Chat 129 ( Hook line and sinker)

As expected as soon as I started talking about the various recipes that I had prepared Slughorn's eyes lit up. All the things that I had prepared for him were not anything really that special but they did blow anything that the prince family had produced out of the waters. 

Meaning while these potions were not anything special to me they certainly had an attractive pull towards Slughorn. Perhaps I was not giving these potions enough credit but when I brewed a literal luck goddess it was hard to get excited about it potion that encouraged plant growth. 

“These are absolutely wonderful Severus! You have really spent your time out of Hogwarts well. I’m tempted to leave you to your device for the betterment of the magical community but you are young and Hogwarts should still be capable of teaching you a trick or two.” Slughorn shot out with stars in his eyes but he did not lose himself to his excitement.

It was an admirable trait as most people got caught up in the excitement of something instead of focusing on the proper facts. 

“I do miss Hogwarts. I needed the time to clear my head but coming back to the castle will bring me some comfort.” I spoke out lightly as I looked over at Slughorn. I was lying out of my ass as I had no intention of getting back to Hogwarts but Slughorn did not need to know that.

“Wonderful Severus, having you back in class near by will be exciting. I hope you won’t mind if I drag you off for some potion discussions. I may be skilled but clearly your youthful imagination is worth far more.” Slughorn spoke out as he looked over the various recipes I gave him.

That was going to be annoying but it was not like I had to go through with what he said.

“Looking forward to it Professor,” I spoke out softly with a bland smile but it did not knock down Slughorn’s excitement. 

Slughorn smiled at me for a moment before a tense expression came across his face. He looked over at me as if trying to get a measure of me. I raised an eyebrow as the sudden seriousness was out of character for the old guy.

“Severus….I know that this might be crossing some lines but why did you leave Hogwarts?” Slughorn asked hesitantly as he really looked at me. The small smile on my face faded as I looked at him.

Was he doubting me? Did he find everything I had done suspicious? He should not as he did not even know half of the things I have done since I had left Hogwarts. Dumbledore might have told him some of those things and the Dark Lord being after my head might have told him others but he still should be in the dark.

I needed him to trust me or at least trust in the notion that he had a handle on me. If he doubted me or cut ties with me it would make my further actions difficult. I needed him to my spokesmen after all.

Replacements and other strategies flashed through my mind but I was not exactly happy with any of them.

“What do you mean Professor?” I ask tensely as I needed to know how he was going to handle this situation. Slughorn could read the tension in the air and he appeared nervous but he firmed his resolve.

“I know this is not my place Severus…..but I’m assuming you left because of miss Evans. I don’t known what happened between you two but Miss Evans has been in a rather poor place since you left.” Slughorn nervously stuttered out and I blinked at his comment.

The tension and thoughts running through my mind ground to a halt. This was not about Slughorn seeing more of me than expected. He was asking one of his favourite students if he had his heart broken.

I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of this situation but that would be out of character so I dropped it.

“The rift between me and Lily widened even further and I needed some space to reevaluate the relationships I had in my life,” I spoke out quickly feeling like laughing the entire time.

Slughron fiddled with his coat as the nerves running through his frame started to fade but he was still clearly not back to that jovial man.

 “Right, I figured something like that had happened……Severus I know she might have hurt you but I know how much you care for her….I know you will regret it if you do not give her a shot at making it up to you.” Slughorn offered his advice and once again I blinked at the situation I found myself in.

I kind of wanted to blow up on him. Telling him that it was not his business who I interacted with and what I did with my time. That he had no idea what lines Lily had crossed. But my other feelings overwhelmed that spiteful part of me.

I could see where he was coming from. If I was still that Severus Snape he knew that this was solid advice. The original Severus regretted letting go of Lily for the rest of his life.

Sure the situation between them and me was far different but I could see where the old guy was coming from. Beyond that, Lily was no longer that atom bomb that had my insides boiling in either rage or obsession.

“Thanks, Professor. I had a talk with Lily when she got back home during the summer. Things are not going to be the same between us but I am slowly letting her back in my life.” I explained as the reality of the situation was a good enough explanation for Slughorn.

Slughorn let out a relieved sigh and the tension in his frame started to bleed out. I was sure he did not want to have this conversation but he wanted to look out for my best interest.

The potion master also had other plays in this field. While I was one of Slughorn’s favourite students Lily also placed rather close to that position. In fact the old guy probably liked her better as she was easier to get along with. That might change with the potion recipes he was going to present for me but for now Lily was one of his main concerns.

Considering the state I found her in, well I could see why he wanted us to mend bridges for both of are sakes.

“Now let’s get back to discussing the potions Professor,” I spoke out trying to change the subject.

The light came back to Slughorns eye so I figured I did an okay job at that. Slughorn talked my ear off about the various recipes I had shown him but he made no move to use these things. The guy figured it was just me showing him the recipes to get his input.

“The majority of this I had already tested and they work as I had described do you think I can garner some interest in the association?” I asked Slughorn trying to ease my way into this conversation.

Slughorn paused for a moment before he let out a large laugh.

“If you can show even half of this off Severus the association would probably throw your master credentials at you.” Slughorn let out with some mirth. I wanted to roll my eyes as a single one of these potions would have gotten me that but I had to play the humble but nervous student.

“Great! When things calm down I’ll present my findings. I can’t really leave my place at the moment” I let out excitedly even if this whole business was rather boring.

“Ah, the darklord business. Yes, I can see how that would put a stop to you showing up publicly.” Slughorn let out nervously as he fidgeted around. Honestly, with how he was acting I was surprised Tom did not track him down and chain him to produce potions.

Maybe I was not giving him enough credit as he was a verified potions master but his attitude was so cowardly. I was wondering if he would even want to do what I asked of him.

“It has made things rather difficult….Can you present my findings to the association for me professor? I would rather get an income from this. You know how poor my finances are.” I asked with pleading in my eyes. The downtrodden poor boy act being presented to perfection.

Slughorn appeared even more nervous and he looked like he was going to reject my request even if the greed in his eyes was clear.

I suppose even the promise of connections and the knowledge of having me in his pocket would not be worth the hassle of Tommy boy being more invested in him. The Dark Lord already needed to take care of Slughorn as he knows about the Dark Lord making his soul anchors.

Add the connection to me and Slughorn became an even more vital target.

“There is also one more potion recipe I needed to show you….I was just nervous about presenting it to the association so early but if you do it for me then those nerves would fade. I was unsure if they would have accepted something like this from my mouth….it’s rather big.” I spoke out like a nervous teenager dreading the notion of public speaking.

The rejection that was brewing on Slughorn's lips died for a moment as my words dragged some interest from him. The potions I had presented were already game changing and I was about to bring up something even larger.

Well, that was a far too tempting notion for Slughorn to shoot down with a rejection. He could always reject me after he heard me out after all.

I looked around nervously as if afraid of others hearing our conversation. Again I wanted to roll my eyes at my act but it had to happen like this.

“Before I had left Hogwarts the headmaster allowed me to study his Phoniex and after months of research on the bird I managed to artificially produce Phoniex tears through my brewing skills.” I whispered out as I took out the recipe and the vial of potion out.

I could see that what I was saying to Slughorn was too shocking. That he did not even think for a moment that I would have brought up something like this. Sure it was not the miracle of Fortuna or the potion that upgraded my Alpha Stigmata but it was still amazing.

Phoenix Tears were known to bring back anyone from the brink of death after all. No diseases or injuries could stand up to the sheer recovering might of the tears. The fact that Harry was able to be bitten by a baslik and survive because of those tears was just another example.

Once the shock faded out of Slughorn's eyes I knew I had him hooked. The guy was going to sing my tune for me just to have his name remembered along with mine. Sure the whole magical world would sing praises on my name but by presenting this they would know that Horace Slughorn taught Severus Snape.