Chapter 2 – The Bond and Diagon Alley

"We're going to get your things for school, Harry." Professor Snape said after they were out the door and walking down the street.

"Okay," Harry said. They walked in silence for a few moments, Harry still clinging to his Professor's hand. Professor Snape didn't seem to mind.

"Er, Professor?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"What happened back there, in the Dursleys living room?"

Professor Snape was quiet for a few moments, and just when Harry thought he wouldn't get an answer, he spoke.

"This is very rare, Harry, and whatever I can tell you are mere speculations from the few times it has happened."

They reached an alley away from the street and Professor Snape stopped and turned, bending down on his knee to look Harry in the eye.

"An ancient bond was evoked in your relatives' house, Harry. A guardian bond," He looked very seriously at his charge.

"And," Harry licked his lips, "what is that? Does that… Does that mean that you're my guardian, now? And you'll, take me away from them?" Harry looked at his Professor, hardly daring to believe it.

"Yes, child," he said softly, "I am your guardian now. The ministry must already know, all the papers would have altered magically, stating me as your new guardian."

"Oh. But, how did that happen?" Harry asked, blushing awkwardly at the nickname.

"We will discuss that when we get back from Diagon Alley, after we buy all your equipment. We have much more to discuss." Snape smiled very briefly at Harry.

Harry wanted to protest, but then nodded. Then, a horrible thought occurred to him.

"Professor? How will I buy my things? I haven't any money."

Professor Snape stood and said casually, "You do, Harry, your parents left you all they had. But that is not the point, I am your guardian now and I will pay for everything."

"But sir, if I have–"

"No, child. That is final. It is the duty of a guardian to buy their ward's things. We will visit your vault, if you wish to do so."

"A vault?"

"Witches and wizards keep their gold in vaults, Harry. In a bank," he said.

"Wizards have banks?"

"Just the one. Gringotts, it is run by goblins."

"Goblins?" Harry said, incredulous.

Professor Snape chuckled, "Yes, Harry, goblins."

"How many more myths are true, sir?" Harry asked.

"Many more, Harry. But don't worry, you'll learn. And you may call me Severus, though not in a classroom environment."

"Yes, sir, er – I mean, Severus."

They walked through the streets to the station where they bought tickets for London. Harry had never been to London before, but Severus seemed to know where he was going. He looked around at all the shops and wondered. Harry didn't know where they'll find all the things on his list. Where would they find a wand? At a stationary store? Were there really shops that sold cauldrons and spell books and broomsticks? Harry didn't know where they were going, but he trusted his guardian even after not more than an hour of knowing him.

"This is it. The Leaky Cauldron, it's a famous place." Severus said.

It was a grubby looking pub, if Severus hadn't pointed it out, Harry wouldn't have noticed it. The people hurrying about the street didn't even seem to notice it. Their eyes slid from the book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if the pub wasn't even there.

"The Muggles can't see it?" Harry asked, curiously.

"No, they can't. There are strong Notice-Me-Not and Muggle Repelling charms on the door. Only people with magic in their blood can see it and only if they know what they are looking for." Severus said and walked inside.

The inside was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old barman, who was quite bald and looked like a gummy walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. People seemed to be avoiding looking at Severus. But the barman smiled kindly and asked, "Something to drink, Professor?"

"No, thank you, Tom. We will be going straight to Diagon Alley." Severus said, not un-kindly.

He put a hand on Harry's shoulder and steered him through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a dustbin and a few weeds. Harry could hear snippets of conversation starting back up inside, fast and furious whispers and some loud exclamations.

"Was that…?"

"It can't be…"

"Bless my soul,"

"Harry Potter…"

Harry looked incredulously at Severus.

"I will explain everything once we are done for the day. It might take time and I'd like to get the shopping out of the way. Just understand that you are famous here in the wizarding world. Nobody will approach us as you are with me, but be prepared for foolish pointing and loud exclamations with no subtlety whatsoever." Severus looked quite disgusted at their behaviour and Harry felt an amused grin tug at his lips.

"They did look quite scared of you, didn't they, Severus?" Harry teased lightly.

"That they are," Severus said smugly. Harry snickered.

Severus took out his wand and counted the bricks above the dustbin, "Remember Harry, three up, two across." Then, he tapped the wall three times with his wand.

The brick he tapped trembled, and then a small hole appeared in the middle of it, which grew wider and wider until there was a huge archway in the wall which lead to a cobbled street which twisted and turned out of sight.

Harry gave a small gasp at the sight behind and Severus' lips quirked at the sound. They stepped through the archway and it shrank immediately back to solid wall.

The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons – All Sizes – Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver – Self-Stirring – Collapsible said a sign hanging over Potage's Cauldron Shop.

Harry wished he had eight more eyes. He turned his head every which way as they walked down the street, trying to absorb everything at once. There was a plump woman outside a shop named Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, shaking her head and saying, "Dragon liver, Sixteen Sickles an ounce, they're mad…" Harry was very curious.

Severus saw him looking and said, "We'll be going there soon." He looked quite amused.

A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium – Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown and Snowy. There was a shop selling Broomsticks, with several boys pushed up against the glass admiring the broom displayed. "Look," Harry heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand – fastest ever…" There were shops selling robes, telescopes, quills and roles of parchments, strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, potions bottles… Harry could look all day. There was a snowy-white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside it's burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold was a small creature with a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and very long fingers and feet.

"Severus, is that a goblin?" Harry asked, looking at the creature.

"Yes, we will be going to Gringotts later so you could visit your vault. First, let us buy your uniform."

Harry was about to protest again but Severus quelled it with a look and Harry pouted.

"Come along, now," Severus suppressed a smile.

They entered Madam Malkin's shop and Harry saw a squat, smiling witch, dressed in all mauve.

"Hogwarts, dear?" Madam Malkin asked when Harry was about to speak, "Got the lot here – another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

At that, Harry looked up, feeling nervous. He'd never exactly had much luck with people his age and had never had any friends. Dudley and his gang had made sure of that.

Harry looked nervously at Severus, and Severus' expression visibly softened. He gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze and spoke to the witch in front of them, "He needs his Hogwarts uniform, some everyday robes and dress robes,"

"Of course," Madam Malkin nodded, smiling kindly at Harry.

"I'll be at the shop next door to buy your books, okay, Harry?" Severus said.

"Okay," Harry said nervously.

Madam Malkin led Harry in the back of the shop. A boy with a pale, pointed face and short, blond hair, was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long, black robes. She stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head and began to pin it to the right length. Harry thought the other boy looked very pretty and he looked away quickly to make sure his thoughts didn't show on his face. He might feel insulted, after all, girls were supposed to look pretty not boys.

"Hullo," the boy said, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," Harry said, shyly.

"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice that reminded him a little of how Severus had first spoken when he had come to the Dursleys.

Harry thought he should contribute to the conversation. Maybe he'd make his first friend.

"My guardian's next door getting my books, too," Harry offered, "He's a Professor at Hogwarts."

"Really?" The boy looked interested, "What's he teach?"

"Potions," Harry said, remembering how Severus had introduced himself.

The other boy gasped, "Severus? Uncle Sev is your guardian?"

"Yes," Harry said, looking at the other boy curiously, "Do you know him?"

"He's my godfather!" he said, "and he hasn't ever mentioned you before." His eyes narrowed.

Harry smiled sheepishly, "Well, we only met today. It's a long story, really, and I don't know everything. I'll tell you later," Harry promised, looking at the less than private environment. He didn't want to create a scene by talking about a rare bond in public. Draco nodded.

The witches fitting them for the robes finished and Madam Malkin said, "Well, that's you done, dear. I'll make your other robes with the same measurement."

Harry smiled, hopping off the stool and thanking the witch. The boys walked to the front of the shop to wait for their guardians.

"What's your name, by the way?" Harry asked.

"I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy," the boy said, putting his hand forward.

"Harry Potter," Harry said, shaking his hand.

Draco gaped at him, his eyes sliding up to his forehead where his fringe hid his scar.

At the exact moment, Severus came back with a man with long blond hair who greatly resembled his potential new friend.

"Uncle Sev! Harry says that you're his guardian?" Draco asked incredulously.

"I am, Draco," Severus said simply.

"But, you're Harry Potter's guardian? How?"

Harry winced at the emphasis on his name. It was getting frustrating not knowing what he was famous for.

"Draco," Mr Malfoy said sharply, looking pointedly at Harry.

"Oh," Draco flushed, "Sorry, Harry."

Harry gave him a small smile.

"We'll talk later, Draco," Severus said.

"Okay," Draco said, resigned to the idea of information being held from him. Harry knew the feeling.

"I will pay and then we will go get your wand, Harry." Severus said.

At that, Harry perked right up, beaming at Severus. That was the part Harry was the most excited for.

"We will accompany you, Cissy is at Ollivanders," Mr Malfoy said.

"Very well," Severus said. He and Mr Malfoy paid and shrunk their purchases, pocketing them. Then, they moved down the street to Ollivanders. Draco was explaining the house system to Harry.

"–So, Slytherin's where the cunning and ambitious people go. It's the best House at Hogwarts and that's where I hope I'll be going to. They say Merlin was a Slytherin, too, you know. Then there's Ravenclaw, where the intelligent people go. Gryffindor's filled with brave idiots who are too goody-goody and impulsive for their own good. They are Slytherin's mortal enemies, and in my opinion, there is no competition. Slytherin's the best. Then, there is Hufflepuff. They say they're loyal and hardworking but it's filled with all the people who don't fit in the other three houses and they're a bunch of cry-babies, really," Draco ranted. Harry watched all the while with an amused expression.

"So, where do you think you'll go?" Draco finished.

"Dunno," Harry shrugged, "Guess Slytherin sounds nice,"

There was a snort from behind them where Severus and Mr Malfoy were walking.

"A Potter in Slytherin, never thought I'd see the day," he heard Mr Malfoy saying to Severus. Both of them had slight smirks on their faces. Harry looked at Severus curiously.

Severus caught his expression and said, "Your whole family's been in Gryffindor. You'll be the first if you go in Slytherin."

"Yeah, well, I'm not really brave. Or intelligent. Or cunning, really," Harry sighed glumly, "Guess I'll end up a Hufflepuff."

"Don't worry," Draco reassured, "There's no way you're going to be a 'Puff. I bet you'll be in Slytherin."

"Hmm," Harry thought a bit, then lowered his voice, "Say, Draco, who sorts us in houses?"

Draco smirked, catching on to his train of thought quickly, "Father told me that there's a Sorting Hat which the first-years put on their head and then it announces which house they'll be in," he said quietly.

"A hat! I bet I could convince it to put me in Slytherin," Harry smirked back.

"I bet you could," Draco laughed.

Behind them, Severus said, "Definitely Slytherin."

The shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.

A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single spindly chair in the corner. Harry felt strangely as though he had entered a library. There were thousands of narrow boxes piles right up to the ceiling. The dust and silence in the shop seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

A witch, who Harry guessed was Draco's mother after seeing the resemblance, was standing there, looking at different wands that a wizard, who he guessed was Mr Ollivander, was showing her.

Mrs Malfoy turned when they entered. She looked surprised to see Severus.

"Good afternoon, Severus." she said, smiling.

"Narcissa," Severus greeted.

"Draco, I selected a few wands. You should see which one fits you." Mrs Malfoy said to Draco.

She then spotted Harry, and said. "Why don't you introduce your friend, Draco?"

"Right. Harry, this is my mother. Mother, this is my friend, Harry Potter. He's here with Uncle Sev."

Mrs Malfoy looked surprised, but smiled at Harry, "Hello, Harry."

"Hello, Mrs Malfoy," Harry said shyly.

She looked at Severus, clearly expecting an explanation.

"Later, Narcissa." Severus sighed. Mrs Malfoy nodded and Severus turned to Mr Ollivander.

"If you would, Harry and Draco would like their wands," Severus said coolly.

Harry found Mr Ollivander very odd. He first insisted on spouting what every adult present there's wand was made of. Then he looked at Harry with pale eyes that shone like a moon, which Harry found very creepy, and then proceeded to state his parents' wand and characteristics. By that time, Severus had grown very impatient and irritated and had snapped at Ollivander to get on with it. Harry had just watched with wide eyes. After that, Ollivander hadn't wasted a moment and had took out two measuring tapes and set them to measure Harry and Draco everywhere.

As it measured, Mr Ollivander took out boxes out of boxes from the shelves.

When the tapes began measuring them between their nostrils, Mr Ollivander said, "That will do," and they dropped down on the floor immediately.

He handed Draco a wand and when Draco began to wave it, took it out of his hand immediately. This continued a few times before Draco found a wand and a bright blue light shone out of the tip. It was ten inches and Hawthorne with unicorn hair.

Then came Harry's turn, he too went through the same procedure but for what Harry felt like was hours. The boxes kept piling on and Harry was getting a bit frustrated, but it seemed like the more wands he rejected, the more excited Mr Ollivander got.

"Tricky customer, eh?" He chuckled, "Not to worry, we'll find you a wand that chooses you." Harry didn't know what he meant and he didn't care. He was irritated.

Then Mr Ollivander said, "I wonder now – yes, why not – unusual combination – holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of gold, silver, red and green sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls.

Mr Ollivander cried, "Oh bravo! Well, well, well… how curious… how very curious."

"What's curious?" asked Harry, who had had quite enough of Mr Ollivander mutterings.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand," Mr Ollivander leaned closer, fixing him with his pale gaze, flicking his eyes once to the scar on his forehead, "when it's brother gave you that scar." He finished quietly.

Harry heard a gasp behind him, but he did not investigate the noise. He was having a very bad feeling about this.

"Yes, thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Very curious, indeed. The wand chooses the wizard, remember. I think we must expect great things from you, Mr Potter. After all, He Who Must Not Be Named did great things – terrible, oh yes, but great."

Harry shivered. He wasn't sure he liked Mr Ollivander much.

"That is quite enough!" He heard Severus snap at Ollivander. Harry looked at his guardian as he and Mr Malfoy paid for their wands, and Severus steered Harry out of the door.

"Severus?" Harry asked in a quiet voice, "I really don't understand…"

Severus sighed, "I'll explain it all once we're alone, Harry. Let us get the rest of your things and then I'll tell you everything I can."

Harry nodded, and they parted with the Malfoys, promising them to meet at the Leaky cauldron in an hour. Harry was quiet for the rest of the trip. Severus took him to buy parchment and quills, a cauldron, a set of scales for weighing potion ingredients, a collapsible brass telescope and potions ingredients. Harry found the apothecary fascinating. The man behind the counter had only just brought out a kit of basic potion ingredients that was standard for Hogwarts first-years, when Severus waved him off and collected the ingredients from the shelves on his own instead, explaining all their properties and how to choose the best ones.

"They are very low quality," Severus told him when Harry asked why he didn't just get the kit and explain it later, "It's best to choose yourself for good results."

"Just one last thing then," Severus said, when they'd bought everything they needed and visited Gringotts. Harry looked at him curiously. Severus smiled at him and led him towards Eeylops Owl Emporium where he bought him a beautiful snowy owl.

"Happy Birthday, Harry," Severus said warmly.

Harry still hadn't stopped stuttering his thanks when they went to Leaky Cauldron.

"Don't mention it, child. I don't suppose those vile muggle relatives of yours had given you many presents."

When they went inside, Tom, the bar keeper, led them through the pub to a private parlour where the Malfoys were waiting. Harry had finally recovered his good mood and excitedly greeted them.

"Oh, good, you got an owl, now you can write to me." Draco said.

"Mhm, Severus bought it for my birthday."

At that, Mrs Malfoy and Draco insisted on a birthday cake and celebration. Harry didn't think he'd ever had such a wonderful birthday and spent the whole meal listening to Draco explaining Quidditch and Broomsticks, with a happy smile on his face and a warm feeling in his chest.

A/N : Right. I wanted to add the next one too so i did it! Please Rate/Review/Favourite

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