Life is Pandemonium

Mackenzie W


Disclaimer: Mackenzie W does not own the characters/plots of the Harry Potter books. She wishes she did because paying for college would be a lot easier. She also doesn't own the title of this story, it is from the lyrics to "Pandemonium" from "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". She does however own any original characters that may appear in this story as well as the plotlines to the Elaborate Lives Triology (Year Six, Year Seven, Into the Fire), Phantom of the Dungeons, and Beauty and the Potions Professor?

Pre-Story A/N: Come one, come all and see whatever happened to Samantha "Sam" Snape! For those just tuning in to my amazing saga, you may have noticed a bunch of stories in the disclaimer. You don't have to read them. I will give basic plot overviews if I think it is important. However, if you want to read them, by all means do them. I'll love it especially if you review! Now, if you decide to read the entire EL triology, Phantom of the Dungeons and Beauty and the Potions Professor in one sitting, I would advise not to. EL1 and EL2 are 30+ chapters long, EL3 is 20+ chapters long, and the other two fall between 10-20 chapters long. And no, I don't know how long this will be. Now, onto the show if you haven't skipped this part already!


Mrs. Lucy Privens was a widow for ten years now. All her children were grown and out of the house, living in various parts of England. Her late husband had left her an apartment building to which he was the landlord. Mrs. Privens gladly took on the duties of being a landlady to the tenants of the building because the Privens had always taken on university students. Mrs. Privens felt like a mother again with all the young students to take care of for as long as they rented from her. The commotion of the renters running up and down stairs to make it to class or work or a date made Mrs. Privens feel young again. All her boarders knew that between the hours of six and ten, they could stop in for a chat, some advice or just a good home-cooked meal.

Mrs. Lucy Privens was also a widow with a secret. She was a witch who had married a muggle landlord/small business owner. (Their son Jared had taken over the store upon his father's death). Three of their four children were also either witches or wizards, having attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Therefore, some of the university students renting from Mrs. Privens were also wizards and witches training at a local magical university or the Ministry of Magic its self. She was proud of her magical heritage and of the young people of her kind who were working so hard to make something of their lives.


Three of these young witches and wizards were currently having a rather large fight in apartment 10G. Actually, two of the witches who lived there were; the other was trying to ignore the argument and finish her wizardry law homework. Of course, she still had to keep one eye on her roommates in case she had to jump in and referee them. Because when Lily and Jamie Lupin got going, there was no stopping until someone was jinxed, mostly the two of them when Samantha Snape got fed up and froze them for some peace and quiet. And this fight was starting to creep up to the point where she was going to have to do this. She didn't even know what the fight was about, nor did she care. It was probably something stupid involving someone stealing something from the other's closet. That's what it usually was.

Sam shook her head and slammed her law book closed. She stalked out of her room into the living room. Jamie was standing on the couch pointing her wand at her sister. Lily was standing in the kitchen, a chair in front of her. Sam pulled her wand out of the waistband of her pants, ready to fire at whichever Lupin twin shot off a spell first. And it looked like it was going to be a rare time where Lily was the one to do so. Before resorting to magic, Sam decided to interfere. "Okay, before Mrs. Privens has to charge us extra because one of you blew something up or forced me to blow something up, lets calm down," she said.

"Not before Lily gives me back my favorite pair of jeans."

"Hand over my pink shirt first, Jamie!"

"I did not take your stupid shirt! I don't even like the shirt, I've told you so a million times. When will you listen?"

"You had to take it! You're the only other person here in my size! Sam's a size smaller than us!"

"Maybe you leant it to a friend?"

"No. I checked with them, so don't think I've made my mind up with no basis. It has to be you logically!"

"Expelliamus!" Sam called, catching her friends' wands. "Sit!" she ordered, causing Lily to sit on the chair from the kitchen. Jamie plopped down on the couch. "Good! Now, Lily, give Jamie back her jeans."

"Not until she gives me back my favorite pink shirt!"

"I told you, I don't have it!"

"Yes, you do!"

"No, she doesn't," Sam cut in. "You stained them last week and it's a dry-clean only shirt, remember? So guess where it is?"

"Oh."

"Oh, indeed. Now, apologize to Jamie and give her back her jeans," Sam said, arms crossed.

Lily walked up to her sister, hugging her. "I'm sorry, Jame, I shouldn't have accused you of stealing the shirt. I know how much you hate it. I'll go get your jeans."

"Thank you!" Jamie said, walking into the room the two shared together. They had magically partitioned it off when they did, turning the two-bedroom apartment into a three bedroom. Lily held out the jeans and Jamie took them, smiling at her sister.

"Jamie, I want my green shirt back as well. I want to wear it tomorrow. I'm going to Hogwarts for a visit," Sam said, staring at her friend. Jamie sheepishly nodded as her friend walked back into her own room.


A few minutes later, Jamie poked her head into Sam's room. The Snape girl had resumed her law homework and looked up when her friend entered. "Here you go," Jamie said, handing over the fluffy green shirt back to her friend. Sam took it with a nod of gratitude. Jamie sat there and then giggled. "You know, whenever you have to break up me and Lily, you sound just like your father in class."

"Well, if it gets you two to be quiet, I'll use it."

"Uncle Severus would be so proud."

"Can't say I'd say the same for Uncle Remus if he knew how frequent yours and Lily's fights really were. I'm sure Uncle Sirius would be, though."

"Come on!" Jamie whined, sitting down. "You wouldn't tell Dad the truth would you?"

"Of course not. You and Lily are my friends. Would I betray you?"

"No, I guess not," Jamie said, a little uncertain. "Well, I actually have some psychology homework to finish up. And tomorrow's the start of the new Auror Academy term. I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, of course," Sam said. Jamie closed the door. Sam rolled over and groaned. She loved her friends and she knew they loved her, but there were days that made her wonder…


The next day, Sam apparated into Hogsmeade and began the journey up to the castle that had served as one of her homes for most of her life. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, one of the best schools for magic in Europe, or at least to Sam it was. Of course, she might be a little biased. She was, after all, born in its maternity ward twenty years ago. So had Lily and Jamie, plus their younger brother Rawlins and baby sister Alida. Sam's sister Madison had been born at Hogwarts as well as their brother Garret. Only the Black brothers and their sister hadn't been born there, but Bianca Black had opted for a home birth instead with Poppy Pomfrey and Eden Michaelson attending her. The other reason she could be considered biased was the fact her father was also the Headmaster of the school as well.

Her Grandpa Albus had decided to retire the year after she, Lily and Jamie graduated, as well as her Grandma Minerva. So the Board of Governors, acting on the advice of the two Dumbledores as well as other teachers, appointed Severus Snape the Headmaster and Remus Lupin his Deputy. Remus had also taken over as Head of the Gryffindor House while the new runes teacher, Professor Carlson, took over as head of the Slytherin house. Remus still shared his Defense Against the Dark Arts class with his wife, Harmony. Hermione Weasley still taught Charms and Ginny Potter had taken over as the school healer once Madam Pomfrey had retired. Her father had to scramble for a new potions professor, choosing a Ravenclaw who had been three years older than Sam. However, Transfiguration was proving to be a hard class to fill. In two years, the school had seen three professors. She didn't even bother learning their names.

Sam skipped along a little, waving at Hagrid, who was still the groundskeeper, keeper of the keys and professor of Care of Magical Creatures. The half-giant waved back at her, smiling broadly. Sam entered the school, which was still relatively quiet. School would begin in a few days, which gave her father a little more time to spend with her. She couldn't explain it, but she had always been close with her father. Not that she wasn't close with her mother, Kiki, but there was just something about her connection with her father that was stronger. Sam made it to his office, gave his password, and up she went.

Severus enveloped his daughter in a hug, hiding her underneath his massive black robes. Sam was briefly reminded of when she was younger; she often hid under his robes while he taught. He let go and motioned towards one of his chairs, one of which Sam plopped down in. She curled up and stared at her father as he took a seat behind his desk. Severus was moving slower, the only sign of his age. He still looked like a young man and had the energy of one. So did Kiki, but she also had some of the mobility left, most likely because of her career as an Auror. "How's university?" Severus asked his daughter.

"Still starting, still getting into the swing of things. I did have some homework. And tomorrow I have a meeting with my career advisor since this is the year I have to clerk for the Wizengamut. Next year, I get to intern with an actual wizard lawyer," Sam explained.

"That's good. Have you eaten yet?"

"No, I came right here from school really."

"Your mother will be glad to hear that. She wants to feed you. Desperately."

"And I want to eat her food. Desperately. Lily won't let anyone else into the kitchen and absolutely refuses to believe she may not be the best cook on the planet. Jamie and I don't know what else to do except tie her up when it comes time for meals and we are really close to actually doing so."

"Stubborn Gryffindor," Severus muttered. Sam laughed as her father motioned towards the door. "Come on, I'm sure your mother will be happy to see you. As will Garret. I'm not sure if Madison is going to be there. She's been hanging out a lot lately at the Black place."

"Well, you usually want to be with your boyfriend," Sam said, watching her father's face. Though Severus now had a good relationship with Sirius Black, there was still something about the idea of James Black dating his youngest daughter that made Severus ill at ease. "Come on, Dad, James isn't necessarily the worst choice in boyfriends Madi could've made."

"True, true. How's your love life? Any boyfriends I should be threatening?"

"Love life? Stalled, so no need for any threatening."

"Aww, I like threatening your boyfriends."

"A little too much, Dad. I didn't think the last one would come back after you were done with him."

"Serves him right. All these dunderheads think they're perfect for my little girl, I think not."

"DADDY!"

"Sorry, but it is the truth. Deal with it." They walked on a little bit in silence before Severus turned the conversation towards Sam's roommates and friends. She sighed.

"I don't know, Dad, they confuse. Well, Jamie confuses me. Lily doesn't. I mean, we've been best friends since we were born, right?"

"I would say before you were even born, considering your mother and Aunt Harmony were attached at the hip during the pregnancies."

"Yeah, well, usually it seems like that. And then there are times where I think Jamie's suspicious of me."

"Why?"

"Stupid house rivalries, that's why. I don't think Jamie's ever forgiven me for being sorted into Slytherin," Sam sulked. "Lily and I think that it's childish, she's denied it to high heaven, but we all know it's there. I don't like it. I thought it would be different once we graduated and put houses far behind us."

"Ah, but one never really leaves one's house."

"You just sounded like Grandpa Albus."

"I did not!"

"You did!"

"Not!"

"Did!"

"Oh Merlin, I did, didn't I?" Severus moaned. Sam laughed, making the mood better. They arrived in the dungeons, where her family still insisted on living, and the previous topic was forgotten. Garret was sitting at the table, a book on the defense against dark arts sitting wide open in front of him. Kiki figured he was going to go into the Auror corps like her. It was clear Madison was going to become a Potions Mistress like her father; while all the Snapes were talented at Potions, Madison had a love for it and far exceeded her siblings. Speaking of her sister, Madi was nowhere to be found. Her father's prediction that she was at the Blacks' was probably correct.

Kiki looked up from the stove and raced over to hug her daughter. "Oh sure, forget me, your loving husband of almost twenty years. Sure," Severus remarked. Kiki playfully swatted him before kissing him. Sam, knowing one of her parents' kisses could last for a while, decided to wander into the kitchen to prevent dinner from burning. She ruffled her brother's hair and chuckled at his annoyed response. He quickly brushed his black hair back into place as Sam started to stir the pasta her mother was making.


It wasn't a full family dinner, but it was fine for Sam. Madi showed up in time for dinner, excited to see her older sister. None of the Snape children were extremely at odds, though the house loyalties sometimes caused tensions between Madi and Garret. Madison had been the only Snape child to be sorted into Gryffindor, their mother's former house. It had done the same when Sam was still in school as well, but they always got over it. Sam stayed for a little bit longer after the meal was finished to talk a little more to her parents. Kiki tried to encourage her daughter not to worry about Jamie, but there were days everyone wondered whether or not Jamie was secretly Sirius' child. Of course, she and Lily were identical twins so it was obvious she wasn't.

Sam started out of the castle, after both she and Kiki persuaded Severus she did not need to be walked out. She walked the hallways she had once trod, almost imagining she was back in her Hogwarts' uniform and Slytherin robes. She was too busy lost in her daydream she did not notice when she collided with someone else. The two landed backwards with an "oof" and Sam kept her eyes closed. If she was lucky, she had just run over her Uncle Remus since she could tell it was a male. She cracked open and saw it wasn't. She cursed her luck silently and opened both eyes.

He was about her father's height, she figured, and wasn't wearing any robes. He had on a muggle t-shirt and jeans, holding a cardboard box. He had dirty blonde hair and dark green eyes behind black square frames. He looked familiar. Her victim adjusted his box and offered Sam his hand. She took it and let him hoist her up off the ground. "There, good as new I hope?" he asked, smiling.

She smiled back, dusting off her skirt. "Well, I'm not sure about the new part, but I'm certainly good," she said. "I'm sorry about running over you. I wasn't on this planet while I was walking, which is probably a bad thing. I'm Samantha Snape." She offered her hand.

He shook it but didn't let go. "I thought you looked familiar. Your dad was the Head of Slytherin, right? Former Potions Master now Headmaster of the school?"

"Yeah. Did you go here?"

"Sure did. Was two years above you in Slytherin."

"That's why you look familiar! You were one of the chasers on the Quidditch team, right?"

"Right."

"Of course, now I'm stalling which one you are since there were two male chasers in the time frame you've given me."

"I'm Will Pearson," he said, smiling again. "I'm the new Transfiguration professor. I hear it's cursed."

"And they used to say the DADA position was cursed, but look at how long Professors Lupin and Anderson have been teaching," Sam said, praying there wasn't a blush on her face. She had just bumped into her old crush and apparently, the feelings weren't gone.

Will nodded. "I guess. I have to finish moving around. Will I have to watch myself in the hallways from now on?"

"I think so. Don't worry, I'm studying law at Merlin U so I'm not going to be here very often. Especially since I have to clerk this year as well. It was nice running into you, Will, even if it was literal."

"Same here. Good luck."

"You two." Sam and Will walked their separate ways, the paintings the only witnesses to their smiles. Sam wondered if her father would consider Will a dunderhead unworthy of his little girl but stopped wondering when she figured Will already had a girlfriend. That was her luck after all. And, unbeknownst to her, Sam Snape's luck was about to go on a rollercoaster ride.


After story A/N: Not much, this is just where my regular author's notes will go. If you're not familiar with my other stories, this is where I stick updates about the story, delays in chapter postings (I usually stick to once a week, same day every week). I may also post about things going on in my life and may turn to you for advice. Just to let you know! --Mac