Disclaimer: The world and characters of the Harry Potter books are the property of J. K. Rowling. I'm just playing with them and not making any money.

1.

Severus Snape was in a foul mood. The kind of mood that made his students cower in fear when they saw him stalking through the hallways. That made first- through third-years burst into tears at the mere sight of him. And the worst part was, he had no idea why. Normally, something or someone lay at the base of his bad temper, be it idiot students, disastrous experiments or a twinkle-eyed Headmaster. Especially the latter, and certainly at seven thirty in the morning. But it was his first blissfully free saturday of the school year, he'd had a private uninterrupted breakfast, hadn't seen anyone in the corridors and was now safely ensconced in his lab, ready to start experimenting.

Suddenly he heard the noise of a house elf popping into the office behind him. Severus had a standing agreement with the house elves: they wouldn't try to clean or even enter his lab, and in turn he would let them clean the collection of fake animal parts he kept in his office to scare the students. At least twice a week. For some unfathomable reason, the house elves loved his collection. Probably because of all the glass they could clean until it sparkled. Severus always had to use an obscuring spell afterwards to make them less likely to blind an unsuspecting visitor. He had never succeeded in teaching the elves that dusty jars would give more of a creep-effect.

Severus entered his office. He had received a couple of sensitive ingredients and didn't want the elves to touch them. His eye immediately fell on the innocent-looking note on his desk. Oh. Now he remembered why he was in a bad mood. The Shopping Trip. Severus' lip curled in distaste. He was a renowned Potions Master. The bane of every student entering Hogwarts. He was sour, sarcastic, antisocial and spiteful. He didn't do shopping trips. Especially not with a stubborn, willful 13-year old.

The floo flared, and Severus saw Albus' head appear in the flames.

"Severus, could you come to my office, please? And collect Harry on the way." Albus' head disappeared again before Severus could protest. Severus sighed, put on his customary scowl and headed towards the Gryffindor common room. He arrived in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady and gave the teachers' password.

Every head turned when he entered. Eyes filled with dread, from first years up to seventh years. Severus put on his fiercest scowl.

"Where's Potter?" He asked the room in general. Several fingers pointed to the boys' dormitories. Severus took the stairs two at a time and entered Potters' dorm room. The boy was seated on the bed, reading a Quidditch magazine.

"Loathe as I am to interrupt your fascinating reading, mr. Potter," Severus said in a tone that dripped sarcasm. "The Headmaster would like to see you in his office"

Potter actually jumped in surprise. He looked like a startled cat, his unruly hair standing in every direction. If he hadn't a reputation to keep, Severus would smile in satisfaction at the sight.

"Yes sir, right away sir!" Potter practically dove under the bed in search of his shoes. Severus turned smartly, making his robe flare out behind him and left, Potter scrambled to keep up with Snape's long-legged stride. They crossed the corridors to the Headmasters office in absolute silence.

"Twix!" Severus barked at the gargoyle guarding the stairs.

"Ah, welcome my boys," Albus said. "Sit down, Severus , Harry. Lemon drop?"

"No," Severus said while at the same time Potter said "Yes". They looked at each other uncomfortably. Albus chuckled a bit and held out the tin for Harry who sat down in the chair in front of the Headmasters desk.

"So, Harry," he said, "Ready for your shopping trip? Are you sure there isn't anything else you need?"

"For Merlin's sake, Albus! The kid only lost a school uniform in the accident, not his whole trunk." Severus growled. The word accident was spit out like a poison. Somehow the brat managed to spill a corrosive acid on his uniform during potions class. While they were working on preparing moonflowers. There wasn't even any liquid on the working tables, let alone acid. Severus thought it highly unfair that Albus forced him to take Potter on a shopping trip when Potter clearly brought it onto himself by fooling around in his class.

Potter wisely didn't say anything. He shook his head no.

"Very well," Albus said. "Here's the list Severus and have fun." Albus gave Severus a list that covered far more than one uniform.

"What's this?" Severus asked, "The inventory of Mme Malkins?"

"No Severus, Minerva discovered that young mr. Potter here forgot to buy new clothes and uniforms at the start of the year and he is growing out of his old ones. Since you are going anyway, you can easily buy everything else." Albus answered.

Severus gave Albus a hard, suspicious look. He was certain Albus was lying straight-faced, he had never found out where Potter got that acid. Albus smiled back innocently. He looked at Potter. The boy sat with his shoulders hunched and refused to look in his direction. He was clearly not happy with the Headmasters' scheming. No matter, Severus would make sure the Headmaster would never, ever trick him into shopping again. And that it was Potter who would carry the brunt of his revenge only made it sweeter. Severus smirked to himself. He quickly wiped the expression from his face when he looked back to the Headmaster.

"Now, Severus, I know you don't like shopping, but I'm sure you will make certain young mr. Potter gets a decent wardrobe." His tone held a clear warning for Severus. Damn, he'd seen the smirk. Or Albus probably just knew him too well.

"I'll see you both at dinner tonight. Have fun," Albus stood and handed Severus the bowl with floo-powder.

"Come along, Potter," Severus barked. Potter stood with a weary expression on his face. The boy probably thought the Headmaster barking mad. Severus almost pitied the boy. Almost.

Severus arrived in the Leaky Cauldron and looked around. There were only a couple of witches in the corner and a wizard at the bar. Good. The less that saw them arriving the better. The last thing Severus wanted, was being photographed by the press while shopping with Potter.