Sorcerer's Sweets

Chapter One: Put a Ring on It

Severus Snape had grown up knowing about Alpha's and Omega's, due to his mother's Pureblood heritage, and diligence when it came to explaining both the ins and outs of the Wizarding World to her only child. The conversations were like stories at bedtime, which was one of the few luxuries that Tobias Snape permitted for his son, although they stopped once he entered primary school, as he was soon as "too old". Of course, Eileen Snape had continued telling Severus about the Wizarding World in secret, and how it had brought great shame to her family when she, an Omega, and, therefore, a prize, mated herself to a Muggle drunkard who worked at a mill, and spent every spare quid he had down at the pub. When Severus presented as an Alpha during his fifth-year at Hogwarts, after James' gang had taken his pants off for everyone to see, Severus, who had heard Eileen telling him about soulmates when it came to Alpha's and Omega's, vowed to one day find his.

When Severus awoke from his magically-induced coma in the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts, he was very surprised. Not only due to the fact that he had lived, but Harry Potter still lived as well, and Lord Voldemort was, once and for all, dead and gone from their world for good. Further surprises came in the form of Minerva and Poppy, as well as the other Heads of House, rushing to his side and apologizing for the nasty things they'd said and believed about him for a great many years. He had been stunned to discover that the Young Man Who Lived had shared his pensive memories with them, plus Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had been elected interim Minister of Magic, and that he had been subsequently cleared of all charges—once the trial was over, that is, which Severus truly believed was a publicity stunt, if nothing else.

Severus had begged off the festivities that lasted for weeks, and formally handed over his position to Minerva, before he ventured to his rooms and packed his belongings, taking particular care with his rare books and expensive potions ingredients. With handing over the reigns of Hogwarts to Minerva also came his resignation from the school, and he made quick work of getting out of there as quickly as possible. His first stop was to Spinner's End, where he salvaged what he could from the decrepit property, before obtaining an urgent appointment at Gringotts in Diagon Alley.

Once he met with his goblin, Severus put his childhood home on the market, and was pleased that they were more than willing to take care of the sale of the house for him. He was further surprised to discover that a provision in Albus's will had been set aside for him, only to be acquired in the event of Voldemort's death, and if Severus lived. Very nearly rolling his eyes at the craftiness of it all, Severus was shocked to discover that the provision was an elegantly appointed cottage, located in the South Downs of West Sussex.

Severus learned that the cottage had impressive wards, a basement area which could turn out to be a fine potions lab, a library filled to the brim with ancient books of both the wixen and Muggle genres, as well as a brilliant gardens in which to harvest both potions ingredients, herbs, and fresh vegetables. Around the back of the property was a lovely orchard, which included apples, pears, fig, cherry, peach, and dirigible plum trees, and a spectacularly appointed greenhouse, which just so happened to be of the wizarding variety. Severus thanked the goblin and expressed his wish to move in as soon as possible, so the goblin handed over the ancient key and congratulated the man on his freedom. Severus took the Floo to his new home, called Augurey Auberge, and looked around, very satisfied indeed with the startling, yet welcome, turn of events.

In the weeks that followed, Severus established an owl-order potions business called Prince's Potions, and was soon gaining many contracts from the Hogwarts infirmary, to St. Mungo's, to the Ministry of Magic itself. Severus had planted the garden outside to get the rarest potions ingredients he could in that environment, as well as cleaned out the house and set his own books in the library as well. It was a lovely place, he mused to himself as summer went on, and he was quite pleased not to have to return to Hogwarts in the autumn. Now, he truly had all the time in the world, and no one was there to bother him.