Summary: Can one person and fate make the difference in Severus' life?
Disclaimer: I own nothng but the plot, sue me and become poor.
A/N: This fic is AU, not canon.
Now to my reviewers!
AccioSeverus: It will not be Draco
Lady Lily3: Watch and see :D
Elwen of Imladris: hehehehe thanks
mb: thanks! You shall see who he runs across
esmeralda: welcome to the fic, and you will find out
Ceyxa: Here is more soon!
Pure Black: LMAO!
atenakitty: The Dursley's hmmm
juliedecarson: Thanks!
lilyseyes: yay! thank you
Ruse: yes Severus is being quite good about it
Thanks to all of you! They meant a lot to me!
Chapter 8
A new day dawned on the little cottage in the meadow, and Severus Snape woke up again smelling delicious aromas coming from his kitchen. Rolling over, he saw that Harry was not lying beside him and sighed. He had hoped Harry knew from yesterday that he did not want him cooking and cleaning like some house elf. Dressing quickly he went to open the door, and was almost run over by Lotty.
"If sir is ready, breakfast is done. All sir has to do is sit down and it will be served."
Severus noticed Harry sitting at the table already, and quirked an eyebrow at him. Harry was still dressed in his tee shirt, and nothing more than his socks, which had holes in them.
"Harry, I thought I told you that I did not want you to wait on anyone like before," he said as he sat down.
"I didn't, I promise. I'm just used to getting up early, and Lotty said no one had ever spoken to her before."
Severus gave a questioning look at the house elf who bowed.
"Lotty is sorry for speaking to Master Harry. Lotty will not do it again," the house elf said with tears in her eyes.
"It is alright if Harry wishes to speak with you, but do not let him help you in your tasks. He needs to learn he is no longer a servant."
Harry hung his head in shame at the statement. "I'm sorry I was bad," he said getting up and walking toward the bedroom.
"Harry, where are you going?"
"To my room to wait for my punishment."
"In this house we do not punish boys for trivial mistakes. Now come back here and eat before your breakfast gets cold. We have to go to Diagon Alley and get you some new clothes it seems."
Harry ran back to the table and sat down, quickly polishing off an egg and drinking a glass of milk. Severus then handed him something in a vial. "Drink this, it is a vitamin supplement."
Harry took the vial and down it in one gulp. Grimacing at the taste, he handed the empty vial back.
"Do not worry, you only had to take it once. It will just give you back all the nutrients you have missed over the years. Now come let us find you something to wear, so that we can be on our way out."
Into the bedroom they went and over to Harry's bag. As Severus pulled out the two shirts and pair of pants, he noticed each were stained and had many rips in them. "This will never do. Harry where are your other clothes?"
Harry looked ashamed again. "Those are my clothes. Dudley only gives me the ones he has ripped up. The good ones go to the church."
Severus had to steel himself against an upsurge of rage, before Harry noticed he was griping the bedpost so tight his knuckles were white. "Harry, come here."
Harry walked over and Severus glanced at him up and down and then made him turn around. "I think I have a solution to the problem," he said pulling his wand from his pocket. Harry cringed, but it only took a second for Severus to whisper the incantation, and for the shirt he was wearing to shrink to fit him. Severus then went to the door and disappeared, returning with a large pair of black slacks. Drawing his wand again, he had Harry put them on and shrank the trousers to fit him. Soon Harry was dressed in all of Severus' clothes, shirt, shoes, and slacks. Harry had drawn the line at his boxers, and told Severus he would simply wear his own until he got new ones.
Severus had chuckled and put the big boxers away. "Now we are ready, and I believe we shall apparate there. You must hold my hand tightly, and it would be best for you to close your eyes so you will not be dizzy.
Harry agreed, and soon they were crossing the meadow. Harry again marvelled at all the pretty flowers, and the bright colors of autumn. Reaching the edge of the meadow, Harry heard the strange buzzing sound again. He ignored it, and walked past it holding tightly to Severus' hand. What caught him off guard, was when Severus stopped and stared at him.
"Harry, there is something we need to talk about tonight. Also, there is something we have to do before the talk, but it is merely for safety reasons."
Harry gulped. Had he done something to offend Severus? He didn't think so.
"Do not look so glum. It is nothing bad. Now come along, I think you will enjoy Diagon Alley.
Harry felt his knees buckle and Severus had to catch him before he hit the ground. "Alright there Harry?"
Harry nodded his head yes, and then tried to steady himself. Once he had, he opened his eyes and looked around. It looked strange. Everywhere around him people were dressed up in odd costumes.
"This is Diagon Alley, Harry. This is where witches and wizards come to get supplies," Severus said, helping the gaping boy out.
"Why are we here though?"
"I explained it to you Harry. You are a wizard, and a very good one at that. There will be time later to explain everything to you, just know for now that you are and always have been a wizard."
Harry nodded again, and took Severus' hand as he led him into one of the shops. Harry stood by the door, as the smell in the room was not the most appealing, but soon his curiosity got the better of him. Stepping over to the counter, he peered into the glass case. Inside were frog's eyes, and crushed beetles. Harry's stomach churned when he saw the dragon hearts, and he quickly went back to wait by the door.
He had never been so relived as when Severus finished his business and they left the shop. The air outside was so much better Harry caught himself breathing in great big gulps of it. Severus had laughed at him, and commented that maybe the shop did not have the best of aromas.
Their next shop was a clothing one, where Harry was given some pants. After coming out of the small dressing room with them hanging a foot past his feet, the owner made a comment to Severus. "Are you sure he's eight? My daughter is five, and she is not much smaller than he is."
"He is indeed eight, and I would like it very much if you would simply shrink the clothes so that we can get on with our shopping."
The owner did as Severus asked, and soon Harry had a big bundle handed to him. It was so high that it towered over the top of his head. He heard Severus sigh, and then the bundle shrank to the size of a ball. Harry was shocked, but said nothing as Severus placed it in his pocket. They spent the next hour trying on shoes, and buying socks.
"Now that you have all your things, how about we go and collect a couple of mine? We can have lunch here if you would like."
Harry's eyes lit up as though Severus had given him a million pounds. "Yes, that would be great!" Harry followed Severus, into a shop that had books everywhere. Harry stood just inside the doorway, and stared.
"Harry, why don't you go and find a book to look at. I have to look for something in a book, and I may be a few minutes. Do not leave the shop though."
Harry nodded, and wandered off over to one of the bookcases in the corner. Picking up a book, he screeched when he saw that the pictures on the inside moved. He was so caught up in looking at the book, he walked right into someone, and both of them toppled onto the floor.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to knock you down, please forgive me," Harry said, pulling the red haired boy to his feet.
"No problem, I was sort of busy reading this book, and not looking where I was going either. I'm Ronald Weasley, and you are?"
Harry wiped off his hand. "I'm Harry Potter." This seemed to have the boy stuttering, and Harry was suddenly scared he had offended him.
"You're Harry Potter!" the red haired boy almost screamed.
"Yeah. Look I am sorry if I hurt you," Harry said backing away. He was soon grabbed up, and dragged across the room. "Hey Fred, look it's Harry Potter!" the red haired boy squeaked to his brother. Soon Harry was surrounded by a whole herd of red headed people.
"Back off of him, you'll smother him to death," the one named Ronald said. He dragged Harry up the aisle and away from the others. Once he got him to a safe distance he turned him around. "Sorry about that. We aren't used to meeting famous people."
"Everyone keeps telling me I'm famous, but no ones told me why."
An hour later, a much more informed Harry was found sitting next to Ron looking over a book called Quidditch Through the Ages when Severus returned. "Harry, it is time to go have lunch."
"Can my friend come with us?" Harry asked with pleading eyes. Severus was about to relent, for he could not resist those big round haunted eyes, when he saw Arthur Weasley coming his way.
"Well, Severus, fancy meeting you here. It seems young Harry and Ron have become friends."
Severus rolled his eyes, but kept his comments to himself. "Yes, it would seem they have. Harry expressed a wish that he would like your son to join us for lunch. Would you mind?"
"Not at all, could you have Ron meet us at Ollivander's in an hour?"
Severus agreed to this, and led the two boys away. As soon as they were out of earshot, he ran a hand over his face and groaned. "Not a Weasley." They made their way through the crowd, and found a place outside at a little cafe. Severus ordered soup and sandwiches for them all.
Half way through the meal, Harry turned to him. "Severus, why didn't you tell me I defeated some dark wizard?" From across the table, Ron choked on his sandwich and tried to look innocent. He knew of the potion master's ways from Charlie. His brother had told him he was an evil bastard, who should not be teaching at Hogwarts.
Severus glared at Ron before turning to answer Harry. "I told you we needed to speak about some things later tonight, I simply did not know that you would be told about some of them in a bookshop today."
Harry saw the warning glance Severus had given to Ron, and dropped the subject. He suddenly no longer felt like eating, and gave the other half of his sandwich to Ron. Severus had seen him give his food away, and sighed again. The boy really did need to eat more.
Taking both boys by the hand, he led them Ollivander's. Inside Percy was trying out new wands, and Harry watched with interest. He wondered about the sticks they called wands, and how did they made magic with them. He was startled when Percy shoved his old wand into his hand, thinking he was Ron, as he tried out a new one.
Harry held it like it would bite his hand off, but Ron soon told him that it was not the right way to hold one. When Harry finally grasped the wand the correct way sparks flew out of it and Mr. Ollivander stepped away from Percy.
"That is not the wand for you Mr. Potter, but your time will come soon," he said taking the wand from Harry. Severus was looking at Harry with raised eyebrows. The child had just shown promise with someone else's wand, and not even one suited for him.
"Let us hurry along, Harry. We have many things to discuss tonight, and I would have you into bed a bit earlier."
Harry said good bye to his new friends, and there were shouts of sleepovers to come. Severus ushered Harry along the road to the apparition point. He was anxious to get home. He wanted to do the paternity test on Harry and himself for those damned people at the ministry, and then he would tell Harry what he already knew, that he was his father.