Interview with the Alchemist (Malfoys) // 11th January, 1979

[Severus Snape]

Severus was not as pleased with his position as Defense Against the Dark Arts apprentice as he had expected to be. Professor Murray seemed to be under the impression that Severus’ extensive skills were best utilized duplicating exam parchments and monitoring the halls during lessons to catch stragglers instead of actually doing anything remotely related to Defense or teaching. Any of her own duties that she did not feel like completing were pushed onto Severus’ lap and no thanks were given for a job well done. No, quite the opposite. His hard work was repaid with more boring assignments that had little if anything to do with teaching. He wasn’t even allowed to monitor one of the practice groups, the professor instead insisting on the students all waiting in turn to perform the spell in question so that she could give her feedback directly. Never mind that Severus had pointed out that the students could get in twice as much practice if he were permitted to supervise half the class while she monitored the other half, their wait time potentially cut in two. And when the witch wasn’t ignoring his excellent suggestions, she was ordering him to clean artifacts and tools that previous years’ professors hadn’t bothered to take with them upon their annual exit. This, at least, gave him an opportunity to expand his personal collection of items as Professor Murray paid so little attention to what menial work she assigned him that she didn’t notice when a nifty trinket or device went missing.

But it was more than just his disappointment with his post that brought him to the Apothecary. Tobias Snape had once again managed to find himself without a job, and Severus’ mother had reached out hoping that his new position at Hogwarts would help them cover some of his father’s debts at the local pubs. Moonlighting for the Malfoys would not only give him the extra funds to help his mum avoid her abuser’s rage when the debt collectors rang, but it would also give him less time spent at the castle for Professor Murray to take advantage of. The idea had come about one afternoon following a meeting with the Dark Lord, after which his followers socialized amongst themselves and talks of business emerged. Severus’ skill at potion making in school was unparalleled, having scored the highest marks of anyone in his year on his OWLS and NEWTS, respectively.

But there were formal matters to be taken care of before Severus could count on the extra income, and thus he donned his best and only jacket, ran a comb through his dark hair, and headed out to an interview with Lucius Malfoy. Or so he thought. “What do you mean Mr Malfoy isn’t in today?” Severus snarled at the bloke behind the counter. “I’ve a meeting scheduled with him. When are you expecting him to return? This is quite unprofessional,” he scolded.

[Narcissa Malfoy]

Raised voices were hardly a never at the apothecary, and as Narcissa listened from her desk in the back, letting a few moments pass to see if the men would resolve whatever it was themselves or require her intervention, she only hoped that no one from the Bobbin Apothecary had decided that today was the day for a fight. Their "rivals" would not be coming out of nowhere with concerns about similarities in various products, and the pretty galleons her family made over the sickles rattling together in the Bobbin family vault. And she was not adverse to having it out with them, one day, and ridding their community of sub-par products from sub-par sellers. Down the line, when they were busy with a family of their own, she could see herself stepping away from the books and the drama for some time. But for now, she was obviously needed here.

With a sigh, Narcissa moved her work to the side and rose to her feet, adjusting the lay of the ruby red dress and strode to the front. To hear talk of her husband. Insulting talk of her husband. She recognized the boy staring Arvin down at the counter as one of the newer recruits to Lucius's other work and he had been, evidently, ill-informed about who to expect today, and her blue eyes narrowed. Genius potioneer or no, he was quickly proving that he was only suited for work at a cauldron, alone. And to speak against Lucius, in the business that bore his name?

"My husband is anything but unprofessional," Cissa asserted coldly as she slid into place behind the counter, "and you would do well to remember that - Severus, isn't it? Arvin, do go and help Mrs. Fraser with the snake fangs before she pricks herself." Dismissed, the shopboy skedaddled towards one of their regulars, and Cissa continued. "Mr. Malfoy has many responsibilities to attend to outside of our direct business. Your meeting is with me. Let's hope your second impression is better than your first, hmm?" 

[Severus Snape]

The bloke behind the counter was of no use, but soon a prettier face stood beside him, and Severus turned his attention to the slightly older witch. He recognized her from many a gathering of likeminded wizarding folk, though they were nowhere close in social station. Severus was always several persons removed from the likes of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, but he was certain their ranks would close with time. Severus would prove himself invaluable to Lord Voldemort and the rest of his followers, and by then it would not matter whether he came from humble beginnings whilst they were born with silver spoons in their mouths. But a position at the apothecary alongside Lucius Malfoy would help to hasten that respect. If he hadn’t already blown his chances with the misses.

“I meant no disrespect,” Severus muttered, his ears hot with embarrassment at being scolded in such a public manner. He was an adult now and should not have had to put up with this sort of reprimand, especially not by a witch only a few years his senior, but if his position at the apothecary rested on her shoulders, Severus would swallow his disapproval for the time being. “I was led to believe I was meeting with Mr Malfoy, and thus his absence…. Please accept my apologies. Severus Snape.” He extended his hand toward her, hoping a show of manners would indeed replace his first impression long enough to get his foot in the door. Severus knew his potions would keep his position safe once he’d been hired on, but he had to reach that point first.

[Narcissa Malfoy]

There was something within the young wizard that had piqued not only the interest of Lucius and the Dark Lord, but their deluded headmaster too, she'd found out when asking around after this meeting was set. Regulus's lengthy letter back spoke to both her cousin's current boredom of being yet kept at school, and details of the continued presence of Snape in the castle. Severus was building himself up, and had managed to find his way into impressive company even with a surname that would get him nowhere and questionable blood status. And he was a tightly-coiled thing, wasn't he, with everything to prove and everything to gain as he established himself outside of the security of student life. The others in his class who had been granted a coveted space the ranks, they could rely on their fathers to make the necessary introductions, the confidence of their place in society to feed them the right arguments, a lifetime of learning through observation to know how to behave around the senior Death Eaters. And still, without any of that, Severus Snape had a seat at the table.

He backtracked, and quickly, and Narcissa watched with unveiled interest. For all that she had been born into, he had achieved something she had not, and her needling question of why would hopefully be satisfied today. She couldn't allow old resentments of that disappointment to cloud her judgment, however tempting it would be. No - no, she would have to see what it was about this potioneer that was so special, and find out what it would take to keep him close if she agreed. And so, as he extended a hand towards her, Narcissa did the same and gave a firm shake.

"Narcissa," she introduced with a sharp sliver of a smile, "and your apology is accepted. It must have been worrisome to think you had come all this way for nothing. Come with me." She waved him forward and continued as they headed down the short corridor to her office. "As I'm sure you are aware, we are proud to provide the very best to our clients. Ingredients, tools, experience - of course, Superior Red is sold exclusively through us - and ready-made potions. That, as I understand it, is where you come in. Please, make yourself comfortable." The desk between them, Narcissa sat and crossed her legs. "What interests you in joining us at our apothecary, Severus? With so many demands on your time, I imagine it was no easy feat to get away even today."

[Severus Snape]

Severus gave an internal sigh of relief as Mrs Malfoy accepted his apology and invited him into the back of the shop where customers were presumably not permitted. Plans for the day seemed relatively back on track, and Severus followed the posh looking witch away from the store front and into an office. The shop itself was unassuming – nicer and cleaner than any of the places in Knockturn Alley and most of those in Diagon Alley. This office, however, certainly belonged to a well-off witch with good taste and a shopping habit. Severus sat in the empty seat opposite the desk that likely cost more than what he would make as a Hogwarts apprentice in an entire year. His chair was not as comfortable as he felt the Malfoys could have afforded, but he assumed that was probably done on purpose.

Narcissa spoke of his many demands and Sev felt suddenly even more uncomfortable than he had before. She had looked into him, it seemed. At least enough to know he had other obligations. If Lucius had mentioned his work at the school to his wife, then perhaps it was not surprising that the blonde would mention his busy schedule now, but the rigid chair forcing him to sit up straighter than he preferred wouldn’t allow him to make that logical leap. “Well, miss… erm, ma’m. Narcissa.” Eww, that felt wrong. Go back to ma’am. “Potionmaking comes fairly easy to me, and I’ve been told I have something of a natural talent for it. I’m looking for something more fulfilling than my current apprenticeship at Hogwarts and your apothecary was recommended as a mutually beneficial option.”

[Narcissa Malfoy]

A pleasant if slightly smug amused smile played at the young woman's lips as she watched Severus settle into the office, a crow in the peacock's nest. The high-backed chair was tasteful, elegant, and deceitfully rigid - but if he had anything to say about it, he had learned to hold his tongue and keep from fidgeting. Life was better on the other side of the desk, where Narcissa could comfortably sit and see much of the work she'd put in to redo the space for the current generation of Malfoys - just as she had worked with Lucius to prepare their home for their lives, not in an effort to dismiss what his parents and their predecessors had done, of course, but to welcome in their era with the distinction it deserved. The small office space was now bathed in crisp white, black, and gold, pops of carefully chosen color coming from the beautifully packaged potions, ingredients, and fresh flowers that mingled with family portraits and relics. Behind her, the row of Superior Red bottles, shape and color and labels evolving as one looked from left to right, were some of her particular favorites. They were varied significantly from start to finish, but the same stamp of the Malfoy crest was smartly emblazoned on even the oldest bottle.

Her smile persisted as she watched the meaning of her words settle onto the wizard - surely he was beyond the initial shock of her presence, had he not thought that Lucius would do his due diligence and look into him ahead of this meeting? hopefully he had at least brought proof to back up his claims - and it broadened as he spoke of his current discontent. "Someone with your talents deserves much more than what Hogwarts is offering you, certainly. From what I've heard, the apprentices are more like lackeys at the beck and call of the staff, instead of professors-in-training or anything of the like. It's a shame you were roped into it, but at least you found us before too long. I presume you have your N.E.W.T.s with you?" While criticism of the "revered" headmaster was yet only whispered at the school, there was no lack of it outside of the Hogwarts grounds; no one could dispute Dumbledore's accomplishments, he was one of the greatest wizards of his time. But with any luck, by the time their children were of age to attend, he would be far away from the headmaster's office. Just last year, he had had a muggleborn as Head Girl alongside the Potter boy - one only had to look at the tragic downfall of the prestigious positions to see where the school was going under his leadership. So it was a shame, really, but not a surprise to Narcissa that the apprenticeship program was just as mismanaged as the rest.

She took up a list of their public stock of potions and passed it along to him, with a quill - its snow-white feather from one of Lucius's prized peacocks - for Severus to use as he needed. There was another list, not so easily found, of potions the apothecary could provide. But only those who had proven their loyalty and aptitude could access that one - it wouldn't do for every potioneer in Diagon Alley to know one could even find Veritaserum at the Malfoy's, for the right price. No, no - for now, the not-so-thrilling but lucrative list of potions for common remedies - coughs, sleep, healing, herbicide - would have to do. "Demand varies with the seasons, of course, but this is what we would need you to produce regularly, for a start. Have you had experience with any of them, so far?"

[Severus Snape]

Lackey seemed like a promotion from what Severus felt his position at the wizarding school was turning out to be, but instead of indulging in complaints about his current position he simply nodded in agreement respectfully and let the witch continue. She asked for his N.E.W.T.S. and Severus replied “yes ma’am,” and pulled a small scroll of parchment from the interior pocket of his jacket, taking care to conceal the rip in the seam from her view. A woman who decorated in what was likely real gold would not likely offer a post to a bloke with holey clothes. He had known enough of her sort in school to know that it didn’t matter his skill, she wouldn’t be seen ‘round him if he didn’t fit into her aesthetic for the shop. He set the scroll with his official N.E.W.T.S. scores on Mrs Malfoy’s desk before her as she pulled out her own parchment and quill. They exchanged their papers and Severus reviewed the items listed that he would be expected to produce regularly were he hired.

He read quickly and looked up at her without much expression on his face. “I could produce any of these for you easily. If you’re simply looking to speed up your production with an additional potioneer, I would have no qualms with preparing multiple batches at once, but I do ask that my work not be scrutinized until the potion is completed. I find there are many who believe they understand the work because they follow the given recipes, as I am sure a businesswoman such as yourself would expect, but there are more effective means of producing most any given elixir if you understand the entirety of the process, as I do.” The smugness in his voice he had tried to tone down upon his initial blunder at the start of this meeting had returned in full force. “As you’ll see on my transcripts, Professor Slughorn made special note of my ability to perfect multiple elixirs during my exams, as well as throughout the course of my training.” Severus omitted drawing attention to the latter part of the note which pointed out that while he had perfected many of the potions required of him during the seventh year exam, he also was argumentative with the exam’s proctor when his tendency for straying from the given recipes were questioned.

[Narcissa Malfoy]

As the lad was still under the employ of their old headmaster, Narcissa could accept that he was not so willing to disparage the man as many of her fellows were. He was certainly under no illusions, not willing to risk word getting back to the castle and risking his position - not when he so needed it. But did they even properly pay him for his time? Or were they so full of their long-wasted prestige that they thought that a broom closet of a room and a hot meal a day was enough to keep someone with great talent satisfied for long? 

Their papers exchanged, each eyed the other's, and Narcissa's smug smile returned as she took in his high marks and claps on the back from her favorite professor, along with the passive-aggressive admonishments. They're jealous that you surpassed them. Where have they been hiding you? If what was written and signed off on, official school and Ministry seals and all, was true - Severus had talents beyond any potioneer currently under their employ. And he would be theirs. She looked back to him, smoothing the parchment out in front of her, as he spoke with a conviction that drew her in. Conviction, confidence, cockiness - did it matter which won out, if he was as good as he seemed? Their real gold came from more complex potions than those that were advertised, in logs kept in carefully enchanted ledgers. While their day-to-day potion needs would bore him, certainly, if he proved himself before then, and behaved...they might have lucked into a new head potioneer. Quality control is going to love you. The pay and perks escalated with the levels of secrecy, of course, and perhaps this apprenticeship at Hogwarts could simply be an unfortunate blip...

"Horace is such a dear," she began fondly, eyes twinkling. "He throws the grandest parties, wouldn't you agree? I'll have to fetch something special for you to take back with you for him. But from the looks of things, he should be frightened of you, Severus," she teased, before giving a sigh. "He's a dear, but for all of his vision, he's rather short-sighted. There's only so much one can make of oneself as a professor. I do hope that being here today is a sign that you are setting your sights higher. At the Malfoy Apothecary, no one would be over your shoulder - as long as you deliver. If these methods that you have devised give the results that are promised here," she continued, rapping the parchment with her nails, "then we would trust your methods."

Narcissa continued, pulling out a second parchment. She circled the elevated starting pay for a fine recruit, and drew a quick star at additional benefits, before sliding it to him. "We take care of our potioneers, as they take care of us. As you will see, we offer more than a paycheck. Discounted supplies, and our potioneers gain access to our brewing rooms as needed for personal use, after a probationary period. And we are always on the lookout for special investments." Manicured brows raised, she went on, "If you so desired, a time may come when we could help you further. I imagine a book with your name and new methodology, and our seal, would do rather well. Something to think about." One without the other would not sell, she refrained from pointing out - but she could already imagine the reviews Rita could procure for them for the cover, and the press events where they either hid Snape as a reclusive genius or provided him with massive training for the public eye... "We would have to start you with regular assignments, you understand. But you could have a very promising future with us, Severus. Do you have any questions for me?"

[Severus Snape]

Severus nodded as Narcissa spoke of their former professor. Sev had been one of a small selection of students invited into the professor’s infamous Slug Club, which he had at one time attended with Lily. He oft longed for those days, when the pair would meet at the top of the dungeon’s stairs and walk together to the professor’s rooms for socializing – not Severus’ favorite component – and enthusiastic conversation. The last few years of his attendance had seen Severus sitting with other invited guests, and Lily refusing to even look in his direction. He supposed he did take more notice of the efforts Slughorn had put into the parties once he was not as distracted by side conversations with his redheaded friend, but any party seemed grand when you weren't invited to many growing up. “He certainly has a talent for hosting,” Severus remarked.

Slug Club parties continued despite Severus no longer being a regular invitee since his graduation, and while Severus had expected an invitation back as now both a member of staff and former member of the club, Horace had not yet extended him such an offer. Apparently, an apprenticeship at the school Horace Slughorn himself found fit to work at for the last four or so decades did not rise to the level of infamy that warranted an invitation, as so many other former members who had been invited to return and speak to the students. Perhaps delivering a gift from another former Slug Club member who was taking an interest in him would be enough to cause the older wizard to recognize his oversight and correct it before the school year's end. If anything, Slughorn ought to have been frightened of Severus rejecting such an invitation, not for any perceived chance to steal the man’s job as Narcissa casually implied. Severus had no desire to teach potions. His only aim in academia was in the DADA department, and though he had not expected to be given any sort of teaching position straight after graduating, he was already beginning to lose faith in his future at Hogwarts.

Satisfied that he would not be criticized for his unique methods, nor micromanaged in his day to day tasks, Severus sat even more alert as the blonde provided him a second sheet of parchment to review. Any level of pay would have aided in his support for his mother while his father was “between jobs” as he so often was. He would have accepted practically any offer given to him, but Sev had been expecting something vastly different from the circled pay rate placed before him. Suddenly there was nothing but a soft ringing in his ears and silence in the room, though Narcissa’s mouth continued to move as if she were speaking. Forcing himself to focus harder on her words than the apparent aneurism inside his own head, her last words managed to make it through. Questions. Did he have any questions. How can you afford this?! Merlin’s hairy balls! He had never seen so much money before and this was the starting pay rate?! There was only a single question that came to mind and he blurted it out eagerly. “When would you need me to start?”

[Narcissa Malfoy]

Something curious flickered across the dour young man's face as she spoke of Horace and his parties, and she tucked that noticing away for another time. If Seveurs was not entirely keen on even a professor who gave him such a glowing recommendation, they may steal him away fully by the end of spring term. Although, Narcissa supposed, the Dark Lord may very well have his reasons for keeping him under Dumbledore’s nose. He would not take kindly to her "interference." Not wanting to become bristled herself, now was neither the time nor the place, she breathed through old wounds and new concerns. If Severus was as good a potioneer as he appeared, if he followed through, then they could entertain crossing such a bridge. Lucius could work such magic of his own without even raising his wand - civilized company made deals through gold and binding promises, after all - that surely, surely, they could work out a deal that worked for all involved…

The problem was not that Severus's talent was going unrecognized. Those at Hogwarts seemingly knew just what they had. And yet, and yet, they were squandering their opportunity with him. Genius couldn't be content kept away, left to revising fourth-year papers and cleaning up after particularly messy practicals. Even if the lad didn't want to waste away over a cauldron his whole life…the apothecary could at least pay him for it, and deliver on advancement when the time was right. And then the question remained…What promises did he make you? She would have known his name during their upbringings if the family was anyone of consequence, and it was not often that the Dark Lord pursued someone outside of the sacred few. Yes, Severus obviously had his skills - but she could hardly imagine Rabastan making note of a halfblood, no matter how talented, while they overlapped at school. And none in his year had a selfless bone to split among them, surely they had not risked their placement by making such an introduction. If Lucius knew, she would find out over dinner. And if not…worth pursuing. She was well on her way to gaining his gratitude. Next - trust and loyalty.

Narcissa handed him the information on pay, and while she kept on about benefits and his future, his attention was seemingly fully on the parchment in his hands. He lifted his head again at her question, and she smiled. It was rare for a new potioneer to be anything less than grateful for their generosity - too many were taken advantage of elsewhere - and she'd found it was well worth it. The pay was equivalent with the quality their name stood for, and the good witches and wizards of London knew their prices were fair. Substandard product could be purchased for less at Bobbin's, after all.

"I can have papers drawn up and flown over as early as Monday," Narcissa replied, "and you can begin as soon as you sign." She paused, steepling her hands as she looked across to her - surely, not too early to presume - new employee. "Of course, a few details need ironing out before we begin this - how did you put it? - mutually beneficial venture. I understand you have multiple irons in the fire. What hours do you imagine being able to keep here?"