Thanks for all the reviews! This is a short chapter, but essential to the story. Kind of like the first! I am trying to work on all my stories, but ideas for some just flow better than for others. Here's the next chapter!
Sam trotted through the woods in the back of the town's houses, fox-sized to blend in with other woodland animals. The town wasn't far from Snape Manor, just about an eight-minute walk or a three-minute bike ride. Sam enjoyed watching the simple life of humans, especially the many children and their families. It was completely different from what he had been used to seeing – hunters after his family, dark wizards betraying him, prisoners and prison bars – his interaction with humans had been rather poor before meeting the Snape family.
Sam paused near the park, watching as a young girl flipped a penny into the large fountain statue of some historic human. Sam tilted his head and focused his ear.
"I wish," the little girl was saying, closing her eyes tightly. "I wish my daddy would come home from work and play with me. I wish he wasn't always so busy. Oh, wait, that's two wishes."
Sam snorted as the girl pulled out another coin and tossed it in. She was a desperate one. Sam had seen cases like this before – parents who didn't spend enough time with their children, focusing on their work more.
Sam lifted a paw and touched the dragon tooth that hung around his neck. The tooth that came from a rare Shenlong, a type of Chinese dragon.
: Give the small girl what she desires, Sam commanded the tooth.
The tooth gave off a strange bluish glow and Sam stood his ground as the wind blew strongly, shifting time, playing with fate, giving in to what was asked. A magic so ancient and powerful it bordered on dark and dangerous. The little girl fell over from the wind's force and a lady, the mother Sam assumed, rushed over to her and stood her back up. Sam smiled as the lady fussed over the girl and the child whined that she was fine.
A dark colored Volkswagen pulled up in front of the park. A man stepped out and walked over to the lady and her daughter.
"Daddy!" the little girl cried and ran over to the man. The man picked her up.
"Honey, what are you doing home from work?" the woman asked.
"Boss gave me a promotion," the man smiled, hugging his daughter tightly. The woman gasped and then smiled and hugged her husband once he set the girl down. "And he gave me a three-week vacation starting now. I think we should head t the beaches. Maybe even France."
"Yay!" the little girl cheered, jumping up and down. "My wish came true!"
"Was that your wish, sweetheart?" the man said, smiling down at her. "To go on vacation?"
"With you, Daddy," the girl smiled.
Sam watched as the family walked together to the car and drove away, the smile never leaving his face. He enjoyed doing this when he could, walking through the town and giving hope and wishes to those he felt deserved it. Then, his smile faltered and he waited for the inevitable. The ancient magic the tooth had was powerful and granted whatever the wearer desired . . . at a price. There was always a price for using the dragon tooth's magic.
The wind blew again, stronger and with more brute. Sam stumbled slightly where he sat, catching himself from tumbling with the wind, his eyes closing and his fur flying everywhere. When he opened his eyes, he saw a nest on the ground near his feet. Three little European robin chicks still inside the nest, but dead.
Sam sighed. To help one family come together, he tore another family apart, killing little chicks. Was it worth it? He sometimes wished he could control the prices that had to be paid but that would forever be out of his control.
Sam turned and left the park, trotting back to Snape Manor. Severus and Harry should be returning from their little day trip soon. Sam knew that if he was careful with what he demanded from the necklace, the prices he paid wouldn't be too devastating.
"Dad! Let's do the Runaway Train again, please?" Harry asked. "And then we can do Dragon Falls, and then we can do the Zufari."
"Harry, it's three fifty," Severus informed. "The park closes at five. I'm not sure we'll get to all of those within the hour with how the lines have been today. Besides, aren't you the least bit tired. We've been going since ten this morning."
"I know!" Harry smiled. "This has been great! If we hurry we can do them really fast."
"I could use a drink, to be honest," Severus argued.
"How about this?" Sirius suggested, joining the two after stopping in the men's room. "I take Harry and see if we can fit in those last few things and you pick us up some drinks. I could use one of those frozen lemonades again."
Sirius handed Severus a few pounds for the drink. Harry nodded.
"I could use one, too, Dad."
"You're costing me a fortune," Severus said. "That will be your third today."
"Thanks! Come on, Uncle Sirius, the line for the Runaway Train is getting longer!" Harry insisted, pulling his uncle towards the roller coaster.
"We'll meet you back here, Severus," Sirius said, allowing Harry to pull him away.
Severus shook his head. Besides allowing the sleepover, Severus had gotten Harry tickets to Chessington World of Adventures, a theme park, zoo, and hotel complex in Greater London, for his Birthday. Sirius had quickly gotten a ticket to join the two as well, and did most of the rides Severus didn't think he could handle, especially that one that lifted you high in the air and spun you. How terrible. Sirius didn't seem to care much about spinning and flipping and went on the ride twice with Harry. Severus did go on the Runaway Train coaster with his son and he did the Dragon Falls water ride with the boy twice. They had also done several other rides as well as watched some special side shows – one with birds that flew around the audience and another was more of a live-action show with pirates looking for gold.
It had been a fun day though and Severus didn't regret one bit of it. He would have gotten Sam a ticket, but the fox had declined when Severus asked, stating he didn't do well in such tourist attractions that generated a lot of "humans." Severus didn't push Sam to join them, though Harry tried enough for the both. Severus had to scold Harry to stop and to leave Sam alone.
But the day had been a blast.
Severus gathered the three frozen lemonade drinks: a blue for his son, a red for Sirius, and a plain for Severus. He sipped at his while he waited for the two to return, discreetly casting a chilling spell on the drinks. At least the weather stayed true all week and the day was sunny and warm. After forty-five minutes, Sirius and Harry rejoined Severus. Sirius sat down and started drinking his lemonade.
"The line for the Runaway Train took forever!" Harry explained as he sat in the chair closest to Severus. "We finally got on but there was only enough time for one more ride. So, since we already did the Dragon Falls a couple times, we decided to go on the Zufari, just in time, too. They had to cut the line and we were the last ones. We were so close to not being able to go on." Harry took a long sip of his drink. "Then, we saw giraffes, zebras, rhinos and . . . and we entered this huge cave! And then we got splashed at the end and . . . and . . ."
"Slow down, Harry," Severus smiled. "Drink more of your drink. It sounds like the safari was fun."
"A Zufari!" Harry corrected, sipping from his lemonade. "It was great. You missed it!"
"I've been on it before," Severus smiled. "With your mother, actually."
"Really?"
"Really. And she enjoyed it as much as you did. It was her favorite thing to do here."
"What's been your favorite, Harry?" Sirius asked.
"I really liked the Runaway Train."
"Really?" Severus raised an eyebrow in mock disbelief. "I'd never guess with your four trips on it."
"Haha, Dad. I also liked the Dragon Falls ride. And the Vampire! That was fun."
"That nearly made me sick," Sirius said, remembering soaring through the treetops with that ride.
"That was fun! But my favorite has to be . . . Dragon Falls!"
"And it's decided," Severus smirked. "The park closes in ten minutes, son. Would you like to stop in the gift shop before we leave?"
"Yeah, I promised Ron I'd get him something!"
"What exactly were you thinking to get him?"
"Just a big variety of muggle treats."
"Ah, you wanted to stop in the sweet shop."
Harry nodded.
"You may get a small bag for your friend and another small bag for yourself."
"Okay."
"And I'll pack a large bag for the days you come and visit," Sirius winked at Harry, ignoring Severus's glare and smiling back at Harry's wide grin.
Once they arrived at the gift shop, Harry started creating his own Pick and Mix, throwing in candy floss, bubble gum of different flavors, popcorn, lollipops, and as much as he could fit in the bag Severus approved of. He would send his snowy owl, Hedwig, to the Burrow to deliver the goods later. After Severus paid for the treats, Harry was allowed to have one of the candies and he popped a large lollipop in his mouth. He, his father, and Sirius walked out of the entrance and headed to their apparating point, a good fifteen-minute walk away from the park.
"Thanks for coming, Uncle Siri," Harry said, smiling at his uncle.
"It was my pleasure," Sirius said, pulling Harry into a one-armed hug and ruffling the boy's hair. Harry laughed and pulled away.
"This has been fun," Harry continued. "I wish Sam could have come with us, too."
"I don't think Sam would have enjoyed the crowds as much," Severus said. "In my opinion, he's a little over suspicious of other humans."
"Yeah, he thinks everyone is an assassin!"
"Does he really?" Sirius smirked.
"He's just paranoid," Severus said. "Besides, I'm sure he's enjoying the peace and quiet at home."
"He always has peace and quiet," Harry argued.
"Not when you're around. Then it's twenty questions and "let's play this, let's play that," Severus teased.
"I'm not like that!"
"Are too. I'm sure Sam's loving it right now."
"I'll ask him when we get back."
"Go right for it."
"I'm afraid I have to depart," Sirius said as they arrived at their apparating point and out of sight of muggles. "Come give me one last hug, tiger cub."
Harry ran into his uncle's arms happily. Sirius squeezed him and ruffled his hair.
"I'll see you soon," Sirius said. "Bye Harry, Severus."
Sirius disapparated.
"Ready, son?"
"I guess. I'm going to miss that park."
"I'll plan another daytrip there. But we can't live there. So, let's head on home."
Harry wrapped his arms around his father and they disapparated.
"Sam! We're back!" Harry cried as he ran through the house looking for the fox. "Sam?"
Harry looked by the dog bed in the living room, then upstairs in the bedrooms. Then downstairs in the kitchen. Then out of the porch where Sam occasionally liked to bask in the sun. Where was Sam? He had been sleeping in his dog bed when they had left. Of course, Harry didn't expect him to stay there all day, but the fox didn't do that much during the day time in the summer. Sam liked being lazy and sleeping until hunting time at night.
"Dad! I can't find Sam!"
"I'm sure he's around Harry. It's almost dinner time. He wouldn't miss it if his life depended on skipping one meal."
Harry smiled and followed his father's voice to the man's study.
"Can we go look for him outside?"
"You can," Severus said, scanning the parchment and muggle letters Phantom had delivered earlier. "I need to see what mail came today. I'm hoping the bills are here. They were late last month."
"Can we go look for him as tigers?"
Severus paused and looked at Harry. He was silent for a moment before sighing and setting the mail down.
"Fine. But not for too long. I need to start dinner soon and then look through mail."
Harry grinned and ran back outside, not even waiting for Severus to appear out the door before shifting into Faolan, his tiger Animagus. He was about half the size of Freyr, his father's Animagus. He remembered when he was no bigger than Freyr's paws. He liked being a bigger tiger, he felt more intimidating, though it also meant his rough play with Freyr hurt more since Freyr could be just as rough playing back.
Freyr joined Faolan and they trotted towards the back of the woods, looking around for the missing kitsune.
"Sam!" Faolan yowled repeatedly. "Where are you? Do you think he can hear me?"
"I think half of the UK can hear you," Freyr answered.
"Sam!" Faolan tried again.
: I disagree. I think half of Africa can hear you.
"Sam!"
Sam approached the two tigers from a path in the trees. He was still fox-sized, but Faolan was proud to say that he was larger than Sam even at the kitsune's largest size – that of a wolf.
: Did you enjoy your trip?
"It was so much fun! It would have been even more fun if you were with us."
: I doubt that. I'm glad you had fun. It's been peaceful and quiet back here, though. I found it quite relaxing.
"What did I say," Freyr smirked.
Faolan snarled and leaped at Freyr, who rolled over playfully and wrestled the half-grown cub to the ground. Faolan tried his best to tackle the larger tiger and keep him pinned down, but Freyr still overpowered him.
"Alright! Alright!" Faolan mewed as he was pinned. "You win!"
"I always do," Freyr smirked with a satisfied purr.
"I'll get you one of these days," Faolan growled, standing to his feet. "I'll have you begging for my mercy."
Sam smiled at the two tigers, remembering a time in his childhood when he wrestled with his father. He snapped out of his reverie when Faolan tried to pounce on him. He jumped out of the way just in time, watching as the tiger landed at his side.
: Nice try, Sam said before looking at Freyr. What's for dinner?
"Always thinking about your stomach," Freyr huffed, shaking his head. Freyr looked around the woods as he thought up of something. "There's always rabbit. I could make my infamous rabbit stew."
"Ooh, yummy," Faolan licked his lips.
: Very well. Faolan, go fetch us a rabbit.
"Why me?"
: Because you're the only one out of us who's never caught one.
"Fine, I'll give it a go."
Faolan searched the trees until he spotted a rabbit among a patch of blue flowers. He lowered himself and crept towards it, his paws inaudible as they hit the ground. He was so close to it now, and it had yet to recognize any danger, just kept nibbling on its flowers happily.
Crack!
Faolan froze as he stepped on a stick that broke under his paw. The rabbit jumped and looked around, its whole body seeming to sway back and forth. Faolan lowered himself as much as he could, hoping the rabbit wouldn't see him. It must have because it turned and bolted.
Faolan leaped forward and ran after the rabbit, trying to keep up with the tiny thing. It was gaining distance though, getting further and further away from him. Just as he was afraid he was going to lose it, Freyr leaped out from the side and landed perfectly on the rabbit, snapping its spine.
Faolan groaned, upset that he hadn't caught the bunny.
: Here's a little tip for you, Fay, Sam called to him from up in a branch. Fay was a nickname Sam had taken to calling Faolan. Unless you're working in a team, a runaway rabbit is a lost cause.
"Thanks," Faolan spat bitterly.
: Of course, the fox smirked, his tails swinging from the high branch.
Back at the house, when everyone but Sam was back in human form, Harry sent his package to Ron while waiting on the rabbit stew. The smell of it was making his stomach growl. He couldn't wait to eat dinner. He walked back downstairs and saw Sam lying on his bed, resting his head.
"Sam?"
: Yes?
"I don't think you've ever told me this, but when is your birthday? Even if we never celebrate it, I'd like to know."
: It's in April.
"April when?"
: How should I know? I haven't celebrated it since I was born?"
"Oh. Well, I'll give you a date and we can celebrate it just while you're with us."
: If you must.
"I can't make it April first – that's the twins birthday. Maybe somewhere in the middle? How about the twelfth?"
: Why because you're twelve?
"How'd you guess?"
Sam smiled at Harry's cheeky face.
"So if it's in April, how old did you just turn?"
: Thee hundred and nine.
"Wow! So you'll be three hundred and ten next year! That's old! I don't think we have enough candles for that."
: In human standards, yes, Sam laughed. But for a kitsune, I'm not even middle aged yet.
"Dinner's ready. Come on you two."
Harry and Sam joined Severus at the dining table (Sam at their feet) to enjoy the rabbit stew.
Again, I apologize for how short it is. But now you all know what Sam's necklace can do (and why he may be so obsessed with it). That is important to the story and you'll learn more along the way. I hope you liked Severus's birthday present for his son. Anyone ever been to Chessington's? Let me know in your review!