Severus stood before the entrance to the Room of Requirement, concealed deep within the winding corridors of Hogwarts.
It was late—past midnight—but the castle was quiet.
This would be his last visit.
He had been planning for months to clear out the centuries-old treasures hidden within the room. Now, with his emancipation secured and an independent vault at Gringotts, there was nothing stopping him from taking everything of value.
He closed his eyes, concentrating on what he needed.
"I need a place that holds everything lost and forgotten… a place that hides the treasures of Hogwarts."
The stone wall before him shimmered, the enchanted entrance forming with a faint hum of ancient magic.
Severus stepped inside.
The Room of Requirement was an ocean of forgotten artifacts.
Towering stacks of ancient books, chests overflowing with gold, and priceless magical artifacts gathered dust, untouched for centuries.
This was Hogwarts' unspoken wealth, forgotten by history—until now.
Severus summoned his wand and cast Detection Charms, scanning the vast expanse for anything of significance.
He had already gathered some items in previous visits, but tonight was the final haul.
What he found made even him pause.
As Severus moved through the maze of hidden riches, he cataloged his most valuable acquisitions.
4.5 million Galleons scattered across dozens of enchanted trunks.
Thousands of Sickles and Knuts, worth an estimated 250,000 Galleons when converted.
Jewelry & Precious Stones:
Dozens of rings, necklaces, and brooches from old wizarding families.
Priceless diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, likely worth millions more.
An ancient goblin-crafted bracelet, enchanted to enhance magical stamina.
Rare & Unique Magical Artifacts:
A fully functional Pensieve.
One intact Time-Turner (extremely rare).
Two broken Time-Turners, potentially repairable.
A pair of Seer's Spectacles, rumored to enhance visions of the future.
A set of enchanted dueling robes, designed to deflect weaker curses.
Books & Scrolls of Lost Knowledge:
An original translation of The Art of Ancient Runes, lost for over 400 years.
A forbidden manuscript on blood magic, banned by the Ministry.
Several books on wandlore and magical craftsmanship, likely older than Hogwarts itself.
Dark Objects & Cursed Items:
A cursed dagger from the 15th century, rumored to drain the magical core of its wielder.
Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem, long believed lost… but now tainted by a Dark Presence.
The moment Severus picked up the diadem, a cold shiver ran down his spine.
A whispering voice slithered into his thoughts, laced with something ancient and foul.
"Wisdom is power… power is eternal…"
Severus immediately recoiled, dropping the diadem onto a silk-wrapped cloth.
He had read enough about soul magic to recognize what this was.
Something Voldemort had tainted with his very soul.
But unlike in the original timeline—where no one except Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and a handful of others even knew about Horcruxes—Severus had prior knowledge.
George Paddington had read the books.
He had watched the movies.
He had seen this exact diadem destroyed in a fire.
But this wasn't just about knowing what the object was—it was about understanding how Horcruxes worked.
And Severus had deep knowledge of soul magic from his studies.
He had read ancient tomes on soul fragmentation, spiritual integrity, and necromantic rituals. He had always been fascinated by the idea of immortality—not in the way Voldemort pursued it, but in the concept of preserving knowledge and magic beyond death.
Now, standing here with a real Horcrux in his hands, Severus wasn't just disgusted.
"What can I learn from this?"
Then, he pushed the thought aside.
Now was not the time for experiments.
He would not be like Voldemort.
But he would be smart.
If he destroyed it himself, it would cause a surge of dark magic—one that might be detected.
No, there was only one place where this could be handled discreetly.
And Severus knew exactly who to contact.
After securing all the treasures within enchanted trunks, Severus knew there was one more thing he needed.
A personal house-elf.
The amount of wealth he had just taken from the Room of Requirement required discretion, efficiency, and security. A properly trained elf would be invaluable in handling his affairs, especially once he left for Ilvermorny.
And there was only one place to buy an elf without Ministry interference.
Knockturn Alley was as grimy and unwelcoming as ever. The air reeked of old parchment, damp wood, and forbidden magic.
Severus made his way through the shadowed alleyways until he reached a hidden underground market, where magical contracts were exchanged in whispers.
A wizened old wizard greeted him with a toothy grin. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fire·net
"Ah, a young nobleman seeking an elf, are you?"
Severus nodded sharply. "I need a well-trained elf—one capable of managing wealth, handling wards, and securing sensitive information."
The old wizard chuckled. "A Shafiq noble through and through. I have just the one."
A small elf with dark green eyes and large ears stepped forward, bowing low.
"Master requires an elf who is silent, discreet, and clever?"
Severus studied the creature. "Your name?"
"Trix is fast, silent, and knows how to hide things from prying eyes."
Severus smirked. "Perfect."
With Trix's help, Severus transferred everything from the Room of Requirement into his personal vault at Gringotts.
It was a massive haul, increasing his fortune tenfold.
And then, there was one final matter to address.
Severus sat in a private Gringotts chamber, the cursed diadem wrapped in silk before him.
Across from him sat Ragnok, Chief of the Goblin Banking Clan.
Severus pushed the hefty pouch of Galleons forward. "I need this purified. I don't care what it costs."
Ragnok studied him carefully, his sharp goblin eyes gleaming with interest.
"A Horcrux, is it?" the goblin murmured.
Severus didn't flinch. "Yes."
Ragnok's lips curled. "Very well."
Severus leaned back, exhaling softly.
The last remnants of Voldemort's corruption would be removed.
And with that, his final preparations were complete.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I understand that Severus may appear to have limited social interactions at the moment. However, this is expected to change once he moves to the United States. Please be patient and supportive during this transition.
If you wish to read some exclusives and support my writing, please visit
Patreo n .com (slash) Maggie329