Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to Rowling, no profit being made, just for fun.
A/N: Like Puzzle Pieces, Seeing Through Walls is another of my many fics that I'm getting back to finishing. To my brave betas Rory and Skuf, many, many thanks.
Finding Trouble
"Oh, wow," Harry whispered, his eyes riveted to the sight before him. He was rapidly falling in love; she was perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Taking a deep breath, he dared to take a step closer, nearly touching the barrier that separated them. His fingers longed to reach out and stroke her, to hold her close and see just how she'd react when he-
"If you get any closer, you're going to kiss the glass."
Harry spun away from the display window of Quality Quidditch Supplies to see the grinning face of Ron Weasley. "Ron! That's not funny," he said, trying to hide his embarrassment at being caught drooling over the latest model racing broom.
"It is too," Ron countered. "The look on your face-," he laughed.
Pretending to be hurt, Harry tried not to smile but quickly gave in with a slight roll of his eyes. Though only seventeen, he understood better than most the power of happy times. He'd never begrudge Ron his fun, even if it was at his expense.
Besides, Harry would get even later.
Turning back to the window, Harry went back to staring at the Infinity. She really was a beauty; polished and shined, just begging to be taken for a flight. Lost in his own imaginings, he was barely aware that Ron had laughed himself out and was pressed up against the glass beside him, also staring at the broom. And neither one of them noticed the person heading towards them, looking both angry and relieved.
"There you are," Hermione said, stepping up beside them, her hands full with bags brimming with books. "I figured you'd both be staring at Quidditch brooms instead of getting your school supplies like you promised."
"Oh come on, Hermione," Ron said, reluctantly turning away from the window. "It's not like we don't have the time. School doesn't start for a whole week."
Hermione arched an eyebrow, her eyes glittering with a dangerous spark. "And if I recall, that was the purpose of coming here today. To get everything so we don't have to fight through the back to school crowd and can spend the rest of the week hanging out." She pulled a list out of one of her bags. "I still need to get some new robes. What do you guys have left to do?"
Ron's eyes lit up. "I need new robes too," he said, pointing at his own robes, which were a couple of inches too short. He'd gone through a major growth spurt during the summer, gaining inches that were quickly filling out with muscle earned from hours of Quidditch practice. He'd also taken to following Hermione around like a lovesick puppy, something Harry found absolutely hilarious, as Hermione was oblivious to the fact that she'd picked up an admirer. When they had met up at the Weasleys' to spend the rest of the summer break together, Harry had noticed Ron's odd behavior, and at first, had been confused by Ron's frequent stammering and blushing. Then Harry had caught Ron raptly watching Hermione as she played wizard's chess with Ginny and things quickly clicked into place. With a grin, he'd silently wished Ron good luck, as Hermione was…well, Hermione. A force of nature unto herself.
Focusing his attention back onto present matters, Harry pulled his own list out and groaned. "I've still got to pick up supplies at the Apothecary." He hated the Apothecary; it smelled bad and reminded him of Snape's class, a torture he tried to avoid thinking about while on break.
Hermione ignored Harry's sour face and nodded her head, coming to a decision. "If we still want to go to Florean's for ice cream before we have to meet with Mrs. Weasley, I suggest we split up so we can get everything done. We can meet up at Florean's at, let's say, 11:30?"
Nodding reluctantly, Harry agreed to the plan. He could face the Apothecary by himself, after all. They split up and Harry tried not to laugh at the silly grin on Ron's face as he walked beside Hermione, carrying some of her books.
Harry cast one last longing look at the Infinity and set off for the Apothecary, randomly humming phrases from various muggle songs. Some of the passing witches and wizards frowned at him, either in puzzlement over the strange music or disapproval over the "Boy Who Lived" humming something so mugglish. He dealt with each disapproving look by singing a line or two out loud, feeling completely rebellious.
Lost in his music, Harry almost walked by the Apothecary, but the smell of rotten eggs and shrivelfig drifting out of an open window brought him back to earth.
He headed for the shop door and mindlessly glanced through one of the display windows, only to stop with a jolt. Snape was standing by the sales counter, quietly talking with the owner as he slipped wrapped purchases into a black leather bag hanging off his shoulder.
Harry moaned and ducked down beside a display cart in front of the stop. The last thing he needed was a run in with Snape. He'd never hear the end of it if he managed to lose points from Gryffindor before the school year even started. Snape took away points if Harry so much as breathed in his presence.
Hunkering further down beside the cart, Harry decided that he'd just have to wait until Snape left. He amused himself with watching a thin hangman's vine that was slowly edging its way over the side of the cart. Harmless and easily breakable in its natural state, the pink-colored vine was attracted to heat and liked to wrap itself around people's necks. When combined with spells that increased its strength, it was an excellent security device often used to capture intruders.
Harry imagined the vine wrapping itself around Snape's neck and squeezing. Hmm, very nice image.
The creaking of old wood and ringing of the shop's doorbell announced Snape's exit. Harry gently moved the vine aside and peeked over the top of the cart.
With his robes swirling threateningly around him, Snape was thankfully headed in the opposite direction when he suddenly stumbled and cursed. Curiosity piqued, Harry forgot that he was hiding and stood up, trying to see who would be the unfortunate victim of Snape's sharp tongue.
Snape was staring at a small figure sitting on the ground at his feet. Shaking its curly-haired head, it twisted around and looked right up at Snape, giving Harry a clear view of its face. Surprised, Harry realized it was a little girl. She was dressed in simple pale blue robes and was probably no more than five years old ... well, as far as Harry could guess. He hadn't been around many small children; she could be younger.
Snape glared at the little girl. "Where are your parents?" he asked, using that chilling, condemning voice that made most first years break down in tears.
To Harry's amazement the girl didn't even so much as give a sniffle. She just blinked, reached up with tiny hands, and after getting a firm grip of Snape's robes, used it to pull herself to her feet. Keeping her grip, she then tugged until a very bewildered Snape hesitantly knelt down in front of her. She whispered something in his ear, then tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
Harry stared. Now that was blackmail material. Ron and Hermione would never believe him when he told them what he'd just seen. And the look on Snape's face was indescribable. For just a second, the man looked like he was going to go into shock.
Then Snape heaved a reluctant sigh, awkwardly wrapped his arms around the little girl and climbed to his feet with his burden. Now it was Harry's turn to be shocked; Snape never willingly touched anyone, let alone held a child. The professor shifted his bag on his shoulder, adjusting it so he could carry it and the girl, and turned around. His gaze landed directly on Harry.
Harry froze, really understanding for the first time what the expression "deer caught in the headlights" meant. He was caught by the dark gleam flashing in Snape's eyes and, with a sinking stomach, he waited for his punishment; he had no doubt that Snape knew he had seen it all.
Snape hesitated for the barest of a second, as if choosing just the right thing to say. "Mr. Potter. I see you've taken to spying on your professors."
Spying? Harry sputtered; he hadn't been spying! He'd just been hiding from Snape and had seen something that he knew Snape wouldn't want anyone who knew him seeing…okay, so technically he'd been spying. But not on purpose!
Snape was smirking as he watched Harry come to the conclusion that, yeah, he was in trouble. Admitting defeat, Harry picked up his school supplies and with his head hanging, moved to stand in front of Snape to hear just how many points he'd cost Gryffindor this time. It didn't matter that school hadn't started yet, Snape had a vindictive streak and he'd just take the points away on the first day of school. Maybe if Harry was lucky he'd get detention too. And, no, he wasn't even going to argue that he wasn't guilty, because Snape would just take more points away for being insolent. Bloody bastard.
Snape shifted the girl to his other hip and looked thoughtful. "I'll make you a deal, Mr. Potter." Harry's head shot up. "You help me find this young lady's parents and I'll restrain myself from the joy of subtracting points from Gryffindor."
Dumbfounded, Harry blinked and tried to find the loophole. He could handle helping Snape, especially if it kept him out of trouble with the other Gryffindors. Last year, his constant bickering with Snape had resulted in the loss of a personal grand total of 105 points, which resulted in the loss of the house cup to Ravenclaw by ten points. Harry had felt like crawling under the table and dying under the others' glares. He'd been quickly forgiven - after all it was Snape who'd taken away all the points - but he still felt bad about it. There was no way he was going to start this year off on the wrong foot.
"It's a deal," Harry said, not giving the proposal a second thought.
Snape nodded, the look on his face indicating that he had known Harry was going to agree all along. "Let's go to Diagon Alley's Lost and Found first. See if anyone has reported her missing."
Completely forgetting about the Apothecary, Harry followed Snape down the street, unaware of the huge detour his life was about to take.