Before the Potions Master could answer the once glowing fire, turned a bright, blazing green and produced an elderly looking man with a long silvery white beard, half moon spectacles and twinkling blue eyes.
"Ah Severus, I see you have mostly restored our young Mr. Potter and told him of his new circumstances."
The new man spoke with a much gentler voice, yet still the young Harry clutched his new guardian tightly, letting him know in his own way that the man frightened him. Snape was a little taken back by the boy. The headmaster chuckled inwardly at the sight before him. The priceless look of discomfort on the good professors face and a small child clinging tightly to his robes.
"Um, no Albus we were just getting to that." Severus said as he regained his composure.
"Oh I do see. Well I do believe that we will have time to explain more later. As of late my boys, we need to be heading to Diagon Alley." With that Albus proceeded back to the fireplace.
"Don't you think he should rest? Its been a rough couple of days." Snape spat as he stood up carrying the small child who who was still clutching his robes.
"No my dear boy, I am afraid that we must go now. I don't believe you would like Minerva to come down and find you with a small, slightly bruised, naked child in your chambers. Also we need to get him some other things and I dare say, are you not in need of some items also?" Dumbledore eyed the couple with a there will be no more fuss look.
"After you boys."
All though Albus's tone was soft and gentle, the oldest of the "boys" knew it was a command. So in a surrender, Snape held tight to the boy, took a pinch of floo powder, stepped into the fire place and said 'Diagon Alley' in a very clear voice. Harry was in a state of shock at the turn of events. Traveling through fireplaces, wizards, talking portraits, wands, and so much more. Harry's reviver was broken by the insane feeling that he was falling. Harry looked out from beneath his guardian's robes and to see a new room before him.
"Okay little one, its time you see the wizarding world. Just don't peep out to far."
"W-w-w-where are w-w-we?" a trembling voice asked from beneath the dark cloth.
"Young man you are in Diagon Alley." Albus's gentle tone answered from behind Snape.
The two men set off in route to Madam Milkan's Robes For All Occasions.
"Oh hello Albus, Severus. How can I help you today?" A sing song voice to the left asked.
Harry, who had been almost asleep attached to Snape's chest, was startled awake by his new found guardian's body tensing immensely. Harry pulled himself further into the robes scared and warry of whatever it was that had caused his 'security blanket' to react the way he had.
"Ah Lilian, the Madam is not in?" Albus asked, steering away what was surely to be a heated argument. "Albus, she is in, but at the moment she is gathering more cloth. Busy day today. Should I go tell her you are here?" The plump woman asked all the while she was staring rather coolly at Professor Snape.
"Yes Lillain, the good Madam is expecting us." Albus said waving her off as he turned to discuss matters with his Professor.
In hushed tones Dumbledore whispered frantically to Snape. "Though Harry is eight he very undersized for his age appearing to be no more the four or five years of age. And that damned trademark scar. We can't afford for the wizarding world to know he's back, but I do not know how to keep them from it."
Severus eyed the Headmaster warily, then simply walked to a corner of the store lined with childrens underclothing. Finding what he was looking for, Severus picked up a set of bright white underclothes and pushed them into his robes. To passerby it would have looked as if the highly ranked professor was shoplifting that is until his robes began to dance about in a curious fashion. Albus was trying very hard to suppress a laugh even though it was a very serious situation. About that time a small, delighted face popped out and exclaimed excitedly,
"They fit!"
Snape's scowling face ceased to appear so menacingly, as he quickly muttered a charm to hid the boy's features. In front of Albus's eyes the unruly, raven colored hair was slowly changing to a short, straight sandy brown look, the emerald eyes were quickly becoming a bright blue color. The scar, as Dumbledore soon noticed as hidden as olive skin and freckles took there places and a cute button nose appeared on his face.
"I'm glad, now lets find you suitable pair of clothes so you can come out of there and be fitted properly." Snape instructed, but the boy-who-lived merely shook his head in mirth.
Dumbledore was, to say the least, shocked by the exchange between man and boy. He stayed in place continuing to watch the two interact and curious as to what would happen next. Snape walked to the muggle clothing rack of jeans, and asked the boy which color he liked best. When all Severus received was a curious look, he gently removed the half clothed by from his robes.
"Do you know what colors are little one?" A shake of the head was all he received. In response Snape pulled a dark blue wash off the rack and helped Harry put them on. He picked the boy up and put him on his hip as he walked over to the shirts but this time instructed the boy to pick out the one he liked the best.
"Which one I like the best?" Harry asked bewildered. He had never been allowed to pick out anything that he liked. Snape chuckled as he bent down and told Harry yes it was up to him as to which shirt he got.
"Who knew he would be so good with a young child?" A soft, angelic voice whispered in Dumbledore's ear. So enthralled with the child and professor Dumbledore had not noticed the good Madam's arrival. "Yes he is quite good with young David." was Dumbledore's only answer.
"Now Albus I suspect that we are creating a whole wardrobe from scratch for little...David." Madam Milkan hesitated at the name David. She didn't know why but it just didn't seem to fit the boy standing in her shop. The old witch and wizard watched enchanted as the man and boy browsed for the essentials. Harry tentatively looked at the many clothes before him, he wasn't sure if this would turn in to one of his uncle's 'games' or not. He desperately wanted to please his new guardian. He looked up at the pale man before him trying to visualize him the choices. Harry finally settled on a long sleeve black shirt. Pulling it off the rack he held it up expectantly. The adults had all watched the turmoil the boy had in simply choosing a shirt. Madam Milkan took a tentative step forward but was stopped by an aging had upon her arm.