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Hidden	By : mavencree Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 5214 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Disclaimer: See Chapter
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by Maven Cree

Part I: Odds and Things

Chapter
Three: Odds and Things

�Now, are yertaertain this will work? I�m not sure about this iffy
medicine��

Harry fought desperately not to roll his eyes. He forced a smile onto his face.

�Yes, Mrs. Turnblatt. Like every other medicine you�ve bought here, it
works. If for some strange reason it
doesn�t, you can return it for a full refund.
But it will work.�

Mrs. Turnblatt turned the round blue bottle around
in her pudgy hand, a pensive finger tapping against her chin. �I don�t know� I�ve tried so many other
products and none of them have really worked.
And they�re government approved�

�Mrs. Turnblatt,� Harry interrupted. Do you still have bunions on your feet?�

��Well� No��

�Do your joints still ache?�

�No��

�Do you still have that nasty rash?�

��No��

�Then believe me ma�am. two two drops a day of this po--medicine, for the next ten days
and your nose hairs will stay at a reasonable length and thickness.�

The solid woman looked at the bottle again, then
back at Harry.

�Two drops?�

�Two drops.�

�In my afternoon tea?�

�In your afternoon tea.�

She sighed.
�Alright then young man. I�ll try it.�

She handed over several bills of Muggle money. Harry gave her back change and bag to carry
her purchase.

She left the shop with a final wave.�

�See you again,� she said.

Harry gave a pleasant wave and continued to do so
until she was no longer visible out the front window.

His hand dropped, as did his head� straight onto
the counter, where he banged it over and over and over again.

*~*~*~*~*

Mrs. Turnblatt aside, Harry had rather been
enjoying his time at �Odds and Thing: Antiques, Books and Cures�. It had been just under three months since
he�d shown up on Liam�s doorstep. He
was a kind man. Friendly, hearty and
open, with a wild sense of humour. He
was fiercely intelligent, Harry found, with vast knowledge of both the Muggle
and the Wizarding worlds. Aside from
his slyness and intellect, he was the exact opposite of someone he would
picture Severus Snape being friends with.

His first morning at the shop, after a delicious
traditional English Breakfast, Liam had given Harry a tour of his� or rather their
living space, located both above behind the shop. Upstairs consisted of only what Harry had seen the night before:
three bedrooms, the washroom and a closet.
On the main floor, behind the shop, there was a parlour, warmly
furnished, a comfortable living room complete with television and stereo, a
full kitchen, pantry and storage room and another small toilet. There was a small stone basement which
housed the more volatile potion ingredients, potions, two or three cauldrons
and basic potion making equipment. All
in all, the home was very pleasant in Harry�s opinion.

The shop itself was the last stop on the tour.

�People can touch and fiddle with the merchandise
as much as they like, but they break, they buy. And if someone would like us to hold an item for a few days, we
can do that. Just place it in the
storage space behind the counter or the closet behind the door. Specially ordered potions you can write on
these sheets here. Give them to
Perigrin; he�s the tawny owl with the black specs on his claw. He�ll know where to take them. Those orders can take one to two weeks,
barring any problems.�

�But--- Isn�t that� illegal?� Harry asked. The last thing he needed was a group
of Ministry Officials swooping down on his hiding place.

�Isn�t what illegal?�

�Selling magic to Muggles. The potions.�

&n]>

Liam shook his head. �Only if magical ingredients are used. These potions, herbs and such are created solely from ingredients
found in the Muggle world. Now Muggles
or people like me for that matter could throw the same ingredients together as
much as they like. Nothing would
happen. The active magic is in the
brewing; the wizard�s own energy ignites the process. Gives it its kick. It
activates the potion, but its not active magic, so it�s perfectly legal.�

Liam then pulled out a large book from behind the
counter.

font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Harry nodded.
He knew better than most.

�We don�t do any of that here,� Liam
continued. �People�s purchases are
their own business. But we do pay attention
to what they wish to buy. You�ll need
to memorize our stock and learn what combines with what. You don�t want to contribute to anything
malicious. If you are asked for, say�
Venibe potion and Treespell Onyx��

�Those combined would destroy someone�s lungs.�

�Exactly.
You may sell them one potion, the more common of the two, but say that
you are out of the other. I will handle
it if they come back.�

Harry flipped through the large tome of
potions. Just when he�d thought his
days of studying were over�.

*~*~*~*~*

Liam was a good man for the most part. He had an easiness about him that Harry had
not expected to find in an acquaintance of Snape�s. He was friendly with both Harry and the customers. Sometimes he�d forgo payment, if he felt the
situation warranted it. He also had a
mysterious side. His wicked sense of
humour and sharp wit lead Harry to believe the mousy-haired man would have done
well in Slytherin.

When Harry had thanked him again for taking him in,
Liam had told him never to do that again.

�Severus must think you�re important if he�s taken
the trouble to send you�re here. And I
don�t mean important, as in surviving He-Who-Must-Be-Named. Snape has his own way of thinking. And if he thinks you�re worth protecting,
then I�m anxious to see what he has planned.�

�You and me both,� Harry had muttered to which Liam
had let loose a hearty laugh.

Harry soon found that curiosity of Snape�s actions
was not the only thing he and Liam had in common.

*~*~*~*~*

The customer was a Squib. A mildly intoxicated Squib, whom they�d come to know as Benjamin.

Every few days, Benjamin would saunter into the
shop and inquire if they�d received any potions �that would turn him into a
full Wizard yet?� Money was apparently
no object. He�d tried the �Quickspell� route and other similar ventures, only
to fail time and time again, and several lawsuits later, he was a comfortably
rich man. The only Squib born to his
pureblood family in two thousand years, his requests would have bordered on
desperate, if he weren�t so ornery.

On his third visit to the store, since Harry�s
arrival, the two shopkeepers, once again were forced to disappoint their
disgruntled repeat customer. As he
purchased a small talisman to placate himself for a while, he�d mixed no words
in sharing hilievlieve that the two of them, despite (apparently) being Squibs
themselves, �weren�t even trying to help him�. That they, like the rest of the Wizarding World were laughing at
his misfortune at every turn.

Harry handed him the wrapped talisman with a blanket
apology. �Really sorry,� Liam added for
good measure. Benjamin struggled to
stuff the package into his robes, all the while muttering incoherently.

He turned, still struggling and headed for the
exit. It was when he was only a step or
so from the door, that he viciously raised his head and barked, �Great flaming
poof,� over his shoulder, before departing in a tinkle of door chimes.

Both Harry and Liam shared equal looks of chagrin,
before speaking in unison.

�Sorry.�

And then, with twin looks of surprise, �Wait, was
he talking to you?�

And finally, �You�re gay?�

Liam clapped a hand over Harry�s mouth.

�Okay, just because we�re both playing for the same
team, doesn�t mean we need to start speaking in tandem.�font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>

Harry nodded.
�It would have been, but only three people-- scratch that. I�m sure Dumbledore knew. He knew practically everything that happened
in that castle. Only four people
knew. My-- two best friends and a bloke
by the name of Seamus.� Harry flushed
slightly.

Liam grinned.
�Friend of yours?�

�For a time.
We� �dated� a bit during our sixth year. He-- er��

�He was your first.�

Harry nodded.

�And was this Seamus among those who turned their
backs on you?�

Harry gave a sad sort of grin.

�He never got the chance. He died last summer.�

�You-Know-Who?�

�Surprisingly, no.
For once, a death had absolutely nothing to do with me. He died in a car crash.�

�A Wizard?�
Liam seemed surprised. �I didn�t
think a simple car crash could kill a wizard.�

�It can when said wizard, was pasted drunk and drove said
car into a petrol truck.�

�Oh dear.�

�At least he didn�t suffer.� Harry commented. Then he chuckled. �It�s
kind of fitting, I suppose. Seamus was
always blowing up one thing or another.

��I did not just say that.�

Liamghedghed and clapped Harry on the back. �Yes, you did. But it�s alright. The
fact that you can laugh now means the ripples were good.

As Liam walked to the storeroom, Harry wondered
what kind of ripples his �death� had left behind.

*~*~*~*~*

No, it was definitely not the worst existence Harry
could have been forced to cope with.
Most times, when he could forget the recent past, Harry would say he was
actually enjoying himself�

�Turnblatts and Benjamins aside.

Harry continued to thump his head.

�That is an interesting melody; I don�t believe I�ve
heard it before.�

Harry paused, his head resting on the counter.

There was that voice again.

�Please� Don�t stop on my account.�

Harry straightened up, the blood rushing to his
feet. He swayed slightly before opening
his eyes. �Professor.�

Snape was standing in the centre of the shop
holding a wooden crate.

�Mr. Caldwell,� he nodded politely. He raised a curious eyebrow. �Is there a problem, or is this a new hobby
in lieu of Quidditch?�

�Ever tried to hammer a simple concept into a
hopelessly undeveloped brain?�

The lone eyebrow rose even higher.

�Never mind,� Harry droned, realizing that he�d
walked right into that one.

�Is it not time to
close?�

�Yes, Merciful Merlin it
its,� Harry said, coming our from behind the counter. He locked the front door, flipped the �Closed� sign and drew down
the blind.

�It is a full moon
tonight. Is it safe to assume that Liam
is making a delivery?�

�Yes,� Harry told
him. �He should be back in an hour or
so.�

�You appear to be functioning,�
Snape noted, placing the crate on the counter.
He began to unload bottles of varying shapes and sizes. Harry resumed his place behind the counter
and pulled out the large inventory book.

�I�m doing alright. It�s strange though; I haven�t gone this
long without using magic since before I went to Hogwarts. Muggle life is taking some adjustment -- But
I haven�t slipped!� he added quickly, when Snape paused and looked at him
sternly.

�Have any of our
kind come in?� he asked, examining a
squat, lime green bottle. He wrote down
its identity and quantity in the ledger.

�A couple of old
witches,� Harry replied. �And a
Warlock. They�re regulars
apparently. Liam knew they were coming
and told me to wait in the back.�

�And you did you feel when
they were here?�

p>

Harry though for a
moment, taking the bottle Snape was holding out to him and setting it on the
shelf.

�A little nervous I
suppose� And a little angry. I didn�t expect that, I mean, I didn�t even
know them.�

�Perfectly understandable. They are part of the self same group who
cast you to the wolves. In appearance,
however, I recommend that you stick with the nervousness. You�re supposed to be a Squib and Squibs
tend to have one of two different reactions to magical folk: Fear, or resentment. I trust I don�t have to tell you what
adverse confrontations may lead to.
Better to have them think you�ll serve them for fear of what they might
do to you.

�I�m there already,� Harry muttered, but if Snape
heard him, he gave no outward sign.

They continued with their work. The items were mostly special requests that
would be picked upthe the days following, but there were a few standards like
headache and stomach medicine and to Harry�s surprise and relief, Dreamless
Sleep Potion. This, Snape gave to Harry
directly, rather than registering it for the stores.

�I understand you�ve been having some difficulty,�
he said plainly. �Just don�t overuse
this; no more than four nights out of every seven. Dreams are an important part of the mind. To cut them off completely can have� less
than desirable results.�

Harry nodded.
�Th-thank you, sir.�

The two continued stocking the shelves in relative
silence as neither seemed to have anything else particular to say. It was the first time Harry had seen his
former professor since he�d come to the shop.
He�d sent post to Liam, and of course, their stock of potions. But nothing for him other than the odd note
reminding him to behave himself. Harry
began to wonder if there was another reason for this visit. Some of the potions and ingredients he�d
brought with him were a little more precious than the usual stock, but nothing
that a sturdy owl couldn�t handle. This
thought brought to mind something else.

�Professor�� he began. �Have you� do you know� have you seen my owl? She�s a white Snowy--�

�Yes, Mr. Caldwell. I have seen your owl.
Lupin is using him.�

�Her.
Wait-- Lupin?!�

�Still not that quick, are we? Yes.
Your beloved Professor has recovered and is greatly mourning your
passing. And no, you may not
contact him under any circumstance.�

Harry closed his mouth for the moment. �But--�

�No.�

�I don�t--�

�No.�

�If--�

font-family:"Book Antiqua"'>Harry�s shoulders sank. �No, sir. I won�t. Can you at least tell me� Is he� Does he hate me? Like the others do? You said he was mourning me.�

�Indeed he is.
No, he does not hate you. Nor
does he believe that it was you who attacked Dumbledore, himself or the
others. Apparently his Lunar
Addition leaves his �normal� senses rather heightened. He swears that it was an impostor.

�However, given the evidence, and the fact that
Werewolf�s testimony is valued only slightly more than a House-Elf�s, he is
hard pressed to find support.yes"> �Wouldn�t you agree?�

�I guess,� Harry replied.

�Besides,� Snape continued, going back to the log,
�I do not believe they truly hated you as much as they were severely
pissed off at you. That aside, they
still fought for lenience up until the time of your execution. Indeed Ronald, his twin brothers and Ms.
Granger were banned from the proceedings all together, lest they try to
inere.ere.

Harry closed his eyes. In his mind he could see Ron fighting with the Ministry, no
regard to propriety whatsoever, when it was for something he felt passionate
about. Harry was relieved. He was worried that he didn�t really know
the people he�d called friends if they could so easily cast him to a fate far
worse than death. If he could never see
them again, at least he had that.

�So they didn�t want me Kissed, but they�re still
angry with me.�

�Of course, Mr. Caldwell. You�re still a traitor after all.�

*~*~*~*~*~*

Potter picked up the topmost book off the pile
Severus had just placed in front of him.

�Mine�s Bigger Than Yours: Staff Magic Versus The Wand?�

�Despite the abysmal title, it is a first class piece of
work. Thank you, Liam.�

Severus nodded to the gentleman as he placed a cup
of tea, set to Severus�s taste, on the coffee table. Snape took a seat in the plush chair opposite Potter. Liam placed his own cup on the short side of
the table and sat down.

�Staff magic?�
Harry asked. �I�ve nehearheard
of it.�

�It is an extremely rare magic these days. Since staffs went �out of fashion� as
walking apparel, wizards turned more to the use of wands, which could be more
easily carried and concealed. Plus, the
day-to-day magics used were far too mundane for something of such power.

�There is also the fact that the number of wizards
and witches powerful enough to wield a staff had begun to dwindle. Today there are only five wizards and two
witches on the entire planet who possess the knowledge to create a magical
staff� And it is a fair stroke of luck that one of them happens to be a friend
of our dear Headmaster. Before this�
unfortunate turn of events, Dumbledore commissioned his friend to create a new
staff.

�Well, if anyone is� was� is� powerful enough to
wield a staff, it�s Dumbledore,� Potter said.

�Indeed,� Snape continued. �However, Dumbledore already has a staff, or
at least that is what his cryptic conversations had led me to believe. I have never actually seen it. No, Mr. Caldwell, the staff he commissioned
was for you.�

��For me.�

�Yes.�

��And you know where this staff is?

�Yes.�

Harry shook his head. �Okay, I�ll put my surprise at this aside for now, but what�s the
point of me studying all of this. I
can�t to magic anymore. I�m not a part
of that world anymore.�

Snape raised an eyebrow. �Mr. P-- Mr. Caldwell.
Did you think I intended you to spend the rest of your days here, a
store clerk and assistant? Do you think
I would have gone through all of this trouble, just so that you could live a
somewhat normal life?�

Harry sat back in chair, his jaw hung open like a
codfish.

�No, Mr. Caldwell,� Snape continued. �You still have a job to do.

��And I intend to see that you complete it.�

To be continued�

A/N: Thanks for all your support and extreme
patience. RL is calming down to
something resembling normal, so I have time and patience to write again. I have a new Live Journal which you can link
to here:
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ChapterThree: Odds and Things

Chapter
Three: Odds and Things