Author's Notes: FINALLY! I know I know. But in return for my belatedness. (I wonder if that is a word) I have a treat. It's a new project I have been working on called the HP Diary Central. Basically if you love Lauralie Black you will love this. You get to read the characters diaries. Severus, Lauralie, Narcissa, etc. And the best part, you can write one of the characters diaries if you want!

Come on, you know you'd love to, but you have to hurry cuz the names are going fast!! Here's the url

http://freeopendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=A736441

You deffinately won't regret dropping by.

NO MORE AUTHORALERTS! I no longer pay for FFN. Money is tight and it is a not quite necessary expense, so if you want to know when I post a new chapter you need to join the yahoo group. If you put it under special anouncements only you will ONLY get an email when I post a new chapter. Here's the address for that:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/slytherintales

This chapter is dedicated to Kelly and her friends (Kelsi, Holland, Jessica, Brad, Autumn, Sarah, Nichole, Daniel, Molly, etc. etc. etc.). A couple of you guys will be appearing once we get to Hogwarts. BE EXCITED!

Anyways. Yes. Here we go. The long awaited chapter two. You'll never guess who shows up…

Lauralie Black and the Dragons of Yorkshire (YEAR 2)

Chapter 2: Hidden Agendas

Rainelda Black pulled on her rob as she rushed into the parlor. Robert Malfoy's head sat in the fire-place looking highly over-excited.

"Sorry to wake you, but my wife and I have to leave as soon as possible and we wanted to get in contact with you first," he babbled.

"Leaving?" she stammered, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Where are you going?"

"Yorkshire, the native dragons there, they've started to MIGRATE!!!"

Rainelda thought surely she must be dreaming by now. "Dragons don't migrate," she said incredulously. "They aren't birds!"

"that's why it is so incredible!" he exclaimed. "The only other recorded dragon migration was back when the Hogwards founders were still living."

It was clear that this was the most excitement the Control of Magical Creatures department of the ministry had had for years.

"Anyways, my wife and I were hoping you could handle seeing the boys off to school for us."

Rainelda blinked a couple times before realizing what he meant. "Oh, Severus and Lucius? Of course, what about their school things?"

"I'll have one of our servants deliver their trunks, and whatever money for supplies Lucius can take out of the account himself. Can't tell you how much we appreciate it. Good luck."

His head vanished with a pop before Rainelda could say another word.

She shook her head. "Dragons?"

* * *

"I can't believe they are still sleeping," Narcissa hissed.

"Boys are so silly," Lauralie agreed.

They watches as two well dressed servants carried in the boys two trunks.

"I'm bored," Narcissa sighed.

Lauralie had an odd smile on her face.

"Uh oh," Narcissa said. "What are you thinking?"

Lauralie's smile broadened, and she nodded towards the two now abandoned trunks. Narcissa was smiling now too.

"Lets do it."

They went to Lucius' first. It was highly ornat with the large Malfoy seal on the lid. Lauralie popped it open.

Laying across the entire contents of the trunk was Lucius' thick woolen cloak. Narcissa swung it over her shoulders.

"Oy, this think is sweltering," Narcissa gasped, tossing it into a chair.

"You never wondered why you don't ever see Luci shivering?"

"Hadn't really thought about it."

They moved on, sifting through Lucius' clothes. Lauralie was removing the contents of the trunk and piling it neatly on the table.

"Why are we taking everything out?" Narcissa asked as she was handed a pile of Lucius second year text books.

"Because, Lucius is sneaky." Lauralie said finally removing the final item. "And anything good he has isn't going to just be lying about for any fool who opens his trunk to find."

She was running her fingers along the edges of the bottom. Finally there was a satisfying little click and Lauralie swung open a hidden lid to reveal a secret compartment.

"A false bottom," Narcissa said. "How very Malfoy."

The first thing they picked up was a bag of practical jokes from Zonko's.

"Giggle powder," Lauralie laughed. "Remind me never to leave my drink unattended near him."

But Narcissa was focused on something else entirely. She elbowed Lauralie. "Is that what I think it is?"

Lauralie's eyes widened as she picked up a copy of Play Witch magazine, the cover of which sported a scantily clad women and the blurb: "ELVIRA- She's waiting to bewitch YOU!".

"How degrading!" Lauralie gasped. "I hate boys sometimes."

"I have an idea!" Narcissa said, rushing out of the room.

"Wait, whre are you going?" Lauralie sighed. She opened the magazine out of curiosity, tilting her head to see the whole view. "Oh please, no woman is that skinny and has boobs that big. Is this what guys look for?"

Narcissa came back in the room carrying an issue of Teen Witch.

"Bloody brilliant!"

They put it in the trunk in place of the Play Witch magazine. They giggled as they reassembled the contents of the trunk and snapped the lid closed.

They moved on to Severus' plain black trunk.

The first thing in the trunk was his copy of Most Potente Potions that Lauralie had given him for Christmas. She smiled as she set it aside.

"It smells like an apothecary," Narcissa said. "No, I take that back. It smells like your room."

Lauralie laughed.

"Think this one has a false bottom too?"

"Doesn't look like it." Lauralie said as she picked up a plain green book. Embossed on the cover in silver were the initials "S. S.".

"Looks like our dear Sevi keeps a journal," Narcissa said. "Care to take a peek?"

"We probably shouldn't…" Lauralie said.

"Come on Laure," Narcissa coaxed. "Don't you want to read about how crazy he is about you?"

"What are you on about?"

"Laur, you are brilliant, but you are oblivious," Narcissa said. "That boy's had a crush on you since the moment he laid eyes on you."

Severus? Have a crush on ME? Nonsense!

But still her curiosity was peaked. She could find out who he did have a crush on.

She opened the journal and promptly dropped it in surprise, for when she had cracked the cover it had started to scream.

Severus Snape sat bold up right in his bed. Oh no!

"Make it stop!" Narcissa shouted.

Lauralie picked up the book again and closed it. This however only served to muffle the scream only slightly.

Not that it mattered at this point, because in a flash Severus was in the room.

He snatched the journal from Lauralie's hand. The instant it came in contact with his skin it was silenced. For the first time Lauralie couldn't read his eyes. They seemed to reflect a twisted mixture of anger, frustration, and fear.

"Don't EVER go through my things without my permission," he shouted. "EVER!"

Lauralie shrank back, stepping away from him.

"I'm sorry."

He didn't speak, just turned and stalked out of the room.

"Busted!" said a sing-song voice from the other doorway.

Lauralie glared. "Shut up James." She shoved past him and stormed out into the yard.

* * *

Severus bursted into the guest room that he was sharing with Lucius.

That was too close. He thought. Pacing back and forth across the room. Lucius was snoring away in the other bed. Severus was fumbling around the room searching for a quill. Or even a pen. Any thing that would bloody write. He finally found one shoved away in a dresser drawer.

She nearly found you today. No. Wait. She DID find you today. But I reached her before she managed to read anything. Imagine if she had? She'd think me to be so pitiful. I doubt there is an entry in this entire journal that doesn't mention her name. She'd laugh in my face. To imagine that she could ever reciprocate my pitiful nonsense is foolish. No one can know how much I care for her. Wasn't this one of the Slytherin rules? If a person has the ability to turn you to mush you probably shouldn't share that fact. Makes perfect sense. I'll be sure to follow that one.

* * *

James was trying in vain not to burst into laughter as he re-entered Sirius' bedroom.

"And what, pray tell, was all of that bloody racket?" Sirius asked over top of his hand of playing cards.

"Well it seems our favorite Slytherin Keeper has a diary." James laughed. "The girls got a hold of it somehow but when they opened it the dang thing started screaming like a banshee."

"Snake's got a diary!?!" Sirius cackled. "Imagine the fun we could have if we got a hold of that!"

"I… I think we should leave Snape and his diary alone," Peter said.

"Afraid of snake, eh Peter?" Sirius asked.

"No!" Peter said as forcefully as he could. "It's his little girlfriend who terrifies me…"

* * *

Lauralie concentrated a moment before making her next move.

"They are so boring sometimes," Narcissa whispered.

Lauralie and Severus were sprawled on the floor deep into a game of chess. It was like a silent apology between the two of them. A battle on the board and it would be like nothing every happened.

"Can't one of you just WIN already?" Lucius groaned.

Lauralie threw a pawn at him and it bounced off his head, rattling to the floor.

Severus made a move.

"Checkmate."

Lauralie let out a long sigh. "I'm never going to beat you am I?"

Severus smiled. "One day."

"Finally, can we do something interesting now?" Narcissa begged.

"Such as?" Lauralie asked. "I'll be so glad when we are back at Hogwarts. There was never a shortage of things to do there."

"Or havoc to wreak," Lucius added.

"Havoc is always fun," Severus agreed.

* * *

[Diagon Alley]

Lauralie's cloak swished behind her as they made their way through the crowd of shoppers in Diagon Alley. Lucius and Narcissa had to practically drag Severus and Lauralie away from the apothecary. Not that it did them much good, because when they arrived at Flourish and Blotts they headed straight for the potion making books.

"So, predictable," James pointed out as Sirius and he departed for the Magical Sports section.

"Lucius, how smashing to see you!"

It was Rita Skeeter. She hurried past Narcissa as if she wasn't even there. And threw her arms around Lucius.

"How was your summer?" she asked. "Been practicing for the Quidditch season?"

"Uh… yeah," he answered.

"WONDERFUL," she squealed. And then she was off on an endless ramble of gossip and news that, though Lucius clearly pointed that he wasn't interested in such nonsense.

She trailed him through the store as he picked up his books. It wasn't long before they found Severus and Lauralie again.

"Oh, Hello Rita," Lauralie said.

"SEVERUS!" Rita had thrown herself at Severus, locking her arms around him. "So good to see you. How's my favorite Keeper?"

Lauralie rolled her eyes. She exchanged glances with Narcissa and they both walked to the counter to purchase their books, ignoring the pleading looks the guys threw their way. They bought their things and made their way to the door.

"We're going to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, feel free to join us," Lauralie called over her shoulder.

Once back out in the hustle and bustle of the street the girls felt releived.

"There are few Slytherins that I can't stand, and she is most deffinately one of them," Narcissa said.

"I totally agree," Lauralie said with a nod.

"So how long do you give them to shake her and show up again?"

"I could probably do a count down but it would seem so cliché."

"Hey, wait up," Lucius called from behind them.

"Faster then I thought," Lauralie laughed. "Nice hustle guys. I'm surprised she didn't try to come with you."

"She did," Severus said. "Till Ludo came in the store and we managed to pawn her off on him."

They laughed as they entered the Leaky Cauldron.

* * *

Evan Rosier and Richard Wilkes sat silently at a corner table in the Leaky Cauldron. They looked mildly nervous and mildly excited. Across from them sat a dark, mysterious, heavily cloaked figure. His entire face was hidden beneath the hood of his cloak, though at times they could see his red eyes gleam in the candle light.

They sat in silence as Lauralie, Severus, Narcissa, and Lucius found a table across the pub, paying them no mind.

"She's beautiful isn't she?" the hooded figure whispered.

"Oh yes, quite," Wilkes agreed.

"Tell me, what do you know of her friends?"

Rosier cleared his throat slightly. "The the first boy, with the blond hair, is Lucius Malfoy. He's a Slytherin bigwig. You won't find anyone in our house who doesn't respect him. And you won't find anyone in the other houses who doesn't fear him. He's got the money and the influence if he needs it."

"Robert Malfoy's son?"

"Yes," Rosier answered.

"And the other young man?"

"That's Severus Snape," Wilkes answered. "Probably the smartest boy in Slytherin. Master at potions and is said to have known more curses when he first arrived at Hogwarts then even the seventh year Slytherins."

"Good. He will keep her safe," the cloaked man hissed. "I can see it. He will sheild her from harm."

"Not that Lauralie needs protections sir," Wilkes pointed out. "She has quite the reputation, I hardly think anyone would try anything."

"Tell me about the girl."

"Narcissa Vanburen," Rosier answered. "Quite the little pistol that one. But bright. And loyal."

The figure took in a deep breath. "Can they be swayed to our… cause?"

"Yes, all of them most likely," Wilkes answered.

"Good. It is your job to make sure she does not involve herself too much with those not of our kind. That is why you are at Hogwarts. Don't forget that."

"Yes master," they both said bowing their heads.

"I'm glad we understand each other."

And without so much as a pop, Lord Voldemort was gone.