Disclaimer: If you don't know it, it is mine, if you do, it's not.
Chapter 13 - July 21st - Day NineteenFittings and Dirks
This !!..!! is Parseltongue
---------------------------------------------
Last Chapter:
Harry was lost in his thoughts when Severus cleared his throat to get his attention.
"Oh, sorry about that. What's on the agenda next?" asked Harry.
"Well, my business is done, so what might you like to do?" asked Snape.
"Could we look around some of the other stores?" asked Harry.
"That sounds like a probable idea." replied Snape, "Perhaps we could also get some clothes that are more decent than some of the rags you own right now."
Harry nodded and they continued on, headed towards the clothing store.
---------------------------------------------
The street was much more crowded than it was earlier. Of course, the day was reaching mid-afternoon and it would be expected that business would pick up during that time.
Harry spotted a woman wearing a hat with a dead raccoon on it and could barely stop himself from grimacing. Snape had noticed where he was looking and waited until she had passed before saying,
"Some people have no sense to realize when something is tasteless and overly ridiculous. She looked absolutely absurd. I will tell you that no proper witch or wizard would ever consider wearing something of that nature."
Harry nodded and looked at the sign in front of the clothing store. It read 'Gladrags Wizardwear'. He suddenly remembered the large sign at the Quiddich World Cup that advertised the store. However, it only mentioned stores in London, Paris, and Hogsmeade.
"Severus?" he started.
"Yes?" replied Snape.
"I thought that Gladrags Wizardwear was only located in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley."
"Well, I believe they just opened this branch a year ago." said Snape, "Yes, I believe I read about the opening last year in the Daily Prophet. The only reason I remembered the article was because I saw that it was near the manor."
The two then went inside the store and Harry's eyes widened. The store was huge! There were so many robes, he couldn't believe it. The Dursley's had never taken him shopping for clothing for himself, so he didn't exactly know where to start. After all, at Madam Malkin's he simply had to ask for his school robes and they would be made to custom fit him.
Snape gave Harry a little push and said, "What are you waiting for? Go and look."
"I'm not sure where to start." said Harry uncertainly.
Snape glared at Harry and said, "Fine, just look around and see if you like anything you see."
Harry agreed and started to wander around the racks of robes. There were robes of all
colors and Harry didn't see anything he liked at first. However, he then spotted a bit of
deep forest green. He went over and looked and saw some simple forest green robes.
They were plain, but Harry liked something about them. Snape came up behind him and
looked at the robes.
"Very nice looking. Simple, yet I do believe that they will look good on you." he said in an
approving tone.
Harry was about to take some his size from the rack when a thought hit him.
"How will I pay for these? I haven't been to my vault and I don't have any money with me."
"I will be paying for the clothing you pick out. After all, as your," Snape paused then bit
out, "Father, I am responsible for you looking like a respectable wizard and not a ragamuffin."
Harry made a motion that suggested he was not going to get the robes. Snape caught this
and grabbed the robes from the rack. He thrust them at Harry and said,
"Go try these on and come out so I can see how they look on you."
His tone of voice suggested that there was no room for argument and Harry quickly
complied with his order. When he emerged wearing the robes, Snape nodded in a positive
manner.
"Very good, the robes will probably need to have room for you to grow taller. Although
right now they are fine. Take them off and I will look around for something else suitable
for you to wear."
Harry changed back into the robes that Twinkle gave him and waited outside the dressing
room. Snape soon returned with some plain black robes, and a dark crimson robe. Harry
tried them on and confirmed that they fit. A store clerk then came over and asked if he
could be of any assistance and Snape told him to hold the robes at the desk. Harry looked
around some more and was about to declare that he was through, when he saw some
robes out of the corner of his eye. Some robes were modeled by a mannequin near the
display window. They were dress robes and were a dark blue color with silver lining. The
material was soft to the touch and shimmered in the light. Harry stood in awe of the lovely
robes and barely noticed that Snape had come up behind him.
"I must say that your taste is far from lacking. At least you didn't pick out something like
that woman's horrid hat."
Snape motioned the clerk over and asked, "Do you have another robe just like that one?"
The clerk looked startled at the question and said quietly, "Those are the only ones and
they are very expensive."
"Do I look like I care about how expensive they are?" said Snape with a sharp glare.
The clerk stepped back and said nervously, "Of course not sir. Would you like the seamstress to alter them for you?"
"I would like all of the robes that we picked out to have special alterations. Could I speak
to your seamstress right now?"
"Of course sir." said the clerk quickly, "If you will follow me?"
"Harry, would you stay here?" asked Snape.
"Sure," said Harry.
Snape nodded and followed the clerk to a room in the back. They stayed back there for
several minutes before finally emerging. Snape looked very pleased and the poor clerk
looked stressed.
"We'll need measurements." said the clerk in a weary voice.
Snape nodded and said, "Harry, we need to get your measurements."
They went to the back and Harry saw a middle aged woman with measuring tape in her
hand. She motioned for Harry to stand on a platform in front of some mirrors. She took
the tape and then proceeded to take just about all of Harry's measurements that could be
gotten. When she finished, she ushered Harry and Snape out.
As Snape paid for the robes, the clerk said in a forced voice, "The robes will be delivered by owl in two days. Thank you for shopping at Gladrags."
Snape nodded sharply and they left the store.
"Where do you wish to go now?" asked Severus.
Harry shrugged and answered, "I really don't know."
"Perhaps we should head back to the manor then." Snape suggested.
Harry nodded his consent and they started walking to the outskirts of the town. However, as they neared the last few stores on the edge of town, Harry spotted a small, dingy looking store. There was something about it though and Harry felt drawn to it.
"Um, Severus?" he said, getting Snape's attention and pointing towards the store, "Could
we go to that store before we leave?"
"I've never seen that store before." said Snape hesitantly, "As long as I stay with you
though, I don't suppose there would be any harm in going in."
A tiny bell rang out as they opened the door to the store. There wasn't a sign out front, but
the window display suggested that it sold weapons. This was confirmed when they saw
several swords, shields, daggers and various weapons hanging on the walls. The store was
actually well lit and wasn't dark like it's outside appearance suggested. A small desk near
the entrance was empty of anyone. Before they could even wander where anyone was, a
teenage girl entered through a door behind the desk.
She was of medium height and was very thin. Harry noticed that her gray eyes were so
bright, they seemed to almost glow. She had wavy brown hair that stopped an inch or two
bellow her shoulders. She smiled when she saw the two in the store.
"Welcome! I was wondering if we were going to have any customers today. Not too many
people are interested in buy weapons now a day. Feel free to look around and such. Um, if
you need any help just ask me or Mr. Darius when he comes out. Oh, by the way, my
name is Mira."
She said all of this very fast and Harry was surprised that she could go on that long
without taking a breath.
"We are just looking around." said Snape.
"Okay." she said, "Well, just ask if you need help. I'm not too knowledgeable about this
stuff, but Mr. Darius is."
Snape nodded and moved to dismiss her when Harry saw some contraption. He wasn't
sure what it was and he asked, "Um, Mira? What's this?"
She went over to look at what he was asking about and said, "Those are wand holsters.
They adjust to your arm and are really wicked."
She picked one up. "If you push a little indention here right over the wrist, they turn
invisible. Also, when you place your wand in it, the holster will keep it in place until you
tap it twice. Then the wand will enter into your hand."
Snape looked mildly interested and asked, "I didn't know anyone was still selling those
except to Aurors."
Mira looked a bit sheepish and said, "They usually don't but Mr. Darius insisted we get
some to sell because he says that they are dead useful."
"I agree with this Mr. Darius of yours." said Snape, "They are very useful. I used to have
one, but it fell apart many years ago."
"Well, I'm pretty sure that these have charms to keep them from aging any." said Mira, "I
really don't know though. I'm going to go and get Mr. Darius. He will be a lot more help
than I am."
She then disappeared through the door behind the desk. Snape walked over and took a closer look at some of the weapons.
"These are good weapons. It would take a master craftsman to create swords like these."
"Really?" asked Harry, "How do you know?"
"My father taught me about weapons when I was younger." said Snape, "He always said
that if you were unable to get to your wand, a sword or dagger could save your life. He
was the one who taught me how to fence and other combat styles."
"I didn't know that you could fence." said Harry.
"Not many people do know. Albus knows, but he is one of the only ones." replied Snape.
Their attention was drawn to the desk as an older man appeared from behind the desk. He
had a beard long enough to rival Dumbledore's, although it had black stripes throughout
the white. He was very tall and had eyes that appeared to be black. While Mira wore
muggle clothes, this man wore long, sweeping dark gray robes.
"Hello," he said softly, "I am Darius, the owner of this establishment. Lilian has told me
that you are interested in the wand holsters. Might that be all that you are interested in?"
Mira emerged from behind Darius and rolled her eyes. "How many times have I told you
to call me Mira? My Aunt is the only one who goes by the name Lilian."
Darius turned to look at Mira. "Lilian is your birth name, so that is what I shall call you."
Mira huffed at his comment, but then winked at Harry and Snape. Snape raised an eyebrow at her antics and then addressed Darius.
"I'm very interested in these swords and daggers as well. Could you tell me about them."
"They were made by a very talented swords craftsman a few years ago. Sadly, the creator
is no longer with us now. His works are truly spectacular though."
"I wish to buy two wand holsters." Snape told him. "I also would like to purchase a
weapon for my son. Whatever he chooses, I will buy."
Harry looked at Snape in surprise. Before he could say anything Snape continued.
"I have a feeling that you will need a weapon soon. I'm not sure why, but I feel like you
will need at least one."
"We have a large variety, as you can see." said Darius with a small smile, "Your son
should feel free to look around and see if anything catches his eye."
With a nod from Snape, Harry started to look around at the gleaming blades. Nothing
really caught his eye and he was about to go back and tell Snape that he really didn't see
anything he wanted, we he saw them. A pair of black leather gloves sat on a shelve. They
had metal pieces over the knuckle area. Next to the gloves were two short, straight
daggers. The blades were a gleaming, silver color and the hilts were wrapped in black
leather. The pommel stone at the ends of the hilts were an emerald green color.
Darius walked up behind Harry and looked at his choices.
"Nice choices, I am not surprised that you would choose the gauntlets and the pair of
dirks. They seem very fitting to you." he said, snapping Harry out of his daze.
Snape walked over and looked at Harry's choices.
"You didn't see any swords to your liking?" he asked.
"No," said Harry a little put out at Snape's lack of response to his choices.
"Perhaps there is a sword that fits him already," said Darius mysteriously, "And you just
haven't found it yet."
Snape paid for their items and Mira packed them into a bag.
"Bye!" she called out as they exited the store.
Harry waved goodbye and followed Snape towards the apparating point.
-------------
"Well, you have no idea who you just met my dear, do you?" said Darius to Mira.
"Of course I know." said Mira sharply, "I'm not stupid. After all, it's not everyday you sell
something to Harry Potter and Severus Snape."
They both shared a look and Mira burst out into laughter. "Let's close up shop and go get
cappuccinos. I need some caffeine."
-------------
Harry and Snape entered the house and was greeted by Twinkle at the door.
"Master Snape sir, someone is here to see you and Young Master. He is waiting in the sitting room."
Snape was startled and asked, "Who is it?"
"It is Mister Dumbledore, sir." she replied.
"Very well, take these items and place them in Harry's room. There is one wand holster that will go in my room though." he said.
Twinkle took the packages and bowed as she 'popped' out.
The two then entered the sitting room and saw the Headmaster sitting in a chair. He smiled and pulled out a bag and offering it to them he asked,
"Lemon Drop?"
-End Chapter 13-
A/N: Yay! Chapter 13 is finished. This was actually a fun chapter to write. Thank you so much for all of your positive reviews! They are what keep me writing! Hugs for all and chapter 14 should be coming soon!
-Lilyanphino-