Lily's Defender, Part 2
Alethea27 and TheOneandOnlyEnigma
Disclaimer: All previous disclaimers apply
Summary: With the Grimoire in safe hands and James Potter expelled, Severus Snape, Lily Evans, and their friends expected that their remaining time at Hogwarts would be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, the intentions of a few detestable individuals will make their lives more arduous. With the help of a few new friends, they all must join together to fight against the rising tide of evil in the Wizarding World.
Bad Intentions
Severus and Lily hurriedly left the park and crossed the street back to the Evans' home. "Is something wrong?" Paul asked, seeing their hurry.
Severus nodded. "Somebody vandalized my grandpa's office. I'm going to floo there and see how bad it is."
"Send us an owl, Sev, and let us know," Lily said.
"Be careful, Sev," Cinthy urged, seeing how upset he was.
Severus smiled slightly and replied, "I will. I imagine Magical Law Enforcement is probably already there as grandpa would have summoned them first thing. Thank you for inviting me to dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Evans." He nodded at Lily and then stepped into the floo.
When Severus stepped out of the floo in his grandfather's office, the first thing he saw was Black Leif and Black Conor looking very angry. The second thing he saw was that Mrs. Staffington's office was a complete wreck. The desk blotter and any personal effects had been shoved off her desk and onto the floor, and furniture had been broken and scattered about, but the worse vandalism was done to the file cabinets. Every draw had been pulled out and then emptied. There were loose sheets of parchment and file folders scattered all over the floor. It looked to Severus as if, after dumping the files out of the drawer, they were thrown up into the air.
Severus felt somebody's hand and turned to find Black Leif. "You should return to Mirrorvale, Young Master. There is nothing you can do here."
Severus shook his head. "No, I'm staying until I know who's responsible for this."
Marius and Vesper came out of the his inner office, talking to Madam Bones, who had come to inspect the damage on her own rather than waiting for a report from her officers. They stopped short as they spotted Severus. "Severus, what on earth are you doing here?" Vesper asked.
"I wanted to come and see what happened, Gran," Severus explained.
"It is bad," Marius said, nodding back towards his office.
Severus peered into the office and was shocked to see the destruction. Like Mrs. Staffington's desk, the blotter on Marius' desk had been shoved off, furniture had been broken and the couch ripped with what looked like a knife, inkpots opended and thrown down on the rug. Every book had been pulled off the shelves and tossed willy-nilly, but what really struck Severus was every one of the personal pictures and awards of his grandfather's has been smashed. He almost stepped on a picture of his mum holding him as a newborn with his dad next to her, smiling proudly. It had been in his grandfather's office as far back as he could remember. Severus picked it up and laid it carefully on Marius' desk.
"Who did this?" He demanded, looking at Amelia Bones.
"Whomever it was did not use their wand to cause all of this destruction. I was informed there was no magical signature that we were able to pick up." Madam Bones sighed. "I do wish the Wizarding World would catch up to the Muggle World in their crime fighting abilities. For example, fingerprinting. It would be very helpful in a case such as this."
"Do you know anyone in Muggle law enforcement that you could consult with?"
"I do not, but perhaps Bartemius might know of someone. I will ask him."
"We are returning to Mirrorvale, please keep us informed on your progress, Amelia," Marius requested.
She nodded and returned to the investigation and to her officers. Severus and his grandparents flooed back to Mirrorvale with Black Leif and Black Conor following them. They decided to sit in the Conservatory which had a wonderful view of the gardens. Mitzi brought them tea and some freshly baked scones along with strawberry jam and Devonshire cream. Severus liked his scones with jam and a dollop of Devonshire cream.
Marius sighed as he took a sip of his tea and shook his head. "I cannot, for the life of me, think of anyone who would do such a terrible thing. Yes, I've made enemies over the years, but they are more likely to take their anger out on me rather than on my office."
"The damage looks as if something an angry child might do," Vesper commented then asked, "Do you think it might have been that spoiled brat, James Potter?"
Severus shook his head. "No, Gran, Potter's too lazy to do anything that requires as much physical labor as this did, on his own, and I think he's too dumb and arrogant not to use his wand." He sighed and then looked up at his grandparents. "I should have told you when it happened."
"Told us what, Severus?" Vesper asked.
"When we were in Diagon Alley last week and me and my friends went to Flourish & Blotts, I ran into Dante Yalarad and he threatened me."
Marius put down his teacup and leaned forward. "What did he say, Severus?"
"He said he'd have his eye on me and I wasn't getting away with stuff like I did last year because there's no Professor Gold this year and if he didn't have his eye on me, one of his friends would. He said I wouldn't …" Here Severus' face flushed. "He said I wouldn't be able to take a piss without him knowing it." He looked up at his grandparents. "I think it might have been Dante who wrecked your office, Grandpa."
Marius sat back in his chair deep in thought for a few seconds then said. "You may be right, Severus. Dante has always blamed me for his having had to leave Hogwarts. Actually, I did recommend that Albus expel him, but he decided Dante should be asked to leave instead."
"From the sound of it, Dante plans to take out his anger at you on Severus and his friends," Vesper said worriedly.
"Yes, it does," Marius agreed. He looked at Severus. "As you know Leif and Conor have a younger brother, Donal, who is also a Black Cloak and he would have normally been assigned to you when you turned seventeen, but with Dante and his like minded friends threatening you, I believe you need him to watch over and protect you now."
Severus didn't know how he felt about this. Would he have any privacy or chance to be alone with Lily? "If you think that's best, Grandpa," he replied somewhat reluctantly.
"I do," Marius replied. "I will ask Leif and Conor to bring Donal with them tomorrow so you can meet him before school starts again."
When Severus returned to his room, he sent Calista off with notes to Lily, Dorian, Tav, Frank, Remus, Caddaric, Alice, Irene, Sirius, Reg Jane, Emily, and Peter asking them to gather somewhere together the next morning so he could talk to them all at once. After a flurry of notes between all the friends, they decided to gather at the Diggory home at ten.
Severus got up early, did his morning ablutions, got dressed, and went downstairs. He walked into the dining room where Mitzi was getting breakfast on the table. "Good morning, Mitzi," Severus said.
"Good morning, Mr. Severus," Mitzi replied.
"Are my grandparents up yet?"
"Yes. Mistress is in her herb garden and Master is in his study. I is going to tell them breakfast is ready."
"I'll do it," Severus offered.
Mitzi nodded and returned to the kitchen. Severus knocked on the door of his grandfather's study.
"Yes?" Marius called.
Severus stuck his head in. "Mitzi has breakfast ready, Grandpa."
"Good. I woke up really hungry this morning."
"I'll go and let Grandma know, Mitzi said she out in her herb garden."
Marius nodded. "Yes, she said she was going to be brewing much of the day."
Severus went outside and returned shortly with his granmother. Marius pulled out Vesper's chair for her andf she sat down then he and Severus sat down. He looked at his grandmother. "Grandma, if you're going to be brewing today, can I help you?"
Vesper nodded, smiling brightly as she remembered when Eileen used to ask her the very same question. "I would be delighted, Severus."
Just as they were finishing up breakfast, voices could be heard in the kitchen then the door between the kitchen and the dining room opened and Leif and Conor came in followed by a younger man whom Severus assumed was Donal. He was in his early twenties, tall and rangy, but did not have quite the muscular build of his older brothers, but showed the same fearless confidence as them.
Black Leif bowed briefly then said, "Lord Prince, Lady Prince and Severus, may I present our younger brother, Black Donal."
Marius and Vesper greeted him warmly while Severus watched silently. Donal seemed to sense that Severus had reservations about him and explained, "Although my duty is to watch over you and protect you from any harm, I will never in any way invade your privacy or the privacy of any of your friends."
Severus seemed to relax a bit and nodded at Donal. "That's good to know."
"If this arrangement is satisfactory to all parties, Donal can start today or if you prefer, when school starts next week," Black Conor said.
Severus shrugged. "I don't have any problem with Donal starting today."
"So be it," Black Leif replied.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Severus' friends waited anxiously at the Diggory home for his call. Mrs. Diggory had supplied them with pumpkin juice and cookies while they waited.
"I wonder if they found out who trashed Sev's granddad's office," Jane said.
"I asked dad and he said if they used their wand, they'll leave their magical signature and MLE can trace that," Sirius explained. "I'll bet it was Pothead though."
"My mum said she hopes they find out who did it and kick their bum!" Emily exclaimed. "She really likes Mr. Prince and how he defended us in the past."
"Potter's probably still mad he got expelled and blames Sev's granddad for it," Lily said.
At exactly 10:00 the floo flared to life and they saw Severus' head sitting in the green flames. "Hey, Sev, what's up?" Frank asked. "Did MLE find out who wrecked your grandfather's office?"
Severus shook his head. "No, whoever did it, didn't use a wand because Amelia Bones said they couldn't find a magical sigmature."
"Damn!" Dorian said. "I guess that rules out Pothead."
Sirius chuckled. "Yeah, because he's too stupid not to use his wand!"
Severus was silent for a few seconds then said, "I think it might have been Dante because whomever did it was really vicious especially inside my grandfather's personal office. His Law Degree and all the awards he's won were pulled off the walls and smashed. The same goes for any personal photographs, they were completely smashed."
"What makes you think it might be Dante?" Remus asked.
"I think it goes way back," Tav replied. "Weren't the Prince and the Yalarad families feuding for a long time?"
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, the Prince's and the Yalarad's have been long time enemies." He grinned. "I guess those geneology lessons Mum makes me and Reg take on Saturday mornings are of some use after all."
Reg shrugged. "Mum always says they'd be."
"The second thing I wanted to tell you guys is that my grandfather has decided that I should have my personal Black Cloak. Normally it wouldn't have been until I was seventeen, but after I told my grandparents how Dante threatened me in Flourish & Blotts, Grandpa decided I should have one now. I met him this morning. His name is Donal and he's the youngest brother of Black Leif and Black Conor."
"I'm so glad you told your grandparents, Sev, and I'm happy you're going to have permanent protection," Lily said.
"He'll be protecting all of us when we're together," Severus pointed out.
"Those of us in Gryffindor, will have to keep a low profile and out of Dante's sight," Frank said.
"It doesn't matter what House we're in," Caddaric said. "If Dante wants to mess with us, he'll find a way to do it."
Both Peter and Remus silently shuddered.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
It was quiet over at Grimmauld Place.
Walburga was helping Regulus pack a few essentials for his upcoming year at Hogwarts.
Sirius meanwhile was in his father's study. He confided in his father about what had happened a week earlier, between Severus and Dante.
"Sirius I'm glad to hear you did not escalate things by fighting Dante, but please be a bit more proactive when coming to me about these things."
"I'm sorry Dad, but Severus asked me to keep it to myself. I figured if you're friends with Dante's father you could maybe help me with this."
Orion leaned against the front of his desk. His eyes closed as he was deep in thought. "Dante was always an unruly boy growing up. Always making mountains out of molehills, and looking for trouble." Orion gave a wry grin, "I think he inherited that from his Uncle."
Both Sirius and Orion glanced at the old photo of Orion and Silas Yalarad on the wall. Back when they were starting out as Aurors on the beat
"Was Silas Yalarad really like that?" Sirius asked his father.
Orion chuckled, "Merlin no! He was rather rambunctious in his youth, but nothing like how his nephew turned out to be." He looked at his eldest son, "Sirius this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to talk to Marcus, and find out what can be done. I can't promise that will curtail Dante's current attitude."
Sirius shook his head, "What if he tries anything with me or Regulus?"
"Sirius the best option is for you and your brother, is to walk away and find a Professor. Let them deal with it."
Sirius nodded, "Right of course Dad."
"But…"
Sirius looked at his father.
"If he doesn't give you or your brother a chance to walk away, and fighting is the last resort, then you fight."
Sirius was a bit stunned to hear his father say that, only shaking his head silently with his mouth slightly agape.
"Now, don't get me confused. I am not giving you carte blanche to pick a fight with him. If I hear you start a fight with anybody, I'm going to put you over my knee!"
Sirius couldn't help but chuckle, "Come on Dad I think I'm a bit old for that."
Orion gave his son a look, "Son if it comes to it, and I become an old man, I'll still put you over my knee if I must!"
Sirius gulped, "Sorry." He'd experience his dad's ruler on his bum more than once and he never looked forward to it.
"It's all right son. Just promise me you won't go starting any fights."
"I promise!"
"Good," Orion went over to the window. He gazed out onto the street. It was tranquil at this time of night. His eyes meandered out towards the street in thought. "Now do me a favor and don't tell your mother I told you to defend yourself, and your brother. She would not appreciate that at all."
Walburga entered her husband's study, "I wouldn't appreciate what, exactly?"
"Oh nothing much my dear, just a few hijinks, and whatnot," Orion smoothly played off.
Walburga looked at her husband, and then at Sirius, "Just be sure to behave yourself at Hogwarts. Now that James Potter is no longer attending, I dare say this year should go rather smoothly."
At that moment the floo sounded. "I wonder who that could be?" Orion said.
"I'll answer it, my love," Walburga walked out of the study and over to the floo. She saw a face in the green flames and was taken aback when she saw Gabriel Schell in the flames. "G-Gabriel?"
"Walla!" Gabriel used his nickname for her. "I'm glad you're there. Listen, don't let Sam in!"
"What? Sam who?" Walburga knelt before the floo. "Gabriel where have you been? It's been so long!"
"Walburga, look this isn't the time! You can ask as many questions as you want later, but just listen! Don't…"
"Schell!"
Walburga and Gabriel turned to see Orion in a huff come over to the fireplace. "You have some nerve calling here!"
"Orion please, this isn't the time! Sam…"
Gabriel didn't get to finish as Orion cut off the floo.
"Really, Orion!" Walburga stood up.
"I will not have that man anywhere near you, or us! Not anymore!"
"He was trying to tell us something. Something about a Sam?
Orion thought for a second, "He must mean Silas' boy."
"Sam Yalarad? But why would he come here?" She asked her husband.
"I'm not sure, but I have no intention to listen to that man. Silas and his family are always welcome here."
At that moment Sirius came out into the hallway, "Dad? Sam Yalarad is outside on the steps."
Orion walked to the front door and looked out of the eyehole and saw Sam Yalarad out on the steps, pacing back and forth.
"Dad, what's going on?" Sirius asked of his father.
"Nothing, I hope." He opened the door and stepped outside to see what young Sam Yalarad was doing here.
Upon stepping outside, he noticed that Sam's cheeks were red, and his eyes were flush with tears. His gaze was one full of anger and sadness. Of betrayal. It was apparent at that moment that Sam was a bit emotionally compromised.
"Sam? What are you doing here, son?" As soon as Orion asked that of him, Samuel pulled out his wand.
Being a trained Auror, Orion managed to grab Sam's wrist and pulled him close to close the distance between them. Sam's arm was pulled behind Orion's left shoulder. "Boy, what are you…?!"
A blast resonated from the young wizard's wand as an explosion of wood splinters, masoned stone, and shattered glass flew past them.
The blast launched the two of them out onto the street. Small particles of wooden dust littered the air around the front of Grimmauld Place.
Orion groaned in pain. He was certain that he was going to wake up stiff tomorrow morning.
"Dad?!"
Orion heard Sirius call out to him.
"Dad!"
"Stay where you are Sirius!" Orion rolled into his stomach and slowly got up to his feet. He felt trickles of blood run down the back of his neck. He was certain there were bits of glass in the back of his head. "Walla keep him inside!"
The dust settled up, and Sam Yalarad was crawling towards his wand.
Orion wandlessly summoned Sam's wand from out of his reach and into his hand. "Now then, young man you'd better…"
Sam turned around and pulled out another wand from his waist. Orion recognized it as Silas' wand. Sam scurried up to his feet and booked it behind a parked car taking cover.
"Samuel! What in Merlin's name has gotten into you?!" Orion drew his wand. He was going to get the bottom of this. At first Orion thought that Samuel must be under the influence of an Imperius.
"You lied to me!"
Those assumptions quickly were disproved.
Orion had a look of confusion on his face. His wand still drawn, he slowly walked towards the car. "Samuel, please. What did I lie about?"
"You said you were there when my father died! That you held him in your arms when he...when he passed away!"
"I was!" Orion remembered that day to a tee. He remembered how badly injured Silas was. How there were sixteen Death Eaters lying dead or dying around him. How he made Orion promise to look after his family. "I was there Samuel."
"But you weren't there when he was fighting for his life! When he was taking on those Death Eaters, you weren't there!"
Orion fell silent.
"Oh nothing to say about that?!"
Sirius came out onto the front steps ignoring his mother's pleas. "Dad what's he saying?"
"S-Sirius go back inside!" Orion told his son.
Sam peaked his head out. "I think he should be here to see who his father really is!" He came out with his father's wand at the ready. "Gabriel sat me down with my mother, my uncle, and my grandparents. They told me everything! What happened after, why Gabriel had to leave, but your treachery I found out myself!"
"Look, Samuel please listen…"
"I rooted through my mother's office, and I found the report about my father's death. You want to know what I found on it? After Alastor and Rufus arrived at the scene to secure everything, it was only then you showed up. Yeah you were there when my father died but you weren't there to protect him!"
Sirius' eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, no he wouldn't believe such a thing. "My father's not a coward Yalarad!"
"Cowardice isn't what I'm accusing your father of," Sam glanced at Sirius.
Sirius' eyes widened in anger, "My father didn't set your father up to die!"
"Sirius enough!" Orion snapped. "Now please go back inside! I will handle this!"
"Oh yeah you've got this situation well under control!"
Orion turned to see the last thing he needed right now. Oslo Dain walked up towards Grimmauld Place with his hands in his pockets. The two were never real close despite them both being Aurors, and widely regarded as the best in their fields.
"Oslo, please take your nephew away from my property at once! This is not the time or the place for this!"
"This isn't the time for the truth? If not now, then when?" Oslo bared his teeth in disgust. "I always knew you were bad news, Black. Even before you partnered up with Silas, all the way back in Hogwarts. How you slinked around with your cousin in the Dungeons. Plotting, and scheming, and conspiring."
Oslo went over to Sam and put his hand upon Silas' wand that Sam had drawn. He quietly whispered to his nephew to put it down. Sam was apprehensive to do so, but relented.
"There was no investigation into your disappearance Orion. Now why was that? You had any sort of allegation from Silas' death brought against you squashed, and debunked with no sort of inquiry made." Oslo pointed at Sam, "Now what's he supposed to think? What are we supposed to think?"
Orion's throat grew dry. "Make any sort of assumptions you may well please, but I was not involved in Silas' murder." He looked at Sam, "I'm hurt that you would think I'd have anything to do with your father's death."
"Then prove it! Tell us where you were when my father died," Sam demanded the truth from Orion.
"Orion.."
He turned towards the steps to see Walburga shielding Sirius, and Regulus who walked down to see what was going on, from the confrontation. Her eyes wandered and snapped to attention at something outside of his view.
Orion turned to see Gabriel Schell walking towards the scene in question, having apparated there. He was thinner than Orion remembered, and looked to have recently shaved. "You've got some nerve telling him what happened, Schell."
"Sam deserved to know Orion. I told him the truth, but I didn't tell him to go off half-cocked on some sort of suicide mission!" Gabriel turned to glance at Sam, "You're going to get an earful from your mother, believe that!"
Gabriel turned back to Orion, "We're going now."
"Not until I get answers!" Sam shouted being held back by Oslo.
"Sam! Stop." Gabriel asked of his godson. "We're going home. That's final!"
Sam huffed, "He has my wand, Gabriel."
Gabriel walked over to Orion slowly. "May I have his wand please?"
Orion glared at his former rival, and slowly handed him Sam's wand. Gabriel put it in his pocket.
Sirius, and Regulus were behind their mother in the doorway and recognized the man. "Mum it's him!" Regulus exclaimed
"He doesn't look as rugged as before though." Sirius pointed out.
"Sirius not now," Walburga hushed her oldest son.
Gabriel gave Walburga a passing glance before Orion stopped him. "Now get lost, and stay away from my family."
"Well that's going to be difficult to stay away from your kids," Gabriel stated. "I'm going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts."
Walburga was shocked to hear that. Sirius and Regulus didn't know what to think. Orion looked like he was going to have a stroke, "Like hell you are Schell!"
Gabriel did not want to start this back up again. "If you have a problem with that take it up with Dumbledore, but it'd be too late to find a replacement so close to the beginning of the school year."
Gabriel looked at Walburga and gave her a nod, to which she returned.
He gathered Oslo and Sam and they went on their way. Sam glared back at Orion as they walked off.
Orion ran a hand through his hair and looked back at the damage done to Grimmauld Place. "I'm going to bill you for the repairs, you know," He called after them.
"Bill this!" Oslo called back while grabbing his crotch.
~*~* Page break ~*~*
Severus and Donal flooed to Lily's home so he could introduce Donal to Paul, Cinthy, and Lily. Lily had invited the rest of their friends to her home so they could all become aquainted with Donal before they left for school. She couldn't help but notice that both Sirius and Regulus seemed down which was unusual for them especially Sirius.
The floo sounded and Severus, followed by another young man, came through. "Hi, everybody." He turned to Paul and Cinthy. "Mr. and Mrs. Evans, this is Donal who is my personal Black Cloak. His older brothers, protect my grandparents."
Paul shook hands with Donal. "Glad to have you aboard with this Dante person coming back to Hogwarts."
Cinthy nodded. "Yes, it's a great relief to know somebody is protecting Severus, Lily and all of you."
Donal smiled and nodded. Severus took his arm and introduced him to everyone else.
"Woohoo! He's cute!" Jane exclaimed. Emily elbowed Jane then whipered, "You're being be so embarrassing!"
"Only stating a fact," Jane said with a grin.
"I am happy to meet you all and while my main duty is to protect Severus, I am also available to help anyone else who might need protection from another student."
"We may all need your help with Dante," Frank grumbled.
"And you shall have it," Donal replied nodding. He knew the Princes were long-time allies with the Longbottom's.
Remus wondered if Donal would stand up for a Werewolf or if he could expect him to keep his secret once he found out about it.
"I have lunch ready if you kids are hungry," Cinthy said.
"I don't know about anybody else, but I am," Dorian replied.
"Do you need any help, Mum?" Lily asked. After all, it was a big crowd her mother was feeding.
"That's alright, Lily, you can entertain your friends while I bring it out. Your father can help me."
Her parents left the room, got things ready and brought the food into the dining room. Cinthy called, "It's ready. Help yourselves. It's buffet style."
The kids filled their plates and found places to sit. Lily, her hands on her hips confronted Sirius and Reg. "And what's up with you two? You don't seem at all like yourselves."
Sirius looked up at Donal and Severus noticing his concern, said, "Don't worry about Donal. Black Cloaks are sworn to secrecy about anything they might hear."
"Sam Yalarad came to our house yesterday and accused dad of not being at the fight that killed his father. He was acting all crazy and had both, his wand and his father's wand and was trying to force dad to admit he wasn't there and say where he was during that fight. He destroyed our front door with a misfired spell."
"Good thing it was the front door, Siri, and not dad," Reg muttered.
"Are you sure he wasn't under some kind of spell?" Caddaric asked. "I mean he's always seemed pretty calm and reasonable from what I've seen of him."
"He wasn't, and guess who it was that told him that lie?" Sirius demanded. "It was our new defense professor."
"I don't want to be in a class of somebody who tells lies about dad," Reg said.
Sirius put his arm around Reg. "Me either, brother."
Severus was a bit surprised to hear that. Gabriel didn't seem like the kind of person to tell lies about someone else. "Are you sure it wasn't Dante who told him that?" Severus questioned. "It just sounds like something he'd do."
Sirius shook his head, "Nope! Schell turned up and admitted he was the one that told Yalarad."
"There wasn't anything about it in the Prophet this morning. Can't believe Rita missed that one!" Tav remarked.
"Good thing she did or I suspect Yalarad might have been in serious trouble!" Frank replied.
"So now we have to worry about some wild-eyed idiot going around school, shooting off spells," Peter said.
"Sounds like another fun year with the Yalarads replacing Potter," Dorian groaned.
~*~* Page break ~*~*
Sam Yalarad was in his room. Lying in his bed looking up at the ceiling.
He had indeed gotten an earful from his mother after what transpired at Grimmauld Place. She could not believe her own son would do something as idiotic, and reckless like he did.
As a result she had confined Sam to his room for the remainder of the summer holiday. Where he was not allowed to leave his room except to use the bathroom, or for food. He was not allowed letters by owls, or any visits from his friends either.
Sam just kept looking up at the ceiling lost in his own thoughts. He kept replaying that night he went to Grimmauld Place again, and again.
Lord Orion kept dodging the topic of where he was when his father was fighting for his life. What was he trying to keep secret? What was so important that he left his father alone on patrol? That was a rule that was hammered into all Aurors. What was Orion Black hiding?
A knock rapped upon Sam's window. He sat up and saw Dante standing there. Sam rushed over to his window, and unlatched it to let him in. "I'm not allowed to have visitors Dante, if she catches you…"
"Then I'll deal with it Sami." Dante waved him off as he climbed through his window. He was carrying a case of Wizard Fizz. He put it down on Sam's desk, opened a bottle, and gave it to Sam. "Here."
Sam took the bottle and drank its contents. The taste of the soda was entirely up to the person drinking it, it could be any flavor you were craving for. He downed the entire bottle in a matter of seconds. Sam looked at his cousin who was sipping on his own bottle. "So I'm guessing you know?"
"It's kind of hard not to hear about this through the family grapevine, little cousin," Dante admitted. "At first I didn't believe not, because...frankly it seemed very unlike you to do such a thing!"
Sam frowned and looked at the ground. "What happened after Uncle Ozzy, Gabriel, and I left?"
"Well, thankfully my father managed to sweep this all underneath the rug. The Aurors weren't called, and luckily your little magical discharge didn't wake any of the muggles in the area up."
"The Daily Prophet didn't pick up on any of that, did it?"
"No, thankfully Rita Skeeter was nowhere to be seen whilst the repairs began at Grimmauld Place. Again, my father footed the bill for that. You're going to thank him for that, the next time you see him!"
Sam nodded, "Of course I will Dante!"
Dante looked at his cousin, "Are you really certain that Lord Black had something to do with Uncle Si's death?"
"If he wasn't involved then why wouldn't he tell me where he was when my dad was killed?" Sam threw the bottle in his wastebasket. "Innocent people don't have secrets."
Dante played with the paper label of his bottle of Wizard Fizz as he was deep in thought. "I think you're right, Sam."
Sam shot up to see Dante shaking his head in agreement. "Maybe he wasn't directly involved, but he's culpable because he wasn't there to help Uncle Si."
"He deserves to pay for what happened!" Sam blurted out.
Dante asked, "Just like what Lord Prince deserves to pay for what he did to me?"
Sam looked at Dante and mumbled, "Well. I mean...kind of…"
"There's no half measures when it comes to things like this, Sami." Dante walked over to Sam and put his hands on his shoulders. "I made a mistake, and wanted to make amends, and rectify what I had done. But that bastard made sure I couldn't get a chance to do so! He cheated me out of two and a half years! Time I could have spent with my friends and family!"
"I know Dante, it's what you've been saying these past two and a half years." Sam took his cousin's hands off his shoulders and sat down on his bed. "What does this have to do with me and Lord Black?"
Dante internally groaned, but put on a stern face. "Everything, Sami. You want justice for what happened to Uncle Si. Hell, if you're right about Lord Black I'd want justice too!" He sat down at the end of Sam's bed. "There's no justice in this world except for the justice we make."
"So what does mean-mugging Severus Snape have to do with your problem with Lord Prince?"
Dante got closer to Sam, "Marius Prince fits the profile of a Pit Viper. Typical of those who come from Slytherin." He chuckled softly, "Out in the open he'd never try to do anything to anybody when all eyes are on him, but in the pit? He'll strike out, but only when your back is turned. Like a coward."
Sam looked confused, "Will you stop talking in riddles and say what you mean? Merlin you sound like that old fool, Dumbledore!"
Dante smirked, "Severus is the bait, Sam. I mess with him, and soon enough Lord Prince will come to me! On my terms, at my leisure. Then, and only then, will I get a chance to settle all accounts with him."
Sam shook his head, "He won't fight you, Dante."
"If it means the safety of his last heir, I think he would."
"What then Dante? Are you going to kill him," Sam sarcastically asked him. He then noticed a dangerous glint shine across Dante's eyes.
"Of course not. I just want to humiliate him, as he did to me!" Dante said as he laid back in Sam's bed, with his hands behind his head.
"There's one problem with that idea, Dante."
"What's that, Sami?"
"Lord Prince's wife. Lady Vesper is an accredited Duelist, she could take his stead. Then what?"
"He wouldn't let his wife do his dirty work Sami, don't worry about that." Dante looked up at the ceiling. "When I get my hands on him, that will be my justice."
Sam crossed his arms, "What about me? With Lord Black?"
Dante thought about it for a second. "Uncle Ozzy might be able to help us with that. He loathes Lord Black with a passion. Maybe he could dig up some information on him and where he went that day."
Sam stroked his chin, "Yeah. I think that could work!"
Dante sat back up, "And I'll do what I can to get some details from my dad, but I need something from you Sam."
"What?"
"I need you by my side for this. I know that you felt bad for running into Snape on the train last year, but that was just a message. Now, we have to prepare for what comes next." Dante motioned Sam to give him his attention. "Do I have your back on this?"
Sam looked at his cousin, and thought about everything. He had no real problem with Severus Snape, but he was close with Sirius Black, who was one of Orion's sons. He was probably going to come after him at school with his father's blessing to try and shut him up.
The die was cast, and the lines in the sand have been drawn. He made a choice the moment he accused Orion Black of his father's murder. And there was no going back now.
Sam looked at Dante, "If Snape is with The Blacks, then he's got it coming too!"
Dante smiled, and hugged his cousin. "Thank you Sami. I knew I could count on you!"
Sam returned Dante's hug, albeit reluctantly. He worried that this road he was taking, full of bad intentions, would lead him into more bad decisions down the road.
But if this road led him to the truth of what happened to his father, then he'd walk down this road several times if necessary.
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