Hey! Soooo two updates so close together, I spoil you :)
So yeah, enjoy!
Chapter 11
Sam ran to the hallway, watching the front door where Molly was ushering the children out, eyes scanning the street for danger.
Once every teenager was out, Molly shut the door behind herself. Sam waited for a few seconds before slipping out after her, quickly jumping down the steps and behind the bushes Tonks had planted the other day.
Sam saw the group trudge down the street in the distance, keeping close together and she breathed in, allowing her thoughts to consume her.
She felt it instantly and when she opened her eyes she saw the world differently.
She set off slowly at first, making sure to hide herself from any passing people. But soon, the group were too far away to be safe, so she quickened her pace, striding after them and only hiding when it was necessary. From where she walked stealthily behind them she could hear their conversation.
"I can't believe it!" George exclaimed, throwing his arm over his twin's shoulder. "You're in love with her?"
Sam froze in her tracks.
Fred loved her?
As they began to talk again she rushed forwards, eager to hear the rest of the discussion.
"Oh come off it! It's not that big a deal!" He said modestly.
"Not that big a deal?" Ron exclaimed. "Man, that bird is fit."
"She's not 'fit' Ron, that's a horrible word and she's not a 'bird', she's a woman. No wonder you don't have a girlfriend." Fred said disgustedly.
Sam snorted quietly, quickly dodging behind a bench as a Muggle couple walked down the street.
'Too right.' She thought.
"Sorry." Ron mocked, "How would you describe her then?"
Fred mumbled unintelligibly and Ron burst out laughing.
"Beautiful? Man you're whipped." He cried in amusement.
"Oh for Gods sake Ronald! What is wrong with you? Fred is not 'whipped'! You, on the other hand, are an inconsiderate moron who couldn't care less about other people's feelings!" Hermione spun around to face him and snapped.
Ron stopped walking out of shock and Sam, who had been trailing closely after them had to jump out of the way so as not to be seen by Hermione.
"Ronald, be more considerate of your brother; and now I think of it, we are going to have a talk about respect, keep walking children, the quicker we get there, the quicker we can be safe at home." Molly said hastily to the group.
Ron huffed and hunched in on himself moodily.
"Mum, why can't we apparate?" Ginny asked quietly once the group began to walk again.
Molly sighed and checked the road for traffic before signalling for the group to cross.
"Because, it's not very pleasant for those who aren't trained and it will only draw more attention to us dear. This way, no one will be able to tell that we aren't Muggles." Molly told her daughter who nodded understandingly and began to chat with Hermione.
From then on the journey was rather uneventful apart from Ron's occasional complaints of 'I'm hungry' and 'my feet hurt' to which no one paid any attention, meaning that he would return to grumbling under his breath, all of which Sam found very amusing.
But she couldn't shake the fact that Fred had called her 'beautiful'. It had made her feel giddy with joy at the idea and she began to fall in love with Fred all over again.
Now she froze of her own accord.
She loved Fred?
The concept felt immensely foreign to her. Sure, she had felt love before, she loved Severus, but not in the way she loved Fred.
Yet again she had thought it.
She loved Fred.
She was in love with him.
Now it wasn't a question; it was a realisation.
She snapped her head up when a car sped by, and the occupants looked out the window, pointing and 'ooh'ing at her as she stood on the pavement. Sam looked around and saw that the group had disappeared from view.
She mentally cursed and sped forwards; when she reached the corner and scanned the streets she was just in time to see a red haired person disappear through the door of the 'Leaky Cauldron'.
Hesitantly, she crossed Charing Cross Road and ran over to the now closed door and tried to push it open. It wouldn't budge at first and Sam realised that she had to turn the door handle. Looking down at herself Sam knew this wasn't going to be easy but she tried anyway, after a few attempts, the handle moved down and the lock clicked open allowing the door to swing open when she applied her full weight on it.
She ran through the pub, ignoring the shouts and objections that were voiced, the back door had been left open and Sam reached it just in time to see the brick wall beginning to close. She sped through the gap quickly, just feeling the closing bricks graze her foot as she stepped through. Immediately, Sam looked for the group of redheads and in an instant her eyes caught onto them, standing out significantly.
Sam weaved forwards, through the crowd, avoiding any grabbing hands that were extended her way. She heard words of confusion and gasps as she ran straight towards them.
Suddenly, being here didn't seem like a good idea; especially in her condition. People were pointing, staring; and although she was used to it, in her current position she felt very vulnerable.
But she was here for a reason, so that was what mattered. She thought to herself as she watched the teenagers buying their textbooks through the window of 'Flourish & Blotts'.
Sam watched from a safe distance for the rest of the trip as the group went into the shops together, never breaking formation, to which Sam was grateful; they were being logical.
She yawned wide and a high pitched whine emitted itself from her throat as she did so, she shook her head in surprise but stood to attention instantly as the group exited 'Slug & Jiggers Apothecary', arms full of herbs and powders needed for Potions classes.
"Mum, we'll be fine! We'll just be in 'Gambol & Japes' for a few seconds." George reassured his mother who observed him uneasily.
"Now that you mention it; Mum, Harry and I would like to go to the Quidditch shop."
"Can Hermione and I go to the 'Magical Menagerie'?" Ginny asked her mother excitedly.
The teenagers all started talking at once, pleading and reassuring Molly who eventually threw her hands up in frustration.
"Fine!" She cried. "Make sure that you have your wands and I will be right here if anything goes wrong. Do you hear me? Anything."
There was a chorus of "Yes Mother" and "Yes Mrs Weasley" before Molly waved the children off in their opposite directions.
Sam blinked frantically; she had to choose which pair to follow.
Oh God, oh God! Sam thought frantically.
She made a split decision and decided to do rounds. She headed off in the direction of Harry and Ron first; they seemed fine, inspecting a new broomstick, so she moved on to Hermione and Ginny, who were talking to the lady behind the counter about the white rabbit which changes itself from a top hat and back again, returning each time to check on Molly.
Sam thought that the girls seemed fine, so she took a deep breath and made her way over to the joke shop 'Gambel & Japes'. Peering through the window, Sam saw George chatting amiably with the shopkeeper, it appeared that they knew each other well, the Twins were regular customers; that, Sam could believe.
She looked away from George, to see Fred crouched, looking on the bottom shelf at items which looked oddly like fireworks. All of a sudden, Sam heard heavy footsteps behind her and turned her head to see a dodgy looking man approaching.
His black hair hung limply across his grey face, and he reeked of alcohol.
He took one look at Sam and laughed dirtily, showing gaps in his teeth.
"Look at you." He sneered. "Aren't you pretty. Come 'ere." He stamped over to Sam who backed away quickly, she felt her body hit the door of the joke shop and threw herself at it in fear. It didn't budge and Sam yelped as the man reached towards her, trying to grab her by her shoulders, but she lashed out at him. He hissed and pulled back momentarily, watching blood ooze from the cut which she had scratched across his hand. He roared in anger and lunged at her, just as the joke shop door was thrown open and a pair of arms picked Sam up. Another person threw the jelly-legs-jinx at the man, who fell to the ground, legs shaking violently. He hastily grabbed his wand and cast the counter-curse before standing up to find the twins' wands pointed at his face; Sam had been released and was now cowering behind Fred.
The man spat on the ground before striding off muttering curse words.
Fred and George lowered their wands before turning to face Sam who blinked up at them.
"You are gorgeous." Fred cooed as he crouched down to Sam's eye level. He reached his hand forwards, but midway, he froze as he looked into her eyes.
Her eyes.
He recognised those eyes.
But it couldn't be.
Because, standing in front of him, was an Utonagan with sandy coloured fur….
But there was no doubt about it; those were definitely Sam's eyes.
He blinked once, twice before just staring, not blinking, in disbelief. Sam stared back.
George looked down at his twin; watching him stare in shock at the dog in front of him.
"Fred? You alright?"
"Yeah. Excellent. Top notch." He murmured absently, not taking his eyes off Sam.
George looked at Fred suspiciously before he shrugged and moved back to speak with the shop owner.
Finally, after a few seconds, Fred spoke.
"Sam?" He said.
Sam blinked once before stepping forward and licking Fred on the cheek tenderly.
Fred laughed in astonishment before slowly starting to stroke her lean back.
"You're an animagus?" He whispered in her large ear.
Sam made a high pitched whine and rubbed her nose against Fred's in an Eskimo kiss.
He chuckled and kissed the side of her furry muzzle gently.
"Fred? Why are you kissing that dog?" George stared at his brother in concern.
Fred opened his mouth but shut it again, looking at Sam for help. She grunted before licking Fred's face again. He took that as a sign to say 'go ahead'.
"It's Sam." Fred said quietly.
George looked at him weirdly for a second before beginning to nod then promptly began shaking his head shortly afterwards.
"Yea—no, I don't get it. What's Sam?" He whispered back, looking at his brother as if he were crazy.
Fred inhaled and exhaled noisily before lifting Sam's small frame in his arms so that her front paws hung over the front of his right arm and he was supporting her rear end with his left hand. She looked directly at George who was internally wondering whether he should get their mother.
"Merlin's Beard, just look at her George." Fred urged.
George frowned but leant towards the dog in his brother's arms.
"Look Fred I don't get what you want me to—oh." George's eyes had finally connected with Sam's and he jerked back in shock as soon as he recognised them instantly.
"What the—?" George began
Fred nodded wonderingly.
"I know." He replied.
"She's an—"
"Animagus."
"Wow.
"Yeah."
Sam barked indignantly and two pairs of brown eyes turned to look at her.
"Sorry." They said simultaneously.
Sam wriggled in Fred's arms until she was put down on solid ground. As Fred began to stand up straight Sam clenched his sleeve in her teeth and began to drag him towards the door of the shop.
"I think that it may be time to go." Fred laughed as he opened the door, allowing Sam to drag him gently into the street.
George smiled wistfully at his twin and picked up the bag of products they had purchased, following the couple out of the shop and back into the crowd of people. This certainly was a day to save in the memoirs.
Instead of dragging the twins to their mother, Sam led them to a small stall where a Witch with a hooked nose and grey hair that hung in sheets past her shoulders sat. On the small counter was a collection of sweets and Fred looked down at Sam in confusion.
"Why are we here?" He asked her quietly, she looked at him for a moment then stood on her back legs and nudged a jar which contained Liquorice Wands with her nose.
"You want some?" George asked and Sam barked merrily in reply before making low grunting noises in the back of her throat waving her legs in the air as if she were trying to flap wings. Fred and George watched on in confusion not knowing what she was trying to do. Sam rolled her eyes and made a noise that sounded as if it were meant to be a laugh; it was low and if it were a human laugh it would have sounded humourless. Fred's head snapped up and he laughed out loud, finally understanding what she was doing.
"What?" George asked in bewilderment.
Fred tried to calm himself but the laughs just kept coming as he replayed Sam's actions in his head. Sam just sat there panting in amusement.
"She wants to get some for Snape." Fred finally managed to say, wiping tears from his eyes and smiling when George began to crack up as well.
Finally Fred handed over 1 Galleon in exchange for the jar of sweets.
Fred scratched behind her ear and watched with a grin on his face as she panted happily. He dropped the sweets into the bag from 'Gambel & Japes', nodding his thanks to the confused vendor before Sam once again latched her teeth onto his sleeve and hauled him to where Molly had been standing.
Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron had already finished shopping and were now waiting for the Twins. When Molly caught sight of them approaching, she frowned. Fred was hunched over as he walked, and it took a few people to move for Molly to be able to see the dog they had with them.
Molly gaped at the sight.
"What are you doing with a dog?" Molly asked incredulously as they came near.
George and Fred shared a look and after checking that no one was listening, Fred nodded reluctantly.
"It's Sam. She's an animagus." George whispered to his mother who looked down in shock at the dog who barked in response, tongue lolling out as she grinned wolfishly.
"Wha— you're a—you're an animagus?" Molly hissed at the dog in font of her, her hand clenched to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
Sam stood on her hind legs and barked playfully up at Molly who laughed in spite of herself. The others chuckled in mild amazement as they saw their companion lick Molly's hand.
"Oh, goodness me. Well, let's go home shall we? Yes I think—I think that's what we'll do." She flustered to herself and quickly led the way out of Diagon Alley.
Sam trotted alongside Fred; occasionally nudging his leg with her muzzle and prancing playfully around him, jumping and running circles around the group.
There was little in the way of conversation as they walked, most of the attention was on Samantha who couldn't resist her canine instincts as a pigeon came into view and she tore after it jokingly, watching it soar into the air when she came close.
In no time at all, they were watching Grimmauld Place appear out of nowhere and were ascending the steps, entering the house one by one. Sam went last, wolfish eyes surveying the street before slipping inside, just as Molly yelled:
"Severus! You have some explaining to do!"
Fred stopped halfway up the stairs as seconds later; Snape peered around the corner, a look of innocence on his face.
"Yes?" He asked, his gaze moving between the two figures by the door.
"You knew that she was an animagus and you didn't tell anyone?" She shrieked, pointing at Sam who watched with her head cocked to the side.
Severus sighed and gave Molly a look that clearly said 'duh'.
"Oh Severus Snape, you are in big trouble!" She said warningly, jabbing her finger in his direction.
"Fine; I don't care, just don't tell anyone aside from the children. It's better that no one else knows." He said and looked at Fred questioningly when he descended the steps, digging in the plastic bag in his hand.
"Sam wanted me to get these for you." Fred said as he handed the jar of wands to his Potions Master who grinned and shook his head, accepting the sweets and nodding to where Sam was standing.
And with that he disappeared around the corner again to continue with what he had been doing previously; Fred smiled at Sam and ascended the stairs once more.
"That man—that man—I can't believe—Th—that—that man." Molly sputtered in astonishment.
"Oh Molly, calm down."
Molly whirled around and came face to face with a human Samantha.
"Samantha!" Molly cried. "What did you think that you were doing?"
"I wanted to keep you safe." Sam sighed as she leant against the wall, picking at the peeling wallpaper.
Molly's face softened and she stepped forwards to push some hair from Samantha's eyes.
"Just don't do that again; if it's not safe for us then it's definitely not safe for you." Molly said warmly. "I don't want you to get hurt. Okay?" Molly pressed.
Sam raised her eyes and smiled slightly.
"Okay."
"Good, now lunch will be ready in half an hour, I think the kids are upstairs in the lounge."
Sam said her thanks and went up the steps where Fred had disappeared seconds before throwing Molly a smile over her shoulder.
Molly watched her go with a sigh.
If only all people could be as caring as her.
So yeah!
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Lots of Love
Thanks for reading
Alicia
xxxx