Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (Also applies to Chapter 1. First time poster. Sorry)

Cross-posted at AO3

Chapter 2: Pit Stop at the Greasy Spoon

Severus Snape strode away from Privet Drive, projecting a confidence he did not feel. The boy knew absolutely nothing of his family or the wizarding world.

He could be a coward and take the easy option. He could just take the boy to Diagon Alley, complete the required shopping and have him back with the Dursleys by early afternoon.

Allowing for a couple of hours to intimidate the recalcitrant relatives into submission, he could be eating dinner in the Great Hall with an unpleasant duty behind him and no obligation apart from another set of monitoring charms that would pull him from his sleep regularly between now and the first of September.

But that would not be enough. And yes, it was partly because it was "the Great Harry Potter", the boy-who-lived. And no, there was no way this mess could be considered the boy's fault. Lily's son was going to need more than an afternoon's shopping to survive the transition to the wizarding world.

In one month, Harry Potter would board the Hogwarts Express and find himself in the cauldron of the wizarding Britain where everyone thought they knew more about him than he knew about himself and at the moment that was true.

Merlin help him. One month to take the boy through a crash course in wizarding customs, politics, and history, the branches of magic and the importance of his choices at Hogwarts while trying to support his recovery from abuse … and he wasn't actually meant to communicate with him after today.

His stride faltered. Catching his breath, he forced himself on. He was a substitute. This had been Hagrid's job. As much as Severus liked the amiable half-giant, he could only think with horror as to what impressions the boy would've received if he had been the only contact Harry had with wizards before Hogwarts. What the hell was Dumbledore thinking?

Sighing, Severus turned to the boy who walked silently, eyes down beside him and made two resolutions; to accompany Minerva inducting some of the muggleborns, this year if possible, next year for certain, and that Harry's recovery and long-term well-being were his primary concern for the foreseeable future.

"Mr. Potter, we do have to go shopping today. However, we need to talk far more urgently. Are you hungry?"

The look he received in return was cautious but hopeful.

"Is there a café or perhaps a fish and chip shop around here you could recommend?"

"Umm, there's the precinct but Dudley and his friends hang out there, sir."

"No. That would not be a good idea. We wouldn't want anything to get back to your Aunt would we, Mr. Potter?"

"No, sir." And there was real feeling behind that reply.

"Hold on to me tightly, Mr. Potter." And with a glance over his shoulder to check for observers, Severus Snape apparated away from Privet Drive.

"This place is a bit of a dump." Snape found himself apologising to the boy. "But I grew up here, and I know where we can find a decent meal …"

"Where are we, sir?"

"Cokeworth, the Midlands." He watched as the boy screws up his face in confusion, trying to rationalize the journey from Surrey to his current location.

"How did we get here?"

"Magic." And Severus Snape is shocked to find that it is still magic to see that look of wonder on a child's face.

"Aunt Petunia doesn't let us use that word."

"Aunt Petunia cannot shape reality to her wishes. Witches and wizards can." He smirked and Harry smiled tentatively in return.

Snape pushed open the door of "The Greasy Spoon" and ushered Harry over to a table in the smoking section subtly casting a range of privacy charms around them. When he was growing up this place had been a biker hangout. It was a little cleaner these days but still nothing much to look at. Habit had led him to take a seat with his back to the wall, a view of the street and all entrances and exits.

"What would you like to eat and drink? I can recommend the all-day breakfast." He isn't used to entertaining, even an eleven-year-old.

"Could I have a coke please? Breakfast sounds great, thank you sir."

"Two breakfasts, a coffee and coke please, luv?" The professor calls to the waitress.

"That'll be ten minutes, OK?" She gets a terse nod in reply.

"Mr. Potter, am I correct in surmising that you know nothing of either the wizarding world or your family?"

"Yes, sir."

Severus rubbed his hands tiredly over his face. "I confess, I am not sure where to begin. I often spend time with students who have 'difficult' home lives, but rarely with those who have no knowledge of the magical world at all."

He looked thoughtful. "Harry, would you tell me about yourself? What is your favourite subject at school, what hobbies to you have? Just be honest."

"Me, sir? There's nothing interesting about me."

Nothing interesting? The boy-who-lived. Merlin help him. "Yes, you, Mr. Potter."

He watched as the boy screwed his face up in concentration, trying to work out what to say. "I'm Harry, I'm eleven. I live with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and their son Dudley. They don't like me because I'm a wizard. My bedroom used to be the cupboard under the stairs, but I was given Dudley's second bedroom after my Hogwarts letter arrived. I like school but I get into trouble if my grades are better than Dudley's, I don't really have a favourite subject. I like gardening, that's my favourite chore. I don't really have any hobbies."

Choking down a mixture of horror and fury at the boy's summary of his life, Severus nodded quietly and said, "thank you, Harry. Now, if I may, I will tell you how the wizarding world sees you. You are the only son of James Potter, whose magical family can be traced back at least a dozen generations. Your mother was Lily Evans, a muggleborn witch of great talent. You are famous among wizards because on Halloween 1981 your family was attacked by a dark wizard, think of him as a terrorist like those in Ireland that you hear about on the news. Your parents were killed but the dark wizard disappeared and has not bothered the wizarding world from that day to this."

The boy was looking at him open mouthed.

"That is where your scar came from." He brushed his fingers gently across the boy's forehead.

"Here is your first test, Harry. What can you learn from your description of yourself and mine."

Harry gulped. What was the Professor looking for? "I … I … Hang on, I don't know anything about the magical world but they don't know anything about me, either, do they? They don't even know what happened to that dark wizard."

It may have been a shark-like grin, but Severus Snape was definitely smiling. "Well done, Harry. You have hit on a very important truth. The wizarding world sees you as some kind of warrior-child or saviour but they don't know the real you." Snape paused. "That's a good start but do you understand what it means?"

He got an immediate shake of the head in return.

"I'm afraid it means your life will never be easy. Every time you go out in public people will be watching and they will talk about what they see." The boy looked terrified. "You are young and you will make mistakes but people are unforgiving, so you can't afford to make too many."

"How do I avoid making mistakes?"

Snape thought for a moment. "Always stay calm. Always be polite, although you have been so far, so that shouldn't be a problem. Listen, don't talk. If people ask your opinion, ask them what they think about it or say you have been living in the muggle world and weren't aware of the issue. Work out answers for the mundane questions you keep getting asked and stick to them."

"Identify people you can trust and listen to them. Always keep a little bit of your life that's just for you. Listen to what the idiots in the general population are saying but make your own decisions. Remind yourself of those three things every day."

"Don't worry about it, Harry. I won't lie and say that it won't affect your life but you will learn how to deal with it in time."

That was a lot to take in at one time and Harry was starting to look overwhelmed, so It was probably a good thing that the waitress turned up with their food at that point.

"I hope I haven't put you off of your lunch." Serverus said. He needn't have worried. Harry took one look at the plate of bacon, eggs and hash browns and dived in.

Eventually, Harry had pushed his plate away, looking longingly at the remaining food but unable to eat a single thing more.

"Don't worry about it. You did very well considering how little you are normally given to eat."

"I hate to waste it. It would do me for dinner."

"Don't worry about your food situation. I will resolve that tonight. Do you mind if I smoke?" Harry shook his head. Severus felt guilty but he definitely deserved a cigarette for getting through the first half of the day. "Dreadful muggle habit, you won't find many wizards who smoke, but being back here makes we want to, I'm afraid. Now, do you feel up to continuing our conversation from earlier?"

Harry nodded cautiously, sipping his Coke.

"I was unfair really, putting you on the spot like that. So, now's your chance to get your own back: What do you know about me?"

Harry reviewed the crowded morning hastily. "You're a Potions Master, you teach at Hogwarts. I don't know if that is one thing or two. You knew my Mum and grew up in the muggle world, like her. You don't have a very high opinion of most other wizards but spend time trying to help kids like me."

"Nothing wrong with your memory or observational skills. Good. Now. That is not how I appear in the wizarding world. Most people will tell you I am only marginally less evil than the wizard that killed your parents. Hogwarts' students do not like me and most people will avoid me if they can. Most would assume I have never met a muggle. Just as you will find that "Harry" only exists in private and you must be "The-Boy-Who-Lived" in public, Severus, with his all-day breakfast, band t-shirts and cigarettes does not exist in the wizarding world. To them, I am dread Potions Master Snape."

"Hey, that's from 'The Princess Bride' isn't it?"

"That's what you take away from …?" Snape looks at him not sure whether to laugh or snarl at the boy. It was good to find a shared cultural reference, but really.

"No. I get it. No matter who we are in private, in public we play a part."

Snape is pleased but cannot help but flinch. An eleven-year-old shouldn't get it. "Precisely. I will make sure you can always get in touch with me privately, whether in the wizarding or muggle world, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned, I am taking you to Diagon Alley because the Headmaster ordered me to. I am your least popular teacher and nothing else."

Harry was looking overwhelmed. "Enough talking for now. I've made your head spin, haven't I? We need to stop at my house on the way to Diagon Alley."

For the first time, he realises that he doesn't have Harry's full attention. The boy is looking wistfully at the video arcade game on the other side of the café.

"Do you play video games, Harry?"

"No, I never have any money. Dudley plays them, I just wondered what it was like."

"Like almost everything we find enjoyable, a little is good, too much is bad. Do you want to give it a try on our way out?"

Normally he wouldn't have even considered this but Harry Potter had behaved well and even shown signs of coming out of his shell. He deserved a reward. The boy had clearly rarely been indulged in anything.

"Please?" This day was getting better and better as far as Harry was concerned.

"Very well. I'm not sure I'll know what I'm doing. Arcade games have changed since I was young."

Snape stood up, unfolding his legs and stretching. He noticed that Harry had already stacked the plates and nodded approvingly.

He thanked the waitress on the way out and dropped a pound into the tip saucer.

Standing in front of Street Fighter II, he fished 30 pence out of his jeans pocket. "You take the left, I'll take the right. Joystick to move, buttons to punch and kick, yes?"

The café was filled with the sound of tinny music and the frantic clicking of buttons. Ninety seconds later it was all over and both wizards were squinting at the screen trying to work out who had won. Severus glanced down at his charge and realized that it was the first time the boy had looked like a child, eyes alight and expression eager.

"Cool. Thanks."

"My pleasure, Mr. Potter."