Glad you like it!

I'm not entirely sure where the story is going, but I have bits and pieces planned out. The next chapter should be up this week I think, and hopefully the plot will solidify as I go :). 

As to the legality of child labour... well, I think that any apothecary that employs a child would have to be a bit suss. In my mind the wizarding world does have child labour laws, but the apothecary is in knockturn alley, and Severus isn't on the books. I suppose that means they don't have to pay him the minimum wage too (it's not like he can complain to the unions or get a new job). *Smirks* More on that later ;)