Author's Notes
Thank you once again for all the reviews. I know I'm updating a lot at the moment; make the most of it, because it certainly won't last, lol.
I have to admit; I'm having to sit here with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on my lap, reminding myself all about Diagon Alley, lol. I really must re-read the book sometime; it's been ages since I have.
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They Apparated to St. Mungo's, where they found that slaves automatically went to the end of the queue. They sat down in the waiting room, sipping on hot drinks.
James and Lily talked quietly, discussing arrangements such as where Snape was to sleep, while Severus cautiously watched his new mistress, trying to work out what was expected of him.
"Lily Potter," called a staff member eventually. Great. He didn't even get an identity, save that of being his owner's property.
The examination did not take long, and then he submitted wordlessly to the healing spells, drinking the two potions he was given. Meanwhile, Lily signed the scroll that was handed to her, paying for the potions, as slaves did not merit free medicine.
When it was over, Severus felt truly healthy for the first time in months. Nevertheless he was nervous, worried about what his new owners had planned for him, although he outwardly showed no fear.
They Apparated once more, this time arriving outside of the Potters' home. Sirius greeted them inside the house, looking surprisingly relieved to find his rival looking well.
"I've bought some things for him, and I've also managed to buy a couple of books on slavery," he said, gesturing to the bags sitting at the side of the hallway.
"Good. Malfoy didn't give us any clothing for him." Lily turned, and studied her new possession. It made Severus feel uncomfortable, as if she could see through all the walls he so carefully put up.
"What do you wish of me, Mistress?" he asked reluctantly.
"Nothing, Severus. I only bought you to get you out of there. Nobody should be treated like that."
He stared at her in disbelief. Oh, he wasn't surprised that she felt that way, but for Potter to go along with it… he knew how expensive he was. Potter would have had to pay a phenomenal amount to buy him.
Obviously Lily Potter wasn't a submissive little housewife by any means, if she had forced him into spending such a great deal of money on his former school rival.
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Coming out of Gringotts Bank, Snape couldn't help feeling a little jealous at how rich his master evidently was. After all, having been a slave since birth, he had never had more than a small allowance, barely adequate to buy his necessities.
True, he had been spoiled by his first master, most likely as an attempt to make up for his slave status, but it had been through gifts, not money. Lily had also provided for him with goods, rather than finances. Dumbledore had made sure that he had enough to live on during Harry's infancy, but it was after all not his money that he had been giving away.
Perhaps his new master would see fit to raise his allowance at some point. It was not impossible, but it was unlikely to happen yet. Harry was still too new to the Wizarding World to be aware of how small the amount of money that he was giving to Severus was. And Snape had absolutely no right to tell him.
"I suggest that we get your school robes first, Master," Snape murmured. "Madam Malkin's is just over here."
They went in, and Severus stood respectfully to one side as Harry tried on his black robes, gloves, cloak and pointed hat. Madam Malkin glanced over at him, but he simply held up the back of his hand with its tattoo, and she said nothing.
The uniform purchased, they stopped briefly at the apothecary, where Snape, naturally in his element, knew exactly which ingredients to buy for his master. He also asked for, and received, permission to buy a few items for his own stock.
After this, they headed for Ollivander's (Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC). In there, Harry was once more confused by the way that the storeowner instantly recognised him.
"And Severus Snape… do you belong to Mr. Potter now? Yes, I remember when your previous owner brought you in for your first wand… ten and a half inches, mahogany, wasn't it? Now, your mother Mr. Potter, her wand was ten and a quarter inches…"
Harry went through a fair amount of wands before finding his perfect match. Being told that its brother had caused his scar merely added to his determination to have Snape explain exactly what had happened in his past.
They went next to buy parchment, ink and quills, followed by a trip to the bookshop, as the other items Harry needed would be far too heavy to carry around Flourish and Blotts. Upon finding that his master was very interested in several of the books in the shop, Snape recommended a couple of texts which would be interesting, but fairly basic for somebody new to the magical world. As they waited at the counter, he informed Harry that as well as having the Hogwarts library at his disposal, he also owned all of the books in Snape's chamber, and could consult them whenever he wished.
As the servant, Snape carried all of their purchases, leaving Harry free to examine various displays in shop windows, especially the one displaying a number of broomsticks, each hovering several feet into the air.
Eventually they came to the shop where he would buy his cauldron, telescope, brass scales, and glass or crystal phials (Snape recommended crystal). As they entered, they could not help but notice the other people shopping there – they, together with Harry himself, stuck out as being the only people in Diagon Alley to be wearing muggle clothing.
Upon seeing what he was looking at, a bushy-haired girl came over to him. "Are you going to be in your first year at Hogwarts too?"
"Um, yes, I am. I'm Harry Potter."
Obviously she had not yet heard of him as she simply smiled and answered, "Hermione Granger. Aren't you excited? We're going to the bookshop next, and I can't wait to get my schoolbooks… I want to see if there's a book there on Hogwarts, and maybe one with an introduction to the Wizarding World…"
She blabbered on ecstatically for a while longer, barely seeming to breath between sentences. Harry was actually quite impressed at her ability to speak without stopping, although he couldn't help thinking that she was far too much of a workaholic and needed to get a life.
"If you wish to read about Hogwarts," Snape interrupted smoothly, "the school's library has a comprehensive volume which should satisfy even your thirst for knowledge, named Hogwarts: A History. I do not recommend that you attempt to buy it for yourself, as it is somewhat expensive."
"That sounds brilliant! Is the library at Hogwarts big? Can we take a lot of books out at once?"
"It is fairly sizable yes, and you may take out up to four books at once in your first year."
"Did you go to the school then, Mr… Potter, is it?"
Snape flinched almost imperceptibly. "My name is Professor Snape. I am the Potions teacher at Hogwarts, and may or may not be teaching you this year Miss Granger."
"Potions! That's brilliant… can you recommend a good book for me to buy on the subject, other than the Magical Drafts and Potions on the set books list?"
Snape wearily answered her, impressed by her exuberance and yet wishing deeply that she would just shut up and go away. Merlin, he hoped Slughorn would be the one to teach her… although it might be pleasant to teach someone who actually cared a little about the subject, he supposed.
Then again, she'd surely never be Sorted into Slytherin, which would mean giving points to another house, something he generally despised.
Merlin. Harry might not be in Slytherin either, and he could hardly be prejudiced against his master's house. And if he was sorted into Slytherin… well, that would create a whole new barrel of problems. Heads of Houses had a lot of authority over their house members, and he could not have any control over the person who legally owned him.
Harry finished his purchases, and left the shop, saying goodbye to the enthusiastic girl, and her somewhat quieter parents. He now had only one thing left on his list – an animal.
They entered Eeylops Owl Emporium, Harry having decided that cats were far too temperamental, and that he just plain didn't like toads. He took his time in the shop, delighting in the beautiful birds surrounding him, while Snape, who had little interest in such things, just stood quietly holding the bags. It was not his place to hurry his master.
The owl Harry finally selected was a gorgeous snowy one, the two of them having taken an instant liking to one another. The newly named Hedwig also gave Severus an affectionate nip on the finger, for which he sent her a fierce glare. She seemed completely unperturbed by it.
By this time Harry was feeling rather tired, and so they used the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace to Floo back to Hogwarts. Severus went through first, placing all of Harry's purchases on the carpet, and then caught his master as the eleven-year-old stumbled and nearly fell after his magical journey.
"What now?" asked Harry quietly.
"I believe that you are to return to your family in the morning, and stay there until term starts," Severus told him. "You can spend tonight in the same room as before. I suggest that we eat now Master, you look as if you need the energy."
"I think I do." Harry frowned. "But when we've eaten, I want you to tell me what happened to my parents – I'm beginning to think they didn't die in a car crash. I want to know how I got this scar, and why everyone seems to know my name!"
"As you wish, Master."
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"About twenty years ago, a man began recruiting followers," Snape told him quietly. "He believed in the superiority of purebloods and hated muggles and muggle-born wizards and witches. His group, the Death Eaters, tortured and killed ruthlessly. He wanted power, and he came very close to getting it."
"Who was he?" asked Harry.
"In general we do not speak his name, Master."
"I want to hear it."
He sighed, and lowered his eyes submissively. Reluctantly he forced out, "His name was Voldemort, Master."
He paused, and then continued. "My previous owner, Lucius Malfoy-"
"The man we met this afternoon?"
"Yes. He was a Death Eater."
Harry's eyes widened. "Then why isn't he in jail?"
"Malfoy is rich and influential, Master, and he used his influence to secure his freedom. He claimed to have been acting under Imperious – a mind control curse, and one of the Unforgivables. I know that his claim is not true, but the word of a slave means nothing."
He breathed deeply, closing his eyes for a few seconds. "During the time that I belonged to him, I was forced to go along to some of the Death Eater meetings, and even on occasion to do the Dark Lord's bidding. The memories I possess are not pleasant."
"Oh. Um… I'm sorry."
"You have no need to be Master, it was hardly your fault. I sometimes wonder if the Dark Lord punished Lucius for selling me; after all, I had been privy to secret information, which I then shared with your mother.
"Anyway Harry, for some reason that is unknown to me, the Dark Lord targeted your parents. By this time I had been sold to them, and when they went into hiding they placed me in Dumbledore's custody."
Harry asked quietly, "He killed them didn't he?"
"Yes. He also tried to kill you… but for some reason, it didn't work. You are the only known person to have survived the Killing Curse. More importantly, when it failed, it somehow rebounded onto him. He is either dead, or weak and presently unable to return. In either case, he was defeated – by a one-year-old child.
"That is why you are famous."
