A new beginning

Morning Shopping

Author's notes: The plot hole in the "Glass Vials" chapter has been solved. Thanks to those who pointed it out to me.

Also, although it may seem this way at times, I promise the story has not been abandoned. I know that my update schedule is not the best- I do apologize about that. But I still have lots of ideas, so I do not see myself stopping any time soon.

Thank you to all of you that have stayed with the story thus far. Really, thank you.

Now, without further ado. Enjoy!

...

It was horrible. Awful. Side-along apparition as Snape called it was absolutely wretched.

Snape warned him that it would be jolting. To hold firmly onto his forearm. He didn't however warn him about the fact that he would lose his footing and land on an ungraceful heap on the ground, or that his stomach would flip over and over again until he was sure he would sick up, nor the fact that his head would begin to pound in sync to the pocket watch the professor continued to glance at. No. Snape did not say any of that. And now he felt awful.

His stomach gave another uneasy grumble.

"What are we looking for exactly?" asked Harry, making a face as his head pounded once more. All he wanted was to be back in bed. Wrapped in a blanket. His pillow.

"The entrance," said Snape, looking down at the folded map on his hand. A second later he walked into a small alley between two buildings, his umbrella grazing one of the brick corners as he turned.

"Are we not going to Diagon Alley?" questioned Harry, barely stopping on his track with enough distance to keep himself from crashing into the professor. Taking a short breath he pushed his jumper up to fully drape over his arm once more. Soon after he changed directions, following after the man.

"We will." Snape glanced to the side. He took the small watch out of his pocket. A deep inhale through his nose. They were late.

"Is this a different entrance?" tried Harry, pushing the scratchy jumper up yet again. There was no answer.

Harry silently observed as the watch was put away. A breath was heard. And then silence. Just when he was beginning to wonder if the professor had not heard him, Snape answered with - "You are one question away from me deciding you are not taking this trip seriously enough to be your punishment and escort you back to the castle."

"I just feel like we are in the wrong part of town." Harry cringed as the words bubbled out of his mouth. He could not help it. He did really feel like they were in the wrong part of town. He had only gone to Diagonal Alley once but he was pretty sure they were not near the entrance.

Snape halted. The hand holding the folded map slowly lowered, letting him stare straight at the child. His eyes narrowed. Potter averted his gaze.

"It was not a question," whispered Harry as a manner of explanation, raising a single shoulder. He felt the professor's stare still on him.

Harry stared at the side of the professor's face. They stayed still. The mood had changed.

Snape looked off to the side for a second. He pushed aside the ridiculous notion to humour the child with chatter. He was being punished. Not taken along on a leisurely stroll. Besides, he was lucky to find a seller in such a short time. Not a lot of people had readily available supplies of Snargaluff and chattering with Potter only risked his chance. They were very close according to the map in his hand.

Harry rolled his eyes. Leaned against the brick wall behind him, watching as Snape studied the map. It was not even a proper map. It was more like a hand sketch based on the few glimpses he got so far. And Snape pretended that that would take them to their next destination.