I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Two
Harry's Never Ink Quill
The noise and bustle of the Gilderoy Lockhart childrens book signing was left behind as Severus and Harry stepped out into the fresh air of Diagon Alley. They had purchased Harry's textbooks for his second year at Hogwarts and they were now on the way to subscribe for quills, ink and parchment.
"Dad, what do you mean by subscribing for quills and ink and stuff?" asked Harry. His head swivelled back and forth every few steps as he took in his surroundings. He knew he was safe with his father but habits died hard, and he still assessed his surroundings for places to hide, and for possible sources of trouble.
"Those are the items that a student continually runs short of. The only time one can make a return trip to Diagon Alley is either wait until your 3rd year when you are allowed bi-monthly trips to Hogsmeade, or you ask an older student to pick up what you need." He opened the door to the stationary store and a chime sounded to announce an arrival. "The advantage that Scrivener's Scribal Stationary has over Scribbulus Supply is that they offer a service to students that if they sign up quills, ink, and parchment will be owled to the student twice a month." He adjusted his outer robe about himself. "I kept suggesting to Albus that Hogwarts should have its own stationery store but Voldy took precedence."
"Professor Snape! It's good to see you, and your son," the affable proprietor was Asa Greengrass, the father of two young ladies that were students at Hogwarts. The man had long, straight brown hair tied back by a leather thong, and he smiled down at Harry. "Welcome to Scrivener's Master Harry. What can we do for you today?"
Harry took a cautious step nearer to his father, "Dad says I need a subscription," replied Harry quietly.
Asa looked at Professor Snape, "Quills, ink, and parchment, sir?"
"Parchment only, Mr. Greengrass," amended Severus. "I would prefer if you set Harry up with a Never-Ink Quill with exchangeable nibs in silver."
"First things first, Master Harry, look right behind you…" Harry turned. "Yes. That is a display of a variety of Never-Ink Quills. Pick one that you like while I discuss which nibs you'll have for your quill." Harry nodded and turned around. Asa drew a catalogue with beautiful moving images of quills writing on parchment, linen, and foolscap.
Harry was in awe of the array of quills that were displayed. None of these were the cheap quills that had to be trimmed after each essay and tossed at the end of the day his first year. He felt like he had gone through an astronomical number of quills. These quills were made from hand carved woods that ranged in colour from cherry red to iron black. Each quill ended with a feather to balance the writing implement. The feathers went from the downy, curly ostrich plume, to the simply defined eagle tail feather.
The primary wing feather from the blue heron caught Harry's eye. The feather was slate blue in colour and tapered to a delicate pointed tip at 32 centimetres. It was mounted on a piece of highly polished black ironwood that had been carved in a spiral. To Harry the combination created an elegant and useful quill pen. Deciding that was what he wanted he carefully removed it from its stand and brought it back to the counter. Asa smiled as he took the quill from Harry.
"A wonderful quill, Master Harry. The spiral carving makes it very comfortable to hold, and to use as needed," explained Asa.
"I have selected a writing nib, and since you have a liking for drawing I have also chosen a nib for your sketching," Severus turned the catalogue so Harry could see the two nibs selected. "I have also subscribed you to two rolls of school parchment per month, and a drawing journal every six months of milkweed paper. Mr. Greengrass tells me that the milkweed fiber makes a strong paper with slight roughness that is good for catching ink."
"Neat! A drawing journal!" Harry's green eyes sparkled with delight. He then lowered his voice, "Is it very expensive, dad?"
Severus crouched down so he could look eye to eye with his son, and he spoke quietly just so they could hear, "We spoke of this, Harry. As I am your father now it is up to me to take care of your necessary expenses. You need not concern yourself." He then rose back up, and spoke normally, "You may consider the drawing journals as a birthday gift."
"Thank you, dad," Harry whispered in awe.
Asa smiled and gave his attention to Harry, "Next you need to choose an ink colour, Master Harry. Are you strictly a young man who likes black, or is there a particular colour you choose to write in?" With a wave of his wand, and a spell chanted under his breath, Asa produced a rainbow of ink colours for Harry to decide upon.
Harry was mesmerised by the colours of the inks - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black. To be honest he wished he could have them all but he knew he really did not need them. "Well, I really should have black for school…" he frowned, almost as if in pain knowing he would have to give up those beautiful colours.
Severus sighed. It pained him to see Harry in such indecision. He wanted Harry to have everything he wanted but he knew that path would lead Harry to becoming spoiled. That was something he would not allow a child of his to become.
"Black for school, Mr. Greengrass, and Harry you may choose one colour for drawing," decided Severus.
Without even drawing breath Harry blurted, "Purple!" He beamed at the proprietor, and then at his father.
"Perfect!" declared Asa. "Now, Master Harry if you would come round to my side of the counter I shall prepare your new quill with its supply of ink.
Harry dutifully walked to the other side of the counter, and then watched as Asa picked up his beautiful new quill, and waved his wand over it. He was chanting but it was barely a mumble that he could not understand. Finally, Asa handed the quill to Harry, and Summoned a block of parchment, and a nib.
"Now, the nibs will come by owl but you'll have them tomorrow. This is just for practise. Hold the quill… yes, like that… now touch the nib with your index finger, and whisper…" The proprietor leaned over and whispered a word into Harry's ear.
When he had the word memorised, he nodded. He then whispered to the pen, "Ater." Carefully he wrote his name: Harry Potter Snape. The black ink flowed easily, and he found that he wrote better with this quill than the quills from last year.
"Very good!" praised Asa. "Now to switch to purple whisper…" Again he whispered the word to Harry.
Harry continued to write in black ink then spoke the word to change to purple ink, "Ostrum." He beamed as the ink seamlessly changed to purple.
"Perfect, Master Harry!" Asa lifted the quill from Harry's hand. "I will just box this for you, and then you are all finished."
Harry watched a little worriedly as the proprietor turned away, and vanished into the back of his store. Seeing an opportunity he quickly turned round, and shoved the block of parchment at Professor Snape. Severus glanced down to read the words written. In black ink was Harry's name: Harry Potter Snape and in purple ink were the words: My dad is the best because I love him.
"I think I shall keep this," said Severus as he removed the square of parchment from its block of companions.
"Make sure he doesn't see it, dad, he might think I'm mushy," whispered Harry conspiratorially.
"Of course," Severus smirked and folded the small piece of parchment and tucked it into his pocket. "We shan't give the man the impression you are a… sensitive… little… boy."
Harry narrowed his eyes at his father, and wrinkled his nose.
"Here we are, Master Harry!" Asa Greengrass had returned with Harry's new Never-Ink quill in a wooden box lined in red velvet. Inside the lid were the two magical words to access his inks. He closed the lid and handed the box to Harry. "You will receive an owl from my shop tomorrow with two silver nibs, your first roll of school parchment, and a drawing journal that you can shrink so you can carry it with you. Thank you for visiting, Master Harry. Good day, Professor Snape."
As they walked out of the shop Harry asked, "Are all the shop owners past Slytherin students of yours, dad?"
The Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts smirked with a slight smile. He did not enlighten his son that Slytherins rarely worked for another; they often made their own way and thus, a lot of his Snakes were the owners of the shops they visited at Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
a/n: This chapter is early but it is compensation for the "lost" new story. This repost appears to be working so it stays put.