I do not own Harry Potter of any of its properties.
Gabriel Schell, Sam and Severus were escorted to The Leaky Cauldron to Floo back to the Auror Headquarters as a number of Warding Technicians came in to take down the 'Open Sesame' Charm and reinforce every ward, lock and enchantment in Diagon Alley in record time before the shops opened and customers came in.
Alastor, and Orion led Gabriel, Sam, and Severus inside The Leaky Cauldron. "Alright, we need you three to come down to the Auror Department to give a statement on what happened here." Alastor explained.
"Is this going to take very long? I'd like to get back in time to sneak back into my bed before my Mum tears apart the neighborhood to look for me." Severus asked Moody.
"This won't take much of your time, and your testimony will be confidential as well as anonymous."
Severus sighed, "Thank you, last thing I need is more reason for Ian and his gang of misfits to hate me, and I don't even want to think about Lucius." He whispered that last parts to Sam.
"You're not alone anymore Sev, you've got me and The United at your back. No-one's gonna dare mess with you next year." Sam affirmed as he whispered back.
Severus smiled at that, "Thanks."
Orion Black went through the Floo first, and Severus saw Sam give a subtle twitch at the green flames that rose up.
"Sam, are you okay?" Severus asked his friend.
"I...yeah...I'm fine," Sam unconvincingly lied. Gabriel and Alastor looked back at Sam.
"Christ kid, are you still afraid of The Floo?" Gabriel bluntly asked Sam.
"Gabriel!" Sam glared at his Godfather.
Severus looked at Gabriel and then back to Sam, "You're afraid of the Floo?"
Sam looked down at floor and sighed, "Terrified, if we're being honest."
Alastor smacked Gabriel on the arm and gave him a look. "If you want to meet us there, you can drive that car of yours, I trust you remember where the location of the entrance is."
Sam nodded, "I remember, thank you Moody."
Alastor Moody looked back to Gabriel and grabbed him by the ear and pulled him through the Floo to The Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
When the flames rose again Sam walked away from fireplace.
"Wait! Sam hold up!" Severus called after his friend. Sam stopped in his place and looked away from Severus. "Hey, come on Sam look at me, I'm not going to laugh at you."
Sam turned around and faced his friend, "I...know that it's..."
"You don't have to explain anything," Severus told Sam. "We all have things that we're afraid of, it makes us human. You've got nothing to be ashamed of, so what if you're afraid of The Floo, I'm afraid of being in open water."
"What do you mean?" Sam looked at Severus.
"Like...I can stand being in a bathtub or pool, hell even one of those Olympic swimming pools, y'know something where I can see the bottom of what I'm in, but if we're talking about an ocean or a sea, or The Black Lake back at Hogwarts...then forget it."
"What about a beach?" Sam asked.
"It's fine if I stay close to the shore and I can still touch the bottom with my feet."
After Severus' confession Sam sighed. "So...do you want to go through the Floo, and I'll drive over to The Ministry?"
"I don't want to leave you alone." Severus said.
"It'll be faster that way, you can give your confession and then I'll arrive, and then give mine and then we'll be off."
"Are you sure, I don't mind driving with you."
"Severus, it's only going to be a quick drive, I'll be there in Ten minutes!" Sam smiled.
Severus relented and got into the fireplace, "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Sam exclaimed, "Now go!"
Severus got the Floo Dust, "Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Ministry of Magic!" Severus flooed away in a puff of ash and green flame.
Sam flinched a bit, but then maintained his composure and then went out to his car.
Gabriel Schell put his feet on the desk in front of him. "This feels nice, familiar, and it feels oh so good!"
The Desk that Gabriel's dirty boots were on belonged to Rufus Scrimgeour, who was not amused that Gabriel's feet were resting on his desk. The fact that Rufus was sitting at his desk while Gabriel had his feet on his desk irked him.
"If this feels familiar to you then I should have been more harder on you when you were at the Academy. Now would you kindly take your boots off of my desk."
Gabriel smirked, and then took his boots off and then put his feet on Scrimgeour's desk. "Better?"
Scrimgeour wasn't amused, Orion was disgusted, and Alastor was trying not to laugh.
"Still a wise-ass as ever, eh Alastor?" Scrimgeour asked Alastor.
"It's like he never left." Alastor chuckled.
Gabriel smirked, "So why am I here? You already know everything about Malfoy's plan and you've sent Wardsmiths to mend the problem, so what do you need from me?"
Scrimgeour sighed as he pulled open a drawer, pulled out a new Auror Badge, and pushed it towards Gabriel.
Gabriel looked at the shiny new Auror badge and then flashed his old one, "Thanks but I like mine just fine."
"I don't know whether you realize..." Scrimgeour began.
Gabriel interrupted him, "I know you mean, but I don't think after so long I'd be a good fit." Gabriel pushed the badge back to Scrimgeour. "Besides, even if I said yes, I don't think I'd pass the numerous physical and mental evaluations to let me back on the force."
"Have you let yourself go these past years?" Orion asked his former pupil.
"You're one to talk, look how fat you've gotten. You look like a sausage that's about to burst out of it's casing," Gabriel joked as he pointed at Orion's gut.
Orion looked ready to choke the life out of Gabriel as he crossed his arms, and Alastor just began to chuckle.
"As for me...nah. Thanks but I've already taken a position elsewhere," Gabriel got up and walked over to the window near the door.
Alastor looked over at Gabriel, "And where exactly did you take this position?"
"It's in Scotland, I figured the fresh air would do me good, besides the stuff I do over there will do good for my resume when I ask for an Instructor Position in The Auror Academy."
Scrimgeour looked to be thinking, "Sounds reasonable."
Gabriel looked over at his old desk and looked across it to see a desk with several piles of unopened letters and files on it. "So where's Silas?"
Alastor looked at Scrimgeour who then nodded. "He's in Austria," Alastor told him
Gabriel looked back at them. "Dolohov?"
Scrimgeour nodded, "Dolohov."
"How close is he?"
"In the last letter he sent me, he was getting close." Alastor said.
"I know the families that live in Austria if you want me to send a message." Gabriel offered.
"That's quite alright, we already have international cooperation to take down Dolohov, but thank you for the offer," Scrimgeour thanked Gabriel.
Gabriel saw Severus walk into the main Auror Offices. "Well, I figure you might want to talk to Severus, and get his point of view."
Orion walked over and saw Severus and sneered, "If what my son says is true, he is nothing more than a fledgling Death Eater. He'll probably try to withhold evidence if anything."
Gabriel looked at his former mentor, "You know I've only recently met Severus, and Sam's only known him for a little while longer, and Sam's the greatest judge of character of all, so if he likes Severus then he's fine in my book."
"Then Samual doesn't seem that smart to be friends with that piece of trash," he motioned at Severus.
Gabriel swiftly stomped Orion's foot, and then took out his wand and put it in Orion's mouth when he went to yell, and then grabbed his collar. "Just because you taught me what I know doesn't mean that gives you a free pass to slander the ones I care for." He took out his wand from Orion's mouth.
"How dare you!" Orion gritted through his teeth. "I should have never took pity on you to take you under my wing!"
"Well, the egg has been broken, there's no way to un-break it." Gabriel let Orion go.
"Rufus, if I'm no longer needed, I will be taking my leave!" Orion Black then walked out of the door and left The Auror Department.
Severus walked over to the office. "Sam will be here shortly, he's taking his car over here."
"I see," Alastor said. "Severus Snape, might I introduce you to Rufus Scrimgeour the Head of The Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Severus went over and shook Scrimgeour's hand, "It's a pleasure Mr. Snape, now then." Scrimgeour took a piece of parchment and a quill. "It's been a while since I've done this but may I take your statement?"
Severus nodded and sat down and began telling him about everything.
A balding, portly janitor was working the night shift and was mopping the floors and saw Orion Black walking in a huff from the offices.
"Milord Black, what are you doing here at this time of night?" The janitor asked.
"Hello Festus, well I was here on a favor of Alastor's and we found out that my...former pupil Gabriel Schell's accusation about Abraxas Malfoy a few years ago was correct."
Festus Louch straightened up after hearing this, "Is that right, well what was he correct about?"
"It turns out that there was a charm or some sort of enchantment that superseded the wards in Diagon Alley, and we are now doing what we can to fix that."
"...I see, and who found this out? Schell?" Festus asked.
"No, it was the son of Silas Yalarad, Samual." Orion was beginning to hate saying that name. "Well, I'm heading back home, goodnight Festus."
"Goodnight Milord Black." Festus bowed a bit and waited until Orion Black left. He then began to quickly finish his cleanings and then left for the night. He then apparated to his flat in Ipswitch and then went over to his fireplace and got a handful of floo powder, and threw it into the fireplace. "Mordred's Might!"
The green flames erupted as a face appeared in the fireplace. "Festus, why have you called be at this ungodly hour?!" The Man roared.
"Milord Mulciber, I have a bit of information that may be useful to you."
Sam managed to get to The Department of Magical Law Enforcement a few minutes after Severus began his interview.
He walked into the offices, and saw Moody and Gabriel outside Scrimgeour's office.
"Gabriel, Moody!" He walked over to them.
"What took you so long kid?" Gabriel teased Sam. "You know if you never face your fear you'll never be able to overcome it."
"I know, I know." Sam muttered.
"Well, your friend is being interviewed by Scrimgeour, so how about I take your statement and hopefully we'll be done before 5:30 and you can get back to bed."
"Thanks Moody."
Alastor took Sam over to his desk and he then began his inquiry. During the interview Sam looked over at his father's desk. "Where is he?"
Gabriel and Alastor looked at Silas' desk, and Alastor sighed. "You know I can't tell you that Sam." Sam nodded.
"He's in Austria." Gabriel blurted out.
Alastor turned to Gabriel. "Schell! What the hell?"
"Oh come on, it's not like we told him exactly where he is."
"Is it about Dolohov?" Sam asked. "It is isn't it?"
Gabriel lied, "Maybe, I don't know."
Sam sighed, "Are we done?"
"Yes, we're done," Alastor said.
Severus was escorted by Scrimgeour to Sam. "If what I hear from Mr. Snape is true, we have you to thank for all of this."
"I couldn't have done it without Severus helping me Sir." Sam stated.
Scrimgeour chuckled. "I'm sure that is true, but I've heard great things about you Samual. Just say the word and I'm sure that if you pass all your 7th Year OWL's I can have you in the Auror Program as soon as you graduate."
"Thank you for the offer, but...I'm not too sure if I want to follow in my Father's footsteps...I'd have too big of shoes to fill."
Scrimgeour laughed, "Yes that would be a tough act to follow, anyway I believe we have enough information, so you and Severus may be on your way."
Sam and Severus said their goodbyes and walked away from the Aurors.
"I wonder if he will follow his Father to become an Auror," Scrimgeour pondered.
"Probably not, he's more like his mother, peace instead of war." Alastor mentioned.
"That might be the Alexandria you knew. The Alexandria I knew was Slow to Anger, but Quick to Justice."
"All the makings of an Auror." Scrimgeour smiled.
Sam and Severus walked past Silas Yalarad's desk and Sam stopped. Severus turned to look at his friend. "What's up Sam?"
"Nothing, I just want to leave my Dad a note."
Sam got a piece of parchment from his father's desk and wrote a short little note for his father, telling him where he was staying, and that he was safe and all the pertinent information.
"Okay, that should be good. Okay Severus, we can go!"
Sam and Severus drove back to Cokeworth, racing against time and the sunrise as the sped down the road.
It was nearing 6:00 as Severus and Sam drove up to his house. "Hopefully, we can sneak in and my Mum will be none the wiser." Severus whispered to Sam.
"Sev?"
"Yeah Sam?"
"Why are we whispering?"
Severus looked at Sam. "I haven't got the foggiest, I thought the situation called for it."
They both got out and headed to the house.
As Sam walked towards the door he had a chilling sensation run up his back, and he shivered.
"What is it?" Severus asked his friend.
"Sev, I don't know what it is...but I got a feeling something bad is heading our way."
Severus looked at his friend, "I think you're getting paranoid."
"I like to think of it as hyper-vigilance."
Severus opened the door as quietly as he could and took off his shoes, and Sam followed suit. They slowly walked into the house tip-toeing as they went further into the house.
"So..."
Sam and Severus froze in place as the looked to see Eileen in the recliner in the living room sipping a cup of tea.
"Where have you two been so early in the morning?"
Sam gulped and tried to go back out the door, but Eileen closed the door with a wave of her hand.
Severus squeaked, "I can explain!"
"Oh can you? Do you know how worried I was? Checking up on you two, seeing there was nothing but pillows under your covers!" She laughed, "You two had better have a good excuse."
Severus and Sam sat down on the couch and then began to explain their story from the beginning, and at the end Eileen looked to be more relieved than angry.
"Well, I'm glad Gabriel's been cleared with The Department, but you two should have told me so that I wouldn't be so worried," Eileen sighed.
"I'm sorry Mum." Severus looked a bit downtrodden.
"I am sorry as well Ms. Eileen. If anything I'm more guilty cause I dragged Severus into this."
"From what you both told me it seems as Severus went with you on his own accord."
"Umm...Stockholm Syndrome?"
"Nice try, just promise me you won't be sneaking out in the dead of night anymore," Eileen asked of Sam and Severus.
"I promise Mum." Severus swore.
"Me too Ms. Eileen...for as long as I'm here."
Eileen chuckled, "I suppose you two are dead tired. Go on upstairs and get some sleep, and I'll wake you up for Lunch."
Severus ran upstairs to reach his bed, and Sam followed him up. "Sev! Don't be a pillow hog!" Sam yelled as the two hit the sack. "My bed, my rules!" Severus stuck out his tongue.
"You Dick!"
Eileen laughed as the two of them bickering reminded her of Gabriel and Silas back in their Hogwarts days.
That night was the summer solstice, and as tradition was a Ball that was held at Malfoy Manor.
All of the 'respectable' Pureblood families would be attending. Abraxas Malfoy was looking over everything making sure things would be perfect once guests arrive.
The Elder Malfoy was 62 years old, his eyes were hard like stone, his hairline was receding yet he still commanded respect from those he consorted with. He saw his son and heir Lucius was going over the final seating arrangements with his betrothed Narcissa Malfoy.
He smiled, he knew that his line would be secure and his future grandchildren would give him much joy. Abraxas' wife died in Lucius' 4th year at Hogwarts and the hole that she left in Abraxas' heart made him more determined to make this world a better place for his family.
The guests soon began to arrive and The Solstice Ball was underway.
There was music of the royal and classical variety, with lutes, drums, strings, and harps.
Abraxas with a goblet of wine in hand looked over the crowd. He could see proper Pureblood families have attended, such as The Carrows, The Mulcibers, The Rosiers, and several more families to many to name. It was a great turnout, even if there were a few prominent families missing.
There were no other representatives from House Black, except for Narcissa and Bellatrix who helped get the Ball together.
Then a limping house elf walked over to Abraxas, "My Lord?"
"I thought I told you to stay out of sight, I don't want the guests to view your disgusting figure!" Abraxas glared down at his house elf.
"My Lord, Master Mulciber has called for a meeting with you, Master LeStrange, and Master Rosier." The Elf said with a depressed frown.
Abraxas looked up and saw Ian Mulciber Sr. motioning for him to join him, Evan Rosier, and Rudolph LeStrange.
"Very well, tell them I'll be there in a moment, escort them to the Billiards Room, and serve them whatever they want." Abraxas ordered.
The House Elf bowed and popped away to the other side of the room to escort them to The Billiards Room.
Abraxas finished his wine and then traversed the room, making polite small talk with his guests until he found his son sitting with Narcissa together. "Lucius."
Lucius turned to his father and stood up straight, "Yes Father?"
"Lords LeStrange, Rosier, Mulciber, and myself will be up in the Billiards Room discussing something, until I return you are in charge, do you understand?"
"I do Father, I will make sure things run smoothly until you return."
He turned to Narcissa and gave a quaint smile, "I must thank you once more for helping me make this Ball a reality Narcissa."
She smiled back, "It was nothing Lord Malfoy."
"Please, call me Father, in a few short years we will be family!" He looked around. "Where are your parents, as well as your sisters?"
"I'm sorry to say that Mother and Father had prior engagements this evening and they couldn't make it, Andromeda is back home working on a project for school, and...I don't know where Bellatrix is, I saw Rodolphus around with Rabastan so I expect that she is with them."
"Well, tell your parents that we must get together sometime for dinner, and I understand their reasons for not coming. After all one must honor their commitments." Abraxas smiled and then was on his way to the Billiards Room.
Abraxas entered the room to see his fellow Death Eaters. It was him, Abraxas. Along with Rudolph, who was pouring himself a cordial. Evan, who was about to start a game of Billiards. Then there was Ian, who was sitting on a lounge chair drinking a fine bourbon. These four individuals made up the core foundation of their Lord's top tier of leadership. They were the four leaders who reported everything to their Master, and in turn gave our the strictest of orders from their Master to the Death Eaters.
"Well, what seemed to be so important to drag me away from the festivities?" Abraxas asked aloud.
"Don't ask me Abraxas," Rudolph said. "It was Ian who called the meeting." He sat upon the Billiards Table with drink in hand.
Abraxas looked over at the Senior Mulciber, "Okay Ian why did you call this meeting?"
"I was wondering if you had heard the news," Mulciber smiled as he sipped his bourbon.
Abraxas crossed his arms, "I have no idea what you are talking about. I've been spending the past three days here getting ready for the Ball."
"One of my spies had told me something quite interesting in the past day."
"Which spy might this be?" Evan asked as he chalked up his Billiards Cue.
"Does it matter?" Ian asked his compatriot.
"Humor us Ian," Abraxas said, his patience wearing thin.
"...Festus Louch."
Evan and Rudolph began to laugh, and Abraxas couldn't help but chuckle as well. "Festus Louch? The Plump Drunk! He'd tell you anything if it meant a bottle of Firewhiskey!" Rudolph bellowed in laughter.
"It doesn't matter if he's a drunkard. He's a janitor in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and he's loyal to our cause!"
"And what has Festus Louch told you, eh? What has this pathetic insect of a man told you?" Abraxas asked Mulicber Sr.
"He told me that they found out your back-up plan."
Abraxas looked at Ian Mulciber Sr. "What did you say?"
"They found about your plan to sack Gringotts and Diagon Alley. The Department sent Wardsmiths to fix everything."
Abraxas now had a fierce scowl of pure anger. "MIMSY GET IN HERE!" Abraxas called for his House Elf.
Mimsy popped in, "How may I serve you Lord..." Mimsy didn't get to finish his sentence as Abraxas pointed his wand at him, 'Interfectus!'
Several cuts, cysts and dark bruises littered the Elf's body as he fell over with a yell of agonizing pain, it landed on it's side and began to cough up blood and pus, but Abraxas just got more furious and continued to curse the elf until it died right there where it lied. The others felt no remorse for the Elf or saw any reason to stop Abraxas.
Abraxas stood over the dead house elf, heavily panting to try and calm down. "You know I rather did like that House Elf," Evan Rosier admitted.
Abraxas turned to him, and Rosier put his hands up, "I'm just saying."
"I want to know who found it out, was it Schell? I hope it was, I want to be there when he draws his last breath!" Abraxas fumed.
"You're half right Abraxas, it was Schell as well as someone else." Mulciber Sr. said.
"Who?!"
"Don't keep us waiting Ian, we'd like to know," Rudolph was on the edge of his seat.
"It was Samual Yalarad who found it out." Mulciber Sr. told them.
Everyone took a deep breath, Gabriel Schell was one thing. The son and Heir of one of the greatest Aurors to ever walk the Earth was a different story.
Abraxas calmed down and then sat in an adjacent seat across from Rudolph, "Well, well I see."
"What are we going to do about this?" Rosier asked his fellow Death Eaters.
"We need to make an example out of them, Schell we can take out no problem...but Samual Yalarad, I don't know..." Ian Mulciber Sr. thought aloud.
"What else can we do? If we choose to do nothing, it may seem like a sign of weakness on our part," Rudolph pointed out. "But, if we decide to take action against the boy, and his father finds out...Hell it might start this war a bit too prematurely."
Abraxas was deep in thought, "Well does anyone have an idea?" Nobody openly shared any ideas, "Please? Anybody?" Abraxas asked.
"Well, I have an ideas." Rudolph admitted, he got up and talked as he walked around, "We all know Silas Yalarad's obsession with Antonin Dolohov, and how the two have a shared hatred of each other."
Everyone nodded, and Rudolph continued. "Well, instead of commanding any of our Death Eaters at our disposal now. We summon Dolohov back from Austria and have him kill The Young Yalarad. That way, it will seem like Dolohov will looked to exact a bit of his revenge and Silas will be even more obsessed with him to focus on anything else that we might do."
Abraxas nodded in agreement with this idea, "And should he fail?"
"Then he'll be killed far sooner than he can stand before The Wizengamot. We all know that Silas Yalarad is far more likely to kill his targets rather than bring them in, and I'll bet you that's what is going to happen when he gets his hands on Dolohov."
Abraxas sat there in silence thinking about it. "Can anybody think of another option?"
The room fell silent, and then Abraxas made his decision. "Have Dolohov, brought to my home...discreetly. We don't want a handful of Aurors barging in with a search warrant," He told Rudolph.
Rudolph nodded, "I'll do so immediately when I return home."
"Is that everything?" Abraxas asked.
"Not necessarily Abraxas," Evan Rosier mentioned. "We still have to discuss about your niece, Astrid."
"What of Astrid?" Abraxas got a bit defensive.
"Well, she is coming into her own as a Lady and you still haven't betrothed her to anyone."
"And?" Abraxas harshly asked.
"Well, you have your niece, I have my son."
Mulciber Sr. laughed, "No offense to you or your son, but if she were to be betrothed to anybody, she should be betrothed to my son."
"Gentlemen," Abraxas politely said. "While I am honored that you would offer your sons to marry my niece, I am only her Guardian. I only take care of her, everything about her betrothal was taken care of by my cousin Octavian, before his Death at the hands of Oslo Dain."
Evan and Ian shook their heads, "Of course Abraxas, we didn't mean to reopen any old wounds."
"It is all right, please return downstairs and rejoin the festivities." Abraxas gave a smile to his fellow Death Eaters.
Ian Mulicber Sr. and Evan Rosier left the Billiards Room. Rudolph finished his drink and walked over to Abraxas.
"Now, you're sure you want me to get Dolohov back here?" He asked Abraxas.
"The boy knew what he was doing, in doing so he incurred the Wrath of Our Lord." Abraxas looked over at Rudolph, "What else can I do?"
"Nothing, let's rejoin the Ball...after we take your former House Elf out back and incinerate it."
Abraxas looked at the body of his former House Elf, "Right, I nearly forgot about that."
Rudolph and Abraxas went over and picked up the dead elf and wrapped it in the rug it was laying on and brought it to the backyard away from the guests.
After all, it was the duties of a Host to make sure nothing would disturb his guests.
Severus' eyes flickered open as he awoke, his head lifted off the pillow as he looked and saw that Sam was thankfully on his own side sleeping soundly and softly. He sighed thankfully as he slowly got out of bed and walked down the stairs.
He entered the kitchen to see his mother was gathering ingredients to take downstairs to her lab, "Well, good morning Sunshine."
"How long was I asleep for?" Severus asked his Mother. "You two were asleep an entire day, so I decided to let you sleep away." Eileen got a wooden crate, put it on the table and began to fill it with several jars.
Severus walked over to the table, put some gloves on and helped his Mother put the jars into the crate.
"Oh thank you Severus." With his help Eileen managed to fill the crate completely. "Would you be so kind, and open the door."
"Sure," Severus opened the door for his Mother, and she took out her wand and the crate levitated down to the potions lab, and landed on the ground next to her work station.
Eileen sat down at the table, "Thank you Severus."
"Are you going to be doing some work? Would you like some help?"
"I've gotten an order in for 500 vials of Pepper Up Potion, and I need to get on that now if I want to make it on time, and if you and Sam want to help that's fine by me, so long as you two are careful."
Severus nodded as a tapping was heard at the kitchen window and saw an Owl was at the windowsill tapping on the glass.
"Mum did you get a new Owl while I was at Hogwarts?" Severus asked his Mother.
Eileen looked at the Owl tapping on the glass, "No, I haven't and it's far too early for you letters from Hogwarts to come as well."
The Owl looked at Severus and Eileen and blinked before flying upwards and ten began to tap on Severus' window a bit more loudly.
"Ah, it must be Sam's Owl. You'd better let it in before it chips your window." Eileen joked.
Severus nodded as he went back upstairs to see the Owl was tapping at the window to try to wake up Sam.
Severus shook Sam gently, "Hey, wake up."
Sam turned away from Severus and groaned. "Five more minutes," Sam snored as he dug deeper into the pillow.
"Come on Sam, you've been sleeping enough!" Severus began to shake his friend a bit more harder.
Sam was roused awake due to Severus shaking him in his sleep. "Lazy bugger, get up!" Severus yelled.
Sam groaned, "I don't wanna get up!" He pulled the covers up over his head.
"You're gonna get up, or do I have to pour a bucket of ice water over you!" He threatened Sam.
Sam groaned loudly as threw the covers off and then stretched his limbs. He sat up and smacked his lips and looked at Severus, "Okay, I'm up! What is it?"
"Do you have an Owl?" Severus asked Sam.
"Huh?" Sam looked at Severus.
"Do...You...Have...An...Owl?" Severus slowly asked Sam.
"Yeah, I do. A Brown Great Horned Owl, why do you ask?"
Severus pointed at the window where the same Owl that Sam described was waiting.
"Marbles!" Sam got out of bed and went to the window, opened it and extended his arm to let his owl perch on his arm.
"What was your Owl's name again?" Severus snorted as he maintained his composure.
"Marbles, I named my Owl Marbles, what's so wrong about that?" Sam asked his friend.
"Oh nothing, just why?" Severus asked back.
"I got Marbles, when at the time Marbles was my favorite game to play, so...y'know...I named my Owl Marbles."
Sam scratched Marbles neck affectionately and Marbles squawked in approval. Sam saw that Marbles had a few messages on his leg. "Sev, hold your arm out."
Severus did so and Marbles jumped from Sam's arm to Severus' arm, and Sam then read the messages.
Marbles screeched softly as it looked like he wanted to be scratched, so Severus chuckled and obliged the Owl by scratching him under it's neck.
"Hey Severus, don't you have an Owl?" Sam asked him.
"No, I just use the Owls from the Owlery." Severus explained.
"Really so you never had an Owl?" Sam looked up from his messages.
Severus sighed, and sat down on his bed and Marbles jumped off his arm and flew to the nearest bed post. "I had an owl once, a beautiful snow owl named Zophiel."
Sam looked at Severus, "After the Messenger Angel, right?"
"Yes, my Mother got him as gift when I started my 2nd Year of Hogwarts."
Sam looked around but saw no cage to keep an owl. "Is he downstairs? Cause let me tell you, he must be one quiet Owl!"
"...He's not here." Severus quietly said.
"Where is he then? I'm sure Marbles would like to meet him."
"He's outside...right where I buried him."
Sam looked up from his messages at Severus, "Once again please?"
"You heard me, my owl's dead."
Sam felt a little bit guilty, "I'm sorry, how did he die?"
Severus looked down at his feet, "I have no proof...but I swear to Merlin it was those damned Marauders."
"What makes you think that?" Sam asked his friend.
"Because, I found Zophiel on the floor of The Owlery with his neck broken, and the day before Black said 'Better not write home anytime soon,' as he was kicking my guts in."
"And when was this?" Sam asked as he was getting a bit angry.
"Last Semester, before The Yule Ball."
Sam growled, "Well, I'll certainly make sure to 'talk' to Potter about this."
"Don't!" Severus looked at Sam. "Alright, I don't want you to get any higher on The Marauder's Hit-List."
"Severus, I am probably already right next to you on the top of their list." He looked through his messages again, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
"My Mother is making 500 vials of Pepper Up Potion for a client and could use our help," Severus said.
"Sounds like fun, you should probably invite Lily."
"Maybe I will." He looked at Sam, "What's the messages say?"
"Just a few updates on how our friends are doing. Tom has the week off from his internship, Slink is going out of his mind with boredom, Riley, Maxwell, and Macbeth are coming home from their hunting trip, and Nathan is taking up tailoring." Sam looked at Severus, "Sev, are you allowed to have friends over?"
"Well, I never had friends to have over before, but I'm sure my Mother would like to meet a few of your friends."
"Our friends," Sam corrected him.
"Our friends. Why? What did you have in mind?"
Sam smiled, "A quick and fun way to get those 500 vials of Pepper Up Potion."
I couldn't stay away from updating the Story.
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And here is a preview of the next chapter!
"Welcome to The First Annual Potions-Off! It's Team Slink versus Team Snape in what is shaping up to be a showdown of The Potions Prodigies!" Michael Ashdown commentated at an adjacent table with Nathan who was signing something to Michael. "That's right Nate, this is looking to be one for the ages folks!"
Severus looked at the two, "Who invited you two?!"
"If we're being honest we kinda invited ourselves," Michael smiled.
