8

Chapter 8 A Shattered Peace

It was hard not to stand in this tiny shop behind Lily's son and not be bombarded by memories. Severus was not a sentimental man, but even he knew it should be a parent who took a child to get his first wand. She wasn't here, though. She wasn't here to do it, and it was his fault that she wasn't.

The boy was clearly excited. He approached the process with a mix of trepidation and awe, as most wizard children did. In Potter, there was something else, though. Severus was tempted to establish it as reverence. The boy would be a powerful wizard. He could feel the depth of magic here. It was doubtful that many prepubescents were as aware of it.

As with most children, it took a while to find the right wand. Severus could remember trying a half dozen wands before he'd found the dragon heartstring wand that had served him ever since. He could still remember Ollivander eyeing him appraisingly and informing him that it was a powerful and volatile combination.

On the other hand, Potter had a pile of wands next to him, and Ollivander was far from frustrated. It wasn't that the boy could do nothing with the wands. Far from it, the wands were just not reacting as they should. The wizened wand-maker was growing more and more excited, Severus could tell. The challenge he had expected from The Harry Potter was panning out. Ollivander's face pulled a thoughtful expression, and he disappeared into a dusty corner of the shop.

When Potter turned to Severus, seemingly realizing he was there for the first time, Severus just raised his brow and said nothing. He was expecting the process to be painful for him and exciting for the boy. Still, something was happening here.

They could both tell from how the old wand-maker handed the new wand to Potter that this one was different. Severus could feel dread pooling in the pit of his stomach, although he would have never been able to say where it was coming from if asked.

The boy took the wand gingerly and gave it a relentless wave. For Severus, it was as if time stopped. He felt the magic in the room like a punch to the gut. He barely heard what Ollivander told the boy. He didn't need to. There was something about the wand, all right.

"Sorry," Potter was saying, "but what's curious?"

Ollivander looked at the boy, and his eyes traveled to the famous scar. It was something that Severus was careful not to do when he was alone with the boy without the scar covered. He had allowed him to take the hat off to come in the store because there was no point in keeping it on, but now he regretted it. Ollivander had always made him uneasy, and he was clearly making the boy uncomfortable too.

Severus didn't even hear the words that Ollivander used to tell Potter that the wand he held in his hand had a phoenix-feather core. There was only one other wand that had a core from the same phoenix. Severus knew that Harry Potter was holding the twin to Voldemort's wand. He had known it, somehow, since the boy had used the wand for the first time.

There was a temptation to grab the wand out of the boy's hand and demand that he choose another. He could tell from the look on the boy's face that he felt the same way about this development that Severus did, especially when Ollivander told him that Voldemort had done "great things." Severus would have liked to hex the old wand-maker right then. Instead, he thrust seven Galleons on the counter and ushered the boy out of the shop as gently as he could, given the fact that he felt that his own legs would give out at any second.

There was no specific time that they had determined to meet up with the Weasleys. His errands with Potter were of undetermined length. So, Severus led him to a table in an out-of-the-way café and ordered tea and biscuits. He took a sip of the tea while it was still too hot and watched the boy bite a chocolate biscuit and chew it as if it turned to sand in his mouth.

"Potter," Severus began, knowing that the task of cleaning up this mess would again fall to him because there was no one else to do it. "You need to take things like this with a grain of salt. Ollivander is a strange man."

The boy looked at him incredulously. He said nothing for a few minutes, gingerly stirring his tea as if he was processing the events. The color was starting to come back to his face, at least.

"Is it true?" Potter finally asked.

"Oh, it is undoubtedly true," Severus admitted, "the facts are true. What they mean is open to interpretation, however."

"What does that mean?" Potter demanded.

"You and I have spoken about destiny before, Potter," Severus told the boy firmly. "It is not something you can escape. However, you are not at the mercy of others' interpretations of events. Signs and prophecies are all well and good, but they are still open to interpretation. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"No," Potter answered bluntly.

Severus nodded. "The twin to that wand," Severus gestured to the wand Harry was holding, his hands on the table in front of him, "gave you that scar. That does not mean anything specific. We do not know what it means yet. Does it mean that you and he are connected? Perhaps. However, you and he are already connected. There is no disputing that fact. How you are connected is unknown. What you make of that connection, on the other hand," Severus reached forward, tapping the table in front of the boy, "that is up to you."

"So," Potter's green eyes bore into Severus, "you are saying that even though I have this wand, I do not have to be evil. Like him."

"Of course, you do not have to be evil," Severus said. "He did not have to be evil either. He chose to make the decisions he made. He chose to do what he did. He chose to kill your parents. He chose to try to kill you. He chose to do many other 'great and terrible things.'" Severus did not try to keep the sarcasm out of his voice by parroting Ollivander's words. "Those are his choices, Potter. Not yours."

The boy nodded one firm nod. Severus could tell that he was considering the words. The topic had been on his mind before this conversation and before the matching of the wands. Severus wanted to curse Ollivander for piling yet another legacy on the boy.

"There is a deep connection between a wand and its wizard," Severus went on. "You have only just begun to bond with it. The more you use it for magic, the more you will develop that bond. The type of magic you choose to employ, and your intent, will shape your wand's power and the way your power develops. Your destiny is not predetermined any more than anyone else's, just because others made choices for you."

They remained at the table, barely drinking the tea and with Potter barely eating the biscuits. After Severus felt that the boy had brooded enough, he tapped the table to return the plates to the café kitchen and stood up. Enough was enough.

"Come. I have a surprise for you."

The boy followed, probably not expecting anything else from Severus. Turning to make sure the boy was behind him, Severus watched Potter put the wand in his pocket. He decided that he would need to take care of that first.

"Let's step in here."

Severus eased Potter ahead of him into Twilfitt and Tattings. It was soon enough before September first that the shop was busy with families doing school shopping. Being one of Hogwarts's least-liked professors had its advantages, though, and they were given a wide berth. Severus was aware that there were whispers following them as people occasionally caught sight of Potter, more recognizable without a hat on, but they were not approached.

They walked up to a display case, and the sales associate behind it turned when he saw Severus. "Ah, Professor Snape. Are you bringing me a new Slytherin already?"

"He is a first-year, Paul. He has not yet been sorted," Severus sneered.

"Right, indeed. Well, let's measure him then. Hold out your wand arm, son."

Potter looked to Severus but did as he was told. A magical tape measure slithered over the glass counter and up the boy's arm, then around it. The boy giggled, seeming like a child in one of the few moments that Severus had seen him act like one.

"Right then," Paul said, as the measurements appeared on a slip of parchment on the counter. "Do you have a preference? Ankle or wrist?"

Severus looked at the boy appraisingly. "I believe we will start with a wrist holster, Paul. Once he has had some more training, we might get him an ankle holster as well."

The associate nodded. Potter was beginning to look at the wand holsters in the case with a gleam in his eye; he'd finally caught on. Paul removed several in different styles and colors, and the boy looked at Severus in excitement. His eyes went back and forth.

"This is for me?"

"Obviously," Severus drawled. After a moment, he added in an uncharacteristic burst of sentiment. "Happy Birthday, Potter."

The boy grinned in genuine glee, and Severus realized that this was another one of those situations where he was giving the child a first of something. It was his first birthday present. When he took the boy here, it was mostly on impulse because he didn't want him to stick his wand in his pocket. Now, of course, he was giving the brat his first birthday present. He would undoubtedly read too much into the gesture. Severus found himself wishing he had never said those words.

"Yes, well, it's not … just pick one, Potter," Severus growled.

The boy didn't seem to notice that Severus was irritated. He chattered with the associate for a few minutes. Finally, He came away with a green dragon-hide wand-holster that Paul magically adjusted to fit his wrist. It was charmed to grow with the boy.

"Very well," Severus told Potter after he had been thanked a half dozen times. "We have one more errand."

"We do?"

"Yes. I have been asked to help you pick out an owl."

"An owl?" The boy shot Severus a look of confusion.

"Yes, Potter. Surely you realize by now that wizards transmit mail by way of owl?"

"Well, yes, Sir," Harry wrinkled his brow. "I did know that. I just didn't know I was supposed to get one. I mean, the letter did say … Why do I need an owl?"

"I suppose it is another birthday present. It is from Rubeus Hagrid."

"Who's he?"

"You will meet him. He is … was … a friend of your parents, I suppose. He wanted to present you with your familiar."

"Oh."

"A familiar is a very important part of Wizarding culture, Potter. A familiar is more than just a pet. The familiar has a deep connection with the wizard. It can be an owl, a cat, a snake … well, there are many types."

They had just entered the Magical Menagerie, which as usual, was full of creatures that Severus considered served best as Potions ingredients. The boy's head was swiveling as he took it all in excitedly. He stopped a few feet inside the store.

"A snake?" Potter demanded, sounding interested. "I can get a snake? That wasn't on the list."

"You are not getting a snake," Severus said adamantly.

"Why not? I like snakes!"

Severus stopped and glared at the boy. They happened to be in front of terrariums full of the creatures, and he could swear that they were glaring back at him. Severus ignored them to give his attention to the little monster in front of him. He was not going to explain this right now.

"Absolutely not. You should be grateful that you are getting an owl," Severus told him.

The boy gave the snakes one more forlorn glance, then followed Severus to the back of the store where there were cages of owls in every shape, size, and color. The sight was enough to make Potter forget about snakes, apparently, because he gazed at them in wonder and walked up to the nearest one. It was a gorgeous eagle owl preening its feathers aloofly.

"Wow," the boy said.

"Owls are useful, as I mentioned. Also, very rarely poisonous."

Potter gave Severus a wry grin in response to the sarcastic joke and continued down the row of owls. "Why is a man I have never heard of giving me a gift?"

"As I said, he was a friend of your parents. He knew you as a baby, I understand. He wanted to be with you today, but he is on an errand for the headmaster and could not come himself," Severus informed the boy.

With a nod, Potter walked over to a snowy owl that seemed to be returning his gaze intently. She had knowing golden eyes and gorgeous white and charcoal-colored plumage. Before Severus could stop him, the boy reached out hesitantly through the bars of the cage and stroked her head.

"Well, it would seem that this is the one," Severus informed him.

"Yeah," Potter responded softly, not taking his eyes off the bird.

Severus walked up to the cage to read the tag. "It says she is a female. She is still quite young. She should be perfect for you. You already seem to have a connection."

Leaving the two of them to their silent communication, Severus went to the counter to alert the sales cashier. He made sure that Potter also had everything else he would need for his new pet, including a cage and treats. As an afterthought, he included several books on owl care, temperament, and training. The boy would do well to learn how to care for and bond with his new familiar during the month before school started. He arranged for the Weasleys to pick up the bird when they were done shopping.

Naturally, the boy was energized by his birthday presents. Severus had a much more excitable Potter in tow on the way out of the store. He had to remind the boy more than once to keep up and was more or less ignoring the chatter when he realized that he recognized a group coming toward them. Severus had seen them before they saw him, and he started to duck Harry into a nearby shop, but it was too late.

"Severus!"

Severus cringed inwardly. He had been hoping to avoid this particular meeting, even though he had prepared for it just in case. Severus steeled himself for whatever direction it might go. Standing up to his full height, he stood behind Potter with his hands on both of the boy's shoulders in a silent signal to follow his lead.

"Good morning, Lucius," Severus intoned, "I see you have brought the family with you."

Lucius Malfoy acknowledged the comment with a pompous nod of his head that barely moved his platinum blond hair an inch. "Indeed, Severus. We have just returned from a vacation abroad and are here to buy Draco's school supplies."

The man gestured with his silver-tipped cane to the boy behind him next to a woman. They each shared the man's blond hair and pompous attitude. Potter's soon-to-be classmate was eying him up and down, and the boy was returning his gaze with an intensity that Severus had yet to see on more than a few occasions.

"Indeed," Severus murmured. "Well, if you don't mind, Lucius, I am on an errand for the headmaster, as you can see." Severus squeezed Potter's shoulder ever so slightly, and the boy looked up at him for only an instant before returning to his staring contest with Draco.

"Yes, I see that. Would this be," Lucius raised his hand to brush Potter's fringe aside to reveal the lightning bolt-shaped scar, "Harry Potter."

The look that Potter sent Lucius's way could have melted glass, but Draco gave a slight gasp at stepped forward. He looked up at his father, who nodded ever so slightly. Severus made no move to show he noticed any of this, and neither did Narcissa Malfoy.

"Harry Potter," Draco drawled, "pleased to meet you."

"Malfoy," Potter affirmed.

When Draco stepped forward and held out his hand to Potter, the boy made him wait a fraction of a second before he took it and shook it firmly. Severus wasn't sure whether to be impressed or horrified with the boy's power play. Potter had only had moments to appraise the situation and choose his move. It was up to Severus to back his play.

"Well, Lucius," Severus interrupted. "We had best be off."

Lucius Malfoy nodded. Severus could tell he was not sure what to make of Potter yet. No one in the wizarding world had seen him before now. Severus was sure he was going to be called on very soon. It would be an interesting meeting.

The two of them walked off calmly and without any rush. Severus made sure that Potter was in front of him this time, partly because he didn't want to let the boy out of his sight and partly because he didn't want the scene that had just played out to be all for naught. They walked on silently until they were far from any of the Malfoys. Severus quietly led Potter off to a corner of Diagon Alley behind a disused vendor's cart.

"What made you decide to do that?" Severus demanded.

Potter shrugged. "He seemed like a git."

Severus was seething. Potter's impertinence aside, he wanted to know if this was a deliberate or cunning move. He raised his brow at Potter and waited.

"Look, Sir, I could tell that he thought he was important and that you were worried about them meeting me. I decided that I couldn't take anything from them," the boy said, this time sincerely.

Severus nodded, ruminating on this answer. There was no damage done by Potter's near-slight of Draco as long as the boy could back it up. He certainly had the makings of a Slytherin. However, Severus was still convinced that it would be disastrous for all involved to put him with the Death Eaters' children. They would either turn on him like vipers or acknowledge him as their leader, where his dominance would always be under threat.

"You are correct," Severus confirmed. "They are a powerful family. I know them well. I have known them for a long time. You will need to watch out for people like that."

"I had worked that part out for myself," Potter said. "They are the people you are warning me about."

"Partially," Severus told the boy. "You need to be on your guard until you know of anyone's intentions."

"Yes, Sir. I understand."

"We are going to meet up with the Weasleys. You will return home with them and stay there for the rest of the month. On September first, you will travel to Hogwarts with their children on the Hogwarts Express." The boy nodded. He had heard of the train.

"Stay close," Severus reminded the boy sternly.

They headed north on the cobblestone street. Severus wasn't sure precisely where the Weasley family was. Still, he knew that there would be at least one family member posted outside of whatever shop they were in. Severus walked with the boy until they came to Quality Quidditch Supplies. He could see the child's longing glance. The boy had never asked him for anything. He had never asked to go anywhere or do anything.

"Would you like to go in?" Severus asked carefully.

"Really, Sir?" Potter looked up at him hopefully, as if he did not really believe he had been asked.

"I would not offer it if I did not mean it," Severus scoffed.

"Oh, yes, Sir!"

Wondering when he had gone soft, Severus took the boy into the shop. He could tell by how Potter was walking around looking at the brooms and the quidditch paraphernalia that he was more than acquainted with the game now. Clearly, his time with the Weasleys had been spent in more than studying textbooks and learning about magic.

"Professor Snape!"

Trying not to roll his eyes into his head, Severus turned around to find himself face to face with one of his Slytherins, Marcus Flint. He took his duty as Head of House seriously, and he had seen many students from his house today. None of them so far had the nerve to actually talk to him yet.

"Mr. Flint."

The burly boy's parents rushed up behind him to greet Severus as well. He was not the most sociable professor, so they undoubtedly thought this quite a coup. It was a chance to curry favor with the Head of Slytherin House. Before he could be pulled into an inane discussion of the Slytherin Quidditch team's chances at the House cup this year, Severus looked around. He saw that Potter was surrounded by redheads in the far corner of the shop. There went his chance to plead responsibility and escape.

By the time he escaped the clutches of this family and two others that also found him and had the audacity to strike up a casual conversation, Severus was more than ready to leave the store. He knew that Potter had found several Weasleys, but he wanted to make sure that he formally delivered the boy to the clan before he was on his way. He had entered with Potter, and he was going to leave with Potter.

The problem was Severus could not see the boy anywhere. He went up to the nearest red-headed child he could find, Fred Weasley, and accosted him. It was all he could do to avoid grabbing the child and shaking him when he saw that the boy wasn't with him.

"Where is Potter?" Severus demanded.

"Harry?" Weasley looked confused. "I saw him here a few minutes ago. He was talking to George and Ron. They were looking at this wicked broom, the Nimbus 2000. Have you seen it, Professor?"

"Forget the blasted broom! Where is the boy?"

Weasley started to look nervous. "I don't know, Sir."

Severus turned so fast his heels clicked. He was tall enough to see over the heads of most of the aisles in the store. Potter was shorter than most first years, but Severus did not see him anywhere. He put all his hard-earned instincts to bear and refused to panic. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw the boy's green robes out the shop's front window. He thanked Merlin that he had dressed the boy in brighter colors.

Without rushing, Severus walked quickly out of the store and followed the glimpse of the boy he had seen. He was headed up Diagon Alley, but Severus could not see who he was with, and he did not like the feeling it gave him. He doubted that Potter was with a Weasley this time. His suspicions were confirmed as he got closer and heard the boy's voice.

"Really, Professor, I don't think …"

"Potter!" Severus thundered, increasing the speed of his steps to catch up to the boy.

He turned into a small alley between two shops to see Potter standing next to none other than Professor Quirrell. He willed himself to calm down. Upon seeing him, Quirrell backed up to steps so that he was no longer standing so close to Potter.

"P-P-Professor Snape," Quirrell stammered, "we w-w-were just …"

"What were you doing, Quirinus?" Severus demanded. "Why are you here, alone, with a student?"

Quirrell didn't answer, but Severus saw a shadow of something cross his face before returning to his timid stuttering. Severus wasn't even listening to him as he babbled on about meeting the famous Harry Potter. He turned his attention, and his glare, to the boy.

"Come!"

Potter didn't need to be told twice. He trotted after Severus so quickly he almost ran into his heels. Severus was seething. He needed to find a place to talk to the boy privately and find out what had happened. If there was anyone Severus did not want Potter alone with, it was Quirinus Quirrell. Cursing Dumbledore with every step, Severus led the boy back to the Leaky Cauldron and demanded a dining room.