Harry Potter wasn't used to being treated special by anyone, but had least expected special treatment from the Minister of Magic, especially after he had just blown up his aunt. To say he was surprised he would not be expelled, but instead spend the remaining two weeks of his summer Dursley-free and in Diagon Alley would be an understatement and honestly he was elated to learn he was able to finish his homework openly during the day instead of sneaking to do it at night beneath his blankets by the light of a flashlight.
The summer hadn't really been all that bad. He'd had Adrian meet up with him a couple of times. They had hung out at a local playground and talked while Adrian's parents had met with family a few blocks away. Things had changed since Hogwarts last year. Harry had found he almost preferred solitude and Adrian was already preparing for his O.W.L.s, which he would be taking this coming school year.
They missed Terence, the older Slytherin having gone off to work with his parents in Indonesia. He wrote, but not often.
When Harry had run away from his aunt and uncle's, he had hoped to go to Adrian's house. While he liked staying at the Leaky Cauldron, he really wished he was staying with the other Slytherin instead.
There was a perk to being in Diagon Alley: he ran into Professor Snape at the Apothecary, much to his shock and excitement.
"Mister Potter." The professor nodded to him, using the oily tone he always did when he was addressing one of his students, no matter how much he liked or disliked them. "I take it you are here for your school supplies. A little early for you, isn't it?"
"I'm not staying at my aunt and uncle's right now," Harry answered honestly.
"Oh?" Professor Snape's brow flicked up the way it always did when he was asking a question he expected a dumb or annoying answer from. "And pray tell where are you staying right now, Potter? Don't tell me you're with the Weasley family again."
"No." Harry quickly shook his head, recalling last summer spent at the Burrow and how Ronald had made it miserable. "Oh, no. I'm here...er...at the Leaky Cauldron. That's where I'm staying."
The older wizard's brow raised just slightly higher at this. "Might I inquire as to why are you staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"
"I blew up my aunt."
It wasn't a joking matter really, but Harry couldn't stop the snicker on his voice and had to apologize quickly to his Professor before explaining, in more detail than he cared, how he had ended up in Diagon Alley for the remainder of summer. All the while, he watched his Head of House's features grow darker with each word, which in turn caused Harry's amusement to fade.
"And you thought this "running away" wise in what way?" Professor Snape snapped bitterly as he scowled at his student. "What with a murderer on the lose and Sirius Black of all people?"
"Well, it's not as if Black is looking for me," Harry pointed out. "And he wouldn't attack a kid just for fun..." He added uncertainly, "Would he?"
"You're not any ordinary "kid"," the man reminded him and then straightened slightly and let out a sigh, which meant he was about to tell Harry something which Harry probably shouldn't be told and therefore Harry should pay extra attention to. "And, yes, it is likely Black is looking for you."
This news was unsettling, though it did explain why the Ministry hadn't punished Harry. They were simply happy to have found him alive or at all, given what he had learned of Black.
Professor Snape continued, "When the Dark Lord fell, Black lost everything and, most importantly, the Minister himself admits that, when he went to visit Azkaban, he heard Black saying, "he's at Hogwarts" over and over again. It seems Black plans revenge on your person for the fall of his master and the ruining of Black's life and plans."
"I...see..." Harry took a deep breath and then tried a smile. "But I'll be safe at Hogwart's. Dumbledore is there and I'm sure even Black wouldn't dare attack me while I'm at Hogwart's, right?"
"Being at Hogwart's under the nose of Dumbledore has never stopped you from endangering your life before," the wizard snarled in irritation.
"Yes, but it's always been me putting myself in danger."
"Precisely," Professor Snape muttered.
"Well, it's not as if I'm going to go looking for Sirius Black."
The professor's look became clouded with a sudden swell of emotion Harry couldn't decipher. "Yes, but...all the same. You shouldn't...you need to promise you won't go looking for Black."
"What?" Harry was baffled. "I already said..."
The man cut him off, "Just promise it, Potter! No matter what you hear, promise you won't go looking for Black?"
Harry hesitated.
"I-I promise...but, Professor, sir, why would I go looking for someone who's trying to kill me?"
Professor Snape had refused to tell Harry anything more and had grown annoyed at Harry's insistance he be told, therefore had started off into Diagon Alley with the intention to leave. It had been upon Harry's plea and promising words he would abandon the topic that Professor Snape had decided to stay a little longer. They had then together wandered Diagon Alley and its shops while Harry did his best not to talk his Professor's ear off. Harry wasn't sure what had changed over the summer, whether it was his or his Professor's attitude towards him, but there was a different feeling about their interaction with each other. It felt easier and Harry almost felt as if the Professor walking beside him down Diagon Alley's streets wasn't his teacher, but someone closer, maybe even related.
He shoved the thought so forcefully from his mind that he bit his lip and caused it to bleed, much to Snape's annoyance.
When they came across a Firebolt on display, Harry was stunned to hear his professor smirk out, "I'm surprised you haven't emptied your Gringott's account and bought yourself one, Potter."
After a moment, Harry realized he wasn't too shocked the Professor had said this. After all, his Head of House had for the first few months of Harry's stay at Hogwart's been under the false illusion Harry expected to be treated like royalty and been raised like a spoiled snotty brat by his family. While the Professor claimed he no longer believed this, he had a hard time breaking this belief from his mind and often spoke small remarks like this one, which hinted at the belief still stubbornly anchored in his mind.
"I have a pretty good broom right now, sir," Harry admitted, feeling a tinge of blush as he recalled it had been Professor Snape who had given him the broom in his first year at Hogwart's after appointing him the Seeker of their House's Quidditch team. "It hasn't failed me yet and I don't really need a new one. Besides I really like my broom...a lot."
The Potions Master didn't remark to this, not accustomed to flattery, no matter how trivial, and moved out of the Quidditch shop as it had to be his least favorite of the shops lining Diagon Alley. The fact he had tolerated it for Harry meant a great deal to the boy.
"I have to be on my way," the professor informed Harry. "I assume you've already made arrangements to get to the Hogwart's Express."
Harry gulped. No. Of course not. "No...I...I was just going to take the underground..."
"Yes, because that is wise, Potter." Professor Snape curled his lip as he looked down at Harry in his superior way. "What with a madman who is plotting your death on the lose, who we also know is not afraid to kill publicly with the inclusion of Muggles and anyone else who gets in the way."
"I understand, sir," Harry, who usually knew better than to, interrupted. "I didn't know Black was after me until earlier and it didn't cross my mind to think of something just yet..."
Surprisingly, his Head of House let the interruption go and stated, "You're in luck, Mr. Potter. I have already been informed the Weasleys have been asked to escort you to Platform 9 3/4."
"Then why..." Harry didn't finish his question as he instantly realized his Professor had been testing him to see if he had remembered he was Slytherin and needed to think everything, down to the tiniest detail, through. Apparently, he was still too Gryffindor, something Snape had complained about the last day of school last year.
Professor Snape smirked, but there didn't seem to be any malice behind it. "Do make sure you contact them before deciding to trek out on your own, Potter."
"Yes, sir," Harry grumbled and then flinched slightly as he felt his professor's hand on his head, giving him a reassuring ruffle of his hair.
"Ideally, you'll let this year be uneventful," the man stated as he turned to leave. "I will see you at Hogwart's, Mister Potter."
"You too, sir!" Harry called after him and then watched the man disappear into the crowds of witches and wizards doing their last minute shopping.
A sigh escaped him. He had been worried the tension between them at the end of the last term would have grown stronger over the summer, but it appeared instead to have loosened a little. Of course, this could be because his professor wanted to encourage Harry to stay close to school and...and...and...
Harry gasped. He should have asked his Professor to sign his Hogsmeade permission slip!
Grumpily, he stomped back to the Leaky Cauldron and ran right into Mr. Weasley as a fight broke out in the background between Ron and Hermione about her cat attacking his rat.
"Oh, Harry Potter!" Mr. Weasley smiled warmly at Harry and patted his shoulder. "I was just about to go look for you. I wanted to..."
"I already know about the arrangements." Harry stopped the man. "And thank you. I know it must be difficult to help someone your son hates."
"Nonsense!" Mr. Weasley laughed with a little uneasiness, but even Harry could see the man honestly didn't see a problem with helping someone his son hated. "Well, I know Molly would want me to tell you, but you should make sure all of your things are packed tonight as I'm sure we won't have much time in the morning."
"Dad!" Ronald whined from behind the Weasley Patriarch. "Do we have to take Potter with us?"
"We do." Mr. Weasley turned to his son, who was scowling, and gave him a reprimanding glare. "Not only because it is my job, but also because it is the right thing to do."
"Right," Ron muttered, glaring at Harry. "Well, make sure he's in a different car from mine."
Harry wrinkled his nose at the young Weasley after Ronald had turned his back and then thanked Mr. Weasley again before heading up to his room.
He sighed and lay there on his bed, glad all of his books and belongings were already packed and that Hedwig had decided to stay the night here, so he didn't have to wait up on her.
Thoughts of the day began to play through his mind and he remembered all that Professor Snape had told him concerning Black and the possiblity that Black wanted him dead. A shudder went through him as he recalled Stan Shunpike's retelling of Black's massacre of thirteen people.
"I'm NOT going to be murdered," he said aloud.
"That's the spirit, dear," his mirror murmured sleepily.