Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Harry tiptoed out of his room. The early morning light barely revealed itself through the windows of the manor. Harry loved Hogwarts, but he was happy to be back home. It was a very important day and his father was still sleeping.
Harry opened his father's bedroom door the slightest bit, slipped through, and shut it behind him. He froze when he heard his father shift in the bed. After waiting a moment for silence, Harry crept towards the bed. He bit his lip to keep from laughing and giving himself away. He stopped just before the bed. Harry smiled as he prepared to launch himself on to his father's sleeping form.
Harry let out a startled scream as he was snatched by his arms and flipped on to the bed, grunting as his back sunk into the soft but firm mattress. He was nearly nose to nose with his father, who pinned him down by his arms. Harry smiled at the smirking face.
"Morning, Dad." Harry said.
"Morning. What exactly were you about to do, young man?" Severus raised a single eyebrow.
"Nothing. I thought you were asleep." Harry laughed.
"You thought wrong, my impish son." Severus rubbed his nose with Harry's, making Harry laugh more. "It's early."
"I know."
Severus pulled out his wand and performed a time charm.
"Harry! It's only four thirty in the morning!" Severus released Harry and laid back down on the bed. "Why are you up so early? Go back to sleep."
"But I can't fall back to sleep, Dad." Harry whined as he curled up next to Severus. "Do you know what day it is?"
"Annoy your dad day?"
"No! Guess again."
"Hmm. Is it all you can eat treacle tarts day?"
"I wish! Dad, c'mon. You know what day it is."
"I do." Severus gave Harry a quick kiss. "Happy birthday, son."
"I'm ten now!" Harry announced.
"Don't remind me. Where did my little boy go? It seems like it was just yesterday I was changing your diapers. Now your ten years old!"
"And next year, I will go to Hogwarts."
Harry yawned loudly, crawling under the blanket and snuggling next to his father.
"One year at a time son." Severus whispered as he rubbed his son's back. The two fell asleep.
Sam watched the entire interaction in his mist form from the windowsill in the master bedroom. He knew he probably shouldn't be spying, but he had followed Harry to see what the boy was up to. He had wanted to see the boy jump on the older man; how amusing that would have been. He himself had been surprised that Severus had been awake and how quick the man had moved. Watching Harry and Severus interact brought back many memories of his own childhood. Regrettably, from both universes.
Sam took to the air in his mist, flying into the vent in the room, his form configuring to fit inside. He followed the system all the way down until it turned left and he turned with it. The system turned upward and then straight once more. He passed one vent and dropped into a second one, entering the large open attic. He continued to the windows of the room and flew out into the chilly morning air. He landed on the roof and solidified.
The fox breathed in the fresh, cold summer air, taking in the rural smells. Sam looked at the mountains in the distance and listened to the early birds singing their wake up tune. Sam sighed content, allowing memories to flow back into his head.
In his previous life, Sam lived solely on the streets of Japan, learning how to defend himself at a young age after his parents abandoned him in an alleyway in hopes to keep him safe from hunters following in pursuit. Sam had learned to live with the fact that he was parentless and homeless. In this reality, however, Sam had been found a day later by another kitsune, Akira. The five tailed fox had brought him home to his mate and daughter, where Sam had grown up with eventually a total of three sisters and loving parents. It took Sam a while to accept the new change, but he quickly fell in love with his new family, especially Akira.
It lasted for fifty-four years before his family was found by hunters. Sam's street smart knowledge came rushing back to him in that moment and he managed to escape. The rest of his family perished at the hunters' hands. Losing his family for a second time hurt Sam in a way he never thought possible, and he struggled with the loss, but stayed true to the promise he made with his Akira: Reign in your temper and always look at the bright side of difficult situations.
It wasn't until forty some odd years later that he found one of his sisters, Natsumi, who he rescued from the hands of a strange demon. His sister now had a family of her own, giving him a niece and two nephews.
I will have to visit soon. She is sure to miss me and the kits will want to hear my stories. Sam thought. He would have to speak to Dumbledore about the limited range he had. Sam would have to travel back to Japan in order to see his sister again. He had told Harry and Severus several stories about his life in this universe (being exceptionally careful with his words around Severus), and Harry had even asked to meet his sister and her family. Samuru had said he would have to ask Natsumi first, reminding Harry that she had had bad experiences with humans. I wonder what she would say.
"Where's Sam? He never misses breakfast." Harry whined as he ate his strawberry waffle with bacon and a fried egg on the side.
"I believe Sam has told you this, but he will arrive when he arrives. You can't expect him to be here all the time, you know, Harry." Severus said. He flipped more bacon on the fryer, taking the cooked ones off.
: Talking about me? Sam said as he trotted into the kitchen, normal fox sized, an amused flick in his ears. I hope this isn't conspiracy.
"There you are! I knew you wouldn't miss breakfast." Harry announced.
: Never.
"Do you want any eggs, Sam? How would you like them cooked?" Severus held up an egg, not turning away from the stove.
: Toss that one. Sam barked.
Severus said nothing and just threw the egg over his shoulder. At this point, he was used to the fox's menu.
Sam jumped up on his hind legs and snatched the egg, chewing the whole raw egg in his mouth and then licking the yolk and eggshell pieces off his lips happily.
: I should be good with a bowl full of bacon.
"I figured as much." Severus said, removing the rest of the bacon from the fryer and filling a slightly curved plate with the crunchy meat. He set it down on the floor and took a seat at the dining table where his own breakfast waited. Sam crunched on the bacon.
"Where were you?" Harry asked. The fox looked up, licking his lips and cocking his head to the side.
: Out on the roof for some fresh air. I needed some thinking time.
"What were you thinking about?" Harry asked.
: Playing detective, are we? The fox turned back to his bacon.
Harry frowned, not quite sure what the fox meant. He glanced at his father, who was giving him a pointed look.
"What?"
"You're being nosy." Severus said.
Harry returned to finishing his meal, feeling a bit foolish for his prying. Whatever Sam had been thinking about was personal. Deciding to change the subject, Harry brought up his party.
"When Sirius arrives for my birthday, he won't be Padfoot, right?" Harry asked.
"I don't believe so. It is a formal party and as long as you don't ask him to shift like you did last year, he should be fine."
"That's good. I wouldn't want him to be chasing Sam again."
: Nor would I. The fox added over a loud crunch of bacon.
When Harry's uncles had first met Sam, Sirius had arrived with Remus in the form of Padfoot. The large black dog started growling at first eye contact and gave chase. He and Sam had trashed Severus's quarters in Hogwarts due to their crashing into things. Severus and Remus had to restrain the dog while Sam hid out of sight. Padfoot finally regained his sense and shifted. However, no matter how many times he shows as Padfoot, the dog seems to loose every ounce of control and charges Sam. Sirius didn't quite understand what it was but Sam was firm in the belief that Padfoot chased him simply because he was a dog.
"When is Draco coming over? Is Aunt Petunia and Dudley coming over, too?"
"Your party starts at noon. Draco will probably arrive right on the dot. Your Aunt and cousin are connected to the Floo and I sent them floo powder not long ago so they should be coming through at some point today. I expect the three of you to be well behaved." Severus said.
Harry remembered when Severus had taught Aunt Petunia how to use the floo powder. His aunt had been very skeptical of stepping into the fire and nearly fainted when Severus was swallowed by the green flames. However, after trying it out herself, she grew more and more comfortable with the transportation as time went on.
"We will be. And the Weasley twins?" Harry asked.
Severus paused and frowned for a moment, then covered his face with his hand and muttered probably a few curse words under his breath.
"I forgot I said yes." He mumbled.
Harry smirked. It had taken him two weeks of asking and pleading before his father had finally agreed to the twins coming over for his birthday. Harry couldn't wait until he met Ron again.
"They will arrive when they arrive." Severus said, opening his paper to begin reading.
"Brill! I'll go get ready." Harry jumped out of his seat and took off towards the stairs.
"Wear your nice robes." Severus called after him.
"The blue ones?"
"No, you destroyed those when you and Sam decided to roughhouse outside." Severus glared at the red fox sitting beside the now empty bowl. "The green ones."
: Come, now. He wasn't that dirty. It was just a bit of mud after a rainy day. Sam showed his teeth in a wide foxy smile.
"Says the red fox who became a grey fox." Severus responded. The fox smile grew bigger.
By noon, Draco, Aunt Petunia, Dudley, Remus, and Sirius had arrived. His father preferred formal parties for his son, so Harry remained in his light green robes, as did Draco in his slightly greyish ones. Dudley arrived in a navy blue suit with a matching bowtie. Aunt Petunia wore a lighter blue dress. Draco did not necessarily care much for the muggle cousin, but Draco tolerated his presence for Harry's sake and was polite to Aunt Petunia. Severus was predictably in nice black robes.
All three caught each other up on how their summer had been going thus far and played tug-o-war with Sam, all three kids against the wolf-sized fox. They used a long rope Severus had transfigured from a loose thread. Sam allowed the kids to pull him forward a bit before he dragged them back. He even shook his head to try and loosen their grip on the rope, but that made the kids laugh harder and tighten their hands. After a few minutes of back and forth, Sam let the rope go and sent all three children tumbling to the rough carpeted floor. They fell into a heap and laughed hard as they pushed themselves off of each other. By then, lunch was ready.
As they were walking towards the dining room, the floo flared and out stepped three redheads.
"Charlie!" Harry gave Charlie a tight hug.
"Hey, Harry. Just dropping my little brothers off. Here, this is from me." Charlie handed Harry a small wrapped square shaped present. "Happy birthday. Have a great one."
"Thanks." Harry said as Charlie disappeared into the green flames.
"Happy Birthday, Harry." The twins said together.
"Looks like we came just in time, Forge."
"I know. Lunch is just starting, Gred."
Harry rolled his eyes, smiling all the while. The twins were definitely something else.
"I'm hungry. You can put your package over there by the couch in the living room. Then let's go eat." Harry instructed.
Lunch was a noisy affair. Everyone was talking to someone: Remus to Sirius, Severus to Petunia, and the kids in a gathered circle. The twins were explaining about how they were teaching their younger brother a bunch of 'spells.' Dudley talked about his private school, which the twins took interest in. They asked questions about how muggle schools were and how a little pranking might brighten up the place. Draco talked about his new broom, how fast and high it went, and how stylish and comfortable it was. Harry rolled his eyes, but that was Draco in a nutshell.
Harry was in the middle of explaining how he and his father began hunting together, Faolan still learning by observing Freyr, when he felt a cold, wet nose on his arm. He looked down at the small black nose, then at Sam. He was holding something small and round in his mouth that he dropped into Harry's lap.
: Hold this. The fox said before walking away.
Harry frowned at the retreating fox before looking down. Before he could register what the item in his lap was, it exploded, followed by a putrid smell. Everyone at the table jumped up and away from the spreading aroma. Harry heard coughing, sounds of disgust, and . . . laughing? Harry looked at the twins who were indeed laughing.
"That sly fox! He knew about our prank!"
"I wonder how he found it! We hid it so well."
"Right under his bed. Well, maybe he could smell it, being a dog."
"We are dealing with an expert here! We will prank him!"
Harry started laughing as he put the pieces of the puzzle together. Ever since the twins had met Sam, the poor fox had fallen victim to many pranks, all of which either backfired on the twins or ended up involving Harry. The twins had yet to catch the fox unguarded.
"Weasleys!" Severus snapped at the twins. "I believe I have told you not to bring any joke products into my house!"
"Well, you see . . ." One of the twins began.
"We brought one for your fox, to see if we could prank him . . ."
"But instead, he pranked us . . ."
"In a completely unexpected plot twist . . ."
"But if he hadn't found it, you would never . . ."
"Enough." Severus growled, getting annoyed with the double sided conversation. "No more."
"Right, Professor. No more." The twins smirked. Severus glared at them.
You two will drive my father up a wall. I do that enough already. Harry thought. He smiled as Remus cleared away the foul scent and everyone returned to their lunch. Harry could see Sam lying on his large plush dog bed with a smug look, his yellow eyes sparkling.
After lunch, Harry opened his presents. He received a Daring Quidditch Techniques book from Charlie (which his father glanced through and threatened to take away if he tried any of the moves without supervision), a box of various joke products from the twins (which his father also threated to take away if he used any of them on Severus), new muggle clothes and a board game called Cluedo from Aunt Petunia and Dudley, and a toy snitch that could fly up to twenty feet for about an hour from Draco. Remus handed Harry his gift, a very small velvet box.
Harry recognized it as a box usually used to hold jewelry. He slowly opened it and discovered a gold pocket watch with his initials elegantly carved on the cover in a darker gold: HSES. Harry ran his hand over the engraved letters and was surprised to feel how smooth they were, along with the rest of the watch. Harry opened the watch and discovered it had yet to be set. He closed it again.
"It's beautiful, Uncle Remus." Harry said. He stood and gave his uncle a hug.
"I'm glad you like it, Harry. Here, let me show you how to set it." Remus opened the watch once more and began to tell Harry about the different aspects of the watch.
After, Sirius gave his present, a fairly large and heavy package. Harry opened it and discovered three books, which was unusual for Sirius to give. Usually, his presents included joke products, candy, and fun new wizard games. Harry looked at the covers. The first book was on jokes, pranks, and everyday mischief. Harry was sure he could cause some trouble with the ideas from the book. The second book was a beginner's potion book, with many kid friendly potions that teach the importance of timing and patience as well as working on skills needed for creating potions. The final book was a muggle book about tricks that could be performed on a bicycle. Harry glanced through all three books, handing each one to his father when he was done for criticism.
"Thanks Uncle Siri! These look great. I can't wait to read them all." Harry said excitedly.
"Your welcome, tiger cub." Sirius smiled. "I'm glad you like them."
"My threat stands for these gifts as well, Harry. And if you'd like, we can definitely work on a couple of these potions together. They would be a great intro for your potions class at Hogwarts." Severus added.
"That would be great, Dad." Harry said.
Harry was surprised to see that there were no more gifts since his father had yet to give him one. As if the man had read his mind, Severus beckoned Harry over to him from his place in his armchair. Severus wrapped his arms around Harry and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'll give you my gift later, alright?" Severus whispered.
"Okay, Dad." Harry whispered back.
Severus kissed Harry on his cheek before releasing him. Harry ran back to his place on the floor and began to teach Draco and the twins how to play Cluedo, having Dudley play some examples. Then they began a game to discover who killed Dr. Black that lasted nearly forty-five minutes before someone guessed the correct answer.
"It was Mrs. White in the . . . dining room with the . . . candlestick." Draco concluded. He picked up the mystery envelope and revealed the three correct cards with a smile.
"Why a candlestick?" Fred asked. "How do you even kill someone with that?"
"Let me show you." George said. He shoved his brother down and began to improvise whacking his brother with something hard.
"Alright, alright! I get it." Fred laughed, pushing his brother off of him.
"Why did she kill him anyway?" Draco pondered.
"They were in the dining room. Probably eating dinner. Maybe he said he didn't like her cooking." George suggested.
"That makes any girl mad. Look at our own mom." Fred said.
"We'll have to be more careful about what we say when it comes to her cooking."
"And we better remove that candlestick from the shelf!"
"She never uses that! I bet she's just waiting for someone to insult her cooking."
"I bet she's secretly Mrs. White in hiding. And that's the candlestick she used to kill Dr. Black with. We've uncovered her identity. She'll be after us next. We are dead mans, George! The candlestick will end us all!" Fred dramatically shook George by his shoulders.
By this point, everyone was laughing. Harry was laughing so hard he fell over. His father came into his line of view, though the man looked very tall from his angle.
"Time to say your goodbyes, Harry. And thank everyone once more for your gifts. Their parents should be arriving soon."
"Bye, Harry. I had fun. See you soon." Dudley said, hugging Harry briefly.
"Bye Dudley. Buy Aunt Petunia. Thanks again for the presents." Harry smiled.
"Your welcome, Harry, dear." Aunt Petunia hugged Harry tightly and kissed his forehead. "You really are growing so fast. Both you and Dudley. I hope you had a very happy birthday."
"I did. Bye."
Harry waved as his aunt and cousin left by the floo. He thanked everyone who came for their gifts as each left one by one. The twins were still discussing their findings about their mother when they left. Harry hoped they didn't plan on causing Mrs. Weasley any trouble. She probably wouldn't understand the reference. Draco left with his parents, both of whom stayed to give Harry birthday wishes. Narcissa gave Harry a big hug and kiss. Harry's two favorite uncles were the last to leave. It had been another great birthday.
Later that night, Harry had just finished brushing his teeth when he realized that his father had yet to give him his present. He walked downstairs and to his father's study only to find it empty.
"Dad? Where are you?" Harry called. He walked through the living room where Sam was rising from his long day nap, yawning as he stretched in a downward dog before rising in a cobra position. He shook himself and trotted off the bed.
"It's about time you woke up. When's your birthday?" Harry asked.
: Until very recently, birthdays were never really celebrated back in Japan. Western culture seems to be influencing them, however. And you have to remember, kitsune live for hundreds of years. Birthdays each year would start to become . . . pointless. Earning a new tail is worthy of noting to a kitsune, and usually celebrated by acknowledgment and a good dinner, like a rarely caught deer. I remember when my father spent nearly eight hours attacking one large stag for my mother when she earned her fifth tail. Sam said as he studied his own tails, grooming the tips with his tongue.
"So should my dad and I celebrate when you get your fourth?" Harry asked.
: Silly human child, you may not even be alive when I get my fourth. I may have moved on by then anyway, onto another exciting adventure. If by some chance your still around, I'll be sure to visit you so you can be of witness and congratulate me. By then, I may just be a distant memory to you.
Harry though about what the fox was saying. He had forgotten that kitsune gain tails every one hundred years. That was definitely a long way to wait, considering Sam's third tail was still pretty new.
"Harry!" Severus called from upstairs. "Come to your room!"
Harry ran up the stairs and into his room. He gasped as he saw what his father was staring at.
On the wall above his dresser, just across from his bed, was a beautiful large portrait of his family: his father, himself at his current age, and Lily, his mother, in a beautiful emerald green dress, a mermaid tail it seemed to be. Severus and he were wearing black suits. Lily was leaning lightly against Severus, her head resting gently on his shoulder and Severus's head laid against hers. Harry stood in front of them, his hands clasped behind him, his head tilted to the side a bit, his shoulders hunched slightly, with a small toothy grin.
"Dad it's beautiful! Did you make it?"
"No. I had it professionally done. I used an old picture of your mother and I, and a recent one of you. Gave it to an artist and he created it. It's painted." Severus answered.
"I love it! Thank you, Dad." Harry hugged his father, who returned it.
"Your welcome, son. I'm glad you like it. Now you can wake up and see your mother every morning."
"Like you do, Dad."
"Indeed. Just like I do, son."
: It's a very nice painting. You had a beautiful mate – or, I mean, a wife. Sam said as he entered the room and sat down next to them, studying the large painting.
"Thank you, Sam. And I hope you don't mind, but I have one more gift for my son. And you as well." Severus lifted a smaller object from the end of Harry's bed. He leaned down a bit to Harry's height so he could show both the fox and his son. Sam pushed off of his front legs and hung and leaned forward to take a look. The object was about the size of a sheet of paper.
It was another painted portrait, but of Harry and Sam. They were outside in the grass, Sam the size of a wolf and Harry in casual light green robes. Harry was kneeling on his knees and had both arms wrapped around Sam's neck. The fox was sitting with one of his three tails curled around him and the other two lifted an inch or two off the ground behind him with a slight curl in each. His head was lowered so it rested on Harry's head and his eyes were squinted a bit. Harry had a huge smile while the fox had a slight curl to his lips. The painter included every detail he could, from the sparkle in Harry's eyes to the white star on Sam's chest.
Harry remembered the day his father had taken the picture. The three of them (more like Harry) decided to have a picnic on a spring day at Hogwarts after the last of the snow had melted and the grass was once again green and the sun was shining. Severus had asked to take a picture of the two of them and Harry, camera ready, hugged the fox and smiled.
Sam remembered the day as well. He had been surprised to have been hugged by the boy, given that affection from Harry had never really escalated beyond a pat or scratch here and there. Sam hadn't felt more welcomed to the Snape family than at that moment. He lowered himself back onto his feet.
: Another beautiful job. I hope you tipped this painter well. Sam said. He was not very good at expressing gratitude or his thanks to another, especially humans given his own history with them.
"More than I probably should have." Severus said, allowing Harry to take the portrait. "I'm glad you both like it. I wasn't sure if you would want one, so I did replicate that one. If you'd like to take it, just ask and I'll pull it out for you."
: Maybe later. And . . . thank you. It is a beautiful gift. And probably the first I received from a human. Well, given and not stolen, anyway. Sam said.
"Your welcome, Sam." Severus reached out and ruffled the fox's head. Severus stood and looked over at his son, who was placing the portrait on the nightstand next to his bed. He waited for Harry to climb in bed before he tucked his son in and sat on the edge.
"Did you enjoy your party." Severus asked, his usual question every year.
"It was the best." Harry answered. "You're the best dad ever."
Severus leaned over and kissed Harry's forehead. Harry hugged his father before he could pull away and gave him a kiss as well.
"Goodnight, Harry." Severus said. He stood and turned out the light.
"Goodnight, Dad. Night, Sam." Harry called after them as they left the room.
: Sleep well, Harry. Sam responded.
In the hall, Severus looked down at the fox that trotted next to him.
"I've been thinking. Do you miss your family? Your sister?" Severus asked.
: More than you know. Although I've been separated from Natsumi for years and years on end before.
"You should go and visit her. Professor Dumbledore has given me a spell that allows you free range for about a month. Will that be enough time, or . . .?"
: That should be plenty. And again, thank you. You're probably the nicest humans I've met. Though wizards, but still very nice.
"In three hundred years, you haven't met any other kind people?" Severus asked.
: I've told you my story. Perhaps one or two acts of kindness, but never anything more.
"Such as the man that broke you out of prison?" Severus smirked.
: Exactly.
"I need to work on a few potions. Enjoy your night, Sam. Perhaps tomorrow I can perform the spell." Severus shook his head, still smiling as he walked down to his lab.
Sam misted and took off to the silent forest outside to see what trouble he could stir up.
I hope you enjoyed and please review! For those of you who are more curious about Sam's past, I have started another story that branches off of this one called To Deserve a Second Chance. The story takes place between chapters 20 and 21. The chapters consist of Sam telling Harry bedtime stories about his life in the new world. Check it out if you are interested in more fox fun!