All previous disclaimers apply.

TheOneandOnlyEnigma

2.

Dinner with Family

Applewood Manor was where House Yalarad called home. Granted, Sherwood Yalarad made a summer home in Scotland for his wife and himself to live in after he retired. However, that's neither here nor there.

It was where Sam Yalarad called his home. The young man had dark brown hair down to his neck. Samuel was quite strapping and handsome. He was upstairs in his room doing his summer homework. Sam wanted to get it all done so he could spend the rest of his summer playing with his friends and cousins.

There was a knock on the door, Sam looked towards the oak door and responded. "Come in!"

The door opened and in walked his mother, Alexandria Yalarad. She was still a beauty to behold. There were long locks of Auburn hair that adorned her head with shades of brown. Alexandra had a Dain hereditary trait of chocolate brown eyes that she shared with her daughter. Her sons had deep blue eyes that they shared with her husband, Silas.

"Hey, mum." Sam swiveled in his chair to face his mother. "Is everything ok?"

"Yes, I am just checking in on you. Are you getting your coursework done?"

"Mmmhmm, I am! I don't want to spend the entire summer completing it."

"Good good, now remember we are having guests over for dinner tonight so I will need your help preparing everything."

"Okay mum, I'll finish up my Herbology essay and then come down to the kitchen to help."

Alexandria smiled, walked over to her son, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Samuel."

"You're welcome, mum!" Sam smiled. He went back to his Herbology essay and continued writing.

Alexandria left her eldest son to his work in peace and descended downstairs. She put her hair into a bun and entered the kitchen. Alexandria opened the pantry and retrieved some herbs and other spices needed to make dinner for tonight.

The floo sounded with a roar and footsteps were heard upon the floor leading to the kitchen. Alexandria looked over to see her Mother-in-law, Ophelia Yalarad enter the kitchen.

"Alexandria, oh how are you, my dear?" Ophelia walked over to her daughter-in-law hugged her and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"I am well Ophelia. I was about to start on the roast beef for tonight. Would you care to help?"

"Why of course I would. As if you had to ask!" Ophelia took off her outer robe and rolled her sleeves up as she began to help Alexandria in the kitchen.

"Will Sherwood be joining us tonight?"

Ophelia shook her head, "He and Marcus are fetching Dante from a friend's home in Bastogne."

Upstairs, Sam had just finished his Herbology essay and left his room. He saw his little brother, Agamemnon, leave his room as well. The young boy was rather small for his age. Slimmer than most, but not frail. His Auburn hair shone like his mother's.

Sam snuck up behind his little brother, and using his nickname got his attention, "Augie!"

"Oh!" Augie turned around to face his brother quickly, he put a hand over his heart to calm himself down. "Sam, don't do that."

"Sorry Augie, I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay Sam." He looked up at his brother. "What are you up to?"

"I finished my Herbology assignment, and now I'm heading down to help Mum prepare dinner."

"Can I come?" Augie asked Sam.

Sam smiled, "Sure."

The two brothers walked down side by side downstairs.

"Have you seen Lyta at all today?" Sam asked his brother.

"No, but I think she might have spent the night over at Aunt Nora and Uncle Marcus' Manor." Augie had a hard time remembering what their Manor was called. "Big brother, what's their Manor called again?"

"Silverwood," Sam answered.

"I keep forgetting that," Augie sighed. "Is Dante really coming back to Hogwarts this year?"

Sam hesitated a bit before answering. "Only if Dumbledore allows him to."

"Oh," Augie said, his eyes wandered away from his brother's gaze.

Sam noticed that, "Why do you ask?"

"Well... I may have told James Potter that Dante was."

Sam sighed, "Agamemnon!" He stopped in his tracks and turned to face his brother. Augie was expecting to get scolded by his brother for that, but the scolding never came.

"You have to think before you say stuff like that." Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn't be too angry with his brother, Augie was just saying what he must have overheard. "Why are you talking to that idiot anyway?"

"He is on my team in the Junior Quidditch League, so it's not like I have a choice not to interact with him."

"What did Potter have to say about that?" Sam guessed that he wasn't too happy to hear about that.

"Well, his entire face was kind of purple for some reason, and it didn't get any better after I told him. His face grew redder than the Gryffindor colors. He didn't say anything else, but he just glared at me for a while until we started playing again."

"Just do me a favor and stop talking to that waste of oxygen, okay?"

Augie shook his head, "Will James Potter be attending Hogwarts as well?" Samuel had told his brother about the grand debacle that James Potter had made of himself the past years and his recent expulsion from Hogwarts.

"I doubt it, but you never know." The two brothers continued their way back down to the kitchen.

The two boys found their mother and grandmother hard at work preparing a roast beef for tonight's dinner and set themselves to help in any way they could.

A few hours passed and guests started to trickle in.

The flood sounded in the Yalarad guest lounge, and Hippolyta Yalarad, otherwise known as Lyta, came forth.

Augie was in a loveseat, reading a book about the American Civil War, and looked up to see his sister had come through.

Hippolyta had strawberry blonde hair that was done up into a French braid. Her stature was a rather refined young lady. She was a year older than Agamemnon, but she didn't hold that over his head, too much.

"Augie!" Hippolyta walked over to her younger brother, who had gotten up, and gave him a hug.

Augie returned the hug, "How was Aunt Nora's?"

"It was good. They should be following me shortly through."

"How's Jon and DeeDee?" Augie mentioning Dante's younger siblings.

"You can ask them yourself," Lyta motioned over at the floo which was sparking back to life.

From the floo emerged a young boy not much older than Agamemnon. He was about the average size for a boy his age. His blond hair was like that of his mother's, and he had the Yalarad blue eyes shining brightly. Jon walked forward and made some room for his sister to come in.

Desdemona, or otherwise known as DeeDee, strolled out of the floo. Her dirty blonde hair was in a bun as she brushed off the spot off of her dress. "Jon make yourself presentable!"

"Oh, sorry." Jon brushed off the soot off of his clothes.

The floor sounded once more as a blonde haired woman stepped through the floor holding a large pot. Leonora Yalarad, nee. Casselberry, was a beautiful woman and was still young, only being Thirty-three.

Her hair was shorter than her daughter's as it only came to the back of the top of her neck. Leonora was wearing a dress robe of emerald green, and was wearing a silver necklace adorned with the symbol of House Casselberry, a shield adorned with the visage of a lion.

"Hello, Augie!" Leonora smiled as she greeted her nephew. "Ooh, you've gotten so big! Any bigger and you'll completely dwarf me in size!"

Augie blushed a bit, and he did his best to hide his smile. "Thank you, Aunt Nora."

Leonora smiled, "Where is your mother?"

"She is in the kitchen along with Sam, and Grandma Ophelia."

"Thank you."

"Should I carry your pot to the kitchen?"

"Oh no that's quite all right my dear, I can manage!" Leonora walked out of the living room and walked into the kitchen. Leonora saw Sam was tossing a leafy green salad, as Alexandria and Ophelia were about to put the roast beef into the oven to cook for a few hours.

"Nora, what a surprise! I dinnae expect you for a while!" Alexandria smiled. "What have you there?"

"It's just a Shepherd's Pie that I found a recipe for tonight. I thought I'd give it a go, and whip it up for us tonight." Leonora shrugged.

"Well we appreciate it, my dear," Ophelia gave her other daughter in law a smile.

Sam finished tossing the salad and looked over to his mother. "Who else is coming to dinner tonight?"

"You'll see shortly," Alexandria said, as she closed the oven, and set the temperature. "I think everyone is coming."

Sam soon found out that his mother was not joking. Not long after his family on his mother's side came along. The Dains were tried and true friends of The House of Yalarad. It was only fifteen years ago that a union in matrimony was made between Alexandria Dain and Silas Yalarad.

The Patriarch of House Dain was the old, stone-faced Munich Dain, and his wife Natalie Shadiq. They were the parents of Alexandria, and her brother, Oslo Dain. Uncle 'Ozzy' he was affectionately called by Sam, and his siblings. Oslo's wife, Rebecca was unfortunately not there. She was called into St. Mungo's where she worked as a healer.

Their children were able to come as well. Both Renner and Vienna were there. Renner was rather huge for his size. The 14-year-old was twice the size of his cousin, a foot taller than him, and more musclebound. It was apparent that Renner took after his father and grandfather. His little sister Vienna was not as large as her brother. Instead she took more after her mother and grandmother, inheriting her smarts from them.

Ophelia's brother, and one of Sherwood's best friends, Edmund Fawley was there as well. A short portly old man with thinning grey hair at the top of his head with large spectacled glasses. He was dressed in a two-piece suit that was a deep navy blue.

The Braiders were also in attendance. There was Ivanna Braider who was the matriarch of the family. Ethan Braider, her eldest son, who ran the family business. Athena Braider, a strong young woman who was betrothed to Dante Yalarad. Bartholomew, the middle son of Ivanna, and the wisest amongst the brothers. Lastly, there was Tom Braider, one of Sam's longest friends. A prodigy of the wizards and witches of his year.

They were gathered around the large rectangular table that was used for family functions. Even though not everyone at the dinner table was blood-related, they were all family. Bonded by blood, bonded by marriage, and bonded by friendship.

"Are we ready to begin?" Oslo asked aloud. His mouth-watering at all the food before.

"You can start eating if you'd like, but I'm waiting for Sherwood, and Marcus to come back," Alexandria mentioned.

"Oh, that's not necessary my dear," Ophelia said. "They probably won't be back until much later, After all, they went to France to retrieve Dante."

Athena sighed, "I'm going to wait for Dante. It wouldn't feel right to eat without him, right Sam?" She looked over to see Sam stuffing his face with his Aunt Nora's Shepherd's Pie. "Sam!"

He stopped eating, "Wha?"

The floo sounded, and the attention turned to the direction to the guest lounge. There, Sherwood Yalarad and his second son, Marcus Yalarad enter the dining room.

"Hello all, it's good to see you all again!" Sherwood smiled as he saw his friends and family there. He walked over to his wife, Ophelia, and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

Marcus went over to is wife Leonora, and gave her a kiss to the mock disgust of his two youngest children. "Did your Shepherd's Pie turn out good, or did you burn that as well?" He joked before Nora smacked him on the arm.

"My cooking isn't that bad...anymore."

The Floo sounded once more, and from the guest lounge came the prodigal son, Dante Yalarad. "It feels so good to be back. Miss me, everyone?" The eldest son of Marcus Yalarad had the familial blue eyes that his father and grandfather had. His dark brown hair came down to the back of his neck. He had the beginnings of a beard that was growing on his face.

Athena smiled, "Dante!" She stood up and rushed over to her betrothed.

Dante smiled as he met her halfway and embraced her. "Hello, my Goddess!" He picked Athena up and spun her around. To the two of them, nobody else existed at that point. Their lips were inches away from each other until they heard Ethan Braider clearing his throat.

"If you could keep such displays of public affection away from the dinner table that would be wonderful, thanks." Ethan dictated as he cut up some of his Roast Beef.

The two lovebirds glared at him and went to their seats.

With everyone now in attendance, Sherwood took his place at the head of the table and rang a fork against his goblet. "Thank you all for coming, it is important for us to stay together in times like these. The times of peace and prosperity before the coming of the storm. In those turbulent times, we must stay United. For as one, we shall overcome any and all obstacles!"

Sherwood took his goblet and raised it up, and everyone in attendance copied him. He looked over to a painting of his eldest son, Silas Yalarad. It wasn't enchanted to speak or move like the ones at Hogwarts' Silas died before he could give some of his essence over to it.

"To those, we have lost." Sherwood took a moment before looking over to Dante and Athena, "And to those who we have found! To the lost, and the found!"

"To the lost, and the found!" Everyone repeated before drinking what was in their own goblets.

Oslo raised his goblet. "Slàinte!"

Everyone cheered each other to good health, and good fortune.

Sam was cheersing his brother and turned around to see his cousin Dante's goblet close to his face.

"To your good health, and good fortune… my cousin." Dante smiled.

Sam hesitated for a moment before clinging goblets with him. "Good fortune, and good health. My cousin."

The two drank as they reunited once more.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Knockturn Alley.

It was getting late in the evening. It was the bewitching hour. A time where all the miscreants would run amuck. A place you would not want to get caught in if you were a normal wizard or witch.

However, Black Leif was no ordinary wizard. He was a Black Cloak and could take care of himself when it came down to it. Black Leif walked with purpose down Knockturn Alley; he was there chasing down a lead on Gabriel Schell as this was the last place he was seen before disappearing.

The ilk that inhabited Knockturn at the time gave him a wide berth. They knew who he was, what he could do, and they did not want to get on his bad side.

Black Leif was looking for the one individual who could tell him what he wanted to know. He turned down an alleyway past Borkin and Burkes. Leif went down the alleyway where a certain wizard was passed out drunk after a night on the town.

"Fletcher." Black Leif said. He stood at Mundungus Fletcher's side. He gently nudged him with his boot, "Mundungus Fletcher."

He was leaning on the wall, still in a deep sleep.

Black Leif was not wasting any time. He kicked Mundungus over on his side, and the thief woke up with a jolt. Spilling the remnants of his rum on the ground.

"Damn ye' to the darkest pits of Tartarus you…" Mundungus looked up at the aggressor and was horrified to see of all people a Black Cloak looking down on him. "I didn't do it!"

Mundungus tried to run away, but Black Leif grabbed him by the collar and threw him into the wall. "Calm down. I'm not here to kill you."

Mundungus was still shaken at the Black Leif's imposing figure. "W-What do ye' want with me?"

"Word on the streets is that nothing gets by without you hearing about it."

"Uhh, yeah. Sometimes I hear things, and sometimes I don't." Black Leif crossed his arms. "But that depends on who is asking!" Mundungus corrected himself.

"That's better. Now I need some information."

"What do you want to know?"

"Gabriel Schell. Rumor states he was last seen in Knockturn Alley after clearing out his Gringotts Account. Is that true?"

"Yeah, yeah. That's true, I was trying to offload something...I recently acquired back then those years ago at Borgin and Burkes," Mundungus admitted. "He came in and just knocked the everloving hell out of Hezekiah Borgin until he gave him what he wanted!"

"And what was that?" Leif asked.

"Oh come on man, I don't know," Mundungus quickly resented those words as Black Leif grabbed him by the throat and threw him back onto the brick wall. "A tent! One of those enchanted tents that's bigger on the inside! It had all the bells and whistles; you could live off the grid in one of those babies!"

Black Leif glared at the sneak thief, "Is that all? Don't you dare try to lie."

"He-He stole a portkey as well."

"A portkey? Where did he go?"

"I don't know!" Leif grabbed Mundungus by the throat. "I don't know I swear! It wasn't a normal Portkey!"

"What do you mean, not a 'normal' Portkey?"

"The one Schell took was an illegally tampered Portkey. One you could use without any set destination! He could be anywhere!"

Black Leif growled, and let go of Mundungus. It looked like the Black Cloak was back at square one.

Mundungus Fletcher coughed, "But, there was something else. Just a rumor I heard, but never followed up on."

Leif looked at the thief, "And what was that?"

"About a month after he disappeared, Schell came back to London, and he saw an old friend of his. A friend from way back when at his Hogwarts days."

"Who was this friend?"

"Andre Harper, the wardsmith who has his own shop out on Thesaurum Row," Mundungus informed Black Leif.

Black Leif began piecing together what he had learned and decided to visit this Andre Harper. He gave Leif a small sack of galleons. "Here. Keep quiet over what we talked about because if you don't...I'll knows."

Mundungus accepted the sack and shook his head, "Yeah, I got you."

The Black Cloak left the alleyway in Knockturn Alley behind as he set off to accomplish the task set before him by Lord Prince.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

The halls of Mirrorvale were quiet. Too quiet for Vesper Prince's liking.

Vesper walked down the hall towards Severus' bedroom. Vesper would freely admit that she missed her grandson, but Vesper knew that Severus was safe with Lily and her family and that he was enjoying the time spent with them.

She heard Marius in his study and walked over and saw him at his desk reading a few notes, letters, and parchments. Vesper knocked on the edge of the door. "May I come in my love?"

"Please do, my darling one." Marius turned around to see his lovely wife.

Vesper looked at the papers on his desk, "What are you reading?"

Marius sighed softly, reached back to grab a letter, and handed it to his wife. "Read this."

Vesper was a bit worried as she took the letter, "Is everything all right? Is it from Severus, is something wrong?" She began to read it.

"No, it's not from Severus, as far as I know, he is faring well. This letter is from Augusta Longbottom."

Vesper read the letter in its entirety. "This can't be right, can it?"

"I'm afraid so, Sherwood and his son Marcus are attempting to have Dante, Marcus' eldest child, reinstated as a student at Hogwarts."

"I remember how his bullying of a first-year student caused that poor boy to fall off the Grand Staircase and break his leg. I thought he was expelled for that?"

"He was just asked to leave. He was lucky and managed to escape expulsion. This was back in Severus' first year. When Dumbledore still thought no Gryffindor could do no wrong," Marius said that last part in a mocking tone.

"Is Dumbledore seriously considering letting him back into Hogwarts?" Vesper asked her husband.

"That he is, and unfortunately he has no reason not to. In his time at Beauxbatons, Dante was nothing but a model student. He seemingly turned everything around." Marius was in deep thought as he spoke.

"But, you are not so certain that is the case."

Marius shook his head. "A Tiger cannot change its stripes so easily, Vesper. My fear is that Dante Yalarad will pick up right where James Potter left off."

"Let's hope that will not be the case." Vesper leaned down to kiss Marius. "I am going to make some lunch would you care to join me?"

"Yes," Marius sobered quickly. "I think I shall." He got up to walk with Vesper to the kitchen.

Vesper looked at Marius, "On an unrelated note, have you seen Black Leif anywhere?"

"He's running an errand for me," He told his wife.

"What is he looking for?"

"He's looking for someone who may help protect Severus and his friends during their next year in Hogwarts, should Dante Yalarad return.

~*~* Page Break ~*~*

Severus and Lily were spending the penultimate day at the seaside. The beach was relatively empty as the two walked hand in hand down the sands.

They were enjoying the sounds of the breaking waves, the rushing waters, and the seagulls cawing as they flew overhead.

For the time being, there were only the two of them in the universe.

Lily looked out at the sea and breathed in the crisp ocean air. "I want to come back here again every year."

Severus smirked, "Well I don't think that your parents can manage that every year, but that's some nice wishful thinking."

Lily chuckled, "Well can you blame me?"

"No, this place is perfect."

The two kept walking down the beach and passed a young man with three fishing rods whose lines were cast into the sea.

Lily glanced at the young man in passing and then slowed to a stop.

Severus looked at Lily, "Is everything all right?"

"That young man, he seems familiar."

Severus looked at the young man who was checking his fishing lines and knew who he was in an instant. "Sebastian Holmes?"

The young man turned around to face Lily and Severus. "Severus? Evans? Is that you?" The young wizard known as Sebastian Holmes took off his sunglasses, and his hat. He had long brown hair put into a ponytail. He was wearing a loose-fitting button-up shirt and tattered denim shorts that had at one time been a pair of jeans.

"Well, if this isn't a surprise I don't know what is," Sebastian stated. "What are you two doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Holmes."

"Uhh, my grandparents own a restaurant just a few blocks inland. I'm trying to catch a few fish for tonight's fish stew."

"Well, my family rented a cottage up the beach, and we've been staying there for a bit," Lily explained.

"Oh, nice! I'd say that you two deserved it, after what that tosser, Potter put you guys through."

"Indeed," Lily said but noticed that Sebastian's rod on the left was reeling. "Sebastian, your rod." She pointed at it.

Sebastian quickly turned around and yelped. "Oh!" He ran over to it and began fighting with the fish. "Oh, you're a big one! I can feel it!" At that moment, the middle rod began to bob up and down before reeling as well. "Bloody hell!" Sebastian tried to grab the other rod, but as that happened the right rod began reeling as well! "Oh, you gotta be kidding me!"

Lily spoke up, "Would you like some help?"

"Please!" Sebastian exclaimed.

Severus and Lily both jumped into action and helped Sebastian tire out the fish on the end of the hooks.

"Merlin, these feel like monsters!" Severus groaned as he reeled in the fish on his rod.

"Careful not to break the line! Let the fish tire itself out, and then reel 'em in!" Sebastian advised Severus and Lily.

Within a few seconds, Lily had managed to pull out a good-sized pollock out of the sea. "I got it!"

"Fantastic Evans! Make sure it doesn't go anywhere!" Sebastian said as he reeled in his fish. "Come on you!" Sebastian kept reeling in his fish and landed himself a large cod. "Got you!"

Severus kept reeling in the line, "This fish doesn't want to go anywhere!"

"Come on Sev, you can do it!" Lily cheered her boyfriend on.

He took Lily's words of encouragement to heart and managed to reel in another cod. His fish was slightly smaller that Sebastian's catch, but still rather impressive.

Sebastian took a rock and quickly dispatched the three fish. "Well! Two cods, and a pollock. That should be good for tonight's stew." He turned to Lily and Severus. "I appreciate your help, thank you!"

Lily smiled, "It wasn't any trouble, right Sev?"

Severus cleared his throat, "Yeah, no trouble at all." Severus knew Sebastian was a Slytherin like himself but felt as if he should tread carefully. As Sebastian was a good friend of Sam Yalarad's. "Well, I think we should get going."

Lily nodded, "Right, I don't want my parents to worry about us."

Sebastian smiled, "Well thank you again, and I'll see you guys back at Hogwarts!"

"Take care, Sebastian!" Lily waved goodbye as Severus led them back on their path up the beach.

Sebastian took the catch and put them in a bin of ice. He then looked at the fishes and then walked after Severus and Lily. "Hey wait!"

Severus and Lily both stopped and turned around. "What?" Severus asked him carefully.

"Listen I feel like I owe you. Not because of what you did just now, but also you tutored me in Potions last year as well. So, how about I treat you guys to lunch?"

"No, that's not necessary..." Severus began to make an excuse before Sebastian cut him off.

"I'll also tell you why Sam body-checked you on the Hogwarts Express at the end of last year."

Severus' eyes widened, "So I'm not going insane, he pushed me over on purpose?!"

Lily's mouth was agape, "I'd like to know why he did that as well!"

"And I'll tell you, just let me get the catches and the rods back at my grandparent's restaurant, and I'll tell you everything."

Severus and Lily looked at each other, and then back at Sebastian. They knew that he was a Muggleborn, and not at all affiliated with any of the remaining wannabe Death Eaters.

"Okay, Holmes. Just no funny business." Severus warned him.

"Please, I know better," Sebastian raised his hand as he went to collect his stuff.