A.N. At this point in time I feel its useless to apologize for my long stretches between posting. Sorry for the shortness and the errors. I got some inspiration and needed to get it out quick before I lost it. And before anyone ask's. NO this is and will not be a Snape mentor fic. I know some of you were worried about he intelligence I said they had but in this story they are still children with very little real world experience. I can say that there are some things I said in response to reviews that I thought would fit in this story but no longer do so sorry if you're one of the people I responded to. Thank you all for you patience.
The world was loud. It was full to the brim of people talking, walking, bumping, and brushing. Harry didn't think there was anything amazing about Diagon Alley. Sure it was magic and new but it was also very very busy and for Harry's first time out of the house Busy was an awful thing.
The trip to the alley had been tense and silent. Snape observed the boy with careful consideration. It was true he was an inpatient man but he had long ago lost his hate for James Potter. It did him more harm than good to hold on to it in the long run. This didn't by any means make him a nice man. He despised most people simply for the fact that they were breathing. Snape normally prided himself on his ability to read people but for the life of him he couldn't get a read on the boy. The child held and emotionless mask with a upturned nose. Any who saw him would think him arrogant. But he was soft spoken and quiet, only speaking when spoken to. It really was confusing.
Harry for the most part was simply focusing on breathing. His chest was tight with something he wasn't used to feeling. There were so many unknowns here. So many things that could go wrong. So many things he could do wrong. So many rules he simply didn't know.
'Ginny, I'm supposed to be smart. I'm supposed to be strong. How is this happening. I don't feel strong' Harrys thought were nothing if not panicked. Ginny understood. They had always prided themselves on their intelligence and this is something that was never factored in. Ginny herself was pacing her attic near the speed of running. Ron had come up to tell her lunch was ready only to quickly exit the room at her sharp gaze.
'I guess there's one thing we never factored into our plans.' Her thought was meek and held a feel of guilt to it. She knew what she had done wrong. Gah she was sooo stupid. Especially for a seer.
'Are you going to let me in on what or am I going to continue guessing' though Harry's response held words of anger they were drenched in feelings of nervousness. He felt like he was going to be crushed by the people around him. They were all so close to him. Solid in their movement. Any interaction he had had with the real world had been through Ginny's eyes. You couldn't be touched when you were watching a picture.
At first Ginny's reply wasn't a thought. It was a rush of memories. The rules, the silence, the beatings. Then it was the now. The panic, the people, the fear. They had both assumed that there would be nothing to fear in the outside world. No Dursleys no threats. 'We forgot the unknown. I don't see everything. You know that. If I did I would understand everything. I see possibility of the future based on events. This just wasn't one I saw'
There was silence hanging in their minds. The only thing Harry was able to focus on. They were already in Gringotts and talking to a goblin by the name of Ragnok. The professor ordered Harry a pouch that would withdrawl directly from his vault. It was keyed to his signature and would produce the exact amount that was needed. It would also hold bank slips for larger purchases. Harry thanked the man who did nothing but shoot him a scowl.
The rest of the trip went by slowly. Harry had bought a snowy owl while the professor was talking to a worker in the back about extracting fresh snake venom. After the quick purchase he had sent it to Ginny to keep safe before the professor came back out. Next he got his wand which was an encounter he would rather forget about. Olivander had no measure of personal space.
While getting his robes he had gotten new clothes at the request of Ginny. He gave a quick lie about his Aunt and Uncle giving him muggle money to get new clothes so he had to use his own for now. Lying was easier than Harry thought it would be but he wasn't used to it and it didn't sit comfortable. He had never had to bother before. Silence was much easier in his opinion.
As the trip went on Harry got increasingly more uncomfortable. People were recognizing him and treating him as if they were best friends. One man even went to pick him up in a hug before Snape stepped in. Harry was happy when they got to the bookstore. The professor had left him to his own devices to go see if they had any new potions texts. Harry was happy to be where few people resided. He grabbed anything he thought might be useful. So many books were piled onto the front desk and the store owners eyes grew wider. Harry also purchased a weightless and bottomless book bag. All of this without ever speaking to the owner.
To say that Snape was shocked when he walked back to the front of the store and instead of finding an impatient child he saw near a hundred books piled high and a shocked man tallying the cost. He had come to one conclusion throughout the trip. Harry Potter was a strange child. Not overly so. He said his pleases and thankyou's, he responded when spoken to, and he seemed to had a drive for learning. What was odd about the child is his lack of smiles. He didn't smile in the pet shop. Or in any of the shops come to think of it. Snape really hoped the potter boy wouldn't join his house. He had enough to deal with as it was.
As Harry waited for his books to be rung up and his total to be given he listened to Ginny's pleasant ramblings in his head. 'We are going to learn so much. About everything! We'll be smarter than we are now. You'll have to send me some of those when you get to Hogwarts. I call first dibs on the Ancient Runes textbook' Harry slowly felt the weight in his chest lighten to something manageable. He could live with this if It would only stay at this level.
Unfortunately as soon as he got back on the busy street he was crushed with a wave of panic until he was returned home. Barely able to keep up any semblance of normal. Snape bid him a quick goodbye before apparating away at the end of the driveway. Harry was met with his Aunt's frown. Harry wished he could say he was fast to remember his place but the horrid truth was he hadn't once the entire day been able to forget.
He was quick to sleep that night after a beating. As was Ginny as soon as she knew he was alright. Their heads filled with uncertainty as the questioned if they had planned anything out to begin with.