Harry and Hermione found their chaperone sitting on the top stair, his head between his knees, so sat beside him, "Don't like the carts?"
"Merlin no, ever since I was a child, and yet I come in here probably every few months to draw money," Severus took a few large breaths before standing, "Right, how about we go get your books first?"
That had the two excited kids stopping and blushing deeply, "Umm, Severus?"
"Yes?"
"We've been trying really hard, and we've gotten pretty far, but see Harry and I have dyslexia and reading things can take us a while to get right. Will that be a problem?"
Seeing their embarrassment and fear that it would mean they couldn't go, the potions master knelt and placed a hand on each of the shoulders, "Listen to me, it won't because I think I know of a way to fix things for you. I will explain everything later on but you need to trust that I will never let you struggle, even if I have to give you private lessons each night. Okay?"
"Okay"
"Good, now let's go get your books."
In the bookstore, Severus allowed the pair to explore, purposely pointing them towards the mythology section, as he went to speak to the owner. Finding the many great grandson of the two founding proprietors in his office, Severus knocked on the door, "Mark, good morning."
"Severus, old man, what are you doing here?" The balding wizard rose and embraced his friend before growing grave, "You're not changing your texts are you because I will kill you…"
"No, no, I haven't changed them in so long you should know better. Listen, I have a couple kids starting Hogwarts this year, only thing is they can only read Ancient Greek," the man held up his hand to finish, "A birth thing. So can you do the magic you do so well to change over the languages in two complete sets of first year texts? I'll pay extra."
Mark waved him off, "How long have they been trying to read normal English?"
"Since starting mate, I only realised a week ago what their problem was"
The man nodded and peered at his friend before moving quickly, talking as he did so, "I'll do you a favour. No doubt once they realise they can actually, you know, read, the pair will never want to stop; happened with a friend of mine's kid in China, could only read Ancient Macedonian, once they worked it out the boy ended up becoming a scholar from all the reading. So in addition to the first year texts, I'll do the entire 7 years with all electives, gives them a choice, and for Defence Against the Dark Arts, whatever the obvious choices will be for the next 6 professors. Give me the day, pop around tonight and you'll have them all packed ready to go."
Severus was ready to kiss his friend, "Thank you so much Mark. I'll be around tonight then, just give me the total when I get here."
The wizard just waved him off, his eyes scanning over books lists over the last few years, and Severus walked out happily, collecting the kids, "I'll be back for your books tonight. We've got other places to see now."
The stationary store was interesting, Severus purchasing them both Never-Filling books on top of the necessary items. The man's smile couldn't be removed after he had to drag them both from the Apothecary and made sure to get them the best quality cauldrons and other items for his subject. The trunk store had them leaving with two brilliant trunks that had a section for normal items like clothes and junk, and another that was just a library, also a pair of bags that had Goblin Level 5 Featherlight charms on them. Madam Malkin fixed them up for a set of clothes each, adding in the request for more robes and 2 sets of exercise clothes with little more than a raised eyebrow at Severus.
Running over the list in his mind again, the man grinned down at the pair, "Now comes the best part, getting your wand. To Mr Ollivander's store."
He ended up running to catch up to them, the kids too excited at the idea to wait for him. The door tinkled, and as he had done all those years ago on his first visit, Severus looked up to find the bell only to see nothing. Sitting the young pair in a chair each, he went to the counter, "Mr Ollivander, are you back there?"
"Coming," came the reply.
"I can't believe this is all happening Mia," Harry whispered into his friend's ear.
"Me either. I can't wait to read finally without struggling hard enough to give myself a headache," the girl replied, resting her head onto his shoulder as they waited.
Finally the owner appeared, dust all over him, and despite Severus standing there, his eyes were set straight on the young pair, "It can't be."
"What?"
Severus waved them off for the moment, "My Ollivander, I have not told them yet and you know the people who would kill for the information. Please."
"Of course, I would never risk the life of a child," with a sweep of his wand, two stools appeared, "If you would please?"
The kids stood on a stool each and then fidgeted as the tapes flew around them as they had in Madam Malkin's. As they were measured, Garrick Ollivander moved quickly to the rear of his store, to his private stock of wands, ones that were either very old or made of very rare stock. As a wandmaker, he was taught to sense a customer's magic levels, and this was the second time he had ever felt the power levels of a demigod, the other being when he was first starting. Opening the safe door, he removed two very dusty wand boxes, his oldest two and also the only ones that could possibly match the kids out the front. He carried them to the front safely.
Sending the tapes back to their boxes, the man placed a wand box in front to them both, "One at a time, just in case."
Hermione stepped up and went first, opening the box to reveal a white horn, ringed and bumpy, with a smoothed end and a vibrant blue stone at the peak. Picking it up, the witch felt a wave go through her and everything felt perfect, like it was in the right place. With a slight wave, fireworks exploded from the tip and the wave rose up again, "Sweet."
Harry quickly took her place, opening up his own box. Inside was a large, curved, smooth golden horn, with a leather wrap at the end for grip. When he picked it up, the boy damn near dropped it from the shock of having a bolt of lightning shooting through him, but when he came down from the surprise, he realised he felt amazing holding the wand. The wave he did sent a flock of finches flying around the room until the wandmaker vanished them, a huge smile on everyone's faces.
"Amazing, utterly amazing. Mr Snape, I would suggest telling them as soon as you can. No charge, those were truly never mine to own, just to hold onto until the real owners came about," Mr Ollivander looked down at the young pair, "We can expect great things from you both."
"Sir, what are our wands? They don't look like Severus' or even your own," Hermione asked as she holstered her wand in the offered holster.
"Yours my dear is made from a narwhal horn, topped with a labradorite gem, and has the core of one of Arion's mane hairs. While Mr Potter's wand is made from the horn of the Cretan bull with a core of a Phoenix feather. They were both made many, many millennia ago, and passed down in wait for the true owners to be found. I hope to see you again," the man said with a smile.
"Thank you sir," both told the man before leaving.
Severus pulled them to a stop out front of the shop, getting to their height, "I suppose I should tell you what I know about you both now, right?"
"Please Severus," the puppy dog faces came out in full force.
"Very well, we can do it back at your home," a quick walk to the departure area, and resetting the Portkey, the trio were off.