Um…you guys leave me speechless! I never expected such amazing feedback from everyone…so many reviews…And all the subscriptions and favoriting…so amazing! I love you all so very much. Other news at the end, but for now, my disclaimer:

Me: alrighty let's see who we get (pulls name out of hat) Peeves!

Peeves: wee little people who know peevsie not, epic own nothing or may he be shot!

Me: um…yea what he said…worst rhyme ever… me no owny nothing

This is my new line bc fanfiction doesn't like lines oooOOO000OOOooo

Harry looked around the dark alley in slight fear. It wasn't that he was in Nocturn ally; he just had never been there alone. And he knew that it wasn't good for him to be alone, because of all the evil wizards that went there who might want to hurt him. He knew he had gotten the place wrong, so all he could do was wander around a bit and hope he either found Diagon ally or his father found him.

Speaking of his father… Harry wondered what he was going to do about the end of the holiday. In previous years Harry had stayed in this awful boarding school, where he was picked on daily for the way he looked- especially his scar. But he never told his father about the bullying, because he knew it was already hard for him. Now, he couldn't go back there if he was going to Hogwarts in a few weeks, so he would either have to stay home when his father went to prepare the school, or go with him. Harry wasn't sure what his dad would decide, but either way he had to find the man first.

(WITH SNAPE)

Severus Snape wasn't very good with children, he would admit. But never in his life had he imagined he would lose his own child, adoptive or not, in the most dangerous, sickening alleyway possible. He considered calling out to him, but "Harry" wasn't a very common name. If Harry was recognized by anyone, it could lead to…. Snape didn't want to think about that. Just as he rounded a corner, he caught a glimpse of a mop of black hair trotting into the distance, in the direction of Diagon ally. He almost sighed with relief, but his perfect control of his cold manner wouldn't let him.

He darted through the dark passageway and grabbed the boy's shoulder. He had to dodge a flying fist as Harry didn't recognize him and tried to get away.

"Harry, stop. It is only me." Harry froze at the deep tones of his father's voice and then relaxed.

"Dad, goodness, I was scared I'd never find you!" Harry smiled up at his father, wondering what was going through the man's mind.

"We are going to go shopping now. I suggest in the future you refrain from inhaling floo powder, ok?" Snape used a fake stern tone, though Harry could only tell he wasn't really mad because he had a small smile as he spoke. Harry nodded in relief. He wasn't in trouble!

The two walked into Diagon Alley, Harry pulling the list of supplies out of his robes. He looked up at Snape in slight fear. "Dad…"

"Hm?"

"Is Hogwarts scary? And what house would you want me to be in? will you be upset if I'm not in the one you want?" he was firing off questions at a million miles an hour, fear slowly building then slipping away as he confided in the tall potions master. Snape put a hand up to silence him.

"Son, I don't care what house you end up in, so long as you do them justice. Hogwarts is one of the safest places you could possibly be, so do not fear. Now, would you like to get a wand first or books or a pet?" Harry's jaw dropped at the last choice.

"I- I can get a pet?" After the cat they had, who had died a few months before, Severus had been reluctant to get another animal. Especially with Harry's schooling drawing so close, because there were only so many animals a student could bring. Snape nodded at his son and together they walked to the magical pet shop that was right down the road. They passed by the Owl Emporium without a second glace, for they had already agreed to take Molly together. As they walked into the shop, many of the more intelligent animals began trying to get the attention of the newcomers, hoping for adoption. Harry ignored all of the twirling and flipping animals, rats and mice and the occasional cat, and looked to the darker corner where a lone bat hung. The little blackish-brown creature was hanging upside down, watching the two with slight interest.

Though it was daytime, magical bats were more usually diurnal.

Harry's father watched as the boy's eyes lit up at the sight of the small animal, and knew immediately he would be getting it. He answered the boy's unasked question. "Yes, you can have her."

Harry let out a very-ahem- manly squeal at this. "Really, dad? I can have her?"

Snape nodded. He knew Harry had a strange love of odd creatures and pets, and a bat defiantly qualified.

After paying for the bat, which took to Harry rather quickly, the duo walked down the lane to the wand shop not too far away. Harry looked up at his dad.

"Can I go in alone?" Severus looked surprised, but consented. He tried to grab the bat to hold her while Harry went in, but she would have none of it. She let out a high pitched squeak, and clung tighter to the front of Harry's shirt. "erm, dad, I don't think Hedwig is going to go with you…"

"Hedwig?"

"yeah, I saw the name once and liked it. I think she likes it to." The bat seemed to nod in confirmation.

"well, alright. But don't let her fly around in there and disturb Mr. Olivander."

"Yes, dad."

Harry walked into the shop and looked around. There were so many little boxes, and a few posters of the making of wands and some famous makers. He was walking up to a particularly interesting one, when Hedwig squeaked and he heard a voice call out a wheezy "Ah, Mr. potter!"

oooOOO000OOOooo

a/n: ok sooooo that concludes chapter three. I'm going to now fill in with my excuses before I get skinned alive. I was with my greatgrandmother, so had no time to write. I had a minor writers block towards the end, which mmay have made it seem forced. I apologise. Please, review and let me know whats up. And so I don't forget later to message her, and a few others,

Jordina: I had tried doing lines, but the idiot site wouldn't let me hope my o's help out a little.

ashtonangel13: hope you enjoyed!

I know I said I wouldn't, but I have to- a thank you to:

bookwormqueen7, alipuppy2, bunny109, sassymagpie, jessirose85, Team Jasper 99, Haliegh, Jordina, ashtonangel13 for your reviews!

And to every one who has put me under alert and favorite, thank you!

Lovelovelove

~epic~