What the Devil Wants

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Harry grumbled silently to himself as he negotiated the crowds in Diagon Alley trying to stay behind Snape, as the man seemed to glide through the throng of wizards and witches. Harry had never seen Diagon Alley so full before, although admittedly he’d never visited the place during the school term. Still the Alley seemed overly lively for just a simple weekend, and Harry wondered what was going on. Not that he had time to find out, Snape having hardly stopped since the pair of them had apperate into the street at quarter past 9.

Having met Snape in the foyer of Hogwart’s at 6.30 exactly, Harry had been surprised to see the headmaster waiting with the potion’s master. Dumbledore had been a factor Harry had bargained for, and as he’d approached the professors Harry had clearly seen the tense twitch in the headmasters expression. It wasn’t surprising that Dumbledore didn’t want Harry accompanying Snape on his trip, and Harry silently wondered what Snape had said to make the elder wizard agree. There was no exchanges of pleasantries, aside from the ritual strained good morning before Snape had guided Harry outside of the castle and down out of the gates. Dumbledore had followed them to the gates but had stopped on the threshold as Harry and Snape had stepped into the apparition zone.

“Keep up with me Potter, and don’t touch anything.” Those eight words just before they’d apperated had been the only things Snape had said to Harry all morning. No sooner had Harry’s feet hit the coble of Diagon Alley, than Snape had taken off leaving Harry to scurry after him like an obedient apprentice. Harry didn’t miss the stares Snape received as the professor entered each shop like he owned the place. There was no mistaking Snape’s unwelcome presence in the Alley, some shops even warranting a bypass all together. Snape didn’t speak except to the shop attendants he needed things from, and even then the conversations were clipped and to the point. There were no arguments or bartering over price, it just seemed accepted knowledge that Snape was to be given the best price, if for no other reason than he was on business for Hogwart’s.

Now though, as lunchtime loomed the pair of them had systematically made their way up the entire length of the Alley. Harry was ladened down with parcels, and it crossed Harry’s mind that the only reason Snape had brought someone along was to carry things for him. For the first time since they’d started Snape came to a stop at the junction between Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. There were far less people up at this end of the Alley, and only those coming and going through the brick wall into the Leaky Cauldron, passed them by.

“I believe it’s time for Lunch, any requests?” Snape turned and stared at Harry, his arms folded across his chest. Harry momentarily put down his packages and stretched his arms as he glanced over Snape’s appearance. The wizard wore less formal robes than those he chose for school, but like always they were black and made him stand out in a crowd just as that currently occupying Diagon Alley behind them.

“Um, the Leaky Cauldron does a nice chip sandwich with gravy.” Harry croaked, as he glanced at the brick wall behind Snape.

“I am surprised you are not twice the size you are Mr. Potter with what you eat,” Harry gritted his teeth, Snape didn’t know how not to insult him, it was like a habit the wizard had. “but very well we shall dine at the Leaky Cauldron.” Snape continued as he turned and headed for the brick wall that had just closed again after someone had passed through it. Harry hastily collected the packages and followed Snape through the wall.

The Leaky Cauldron was busy but Harry fell easily into step behind Snape, the crowd almost parting instinctively to let the professor pass through. Harry stood a few steps back behind Snape as the man waited at the bar for the attendant to take his order.

“A chip and gravy sandwich, a chicken and salad roll, a jug of lemon water and a butter beer.” Harry didn’t miss the glare of contempt the man behind the bar gave Snape as the wizard carefully said their order. Despite his obvious disgust the attendant took the order anyway. It was as Snape reached into his robe for some money to pay that Harry hastily butted in.

“I brought some money with me…” Putting down one of the parcels Harry hastily went to search the pockets of his cloak, desperate to find his overnight bag amongst the other shrunken parcels he’d collected over the morning.

“Go and find a seat Mr. Potter.” Harry swallowed heavily and froze in his inspection of his pockets as Snape glared at him over his shoulder, the message clear.

“Oh, thank-you.” Harry rushed out feeling extremely embarrassed as he collected the parcels and wove his way over to an empty table beside the window looking out onto the muggle street.

Snape joined Harry at the table a few moments later, carrying a tray with their lunch perched precariously atop of it. Harry kept his eyes to the tabletop as Snape put the tray down before discarding his cloak and sitting down opposite Harry in the window seat.

“That looks very,” Snape paused his nose screwed up in distaste as he handed Harry his large chip sandwich that was over flowing with gravy making the bread soggy. “hearty.” Snape finished as he took his own meal, before pouring himself a glass of lemon water and handing Harry his butterbeer.

“I probably should have had a salad roll, this will give me indigestion.” Harry muttered as he picked up his soggy sandwich and took a large bit out of it. Snape sniffed in silent agreement but said nothing as he bit into his own chicken roll. Feeling slightly uncomfortable having lunch with his professor, Harry made a point of keeping his attention focused out of the window onto the muggle street as he ate. It was only when Snape broke the silence that Harry dared glance back at his professor, who was casually sipping from his lemon water.

“You kept up well Potter, Draco usually dawdles and gets sidetracked by the Quidditch supply store.” Harry couldn’t help but slow his chewing in mild surprise at Snape’s comment. So Draco did usually come on Snape’s trips with him. Gritting his teeth in irritation Harry took a swig of his butter beer to wash down the lump of sandwich that had suddenly lodged in his throat.

“It doesn’t bother me, I’m not fond of shopping anyway.” Harry spoke calmly with a shrug of his shoulders after he’d cleared his throat. Snape nodded silently and went back to finishing his lunch. Harry spared Snape a curious glance before turning his attention back out onto the street. The next comment caught Harry off guard.

“You missed your detention.” The comment was random but held the accusing tone of authority that Snape favored right before removing house points or something equally nasty. Harry was too surprised at Snape having waited this long to say something, that he didn’t realize what he was saying until it was too late.

“I didn’t I came down……….” Harry closed his mouth abruptly hardly believing his automatically defensive reply had slipped from his mouth. Snape’s expression was unreadable as he stared at Harry with his dark onyx eyes, causing Harry to falter. Either way Harry chose to go, he knew he’d fucked up. Snape wasn’t supposed to know Harry had been down to detention, and certainly he was not supposed to know Draco was in Snape’s rooms. There was only one thing for it, and straightening his back and stiffening his jaw Harry shrugged his shoulders flippantly. “When you said Malfoy was easy, I didn’t realize you were speaking from experience.”

It was a low blow and Harry knew it the moment he’d said it. Snape’s flawlessly blank expression wavered a little and the man’s right eye twitched in what Harry could only describe as irritation. Harry gritted his teeth and lowered his gaze to his empty plate, as Snape sat back in his chair and cocked his head to the side as he measured Harry up with his eyes.

“Are you under the impression you’re the first Mr. Potter?” Harry looked up from his gravy-smeared plate to glance at Snape in confusion. The elder wizard didn’t seem to look too pissed about being caught out with Draco, nor did he seem angry about Harry’s comment, which was certainly not normal for the potion professor who had a short fuse at the best of times.

“Sorry sir?” Harry inquired quietly in confusion not sure what kind of response Snape was clearly waiting for. Snape smiled crookedly, a strange occurrence and one that made Harry shiver with unspent pleasure.

“Harry, I know what he’s doing, he’s done it twice before.” Harry’s confused frown deepened as Snape referred to him by his first name, something he had never done and foretold nothing good in the coming conversation. “First year, a Miss Martha Merryweather. He was young, and was just starting to explore the kind of power he could have over people, if he said the right things. It was a pointless exercise, as I am not, as you are undoubtedly aware, of that persuasion.” Harry’s eyes widened impossibly as the things Snape were saying began to sink in. “Third year, a Mr Harvey Wainright,” Harry knew him. A short, slim, blonde haired Hufflepuff that played beater the last two seasons for his house. “A better choice but a plan executed with so little subtlety I saw through it in a week.” Snape ended quietly as he took a drink from his glass of iced water, letting the information he’d just said sink in for Harry. “And now you. He’s getting desperate and you played right into his hands.”

“You know.” Harry finally whispered his breath caught in his throat as he imagined just what the papers would say when Draco began shouting from the roof tops that Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived was gay. Crestfallen Harry closed his eyes and lowered his head to his chest, relieved in a way that he could stop the charade but in the next breath terrified of what was coming.

“When I gave you his name I didn’t expect you to actually go to him Potter, I was just illustrating a point.” Snape snapped sharply falling easily back into familiar territory with Harry’s last name.

“Could have fooled me.” Harry muttered darkly into his chest.

“I’m rather amused to admit I’m marginally impressed by the balls it took for you to agree. You and I are hardly friends the prospect of wooing me could hardly have been appealing?” Harry’s head snapped up immediately, hardly believing Snape was talking so candidly about the situation. Swallowing hard around the nervous lump in his throat Harry shrugged uncaringly.

“I didn’t exactly have a choice.” Harry ground out between clenched teeth as he remembered Draco’s words as the boy had blackmailed him in the shower.

“There is always a choice Mr Potter, you just chose the wrong one.” Snape finished his glass of water and dusted his hands free of sandwich crumbs on the paper napkin. Harry sucked what was left of his butter beer out of the bottle, sensing that lunch had come to an end. Taking a moment to shrink what bulky parcels he’d collected since he’d last stop to shrink the collection, Harry stuffed the items in his cloak pockets as Snape stood up from the table and slid his cloak back on. Harry quietly followed Snape out of the pub and back out onto Diagon Alley. Expecting to head back into the crowd of people in the Alley, Harry was surprised when Snape took a right and began heading down Knockturn Alley. Harry hesitated, as he stared around at the darkened crooked Alleyway. Snape paused a few steps down the Alley when he realized Harry wasn’t following him.

“It is about time you learnt to trust me Potter,” Snape paused his eyebrow rising in a curious expression Harry couldn’t make out. “Now come along we’ve got a lot to finish today.” Snape turned back to continue down the street, seeming much more at ease in the deserted little Alley than the one he’d just left. With a deep breath and a last glance back at Diagon Alley, Harry quickened his step to catch up with the elder wizard. If he was going to get killed, at least if he stayed close to Snape he could use the bigger man as a shield.

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TBC>>>>>