AN: aren't you lucky after all? I got back from seeing Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets tonight and decided that I couldn't sleep. And you get
to read the results of my insomnia. FINALLY the Diagon Alley chapter. I
hope it manages to live up to expectations.
Elektra: You're always so nice to me. ^_~ As far as I know (and I have checked it) Pater IS latin for father. You may have heard the term used as Paternoster. That is, Our Father, the Lord's Prayer
No-name: argh! I hate not having anything to call you! But thanks anyway
hermionegranger: I don't really know how much longer THIS story will be... And yes, the fourth hand on the clock is Lily
SilverWolf: you live down under? Or are you a Kiwi? Anyways, I have the Diagon Alley chappie for you today!
Lee Lee: well you just HAVE to be an American. Happy Thanksgiving. But that's beside the point.. took my ages to come up with a name I thought suited Sev
linds: yeah, well they had to bond at some point I guess..
Tantz: He had to bow his head. Otherwise he and Harry would get into another fight and I wasn't up for that.. also, I reckon he feels guilt to some degree that Harry was raised by those muggles. Re: the reviewers. Anytime.
Here that people? You should visit my review pages and check out all the authors there. Specifically Tantz and SilverMoon and SilverWolf. They're my favs on the ones I've gotten around to reading yet.... sorry for all the ppl I didn't mention. Oh yeah, and Lee Lee's but she's not posted at FF.net yet..
And last, but certainly not least Mikee! I just got your review now... yes, I love my reading... In fact, I often yell at the characters when they don't do what I want... Thanks for the praise on my imagery. It really means a lot. At times I have trouble seeing what I'm writing, so when one of my readers says that they can see it I feel a hell of a lot better..
Chapter Fifteen: If you go down the Alley today....
'Pater.'
It was, now, only four days before the students returned to Hogwarts for the new school year. This, in and of itself, presented Harry and Severus with problems. Such as: how was Dumbledore going to announce that Harry was Professor Snape's son? And: what would the reaction be? Would the students turn on Harry? What of the children of the Death Eaters?
Of course, that was still four days in the future, and Harry was still living by the philosophy that only one day should be lived at a time. Unfortunately, this day presented Harry with a problem of a more immediate nature.
Hence the reason Harry was standing rather tentatively in the door of his father's rooms, trying to gain his attention. The occupants of the two chairs before the hearth looked up from their already disjointed conversation.
'Yes, Harry?'
Harry shifted his weight. For all that he had been getting to better know his father in the last month, he hadn't really *asked* the man for anything yet. And that was presenting a problem right now. He decided to try an oblique approach.
'School begins in four days...'
Remus, it seemed, knew precisely what Harry was talking about, but he wasn't about to clue his friend in.
'I am quite aware of that fact,' Severus leant back in his chair and lazily crossed one leg over the other.
Harry nodded and Severus sighed. It wasn't like Harry to be so timid around him any more. Not, he had to admit, that Harry had ever been *timid* in his presence in the first place.
'What I am not aware of is why you find it necessary to inform me of this?'
Remus's eyes twinkled. He was enjoying this. It was quite apparent that Severus had no idea what Harry wanted, and equally clear that Harry wasn't comfortable asking for it.
When Harry didn't reply, only shifted his weight again, causing Severus to scowl, Remus decided to take pity on them both.
'I think what Harry is trying to suggest, Severus, is that it might just be useful for him to obtain the materials he will be needing for his sixth year,' Remus hinted broadly.
Severus blinked at the werewolf. He looked at his son, who nodded.
'Oh for- ! Harry, why didn't you just say so?' Severus stood up, 'I'll take you to Diagon Alley today. You have your booklist I presume?'
He nodded sharply as Harry flourished the piece of parchment and headed for the door, Harry trailing after.
Remus hastily stood up as well, '*We* will take you to Diagon Alley.'
When Severus turned to look at him, he chided, 'Remember the agreement you made with Dumbledore.'
Severus snorted, but gestured with rather ill grace for Remus to follow along if he so wished.
Harry was sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, waiting for his father and Remus to emerge from the mouth of Knockturn Alley across the way. Severus had refused to allow Harry to accompany them to the apothecary where the potions master obtained his more rare ingredients. Since Remus had heartily agreed to this sentiment, Harry was stuck - quite cheerfully - eating a sundae.
Florean Fortescue himself was hovering as inconspicuously as he could in the background. An old friend of Remus's, he had agreed to keep an eye on Harry whilst the werewolf and professor were in the dark Alley.
Harry would have resented the hovering presence if he could have been bothered. What possible trouble could he get up to sitting waiting patiently for his father's return? The Death Eaters weren't about to attack in the middle of the crowded Diagon Alley. He believed he was quite old enough to take care of himself at times like this.
This all would have annoyed him to no end, if - as mentioned earlier - he could be bothered. Right now, though, he was simply too grateful to be sitting down, his purchases piled around him.
His books had been simple and straightforward to purchase. Harry would have much preferred everything else had gone the same way....
When they had stepped from the Floo network into the Leaky Cauldron earlier that morning, Severus had taken over. He had swept through the crowds towards Gringotts Bank, leaving Remus and Harry to struggle after him through his wake.
When Harry had gone to present his key to the bank's goblins, Severus had slapped his hand aside, growling at him. Harry had shot him a startled glance, which he had ignored. Remus had leant over Harry's shoulder to whisper, 'I think he wishes to pay for your things himself....'
First stop after Gringotts had been Flourish and Blotts. The ease with which his books had been purchased had lulled Harry into a false sense of security. This had quickly been banished as they had stepped back out into the Alley. Harry had immediately moved to gaze in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies, admiring the display with Remus. He quickly discovered that it wasn't much fun to gossip about the latest brooms and who had won the last match when the surly professor who just so happens to be your father is glaring daggers into your back.
Severus had led his two companions to the apothecary next, possibly Harry's least favourite store in the entire Alley. Hoping to be in and out of the awful stench as quickly as possible, Harry had rushed about, snatching the various ingredients from the shelves. Severus had taken all the bottles and packets from Harry's arms and returned every one of them, leaving Harry and Remus gaping at him. Then he slowly made his way about the store, selecting only those items that passed his scrutiny.
By the time he was done, Harry had only the finest of every item on his list and a fair few that weren't on it in the first place. His father maintained that it was essential to have a well-stocked supply of potions' ingredients, and that no self-respecting potion maker would ever be caught without these items.
Remus had sucked exaggerated gulps of air to clear his lungs once they left the apothecary. Harry grinned, silently agreeing with his sentiments. Severus had glared at the werewolf and swept on his way to the next store. Harry had started to follow, only to be jerked sideways not five steps later. Remus had pulled him into a joke store and the pair quickly immersed themselves in scanning the shelves.
Harry had just picked up a trick hat that turned the wearer's hair any one of a dozen colours when it was plucked from his hands and returned to its place. A dark voice at his shoulder had said, 'I will not allow you to fritter away money on such idiotic amusements.' With a glare at the grinning werewolf and a hand at Harry's back, Severus had propelled him from the store.
The rest of the trip about Diagon Alley had gone in much the same fashion: Severus being fast and efficient, Remus taking the opportunity to indulge in his Marauder instincts, and Harry caught somewhere in between, weighed down by mounting purchases.
The most torturous moments, however, had come in Madam Malkin's robe shop. It seemed Severus was intent on providing his son with an entire wardrobe of new robes. Never much of a clotheshorse in the first place, Harry quickly grew heartily sick of being measured and pricked, changing from one style to the next in a veritable rainbow of colours.
Remus had found the entire situation extremely amusing until Severus had rounded on him and demanded he select new robes as well.
Quite statisfied with the selections he had approved, Severus had purchased the lot and once more led a now drooping pair into the Alley.
By then, Harry had all he required and then some. He had only been too happy to remain, slurping on his sundae as Remus accompanied his father into the notorious Knockturn Alley.
Harry was just licking his spoon cleaning of the final mouthful of ice- cream and beginning to wonder what had become of Remus and his father when he was hailed from across the street.
He looked up to see Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff in his year, hurrying through the crowds towards him. He didn't know whether to groan or grin. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about the Hufflepuff. On the one hand, he was a nice enough boy; pleasant and well liked by his housemates. But then, he *was* a Hufflepuff - they all liked everyone. On the other hand, Justin had been certain that Harry was out to kill him in their second year, and he had been one of the first to shun Harry come fourth year and the Triwizard Tournament. Harry simply couldn't make up his mind about this boy.
But Harry was starting to get bored and if Justin was feeling friendly towards him today, he wasn't going to turn him away.
'Hello Justin,' Harry cleared his parcels off one of the chairs opposite him. Justin plonked himself down and grinned at Harry. Harry smiled back.
'How's your summer been?'
'It was -' Harry caught himself just in time. It would never do tell a member of the same house as Cedric Diggory that he had had the best - if somewhat shocking and confusing - summer ever. He finished lamely instead: 'OK. Yours?'
'Oh brilliant,' gushed Justin, 'I spent a week with my friend Ernie. It was the first time I'd ever been in a wizarding home!
'But it'll be good to get back to school and see everybody else.'
Harry declined to mention that he had already been back at Hogwarts for most of the summer, and quite frankly wouldn't mind seeing the back of it for a while.
Justin glanced about, seeming to realize only then that Harry was quite unusually alone.
'Ron and Hermione aren't here?'
'No,' Harry only just managed to stop himself rolling his eyes. No wonder his father professed to like Hufflepuffs the least of all the houses. They seemed to have a special talent for stating the obvious.
Justin was looking just a little confused, 'Don't you usually spend the last week of holidays with Ron's family?'
Harry smirked, 'Not this summer.'
Now Justin seemed utterly baffled, 'Then how did you get to Diagon Alley?'
Harry couldn't resist. It had to be worth it just to see the look on Justin's face.
'Professor Snape brought me.'
Justin slanted him a sarcastic look as if to say, pull the other one.
'I'm quite serious,' Harry stated.
Justin blinked. His eyes grew rounder and rounder as he realized Harry was telling the truth. His mouth worked furiously, but no sound came out.
Just as it looked Justin had finally regained control of his vocal cords, another, far less welcome voice intruded.
'Well, well. If it isn't the infamous brat, Potter. And....' the voice paused and took on a sneering tone, '.... Finch-Fletchley, is it? The mudblood?'
Harry turned to glare at the true bane of his existence - one Draco Malfoy - but not before he caught the hurt look in Justin's eyes. To be called a mudblood was a serious insult and not a very subtle one.
'Malfoy. You seem to have wandered into the wrong Alley. You'll find the entrance to Knockturn Alley over there,' Harry lifted an imperious finger and pointed across the way. He was rather surprised at himself. It seemed he was more like Severus than he had thought. Insults and sarcasm weren't traits people usually inherited from their fathers, but it looked like Harry just might have. He let his finger drop and turned away from the blonde boy, 'I'm sure it will be much more to your liking. The.... individuals.... that lurk there are exactly your type.'
As both Draco and Harry had been down that Alley, they *both* knew what type of slimy, low, and altogether vile characters frequented Diagon Alley's dark neighbour. Harry saw Draco's hands clench at his sides. He was disappointed when Draco gained control of himself and ignored Harry's insult. Instead, he decided to jibe at Harry himself.
'I see your fan club isn't with you - you haven't been ditched, have you?
Harry raised a brow at him; 'I hardly see what concern it is of yours.'
Draco snickered, 'The mudblood and the Weasel have finally seen through you, have they? Ah, what a pity you are not even worthy of the company of social outcasts.'
Harry's brow lowered and it was all he could do to prevent himself from scowling at the insult to his friends. Justin had faded into the background, forgotten by the arch rivals. Draco snickered again.
'Don't tell me you can't stick up for yourself Potter?'
Harry didn't reply. Draco perched a hand at his hip, affecting a stance of casualness; 'It makes me wonder what kind of man your father must have been to spawn such a spineless waste as you.'
Harry's brow rose again. Draco had just unwittingly insulted his favourite teacher. It was priceless.
'You'd be surprised what kind of man my father is.'
Draco was so put off by the smirk that accompanied Harry's reply that he failed to notice the present tense. Harry didn't give him the chance to recover his equilibrium.
'If you *must* know Malfoy, I'm not here alone at all,' Harry's smirk turned positively gleeful, 'I'm here with my f-'
'Harry!'
Remus's voice made itself heard across the hubbub of the crowd, riding over the rest of Harry's sentence. His attention was diverted away from Draco and into the street. Remus was struggling towards them through the crowd. Behind him, Severus gilded along as though there were no obstructions. It was a curious thing, but people seemed to instinctively move clear of the dark man's path.
Draco quit his seething long enough to turn too. He ignored the presence of Remus entirely, latching on to the sight of his favourite and - as far as his knowledge went - Harry's most despised teacher fast approaching. He had time before Severus arrived at their position to throw a final smirk at Harry.
Harry saw the self-satisfied smirk Draco threw at him and was hard pressed not to smirk back. His father had told him just the last week that he had no great affection for the Malfoy scion. He despised the unfounded arrogance of the boy. If Harry wasn't mistaken, now that Severus didn't have to play a role any longer, Draco was in for a shock when he was suddenly treated no better and perhaps even worse than all the other students were.
Draco stepped forward to greet his head of house.
'Professor Snape. I've been looking forward to a return to-'
Harry was hard put not to laugh at the expression on Draco's face when Severus looked down his nose at the boy and cut him off with a barely civil, 'Malfoy.'
From the corner of his eye, Harry could see Justin gaping at the scene before him. He caught the Hufflepuff's eye and winked. Justin blinked at him and Harry smiled, rolling his eyes in Draco's direction. Justin smiled back.
Draco looked rather miffed at being so casually dismissed by the head of Slytherin. Harry smirked now as his father turned to him.
'If you are quite ready, Mister Potter,' he didn't quite snap.
Harry nodded and, with a hand from Remus, gathered up his many parcels.
'See you when you get back to school, Justin.'
Justin waved him off and Harry threw one last smirk in Draco's direction before following after the already retreating figures of Severus and Remus.
He quickly caught up to the pair and insinuated himself at his father's side. Remus had lagged behind slightly, burdened as he was with the heaviest of the purchases. Harry noted that his father carried only a small, tightly wrapped package he presumed contained the rare ingredients he had ventured into Knockturn Alley after.
'About that....' he said, shifting the parcels in his arms.
Severus didn't look at him as he replied, 'About *what*?'
'You calling me Mr. Potter all the time....'
Severus looked down at his son now, 'Harry, I'm not about to start calling you by your first name in class....'
Harry rolled his eyes and received a mild glare for it.
'That's not what I meant.'
'Then what *did* you mean?' Severus sighed long-sufferingly.
'I meant I'm not sure I want to be just plain Harry *Potter* any more.'
Severus actually missed a stride as he looked down at Harry in surprise.
Harry blithely continued as though he hadn't just shocked his father, 'I mean, it's not really a true reflection of who I am, is it?'
He received no reply, so he continued talking, 'I was thinking I should change my name to Snape-Potter, or maybe Potter-Snape,' he slanted a look up at his father, 'Which do you think sounds better?'
Remus stepped up and into the conversation then, 'I like Potter-Snape. Harry James Potter-Snape.'
Severus seemed to have recovered enough to say, 'Harry James *Severus*.'
This comment diverted Harry's attention briefly; 'I have *two* middle names?'
He shook himself then, 'But you still haven't said which name sounds better....'
They were still discussing which name Harry should take when they stepped through the Floo network into Dumbledore's office. Severus was in fact saying:
'.... Snape-Potter. I refuse to acknowledge a son with the name Harry James Severus Potter-Snape. It's too unwieldy....' His mouth snapped shut on the end of his comment as the three of them turned and caught sight of Dumbledore's desk.
Dumbledore was sitting behind it, that trademark benign smile on his lips, his eyes twinkling over time. But that wasn't what caused Severus's abrupt halt or the sudden pallors on Harry and Remus's faces.
The cause of the trio's more than considerable apprehension was just now standing up from a chair on the nearer side of the desk, horrified realization and black rage dawning on his face.
That man, as Murphy's Law would have it, was Sirius Black.
TBC
AN: no end notes today. I simply can't think of any today.... Make up your own okay?
Elektra: You're always so nice to me. ^_~ As far as I know (and I have checked it) Pater IS latin for father. You may have heard the term used as Paternoster. That is, Our Father, the Lord's Prayer
No-name: argh! I hate not having anything to call you! But thanks anyway
hermionegranger: I don't really know how much longer THIS story will be... And yes, the fourth hand on the clock is Lily
SilverWolf: you live down under? Or are you a Kiwi? Anyways, I have the Diagon Alley chappie for you today!
Lee Lee: well you just HAVE to be an American. Happy Thanksgiving. But that's beside the point.. took my ages to come up with a name I thought suited Sev
linds: yeah, well they had to bond at some point I guess..
Tantz: He had to bow his head. Otherwise he and Harry would get into another fight and I wasn't up for that.. also, I reckon he feels guilt to some degree that Harry was raised by those muggles. Re: the reviewers. Anytime.
Here that people? You should visit my review pages and check out all the authors there. Specifically Tantz and SilverMoon and SilverWolf. They're my favs on the ones I've gotten around to reading yet.... sorry for all the ppl I didn't mention. Oh yeah, and Lee Lee's but she's not posted at FF.net yet..
And last, but certainly not least Mikee! I just got your review now... yes, I love my reading... In fact, I often yell at the characters when they don't do what I want... Thanks for the praise on my imagery. It really means a lot. At times I have trouble seeing what I'm writing, so when one of my readers says that they can see it I feel a hell of a lot better..
Chapter Fifteen: If you go down the Alley today....
'Pater.'
It was, now, only four days before the students returned to Hogwarts for the new school year. This, in and of itself, presented Harry and Severus with problems. Such as: how was Dumbledore going to announce that Harry was Professor Snape's son? And: what would the reaction be? Would the students turn on Harry? What of the children of the Death Eaters?
Of course, that was still four days in the future, and Harry was still living by the philosophy that only one day should be lived at a time. Unfortunately, this day presented Harry with a problem of a more immediate nature.
Hence the reason Harry was standing rather tentatively in the door of his father's rooms, trying to gain his attention. The occupants of the two chairs before the hearth looked up from their already disjointed conversation.
'Yes, Harry?'
Harry shifted his weight. For all that he had been getting to better know his father in the last month, he hadn't really *asked* the man for anything yet. And that was presenting a problem right now. He decided to try an oblique approach.
'School begins in four days...'
Remus, it seemed, knew precisely what Harry was talking about, but he wasn't about to clue his friend in.
'I am quite aware of that fact,' Severus leant back in his chair and lazily crossed one leg over the other.
Harry nodded and Severus sighed. It wasn't like Harry to be so timid around him any more. Not, he had to admit, that Harry had ever been *timid* in his presence in the first place.
'What I am not aware of is why you find it necessary to inform me of this?'
Remus's eyes twinkled. He was enjoying this. It was quite apparent that Severus had no idea what Harry wanted, and equally clear that Harry wasn't comfortable asking for it.
When Harry didn't reply, only shifted his weight again, causing Severus to scowl, Remus decided to take pity on them both.
'I think what Harry is trying to suggest, Severus, is that it might just be useful for him to obtain the materials he will be needing for his sixth year,' Remus hinted broadly.
Severus blinked at the werewolf. He looked at his son, who nodded.
'Oh for- ! Harry, why didn't you just say so?' Severus stood up, 'I'll take you to Diagon Alley today. You have your booklist I presume?'
He nodded sharply as Harry flourished the piece of parchment and headed for the door, Harry trailing after.
Remus hastily stood up as well, '*We* will take you to Diagon Alley.'
When Severus turned to look at him, he chided, 'Remember the agreement you made with Dumbledore.'
Severus snorted, but gestured with rather ill grace for Remus to follow along if he so wished.
Harry was sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour, waiting for his father and Remus to emerge from the mouth of Knockturn Alley across the way. Severus had refused to allow Harry to accompany them to the apothecary where the potions master obtained his more rare ingredients. Since Remus had heartily agreed to this sentiment, Harry was stuck - quite cheerfully - eating a sundae.
Florean Fortescue himself was hovering as inconspicuously as he could in the background. An old friend of Remus's, he had agreed to keep an eye on Harry whilst the werewolf and professor were in the dark Alley.
Harry would have resented the hovering presence if he could have been bothered. What possible trouble could he get up to sitting waiting patiently for his father's return? The Death Eaters weren't about to attack in the middle of the crowded Diagon Alley. He believed he was quite old enough to take care of himself at times like this.
This all would have annoyed him to no end, if - as mentioned earlier - he could be bothered. Right now, though, he was simply too grateful to be sitting down, his purchases piled around him.
His books had been simple and straightforward to purchase. Harry would have much preferred everything else had gone the same way....
When they had stepped from the Floo network into the Leaky Cauldron earlier that morning, Severus had taken over. He had swept through the crowds towards Gringotts Bank, leaving Remus and Harry to struggle after him through his wake.
When Harry had gone to present his key to the bank's goblins, Severus had slapped his hand aside, growling at him. Harry had shot him a startled glance, which he had ignored. Remus had leant over Harry's shoulder to whisper, 'I think he wishes to pay for your things himself....'
First stop after Gringotts had been Flourish and Blotts. The ease with which his books had been purchased had lulled Harry into a false sense of security. This had quickly been banished as they had stepped back out into the Alley. Harry had immediately moved to gaze in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies, admiring the display with Remus. He quickly discovered that it wasn't much fun to gossip about the latest brooms and who had won the last match when the surly professor who just so happens to be your father is glaring daggers into your back.
Severus had led his two companions to the apothecary next, possibly Harry's least favourite store in the entire Alley. Hoping to be in and out of the awful stench as quickly as possible, Harry had rushed about, snatching the various ingredients from the shelves. Severus had taken all the bottles and packets from Harry's arms and returned every one of them, leaving Harry and Remus gaping at him. Then he slowly made his way about the store, selecting only those items that passed his scrutiny.
By the time he was done, Harry had only the finest of every item on his list and a fair few that weren't on it in the first place. His father maintained that it was essential to have a well-stocked supply of potions' ingredients, and that no self-respecting potion maker would ever be caught without these items.
Remus had sucked exaggerated gulps of air to clear his lungs once they left the apothecary. Harry grinned, silently agreeing with his sentiments. Severus had glared at the werewolf and swept on his way to the next store. Harry had started to follow, only to be jerked sideways not five steps later. Remus had pulled him into a joke store and the pair quickly immersed themselves in scanning the shelves.
Harry had just picked up a trick hat that turned the wearer's hair any one of a dozen colours when it was plucked from his hands and returned to its place. A dark voice at his shoulder had said, 'I will not allow you to fritter away money on such idiotic amusements.' With a glare at the grinning werewolf and a hand at Harry's back, Severus had propelled him from the store.
The rest of the trip about Diagon Alley had gone in much the same fashion: Severus being fast and efficient, Remus taking the opportunity to indulge in his Marauder instincts, and Harry caught somewhere in between, weighed down by mounting purchases.
The most torturous moments, however, had come in Madam Malkin's robe shop. It seemed Severus was intent on providing his son with an entire wardrobe of new robes. Never much of a clotheshorse in the first place, Harry quickly grew heartily sick of being measured and pricked, changing from one style to the next in a veritable rainbow of colours.
Remus had found the entire situation extremely amusing until Severus had rounded on him and demanded he select new robes as well.
Quite statisfied with the selections he had approved, Severus had purchased the lot and once more led a now drooping pair into the Alley.
By then, Harry had all he required and then some. He had only been too happy to remain, slurping on his sundae as Remus accompanied his father into the notorious Knockturn Alley.
Harry was just licking his spoon cleaning of the final mouthful of ice- cream and beginning to wonder what had become of Remus and his father when he was hailed from across the street.
He looked up to see Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff in his year, hurrying through the crowds towards him. He didn't know whether to groan or grin. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about the Hufflepuff. On the one hand, he was a nice enough boy; pleasant and well liked by his housemates. But then, he *was* a Hufflepuff - they all liked everyone. On the other hand, Justin had been certain that Harry was out to kill him in their second year, and he had been one of the first to shun Harry come fourth year and the Triwizard Tournament. Harry simply couldn't make up his mind about this boy.
But Harry was starting to get bored and if Justin was feeling friendly towards him today, he wasn't going to turn him away.
'Hello Justin,' Harry cleared his parcels off one of the chairs opposite him. Justin plonked himself down and grinned at Harry. Harry smiled back.
'How's your summer been?'
'It was -' Harry caught himself just in time. It would never do tell a member of the same house as Cedric Diggory that he had had the best - if somewhat shocking and confusing - summer ever. He finished lamely instead: 'OK. Yours?'
'Oh brilliant,' gushed Justin, 'I spent a week with my friend Ernie. It was the first time I'd ever been in a wizarding home!
'But it'll be good to get back to school and see everybody else.'
Harry declined to mention that he had already been back at Hogwarts for most of the summer, and quite frankly wouldn't mind seeing the back of it for a while.
Justin glanced about, seeming to realize only then that Harry was quite unusually alone.
'Ron and Hermione aren't here?'
'No,' Harry only just managed to stop himself rolling his eyes. No wonder his father professed to like Hufflepuffs the least of all the houses. They seemed to have a special talent for stating the obvious.
Justin was looking just a little confused, 'Don't you usually spend the last week of holidays with Ron's family?'
Harry smirked, 'Not this summer.'
Now Justin seemed utterly baffled, 'Then how did you get to Diagon Alley?'
Harry couldn't resist. It had to be worth it just to see the look on Justin's face.
'Professor Snape brought me.'
Justin slanted him a sarcastic look as if to say, pull the other one.
'I'm quite serious,' Harry stated.
Justin blinked. His eyes grew rounder and rounder as he realized Harry was telling the truth. His mouth worked furiously, but no sound came out.
Just as it looked Justin had finally regained control of his vocal cords, another, far less welcome voice intruded.
'Well, well. If it isn't the infamous brat, Potter. And....' the voice paused and took on a sneering tone, '.... Finch-Fletchley, is it? The mudblood?'
Harry turned to glare at the true bane of his existence - one Draco Malfoy - but not before he caught the hurt look in Justin's eyes. To be called a mudblood was a serious insult and not a very subtle one.
'Malfoy. You seem to have wandered into the wrong Alley. You'll find the entrance to Knockturn Alley over there,' Harry lifted an imperious finger and pointed across the way. He was rather surprised at himself. It seemed he was more like Severus than he had thought. Insults and sarcasm weren't traits people usually inherited from their fathers, but it looked like Harry just might have. He let his finger drop and turned away from the blonde boy, 'I'm sure it will be much more to your liking. The.... individuals.... that lurk there are exactly your type.'
As both Draco and Harry had been down that Alley, they *both* knew what type of slimy, low, and altogether vile characters frequented Diagon Alley's dark neighbour. Harry saw Draco's hands clench at his sides. He was disappointed when Draco gained control of himself and ignored Harry's insult. Instead, he decided to jibe at Harry himself.
'I see your fan club isn't with you - you haven't been ditched, have you?
Harry raised a brow at him; 'I hardly see what concern it is of yours.'
Draco snickered, 'The mudblood and the Weasel have finally seen through you, have they? Ah, what a pity you are not even worthy of the company of social outcasts.'
Harry's brow lowered and it was all he could do to prevent himself from scowling at the insult to his friends. Justin had faded into the background, forgotten by the arch rivals. Draco snickered again.
'Don't tell me you can't stick up for yourself Potter?'
Harry didn't reply. Draco perched a hand at his hip, affecting a stance of casualness; 'It makes me wonder what kind of man your father must have been to spawn such a spineless waste as you.'
Harry's brow rose again. Draco had just unwittingly insulted his favourite teacher. It was priceless.
'You'd be surprised what kind of man my father is.'
Draco was so put off by the smirk that accompanied Harry's reply that he failed to notice the present tense. Harry didn't give him the chance to recover his equilibrium.
'If you *must* know Malfoy, I'm not here alone at all,' Harry's smirk turned positively gleeful, 'I'm here with my f-'
'Harry!'
Remus's voice made itself heard across the hubbub of the crowd, riding over the rest of Harry's sentence. His attention was diverted away from Draco and into the street. Remus was struggling towards them through the crowd. Behind him, Severus gilded along as though there were no obstructions. It was a curious thing, but people seemed to instinctively move clear of the dark man's path.
Draco quit his seething long enough to turn too. He ignored the presence of Remus entirely, latching on to the sight of his favourite and - as far as his knowledge went - Harry's most despised teacher fast approaching. He had time before Severus arrived at their position to throw a final smirk at Harry.
Harry saw the self-satisfied smirk Draco threw at him and was hard pressed not to smirk back. His father had told him just the last week that he had no great affection for the Malfoy scion. He despised the unfounded arrogance of the boy. If Harry wasn't mistaken, now that Severus didn't have to play a role any longer, Draco was in for a shock when he was suddenly treated no better and perhaps even worse than all the other students were.
Draco stepped forward to greet his head of house.
'Professor Snape. I've been looking forward to a return to-'
Harry was hard put not to laugh at the expression on Draco's face when Severus looked down his nose at the boy and cut him off with a barely civil, 'Malfoy.'
From the corner of his eye, Harry could see Justin gaping at the scene before him. He caught the Hufflepuff's eye and winked. Justin blinked at him and Harry smiled, rolling his eyes in Draco's direction. Justin smiled back.
Draco looked rather miffed at being so casually dismissed by the head of Slytherin. Harry smirked now as his father turned to him.
'If you are quite ready, Mister Potter,' he didn't quite snap.
Harry nodded and, with a hand from Remus, gathered up his many parcels.
'See you when you get back to school, Justin.'
Justin waved him off and Harry threw one last smirk in Draco's direction before following after the already retreating figures of Severus and Remus.
He quickly caught up to the pair and insinuated himself at his father's side. Remus had lagged behind slightly, burdened as he was with the heaviest of the purchases. Harry noted that his father carried only a small, tightly wrapped package he presumed contained the rare ingredients he had ventured into Knockturn Alley after.
'About that....' he said, shifting the parcels in his arms.
Severus didn't look at him as he replied, 'About *what*?'
'You calling me Mr. Potter all the time....'
Severus looked down at his son now, 'Harry, I'm not about to start calling you by your first name in class....'
Harry rolled his eyes and received a mild glare for it.
'That's not what I meant.'
'Then what *did* you mean?' Severus sighed long-sufferingly.
'I meant I'm not sure I want to be just plain Harry *Potter* any more.'
Severus actually missed a stride as he looked down at Harry in surprise.
Harry blithely continued as though he hadn't just shocked his father, 'I mean, it's not really a true reflection of who I am, is it?'
He received no reply, so he continued talking, 'I was thinking I should change my name to Snape-Potter, or maybe Potter-Snape,' he slanted a look up at his father, 'Which do you think sounds better?'
Remus stepped up and into the conversation then, 'I like Potter-Snape. Harry James Potter-Snape.'
Severus seemed to have recovered enough to say, 'Harry James *Severus*.'
This comment diverted Harry's attention briefly; 'I have *two* middle names?'
He shook himself then, 'But you still haven't said which name sounds better....'
They were still discussing which name Harry should take when they stepped through the Floo network into Dumbledore's office. Severus was in fact saying:
'.... Snape-Potter. I refuse to acknowledge a son with the name Harry James Severus Potter-Snape. It's too unwieldy....' His mouth snapped shut on the end of his comment as the three of them turned and caught sight of Dumbledore's desk.
Dumbledore was sitting behind it, that trademark benign smile on his lips, his eyes twinkling over time. But that wasn't what caused Severus's abrupt halt or the sudden pallors on Harry and Remus's faces.
The cause of the trio's more than considerable apprehension was just now standing up from a chair on the nearer side of the desk, horrified realization and black rage dawning on his face.
That man, as Murphy's Law would have it, was Sirius Black.
TBC
AN: no end notes today. I simply can't think of any today.... Make up your own okay?