30 A Good Deal is a Successful Deal
"Ancient Potions?" Sebastian nodded, realizing that what he suggested could be a double-edged sword.
"I have the potion recipes, and I can guarantee their effects," he assured. "However, gathering the ingredients may be a little difficult."
"If they can be found in places that are explorable, I can procure them," Lucius affirmed, a hint of greed visible in his eyes. "But what are these potions?"
One reason Lucius wanted to contact Sebastian was to possibly uncover something about his heritage and gain something invaluable.
He was receiving just that, albeit for a price, yet considerably cheap when compared to the potions.
"That will depend," Sebastian said. "Which types are the most popular?"
This made Lucius think for a while. "Every potion can be popular, but despite that, there are three types that always stand out."
Sebastian looked at the man with curious eyes. "Which ones?"
"Healing potions are always in demand, and the better the effects, the better the sales," Lucius said, recalling a recent purchase of healing potions. "Another type is those used by combatants."
"Like the Aurors?"
"Exactly like the Aurors," Malfoy said. "Most Aurors deal with gruesome situations and end up getting injured, so they require a lot of healing potions."
Sebastian understood why. Spells could heal injuries, but for Aurors who used extensive magic in battle, they barely had the energy to heal themselves. Healing potions were extremely useful for them.
"But that's not the only type of potion they purchase," Lucius added. "Aurors often buy damaging or buffing potions, sometimes even more than healing potions."
Now, Sebastian wondered. 'That... does make sense,' he mused. 'We don't usually use such potions when dueling, but Aurors, being protectors dealing with monsters and dark wizards, have no need to care about honor.'
"I might have just the potions you'd like then," Sebastian smirked. "And I have materials to create a farm for even more ingredients."
'Is this boy really just eleven?' Lucius was baffled. 'No matter how much a child is taught, they surely cannot be this adult-like.' He wondered what Salazar might have done to end up with a grandson of such maturity and intelligence.
"But you mentioned three types of popular potions," the heir raised a curious eyebrow. "What is the third?"
This brought Lucius back to his senses. "Ah, the third."
He was still amazed by the boy in front of him but couldn't show it on his face.
"The third is possibly the most popular of the potions," he regained his composure. "And of course," he showed an opportunistic smile, "I'm talking about beauty potions."
Sebastian instantly realized what Lord Malfoy was suggesting.
"Beauty as in clear skin and anti-aging?" he asked, almost certain he knew what the man meant.
"And more," Lucius explained. "Beauty potions, whether anti-aging, wrinkle removal, clear skin potions, or even charisma-increase potions, are possibly the most sold potions of all time."
'He isn't wrong,' Sebastian immediately recalled the extensive efforts the rich and powerful spent to look just a little better was astounding. 'Especially the high-class women.'
Women were possibly the biggest consumers of beauty and appearance-based potions.
Even a thousand years back, it was the same.
'Some things just never change, do they?'
"And do you have anything that can target that side of the market?" Lucius asked, growing repeatedly more interested in Sebastian.
"I do," Sebastian replied almost instantly. "If anything, I think I possibly have the best potions for that."
The man who was previously interested was now drooling at the thought of the possible potions.
"But this offer and these potions only hold if you agree to my requests," Sebastian said, emptying the bowl of gummy bears and instantly looking depressed at the realization that there was none left.
Lucius took a deep breath, understanding that he definitely wasn't getting anything for free. It was going to cost him quite a bit, especially land, which was precious for his family.
"Land is a symbol of status among the purebloods, and it is near impossible to acquire land from a pureblood, no matter what they are presented with," Lucius stared at Sebastian. "No matter how much money they are offered."
"That is why it is not just money that I am offering, not just a business I am offering," Sebastian showed a confident smile. "It is respect that I am offering."
And that's when Lucius laughed.
A laugh of defeat. "And that is possibly why I am agreeing."
This immediately made the heir grin, realizing that he had obtained something grand.
'It has cost me a lot, and I will also have to go through grandfather's book rather fast to get to advanced potions, but at least the current potions and ingredients I own are enough for this deal to hold.'
"A foolish man cannot climb to the top of the world of politics," Sebastian said, extending his hand. "And this proves why you stand as high as you do."
The lord laughed, "One has to know when a deal is profitable, and if you lose that deal despite knowing its value… Then you do not deserve the deal to begin with."
Sebastian nodded, "Good to do business with you, Lord Malfoy."
"Likewise, Heir of Slytherin," the lord said, turning his head to the empty bowl. "And before you leave, I would like it if you take a few packets of gummy bears."
"Really?"
At that moment, Sebastian possibly felt more happy about acquiring the gummies than the deal in its entirety.
"Really."
…
…
[Cafeteria, Hogwarts]
"And do you think it was Snape?" Ron asked, looking at his frizzy-haired friend.
"The moment we burnt his robe, Harry regained control over his broom," Hermione said adamantly. "It was definitely him."
Ron shrugged, "It does make sense."
While he knew that it was possibly the only explanation, he felt that something was a little off about the whole situation. In a way, Harry felt the same suspicion.
"Wasn't it a bit... too easy?" the boy asked. "Everything was solved a little too easily, which makes me feel a little uneasy."
Harry couldn't explain or put it into words as to why he felt that, but something just wasn't right.
"It was because he didn't expect us to be there," Hermione said confidently. "He didn't expect to be caught so easily."
Harry and Ron both nodded at that, as though it might have been wrong –but at that moment, it made the most sense, and Hermione was often right in such cases, so they didn't think much about it.
"I was lucky that Madam Pomfrey was there to heal my hand," Harry said, shuddering from recalling the pain of his broken hand.
"You were lucky."
"Definitely."
Ron and Hermione both agreed, knowing that instead of breaking his hand, he might have even broken his neck, and then even Madam Pomfrey wouldn't have been able to help him.
But as they talked about the day's events, including the match –The ginger speculated something.
"By any chance..." Ron looked at his frown. "Considering the good relationship with Snape, do you think Sebastian is with Snape on these things?"
This immediately made his friends go quiet, as while they wanted to deny it, they couldn't do so.
Why?
Because Sebastian did seem to be on awfully good terms with Snape — something that even Draco couldn't manage to do.
"Sebastian... Do you think he is involved in this?"
Harry repeated the same question, but this time it wasn't Ron or Hermione that responded.
"I am on what again?"
But the Heir of Slytherin himself.
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[[A/N: Read 100+ Advanced Chapters (summation of all stories) ahead of WN on Patreon.
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P.S. Something new and different will be posted on the 17th of this month (Something I have not done before).
That is also why I did not post for the past few days. Been working on that + re-reading my other old stories that I have not posted in months. (Read P.P.S)
P.P.S. I am writing most of the other old stories as well, and I will post them on WN once they are completed on Patreon. One of the stories will end there soon (I won't say the name of it, but there is not much left —like an arc and a half at max of that story).
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