Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in any way shape or form. Ginny Weasley does but I don't feel like going into details on that because though I have this rated M, it's for later chapters not for this one. I am looking into buying the rights however but I know for a fact that it's not going to work out. So sad so sad. At least I have this plot and my precious little original characters. They shall always belong to me and no one can change it! Anyways…enjoy my Harry Potter world!

Warnings for this chapter- underage magic, contact from the ministry, minor cussing, evil creatures, smoking underage, muggle shock over wizard items, angst, bashing, timid but unusually kind redhead, sarcastic and depressing blond, threats made by said blond towards a certain potion master.

A/N- sorry I haven't actually undated in a week. I was grounded. Yes the great Maximum ride is still at grounding age. Does that surprise you? Probably not but oh well. Anyways I'm going to hate righting the first half of this chapter because it annoys the hell out of me. Dudley is going to get his first taste of the Wizarding world and he has to be shocked by it. I never was good at measuring shock value so I can really tell out he should react. If you hate how he reacts feel free to comment on it. In contrast to the beginning I will love writing the rest. The awkwardness of Snape having to let two teenaged girls into his house. One that seems a bit scared of him and another that hates him….its just perfect! Review review review!

LIONS AND SNAKES

Chapter 3: Spinner's and Spells

Harry pov

You know I can still remember the first time I was introduced to magic. It was amazing, it was spectacular, it was….a half giant bursting through the front door a few minutes passed midnight on my birthday. Looking back at it now the whole experience seems so normal even though I know its not but I guess its just because things like this always happen. Every year I end up doing something magic related.

Year one…I released a snake from a zoo because the glass that held him in mysteriously disappeared, I locked Dudley in there when the glass managed to make a reappearance, several owls tried to send me a letter from Hogwart's school of witchcraft and wizardry, a man gave Dudley a pigs tail, I ended up going to the Leaky Caldron…a place that can't be seen by muggles, I went to a bank run by goblins, I bought things from a magical district called Diagon Alley, I run through a pillar at kings cross station to get to platform 9 ¾, I was sorted into a house by a talking hat, I joined a magical sports team, I saw a dragon, I got an invisibility cloak for Christmas, I went up against a three headed dog, I played a life sized game of chess, I went up against the man who killed my parents and saved the sorcerer's stone.

Second year…a house elf named Dobby dropped cake on some associates from Uncle Vernon's work, I was locked in my room and rescued by a flying car, I was taken to a house held together by magic, I used floo powder, I missed the train and had to use the flying car to get to school, me and Ron managed to get beat up by a tree called the whomping willow, I found out that I could talk to snakes, I found the chamber of secrets, I ended up fighting a boy named Tom Riddle….a boy who would become a man named Voldemort. I defeated a basilisk and saved my best friends sister.

Third year…I blew up Aunt Marge, I found out a murderer named Sirius Black was out to get me, dementors came to Hogwarts, a friend of my father started to teach defense against the dark arts, the twins gave me the marauders map, I discovered Sirius was actually my godfather, and I found out other interesting things…Lupin was a werewolf, Peter Pettigrew was alive, and Sirius was innocent. All in one year….

And then the fourth year…a year I kinda wish I could forget. I went to a quiditch competition, Deatheaters showed up, the Triwizard tournament was held at Hogwarts, my name was slipped into the drawing, I found out that Dobby had taken a job at the school, I fought a dragon, rescued Ron from the bottom of the school lake, and went through a giant maze. I won the third task with Cedric…and I watched him die, I helped resurrect my worst enemy, I battled with him, and finally I escaped.

I did all of this in just a few years…All of it and yet as I think back on it…I just don't see what's so strange about it anymore. Even now as I show Dudley a bit of my world only one thing catches my attention and makes me wonder. As the knight bus pulled up out of no where and Dudley tripped back in surprise the only thing I wondered was…..did I have the same look that he had when I first discovered magic?

Dudley was on the ground half raised on his elbows staring at the triple-decker bus in total awe. All I could do was laugh at the childlike spark that was just behind his eyes. If you would have told me even a few days ago that my cousin would look at something that I showed him in such a way I would have called you crazy. If you would have told Dudley this before the beginning of the summer he would have done the same thing. This however was the present and because of that the reaction could be expected somewhat.

Stan Shunpike jumped out the door in his purple uniform and greeted us in his usual fashion, "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be you conductor this eve…..Oi! Harry Potter….is that you? 'aven't seen ya sense a couple oh year ago! Course you told me ya were Longbottom but still…."

He turned to Dudley and stared at him for a moment, "Whatcha doin' down there?"

"Fell over," Dudley mumbled quietly with lightly painted cheeks.

"'Choo fall over for?" Stan laughed.

Dudley stood up and brushed himself off, "I didn't do it on purpose." A not so eerie feeling of Déjà vu over took me for a moment as he said that. A moment from the past had recreated itself somehow. I managed to smile as we walked onto the bus.

As we stepped onto the bus Stan decided to question Dudley a bit, "I know your friend is 'Arry Potter but who are you? Woss your name? and don't go lying to me….I got a bit of that from 'Mr. Longbottom' over there a while back."

"Dud…Dudley Dursley sir!" He stuttered out.

"Nice at meet ya Dudley….and just to let you know…any friend of 'Arry Potter's is a friend of mine," He stuck out his had and Dudley shook it cautiously. "So what can I do for you two…I can take you anywhere you like, long's it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater 'Ere….Last time it was London…is that where you're goin' now?"

"Yeah….that's probably for the best," I said with an uncertain tone. "Eleven silver sickles, right?"

Stan grinned happily, "Yep….but remember….it's only firteen to get you 'ot chocolate an' fifteen will get you a 'ot water bottle an' a toothbrush in any color you choose."

I rolled my eyes as I handed him the money and walked further in with Dudley. As always there were no seats. Instead there was a half dozen brass bedsteads. Candles were burning beside each one. Stan pointed to two beds near each other and the back and told us to head that way. As sat down on the beds the bus took off again with a huge BANG. I managed to stay up right contrary to the last time I was on here and Dudley was thrown heavily onto the bed. I couldn't help but laugh at that as I watched the cities go by quickly outside the windows.

People got off and people got on as we went. I didn't really pay that much attention to it. Eventually I just sorta drifted off…..

Dudley pov

Harry nodded off at some point and when Stan came back and asked me where exactly we wanted to go in London I gave him the address of a motel that me, mum, and da stayed in a few years back when we had gone to London on a business trip. When the bus pulled up to the place I tried to shake Harry awake but he wouldn't budge. Looking at him now I noticed how exhausted and unhealthy he seemed to be.

His skin was paler then what it once was, there were deep shadows under his eyes, he was bruised in certain areas, and his ribs were jetting out a bit. I wanted to curse my father for hurting him for no reason. I wanted to curse my mother for not feeding him. Hell….I wanted to curse myself for standing back all these years and just watching.

I managed to lift him up from the bed with little trouble but I couldn't tell whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. I decided to be glad for the moment and worry about it later as I carried him off the bus. The moment we stepped off, the 'Knight Bus' as Harry had called it bolted from the area. I sighed with minor annoyance as I carried the boy, whom was only slightly younger then me but still half my size, towards the entrance of the lobby.

I was merely a few feet from the motel when it happened. An icy feeling overtook me. It wasn't just my surroundings either. It was like I had swallowed a huge chunk of ice and it was just sitting in my stomach. No…..it was more like my heart had been incased in ice. I dropped down to my knees and set Harry aside as I tried to catch my breath which seemed to have left me for the moment. Memories of when I was younger started to appear before my eyes. None of them were good.

Sure….a long while ago…before the start of the summer…I would have thought otherwise but now I saw the memories for what they really were. They were reminders of how cruel I had been to my own flesh and blood.

I saw myself complaining about not getting as many presents as I had gotten the previous year while all Harry got was a coat hanger and a pair of socks. I had two rooms while he had a cupboard. I had all the food I wanted and he had almost nothing. He finally got a bedroom but was locked away and I did nothing. I remembered every hit and kick I ever gave him. I even remembered the little game me and my mates use to play when we were little. Harry Hunting….find him and beat the hell out of him. That was the goal of the game. Thinking about it now just made me sick.

I allowed my eyes to land on him for a moment. Maybe he knew what was going on, "Harry?" I whispered hoarsely….he didn't stirred.

I tried to be a bit louder as I was sure I felt a hand touch my should. God….I was feeling colder now…feeling worse off, "H…Harry?"

He just laid there in deep sleep. I felt myself being lifted up swiftly and smacked into a wall. I saw stars and when my vision cleared and I looked at the person who had attacked me and pinned me to the wall….I saw nothing. I noticed the rippling of air where the person was suppose to be but other then that I saw nothing at all. I felt a freezing hand pressed against my neck almost choking me as more of the icy feeling coursed through me. The good times were gone from my mind now. Only the most horrible things that had ever happened to me were recallable. I was feeling weaker and weaker as the invisible assailant managed to steal my life from me.

I tried one more time to wake my cousin, "HARRY!"

And the attempt wasn't in vain. As I shouted the boy's name he slowly cracked his eyes open and they grew wide as they looked at me. He jumped to his feet quickly and pulled out his wand pointing it just in front of me. Perhaps he saw what I didn't. I couldn't really hear what he said after that. My hearing had kinda gone all funny on me and all I could hear was a dull roaring in my ears but I did see something. A silvery white stag flew from the tip of his wand and I was dropped to the ground. I laid there for a few minutes before Harry set me up right and set me against the wall that I had been pressed up to not to long ago.

He forced something into my hands and when I looked down at it I saw a chocolate bar. I looked at him strangely, "Trust me…it will make you feel better…"

I hesitantly took a few bites unsure whether it was just chocolate and after finding it was normal I started to tear into it. Once I was finished I found that I actually did feel a lot better…physically anyways…but so many questions were running through my head. "What….what the bloody hell just happened?"

Harry sighed deeply before sitting next to me, "I suppose you actually didn't see it but….well….we were just attacked by a Dementor…."

"A what?" I asked thoroughly confused by the whole event.

"A Dementor…..its….a kind of creature from my world. Normal muggles can't see them at all…they….well they feed off of people's misery. They take away every happy thought in your head and take pleasure in your unhappiness….some….well some even steal your soul if they are given the chance…..Its call the Dementor's kiss…if I hadn't stopped the ones we had here….well…who knows what could have happened….there was two here….we could have both been kissed."

I looked at been horrified for a moment before speaking again, "And….and you managed to save us?"

He nodded slowly, "Yeah….I guess I did."

I looked away for a moment and whispered, "….those powers of your sure come in handy…it's a good thing you have them otherwise we would have been goners…."

"Thanks," he said softly with a smile on his lips.

An owl glided by and carefully dropped a letter into his lap. We stared after it as it flew away. Our gazes soon shifted back to the letter. He opened it carefully and looked at it for but a moment before a look of horror came over his features. I read over his shoulder.

Dear Harry Potter,

We received intelligence that you performed a Patronus Charm at nineteen minutes passed six this morning in a muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a muggle. We have also looked into your muggle home and found that not only were you not there but your Uncle was dead. You are the prime suspect in that particular investigation.

The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the accusation that we have set against you has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand and take you in for questioning over your Uncles death.

As you have already received an official warning for a pervious offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of magic at 9 A.M. on August 12th.

Hoping you are well,

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE

Ministry of Magic

This was not good…not good at all….

Snape pov

We came down the street far to quickly. Or perhaps I just thought it was to quick because I didn't want to return to Spinner's end so soon. It was understandable. I didn't actually have many good memories about the place passed a few moments I spent with my mother…and even so those moments had stopped before my sixth year because of her death. After that I was left alone with my father, Tobias Snape. He was an incredible bitter man…bitter and selfish…maybe even a little cruel. His favorite expression had always been 'spare the rod, spoil the child.' He used that as the excuse the first time he struck me…..another expression he loved to use was 'A wife should mind their husbands.' He said it every time he went after mother and I hated him for it. Tobias Snape was truly a nasty man and I held no love for my childhood in which we once resided because of it.

We walked down the road and looked at the old brick buildings and broken street lamps. Usually I wouldn't care about it but somehow it made me self-conscious now. Was this town really in such a state now….it was horrible! Finally we came to our destination. I unlocked the door slowly and allowed the two in. As we entered the sitting room the blond looked around coldly. Her hands brushed carefully over the furniture and her eyes scanned the room like a hawk going after a field mouse.

"Well?" I asked uncertainly.

Samantha's eyes looked into my eyes coldly and unmoving, "I wouldn't even let my worse enemy's familiar sleep in such a place."

I glared at the girl. What a blunt and insolent comment. How could Dumbledore see a bit of me in her? She was more like the Potter brat. I led them to their new rooms and left the two to themselves before going to the book shelf and pulling a book away. The shelf shifted and moved away to reveal an ascending staircase. I walked up slowly.

It led up to my personal potions lab. I started to make a potion to calm myself. Making potions always calmed me down. I'll make….I'll make Draught of Living Death….that's what I'll do. I had already been preparing some for the order. So I gathered my ingredients and set to work on making it.

As I finished juicing the sopophorous beans and I turned around to set them in the caldron I nearly fell back. Someone sitting on the table a few feet away with their legs crossed just staring at me. Upon closer inspection I noticed who it was. A timid redhead sat there quietly just watching as I made the potion. I turned back to my work but found that I couldn't stand her staying there silently doing nothing.

"Would you like to help?" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. "I'd like to see if you inherited your mother's potion skills."

She looked startled before nodding her head, "I….I would like to…..thank you sir."

She approached the table and I handed her a knife and instructed her to chop the valerian root. She did it slowly and carefully as though she didn't want to make a mistake in front of me. The technique was alright….it was better then what I expected from a girl whom had been locked away for so long with no introduction to the material.

A voice from behind me made me lose my train of thought, "So you have her doing your work now? How lazy of you."

I looked back to see Samantha leaning against the door frame, "I am merely showing her how to do it…someone will need to help her in her subjects when the term starts."

"Well….I'd prefer it if you didn't….I'd rather teacher her if you don't mind," She said coldly. "Its not your job to do….it's mine."

I looked at her skeptically, "How do I know you even have some form off grasp on the subject….for all I know you were in the dungeon just as long as she was."

She glared and stepped forwards taking the knife from Arianna as she did so. I stepped back nervously thinking that she was planning to dice me up for such a comment. What she really did surprised me. She took the valerian root and started to chop it quickly but gracefully. The technique was vaguely familiar but I paid no mind to that. Once the root was thoroughly diced and ready for the caldron she set the knife aside and turned to me.

"Know this you greasy git…whether I was in that dungeon for my whole life or not," Her eyes bored into my own angrily. "I was taught by someone."

And so she grabbed Arianna's hand and left the room. I couldn't quite focus on my potion after that. So I just allowed myself to sit quietly in the room in deep thought. The rest of the day was like that. Arianna seemed to take an interest in things I did but Samantha avoided me. Even at dinner she ate quickly to escape conversation (though there was none to begin with) and to get out of there as soon as possible.

I was actually glad to send them to bed. I was both physically and emotionally exhausted by the days events. I slowly lowered myself into a chair in the sitting room and fell asleep soon after. I was awaken a few hours later by one of my wards going off. My blood went cold as I realized it was one of the wards attached to the room the girls were staying in. I rushed into the room….and found nothing.

Arianna was still in her bed fast asleep…but as my eyes went over to Samantha's bed I found it empty. I looked to the open window and crept over carefully and quietly. I peeked out and found her sitting on the ledge. A thin white stick was pressed against her lips. She inhaled and exhaled slowly creating a small stream of smoke from the tip.

"Aren't you a little young to have such a habit?" I asked nonchalantly.

She looked over to me not all that surprised by my presence, "Physically perhaps….mentally and emotionally….I'd say I'm passed that point."

I see…so she was one of those types…a person whom was so sure that she was old enough to do anything…I smirked to myself thinking that I had discovered a small part of the girl personality, "May I come out onto the ledge with you?"

She raised an eyebrow at that, "It's your house….I don't much care whether you do or not."

I slowly made my way onto the shape and sat down looking over at the drop below. It wouldn't be pleasant if either of us were to fall. I looked back at the girl and found her staring at me. She held a pack in front of me, "Smoke?"

"I use to…I'd rather not have one though," I said coldly. "It's not exactly the most healthy of habits."

The girl smirked, "Not healthy but calming….besides you look like you need it…Are you afraid of heights?"

I didn't answer as I sighed and took one of the cigarettes. The tip of my wand lit it and I held to my lips. I inhaled slowly and felt calmer almost instantly but I knew that I wasn't setting the best example for the girl next to me. We remained silent for a few minutes.

"I wont let you take her you know….you can't have her…" She spoke so quietly that I wasn't sure I heard her correctly at first. "She's the first friend I've had for a long time and….I don't trust that you will keep her safe….so you can't have her…"

"Why are you so sure that I'm trying to steal her from you?"

"Because you seem so eager to fix what you messed up…what better way is there then to take care of their child…that is what you consider your redemption in this," Samantha said sadly. "But really….if that's the reason….I just can't let you have her…."

"I'm not taking care of the two of you simply because I think it will redeem me….she's my best friends daughter…."

Samantha looked like she was about to snap back at me but paused as she stared just beyond me. I shifted my gaze to follow hers and found Arianna standing by the window looking out at us while clutching her blanket tightly, "What…..what are you guys talking about so late at night?"

I heard a snort beside me and I looked back at the young blond girl. Her features had softened and she had allowed an almost beautiful genuine smile to grace her lips, "It's nothing Ari….go back to bed. I'll be there in a moment."

"O….ok," The red-head nodded reluctantly and left the window.

The smile faded as she took another puff of her cigarette before pressing the end of it to the stone of the house and putting it out. She crawled over to the window and got ready to go in…but then she looked back at me coldly before saying one last thing, "I don't trust you….if I had a choice….I'd still stay here rather then go back to the manor but…I still don't trust you in the slightest….I'll allow you to interact with Ari….but know this…If you hurt her…I'll hurt you…."

I watched her climb through the window effortlessly and I was left there just sitting on the ledge alone. This was far more difficult then I thought it would be.

A/N- well that's the chapter. Pretty long right? I had to make it that because I felt bad for not posting for a while. First off I'd like to say that I do not condone smoking underage. Its not right….I just decided that I wanted to put it in…so don't hate me for it. Sorry about the Stan Stunpike part….I was trying to get his accent (or what I believe to be his accent) correct so it made it kinda weird….oh well…who cares about that really. So what did you think of it? I really would like to know. What do you think will happen at the hearing? Do you think Samantha will ever trust Snape? Do you find her….peculiar in any way? Please review people.