The Unseen Inheritance

Chapter 5: The Shopping Trip

Diagon Alley bustled with life as Harry and Hermione strolled down its cobbled streets. The sunlight caught on shop windows, showcasing displays of enchanted quills, shimmering robes, and glittering broomsticks. The air buzzed with chatter, the occasional burst of laughter, and the faint hum of spells being cast.

"First stop, Madam Malkin's?" Hermione suggested, clutching their meticulously planned shopping list.

Harry nodded. "Let's get the robes out of the way."

Inside Madam Malkin's, the two were quickly swept into the flow of fittings and measurements. Hermione discussed fabric durability with a shop assistant while Harry admired the practicality of a new set of casual robes in dark green. By the time they left, both carried neatly wrapped parcels under their arms.

"Next, Flourish and Blotts!" Hermione said eagerly, her eyes already scanning for the bookshop's sign.

As they walked, Harry noticed a familiar blond figure stepping out of Quality Quidditch Supplies. Draco Malfoy, his pointed features set in his usual smirk, locked eyes with them. His smirk faltered when neither Harry nor Hermione glared or made a snide remark. Instead, Harry gave him a polite nod.

"Malfoy," Harry said evenly.

Draco's brow furrowed as if he couldn't quite process the lack of hostility. "Potter. Granger." His voice carried a faint edge, but his confusion was evident.

Hermione glanced at Harry, then back at Draco. "Good morning, Malfoy. Lovely day, isn't it?"

Draco stared, his mouth slightly agape. "What are you playing at?" he demanded, though there was no real venom in his tone.

Harry shrugged. "We're not playing at anything. Have a good day, Malfoy."

Before Draco could recover, they continued on their way, leaving him standing in the middle of the street, looking as though someone had hit him with a Confundus Charm.

"That was... satisfying," Hermione admitted with a small smile.

Harry grinned. "Let him stew on that for a while."

At Flourish and Blotts, Hermione lost herself among shelves of spell books, selecting texts on Advanced Charms and Practical Defensive Magic. Harry picked out a few tomes on battle strategy and rare defensive enchantments. After paying for their hefty stack of books, they headed to Trunk Treasures to place an order for their monogrammed, spell-protected trunks.

The day passed quickly, their shopping list steadily shrinking. By late afternoon, they found themselves at the Junk Shop. The air inside was thick with the scent of aged parchment and tarnished metal, and shelves sagged under the weight of peculiar artifacts. As they browsed, Harry's attention was drawn to a corner where Professor Snape stood, examining a collection of potion ingredients in unlabeled jars.

"Professor Snape," Harry greeted, his voice calm and measured.

Snape's head snapped up, his black eyes narrowing as he regarded them. "Potter. Granger," he said curtly. "What are you doing here?"

Hermione stepped forward. "Just looking for unique finds, Professor. You never know what treasures you might uncover in a place like this."

Snape's gaze flicked between them, suspicion evident in his expression. "A rare perspective for Gryffindors."

Harry, emboldened by their plan to win Snape's trust, replied, "Sometimes, unexpected places hold the most valuable answers."

Snape tilted his head, his sharp mind clearly dissecting Harry's words. "An uncharacteristically insightful observation, Potter. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."

Hermione smiled slightly. "Professor, may we ask your opinion on something? You're one of the most accomplished Potions Masters we know."

Snape raised a skeptical eyebrow but gestured for them to continue.

"We've been considering expanding our studies beyond the standard curriculum," Hermione explained. "Both in ingredients and literature. What would you recommend for someone serious about potions?"

Snape studied them for a long moment, his gaze calculating. Finally, he said, "If you're serious about advancing your knowledge, your approach must be methodical. Begin with securing proper ingredients. Moonstone, powdered asphodel, and a well-aged bezoar are versatile and invaluable. Avoid gaudy nonsense like phoenix feather powder or powdered graphorn horn. They are overpriced and overhyped."

Hermione nodded, jotting down his suggestions in a small notebook.

"And for books, Professor?" Harry asked, his tone as respectful as he could muster.

Snape's lips quirked slightly, almost a smirk. "Start with Moste Potente Potions if you haven't already. It is a basic yet critical resource. Follow that with Advanced Alchemical Practices by Lycoris Stygian. For rare and dangerous concoctions, Veneficus Arcanum is unparalleled."

Hermione's eyes lit up with excitement. "Thank you, Professor. Those sound perfect. I've only skimmed Moste Potente Potions, but I've never heard of the others."

"Likely because they are not for the faint of heart," Snape said coldly. "Nor are they for those without discipline."

Harry took a step closer, meeting Snape's gaze. "We'll approach them with discipline, sir. We want to be prepared for anything."

Snape's expression flickered, a hint of something unreadable crossing his face. "If you persist in this newfound... maturity, Potter, you might surprise me."

With that, Snape swept out of the shop, his black robes billowing behind him.

Hermione turned to Harry, her eyes bright. "I think that went very well."

Harry grinned. "He didn't insult us once. I'd call that a victory."

They continued to browse the shop, finding an intriguing set of rune-carved stones that Hermione insisted might be useful for warding spells. As they left the Junk Shop, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the alley in a warm, golden glow.

"We've got everything we need," Harry said, glancing at their bags. "And we managed to confuse Malfoy and have a civil conversation with Snape. I'd call today a success."

Hermione smiled. "It's a good start, Harry. A very good start."