Second chance a new choice

Prince

"You're going to the Ministry? Do you want me to come with you?" said Lily from her chair near the living room couch.

"No, you don't have to do that." Severus gathered a stack of parchments. You've spent far too much time just sitting with me since I got here.

"Oh... all right..." Lily closed her book and set it aside. Not three minutes later, as Severus pulled on his shoes, there was a knock at the front door, and Lily rushed to get it. "Emmeline, you're here already?" Her voice rose in excitement. "Let me grab my purse. Mom, Dad, Emmeline's here," she called into the house.

"Okay, honey. Don't be gone too long," Mrs. Evans replied from the kitchen.

Lily poked her head into the living room. "Bye, Sev. Have fun at the Ministry."

He nodded his goodbye. Probably going to meet up with more of her friends from school and do all the things she's wanted to do but didn't because of me. He left shortly after Lily and Emmeline with a polite goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Petunia rolled her eyes at him but didn't make any snide remarks.

He entered the Ministry atrium alone.

"Oh, dear!" A kind-faced witch stopped him not far inside. "Your shoulder is bruised to the bone. Do you want me to fix it before you go back to the muggles?"

She must think... He adjusted his borrowed clothes. I'd have bought my own clothes if I had the money. I suppose the unhealed injuries don't help. Though she's not completely wrong to think I'm muggleborn. "That's very kind," said Severus with a grateful smile. Warmth spread through his shoulder and the sore ache vanished. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear. What are healers for? Though you must excuse me." The witch smiled and continued across the atrium as if she'd done nothing at all.

Magic is a wonderful thing. Strange I haven't missed it much so far. He approached the registration counter, parchment stack tucked under his arm.

The wizard ahead of him in line looked like a colorful beetle with his spectacled eyes that peered from beneath a tall, purple hat's brim, graying hair that poked in all directions, and wizarding robes patched together in a hodgepodge of colors and patterns. "I swear, this time It's a work of genius!" He gestured at the witch who sat behind the desk. "Wizards and witches the world over will appreciate it."

"Sure." The clerk raised a brow and held back an eye roll. "But until you find a use for the Confindupolan, you can keep the genius to yourself."

"Fine..." The colorfully clad wizard snorted and snatched his parchment from the desk. "I know it's brilliant. You'll see!"

The witch's attention turned to Severus, and the annoyance in her eyes remained. "What've you got, kid? A genius prankster charm that'll go down in the history of magic and give you some pocket money?"

"No, madam," said Severus. "I'd like to remain anonymous as this potion's creator."

"Oh?" Interest replaced the witch's irritation.

Severus handed her the parchment. "Wolfsbane potion. It's not a cure for lycanthropy, but it considerably eases the condition."

The witch scanned the description at the top of the page. "Why, Mr. Snape, is it? This... is useful. Thoughtful." She studied the formula. "This looks complicated. I'm afraid I have no idea how it's supposed to work." The clerk flipped to the detailed description of how the potion functioned. "Oi! Calvin!" she shouted over her should. "Come look at this. It might be the genuine thing of the year."