Time Travel

Chapter 19

"Where to?" Severus asked James, who blinked confused for a moment before understanding that Severus was asking about which shop they are going to return the ring. 

"Celestial Alley." James answered as they started walking towards the Alley. He was holding the ring in his hand with a complicated expression. He spent so much time and money to buy this ring for her, money is not that important, but he thought he loved her, he thought she loved him, he wanted to give her the best. He didn't realize at that time that she was giving him hints about the type of ring, she wants and just noted down her likes in his mind and bought a thick platinum ring with a big diamond in middle and eight small diamonds surrounding it. 

"James?" Severus touched his arm making him snap out of his thoughts. "What's wrong? I called you a few times, but you were lost in thoughts looking at the ring."

James put the ring back in his pocket and smiled at Severus. "It's nothing." James said and Severus didn't push him, but he didn't like the thought of James feeling bad about Lily or missing her. He shook his head lightly to clear his thoughts, why would James feel bad about her or miss her? She never loved him neither did he. He was given love potions to fall in love with her. 

"What do you do?" James asked Severus suddenly and Severus looked at him confused. "I mean, job or something like that?"

"I brew potions for St Mungo's and potion store at Knockturn Alley. St Mungo's, only when their potions master is not available, but the store at Knockturn Alley, I supply regularly." Severus said and James nodded. 

"So, why don't you open your own store?" James suggested. 

"I don't want to have a burden of managing a store." Severus said sighing as if it is a huge burden.

"Mmm, why don't you become the potions master of our store in Diagon Alley? I can give you 50% share." James said and Severus looked at him surprised. 

"You have a store?" Severus blurted out. 

"I brought a store for safe-side. I'm an auror, I don't know what dangerous missions are in store for me. So, if something happens to me making me unable to walk or something like that, I don't have to worry about my family as I have a side-income through the store." James said and Severus frowned. 

"Why do you have to worry? Potters are rich." Severus said and James shrugged not looking at him.

"I don't want my wife to say that I'm so lazy and only live on my parents' money." He answered in a small voice. 

"Did Lily say that to you?" Severus asked and the silence answered it. Severus was angry at her for saying such thing to James. She was the one who wanted to live on James' parents money. He has every right to spend his parent's money. He is their heir while she is nothing to the Potters. 

"So, what do you think?" James asked him. 

"What about?" Severus asked him. 

"My proposal. 50-50?" James asked him as he stopped in front of the jewelry store waiting for Severus' answer. Severus didn't say anything for a long time, he is only paid for the potions he is making right now without any profits. Also, there is no guarantee that they will forever keep him as the potions master. "Well, I can make an agreement with the Gringotts, if you don't believe me. It will be unbreakable so that you don't have to worry that if we have any fights in the future and I will remove you as the potions master-"

"James." Severus was amused at his rambling making James blush lightly. "I don't need the agreement, I trust you. I agree."

"Really?" James smiled at him and nodded to himself. "But, still business and friendship shouldn't be mixed. We can go to Gringotts after this."