When the Floo brought them to the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron Snape...Severus stepped out calmly while Harry just barely kept himself from falling. He wasn't sure why but he never had managed to exit the Floo system gracefully. At best, he always stumbled and once or twice he'd even managed to fall flat on his face.

The professor touched his elbow lightly to steady him and Harry looked up and said quietly, "Thank you."

Sn...Severus nodded, and then nodded again at old Tom, the wizened bald little bartender who was the only other person in the large shabby room. Tom was wiping down the high countertop and he never paused in his work as he gave them a cursory glance and a crisp nod in return.

Harry figured he must be used to people coming and going, and of course, he didn't recognise Harry and Severus under their Polyjuice disguises. He would have liked to have gone over and spoken to old Tom, who knew Harry from previous years. But of course he couldn't, so Harry just went with Sn...Severus out the back door and into the small walled courtyard that led into Diagon Alley proper.

They stopped before the back brick wall and Severus pulled his wand from his sleeve. He tapped several bricks in quick succession and they slid apart to form an archway.

Harry smiled. "I couldn't believe it when Hagrid did this the time he brought me to Diagon Alley before first-year."

"Hagrid brought you?" Severus murmured.

"Oh, yes, sir. My aunt and uncle weren't going to let me come to Hogwarts so Hagrid had to come fetch me."

Severus gave him a long considering look. It was funny, Harry reflected, to see that familiar expression on such a different-looking face.

"We knew that Hagrid had to be sent to deliver your letter, that there was apparently some trouble with it being delivered, but I had assumed...." Severus voice trailed off.

"There wasn't really any trouble with the letter being delivered. It was just that Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon wouldn't open it or let me come," Harry explained. He shrugged. "So Hagrid came. They changed their minds pretty quick."

"Quickly," Severus corrected. He shook his head slightly. "Why didn't your relatives want you to come to Hogwarts?"

"They hate magic. I think they're afraid of it," Harry told him.

Severus looked as if he wanted to continue their discussion, but after a moment he simply gestured for Harry to go through the archway. They stepped through; the arch closed behind them; and they were in the eye-catching wizarding marketplace known as Diagon Alley.

The cobblestone street twisted away out of sight, lined on both sides with quaint shops selling all types of magical merchandise, cafes with small outside tables underneath bright umbrellas, and straightlaced wizarding business offices. The magnificent white marble bank Gringotts towered over the other buildings and Harry glanced over at Sn...Severus to see if they were heading that way. On all his other visits to Diagon Alley, Gringotts had been the first stop.

But Severus shook his head. "I've already withdrawn enough money for today." He eyed Harry. "Is there anywhere in particular you would like to visit?"

Harry hesitated. He thought about suggesting Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George Weasley's new joke shop that had just opened somewhere on Diagon Alley. It might have been fun just to see Severus' reaction.

But on the other hand, he really wasn't sure if he wanted to see any of the Weasleys yet. Harry felt a pang at that thought. The Weasleys were the closest thing he had to a family and he missed them. He really did. But at the same time, seeing them would hurt. He wasn't even entirely sure why.

But Fred and George wouldn't recognise him now of course. He would be just another customer to them today. Harry didn't know if that would make it harder or easier to see them.

Severus was watching him, waiting for a reply, so Harry finally just shook his head.

"No, sir. Anywhere is fine."

Severus considered. "Well, let's just go to the shops as we come to them then."

He led the way to the first shop, one which sold cauldrons. Harry had a vision of them spending the day in the cauldron shop and the apothecary, buying materials for potions, and he wondered if perhaps he should have suggested some other places after all. But Severus didn't linger overlong.

"Why don't we get you a new cauldron for class next year?" The professor asked as they entered.

"But I might not be in Potions class next year," Harry felt he had to point out. "I don't have my OWL scores yet and..." He hesitated; then lowered his voice. "You only take students with an O. I probably didn't score that high."

Severus glanced about, making sure no one else was paying attention. No one was. There were only a couple other people browsing for cauldrons and they were in the far corner. The proprietor of the store was nowhere in sight.

Severus slipped his wand from his sleeve and quickly waved it in a small circle about them. "There. That was a little spell called Muffliato. Now no one can overhear our conversations. We can talk with others, but they can't listen in when we're talking with one another."

"Really?" Harry was impressed. "That's amazing. Could you teach it to me?"

"I don't know. I can just imagine the ways you and your companions would put it to use," Severus responded dryly.

Then, as Harry's face fell, he added, "Perhaps, if you promise not to use it to talk in class. As for your OWL scores, I might agree to take students with an E this year and you surely scored that well."

Harry was silent for a moment, thinking over Severus' comments. The Potions professor never had taken students with only an E score before. Professor McGonagall had told him that. So why would he change his policy now? And that he believed that Harry would have at least an E...was that a compliment? Because he'd always denounced Harry's potion-making skills before. Harry would have expected Sn...Severus to say that he would be lucky to scrape by with a passing score.

"Really?" He asked again.

Severus nodded. "Albus has been after me for years, actually. All the other professors accept NEWT students with a score of E and he feels that I am a bit unreasonable. I've been thinking that I just might allow him to persuade me this year. Now, let's select a cauldron."

A short while later they were back on the sunlit street, the proud owners of two new cauldrons...a standard pewter one for Harry and a self-stirring one for Severus. Harry looked about as the professor quickly cast a feather-light charm and a shrinking spell on their purchases and tucked them into his pocket.

He normally came to Diagon Alley at the end of August, when everyone was buying supplies for the upcoming school year, and it was more crowded then that it was today. But there were still quite a few people strolling along. Harry smiled as he watched an older couple, holding hands even while they bickered over which shop to visit next and whether the price of an enchanted tea set was too high. He found himself thinking of Ron and Hermione for some reason, but then forgot about the older couple when Severus finished his charms and they began walking along the street again.

They went into Eeylops Owl Emporium next because Harry remembered he was almost out of owl-treats for Hedwig. As they were waiting to pay he looked around at the variety of owls for sale...great tawny owls, friendly barn owls, screech owls, grey and brown owls of all sizes. But there were no other snowy owls, Harry noted.

"Hagrid bought Hedwig here, for my birthday present when I was eleven," Harry said suddenly. "That was the first time anyone ever gave me a present. Except for when my parents were still alive, I guess."

Severus started to say something, but then they were at the counter and he had to pay the clerk for the owl-treats. Harry was glad for the respite. He hadn't really meant to tell Severus that, but he'd spoken before he'd thought. As soon as they left Eeylops, he spoke up quickly in an effort to distract the professor.

"Sir, could we go by Scribbulus Everchanging Inks, too? I need some more ink and parchment."

Harry wasn't sure if Severus really was distracted or if he simply decided not to pursue the subject of Harry's past birthdays, but the professor just nodded and said, "If you'd like, Harry, and it's ‘Severus', not ‘sir' right now."

"Yes, sir...Severus, I mean. I just wasn't sure if we should be using our names out here," Harry replied.

"We're under the Muffliato spell, remember? Until I lift it, no one can overhear us," Severus explained.

They walked past Terrortours and the Daily Prophet offices to the ink shop, and then after Harry had purchased a pack of parchment and several ink bottles, and after they'd sipped another dose of Polyjuice Potion from their flasks, Severus led the way to Gladrags Wizardwear.

Harry started to protest, "But sir, you already gave me new trainers. I don't really need anything else."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Forgive me, Harry, but you do. You happen to have one nice shirt and pair of trousers for warm weather. I suppose your blue jeans are in decent enough condition, but you do need more than two pairs. Other than that, all you have is a few T-shirts and a Quidditch jersey. To be honest, I was quite surprised when I realised how sparse your wardrobe is, child."

Harry flushed and looked away. But then a gentle hand settled on his shoulder and Severus said softly, "In the past, you may not have had anyone who cared if you were properly attired, but now you do. I would like to buy you some new things, Harry. Please allow me to."

Harry hesitated; then nodded. "Thank you, sir...Severus."

So they went inside the Gladrags shop, a medium-sized brick building with white stone trim and large glass windows on either side of the ornate wooden door displaying both wizarding robes and Muggle-style clothing.

Once inside Harry couldn't help looking about with interest. They'd stepped into a very large airy room, filled with clothes for women and girls...robes, dresses, lacy blouses and skirts, colourful tops and calf-length trousers. A wide staircase on their left led to another room upstairs where Harry thought he glimpsed the clothes for men and boys. Through an open doorway in the back he could see another room lined with sandals, boots, and shoes of all types.

He'd never been inside Gladrags, which was prestigious and accordingly, very expensive. He himself could have afforded it in the past, but he just wasn't accustomed to spending a lot of money on clothes for himself. There had never seemed to be any point in it, and he'd always had a vague feeling that he needed to save the money for more important things later when he was grown.

But he couldn't deny that he felt a small warm glow inside at the knowledge that Severus wanted to buy him some nice things. No one ever had before, and it felt...good to know that someone cared.

One of the clerks, a young woman with a long face and dark hair piled loosely on top of her head and wearing conservative blue robes, came hurrying from the back room to greet them.

"Good morning, sirs. May I help you?"

Severus inclined his head slightly. "Yes, thank you. We'd like to look for clothes in the young men's department."

"Upstairs, on the right side of the room," the clerk directed them.

As soon as they'd gone upstairs and headed towards the right of another spacious room, another clerk came to assist them...this one a young man in a crimson Henley shirt and grey trousers, but Severus quickly dismissed him and they were left alone.

There were some wizarding robes here, but there were also plenty of Muggle-style shirts, trousers, and jeans. They spent the next hour picking out clothes...polo shirts of all colours, in solids and stripes, blue jeans, a second pair of khaki trousers and a pair of grey trousers, as well as new pyjamas, socks, and underwear.

Although he still felt that warm feeling inside, Harry couldn't help also being a bit embarrassed at the large pile of clothing that Severus seemed prepared to buy for him.

"But, sir...Severus," he protested at one point. "This is going to cost so much money, and I might not even be able to wear them next summer."

But Severus only shook his head. "Gladrags clothes come with a pre-applied altering spell. They'll expand a bit, not a great deal, but usually enough for a growing young person to be able to wear them for a couple seasons. And if you do outgrow them by next summer, we can always donate these to charity and buy more for you. Now, you'll also need some new school robes, but I think we'll buy those at Madame Malkin's."

After paying what Harry considered an obscene amount of money for his new wardrobe, Severus realised it was lunchtime so when they left Gladrags Wizardwear, they hunted for a café.

"Is there any particular place you like to eat?" The professor asked as he shrunk the boxes of clothes and he and Harry slipped them into their pockets.

"Anyplace is good," Harry told him. "I like them all."

So they just headed for the nearest café and ate fish and chips at an outside table, Harry sipping a soda while Severus had ice water, protected from the summer sun by the striped umbrella covering their table.

As they were finishing, Harry glanced over at the professor. He felt a little shy about it, but he knew he needed to thank Severus. The professor hadn't had to do anything at all for Harry's birthday and yet he'd made sure that Harry had a good time and had bought him bunches of stuff. It hadn't been the birthday celebration that Harry had imagined last night...but it had been a celebration.

And Severus Snape was the one who'd given it all to him. It was mind-boggling, but maybe, just maybe, he really had changed. Harry wasn't going to rush into anything. He wasn't going to open up and let Severus know all his secrets and weaknesses...not yet, and maybe not ever.

But he did feel more comfortable with Severus than he had ever thought possible.

Harry cautiously reached over to touch Severus' arm, just for a second, before quickly withdrawing his hand. "Thank you, sir...Severus, for my new clothes and trainers, and everything."

Severus gazed at his arm, where Harry had touched him for an instant before looking up. For a second Harry was afraid he was angry, but when the professor turned to him, there was something besides anger shimmering in his black eyes. Harry wasn't sure exactly what the emotion was, but it wasn't anger.

"You're welcome," Severus said softly.

"And thank you for bringing me here. It's been a fun birthday."

Severus arched an eyebrow. "Well, it's not over yet. We have one more dose of Polyjuice. Let's visit Madame Malkin's and get those school robes, and then there's one more thing I think you might like."

So they took the last sips of Polyjuice while Harry struggled not to grimace at the taste. He'd discovered that once you had already been transformed by Polyjuice potion that your body didn't have to go through the burning and stretching process again, but the potion still tasted horrible.

Then they walked down the street until they reached Madame Malkin's shop. A glittering gold sign proclaimed Madame Malkin's Robes For All Occasions over the narrow doorway and the small, squat Madame Malkin herself greeted them when they came inside.

"School robes already, dear? Well, there's no sense in waiting til the last minute, I suppose, is there? Just hold on a second, and I'll bring a set out here so we can see how they'll fit."

She bustled off to a back room and Harry leaned over and whispered to Severus. "But sir, they won't fit me, will they? I'm not really this tall or wide."

"Altering spells, Harry," Severus replied in a low tone. "School robes don't normally come with them pre-applied, but the spells are quite simple. We can easily adjust the robes once we're back home."

Forty minutes later Harry had three new sets of black school robes and a new winter cloak which was also plain black, but was finely made and warm and had engraved silver fastenings.

"We'll have to hurry, but there is one more stop I'd like to make before we leave," Severus said as they hurried out of Madame Malkin's and he steered Harry to a shop across the street.

It was Hermione's favourite store, the bookshop Flourish and Blotts. Harry wondered if Severus were planning to buy his textbooks as well. They couldn't get everything...Harry wouldn't know for certain all the classes he would take until he'd received his OWL scores, but he supposed they could buy books for a few classes that he was pretty sure he'd qualified for.

But when they entered the shop, Severus ignored the textbook section and headed straight for the assistant manager at the front of the store. He pulled a receipt from his shirt pocket and handed it to the young man.

"I prepaid for this book last week. The manager assured me he would hold it for me."

The assistant manager studied the receipt and nodded. "Yes, sir. Just a moment, please."

He went behind the counter and then came back, carrying a thick blue leather-bound book. He handed it to Severus who led Harry over to a secluded corner and then handed the book to him.

"Happy birthday."

Harry shook his head. "But you've already given me so much...it's too..."

Severus' lips quirked in his funny way of smiling. "I'm glad you like the clothes and the trainers, but they are necessary items. This gift is something for you to enjoy."

Harry started to protest more. It was rude, he knew, and he didn't want to be rude, but Severus really had done too much for him. But then he happened to glance down at the book and saw the title.

Secrets of Seeking by Josef Wronski.

"Wronski? The Goblins' Seeker? He invented the Wronski Feint, and the Wronski Dive, and all kinds of moves. He's one of the greatest Seekers ever," Harry breathed. His fingers caressed the book and he reverently opened the cover and turned the pages, catching his breath in wonder.

"Yes, it is both a biography and a training guide. There are diagrams and illustrations to help you learn Wronski's trademark skills." Severus hesitated. "I thought it might come in useful for playing Quidditch next year."

Harry grew absolutely still and stared at Severus with huge shocked eyes. "You'll let me play Quidditch next year? Even against Slytherin?"

"Yes."

For a second, Harry thought he might embarrass them both by either crying or throwing his arms around Severus. In the end, he just smiled tremulously and tried to thank Severus, but the professor seemed embarrassed, too.

"It is time for us to leave. The Polyjuice will wear off soon. Come, Harry."

He opened the door, but just as they stepped outside, there were a series of loud sharp cracking sounds, followed by screams and frightened cries. At first Harry thought there must have been an explosion somewhere, or some other type of accident, and he looked about wildly. From further down the street wizards were either Dis-Apparating, running pell-mell in every direction shoving one another out of the way, or attempting to hide inside various shops.

Harry craned his neck, searching the cause of this crisis, and then he saw. His blood turned to ice and beside him, he heard Severus draw in a strangled breath.

Far down the street, but within eyesight, a dozen wizards in black hooded robes and masks stood behind a taller, pale-skinned figure. He too wore black robes, but there was no hood or mask to hide his face. It was probably impossible considering the distance, but Harry thought he could see the gleaming red eyes and hear the high, cold laugh.

Voldemort and his Death Eaters had come to Diagon Alley.