So, a friend of mine managed to convince me to write a story about my life to share on fanfiction as a way to reach out and connect to lost and lonely children in the world. I decided I'd just write an original story – mostly fiction at that – on FictionPress. If you do not have an account there, you can easily log on using your fanfiction account. My story is titled: There is Hope and surrounds the story of an odd child being shipped around in the foster system, from abusive families to potential families and just a strange child's interesting quirks. I use the same author's name if it helps to search for it. I hope this story reaches out to many. If it interests you, you can find out more in my profile – and then go check it out!
As the car flew away from the Burrow, Harry started having doubts about the trip. What if they were seen by muggles? Where were they even going? The night air was a bit chilly and Harry wished he had grabbed a cloak or something to keep him warm. He and Ron were still in their nightclothes! Honestly, where on earth did the twins think they were going to go in the middle of the night in their nightclothes?
Suddenly, something white flew through an open window and solidified into fox-sized Sam on the dashboard. He snarled at everyone inside.
: Where do you think you are all going? Put this contraption on the ground immediately before I alert you parents!
The twins seemed to hesitate, glancing at each other before doing as Sam said and flying the car to the ground and landing it. Sam's fur bristled as he glared at them all.
: What are you three thinking, disobeying your mother like this? And you, Harry, disobeying Mrs. Weasley? You should be ashamed of yourself, you are her guest – she is gracious enough to host you and this is how you repay her? I'm considering going to Snape Manor and informing your father of this stunt as soon as everyone is back at the Burrow!
"Sam, no!" Harry cried, then blushed as he realized how childish he sounded in front of Ron and the twins. He cleared his throat. "Please don't tell Dad. We weren't planning on going far, just to . . . err . . ."
"To London," Fred supplied.
"London!" Harry and Ron sputtered.
"Yeah, we're taking you guys to Diagon Alley," George smiled. "We need a few things from Gambol and Japes. Just a few things."
"What are you two talking about?" Ron frowned. "That store is closed."
"Exactly!" Fred smiled. "Besides, we're too young to buy fireworks anyway. How do you think we've stocked on those before?"
"You two were planning on stealing?" Ron gaped.
"Not stealing. Permanently borrowing."
"We could use help from the master, though."
The twins looked at Sam with pleading eyes that sparkled with mischief.
: In your dreams, Sam snarled at them. Take this car home. Now!
"Oh, come on, Sam," Fred said. "Let's have a little fun."
"When do you ever have fun?" George added.
: I'll show you how much fun I can have by burning off your hair!
"You need to cool off, fox," Fred smirked. "Don't you remember when you were our age?"
: Honestly, I do not.
"Well, I mean, younger . . ."
"And all you wanted to do was cause trouble and play jokes . . ."
"Make other foxes laugh . . ."
"Enjoy life while you're still young . . ."
: You two are probing my teeth, Sam growled, showing off his canines.
"Okay, let's backtrack a little," Fred said in a serious tone, George following his lead.
"We are leaving to Diagon Alley whether you come with us, leave us, or alert Mom and Dad."
"You can either chase after this car . . ."
"Tell our parents who won't be able to do a thing until we get back anyway . . ."
"Or you can come with us . . ."
"If just to keep us from getting into any serious danger and all . . ."
: Shut up! Sam suddenly barked. The fox pawed at his ears, covering them. Just stop talking. You two are driving me insane! Sam sighed irritably, and sat up once more. Fine, I'll join you, but just to keep you from danger.
"Yes!" the twins exclaimed excitedly. "The fox is onboard!"
Sam groaned but jumped into the back, sitting between Ron and Harry.
"Sam," Harry began hesitantly, "you're not going to tell my Dad about this are you?"
: Still highly considering it, Sam spat, glaring at Harry.
"Oh," Harry looked down at his lap, fiddling with his fingers as he thought about how to persuade Sam to keep this information away from his father. He couldn't think of any good reason, so instead, he asked the twins, "Why couldn't you guys just get fireworks when we all went to Diagon Alley together?"
"Like our mother would allow it!"
"Besides, we wanted a show tonight."
"Well," Ron frowned, "if we get caught stealing, I'm saying that you held me hostage."
"Oh, little brother, as if anyone would believe that."
Ron glared at George before crossing his arms and reluctantly agreeing. Harry smiled, then decided to look out the window and watch the stars and trees down below. As they neared muggle cities, the twins switched a lever and the car turned invisible, which amazed Harry and Ron. They continued on until they reached London and then parked just outside the Leaky Cauldron and locked the car once it was visible again. Harry and Ron stayed close to Fred and George as they went to the rear courtyard and tapped the appropriate brick in the wall.
"Okay, stay close everyone," Fred whispered as they walked down the dark alley. It was spooky, seeing so many shops closed with the lights out. Harry had never been to Diagon Alley this late at night. He looked down at Sam, who trotted at his side, as he remembered Sam's threat to tell Severus about tonight. He hoped Sam refrained. Maybe after their little adventure, Sam would realize how much fun they all had had and forget all about breathing a word of this to his father. Fred and George paused in front of Gambol and Japes and Harry was surprised to see a lonely light on and someone inside moving around. There was a large package just outside the door, and the light inside only lit up a small section of the door.
"What is someone still doing inside?" Fred questioned.
"I wonder if that means the back door is unlocked."
"Let's go give it a try."
Harry and Ron just followed the twins, trying to keep as quiet as they could be. Harry knew what they were doing was wrong, but Sam wasn't stopping them, and Harry alone wouldn't be able to change the twins' minds. Besides, based on what the twins had said earlier, they had clearly stolen from this shop before.
The back door did happen to be unlocked and everyone slipped inside the back of the shop, slowly feeling their way through the dark. They paused behind a shelving unit as the person inside moved towards the shelf and began stocking it with knick knacks and joke products. Everyone tried to peer through the shelves as the person walked away to put things on a shelf facing away from them.
Sam peered around the shelf and his ears perked up as he stared at the stocker. It was a young witch, possibly in her late twenties, with curly brunette hair and deep, hazel eyes. She wore a purple robe and used her wand to send products to higher shelves. Sam found his tongue falling out of his mouth as he watched the lady work, panting slightly, his three tails giving a wag. Then, a hand grabbed the scruff of his neck and yanked him back behind the unit.
"Down boy," Fred smirked at him.
"Someone's infatuated," George elbowed Harry in the ribs.
Harry just covered his face with a hand, his face turning red while Ron snickered at his side. Sam gave a quiet growl at the twins but said nothing.
"Look!" Fred whispered harshly, pointing to the shelves across from them. "The no-heat fireworks!"
"But to get there we'd have to avoid being seen by her!" George said, glancing through the shelves they were behind. It was a good thing the unit they hid behind was pretty well stocked or they'd be seen right through the products.
"Hmm. Good point. Maybe one of us should rush over there while everyone else keeps a look out."
"Too risky. Too bad we don't have your cloak, Harry."
"Yeah," Harry responded. "My dad definitely wouldn't have let me bring it over to your house."
"What we need is a distraction," Fred thought aloud.
: On it! Sam said before misting and flying out of the shop.
Everyone watched Sam and wondered what the fox might be up to. It was quiet for a few moments before a knock sounded through the shop. The lady stopped what she was doing, hesitated, then walked to the front door. Fred moved forward before deciding against it and stayed behind the shelving and just watched what would happen.
The lady opened the door to reveal Sam in human form wearing an appealing royal blue robe Harry was sure the kitsune had stolen from a shop. Sam's unchanged fox ears lay hidden in his fox red hair, though his shockingly yellow eyes were plain as day. His teeth, though they did not change in human form, looked like normal human's teeth as Sam smiled, and Harry figured they were illusioned to appear that way. Sam was holding the large package they had seen sitting outside the front door.
"Delivery for Gambol and Japes," Sam said, shaking the package slightly to indicate it.
"Oh," the lady said, stepping aside to let Sam bring it in. "You can just set that over there."
"Wow, those are beautiful," Sam said as he stepped into the shop, his eyes on the lady's face. With a shocked expression, he asked, "Are those diamonds real?"
The lady's eyes fluttered for a second in confusion before a look of realization crossed her face.
"Oh, these silly things," she touched her earrings and shrugged. "Yes, they're real. Probably not even worth that much though . . ."
"I was talking about the ones in your eyes," Sam said, setting the package down by a nearly empty shelf and smiling charmingly at the lady.
Fred and George waggled their eyebrows at Harry, elbowing him in the side as the snickered. Harry eyes widened at Sam's behavior, having never seen this side of the kitsune before. Ron covered his mouth to avoid laughing out loud. The lady was suddenly all red in the cheeks, but she smiled and fluttered her lashes at Sam, her hazel eyes glittering.
"Why, thank you."
"You know," Sam tapped his chin thoughtfully as he stared at the lady, "I was wondering why the sky seemed so starless tonight and here you are with all the stars in your eyes. You're going to have to give some back to the sky. It's not polite to steal."
"Look who's talking," Fred muttered to George.
The lady laughed and said, "Aren't you the charmer? I bet you're a troublemaker. How many broken hearts have you left behind?"
"Maybe I'm the one with a broken heart," Sam clutched at his chest and pulled a sad puppy dog look.
"I have a hard time believing that. What do you want from me? To go out for a cup of coffee?"
"Ge! Don't drink the stuff," Sam said honestly, holding up his hands. "I'll take that pumpkin juice concoction though."
"Still just a kid at heart, aren't you?"
"The name's Samuru," Sam said, leaning against a shelf as he fixed the cuffs of his fancy robe. "Ishimori Samuru."
"Oh, I love it," the lady fluttered her lashes at Sam.
"Oh, I hate this," Harry hissed between his teeth. The twins smirked back at him before watching Sam gleefully.
"My name's Amorette, Samuru," the lady, Amorette, said, stepping closer to Sam and fluttering her eyes again.
"How conveniently French for "little love.""
"You speak French?"
"Oh, I speak a lot of languages. And let me just say, anata no yōna hito wa maredesu, and I am very lucky to have run into you tonight."
"Oh, that was beautiful!" Amorette laid a hand over her heart.
Sam glanced at a shelf near him, looking at the different products. He picked something up, and Harry tried to peer through the products on the shelf to see what Sam was holding. It looked like a small spray bottle of sorts. Sam held it up, showing Amorette.
"Is this for freshening the breath?"
Harry realized it was a breath spray.
"Mm, yes," Amorette smirked, "minty fresh."
Sam opened his mouth and squirted a couple sprays into it.
"But then it turns sour," Amorette added.
"Oh, yep," Sam agreed making a face and choking slightly. "There it is."
They both laughed, and Sam shook his head in distaste. Harry slapped a hand over his face while the three redheaded boys muffled their laughter into their own hands.
"You could have warned me," Sam said, tossing the breath spray aside.
"This is a joke shop. And I believe someone was getting a little cocky."
"You think so?"
"Look," Amorette smiled at him, "I'm supposed to be . . . stocking. And technically no one's supposed to be in the store right now. My boss would kill me if he knew you were in here. He'd think I was fooling around or giving out freebies."
"Well, we've already broken one rule. What's a couple more?" Sam stepped closer to Amorette.
"Oh, I don't know . . ." Amorette said, though with a little reluctance in her voice. She placed her hands on Sam's chest as he moved closer to her, her hands roaming under the robe slightly as Sam put his hands on her hips. They're heads were leaning in closer.
Harry gagged before covering his eyes, not really wanting to watch Sam make out with a witch. He heard Fred shuffle and peeked through his fingers to see him moving for the shelf with the fireworks, grabbing as many as his arm could carry before rushing back. One of the fireworks fell to the floor with a clang and Fred froze.
"What . . .?" Amorette tried to look past Sam, but Sam pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. Amorette's eyes closed and she wrapped her arms around Sam's neck.
Harry felt sick watching them, but Sam used a hand to signal to the twins to hurry up. George gave Sam a thumbs-up as he ran over to gather more fireworks. Sam rolled his eyes before closing them and deepening the kiss. George grabbed as many fireworks as he could carry and ran back behind the shelf, telling Ron and Harry to move and leave through the back door.
Sam pulled away from the lady and started backing for the front door.
"Oh, Samuru," Amorette sighed, taking deep breaths.
"You are an amazing kisser," Sam said to her. "I'll let you get back to work, but we've got to hang at your place sometime. We'll make it a date."
"Wait, you don't even know where I live."
"Trust me, I'll find you."
Sam turned the knob and left the shop. He went behind the shop to join the others where Fred and George started making kissy noises at him. Sam rolled his eyes again and shook his head at them. Kids, he thought. Harry was frowning at him, though Ron seemed as amused as the twins.
"Are you really going to meet with her again?" Harry asked, crossing his arms and glaring up at Sam.
"Jealous?" Sam flicked his ears in amusement.
"What? No! I mean, I just don't think . . . I don't know, it doesn't seem right and . . ."
"Someone sounds jealous," Sam grinned teasingly. "Afraid of losing your loyal kitsune to a pretty lady?"
"Stop it!" Harry's face reddened for the hundredth time. "Do you plan on seeing her again?"
"I'll think on it," Sam said, considering Harry for a moment with a slight smirk. "Why do you care anyway? What I do behind closed doors is of no concern to you, especially when there's a beautiful . . ."
"I don't want to hear it," Harry said, covering his ears.
Sam snorted and ruffled Harry's hair before moving around the building and out of sight to strip and change back into fox form. Once he returned as his fox-sized self, they all quickly left Diagon Alley.
Once loaded back in the car, the twins switched the invisibility and flew around London for a while, flying circles around Big Ben which struck one am. Then, the twins flew the car over River Thames, grazing the water with the automobile's wheels, flying under and over bridges. Lit up London at night was a wonderful sight, and Harry and Ron appreciated the beautiful views they had of everything.
Harry and Ron sat on the hilltop and watched in awe as the fireworks blasted across the sky. The twins were driving the car around with the invisibility on and throwing the fireworks out the window and watching them explode in colors of red, yellow, green, and blue. They lit up the sky with the colors and Harry and Ron "oohed" and "aahed" at them. Sam sat at Harry's side, watching in amusement. Harry remembered something and looked at the fox.
"Are you still going to tell Dad about tonight?"
Sam looked at Harry and tilted his head, silent for an intense minute.
: Well, if Mrs. Weasley doesn't inform your father first, then I guess this little night adventure can be kept between us.
"Thanks, Sam," Harry wrapped his arms around the fox's neck. "You're the best."
Sam smiled at Harry before watching the fireworks once more.
"I hope Mum never realized we were missing," Ron said watching as the sun slowly began to rise. The fireworks show was over, and the car appeared in the grass next to them. Fred and George stepped out and sat next to Ron to watch the sunrise. "This has been fun," Ron said with a yawn.
"Don't yawn," Harry said, fighting a yawn himself, "You'll make me yawn."
: Great, Sam said as he yawned. Now you've got me yawning. You two need to rest. You've had a long night.
"We don't need . . . yawn . . . to rest," Ron argued.
"What Ron said," Harry said as he rubbed at one eye to wake himself up a bit.
"I think the babies need to go to bed," Fred teased.
"I think it's time we head home," George agreed. "Sun is almost up completely. Mum is sure to be waking soon."
Everyone climbed into the car and started their journey home. It didn't take long to arrive home and the twins parked the car and everyone quietly entered their house, tiptoeing inside and shushing each other.
"Where have you been?" Molly shouted as she appeared from the kitchen.
The twins and Ron groaned, and Harry backed away slightly.
"Beds empty! No note! Car gone! What were you thinking! You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have lost your father his job!"
"We were just having some fun, Mum," Fred said. "We weren't seen, honest! We only went out and around for a bit and circled right back."
"And did you drag Ron and Harry with you? They were asleep before I retired for the night!"
"Yeah, we woke them and told them to come with us."
"And you two just followed along, didn't you? Did you stop and think that maybe you might get hurt on this senseless adventure? Harry, I have half a mind to inform your father about this! This was dangerous – he ought to know."
"Please Mrs. Weasley," Harry shook his head, "it wasn't that bad. Nothing happened! This would just make my dad worry and he might end my stay here early and . . ."
: If I may, Mrs. Weasley, Sam said, stepping forward, I was with them the entire time. At first, I wanted to alert you and tell Severus myself, but I figured they'd go on this trip no matter what I did. So, I joined them. They came to no harm, I assure you. And I see no reason why Severus must be alerted and stressed.
"Mph, you still could have woken me," Molly said. But she sighed and seemed to collect herself. "Alright, Harry, dear, I won't tell your father about this. But one more stunt like that and I will be telling him every detail!"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Harry looked at the ground.
"Just Molly, dear."
"Yes, Molly," Harry smiled.
And then Molly went back to yelling at the twins while Ron and Harry backed away and left for Ron's bedroom.
"What a night," Ron muttered, falling on his bed. Harry collapsed on the second bed set up for him.
"Yeah, it was a lot of fun."
"Yep," Ron yawned again, his eyes slowly closing. "A lot . . . fun."
Harry smirked but his own eyes slowly closed as well.
"Ronald, Harry," Molly called, coming up the stairs, "breakfast is ready . . ."
: It seems our troublemakers have fallen into slumber, Sam smirked at Molly.
"Oh. Well good, they need their sleep. I'll wake them for lunch."
Sam misted away from the Burrow. He traveled all the way back to Snape Manor and through an open window. The trip had taken him half an hour and he shook himself and stretched his muscles before trotting down to Severus's study.
"There you are, Sam," Severus greeted as the fox entered. "Find anything useful about what the elf may have sensed at Hogwarts?"
: I actually didn't get a chance to go to Hogwarts last night, Sam explained, scratching at his neck for a brief second. A couple of hooligans wanted to drive a flying car around London.
"Please tell me it wasn't my hooligan," Severus gave Sam a concerned look.
: No, the twins flew the car, Sam said, and Severus breathed a sigh of relief, your son sat in the back with Ron.
Relief was gone. Severus groaned and dropped his head on his arm.
"He was in a flying car? Whose car?"
: Mr. Weasley's, I believe. Harry had quite the night, though. He's passed out asleep right now.
"That child is going to be the death of me. When I get my hands on . . ."
: Could you refrain? Sam tilted his head. I told him I wouldn't tell you. So, act like you have no idea.
"One of those deals again? You're killing me, Sam. What if he decides to fly the car himself next time?"
: Then he's all yours, Severus.
Severus rolled his eyes at the fox and shook his head, looking down at the lesson plans he was reviewing briefly before glancing over at Sam.
"So, about this elf?"
: I will investigate Hogwarts this afternoon while Harry rests, Sam decided. I will see if I can track anything down that could be a danger. I fear though that this elf will become our biggest problem. He was pretty adamant about keeping Mr. Harry Snape sir safe.
"Indeed," Severus frowned in thought. "If he causes any trouble, I might let you chase him off."
: I would be honored, Sam gave a sly smile.
Then, Phantom flew into the room and dropped a package on Severus's desk. Severus smiled upon seeing it and smirked at Sam. "Just in time," Severus said, opening the wrapped parcel. Sam tilted his head and waited to see what Severus had. When the man opened it, Sam realized it was a Japanese to English dictionary.
"I believe this should come in handy," Severus said, holding up the dictionary.
: Oh, lovely, Sam remarked dryly, sitting down next to Severus's desk and looking up at the man to hear what he would translate, if he even remembered any of the things Sam had said. Severus flipped through the book, frowning at some pages as he paused on them. Sam tilted his head, wondering what Severus was doing.
"Dammit!" Severus exclaimed. "It's all written in kanji. Why do I waste my money? I should just use a translator spell on you."
: Did you not look at what was inside the book before you ordered it? Sam broke out into laughter at Severus's stupidity. Then he paused and tilted his head at Severus once more. Wait, you have translator spells?
"And the next best thing that doesn't require using energy. Here, Sam, how do I read this?"
: How should I know? Sam asked, growling slightly.
"What do you mean, how should you know? Look at it and read it."
: Cause it's just that easy, isn't it? You just expect me to translate it for you each time I say something you don't know?
Severus glared at Sam before he suddenly realized what the fox's problem was. His mouth dropped open and he wasn't sure if he should be surprised or amused.
"You can't read it, can you? This is your native language!"
: I speak it, I don't have to read it, Sam snapped.
"I don't believe this. But you've read English writing before."
: Oh yes, like the word "exit" above doors, and the large "stop" on the red octagons. I can make some things out, but I can't really read.
"Do you know anything in this book?"
Sam approached the book Severus held open on a random page and he peered down at the kanji writing.
: Well . . . Err, that's fire, I recognize that – the last one there. See how it looks like a fire log? I don't know what the rest of it means. Umm . . . Down here is umm . . . well, over here . . . oh look, junin toiro! See, that is the character for ten, and that is the character for man, ten again, and that's color. It means ten men ten colors. Or to each his own. See? Got one.
Sam wagged his tails proudly while Severus just stared down at the fox with an amused expression.
"Indeed, one translation out of an entire book. I can't believe you really can't read even your own language."
: Readings tricky, especially when all I got was a quick yearlong lesson on different languages and reading them. If you don't use it, you forget it. And I haven't had a need to read most of my life.
"Unbelievable," Severus muttered, setting the book aside and returning to his lesson planning. "I've truly wasted my money. Put yourself to use, fox, and check out Hogwarts."
: Aye, aye, Sam smiled before misting away.
Ge! – Japanese equivalent to yuck.
Anata no yōna hito wa maredesu – People like you are rare (this is also Japanese, in case you couldn't tell).
For the record, since I don't believe I'll mention it again, Sam does not meet with that lady again. His morals do catch up to him. I guess that's one broken heart to start the list. Anyway, tell me your thoughts on this chapter!