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Sam and Severus followed the Goblin over to the railway where they all got in the cart and began making their way to Sam's vault.
"Please keep your limbs inside the cart at all times while the cart is in motion." The Goblin advised as the began moving.
"Trust me, I have no intention of losing anything." Severus buckled, braced, and readied himself for the wild ride.
Sam buckled himself in as well. "Oh come on Severus I'm sure nobody has died while riding the railway." He turned back to the Goblin steering the cart. "Right?"
The Goblin looked ahead, "Mind the drop."
Severus and Sam looked at one another before looking ahead to see a drop, and soon they were heading down to the bottom of the bank reaching maximum speeds.
Severus opened his mouth to scream, but at the speeds that the cart had reached such speeds that the wind that roared past them muffled his screams of sheer terror.
All the while Sam was loving the wild ride that he was on. His face was that of enjoyment.
The cart slowed down as it reached level nine and slowed to Vault 945. "Vault Nine-Hundred and Forty Five." The Goblin called out as he got out.
"That was fun! Right Sev?" Sam turned to Severus whose fingers had managed to dig into the railing. "Sev?"
Severus had a frozen look of terror on his face as Sam poked him. "Severus buddy are you alright?"
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Severus screamed out as Sam shook his friend. "Severus, Severus, SEVERUS!" Sam yelled at his friend. "Get a grip, it's over! The Cart ride is over!"
Severus snapped out of it and was jolted back into the world of non-movement. "It's...it's over?"
"Yeah buddy. It's okay we don't have to ride the cart back up, we can just take the elevator." Sam assured his friend.
Severus began to look at Sam with an enraged look in his eye. "We...could have...taken the elevator?"
"Well, yeah but that wouldn't have been as fun as riding the rails now would it?" Sam asked his friend.
Severus looked at Sam as if he wanted to strangle him, but suddenly felt sick and then quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over the side and puked.
"Oh...dear. Okay, let it all out." Sam patted Severus on the back. "Everybody vomits on their first ride down here."
After Severus was done vomiting Sam helped him out of the cart and walked with him towards the vault.
"Vault 945, stand back please." The Goblin then used both of his hands and traced a pattern into the door until the locks unlatched and the doors opened.
Severus' eyes widened as he saw that the vault was filled up to the ceiling with several huge piles of Galleons, Knuts, and Sickles. "Oh Dear Merlin." Severus was shocked on how much money was in this vault.
Sam looked around and found a sled. "Awesome! It's still here! Come along Sev!" Sam picked up the sled and began to hike up the mountain of Galleons.
Severus looked at Sam and then followed Sam up the mountain of Galleons. "Are you doing what I think you're going to do?"
"You mean are 'we' going to do what you think we're going to do?" Sam smiled back at Severus.
"Do you mean ride that sled down the mountain of money?" Severus said. "That sounds like the fever dream of a multi-million pound mogul."
"Are you in or what?" Sam asked Severus as they reached the the top. "Oh come on Severus, just one time! When are you ever going to have this opportunity ever again to literally ride a sled down a big pile of money?"
Severus sighed as he looked at the sled. "Any chance you can make that sled any bigger?"
Sam smiled as he pulled out his wand and enlarged it so it could comfortably fit the two of them. He put his wand away and got on the sled and beckoned Severus to join him. "Hop on!"
Severus chuckled and got on the sled. "I'm guessing you've done this before."
"Oh plenty of times. Ever since I was a kid, the Goblins know me as 'that loony kid who loves to ride down mountains of Galleons.'"
"Have you done this with someone riding with you?" Severus asked Sam.
"You're the second I've had ride with me." Sam admitted.
"And who was the first?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Xeno was." Sam grinned. "Okay here we go!"
Sam and Severus tilted over the edge and began to slide down the mountain of Galleons. Unlike the cart ride over to the Vault, Severus enjoyed the sled ride down the mountain of Galleons. The ride was over as they slowed their descent down into the floor. Sam and Severus laughed hysterically as they got up.
"That was insane, incredible, and all-around one of the best experiences I've ever had!" Severus declared.
"Yeah, I'm really glad you enjoyed that, I had a feeling you would, but now onto the matter I came here for." Sam put away the sled and took out a velvet bag and began to take a couple of handfuls of Galleons and put them inside the bag.
"Hey Severus while we're here do you want to withdraw some money from your account?" Sam asked Severus.
"I'm afraid not." Severus sighed as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Why not? Your Mother's Potion business..." Sam began.
"Barely makes enough to send me to Hogwarts every year, along with all my supplies and everything." Severus looked down at the ground.
Sam took a deep breath. "Right that settles it." He pocketed his bags of Galleons and then went back to the cart and got an armful of several burlap sacks, went back into the Vault and handed them to Severus.
Severus looked at Sam. "No!" Severus gave the bags back to Sam.
"Severus it's not a big deal, take these bags and fill them up with as much as you can stuff in them and take them to your Vault." Sam put the bags back into Severus' arms.
Severus put the bags back into Sam's arms, "I'm not going to take money out of your pockets!"
Sam guffawed, "Severus you'd have to take more then a few bags of Galleons to put a dent into my family fortune."
"That may be, but I'm still not going to take your money!" Severus crossed his arms.
Sam put the bags back in Severus' hands. "Severus its no big deal, I want you to have it."
Severus got a bit mad and shoved them back into Sam's arms. "Well I don't want or need your pity!"
Sam looked at Severus. "My God, have you been shit on by The Marauders so much you don't realize when people are genuinely trying to help you? Severus, this isn't pity, this isn't mercy, and this isn't some backhanded way to manipulate you."
Sam sighed and put the sacks down. "Severus, when you joined "The United" you became part of a bigger family of friends who take care of one another. We take care of each other in this group. If you have troubles with your grades we'll help you! If you have financial burdens or in case something bad happens to you, we'll take care of you."
Severus' eyes started to water as he just wiped his eyes from any moisture. Sam put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm your friend Severus, it's not just Lily and you anymore. Now you got a whole bunch of friends who are willing to risk their necks for you. You want to know what true friendship is?" Sam asked Severus. Severus looked at The Hufflepuff. "True Friendship is a whole lot rarer than love because its where people don't expect to get anything out of it from the other person." Sam slowly hugged Severus to get his point across. "You're not alone Severus, not any more."
Severus let himself silently cry for a small instance before breaking the hug and wiping his tears away. "I guess...I could take a bag."
"All of the bags, Severus. Money shouldn't be an obstacle to get an education." Sam picked up the bags and put them in Severus' arms.
"If you really want me to, then I'll take the money." Severus lightened up. Sam sighed in relief. "Thank you, it'll ease my mind knowing you'll have your school costs covered."
"I just hate thinking that I'm taking money from out of your pocket." Severus said as he went to a pile of Galleons and began shoveling them into the burlap sacks.
"Well, Severus you'd be wrong." Sam smiled. "This isn't even my Vault, it's a spare vault owned by my family. One of twenty spare Vaults containing money."
"Twenty Spare Vaults, how many Vaults do your family have?"
"Well, one Vault for each of my family members...twenty for money, ten for jewels, ten for precious metals, five for important documents, three for jewelry, two for other assorted valuables, and one for some antique furniture. So there are I think if I did my math right, Fifty-five Vaults altogether from Vault 934 to Vault 989." Sam explained.
"How on Earth did you family get so many vaults?!" Severus asked his friend.
"That's all thanks to my grandfather. Sherwood Yalarad, the owner of Sherwood Imports. The number one Wizarding import and export business in the world, but before that..." Sam sat on a pile of sickles and played with some coins. "Before that we got half of our wealth by..." Sam trailed off.
Severus sighed. "Look, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine by me."
"Back in Medieval Times, my family was known for fighting in wars, battles, and blood disputes and winning them. Every single enemy who dared to wrong us would end up dead, and we'd take their riches for our own." Sam took a deep breath. "That's who we were Severus, not who we are, and if I ever got to a point where I have a disregard for human life, where I don't bat an eye to take another human life away, good or evil, do me a favor Severus, knock some sense into me."
"Gladly." Severus filled one bag and put it aside. Sam went over and the began to fill the other bags along with Severus and all the burlap bags were filled with Galleons.
"Six bags stuffed to the brim with galleons. That should take care of the rest of your time at Hogwarts as well as any future education." Sam patted Severus on the shoulder. "Come on, let's take these to your Vault and then we can pop off."
Severus and Sam left Gringotts with a bag of Galleons in their hands and put them away in their pockets.
Severus was looking at his receipt that he was given by Tybalt. "Ninety-Eight Hundred Galleons. That's how much you gave me, Ninety-Eight Hundred!"
"Don't make a big deal out of it Severus, picture it like this. If my family lost 20,000 Galleons a year, we'd be broke in...a very fucking long time." Sam smiled.
Severus looked at Sam. "Aren't you worried?" "About what?" Sam asked.
"Well, what is your father going to think about you giving this money to me?" Severus asked.
Sam just looked at Severus. "Severus...we have 20 vaults specifically for Galleons that will probably expand if my Grandfather decides to expand his business...which he might."
"Don't you worry about the future?" Severus looked at Sam.
"Well, yeah I do, but it's not doing me any good worrying about things that may not be. I like to worry about the now, and right now I'm starving!"
Severus chuckled. "Well, since you gave me so much money, I'll be buying you brunch, and don't you dare say anything otherwise."
"Okay Severus, do you think we can go to Redd's Place?" Sam's eyes brightened as he asked his friend.
"Redd's Place? I don't think I've ever heard of that place." He racked his head for any information for that place.
"Oh, then you are missing out big time! It's right near Obscura Books, come on!" Sam led Severus to a simple restaurant that blended in with the rest of the environment.
When Severus entered the establishment his nose was hit with a wall of delicious scents from his favorite foods, it was if he was eating them right now. There was a small line up to the counter where people ordered their food. Severus looked around for a menu or any specials but couldn't find anything resembling a menu.
"Where's the menu?" Severus asked Sam, his eyes looked around the restaurant for a damn menu.
"What...oh! That's right you've never been here before. Well, they do things here differently Sev. Instead of them telling you what they have to eat, you tell them what you're in the mood for and they make it for you!" Sam explained how Redd's Place worked.
"Shut up, really?" Severus was gobsmacked.
"Yeah, come on up!" Sam dragged Severus up to the counter to order their food. The man behind the counter was wearing a grey shirt, with a blue apron his skin was tan and his smile brightened up the room.
"Hello welcome to Redd's Place! May I take your order?" The Man asked.
"Yeah, can I get a stuffed omelet with cheddar, provolone, asiago, and colby jack cheeses, mushrooms, green and banana peppers, and onion. Let me think, a great 12oz steak medium rare, and tater tots!"
The man took Sam's order down and gave him a glass jar. He turned to Severus, "And what can I get for you?"
"Umm...are you still serving breakfast?" Severus asked the man. The man laughed heartily. "Only 24/7 pal, now what would you like?"
"Well...can I get two big pancakes with a lot of syrup and whipped butter, two scrambled eggs, sausage, ham and a lot of bacon, toast and homefries!" Severus' mouth began to water as he described his brunch to the man.
"What type of bread?" The Man asked as he was writing his order down.
"Oh, uh...sourdough." Severus said, and he was handed a glass jar the same as Sam.
"Your total is 4 Galleons, 10 Knuts, and 5 Sickles you can pay on your way out." The Man gave Severus his receipt.
"Thank you." Sam and Severus began to find a seat. "Wait I didn't get to order a drink."
"Oh Severus, that's why he gave us jars." Sam found a seat near the window, and Sev sat across from him.
"What are these? Refilling Jars? Don't we need a liquid to go in them first in order for them to refill."
Sam smirked, he held his glass jar up. "Orange Juice." The Jar began to fill up with Orange Juice as Severus looked in amazement. "Just tell it what you want to drink and it will automatically fill it with any beverage."
"Any drink?" Severus asked. "Well, not anything alcoholic, we're still kids you know." Sam grinned.
Severus chuckled. "Coca-Cola!" He said, thinking the jar would never fill itself with a muggle refreshment, but to his surprise it began to fill up with the sweet tasting cola.
Severus put the jar to his lips and drank. "Holy Shit that's Coca-Cola!" He exclaimed.
Sam laughed. "Slink tried tricking the jar the last time we were here, but it always came up with the exact same thing he ordered, no matter how much he muttered or went into great detail." Sam drank his orange juice and looked out the window to see Slink, Tom and Sebastian walking through Diagon Alley. Sam knocked on the glass and got Slink's attention along with Tom's and Sebastian's attention as well.
They waved at Sam and began to head into Redd's Place to join Severus and Sam.
"Sam, Severus, how's tricks?" Sebastian asked them.
"We're doing all right, just ordered some brunch for us." Sam answered.
"You ever been here before Severus?" Slink asked Severus as he took a sip from his cola.
"No, this is my first time." Severus told Slink. "Did you try and trick the jar by filling it with a muggle soda?"
"Actually yeah, I'm drinking Coca-Cola, I didn't think that it would fill the jar with it." Severus admitted.
Sebastian looked around. "Hey where's Lily?"
"She's out with Jessica and Alice Stewart on a little Girl's Day in Muggle London." Severus told him, and Severus could see a faint smile form on Sebastian's face.
The food came out to Severus and Sam a few minutes later and Severus bugged out to see that the pancakes he ordered were the size of manhole covers, and that along with his eggs, tater tots and such, he got an entire plate of bacon on the size.
"Dear Merlin, I don't think I can eat all of this by myself!" Severus looked at all the food that he ordered.
"I'll take that as an invitation!" Sebastian took a few strips of bacon.
"By all means help yourself!" Severus invited everyone to take some food off of his plate.
"Don't take too much though, you don't want ol' Severus to waste away like a skeleton." Sam grinned as he took a bite of his omelet.
"What do you mean?" Severus raised his eyebrow as he asked Sam.
"Well, I think what Sam is trying to say is...you could stand to gain some weight." Tom stated.
Severus looked at his frame, true he was skinny but he never thought he could stand to gain some weight.
"You're as skinny as a twig." Slink added.
"Ok..but..." Severus tried to respond.
"You're just skin and bones." Sebastian added jokingly.
"Ok ha-ha..." Severus sarcastically chuckled.
Sam cut into his steak. "You're so skinny that you got to strap skis onto your feet to stop you from falling down the drain!"
"OKAY! I get it! Thank you Moms!" Severus sighed and cut into his pancake, and took a bite, but Slink then took the cup of syrup and poured a bit of syrup on his pancakes.
"Have some syrup Severus!" Slink said in a mock-motherly tone. "Makes your pancakes taste better!"
Severus just shook his head. "You guys are too much!" He smirked.
"Too much awesome." Sam added.
After brunch was done Severus went to the register to pay for the decided to join Severus up front, and Tom and Slink looked at Sam. "May I help you?" He asked his friends.
"Sam...umm how much do you trust Severus?" Slink whispered to Sam.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked his friend quietly.
"Well we were going to tell Severus about us." Tom whispered.
"Us?" Sam asked. Slink and Tom held a hand with each other on the table. "Oh, OH! That's what you meant, yeah go ahead he's very understanding, but I don't think you need to rush in to tell him. Just make sure you guys are comfortable with telling him instead of you coming to me seeing if he's going to understand."
Tom and Slink shook their heads. "Thanks Sam." Sam smiled and shook his head.
The three joined Sebastian and Severus up front and the five of them walked out of the restaurant and browsed around Diagon Alley.
"So, why were you three here?" Severus asked Slink, Sebastian, and Tom.
"I have an internship with Obscura Books." Tom beamed with pride. "And I foolishly used up my lunch break to hang with you guys." He took a look at his wristwatch. "And now I have to head back, if you'll excuse me."
Tom said his goodbyes, and hugged Slink tightly before leaving to go back to his internship.
Slinks sighed before putting on a smile and looking back to Sebastian, Sam, and Severus. "Okay, so what do you guys want to do now?"
Sebastian shrugged. "Junk Shop?" Sam smiled. "Junk Shop!" Severus looked confused. "Junk Shop?" Slink grinned. "Junk Shop!"
"Junk Shop!" Sam, Sebastian, and Slink roared in glee as they walked down Diagon Alley, leaving Severus in a haze of confusion. "I must be mad or something to hang out with these guys." Severus walked quickly to catch up with his friends.
The four walked down Diagon Alley and passed by Knockturn Alley. "Where do you think you're going Severus?" A voice rang out from the darkness of Knockturn.
Severus stopped in his tracks and turned around to see Mulciber, Avery, Nott, and Wilkes walk out of Knockturn Alley and stand right across him.
"Ian." Severus acknowledged Mulciber. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just out for a walk with my friends...and I was wondering where you were...friend." Ian Mulciber stressed that last word.
Sam looked back and cursed. "Damn it." He stopped Sebastian and Slink, and immediately the fell in behind Severus.
Mulciber and his group backed up a bit. "Decided to trade in...Snape?"
"Listen Mulciber I don't mean any offense."
"Well, offense taken, and I thought you were with Lucius and I, but it seems as if you've thrown in your hat with the blood traitor, and the Muggleborns." Mulciber's mouth snarled in hatred. "And to think I took pity on you, you're nothing but a pitiful Mudblood unworthy to be in Slytherin!"
Sebastian tried to confront Mulciber, but was stopped by Sam. "No...not here." He whispered to Sebastian.
Sebastian eased back and Sam stepped forward to Severus' side. "Unworthy to be in Slytherin? The way I see it, Severus Snape has every right to be in Slytherin, Hell he could be in every house if he saw fit. The only people I see who are unworthy to be in Slytherin are you four." Sam stood there and spoke his mind.
"You dare?!" Avery growled. "Yes, I dare." Sam shot back. "Look at you lot, a bunch of cowards who flock to an ideal they see fit to their status. It's because of people like you who give Pureblood Wizards a bad name."
Mulciber pulled out his wand, and Avery, Wilkes, and Nott did as well. Sebastian, Slink and Severus instinctively pulled their wands, Sam however did not.
"Look how Yalarad is afraid to draw his wand, he trembles in fear of Superior Wizards." Mulciber bragged.
"The day I tremble to the likes of you Mulciber is the day I lose myself to fear." Sam crossed his arms behind him. "I'm giving you one chance to go off and be on your way."
Mulciber growled and pressed his wand to Sam' throat. "Now how do you figure that? It's four on four!"
Sam shook his head. "It's seven on four."
Mulciber laughed. "Are you dumb? Can you not count?!"
"Can you?" Sam asked as he motioned to his left. "Ashdown and Clearwater, to my left." Wilkes and Nott turned to see Michael Ashdown and Nathaniel Clearwater aiming their wands at them. "And my boy Xenophilius behind you lot." Sam told Mulciber, and Avery turned around and saw Xenophilius aiming his wand dangerously at Avery.
"Now, I will ask you once more...leave." Sam ordered Mulciber and his goons.
Mulciber glared at Sam, but lowered his wand, and Avery, Nott, and Wilkes lowered their wands. Sam waved his hand and 'The United' lowered their wands.
"Let me tell you something Yalarad, you won't always have your friends here to be your bodyguards!" Mulciber sneered at Sam.
"Firstly, these are not my bodyguards, they are my friends, and two when that day comes when you think you've got me cornered...I'll be sure to give you a running start." Sam grinned.
"If that day comes where The Dark Lord reigns supreme, I'll be there to see your family and family bend at the knee of my Lord!" Mulciber growled.
"...If." Sam threatened Mulciber.
Mulciber and his goons backed away. "Just you wait Yalarad, you and Snivellus over there!" Mulciber used the Marauder's name for Severus. "You're gonna get yours, and when..."
Michael got tired of hearing Mulciber's tiring jargon about blood superiority and decided to have a bit of fun.
Michael pulled out a deck of cards. "Hey Mulciber, here's a picture of me shagging your Mother."
Michael showed Mulciber a card, and Nott, Avery, and Wilkes began to point and laugh as they actually saw Ashdown giving it to Mucliber's mother while Mulciber with anger in his eyes began to pull out his wand.
"You're dead Ashdown!" Mulciber tried to hex Michael, but Nathan was quicker drawing his wand and pointing it right at Mulciber's junk.
Mulciber raised his hands. "Yalarad tell him to stop!"
"I don't speak for Nathan..." Sam sighed knowing he made a stupid joke on accident. Nathan looked over at Sam and gave him an exasperated look. "Yeah, sorry about that, anyway if Nathan wants to hex your balls off he is free to do so...so I suggest you run."
Mulciber and his goons backed up. "You'll get yours...you'll all get yours!" Mulciber, Avery, Wilkes, and Nott walked away to safety.
Nathan put his wand away. He signed something to Michael and he laughed. "Yeah Mulciber looked like a scaled dog when you threatened to blow his balls to Kingdom come! Thanks for having my back Nate!" Michael patted his friend on the back.
"Why is it always you who has to kick the hornet's nest?" Sam asked Michael.
"Hey, somebody's got to do it? Why not a Gryffindor?" Michael joked.
"That should be your new house slogan." Severus smirked.
The group of friends stood there. "So...now what?" Slink asked.
"Junk Shop?" Sam asked. "Oh God." Severus groaned knowing what would happen.
"JUNK SHOP!" The boys cheered as they all went to the Junk Shop.
After a couple hours in The Junk Shop they decided to end the day in Fortescue's getting some ice cream.
As they all entered the establishment Severus was talking with Xenophilius of all people. "It's a broken wand handle Xenophilius. What on Earth are you possibly going to do with it?"
"What can't I do with this Severus?" Xeno's eyes were wide, a number of ideas flowed into his head.
"Well, you can't practice magic with it." Severus quipped back.
"Your eyes can't see the possibilities that can present itself." Xeno looked at Severus closely.
Severus backed up it was apparent to all but Xeno that he was uncomfortable. "May I ask what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm looking at your head, you might have a small wrackspurt problem." Xeno attempted to get closer, but fortunately Slink intervened. "Hey Xeno how about we got get you some Ice Cream?"
"Do they have licorice flavor?" Xeno asked. "I'm sure they do!" Slink pulled Xeno away from Severus who gave Slink a look of thanks.
Sam had two cones, one strawberry, and one chocolate. "Yeah sorry about Xeno, he's a bit...eccentric."
"Eccentric? Sybil Trelawney is eccentric, Xenophilius is..." Severus decided to choose his words carefully. "Odd." He finished.
"That he is, but I wouldn't change that for anything." Sam gave Severus his chocolate cone. "He was the first friend I've made and ever since then we've been together."
"When did you meet him?" Severus asked Sam. "Back in my primary school days over at The Alice Radenbacher School for Wizardry. I had just lost my mother, and he was the only who treated me with indifference."
Severus looked at Sam to explain, and they both sat down. "It...wasn't the fact that she was gone that bothered me. I knew all about death at that age, because of my Godfather teaching me about it, but it was the fact that everyone around me kept reminding me that she was gone that got to me. Not Xeno though."
Severus and Sam looked at Xeno getting a triple scoop of licorice, pistachio, and cherry ice cream. "He said his condolences once and then went on his merry way. He didn't have to remind me that my Mum was dead, he knew, I knew, and that was it. We became friends after I had stepped in to defend him from a couple of bullies who were harassing her, and ever since then we were close friends. He was there to help me up, and I was there to make sure he didn't get his ass whupped."
Severus looked at Xeno as he walked over to Sam and Severus. He took a seat right next to Sam.
"Hey Xeno, what did you get?" Sam asked his friend. "Cherry Pistachio Licorice stacked upon one another!" Xeno licked the side of his ice cream.
"And why did you choose such a bizarre selection?" Severus asked Xeno. "It's simple, the cherry helps me see Nargles, the pistachio helps me hear Hrognaunts, and the licorice, because it's my favorite." Xeno explained as he ate his ice cream.
They all sat at two tables, Xeno, Sam and Severus in one, and Michael, Nathan, Sebastian, and Slink at another.
Michael sat right behind Severus, and was tapped on the shoulder and turned around to see Severus.
"Can I ask you something?" Severus asked Michael.
"I don't know, can you?" Michael cheekily grinned.
"May I ask you a question?" Severus asked him. "Shoot!" Michael smirked.
"That card you showed Mulciber, you said it was a picture of you...shagging his mother, was it really? I mean it must have been to get him that mad."
Michael laughed and pulled out a deck of cards. "These are a very special type of cards that I came up with!"
"What do you mean? They just look like a regular playing cards." Severus looked at them.
Michael pulled out a card. "Tell me what do you see."
Severus looked at the card Michael drew and saw the Three of Clubs. "Three of Clubs."
Michael put the card away. "Hey Severus, here's a picture of me and Nate standing in front of the Empire State building." He handed Severus a small photo and he saw Michael and Nathan smiling, standing in front of the building.
"When did you and Nathan go to New York?" Severus asked him. "We didn't, look at the back of the photo."
Severus looked confused and then turned the photo around and saw a back of a playing card, he turned it back around again and saw the earlier card, the Three of Clubs.
"How did you do that?" Severus was in awe of Michaels trick.
"It's the card! Every single card is charmed to show what ever you say is on the face of the card, if people see the back of the card, then the illusion is shattered. You won't believe how many girls I picked up with these babies!" Michael gave Severus his deck, he was about to protest. "Relax, that isn't the only deck I have, I have plenty more at home."
Severus nodded. "Thanks Michael."
The door opened and Severus looked up and grimaced. He saw The Marauders walk into Fortescue's.
James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter walked in laughing with one another, but they took one look inside and stopped in their tracks.
Sam looked up at them with a stoic indifference. Sirius looked back at him with a silent rage. James put a hand on Sirius' arm and they all went to a corner both that let them see everybody.
"It was such a nice day before they came along." Severus muttered. Sam looked at him. "You consider Mulciber threatening you to be a nice day?" Sam asked Severus. "Well, Mulciber has a reason for wanting me dead, Black, Potter, and Pettigrew never needed one." Severus finished his ice cream, "I'm gonna use the bathroom."
Severus went off to the bathroom, Sam kept an eye on Sirius, and thankfully he was looking at a menu. Sam leaned over to Xeno, "Go follow Severus, just make sure he isn't ambushed in the bathroom." Xeno nodded, took his ice cream and followed Severus into the bathroom.
James whispered something into Peter's ear and Peter gulped and waddled out of the seat and went over to where Sam was. Slink Sebastian, Michael and Nathan kept an eye out as Sam sat there finishing his cone. Sam took one look at Peter and he struggled to keep a look of distaste off of his face. "May I help you?" Sam asked the fat lackey.
"James wanted me to tell you that he wants to talk to you." Peter told Sam. "Is that right, and why didn't he come over here himself and tell me that?" Sam asked Peter.
"Ummm well he's looking at the menu, I mean..." Peter started. "It seems to me that he's just using you as a scapegoat to protect himself in case I was to hex or jinx him if he came over." Sam looked over to James who was looking at the menu, but Sam knew that James wan't interested in ice cream, what James was interested in was a conference with him. "Fortunately I am in a good mood, so go over and tell your master I'll talk with him over in the hallway leading to the bathrooms, alone, without our wands."
Peter gulped and waddled over to James and told him what Sam had told him. Sam got up and pulled his wand out and handed it to Slink, "You're insane you know." Sam watched as James Potter looked over at Sam. "He'll never agree to talking with you without his wand," Slink mentioned. They looked and saw James taking out his wand and giving it to Remus to hold at the behest and vocal disapproval of Sirius. "He will if he has the tiniest shred of Pride and Honor."
Sam walked over to the hall way with James Potter following him.
Severus opened the bathroom door and jumped when he saw Xenophilius waiting for him. "Bwaaah! What are you doing?"
"Waiting for you." Xenophilius smiled as he licked his ice cream again.
"I see that, but what I mean is...why?" Severus asked Xeno.
"Sam wanted to make sure that The Marauders didn't ambush you while you were in the loo." Xeno licked up the dripping ice cream on his cone.
Severus sighed. "Well...thank you Xenophilius."
"He really like you y'know." Xeno pointed out. "He wouldn't have made friends with you so quickly if he didn't really like you."
Severus couldn't help but give a small smile at that. "Thanks, now come on let's get back..."
Severus and Xeno heard people walk down the hallway and stopped right before the corner that lead to the bathrooms.
"Well you wanted to talk, so talk." It was Sam, and he appeared to be talking to someone.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot, that's all." Severus glared as he heard James Potter's voice, what the hell was he doing talking Sam? He turned back to Xeno who was just as confused as he was.
"The wrong foot? Hanging a fellow student by his legs with a spell that he made doesn't seem like the wrong foot, it seems like bullying!"
James put his hands up. "You've got it all wrong! It's just a simple prank, just boys being boys is all!"
"Boys being boys?" Sam rolled his eyes. "Three on One is just Boys being boys? Sounds like a load of Thestral Manure Potter, so why don't you tell me why you really wanted to talk to me."
James knew he wouldn't be able to trick Sam and sighed. "Fine, I just want to make things between us...copacetic."
"Wow, that's a big word. What'd you do read a thesaurus before you left the house this morning?" Sam taunted him.
James frowned. "I'm trying to be civil here." Sam laughed, "No, no this isn't you being civil, this is your Father telling you to be civil with me." James' eyes widened, and Sam knew his guess was right. "You told him that I was making your life a bit difficult, and expected him to make my life a bit difficult in return, but then he got a bit uppity at the mention of my name and commanded you to make nice with me!"
James growled. "Okay, okay Mr. Smart-Ass, then why don't you tell me why I called for this meeting."
Sam looked at James. "You want me to give up Severus, and Lily." Severus' breath hitched, and he froze in shock. Would Sam really give him up? "You want to bully Severus to your heart's content, and leave the door open for you to court Lily." Sam finished his guess.
"Yeah, that's what I want." James told Sam. "...And tell me James...why would I do that?" Sam asked him.
"Because if you do, you have my word that we'll leave you alone. You and you group of friends." James explained.
Severus' hands clenched as he heard what James was offering Sam, and Xeno put a hand on his shoulder. That didn't make Severus any more calmer, but it was a bit more comforting.
"Really, you...Pettigrew...Lupin...and...Black will leave us alone, yeah somehow I really don't believe that Black will go along with this, not after how I embarrassed him in front of the entire school." Sam said as he leaned against the wall.
"Trust me, Sirius will go along with it when I explain how he should just let it go." James tried to convince Sam.
Sam was a bit silent as he thought to himself and Xeno, James, and Severus were waiting for his reply.
"Well? What do you think?" James asked. Sam looked at him, "Oh I'm sorry I'm just trying to find a creative way to say no to you." Sam stroked his chin. "Let's see..."
Severus smirked, and turned back to Xeno who was finishing his ice cream seemingly not worried about this whole situation.
"What?" James growled. "Uhh no, nein, nada, not gonna happen, sorry but no, nope, no way Jose, I don't think so, no can do, absolutely not and now in slow motion, nooooooooooooooooooo..." At this point James took out his wand and pointed right at his neck. "Oooooohhh great you took your wand, and to think I gave you the benefit of the doubt."
"Now you listen here, Snivellus is nothing but a stinkin' Death Eater. I'm doing you a favor by taking him off of your hands to deal with him!" James growled. "Why are you protecting him?"
"Because he is my friend, and friends protect one another." Sam stated it like it was fact. "Now I suggest you take your wand away from my throat."
Severus drew his wand ready to spring into action if need be. Xeno put a hand on Severus' wand and lowered it. "Wait." He whispered to Severus.
"Or what?" James glared at Sam, and felt something hit his nether-regions and saw that Sam was pointing a wand to his 'snitches.' "You fink, you told Peter no wands!"
"I meant it, but as I was leaving, my friend Slink put his wand down my pants just in case, so technically I abided by the rules by not bringing my wand." Sam jabbed Slink's wand into James' waist. "Now take your wand away from neck Potter!"
James slowly took his wand and pocketed it. Sam did the same, "Now you listen to me, Severus Snape and Lily Evans are under my protection, any more further aggression towards Severus Snape, and any more unwanted advances on Lily Evans will be taken as an attack on me, and I will make sure that you pay for it in droves!" Sam threatened James. Severus couldn't help but smile at Sam's words.
James stood there and glared at Sam. "Another thing, this whole tough guy act with you and The Marauders, going around running roughshod over everyone who looks at you wrong, it ends today! No more, do you hear me Potter?" James didn't answer. "You have ears don't you? I said do you hear me?!" Sam growled.
James snarled at Sam. "You're going to pay for this Yally Boy." He left the hallway and walked out of Fortescues' with Peter, Sirius, and Remus following him out.
Sam calmed down before he went back out to his seat, and he gave Slink his wand back while taking his wand and pocketing it. He sat down and put his head on the table, the last thing he wanted was to create even more tension between The United and The Marauders, before they went back to school Sam had to arrange a meeting to warn everyone about Potter and his gang.
A mug of butterbeer in front of his face distracted him from those thoughts, he looked up and saw Severus with a mug of his own. "What's this for?" Sam asked Severus. "For being my friend." Severus smiled, and Sam got up off the table and took the mug and clinked it with Severus's mug, no words were needed between the two.
Pretty soon it was time to leave, everyone said their goodbyes and walked off in their own directions.
Sam and Severus walked back to The Leaky Cauldron, they saw a store owner closing shop and locking the door before leaving.
Sam stopped in his tracks and Severus looked at him. "Sam what is it?" Sam saw the store owner walk away and walked to the locked door. Severus looked around and followed Sam. "Sam what are you doing?" Severus asked him.
"I just want to test something." Sam knelt at the door and and was eye-level with the lock. 'Open Sesame.'
The Locked door was suddenly unlocked as Sam and Severus' eyes widened. Sam got up, closed the door, and magically locked the door. "What just happened?" Severus asked Sam.
"I believe we just stumbled upon something we shouldn't have or something that's going to happen."
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Alice looked at Lily, "So do you like him?"
Lily looked back up at Alice. "Like who?"
"Severus of course!" Jessica answered.
