The Huge Magical Snake Problem

Family

"Most people tend to accept what they hear as the truth. I just happened to do a little bit of research before jumping to a conclusion."

"Oh."

"About your concerns on the basilisk - it wasn't always like how it was when you killed it."
Severus dipped his head, almost mournfully. "Thousands of years of solitude and hunger can do that to a creature. Especially one with such intellect. When Slytherin first hatched the egg of the basilisk, I have a notion that it was not as bloodthirsty as it was when you encountered it."

Harry frowned, conflicted. He had a hard time linking the ferocious, terrifying monster he met in the Chamber with a poor, lonesome animal.

"I will contact the headmaster, and we will be going back to the castle tomorrow to investigate this lead we may have."

That sounded reasonable enough. "Okay," he responded. But, it was only eleven in the morning. "Will we be doing anything else today?"

"Yes. Your cousin will be coming with us to Diagon Alley to get robes. As you may have noticed, he cannot blend in with the rest of the wizarding world in t-shirts and jeans."

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Severus watched impassively as Harry's cousin lay on the ground. He had just gotten his first taste of apparation, and Mr. Dursley was having difficulties keeping his stomach in check. Harry was knelt on the ground making sure he was okay, but Severus couldn't care less.

None of them were wearing robes at the moment, but Severus had Harry keep his shrunken down in his pocket. They were going to put them on once they got into Diagon Alley.

Speaking of Diagon Alley...

Severus was conducting an experiment, unbeknownst to either of the young men beside him. This would determine whether Dursley had any magic in him or not.

Only witches and wizards could see the Leaky Cauldron. If Dudley could or couldn't, that would be the end of the conundrum that had been puzzling him for a while. If he was able to detect the restaurant, it was obvious that he had magic in his blood. If not, Severus would just take Dudley's measurements and go get the robes himself.

They started down the bustling street towards the Leaky Cauldron. It was only about a block away, so it wouldn't take long for them to reach it.

Severus glanced over at Harry. Earlier, Severus had re-cast the glamours over themselves. Severus Snape was now Alan Rickman, and Harry Potter was now Daniel Radcliffe. (A/N: Heh.) Dudley was still himself, because no one in the wizarding world would associate him with Harry Potter.

Not two minutes later, they arrived at the front of the Leaky Cauldron. Sure enough, Dudley was staring up at the old building, looking slightly confused.

"Why haven't I ever seen this place?" he asked, scrunching his face. "It sticks out like a sore thumb!"

Harry just shrugged. Severus stared. Then, he just turned away with a small sigh. Harry truly was a bright young man, but he could be as observant as a brick wall at times.

They managed to get through the restaurant without much delay. Dursley was taking his time, gawping at the various witches and wizards packing the place. When they reached the barrier between the pub and Diagon Alley, Dudley turned to Harry with a confused expression.

"What do we do now?" he asked, seeing the seemingly impenetrable wall before him.

Harry grinned. "Wait and see!"

Severus took his wand out of the holster on his arm. Telling Harry to get his robe on, he tapped the specific bricks that caused the wall to draw back on itself. Casting a glance to his side, he saw Dursley's mouth wide open in a slightly gruesome gape.