Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Web of Lies.
If Harry thought they weren't going to draw attention, he was sadly mistaken. After all, it was not everyday that you saw both the Head of Gryffindor and Head of Slytherin walking through the Leaky Cauldron with one of the new students. If any muggle born had trouble Hogwarts would usually send either Hagrid or some other trusted wizard that happened to live close.
Everyone stopped their conversations when they saw them enter. Harry didn't look at them twice; taking Severus' hand, he simply moved to stand behind the taller man, knowing no one would dare to approach him with the potion master protecting him. McGonagall looked at him mildly amused, while Severus glared at anyone looking at them while keeping a firm hold on the child's hand. Quickly, the two teachers steered Alec out of the pub and into Diagon Alley.
The street was full of witches and wizards, mostly parents who were taking their children to buy their school things or to just enjoy the clear day. Looking around the crowded street, Snape bent down and picked Alec up; it wouldn't do to lose the boy. At his side, Minerva chuckled softly.
"You realize that this is going to harm your reputation, don't you, Severus?"
The man scowled at her but didn't move to put the boy back on the floor. Harry smiled softly and passed an arm around the man's neck to keep himself steady. Snape moved him a bit so he was resting against his hip, and then started to move towards Madam Malkin's shop, ignoring the gapping students who were now wondering who on earth the boy cradled in their potions master's arms was. Minerva trailed behind them, smiling mischievously at the stunned students and nodding friendly towards the surprised parents.
The shop was empty when the came in; Madam Malkin immediately approached them, visibly surprised to see who had entered her shop.
"Professors! What a surprise! What can I do for you?"
Snape bent down slightly and slid Alec out of his grasp while Minerva looked around. "Alec needs some new robes, he'll be starting Hogwarts."
The woman looked curiously at the child standing fearlessly next to the Potions Master and couldn't help but wonder who he was. After all, she had heard more than enough about the man to know he wouldn't willingly carry a child in his arms. Suppressing her curiosity, she motioned to the child to follow her into another room. Alec did so reluctantly. He had been there on his own before but that didn't mean that he enjoyed losing the security Snape offered. He had seen her inquisitive glance, and hoped she wouldn't press for answers.
Luckily, the woman knew better than to ask, so she simply fitted him for some robes. Twenty minutes later, Alec was walking at Severus' side, his hand firmly clasped into the man's larger one. The three of them made their way towards Flourish and Blotts to buy his books. Silently, Harry considered that to be a waste of money, but he could hardly tell his professors that without giving a good reason. When they entered the shop, a few seventh years approached Minerva and started to talk with her after sending nods towards Professor Snape. Looking down, the man raised an eyebrow.
"I trust you can find your books on your own? I need to speak to the manager for a moment."
Harry nodded reluctantly and let go of the man's hand. Sighing, he started to gather his books. He only needed to find his transfiguration book when his body suddenly ran cold. The air was suddenly freezing and somewhere in his mind, he started to hear shouts. In an instant, he knew what was wrong. Dementors.
Looking around frantically, he noticed that everyone had sensed it too, and while not many knew the feeling, the ones who could were already drawing their wands.
Alec stood frozen in place, what should he do? He knew he was able to produce a patronus, even wandlessly, but it would be a dead give away. Even if neither professor had ever seen his patronus before, he couldn't take the risk; he knew how the magical world was. Before he could do anything to stop it, word would have spread out, and then what? Hermione, Remus, and Ron would hear, and then they surely would make the connection. Shaking his head slightly, he started to move towards the back of the shop with all the other children. They were all shaking, trying to draw together for warmth and comfort, while the adults stood in front of them, and forming a strong, defensive barrier.
Harry ached to join them, to stand next to Severus and Minerva, but he didn't dare. It wasn't his place; he had to trust them. Just as Dumbledore had said, he needed to trust that they would be able to protect him. This was one of the hardest things he had had to do, to have to stand back and look as others fought. His shaking became worse when the dementors came closer, and he had to stop his train of thought, the unpleasant sensations coming from the dementors were overwhelming him, and he needed to keep track of them, he couldn't faint right now.
With shaking hands, he grabbed a bit of chocolate he had been keeping in his pocket in case he got hungry and ate a bit, immediately feeling better. Cries of Expecto Patronum ran through the air while he sat back, watching as the silvery figures charged against the soulless monsters. Finally gathering himself, he looked around for the other children. Most were crying, sitting together on the floor behind the counter. Taking out all the chocolate he had been carrying, he focused on giving a bit of it to each of them.
The older ones quickly caught on and also started to pick out sweets they had bought before. Slowly, the cold started to fade, and Harry could tell the fight was ending. Sitting down next to a girl, he drew his legs up against his chest and watched as one of the older children put a small sweet into a three year olds' mouth. They waited silently until the last shout faded, and even then, they stayed where they were safe, waiting for one of the adults to come gather them.
Alec was now leaning against a wall; the strange girl was now leaning against him, trying to get some comfort from him.
"Do you think it's over?"
Harry looked down at the blonde head nestled against his shoulder and shrugged slightly. "I don't know, but I'm not cold anymore."
The girl nodded, but didn't move from her place.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks for all reviews and thanks to my beta-reader Vinnie and to Leena for her wonderful ideas (you should be thanking her too, if it wasn't for her nagging you wouldn't be getting chapters as often as you do ^^)
Web of Lies.
If Harry thought they weren't going to draw attention, he was sadly mistaken. After all, it was not everyday that you saw both the Head of Gryffindor and Head of Slytherin walking through the Leaky Cauldron with one of the new students. If any muggle born had trouble Hogwarts would usually send either Hagrid or some other trusted wizard that happened to live close.
Everyone stopped their conversations when they saw them enter. Harry didn't look at them twice; taking Severus' hand, he simply moved to stand behind the taller man, knowing no one would dare to approach him with the potion master protecting him. McGonagall looked at him mildly amused, while Severus glared at anyone looking at them while keeping a firm hold on the child's hand. Quickly, the two teachers steered Alec out of the pub and into Diagon Alley.
The street was full of witches and wizards, mostly parents who were taking their children to buy their school things or to just enjoy the clear day. Looking around the crowded street, Snape bent down and picked Alec up; it wouldn't do to lose the boy. At his side, Minerva chuckled softly.
"You realize that this is going to harm your reputation, don't you, Severus?"
The man scowled at her but didn't move to put the boy back on the floor. Harry smiled softly and passed an arm around the man's neck to keep himself steady. Snape moved him a bit so he was resting against his hip, and then started to move towards Madam Malkin's shop, ignoring the gapping students who were now wondering who on earth the boy cradled in their potions master's arms was. Minerva trailed behind them, smiling mischievously at the stunned students and nodding friendly towards the surprised parents.
The shop was empty when the came in; Madam Malkin immediately approached them, visibly surprised to see who had entered her shop.
"Professors! What a surprise! What can I do for you?"
Snape bent down slightly and slid Alec out of his grasp while Minerva looked around. "Alec needs some new robes, he'll be starting Hogwarts."
The woman looked curiously at the child standing fearlessly next to the Potions Master and couldn't help but wonder who he was. After all, she had heard more than enough about the man to know he wouldn't willingly carry a child in his arms. Suppressing her curiosity, she motioned to the child to follow her into another room. Alec did so reluctantly. He had been there on his own before but that didn't mean that he enjoyed losing the security Snape offered. He had seen her inquisitive glance, and hoped she wouldn't press for answers.
Luckily, the woman knew better than to ask, so she simply fitted him for some robes. Twenty minutes later, Alec was walking at Severus' side, his hand firmly clasped into the man's larger one. The three of them made their way towards Flourish and Blotts to buy his books. Silently, Harry considered that to be a waste of money, but he could hardly tell his professors that without giving a good reason. When they entered the shop, a few seventh years approached Minerva and started to talk with her after sending nods towards Professor Snape. Looking down, the man raised an eyebrow.
"I trust you can find your books on your own? I need to speak to the manager for a moment."
Harry nodded reluctantly and let go of the man's hand. Sighing, he started to gather his books. He only needed to find his transfiguration book when his body suddenly ran cold. The air was suddenly freezing and somewhere in his mind, he started to hear shouts. In an instant, he knew what was wrong. Dementors.
Looking around frantically, he noticed that everyone had sensed it too, and while not many knew the feeling, the ones who could were already drawing their wands.
Alec stood frozen in place, what should he do? He knew he was able to produce a patronus, even wandlessly, but it would be a dead give away. Even if neither professor had ever seen his patronus before, he couldn't take the risk; he knew how the magical world was. Before he could do anything to stop it, word would have spread out, and then what? Hermione, Remus, and Ron would hear, and then they surely would make the connection. Shaking his head slightly, he started to move towards the back of the shop with all the other children. They were all shaking, trying to draw together for warmth and comfort, while the adults stood in front of them, and forming a strong, defensive barrier.
Harry ached to join them, to stand next to Severus and Minerva, but he didn't dare. It wasn't his place; he had to trust them. Just as Dumbledore had said, he needed to trust that they would be able to protect him. This was one of the hardest things he had had to do, to have to stand back and look as others fought. His shaking became worse when the dementors came closer, and he had to stop his train of thought, the unpleasant sensations coming from the dementors were overwhelming him, and he needed to keep track of them, he couldn't faint right now.
With shaking hands, he grabbed a bit of chocolate he had been keeping in his pocket in case he got hungry and ate a bit, immediately feeling better. Cries of Expecto Patronum ran through the air while he sat back, watching as the silvery figures charged against the soulless monsters. Finally gathering himself, he looked around for the other children. Most were crying, sitting together on the floor behind the counter. Taking out all the chocolate he had been carrying, he focused on giving a bit of it to each of them.
The older ones quickly caught on and also started to pick out sweets they had bought before. Slowly, the cold started to fade, and Harry could tell the fight was ending. Sitting down next to a girl, he drew his legs up against his chest and watched as one of the older children put a small sweet into a three year olds' mouth. They waited silently until the last shout faded, and even then, they stayed where they were safe, waiting for one of the adults to come gather them.
Alec was now leaning against a wall; the strange girl was now leaning against him, trying to get some comfort from him.
"Do you think it's over?"
Harry looked down at the blonde head nestled against his shoulder and shrugged slightly. "I don't know, but I'm not cold anymore."
The girl nodded, but didn't move from her place.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks for all reviews and thanks to my beta-reader Vinnie and to Leena for her wonderful ideas (you should be thanking her too, if it wasn't for her nagging you wouldn't be getting chapters as often as you do ^^)