Better This Way

In Diagon Alley

“Are you ready?” Rosmerta asked, breathing against the cold.


“As ready as I can be,” Severus replied.


Rosmerta’s face bore a hint of disappointment.


“Let’s go then,” She said, turning away from him so he wouldn’t see.


She didn’t understand why he was so cruel to her sometimes. As the entrance to Diagon Alley appeared, she walked through ahead of him.


“Where you would like to start?” she asked him.


“I need to pick up some supplies from the Apothecary,” Severus said.


Rosmerta nodded, and they walked silently to the Apothecary.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“I want to start at the end, and work our way back to the Leaky Cauldron,” Jane said excitedly.


“That sounds fine, mum, just don’t go down Knockturn Alley. Promise me,” Hermione said firmly.


“I promise,” Jane said innocently.


They stepped through the Leaky Cauldron and into the cobbled street of Diagon Alley. They walked all the way down to Ollivander’s, where Viktor wanted to buy a new wand.


After browsing the dusty shelves, Hermione decided she would wait to buy a new wand, while Victor chose a fourteen inch ebony wand with a dragon heartstring core. It was a fine wand, and old Ollivander was glad to be able to dispose of Viktor’s old Gregorovich wand.


After they had finished at the wand shop, Harold decided he would like to have a look in Gambol and Japes, and Viktor agreed. Hermione and Jane instead wandered into the Magical Menagerie.


“I’ve been thinking about getting a kitten to keep me company at Durmstrang,” Hermione said idly.


“I’m sure Crookshanks wouldn’t mind going back with you if you wanted to take him,” Jane said warmly.


“You don’t think he would miss his home?” Hermione asked as they browsed the shelves.


“I think he would adjust quite well,” Jane replied as Hermione stopped at a display of ravens.


“So what is the situation with you and this young man?” Jane asked.


“There’s really nothing to tell, mum. We have been seeing each other for a few months, and it’s really nothing serious as of right now,” Hermione said, hoping to close the subject.


“I see,” Jane said looking at her daughter knowingly.


Both looked up as the bells clanked on the door, announcing the entrance of Harold and Viktor. They each had a few bags of items from the joke shop.


“Ve think ve vould like to go to the quidditch store now,” Viktor said cheerily.


The two men seemed to be getting along quite well. This made Hermione smile inwardly.


“I think I would like to stop by Fortescue’s,” Hermione said.


“The ice cream shop?” Viktor asked incredulously.


“Hermione’s has always enjoyed frozen treats, even in winter time,” Jane said with a chuckle.


“Yes, we have no idea where she gets that from,” Howard agreed smiling.


“So it’s just me then?” Hermione asked looking at the others.


“Yes!” everyone exclaimed in unison.


“Alright then,” Hermione said with a smile as she exited the shop.


She headed down the cobblestone street. That was one of the things she and Severus had in common. They both liked to eat ice cream even in winter. Hermione stopped herself. Now was really not the best time to be thinking about Severus.


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“I think I’m pretty well done here,” Rosmerta said as they headed to the checkout at Flourish and Blotts. I was thinking about stopping by the stationery store before we leave. Do you want to join me?”


“No thanks,” Severus said. “I think I’ll go get an ice cream from Fortescue’s.”


“An ice cream? But it’s mid December,” Rosmerta said with an incredulous laugh.


“I’m well aware that it is mid December, thank you,” Severus said. “There is just something about going to the ice cream parlor in the winter. It’s pretty desolate, and cold, just like my dungeons.”


Rosmerta shuddered at the thought.


“Alright well, I will go to the stationery store, and you can go get your ice cream,” she said making a face.


Severus nodded to her as he paid the cashier for his books.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Severus walked down the cobbled street, the wind whipping around his black overcoat. He pulled the collar up higher to shield his ears. He knew it was probably crazy to be getting ice cream when it was so cold outside, but he always liked it that way. Hermione liked it that way too. He cursed himself. He had been thinking of her a lot lately. He was sure Rosmerta was picking up on his hostility. It’s just as well, he thought.


As he reached the door, he held his hand out to push it open. He went straight to the counter and began to place his order.


“Blackberry triple cream swirl with dark chocolate shavings,” he said to Florean.


“Ah, Professor Snape. I presumed it would be the usual. Coming right up,” Florean said jovially.


Severus heard the clank of a spoon dropping onto the wooden floor behind him.