Chapter 26: Surprise Guests

Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Welcome to Book 3, The Prisoner of Azkaban! I'm so glad all you enjoyed my ending to Chamber of Secrets. I hope I can make this one as awesome as the last one. Please Review and Enjoy.

It was the end of June at the Seven Stars Orphanage, Martha was out back with the kids, as they were playing on the playground.

It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was enjoying it.

"Martha, there you are." Looking to the door, Martha sees Newt walk out.

"Newt, I thought your lesson with the boys wasn't for another few days." Martha said.

"Oh I'm not here to teach. I'm just here to congratulate." Newt said pulling out a copy of the Daily Prophet. "Did you see it?"

Holding it up, Martha looks at the article.

"Ministry of Magic Employee Scoops Grand Prize?" Martha read. "Weasley? Oh he's one of Sam's friends. What am I looking for?"

"Huh?" Newt looks at it to show a picture of Ron's family on the front page waving as they were all in Egypt. "Whoops, wrong section." Flipping through it, Newt shows the article.

"Salazar Slytherin's Name Cleared by True follower." Martha read. "Hogwarts 2nd year Slytherin, Samuel Snape who through vigorous investigation proved that Salazar Slytherin was not in fact a muggleborn hating killer but in fact a loyal and caring founder who was willing to throw away his title and status for the good of the school he loved. Further proof shows that the Heir of Slytherin was not the founder everyone thought but the heir of his son Salazar Slytherin the second who was disgraced and thrown out of his family."

"You must be so proud of your boy." Newt said.

"So proud of him." Martha smiles. "Can I frame this article?"

"By all means. So where are the boys?" Newt asks looking around.

"Oh our little wizard is off doing something very important with Eric and Cole." Martha smiles.

We find ourselves behind a small curtain, as Sam was sitting on a stool with Eric and Cole nearby.

"Okay Sam, this is it. All eyes will be on you." Cole said.

"I don't know if I can do this." Sam said taking a deep breath.

"That's just nerves talking Sam, you can do this. You've trained for this." Eric said.

"Come on, your Slytherin's Champion. We believe in you." Cole said.

"Alright, let's do this." Sam said putting on a magician's top hat and walking past the curtains revealing him to be at a child's birthday party.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls. I present to you, the Amazing Samuel Snape!" Eric declares as the kids clapped.

"Hi kids, I'd like to start this off with a little question." Sam said grabbing a small metal tin. "Don't you wish you had a pound for every time your parents told you to clean behind your ears?"

"Yes." They all said as Sam walked out.

"Well there's one." Sam said pulling a pound coin out from behind one kid's ear. "And another." Sam said reaching behind another kid before walking up to the birthday boy. "And now the birthday boy, when was the last time you cleaned behind your ears?"

"Never." He admits.

"I thought not, because you young man have the dirtiest ear of all." Sam said reaching behind him to pull out a giant pound coin the size of a small ball. "You are rich my friend."

Seeing this all the kids clapped loving it.

Walking up on stage, Cole hands Sam each of his props and he dazzled them with each trick.

After the party, the three of them were walking back home with the check and a slice of cake for each of them.

"Ha ha! 3 Birthday parties in one month. We're raising a ton of money for the orphanage." Cole smiles.

"I gotta admit, guys you really pulled through getting me all these gigs." Sam smiles.

"Not to mention you spent all last year learning tricks for our acts. Did you those kids? You had them in the palm of your hand." Eric smiles.

"Hey if I could fool evil wizards with these tricks I can fool some little kids." Sam chuckles when he noticed a poster nearby.

Stopping in front of it, they see it had a magician with tan skin and black hair, a fancy tux, a top hat, and a magic wand.

"Wow, check out this guy." Sam said interested.

"Oh yeah that's Giovanni Bezel. He's a master magician. Takes his show on tour all over." Cole said.

"Maybe someday, you could be that good." Eric said nudging him.

"That would be incredible." Sam said looking at his top hat. "Few more parties maybe I can use my portion to get a suit like that."

Arriving back at the orphanage, the boys heard something on the news.

"…The Public is warned that Black is armed and extremely dangerous. A special hot line has been set up and any sighting of Black should be reported immediately."

"Oh dear." Martha said looking at the TV.

"What's going on Martha?" Cole asks as they walked over.

"Appears some criminal has escaped from prison. Sirius Black." Martha said as Sam looked to see a picture of a man with wild scruffy black hair and a mustache.

"Sirius? I've heard that name before, but where?" Sam pauses.

"I want you boys to be careful from now one. If you plan on going anywhere after dark I want to tell me right or bring Newt if he's here." Martha warns.

"We will." The three of them nod.

As Sam looked at the man on the screen, he couldn't help but wonder where he heard his name before.

Suddenly he heard hooting from Noctis.

As the black owl flew in Sam got a letter from Hogwarts.

"So what's the news this time Wizard boy?" Cole asks sitting down.

"Well apparently since I'm a 3rd year I'm allowed to go to the village of Hogsmeade, but I need a parent or guardian's signature. Martha do you mind?" Sam asks holding the form out to her.

"Not at all Sam." Martha said sighing it.

Little did Sam know Harry was about to try the exact same thing.

On Number 4 Pivet Drive, Harry was dealing with a much different experience than Sam.

At the door Harry opens it revealing his Uncle Vernon and a fat woman that bared a strong resemblance to him. This was his Aunt Marge.

"Uncle Vernon, I need you to sign this form." Harry said holding out the Hogsmeade form.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Nothing. School stuff." Harry said knowing he didn't care.

"Later perhaps, if you behave." Vernon said walking in.

"I will if she does." Harry said as he enters the room to see Marge greeting Petunia and Dudely.

"Oh, you're still here, are you?" Marge glares at him.

"Yes." Harry replies.

"Don't say yes in that ungrateful way. Damn good of my brother and Petunia to keep you. He'd have been straight to an orphanage if he'd been dumped on my doorstep." Marge said.

"Would have rather been at an orphanage than here." Harry mutters.

"Harry take Marge's suitcase upstairs." Vernon orders.

"Okay." Harry said leaving them.

Later that night at dinner everyone was sitting down, or to be more accurate everyone in Vernon's family was sitting down while Harry was doing the dishes.

"Can I tempt you, Marge?" Vernon offers holding some brandy.

"Just a bit." Marge said as Vernon filled up a glass. "Ripper you want a little brandy? A little drop of brandy-brandy windy-wandy for Rippy-pippy-pooh?"

Looking over Harry saw Marge letting her bulldog lick her drink.

"What are you smirking at?" Marge glares looking at him.

"Nothing." Harry said getting back to cleaning.

"Where did you send the boy, Vernon?" Marge asks.

"St. Brutus'. It's a fine institution for hopeless cases." Vernon said.

"Do they use a cane at St. Brutus', boy?" Marge asks.

Looking over Harry sees Vernon nod. "Oh yeah, yeah I've been beaten loads of times." Harry said.

"Excellent. I won't have this namby-pamby wishy-washy nonsense about not beating people who deserve it. You mustn't blame yourself about how this one turned out. It's all to do with blood. Bad blood will out. What is it the boy's father did, Petunia?" Marge said.

"He was unemployed." Petunia said.

"And a drunk no doubt?" Marge mocks.

"That's a lie!" Harry said getting her attention.

"What was that?" Marge asks.

"My dad wasn't a drunk!" Harry snaps turning to her and the wine glass in Marge's hand shattered.

"Marge?!" Vernon gasps.

"Oh, don't worry Don't fuss, Petunia. I have a very firm grip. Happened to me before." Marge brushes it off.

"I think it's time you went to bed." Vernon said looking to Harry.

"Quiet Vernon. You clean it up." Marge orders as Harry comes over.

Taking a deep breath Harry walks over and cleans it up.

"Actually, it's nothing to do with the father. It's all to do with the mother. You see it all the time with dogs. If there's something wrong with the bitch, then there's something wrong with the pup." Marge said causing something to snap in Harry.

"Shut up! Shut up!" Harry snaps throwing the rag down having enough of this.

"You proud of your parents boy? They go and get themselves killed in a car crash and left you to be a burden on their decent hardworking relatives." Marge said.

"They didn't die in a car crash!" Harry yells.

"Let me tell you. You insolent, ungrateful little—" Before Marge could finish she noticed her whole body started to swell up.

"Marge!" Vernon gasp as they saw Marge blow up like a balloon.

Having enough Harry stormed up to his room.

"Vernon!" Marge screams.

"Marge!" Vernon yells trying to hold onto her but she ended up floating up into the sky.

Inside Dudely only looked in shock before going back to his dinner.

Making his way down the stairs with his trunk and Hedwig's cage Vernon ran to him.

"You bring her back! You bring her back now and you put her right!" Vernon orders.

"No! She deserved what she got!" Harry said.

"Why you—" Vernon was about to let him have it when Harry took out his wand.

"Keep away from me. I'm warning you." Harry glares.

"You're not allowed to do magic outside school." Vernon said.

"Try me." Harry mocks.

"They won't let you back now. You have nowhere to go." Vernon said.

"Anywhere is better than here." Harry said walking right out the front door into the night.

Making his way down the street, Harry stopped near a playground to catch his breath.

"I need to think of a place to go, anywhere." Harry said when he heard a noise.

Looking down a nearby alley he sees a large black dog looking right at him before barking causing Harry to fall over.

Just as he thought it couldn't get worse, a loud noise echoed.

Driving in was a large blue triple-decker bus labeled Knight Bus.

On the back of it, a man in a conductor outfit stepped out. "Welcome to the Knight Bus... emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor for this evening." He said noticing Harry was on the ground. "What are you doing down there?"

"Fell over." Harry said.

"What you fell over for?" Stan asks.

"I didn't do it on purpose." Harry said before remembering why. As he turned to look down the alley he saw the dog was gone.

"What you looking at?" Stan asks.

"Uh nothing. Uh where can this bus take me?" Harry asks.

"Anywhere as long as it's on land. Can't do nothing with water." Stan said.

Pausing Harry could only think of one place. "Seven Stars Orphanage please."

"11 Sickles please." Stan said as Harry paid him. "Alright take er' away Ern!"

As soon Harry got on he was thrown back into a seat as the bus drove at an incredible speed.

While Harry struggled to sit down he noticed Stan reading a paper with that Sirius Black man.

"That man was on the Muggle News." Harry points.

"Sirius Black? Of course he was on the Muggle News. Don't you know who he is?" Stan asks as Harry shook his head. "He's a murderer. Got himself locked up in Azkaban. Murdered 12 muggles in broad daylight."

"How did he escape?" Harry asks.

"No one knows, he's the first one to ever do it. He was a big supporter of You-Know-Who." Stan said and instantly Harry froze. "I reckon you heard of him."

"Yeah…him I know." Harry said.

At the Seven Stars Orphanage, Sam was helping throw away the trash from dinner.

"Alright, here we go." Mustering up all his strength Sam tosses the trash into the dumpster. "Hopefully garbage day is soon."

Sam was about to go back in when he heard a honk.

Looking to the street he sees the Knight Bus come to a grinding halt in front of the orphanage.

Pausing Sam looked at it confused before Harry and Hedwig climb off.

"Sam." Harry smiles for the first time today.

"Harry? What's going on? What's this?" Sam asks.

"Alright here you go, have a nice day." Stan said putting Harry's trunk down before they drove off.

"Harry what happened?" Sam asks.

"Can we go inside first? It's been a really bad day." Harry said.

"Yeah sure." Sam said leading Harry inside.

A half hour later, Sam, Eric, Cole and Martha sat with Harry as he explained everything that happened.

"And after I blew up my Aunt I just stormed out of that house." Harry finished.

"I don't blame you, these people are awful." Eric said.

"How can they get away with treating you like that and not care?" Cole asks.

"Since I had nowhere else to go I remembered Sam saying I should come over if things got worse. So here I am." Harry sighs.

"Well don't you worry Harry. I won't kick you out. I think we can find some room for you." Martha said surprising him.

"Wait, you're really going to let me stay here?" Harry asks.

"I'm not gonna leave a young man like yourself out on the streets. Sam do you mind if I put Harry's bed in your room? I think we have a spare somewhere upstairs." Martha said getting up.

"Sure Martha." Sam nods as Martha went to get it.

"She just took me in, so fast. She didn't even hesitate. Why?" Harry asks surprised.

"I understand you were raised by monster but Martha takes in everyone Harry." Eric said.

"Any kid who enters this place, Martha takes in. Just like with the rest of us." Cole nods.

"Now I know who taught about helping people." Harry said looking at Sam.

"Yep, everything I learned, I learned from Martha. She raised us, fed us, she's the one who encouraged me to go to Hogwarts." Sam smiles.

"She sounds like an amazing women." Harry smiles.

"Well now you can get to know her. You're one of us now, Potter." Cole said.

"We don't throw anyone out here." Eric nods.

"Wow, thanks guys I don't know what to say." Harry smiles when they heard a loud knock at the door.

"Who could possibly be here at this hour?" Martha asks walking down to answer it.

"Pardon me madam, but I am looking for a Mister Harry Potter." A familiar voice said.

Looking to the entrance Sam and Harry saw Cornelius Fudge the Minister of Magic was at the door.

"Uh yes, who are you?" Martha asks.

"Oh forgive me, Cornelius Fudge." He said shaking her hand before walking in. "Aw Mr. Potter, I've been looking for you."

"I see." Harry gulps.

"Oh my." Fudge notices Sam next to him. "Mr. Snape, I've heard a lot about you?"

"You have?" Sam asks.

"The boy cleared Salazar's Slytherin's name. Quite the impressive feat. I don't think we've met but it's an honor to meet you both." Fudge smiles.

"Uh yeah." Sam and Harry pause.

Neither of them could admit that they in fact met him last year before he had to take Hagrid away.

"Excuse me Ma'am can I talk to those boys in private?" Fudge asks.

"I suppose." Martha said a little uneasy.

Leading them to an empty room, Fudge sat down across from them.

"Well Harry, running away from your aunt and uncle in the middle of the night was quite the reckless thing to do. At least you chose to go to a friend's house. We found your Aunt Margea little south of Sheffield, circling a chimney stack. The Accidental Magic Reversal Department was dispatched immediately. She has been properly punctured and her memory modified. She will have no recollection of the incident whatsoever. So that's that... and no harm done."

"You came all the way here just to say that?" Sam asks.

"Not quite, I spoke with your Aunt and Uncle as well. They've agreed to take you back next summer so long as you stay at Hogwarts over the holidays and here until the end of the summer." Fudge said.

"Sir, I think I'd rather just say here. I've been happier here in 12 minutes than I've ever been in 12 years that I've spent with the Dursleys." Harry said.

"Frankly sir, it would be wiser to have Harry stay with us. We don't mind an extra guest." Sam said.

"Now, now Sam I respect how caring you are towards your friend but the fact is they are his family and I'm sure they'll feel better after some time apart. I'm sure that they are fond of you, deep-deep down. If you're fine with it, I can have you spend the next two months at the Leaky Cauldron if you don't want to be here." Fudge said.

"But sir what about my punishment?" Harry asks,

"Punishment?" Fudge asks.

"I broke the law. Underage wizards can't use magic at home." Harry explains.

"Come now Harry the Ministry doesn't send people to Azkaban for blowing their aunts. However, I do ask that you boys be careful given the state of things." Fudge said.

"State of things?" Harry and Sam asks.

"We have a killer on the loose." Fudge said.

"Sirius Black?" Harry recalls.

"But what does he have to do with us?" Sam asks causing Fudge to chuckle.

"Nothing at all, just want you boys to be careful. Oh and uh Mr. Snape I was wondering are you related to the Prof. Snape at Hogwarts?" Fudge asks.

"No, I just have the same last name. Just a coincidence." Sam denies.

"I see, well boys I'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your summer break." Fudge said walking out leaving both boys alone.

An hour later, Harry and Sam were entering their new shared room.

"Well this night has been eventful." Harry said.

"Tell me about it. My best friend and the Minister of Magic arriving at my orphanage in one night." Sam said as Harry laid down. "So why do you think we need to be careful of this Sirius fellow?"

"Well I heard he was one of Voldemort's supporters." Harry said.

"And I guess since I just uncovered that Voldemort was not Slytherin's true heir some pretty angry at me." Sam theorized.

"Probably." Harry agreed. "Thanks for taking me in Sam."

"It's what friends do." Sam smiles.

As Sam went to the window to close the curtains, he notices something in the corner.

"What the?" Sam looks out to see the same black dog Harry saw looking at him from under the street lamp for a few seconds before leaving.

"Hmm must be a stray." Sam said closing them. "Night Harry get some rest."

"Yeah good idea." Harry said as they both went to bed hoping to put this crazy night behind him and hopefully enjoy the rest of his summer.