Disclaimer: Of course, I do not own Harry Potter.
Diagon Alley
One wild cart ride later they both stood blinking in the sunlight outside of Gringotts Bank.
'We might as well get your uniform first,' his mother suggested, leading Severus toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. 'I will store your Hogwarts items in my bag and when we get home everything will be given to you along with both of your birth certificates.'
Severus followed his mother into the shop and they were greeted by a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve
'Good morning I'm Madam Malkin are you here for your Hogwarts uniform dear?' she asked. 'I've got all of it here and another young man is being fitted up just now.'
Madam Malkin led Severus and his mother to the back of the shop where a small, fat, mousy-haired boy with a pointed nose stood, scuffing the stool with his toe. The boy looked anxious and as Madam Malkin stood Severus on a stool next to him, the boy's small watery eyes flickered towards him. A woman who looked similar to him stood off to his right.
'Are you headed to Hogwarts too?' the boy squeaked
'Obviously' Severus answered as Madam Malkin pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of her pocket
She measured Severus from shoulder to finger, the length of his feet, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit around his waist and his head … Severus suddenly realised that the tape measure, which was measuring the length of his hands, was doing this on its own. Madam Malkin was flitting around the shelves, taking down three robes, two winter cloaks, three plain white buttoned-down shirts, three grey v-neck jumpers and three grey trousers.
'That will do.' Madam Malkin ordered, and the tape measure that had been very excruciatingly measuring Severus around his neck crumpled into a heap on the floor.
Madam Malkin came bustling back over to Severus and slipped a long black cloak around his shoulders and began to pin it to the right length. As Severus was getting fitted his mother was collecting dragon-hide gloves a black pointed hat, several pairs of black socks, a tie that would change to his house colours, dragon-hide boots and a packet of name tags.
'I'm Peter, Peter Pettigrew. Do you know a lot of spells?' the boy asked eagerly
Severus shifted uncomfortably, there was something about the boy's rat-faced demeanour that Severus found uneasy.
'I've memorized all of the First-year books.' Severus snapped and gave the boy a cold look
'You must be very powerful.' the boy gushed, as Severus saw the worshipful look upon the boy's face he felt a shiver run down his spine.
'I have no wish to have some brown-nosing little scrounger stuck to my side leeching off my intellect.' Severus kept his voice low not wanting Madam Malkin to kick him out of her shop and have to resort to buying second-hand robes.
The pudgy little boy flushed an ugly red colour that clashed horribly with his pasty skin as the witch in front of him pinned his sleeves.
'I could be a useful ally' the boy cajoled 'I could collect all sorts of things for you,
'If I wanted a lackey to fetch me things I would acquire a house elf' Severus sneered
'Some day you're going to regret not being my friend' the boy's petulant voice grated on Severus' nerves
'You're all finished' The witch in front of the boy declared as she gathered up a pile of finished clothes and handed them to him. The woman who Severus assumed was the boy's mother paid for his uniform and led her son out of the shop. It took a little longer for Severus' uniform to be ready but Madam Malkin finally finished with him.
'That's you done, my dear,' Madam Malkin said and Severus hopped down from the footstool. Madam Malkin waved her wand and every piece of uniform in the pile next to her folded itself up neatly and levitated in the air over to his mother.
The rest of the shopping was thankfully done in relative silence. They stepped into Scribbulus Writing Implements to collect quills, ink and parchment. There was a bottle of ink that would change colour as you wrote that Severus thought the girls might like, but he decided to see how much money he had left at the end of the day before he brought it.
They bought Severus' books at a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all
Severus couldn't resist getting the latest version of Hogwarts: A History by Bathilda Bagshot, picked up The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble and while his mother was distracted he quickly picked up a copy of Curses and Counter-Curses (Bewitch your Friends and Befuddle your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying, and much, much more) by Professor Vindictus Viridian.
Slipping it between the other two books. Severus hurriedly paid for them, presenting the bundle of books to his mother with Hogwarts: A History in prime place at the top of the pile.
'Reducio' his mother intoned pointing her wand at the books which shrunk down to fit in the palm of one hand.
'Did you really think I wouldn't see that you brought that book on Curses and Counter-Curses?' His mother smirked knowingly as she collected the books from him and placed them into her bag with the rest of his stuff.
Severus sighed, happy that she hadn't made him return it, sometimes having a mother with such a keen sense of observation really made it hard for Severus to get away with anything
Stopping for a bite to eat at one of the cafés on the south side of Diagon Alley, Severus listened to his fellow diners one of whom was showing his friend their purchases, 'It's a lunascope, old boy - no more messing around with moon charts, see?'
From Potage's Cauldron Shop Severus got a size two pewter cauldron. Although looking around the shop at all the other sizes and materials for cauldrons just made Severus eager to start experimenting. The Sizes ranged from a Cauldron that could sit in the palm of your hand to one that an adult could sit in comfortably, the cauldrons were made from a wide variety of materials like Pewter, Copper, Brass, Silver and Gold. Severus also picked up a nice set of brass scales for weighing potion ingredients and glass phials for potions.
From a shop called Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment Severus collected a collapsible brass telescope and star charts for Astronomy.
Then they visited Slug & Jiggers Apothecary, which Severus found the most fascinating despite its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor, jars of herbs, dried roots and bright powders lined the walls, and bundles of feathers, strings of fangs and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. Severus and his mother debated over which were the best ingredients for his potions kit, before purchasing something they were finally happy with. Outside the Apothecary, Severus checked his list again and there was only one item left. The item that Severus had been waiting for his entire life.
'My wand is the only thing left to pick up.' Severus excitedly pointed out. A magic wand ... this was what Severus had been really looking forward to.
The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 381 B.C A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that his mother sat on to wait. Severus felt strange as though he had entered a very strict library; he swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to him and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
'Good afternoon,' a soft voice spoke. Severus jumped and his mother let out a squeak and pursed her lips.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
'Good afternoon.' Severus awkwardly replied
'Ah yes,' the man exclaimed. 'Eileen Prince I remember you, you matched with an Alder wand if I'm not mistaken, 8 inches, quiet, unyielding wasn't it?'
'It's Mrs Snape now, and That's correct, although I don't really use my wand much anymore.' his mother confessed
'And is this your son?' Mr Ollivander had come so close that he and Severus were almost nose to nose. Severus could see himself reflected in those misty eyes.
'This is Severus Snape. He is starting his first year at Hogwarts.'
'Well, now – Mr Snape. Let me see.' Ollivander pulled a large tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. 'Which is your wand arm?'
'I'm left-handed sir.' Severus answered, holding up his arm.
Ollivander measured Severus from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head, similar to what had happened to him at the robe shop
'Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful substance, Mr Snape. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same and of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand!' Ollivander explained as the tape measured all on its own as Mr Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
'That will do,' Ollivander chimed and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. 'Right then, Mr Snape. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave.'
Severus took the wand and (feeling apprehensive under so much scrutiny) waved it around in the air, but Mr Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
'Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try –'
Severus tried – but he had hardly risen the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr Ollivander.
'No, no – here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, and try it out.'
Severus tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the floor but the more wands Mr Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
'Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere – I wonder, now – yes, why not – although such a powerful wand has a chance of backfiring. Ebony and Dragon Heartstring, 12 ½ inches. Determined with subtle power, effective for Spell Creation.'
Severus took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down and a stream of green and silver sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls.
'Oh bravo! Very good.' Mr Ollivander cried, placing the wand back into its box and wrapping it up in brown paper 'I haven't seen very many wizards or witches capable of spell creation in a long time.'
Severus was ecstatic, he itched to get his hands on the wand again but his mother paid seven gold Galleons for it and slipped it into her bag.
'We will also need Severus' wand details sent to Gringotts for his vault identification.' with all the excitement of getting everything Severus had completely forgotten that little detail
'Of course of course. I'll send that off right now.' Mr Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as they made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back to the Leaky Cauldron, which was now empty, except for the bartender who waved as they walked out onto Charing Cross Road and his mother flagged down the Knight Bus, once again paying eighteen Sickles for the both of them.
'Hello, again Mrs Snape, young master Severus.' Ernie cheerfully greeted them as he guided them to chairs further down the bus from where they had sat that morning. 'Did you get everything you needed for Hogwarts?'
'Yes thank you,' Severus replied pre-emptively grabbing onto a candle bracket just before the bus took off at break-neck speed
'I remember how much fun I had at Hogwarts. Getting put in detention for flying my broom through the corridors, charming the suits of armour so that they sang Christmas carols, and palling around with my Gryffindor buddies, trying to sweet talk the ladies.'
'Severus is a little too young for dating.' His mother's stern look didn't really have much of an effect on Ernie who gave him a wink when his mother wasn't looking. Severus gave a wan smile in return and settled in for a bumpy ride as the bus screeched to a halt to pick up another passenger and Ernie finally left them alone.
'Are you all right, Sweetheart?' His mother asked as the Knight Bus thundered down the middle of a sleepy-looking village, narrowly avoiding flowerbeds, market stalls and Muggles who hurried from place to place.
Severus shrugged but still tried to articulate what he was thinking.
'I've been waiting for this day my entire life and now it's finally here. What if I'm terrible at everything?' Severus shifted in his chair uncomfortably, he really hated showing vulnerability, but it was worth it when his mother granted him one of her rare comforting hugs.
'Don't you worry sweetheart.' His mother soothed running her hand along his back. You already know quite a few spells and I've taught you plenty of potions, so with the academic part of your schooling, you should be fine. I know how hard it was for me to leave my parents and go to Hogwarts but don't forget you will have the girls there with you. I'm sure Petunia and Lily will still be your friends, even when you get sorted into Slytherin, as well as Rose and Tansy when they get sorted next year.'
`I hope so mother,' answered Severus as the Knight Bus let out a BANG and they were at last back at Spinner's End.
They slowly ambled the short distance back up the street to their house. Peeking through the front door Severus saw that his father was nowhere in sight so he and his mother glided up the stairs and placed all of his packages, including his birth certificate scroll onto his bed. Severus pulled open his trunk in preparation for repacking it with his new acquisitions.
'I'll go and get your non-magical birth certificate.' His mother turned to go and then stopped suddenly facing his window. 'Oh! It looks like your ticket for the Hogwarts Express has arrived' His mother pointed to the window and walked out of his bedroom.
Severus jerked around to look, and there was a brown owl sitting on his bedroom window sill with a letter clamped in its beak as it gave Severus a reproachful look. He quickly walked over to the window to pull it open so the owl could hop inside, dropped the envelope on his bedside table, gave an impatient hoot and turned around and flew silently back out the window.
With trembling fingers, he reached inside the envelope and pulled out a cream-coloured ticket with shimmering golden writing that read:
Hogwarts Express
Kings Cross to Hogsmeade Station
Platform 9 ¾
1st of September - 11 o'clock am
Rules & regulations on the Hogwarts Express are consistent with those at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and authorised by the Ministry of Magic.
'Would you like me to magically pack everything away in your Hogwarts trunk?' Severus jumped in surprise at his mother's sudden reappearance.
Severus took the frame from his mother that contained his non-magical birth certificate, shocked that she would even suggest a magical solution. Severus didn't think he had seen his mother do magic ever and now she was willing to use magic twice in one day if Severus was willing to consider tapping a brick to open Diagon Alley counting as magic
'Yes please.' Severus was curious about what spell she would use and also wanted to encourage his mother to use magic
'This is one of the few spells to use an English word for its incantation.' His mother explained.
'Pack!' his mother ordered firmly waving her wand in a long, sweeping movement over the floor, flicking her wand at the end of the movement. Books, clothes, his telescope, scales and birth certificates all soared into the air, organised themselves neatly and flew gently into the trunk along with the shrunken snow sledge he received last Christmas. Severus looked gobsmacked at his mother as she closed his trunk.
'It seems I still have at least a little skill with magic.' His mother quipped, smirking at him Severus with a bewildered look on his face locked the door behind her shaking his head but smiling, he was glad to see her cheerful and happy.
After the door was closed behind her, Severus had no idea what his mother was doing because he could not see her. :P (my ghost-writer has trouble staying with just one character)
'Dinner is ready' his mother called half an hour later
Unlocking the door Severus made his way down the stairs just in time to be handed a bowl full of something green
'What is this?' Severus asked, trying not to sound too ungrateful considering it was one of the very few meals his mother had made him.
'It's Pea Soup. Isn't that your favourite?' His mother looked worried so he quickly took a spoonful and started eating, it really wasn't as bad as it looked.
'Because it's green like Slytherin?' Severus asked, figuring that he must have declared it his favourite quite a while ago.
'Yes, that's right. You were three and wanted all of your meals to be green.' His mother smiled softly
Getting ready for bed after a long and exhausting day Severus could barely make it under his covers before he succumbed to sleep.