HP - Shadow Monarch!

Chapter 136 - A Week with the Greengrass Family.

[Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]

Third Person POV

London.

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Snape left the room with Mr. Greengrass some time later; their conversations had not ended after Snape's revelation. They continued for another hour in private discussion.

Eventually, Snape retired to the room prepared for him. As he rested, the following morning, Clarisse called him early, and he accompanied her to where her parents were being served by their house-elf.

"Good morning, Mr. Snape. I'm sure my husband kept you in his office far too long, didn't he?" she asked with a friendly smile.

"Not too much, dear. We had a very productive conversation yesterday. I'm quite impressed with Snape's capabilities," Albert commented.

"Really? Like what?" Clarisse asked as she sat in her chair, watching Snape in silence.

"Well, Snape and I struck a deal. He plans to sell potions, and we've agreed to become his suppliers. Based on the project he outlined, this could be a very fruitful partnership," Albert explained.

"Really?" Clarisse repeated, her tone laced with curiosity as her mother also looked on in surprise.

"Yes. Anyway, let's eat. We can discuss this further later," he said, and everyone nodded in agreement, returning to their meal.

"Would it be alright if I used a part of the house to brew potions while I'm here?" Snape asked after breakfast.

"Of course. Clarisse, why don't you show him our little garden shed? He can use that space. Also, feel free to use anything you need from our garden; we won't charge you for it," Albert said, to which Snape nodded.

Clarisse led him outside, showing him the area. Snape inspected it carefully, deciding he wouldn't spend his days idly until Christmas. Meanwhile, Clarisse watched him quietly.

"Do you need any equipment? We have a cauldron," she asked.

"That would be quite helpful. I left mine at my current residence," Snape replied. Clarisse nodded and called for her house-elf, who promptly teleported the family's cauldron into the shed.

"Since you'll be brewing potions, I'll take this chance to study the plants more," she said with an excited tone.

Snape watched her leave before starting to organize his tools. Yet, his gaze lingered thoughtfully on the girl. After all, there was something he and her father had discussed the previous night.

'So you want us to ally ourselves in this war by staying neutral, avoiding taking any side, but rather ensuring our survival...?' Snape had asked the man after hearing his thoughts, now that he knew Snape was the wizard killing other wizards in England.

'Yes... We must unite against this. As I said, I have no desire to join You-Know-Who, nor do I wish to align with Dumbledore,' Albert replied, and Snape nodded as he considered his reasoning.

'And that's why you're proposing...' Snape began, watching him closely.

'Yes, I propose an engagement between my daughter and you,' Albert had said.

'This is unusual. I may be talented in many ways, but I'm not significant in the magical community. Your daughter is the sole heir of your family. How do you expect me to believe something like this?' Snape responded with a dangerous tone. The proposal seemed far too suspicious. He had to be realistic—within the wizarding world, he was merely a talented half-blood with no political power, something great families valued above all else.