INHERITANCE

Severus is sixteen, and his life feels like a disgrace. School is a nightmare, and home life isn’t any better. His teachers don’t trust him, his classmates despise him, and the Marauders make his existence a complete hell. The only way out is following a deluded blood supremacist, but that changes when Professor Slughorn offers him an opportunity that will ultimately transform his life. What a turn of events this becomes!
Welcome to the life of Severus di Salvori.

Chapter Text

END OF FIFTH YEAR

The semester has been incredibly difficult for Severus. First, the mini Death Eaters were pressuring him to attend meetings with the Dark Lord. On top of that, the schoolwork has been overwhelming. Lily is almost convinced he is evil and has made her opinions on the matter quite clear. Of course, the insufferable Marauders are determined to make his life a living hell.

So far, he has been hexed, vexed, burned, humiliated, discredited, and made downright miserable. He has his own bed in the hospital wing and is becoming quite familiar with Madame Pomfrey. He gave up long ago on seeking help from the staff; every time he accused the Marauders, he was simply sent back to his dorm with a note and had points taken away for lying and making false accusations. As a result, he had to learn how to defend himself. Although he still got seriously hurt, at least he was able to retaliate in some way.

The O.W.L. year was insane; the professors seemed to have no other concern than making students complete enormous amounts of research and homework. This wouldn’t have been a problem if he hadn’t had to constantly hide from the Marauders and the mini Death Eaters. The Marauders were hiding something—something big, and he knew it. He spent more time than he should have trying to uncover what it was. Some might say he was being foolish, but their behavior felt too serious for his comfort; they were not typically serious people.

He should have suspected something when Sirius approached him, saying that if he wanted to know more, he just needed to meet him late at night at the base of the Whomping Willow. Despite this, he didn’t take the hint. He had been following them for the past four months and had found nothing, yet his curiosity ultimately overpowered his caution, and he decided to go.

Sirius showed him how to enter, and the passage led to a house outside the school grounds—apparently, it was called the Shrieking Shack. As he listened to the inhumane screams emanating from within, his senses went wild. He turned to go back, but Sirius insisted it was nothing and called him, in his own words, “such a little scummy coward.” Reluctantly, he pressed on, although he was unprepared for what he would see. An enormous monster, no not just a monster a werewolf, the creature saw him immediately and went after him in the haze he didn’t even realize that Sirius had disappeared his body didn’t react he froze in place for a second then he started throwing curses to the creature, the blasting curse hit the wall and the debris slowed the creature down, he then shouted a expulso curse immediately followed by a conjuntivitis curse that thankfully both curses hit the beast and thrown it to the wall, and he turned to run only to be immediately thrown to the sideby a strong blow to his right side, his body hit the wall with strong enough force to nock him out but he knew he couldnt lose conscience now, he tried to move unsucessifully, then something pass through him he didn’t make what it was, he didn’t notice when someone or something started to drag him down back through the tunel, the beast was nowhere to be seen and he passed out.

Only when he was back to the base of the whopping willow and drew a big breath that he realized he wasn’t breathing, he then turned to see who was screaming, Black and Potter ‘where did potter come from?’ were gesticulating wildly and screaming at one another, and then it hit him, Snape was many bad things but not stupid he connected the sick leaves at every full moon, the irritation state days before, the weak state he always was after coming from the hospital wing, Lupin, Remus Lupin was a werewolf and the rest of the marauders knew, Sirius Black has tried to kill him, not a prank not a play this was an attempt to murder and Snape has had enough.

He didn’t stop to listen, he didn't care, he stormed to the castle, not minding the hour, nor the boys running towards him, he stopped in front of the gargoyle, demanding to see the headmaster. It let him in; the other two followed.

Two hours later, he came out, he lost again, the headmaster not just didn’t believe him but demanded that he keep Lupin’s secret, he even went as far as to imply that Potter had saved his life! Damn it all! He was going to finish the the bloody school and to hell every thing that could distract him, coming to this school was a miracle in his miserable life, the marauders were the hell for him, nobody believed him, and he was seen as nothing but a greasy, weird git, even his best friend believed he was a dark wizard in the making without salvation, but he was going to prove them wrong, he was going to create the future he wanted for himself, and nothing was going to stand in his way.

***

Nobody saw much of Severus Snape for the remainder of the term, he was not sleeping in his room, not that anyone cared, everyone hated him, he was not seen for nearly 2 months not even during the meals, he would come to class, and then disappear again, the O.W.L.s came and go he finished all his exams without a note from anyone, right after the last practical exam, defense against the dark arts, though someone caught him, professor Sluggorn.

“Severus, my dear boy!” Severus tried hard not to finch.

“Good morning, professor.”

“Pray, I’ve been looking for you for weeks! You are a hard one to find mister Snape, I have something somewhat important to discuss with you before the end of the term, if you could so kindly follow me to my room” the professor started moving without waiting for him, the man has always made clear he didn’t think much of Severus, he did value his brewing but never tried to hide how much his upbringing and overall image disgust him.

Severus followed, more to avoid the trouble meeting other students finishing their exams than out of curiosity, the professor never showed him any interest, despite him being the best potions student of the entire school, he was always outshined by either the pureblooded lone heir or the brilliant young muggle raised Gryffindor princess, Severus loved Lily and he never really tried to hide that fact, much to the annoyance of a certain gryffindor, but there was no denying he was years better than her at potions, he knew he was even better than the professor himself, but was never acknowledged hence his lack of curiosity.

That was the reason the strike was so great.

“So, my boy, what do you say? Will you accept?”

Professor Sluggorn had spent the last hour telling Snape that a potion’s master came to him for an apprentice, and believed he would benefit from an apprentice like him, bold and clever, he said that the Master, Raves, was a man that shared that same qualities and was getting apprentices for the second time with hope to bring real talent to the guild, the man was a golden caldron himself and proud of his inventions. Sluggorn insisted that he couldn’t think of anyone else to recommend, so he came with the potions master letter, inviting him to his apprenticeship program, everything paid as long as the boy agreed to share the royalties of all and any inventions he created during the program.

Snape was a slytherin through and through, he knew he would lose a lot if he took the offer, potions that was supposed to belong to him would be shared with the said master, but he was intelligent enough to understand that this opportunity wouldn’t come twice, he couldn’t pay for the program, not in his dreams, this was the best he could have, plus some of the best of his creations were already completed he doubted that even him could go further, so that was very little he would have to give up had he said yes, and that was his answer.

“Yes, professor, I really appreciate the opportunity. I won’t disappoint you,” even though he thought the man didn’t really have any expectations about him.

“Great! I’ll write to him immediately.”

Snape thanked him again and rushed through the door; he knew better than to hang around when there was clearly nothing else to say.

He didn’t bother to come outside; he had no friends, and even though he had something to celebrate, he had no one to share the news with, so he went to the room of requirement where he had been settled those past months and sat thinking. He had just one week, and he would be taking a portkey to Paris. He thought he could at least learn some French while waiting; the room provided him with the needed books, and he settled down to study. It was enough to calm down some of his thoughts to calm down.

Chapter 2 Chapter Text

NEW WORLD

Severus took one of the earliest carriages, wanting and successfully avoiding all his enemies, he got to the station in no time and got one of the smallest cabins, two seventh year boys came in and they were already full, for which he was grateful, he rode the entire trip in comfort and wasn’t bothered once, when they’ve reached king’s cross, he didn’t as much wondered thinking about going home, his mother wasn’t there and his father was probably drunk, he took a bus straight to the ministry of magic where his portkey would leave in less than five hours, he took advantage of the time he had, he needed to be minimally presentable, so he took the little money he had to buy something to eat at the Leaky Caldron and went to buy a few pieces of clothing, he didn't have enough money for a complete new wardrobe buy Malfoy and other slytherin hap paid him to complete simple potions for them in the past so he had enough for some basic clothing, a few trousers and shirts, a simple set of robes and a pair of shoes.

He had little trouble getting to the international departures department; all he had to do now was wait. He was nervous obviously, but also excited probably more than he have since finding out that he would go to Hogwarts, when the time for the Paris-France portkey be activated he was somehow fidgety, he arrived at France and went straight to the location the potion’s master had indicated in his letter, a small hotel to the north of of the city, close enough to the potion’s master labs so he could easily go by foot, he checked into his room and took a long shower before he could review his paperwork and presentation, after he double checked everything he went out for dinner, and came back early for a good night of sleep, he needed to be in his best shape in the first day, he wanted to leave a good impression, at least here nobody knew him, of course professor Slughorn probably said things about him to his master but he could try. He was determined to, and he also wanted to show gratitude to Master Raves for giving him this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He woke up early, took a short shower in which he made sure to wash his hair with a special creation of his that prevented the hair from getting greasy and dirt from the potion making, something that he didn’t bother using at Hogwarts since the greasy hair seemed to keep people from interacting with him, and then dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers and the new robes he indulged himself with, dark green long robes that had a silver lining running from the bottom to the top..

He was one of the first to arrive, for what he gathered from the letter he received from his master there would be 5 apprentices, two American aging from 20 to 25, one French student by the age of 18 and then he and another girl his age, there were no information about her but if she was his age at least she was daring and competent, or at least he hoped, she didn’t arrive until the beginning of the self presentations, so he supposed she might not be so good.

-Avalon POV-

Avalon Maavi Rose was young, beautiful, talented, powerful and well connected too, one could say that she had everything and she would hardly be the first to disagree, she has come to France to start her early potions apprenticeship with one of the potions guild gold caldron master, Raves, he was well known for his daring and innovative research, especially when it comes to healing and medical potions, and only took few apprentices from time to time last she heard he took one apprentice some fourth years ago, and she was selected very young she was fifteen and she would not waste her chance, no way she would mess up her first day, except she did, of course.

Avalon could be extremely confident in her abilities but she have been through enough new starts to feel the pressure of it, she had moved from school to school every since she was five, from England, to America and then France, south and North Africa, China, Japan and then Brazil, and every time she arrive to a new place her name had preceded her, and people would treat her as a threat or an enemy, she was nervous and she couldn’t sleep and refused to take a potion to help, she knew the risks very well so she went to bed around 3 am, and of course she lost track of time so now she is 30 minutes late for the first meet of with master Raves and praying to all deities she´s not alone in her disgrace.

But the gods had better or, for this matter, worse plans.

“Fuck me,” she whispered to herself.

She was late and alone, so she drew a long breath and went along with it; she knocked and entered the room. A boy, possibly her age, was starting his self-introduction, she quickly apologised for interrupting as well as being late, and found herself a seat at the round table.

The boy, Snape cleared his throat and continued after a little scowl, he was tall and pale, he had long black hair and equally if not even more black eyes and a big crooked nose “I´m a fifth-year student of Hogwarts and I'm pursuing my mastery in potions because I believe it to be the finest of the magical arts and I believe I can help advance the standard potions literature as well as create potions that can revolutionize the research on diseases and curses and became the youngest person to earn the title”. The boy was ambitious and was her age, too, interesting.

“Thanks, mister Snape, miss Rose,” the master called, after a short pause to fully acknowledge the bold speech the boy just gave, he was clearly impressed, “I think it is your turn now”.

“Of course, master,” she stood and said. “First, I’d like to apologise for my tardiness. My name is Avalon Rose. I'm coming from my fifth year at CasteloBruxo magical school in South America. I wish to become the youngest in the century with both potions and spell crafting masteries.”

The rest of the meeting went relatively well, Master Raves introduced them to some of the potions he was working on as well as to his rules and expectations, the rules few but the expectations many, the potions master only two rules was to be bold and daring and not to use the lab or the potions to cause harm to each other, but he expected them to work above hours, to be extremely detailed to present every change and expected results with each potion, to made throughout research before try-outs, he also wanted for them to specify the methods and techniques used, everyone seemed nervous at those statements but for Ava and the Hogwarts boy.

They started brewing that very day, the professor asked them to make a few batches of the Wound-Cleaning Potion and the Draught of Living Death, no doubt to test them in their skills and experience, Avalon had no problem making the potions working with easy, what really made her nervous was the Hogwarts boy, not just he was making both potions at the same time but his ingredients were prepared with incredible precision, he was calmly making notes and labeling every vial with precise instructions for its uses, it was beautiful work she had to admit, the boy was in his element perfectly calm and steady, he had his long hair tied in a knot at the top of his head, she wasn’t the only one who noticed, the potions master was clearly and pleasantly impressed, and the other apprentices were dumbfounded. The boy, on the other hand, seemed to be completely unaware of the attention.

After they’ve finished and delivered their batches, no doubt they've made the best potions. His Wound-Cleaning potion was the perfect purple color, and the tests ran smoothly, the same with his Draught of Living Death.

“Good, very good indeed” Master Raves started “all of you made an excellent work, I’ll be reviewing your notes and I’ll have the assessments concluded by next week, I’ll leave you to research the properties and possible uses of Aconite and Lobalug Venom, before you leave I have my last and most important discoveries in those patch of parchments on the desk by the door. I expect you to have a good understanding of my work by our next meeting. I understand that it is hard work, but I personally chose you because I was told you were hardworking and daring.” The Master eyed them carefully. “You are dismissed”. Everyone moved to the door to get the papers; they had taken a vow to protect the master’s secrets.

“Mister Snape, if you can have a word”

***

“Master,” he accepted the invitation to a chair next to the potions master's table.

“Your work was incredible just now. Horace has told me all about you, of course, but you’ve outdone your fame. I’m convinced you’ll be a great potioneer and potion master in no time. I don't think I can teach you much more, but I hope we can work together to great results.” Severus' face heated; he was unaccustomed to being praised.

“Thank you, Master Raves, I’m aware of the importance of the opportunity I was given, and I’ll do my best to make you proud of my work.”

“That you’ll do I'm certain, and about the circumstances about your apprenticeship I just want to make clear that I do not wish to use your skills and rob your workI’ve been doing this long enough to understand the importance of one’s work, I merely want to work with you and take credit to any part I play in each potion created by the both us, for that reason I need you to review this documents” he handed the boy a handful of parchment “this are contracts of potion making and patenting laws, see the reason why I like your work to be so well documented is because I believe that my students are capable of creating great things, that way your work will be easily proved and approved to get a patent under your names”

Snape was shocked into silence. He expected to be used to get what he wanted and had made peace with the fact, except it was not a fact, was it? The potions master was drawing lines and professing that Severus' work would be solely his and that he would help, given the opportunity, which was more than he could’ve imagined possible.

“Sir, I’m really thankful, but how do I pay for my apprenticeship then?” Severus was impressed, but he was too accustomed to a life of debts to believe anything would come free to him.

“Now, Mr Snape, you will pay me by doing potions like these for my projects and allowing me to work with you on your own. Believe me, potions of this quality will surely be able to cover your expenses. Now go, you’ve been to Paris for a fortnight and you should explore a bit before starting work.”

He knew that the conversation was over and took to leave, grabbing the papers with the potions master's works, and then remembered that there was another thing he would like to say, “Sir? Is it true that Professor Slughorn chose me personally among the Hogwarts students?” He didn’t like how the question sounded petty, but he really wanted to know.

“Why mister Snape, it it very true, he did say something about you not being very sociable not a very warming and open person, but he said there was no better student to work under my name” the potions master said bluntly “ and you’ve made clear today that he was right in both matters” master Raves was serious but Snape thought he saw a shadow of a smirk on the man’s lips.

“Thank you, sir,” he said and left the room blushing slightly.

He wandered about the neighborhood for about two hours, his hotel was not far from the major attractions of the city so he was able to visit a great deal of them, he sat for a quick lunch and observed the streets, people around there didn’t seem in a rush, they were probably mostly tourists anyway, the muggles here seemed not notice how the magic worked around them, and the wixen looked comfortable living among them, their clothing were not strange to the muggles, although they didn’t advertise magic freely too.

After some time, he went back to his hotel room and got a start on the reading he was due. He got so caught up in that he failed to notice that it was already nighttime. He cast a time spell, and it showed that it was beyond midnight. He took a quick shower and went to bed.

The first month went on on calm pacing, they soon settled to a little routine of potion making and research, Severus and the Master set to work on some private potions two belonging to master Raves and one to Severus, their piece was disturbed one Saturday by the end of July, Severus got to the lab early he was supposed to oversee the other apprentices work they were working on Veritasserum and a different version of the Armotencia potion, he immediately noticed something was wrong the only person in the lab was Avalon, and she was holding herself as if in great pain and she seemed to have a breathing difficulty, he tried to approach and saw that the girl was inside of a sort of bubble and there was a distinctive pink mist inside, he tried to call her. “Miss Rose? What happened?” she turned to him, looking very pale, and her eyes widened, “Do you think you can release the protective bubble? ”He tried again, the girl looked even more alarmed and tried to move away from him.

“No, you should leave, they’ll come back!” she tried to swallow “Is a trap” she gasped for air “Is theAmortencia potion, they came after master Raves if I release the buble…” she coughed “it will mix with the other potion, I don’t know what it is, I couldn't get closer, it smells like erumpent horn, it will explode, I need to finish the antidote” she looked desperate.

Snape approached the other caldron, it did smell like erumpent horn and something peperish, he knew the antidote wouldn’t work, he needed to take her out, and release the Bubble of mist somewhere safe. “Miss Rose, where are the others? You were supposed to be working together,” she didn’t answer, she seemed to be losing consciousness due to pain, “we have to leave”.

“No! I can’t move the bubble. I need to finish the antidote,” she was breathing hard.

“You know that won’t work; it has fully evaporated. We need to leave,” he tried to approach, but she flinched hard. “I can help you move the bubble. I know a spell to contain vapor, but I need you to trust me.”

“There’s no such spell I would know that!” She whispered weakly and he knew then that her lungs were giving out. “ there was not, I created it myself” she gasped and cleared breathed more mist then she should for she fainted, Snape had only time the cast the spell over her to secure the mist and she fell to the floor knocking her side to the bench, just then the door burst open and about 7 people barged into the lab, as soon as they saw him they started shooting spells, he knew they couldn’t fight there so he cast a quick shadowing spell took hold of Avalon and rushed past the intruders to a nearby room, he didn’t look back and simple cast a reducto straight to the wall he knew was located next to the side road and move past it running with Avalon straight away from there to a clear area next to his hotel. He released his spell and the mist dispersed away, Avalon was still unconscious so he cast a quick diagnosis spell and saw the her lungs were failing he then cast a wind spell to force her breathing and got her to the hotel, he then asked to use the floo to get to a hospital, after letting her with the med witch and explaining the situation he turned to the floo again and went back to the hotel and back to the lab.

The building was full now, there was people on the streets curious about what was going on and the aurors were coming out with victims, one of his colleagues found him and rushed to tell master Raves was still inside he went in as soon as he was told about the invasion to take Avalon out and was then attacked, “how long has he been there?” “less then 5 minutes” he didn’t listen what he was told next, he cast a disillusionment charm on himself and rushed inside, when he got to the lab the curtain of shadows he created was still on but weaker master Raves was under a protective shield but unable to fight back, Snape didn’t wait and used his advantage to make a surprise attack getting them on the back he used a body bidding spell and caught three of them with it, then as quickly as he could cast an expelliarmus and two others were sent flying and knocked their heads on the wall behind them, Master Raves released his shield and attacked the one to his side with a body bidding spell and then together they took the one that was still standing with a cutting curse and a disarming spell simultaneously.

They got hold of the invaders just before the aurors came; they didn’t know they were under attack, they were called because of the explosion that Severus had caused to run.

“You were here?” The potions master asked him, “Yes, I came early to check on the others and found Miss Rose alone. She was trapped under a bubble with a different version of amortencia that had evaporated. She was trying to make an antidote for it, but it was useless.”

“Of course it would be,” the potions master said thoughtfully, “if it was already in vapor form, but why didn’t she release it?”

“There was another potion, the caldron was destroyed, apparently.” he looked towards the bench where the caldron was. “It smelled like pepper and erumpent horn; if the two entered in contact, it would certainly cause an explosion big enough to destroy half the building.” The aurors looked positively alarmed. “Where is Miss Rose now?” “I took her out after she passed out, and released the bubble holding the mist” there was no need to talk about his containing spell, “then I cast a diagnose charm on her, her lungs were failing so I took her to the hotel and used the floo to get her to the hospital” the men in the room looked at him with puzzled expressions.

After answering the aurors questions and giving their addresses to further investigation Snape and Raves went to the hospital in hope to find Avalon feeling better, that wasn’t how they found her, the med witch told them that her lungs were restored and her heart and lungs were working well, but the effects of the poison were still present, and it was causing her too much pain, she couldn’t be given potions to alleviate it because of the possible side effects to the mixture.

When they got to her room she was sobbing slightly and forcing her eyes shut, Master Raves came forward and she opened her eyes, eyeing him with a mixture of relief and shame, then her eyes met Snapes’ and she seemed to calm a little, the movement was noticeable enough to the med witch and she rushed him forward, “what?” He asked in confusion, “The poison clearly affected Miss Rose more strongly because it was ingested through her airways, and apparently, you, young man, are the object of her affections.” Avalon blushed crimson red and averted his eyes.

The med witch cleared her throat “is better that the both of you rest a bit, you clearly need it, Mr Snape make sure to be close enough to miss Rose, the poison was a strong one but should wear off alone since you are here, get some sleep and I’ll be back in a couple of hours to check on you two” with that she turned to leave closely followed by Raves, who had a knowing smirk on his face”

Both teenagers were left confused and uncomfortable, Snape turned to sit on the chair across from her bed but she hold the side of his shirt, he looked at her with questioning eyes, “please” she said weakly, and how uncomfortable was to listen her weak tone “it helps, your closeness I mean” she released him and lowered her eyes, “how close?” She looked at him and was so red it seemed her face was on fire. “I... maybe you could sit with me,” she gave him space in the hospital bed; clearly, her pain was worse than her embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I look pathetic, right?” He eyed her carefully, the girl was clearly in pain, her long hair was glued the her face and nape due to the sweat, she was trembling and visibly trying to hold back tears, “ you don’t look pathetic you are in pain” he said sitting next to her, their shoulders touching lightly, they didn’t talk for several minutes and he closed his eyes, he opened his eyes again when he felt her weight on his shoulder and looked at her, she had stopped shivering and crying and it looked like she was breathing better, he didn’t know if the poison had wearied already but since the med witch hadn’t came back yet he supposed he shouldn’t move, he closed his eyes again and drifted off.

He woke up a couple hours later, feeling oddly rested and much more relaxed than he probably should, he was laid on the bed, properly laid and Avalon was too, resting her face on his chest, he felt his face heat and tried to move away from her, it only worked to wake her up, she looked a bit alarmed and was blushing hard too, she got up quickly apologizing and he moved away from the bed. He cleared his throat, looking for words, but couldn’t find any. Mercifully, she spoke first.

“Er,m sorry about that, I… anyway, thank you for saving me and for being here too, I know it was probably too much to ask and I promise to pay you back somehow.” She was looking at the floor, but somehow he felt like she was looking straight into his eyes.

“Nonsense, you don’t have to thank me, I barely did anything but sleep, and about the lab, well, it's okay, I don’t require a payback.”

“And yet I am paying you back anyway,” she was looking at him now and smiling, and he felt his heat coming back; he looked away.

“Very well, I’ll go look for master Raves, and then probably help with cleaning the lab,” he was struggling to say goodbye and feeling properly embarrassed about it.

“Have a good day!” She said, still smiling, “I’ll see you at the lab.”

“Alright,” she said after stealing a glance at her and leaving the room.

***

He didn’t get the chance to leave; the aurors came to talk to Avalon, and one of them, Auror Maxime, delivered a letter to him. “An invitation from a friend who was properly impressed by the ingenuity and power displayed earlier.” With that said, he left.

Mr Severus Snape

I apologize for the abruptness, my name is Lois Rarford, I’m the chief of the Sangrétiers program in France, one of my most trusted students, the young man that delivered this message to you, told me about the impressive display of cleverness and resourcefulness you showed earlier today, I’d like to make an invitation for a talk maybe over a tee? If you’re interested, please write your answer on the back of this parchment and burn it. I shall receive it immediately.

Sincerely

Șir Lois Raford

Snape stared at the letter for a couple of seconds before realizing he was still standing in the middle of the corridor. He moved closer to the wall and considered, he hadn’t planned to get another mastering, but then he wasn’t offered any, was he? So he wouldn’t lose anything by answering the man, he wrote a short reply and burned the letter.

Less than 30 minutes later, he got his answer.

Académie royale des cadets, door behind coat of arms, August 2nd, 9:00 a.m

Chapter 3 Chapter Text

A VISIT TO GRINGOTTS

Snape got to the academy some thirty minutes earlier that second of August, he was led to the door behind the coat of arms by a small witch, the encounter was pleasant enough, sir Lois was a royal academy combat instructor and also the chief of the European Sangrétiers, an ancient healing and combat magical society that expertise in training for war zone fight and healing. They talked for nearly an hour, and the man challenged Snape to a duel, mind not a proper one, but one to show the boy’s potential. Snape accepted with little in mind, the man seemed pleased with his recent actions, and a little impressed too, but gave nothing but mild curiosity.

The duel lasted much less than Snape had anticipated, but the Man was laughing a sonorous laugh, and Snape felt embarrassed, though he couldn’t tell exactly why; the man wasn’t laughing at his expense, at least he didn’t think so.

“I’m sorry, Monsieur Snape, I’m not laughing at you; it's just that it has been a long time since someone so young could keep up with me during a duel for so long. I believe that if you were serious, I’d probably be at the infirmary by now.”

Snape blushed hard; he wasn’t at all accustomed to being praised, not for anything but his potions, so he didn’t answer. The man didn’t seem to mind since he continued. “You see, Monsieur, I may look young, but I've been doing this for over a century now.” Snape was actually surprised by this; the man looked no older than forty. “And it’s not an easy feat to stand ground against me, and you were even holding back! I hope you don’t next time we face each other, and I hope you take my next words with the same seriousness, I can recognize a talent when a see one, and I see too much potential in you to let it pass, so I want to offer you a position at my academy next summer, I’ve talked to your potions master and he agreed that you will probably benefit from finishing your sixth year before you start with us, this way by the end you’ll be and adult and can end with double masteries” Severus was simply awestruck, he seemed to be collecting all the miracles he’ve prayed for before, could this mean that he was at the end of his life, and this is some kind of spiritual play? The answer to this was so easy he didn’t even consider before saying, “Of course, sir! This would be an honour” Sir Raford looked pleased with his answer and Snape could see a little gleam passing his eyes before the man cleared his throat and continued “pray mister, this will be hard work and just like your potions master I’ll be expecting a lot from you, and I’ll be just as rigorous, but I have to say I believe will meet all my expectations.”

“I’ll do my absolute best, sir,” he said solemnly, and it was really easy because he meant that. They parted after discussing some important points, Snape would have to provide for his shelter and food, as well as transportation since he won’t be allowed to apparate, as well as his training clothes and boots, there was a fee too, and it was expensive but the Sangrétier master made it clear that he wouldn’t be charging this fee anytime soon. Of course, he would still work hard to make the money by next summer, but it made him feel better knowing that.

Severus didn’t have to wait much to make some money; after all, Miss Rose did indeed want to pay him back for his actions and grabbed him just outside his hotel room that very night to make a proposal. “Hello, I’m sorry to interrupt your peace. I know it is inappropriate, but we can’t discuss what I came to discuss in the opening, and I really need your answer by the end of the night,” he eyed her suspiciously. Did she mean to get to his room? He asked her just that, and although she blushed lightly, she answered with a firm yes.

He opened the door and invited her in. She crossed the room and sat at the little table, looking around but not taking real notice of the space. She then cleared her throat and wandlesly cast a silence spell around them.

“I came with an offer to pay my debt to you, actually, I believe you’ll have to do the work, but you’ll be well paid and can even patent your work!” She was clearly excited. “Very well”, he sighed “, what of this offer?” He sat in the chair across from her.

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard about my family, we are not so well known by the British any more, apart of course some ancient noble houses, which you understand isn’t a big feat per se, but we are known for being dark wizards, mind me not evil not even bad wizards, but dark, I don’t really know how your people would see the term” she eyed him with a funny look “but anyways our house is ancient and royal and we have many important connections, some of this to dark so to say creatures, creatures like the half demons, the vampires and werewolves too” here she was looking straight at his eyes.

“Ok, what does it have to do with your offer?”

“Well, see one of this friends came to us with an request, they need a potion, they already have one to placate some of their pain, but they came to a point where they need something definitive, and are going as far as paying any price to have it” he narrowed his eyes and considered her words but couldn’t quite understand what they truly meant “I see” she continued “ok so errr their son born with the curse and as he is the last heir to their house they can’t really afford to lose him so they requested”

“A cure to lycanthropy”, he interrupted. He was looking at her as if she had turned into his own boggart, “You can’t be serious! If they really want to cure the child, sure, the masters in the guild would be their best options; they can obviously afford it.”

“Yes, yes, they can, but this is not their first time they’ve tried with the guild when the lord married to a woman who possessed the curse, they been trying for nearly two decades now, the boy is six, they think they need a new approach, and I really believe you can do it!”

Snape regarded her with suspicion. This was the potion he had brought to Master Raves to work on together; she couldn't possibly know that, could she? "What makes you think I can do something that masters with several decades of experience and knowledge couldn’t do? I'm just a boy who isn’t even a master myself."

“Look I know you can make it because you are daring and powerful I saw you brewing, your research on the aconite uses was years ahead of everyone else’s, and your wolfsbane is just superb, look, I’m not saying that you have to do I didn’t even mention you to them yet, I just think you can do it”

“This is madness, Avalon, and you know it.” he didn’t realise he used her given name. “I don’t have a lab or the ingredients, I don’t even have a license, I just can’t do it!” He left his chair and was pacing the small room.

Avalon knew she won, right then.

***

Avalon POV

He called her by her name! Her name! And he was considering the offer, of course, she didn’t actually believe he would accept, but she hoped. There was not much time before he would have to go back to school, and they didn’t have a lab or any of the ingredients needed, nor did they have a licence, but she really believed he could; she could feel it.

He was pacing and mumbling to himself, it was funny actually, how he grabbed his hair and turned every three steps, how he would subtly bit the inside of his cheek and how his eyes were glittering, she didn’t dare interrupt him, after several minutes he looked at her with curiosity and something like fear in his eyes, “I might have access to a lab and I might have some of the work done, and a license we could’ve use” she looked at him dumbfounded, she didn’t find the words to comment so she kept her mouth shut, not really since she was gasping at him, but in silence anyway.

“Even so, I’d need some assurance that my work will be kept a secret until I can patent it, and I need subjects willing to test the potion before I offer the child and” he bit his inner cheek again and added rashly,

“I may require more than money as a payment”.

She didn’t really pay attention to his words; she was shocked. Could it be possible that he had the potion? How? He surely didn’t have the time, and even if he had, it took centuries to develop the current version of wolfsbane, and that changed the lives of thousands. If what he was saying was true, then she had just met what would be the youngest potions master of all time. But they really didn't have much time. “So can I talk to them?”

She looked hopeful, deeply inside those impossible, brilliant obsidian eyes.

“Yes, I suppose you can.” Avalon didn’t need any more confirmation; she brushed past him and walked out the door in a blur, intending to speak with the Hamphreys immediately. And so she did, she booked a private room with a fireplace and cast the same wandless silencing spell in the room, and floo called the family. Lord Hamphrey answered immediately, and she wasted no time in reporting her talk to Severus.

After almost an hour, she invited the family through the floo and rushed to get Snape.

She found him in his room, his hair was a little dishevelled, and he looked very much like regretting his past words, but Avalon couldn't afford that, the Hamphreys were down in the corridor breathing almost exclusively in hope.

“They are here, they came immediately, would you like to meet them?”

“They”, he looked impossibly paler.

“Yes, the Hamphreys, the family we talked about just now, I told you they are desperate, and they wish to talk to you, they are in my room down the corridor”

“I…” Snape looked down at his robes, and Avalon followed his eyes. The boy was covered in small cuts, his robes were a mess, he looked a mess; had he been fighting? How did she miss that? Doesn’t matter.

“Ah, well, you can take some time to prepare yourself. Sorry, I didn't think you might need time to prepare. I'll ask them to come… tomorrow maybe?”

He struggled a bit to compose himself but managed eventually, “An hour should suffice, I already contacted master Raves, he should be here by then, and I shall be a bit more presentable too,” he added the last part a little too low.

“Of course”, she said, but her mind was racing again. Was he the one with the licence he mentioned before, master Raves? And if it was him, how far were they? She couldn't hold him longer. “I’ll let them know, we will wait for you in my room,” he nodded briefly, and she left.

***

Snape dressed his new robes, the best he had, he bought them on his way to the ministry at the beginning of the summer and looked at himself in the mirror, there wasn't much he could do about his appearance he was still a scrawny, pale and noosed boy of sixteen, master Raves arrived twenty minutes before the meeting with the Hamphreys, and they used their extra time to go through their studies, there was no much left to cover, the potion was ready, they needed to test, and adjust the dosage, they also needed to perfect the timing the potion needed to be taken once right before the transformation, and the risks of not working were many, the werewolf could stop mid transformation and splinch, they could not be able to turn into their wolves never again, and of course the could die if their dosage was even slightly wrongly measured, not to mention the person’s reaction they have yet to find a way to block unwanted adverse reactions.

When the time was up, they walked together to Avalon’s room, Avalon. Since when was she Avalon? No, Miss Rose's room.

The Hamphreys were a family of three: a tall ginger-bearded man with big shoulders and impossibly blue eyes, a shorter but still tall black woman with black locks for hair and hazel eyes, and a boy who was a perfect mixture of his parents, black skinned with black hair and blue eyes. They greeted the two of them kindly and introduced themselves.

“Thank you for making time for us. I know it was short notice, but we’ve been running in circles for twenty years. My name is Erziah Hamphrey, Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble house of Hamphrey. This is my wife, Beatrice Hamphrey, and our son and heir to our house, Micayah Hamphrey.”

Just as they’d agreed, master Raves talked for both of them; it would hardly impose a sense of authority if a sixteen-year-old was the one leading the conversation. “I’m Augustus Raves, potion master, and this is Severus Snape, my apprentice,” he gestured toward him, and Severus nodded.

“Pleasure to meet you, Avalon told us about you. Mr Snape was someone she believed capable of creating a cure to the curse that haunts my family, and she said you had conditions if you were to agree to work for us.”

The question was obviously directed to him, so Severus answered "Yes, I've been working on the cure to lycantrophy for over a year now, and master Raves and I have been working together since the beginning of the summer, we are really close to a final product, and soon we’ll be able to start testing” as he finish he observed the faces around him, apart from his master everyone else was gasping at him.

Lord Hamphrey recovered first. “And what do you need to complete your potion? Is it something we can assist you with?”

“There may be something; we need to test it, but our adjustments require that we know our subjects, to counteract any adverse reactions, so we can come up with something clearer that can be used by all who carry the curse also.”

“Well then, I believe that we can help,” Ms Hamphrey replied “ I have my pack, and adults agreed to be subjects if there was a need for it,” she said confidently, even if a little shaken.

“Very well, then we shall discuss your payment.”

“No payment will be discussed until the potion has been proved effective”, Snape said.

“That won’t do mister Snape, I’m sorry, I know you are young and might not have had need to put your faith in others before, and although I do believe you have the best of intentions, you will have to understand that men don’t trust and shouldn’t trust blindly, if you don’t accept my payment then I can’t give you my trust. I believe Miss Rose has explained we are ready to pay any price.”

“Indeed, Mr Hamphrey”, Master Raves interjected, “but as I see where my apprentice comes from, I shall suggest half the payment now and the other half after the potion proves successful. Can we agree on those terms?” He eyed the room with questioning eyes, “Severus?”

He still looked uncomfortable, but decided to agree; he didn’t see the man changing his position anyway: “I have no objection.”

"Thank you. Do you already have a price for the payment?"

“We do indeed”, he and master Raves have discussed that earlier “, 25,000 galleons.”

“Now that can’t be right! The other masters asked for at least five times that, promising much less.”

“That was because they were selling you a potion, we are merely receiving for our work, once the potion is done the recipe will be free for any that asks for it, that’s why I told Ms Rose I’d be requesting more then the payment, and it is non negotiable” once again the people in the room gasped at him in surprise even master Raves.

“That… that’s very noble, Severus”, Avalon commented.

“Indeed, you, Mr Snape, are a very noble young man, and shall become an even greater man in the future, very well we agree, and promise to refund every knut you’ve spent in your research and ingredients so far, also non negotiable, as well as introducing you the werewolves in my wife’s pack”

Severus felt his face heat, but maintained his posture, “Very well, we have an accord, we may have the potion ready for first tests in two days, in time for the full moon.”

“You can send anyone interested in testing to this address. This is where my personal laboratory is, and I’ll leave the floo network open for you,” finished master Raves.

They said their last goodbyes and were ready to leave when Micayah ran and hugged Severus's legs. “Thank you, thank you very much”, the boy said in between sobs. His parents were looking awestruck and were Avalon, who rushed to get hold of the boy and send them off. She looked at Severus with a smile and eyes that screamed something too close to pride for his understanding.

The next day was spent reviewing and trying different propositions. He wanted to get the close as they could to a perfect potion before running the tests. They had already cleaned the potion of possible killing or splinching, now all they had to do was collect enough data from the subjects to make sure there wouldn’t be any additional adverse reactions.

It was nearly five in the afternoon when Snape was called to the master’s desk. “It just crossed my mind that you’re receiving the first part of your payment tomorrow morning. Have you talked to your accountant about it?”

Snape felt his cheeks redden and looked away from the professor, "I don't have a personal manager, sir.” he started fidgeting, feeling suddenly very aware of his upbringing.

“Ah”, the man said bluntly, “but that has to change, Mr Snape, you do understand that even if you decided that the potion recipe should be accessible for free, someone will still have to pay the costs once you get the patent, right? and that you're still going to be paid by the guild?”

He knew, of course, he knew, it was in the papers that the potion’s master gave him at the beginning of his apprenticeship, “I forgot, sir,” he was utterly embarrassed now.

“No problem, you should go to the bank and get an accountant manager to help you deal with your revenue, I can’t accompany you for someone has to stay and look out for the potions, but miss Rose expressed her desire to help, maybe you should go with her, her father is a well known barrister her knowledge may be useful”.

“I’ll do that, thank you, sir.”

He found her at the lobby of his, no, their hotel, and she readily agreed to accompany him.

They got to the bank via floo, and Avalon guided him to one of the goblins at the counter, “Good afternoon, sir. I’m Miss Avalon Rose, and this is Mr Severus Snape. Mr Snape wants to hire an account manager.”

“Very well, follow me please”, the goblin guided them to a door nearby and invited them to sit, then left the room. Minutes later, he came back, followed by another goblin, and then they introduced themselves. “My name is Turdo, and this is Stoneheart. Mr Stoneheart agreed to be your account manager.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr Snape”, said his new manager

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr Stoneheart.”

They shook hands, and the goblin crossed the room and sat on the chair behind the desk. “We must run an in-depth blood test to confirm your identity and current possessions under our care at the cost of twenty galleons. Do you agree?” Severus wished to say no, but agreed. The goblin rummaged through some papers and pushed a blank parchment in front of him on the table. “You just have to bleed three times in the paper; a peck on the finger should suffice.” The goblin presented him with an ornate needle, and Severus then proceeded to bleed on the parchment. The goblin took the parchmentwhise Severus healed his finger, and his reaction was rather odd. Severus was suddenly nervous with millions of things starting to pass through his mind.

Avalon spoke first, “Any problem, sir?”

Stoneheart looked up to her and cleared his expression, “Not a problem, Miss Rose, rather a surprise.” The goblin eyed Severus curiously before addressing the other Goblin “, Sir, I think we may have found the lost heir to the Most Ancient House of Secrets”, and delivered the blood test to Turdo. The senior goblin eyed the paper quietly for a few seconds and then spoke. “Yes, Stoneheart, Mr Snape”, he gave the parchment back to Snape. “I believe your family has been hiding your identity.”

Severus eyed the paper.

Severus Cassius di Salvori

Date of birth

9 January of the year 1960

Mother

Eileen Prince

Father

Umberto Arturo di Salvori

Named by blood and choice as heir to the Most Noble and Ancient Franco-Italian Royal House of Salvori

Named by blood as Heir to the most Noble and Ancient British House of Prince

List of accounts…

Chapter 4 Chapter Text

A FAMILY BACKGROUND

Severus eyed the paper, and then eyed it again, but it didn’t change.

Severus Cassius di Salvori

Date of birth

9 January of the year 1960

Mother

Eileen Prince

Father

Umberto Arturo di Salvori

Named by blood and choice as heir to the Most Noble and Ancient Franco-Italian Royal House of Salvori

Named by blood as Heir to the most Noble and Ancient British House of Prince

List of accounts…

Snape didn’t finish reading; the parchment kept going for another ten pages at least, but it didn’t matter because it couldn’t be true, his father was Tobias Snape, the abusive drinker who killed his mother, heir? They had nothing but a skeleton of a house in Cockework; he was a nobody. He has to fight for his future alone, ever since he knew how to write his name, he had no friends, at least no real ones, not anymore, not since Lily, and who the Hell is Umberto de Salvori?

“This can’t be right, my father’s name is Tobias, he is a muggle.” he glanced at Avalon, and she was looking at him in dumb surprise, her eyes were wide. “Sir? This isn’t right, is it?”

“I know you’re young and this might have come as a surprise to you young lord” what the fuck? “ but the blood and inheritance tests made by Gringgotts’ goblins are absolute, is one of our most valuable craftings, there’s no mistake with your tests” as if to prove his point the goblin rummaged and took another clean sheet and gave it to Avalon with a needle. She took it and bled in the paper the same way he did; the result was immediate:

Avalon Maavi Rose

Date of birth

10 November 1960

Mother

Serena Aron Rose

Father

Alberth Victorious Rose

Named by blood as heir to the Most Noble and Ancient Royal House of Rose

“But..” he had no words.

The chief goblin seemed to understand he needed more proof, “Mr Salvori your father left his will in his vault, and the last lord to the house of Salvori made an especial request as well as a ritual to be broken only when their last true heir, you, came to claim your heirship” the goblin then put yet another piece of parchment in front of him, if you put your bleeding hand in the paper it should summon his will as well as a gift he left you.

In the place where the paper was just a second before a black stone box appeared, it was not big. He opened it, and inside there were a small number of vials, all with some sort of white mist inside. Avalon eyed the box, “memories, he’s let you memories.”

“We can take one of your pensieves so you can watch them” he had not idea what to do, he couldn’t believe what was happening, once again Avalon responded first “you should watch them Severus” she grabbed his hand and gave a little squeeze “sir, bring the pensive please” she turned to him “I’ll wait outside, take your time” she then moved out.

After minutes of silence, the goblin put a pensive in front of him on the table, it was made of a dark blue stone he didn't recognise. “Do you know how to use it?” Snape didn’t have words so he just shook his head, the goblin continued with an explanation “you take the contents of the vial into the pensive and then touch the liquid, you shall then be pulled into a memory, you can’t be seen, nor heard and can’t touch anything inside the memory, after the memory is finished you’ll be pushed out” the goblin waited for a confirmation and nodded leaving the room with StoneHeart.

He was trembling and afraid, he drew a hard breath and took the first vial, they were labelled with dates only; this one was from the 20th of December 1959. He poured the contents of it inside the pensive and touched it before he could give up. His body was pulled, the feeling was one of a hard fall, everything was black, and then a scene appeared before his eyes.

A man and a woman were inside of what appeared to a small room, with a baby crib and plushies, the woman was watching herself in the mirror, she was tall and slim, had a pointed face and long straight black heir “mother” it was her but much healthier and sporting a big pregnant belly, she was smiling softly - “he’ll be beautiful won’t he?, he’ll have my eyes and my hair and your nose and height, and he’ll be clever and honorable I know that” - the man laughed - it was a tall man, with wide shoulders white hair and gray eyes, he was older than her but young enough to make clear his hair didn’t mean age, but rather a family trait - “yes love, he will” - he’s eyes turned sad and she turned to look at him. -“you don’t think you’ll make it”- he put his arms around her and turned them both to look at the mirror again -“ you know I won’t, the curse is spreading quicker than we had anticipated, you saved my life and gave me more years than I could imagine possible, but we knew that I would die before our boy here” - he caressed her belly -“ could turn 3” he was silent for a moment and add - "how's the man dealing?” - she sighed at his attempt to change the subject -“he is fine, he cares just for me, we were friends, but it’s clear he is happiest for the money you’ve been sending “- she sounded hurt, but shrugged the feeling away -“ and your family?”- he took her hand and pulled her to sit on the sofa - “they dishonoured me Art, they don’t care anymore”-

Severus was shocked that Tobias wasn’t his father, and he knew it! Why not tell him? Why did they lie? Why did his mother live like that? -“have you decided the name?”- he asked in another rather clumsy attempt to change the subject, Eileen didn’t seem to mind -“Yes, I know you wanted Cassius like your father so I thought Severus Cassius di Salvori” - she looked at him with hopeful yes -“ it’s perfect” he whispered “how weird, how come one can love a being one never saw? I just keep dreaming of him, of us putting him to sleep and playing with him, showing him places and teaching him magic, and having him learning about our history”- the man, his father stopped talking when he realised he was crying -“it’s ok love”- she hugged him and then the memory started to fade and he was thrown out.

It took some time to stop crying, he didn’t even know when he started but it was hard to stop, once he calmed down he decided to continue, he didn’t care about the time or anything else really he just needed to know, to see his mother, to see his father, to feel wanted and precious. He took the second vial, it was labelled with: 9th of January 1960, his birthdate, he entered the memory minimally composed, it was a hospital, but not a muggle one, it was magical, there were healers and trays of potions floating around and people coming and going through fireplaces, it was his father alone this time, he was outside the room and a woman was screaming, his mother he supposed, the man was looking at his watch it was 00:45 in the morning, he was pacing frantically and murmuring things and from time to time he would smile like a maniac. The memory changed and they were inside of the room, his mother was laid in bed smiling softly and his father was holding the baby, him, like he was the most precious thing in the world, the man was crying and laughing and it was odd, the man then brought him closer to his mother and gave him to her, he then withdrew his wand and pointed to his head.

“I Umberto Arturo Salvori head and lord of the royal house of Salvori, welcome my son and sole heir Severus Cassius Salvori, I pray to mother magic to bless him and love him like I love, to give him health, to give him strength and integrity, to hold him in a good path and to protect him of all evil, I hereby declare him the last and first of my line, all that is mine in life will be his, every possession, every title and every knowledge I shall have written is his from now on and will never be robbed from him for my blood and my magic will guard my promise”

The tip of his wand glowed a white light that showered the baby for a few seconds. It was as if magic was embracing him, the light soon faded, “so moth it be,” “so moth it be”, his mother whispered after him. They both kissed his head, and the memory ended once again.

He didn’t bother delving into thoughts and rushed to the next memory it was labelled to march 1962, His father was beside the table, much more slim than the previous memories, he was pale and his face looked tired, he was talking to another man, “as you already know Tobias, my death is approaching quickly, I’m not going to be able to give any more money and since all my accounts will be blocked until my heir claim his inheritance you won’t be receiving anything until he is of age” the man then dragged a pouch of money and hand it to the other, who waste no time checking the inside and whistling “this shall cover for his first years and adolescence, I trust you will take care of them?” The man eyed his father with fiery eyes and answered “yes I will, I promised Eileen and I’ll keep my word” Tobias then left the room and the memory changed again, this time he was sat at his father’s death bed holding his father’s hand, he was two and his mother was caressing his hair, "it's time to say goodbye to father my prince” the toddler looked from his mother to his father with a confused expression but obeyed “bye bye daddy, I love you“ his smaller version said and smiled, the man smiled too and hugged the boy tightly, he smiled into the boy’s hair and whispered, “as I love you my boy, you’ll be a great man and I’ll be always proud of you, you won’t see me, but I’ll be watching for you, I’ll bless you from heaven and I hope one day you’ll remember me and feel proud to be my son as I am to be your father, and I pray you’ll forgive me for leaving you and your mother so soon” his father held his mother´s hand one more time and then he died.

This time he left the memory by himself, he couldn’t take it, the pain in his chest was too heavy, he sat back on the chair and cried, he remembered his childhood, the beatings, the screams, the hungry, the mean words, Tobias never cared for him, never loved him, and his mother was probably too lost in her grief to do anything, she lost her family and her lover, but she was his mother, she should have cared for him, should had protected him, she had magic, she was a healer, Was she? Where did he take this information from? It didn’t matter; he just cried for several minutes, grieving the family, the love, and the support he never had.

He decided to just keep going, and entered the next memory, it was from the same year, only one month earlier, his father was looking week he was seat on the floor inside of a circle drawn in white chalk, he was barefoot and dressed in a weird black toga, he was performing a ritual apparently, Severus didn’t pay much attentions overall it was in latin, but he got some words that he could translate to severance, protection, block, and heir. The memory faded again.

It took him a long time to calm down, and he took the parchment with his inheritance listing and read through it.

List of accounts:

Vaults:

Salvori House:

Lord Vault 012: 732.989.933 galleons (free for access)

Heir Vault 013: 92.988.111 galleons, 19,992 sickles (free for access)

Valuables: Family grimoire, jewellery, heirlooms, antiques, books, scrolls, portraits, potion ingredients, contracts, memories, weapons, will.

Prince House

Lord Vault: 8.000.339 galeons, 298,990 sickles. (blocked for access until of age)

Heir Vault: 10.000 galleons 129.000 sickles (free for access)

Valuables: Antiques, heirlooms, family grimoire portraits, jewellery, books/scrolls, potions.

List of properties:

House of Salvori:

Castel d’Ombra (Aosta Valley, Italy)

status: Sealed with blood-lock to Umberto’s de Salvori heir's blood.

Château des trois Lunes (Geneva, Switzerland)

status: Sealed with blood-lock to Umberto’s de Salvori heir's blood.

Palazzo Valmurro (Turin, Italy)