(This Chapter dedicated to Paul Robeson's smashing –and very nekkid- native African outfits in the film Sanders of the River)
Chapter 18: Sanders Of The RiverIt was a lovely day, and Severus Snape came into the main hall of Malfoy Manor, only to see Lucius Malfoy sitting on top of some sort of crawling thing, which made an awful commotion as it moved across the floor, eating away the top layer of the floorboards as it went. Snape stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the thing suspiciously. "Lucius, what is that and where did you get it?"
"I-I-I-I f-f-oouuuun-n-nd iiit-t ii-n-n-n Aaaarth-th-thuuurr Weaaaasl-l-ley'sss sssshed!" Lucius called out, making a narrow turn in front of Snape, who hastily withdrew his feet. "D-d-don-n-n't kn-n-nowwww wh-aaa-t-t iii-t-t iiiss b-b-ut it-t f-f-feeels g-good-d !" The thing splintered a few floorboards as Lucius skirted the wall. "J-j-joooiin-n-n m-m-mee!" Lucius said, making a beeline for Snape. Just as it was about to hit Snape in the shins, it stopped.
Snape was looking like he'd rather cuddle Potter than climb onto this raucous monster (the machine, that is, not Lucius....) , but after a few glares from Lucius, he gave in and joined him, sitting behind him like a girl on her boyfriend's motorcycle. "Right, hold on!" Lucius said, and underneath them the thing jerked into motion. It vibrated wildly, and Snape was holding on for dear life. He was about to rebuke Lucius for doing this to him, when he suddenly began to see what Lucius saw in this. "Say," he yelled above the noise, moving his hands down a little, "This is rather nice!"
Lucius turned and grinned at him, but at exactly that moment the front door swung open, and standing in the doorway was none other than Arthur Weasley, a waning smile on his face. "But Lucius!" he cried, dramatically, "You promised me a ride on the sander tonight!"
