As Potter is to Snape

Chapter 2

As Harry left the Leaky Cauldron the next morning, he had a hard time deciding what to do first. He had never really been to Diagon Alley alone before, and he was anxious to begin exploring the many shops. He had a few coins leftover from last year but he would need to make a trip to Gringotts before long.

Finally, deciding that he could wait until tomorrow for that, Harry began to walk up the cobblestone street, carefully winding his way around the large groups of witches and wizards that were already bustling about the alley.

His first stop was Quality Quidditch Supplies, where he, like many others, ended up staring longingly at the newest, top-of-the-line broom, The Firebolt! Harry was sure that he had never wanted anything more in his life. Knowing that it would likely take every galleon from his parent's vault in Gringotts to afford it, Harry finally pulled himself away from the window and continued down the street.

He stopped by Florean Fortescue's next and settled for treating himself to an ice cream sundae, despite the fact that he had only just had breakfast an hour ago.

Harry crossed to the other side of the street and began to make his way back towards the entrance to the alley, peering in shops as he went along. Occasionally looking up at one of the many Wanted posters for Sirius Black. Each time Harry felt a jolt in the pit of his stomach at the way that Black seemed to be screaming manically out at him. Eventually, Harry stopped looking at them all together.

Just past Obscurus Books, sat Gambol and Japes Joke Shop, and remembering how Fred and George had talked about it the year before, Harry decided to take a look inside. The owner, a man with a white beard and mustache, grinned broadly at him as he rushed over and shook his hand, before leading him to a collection of Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks. Harry explored the shop for an hour before he left, the owner having shrunk his packages so that they fit easily inside the pockets of his baggy jeans.

Once back out in the bright sunlight, Harry was on his way again, only to pull up short a few shops down. He was standing at the entrance to Knockturn Alley. He had only been there once, last year when he had accidentally flooed to the wrong fireplace while with the Weasley's, and he didn't really have any wish to go back, except that, he was curious as to what was down there.

Harry knew that it wasn't the sort of place that he should go, even Hagrid had said so, but he didn't see how it could be dangerous to just take a look. Besides, he reasoned with himself, Fudge had only said he couldn't go out into muggle London. He hadn't said anything about Knockturn Alley.

Making up his mind, Harry looked around and saw that no one was paying him any attention, and then he turned right, noticing immediately that it seemed darker and gloomier than it had just a moment ago. He determinedly told himself that the sun must have just gone back behind the clouds and that he was being stupid to think anything of it. He walked further down the alley and was almost to Borgin and Burkes when he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a cold, low voice from behind him. "Straying from the path already, are we Potter? How very predictable."

Harry closed his eyes and swallowed hard before turning slowly on his heel. He looked up to see none other than his least favorite Hogwarts professor. Snape was glaring down at him and Harry dropped his gaze.

"With me," Snape said cooly, before turning and making his way back up towards Diagon Alley, leaving Harry to have to jog to keep up with him. His mind was whirring as he followed Snape along. Surely he couldn't be in trouble. It was summertime after all and he wasn't in school. Snape didn't have any right to take points or hand out detentions now, did he? Harry had the sinking feeling that he was about to find out.

Suddenly, Harry looked up only to realize that he had followed Snape all the way back to the entrance to Diagon Alley and he was now tapping the bricks with his wand to allow them back into the Leaky Cauldron. Once inside, Snape made his way over to Tom, the barman, and said, "I would appreciate the use of your floo, Tom." He pulled a piece of parchment from his robes and borrowed the quill that Tom had behind the bar before writing out a short note and folding it.