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"Let me ask Dad and I'll see if I can come over," Draco said, pulling his head out of the flames.
Harry waited patiently. He, Ron, and the twins were going to be home alone (with Percy babysitting, of course) while Molly and Ginny had a girls' day out and Arthur was at work. Harry had asked Molly if Draco could come over and she had agreed happily. Harry knew now that the only one who could prevent Draco from coming over was Uncle Lucius. Honestly, it depended on the man's mood and if he was having a good day at work or not. He could be a very reasonable and nice man – or he could be miserable and condescending. In Harry's opinion, being rich brought out the worst in some people.
Draco appeared in the flames with a big grin on his face.
"Dad said yes!" Draco happily said. "On one condition – that there is a responsible adult or older child home and that I am home by six tonight. Oh – and I, of course, have to follow all the rules here. And behave like a well-mannered gentleman as I've been taught."
"Well," Harry frowned, "Percy's here. He'll be watching us. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are both heading out today. Is that okay?"
"Let me check." Draco's head disappeared again. Harry waited for a moment before Draco appeared again with an annoyed expression. "Dad wants to talk to Percy. He wants to make sure he is in fact a responsible adult who won't let anything happen to me and will make sure I keep in line. Can you send him over?"
"Send Percy?" Harry raised an eyebrow at that. "Over to your place? Uh . . . sure. Uncle Luc doesn't plan on scaring Percy, does he?"
"Just a little," Draco smirked, withdrawing from the flames.
"Oh boy," Harry said, standing up from where he had been sitting in front of the fireplace.
"Is Draco coming over, Harry?" Molly asked as Harry walked into the kitchen.
"Well . . ." Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Uncle Lucius wants to speak to Percy first, since he will be the only responsible one here and all. Is it okay if he heads over to Malfoy Manor? I'll go with him, just to see Draco in case he says no."
And to make sure Uncle Lucius doesn't interrogate Percy endlessly, Harry added in his head.
"Of course," Molly smiled, walking into the dining room where Percy was eating breakfast with everyone else. "Percy, dear, I need you to go over to Malfoy Manor and speak to Mr. Malfoy about having Draco come over. He is very insistent on meeting you. He probably just wants to know his son will be in good hands."
Percy had dropped his apple when he heard the destination and it rolled to the floor, where Sam eagerly pounced on it, chomping away at the core and everything. Harry snorted but then looked at Percy's pale face.
"Err, yeah, sure," Percy said, standing. He ignored the twins snickering but did seem to appreciate Ron and Ginny's concerned and sympathetic looks. "I can do that. Do you want me to floo over now?"
"If you don't mind," Molly nodded. "Harry would like to go with you."
"Okay," Percy motioned Harry to follow. Once alone in front of the fireplace, Percy looked down at Harry. "Last I knew, I thought Mr. Malfoy hated our family."
It would have been true in the original reality, Harry knew. But here, after the wizarding war and all that had happened with Lucius, family became more important than power – though the man's status was still right up there at second best. But Lucius seemed to care about Draco's happiness more than anything – and if Draco was happy being friends with Harry and Ron, then Lucius would make sure Draco spent time with them. Even if it meant putting up with "riff-raff." The man's words, not his.
"He doesn't mind your family," Harry corrected, as Percy grabbed a handful of floo powder. "But only because Draco likes hanging out with Ron and the twins."
"Why don't you go first?" Percy suggested. "He knows you better than me."
"Chicken," Harry smiled as he grabbed floo powder and shouted out his destination. He arrived in the large living room of Malfoy Manor, where Lucius and Draco were waiting. Malfoy Manor was huge compared to his own home – heck, it could swallow Snape Manor twice and still have room for dessert.
"Good morning, Harry," Lucius smiled.
"Morning, Uncle Lucius," Harry said, hugging the man who patted his back once. Harry stood next to Draco and waited while the floo flared and Percy stepped out. Draco was smiling all too happily as he watched Percy awkwardly step out, trying to watch his posture as he consciously brushed soot off his robe.
"Good morning, Mr. Malfoy," Percy greeted, holding out a hand.
"Percy Weasley," Lucius smiled, shaking Percy's hand. "Tell me, lad, how old are you?"
"I'm, err . . . uhh, I umm, 16, sir."
"Eloquent," Lucius commented, beckoning slightly with his silver cane. "And almost of age. Come, let's talk in my study. We'll let the kiddies play out here."
Percy visibly gulped when Lucius's back was turned but followed the man to his study. When the door closed behind them, Draco ran to it and pressed his ear to the wood, leaning heavily against the door. Harry followed him, but with more hesitation.
"Draco!" Came Lucius's voice from what sounded like everywhere. "If I catch you eavesdropping, you will be going nowhere but to your room!"
Draco sighed and pulled away from the door, crossing his arms and pouting as he mumbled, "stupid baby monitor spell."
Harry smirked, glad his own father didn't bother with those, especially since Sam came into their lives.
"So, Harry, what's the plan for the day? Do the twins have anything up their sleeves?"
"Yeah," Harry followed Draco to the couch and sat next to him. He glanced around secretively before whispering in Draco's ears, "they found the perfect way to get back at Sam for leaving us to do all that work! Remember when I told you about the car incident and all the work we had to do? It's ingenious! And they are setting up a prank as we speak to get Percy."
"Sounds like they are starting a prank war," Draco grinned.
"They are. Ron and I have been working on something all day yesterday to get the twins! You'll love it!"
"I can't wait to get involved. Hopefully Percy survives my Dad's interrogation."
"Poor Percy. Why does Uncle Luc have to interrogate everyone who comes within thirty feet of you?"
"Overprotective Dad I guess. Though honestly, I think Mum's interrogations are worse. She subtly threatens everyone with their lives but comes off all sweet!"
"That's what mother's do," Narcissa said, startling the two boys who jumped. She set a plate of Turkish delight down on the coffee table. "I have to make sure my baby is in the best hands if I'm to ever leave him alone. I wouldn't want anything to happen to my poor little dragon."
"Mum," Draco groaned, his face turning red. "You're embarrassing me."
"Oh, hush down and have a snack before you go. Tea?"
Narcissa tapped the table and a teapot and cups appeared. She poured tea in each cup and dropped a single sugar cube in each one before tapping the table once more, causing the teapot and sugar to vanish. "No need drinking too much sugar now. Enjoy boys. I'm going to check on your father and Mr. Weasley."
"Poor Percy," Draco shook his head as he munched on Turkish delight. "Mum will make sure Dad doesn't get too harsh with him, but she's going to also explain to Percy just how "valuable" my life is and what it would mean should "anything happen to me."" Draco turned back around and picked up his teacup. He took a quick sip. "And this needs more sugar."
Harry picked up the other teacup and sipped it hesitantly. He smacked his lips and nodded his head, "You're right, it does need more sugar." Harry picked up a Turkish delight and held it up pointedly. "And I have the perfect solution." He dunked the sweet into the drink and swirled it around, making sure to get all the sugar to dissolve off the delight.
Draco copied Harry and after a few sweets had been drowned and eaten, the two boys took a long sip of their drink and "mmmed" happily, licking their lips. "Much better," they agreed.
As they finished their tea, the door to the study finally opened and everyone stepped out.
"I have decided," Lucius stated, "that you may go over to the Burrow, Draco."
"Really? Thanks, Dad!" Draco jumped off the couch and ran over to Lucius, hugging the man happily around the waist.
"Don't forget my hug, Draco-bear!" Narcissa insisted, holding out her arms.
"Mum," Draco groaned, fighting the blush spreading on his cheeks. He hugged his mother, who squeezed him tightly.
"Give Mummy a kiss," Narcissa said, keeping her head lowered enough for Draco to kiss her cheek.
"Mum, not in front of everyone," Draco growled, trying to pull away.
"Draco," Lucius's stern voice said, "kiss your mother goodbye."
Draco sighed and gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek. The whole interaction made Harry wonder what it would be like to have a mother that demanded kisses and mollycoddled him all the time. He was sure if he did have a mother, his reaction would be similar to Draco's. But since he didn't, he craved to find himself in a similar situation. Too bad his eligible bachelor father wasn't interested in women right now. Harry pushed the feeling down and smiled as Draco followed him and Percy to the fireplace. It was time to let the pranks begin.
Harry and Draco each went first through the floo, arriving back at the Burrow. They were immediately greeted by the sight of Fred and George waiting patiently in front of the fireplace, standing at the sides. Harry quickly got out of their way, watching where he stepped on the ground. He joined Ron at the breakfast table, where Draco also sat down and grabbed an apple. They all watched the twins expectantly.
"I thought you were going to do this when Percy walks up the stairs?" Ron asked.
"We weren't expecting him to leave at all today. So this really brings out an element of surprise," Fred said.
Harry shook his head at the duo.
Percy came through the floo and just as quickly, Fred flicked his wand and Percy found himself flipped upside down in the air, his shoes stuck to the ceiling, his robe falling over his head. His shirt was tucked in, so it remained. Percy yelled indignantly as he tried to push his robe down to see the twins.
"You guys put me down this instant! Where's Mum?"
"She already left," Fred smirked.
"Which leaves you at our mercy!" George added.
"We haven't pulled a prank on anyone in so long, it's been devastating!"
"You pulled one on me a week ago!" Percy argued. "You added some dye to my toothpaste and all my teeth were green!"
"Oh yeah," Fred nodded. "I forgot about that one."
"Get me down!"
"Not until you promise us free range of the house to prank each other and the kiddies here," George motioned to the three boys at the table.
"As long as you leave me out of it!"
"If you insist," Fred smiled. He flicked his wand and Percy fell to the ground, though landed gently on his feet. He brushed himself off, adjusting his robe. He glared at Fred and George, shaking his head at them as he said, "I'll be in my room anyway. Just don't kill each other or Mum will have my head."
"Yes, big brother," choired the twins.
Percy grumbled under his breath as he went up the stairs to his room. The twins looked at the three boys with evil smiles.
"Percy just left these three little kiddikins to fend for themselves," Fred said. "Not a wise move."
"You try anything on me, and my Dad will hear of it," Draco threatened.
"You gonna run to your Daddy, Drakey?" George asked.
"No. I can take you guys on. Besides, it's three against two."
"Seems like we're outnumbered, Fred."
"Aren't we always?"
The twins laughed, which made the three boys a bit uneasy now, but Harry had filled in Draco on the plan he and Ron had while the twins were messing with Percy. They could easily match wits with Fred and George.
"Did Sam leave already?" Fred suddenly asked.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "Dad wanted him for something today, so he left early."
"He forgot to take his medicine," George whined, holding up the small vial.
Harry smirked at it, knowing exactly what it was. This was payback for ditching out on the punishment the four of them had to share for stealing the fireworks. It was the perfect payback. Too bad Sam wasn't around. But that still didn't mean he couldn't get payback still. Perhaps his father could use some amusement today.
"I have an idea," Harry smiled. "Where is a quill and some loose parchment?"
"Coming up," George announced, producing the necessary items. Everyone looked over Harry's shoulder as he wrote out a quick note on the paper.
"We'll need to make that more official," George said. "I think I have a potions assignment marked up with your dad's signature and all." George vanished from the dining area for a minute before returning with an old essay. He waved his wand over the paper and then flicked it at the note Harry wrote.
Harry smiled as his handwriting instantly morphed into Severus's recognizable calligraphy. George quickly wrote another note, sticking it to the back of the first and using a spell to make it look like one note. Fred whistled for Errol, but Harry stopped him from asking the owl to deliver the vial.
"I have a better idea. I'll deliver it. I'll be quick."
Harry grabbed floo powder and flooed back to Snape Manor. He tiptoed to Sam's dog bed and set the vial down. Knowing Sam, he would sometimes perform morning exercises in human form. But if he was in fox form, he could use mind magic to open the vial and drink it. Harry listened around, but not hearing anything, he was sure Sam was outside doing his exercises and Severus was downstairs in his lab. Harry quickly grabbed more floo powder and left back to the Weasleys.
Sam panted as he ran up the stairs and walked on the porch and back into the house. He had just completed a mile run through the forest. He could use a drink. He always forgot to grab a bottled water, used to just drinking from the river or a puddle. He forgot how odd that might look in human form. He had encountered one passerby near the river and decided to continue on without stopping for a drink.
He entered the kitchen and turned the sink faucet on, sticking his head under and slurping the water. It was so refreshing. He licked his lips, turning the faucet off and walking towards the dog bed, picking up a towel laying near it. He dabbed at his forehead before he noticed a small vial.
It was a very small vial, black in color. He picked it up. It was large enough to hold a shot-sized amount of a potion. He sniffed at it before reading the small taped on parchment.
This is an energy enhancing potion. It is a new formula I am working on and figured you wouldn't mind testing it for me. It'll give you an extra energy boost. No worries – it's not poison. – Severus.
Sam frowned at the parchment. It seemed like a note Severus would write, reminding him that it wasn't poison, and he would never poison the kitsune. And it was his writing. And it seemed like something Severus would do – make him test a new potion. However, Severus usually liked to be present and actually give him the vials in person and watch him drink it – saying he was looking for any adverse reaction.
Sam lifted the note slightly, making sure there was no second note that would call him stupid for drinking an unknown substance and telling him he was the victim of some prank or assassination attempt. There was no other note.
Still sweating slightly, Sam dabbed at his head again. Well, it seemed legit. Severus must be rather confident with this potion. And the man was right downstairs should something go wrong. Though Sam never had problems before. Besides, he could use a boost in energy before he joined Severus on their trip to Hogwarts to double check the safety wards and anti-apparition wards around the school.
Sam uncorked the vial and drank the entire potion, making a face at its terrible taste. He was about to toss the vial aside when the note seemed to rip itself off the vial, revealing a second note.
Haha! You fell for it! You actually drank it! This is payback for you know what. Have fun! – Harry and the Weasleys.
Chikusho!
Sam dropped the vial and started hacking, trying to regurgitate whatever it was he just drank. It wasn't working. He would have better luck if he was in fox form. But he'd never strip and shift in time and he could feel the potion's magic begin its work.
"Oh no," Sam muttered.
"Do you think everything's all set?" Harry asked, looking around Ron's room.
"I think so. It's just the bucket and this bag really," Ron added. "I'll do the spell on the buckets. And Draco, you got the spell on the bag. Are you sure you can actually pull it off? Wandless magic is pretty tricky. You could borrow my wand."
"Yes, Ron, I'm pretty sure I can pull it off," Draco rolled his eyes. "I've done it before."
Draco looked at the other two as they stared at him with wide eyes. "What?" he snapped.
"It's a miracle," Harry said. "You actually called him Ron."
Draco blinked, frowned in thought, and then glared. "Yeah, so? That is his name. I can keep calling you Weasley if you'd like."
"I'd prefer Ron," Ron said. "Then I know which Weasley you're talking about."
"See? It's fine. No big deal. It's not like I accidentally called him Ron or . . . anything."
"Right," Harry smirked at Draco's pout and fake confidence. "Now we have to get you calling Granger Hermione."
"Not happening," Draco said. "Can we just do this? I'd like to catch the twins off guard for once."
"I think we caught them off guard when we insisted on "doing our homework" over playing pranks with them," Ron said.
"Well, now we catch them again."
Ron pointed his wand at the bucket on the floor and the bucket rose up with a simple levitation charm. Draco stood behind the large bag with is hands ready. It did make Harry think for a minute – Draco wasn't allowed his wand in the summer since he couldn't do magic. He had to leave his wand home. And Harry had to leave his home – not that he could use it anyway. His Dad was strict with the no magic outside of school rule. The Weasleys seemed to break that rule all the time, but Harry also knew Arthur could be pretty lenient while Molly would be the enforcer. Harry ran out of Ron's room and leaned over the stair railing.
"Fred! George!" he called. "We need some help on our Charms homework. We can't agree on anything!"
"Coming! But if we help you, you have to take a break and play some Quidditch with us."
"Okay."
Fred and George walked up the stairs, racing each other to Ron's room. They stepped inside, and Ron let the bucket spill over. The twins gasped as sticky syrup fell all over them. Draco closed his eyes, putting a lot of focus on what he was doing as he thrusted his hands forward and shouted, "Ventus!"
A huge gust of wind blew at the bag, sending the thousands of white feathers flying at the twins, covering them completely. The twins just blinked with mouths open as the three younger boys laughed.
"We got them!" Harry shouted as he high-fived Draco and Ron.
The twins seemed to shake themselves out of their stupor. They laughed as well, crossing their arms.
"Well, well," Fred shook his head. "We've been outplayed, brother."
"Indeed. And this is such a good prank! Why haven't we done something like this?"
"Draco, where did you learn that spell? That jinx isn't taught until third year!"
"My father taught me that," Draco smiled proudly. "During my weekly lessons with him over the summer."
"Wow!" George exclaimed. "You're lucky to get lessons. Wish we got something like that."
"This means war, little kiddies!" Fred cried. "War!"
"If I were you, I'd be afraid," George added. "Very afraid."
Fred and George started clucking like chickens as they left the room, no doubt to clean up in their own.
The three boys laughed, and Draco borrowed Ron's wand to clean the mess of syrup on the floor and feathers everywhere since he knew the spell needed better.
"That was great!" Ron said. "We really got them by surprise."
"I wonder how Sam is doing," Harry thought aloud.
"Knowing your fox," Draco said, tapping his chin, "he's either taking his payback in stride, or he's moping around somewhere."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he's taking advantage of what we did to him," Ron frowned.
"What's there to take advantage of?" Harry asked, trying to think of benefits of Sam's situation.
"Do you think our prank backfired on Sam?" Draco questioned.
"No way!" Harry insisted. "Well, I hope not. It's the only thing I could think of that might work as good payback."
Once Ron's room was cleaned again, the three left the room to find some lunch. Percy had promised to make something for them all, but he had yet to leave his room. Perhaps he had forgotten about them. Oh well, sandwiches sounded good. However, as they entered the kitchen, a thick rope fell from the ceiling and wrapped tightly around the three boys.
"Ahh!" they yelled.
"Try and break free from that, kiddies!" George shouted from the stairway.
"Let's see how well you guys can work together," Fred added. The twins disappeared back into their room.
Harry pushed against the rope, trying to slip is arms out from under it. However, as he loosened it by a centimeter, the rope magically tightened around them, squeezing firmly but not constrictingly. Harry, Ron, and Draco both tried to run forward in the ways they were facing to force the rope to break apart, but it held tightly. They were stuck together.
"Well," Harry said, "they definitely got us back good."
The three remained stuck that way standing in the kitchen, trying different ways to escape the rope until Percy did appear. He shook his head at the sight of the boys before freeing them with a flick of his own wand. He made everyone a quick lunch of mac and cheese, and while he did that, the boys took the time to set up their next prank.
When everyone gathered around the table and sat down for mac and cheese, Percy taking a bowl up to his room, the twins smirked at the three boys.
"I see you've freed yourselves," Fred said.
"Percy had to free us," Ron admitted.
"He's such a pushover."
"Well, if he hadn't come down, we'd still be stuck like that."
"We would have freed you . . ."
"Eventually," George concluded.
"Right," Ron frowned. He, Harry and Draco finished their mac and cheese and gulped down some milk before standing and running outside to grab brooms and fly.
"Hey, wait for us!" George shouted, standing up – with his chair still attached to his rear.
Fred stood as well to find himself stuck to his chair. He shook his head and looked at George, saying, "I believe they used our own quick-dry glue. Smart cookies, they are."
"Good thing I always carry the antidote," George smiled, pulling a tiny spray bottle like container out of his inner robe pocket. "We'll be free and ready to get them back in seconds."
Fred beamed from ear to ear.
And so, the jokes went on, back and forth – from wild broom hexes to sticky webs in doorways to nose-biting teacups and even jinxes that made you talk backwards. The latter had been placed on all three boys by the twins, and since none of them could figure out what the other was saying, they were stuck like that for a while. Until Percy discovered their situation and ended the jinx on them. Percy had been glad to have been kept out of all the pranks, until he returned to his bedroom to find it full of confused garden gnomes.
"Fred! George!" Percy yelled as the gnomes ran out of his room, pushing past him and down the stairs, running out the back door. Some gnomes even jumped out of Percy's window to reach the garden, screaming as they fell from the height.
Harry, Ron, and Draco laughed at that one. However, they all had to call their little prank war off when Molly returned home with Ginny. Then, they actually did work on finishing up homework, Draco simply adding in his own thoughts since he had left everything home.
Dinner was served and afterwards, Draco prepared to return home.
"Thank you for allowing me to come over, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Draco said, shaking their hands.
"Of course, dearie," Molly smiled. "And please, call me Molly."
"And I'm Arthur. And you are welcome to visit whenever you like."
Draco smiled then looked at Harry and Ron.
"Where are the twins?" he asked.
Harry and Ron shrugged, Ron saying, "who knows?"
"Well, I had a lot of fun today. I'll see you guys at Hogwarts."
"Bye Draco."
Draco turned towards the fireplace and grabbed floo powder. However, before he could throw the powder in, two eggs fell right on his head, cracking and splattering all over him. He made a face and looked over his shoulder to see Fred twirling his wand and George with a carton of eggs.
"You wouldn't leave without saying goodbye to us, would you?" George smirked.
"Boys!" Molly angrily shrieked before flicking her own wand at Draco to clean him. "I'm sorry, Draco. There you are, good as new."
Draco sent a glare the twins way before throwing in the powder and calling out his destination.
The next morning, while eating breakfast, Molly announced that Severus had floo called and wanted to speak to Harry. Harry gladly jumped to his feet and ran to sit in front of the fireplace.
"Hi, Dad!" Harry happily greeted.
"Hi," Severus seemed to put on a fake smile for a moment before glaring at his son.
"Is something wrong?"
"Oh no, nothing at all. I just want to say that if you ever deage Sam again, you'll go over my knees for a very long spanking."
"What? Why?" Harry asked, frowning in confusion. Ron and the twins walked out and stood behind Harry to listen. "What happened? It was supposed to be payback."
"Well, your little payback backfired! He's done nothing but torment me! Even as a small kit with absolutely no fox magic whatsoever, he has caused more trouble for me in one day than you ever have your entire life! And you know what, he got away with everything! He pulled the "I'm such a cute and innocent child" card more times than I can count."
"That fox is good," George whispered to Fred, elbowing him in the side.
"I worship him," Fred said, bowing mockingly.
Severus rolled his eyes, an odd movement in the flames.
"If this ever happens again, you will be paying for it, young man!"
"Why do I have to pay for it?"
"Because I know this was your idea. And the potion – though ingenious – if I ever see it in this house again, I'm coming over there and spanking you two, Mr. and Mr. Weasley! I'm sure your parents won't mind."
"Us?" Fred and George queried innocently. "We'd never do something like that."
"Uh-huh," Severus glared. "That is my only warning. This does not ever happen again."
"Yes, sir," everyone said.
Severus withdrew from the flames, disappearing.
"I don't believe it!" Fred shook his head at George. "He actually used our prank to his advantage! He must have had so much fun."
"Wish we had made more of that potion. But those ingredients were expensive!"
"Well, it's not like we could use it. It might age us back to babies. Sam was the perfect target!"
"Too bad Professor Snape didn't enjoy the experience. I would have loved to have seen the mischief Sam caused."
"Me, too," Harry jumped in, nodding his head. Honestly, what could the fox have done that made his father never want to see that potion or the prank performed again?
Harry felt something sharp sink down into his ankle. He yelped and jumped away, looking down to see Sam in fox form.
"Ow!" Harry said, rubbing his ankle where the fox had nipped him.
: That's for turning me into a kit, he growled. Who's next?
"We're good," the twins said, while Ron quickly backed away.
"What did you do to Dad?" Harry asked.
: Oh, nothing he couldn't handle, Sam gave a sly smile. Though I highly recommend against doing it again. Even if it was rather entertaining.
"Wish I was there to see it," Harry muttered, looking down at his ankle to make sure there was no blood. It seemed he always missed the fun stuff when he was away from home. He had to find a way to get the twins to pull that prank again but keep everyone's rears away from the firing line. Harry threw floo powder into the fireplace and floo called Draco.
"Morning, Harry," Draco greeted with a yawn.
"Morning, Draco. Remember we tried to prank Sam by deaging? Mission: failed."
The prank idea for Sam was inspired by chronos-girl's review to Chapter 11. To find out exactly what happened with Severus and Sam, see the short story, Second Chances Reality: Little Sam. I couldn't really fit that chapter into this story without veering a little too far away from the plot, so I made it a short. I hope you enjoy!
And thanks for reading, as always!