling through twisting, winding passages, deep into the earth's bowels.
After passing an underground lake adorned with massive stalactites and stalagmites, the cart finally slowed and came to a stop before a door.
Griphook stepped off, inserted the key into the lock, and placed his hand on the door.
The vault door vanished, revealing a gaping entrance.
Snape leaned forward to peer inside.
What he saw made him suck in a sharp breath.
Piles of gold coins towered within like small mountains.
Around the corners, shelves held vials of potions, dried herbs, thick books, and rolls of parchment.
"You call this 'there might be some gold inside'?" Snape turned to Eileen, gesturing for her to take a look.
The sight clearly caught Eileen off guard. Her mouth fell slightly open, and she blinked hard, but no words came out.
Snape let out a long exhale. "I think we're set for life."
After stuffing two bags full of Galleons, they clambered back into the cart and raced back to the surface.
"Next, let's do some shopping," Eileen said, glancing at Snape's wrist peeking out from his robe's sleeve and the worn sneakers poking out from the hem. "You need a few new robes, and we can pick up some books for next term."
"No rush," Snape replied. "I'll wait for my O.W.L. results. Besides, old textbooks aren't bad. I've got notes in some of them."
Just before stepping out of Gringotts, Snape hesitated. "Wait… let's exchange some money for Muggle currency. I… want to buy some Muggle clothes and a few everyday items."
"Everyday items?" Eileen asked, puzzled.
"Like shampoo…" Snape knew the answer sounded odd—wizards had far better options.
As expected, Eileen raised a question. "Why not just get Sleekeazy's Hair Potion?"
"I don't like the smell," Snape said curtly, then added, "It makes me a bit nauseous."
"Then grab some for me too," Eileen said, pressing a bag into his hands. "Get whatever you want."
After purchasing new robes at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, they each savored a Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream cone and strolled leisurely toward the crowded Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Peering over the heads of a gaggle of children, Snape spotted a sleek, elegant broom in the shop window.
Next to it, a sign in elegant script read: Nimbus 1500—Experience the Thrill of High-Speed Flight! Aerodynamic design, premium birch handle, pure magical craftsmanship, balancing speed and precision. Accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds, with a top speed of 107 mph. Your perfect partner on the pitch!
"No, I don't want it," Snape said quickly, swallowing a mouthful of ice cream as he noticed Eileen's inquiring look. "I don't play Quidditch."
Back home, Snape dug out his old Gobstones set from his trunk and set it on the wooden table downstairs.
"Fancy a few rounds?" he asked. "I read in an old Daily Prophet in the Hogwarts library that you used to be captain of the school's Gobstones team."
"It's been ages since I touched these," Eileen said.
Her hand instinctively rose, rough fingertips brushing over a small, round Gobstone.
"Come on, we've got time to kill," Snape said, settling at the opposite side of the table.
"Why was there so much in the Prince vault?" he asked, flicking a stone that missed its mark. The Gobstone quivered nervously on the board.
"That's not something Uncle Sharan could've saved up…"
Eileen's stone struck the trembling one with precision. Her Gobstone triumphantly sprayed a foul-smelling liquid toward Snape's face.
"Maybe our ancestors were loaded," she said.
"Ugh—what is that smell?" Snape wiped the slime from his face.
"It's just… thinking back to the old days, I can't help but feel like we struggled for no reason."
Soon, Snape reeked from head to toe.
He threw up his hands. "That's it for today. I surrender."
After cleaning up and returning to the living room, it dawned on Snape that Eileen might not need to stay here anymore.
"Mum, why don't you move somewhere else? Tinworth in Cornwall, Upper Flagley in Yorkshire, Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon… anywhere. A place where wizarding families live. What do you think?"
"Hm… maybe," Eileen said after a pause. "I'll look into places with decent land or houses soon."
"Great. Just write to me when you settle somewhere," Snape said, dashing toward the door. "I'm off to get you an owl!"
"But how are you getting there—"
"The Knight Bus!"
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