Walk the Shadows

the Alley early for some reason, he had to be sure and get a wand first. A short argument had ensued when Harry pointed out he needed to go to Gringott's first, in order to have money to buy a wand, and Snape said that as Harry's guardian, it would be his responsibility to provide for Harry, up to and including galleons for wand, clothes and books. Harry had pointed out that Snape was not his guardian, not yet, and Snape finished the bout with a 'Timing on that score matters little to me, Mr. Potter. But we will not be taking the time out of our schedule for Gringott's.'

Now Harry shrugged, tugging the soft-brimmed hat a little lower over his forehead. 'I was angry and it was Neville's, that his Gran had sent him, and M-m-malfoy was being a prat.'

Remus-Snape sent him a quick look, but didn't say anything about Harry's stumble over the name, for which he was grateful. If he could just get through this day without freaking out, he knew he'd be ready for class. He was worried, though, because he hadn't even spoken to Hermione and Ron this summer, and he didn't know what they knew about where he had been, or what had happened, and he couldn't even imagine that conversation.

The Alley was more crowded than the Cauldron had been, but no one paid them any attention, and they were able to weave through the shoppers easily enough. Ollivander's was at the far end of the Alley, and they had to bloody well pass Gringott's to get there, but Harry didn't roll his eyes or sigh or anything as they continued on without stopping. Not much, anyway.

Inside the dingy storefront at last, Harry stepped up to the counter, careful to not push his hair away from his face, where some of it had fallen. Even so, Mr. Ollivander's large moon-like eyes traveled over him rather closely before he glanced at Remus-Snape. 'Ahh, Remus Lupin. Oak, wasn't it? Sixteen inches, reasonably springy, dragon heartstring core.'

Snape-Remus smiled and nodded.

Then those odd eyes were on Harry again and Harry tried not to squirm. 'Needing a new wand, are you?'

'Yes, sir. Mine was, er, broken.'

'Ah, I sold you that wand, didn't I?'

'Er, maybe. It was oak. I think—'

Ollivander smiled a smile that stretched his whole face out. 'Mr. Potter, do you think we could dispense with the subterfuge? That would be holly, eleven inches, supple, with a single phoenix tail feather, correct?'

'Um, yeah.' Harry's face flushed, and Snape moved slightly closer to him. 'But I don't have it anymore and need a new one.'

'Of course. Let's see . . . Oh, try this one. Mahogany, 9 ? inches and with a unicorn tail hair.' He proffered the box to Harry, who took the wand out and swished it, but nothing happened. 'No? All right then, how about . . .'

It took thirteen wands this time to find one that worked well for Harry. This time around, the wand was yew, 11 inches, with a sliver of basilisk fang at its core. Harry almost hated to touch the thing when Ollivander described it, but the wand warmed in his hand when he finally picked it up, and felt . . . right. Red and gold sparks flew out of the end as soon as he had his fingers wrapped around it.

'Yew. Interesting,' Ollivander said, with that same creepy tone he'd used the last time Harry had gotten a wand from him. 'Symbolic of death and resurrection,' he added. 'I don't make many of these. Haven't sold one for many, many years.'

Harry got a heavy feeling in his chest, and he wanted to stop the wandmaker before he said any more, but was helpless to do so. Still, he knew he could have said the words that next came out of the elderly man's mouth, at the exact same time.

'He Who Must Not Be Named has a wand of yew.'

Of course he did. There were yew in the churchyard where Cedric had died. And in the forbidden forest where Hagrid kept the herd of thestrals. Death surrounded them.

'And resurrection, Mr. Potter,' Ollivander said, and Harry realized he'd said the last aloud. The man's smile turned a bit wry. 'Rather like a phoenix, in a way. Always rebirth, after death. Don't forget, there are two sides.'

A hand landed on his shoulder, and he almost twisted away before he remembered. Snape. When the hand squeezed his shoulder, almost gently, Harry realized he was trembling and tried to stop, slowing his breathing and focusing on the here, on the now.

Remus' voice said, 'Very well. How much?' He paid without releasing Harry's shoulder, and then steered him back into the street. Harry used the contact to keep himself steady. . . . steadier.

Once outside, Remus-Snape peered into his eyes. Harry had seen concern in Remus' eyes before, so this wasn't terribly off-putting. It was hard to remember, with that look in the amber eyes, that this was really Snape. 'Has this been enough? We can do the rest by owl.'

'No, it's all right.' Harry nodded. 'I'm all right.'

Remus-Snape pursed his lips, and after another moment, nodded. After he gave one last squeeze, Snape let his shoulder go, and walked beside him as they retraced their steps. As they passed Gringott's on the way to Madam Malkin's, Harry said quietly, 'I'll pay you back.'

Remus-Snape glared at him. 'You'll do no such thing.'

'I have plenty of money--'

'Which I do not care about in the slightest.'

Harry wanted so badly to ask what Snape did care about, but was almost sure the answer would be something like 'duty' or 'safety' or 'winning the war against evil,' and he didn't want to hear any of those, so he hurried his steps instead and pushed his way into the clothier's without looking back.

The squat, smiling witch came up to him immediately. 'Hogwarts robes, dear?'

'Yes, ma'am,' Harry said. 'Mine are . . . too small.' He just wished. He'd probably only grown a few inches in five whole years.