Vison didn't like the empty office.
Luckily, he had brought the door to his plantation with him.
He casually tossed the suitcase he carried onto the ground. It landed steadily. A few seconds later, the lid popped open by itself. The shell rapidly expanded and stretched until it transformed into the familiar door.
From beneath Vison's robe, the vines of the Devil's Snare slowly slithered out. The parts that had been burned earlier had fully recovered. The new vines looked even stronger than before. Vison lifted one vine and gently stroked it.
"Hmm, recovering well."
The Devil's Snare could regenerate quickly after injury, but this came at a cost: it consumed a large amount of Vison's magic. Fortunately, his magic reserves were deep enough to support such rapid recovery.
Satisfied, Vison watched as over a dozen vines extended into the door. He stood quietly, arms crossed, as the vines moved in and out, busy with their task.
Soon, the Devil's Snare brought out a pile of items: a dark wooden desk, a high-backed chair covered in dragon hide, and two brand-new ebony bookshelves.
Moments later, Vison surveyed the fully furnished office and nodded with satisfaction.
Bringing the Devil's Snare had been the right choice. Heavy labor like this was best left to it.
…
Before leaving Hogwarts, Vison visited Professor Kettleburn's office.
At this hour, the professor was probably still on the school grounds. However, when Vison arrived, he found only a note on the desk:
[
By the time you read this, I will have already set off for the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.
Do you remember the female dragon I fostered there?
It has finally laid an egg, and I must hurry over to confirm the situation.
]
So that's it, Vison thought, nodding.
This was typical of Kettleburn. He had always treasured his dragon, and it wasn't surprising that he would personally go for such an event.
Still, this was unexpected news. A dragon laying an egg was rare.
Vison knew that dragon well — he and Kettleburn had hatched it together from an egg years ago.
He hadn't realized so much time had passed.
Time flies, Vison sighed.
He folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket.
Then, following Professor McGonagall's suggestion, he borrowed the fireplace in the Headmaster's office.
But instead of heading to his shop, Vison chose the Leaky Cauldron as his destination.
…
By the time Vison stepped into the Leaky Cauldron, evening was near.
Inside, the place was lively as always. Wizards sat around wooden tables in small groups, chatting over drinks.
Vison glanced around but didn't linger. He walked straight to the bar.
Behind the counter, the owner Tom was hunched over, polishing a silver goblet.
When he saw Vison approach, he paused slightly.
"Welcome. What can I get you?"
Vison stopped at the bar, eyes falling on the goblet in Tom's hand.
"I need to hire someone. A worker to help manage potion ingredients at my plantation."
Tom's hand stilled. He looked up.
"Looking for a worker?"
Vison nodded.
"Preferably someone experienced, not afraid of hard work, and willing to stay long-term at the plantation."
Indeed, that was Vison's purpose today.
With his new position as a Hogwarts professor, he feared he wouldn't have enough time to manage the plants properly.
While the Devil's Snare could handle some tasks, there was still a need for extra hands.
Tom tapped the bar thoughtfully, then bent down to pull a thick ledger from under the counter. He flipped through a few pages, muttering as he skimmed.
"A few folks came by recently looking for work… but none wanted to stay at a plantation for long. Actually… none at all."
Vison wasn't surprised.
He hadn't expected to find the perfect candidate right away.
"Then post an announcement for me," Vison said, a little disappointed.
Tom closed the ledger and looked up.
"Alright. I'll put up a notice here and keep an ear out for anyone suitable."
He wiped the counter with his cloth and added, "But you know, not many want plantation work, especially long-term."
"I'm aware," Vison replied. "So I'll offer generous compensation."
"Generous, huh?"
Tom chuckled. "That should get some attention."
He resumed wiping the bar.
"The posting fee is twenty Galleons."
Vison raised a brow at the price.
Though it was a bit steeper than expected, the Leaky Cauldron was a major hub. Word spread fast here, and plenty of wizards and Muggle-borns passed through looking for jobs. It was a reasonable cost for the exposure.
Just as Vison reached into his pocket—
"Wait—"
A low voice interrupted him.
Vison turned to see a man in a brown robe, a half-finished glass of Firewhisky in front of him.
He appeared older, around forty, and his worn robe had visible patches. Clearly, he wasn't doing well financially.
Vison studied him. The man's face showed fatigue, his hands were rough with calluses, and dirt clung stubbornly to his fingertips.
"Excuse me, sir," the man said, pulling back his hood to reveal more of his face.
"I apologize for overhearing, but… are you looking for someone to care for potion ingredients?"
Vison's gaze sharpened.
"Yes. I need someone to stay at the plantation long-term and handle the plants."
The man gave a slight nod, speaking cautiously:
"May I try?"
His voice carried a hint of hesitation, like someone unsure if he would be accepted.
Vison assessed him silently, then asked:
"Do you have experience?"
"A little," the man admitted.
"I worked for a potion ingredient supplier for a few months, handling planting and harvesting common herbs."
He didn't specify where or when, but to Vison, who needed help urgently, someone offering to work was already promising.
"Excellent," Vison nodded.
"You can give it a try. We'll discuss working hours and pay afterward."
At Vison's agreement, a flicker of relief passed over the man's weary face.
Tom, who had been watching from the side, chuckled softly.
"Looks like you found your worker. No need for the announcement, then."
Vison hummed in agreement and put the Galleons back in his pocket.
"That's good," Tom shrugged, unbothered, and moved off to serve other customers.
Turning back to the man, Vison asked:
"What's your name?"
"Remus Lupin."
(