Walk the Shadows

'Of course, of course. Well, over here, dear, up on the stool and I'll get you measured.'

'He'll also need everyday clothing,' came Remus' voice, with a touch of humor in it as Harry shot him a look. Remus' smirk wasn't quite as potent as Snape's but it raised Harry's ire all the same. 'Shirts, trousers, socks, vests, the lot. A winter cloak, boots and two pairs of shoes. Gloves, hat, jumpers . . .'

It would cost a bloody fortune. Harry's glare intensified, and so did Snape's Remus-smirk. There was no need to get all of this now, and Snape knew it. But Harry would see him paid back, every knut.

'Excellent, excellent,' Madam Malkin said. She took her measuring tape from a deep pocket in her robes, then set it into motion over Harry's whole body as she collected clothing for him into a large pile. Once everything was in order, she shrunk the clothing, and Snape put it in his pocket.

Exhausted, Harry left the store needing to sit down.

Snape gestured to the cafe sitting area across the street, at Florean Fortescue's. 'Ice cream?'

Harry had to smile. 'Strawberry?'

'Indeed.'

At the ice cream shop, Harry was able to scrunch down in his seat and watch pedestrians, keeping his eye on anyone who came near. He knew he was being a bit paranoid, but the last thing he wanted was to have some one sneak up on him and attack him -- if it was a Death Eater -- or fling themselves on him -- if it was Hermione or Mrs. Weasley. Neither held any appeal, but now that he had his wand, he'd be hard pressed to say which would be worse.

Snape, as he'd said, seemed to really enjoy his ice cream, and on Remus' face, the resulting smile didn't look so forced. Harry had chocolate, with whipped cream, but he only ate a few bites before pushing the rest away. His head was pounding and he felt hot and cold, both at once. The Alley was too noisy and there were too many people around for him to keep an eye on them all.

'I believe,' Snape said, wiping his mouth with a paper serviette, before getting to his feet, 'that we shall head back to the castle now.'

'No, it's okay. We haven't gotten my books yet.'

'We can easily procure those by owl. Come along now, Nicholas.'

'I'm all right,' Harry insisted.

'You. Are. Not.' Remus-Snape loomed over him. 'You are in danger of over extending yourself, and we will cease this excursion before that happens. Do not force me to drag you to the Leaky Cauldron by the ear like an errant child.'

He wouldn't, Harry thought. But, looking into the unaccustomed scowl on Remus' face and measuring his words, Harry knew he would. He wiped his own mouth and sidled out of his seat, shoulders hunched and hands shoved in his pockets. Snape-Remus shook his head slightly and walked them back to the Floo point.

Harry and Snape stood in front of the stone fireplace, waiting while a middle-aged witch and her two young children went through.

Snape leaned closer to Harry and said, 'There's a password, to get back through to the Headmaster's office. It--' but the rest of his words were drowned in a gust of green flame that billowed up as a tall man stepped out of the fireplace, swathed in black, from boots to cloak, except for the cloak's silver clasp, and the silver snake head on the cane in his hand.

Harry fell back, scrambling madly to get out of the way, a low keening sound coming from his throat as Lucius Malfoy stood regally before him.

TBC . . .

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A/N: Oh, come on! Don't tell me you didn't see this coming! Okay, okay, I admit to being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad person. But, well, I can live with that. :-D

I realize that in canon, Ollivander and Fortescue have both left Diagon Alley before this point, in the summer after Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts. I've taken a few liberties with the timeline, though. Hope you understand. I mean, Snape had to have his ice cream! And who am I to deny him?

Next chapter will be out by Wednesday. So no uproaring dithers, okay? Love and hugs. Oh, and strawberry ice cream for everyone!

*Chapter 30*: Chapter 30

Walk the Shadows

By jharad17

Chapter 30

Disclaimer: None of this is mine. Honest. She's rich, I'm not.

Chapter Warning: This chapter contains profanity, and Lucius Malfoy.

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Aug.17, 9:30 am

no further entry for this date

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Harry fell back, scrambling madly to get out of the way, a low keening sound coming from his