Big Shots and Little People

Christmas in Spinner's End is gray: brick walls, coal ash, and dust from factory chimneys all mix together and stick to the windowpanes, no matter how much you wipe, you can't get them clean.

This street is located on the east side of Town of Cokeworth, next to an abandoned textile factory.

The river flows past the end of the street, never freezing in winter, but it becomes dirtier and slower, its color turning grayish-green, carrying a smell of industrial waste and mud mixed together.

Spinner's End is not long; it consists of two rows of red brick houses flanking a narrow road. Several of the flagstones paving the road are cracked, with withered yellow weeds growing in the cracks. The house numbers are numbered from 1 to 21, with odd numbers on the left and even numbers on the right.

Snape's house was the innermost one; the house number was illegible, and rusted iron sheets hung from the door frame, leaving only a crooked shadow. The other houses had some Christmas decorations: a string of cheap lights, a plastic wreath, or a 20-centimeter-tall fake Christmas tree on the windowsill.

The Snape family had nothing.

Most of the paint on the door had peeled off, revealing the gray wood underneath. The doorknob was made of brass and had oxidized to a greenish-black color.

The house was cold, the fireplace wasn't lit, and several empty wine bottles lay overturned on the living room table, untouched.

The sound of snoring came from upstairs, heavy and intermittent, interspersed with a few muffled coughs.

Tobias Snape lay in bed, drunk on Christmas morning, or perhaps last night, and hadn't woken up.

Snape rummaged through the Kitchen and found half a piece of leftover bread from yesterday. It was so hard you could bang it on the table. He broke off a piece, put it in his mouth, and chewed for a long time before swallowing. He poured half a glass of cold water into his cup, ate the bread, and drank a couple of sips.

He was wearing an old, dark gray sweater, the neckline a size too wide, the shoulders sloping down, and the sleeves longer than his hands; he had rolled up the cuffs twice. He carried his water glass into his room and closed the door.

The room was small, with a single bed against the wall. The blankets were not folded neatly, and the pillows were yellowish-black.

The window was ajar, and a cold breeze slipped in through the crack, causing the curtains to billow slightly.

Under the window was an old desk, worn and scratched, with one drawer handle loosened and held together with wire.

A small glass bottle sat on the corner of the table, with a single flower inside.

The white lily's petals were already somewhat wilted, and the edges were beginning to curl, but the center of the flower was still a bright yellow.

He sat at his desk, finished his bread and his water, rested his hands on the table, and gazed out the window.

Outside the window is the back alley of Spinner's End, a moldy brick wall with several trash cans piled at its base, one of which is overturned, scattering garbage all over the ground. Today is Christmas.

Lily was at home, on the other side of Town of Cokeworth, on Lilac Road.

She will receive many gifts today.

He knew Black would give him something; he did last year—a Handbag with a spatial charm, which Lily treasured and took everywhere. What would he give her this year?

Snape didn't know, and didn't want to know.

He shifted his gaze from the window back to the table.

The lily swayed gently in the glass bottle, as if blown by the wind.

Two fluttering sounds.

An owl's wingtip slipped through the crack in the window and tapped twice on the window frame.

Snape frowned, stood up, and opened the window wider.

Two owls flew in, one after the other.

One was a greyish-brown barn owl, not very large, with its wings folded; the other was a darker-colored long-eared owl, a size larger than the barn owl. The two owls landed on the desk almost simultaneously, each releasing a letter from its talons and tossing it onto the table, then huddled in the corner, staring at him. Snape looked at the two letters on the table but didn't touch them immediately.

Two letters arrived at the same time.

No one will write to him except for the Hogwarts reading list.

These two are not book lists; the envelopes are the wrong style and thickness.

The fact that two owls arrived together suggests it wasn't a coincidence; they came from the same place.

A name flashed through his mind.

Last time in the Common Room, when he handed him that Potions, Black said Potions was brewed well and then left. He neither agreed nor refused.

Later, he betrayed Rababstan Lestrange for Black.

If you do something, you should be rewarded.

He had experienced Black's fairness firsthand; last Christmas, the gift he received—a Potions recipe and a piece of Dark Arts parchment—was the payment, clearly priced, no more, no less.

The reward this time could be even greater, because what he's doing is also much bigger.

He had been waiting for this moment, but two letters arrived at the same time?

He picked up the one on the left first. The envelope was black and made of thick paper. He turned it over and looked at the back. There was a logo pressed on the wax seal.

His breathing paused for a moment.

He recognized the emblem; it came from a shop in Diagon Alley, Silver Moon Potions.

He'd been eyeing this shop for a long time.

From first grade onwards, every time he went to Diagon Alley, he would stand in front of that shop for a while.

The display window showcased a variety of finished Potions, from healing to supportive to experimental types. Each bottle was sealed with standard Potions Rune, and the effects and grade were clearly written on the labels.

As he stared at those bottles, only one thing was on his mind: he could produce something even better.

He knew that Silver Moon Potions was a property owned by the Black family.

Of the Potions in Diagon Alley, this one isn't the biggest, but it has consistent quality, a good reputation, and caters to a mid-to-high-end clientele. Its items are expensive, but everyone feels they're worth it.

He opened the envelope, pulled out the parchment inside, and saw the official letterhead of Silver Moon Potions printed on it, in standard business font, with precise wording.

To Mr. Severus Snape:

Silver Moon Potions proposes the following plan to you regarding cooperation in the procurement of Potions.

Based on your assessment, the quality of your prepared Potions has reached commercial circulation standards. Silver Moon Potions is willing to discuss the following three cooperation models with you, and you may choose one:

Option 1: Outsource the cooking process.

All raw materials and formula requirements will be provided by Silver Moon Potions. You will then brew the finished Potions according to your order. Upon delivery, the Pharmacy will conduct quality inspection and acceptance. Payment will be made per piece upon successful acceptance, and the Pharmacy will bear the cost of any raw material losses within a reasonable range.

Option 2, Independent Supply:

You will provide the Potions, and Silver Moon Potions will provide the shelf display and sales channels. You will be responsible for procuring the raw materials, and the price of the finished product will be determined through negotiation between both parties.

Our workshop charges 15% of sales revenue as shelf space and channel fees. Quality standards are uniformly inspected by our workshop, and products that fail to meet the standards are returned without additional charges.

Option 3: Long-term revenue-sharing cooperation:

Both parties will establish a long-term cooperative relationship. Silver Moon Potions will place monthly purchase orders and can provide you with advance payment services for raw materials, which will be deducted from the sales proceeds.

After the finished products are sold, the sales revenue will be distributed in a ratio of 55% to our workshop and 45% to you. The cooperation period is calculated on an academic year basis, and settlement will be made at the end of each academic year. Either party may terminate the cooperation on the settlement date.

All the above options are based on the principle of equal business dealings. You are free to choose according to your own circumstances. If you are interested, please reply to confirm within thirty days of receiving this letter.

Sincerely,

Silver Moon Potions Management Department

The letter was stamped with the official seal of Silver Moon Potions, but had no personal signature.

Snape read the letter twice, word by word.

The commercial contract was in a standard format, with cold, impersonal wording, like any cooperation agreement Potions would send to a supplier.

There were no polite words, no hints of consideration for his special relationship with so-and-so, and not a single word made him feel like he was being given charity. Three proposals, each building upon the last.

The first one is the safest; he doesn't have to worry about anything, he just needs to demonstrate his skills and get paid by the piece, like working for someone else.

The second advantage is the high degree of freedom; he controls the product categories and production volume, but he has to source the materials himself, putting the cost on his shoulders.

The third one is the most deeply intertwined: paying for materials upfront means buying on credit, and buying on credit means a credit relationship. The 55-45 split isn't harsh. However, the terms of the academic year settlement indicate that this is a long-term contract, and signing it means being registered in Black's system.

Snape placed the letter on the table and picked up the one on the right.

This one is a bit thinner. Turning it over, you can see the emblem on the wax seal: a bird with outstretched wings, its claws grasping a herb.

He knew Bobbins Herbs and Potions.

Diagon Alley, this small shop has been open for forty or fifty years. It's a long-established business, mainly selling herbs and basic Potions, focusing on bulk sales at low prices, and catering to students and ordinary families.

He bought raw materials there and also tried asking if he could consign his own Potions.

The shop owner was a witch in her fifties whose last name was Bobbins.

She glanced at the samples he brought, her expression showing some surprise, but ultimately shook her head.

"You're still in school, kid. When you graduate, you can come and try your luck here. I need a Potions."

That was the first time he had been rejected by a formal business channel, but the reason given was his age, not his ability.

She recognized his skill level, left a message, but refused to accept his goods.

Now this shop has also sent him a letter.

He opened the letter; its content and structure were similar to the previous one—also a cooperation proposal—but the terms were clearly different.

Option 1, Independent Supply:

You will provide the finished Potions yourself, and our bank will provide the shelf display and sales channels. You will be responsible for procuring and sourcing the raw materials yourself, and our bank will determine the price of the finished product based on market conditions.

The bank charges 25% of sales revenue as shelf and channel fees. Quality standards are uniformly inspected by the bank. Items that fail to meet the standards are returned and a quality inspection fee of two Knut is charged for each instance.

Option 2: Long-term revenue-sharing cooperation:

The two parties establish a cooperative relationship, with our bank issuing purchase orders quarterly, and you responsible for procuring the raw materials yourself.

After the finished product is sold, the sales revenue will be distributed at a ratio of 60% to the bank and 40% to you. The cooperation period will be calculated on a quarterly basis, with settlement at the end of each quarter. There is no clause about commissioned preparation, which means that Bobbins will not provide materials, and all costs will be borne by Snape himself. Without material advance payment, it means that he will have to pay for the raw materials himself.

The shelf fee is 25%, which is 10 percentage points higher than Silver Moon Potions's 15%.

The profit-sharing ratio is 60:40, which is five percentage points less than the 55:45 ratio of Silver Moon Potions.

If the product is defective, it will be returned and a quality inspection fee will be charged, but Yinyue will not charge that.

It's normal for the conditions to be harsher and the treatment worse.

Bobbins operates independently, without the support of a large family, resulting in a different cost structure. Consequently, the terms offered are naturally not as generous as those of the Black family's industries. However, the fact that both letters arrived at the same time clearly indicates that they were both arranged by Black.

Bobbins clearly rejected him last time, saying he'd come back after graduation. Why did he suddenly change his mind?

Someone greeted them.

Snape placed the two letters side by side on the table; he knew what Black meant.

Two choices: choose Silver Moon Potions, which means playing your hand outright.

That was Black family's industries; his Potions, his bottle shoulder Rune, his personal mark—everyone who entered that shop would see them.

He understood what it meant when word got out that a third-year Half-bloods student's Potions were on the Black family's shelves. He could picture the faces some people would show, and how some would laugh at him.

"That poor Snape is working as a pharmaceutical worker for the Black family."

But some people will see something else.

To produce Potions of commercial quality at such a young age is something not just any student can do, and even most adult wizards cannot. In the Wizarding World, Potions is not a title anyone can simply claim. Being able to stock potions in reputable shops means that one's skills have been proven in the market, that there are prices, quality standards, and repeat customers.

Your reputation will gradually grow, recognition will come, and status will follow.

However, choosing Silvermoon was tantamount to announcing to everyone that he had chosen a side and was now associated with Black.

Lina Costa and Samuel Vance are doing better than before.

After the two Half-bloods accepted Black's protection, their situation clearly improved. They were no longer bullied at Hogwarts; people made way for them, and others took the initiative to talk to them.

But what are the downsides?

The negative aspects have been addressed.

The only harm he suffered fell on his own head; he was hospitalized, drank the Potions himself, and endured it all by himself.

Thinking of this, his face darkened.

Another option Bobbins.

The conditions are worse, the costs are higher, the share is smaller, and you have to do everything yourself.

But they have no overt relationship with the Black family.

His Potions appeared on Bobbins ' shelves, which made sense to outsiders. I found the channels myself and got it on the shelves through my own abilities; it had nothing to do with anyone else.

Black's meaning is clear: the reward has been given; as for how to choose, that's up to you.

Choosing Black offers protection, resources, and better conditions, but the price is being labeled.

Choosing Bobbins means independence and integrity, but the conditions are demanding; you have to rely on yourself for everything.

He can choose either side; the only difference is whether he's willing to let others know about his relationship with Black.

Black's arrangement, offering two options, seemed to be for his benefit: if you don't want to be tied down, I'll give you a way out.

But let's look at it from another angle.

The conditions are obvious: Silvermoon's are much better, and Bobbins's are much worse.

The two letters arrived at the same time, and he could compare them as soon as he opened them and know which one was more cost-effective.

His gloomy mind raced for a moment. Was Black just waiting to see him struggle with this little bit of profit?

In Black's view, these Sickle nothing at all. He could just make a quick arrangement, have his family shop send a letter of cooperation, have someone give Bobbins a heads-up, and then send the two letters together.

Black probably forgot about it after he finished and turned to think about something else.

But he had to toss and turn, weighing the pros and cons.

A casual arrangement by a big shot, and the entire Christmas for an ordinary person.

Snape's lips curled slightly.

He wanted to choose the one on the right, but he knew very well that getting that one wasn't due to his own ability.

Then he thought of something else: Lestrange.

If he chooses Silvermoon now and registers his business with the Black family, his relationship with Black will be out in the open.

If Lestrange investigates, or if Rababstan realizes what's going on and traces the clues back to him, he might be exposed.

Therefore, this option cannot be selected at this time.

Until we figure out what's going on with Lestrange, we can't reveal our relationship with Black.

What about Bobbins?

There's no rush.

Snape placed the two letters face down on the table, pressed them down with his palm, and stared out the window for a while in a daze.

The two owls were still perched on the windowsill; the gray barn owl tilted its head, its yellow eyes fixed on him.

They are waiting for food.

Snape glanced at the half-full glass of cold water and breadcrumbs on the table; he hadn't even eaten enough for himself.

A sudden surge of embarrassment welled up in my chest, sharp as a thorn, and turned into shame and anger.

He waved his hand stiffly, as if shooing away a fly.

"Walk."

The barn owl cooed, flapped its wings, and flew to the windowsill. Its cry was short, sharp, and sounded like a sneer.

The long-eared owl hopped over and flew off to the other side, letting out a drawn-out, hoarse cry that took a detour, as if it were saying something unpleasant.

Two owls squeezed out of the window crack one after the other, their wings brushing against the window frame before flapping and flying away.

Snape stood at the window, watching the two owls turn into two black dots and disappear into the gray sky above Spinner's End.

He lowered his head and looked at the two letters on the table.

The lily swayed again in the glass bottle.