The Anger .

Harry smiled back and said, "It's okay, Neville. I completely understand. How can I be angry when I, too, wish it was someone else."

Croaker did not have the heart to tell his great-nephew that he could be considered 'marked as his equal' due to the psychological impact on him of his parents long-term stay in Saint Mungo's. Or that Riddle hadn't marked him – yet.

Exiting the lift back in the atrium, Harry asked, "Do you mind if we head for Diagon Alley for a little while? I need to get my eyes properly checked, now that my prescription has changed."

"Your - prescription?" asked Cygnus. "Yeah, that's what the muggles call it," replied Harry. "Now that my eyesight isn't being adversely affected by the soul fragment I'd like to get them checked again and have my glasses replaced, if necessary."

Cygnus nodded and said, "If you think it necessary."

"I do, Cygnus," replied Harry. "Thank you."

After floo'ing to Diagon Alley, Harry led their small group to 'his' magical optometrist.

Entering, he saw the old man shopkeeper from before. "Hello, Sir," said Harry.

"Ah, Mister Potter," said the shopkeeper warmly. "I had read about your little incident during the Sorting. I take it your spectacles are no longer suitable?" "Yes, Sir," replied Harry. "If you'd be so kind, I'd like to get my eyes checked once more and, possibly, new spectacles."

Indicating the same seat Harry had sat upon last time he said, "Take a seat then, Mister Potter."

Harry climbed into the seat and laid back while the other three stood back and watched.

After retrieving a small card of parchment from his small file cabinet, the old man came forward.

"Now, let's see," he waved his wand over Harry's eyes and compared what he discovered with what was on the card.

"Ah!" he said. "Completely normal eyesight with a very minor affliction of hypermetropia - far sightedness - which will not become a problem until you are older. That means, you will eventually need glasses for reading. Other than that, I can see you have a familial history of myopia - short sightedness - but you show no signs of it now. I dare say you will not suffer from it in the future.

"In a nutshell, Mister Potter, you do not require spectacles at this time. And, from my experience, you will not need spectacles for reading until your years are quite advanced."

"Thank you, Sir," said Harry. "However, I'd still like to be fitted for a pair of sunglasses with the same four charms I had on my prescripted pair you supplied previously. Plus, I'd like a pair of plain glass ones with the same four charms."

"You're worried about someone attempting to enter your mind, Mister Potter?" asked the shopkeeper. "I am," replied Harry. "The - Headmaster is a master Legilimens. I've felt both him and another member of staff attempting to read my surface thoughts over the past couple of weeks. I feel the attempts and they tend to give me a slight headache. I'd rather block them completely."

"Harry, Legilimency upon a minor, especially one of a Noble and Ancient House, is illegal," said Cygnus, concerned.

"I know," replied Harry. "However, passive Legilimency is wandless and there's no way to prove it. A master Legilimens merely needs to look you in the eye to carry it out."

Angrily, Cygnus said, "In that case, I want Daphne protected, as well."

The shopkeeper said, "I can fit you all with plain lenses in a very stylish frame, if you'd like. The charms I can place on the glass of the lenses will block everything up to a very forceful wanded cast."

Turning to Harry, Cygnus asked, "Harry, who is the other staff member you suspect?"

"Severus Snape," replied Harry. "I figured out the only way he could act as a spy for Dumbledore within the Death Eaters is if he's a master Occlumens. And, if he's a master Occlumens, it's no great stretch to also be a master Legilimens."

"Snape," growled Cygnus. Turning to his daughter, he asked, "Daphne, do you have a problem with wearing glasses while you speak with either the Headmaster or Professor Snape?"

"If either are attempting to read my mind?" asked Daphne, affronted. "Definitely not!" "In that case," said the shopkeeper, "How about we peruse the shelves for something that suits?"

After an hour, Harry's two new pairs of glasses were ready. Daphne, and even Neville, had selected the pairs of glasses they wanted. Neville also went for a second pair, the same style mirror-surfaced sunglasses Harry had selected, but with a different base colour on the frame.

Because he'd done Harry's already, the shopkeeper was able to quickly cast the required Charms on the next three pairs; those for Daphne and Neville.

Though, Cygnus tried to get in first, Harry told the shopkeeper to take the payment for all five pairs from his personal accounts. When Cygnus tried to argue, Harry told him Daphne would soon enough be his responsibility, alone. He had no problem with purchasing for her an item of eyewear that would add to her protections. And Cygnus relented.

"As they left the store, Harry said, "There's just one more place to stop before we go,"

"Oh?" asked Cygnus.

With a nod, Harry said, "It was Hermione's birthday last Thursday. None of us knew of it as she hadn't said anything to any of us. However, Padma Patil heard it from her sister, Parvati, and told me in confidence last night in the common room. So, I want to buy her a birthday present before we leave; even if it will be somewhat belated."

"I didn't know about Hermione's birthday," said Neville.

"Me, neither," said Daphne. "I know," said Harry. "I was thinking of getting her something from all of us, and people can chip in what they can afford."

"And what were you thinking of getting her?" asked Daphne.

"A post owl for her parents," replied Harry. "Dead useful; and it'll allow her parents to be able to send her letters and packages without having to come in to here to send them via the Post Owl Office."

"That's - actually a very smart gift, Harry," said Daphne.

"Indeed, it is!" said Cygnus. "And this time, you'll let us help pay for it."

After visiting the Owl Emporium Daphne selected the owl, a Long-eared Owl that had brown and tawny colouring with black 'streaks'. The shopkeeper said it was a male and rather large for the breed, standing at about 14 inches in height. When asked about it's range, he said it was built for long distance travelling, so could easily fly from one end of the isles to the other.

"It's perfect," said Harry. "As it's considered a native and not a threatened species, no one will go running off to British Wildlife to tattle if they see the Grangers have one roosting in their yard."

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