Slightly after dawn on Saturday morning, Harry was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. He had awoken a few minutes earlier with a slight headache. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before as he and Ron had spent the evening playing chess and exploding snap. The two of them didn’t get to bed until well after midnight. And once they finally did go to bed, Harry kept waking up at various times throughout the night.
Harry glanced at the clock on his side table. Seeing he still had another two hours before he had to head down for breakfast, he rolled back over, burrowed under the covers and closed his eyes, hoping more sleep would make his headache go away.
“Harry! Harry, wake up. You’re going to miss breakfast.” Ron was hovering over Harry’s bed trying to shake him awake hours later. “Harry.”
“Wha…?” mumbled Harry, slowly opening his eyes. “I’m trying to sleep Ron.” He gave a yawn.
“I know, but you’re going to miss breakfast.” Satisfied Harry was awake, Ron stepped back from the bed.
“What time is it?” Harry rubbed at his eyes.
Ron looked to the clock on Harry’s side table. “Eight fifteen. We’ve got fifteen minutes to eat breakfast before we leave for Hogsmeade.”
“Yeah, okay.” Harry slowly sat up, the headache he felt earlier unfortunately still present. “Go on down. I’ll be there right behind you.”
Nodding, Ron turned and left Harry to get dressed.
Harry was slightly panicked. He had overslept. He only had a half hour to eat and get down to Professor Snape’s quarters. And without any idea how, he still had to tell Ron he wasn’t going to Hogsmeade. He got up and took the quickest shower on record and got dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and trainers. Feeling slightly cold as he was about the leave the room, he grabbed one of his nicer jumpers and put that on over his shirt. He yanked his jacket off the corner of his bed and ran down to the Great Hall.
“There you are,” Ron stated and Harry slid in next to him at the Gryffindor table. “I was worried you wouldn’t show up. You better hurry up and eat. We have to be outside in less than five minutes.”
Not really feeling all that hungry, Harry grabbed a piece of toast and slathered on some orange marmalade. Needing something to drink and something to warm him up at the same time, he poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip. He turned to Ron. He now had to come up with an excuse. “I think I’m going to stay here instead of going to Hogsmeade.”
“What? Why would you stay here?” Ron asked astounded around a mouth of food.
“I’m not feeling all that well. I’ve got a pretty bad headache.” At least the second part was true, he thought, so it all wasn’t a lie.
“So go see Madam Pomfrey and have her give you a headache potion. You can’t miss Hogsmeade. You haven’t gone since last year.”
“I know, but, I just really want to go back to bed.”
Ginny walked up behind the two, interrupting their conversation. “Come on you two, we’re getting ready to leave.”
“Yeah, okay,” Ron stated to his sister. “We’ll be there in a minute.” He watched Ginny turn and walk out the doors.
“Go on without me Ron,” Harry said, pulling Ron’s attention from watching Ginny. “I don’t want to feel miserable there. Just go.”
Ron looked at Harry a little skeptically. “Okay.” He stood up. “I’ll make sure to bring you back something from Honeydukes and Zonko’s Joke Shop.”
“Thanks, mate. Have fun.” Harry watched Ron exit the Great Hall then returned his attention to his breakfast. He really wasn’t hungry but he forced himself to eat two pieces of toast and finish his tea before he left for the professor’s quarters.
With students milling about in the corridors, Harry took the secret passage down. It was the first time he had done so since the professor walked with him through it last week. He stood in front of the door slightly nervous. He placed his palm on the center to gain entrance. After he heard it unlock, he opened the door. Swallowing in nervousness, he walked inside. “Professor Snape,” he called out after closing the door behind him, not wanting to startle the man. “I’m here.” He walked through the hallway into the living room. He spotted the professor seated at the kitchen table reading the Daily Prophet, and walked into the room.
When Harry walked in, Severus placed the paper on the table. “Good morning Harry. Let me clean this up,” he gestured to the tea cup and spoon on the table, “then we can get ready to go.”
Harry nodded and walked awkwardly to the living room. He took a seat on the sofa and rubbed his forehead. He hoped that after eating something, his headache would have gone away. Maybe it just needed more time. He toyed with the idea of asking the professor for a headache potion, but he had a feeling that the man would cancel the trip if he did. He couldn’t risk it. Surprisingly, he had actually been looking forward to this trip since it was brought up last week, and he didn’t want to miss it.
Severus walked into living room a minute later. “Before we leave, I need to change our appearances. Stand up Harry.” Once Harry was standing in front of him, he withdrew his wand and waved it at Harry.
Before Severus even lowered his hand, Harry felt a tingling sensation spread throughout his body. But just as soon as it started, it had stopped.
After conjuring a mirror, Severus held it out for Harry. “No one will be able to recognize you now.”
Harry took the mirror and looked at his reflection. His face was rounder, he had a smaller nose and his hair was a lighter brown. He still had green eyes and his hair was the same style and length it was before the spell. But other then that, he didn’t look like Harry Potter at all.
“I left your hair length and texture and your eyes the way they were. Since those are the reasons we are going to Diagon Alley it was necessary to keep them the same.”
“My scar is gone,” Harry said in awe, still staring at his reflection and running a finger over his now-smooth forehead. “I wish that didn’t have to come back when we were done.”
Severus then took the wand to himself. When he was done, his hair was a little darker than Harry’s and was cut short. He still had his dark brown eyes, but the shape of his face matched Harry’s. He had even changed what he was wearing, knowing he would attract too much attention dressed in his usual clothes. Gone was the standard black attire he always wore. He now sported black jeans with a dark green long-sleeved shirt and black loafers.
Harry stared at the professor in shock. He had never seen the professor in anything but his usual black. He then drew his attention up to the man’s face. He couldn’t really say why, but he was glad to see the professor kept his eyes the same. It made him more comfortable.
“Now, on to our names, though we probably won’t need to use them. Since your name is common enough, we can stick with Harry. Mine on the other hand will need to be changed. Let’s see.” Severus began pacing in front of Harry, one finger tapping his lips. He needed to come up with a common name for himself. “How about Christopher?” he said after a minute. “Christopher and Harry…” He looked down to Harry. “Do you have any suggestions for a last name?”
Wide eyed and unblinking, Harry looked up to Severus. He didn’t expect to have a say in anything. And to be asked that question? “Er…” his thoughts wandered to his mother. “How about Evans?” he asked quietly, not sure what Severus’ reaction would be.
Severus stopped pacing and looked down to Harry. “Evans it is,” he said without a second thought. “Christopher and Harry Evans. Now, since we are going as father and son, it would only be natural that we address each other as such. You in particular,” he said looking at Harry pointedly.
He had to address the professor as his father? Harry wasn’t sure if he would be able to do that. He swallowed, slightly uncomfortable. “Okay.”
“Are you ready?” Severus asked as he grabbed his overcoat from the chair and put it on.
Harry nodded.
“We’ll floo into the Leaky Cauldron.” Severus took a jar off the mantle and held it out to Harry. “You can go first.”
Harry took a small handful of the ash-like glittery powder and threw it into the fire already burning in the fireplace. Once the fire turned green, he stepped in and shouted “Diagon Alley.” A few seconds later he was standing in the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron. He quickly stepped out and to the side for Severus’ arrival while brushing soot off his clothes from the extremely dirty fireplace. Satisfied the ash was gone, he began rubbing his forehead again, the trip through the floo having aggravated his already aching head. He looked around the pub and was glad to see that no one paid him any attention as he had arrived.
Severus stepped out of the fireplace a few seconds after Harry. “Come along. I think the first stop should be the Optometrist.” He led Harry through the dark and shabby pub and out into the courtyard. When they were standing in front of the brick wall, Severus pulled out his wand and tapped the wall. As soon as the archway appeared, the two walked out onto the cobblestoned street.
Harry had a huge smile on his face as the archway disappeared behind them. He hadn’t been to Diagon Alley since before fifth year, and as he walked along the crowded street, his head swiveled back and forth to take in the sights just like it was during his very first year visiting. Others may have taken Diagon Alley for granted, but not him. His visits only amounted to one day a year, except for his third year, and he was always in awe when he visited.
All along the street, shops set out some of the products they were selling; cauldrons, potion ingredients, wizard wear, books, and even candy. Mothers and fathers were milling about while their small children were running excitedly up and down the street pointing to various things and men and women were stopping at all the various displays. Diagon Alley was pretty crowded for a cool February day.
Something caught Harry’s eye and he stopped walking a little bit after they entered Diagon Alley. A little boy, about four years old, had his small hands surrounding an enormous mug topped with about a foot of fluffy whipped cream at a table in front of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. The little boy had chocolate and whipped cream smeared all over his face and was smiling up to his parents. The mother gave a laugh, took a napkin and began wiping the boy’s face clean when Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. A sad smile on his face, he looked away from the little boy with a slight pang of sadness in his heart.
“This way Harry.” Severus guided Harry into a shop on the right side of the street next to Obscure Books.
At the sound of bells tinkling as the door closed, an older gentleman turned around at the front counter and addressed Severus and Harry. “Welcome to Seesmore Optometry. I’m Dr. Jenkins. What can I do for you?”
Severus walked up to the counter with Harry trailing behind. “My son, Harry, needs to get his eyes checked.”
“Very well, Mr….”
“Evans,” Severus supplied.
Dr. Jenkins nodded. “Mr. Evans, has your son been here before?” He looked over to Harry.
“No he hasn’t.”
“When was the last time he had an eye exam?”
Severus looked to Harry then back up to Dr. Jenkins. “I honestly can’t say.” Dr. Jenkins looked at Severus skeptically, but before he could question Severus further, Severus continued. “He has been living with his mother for the past fifteen and a half years.”
As the two were talking, Harry just watched them. It was extremely odd seeing the professor in this type of environment. Gone was the icy demeanor and voice full of malice that the man usually had when conversing with anyone. He was actually pleasant to be around.
Dr. Jenkins was rummaging through many pieces of parchment scattered in front of him as he talked with Severus. “Give me about five minutes,” he stated as he grabbed a few pieces of parchment, stuck them in a clipboard and laid them on the counter in front of Severus. “While you wait, could you please fill this out?
With parchment and clipboard in hand, Severus walked over to one of the waiting room chairs, a few down from a mother and her young daughter. “Harry, while we’re waiting, go take a look at all the frames and see which one you would like?”
Harry nodded and walked to the other side of the office and began looking at the many different types of frames.
While Harry looked over the frames, Severus sat down and glanced through the forms. He let out a breath and began filling them out. Luckily it was mostly just contact information, to establish Harry as a patient at the office, and didn’t require any detailed medical information. As that thought crossed his mind, Severus decided a thorough medical exam would definitely be required for Harry. Not the one that Madam Pomfrey performed the other week for injuries only, but one that checked for past illnesses and possible food and medical allergies as well; a full medical history. Severus looked back down to the forms. He wasn’t all that happy with having to fill them out with false information so he completed them with Harry’s and his real names and information. When finished, he looked around the office and seeing no one was paying him any attention, he pulled out his wand and cast a spell on the parchments. After quickly replacing his wand, he looked down to the forms again satisfied.
The forms now showed contact information for Harry and Christopher Evans. However, whenever anything was to be sent by post to the Evans or when the office needed to contact them for anything, everything would automatically be sent to Harry and Severus at either Spinners End or Hogwarts, depending on where they were at the time.
“Harry Evans,” Dr. Jenkins called from an open doorway a few minutes later. “Come on in.”
Setting down the frames he was looking at, Harry began wringing his hands, extremely nervous. He really didn’t want to go with the doctor, though he knew he was being childish. Years ago, at six years old, when the teacher at Harry’s primary school contacted his aunt to see about him getting his eyes checked, Dudley told him all sorts of painful things the doctor did to your eyes. After hearing that, he pleaded with his aunt to just buy him a pair of glasses and forget about the exam. His aunt agreed without a second thought. As Harry grew older, though, he wished his aunt would have pressed for an eye exam. His eyesight had been rubbish all his life. Pain or not, he would have gone for the exam.
Harry looked to Severus and when the man gave him a slight nod, he swallowed and tentatively began walking towards the doctor.
Severus immediately saw the fear in Harry’s eyes. As Harry passed he quietly whispered, “There is nothing to fear. You will be fine.”
At the professor’s reassurance, Harry began feeling slightly better. In the past, he would never have believed a word the professor might utter to him. But now? Now he knew the professor would never lie or purposely hurt him. He gave the professor a very small smile as he passed, and followed the doctor into the exam room.
While Harry was with the doctor, Severus passed the time reading a magazine that was lying on the table in the waiting area. He was hoping Harry’s eyes were fine and he didn’t need to wear glasses.
Fifteen minutes later, the exam room door creaked open and Harry walked out with the doctor next to him. “I need to speak with your father Harry. You can take a seat in the waiting area.” Dr. Jenkins looked to Severus. “Mr. Evans, could you see me at the counter, please?”
Harry walked over to the waiting area and was just about to sit down next to Severus. “Have you found a pair of frames you like?” Severus asked Harry.
“I think so,” Harry replied.
“Good. While I speak with the doctor, go ahead and look at them all again to be sure. When you’ve made up your mind, bring them over.” Severus got up and walked over to the counter.
Harry wandered back to the frames and looked at the few he really liked. He then looked at the prices for them. Not sure how much money he really had with him, he quickly glanced at the counter and noticing the professor and doctor were in conversation, pulled out his money and counted it up. After putting the money back in his pocket, he picked up the frames he really wanted. He glanced at the price again and set them down depressed. He didn’t have enough money for them. Looking at the prices for the other two frames he liked, he realized he wasn’t able to afford those either. His only option would be to see if the professor would let him go to Gringotts.
~SH~
When Harry went to look at frames, Severus walked up to the counter to speak with the doctor. “How is Harry’s vision, Dr. Jenkins,” he asked as he approached.
“I am happy to say that your son has perfect vision Mr. Evans.” He took the parchments that Severus had given him earlier and with a flick of his wand, they floated towards a room in the back of the office. “Even though Harry has perfect vision, it would be best if he get his eyes checked once a year. Here are the exam results and bill for the exam.” Dr. Jenkins set the parchment on the counter and picked up another set of forms. “Danielle, I’ll be ready for you in a few minutes,” he announced, looking at the little girl in the waiting room.
Severus picked up the results and began reviewing them as Harry walked over to him. “Profe…” He stopped immediately when Severus swiftly turned toward him and narrowed his eyes. Oh yeah, he couldn’t address the man that way. Hopefully no one heard his slip. He looked around and luckily the girl and her mother were not paying any attention to them. He gulped, not really wanting to address the man as was required. He walked up to Severus and looked to the parchment the professor was reading, not wanting to look the professor in the eyes. “Erm, fa…father,” the word was almost painful to say, “do you think we could go to…”
Severus didn’t let Harry finish once he saw Harry didn’t have any frames in his hand. “Did you find a pair of frames you like?” he asked.
Harry looked over to the display holding the frames he really wanted and then turned back to Severus. “I… Could we please stop at Gringotts?” he asked.
“There is no need to go to Gringotts, Harry,” Severus stated, with finality to his voice.
“But I…” Harry again looked to the frames he really wanted. If the professor wasn’t going to allow him to go to the bank, then he had no way of getting the frames he wanted. And he did not want to explain why he wanted to go to the bank. He sighed. “I really don’t need new frames. I’ll, I’ll just stick to the ones I have,” he said sadly. He then tried to glance at the bill for his exam. Hopefully he had enough to cover that.
Unfortunately, Severus placed his arm on top of it as he turned towards him. “Harry, go get the frames you want.”
A knot formed in Harry’s stomach. He dreaded having to tell the professor he didn’t have enough money for them. Especially since earlier in the week he told the man he had enough money to buy a new pair. He slowly raised his head and looked to Severus. “I can’t…”
“Harry,” Severus interrupted softly. “Go get them.” He nodded in the direction of the display.
Harry kept eye contact with Severus for a few more seconds then slowly left to retrieve the frames he wanted. When he got back over to Severus, he placed them on the counter.
Severus picked them up and looked them over. “These are really nice. A definite improvement over what you currently have.”
“But I can’t afford them!” Harry blurted out. “I don’t have enough money for the frames and the exam. If we can go to Gringotts first, then…”
“Nonsense.” Severus replied, and then led Harry to a corner in the office, a hand on the boy’s shoulder. He leaned over until he was eye level with Harry. “You are not paying for the frames or the exam, Harry. You are to only spend your money on things you want, not need. Your money is for you to save if you so wish or to spend on frivolous items like candy, books, magazines, games; things of that nature. Clothes, food, school supplies, anything related to your health, and items like that are things I will provide for. Understand?”
Harry wanted to scream at the man that he had taken care of himself and paid for everything for the last fifteen years and he could continue to do so, but he couldn’t utter a word. He could only stare at the professor. He was shocked speechless, though feeling extremely uncomfortable. Never had anyone, not even his own relatives, willingly spent their own money on him; birthday and Christmas gifts from his friends excluded. And now the professor, a man who hated him for over five years, just told him he would do that? All Harry could do in response was nod that he understood.
Severus squeezed Harry’s shoulder. “Let me take care of the glasses and bill and we can be on our way.” When Harry dropped his eyes to the ground a few seconds, he walked back up to the counter. Severus picked up the frames Harry wanted and placed them on top of the bill. “Can you add these frames to the bill please,” Severus addressed the doctor.
Dr. Jenkins looked to the frames. “Harry has no need for glasses, Mr. Evans. He has perfect vision.”
“These frames currently have clear lenses do they not?” Severus asked. The doctor nodded. “Good. Please add them to the bill.”
Without a question, though still wondering why the glasses were wanted, the doctor adjusted the bill, grabbed a new pair of frames from the store room and set them both back on the counter.
Harry had walked up to the counter while Severus was talking to Dr. Jenkins and after the revised bill was placed on the counter, he was finally able to glance at the total. He couldn’t believe how much the bill was! His eyes then traveled up to the professor, ready for the man’s usual personality to show. However, there was no glaring, yelling, or anything of that nature to him or to the doctor for the amount of the bill. The professor just pulled out his money and paid the amount due. Harry looked at the man’s uncharacteristically calm face again then backed away from the counter and quickly left the office, suddenly needing some air.
Once outside, he found a bench two stores away and sat down. He put his elbows on his thighs and dropped his head in his hands, breathing heavily. He was not ready for this! It was only a few days ago he finally realized the man was not playing a joke on him. He still wasn’t sure what he felt about it yet. And now, the professor said he never had to pay for anything important? It was all too much.
~SH~
Severus watched Harry almost run out of the office. “Thank you for your assistance,” he said quickly to Dr. Jenkins. Without another word, he grabbed the frames, exam results and bill, and placed them in his pocket as he quickly followed after Harry.
After getting outside, he spotted Harry seated on the bench. He walked over and sat down on the other side. He turned so he was facing Harry and put his right arm on the back of the bench. “Are you all right?”
Harry dropped his arms and looked over to Severus a minute later. “I don’t know,” he answered honestly.
“I understand,” Severus replied. It was obvious Harry was still having a difficult time with everything.
“Thanks profe…er,” he looked away from Severus, “fa…father, for the frames and exam.” He better remember to call the professor that, as hard as it was. There was no telling who would be around if he let the professor’s name slip. Luckily there was currently no one in earshot.
“Shall we continue on?” Severus asked.
“Ok.” Harry looked back to Severus. “Where are we going next?”
Severus stood up. “I’d like to complete all the necessary stops first. Since the apothecary is only a few stores away, let’s head there. I need to pick up a few items.” He began walking toward the apothecary. Harry got up from the bench and followed after the professor.
When they reached the apothecary, Severus entered, but Harry stood just outside the door. He didn’t really want to go in. He was never fond of the shop. All the glass jars, along one side of the shop, holding unidentifiable things always turned his stomach. As much as he didn’t want to go inside, he knew he had to. There was no sense, this early on in their trip, in aggravating the professor with wanting to stay outside. He pulled open the door and hesitantly entered the dimly lit shop.
The moment Harry entered, the overwhelming smell of all the various items in the store made it extremely difficult for him to breath. Not to mention it was aggravating his already aching head. Beginning to feel slightly lightheaded and nauseated, he searched the shop. Spotting Severus bagging some dry ingredients along the far wall, he walked over.
Out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw Harry approach his side. “Harry, if you could please do me a favor, I need…” He immediately stopped talking the moment he looked at Harry’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Harry lied, as he leaned almost all his weight on the table that was holding the many large glass containers of various herbs. He was beginning to feel like he would pass out. And the longer he stayed in the shop, the harder it seemed to be for him to breathe.
Severus narrowed his eyes as he studied Harry’s face. “I know the various smells in here affect many people. You can go wait for me on the bench we just came from. I shouldn’t be very long. Or, if I know you, you probably want to visit the Quidditch shop. Go ahead. Whatever you decide, meet me at the bench in thirty minutes.”
“Thank you,” Harry replied relieved, and quickly exited the apothecary.
After Harry exited the shop, he took a few deep breaths of fresh air. Still feeling slightly lightheaded, he wandered over to the bench and took a seat. He really wanted to check out Quality Quidditch Supplies, but at the moment, he wasn’t feeling up to it. He decided to just sit and people watch while he waited until he didn’t feel so lightheaded.
~SH~
Severus exited the apothecary while shrinking his packages and placing them in his pocket. He hadn’t really wanted to carry them, but he thought it would be highly suspicious if he asked the store owner to have his packages shipped to the Hogwarts Potions Master. He could have used the charm he placed on the forms at the optometrist, but it wasn’t worth the time for the items he purchased.
Knowing he still had about ten minutes before Harry was to meet him, Severus slowly wandered over to the bench. He was slightly shocked when he spotted Harry already waiting for him. “You’ve already finished looking through the Quidditch shop?” he asked as he came to the front of the bench.
Having been lost in people watching, Harry jumped slightly. He didn’t even see the professor approach from his right. He looked up to Severus who was now standing in front of him. “I never really made it there.” He shrugged. “I guess I got caught up in people watching. I don’t get to see many wizards or witches outside of school,” he added embarrassedly.
“I see.” Severus looked around the street. There were plenty of witches and wizards wandering about. Most were dressed in the normal wizard attire or as Muggles, but there were quiet a lot who were wearing odd looking robes or cloaks. His eyes wandered back to Harry. “I have already completed the one task I needed for myself. Did you want to go to the Quidditch shop first? Or would you like to just wander up and down the street? It’s up to you.”
Harry really wanted to wander around Diagon Alley. He liked looking in the windows of all the stores and sometimes even going in to the odder ones. But would the professor want that? He had a feeling the professor was the type to go directly where he needed to go without making any nonessential stops. But Severus did just say it was up to him. “If you don’t mind, could we just wander around?” Harry responded timidly.
“Of course. Did I not just tell you that?” He watched as Harry bit his lip and looked down to the ground. “Come along. You can lead. If there is any shop you’d like to visit, go right ahead. I will not stop you.”
Smiling, Harry stood up and began strolling up Diagon Alley, the professor next to him. As they came across shops, the two would stop and look in all the windows, however they only went in a few of them.
After walking out of a candy store with empty hands, Severus had to remind Harry that if there was something he wanted to buy, he could. Harry walked back in the candy shop, slightly embarrassed, and bought a few pieces of candy.
Two hours later, Harry watched as Severus shrunk his latest purchase, a few jokes from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes; one store where Severus made the decision on what could be purchased. Little did Severus know just how many things Fred and George gave him all the time. This shrunken package joined the others from Eeylops Owl Emporium, Quality Quidditch Supply, and a stationers. All were now residing in Harry inside jacket pocket.
Putting his wand away, Severus just stared at Harry for a few moments, almost scrutinizing him. “I’ve got one more stop we need to make,” he stated as he turned around and headed back up the street. Severus led him to a high end clothing shop just past Magical Menagerie.
Harry looked at Severus in confusion, but followed Severus inside. He didn’t think the professor needed any clothes, but who was he to say so. His confusion intensified as they wandered upstairs and bypassed the men’s clothing. He didn’t realize what they were doing there until he was standing in the middle of the boy’s clothing section.
“I’m not sure of your size,” Severus said while pulling a pair of black trousers from a rack and holding them in front of Harry.
“I don’t need any clothes,” Harry quickly stated.
“Based on what I see you currently wearing and what I’ve seen you wear in the past, you do.”
Harry looked to the ground, his face beginning to turn red from embarrassment. He had hoped the man hadn’t really noticed his clothing. No one else had all these years. “I don’t…”
“DON’T, finish that statement,” Severus interrupted. He put back the pair of trousers and pulled out a larger size. “What size do you wear?”
“I don’t know.” He bit his lip in humiliation. “The Dursley’s just give me Dudley’s old hand-me-downs and I never paid attention to the sizes on my Hogwarts clothes.”
“Very well.” He handed the pair of trousers in his hand to Harry and pulled another one the next size up and handed them to Harry as well. “We’ll have you try these two on and we’ll go from there.”
They spent the next forty-five minutes going from section to section in the same way. With arms laden with clothes, Harry went to the dressing room and tried on all the clothes. Once all the clothes were selected, they stopped in the shoe department and the socks/underwear/pajama department as well.
An hour later, and after paying for their purchases, Harry had four new casual outfits, three new sets of pants and shirts for school, a pair of trainers and dressier shoes, two sets of pajamas and a robe, and quite a few pairs of underwear and socks. Severus had this packaged and shipped to Hogwarts using the same spell that he placed on the parchments at the optometrist.
Harry hadn’t said a word while Severus paid the clerk for their purchases. He just stared at all his new clothes with his lips pressed tightly together, too overwhelmed with emotion to speak.
~SH~
Standing in the middle of the street, outside the clothing store, Severus was just going to ask what Harry wanted to do next when he heard the boy’s stomach growl. “I think it’s about time for lunch,” he said slightly amused. “Is there any other place here you’d like to see before we leave?”
Harry whipped his head around toward Severus, the fast movement causing the pounding in his head to resume. He didn’t want to go back to Hogwarts so soon. True, he was with the professor and he had a very bad headache, but he was actually having a lot of fun. “No. I’ve looked in all the shops that interested me,” he reluctantly answered.
“What would you like to eat?” Severus asked as he led Harry back in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron.
Putting his hands in his pants pockets, Harry looked up to Severus with confusion. Students only ate what was presented in the Great Hall. You could never tell the elves what you wanted; well except the headmaster, Harry mused. “Whatever Hogwarts is serving. Like always.” Harry answered, feeling slightly depressed as they walked into the dimly lit pub.
After entering the crowded pub, Harry began walking towards the fireplace to floo back to Hogwarts, not paying any attention to Severus.
“Harry, where are you going?” Severus asked, as soon as he noticed Harry was no longer next to him.
Harry abruptly stopped walking and saw that Severus was a few feet away. “Aren’t we going back to…to…home, father?” Harry asked, conscious of the many people within earshot of him and Severus. “You said we were leaving.”
“Leaving Diagon Alley, yes. Have we made all our required stops?” Severus queried as Harry walked up to him.
“Yes.” Harry then noticed Severus was looking at his hair. “Erm, no. I guess not,” he added sheepishly. How could he forget that he hadn’t gotten his haircut?
Severus raised an amused eyebrow. “What would you like to eat for lunch? Is there anything you have been craving?” he asked, as he began walking toward the pub’s exit.
Harry bit his bottom lip as he tried to come up with something. He’d never really been asked what he wanted to eat before. While at Hogwarts, he always ate whatever the school’s elves served. When he stayed with Ron, he ate whatever Mrs. Weasley cooked. And over the summer holidays, he would eat whatever scraps the Dursley’s decided to give him.
What had he always wanted to eat? A picture of a diner appeared in Harry’s mind. He had been cleaning the Dursley’s living room over the summer and Dudley had the telly on. He couldn’t remember what the show was, besides that it was from America, but he remembered a group of kids seated at a diner eating cheeseburgers, fries and milk shakes. He surprisingly had never been able to eat that type of food before. Stuff like that wasn’t normally served at Hogwarts and the Dursley’s would in no way let him eat a cheeseburger. “Could we go to a place where they have cheeseburgers, fries and milk shakes? I’ve always wanted to try them.”
Severus pushed open the door of the pub and let Harry exit first. “There is a place just down Charing Cross Road, a block past the record store.” As the two walked, Severus couldn’t believe Harry had never had a cheeseburger before. It wasn’t common food to wizards, but they were still eaten at times. Did Harry’s relatives forbid him to eat various foods? He really needed to sit down with Harry and find out about his time with the Dursley’s.
Harry squinted as he followed Severus down the block to the restaurant. The early afternoon sky was exceedingly bright compared to the dimly lit pub and it felt like each ray of sunshine was stabbing his eyes. The entered the restaurant and were led to a booth off to the side. The waitress handed them laminated menus, took their drink order, then left them to decide on what to eat.
Five minutes later, with their drinks on the table and lunch having been ordered Severus crossed his arms on the table and looked at Harry. “How are you enjoying the day so far?” he asked, extremely interested in Harry’s response. He hoped the day was a success so far, and judging from Harry’s reactions, it had. But he still wanted to hear it from Harry.
“It’s been brilliant,” Harry stated enthusiastically. ‘I’m having loads of fun. Thank you so much for everything.” It was true. He was having a blast, but he knew he’d enjoy himself more if his head didn’t hurt. He almost mentioned to the professor that he had a really bad headache, but he held his tongue. He didn’t want to ruin the day by the professor saying they had to head back to the castle.
“I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself. I hope the rest of the day will be as fun for you.” He ignored the confused look Harry gave him. “After we’re finished with lunch, we will get your haircut.”
Harry nodded in response while he grabbed his glass of water and took a few sips. He felt a tickle in his throat and wanted to relieve it before it caused him to cough. No doubt the cough would aggravate his aching head. He was about to ask what they would be doing after his haircut, but the waitress arrived with their food.
Once the waitress set their lunch on the table and left, Harry immediately grabbed the frosty glass holding his chocolate shake and tried to take a sip. He had been itching to taste it since he mentioned it to Severus. The shake was so thick that all he accomplished at his first sip was to suck in his cheeks so he looked like a fish. He removed the straw from his mouth, took a few breaths and tried again. This time he was successful. He swallowed and was surprised at how good the icy drink felt on his throat. He hadn’t noticed that his throat was bothering him until that first sip of his shake. He took another sip and couldn’t help a “Mmm,” once he swallowed.
After swallowing a spoon full of his chili, Severus looked up to Harry. “Are you enjoying your shake?”
Harry set the shake down on the table and looked up to Severus. “It’s as good as I imagined. I bet they serve these at Fortescue’s. I’ve never looked the times I’ve been there. I always wanted just ice cream. I’ll have to remember next time.”
Severus just looked at Harry slightly amused and slightly saddened. The more he learned about Harry’s past, the more deprived of everyday things he realized the boy was. He watched Harry set aside his shake and take a bite of his cheeseburger. Why did he allow his son to grow up the way he had? Harry could have had everything if he had been living with him instead of the Dursley’s. Why did Lily keep Harry from him?
Faint memories assaulted Severus’ mind moments later. He had been the one to give up Harry; pleading with Lily and James to raise him. He was the one who thought Harry would be safer if he wasn’t around. It was because of him that Harry had grown up the way he had; abused physically and emotionally. At that realization, Severus abruptly stood up and left the table, spilling his water all over the table in the process.
Startled, Harry watched the professor walk away until he was out of sight. He swallowed the food he had been eating and set the cheeseburger down on the plate. His appetite was now gone, not that he had much to begin with. What had he done to cause the professor to leave? Before he could even contemplate answering himself, their waitress appeared.
“Is your father okay?” she asked as she pulled out a rag from her apron pocket. “Let me clean this up for you.” She wiped up the spilled water and refilled the glass.
Harry didn’t answer her. He was too consumed in thoughts of what he might have done that caused the professor to leave.
Chapter 30