Chapter 9:

Harry made his way through the horde, Severus following close behind him, bitterly regretting offering to come with the boy on his ridiculous shopping trip. He had been yanked and pinched and prodded and squawked at by mothers and children shoving their way rudely to the stores in time for school. These people were barbaric.

So it was with great satisfaction that Harry led the dour potions master out of the throng and into a secluded Alley way that was hidden behind a pink store sporting the name, 'Tiffany's Tea Cozy'. Severus looked around and found that he didn't know the place that they were at and was surprised.

"Where are we Harry?" he inquired, fortuitously using the boy's first name. Potter looked up at him with wide eyes and explained, "I heard a red headed boy talking to his twin about this place and I wanted to seek it out. It seemed fascinating. I'm sorry if you don't want to put up with this. I told you I had other things to do."

Sev merely shook his head and walked in ahead of the short eleven-year-old, pushing the rusted door open and feeling his mouth drop in surprise.

The store he was in was a potions store that he'd never heard of before. Him. Severus Snape; greasy-git of the dungeons, Potions Prince, Youngest-Potions-Master-in-a-Century Snape.

The place was, plainly speaking, amazing. The walls were lined with pristine jars of potions materials, sparkling cauldrons, dragon-hide bound potions publications from the most famed masters of all time; including, Severus realized with an unseemly gasp, Salazar Slytherin. He immediately flew over to the shelf, astounding the small boy that was still behind him. Severus grabbed at the book and opened it reverently. He had just begun reading the table of contents when an elderly male voice rang out, "What are you doing back here? I didn't see you come in the front entrance!"

Harry and Severus looked up from the books they were gazing at to find a decrepit man with pure white hair and thick, round, magnifying glasses poking his head around the doorframe. His aged face was a mask of confusion and suspicion before he found the door they had come through, "Now what in the world…oh that dang door! It's always letting people in without concern for my old hearts well-being!" and, despite his claim of his 'old hearts well-being,' the man rushed over to the door and tapped it sharply with his wand, scowling at the disappearing piece of wood. Then he turned to the pair of astounded customers and looked at them with beaming grey eyes,

"So, you found this old place through that secret door, eh? You must be rather singular to have achieved that. I've only had a couple people come through there since the shop opened. There was, um, one man…what was his name? Ah! Bartamious Randervatt. Odd fellow, he was, always looking for Monkshood, that one. His clothes were so shabby, not at all decent." The old man was prattling now, both Sev and Harry could see that, but they were so confused about the door that they just nodded along with the man. He continued,

"Then there was that lady, some Russian, pale as a ghost but a hell of a lot prettier than most of the women around here." He leaned in conspiratorially, "I'm sure she was a vampire." Then he straightened back up, "Well, what do you folks need of old Magmas? I haven't had a human customer in awhile; they seem to have forgotten that we're all here." Severus and Harry, in an unprecedented moment of connection, both asked,

"Where are we?"

The old man laughed, his eye crinkling into crow's feet, "You're in Spider Alley! Great place, this is, too. An unprejudiced, uninhibited place of learning and fun. Yes, yes, that sound corny, I know, but this place is really great. None of that 'Light/Dark' stuff floating around. Everything's just something, depending on how you use it. 'Course, you wouldn't be in here if you were Dark anyways, the wards wouldn't allow it."

Harry felt Snape stiffen beside him and frowned but decided to ignore it. He stepped forward, "What other stores are here?"

"Well, there's Nordic's Defense. Everyone calls him Ducky though. He sells anything and everything Defense from Sneakoscopes to Armor. If I'm not mistaken he just got a shipment of Dragon Scale Swords, very valuable, those are. Sorry, I'm chattering again! Anyways, there's also Corie's Cosmetics but you boys wouldn't be interested in that. There's my shop, Magmas Apothecary. Then my wife, Winnie, who owns a bed and breakfast called 'Sleepy Morrow.' There are a lot more than that, sure, but those are the main shops. Now, who in Slytherin's Sitting room are you?" He peered at them with a piercing expression as he waited for their answer.

Harry merely stayed silent and watched the old man, not trusting the odd fellow. Severus watched Harry hold back briefly before he himself stepped forward and held out his hand, "I am Professor Severus Tobias Snape, and this is Harry Potter." He nodded to Harry and the boy grimaced slightly before extending his hand to Magmas. They shook quickly and Harry pulled his hand back, shoving it in his pocket, looking away towards the shelves.

Severus and Magmas stared at him for a moment; Severus sadly, Magmas curious, before they too shook hands and Magmas spoke, "Feel free to browse the shelves; I'll just be up front." With one last curious look at Harry he left the room.

Severus turned to Harry, "Why were you so apprehensive, he's just an old man?" Sev watched the boy but frowned when he gained no answer, "Harry. Answer me."

He watched as Potter turned toward him and studied him, unnerving Severus to the point where he fidgeted slightly. Then he remembered who he was and straightened, "Very well, Mr. Potter, do not tell me, keep it bottled up, eating away at your very being…" he paused, then added hesitantly, "but, if you ever want to tell anyone…I'll be open for you."

Harry stopped his scrutiny of the professor and blinked, shocked at the offering. His normally inexpressive face looked, to Severus, like a lost little boy before it was once again closed off, leaving only a trace of regret and longing in the boy's eyes. "Thank you for the offer, sir."

Severus watched him with grief for a moment before forcefully shoving his paternal instincts out of his mind and nodding sharply, going to purchase his things, leaving Harry behind him, wanting nothing more than to cry.