Title: Freedom and Happiness
A/N: For yeah I'm a b1tch's 20 Drabbles, 20 Prompts Challenge.
Severus stared around in wonder. There were shops that sold everything from sweets to books to wands, with brightly coloured displays and curious sounding names. Attention grabbing posters adorned the walls, magical brooms swept the street, and at the head of the street stood the most impressive building he had ever seen. It was built of white marble, with enormous doors, and it gleamed in the sun. He wanted to go everywhere at once, turning his head from side to side. His mother tugged on his hand, laughing.
"Come on Sev. We have to go to Gringott's and get money first, then we can go everywhere!" He'd never seen her like this, so free and happy. For once his father wasn't breathing down their necks.
The journey to the Prince vault was like a roller coaster ride, manned by stern goblins. His mother showed him the different coins that she had been telling him about when his father was out, then they re-emerged into the sunlight to buy books and robes. He lingered in the apothecary, fascinated by the jars of green armadillo bile and scarlet bat's blood and the glittering sacks of little beetle eyes. His mother was scanning the Hogwarts list.
"You still need a wand dear." Severus left, partly reluctant to leave the store, but excited. This was the part he had been really looking forward to: a wand, like his mother's.