"And I can't generously declare that all Wolfsbane Potion will be distributed free of charge. I don't have that kind of money, nor am I that selfless."
"More importantly, even if I agreed to make Wolfsbane Potion free, no shop would be willing to sell it. Every bottle sold would mean a loss in storage and operating costs—no one would do something that foolish, Professor."
As a Potions Master, Snape had long forgotten the hardships of making money. Plenty of potion shops practically chased after him, trying to stuff Galleons into his pockets.
But that did not mean he could not understand. The moment Vaughan explained, he understood. Suppressing the strange sense that he was looking at Voldemort, Snape fell silent for a moment before asking Vaughan, "What are you planning to do?"
With both hands in his pockets, Vaughan paced as he spoke.
"This is not something private individuals can solve. Given the current number of werewolves in the wizarding world, even if you joined me, Professor, the two of us could work ourselves to death and still never brew enough Wolfsbane Potion. So I intend to make the formula public when the time comes, but that still leaves a great many problems."
"First, once the formula is public, how many potion-makers would be willing to take on the brewing? Who would gather them? Are we supposed to expect them to help for free? Second, the massive demand for ingredients would inevitably drive up prices and increase costs. Who would be responsible for regulating that?"
Stopping in his tracks, Vaughan said calmly, "So, to solve these problems, the entire wizarding world must bear the burden together. In other words, we need to bring in the Ministry of Magic... and that is precisely what worries me most."
"You fear the