"Okay, sir, but why doesn't the list just tell us to get two scoops?" Harry asked, the tension in his shoulders easing a little thanks to Severus' calm, kind tone.
"Because the Board of Governors feel that would raise costs too much, instead of realizing the few knuts they are saving parents are hindering the students' ability to learn." Severus' jaw clenched in dark resentment. The Board had certainly botched up things in the future and he knew they would do it again if something didn't change soon.
"A few knuts?" The boy's brow crinkled beneath his hair at the unfamiliar term.
"Ah, I see Hagrid hadn't gotten around to teaching you about money yet." Severus put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a few coins. He quickly explained what each was worth. Afterward, Harry became sheepish. "What is it?" Severus asked.
"Well, I don't have any money."
"Yes, you do. Your parents left you plenty at Gringotts, but I'll pay for right now. You may pay me back later."
Harry's eyes widened. "I will, sir, I will! Thank you!"
"It is no problem, now stop gushing," Severus stated flatly, the gushing reminding him that the boy was not the Harry he had left — or at least he wasn't yet.
Harry instantly became silent and blushed. He was now very thankful they were alone at the back of the shop.
Severus motioned Harry toward the empty containers arranged at the sides of the shelves. In comfortable silence, they began scooping the necessary ingredients into individual containers (two scoops each), before putting them into a potions case that would act as Harry's potions kit.
"Do not cast near ingredients if you can help it. It could inadvertently affect them. Another reason for the case — it acts as a magical barrier," he informed him as he shut the black leather case.
"Yes, sir."
They then went to the register and Severus paid before walking out and into the cauldron store across the street, the potion kit shrunken down to fit in his pocket.
"Now, let's get you a good cauldron. Not a pewter one, those melt ridiculously easily. Idiotic Board. It will be brass or copper for you," Severus said, heading to a quiet area of the store.
"Which is better, sir?" Harry curiously asked.
"Well, it depends on if you want a cauldron for more stable brewing - brass, or a cauldron that will help brew more potent potions - copper."
"Um, I should probably stick to the brass cauldron that will help stability," Harry admitted.
"Hmm, I'm not so sure. Your mother had a knack for potions," Severus commented offhandedly.
"M-my mum?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes, she was quite talented in Potions, though she was a little more gifted in charm work."
"You knew my mum?" Harry's voice was soft, as if he was afraid to hope. The green of his eyes seemed to darken with emotion behind his thick frames.
Severus locked eyes with him for a moment, deciding something. "We were in the same year and grew up in the same neighborhood."
"Wow. Were you friends?" Harry asked eagerly.
Severus gave a small, sad smile. "Yes."
Harry swallowed, staring at Severus. "I'll get a copper cauldron then."
"Very good. I sense you will find Potions quite natural if you put adequate effort in it."
"Really?"
"Trust me, Mr. Potter, I have the ability to sense these sorts of things," Severus said mysteriously.
In the future, Severus and Harry had put aside their animosity toward each other and worked together. Soon, they became good friends and were both surprised when they discovered Harry was quite talented in potions, not to mention magic in general. In Harry's nineteenth year, his magic had fully awakened, but it had been too late to save the Wizarding World that had swiftly fallen to Voldemort and his mighty lieutenants at the end of Harry's sixth year.
Looking at the boy before him right now, he wondered how much sooner Harry's magic could awaken if he helped him.
"What will I be bad at, sir? Can you sense that?" Harry asked, oblivious to Severus' thoughts.
Severus was a little taken aback at that, but quite pleased. Pushing aside his past regrets with the boy, he grabbed hold of the opportunity before him.
Severus pulled out his wand and waved it over Harry after discreetly raising privacy wards to prevent others from taking notice of them. Harry felt a warm sensation weave around him before it sucked into his center. Severus then tapped his wand on Harry's forehead. Harry's eyebrows rose and nearly disappeared into his hairline as he felt an invisible bubble emerge from between his eyes, below his scar, and pop.
Severus purposely showed a flicker of impressed surprise. He had a plan and he had to do it right.
"Interesting."
"Sir?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"What I cast was a spell telling the caster an individual's potential in things and sometimes important parts of their family line. The Legacy Spell. I would appreciate you not telling anyone I had cast it. For some reason, some people find it dark to know one's possible abilities and such." Severus rolled his eyes. "As if it'll lock a person's being on the findings, instead of realizing it is our choices that make us who we truly are, far more than our abilities or blood."
Harry nodded slowly, taking in his words. "Well, I just wanted to know if there was a class I should put more time in. I understand what I might be good at won't shape me alone."
Severus gave Harry an approving smile. "Which is why I did what I did."
Harry looked up at him expectantly as Severus grew very serious and kneeled down to his level.
"I will not lie to you, Harry, so listen well to what I have to tell you, because that spell told me a lot of things. Your magic is very strong, and you have near limitless potential, but it is . . . locked, in a way."
"Locked?" Harry asked, his voice wavering. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, you didn't do anything wrong, and it being locked is actually a good thing, if you do things correctly."
"What do you mean?"