"Since you're not planning to leave school immediately, why apply so early? You're still nominally an underage wizard, and you can't cast spells outside of school," Professor Snape tried his best to persuade him.
"You should know, Professor, I have a small business outside of school, and I have to check on it from time to time. After all, I'm still in the rising phase of my career. However, I won't stay away all the time. Actually, this early departure application is just to allow me to freely enter and exit the school during normal hours."
"As for casting spells outside of school…" Alan smiled slightly, pulling a document from his pocket and handing it over. "You can take a look at this."
"Patrolling Hit Wizard Certificate? You applied for this during the summer? I remember this certificate can only be applied for in seventh year at the earliest. How did you get this?" Professor Snape looked at Alan with surprise.
This kind of certificate doesn't have much use in Britain. The Longbottoms had previously introduced it to Alan. Abroad, many call it a Bounty Wizard Certificate. Once you possess it, you can legally use force against wanted wizards and submit criminals to the local Ministry for a bounty. This kind of certificate is popular in chaotic regions where a wizard might be wanted in one country but not another. Aurors would have to coordinate across borders, which is a bureaucratic nightmare, but Bounty Wizards simply infiltrate, arrest the suspect, and claim their reward.
While largely symbolic in Britain, the certificate has a major perk: it allows an underage wizard to cast spells outside of school legally. However, British custom usually dictates that a student must be in their seventh year to apply. The reason it is specified as seventh year rather than seventeen years old was originally to accommodate brilliant young wizards who skipped grades.
The only reason Alan had secured one before his seventh year or his seventeenth birthday was Minister Bagnold's special approval. Alan was now a primary equipment supplier, and it was only logical for him to be able to test his inventory. Minister Bagnold had even gone as far as to remove his Trace.
Alan couldn't openly explain this to Snape, so he simply brushed him off. "You don't need to know the details of how I got it. It's enough to confirm that the certificate is real."
"Hmph!" Professor Snape, seeing that Alan had prepared for every contingency, lost his temper. He could only glare in frustration before signing off on the leave application.
"My dear Head of House, I know you're reluctant to let me go, but I have my own responsibilities. With Slytherin's current state, winning the House Cup these next two years will be a piece of cake," Alan teased. It was rare to see Snape looking so sour.
"You arrogant fellow, the sooner you disappear from my sight, the better." Snape snorted coldly, giving Alan a look that was hard to decipher.
"By the way, Professor, can I ask you something?" Alan asked casually.
"Speak if you have something to say. Don't waste my time."
"Do you know Aseria? Aseria Roar. She was a junior, one year below you." Alan remembered that the suspicious woman seemed to be a contemporary of his Head of House.
"Aseria? Is that the very beautiful one?" Snape tilted his head, recalling the name.
"I'm glad you remember her. What was she like, in your estimation?"
"She wasn't in my house, so how would I know such details? I only remember she was quite popular—the privilege of being beautiful, I suppose. Why are you asking?" Snape asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, just checking on a friend," Alan brushed him off. "Do you remember what wand she used?"
"A wand?" Snape found the line of questioning bizarre, but he thought carefully. "How would I know her exact wand? I only remember it seemed dark—either blackthorn or black walnut."
Alan raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, Professor. You've helped resolve a very important doubt."
Snape glanced at him, bewildered, then seemed to remember something else. With a reluctant expression, he pulled a small box from a drawer and pushed it toward Alan. "This is for you. As the Head of Slytherin, consider this a reward for your service to the house. I won't have people gossiping behind my back, saying I'm unfeeling."
*Why was Snape suddenly so kind?* Alan looked at the box with surprise before opening it. A bottle of pale golden liquid lay inside.
Even the usually composed Alan widened his eyes. He was all too familiar with the potion; it was Felix Felicis. It was incredibly difficult to brew; the ingredients were precious and the cycle was long. He had never attempted it himself due to the cost, and he only had a half-bottle remaining from a previous source.
Had the Head of House grabbed the wrong bottle, or had he truly had a change of heart? To give such a grand gift with such a smug expression was uncharacteristic. Alan paused as he looked at the bottle, noticing a detail that made him look closer, feeling uncertain.
"What? Haven't seen anything of quality before? Is such an ordinary item worth staring at for so long?" Snape saw Alan's hesitation and felt a swell of pride.
After confirming his suspicion, Alan silently closed the box and looked at Snape with a solemn expression. "Thank you for the gift, Professor. This is truly a surprising present."