Apprentice of Potions 2: New Beginnings

Chapter 2 - The Boy Who Lives

*Author's Note* Okay here's the new chapter finally folks. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to comment and vote.

Vienna, Rodry, miscilleneous characters are my creation, everyone else belongs to JK Rowling's Harry Potter Series. No copyright infringement intended.

An owl had come for Severus early evening on July 30. He read in silence the message appointed to him. He let out a groan then looked over to his wife who was peacefully sipping her tea next to him in a garden chair. Vienna felt his stare and looked back at him with curiosity in her steely eyes.

"What is it, darling? Is it bad news?" She inquired with a hint of worry in her tone.

He drew in a breath, hesitation in his answer. "I'm not quite sure as of yet, however I do know that Albus is up... to something." Severus tucked the letter into a pocket of his robes and offered Vienna a guarded smile.

"It appears as though I am required to make a trip into Diagon Alley tomorrow. That old fool needs me to acquire some things for security purposes. After that, I am expected to Apparate over to Hogwarts for some meeting."

"Hmm, I would be compelled to call him odd, but that's just textbook Albus," Vienna offered with a cheeky tone and a matching grin. "Perhaps I shall make the trip with you as I will need personal stores. I am your apprentice after all."

"Y-yes, perhaps you should," he smirked. "But we'll separate once there. I cannot afford to dawdle around. But, you should make a day of it. You can treat that poor girl to a gift of wardrobe."

Vienna reached for his hand, squeezing it fondly and smiled. "I think that would be nice. Celeste would probably like that after some convincing. She's so keen on being a model that she has to spend any earnings on a photographer. Anyway, darling, I'm off to bed as your minion insists on using my internal organs for Quidditch practice."

Severus kissed her knuckles before she took her leave.

***

July 31, 1991

Vienna sits at a table by the window looking out of Florean Fortiscue's Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley eating a bowl of pineapple and butter beer flavors. She'd sent an exhilarated and teary eyed Celeste on her way to a boutique with a nice amount of Galleons. Vienna spotted Rubeus Hagrid parting ways with a young boy now entering Olivander's Wands. The bells above the door of the shop chimed indicating a patron passing its threshold.

People were marveling in astonishment at the boy who entered the wands shop. Vienna noted that he was wearing completely round specs atop his small face and had messy black hair. His clothes seem ill-fittingly loose. She set her spoon into her dish and passed a hand over her protruding belly, a protective gesture as she continued to stare out even though boy had already entered the shop across the way.

"A'righ', Vienna," Hagrid booms, pulling her from her gazing. Vienna turned to the giant man full of hair and beard, smiling warmly.

"Hello, Hagrid," she returned, noticing that he was clutching his big, dusty, brown cloak to his chest with a meaty fist. Vienna gestured with half nod, "What've you got under there?"

"Uh, can't say," he says regrettably. He leaned towards her and staged whispered, "Official Hogwarts Business,' and followed it up with a wink.

Vienna blushed, smiling and looked back out the window, again gesturing, "Alright, Hagrid, you keep your secrets. But, um... who was that boy you're with?"

Hagrid looked genuinely flabbergasted, shocked.

"Ain'cha hear'? Why, tha's 'Arry Potter, tha' is," he bellowed. "He's ruddy famous, I tell you!"