Summary: Severus has never done anything for anyone, but what will he do for one small boy named Harry.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot
A/N: Of course it is AU.
Chapter 10
Harry watched as grate after grate whizzed past him. People and places were in view for only a second before they too, were gone. Harry didn't like this floo thing, and his stomach liked it even less. Closing his eyes, he leaned against Severus, and hoped it would be over soon. Just as he had leaned on Severus, he felt himself being jerked free from the fireplace, and when he opened his eyes, he was in a room.
"Stand still while I remove the soot from your clothes," Severus instructed. Harry did and once the soot was gone, Severus reached down to smooth the bangs across Harry's head, and ran his fingers through the back of Harry's hair.
"Remember what I told you. No speaking to anyone here. If they found out you were Harry Potter, there would be dire consequences."
"Yes sir," Harry said, before being pushed through the open door. Immediately, all eyes were on him and Severus, some nodded their heads, some scoffing at the sight of them and turning around, but none approached the pair.
Severus ushered Harry through the tavern and into a back room. "Why are we standing in a storage room? Does the owner need us to clean it for him? I mean, the shelves are dusty, and I could make the floor shine like never before."
"How about you learn to quell that incessant rambling," Severus admonished. "We are here for one reason and one reason only."
With a tap of his wand on a few bricks, the wall that was there started to move. Harry gasped out loud and clung to Severus' cloak in fear. "Welcome to Diagon Alley," he said, before dragging Harry into the street.
Everywhere there were people walking about. Some looked scary, long fingernails and crooked teeth, and some were children the same age as Harry. The most scary thing of all was that they all seemed to be avoiding Severus. Harry didn't know what this man could have done to them, but no one came over to talk to them, that is, until the blond man walked up.
"Good day to you Severus." Lucius spoke.
"Good day, Lucius. I have no time for idle chatter today. I must prepare young Henry here for a trip. It seems my family in Glasgow thought I could spend the day with him, and buy the things he needs."
"So you have become a nanny, Severus?" Lucius asked, a smile spreading across his face. A boy a little older than Harry soon joined the man, along with another man and his son. The other boy was quite large, looking to be several years older than the other.
Severus glared at all of them. "I do nothing, as you know, unless it benefits me. The boy will be sent back to become my apprentice when he is of age."
Lucius looked down on the boy with distaste. "He does have a striking family resemblance. Perhaps he will acquire a skill in potions."
"There is no doubt, under my tutelage, the boy will become a fine Potions Master. Now if you will excuse me, I must be on my way."
Lucius stepped from the path, but Draco walked right up to Harry. "You don't say much do you? Are you a mute, or can you simply not carry on a civil conversation?"
Severus peered over to Lucius and Narcissus, who both seemed to approve of Draco's rude behavior, and then down to Harry, who stood tight lipped.
"Henry has manners and a firm belief in respect. He knows when he is to remain silent and when to speak. A lesson your father and mother need to instill in you, Draco. Now as I said, we have many things to get done and the day is waning away."
Severus and Harry walked away, leaving a pouting Draco and a curious Lucius, as to who this relative was.
The first place Severus took Harry was the clothing shop. The boy was in need of everything, most of all a cloak, as the weather was chilly. "Severus my dear. Have your robes worn out already from those dreadful potions?" the witch behind the counter asked.
"I am not here today for myself, but for my cousin, Henry. I would like him measured for everything, and I do not wish to wait for the packages."
"Everything?" the witch inquired.
"Yes, I said everything. His family is from Glasgow and not really versed in what boys need, considering they have four daughters. Now if you are done interrogating me, I wish you would start. I have many things to do today."
"Well, if you are in that big of a hurry, I will start, but you can drop that tone." The witch pulled a measuring tape from her pocket and Harry sighed. He didn't know what four sisters he was supposed to have, but he assumed it was all a part of the ruse that Severus was doing. All confidence Harry had left though, when the tape measure wrapped around his neck. All his instincts kicked in and he began to tremble, making the witch step back, the tape measure falling to the floor.
"What in the world?" she said, staring first at Harry and then to Severus.
"The boy is skittish around those. His mother has the house elves make his clothing. Superstitious woman won't even let anyone into the house."
The witch shook her head and sent the tape measure back to its job. When it flew to Harry's throat, he once again panicked, but one glare from Severus had him standing still, his eyes closed till the witch announced they were done. "You can pick up your packages in an hour."
Severus thanked the lady and gave her a handful of gold coins. They weren't like any money Harry had ever seen before, but he knew better than to ever ask questions about money. The next store they stopped in was a book store, where Harry sat and waited while Severus went to inquire about a book he needed. Harry liked this store as it reminded him of the book store he had gone to. Harry wondered if one day he would get back to the book he had been reading.
"Come, there is somewhere else we need to go." Severus directed Harry towards the door, and a gust of wind blew in, making the boy shiver. As they walked, Harry did not complain about the biting winds that were now howling about them, but instead tucked his hands in his pockets and tried pulling his face into his shirt.
"Oh, for the love of Merlin! It is no sin to admit you are cold boy," Severus said, pulling his own cloak off and placing it around Harry's shoulders. "Thank you," Harry said.
"There is no need for thanks. I merely do not wish to tend to a sick child. Now, come on. we have one last shop to go to before heading home, and it is at the end of the street."
Harry followed behind Severus, trying to keep up with his long strides. Every once in awhile, he stopped to glance in one of the store windows, or at some odd looking thing hanging from a vendor's cart, but the cold was creeping inside even Severus' large cloak. Harry was glad when Severus stopped and went inside the store.
Harry stepped inside and saw row after row of shoes. Boots and trainers lined the shelves, and were stacked from floor to ceiling. "What size shoe do you wear?" Severus asked Harry.
"Whatever size Dudley is when he is done with them."
"You haven't ever had a pair of shoes that were your own?" The way Harry hung his head in shame answered Severus' question. "We shall remedy that today." An hour later, Severus and Harry headed back to the floo to go home. Harry wondered where all the things were that Severus had bought today, but he dared not ask.
By the time they made it to the fireplace to floo back home, Harry was shivering, even though he had on Severus' cloak. "We need to get you home and to bed."
Harry didn't protest, but merely leaned on Severus, closing his eyes as they stepped into the flames.
Severus stepped out of the fireplace and dragged Harry out with him. After cleaning both of them, he lit a fire and sat down in the sofa. Harry took a seat by the fire. He was still cold, down to the very core of his being, it seemed. He had been cold before though, at the Dursley's, so he did not complain, but merely scooted a bit closer to the fire.
"I am going to change and make us some tea. You should go and put on your pajamas and get out of those clothes. Return to the sitting room when you are done." Harry went to do as Severus asked, folding the cloak and placing it on the chair in his room. He was so tired, all he wanted to do was fall asleep, but he returned to the sitting room to wait for Severus.
"Today, we traveled to the magical world Harry. How did you like it?"
"I thought it was wonderful!" Harry told him. "Everyone is so different. The stores aren't like regular stores."
"When and if we have to go out, you will remain Henry, my cousin, until I see that it is safe for you to be Harry. No one can know you are Harry Potter, for there would be dire consequences."
Harry gulped. "I promise not to tell anyone."
"See that you don't. Now come and drink your tea, as I see it is time for bed. Tomorrow is a long day."
Harry sat, leaning against the back of the couch while he sipped his tea. As he watched the flickering of the flames, his eyes began to droop, and Harry drifted off. Severus didn't notice until Harry curled into a ball on the rug. He debated on waking the boy, but the child looked so peaceful. Severus had other things on his mind as he sipped his tea. Would he be able to keep this secret from Albus, from Lucius? How would he manage a child once he went back after the Thanksgiving holiday, not to mention a child too small to attend classes? He didn't know, and his mind was too jumbled to try and think anymore.
Severus stood up, meaning to cover the boy up and simply go off to bed, but one look at the boy curled up on the rug tugged at his heart. Had he ever looked so small? Severus could not remember being as small as Harry, but he could remember being Harry, neither asking or caring for anything other than survival.
Carefully, Severus picked up the child, who snuggled against him, slinging one arm around his neck. Severus walked to Harry's room and pulled back the covers with one hand while laying Harry down on the bed. The room felt a bit drafty so he placed a warming charm on the sheets, and before he turned to go to his own room, he pulled the covers up and tucked them in around Harry. Never had Severus cared about anyone, but he realized if he were not careful, he could learn to love the child in this room.
A/N: See you next week!