Chapter 27: New Opportunities
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. First I'd like to give a shoutout to Superherotimefan who managed to create his own Sam Snape drawing on his Deviantart account. I'd also like to thank masters123lfm who came up with a very interesting twist at the end. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It had been a week since Harry had come to stay with them at the orphanage and needless to say he was very happy.
Granted, Harry was not sure about hanging out with the other Muggle orphans since Sam was the only wizard other than him, but he soon found the orphanage was a much different than the Dursleys.
Sitting down Harry was playing Wizards chess against another kid.
"Bishop to H3." Harry said.
"Queen to E5." The kid said as their pieces move.
Pausing Harry grins. "Rook to E5." Sliding in Harry's rook took out the Queen.
"Aw man." The kid groans.
"Looks like you're out of pieces." Harry chuckles.
"Best 2 out of 3." The kid said.
"Maybe next time." Harry said getting up.
Walking down the hall, Harry saw quite a few kids playing muggle and wizard games and even doing a Bertie Botts every flavor bean contest.
"Harry there you are." Harry looks to see Martha walking up to him.
"Martha, this place is amazing. I can't remember the last time muggles were nice to me." Harry said.
"Well Harry you clearly never been in a place like this. Here, the kids look for each other because they know until they get adopted we're all they have. And while you're here Harry, you're one of us." Martha smiles.
"Thank you." Harry smiles touched.
"By the way, Sam tells me it's your birthday today. Don't suppose you'd be interested in a little treat?" Martha asks.
"N-No thank you, you've done more than enough for me." Harry said.
"Such manners. Better watch yourself Harry or I might have to steal you away from your Aunt and Uncle." Martha giggles walking away.
"If only." Harry chuckles.
Making his way to his room, he sees Sam praciting some magic tricks.
"More card tricks?" Harry asks walking in.
"Tryng to expand." Sam said as Harry sat down on his bed. "So Harry, you seem to be fitting in pretty well."
"I do but part of me is confused. How did a Muggle orphanage get its hands on Wizard boardgames and candy?" Harry asks looking at him.
"Hmm guilty." Sam cringed.
"I thought muggles weren't allowed to know about the Wizarding World." Harry said.
"And they don't, but I looked into a few things and there are a few Wizarding items that slip through the cracks. There's no law that says they can't play board games or candy. As long as they don't directly know where it's from they still don't know our world exists." Sam said causing Harry to laugh.
"You really are a Slytherin." Harry chuckles.
"The only people here who actually know about it are Martha, Eric and Cole." Sam said.
Suddenly they heard hooting from the window.
Looking to it they saw three owls fly in, one was Hedwig, one was Errol but the third one was unknown.
"I guess Ron and Hermione heard you're spending your birthday here." Sam said as he and Harry walked over.
For his birthday Ron had gotten Harry a pocket Sneakoscope, Hermione got him a broom servicing kit, but the last one was from Hagrid.
Slowly unwrapping it, Harry saw it was a book labeled the Mosnter Book of Monsters.
"That's an interesting book." Sam said as Harry read the note.
"Dear Harry you might this next year. Won't say more, it's a surprise." Harry read when suddenly the book started chomping wildly surprising Harry as he let go. "Sam the book is alive!"
Growling the book leaps at Sam trying to chomp down on him.
Screaming Sam grabs it and struggles to push it back. "Get it off! Get it off!"
Running over, Harry grabs the book and tries to pry it off him.
Down the hall, Newt was walking with Eric and Cole.
"Guys I'm so sorry this is sudden but I need your help." Newt said in aworried tone.
"Don't worry Newt we'll help any way we can." Eric said.
"Perfect we just need Sam and we can go." Newt said when they open the door to see Sam and Harry throw the book to the ground before stomping on it multiple times.
"Whoa! Guys what's going on?" Cole asks confused.
"This book is trying to kill us!" Sam snaps.
"Stop! Stop!" Newt said walking over. "Just stroke the book's spine."
Confused, both boys get off it allowing Newt to pick it up and when he stroked the book, it instantly calmed down.
"Thank you sir." Harry said as Newt looks at him and smiles.
"Well I'll be, Harry Potter in the flesh and blood." Newt said.
"Harry this is Newt Scamander." Eric introduced.
"Oh it's a pleasure to meet you sir. You really helped us figure out what was in the Chamber." Harry said shaking his hand.
"I've heard a lot about you from Sam." Newt said.
"Sam, Newt says he needs our help." Eric said getting their attention.
"I was on my way here with some new creatures I rescued but I got distracted and two of them got away and are somewhere in this area. Unfortunately, these are two creatures I can't get on my own. I need help." Newt said.
"What?!" Both wizard boys gasp.
"Newt how could let Magical creatures loose in the city?!" Sam asks.
"Believe or not this isn't the first time this has happened to me." Newt said.
"Well what sort of creatures are they?" Harry asks as Newt opens the Monster Book and flips through the pages.
"Here's the first one." Newt said showing them an image of a Dodo bird. "A Diricawl."
"Wait isn't that a Dodo bird? I thought that was extinct?" Eric asks.
"That's just what Muggles assumed. It has the ability to disappear and reappear at will as a means to escape danger. It is very much alive and it is not even close to extinction." Newt said.
"What's the other one?" Harry asks as Newt flipped through the pages to reveal a white furred creature that looked like it was half sloth, half ape.
"This is Demiguise, not only does it have the ability to turn invisible, but it can also tell the future. Making it nearly impossible to catch." Newt explains.
"How do you catch something that sees the future?" Sam asks.
"You have to do something completely unpredictable. Now we have to hurry I can't Obliviate another city again." Newt said.
"Again?" They all ask looking to him.
"Long story, which we don't have time for. I need people who have experience dealing with magic and you three are I have. We have to move." Newt said as they ran out.
As the moon was high in the air and the lights turned on in Kensington gardens, the four of them arrived in hopes of finding the magical creatures.
"Okay I tracked them to this park, luckily muggles never come here so late at night." Newt said.
"Well Harry what do you think? Not many people get to do this on their birthday." Cole said.
"Still better than nothing which is basically what the Dursley's did." Harry admits.
"What is wrong with those people?" Sam asks.
Walking through the park, all of them looked everywhere for any sign of the Demiguise and Diricawl.
"There it is." Newt whispers.
Looking ahead they saw the Demiguise wastrying to get some snacks from a locked up snack stand.
"Alright be very careful and whatever you do don't be predictable." Newt said.
Pausing the four boys tried to figure out what that meant.
Slowly the four of them tried sneaking around from different directions.
However as Newt approached it, he saw the Demiguise's eyes glow meaning it was seeing the future.
Leaping out from four different sides, the Demiguise quickly turns invisible causing them to hit each other and hit the ground.
"I told you not to be predictable." Newt said.
"It turned invisible so fast." Harry groans.
"Demiguise's fur is often used to make Invisibility cloaks. I told you these things are impossible to catch on your own." Newt said.
"And I believe it." Harry said.
"Okay we have to be careful, the Diricawl is just as sneaky. Keep your eyes open." Newt warns.
Picking themselves up, Cole tried looking around and spotted something invisible pick up a some snacks.
"There it goes." Cole points.
Slowly following after the 5 of them tried to figure out how to be predictable when suddenly they heard what sounded like bird noises.
"I think we found our second creature." Harry said.
Nearby they saw the Diricawl singing in the bird bath.
Slowly Newt walked up to it but at the last second the Diricawl disappeared before Newt could grab it.
Appearing near Cole, he leaps at it only for the bird to disappear again.
"Of all the creatures you had to lose the ones that are the hardest to catch?!" Eric whines.
"Less whining more grabbing." Newt said as they chased after both creatures.
At the base of the statue of Peter Pan, the Diricawl appeared.
Slowly Sam snuck up behind the statue but as he leaped out at it the Diricawl disappeared causing Sam to hit the ground hard.
Groaning Sam looks up at the statue of Peter. "What are you looking at? Unlike you I can't fly without my broom."
Just outside the statue, the Diricawl saw Eric and Cole try to corner it.
Stepping back the Diricawl was about to disappear.
"Gotcha!" Leaping forward Sam grabs the Diricawl just as it disappeared causing him to disappear with it.
"Sam?!" Harry, Eric and Cole gasp.
"It's okay, Diricawl's can't disappear very far. Sam's just somewhere else in town. We'll find him." Newt assures.
"Then let's get that Demiguise." Harry said as he and Newt ran to get it.
Looking over Eric saw Newt left his briefcase behind.
"Newt said we had to do something unpredictable." Eric said.
"I'm sensing you have something in mind." Cole assumes.
By a lake, Newt and Harry peeked out from behind a tree to see the Demiguise reappear to grab a drink.
"There it is." Harry whispers.
"Remember, try very hard not to be predictable." Newt whispers.
Both of them were about to move in when they heard a noise that sounded like-like galloping.
The Demiguise looked up and saw a Swooping Evil, 2 young Occampys and a Fwooper fly in from above.
Yelping it tried to escape when suddenly Eric and Cole charged in riding Graphorns.
"You're not getting away this time!" Eric said as Cole opened the briefcase and two Fire Crabs flew out and landed in front of it with crystals glowing ready to turn up the heat.
"Nowhere to run now." Cole said.
Seeing it was completely surrounded the Demiguise was picked up by Cole as Newt and Harry ran to them.
"You boys took my briefcase and used it to release several of my magical creatures to help capture it. Very unpredictable." Newt chuckles.
"Newt, all these creatures were in your briefcase?" Harry asks amazed.
"And a lot more. I have creatures from all over the world in that case." Newt said.
"I love magic." Harry smiles.
"Let's get you all back inside." Newt said opening his case causing all the creatures to go back inside.
Meanwhile with Sam, he and the Diricawl appeared backstage in some building.
"Where am I?" Sam said looking around.
"Ladies and Gentleman, it is time for my final trick of the evening!" A male voice calls out.
Interested Sam looks on the other side of the curtains and sees Giovanni Bezel in front of a huge crowd.
"And with the help of my lovely assistant." Gesturing to the side, Sam saw a pretty teenage girl around his age with long black hair in a pink assistant's outfit with a bow in her hair step forward.
Smiling Sam watched as Giovanni led his assistant into the box before taking out his wand.
Spinning the box around multiple times Giovanni opens the box to reveal she was gone causing the audience to cheer.
"Wow." Sam smiles when the Diricawl tried to wiggle. "No. No get back here."
Gripping tight the Diricawl and Sam disappeared again.
As Giovanni closed the box again he spun it around one more time.
"And now when I open the box…" Giovanni opens the box and he looks to see Sam holding the Diricawl inside it surprising him. "Uh my lovely assistant has been replaced by our lucky volunteer and his pet!"
Hearing this the audience cheered as Giovanni helped Sam out.
Backstage Giovanni's assistant looks at Sam surprised.
"Where did he come from?" She asks.
As Sam steps out he stood next to Giovanni as they took a bow.
"Thank you, you all have been a wonderful audience." Giovanni said turning to Sam. "Follow me." Giovanni said leading him off stage.
"Mr. Bezel I am so sorry for intruding on your show, and I can explain this." Sam said. "You see my bird—"
"You think I don't know a Diricawl when I see one?" Giovanni asks taking off his hat. "It's obvious that's reason you ended up here."
"Wait, you know its magical name?" Sam gasps.
"Of course, you didn't think wizards only stuck with jobs in the Wizarding World?" Giovanni's assistant asks.
"You two are wizards?" Sam said.
"Yes we are young Samuel Snape, meet my daughter Zanna Bezel. We were going to try finding you after the show, but it appears you found us." Giovanni said.
"Wait you know who I am? How?" Sam asks as they led him out back.
"Everyone knows who you are. You were all over the Daily Prophet." Zanna said.
"Dumbledore assigned me to keep an eye on you and your home. That's why I moved my show to here." Giovanni said.
"You know Dumbledore?" Sam asks looking at them.
"Everyone knows Dumbledore. After what you pulled last year did you really think Dumbledore would leave you all on your own? I thought you were smarter than that." Zanna giggles causing Sam to blush embarrassed.
"Zanna be nice." Giovanni said.
"So what? Dumbledore hired you to be my bodyguards?" Sam asks.
"He hired me, to keep an eye out for bad people. Your little declaration angered quite a few people on other side. If they ever found out where you lived they'd use that orphanage to their advantage and one thing a magician is always good at…" Giovanni claps his hand together and a small puff of smoke appeared causing a dove to fly out. "Is misdirection."
"I guess I should say thank you then." Sam said.
"Here let's get you home. Take my arm." Giovanni said holding out an arm.
As Zanna walks up and grabs one, Sam slowly reaches out and grabs the other before they apparated appearing in an alley across the street from the Orphanage.
"What was that?" Sam groans a little shaken up.
"Apparating. It's a very powerful skill, but Witches and Wizards aren't allowed to do it until they turn 17." Giovanni said.
"I don't know if I like it." Sam said struggling to stay on his feet before slipping.
The Diricawl tried to get away but Zanna grabs him.
"Oh no you don't." Zanna said.
"It takes some getting used to." Giovanni said helping him up.
"Well before we leave, I saw some of your tricks, they were amazing." Sam said.
"Thank you." Giovanni smiles.
"I'm actually somewhat of a magician myself." Sam said.
"Oh really." Zanna smiles softly.
"Well I'm trying to be, right now I mostly do birthday parties, but I spend most of my time at Hogwarts learning new tricks for when I come back." Sam said.
"So why did you get into Muggle Magic? Most wizards don't even waste their time with this." Giovanni asks.
"It wasn't something I planned at doing at first." Sam admits.
"So why do you do these tricks then? Trying to be rich or make some easy money for yourself or because you like being in the spotlight?" Zanna asks.
Frowning Sam looks to the orphanage. "It's not just for me, it's for my home."
Pausing Giovanni and Zanna look to him surprised by that answer.
"I mean look at this place. For 11 years, I grew up in there with everyone else hoping that a family would adopt me and every time a kid left, I felt I would be trapped there forever. We didn't have hardly anything but we always had each other. Then I got pulled into the world of magic and thought it was my opportunity to escape, but the more I thought about leaving the more I realized I wanted to take my friends with me. Soon my opportunity became one for everyone and doing Muggle Magic is my way of helping them. So if these magic shows can bring in even a little money to make them happy, well then learning Muggle magic is just as important to me as learning real magic." Sam smiles.
"I can respect that." Giovanni said patting Sam on the shoulder. "But if you're gonna be a magician you have a long way to go."
"I can be patient." Sam said.
"We'll see, don't forget your bird." Zanna said handing it to him.
"Thank you, uh will I see you both again?" Sam asks.
"Of course, how else do you expect to get better at this?" Giovanni said confusing him.
"Hope you can keep up." Zanna winks before walking away.
"Think you can handle a little competition Zanna?" Giovanni asks.
"I've been training to take your place for years, I have years of practice over him." Zanna giggles.
"Is that why you keep teasing him?" Giovanni smirks.
"He amuses me dad, nothing more." Zanna said.
"Sure sweetie." Giovanni said before apparating away with her.
"What just happened?" Sam asks confused.
"Sam!" Looking to the front, he saw Eric, Cole, Harry and Newt waving at him.
Smiling Sam ran over to meet with them.
Inside the orphanage, Newt takes the Demiguise and the Diricawl and puts them back in his basket.
"Well that could have been messy, thank you for all the help boys." Newt said.
"You're welcome Mr. Scamander." Harry said.
"Call me Newt, I don't like all that formal stuff." Newt chuckles.
"So Newt, what were you doing when these creatures got loose?" Sam asks.
"I'm afarid I'm to blame for that." A familiar voice said.
Gasping Harry and Sam look to see Prof. Dumbledore arrive.
"Prof. Dumbledore?" Harry said.
"Wow, everyone is coming here this summer." Sam said surprised.
"Actually, I was meeting Newt outside of town, but even I was surprised to find out he visits this place. I don't suppose you can shed a little a light on this Mr. Snape?" Dumbledore said causing Sam to gulp.
"Go easy on him Professor, the boy's heart is in the right place." Newt said.
"So uhm how much did you see?" Sam asks.
"Well the biggest shock was two muggle boys riding on Graphorns to and ordering 3 different species of magical creatures so easily." Dumbledore said.
"Taught them everything they know sir." Newt assures.
"Really? Tell me boys if you were to greet a centaur how you prove you are not a threat?" Dumbledore asks.
"Oh uh we bow with our left foot forward and wait for them to make the first move." Eric said.
"Correct, tell me what is the difference between a Forest Troll and a River troll?" Dumbledore asks.
"Well Forest Trolls are green and their hair mimics the shagginess of grass and leaves." Cole said.
"While River trolls are purple and tend to hide under bridges near rivers." Eric finished.
"Very good, quick question how would you tend to a Quintaped?" Dumbledore asks.
"Trick question, you can't Quintapeds are carnivorous creatures who eat humans which makes them too dangerous to approach." Cole said.
"Correct. You boys are very good at this." Dumbledore said.
"Well ever since Sam got into Hogwarts we've been trying to find ways to learn more about it and Magical Creatures just come easily to us." Eric said.
"I can tell. So you boys are interested in Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asks.
"Very much sir." Cole nods.
"Well, you boys might be in luck actually. You see my last Care of Magical Creatures teacher retired so I'm in need of hiring a new one. I had hoped Newt would join and help my replacement but he seems less than interested." Dumbledore said looking at him.
"Sorry sir, but these boys are the only students I need." Newt said.
"Still I think he could benefit from a few assistants." Dumbledore said getting their attention.
"You want us to come to Hogwarts?" Eric asks.
"And help teach Care of Magical Creatures?" Cole asks.
"But sir, don't you need to be magical in some way to be able to go to Hogwarts?" Harry asks.
"Most do, but someone seems to have pulled them into the world of magic." Dumbledore said as everyone looked to Sam.
"Guilty as charged." Sam said nervously.
"Granted you boys can't be considered students but I believe Hagrid would be more than happy to have company." Dumbledore said.
"I don't believe this." They said.
"If Newt thinks you're up for the task." Dumbledore said looking to him.
"They are sir, they won't disappoint you." Newt nods.
"Guys, do you know what this means?" Sam smiles.
"We're going to Hogwarts together!" They cheered.
"Well looks like we certainly have an interesting year ahead of us." Harry smiles happily for them.
Laughing, Sam watched as Eric and Cole raced to tell Martha the big news.
Sam was about to follow when he noticed the Daily Prophet on the table.
"Muggle Girl killed by Werewolf?" Sam said surprised seeing the front headline.
"Late one Summer night during the full moon a witch girl and her muggle friend Scarlett snuck out and saw a werewolf. Fascinated the two girls followed it but when it noticed the werewolf killed the muggle girl before they could react. The witch girl barely escaped. Evidence shows that the werewolf was in fact Dark Wizard Fenrir Greyback. The most savage Werewolf alive today." Sam read before he looked down at the big image of Fenrir's face.
As he did a cold feeling coursed through his body causing Sam's hands to shake.
"This man gives me the creeps." Sam shudders putting the paper down before going to turn in from a long night.