Chapter Text
Severus walked by Fortescues Ice Cream Parlour without a thought. Even with the sunny, warm day, ice cream was not on his agenda at the moment. He had come through the Leaky Cauldron and was on his way to Knockturn Alley for some... not-quite-legal potions ingredients.
The best time to do actual potion experimentation was in the two weeks that Dumbledore was off doing Supreme Mugwhump business with the International Confederation of Wizards. Dumbledore would be incommunicado until ten days before the start of classes and unable to ask Severus to do 'one simple little thing' that never was simple, nor little.
It was mid-summer and he was working on a variation of Polyjuice Potion. The standard version of the potion worked for an hour but he had a thought that he might be able to extend that time, to as long as twenty-four hours. But the variation would, he had theorized, require Hungarian Horntail powdered egg shell. Since the Ministry had declared that Dragon egg shells were a class-A non-tradable good, he needed to go to questionable sources to get what he needed. Which would be very different, of course, Severus thought with a snort, if the use was within the Ministry.
He had walked three shops past Fortescues before his brain realized that he had seen something important. He stopped walking and blinked. He made an about-face and re-traced his steps, stopping in front of Fortescues.
Sitting in plain sight at a table on the patio outside Fortescues Ice Cream Parlour was Harry Bloody Potter!
"Potter! What are you doing here?" Severus demanded.
Potter looked up from the books spread across the table. "I'm having ice cream." He gestured at the books. "And doing my summer assignments."
"What are you doing here?" Severus waved an arm.
Potter looked around. "It's the only place to get ice cream?" He frowned in confusion.
Severus bit back a sigh but he rubbed his forehead. "You are sitting in a public space, on Diagon Alley, with no security, and paying no attention to your surroundings." Severus moved closer and hissed, "Where any Death Eater or discontented wizard could attack you!"
"Er..."
At that point, Severus felt the teeth that threatened his left leg. Severus looked down to see a large, black dog who quietly growled at him. Severus froze. The dog's shoulders were table-height and the rest of the body was just as large. That the dog was able to sneak up on him without warning was a conundrum he would examine later.
"Professor Snape, meet Blackie," Potter said cheerfully.
"May I sit down?" Severus asked carefully.
Potter leaned over and asked Blackie, "What do you think?"
The dog did not seem to be happy about it, but released Severus' leg and moved back closer to Potter. The dog sat on its haunches but the eyes easily looked over the top of the table.
Severus moved toward the table, trying to transmit his moves before making them. For a moment, it felt as dangerous as an audience with the Dark Lord. He shivered at the thought.
As he sat down, Florean Fortescue came bustling out.
"Professor Snape! I haven't seen you here in ages," Fortescue greeted him. "Can I get you something?"
Severus was about to say Nothing! when he realized Blackie was still growling at him.
"A sundae. Caramel ice cream, chocolate sauce, crushed pecans, and whipped cream, please," Severus said politely.
"A classic! I will have that out to you in a minute!" Fortescue beamed. He hurried back into the shop.
Severus turned back to Potter. "May I ask why you are doing homework and eating ice cream in plain sight of anyone that comes to Diagon Alley on a Thursday in August?"
"Well, I'm staying at the Leaky..." Potter started.
Severus held up a hand. "I suspect there is more to this story," he said, barely holding on to his patience. "Could you start at the beginning?"
"Oh! All right," Potter nodded.
It was interesting to see Blackie's ears perk up. In interest?
"Aunt Marge came to visit Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon..." Potter started.
"Petunia? Why were you at Petunia's home?" Severus demanded.
"I live there in the summer," Potter sighed.
"Petunia Evans?" Severus could not stop himself asking.
"My mother's sister? Yes," Potter nodded.
"You live with Petunia Evans?" Severus growled.
"Dumbledore says..." Potter started.
Severus held up his hand again. "Enough said. That is a discussion I will have with Albus."
"Good luck with that," Potter sighed. "Merlin knows I've tried and he says I have to go back there for some shite reason or another."
"Nevertheless. Go on," Severus said. "And watch your language."
"Aunt Marge is... I won't lie, she's just awful," Potter admitted. "She dotes on Dudley and hates me for some reason. But Uncle Vernon promised he'd sign my Hogsmeade permission slip if I behaved the entire time Aunt Marge was visiting."
"I will guess it did not go well," Severus said.
"Aunt Marge did have a lot of wine, but she said awful things about my parents and I got mad and I blew her up," Potter admitted.
"Blew her up?" Severus was appalled.
"No! I didn't kill her!" Potter protested, flailing in his chair. "But she turned into a balloon and started floating away."
"That is an interesting piece of magic that we shall discuss later," Severus said. "Go on."
"Well, while Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were fussing about Aunt Marge, I grabbed my things and was trying to run away," Potter admitted. "I tripped and accidentally called the Knight Bus. I had enough money to pay to get to the Leaky Cauldron. Tom gave me a room for the night and I was going to go to the Bank in the morning to see what kind of money I had so I could maybe run away from, well, everything."
"What stopped you?" Severus asked.
"The Minister showed up and was his usual smarmy self," Potter grinned. "He said Aunt Marge had been taken care of, although I'm not sure I want to know what that really means, and he said I could stay here until school starts."
Severus was drumming his fingers on the table when Fortescue placed his sundae in front of him.
"Anything else, Professor?"
Severus shook his head. "It looks delicious. Thank you." It did look good.
Fortescue beamed and went back inside.
He saw Potter staring at him. "What?"
Potter rolled his eyes. "I've never seen you... being a real human being before."
Severus barked a small laugh. He took a scoop of his treat and ate it.
Potter shook his head in amazement.
"So the Minister for Magic knows you are here," Severus said.
"He's paying for everything, too," Potter grinned. "Well, not for my school books, but for my room and my meals. Said as long as I stay on the Alley that I should be safe."
Severus ate more of his sundae. "I have some personal doubts about that but we shall wait and see."
"It's been all right," Potter shrugged. "But it's only been a couple of days."
"And where did your friend Blackie come from?" Severus asked.
"He got on the bus when I did. Stan Shunpike, the conductor, assumed he was with me," Potter admitted. "I've never had a good relationship with a dog before," -- another thing Severus likely needed to follow up on -- "but he followed me and wouldn't leave. He's been good and so it's been nice to have him around."
"Blackie?"
Potter shrugged. "It seemed appropriate and he answers to it."
Severus ate more of the sundae. It really was good and he wondered why he had not stopped in for one more often when he was on the Alley.
"What are your plans for the rest of the summer?" Severus asked.
"Finish the homework, since I didn't get to start before I got here," Potter admitted. "I haven't been to the Bank yet, but I should go. Although I don't have my Vault key. Mrs. Weasley had it last, as far as I know. Hagrid had it at one point, so I'm guessing Dumbledore has it."
"Professor Dumbledore," Severus said automatically.
Potter shrugged. "Whatever."
"The Bank can fix the key problem," Severus said. While he did not have a Vault himself, not having enough money to need one, he knew something about the services offered by the Horde via discussions with some of his classmates.
"Really?" Potter perked up. "Cool."
Severus scraped the bottom of the dish, finishing the last of the ice cream.
"Has anyone been here to talk with you?" Severus asked. He would have thought Minerva, with her soft heart and being head of Gryffindor, might have stopped by to check on Potter. Although if Severus did not know Potter was here, did Minerva know? It would be just like Albus to not share that information.
"No one," Potter replied, shaking his head. "I've only seen the people on the Alley. I did get a letter from Hermione that Hedwig brought and she'll be here just before school starts, to get her books. I assume the Weasleys will be here just before school starts, when they get back from Egypt."
"I did see that article," Severus admitted. And all the articles about Sirius Black escaping from Azkaban.
Now that he thought about it, Black should be at the top of the list of Potter should be worried about, rather than worrying about random Death Eaters.
"What do you know of Sirius Black?" Severus asked carefully.
Potter shrugged. "Just what I read in the papers. He escaped from Azkaban and everyone's gone spare about it."
Severus sat back and thought furiously. Potter was not aware that Black was his godfather? How could that have happened? Although a moment of rational thought made him realize that Petunia would be unlikely to be aware of that relationship and even less likely to tell Potter if she did know.
"If the Horde can fix my key problem, is there any chance you would escort me to the Bank this afternoon?" Potter asked politely. "It seems like one of those things that would go better if there was an adult with me."
Blackie whined a bit.
"Don't worry," Potter patted the dog on the head. "It's only the Bank and I won't be gone for long. I doubt they'll let you inside. Sorry."
"You are correct," Severus nodded. Although it was interesting that Potter was asking him, of all people, to assist with this task.
Potter grinned at Severus. "Was that painful to admit?" he asked. Then a look of horror crossed his face. "I mean..."
"We are not in school," Severus relented. "I cannot take points for anything that happens outside of school."
Potter sat back and breathed for a moment. "Would you go with me to the Bank, please?"
"I would be glad to accompany you," Severus nodded his head.
Potter stacked up his books and papers and stuck everything haphazardly into a satchel. "One of the things I need is a proper book bag."
"Too true," Severus agreed.
Potter leaned into the store. "Mr. Fortescue? I'm off to the Bank. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Sure thing, Harry!" Fortescue called. "See you tomorrow!"
Blackie stayed by Potter's side, away from Severus, which Severus appreciated. It was good to see that Potter had a stalwart protector, even if it was a large, shaggy dog. No one else seemed to be directly helping the boy.
Blackie peeled off as they reached the Bank.
"He'll find me when we get out," Potter said without a trace of worry in his voice.
"I do not doubt that," Severus agreed.