Harry Potter: Forging the Flame Ch. 18

Chapter 18.

Daphne let out a slow breath, clearly trying to collect herself after that little confession. She grabbed her quill, tapping it idly against the table before finally glancing back at Harry’s notes.

“So,” she said, as if forcing them both back to reality. “Are we done getting distracted, or do you actually want to figure out how we’re supposed to make this potion work?”

Harry grinned, but he let her change the subject. “Alright, back to work,” he said, dragging his parchment toward him. “We still don’t have a base.”

Daphne nodded, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “We’ve ruled out water and alcohol, and thick bases like troll fat are too slow. We need something magically conductive, strong enough to hold our ingredients together, and adaptable enough to react properly when used.”

Harry exhaled, thinking. “What about basilisk venom?”

Daphne, who had just dipped her quill into the inkwell, froze. Slowly, she lifted her eyes, giving him a flat, incredulous look. “
Excuse me?”

“I killed a basilisk in second year. Its body is still down in the Chamber of Secrets.”

Daphne blinked. Then stared.

Then, very slowly, she leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table as she narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m sorry. Did you just say
 basilisk?”

Harry glanced up from his notes. “Yeah?”

Daphne continued staring. “As in—the giant, legendary serpent? The one that can kill people just by looking at them?”

Harry shrugged. “Well, yeah, if you look it in the eye.”

Daphne exhaled sharply, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. “And you killed it.”

Harry shifted slightly under her stare. “
Yeah. With a sword.”

“
.With a sword.”

“
Yes.”

Daphne leaned back in her chair, running a hand down her face. “Merlin’s bloody beard.”

“It wasn’t that impressive.”

She shot him a look. “Potter. You killed a thousand-year-old basilisk with a sword. Excuse me if I need a moment to process that.”

Harry snorted, but before he could reply, Daphne shook her head. “And you’re just casually bringing this up now?”

“I just wanted to survive,” Harry said.

Daphne let out a breath, shaking her head again. “Unbelievable.”

Harry grinned. “So I take it you’re impressed?”

Daphne scoffed. “I’m reconsidering my stance on whether or not you’re insane.”

Harry laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Daphne tapped her fingers against the table, considering. “Alright. Hypothetically—let’s say we could get venom from this basilisk. How would that even help us?”

Harry frowned. “I don’t know. Basilisk venom is one of the deadliest substances in the world, but
” He trailed off, trying to put the thought into words. “It’s not just poison—it’s magical. And the only thing that can cure it is phoenix tears.”

Daphne hummed, intrigued. “So, you’re thinking it could have regenerative properties in the right conditions?”

Harry nodded. “Maybe. I mean, venom breaks things down, right? But if we could find a way to counteract that—neutralize it, control it—maybe it could work as a base that forces the body to rebuild itself.”

Daphne sat back, arms crossed. “It’s an insane idea.”

“So is making an entirely new potion from scratch.”

Daphne conceded that with a small tilt of her head. “Alright, let’s say you do figure out how to harvest the basilisk’s venom—because I’m assuming you don’t just have vials of it lying around?”

Harry shook his head. “Nope. But I’ll handle that part.”

Daphne raised an eyebrow. “You? Alone?”

Harry grinned. “What, worried about me?”

Daphne scoffed. “No. Just wondering if I should start writing your eulogy.”

Harry chuckled. “I’ll figure it out.”

Daphne nodded. “We’ll need specialized ingredients, and most of this stuff won’t be in the Hogwarts student stores. Not to mention, if we’re using basilisk venom, we’ll need a cauldron that can handle highly magical compounds—probably reinforced silver or something similar.”

Harry leaned his arms on the table, thinking. “Alright. We’ll need to get out of the castle without raising any suspicion. That means not using the front gate.”

“You already have a plan for this, don’t you?”

Harry smirked. “I might.”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “Of course you do.”

Harry sat up. “Alright, so we’ve got a plan. Get out of Hogwarts, get to Diagon Alley, buy what we need, get back before anyone notices.”

Daphne sighed, rubbing her temple. “Potter, this is either going to be brilliant or an absolute disaster.”

“A little of both, probably.”

She huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, she picked up her quill again, scribbling a few notes.

“Monday, Snape’s going to ask what our project is,” she said. “What’s our answer?”

Harry thought for a moment, then said, “We’re designing a new healing potion, one that focuses on deep tissue regeneration. Something that can heal wounds that traditional healing potions can’t.”

Daphne nodded. “And when he asks how?”

“We’ll tell him we’re still refining the process. That should buy us a little time.”

Daphne sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but
 this might actually work.”

Harry stretched, feeling more awake now than he had all morning. “Glad you have faith in us, Greengrass.”

Daphne smirked. “Don’t make me regret it, Potter.”

They had a plan. A ridiculous, insane plan—but a plan nonetheless. But before they could go any further, he needed to check something.

“Daphne, can I excuse myself for a moment?” he asked, standing up and gathering his bag. “I need to check something.”

Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Check what?”

Harry hesitated. “Just something that might help.”

Daphne studied him for a moment, then rolled her eyes. “Fine. Don’t take too long.”

Harry gave her a nod and slipped away, weaving between bookshelves until he found an empty corner of the library, shielded from view.

Pulling the enchanted mirror from his bag, he turned it over in his hands before whispering, “Sirius Black.”

A moment later, Sirius’ face appeared, slightly disheveled, his hair a mess like he’d just woken up. He squinted at Harry.

“Harry? You do realize it’s barely morning, right?”

Harry ignored that. “I need your help.”

Sirius smirked. “This usually means I should start worrying. What’s going on?”

“I need to get to Diagon Alley.”

Sirius blinked, then let out a laugh. “Diagon Alley? From Hogwarts?” He shook his head. “Merlin, kid, you really don’t do things the easy way, do you?”

Harry crossed his arms. “So, is there a way or not?”

Sirius ran a hand through his hair, thinking. “Well, you can’t exactly waltz through the front gates. Apparition’s blocked, and unless you fancy sneaking through the Forbidden Forest and hoping you don’t get eaten, you need a passage.”

Harry frowned. “A passage?”

Sirius’ lips twitched. “James and I may have known a few ways in and out of Hogwarts.”

That got Harry’s attention. “Which one works best?”

Sirius smirked. “Honeydukes.”

Harry nodded, filing that away. “Alright. That gets me to Hogsmeade, but how do I get to Diagon Alley?”

“Simple,” Sirius said. “Floo Network. Just pop into the Three Broomsticks, grab some Floo Powder, and step into the fireplace. Say ‘Diagon Alley,’ and you’ll be there in seconds.”

Harry exhaled. That was easier than he expected.

“Alright,” he said. “And what about Gringotts? Can I just show up?”

Sirius raised an eyebrow. “Why do you need to go to Gringotts?”

Harry hesitated for half a second before saying, “It’s about the basilisk.”

Sirius blinked. Then, his face split into a grin. “Ahh. Now you’re thinking.”

Harry frowned. “So I can claim it?”

“Took you long enough to figure that out. You killed the thing. It’s yours.” He leaned back, looking smug. “That means if there’s anything salvageable, the goblins will handle it.”

Harry frowned. “You’re sure?”

“Kid, goblins love rare magical materials,” Sirius said. “If there’s venom, fangs, skin. hell, even bones they’ll extract it for you. Just be polite. And don’t demand anything for free.”

Harry nodded, filing that away. “Alright. And I don’t need an appointment?”

“For this? No. Just show up, tell them you’ve got a claim to discuss, and they’ll listen.”

Harry exhaled. “Alright. Thanks, Sirius.”

“Don’t get caught,” Sirius said, smirking. “And tell Daphne I said hi.”

Harry rolled his eyes and snapped the mirror shut.

Stuffing it back into his bag, he took a breath before heading back to their table.

“Well?” she said, not looking up. “Whatever secret thing you just did—did it work?”

Harry slid back into his seat, still feeling the thrill of planning something borderline insane.

“Oh, it worked,” he said smoothly. “Which means we, Greengrass, have an excellent opportunity ahead of us.”

Daphne finally looked up, narrowing her eyes. “
Define opportunity.”

Harry leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table. “We’re going today.”

She blinked. “What?”

“Diagon Alley,” he clarified, his voice almost casual. “We’re not waiting. We’re going now.”

Daphne stared. Then stared some more. “I.. hold on. Now? As in today?”

Harry grinned. “Ideally, within the next half hour.”

Daphne’s quill hit the table with a soft thud. “Potter.”

“I checked,” he continued, ignoring her very obvious what the hell expression. “We can do it. I know how to get us out of the castle, I know how to get us to Diagon Alley, and I know we can talk to the goblins without an appointment.”

Daphne still looked completely unconvinced. “And you just
 checked?”

“Yeah.”

She exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “We were going to go next weekend.”

“Yeah, but now we don’t have to wait,” Harry pointed out, grinning. “And waiting is boring.”

Daphne gave him a flat look. “Waiting is smart.”

“Smart is overrated,” Harry said easily.

She glared at him like she was this close to hexing him.

“Come on, Greengrass. It’s a perfectly reasonable plan.”

“It’s not reasonable,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s reckless.”

“Yes.”

Daphne threw her hands up. “Unbelievable.”

Harry leaned in slightly. “But you’re considering it.”

She scowled. “I hate that I’m considering it.”

Harry grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

Finally, after a long pause, she sighed.

“Fine. But if we get caught, you’re explaining it to Snape.”

“Deal.”

Daphne was already there when Harry arrived, standing in front of the statue with her arms crossed, looking supremely unimpressed.

“You’re late,” she said.

“Had to grab a few things.” He patted his bag, where the Invisibility Cloak was tucked safely inside. “Ready?”

Daphne gave the statue a look, then shot him a skeptical glance. “You’re serious? This is how we’re getting out?”

Harry stepped up to the One-Eyed Witch, ignoring her doubt. With a quick glance down the corridor to make sure no one was around, he tapped the statue’s hump with his wand.

“Dissendium.”

The stone shifted, revealing a dark, sloping passage leading deep underground. A faint draft of cool, stale air drifted up from below.

Daphne blinked. Then she stared at him.

“
What?”

“You coming?”

She still hadn’t moved. “That was a locked tunnel. How do you even know about it?”

Harry just stepped forward like this was completely normal. “You ask too many questions.”

Daphne narrowed her eyes but, after a moment, sighed and followed him in.

The passage sealed shut behind them.

Harry cast Lumos, the glow cutting through the thick darkness ahead. He could hear Daphne’s footsteps behind him.

“How long is this going to take?” she asked, her voice bouncing slightly off the tunnel walls.

“About an hour if we walk,” Harry said. “Less if we run, but I don’t think either of us is in the mood for that.”

Daphne hummed in agreement. “I can’t believe this has been here the whole time. How did you even find it?”

Harry smirked at the question but didn’t answer.

Daphne huffed. “Of course. Mysterious Potter and his big secrets.”

Harry glanced at her. “On some things? Yeah, I’ll give you answers. Just
 not this one.”

Daphne arched a brow. “And why not?”

He hesitated, then shrugged. “Because I promised to keep it a secret.”

For a moment, she just stared at him, searching his face. Then she exhaled, shaking her head. “Alright. I can respect that.”

Harry blinked, surprised. “Really?”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “Potter, I know how to keep secrets too.”

“Good to know.”

They walked in silence for a while then Harry asked,

“So, how did you and Tracey meet?”

Daphne glanced at him. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Just curious.”

She hesitated for a moment, then let out a small huff of laughter. “You’re not going to believe it.”

“Try me.”

Daphne shook her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Alright. It was in a Muggle shop.”

“Wait, what?”

“A secondhand shop, actually,” she clarified, clearly amused by his reaction. “One of those places where Muggles buy old clothes. A what do they call it? A thrift shop.”

Harry had to stop walking for a second. “Daphne Greengrass. Pureblood Slytherin. In a Muggle thrift shop?”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “Yes, Potter. I was there with my mother. She does business in the Muggle world, has investments, properties, that kind of thing.”

“Seriously?”

Daphne shrugged. “A lot of old families do. They just don’t talk about it.”

Huh. That was
 interesting. He hadn’t expected that.

“I always liked going with her,” Daphne continued. “I thought Muggles were fascinating. Still do, really. But that day, I got bored waiting, so I wandered into the shop next door.” She smirked. “And that’s where I found Tracey.”

Harry tilted his head. “Doing what?”

Daphne let out a small laugh. “Arguing with the cashier.”

She continued, “So I walk in, and right in the middle of the store, there’s this little girl, probably my age, absolutely going at it with the cashier over the price of a dress. Something about how it wasn’t fair that grown-ups got discounts but kids didn’t. And in the background, the radio was blasting this absurdly cheerful song, and she just stopped arguing and started dancing.”

Harry blinked. “Dancing?”

“Right there in the middle of the shop.” Daphne shook her head, but there was fond amusement in her voice. “Like she didn’t have a care in the world. When i told my mom about it later on, she thought Tracey was mental. I thought she was brilliant.”

A chuckle escaped Harry. “So what did you do?”

“I joined her, obviously.”

Harry laughed, genuinely caught off guard. “You? Dancing in a Muggle shop?”

Daphne smirked. “ I liked music. So I danced.”

Harry shook his head, grinning. “And then what?”

Daphne shrugged. “We got kicked out.”

He snorted. “Figures.”

She smiled at the memory, then exhaled. “It wasn’t until later, on the Hogwarts Express, that I saw her again. She remembered me, and I remembered her. That was it. We were best friends from that moment on.”

Harry was quiet for a moment, then said, “You two are close, huh?”

“Always have been.”

They walked in silence for a few more steps before Daphne shot him a look.

“Alright, Potter,” she said, tilting her head. “I told you story. Now, I want yours.”

Harry blinked. “My what?”

She smirked. “The basilisk. You just dropped that into conversation earlier like it was nothing. Now, I want all the juicy details.”

Harry let out a short laugh. “Fair’s fair, I guess.” He adjusted his grip on his wand, watching the tunnel ahead. “Alright then you remember the first attack, right?”

Daphne scoffed. “Obviously. Everyone does. Filch’s cat, writing on the wall. That was when things got weird.”

Harry snorted. “Weird? Yeah, you could say that. The rumors started immediately. People whispering about the Heir of Slytherin, about how Muggle-borns were in danger, about how I was the Heir.”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “I remember that too. Merlin, half of Slytherin thought it was the funniest thing ever. The other half thought you were about to start cursing people in the halls.”

Harry shook his head. “Yeah, well, then people actually started getting attacked. Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Nick nearly lost his head again..”

Daphne frowned. “And then Granger.”

Harry nodded. “Yeah. Hermione figured it out first. She worked out what was attacking people. But before she could tell us
” He trailed off.

“She was petrified,” Daphne finished.

“Yeah.” Harry exhaled. “We found the answer on a scrap of parchment in her hand when we visited her in the hospital wing.”

“Of course she worked it out.”

“Yeah. That’s when we realized—it was a basilisk.”

“And you went looking for it.”

“Obviously.”

She groaned. “Alright, just keep going before I start questioning your life choices again.”

Harry grinned. “So, we figured out where the Chamber was. Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.”

Daphne shot him an incredulous look. “You’re joking.”

“Nope. The entrance was hidden in a sink.”

She shook her head.

And with that, Harry launched into the story. How he and Ron had found the entrance, how Lockhart had been spectacularly useless, how the tunnel had dropped him into the underground chamber, how he’d found Ginny, how Riddle had been waiting for him.

By the time Harry finished, the tunnel had started to slope upward.

Daphne was quiet.

“You good?”

Daphne blinked, then let out a breath. “Yeah. Just
” She glanced at him. “That was
 a lot. And let me get this straight, this entire time, you were twelve?”

“Yep.”

She shook her head. “Merlin. At twelve, I was worried about exams and whether my owl would bite me again. You were out here sword-fighting monsters under the school.”

Harry chuckled. “Yeah, well. I’d have preferred the owl.”

Daphne huffed a laugh, but there was something else in her expression, something thoughtful, like she was reevaluating something. Then, finally, she said, “I always thought people exaggerated about you. Like, yeah, Harry Potter, did some mad things, got lucky a few times, but now?”

She looked at him. “Now I see why you make people nervous.”

Harry frowned. “Nervous?”

Daphne tilted her head. “You think it’s normal to have a basilisk-slaying story before you even hit thirteen? People don’t know what to do with that, Potter. And I don’t just mean Slytherins.”

Harry didn’t know how to respond to that.

Daphne smirked. “Relax. I’m not saying you’re scary. I’m just saying
 I get why people watch you.”

Before Harry could think too hard about that, the tunnel came to an abrupt end. A wooden trapdoor set into the ceiling just ahead. The air filtering through the cracks smelled like earth, fresh air, and
 butter?

Hogsmeade.

Harry slowed his steps, motioning for Daphne to stop. “Alright, this is the exit. We need to be careful.”

Daphne eyed the trapdoor. “Where does it come out?”

“The back room of Honeydukes,” Harry whispered. “There’s a storage area right above us. If the owners are around, we’ll have to wait until it’s clear.”

Daphne gave him a look. “And if they don’t leave?”

Harry grinned. “That’s why I brought this.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a shimmering, silvery fabric. It caught the dim light from his wand, shifting like liquid in his hands.

Daphne’s eyes widened. “Is that..?”

“Invisibility Cloak,” Harry confirmed.

Daphne blinked, then let out a low whistle. “Alright, I’ll admit that’s impressive.”

Harry smirked. “Family heirloom.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

“I’ll go first, check if the coast is clear,” Harry said, tucking the cloak under his arm. “If it’s safe, I’ll signal you. If not, we wait.”

Daphne nodded. “Got it.”

Harry extinguished his wand with a whispered “Nox.” Then, carefully, he climbed the ladder, wincing slightly as one of the rungs creaked under his weight. He reached the trapdoor and pressed his ear against it, listening.

Muted sounds drifted through, faint footsteps, the occasional clink of glass jars, and, somewhere further away, muffled laughter from what was probably the main shop.

After a moment, Harry carefully nudged the trapdoor upward, opening it just a sliver. Through the gap, he could see wooden crates stacked high.

No one was inside.

Harry pushed the trapdoor open just enough to slip through, moving quickly and quietly as he climbed into the room. He glanced around, double-checking that they were alone.

Then, leaning back down through the opening, he whispered, “All clear. Come up.”

Daphne climbed quickly, her movements smooth and practiced. As soon as she reached the top, Harry shut the trapdoor behind her as quietly as possible.

She dusted herself off, glancing around. “Alright, Potter. What’s next?”

Harry grinned, already unfolding the cloak. “Now? Now we disappear.”

Daphne smirked. “Lead the way.”

And with that, they slipped under the Invisibility Cloak, vanishing into the shadows of Honeydukes.

The scent of chocolate and caramel filled the air, and Harry had to steer Daphne away from nearly knocking over a display of Sugar Quills.

“Do not get us caught over sweets,” he muttered.

“I wasn’t
 okay, maybe I was looking,” Daphne admitted. “You can’t blame me. This place smells amazing.”

They weaved between the shelves, dodging customers as they made their way to the door. The little bell jingled as someone entered, and Harry used the sound to slip out unnoticed, guiding Daphne into the cool night air.

“Alright,” Daphne whispered. “Now what?”

“The Three Broomsticks,” Harry said, nodding toward the pub down the street. “They’ve got a public Floo connection. We pop in, grab some powder, and we’re off to Diagon Alley.”

Daphne smirked. “Sounds easy enough.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “Don’t jinx it.”

The cloak was roomy, but not that roomy. Daphne nearly tripped over Harry’s foot twice, and he had to yank her out of the way when a group of Hufflepuffs nearly brushed past them.

By the time they reached The Three Broomsticks, Daphne was muttering, “How do you not crash into people every time you use this thing?”

“Practice,” Harry whispered back. “And coordination, which you apparently lack.”

She elbowed him.

The pub was busy enough that no one would notice two extra people slipping in, but the real problem was the fireplace, it was in full view of the customers.

“We can’t just throw off the cloak in the middle of the room,”

Harry nodded. “We need a quiet spot.”

He scanned the area and spotted a small side corridor leading toward the back of the pub, probably where the staff stored supplies. He nudged Daphne and carefully guided her toward it.

Once they were tucked away in the dimly lit space, hidden from the main crowd, Harry whispered, “Alright, now.”

They pulled off the Invisibility Cloak, and Daphne immediately shook out her robes. “Merlin, I felt like I was suffocating in there.”

A few steps away, the fireplace crackled invitingly, a large jar of Floo Powder sat on the mantel.

Daphne strode forward, grabbed a handful of powder, and tossed it into the flames. The fire roared green, swirling higher as she stepped in. She called out, “Diagon Alley!” before vanishing in a rush of emerald light.

Harry followed a second later, taking a handful of powder and throwing it into the hearth.

“Diagon Alley!”

The world spun, and just like that, they were gone.

Thud.

Harry stumbled out right behind her, nearly losing his balance as he caught himself against her arm.

Daphne caught him effortlessly, one eyebrow arching as she smirked. “Graceful, Potter.”

Harry exhaled, standing up properly. “Thanks.”

Daphne patted his arm once before turning away, already striding toward the door. “Don’t mention it. Really.”

She laughed quietly as she pushed open the door to The Leaky Cauldron, stepping outside without another word.

Harry shook his head, dusting off his robes before following.

As they walked through Diagon Alley, the streets were still quiet, with only a few early risers moving between shops. Harry glanced around.

“Since we’re early, how about lunch after? My treat.”

Daphne didn’t slow down, but he caught the slight tilt of her head before she smirked. “You’re buying? Well, I do enjoy taking advantage of Gryffindor generosity.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “That’s a yes, then.”

“Obviously.”

They turned onto the familiar path leading to Slugg & Jiggers, the apothecary’s wooden sign swinging gently above the door.

The store wasn’t crowded, just a few scattered customers browsing the rows of shelves, jars, and potion kits stacked neatly behind the glass counters.

The shopkeeper barely spared them a glance before returning to sorting a bundle of dried roots.

Harry let his eyes wander over the shelves. Some ingredients he recognized immediately from past classes, Dittany, Moonstone Powder, Ashwinder Eggs. Others had names that sounded vaguely threatening, like Re’em Blood and Drought of Endless Slumber.

Daphne was already scanning the aisles, plucking a bottle of Salamander Oil from the shelf and checking the label. “Fire-aspected,” she murmured. “Should help stabilize any regeneration effects.”

Harry picked up his own bottle, tilting it slightly. The thick golden liquid shimmered inside. “Looks kind of alive.”

“That’s how you know it’s good.”

She handed him a second bottle. “We’ll need extras for testing.”

Harry tucked them into their bag before they moved on.

A few shelves down, Daphne crouched slightly to inspect a rack of dried herbs. She tapped her fingers against the label of Fluxweed, frowning. “This was harvested last full moon. Not as fresh as I’d like, but it’ll work.”

Harry reached over, grabbing two packets instead of one.

Daphne raised a brow.

“You said we’re testing multiple bases, right?” Harry said “Might as well stock up.”

She gave him an appraising look but didn’t argue.

Further down, Graphorn Horn was kept behind a glass case, locked with a small enchantment seal.

Daphne nodded at it. “We’ll need at least three ounces for proper testing.”

Harry made a mental note to ask for it later, then kept moving.

They reached another aisle, and Harry paused, eyeing a vial of Murtlap Essence.

“This might work as a secondary base,” he said, rolling the bottle between his fingers.

Daphne considered, then nodded. “It’s strong on burns. Might be useful if we can balance the reaction.”

She grabbed a second vial and added it to their pile.

Just as she turned, something caught her attention—a small jar labeled Phoenix Moss.

Daphne’s brow lifted slightly. “This
 could be useful.”

Harry glanced over. “What’s it do?”

“It binds regenerative properties,” she murmured. “Rare, but if we’re mixing Basilisk Venom, it might help control the reaction.”

Harry picked up one jar, then hesitated before grabbing another. “Better safe than sorry.”

They kept moving, scanning the shelves, and something on a lower rack caught Harry’s eye. A bottle of Obscura Root Extract.

“What’s this for?” he asked.

Daphne leaned over, frowning slightly. “That’s used in potions dealing with memories and perception.”

Harry turned the bottle in his hand, intrigued. “That might be worth testing.”

“Fine. But only a small vial. It’s potent.”

After a final scan of the shelves, Daphne checked their supplies.

“Alright,” she murmured. “We have the basics, and enough extra to test different variations.”

Harry nodded. “Then let’s pay.”

They approached the counter, where the shopkeeper finally gave them a proper look. “You two must be working on something big.”

Daphne didn’t react, simply stacking their ingredients neatly on the counter. “We need three ounces of Graphorn Horn as well.”

The man let out a huff but didn’t argue, pulling out a weighing scale and carefully measuring out the shimmering powder.

“That’ll be seven Galleons per ounce,” he said, scooping the Graphorn Horn into a small tin.

He glanced over their pile of ingredients, tapping his fingers against the counter as he tallied the total.

“With everything, that comes to forty-two Galleons, eight Sickles.”

Harry reached into his money pouch, fingers brushing over the cool metal as he started counting. He pulled out a handful of Galleons, setting them down in stacks of ten before adding the extra coins.

The shopkeeper eyed the neatly counted piles, gave a short nod, then swept them into the till.

“Anything else?”

Daphne’s expression shifted slightly. “Do you have Silverthorn Extract?”

The man actually laughed. “Silverthorn? Not a chance. You’d have better luck in private alchemy circles.”

Daphne’s jaw tightened slightly. “And Whispervine Sap?”

The shopkeeper snorted. “If that even exists, it’s not sold here.”

Harry exchanged a glance with Daphne. That wasn’t good.

The shopkeeper waved them off. “If you’re looking for that kind of thing, try a
 specialty supplier.”

Daphne smoothly grabbed their purchased ingredients and turned away. “Come on, let’s go.”

As they stepped out onto the street, Harry adjusted the bag on his shoulder. “So
 what now?”

Daphne crossed her arms, staring down Diagon Alley, where the entrance to the infamous side street lay just out of view.

“That,” she muttered, “is the question.”

“Alright, hold on,” Harry said. “Before we start wandering into sketchy alleys, let’s focus on what we can get first.”

“Meaning?”

“Cauldron first. No point getting all these ingredients if we don’t have something to brew them in.”

Daphne nodded. “Alright. We’ll need reinforced silver or something magically conductive. Regular pewter won’t hold up.”

“Glad we agree. And after that, Gringotts.”

Daphne raised a brow. “You’re really doing this?”

Harry shrugged. “If they can extract the venom, that’s one less thing we have to worry about.”

Daphne hummed, thoughtful. “And if they can’t?”

“Then we figure something else out.”

She rolled her eyes. “Brilliant plan.”

“Worked so far.”

Daphne sighed but gestured for him to lead the way. “Fine. Cauldron first, then your ridiculous claim to a thousand-year-old snake. Let’s get moving.”

Chapter full of talking i know, boring. Sorry for that. (^.^)