Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
Harry woke up feeling excited. Today they were going to Diagon Alley to get his schoolbooks and they would also meet up with the Weasley's and Hermione. He couldn't wait to see his friends and catch up with them. It was the first time he would be able to share fun summer stories of his own. He quickly got dressed and bounded down the stairs for breakfast.
"Morning Dad!"
"Good morning Harry." Severus put a bowl down in front of his son.
Harry peered at it. "Porridge?" He had been hoping for waffles.
"Yes porridge. There is nothing wrong with starting the day with a more healthy meal especially since you will most likely be indulging in sweets later today." Severus already knew Harry would convince him to stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour before they came back home.
Harry took a bite and found that his Dad had made it with honey and cinnamon. "It's not bad." He said, taking another bite.
"So happy you approve." Severus drawled as he poured Harry a glass of milk and himself a cup of coffee. He was happy that Harry was excited but he needed to broach the subject of his safety before they left. He needed to tell Harry about Sirius Black but did not want to ruin his outing. "You remember what I said about today correct?"
"Yeah." Harry answered absently as he spread some butter on a piece of toast. He looked up and saw his Dad staring at him with a frown. Harry sighed. "Do not wander off. Stay in sight of an adult at all times." He recited. This time he was the one who frowned. "Why? Don't you trust me?"
Severus put down his cup of coffee. "Yes, I trust you. I just want to know you are safe and do not feel comfortable with you wandering around in Diagon Alley without adult supervision. I believe Molly and Arthur feel the same way about their children so do not give me that put upon look." He rolled his eyes. Even without the threat of Sirius Black he would not want Harry and his friends by themselves in a place as large and crowded as Diagon Alley.
"Is it because of the Chamber thing that you are being so protective?" Harry asked after a moment.
"That may be part of it." Severus answered smoothly. It was true after all. Almost losing his son when Harry's arm had been pierced with Basilisk venom had terrified him. If he could he would put a protective bubble over Harry and keep it there. Hmm, actually he could do that but he knew Harry would object to it. "Indulge your overprotective Father a little would you?"
"Okay." Harry grinned and finished his breakfast. "But come Hogsmeade weekend, I get to go off with my friends."
Severus made a non-committal noise and cleared the dishes once they were done eating. He hadn't decided what to do about the field trip to Hogsmeade. Truthfully he was hoping Black would be caught by then so that it wouldn't be an issue. "Go finish getting ready. We will leave in ten minutes."
Harry nodded eagerly and jumped up from the table to go brush his teeth. He also fed Hedwig and promised to bring her back some owl treats.
"Time to go Harry!"
Harry ran downstairs and met his Dad at the floo. "I'm ready." Stepping into the floo together, they disappeared to their destination.
HPHPHPHP
Severus and Harry made their way to Flourish and Blotts where the Weasley's and Hermione were already waiting for them.
"Harry!" Hermione rushed to give her friend a hug and Ron pounded Harry on the back with a big grin on his freckled face.
"How are you guys?" Harry beamed as he looked at his friends.
"Great! Egypt was amazing. The best part was when the twins tried to lock Percy in a pyramid!" Ron snickered.
Harry laughed. "They did really?"
"Yeah but Mum stopped them and yelled at them." Ron shrugged. "Percy deserved it. He was made Head Boy at school and now thinks he is king of the universe."
Harry smirked. He could imagine Percy acting like that. He just hoped Percy hadn't reverted back to hating him like the previous year.
"Ah Harry, how wonderful to see." Percy said in his usual pompous sounding voice. "I trust your summer was satisfactory?"
Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing at the older Weasley. "Yes Percy. How was your summer?"
"It was quite a delight. I-" Percy started.
"Harry my boy! How splendid to see you!"
"How are you old chap?"
Harry and Ron chuckled as the twins appeared, clearly mocking Percy. "Our summer was quite spiffy, if we do say so ourselves." Fred shook Harry's hand briskly.
Percy scowled. "Would you two just knock it off?"
"Percy, how corking to see you!" George seized Percy's hand. "Dear Harry, have you heard that Percy is now Head Boy?"
"Congratulations." Harry offered to Percy, who was glaring at his brothers.
"I take being Head Boy seriously and do not appreciate being mocked." Percy scolded the twins. He nodded to Harry and then walked away and they could hear him greeting Harry's Dad.
"He really is impossible." Fred rolled his eyes.
"I think our idea for his Head Boy badge needs to go into effect." George rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"What idea?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"You'll see." Fred and George grinned and hurried away.
"How was France Hermione?" Harry asked as they followed the adults into the bookstore.
"It was wonderful!" Hermione gushed. "We visited Dijon and it was so beautiful! I was able to pick up some interesting books there as well."
"How about you? Did you have fun with your Dad?" Ron asked as Hermione began eagerly going through the bookshelves.
"It was the best. He took me to the beach for my birthday and I finally learned to swim. I also went with him to gather potion ingredients in places like Italy, Ireland and Barcelona." Harry said proudly.
"Wow Harry that must have been fascinating!" Hermione exclaimed and her voice a little envious. "Did you help your Dad make potions again this summer?"
"Yes." Harry smiled as Hermione looked impressed. "We made potions for the infirmary and he was working on a more difficult potion this summer. That's mainly why we had to travel to so many different places as he needed some rare ingredients."
"Oooh for what potion?" Hermione asked her eyes bright with curiosity.
Harry shrugged as he pulled down his favorite book, Quidditch Through the Ages. "He didn't tell me. He was kind of mysterious about it. Actually he's been acting a little odd this summer." He thumbed through the familiar book. He had read it from the school library several times.
"What do you mean by odd?" Ron asked.
"He's been really protective. More than usual I mean. I thought it was because of the Chamber of Secrets but now I don't know. I'm wondering if something is wrong." Harry said worriedly.
"It probably is because of the Chamber Harry. You almost died." Hermione remarked as she grabbed another book off the shelf. "It would make sense that he wants to keep a closer eye on you."
"She's right mate. Professor Snape will probably relax once school starts again and he gets busy teaching and assigning detentions." Ron made a face when he saw all the books in Hermione's arms. "Blimey, how many classes are you planning to take?"
"The same as you do Ronald." Hermione huffed. "Well, actually I couldn't decide between the electives so I signed up for all of them." She admitted.
Harry and Ron's mouths dropped open. "All of the electives? How are you going to pull that off?" Harry asked curiously.
"You won't even have time to eat or sleep!" Ron added.
"Don't worry; I've worked it all out already. Harry, are you still going to take Ancient Runes instead of Divination?" Hermione asked, swiftly changing the subject.
"Yes. My Dad was really against me taking Divination." Harry said resignedly. He looked in alarm at the Ancient Runes textbook Hermione was holding. It was huge! "Ron, you could still change your mind."
"No thanks." Ron said cheerfully. "Divination is supposed to be a breeze. I'll stick with that class."
"Lucky." Harry mumbled. He saw his Dad at the check-out counter and went over to him. "That's a lot of books." He commented.
"It's your third year. You will have more work to do." Severus said smoothly as he paid, grinning a bit at Harry's expression. As the Weasley's and Hermione waited to pay for their books, Harry had gone back to the Quidditch Through the Ages book and was looking through it when he heard a familiar yet dreaded voice behind him.
"Dreaming of someday reading your name in there Snape?"
Harry sighed and put the book back on the shelf. "What do you want Malfoy?"
Draco smirked a bit and leaned against the bookshelf. "I'm simply getting my schoolbooks like you are. Of course, I don't need all the babysitters you do."
Harry gritted his teeth. He should just walk away. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Draco shrugged. "You have such a large group with you. Aren't you allowed to get your books on your own? I am. I'm meeting my parents later. Of course, they see me as an adult unlike your father." He said smugly.
"Your parents probably just can't stand to be around you like the rest of us." Harry snapped. He turned to leave as Draco scowled at the comment.
"Of course, if I was you I wouldn't care about my books. I would be focused on revenge."
Harry sighed again and turned back around. "Revenge for what?"
Draco's silver eyes widened with honest surprise. "You really don't know? My goodness, you're Dad really doesn't trust you does he?"
"You aren't making any sense Malfoy." Harry grumbled and walked off to find his friends. He was bothered by what Malfoy had said though he didn't want the blonde snob to know that. What was really going on?
"Please tell me I am seeing things and that Malfoy is not really here." Ron glared in the direction of the Slytherin.
"He's here being his usual charming self." Harry said. He decided to try and shrug off what Malfoy had said. "So where should we go next?"
"Magical Menagerie. I need to see if they have something I can give Scabbers, he hasn't been feeling well lately." Ron said as they walked back to the adults.
"Good idea. I've been thinking of getting an owl." Hermione said.
"Fine with me. I need to get some treats for Hedwig anyway." Harry looked up at his Dad. "Can we go to Magical Menagerie?"
"Of course." Severus said. He shrunk the bag holding Harry's school books and put it inside his pocket. "Let's go."
"Can't Ron, Hermione and I go by ourselves?" Harry asked in frustration. If Malfoy was allowed to go about Diagon Alley by himself, than Harry should be able to as well.
"No. We talked about this Harry." Severus said stiffly. He had hoped Harry wouldn't push this issue.
"Fine." Harry responded with a frown.
Severus sighed as he followed the group out of the bookstore.
"Is something wrong Severus?" Molly asked with concern as they followed their children.
"Harry. He is becoming frustrated with my not wanting him out of my sight. He wants to be able to go off and walk around Diagon Alley with Ron and Hermione." Severus answered. "I haven't told him everything about Sirius Black yet. I didn't want him worrying over summer vacation."
"I don't blame you Severus. Harry deserves to have a carefree summer." Molly agreed.
"I will be telling him before school starts up. I want him to be on his guard as well as understand why I have been keeping such a close eye on him." Severus said. They stopped at the entrance of the store and let the kids go in by themselves. Severus didn't need to be by Harry's side as long as he had him in plain sight.
"He'll understand. I've been nervous myself, knowing that Sirius Black was able to escape Azkaban." Molly remarked. "I plan to lecture all my children on obeying the rules at Hogwarts, though with the twins I don't hold out much hope." She added ruefully.
"Percy will keep an eye on them." Arthur spoke up. "He's gotten closer with the family since the Chamber incident." He chuckled. "The twins still tease him and he acts mad, but I've seen a difference between them as well."
Severus looked to where Harry was laughing with his friends. He wanted his son happy and to be as carefree as possible. But he also wanted his son safe. And if that meant being strict and overprotective and Harry being upset with him, then so be it.
HPHPHPHP
"Give your rat some of this tonic every morning for a week. If he is ill, it should cure him." The man behind the counter said.
Ron eagerly paid for the tonic and patted Scabbers head, who was sitting on his shoulder. "See Scabbers? You're going to be fine."
The clerk looked at Scabbers warily. "Rats don't usually live twelve years. Rare little animal you have there."
"Uh, Hermione. I thought you were getting an owl." Harry looked at the armful of orange fur in her arms as she walked up to them.
"I was going to but then I saw Crookshanks here. Isn't he cute? Apparently he has been here forever; no one wanted to buy him." Hermione looked happily at the flat faced large cat in her arms who purred contentedly.
"You can't get a cat." Ron protested. "He'll make Scabbers life miserable!"
"Oh Ronald. He will not." Hermione rolled her eyes as they left the shop after Harry bought some owl treats.
"I'm hungry. Can we go to Florean Fortescue's?" Harry looked at his Dad pleadingly.
"Yeah, ice cream would be great!" Ron said enthusiastically, forgetting his irritation with Hermione's choice of familiar with the prospect of food.
Mrs. Weasley frowned. "That is not a very healthy lunch." She said yet she relented when all her kids began begging.
"It's a good way to celebrate the end of summer." Ron wheedled.
"Mourn the end of summer-" George started.
"Is more like it!" Fred finished.
After they had ordered at the popular ice cream parlour, Severus turned to his son. "After this we need to make a stop in muggle London. I believe you still a few more items of clothes." His son still enjoyed wearing muggle clothing. Harry had grown over the summer though he was still smaller than most of the kids his age. The Dursley's had starved him and it had affected his growth though now that he was eating regularly and getting enough rest he was now a healthy thirteen year old.
"Okay." Harry said as he took a spoonful of his toffee ice cream sundae.
"Harry we have your birthday gifts!" Hermione pulled out a brightly wrapped present and handed it to Harry.
"Oh yeah mate, here you go." Ron tossed his present across the table to Harry which caused his mother to shake her head.
"Honestly Ron, you could have just handed it to him like a civilized person." Mrs. Weasley said exasperatedly.
"Sorry Mum."
Harry unwrapped Hermione's present first. "Oh, thanks Hermione." It was a homework planner.
Hermione beamed, not noticing Harry's rather unenthusiastic response. "Isn't it great? I got one for myself as well. Not only will it help you keep track of your assignments but it will also remind you not to put off your schoolwork. Look, I already filled it out with our summer assignments."
Hermione looked so proud of herself that Harry didn't have the heart to let her know what he really thought of the gift. "Thanks Hermione. This will, um, come in handy." He opened the planner.
"If you've dotted the i's and crossed the t's then you may do whatever you please!"
"See? You must have finished your summer homework." Hermione smiled.
"Yeah I have." Harry smiled back and wondered what kind of accident his planner could have.
"Now this is a gift I very much approve of." Severus spoke up. He looked at his son in amusement.
Ron began cracking up. "Wow Harry. I'm so jealous!"
Harry threw Ron a baleful glare.
"Really? Guess what? I got you one too Ron!" Grinning, Hermione handed him his own planner.
"Oh." Ron took it slowly. "Um, thanks."
"How very thoughtful of you Hermione." Mrs. Weasley smiled at the young girl. "This is something I know my Ron can use."
The twins were snickering behind their ice cream sundaes. "Hey Ron, open yours!"
Ron timidly opened his planner. "Don't leave it till later, you big second-rater!"
The twins, Harry and Ginny burst into laughter. Arthur and Severus looked like they were trying not to laugh and Molly and Percy were looking at Ron disapprovingly.
"Hmm it looks like you still have some homework to do." Hermione said. She ignored the glare Ron was giving her.
"I hope it is not my assignment." Severus stared at Ron whose face was turning red with embarrassment. He gave a smirk and then cast a tempus. "Are you done eating Harry? We should go."
"I want to go to muggle London." Ron whined,
"You have homework to do young man." Mrs. Weasley frowned at her son.
Ron sighed and then perked up. "Wait! Harry didn't open my gift yet!"
Harry opened Ron's gift and looked curiously at the small piece of glass that looked like a spinning top.
"I picked it up in Egypt. It's a Sneakoscope." Ron informed Harry. "It lights up and whistles if someone is doing something untrustworthy."
"Cool mate. Thanks!" Harry grinned at his friend.
"It's rubbish! It doesn't work." Percy scoffed.
"Yes it does!" Ron protested. Suddenly the Sneakoscope began spinning and whistling in Harry's hand.
"See? No one is doing anything untrustworthy." Percy looked triumphant.
Harry looked at the item in his hand in confusion but then noticed Fred and George had somehow gotten a hold of Percy's Head Boy badge and had changed it to read Big Head Boy. He shared an amused look with them and looked happily at his gift. "I think it will work great Ron. Thanks!"
Severus and Harry said goodbye to everyone and then left, ready to finish their outing and return home to enjoy the last few days of vacation.
TBC: Review if you get a chance! I appreciate those who have already! =)