"All done in here?" He looked from Snape to Harry and back. "Any particular reason why the door was charmed to silence?"
"Any particular reason why you had cause to notice as much?" Severus' tone wasn't far from a reprimand.
Ignoring that, Draco brushed a bit of imaginary lint from his sleeve. "Well if the two of you are gossiping about me I think I've a right to know. But no matter. Are you done? With the Elixir or whatever else you were discussing? Because I've made a list and I'd really like to get through it before teatime. Though I suppose the shops are crowded already. But I simply can't wait--"
"Can't wait for what?"
"Potter, did you or did you not notice that the better part of my possessions vanished in a fit of goblin magic? You don't think I can live with a mere six shirts to my name, not a single one of them with decent buttons, do you? I need to go shopping, don't I? Right now."
Harry thought that six shirts was plenty, but he didn't say so.
Snape, however, had no trouble critiquing Draco's plans. "No son of mine will be wearing a shirt with diamond buttons. Nor emeralds," he added in a stern tone before Draco could argue the point.
Draco argued anyway. "Pearl, then."
"No."
"Merlin preserve me, mother-of-pearl," said Draco with one of his theatrical shudders. "Fine. I'll look like a plebeian, I hope you realise."
"You'll look like a Snape."
"Black isn't my colour," objected Draco with a bit of a smirk. "If you ask me, it makes you look a tad sallow. I know you favour dark colours but have you considered perhaps a very deep shade of purple--"
"Draco," the Potions Master interrupted. "I think you know quite well I wasn't talking about something as meaningless as colours." He drew in what looked like a calming breath. "However, if you wish to go into the village I see no reason why I can't take you."
"I can," said Harry, pushing down a feeling of profound irritation that Snape had just forbidden him his own Hogsmeade request. "What if Lucius finds you're off school grounds and he tries something?"
"Oh, please. You think he's got nothing better to do than hang about in a dreary little town like Hogsmeade on the off-chance I'll stop in? And you might consider having a bit more confidence in our father, Harry." Draco rolled the word our off his tongue as though he were savouring it. "He's a strong wizard. Stronger than Lucius. And smarter, too. Or has that yet to dawn on you?"
Harry held to his temper with some effort, saying only, "Won't owl-order do just as well if you need some things?"
"Potter, I need an entire new wardrobe and you just don't do that owl-order." Draco gave him a thin smile. "Besides, it'll be a while before I can access my new vault. Those goblins are sticklers for protocol."
Harry's mouth almost dropped open, because there was no missing the implications of that little tidbit. Draco wasn't just demanding that Snape take him shopping, and now at that; he was expecting the Potions Master to pay for everything as well! An entire new wardrobe... Harry'd never heard of anything so rude as to come storming into a private conversation to demand presents!
The greediness reminded him an awful lot of how Dudley used to behave, actually, and Harry was irritated enough by it that he almost said so. But Snape wasn't objecting, and the Potions Master never did anything without a reason. Knowing that helped Harry put himself in Draco's shoes. This was probably Draco's way of figuring out if he was really wanted or not, something like that. It all went along with what the casewitch had warned about, though Harry thought she must not have realised quite how selfish Draco could be.
At any rate, instead of yelling, which wouldn't help much at all even if it would feel awfully good, Harry tried to think about what Draco needed, or at least what would make him feel loved and accepted.
Draco began tapping his foot and making a show of checking his watch, which of course was missing from his wrist. "Today would be nice. Assuming you are done dealing with the Elixir? I know that has to come first."
The words were conciliatory, but not the tone behind them. I know that has to come first but I really do need new clothes, so hurry up. That was what Harry heard.
"We've finished, I do believe." Snape glanced over at his other son. "Harry, why don't you collect your own travelling cloak? We'll all go together."
Harry couldn't help it; he gaped. "What?"
"Lucius didn't poke your eardrums out too, did he?"
"Draco!" Snape glared briefly, then turned an apologetic expression towards Harry. "This is rather different from a school trip. I think those will have to be deferred until you've shown a bit more respect for the rules I lay down. For today, however, Draco and I would enjoy your company."
You would, Harry thought. Draco's another matter. And sure enough, right on cue came a petulant objection from the other boy in the room.
"Oh, but Potter has loads to do up in Gryffindor Tower, isn't that what he said last night?"
"Harry hasn't been to Hogsmeade in months either," chided Severus. "He may well need some things."
Harry appreciated the sentiment, especially the veiled offer to buy him whatever he might require, but what Draco needed, quite obviously, was time alone with his new father. Harry wasn't so self-centred that he could miss that, even if Snape was going overboard to make sure that everything was even. "I'm all right. Ron and Hermione will be around in a while to fetch me, anyway." He gave a wave of his hand, trying not to sigh at the openly satisfied gleam in Draco's eyes. "You two go on. If you're sure it's safe, that is."
"No, Potter, we're going because I'd like to be handed straight over to the Dark Lord--"
"Ten points from Slytherin," Snape suddenly said, waving his wand to enforce it. "Stop calling your brother Potter."
Draco laughed. Hard, actually slapping his thigh with his palm. "Oh, good one. But I'm not in Slytherin, am I?"
"You're an honorary member courtesy of the Hogwarts' Charter and your status as my son."
"You can't deduct points from an honorary member!"
Snape arched a single eyebrow. "Have you read the charter in full? In the original Latin, no less? I thought not. I therefore suggest you not attempt to explain it to those who have."
Sputtering then, Draco protested, "But you haven't enforced the names thing in forever--"
"You haven't made me want to," retorted Snape.
Draco glared at his father for a moment, then resumed his show of fussing with his cloak. "Oooh, ten whole points. However will I live it down? Especially as that means Slytherin is only about three hundred points ahead of second-place Ravenclaw. Gryffindor's a poor third so far this year, I do believe."
"How would you know how the point counters are doing?"
Draco rolled his eyes and looked at Snape. "Six years and he still really doesn't get the magic thing, does he?"
"That will be enough, Draco!"
The Slytherin boy raised hands and shoulders as though he had no idea why Snape had suddenly raised his voice. "What?"
"You're being insufferable!"
"Potter here--oh, sorry, Harry--was Muggle-raised, Severus. Now, I've learnt not to hold that against him, though I will say it's been quite the trial and I really should be commended, but it's only natural he'd be a bit backward--"
Snape narrowed his eyes. "I can easily make it a hundred points if you'd prefer."
"No, please don't," Harry broke in. A strategy like that would only heighten Draco's resentment and make him want to compete with Harry. Well, more than he apparently did already.